bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum trace element differences between Schizophrenia patients and controls in the Han Chinese population
Authors: Cai Lei , Chen Tianlu , Yang Jinglei , Zhou Kejun , Yan Xiaomei , Chen Wenzhong , Sun Liya , Li Linlin , Qin Shengying , Wang Peng , Yang Ping , Cui Donghong , Burmeister Margit , He Lin , Jia Wei , Wan Chunling 
Published: October 2015

AbstractLittle is known about the trace element profile differences between Schizophrenia patients and healthy controls; previous studies about the association of certain elements with Schizophrenia have obtained conflicting results. To identify these differences in the Han Chinese population, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was used to quantify the levels of 35 elements in the sera of 111 Schizophrenia patients and 110 healthy participants, which consisted of a training (61/61 for cases/controls included) and a test group including remaining participants. An orthogonal projection to latent structures model was constructed from the training group (R2Y = 0.465, Q2cum = 0.343) had a sensitivity of 76.0% and a specificity of 71.4% in the test group. Single element analysis indicated that the concentrations of cesium, zinc and selenium were significantly reduced in patients with Schizophrenia in both the training and test groups. The meta-analysis including 522 cases and 360 controls supported that Zinc was significantly associated with Schizophrenia (standardized mean difference [SMD], −0.81; 95% confidence intervals [CI], −1.46 to −0.16, P = 0.01) in the random-effect model. Information theory analysis indicated that Zinc could play roles independently in Schizophrenia. These results suggest clear element profile differences between patients with Schizophrenia and healthy controls and reduced Zn level is confirmed in the Schizophrenia patients.
MicroRNA panels as disease biomarkers distinguishing hepatitis B virus infection caused hepatitis and liver cirrhosis
Authors: Jin Bo-Xun , Zhang Yong-Hong , Jin Wen-Jing , Sun Xiang-Ying , Qiao Gui-Fang , Wei Ying-Ying , Sun Li-Bo , Zhang Wei-Hong , Li Ning 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAn important unresolved clinical issue is to distinguish hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection caused chronic hepatitis and their corresponding liver cirrhosis (LC). Recent research suggests that circulating microRNAs are useful biomarkers for a wide array of diseases. We analyzed microRNA profiles in the plasmas of a total of 495 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, LC patients and healthy donors and identified 10 miRNAs that were differentially expressed between CHB and LC patients. Our logistic models show that three panels of miRNAs have promising diagnostic performances in discriminating CHB from LC. Blinded tests were subsequently conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performances in clinical practice and a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 70% have been achieved in separating CHB from LC pateints. The expression levels of some circulating miRNAs were significantly correlated with HBV DNA load and liver function, such as prothrombin activity (PTA) and levels of alanin aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB) and cholinesterase (CHE). Our results provide important information for developing novel diagnostic tools for distinguishing chronic HBV hepatitis and their corresponding cirrhosis.
Induction of Mincle by Helicobacter pylori and consequent anti-inflammatory signaling denote a bacterial survival strategy
Authors: Devi Savita , Rajakumara Eerappa , Ahmed Niyaz 
Published: October 2015

AbstractEvasion of innate immune recognition is one of the key strategies for persistence of Helicobacter pylori, by virtue of its ability to modulate or escape the host innate immune receptors and signaling pathways. C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) predominantly expressed by macrophages are pivotal in tailoring immune response against pathogens. The recognition of glyco or carbohydrate moieties by Mincle (Macrophage inducible C-type lectin) is emerging as a crucial element in anti-fungal and anti-mycobacterial immunity. Herein, we demonstrate the role of Mincle in modulation of innate immune response against H. pylori infection. Our results revealed an upregulated expression of Mincle which was independent of direct host cell contact. Upon computational modelling, Mincle was observed to interact with the Lewis antigens of H. pylori LPS and possibly activating an anti-inflammatory cytokine production, thereby maintaining a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Furthermore, siRNA mediated knockdown of Mincle in human macrophages resulted in up regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and consequent down regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, our study demonstrates a novel mechanism employed by H. pylori to escape clearance by exploiting functional plasticity of Mincle to strike a balance between pro-and anti-inflammatory responses ensuring its persistence in the host.
Soybean Hydrophobic Protein is Present in a Matrix Secreted by the Endocarp Epidermis during Seed Development
Authors: Enstone Daryl E. , Peterson Carol A. , Gijzen Mark 
Published: October 2015

