bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards in vivo regulon kinetics: PurR activation by 5-phosphoribosyl-α-1-pyrophosphate during purine depletion in Lactococcus lactis
Authors: Jendresen Christian Bille , Dimitrov Peter , Gautier Laurent , Liu Meng , Martinussen Jan , Kilstrup Mogens
Published: April 2014

Short-term adaptation to changing environments relies on regulatory elements translating shifting metabolite concentrations into a specifically optimized transcriptome. So far the focus of analyses has been divided between regulatory elements identified in vivo and kinetic studies of small molecules interacting with the regulatory elements in vitro. Here we describe how in vivo regulon kinetics can describe a regulon through the effects of the metabolite controlling it, exemplified by temporal purine exhaustion in Lactococcus lactis. We deduced a causal relation between the pathway precursor 5-phosphoribosyl-α-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) and individual mRNA levels, whereby unambiguous and homogeneous relations could be obtained for PurR regulated genes, thus linking a specific regulon to a specific metabolite. As PurR activates gene expression upon binding of PRPP, the pur mRNA curves reflect the in vivo kinetics of PurR PRPP binding and activation. The method singled out the xpt-pbuX operon as kinetically distinct, which was found to be caused by a guanine riboswitch whose regulation was overlaying the PurR regulation. Importantly, genes could be clustered according to regulatory mechanism and long-term consequences could be distinguished from transient changes – many of which would not be seen in a long-term adaptation to a new environment. The strategy outlined here can be adapted to analyse the individual effects of members from larger metabolomes in virtually any organism, for elucidating regulatory networks in vivo.
Fermentative production of short-chain fatty acids in Escherichia coli
Authors: Volker Alexandra R. , Gogerty David S. , Bartholomay Christian , Hennen-Bierwagen Tracie , Zhu Huilin , Bobik Thomas A.
Published: April 2014

Escherichia coliwas engineered for the production of even- and odd-chain fatty acids (FAs) by fermentation. Co-production of thiolase, hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase, crotonase andtrans-enoyl-CoA reductase from a synthetic operon allowed the production of butyrate, hexanoate and octanoate. Elimination of native fermentation pathways by genetic deletion (ΔldhA, ΔadhE, ΔackA, Δpta, ΔfrdC) helped eliminate undesired by-products and increase product yields. Initial butyrate production rates were high (0.7 g l−1h−1) but quickly levelled off and further study suggested this was due to product toxicity and/or acidification of the growth medium. Results also showed that endogenous thioesterases significantly influenced product formation. In particular, deletion of theyciAthioesterase gene substantially increased hexanoate production while decreasing the production of butyrate.E. coliwas also engineered to co-produce enzymes for even-chain FA production (described above) together with a coenzyme B12-dependent pathway for the production of propionyl-CoA, which allowed the production of odd-chain FAs (pentanoate and heptanoate). The B12-dependent pathway used here has the potential to allow the production of odd-chain FAs from a single growth substrate (glucose) in a more energy-efficient manner than the prior methods.
Bias and measurement error in comparative analyses: a case study with the Ornstein Uhlenbeck model
Authors: Thomas Gavin Huw , Cooper Natalie , Venditti Chris , Meade Andrew , Freckleton Robert P
Published: April 2014

Phylogenetic comparative methods are increasingly used to give new insight into variation, causes and consequences of trait variation among species. The foundation of these methods is a suite of models that attempt to capture evolutionary patterns by extending the Brownian constant variance model. However, the parameters of these models have been hypothesised to be biased and only asymptotically behave in a statistically predictable way as datasets become large. This does not seem to be widely appreciated. We show that a commonly used model in evolutionary biology (the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model) is biased over a wide range of conditions. Many studies fitting this model use datasets that are small and prone to substantial biases. Our results suggest that simulating fitted models and comparing with empirical results is critical when fitting OU and other extensions of the Brownian model.
A Positive Regulator of Nodule Organogenesis, NODULE INCEPTION, Acts as a Negative Regulator of Rhizobial Infection in Lotus japonicus
Authors: Yoro Emiko , Suzaki Takuya , Toyokura Koichi , Miyazawa Hikota , Fukaki Hidehiro , Kawaguchi Masayoshi
Published: April 2014

