bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distinct Patterns of the Autofluorescence of Body Surface: Potential Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers for Stable Coronary Artery Disease and Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Qu Xinkai , Li Yujia , Tao Yue , Zhang Mingchao , Wu Danhong , Guan Shaofeng , Han Wenzheng , Ying Weihai 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSearches for new biomarkers of stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) and myocardial infarction (MI) are critical for therapeutic efficacy of the diseases. In this study we tested our hypothesis that distinct patterns of autofluorescence (AF) of skin and fingernails may become novel diagnostic biomarkers for MI and SCAD. Our study has indicated that SCAD and MI have distinct patterns of AF of their body surface: First, the AF intensity of the MI patients is significantly higher than that of the Healthy and Low-Risk group in their right and left Centremetacarpus, Ventroforefinger, Dorsal Index Finger and Ventribrachium, while the AF intensity of the SCAD patients is significantly higher than that of the Healthy and Low-Risk group in their right and left Index Fingernails and Dorsal Antebrachium; and second, the AF asymmetry of the MI patients is significantly higher than that of the Healthy and Low-Risk group in their Centremetacarpus, Ventroforefinger, Index Fingernails and Dorsal Antebrachium, while the AF asymmetry of the SCAD patients is significantly higher than that of the Healthy and Low-Risk group in their Ventroforefinger, Dorsal Index Finger, Dorsal Centremetacarpus and Index Fingernails. Moreover, the AF pattern of acute ischemic stroke is markedly different from those of SCAD and MI. The oxidative stress in the plasma of the MI and SCAD patients may cause the increased AF by altering the AF of keratins. Collectively, our study has indicated that SCAD and MI patients have distinct patterns of AF changes, which may become novel diagnostic biomarkers for SCAD and MI.
Heavy metal sensitivities of gene deletion strains forITT1andRPS1Aconnect their activities to the expression ofURE2, a key gene involved in metal detoxification in yeast
Authors: Moteshareie Houman , Hajikarimlou Maryam , Indrayanti Alex Mulet , Burnside Daniel , Dias Ana Paula , Lettl Clara , Ahmed Duale , Omidi Katayoun , Kazmirchuk Tom , Puchacz Nathalie , Zare Narges , Takallou Sarah , Naing Thet , Hernández Raúl Bonne , Willmore William G. , Babu Mohan , McKay Bruce , Samanfar Bahram , Holcik Martin , Golshani Ashkan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractHeavy metal and metalloid contaminations are among the most concerning types of pollutant in the environment. Consequently, it is important to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cellular responses and detoxification pathways for these compounds in living organisms. To date, a number of genes have been linked to the detoxification process. The expression of these genes can be controlled at both transcriptional and translational levels. In baker’s yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, resistance to a wide range of toxic metals is regulated by glutathione S-transferases. YeastURE2encodes for a protein that has glutathione peroxidase activity and is homologous to mammalian glutathione S-transferases. TheURE2expression is critical to cell survival under heavy metal stress. Here, we report on the finding of two genes,ITT1, an inhibitor of translation termination, andRPS1A, a small ribosomal protein, that when deleted yeast cells exhibit similar metal sensitivity phenotypes to gene deletion strain forURE2. Neither of these genes were previously linked to metal toxicity. Our gene expression analysis illustrates that these two genes affectURE2mRNA expression at the level of translation.Summary statementWe identified two yeast genes,ITT1andRPS1A, that when deleted, results in yeast cells sensitivity to heavy metals and metalloids. Further investigation indicated that they influence the expression ofURE2gene, a key player in metal detoxification, by upregulating its translation. Our findings suggest thatITT1andRPS1Aplay an indirect role in responding to toxic metal stress.
Effects of gap junction misexpression on synapses between auditory sensory neurons and the giant fiber ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Jezzini Sami H. , Merced Amelia , Blagburn Jonathan M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe synapse between auditory Johnston’s Organ neurons (JONs) and the giant fiber (GF) ofDrosophilais structurally mixed, being composed of cholinergic chemical synapses and Neurobiotin-(NB) permeable gap junctions, which consist of the innexin Shaking-B (ShakB). Misexpression of one ShakB isoform, ShakB(N+16), in a subset of JONs that do not normally form gap junctions, results in theirde novodye coupling to the GF. This is similar to the effect of misexpression of the transcription factor Engrailed (En) in these same neurons, which also