bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
AASRA: An Anchor Alignment-Based Small RNA Annotation Pipeline
Authors: Tang Chong , Xie Yeming , Yan Wei 
Published: May 2017

AbstractSncRNA-Seq has become a routine for sncRNA profiling; however, software packages currently available are either exclusively for miRNA or piRNA annotation (e.g., miRDeep, miRanalyzer, Shortstack, PIANO), or for direct mapping of the sequence reads to the genome (e.g., Bowtie 2, SOAP and BWA), which tend to generate inaccurate counting due to repetitive matches to the genome or sncRNA homologs. Moreover, novel sncRNA variants in the sequencing reads, including those bearing small overhangs or internal insertions, deletions or mutations, are totally excluded from counting by these algorithms, leading to potential quantification bias. To overcome these problems, a comprehensive software package that can annotate all known small RNA species with adjustable tolerance towards small mismatches is needed. AASRA is based on our unique anchor alignment algorithm, which not only avoids repetitive or ambiguous counting, but also distinguishes mature miRNA from precursor miRNA reads. Compared to all existing pipelines for small RNA annotation, AASRA is superior in the following aspects: 1) AASRA can annotate all known sncRNA species simultaneously with the capability of distinguishing mature and precursor miRNAs; 2) AASRA can identify and allow for inclusion of sncRNA variants with small overhangs and/or internal insertions/deletions into the final counts; 3) AASRA is the fastest among all small RNA annotation pipelines tested. AASRA represents an all-in-one sncRNA annotation pipeline, which allows for high-speed, simultaneous annotation of all known sncRNA species with the capability to distinguish mature from precursor miRNAs, and to identify novel sncRNA variants in the sncRNA-Seq sequencing reads.Availability and Implementation:The AASRA software is freely available athttps://github.com/biogramming/AASRA.
Morphine selectively promotes glutamate release from glutamatergic terminals of projection neurons from medial prefrontal cortex to dopamine neurons of ventral tegmental area
Authors: Yang Li , Chen Ming , Zheng Ping 
Published: May 2017

AbstractRecently, we found that morphine promoted presynaptic glutamate release of dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which constituted the main mechanism for morphine-induced increase in VTA-DA neuron firing and related behaviors (Chen et al., 2015). However, what source of presynaptic glutamate release of DA neurons in the VTA is promoted by morphine remains unknown. To address this question, we used optogenetic strategy to selectively activate glutamatergic inputs from different projection neurons and then observed the effect of morphine on them. The result shows that morphine promotes glutamate release from glutamatergic terminals of projection neurons from the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to VTA DA neurons, but has no effect on that from the basolateral amygdala (BLA) or the lateral hypothalamus (LH) to VTA DA neurons, and the inhibition of glutamatergic projection neurons from the mPFC to the VTA significantly reduces morphine-induced increase in locomotor activity of mice.
Process mapping for road works planning and coordination
Authors: Hussain Rizwana Shaheen , Ruikar Kirti , Enoch Marcus P. , Brien Nigel , Gartside David 
Published: May 2017

Purpose
Diminishing local government budgets and the need to reduce highway works activities necessitate cost effective and efficient processes. The purpose of this paper is to investigate streamlining road works administrative processes to enhance coordinated working at Derby City Council.

Design/methodology/approach
Case study research of a local authority was undertaken using business process mapping. Specifically, Swimlane analysis enabled re-engineering of business processes from design stage, to works permit issuance. Process improvement recommendations were validated by nine industry experts through a focus group and semi-structured interviews. A logic map was developed for transferability to other councils, identifying key attributes for a successful administrative road works management process.

Findings
Research revealed inherent silo working and processes built around fragmented IT systems creating process inefficiency. Validation found numerous practices and management styles were culturally embedded and common across councils. Peer reviewed recommendations are made to improve working practices, including improving IT systems, removing process bottlenecks, and training staff.

Research limitations/implications
Whilst road works management policy is generally under-researched, its strategic and negative impacts are widely acknowledged. This study highlights the day-to-day operational problems which are interconnected to the strategic impact, bridging an important gap in knowledge, as well as adding to business process re-engineering literature.

