bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamic variability in apoptotic threshold as a strategy for combating fractional killing
Authors: Qiu Baohua , Zhang Jiajun , Zhou Tianshou 
Published: July 2018

AbstractFractional killing, which is a significant impediment to successful chemotherapy, is observed even in a population of genetically identical cancer cells exposed to apoptosis-inducing agents. This phenomenon arises not from genetic mutation but from cell-to-cell variation in the activation timing and level of the proteins that regulate apoptosis. To understand the mechanism behind the phenomenon, we formulate complex fractional killing processes as a first-passage time (FPT) problem with a stochastically fluctuating boundary. Analytical calculations are performed for the FPT distribution in a toy model of stochastic p53 gene expression, where the cancer cell is killed only when the p53 expression level crosses an activity apoptotic threshold. Counterintuitively, we find that threshold fluctuations can effectively enhance cellular killing by significantly decreasing the mean time that the p53 protein reaches the threshold level for the first time. Moreover, faster fluctuations lead to the killing of more cells. These qualitative results imply that dynamic variability in threshold is an unneglectable stochastic source, and can be taken as a strategy for combating fractional killing of cancer cells.
Balance of Mechanical Forces Drives Endothelial Gap Formation and May Facilitate Cancer and Immune-Cell Extravasation
Authors: Escribano Jorge , Chen Michelle B. , Moeendarbary Emad , Cao Xuan , Shenoy Vivek , Garcia-Aznar Jose Manuel , Kamm Roger D. , Spill Fabian 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe formation of gaps in the endothelium is a crucial process underlying both cancer and immune cell extravasation, contributing to the functioning of the immune system during infection, the unfavorable development of chronic inflammation and tumor metastasis. Here, we present a stochastic-mechanical multiscale model of an endothelial cell monolayer and show that the dynamic nature of the endothelium leads to spontaneous gap formation, even without intervention from the transmigrating cells. These gaps preferentially appear at the vertices between three endothelial cells, as opposed to the border between two cells. We quantify the frequency and lifetime of these gaps, and validate our predictions experimentally. Interestingly, we find experimentally that cancer cells also preferentially extravasate at vertices, even when they first arrest on borders. This suggests that extravasating cells, rather than initially signaling to the endothelium, might exploit the autonomously forming gaps in the endothelium to initiate transmigration.
Permeation of cisplatin through the membranes of normal and cancer cells: a molecular dynamics study
Authors: Rivel T. , Ramseyer C. , Yesylevskyy S. O. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn this work, realistic models of membranes of normal and cancer cells are developed. A special focus is given to their cholesterol content. It is shown that the loss of lipid asymmetry in the membranes of cancer cells leads to a decrease of their permeability to cisplatin by one order of magnitude in comparison to the membranes of normal cells. The change of cholesterol molar ratio from 0% to 33% also decreases the permeability of the membrane by approximately one order of magnitude. The permeability of pure DOPC membrane is 5-6 orders of magnitude higher than one of the membrane with realistic lipid composition, which makes it as an inadequate model for the studies of drug permeability.
Lactate dehydrogenases amplify reactive oxygen species in cancer cells in response to oxidative stimuli
Authors: Wu Hao , Wang Yuqi , Ying Mingfeng , Hu Xun 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPrevious studies have revealed that lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) exhibited an indirect antioxidative activity, which played a crucial role in preventing cancer cells from oxidative stress. Here we demonstrated that, apart from antioxidative activities, LDHA and LDHB displayed prooxidative activity in cancer cells. In aqueous phase, LDHA and B both exhibited ROS-generating activity and LDHB was more active than LDHA. In cancer cells, the dominant antioxidative activity of LDH can be switched to dominant prooxidative activity or vice versa, depending on the strength of oxidative stimuli, indicating that LDH were bifunctional. Moreover, we demonstrated that mitochondrial superoxide served as an initiator to trigger LDH-catalyzed amplification of ROS. The oxidative stimuli, such as modulators of electron transfer chain and anticancer agents that kill cancer cells via ROS induction, induced a ROS generation involving 2 phases, induction of mitochondrial superoxide and amplification of ROS by LDH.
New de novo assembly of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) improves genome completeness and provides haplotype phasing