causes the formation of additional chemical synapses. In order to test the hypothesis that ShakB misexpression would similarly affect the distribution of chemical synapses, fluorescently-labeled presynaptic active zone protein (Brp) was expressed in JONs and the changes in its distribution were assayed with confocal microscopy. Both ShakB(N+16) and En increased the dye-coupling of JONs with the GF, indicating the formation of ectopic gap junctions. Conversely, expression of the ‘incorrect’ isoform, ShakB(N) abolishes dye coupling. However, while En misexpression increased the chemical contacts with the GF and the amount of GF medial branching, ShakB misexpression did not. ShakB immunocytochemistry showed that misexpression of ShakB(N+16) increases gap junctional plaques in JON axons but ShakB(N) does not. We conclude that both subsets of JON form chemical synapses onto the GF dendrites but only one population forms gap junctions, comprised of ShakB(N+16). Misexpression of this isoform in all JONs does not result in the formation of new mixed synapses but in the insertion of gap junctions, presumably at the sites of existing chemical synaptic contacts with the GF.
Fast animal pose estimation using deep neural networks
Authors: Pereira T.D. , Aldarondo D. E. , Willmore L. , Kislin M. , Wang S. S.-H. , Murthy M. , Shaevitz J. W. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractRecent work quantifying postural dynamics has attempted to define the repertoire of behaviors performed by an animal. However, a major drawback to these techniques has been their reliance on dimensionality reduction of images which destroys information about which parts of the body are used in each behavior. To address this issue, we introduce a deep learning-based method for pose estimation, LEAP (LEAP Estimates Animal Pose). LEAP automatically predicts the positions of animal body parts using a deep convolutional neural network with as little as 10 frames of labeled data for training. This framework consists of a graphical interface for interactive labeling of body parts and software for training the network and fast prediction on new data (1 hr to train, 185 Hz predictions). We validate LEAP using videos of freely behaving fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and track 32 distinct points on the body to fully describe the pose of the head, body, wings, and legs with an error rate of <3% of the animal’s body length. We recapitulate a number of reported findings on insect gait dynamics and show LEAP’s applicability as the first step in unsupervised behavioral classification. Finally, we extend the method to more challenging imaging situations (pairs of flies moving on a mesh-like background) and movies from freely moving mice (Mus musculus) where we track the full conformation of the head, body, and limbs.
Transmembrane exchange of fluorosugars: characterization of red cell GLUT1 kinetics using 19F NMR
Authors: Shishmarev D , Fontenelle CQ , Kuprov I , Linclau B , Kuchel PW 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTWe developed a novel approach for quantifying the equilibrium-exchange kinetics of carrier-mediated transmembrane transport of fluorinated substrates. Our method is based on an adapted kinetic theory describing the concentration dependence of the transmembrane-exchange rates of two simultaneously transported species. Using the new approach, we quantified the kinetics of membrane transport of both anomers of three monofluorinated glucose analogues in human erythrocytes (red blood cells: RBCs) using 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) exchange spectroscopy (EXSY). An inosine-based glucose-free medium was shown to promote survival and stable metabolism of RBCs over the duration of the experiments (a few hours). Earlier NMR studies only yielded the apparent rate constants and transmembrane fluxes of the anomeric species, whereas we were able to categorize the two anomers in terms of the catalytic activity (specificity constants) of the glucose transport protein GLUT1 towards them. Differences in the membrane permeability of the three glucose analogues were qualitatively interpreted in terms of local perturbations in the bonding of substrates to amino-acid residues in the active site of GLUT1. The methodology of this work will be applicable to studies of other carrier-mediated membrane transport processes, especially those with competition between simultaneously transported species. The GLUT1-specific results will apply to the design of probes of glucose transport, or inhibitors of glucose metabolism in cells including those exhibiting the Warburg effect.ABBREVIATIONSEXSYexchange spectroscopyFDGfluoro-deoxy-glucoseFDG-nn-fluoro-n- deoxy-D-glucose (n = 2, 3, 4)FIDfree induction decayGlcD-glucoseNMRnuclear magnetic resonanceRBCred blood cell
pTSara-NatB, an improved N-terminal acetylation system for recombinant protein expression in E. coli
Authors: Rovere Matteo , Powers Alex E. , Patel Dushyant S. , Bartels Tim 
Published: May 2018

