bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring the limits of learning: segregation of information integration and response selection is required for learning a serial reversal task
Authors: Mininni Camilo J. , Zanutto B. Silvano 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAnimals are proposed to learn the latent rules governing their environment in order to maximize their chances of survival. However, rules may change without notice, forcing animals to keep a memory of which one is currently at work. Rule switching can lead to situations in which the same stimulus/response pairing is positively and negatively rewarded in the long run, depending on variables that are not accessible to the animal. This fact rises questions on how neural systems are capable of reinforcement learning in environments where the reinforcement is inconsistent. Here we address this issue by asking about which aspects of connectivity, neural excitability and synaptic plasticity are key for a very general, stochastic spiking neural network model to solve a task in which rules change without being cued, taking the serial reversal task (SRT) as paradigm. Contrary to what could be expected, we found strong limitations for biologically plausible networks to solve the SRT. Especially, we proved that no network of neurons can learn a SRT if it is a single neural population that integrates stimuli information and at the same time is responsible of choosing the behavioural response. This limitation is independent of the number of neurons, neuronal dynamics or plasticity rules, and arises from the fact that plasticity is locally computed at each synapse, and that synaptic changes and neuronal activity are mutually dependent processes. We propose and characterize a spiking neural network model that solves the SRT, which relies on separating the functions of stimuli integration and response selection. The model suggests that experimental efforts to understand neural function should focus on the characterization of neural circuits according to their connectivity, neural dynamics, and the degree of modulation of synaptic plasticity with reward.
Principles of transcription factor traffic on folded chromatin
Authors: Cortini Ruggero , Filion Guillaume 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAll organisms regulate the transcription of their genes. To understand this process, it is essential to know how transcription factors find their targets in the genome. In addition to the DNA sequence, several variables have a known influence, but overall the binding patterns of transcription factors distribution remains mostly unexplained in animal genomes. Here we investigate the role of the chromosome conformation in shaping the search path of transcription factors. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we uncover the main principles of their diffusion on folded chromatin. Chromosome contacts play a conflicting role: at low density they enhance the traffic of transcription factors, but a high density they lower the traffic by volume exclusion. Consistently, we observe that in human cells, highly occupied targets, where protein binding is promiscuous, are found at sites engaged in chromosome loops within uncompact chromatin. In summary, those results provide a theoretical framework to understand the search trajectories of transcription factors and highlight the key contribution of genome conformation.
Sensitive and robust assessment of ChIP-seq read distribution using a strand-shift profile
Authors: Nakato Ryuichiro , Shirahige Katsuhiko 
Published: July 2017

AbstractChromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) can detect read-enriched DNA loci for point-source (e.g., transcription factor binding) and broad-source factors (e.g., various histone modifications). Although numerous quality metrics for ChIP-seq data have been developed, the ‘peaks’ thus obtained are still difficult to assess with respect to signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and the percentage of false positives.We developed a quality-assessment tool for ChIP-seq data, SSP (strand-shift profile), that quantifies S/N and peak reliability without peak calling. We validated SSP in-depth using ≥ 1,000 publicly available ChIP-seq datasets along with virtual data to demonstrate that SSP is quantifiable and sensitive to different S/Ns for both pointand broad-source factors. Moreover, SSP is consistent among cell types and with respect to variance of sequencing depth, and identifies low-quality samples that cannot be identified by quality metrics currently available. Finally, we show that “hidden-duplicate reads” cause aberrantly high S/Ns, and SSP provides an additional metric to avoid them, which can also contribute to estimation of peak mode (pointor broad-source) of samples.Availabilityhttps://github.com/rnakato/SSP"
Modeling positional effects of regulatory sequences with spline transformations increases prediction accuracy of deep neural networks
Authors: Avsec Žiga , Barekatain Mohammadamin , Cheng Jun , Gagneur Julien 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMotivationRegulatory sequences are not solely defined by their nucleic acid sequence but also by their relative distances to genomic landmarks such as transcription start site, exon boundaries, or polyadenylation site. Deep learning has become the approach of choice for modeling regulatory sequences because of its strength to learn complex sequence features. However, modeling relative distances to genomic landmarks in deep neural networks has not been addressed.ResultsHere we developed spline transformation, a neural network module based on splines to flexibly and robustly model distances. Modeling distances to various genomic landmarks with spline transformations significantly increased state-of-the-art prediction accuracy ofin vivoRNA-binding protein binding sites for 114 out of 123 proteins. We also developed a deep neural network for human splice branchpoint based on spline transformations that outperformed the current best, already distance-based, machine learning model. Compared to piecewise linear transformation, as obtained by composition of rectified linear units, spline transformation yields higher prediction accuracy as well as faster and more robust training. As spline transformation can be applied to further quantities beyond distances, such as methylation or conservation, we foresee it as a versatile component in the genomics deep learning toolbox.AvailabilitySpline transformation is implemented as a Keras layer in the CONCISE python package:https://github.com/gagneurlab/concise. Analysis code is available atgoo.gl/3yMY5w.Contactavsec@in.tum.de;gagneur@in.tum.de
Determinants of consumers’ intention to adopt mobile banking services in Zimbabwe
Authors: Makanyeza Charles 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of consumers’ intention to adopt mobile banking services in Zimbabwe.

