bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zinc Therapy for Wilson Disease in Children in French Pediatric Centers
Authors: Santiago Raoul , Gottrand Frédéric , Debray Dominique , Bridoux Laure , Lachaux Alain , Morali Alain , Lapeyre Delphine , Lamireau Thierry
Published: July 2015

Background and Aims:

Zinc therapy is considered a good option in Wilson disease (WD), as a first‐line treatment in presymptomatic children and a maintenance therapy after the initial chelator therapy. The aim of the study was to determine the practical use of zinc treatment in French pediatric centers.

Methods:

A national survey was conducted in the 6 French centers using zinc acetate to treat WD. Clinical and biological parameters, dosage, and outcome were recorded.

Results:

A total of 26 children were reported to be treated with zinc acetate, alone or in association with chelators. Of the 9 children (35%) who received zinc alone as a first‐line therapy, 2 were switched to D‐penicillamine because of inefficacy and 7 remained on zinc alone, but serum transaminase levels normalized in only 4 of them. Five children (19%) were initially treated with zinc in association with D‐penicillamine (n = 4) or Trientine (n = 1) with good efficacy. Among the 12 children (46%) who received zinc as a maintenance therapy after D‐penicillamine, no relapse of hepatic cytolysis occurred during a median follow‐up of 5.2 years, but 2 of them were switched to Trientine because of zinc‐related adverse effects. Epigastric pain was observed in 4 children, and a gastric perforation occurred in 1 child.

Conclusions:

The present study demonstrates poor efficacy of zinc as first‐line therapy to control liver disease in half presymptomatic children and a high incidence of related gastrointestinal adverse effects in children with WD.
Comparison of p63 and p40 (ΔNp63) as Basal, Squamoid, and Myoepithelial Markers in Salivary Gland Tumors
Authors: Owosho Adepitan A. , Aguilar Cristina E. , Seethala Raja R.
Published: July 2015

p40 is selective for ΔNp63 isoforms and appears to be more specific for squamous differentiation than p63. Its performance as a basal/myoepithelial marker in salivary gland tumors has only rarely been addressed in the literature. We thus compared the performance of p63 and p40 (ΔNp63) immunohistochemical stain as markers of basal, squamoid, and myoepithelial differentiation in 105 salivary gland tumors selected from our archives. The neoplasms were categorized according to their presumed phenotype as ductoacinar (n=45), biphasic (dual ductal and myoepithelial/basal differentiation, n=44), purely myoepithelial (n=5), and excretory duct phenotype (n=11). Only nuclear staining for p63 and p40 was considered positive. Distribution of staining was scored as: 0 (no staining), 1+ (1% to 25%), 2+ (26% to 50%), 3+ (51% to 75%), and 4+ (76% to 100%). Intensity was scored as weak, moderate, or strong. p63 and p40 highlighted the basal and myoepithelial cells in normal salivary gland tissue as well as basal/myoepithelial/squamoid elements in biphasic tumors, purely myoepithelial tumors, and excretory duct type tumors (4+ with strong staining for p63, and moderate staining for p40). All ductal tumors were negative for p40. However, 13/13 polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma/cribriform adenocarcinomas of salivary gland, 7/9 canalicular adenomas, and 3/5 mammary analog secretory carcinomas showed some degree of p63 staining. Thus, we confirm that p40 is a more specific basal/myoepithelial/squamoid marker than p63 in salivary gland tumors. A subset of ductal tumors show a discordant p63+/p40− immunoprofile that can be a pitfall if not recognized, but may also help distinguish these tumors from truly biphasic tumors and myoepithelial tumors.
Expression of Androgen Receptor in Estrogen Receptor–positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Agrawal Anil , Ziolkowski Piotr , Grzebieniak Zygmunt , Jelen Michal , Bobinski Piotr , Agrawal Siddarth
Published: July 2015

Objectives:

The aim of the study was to estimate the implications of androgen receptor (AR) expression in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive subset of invasive breast carcinoma patients.

Patients and Methods:

We assessed the AR expression in a subset of 96 predominantly ER-positive invasive breast carcinomas and correlated this expression pattern with several clinical and pathologic parameters: histologic type and grade, tumor size, lymph node status, progesterone receptor (PgR) status, and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) overexpression and evaluated the association of these parameters with 10-year survival using univariate and multivariate analyses. Data used for analysis were derived from medical records. Immunohistochemical analysis for AR, ER, PgR, and HER2 were carried out and semiquantitative evaluation of stainings was performed.

Results:

AR expression was demonstrated in 43.7% of patients. AR was significantly related to well-differentiated tumors and positive PgR/HER2 status. No statistical difference was demonstrated in AR expression in relation to tumor size, lymph node status, menopausal status, and tumor histologic type. AR expression was not an independent prognostic factor related to 10-year survival in ER-positive cancers. In multivariate analyses, older age at diagnosis, larger tumor size, and positive lymph node status were significantly associated with poorer 10-year survival.