AbstractHydrophobic protein from soybean (HPS) is present in soybean dust and is an allergen (Gly m 1) that causes asthma in allergic individuals. Past studies have shown that HPS occurs on the seed surface. To determine the microscopic localization of HPS during seed development, monoclonal antibodies to HPS were used to visualize the protein by fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Seed coat and endocarp sections were also examined for pectin, cellulose, callose, starch and protein by histochemical staining. HPS is present in the endocarp epidermal cells at 18 to 28 days post anthesis. At later stages of seed development, HPS occurs in extracellular secretions that accumulate unevenly on the endocarp epidermis and seed surface. HPS is synthesized by the endocarp epidermis and deposited on the seed surface as part of a heterogeneous matrix.
A Fully Transparent Resistive Memory for Harsh Environments
Authors: Yang Po-Kang , Ho Chih-Hsiang , Lien Der-Hsien , Durán Retamal José Ramón , Kang Chen-Fang , Chen Kuan-Ming , Huang Teng-Han , Yu Yueh-Chung , Wu Chih-I , He Jr-Hau 
Published: October 2015

AbstractA fully transparent resistive memory (TRRAM) based on Hafnium oxide (HfO2) with excellent transparency, resistive switching capability and environmental stability is demonstrated. The retention time measured at 85 °C is over 3 × 104 sec and no significant degradation is observed in 130 cycling test. Compared with ZnO TRRAM, HfO2 TRRAM shows reliable performance under harsh conditions, such as high oxygen partial pressure, high moisture (relative humidity = 90% at 85 °C), corrosive agent exposure and proton irradiation. Moreover, HfO2 TRRAM fabricated in cross-bar array structures manifests the feasibility of future high density memory applications. These findings not only pave the way for future TRRAM design, but also demonstrate the promising applicability of HfO2 TRRAM for harsh environments.
Dual mode of action of Bt proteins: protoxin efficacy against resistant insects
Authors: Tabashnik Bruce E. , Zhang Min , Fabrick Jeffrey A. , Wu Yidong , Gao Meijing , Huang Fangneng , Wei Jizhen , Zhang Jie , Yelich Alexander , Unnithan Gopalan C. , Bravo Alejandra , Soberón Mario , Carrière Yves , Li Xianchun 
Published: October 2015

