bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oral Behaviors and Parafunctions: Comparison of Temporomandibular Dysfunction Patients and Controls
Authors: Leketas Marijus , Šaferis Viktoras , Kubilius Ričardas , Cervino Gabriele , Bramanti Ennio , Cicciù Marco
Published: September 2017

The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of oral behaviors in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and a control group without TMD.

In this baseline case–control study, 260 controls and 260 subjects with TMD completed the oral behaviors checklist defined as a “self-report scale for identifying and quantifying the frequency of jaw overuse behavior” and underwent clinical examinations using the DC/TMJ international examination form (version May 12, 2013). Relationships of oral parafunctions’ frequencies between groups were examined. The statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 23 software.

Age and gender distribution in the study groups did not reveal statistical differences (P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to establish system of independent oral behaviors for prognosis TMD. The stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that very frequent expression of holding, tightening, or tense muscles is associated with 10.83 times (P < 0.05) higher risk of TMD, grinding teeth together during waking hours with 4.94 times (P < 0.05) higher risk, and sustained talking with 2.64 times (P < 0.05) higher risk of TMD. By contrast, it was determined that 3 oral behaviors were less common in the TMD patients compared with the control group: clenching teeth together during waking hours, facing grimaces, and yawning (P < 0.05). The individuals with TMD reported a significantly higher frequency of 10 behaviors (P < 0.05), 3 of which may be regarded as independent risk factors for TMD. In addition, 3 oral behaviors were more frequently observed in the healthy subjects than in the TMD patients.
A computational multiscale agent-based model for simulating spatio-temporal tumour immune response to PD1 and PDL1 inhibition
Authors: Gong Chang , Milberg Oleg , Wang Bing , Vicini Paolo , Narwal Rajesh , Roskos Lorin , Popel Aleksander S.
Published: September 2017

When the immune system responds to tumour development, patterns of immune infiltrates emerge, highlighted by the expression of immune checkpoint-related molecules such as PDL1 on the surface of cancer cells. Such spatial heterogeneity carries information on intrinsic characteristics of the tumour lesion for individual patients, and thus is a potential source for biomarkers for anti-tumour therapeutics. We developed a systems biology multiscale agent-based model to capture the interactions between immune cells and cancer cells, and analysed the emergent global behaviour during tumour development and immunotherapy. Using this model, we are able to reproduce temporal dynamics of cytotoxic T cells and cancer cells during tumour progression, as well as three-dimensional spatial distributions of these cells. By varying the characteristics of the neoantigen profile of individual patients, such as mutational burden and antigen strength, a spectrum of pretreatment spatial patterns of PDL1 expression is generated in our simulations, resembling immuno-architectures obtained via immunohistochemistry from patient biopsies. By correlating these spatial characteristics with
in silico
treatment results using immune checkpoint inhibitors, the model provides a framework for use to predict treatment/biomarker combinations in different cancer types based on cancer-specific experimental data.
Comparing two sequential Monte Carlo samplers for exact and approximate Bayesian inference on biological models
Authors: Daly Aidan C. , Cooper Jonathan , Gavaghan David J. , Holmes Chris
Published: September 2017

Bayesian methods are advantageous for biological modelling studies due to their ability to quantify and characterize posterior variability in model parameters. When Bayesian methods cannot be applied, due either to non-determinism in the model or limitations on system observability, approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) methods can be used to similar effect, despite producing inflated estimates of the true posterior variance. Owing to generally differing application domains, there are few studies comparing Bayesian and ABC methods, and thus there is little understanding of the properties and magnitude of this uncertainty inflation. To address this problem, we present two popular strategies for ABC sampling that we have adapted to perform exact Bayesian inference, and compare them on several model problems. We find that one sampler was impractical for exact inference due to its sensitivity to a key normalizing constant, and additionally highlight sensitivities of both samplers to various algorithmic parameters and model conditions. We conclude with a study of the O'Hara–Rudy cardiac action potential model to quantify the uncertainty amplification resulting from employing ABC using a set of clinically relevant biomarkers. We hope that this work serves to guide the implementation and comparative assessment of Bayesian and ABC sampling techniques in biological models.
Subliminal influence on preferences? A test of evaluative conditioning for brief visual conditioned stimuli using auditory unconditioned stimuli
Authors: Heycke Tobias , Aust Frederik , Stahl Christoph
Published: September 2017