Design/methodology/approach
A survey of 232 bank customers was conducted in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, using a structured questionnaire with Likert-type questions. Customers were randomly intercepted as they walked out of five major banks. Structural equation modelling, independent-samples t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to test research hypotheses.

Findings
The study found that perceived usefulness, perceived self-efficacy, social influence, relative advantage and perceived compatibility all have a positive effect, whilst perceived risk has a negative effect on behavioural intention to adopt mobile banking services in Zimbabwe. Perceived ease of use, facilitating conditions, perceived complexity, perceived trialability, awareness-knowledge and demographic factors (gender, age, education and income) did not significantly influence behavioural intention to adopt mobile banking. Perceived ease of use was found to positively influence perceived usefulness, while perceived self-efficacy was found to have a positive effect on perceived ease of use. Behavioural intention was found to positively influence usage of mobile banking services in Zimbabwe.

Research limitations/implications
Data were collected from bank customers in Chinhoyi, one of the emerging towns in Zimbabwe. Future research should be expanded to include other major cities in Zimbabwe and other countries. More similar studies should be conducted to test the factors identified in literature in different contexts and markets and on other innovations.

Practical implications
The study advises banks to pay particular attention to perceived usefulness, perceived self-efficacy, social influence, relative advantage, perceived compatibility and perceived risk when designing new mobile banking services.

Originality/value
There is not a unified position regarding factors influencing mobile banking adoption. Factors vary with contexts, markets, time and types of innovations. The study tested some major factors identified in literature in the context of Zimbabwe.
Building customer loyalty in digital banking
Authors: Larsson Anthony , Viitaoja Yamit 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceptions among representatives from various established major Swedish banks in how they experienced the digitalisation process and its impact on customer relations.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were gathered through a series of semi-structured in-depth interviews with managers representing different banks with profound insight in the banks’ digitalisation process and its effects on customer relations/satisfaction and digitalisation.

Findings
The results showed that half of the respondents experienced the same area posing the greatest challenge. This was rooted in the perceived insecurity around what the bank assumed to know about its customers’ proficiency and experiences, and what the customers appeared to actually know.

Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted as an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study of various major Swedish banks, which may limit the external validity of its results. Other limitations are also discussed in the paper.

Practical implications
By identifying the aspects of a digital banking that bank managers perceive to be more advantageous or challenging towards cultivating the relationship with its customers, bank managers should garner an awareness of being able to more effectively develop appropriate strategies in addressing the bank’s customers.

