bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
VgeneRepertoire.org identifies and stores variable genes of immunoglobulins and T-cell receptors from the genomes of jawed vertebrates
Authors: Olivieri David N. , Gambón-Deza Francisco 
Published: January 2014

AbstractTheVgeneRepertoire.orgplatform (http://vgenerepertoire.org) is a new public database repository for variable (V) gene sequences that encode immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor molecules. It identifies the nucleic and amino acid sequences of more than 20,000 genes, providing their exon location in either the contig, scaffold, or chromosome region, as well as locus information for more than 100 jawed vertebrate taxa whose genomes have been sequenced. This web repository provides support to immunologists interested in these molecules and aids in comparative phylogenetic studies.
The Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Trichostatin A Promotes Totipotency in the Male Gametophyte
Authors: Li Hui , Soriano Mercedes , Cordewener Jan , Muiño Jose M. , Riksen Tjitske , Fukuoka Hiroyuki , Angenent Gerco C. , Boutilier Kim 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
The haploid male gametophyte, the pollen grain, is a terminally differentiated structure whose function ends at fertilization. Plant breeding and propagation widely use haploid embryo production from in vitro–cultured male gametophytes, but this technique remains poorly understood at the mechanistic level. Here, we show that histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate the switch to haploid embryogenesis. Blocking HDAC activity with trichostatin A (TSA) in cultured male gametophytes of Brassica napus leads to a large increase in the proportion of cells that switch from pollen to embryogenic growth. Embryogenic growth is enhanced by, but not dependent on, the high-temperature stress that is normally used to induce haploid embryogenesis in B. napus. The male gametophyte of Arabidopsis thaliana, which is recalcitrant to haploid embryo development in culture, also forms embryogenic cell clusters after TSA treatment. Genetic analysis suggests that the HDAC protein HDA17 plays a role in this process. TSA treatment of male gametophytes is associated with the hyperacetylation of histones H3 and H4. We propose that the totipotency of the male gametophyte is kept in check by an HDAC-dependent mechanism and that the stress treatments used to induce haploid embryo development in culture impinge on this HDAC-dependent pathway.
Network partner knowledge and internal relationships influencing customer relationship quality and company performance
Authors: Mitręga Maciej 
Published: January 2014

PurposeMarketing is the area of coexistence of various research traditions with regard to relational phenomena. This study aims to contribute to limiting the gap between these traditions by testing the influence of network partner knowledge and internal relationship quality on company performance and customer relationship quality.Design/methodology/approachThis is a research paper where hypotheses are derived from prior studies referring to relationship marketing, B2B networks and internal marketing. The hypotheses are tested by using a sample of 264 companies operating in B2B markets and by structural equation modeling.FindingsCustomer relationship quality is empirically supported here as a factor mediating influence of network partner knowledge and internal relationship quality on company performance. The proposition of this paper is that company ability to deal effectively with a network in which it is embedded (including internal network) is the antecedent of dealing with customer relationships effectively. The moderator effects of the dominant profile of business are also discussed.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of the research are presented with regard to the sampling method, research technique/scope and cultural context. The research results may be treated as a direction for further studies exploring connections between constructs from various approaches to relational phenomena in marketing.Practical implicationsThis study brings strategic insights into knowledge of business relationships, by investigating empirically whether the focal company may benefit from their external and internal relationships.Originality/valueTo the best of the author's knowledge, there has been no study examining the proposed set of inter‐related research constructs so far.
Managerial action and resource‐advantage theory: conceptual frameworks emanating from a positive theory of competition
Authors: Hunt Shelby D. , Madhavaram Sreedhar 
Published: January 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to illustrate that conceptual frameworks developed from a general theory of competition, i.e. resource‐advantage (R‐A) theory, can facilitate managerial action.Design/methodology/approachAfter a brief overview of resource‐advantage (R‐A) theory, five conceptual frameworks are developed and offered for the purposes of managerial action.FindingsThis paper identifies several conceptual frameworks and after noting that conceptual frameworks that do not have positive theoretical foundations may not be as useful as those that do, develops five conceptual frameworks that are based on R‐A theory.Practical implicationsThe conceptual frameworks developed in this paper have great potential for facilitating managerial action.Originality/valueConceptual frameworks that have positive theoretical foundations can be very useful for practitioners. In fact, the frameworks proposed in this paper can replace frameworks that are currently in use for managerial action.
Effects of complete products on consumer judgments
Authors: Ozcan Timucin , Sheinin Daniel A. 
Published: January 2014

