bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
C2 rs547154 polymorphism and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy susceptibility: a meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Xue , Kang Xiaoli , Zhao Kanxing , Zhao Chen 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPrevious studies have indicated the association between C2 rs547154 polymorphism and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) risk, while the results are controversial and inconsistent. Herein, we perform a meta-analysis to gain a precise estimation of the association using 5 eligible studies involving 4076 subjects, of which 1220 were PCV cases, 1073 were age-related macular degeneration (AMD) cases and 1783 were controls. Allelic frequencies of C2 rs547154 polymorphism between PCV and AMD were also compared. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence interval (CI) were included to assess the strength of the association. The pooled OR in random-effect model for allele T versus G was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.52–0.80; p < 0.0001), for genotype TG versus GG was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.52–0.83; p, 0.0004) and for genotype TT + TG versus GG was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.51–0.80; p, 0.0002). No difference in allelic frequency was observed between PCV and AMD (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.64–1.16; p, 0.32). Sensitivity analysis proved the robustness of our data. No significant ethnic divergence was suggested by subgroup analysis and no publication bias was detected via Egger's test. In conclusion, our data indicate that C2 rs547154 polymorphism plays a protective role in the development of PCV.
Anthracycline-containing chemotherapy causes long-term impairment of mitochondrial respiration and increased reactive oxygen species release in skeletal muscle
Authors: Gouspillou Gilles , Scheede-Bergdahl Celena , Spendiff Sally , Vuda Madhusudanarao , Meehan Brian , Mlynarski Heather , Archer-Lahlou Elodie , Sgarioto Nicolas , Purves-Smith Fennigje M. , Konokhova Yana , Rak Janusz , Chevalier Stéphanie , Taivassalo Tanja , Hepple Russell T. , Jagoe R. Thomas 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAnticancer treatments for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) are highly effective but are now implicated in causing impaired muscle function in long-term survivors. However, no comprehensive assessment of skeletal muscle mitochondrial functions in long-term survivors has been performed and the presence of persistent chemotherapy-induced skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction remains a strong possibility. Non-tumour-bearing mice were treated with two drugs that have been used frequently in ALL treatment (doxorubicin and dexamethasone) for up to 4 cycles at 3-week intervals and euthanized 3 months after the 4th cycle. Treated animals had impaired growth and lower muscle mass as well as reduced mitochondrial respiration and increased reactive oxygen species production per unit oxygen consumption. Mitochondrial DNA content and protein levels of key mitochondrial membrane proteins and markers of mitochondrial biogenesis were unchanged, but protein levels of Parkin were reduced. This suggests a novel pattern of chemotherapy-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle that persists because of an acquired defect in mitophagy signaling. The results could explain the observed functional impairments in adult survivors of childhood ALL and may also be relevant to long-term survivors of other cancers treated with similar regimes.
A quantum protective mechanism in photosynthesis
Authors: Marais Adriana , Sinayskiy Ilya , Petruccione Francesco , van Grondelle Rienk 
Published: March 2015

AbstractSince the emergence of oxygenic photosynthesis, living systems have developed protective mechanisms against reactive oxygen species. During charge separation in photosynthetic reaction centres, triplet states can react with molecular oxygen generating destructive singlet oxygen. The triplet product yield in bacteria is observed to be reduced by weak magnetic fields. Reaction centres from plants' photosystem II share many features with bacterial reaction centres, including a high-spin iron whose function has remained obscure. To explain observations that the magnetic field effect is reduced by the iron, we propose that its fast-relaxing spin plays a protective role in photosynthesis by generating an effective magnetic field. We consider a simple model of the system, derive an analytical expression for the effective magnetic field and analyse the resulting triplet yield reduction. The protective mechanism is robust for realistic parameter ranges, constituting a clear example of a quantum effect playing a macroscopic role vital for life.
Protein kinase Snf1 is involved in the proper regulation of the unfolded protein response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ferrer-Dalmau Jofre , Randez-Gil Francisca , Marquina Maribel , Prieto José A. , Casamayor Antonio 
Published: March 2015