Originality/value
The area is vastly under-researched. The study contributes to the literature of digital channels and its perceived effects on customer loyalty from a managerial perspective. The results show that some of the present customer loyalty theory needs to be revised in order to accommodate for the era of digitalisation.
“In spite of everything?” Female entrepreneurship from a historical perspective
Authors: Picciaia Francesca 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
This paper provides a historical case study, through the analysis of Luisa Spagnoli’s entrepreneurial life. Luisa Spagnoli was one of the most famous Italian businesswomen of the twentieth century, founder of “Perugina” chocolate factory and creator of “Luisa Spagnoli” fashion firm. The study aims particularly to examine the role of Luisa in the development of her businesses within the wider context of Italy of the 1900s, and to verify if and how gender has influenced the meaning and the shape of her entrepreneurial initiatives over time.

Design/methodology/approach
This study offers a historical analysis of entrepreneurial life of Luisa Spagnoli, developed through an archival study in a synchronic view. An interpretive historical method is adopted to deepen and better understand the links among personal, cultural, social and institutional domains.

Findings
This study contributes to the scholarship on businesswomen’s role in history and underlines the role of personal perceptions of female entrepreneurs to overcome external barriers.

Research limitations/implications
The limitations of this study concern the nature of the analysis itself, which is a single-case study.

Originality/value
This analysis highlights the centrality of personal self-perceptions to face up to the difficulties of an unfavourable context, contributing to create the pre-conditions necessary to become an entrepreneur.
Smudging, connecting, and dual identities: case study of an aboriginal ERG
Authors: McPhee Deborah , Julien Mark , Miller Diane , Wright Barry 
Published: July 2017

PurposeDrawing upon the theoretical concept of social identities, the purpose of this paper is to investigate if an aboriginal employee resource group (ERG) helps to improve connectedness between the participants of the ERG and the organization in a Canadian context.Design/methodology/approachQualitative research was used to interview 13 members of this ERG situated within a large Canadian bank.FindingsThe ERG created a positive experience for its members. It provided a bridge between the aboriginal identity and the organizational identity. Those who were part of the ERG felt that it encouraged them to bond to their cultural identity and that it also generated affirmative connections to the organization.Practical implicationsFor employers seeking a more diverse workforce who have struggled with retaining employees from marginalized groups, ERGs may prove helpful.Originality/valueThis study posits a theoretical perspective of how ERGs are able to connect minority members to organizations through the recognition of dual identities. This is also the first study to examine the benefits of an aboriginal ERG.
Nrf2 as a target for prevention of age‐related and diabetic cataracts by against oxidative stress
Authors: Liu Xiu‐Fen , Hao Ji‐Long , Xie Tian , Malik Tayyab Hamid , Lu Cheng‐Bo , Liu Cong , Shu Chang , Lu Cheng‐Wei , Zhou Dan‐Dan 
Published: July 2017

