bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Leishmaniasis: strategies for control based on mathematical models of the immune response.
Authors: Länger B. M. 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
This review gives an overview of the mathematical models of the immune response to leishmaniasis. Mathematical modelling is based on the choice of key variables and interactions between them, which are quantified as parameters. Choice of variables is based on biological knowledge, parameter values are derived by fitting to the experimental data. Ordinary differential equation models describe model dynamics - changes in the populations of cells and other body agents. Biological knowledge is needed to set up the model, knowing influences and interactions among body cells. Immune response models target on the prediction of disease progression and identification of the most sensitive parameters, which are assumed to be feasible targets for therapy. All the mathematical models of the biological systems represent a simplification of reality and thus may yield wrong results. However, they offer a fast and systematic search for optimal strategies that would possibly be neglected by experimentally based research. If mathematical models are applied to obtain ideas for new directions in experimental work, they offer a promising tool in pharmaceutical research.
Ethylene response factors and their role in plant defence.
Authors: Núñez-Pastrana R. , Anderson J. P. , Singh K. B. 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
The APETALA2/Ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) family of transcription factors (TFs) plays crucial roles in the regulation of gene expression during plant development and in response to biotic and abiotic stress. Although AP2/ERFs have been implicated in a range of plant stress responses, this review focuses on ERFs in the context of the plant response to other organisms, primarily not only pathogenic but also symbiotic. The ERF subfamily is particularly important in the establishment and the tight regulation of plant defences through a balance of positive and negative transcriptional regulation. The expression of the ERFs is induced by pathogens with different lifestyles and they have been implicated in resistance to biotrophs, necrotrophs and hemibiotrophs, but members also play important roles in other plant-microbe interactions, for example, nodule formation in legumes. ERFs achieve this, in part, by acting as integrators in the crosstalk between signalling pathways mediated by ethylene (ET), jasmonic acid, salicylic acid and other plant hormones to modulate gene expression according to the stimuli sensed. This review collates recent findings on the regulation of this family of TFs, including transcriptional and post-translational regulation. Although DNA binding is typically conferred through the characteristic AP2 domain, the function of other domains including the EDLL and ERF-associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) domains in regulating gene expression is discussed. Finally, the potential for ERFs to be used to enhance resistance to pathogens in crops is considered.
Ticks and tick-borne diseases: geographical distribution and control strategies in the Euro-Asia Region - mini review.
Authors: Tarrés-Call J. , Salman M. , Estrada-Peña A. 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
Ticks and the diseases they may transmit have gained attention in the last decades. Knowledge of their local distribution and the pathogens they may transmit are essential components to establish effective control measures. Concerns are raised on the proper identification of ticks, on the inappropriate method of reporting their presence, and on the consequences of using ill-founded datasets for predictive distribution and their impacts.
Thermotolerant Newcastle disease vaccines for use in flocks of family chickens.
Authors: Spradbrow P. 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
Family chickens provide nutrition and income for poor families in rural areas in developing countries. Newcastle disease is a major constraint limiting the productivity of these flocks. Imported commercial Newcastle disease vaccines, requiring foreign exchange and coming in large dose containers, have been little used in small village flocks. The major problem with these vaccines has been their heat lability. Appropriate vaccines for village use would be locally produced, cheap and to some extent heat tolerant, allowing some independence from the cold chain. Two vaccines derived from naturally thermotolerant Australian strains of Newcastle disease virus have been artificially selected for enhanced heat resistance. One vaccine, V4, is now produced by commercial companies and is used mainly in commercial chickens. Master seed for the other vaccine, 1-2, is held at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and is made available without cost to laboratories in developing countries. Vaccines based on variants of strain V4 have been available for more than 30 years. Challenge experiments in many countries have indicated that V4 vaccine is protective against a variety of challenge strains. Many of the early studies were part of the search for a village vaccine. The commercialization of V4 vaccine meant that countries wishing to use it in family flocks needed to purchase vaccine or produce and verify their own master seed. Of special interest is the efficacy of V4 vaccine when administered to chickens on suitable feeds. The V4 virus will spread from vaccinated chickens to contact chickens. 