Legume-rhizobium symbiosis occurs in specialized root organs called nodules. To establish the symbiosis, two major genetically controlled events, rhizobial infection and organogenesis, must occur. For a successful symbiosis, it is essential that the two phenomena proceed simultaneously in different root tissues. Although several symbiotic genes have been identified during genetic screenings of nonsymbiotic mutants, most of the mutants harbor defects in both infection and organogenesis pathways, leading to experimental difficulty in investigating the molecular genetic relationships between the pathways. In this study, we isolated a novel nonnodulation mutant, daphne, in Lotus japonicus that shows complete loss of nodulation but a dramatically increased numbers of infection threads. Characterization of the locus responsible for these phenotypes revealed a chromosomal translocation upstream of NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) in daphne. Genetic analysis using a known nin mutant revealed that daphne is a novel nin mutant allele. Although the daphne mutant showed reduced induction of NIN after rhizobial infection, the spatial expression pattern of NIN in epidermal cells was broader than that in the wild type. Overexpression of NIN strongly suppressed hyperinfection in daphne, and daphne phenotypes were partially rescued by cortical expression of NIN. These observations suggested that the daphne mutation enhanced the role of NIN in the infection pathway due to a specific loss of the role of NIN in nodule organogenesis. Based on these results, we provide evidence that the bifunctional transcription factor NIN negatively regulates infection but positively regulates nodule organogenesis during the course of the symbiosis.
Diethyl 2,2′-(ethane-1,2-diyldioxy)dibenzoate
Authors: Shi Huaduan , Qin Haisha , Ma Zhen
Published: April 2014

The molecular title compound, C20H22O6, was obtained by the reaction of ethyl 2-hydroxybenzoate with 1,2-dichloroethane. The molecule lies on a twofold rotation axis which passes through the middle of the central ethylene bridge. This group exhibits agaucheconformation with the corresponding O—C—C—O torsion angle being 73.2 (2)°. The C atoms of the carboxyl group, the aryl and the O—CH2group are coplanar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.01 Å. The two aryl rings form a dihedral angle of 67.94 (4)°. The ester ethyl group is disordered over two sets of sites with an occupancy ratio of 0.59 (2):0.41 (2). The crystal packing is dominated by van der Waals forces.
cis-2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-4-methyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalen-1-ol
Authors: Lough Alan J. , Raheem Mohammed-Abdul , Tam William
Published: April 2014

The stereochemistry and regiochemistry of the title compound, C18H18O2, were determined by the X-ray analysis. There are two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit in which the dihedral angles between the benzene rings are 88.31 (4) and 86.27 (4)°. The cyclohexene rings are in half-chair conformations. In the crystal, O—H...O hydrogen bonds link alternating types of molecules into chains along [010] with graph-setC22(4).
5,8-Dimethoxy-3,9-dimethyl-3a,4,9,9a-tetrahydro-4,9-epoxynaphtho[2,3-d]isoxazole
Authors: Lough Alan J. , Nagireddy Jaipal R. , Tam William
Published: April 2014

The title compound, C15H17NO4, is theexoisomer with asynarrangement of the O atom in the isoxazole ring to the methyl group of the bicyclic alkene. The dihedral angle between the isoxazole ring and the benzene ring is 7.42 (9)°. In the crystal, weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds link molecules, forming a three-dimensional network. The isoxazole O atom is an acceptor for both weak hydrogen bonds.
Diethyl [(4-nitrobenzamido)(phenyl)methyl]phosphonate
Authors: Chen Jing-Wei , Li Bai-Cun , Fang Hua , Wu Zhen , Fang Mei-Juan
Published: April 2014

In the title compound, C18H21N2O6P, the dihedral angle between the benzene and phenyl rings is 85.1 (2)°. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviapairs of N—H...O(=P) hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers with graph-set notationR22(10). One of the ethyl groups is disordered over two sets of sites, with occupancies 0.746 (11) and 0.254 (11).
Bis{2-[(Triphenylmethyl)amino]phenyl} diselenide acetonitrile monosolvate
Authors: Neuba Adam , Schneider Tobias , Flörke Ulrich , Henkel Gerald
Published: April 2014

The molecular structure of the title compound, C50H40N2Se2·C2H3N, shows asynconformation of the benzene rings bound to the Se atoms, with an Se—Se bond length of 2.3529 (6) Å and a C—Se—Se—C torsion angle of 93.53 (14)°. The two Se-bonded aromatic ring planes make a dihedral angle of 18.42 (16)°. Intramolecular N—H...Se hydrogen bonds are noted. Intermolecular C—H...Se interactions give rise to supramolecular chains extended along [100]. One severely disordered acetonitrile solvent molecule per asymmetric unit was treated withSQUEEZEinPLATON[Spek (2009).Acta Cryst.D65, 148–155]; the crystal data take the presence of this molecule into account.
Profiling potential food tourists: an Australian study
Authors: N.S. Robinson Richard , Getz Donald
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to share the findings of a study of self-declared “foodies”. In particular this paper provides a demographic and socio-economic profile of the sample and their behavioural and travel preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

– An online survey was designed, incorporating existing literature. It was administered to a population of foodies in Australia. Data is analysed using SPSS®.