In the field of evaluative conditioning (EC), two opposing theories—propositional single-process theory versus dual-process theory—are currently being discussed in the literature. The present set of experiments test a crucial prediction to adjudicate between these two theories: Dual-process theory postulates that evaluative conditioning can occur without awareness of the contingency between conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US); in contrast, single-process propositional theory postulates that EC requires CS-US contingency awareness. In a set of three studies, we experimentally manipulate contingency awareness by presenting the CSs very briefly, thereby rendering it unlikely to be processed consciously. We address potential issues with previous studies on EC with subliminal or near-threshold CSs that limited their interpretation. Across two experiments, we consistently found an EC effect for CSs presented for 1000 ms and consistently failed to find an EC effect for briefly presented CSs. In a third pre-registered experiment, we again found evidence for an EC effect with CSs presented for 1000 ms, and we found some indication for an EC effect for CSs presented for 20 ms.
Spreading of components of mood in adolescent social networks
Authors: Eyre Robert W. , House Thomas , Hill Edward M. , Griffiths Frances E.
Published: September 2017

Recent research has provided evidence that mood can spread over social networks via social contagion, but that, in seeming contradiction to this, depression does not. Here, we investigate whether there is evidence for the individual components of mood (such as appetite, tiredness and sleep) spreading through US adolescent friendship networks while adjusting for confounding by modelling the transition probabilities of changing mood state over time. We find that having more friends with worse mood is associated with a higher probability of an adolescent worsening in mood and a lower probability of improving, and vice versa for friends with better mood, for the overwhelming majority of mood components. We also show, however, that this effect is not strong enough in the negative direction to lead to a significant increase in depression incidence, helping to resolve the seeming contradictory nature of existing research. Our conclusions, therefore, link in to current policy discussions on the importance of subthreshold levels of depressive symptoms and could help inform interventions against depression in high schools.
Accelerating adaptive inverse distance weighting interpolation algorithm on a graphics processing unit
Authors: Mei Gang , Xu Liangliang , Xu Nengxiong
Published: September 2017

This paper focuses on designing and implementing parallel adaptive inverse distance weighting (AIDW) interpolation algorithms by using the graphics processing unit (GPU). The AIDW is an improved version of the standard IDW, which can adaptively determine the power parameter according to the data points’ spatial distribution pattern and achieve more accurate predictions than those predicted by IDW. In this paper, we first present two versions of the GPU-accelerated AIDW, i.e. the naive version without profiting from the shared memory and the tiled version taking advantage of the shared memory. We also implement the naive version and the tiled version using two data layouts, structure of arrays and array of aligned structures, on both single and double precision. We then evaluate the performance of parallel AIDW by comparing it with its corresponding serial algorithm on three different machines equipped with the GPUs GT730M, M5000 and K40c. The experimental results indicate that: (i) there is no significant difference in the computational efficiency when different data layouts are employed; (ii) the tiled version is always slightly faster than the naive version; and (iii) on single precision the achieved speed-up can be up to 763 (on the GPU M5000), while on double precision the obtained highest speed-up is 197 (on the GPU K40c). To benefit the community, all source code and testing data related to the presented parallel AIDW algorithm are publicly available.
A generalized equation for the calculation of receptor noise limited colour distances inn-chromatic visual systems
Authors: Clark R. C. , Santer R. D. , Brebner J. S.
Published: September 2017

Researchers must assess similarities and differences in colour from an animal's eye view when investigating hypotheses in ecology, evolution and behaviour. Nervous systems generate colour perceptions by comparing the responses of different spectral classes of photoreceptor through colour opponent mechanisms, and the performance of these mechanisms is limited by photoreceptor noise. Accordingly, the receptor noise limited (RNL) colour distance model of Vorobyev and Osorio (Vorobyev & Osorio 1998Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B265, 351–358 (doi:10.1098/rspb.1998.0302)) generates predictions about the discriminability of colours that agree with behavioural data, and consequently it has found wide application in studies of animal colour vision. Vorobyev and Osorio (1998) provide equations to calculate RNL colour distances for animals with di-, tri- and tetrachromatic vision, which is adequate for many species. However, researchers may sometimes wish to compute RNL colour distances for potentially more complex colour visual systems. Thus, we derive a simple, single formula for the computation of RNL distance between two measurements of colour, equivalent to the published di-, tri- and tetrachromatic equations of Vorobyev and Osorio (1998), and valid for colour visual systems with any number of types of noisy photoreceptors. This formula will allow the easy application of this important colour visual model across the fields of ecology, evolution and behaviour.
The influence of stress hormones and aggression on cooperative behaviour in subordinate meerkats
Authors: Dantzer Ben , Goncalves Ines Braga , Spence-Jones Helen C. , Bennett Nigel C. , Heistermann Michael , Ganswindt Andre , Dubuc Constance , Gaynor David , Manser Marta B. , Clutton-Brock Tim H.
Published: September 2017