Originality/value
The research adds to a limited body of road works management policy research, and also presents a high-level logic map for councils to adopt as appropriate.
Individual and work dynamics affecting the determinants of functional flexibility in SMEs
Authors: Majid Abdul , Yasir Muhammad , Yasir Muhammad 
Published: May 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to provide an insight into how individual and work factors are related to the attitudes of functional flexibility by using the willingness and ability to be flexible as dimensions of functional flexibility.Design/methodology/approachThis study is conducted through a survey of workers and administrative staff of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. Correlation and hierarchical regression techniques were used to find out the association of the dimensions of functional flexibility with the individual and work factors. Individual factors include demographic characteristics, work perception and personality traits, whereas work factors include trust in management, task formalization and autonomy.FindingsIndividual factors (i.e. general self-efficacy and initiative) and one of the work factors (i.e. trust in management) showed a positive relation, whereas task formalization was negatively related with the willingness to be flexible. General self-efficacy of workers and administrative staff was positively correlated with the ability to be flexible dimension of functional flexibility. It was concluded from the findings that the two dimensions of functional flexibility, willingness to be flexible and ability to be flexible, of employees depend on fair treatment and freedom provided by their organization.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study was conducted on the employees of SMEs in Pakistan. A similar study on employees of multi-national corporations (MNCs) and service sectors may be useful for comparison.Practical implicationsManagement should improve the attitudes of employees toward functional flexibility in SMEs in Pakistan by creating a climate of trust, using lower degree of laid down and prescribed procedures and giving them opportunities for doing new tasks. Furthermore, providing them feedback on the performance and achievement of these new tasks would also help in this regard.Originality/valueThe SMEs of Pakistan are in the process of transformational change. This study highlights the key factors that would be helpful to enhance the functional flexibility of employees working in the SME sector in Pakistan.
Exploring antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions of young women in India
Authors: Srivastava Sumita , Misra Rupali 
Published: May 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify the antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions of young women in India because currently Indian Government is emphasizing heavily on women’s participation in the mainstream of economic activities in the country. This study focuses on entrepreneurial intentions as the most important stage of entrepreneurship process. Based on the theory of planned behavior, propounded by Ajzen (1991), it points out intentions as the most significant predictor of human behavior.¤Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses multi-method analysis for validation of the model proposed by Linan. In Study 1, an adapted version of Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (EIQ) (Linan and Chen, 2009) was administered to a group of 248 female students studying in under-graduate science, commerce, arts or management courses, who voluntarily participated in the survey. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using partial least square (PLS) path-modeling algorithm. In Study 2, qualitative study was conducted on 110 young female students using focus group interview technique. Framework analysis was used for the data analysis of the qualitative study.FindingsThis study confirms the role of social valuation as an important antecedent of entrepreneurial intentions among women. However, it also identifies that entrepreneurship education is also an important element that affects the entrepreneurial intentions of young women in India.Originality/valueThe study uses multi-method analysis for identifying entrepreneurial intentions among young women in India.
From deep-level similarity to taking charge
Authors: Zheng Xingshan , Diaz Ismael , Zheng Xiaotao , Tang Ningyu 
Published: May 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between supervisor-subordinate deep-level similarity and employee taking charge behavior. Face consciousness (FC) and managerial competency of inclusion (MCI) are examined as moderators.Design/methodology/approachResponses from 193 employees and 51 supervisors were examined using hierarchical linear analysis to assess the relationship between the study variables because employee responses were nested within supervisor.FindingsSupervisor-subordinate deep-level similarity is positively associated with employee taking charge behavior. Employee FC moderates the relationship between deep-level similarity and taking charge. MCI also moderates the relationships between deep-level similarity and taking charge.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is cross-sectional; longitudinal studies are needed to examine the relationships among study variables over time. This work should also be extended to the western context. The findings highlight deep-level similarity as predictive of taking charge while also identifying MCI and FC as important for understanding what predicts taking charge.Practical implicationsThe findings can be used to develop managerial training programs that foster competency of inclusion. It is possible to develop organizational interventions (selection and training) to maximize employees and manager congruence/fit.Originality/valueThis study is a novel contribution that investigates facet of proactive behaviors. Examining the moderating roles of FC and MCI further elucidates how similarity fosters taking charge behaviors.
Leadership styles and employees’ voluntary work behaviors in the Ghanaian banking sector
Authors: Mekpor Benjamin , Dartey-Baah Kwasi 
Published: May 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the extent to which leadership styles predict the voluntary work behaviors of employees.Design/methodology/approachThe quantitative approach was adopted to collect data from 234 respondents. Both purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used for the selection of the respondents.FindingsThe findings of the study revealed that though both the transformational and transactional leadership styles positively predicted the organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of employees, transformational leadership is more significant. Also, transformational leadership was found to have a significant negative relationship with the counterproductive workplace behavior (CWB) of employees, whereas transactional leadership had an insignificant relationship with CWB.Research limitations/implicationsThe research addresses the gap in the literature on how leadership styles influence employees’ tendency to exhibit either OCB or CWB specifically in the Ghanaian context.Practical implicationsThe findings suggested that transformational leadership should be used in the quest to encourage OCB and to mitigate CWB.Originality/valueThe study provides an in-depth account on how the leaders’ style influences both employees’ OCB and CWB and how to appropriately manage such voluntary behaviors.
Leaders’ managerial assumptions and transformational leadership: the moderating role of gender
Authors: Şahin Faruk , Gürbüz Sait , Şeşen Harun 
Published: May 2017

