bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gene Ontology-driven inference of protein–protein interactions using inducers
Authors: Maetschke Stefan R. , Simonsen Martin , Davis Melissa J. , Ragan Mark A. 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Motivation: Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) are pivotal for many biological processes and similarity in Gene Ontology (GO) annotation has been found to be one of the strongest indicators for PPI. Most GO-driven algorithms for PPI inference combine machine learning and semantic similarity techniques. We introduce the concept of inducers as a method to integrate both approaches more effectively, leading to superior prediction accuracies.
Results: An inducer (ULCA) in combination with a Random Forest classifier compares favorably to several sequence-based methods, semantic similarity measures and multi-kernel approaches. On a newly created set of high-quality interaction data, the proposed method achieves high cross-species prediction accuracies (Area under the ROC curve ≤ 0.88), rendering it a valuable companion to sequence-based methods.
Availability: Software and datasets are available at http://bioinformatics.org.au/go2ppi/
Contact: m.ragan@uq.edu.au
Endocrine and Bone Metabolic Complications in Chronic Liver Disease and After Liver Transplantation in Children
Authors: Högler Wolfgang , Baumann Ulrich , Kelly Deirdre 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTWith improved survival of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in children, prevention and treatment of pre‐ and posttransplant complications have become a major focus of care. End‐stage liver failure can cause endocrine complications such as growth failure and hepatic osteodystrophy, and, like other chronic illnesses, also pubertal delay, relative adrenal insufficiency, and the sick euthyroid syndrome. Drug‐induced diabetes mellitus post‐OLT affects approximately 10% of children. Growth failure is found in 60% of children assessed for OLT. Despite optimisation of nutrition, rarely can further stunting of growth before OLT be prevented. Catch‐up growth is usually observed after steroid weaning from 18 months post‐OLT. Whether growth hormone treatment would benefit the 20% of children who fail to catch up in height requires testing in randomised controlled trials. Hepatic osteodystrophy in children comprises vitamin D deficiency rickets, low bone mass, and fractures caused by malnutrition and malabsorption. Vitamin D deficiency requires aggressive treatment with ergocalciferol (D2) or cholecalciferol (D3). The active vitamin D metabolites alphacalcidol or calcitriol increase gut calcium absorption but do not replace vitamin D stores. Prevalence of fractures is increased both before OLT (10%–28% of children) and after OLT (12%–38%). Most fractures are vertebral, are associated with low spine bone mineral density, and frequently occur asymptomatically, but they may also cause chronic pain. Fracture prediction in these children is limited. OLT in children is also associated with a greater risk of developing avascular bone necrosis (4%) and scoliosis (13%–38%). This article reviews the literature on endocrine and skeletal complications of liver disease and presents preventive screening recommendations and therapeutic strategies.
Serum Cystatin C Correlates Negatively With Viral Load in Treatment‐naïve Children With Chronic Hepatitis C
Authors: Behairy Behairy E. , Saber Magdy A. , Elhenawy Ibrahim A. , Abou‐Zeinah Sahar S. , El‐Sharawy Ahmed A. , Sira Mostafa M. 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTObjectives:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious health problem that causes chronic infection in up to 85% of cases. HCV nonstructural (NS) cysteine protease, NS2/3, is required for viral replication in vivo. Cystatin C is a naturally occurring cysteine protease inhibitor in human cells. We aimed to investigate the relation between serum levels of cystatin C and HCV viremia in treatment‐naïve children with chronic hepatitis C.Methods:Serum cystatin C levels were measured in 27 children with chronic hepatitis C and determined their relation with liver functions, histopathological parameters, and hepatitis C viral load. Serum cystatin C was compared with that of 25 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls.Results:Cystatin C was significantly higher in patients than in controls (1.4 ± 0.47 vs 0.99 ± 0.49; P = 0.006), and in those with low viremia than in those with moderate viremia (1.55 ± 0.41 vs 0.99 ± 0.43; P = 0.013). Cystatin C was not correlated with histopathological findings in liver biopsy (P > 0.05 for all). In addition, there was no significant difference of cystatin C levels in patients with normal versus those with elevated transaminases (P > 0.05). Of importance, cystatin C correlated negatively with viral load (P < 0.0001).Conclusions:Cystatin C levels correlated negatively with HCV viremia. This finding may reflect an inhibitory effect of cystatin C on HCV replication through inhibiting its NS2/3 and tempting for further studies for cystatin C as a possible adjuvant therapy for HCV infection.