In cooperative breeders, aggression from dominant breeders directed at subordinates may raise subordinate stress hormone (glucocorticoid) concentrations. This may benefit dominants by suppressing subordinate reproduction but it is uncertain whether aggression from dominants can elevate subordinate cooperative behaviour, or how resulting changes in subordinate glucocorticoid concentrations affect their cooperative behaviour. We show here that the effects of manipulating glucocorticoid concentrations in wild meerkats (Suricata suricatta) on cooperative behaviour varied between cooperative activities as well as between the sexes. Subordinates of both sexes treated with a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (mifepristone) exhibited significantly more pup protection behaviour (babysitting) compared to those treated with glucocorticoids (cortisol) or controls. Females treated with mifepristone had a higher probability of exhibiting pup food provisioning (pup-feeding) compared to those treated with cortisol. In males, there were no treatment effects on the probability of pup-feeding, but those treated with cortisol gave a higher proportion of the food they found to pups than those treated with mifepristone. Using 19 years of behavioural data, we also show that dominant females did not increase the frequency with which they directed aggression at subordinates at times when the need for assistance was highest. Our results suggest that it is unlikely that dominant females manipulate the cooperative behaviour of subordinates through the effects of aggression on their glucocorticoid levels and that the function of aggression directed at subordinates is probably to reduce the probability they will breed.
Barn owls have ageless ears
Authors: Krumm Bianca , Klump Georg , Köppl Christine , Langemann Ulrike
Published: September 2017

We measured the auditory sensitivity of the barn owl (Tyto alba), using a behavioural Go/NoGo paradigm in two different age groups, one younger than 2 years (n= 4) and another more than 13 years of age (n= 3). In addition, we obtained thresholds from one individual aged 23 years, three times during its lifetime. For computing audiograms, we presented test frequencies of between 0.5 and 12 kHz, covering the hearing range of the barn owl. Average thresholds in quiet were below 0 dB sound pressure level (SPL) for frequencies between 1 and 10 kHz. The lowest mean threshold was –12.6 dB SPL at 8 kHz. Thresholds were the highest at 12 kHz, with a mean of 31.7 dB SPL. Test frequency had a significant effect on auditory threshold but age group had no significant effect. There was no significant interaction between age group and test frequency. Repeated threshold estimates over 21 years from a single individual showed only a slight increase in thresholds. We discuss the auditory sensitivity of barn owls with respect to other species and suggest that birds, which generally show a remarkable capacity for regeneration of hair cells in the basilar papilla, are naturally protected from presbycusis.
Using spatiotemporal source separation to identify prominent features in multichannel data without sinusoidal filters
Authors: Cohen Michael X
Published: September 2017

The number of simultaneously recorded electrodes in neuroscience is steadily increasing, providing new opportunities for understanding brain function, but also new challenges for appropriately dealing with the increase in dimensionality. Multivariate source-separation analysis methods have been particularly effective at improving signal-to-noise ratio while reducing the dimensionality of the data, and are widely used for cleaning, classifying, and source-localizing multichannel neural time series data. Most source-separation methods produce a spatial component (that is, a weighted combination of channels to produce one time series); here, this is extended to apply sourceseparation to a time series, with the idea of obtaining a weighted combination of successive time points, such that the weights are optimized to satisfy some criteria. This is achieved via a two-stage source-separation procedure, in which an optimal spatial filter is first constructed, and then its optimal temporal basis function is computed. This second stage is achieved with a time-delay-embedding matrix, in which additional rows of a matrix are created from time-delayed versions of existing rows. The optimal spatial and temporal weights can be obtained by solving a generalized eigendecomposition of covariance matrices. The method is demonstrated in simulated data and in an empirical EEG study on theta-band activity during response conflict. Spatiotemporal source separation has several advantages, including defining empirical filters without the need to apply sinusoidal narrowband filters.
Regional differences of the urinary proteomes in healthy Chinese individuals
Authors: Wu Jianqiang , Qin Weiwei , Pan Li , Zhang Fanshuang , Wang Xiaorong , Zhang Biao , Shan Guangliang , Gao Youhe
Published: September 2017

Urine is a promising biomarker source for clinical proteomics studies. Although regional physiological differences are common in multi-center clinical studies, the presence of significant differences in the urinary proteomes of individuals from different regions remains unknown. In this study, morning urine samples were collected from healthy urban residents in three regions of China and urinary proteins were preserved using a membrane-based method (Urimem). The urine proteomes of 27 normal samples were analyzed using LC-MS/MS and compared among the three regions. We identified 1,898 proteins from Urimem samples using label-free proteome quantification, of which 62 urine proteins were differentially expressed among the three regions. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that inter-regional differences caused less significant changes in the urine proteome than inter-sex differences. Of the 62 differentially expressed proteins, 10 have been reported to be disease biomarkers in previous clinical studies. Urimem facilitates urinary protein storage for large-scale urine sample collection, and thus accelerates biobank development and urine biomarker studies employing proteomics approaches. Regional differences are a confounding factor influencing the urine proteome and should be considered in future multi-center biomarker studies.
Integration of human pancreatic islet genomic data refines regulatory mechanisms at Type 2 Diabetes susceptibility loci
Authors: Thurner Matthias , Bunt Martijn van de , Torres Jason M , Mahajan Anubha , Nylander Vibe , Bennett Amanda J , Gaulton Kyle , Barrett Amy , Burrows Carla , Bell Christopher G , Lowe Robert , Beck Stephan , Rakyan Vardhman K , Gloyn Anna L , McCarthy Mark I
Published: September 2017

