bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extensive alternative splicing transitions during postnatal skeletal muscle development are required for calcium handling functions
Authors: Brinegar Amy E. , Xia Zheng , Loehr James A. , Li Wei , Rodney George G. , Cooper Thomas A. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractPostnatal development of skeletal muscle is a highly dynamic period of tissue remodeling. Here we used RNA-seq to identify transcriptome changes from late embryonic to adult mouse muscle and demonstrate that alternative splicing developmental transitions impact muscle physiology. The first two weeks after birth are particularly dynamic for differential gene expression and AS transitions, and calciumhandling functions are significantly enriched among genes that undergo alternative splicing. We focused on the postnatal splicing transitions of three calcineurin A genes, calcium-dependent phosphatases that regulate multiple aspects of muscle biology. Redirected splicing of calcineurin A to the fetal isoforms in adult muscle and in differentiated C2C12 slows the timing of muscle relaxation, promotes nuclear localization of calcineurin targets Nfatc3 and Nfatc2, and affects expression of Nfatc transcription targets. The results demonstrate a previously unknown specificity of calcineurin isoforms as well as the broader impact of AS during muscle postnatal development.
Modeling the consequences of heterogeneity in microbial population dynamics
Authors: Herrmann Helena , Lawless Conor 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACTChapter 1The rate at which unicellular micro-organisms progress through the cell cycle is a major component of their evolutionary fitness. Measuring fitness phenotypes in a given environment or genetic background forms the basis of most quantitative assays of drug sensitivity or genetic interaction, including genome-wide assays. Growth rate is typically measured in bulk cell populations, inoculated with anything from hundreds to millions of cells sampled from purified, isogenic colonies. High-throughput microscopy reveals that striking levels of growth rate heterogeneity arise between isogenic cell lineages (Levyet al., 2012). Using publishedSaccharomyces cerevisiaedata, I examine the implications for interpreting bulk, population scale growth rate observations, given observed levels of growth rate heterogeneity at the lineage level. I demonstrate that selection between cell lineages with a range of growth rates can give rise to an apparent lag phase at the population level, even in the absence of evidence for a lag phase at the lineage level. My simulations further predict that, given observed levels of heterogeneity, final populations should be dominated by one or a few lineages.Chapter 2In order to validate and further explore the conclusions from Chapter 1, I re-analyzed high-throughput microscopy experiments carried out on Quantitative Fitness Analysis (QFA)S. cerevisiaecultures (Addinallet al., 2011), an approach referred to asμQFA. To allow for precise observation of purely clonal lineages including very fast-growing lineages and non-dividing cells, I re-designed an existing image analysis tool forμQFA, now available as an open source Python package. Fast-growing outliers in particular influence the extent of the lag phase apparent at the population level, making the precision of growth rate estimation a key ingredient for successfully simulating population observations.μQFA data include population observations which I used to validate the population simulations generated from individual lineage data. I explored various options for modeling lineage growth curves and for carrying out growth rate parameter inference, and included the full workflow in an open source R package.Contacthelena.herrmann@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
Changes in the geography of Brazilian diet diversity
Authors: Mores Giana de Vargas , Talamini Edson , Dewes Homero 
Published: April 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the evolution of Brazilian food patterns, based on the 2002-2003 and 2008-2009 Brazilian Household Budget Surveys (POFs), and to evaluate similarities in food acquisition among the Brazilian states, in search for the main drivers of the changes.Design/methodology/approachUsing the data gathered from the 17 food groups within the POFs and multidimensional scaling, the Brazilian states were divided into groups and analysed according to their similarities in terms of annual per capita household food acquisition.FindingsThe study’s results point to five groups with similarities in terms of food acquisition among the Brazilian states. Additionally, the issues that reflect Brazil’s diversity were discussed, highlighting possible factors that caused the movement of some states between groups during the analysis period. The heterogeneity observed in food acquisition in Brazil emphasises Brazilian agribusiness development and underscores the influence of the food supply chains on the regional food patterns.Originality/valueThis research presents the geographic changes in the Brazilian agribusiness, and how these changes are reflected in the population food patterns and in the heterogeneity in food acquisition among the Brazilian states. Concerning this work, supply chains of agri-industrial products focussed on the domestic market can be analysed in depth, offering guidelines for future research in logistics and agri-industrial economy.
The influence of condiment availability on cuisine selection
Authors: Pellegrino Robert , Frederick Brittany , Tijare Vishwesh , da Silveira Venzel Ana H. , Rios Alisson A. , Gomes Thais M.C. , Santos Jucilene Sena dos , Seo Han-Seok 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
In most restaurants or dining facilities, even though a set of condiments such as salt, black pepper, ketchup, and mustard, is placed on the tables, and such condiments are a staple of many cuisines, they have been largely ignored with respect to understanding their effects on food choice. The purpose of this study is to determine whether condiments placed on tables at dining facilities can affect consumers’ cuisine selection.

