bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of the protein in the DNA sequence specificity of the cleavage site stabilized by the camptothecin topoisomerase IB inhibitor: a metadynamics study
Authors: Coletta Andrea , Desideri Alessandro 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
Camptothecin (CPT) is a topoisomerase IB (TopIB) selective inhibitor whose derivatives are currently used in cancer therapy. TopIB cleaves DNA at any sequence, but in the presence of CPT the only stabilized protein–DNA covalent complex is the one having a thymine in position −1 with respect to the cleavage site. A metadynamics simulation of two TopIB–DNA–CPT ternary complexes differing for the presence of a thymine or a cytosine in position −1 indicates the occurrence of two different drug’s unbinding pathways. The free-energy difference between the bound state and the transition state is large when a thymine is present in position −1 and is strongly reduced in presence of a cytosine, in line with the different drug stabilization properties of the two systems. Such a difference is strictly related to the changes in the hydrogen bond network between the protein, the DNA and the drug in the two systems, indicating a direct role of the protein in determining the specificity of the cleavage site sequence stabilized by the CPT. Calculations carried out in presence of one compound of the indenoisoquinoline family (NSC314622) indicate a comparable energy difference between the bound and the transition state independently of the presence of a thymine or a cytosine in position −1, in line with the experimental results.
Principles of self-organization in biological pathways: a hypothesis on the autogenous association of alpha-synuclein
Authors: Zanzoni Andreas , Marchese Domenica , Agostini Federico , Bolognesi Benedetta , Cirillo Davide , Botta-Orfila Maria , Livi Carmen Maria , Rodriguez-Mulero Silvia , Tartaglia Gian Gaetano 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
Previous evidence indicates that a number of proteins are able to interact with cognate mRNAs. These autogenous associations represent important regulatory mechanisms that control gene expression at the translational level. Using the catRAPID approach to predict the propensity of proteins to bind to RNA, we investigated the occurrence of autogenous associations in the human proteome. Our algorithm correctly identified binding sites in well-known cases such as thymidylate synthase, tumor suppressor P53, synaptotagmin-1, serine/ariginine-rich splicing factor 2, heat shock 70 kDa, ribonucleic particle-specific U1A and ribosomal protein S13. In addition, we found that several other proteins are able to bind to their own mRNAs. A large-scale analysis of biological pathways revealed that aggregation-prone and structurally disordered proteins have the highest propensity to interact with cognate RNAs. These findings are substantiated by experimental evidence on amyloidogenic proteins such as TAR DNA-binding protein 43 and fragile X mental retardation protein. Among the amyloidogenic proteins, we predicted that Parkinson’s disease-related α-synuclein is highly prone to interact with cognate transcripts, which suggests the existence of RNA-dependent factors in its function and dysfunction. Indeed, as aggregation is intrinsically concentration dependent, it is possible that autogenous interactions play a crucial role in controlling protein homeostasis.
The Marketing Dilemma
Authors: Baker Michael J. 
Published: September 2013

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to explore the ongoing and continuing debate regarding the role of marketing in an organisation – profit or not‐for‐profit, public or private – in a climate where the disciplines’ contribution is seen as decreasing in importance.Design/methodology/approachAn eclectic but well‐informed summary of some of the key issues involved based on extensive experience as practitioner, consultant, and academic researcher.FindingsToo much emphasis is given to the “Tip of the Marketing Iceberg – advertising/promotion/public relations – and what marketers ‘do’ to customers with insufficient consideration of its strategic role as the interface between an organisation and its customers that creates ‘mutually satisfying exchange relationships (Baker, 1976).’” In other words marketing is, or should be, a force for good and, because of its understanding of consumption and human behaviour, has the potential to make a major transformational contribution to achieving the goals of social business, including sustainability, environmental protection and enhanced human welfare.Originality/valueToo many marketers, academics and practitioners alike, are so closely involved with specific problems and issues that they cannot see the wood for the trees and reflect on the real challenges faced by the marketing profession as a whole. It is argued that we all need to move away from the prevailing marketing management school of thought and “promotional” marketing and concentrate instead on the fundamental issues of improving welfare through the adoption of transformational marketing and an emphasis on social business.
Capacity building to advance entrepreneurship education
Authors: Wai Mui Yu Christina 
Published: September 2013

