bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of natural rubber degradation gene in Rhizobacter gummiphilus NS21
Authors: Kasai Daisuke , Imai Shunsuke , Asano Shota , Tabata Michiro , Iijima So , Kamimura Naofumi , Masai Eiji , Fukuda Masao 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
A Gram-negative rubber-degrading bacterium, Rhizobacter gummiphilus NS21 grew and produced aldehyde metabolites on a deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR)-overlay agar medium forming a clearing zone. A transposon-insertion mutant, which had lost the ability to degrade DPNR, was isolated to identify the rubber degradation genes. Sequencing analysis indicated that the transposon was inserted into a putative oxygenase gene, latA. The deduced amino acid sequence of latA has 36% identity with that of roxA, which encodes a rubber oxygenase of Xanthomonas sp. strain 35Y. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that LatA constitutes a distinct group from RoxA. Heterologous expression in a Methylibium host and deletion analysis of latA indicated that the latA product is responsible for the depolymerization of DPNR. The quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis indicated that the transcription of latA is induced during the growth on DPNR. These results strongly suggest that latA is directly involved in the degradation of rubber in NS21.
Leave saving options over the life course – only for the highly skilled? Evidence from two German best-practice companies
Authors: Wotschack Philip 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACT
Individual leave saving options provide new options to employees to improve their employability and work–life balance over the life course. They are based on a simple idea: Employees can deposit overtime hours or portions of due remuneration in a time credit account and withdraw them at a later point in time in order to take prolonged periods of leave for care, training, or leisure activities. It is the leading question of this article as to what extent and in which way these options are factually used by different categories of employees. By reviewing existing studies in the Netherlands and by analysing German employee data the article reveals constraints in the accessibility of leave saving options. On the basis of transaction cost theory hypotheses are formulated regarding different uses of leave saving options by age, gender, and occupational status. These hypotheses are tested using regression analysis and employee data from two German best-practice companies. They show evidence for significant restrictions in terms of a high degree of selectivity with regard to age, skill and income levels. Based on these findings recommendations for future research and working time policies are discussed.
Neural correlate of relief in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental area
Authors: Elston Thomas W. , Bilkey David K. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractInformation gained during goal pursuit motivates adaptive behaviour. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) supports adaptive behaviour, but how ACC signals are translated into motivational signals remains unclear. Rats implanted in the ACC and ventral tegmental area (VTA), a dopaminergic brain area implicated in motivation, were trained to run laps around a rectangular track for a fixed reward, where each lap varied in physical effort (a 30cm climbable barrier). Partial directed coherence analysis of local field potentials revealed that ACC theta (4-12 Hz) activity increased as rats entered the barrier-containing region of the maze on trials when the barrier was absent, and predicted similar changes in VTA theta. This did not occur on effortful, barrier-present trials. These data suggest that ACC provides a top-down modulating signal which can influence the motivation with which to pursue a reward, and which may be, in our task, a neural correlate of relief.
ISO 9001 certification and corporate performance of Italian companies
Authors: Galetto Maurizio , Franceschini Fiorenzo , Mastrogiacomo Luca 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to verify a possible relationship between quality management system certification according to ISO 9001 standard and risk of failure of Italian companies.

Design/methodology/approach
A synthetic index which summarize the most crucial economic/financial aspects of the studied companies is assumed as the response variable of a statistical model for studying the effects of four specific factors: certification, company size, regional development and manufacturing sub-sector. The analysis is conducted on a sample of Italian companies belonging to different manufacturing sub-sectors. The used data are obtained from the database Aida® by Bureau van Dijk and from the database of the Italian accreditation body Accredia. The study is based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) and contingency tables.

Findings
Preliminary results of ANOVA show that only company size, regional development and manufacturing sub-sector can be considered fully significant. Furthermore, the major conclusion from the analysis of contingency tables is that ISO 9001 certification is connected to the legal status (active, not active) of a company only for a portion for the studied manufacturing sub-sectors. Hence, the scenario is quite variegated and a significant positive interaction between certification and corporate performance is not always confirmed.

Research limitations/implications
Although the research shows some interesting results, it is liable to extensions and improvements. In particular, at the current exploratory level, it is limited to a specific period of time and considers only the Italian sector, but it could be extended to a wider number of years and to European and international level.

Practical implications
The study opens a way for a number of important questions about the meaning, usefulness and effectiveness of ISO 9001 certification. In particular, it may be time to ask whether the paradigm of certification actually needs a radical rethink.