Findings

– Key results suggest food tourists are mostly female, well-educated and generally affluent. They seek diverse, regional and authentic yet tactile rather than passive experiences, and are willing to travel for food (and drink) complemented by cultural and sightseeing activities.

Research limitations/implications

– The geographic scope of this study is limited and the volume of data yielded from the study inhibits efforts to report all findings in a compact paper; the implication being future analysis and research is required.

Practical implications

– This study provides valuable insights to destination marketers seeking to niche food tourists.

Originality/value

– This study demographically and socio-behaviourally profiles foodies and provides insights into the domestic travel behaviours.
Product strategies for growth in niche food firms
Authors: Kvam Gunn-Turid , Magnus Trine , Petter Stræte Egil
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of growth processes of speciality food firms and how these processes influence the producers' perception of quality demands of the products.

Design/methodology/approach

– A case study approach was chosen covering four specialty food companies in Norway. This explorative study was conducted from the producer's perspective.

Findings

– Results show that, as part of growth processes, firms invest in different activities to strengthen the quality of their products to achieve distinctiveness in more competitive markets. The most important quality that contributes to distinctiveness and increased value seems to be traditional handicraft production processes. In some cases, expensive and time-consuming processes are invested in developing qualities that are not transformed into higher value in the market.

Research limitations/implications

– The number of cases is too small for statistical analysis, but this explorative case study may provide a basis for a survey of a larger sample of firms.

Practical implications

– The study indicates a need for companies to gain more knowledge about consumers' preferences and behaviour, and to develop product qualities and market communication accordingly.

Originality/value

– Research is scarce on obstacles to growth in specialty food firms. This study contributes important knowledge to enhance further development of the industry.
Individual motivations for limiting meat consumption
Authors: Zur Ifat , A. Klöckner Christian
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to identify predictors of meat consumption and the intention to reduce it. Since meat consumption is one of the major contributors to human made environmental destruction including climate change, biodiversity loss or water and air pollution and at the same time under volitional control meat consumption is an interesting target for interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

– An integrated model was derived from the theory of planned behaviour, the norm activation theory and the protection motivation theory which was tested in a paper-pencil based questionnaire study including self-reported meat consumption was conducted with a convenience sample of 210 adult inhabitants of Trondheim (Norway).

Findings

– The model was confirmed to a large extent. Meat consumption was predicted strongly by meat eating habits, but also negatively by reduction intentions. Reduction intentions were determined by attitudes, moral beliefs and health beliefs. Moral beliefs were predicted by injunctive and descriptive norms as well as perceived behavioural control.

Research limitations/implications

– The study was based on a convenience sample, thus the sample is not representative. Furthermore, some of the measurement instruments are of only mediocre quality.

Practical implications

– The results show that interventions to reduce meat consumption need to include habits braking components to be effective. Meat consumption reduction is motivated by a broad array of motivations, including morality and health. Intervention campaigns need to cover this spectrum.

Originality/value

– This study is one of the first that systematically analyses determinants of meat consumption which makes it valuable in spite of its limitations.
Dividend payment and earnings quality: evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Sirait Febriela , Veronica Siregar Sylvia
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– This research aims to examine the relationship between dividend payment and earnings quality.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors examine four dividend features: dividend-paying status, dividend size, dividend changes, and dividend persistence. The samples consist of 90 firms from the manufacturing industry in the years 2005-2009. Multiple regression is used for testing hypotheses.

Findings

– The results show that dividend-paying status, dividend increase, and persistence in dividend payment have significant positive association with earnings quality. However, the authors do not find evidence that larger dividend size is an indicator of higher earnings quality. Overall, the results show that dividend-paying status, increase in dividend size, and persistence in dividend payment are indicators or signals of higher earnings quality.

Research limitations/implications

– This study examines only the manufacturing firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Further study based on different industries and/or different emerging markets is needed before generalizing results.

Originality/value

– Few studies have examined dividend payment in emerging markets. This study fills the void.
Emotion regulation and intragroup conflict: when more distracted minds prevail
Authors: A. Griffith Jennifer , Connelly Shane , E. Thiel Chase
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– In order to shed light on whether and how leaders should help manage group members' emotions related to intragroup conflict, the aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of several outcomes associated with two cognitive emotion regulation strategies, cognitive reappraisal and distraction, in the presence of two distinct types of conflict, relationship or task-oriented.

Design/methodology/approach

– A 2×3 between subjects' experimental design was employed to investigate the influence of intragroup conflict and emotion regulations strategies on individual-level discrete emotions and group processes and outcomes.

Findings

– Results suggest that emotion regulation plays an important role in moderating the negative consequences associated with relationships conflict. Specifically, distraction served a critical function to those in the relationship conflict conditions such that both cohesion levels and task performance levels were elevated when group members used distraction as a means of regulating emotions.

