bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
International students’ university preferences: how different are Malaysian and Chinese students?
Authors: Kamal Basha Norazlyn , Sweeney Jillian C. , Soutar Geoffrey N. 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to determine factors that influenced international university preference, looking at country of origin (COO), that is the COO of the course and program modes (PMs). This study specifically focusses on differences in perceptions across students from Malaysia and China.Design/methodology/approach– Conjoint analysis was used to examine the relative importances and part-worth scores of these attributes on international university preferences.Findings– PM and country of design (COD) had a major influence on Malaysian and Chinese students’ preferences for international universities. Online distance learning was the least preferred option, while offshore campuses were more acceptable to Malaysian students compared to Chinese students. Malaysian students preferred to study in the UK, while Chinese students favored Australia. Malaysian students were also found to be more cost sensitive compared to Chinese students, while the latter were more motivated by job prospects offered by an institution.Research limitations/implications– Limitations include the specific sample, pre-university students only from developed countries (Malaysia and China), which limits the generalizability to students from other countries.Practical implications– This study offers insights in the effect of COD and PM on students’ preferences for international universities, as well as other previously studied university-level attributes in a higher education setting. With a better understanding of factors affecting these preferences, higher educational institutions are better placed to implement a suitable marketing strategy to attract more international students.Originality/value– This study examines the impact COD, Delivery Mode (DM) and other university level attributes have on Malaysian and Chinese pre-university students ' preferences for international universities. COD and DM were found to be extremely important factors that dominated the students ' preferences. The study highlights the need to focus on different university attributes in different markets and to consider COD and DM issues in order to gain a larger market share of international students.
Multimodal and alternative perception for the visually impaired: a survey
Authors: Khoo Wai Lun , Zhu Zhigang 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of navigational assistive technologies with various sensor modalities and alternative perception approaches for visually impaired people. It also examines the input and output of each technology, and provides a comparison between systems.

Design/methodology/approach
– The contributing authors along with their students thoroughly read and reviewed the referenced papers while under the guidance of domain experts and users evaluating each paper/technology based on a set of metrics adapted from universal and system design.

Findings
– After analyzing 13 multimodal assistive technologies, the authors found that the most popular sensors are optical, infrared, and ultrasonic. Similarly, the most popular actuators are audio and haptic. Furthermore, most systems use a combination of these sensors and actuators. Some systems are niche, while others strive to be universal.

Research limitations/implications
– This paper serves as a starting point for further research in benchmarking multimodal assistive technologies for the visually impaired and to eventually cultivate better assistive technologies for all.

Social implications
– Based on 2012 World Health Organization, there are 39 million blind people. This paper will have an insight of what kind of assistive technologies are available to the visually impaired people, whether in market or research lab.

Originality/value
– This paper provides a comparison across diverse visual assistive technologies. This is valuable to those who are developing assistive technologies and want to be aware of what is available as well their pros and cons, and the study of human-computer interfaces.
How organizational tenure affects innovative behavior?
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Ge Liang , Peng Wanying 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper was to examine the relationship between organizational tenure and employee innovative behavior and the influence of culture difference and status-related moderators (i.e. status hierarchy and status stability) on the linkage.Design/methodology/approach– By using a meta-analysis method that included 76 empirical studies, this study examines the relationship of organizational tenure and innovative behavior. In this study, 79 samples (N= 21659) derived from 76 empirical studies that met the inclusion criteria in the meta-analysis.Findings– The results show that organizational tenure has a weak positive effect on employee innovative behavior (r= 0.04), and status hierarchy, position tenure, culture difference and measurement ways influence the relationship between the two. In addition, a three-way interaction among status hierarchy, position tenure and organizational tenure is found to jointly affect innovative behavior; specifically, for those who are low in status hierarchy and short in position tenure, their organizational tenures are positively related to innovative behavior, but for those with a longer position tenure in organizations, their organizational tenure may relate to innovative behavior negatively, whatever their status hierarchies are (high or low). This study is helpful in providing theoretical foundation and practical skills to such issues regarding how to trigger innovative behavior efficiently at different career stages.Research limitations/implications– Limitations include tenure range of participants and no longitudinal samples in our studies. Future research should examine more contextual factors which influenced the relationship between organizational tenure and innovative behavior.Practical implications– The results of this study show that long organizational tenure is not negatively related to innovative behaviors. For managers, do not ignore the contribution of long-tenured employees to innovation. Through promotion or job rotation to increase employees’ job satisfaction and innovative willing.Originality/value– To authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine status attribute class variables in the relationship between organizational tenure on innovative behavior. The study is helpful in providing theoretical foundation and practical skills to such issues regarding how to trigger innovative behavior at different career stages correctly.
The effect of market orientation as a mediating variable in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and SMEs performance
Authors: Amin Muslim , Thurasamy Ramayah , Aldakhil Abdullah M. , Kaswuri Aznur Hafeez Bin 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– This study aims to examine the effect of market orientation (MO) as a mediating variable in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs)’ performance.

