bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparison of different study load classifications and their association to student performance - an exploratory study
Authors: Perera Luckmika , Kanapathippillai Sutharson , Wines Graeme 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
This study investigates the alternative study load measures (dichotomous full-time/part-time classification and the number of units enrolled) and their association to student performance by using student data from a final year accounting unit in a large Australian university.

Design/methodology/approach
Using regression analysis, we compare the two measures to ascertain the explanatory power of the two approaches in explaining student performance.

Findings
A positive association is found between study loads and student performance when using the ‘number of units enrolled’ measure. This relationship was not found when the dichotomous measure (full-time versus part-time) was used. The results suggest that a scaled measure of study loads is a better measure compared to a binary (dichotomous) measure.

Research limitations/implications
The study will assist future researchers to better control for study loads, and also to gain a better understanding of the association between study loads and student performance. This may possibly assist educational institutions and academics to use a more appropriate pedagogical design in the structure of courses when determining study load allocations across the different cohorts.

Practical implications
This study will help in methodology of future researchers controlling for study loads and student performance.

Originality/value
The study adds to existing literature by providing an alternate study load measure in methodology for controlling for student performance.
The impact of gender difference on the interpretation of uncertainty expressions
Authors: Han Wenqi , Hellmann Andreas , Lu Meiting 
Published: April 2016

PurposeThis study conducts an empirical examination of auditors’ interpretation of selected key uncertainty expressions, namely virtually certain, probable and unlikely, included in accounting standards.Design/methodology/approachThis paper adopts a survey research method to examine the impact of gender difference on the interpretation of uncertainty expressions. Professional auditors in China were selected to examine whether gender difference influences the interpretation of uncertainty expressions.FindingsThe results show that female auditors are likely to interpret positive or negative uncertainty expressions more conservatively than male auditors. The extent of conservatism is higher when female auditors are interpreting in-context expressions. The results remain similar after controlling for additional variables, such as education and work experience, which possibly affect the interpretation of probability expressions.Originality/valueThe results of this study suggest that gender difference can affect the numerical thresholds that auditors’ assign to uncertainty expressions. This may lead to different application of professional judgments between male and female auditors. It also provides important implications to regulators and practitioners on the quality of financial reporting and auditing across organizations within and across countries.
Maternal health services in China’s western rural areas: uptake and correlates
Authors: Liu Chengfang , Zhang Linxiu , Shi Yaojiang , ZHOU Huan , Medina Alexis , Rozelle Scott 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
Many public health systems have struggled with the dual questions of (1) why the uptake rate of maternal health services is low among some subpopulations; and (2) how to raise it. The objective of this study is to assess the uptake rate of a new set of maternal health services in poor rural areas of China.

Design/methodology/approach
The analysis is based on the survey responses of women’s representatives and village cadres from almost 1000 villages in June 2012 as part of a wide-scale public health survey in Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan provinces in the western part of China.

Findings
We find that the uptake rate of maternal health services (including in-hospital delivery, antenatal care visits and post-partum care visits) in poor rural areas of western China are far below average in China, and that the rates vary across provinces and ethnic groups. Our analyses demonstrate that distance, income, ethnicity and availability appear to be systematically correlated with low uptake rates of all maternal health services. Demand-side factors seem to be by far the most important sources of the differences between subpopulations. We also find that there is potential for creating a Conditional Cash Transfer program to improve the usage of maternal health services.

