bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of pif, a gene required for the per os infectivity of Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus
Authors: Kikhno Iryna , Gutiérrez Serafín , Croizier Liliane , Croizier Guy , Ferber Miguel López 
Published: August 2015

During plaque purification of Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus in S. littoralis Sl52 cell culture, a deletion mutant virus was isolated. Analysis of the biological properties of this mutant virus revealed an absence of per os infectivity of the occluded virus. Infectivity by injection of the non-occluded (budded) virus is not different between the wild-type and the deleted virus. Restriction analysis of the mutant virus genome revealed a 4·5 kb deletion within the NotI D fragment. The observed phenotype was mapped to the deleted region by rescue experiments. The deletion was characterized and the equivalent DNA fragment on the wild-type virus was sequenced. By co-transfecting the DNA of the deleted virus with plasmids derived from the wild-type virus, it was possible to determine that ORF 7 in this fragment is responsible for the observed phenotype. ORF 7, called pif (per os infectivity factor), is homologous to ORF 119 of Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus. Similar ORFs are present in all sequenced baculoviruses. The product of this gene is an occlusion body-derived virion structural protein required only for the first steps of larva infection, as viruses being produced in cells expressing the gene but not containing it in their genomes are able to produce successful infections.
Studies on the different conditions for rabies virus neutralization by monoclonal antibodies #1-46-12 and #7-1-9
Authors: Irie Takashi , Kawai Akihiko 
Published: August 2015

Virus-neutralizing activity of two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), #7-1-9 and #1-46-12, against rabies virus glycoprotein (G) was compared. Although these mAbs affected the virion’s ability to bind to host cells similarly, a big difference was found in the titres of virus neutralization (1:7132 and 1:32 for mAbs #1-46-12 and #7-1-9, respectively, at a concentration of 10 μg protein/ml). Although no big difference in virion-binding affinity between the two mAbs was found, the number of antibodies required for virus neutralization was very low, ⩽20 molecules for mAb #1-46-12 and ⩾250 molecules for mAb #7-1-9. In the latter case, the mAbs cover a major part of the virion surface and cause steric hindrance of viral receptor-binding activity. The infectivity of an epitope-preserved escape mutant virus (R-61) was not affected by the binding of high numbers of mAb #1-46-12 to the virion, which implies that mAb binding does not mask the receptor-binding site of the viral spikes. Based on these results, it is hypothesized that mAb #1-46-12 affected virus infectivity by a mechanism different from covering the virion spikes. Possible virus-neutralizing mechanisms by low numbers of mAb #1-46-12 in comparison to that of mAb #7-1-9 are discussed.
Systemic movement of a movement-deficient strain of Cucumber mosaic virus in zucchini squash is facilitated by a cucurbit-infecting potyvirus
Authors: Choi Seung Kook , Yoon Ju Yeon , Ryu Ki Hyun , Choi Jang Kyung , Palukaitis Peter , Park Won Mok 
Published: August 2015

Zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo) is a systemic host for most strains of the cucumovirus Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), although the long-distance movement of the M strain of CMV (M-CMV) is inhibited in some cultivars. However, co-infection of zucchini plants with M-CMV and the potyvirus Zucchini yellow mosaic virus strain A (ZYMV-A) allowed M-CMV to move systemically, as demonstrated by tissue-print analysis. These doubly infected plants exhibited severe synergism in pathology. Infection of zucchini squash by M-CMV and an attenuated strain of ZYMV (ZYMV-AG) showed a milder synergy in pathology, in which ZYMV-AG also facilitated the long-distance movement of M-CMV similar to that promoted by ZYMV-A. Variation in the extent of synergy in pathology by the two strains of ZYMV did not correlate with differences in levels of accumulation of either virus. Thus, the extent of synergy in pathology is at least in part independent of the resistance-neutralizing function of the potyvirus.
Whole genome analysis of the Epiphyas postvittana nucleopolyhedrovirus
Authors: Hyink Otto , Dellow Ross A. , Olsen Michael J. , Caradoc-Davies Katherine M. B. , Drake Kylie , Herniou Elisabeth A. , Cory Jennifer S. , O’Reilly David R. , Ward Vernon K. 
Published: August 2015