Design/methodology/approach
– A total of 500 SMEs in the manufacturing industry of food and beverages were involved in this study with a response rate of 117. Data collection was conducted in all states of Peninsular Malaysia including the northern, central, southern and eastern regions.

Findings
– The findings show that EO has a significant relationship with MO, and MO has a significant relationship with SME performance. MO will mediate the relationship between EO and SMEs’ performance.

Practical implications
– The higher the EO implemented in a business, the more willing a company will be to implement MO. This analysis shows that highly entrepreneurial firms tend to be highly market orientated and this affects SMEs’ performance.

Originality/value
– The results of this study show that the characteristic of entrepreneurial and MO practiced by SMEs in Malaysia has been significantly affected the SMEs’ performance. It indicates that EO offers a holistic and systematic model for supporting SMEs to build a well-maintained environment of MO and SMEs’ performance.
Is Downsizing Prisons Dangerous?
Authors: Sundt Jody , Salisbury Emily J. , Harmon Mark G. 
Published: March 2016

Research SummaryRecent declines in imprisonment raise a critical question: Can prison populations be reduced without endangering the public? This question is examined by testing the effect of California's dramatic efforts to comply with court‐mandated targets to reduce prison overcrowding using a pretest‐posttest design. The results showed that California's Realignment Act had no effect on violent or property crime rates in 2012, 2013, or 2014. When crime types were disaggregated, a moderately large, statistically significant association between Realignment and auto theft rates was observed in 2012. By 2014, however, this effect had decayed and auto theft rates returned to pre‐Realignment levels.Policy ImplicationsSignificant reductions in the size of prison populations are possible without endangering public safety. Within just 15 months of its passage, Realignment reduced the size of the total prison population by 27,527 inmates, prison crowding declined from 181% to 150% of design capacity, approximately $453 million was saved, and there was no adverse effect on the overall safety of Californians. With a mixture of jail use, community corrections, law enforcement and other preventive efforts, California counties have provided a comparable level of public safety to that previously achieved by state prisons. Nevertheless, sustaining these policy objectives will require greater attention to local implementation, targeted crime prevention, and sentencing reform.
High Amounts of Total and Extracellular Vesicle‐Derived Soluble HLA‐G are Associated with HLA‐G 14‐bp Deletion Variant in Women with Embryo Implantation Failure
Authors: Nardi Fabiola da Silva , Slowik Renata , Michelon Tatiana , Manvailer Luis Felipe dos Santos , Wagner Bettina , Neumann Jorge , Horn Peter , Bicalho Maria da Graça , Rebmann Vera 
Published: March 2016

ProblemHuman leukocyte antigen‐G (HLA‐G) expression is related to 14‐bp insertion/deletion polymorphism at the 3′UTR of the HLA‐G gene. Soluble forms of HLA‐G are released as free molecules or via extracellular vesicles (EVs). Due to the crucial role of HLA‐G during pregnancy, we analyzed the 14‐bp polymorphism and the two secreted forms in implantation failure women (IF) and in fertile women (FW).Method of studyFor the genetic analysis, 49 IF and 34 FW were genotyped. For sHLA‐G quantification, serum samples from 35 IF and 23 FW were available. ExoQuick™ kit was used for EVs precipitation. The total soluble HLA‐G (sHLA‐Gtot) and vesicular sHLA‐GEV were quantified by ELISA. The EVs size and concentration were determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA).ResultsAn increased proportion of IF presented high levels of sHLA‐Gtot (P = 0.02) and vesicular sHLA‐GEV (P = 0.0003) compared to FW. The 14‐bp deletion allele is more frequent in IF (P = 0.0002) and associated with high levels of sHLA‐Gtot and vesicular sHLA‐GEV.ConclusionThe high expression of sHLA‐Gtot and sHLA‐GEV, together with the presence of the 14‐bp deletion allele, might be involved in implantation failure.
Is there a difference between the STOP‐BANG and the Berlin Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome questionnaires for determining respiratory complications during the perioperative period?
Authors: Gokay Pervin , Tastan Sevinc , Orhan Mehmet Emin 
Published: March 2016