1-2 is a Newcastle disease virus similar to V4. Being in the public domain, 1-2 master seed is available for local production of thermotolerant vaccines for use in the national flocks of family chickens. Many countries have undertaken laboratory trials and demonstrated effective protection on vaccination by various means including vaccination with carrier feeds. Some countries progressed to field trials and to campaigns to control Newcastle disease in the village setting. Local production and distribution of an appropriate vaccine has been only part of the process. Innovative extension materials have been developed, contributors to all phases of the project have been trained (vaccinators, laboratory workers and administrators) and lines of communication between all parties have been established.
Tissue vitamin concentrations are maintained constant by changing the urinary excretion rate of vitamins in rats’ restricted food intake
Authors: Shibata Katsumi , Fukuwatari Tsutomu 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
We previously reported that mild food restriction induces a reduction in tryptophan–nicotinamide conversion, which helps to explain why death secondary to pellagra is pandemic during the hungry season. In this study, we investigated the levels of B-group vitamins in the liver, kidney, blood, and urine in rats that underwent gradual restriction of food intake (80, 60, 40, and 20% restriction vs. ad libitum food intake). No significant differences in the B-group vitamin concentrations (mol/g tissue) in the liver and kidney were observed at any level of food restriction. However, the urine excretion rates exhibited some characteristic phenomena that differed by vitamin. These results show that the tissue concentrations of B-group vitamins were kept constant by changing the urinary elimination rates of vitamins under various levels of food restriction. Only vitamin B12 was the only (exception).
Vitamin D and the athlete: Emerging insights
Authors: Owens Daniel J. , Fraser William D. , Close Graeme L. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractInterest in Vitamin D has risen considerably recently with many athletes now advised to take daily vitamin D supplements. The reason for this interest is partly not only attributed to the resurgence of the Vitamin D‐deficient disease rickets but also due to the discovery of a Vitamin D receptor in many tissues suggesting a more global role for Vitamin D than previously considered. Unlike the other vitamins that are obtained through the diet, Vitamin D is unique since endogenous synthesis following ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure is the predominant route of entry into systemic circulation. Moreover, Vitamin D could be better classed as a seco‐steroid, given that its structure is similar to that of a steroid, and its production is derived from a cholesterol precursor (7‐dehydrocholesteol) in the skin. The classification of Vitamin D status is currently subject to considerable debate with many authors opposing governing body recommendations. Regardless of the suggested optimal concentration, there is now growing evidence to suggest that many athletes are in fact Vitamin D deficient, especially in the winter months largely as a consequence of inadequate sun exposure, combined with poor dietary practices, although the consequences of such deficiencies are still unclear in athletic populations. Impaired muscle function and reduced regenerative capacity, impaired immune function, poor bone health and even impaired cardiovascular function have all been associated with low Vitamin D in athletes, however, to date, the majority of studies on Vitamin D have described associations and much more research is now needed examining causation.
A posture evaluation method for a large component with thermal deformation and its application in aircraft assembly
Authors: Cheng Liang , Wang Qing , Li Jiangxiong , Ke Yinglin 
Published: August 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to propose a posture evaluation approach based on temperature compensation and three-dimensional (3-D) tolerance for the key points (KPs).