Human genetic studies have emphasised the dominant contribution of pancreatic islet dysfunction to development of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). However, limited annotation of the islet epigenome has constrained efforts to define the molecular mechanisms mediating the, largely regulatory, signals revealed by Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). We characterised patterns of chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq, n=17) and DNA methylation (whole-genome bisulphite sequencing, n=10) in human islets, generating high-resolution chromatin state maps through integration with established ChIP-seq marks. We found enrichment of GWAS signals for T2D and fasting glucose was concentrated in subsets of islet enhancers characterised by open chromatin and hypomethylation, with the former annotation predominant. At several loci (includingCDC123,ADCY5,KLHDC5) the combination of fine-mapping genetic data and chromatin state enrichment maps, supplemented by allelic imbalance in chromatin accessibility pinpointed likely causal variants. The combination of increasingly-precise genetic and islet epigenomic information accelerates definition of causal mechanisms implicated in T2D pathogenesis.
Efficient management and analysis of large-scale genome-wide data with two R packages: bigstatsr and bigsnpr
Authors: Privé Florian , Aschard Hugues , Blum Michael G.B.
Published: September 2017

Motivation:

Genome-wide datasets produced for association studies have dramatically increased in size over the past few years, with modern datasets commonly including millions of variants measured in dozens of thousands of individuals. This increase in data size is a major challenge severely slowing down genomic analyses. Specialized software for every part of the analysis pipeline have been developed to handle large genomic data. However, combining all these software into a single data analysis pipeline might be technically difficult.

Results:

Here we present two R packages, bigstatsr and bigsnpr, allowing for management and analysis of large scale genomic data to be performed within a single comprehensive framework. To address large data size, the packages use memory-mapping for accessing data matrices stored on disk instead of in RAM. To perform data pre-processing and data analysis, the packages integrate most of the tools that are commonly used, either through transparent system calls to existing software, or through updated or improved implementation of existing methods. In particular, the packages implement a fast derivation of Principal Component Analysis, functions to remove SNPs in Linkage Disequilibrium, and algorithms to learn Polygenic Risk Scores on millions of SNPs. We illustrate applications of the two R packages by analysing a case-control genomic dataset for the celiac disease, performing an association study and computing Polygenic Risk Scores. Finally, we demonstrate the scalability of the R packages by analyzing a simulated genome-wide dataset including 500,000 individuals and 1 million markers on a single desktop computer.

Availability:

https://privefl.github.io/bigstatsr/&https://privefl.github.io/bigsnpr/

Contact:

florian.prive@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr&michael.blum@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

Supplementary information:

Supplementary data are available atBioinformaticsonline.
A novel combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy controls tumor growth in mice with a human immune system
Authors: Burlion Aude , Ramos Rodrigo N. , Pukar KC , Sendeyo Kélhia , Corneau Aurélien , Ménétrier-Caux Christine , Piaggio Eliane , Olive Daniel , Caux Christophe , Marodon Gilles
Published: September 2017

Mice reconstituted with a human immune system and bearing human tumors represent a promising model for developing novel cancer immunotherapies. Here, we used mass cytometry and multi-parametric flow cytometry to characterize human leukocytes infiltrating a human breast cancer tumor model in immunocompromised NOD.SCID.γc-null mice reconstituted with a human immune system and compared it to samples of breast cancer patients. We observed highly activated human CD4+and CD8+T cells in the tumor, as well as minor subsets of innate immune cells in both settings. We also report that ICOS+CD4+regulatory T cells (Treg) were enriched in the tumor relative to the periphery in humanized mice and patients, providing a target to affect Treg and tumor growth. Indeed, administration of a neutralizing mAb to human ICOS reduced Treg proportions and numbers and improved CD4+ T cell proliferation in humanized mice. Moreover, a combination of the anti-ICOS mAb with cyclophosphamide reduced tumor growth, and that was associated with an improved CD8 to Treg ratio. However, depletion of human CD8+T cells only marginally affected tumor control whereas depletion of murine myeloid cells abrogated the effect of the combination therapy. Altogether, our results indicate that a combination of anti-ICOS mAb and chemotherapy controls tumor growth in humanized mice and highlight the crucial implication of innate immunity in treatment efficacy, opening new perspectives for the treatment of breast cancer.