AbstractN-terminal acetylation is one of the most common post-translational modifications of the eukaryotic proteome and regulates numerous aspects of cellular physiology, such as protein folding, localization and turnover. In particular α-synuclein, whose dyshomeostasis has been tied to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, is completely Nα-acetylated in nervous tissue. In this work, building on previous reports, we develop and characterize a bacterial N-terminal acetylation system based on the expression of the yeast N-terminal acetyltransferase B (NatB) complex under the control of the PBAD (L-arabinose-inducible) promoter. We show its functionality and the ability to completely Nα-acetylate our model substrate α-synuclein both upon induction of the construct with L-arabinose and also by only relying on the constitutive expression of the NatB genes.
Reconstruction of the cell entry pathway of an extinct virus
Authors: Robinson-McCarthy Lindsey R. , McCarthy Kevin R. , Raaben Matthijs , Piccinotti Silvia , Nieuwenhuis Joppe , Stubbs Sarah H. , Bakkers Mark J.G. , Whelan Sean P. J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEndogenous retroviruses (ERVs), remnants of ancient germline infections, comprise 8% of the human genome. The most recently integrated includes human ERV-K (HERV-K) where several envelope (env) sequences remain intact. Viral pseudotypes decorated with one of those Envs are infectious. Using a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus encoding HERV-K Env as its sole attachment and fusion protein (VSV-HERVK) we conducted a genome-wide haploid genetic screen to interrogate the host requirements for infection. This screen identified 11 genes involved in heparan sulfate biosynthesis. Genetic inhibition or chemical removal of heparan sulfate and addition of excess soluble heparan sulfate inhibit infection. Direct binding of heparin to soluble HERVK Env and purified VSV-HERVK defines it as critical for viral attachment. Cell surface bound VSV-HERVK particles are triggered to infect on exposure to acidic-pH, whereas acid pH pretreatment of virions blocks infection. Testing of additional endogenous HERV-Kenvsequences reveals they bind heparin and mediate acid pH triggered fusion. This work reconstructs and defines key steps in the infectious entry pathway of an extinct virus.Author SummaryThe genomes of all vertebrates are littered with the remains of once exogenous retroviruses. The properties of these ancient viruses that fostered germline colonization and their subsequent inheritance as genetic elements are largely unknown. The viral envelope protein (Env) dictates the cell entry pathway. Here we define host factors involved in the cell-entry of the youngest human ERV, HERV-K. Using a forward genetic screen, we identified heparan sulfate as a critical mediator of productive cell-entry. The abundance of this carbohydrate on almost all cells in the body suggests that HERV-K endogenization was a consequence of a broad tropism and not a specific targeting of germ cells. We demonstrate that multiple HERV-K Env protein encoded in the genome bind heparin. As HERV-K Envs are expressed in some transformed and virus-infected cells as well as during inflammation, it is tempting to speculate that this heparan sulfate binding property could be physiologically relevant during disease.
Using global t-SNE to preserve inter-cluster data structure