PurposeAlthough McGregor’s Theory X and Y holds significant attention in literature, research on the managerial assumptions and leadership is very scarce. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of a leader’s Theory X and Y managerial assumptions on follower perceptions of transformational leadership behaviors and the moderating role of the leader’s gender in this relationship.Design/methodology/approachA total of 108 leaders provided ratings of their Theory X and Y managerial assumptions; 398 followers then rated their leaders’ transformational leadership behavior. To test the hypotheses, moderated hierarchical regression analysis was conducted.FindingsThe results indicated that a leader’s Theory Y managerial assumptions are positively related to the followers’ ratings of transformational leadership behavior while a leader’s Theory X managerial assumptions are negatively related to the ratings of transformational leadership behavior. Furthermore, the relationship between Theory Y managerial assumptions and ratings of transformational leadership behavior are stronger for female leaders than male leaders.Originality/valueThis study provides important insights for leadership literature by depicting how cognitive mental schemas (i.e. Theory X and Y assumptions) and gender influence their transformational leadership behaviors.
Dark tourism – visitation, understanding and education; a reconciliation of theory and practice?
Authors: Lennon J. John , Teare Richard 
Published: May 2017

Purpose
The paper aims to profile the Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) theme issue “Dark tourism – visitation, understanding and education; a reconciliation of theory and practice?” by drawing on reflections from the theme editor and theme issue outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses structured questions to enable the theme editor to reflect on the rationale for the theme issue question and the outcomes.

Findings
It was observed that visitors to dark tourism sites are often motivated by respect and remembrance and that this motivation is frequently reported by the practitioners who manage these sites.

Practical implications
The paper presents dark tourism site educational guidelines for practitioners.

Originality/value
This paper provides a rich array of insights from practitioners involved in managing museums and related educational programmes, conceptual development and applied academic research.
Prevalence of coronary artery calcification in Japanese patients with psoriasis: A close correlation with bilateral diagonal earlobe creases
Authors: Honma Masaru , Shibuya Takashi , Iwasaki Takeshi , Iinuma Shin , Takahashi Noriyoshi , Kishibe Mari , Minami‐Hori Masako , Ishida‐Yamamoto Akemi 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPsoriasis is a multifactorial inflammatory disorder, in which the inflammation affects not only the skin but also the other internal organs, and can induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular involvements. However, few predictive factors of cardiovascular diseases have been clarified in patients with psoriasis. This study was performed to verify whether diagonal earlobe creases (ELC) can reflect the hidden comorbidities in Japanese psoriatic patients. Prevalence and subtypes of ELC were analyzed in patients with psoriatic and with non‐psoriatic skin diseases, and the correlation with coronary artery calcification (CAC) or fatty liver (FL) detected by computed tomography. Prevalence of CAC was approximately twice higher than data of a Japanese resident‐based study previously reported. Generally, prevalence of ELC in a psoriatic group and mean age of psoriatic groups accompanied by ELC were higher and younger than those of a non‐psoriatic skin disease group, respectively. Statistically significant differences were detected in the mean age of total or male subjects accompanied by bilateral ELC with complete and incomplete length. Bilateralism of ELC was closely correlated with prevalence of CAC and CAC on multiple branches in psoriatic patients (P = 6.6e‐6 and odds ratio [OR] = 14.1, P = 0.00884 and OR = 10.7, respectively), but not with that of FL. On the contrary, body mass index of more than 25 was closely correlated with prevalence of FL, but not that of CAC. Comorbidities of psoriatic patients are frequently unnoticed. ELC, an apparatus‐related feature, can be a useful predictive factor for hidden coronary artery involvements in psoriatic patients.
RNAi mediated gene silencing of ITPA using a targeted nanocarrier: Apoptosis induction in SKBR3 cancer cells
Authors: Charbgoo Fahimeh , Behmanesh Mehrdad , Nikkhah Maryam , Kane Eric G 
Published: May 2017