One sentence summary

ICOS expressed on Tregs is a promising target to improve tumor immunity in humans

Abbreviations

ICOS

Inducible Costimulatory

NSG

NOD.SCID.gc-null

Treg

regulatory T cells

CTX

cyclophosphamide

HuMice

humanized mice

CyTOF

cytometry time-of-flight

tSNE

tdistributed stochastic neighbor embedding

pDCs

plasmacytoid dendritic cells

DC

dendritic cells

ICD

immunogenic cell death
Curated compendium of human transcriptional biomarker data
Authors: Golightly Nathan P. , Bischoff Anna I. , Bell Avery , Hollingsworth Parker D. , Piccolo Stephen R.
Published: September 2017

Genome-wide transcriptional profiles provide broad insights into cellular activity. One important use of such data isto identify relationships between transcription levels and patient outcomes. These translational insights can guide the development of biomarkers for predicting outcomes in clinical settings. Over the past decades, data from many translational-biomarker studies have been deposited in public repositories, enabling other scientists to reuse the data in follow-up studies. However, data-reuse efforts require considerable time and expertise because transcriptional data are generated using heterogeneous profiling technologies, preprocessed using diverse normalization procedures, and annotated in non-standard ways. To address this problem, we curated a compendium of 45 translational-biomarker datasets from the public domain. To increase the data’s utility, we reprocessed the raw expression data using a standard computational pipeline and standardized the clinical annotations in a fully reproducible manner (seeosf.io/ssk3t). We believe these data will be particularly useful to researchers seeking to validate gene-level findings or to perform benchmarking studies—for example, to compare and optimize machine-learning algorithms’ ability to predict biomedical outcomes.
Ferrocenecarboxylic anhydride: identification of a new polymorph
Authors: Tazi Mehdi , Roisnel Thierry , Mongin Florence , Erb William
Published: September 2017

A new monoclinic polymorph of ferrocenecarboxylic anhydride, [Fe2(C5H5)2(C12H8O3)], was obtained. Three molecules are present in the asymmetric unit, two of them being nearly identical (r.m.s. deviation = 0.11 Å), with the Fe atoms on the same side of the anhydride functional group. In the third molecule, the two Fe atoms are located at opposite sides of the functional group (ferrocene–ferrocene pseudo-torsion angle = 146.2°), a very unsual feature in metallocene anhydrides. A network of weak intermolecular hydrogen bonds was also disclosed.
Crystal structure and proton conductivity of a new Cs3(H2PO4)(HPO4)·2H2O phase in the caesium di- and monohydrogen orthophosphate system
Authors: Ponomareva Valentina , Bagryantseva Irina , Zakharov Boris , Bulina Natalia , Lavrova Galina , Boldyreva Elena
Published: September 2017

The Mx
H
y
(AO4)
z
acid salts (M = Cs, Rb, K, Na, Li, NH4; A = S, Se, As, P) exhibit ferroelectric properties. The solid acids have low conductivity values and are of interest with regard to their thermal properties and proton conductivity. The crystal structure of caesium dihydrogen orthophosphate monohydrogen orthophosphate dihydrate, Cs3(H1.5PO4)2·2H2O, has been solved. The compound crystallizes in the space group Pbca and forms a structure with strong hydrogen bonds connecting phosphate tetrahedra that agrees well with the IR spectra. The dehydration of Cs3(H1.5PO4)2·2H2O with the loss of two water molecules occurs at 348–433 K. Anhydrous Cs3(H1.5PO4)2 is stable up to 548 K and is then converted completely into caesium pyrophosphate (Cs4P2O7) and CsPO3. Anhydrous Cs3(H1.5PO4)2 crystallizes in the monoclinic C2 space group, with the unit-cell parameters a = 11.1693 (4), b = 6.4682 (2), c = 7.7442 (3) Å and β = 71.822 (2)°. The conductivities of both compounds have been measured. In contrast to crystal hydrate Cs3(H1.5PO4)2·2H2O, the dehydrated form has rather low conductivity values of ∼6 × 10−6–10−8 S cm−1 at 373–493 K, with an activation energy of 0.91 eV.
Internal resources as tools to increase the global competition: the Italian wine industry case
Authors: Galati Antonino , Crescimanno Maria , Tinervia Salvatore , Iliopoulos Constantine , Theodorakopoulou Irini
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, it identifies distinct organizational models in a sample of small and medium enterprises operating in the Sicilian wine industry; and second, it identifies the key factors enabling a superior export success.

