bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Presence of Newcastle Disease in Vaccinated Indigenous Chicken from Farms in Selected Regions in Kenya- a Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Apopo Auleria A. , Ngaira Jane M. , Lichoti Jacqueline K. , Athiany Henry , Ateya Leonard O. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIndigenous chicken farming is an important source of livelihood for rural families in Kenya. However, the farmers experience challenges including infections from poultry diseases such as Newcastle disease. Vaccination has been used over the years to provide immunity in flocks against disease outbreaks. However, Newcastle diseases virus (NDV) outbreaks are still reported among vaccinated flocks. This study examined the presence of Newcastle disease virus among vaccinated indigenous chicken (IC), in relation to weather (temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed), production system, and interspecies interaction. Samples were collected from flocks of indigenous chicken vaccinated with NDV vaccine from 68 households in six counties in Kenya (Bomet, Baringo, Kilifi, Nakuru, Kakamega, and Machakos). Some of the households (n=5 (9%) reported previous ND outbreaks. All the households had other mixed species of birds (ducks, geese, turkey, wild birds). The total number of samples collected was n=1210, oropharyngeal swabs-650, cloacal swab-650. The total number of the pooled sample was 246 pools. The samples were analysed by RT-qPCR targeting the NDV matrix gene. NDV matrix gene was detected in the pooled samples n=177(72%). Out of the positive samples, n=56(32%) were from vaccinated flocks, 91(51%) were from the cloacal swab and 86(49%) from the oropharyngeal swab. The samples were collected during varying weather (temperature, rainfall, humidity and wind speed). There was a statistical significance on the relationship between the presence of NDV and the Vaccination history (p=0.034); production system, (p=0.004), and month of sample collection (p<0.0001). However, there was no significance on the relationship between the presence of NDV and the interaction of IC and other birds. Failure to vaccinate IC results in the presence of the NDV. The free-range production system can have many cases of NDV due to the lack of biosecurity measures. Therefore, farmers should be advised to vaccinate their IC.
Targeting of Mammalian Glycans Enhances Phage Predation in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Green Sabrina I. , Liu Carmen Gu , Yu Xue , Gibson Shelley , Salmen Wilhem , Rajan Anubama , Carter Hannah E. , Clark Justin R. , Song Xuezheng , Ramig Robert F. , Trautner Barbara W. , Kaplan Heidi B. , Maresso Anthony W. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe human mucosal surface consists of a eukaryotic epithelium, a prokaryotic microbiota, and a carbohydrate-rich interface that separates them. Bacteriophage parasitize the prokaryotes but are not known to associate with eukaryotic cells. In the gastrointestinal tract, the interaction of these two domains influences the health of the host, especially colonization with invasive pathobionts. Antibiotics may be used but they also kill protective commensals and lack the physio-chemical properties to be specifically and optimally active in this complex milieu. Here, we report a novel phage whose lytic cycle is enhanced in intestinal environments. The enhanced activity is encoded in its tail fiber gene, whose protein product binds human heparan sulfated proteoglycans and localizes the phage to the epithelial cell surface, thereby positioning it near its bacterial host, a type of locational targeting mechanism. This finding offers the prospect of developing epithelial-targeting phage to selectively remove invasive pathobiont species from mucosal surfaces.Graphical AbstractModel showing (1) mucins from the intestinal mucus layer inhibit phage infection, (2) phage ES17 can bind to mucin and utilize other intestinal glycans as a receptor to infect and kill mucus-coated bacteria, and (3) phages like ES17 can be utilized to coat the intestinal epithelium by binding heparan sulfate glycans to protect from invasive pathogen infection.
ClassifyCNV: a tool for clinical annotation of copy-number variants
Authors: Gurbich Tatiana A. , Ilinsky Valery Vladimirovich 
Published: July 2020

AbstractSummaryCopy-number variants (CNVs) are an important part of human genetic variation. They can be benign or can play a role in human disease by creating dosage imbalances and disrupting genes and regulatory elements. Accurate identification and clinical annotation of CNVs is essential when evaluating patients with neurodevelopmental disorders and congenital anomalies. Here, we present ClassifyCNV, a tool that implements the 2019 ACMG classification guidelines to assess CNV pathogenicity. ClassifyCNV uses genomic coordinates and CNV type as input and reports the clinical classification for each variant along with a classification score breakdown and a list of genes that could be important for variant interpretation. The tool is suitable for integration into NGS analysis pipelines and facilitates high-throughput CNV analysis.Availability and implementationClassifyCNV is implemented in Python 3 and runs on UNIX, Linux and Mac OS X. The source code is available athttps://github.com/Genotek/ClassifyCNV.
Technical efficiency of the small-scale tea processors in Kenya: a stochastic metafrontier approach
Authors: Gatimbu Karambu Kiende , Ogada Maurice Juma 
Published: July 2020

