bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal differential abundance analysis of microbial marker-gene surveys using smoothing splines
Authors: Paulson Joseph N. , Talukder Hisham , Corrada Bravo Héctor 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBackgroundHigh-throughput targeted sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA marker gene is often used to profile and characterize the taxonomic composition of microbial communities. This type of big high-through sequencing data is rapidly being applied to various infectious diseases like diarrhea. While many studies are limited to single “snapshots” of these communities, there is increasing recognition that longitudinal profiling of these communities are required to understand community dynamics and the complex relationships between dynamics and phenotypes of interest. Statistical methods that determine microbial features that are differentially expressed are required as an initial step to characterizing phenotypic associations with community dynamics in big data and infectious diseases.ResultsWe present a novel method for longitudinal marker-gene surveys based on smoothing splines that allows discovery and inference of time periods where specific microbial features are differentially abundant. We applied our method to three 16S marker-gene surveys, including, groups of gnotobiotic mice on two diets, patients challenged with ETEC (H10407), and a vaginal microbiome of healthy women. Employing our methodology we recover known bacterial differences and highlight a few extra species providing insight into when specific changes occurred. Additionally, in the cohort challenged with ETEC we recover proposed probiotic bacteriaBacteroides xylanisolvens, Collinsella aerofaciens, andFaecalibacterium prausnitziiassociatons with healthy individuals.ConclusionsThe method presented is, to our knowledge, the first flexible method of its kind implemented as a software capable of detecting time periods of differential abundance for microbial features species between two or more sample groups of interest. Our method is available within themetagenomeSeqopen-source software for analysis of metagenomic package available through the Bioconductor project and is termed metaSplines.
Taxonomic identification of airborne pollen from complex environmental samples by DNA metabarcoding: a methodological study for optimizing protocols
Authors: Leontidou Kleopatra , Vernesi Cristiano , De Groeve Johannes , Cristofolini Fabiana , Vokou Despoina , Cristofori Antonella 
Published: January 2017

AbstractMetabarcoding is a promising DNA-based method for identifying airborne pollen from environmental samples with advantages over microscopic methods. This method requires several preparatory steps of the samples, with the extraction protocol being of fundamental importance to obtain an optimal DNA yield. Currently, there is no consensus in sample preparation and DNA extraction, especially for gravimetric pollen samplers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop protocols to process environmental samples for pollen DNA extraction and further metabarcoding analysis, and to assess the efficacy of these protocols for the taxonomic assignment of airborne pollen, collected by gravimetric (Tauber trap) and volumetric samplers (Burkard spore trap). Protocols were tested across an increasing complexity of samples, from single-species pure pollen to environmental samples. A short fragment (about 150 base pair) of chloroplast DNA was amplified by universal primers for plants (trnL). After PCR amplification, amplicons were Sanger-sequenced and taxonomic assignment was accomplished by comparison to a custom-made reference database including chloroplast DNA sequences of 46 plant families, including most of the anemophilous taxa occurring in the study area (Trentino, Italy, Eastern Italian Alps). Using as a benchmark the classical morphological pollen analysis, it emerged that DNA metabarcoding is applicable efficiently across a complexity of samples, provided that sample preparation, DNA extraction and amplification protocols are specifically optimized.
Deconvolution of multiple infections inPlasmodium falciparumfrom high throughput sequencing data
Authors: Zhu Sha Joe , Almagro-Garcia Jacob , McVean Gil 
Published: January 2017