Originality/value
This work represents a first exploratory attempt to correlate the risk of failure with the achievement of ISO 9001 certification. There are several similar works in literature which, however, focus mainly on sectorial aspects of the corporate background.
Analysis of training programs related to quality management system: the Spanish case
Authors: Petnji Yaya Luc Honore , Marimon Frederic , Llach Josep , Bernardo Merce , Casadesus Marti 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identifying, discussing and analyzing the existing education and training programs related to quality management system (QMS) in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach
Exhaustive search of the education system database was used to map the multifaceted of Spanish education system and professional training in addition to their relationships with the labor market. Thereafter, a thorough scan of the existing training related to management system standards was used to classify them into different subgroups as well as identifying possible education and the professional trainings related to QMS.

Findings
The overall results showed that general education in Spain and in particular related to QMS can be classified into four different groups including: official university, unofficial university, official non-university and unofficial non-university. Moreover, this study observed that the general concern about the employment and earnings in Spain has led the local, autonomous communities and national government to launch specific measures designed to both continue to increase the quality of the workforce with the QMS backgrounds and to ease the difficulties encountered when entering the labor market.

Originality/value
This study is the first to analyze and map the multifaceted character of Spanish education system and professional training related to QMS. The findings of this study may be useful for organizations trying to evaluate their QMS efforts, thus, engage their people in order to face the competitive challenges that lie ahead.
Food integrated management systems: dairy industry insights
Authors: Gianni Maria , Gotzamani Katerina , Vouzas Fotis 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the management systems integration from both sector and size perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach
Extant literature is reviewed focussing on food-related management topics. A single case is used to delve into the understanding of integrated management systems (IMSs) using the contingency approach. Data are drawn from documents and archives, on-site observations and by interviewing employees of all hierarchy levels.

Findings
This case shows how size and sector-related constraints may condition integration in terms of IMS scope, strategy, level, audits, resources, motives, benefits and difficulties. Traceability is identified as an integration “catalyst” for multiple MSs in food companies. It is further discussed, how an environmental management system would be embedded within the existing integrated structure.

Research limitations/implications
Conclusions bring to light the sustained business leverage provided by food IMSs. Thus, food industry managers are driven to streamline the quality, food safety and environmental processes following an IMS approach. Future research on multiple cases of different size would reflect a wider IMS sector-specific perspective. Research on other sectors is expected to provide different particular aspects of integration, as well.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first in-depth study on the adoption of an integrated generic and sector-specific MS from the contingency perspective. The case visualizes the contribution of integration when addressing the critical food safety and quality operations and the significant environmental aspects.
Core software product management activities
Authors: Maglyas Andrey , Nikula Uolevi , Smolander Kari , Fricker Samuel A. 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
Software product management (SPM) unites disciplines related to product strategy, planning, development, and release. There are many organizational activities addressing technical, social, and market issues when releasing a software product. Owing to the high number of activities involved, SPM remains a complex discipline to adopt. The purpose of this paper is to understand what are the core and supporting SPM activities.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors adopted the research method of meta-ethnography to present a set of techniques for synthesizing individual qualitative studies to increase the degree of conceptualization. The results obtained from three empirical studies were synthesized using the meta-ethnography approach to enhance, rethink, and create a higher level abstraction of the findings.

Findings
The results show that the study has both theoretical and practical contribution. As the meta-ethnography synthesis has not been widely applied in software engineering, the authors illustrate how to use this research method in the practice of software engineering research. The practical contribution of the study is in the identification of five core and six supporting SPM activities.