Authors: Zhou Yuansheng , Sharpee Tatyana O 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTThe t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE) method is one of the leading techniques for data visualization and clustering. This method finds lower dimensional embeddings of data points while minimizing distortions in distances between neighboring data points. By construction, t-SNE discards information about large scale structure of the data. We show that adding a global cost function to the t-SNE cost function makes it possible to cluster the data while preserving global inter-cluster data structure. We test the new “global t-SNE” (g-SNE) method on one synthetic and two real data sets on flowers and human brain cells which have significant and meaningful global structures. In all cases, g-SNE outperforms t-SNE in preserving the global structure. The weight parameter λ of the global cost function determines the balance between local and global distances preservations. For the human brain atlas data set, we show the tradeoff of λ in representing global structure of data. Using g-SNE with the optimized λ may therefore yield biological insights into how data is organized on multiple scales. The MATLAB code is available at: https://github.com/gyrheart/gsne
Complex dynamics in an SIS epidemic model induced by nonlinear incidence
Authors: Yuan Ruixia , Teng Zhidong , Li Jinhui 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe study an epidemic model with nonlinear incidence rate, describing the saturated mass action as well as the psychological effect of certain serious diseases on the community. Firstly, the existence and local stability of disease-free and endemic equilibria are investigated. Then, we prove the occurrence of backward bifurcation, saddle-node bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation and cusp type Bogdanov-Takens bifurcation of codimension 3. Finally, numerical simulations, including one limit cycle, two limit cycles, unstable homoclinic loop and many other phase portraits are presented. These results show that the psychological effect of diseases and the behavior change of the susceptible individuals may affect the final spread level of an epidemic.
Published estimates of group differences in multisensory integration are inflated
Authors: Magnotti John F. , Beauchamp Michael S. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractA common measure of multisensory integration is the McGurk effect, an illusion in which incongruent auditory and visual speech are integrated to produce an entirely different percept. Published studies report that participants who differ in age, gender, culture, native language, or traits related to neurological or psychiatric disorders also differ in their susceptibility to the McGurk effect. These group-level differences are used as evidence for fundamental alterations in sensory processing between populations. Using empirical data and statistical simulations tested under a range of conditions, we show that published estimates of group differences in the McGurk effect are inflated. With a sample size typical of published studies, a group difference of 10% would be reported as 31%. As a consequence of this inflation, follow-up studies often fail to replicate published reports of large between-group differences. Inaccurate estimates of effect sizes and replication failures are especially problematic in studies of clinical populations involving expensive and time-consuming interventions, such as training paradigms to improve sensory processing. Reducing effect size inflation and increasing replicability requires increasing the number of participants by an order of magnitude compared with current practice.
Dangote’s expansion: driving African capitalism
Authors: White Lyal , Rees Liezl 
Published: May 2018