MotivationThe presence of multiple infecting strains of the malarial parasitePlasmodium falciparumaffects key phenotypic traits, including drug resistance and risk of severe disease. Advances in protocols and sequencing technology have made it possible to obtain high-coverage genome-wide sequencing data from blood samples and blood spots taken in the field. However, analysing and interpreting such data is challenging because of the high rate of multiple infections present.ResultsWe have developed a statistical method and implementation for deconvolving multiple genome sequences present in an individual with mixed infections. The software packageDEploiduses haplotype structure within a reference panel of clonal isolates as a prior for haplotypes present in a given sample. It estimates the number of strains, their relative proportions and the haplotypes presented in a sample, allowing researchers to study multiple infection in malaria with an unprecedented level of detail.Availability and implementationThe open source implementationDEploidis freely available athttps://github.com/mcveanlab/DEploidunder the conditions of the GPLv3 license. An R version is available athttps://github.com/mcveanlab/DEploid-r.Contactjoe.zhu@well.ox.ac.ukormcvean@well.ox.ac.uk
Cross-cultural comparison of consumer pre-purchase decision-making
Authors: Assawavichairoj Sutthipat , Taghian Mehdi 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cultural differences in female consumers’ motivation to purchase appearance-enhancing products, particularly anti-aging creams.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a qualitative research design to collect the data. Focus group discussions were used. The participants were selected from Thai and Australian females, 25-45 years old in Melbourne representing the most frequent users of anti-aging products.

Findings
The results indicated variations among participants in their motivation to seek a better appearance. The motivation ranged from a combination of striving to achieve an ideal self and a high level of social acceptability through maintaining youthful appearance and improving on the perceived declining youthful appearance. Using anti-aging products turned out to be a means for taking care of oneself, achieving better social acceptability and improving self-image. These key motivations are inspired by the individual’s social condition and from the reactions they receive from others. These motivations are shared by all participants, but within different cultural perspectives.

Research limitations/implications
The main limitation is in relation to the true expression of attitudes by respondents, particularly in regard to the discussion of privately held beliefs about self-image, social acceptability and personal appearance. Additionally, the variations between cultural perceptions are only indicative of real differences between collectivist and individualistic cultures.

Practical implications
Managers can adopt a cultural framework for understanding their consumers’ motivations to enhance their appearance, formulate more accurately their marketing strategy and activate and satisfy their consumers’ demand and better inform their new product developments.

Originality/value
The analysis explains and compares the differences and similarities in female consumers’ motivations for anti-aging product consumption of two fundamentally different cultural value systems.
Agile supply chain management (ASCM): a management decision-making approach
Authors: Malakouti Maryam , Rezaei Sajad , Shahijan Milad Kalantari 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine agile supply chain management (ASCM) among SMEs in manufacturing-related services sector. The study propose that entrepreneurial orientation (EO), participative management style, supplier relations, resource management, just-in-time (JIT) methodology and technology utilization (TU) are several drivers of ASCM – an effective management decision-making approach.

Design/methodology/approach
A total of 197 questionnaires were collected among SMEs to empirically test the proposed model. Structural equation modelling was employed using partial least squares approach to assess measurement and structural model for reflective and formative constructs.

Findings
The results reveal that EO, supplier relations, resource management, JIT methodology and TU positively influence ASCM while participative management style is not a predictor towards an effective ASCM. Moreover, EO was found to be a second-order formative construct comprising of innovativeness, risk taking and proactiveness, and ASCM is a first-order formative construct.

Originality/value
Prior literature regarding supply chain management (SCM) has focussed mainly on critical success factors of SCM and green SCM. Limited empirical studies have examined the influence of EO, participative management style, supplier relations, resource management, JIT methodology and TU on ASCM among SMEs in manufacturing-related services sector.
Market segmentation and pricing strategies based on product platform
Authors: Su Qin , Liu Weiyan 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the issue of optimal pricing strategies for two substitutable products from the same product platform and the effects of variations in product architecture.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors design a product line which consists of two substitutable products and use a traditional market segmentation research framework to analyze the pricing and product design strategies.

Findings
It is concluded that profit tends to rise in a centralized supply chain at the expense of market share of the integral product. In a decentralized supply chain, one product will reduce its market share so as to enhance the degree of modularity. Although enhancing the extent of integration of a product will bring in more flexibility during the design of the product line, this will do so at the expense of the market share of the other product.

