bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Compound Kushen Injection, a natural compound mixture, and its identified chemical components on migration and invasion of colon, brain and breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Nourmohammadi Saeed , Aung Thazin Nwe , Cui Jian , Pei Jinxin V. , De Ieso Michael Lucio , Harata-Lee Yuka , Qu Zhipeng , Adelson David L , Yool Andrea J 
Published: December 2018

AbstractCancer metastasis is a major cause of death. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are promising sources of new anti-metastatic agents. Compound Kushen Injection (CKI), extracted from medicinal plants, Kushen (Sophora flavescens) and Baituling (Heterosmilax chinensis), contains a mixture of alkaloids and flavonoids known to disrupt cell cycle and induce apoptosis in breast cancer (MCF7). However, effects on cancer cell migration and invasion have remained unknown. CKI, fractionated mixtures, and single identified components were tested in migration assays with colon (HT-29, SW-480, DLD-1), brain (U-87 MG, U-251 MG), and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cell lines. Human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) and human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) served as non-cancerous controls. Wound closure, transwell invasion, and live cell imaging assays showed that CKI reduced motility in all eight cell lines. The greatest inhibition of migration occurred in HT-29 and MDA-MB-231, and the least in HEK-293. Fractionation and reconstitution of CKI showed that combinations of compounds were required for activity. Live cell imaging confirmed CKI strongly reduced migration of HT-29 and MDA-MB-231 cells, moderately slowed brain cancer cells, and had no effect on HEK-293. CKI uniformly blocked invasiveness through extracellular matrix. Apoptosis was increased by CKI in MDA-MB-231 cells but not in non-cancerous cells. Cell viability in CKI was unaffected in all cell lines. Transcriptomic analyses of MDA-MB-231 with and without CKI indicated down-regulated expression of actin cytoskeletal and focal adhesion genes, consistent with the observed impairment of cell migration. The pharmacological complexity of CKI is important for its effective block of cancer cell migration and invasion.
The mechanism of cross-talk between histone H2B ubiquitination and H3 methylation by Dot1L
Authors: Worden Evan J. , Hoffmann Niklas , Hicks Chad , Wolberger Cynthia 
Published: December 2018