The nucleotide sequence of the Epiphyas postvittana nucleopolyhedrovirus (EppoMNPV) genome has been determined and analysed. The circular dsDNA genome contains 118584 bp, making it the smallest group I NPV sequenced to date. The genome has a G+C content of 40·7% and encodes 136 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), five homologous repeat regions and one unique repeat region. Of the genome, 92·9% encodes predicted ORFs and 2·2% is in repeat regions; the remaining 4·9% of the genome comprises nonrepeat intergenic regions. EppoMNPV encodes homologues of 126 Orgyia pseudotsugata MNPV (OpMNPV) ORFs and 120 Autographa californica MNPV ORFs, with average identities of 64·7 and 53·5%, respectively. Between the four sequenced group I NPVs, 117 ORFs are conserved, whereas 86 ORFs are conserved between all fully sequenced NPVs. A total of 62 ORFs is present in all baculoviruses sequenced to date, with EppoMNPV lacking a homologue of the superoxide dismutase (sod) gene, which has been found in all other fully sequenced baculoviruses. Whole genome phylogenetic analyses of the ten fully sequenced baculoviruses using the sequences of the 62 shared genes, gene content and gene order data sets confirmed that EppoMNPV clusters tightly with OpMNPV in the group I NPVs. The main variation between EppoMNPV and OpMNPV occurs where extra clusters of genes are present in OpMNPV, with sod occurring in one such cluster. EppoMNPV encodes one truncated baculovirus repeated ORF (bro) gene. The only repeated ORFs are the four iap genes. Eight, randomly distributed, unique ORFs were identified on EppoMNPV, none of which show any significant homology to genes in GenBank.
Control of dimethylsulfoxide reductase expression in Rhodobacter capsulatus: the role of carbon metabolites and the response regulators DorR and RegA
Authors: Kappler Ulrike , Huston Wilhelmina M , McEwan Alastair G 
Published: August 2015

Regulation of the expression of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) reductase was investigated in the purple phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. Under phototrophic, anaerobic conditions with malate as carbon source, DMSO caused an approximately 150-fold induction of DMSO reductase activity. The response regulator DorR was required for DMSO-dependent induction and also appeared to slightly repress DMSO reductase expression in the absence of substrate. Likewise, when pyruvate replaced malate as carbon source there was an induction of DMSO reductase activity in cells grown at low light intensity (16 W m−2) and again this induction was dependent on DorR. The level of DMSO reductase activity in aerobically grown cells was elevated when pyruvate replaced malate as carbon source. One possible explanation for this is that acetyl phosphate, produced from pyruvate, may activate expression of DMSO reductase by direct phosphorylation of DorR, leading to low levels of induction of dor gene expression in the absence of DMSO. A mutant lacking the global response regulator of photosynthesis gene expression, RegA, exhibited high levels of DMSO reductase in the absence of DMSO, when grown phototrophically with malate as carbon source. This suggests that phosphorylated RegA acts as a repressor of dor operon expression under these conditions. It has been proposed elsewhere that RegA-dependent expression is negatively regulated by the cytochrome cbb
3 oxidase. A cco mutant lacking cytochrome cbb
3 exhibited significantly higher levels of Φ[dorA::lacZ] activity in the presence of DMSO compared to wild-type cells and this is consistent with the above model. Pyruvate restored DMSO reductase expression in the regA mutant to the same pattern as found in wild-type cells. These data suggest that R. capsulatus contains a regulator of DMSO respiration that is distinct from DorR and RegA, is activated in the presence of pyruvate, and acts as a negative regulator of DMSO reductase expression.
Strong Components of Epigenetic Memory in Cultured Human Fibroblasts Related to Site of Origin and Donor Age
Authors: Ivanov Nikolay A. , Tao Ran , Chenoweth Joshua G. , Brandtjen Anna , Mighdoll Michelle I. , Genova John D. , McKay Ronald D. , Jia Yankai , Weinberger Daniel R. , Kleinman Joel E. , Hyde Thomas M. , Jaffe Andrew E. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractDifferentiating pluripotent cells from fibroblast progenitors is a potentially transformative tool in personalized medicine. We previously identified relatively greater success culturing dura-derived fibroblasts than scalp-derived fibroblasts from postmortem tissue. We hypothesized that these differences in culture success were related to epigenetic differences between the cultured fibroblasts by sampling location, and therefore generated genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptome data on 11 intrinsically matched pairs of dural and scalp fibroblasts from donors across the lifespan (infant to 85 years). While these cultured fibroblasts were several generations removed from the primary tissue and morphologically indistinguishable, we found widespread epigenetic differences by sampling location at the single CpG (N=101,989), region (N=697), “block” (N=243), and global spatial scales suggesting a strong epigenetic memory of original fibroblast location. Furthermore, many of these epigenetic differences manifested in the transcriptome, particularly at the region-level. We further identified 7,265 CpGs and 11 regions showing significant epigenetic memory related to the age of the donor, as well as an overall increased epigenetic variability, preferentially in scalp-derived fibroblasts -83% of loci were more variable in scalp, hypothesized to result from cumulative exposure to environmental stimuli in the primary tissue. By integrating publicly available DNA methylation datasets on individual cell populations in blood and brain, we identified significantly increased inter-individual variability in our scalp- and other skin-derived fibroblasts on a similar scale as epigenetic differences between different lineages of blood cells. Lastly, these epigenetic differences did not appear to be driven by somatic mutation – while we identified 64 probable de-novo variants across the 11 subjects, there was no association between mutation burden and age of the donor (p=0.71). These results depict a strong component of epigenetic memory in cell culture from primary tissue, even after several generations of daughter cells, related to cell state and donor age.
Is small still beautiful? A comparative study of rice farm size and productivity in China and India
Authors: Wang Jianying , Chen Kevin Z. , Das Gupta Sunipa , Huang Zuhui 
Published: August 2015

