bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Baseline Sensitivity of Didymella bryoniae to Cyprodinil and Fludioxonil and Field Efficacy of these Fungicides Against Isolates Resistant to Pyraclostrobin and Boscalid
Authors: Keinath Anthony P.
Published: February 2015

To prevent yield reductions from gummy stem blight, fungicides often must be applied to watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo). Didymella bryoniae, the ascomycete fungus that causes gummy stem blight, is resistant to thiophanate-methyl, quinone-outside inhibitors (QoI), boscalid, and penthiopyrad. In place of these fungicides, premixtures of cyprodinil and fludioxonil (Switch 62.5WG) or cyprodinil and difenoconazole (Inspire Super 2.82SC) are used. The objectives of this study were to examine baseline isolates of D. bryoniae for sensitivity to cyprodinil and fludioxonil and to determine the efficacy of cyprodinil-fludioxonil and cyprodinil-difenoconazole against isolates resistant to QoI fungicides and boscalid. Colony diameters of 146 isolates of D. bryoniae collected in South Carolina and other U.S. states prior to 2008 were measured on glucose minimal medium amended with cyprodinil or fludioxonil. Mean effective concentration values that reduced relative colony diameter by 50% were 0.052 and 0.099 mg/liter cyprodinil and fludioxonil, respectively. In autumn 2008, 2009, and 2011, field-grown watermelon inoculated with isolates resistant to QoI fungicides and boscalid was treated with boscalid-pyraclostrobin alternated with chlorothalonil, cyprodinil-fludioxonil alternated with chlorothalonil, cyprodinil-difenoconazole alternated with chlorothalonil, tebuconazole alternated with chlorothalonil, chlorothalonil, or water. In 2008 and 2011, both cyprodinil treatments reduced disease severity compared with the water control treatment and chlorothalonil alone. In 2008 and 2009, cyprodinil-fludioxonil reduced severity compared with boscalid-pyraclostrobin and, in 2008, cyprodinil-difenoconazole and tebuconazole also did. Use of cyprodinil-fludioxonil should control gummy stem blight effectively and may delay development of resistance to cyprodinil and fludioxonil in D. bryoniae. However, because Botrytis cinerea became resistant to both cyprodinil and fludioxonil after multiple applications of cyprodinil-fludioxonil per season, prudent fungicide rotations should be followed when using cyprodinil-containing fungicides against D. bryoniae.
The neonatal resuscitation algorithm organized cart is more efficient than the airway–breathing–circulation organized drawer: a crossover randomized control trial
Authors: Chan Jacky , Chan Bill , Ho Hoi Lam , Chan Kam Ming , Kan Pui Gay , Lam Hugh S.
Published: February 2015

Introduction

Although there is consensus on the resuscitation of newborns, there is no standardization on how resuscitation equipment should be organized. This might lead to difficulty and inefficiency in retrieval of the right equipment during resuscitation. The neonatal resuscitation carts organized in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) algorithm might result in more efficient retrieval of resuscitation equipment.

Objectives

To compare user preference and lengths of time required to retrieve standard resuscitation equipment from an NRP Cart versus a generic storage drawer.

Study design

A prospective, randomized, controlled, and crossover trial was conducted during simulation-based NRP provider courses in the Accident & Emergency Training Centre from September to October 2013. The mean time of accurate equipment retrieval and ease of use, which was rated by the participants using a five-point Likert scale (1=most difficult, 5=easiest to use), were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test because of right skew.

Results

A total of 55 individuals participated in this study. The mean length of time required for equipment retrieval from the NRP Cart was significantly less than that from the drawer (Z=−3.90, P<0.01, median=36.23 s, interquartile range=97 s). In general, the NRP Cart was 32% faster than the drawer when extensive resuscitation equipment was required. All the participants rated the NRP Cart as easier to use than the drawer, with a median score of 4 for NRP Cart and 3 for the drawer (Z=−4.10, P<0.01, interquartile range=2).

Conclusion

The NRP Cart was superior to the generic drawer in terms of the speed of equipment retrieval and user acceptability.
Proteome response at the edge of protein aggregation
Authors: Sanchez de Groot Natalia , Gomes Ricardo A. , Villar-Pique Anna , Babu M. Madan , Coelho Ana Varela , Ventura Salvador
Published: February 2015

Proteins adopt defined structures and are crucial to most cellular functions. Their misfolding and aggregation is associated with numerous degenerative human disorders such as type II diabetes, Huntington's or Alzheimer's diseases. Here, we aim to understand why cells promote the formation of protein foci. Comparison of two amyloid-β-peptide variants, mostly insoluble but differently recruited by the cell (inclusion body versus diffused), reveals small differences in cell fitness and proteome response. We suggest that the levels of oxidative stress act as a sensor to trigger protein recruitment into foci. Our data support a common cytoplasmic response being able to discern and react to the specific properties of polypeptides.
The missing metric: quantifying contributions of reviewers
Authors: Cantor Maurício , Gero Shane
Published: February 2015