Thousands of Cis-Regulatory Sequence Combinations Are Shared by Arabidopsis and Poplar
Authors: Ding Jun , Hu Haiyan , Li Xiaoman 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe identification of cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) can greatly advance our understanding of gene regulatory mechanisms. Despite the existence of binding sites of more than three transcription factors (TFs) in a CRM, studies in plants often consider only the cooccurrence of binding sites of one or two TFs. In addition, CRM studies in plants are limited to combinations of only a few families of TFs. It is thus not clear how widespread plant TFs work together, which TFs work together to regulate plant genes, and how the combinations of these TFs are shared by different plants. To fill these gaps, we applied a frequent pattern-mining-based approach to identify frequently used cis-regulatory sequence combinations in the promoter sequences of two plant species, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and poplar (Populus trichocarpa). A cis-regulatory sequence here corresponds to a DNA motif bound by a TF. We identified 18,638 combinations composed of two to six cis-regulatory sequences that are shared by the two plant species. In addition, with known cis-regulatory sequence combinations, gene function annotation, gene expression data, and known functional gene sets, we showed that the functionality of at least 96.8% and 65.2% of these shared combinations in Arabidopsis are partially supported, under a false discovery rate of 0.1 and 0.05, respectively. Finally, we discovered that 796 of the 18,638 combinations might relate to functions that are important in bioenergy research. Our work will facilitate the study of gene transcriptional regulation in plants.
Has the link between inflation uncertainty and interest rates changed after inflation targeting?
Authors: Mallik Girijasankar , Bhar Ramprasad 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish a link between inflation uncertainty and interest rates for five inflation‐targeting countries.Design/methodology/approachThe approach takes the form of a time‐varying parameter model with a Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) specification, used to derive impulse uncertainty and structural uncertainty.FindingsThis study attempts to establish a link between inflation uncertainty and interest rates for five inflation‐targeting countries, i.e. Canada, Finland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Decomposing inflation uncertainty into two components – impulse and structural, a positive association was found between the expected inflation and interest rates. Structural uncertainty has a positive and significant effect on interest rates for some countries. It has also been found that the long‐run effects of inflation on interest rates are less than unity for the post‐inflation targeting period, which implies that in some respect the Central Bank has been successful in targeting inflation. This has allowed the Central Bank to employ a less restrictive monetary policy in an environment of a credible inflation‐targeting strategy.Research limitations/implicationsExponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (EGARCH) can be used instead of GARCH modelling.Originality/valueThis is the first study that has tried to establish the link between different types of inflation uncertainty and interest rates for the inflation‐targeting countries to see the effect of inflation targeting.
Self‐employed workers' health and household labour supply
Authors: Reis Mauricio 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether shocks to the health of a self‐employed worker in Brazil increase the labour supply of other household members.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from the Brazilian National Household Survey, this paper investigates whether the probability of other household members entering the labour force increases as a reaction to a decrease in income caused by the absence from work due to health problems of a head of household who is self‐employed.FindingsThe empirical evidence indicates that absence of the head of household from work due to health problems seems to increase the probability of other household members entering the labour force.Originality/valueThe paper provides evidence regarding the consequences of negative shocks to the health of self‐employed workers on households' labour supply decisions in Brazil.
Nonlinear stationarity of real interest rates in the EMU countries
Authors: Zhou Su 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to examine two hypotheses that have not been well investigated in the existing literature. One hypothesis is that the real interest rates of industrial countries tend to be mean‐reverting during the current floating exchange rate period. Another hypothesis is that the real interest rates of the countries involved in forming the Euro area are more likely to behave as nonlinear stationary series than those of other industrial countries.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies the conventional linear unit root tests and recently developed nonlinear unit root tests, as well as the tests of specifying nonlinearity in time series, to the short‐term real interest rates of 16 industrial countries.FindingsThe results of the study provide support for both hypotheses.Practical implicationsThe results imply that, having adopted target‐zone type stabilization policies for years, the central banks of European Monetary Union (EMU) countries were likely to have exercised monetary policies in a nonlinear way, especially in the process of meeting the requirements of joining EMU.Originality/valueThe study provides stronger evidence than previous studies for the theory that real interest rates of industrial countries tend to have mean‐reverting behavior. The study suggests that more active monetary policies for inflation control in the floating exchange rate period may have enhanced mean reversion in real interest rates.