PurposeThe Teen Entrepreneurship Competition (TEC) was an annual inter‐school competition that aimed to promote entrepreneurship education (EE) in Hong Kong (HK) secondary schools. This paper aims to: review and evaluate the implementation of the TEC over the years from 2003‐2010, and use the TEC as a case to demonstrate how EE can be advanced through capacity building in various ways and levels.Design/methodology/approachThere were two key milestone phases for the TEC. This paper will describe and discuss the achievements made in Phase I and the capacity building for advancing the TEC in Phase II in details. Then, a critical analysis of capacity building for advancing TEC in Phase II will be made with a careful consideration of the TEC's design rationales, the research findings in Phase I and the three inter‐related levels of capacity building. Finally, suggestions will be recommended for further strengthening EE in schools.FindingsThe sustainability and advancement of the TEC are closely related to: advancing “Character Building” at the individual level, advancing “Partnership Building” at the institutional level, and advancing “Social Responsibility” at the societal level. However, the TEC might still overlook an alignment with the existing curriculum development. A further capacity building of course development and policy making should be sought.Originality/valuesThis is a precious illustrative case study for the purpose of sharing useful information and genuine experience with those who are interested in promoting teen EE in schools.
An exploratory study of factors affecting undergraduate employability
Authors: Finch David J. , Hamilton Leah K. , Baldwin Riley , Zehner Mark 
Published: September 2013

PurposeThe current study was conducted to increase our understanding of factors that influence the employability of university graduates. Through the use of both qualitative and quantitative approaches, the paper explores the relative importance of 17 factors that influence new graduate employability.Design/methodology/approachAn extensive review of the existing literature was used to identify 17 factors that affect new graduate employability. A two‐phase, mixed‐methods study was conducted to examine: Phase One, whether these 17 factors could be combined into five categories; and Phase Two, the relative importance that employers place on these factors. Phase One involved interviewing 30 employers, and Phase Two consisted of an empirical examination with an additional 115 employers.FindingsResults from both the qualitative and quantitative phases of the current study demonstrated that 17 employability factors can be clustered into five higher‐order composite categories. In addition, findings illustrate that, when hiring new graduates, employers place the highest importance on soft‐skills and the lowest importance on academic reputation.Research limitations/implicationsThe sectors in which employers operated were not completely representative of their geographical region.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that, in order to increase new graduates’ employability, university programmes and courses should focus on learning outcomes linked to the development of soft‐skills. In addition, when applying for jobs, university graduates should highlight their soft‐skills and problem‐solving skills.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the body of knowledge on the employability of university graduates by empirically examining the relative importance of five categories of employability factors that recruiters evaluate when selecting new graduates.
Mass personalization in healthcare: insights and future research directions
Authors: Chaudhuri Atanu , Lillrank Paul 
Published: September 2013

PurposePurpose of this paper is to identify capabilities required for healthcare service providers to provide mass personalized services and to provide directions to conduct empirical studies to understand the phenomenon of mass personalization in Indian healthcare industry.Methodology/approachThe research is conducted by undertaking a literature review followed by field visits and interviews conducted at a leading healthcare service provider in India.FindingsThere is limited empirical research on understanding the mass personalization capabilities in healthcare setting and empirical validation of the sand cone model and theory of competitive progression in the context of healthcare. Our interviews and field visits to Narayana Hrudayalaya (NH) indicate that it is attempting to provide personalized services to a large number and variety of patients. By doing so, it is expected to improve on both resource and flow efficiencies at the same time and hence break the trade‐offs between those. Literature review coupled with field visits and interviews help us in identifying key research questions related to mass personalization of healthcare in Indian healthcare industry.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first attempts to understand this trade‐off between resource and flow efficiency in the context of the Indian healthcare industry and to identify areas for future research. The unique characteristics of the Indian healthcare industry provide the ideal research setting to study this phenomenon. Literature review and our exploratory study have helped us in providing directions for future research in this unexplored area.
Improving salespeople's trust in the organization, moral judgment and performance through transformational leadership
Authors: Schwepker Charles H. , Good David J. 
Published: September 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine if transformational leadership has an effect on business‐to‐business salespeople's trust in the organization, whether trust in the organization affects moral judgment and if moral judgment in turn affects salesperson performance, specifically “world‐class” sales performance.Design/methodology/approachThrough the utilization of a national survey of 345 business‐to‐business salespeople, this study explored linkages between transformational leadership, trust in the organization, moral judgment and world class sales performance using structural equation modeling.FindingsResults suggest that transformational leadership can be used to influence sales performance through trust in the organization and salesperson moral judgment.Originality/valueThe paper furthers the understanding of transformational leadership and its impact on salespeople. The interaction of three variables (transformational leadership, trust in the organization, and the moral judgment of the salesperson) and their ability to relate to world class sales performance provide an interesting strategic guide for sales organizations, as well as a meaningful set of managerial tools that can assist in constructing a performance driven sales organization. These constructs have not been simultaneously investigated prior to this research.
Gun violence prevention practices among local police in the United States
Authors: Koper Christopher S. , Woods Daniel J. , Kubu Bruce E. 
Published: September 2013