The number of contributing reviewers often outnumbers the authors of publications. This has led to apathy towards reviewing and the conclusion that the peer-review system is broken. Given the trade-offs between submitting and reviewing manuscripts, reviewers and authors naturally want visibility for their efforts. While study after study has called for revolutionizing publication practices, the current paradigm does not recognize reviewers' time and expertise. We propose the
R-index
as a simple way to quantify scientists' contributions as reviewers. We modelled its performance using simulations based on real data to show that early–mid career scientists, who complete high-quality reviews of longer manuscripts within their field, can perform as well as leading scientists reviewing only for high-impact journals. By giving citeable academic recognition for reviewing,
R
-index will encourage more participation with better reviews, regardless of the career stage. Moreover, the
R
-index will allow editors to exploit scores to manage and improve their review team, and for journals to promote high average scores as signals of a practical and efficient service to authors. Peer-review is a pervasive necessity across disciplines and the simple utility of this missing metric will credit a valuable aspect of academic productivity without having to revolutionize the current peer-review system.
Experimental food supplementation reveals habitat-dependent male reproductive investment in a migratory bird
Authors: Kaiser Sara A. , Sillett T. Scott , Risk Benjamin B. , Webster Michael S.
Published: February 2015

Environmental factors can shape reproductive investment strategies and influence the variance in male mating success. Environmental effects on extrapair paternity have traditionally been ascribed to aspects of the social environment, such as breeding density and synchrony. However, social factors are often confounded with habitat quality and are challenging to disentangle. We used both natural variation in habitat quality and a food supplementation experiment to separate the effects of food availability—one key aspect of habitat quality—on extrapair paternity (EPP) and reproductive success in the black-throated blue warbler,Setophaga caerulescens. High natural food availability was associated with higher within-pair paternity (WPP) and fledging two broods late in the breeding season, but lower EPP. Food-supplemented males had higher WPP leading to higher reproductive success relative to controls, and when in low-quality habitat, food-supplemented males were more likely to fledge two broods but less likely to gain EPP. Our results demonstrate that food availability affects trade-offs in reproductive activities. When food constraints are reduced, males invest in WPP at the expense of EPP. These findings imply that environmental change could alter how individuals allocate their resources and affect the selective environment that drives variation in male mating success.
Biannual birth pulses allow filoviruses to persist in bat populations
Authors: Hayman David T. S.
Published: February 2015

Filoviruses
Ebolavirus
(EBOV) and
Marburgvirus
(MARV) cause haemorrhagic fevers with high mortality rates, posing significant threats to public health. To understand transmission into human populations, filovirus dynamics within reservoir host populations must be understood. Studies have directly linked filoviruses to bats, but the mechanisms allowing viral persistence within bat populations are poorly understood. Theory suggests seasonal birthing may decrease the probability of pathogen persistence within populations, but data suggest MARV may persist within colonies of seasonally breeding Egyptian fruit bats,
Rousettus aegyptiacus
. I synthesize available filovirus and bat data in a stochastic compartmental model to explore fundamental questions relating to filovirus ecology: can filoviruses persist within isolated bat colonies; do critical community sizes exist; and how do host–pathogen relationships affect spillover transmission potential? Synchronous annual breeding and shorter incubation periods did not allow filovirus persistence, whereas bi-annual breeding and longer incubation periods, such as reported for Egyptian fruit bats and EBOV in experimental studies, allowed persistence in colony sizes often found in nature. Serological data support the findings, with bats from species with two annual birth pulses more likely to be seropositive (odds ratio (OR) 4.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5–8.7) than those with one, suggesting that biannual birthing is necessary for filovirus persistence.
On the evolution of dispersal via heterogeneity in spatial connectivity
Authors: Henriques-Silva Renato , Boivin Frédéric , Calcagno Vincent , Urban Mark C. , Peres-Neto Pedro R.
Published: February 2015

