bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cyclopiazonic acid biosynthesis gene cluster gene cpaM is required for speradine A biosynthesis
Authors: Tokuoka Masafumi , Kikuchi Tomoki , Shinohara Yasutomo , Koyama Akifumi , Iio Shin-ichiro , Kubota Takaaki , Kobayashi Jun’ichi , Koyama Yasuji , Totsuka Akira , Shindo Hitoshi , Sato Kazuo 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Speradine A is a derivative of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) found in culture of an Aspergillus tamarii isolate. Heterologous expression of a predicted methyltransferase gene, cpaM, in the cpa biosynthesis gene cluster of A. tamarii resulted in the speradine A production in a 2-oxoCPA producing A. oryzae strain, indicating cpaM is involved in the speradine A biosynthesis.
Association of Nocturnal Hypertension With Disease Activity in
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Hamamoto Kae , Yamada Shinsuke , Yasumoto Mari , Yoda Maki , Yoda Koichiro , Tsuda Akihiro , Okamoto Keiji , Goto Hitoshi , Inaba Masaaki 
Published: July 2015

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Both nocturnal hypertension (HT) and systemic inflammation underlying rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been shown to be independent predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), although little is known on the relationship between nocturnal blood pressure (BP) and disease activity in RA patients.

METHODS
We performed 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in 71 RA patients to examine the relationship of nocturnal fall in BP and RA disease activity based on a disease activity score of 28 joint counts with C-reactive protein (CRP, 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28)-CRP). Among them, 25 RA patients whose consent obtained were reexamined by ABPM to assess the improvement of nocturnal fall in BP after RA therapeutic intervention.

RESULTS
The mean DAS28-CRP level was 4.8±1.6 in 71 RA patients. The mean nocturnal fall in BP was 5.6±8.9%. DAS28-CRP was associated significantly and independently in a negative manner with the nocturnal fall in BP ( β = −0.388, P = 0.004). In 25 RA patients, DAS28-CRP improved from 5.4±1.1 to 3.5±0.8 ( P &lt; 0.0001) and the nocturnal fall in BP increased significantly from 4.5±9.2% to 10.6±5.8% ( P = 0.002) with the significant decrease of nighttime systolic BP (SBP) from 121.2±22.5mm Hg to 112.5±18.8mm Hg ( P = 0.02) in spite of no change in daytime BP after 4 weeks of RA treatment.

CONCLUSIONS
The present study observed that higher RA activity was associated with lower nocturnal fall in BP, but not daytime BP, in RA patients.
Reduction of Central Blood Pressure in Response to Oral Glucose
Loading Is Blunted in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Higaki Tadanao , Kurisu Satoshi , Watanabe Noriaki , Ikenaga Hiroki , Shimonaga Takashi , Iwasaki Toshitaka , Ishibashi Ken , Dohi Yoshihiro , Fukuda Yukihiro , Kihara Yasuki 
Published: July 2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Recent studies have shown that arterial stiffness is reduced after meal intake. We evaluated the acute response of central hemodynamics to glucose loading and the variation in their responses among normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS
The study enrolled 85 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease who underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Central hemodynamic measurements were assessed using radial applanation tonometry at fasting, 60, and 120 minutes after glucose loading.

RESULTS
Glucose loading decreased the augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 bpm (AIx@75) (81.6±13.9 to 74.5±14.1%, P &lt; 0.01) and central systolic blood pressure (SBP) (115±22 to 109±21mm Hg, P &lt; 0.01) at 120 minutes without a significant change in brachial SBP (126±25 to 125±25mm Hg, P = 0.93). Glucose loading decreased central SBP in NGT and IGT groups but did not affect the DM group. Change in AIx@75 at 120 minutes after glucose loading was blunted in IGT and DM groups compared with the NGT group (−5.7±4.4 vs. −3.6±4.1 vs. −9.3±6.2%, P &lt; 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified DM as an independent factor associated with the presence of blunted response of AIx to glucose loading.