Conclusions:

AR expression is significantly associated with ER/PgR/HER2 status and positively related to well-differentiated tumors. Although AR status in ER-positive cancers is not an independent prognostic factor, it might provide important additional information on prognosis and become a promising object for targeted therapy.
Kineococcus gypseus sp. nov., isolated from saline sediment
Authors: Li Qinyuan , Li Guiding , Chen Xiu , Xu Fangji , Li Yong , Xu LiHua , Jiang Yi , Jiang Chenglin
Published: July 2015

A novel Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, motile, non-spore-forming coccus-shaped actinomycete, designated strain YIM 121300T, was isolated from alkaline sediment in Yuanjiang, Yunnan province, south-west China. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain YIM 121300T was affiliated to the genus Kineococcus, and was closely related to Kineococcus aurantiacus IFO 15268T (97.3 % similarity). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to other species of the genus Kineococcus was < 97 %. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The whole-cell sugars contained arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose and ribose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H2). Mycolic acids were not detected. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside and an unknown phospholipid. The predominant fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 1 A. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 75.1 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness (55 ± 4 % to K. aurantiacus IFO 15268T) and differential phenotypic data demonstrated that strain YIM 121300T was distinguished from all related species of the genus Kineococcus. On the basis of data from the present polyphasic study, the organism should be assigned to a novel species of the genus Kineococcus, for which the name Kineococcus gypseus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 121300T ( = CCTCC AA 2013232T = DSM 27627T).
Epilithonimonas psychrotolerans sp. nov., isolated from alpine permafrost
Authors: Ge Liang , Zhao Qi , Sheng Hongmei , Wu Jianmin , An Lizhe
Published: July 2015

A bacterial strain, designated TSBY 57T, was isolated during a study on the phylogenetic diversity of culturable bacteria from alpine permafrost in Tianshan Mountains, China, and was classified by means of a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The novel strain was found to belong to the genus Epilithonimonas and was distinguished from recognized species of this genus. Strain TSBY 57T grew aerobically, at 0–30 °C, with 0–1.5 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6–8.Cells were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming rods. Compared with the reference strains, the novel strain was psychrotolerant. The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 3 (consisting of C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0.The sole respiratory quinone was MK-6.Phosphatidylethanolamine was predominant in the polar lipid profile of strain TSBY 57T. These chemotaxonomic traits were in good agreement with the characteristics of the genus Epilithonimonas. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain TSBY 57T was a member of the genus Epilithonimonas and was closely related to Epilithonimonas tenax DSM 16811T (99.0 %), Epilithonimonas ginsengisoli DCY78T (98.6 %) and Epilithonimonas lactis H1T (98.5 %). However, DNA–DNA reassociation values between strain TSBY 57T and E. tenax DSM 16811T, E. ginsengisoli DCY78T and E. lactis H1T were 39.5 ± 2.6, 37.7 ± 1.0 and 37.3 ± 1.1 %, respectively. The G+C content of the DNA was 34.4 ± 0.2 mol%. Based on data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain TSBY 57T represents a novel species of the genus Epilithonimonas, for which the name Epilithonimonas psychrotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TSBY 57T ( = NRRL B-51307T = CCTCC AB 207182T).
Proposal for creation of a new genus Neomicrococcus gen. nov. to accommodate Zhihengliuella aestuarii

Baik et al. 2011

and Micrococcus lactis

Chittpurna et al. 2011

as Neomicrococcus aestuarii comb. nov. and Neomicrococcus lactis comb. nov.
Authors: Prakash Om , Sharma Avinash , Nimonkar Yogesh , Shouche Yogesh S.
Published: July 2015

Micrococcus lactis and Zhihengliuella aestuarii were described independently in 2011. Their type strains showed high levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (99.3 %). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. lactis MCC 2278T and Z. aestuarii JCM 16166T formed a monophyletic group and showed distant relationships to other members of closely related genera such as Micrococcus, Zhihengliuella, Arthrobacter and Citricoccus. The presence of large proportions of iso-C14 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 with small amounts of iso-C15 : 0 distinguished M. lactis MCC 2278T and Z. aestuarii JCM 16166T from other members of the genera Micrococcus and Zhihengliuella. Unlike other members of the genera Zhihengliuella and Micrococcus, M. lactis MCC 2278T and Z. aestuarii JCM 16166T showed growth at low concentrations of NaCl. Thus, based on distinctive phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and physiological features of these two organisms in comparison with other members of the genera Micrococcus and Zhihengliuella, it is clear that they do not fit within the existing classification and deserve separate status. DNA–DNA hybridization between the two type strains was 63 %, indicating that they represent separate species. In this study, we propose the creation of a novel genus, Neomicrococcus gen. nov., to accommodate the two species with Neomicrococcus aestuarii gen. nov., comb. nov. (type strain JCM 16166T = KCTC 19557T) as the type species. Neomicrococcus lactis comb. nov. (type strain MCC 2278T = DSM 23694T) is also proposed.
Paenibacillus yunnanensis sp. nov., isolated from Pu'er tea
Authors: Niu Lili , Tang Tianyi , Ma Zhongliang , Song Lei , Zhang Kegui , Chen Yuanyuan , Hua Ziyi , Hu Xing , Zhao Meng
Published: July 2015

