bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Solving the influence maximization problem reveals regulatory organization of the yeast cell cycle
Authors: Gibbs David L , Shmulevich Ilya 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe Influence Maximization Problem (IMP) aims to discover the set of nodes with the greatest influence on network dynamics. The problem has previously been applied in epidemiology and social network analysis. Here, we demonstrate the application to cell cycle regulatory network analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Fundamentally, gene regulation is linked to the flow of information. Therefore, our implementation of the IMP was framed as an information theoretic problem on a diffusion network. Utilizing all regulatory edges from YeastMine, gene expression dynamics were encoded as edge weights using a variant of time lagged transfer entropy, a method for quantifying information transfer between variables. Influence, for a particular number of sources, was measured using a diffusion model based on Markov chains with absorbing states. By maximizing over different numbers of sources, an influence ranking on genes was produced.The influence ranking was compared to other metrics of network centrality. Although ‘top genes’ from each centrality ranking contained well-known cell cycle regulators, there was little agreement and no clear winner. However, it was found that influential genes tend to directly regulate or sit upstream of genes ranked by other centrality measures. This is quantified by computing node reachability between gene sets; on average, 59% of central genes can be reached when starting from the influential set, compared to 7% of influential genes when starting at another centrality measure.The influential nodes act as critical sources of information flow, potentially having a large impact on the state of the network. Biological events that affect influential nodes and thereby affect information flow could have a strong effect on network dynamics, potentially leading to disease.Code and example data can be found at:https://github.com/Gibbsdavidl/miergolfAuthor SummaryThe Influence Maximization Problem (IMP) is general and is applied in fields such as epidemiology, social network analysis, and as shown here, biological network analysis. The aim is to discover the set of regulatory genes with the greatest influence in the network dynamics. As gene regulation, fundamentally, is about the flow of information, the IMP was framed as an information theoretic problem. Dynamics were encoded as edge weights using time lagged transfer entropy, a quantity that defines information transfer across variables. The information flow was accomplished using a diffusion model based on Markov chains with absorbing states. Ant optimization was applied to solve the subset selection problem, recovering the most influential nodes.The influential nodes act as critical sources of information flow, potentially affecting the network state. Biological events that impact the influential nodes and thereby affecting normal information flow, could have a strong effect on the network, potentially leading to disease.
Industry-wide surveillance of Marek’s disease virus on commercial poultry farms
Authors: Kennedy David A. , Cairns Christopher , Jones Matthew J. , Bell Andrew S. , Salathé Rahel M. , Baigent Susan J. , Nair Venugopal K. , Dunn Patricia A. , Read Andrew F. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractMarek’s disease virus is a herpesvirus of chickens that costs the worldwide poultry industry over 1 billion USD annually. Two generations of Marek’s disease vaccines have shown reduced efficacy over the last half century due to evolution of the virus. Understanding where the virus is present may give insight into whether continued reductions in efficacy are likely. We conducted a three-year surveillance study to assess the prevalence of Marek’s disease virus on commercial poultry farms, determine the effect of various factors on virus prevalence, and document virus dynamics in broiler chicken houses over short (weeks) and long (years) timescales. We extracted DNA from dust samples collected from commercial chicken and egg production facilities in Pennsylvania, USA. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to assess wild-type virus detectability and concentration. Using data from 1018 dust samples with Bayesian generalized linear mixed effects models, we determined the factors that correlated with virus prevalence across farms. Maximum likelihood and autocorrelation function estimation on 3727 additional dust samples were used to document and characterize virus concentrations within houses over time. Overall, wild-type virus was detectable at least once on 36 of 104 farms at rates that varied substantially between farms. Virus was detected in 1 of 3 broiler-breeder operations (companies), 4 of 5 broiler operations, and 3 of 5 egg layer operations. Marek’s disease virus detectability differed by production type, bird age, day of the year, operation (company), farm, house, flock, and sample. Operation (company) was the most important factor, accounting for between 12% and 63.4% of the variation in virus detectability. Within individual houses, virus concentration often dropped below detectable levels and reemerged later. These data characterize Marek’s disease virus dynamics, which are potentially important to the evolution of the virus.
Factors affecting customer loyalty for mobile telecommunication industry
Authors: Shafei Ingy , Tabaa Hazem 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
This research works toward identifying the service quality constructs for the telecommunication industry, the extent they affect customer satisfaction, the perceived switching costs and their significance to the customer. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of customer satisfaction and switching barriers on customer loyalty as well as the mediating effect of the switching barriers on the customer satisfaction and loyalty link.