Dispersal has long been recognized as a mechanism that shapes many observed ecological and evolutionary processes. Thus, understanding the factors that promote its evolution remains a major goal in evolutionary ecology. Landscape connectivity may mediate the trade-off between the forces in favour of dispersal propensity (e.g. kin-competition, local extinction probability) and those against it (e.g. energetic or survival costs of dispersal). It remains, however, an open question how differing degrees of landscape connectivity may select for different dispersal strategies. We implemented an individual-based model to study the evolution of dispersal on landscapes that differed in the variance of connectivity across patches ranging from networks with all patches equally connected to highly heterogeneous networks. The parthenogenetic individuals dispersed based on a flexible logistic function of local abundance. Our results suggest, all else being equal, that landscapes differing in their connectivity patterns will select for different dispersal strategies and that these strategies confer a long-term fitness advantage to individuals at the regional scale. The strength of the selection will, however, vary across network types, being stronger on heterogeneous landscapes compared with the ones where all patches have equal connectivity. Our findings highlight how landscape connectivity can determine the evolution of dispersal strategies, which in turn affects how we think about important ecological dynamics such as metapopulation persistence and range expansion.
Differential responses of marine communities to natural and anthropogenic changes
Authors: Kowalewski Michał , Wittmer Jacalyn M. , Dexter Troy A. , Amorosi Alessandro , Scarponi Daniele
Published: February 2015

Responses of ecosystems to environmental changes vary greatly across habitats, organisms and observational scales. The Quaternary fossil record of the Po Basin demonstrates that marine communities of the northern Adriatic re-emerged unchanged following the most recent glaciation, which lasted approximately 100 000 years. The Late Pleistocene and Holocene interglacial ecosystems were both dominated by the same species, species turnover rates approximated predictions of resampling models of a homogeneous system, and comparable bathymetric gradients in species composition, sample-level diversity, dominance and specimen abundance were observed in both time intervals. The interglacial Adriatic ecosystems appear to have been impervious to natural climate change either owing to their persistence during those long-term perturbations or their resilient recovery during interglacial phases of climate oscillations. By contrast, present-day communities of the northern Adriatic differ notably from their Holocene counterparts. The recent ecosystem shift stands in contrast to the long-term endurance of interglacial communities in face of climate-driven environmental changes.
Using Mixtures of Biological Samples as Process Controls for RNA-sequencing experiments
Authors: Parsons Jerod , Munro Sarah , Pine P. Scott , McDaniel Jennifer , Mehaffey Michele , Salit Marc
Published: February 2015

Genome-scale ?-omics? measurements are challenging to benchmark due to the enormous variety of unique biological molecules involved. Mixtures of previously-characterized samples can be used to benchmark repeatability and reproducibility using component proportions as truth for the measurement. We describe and evaluate experiments characterizing the performance of RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) measurements, and discuss cases where mixtures can serve as effective process controls. We apply a linear model to total RNA mixture samples in RNA-seq experiments. This model provides a context for performance benchmarking. The parameters of the model fit to experimental results can be evaluated to assess bias and variability of the measurement of a mixture. A linear model describes the behavior of mixture expression measures and provides a context for performance benchmarking. Residuals from fitting the model to experimental data can be used as a metric for evaluating the effect that an individual step in an experimental process has on the linear response function and precision of the underlying measurement while identifying signals affected by interference from other sources. Effective benchmarking requires well-defined mixtures, which for RNA-Seq requires knowledge of the messenger RNA (mRNA) content of the individual total RNA components. We demonstrate and evaluate an experimental method suitable for use in genome-scale process control and lay out a method utilizing spike-in controls to determine mRNA content of total RNA in samples. Genome-scale process controls can be derived from mixtures. These controls relate prior knowledge of individual components to a complex mixture, allowing assessment of measurement performance. The mRNA fraction accounts for differential enrichment of mRNA from varying total RNA samples. Spike-in controls can be utilized to measure this relationship between mRNA content and input total RNA. Our mixture analysis method also enables estimation of the proportions of an unknown mixture, even when component-specific markers are not previously known, whenever pure components are measured alongside the mixture.
Inferring processes underlying B-cell repertoire diversity
Authors: Elhanati Yuval , Sethna Zachary , Marcou Quentin , Callan Curtis G. , Mora Thierry , Walczak Aleksandra M.
Published: February 2015

We quantify the VDJ recombination and somatic hypermutation processes in human B-cells using probabilistic inference methods on high-throughput DNA sequence repertoires of human B-cell receptor heavy chains. Our analysis captures the statistical properties of the naive repertoire, first after its initial generation via VDJ recombination and then after selection for functionality. We also infer statistical properties of the somatic hypermutation machinery (exclusive of subsequent effects of selection). Our main results are the following: the B-cell repertoire is substantially more diverse than T-cell repertoires, due to longer junctional insertions; sequences that pass initial selection are distinguished by having a higher probability of being generated in a VDJ recombination event; somatic hypermutations have a non-uniform distribution along the V gene that is well explained by an independent site model for the sequence context around the hypermutation site.
Effect of E-Cadherin (CDH1) −160C/A polymorphism on prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis
Authors: Bo Yang , Yi He , Xiaofei Wen , Hui Liu , Guoqiang Liao , Feng Liu , Weifeng Wang , Jidong Hao , Jun Ouyang
Published: February 2015

