bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An empirical examination of the ecological and cognitive active commuting framework
Authors: Pang Bo , Rundle-Thiele Sharyn Robyn , Kubacki Krzysztof 
Published: August 2017

Purpose
Evidence indicates that active school travel (AST) including walking can effectively lower levels of obesity among school-age children. Yet Queensland has been identified as one of the most inactive states in Australia where only 5 per cent of Years 1 and 5 children engaged in AST on a daily basis. The purpose of this paper is to explain walking to school behaviour among Queensland children by investigating the explanatory potential of the ecological and cognitive active commuting (ECAC) model.

Design/methodology/approach
An online survey of 537 carers in Queensland, Australia was conducted to collect data about demographics and the variables in the ECAC model. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the ECAC model and the pathways between variables.

Findings
The results indicate that the ECAC model explained 53.4 per cent of the variance in walking to school. Social norms are the dominating factor in the model. Distance to school affects how the ECAC model works by moderating the associations among walking to school behaviours, perceived risks, and social norms.

Practical implications
Changing carers’ social norms and lowering the perceived risks they associate with walking to school should increase the incidence of walking to school in Queensland.

Originality/value
Although the ECAC model was proposed as a comprehensive framework to explain walking to school behaviour, to date, it has not been tested empirically. Informed by a modified ECAC framework this study aims to empirically explore the factors that may be preventing or facilitating Queensland children from walking to school.
Corporate governance and corporate social disclosures: a meta-analytical review
Authors: Majumder Md. Tofael Hossain , Akter Aklima , Li Xiaojing 
Published: August 2017

Purpose
This study aims to investigate the association between corporate governance and corporate social disclosures (CSD).

Design/methodology/approach
Data analysis has been conducted on 29 prior studies published between 2004 and 2016 for the purpose of integrating the findings across studies. The study uses the meta-analysis instrument developed by Hunter et al. (1982).

Findings
The investigation finds a significant positive association between board size, the frequency of board meetings and auditors’ credibility with CSD. Both the managerial and concentrated ownership have a significant but negative association with CSD. In contrast, board independence, board gender diversity, the composition of non-executive directors, government ownership, foreign ownership and institutional ownership are insignificantly and positively associated with CSD. CEO duality is also insignificant with CSD but indicates a negative association. The study further investigates that the association between board gender diversity and CSD affected by the differences of the country of study.

Originality/value
This paper adds significance to the extant academic literature as well as assists the appropriate policy maker in assessing the determinants of CSD from the viewpoints of corporate governance. It further aims to reconcile the findings of the previous studies around the world, and also for the developed and developing countries separately.
Measuring user’s influence in the Yelp recommender system
Authors: Bejarano Andres , Jindal Agrima , Bhargava Bharat 
Published: August 2017

Purpose
Recommender systems collect information about users and businesses and how they are related. Such relation is given in terms of reviews and votes on reviews. User reviews gather opinions, rating scores and review influence. The latter component is crucial for determining which users are more relevant in a recommender system, that is, the users whose reviews are more popular than the average user’s reviews.

Design/methodology/approach
A model of measure of user influence is proposed based on review and social attributes of the user. User influence is also used for determining how influenced has been a business being based on popular reviews.

Findings
Results indicate there is a connection between social attributes and user influence. Such results are relevant for marketing, credibility estimation and Sybil detections, among others.

Originality/value
The proposed model allows search parameterization based on the social attribute weights of users, reviews and businesses. Such weights defines the relevance on each attribute, which can be adjusted according to the search needs. Popularity results are then a function of weight preferences on user, reviews and businesses data join.
Hierarchy grey relational analysis using DEA and AHP
Authors: Pakkar Mohammad Sadegh 
Published: August 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to apply an integrated data envelopment analysis (DEA) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach to a multi-hierarchy grey relational analysis (GRA) model. Consistent with the most real-life applications, the authors focus on a two-level hierarchy in which the attributes of similar characteristics can be grouped into categories. Nevertheless, the proposed approach can be easily extended to a three-level hierarchy in which attributes might also belong to different sub-categories and further be linked to categories.

Design/methodology/approach
The procedure of incorporating the DEA and AHP methods in a two-level GRA may be broken down into a series of steps. The first three steps are under the heading of attributes and the latter three steps are under the heading of categories as follows: computing the grey relational coefficients of attributes for each alternative using the basic GRA model which further provides the required (output) data for an additive DEA model; computing the priority weights of attributes and categories using the AHP method which provides a priori information on the adjustments of attributes and categories in additive DEA models; computing the grey relational grades of attributes in each category for alternatives using an additive DEA model; converting the grey relational grades of attributes to the grey relational coefficients of categories; computing the grey relational grades of categories for alternatives using an additive DEA model; computing the dissimilarity grades of categories for the tied alternatives using an additive DEA exclusion model.

