bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hybrid systems approach to modeling stochastic dynamics of cell size
Authors: Vargas-Garcia Cesar Augusto , Singh Abhyudai 
Published: March 2016

AbstractA ubiquitous feature of all living cells is their growth over time followed by division into two daughter cells. How a population of genetically identical cells maintains size homeostasis, i.e., a narrow distribution of cell size, is an intriguing fundamental problem. We model size using a stochastic hybrid system, where a cell grows exponentially over time and probabilistic division events are triggered at discrete time intervals. Moreover, whenever these events occur, size is randomly partitioned among daughter cells. We first consider a scenario, where a timer (i.e., cell-cycle clock) that measures the time since the last division event regulates cellular growth and the rate of cell division. Analysis reveals that such a timer-driven system cannot achieve size homeostasis, in the sense that, the cell-to-cell size variation grows unboundedly with time. To explore biologically meaningful mechanisms for controlling size we consider three different classes of models: i) a size-dependent growth rate and timer-dependent division rate; ii) a constant growth rate and size-dependent division rate and iii) a constant growth rate and division rate that depends both on the cell size and timer. We show that each of these strategies can potentially achieve bounded intercellular size variation, and derive closed-form expressions for this variation in terms of underlying model parameters. Finally, we discuss how different organisms have adopted the above strategies for maintaining cell size homeostasis.
iFORM: incorporating Find Occurrence of Regulatory Motifs
Authors: Ren Chao , Chen Hebing , Liu Feng , Li Hao , Bo Xiaochen , Shu Wenjie 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMotivationAccurately identifying binding sites of transcription factors (TFs) is crucial to understand the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation and human disease.ResultsWe present incorporating Find Occurrence of Regulatory Motifs (iFORM), an easy-to-use tool for scanning DNA sequence with TF motifs described as position weight matrices (PWMs). iFORM achieves higher accuracy and sensitivity by integrating the results from five classical motif discovery programs based on Fisher’s combined probability test. We have used iFORM to provide accurate results on a variety of data in the ENCODE Project and the NIH Roadmap Epigenomics Project, and has demonstrated its utility to further understand individual roles of functional elements.AvailabilityiFORM can be freely accessed athttps://github.com/wenjiegroup/iFORM.Contactshuwj@bmi.ac.cnandboxc@bmi.ac.cn
Characterisation of consumers of traditional foods: the case of Mexican fresh cheeses
Authors: Hidalgo-Milpa Minerva , Arriaga-Jordán Carlos Manuel , Cesín-Vargas Alfredo , Espinoza-Ortega Angélica 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to characterize consumers of traditional foods, taking as case study fresh cheeses produced in a village, in Central Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach
– Semi-structured interviews were applied to a sample of 150 consumers, selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. A factorial analysis by principal component analysis was performed to the data, followed by a cluster analysis.

Findings
– Four factors were obtained, named: artisanship, health and well-being, liking, and satisfaction with the purchase. Three consumer groups were identified: practical, in the process of valorization, and with liking and tradition. The socioeconomic characteristics of consumers do not have a relationship in the classification of groups. It is concluded that the consumption of fresh cheeses is due to a number of social and cultural attributes, and in lesser proportion, to economic aspects.

Originality/value
– At present, as part of life in a dynamic society, people have the power of choice in the food they consume, a process that involves cultural, social, economic, political, and ideological aspects, established by the consumers themselves, or by a determined social group to which they belong. This has not been researched in Mexico. Being an emerging economy immersed in a rapid process of globalization, studies like this contribute in similar countries of Latin America and other places to find ways to valorize local foods and products that play important roles in the development of rural communities.
Determining Turkish consumers’ consumption satisfaction with Erzurum Civil cheese
Authors: Uzundumlu Ahmet Semih , Topcu Yavuz 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to determine redesigned product profiles to maximize Erzurum Civil cheese consumption satisfaction of Turkish consumers under an ordinal utility approach.

Design/methodology/approach
– Data were obtained from a survey conducted in Erzurum in 2014. A conjoint analysis was used to determine the utilities of each level along with the relative importance of Erzurum Civil cheese attributes for measuring the consumption satisfaction as an indicator of the purchase decision and priorities of Turkish consumers.

