bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A High Resolution Map of Meiotic Recombination in Cryptococcus Demonstrates Decreased Recombination in Unisexual Reproduction
Authors: Roth Cullen , Sun Sheng , Billmyre R. Blake , Heitman Joseph , Magwene Paul M. 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTMultiple species within the basidiomycete genus, Cryptococcus, cause cryptococcal disease. These species are estimated to affect nearly a quarter of a million people leading to approximately 180,000 mortalities, annually. Sexual repro-duction, which can occur between haploid yeasts of the same or opposite mating type, is a potentially important contributor to pathogenesis as recombination can generate novel genotypes and transgressive phenotypes. However, our quantitative understanding of recombination in this clinically important yeast is limited. Here we describe genome-wide estimates of recombination rates in Cryptococcus deneoformans and compare recombination between progeny from α-α unisexual and a-α bisexual crosses. We find that offspring from bisexual crosses have modestly higher average rates of recombination than those derived from unisexual crosses. Recombination hot and cold spots across the C. deneoformans genome are also identified and are associated with increased GC content. Finally, we observed regions genome-wide with allele frequencies deviating from the expected parental ratio. These findings and observations advance our quantitative understanding of the genetic events that occur during sexual reproduction in C. deneoformans, and the impact that different forms of sexual reproduction are likely to have on genetic diversity in this important fungal pathogen.
Corporate governance risk and the agency problem
Authors: ElKelish Walaa Wahid 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate governance risk and agency costs across different countries.

Design/methodology/approach
Corporate governance risk indicators were obtained from the Institutional Shareholder Services Europe (S.A.) for 4,135 firms across 27 countries. Agency costs and other control variables were derived from companies’ annual financial reports using the DataStream database. Ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis model was used to test the study hypothesis.

Findings
Agency costs have a significant negative impact on corporate governance risk across countries. The extent of corporate governance mechanisms used, however, varies across geographic regions and industry types. The relationship between corporate governance risk and agency costs is more obvious in the non-financial than financial sector. These results were robust after several statistical checks.

Practical implications
The findings will help stakeholders, including corporate management, regulators and investors to improve corporate governance mechanisms and capital allocation decisions across countries.

Originality/value
Evidence is provided on the role of agency costs in corporate governance risk across geographic regions for financial and non-financial companies. The paper also overcomes common problems in corporate governance research such as construct validity, limited data and endogeneity.
Characters-based sentiment identification method for short and informal Chinese text
Authors: Lan Qiujun , Ma Haojie , Li Gang 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
Sentiment identification of Chinese text faces many challenges, such as requiring complex preprocessing steps, preparing various word dictionaries carefully and dealing with a lot of informal expressions, which lead to high computational complexity.

Design/methodology/approach
A method based on Chinese characters instead of words is proposed. This method represents the text into a fixed length vector and introduces the chi-square statistic to measure the categorical sentiment score of a Chinese character. Based on these, the sentiment identification could be accomplished through four main steps.

Findings
Experiments on corpus with various themes indicate that the performance of proposed method is a little bit worse than existing Chinese words-based methods on most texts, but with improved performance on short and informal texts. Especially, the computation complexity of the proposed method is far better than words-based methods.

Originality/value
The proposed method exploits the property of Chinese characters being a linguistic unit with semantic information. Contrasting to word-based methods, the computational efficiency of this method is significantly improved at slight loss of accuracy. It is more sententious and cuts off the problems resulted from preparing predefined dictionaries and various data preprocessing.
Improving risk communication and public participation through mutual understanding
Authors: Umansky Dimitrij , Fuhrberg Reinhold 
Published: December 2017