E-Cadherin (CDH1) genetic variations may be involved in invasion and metastasis of various cancers by altering gene transcriptional activity of epithelial cells. However, published studies on the association of CDH1 gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer (PCA)risk remain contradictory, owing to differences in living habits and genetic backgrounds. To derive a more better and comprehensive conclusion, the present meta-analysis was performed. Electronic searches of several databases were conducted for all publications on the association between the CDH1 –160 C/A polymorphism and prostate cancer before Oct 2014. The odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for statistical analysis. A total of 7 eligible studies including 1294 cases and 1782 controls were involved in this meta-analysis. Overall, meta-analysis indicated that the −160A allele carriers (AA, CA, AA+CA and A allele) had an increased risk of PCA compared with the homozygotes (CC). In the subgroup analyses by ethnicity, a positive association was found in Asians with A allele, AA, CA, AA+CA genotype and Caucasian descendants with AA genotype, dominant and recessive models. On the contrary, a decreased prostate cancer risk was found in Africans with heterozygous, dominant and allele models. Taken together, this meta-analysis showed that the CDH1 −160A allele might be a risk factor for prostate cancer in Asians and Caucasians. However, this result should be verified by additional population-based studies with large sample sizes.
The experimental determination of redox-potential of mutated cytochromecwith eight charge changing substitutions
Authors: Ptushenko V.V. , Chertkova R.V.
Published: February 2015

The redox potential of the mutated cytochromecform with eight charge changing substitutions was experimentally determined.
Learning Immune-Defectives Graph through Group Tests
Authors: Ganesan Abhinav , Jaggi Sidharth , Saligrama Venkatesh
Published: February 2015

This paper deals with an abstraction of a unified problem of drug discovery and pathogen identification. Here, the “lead compounds” are abstracted as inhibitors, pathogenic proteins as defectives, and the mixture of “ineffective” chemical compounds and non-pathogenic proteins as normal items. A defective could be immune to the presence of an inhibitor in a test. So, a test containing a defective is positive iff it does not contain its “associated” inhibitor. The goal of this paper is to identify the defectives, inhibitors, and their “associations” with high probability, or in other words, learn the Immune Defectives Graph (IDG). We propose a probabilistic non-adaptive pooling design, a probabilistic two-stage adaptive pooling design and decoding algorithms for learning the IDG. For the two-stage adaptive-pooling design, we show that the sample complexity of the number of tests required to guarantee recovery of the inhibitors, defectives and their associations with high probability, i.e., the upper bound, exceeds the proposed lower bound by a logarithmic multiplicative factor in the number of items. For the non-adaptive pooling design, in the large inhibitor regime, we show that the upper bound exceeds the proposed lower bound by a logarithmic multiplicative factor in the number of inhibitors.
Galactose-Depleted Xyloglucan Is Dysfunctional and Leads to Dwarfism in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kong Yingzhen , Peña Maria J. , Renna Luciana , Avci Utku , Pattathil Sivakumar , Tuomivaara Sami T. , Li Xuemei , Reiter Wolf-Dieter , Brandizzi Federica , Hahn Michael G. , Darvill Alan G. , York William S. , O’Neill Malcolm A.
Published: February 2015

Xyloglucan is a polysaccharide that has important roles in the formation and function of the walls that surround growing land plant cells. Many of these plants synthesize xyloglucan that contains galactose in two different side chains (L and F), which exist in distinct molecular environments. However, little is known about the contribution of these side chains to xyloglucan function. Here, we show that Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants devoid of the F side chain galactosyltransferase MURUS3 (MUR3) form xyloglucan that lacks F side chains and contains much less galactosylated xylose than its wild-type counterpart. The galactose-depleted xyloglucan is dysfunctional, as it leads to mutants that are dwarfed with curled rosette leaves, short petioles, and short inflorescence stems. Moreover, cell wall matrix polysaccharides, including xyloglucan and pectin, are not properly secreted and instead accumulate within intracellular aggregates. Near-normal growth is restored by generating mur3 mutants that produce no detectable amounts of xyloglucan. Thus, cellular processes are affected more by the presence of the dysfunctional xyloglucan than by eliminating xyloglucan altogether. To identify structural features responsible for xyloglucan dysfunction, xyloglucan structure was modified in situ by generating mur3 mutants that lack specific xyloglucan xylosyltransferases (XXTs) or that overexpress the XYLOGLUCAN L-SIDE CHAIN GALACTOSYLTRANSFERASE2 (XLT2) gene. Normal growth was restored in the mur3-3 mutant overexpressing XLT2 and in mur3-3 xxt double mutants when the dysfunctional xyloglucan was modified by doubling the amounts of galactosylated side chains. Our study assigns a role for galactosylation in normal xyloglucan function and demonstrates that altering xyloglucan side chain structure disturbs diverse cellular and physiological processes.
Crystal structure of 1-(2-chloroacetyl)-3,3-dimethyl-2,6-di-p-tolylpiperidin-4-one
Authors: Jothivel S. , Kotoky Jibon , Kabilan S.
Published: February 2015

