bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Integrating genome-wide association and transcriptome predicted model identify novel target genes with osteoporosis
Authors: Yin Peng , Zhu Muchun , Hu Fan , Jiang Jiaxin , Yin Li , Wang Shuqiang , Li Yingxiang 
Published: September 2019

AbstractOsteoporosis (OP) is a highly polygenetic disease which is usually characterized by low bone mineral density. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified hundreds of genetic loci associated with bone mineral density. However, the biological mechanisms of these loci remain elusive. To identify potential causal genes of the associated loci, we detected trait-gene expression associations by transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) method. It directly imputes gene expression effects from GWAS data, using a statistical prediction model trained on GTEx reference transcriptome data, with blood and skeletal tissues data. Then we performed a colocalization analysis to evaluate the posterior probability of biological patterns: association characterized by a single shared causal variant or two distinct causal variants. The ultimate analysis identified 276 candidate genes, including 3 novel loci, 204 novel candidate genes and 69 replicated from GWAS. The 3 novel loci located at chr6: 72417543, chr15: 69601206, chr21: 30530692, mapping to gene RIMS1, SPESP1, MAP3K7CL. The results of colocalization analysis indicated that 142 of them showing strong evidence of a single shared causal variant and 134 of them showing evidence of joint causal variants. Their biological function was directly or indirectly associated with the occurrence of OP validated by VarElect tool. Several important OP-associated pathways were detected by protein-protein interaction and pathway enrichment analysis. Target genes were further enriched for differential expression genes in osteoblasts expression profiles, e.g. IBSP, affecting calcium and hydroxyapatite binding, and CD44, regulating alternative splicing of gene transcription. Transcriptome fine-mapping identifies more disease-related genes and provide additional insight into the development of novel targeted therapeutics to treat OP.
centroFlye: Assembling Centromeres with Long Error-Prone Reads
Authors: Bzikadze Andrey V. , Pevzner Pavel A. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractAlthough variations in centromeres have been linked to cancer and infertility, centromeres still represent the “dark matter of the human genome” and remain an enigma for both biomedical and evolutionary studies. Since centromeres have withstood all previous attempts to develop an automated tool for their assembly and since their assembly using short reads is viewed as intractable, recent efforts attempted to manually assemble centromeres using long error-prone reads. We describe the centroFlye algorithm for centromere assembly using long error-prone reads, apply it for assembling the human X centromere, and use the constructed assembly to gain insights into centromere evolution. Our analysis reveals putative breakpoints in the previous manual reconstruction of the human X centromere and opens a possibility to automatically close the remaining multi-megabase gaps in the reference human genome.
JunB controls intestinal effector programs in regulatory T cells
Authors: Wheaton Joshua D. , Ciofani Maria 
Published: September 2019

AbstractFoxp3-expressing regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical mediators of immunological tolerance to both self and microbial antigens. Tregs activate context-dependent transcriptional programs to adapt effector function to specific tissues; however, the factors controlling tissue-specific gene expression in Tregs remain unclear. Here, we find that the AP-1 transcription factor JunB regulates the intestinal adaptation of Tregs by controlling select gene expression programs in multiple Treg subsets. Treg-specific ablation of JunB results in immune dysregulation characterized by enhanced colonic T helper cell accumulation and cytokine production. However, in contrast to its classical binding-partner BATF, JunB is dispensable for maintenance of effector Tregs as well as most specialized Treg subsets. In the Peyer’s patches, JunB activates a transcriptional program facilitating the maintenance of CD25- Tregs, leading to the complete loss of T follicular regulatory cells in the absence of JunB. This defect is compounded by loss of a separate effector program found in both major colonic Treg subsets that includes the cytolytic effector molecule granzyme B. Therefore, JunB is an essential regulator of intestinal Treg effector function through pleiotropic effects on gene expression.
The MYB Activator WHITE PETAL1 Associates with MtTT8 and MtWD40-1 to Regulate Carotenoid-Derived Flower Pigmentation in Medicago truncatula
Authors: Meng Yingying , Wang Zuoyi , Wang Yiqin , Wang Chongnan , Zhu Butuo , Liu Huan , Ji Wenkai , Wen Jiangqi , Chu Chengcai , Tadege Million , Niu Lifang , Lin Hao 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Carotenoids are a group of natural tetraterpenoid pigments with indispensable roles in the plant life cycle and the human diet. Although the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway has been well characterized, the regulatory mechanisms that control carotenoid metabolism, especially in floral organs, remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified an anthocyanin-related R2R3-MYB protein, WHITE PETAL1 (WP1), that plays a critical role in regulating floral carotenoid pigmentation in Medicago truncatula. Carotenoid analyses showed that the yellow petals of the wild-type M. truncatula contained high concentrations of carotenoids that largely consisted of esterified lutein and that disruption of WP1 function via Tnt1 insertion led to substantially reduced lutein accumulation. WP1 mainly functions as a transcriptional activator and directly regulates the expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes including MtLYCe and MtLYCb through its C-terminal acidic activation motif. Further molecular and genetic analyses revealed that WP1 physically interacts with MtTT8 and MtWD40-1 proteins and that this interaction facilitates WP1’s function in the transcriptional activation of both carotenoid and anthocyanin biosynthetic genes. Our findings demonstrate the molecular mechanism of WP1-mediated regulation of floral carotenoid pigmentation and suggest that the conserved MYB-basic-helix-loop-helix-WD40 regulatory module functions in carotenoid biosynthesis in M. truncatula, with specificity imposed by the MYB partner.
Improving accountability for farm animal welfare: the performative role of a benchmark device
Authors: McLaren Josie , Appleyard Tony 
Published: September 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate accountability for farm animal welfare (FAW) in food companies. FAW is an important social issue, yet it is difficult to define and measure, meaning that it is difficult for companies to demonstrate accountability. The authors investigate a proposed solution, the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW), and how it has disrupted the informal rules or culture of the market. The research questions centre on the process of response to BBFAW and the necessary characteristics for BBFAW to play a performative role in the market.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper employs an analysis of published BBFAW reports (2012–2017) and case study interviews in five BBFAW firms, in order to address the research questions.

