bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unraveling the molecular architecture of a G protein-coupled receptor/β-arrestin/Erk module complex
Authors: Bourquard Thomas , Landomiel Flavie , Reiter Eric , Crépieux Pascale , Ritchie David W. , Azé Jérôme , Poupon Anne 
Published: June 2015

Abstractβ-arrestins serve as signaling scaffolds downstream of G protein-coupled receptors and thus play a crucial role in a plethora of cellular processes. Although it is largely accepted that the ability of β-arrestins to interact simultaneously with many protein partners is key in G protein-independent signaling of GPCRs, only the precise knowledge of these multimeric arrangements will allow a full understanding of the dynamics of these interactions and their functional consequences. However, current experimental procedures for the determination of the three-dimensional structures of protein-protein complexes are not well adapted to analyze these short-lived, multi-component assemblies. We propose a model of the receptor/β-arrestin/Erk1 signaling module, which is consistent with most of the available experimental data. Moreover, for the β-arrestin/Raf1 and the β-arrestin/ERK interactions, we have used the model to design interfering peptides and shown that they compete with both partners, hereby demonstrating the validity of the predicted interaction regions.
Burkholderia cenocepacia and Salmonella enterica ArnT proteins that transfer 4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose to lipopolysaccharide share membrane topology and functional amino acids
Authors: Tavares-Carreón Faviola , Patel Kinnari B. , Valvano Miguel A. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe recently demonstrated that incorporation of 4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose (l-Ara4N) to the lipid A moiety of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is required for transport of LPS to the outer membrane and viability of the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia cenocepacia. ArnT is a membrane protein catalyzing the transfer of l-Ara4N to the LPS molecule at the periplasmic face of the inner membrane, but its topology and mechanism of action are not well characterized. Here, we elucidate the topology of ArnT and identify key amino acids that likely contribute to its enzymatic function. PEGylation assays using a cysteineless version of ArnT support a model of 13 transmembrane helices and a large C-terminal region exposed to the periplasm. The same topological configuration is proposed for the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ArnT. Four highly conserved periplasmic residues in B. cenocepacia ArnT, tyrosine-43, lysine-69, arginine-254 and glutamic acid-493, were required for activity. Tyrosine-43 and lysine-69 span two highly conserved motifs, 42RYA44 and 66YFEKP70, that are found in ArnT homologues from other species. The same residues in S. enterica ArnT are also needed for function. We propose these aromatic and charged amino acids participate in either undecaprenyl phosphate-l-Ara4N substrate recognition or transfer of l-Ara4N to the LPS.
Effect of N2 and H2 plasma treatments on band edge emission of ZnO microrods
Authors: Rodrigues Joana , Holz Tiago , Fath Allah Rabie , Gonzalez David , Ben Teresa , Correia Maria R. , Monteiro Teresa , Costa Florinda M. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractZnO microrods were grown by laser assisted flow deposition technique in order to study their luminescence behaviour in the near band edge spectral region. Transmission electron microscopy analysis put in evidence the high crystallinity degree and microrod’s compositional homogeneity. Photoluminescence revealed a dominant 3.31 eV emission. The correlation between this emission and the presence of surface states was investigated by performing plasma treatments with hydrogen and nitrogen. The significant modifications in photoluminescence spectra after the plasma treatments suggest a connexion between the 3.31 eV luminescence and the surface related electronic levels.
Gross primary production of global forest ecosystems has been overestimated
Authors: Ma Jianyong , Yan Xiaodong , Dong Wenjie , Chou Jieming 
Published: June 2015