CONCLUSIONS
Oral glucose loading decreased central SBP and AIx@75 without a significant change in brachial SBP, and these central hemodynamic responses were blunted in patients with DM.
Statistical models for RNA-seq data derived from a two-condition 48-replicate experiment
Authors: Gierliński Marek , Cole Christian , Schofield Pietà , Schurch Nicholas J. , Sherstnev Alexander , Singh Vijender , Wrobel Nicola , Gharbi Karim , Simpson Gordon , Owen-Hughes Tom , Blaxter Mark , Barton Geoffrey J. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractMotivation: High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) is now the standard method to determine differential gene expression. Identifying differentially expressed genes crucially depends on estimates of read-count variability. These estimates are typically based on statistical models such as the negative binomial distribution, which is employed by the tools edgeR, DESeq and cuffdiff. Until now, the validity of these models has usually been tested on either low-replicate RNA-seq data or simulations.Results: A 48-replicate RNA-seq experiment in yeast was performed and data tested against theoretical models. The observed gene read counts were consistent with both log-normal and negative binomial distributions, while the mean-variance relation followed the line of constant dispersion parameter of ∼0.01. The high-replicate data also allowed for strict quality control and screening of ‘bad’ replicates, which can drastically affect the gene read-count distribution.Availability and implementation: RNA-seq data have been submitted to ENA archive with project ID PRJEB5348.Contact: g.j.barton@dundee.ac.uk
KnowEnG: a knowledge engine for genomics
Authors: Sinha Saurabh , Song Jun , Weinshilboum Richard , Jongeneel Victor , Han Jiawei 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe describe here the vision, motivations, and research plans of the National Institutes of Health Center for Excellence in Big Data Computing at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The Center is organized around the construction of “Knowledge Engine for Genomics” (KnowEnG), an E-science framework for genomics where biomedical scientists will have access to powerful methods of data mining, network mining, and machine learning to extract knowledge out of genomics data. The scientist will come to KnowEnG with their own data sets in the form of spreadsheets and ask KnowEnG to analyze those data sets in the light of a massive knowledge base of community data sets called the “Knowledge Network” that will be at the heart of the system. The Center is undertaking discovery projects aimed at testing the utility of KnowEnG for transforming big data to knowledge. These projects span a broad range of biological enquiry, from pharmacogenomics (in collaboration with Mayo Clinic) to transcriptomics of human behavior.
Improve employee engagement to retain your workforce
Authors: Tullar Jessica M. , Amick Benjamin C. , Brewer Shelley , Diamond Pamela M. , Kelder Steven H. , Mikhail Osama 
Published: July 2015

Background:
Turnover hurts patient care quality and is expensive to hospitals. Improved employee engagement could encourage employees to stay at their organization.

Purpose:
The aim of the study was to test whether participants in an employee engagement program were less likely than nonparticipants to leave their job.

Methods:
Health care workers (primarily patient care technicians and assistants, n = 216) were recruited to participate in an engagement program that helps employees find meaning and connection in their work. Using human resources data, we created a longitudinal study to compare participating versus nonparticipating employees in the same job titles on retention time (i.e., termination risk).

Findings:
Participants were less likely to leave the hospital compared to nonparticipating employees (hazard ratio = 0.22, 95% CI [0.11, 0.84]). This finding remained significant after adjusting for covariates (hazard ratio = 0.37, 95% CI [0.17, 0.57]).

