bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IL2 enhances ex-vivo expanded regulatory T cell persistence after adoptive transfer
Authors: Furlan Scott N , Singh Karnail , Lopez Christina , Tkachev Victor , Hunt Daniel , Hibbard James , Betz Kayla M , Blazar Bruce R. , Trapnell Cole , Kean Leslie S 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTAs regulatory T cell (Treg) adoptive therapy continues to develop clinically, there is a need to determine which immunomodulatory agents pair most compatibly with Tregs to enable persistence and stabilize suppressor function. Prior work has shown that mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition can increase stability of thymic Tregs. In this study we investigated the transcriptomic signatures of ex-vivo expanded Tregs after adoptive transfer in the setting of clinically relevant immunosuppression using a non-human primate (NHP) model as a prelude to future transplant studies. Here, we found that adding interleukin-2 (IL2) to rapamycin in vivo supported a logarithmic increase in the half-life of adoptively transferred CFSE-labeled, autologous NHP Tregs, effectively doubling the number of cells in the peripheral blood Treg compartment compared to Treg infusion with rapamycin alone. Using single cell transcriptomics, we found that transferred ex-vivo expanded Tregs initially exhibit a gene expression signature consistent with an activated state. Moreover, those cells with the highest levels of activation also expressed genes associated with p53-mediated apoptosis. In contrast, transferred Tregs interrogated at Day +20 post-transfer demonstrated a gene signature more similar to published profiles of resting Tregs. Together, these preclinical data further support combining IL2 and rapamycin in vivo as adjunctive therapy for ex-vivo expanded adoptively transferred Tregs and suggest that the activation status of ex-vivo expanded Tregs is critical to their persistence.
A prototype for continuous improvement of processes and their results in the field of higher education
Authors: Kahloun Fouzia , Ayachi-Ghannouchi Sonia 
Published: October 2019

Purpose
The concept of business process (BP) management plays a major role in information systems with several applications. Modeling languages and tools can be used by domain experts to help in the business process model (BPM) design. The purpose of this paper is to focus on quality improvement for BPMs through the proposition of a novel prototype and apply it on real case for BPMs in the field of higher education.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors developed a prototype named Business Process Model Quality Assess (BPMoQualAssess) that works in two steps. In the first step, it allows designing and verifying the quality of BPMs in the field of higher education. Second, it focuses on evaluating process results through a set of criteria and specific measures for each process. Both steps are based on three main key concepts: measures, threshold values and guidelines in order to guide the modeler in assessing his/her model and also to get good results from the latter.

Findings
The authors implemented the BPMoQualAssess prototype to evaluate the quality of BPMs as well as its results. Furthermore, the authors have conducted a case study with a process in the field of higher education. Indeed, first, the authors obtained an improved BPM with a high-quality level. Second, the authors then evaluated the results by focusing on measures, threshold values and appropriate quality guidelines in order to obtain better results.

Originality/value
In the context of this study, the authors aim to make a significant contribution to the knowledge on the subject of the quality for higher education sector processes, on one hand on the models and on the other hand the results of processes. All these concepts are fully nested within a new quality prototype for process model evaluation and validated on real BPMs in the field of higher education. There are many publications focusing on BP quality in the literature, but only a few approaches combine the main keys thresholds, measures and guidelines. In fact, the principal contribution of this research consists in linking measures and threshold values to the resulting guidelines as they have been presented separately in the literature. Furthermore, the authors elaborate for each measure its own recommendation to guide the modeler in redesigning his/her model. Also, the authors define threshold values of process results in higher education and also took into account the opinion of domain experts. To sum up, the originality of this work appears in the application of BPM in the field of higher education given the lack of work in the literature for this direction, and it will pave a way for research in BP innovation areas.
Multiple banking relationships, agency costs and firm value: evidence from India
Authors: Jadiyappa Nemiraja , Sireesha Bhanu , Hickman L. Emily , Jyothi Pavana 
Published: October 2019

Purpose
Prior literature demonstrates that the effectiveness of bank monitoring decreases when multiple banks are involved, due to a free rider problem, leading to lower firm value. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether this free rider problem exists in an emerging market context, and whether the relationship between multiple banking relationships and firm value is conditioned on bankers’ incentives to monitor.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors use multivariate panel regression to examine the hypotheses. The conditioning effect of the incentive to govern (the amount of average bank lending) is modeled using an interaction variable. Based on the result of the Hausman test, the authors employ two-way fixed effects estimator to estimate the coefficients.

