bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Scenario planning for service quality: a Monte Carlo simulation study
Authors: Prakash Anand , Jha Sanjay Kumar , Prasad Mohanty Rajendra 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose the idea of linking the use of the Monte Carlo simulation with scenario planning to assist strategy makers in formulating strategy in the face of uncertainty relating to service quality gaps for life insurance business, where discontinuities always remain for need‐based selling.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews briefly some applications of scenario planning. Scenario planning emphasizes the development of a strategic plan that is robust across different scenarios. The paper provides considerable evidence to suggest a new strategic approach using Monte Carlo simulation for making scenario planning.FindingsThe paper highlights which particular service quality gap attribute as risk impacts most and least for the possibility of occurrences as best case, worst case, and most likely case.Research limitations/implicationsThis study suffers from methodological limitations associated with convenience sampling and anonymous survey‐based research.Practical implicationsThe approach using Monte Carlo simulation increases the credibility of the scenario to an acceptable level, so that it will be used by managers and other decision makers.Social implicationsThe paper provides a thorough documentation on scenario planning upon studying the impact of risk and uncertainty in service quality gap for making rational decisions in management of services such that managers make better justification and communication for their arguments.Originality/valueThe paper offers empirical understanding of the application of Monte Carlo simulation to scenario planning and identifies key drivers which impact most and least on service quality gap.
Tourism destination marketing: approaches improving effectiveness and efficiency
Authors: Soteriades Marios 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential contribution of some approaches, i.e. value‐chain, strategic marketing, electronic marketing and clustering, and to suggest a conceptual framework allowing improving effectiveness in the field of promoting tourism destinations. Hence, the paper puts forward a conceptual framework allowing attaining an integrated approach in tourism destination marketing.Design/methodology/approachThe approach adopted and implemented for this study is a desk research based on extensive literature and well‐established theories.FindingsThe paper provides insights into a comprehensive approach to destination marketing planning and implementation and suggests a conceptual framework encompassing approaches contributing to improve effectiveness and efficiency in the field of destination marketing.Practical implicationsThe factors influencing e‐marketing and clustering approaches are highlighted and a set of recommendations are put forward for destination marketers.Originality/valueDestination marketing organisations all over the world have to implement innovative and appropriate approaches; and use adequate tools and techniques in order to improve their marketing activities effectiveness and efficiency. The paper successfully addresses the complexity in the field of destination marketing due to the various stakeholders involved and to the nature of tourism product/experience. Therefore, this paper successfully suggests a conceptual framework contributing to improve effectiveness and efficiency of activities of destination marketing organizations by adopting an integrated approach based on well‐established theories.
Stimulation of macrophages by immunobiotic Lactobacillus strains: influence beyond the intestinal tract
Authors: Marranzino Gabriela , Villena Julio , Salva Susana , Alvarez Susana 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTLactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 (Lr1505), L. rhamnosus CRL1506 (Lr1506) and L. casei CRL431 (Lc431) are able to stimulate intestinal immunity, but only Lr1505 and Lc431 are able to stimulate immunity in the respiratory tract. With the aim of advancing the understanding of the immunological mechanisms involved in stimulation of distant mucosal sites, this study evaluated the effects of orally administered probiotics on the functions of alveolar and peritoneal macrophages. Compared to a control group, these three lactobacilli were able to significantly increase phagocytic and microbicidal activities of peritoneal macrophages. After intraperitoneal challenge with pathogenic Candida albicans, mice treated with immunobiotics had significantly lower pathogen counts in infected organs. Moreover, lactobacilli‐treated mice had a stronger immune response against C. albicans. On the other hand, only Lc1505 and Lc431 were able to improve activity of and cytokine production by alveolar macrophages. Only in these two groups was there better resistance to respiratory challenge with C. albicans, which correlated with improved respiratory immune response. The results of this study suggest that consumption of some probiotic strains could be useful for improving resistance to infections in sites distant from the gut by increasing the activity of macrophages at those sites.
Immune‐mediated β‐cell death in type 1 diabetes: lessons from human β‐cell lines
Authors: Lightfoot Yaíma L. , Chen Jing , Mathews Clayton E. 