Originality/value
We believe that our results will contribute positively to the exploration of answers to the dual questions that many public health systems have struggled with (1) why the uptake rate of maternal health services is low among some subpopulations; and (2) how to raise it.
Gene polymorphisms of macrophage migration inhibitory factor affect susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B virus infection in an Iranian cohort
Authors: Moudi Bita , Heidari Zahra , Mahmoudzadeh‐Sagheb Hamidreza , Hashemi Mohammad 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTMacrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a key proinflammatory mediator, plays important roles in chronic diseases. In this study, an attempt was made to clarify the associations between some functional polymorphisms such as MIF‐173 G/C, MIF 95 bp and 189 bp insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Polymorphisms were assessed in 221 HBV patients and 200 normal subjects. MIF‐173 G/C and MIF 95 bp and 189 bp I/D polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR–RFLP and PCR, respectively. When allele and genotype frequencies of the variants were compared between patients and controls by the χ2 test, it was found that the frequency of MIF‐173 G/C genotypes differed significantly between patients with chronic HBV and healthy controls (P < 0.05). Carriers of the MIF ‐173‐C allele were at significantly higher risk of HBV infection than carriers of the MIF ‐173‐G allele (P = 0.009, OR = 1.549, 95% CI = 1.114 − 2.155). Moreover, 95 bp I/D polymorphism was not associated with CP and the 185 bp I/D variant was not polymorphic in our group of subjects. The frequency of haplotypes did not differ significantly between groups (χ2 = 11.391, P = 0.181). Our results suggest that MIF ‐173 G/C variant increases the risk of HBV in Iranian subjects. Further studies with larger sample sizes and different ethnicities are required to validate our findings.
Relationship Between the Different Aspects Related to Coffee Quality and Their Volatile Compounds
Authors: Toledo Paulo R.A.B. , Pezza Leonardo , Pezza Helena R. , Toci Aline T. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis paper provides, for the first time, an overview of different aspects related to the quality of coffee beans and their volatile fractions: species/cultivars, geographic origins, bean defects, and types of beverages, processing, roasting, and storage. In other words, it concerns the complex relation between the quality of coffee seeds and their volatile components. It is an overview of 48 articles and considering 6 different aspects related to the quality of coffee and its aromatic fraction. The greatest numbers of published papers concerned “species and cultivars” and “defective seeds,” both with 11 articles cited, followed by “storage” with 10 articles. Many aspects still require greater clarification, including the effects of geographical origin, processing, and roasting. Other issues that are better understood include the effects of species type, defective seeds, and storage conditions. Another topic that has received very little attention is the question of the existence of many different coffee cultivars within each species, which we believe should be further investigated, given that this can significantly affect the quality of the final beverage. Meanwhile, with the growing technological development in the areas of science and agriculture, there are many other aspects to be studied (or revisited), and the field of the aromatic quality of coffee provides ample opportunity for scientific investigation.
Forensic Pathologist Consensus in the Interpretation of Photographs of Patterned Injuries of the Skin
Authors: Oliver William R. , Fang Xianming 
Published: April 2016

AbstractForensic pathologists are commonly asked to evaluate injuries on the basis of photographs. Members of the National Association of Medical Examiners were asked to participate in an online survey in which they were presented with 68 patterned injuries of the skin and asked to make a diagnosis ranging from very general (e.g., “blunt” vs. “sharp”) to specific (e.g., “baton blow”). This was not the case. Consensus for general diagnosis averaged 0.77 and 0.72 for specific diagnosis. While there was a strong correlation between consensus and confidence in aggregate, individual correlations were poor. Consensus diagnosis was inversely correlated with age, and positively correlated with jurisdictional size, medical degree, and whether or not the respondent was actively performing autopsies as a job function. A subsequent survey is exploring possible reasons for lack of consensus in low‐consensus questions. The high correlation between confidence and consensus at the aggregate level and low correlation at the individual level may have implications for quality assurance protocols.
A Novel Forensic Tool for the Characterization and Comparison of Printing Ink Evidence: Development and Evaluation of a Searchable Database Using Data Fusion of Spectrochemical Methods
Authors: Trejos Tatiana , Torrione Peter , Corzo Ruthmara , Raeva Ana , Subedi Kiran , Williamson Rhett , Yoo Jong , Almirall Jose 
Published: April 2016

AbstractA searchable printing ink database was designed and validated as a tool to improve the chemical information gathered from the analysis of ink evidence. The database contains 319 samples from printing sources that represent some of the global diversity in toner, inkjet, offset, and intaglio inks. Five analytical methods were used to generate data to populate the searchable database including FTIR, SEM‐EDS, LA‐ICP‐MS, DART‐MS, and Py‐GC‐MS. The search algorithm based on partial least‐squares discriminant analysis generates a similarity “score” used for the association between similar samples. The performance of a particular analytical method to associate similar inks was found to be dependent on the ink type with LA‐ICP‐MS performing best, followed by SEM‐EDS and DART‐MS methods, while FTIR and Py‐GC‐MS were less useful in association but were still useful for classification purposes. Data fusion of data collected from two complementary methods (i.e., LA‐ICP‐MS and DART‐MS) improves the classification and association of similar inks.
Estimation of Unrecorded Alcohol Consumption in Low‐, Middle‐, and High‐Income Economies for 2010
Authors: Rehm Jürgen , Larsen Elisabeth , Lewis‐Laietmark Candace , Gheorghe Paul , Poznyak Vladimir , Rekve Dag , Fleischmann Alexandra 
Published: April 2016