Purpose– The farm size-productivity relationship has long been the subject of debate among development economists. Few studies address this issue for China, and those that do only with outdated data sets poorly representing the current situation after the past decade of rapid change, which includes the rapid development of land rental markets, village labor out-migration and use of farm machines. Meanwhile, many studies have researched this relationship for Indian, which is undergoing similar changes except for the development of active land rental markets. The purpose of this paper is to measure the farm size-productivity relationship under the situations of rapid transformation in China and India.Design/methodology/approach– Based on the data of 325 Jiangxi and 400 Allahabad rice farmers in 2011, the survey covered multiple plots of each household in one/multiple growing season(s). The authors use the production function approach and the yield approach, and control for farmland quality, imperfect factor markets, and farm size measurement error, to identify the farm size-productivity relationship.Findings– The regressions show that land yields increase with plot size both by season and over the year in China. This may be one of the reasons that farm sizes are growing in some areas. In India, however, the inverse farm size-productivity relationship is observed by the study, despite recent changes. Moreover, land yields increase with farm machine use in both China and India. This result contributes to the debate over whether mechanization improves yields or just expands the land frontier.Originality/value– The paper empirically estimates the farm size-productivity relationship under rapid agrarian transformation in both China and India based on a unique data set collected by the authors in a detailed primary survey. The paper considers measurement error in the analysis, which adds values to this type of analysis.
China’s on-going debates over large-scale farming: what are the pros and cons?
Authors: Zuo Yonghong , Ma Ling , Cai Hailong , Wu Tianlong , Xin Xian 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The Chinese Government relies heavily on increasing farming scale to address the new challenges facing China’s agricultural development. A basket of polices targeted at increasing farming scale has been issued in recent years thereby resulting to debates over large-scale farming in China. The purpose of this paper is to summarize and highlight the debate over China’s on-going large-scale farming.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper contributes to the policy debates over large-scale farming in China by reviewing the existing literature on the positive and negative impacts of large-scale farming on agricultural development, land productivity, and national food security. This paper overviews the different ideas and findings of studies associated with the topic.

Findings
– The mainstream literature supports the idea that large-scale farming will address the challenges facing China’s agricultural development, while others argue that it crowds out the benefits of small farmers, and raises concerns over inequalities of resources allocation and income distribution, and undermines social stability. While proponents argue that large-scale farming may lead to rise in land productivity, opponents argue that it may result into decrease in land productivity and national grain output.

Originality/value
– This paper is a policy review based on existing works. It organizes the different debates over large-scale farming in China, and highlights the key arguments put forward.
Food versus crude oil: what do prices tell us? Evidence from China
Authors: Wang Yumeng , Zhao Shuoli , Yang Zhihai , Liu Donald J. 
Published: August 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causal relationship between the prices of rice, crude oil, wheat, corn and soybean in China and estimate the long-run and short-run price relationships.Design/methodology/approach– Using monthly price date over the period of January 1998-December 2013 in China, this paper employs an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test to explore the cointegration relationship among the price variables and estimate the ARDL long-run price relationship and the short-run error correction process (ARDL-EC).Findings– The empirical results indicate that crude oil, as one of the forcing variables along with wheat, corn, and soybean prices, is effecting rice price in China. Both the long-run and short-run price transmission elasticity estimates suggest the importance of crude oil price on the formation of rice prices. Furthermore, the adjustment speed coefficient is found to be statistically significant, supporting the notion that there is an error correction mechanism for maintaining the long-run price relationship facing short-run shocks.Originality/value– This paper adopts four types of commodity food prices to explore the relationships with crude oil price. The evidence of market integration, including the degree of price transmission and the speed of adjustment, remains a crucial step to proceed with the government intervention.
The impacts of international efforts to reduce illegal logging on China’s forest products trade flow
Authors: Guan Zhijie , Gong Peichen 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of international efforts aimed at reducing illegal logging on bilateral trade of forest products between China and its partner countries.