Design/methodology/approach
– A large component 3-D compensation model of thermal deformation considering characteristics of the assembly object is developed. Then, the thermal deformation compensation model is used to modify the nominal coordinates for the KPs. By using a combination of relative deviations of KPs as the objective and 3-D tolerance as the constraints, an optimization model for posture evaluation is established.

Findings
– Deviations of posture and KPs’ coordinates are obtained by solving the non-linear constrained optimization problem. The posture evaluation method is demonstrated in both a simulation case and practical implication of the aircraft components assembly system with the result that a good performance is obtained.

Practical implications
– The proposed method has been used in several aircraft assembly projects in China, and gained a good effect.

Originality/value
– This paper proposes a method for eliminating the affection of thermal deformation during posture evaluation process and improving the consistency and stability of posture evaluation results. The results of this research will help to systematically improve the manufacturing process and tolerance allocation efficiency in large aircraft assembly.
The gender gap in pre-career salary expectations: a test of five explanations
Authors: Schweitzer Linda , Lyons Sean , K.J. Kuron Lisa , S.W. Ng Eddy 
Published: August 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the gender gap in pre-career salary expectations. Five major explanations are tested to explain the gap, as well as understand the relative contribution of each explanation.Design/methodology/approach– Data were collected from 452 post-secondary students from Canada.Findings– Young women had lower initial and peak salary expectations than their male counterparts. The gap in peak salary could be explained by initial salary expectations, beta values, the interaction between beta values and gender, and estimations of the value of the labor market. Men and women in this study expected to earn a considerably larger peak salary than they expected for others.Research limitations/implications– Cross-sectional data cannot infer causality, and the Canadian sample may not be generalizable to other countries given that an economic downturn occurred at time of data collection. Research should continue to investigate how individuals establish initial salary expectations, while also testing more dynamic models given the interaction effect found in terms of gender and work values in explaining salary expectations.Practical implications– The majority of the gender gap in peak salary expectations can be explained by what men and women expect to earn immediately after graduation. Further, women and men have different perceptions of the value they attribute to the labor market and what might be a fair wage, especially when considering beta work values.Social implications– The data suggests that the gender-wage gap is likely to continue and that both young men and women would benefit from greater education and information with respect to the labor market and what they can reasonably expect to earn, not just initially, but from a long-term perspective.Originality/value– This study is the first to simultaneously investigate five theoretical explanations for the gender gap in pre-career expectations.
Can traders beat the market? Evidence from insider trades
Authors: Lei Qin , Rajan Murli , Wang Xuewu 
Published: August 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how insiders’ trades are executed and whether and how outside investors can mimic outperforming insiders and reap substantial portfolio returns that withstand the erosion from adjustments for both the standard factors and stock characteristics in the asset pricing literature.

Design/methodology/approach
– The authors design a metric for measuring insiders’ trade execution quality: the trading alpha. The authors run regression analysis to control for trade difficulty, insider reputations and the corporate role ranks of insiders and document the existence of the abnormal trading alpha. The authors further form portfolios based on the abnormal trading alpha and document a significant abnormal return that is robust to both standard asset pricing factors model and the stock characteristics adjustments.

Findings
– Outperforming insiders at the aggregate level resemble value investors who trade on long-term fundamental information, trade patiently and earn rents from providing liquidity. Outside investors can mimic the outperforming insiders and reap significant abnormal portfolio returns.

Research limitations/implications
– Data limitations on insider trades and their association/interaction with their brokers prevent us from having a conclusive investigation of the trading skill hypothesis. The authors hope to further research along the lines of the trading skill hypothesis as compared to investment style hypothesis with more detailed data about the brokers used by insiders.

Practical implications
– The findings can be applied for money management profession in that outsider investors can monitor the trading execution and construct portfolios based on the adjusted abnormal trading alpha. The resulting portfolio has been documented to be highly profitable after risk adjustments using standard asset pricing factors as well as stock characteristics.

Social implications
– Professional money managers and outsider investors should be able to benefit from the findings in this paper and use the proposed trading alpha metric to construct and rebalance real-time investment portfolios.

Originality/value
– Outperforming insiders at the aggregate level resemble value investors who act on long-term fundamental information, trade patiently and earn rents from providing liquidity. From the perspective of investment implications, outside investors can mimic the outperforming insiders and reap substantial portfolio returns that withstand the erosion from adjustments for both the standard factors and stock characteristics in the asset pricing literature.
Launch of Roulette – a premium brandy in India by JDPL
Authors: Narayanamurthy Gopalakrishnan , Gurumurthy Anand 
Published: August 2014

Subject area
Launch strategies, marketing techniques and data analytics procedure adopted by a firm before launching a new product.

Study level/applicability
Academic students and management trainees who want to learn the methodology adopted by firms with respect to strategic management and marketing for launching a new product in Indian market.

Case overview
Launch plan for Roulette, a premium segment brandy manufactured by John Distilleries Private Limited, has to be designed for Karnataka, Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh markets in India by the Brand Manager Mr Pundlik Kalburgi. Competitors and target market share needs to be identified for all the three markets. Potential outlets, target outlets, channel-wise sales contribution, depot-wise sales contribution and size of the packs to be produced need to be identified for Karnataka market. These identifications need to be submitted to the chairman of the company and other department heads to implement the launch.