A novel Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strain, YN2T, was isolated from ripened Pu'er tea. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain represented a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus. The strains most closely related to strain YN2T were Paenibacillus vulneris JCM 18268T and Paenibacillus rigui JCM 16352T, with 16S rRNA similarities of 98.6 and 95.5 %, respectively. Chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of the new isolate to the genus Paenibacillus, including MK-7 as the major menaquinone, DNA G+C content of 51 mol%, cell-wall type A1γ (meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid) and anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. Major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine and phospholipid. Strain YN2T could be differentiated from recognized species of the genus Paenibacillus based on phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic differences, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization data. On the basis of evidence from this polyphasic study, Paenibacillus yunnanensis sp. nov., is proposed, with strain YN2T ( = CGMCC 1.12968T = JCM 30953T) as the type strain.
Evolution of color phenotypes in two distantly related species of stick insect: different ecological regimes acting on similar genetic architectures
Authors: Comeault Aaron A. , Ferreira Clarissa , Dennis Stuart , Soria-Carrasco Víctor , Nosil Patrik
Published: July 2015

Recurrent (e.g. parallel or convergent) evolution is widely cited as evidence for natural selection’s central role in evolution but can also highlight constraints affecting evolution. Here we describe the evolution of green and melanistic color phenotypes in two species of stick insect:Timema poduraandT. cristinae. We show that similar color phenotypes of these species (1) cluster in phenotypic space and (2) confer crypsis on different plant microhabitats. We then use genome-wide association mapping to determine the genetic architecture of color inT. podura, and compare this to previous results inT. cristinae. In both species, color is under simple genetic control, dominance relationships of melanistic and green alleles are the same, and SNPs associated with color phenotypes colocalize to the same genomic region. These results differ from those of ‘typical’ parallel phenotypes because the form of selection acting on color differs between species: a balance of multiple sources of selection acting within host species maintains the color polymorphism inT. cristinaewhereasT. poduracolor phenotypes are under divergent selection between hosts. Our results highlight how different adaptive landscapes can result in the evolution of similar phenotypic variation, and suggest the same genomic region is involved.
Dissecting the roles of local packing density and longer-range effects in protein sequence evolution
Authors: Shahmoradi Amir , Wilke Claus O.
Published: July 2015

What are the structural determinants of protein sequence evolution? A number of site-specific structural characteristics have been proposed, most of which are broadly related to either the density of contacts or the solvent accessibility of individual residues. Most importantly, there has been disagreement in the literature over the relative importance of solvent accessibility and local packing density for explaining site-specific sequence variability in proteins. We show here that this discussion has been confounded by the definition of local packing density. The most commonly used measures of local packing, such as the contact number and the weighted contact number, represent by definition the combined effects of local packing density and longer-range effects. As an alternative, we here propose a truly local measure of packing density around a single residue, based on the Voronoi cell volume. We show that the Voronoi cell volume, when calculated relative to the geometric center of amino-acid side chains, behaves nearly identically to the relative solvent accessibility, and both can explain, on average, approximately 34% of the site-specific variation in evolutionary rate in a data set of 209 enzymes. An additional 10% of variation can be explained by non-local effects that are captured in the weighted contact number. Consequently, evolutionary variation at a site is determined by the combined action of the immediate amino-acid neighbors of that site and of effects mediated by more distant amino acids. We conclude that instead of contrasting solvent accessibility and local packing density, future research should emphasize the relative importance of immediate contacts and longer-range effects on evolutionary variation.
Genomic signatures of experimental adaptation to antimicrobial peptides inStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Johnston Paul R. , Dobson Adam J. , Rolff Jens
Published: July 2015

Objectives

The evolution of resistance against antimicrobial peptides has long been considered unlikely due to their mechanism of action, yet experimental selection with AMPs results in rapid evolution of resistance in several species of bacteria. Although numerous studies have utilized mutant screens to identify loci that determine AMP susceptibility, there is a dearth of data concerning the genomic changes which accompany experimental evolution of AMP resistance.

Methods

Using genome re-sequencing we analysed the mutations which arise during experimental evolution of resistance to the cationic AMPs iseganan, melittin and pexiganan, as well as to a combination of melittin and pexiganan, or to the aminoglycoside antibiotic streptomycin.