AbstractTransgenic crops that produce Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins for pest control are grown extensively, but insect adaptation can reduce their effectiveness. Established mode of action models assert that Bt proteins Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac are produced as inactive protoxins that require conversion to a smaller activated form to exert toxicity. However, contrary to this widely accepted paradigm, we report evidence from seven resistant strains of three major crop pests showing that Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac protoxins were generally more potent than the corresponding activated toxins. Moreover, resistance was higher to activated toxins than protoxins in eight of nine cases evaluated in this study. These data and previously reported results support a new model in which protoxins and activated toxins kill insects via different pathways. Recognizing that protoxins can be more potent than activated toxins against resistant insects may help to enhance and sustain the efficacy of transgenic Bt crops.
Adrenergic ligands that block oviposition in the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus affect ovary contraction
Authors: Cossío-Bayúgar Raquel , Miranda-Miranda Estefan , Fernández-Rubalcaba Manuel , Narváez Padilla Verónica , Reynaud Enrique 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe tyraminergic/octopaminergic system is central for the control of arthropod oviposition. Previous works demonstrated that the pharmacological perturbation of this system inhibits oviposition in the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. In this work, we describe a physiologically active whole-mount preparation of the contractile tick ovary that allows the quantitative videometrical analysis of ovary contraction in response to different compounds. Eight adrenergic ligands known to inhibit oviposition, including octopamine and tyramine were tested. These compounds exhibited antagonistic effects; octopamine relaxes the ovary preparation while tyramine induces a very strong contraction. The other adrenergic compounds tested were classified as able to contract or relax ovary muscle tissue. Isoprotenerol has a stronger relaxative effect than octopamine. Tyramine induces the biggest contraction observed of all the compounds tested, followed, in descending amount of contraction, by salbutamol, prazosin, epinastine, clonidine and the acaricide amitraz. The effect of these adrenergic ligands on the ovary preparation, explains why these molecules inhibit tick oviposition and suggest a regulatory mechanism for ovary contraction and relaxation during oviposition. Our results also provide a physiological explanation of the egg-laying inhibition effect of amitraz when used on the cattle tick.
Delineation of Natural Killer Cell Differentiation from Myeloid Progenitors in Human
Authors: Chen Qingfeng , Ye Weijian , Jian Tan Wei , Mei Yong Kylie Su , Liu Min , Qi Tan Shu , Loh Eva , TE Chang Kenneth , Chye Tan Thiam , Preiser Peter R. , Chen Jianzhu 
Published: October 2015

AbstractUnderstanding of natural killer (NK) cell development in human is incomplete partly because of limited access to appropriate human tissues. We have developed a cytokine-enhanced humanized mouse model with greatly improved reconstitution and function of human NK cells. Here we report the presence of a cell population in the bone marrow of the cytokine-treated humanized mice that express both NK cell marker CD56 and myeloid markers such as CD36 and CD33. The CD56+CD33+CD36+ cells are also found in human cord blood, fetal and adult bone marrow. Although the CD56+CD33+CD36+ cells do not express the common NK cell functional receptors and exhibit little cytotoxic and cytokine-producing activities, they readily differentiate into mature NK cells by acquiring expression of NK cell receptors and losing expression of the myeloid markers. Further studies show that CD33+CD36+ myeloid NK precursors are derived from granulo-myelomonocytic progenitors. These results delineate the pathway of human NK cell differentiation from myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow and suggest the utility of humanized mice for studying human hematopoiesis.
Relationships between the resting-state network and the P3: Evidence from a scalp EEG study
Authors: Li Fali , Liu Tiejun , Wang Fei , Li He , Gong Diankun , Zhang Rui , Jiang Yi , Tian Yin , Guo Daqing , Yao Dezhong , Xu Peng 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe P3 is an important event-related potential that can be used to identify neural activity related to the cognitive processes of the human brain. However, the relationships, especially the functional correlations, between resting-state brain activity and the P3 have not been well established. In this study, we investigated the relationships between P3 properties (i.e., amplitude and latency) and resting-state brain networks. The results indicated that P3 amplitude was significantly correlated with resting-state network topology and in general, larger P3 amplitudes could be evoked when the resting-state brain network was more efficient. However, no significant relationships were found for the corresponding P3 latency. Additionally, the long-range connections between the prefrontal/frontal and parietal/occipital brain regions, which represent the synchronous activity of these areas, were functionally related to the P3 parameters, especially P3 amplitude. The findings of the current study may help us better understand inter-subject variation in the P3, which may be instructive for clinical diagnosis, cognitive neuroscience studies and potential subject selection for brain-computer interface applications.
Removal of oxygen demand and nitrogen using different particle-sizes of anthracite coated with nine kinds of LDHs for wastewater treatment
Authors: Zhang Xiangling , Guo Lu , Wang Yafen , Ruan Congying 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis paper reports the application of anthracite particles of different sizes and coated with nine kinds of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) varying in MII–MIII cations, as alternative substrates in the simulated vertical-flow constructed wetland columns. Effects of LDHs-coating and particle size of modified anthracites were examined to evaluate their abilities in removing oxygen demand and nitrogen from sewage wastewater. Results showed that LDHs modification effectively enhanced the removal of nitrogen and organics. The removal efficiencies of total nitrogen (TN) , ammonia and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were best improved by 28.5%, 11.9% and 4.1% for the medium particle size (1–3 mm), followed by 9.2%, 5.5% and 13.6% for the large size (3–5 mm), respectively. Only TN removal was improved up to 16.6% for the small particle size (0.5–1 mm). Nitrate tended to accumulate and fluctuate greatly across all the treatments, probably due to the dominancy of aerobic condition in the vertical-flow columns. Overall, MgFe-LDHs was selected as the best-modified coating for anthracite. The results suggested LDHs modification would be one of the promising strategies to provide new-types of highly efficient and lasting wetland substrates.
Buffet-Style Expression Factor-Adjusted Discovery Increases the Yield of Robust Expression Quantitative Trait Loci
Authors: Castaldi Peter , Obeidat Ma’en , Halper-Stromberg Eitan , Lamb Andrew , Parker Margaret , Chase Robert , Carey Vincent , Tal-Singer Ruth , Silverman Edwin , Sin Don , Paré Peter D , Hersh Craig 
Published: October 2015