Published: July 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (11): 1244–1251AbstractType 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic, multifactorial disorder that results from a contretemps of genetic and environmental factors. Autoimmune attack and functional inhibition of the insulin‐producing β cells in the pancreas lead to the inability of β cells to metabolize glucose, and thus results the hallmark clinical symptom of diabetes: abnormally high blood glucose levels. Treatment and protection from T1D require a detailed knowledge of the molecular effectors and the mechanism(s) of cell death leading to β‐cell demise. Primary islets and surrogate β cells have been utilized in vitro to investigate in isolation‐specific mechanisms associated with progression to T1D in vivo. This review focuses on the data obtained from these experiments. Studies using transformed β cells of human sources are described.
Palaeodistribution modelling and genetic evidence highlight differential post‐glacial range shifts of a rain forest conifer distributed across a latitudinal gradient
Authors: Mellick Rohan , Lowe Andrew , Allen Chris , Hill Robert S. , Rossetto Maurizio 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAim  We examine the range expansion/contraction dynamics during the last glacial cycle of the late‐successional tropical rain forest conifer Podocarpus elatus using a combination of modelling and molecular marker analyses. Specifically, we test whether distributional changes predicted by environmental niche modelling are in agreement with (1) the glacial maximum contractions inferred from the southern fossil record, and (2) population genetic‐based estimates of range disjunctions and demographic dynamics. In addition, we test whether northern and southern ranges are likely to have experienced similar expansion/contraction dynamics.Location  Eastern Australian tropical and subtropical rain forests.Methods  Environmental niche modelling was completed for three time periods during the last glacial cycle and was interpreted in light of the known palynology. We collected 109 samples from 32 populations across the entire range of P. elatus. Six microsatellite loci and Bayesian coalescence analysis were used to infer population expansion/contraction dynamics, and five sequenced loci (one plastid and four nuclear) were used to quantify genetic structure/diversity.Results  Environmental niche modelling suggested that the northern and southern ranges of P. elatus experienced different expansion/contraction dynamics. In the northern range, the habitat suitable for P. elatus persisted in a small refugial area during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 21 ka) and then expanded during the post‐glacial period. Conversely, in the south suitable habitat was widespread during the LGM but subsequently contracted. These differential dynamics were supported by Bayesian analyses of the population genetic data (northern dispersal) and are consistent with the greater genetic diversity in the south compared with the north. A contact zone between the two genetically divergent groups (corresponding to the Macleay Overlap Zone) was supported by environmental niche modelling and molecular analyses.Main conclusions  The climatic fluctuations of the Quaternary have differentially impacted the northern and southern ranges of a broadly distributed rain forest tree in Australia. Recurrent contraction/expansion cycles contributed to the genetic distinction between northern and southern distributions of P. elatus. By combining molecular and environmental niche modelling evidence, this unique study undermines the general assumption that broadly distributed species respond in a uniform way to climate change.
Reducing the pathogenicity of BmNPV in silkworms using silver nanoparticles
Authors: Ruyi Zou , Zhenyou Zou , Miao Liu , Ninan Chen , Shuoqi Xu , Aiping Ma , Lianwei Zhou , Tianle Qian , Yiqing Zhou , Cui Wang , Bing Hu , Zhongyuan Shen , Ruobing Liang , Zhenlin Yang , Jinhua Xia , Liming Hong 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThis study examined the efficacy of silver nanoparticles colloid (AgNPC) in reducing the pathogenicity of the Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) nuclear polyhydrosis virus (BmNPV) in silkworms. We found that the survival rate of the infected silkworms improved significantly, from 22 to 67%, following treatment with AgNPC. However, AgNPs caused clumping of hemocytes in vivo and this was associated with slight weight loss and reduced cocoon size in the treated silkworms. The adherence of silver nanoparticles to the virus or hemocytes caused them to aggregate. In addition, by catalyzing the generation of free radicals, silver nanoparticles can perforate and break up the virus capsids, proteins, and DNA of the BmNPVs, thus restraining their pathogenicity and improving the survival capacity of infected silkworms.