Expected learning outcomes
Pareto rule (80/20 rule) application for cost-efficient launch strategy; segmentation and identification of competitors; procedure to identify potential of the launch product and market share that can be targeted; and understanding the complete functioning of alcoholic beverage industry in Indian markets (with special reference to Karnataka) and analysing the market data to build an entire launch plan; 4.1 Identifying channel-wise potential and target outlets for the launch product; 4.2 Identifying potential and target depots and number of outlets under each of the depots; 4.3 How pack size of launching product to be manufactured is decided upon.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
ABC Development Organization
Authors: Sarma Sushanta Kumar , Mehta Madhavi 
Published: August 2014

Subject area
Organizational theory/organizational behavior.

Study level/applicability
MBA

Case overview
ABC Development Organization (ABCDO) is a civil society organization working in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan. ABCDO is working towards empowering tribal women of rural Rajasthan through making credit accessible to them and by offering them various livelihood choices. The organization employs local people, most of whom have not received college education. Illiterate, marginalized, and poor are the adjectives that describe the clients of ABCDO – the women from rural and tribal Rajasthan. ABCDO played the role of an intermediary between these hopeless women and formal financial system. ABCDO works with low degree of formalization and with a relatively low amount of documentation, despite being in the business of delivering financial services. However, such low formalization has never caused any problem in coordination of various activities within the organization and ABCDO has been growing in operation for the last couple of years. The case is about the role played by organizational culture in an organization with low degree of formalization. This case examines the emergence and functions of culture in civil society organizations which are often characterized by routineness of technology, yet the absence of rules, procedures and written documentations.

Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to understand the following: the emergence of culture in a Civil Society Organization, the role played by culture in an organization with low degree of formalization, the framework depicting relationship of environment and strategy to organizational culture in the context of organizations engaged in microfinance with a social agenda.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Meru Cabs: past perfect and future tense
Authors: Vaithianathan Sridhar , Bolar Karthikeya P. 
Published: August 2014

Subject area
Business/technology strategy. The purpose of the case is to enable the students to understand the following: how technology implementation can change the face of business like cab service? How information technology deployment can influence competition? How investment in company's IT infrastructure affects the bottom line?

Study level/applicability
The case can be discussed at Master of Business Administration (MBA)/Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA) level students as well as executive education program. It is aimed at graduate level and postgraduate level management courses such as management information systems, strategic information systems, and technology management.

Case overview
Meru Cabs, started in April 2007 at Mumbai, was one of the firsts to provide “radio taxi” service in India. Meru Cabs delivers a reliable taxi service by concentrating on three C's, namely customer, call centre and chauffeur. Much of its growth can be attributed to successful deployment of the technology. This case presents the growth of Meru Cabs and how it has differentiated itself by utilizing the technology to attain market leader position in the four cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, where it operates. Also the case discusses about the future of cab service in general and what it has in store for Meru Cabs. With the flurry of cabs service coming up in every city and the competition getting intense, the case put forth the opportunities and challenges existing for cab companies in general and Meru Cabs in particular.

Expected learning outcomes
To enable the students to understand that technology is a strategic tool: to enhance customer relationship, to manage business operations, to achieve sustained competitive advantage and that forms an integral part of company's growth and/or expansion strategy.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Network-structured university-industry-collaboration: values for the stakeholders
Authors: Gattringer Regina , Hutterer Peter , Strehl Franz 
Published: August 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine which stakeholder values are created by a well-performing network-structured university-industry collaboration (UIC). These results should provide initial conclusions for the design of UICs with the aim to overcome critical barriers to effective technology transfer.Design/methodology/approach– The research is designed as a comprehensive single case study and follows a qualitative approach in order to obtain a deep understanding of the various stakeholder values created by Austrian Center of Competence in Mechatronics (ACCM), a unique, well-performing UIC-network.Findings– The results show that on the one hand ACCM provides stakeholder values that are largely common for UICs or networks (access to resources and industry problems, funding, know-how dialogue, solution of practical problems, etc.). On the other hand ACCM offers very special values which are often realized in UICs to a low degree only. The study indicates that by the special construct of ACCM, with its deep value added chain, the common problem of converting basic research results into industrial solutions can be managed.Practical implications– The research shows that the ACCM construct of a network-structured UIC has many benefits for the stakeholders and offers a new way to overcome critical barriers to effective technology transfer.Originality/value– Given the absence of fundamental work in this area, the study is significant both academically as well as practically in terms of effective technology transfer in network-structured UICs and their values for various stakeholders.