Design/methodology/approach

Internal resources were analyzed theoretically in order to achieve the aims of the study. Subsequently the empirical investigation was carried out administering a questionnaire to a sample of 102 wineries in Sicily, Italy. A cluster analysis was performed in order to group these firms into homogeneous categories.

Findings

The findings show that success in the international market is more common among wineries characterized by a larger physical and economic size, a longer experience in the international market, managed by entrepreneurs-owners who are highly educated and proficient in foreign language, and implement voluntary certifications.

Research limitations/implications

The results need to be interpreted within the context of the study’s research design; more specifically, the reader should take into account that the study focuses exclusively on one industry and on one region (wine in Sicily).

Practical implications

The findings offer a valid support for managers who could use this results to better focus their effort and choose the most appropriate strategy in order to improve their performance in foreign markets.

Originality/value

Very few empirical studies have been carried out on the impact that internal and in particular organizational resources have on the firms’ organizational models operating in the wine industry.
Lean production and supply chain innovation in baked foods supplier to improve performance
Authors: Shah Satya R. , Naghi Ganji Elmira
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Service industries are currently facing an excess of overproduction that results in extra inventory and waste levels. With the prospect of methods such as lean production, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of lean production methods towards enhanced performance of service-based industries through the study of a local baked foods supplier.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper highlights the first stage of research study through current world literature and a critical review as inputs of research findings. The research applies a descriptive research framework within a semi-structured questionnaire survey method which was implemented within three different companies, the baked goods manufacturer, the cafe purchasing the baked foods products and the end users, hence covering the overall supply chain cycle and its entities.

Findings

The research study identified that one of the major challenges facing the baked food company when adopting the lean practices was the lack of commitment from the top management, continuous training, and hence, employee engagement measures were necessary towards performance improvement of the organisation.

Originality/value

The research novelty is to develop an early understanding of lean production practices within the baked goods manufacturer and its upstream and downstream stakeholders. This paper would be considered by the food manufacturer companies in order to require their key suppliers to adopt the most common lean tools identified as Just in Time, Value Steam Mapping and the 5S methods.
Business model configuration and dynamics for technology commercialization in mature markets
Authors: Flammini Serena , Arcese Gabriella , Lucchetti Maria Claudia , Mortara Letizia
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The food industry is a well-established and complex industry. New entrants attempting to penetrate it via the commercialization of a new technological innovation could face high uncertainty and constraints. The capability to innovate through collaboration and to identify suitable strategies and innovative business models (BMs) can be particularly important for bringing a technological innovation to this market. However, although the potential for these capabilities has been advocated, we still lack a complete understanding of how new ventures could support the technology commercialization process via the development of BMs. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this gap, this paper builds a conceptual framework that knits together the different bodies of extant literature (i.e. entrepreneurship, strategy and innovation) to analyze the BM innovation processes associated with the exploitation of emerging technologies; determines the suitability of the framework using data from the exploratory case study of IT IS 3D – a firm which has started to exploit 3D printing in the food industry; and improves the initial conceptual framework with the findings that emerged in the case study.

Findings

From this analysis it emerged that: companies could use more than one BM at a time; hence, BM innovation processes could co-exist and be run in parallel; the facing of high uncertainty might lead firms to choose a closed and/or a familiar BM, while explorative strategies could be pursued with open BMs; significant changes in strategies during the technology commercialization process are not necessarily reflected in a radical change in the BM; and firms could deliberately adopt interim strategies and BMs as means to identify the more suitable ones to reach the market.

Originality/value

This case study illustrates how firms could innovate the processes of their BM development to face the uncertainties linked with the entry into a mature and highly conservative industry (food).
Street food and innovation: the food truck phenomenon
Authors: Alfiero Simona , Lo Giudice Agata , Bonadonna Alessandro
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on food truck phenomenon, a particular kind of street food service, identifying two categories of performers: “Traditional Food Truck” (TFT) and “Gourmet Food Truck” (GFT). This paper evaluates and compares the efficiency performance of the main actors.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 41 food trucks in the Northwest of Italy was identified. A survey was carried out to determine the characteristics of the food truck and evaluate the efficiency performance of an output-oriented data envelopment analysis.

Findings

The two kinds of food trucks provide different levels of efficacy: the data showed that 22 per cent of the food trucks operate efficiently with an average efficiency score of 0.80. The results demonstrate that GFT are more efficient than TFT and confirm that innovation is an important key to competitive advantage in this sector.

Research limitations/implications

The data collected were related only to the food truckers that operate in the Turin area and the number of variables analysed is limited to certain aspects of production and selling processes.

Practical implications

The results provided some managerial indicators to improve the level of corporate efficiency, operating on technical decisions.