Design/methodology/approach
An empirical causal framework was developed and tested through qualitative and quantitative phases. In-depth interviews were performed with consumers and experts in the field as well a survey with consumers. The results were analyzed using Cronbach’s α, Pearson’s correlation and regression analysis techniques.

Findings
The results of the research showed that network quality, customer support and pricing structure are the main service quality constructs that affects the customer satisfaction, showing how the customer is more interested in the core services other than other benefits and value-added services.

Originality/value
The research presents a comprehensive framework enabling mobile service providers to understand the factors affecting consumer loyalty. In terms of practical implication; the telecommunications sector is changing radically and as the market is approaching its maturity, customer retention has become a critical issue in the success of the mobile telecommunications business. The findings of the research can aid practitioners in firms in focussing their efforts on areas that can build consumer loyalty and retention.
Transferring codes of conduct within a multinational firm
Authors: Nakhle Samer Francois , Davoine Eric 
Published: September 2016

PurposeThe transfer of organizational practices or management instruments in the multinational firm often requires adaptations to the local context of subsidiaries and is, as such, revealing cultural and institutional particularities. Among the multinational firm’s management instruments, the codes of conduct are closely linked to the values and standards of conduct of the parent company. Being instruments of North American origin, codes of conduct were, in the last 20 years, gradually institutionalized first in North American multinational companies and then more frequently in European multinational companies. Several studies showed the difficulties of implementing these instruments in countries as diverse as France, Germany, Israel and China and stressed the importance of coherence between values, local organizational practices and acceptability of codes by employees of the subsidiaries. The purpose of this paper is to study the specificity of the Lebanese context from a new perspective by showing whether codes of conduct were adapted and by explaining the reasons of these adaptations. This research also highlights the differences between American and European multinational companies regarding the transfer of their codes of conduct.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a multiple case study approach. Interviews were conducted in ten Lebanese subsidiaries of multinational companies, four of North American origin and six of European origin.FindingsThe study showed adaptations done to transferred codes of conduct in Lebanese subsidiaries. The study also reveals differences between American and European MNCs.Originality/valueThe study sheds light on host-country factors explaining the adaptation of codes of conducts transferred to Lebanese subsidiaries.
Real-time analysis of Cyprus’ embryonic oil and gas industry
Authors: Thrassou Alkis 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
Utilising a substantial volume of reliable international literature, information and positions – as well as many, less credible, local ones – the research analyses and interprets theoretical, secondary and primary data that are specific, relevant or peripheral to the emerging oil and gas industry of Cyprus. The purpose of this paper is to identify and investigate the forces and factors that affect the development of this very new industry; and to integrate them into a single provisional industry forces model.

Design/methodology/approach
This research is purely exploratory and is methodologically based on the review, comparison and interrelation of an extensive array of theoretical and secondary data works; which is reinforced and refined through an injection of primary qualitative work in the form of 20 expert and high-level interviews.

Findings
The research achieves the above-stated aim and further concludes with a schematic industry representation, allowing a comprehensive overview of the industry and additionally depicting some of the key interrelationship categorisations that constitute the key factors in decision-making at all levels.

