bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Agricultural Extension and Technology Adoption for Food Security: Evidence from Uganda
Authors: Pan Yao , Smith Stephen C , Sulaiman Munshi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe evaluate causal impacts of a large‐scale agricultural extension program for smallholder women farmers on technology adoption and food security in Uganda through a regression discontinuity design that exploits an arbitrary distance‐to‐branch threshold for village program eligibility. We find eligible farmers used better basic cultivation methods, achieved improved food security. Given minimal changes in adoption of relatively expensive inputs, we attribute these gains to improved cultivation methods that require low upfront monetary investment. Farmers also modified their shock‐coping methods. These results highlight the role of information and training in boosting agricultural productivity among poor farmers and, indirectly, improving food security.
Estimating the Productivity Impacts of Technology Adoption in the Presence of Misclassification
Authors: Wossen Tesfamicheal , Abdoulaye Tahirou , Alene Arega , Nguimkeu Pierre , Feleke Shiferaw , Rabbi Ismail Y. , Haile Mekbib G. , Manyong Victor 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis article examines the impact that misreporting adoption status has on the identification and estimation of causal effects on productivity. In particular, by comparing measurement error‐ridden self‐reported adoption data with measurement‐error‐free DNA‐fingerprinted adoption data, we investigate the extent to which such errors bias the causal effects of adoption on productivity. Taking DNA‐fingerprinted adoption data as a benchmark, we find 25% “false negatives” and 10% “false positives” in farmers’ responses. Our results show that misreporting of adoption status is not exogenous to household characteristics, and produces a bias of about 22 percentage points in the productivity impact of adoption. Ignoring inherent behavioral adjustments of farmers based on perceived adoption status has a bias of 13 percentage points. The results of this article underscore the crucial role that correct measurement of adoption plays in designing policy interventions that address constraints to technology adoption in agriculture.
FasParser2: a graphical platform for batch manipulation of tremendous amount of sequence data
Authors: Sun Yan-Bo 
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Summary
FasParser is a graphical platform for manipulating sequences and alignments in a batch mode. It is particularly useful for biologists handling large datasets of sequences, even without an experience in programming. Here, I present an updated version ‘FasParser2’, featuring numerous improvements with sets of novel functions that can facilitate sequence manipulation. Its main additional features include (i) re-designed graphical interface which greatly improves its capability for batch processing, (ii) a trimming function to strip poorly-aligned regions in multiple sequence alignments, (iii) a series of functions that can identify as well as remove ‘bad’ sequence (either too short or too divergent sequences), (iv) an Editor tool for viewing and editing of biological sequences and (v) interfaces (with other programs) for detection of positive selection as well as primer design.

Availability and implementation
The compiled Windows binary is freely available at https://github.com/Sun-Yanbo/FasParser/releases.
PWMScan: a fast tool for scanning entire genomes with a position-specific weight matrix
Authors: Ambrosini Giovanna , Groux Romain , Bucher Philipp 
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Summary
Transcription factors regulate gene expression by binding to specific short DNA sequences of 5–20 bp to regulate the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA. We present PWMScan, a fast web-based tool to scan server-resident genomes for matches to a user-supplied PWM or transcription factor binding site model from a public database.

Availability and implementation
The web server and source code are available at http://ccg.vital-it.ch/pwmscan and https://sourceforge.net/projects/pwmscan, respectively.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Development and Validation of the Nursing Home Minimum Data Set 3.0 Mortality Risk Score (MRS3)
Authors: Thomas Kali S , Ogarek Jessica A , Teno Joan M , Gozalo Pedro L , Mor Vincent 
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Background
To develop a score to predict mortality using the Minimum Data Set 3.0 (MDS 3.0) that can be readily calculated from items collected during nursing home (NH) residents’ admission assessments.

Participants
We developed a training cohort of Medicare beneficiaries newly admitted to United States NHs during 2012 (N = 1,426,815) and a testing cohort from 2013 (N = 1,160,964).

Methods
Data came from the MDS 3.0 assessments linked to the Medicare Beneficiary Summary File. Using the training dataset, we developed a composite MDS 3.0 Mortality Risk Score (MRS3) consisting of 17 clinical items and patients’ age groups based on their relation to 30-day mortality. We assessed the calibration and discrimination of the MRS3 in predicting 30- and 60-day mortality and compared its performance to the Charlson Comorbidity Index and the clinician’s assessment of 6-month prognosis measured at admission.

