bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous bile duct and portal vein ligation induces faster atrophy/hypertrophy complex than portal vein ligation: role of bile acids
Authors: Ren Weizheng , Chen Geng , Wang Xiaofeng , Zhang Aiqun , Li Chonghui , Lv Wenping , Pan Ke , Dong Jia-hong 
Published: February 2015

AbstractPortal vein ligation (PVL) induces atrophy/hypertrophy complex (AHC). We hypothesised that simultaneous bile duct and portal vein ligation (BPL) might induce proper bile acid (BA) retention to enhance AHC by activating BA-mediated FXR signalling in the intact liver and promoting apoptosis in the ligated liver. We established rat models of 90% BPL and 90% PVL and found that BPL was well-tolerated and significantly accelerated AHC. The enhanced BA retention in the intact liver promoted hepatocyte proliferation by promoting the activation of FXR signalling, while that in the ligated liver intensified caspase3-mediated apoptosis. Decreasing the BA pools in the rats that underwent BPL could compromise these effects, whereas increasing the bile acid pools of rats that underwent PVL could induce similar effects. Second-stage resection of posterior-caudate-lobe-spearing hepatectomy was performed 5 days after BPL (B-Hx), PVL (V-Hx) or sham (S-SHx), as well as whole-caudate-lobe-spearing hepatectomy 5 days after sham (S-Hx). The B-Hx group had the most favourable survival rate (93.3%, the S-SHx group 0%, the S-Hx group 26.7%, the V-Hx group 56.7%, P < 0.01) and the most sustained regeneration. We conclude that BPL is a safe and effective method and the acceleration of AHC was bile acid-dependent.
Revealing the favorable dissociation pathway of type II kinase inhibitors via enhanced sampling simulations and two-end-state calculations
Authors: Sun Huiyong , Tian Sheng , Zhou Shunye , Li Youyong , Li Dan , Xu Lei , Shen Mingyun , Pan Peichen , Hou Tingjun 
Published: February 2015

AbstractHow does a type II inhibitor bind to/unbind from a kinase target is still a confusing question because the small molecule occupies both the ATP pocket and the allosteric pocket of the kinase binding site. Here, by using enhanced sampling simulations (umbrella sampling, US) and two-end-state free energy calculations (MM/GSBA), we systemically studied the dissociation processes of two distinct small molecules escaping from the binding pocket of p38 MAP kinase through the allosteric channel and the ATP channel. The results show that the unbinding pathways along the allosteric channel have much lower PMF depths than those along the ATP channel, suggesting that the allosteric channel is more favorable for the dissociations of the two inhibitors and thereby supporting the general understanding that the largest channel of a target is usually the entry/exit pathway for the binding/dissociation of small molecules. Interestingly, the MM/GBSA approach yielded similar PMF profiles compared with those based on US, a much time consuming approach, indicating that for a general study, such as detecting the important transition state of a ligand binding/unbinding process, MM/GBSA may be a feasible choice.
Development of liposome‐encapsulated ketoconazole: formulation, characterisation and evaluation of pharmacological therapeutic efficacy
Authors: Ashe Sarbani , Nayak Debasis , Tiwari Gunjan , Rauta Pradipta Ranjan , Nayak Bismita 
Published: February 2015