Findings
– The results of the study clearly highlighted that Erzurum Civil cheese consumption satisfaction was maximized with the augmented and actual product images redesigned by a private-labelled and local-branded simple product with the highest and medium prices based on organic production techniques for heavy and light consumers, respectively. However, medium consumers appreciated the core benefit obtained from the credence quality attributes supported by the generic branded simple cheese with the lowest price purchased directly from the farmstead villages. Eventually, these marketing tactics and strategies could increase demand, maximizing the cheese consumption and satisfaction of Turkish consumers in each cluster. They could also provide greater consumption satisfaction to Turkish consumers as well as bigger marginal contributions to the market dynamics of the food supply chain.

Originality/value
– This study was the first research conducted on Erzurum Civil cheese consumption satisfaction of Turkish consumers using innovative approaches and brand designations, such as Protected Designation of Origin, Protected Geographical Indication, and Traditional Specialty Guaranteed in Turkey using the conjoint and k-mean cluster analyses techniques.
Simulating compliance behaviour for effective inspection strategies using agent based modelling
Authors: van Asselt Esther , Osinga Sjoukje , Bremmers Harry 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to simulate compliance behaviour of entrepreneurs in the Netherlands based on the Table of Eleven: 11 factors determining compliance (based on economic, cognitive, social and institutional factors).

Design/methodology/approach
– An Agent-Based Model (ABM) was developed that could incorporate both individual and group behaviour and allowed to evaluate the effect of various intervention strategies. For this purpose, a case study on the compliance of pig farmers with antibiotics legislation in the Netherlands was used.

Findings
– The effect of social factors (acceptance of legislation and social influence) on compliance levels was tested as well as the number of inspectors. This showed that the model can help to choose the most optimal intervention strategy depending on the input parameters.

Research limitations/implications
– Further expansion of the model may be necessary, e.g. including economic factors, in order to reflect real-life situations more closely.

Practical implications
– The model can be used by inspection services to effectively implement their control programme.

Originality/value
– The developed ABM is a first attempt to simulate compliance behaviour and as such contributes to the current limited knowledge on effective intervention strategies.
The value of the certifications of origin: a comparison between the Italian olive oil and wine markets
Authors: Cacchiarelli Luca , Carbone Anna , Laureti Tiziana , Sorrentino Alessandro 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to focus on high segments of the Italian olive oil and wine markets. The main goal is to compare the role and the effectiveness of the certification of origin in the creation of value in the two selected markets. Moreover, the authors investigate how different quality clues in the olive oil and wine sectors are related to prices.

Design/methodology/approach
– To meet the goal the authors estimate two separate hedonic price models where the price of the product is regressed over different quality clues some of which are sector specific and some are common to the two sectors. The models are estimated on data which come from two of the major Italian guides chosen for their well established reputation and for the richness of information.

Findings
– The results indicate that: product origin and the relative certification schemes play a relevant role in the formation of prices in both markets; while the olive oil price seems to be more sensitive to farm location than to the certification of origin, the opposite happens for the wines; the higher segments of the Italian olive oil market is increasingly sophisticated and follows the main tendencies established in the quality wine markets where many quality attributes are intensely active.

Research limitations/implications
– First, it should be kept in mind that results for higher market segment may not hold for different segments where relevant quality clues may be different. Second, reader should be aware that comparability of the two samples is constrained by limited data availability for the olive oil sector compared to the wine sector.

Originality/value
– This study represents one of the first attempts to compare the role of the certification of origin in the creation of value in the Italian agro-food markets.
Young customers’ organoleptic assessment of tomatoes with different geographic origins
Authors: Šebjan Urban , Tominc Polona 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present the organoleptic characteristics of cherry tomatoes from three different geographical areas, and to compare the differences/similarities of Slovenian tomatoes which are cultivated by utilising an innovative technology and have altered organoleptic characteristics, with other cherry tomatoes that are available on the Slovenian market and are of different geographical origin (Dutch and Spanish tomatoes). In an experimental study the authors determined the impact of price and organoleptic characteristics as a whole on the choice of tomatoes by young consumers.

Design/methodology/approach
– This experimental study is based on a sample of 27 young consumers, and it examines three hypotheses using three different quantitative methods: one-way ANOVA, χ2 and logistic regression.

Findings
– The authors found that there were statistically significant differences between the perceived organoleptic characteristics of tomatoes grown in three different geographic areas. Young consumers assessed the organoleptic characteristics of the Slovenian tomatoes as the best, followed by the Dutch and Spanish tomatoes. The authors have found that there are statistically significant correlations between the organoleptic characteristics and the price, except for the firmness of tomatoes, which does not significantly affect the price. This cannot be said with regard to price, since there is no statistically significant relationship between this variable and the choice of tomatoes.