Results
The 30- and 60-day mortality rates for the testing population were 2.8% and 5.6%, respectively. Results from logistic regression models suggest that the MRS3 performed well in predicting death within 30 and 60 days (C-Statistics of 0.744 [95% confidence limit (CL) = 0.741, 0.747] and 0.709 [95% CL = 0.706, 0.711], respectively). The MRS3 was a superior predictor of mortality compared to the Charlson Comorbidity Index (C-statistics of 0.611 [95% CL = 0.607, 0.615] and 0.608 [95% CL = 0.605, 0.610]) and the clinicians’ assessments of patients’ 6-month prognoses (C-statistics of 0.543 [95% CL = 0.542, 0.545] and 0.528 [95% CL = 0.527, 0.529]).

Conclusions
The MRS3 is a good predictor of mortality and can be useful in guiding decision-making, informing plans of care, and adjusting for patients’ risk of mortality.
Age and Gender Differences in Social Network Composition and Social Support Among Older Rural South Africans: Findings From the HAALSI Study
Authors: Harling Guy , Morris Katherine Ann , Manderson Lenore , Perkins Jessica M , Berkman Lisa F 
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Objectives
Drawing on the “Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH community in South Africa” (HAALSI) baseline survey, we present data on older adults’ social networks and receipt of social support in rural South Africa. We examine how age and gender differences in social network characteristics matched with patterns predicted by theories of choice- and constraint-based network contraction in older adults.

Method
We used regression analysis on data for 5,059 South African adults aged 40 and older.

Results
Older respondents reported fewer important social contacts and less frequent communication than their middle-aged peers, largely due to fewer nonkin connections. Network size difference between older and younger respondents was greater for women than for men. These gender and age differences were explicable by much higher levels of widowhood among older women compared to younger women and older men. There was no evidence for employment-related network contraction or selective retention of emotionally supportive ties.

Discussion
Marriage-related structural constraints impacted on older women’s social networks in rural South Africa, but did not explain choice-based network contraction. These findings suggest that many older women in rural Africa, a growing population, may have an unmet need for social support.
Reorganized Force Control in Elbow Pain Patients During Isometric Wrist Extension
Authors: Mista Christian A. , Monterde Sonia , Inglés Montserrat , Salvat Isabel , Graven-Nielsen Thomas 
Published: March 2018

Introduction:
Reorganized force control may be an important adaptation following painful traumas. In this study, force control adaptations were assessed in elbow pain patients. Increasing the contraction demand may overcome pain interference on the motor control and as such act as an internal control. It was hypothesized that elbow pain patients compared with controls would present greater change in the direction of force when increasing the demand of the motor task.

Methods:
Elbow pain patients (n=19) and asymptomatic participants (n=21) performed isometric wrist extensions at 5% to 70% of maximum voluntary contraction. Pressure pain thresholds were recorded at the lateral epicondyle and tibialis anterior muscle. Contraction force was recorded using a 3-directional force transducer. Participants performed contractions according to visual feedback of the task-related force intensity (main direction of wrist extension) and another set of contractions with feedback of the 3 force directions. Going from the simple to the detailed force feedback will increase the demand of the motor task. Force steadiness in all 3 dimensions and force directions were extracted.

Results:
Compared with controls, elbow pain patients presented lower pressure pain thresholds at both sites (P<0.05). Force steadiness was not significantly different between groups or feedback methods. The change in force direction when providing simple visual feedback in contrast with feedback of all force components at all contraction levels was greater for patients compared with controls (P<0.05).

Conclusion:
The larger change in force direction in pain patients implies redistribution of loads across the arm as an associated effect of pain.
fastp: an ultra-fast all-in-one FASTQ preprocessor
Authors: Chen Shifu , Zhou Yanqing , Chen Yaru , Gu Jia 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMotivationQuality control and preprocessing of FASTQ files are essential to providing clean data for downstream analysis. Traditionally, a different tool is used for each operation, such as quality control, adapter trimming, and quality filtering. These tools are often insufficiently fast as most are developed using high-level programming languages (e.g., Python and Java) and provide limited multi-threading support. Reading and loading data multiple times also renders preprocessing slow and I/O inefficient.ResultsWe developed fastp as an ultra-fast FASTQ preprocessor with useful quality control and data-filtering features. It can perform quality control, adapter trimming, quality filtering, per-read quality cutting, and many other operations with a single scan of the FASTQ data. It also supports unique molecular identifier preprocessing, poly tail trimming, output splitting, and base correction for paired-end data. It can automatically detect adapters for single-end and paired-end FASTQ data. This tool is developed in C++ and has multi-threading support. Based on our evaluation, fastp is 2–5 times faster than other FASTQ preprocessing tools such as Trimmomatic or Cutadapt despite performing far more operations than similar tools.Availability and ImplementationThe open-source code and corresponding instructions are available at https://github.com/OpenGene/fastpContactchen@haplox.com
Examining consumer attitudes toward genetically modified and organic foods
Authors: Larson Ronald B. 
Published: March 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine consumer attitudes toward genetically modified (GM) and organic foods with a broader list of control variables that includes green attitudes, impulsive purchasing, concerns about privacy, religiosity, birth order, and political preferences.