Originality/value
The authors find that the two products form a product line and share a common module belonging to the platform, so any changes in the modules (changes in product architecture) not only affect the product in question but also the other one in the product line.
Own brand strategy of the Japanese apparel manufacturers
Authors: Urakami Takuya , Wu Xueying 
Published: January 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the own brand strategies undertaken by Japanese apparel manufacturers, and illuminate the characteristics of those apparel manufacturers who adopt the SPA business model.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was sent to 4,417 apparel manufacturers in Japan of which a total of 1,211 were deemed usable (response rate of 27.47 percent). Logit regression analysis was then employed to identify factors affecting the own brand strategies adopted by Japanese apparel manufacturers.FindingsThe main findings are as follows: apparel manufacturers having access to external designers, and who collect information relating to consumer needs for production planning tend to have their own brands; apparel manufacturers located in Tokyo have added benefits associated with launching their own brands than those located in other cities; the size of the company behind the brand development is insignificant; and therefore, SME apparel manufacturers have equal opportunities in developing their own brands, which could flourish in the future.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study is limited in that it focuses solely on exogenous factors. Strategic decision-making processes, typical of the distribution structures of apparel industries, influence the apparel relationship between retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers. Thus, the distribution structure and the relationships require further investigation studies.Originality/valueBecause of a lack of published data, no empirical studies investigating the effectiveness of own brand strategies developed by Japanese apparel manufacturers currently exist. The present study aims to address this by conducting questionnaire surveys with all Japanese apparel manufacturers and then using logit regression analysis, identify the primary factors influencing own brand strategy. This study clarifies the situation regarding the survival of SMEs in the apparel market, considering only those apparel manufacturers who intend to launch their own brands.
What does it take to implement open innovation? Towards an integrated capability framework
Authors: Hosseini Sabiölla , Kees Alexandra , Manderscheid Jonas , Röglinger Maximilian , Rosemann Michael 
Published: January 2017

PurposeIn a world of ever-changing corporate environments and reduced product life cycles, most organizations cannot afford anymore to innovate on their own. Hence, they open their innovation processes to incorporate knowledge of external sources and to increase their innovation potential. As the shift toward open innovation (OI) is difficult and makes many initiatives fail, the question arises which capabilities organizations should develop to successfully implement OI. As the literature encompasses mature but isolated streams on OI capabilities, there is a need for an integrated capability framework. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes the open innovation capability framework (OICF) that compiles and structures capabilities relevant for implementing OI. The OICF covers the outside-in and coupled processes of OI. To integrate multiple streams of the OI literature, the OICF builds on a structured literature review. The OICF was also validated in a two-step review process with OI experts from academia and industry.FindingsThe OICF comprises 23 capability areas grouped along the factors such as strategic alignment, governance, methods, information technology, people, and culture. To analyze the existing body of knowledge on OI capabilities, the authors compare the OICF with other OI-related capability frameworks and compile a heatmap based on the results of the literature review. The authors also discuss the experts’ feedback on individual factors of the OICF as well as on interdependencies among these factors.Practical implicationsThe OICF provides practitioners with a structured overview of the capabilities to consider when implementing OI. Based on the OICF, practitioners can define the scope of their OI initiatives. They can use the OICF as a foundation for prioritizing, selecting, and operationalizing capability areas as well as for deriving implementation roadmaps.Originality/valueThe OICF is the first framework to take a holistic perspective on OI capabilities. It integrates mature but isolated research streams of OI. It helps practitioners define the scope of OI initiatives and academics gain insights into the current state of the art on OI capabilities.
BPM governance: a literature analysis of performance evaluation
Authors: Ensslin Leonardo , Ensslin Sandra Rolim , Dutra Ademar , Nunes Nei Antônio , Reis Cassiano 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to collect data and select a bibliographic portfolio (BP) of the literature on the performance evaluation of business process management (BPM) governance, in order to highlight studies aligned with business process governance, and with scientific recognition and its bibliometric parameters.

Design/methodology/approach
The research method is qualitative and the process of identification, selection, and analysis of the articles in the BP took place through evaluation and interpretation by the authors of this research. Regarding data collection, this research used primary data in the selection of the BP, and secondary data when the authors analyzed the articles.

Findings
The paper selects a set of 19 articles with scientific recognition and aligned with the research topic, which refers to the performance evaluation of BPM governance. This set is called the BP, and highlights and contains the most often present journals, articles, authors, and keywords found in the search performed by the authors.

