bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Value-based consumer segmentation: the key to sustainable agri-food chains
Authors: Macharia John , Collins Ray , Sun Tim 
Published: September 2013

Purpose
– The final consumer has the exclusive right to define what constitutes value in a product or service. Under increasing pressures of globalization and urbanization, a consumer-focused approach to performance improvement in supply chains can lead to more satisfied consumers and improved returns to growers and retailers. This paper aims to demonstrate that such an orientation, though lacking in agri-food supply chains in developing countries, can mitigate threats to food safety, consumer health and environmental quality.

Design/methodology/approach
– Data were collected through random survey intercepts (n=418) at different retail outlets for fresh vegetables in Nairobi, Kenya in 2010. Multi-step cluster analysis (Ward Method, K-means) was used to classify fresh vegetable consumers, in terms of their product, production and marketing process preferences.

Findings
– Four heterogeneous segments in terms of value preferences, behaviour and personal profiles (p<0.05) were derived. They were labelled Prestigious Shoppers (25 per cent), Market Enthusiasts (18 per cent), Ethics Crusaders (41 per cent) and Safety Sceptics (16 per cent). All segments expressed high or moderate preferences for product quality. In addition, the Prestigious Shoppers expressed a moderate preference for customer service. Market Enthusiasts attached the highest values to market conditions and customer service. Ethics Crusaders most highly preferred customer service, while Safety Sceptics most highly preferred safe production.

Research limitations/implications
– Since it is difficult to predict consumer behaviour precisely, these findings may be contextual. Yet, the segments have unique value preferences despite actors treating them as homogeneous. Ignoring these differences can lead to unsustainable attempts to improve chain practice and policies.

Originality/value
– This paper is the first of its kind. It advocates for use of universal value profiles as a basis for development of consumer-focused strategies for sustainable performance improvement in agri-food chains in developing countries.
Optimization of multistage depressed collectors using fem and parallel algorithm MeTEO
Authors: Coco Salvatore , Laudani Antonino , Pulcini Giuseppe , Riganti Fulginei Francesco , Salvini Alessandro 
Published: September 2013

Purpose
– This paper aims the application of a novel hybrid algorithm, called MeTEO, based on the combination of three heuristics inspired by artificial life to the optimization of electrodes voltages of multistage depressed collector.

Design/methodology/approach
– The flock-of-starlings optimization (FSO), the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the bacterial chemotaxis algorithm (BCA) were adapted to implement a hybrid and parallel algorithm: the FSO has been powerfully employed for exploring the whole space of solutions, whereas the PSO+BCA has been used to refine the FSO-found solutions, exploiting their better performances in local search.

Findings
– The optimization of the voltage of the electrodes of multistage depressed collector are efficiently handled with a moderate computational effort.

Practical implication
– The development of an efficient method for the solution of a complicated electromagnetic optimization problem, exploiting the different characteristic of different approaches based on evolutionary computation algorithm.

Originality/value
– The paper shows that the combination of stochastic methods having different exploration properties with appositely developed FE electromagnetic simulator allows us to produce effective solutions of multimodal electromagnetic optimization problems, with an acceptable computational cost.
Near-field numerical analysis of surface plasmon polariton propagation on metallic gratings
Authors: Ruffato Gianluca , Romanato Filippo 
Published: September 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to simulate and analyze the excitation and propagation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on sinusoidal metallic gratings in conical mounting.

Design/methodology/approach
– Chandezon's method has been implemented in MATLAB environment in order to compute the optical response of metallic gratings illuminated under azimuthal rotation. The code allows describing the full optical features both in far- and near-field terms, and the performed analyses highlight the fundamental role of incident polarization on SPP excitation in the conical configuration.

Findings
– Results of far-field polarization conversion and plasmonic near-field computation clearly show that azimuthally rotated metallic gratings can support propagating surface plasmon with generic polarization.