Design/methodology/approach
US internet panelists were asked about their preferences for purchasing non-GM produce, non-GM cereal, and organic products even if they cost a little more. They were also asked if genetically engineered foods are safe to consume. Responses to these four questions were dependent variables in binary logistic regressions. The sample size was 725 adults.

Findings
Attitudes toward non-GM produce and non-GM cereal were linked with different variables. Green attitudes were positively linked with non-GM and organic food attitudes. Impulsive purchases, a religiosity factor, and a privacy concern factor were linked with non-GM but not organic food attitudes. Social desirability bias was also significant. The genetically engineered food model identified some unique linkages with the control variables, suggesting that these terms may not improve consumer confidence with food.

Originality/value
New measures and several variables that researchers independently found to be significant were tested together in models and found to be linked with organic and non-GM food attitudes. Some expected relationships were not found. The results provide better profiles of consumers who have strong attitudes toward GM and organic foods.
How entrepreneurs’Zhong-yongthinking improves new venture performance
Authors: Ma Cuiping , Liu Hefu , Gu Jibao , Dou Junsheng 
Published: March 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on the cultural cognition of ChineseZhong-yongthinking, which is deeply rooted in Chinese Confucius culture, and to examine how entrepreneurs’Zhong-yongthinking is related to new venture performance throughguanxinetwork, and also examine how environmental turbulence affects the influencing mechanism.Design/methodology/approachThis paper follows an empirical design. Data are collected from a survey administered to entrepreneurs in new ventures of China. Regression analysis is used to test the hypothesis.FindingsResults show that entrepreneurs’Zhong-yongthinking is positively related toguanxiand new venture performance, andguanximediates the relationship between entrepreneurs’Zhong-yongthinking and new venture performance. In addition, environmental turbulence moderates the relationship between entrepreneurs’Zhong-yongthinking andguanxisuch that the relationship is stronger under higher technological turbulence or lower market turbulence.Research limitations/implicationsThis research uses cross-sectional data, so causal conclusions cannot be made. In addition, more moderators should be considered.Practical implicationsThe present study enriches the understanding of how entrepreneurs’Zhong-yongthinking affects new ventures, which helps entrepreneur understand how to strategize according to external environment and develop what kind of cognitive style to deal with complex situation of their own venture.Originality/valueThis study is a pioneer in exploring non-Western cognitive style–Zhong-yongthinking in entrepreneurial context. It not only enriches the understanding of how Chinese wisdom affects organizational strategy and organizational performance but also advances the cognition research in the field of entrepreneurship.
Communicating medication risk to cardiovascular patients in Qatar
Authors: Wilbur Kerry , Sahal Arwa , Elgaily Dina 
Published: March 2018

Purpose
Patient safety is gaining prominence in health professional curricula. Patient safety must be complemented by teaching and skill development in practice settings. The purpose of this paper is to explore how experienced pharmacists identify, prioritize and communicate adverse drug effects to patients.

Design/methodology/approach
A focus group discussion was conducted with cardiology pharmacy specialists working in a Doha hospital, Qatar. The topic guide sought to explore participants’ views, experiences and approaches to educating patients regarding specific cardiovascular therapy safety and tolerability. Discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were coded and organized around identified themes and sub-themes. Working theories were developed by the three authors based on relevant topic characteristics associated with the means in which pharmacists prioritize and choose adverse effect information to communicate to patients.

Findings
Nine pharmacists participated in the discussion. The specific adverse effects prioritized were consistent with the reported highest prevalence. Concepts and connections to three main themes described how pharmacists further tailored patient counseling: potential adverse effects and their perceived importance; patient encounter; and cultural factors. Pharmacists relied on initial patient dialogue to judge an individual’s needs and capabilities to digest safety information, and drew heavily upon experience with other counseling encounters to further prioritize this information, processes dependent upon development and accessing exemplar cases.