Results

Analysis of 17 independently replicatedStaphylococcus aureusselection lines, including unselected controls, showed that each AMP selected for mutations at distinct loci. We identify mutations in genes involved in the synthesis and maintenance of the cell envelope. This includes genes previously identified from mutant screens for AMP resistance, and genes involved in the response to AMPs and cell-wall-active antibiotics. Furthermore, transposon insertion mutants were used to verify that a number of the identified genes are directly involved in determining AMP susceptibility.

Conclusions

Strains selected for AMP resistance under controlled experimental evolution displayed consistent AMP-specific mutations in genes which determine AMP susceptibility. This suggests that different routes to evolve resistance are favored within a controlled genetic background.
Elucidating Variants in Systemic JIA from Analysis of Illumina & Ion Torrent Exome Data
Authors: Rahman M.
Published: July 2015

Motivation

Children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) are affected by a wide-range of complications. Partially arising from the difficulty of diagnosis due to the idiopathic nature of the indication. There may be a genetic basis for SJIA, which could help in both diagnosis, and treatment.

Results

Two mutations in the Fc epsilon RI pathway, including PIK3CD, were detected in low-coverage Ion Torrent data. Variants of unknown significance were detected within HLA regions on standard Illumina exomes. CSF2RA, which could account for pulmonary observations, had insignificant coverage on both datasets.

Availability

ftp.systemicjia.com

Contact

mo@genedrop.com
Inhibition of the autocrine IL-6–JAK2–STAT3–calprotectin axis as targeted therapy for HR−/HER2+breast cancers
Authors: Rodriguez-Barrueco Ruth , Yu Jiyang , Saucedo-Cuevas Laura P. , Olivan Mireia , Llobet-Navas David , Putcha Preeti , Castro Veronica , Murga-Penas Eva M. , Collazo-Lorduy Ana , Castillo-Martin Mireia , Alvarez Mariano , Cordon-Cardo Carlos , Kalinsky Kevin , Maurer Matthew , Califano Andrea , Silva Jose M.
Published: July 2015

HER2-positive (HER2+) breast adenocarcinomas are a heterogeneous group in which hormone receptor (HR) status influences therapeutic decisions and patient outcome. By combining genome-wide RNAi screens with regulatory network analysis, we identified STAT3 as a critically activated master regulator of HR−/HER2+tumors, eliciting tumor dependency in these cells. Mechanistically, HR−/HER2+cells secrete high levels of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine, inducing the activation of STAT3, which in turn promotes a second autocrine stimulus to increase S100A8/9 complex (calprotectin) production and secretion. Increased calprotectin levels activate signaling pathways involved in proliferation and resistance. Importantly, we demonstrated that inhibition of the IL-6–Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)–STAT3–calprotectin axis with FDA-approved drugs, alone and in combination with HER2 inhibitors, reduced the tumorigenicity of HR−/HER2+breast cancers, opening novel targeted therapeutic opportunities.
An unexpected reactivity of the P460cofactor in hydroxylamine oxidoreductase
Authors: Dietl Andreas , Maalcke Wouter , Barends Thomas R. M.
Published: July 2015

Hydroxylamine oxidoreductases (HAOs) contain a unique haem cofactor called P460that consists of a profoundly ruffledc-type haem with two covalent bonds between the haem porphyrin and a conserved tyrosine. This cofactor is exceptional in that it abstracts electrons from a ligand bound to the haem iron, whereas other haems involved in redox chemistry usually inject electrons into their ligands. The effects of the tyrosine cross-links and of the haem ruffling on the chemistry of this cofactor have been investigated theoretically but are not yet clear. A new crystal structure of an HAO fromCandidatusKuenenia stuttgartiensis, a model organism for anaerobic ammonium oxidation, now shows that its P460cofactor has yet another unexpected reactivity: when ethylene glycol was used as a cryoprotectant, the 1.8 Å resolution electron-density maps showed additional density which could be interpreted as an ethylene glycol molecule covalently bound to the C16atom of the haem ring, opposite the covalent links to the conserved tyrosine. Possible causes for this unexpected reactivity are discussed.
Structure of shikimate kinase, anin vivoessential metabolic enzyme in the nosocomial pathogenAcinetobacter baumannii, in complex with shikimate
Authors: Sutton Kristin A. , Breen Jennifer , MacDonald Ulrike , Beanan Janet M. , Olson Ruth , Russo Thomas A. , Schultz L. Wayne , Umland Timothy C.
Published: July 2015