Originality/value
– The recent papers experimentally demonstrated the benefits in sensitivity and the polarization phenomenology that are originated by an azimuthal rotation of the grating. In this work, numerical simulations confirm these experimental results and complete the analysis with a study of the excited SPP near-field on the metal surface.
Discussing three models of client: consultant collaboration for effective training interventions -- a case study approach
Authors: Marks Tony 
Published: September 2013

Purpose
– This article aims to draw parallels between literature discussing the benefits of management consultancy and three different role types adopted by consultants to provide an effective training intervention.

Design/methodology/approach
– Using three case studies, it highlights the way each consulting model has been enacted by 20|20 to support its clients, all of whom are multinational businesses who invest a significant proportion of their annual budgets on industrial training.

Findings
– The relationship between a consultant training provider and client is critical to the success of any training intervention. Linked to this is an appreciation of the cultural differences to be found within any single client organisation. For some organisations, this difference begins with the way training itself is defined, and even whether it is a part of the wider organisational identity and communications vocabulary.

Originality/value
– As this article illustrates, the provision of industrial training is so much more than the ostensibly “tickbox” exercise of simply imparting functional knowledge through a standard set of courseware. Successful training interventions require a cultural approach to be taken in order to achieve their full potential.
Determinants of involuntary cross-listing: US restaurant companies' perspective
Authors: Koh Yoon , Lee Seoki , Basu Sudipta , S. Roehl Wesley 
Published: September 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to identify determinants of involuntary cross-listing (CL) of US restaurant companies on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE).

Design/methodology/approach
– The study utilizes a mixed method design with an interview and a pooled logistic regression analysis with panel dataset using the company-clustered standard error to develop and test the hypotheses.

Findings
– The empirical investigation identified determinants of involuntary CL by examining ten factors, including size, firm growth opportunities, leverage, financial flexibility, international operation, profitability, overall German economic condition, industry growth opportunities, restaurant type, and local operation. The study found three determinants – large size, favorable economic condition in Germany and positive industry growth opportunities – utilizing the sample that covers the entire periods of involuntary CL of US restaurant companies on the FSE.

Originality/value
– This paper uncovers the phenomenon of involuntary CL, which many stock exchanges have strategically adopted by simplifying listing requirements for companies already listed in other stock markets, focusing on US restaurant companies. The number of involuntarily cross-listed US restaurant companies greatly increased to 50 percent of domestically listed US restaurant companies while those companies are largely unaware of the phenomenon. The research advances understanding of involuntary CLs, which previously received little attention.
Improvement of fatigue limit by overload for high-tensile strength steel containing a crack in the stress concentration zone
Authors: Houjou Keiji , Takahashi Koji , Ando Kotoji 
Published: September 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of overload (bending moment with plastic deformation: Mp) on three point bending specimen at the fatigue limit of high-tensile-strength steel containing a crack in the stress concentration zone.

Design/methodology/approach
– An artificial semi-circular slit was introduced and Mp was applied after which bending fatigue tests were carried out.

Findings
– The relationship between the level of Mp and the fatigue limit (σw) was proportional; the fatigue limits of specimens containing 0.2- and 0.3-mm-deep slits are improved by the Mp process as much as twice the original values; the slit size that can be rendered harmless by the Mp process is a=0.05 mm in depth; and all non-propagating cracks appeared around the artificial slit.

Originality/value
– Very few studies have been conducted on the fatigue limit of materials containing crack-like surface defects after overload in the stress concentration zone. This study elucidated the effect of Mp on the fatigue limit.
The adoption of tele-presence systems
Authors: Park Eunil 
Published: September 2013

Purpose
– Due to rapid increases in theoretical progress, the paper investigated user perceptions toward tele-presence systems with possible and antecedent motivations that affect attitude and intention to use. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper conducted an internet survey. Responses from 1,620 participants were collected and investigated to identify motivations and possible factors.