Findings
The authors present evidence of a dynamic, repetitive process, starting with recognition of the importance of FAW and BBFAW, followed by internal discussions and the commitment of resources, and changes in communication to external stakeholders. Three necessary characteristics for performativity are proposed: common language, building networks and expanding markets.

Originality/value
This paper reflects a socially important issue that is under-represented in the accounting literature. The results provide an insight into the use of external accounts to drive collaboratively the social change agenda. The performativity process and identified characteristics contribute to expanding this literature in the accounting domain.
Close encounters and the illusion of accountability in the sharing economy
Authors: McDaid Emma , Boedker Christina , Free Clinton 
Published: September 2019

PurposeOnline ratings and reviews have recently emerged as mechanisms to facilitate accountability and transparency in the provision of goods and services. The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature and outcome of the accountability that online ratings and reviews create in the sharing economy.Design/methodology/approachThe study draws on 30 face-to-face and Skype interviews with Airbnb guests and hosts as well as on secondary materials, including content from Airbnb data analytic reports.FindingsThe authors demonstrate that face-saving practices widely condition user ratings and comments. Face saving occurs when individuals attempt to preserve their own identity and the identity of others during a social interaction. At Airbnb, the authors find that reviewers adopt three distinct face-saving strategies: the use of private reviewing channels, the creation of tactful reviews and refraining from reviewing entirely. The authors also find that users are sceptical of rating metrics and public comments and draw upon a wide range of alternative sources, such as private messaging and other publicly available resources, in their decision making.Originality/valueThis paper highlights the overwhelmingly positive character of Airbnb ratings and reviews. It proposes the concept of crowdbased accountability as a limited, partial form of assurance for sharing economy users. Guests and hosts alike prioritise face-saving practices over reviewer responsibilities to provide authentic, reliable accounts to the public. Consequently, reviewers effectively remove the risk of sanctions for those in the network who underperform.
Stakeholder engagement and dialogic accounting
Authors: Bellucci Marco , Simoni Lorenzo , Acuti Diletta , Manetti Giacomo 
Published: September 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explain how sustainability reporting and stakeholder engagement processes serve as vehicles of dialogic accounting (DA), a form of critical accounting that creates opportunities for stakeholders to express their opinions, and the influence of dialogic interactions on the content of sustainability reports.

Design/methodology/approach
Content analysis is used to investigate reports published by 299 companies that have adopted Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. This paper studies how organizations engage stakeholders, the categories of stakeholders that are being addressed, the methods used to support stakeholder engagement, and other features of the stakeholder engagement process. Companies that disclose stakeholder perceptions, the difficulties met in engaging stakeholders, and actions aimed at creating opportunities for different groups of stakeholders to interact were subjects of discussion in a series of semi-structured interviews that focus on DA.