AbstractMethylation of histone H3, lysine 79 (H3K79), by Dot1L is a hallmark of actively transcribed genes that depends on monoubiquitination of H2B at lysine 120 (H2B-Ub), and is a well-characterized example of histone modification cross-talk that is conserved from yeast to humans. The mechanism by which H2B-Ub stimulates Dot1L to methylate the relatively inaccessible histone core H3K79 residue is unknown. The 3.0 Å resolution cryo-EM structure of Dot1L bound to ubiquitinated nucleosome reveals that Dot1L contains binding sites for both ubiquitin and the histone H4 tail, which establish two regions of contact that stabilize a catalytically competent state and positions the Dot1L active site over H3K79. We unexpectedly find that contacts mediated by both Dot1L and the H4 tail induce a conformational change in the globular core of histone H3 that reorients K79 from an inaccessible position, thus enabling this side chain to project deep into the active site in a position primed for catalysis. Our study provides a comprehensive mechanism of cross-talk between histone ubiquitination and methylation and reveals an unexpected structural plasticity in histones that makes it possible for histone-modifying enzymes to access residues within the nucleosome core.
Microglia are necessary for toxin-mediated demyelination and activation of microglia is sufficient to induce demyelination
Authors: Marzan Dave E. , West Brian L. , Salzer James L. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractMicrogliosis is a prominent pathological feature in many neurological diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). The precise role of microglia during demyelination, and the relative contributions of microglia vs. peripheral macrophages, are incompletely understood. Here, using a genetic fate mapping strategy, we identify microglia as predominant responders and key effectors of demyelination in the cuprizone (CUP) model. Pharmacological depletion of microglia demonstrates these cells are necessary for the demyelination, loss of oligodendrocytes, and reactive astrocytosis normally evident in this model. Electron microscopy (EM) and serial block face imaging show myelin sheaths remain intact in CUP treated mice depleted of microglia. However, these damaged myelin sheaths are lost upon-repopulation of microglia. Injection of colony-stimulating factor-1 to drive focal microgliosis in white matter is sufficient to induce focal demyelinationin vivo. These studies indicate activated microglia are required for demyelination that results from primary myelin pathology and are sufficient to induce demyelination directly.
Tarantula phylogenomics: A robust phylogeny of multiple tarantula lineages inferred from transcriptome data sheds light on the prickly issue of urticating setae evolution
Authors: Foley Saoirse , Lüddecke Tim , Cheng Dong-Qiang , Krehenwinkel Henrik , Künzel Sven , Longhorn Stuart J. , Wendt Ingo , von Wirth Volker , Tänzler Rene , Vences Miguel , Piel William H. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractMygalomorph spiders of the family Theraphosidae, known to the broader public as tarantulas, are among the most recognizable arachnids on earth due to their large size and widespread distribution. Their use of urticating setae is a notable adaptation that has evolved exclusively in certain New World theraphosids. Thus far, the evolutionary history of Theraphosidae remains poorly understood; theraphosid systematics still largely relies on morphological datasets, which suffer from high degrees of homoplasy, and traditional targeted sequencing of preselected genes failed to provide strong support for supra-generic clades (i.e. particularly those broader than subfamilies). In this study, we provide the first robust phylogenetic hypothesis of theraphosid evolution inferred from transcriptome data. A core ortholog approach was used to generate a phylogeny from 2460 orthologous genes across 25 theraphosid genera, representing all of the major theraphosid subfamilies, except Selenogyrinae. For the first time our phylogeny recovers a monophyletic group that comprises the vast majority of New World theraphosid subfamilies including Aviculariinae and Theraphosinae. Concurrently, we provide additional evidence for the integrity of questionable subfamilies, such as Poecilotheriinae and Psalmopoeinae, and support the non-monophyly of Ischnocolinae. The deeper relationships between almost all subfamilies are confidently inferred for the first time. We also used our phylogeny in tandem with published morphological data to perform ancestral state analyses on urticating setae. This revealed that the evolution of this important defensive trait might be explained by three equally parsimonious scenarios.
Augmin-mediated amplification of long-lived spindle microtubules directs plus-ends to kinetochores
Authors: David Ana F. , Roudot Philippe , Legant Wesley R. , Betzig Eric , Danuser Gaudenz , Gerlich Daniel W. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractDividing cells reorganize their microtubule cytoskeleton into a bipolar spindle, which moves one set of sister chromatids to each nascent daughter cell. Early spindle assembly models postulated that spindle-pole-derived microtubules search the cytoplasmic space until they randomly encounter a kinetochore to form a stable attachment. More recent work uncovered several additional, centrosome-independent microtubule generation pathways, but the contributions of each pathway to spindle assembly have remained unclear. Here, we combined live microscopy and mathematical modeling to show that most microtubules nucleate at non-centrosomal regions in dividing human cells. Using a live-cell probe that selectively labels aged microtubule lattices, we demonstrate that the distribution of growing microtubule plus-ends can be almost entirely explained by Augmin-dependent amplification of long-lived microtubules. By ultra-fast 3D lattice light-sheet microscopy, we observed that this mechanism results in a strong directional bias of microtubule growth towards individual kinetochores. Our systematic quantification of spindle dynamics reveals highly coordinated microtubule growth during kinetochore-fiber assembly.
pVACtools: a computational toolkit to identify and visualize cancer neoantigens
Authors: Hundal Jasreet , Kiwala Susanna , McMichael Joshua , Miller Christopher A. , Wollam Alexander T. , Xia Huiming , Liu Connor J. , Zhao Sidi , Feng Yang-Yang , Graubert Aaron P. , Wollam Amber Z. , Neichin Jonas , Neveau Megan , Walker Jason , Gillanders William E , Mardis Elaine R. , Griffith Obi L. , Griffith Malachi 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIdentification of neoantigens is a critical step in predicting response to checkpoint blockade therapy and design of personalized cancer vaccines. We have developed an in silico sequence analysis toolkit - pVACtools, to facilitate comprehensive neoantigen characterization. pVACtools supports a modular workflow consisting of tools for neoantigen prediction from somatic alterations (pVACseq and pVACfuse), prioritization and selection using a graphical web-based interface (pVACviz) and design of DNA vector-based vaccines (pVACvector) and synthetic long peptide vaccines. pVACtools is available at pvactools.org.
Use of F2 bulks in training sets for genomic prediction of combining ability and hybrid performance
Authors: Technow Frank 
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACTDeveloping training sets for genomic prediction in hybrid crops requires producing hybrid seed for a large number of entries. In autogamous crop species (e.g., wheat, rice, rapeseed, cotton) this requires elaborate hybridization systems to prevent self-pollination and presents a significant impediment to the implementation of hybrid breeding in general and genomic selection in particular. An alternative to F1 hybrids are bulks of F2 seed from selfed F1 plants (F1:2). Seed production for F1:2 bulks requires no hybridization system because the number of F1 plants needed for producing enough F1:2 seed for multi-environment testing can be generated by hand-pollination. This study evaluated the suitability of F1:2 bulks for use in training sets for genomic prediction of F1 level general combining ability and hybrid performance, under different degrees of divergence between heterotic groups and modes of gene action, using quantitative genetic theory and simulation of a genomic prediction experiment. The simulation, backed by theory, showed that F1:2 training sets are expected to have a lower prediction accuracy relative to F1 training sets, particularly when heterotic groups have strongly diverged. The accuracy penalty, however, was only modest and mostly because of a lower heritability, rather than because of a difference in F1 and F1:2 genetic values. It is concluded that resorting to F1:2 bulks is, in theory at least, a promising approach to remove the significant complication of a hybridization system from the breeding process.
Systematic Mapping of cell Wall Mechanics in the Regulation of Cell Morphogenesis
Authors: Davì Valeria , Guo Haotian , Tanimoto Hirokazu , Barett Katia , Couturier Etienne , Boudaoud Arezki , Minc Nicolas 
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACTWalled cells of plants, fungi and bacteria, come with a large range of shapes and sizes, which are ultimately dictated by the mechanics of their cell wall. This stiff and thin polymeric layer encases the plasma membrane and protects the cells mechanically by opposing large turgor pressure derived stresses. To date, however, we still lack a quantitative understanding for how local and/or global mechanical properties of the wall support cell morphogenesis. Here, we combine super-resolution imaging, and laser-mediated wall relaxation, to quantitate subcellular values of wall thickness (h) and bulk elastic moduli (Y) in large populations of live mutant cells and conditions affecting cell diameter in the rod-shaped model fission yeast. We find that lateral wall stiffness, defined by the surface modulus, σ=hY, robustly scales with cell diameters. This scaling is valid in tens of mutants covering various functions, within the population of individual isogenic strains, along single misshaped cells, and even across the fission yeasts clade. Dynamic modulations of cell diameter by chemical and/or mechanical means suggest that the cell wall can rapidly adapt its surface mechanics, rendering stretched wall portions stiffer than unstretched ones. Size-dependent wall stiffening constrains diameter definition and limits size variations, and may also provide and efficient mean to keep elastic strains in the wall below failure strains potentially promoting cell survival. This quantitative set of data impacts our current understanding of the mechanics of cell walls, and its contribution to morphogenesis.
Relation between internet financial information disclosure and internal control in Spanish local governments
Authors: Moreno-Enguix María del Rocío , Gras-Gil Ester , Henández-Fernández Joaquín 
Published: December 2018