PI3K, Rac1 and pPAK1 are overexpressed in extramammary Paget's disease
Authors: Qian Yue , Zhang Na , Chen Siyuan , Chu Shujuan , Feng Aiping , Liu Houjun 
Published: July 2012

BackgroundPhosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K), Ras‐related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) and P21‐activated protein kinase 1 (PAK1) appear to play important roles in the pathogenesis of several tumors, but their expressions in extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) have not been investigated yet.ObjectivesTo investigate the potential contribution of the PI3K, Rac1 and PAK1 to the development of EMPD.MethodsThirty‐five paraffin‐embedded EMPD specimens were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for PI3K (85α), Rac1 and pPAK1.ResultsAll the 35 primary EMPD specimens, including 20 non‐invasive EMPD, 13 invasive EMPD and 2 metastatic lymph nodes, showed cytoplasm overexpression of PI3K (85α), Rac1 and pPAK1. The expression (% positive cells) of PI3K(85α), Rac1 and pPAK1 (90.1 ± 8.6, 91.4 ± 9.5 and 89.6 ± 10.8% ) in EMPD were significantly higher than in apocrine glands of normal skin ( 20.1 ± 11.9, 29.8 ± 8.9, 41.1 ± 13.4%), and the expression in invasive EMPD with lymph node metastasis (98.2 ± 1.7, 98.8 ± 0.7 and 98.4 ± 0.9%) are significantly higher than in invasive EMPD without lymph node metastasis (94.1 ± 2.6, 96.5 ± 1.7 and 95.3 ± 1.1%) and non‐invasive EMPD (85.2 ± 8.4, 87.1 ± 9.9 and 83.1 ± 10.6%). There were significant positive correlations of the expression levels between PI3K (85α) and Rac1, as well as between Rac1 and pPAK1 in EMPD.ConclusionsThese results indicate that PI3K, Rac1 and PAK1 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of EMPD.
Obacunone Represses Salmonella Pathogenicity Islands 1 and 2 in anenvZ-Dependent Fashion
Authors: Vikram Amit , Jayaprakasha Guddadarangavvanahally K. , Jesudhasan Palmy R. , Pillai Suresh D. , Patil Bhimanagouda S. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTObacunone belongs to a class of unique triterpenoids called limonoids, present inCitrusspecies. Previous studies from our laboratory suggested that obacunone possesses antivirulence activity and demonstrates inhibition of cell-cell signaling inVibrio harveyiandEscherichia coliO157:H7. The present work sought to determine the effect of obacunone on the food-borne pathogenSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium LT2 by using a cDNA microarray. Transcriptomic studies indicated that obacunone repressesSalmonellapathogenicity island 1 (SPI1), the maltose transporter, and the hydrogenase operon. Furthermore, phenotypic data for the Caco-2 infection assay and maltose utilization were in agreement with microarray data suggesting repression of SPI1 and maltose transport. Further studies demonstrated that repression of SPI1 was plausibly mediated throughhilA. Additionally, obacunone seems to repress SPI2 under SPI2-inducing conditions as well as in Caco-2 infection models. Furthermore, obacunone seems to represshilAin an EnvZ-dependent fashion. Altogether, the results of the study seems to suggest that obacunone exerts an antivirulence effect onS.Typhimurium and may serve as a lead compound for development of antivirulence strategies forS.Typhimurium.
A Novel Biosensor Selective for Organoarsenicals
Authors: Chen Jian , Zhu Yong-Guan , Rosen Barry P. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT
Organoarsenicals used as herbicides and growth promoters for farm animals are degraded to inorganic arsenic. Available bacterial whole-cell biosensors detect only inorganic arsenic. We report a biosensor selective for the trivalent organoarsenicals methylarsenite and phenylarsenite over inorganic arsenite. This sensor may be useful for detecting degradation of arsenic-containing herbicides and growth promoters.
Genome Sequence of the Polychlorinated-Biphenyl Degrader Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707
Authors: Triscari-Barberi Tania , Simone Domenico , Calabrese Francesco Maria , Attimonelli Marcella , Hahn Kristen R. , Amoako Kingsley K. , Turner Raymond J. , Fedi Stefano , Zannoni Davide 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes
KF707 is a soil polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degrader, able to grow both planktonically and as a biofilm in the presence of various toxic metals and metalloids. Here we report the genome sequence (5,957,359 bp) of
P. pseudoalcaligenes
KF707, which provides insights into metabolic degradation pathways, flagellar motility, and chemotaxis.