Findings
Companies often commit themselves to two-way dialogue with their stakeholders, but fully developed frameworks for DA are rare. However, signs of DA emerged in the analysis, thus confirming that sustainability reporting can become a platform for DA systems if stakeholder engagement is effective.

Originality/value
The findings contribute to the accounting literature by discussing if and how sustainability reporting and stakeholder engagement can serve as vehicles of DA. This is accomplished via a research design that is based on in-depth interviews and content analysis of various sustainability reports.
Farmers’ characteristics’ and the propensity to reduce debt
Authors: Greig Bruce , Nuthall Peter , Old Kevin 
Published: September 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate a farm manager’s personal characteristics (personality, age, education, objectives, experience, etc.) as drivers of debt payback success and rates. Traditionally bankers have used historic business statistics, and equity levels, to assess loans and credit worthiness. It is hypothesised that a managers’ personal characteristics are likely to be a better predictor of future debt payback performance.

Design/methodology/approach
The literature was searched to isolate the managers’ personal variables likely to determine debt payback. The information led to defining a quantitative model based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) which was hypothesised as determining payback rates where a choice was available. A postal random stratified survey of NZ owner operator farm managers provided the data to test the model and define its parameters using regressions, structural equation modelling and statistical comparisons.

Findings
The modelling results make it clear a manager’s personal characteristics are highly correlated with debt payback and, logically, are very likely to be the drivers. Four random effects equations and a comparison of high- and low-debt payback managers led to this conclusion.

Practical implications
Bankers should use the managers’ personal characteristics, as defined in the regressions, alongside traditional measures when assessing farm business loan requests. This approach is opposite to the traditional methods using mainly historic data.

Originality/value
The use of the TPB in assessing debt payback is a new and novel approach showing how enduring personal characteristics can be used in assessing proposals, and particularly, entrepreneurs’ adventurist investments in situations where historic data are not available.
Building an integrated conceptual model of competitive learning capability
Authors: Muneeb Dilnaz , Khong Kok Wei , Ennew Christine , Avvari Mohan 
Published: September 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the overarching role of learning capabilities by presenting a framework to describe how learning capability development is captured by combining the three main elements of internal marketing orientation, exploratory capabilities and resource recombination.Design/methodology/approachThis is a conceptual paper building upon the theoretical integration approach of Mayer and Sparrowe (2013) to establish competitive empowerment through learning capability development, effective internal response and resources recombination.FindingsThe competitive learning capability model provides a firm’s foundation for theorizing organizational competitive models from an internal perspective, by mastering learning capability development at the centre of the model.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper emphasizes the competitive connotation of learning capabilities as a construct in strategic management. It shows the underlying role of learning across organizational processes; hence, its theoretical significance through the learning capabilities model.Practical implicationsThis paper argues that learning is at the centre of organizational competitiveness. Firms can achieve more fruitful results by continuously implementing resource integration strategies built on their learned experiences.Originality/valueThe principal significance of this paper lies in the achievement of conceptualizing learning from a strategic management perspective. Insight in this area helps bridge organizational efforts in pursuit of competitive advantage by exploiting key core learning competencies embedded in a firm’s resources and capabilities.
Re-patronization at hospital healthy cafeterias: what does it take for the occurrence?
Authors: A.R. Abdul Rais , M.S.M. Zahari , C.T. Chik , M.H. Hanafiah 
Published: September 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to confirm the inter-relationship between healthy cafeteria attributes, perceived value, eating behaviour, satisfaction and post-purchase behaviour in the hospital setting.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model proposed comprises of five latent variables representing healthy cafeteria attributes, perceived value, eating behaviour, satisfaction and post-purchase behaviour. A total of 570 completed questionnaires were collected, and the hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling.FindingsThis study found that eating behaviour and satisfaction significantly mediates the relationship between healthy cafeteria attributes and customers’ post-purchase behaviour. Meanwhile, customers’ perceived value weakly moderates the relationship between healthy cafeteria and eating behaviour.Originality/valueThis paper is among the first few which attempt to holistically measure the attributes that influence people to visit healthy cafeterias and the subsequent effect they have towards their post-purchase behaviour. The novelty of this study is portrayed through the inclusion of eating behaviour and the perceived value dimension in healthy foodservice study, which is still minimal compared to commercial foodservice.
Improving the new product development using big data: a case study of a food company
Authors: Jagtap Sandeep , Duong Linh Nguyen Khanh 
Published: September 2019

Purpose
Recently, the concept of big data (BD) has evolved and started to play an essential role in the advancement of new product development (NPD) in various sectors contributing to value creation, idea generation and competitive advantage. However, limited research has been done on how the food industry can exploit BD to improve the processes involved in NPD. The purpose of this paper is to understand the use of BD in new food product development. It helps to find relevant information and integrate sustainability to the early stages of the NPD process in the food industry.