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to examine gun violence prevention practices among urban police in the USA, assessing their scope, effectiveness, limitations, and impacts.Design/methodology/approachA national survey was conducted with police agencies serving cities of 100,000 or more people.FindingsStrategies used most frequently and rated as most effective include targeted efforts focussed on high‐risk places and groups, as well as multi‐agency problem‐solving efforts, particularly those involving federal authorities. However, most agencies make limited use of proactive strategies to reduce gun crime, and there are substantial gaps in the enforcement of many gun laws. Results also suggest that gun crime is lower in places where police engage in more intensive gun‐related enforcement and prevention efforts.Research limitations/implicationsThe survey focussed only on large US cities. Implementation of the strategies could not be examined in detail, and assessments of the effectiveness of strategies reflect the views of practitioners. There is a need for more in‐depth research on gun‐related enforcement and prevention practices, their effectiveness, and the organizational and environmental factors that facilitate or hinder them.Practical implicationsThe study highlights strategies that should be given priority consideration in policy decisions. The findings also suggest that police efforts to address gun crime can be enhanced considerably – and that doing so may produce demonstrable reductions in gun crime. Further examination of policy changes necessary to facilitate these efforts is warranted.Originality/valueThis study represents the first national survey of gun violence reduction efforts by police in the USA.
Study of Residual Basin and Tectonolayering Based on Airborne Gravity and Magnetic Data
Authors: Wenyong LI , Jianxin ZHOU , Shengqing XIONG , Yanxu LIU , Jianchun XU 
Published: September 2013

Abstract:This paper takes the South Yellow Sea as an example to show a new method for comprehensive geological‐geophysical research such as residual basin and tectonolayering using airborne gravity and magnetic data in China. Based on airborne gravity and magnetic data, by measuring and analyzing stratigraphic density and susceptibility, the depths to the pre‐Sinian magnetic basement top, the pre‐Jurassic top and the Cenozoic bottom, are obtained by forward and inverse methods constrained by seismic and drilling data; and furthermore, the residual thicknesses of the Sinian–Triassic, the Jurassic–Cretaceous and the Cenozoic are calculated. Based on airborne gravity and magnetic anomalies, the faults in the pre‐Sinian magnetic basement, the Jurassic‐Cretaceous and the Cenozoic are respectively interpreted by the qualitative and quantitative methods. On the basis of the above study, and combining regional important tectonic events, four tectonolayers are divided in the vertical succession in South Yellow Sea, namely the pre‐Sinian magnetic basement, the Sinian‐Triassic, the Jurassic‐Cretaceous and the Cenozoic. The result shows that there are thick Cenozoic and Jurassic‐Cretaceous strata and thin residual Sinian‐Triassic strata in the Suzhong‐Huangnan depression area, but there are thin or only sporadic Mesozoic‐Cenozoic terrestrial strata and thick Sinian‐Triassic marine strata reserved in Subei‐Huangzhong uplift area and Sunan‐Wunansha uplift area. The four tectonolayers are very different in structures as well as distributions in plane.
Characterization of plasma cytokines in an infant population cohort of challenge‐proven food allergy
Authors: Dang T. D. , Tang M. L. K. , Koplin J. J. , Licciardi P. V. , Eckert J. K. , Tan T. , Gurrin L. C. , Ponsonby A.‐L. , Dharmage S. C. , Allen K. J. ,   The HealthNuts study
Published: September 2013

AbstractBackgroundSensitization to food allergens indicates the production of food‐specific IgE; however, sensitization is not a definite indicator of allergic reaction upon ingestion (N Engl J Med, 344, 2001, 30: J Allergy Clin Immunol, 120, 2007, 491). Currently, food challenge is the best approach to identify the presence or absence of allergy. While 95% positive predictive values (PPVs) thresholds for sIgE can assist with identifying increased likelihood of allergy among those who are sensitized, there are no specific biological markers that differentiate between allergic and sensitized individuals.ObjectivesTo determine whether plasma serum cytokine profiles predict (i) sensitization to peanut and egg and (ii) food allergy among sensitized infants.MethodsPeanut‐sensitized (PT) and egg‐sensitized 14‐month‐old infants and nonsensitized controls enrolled in HealthNuts, a population‐based study of food allergy, underwent an oral food challenge (OFC). Blood was collected within 1 h after OFC. Serum levels of Th1, Th2 and regulatory cytokines were determined in allergic (n = 79), sensitized (n = 40) and nonsensitized, nonallergic (n = 37) infants by multiplex assay.ResultsFood‐sensitized infants had significantly higher plasma IL‐4, IL‐13, IL‐12p70 and lower IL‐10 levels compared to nonsensitized infants. IL‐10 and IL‐6 levels were significantly higher in sensitized compared with allergic infants. Egg‐allergic infants had significantly higher IL‐13 and IL‐12p70 levels compared to peanut‐allergic (PA) infants.ConclusionLevels of Th2‐related cytokines in plasma are higher in food‐sensitized infants, irrespective of clinical food allergy status. In contrast, IL‐10 levels appear to predict food allergy among sensitized infants. Differences in IL‐13 and IL‐12p70 between egg‐ and peanut‐allergic infants could help explain the different resolution rates of the allergies.
In Defense of a Utilitarian Business Ethic
Authors: Gustafson Andrew 
Published: September 2013