Originality/value
The value of the research lies in its real-time approach to data gathering and analysis. The research aids in the understanding of the environment components, not simply as individual elements affecting their subject, but as a comprehensive system; demonstrating that it is this exact systemic understanding of the constituent elements that will support and facilitate the proper development of the industry. The research also bears global/generic importance as it provides a rare insight to the issues and complexities of a country having to first deal with the discovery of hydrocarbons in its economic zone.
The well-being and productivity link: a significant opportunity for research-into-practice
Authors: Miller Jill 
Published: September 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to position well-being as a necessary component of the productivity debate and highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the nature of such a link. It first considers productivity at the national level in order to show how this affects both the climate and the economic policies within which organisations operate.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents an overview of current research and practice in the area. It treats the organisation as the primary level of analysis, and before highlights some of the apparent challenges in conceptualising well-being.FindingsThe importance of well-being is rising up national and employer agendas. Organisations need people to perform at their best in a sustainable way. The paper argues that an organisation with well-being at its core will reap productivity gains. It supports the view in the literature that improvements at national level can only be made on the back of sophisticated strategies across numerous organisations. However, for this to happen shared actions and understanding of these challenges has first to be created and acted upon across institutions and organisations. There are notable costs of poor well-being to productivity, and identifiable benefits of promoting and supporting employee well-being for productivity.Practical implicationsThere is a clear practice implementation gap. Some organisations are embracing the opportunities to invest in their staff, but those who make employee well-being a business priority and a fundamental part of how the organisation operates are in the minority. There is also an ongoing challenge of measuring the impact of well-being programmes which can inform ROI assessments and enable organisations to demonstrate the business benefits of employee well-being.Originality/valueThere remain many unanswered questions about both the nature of the link between well-being and productivity and the economic impact of an association. This paper sparks further interest in expanding the understanding of the well-being and productivity link or peripheral issues.
Glycerol enhances fungal germination at the water‐activity limit for life
Authors: Stevenson Andrew , Hamill Philip G. , Medina Ángel , Kminek Gerhard , Rummel John D. , Dijksterhuis Jan , Timson David J. , Magan Naresh , Leong Su‐Lin L. , Hallsworth John E. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryFor the most‐extreme fungal xerophiles, metabolic activity and cell division typically halts between 0.700 and 0.640 water activity (approximately 70.0–64.0% relative humidity). Here, we investigate whether glycerol can enhance xerophile germination under acute water‐activity regimes, using an experimental system which represents the biophysical limit of Earth's biosphere. Spores from a variety of species, including Aspergillus penicillioides, Eurotium halophilicum, Xerochrysium xerophilum (formerly Chrysosporium xerophilum) and Xeromyces bisporus, were produced by cultures growing on media supplemented with glycerol (and contained up to 189 mg glycerol g dry spores−1). The ability of these spores to germinate, and the kinetics of germination, were then determined on a range of media designed to recreate stresses experienced in microbial habitats or anthropogenic systems (with water‐activities from 0.765 to 0.575). For A. penicillioides, Eurotium amstelodami, E. halophilicum, X. xerophilum and X. bisporus, germination occurred at lower water‐activities than previously recorded (0.640, 0.685, 0.651, 0.664 and 0.637 respectively). In addition, the kinetics of germination at low water‐activities were substantially faster than those reported previously. Extrapolations indicated theoretical water‐activity minima below these values; as low as 0.570 for A. penicillioides and X. bisporus. Glycerol is present at high concentrations (up to molar levels) in many types of microbial habitat. We discuss the likely role of glycerol in expanding the water‐activity limit for microbial cell function in relation to temporal constraints and location of the microbial cell or habitat. The findings reported here have also critical implications for understanding the extremes of Earth's biosphere; for understanding the potency of disease‐causing microorganisms; and in biotechnologies that operate at the limits of microbial function.
Catching Up or Falling Behind in European Agriculture: The Case of Milk Production
Authors: Cechura Lukas , Grau Aaron , Hockmann Heinrich , Levkovych Inna , Kroupova Zdenka 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe paper explores and analyses the catching up and falling behind processes in the European dairy sector over the period 2004–2011, using a stochastic metafrontier multiple output distance function for 24 EU Member States. The metafrontier estimates reveal considerable productivity differences in milk production across the EU at the regional (NUTS‐2) level. Milk yield per cow is the highest in the old Member States, especially in those regions located in the northwest of the EU, while the lowest productivity is observed in Eastern Europe. The same structure was found for both the TFP (Total Factor Productivity) levels and TFP growth. Moreover, the results for technical change suggest that farm sizes are not optimal in many regions in Central and Eastern Europe from a dynamic perspective. The comparative analysis suggests that in the new compared to the old Member States, fewer farms could benefit from the movement of the frontier. Moreover, there are no signs that poorly performing farms are catching up with the best performing farms in the EU regions/countries.
A Meta‐Analysis on the Elasticity of Demand for Pesticides
Authors: Böcker Thomas G. , Finger Robert 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThere is an increasing policy interest in pesticide taxation schemes as a measure to reduce harmful effects of pesticide use. The effectiveness of such tax depends, however, on the price elasticity of demand for pesticides. Moreover, information on these demand elasticities and their determinants is of crucial relevance for policy‐making and normative modeling approaches. In this article, we present a meta‐analysis based on studies that have estimated pesticide demand elasticities in Europe and North America. Our meta‐analysis reveals that the own‐price elasticities of demand for pesticides are, with a median of −0.28, significantly smaller than zero, but also significantly larger than −1, i.e. to be inelastic. We find that the demand for pesticides for special crops is less elastic than that for arable and grassland. In addition, the demand for herbicides is more elastic than for other pesticides. Studies that consider only short‐term horizons and little flexibility for farmers to adjust to price changes generate significantly less elastic pesticide demands. The results also indicate that more recent studies identify lower pesticide price elasticities of demand. Furthermore, we find that peer‐reviewed studies tend to find more inelastic results compared to grey literature.
Seasonal Variation in the Peritoneal Dialysis‐Related Infections: A Single Center Experience in the Mediterranean
Authors: Buttigieg Jesmar , Borg Cauchi Angela , Rogers Marilyn , Farrugia Emanuel , Fava Stephen 
Published: September 2016