Practice Implications:
Improving employee engagement resulted in employees staying longer at the hospital.
TheNicrophorus vespilloidesgenome and methylome, a beetle with complex social behavior
Authors: Cunningham Christopher B. , Ji Lexiang , Wiberg R. Axel W. , Shelton Jennifer , McKinney Elizabeth C. , Parker Darren J. , Meagher Richard B. , Benowitz Kyle M. , Roy-Zokan Eileen M. , Ritchie Michael G. , Brown Susan J. , Schmitz Robert J. , Moore Allen J. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractTesting for conserved and novel mechanisms underlying phenotypic evolution requires a diversity of genomes available for comparison spanning multiple independent lineages. For example, complex social behavior in insects has been investigated primarily with eusocial lineages, nearly all of which are Hymenoptera. If conserved genomic influences on sociality do exist, we need data from a wider range of taxa that also vary in their levels of sociality. Here we present information on the genome of the subsocial beetleNicrophorus vespilloides, a species long used to investigate evolutionary questions of complex social behavior. We used this genome to address two questions. First, does life history predict overlap in gene models more strongly than phylogenetic groupings? Second, like other insects with highly developed social behavior but unlike other beetles, doesN. vespilloideshave DNA methylation? We found the overlap in gene models was similar betweenN. vespilloidesand all other insect groups regardless of life history. Unlike previous studies of beetles, we found strong evidence of DNA methylation, which allows this species to be used to address questions about the potential role of methylation in social behavior. The addition of this genome adds a coleopteran resource to answer questions about the evolution and mechanistic basis of sociality.
Phylogenomic species tree estimation in the presence of incomplete lineage sorting and horizontal gene transfer
Authors: Davidson Ruth , Vachaspati Pranjal , Mirarab Siavash , Warnow Tandy 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBackgroundSpecies tree estimation is challenged by gene tree heterogeneity resulting from biological processes such as duplication and loss, hybridization, incomplete lineage sorting (ILS), and horizontal gene transfer (HGT).Mathematical theory about reconstructing species trees in the presence of HGT alone or ILS alone suggests that quartet-based species tree methods (known to be statistically consistent under ILS, or under bounded amounts of HGT) might be effective techniques for estimating species trees whenbothHGT and ILS are present.ResultsWe evaluated several publicly available coalescent-based methods and concatenation under maximum likelihood on simulated datasets with moderate ILS and varying levels of HGT. Our study shows that two quartet-based species tree estimation methods (ASTRAL-2 and weighted Quartets MaxCut) are both highly accurate, even on datasets with high rates of HGT. In contrast, although NJst and concatenation using maximum likelihood are highly accurate under low HGT, they are less robust to high HGT rates.ConclusionOur study shows that quartet-based species-tree estimation methods can be highly accurate under the presence of both HGT and ILS. The study suggests the possibility that some quartet-based methods might be statistically consistent under phylogenomic models of gene tree heterogeneity with both HGT and ILS.
An evaluation of the link between subjects studied in hospitality courses in Cyprus and career success
Authors: Marneros Stelios , Gibbs Paul 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper, unprecedented in Cyprus in its scope and approach, is to investigate the importance level of the courses currently taught in hospitality programs of the country, as perceived by industry professionals.Design/methodology/approach– The research population included individuals currently holding full-time managerial positions in hotel establishments of Cyprus. In total, 500 questionnaires were administered to individuals working in 158 hotel establishments currently operating in the country. The surveys were personalized and addressed to each hotel’s general manager and two departmental heads. Descriptive and inferential statistics, namely frequencies, one-way analysis of variance withpost-hocmultiple comparison test (Tukey honesty significant difference) and multiple regression analysis, were utilized to analyze the data and answer the formulated research questions.Findings– For the purposes of the study, modules offered by local tertiary institutions fall into four broad categories: general education, languages, professional modules and business modules. Findings revealed that professional modules were ranked first, followed by business modules, languages and general education modules. The respondents’ gender, age, years of employment and functional area are the demographic characteristics that most significantly influence their perception regarding the importance of required competencies. Moreover, findings suggest that professional modules and languages are perceived by industry professionals as very important elements for career success in the hotel industry.Originality/value– Findings of this study may assist industry stakeholders in re-structuring the hospitality management curriculum, in an attempt to provide a more realistic and pedagogically sound learning experience to students which reflects the modern realities of the profession. Moreover, new knowledge created may inspire academic scholars to further investigate this topic from an array of different perspectives.
Embedding social innovation and social impact across the disciplines
Authors: Alden Rivers Bethany , Armellini Alejandro , Nie Ming 
Published: July 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to propose an attributes framework for embedding “Changemaker” – a university initiative for promoting social innovation and social impact – across the disciplines at the University of Northampton.

Design/methodology/approach
– The study is based on the authors’ (2015) phenomenographic study that proposed five different conceptions of Changemaker held by academic staff: (1) Changemaker as institutional strategy; (2) Changemaker as critical thinking, perspective shifting and problem solving; (3) Changemaker as employability; (4) Changemaker as social betterment; and (5) Changemaker as personal transformation. The present study explores pedagogic literature to identify skills, behaviours and attributes associated with each of these five categories.

Findings
– Findings from this literature review inform a set of Changemaker attributes, which offers a framework to consider skills and behaviours associated with the five conceptions of Changemaker.

Research limitations/implications
– The conceptions of Changemaker, that form the basis of the Changemaker attributes, represent the beliefs of teaching staff at the University of Northampton. Despite inherent limitations, the approach of using practice-based empirical findings to develop pedagogical tools may be of direct benefit to other education providers as they develop their own models for teaching and learning.

Practical implications
– The Changemaker attributes will be used by the University of Northampton during the design, approval and review of courses to ensure that social innovation and social impact is embedded across the disciplines. Academic staff can refer these attributes when designing assessments and for inspiration towards innovative teaching practice.

