bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Training qualitatively shifts the neural mechanisms that support attentional selection
Authors: Itthipuripat Sirawaj , Cha Kexin , Byers Anna , Serences John T. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAttention supports the selection of relevant sensory information from competing irrelevant sensory information. This selective processing is thought to be supported via the attentional gain amplification of sensory responses evoked by attended compared to unattended stimuli. However, recent studies in highly trained subjects suggest that attentional gain plays a relatively modest role and that other types of neural modulations – such as a reduction in neural noise – better explain attention-related changes in behavior. We hypothesized that the amount of training may alter neural mechanisms that support attentional selection in visual cortex. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the influence of training on attentional modulations of stimulus-evoked visual responses by recording electroencephalography (EEG) from humans performing a selective visuospatial attention task over the course of one month. Early in training, visuospatial attention induced a robust attentional gain amplification of sensory-evoked responses in contralateral visual cortex that emerged within ~100ms after stimulus onset, and a quantitative model based on signal detection theory (SDT) successfully linked this attentional gain amplification to attention-related improvements in behavior. However, after training, this attentional gain amplification of visual responses was almost completely eliminated and modeling suggested that noise reduction was required to link the amplitude of visual responses with attentional modulations of behavior. These findings suggest that the neural mechanisms supporting selective attention can change as a function of training and expertise, and help to bridge different results from studies carried out in different model systems that require substantially different amount of training.
Life Cycle Perspectives on Human Health Impacts of Ionic Liquids
Authors: Mehrkesh Amirhossein , Karunanithi Arunprakash T. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThis study aims to develop a correlative approach to predict the non-cancer human health impacts associated with the direct environmental exposure of common ionic liquids. We assessed the human health impact of these ionic liquids through the integration of the USEtox model with toxicity data and fate and transport parameters. For the first time, we report non-cancer human health characterization factors for commonly used ionic liquids. On the one hand, literature related to environmental aspects of ionic liquids either promotes their environmentally friendly green aspects due to their negligible volatility (no air emissions). On the other hand, a great deal of literature promotes their non-green aspects due to the high toxicity values of certain ionic liquids towards living organisms. In this study, we attempt to integrate these two different diverging opinions to look at the concept of the greenness of ionic liquids from a larger point of view (i.e. from a life cycle assessment perspective).
Maximizing ecological and evolutionary insight from bisulfite sequencing data sets
Authors: Lea Amanda J. , Vilgalys Tauras P. , Durst Paul A.P. , Tung Jenny 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe role of DNA methylation in development, divergence, and the response to environmental stimuli is of substantial interest in ecology and evolutionary biology. Measuring genome-wide DNA methylation is increasingly feasible using sodium bisulfite sequencing. Here, we analyze simulated and published data sets to demonstrate how effect size, kinship/population structure, taxonomic differences, and cell type heterogeneity influence the power to detect differential methylation in bisulfite sequencing data sets. Our results reveal that the effect sizes typical of evolutionary and ecological studies are modest, and will thus require data sets larger than those currently in common use. Additionally, our findings emphasize that statistical approaches that ignore the properties of bisulfite sequencing data (e.g., its count-based nature) or key sources of variance in natural populations (e.g., population structure or cell type heterogeneity) often produce false negatives or false positives, thus leading to incorrect biological conclusions. Finally, we provide recommendations for handling common issues that arise in bisulfite sequencing analyses and a freely available R Shiny application for simulating and performing power analyses on bisulfite sequencing data. This app, available atwww.tung-lab.org/protocols-and-software.html, allows users to explore the effects of sequencing depth, sample size, population structure, and expected effect size, tailored to their own system.
Prototyping a valinomycin biosynthesis pathway within a cell-free transcription-translation (TX-TL) system
Authors: Zhou Tiffany 
Published: December 2016