Originality/value
The practical value of this paper is in the identification of core SPM activities that should be present in any company practicing SPM. The list of supporting SPM consists of activities that are not reported to product manager but affect the product success.
Processed food supply chain: a framework for literature review
Authors: Mahajan Rajneesh , Garg Suresh , Sharma P.B. 
Published: January 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to make a fair attempt to craft a framework for the categorization of the literature linked to food supply chain management (FSCM) and to contribute toward doctoral food research. This will benefit researchers, academicians and corporates. The research is based on an analysis of research articles and research reports. The research articles were mainly extracted from Emerald and Science Direct (Elsevier) databases.Design/methodology/approachA total of 100 randomly selected peer-reviewed journal articles on FSCM from commercial databases such as Emerald and Science Direct (Elsevier) were systematically analyzed.FindingsRelatively limited empirical-prescriptive research has been carried out in a food supply chain. The outcome is that the literature on the food supply chain is primarily focused on theoretical-descriptive research.Originality/valueIt is observed that limited research has been carried out on FSCM. Therefore, the authors have suggested a framework for the categorization of the literature linked to FSCM. This will facilitate future research in the area of FSCM.
Inhibition of Propionibacterium acnes lipase activity by the antifungal agent ketoconazole
Authors: Unno Mizuki , Cho Otomi , Sugita Takashi 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThe common skin disease acne vulgaris is caused by Propionibacterium acnes. A lipase secreted by this microorganism metabolizes sebum and the resulting metabolites evoke inflammation in human skin. The antifungal drug ketoconazole inhibits P. acnes lipase activity. We previously showed that the drug also inhibits the growth of P. acnes. Thus, ketoconazole may serve as an alternative treatment for acne vulgaris, which is important because the number of antibiotic‐resistant P. acnes strains has been increasing.
Regulation systems of protease and hemolysin production in Vibrio vulnificus
Authors: Elgaml Abdelaziz , Miyoshi Shin‐Ichi 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTVibrio vulnificus, a gram‐negative halophilic estuarine bacterium, is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes rapidly progressive fatal septicemia and necrotizing wound infection. This species also causes hemorrhagic septicemia called vibriosis in cultured eels. It has been proposed that a range of virulence factors play roles in pathogenesis during human and/or eel infection. Among these factors, a metalloprotease (V. vulnificus protease [VVP]) and a cytolytic toxin (V. vulnificus hemolysin [VVH]) are of significant importance. VVP elicits the characteristic edematous and hemorrhagic skin damage, whereas VVH exhibits powerful hemolytic and cytolytic activities and contributes to bacterial invasion from the intestine to the blood stream. In addition, a few V. vulnificus strains isolated from diseased eels have recently been found to produce a serine protease designated as V. vulnificus serine protease (VvsA) instead of VVP. Similarly to VVP, VvsA may possess various toxic activities such as collagenolytic, cytotoxic and edema‐forming activity. In this review, regulation of V. vulnificus VVP, VVH and VvsA is clarified in terms of expression at the mRNA and protein levels. The explanation is given on the basis of the quorum sensing system, which is dependent on bacterial cell density. In addition, the roles of environmental factors and global regulators, such as histone‐like nucleoid structuring protein, cyclic adeno monophosphate receptor protein, RpoS, HlyU, Fur, ToxRS, AphB and LeuO, in this regulation are outlined. The cumulative impact of these regulatory systems on the pathogenicity of V. vulnificus is here delineated.
Probiotic properties of ice creams produced with dietary fibres from by‐products of the food industry
Authors: Ayar Ahmet , Siçramaz Hatice , Öztürk Serpil , Öztürk Yilmaz Suzan 
Published: January 2017

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of adding dietary fibre‐rich by‐products to probiotic ice creams. For this purpose, fruit (grape, apricot, apple)‐ and grain (rice, corn, sunflower, barley)‐based by‐products were added to ice cream. The viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus (ATCC 4357D‐5) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (ATCC 27536) was determined with microbial analyses at 1, 15, 30 and 60 days of storage. In conclusion, it was shown that dietary fibre‐rich by‐products could be used in ice cream with improved survival of the probiotic strains without any adverse effects on the physicochemical, microbiological and sensory properties of the ice cream.
Forensic Evidence and Criminal Investigations: The Impact of Ballistics Information on the Investigation of Violent Crime in Nine Cities,
Authors: King William R. , Campbell Bradley A. , Matusiak Matthew C. , Katz Charles M. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractWe explore the impact of information from ballistics imaging hit reports on the investigation into violent crimes. Ballistics imaging hits link two crimes involving the same firearm by forensically matching tool marks on the fired bullets or cartridge cases. Interview data collected from detectives who received a hit report were used to explore the relationship between the presence of a hit report and outcomes in 65 gun‐related violent crime investigations in nine U.S. police agencies. Findings indicate hit reports rarely contribute to identification, arrest, charging, or sentencing of suspects, because of delays in producing hit reports. On average, hit reports were completed 181.4 days after the focal crime. This delay forces investigations to proceed without the benefit of information from ballistics analysis. Additionally, hit reports rarely contained detailed information that was immediately useful to investigators. Instead, hit reports required additional research by the investigator to unlock useful information.
Transfer of care and overstay in the management of cellulitis in the emergency short stay unit: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Abetz Jeremy W , Adams Nicholas G , Newnham Harvey , Smit De Villiers , Mitra Biswadev 
Published: January 2017