BackgroundConsumption of unrecorded alcohol is prevalent, especially in low‐income countries (LIC). Monitoring and reduction of unrecorded consumption have been asked for in the World Health Organization (WHO) global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. To date, only a few countries have installed monitoring systems, however.MethodsAs part of the WHO global monitoring, an expert survey using the nominal group technique, a variant of Delphi studies, was conducted to assess level and characteristics of unrecorded consumption in 46 member states. One hundred experts responded. Descriptive statistics and repeated analysis of covariance were used to analyze the data.ResultsThe study showed feasibility of the chosen methodology to elicit information of unrecorded consumption with experts responding for 74% of the countries. Response rate was lower for LIC. Compared to prior WHO estimates, experts tended to estimate higher unrecorded consumption for LIC, and lower unrecorded consumption for high‐income countries. Unrecorded consumption was seen as a financial, public health, and social problem by the majority of experts. Homemade alcohol was the most prevalent subcategory of unrecorded consumption globally.ConclusionsThe chosen methodology was feasible, and new information about consumption of unrecorded consumption could be gathered. There is still a need for increasing efforts of national monitoring, especially in LIC.
Elucidating biological opportunities and constraints on assisted colonization
Authors: Schwartz Mark W. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAssisted colonization is a proposed climate change adaptation strategy. Martin‐Alcόn et al. (Applied Vegetation Science, this issue) report an experiment to evaluate the efficacy of assisted colonization and identify thermal distance as a critical consideration. By extension, we should consider the role that ecological distance and socio‐political distance play within any plan to reduce extinction risk through assisted colonization.
A Sup-Score Test for the Cure Fraction in Mixture Models for Long-Term Survivors
Authors: Hsu Wei-Wen , Todem David , Kim KyungMann 
Published: April 2016

Summary
The evaluation of cure fractions in oncology research under the well known cure rate model has attracted considerable attention in the literature, but most of the existing testing procedures have relied on restrictive assumptions. A common assumption has been to restrict the cure fraction to a constant under alternatives to homogeneity, thereby neglecting any information from covariates. This article extends the literature by developing a score-based statistic that incorporates covariate information to detect cure fractions, with the existing testing procedure serving as a special case. A complication of this extension, however, is that the implied hypotheses are not typical and standard regularity conditions to conduct the test may not even hold. Using empirical processes arguments, we construct a sup-score test statistic for cure fractions and establish its limiting null distribution as a functional of mixtures of chi-square processes. In practice, we suggest a simple resampling procedure to approximate this limiting distribution. Our simulation results show that the proposed test can greatly improve efficiency over tests that neglect the heterogeneity of the cure fraction under the alternative. The practical utility of the methodology is illustrated using ovarian cancer survival data with long-term follow-up from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results registry.
Flexible Variable Selection for Recovering Sparsity in Nonadditive Nonparametric Models
Authors: Fang Zaili , Kim Inyoung , Schaumont Patrick 
Published: April 2016

Summary
Variable selection for recovering sparsity in nonadditive and nonparametric models with high-dimensional variables has been challenging. This problem becomes even more difficult due to complications in modeling unknown interaction terms among high-dimensional variables. There is currently no variable selection method to overcome these limitations. Hence, in this article we propose a variable selection approach that is developed by connecting a kernel machine with the nonparametric regression model. The advantages of our approach are that it can: (i) recover the sparsity; (ii) automatically model unknown and complicated interactions; (iii) connect with several existing approaches including linear nonnegative garrote and multiple kernel learning; and (iv) provide flexibility for both additive and nonadditive nonparametric models. Our approach can be viewed as a nonlinear version of a nonnegative garrote method. We model the smoothing function by a Least Squares Kernel Machine (LSKM) and construct the nonnegative garrote objective function as the function of the sparse scale parameters of kernel machine to recover sparsity of input variables whose relevances to the response are measured by the scale parameters. We also provide the asymptotic properties of our approach. We show that sparsistency is satisfied with consistent initial kernel function coefficients under certain conditions. An efficient coordinate descent/backfitting algorithm is developed. A resampling procedure for our variable selection methodology is also proposed to improve the power.
Using Eye Tracking to Understand Infants' Attentional Bias for Faces
Authors: Leppänen Jukka M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractInfants have a natural tendency to look at adults' faces, possibly to help initiate vital interactions with caregivers during sensitive periods of development. Recent studies using eye‐tracking technologies have identified the mechanisms that underlie infants' capacity to orient and hold attention on faces. These studies have shown that the bias for faces is weak in young infants, but becomes more robust and resistant to distraction during the second half of the 1st year. This development is apparently related to more general changes in infants' attention and control of eye movement. As a tractable and reproducible aspect of infant behavior, the attention bias for faces can be used to examine the neural correlates of attention and may be a way to monitor early neurodevelopment in infants.
Children Prefer Diverse Samples for Inductive Reasoning in the Social Domain
Authors: Noyes Alexander , Christie Stella 
Published: April 2016

