bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Cross-case Study on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Philippines: A Comparative Analysis on Perspectives from the Top Banking Institutions in the Philippines from 2010-2014
Authors: Romero Frederick P. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractCorporate Social Responsibility by corporations and businesses helps alleviate the effect of the significant problems faced by the community such as poverty, environmental degradation, social inequality, health and illness, drugs, crime and terrorism and some others. This paper investigates the major Philippine banking institutions’ awareness on these given social problems by content analysis methodology, which is done by understanding the use of media releases (such as Annual reports, Sustainability Reports and other online press releases and news releases) in the marketing and communication of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The scope of the CSR reports is based on the 4-year time period 2010-2014. This study tries to determine the coverage on the social aspects of the top Philippine banking institutions based on the classification: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Corporate Communication, Corporate Philanthropy, and Corporate Social Behavior in Banks. Moreover, the paper seeks to: (1) Examine the social-responsibility issues portrayed in the annual reports by banks; (2) Examine the nature of such issues handled by banks (3) Know what are the most important CSR issues being addressed by the top Philippine banking institutions.
Relating salt marsh pore water geochemistry patterns to vegetation zones and hydrologic influences
Authors: Moffett Kevan B. , Gorelick Steven M. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractPhysical, chemical, and biological factors influence vegetation zonation in salt marshes and other wetlands, but connections among these factors could be better understood. If salt marsh vegetation and marsh pore water geochemistry coorganize, e.g., via continuous plant water uptake and persistently unsaturated sediments controlling vegetation zone‐specific pore water geochemistry, this could complement known physical mechanisms of marsh self‐organization. A high‐resolution survey of pore water geochemistry was conducted among five salt marsh vegetation zones at the same intertidal elevation. Sampling transects were arrayed both parallel and perpendicular to tidal channels. Pore water geochemistry patterns were both horizontally differentiated, corresponding to vegetation zonation, and vertically differentiated, relating to root influences. The geochemical patterns across the site were less broadly related to marsh hydrology than to vegetation zonation. Mechanisms contributing to geochemical differentiation included: root‐induced oxidation and nutrient (P) depletion, surface and creek‐bank sediment flushing by rainfall or tides, evapotranspiration creating aerated pore space for partial sediment flushing in some areas while persistently saturated conditions hindered pore water renewal in others, and evapoconcentration of pore water solutes overall. The concentrated pore waters draining to the tidal creeks accounted for 41% of ebb tide solutes (median of 14 elements), including being a potentially toxic source of Ni but a slight sink for Zn, at least during the short, winter study period in southern San Francisco Bay. Heterogeneous vegetation effects on pore water geochemistry are not only significant locally within the marsh but may broadly influence marsh‐estuary solute exchange and ecology.
Vertebrate Embryo: Limb Development
Authors: Tickle Cheryll 
Published: February 2016

