bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing network activation in Natural Killer cells: Predictions from in silico modeling
Authors: Makaryan Sahak Z. , Finley Stacey D. 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTNatural killer (NK) cells are part of the innate immune system and are capable of killing diseased cells. As a result, NK cells are being used for adoptive cell therapies for cancer patients. The activation of NK cell stimulatory receptors leads to a cascade of intracellular phosphorylation reactions, which activates key signaling species that facilitate the secretion of cytolytic molecules required for cell killing. Strategies that maximize the activation of such intracellular species can increase the likelihood of NK cell activation upon contact with a cancer cell, and thereby improve efficacy of NK cell-based therapies. However, due to the complexity of intracellular signaling, it is difficult to deduce a priori which strategies can enhance species activation. Therefore, we constructed a mechanistic model of the CD16, 2B4 and NKG2D signaling pathways in NK cells to simulate strategies that enhance signaling. The model predictions were fit to published data and validated with a separate dataset. Model simulations demonstrate strong network activation when the CD16 pathway is stimulated. The magnitude of species activation is most sensitive to the receptor concentration and the rate at which the receptor is deactivated. Co-stimulation of CD16 and NKG2D in silico required fewer ligands to achieve half-maximal activation than other combinations, suggesting co-stimulating these pathways is most effective in activating the species. We applied the model to predict the effects of perturbing the signaling network and found two strategies that can potently enhance network activation. When the availability of ligands is low, it is more influential to engineer NK cell receptors that are resistant to proteolytic cleavage. In contrast, for high ligand concentrations, inhibiting phosphatase activity leads to more activation. The work presented here establishes a framework for understanding the complex, nonlinear aspects of NK cell signaling and provides detailed strategies for enhancing NK cell activation.
Impact of fruit-tree shade intensity on the growth,yield, and quality of intercropped wheat
Authors: Qiao Xu , Sai Lihan , Chen Xingwu , Xue Lihua , Lei Junjie 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAgroforestry is a common traditional practice in China-especially in the southern Xinjiang of Northwest China. However, the productivity of many agroforestry systems has been lower than expected in recent years, highlighting the need for an actionably deep mechanistic understanding of the competition between crops and trees. Here, we chose 3 different fruit tree/wheat intercropping agroforestry systems to investigate influence of different fruit tree shade intensity on the growth, yield and quality of intercropping wheat: jujube/wheat, apricot /wheat, and walnut /wheat. We found that compared to the monoculture wheat system, the mean daily shade intensity of the jujube-, apricot-, and walnut-based intercropping systems were, respectively, 23.2%, 57.5%, and 80.7% shade. The photosynthetic rate of wheat in the jujube-, apricot-, and walnut-based intercropping systems decreased by, respectively, 11.3%, 31.9%, and 36.2% compared to monoculture wheat, and the mean number of fertile florets per spike decreased by 26.4%, 37.4%, and 49.5%. Moreover, the apricot- and walnut-based intercropping systems deleteriously affected grain yield (constituent components spike number, grains per spike, and thousand grain weight) and decreased the total N, P, and K content of intercropping wheat. Tree shading intensity strongly enhanced the protein content, wet gluten content, falling number, dough development time, and dough stability time of wheat, but significantly decreased the softening degree. Strong negative linear correlations were observed between tree shade intensity and the number of fertile florets, grain yield (including spike number, grains per spike, and thousand grain weight), nutrient content (N, P and K), and softening degree of wheat. In contrast, we found that daily shade intensity was positively linearly correlated with protein content, wet gluten content, falling number, dough development time, and dough stability time. We conclude that jujube-based intercropping systems can be practical in the region, as they do not decrease the yield and quality of intercropping wheat. Further research should focus on the above-ground/below-ground interspecific interactions and the mechanisms behind the observations that we observed amongst the intercropping systems.
Viruses.STRING: A virus–host protein–protein interaction database
Authors: Cook Helen Victoria , Tsankova Nadezhda , Szklarczyk Damian , Mering Christian von , Jensen Lars Juhl 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAs viruses continue to pose risks to global health, having a better un-derstanding of virus–host protein–protein interactions aids in the development of treatments and vaccines. Here, we introduce Viruses.STRING, a protein–protein interaction database specifically catering to virus-virus and virus-host interactions. This database combines evidence from experimental and text-mining channels to provide combined probabilities for interactions between viral and host proteins. The database contains 177,425 interactions between 239 viruses and 319 hosts. The database is publicly available at viruses.string-db.org, and the interaction data can also be accessed through the latest version of the Cytoscape STRING app.
Adaptation of artificial diets for Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) at laboratory rearing
Authors: Truzi Caio C. , Holzhausen Hurian G. , Chamessanga José A. , Laurentis Valéria L. , Vieira Natalia F. , Vacari Alessandra M. , De Bortoli Sergio A. 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTHelicoverpa armigera is an important pest of crops worldwide, and several studies have focused on the development of artificial diets for this species. However, studies evaluating the insect´s performance at nutritionally different diets are scarce. Larval development is dependent on the ratio of protein and carbohydrates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biology and to compare the consumption and use of food of H. armigera larvae on diets with different protein levels. The nutritional index, the relative consumption rate, the relative metabolic rate, the relative growth rate, and the apparent digestibility were higher in the diet with added protein. On the other hand, the conversion efficiency of digested food was lower, resulting in a higher metabolic cost. In terms of biological aspects, larval survival was higher for the diet with average protein content and lower for the diet with a high protein level. The pupal period was longer for the diet with a higher protein content, while pupal survival was lower. Among the evaluated diets, the diet with an average protein content resulted in a higher net reproductive rate, a shorter time for the population to double in number, and the highest rates of population growth. The results suggest that lower or higher protein contents in the diets of H. armigera negatively affect the biological aspects of this species.
MafK mediates chromatin remodeling to silence IRF8 expression in non-immune cells in a lineage-specific manner
Authors: Fourier Nitsan , Zolty Maya , Azriel Aviva , Tedesco Donato , Levi Ben-Zion 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe regulation of gene expression is a result of a complex interplay between chromatin remodeling, transcription factors (TFs) and signaling molecules. Cell differentiation is accompanied by chromatin remodeling of specific loci to permanently silence genes that are not essential for the differentiated cell activity. The molecular cues that recruit the chromatin remodeling machinery are not well characterized. IRF8 is an immune-cell specific TF, and thus, serves as a model gene to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing its silencing in non-immune cells. A high-throughput shRNA library screen in IRF8 expression-restrictive cells enabled the identification of MafK as modulator of IRF8 silencing, affecting chromatin architecture. ChIP-seq analysis revealed three MafK binding-regions (−25kb, −20kb and IRF8 6thintron) in the IRF8 locus. These MafK binding-sites are sufficient to repress a reporter-gene when cloned in genome-integrated lentiviral reporter constructs in expression-restrictive cells only. Conversely, plasmid-based constructs do not demonstrate such repressive effect. These results highlight the role of these MafK binding-sites in mediating repressed chromatin assembly. Furthermore, removal of MafK-int6 binding-region from BAC-IRF8 reporter construct was sufficient to promote accessible chromatin conformation. Taken together, we identified and characterized several MafK binding elements within the IRF8 locus that mediate repressive chromatin conformation resulting in the silencing of IRF8 expression only in non-immune cells.
PARylation regulates stress granule dynamics, phase separation, and neurotoxicity of disease-related RNA-binding proteins
Authors: Duan Yongjia , Du Aiying , Gu Jinge , Duan Gang , Wang Chen , Ma Zhiwei , Sun Le , Qian Beituo , Deng Xue , Zhang Kai , Tian Kuili , Zhang Yaoyang , Jiang Hong , Liu Cong , Fang Yanshan 
Published: August 2018