Originality/value
This research uses thorough procedures for the selection process that differ from traditional procedures: the selection process is structured in a way that allows checking of each research stage; the research topic is fragmented into many areas of study and the search is carried out simultaneously in all these areas; and the researchers interact with the search process and as they expand their learning they adjust the search direction.
Legislation for building back better of horizontal infrastructure
Authors: Bassett Mark , Wilkinson Suzanne , Mannakkara Sandeeka 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine how post-disaster legislation can be used to support building back better (BBB) in the horizontal infrastructure sector (roading, water, wastewater and stormwater networks).

Design/methodology/approach
A case study approach was taken looking at the rebuild following the Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand. Data were collected through document analysis and semi-structured open-ended interviews with members of the organization responsible for implementing the horizontal infrastructure rebuild.

Findings
The results showed that the post-disaster legislative actions taken in Christchurch were comparable to existing findings on post-disaster legislative best practices in developed countries. This study confirmed that post-disaster legislation is an effective mechanism to support BBB through enforcing BBB concepts such as risk reduction and better implementation, and facilitating the recovery process to improve efficiency.

Research limitations/implications
It is recommended that this study is extended to conduct similar case studies in other countries to further explore legislative implications in different sectors as well as different legislative environments.

Originality/value
This paper makes a valuable contribution to existing research on how post-disaster legislation can be used to support BBB in the horizontal infrastructure sector. The findings also add to wider knowledge on the Canterbury earthquakes recovery process.
A multi-dimensional joint confidence limit approach to mixed mode planning for round-the-clock projects
Authors: Shahtaheri Maryam , Haas Carl Thomas , Salimi Tabassom 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
Good planning is key to good project performance. However, for the sub-class of round-the-clock projects requiring mixed mode planning a suitable planning approach does not exist. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate such an approach.

Design/methodology/approach
Development of the approach builds on a synthesis and extensions of previous work related to projects with round-the-clock schedules, containing multiple workflows (sequential/cyclical). This approach considers the interdependence among shift-schedule, productivity, calendar duration, and risk registers. It quantifies the confidence in those strategies using a Monte Carlo and a multi-dimensional joint confidence limit (JCL) simulation platform.

Findings
n of workflows and their interdependencies. Also, the platform results show that the deviation between the deterministic outcomes and the simulated ones are a good indicator when dealing with projects with minimal tolerance for possible imposed mitigation strategies (e.g. round-the-clock projects).

Research limitations/implications
The validation of the approach is limited to a multi-billion dollar nuclear refurbishment case study and functional demonstration. The applicable class of projects is limited, and includes those for which failure of cost, schedule, or quality implies project failure.

Originality/value
It is anticipated that the proposed approach will assist with developing a realistic planning strategy by incorporating various factors and constraints under the impact of risks and uncertainty. This may lead to a more reliable determination of outcomes for round-the-clock projects.
Conceptualizing and measuring life priorities of Generation Y: evidences from Indian context
Authors: Khera Shikha N. , Malik Sahil 
Published: January 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the life priorities of Gen Y, the largest cohort of generation in India. Further variations in the life priorities of Gen Y with regard to their demographics have also been analyzed.Design/methodology/approachTen-item Schwartz Value Inventory was subjected to factor analysis to explore defining factors for studying the life priorities of Gen Y in Indian context. Respondents ranking of the factors so revealed will allow us to study their preferred life priorities. The effect of demographics was assessed by employing an independent samplet-test.FindingsFactor analysis revealed two factors, “materialism” and “altruism,” and Gen Y preferred materialism over altruism as their life priority. Gender and work experience did not show significant differences with regard to the life preferences Gen Y.Practical implicationsGen Y is increasing its presence at workplaces across the world, and limited research has been done to study their motivations, needs and expectations at work in Indian context. This study could help managers gain insightful information related to the life priorities of Gen Y which could be harnessed to make effective strategies for their recruitment and retention.Originality/valueThe paper provides a valuable contribution by measuring the life priorities of Gen Y in India and adds to the scant literature on this cohort of generation.