Is industrial agglomeration increasing? New evidence from a small open economy
Authors: Crawley Andrew James , Hill Stephen 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine changes in manufacturing agglomeration in a small open economy over the last decade. This is done during a time when manufacturing in most developed countries is in relative decline.Design/methodology/approachThis work adapts the methodology developed by De Propris to measure the relative level of manufacturing agglomeration across space and time. It combines different measures utilising the location quotient technique, thereby allowing the relative strengths of manufacturing in different areas to be compared with the national (UK) level. The work goes further by also calculating the EG index to compare the levels of concentration and specialisation.FindingsThis research shows that manufacturing agglomeration has increased in Wales at a time when manufacturing employment is decreasing. Concentration and specialisation have continued to increase across the last decade despite manufacturing's steady decline.Originality/valueThis work details for the first time the relative intensity of agglomeration across space and time in a small open economy. This is often neglected in other economic “cluster” work but may be key to understanding economic development in the twenty‐first century.
Talent and analytics: new approaches, higher ROI
Authors: Harris Jeanne G. , Craig Elizabeth , Light David A. 
Published: November 2011

PurposeMore and more, the leaders of business functions are turning for competitive insights to the massive data they can now capture. But to date, human resources departments have lagged behind the efforts of marketing, IT, CRM and other functions. The purpose of this article is to show how executives can start using data to measure and improve HR's contributions to business performance.Design/methodology/approachThe article identifies six analytical tools that HR can use to connect HR efforts to business performance. Survey results underscore the value of an analytical approach while revealing that many HR departments are heavily focused on internal measures rather than business outcomes. Each analytical tool is exemplified through case studies. A model is presented to suggest how executives can get started by focusing on five key areas.FindingsLeading companies are using six analytical tools to improve the connection between HR investments and business returns: employee databases; segmentation of talent; targeted investments; customization of the employee value proposition; long‐term workforce planning; and talent supply chains.Originality/valueAs the case studies reveal, the tools identified here can help HR leaders actively shape their organization's future – managing talent and directing programs toward the long‐term needs of the business. Survey data shows that most companies increasingly seek to use analytics for long‐term advantage, and the model presented here can help HR executives take the first critical steps.
Wringing more value from advertising dollars: the customer satisfaction boost
Authors: Samaraweera Manoshi , Gelb Betsy D. 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to offer a new perspective on increasing advertising effectiveness, testing the idea that the link between advertising expenditures and brand equity is greater when a company's consumer satisfaction ratings exceed those of their competitors than when such ratings trail those of competitors.Design/methodology/approachThe study used published data for 27 companies and their competitors from 2001 to 2009, providing 182 observations for analysis using hierarchical linear modeling. Annual data on advertising expenditures (obtained from Compustat) for companies whose corporate names are synonymous with their brand (e.g. Apple, McDonald's, Nike) formed the basis for testing the proposition of interest. Yearly brand equity data obtained from Interbrand, and customer satisfaction (CS) ratings from the American Customer Satisfaction Index website were employed to test whether year‐over‐year increases in advertising expenditure resulted in increasing the value of the brand and whether this positive effect was accentuated when a company's CS ratings exceeded those of its competitors.FindingsAs expected, a year‐over‐year increase in advertising expenditures contributed to enhance brand equity, but this positive effect was significantly greater when a company's CS ratings trumped the CS ratings of its competitors as opposed to trailing them.Originality/valueIf a company trumps its competitors in CS ratings, it should consider spending more on advertising, because now their ad dollars have a bigger bang for the buck in contributing to enhance the value of the brand. A company trailing its competitors in CS ratings should consider taking funds from the advertising budget to remedy that disparity, whether by product improvements, sales training, customer service hires, or whatever seems needed. Not only can increasing CS make future ad dollars more effective, on the flip side, it can make competitors' ad dollars less so.
Integrating business analytics into strategic planning for better performance
Authors: Klatt Tobias , Schlaefke Marten , Moeller Klaus 
Published: November 2011

PurposeOver the past few years, developments in business analytics have provided strategic planners with promising instruments for dealing with turbulent environments. This study aims to reveal whether or not the application of business analytics in strategic planning contributes to better company performance, and to formulate recommendations on how to integrate business analytics in companies' performance management systems.Design/methodology/approachBased on a survey conducted with 89 respondents from high‐technology firms, a group comparison between firms with strong performance and those with weak performance reveals significant differences between the two groups' strategic planning processes and application of business analytics.FindingsThe empirical survey's results show that better‐performing companies are characterized by a more sophisticated analytical planning process. Lower‐performing firms acknowledge this competitive advantage. Based on these findings, the authors develop recommendations on how to integrate business analytics in performance management contexts.Research limitationsThe empirical study's results are limited to high‐technology industries in the cultural setting of Germany.Practical implicationsThe empirical results emphasize the competitive advantage gained by applying business analytics. The recommendations concerning analytical performance management should help managers to sensibly integrate the analytical toolbox in performance management contexts.Originality/valueThis paper combines insights on the best usage of business analytics from the perspective of strategic planning experts, with recommendations for the integration of business analytics into the performance management framework from an academic perspective.