Not all samples of evidence are equally conclusive: Diverse evidence is more representative than narrow evidence. Prior research showed that children did not use sample diversity in evidence selection tasks, indiscriminately choosing diverse or narrow sets (tiger–mouse; tiger–lion) to learn about animals. This failure is not due to a general deficit of inductive reasoning, but reflects children's belief about the category and property at test. Five‐ to 7 year‐olds' inductive reasoning (n = 65) was tested in two categories (animal, people) and properties (toy preference, biological property). As stated earlier, children ignored diverse evidence when learning about animals' biological properties. When learning about people's toy preferences, however, children selected the diverse samples, providing the most compelling evidence to date of spontaneous selection of diverse evidence.
Dynamics of plasma levels of specific IgE in chlorhexidine allergic patients with and without accidental re‐exposure
Authors: Opstrup M. S. , Poulsen L. K. , Malling H. J. , Jensen B. M. , Garvey L. H. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryBackgroundChlorhexidine is an effective disinfectant, which may cause severe allergic reactions. Plasma level of specific IgE to chlorhexidine (ImmunoCAP®) has high estimated sensitivity and specificity when measured within 6 months of allergic reaction, but knowledge of the dynamics over longer time periods is lacking and it is unknown whether levels fall below <0.35 kUA/L in patients with previously elevated levels. It is also unclear whether re‐exposure influences levels of specific IgE.ObjectiveTo investigate the dynamics of specific IgE in chlorhexidine allergic patients with and without re‐exposure.MethodsAll patients diagnosed with chlorhexidine allergy in the Danish Anaesthesia Allergy Centre January 1999 to March 2015 were invited to participate. The study included blood samples from the time of reaction and time of investigation and blood samples drawn prospectively over several years.ResultsOverall, 23 patients were included. Specific IgE within hours of reaction was available in eight patients and was >0.35 kUA/L in six of these. During allergy investigations, usually 2–4 months later, specific IgE was >0.35 kUA/L in 22 of 23 patients. In the following months/years specific IgE declined <0.35 kUA/L in 17 of 23 patients (most rapidly within 4 months). Nine re‐exposures in the healthcare setting were reported by seven patients (35%). Most re‐exposures caused symptoms and were followed by an increase in specific IgE. Two patients with specific IgE <0.35 kUA/L reacted upon re‐exposure.Conclusions & Clinical RelevanceTime from reaction should be considered when interpreting specific IgE results. Specific IgE is >0.35 kUA/L in most patients at time of reaction but should be repeated after a few weeks/months if negative. The optimal sampling time seems to be >1 month and <4 months. A value <0.35 kUA/L neither excludes allergy nor implies loss of reactivity in previously sensitized patients. Re‐exposures are common, often iatrogenic, and can cause a rebound in specific IgE.
Human bronchial and parenchymal fibroblasts display differences in basal inflammatory phenotype and response to IL‐17A
Authors: Dessalle K. , Narayanan V. , Kyoh S. , Mogas A. , Halayko A. J. , Nair P. , Baglole C. J. , Eidelman D. H. , Ludwig M. S. , Hamid Q. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryBackgroundChronic inflammation, typified by increased expression of IL‐17A, together with airway and parenchymal remodelling are features of chronic lung diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that phenotypic heterogeneity of repair and inflammatory capacities of fibroblasts may contribute to the differential structural changes observed in different regions of the lung.ObjectiveTo investigate phenotypic differences in parenchymal and bronchial fibroblasts, either in terms of inflammation and remodelling or the ability of these fibroblasts to respond to IL‐17A.MethodsFour groups of primary fibroblasts were used: normal human bronchial fibroblast (NHBF), normal human parenchymal fibroblast (NHPF), COPD human bronchial fibroblast (CHBF) and COPD human parenchymal fibroblast (CHPF). Cytokine and extracellular matrix (ECM) expression were measured at baseline and after stimulation with IL‐17A. Actinomycin D was used to measure cytokine mRNA stability.ResultsAt baseline, we observed higher protein production of IL‐6 in NHPF than NHBF, but higher levels of IL‐8 and GRO‐α in NHBF. IL‐17A induced a higher expression of GRO‐α (CXCL1) and IL‐6 in NHPF than in NHBF, and a higher level of IL‐8 expression in NHBF. IL‐17A treatment decreased the mRNA stability of IL‐6 in NHBF when compared with NHPF. CHPF expressed higher protein levels of fibronectin, collagen‐I and collagen‐III than CHBF, NHBF and NHPF. IL‐17A increased fibronectin and collagen‐III protein only in NHPF and collagen‐III protein production in CHBF and CHPF.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceThese findings provide insight into the inflammatory and remodelling processes that may be related to the phenotypic heterogeneity of fibroblasts from airway and parenchymal regions and in their response to IL‐17A.