PurposeThe aim of this study is to better understand how consumers understand and judge multi‐attribute products that are perceived as either more or less complete in terms of feature coverage in a category. Complete products are used to reduce the need of developing and managing expansive and expensive line‐extension portfolios.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used an experimental method and conducted two studies to test hypotheses derived from the marketing literature.FindingsThe authors find more complete multi‐attribute products are preferred to less complete alternatives. This preference for more complete products remains under larger competitive product assortment, but is reduced under smaller assortment. With a higher price level and larger assortment, the preference is substantial. However, under the conditions of lower price level/larger assortment, higher price level/smaller assortment, and lower price level/smaller assortment, the preference is again reduced.Research limitations/implicationsMore positive evaluations and higher product utility accrue from adding new features to multi‐attribute products prior to purchase. Moreover, more complete information causes more positive evaluations and cognitive responses. Larger assortment strains cognitive resources, and more complete multi‐attribute products are easier to understand than less complete multi‐attribute products. This processing facilitation generates positive affect and leads to greater use of information that can shorten processing. Price level strongly influences processing of more complete products under larger assortment, but not under smaller assortment.Practical implicationsBrand managers have a better understanding of how consumers judge more and less complete products, and under which circumstances more complete products are preferred.Originality/valueThe study of perceived product completeness is novel.
Expected product price as a function of factors of price sensitivity
Authors: Danes Jeffrey E. , Lindsey‐Mullikin Joan 
Published: January 2014

PurposeThis paper presents a model relating Nagle and Holden's factors of price sensitivity to expected price and willingness to pay. This work presents various perspectives on price elasticity/sensitivity, empirically tests aspects of the influence of perception of the offer (product/service) on expected price, and illustrates how the pricing methods developed within provide quantitative precision to the practice of price setting by capturing perceptions important to consumers.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a within‐subjects design to study four brands in two product categories, automobiles and computers. Model evaluation employs ordinary least squares regression.FindingsTen qualitative factors were studied. Overall, the results show four factors predict expected price for the target market, product and brand. The factors are perceived substitutes, quality, fairness, and unique value.Originality/valueThis research makes the following contributions. First, the authors are able to quantify ten factors of price sensitivity relevant to the evaluation of product pricing. Second, they are able to identify the relevant factors of price sensitivity for two product categories specific to a given target market. Third, they provide a data‐driven model that enables translation of pricing variables into quantitative values to arrive at the price of a product. The major theoretical contribution of this paper is to show that Nagle and Holden's ten factors of price sensitivity may act in the following way: the change in product/service perception may influence expected price, and then the change in expected price influences willingness to pay. The empirical focus of the current research is on the first of these two changes.
Do me‐too brands price lower than the feature pioneer?
Authors: Clark S. Sinapuelas Ian , Robinson William T. 
Published: January 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the pricing strategies of me‐too brands.Design/methodology/approachThis research estimates an empirical model using a panel data of 20 consumer packaged goods sub‐categories.FindingsMe‐too brands face pricing constraints that restrict them from pricing aggressively versus the feature pioneer. The results show that private label brands have the most flexibility to price aggressively. Line extensions me‐toos and new brand name me‐toos do not cut price. Line extensions of national brands are constrained by their parent brand's prices. New brand names are constrained by the higher costs of launching a new brand name. Thus, it appears that consistent product line pricing and covering the costs of launching a new brand name limit price competition versus the feature pioneer.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is limited by the lack of distribution data, the lack of customer mind‐set measures of brand equity, and the limited number of private label me‐toos in the sample.Practical implicationsFeature pioneers need not worry about price cutting from line extension and new brand name me‐toos. They can set prices to cover their development costs and meet their strategic goals. Without the ability to undercut the feature pioneer, me‐too brands need to utilize other marketing tools to compensate for delayed entry.Originality/valueConventional wisdom suggests a me‐too brand succeeds if it charges a low price as low prices are essential to obtain trial. This paper provides empirical evidence that certain types of me‐too brands are restricted from aggressive price cutting.
Assessing information competences of translation and interpreting trainees
Authors: Pinto Maria , García-Marco Javier , Granell Ximo , Sales Dora 
Published: January 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a study about Information Literacy instruction addressed to the user community of translators and interpreters through the application of InfoLiTrans Test. This test is one of the outcomes of project InfoLiTrans, aimed at applying an overall framework for assessing the acquisition of the information competence in four big macro areas: information search, assessment of information, information treatment, and communication and dissemination of information.