Value networks in cloud computing
Authors: Ojala Arto , Tyrväinen Pasi 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine value networks in cloud computing. It demonstrates the kinds of value offered by such networks to firms within a given network, and considers how and why the network may change over time.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reports on a longitudinal case study, including a total of seven semi‐structured open‐ended interviews, conducted with five informants from the case firm.FindingsIt was found that cooperation in value networks provides not merely financial benefits, but also knowledge, among other intangible benefits. Value networks should be evaluated as a whole, since there may be indirect connections – i.e. the value comes not directly from customers, but through the partners in the network. The study also shows the dynamic nature of value networks, as illustrated by changes in a network that were based on transformations in the market environment, and on product development.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to an understanding of value networks and their dynamics, and of cloud computing. In addition, the paper looks at a value network in cloud computing from the service provider's point of view – an aspect that has been neglected in previous studies.
The value of prime customer relationships
Authors: Jackson Stuart E. 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThe author has previously written about the concept of “strategic market position.” Simply stated, SMP is a strategic discipline which ties together the principles of customer preference, producer economics, and corporate finance and helps companies understand when and how increased market share leads to stronger competitive position and higher profitability. This enables businesses to make smart decisions about where to expand and go after increased market share – and, conversely, where not to dig in deeper. Customer Market Position (CMP) carries SMP down to the individual customer level. It keys off the extra value inherent in what the author calls “prime customer relationships.” This paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe author discusses the benefits that accrue to businesses that have a high CMP with customers that account for the majority of their business. He cites a number of case examples of businesses that have reinforced their commercial success through closely managing their relationships and share of wallet with key customers. Examples of businesses in the article include medical products, e‐commerce and traditional retailing. The author then draws lessons that can be applied broadly by any business.FindingsThe author proposes four key applications for businesses wishing to apply the concept of CMP: benchmarking CMP against competitors to understand strengths and weaknesses; assessing profitability for customers in different tiers of CMP to stop subsidizing less loyal customers; identifying untapped potential to build further business with high‐CMP customers; using CMP as a leading indicator of future performance when making investment decisions.Originality/valueThis article sheds light on the economics and value of nurturing a business's most loyal customers and introduces a new metric to manage and monitor this.
Marketing measurement revolution
Authors: Rossiter John R. 
Published: November 2011

PurposeNew measures in marketing are invariably created by using a psychometric approach based on Churchill's “scale development” procedure. This paper aims to compare and contrast Churchill's procedure with Rossiter's content‐validity approach to measurement, called C‐OAR‐SE.Design/methodology approachThe comparison of the two procedures is by rational argument and forms the theoretical first half of the paper. In the applied second half of the paper, three recent articles from theJournal of Marketing(JM) that introduce new constructs and measures are criticized and corrected from the C‐OAR‐SE perspective.FindingsThe C‐OAR‐SE method differs from Churchill's method by arguing for: total emphasis on achieving high content validity of the item(s) and answer scale – without which nothing else matters; use of single‐item measures for “basic” constructs and for the first‐order components of “abstract” constructs; abandonment of the “reflective” measurement model, along with its associated statistical techniques of factor analysis and coefficient alpha, arguing that all abstract constructs must be measured as “formative”; and abandonment of external validation methods, notably multitrait‐multimethod analysis (MTMM) and structural equation modeling (SEM), to be replaced by internal content‐validation of the measure itself. The C‐OAR‐SE method can be applied – as demonstrated in the last part of the article – by any verbally intelligent researcher. However, less confident researchers may need to seek the assistance of one or two colleagues who fully understand the new method.Practical implicationsIf a measure is not highly content‐valid to begin with – and none of the new measures in theJMarticles criticized is highly content‐valid – then no subsequent psychometric properties can save it. Highly content‐valid measures are absolutely necessary for proper tests of theories and hypotheses, and for obtaining trustworthy findings in marketing.Originality/valueC‐OAR‐SE is completely original and Rossiter's updated version should be followed. C‐OAR‐SE is leading the necessary marketing measurement revolution.