Findings
The proposed approach provides a more reasonable and encompassing measure of performance in a hierarchy GRA, based on which the overall ranking position of alternatives is obtained. A case study of a wastewater treatment technology selection verifies the effectiveness of this approach.

Originality/value
This research is a step forward to overcome the current shortcomings in a hierarchy GRA by extracting the benefits from both the objective and subjective weighting methods.
Nano-beams under torsion: a stress-driven nonlocal approach
Authors: Barretta Raffaele , Feo Luciano , Luciano Raimondo , Marotti de Sciarra Francesco , Penna Rosa 
Published: August 2017

Purpose
This study aims to model scale effects in nano-beams under torsion.

Design/methodology/approach
The elastostatic problem of a nano-beam is formulated by a novel stress-driven nonlocal approach.

Findings
Unlike the standard strain-driven nonlocal methodology, the proposed stress-driven nonlocal model is mathematically and mechanically consistent. The contributed results are useful for the design of modern devices at nanoscale.

Originality/value
The innovative stress-driven integral nonlocal model, recently proposed in literature for inflected nano-beams, is formulated in the present submission to study size-dependent torsional behavior of nano-beams.
Fatwāshopping and trust: towards effective consumer protection regulations in Islamic finance
Authors: Oseni Umar A. 
Published: August 2017

PurposeThis study aims to examine the phenomenon ofFatwāshopping, its effect on consumer trust in Islamic finance products and the need for effective consumer protection regulations in the Islamic finance industry.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology used in this study is qualitative research which draws significantly from relevant regulations on financial consumer protection through analytical method to identify common themes onFatwāshopping and consumer trust in the relevant literature.FindingsThis study finds that the increasing practice ofFatwāshopping through clandestine searches by some Islamic banks to get their new products endorsed by leadingSharī‘ahscholars requires proper legal regulation to avoid a total erosion of trust in the entire Islamic finance industry.Research limitations/implicationThoughFatwāshopping is practiced in the Islamic finance industry, it is always difficult to get some desperate Islamic bankers to agree to this; hence, this study does not portend to examine the evidence onFatwāshopping, but it seeks to bring to the fore the effect ofFatwāshopping on consumer trust in Islamic financial services, and the need for effective consumer protection regulations.Practical implicationsThis study is expected to provide an invaluable guide and policy framework for emerging and promising jurisdictions on the need to regulateFatwāshopping through an effective legal framework based on some best practices identified in the study.Originality/valueThough there have been a number of studies relating toFatwāshopping, focusing on the need for effective consumer protection regulations in the Islamic finance industry will enrich the existing literature and have significant implications for the future of the industry.
Building trust in Islamic finance products and services
Authors: Ali Syed Nazim 
Published: August 2017

Purpose
With the increasing instances of malfeasance and frauds coming to light in the financial services industry, trust has become a key concern for customers. Fortunately, in the case of Islamic Finance, trust is a central tenet, and its importance can be seen through the emphasis of Amanah or trustworthiness that should be present in every financial transaction. However, it has been argued that the principle of trust has not been truly realized in Islamic Finance, or that there are still issues of distrust regarding anything which is obtrusively branded as “Islamic”. In this paper, the author will analyze the reasons for gaps between the expectations and reality of the finance industry today by looking at the main factors contributing to distrust among the different stakeholders and the perceived impact of the distrust on the industry and the general public. It then focuses on the past and ongoing efforts by academia to bridge these gaps between the different stake holder groups with the help of illustrative case studies as well as recommends future steps to be taken to ensure a stronger foundation of trust within the Islamic Finance community.
The Manipulation Potential of Libor and Euribor
Authors: Eisl Alexander , Jankowitsch Rainer , Subrahmanyam Marti G. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe London Interbank Offered Rate (Libor) and the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (Euribor) are two key benchmark interest rates used in a plethora of financial contracts. The integrity of the rate‐setting processes has been under intense scrutiny since 2007. We analyse Libor and Euribor submissions by the individual banks and shed light on the underlying manipulation potential for the actual and several alternative rate‐setting procedures. We find that such alternative fixings could significantly reduce the effect of manipulation. We also explore related issues such as the sample size and the particular questions asked of the banks in the rate‐setting process.
Barber‐led sexual health education intervention for Black male adolescents and their fathers
Authors: Randolph Schenita D. , Pleasants Terrence , Gonzalez‐Guarda Rosa M. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo explore barbers' attitudes and beliefs regarding the feasibility and acceptability of a barber‐ led STI/HIV risk reduction intervention for fathers and their preadolescent and adolescent sons.Design and SampleA qualitative descriptive design was used. Twenty‐two barbers were recruited from barbershops and a barber school in central North Carolina.MeasuresA combination of five focus groups and two key informant interviews were conducted.ResultsThe following themes were generated: (1) The barbershop was embraced as a venue for an adolescent sexual health father–son intervention, (2) Barbers desired more information about STIs and HIV among Black male youth, (3) The use of incentives to engage barbers and fathers was important, and (4) Time commitment of barbers for a barber‐led intervention varied.ConclusionThe trust established between barbers and the Black community presents an opportunity for pre‐adolescent and adolescent STI/HIV risk reduction programs that include the role of fathers. Intervention programs can be tailored to address this important intervention opportunity.
Proof of de Smit’s conjecture: a freeness criterion
Authors: Brochard Sylvain 
Published: August 2017