AbstractVertebrate limbs develop from small buds of mesenchyme cells encased in ectoderm. Limb development is an excellent model system for studying embryonic growth and pattern formation. Both processes are governed by cell–cell interactions involving signalling centres that operate along each of the three limb axes, but are functionally interconnected. The main proliferative and positional signals are WNTs, FGFs, SHH and BMPs. Considerable progress has been made in identifying molecules that initiate bud formation including the TBX4/5 transcription factors and unravelling the regulatory pathways that establish the signalling centres.Hoxgenes are involved in multiple steps in establishing the anteroposterior signalling centre in the forelimb. They are also expressed in response to positional signals in the limb buds with a late‐phase controlling digit development. The transcription factor, LMX1B, specifies dorsal development. The transcription factor PITX1 is a major hindlimb determinant but how positional information is interpreted is largely unknown.Key ConceptsThe limb develops from a bud of mesoderm cells encased in ectoderm which grows out from the body wall.The limb bud mesoderm is made up of cells with two different origins; cells of the lateral plate mesoderm which give rise to the connective tissues and cells that have migrated from the somites which give rise to the myogenic cells of the limb muscles.Three sets of cell–cell interactions specify positional information; one set of interactions operating along each of the three axes of the limb.The apical ectodermal ridge at the tip of the limb bud produces FGFs which are required for bud outgrowth and laying down the proximodistal limb pattern.The dorsal and ventral ectoderm of the limb bud produce WNT7a and BMPs, respectively, which are involved in specifying dorsoventral positional information.The polarising region, a mesodermal signalling region at the posterior margin of the limb bud, produces Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) which specifies anteroposterior positional information and controls growth across this axis.Hox5andHox9paralogous genes of theHoxclusters are involved in establishing the initial anteroposterior polarity of the buds that will develop into forelimbs.Interactions between the signalling regions ensure that pattern formation is integrated along all three axes of the developing limb.5′ genes in theHoxAandHoxDclusters are expressed in early and late limb buds under the control of long‐range enhancers located, respectively, 3′ and 5′ of the cluster, with the early phase of activity being involved in establishingShhexpression in the polarising region and the later phase development of the digits.The differences between forelimbs and hindlimbs depend on the interpretation of positional information, with the transcription factor PITX1 being a major hindlimb determinant.
Mucosal Surfaces: Immunological Protection
Authors: Wohlfert Elizabeth A , Russell Michael W 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe mucosal surfaces of the body are protected against pathogens and other environmental antigens by the mucosal immune system. This is functionally separate from the circulatory immune system, and represents by far the largest part of the entire immune system. Components include innate and adaptive immune cells and molecules. Specific T and B cells induced by antigens in the major immune inductive sites located in the gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract are programmed to relocate in remote mucosal effector sites where secretory IgA antibodies and effector T cells are generated. Regulatory mechanisms including regulatory T cells and cytokines maintain a hypo‐responsive, non‐inflammatory state that prevents over‐reaction to the large mass of antigenic material consisting of food and other environmental antigens as well as the commensal microbiota. However, the mucosal immune system can respond vigorously with localised and disseminated responses when stimulated by aggressive pathogens.Key ConceptsThe mucosal immune system protects the large surface areas of the oro‐gastrointestinal, respiratory and genital tracts, the conjunctivae, their associated glands and the mammary glands.The mucosal immune system discriminates between pathogens that elicit a vigorous response, commensals that are regulated but not eliminated and harmless antigens such as food components that are tolerated.Innate components of mucosal immunity include physicochemical barriers such as mucus and low pH, and an array of antimicrobial molecules and cells that defend the mucosae against pathogenic attack and initiate recognition by the adaptive immune system.Adaptive components of mucosal immunity include locally produced secretory IgA antibodies, and both effector and regulatory T cells.Mucosal immune inductive sites such as intestinal Peyer's patches and other mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissues take up luminal antigens and disseminate induced, antigen‐specific T and B cells to remote effector sites in the ‘common’ mucosal immune system.Dendritic cells and other antigen‐presenting cells are located within the mucosal immune inductive sites and in the lamina propria underlying the epithelium.Mucosal trafficking of antigen‐induced T and B cells is determined by a set of vascular addressins, mucosal chemokines and receptors imprinted on lymphocytes during their induction.Mucosal epithelial cells have an integral role in antigen recognition and uptake, interaction with the cells of the immune system and delivery of the cells and molecules involved in immune defence.Innate defence cells including mast cells, macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils are recruited to the mucosae, and display phenotypic profiles distinct from equivalent cells in systemic locations or the circulation.
Calcium‐Binding Proteins
Authors: Haynes Lee 
Published: February 2016

Abstract

Calcium ions act as critical second messengers in all eukaryotes and plants and are of fundamental importance to the normal development and functioning of all higher animal species. In mammals, calcium influences almost all aspects of cellular physiology and is particularly relevant for normal cardiac and neuronal function. Calcium signals are generated by the complex interplay of two opposing systems the first of which mediates calcium entry into the cell cytoplasm and a second clearance system that removes it. Exactly how these two systems integrate in space and time determines the precise nature of a given calcium signal. When the cytosolic calcium is elevated, it can be detected by a large number of diverse binding proteins, many of which decode specific signals into a biological output. According to well‐conserved structural elements, these proteins can be grouped into different families including annexins, C2 domain proteins and EF‐hand proteins.

Key Concepts

Calcium is an evolutionarily ancient and fundamental intracellular second messenger used by plants, animals and bacteria.

Complex spatiotemporal calcium signals generated within cells are coupled to changes in biological activity. This is largely achieved through the presence of proteins that are able to rapidly bind Ca
2+
with high affinity

These calcium‐binding proteins, or CaBPs, contain unique calcium chelating motifs formed by multiple amino acids in the protein primary sequence.

Calcium binding to a CaBP can induce significant conformational rearrangements in the protein tertiary structure, which can expose binding sites for specific target interaction partners, thereby coupling the calcium signal to a unique cell signalling pathway.

Calcium signalling events mediated by various CaBPs are becoming increasingly important as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for a range of human diseases.
Immunology of Invertebrates: Cellular
Authors: Smith Valerie J 
Published: February 2016

Abstract

Circulating blood cells are the primary mediators of immunity in invertebrates, carrying out the phagocytic, pathogen trapping and other inflammatory responses that protect invertebrates against infection without specific immunoglobulin antibodies and immune memory. Different immune cell types are usually specialised for different functions with, in general, immune cell diversity tending to increase with body complexity and life history. However, common to most species are phagocytic and/or granular‐type cells that synthesise and store bioactive proteins. Cellular immunity is induced by non‐self motifs on the surface of pathogens or parasites recognised by cell‐derived pattern recognition receptors with diverse binding specificities. Cell death appears to be inherent in immune reactivity of many invertebrates and, in some cases, aids pathogen trapping, which prevents their spread around the body. New immune cells are produced, at least in coelomates, by mesodermal haematopoietic tissues.