AbstractIn this article, I suggest and support a utilitarian approach to business ethics. Utilitarianism is already widely used as a business ethic approach, although it is not well developed in the literature. Utilitarianism provides a guiding framework of decision making rooted in social benefit which helps direct business toward more ethical behavior. It is the basis for much of our discussion regarding the failures of Enron, Worldcom, and even the subprime mess andWallStreetMeltdown. In short, the negative social consequences are constantly referred to as proof of the wrongness of these actions and events, and the positive social consequences of bailouts and other plans are used as ethical support for those plans to right the wrongs.I believe the main cause of the neglect of the utilitarian approach is because of misguided criticisms. Here, I defend utilitarianism as a basis for business ethics against many criticisms found in the business ethics literature, showing that a business ethics approach relying onJohnStuartMill's utilitarianism supports principles like justice, is not biased against the minority, and is more reasonable than other views such as aKantian view when dealing with workers and making other decisions in business. I also explain utilitarian moral motivation and use satisficing theory to attempt to defend utilitarian business ethics from questions raised regarding utilitarian calculus.
Islet inflammation in plain sight
Authors: Abdulreda M. H. , Berggren P.‐O. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractAlthough, diabetes is reaching pandemic proportions, the exact aetiology of either type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains to be determined. Mounting evidence, however, suggests that islet inflammation is a likely common denominator during early development of either type of the disease. In this review, we highlight some of the inflammatory mechanisms that appear to be shared between T1D and T2D, and we explore the utility of intravital imaging in the study of islet inflammation. Intravital imaging has emerged as an indispensable tool in biomedical research and a variety of in vivo imaging approaches have been developed to study pancreatic islet physiology and pathophysiology in the native environment in health and disease. However, given the scattered distribution of the islets of Langerhans within the ‘sea’ of the exocrine pancreas located deep within the body and the fact that the islets only constitute 1–2% of the total volume of pancreatic tissue, studying the pancreatic islet in situ has been challenging. Here, we focus on a new experimental approach that enables studying local islet inflammation with single‐cell resolution in the relevant context of the in vivo environment non‐invasively and longitudinally and, thereby improving our understanding of diabetes pathogenesis.
Interaction between cytokines and inflammatory cells in islet dysfunction, insulin resistance and vascular disease
Authors: Imai Y. , Dobrian A. D. , Weaver J. R. , Butcher M. J. , Cole B. K. , Galkina E. V. , Morris M. A. , Taylor‐Fishwick D. A. , Nadler J. L. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractInflammation is an established pathogenic player in insulin resistance, islet demise and atherosclerosis. The complex interactions between cytokines, immune cells and affected tissues result in sustained inflammation in diabetes and atherosclerosis. 12‐ and 15‐lipoxygenase (LO), such as 12/15‐LO, produces a variety of metabolites through peroxidation of fatty acids and potentially contributes to the complex molecular crosstalk at the site of inflammation. 12‐ and 15‐LO pathways are frequently activated in tissues affected by diabetes and atherosclerosis including adipose tissue (AT), islets and the vasculature. Moreover, mice with whole body and tissue‐specific knockout of 12/15‐LO are protected against insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia and atherosclerosis supporting functional contribution of 12‐ and 15‐LO pathways in diabetes and atherosclerosis. Recently, it has emerged that there is a temporal regulation of the particular isoforms of 12‐ and 15‐LO in human AT and islets during the development of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and obesity. Analyses of tissues affected by diabetes and atherosclerosis also implied the roles of interleukin (IL)‐12 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase‐1 (NOX‐1) in islets and IL‐17A in atherosclerosis. Future studies should aim to test the efficacy of inhibitions of these mediators for treatment of diabetes and atherosclerosis.