Authors: Martinez-Viaud Karine A. , Lawley Cindy Taylor , Vergara Milmer Martinez , Ben-Zvi Gil , Biniashvili Tammy , Baruch Kobi , Leger Judy St. , Le Jennie , Natarajan Aparna , Rivera Marlem , Guillergan Marbie , Jaeger Erich , Steffy Brian , Zimin Aleksey 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHigh quality genomes are essential to resolve challenges in breeding, comparative biology, medicine and conservation planning. New library preparation techniques along with better assembly algorithms result in continued improvements in assemblies for non-model organisms, moving them toward reference quality genomes. We report on the latest genome assembly of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin leveraging Illumina sequencing data coupled with a combination of several library preparation techniques. These include Linked-Reads (Chromium, 10x Genomics), mate pairs, long insert paired ends and standard paired ends. Data were assembled with the commercial DeNovoMAGICTMassembly software resulting in two assemblies, a traditional “haploid” assembly (Tur_tru_Illumina_hap_v1) that is a mosaic of the two parental haplotypes and a phased assembly (Tur_tru_Illumina_phased_v1) where each scaffold has sequence from a single homologous chromosome. We show that Tur_tru_Illumina_hap_v1 is more complete and accurate compared to the current best reference based on the amount and composition of sequence, the consistency of the mate pair alignments to the assembled scaffolds, and on the analysis of conserved single-copy mammalian orthologs. The phased de novo assembly Tur_tru_Illumina_phased_v1 is the first publicly available for this species and provides the community with novel and accurate ways to explore the heterozygous nature of the dolphin genome.
Temporal scaling of ageing as an adaptive strategy ofEscherichia coli
Authors: Yang Yifan , Santos Ana L. , Xu Luping , Lotton Chantal , Taddei François , Lindner Ariel B. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractNatural selection has long been hypothesised to shape ageing patterns, but whether and how ageing contributes to life-history evolution remains elusive. The complexity of various ageing-associated molecular mechanisms and their inherent stochasticity hinder reductionist approaches to the understanding of functional senescence,i.e. reduced fecundity and increased mortality. Recent bio-demographic work demonstrated that high-precision statistics of life-history traits such as mortality rates could be used phenomenologically to understand the ageing process. We adopted this approach to study cellular senescence in growth-arrestedE. colicells, where damages to functional macromolecules are no longer diluted by fastde novobiosynthesis. We acquired high-quality longitudinal physiological and life history data of large environmentally controlled clonalE. colipopulations at single-cell resolution, using custom-designed microfluidic devices coupled to time-lapse microscopy. We show thatE. colilifespan distributions follow the Gompertz law of mortality, a century-old actuarial observation of human populations, despite developmental, cellular and genetic differences between bacteria and metazoan organisms. Measuring the shape of the hazard functions allowed us to disentangle quantitatively the demographic effects of ageing, which accumulate with time, from age-independent genetic longevity-modulating interventions. A pathway controlling cellular maintenance, the general stress response, not only promotes longevity but also temporally scales the whole distribution by reducing ageing rate. We further show thatE. coli, constrained by the amount of total biosynthesis, adapt to their natural feast-or-famine lifestyle by modulating the amount of maintenance investment, rendering ageing rate a highly evolvable life-history trait.
The Drosophila Cortactin Binding Protein 2 homolog, Nausicaa, regulates lamellipodial actin dynamics in a Cortactin-dependent manner
Authors: O’Connell Meghan E. , Sridharan Divya , Driscoll Tristan , Krishnamurthy Ipsita , Perry Wick G. , Applewhite Derek A. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractDrosophila CG10915 is an uncharacterized protein coding gene with sequence similarity to human Cortactin Binding Protein 2 (CTTNBP2) and Cortactin Binding Protein 2 N-terminal like (CTTNBP2NL). We have named this gene Nausicaa (naus) and characterize it through a combination of quantitative live-cell total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, electron microscopy, RNAi depletion, and genetics. We found that Naus co-localizes with F-actin and Cortactin in the lamellipodia of Drosophila S2R+ and D25c2 cells and this localization is lost following Cortactin or Arp2/3 depletion or by mutations that disrupt a conserved proline patch found in its mammalian homologs. Using Permeabilization Activated Reduction in Fluorescence (PARF) and Fluorescence Recovery after Photo-bleaching (FRAP), we find that depletion of Cortactin alters Naus dynamics leading to a decrease in its half-life. Furthermore, we discovered that Naus depletion in S2R+ cells led to a decrease in actin retrograde flow and a lamellipodia characterized by long, unbranched filaments. We demonstrate that these alterations to the dynamics and underlying actin architecture also affect D25c2 cell migration and decrease arborization in Drosophila neurons. We present the novel hypothesis that Naus functions to slow Cortactin’s disassociation from Arp2/3 nucleated branch junctions, thereby increasing both branch nucleation and junction stability.
Do governance mechanisms deter earnings management and promote corporate social responsibility?
Authors: Suyono Eko , Farooque Omar Al 
Published: July 2018