Acinetobacter baumanniiis an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen that is an important cause of healthcare-associated infections exhibiting high mortality rates. Clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extremely drug-resistant (XDR)A. baumanniistrains are increasingly being observed. Compounding this concern is the dearth of new antibacterial agents in late-stage development that are effective against MDR and XDRA. baumannii. As part of an effort to address these concerns, two genes (aroAandaroC) of the shikimate pathway have previously been determined to be essential for the growth and survival ofA. baumanniiduring host infection (i.e.to be essentialin vivo). This study expands upon these results by demonstrating that theA. baumannii aroKgene, encoding shikimate kinase (SK), is also essentialin vivoin a rat soft-tissue infection model. The crystal structure ofA. baumanniiSK in complex with the substrate shikimate and a sulfate ion that mimics the binding interactions expected for the β-phosphate of ATP was then determined to 1.91 Å resolution and the enzyme kinetics were characterized. The flexible shikimate-binding domain and LID region are compared with the analogous regions in other SK crystal structures. The impact of structural differences and sequence divergence between SKs from pathogenic bacteria that may influence antibiotic-development efforts is discussed.
Structural and biophysical characterization of the α-carbonic anhydrase from the gammaproteobacteriumThiomicrospira crunogenaXCL-2: insights into engineering thermostable enzymes for CO2sequestration
Authors: Díaz-Torres Natalia A. , Mahon Brian P. , Boone Christopher D. , Pinard Melissa A. , Tu Chingkuang , Ng Robert , Agbandje-McKenna Mavis , Silverman David , Scott Kathleen , McKenna Robert
Published: July 2015

Biocatalytic CO2sequestration to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from industrial processes is an active area of research. Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are attractive enzymes for this process. However, the most active CAs display limited thermal and pH stability, making them less than ideal. As a result, there is an ongoing effort to engineer and/or find a thermostable CA to fulfill these needs. Here, the kinetic and thermal characterization is presented of an α-CA recently discovered in the mesophilic hydrothermal vent-isolate extremophileThiomicrospira crunogenaXCL-2 (TcruCA), which has a significantly higher thermostability compared with human CA II (melting temperature of 71.9°Cversus59.5°C, respectively) but with a tenfold decrease in the catalytic efficiency. The X-ray crystallographic structure of the dimeric TcruCA shows that it has a highly conserved yet compact structure compared with other α-CAs. In addition, TcruCA contains an intramolecular disulfide bond that stabilizes the enzyme. These features are thought to contribute significantly to the thermostability and pH stability of the enzyme and may be exploited to engineer α-CAs for applications in industrial CO2sequestration.
The board of directors and corporate reputation: an empirical analysis
Authors: Bravo Francisco , Abad Cristina , Briones Joaquina Laffarga
Published: July 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the association between board of director characteristics and corporate reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

Logistic and multivariate regressions are performed to analyse whether the board of director characteristics are associated with the level of corporate reputation. The sample is composed of listed companies in the Madrid Stock Exchange (Índice General de la Bolsa de Madrid) at least once during the period 2004-2010. Corporate governance data were manually extracted from governance reports released by Spanish companies. The data for the design of a corporate reputation measure were obtained from the Monitor Español de Reputación Corporativa (MERCO) institute web site.

Findings

Results from the empirical analysis show that Spanish companies that appear high up in terms of ranking in the reputation index provided by MERCO tend to have a higher percentage of independent directors as well as more female directors on their board. Firm size and the image of the president of a firm are also linked to corporate reputation.

Originality/value

The results have direct implications for the management of corporate governance mechanisms by shareholders who should take into account their role in the creation and maintenance of corporate reputation.
I’m loving it but hating US
Authors: Kashif Muhammad , Awang Zainudin , Walsh John , Altaf Umair
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The studies which connect international marketing emotions with perceived service quality are scarce. The purpose of this paper is to fill this knowledge gap and take into account the consumers’ perceived animosity, religiosity, and ethnocentrism to connect these with perceived service quality and purchase intentions of US-based fast food brand chains currently operating in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors collected data by means of a self-administered questionnaire, distributed among 500 consumers, randomly selected, patronized the four US fast food brands, namely, McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Subway in the city of Lahore in Pakistan. The data are analyzed by employing Structural equation modeling (SEM) based on AMOS 21.0 software.

Findings

– Results of this study reveal that religiosity and ethnocentrism among Pakistani fast food consumers are low and do not influence the decision to purchase fast food brands. However, consumer emotions influence service quality perceptions – ultimately leading to purchase intentions.

Originality/value

– The study generally adds to marketing and specifically to international food service marketing knowledge by eliciting the role of religiosity, animosity, and ethnocentrism to delineate service quality and purchase intentions. Furthermore, the external validity of PAKSERV scale and the context of Pakistan – a collectivist Muslim country are also the unique products of this study.
Plurality in different groupings: sugarcane supply in Brazil
Authors: Feltre Cristiane , Paulillo Luiz Fernando de Oriani e
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show the motivations for the existence of plural forms in the sugarcane agribusiness in the western region of São Paulo state, Brazil, particularly in the supply of sugarcane to sugar and/or alcohol plants.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research was conducted by applying interviews with the individuals in charge of the supply from a group of ten plants in this region that compete both for land for planting and for sugarcane itself.