Research limitations/implications

– This study extends research in the area of emotion regulation into a group context and extends other research that suggests distraction may have potential as a means of regulating emotion. Long-term groups with experience in problem solving may have behaved in different ways than participants in this study.

Originality/value

– Emotion regulation strategies have been studied only in an individual context. This study is particularly valuable in understanding how emotion regulation strategies work differentially when applied to multiple individuals in a shared setting. Additionally, it incorporates the use of distraction as a viable regulation strategy.
Relating patient satisfaction to nurses' job satisfaction, job security, and obedience OCBs
Authors: Bassam Mahmoud Ali , D. Reisel William
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims at investigating the relationships among patient satisfaction, and nurses' job security, job satisfaction, and obedience OCBs within the setting of private hospitals in Damascus and Rural Damascus Governorates.

Design/methodology/approach

– A cross-sectional survey conducted within private hospitals in Damascus and Rural Damascus Governorates had resulted in (325) subjects of nurses, and (393) subjects of patients. Double-translation, face validation, exploratory factor analysis, and Cronbach's alpha were used to validate measures used in this study with respect to the Syrian context. Afterwards, the two samples were aggregated on the basis of hospital-department. That is, 217 cases had resulted, and were used to test the proposed model, and revise it if required.

Findings

– The results indicate that job security positively influences both job satisfaction and obedience OCBs. Both job satisfaction and obedience OCBs fully mediate the relationship between job security and patient satisfaction. Obedience OCBs partially mediate the relationship between job satisfaction and patient satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

– Further investigations in other service-providing settings (e.g. telecommunications) are needed for more evidence of the model validity. Using cross-sectional design in testing causalities has been criticized by several researchers, so longitudinal method is recommended in further investigations for the model. Wider views could be delivered if more of other attitudinal variables are included in the model.

Practical implications

– Better levels of patient satisfaction could be achieved through enhancing nurses' perceptions towards job security. Job satisfaction would be an important factor in keeping positive levels of patient satisfaction, especially when employment at one private hospital lacks security and stability.

Originality/value

– This research comes to be one of the first studies to provide evidence of the full mediation that job satisfaction and obedience OCBs play regarding the relationship between job security and patient satisfaction. In addition, this study proves the partial mediation that obedience OCBs play between job satisfaction and patient satisfaction.
Co-operation – the missing value of business education
Authors: E. Witte Anne
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that co-operation is a vital behavioral skill that should be developed in educational systems, particularly business and management programs, because it is an intangible factor that boosts productive output.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper explains why co-operation is an important intangible factor for organizations and the larger economy. It recommends the development of educational designs to remediate the pedagogical lack of focus on the cooperative disposition.

Findings

– Co-operation is contingent on trust – an indispensable factor to engage in distant relations, accept rule of law across nations, and confer in intermediaries the authority to arbitrate unresolved differences between organizations. In other words, without co-operation, people within organizations commit themselves to parochial concerns, inhibiting efforts to combine resources toward a collective goal. The lack of a cooperative attitude is not destiny – it can be forged through careful educational designs and organizational strategy.

Research limitations/implications

– There is little empirical data available to measure co-operation in a diverse environment and co-operation is an intangible concept that is difficult to pin to specific organizational habits. The concepts developed here based on broad social science data would do will to be tested in an empirical framework at the micro level.

Practical implications

– Low co-operation arises in an environment which does not foster trust. Management might inadvertently reward low organizational capacity by not evaluating co-operation and monitoring narcissism. Recruiters need to adapt recruitment strategies that pinpoint individuals capable of managing the specific co-operation needs of situational organizations, especially in diverse situations. A successful managerial education program will target training that optimizes thoughtful and sustainable co-operation.

Social implications

– Co-operation is a factor of sustainability for development but also for the modern organization. It is both a moral and methodological disposition that fosters collective action positively, while inhibiting in-group interests.

Originality/value

– Formal management training to instill a thoughtful sense of co-operation would complement the current emphasis on teamwork and leadership. Without the moral and methodological goal of being co-operative for the greater good, organizations waste human resources and fail to reap benefits from collective productions.
Beyond a single organization: challenges and opportunities in doing field level ethnography
Authors: B. Zilber Tammar
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to offer a road map for carrying out field-level ethnography, focussing on the inter-organizational space collectively constructed and shared by communities of organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The argument is developed through a critical and integrated review of relevant literature.

Findings

– Field-level ethnographic work requires researchers to define the field they are exploring, locate their specific research site within it, capture the field through ethnographic practices that take into account the unique characteristics of this local field as a social phenomenon, and deploy various conceptualizations of inter-organizational spheres in order to enrich their analysis and interpretations.