PurposeRisk communication and public participation are often hampered by conflicts and mistrust between involved actors. The present paper argues that these problems can be addressed through better mutual understanding. This argument is founded on the conceptualisation of risk communication as a social interaction, which is based on mutual understanding. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the relationship between conflict, mistrust and mutual misunderstanding through a case study.Design/methodology/approachThe case study explores risk communication in relation to high-voltage grid extension in Germany. Conflicts and mutual understanding between involved actors are analysed with the help of the coorientation approach. In total, 16 semi-structured interviews are conducted with grid providers, local politicians and public authorities.FindingsMisunderstandings are exposed between the analysed actors, which are related to mistrust and conflicts. The findings suggest that improved mutual understanding might foster more effective and mutually beneficial risk communication.Originality/valueCurrent research fails to sufficiently explain and improve conflicts and mistrust between actors involved in risk communication and public participation. The present paper offers a novel solution by conceptualising risk communication as a social interaction and placing mutual understanding at the centre of the analysis. The paper also introduces the coorientation approach as an analytical tool. Practitioners are advised how to pursue mutual understanding. Future research is encouraged to advance the comprehension of risk communication.
Visualising the pedagogic frailty model as a frame for the scholarship of teaching and learning
Authors: Kinchin Ian M. 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to offer exploration of pedagogic frailty as a framework to support professional development of university teachers in a personalised and discipline-sensitive way.

Design/methodology/approach
The method involves participants constructing a concept map for each dimension of the model. These maps must have high explanatory power to act as a frame for developing a personal narrative to support reflection on practice. This reflection starts from the academic’s current knowledge structure and provides a bespoke, individualised focus for further learning.

Findings
This conceptual paper is informed by case studies of academics’ interactions with the frailty model that have helped to refine it as a faculty development tool. This is clarified by providing explicit requirements of an “excellent” map, and places the reflective process within a learning theory that is aligned with the values that underpin the model.

Originality value
The type of rhizomatic learning that is supported by the model, in which there are no imposed learning outcomes or strictly delineated pathways to success, is particularly suited to support the professional development of more senior academics. This represents an innovative approach to faculty development.
“Honour”-based violence in a British South Asian community
Authors: Khan Roxanne , Saleem Shamam , Lowe Michelle 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore attitudes towards, and victimisation experiences of, “honour”-based violence (HBV) in a reportedly vulnerable population in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach
A convenience sample of 216 participants were recruited from a local community in England; the majority were young (mean age=21.93), Indian or Pakistani (85 per cent), Muslim (96 per cent), females (67 per cent).

Findings
Although gender differences were found for attitudes towards one aspect of HBV (namely, forced marriage), these were not significant. While HBV victimisation affected only a small proportion of this sample, when it was reported, the effects were serious and included anxiety, attempted suicides and running away from home. This highlights the need to identify and safeguard vulnerable groups without stigmatising whole communities.