AbstractCoverage rate, a critical variable for gridded forest area, has been neglected by previous studies in estimating the annual gross primary production (GPP) of global forest ecosystems. In this study, we investigated to what extent the coverage rate could impact forest GPP estimates from 1982 to 2011. Here we show that the traditional calculation without considering the coverage rate globally overestimated the forest gross carbon dioxide uptake by approximately 8.7%, with a value of 5.12 ± 0.23 Pg C yr−1, which is equivalent to 48% of the annual emissions from anthropogenic activities in 2012. Actually, the global annual GPP of forest ecosystems is approximately 53.71 ± 4.83 Pg C yr−1 for the past 30 years by taking the coverage rate into account. Accordingly, we argue that forest annual GPP calculated by previous studies has been overestimated due to the exaggerated forest area and therefore, coverage rate may be a required factor to further quantify the global carbon cycle.
Nontoxic singlet oxygen generator as a therapeutic candidate for treating tauopathies
Authors: Sheik Mohideen Sahabudeen , Yamasaki Yasutoyo , Omata Yasuhiro , Tsuda Leo , Yoshiike Yuji 
Published: June 2015

AbstractMethylene blue (MB) inhibits the aggregation of tau, a main constituent of neurofibrillary tangles. However, MB’s mode of action in vivo is not fully understood. MB treatment reduced the amount of sarkosyl-insoluble tau in Drosophila that express human wild-type tau. MB concurrently ameliorated the climbing deficits of transgenic tau flies to a limited extent and diminished the climbing activity of wild-type flies. MB also decreased the survival rate of wild-type flies. Based on its photosensitive efficacies, we surmised that singlet oxygen generated through MB under light might contribute to both the beneficial and toxic effects of MB in vivo. We identified rose bengal (RB) that suppressed tau accumulation and ameliorated the behavioral deficits to a lesser extent than MB. Unlike MB, RB did not reduce the survival rate of flies. Our findings indicate that singlet oxygen generators with little toxicity may be suitable drug candidates for treating tauopathies.
Projection of corn production and stover-harvesting impacts on soil organic carbon dynamics in the U.S. Temperate Prairies
Authors: Wu Yiping , Liu Shuguang , Young Claudia J. , Dahal Devendra , Sohl Terry L. , Davis Brian 
Published: June 2015

AbstractTerrestrial carbon sequestration potential is widely considered as a realistic option for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. However, this potential may be threatened by global changes including climate, land use and management changes such as increased corn stover harvesting for rising production of cellulosic biofuel. Therefore, it is critical to investigate the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) at regional or global scale. This study simulated the corn production and spatiotemporal changes of SOC in the U.S. Temperate Prairies, which covers over one-third of the U.S. corn acreage, using a biogeochemical model with multiple climate and land-use change projections. The corn production (either grain yield or stover biomass) could reach 88.7–104.7 TgC as of 2050, 70–101% increase when compared to the base year of 2010. A removal of 50% stover at the regional scale could be a reasonable cap in view of maintaining SOC content and soil fertility especially in the beginning years. The projected SOC dynamics indicated that the average carbon sequestration potential across the entire region may vary from 12.7 to 19.6 g C/m2/yr (i.e., 6.6–10.2 g TgC/yr). This study not only helps understand SOC dynamics but also provides decision support for sustainable biofuel development.
A Novel Direct Factor Xa Inhibitory Peptide with Anti-Platelet Aggregation Activity from Agkistrodon acutus Venom Hydrolysates
Authors: Chen Meimei , Ye Xiaohui , Ming Xin , Chen Yahui , Wang Ying , Su Xingli , Su Wen , Kong Yi 
Published: June 2015

