bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multifrequency Magnetic Resonance Elastography for the Assessment of Renal Allograft Function
Authors: Marticorena Garcia Stephan Rodrigo , Fischer Thomas , Dürr Michael , Gültekin Emin , Braun Jürgen , Sack Ingolf , Guo Jing 
Published: March 2016

Objective
The aim of this study was to apply multifrequency magnetic resonance elastography (MMRE) for assessment of kidney function based on renal stiffness of allografts in transplant recipients and native kidneys in controls.

Methods
In this prospective study, MMRE was used to measure stiffness in transplant kidneys in 22 recipients (age range, 23–73 years; 7 females) and in native kidneys in 11 controls (age range, 26–55 years; 4 females) after internal review board approval. The MMRE was performed on a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner using 4 vibration frequencies from 40 to 70 Hz. Stiffness maps were computed by multifrequency reconstruction of the magnitude shear modulus (|G*|). Clinical markers such as glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and resistive index (RI) were acquired. Differences in renal stiffness among groups were compared by Mann-Whitney U test. Correlations were tested using Pearson correlation.

Results
Functioning transplants had higher stiffness (|G*| = 9.00 ± 1.71 kPa) than nonfunctioning transplants (|G*| = 5.88 ± 1.71 kPa, P < 0.001) and native kidneys (|G*| = 6.63 ± 1.63 kPa, P < 0.01). A cutoff value of 7.04 kPa provided sensitivity (83.33%) and specificity (86.67%) for detecting renal allograft dysfunction with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value of 0.9278 (95% confidence interval, 0.83–1.00). |G*| correlated positively with GFR (r = 0.52, P = 0.015) and negatively with RI (r = −0.52, P = 0.016).