Findings
First, the negative relationship between multiple banking relationships and firm value holds true among Indian firms. Second, the authors show that this negative relationship is lessened for firms with high average bank debt or higher free cash flows. The analyses suggest that these moderating effects are related to a reduction in the free rider problem rather than a decrease in financial constraints. However, these results are only significant among larger firms.

Originality/value
Prior literature has not considered the conditioning impact of the “incentives to govern” when examining the free rider problem, inherent in situations where multiple actors are involved. The authors show in this study that the free rider problem disappears when the incentives to govern are considered in the overall research framework.
The dark side of digital technology to overtourism: the case of Barcelona
Authors: Bourliataux-Lajoinie Stéphane , Dosquet Frederic , del Olmo Arriaga Josep Lluís 
Published: October 2019

PurposeThis study aims to offer a three-pronged reflection on overtourism in large cities such as Barcelona. The objective is to outline how technology can impact on overtourism and eventually, how to tackle the problem using technology.Design/methodology/approachThe research design is based on secondary data (literature and online reviews) and a case study of Barcelona.FindingsThe most significant aspect is the rapid spread of comments and reviews about attractions and venues. Despite the interest in ICT generalisation, these new technologies have a dark side. Closely linked to fashion trends, some tourist destinations find themselves rapidly overbooked.Originality/valueUnlike other studies, this paper reveals a dark side of technology and attempts to use technology to mitigate the impacts of overtourism.
Conclusion: local communities’ quality of life: what strategy to address overtourism?
Authors: Gowreesunkar Vanessa , Seraphin Hugues 
Published: October 2019

Purpose
This concluding paper filters out smart and sustainable strategies drawn from a rich variety of articles presented throughout the theme issue. This paper aims to provide a summary of the key points related to the perverse impacts of overtourism and smart and sustainable strategies to overcome the phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach
The methodological design is based on empirical evidence and case studies analysed by practitioners and academics.

Findings
The overall findings unpack different types of strategies based on collaborative input from tourists, locals, government, NGOs, DMOs and service providers. Based on the realities of today’s tourism environment, the outcome reveals that it is possible to address overtourism, but smart strategies are required as both tourists and residents (including relevant stakeholders) are sophisticated, emancipated and connected enough to understand the dynamism of overtourism.

Originality/value
The articles in this theme issue address a theoretical and practical gap while proposing innovative strategies to tackle overtourism in an era of “connected tourism.” The value of this paper lies in the fact that it draws from a variety of original case studies, each unique in their own right and proposes smart strategies that may be sustained in the future.
Linking land use and the nutritional ecology of herbivores: A case study with the Senegalese locust
Authors: Le Gall Marion , Word Mira L. , Thompson Natalia , Manneh Balanding , Beye Alioune , Cease Arianne J. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Access to high‐quality food is a main driver of population dynamics. For herbivores, protein and carbohydrates are key nutrients that are notoriously variable in plants and are affected by land use. However, few studies have linked foraging decisions and performance in the laboratory to the nutritional landscape available in the field.

Oedaleus senegalensis is a non‐model locust, a grass‐feeder, and the main pest of millet, a subsistence crop in the Sahel. In this study, we examined dietary preference and locust performance across a range of protein:carbohydrate ratios using the Geometric Framework methodology. We then applied a fitness landscape approach to visualize these results with the plant nutrient contents available across four land‐use types: millet, groundnut, fallow, and grazed fields. Finally, we contrasted our results with locust distribution in the field. Several locust species (O. senegalensis included) exhibit density‐dependent colour polymorphism; thus, we also reported individual coloration (brown or green).

We found that O. senegalensis preferred moderately carbohydrate‐biased food 1:1.6 protein:carbohydrate ratio. All traits recorded (mass gain, development time, growth rate, moult success and performance index) were best near that ratio and declined on either side presenting a ‘hump‐shape’. Fallow fields contained more plants, particularly grasses, that were both abundant and closer to the optimal protein:carbohydrate ratio recorded from the laboratory experiments.

When we surveyed O. senegalensis abundance and proportion, we found that they were more numerous in the fallow fields. Brown morph individuals, the ones associated with high density, were proportionally more abundant in fallow fields than green individuals.

Our study provides evidence that variation in nutritional landscapes – relative to an herbivore's optimal nutrient balance – is a key driver of herbivore population distribution and abundance, and can be used to predict bottom‐up effects on herbivore species.
Carcass predictability but not domestic pet introduction affects functional response of scavenger assemblage in urbanized habitats
Authors: Welti Nora , Scherler Patrick , Grüebler Martin U. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Urbanization alters species richness and composition, but studies of urbanization effects on ecological functions have often quantified variation in functional traits and changes in functional diversity rather than measuring directly how ecological functions vary between rural and urban assemblages.