AbstractSeasonal variation in the incidence of peritoneal dialysis‐related infections (PDRI) has been sparingly investigated, especially in the Mediterranean. Our aim was to explore this association in Malta. All PDRI occurring between Jan‐2008 and Dec‐2012 were retrospectively studied.A total of 137 patients were followed‐up for a median time of 32.5 months (range: 2‐81). During this time, 19% never had PDRI, 11.7% transferred permanently to hemodialysis and 6.6% received a kidney transplant. A total of 279 PDRI were identified, equating to 145 catheter‐related infections (CRI) and 144 peritonitis episodes (including 10 catheter related peritonitis). A spring peak in the overall gram positive PDRI (0.61 vs. 0.34/patient‐year‐at‐risk, P=0.05), together with a peak in gram negative peritonitis in the warm period (0.13 vs. 0.07/patient‐year at risk, P=0.04) was identified. The incidence rate ratios (Confidence Interval) involving the overall gram positive PDRI, gram positive peritonitis, coagulase‐negative Streptococci (CoNS) and Streptococci were 1.82 (1.18‐2.82, P=0.007), 2.20 (1.16‐4.16, P=0.02), 2.65 (1.17‐6.02, P=0.02] and 3.18 (1.03‐9.98, P=0.04) in spring when compared to winter. No significant difference in the overall PDRI, peritonitis or CRI rates between seasons or warm/cold period was identified.To our knowledge, this is the first study which examines the effect of seasons on the incidence of PDRI in the Mediterranean basin. Findings suggest that spring confers a higher risk for gram positive PDRIs, gram positive peritonitis, CoNS and Streptococcus, whilst the warm period was associated with a peak in the gram negative peritonitis.
Dialyzability of Faropenem in Infected Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis
Authors: Hasegawa Gohki , Tsuruoka Shuichi , Ushijima Kentaro , Maeda Akimitsu , Hayasaka Tokie , Saito Tetsuo , Harada Kazuhiro , Fujimura Akio 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of dialyzability of an oral penem antibiotic, faropenem (FRPM), in hemodialysis (HD) patients with infections. Eight patients took one tablet of FRPM (200 mg) every 12 h during an inter‐dialysis period, and another tablet at 1–5 h before the beginning of the HD session. Blood samples were obtained during the HD session (3–4 h). Plasma FRPM concentrations in the arterial side were 4.8 ± 2.5 and 2.8 ± 1.0 µg/mL before and at the end of HD session, respectively, which are above the 50% minimal inhibitory concentrations of FRPM against the major pathogen (0.015–2 µg/mL). Dialyzer clearance and elimination fraction of FRPM were 14.9 ± 6.8 mL/min per m2 and 20.4 ± 9.9%, respectively. About 2% of FRPM was removed from the body during a single HD session. The infection‐related symptoms, the white blood cell count and the level of C‐reactive protein were improved by FRPM without any adverse effects. These data suggest that the dialyzability of FRPM is relatively low, and the amount of the drug removed by a single HD session is small. FRPM 200 mg twice daily might provide an effective and safe dosage regimen without additional dosing at the end of the HD session.
The effect of wildfire on scattered trees, ‘keystone structures’, in agricultural landscapes
Authors: Crane Mason , Lindenmayer David B. , Cunningham Ross B. , Stein John A. R. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractScattered trees are considered ‘keystone structures’ in many agricultural landscapes worldwide because of the disproportionate effect they have on ecosystem function and biodiversity. Populations of these trees are in decline in many regions. Understanding the processes driving these declines is crucial for better management. Here, we examine the impact of wildfire on populations of this keystone resource. We examined 62 observation plots affected by wildfire and matched with 62 control observation plots where fire was absent. Counts of scattered trees were conducted pre‐fire in 2005 and repeated post‐fire in 2011. Changes in populations were compared between the control and fire‐affected observation plots. Our results show wildfire had a significant local impact, with an average decline of 19.9% in scattered tree populations on burned plots. In contrast, scattered trees increased on average by 5.3% in the control observation plots. The impact of wildfire was amplified (as revealed by greater percentage tree losses) by larger wildfires. Wildfire effects on scattered tree populations are of concern, given a background of other (usually) chronic stressors (often associated with agriculture) and that the frequency and intensity of wildfire are predicted to increase in many landscapes.