Design/methodology/approach
– The test was used to analyse, explore, and improve the information competence of Translation and Interpreting trainees from 17 universities in Spain. Data were processed and analysed after collecting responses at two levels of difficulty: basic and advanced. A statistical descriptive analysis was performed to diagnose the learning level of each competence area.

Findings
– Overall levels of information management were found to be excellent, particularly in relation to disseminating and communicating information, and to assessing the information required for translation tasks. Such results show a profitable synergy between translators' core competences and their information competences. However, skills required to search for information and to make use of it with available technology could be improved, providing room for further training.

Originality/value
– Considering the diagnosis of information competences put forward by the research, this paper provides guidelines for further improvement of translators' instruction on information literacy, thus, encouraging the design of models, methods and tools that could be more effective for this learning community.
Influences of product attributes on sojourners' food purchase decisions
Authors: Tirelli Christian , Pilar Martínez-Ruiz María 
Published: January 2014

Purpose
– To address a research gap regarding the role of food during academic sojourns by international students, the aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of food attributes on food purchase decisions.

Design/methodology/approach
– An extensive literature review suggested hypotheses pertaining to the influence of food attributes on the different stages of the buying decision process of academic sojourners. With data from 139 international university students enrolled in a Spanish university, factorial principal component analyses and linear parametric regressions were conducted.

Findings
– Three factors underlie food attributes and influence all stages of the food purchase decision process: sustainable production, appearance and accessibility, and then flavor. The greatest influence occurs in the choice stage.

Research limitations/implications
– The sojourners exhibit a strong tendency to purchase products that reflect sustainable practices.

Practical implications
– Useful information about the influence of food attributes on purchasing decisions can support more effective decisions in food distribution channels, including coherent image strategies, enhanced new product development, and better communications to target the growing market of sojourners.

Originality/value
– This research contributes to the minimal empirical research pertaining to the role of food for international university students, and describes the influence of food attributes on purchase decisions.
Assessment of quality services through linguistic variables
Authors: de Araújo Batista Deise , Dumke de Medeiros Denise 
Published: January 2014

Purpose
– Improvements in quality have a very important role to play in services because such improvements add greater flexibility and give clients greater confidence in the services provided. Therefore, this paper aims to describe a framework for measuring quality in the provision of the service by using a SERVQUAL scale and fuzzy operators.

Design/methodology/approach
– In this approach, a framework to assess quality in service provision is put forward which applies the SERVQUAL scale as an instrument of data collection. Fuzzy set theory is proposed and applied within this framework as a technique to make a quantitative assessment of the quality of the provision of services. A case study is used to illustrate how to apply this framework for this purpose. The data were processed and transformed into a fuzzy environment, and fuzzy numbers and operators were applied to the analysis of customers' assessment with regard to the dimensions of quality in the service provided.

Findings
– The study demonstrated the differences between evaluations of the dimensions of quality assessed, and differences of the same customer in relation to these dimensions. The main points raised were the importance given by customers to the dimensions, and the gaps between customers' perceptions and expectations, when fuzzy numbers were used to assess levels of service quality, and to evaluating the prioritization of service quality.

Originality/value
– This paper proposes the use of fuzzy theory within a framework by making a linguistic analysis when dealing with data collected in a SERVQUAL scale so as to assess service quality. The data were measured by examining the gap between customers' perceptions and expectations. The framework describes the phases of this assessment, and uses fuzzy operators.
A grey rough set model for evaluation and selection of software cost estimation methods
Authors: Liu Jun , Qiao Jian-Zhong 
Published: January 2014

Purpose
– Due to the limitation of acknowledgment, the complexity of software system and the interference of noises, this paper aims to solve the traditional problem: traditional software cost estimation methods face the challenge of poor and uncertain inputs.