Design/methodology/approach
Four individual booths were set up with four different condiment configurations: 1) branded ketchup and mustard, 2) unbranded ketchup and mustard, 3) unbranded soy sauce and chili-garlic sauce, and 4) no condiment. In all, 68 participants were assigned in random sequence to all booths, with each given a menu listing nine different cuisines (three North American, three Asian, and three Hispanic cuisines) in a random order, and asked to identify their top three preferred cuisines at each booth.

Findings
Participants chose Asian cuisines with higher priority than Mexican and North American selections when Asian condiments were placed on the table. Interestingly, this effect occurred only when the participants had noticed the condiment setting, but not when they had unnoticed it. Such Asian condiment availability-induced cuisine selection was also more pronounced for external eaters.

Research limitations/implications
Food service professionals and business owners, especially in food courts comprised of a variety of ethnic food vendors, should perhaps consider placing a set of condiments associated with their target cuisines at visible table spaces at dining facilities, thereby leading customers to select their cuisine items.

Originality/value
This study provides new empirical evidence that consumers are more likely to select cuisines congruent to the choice of condiment setting placed on their dining table.
Food expenditure patterns, preferences, policy, and access of Rwandan households
Authors: Weatherspoon Dave D. , Steele-Adjognon Marie , Niyitanga Fidèle , Dushimumuremyi Jean Paul , Naseem Anwar , Oehmke James 
Published: April 2017

PurposeAn extended period of economic growth along with stubborn childhood stunting and wasting levels raises questions about how consumer food purchasing behaviors respond to income increases in Rwanda. The purpose of this paper is to assess the role income, prices, policy, agricultural production, and market access play on how rural households purchase different food groups.Design/methodology/approachSix separate log-normal double hurdle models are run on six different food groups to examine what affects the probability a household purchases in each food group and for those who do purchase, what determines the quantity purchased.FindingsRural Rwandans are price and expenditure responsive but prices have more impact on food group purchases. Crop production resulted in reduced household market procurement for its associated food group but had mixed effects on the purchases of all other food groups. Rural Rwandans purchase and consume low amounts of animal-based proteins which may be a leading factor related to the high stunting and wasting rates. Owning an animal increased the purchased quantity of meat but lowered the purchased quantity of most other food groups.Practical implicationsResults suggest that policies and programs have to address multiple constraints simultaneously to increase the purchases of the limited food groups in the rural household diets that may be contributing to the high rates of stunting and wasting.Originality/valueThis study is the first to evaluate the interplay among prices, household income, household production, policies and donor programs, and demographic variables on rural Rwandan household food purchases.
Self-concept, product involvement and consumption occasions
Authors: Roe David , Bruwer Johan 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which consumer self-concept (self-esteem) and product involvement influences the wine purchase decision at the retail level given the anticipated consumption occasion. The predictive effects of self-concept on this interaction were also explored.

Design/methodology/approach
Data collection was in the independent specialist fine wine store environment in Sydney, Australia. Central to the study was the development of a 33-item multi-dimensional fine wine involvement scale (Cronbach’s α =0.846 for 26 final items) for measuring consumers’ involvement.

Findings
Wine product involvement deepens with age but low involvement consumers perceiving risk in making the wrong product choice may well purchase fine wines for situations where self-concept is a moderating factor. In the case of low involvement wine consumers a positive association exists between situational wine choice and self-concept but no significant differences exist for self-concept across any of the consumption occasions. Age and self-concept were both confirmed as linked to levels of consumption. The findings support the notion that wine consumers aged 45 years and older are significantly more disposed to purchase fine wine products.

Practical implications
For self-concept to be relevant to purchase it follows that the wine consumption occasion must be conspicuous.

Originality/value
This study is the first to examine the extent to which consumer self-concept and product involvement influences the wine purchase decision at the retail level given the anticipated consumption occasion.
Hold me responsible
Authors: Arslanagic-Kalajdzic Maja , Zabkar Vesna 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
Corporate communication practices are becoming ever more important for business service clients, as they signal quality and hence are related to client-perceived value. The purpose of this paper is to examine the interplay between corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate reputation and client-perceived value, and to assess the moderating role of strategic orientation in business service relationships.

Design/methodology/approach
The conceptual framework based on the corporate communication framework, signaling theory and relationship marketing theory has been tested on a survey sample of 228 client firms, using covariance-based SEM and additional procedures for assessment of mediation and moderated mediation.