Findings

– The findings show that plurality was observed in different levels of analysis (clusters): first, the plurality of transactions of sugarcane with different agents; second, plurality in hybrid arrangements or contracts; and finally, plurality in the same transaction. The reasons for the maintenance at Level 1 are various but, balancing the risks of the structures was an important motivator for this decision, while at Levels 2 and 3, the plural forms proved transitory, given the time of the contract and payment methods.

Originality/value

– One of the contributions of this study is to determine that generalizations about the transience or stability of plural forms are not appropriate. Another contribution of the research is the observation that in São Paulo’s western region the singular forms of governance in sugarcane supply are not the most common for entrepreneurs who wish to work in sugar and/or alcohol production. Plural forms, as previously postulated in the literature, are more common.
Drivers of local food consumption: a comparative study
Authors: Bianchi Constanza , Mortimer Gary
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore antecedents of local food purchase intention in two food producing countries with different cultural backgrounds.

Design/methodology/approach

– An online survey was employed to collect data from consumers located in Chile (n=283) and Australia (n=300). A proposed model is tested with structural equation modelling.

Findings

– Attitude towards consuming local food is a strong and direct driver of intentions to purchase local food in both countries. Attitude towards supporting local agri-businesses and consumer ethnocentrism are found to positively impact attitude towards consuming local food in both countries. Attitude towards local agri-businesses also has a direct effect on intentions to purchase local food in Australia, but not in Chile. Interestingly, subjective norms are not found to affect intentions to consume local food in either country.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper examines factors affecting the attitude towards and behavioural intention regarding local food consumption and develops an extended model of local food consumption. An outcome of this new model is the inclusion of personal variables, which influence local food purchasing behaviour.

Practical implications

– Producers and retailers need to develop campaigns explaining how consuming local food supports local businesses and farmers, which will reinforce personal values associated with local consumption.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to demonstrate that positive attitudes towards local foods are important drivers of local food purchase behaviour, independent of the cultural characteristics or level of economic development within a country.
Microbiological safety and quality aspects of the short supply chain
Authors: Verraes Claire , Uyttendaele Mieke , Clinquart Antoine , Daube Georges , Sindic Marianne , Berkvens Dirk , Herman Lieve
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– In recent years consumers in Belgium have shown a great interest for foods from the short supply chain. The difference with the conventional chain is that in the short supply chain the primary products are locally processed and sold directly by the producer to the consumer. The short supply chain has different microbiological quality and safety aspects in comparison with the conventional chain. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate these aspects.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology consists of analyzing the available scientific literature and results of microbiological analyses on foods from the short supply chain.

Findings

– The main findings were that Listeria monocytogenes was frequently detected (15 percent) in sampled raw dairy products whereas Salmonella was not isolated in 1,023 samples. Human pathogenic vero (cyto) toxin-producing Escherichia coli and Campylobacter spp. are potential hazards, in particular for products that are not thermally treated. Data with regard to E. coli counts showed a greater variability in products from the short supply chain compared to the conventional chain.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper discusses strengths and weaknesses with impact on microbial quality and safety in operation of food safety management in the short supply chain vs the conventional chain.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper that assesses the risks from the short supply chain vs the conventional chain and that makes recommendations for operators in the short supply chain.
Dish composition: children’s mental representation and expected liking
Authors: Olsen Nina Veflen , Altintzoglou Themistoklis , Almli Valérie Lengard , Hersleth Margrethe , Skuland Aase , Honkanen Pirjo
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how vegetable side components (carrot and broccoli) influence children’s associations and expected liking of two common Norwegian dishes (meatballs and salmon).

Design/methodology/approach

– Children aged 11-12 years old were recruited to complete an adapted free association test (n=89). Each participant was exposed to four pictures of dishes that included combinations of the experimental food items served with potatoes and sauce. Participants stated their immediate associations and how much they liked each meal on a five-point smiley face scale for children. Evoked associations were coded and categorized before the relationship between the expected liking of the dishes and the associations were visualized based on correspondence analysis.

Findings

– The authors found that the expected liking of the dishes was significantly affected by the composition of the dish, that the associations related to the meal changed when the vegetable component changed, and that children’s associations to food are quite similar to what previous studies have found for adults.

Originality/value

– How children categorize complex dishes and how their mental representation explains expected liking has rarely been investigated before. By investigating how dishes with different components activate different associations and how these associations co-occur with children’s expected liking of the dishes, the authors gain knowledge that can help us develop strategies for improved dietary change.
The Tausch-centers of the 1940s: closed markets as an alternative to the black economy
Authors: Schroeder Rolf F.H.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the Tausch- or barter-centers that existed in Germany during the 1940s. These small but unique platforms for the exchange of consumer durables represent an almost unknown chapter in economic history. This contribution aims to describe the major characteristics of these organizations and to investigate the implications of these findings for community currencies in general.

Design/methodology/approach

– An analysis is conducted of primary sources, which bring to light different types of these alternative markets. This is complemented by a comprehensive study of secondary sources.