1AbstractMany natural metabolites have antibacterial, antiviral, or anticancer effects and can be developed into new drugs. However, working with the microorganisms that produce these products can be challenging since they are not as well characterized as a model organism likeEscherichia coli. In this paper, we investigate the potential for a cell-free transcription-translation (TX-TL) system to provide a rapid prototyping platform for characterizing new genetic pathways. We use the valinomycin biosynthesis pathway as a test case, and we show successful heterologous expression of the heterodimeric valinomycin synthetase (VlmSyn, Vlm1: 374 kDa and Vlm2: 284 kDa) fromStrep-tomyces tsusimaensiswithin the TX-TL system. Using LC-MS analysis, we find that valinomycin is produced at low but detectable levels, even when only one out of the three basic precursors is fed into the system. Our work represents another step towards applying cell-free biosynthesis to the discovery and characterization of new natural products.
Differential Adaptation to a Harsh Granite Outcrop Habitat between SympatricMimulusSpecies
Authors: Ferris Kathleen G. , Willis John H. 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTA primary goal in evolutionary biology is to understand which environmental variables and traits drive adaptation to harsh environments. This is difficult since many traits evolve simultaneously as populations or species diverge. Here we investigate the ecological variables and traits that underlieMimulus laciniatus’ adaptation to granite outcrops compared to its sympatric, mesic-adapted progenitorM. guttatus. We use fine scale measurements of soil moisture and herbivory to examine differences in selective forces between the species’ habitats, and measure selection on flowering time, flower size, plant height, and leaf shape in a reciprocal transplant usingM. laciniatus x M. guttatusF4hybrids. We find that differences in drought & herbivory drive survival differences between habitats, thatM. laciniatusandM. guttatusare each better adapted to their native habitat, and differential habitat selection on flowering time, plant stature, and leaf shape. We conclude that while early flowering time, small stature, and lobed leaf shape underlie plant fitness inM. laciniatus’ seasonally dry environment, increased plant size is advantageous in a competitive mesic environment replete with herbivores likeM. guttatus’.
SiFit: A Method for Inferring Tumor Trees from Single-Cell Sequencing Data under Finite-site Models
Authors: Zafar Hamim , Tzen Anthony , Navin Nicholas , Chen Ken , Nakhleh Luay 
Published: December 2016

AbstractSingle-cell sequencing (SCS) enables the inference of tumor phylogenies that provide insights on intra-tumor heterogeneity and evolutionary trajectories. Recently introduced methods perform this task under the infinite-sites assumption, violations of which, due to chromosomal deletions and loss of heterozygosity, necessitate the development of inference methods that utilize finite-site models. We propose a statistical inference method for tumor phylogenies from noisy SCS data under a finite-sites model. The performance of our method on synthetic and experimental datasets from two colorectal cancer patients to trace evolutionary lineages in primary and metastatic tumors suggest that employing a finite-sites model leads to improved inference of tumor phylogenies.
Inertia and discounting in the selection of socially responsible investments
Authors: Auger Pat , Devinney Timothy , Dowling Grahame , Eckert Christine 
Published: December 2016

Purpose
Socially responsible investment (SRI) funds have grown dramatically as an investment alternative in most of the developed world. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a structured experimental approach to determine if the decision-making process of investors to invest in SRIs is consistent with the process used for conventional investments. The theoretical framework draws on two widely studied concepts in the decision making and investment literature, namely, inertia and discounting.

Findings
The authors find that inertia plays a significant role in the selection of SRI funds and that investors systemically discount the value of SRIs.

Research limitations/implications
The results suggest that SRIs need to be designed to cater to the risk/return profiles of investors and that these investors need to be better informed about the performance of SRIs vs conventional investments to reduce their systematic discounting.

Originality/value
Unique experimental approach applied to investment alternatives in a manner that captures individual level variation.
The EU health claims regulation: implications for innovation in the EU food sector
Authors: Khedkar Sukhada , Ciliberti Stefano , Bröring Stefanie 
Published: December 2016

Purpose
One of the objectives of the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 (NHCR) is protection and promotion of innovation in the food industry. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the NHCR on both innovation and the sourcing of external knowledge in the European Union (EU) food sector.

Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was conducted which resulted in a sample of 105 EU companies for the study. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the nature of relationships that existed among the challenges related to the implementation of the NHCR, external sources of knowledge and innovation.

Findings
Challenges related to the NHCR are currently found to have a negative direct impact on product innovation. However, they have a positive indirect effect on product innovation, especially in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises. They also seem to positively affect external knowledge sourcing. Additionally, sources of external knowledge are found to have a positive effect on product and process innovations.

Practical implications
This study provides insights to different stakeholders in the food industry who might wish to work jointly and address the various issues related to the requirements of the NHCR and facilitate compliance with the regulation.