AbstractSnake venom is a natural substance that contains numerous bioactive proteins and peptides, nearly all of which have been identified over the last several decades. In this study, we subjected snake venom to enzymatic hydrolysis to identify previously unreported bioactive peptides. The novel peptide ACH-11 with the sequence LTFPRIVFVLG was identified with both FXa inhibition and anti-platelet aggregation activities. ACH-11 inhibited the catalytic function of FXa towards its substrate S-2222 via a mixed model with a Ki value of 9.02 μM and inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and U46619 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, ACH-11 exhibited potent antithrombotic activity in vivo. It reduced paralysis and death in an acute pulmonary thrombosis model by 90% and attenuated thrombosis weight in an arterio-venous shunt thrombosis model by 57.91%, both at a dose of 3 mg/kg. Additionally, a tail cutting bleeding time assay revealed that ACH-11 did not prolong bleeding time in mice at a dose of 3 mg/kg. Together, our results reveal that ACH-11 is a novel antithrombotic peptide exhibiting both FXa inhibition and anti-platelet aggregation activities, with a low bleeding risk. We believe that it could be a candidate or lead compound for new antithrombotic drug development.
Allyl isothiocyanate induces stomatal closure in Vicia faba
Authors: Sobahan Muhammad Abdus , Akter Nasima , Okuma Eiji , Uraji Misugi , Ye Wenxiu , Mori Izumi C , Nakamura Yoshimasa , Murata Yoshiyuki 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Isothiocyanates are enzymatically produced from glucosinolates in plants, and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) induces stomatal closure in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study, we investigated stomatal responses to AITC in Vicia faba. AITC-induced stomatal closure accompanied by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO production, cytosolic alkalization and glutathione (GSH) depletion in V. faba. GSH monoethyl ester induced stomatal reopening and suppressed AITC-induced GSH depletion in guard cells. Exogenous catalase and a peroxidase inhibitor, salicylhydroxamic acid, inhibited AITC-induced stomatal closure, unlike an NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, diphenylene iodonium chloride. The peroxidase inhibitor also abolished the AITC-induced ROS production, NO production, and cytosolic alkalization. AITC-induced stomatal closure was suppressed by an NO scavenger, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide, and an agent to acidify cytosol, butyrate. These results indicate that AITC-induced stomatal closure in V. faba as well as in A. thaliana and suggest that AITC signaling in guard cells is conserved in both plants.
The longevity effect of echinacoside inCaenorhabditis elegansmediated throughdaf-16
Authors: Wang Xue , Zhang Jiaolong , Lu Lulu , Zhou Lijun 
Published: June 2015