Consuming dead animal matter and recycling its nutrients stabilizes and structures food webs and therefore represents a key component of ecosystem functioning. Introduction of free‐ranging domestic pet animals adds additional scavenger species to urban habitats, and increased predictability of carcass resources produced by human activities characterizes urban habitats.

Here, we investigate the effect of urbanization on the composition of diurnal and nocturnal scavenger assemblages and on the ecological function of carcass removal by using a carcass placement experiment in Swiss urban and adjacent rural habitats.

While diurnal and nocturnal scavenger assemblages changed considerably from rural to urban areas by comprising particularly more domestic cats in the latter, carrion consumption rate did not differ between the two habitats. Predictability of carcass occurrence increased carrion consumption rate in both urban and rural habitats but mainly native scavengers and not introduced domestic pets responded to the repeated placements.

These results suggest that urbanization shapes scavenger assemblage compositions without affecting their ecological function. The mechanism is likely due to a behavioural change of native scavengers in response to the occurrence of domestic pets resulting in functional plasticity of urban scavenger assemblages. The functional plasticity might be facilitated by the increased carcass predictability and additional anthropogenic food resources in urban habitats exploited by nutritionally flexible native scavenger species.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
If I'll win it, I want it: The role of instrumental considerations in explaining public support for referendums
Authors: WERNER HANNAH 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAcross established democracies, citizens express high levels of support for decision making via referendums. What drives these preferences remains yet unclear. In this article it is argued that, first, process preferences are less stable than previously assumed but vary substantially across policy proposals. Second, it is suggested that instrumental considerations play an important role in shaping citizens’ preferences for referendums. Specifically, citizens who favour the policy proposal or believe that they hold a majority opinion are expected to express more support for the use of referendums. An original survey was designed and conducted in the Netherlands (N = 1,289) that contains both between and within respondent variation across a range of policy proposals. The findings support these arguments: Both the desire for a specific policy change and the perception of being in the majority with one's policy preference relate to support for the use of referendums across policy proposals, levels of governance, and between and within respondents. This study contributes to a better understanding of process preferences by showing that these preferences have a non‐stable component and that instrumental considerations play an important role in citizens’ support for referendums.
Economic hardship and social capital in Europe: A comparative analysis of 27 democracies
Authors: BUNDI PIRMIN , FREITAG MARKUS 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThis article evaluates whether economic hardship affects social capital in Europe. Comparing 27 European countries, it evaluates the impact of personal experiences of economic hardship on engagement in voluntary associations as a cornerstone of civic and democratic life. Empirical analyses of the Eurobarometer data indicate that individual economic hardship has indeed a negative effect on associational volunteering in Europe. However, the result is qualified in two respects. First, it is found that the effect of individual economic hardship is contingent upon education. Second, this effect mostly refers to volunteering for associations providing solidarity goods (Putnam groups). These results have broader implications for understanding how economic hardship shapes the social capital within democratic societies.
Microbial Contamination of Fresh Produce: What, Where, and How?
Authors: Machado‐Moreira Bernardino , Richards Karl , Brennan Fiona , Abram Florence , Burgess Catherine M. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPromotion of healthier lifestyles has led to an increase in consumption of fresh produce. Such foodstuffs may expose consumers to increased risk of foodborne disease, as often they are not subjected to processing steps to ensure effective removal or inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms before consumption. Consequently, reports of ready‐to‐eat fruit and vegetable related disease outbreak occurrences have increased substantially in recent years, and information regarding these events is often not readily available. Identifying the nature and source of microbial contamination of these foodstuffs is critical for developing appropriate mitigation measures to be implemented by food producers. This review aimed to identify the foodstuffs most susceptible to microbial contamination and the microorganisms responsible for disease outbreaks from information available in peer‐reviewed scientific publications. A total of 571 outbreaks were identified from 1980 to 2016, accounting for 72,855 infections and 173 deaths. Contaminated leafy green vegetables were responsible for 51.7% of reported outbreaks. Contaminated soft fruits caused 27.8% of infections. Pathogenic strains ofEscherichia coliandSalmonella, norovirus, and hepatitis A accounted for the majority of cases. Large outbreaks resulted in particular biases such as the observation that contaminated sprouted plants caused 31.8% of deaths. Where known, contamination mainly occurred via contaminated seeds, water, and contaminated food handlers. There is a critical need for standardized datasets regarding all aspects of disease outbreaks, including how foodstuffs are contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. Providing food business operators with this knowledge will allow them to implement better strategies to improve safety and quality of fresh produce.
Recent Advances in Microalgal Bioactives for Food, Feed, and Healthcare Products: Commercial Potential, Market Space, and Sustainability
Authors: M. U. Nethravathy , Mehar Jitendra G. , Mudliar Sandeep N. , Shekh Ajam Y. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractTo combat food scarcity as well as to ensure nutritional food supply for sustainable living of increasing population, microalgae are considered as innovative sources for adequate nutrition. Currently, the dried biomass, various carotenoids, phycocyanin, phycoerythrin, omega fatty acids, and enzymes are being used as food additives, food coloring agents, and food supplements. Apart from nutritional importance, microalgae are finding the place in the market as “functional foods.” When compared to the total market size of food and feed products derived from all the possible sources, the market portfolio of microalgae‐based products is still smaller, but increasing steadily. On the other hand, the genetic modification of microalgae for enhanced production of commercially important metabolites holds a great potential. However, the success of commercial application of genetically modified (GM) algae will be defined by their safety to human health and environment. In view of this, the present study attempts to highlight the industrially important microalgal metabolites, their production, and application in food, feed, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. The current and future market trends for microalgal products have been thoroughly discussed. Importantly, the safety pertaining to microalgae cultivation and consumption, and regulatory issues for GM microalgae have also been covered.
Interaction of Protein Isolate with Anthocyanin Extracted from Black Soybean and Its Effect on the Anthocyanin Stability
Authors: Wang Chen , Xie Yanli 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe interactions between black soybean protein isolate (B‐SPI) and cyanidin 3‐O‐glucoside (C3G), anthocyanin extracted from black soybean coat was investigated under neutral conditions. The fluorescence spectra showed that C3G had fluorescence quenching effects on B‐SPI. Thermodynamic parameters showed that ∆G < 0, which demonstrated that the binding was a spontaneous reaction. Since ΔH > 0 and ΔS > 0, the interactions between C3G and B‐SPI was mainly hydrophobic interactions. Fourier infrared spectroscopy results suggested that the contents of α‐helix and β‐sheet structure showed an increasing trend, whereas the β‐angle content displayed a decreasing trend. The degradation of C3G followed first‐order kinetics at 85 °C and 100 °C. After the interactions with B‐SPI, the degradation rate constant was decreased and the half‐life of C3G was prolonged from 70.25 ± 0.90 min to 175.64 ± 38.04 min at 85 °C, from 62.68 ± 1.1 min to 72.51 ± 2.5 min at 100 °C (p < 0.05). The results indicated that the interactions of B‐SPI and C3G improved the thermal stability of C3G under heating conditions.
Identification of keratinases from Fervidobacterium islandicum AW‐1 using dynamic gene expression profiling
Authors: Kang Eunju , Jin Hyeon‐Su , La Jae Won , Sung Jae‐Yoon , Park Soo‐Young , Kim Won‐Chan , Lee Dong‐Woo 
Published: October 2019