Design/methodology/approach
This research illustrates a case study of a beverage company wherein they used BD analytics to support their NPD team to launch a two-litre lemonade drink in the market for their retailer with less than 5 g sugar per 100 ml in the shortest possible time.

Findings
The use of BD helps to reduce NPD costs and time without affecting the taste and on par with competitor’s products.

Originality/value
The research can support NPD professionals through the application of BD analytics to bring products at lower costs to the market as quickly as possible.
Typology of university students regarding attitudes towards food waste
Authors: Knezevic Blazenka , Kurnoga Natasa , Anic Ivan-Damir 
Published: September 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the knowledge, awareness and concern of young consumers towards avoidable and “edible” food waste, and identify groups of individuals based on their attitudes. In addition, this study describes demographic and behavioural characteristics of each group.

Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected by a questionnaire conducted among university students in Croatia. Factor and cluster analyses were applied to identify the groups of individuals with similar attitudes towards food waste.

Findings
Results show that there are five factors that represent the knowledge, awareness and concern about food waste of young people – awareness of food waste problem; concern about economic aspects of food waste; health concern; concern about environmental impact of food waste; and awareness and concern about expiration date. Based on those factors, four groups of consumers were identified: consumers concerned about economic effects of food waste; unaware consumers neglecting food waste; well-informed consumers; and fully aware consumers, but not ready to take health risk.

Practical implications
The results of the study can be used by marketers and policy makers when planning food waste reduction activities to focus their campaigns towards consumer niches, based on the typology of young consumers.

Originality/value
This study provides a typology of university students based on their knowledge, awareness and concern about food waste in Croatia, as an example of a transition and new EU member state, where the issues about food waste are relatively new and underexplored topic.
Plant-based foods in Canada: information, trust and closing the commercialization gap
Authors: Clark Lisa Frances , Bogdan Ana-Maria 
Published: September 2019

Purpose
Despite the growing awareness of links between meat consumption and human, animal and environmental health, consumption rates of protein rich plant-based foods (PBFs) in Canada remain relatively low. The purpose of this paper is to better understand how information sources and trust relate to PBFs in Canadians’ diets, and how these variables may factor into closing the commercialization gap for PBFs in Canada.

Design/methodology/approach
A geographically representative sample of Canadians (n=410) participated in a 20-minute, online survey. The survey consists of 24 questions covering demographic characteristics, motivations behind current and future food choices, frequency of current PBF consumption, sources of information about PBFs and trust levels of these sources.

Findings
Most Canadians get information about PBFs from labels, the internet and family and friends, but only half trust these sources to provide accurate information. Sources of information (e.g. licensed health care professionals) that rank high in trust are only consulted by a minority of respondents. Several information sources (e.g. family and friends) are associated with consumers’ willingness to try new PBFs, whereas other sources (e.g. labels) are associated with Canadians being unlikely to try new PBFs.

Originality/value
Understanding the patterns of where Canadians access information about PBFs and what sources of information are trusted can help to strategically place information about PBF qualities among select information sources and to remove some of the information barriers contributing to the PBF commercialization gap.
Corporate social responsibility in a local subsidiary: internal and external stakeholders’ power
Authors: Marques Pilar , Bernardo Merce , Presas Pilar , Simon Alexandra 
Published: September 2019

PurposeUsing a theoretical and empirical focus on the power stakeholders exert, the purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the factors that influence the subsidiaries of multinationals’ participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR) under the pressures (expectations and demands) their complex system of internal and external stakeholders’ places upon them.Design/methodology/approachUsing an in-depth case study, the relationship a local subsidiary in the food and beverage industry has with its stakeholders as regards CSR is analyzed.FindingsThe findings illustrate three main aspects: how the local company is affected by and how it affects its stakeholders (an example of the multidirectionality of power and influence); the direct and indirect practices that are adopted to address challenges; and the importance of the role the local subsidiary plays as an implementer and diffuser of its parent organization’s responsible practices across the industry value chain.Originality/valueTo the best of authors’ knowledge, the focus is on analyzing the power stakeholders have in the context of multinational companies that has not been applied before, and the outcome of using this approach is that the authors have uncovered gaps in the literature for future research.