Findings

– Theoretically, these exchange systems are interpreted as operating within boundaries. The results of this research project are not only relevant for our understanding of the war and post-war economy in Germany, at a time when the market mechanism was suppressed, this peculiar case also sheds some light on the functioning of markets. Furthermore, a better knowledge of the structure of the Tausch- or barter-centers is relevant with regard to our understanding of the functioning of community currencies in general.

Originality/value

– This paper provides the first survey of these organizations.
Marketing history from below: towards a paradigm shift in marketing historical research
Authors: Schwarzkopf Stefan
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to introduce the theme of this special issue. In doing so, the paper argues that marketing historical research is in need of a paradigmatic shift. Rather than privilege primary and secondary sources that preserve the perspectives and actions of corporate managers and of marketing academics, marketing historians need to open the historical narratives they construct much more than before to the experiences and voices of ordinary consumers, i.e. of those who actually shop and buy and choose. They also need to do more to incorporate into their narratives examples of the value-creation that consumers themselves enact, both inside and outside the sphere of the market.

Design/methodology/approach

– By reviewing the state of the marketing historical literature, this paper introduces the “History from Below” school of historical thought into marketing historical research. It also tests to what extent a stronger consumer focus might be able to enrich historical research in marketing.

Findings

– Although contemporary marketing historiography is characterized by a richness of themes and methodological approaches, there is still a marked difference between the way marketing academics and historians write the history of marketing and consumption. While, surprisingly, the former often tend to ignore the voices of ordinary consumers, the latter often lack the marketing-related “technical” knowledge to fully understand the significance of specific archival sources they discuss. This means that a genuine “People’s History of Marketing” has yet to be written.

Research limitations/implications

– Findings from the paper will be of value to marketing historians who wish to expand the scope and agenda of their research and help historical research move away from narrow managerial perspectives and other “privileged” accounts of marketing.

Originality/value

– This paper makes two original contributions. First, it introduces historiographical innovations associated with “History from Below” (social history) into marketing historical scholarship. Second, it attempts to help marketing historians identify alternative sets of primary and secondary sources, e.g. oral history archives, which would allow them to be much more optimistic about their own ability to reconstruct the perspectives of those whose voices are all too often ignored.
Growing consumer rights in neoliberal times
Authors: Pryluka Pablo Federico
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to analyze the origins of Adelco in the context of the “Consumer Orientation Campaign” (Orientación Para El Consumidor, OPEC, in Spanish) promoted by the Ministry of Economy between 1978 and 1981; second, to describe the main characteristics of Adelco during its first years, especially its activities, structure and its international connections; finally, to contribute to the study of consumer organizations in Argentina and Latin America, where very little research has been done on the subject.

Design/methodology/approach

– This article is organized into three sections. First, it outlines the deep transformations taking place in the Argentine economy during the military regime, highlighting particularly the variations in inflation rates and a series of inflation-related policies. It goes on to offer a brief overview of some new studies in consumer history in Argentina as well as an analysis of the Consumer Orientation campaign, promoted by Martínez de Hoz, the Minister of Economy from 1978 to 1981. Finally, it details the origins and key features of Adelco. For source material, this paper uses a qualitative approach, working with government documents, interviews and magazines. It also makes use of theMinutes of the Board of Directors Meetingof Adelco. At the same time, this paper contributes to current debates in the history of consumption.

Findings

– This paper reaches two main conclusions. First, while Adelco may have presented itself as a non-government organization (NGO) linked to consumer interests and responsive to grass-roots pressures, it maintained a top-down structure with close ties to state policy. Second, Adelco was part of what Matthew Hilton has analyzed as a shift in the consumer movement of the last several decades: a change from collective action to individual choice.

Originality/value

– The main value of the paper rests on three factors. First, it offers an insight into the origins of Adelco, the first consumer defense NGO in Argentina. Second, it studies sources that have never previously been analyzed, such as theMinutes of the Board of Directors meetingand personal interviews. Third, it shows the ties between the origins of Adelco and the consumer policy of the military government in Argentina.
Involvement of a caleosin in lipid storage, spore dispersal, and virulence in the entomopathogenic filamentous fungus, Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Fan Yanhua , Ortiz‐Urquiza Almudena , Garrett Timothy , Pei Yan , Keyhani Nemat O.
Published: July 2015