Conclusions
Multifrequency magnetic resonance elastography has good diagnostic accuracy in detecting renal allograft dysfunction. Renal stiffness is significantly lower in recipients with nonfunctioning transplant kidneys and correlates with clinical markers such as GFR and RI.
A neural basis for the spatial suppression of visual motion perception
Authors: Liu Liu D. , Haefner Ralf M. , Pack Christopher C. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractIn theory, sensory perception should be more accurate when more neurons contribute to the representation of a stimulus. However, psychophysical experiments that use larger stimuli to activate larger pools of neurons sometimes report impoverished perceptual performance. To determine the neural mechanisms underlying these paradoxical findings, we trained monkeys to discriminate the direction of motion of visual stimuli that varied in size across trials, while simultaneously recording from populations of motion-sensitive neurons in cortical area MT. We used the resulting data to constrain a computational model that explained the behavioral data as an interaction of three main mechanisms: noise correlations, which prevented stimulus information from growing with stimulus size; neural surround suppression, which decreased sensitivity for large stimuli; and a read-out strategy that emphasized neurons with receptive fields near the stimulus center. These results suggest that paradoxical percepts reflect tradeoffs between sensitivity and noise in neuronal populations.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Single Non-Templated Nucleotides in Plant Endogenous siRNAs and miRNAs
Authors: Wang Feng , Johnson Nathan R. , Coruh Ceyda , Axtell Michael J. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPlant small RNAs are subject to various modifications. Previous reports revealed widespread 3' modifications (truncations and non-templated tailing) of plant miRNAs when the 2'-C-methyltransferase HEN1 is absent. However, non-templated nucleotides in plant heterochromatic siRNAs have not been deeply studied, especially in wild-type plants. We systematically studied non-templated nucleotide patterns in plant small RNAs by analyzing small RNA sequencing libraries from Arabidopsis. tomato, Medicago, rice, maize, and Physcomitrella. Elevated rates of non-templated nucleotides were observed at the 3' ends of both miRNAs and endogenous siRNAs from wild-type specimens of all species. 'Off-sized' small RNAs, such as 25 and 23 nt siRNAs arising from loci dominated by 24 nt siRNAs, often had very high rates of 3'-non-templated nucleotides. The same pattern was observed in all species that we studied. Further analysis of 24 nt siRNA clusters in Arabidopsis revealed distinct patterns of 3'-non-templated nucleotides of 23 nt siRNAs arising from heterochromatic siRNA loci. This pattern of non-templated 3' nucleotides on 23 nt siRNAs is not affected by loss of known small RNA 3'-end modifying enzymes, and may result from modifications added to longer heterochromatic siRNA precursors.
Big Data and consumer behavior: imminent opportunities
Authors: Hofacker Charles F. , Malthouse Edward Carl , Sultan Fareena 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to assess how the study of consumer behavior can benefit from the presence of Big Data.Design/methodology/approach– This paper offers a conceptual overview of potential opportunities and changes to the study of consumer behavior that Big Data will likely bring.Findings– Big Data have the potential to further our understanding of each stage in the consumer decision-making process. While the field has traditionally moved forward using a priori theory followed by experimentation, it now seems that the nature of the feedback loop between theory and results may shift under the weight of Big Data.Research limitations/implications– A new data culture is now represented in marketing practice. The new group advocates inductive data mining and A/B testing rather than human intuition harnessed for deduction. The group brings with it interest in numerous secondary data sources. However, Big Data may be limited by poor quality, unrepresentativeness and volatility, among other problems.Practical implications– Managers who need to understand consumer behavior will need a workforce with different skill sets than in the past, such as Big Data consumer analytics.Originality/value– To the authors ' knowledge, this is one of the first articles to assess how the study of consumer behavior can evolve in the context of the Big Data revolution.
Where does the source of external knowledge come from? A case of the Shanghai ICT chip industrial cluster in China
Authors: AI Chi-Han , WU Hung-Che 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to: first, divide external knowledge into different levels and understand how these different levels of external knowledge create different knowledge networks. Second, explore the relation among different levels of external knowledge, different types of knowledge and their influences on innovation. Different types of knowledge may act as mediators between different levels of external knowledge and innovation performance are also discussed. Third, further explicate the possible reasons behind the phenomena observed in the first and second objectives.Design/methodology/approach– The quantitative and qualitative research methods were adopted in this study. In terms of the quantitative research method, data were collected from 157 information and communications technology (ICT) companies in Zhangjiang. There were 38 interviews carried out using the qualitative research method. Interviewees included 26 directors from the Zhangjiang ICT chip companies and 12 directors from China’s domestic mobile phone manufacturing sector.Findings– This study finds out that the source of external knowledge in the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park is mostly derived from cross-regional and cross-national connections. Through the connection with global companies, the firms in Zhangjiang acquire technical knowledge. Also, through the interaction with cross-regional companies, the firms in Zhangjiang absorb market knowledge. The results of this study indicate that the cross-regional connections are spurred by the increasing demand of the Chinese domestic market and the government’s support for cross-regional interactions. Cross-national connections are encouraged and led by the Chinese Government after China’s 3G communication standard is adopted.Research limitations/implications– This study is built upon a case study in Zhangjiang of China. The findings of this study may not be applicable to other countries or regions in China. Also, this study only focusses on the ICT industry in Zhangjiang. Knowledge from different industries is not included in this study. In addition, the formal and informal knowledge flow is neglected in this study as well.Practical implications– The findings of this study provide business executives and policymakers with a new way of thinking about the development of industrial clusters and local firms. Firms may be able to find new ways to raise innovation performance using different external knowledge.Originality/value– The major contribution of this study is an initial attempt to provide a comprehensive analysis of external knowledge of industrial clusters, different types of knowledge and their influences on innovation performance. Moreover, the mediating effects of different types of knowledge are also discussed.
What ' s in it for me? A managerial perspective on the influence of the psychological contract on attitude towards change
Authors: van den Heuvel Sjoerd , Schalk René , Freese Charissa , Timmerman Volken 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to develop a model on how business managers perceive that an employee’s psychological contract influences his or her attitude toward an organizational change. More specifically, it aims to provide insight into the managerial views on: first, the affective, behavioral and cognitive responses of employees toward organizational change; second, the pre-change and change antecedents of these responses; and third, the role of the psychological contract as a pre-change antecedent.Design/methodology/approach– Data were collected from in-depth interviews with 39 human resource directors, change managers and management consultants in eight European countries. Based on detailed grounded theory-driven analyses of the qualitative data, a conceptual model was developed.Findings– Based on the grounded theory analysis, a model emerged that positions the individual change perception and individual answer to the “what’s in it for me?” question as central determinants of an employee’s attitude toward change. Moreover, the model distinguishes between “influencing” variables that shape the employees’ change perception, and “overruling” variables that can potentially reverse the change perceptions.Practical implications– A strong emphasis on managing the employment relationship by fulfilling mutual obligations and by creating trust will yield more constructive responses to organizational change than focussing on managing an organizational change as an independent event.Originality/value– As one of the first in its field, this study provides insight in the sense-making processes during organizational change, while adopting a managerial perspective. A grounded theory approach by means of interviewing, serves as a first step toward better understanding of the development of employees’ affective, behavioral and cognitive responses to organizational change.
Modeling the development of the online conference’s services
Authors: Sakas Damianos P. , Vlachos Dimitrios S. , Nasiopoulos Dimitrios K. 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The integrated purpose of the libraries’ communication plan in general is to create and accomplish scientific events aiming, first of all, at covering the extensive demand for the scientific conferences. Their primary objective is to raise the prestigious brand name of their organisation, which constitutes the organizing authority. At the same time, this authority, except for its non-profit charitable profile, aims to financial gains by attracting participants for its sustainability. Furthermore, these academic events have contributed to the utmost dissemination of the library’s brand name to an expanding mass of people to the extent of attracting new visitors (Broady-Preston and Lobo, 2011). One of the qualitative academic events, among others, is the creation of academic-nature events, whose following-up is blocked by a multitude of financial barriers according to the new visitors’ viewpoint. Considering the economic crisis, the purpose of this paper is the creation of interesting, in the science of library, online events, just like the online conferences (Broady-Preston and Swain, 2012).