Aims and ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the efficiency of the STOP‐BANG and Berlin Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome questionnaires for evaluating potential respiratory complications during the perioperative period.BackgroundQuestionnaires that are used to determine obstructive sleep apnoea risk are not widely used for surgical patients. Among the questionnaires that are commonly used for obstructive sleep apnoea screening, it remains unclear whether the STOP‐BANG or Berlin Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome questionnaire is more effective in terms of ease of use, usage period and diagnosis of surgical patients with obstructive sleep apnoea risk.DesignThis study was designed as a descriptive and prospective study.MethodsThe study included 126 patients over 18 years of age who were American Society of Anesthesiologists classification class I–II and underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. To determine the potential obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome risk, the STOP‐BANG and Berlin questionnaires were administered. Respiratory complications were then observed during the perioperative period.ResultsDuring intubation and extubation, we observed statistically significant differences in difficult intubation, difficult facemask ventilation and desaturation frequency between the high‐ and low‐risk groups for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, as determined by the STOP‐BANG questionnaire. During extubation, statistically significant differences in coughing, breath‐holding and desaturation frequency were observed between the high‐risk and low‐risk groups, according to the Berlin questionnaire. In the post‐anaesthesia care unit, both questionnaires found statistically significant differences between the low‐ and high‐risk groups.ConclusionObstructive sleep apnoea syndrome screening questionnaires administered during the preoperative period are useful for predicting perioperative respiratory complications. It may be most useful to administer the STOP‐BANG questionnaire as the initial evaluation.Relevance to clinical practiceQuestionnaires may be used to determine the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, which could impact the anaesthetisation of surgical patients. Questionnaires for determining the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome should be used regularly for surgical patients, and these questionnaires should be used to improve clinical protocols for anaesthesia and postanaesthesia care.
Immunological and angiogenic markers during metronomic temozolomide and cyclophosphamide in canine cancer patients
Authors: Denies S. , Cicchelero L. , de Rooster H. , Daminet S. , Polis I. , Van de Maele I. , Sanders N. N. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMetronomic chemotherapy stimulates the immune response via depletion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and suppresses angiogenesis by modulating the secretion of thrombospondin‐1 (TSP‐1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this study, blood was collected from 10 healthy dogs and from 30 canine cancer patients before and 2 and 4 weeks after treatment with metronomic temozolomide (6.6 mg m−2), cyclophosphamide (12.5 mg m−2) or cyclophosphamide and temozolomide. The percentage of circulating CD25+Foxp3+CD4+ Tregs and the plasma levels of TSP‐1 and VEGF were measured. There was a significant difference in the percentage of Tregs between cancer patients and healthy dogs. A significant decrease in Tregs was noted in patients treated with metronomic cyclophosphamide and the combination. Treatment with temozolomide had no effect on the percentage of Tregs. TSP‐1 and VEGF levels were, respectively, significantly lower and higher in cancer patients than in healthy dogs, but they were not influenced by any of the studied metronomic treatment regimens.
Molecular Diagnosis of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Caused by Puumala Virus
Authors: Lagerqvist Nina , Hagström Åsa , Lundahl Malin , Nilsson Elin , Juremalm Mikael , Larsson Inger , Alm Erik , Bucht Göran , Ahlm Clas , Klingström Jonas 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT
Rodent-borne hantaviruses cause two severe acute diseases: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Eurasia, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS; also called hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome [HCPS]) in the Americas. Puumala virus (PUUV) is the most common causative agent of HFRS in Europe. Current routine diagnostic methods are based on serological analyses and can yield inconclusive results. Hantavirus-infected patients are viremic during the early phase of disease; therefore, detection of viral RNA genomes can be a valuable complement to existing serological methods. However, the high genomic sequence diversity of PUUV has hampered the development of molecular diagnostics, and currently no real-time reverse transcription-quantitative (RT)-PCR assay is available for routine diagnosis of HFRS. Here, we present a novel PUUV RT-PCR assay. The assay was validated for routine diagnosis of HFRS on samples collected in Sweden during the winter season from 2013 to 2014. The assay allowed detection of PUUV RNA in 98.7% of confirmed clinical HFRS samples collected within 8 days after symptomatic onset. In summary, this study shows that real-time RT-PCR can be a reliable alternative to serological tests during the early phase of HFRS.