Purpose
The application of new public governance by many countries has led to the creation of new management systems in public administration and the development of an effective accounting structure with efficient internal control to guarantee a proper provision of services that meet citizens’ requirements. The purpose of this paper is to focus on Spanish local government with the intention of determining the impact of the internal control structure on the disclosure of financial information on the internet.

Design/methodology/approach
The empirical analysis used combines a descriptive aspect with an explanatory one and seeks to answer the question of whether the internal control system (ICS) influences the disclosure of financial information on the websites of Spanish LGs. The authors use a multivariate model that allows us to verify the predictive capability of the previously defined explanatory variable, internal control, in 1,806 local governments. To test the hypotheses, the authors use two different models.

Findings
The authors consider the existence and quality of the financial information disclosure in relation to ICSs, and a series of financial and non-financial variables. The authors conclude that the structure of the ICS influences financial information disclosure and its quality. Also, the socio-political variable gives a better explanation of financial information disclosure than the financial variable.

Originality/value
This research is novel to determine whether the development of ICSs in Spanish municipalities has favored and increased the disclosure of financial information financial through the municipalities’ website transparency portal. These findings will contribute to increase the importance of internal control in the management of public entities.
Low carbon supplier development
Authors: Jharkharia Sanjay , Das Chiranjit 
Published: December 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an analytical model for low carbon supplier development. This study is focused on the level of investment and collaboration decisions pertaining to emission reduction.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors’ model includes a fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm and a fuzzy formal concept analysis. First, a set of suppliers were classified according to their carbon performances through the FCM clustering algorithm. Then, the fuzzy formal concepts were derived from a set of fuzzy formal contexts through an intersection-based method. These fuzzy formal concepts provide the relative level of investments and collaboration decisions for each identified supplier cluster. A case from the Indian renewable energy sector was used for illustration of the proposed analytical model.

Findings
The proposed model and case illustration may help manufacturing firms to collaborate with their suppliers for improving their carbon performances.