Design/methodology/approach
– The analysis is conducted using an extended gravity model, where the regulations enforced in different countries, as well as bilateral agreements between China and its trade partners on combating illegal logging are included as explanatory variables. The impacts of the efforts against illegal logging on bilateral trade of forest products are examined based on the estimated coefficients of these policy variables.

Findings
– The results show that the regulations have significant and positive effects on the bilateral trade of total forest products between China and its partner countries. The bilateral agreement on combating illegal logging between showed a negative effect on the bilateral trade of forest products. A further study of three types of forest products shows that the regulations have a negative effect for roundwood, but a positive effect for furniture and wood-based panels. The bilateral agreement, on the other hand, affects negatively the trade of all the three forest products.

Practical implications
– Since the export of roundwood from China is negligible, the results from this study imply that international efforts to reduce illegal logging have caused reduction of the import of roundwood into China. China’s wood processing industry is to a high degree dependent on imported roundwood. To secure timber supply is therefore an important strategy for sustainable development of the wood processing industry in China.

Originality/value
– To the knowledge, this is the first comprehensive assessment of the impacts of international efforts to reduce illegal logging on forest products trade flow between China and its partner countries. The results provide important scientific bases for decisions on reducing international trade of illegally sourced wood products and on promoting sustainable development of the wood processing industry in China.
Consumer perceived brand innovativeness
Authors: Shams Rahil , Alpert Frank , Brown Mark 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to examine brand innovativeness. While innovativeness has been studied at the product and firm levels, there is little research at the brand level. This paper argues for why this is needed, develops a conceptualization of consumer perceived brand innovativeness (CPBI) from a theoretical perspective and then develops and validates a measure for CPBI.

Design/methodology/approach
– Three qualitative studies were conducted to generate an enriched and more detailed understanding of what brand innovativeness means to consumers. Data were collected using free association and open-ended elicitation techniques. Next, a CPBI scale was developed and validated in three quantitative studies.

Findings
– The results indicate that innovative brands are related with several interesting core and secondary associations that have not been adequately addressed in previous research. CPBI is conceptualized as a unidimensional construct. Altogether six studies show that the proposed CPBI measure is valid and reliable.

Originality/value
– The present study is the first to identify the limitations of product and firm innovativeness conceptualizations with regards to brand innovativeness. It develops a unique and theoretically supported conceptualization and operationalization of CPBI. The first brand concept map for the concept of innovative brands is presented. The results of the studies indicate the measure’s ability to successfully predict important consumer behavior variables such as purchase intentions, and to demonstrate superior predictive performance compared with a key related scale in the mobile phone category.
Vulnerable work and strategies for inclusion: an introduction
Authors: Burgess John , Connell Julia 
Published: August 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to introduce this special issue volume on vulnerable work and strategies for inclusion. Definitions, measurement, analysis and policy responses to vulnerable work and strategies for inclusion are addressed before the key aspects of the nine papers included in the special issue are summarised.Design/methodology/approach– The topic of vulnerability at work is explored, before the distinguishing features of jobs that generate vulnerable conditions and the characteristics of vulnerable workers are identified.Findings– Vulnerable work is insecure and irregular with few protections accorded to the vulnerable workers who are often characterised by their age, ethnic status, gender and skill profiles. The consequences include: poor job quality, low and irregular incomes and personal/family hardship. Vulnerability is widespread across the workforce, with workers subject to work intensification, employment insecurity and poor work-life balance.Social implications– Vulnerable work and workers constitute a growing and global phenomenon. Consequently, governments and employers need to work together on programmes, such as the ILO’s decent work agenda, to ensure that basic human rights at work are widely recognised and provision to ongoing employment, safe working conditions and regular hours are offered across a variety of industries/sectors.Originality/value– This volume examines the conceptual, empirical and policy aspects of vulnerability in employment. It documents the international dimensions of vulnerability, the different forms it takes, those groups that are at risk of vulnerable employment and the underlying factors that generate and support vulnerability.