Let $A\rightarrow B$ be a morphism of Artin local rings with the same embedding dimension. We prove that any $A$-flat $B$-module is $B$-flat. This freeness criterion was conjectured by de Smit in 1997 and improves Diamond’s criterion [The Taylor–Wiles construction and multiplicity one, Invent. Math. 128 (1997), 379–391, Theorem 2.1]. We also prove that if there is a nonzero $A$-flat $B$-module, then $A\rightarrow B$ is flat and is a relative complete intersection. Then we explain how this result allows one to simplify Wiles’s proof of Fermat’s last theorem: we do not need the so-called ‘Taylor–Wiles systems’ any more.
Heritable Bovine Rumen Bacteria Are Phylogenetically Related and Correlated with the Cow’s Capacity To Harvest Energy from Its Feed
Authors: Sasson Goor , Kruger Ben-Shabat Sheerli , Seroussi Eyal , Doron-Faigenboim Adi , Shterzer Naama , Yaacoby Shamay , Berg Miller Margret E. , White Bryan A. , Halperin Eran , Mizrahi Itzhak 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACT
Ruminants sustain a long-lasting obligatory relationship with their rumen microbiome dating back 50 million years. In this unique host-microbiome relationship, the host’s ability to digest its feed is completely dependent on its coevolved microbiome. This extraordinary alliance raises questions regarding the dependent relationship between ruminants’ genetics and physiology and the rumen microbiome structure, composition, and metabolism. To elucidate this relationship, we examined the association of host genetics with the phylogenetic and functional composition of the rumen microbiome. We accomplished this by studying a population of 78 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows, using a combination of rumen microbiota data and other phenotypes from each animal with genotypic data from a subset of 47 animals. We identified 22 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) whose abundances were associated with rumen metabolic traits and host physiological traits and which showed measurable heritability. The abundance patterns of these microbes can explain high proportions of variance in rumen metabolism and many of the host physiological attributes such as its energy-harvesting efficiency. Interestingly, these OTUs shared higher phylogenetic similarity between themselves than expected by chance, suggesting occupation of a specific ecological niche within the rumen ecosystem. The findings presented here suggest that ruminant genetics and physiology are correlated with microbiome structure and that host genetics may shape the microbiome landscape by enriching for phylogenetically related taxa that may occupy a unique niche.

IMPORTANCE
Dairy cows are an essential nutritional source for the world’s population; as such, they are extensively farmed throughout our planet and subsequently impact our environment. The microbial communities that reside in the upper digestive tract of these animals in a compartment named the rumen degrade and ferment the plant biomass that the animal ingests. Our recent efforts, as well as those of others, have shown that this microbial community’s composition and functionality are tightly linked to the cow’s capacity to harvest energy from its feed, as well as to other physiological traits. In this study, we identified microbial groups that are heritable and also linked to the cow’s production parameters. This finding could potentially allow us to apply selection programs on specific rumen microbial components that are linked to the animal’s physiology and beneficial to production. Hence, it is a steppingstone toward microbiome manipulation for increasing food availability while lowering environmental impacts such as methane emission.
Type III Interferon-Mediated Signaling Is Critical for Controlling Live Attenuated Yellow Fever Virus Infection
In Vivo
Authors: Douam Florian , Soto Albrecht Yentli E. , Hrebikova Gabriela , Sadimin Evita , Davidson Christian , Kotenko Sergei V. , Ploss Alexander 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACT

Yellow fever virus (YFV) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus, infecting ~200,000 people worldwide annually and causing about 30,000 deaths. The live attenuated vaccine strain, YFV-17D, has significantly contributed in controlling the global burden of yellow fever worldwide. However, the viral and host contributions to YFV-17D attenuation remain elusive. Type I interferon (IFN-α/β) signaling and type II interferon (IFN-γ) signaling have been shown to be mutually supportive in controlling YFV-17D infection despite distinct mechanisms of action in viral infection. However, it remains unclear how type III IFN (IFN-λ) integrates into this antiviral system. Here, we report that while wild-type (WT) and IFN-λ receptor knockout (λR
−/−
) mice were largely resistant to YFV-17D, deficiency in type I IFN signaling resulted in robust infection. Although IFN-α/β receptor knockout (α/βR
−/−
) mice survived the infection, mice with combined deficiencies in both type I signaling and type III IFN signaling were hypersusceptible to YFV-17D and succumbed to the infection. Mortality was associated with viral neuroinvasion and increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). α/βR
−/−
λR
−/−
mice also exhibited distinct changes in the frequencies of multiple immune cell lineages, impaired T-cell activation, and severe perturbation of the proinflammatory cytokine balance. Taken together, our data highlight that type III IFN has critical immunomodulatory and neuroprotective functions that prevent viral neuroinvasion during active YFV-17D replication. Type III IFN thus likely represents a safeguard mechanism crucial for controlling YFV-17D infection and contributing to shaping vaccine immunogenicity.

IMPORTANCE
YFV-17D is a live attenuated flavivirus vaccine strain recognized as one of the most effective vaccines ever developed. However, the host and viral determinants governing YFV-17D attenuation and its potent immunogenicity are still unknown. Here, we analyzed the role of type III interferon (IFN)-mediated signaling, a host immune defense mechanism, in controlling YFV-17D infection and attenuation in different mouse models. We uncovered a critical role of type III IFN-mediated signaling in preserving the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and preventing viral brain invasion. Type III IFN also played a major role in regulating the induction of a potent but balanced immune response that prevented viral evasion of the host immune system. An improved understanding of the complex mechanisms regulating YFV-17D attenuation will provide insights into the key virus-host interactions that regulate host immune responses and infection outcomes as well as open novel avenues for the development of innovative vaccine strategies.
Comparative Genomics of
Escherichia coli
Isolated from Skin and Soft Tissue and Other Extraintestinal Infections
Authors: Ranjan Amit , Shaik Sabiha , Nandanwar Nishant , Hussain Arif , Tiwari Sumeet K. , Semmler Torsten , Jadhav Savita , Wieler Lothar H. , Alam Munirul , Colwell Rita R. , Ahmed Niyaz 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli
, an intestinal Gram-negative bacterium, has been shown to be associated with a variety of diseases in addition to intestinal infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), meningitis in neonates, septicemia, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), and colisepticemia. Thus, for nonintestinal infections, it is categorized as extraintestinal pathogenic
E. coli
(ExPEC). It is also an opportunistic pathogen, causing cross infections, notably as an agent of zoonotic diseases. However, comparative genomic data providing functional and genetic coordinates for ExPEC strains associated with these different types of infections have not proven conclusive. In the study reported here, ExPEC
E. coli
isolated from SSTIs was characterized, including virulence and drug resistance profiles, and compared with isolates from patients suffering either pyelonephritis or septicemia. Results revealed that the majority of the isolates belonged to two pathogenic phylogroups, B2 and D. Approximately 67% of the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR), with 85% producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and 6% producing metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL). The
bla
CTX-M-15
genotype was observed in at least 70% of the
E. coli
isolates in each category, conferring resistance to an extended range of beta-lactam antibiotics. Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics of the ExPEC isolates revealed that two of the four isolates from SSTIs, NA633 and NA643, belong to pandemic sequence type ST131, whereas functional characteristics of three of the ExPEC pathotypes revealed that they had equal capabilities to form biofilm and were resistant to human serum. Overall, the isolates from a variety of ExPEC infections demonstrated similar resistomes and virulomes and did not display any disease-specific functional or genetic coordinates.

IMPORTANCE
Infections caused by extraintestinal pathogenic
E. coli
(ExPEC) are of global concern as they result in significant costs to health care facilities management. The recent emergence of a multidrug-resistant pandemic clone,
Escherichia coli
ST131, is of primary concern as a global threat. In developing countries, such as India, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) associated with
E. coli
are marginally addressed. In this study, we employed both genomic analysis and phenotypic assays to determine relationships, if any, among the ExPEC pathotypes. Similarity between antibiotic resistance and virulence profiles was observed, ST131 isolates from SSTIs were reported, and genomic similarities among strains isolated from different disease conditions were detected. This study provides functional molecular infection epidemiology insight into SSTI-associated
E. coli
compared with ExPEC pathotypes.