Practical implications

– This paper offers practical insights for practitioners of field-level ethnography.

Originality/value

– As organizations are open-systems that reside and take part in much broader, inter-organizational spaces, the author makes a case for going beyond the more common practice of carrying out ethnographic field work in a single organization, to doing field-level ethnography. The paper discusses various theorizations of the inter-organizational sphere, suggest how to carry field-level ethnography in practice, and note its peculiar challenges.
Researching spatial practices through Commentated Walks: “on the move” and “walking with”
Authors: Raulet-Croset Nathalie , Borzeix Anni
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how the combination of a qualitative shadowing method called “Commentated Walk” and an ethnographic approach, can be used to analyze the spatial dimension of practices, when space is considered as a co-construction and as an active dimension of individual and collective practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach is ethnographic and the empirical field work concerns the coordination in ephemeral organizations intended to manage emergent phenomena: the social “problems” often named “urban incivilities,” which occur in public and semi-public spaces in some suburban areas in France and are recurrent.

Findings

– In these organizations, space appears to be part of individual and collective practices, and a key resource for coordination. Shared “spaces of action” between inhabitants and local institutions contribute to coordination. As a method of data collection, Commentated Walks offer relevant insight into how actors “deal with space” in their day-to-day life or their professional practices. Walking with while talking with – the method's principals – make it possible to capture the materiality of problematic spaces as well as the feelings that the space inspires.

Research limitations/implications

– The use of this method is still exploratory. In further research, it would be interesting to consider such Commentated Walks in other organizational contexts, in order to explore different ways of “dealing with” space and different types of spatial competencies that people develop in using space as a resource.

Originality/value

– This paper proposes an original combination of methodological approaches which allows us to grasp the formation of spatial practices.
The “Green Mile”: crystallization ethnography in an emotive context
Authors: C. Tallberg Linda , J. Jordan Peter , Boyle Maree
Published: April 2014

Purpose –

The purpose of this paper is to discuss emotions within a highly emotive organizational setting through the use of crystallization. The authors contend that the expression of a researcher's positionality as a presence within their research is crucial in contexts where conventional research approaches are unable to capture the depth of the phenomenon under study. The paper argues that the presentation of research findings from highly emotional organizational context will benefit from a challenge to traditional ways of representing and communicating the researcher's experience. As an example of this, in this paper the authors examine the emotions involved in experiencing animal euthanasia in a work context.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws ethnographic methods of fieldwork in an Australian animal shelter. The paper uses autoethnography and interview data.

Findings

– Euthanasia is one of the most tolling experiences for animal shelter workers. This paper reveals that through a creative representation this experience may come induce understanding of the emotive context. Furthermore, the employees adapt one or more story-lines to deal with the conflict of euthanasia.

Originality/value

– The strength of this paper is that it uses a novel approach to present findings in the form of crystallization. It also furthers insight on how organizational members explain their involvement in emotive work-tasks.
Inhibition of acid corrosion of mild steel by aqueous nettle extracts
Authors: Zaabar Aida , Aitout Razika , Makhloufi Laid , Belhamel Kamel , Saidani Boualem
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this research was to investigate the use of aqueous extracts of nettle plant (NE) as a green corrosion inhibitor of mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution.

Design/methodology/approach

– The inhibition efficiency was investigated by weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarizations, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, SEM observations and EDX analysis.

Findings

– The inhibition efficiency increased with an increase in concentration of NE up to a critical concentration of 1.5×10−3 g · cm−3 where the highest inhibition efficiency of 97 percent was obtained. The adsorption of the inhibitor was spontaneous (reflected by the negative value of ΔGads0), supported the mechanism of physical adsorption and obeyed to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The inhibition action of the extracts was independent on the storage time; it could be conserved without any specific conditions of time and temperature.

Research limitations/implications

– The anticorrosion effect can be better understood when the active compound in the extracts is identified and what is the inhibition efficiency of one component in the presence of another in the mixture (synergetic or antagonist effects).

Practical implications

– Nettle is a healthy plant, without particular toxicity that can find possible applications as environmentally friendly inhibitor of mild steel used as materials in food industry.

Originality/value

– Aqueous nettle extracts were studied for the first time as corrosion inhibitor and its anticorrosion effect was proven by standard methods.
A cross-cultural study of purchase intention of sponsored products based on American and Korean spectators of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
Authors: K. Byon Kevin , Lee Soonhwan , A. Baker Thomas
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is: to explain the relative influence of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control on purchase intention of the 2010 FIFA World Cup sponsored products; and to compare the purchase intention of American and Korean spectators toward sponsoring products of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that subjective norm and perceived behavioral control were predictors of purchase intention. Further, multiple group analysis revealed that the path coefficient between subjective norm and purchase intention for the two groups was significantly different.