Originality/value
– The scientific contribution of this study is reflected in the evaluation and comparison of tomatoes from three different geographical regions, and in linking the perceived organoleptic characteristics of tomatoes with the price, and the final selection of tomatoes by the young consumers.
Effect of food safety training on food handlers’ knowledge and practices
Authors: Nik Husain Nik Rosmawati , Wan Muda Wan Manan , Noor Jamil Noor Izani , Nik Hanafi Nik Nurain , Abdul Rahman Razlina 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– A successful food safety intervention must be based on firm theories and a consideration of all relevant variables. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of improvement in food safety knowledge and practices of food handlers in primary school canteens through food safety training.

Design/methodology/approach
– A list of 98 primary schools was randomized into intervention and control groups using a multistage sampling method. The training programme for the intervention group and questionnaires for evaluating knowledge and practices were developed. On-site observations were done to assess hygienic practices during the handling of raw food and cooking equipment. In total, 16 school canteens participated in this study.

Findings
– Knowledge about personal hygiene and related to rules for preparing safe food was significantly improved after the food safety intervention. Some of the improvement was sustained for up to 12 weeks after the intervention. The self-reported practice score of food safety and hygiene in the intervention group was significantly higher at post1 and post2 compared to baseline. A significant within-group and between-group improvement was demonstrated for the observed behaviour of raw food handling and equipment sanitation.

Originality/value
– The originality of this study is to provide a new framework for the design and implementation of food safety intervention in school canteens targeted towards a specific enabling factor for behavioural change. Provision of food safety training grounded by the theory of planned behaviour was associated with significantly improved food safety knowledge and behaviour amongst food handlers.
Understanding consumers’ intention and behaviour towards functionalised food
Authors: La Barbera Francesco , Amato Mario , Sannino Giuliana 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– In recent years, the food industry has developed and brought to the market a number of “functional food” with healthy characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to study and compare the effects of knowledge and food technology neophobia on individuals’ willingness to pay (WTP) for functionalized healthy food.

Design/methodology/approach
– In order to explore these effects in hypothetical vs real settings, an experiment defined by a within-subject design with two treatments (functionalized vs conventional food) on two auction payment conditions (hypothetical vs real) has been conducted. The products chosen for the experiment were two different types of crushed tomatoes: conventional crushed tomatoes (control product) and a crushed tomatoes enriched with lycopene (functionalized product).

Findings
– Results showed that participants stated, on average, a higher WTP for tomatoes enriched with lycopene than for conventional. This positive premium price was not affected by socio-demographic variables, political orientation and tomato-related preferences. As expected, the level of knowledge about lycopene exerted a significant positive effect on premium price in both auctions condition. Also the Healthy choice subscale of the Food Technology Neophobia Scale (FTNS) was a significant predictor of premium price, but only when the auction was hypothetical.

Originality/value
– This paper might shed some light upon the predictive power of the FTNS on individuals’ behavior in a real market setting.
Food markets visitors: a typology proposal
Authors: Crespi-Vallbona Montserrat , Dimitrovski Darko 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– Focusing on food markets popularity among tourists, the purpose of this paper is to differentiate clusters of tourists based on their behaviour during their visit of these food halls.

Design/methodology/approach
– Factor-cluster analysis is the segmentation method used to identify food markets groupings related to their motivations, while ANOVA was performed to determine differences between clusters when it comes to perceived authenticity, satisfaction and revisit intention. La Boqueria in Barcelona (Spain) is the paradigmatic food market used to conduct 196 survey respondents based on factor importance.

Findings
– Two homogenous clusters were identified and labelled as apathetic-market visitors and food-market lovers.

Practical implications
– Segmentation proposal provides insights to be taken into account for future Destination Management Organisation’s policies, related to promotional activities and destination branding development. They could create effective tailor-made promotional campaigns and adequate business strategies to further attract more food lovers markets, without removing apathetic-market visitors.

Originality/value
– Fill the gap in the existing knowledge on the tourism interest of local markets in destinations and identify through factor-cluster analysis.
Christensen updates disruption theory
Authors: Denning Stephen 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– Recently, observers of the battle between incumbents and challengers have turned the field of disruptive innovation theory into contested territory. What strategies work for defenders and attackers?

Design/methodology/approach
– For an update the author asked the opinion of the world’s foremost authority, Harvard professor Clayton Christensen.

Findings
– According to Christensen, “We discovered that there are three types of innovations, only two of which we had caught in the [original] theory of disruption.