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper highlights the advantages of the dynamic modelling of systems aimed at developing a successful online conference. In this research, the authors have used the science of design and the research methodology for testing the concept of modeling.

Findings
– This paper examines the interface among several dimensions for the development of dynamic models. The validity and usefulness of those models in the process of decision-making has been confirmed by the usage of dynamic models in various sectors.

Originality/value
– This paper applies the system and the concepts of dynamic modelling, which are pioneering elements as to their nature and evolution.
Self-other agreement for improving communication in libraries and information services
Authors: Drivas Ioannis C. , Sakas Damianos P. , Giannakopoulos Georgios A. 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– This paper aims to examine the Self-Other Agreement between leaders and employees in the sector of Libraries and Information Services (LIS) to construct a sustainable and strategic communicational process among library directors and staff.Design/methodology/approach– A sample of 135 leaders-employees of 17 organisations of LIS in more than five countries answered on a quantitative methodological research instrument in a multiplicity of variables. Statistical analysis of independent samplest-test was used to testify our research hypotheses.Findings– Results indicated that there is a difference in means between the two independent samples (leaders-employees). There are library leaders who rate themselves quite high, and there are employees who rate their leaders with lower evaluations.Research limitations/implications– This research extends and improves the matter of Self-Other Agreement in the sector of LIS through the collection of data that indicated a possible gap of communication and trustworthiness between leaders and employees.Practical implications– Regardless of the difference or the consensus of ratings among leaders and employees, the results of this research could be served as a stimulus plus as a starting point for library leaders by correcting or developing relations of communication and trustworthiness between them and their followers.Originality/value– Self-Other Agreement is one of the major factors that positively or negatively affect the overall operation of the organization in the way a leader could perceive the additional feedback. In the sector of LIS, the study of Self-Other Agreement is a rich and unexplored research area which deserves further analysis.
Essential amino acids profile of differentially processed soy products and their efficiency in meeting daily requirement
Authors: Kumar Vineet , Rani Anita , Hussain Lulua 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– In the backdrop of declining per capita availability of pulses, soybean is the alternate source to address protein deficiency in India. The study aims to assess the efficiency of soy products available in the market for meeting the daily requirement of essential amino acids (EAAs).

Design/methodology/approach
– Extruded soy products, namely, soy nuggets, granules, soy flour manufactured from sprouts, spray-dried soy milk variants, ready-to-drink (RTD) soy beverage and silken tofu, were analysed for EAAs by high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, efficiency of these products in terms of meeting the daily requirement of EAAs for an adult weighing 70 kg through a single serving (equivalent to 6 g protein) was also computed.

Findings
– Leucine was the most concentrated EAA in all the soy products, except in variants of soy milk. Total essential amino acids’ (TEAAs) content in soy flour was significantly higher compared to soy nuggets and granules. Spray-dried plain soymilk exhibited a significantly higher level of TEAAs content compared to flavoured variant and RTD soy beverage. Among all the products, silken tofu exhibited the highest concentration of TEAAs. RTD soy beverage was the most efficient product for meeting the daily requirement of isoleucine and valine, soy flour for aromatic amino acids and silken tofu for lysine and leucine.