SUMMARYMutations in RNA-binding proteins localized in ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules, such as hnRNP A1 and TDP-43, promote aberrant protein aggregations, which are pathological hallmarks in neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs) are known to regulate RNP granules. In this study, we investigate the function of PARylation, an important PTM involved in DNA damage repair and cell death, in RNP-related neurodegeneration. We reveal that PARylation levels are a major regulator of the dynamic assembly-disassembly of RNP granules, and the disease-related RNPs such as hnRNP A1 and TDP-43 can both be PARylated and bind to PARylated proteins. We further identify the PARylation site of hnRNP A1 at K298, which controls the cytoplasmic translocation of hnRNP A1 in response to stress, as well as the PAR-binding motif (PBM) of hnRNP A1, which is required for the delivery and association of hnRNP A1 to stress granules. Moreover, we show that PAR not only dramatically enhances the liquid-liquid phase separation of hnRNP A1, but also promotes the co-phase separation of hnRNP A1 and TDP-43 in vitro and their interaction in vivo. Finally, we establish that both genetic and pharmacological inhibition of PARP mitigates hnRNP A1 and TDP-43-mediated neurotoxicity in cell and Drosophila models of ALS. Together, our findings indicate a novel and crucial role of PARylation in regulating the assembly and the dynamics of RNP granules, and dysregulation of PARylation may contribute to ALS disease pathogenesis.
Information technology barriers in Indian sugar supply chain: an AHP and fuzzy AHP approach
Authors: Kumar Rupesh , Kansara Surendra 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to find out possible barriers of information technology (IT) applications in the supply chain system of sugar industry in India. All these barriers have their strategic importance for serving the supply chain partners in better way and also help in improving the Indian agrarian economy. The study is a blend of theoretical and practical frameworks, which would focus on those key factors or IT barriers leading to implementation of IT in the sugar supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on theoretical exploration of potential barriers IT applications in the supply chain system of sugar industry in India and prioritizing these barriers by employing multi-criteria decision-making approach.

