bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enzymatic Formation of d-Pantothemc Acid-β-Glucoside by Various β-Glucosidases
Authors: Kawai Fusako , Yamada Hideaki , Ogata Koichi 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
A β-gIucoside of d-pantothenic acid was formed from d-pantothenic acid and β-glucosyl donors such as cellobiose, phenyl-β-d-glucoside, salicin, and 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-glucoside and naphthol AS-BI-β-d-glucoside by various β-glucosidases, i.e., almond β-glucosidase, cellulase type II and III, naringinase, and hesperiginase. The compound was isolated from a reaction mixture of almond β-glucosidase by treatment with active charcoal, Amberlite CG–50, and DEAH-cellulose column chromatography, paper chromatography, and Sephadex G-IO gel filtration. Then, the compound was characterized as 4′-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-d-pantothenic acid by various analytical methods including bioassay, paper chromatography, NMR and specific optical rotation. The microbiological activities of the compound were also determined.
Fixed allocation patterns, rather than plasticity, benefit recruitment and recovery from drought in seedlings of a desert shrub
Authors: Zhang Yao , Li Yan , Xie Jiang-Bo 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The response of plants to drought is controlled by the interaction between physiological regulation and morphological adjustment. Although recent studies have highlighted the long-term morphological acclimatization of plants to drought, there is still debate on how plant biomass allocation patterns respond to drought. In this study, we performed a greenhouse experiment with first-year seedlings of a desert shrub in control, drought and re-water treatments, to examine their physiological and morphological traits during drought and subsequent recovery. We found that (i) biomass was preferentially allocated to roots along a fixed allometric trajectory throughout the first year of development, irrespective of the variation in water availability; and (ii) this fixed biomass allocation pattern benefited the post-drought recovery. These results suggest that, in a stressful environment, natural selection has favoured a fixed biomass allocation pattern rather than plastic responses to environmental variation. The fixed ‘preferential allocation to root’ biomass suggests that roots may play a critical role in determining the fate of this desert shrub during prolonged drought. As the major organ for resource acquisition and storage, how the root system functions during drought requires further investigation.
Multidisciplinary perspectives on the history of human interactions with life in the ocean
Authors: MacDiarmid Alison , MacKenzie Brian , Ojaveer Henn 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
There is an essentially circular interaction between the human social system and the marine ecosystem. The Oceans Past V Conference “Multidisciplinary perspectives on the history of human interactions with life in the ocean” held in Tallinn, Estonia, in May 2015 was an opportunity for the presentation and discussion of papers on a diverse array of topics that examined this socio-ecological system from a historical perspective. Here we provide background to the disciplines participating in the conference and to the conference itself. We summarize the conference papers that appear in this special volume of the ICES JMS and highlight issues which arose during general discussion. We make two conclusions. First, to have greater impact and ensure more efficient use of knowledge gained from marine historical ecology (MHE) and marine environmental history (MEH) in ecosystem-based management and related policy development, practitioners need to work more routinely with population and ecological modellers and statisticians. This will allow greater processing of the available historical data to derive ecologically meaningful properties that can then be used to assess the ecological impact of long-term changes of affected species and define appropriate and realistic management targets. Second, increased multi- and trans-disciplinary effort is required to better understand the relative importance of different human demographic, technological, economic, and cultural drivers on the patterns, intensities and trajectories of human activities affecting marine ecosystems.
T-Cell Activation Independently Associates With Immune Senescence in HIV-Infected Recipients of Long-term Antiretroviral Treatment
Authors:   AGEhIV Study Group, Jiménez Viviana Cobos , Wit Ferdinand W. N. M. , Joerink Maaike , Maurer Irma , Harskamp Agnes M. , Schouten Judith , Prins Maria , van Leeuwen Ester M. M. , Booiman Thijs , Deeks Steven G. , Reiss Peter , Kootstra Neeltje A. 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Background.  Aging-associated noncommunicable comorbidities are more prevalent among human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV)–infected individuals than among HIV-uninfected individuals. Residual HIV-related chronic immune activation and senescence may increase the risk of developing comorbidities.
Methods.  Immune phenotyping, thymic output, and telomere length were assessed in 94 HIV-infected individuals who were aged &gt;45 years and receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART; cases) and 95 age-matched uninfected controls.
Results.  Cases had lower CD4+ T-cell counts, higher CD8+ T-cell counts, and increased levels of immune activation (ie, increased soluble CD14 [sCD14] level and increased percentages of CD38+HLA-DR+ cells among both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells), regulatory T cells, and percentage of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)–expressing cells among CD4+ T cells. Immune senescence levels (ie, percentages of CD27−CD28− cells or CD57+ cells) were comparable between cases and controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from cases had shorter telomeres but increased single-joint T-cell receptor excision circle content and CD31+ naive CD4+ T cells. Although cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody titers were higher in cases, CMV-specific T-cell responses were comparable between cases and controls. T-cell senescence in cases was independently associated with T-cell activation but not with CMV-specific immune responses.
Conclusions.  Despite long-term receipt of ART, HIV-infected adults had higher levels of immune activation, regulatory T cells, and PD-1–expressing CD4+ cells and shorter telomeres. The increased soluble CD14 levels and percentage of CD38+HLA-DR+ cells among CD4+ T cells correlated with shorter telomeres and increased regulatory T-cell levels. This suggests that HIV influences immune function irreversibly, with several pathways that are persistently abnormal during effective ART. Therapies aimed at improving immune health during ART are needed.
Medical subject heading (MeSH) annotations illuminate maize genetics and evolution
Authors: Beissinger Timothy M. , Morota Gota 
Published: April 2016