Findings
This paper reveals that communication practices concerning CSR positively and significantly influence client-perceived value. The authors show that reputation fully mediates the effect of CSR on client-perceived value. Finally, the effect of CSR on value is stronger if the client firm has a short-term strategic orientation, while long-term strategic orientation boosts the effect of corporate reputation on customer-perceived value.

Research limitations/implications
Further research on the topic may involve developing links between other elements of the corporate communication framework and client-perceived value.

Originality/value
The originality of the paper lies in better understanding the effects of CSR and corporate reputation on client-perceived value. The authors provide empirical evidence of the mediating role of reputation between the CSR (seen as “actions”) and client-perceived value.
Cost-effectiveness, domestic favouritism and sustainability in public procurement
Authors: Keulemans Shelena , Van de Walle Steven 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore and explain public preferences for different public procurement practices. The paper looks into public support for cost-effectiveness, discriminatory procurement in favour of domestic suppliers and sustainable procurement.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses Eurobarometer public opinion data on 26.836 EU citizens from 27 EU countries.

Findings
This paper shows that EU citizens want public authorities to evaluate multiple aspects of any procurement offer in their public procurement decisions. It also found that, although cost-effectiveness and domestic favouritism are still important to EU citizens, citizens are most supportive of the objectives of sustainable procurement. Some associations between citizens’ procurement preferences and their social characteristics and political attitudes were found, but these only explain citizen procurement preferences to a limited extent. Country of residence has the strongest association with citizens’ acceptance of the objectives of sustainable procurement.

Research limitations/implications
Even though the data contain information on the procurement preferences of a large number of EU citizens, it is a topic of inquiry that is sensitive to social desirability bias.

Originality/value
This paper contributes to the empirical understanding of public attitudes towards public procurement. It is one of few studies on citizen attitudes towards different public procurement practices.
Online consumer behaviour of mass-customised apparel products
Authors: Ribeiro Liliana Simões , Duarte Paulo Alexandre Oliveira , Miguel Rui 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to apply Mowen’s (2000) meta-theoretical model of motivation and personality (3M) and its hierarchy of traits to deeper understand consumer behaviour towards online purchase of mass-customised apparel products.

Design/methodology/approach
For the current study, the meta-theoretical model of motivation and personality (3M) and its hierarchy of traits proposed by Mowen (2000) were adapted to use in the context of online purchase of mass-customised apparel products. Appropriate and significant constructs and relationships were identified in the four levels of the hierarchy of needs, specifically: one trait in the first level (surface traits), five specific traits in the second level (situational traits), three broader traits in the third level (compound traits), and finally, eight traits in the fourth level (elemental traits).

Findings
This research allowed the identification of pertinent personality traits in the context of online purchase of mass-customised apparel products and the comprehension of the relationships among these constructs using a hierarchical framework.

Originality/value
The originality and value of the current approach is the use of a hierarchical structure of traits to understand the relationship among personality traits in the mass-customisation field, which, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study has proposed. Theoretical and methodological contributions to the field derive from the current proposal.
Male apparel disposal: case study of consignment versus donation
Authors: Bubna Jenna M. , Norum Pamela 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the apparel disposal process and explore, specifically, male disposal through consignment vs donation disposal modes. This study hopes to uncover not only the process but the influences that motivate these behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach
Observations at two sites included conversational interviews with employees as well as consumers disposing apparel through these sites. Collection took place over two months with 26 interviews taking place.

Findings
Themes of seasonal change and financial incentive suggest the use of consignment as a separate process for consumers from donation. Consignment suggested value, while donation was viewed as a habit.

Research limitations/implications
Previous research as well as the findings of this study suggest that apparel donation is similar across genders. They also suggest that consignment is viewed by male consumers as a separate action from donation.

Originality/value
Little to no research has been conducted to understand male apparel disposal, studies on disposal has focused primarily on college-aged females (i.e. Morgan and Birtwistle, 2009). This study adds to a limited body of work to understand the differences and very possible similarities across genders in this behavior.
Effect of commercial probiotic (Protexin®) on growth, survival and microbial quality of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
Authors: Javadi Afshin , Khatibi Seyed Amin 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a dietary probiotic on the growth performance and survival rate of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp. Furthermore, the microbial quality of shrimp was evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach
Shrimp were divided into treatment and control groups (each group containing 45 shrimp). They were fed for four weeks with a control diet alone or supplemented with a commercial probiotic (Protexin®). At the end of the trial, they were assessed for survival rate, weight gain, average daily gain and specific growth rate. Samples of tail meat were also provided aseptically from peeled shrimp for bacteriological analysis including the count of Staphylococcus aureus, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens, fecal coliform, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and total bacterial count.