PurposeImportance of small-scale tea producers in Kenya is not in doubt. They account for 60% of all tea produced in the country, serve about 560,000 tea farmers and employ about 10,000 people directly. However, the subsector faces a myriad of challenges ranging from declining yields and rising costs of production to fluctuating world prices. Thus, it is imperative that the producers entrench efficiency as a critical success factor. This makes it important for the producers to understand their relative performances to inform decisions on improving input use. Congruent with this motivation, this study sought to analyze the technical efficiency (TE) of the country's small-scale tea processors within and across the regions under the management of Kenya Tea Development Authority.Design/methodology/approachTo allow comparison across regions, this study adopted a stochastic metafrontier approach and to be able to decompose inefficiency into persistent and time-varying components, the study adopted regression analysis.FindingsResults showed that the small-scale tea processors operated at a mean TE level of 76% with a technology gap ratio (TGR) of 97%. This implies that the prevailing level of output could be maintained even if inputs were reduced by 24%. Persistent inefficiency could be reduced possibly through rationalization of structural and managerial components of the firms.Research limitations/implicationsWhile it is important to adopt yield-enhancing technologies and innovation, small-scale tea processors have the latitude to improve their earnings through enhanced TE. They can save up to 24% of their input and be able to pay farmers better even with the fluctuating global tea prices. Enhancing TE should be given priority because it is within the control of the individual firms.Originality/valueThis is a pioneering study in panel data analysis of TE of small-scale tea processors within and across regions in Kenya.
Effects of a documentary on consumer perception of the environmental impact of meat consumption
Authors: Bschaden Andreas , Mandarano Eduardo , Stroebele-Benschop Nanette 
Published: July 2020

PurposeMeat consumption causes a large amount of global greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems. Studies showed that consumers underestimate the environmental impact of meat consumption compared to other food-related behaviours. A video intervention was conducted to investigate the effect of information on consumers' perception and behaviour.Design/methodology/approachTwo didactically different videos about meat and the environment and a control video were shown to 189 participants. Ratings about the environmental impact of different food-related behaviours as well as participants' meat consumption frequency were obtained directly before, one week later and one year after the screening by self-report questionnaires.FindingsMean rating of the environmental impact of meat consumption was second to the least important of the different food consumption patterns. In the first intervention group, the rating increased significantly (p = 0.001) after having watched the video. There was no such effect in the second intervention or the control group. Self-reported meat consumption frequency did not change significantly in any of the groups. No long-term differences between the groups could be found.Research limitations/implicationsThe results suggest that there is still a lack of knowledge concerning the environmental impact of meat consumption. Providing information can affect awareness, depending on the type of information delivery. The circumstances under which information encourages behaviour change need to be further explored.Originality/valueThis is the first study that investigated the impact of different videos about environmental impacts of meat consumption on consumer perceptions and behaviour.
Hybrid parallel adder for 3X multiple generation in radix-8 booth encoding using fast carry tree structure
Authors: Ramu Nirmaladevi , Ramachandran Seshasayanan 
Published: July 2020

Purpose
In most commercial processors, enhancing the speed of multiplication using radix-8 booth encoding is the preferred option. In radix-8 architecture, the 3X(= 2X + X) multiple generation is a major bottleneck. This paper aims to propose a parallel implementation scheme recognizing the symmetry in the carry recurrence equations of 3X multiples. The proposed architecture evaluates the odd (H) and even (K) carry signals separately. As prefix tree structure offers fast carry propagation, the parallel implementation is based on a hybrid style of two popular prefix architectures.

Design/methodology/approach
The performance of the proposed architecture is evaluated using Cadence TSMC 180 nm library. A comparison of performance parameters with other architectures has been carried out to highlight the architectural advantages of the proposed architecture.

Findings
A comparison of performance parameters with others shows that the proposed architecture has a reduced critical path and a commensurate improvement in delay for a bit width of 64. It is shown that up to 32 bits, this parallel architecture has a superior performance and would be the appropriate choice for Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) implementation. It has also been suggested that higher-order bit widths could be implemented using a modular arrangement.