In the title compound, C23H26ClNO2, the piperidin-4-one ring adopts a distorted boat conformation. The twop-tolyl rings are nearly normal to each other, making a dihedral angle of 83.33 (10)°. They are inclined to the mean plane of the piperidine ring by 73.2 (1) and 87.22 (9)°. In the crystal, there are no significant intermolecular interactions present.
Crystal structure of 2-(3-bromophenyl)-1,3-dithiane
Authors: Zukerman-Schpector Julio , Caracelli Ignez , Stefani Hélio A. , Gozhina Olga , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: February 2015

In the title compound, C10H11BrS2, the 1,3-dithiane ring has a chair conformation with the 1,4-disposed C atoms being above and below the remaining four atoms. The bromobenzene ring occupies an equatorial position and forms a dihedral angle of 86.38 (12)° with the least-squares plane through the 1,3-dithiane ring. Thus, to a first approximation the molecule has mirror symmetry with the mirror containing the bromobenzene ring and the 1,4-disposed C atoms of the 1,3-dithiane ring. In the crystal, molecules associateviaweak methylene–bromobenzene C—H...π and π–π [Cg...Cg= 3.7770 (14) Å for centrosymmetrically related bromobenzene rings] interactions, forming supramolecular layers parallel to [10-1]; these stack with no specific intermolecular interactions between them.
Crystal structure of 2-[(3S,4S)-4-(anthracen-9-yl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoazetidin-3-yl]-2-aza-2H-phenalene-1,3-dione unknown solvate
Authors: Çelik Ísmail , Akkurt Mehmet , Jarrahpour Aliasghar , Rad Javad Ameri , Çelik Ömer
Published: February 2015

The central β-lactam ring of the title compound, C36H24N2O4, is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.003 Å) and makes dihedral angles of 17.17 (19), 89.76 (17) and 78.44 (17)° with the benzene ring, the anthracene ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.003 Å) and the 1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione moiety, which is nearly planar [maximum deviation = 0.098 (2) Å], respectively. The molecular structure is stabilized by an intramolecular C—H...N hydrogen bond. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviaC—H...π and π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.5270 (19) and 3.779 (2) Å], forming a three-dimensional structure. A region of disordered electron density, probably disordered solvent molecules, was treated with the SQUEEZE procedure inPLATON[Spek (2015).Acta Cryst.C71, 9–18], which indicated a solvent cavity of 322 Å3containing approximately 91 electrons. Their formula mass and unit-cell characteristics were not taken into account during the refinement.
Characterising convinced sustainable food consumers
Authors: von Meyer-Höfer Marie , von der Wense Vera , Spiller Achim
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the distinguishing socio-demographic and psychographic features of convinced sustainable consumers in contrast to convinced conventional consumers. Furthermore, it contributes to the sparse literature about tea consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study is based on data collected via an online consumer survey. First respondents took part in a choice experiment with tea varying in its price (four levels) and quality (conventional/organic/fair trade/organic and fair trade). Then they had to complete a questionnaire about their attitudes towards food consumption. Respondents, who always chose sustainable tea, at no matter what price, were grouped and those that always chose the conventional tea. A bivariate logistic regression is used to analyse the influencing socio-demographic and attitudinal dimensions that characterise the two groups of convinced consumers.

Findings

– Convinced sustainable consumers are more often female than male and perceive that their personal purchase decision has an impact on overall sustainable development. They show a higher willingness to increase sustainability through their consumption behaviour. They are very much interested in high food quality and are not as much influenced by advertisements and offers in their purchase decision making as convinced conventional consumers.

Originality/value

– The main contribution of this study is to provide practical information for actors in the field of sustainable food marketing about how to target their most relevant segment, the convinced sustainable consumer with special regard to sustainable tea consumption.
Consumer perceptions and motivations in choice of minimally processed vegetables
Authors: Nassivera Federico , Sillani Sandro
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the usefulness of integrating measures of motivations in predicting purchase intentions of fresh cut products. In order to gain this purpose the authors developed a field study that involved about 425 consumers of fresh cut vegetables products.

Design/methodology/approach

– Questionnaire data were gathered in Italy on a Likert scale. Questions focussed on intentions to purchase fresh cut lamb’s lettuce from environmental sustainable farms, simulating a fresh cut product with an Eco-label. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The SEM technique is used to develop propositions representing a theoretical approach in the context of the process for purchasing fresh cut products. With regard to distinguishing between the motives, the authors referred to the approach that sets out two different types of motive: health and green.