AbstractHigh-density marker panels and/or whole-genome sequencing,coupled with advanced phenotyping pipelines and sophisticated statistical methods, have dramatically increased our ability to generate lists of candidate genes or regions that are putatively associated with phenotypes or processes of interest. However, the speed with which we can validate genes, or even make reasonable biological interpretations about the principles underlying them, has not kept pace. A promising approach that runs parallel to explicitly validating individual genes is analyzing a set of genes together and assessing the biological similarities among them. This is often achieved via gene ontology (GO) analysis, a powerful tool that involves evaluating publicly available gene annotations. However, additional tools such as Medical Subject Headings (MeSH terms) can also be used to evaluate sets of genes to make biological interpretations. In this manuscript, wedescribe utilizing MeSH terms to make biological interpretations in maize. MeSH terms are assigned to PubMed-indexed manuscripts by the National Library of Medicine, and can be directly mapped to genes to develop gene annotations. Once mapped, these terms can be evaluated for enrichment in sets of genes or similarity between gene sets to provide biological insights. Here, we implement MeSH analyses in five maize datasets to demonstrate how MeSH can be leveraged by the maize and broader crop-genomics community.
The family variable in the French and Italian wine sector
Authors: Bresciani Stefano , Giacosa Elisa , Broccardo Laura , Culasso Francesca 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the differences in terms of economic and financial performance, between family firms (FFs) and non-family firms (NFFs) in the wine sector in Italy and France, where this sector is one of the most representative national economic activities.Design/methodology/approach– This study is based on a sample of Italian and France companies operating in the wine sector. The sample, including medium and large firms, includes 288 FFs and 302 NFFs, for a total of 590 firms. Amadeus database represents the data source. According to Astrachan and Kolenko (1994), a firm is classified as a FF if family had to own over 50 per cent of the business in a private company or more than 10 per cent of a public company.Findings– This study confirms that the family variable is relevant to achieve good economic and financial performance, and endow firms with different features. In terms of economic performance, FFs both in Italy and France outperform in. terms of return on equity and return on assets, though only Italian NFFs outperform in earnings before interest and taxes. In terms of financial performance, both in Italy and France NFFs outperform FFs in current ratio and liquidity ratio, while FFs outperform in solvency ratio.Research limitations/implications– Limitations of the study concern the method adopted, as it could be integrated with some econometrical models. The implications of the paper are relevant for families and regulatory bodies because it helps them to better understand the effects of governance on economic and financial performance. Moreover, the findings of the study can influence the decision-making process of investors in order to identify the long-term outperformers listed on a stock exchange.Originality/value– This study contributes to the literature on family businesses phenomenon on wine sector, which represents one of the most representative of the economy of several countries and in which family businesses are widespread.
Exposing Pinocchio customers: investigating exaggerated service stories
Authors: Harris Lloyd C. , Fisk Raymond P. , Sysalova Hana 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
– While the links between customer word-of-mouth and desirable organizational outcomes have been widely studied, the possibility that customers might routinely exaggerate their consumption experience stories has been neglected. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach
– The first exploratory study examined exaggerated and unexaggerated word-of-mouth and the targets of such activities. The second exploratory study focussed on customer-exaggerated negative word-of-mouth and its drivers. The two experimental studies generated deeper insights into attributions of service failure and exaggerated negative word-of-mouth.