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the influences of corporate governance mechanisms on earnings management practices and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure, at the manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange. The authors consider the moderating effect of earnings management on the relationship between governance mechanisms and CSR.Design/methodology/approachInsights are drawn from five years company data generated between 2010 and 2014, thus covering a five-year period. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis is applied to test the hypotheses developed.FindingOLS regression results indicate that institutional ownership, managerial ownership and independent boards have a significant deterrent effect on earnings management, while institutional ownership and board of directors have significant positive impact on CSR. Moreover, OLS results reveal a strong moderation effect of earnings management and a positive link between governance and CSR.Originality/valueThese findings have significant policy implications for public policy, regulatory bodies, companies and other stakeholders including the investors in Indonesia. Insights from this study will help to shape and implement an optimal governance system that can address the problem of earnings management and CSR initiatives in Indonesian companies.
An efficient termination control strategy of air-vented dryer for fabric drying
Authors: Wei Yuhui , Su Zhaowei , Lu Huashan , Ding Xue Mei 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an efficient termination control strategy of air-vented dryer in term of energy saving, improving smoothness and reducing microscopic damage of fiber.

Design/methodology/approach
A simple, low cost termination control strategy is developed by testing the instantaneous humidity of exhaust air and then deducing the drying degree of fabric in process. The practicability evaluation of this novel strategy was investigated by using both experimental and mathematical approaches. The effect of termination control strategy on drying efficiency and fabric apparent properties were also discussed.

Findings
Termination control strategy significantly affects drying time, energy consumption, smoothness and microscopic of fiber. Specially, a novel termination control strategy that the combination of equilibrium moisture content of fabric in ambient environment and relative humidity of exhaust air in exhaust duct is workable and can save 25.2 percent of energy consumption, 26.7 percent of the drying time and improve 0.7 grade of the appearance smoothness, as well as significantly reduce the microscopic damage of fiber compare to the original control strategy of dryer. This indicates possible ways to minimize drying energy consumption and dryer damage by reducing unnecessary migrate out of the water from the clothes.

Practical implications
The paper is helpful in not only the development of new drying product but also the optimization of appearance smoothness of fabric after drying and reduce the microscopic damage of fiber.

Originality/value
A novel termination control strategy of dryer is applied to improve drying efficiency of dryer and reduce fabric damage.
Inter-group performance of oil producing countries: a meta and global frontier analysis
Authors: Ohene-Asare Kwaku , Gakpey Victor Sosu , Turkson Charles 
Published: July 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to compare the production efficiencies and frontiers differences of oil-producing countries (OPCs) in four inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) in the international petroleum industry with the aim of providing such countries understanding of group characteristics that help maximize their supply interests.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical analysis is based on 14 years of panel data covering the period from 2000 to 2013. In all 46 unique countries who are members of four IGOs relevant to the international petroleum industry are examined on individual and group bases. The authors use both metafrontier analysis and global frontier difference in examining the group average and group frontiers, respectively.FindingsGroups with high inter and intra-group collaborations which ensure exchange of information, organizational learning and innovation tend to do better than groups with even higher hydro-carbon endowment. Additionally, hydro-carbon resource endowment may not be the solution to group inefficiency without higher endowment in human capital, economic stability, technology and infrastructure.Practical implicationsChoice of inter-governmental organizational membership should be based on the level of inter- and intra-group collaborations, human capital endowment among others and not mere historic links or even resource endowment.Originality/valueThis is among the few studies to compare and rank IGOs. Specifically, it is among the first studies to analyze the petroleum production efficiencies of IGOs involved in the international petroleum industry. This study assesses the performance differences among OPCs with the aim of identifying for OPCs the characteristics of inter-governmental groups that are beneficial to efficiency in upstream petroleum activities.
Implementation of environmental management practices in the Ghanaian mining and manufacturing supply chains
Authors: Famiyeh Samuel , Kwarteng Amoako 
Published: July 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the driving forces of environmental management practices in mining and manufacturing firms using data from Ghana.Design/methodology/approachPrior exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, based on questionnaire survey data, were used to study the driving forces of environmental management practices in the extractive and manufacturing firms using institutional theory.FindingsEnvironmental management practices by organizations in Ghana are driven by regulatory and the mimetic pressures. Normative pressure has no significant effect on environmental management practices. The authors found no difference between the extractive and the manufacturing sectors as far as the results are concerned.Research limitations/implicationsThe results indicate the importance of regulatory bodies in developing good environmental policies that are implemented and monitored in order to achieve improved environmental performance. Effective implementation of environmental policies is likely to motivate other firms to mimic the actions of implementing organizations. One limitation of this work is the use of data from Ghana. It is important for other researchers to assess these relationships using data from a wider geographical area.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that organizations implement environmental management practices as a result of coercive and mimetic pressures. In practice, it is therefore important for the regulatory bodies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency Ghana, to be very innovative in developing good environmental regulations that are monitored to ensure implementation by all polluting sources. This is because the results indicate that the monitoring of regulations by regulatory bodies seems to be connected to the implementation of these regulations. Such implementation is also expected to be benchmarked by other firms, thereby influencing the “greening” agenda in Africa.Originality/valueThe study illustrates and provides some insights, and builds on the literature in the area of green supply chain strategies for a developing country’s environment. This is one of the few studies that investigate the driving forces of environmental management implementation using the institutional theory based on data from the African business environment.
The relationship between management characteristics and firm innovation
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , DashtBayaz Mahmoud Lari , Mohammadi Moghadam Samaneh 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between some management features (management capability, management entrenchment, agency costs and overconfidence) and the innovation of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange.