AbstractExpression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis relates genetic variation to gene expression, and it has been shown that power to detect eQTLs is substantially increased by adjustment for measures of expression variability derived from singular value decomposition-based procedures (referred to as expression factors, or EFs). A potential downside to this approach is that power will be reduced for eQTL that are correlated with one or more EFs, but these approaches are commonly used in human eQTL studies on the assumption that this risk is low forcis(i.e. local) eQTL associations. Using two independent blood eQTL datasets, we show that this assumption is incorrect and that, in fact, 10-25% of eQTL that are significant without adjustment for EFs are no longer detected after EF adjustment. In addition, the majority of these “lost” eQTLs replicate in independent data, indicating that they are not spurious associations. Thus, in the ideal case, EFs would be re-estimated for each eQTL association test, as has been suggested by others; however, this is computationally infeasible for large datasets with densely imputed genotype data. We propose an alternative, “buffet-style” approach in which a series of EF and non-EF eQTL analyses are performed and significant eQTL discoveries are collected across these analyses. We demonstrate that standard methods to control the false discovery rate perform similarly between the single EF and buffet-style approaches, and we provide biological support for eQTL discovered by this approach in terms of immune cell-type specific enhancer enrichment in Roadmap Epigenomics and ENCODE cell lines.Significance Statement: Genetic differences between individuals cause disease through their effects on the function of cells and tissues. One of the important biological changes affected by genetic differences is the expression of genes, which can be identified with expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis. Here we explore the basic methods for performing eQTL analysis, and we identify some underappreciated negative impacts of commonly applied methods, and propose a practical solution to improve the ability to identify genetic differences that affect gene expression levels, thereby improving the ability to understand the biological causes of many common diseases.
Reviving the brassware industry in Moradabad, India
Authors: Singh Hari Narain , Singh D.K. 
Published: October 2015

Subject area
This paper aims to understand the subject of entrepreneurship and project management through techno-economic intervention.

Study level/applicability
Postgraduate students of management and graduate students of engineering and management.

Case overview
Multiple challenges existed at the ground level in the Moradabad Brass Cluster in terms of gaps in technology, skill, infrastructure and market that all needed to be improved upon.

Expected learning outcomes
The objectives and learning outcomes were proposed to understand the cluster economic crisis, entrepreneurship, project management, technical improvements and better understanding of certain theories.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Engaging stakeholders during late stage security design with assumption personas
Authors: Faily Shamal 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to present an approach where assumption personas are used to engage stakeholders in the elicitation and specification of security requirements at a late stage of a system’s design.

Design/methodology/approach
– The author has devised an approach for developing assumption personas for use in participatory design sessions during the later stages of a system’s design. The author validates this approach using a case study in the e-Science domain.