Complete Genome Sequence of Streptococcus thermophilus Strain MN-ZLW-002
Authors: Kang Xiaohong , Ling Nan , Sun Guoqing , Zhou Qi , Zhang Lanwei , Sheng Qinghai 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus thermophilus
MN-ZLW-002 was originally isolated from traditionally fermented Chinese dairy products. One of the strain-dependent characteristics of this bacterium is its ability to produce exopolysaccharides (EPSs). This study determined and analyzed the genome sequence of MN-ZLW-002. Its complete genome comprised 2,046 genes and 1,848,520 nucleotides with an average GC content of 39%. The EPS cluster of MN-ZLW-002 includes 25 open reading frames (ORFs), and some results indicate a horizontal gene transfer between MN-ZLW-002 and other lactic acid bacteria (LAB).
Complete Genome Sequences of Mycoplasma leachii Strain PG50
T
and the Pathogenic Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Small Colony Biotype Strain Gladysdale
Authors: Wise Kim S. , Calcutt Michael J. , Foecking Mark F. , Madupu Ramana , DeBoy Robert T. , Röske Kerstin , Hvinden Miranda L. , Martin Tara R. , Durkin A. Scott , Glass John I. , Methé Barbara A. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

Mycoplasma mycoides
subsp.
mycoides
small colony biotype (SC) is the high-consequence animal pathogen causing contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. We report the complete genome sequences of the pathogenic strain
M. mycoides
subsp.
mycoides
SC Gladysdale and a close phylogenetic relative,
Mycoplasma leachii
PG50
T
, another bovine pathogen of the
M. mycoides
phylogenetic clade.
Genome Sequences of SAT 2 Foot-and-Mouth Disease Viruses from Egypt and Palestinian Autonomous Territories (Gaza Strip)
Authors: Valdazo-González Begoña , Knowles Nick J. , Hammond Jef , King Donald P. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT
Two foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) genome sequences have been determined for isolates collected from recent field outbreaks in North Africa (Egypt) and the Middle East (Palestinian Autonomous Territories). These data represent the first examples of complete genomic sequences for the FMDV SAT 2 topotype VII, which is thought to be endemic in countries immediately to the south of the Sahara desert. Further studies are now urgently required to provide insights into the epidemiological links between these outbreaks and to define the pathogenicity of this emerging lineage.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Type of Human Parechovirus Strain Reveals Natural Recombination Events
Authors: Sun Guangming , Wang Yong , Tao Gang , Shen Quan , Cao Weiping , Chang Xianlu , Zhang Wen , Shao Chen , Yi Miaoli , Shao Shihe , Yang Yan 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

Human parechoviruses (HPeVs) are a species in the
Parechovirus
genus of the
Picornaviridae
family. We report a complete genome sequence of a novel HPeV strain, CH-ZJ1, that was found in an infant with gastroenteritis in Zhenjiang City, China. The complete genome consists of 7,298 nucleotides (nt), excluding the 3′ poly(A) tail; the open reading frame is mapped between nucleotide positions 654 and 7211 and encodes a 2,185-amino acid (aa) polyprotein. The phylogenetic tree obtained for the complete genome of this HPeV strain and the other HpeV strains available in GenBank indicated that CH-ZJ1 is intervenient between HpeV type 4 (HpeV4) and HpeV5. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 3D and VP1 genes reveals two incongruent trees. Recombination detection indicated that CH-ZJ1 might be a recombinant which was produced by more than one genomic recombination event that occurred among HPeV1, HPeV4, and HPeV3 strains.
What predicts persistent early conduct problems? Evidence from the Growing Up in Scotland cohort
Authors: Wilson Philip , Bradshaw Paul , Tipping Sarah , Henderson Marion , Der Geoff , Minnis Helen 
Published: July 2012

BackgroundThere is a strong case for early identification of factors predicting life-course-persistent conduct disorder. The authors aimed to identify factors associated with repeated parental reports of preschool conduct problems.MethodNested case–control study of Scottish children who had behavioural data reported by parents at 3, 4 and 5 years.Results79 children had abnormal conduct scores at all three time points (‘persistent conduct problems’) and 434 at one or two points (‘inconsistent conduct problems’). 1557 children never had abnormal scores. Compared with children with no conduct problems, children with reported problems were significantly more likely to have mothers who smoked during pregnancy. They were less likely to be living with both parents and more likely to be in poor general health, to have difficulty being understood, to have a parent who agrees that smacking is sometimes necessary and to be taken to visit other people with children rarely. The results for children with persistent and inconsistent conduct problems were similar, but associations with poverty and maternal smoking were significantly less strong in the inconsistent group.ConclusionThese factors may be valuable in early identification of risk of major social difficulties.