SummaryKeratin degradation is of great interest for converting agro‐industrial waste into bioactive peptides and is directly relevant for understanding the pathogenesis of superficial infections caused by dermatophytes. However, the mechanism of this process remains unclear. Here, we obtained the complete genome sequence of a feather‐degrading, extremely thermophilic bacterium, Fervidobacterium islandicum AW‐1 and performed bioinformatics‐based functional annotation. Reverse transcription PCR revealed that 57 putative protease‐encoding genes were differentially expressed in substrate‐dependent manners. Consequently, 16 candidate genes were highly expressed under starvation conditions, when keratin degradation begun. Subsequently, the dynamic expression profiles of these 16 selected genes in response to feathers, as determined via quantitative real‐time PCR, suggested that they included four metalloproteases and two peptidases including an ATP‐dependent serine protease, all of which might act as key players in feather decomposition. Furthermore, in vitro keratinolytic assays supported the notion that recombinant enzymes enhanced the decomposition of feathers in the presence of cell extracts. Therefore, our genome‐based systematic and dynamic expression profiling demonstrated that these identified metalloproteases together with two additional peptidases might be primarily associated with the decomposition of native feathers, suggesting that keratin degradation can be achieved via non‐canonical catalysis of several membrane‐associated metalloproteases in cooperation with cytosolic proteases.