SummaryCataract is one of the most important causes of blindness worldwide, with age‐related cataract being the most common one. Agents preventing cataract formation are urgently required. Substantial evidences point out aggravated oxidative stress as a vital factor for cataract formation. Nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch‐like erythroid‐cell‐derived protein with CNC homology (ECH)‐associated protein 1 (Keap1) system is considered as one of the main cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative stresses. This review discusses the role of Nrf2 pathway in the prevention of cataracts and highlights that Nrf2 suppressors may augment oxidative stress of the lens, and Nrf2 inducers may decrease the oxidative stress and prevent the cataract formation. Thus, Nrf2 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for cataract treatment.
A new species of gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) feeding on vegetative buds of Melaleuca quinquenervia trees in Australia
Authors: Kolesik Peter , Brown Bradley T , Purcell Matthew F 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA new species of gall midge, Contarinia melaleucae Kolesik sp. nov., is described that feeds on Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) in Northern Australia. Pale yellow larvae live gregariously within vegetative buds, causing growth retardation or death of the buds. The new species has potential for biological control of M. quinquenervia in southern Florida, USA.
Combined effect of using near‐infrared spectroscopy for nutritional evaluation of feed ingredients and non‐starch polysaccharide carbohydrase complex on performance of broiler chickens
Authors: Montanhini Neto Roberto , N'Guetta Eric , Gady Cecile , Francesch Maria , Preynat Aurélie 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis study was carried out to evaluate the combined effect of using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for nutritional evaluation of feed ingredients and the addition of non‐starch polysaccharide carbohydrase complex (NSP enzymes) on the growth performance of broilers fed diets produced with low‐quality wheat and soybean meal. A 2 × 2 trial design was performed, with seven replicates of 40 male Ross 308 broilers per treatment, evaluating the effect of the addition of NSP enzymes and the ingredients’ nutritional matrix based on table values or NIRS values. Diets without added enzymes were formulated to reach nutritional requirements, whereas diets with enzymes were reformulated, reducing the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) by 85 kcal/kg. In the overall period (days 0–35), broilers fed diets formulated using NIRS values had higher (P < 0.001) average daily gain (+11.3%) and daily feed intake (+7.2%), and a lower (P < 0.001) feed conversion ratio (−5.3%) compared to those fed diets formulated using table values. When formulating diets for broilers with low‐quality feed ingredients, performance can be improved by considering NIRS values and by the addition of NSP enzymes, even with a reduction of AME. These nutritional approaches are efficient in improving broilers’ performances by themselves and even more so when they are combined.
Pharmacokinetics and safety of the anti‐human cytomegalovirus drug letermovir in subjects with hepatic impairment
Authors: Kropeit Dirk , McCormick David , Erb‐Zohar Katharina , Moiseev Valentin S. , Kobalava Zhanna D. , Stobernack Hans‐Peter , Zimmermann Holger , Rübsamen‐Schaeff Helga 
Published: July 2017

AimsHuman cytomegalovirus constitutes a prevalent and serious threat to immunocompromised individuals and requires new treatments. Letermovir is a novel viral‐terminase inhibitor that has demonstrated prophylactic/pre‐emptive activity against human cytomegalovirus in Phase 2 and 3 transplant trials. As unchanged letermovir is primarily excreted via the liver by bile, this trial aimed to assess the effect of hepatic impairment on letermovir pharmacokinetics.MethodsPhase 1, open‐label, parallel‐group pharmacokinetic and safety comparison of multiple once‐daily oral letermovir in female subjects with hepatic impairment and healthy matched controls. For 8 days, subjects with moderate hepatic impairment (n = 8) and their matched healthy controls (n = 9) received 60 mg letermovir/day and those with severe hepatic impairment (n = 8) and their matched healthy controls (n = 8) received 30 mg letermovir/day. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined from blood samples.ResultsFor subjects with moderate hepatic impairment, maximal observed concentration at steady state (Css,max) and the area under the concentration vs. time curve over a dosing interval at steady state (AUCτ,ss) for total letermovir were 1.37‐fold (90% confidence interval: 0.87, 2.17) and 1.59‐fold (0.98, 2.57) higher, respectively, than in healthy subjects. For subjects with severe hepatic impairment, Css,max and AUCτ,ss values of total letermovir were 2.34‐fold (1.91, 2.88) and 3.82‐fold (2.94, 4.97) higher, respectively, compared with healthy subjects.ConclusionsModerate hepatic impairment increased exposure to letermovir <2‐fold, while severe hepatic impairment increased letermovir exposure approximately 4‐fold as compared with healthy subjects. Letermovir 60/30 mg/day was generally well‐tolerated in subjects with hepatic impairment.
Multivariate Association Analysis with Somatic Mutation Data
Authors: He Qianchuan , Liu Yang , Peters Ulrike , Hsu Li 
Published: July 2017