Subject area
Doing business in Africa, strategy, leadership.

Study level/applicability
The case is intended for use in MBA and Executive Education courses in Strategy, Business in Africa and Leadership.

Case overview
This case study examines the growth of the Dangote Group in Nigeria and its ambitious expansion across Africa. Driven by the visionary leadership and energy of founder, President and CEO Aliko Dangote himself, the rise of the Dangote Group also represents the changing geopolitics of the African region. A true conglomerate, the company dominates every niche in which it operates. Best known for its cement, Dangote is also active in sectors as diverse as pasta, real estate and steel. It has expanded into the oil industry and is building a refinery in Nigeria, an oil-producing state that imports most of its fuel requirements because of inadequate refining capacity. The Dangote Group serves as an example of true African capitalism, representing the new and somewhat nuanced style of doing business in Africa, which involves undertaking capital intensive projects; using unique methods, management approaches, technologies and innovations; leveraging state connections for business advantage; and understanding the growing need for local partners or local content in new markets across the continent.

Expected learning outcomes
Students should gain insights into various business strategies in Africa, contextual leadership intelligence and the role of institutions when doing business in Africa.

Supplementary materials
Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code
CSS 11: Strategy.
Park proximity, crime and apartment prices
Authors: Iqbal Asifa , Wilhelmsson Mats 
Published: May 2018

Purpose
There is a lack of understanding in the literature on the relation between parks and house price in relation to crime in Scandinavian context. This paper aims to investigate the effect of the amenity value of accessibility to parks on apartment prices with reference to crime rates in parks in Stockholm.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyses the effects of park proximity and crime in parks on apartment prices by using geographic information systems and hedonic modelling.

Findings
Findings show that the proximity of parks as an environmental amenity has an effect on apartment prices. The results also demonstrate that the impact of parks on apartment prices is different in the different segments of the apartment market in Stockholm. Moreover, various types of parks may differ in their impact, for instance, grass parks and park blocks are more desirable in Stockholm than landscape parks and neighbourhood parks. The effects of crimes in parks influence apartment prices negatively.

Originality/value
This paper provides a new methodology by using the shortest distance to a park as a main variable. The shortest distance to a park variable is considered a better choice than using park as an aggregate measure. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the effect of specific park types, for instance, grass parks, neighbourhood parks, landscape parks and park blocks, in Stockholm housing market.
Physical location of smart key activators – a building security penetration test
Authors: Bullee Jan-Willem , Montoya Lorena , Junger Marianne , Hartel Pieter 
Published: May 2018

Purpose
When security managers choose to deploy a smart lock activation system, the number of units needed and their location needs to be established. This study aims to present the results of a penetration test involving smart locks in the context of building security. The authors investigated how the amount of effort an employee has to invest in complying with a security policy (i.e. walk from the office to the smart key activator) influences vulnerability. In particular, the attractiveness of a no-effort alternative (i.e. someone else walking from your office to the key activators to perform a task on your behalf) was evaluated. The contribution of this study relates to showing how experimental psychology can be used to determine the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of physical building security measures.

Design/methodology/approach
Twenty-seven different “offenders” visited the offices of 116 employees. Using a script, each offender introduced a problem, provided a solution and asked the employee to hand over their office key.

Findings
A total of 58.6 per cent of the employees handed over their keys to a stranger; no difference was found between female and male employees. The likelihood of handing over the keys for employees close to a key activator was similar to that of those who were further away.

Research limitations/implications
The results suggest that installing additional key activators is not conducive to reducing the building’s security vulnerability associated with the handing over of keys to strangers.

Originality/value
No research seems to have investigated the distribution of smart key activators in the context of a physical penetration test. This research highlights the need to raise awareness of social engineering and of the vulnerabilities introduced via smart locks (and other smart systems).
Fashion bloggers: communication tools for the fashion industry
Authors: Esteban-Santos Laura , García Medina Irene , Carey Lindsey , Bellido-Pérez Elena 
Published: May 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate fashion blogs’ influence on Spanish Millennials’ buying behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach
This research is quantitative in nature, utilising a mono method consisting of structured self-administered questionnaires. Data were exported to IBM SPSS Statistics, where different types of analyses were combined – such as frequencies, means, hypothesis testing analyses, principal components analysis or K-means cluster.

Findings
Findings show that the most important motivations to follow a fashion blog are entertainment and information seeking. Besides, consumers’ attitudes seem to be influenced by how consumers assess credibility, which is determined by trustworthiness, para-social interaction (PSI), expertise and message credibility. Finally, after showing covert and overt marketing posts, both trustworthiness and PSI were lower than before, identifying PSI as a possible moderator in these cases.

Research limitations/implications
The main limitation of this study is the sample size, which does not make it possible to generalise conclusions.

Practical implications
From this research, it can be said that, due to the importance of establishing a strong relationship with the public, bloggers should try to connect with readers on an emotional level, and brands need to select bloggers very carefully.

Originality/value
This paper reveals Millennials’ attitudes whilst they are visiting a fashion blog and the influence that these attitudes can exercise on their purchase intention.