Findings
– The results demonstrate that attitude has the most powerful effect on intention to use. In addition, social presence and perceived usefulness have significant effects on the intention to use. The results also demonstrate the crucial roles of perceived adaptivity and system quality on attitude. The factors examined in the study may be core features of user acceptance toward tele-presence systems with significant implications for improving and creating better and friendlier tele-presence systems for users.

Originality/value
– This paper is of value to researchers designing and improving tele-operation and tele-presence services in the society.
Search engines and their search strategies: the effective use by Indian academics
Authors: Sampath Kumar B.T. , Kumar G.T. 
Published: September 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of various search engines and meta search engines by Indian academics for retrieving information on the web. It also aims to know whether the academics use search strategy of various search engines for retrieval of information or not, and how the Indian academics learn the various search strategies for using search engines.

Design/methodology/approach
– The data collection instruments used for this study were a questionnaire and follow-up interviews with students and faculty members. The questionnaire consisted of various questions which were designed to elicit the use of search engines, search strategies and method of leaning the search strategies of search engines. A total of 450 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 300 duly filled copies were returned, constituting a 66.66 percent response rate. The data thus collected were analysed with the help of the SPSS (version 19.0) statistical package to present the findings in percentage and test the formulated hypothesis.

Findings
– The findings of the survey show that the majority of the respondents most frequently used Google (91.93 percent) and Yahoo (43.85 percent) while Dogpile and Ixquick (35.78 percent each) were less frequently used by the respondents. 65.26 percent of respondents used the search strategy for retrieving information. The study also shows that there is a significant relationship between the respondent's profession and use of search engines (p=0.018) as well use search strategies of search engines (p=0.028). Method of learning the search strategies of search engines is also associated with the respondent's profession (p=0.008).

Originality/value
– The results of this study have clear implications for information literacy instruction in the context of search engines. The study recommends that there is a need to conduct intensive training for students and faculty members in order for them to acquire the essential search strategies for effective information retrieval. The findings of the study will be helpful to concerned authorities to enhance the effective and efficient use of search engines by the respondents.
Interlaboratory Optimization and Evaluation of a Serological Assay for Diagnosis of Human Baylisascariasis
Authors: Rascoe Lisa N. , Santamaria Cynthia , Handali Sukwan , Dangoudoubiyam Sriveny , Kazacos Kevin R. , Wilkins Patricia P. , Ndao Momar 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACTA Western blot assay using a recombinant protein, recombinantBaylisascaris procyonisRAG1 protein (rBpRAG1), was developed for the diagnosis of human baylisascariasis concurrently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, and the National Reference Centre for Parasitology (NRCP) in Montreal, Canada. Assay performance was assessed by testing 275 specimens at the CDC and 405 specimens at the NRCP. Twenty specimens from 16 cases of baylisascariasis were evaluated. Eighteen were positive, with the assay correctly identifying 14 of 16 patients. The rBpRAG1 Western blot assay showed no cross-reactivity withToxocara-positive serum and had an overall sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 98%.
Structure-Function Studies of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae Major Outer Membrane Porin
Authors: Chen Adrienne , Seifert H. Steven 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACT

The major outer membrane porin (PorB) expressed by
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
plays multiple roles during infection, in addition to its function as an outer membrane pore. We have generated a panel of mutants of
N. gonorrhoeae
strain FA1090 expressing a variety of mutant
porB
genes that all function as porins. We identified multiple regions of porin that are involved in its binding to the complement regulatory factors C4b-binding protein and factor H and confirmed that the ability to bind at least one factor is required for FA1090 to survive the bactericidal effects of human serum. We tested the ability of these mutants to inhibit both apoptosis and the oxidative burst in polymorphonuclear leukocytes but were unable to identify the porin domains required for either function. This study has identified nonessential porin domains and some potentially essential portions of the protein and has further expanded our understanding of the contribution of the porin domains required for complement regulation.
Trimeric Autotransporter DsrA Is a Major Mediator of Fibrinogen Binding in Haemophilus ducreyi
Authors: Fusco William G. , Elkins Christopher , Leduc Isabelle 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACT

Haemophilus ducreyi
is the etiologic agent of the sexually transmitted genital ulcer disease chancroid. In both natural and experimental chancroid,
H. ducreyi
colocalizes with fibrin at the base of the ulcer. Fibrin is obtained by cleavage of the serum glycoprotein fibrinogen (Fg) by thrombin to initiate formation of the blood clot. Fg binding proteins are critical virulence factors in medically important Gram-positive bacteria.
H. ducreyi
has previously been shown to bind Fg in an agglutination assay, and the
H. ducreyi
Fg binding protein FgbA was identified in ligand blotting with denatured proteins. To better characterize the interaction of
H. ducreyi
with Fg, we examined Fg binding to intact, viable
H. ducreyi
bacteria and identified a novel Fg binding protein.
H. ducreyi
bound unlabeled Fg in a dose-dependent manner, as measured by two different methods. In ligand blotting with total denatured cellular proteins, digoxigenin (DIG)-Fg bound only two
H. ducreyi
proteins, the trimeric autotransporter DsrA and the lectin DltA; however, only the isogenic
dsrA
mutant had significantly less cell-associated Fg than parental strains in Fg binding assays with intact bacteria. Furthermore, expression of DsrA, but not DltA or an empty vector, rendered the non-Fg-binding
H. influenzae
strain Rd capable of binding Fg. A 13-amino-acid sequence in the C-terminal section of the passenger domain of DsrA appears to be involved in Fg binding by
H. ducreyi
. Taken together, these data suggest that the trimeric autotransporter DsrA is a major determinant of Fg binding at the surface of
H. ducreyi
.
Factors Influencing Acquisition of Burkholderia cepacia Complex Organisms in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Ramsay Kay A. , Butler Claire A. , Paynter Stuart , Ware Robert S. , Kidd Timothy J. , Wainwright Claire E. , Bell Scott C. 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACT

Burkholderia cepacia
complex organisms are important transmissible pathogens found in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. In recent years, the rates of cross-infection of epidemic strains have declined due to effective infection control efforts. However, cases of sporadic
B. cepacia
complex infection continue to occur in some centers. The acquisition pathways and clinical outcomes of sporadic
B. cepacia
complex infection are unclear. We sought to determine the patient clinical characteristics, outcomes, incidence, and genotypic relatedness for all cases of
B. cepacia
complex infection at two CF centers. We also sought to study the external conditions that influence the acquisition of infection. From 2001 to 2011, 67 individual organisms were cultured from the respiratory samples of 64 patients. Sixty-five percent of the patients were adults, in whom chronic infections were more common (68%) (
P
= 0.006). The incidence of
B. cepacia
complex infection increased by a mean of 12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3 to 23%) per year. The rates of transplantation and death were similar in the incident cases who developed chronic infection compared to those in patients with chronic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
infection. Multilocus sequence typing revealed 50 individual strains from 65 isolates. Overall, 85% of the patients were infected with unique strains, suggesting sporadic acquisition of infection. The yearly incidence of nonepidemic
B. cepacia
complex infection was positively correlated with the amount of rainfall in the two sites examined: subtropical Brisbane (
r
= 0.65,
P
= 0.031) and tropical Townsville (
r
= 0.82,
P
= 0.002). This study demonstrates that despite strict cohort segregation, new cases of unrelated
B. cepacia
complex infection continue to occur. These data also support an environmental origin of infection and suggest that climate conditions may be associated with the acquisition of
B. cepacia
complex infections.
Highly Divergent Type 2 and 3 Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses Isolated from Sewage in Tallinn, Estonia
Authors: Al-Hello Haider , Jorba Jaume , Blomqvist Soile , Raud Riina , Kew Olen , Roivainen Merja 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACT
Highly divergent vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) have been isolated from sewage in Tallinn, Estonia, since 2002. Sequence analysis of VDPVs of serotypes 2 and 3 showed that they shared common noncapsid region recombination sites, indicating origination from a single trivalent oral polio vaccine dose, estimated to have been given between 1986 and 1998. The sewage isolates closely resemble VDPVs chronically excreted by persons with common variable immunodeficiency, but no chronic excretors have yet been identified in Estonia.
A Simplified Positive-Sense-RNA Virus Construction Approach That Enhances Analysis Throughput
Authors: Siridechadilok Bunpote , Gomutsukhavadee Methee , Sawaengpol Thunyarat , Sangiambut Sutha , Puttikhunt Chunya , Chin-inmanu Kwanrutai , Suriyaphol Prapat , Malasit Prida , Screaton Gavin , Mongkolsapaya Juthathip 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACT
Here we present an approach that advances the throughput of a genetic analysis of a positive-sense RNA virus by simplifying virus construction. It enabled comprehensive dissection of a complex, multigene phenotype through rapid derivation of a large number of chimeric viruses and construction of a mutant library directly from a virus pool. The versatility of the approach described here expands the applicability of diverse genetic approaches to study these viruses.
Assessing efficient patient care: should length of stay be calculated independently of local admission rates?
Authors: Shahnaz A , Parker R A , Wills S , Ross Russell R I 
Published: September 2013