AbstractEchinacoside (ECH), a natural polyphenolic compound, has been reported to possess important pharmacological activities. However, very little is known about whether or how ECH affects longevity in vivo. We have examined the effects of ECH on the life span and stress tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Our studies demonstrate that the life span of wild-type worms could be extended in the presence of ECH. Furthermore, ECH was found to increase tolerance of worms to heat shock and oxidative stress, while not exerting any influence on pharyngeal pumping rate and progeny production. Our mechanistic studies indicate that supplementation of ECH increases the transcript level of daf-16. ECH treatment also modulates the nuclear localization and transcriptional activities of daf-16, thus fine tunes the expression of daf-16 target genes to promote longevity and increases stress response in C. elegans. Overall, this work reveals the longevity effect of ECH and elucidates the underpinning mechanisms.
Action of an endo-β-1,3(4)-glucanase on cellobiosyl unit structure in barley β-1,3:1,4-glucan
Authors: Kuge Takao , Nagoya Hiroki , Tryfona Theodora , Kurokawa Tsunemi , Yoshimi Yoshihisa , Dohmae Naoshi , Tsubaki Kazufumi , Dupree Paul , Tsumuraya Yoichi , Kotake Toshihisa 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
β-1,3:1,4-Glucan is a major cell wall component accumulating in endosperm and young tissues in grasses. The mixed linkage glucan is a linear polysaccharide mainly consisting of cellotriosyl and cellotetraosyl units linked through single β-1,3-glucosidic linkages, but it also contains minor structures such as cellobiosyl units. In this study, we examined the action of an endo-β-1,3(4)-glucanase from Trichoderma sp. on a minor structure in barley β-1,3:1,4-glucan. To find the minor structure on which the endo-β-1,3(4)-glucanase acts, we prepared oligosaccharides from barley β-1,3:1,4-glucan by endo-β-1,4-glucanase digestion followed by purification by gel permeation and paper chromatography. The endo-β-1,3(4)-glucanase appeared to hydrolyze an oligosaccharide with degree of polymerization 5, designated C5-b. Based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (ToF)/ToF-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS analysis, C5-b was identified as β-Glc-1,3-β-Glc-1,4-β-Glc-1,3-β-Glc-1,4-Glc including a cellobiosyl unit. The results indicate that a type of endo-β-1,3(4)-glucanase acts on the cellobiosyl units of barley β-1,3:1,4-glucan in an endo-manner.
Carbohydrate mouth rinse and caffeine improves high‐intensity interval running capacity when carbohydrate restricted
Authors: Kasper Andreas M. , Cocking Scott , Cockayne Molly , Barnard Marcus , Tench Jake , Parker Liam , McAndrew John , Langan‐Evans Carl , Close Graeme L. , Morton James P. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe tested the hypothesis that carbohydrate mouth rinsing, alone or in combination with caffeine, augments high‐intensity interval (HIT) running capacity undertaken in a carbohydrate‐restricted state. Carbohydrate restriction was achieved by performing high‐intensity running to volitional exhaustion in the evening prior to the main experimental trials and further refraining from carbohydrate intake in the post‐exercise and overnight period. On the subsequent morning, eight males performed 45‐min steady‐state (SS) exercise (65% ) followed by HIT running to exhaustion (1‐min at 80% interspersed with 1‐min walking at 6 km/h). Subjects completed 3 trials consisting of placebo capsules (administered immediately prior to SS and immediately before HIT) and placebo mouth rinse at 4‐min intervals during HIT (PLACEBO), placebo capsules but 10% carbohydrate mouth rinse (CMR) at corresponding time‐points or finally, caffeine capsules (200 mg per dose) plus 10% carbohydrate mouth rinse (CAFF + CMR) at corresponding time‐points. Heart rate, capillary glucose, lactate, glycerol and NEFA were not different at exhaustion during HIT (P > 0.05). However, HIT capacity was different (P < 0.05) between all pair‐wise comparisons such that CAFF + CMR (65 ± 26 min) was superior to CMR (52 ± 23 min) and PLACEBO (36 ± 22 min). We conclude that carbohydrate mouth rinsing and caffeine ingestion improves exercise capacity undertaken in carbohydrate‐restricted states. Such nutritional strategies may be advantageous for those athletes who deliberately incorporate elements of training in carbohydrate‐restricted states (i.e. the train‐low paradigm) into their overall training programme in an attempt to strategically enhance mitochondrial adaptations of skeletal muscle.
Improved Algorithms for Finding Edit Distance Based Motifs
Authors: Pal Soumitra , Rajasekaran Sanguthevar 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTMotif search is an important step in extracting meaningful patterns from biological data. Since the general problem of motif search is intractable, there is a pressing need to develop efficient exact and approximation algorithms to solve this problem. We design novel algorithms for solving theEdit-distance-based Motif Search (EMS)problem: given two integersl, dandnbiological strings, find all strings of lengthlthat appear in each input strings with at mostdsubstitutions, insertions and deletions. These algorithms have been evaluated on several challenging instances. Our algorithm solves a moderately hard instance (11, 3) in a couple of minutes and the next difficult instance (14, 3) in a couple of hours whereas the best previously known algorithm, EMS1, solves (11, 3) in a few hours and does not solve (13, 4) even after 3 days. This significant improvement is due to a novel and provably efficient neighborhood generation technique introduced in this paper. This efficient approach can be used in other edit distance based applications in Bioinformatics, such ask-spectrum based sequence error correction algorithms. We also use a trie based data structure to efficiently store the candidate motifs in the neighbourhood and to output the motifs in a sorted order.
Post-transcriptional regulation across human tissues
Authors: Franks Alexander , Airoldi Edoardo , Slavov Nikolai 
Published: June 2015