Originality/value
This paper proposes a new parallel architecture for hard multiple (3X) generation in Radix-8 Booth encoding. As the multiplication is the key operation in digital signal processors, this type of high-speed architectures gains importance in the future processor design. Defence applications such as target finding and multiple target recognitions and image processing applications necessitate this type of high-speed multipliers. Also, it is appropriate for the ASIC implementation. The authors would like to mention that this paper is not yet published anywhere, and it is the research paper of Dr R. Nirmaladevi.
The impact of improvisation and financial bootstrapping strategies on business performance
Authors: Al Issa Hussein-Elhakim 
Published: July 2020

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the effect of financial bootstrapping strategies (FBS) and strategic improvisation (SI) on business performance (BP). The study enriches our understanding of the contributions of bootstrapping and improvisation strategies toward resource-constrained small businesses during real economic downturns and crises. The potential moderating effect of SI on the relationship between FBS and its dimensions and performance were also examined.Design/methodology/approachUsing the convenience snowball sampling technique, data were collected from entrepreneurs in Tripoli, Libya. Structural equation modeling by means of partial least square bootstrapping resampling was used for the hypotheses testing of the 147 useable responses.FindingsStatistically significant positive relationships were found in the direct relationships between bootstrapping and improvisation with performance. However, there was no significant association found between the delaying payment related bootstrapping and the owner-related bootstrapping with performance. The moderating effect of improvisation had a significant relationship between bootstrapping as an aggregate construct and its dimensions and performance.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the cross-sectional nature of this study which used a small sample that was randomly selected, generalization to the entire population of business ventures should be made with caution.Practical implicationsThe negative moderation effect of improvisation on FBS-BP association suggests that entrepreneurs need to be careful in balancing the two strategies so that efforts are no wasted.Originality/valueWhile business performance has been studied in various organizations, its examination with financial bootstrapping strategies as a predictor and strategic improvisation as a moderator contribute nascent theoretical insights.
A novel discrete grey Riccati model and its application
Authors: Zeng Liang 
Published: July 2020

PurposeTo develop the theory and application of the grey prediction model, this investigation constructs a novel discrete grey Riccati model termed DGRM(1,1).Design/methodology/approachBy examining a special kind of Riccati difference equation and the structure of the conventional discrete grey model (DGM), we advance a novel DGRM, and the model's prediction effect is evaluated by two numerical examples and an application case and compared with that of other conventional grey models.FindingsThe average relative simulation error of DGRM(1,1) does not change if the model is built after the original sequence has been transformed by a multiplier, and the new model is suitable to predict monotonically increasing, monotonically decreasing and unimodal sequences.Practical implicationsDGRM(1,1) is utilized to forecast the development cost of a small plane owned by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) with an original data sequence from 2006 to 2013. The outcomes indicate that DGRM(1,1) exhibits high precision and potential in development cost prediction.Originality/valueCombining the Riccati difference equation with the conventional DGM, the author advances a new grey model that is suitable to predict three kinds of data series with different changing trends.
The size prediction and auto-generation of garment template
Authors: Liu Haisang , Jiang Gaoming , Dong Zhijia , Xia Fenglin , Cong Honglian 
Published: July 2020

PurposeThe size prediction of garment is an important part in the process of the garment design and production, and it is also one of the most important features in warp-knitted computer-aided design system. The purpose of this paper is to realize the auto-generation of the garment templates using JavaScript and WebGL technologies, based on the prediction of the size of warp-knitted seamless sportswear.Design/methodology/approachThe warp-knitted jacquard technology is used to produce the warp-knitted seamless sportswear, which is divided into suits and tights. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, the dimensions of four kinds of jacquard patterns knitted under different knitting conditions are measured and the crosswise and longitudinal size shrinkage percentages are also calculated. Then, the relationship between the yarn count and the drawing density as well as the size shrinkage percentage is studied and a size prediction model for warp-knitted jacquard fabric is established. Next, according to the results of the size calculation, the point positions of the garment boundary in the mathematical coordinate system is determined. The color formula is built by the two-dimensional mathematical matrix. Finally, combined with the coordinate position and color information, the template can be drawn automatically.FindingsBased on the size prediction model of warp-knitted garment, the template generation of warp-knitted full-form sportswear on WebGL-enabled web browser is realized, which is proven to be an effective computer-aided design method for warp-knitted garments.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of limited researches, only two groups of yarns and four kinds of jacquard patterns were studied. A vaster database should be built and smooth curve, accurate coordinate needs to be optimized in the further research.Practical implicationsThe size prediction model for warp-knitted jacquard garment and garment template auto-generation of warp-knitted computer-aided design system will simplify the fabric technical design process, shorten design time and improve the efficiency of new product development.Social implicationsThe size prediction model for warp-knitted jacquard garment and garment template auto-generation of warp-knitted computer-aided design system will provide the industries a guidance for new sample development and it also can shorten the development time and lower cost.Originality/valueThis author analyzes the relationship between the size characteristics and knitting technology of warp-knitted jacquard patterns, proposes a model of size prediction and realizes the auto-drawing of the garment template in the warp-knitted CAD system, which provides a reference for the new product design and development of warp-knitted seamless sportswear.
Empowering SHGs Women through Micro-finance in Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Aggarwal Shalini , Kumar Praveen , Garg Vikas 
Published: July 2020