Findings

– The resulting managerial implications make it possible to assess how much the different types of motive influence the attitude and affect the choices and the behavior of the consumers.

Originality/value

– This implies important managerial implications for new marketing strategies for minimally processed food products, with the opportunity to take advantage of the potential adoption of an Eco-label.
Raw vegetable salad consumers in full-service restaurants
Authors: Danelon Mariana Schievano , Salay Elisabete
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the profiles of those frequenting full-service restaurants and eating raw vegetable salads, as well as to analyze the influence of socio-demographic variables and of the tendency for social desirability in consumption frequencies.

Design/methodology/approach

– A non-probabilistic consumer sample (n=630) was interviewed in the city of Campinas, Brazil. Besides the frequency of eating in full-service restaurants and the frequency of eating salads (as a function of the meal type and week day) in this type of restaurant, the survey instrument was also composed by socio-demographic variables and a social desirability scale. To compare data, non-parametric tests were used.

Findings

– Of the interviewees, 52.3 percent were shown to eat in full-service restaurants at least once a week. The frequency of eating salads in full-service restaurant stood out as being significantly higher (p<0.05) for weekday lunches. Individuals who graduated in the areas of health or food showed a significantly higher frequency for the consumption of salads at weekends. Apparently the social desirability did not influence the responses of the consumers with respect to the frequencies studied.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample was of a non-probabilistic type, bringing reservations with respect to generalizations.

Practical implications

– Socio-demographic variables should be considered in elaborating strategies for promoting vegetable salads consumption in restaurants. Health and nutrition education programs can be effective in aiding consumers to choose healthier food in this context.

Originality/value

– Studies about frequency of salad consumption in restaurants are scarce. The influence of social desirability bias on reported frequency was analyzed in this paper.
What’s in it for me? Food packaging and consumer responses, a focus group study
Authors: Fernqvist Fredrik , Olsson Annika , Spendrup Sara
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore consumer views on different aspects of packaging, exemplified by a common product in the fruit and vegetable category and to identify advantages and disadvantages perceived by consumers purchasing packaged or unpackaged products.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three focus group interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis based on theory was performed. The findings were categorised into nine themes.

Findings

– Consumer views on packaging aspects were revealed, covering: packaging material; pack size; protection and preservation; convenience; price; communication and information; ethical perspectives; novelty and innovation; and advantages and disadvantages of packaged and unpackaged products.

Research limitations/implications

– The study adds to present knowledge on the role of packaging in consumers’ food choices. The qualitative analysis identified areas for further research through quantitative methods.

Practical implications

– Challenges in communicating the consumer benefits of packaging and ways to improve the attractiveness of items in the fresh produce category were identified. The results can potentially assist in improving food packaging design practice to the mutual benefit of consumers and suppliers.

Originality/value

– Fruit and vegetables is generally a category with weak branding and low levels of packaging. This study examined the role of packaging in a category with substantial opportunities for differentiation and increasing consumer value. The results can be applied in immediate practice and/or serve as a basis for further research.
Consumers’ perceived barriers to following a plant-based diet
Authors: Pohjolainen Pasi , Vinnari Markus , Jokinen Pekka
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the barriers perceived by consumers to lowering their meat consumption levels and adopting a plant-based diet, which means a diet that includes mainly non-meat foods, yet it can contain both vegetarian and meat meals.

Design/methodology/approach

– The prevalence of different barriers for following a plant-based diet is addressed, as well as consumer profiles considering socio-demographics, values and meat consumption frequencies. The data were collected in 2010 by a survey questionnaire, sent to 4,000 randomly selected Finns (response rate=47.3,n=1,890).

Findings

– Different types of barriers are perceived to hinder the adoption of a plant-based diet, including meat enjoyment, eating routines, health conceptions and difficulties in preparing vegetarian foods. These barriers are strongly correlated, indicating that consumers may not make qualitative difference between different barriers. Furthermore, there are distinct socio-demographic, value and especially meat consumption frequency elements that strengthen the barrier perception, these being male gender, young age, rural residence, household type of families with children, low education, absence of a vegetarian family member or friend, valuation of traditions and wealth and high meat consumption frequency.

Social implications

– High meat consumption is related to many environmental and public health problems. The results call for multifaceted policy implications that should concentrate on different barriers and certain socio-demographic, value and meat eating groups. Importantly, focus should be not only on the group with the strongest barrier perception but also on those particularly willing to make changes in their meat consumption patterns. One practical implication could be to increase the availability of vegetarian foods in public cafeterias or school canteens, as a decrease in meat consumption frequency is strongly correlated with the alleviation of the barrier perception.