Originality/value
– This work pertains to the determination of EAAs of commercial soy products and assesses their efficiency in terms of meeting the daily requirement of EAAs. This type of technical evaluation of soy products has not been conducted earlier.
Olive or salmon oils affect differently the storage and transport of fatty acids by VLDL in hypercholesterolemic rats fed different proteins
Authors: Bouderbala Sherazede , Bouchenak Malika 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of olive or salmon oil on the hepatic storage and transport of fatty acids by very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL).Design/methodology/approach– In all, 24 male Wistar rats (80 ± 5 g) were fed a 0.5 per cent cholesterol-enriched diet with either 20 per cent casein (C) or chickpea (CP) proteins with 10 per cent olive (O) or salmon (S) oil for 28 days.Findings– In VLDL-triacyglycerols fatty acids, oleic acid content was higher in CPS as compared to that in CS or CPO and lower in CS and CPO than that in CO; linoleic acid content was higher in all groups; arachidonic acid content was higher in CS and CPO as compared to that in CO. In the liver, TG fatty acids content was lower in CPO or CPS as compared to that in CO or CS; oleic and arachidonic acid contents were lower in CPS than that in CPO; linoleic acid content was lower in CS, CPS and CPO than that in CO, CPO and CO. In liver, phospholipid fatty acid, oleic and arachidonic acid contents were lower in CPS than that in CS; oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acid contents were lower in CPO compared to that in CO. In liver, cholesteryl esters fatty acids, oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acids contents were higher in CPS as compared to that in CS; oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acid contents were lower in CS as compared to that in CO; linoleic and arachidonic acid contents were lower in CPS than that in CPO.Originality/value– A cholesterol-enriched diet containing casein or chickpea proteins combined with olive or salmon oil affects the hepatic storage and transport of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids by VLDL.
Same nurse but different time: temporal divergence in the facilitation of plant lineages with contrasted functional syndromes
Authors: Navarro‐Cano Jose A. , Goberna Marta , Valiente‐Banuet Alfonso , Verdú Miguel 
Published: March 2016

Summary

Plant facilitation assembles functionally contrasted communities in dry lands. Nurse plants are often early colonizers with xerophytic traits that were mostly selected during the dry Quaternary (Quaternary syndrome), while beneficiary plants tend to be late‐successional species with mesophytic traits that evolved mainly during the more humid Tertiary (Tertiary syndrome). Integrating plant facilitation within the community assembly theory requires a better understanding of the ontogenetic development of the nursing abilities that benefit functionally contrasted species.

We assessed whether the same nurse plant facilitates species with Quaternary and Tertiary syndromes in an ecosystem under severe abiotic stress conditions imposed by aridity and gypsum soil toxicity. We hypothesized that both functional types find suitable microsites for seedling establishment underneath the same nurse but their optimal regeneration niches are temporally segregated along the ontogenetic development of the nurse.

We carried out a sowing experiment along a 40‐year ontogenetic gradient of the nurse shrub Ononis tridentata. Seeds from five Tertiary and five Quaternary species were sown and seedling emergence monitored.

While the nurse age did not affect the seedling emergence of Quaternary species, it significantly increased that of Tertiary species. These results were corroborated for elder ontogenetic stages in non‐manipulated plants in the field. Juveniles of Quaternary species were able to grow beneath nurse plants along their whole ontogenetic gradient excepting beneath Ononis seedlings, while Tertiary species were only facilitated by mature nurses.

Synthesis. Our results show that plant nursing abilities evolve ontogenetically in a different way for beneficiary Quaternary and Tertiary plant lineages. The finding of a plant species that plays a role as key assembler of early‐ and late‐successional species in plant dynamics broadens the scope of facilitation in the community assembly theory.

A lay summary is available for this article.
Caribou avoiding wolves face increased predation by bears – Caught between Scylla and Charybdis
Authors: Leblond Mathieu , Dussault Christian , Ouellet Jean‐Pierre , St‐Laurent Martin‐Hugues 
Published: March 2016

Summary

Prey may trade off resource acquisition with mortality risk by using various habitat selection strategies. Empirical assessments have shown that the functional and numerical responses of predators to human disturbances are variable, yet spatial changes in predation risk by two predators have seldom been studied for prey occurring in human‐modified landscapes. Using the boreal caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou – grey wolf Canis lupus – black bear Ursus americanus system in eastern Canada, we investigated whether responses of prey towards one predator could concomitantly increase risk of predation from another predator exhibiting a different foraging tactic.

We investigated trade‐offs made by solitary caribou females and mothers accompanied by their calf during the period of highest calf vulnerability and compared the behaviour of mothers that would eventually lose their calf to predation to that of mothers whose calf survived until the following year. We modelled habitat selection using different metrics of forage based on field measurements and digital maps and developed empirical models of predation risk and prey behaviour using GPS data collected on both predators and prey.

Mothers accompanied by their calf seemed to compromise foraging opportunities for safety, as opposed to solitary females who showed no particular avoidance of areas used by predators. Although caribou mothers adopted selection strategies that could have protected their offspring from wolves, females that eventually lost their calf to predation selected for vegetative associations that were favourable to bears.

Synthesis and applications. We determined that mothers that most strongly avoided suitable wolf habitat were also those that most strongly selected suitable bear habitat, suggesting that by using antipredator strategies aimed at reducing predation risk from wolves, caribou exposed their offspring to increased predation risk from bears. This result is of paramount conservation value as bears were responsible for 94% of caribou calf kills in this system. In the short term, conservation efforts for boreal caribou may benefit from the management of bear populations by means of liberal hunting regulations or predator control. In the long term, however, these actions should be used in conjunction with the protection of potential calving areas away from cutblocks and roads.