Findings
– Engagement follows by focusing on the indirect, rather than direct, implications of security. More design approaches are needed for treating security at a comparatively late stage. Security design techniques should scale to working with sub-optimal input data.

Originality/value
– This paper contributes an approach where assumption personas engage project team members when eliciting and specifying security requirements at the late stages of a project.
A framework to assist email users in the identification of phishing attacks
Authors: Lötter André , Futcher Lynn 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to address the problem that email users are not well-informed or assisted by their email clients in identifying possible phishing attacks, thereby putting their personal information at risk. This paper therefore addresses the human weakness (i.e. the user’s lack of knowledge of phishing attacks which causes them to fall victim to such attacks) as well as the software related issue of email clients not visually assisting and guiding the users through the user interface.

Design/methodology/approach
– A literature study was conducted in the main field of information security with a specific focus on understanding phishing attacks and a modelling technique was used to represent the proposed framework. This paper argues that the framework can be suitably implemented for email clients to raise awareness about phishing attacks. To validate the framework as a plausible mechanism, it was reviewed by a focus group within the School of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). The focus group consisted of academics and research students in the field of information security.

Findings
– This paper argues that email clients should make use of feedback mechanisms to present security related aspects to their users, so as to make them aware of the characteristics pertaining to phishing attacks. To support this argument, it presents a framework to assist email users in the identification of phishing attacks.

Research limitations/implications
– Future research would yield interesting results if the proposed framework were implemented into an existing email client to determine the effect of the framework on the user’s level of awareness of phishing attacks. Furthermore, the list of characteristics could be expanded to include all phishing types (such as clone phishing, smishing, vishing and pharming). This would make the framework more dynamic in that it could then address all forms of phishing attacks.

Practical implications
– The proposed framework could enable email clients to provide assistance through the user interface. Visibly relaying the security level to the users of the email client, and providing short descriptions as to why a certain email is considered suspicious, could result in raising the awareness of the average email user with regard to phishing attacks.

Originality/value
– This research presents a framework that email clients can use to identify common forms of normal and spear phishing attacks. The proposed framework addresses the problem that the average Internet user lacks a baseline level of online security awareness. It argues that the email client is the ideal place to raise the awareness of users regarding phishing attacks.
Reengineering the user: privacy concerns about personal data on smartphones
Authors: Tsavli Matina , Efraimidis Pavlos S. , Katos Vasilios , Mitrou Lilian 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to discuss the privacy and security concerns that have risen from the permissions model in the Android operating system, along with two shortcomings that have not been adequately addressed.

Design/methodology/approach
– The impact of the applications’ evolutionary increment of permission requests from both the user’s and the developer’s point of view is studied, and finally, a series of remedies against the erosion of users’ privacy is proposed.

Findings
– The results of this work indicate that, even though providing access to personal data of smartphone users is by definition neither problematic nor unlawful, today’s smartphone operating systems do not provide an adequate level of protection for the user’s personal data. However, there are several ideas that can significantly improve the situation and mitigate privacy concerns of users of smart devices.

Research limitations/implications
– The proposed approach was evaluated through an examination of the Android’s permission model, although issues arise in other operating systems. The authors’ future intention is to conduct a user study to measure the user’s awareness and concepts surrounding privacy concerns to empirically investigate the above-mentioned suggestions.

Practical implications
– The proposed suggestions in this paper, if adopted in practice, could significantly improve the situation and mitigate privacy concerns of users of smart devices.

Social implications
– The recommendations proposed in this paper would strongly enhance the control of users over their personal data and improve their ability to distinguish legitimate apps from malware or grayware.

Originality/value
– This paper emphasises two shortcomings of the permissions models of mobile operating systems which, in authors’ view, have not been adequately addressed to date and propose an inherent way for apps and other entities of the mobile computing ecosystem to commit to responsible and transparent practices on mobile users’ privacy.