Findings
– This research explicitly addresses customer exaggeration regarding service consumption and the reasons customers engaged in such behaviors. Study 1 focussed on the scope and targets of exaggerated word-of-mouth, and Study 2 concentrated on identifying the drivers of exaggerated negative word-of-mouth. Studies 3 and 4 experimentally elucidated the cognitive mechanisms leading to exaggeration.

Research limitations/implications
– Contributions include deeper understanding of the phenomenon of exaggerated negative word-of-mouth and developing and testing a model of the factors associated with consumers’ exaggerated negative word-of-mouth.

Practical implications
– Implications include possible organizational and public policy actions to prevent Pinocchio customers from exaggerated negative word-of-mouth.

Originality/value
– This paper explores the nature and scope of exaggerated customer word-of-mouth and contributes insights in four ways. First, this research explores the scope of consumer exaggeration during word-of-mouth storytelling and the intended targets of such communications. Second, this research focusses on exaggerated negative word-of-mouth and develops a conceptual model of the drivers of such activity. Third, the theory is tested and contributes empirical insights into exaggerated negative word-of-mouth. Fourth, through experiments, insights are gained into the cognitive mechanisms leading to exaggeration and the effects of attribution differences in personal vs service provider blame.
An examination of relative satisfaction and share of wallet: investigating the impact of country and customer characteristics
Authors: Buoye Alexander John 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
Absolute satisfaction ratings are widely used, but demonstrate a poor link to share of wallet, in part because this relationship is mediated and/or moderated by customer characteristics (including total spend in the category) and heterogeneity of scale usage. Relative satisfaction metrics, such as the Wallet Allocation Rule, have been shown to produce a much stronger link to share of wallet than absolute monadic ratings. This study compares absolute and relative satisfaction models after controlling for these mediating and moderating factors and re-examines the impact of these factors when using relative, rather than absolute metrics.

Design/methodology/approach
3,793 satisfaction ratings by 1,172 unique grocery customers across 5 countries (US, Brazil, Chile, France & Germany) are used to evaluate the mediating and moderating impacts of scale usage and customer characteristics on the relationship between satisfaction and share of wallet.

Findings
Relative metrics continue to significantly outperform absolute metrics after controlling for these factors. With the exception of the moderating influence of income, effects of customer characteristics and country differences are insignificant when linking relative satisfaction to share of wallet.

Practical implications
Managers need to re-evaluate their satisfaction measurement strategy in order to establish a strong link to actual behavior. While calculating relative satisfaction requires managers to collect data on competitors as well as the focal brand, this need for additional information is mitigated by a trade-off in terms of mediating and moderating information that is essential to properly model absolute metrics, but is not needed when using relative measures.