Originality/value

This is a pioneer study that analyses how a business based on the combination of tradition and innovation can offer a competitive advantage and strengthen a strong connection to its territory, improving corporate performance.
Value maximization and open innovation in food and beverage industry: evidence from US market
Authors: Miglietta Nicola , Battisti Enrico , Campanella Francesco
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine listed companies, grouped by sector, that for decades have shown a dividend growth. Referring to the food and beverage (F&B) industry, the authors have investigated the adoption of an open innovation model in order to fill a gap in the existing literature.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a multi-method design linking qualitative and quantitative approaches. The quantitative study was planned in order to identify some US-listed companies, called Dividend Champions that have distributed consistently growing dividends for over 50 years and have beaten the markets. The qualitative study was designed to provide insight into the adoption or not of an open innovation model by the listed companies in the F&B industry in the US market that were selected by the quantitative analysis.

Findings

The research is based on an empirical analysis undertaken with 816 listed companies in US markets. In particular, the authors underline 20 companies that over the past 50 years have systematically increased dividend paid, and at the same time, have beaten the market (Standard & Poor’s 500). In all, 30 per cent of the selected companies belong to the consumer goods sector, and F&B companies represent 50 per cent of them. All of these companies (The Coca-Coca Company, Hormel Foods Corporation, and Lancaster Colony Corporation) implement an open innovation model.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first exploratory study based on value maximisation and open innovation. An open innovation model increases competitiveness and the durability of competitive advantage, which are main sources of value creation. The paper highlights evidence from the F&B industry, referred to as Dividend Champions, and the adoption of an open innovation model.
From space food research and innovation to immediate advantages for Earth eating habits
Authors: Varese Erica , Cane Paola
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse how the food innovation strategies carried out by an Italian firm, Argotec, responsible for the development and supply of space food (SF) for European astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), can also be applied to food suitable to be eaten on Planet Earth. This study aims at showing the relationship between SF innovation and terrestrial strategies directed at implementing this kind of food also on terrestrial tables.

Design/methodology/approach

This research focusses on a case study. The subject of the case study under analysis is Argotec, an internationally recognised Italian aerospace engineering company, dealing with research, innovation and development in various sectors, including engineering, information technology, system integration, small satellites and “Human Space Flight and Operations”. The company produces innovative SF for European astronauts performing long-duration missions on-board the ISS. Moreover, the SF is made available also for terrestrial beings as a solution for everyday eating necessities.

Findings

Argotec is characterised by strong innovation in terms of products and processes. Throughout the case study, the authors focus on the relationship between SF innovation and its terrestrial applications, since this company also manufactures products, traded under the brand “ReadyToLunch”, suitable for daily meals on Earth. Innovation applied to SF can thus offer advantages also for terrestrial daily meals and therefore help the company achieve other competitive advantages: as to the authors’ knowledge, this is a unique case.

Research limitations/implications

This study also has some limitations, typical of the applied methodology. In relation to the interview technique, further interviews would be required in order to fully understand the end-user perspectives regarding the importance and interest of this kind of “ready-to-eat” food.

Practical implications

Practical implications relate to astronauts and to terrestrial consumers. For astronauts, SF is not any more intended only to satisfy humans’ basic needs, and to provide the necessary nutrients during space missions, but has become an important factor in the quality of life in space. For terrestrial consumers, SF may represent a healthy, tasty and nutritious “ready-to-eat” choice: single courses for the main meals and snacks for a break.

Originality/value

This research fills a gap in literature: to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper presenting a case study on a company responsible for the development and supply of SF for European astronauts on-board the ISS, as well as encouraging the consumption of SF by terrestrial beings, as an ordinary “ready-to-eat” lunch/dinner.
Sanitation, human rights and disaster management
Authors: Aronsson-Storrier Marie
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to link debates around the international law on human rights and disaster management with the evolving debate around the human right to sanitation, in order to explore the extent to which states are obliged to account for sanitation in their disaster management efforts.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on analysis of existing laws and policy relating to human rights, sanitation and disaster management. It further draws upon relevant academic literature.

Findings

The paper concludes that, while limitations exist, states have legal obligations to provide sanitation to persons affected by a disaster. It is further argued that a human rights-based approach to sanitation, if respected, can assist in strengthening disaster management efforts, while focusing on the persons who need it the most.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis in this paper focuses on the obligations of states for people on their territory. Due to space limitations, it does not examine the complex issues relating to enforcement mechanisms available to disaster victims.