Design/methodology/approach
– Under such circumstances, different cost estimation methods vary greatly on estimation accuracy and effectiveness. Therefore, it is crucial to perform evaluation and selection on estimation methods against a poor information database. This paper presents a grey rough set model by introducing grey system theory into rough set based analysis, aiming for a better choice of software cost estimation method on accuracy and effectiveness.

Findings
– The results are very encouraging in the sense of comparison among four machine learning techniques and thus indicate it an effective approach to evaluate software cost estimation method where insufficient information is provided.

Practical implications
– Based on the grey rough set model, the decision targets can be classified approximately. Furthermore, the grey of information and the limitation of cognition can be overcome during the use of the grey rough interval correlation cluster method.

Originality/value
– This paper proposed the grey rough set model combining grey system theory with rough set for software cost estimation method evaluation and selection.
An analysis of factors influencing the output value of unit sown area based on grey incidence analysis
Authors: Tan Qingmei , Farquharson Bob , Chen Deli , Liu Jie 
Published: January 2014

Purpose
– The paper aims to clarify the relationship between the output value of unit sown area (OVUSA) and its major influential factors by taking Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China as an instance, followed by some suggestions for adjusting the agricultural inputs.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper is characterized by an exploratory research by constructing a grey incidence model (GIM) based on the grey system theory (GST) initiated by Chinese professor Julong Deng. The original data processed in the model are quoted from Jiangsu Statistics web site and the Statistical Yearbook of Jiangsu Province.

Findings
– The analysis indicates several noteworthy points in the following areas. To start with, the proportion of irrigated area to sown area has turned out to be a stabilizing factor influencing OVUSA; next, the contributions of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers' output to the growth of the OVUSA were reduced, while the marginal outputs of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers seemed to be lower; then the outputs of potash and compound fertilizers have made significant contributions to the growth of the OVUSA, although their application rates were drastically increased; besides, the total power of agricultural machinery was a major factor boosting the growth of the OVUSA; furthermore, the decrease of labor force was obviously remarkably related to the reduction of OVUSA; finally, the areas affected by natural disasters have had a foremost impact on OVUSA reduction.

Originality/value
– Suggestions are also proposed to the related policy-makers as follows: to reasonably control the application rates of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, to encourage fertilizer manufacturing enterprises to develop potassium mineral resources with the purpose of guaranteeing the potash fertilizer's supply, to scientifically design the composition of compound fertilizers in order to satisfy the needs of cultivated lands in different areas, to improve the quality and structure of agricultural labor forces with the aim of meeting emerging trends in the agricultural industry, to make every effort to further modernize the current agricultural industry, and to enhance the disaster-prevention capability of the agricultural industry by gradually converting it into a controllable one.
Professional standards, competence and capability
Authors: Lester Stan 
Published: January 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the idea of competence in its various forms provides a sufficient basis for developing standards of professional practice.

Design/methodology/approach
– Three existing studies of professional standards and qualifying processes are drawn upon, carried out by the author in 2007, 2009 and 2012.

Findings
– Professional standards frameworks are informed by several different approaches to competence, although an external or activity-based approach – similar in principle to that used in UK occupational standards – predominates. However, there are limits to the extent to which a competence-based approach can adequately represent complex professional work, and there is scope to improve the relevance and robustness of frameworks through introducing the idea of capability. Evidence is presented to show that this is beginning to occur in some of the better-designed recent frameworks.

Practical implications
– Using the idea of capability in professional standards is likely to have two implications. One is that standards focus at a high level on the work of the profession rather than on specific job roles, and the other is that pervasive themes such as ethics, judgement and professionalism are written into the standards in a way that ensures they apply across the breadth of practice rather than become treated as separate topics or areas of competence.

Originality/value –
Professional standards frameworks have generally been considered purely in terms of competence. The idea of capability introduces approaches that make them more able to respond to factors such as emergent contexts, evolving and contested practices and the need for intelligent judgement and lived ethical practice.