Originality/value
– The findings of this study will provide a point of reference for other higher education institutions as they look for guidance on embedding social innovation and social impact into their curriculum.
The effect of shipping knowledge and absorptive capacity on organizational innovation and logistics value
Authors: Lee Eon-Seong , Song Dong-Wook 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine what types of shipping knowledge are crucial in order for shipping companies to survive in dynamic business environment, and to investigate how the shipping knowledge affects the company’s performance (i.e. organizational innovation and logistics value). This paper also diagnoses the moderating effect of absorptive capacity on the relationship between the shipping knowledge and its effectiveness.Design/methodology/approach– Based on the literature, a theoretical framework and relevant hypotheses are established so as to show associated relationships between shipping knowledge, absorptive capacity, and organizational innovation and logistics value. Data are collected for an empirical analysis and a moderated hierarchical regression analysis is conducted to test the hypotheses.Findings– Results show that a high level of shipping knowledge has a positive influence on the organizational innovation and logistics value of shipping companies. The findings also indicate that, while the absorptive capacity of shipping companies moderates the positive impact of shipping knowledge on the logistics value, it directly affects the improvement of organizational innovation.Research limitations/implications– This research verifies that effective knowledge management of shipping companies plays a significant role in developing organizational innovation and improving logistics performance. The research findings provide shipping companies with a strategic insight into the identification of critical sources for competitive advantage and greater organizational performance from an organizational learning perspective.Practical implications– This line of research is served as an indicator of a good strategic direction for the practitioners engaged in the maritime transport and logistics industry, in order for them to become better integrated entities in a global logistics system as well as maximize their competitive advantages.Originality/value– This paper makes the first attempt in its kind at empirically examining the types of shipping knowledge and its overall effectiveness in terms of the improvement of organizational innovation and logistics value. The moderating role of absorptive capacity on the impact of knowledge on organizational performance has also been initiated in the maritime logistics research.
Two dimensions of service: a single carrier analysis
Authors: Johnston Ahren 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cost of improving service to a motor carrier in the intermodal market. The paper further seeks to validate the existence of two dimensions of service with differing impacts on costs. The physical capacity dimension is related to the traditional view that higher quality costs more and the human performance dimension is related to the production management view that higher quality can actually save money by reducing the need for scrap and rework.Design/methodology/approach– To determine the cost of improved service, a translog cost function that included variables for each of the two dimensions of service quality was estimated. Because the data were centered prior to estimation, the first-order coefficients are interpretable as elasticity of cost with respect to quality.Findings– Results of estimation show that improvements to the physical capacity dimension lead to higher costs and improvements to the human performance have no significant impact on costs.Research limitations/implications– The major limitation of this study is that it is restricted to a single carrier and total costs were allocated according to transit time not specific costs.Practical implications– Results of this study would help a carrier or other service provider determine which aspects of service to focus on in order to improve service with minimal impact on costs.Originality/value– The value of this paper lies in verifying the existence of two dimensions of service and estimating how they impact costs.
Exploratory analysis on the relationship between strategy and structure/processes in supply chains
Authors: Nakano Mikihisa 
Published: July 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to provide some empirical evidence of the relationship between strategy and structure/processes in supply chains on the basis of the results of an exploratory analysis using survey data from Japanese manufacturers.

Design/methodology/approach
– This study explores the differences of structure/processes among the four supply chain strategies, that is, efficient, responsive, efficient/responsive, and traditional. Specifically, this study conducts a one-way analysis of variance of the structure/process variables by supply chain strategies.

Findings
– As the results of exploratory analysis including follow-up interviews with survey respondents, this study found many differences between traditional and efficient/responsive firms on process variables. With regard to structure variables, the existence of a supply chain management department, which is a variable of internal structure, in responsive and efficient/responsive firms is statistically more likely than in efficient firms. In addition, this study found significant differences between efficient and responsive firms, and traditional firms on some variables of external structure.

Research limitations/implications
– The results of this study explain why efficient/responsive firms can achieve high level of customer service and low operating cost, which is demonstrated by Qi et al. (2009). In addition, this study statistically ensures the validity of Stavrulaki and Davis’s (2010) proposition that firms with agile strategy tend to conduct opportunistic collaboration or have collaborative barriers with their suppliers because of their flexible supply base.

Originality/value
– This is the first empirical study that explores the relationship among management elements in supply chains including not only strategy but also structure and processes. Through this study, it is implied that the strategy-structure-processes-performance paradigm adopted in this study is useful for exploring the patterns of other management elements that fit in with supply chain strategies.
Using a transport portfolio framework to reduce carbon footprint
Authors: Liljestrand Kristina , Christopher Martin , Andersson Dan 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to develop a transport portfolio framework (TPF) and explore its use as a decision support tool for shippers wanting to improve their transport system in terms of reducing their carbon footprint.Design/methodology/approach– The TPF has been designed on the basis relevant theoretical frameworks in logistics and thereafter tested and further developed by the use of empirical data from a case study. Quantitative methods are used to find patterns in the shipment statistics for import flows obtained from a food retailer and carriers.Findings– The TPF highlights different avenues for decreasing the carbon footprint, by identifying the product flow characteristics that might affect modal split and load factor, and it is believed that these can help shippers’ intent on analysing the largest potential for improvement. This potential is estimated based on how the key variables, modal split and load factor, can be improved.Practical implications– Shippers can use the TPF as a decision support tool in their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint by: structuring complexity, managing data and finding effective solutions.Social implications– Reducing emissions is an increasingly important priority for shippers and the TPF helps them to direct their efforts towards approaches that have a substantial impact.Originality/value– The TPF provides an opportunity to match different approaches for improving the environmental performance with the potential for reducing carbon footprint in shippers’ transportation networks, by taking into account the complexity of logistics network.