Practical implications
– The only permanent way out of the innovator’s dilemma is to change the game being played and adopt a new corporate focus in which innovation is a necessity, not an option.

Originality/value
– The article updates and broadens disruption theory. Disruption, as Christensen defines it, is a theory of competitive response.
“I felt that I deserved it” – experiences and implications of disability hate crime
Authors: Richardson Lisa , Beadle-Brown Julie , Bradshaw Jill , Guest Colin , Malovic Aida , Himmerich Julian 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to summarise key findings and recommendations from the “Living in Fear” research project focusing on the experiences of people with learning disabilities and autism related to disability hate crime and the experience of the police in dealing with such incidents.

Design/methodology/approach
– Methods included: first, a postal survey with 255 people with learning disabilities or autism (or their carers for people with more severe disabilities), of whom 24 also took part in semi-structured interviews; and second, an electronic survey of the knowledge and experience of 459 police officers or support staff.

Findings
– Just under half of participants had experienced some form of victimisation. The Police reported problems with the definition of disability hate crime and challenges to responding effectively.

Social implications
– A case study from the research highlights some of the key findings and is linked to implications for people with learning disabilities and autism, carers, police and other agencies.

Originality/value
– Previous research has highlighted that victimisation is an issue for this group of people, but has never explored the prevalence and nature of such experiences in a representative sample. Neither has previous research brought together the perspectives of so many different agencies to offer recommendations that go across many sectors. The paper will be of interest to people with disabilities and their carers, professionals in health, social care and the Criminal Justice system.
Identification of Mycobacterial Antigens in Human Urine by Use of Immunoglobulin G Isolated from Sera of Patients with Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Kim Sun Hee , Lee Nan-Ee , Lee Jong Seok , Shin Jeong Hwan , Lee Ju Yeon , Ko Jeong-Heon , Chang Chulhun Ludgerus , Kim Yong-Sam 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT
Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic testing of tuberculosis (TB) is a tremendous unmet need. In this study, four urinary mycobacterial antigens were identified through two independent approaches using IgG capture and immunodepletion methods. Among these, ModC was validated by a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method. As expected, the biomarkers elevated the clinical validity of TB diagnosis when combined with preexisting markers.
Detection of Broadly Neutralizing Activity within the First Months of HIV-1 Infection
Authors: Sanchez-Merino V. , Fabra-Garcia A. , Gonzalez N. , Nicolas D. , Merino-Mansilla A. , Manzardo C. , Ambrosioni J. , Schultz A. , Meyerhans A. , Mascola J. R. , Gatell J. M. , Alcami J. , Miro J. M. , Yuste E. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTA fraction of HIV-1 patients are able to generate broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) after 2 to 4 years of infection. In rare occasions such antibodies are observed close to the first year of HIV-1 infection but never within the first 6 months. In this study, we analyzed the neutralization breadth of sera from 157 antiretroviral-naive individuals who were infected for less than 1 year. A range of neutralizing activities was observed with a previously described panel of six recombinant viruses from five different subtypes (M. Medina-Ramirez et al., J Virol85:5804–5813, 2011,http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JVI.02482-10). Some sera were broadly reactive, predominantly targeting envelope epitopes within the V2 glycan-dependent region. The neutralization breadth was positively associated with time postinfection (P= 0.0001), but contrary to what has been reported for chronic infections, no association with the viral load was observed. Notably, five individuals within the first 6 months of infection (two as early as 77 and 96 days postinfection) showed substantial cross-neutralization. This was confirmed with an extended panel of 20 Env pseudoviruses from four different subtypes (two in tier 3, 14 in tier 2, and four in tier 1). Sera from these individuals were capable of neutralizing viruses from four different subtypes with a geometric mean 50% infective dose (ID50) between 100 and 800. These results indicate that induction of cross-neutralizing responses, albeit rare, is achievable even within 6 months of HIV-1 infection. These observations encourage the search for immunogens able to elicit this kind of response in preventive HIV-1 vaccine approaches.IMPORTANCEThere are very few individuals able to mount broadly neutralizing activity (bNA) close to the first year postinfection. It is not known how early in the infection cross-neutralizing responses can be induced. In the present study, we show that bNAbs, despite being rare, can be induced much earlier than previously thought. The identification of HIV-1-infected patients with these activities within the first months of infection and characterization of these responses will help in defining new immunogen designs and neutralization targets for vaccine-mediated induction of bNAbs.