Research limitations/implications
The study contributes to the low carbon supply chain management literature by identifying the decision criteria of investments toward low carbon supplier development. It also provides an analytical model of collaboration for low carbon supplier development. Though the purpose of the study is to illustrate the proposed analytical model, it would have been better if the model was empirically validated.

Originality/value
Though the earlier studies on green supplier development program evaluation have considered a set of criteria to decide whether or not to invest on suppliers, these are silent on the relative level of investment required for a given set of suppliers. This study aims to fulfill this gap by providing an analytical model that will help a manufacturing firm to invest and collaborate with its suppliers for improving their carbon performance.
An investigation of the post-privatization firms’ financial performance in Nigeria: the role of corporate governance practices
Authors: Usman Ojonugwa , Yakubu Umoru Adejo 
Published: December 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of corporate governance practices on the post-privatization financial performance of the firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) over the period 2005-2014.

Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a two-step dynamic system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation technique for 27 privatized firms by considering a wide range of controlled variables such as managerial shareholdings, board composition, debt financing and stock market development.

Findings
The empirical result suggests that the improvement in the firms’ financial performance is attributed to good corporate governance practices through effective board composition, debt financing (leverage) and stock market development. The result further shows no substantial evidence to support that managerial shareholding improves firms’ financial performance.

Research limitations/implications
Therefore, based on the empirical findings of this study, the authors recommend that the firms need to maintain the optimum board composition and the ratio of debt to share capital as well as developing the stock market to function effectively.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing literature in several ways: (1) the first time that the role of corporate governance is considered in explaining the post-privatization financial performance of firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange; (2) the paper applies a two-step dynamic system GMM estimation technique, proposed by Arellano and Bover (1995) and Blundell and Bond (1998) to control for the serial correlation and heterogeneity, which remain the major weaknesses of the panel data modeling in the literature.
An economic theory of Islamic finance
Authors: Al-Jarhi Mabid Ali 
Published: December 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to provide an economic rationale for Islamic finance.

Design/methodology/approach
Its methodology is simple. It starts with listing the contributions to economic analysis relevant to the required rationale in the theories of banking, finance, price, money and macroeconomics, to identify the main rationale for Islamic finance. A concise description of the author’s model for an Islamic economic system, within which Islamic finance can be operational, is provided.

Findings
The paper finds distinct advantages of Islamic finance, when properly applied within the author’s model. Islamic finance can therefore be a candidate as a reform agenda for conventional finance. It opens the door for significant monetary reform in currently prevalent economic systems.

Research limitations/implications
The first limitation of the paper is that the distinct benefits of Islamic finance are all of macroeconomic types which are external to Islamic banking and finance institutions. They are therefore not expected to motivate such institutions to apply Islamic finance to the letter, without regulators interference to ensure strict application. The second limitation is the necessity to set up enabling institutional and regulatory arrangements for Islamic finance.

Originality/value
The results are unique as they challenge the received doctrine and provide non-religious rationale for Islamic finance.
Corporate demand for general takāful in Malaysia
Authors: Ahmad Mokhtar Hamim Syahrum , Abdul Aziz Izwayu , Md Hilal Noraziyah 
Published: December 2018

Purpose
This study on corporate demand for general takāful (Islamic insurance) aims to identify potential growth areas and areas for improvement in takāful business practices in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach
A survey on corporates’ protection needs, takāful/insurance coverage obtained and awareness on takāful/insurance was conducted for this paper.

Findings
The findings from the survey are as follows: There is potential for takāful operators to further penetrate the corporate sector, as the majority of respondents indicated willingness to spend on takāful/insurance. Emphasis on takāful value propositions apart from its Sharīʿah compliance status is needed to attract corporates, as respondents were found to be indifferent on Sharīʿah compliance status of their protection. Strong market presence, expanded product offerings and efficient services were key determinants to attract takāful subscription. Respondents’ heavy reliance on intermediaries warrants strong collaboration with intermediaries to widen market outreach. The small and medium enterprises segment appeared promising, as it is found to be underserved despite having higher propensity to obtain takāful/insurance coverage compared to the overall respondents.

Research limitations/implications
This study is limited to Malaysia’s experience. The findings are indicative (though they may not be conclusive) of the target segment as well as the takāful industry as a whole.

Originality/value
The insights on respondents’ considerations when obtaining takāful/insurance coverage and the correlation of these factors with respondents’ characteristics can assist takāful/insurance providers in structuring products and business strategies to better serve this market segment. The paper may also aid discussions among researchers and regulators on areas for further development of the industry.