Originality/value

– Information about differences in socio-demographics, values and meat consumption frequencies between consumers provide opportunities for focussing policy actions to aid the adoption of a plant-based diet.
Capturing the consumer value: the case of red lentils
Authors: Ariyawardana Anoma , Govindasamy Ramu , Lisle Allan
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– Red lentils are one of the widely consumed food items in South Asia and this has created an enormous market opportunity for all players in the chain. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the most valued attributes of red lentils and to assess how consumer preferences vary across store type and by socio-demographic factors. Thereby, it was aimed to identify value chain interventions that are required to meet the consumer demand.

Design/methodology/approach

– Sri Lanka was selected as the study location because of its significance as an importer. Through an intercept survey of 300 consumers in three store types, consumption pattern and preference for four attributes of red lentils, namely, size, colour, visual quality and price were collected. Data were also collected from retail and wholesale stores and from a processor. Conjoint analysis was used to analyse the consumer data.

Findings

– A majority of the respondents consumed red lentils on a daily basis. Consumer preference rankings showed that consumers place a significantly greater level of importance on visual quality than other attributes. Trade-off patterns were different across store types and by socio-demographic factors. Grocery shoppers were willing to trade-off packaging to price while the reverse was true for supermarket shoppers. Retail and wholesale purchases were driven by quality.

Research limitations/implications

– Findings highlight that chain effectiveness could be enhanced by offering bigger sized lentils while assuring quality.

Originality/value

– This research uses a consumer driven assessment in identifying required value chain interventions.
Geographical region as a factor influencing consumers’ perception of functional food – case of Croatia
Authors: Gajdoš Kljusuric Jasenka , Čačić Jasna , Misir Andreja , Čačić Dražen
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– In recent years, consumers have developed an interest in the type and the quality of food they eat. As consumers’ opinion is very important in identifying development strategy for food industry it seems justified finding out if geographical region had an influence on consumers’ opinion. Furthermore, this is the topic that is still under researched. The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumers’ perception of functional food (FF) relative to geographical region.

Design/methodology/approach

– Questionnaire based survey was conducted on a representative national sample with participants aged 18 and older (n=687). Participants were divided according to their place of residence taking into account difference in dietary habits, which created two geographical sets: Coastal (Adriatic) Croatia and Continental Croatia. Data were analyzed using univariate statistics and multivariate analysis as exploratory factor analysis, cluster analysis and principal component analysis.

Findings

– The results indicate that Croatian consumers are familiar with the term “FF” and that there are significant differences between two geographical sets of respondents (Coastal Croatia and Continental Croatia) in their willingness to pay for FF. Furthermore, research showed that there is a general lack of confidence in the information provided on the product labels especially in the continental region. The results have shown that “taste” and “price quality ratio” are the most important features in choosing the FF and are equally important to the consumers’ in both geographical region.

Practical implications

– Research results indicate a need for development of consumers’ confidence and need to focus mainly on educating consumers in label comprehension. This is particularly true for the Continental Croatia. Targeted advertising should take into account consumers’ preferences, confidence and label comprehension according to their geographical regions.

Originality/value

– The case study represents consumers’ opinion coming from different geographical regions (Coastal Croatia and Continental Croatia) regarding FF. In this research the most important attributes in choosing the FF were extracted.
Analysing consumers’ perceived differences in wild and farmed fish
Authors: Polymeros Konstantinos , Kaimakoudi Eleni , Schinaraki Maria , Batzios Christos
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumers’ attitudes and behaviours towards wild and farmed fish, in order to identify possible distinct consumer groups, and to examine potential linkages between characteristics of the consumers’ demographic and socio-economic status and marketing aspects in wild and farmed fish.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using data from an in-person field survey, a TwoStep cluster analysis was employed in order to detect perceived differences among consumers with different profiles.

Findings

– The analysis identified two distinct consumer groups differentiated primarily by income: the low-potential aquaculture consumers and the high-potential aquaculture consumers, representing 67 and 33 per cent of the total sample, respectively. The study provides evidence that there is a lesser preference towards farmed fish. Therefore, more efficient marketing strategies are probably needed in order to promote awareness in aquaculture consumption, and potentially contribute in guiltlessness of the whole sector.

Originality/value

– There is a lack of detailed empirical research regarding consumer perceptions and particularly potential differentiation for wild and farmed fish. This paper advocates the use of consumer profiles as a basis for the development of consumer-focused strategies in order to improve consumer performance in the sector.
Understanding perceived risks in mobile payment acceptance
Authors: Yang Yongqing , Liu Yong , Li Hongxiu , Yu Benhai
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine and quantify how various uncertainties result in different perceived risk dimensions that hinder mobile payment (m-payment) acceptance.