ObjectiveTo compare the length of hospitalisation for infants with bronchiolitis across the Eastern region and to assess the impact of the varying admission rates in each hospital.DesignData collection through the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) using the ICD clinical coding for bronchiolitis across all hospitals in east of England for three winter seasons (October to March for the years 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12).Main outcome measureLength of hospital stay, corrected to adjust for local population.ResultsSeventeen hospitals across the east of England were included in this study. Overall admission rate (as a percentage of the population) for the region was 3.3% and consistent with national data, but rates within individual hospitals varied between 1.5% and 5.7% over the 3-year period. Bed days per 1000 population (‘standardised bed days’) per year varied almost fourfold, from 34.5 to 122.3 in different hospitals. Corrected length of stay showed high discordance when compared to average length of stay.ConclusionsThe average length of stay is substantially affected by admission rates, with hospitals who admit a greater proportion of infants appearing to have a shorter uncorrected length of stay. We propose that a single corrected measure for length of stay should be used when assessing the efficiency of care because it is unaffected by variations in local admission rates and is adjusted for local population size.
A Transcriptional and Metabolic Signature of Primary Aneuploidy Is Present in Chromosomally Unstable Cancer Cells and Informs Clinical Prognosis
Authors: Sheltzer Jason M. 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
Aneuploidy is invariably associated with poor proliferation of primary cells, but the specific contributions of abnormal karyotypes to cancer, a disease characterized by aneuploidy and dysregulated proliferation, remain unclear. In this study, I demonstrate that the transcriptional alterations caused by aneuploidy in primary cells are also present in chromosomally unstable cancer cell lines, but the same alterations are not common to all aneuploid cancers. Chromosomally unstable cancer lines and aneuploid primary cells also share an increase in glycolytic and TCA cycle flux. The biological response to aneuploidy is associated with cellular stress and slow proliferation, and a 70-gene signature derived from primary aneuploid cells was defined as a strong predictor of increased survival in several cancers. Inversely, a transcriptional signature derived from clonal aneuploidy in tumors correlated with high mitotic activity and poor prognosis. Together, these findings suggested that there are two types of aneuploidy in cancer: one is clonal aneuploidy, which is selected during tumor evolution and associated with robust growth, and the other is subclonal aneuploidy caused by chromosomal instability (CIN). Subclonal aneuploidy more closely resembles the stressed state of primary aneuploid cells, yet CIN is not benign; a subset of genes upregulated in high-CIN cancers predict aggressive disease in human patients in a proliferation-independent manner. Cancer Res; 73(21); 6401–12. ©2013 AACR.