Glc7 is the only catalytic subunit of the protein phosphatase type 1 in the yeast S. cerevisiae and, together with its regulatory subunits, is involved in many essential processes. Analysis of the non-essential mutants in the regulatory subunits of Glc7 revealed that the lack of Reg1, and no other subunit, causes hypersensitivity to unfolded protein response (UPR)-inducers, which was concomitant with an augmented UPR element-dependent transcriptional response. The Glc7–Reg1 complex takes part in the regulation of the yeast AMP-activated serine/threonine protein kinase Snf1 in response to glucose. We demonstrate in the present study that the observed phenotypes of reg1 mutant cells are attributable to the inappropriate activation of Snf1. Indeed, growth in the presence of limited concentrations of glucose, where Snf1 is active, or expression of active forms of Snf1 in a wild-type strain increased the sensitivity to the UPR-inducer tunicamycin. Furthermore, reg1 mutant cells showed a sustained HAC1 mRNA splicing and KAR2 mRNA levels during the recovery phase of the UPR, and dysregulation of the Ire1-oligomeric equilibrium. Finally, overexpression of protein phosphatases Ptc2 and Ptc3 alleviated the growth defect of reg1 cells under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress conditions. Altogether, our results reveal that Snf1 plays an important role in the attenuation of the UPR, as well as identifying the protein kinase and its effectors as possible pharmacological targets for human diseases that are associated with insufficient UPR activation.
Ocean-driven thinning enhances iceberg calving and retreat of Antarctic ice shelves
Authors: Liu Yan , Moore John C. , Cheng Xiao , Gladstone Rupert M. , Bassis Jeremy N. , Liu Hongxing , Wen Jiahong , Hui Fengming 
Published: March 2015

SignificanceThe floating parts of the Antarctic ice sheet (“ice shelves”) help to hold back the flow of the grounded parts, determining the contribution to global sea level rise. Using satellite images, we measured, for the first time, all icebergs larger than 1 km2calving from the entire Antarctic coastline, and the state of health of all the ice shelves. Some large ice shelves are growing while many smaller ice shelves are shrinking. We find high rates of iceberg calving from Antarctic ice shelves that are undergoing basal melt-induced thinning, which suggests the fate of ice shelves may be more sensitive to ocean forcing than previously thought.
Climate change and pollution speed declines in zebrafish populations
Authors: Brown A. Ross , Owen Stewart F. , Peters James , Zhang Yong , Soffker Marta , Paull Gregory C. , Hosken David J. , Wahab M. Abdul , Tyler Charles R. 
Published: March 2015

SignificanceClimate change impacts on wildlife populations are likely to be accentuated by pollution. Small (inbred) populations may be more vulnerable to these effects, but empirical data supporting these hypotheses are lacking. We present the first substantial empirical evidence, to our knowledge, for interactive effects on population viability of elevated temperature (climate); an endocrine disrupting chemical, clotrimazole (pollution); and inbreeding. Using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model, we show these three factors interact to skew population sex ratios toward males and that this interaction can lead to increased risk of extinction. Our results suggest that climate change and pollution impacts are likely to pose significant extinction risks for small, endangered populations exhibiting environmental sex determination and/or differentiation.
Different personal propensities among scientists relate to deeper vs. broader knowledge contributions
Authors: Bateman Thomas S. , Hess Andrew M. 
Published: March 2015

SignificanceScientists’ productivity usually is measured with a single metric, such as number of articles published. Here, we study two dimensions of scientists’ knowledge contributions in 10-y publication records: their depth and their breadth. Study 1 shows that scientists view pursuing a deeper research project to be more attractive than pursuing a broader project; for example, scientists viewed broad projects as riskier and less important than deeper projects. Study 2 shows that scientists’ personal dispositions predict the aggregated depth vs. breadth of their published articles. Armed with such knowledge, scientists can strategically consider the desired nature of their research portfolios, criteria for choosing and designing research projects, how to compose research teams, and the inhibitors and facilitators of boundary-crossing research.
Nonsense suppression by near-cognate tRNAs employs alternative base pairing at codon positions 1 and 3
Authors: Roy Bijoyita , Leszyk John D. , Mangus David A. , Jacobson Allan 
Published: March 2015