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the factors for self-help groups (SHGs) women empowerment in the state of Uttar Pradesh using the primary data.Design/methodology/approachThe primary data have been collected by a household survey in the four districts of Uttar Pradesh. Factor analysis is used to estimate the odd of improving women empowerment after participating in SHG.FindingsFactor analysis extracted four factors which were economic development, improvement in family matters, decision to use public amenities and political empowerment. Also, analysis of variance andt-test was used employing SPSS. The results, therefore, show that education has a significant impact on all the aspects of SHGs people.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study can help policymakers to adopt appropriate policies that integrate empowerment in development projects with women.Social implicationsThe results of this research could encourage more women to participate in SHG activities and development projects.Originality/valueThis research provides the most updated data from a primary survey in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The S&OP process and the influence of personality and key behavioral indicators: insights from a longitudinal case study
Authors: Stentoft Jan , Freytag Per Vagn , Mikkelsen Ole Stegmann 
Published: July 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to extend the research domain of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) beyond the hard issues by focusing on soft issues in S&OP processes. This paper aims to investigate how consciousness of different personality types can affect S&OP processes.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on a single longitudinal case study from a medium-sized enterprise with a data collection period of more than two years. This paper is based on observation and interviews gathered at several stages during pilot implementation and operation phases.FindingsThis paper indicates that a focus on behavior using personality type theory and key behavioral indicators has provided a common framework for understanding how the S&OP process is impacted by different personalities and behavior. This knowledge has increased the awareness of which behavior sustains a silo mentality and which behavior breaks it down. Quotations are used to provide substance of this explorative topic.Research limitations/implicationsAs a single case study, this paper only provides results for analytical generalization.Practical implicationsConsciousness of behavioral elements in S&OP processes is proposed here as a complement to key performance indicators as levers to implement and obtain sustained operation of S&OP.Originality/valueThis paper is the first explicitly integrating personality type theory for a better understanding of implementing and operating S&OP processes. This paper contributes with a new understanding of S&OP success factors and how a common language may improve process efficiency.
Impact of the institutional quality on NAFTA's international trade: a system GMM approach
Authors: Heo Yoon , Thanh Huyen Nguyen Thi , Doanh Nguyen Khanh 
Published: July 2020

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze the impacts of institutional quality on trade flows of NAFTA with a panel data set of 105 countries spanning the period 2006–2017.Design/methodology/approachWe applied the system generalized method of moment (GMM) estimator to investigate the impacts.FindingsThe results show that institutional quality is a positive and significant determinant of international trade flows of the NAFTA bloc and its trading partners. Our results also indicate that the impact of institutional quality depends on the level of economic development of NAFTA's trading partners. Specifically, the trade elasticity of institutional quality is the highest for NAFTA’s trade with middle-income countries and the lowest for NAFTA's trade with low-income countries. In the long run, the trade elasticity of institutional quality increased significantly, with the highest increase in the case of NAFTA's trade with medium-income countries and the lowest increase in the case of NAFTA's trade with low-income countries.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature in three different ways. First, we examine the differential impact of institutions on NAFTA's trade according to the level of economic development of NAFTA's trading partners. Second, we compare the differential trade elasticity of institutional quality in the long run. Finally, we support our findings through an improved research methodology by using the system GMM estimation. This method allows us to overcome the potential sample bias, omitted variable problems and endogeneity of explanatory variables.