Design/methodology/approach

– A self-administered questionnaire was developed to measure the four constructs of the theory of planned behavior (TBP) as well as demographic information. Upon completion of the psychometric properties test of the TPB, a SEM was conducted to examine the proposed hypotheses. The same fit indices as with the measurement model were adopted to evaluate the model fit. Finally, a multi-group analysis was conducted to examine if the proposed relationships are different based on nationality (American vs Korean samples). A comparison of χ2 value between unconstrained and constrained models was employed to assess whether the two groups are statistically different.

Findings

– SEM revealed that subjective norm and perceived behavioral control were predictors of purchase intention. In this study, a multi-group analysis was conducted to examine if the proposed relationships in our model are different based on nationality. As a result, we found that two groups (i.e. American vs Korean) exhibited notable differences in subjective norms in determining purchase intentions of the 2010 FIFA World Cup sponsored products.

Originality/value

– Sponsors for mega sporting events, like the FIFA World Cup, must develop global marketing plans that appeal to worldwide audiences. Sport marketers, therefore, need cross-cultural marketing analysis on equivalence and bias so that they better understand how spectators from different cultures behave after consuming the same event. Thus, application of the TPB in cross-cultural studies aimed at understanding consumer intention after spectating the FIFA World Cup would provide marketers with valuable information for the formation of global marketing strategies.
Home advantage, rivalry, and referee bias in representative rugby
Authors: S. Areni Charles
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether home advantage (HA), wherein a team is more likely to win, and by a larger margin, when they are playing at home vs away, exists in representative rugby competitions involving teams comprised of “all-star” players from several clubs. It also assesses whether referees are biased in favour of the home team, and whether this is the cause of HA.

Design/methodology/approach

– A complete consensus of matches from the State of Origin Rugby League and Tri Nations Rugby Union competitions were analysed via hierarchical regression models estimating parameters for favourite/underdog status of teams, general home/away status, team-specific home/away status, and rivalry-specific home/away status.

Findings

– Significant HA exists in both competitions, and within Tri Nations, the size of the effect varies by team and specific opponent (i.e. rivalry effects). Although there is evidence of referee bias in favour of the home team, the penalty differential between the home and away teams does not mediate HA.

Originality/value

– This is the first study examining HA in representative rugby league, and shows a statistically significant effect. Further, the results reported here refute an earlier investigation of the Tri Nations competition, which found little or no evidence of HA. By including a complete census of all matches rather than a small sample, this research finds a statistically significant HA effect, which varies by team and by specific rivalry.
Revisiting food‐based models of territoriality in solitary predators
Authors: López‐Bao José V. , Rodríguez Alejandro , Delibes Miguel , Fedriani José M. , Calzada Javier , Ferreras Pablo , Palomares Francisco
Published: April 2014

Food availability is considered a major factor determining spacing behaviour in territorial species, especially for females. Theoretically, spatial overlap (considered the opposite of territoriality) and food availability are related in a nonlinear manner (hypothesized inverted‐U function), with high overlap levels at the extremes of a food availability gradient and low overlap at intermediate levels of this gradient. Similar patterns are expected for encounter frequencies owing to its expected correlation with spatial overlap. However, these predictions have rarely been tested in highly structured social systems on a broad gradient of food availability, which implicitly requires experimental manipulation.

We test these predictions in a solitary, territorial and trophic specialist, the Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus, taking advantage of a three‐decade data set of spatial behaviour in different scenarios of food availability (i.e. rabbit density).

In contrast with expectations, home range overlap among resident females was low (median overlap index = 0·08, range 0–0·57) and core area overlap was nearly nil (median overlap index = 0, range 0–0·22) throughout the entire gradient of prey availability. Furthermore, spatial associations between pairs of females were negligible regardless marked variation in prey availability. Therefore, we did not find support for a model of flexible lynx territoriality driven by food availability.

Our results suggest that the exclusive use of space in the Iberian lynx was not related to food. Lack of influence of prey availability on lynx territoriality may be adaptive to cope with the consequences of frequent drought‐induced periods of prey scarcity or other disturbance typically affecting wild rabbit populations in Mediterranean environments. Thus, lynx would adopt an obstinate strategy of territoriality that consists in defending exclusive areas across a broad range of resource availability ensuring an exclusive access to the minimum amount of prey necessary for survival and eventually reproduction even during periods of prey scarcity. However, we found signs that territoriality was influenced by lynx density in a nonlinear fashion. Our results suggest the occurrence of population regulation through territoriality in this species.
Ant functional responses along environmental gradients
Authors: Arnan Xavier , Cerdá Xim , Retana Javier
Published: April 2014

Understanding species distributions and diversity gradients is a central challenge in ecology and requires prior knowledge of the functional traits mediating species’ survival under particular environmental conditions. While the functional ecology of plants has been reasonably well explored, much less is known about that of animals. Ants are among the most diverse, abundant and ecologically significant organisms on earth, and they perform a great variety of ecological functions.