Design/methodology/approach
The study carried out during 2009–2015. A total of 125 companies were selected from eight industries as the sample of study using the method of systematic elimination. A descriptive-correlational design was used in this study and panel data regression models were employed for developing the relationship between research variables.

Findings
The obtained results indicated that managerial ability could foster innovation, while managerial entrenchment could stifle innovation and agency costs and overconfidence have no effect on innovation.

Originality/value
The current study is almost the first project which focuses on the management characteristics and firm innovation in developing countries.
Forced distribution systems and attracting top talent
Authors: Thomason Stephanie J. , Brownlee Amy , Beekman Harris Amy , Rustogi Hemant 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to test how an individual’s attractiveness to three types of appraisal systems relates to self-rated psychological entitlement and ethics; and constructs rated by others of: conscientiousness, extraversion and agreeableness.

Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 148 students in graduate-level business courses and matching close friends/significant others were surveyed. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression and path analysis.

Findings
Path analysis indicated acceptable fit for the overall model of attractiveness to three appraisal types.

Practical implications
Advocates of forced distribution ranking systems (FDRS) suggest that such systems stimulate a high-talent culture and that achievers and strong performers are attracted to FDRS. In contrast, the findings suggest that FDRS are attractive to individuals with high levels of psychological entitlement and low levels of conscientiousness.

Originality/value
Advocates of FDRS and prior research have indicated that such systems reduce leniency bias and stimulate a high-performance and high-talent culture in which honesty is expected and poor performance is not tolerated. Others have found that high achievers and high performers are likely to find such systems attractive. The present study suggests that one downside of FDRS is its attractiveness to workers with low levels of conscientiousness and higher levels of psychological entitlement, which are two personality traits associated with lower levels of performance and a variety of negative outcomes.
Experimenting lean dynamic performance management systems design in SMEs
Authors: Bianchi Carmine , Winch Graham , Cosenz Federico 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to frame the potential benefits of lean dynamic performance management (PM) systems for small and micro-enterprises. Such systems may exploit the entrepreneur’s tacit knowledge and build on managerial competencies, by incorporating individual attributes into organisational routines.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper suggests the use of insight models based on the combination of lean PM tools and system dynamics (SD) modelling. Based on a number of exemplary cases, the paper discusses the potential benefits of these models, in respect to four specific contexts: artisan, new company start-up, established firm and micro-giant company. Related to such contexts, the research identifies: needs or priorities, and obstacles or impediments to pursuing business survival and development.

Findings
The conceptual framework discussed in the paper discloses a quite original empirical basis to outline lean dynamic PM systems that may provide entrepreneurs with a set of key-performance drivers that help them to prioritise action, in each of the four analysed contexts.

Originality/value
Growing interest in adopting lean PM models in small and micro-firms appears in the recent PM literature with research highlighting strengths and shortcomings. However, few attempts have been produced to overcome such limitations, while the adoption of SD is relatively new in supporting lean PM system design.