AbstractTranscriptional and post-transcriptional regulation shape tissue-type-specific proteomes, but their relative contributions remain contested. Estimates of the factors determining protein levels in human tissues do not distinguish between (i) the factors determining the variability between the abundances of different proteins, i.e., mean-level-variability and, (ii) the factors determining the physiological variability of the same protein across different tissue types, i.e., across-tissues variability. We sought to estimate the contribution of transcript levels to these two orthogonal sources of variability, and found that scaled mRNA levels can account for most of the mean-level-variability but not necessarily for across-tissues variability. The reliable quantification of the latter estimate is limited by substantial measurement noise. However, protein-to-mRNA ratios exhibit substantial across-tissues variability that is functionally concerted and reproducible across different datasets, suggesting extensive post-transcriptional regulation. These results caution against estimating protein fold-changes from mRNA fold-changes between different cell-types, and highlight the contribution of post-transcriptional regulation to shaping tissue-type-specific proteomes.
Classification of service quality attributes using Kano’s model
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Nirmalya 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to classify service quality elements using Kano’s two-way quality model in terms of their instrumentality to customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach
– Service quality attributes as borrowed from the literature are classified into attractive, one dimensional, and must-be quality elements. Combinations of participants’ response to the functional and dysfunctional questions formed around each service quality element in the Kano evaluation table were instrumental in categorizing service quality elements. Customer satisfaction index in the form of satisfaction increment index (SII) and the dissatisfaction decrement index (DDI) is calculated for each of the quality attributes and service quality dimensions.

Findings
– Out of the 15 service quality elements two are attractive quality, six are one-dimensional quality, and seven are found to be of must-be quality. No attribute can be identified as indifferent quality or reverse quality. The convenience dimension and the operating hours attribute list on top in terms of satisfaction increment index score. The reliability dimension and the courteousness attribute list on top in terms of dissatisfaction decrement index score.

Practical implications
– The findings help the marketer to prioritize improvement of service quality elements and/or dimensions to satisfy customers.

Originality/value
– The paper develops an integrated approach to facilitate marketers identify which of the service quality elements and/or dimensions require attention to strategize effectively in order to achieve a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Factors affecting adoption of internet banking in Jordan
Authors: Rawashdeh Awni 
Published: June 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the Jordanian accountant’s behavioral intention of using the Internet Banking services to focus on the perceptions of the users in terms of usefulness and ease of use of Internet Banking, besides the privacy of using this dynamic technology for meeting their banking requirements.Design/methodology/approach– The questionnaire on Internet Banking was specifically designed and used to survey a randomly selected sample of Jordanian accountants from the web site of the Jordan Association of Certified Public Accountants and 298 usable responses were obtained. The data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS (structural equation modeling).Findings– The results of this analysis support the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as well as confirm its robustness for predicting the behavioral intention of the adoption of Internet Banking by the Jordanian chartered accountants.Research limitations/implications– During a period when quick changes are taking place, new technologies are entering the market every day, resulting in a cross-sectional study which cannot be generalized perfectly.Practical implications– The findings offered useful information for the bank management in order to formulate marketing strategies for Internet Banking.Originality/value– This study has contributed to the literature available as it formulated and validated an extended TAM for predicting the adoption of Internet Banking.
Conceptualization and measurement of customer perceived value in banks
Authors: Parente Eduardo Soares , Costa Francisco José , Leocádio Aurio Lucio 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to develop a scale for measuring the construct perceived value, as evaluated by customers of retail banks.

Design/methodology/approach
– The procedures involved an analysis of the literature about customer perceived value in order to identify the main dimensions relevant to bank sector, and after that, it was followed the conventional steps for developing multiple items scales, with fieldwork, scale purification exploratory analysis of reliability and of validity.

Findings
– After two sampling procedures, the scale for the account holder perceived value retail banking was satisfactorily validated. The final scale is characterized as multidimensional, involving dimensions of operational quality, convenience and access, safety and soundness, and monetary sacrifice, each of them measured with four items reflectively related to the main construct.

Research limitations/implications
– Although the research was carried considering the conventional scaling procedures recommendations, the result may reflect the specificities of Brazilian bank customers; considering this, some other applications are necessary do bring a geographical validation of the scale.

Practical implications
– The scale developed is an instrument that can be used to measure one of the most important constructs of bank customers, the customer perceived value, and can be used by academic researchers and also by bank managers.

Originality/value
– The study brings a contribution not yet present in the main international literature, since no other study with complete development of a multidimensional perceived value measurement scale was identified, and can become a reference for other similar studies in the banking context.