Key Concepts

Immunity in invertebrates is confined to non‐specific inflammatory responses, mediated to a large extent by the circulating blood cells (haemocytes or coelomocytes) or their products.

All coelomate invertebrates contain populations of freely circulating cells dedicated to host defence, some well developed for specialist purposes.

There are no true vertebrate‐type lymphocytes and no long‐term, highly specific immune memory in invertebrates.

The main invertebrate cellular immune responses include phagocytosis, pathogen trapping, cytotoxicity and the synthesis and release of microbicidal agents.

These cellular reactions often involve the death of immune cells or their removal from the circulation, requiring new cells to be synthesised in the haemopoietic tissue and released into the blood.

Genomic and proteomic studies have enabled many of the proteins responsible for cellular defence in invertebrates to be identified, especially in arthropods.

Whilst many of the responses and pathways are ancient and highly conserved, there is great diversity in the effector molecules across the invertebrates as a whole.
History of Molecular Biology
Authors: Morange Michel 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDespite the huge place molecular biology has acquired in biological research, it remains difficult to provide a definition of it. Is molecular biology a scientific discipline, or a new vision of organisms? When did it emerge? Is molecular biology still alive, or has this discipline died, and been replaced by new disciplines such as systems and synthetic biology? Were molecular biologists too reductionist?Three successive steps can be distinguished in the history of molecular biology: the 1930s, with the development of new technologies aimed at describing the structure of macromolecules, and an effort to ‘naturalise life’; a relatively short period (1940–1965) in which the main results were obtained; and the huge accumulation of molecular data that has modified biology since this time. Despite the fact that molecular explanations have in part reached their limits, I consider that molecular biology has succeeded in ‘naturalising life’.Key ConceptsMolecular biology is not a new discipline, but a new level of explanation.Biologists are still working within the framework of the ‘molecular paradigm’ built more than 50 years ago.Structural biology is an essential, but not a highly visible part of molecular biology.Personalised medicine is a consequence of the progress made in DNA sequencing.
SUMO
ylation
Authors: Kerscher Oliver 
Published: February 2016

Abstract

Eukaryotic cells utilise the dynamic addition and removal of SUMO, a small ubiquitin‐like modifier (UBL), to modulate protein functions, interactions and localisation. Protein SUMOylation involves a cascade of dedicated enzymes that facilitate the covalent modification of specific lysine residues on target proteins with monomers or polymers of SUMO. The cellular homeostasis of SUMOylated proteins is also regulated by SUMO proteases and SUMO‐targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbLs). SUMO proteases cleave SUMO from modified proteins. In contrast, STUbLs ubiquitinate proteins modified with SUMO chains. Recent data suggests that ubiquitination via STUbLs effects the turnover of SUMOylated proteins as well as the spatio‐temporal composition of complexes that contain SUMO‐modified proteins. Defects in the controlled addition, removal and turnover of SUMO‐modified proteins greatly affect cellular fitness and contribute to developmental defects, cancer and protein aggregation disorders.

Key Concepts

SUMO encodes a small ubiquitin‐like modifier that is covalently attached to lysines in target proteins.

SUMOylation, the process of SUMO conjugation to a target protein, frequently occurs on a lysine situated in a SUMOylation consensus site.

SUMO conjugates can be removed from target proteins by SUMO‐specific proteases.

Vertebrates express three different SUMO isoforms: SUMO1, SUMO2 and SUMO3, encoded by three different genes.

SUMOs can form polymers via internal SUMOylation sites in SUMO2 and SUMO3.

Several proteins can bind non‐covalently to SUMOs via SUMO interaction motifs (SIMs).

A finely balanced SUMOylation/de‐SUMOylation system is required for eukaryotic life.

Cross‐talk between SUMOylation and ubiquitination plays a critical in the turnover of some SUMOylated proteins as well as the spatiotemporal composition of complexes that contain SUMO‐modified proteins.
S
‐Layers
Authors: Engelhardt Harald 
Published: February 2016

Abstract

Microbial surface layer (S‐layer) proteins assemble into two‐dimensional (2D) crystalline lattices on the cell surface of many species of
Archaea
and
Bacteria
and represent the outermost cell wall component, except for the existence of a carbohydrate capsule. Despite their widespread occurrence, the function of S‐layers remained obscure. Analysing the S‐layer structure on the one hand and the interaction of the 2D crystal with the underlying cell membrane on the other, reveals the S‐layers' cell wall function and the mechanism of cell stabilisation in
Archaea
. This basic function is not obvious in
Bacteria
. Here, experimental data suggest a major role in mediating and controlling interactions of S‐layers with the microbes' environment. The hybrid functional role of S‐layers will be understood more clearly if structural research is combined with the investigation of S‐layer interactions with the adjacent cell envelope components and the complex environmental factors.