Findings
The findings of this paper are identification of barriers of IT applications in the supply chain system of sugar industry in India, and ranking of these barriers in terms of its severity.

Research limitations/implications
Potential barriers of IT applications in the supply chain system of sugar industry in India considered in to the study are 11 in total. There can be more barriers of IT applications in the supply chain system.

Originality/value
This study reveals the application of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy AHP to Indian sugar industry for prioritizing the IT barriers which influence the sugar supply chain.
Non-performing assets and technical efficiency of Indian banks: a meta-frontier analysis
Authors: Arora Nitin , Arora Nidhi Grover , Kanwar Kritika 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
The issue of mounting non-performing assets (NPAs) in Indian banking industry is serious and attracting attention of academia and policy planners. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to test the hypothesis whether NPAs in Indian commercial banking have reached at alarming state where they start affecting the technical efficiency levels adversely or not.

Design/methodology/approach
The efficiency score have been computed using case model (model with NPAs as bad/undesirable output) vs control model (model without NPAs as bad/undesirable output) methodology under meta-frontier data envelopment analysis framework.

Findings
It has been noticed that the effect of NPAs on overall technical efficiency and its various components is insignificant. The comparison of the case models (i.e. model with NPAs as bad output) with the control models (i.e. model without NPAs) reveals insignificant difference in average efficiency scores and rank distribution of commercial banks. The major source of inefficiency is technology gap (i.e. structure, setup and objectives of banking) among public, domestic private and foreign private categories of banks.

Practical implications
Though NPAs are increasing in Indian banking industry and specifically in Indian public sector banks because of their compulsory lending to priority sector yet the banks have huge scope to extend credit to priority sector as the NPAs have not reached at alarming stage where they start affecting adversely the efficiency performance.

Originality/value
Given the fact that the banking penetrations, structure and objectives differ significantly across ownership, separate frontiers for each ownership (public, private and foreign banks) category has been used to evaluate the technical efficiency levels of 81 commercial banks operating in India over the period 2005 to 2013.
Computationally efficient permanent magnet traction motor loss assessment
Authors: Sarigiannidis Athanasios , Beniakar Minos , Kladas Antonios 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to introduce a computationally efficient hybrid analytical–finite element (FE) methodology for loss evaluation in electric vehicle (EV) permanent magnet (PM) traction motor applications. In this class of problems, eddy current losses in PMs and iron laminations constitute an important part of overall drive losses, representing a key design target.

Design/methodology/approach
Both surface mounted permanent magnet (SMPM) and double-layer interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor topologies are considered. The PM eddy losses are calculated by using analytical solutions and Fourier harmonic decomposition. The boundary conditions are based on slot opening magnetic field strength tangential component in the air gap in the SMPM topology case, whereas the numerically evaluated normal flux density variation on the surface of the outer PM is implemented in the IPM case. Combined analytical–loss evaluation technique has been verified by comparing its results to a transient magnetodynamic two-dimensional FE model ones.

Findings
The proposed loss evaluation technique calculated the total power losses for various operating conditions with low computational cost, illustrating the relative advantages and drawbacks of each motor topology along a typical EV operating cycle. The accuracy of the method was comparable to transient FE loss evaluation models, particularly around nominal speed.

Originality/value
The originality of this paper is based on the development of a fast and accurate PM eddy loss model for both SMPM and IPM motor topologies for traction applications, combining effectively both analytical and FE techniques.
The older entrepreneurial self: intersecting identities of older women entrepreneurs
Authors: Stirzaker Rebecca , Sitko Rafal 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the developing literature on entrepreneurship and identity by exploring the multidimensionality of older (50+) British women entrepreneurs’ identity. By using positionality as a lens, greater insight into the complexity of the lived multiple identities of older women entrepreneurs is explored.

Design/methodology/approach
A total of 12 in-depth qualitative interviews took place throughout the UK seeking to capture the various experiences of how older women engage with intersecting discourses surrounding enterprise culture and ageing whilst constructing their identities.