Liposomal formulations containing ketoconazole were prepared with the ultimate goal of increasing their efficacy for topical drug delivery. Various concentrations of drugs were encapsulated within liposomes and characterised by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering studies for size distribution, zeta potential and stability. LIP200 emerged as the best formulation with a size of 178.9 nm, polydispersity index of 0.299 and overall zeta potential of −5.38 mV. The encapsulation efficiency monitored over a period of 28 days varied between 79.6 and 75.4%. The formulation was found to be stable in serum solution with slight changes in size, polydispersity index and charge. The formulation also showed a better anti‐fungal activity against Candida sp. in comparison to other preparations, as well as the control, indicating its potential as a promising topical drug delivery system.
Tailoring metal–organic hybrid interfaces: heteromolecular structures with varying stoichiometry on Ag(111)
Authors: Stadtmüller Benjamin , Henneke Caroline , Soubatch Serguei , Tautz F Stefan , Kumpf Christian 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
The physical properties of interfaces between organic semiconductors and metal surfaces crucially influence the performance of organic electronic devices. In order to enable the tailoring of such metal–organic hybrid interfaces we study the adsorption of heteromolecular thin films containing the prototypical molecules copper-II-phthalocyanine (CuPc) and 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetra-carboxylic-dianhydride (PTCDA) on the Ag(111) surface. Here, we demonstrate how the lateral order can be tuned by changing the relative coverage of both adsorbates on the surface. The layer growth has been studied in real time with low energy electron microscopy, and—for different stoichiometries—the geometric properties of three heteromolecular submonolayer phases have been investigated using high resolution low energy electron diffraction and low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. Furthermore, we have used a theoretical approach based on van der Waals and electrostatic potentials in order to reveal the influence of the intermolecular and the molecule–substrate interactions on the lateral order of heteromolecular films.
Identification of cell types from single-cell transcriptomes using a novel clustering method
Authors: Xu Chen , Su Zhengchang 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Motivation: The recent advance of single-cell technologies has brought new insights into complex biological phenomena. In particular, genome-wide single-cell measurements such as transcriptome sequencing enable the characterization of cellular composition as well as functional variation in homogenic cell populations. An important step in the single-cell transcriptome analysis is to group cells that belong to the same cell types based on gene expression patterns. The corresponding computational problem is to cluster a noisy high dimensional dataset with substantially fewer objects (cells) than the number of variables (genes).
Results: In this article, we describe a novel algorithm named shared nearest neighbor (SNN)-Cliq that clusters single-cell transcriptomes. SNN-Cliq utilizes the concept of shared nearest neighbor that shows advantages in handling high-dimensional data. When evaluated on a variety of synthetic and real experimental datasets, SNN-Cliq outperformed the state-of-the-art methods tested. More importantly, the clustering results of SNN-Cliq reflect the cell types or origins with high accuracy.
Availability and implementation: The algorithm is implemented in MATLAB and Python. The source code can be downloaded at http://bioinfo.uncc.edu/SNNCliq.
Contact: zcsu@uncc.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Mapping the vulnerability of animal community to pressure in marine systems: disentangling pressure types and integrating their impact from the individual to the community level
Authors: Certain Grégoire , Jørgensen Lis Lindahl , Christel Isadora , Planque Benjamin , Bretagnolle Vincent 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAssessing the vulnerability of biological communities to anthropic pressures in marine systems may be challenging because of the difficulty to properly model each species' response to the pressure due to lack of information. One solution is to apply factor-mediated vulnerability assessment which combines (i) information on species ecological traits and conservation status organized in a matrix of so-called “vulnerability factors”, (ii) a conceptual model of how these factors affect species vulnerability, and (iii) data on the spatial distribution and abundance of each species issued from at-sea surveys. Such factor-mediated vulnerability assessment was originally introduced in the seabird–wind farm context by Garthe and Hüppop (2004. Scaling possible adverse effects of marine wind farms on seabirds: developing and applying a vulnerability index. Journal of Applied Ecology, 41: 724–734) and has since then been expanded to many case studies. However, the mathematical formulations that were proposed at that time are overly simplistic and may overlook critical components of the impact assessment. Our study briefly reviews the original approach and highlights its hidden assumptions and associated interpretation problems, for example, the overestimation of disturbance pressure to the detriment of collision, or the very high contribution of log abundances in vulnerability maps. Then, we propose a revised framework that solves these issues and permits easy transposition to other community-pressure case studies. To illustrate the usefulness and generality of the revised framework, we apply it to two case studies, one concerning the vulnerability assessment of a seabird community to offshore wind farms in the Bay of Biscay, and another focusing on the vulnerability assessment of the benthic megafauna community to trawling pressure in the Barents Sea.
Key performance indicators for the maintenance of public hospitals buildings in the Gaza Strip
Authors: Enshassi Adnan Ali , El Shorafa Farida 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the maintenance of public hospital buildings in the Gaza Strip.

Design/methodology/approach
– Four KPIs were identified and evaluated in this paper: building performance indicators (BPI), maintenance efficiency indicators (MEI), annual maintenance expenditure (AME) and urgent repair request indicator. Twenty-one buildings in 13 public hospitals in Gaza Strip Governorate were taken as the sample of this study.

Findings
– The results indicated that the European Gaza hospital has the highest BPI score (81.66) and the Dorra hospital has the lowest BPI score (68.26). The findings revealed that the average AME for all hospitals was $13.8/m2 which is considered to be below the standard level of expenditure. The MEI for Gaza public hospital buildings was found to be equal to 0.3 which indicated low level of maintenance expenditure.