SummaryA pure nucleotide pool is required for high‐fidelity DNA replication and prevention of carcinogenesis in living cells. Human inosine triphosphatase (ITPase), encoded by the ITPA gene, plays a critical role in maintaining the purity of the cellular nucleotide pool by excluding nucleotides that enhance mutagenesis. ITPase is a nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphatase that hydrolyzes the non‐canonical nucleotides inosine triphosphate (ITP) and xanthine triphosphate (XTP). The monophosphate products of ITPase reactions are subsequently excluded from the nucleotide pool and the improper substitution of ITP and XTP into DNA and RNA is prevented. Previous studies show that deficiency in ITPA can suppress cellular growth and enhance DNA instability. In this study, we evaluated the influence of effective ITPA down‐regulation on the induction of apoptosis in a human cancer cell line using folate‐single wall nanotubes (SWNT) as a targeted nanocarrier. We assessed whether SWNT enhances IPTA‐siRNA transfection efficiency in cancer cells using folate as a homing device. Since folate receptor is considerably overexpressed in cancer cells, conjugation of SWNTs to folate could enhance their cancer‐specific penetrance. We found that nanocarrier mediated ITPA‐siRNA transfection into SKBR3 cells caused significant reduction of ITPA mRNA expression level and complete down‐regulation of the ITPase protein product. The silencing of ITPA led to promotion of apoptosis in SWNT‐treated SKBR3 cancer cells.
Seasonal changes in phosphorus competition and allelopathy of a benthic microbial assembly facilitate prevention of cyanobacterial blooms
Authors: Wu Yonghong , Wang Fengwu , Xiao Xi , Liu Junzhuo , Wu Chenxi , Chen Hong , Kerr Philip , Shurin Jonathan 
Published: May 2017

SummaryInteractions among microbes determine the prevalence of harmful algal blooms that threaten water quality. These interactions can be indirectly mediated by shared resources or consumers, or through interference by the production of allelochemicals. Allelopathic interactions and resource competition have been shown to occur among algae and associated microbes. However, little work has considered seasonal influences on ecosystem structure and function. Here, we report results of our investigations on seasonal changes in the interactions between benthic microbial assemblies and the bloom forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. We show that phosphorus (P) competition and allelopathy by the microbial assembly vary seasonally and inhibit growth of M. aeruginosa. The interactions per unit biomass of the microbial assembly are stronger under winter than summer conditions and inhibit the recruitment of the cyanobacteria, thereby preventing the reoccurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in the following summer. The seasonality of these interactions correlates with changes in composition, metabolic activity and functional diversity of the microbial assembly. Our findings highlight the importance of competitive and allelopathic interactions in regulating the occurrence of harmful algal blooms. Our results also imply that seasonal variation of competition and allelopathy of the microbial assembly might be beneficial to adjust aquatic ecosystem structure and function.
Postliberalism: The New Centre Ground of British Politics
Authors: Pabst Adrian 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBrexit and support for anti‐establishment insurgencies suggest that British politics is moving away from the old left–right opposition towards a new divide between the defenders and detractors of progressive liberalism. As this article suggests, progressive liberalism differs significantly from both classical and new liberalism. It fuses free‐market economics with social egalitarianism and identity politics. Both the hard left and the radical right reject this combination and want to undo a number of liberal achievements.British politics is also moving in a postliberal direction. In the economy, postliberalism signals a shift from rampant market capitalism to economic justice and reciprocity. In society, it signals a shift from individualism and egalitarianism to social solidarity and fraternal relations. And politically, it signals a shift from the minority politics of vested interests and balkanised group identity to a majority politics based on a balance of interests, shared identity and the embedding of state and market in the intermediary institutions of civil society. This article argues that postliberalism is redefining Britain's political centre ground in an age where neither progressive liberalism nor reactionary anti‐liberalism commands majority support. First, it charts the ascendancy of progressive liberalism over the past quarter‐century. Second, it contrasts anti‐liberal reactions with postliberal alternatives, before exploring why earlier iterations of postliberalism failed to gain traction with the political mainstream. Third, it provides a discussion and critique of Theresa May's postliberal conservatism, notably the tension between free‐market globalisation and free trade, on the one hand, and the support for national industry and the indigenous working class, on the other.
Public Choice Failure and Voter Incompetence in France
Authors: Facchini François 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThis article explains failures of politics and government through the incompetence of voters and their perception biases. It illustrates this argument using the French case. If voters lack knowledge and develop irrational beliefs, then voting is probably not effective as a mechanism for sanctioning public policy. The incompetence of French voters and their anti‐capitalist bias is well documented. This incompetence can be partly explained by the low cost of holding irrational beliefs in politics. Voters’ anti‐capitalist attitudes are explained by the utility they obtain from expressing themselves in favour of state intervention, and by France's prohibitive level of justification costs of holding pro‐capitalist views. The resulting biases contribute to the failure of public choice.