Key Concepts

Microbial S‐layers have a hybrid functional role, that is, mediating cell stability and controlling cell surface properties.

The architecture of S‐layers and their close interactions with the cell membrane determine and explain the S‐layers' cell wall function in
Archaea
.

Attracting and repelling surface characteristics of S‐layers in
Bacteria
mediate the interactions with the environment and contribute to the proliferation and survival of cells.

The investigation of S‐layer functions requires the combined analysis of the S‐layer structure and its impact on the cell envelope components as well as of interactions with environmental factors.
Origin of Metazoan Patterning Systems and the Role of
ANTP
‐Class Homeobox Genes
Authors: Thomas‐Chollier Morgane , Martinez Pedro 
Published: February 2016

Abstract

The origin (Metazoa) is considered a key event in the history of life on Earth. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the emergence of animals has become one of the principal aims of research in many laboratories. These research programs are propelled by the many genome projects (past and present) carried out in labs around the world. A thorough comparison of the structure and composition of genomes provides us with a unique opportunity to understand the evolution of animals as products of their genome dynamics. One major focus of attention has been the characterisation of families of transcriptional regulators in different lineages and the careful analysis of their patterns of evolutionary change. Needless to say, these comparisons make full sense only in the context of parallel analysis of their expression domains and their historical changes. Among the most studied families of transcription factors (those with critical involvement in processes such as regulation of axial polarity, proliferation or differentiation) is the so‐called ANTP (for Anntenapedia)‐class of homeodomain proteins. Importantly, this class of proteins is specific to the metazoans, and the diversification of its members appears to follow a clear phyletic pattern of variation.
The knowledge of the changes in composition and expression domains of the major families of ANTP‐class homeobox genes in the early divergent metazoan phyla (Porifera, Ctenophora, Placozoa, Cnidaria) plus in the bilaterian Xenacoelomorpha has been advancing. The current scarcity of knowledge seems to restrict the advancement of our understanding, which needs further research to expand.

Key Concepts

Homeobox‐containing genes encode for transcription factors. The homeobox sequence is translated into the homeodomain.

The homeobox genes are grouped into classes and families. The ANTP class of homeobox genes is metazoan‐specific.

Phylogenetic relationships at the origin of Metazoa are unresolved. They provide a framework for putative evolutionary scenarios of any gene family.

Hox and Parahox genes control specific aspects of the main metazoan body axis. They are the best studied families of ANTP class homeobox genes.

Homeobox genes of the ANTP class control basic aspects of development, such as proliferation and differentiation of cells and tissues.

Family assignments within the ANTP class are, sometimes, difficult, given the low phylogenetic signal provided by just the homeodomain. Other additional motifs in the protein sequence (such as interaction domains or specific peptides) can be critical in determining affinities.
Functional Traits
Authors: Nock Charles A , Vogt Richard J , Beisner Beatrix E 
Published: February 2016

Abstract

Functional traits are morphological, biochemical, physiological, structural, phenological or behavioural characteristics of organisms that influence performance or fitness. Grouping species by functional characteristics is a long‐standing idea, but there has more recently been rapid development in the application of trait‐based approaches to diverse topics in ecology. Two common applications of functional traits are to characterise community responses to changes in the environment, including community assembly processes, and to quantify the influence of community shifts on ecosystem processes. Practical decisions include: What types of traits should be considered? How can traits be measured or inferred? Are traits correlated or traded‐off? Which, and how many, traits should be assessed? How should trait data be analysed? Functional trait approaches enhance ecological understanding by focusing on the mechanisms that govern interactions between organisms and their environments. Measuring and understanding traits increases our understanding of ecological processes, thus also informing conservation and restoration.

Key Concepts

Functional traits are morphological, biochemical, physiological, structural, phenological or behavioural characteristics that influence organism performance or fitness.

Traits can be broadly classified either as having an effect on ecosystem properties and the services that human societies derive from them, or as characterising a response to environmental change or with respect to processes affecting community assembly.

Common data types for traits include continuous, categorical, ordinal and binary variable formats. The data type has repercussions for subsequent data analyses.

Methods for measuring traits vary from time‐consuming (hard traits) to rapid (soft traits), and in turn the information content of the resulting data also varies.

Trait syndromes describe patterns of inter‐trait correlation that define differences and trade‐offs in ecological strategies.

When choosing traits for calculating functional diversity it is important to consider which, and how many, traits are included, as well as what insights they will provide into the ecosystem processes, community structure or assembly processes under consideration.

Functional traits are at the forefront of efforts to develop a mechanistic understanding of how species diversity influences ecosystem functioning, and the current ecological literature presents many indices by which functional diversity can be computed.