Research limitations/implications
– Unavailability of certain data, lack of maintenance documentation and comparison difficulty between the Gaza Strip and Israel due to political, cultural and financial situation were some of the limitations of this study.

Practical implications
– The Ministry of Health (MoH) can utilize the results of this study and consider it as benchmarking for maintenance management in public hospital buildings. This can improve the current maintenance situation which ultimately will improve the health-care situation in Palestine. The Palestinian MoH should look for external funding to increase the AME, as well as aim at increasing the MEI.

Social implications
– The health-care situation in Palestine will be improved.

Originality/value
– This study is considered the first study to identify and assess the KPIs in the Gaza Strip. KPIs will assist the MoH to compare the actual and estimated performance in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and quality of workmanship.
Potential for long-term sustainability
Authors: Keung Chung Wai , Yiu Tak Wing 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to develop a conceptual framework of bidding model for maintenance contractors. Sustainability is closely linked with the maintenance of facilities or infrastructure. From maintenance contractor’s perspective, one of their key business processes is to bid projects under fierce competition. Their competitiveness is critically affected by their bidding behaviours and bid makeup selections.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper aims at identifying critical and important objectives of bidding and items affecting bidding strategies and developing a bidding model for maintenance contractors.

Findings
– With the questionnaire surveys of 50 maintenance contractors, two critical objectives of bidding have been identified. Likewise, a total of eight critical and 12 important items affecting bidding strategy have also been identified. A bidding model for maintenance contractors is presented.

Research limitations/implications
– This model formulates the maintenance contractors’ bidding behaviors in a rational manner, and acts as a guideline to new and less experienced maintenance contractors to have a brief understanding about the bidding process and to assist them for establishing their own bidding strategies. With this knowledge, clients or maintenance contractors themselves would become easier to achieve their sustainability goals.

Originality/value
– Many academic researches on contractor’s bidding strategy emphasized on the general building works, and less attention has been given to maintenance works. Because of the fact that the community is awash with sustainability, and sustainability development is closely related to maintenance work, the business operation of maintenance contractors should be understood. This shall contribute to the achievement of sustainability goals for the society.
Can game theory explain poor maintenance of regional government facilities?
Authors: Hopland Arnt O. 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of the paper is to analyze the decision to postpone maintenance expenditures in regional governments using a game-theoretical approach and investigate whether there may be rational reasons for regional governments to carry a maintenance backlog.

Design/methodology/approach
– A theoretical political economy model, originally used to explain fiscal deficits in regional governments, is revisited and used to explain maintenance backlogs.

Findings
– It can be fully rational for regional governments to carry maintenance backlogs, given that they expect the central government to “bail out” this backlog, e.g. through an extra grant earmarked for upgrading of facilities. Hence, a balanced budget regulation (BBR) demanding fiscal balance in regional governments is not sufficient to avoid bailouts. The results suggest that the central government should consider including maintenance of facilities in formal BBRs.