Design/methodology/approach

– An uncertainty-risk-value framework was proposed based on perceived risk theory, prospect theory, and perceived value theory. Structural equation modeling method was used to test the research model.

Findings

– Perceived information asymmetry, perceived technology uncertainty, perceived regulatory uncertainty, and perceived service intangibility are confirmed as the main determinants of perceived risk, while perceived performance risk, perceived financial risk, and perceived privacy risk were found to have strong negative effects on perceived value and acceptance intention.

Practical implications

– The findings may help businesses and policy makers better understand the sources of perceived risk and help support the development of appropriate strategies to mitigate the risk concerns consumers have regarding m-payment.

Originality/value

– Although the hindering effects of perceived risk regarding m-payment acceptance have been confirmed in previous studies, the sources of perceived risk were rarely investigated. By examining the determinants of perceived risk in m-payment acceptance, this paper offers insights into how consumers perceive risks when adopting new innovations. Additionally, it bridges the gap between the antecedents and consequences of perceived risk.
Building trust in internet banking: a trustworthiness perspective
Authors: Yu Pay Ling , Balaji M S , Khong Kok Wei
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– Based on the trust theory, the purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the role of trustworthiness and trust in users’ intentions to continue using internet banking. Further, the authors position the trust beliefs of competence, benevolence, integrity, and shared values as key antecedents of trustworthiness and trust.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire survey was used to collect responses from 227 actual users of internet banking in Malaysian context. A PLS analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between trusting beliefs, trustworthiness, trust, and internet banking use.

Findings

– Empirical findings show that trusting beliefs of consistency, integrity, and shared values determine the trustworthiness and trust in internet banking. Moreover, trust was found to mediate the relationship between trustworthiness and internet banking use.

Practical implications

– The study findings help managers understand the factors that determine Malaysia users trust and trustworthiness perceptions in internet banking. With reports indicated increase in internet banking use in Malaysia, the study findings provide important insights into enhancing users’ trust in internet banking for future transactions.

Originality/value

– Unlike previous studies that have largely focussed on technology factors, this study based on trust theory proposes that trust is important for users to continue using internet banking services. In developing this trust, the authors propose that trustworthiness is of vital importance. Further, the authors propose and show that trusting beliefs of competence, integrity and shared values influence user trustworthiness and trust in internet banking use. Thus, this study extends the understanding of the internet banking use in Malaysian context.
High-performance human resource management and firm performance
Authors: Lu Kangyin , Zhu Jinxia , Bao Haijun
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– Human resources have become a key issue in relation to the strong competition between service firms. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between high-performance human resource management (HRM) within this field to firm performance, making a useful attempt to explore the “black box” of enterprise human resources management effect on firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to validate the relationship between high-performance HRM and firm performance, Chinese service industry samples were collected. Structural equation modeling and regression are adopted to estimate the direct effect of high-performance HRM on firm performance and the mediating role of innovation.

Findings

– The results show that the impacts of high-performance HRM on firm performance are significant. Moreover, innovation plays a partial mediating role between them. Training, work analysis and employee participation has a significantly positive impact on firm performance, while effects of profit sharing, employee development and performance evaluation on enterprise performance is not significant. The results strongly support the hypothesis that innovation holds intermediary variables between high-performance HRM and firm performance.

Practical implications

– Studying the relationship between high-performance HRM and firm performance can help Chinese enterprises more reasonable and effective learning foreign advanced management ideas and methods. And then can help Chinese enterprises to establish a high-performance HRM system that is suitable for Chinese enterprises; the research can help enterprises to identify meaningful practice of human resources management, outstanding keys, and perfect the HRM system of enterprises; research on innovation and innovative thinking is conducive to develop employees’ innovation motive, promote employee’ innovative behavior, and improve firm performance.

Originality/value

– This paper takes innovation as a mediating variable into the model and studies the intermediary role of innovation.
The effects of perceived organizational support and job satisfaction on transfer of training
Authors: Zumrah Abdul Rahim , Boyle Stephen
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The role of perceived organizational support (POS) and job satisfaction on the effectiveness of transfer of training in the workplace has begun to receive attention among recent studies. However, there is still limited understanding of how these factors may work together to affect the transfer of training. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by exploring the relationship between POS, job satisfaction and transfer of training.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data of this study have been collected from a group of employees, and their supervisors through survey. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– The findings reveal that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between POS and transfer of training.

Originality/value

– This study suggests that POS can improve employees’ job satisfaction, which in turn increase transfer of training in the workplace. The significant relationship between the factors (POS – job satisfaction – transfer of training) is an important finding that has not been empirically determined previously, particularly in the transfer of training literature. The findings show that job satisfaction plays an essential role as a mediator in the relationship between POS and transfer of training.