Originality/value
These findings contribute to the scarce literature available on HBV in British communities, and highlight a need for culturally aware emergency and health service provision.
Black men, religiosity and desistance: exploring Islam, desistance and identity
Authors: Robinson-Edwards Shona , Pinkney Craig 
Published: December 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of Ibrahim, an ex-offender who has embraced Islam. Ibrahim professes Islam to be the influential element to his desistance process. This study explores Ibrahim’s journey, emphasising and reflecting upon youth; criminality and religiosity. Much of the current research relating to Black men and offending is limited to masculinity, father absence, gangs and criminality. The role of religiosity in the lives of offenders and/or ex-offenders is often overlooked. The authors suggest that identity, religiosity and desistance can raise a host of complexities while highlighting the unique challenges and benefits experienced by Ibrahim, following the practice of religion.Design/methodology/approachThis paper took a qualitative, ethnographic approach, in the form of analysing and exploring Ibrahim’s personal lived experience. The analysis of semi-structured interviews, and reflective diaries, utilising grounded theory allowed the formation of the following three core themes: desistance, religion and identity.FindingsThe findings within this paper identify an interlink between desistance, religion and identity. The role of religiosity is becoming increasingly more important in academic social science research. This paper highlights the complexities of all three above intersections.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper explores the complexities of religiosity in the desistance process of Ibrahim. Research in relation to former gang members in the UK and the role of religiosity in their lives is fairly under-researched. This paper seeks to build on existing research surrounding gang, further exploring religiosity from a UK context.Practical implicationsTime spent with Ibrahim had to be tightly scheduled, due to the work commitments of both Ibrahim and the researcher. Therefore, planning had to be done ahead in an efficient manner.Social implicationsResearching the way individuals experience the world is a “growing phenomenon”. This paper aimed to explore the lived experience of religiosity from the perspective of Ibrahim. However, it was important to not stereotype and label all Black males who have embraced Islam and desisted from crime. Therefore, this paper’s intention is not to stereotype Black men, but to raise awareness and encourage further discussion surrounding the role of religiosity in the lives of ex-offenders’.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, studies specifically focusing on the role of Islam in the life of an ex-offender are few and far between. Therefore, findings from this study are important to develop further understanding surrounding religiosity, offending and desistance. This study explores the lived experiences of Ibrahim, an former gang member and ex-offender who professes Islam to be a fundamental source to his desistance process.
A study on the role of science and technology parks in development of knowledge-based economy
Authors: Khanmirzaee Sama , Jafari Mostafa , Akhavan Peyman 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
Science parks play an important role in development of technology and are able to stimulate economic growth of the countries. The purpose of this paper is to study the role that science and technology parks (STPs) play in growth of knowledge-based economy.

Design/methodology/approach
Key factors affecting the competitive advantages and the World Bank indicators resulting in knowledge-based economy were displayed in the form of a questionnaire which was examined by experts. The questionnaire was designed to evaluate main factors and sub-factors of competitive advantages of the institutions, including aspects of human resources, research and development and technology transfer, facilities, market development and to assess the main criteria of knowledge-based economy known as pillars of the overall economic performance, the institutional regime and economic incentives, innovation system, education and information technology and communications.

Findings
The obtained results from the study on competitive advantages were evaluated and analyzed by using SPSS software and the results of the review on development of knowledge-based economy were modeled by SmartPLS software with partial least squares method. Eventually, the obtained model was tested and analyzed.

Originality/value
This study is an original contribution to the theory of STPs and knowledge-based economy. It was initiated to examine the role of STPs in development of knowledge-based economy and presentation schematic model.
Customer retention and the mediating role of perceived value in retail industry
Authors: Hanaysha Jalal Rajeh 
Published: December 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold: to examine the effect of corporate social responsibility, social media marketing, sales promotion, and store environment on the perceived value and customer retention in the retail industry; and to provide a significant contribution to the existing literature by examining the mediating effect of the perceived value between the stated factors and customer retention.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research approach was utilized, collecting data from customers of department stores in the east coast of Malaysia. In total, 278 valid questionnaires were used in the analysis of data using the structural equation modeling.FindingsThe findings indicate that perceived value has a significant positive effect on customer retention. The outcomes also showed that social media marketing has an insignificant effect on the perceived value, whereas its effect on customer retention is positive and statistically significant. Additionally, the results confirmed that corporate social responsibility and store environment have significant positive effects on the perceived value and customer retention. Moreover, the findings showed that sales promotion has a significant positive effect on the perceived value, but its effect on customer retention is insignificant. Finally, the results revealed that the perceived value mediates the relationships between all of the independent variables and customer retention.Originality/valueThe results of this study improve our understanding of how these factors affect customer retention in the retail industry.
Frequency of a diagnosis of glaucoma in individuals who consume coffee, tea and/or soft drinks
Authors: Wu Connie M , Wu Annie M , Tseng Victoria L , Yu Fei , Coleman Anne L 
Published: December 2017