Originality/value
Provides a significant contribution to both retail literature and scientific literature in general by examining the robustness of a relative metrics approach within the grocery retail sector across a disparate collection of countries.
Factors driving unified communications and collaboration adoption and use in organizations
Authors: Silic Mario , Back Andrea 
Published: April 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reveal factors that drive the adoption and use of unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) technology in organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used quantitative method to survey 296 employees from 50 different countries by conducting and international study. Partial least squares -method was used for the latent variables latent variable analysisFindingsThe authors found that unified theory of acceptance and use of technology constructs are mainly validated where results suggests that performance expectancy and social influence are the most influential drivers in employee acceptance and use of UC&C in organizations. Social presence, influence of peers and superiors are the main factors to take into consideration when implementation UC&C technology.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was not longitudinal in design, which should be addressed by a future study that includes multi-cultural dimensions with a longitudinal designPractical implicationsAwareness through education and training of employees needs to be given very particular attention in the future mobile implementations. Moreover, management and employee support is the critical component of the effective information security governance framework implementation. Finally, mobile strategy needs to go over very precise and detailed planning process to ensure the right technology acceptance by users.Originality/valueThe authors close the existing research gap by providing useful insights into organizations regarding their UC&C technology adoption and use factors
An integration of theoretical knowledge, day by day experience and multicriteria methods to support the entrepreneurial learning process
Authors: Guelfi Silvano , Norese Maria Franca , Saluto Paolo 
Published: April 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide to the entrepreneurs, and propose to the scientific community, a newly structured knowledge system that includes the quality of customers and suppliers, to facilitate learning processes about the current state of the enterprise and new strategic approaches.Design/methodology/approachThe knowledge system is elaborated combining a long day-by-day experience in a specific Italian field [the independent after market (IAM)] with the theoretical knowledge of both economic and financial issues and multiple criteria (MC) methods of decision aid. The economic and financial key performance indicators are generatedad hocfor a specific sector and created with the concept that a company is in the center of a network composed of its suppliers, customers, competitors and the State. An MC model easily and consistently includes aspects that are different in terms of source and formal language. An MC method transparently synthesizes all these elements in relation to a specific decision problem. Integrating the potential of MC models and methods with economic and financial issues and context experience facilitates an effective knowledge transfer to the operators of the sector.FindingsThis methodology is oriented to the companies involved in the IAM and in particular to the manufacture, distributor and spare parts dealer categories (in Italy, almost 500 manufacturers, 150 distributors and 5,000 dealers). Manufacturers can use the methodology and its results to know the economic and financial performances of their customers, distributors can identify their strengths and weaknesses and the situation of their competitors and dealers can identify the most reliable future partners. Also, foreign manufacturers may be interested in this analysis, before selling in Italy, and banks and financiers could consult our knowledge frameworks to analyze the risk default.Originality/valueThe added value of this approach is to allow even small and medium enterprises, without an internal know-how for economic analyses, to use tools that clarify their relations with the interested parties of the macroeconomic system and facilitate the quality assessment of their portfolio of customers/suppliers.
Intellectual capital, impact factor on competitiveness: manufacturing industry SMEs in Mexico
Authors: Sanchez-Gutierrez Jose , Mejia-Trejo Juan , Vargas-Barraza Juan Antonio , Vazquez-Avila Guillermo 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of the intellectual capital (IC) on the competitiveness in the manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach
The approach of this investigation is developing a theoretical construct to determine the correlation between IC and competitiveness and find the most relevant factors that impact it, where IC is independent variable and the competitiveness is dependant variable. Using the Likert scale to determine the degree of agreement or disagreement, the survey was applied to 420 SMEs. The results were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha and subsequently structural equation models.

Findings
The results show that the IC dimensions – the information obtained, IC developed and learning and feedback – have an effect on the competitiveness of SMEs. The paper presents the theoretical validation of the factors that impact on IC and competitiveness and hence they are the key elements that impact mostly on each analysed variable.

Practical implications
The results obtained measure the level of correlation between the variables in the study, helping to design strategies for the key factors needed to integrate the IC and to develop competitive synergies in the manufacturing SMEs.

Originality/value
This study shows the effects of the IC that are directly impacting the competitiveness of SMEs so that each factor of the dependent and independent variables should be analysed separately to propose improvements in implementing IC to seek higher level of competitiveness.
Use of a driving simulator to improve on‐road driving performance and cognition in persons with Parkinson's disease: A pilot study
Authors: Devos Hannes , Morgan John C. , Onyeamaechi Arinze , Bogle Craig A. , Holton Katie , Kruse Jonathon , Sasser Sierra , Akinwuntan Abiodun E. 
Published: April 2016

Background/aimThe use of simulators as an assessment and intervention tool for driving is an emerging field in occupational therapy. We investigated the potential usefulness of a driving simulator to improve on‐road skills and cognitive functions in drivers with Parkinson's disease (PD).MethodFifteen participants with PD, and Hoehn and Yahr stages between 2 and 3 participated in this pre–post comparison study. Twelve of the 15 individuals (median age (Q1–Q3), 68 (63.5–72.5); 10 men) completed 10 hours of training in a high‐fidelity driving simulator. A practical road test as well as off‐road cognitive and simulator tests were administered at pre‐training and post‐training.ResultsNine participants, who passed the road test before training, passed at post‐training. Furthermore, all three participants who initially failed the on‐road test passed after training. Participants’ performance improved significantly from pre‐ to post‐training on two cognitive tests: (i) the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and (ii) Dot Cancellation test.ConclusionThis pilot study demonstrates the potential usefulness of a simulator to improve on‐road driving and driving‐related cognitive skills in PD. Adequately powered randomized controlled trials are needed to further expand this field of study.