Summary
Somatic mutations are the driving forces for tumor development, and recent advances in cancer genome sequencing have made it feasible to evaluate the association between somatic mutations and cancer-related traits in large sample sizes. However, despite increasingly large sample sizes, it remains challenging to conduct statistical analysis for somatic mutations, because the vast majority of somatic mutations occur at very low frequencies. Furthermore, cancer is a complex disease and it is often accompanied by multiple traits that reflect various aspects of cancer; how to combine the information of these traits to identify important somatic mutations poses additional challenges. In this article, we introduce a statistical approach, named as SOMAT, for detecting somatic mutations associated with multiple cancer-related traits. Our approach provides a flexible framework for analyzing continuous, binary, or a mixture of both types of traits, and is statistically powerful and computationally efficient. In addition, we propose a data-adaptive procedure, which is grid-search free, for effectively combining test statistics to enhance statistical power. We conduct an extensive study and show that the proposed approach maintains correct type I error and is more powerful than existing approaches under the scenarios considered. We also apply our approach to an exome-sequencing study of liver tumor for illustration.
Wild Salmon Sustain the Effectiveness of Parasite Control on Salmon Farms: Conservation Implications from an Evolutionary Ecosystem Service
Authors: Kreitzman Maayan , Ashander Jaime , Driscoll John , Bateman Andrew W , Chan Kai M. A. , Lewis Mark A. , Krkosek Martin 
Published: July 2017

AbstractRapid evolution can increase or maintain the provision of ecosystem services, motivating the conservation of wild species and communities. We detail one such contemporary evosystem service by synthesizing theoretical evidence that rapid evolution can sustain parasiticide efficacy in salmon aquaculture, thus creating an added incentive for salmon conservation. Globally, wild and farmed salmon share native parasites: sea lice. In most major salmon farming areas sea lice have evolved resistance to parasiticides, but in the North Pacific, where farmed salmon coexist with large wild salmon populations, resistance has not emerged. We present a model to show that flow of susceptible genes from lice hosted on wild salmon to those hosted on farmed salmon can delay or preclude resistance. This theoretical and observational data suggests that wild salmon (both oceanic populations that function as a refuge and local migratory populations that connect this refuge to domesticated environments) provide an evosystem service by prolonging parasiticide efficacy. To preserve this service, aquaculture managers could avoid production quantities that exceed wild salmon abundances, and sustain wild salmon populations through regional and oceanic scale conservation. The evosystem service of resistance mitigation is one example of how a contemporary evolutionary process that benefits people can strengthen the case for conservation of intrinsically important wild species.
High prevalence of erectile dysfunction in diabetes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of 145 studies
Authors: Kouidrat Y. , Pizzol D. , Cosco T. , Thompson T. , Carnaghi M. , Bertoldo A. , Solmi M. , Stubbs B. , Veronese N. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractErectile dysfunction may be common among men with diabetes, but its prevalence is still debated. We aimed to assess the relative prevalence of erectile dysfunction in diabetes searching major databases from inception to November 2016 for studies reporting erectile dysfunction in men with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. We conducted a meta‐analysis of the prevalence [and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs)] of erectile dysfunction in diabetes compared with healthy controls, calculating the relative odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. A random effect model was applied. From 3747 initial hits, 145 studies were included representing 88 577 men (age: 55.8 ± 7.9 years). The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in diabetes overall was 52.5% (95% CI, 48.8 to 56.2) after adjusting for publication bias, and 37.5%, 66.3% and 57.7% in Type 1, Type 2 and both types of diabetes, respectively (P for interaction < 0.0001). The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was highest in studies using the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (82.2%, 17 studies, P for interaction < 0.0001). Studies with a higher percentage of people with hypertension moderated our results (beta = 0.03; 95% CI, 0.008 to 0.040; P = 0.003; R2 = 0.00). Compared to healthy controls (n = 5385) men with diabetes (n = 863) were at increased odds of having erectile dysfunction (OR 3.62; 95% CI, 2.53 to 5.16; P < 0.0001; I2 = 67%, k = 8). Erectile dysfunction is common in diabetes, affecting more than half of men with the condition and with a prevalence odds of approximately 3.5 times more than controls. Our findings suggest that screening and appropriate intervention for men with erectile dysfunction is warranted.