Eukaryotic cells store lipids in membrane‐encased droplets. The entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, initiates infection via attachment of its spores to the epicuticle or waxy layer of target insects, degrading and assimilating host surface hydrocarbons, carbohydrates and proteins. Caleosins are components of the proteinaceous coat of lipid droplets and a single B. bassiana caleosin homologue, Bbcal1, was identified and characterized. The BbCal1 sequence contained an EF‐hand Ca2+ binding domain and potential hydrophobic stretches similar to those found in plant caleosins, along with a proline knot motif defined by only two proline residues. Targeted gene inactivation of Bbcal1 did not appear to affect spore germination, growth on lipid substrates or stress response, but changes in lipid, vacuole and endoplasmic reticulum/multilamellar vesicle‐like structures, and altered cellular lipid profiles were seen in conidia grown on a variety of substrates including potato dextrose agar, olive oil, glyceride trioleate, oleic acid and the alkane, C16. The ΔBbcal1 mutant produced more compact assemblages of conidia, displayed a reduced and delayed spore dispersal phenotype, and showed decreased virulence in insect bioassays using the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella. Our data indicate novel functions for caleosins in fungal virulence, spore development and the trafficking and/or turnover of lipid‐related structures.
Adaptive and acclimative responses of cyanobacteria to far‐red light
Authors: Gan Fei , Bryant Donald A.
Published: July 2015

Cyanobacteria use three major photosynthetic complexes, photosystem (PS) I, PS II and phycobilisomes, to harvest and convert sunlight into chemical energy. Until recently, it was generally thought that cyanobacteria only used light between 400 nm and 700 nm to perform photosynthesis. However, the discovery of chlorophyll (Chl) d in Acaryochloris marina and Chl f in Halomicronema hongdechloris showed that some cyanobacteria could utilize far‐red light. The synthesis of Chl f (and Chl d) is part of an extensive acclimation process, far‐red light photoacclimation (FaRLiP), which occurs in many cyanobacteria. Organisms performing FaRLiP contain a conserved set of 17 genes encoding paralogous subunits of the three major photosynthetic complexes. Far‐red light photoacclimation leads to substantial remodelling of the photosynthetic apparatus and other changes in cellular metabolism through extensive changes in transcription. Far‐red light photoacclimation appears to be controlled by a red/far‐red photoreceptor, RfpA, as well as two response regulators (RfpB and RfpC), one of which is a DNA‐binding protein. The remodelled photosynthetic complexes, including novel phycobiliproteins, absorb light above 700 nm and enable cells to grow in far‐red light. A much simpler acclimation response, low‐light photoacclimation (LoLiP), occurs in some cyanobacteria that contain the apcD4‐apcB3‐isiX cluster, which allows cells to grow under low light conditions.
The dual transcriptional regulator RovM regulates the expression of AR3‐ and T6SS4‐dependent acid survival systems in response to nutritional status in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
Authors: Song Yunhong , Xiao Xiao , Li Changfu , Wang Tietao , Zhao Ruoxi , Zhang Weipeng , Zhang Lei , Wang Yao , Shen Xihui
Published: July 2015

Coordinated regulation of various acid survival systems in response to environmental stimuli is crucial for the adaptation of enteropathogenic bacteria to acidic environments such as the stomach. In this study, we demonstrated that the RovM protein, a central regulator of the CsrABC‐RovM‐RovA cascade, conversely regulates the expression of two acid survival systems in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis by acting as a dual transcriptional regulator. RovM activated the expression of T6SS4, which is essential for bacterial survival under mild acidic conditions, by binding upstream of the T6SS4 promoter. On the contrary, RovM repressed the expression of a functional arginine‐dependent acid resistance system (AR3), which is crucial for bacterial survival under strong acidic conditions, by directly binding to the −35 element in the AR3 promoter. Consistent with previous findings that rovM expression responds to the availability of nutrients, the expression of T6SS4 and AR3 was differentially regulated by nutritional status. Based on these results, a dynamic model whereby RovM coordinately regulates the expression of AR3 and T6SS4 in response to the availability of nutrients in the environment was proposed.
Plasmids from the gut microbiome of cabbage root fly larvae encode SaxA that catalyses the conversion of the plant toxin 2‐phenylethyl isothiocyanate
Authors: Welte Cornelia U. , de Graaf Rob M. , van den Bosch Tijs J. M. , Op den Camp Huub J. M. , van Dam Nicole M. , Jetten Mike S. M.
Published: July 2015

Cabbage root fly larvae (Delia radicum) cause severe crop losses (≥ 50%) of rapeseed/ canola and cabbages used in the food and biofuel industries. These losses occur despite the fact that cabbages produce insecticidal toxins such as isothiocyanates. Here we describe the cabbage root fly larval gut microbiome as a source of isothiocyanate degrading enzymes. We sequenced the microbial gut community of the larvae and analysed phylogenetic markers and functional genes. We combined this with the isolation of several microbial strains representing the phylogenetic distribution of the metagenome. Eleven of those isolates were highly resistant towards 2‐phenylethyl isothiocyanate, a subset also metabolized 2‐phenylethyl isothiocyanate. Several plasmids appeared to be shared between those isolates that metabolized the toxin. One of the plasmids harboured a saxA gene that upon transformation gave resistance and enabled the degradation of 2‐phenylethyl isothiocyanate in Escherichia coli. Taken together, the results showed that the cabbage root fly larval gut microbiome is capable of isothiocyanate degradation, a characteristic that has not been observed before, and may help us understand and design new pest control strategies.