Significance
Readthrough-promoting drugs cause amino acid insertion at premature termination codons (PTCs), and thus have broad potential as a therapeutic approach to inherited disorders attributable to nonsense mutations. Because the mechanism involved in the insertion of near-cognate tRNAs at nonsense codons is unknown, we have identified the yeast translation errors ensuing from nonsense suppression occurring either inherently or enhanced by drugs or mutations that compromise termination fidelity. Our analyses of the products of nonsense suppression provide insights into the rules that govern readthrough at PTCs and delineate specific nonstandard Watson–Crick codon/anticodon base pairings critical to this process. These results should enable predictions of the likelihood of obtaining functional full-length readthrough products, and thus better clinical outcomes, with therapeutic nonsense suppression.
Production of new amilorides as potent inhibitors of mitochondrial respiratory complex I
Authors: Murai Masatoshi , Habu Sayako , Murakami Sonomi , Ito Takeshi , Miyoshi Hideto 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Amilorides, well-known inhibitors of Na+/H+ antiporters, have also shown to inhibit bacterial and mitochondrial NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (complex I). Since the membrane subunits ND2, ND4, and ND5 of bovine mitochondrial complex I are homologous to Na+/H+ antiporters, amilorides have been thought to bind to any or all of the antiporter-like subunits; however, there is no direct experimental evidence in support of this notion. Photoaffinity labeling is a powerful technique to identify the binding site of amilorides in bovine complex I. Commercially available amilorides such as 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride are not suitable as design templates to synthesize photoreactive amilorides because of their low binding affinities to bovine complex I. Thereby, we attempted to modify the structures of commercially available amilorides in order to obtain more potent derivatives. We successfully produced two photoreactive amilorides (PRA1 and PRA2) with a photolabile azido group at opposite ends of the molecule.
Corneal Abrasion in Hysterectomy and Prostatectomy
Authors: Sampat Ajay , Parakati Isaac , Kunnavakkam Rangesh , Glick David B. , Lee Nita K. , Tenney Meaghan , Eggener Scott , Roth Steven 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAbstract
In a review of nearly 1 million prostatectomy and hysterectomy cases from the National Inpatient Sample, corneal abrasion was not increased with robotic-assisted prostatectomy. Compared with open hysterectomy, risk of corneal abrasion was increased nearly fourfold with the laparoscopic technique and nearly 6.5-fold with the robotic technique.
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Background:
Radical prostatectomy (RP) is most commonly performed laparoscopically with a robot (robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, R/PROST). Hysterectomy, which may be open hysterectomy (O/HYST) or laparoscopic hysterectomy (L/HYST), has been increasingly frequently done via robot (R/HYST). Small case series suggest increased corneal abrasions (CAs) with less invasive techniques.

Methods:
The authors identified RP (166,942), O/HYST (583,298), or L/HYST (216,890) discharges with CA in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2000–2011). For 2009–2011, they determined odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CA, in R/PROST, non-R/PROST, L/HYST, O/HYST, and R/HYST. Uni- and multivariate models studied CA risk depending on surgical procedure, age, race, year, chronic illness, and malignancy.

Results:
In 2000–2011, 0.18% RP, 0.13% L/HYST, and 0.03% O/HYST sustained CA. Compared with 17,554 non-R/PROSTs (34 abrasions, 0.19%) in 2009–2011, OR was not significantly higher in 28,521 R/PROSTs (99, 0.35%; OR 1.508; CI 0.987 to 2.302; P < 0.057). CA significantly increased in L/HYST (70/51,323; 0.136%) versus O/HYST (70/191,199; 0.037%; OR 3.821; CI 2.594 to 5.630; P < 0.0001), further increasing in R/HYST (63/21, 213; 0.297%; OR 6.505; CI 4.323 to 9.788; P < 0.0001). For hysterectomy, risk of CA increased with age (OR 1.020; CI 1.007 to 1.034; P < 0.003) and number of chronic conditions (OR 1.139; CI 1.065 to 1.219; P < 0.0001). CA risk was likewise elevated in R/HYST with number of chronic conditions. Being African American significantly decreased CA risk in R/PROST and in R/HYST or L/HYST.

Conclusions:
L/HYST increased CA nearly four-fold, and R/HYST approximately 6.5-fold versus O/HYST. Identifiable preoperative factors are associated with either increased risk (age, chronic conditions) or decreased risk (race).
Service innovation by Dubai International Airport: the battle to remain competitive
Authors: Albeshr Hasan , Ahmad Syed Zamberi 
Published: March 2015

Subject area
Tourism and hospitality management, strategy, economics and customer service.

Study level/applicability
Undergraduate students studying hospitality management, customer satisfaction, customer service and economics.

Case overview
Dubai International Airport is one of the most celebrated airports worldwide. It was constructed by order of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum in 1969 and has developed significantly in all sections over the years. Passenger numbers and profits have increased dramatically and the airport has received many awards from various countries and organizations, contributing greatly to economic and tourism development. Dubai International Airport offers unique services and facilities to customers, including the Airport Medical Centre, special needs services, Dubai International Airport Hotel, transportation, lounges, a children's play area, smoking rooms, Al Majlis services, executive flight services, Ahlan services, a modern baggage-handling system and Dubai Duty Free. The quality of service is one of the significant concerns of an international company, including Dubai International Airport, as a high quality brings many benefits to the organization, such as increased customer satisfaction and revenue. Thus, to maintain a high-quality level and compete with other international airports, Dubai International Airport needs to ensure the development of its service.

Expected learning outcomes
This cast study will help understand both the services offered by the airport and their features and understand the concepts of increasing value to customers in lieu of money, the contribution of the airport to economic growth, exceeding customers' expectations, intonation in providing services, some factors of competitive advantages, the application of customer satisfaction theories, the services market triangle and providing a role model to other airports.