Findings
The growth performance of the probiotic-treated group significantly (p < 0.05) increased at the end of the experimental period. However, no significant differences were observed for the survival rate between the groups (p > 0.05). The count of C. perfringens and the total bacterial count in shrimp supplemented with the probiotic were significantly lower than those of controls (p < 0.05). The count of coliforms and S. aureus was not significantly different between the groups (p > 0.05).

Originality/value
It could be concluded that the probiotic bacteria have the potential to stimulate the growth performance of L. vannamei. They can also be used for biological control of food-borne pathogens and improve the microbial quality and safety of shrimp at the farm level.
A method for the objective selection of landscape‐scale study regions and sites at the national level
Authors: Gillespie Mark A. K. , Baude Mathilde , Biesmeijer Jacobus , Boatman Nigel , Budge Giles E. , Crowe Andrew , Memmott Jane , Morton R. Daniel , Pietravalle Stephane , Potts Simon G. , Senapathi Deepa , Smart Simon M. , Kunin William E. 
Published: April 2017

Summary

Ecological processes operating on large spatio‐temporal scales are difficult to disentangle with traditional empirical approaches. Alternatively, researchers can take advantage of ‘natural’ experiments, where experimental control is exercised by careful site selection. Recent advances in developing protocols for designing these ‘pseudo‐experiments’ commonly do not consider the selection of the focal region and predictor variables are usually restricted to two. Here, we advance this type of site selection protocol to study the impact of multiple landscape scale factors on pollinator abundance and diversity across multiple regions.

Using datasets of geographic and ecological variables with national coverage, we applied a novel hierarchical computation approach to select study sites that contrast as much as possible in four key variables, while attempting to maintain regional comparability and national representativeness. There were three main steps to the protocol: (i) selection of six 100 × 100 km2 regions that collectively provided land cover representative of the national land average, (ii) mapping of potential sites into a multivariate space with axes representing four key factors potentially influencing insect pollinator abundance, and (iii) applying a selection algorithm which maximized differences between the four key variables, while controlling for a set of external constraints.

Validation data for the site selection metrics were recorded alongside the collection of data on pollinator populations during two field campaigns. While the accuracy of the metric estimates varied, the site selection succeeded in objectively identifying field sites that differed significantly in values for each of the four key variables. Between‐variable correlations were also reduced or eliminated, thus facilitating analysis of their separate effects.

This study has shown that national datasets can be used to select randomized and replicated field sites objectively within multiple regions and along multiple interacting gradients. Similar protocols could be used for studying a range of alternative research questions related to land use or other spatially explicit environmental variables, and to identify networks of field sites for other countries, regions, drivers and response taxa in a wide range of scenarios.
Diagnostic features of malignancy‐associated pseudoachalasia
Authors: Ponds F. A. , van Raath M. I. , Mohamed S. M. M. , Smout A. J. P. M. , Bredenoord A. J. 
Published: April 2017

SummaryBackgroundPseudoachalasia is a condition in which clinical and manometric signs of achalasia are mimicked by another abnormality, most often a malignancy.AimTo identify risk factors that suggest presence of malignancy‐associated pseudoachalasia.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, achalasia patients newly diagnosed by manometry were included. Patients with a normal initial endoscopy, clinical and manometric signs of achalasia who were afterwards found to have an underlying malignant cause were classified as pseudoachalasia. Clinical and diagnostic findings were compared between malignant pseudoachalasia and achalasia.ResultsWe included 333 achalasia patients [180 male, median age 50 (38–62)]. Malignant pseudoachalasia was diagnosed in 18 patients (5.4%). Patients with malignancy‐associated pseudoachalasia were older at time of diagnosis [67 (54–71) vs. 49 (37–60) years], had a shorter duration of symptoms [6 (5–10) vs. 25 (11–60) months] and lost more weight [12 (9–17) vs. 5 (0–12) kg). In 61% of the pseudoachalasia patients, the oesophagogastric junction (OGJ) was difficult or impossible to pass during endoscopy, compared to 23% in achalasia. Age ≥55 years (OR 5.93), duration of symptoms ≤12 months (OR 14.5), weight loss ≥10 kg (OR 6.73) and difficulty passing the OGJ during endoscopy (OR 6.06) were associated with a higher risk of malignant pseudoachalasia.ConclusionsAdvanced age, short duration of symptoms, considerable weight loss and difficulty in passing the OGJ during endoscopy, are risk factors that suggest potential malignancy‐associated pseudoachalasia. To exclude pseudoachalasia, additional investigations are warranted when two or more risk factors are present.