In this study, we analyse how the functional species traits present in ant communities vary along broad gradients in climate, productivity and vegetation type in the south‐western Mediterranean.

To this end, we compiled one of the largest animal databases to date: it contains information on 211 local ant communities (including eight climate variables, productivity, and vegetation type) and 124 ant species, for which 10 functional traits are described. We used traits that characterize different dimensions of the ant functional niche with respect to morphology, life history and behaviour at both individual and colony level. We calculated two complementary functional trait community indices (‘trait average’ and ‘trait dissimilarity’) for each trait, and we analysed how they varied along the three different gradients using generalized least squares models that accounted for spatial autocorrelation.

Our results show that productivity, vegetation type and, to a lesser extent, each climate variable per se might play an important role in shaping the occurrence of functional species traits in ant communities. Among the climate variables, temperature and precipitation seasonality had a much higher influence on functional responses than their mean values, whose effects were almost lacking.

Our results suggest that strong relationships might exist between the abiotic environment and the distribution of functional traits among south‐western Mediterranean ant communities. This finding indicates that functional traits may modulate the responses of ant species to the environment. Since these traits act as the link between species distributions and the environment, they could potentially be used to predict community changes under future global change scenarios.
Experimentally decoupling reproductive investment from energy storage to test the functional basis of a life‐history trade‐off
Authors: Cox Robert M. , Lovern Matthew B. , Calsbeek Ryan
Published: April 2014

The ubiquitous life‐history trade‐off between reproduction and survival has long been hypothesized to reflect underlying energy‐allocation trade‐offs between reproductive investment and processes related to self‐maintenance. Although recent work has questioned whether energy‐allocation models provide sufficient explanations for the survival cost of reproduction, direct tests of this hypothesis are rare, especially in wild populations.

This hypothesis was tested in a wild population of brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) using a two‐step experiment. First, stepwise variation in reproductive investment was created using unilateral and bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) along with intact (SHAM) control. Next, this manipulation was decoupled from its downstream effects on energy storage by surgically ablating the abdominal fat stores from half of the females in each reproductive treatment.

As predicted, unilateralOVX(intermediate reproductive investment) induced levels of growth, body condition, fat storage and breeding‐season survival that were intermediate between the high levels of bilateralOVX(no reproductive investment) and the low levels ofSHAM(full reproductive investment).

Ablation of abdominal fat bodies had a strong and persistent effect on energy stores, but it did not influence post‐breeding survival in any of the three reproductive treatments. This suggests that the energetic savings of reduced reproductive investment do not directly enhance post‐breeding survival, with the caveat that only one aspect of energy storage was manipulated andOVXitself had no overall effect on post‐breeding survival.

This study supports the emerging view that simple energy‐allocation models may often be insufficient as explanations for the life‐history trade‐off between reproduction and survival.
Scale‐ and time‐dependent effects of fertilization, mowing and dominant removal on a grassland community during a 15‐year experiment
Authors: Lepš Jan
Published: April 2014

Multiple land‐use change drivers affect, in most cases negatively, the biodiversity in species‐rich meadows. Empirical data that can help to disentangle the effects of individual drivers and quantify the time required for a biodiversity response are seldom available. Management decisions are often based on short‐term experiments or observational data.

A 15‐year field experiment, comprising a factorial combination of fertilization, mowing and removal of the dominant species Molinia caerulea, was established in an oligotrophic wet meadow in Czech Republic. Each of the eight factorial combinations was replicated three times. Percentage cover for all species was monitored annually in 1‐m2 plots and species' presence recorded in each cell of a continuous square grid of 25 cells (0·1 × 0·1 m each). These data enabled various scale‐dependent estimates of species richness.

The species composition of individual treatment combinations diverged over time, particularly at the start of the experiment, and by the latter stages resembled various typical grassland communities from the surrounding landscape. Fertilization had the most pronounced effect, leading to a sharp decrease in species richness, most rapidly at the smallest spatial scale. Mowing had on average a positive effect on species richness and led in most cases to spatially homogeneous species composition. The removal of Molinia had a positive effect on species richness, especially in unmown unfertilized plots.

The effects of each factor were dependent on the combination of the other two factors, and also on time, with some effects continuously increasing throughout and some diminishing by the end of the experiment. The process of competitive exclusion with fertilization and cessation of mowing was, in some treatment combinations, rather slow.