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to quantify the rate of transfer of care or overstay from cellulitis management in the emergency short stay unit (ESSU) and to identify risk factors during initial assessment associated with transfer of care or overstay.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted including cellulitis patients diagnosed with and admitted to the ESSU at a metropolitan adult tertiary referral centre. Data abstracted included patient demographics, comorbidities, initial investigations and initial vital signs. Transfer of care or overstay were defined as inpatient admission or a stay in ESSU >28 h, respectively.ResultsOf the 451 included patients, 157 (34.8%) met the criteria for transfer of care or overstay. These criteria included admission to hospital inpatient units (115 patients, 73.2%) and patients who overstayed the ESSU time period (42 patients, 26.8%). Variables independently associated with transfer of care or overstay were obesity (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38–15.59), i.v. drug use (adjusted OR 2.15; 95% CI 1.03–4.51), white blood cell count (adjusted OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.02–1.16 per 1 × 109/L increase) and C‐reactive protein (adjusted OR 1.004; 95% CI 1.00–1.01 per 1 mg/L increase).ConclusionsTransfer of care or overstay after admission to ESSU was high among patients with cellulitis. Variables independently associated with transfer of care or overstay were obesity, i.v. drug use, elevated white blood cell count and elevated C‐reactive protein. Awareness of these variables can inform appropriate guidelines for ESSU admission, potentially improving patient flow and reducing length of stay in the ED and hospital.
Identification and comparison of long non‐coding RNAs in the silk gland between domestic and wild silkworms
Authors: Zhou Qiu‐Zhong , Fang Shou‐Min , Zhang Qiang , Yu Quan‐You , Zhang Ze 
Published: January 2017

AbstractUnder long‐term artificial selection, the domestic silkworm (Bombyx mori) has increased its silk yield tremendously in comparison with its wild progenitor, Bombyx mandarina. However, the molecular mechanism of silk yield increase is still unknown. Comparative analysis of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may provide some insights into understanding this phenotypic variation. In this study, using RNA sequencing technology data of silk gland in domestic and wild silkworms, we identified 599 lncRNAs in the silk gland of the silkworm. Compared with protein‐coding genes, the silk gland lncRNA genes tend to have fewer exon numbers, shorter transcript length and lower GC‐content. Moreover, we found that three lncRNA genes are significantly and differentially expressed between domestic and wild silkworms. The potential targets of two differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) (dw4sg_0040 and dw4sg_0483) and the expression‐correlated genes with the two DELs are mainly enriched in the related processes of silk protein translation. This implies that these DELs may affect the phenotypic variation in silk yield between the domestic and wild silkworms through the post‐transcriptional regulation of silk protein.
qfasar: quantitative fatty acid signature analysis with R
Authors: Bromaghin Jeffrey F. 
Published: January 2017

Summary

Knowledge of predator diets provides essential insights into their ecology, yet diet estimation is challenging and remains an active area of research.

Quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) is a popular method of estimating diet composition that continues to be investigated and extended. However, software to implement QFASA has only recently become publicly available.

I summarize a new R package, qfasar, for diet estimation using QFASA methods. The package also provides functionality to evaluate and potentially improve the performance of a library of prey signature data, compute goodness‐of‐fit diagnostics, and support simulation‐based research. Several procedures in the package have not previously been published.

qfasar makes traditional and recently published QFASA diet estimation methods accessible to ecologists for the first time. Use of the package is illustrated with signature data from Chukchi Sea polar bears and potential prey species.
Business ethics searches: A socioeconomic and demographic analysis of U.S. Google Trends in the context of the 2008 financial crisis
Authors: Faugère Christophe , Gergaud Olivier 
Published: January 2017

AbstractA socioeconomic and demographic analysis of U.S. Google Trends for queries about Business Ethics and Greed is proposed in the context of the 2008 financial crisis. The framework is grounded in the ethical decision‐making literature. Two models using micro and macro‐type variables are tested using GLM and GEE regression techniques. The frequency of these Google queries varies positively with the ratio of females, educational attainment, younger adult age, some measures of economic hardship or inequalities, and the lesser the weight of the finance industry represented in each State. The frequency of queries intensifies for these same socioeconomic and demographic categories, in the aftermath of the financial crisis. This article is the first to study the salience of business ethics as an issue in the empirical literature using a nationwide database. It also provides a first empirical study in the specialized literature on “ethics in a time of crisis”. This study lays a preliminary groundwork to identify pro‐ethical reform segments of the population, with practical use for financial regulatory agencies.