Findings
Overall, findings evidence the outcomes of these intersecting dimensions are largely positive and demonstrate the life enhancing benefits of these overlaps. Whilst tension was evidenced between age and how these women entrepreneurs perceive their entrepreneurial identities, as well as some constraints between identity as “mother” and “entrepreneur”, overall synergy was found between the intersection of older women entrepreneurs’ social identities and their entrepreneurial identity. It must be noted, however, that this synergy was heavily reliant on context and stage of life for these women.

Originality/value
This paper challenges the traditional discourse of entrepreneurship, which produces a homogenous view of entrepreneurs and omits key historical and social variables in the process of identity formation. The current paper adds to increasing calls to develop more sophisticated ways of measuring and understanding entrepreneurship and its impacts. The authors echo calls throughout the most recent literature to move away from the agency agenda and pursue lines of enquiry that examine entrepreneurship as a process in contexts that are underpinned by both agency and external factors.
Consumer behavior regarding wearable technologies: Google Glass
Authors: Nunes Gibran Sales , Arruda Filho Emílio José Montero 
Published: August 2018

PurposeThis purpose of this study is to analyze consumer behavior in relation to Google Glass. The study considers the adoption and diffusion of the innovation, aspects related to technological convergence and the theories of utilitarian, hedonic and social value.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative, exploratory study uses the methodological approach of netnography via passive observation. Data collection was conducted using the social network Reddit over a period of about four months.FindingsThree categories and two subcategories of consumers were found, namely, socially satisfied; socially constrained; and early adopters, divided into enthusiasts and visionaries.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of this research pertains to the data collected regarding consumption preferences of users and potential adopters. No questions were created, but rather, discussions were selected, from the social network Reddit, that focused on factors pertaining to the theories studied.Practical implicationsThe research brings an important insight regarding the launch of new products: to obtain a good market position for new devices, failures or inadequate perceptions that will negatively impact the technology’s dissemination must be minimized.Social implicationsThis study presents social value of technological consumption as a function of the conspicuousness, status and position of users who own devices that differ from those commonly available on the market.Originality/valueThis study reveals which elements exert the greatest influence on intention to consume so-called wearable technology. In particular, it analyzes consumer behavior in relation to Google Glass, evaluating the reasons that were perceived as positive and negative for consumers which blocked the technology launch in the market.
The moderating effect of technology optimism
Authors: Chao Cheng-Min , Yu Tai-Kuei 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to combine task-technology fit, theory of planned behaviour and individual technology optimism, and propose a better hybrid technology behavioural intention model to explain Taiwanese students’ usage behaviour for weblog learning.

Design/methodology/approach
A 31-item questionnaire with eight constructs was administered to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in three universities in Taiwan. A total of 380 voluntary, usable responses were received, and a research model estimated using Smart PLS was used to interpret the structural relation results.

Findings
The results of the research model were analysed using a structural equation modelling approach to test six hypotheses and three moderating hypotheses; significant support were found for seven of them. Accordingly, this study considered the level of technology optimism as a moderator to explore whether it impacts perceived behavioural control, attitudes and social influences on behavioural intention related to weblog learning.

Originality/value
This research provides a better understanding of individual and system characteristics, as well as social factors regarding weblog learning system acceptance and intention.
Socially conscious investing: do good deeds get punished?
Authors: Qiu Judy , Movassaghi Hormoz , Bramhandkar Alka 
Published: August 2018

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the performance of select “socially conscious” (SC) mutual funds and a control group of conventional funds during recent bullish and bearish financial markets. It aims at exploring the interface of these funds’ historical returns and selectivity of their investment screening.Design/methodology/approachThe authors’ data come from Morningstar Direct and focuses on “equity” funds/class A shares only. The authors controlled for age, expense ratio, size and management turnover in comparing SC and mutual funds’ returns.FindingsSC funds underperformed conventional funds in both expansionary and recessionary periods and in short and long term. Paradoxically, SC funds’ return generally improved with the number of social screens adopted. The gap in returns between SC, conventional funds and indices of market return narrowed as investment horizon became longer and also during boom market conditions, suggesting that doing good need not come at the expense of doing well.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors’ study focused on class A shares only.Practical implicationsIn choosing SC funds, investors need to focus on expense ratio and management turnover which seem to influence returns more. Neither age nor size of SC funds seem to have affected returns in systematic and statistically significant way.Originality/valueThis paper provides the most recent scorecard of SC funds’ performance, compared to similar conventional funds and market return, since the 2007 global financial crisis.