Originality/value

This is the first scholarly work directly linking the debates around international human rights law and disaster management, with human rights obligations in relation to sanitation. The clarification of obligation in relation to sanitation can assist in advocacy and planning, as well as in ensuring accountability and responsibility for human rights breaches in the disaster context.
Disasters and non-state actors – human rights-based approaches
Authors: Hesselman Marlies , Lane Lottie
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the roles and responsibilities of non-state actors (NSAs) in contributing to disaster governance from an international human rights law (IHRL) perspective. In particular, it examines how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and business enterprises are implicated.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes a range of IHRL instruments, particularly treaties and international soft-law documents, and it utilizes the concepts “human rights-based approaches” (HRBAs) and “direct”/“indirect” human rights obligations to frame and understand how IHRL responsibilities for NSAs arise from these instruments.

Findings

IHRL not only includes relevant standards for NSAs in the area of disaster management, but NGOs and businesses also actively engage with IHRL and HRBAs by means of (soft) self-regulatory instruments to further clarify their responsibilities.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are of interest to all actors involved in disaster governance, and are instructive for NGOs and businesses seeking to improve the design of disaster management activity. The research addresses only the responsibility of NGOs and private companies, but the framework of analysis set out is equally of interest to other actors’ activities.

Originality/value

The implications of IHRL for NSAs involved in disaster management are still poorly understood, despite their vast engagement. This study contributes by clarifying the roles and IHRL responsibilities of NGOs and businesses specifically, and articulates how applications of HRBAs may improve the protection of persons.
Psychometric properties of the Italian version of Colquitt’s Organizational Justice Scale (OJS)
Authors: Spagnoli Paola , Farnese Maria Luisa , D’Olimpio Francesca , Millefiorini Andrea , Scafuri Kovalchuk Liliya
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Although Colquitt’s Organizational Justice Scale (COJS) is one of the most widely used organizational justice scales (OJS) worldwide, a rigorous adaptation and validation in Italy is still missing. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to examine the construct validity and reliability of the Italian translation of the scale.

Design/methodology/approach

Factorial and concurrent validity were examined to assess construct validity. A confirmatory factorial analysis through structural equation modelling was conducted on five factorial models: one-factor, two-factor, three-factor, four-factor and second-order factor model. Concurrent validity implied the examination of the relationships between organizational justice and job satisfaction (convergent validity) and between organizational justice and workplace bullying (discriminant validity).

Findings

Evidence of the prevalence of the original Colquitt (2001) four-factor model was found, though also the second-order model obtained adequate goodness of fit. Findings supported both convergent and discriminant validity. Reliability analysis reported evidence of excellent internal consistency. Thus, the Italian version of the OJS can be used in Italy for research and practical purposes.

Originality/value

This is the first study properly addressing the factorial and concurrent validity of the OJS in Italy.
Comparing faculty perceptions of sustainability teaching at two US universities
Authors: Tziganuk Ashlee , Gliedt Travis
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This study aims to examine and compare faculty perceptions of the process of institutionalizing sustainability, developing sustainability pedagogy and activating key sustainability competencies between the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Arizona State University (ASU).

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 professors in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability at OU and 10 professors in the School of Sustainability at ASU.

Findings

The results highlight the complexity of teaching sustainability in an interdisciplinary manner in both programs. Professors are incorporating many of the key competencies of sustainability teaching, but in a patchwork manner that does not necessary follow the comprehensive frameworks from the literature.

Practical implications

The comparative analysis leads to recommendations for teaching sustainability in higher education.

Originality/value

This study contributes to theories of sustainability teaching by identifying gaps between what professors are actually doing and experiencing and a set of best practices from the literature.
Experiential learning for engaging nutrition undergraduates with sustainability
Authors: Maher Judith , Burkhart Sarah
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe students’ self-reported learning from engaging in an experiential learning task designed to develop their understanding of sustainable food systems and dietary practices.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 143 first-year students enrolled in an entry level food and nutrition subject undertook a three-week eco-friendly food challenge (1. Reduce food (and food-related) waste; 2. localise food purchases; 3. eat seasonally and sustainably; or 4. reduce meat consumption). They blogged about their experience and respond to an action-orientated reflective question each week. Content analysis of the blogs was undertaken using NVivo 10. Content was systematically coded and categorised according to action/activity, learning and response to reflective question.

Findings

Students reported undertaking a range of self-selected practical activities throughout the challenge. Self-reported learning suggested students gained self-awareness and knowledge and demonstrated problem-solving abilities. The importance of planning and preparation was the most common theme in students’ blogs when responding to the action-orientated reflective question in Week 1. In Week 2, students identified socially mediated barriers and the time and energy required to undertake their challenge as the most likely barriers preventing others engaging in the challenge. They provided advice and solutions to overcome these barriers. In Week 3, a range of community, government and multi-sector initiatives to support consumer food-related behaviour change were identified.

Originality/value

This approach presents a possible means for engaging nutrition undergraduates with environmental sustainability.