Originality/value
– The paper is relevant for policy makers, as it can give guidance with respect to the design of BBRs. The paper illustrates that regulations that only take fiscal balance into account are too narrow to secure that bailouts are avoided. The reason is that regional governments can strategically use maintenance backlogs to generate bailouts even when regional government borrowing is abolished. To avoid this, the central government could make the regulations more extensive, and also include demands regarding maintenance in the regulations.
Assessing the impact of revitalized old industrial buildings on the value of surrounding properties
Authors: Wadu Mesthrige Jayantha , Poon Hei Lam 
Published: February 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of revitalization of old industrial buildings on the market value of the neighbourhood residential properties. Hong Kong’s economy has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past three decades. The most visible phenomenon in this transformation is the relocation of traditional manufacturing activities from Hong Kong to China since the 1990s. This has led many of the old industrial buildings in Hong Kong to be empty/underutilized and dilapidated. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government launched the “Revitalizing Industrial Buildings Policy” to revitalize these underutilized properties with the aim to provide suitable land and premises to meet local’s economic and social needs.Design/methodology/approach– The study used a hedonic price model to determine whether there is a relationship between revitalization projects and neighbourhood residential property values and the influence of revitalization programmes on the residential property price if there is such a relationship. The study is based on a sample of 4,015 residential transactions obtained from the residential developments located near three large-scale revitalization projects in an old industrial district, Kwun Tong.Findings– Empirical findings suggest that revitalization programmes have not brought net positive price effects on the value of neighbourhood residential properties. This is in line with findings of some previous studies. However, it reveals that both the mode and scale of revitalization projects have different impacts on the neighbourhood: wholesale conversion has less negative impacts compared with redevelopment, while the larger the scale of a revitalization programme, the greater are the negative impacts on nearby property values. The study also finds that negative externalities generated by the revitalization during and post-revitalization stages are almost similar in magnitudes.Research limitations/implications– The results imply that industrial revitalization projects located adjacent to residential developments both reduce the value of the latter and discourage potential property buyers. The negative public perception of these properties diminishes their value and hence decreases the value of the property.Practical implications– The paper raises the concern about the importance of adequately addressing issues of planning and zoning to minimize the negative externalities arising from urban renewal projects.Originality/value– This research paper is first of its kind to analyze the effects of revitalized industrial buildings on the value of neighbourhood properties in Hong Kong. The tangible benefits identified in this study would be incentives, or otherwise, to motivate the revitalization policy in general.
Prioritizing technical requirements in QFD by integrating grey relational analysis method and analytic network process approach
Authors: Mi Chuanmin , Xia Weiguo 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– No matter in product design stage or product quality improvement stage, the product technical requirements (PTRs) impacting on product performance are mainly identified and improved to optimize customer needs (CNs) as greatly as possible. The purpose of this paper is to use a new approach to accurately and properly prioritize PTRs in Quality Function Deployment (QFD).

Design/methodology/approach
– Considering the relationship between CNs and PTRs in QFD hard to quantitatively measure and lack of adequate information, the grey relational analysis (GRA) is applied. Besides, owing to the inherent inner dependencies of CNs as well as QFD, the analytic network process (ANP) which is an effective tool to take into account the inner dependencies with network is utilized. Finally, an integrated framework based on GRA method and ANP approach is proposed to determine the importance degrees of PTRs in designing a product.

Findings
– The calculation results of the application show that the proposed framework by integrating GRA and ANP is able to determine the importance degrees of PTRs in design a product well.

Practical implications
– In the application part the authors can see the proposed framework can be applied to PVC window systems. Owing to that traditional QFD method has been widely used in many fields such as manufacturing industry and service industry, actually the proposed framework has great potential application in the real word.

Originality/value
– This paper succeeds in proposing a new framework by integrating GRA and ANP to determine the importance degrees of PTRs in QFD.
Organizational structure, employee problem solving, and lean implementation
Authors: Worley June M. , Doolen Toni L. 
Published: February 2015

Purpose– The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between organizational structure and lean implementation success and to explore the impact of a lean implementation on the development of employee problem-solving skills. Organizations that implement lean manufacturing strategies experience widely differing results, with unexpected outcomes for some organizations.Design/methodology/approach– This study was conducted using qualitative research methodologies. Specifically, a case study was performed at an electronics manufacturer in the northwestern USA over a three-month time period. The researchers collected data from a variety of sources at the manufacturing site.Findings– Two significant findings emerged. First, the lack of dedicated personnel for the lean implementation inhibited the widespread adoption of lean practices. Second, evidence supported the role of the lean implementation in positively affecting employee problem-solving skills.Research limitations/implications– This paper is relevant to most manufacturing organizations; however, lean implementations are likely as unique as the organizations themselves. Given that the study used a single-site case study, utilizing qualitative methods, additional research is needed to confirm the findings for a larger range of manufacturing organizations. The results do indicate, however, that an organization with fewer resources to dedicate to the lean effort may find the transformation process slow and may experience fewer performance benefits. Likewise, further empirical study would help strengthen the findings regarding the relationship between the lean implementation and noticeable improvement in employee problem-solving skills.Originality/value– The literature stream for lean manufacturing provides examples of how lean implementations have not only noticeably affected tangible metrics related to profits and expenses but have also helped positively influence factors such as employee safety, morale and empowerment. For some organizations, considering the effect of these intangible factors before committing to a new manufacturing approach may prove useful. This study focused on exploring, in a much deeper way, through qualitative methods, how organizational structure can impact a lean implementation and how it ultimately acts as a catalyst for the increased development of employee problem-solving skills.