Originality/value
The findings underscore practical experience as a critical instructional element of undergraduate health professional patient safety curricula and for developing associated clinical reasoning.
Determining total CEO compensation of selected US public companies
Authors: Rahman Matiur , Mustafa Muhammad 
Published: March 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of total assets, stock performances, CEOs’ tenures, ages, and board sizes on total CEO compensations of 249 publicly listed US companies over a nine-year period from 2004-2012.Design/methodology/approachPedroni’s panel cointegration, generalized method of moments, and dynamic ordinary least squares methodologies are applied.FindingsAll variables are non-stationary in log-levels. The findings show significant positive effects of total assets and stock performances on total CEO compensations. The effects of CEO’s tenure and age as well as board size on total CEO compensation deem negative. However, short-run net interactive feedback effects are generally positive with some exceptions.Research limitations/implicationsThe above variables matter in rewarding the CEOs. They should be carefully weighed in for proper formulation of CEO compensation policy.Originality/valueThis paper applies relatively new econometric tools for a large panel data set. This work considers some new variables for determining CEO compensation in USA. The findings are relatively new with empirical originality.
Order effects and multi-city visits: tour guides’ perspectives
Authors: Zare Samira , Pearce Philip 
Published: March 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the order in which a set of cities are visited to ascertain the effects of position on group tourists’ recall and evaluations.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a questionnaire, the views of highly experienced tour guides were analysed to provide preliminary insights about the likely occurrence of position effects. The topic was studied in Iran where a natural variation in the order of visiting cities on guided tours exists.

Findings
Credible and consistent evidence was found for the perceived effects of recency when considering tourists’ recall and evaluations. In particular, the influence was seen as clearly enhancing the recall and positive evaluation for the most high profile cities in the set of visited locations.

Research limitations/implications
Replications of the position effect in other countries and for other kinds of tourism cities needs to be pursued, desirably by direct assessments of tourist’ views to buttress the present views held by guides.

Practical implications
Designing itineraries by making imaginative use of the effects of order on the tourists’ sequence of city visits should facilitate the memorability of destinations for tourists and benefit businesses.

Originality/value
Empirical evidence about order effects in multi-city tour itineraries has never been established. The study provides foundation evidence for such influences through a non-reactive and naturalistic assessment by tour guides who are in contact with varied itineraries and who regularly consider the experiences of diverse and large numbers of tourists.
Clique and elite: inter-organizational knowledge sharing across five star hotels in the Saudi Arabian religious tourism and hospitality industry
Authors: Idrees Inaam Altayeb , Vasconcelos Ana Cristina , Ellis David 
Published: March 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to offer a theoretical and practical explanation for the nature and reasons for inter-organizational knowledge sharing across an informal clique of competing five-star hotels in the Saudi Arabian religious tourism and hospitality industry.

Design/methodology/approach
The methodology is an adapted form of the grounded theory approach deploying a four-stage research design using qualitative interviews with key players in the industry to inform the analysis of the knowledge sharing approaches.

Findings
The findings illustrate the features of the knowledge sharing approaches across the five-star hotels studied. In particular, the findings highlight the existence of a cooperative-competitive tension in the relationships and knowledge sharing between the hotels. This illustrates the existence of a tacit strategy that cooperation can lead to long-term benefits for the competitor hotels.

Originality/value
The study is unique in its focus on the cooperative-competitive tension of five-star hotels in the Saudi Arabian religious tourism and hospitality industry and on this influence on the inter-organizational knowledge sharing across hotels within an oligopolistic market structure. The study also has value in using elements of oligopoly theory and of game theory, particularly, the prisoner’s dilemma, in explaining how inter-organizational knowledge sharing occurs within this market context.
Servicization with skill premium in the digital economy
Authors: Yoon Sang-Chul 
Published: March 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine an endogenous growth model, as a component of a broader study of servicization with skill premium and its policy implications in the evolving digital economy.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops a two-sector endogenous growth model which allows for the observed characteristics of digitally empowered structural changes. Specifically, the driving force of economic growth is the expanding variety of intermediate services as a consequence of innovation in services. The introduction of new intermediate services specifically contributes to total factor productivity in the production of service sector, and thus an uneven growth path with skill premium toward a service economy generally exists.FindingsThe principal finding of this paper is that the digitally empowered expanding variety of intermediate services due to innovation contributes significantly to total factor productivity in the production of service sector, and thus a servicization with skill premium generally exists along a steady-state path. In addition, this paper derives an optimal innovation policy to rule out the market failures due to innovation externality and market power in monopolistic competition conditions, and shows the Rybczynski effects of exogenous endowment changes in the evolving digital economy.Originality/valueThe principal contribution of this paper is to determine how unbalanced endogenous growth along a steady-state path is linked with a service economy with skill premium in the evolving digital economy. In addition to this analysis, this paper provides policy implications – namely, that a positive but finite innovation subsidy can achieve the social optimum in the digital economy, and that an exogenous increase in high-skilled labor can speed up a digitally empowered economic growth.