Mycobacterium arupense, Mycobacterium heraklionense, and a Newly Proposed Species, “Mycobacterium virginiense” sp. nov., but Not Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum, as Species of the Mycobacterium terrae Complex Causing Tenosynovitis and Osteomyelitis
Authors: Vasireddy Ravikiran , Vasireddy Sruthi , Brown-Elliott Barbara A. , Wengenack Nancy L. , Eke Uzoamaka A. , Benwill Jeana L. , Turenne Christine , Wallace Richard J. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium terrae
complex has been recognized as a cause of tenosynovitis, with
M. terrae
and
Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum
reported as the primary etiologic pathogens. The molecular taxonomy of the
M. terrae
complex causing tenosynovitis has not been established despite approximately 50 previously reported cases. We evaluated 26 isolates of the
M. terrae
complex associated with tenosynovitis or osteomyelitis recovered between 1984 and 2014 from 13 states, including 5 isolates reported in 1991 as
M. nonchromogenicum
by nonmolecular methods. The isolates belonged to three validated species, one new proposed species, and two novel related strains. The majority of isolates (20/26, or 77%) belonged to two recently described species:
Mycobacterium arupense
(10 isolates, or 38%) and
Mycobacterium heraklionense
(10 isolates, or 38%). Three isolates (12%) had 100% sequence identity to each other by 16S rRNA and 99.3 to 100% identity by
rpoB
gene region V sequencing and represent a previously undescribed species within the
M. terrae
complex. There were no isolates of
M. terrae
or
M. nonchromogenicum
, including among the five isolates reported in 1991. The 26 isolates were susceptible to clarithromycin (100%), rifabutin (100%), ethambutol (92%), and sulfamethoxazole or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (70%). The current study suggests that
M. arupense
,
M. heraklionense
, and a newly proposed species (“
M. virginiense
” sp. nov.; proposed type strain MO-233 [DSM 100883, CIP 110918]) within the
M. terrae
complex are the major causes of tenosynovitis and osteomyelitis in the United States, with little change over 20 years. Species identification within this complex requires sequencing methods.
Comparison of the Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Spot and CMV QuantiFERON Cell-Mediated Immune Assays in CMV-Seropositive and -Seronegative Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women
Authors: Saldan Alda , Forner Gabriella , Mengoli Carlo , Tinto Daniel , Fallico Loredana , Peracchi Marta , Gussetti Nadia , Palù Giorgio , Abate Davide 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major cause of congenital infection leading to birth defects and sensorineural anomalies, including deafness. Recently, cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in pregnant women has been shown to correlate with congenital CMV transmission. In this study, two interferon gamma release assays (IGRA), the CMV enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) and CMV QuantiFERON assays, detecting CMV-specific CMI were compared. These assays were performed for 80 CMV-infected (57 primarily and 23 nonprimarily) pregnant women and 115 controls, including 89 healthy CMV-seropositive pregnant women without active CMV infection, 15 CMV-seronegative pregnant women, and 11 seropositive or seronegative nonpregnant women. Statistical tests, including frequency distribution analysis, nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis equality-of-populations rank test, Wilcoxon rank sum test for equality on unmatched data, and lowess smoothing local regression, were employed to determine statistical differences between groups and correlation between the assays. The CMV ELISPOT and CMV QuantiFERON assay data were not normally distributed and did not display equal variance. The CMV ELISPOT but not CMV QuantiFERON assay displayed significant higher values for primarily CMV-infected women than for the healthy seropositive pregnant and nonpregnant groups (
P
= 0.0057 and 0.0379, respectively) and those with nonprimary infections (
P
= 0.0104). The lowess local regression model comparing the assays on an individual basis showed a value bandwidth of 0.8. Both assays were highly accurate in discriminating CMV-seronegative pregnant women. The CMV ELISPOT assay was more effective than CMV-QuantiFERON in differentiating primary from the nonprimary infections. A substantial degree of variability exists between CMV ELISPOT and CMV QuantiFERON assay results for CMV-seropositive pregnant women.
New Gram-Positive Agents: the Next Generation of Oxazolidinones and Lipoglycopeptides
Authors: Crotty Matthew P. , Krekel Tamara , Burnham Carey-Ann D. , Ritchie David J. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance among bacterial pathogens, including methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), has reached a critical state. Tedizolid phosphate, dalbavancin, and oritavancin have recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and represent the next generation of oxazolidinones and lipoglycopeptides. All three agents exhibit
in vitro
activity and clinical efficacy against MRSA. Tedizolid phosphate and oritavancin demonstrate
in vitro
activity against VRE. These new Gram-positive agents are reviewed here.