Comparison of repetitive-sequence-based polymerase chain reaction with random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis for rapid genotyping of nontuberculosis mycobacteria
Authors: Christianson Sara , Wolfe Joyce , Soualhine Hafid , Sharma Meenu K. 
Published: July 2012

Nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) are an important cause of human disease and infections. Though less notorious than tuberculosis, these infections are clinically significant and have been associated with outbreaks in various settings. To accommodate outbreak investigations for the numerous species of NTM, we evaluated a DiversiLab repetitive-sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) kit for genotyping of mycobacteria. This kit was used to genotype both rapidly and slowly growing mycobacteria and was compared with other PCR-based genotyping methods, including random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, hsp65 gene sequencing, and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit – variable number of tandem repeat (MIRU–VNTR) analysis. Compared with RAPD analysis, rep-PCR achieved better reproducibility in testing. When compared with hsp65 gene sequencing and MIRU–VNTR for Mycobacterium avium , rep-PCR provided results that agreed with these less discriminatory genotyping methods but provided a higher level of discrimination for situations such as outbreak investigations. We also evaluated the kit for its ability to identify closely related rapidly growing NTM. While rep-PCR was informative in some cases, a much larger library of isolates would be necessary to truly evaluate it as an identification tool. Overall, rep-PCR was able to provide improved reproducibility over RAPD and a discriminatory genotyping method for the isolates evaluated in this study.
Isolation and characterization of ZZ1, a novel lytic phage that infects Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates
Authors: Jin Jing , Li Zhen-Jiang , Wang Shu-Wei , Wang Shan-Mei , Huang De-Hai , Li Ya-Hui , Ma Yun-Yun , Wang Jin , Liu Fang , Chen Xiang-Dong , Li Guang-Xing , Wang Xiao-Ting , Wang Zhong-Quan , Zhao Guo-Qiang 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackgroundAcinetobacter baumannii, a significant nosocomial pathogen, has evolved resistance to almost all conventional antimicrobial drugs. Bacteriophage therapy is a potential alternative treatment for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. In this study, one lytic bacteriophage, ZZ1, which infectsA. baumanniiand has a broad host range, was selected for characterization.ResultsPhage ZZ1 and 3 of its natural hosts,A. baumanniclinical isolates AB09V, AB0902, and AB0901, are described in this study. The 3 strains have different sensitivities to ZZ1, but they have the same sensitivity to antibiotics. They are resistant to almost all of the antibiotics tested, except for polymyxin. Several aspects of the life cycle of ZZ1 were investigated using the sensitive strain AB09V under optimal growth conditions. ZZ1 is highly infectious with a short latent period (9 min) and a large burst size (200 PFU/cell). It exhibited the most powerful antibacterial activity at temperatures ranging from 35°C to 39°C. Moreover, when ZZ1 alone was incubated at different pHs and different temperatures, the phage was stable over a wide pH range (4 to 9) and at extreme temperatures (between 50°C and 60°C). ZZ1 possesses a 100-nm icosahedral head containing double-stranded DNA with a total length of 166,682 bp and a 120-nm long contractile tail. Morphologically, it could be classified as a member of theMyoviridaefamily and theCaudoviralesorder. Bioinformatic analysis of the phage whole genome sequence further suggested that ZZ1 was more likely to be a new member of theMyoviridaephages. Most of the predicted ORFs of the phage were similar to the predicted ORFs from otherAcinetobacterphages.ConclusionThe phage ZZ1 has a relatively broad lytic spectrum, high pH stability, strong heat resistance, and efficient antibacterial potential at body temperature. These characteristics greatly increase the utility of this phage as an antibacterial agent; thus, it should be further investigated.