Synthesis and applications. Land‐use change drivers act in combination, and their effects on the structure of species‐rich wet meadows are dependent on both the temporal and spatial scales considered. Short‐term experiments might underestimate the response of vegetation and thus provide erroneous conservation recommendations. Mowing was only effective in preventing species richness decline caused by fertilization in the short term. The presence of a single dominant species can modify the effectiveness of conservation measures.
Land Tenure in the Changing Peri‐Urban Areas of Ethiopia: The Case of Bahir Dar City
Authors: Adam Achamyeleh Gashu
Published: April 2014

Ethiopia's urban expansion and development strategy has been based on the acquisition of land by government from adjacent peri‐urban areas. The land in the peri‐urban areas is predominantly agricultural in nature, and it has been held by local farmers or landholders. This article aims to examine the nature of urban expansion and development from the perspective of the land rights of the local peri‐urban landholders. To achieve this purpose, it has employed a case‐study approach. As urban territory extends into adjacent peri‐urban areas, the land rights of local landholders are expected to be automatically cancelled and transferred to people who can pay for a lease. This shows that very little attention is paid to the land rights of local landholders in peri‐urban areas in the process of urban expansion and development. Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine that local landholders in those areas have a prevailing sense of insecurity about their land.
The electoral consequences of two great crises
Authors: Lindvall Johannes
Published: April 2014

Who benefits from deep economic crises: the left, the right or neither? On the basis of evidence from elections in 1929–1933 and 2008–2013 in all states that were democracies in both periods, it is argued in this article that the electoral consequences of the Great Depression and the Great Recession were surprisingly similar: in both periods, right‐wing parties were at first more successful than left‐wing parties, although this effect only lasted for a few years. The manner in which a crisis develops over time should be taken into account when examining the effects of deep economic downturns on the electoral fortunes of the left and the right.
Clinical Benefit of the Change of Dialysate Calcium Concentration From 3.0 to 2.75 mEq/L
Authors: Sakai Yukinao , Otsuka Tomoyuki , Ohno Dai , Murasawa Tsuneo , Sakai Saori , Tsuruoka Shuichi
Published: April 2014

Because active vitamin D preparations and calcimimetics have been widely used to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism, maintenance of acceptable serum calcium and phosphate levels is important. A 2.75 mEq/L dialysate calcium product, which may bring the calcium balance closer to 0, has recently been launched, and we had an opportunity to examine its possible benefits. We performed a 6‐month retrospective review after switching from 3.0 mEq/L to 2.75 mEq/L calcium dialysate in 85 outpatients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. We evaluated blood biochemical parameters, including predialysis and postdialysis serum calcium and phosphate levels, predialysis intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels; dialysis dose (Kt/V); and doses of concomitant active vitamin D preparations, calcimimetics, phosphate binder, and erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents. Postdialysis calcium levels were significantly lower and predialysis corrected calcium levels significantly decreased. The change in calcium levels before and after dialysis was smaller after switching of the dialysate than before. iPTH levels significantly increased 1 month after switching of the dialysate. No remarkable changes were observed in phosphate levels or Kt/V. The dose of alfacalcidol, one of the concomitant drugs, somewhat increased, and no remarkable changes in dosage were observed for other concomitant drugs. These results were favorable in terms of calcium balance. However, there may be limitations in interpreting the results, but the resultant calcium levels suggest that switching to 2.75 mEq/L calcium dialysate may improve the control of calcium levels. In addition, it is hoped that the treatment choice of secondary hyperparathyroidism is extended.
Increased plasma levels of the methylglyoxal in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes 初诊2型糖尿病患者血浆甲基乙二醛水平升高
Authors: Kong Xiang , Ma Ming‐zhe , Huang Kai , Qin Li , Zhang Hong‐mei , Yang Zhen , Li Xiao‐yong , Su Qing
Published: April 2014

Background

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a reactive‐dicarbonyl that is thought to contribute to the development of diabetes either as a precursor for advanced glycation end products or as a direct toxin. The present study was designed to determine plasma MG level in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to evaluate the relationship between MG and other parameters, such as oxidative stress and metabolic indices.

Methods

Methylglyoxal was measured by high‐performance liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometry in plasma from 48 subjects with newly diagnosed T2DM. The relationship between two variables was analyzed using Spearman's correlation analysis. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was used to assess the association of plasma MG and other parameters.

Results

Plasma MG level in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM (65.2 ± 19.2 ng/mL) were significantly higher than that in control individuals (40.1 ± 11.1 ng/mL, P < 0.05). The plasma level of MG was positively correlated with the glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c, r = 0.670, P < 0.01) and malondialdehyde (MDA, r = 0.694, P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that both HbA1c and MDA are significant independent determinants of plasma MG level.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that increased plasma MG level is associated with the elevation of HbA1c and MDA in newly diagnosed T2DM patients.