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.
Three-dimensional mixed convection flow of viscoelastic nanofluid over an exponentially stretching surface
Authors: Hayat Tasawar , Ashraf Bilal , Shehzad Sabir Ali , Alsaedi A. , Bayomi N. 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the three-dimensional mixed convection flow of viscoelastic nanofluid induced by an exponentially stretching surface.

Design/methodology/approach
– Similarity transformations are utilized to reduce the partial differential equations into the ordinary differential equations. The corresponding non-linear problems are solved by homotopy analysis method.

Findings
– The authors found that an increase in thermophoresis and Brownian motion parameter enhance the temperature. Here thermal conductivity of fluid is enhanced due to which higher temperature and thicker thermal boundary layer thickness is obtained.

Practical implications
– Heat and mass transfer effects in mixed convection flow over a stretching surface have numerous applications in the polymer technology and metallurgy. Such flows are encountered in metallurgical processes which involve the cooling of continuous strips or filaments by drawing them through a quiescent fluid and that in the process of drawing, these strips are sometimes stretched.

Originality/value
– Three-dimensional flows over an exponentially stretching surface are very rare in the literature. Three-dimensional flow of viscoelastic nanofluid due to an exponentially stretching surface is first time investigated.
Mixing of electrokinetically-driven power-law fluids in zigzag microchannels
Authors: Cho Ching-Chang , Chen Cha’o-Kuang , Yau Her-Terng 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to study the mixing performance of the electrokinetically-driven power-law fluids in a zigzag microchannel.

Design/methodology/approach
– The Poisson-Boltzmann equation, the Laplace equation, the modified Cauchy momentum equation, and the convection-diffusion equation are solved to describe the flow characteristics and mixing performance of power-law fluids in the zigzag microchannel. A body-fitted grid system and a generalized coordinate transformation method are used to model the grid system and transform the governing equations, respectively. The transformed governing equations are solved numerically using the finite-volume method.

Findings
– The mixing efficiency of dilatant fluids is higher than that of pseudoplastic fluids. In addition, the mixing efficiency can be improved by increasing the width of the zigzag blocks or extending the total length of the zigzag block region.

Originality/value
– The results presented in this study provide a useful insight into potential strategies for enhancing the mixing performance of the power-law fluids in a zigzag microchannel. The results of this study also provide a useful source of reference for the development of efficient and accurate microfluidic systems.
Direct numerical simulation of multiple interacting particles at intermediate Reynolds numbers
Authors: Nie Deming , Qiu Limin , Zhang Xiaobin 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to study the flow patterns and particle-particle collisions during the sedimentation of multiple circular particles under gravity at intermediate Reynolds numbers through direct numerical simulations (DNS).

Design/methodology/approach
– The previously developed lattice Boltzmann-direct forcing/fictitious domain (LB-DF/FD) method is adopted in this work to conduct DNS.

Findings
– It is found that the number of particle-particle collisions display a linear growth at long times after an initial evolution, resulting in a constant collision rate, which also depends the initial arrangement.

Originality/value
– The problem of particle-particle collisions during sedimentation with two kinds of particle density has not been considered before and it is of special importance in various industries.
Greening manufacturing practices in a continuous process industry
Authors: Fore S. , Mbohwa C. 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
– The paper aims to observe a continuous process industry, the cement manufacturing industry with the aim of identifying greening opportunities in its production operations. The study analyses areas pertaining to the cement industry that impact the environment with specific focus on the industry within a developing, lower income country.

Design/methodology/approach
– A cleaner production (CP) approach was used in a case study approach, focussing on issues such as gaseous emissions and particulate emissions. Both capital intensive and less intensive options are proposed. Source reduction and pollution prevention operations that were used in this study include chemical substitution, technology modification and on-site reuse/recovery/recycling opportunities.

Findings
– The paper provides insights about how change is brought about within a continuous process industry. It suggests that successful leaders act as “integrating forces” on two levels: integrating the elements of corporate identity structures and mediating between the corporate branding structures and the individual. Capital interventions included redesigning the clinker conveyor, as well as restructuring the dust transportation system. There is a need for the developing countries to track and identify modern interventions that are available within industry and adopt them.

Research limitations/implications
– The paper focusses on a single cement factory in a low income country, as the case study approach was used. As such, findings and options generated may not be generalized, as the processes from one industry to another tend to differ in different economies.

Practical implications
– The paper includes implications for the development of greening manufacturing practices in the cement industry.

Originality/value
– This paper fulfils an identified need to study how greening practices can be enabled and enhanced in a continuous manufacturing industry. The work informs greening practices at any level, with a focus of production experiences in the cement industry in a lower technology, developing economy that is less industrialized.