Originality/value
Understanding the impact of the NHCR on innovation seems pivotal because innovation plays an important role in the EU food sector. To this purpose, the paper delivers insights into some main compliance challenges and their effect on innovation.
What matters to promote consumers’ intention to patronize sustainable business-and-industry (B&I) food services?
Authors: Kim So-young , Yoon Jihyun , Choi Injoo 
Published: December 2016

PurposeTo gain strategic insights for promoting sustainable food services, especially in a business and industry (B&I) setting, the purpose of this paper is to investigate decisional factors affecting consumers’ patronage intention based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) including two additional constructs of perceived quality and personal moral norm.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was employed. Out of 978 responses, 548 (70 percent) responses which reported to have visited B&I food services more than five times a month on an average were analyzed by using structural equation modeling.FindingsThe study results revealed that consumers’ patronage intention toward sustainable B&I food services was well explained by the alternative extended TPB adding a new path from subjective norm to perceived behavioral control. The impact of personal moral norm on consumers’ patronage intention was the highest followed by subjective norm, attitude, and perceived behavioral control.Originality/valueThis study is one of the few attempts to clarify the underlying motives for patronizing sustainable food services. The study results may give insights into the mechanisms of consumers’ patronage intention formation toward sustainable B&I food services and provide useful implications for strategic measures to promote sustainable B&I food services in Korea as well as other countries sharing similar concerns and interests.
Beyond food insecurity
Authors: Chiu Chung-Yi , Brooks Jessica , An Ruopeng 
Published: December 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to inquiry dietary behavior and the physical and mental health status of food pantry users to better understand issues related to food insecurity and to explore predictors of intentions for self-sufficiency.Design/methodology/approachThe authors randomly surveyed 12 food pantries (151 consumers) sponsored by the North Texas Food Bank in USA, regarding dietary behavior, health status, reasons for food pantry use, satisfaction with services provided, and self-sufficient behavior and support.FindingsAbout 37 percent of survey participants would expect to continue using food pantry services for one or more years. Reasons for food pantry use included low job earnings, unemployment, poor health, and disability. Over 83 percent of them were either overweight or obese, and over half (57 percent) of them had moderate or severe mental disorder symptoms that warrant examination by healthcare practitioners. On average, their health-related quality of life was lower than the general population. Participants’ physical health was significantly correlated with work intention. The hierarchical regression model predicting work intention had a large effect size.Research limitations/implicationsThis research has highlighted the importance of improving food pantry consumers’ health and self-sufficiency in order to live sufficiently and healthily.Practical implicationsCommunity health practitioners need to help food banks address the needs beyond hunger to focus on the larger ramification of food insecurity such as self-sufficiency and health-related quality of life.Originality/valueThis work extends the existing studies focused on food insecurity, and it will enable the collaborations among food banks, social workers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and public health practitioners.
Estimating the business potential for operators in a local food supply chain
Authors: Niemi Petri , Pekkanen Petra 
Published: December 2016

Purpose
Estimating the business potential for local food intermediary businesses, like wholesales and retailing, can be extremely difficult. The purpose of this paper is to present an approach at finding out the possibilities of estimating the business potential of a business idea in advance.

Design/methodology/approach
In the approach, a model is built based on two data sources. Statistical data on the food expenditure of households and average division of the revenues and margins of the local food supply chain are divided to production, intermediate level (wholesales/distribution) and retailing stages. To estimate the regional local food business potential as a whole, the market share estimations have been made by local food experts.

Findings
The approach was tested and utilized in evaluating the feasibility of a local food wholesale business in South-East Finland. It produced a credible overview of the business potential and pinpointed the challenges of the local food wholesales. The study indicated also that expressing the feasibility in terms of the required market share for employee count is an easy-to-understand way to depict the feasibility of a business.

Research limitations/implications
The model gives indicative, industry average-based results: the results of the model should be refined with analyses on the particular business model, especially its cost efficiency and other competitive parameters compared to more traditional way of doing business.

Practical implications
The model helps local food entrepreneurs and firms as well as their financiers to get a realistic picture of the business potential and the economic feasibility of the targeted business.

Originality/value
The study introduces a novel approach combining quantitative data and expert evaluation for evaluating the market potential and economic prerequisites of a regional food supply chain operator.
Specialty food retailing
Authors: Calvo-Porral Cristina , Levy-Mangin Jean-Pierre 
Published: December 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to address the following question: “Does purchase frequency influence consumer behaviour in the specialty food retailing setting?”, since purchase frequency is a consumer-based undertaken variable. For this purpose, the authors provide and empirically test a conceptual model focussed on specialty food retailing.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through a structured questionnaire in the USA, gathering 592 valid responses and analysis was developed through structural equation modelling.

Findings
Findings indicate that satisfaction and loyalty towards specialty food stores are strongly influenced by consumers’ purchase frequency of specialty food products. Additionally, the findings support the moderating role of purchase frequency on the relationship between store service and satisfaction, as well as on the link store environment satisfaction.

Originality/value
Specialty food retailers should carry out marketing strategies focussing on consumer behaviour and segmentation could be developed considering purchase frequency.
Analysis of the content, colourants, fats, nitrate and nitrite in advertised foods and biological fluids of Egyptian children
Authors: Abdel-Moemin Aly R. 
Published: December 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the content and some synthetic food colourants, total fats, nitrate and nitrite in both advertised foods (AF) and serum and urine samples of children (8 to 12 years) and their impact on childrens’ diet and health.

Design/methodology/approach
Analysis of the content of the AF was done by watching the three Egyptian children’s channels (ECC) for 38 hours. Amaranth, Indigo Carmine, Tartrazine, nitrate and nitrite were analysed in all AF and in serum and urine specimens of children. However, total fats were only analysed in the advertised processed meats and in the restaurant dishes. Lipid profile was also estimated in children.

Findings
The AF accounted for 46-54 per cent of the total advertisements presented. The advertised restaurant dishes were predominantly high in fats, 63 and 55 per cent in restaurant dishes and processed meats, respectively. Tartrazine was the only food colourant found in soft drinks and jelly powders measuring 0.2-15 µg/ml and 25-125 µg/g, respectively. The average levels of total nitrate and nitrite were higher than the acceptable daily intake of the Egyptian and WHO limits (125 mg/kg). Urinary Tartrazine and serum and urinary total nitrate and nitrite were significantly higher in the viewers’ children for the ECC and at borderline for lipid profile compared to non-viewers’ children.

Research limitations/implications
The most harmful effect of these advertisements is the cumulative effect of AF that undermines progress towards a healthy diet for children. AF may expose children to non-communicable disease in the future.

Practical implications
The local policy context requires action to set clear rules for children’s food advertising and monitor processed meat products to tackle exceeded levels of nitrate and nitrite.

Originality/value
This is one of the first studies to analyse colourants, fats, nitrate and nitrite in AF and in the serum and urine of children. This research shows a large number of AF (1,112) in the ECC for 38 hours with statistically significant increase of Tartrazine, nitrate and nitrite in AF (p<0.0001) and in biological fluids (p<0.05).
Motives for food choice of consumers in Central México
Authors: Espinoza-Ortega Angélica , Martínez-García Carlos Galdino , Thomé-Ortiz Humberto , Vizcarra-Bordi Ivonne 
Published: December 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify segments of Mexican consumers with regard to their motives for food choices.

Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire based on the Food Choice Questionnaire was applied to 1,202 consumers. A factor analysis and a cluster analysis were performed on the data.

Findings
Ten factors were identified: care for weight and health, social sensitivity, practicality, economic aspects, non-industrialized, hedonism, traditionality A, familiarity, traditionality B, and no added sugar. Resulting clusters were named as: traditional, healthy, conscious, and careless. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found due to gender, age, marital status, and educational level, but not for body mass index. There are signs of different consumers, but it seems that Mexican consumers in general express low sensitivity to issues of health and nutrition, even more so towards animal welfare and products that are friendly to the environment.

Research limitations/implications
The large diversity of motivations and behaviours in food consumption in Mexico are not all addressed in this study. However, this work opens a new area of research in Mexico so that in the near future studies on the diversity of Mexican consumers are undertaken, looking at the transformation of their food preferences.

Practical implications
In Europe, governments have addressed the new forms of consumption taking advantage of opportunities that benefit local producers, through the generation of added value as “Protected Designations of Origin (DOP)”, geographical indications, collective brands, ecological produce, local products of the land, among others. These proposals are promoted as a path to follow in Latin America, assuming that Latin American consumers have the same characteristics or interests as in those developed countries. But, not knowing consumers motives of preference represents a problem in the processes of valorization of food products.

Social implications
Economic development, demographic, and sociocultural changes in Latin America have promoted phenomena both in the polarization of livelihoods in their societies as well as changes of lifestyles in different social strata. Therefore, studies are needed on the effect of these changes not only in food consumption, but also on the symbolic elements when consumers choose their food.

Originality/value
In Mexico, the study of food consumption has followed diverse approaches, as a matter of policy, from an economic perspective, from anthropology, particularly focussed on indigenous cultures, from the nutrition and health field or emphasizing economic aspects. As in other developing countries, those works do not address the role of the consumer and their motivations, so that research that studies their motives in the choice of foods is needed.