AimsTo evaluate the association between consumption of coffee, tea or soft drinks, and glaucoma in the participants of the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).MethodsThe exposures of interest of this retrospective cross-sectional study were caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, iced tea, hot tea and soft drinks. The outcome of interest was a clinical diagnosis of glaucoma based on the Rotterdam criteria. Analysis of the correlation between the frequency of consumption of each type of beverage and glaucoma was performed using logistic regression modelling while controlling for age, body mass index, gender, ethnicity, smoking status and diabetes. Data were weighted using the multistage NHANES sampling design.ResultsAmong a total of 1678 survey participants, the overall prevalence of glaucoma was 5.1% (n=84). Most participants were non-Hispanic white (n=892; 53.2%). There were no statistically significant associations between consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, iced tea and soft drinks, and glaucoma. Participants who consumed at least one cup of hot tea daily had a 74% decreased odds of having glaucoma compared with those who did not consume hot tea (adjusted OR=0.26, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.72, P=0.004 for trend); however, no statistically significant association existed for decaffeinated hot tea and glaucoma.ConclusionIn NHANES, participants who consumed hot tea daily were less likely to have glaucoma than those who did not consume hot tea. No significant associations were found between the consumption of coffee, iced tea, decaffeinated tea and soft drinks, and glaucoma risk. This study is limited by its cross-sectional design and use of multiple statistical testing, and larger prospective studies are needed to investigate the proposed association between tea consumption and decreased glaucoma risk.
Risk of high-grade lesions after atypical glandular cells in cervical screening: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Norman Ingrid , Hjerpe Anders , Dillner Joakim 
Published: December 2017

ObjectivesTo determine how human papillomavirus (HPV) positivity of atypical glandular cells (AGCs) affects the predictive values for the presence of high-grade cervical lesions.DesignPopulation-based cohort study.SettingStockholm-Gotland region, Sweden.ParticipantsBetween 17 February 2014 and 30 June 2016, there were 562 women with AGC detected in a cervical sample. Registry linkages up to 30 June 2016 identified 392 women with an associated HPV test and a histopathological follow-up.Main outcome measurePresence of a high-grade cervical lesion in the cervical biopsy taken after the AGC smear, in relation to the HPV status of the AGC-containing index smear.ResultsThe proportion of HPV-positive AGC was 56% (n=222). In this group, there were six cases of invasive cervical adenocarcinoma, 33 cases of cervical adenocarcinoma in situ and 93 cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), giving a positive predictive value (PPV) for a cervical high-grade lesion of 60% (132/222). Among the 170 women with HPV-negative AGC, there was one invasive cervical squamous cell cancer and four HSIL, giving an PPV for a cervical high-grade lesion of 2.9% (5/170). This group also contained five endometrial cancers and one breast cancer.ConclusionsHPV triaging of AGC will greatly increase the predictive ability for identifying cervical high-grade lesions (OR: 48.4 (95% CI 19.1 to122.6)) and the high sensitivity (96%; 132/137 women) implies safety of primary HPV screening strategies, with regard to this subset of patients. The measurable risk for endometrial cancer among women with HPV-negative AGC (2.9%) suggests that research on screening for endometrial cancer is needed.
Health inequity on access to services in the ethnic minority regions of Northeastern Myanmar: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Tang Kun , Zhao Yingxi , Li Bolun , Zhang Siqiao , Lee Sung Hoon 
Published: December 2017

ObjectivesTo evaluate health inequity on access to services in the ethnic regions of Northeastern Myanmar from three points of analysis: geographic barrier, gender-based disparity and financial burden of health services.SettingA multistage-stratified random cluster survey was conducted in Shan State Special Region 2 and Eastern Shan State Special Region 4 of Northeastern Myanmar in 2016, including a total number of 774 households.ParticipantsA total number of 4235 participants were recruited during the survey.Primary and secondary outcome measuresGeographic distance, gender, household income and inpatient/outpatient service utilisation.ResultsThe study results showed that residents living within 5 km of any form of healthcare facilities paid more outpatient visits (90.06 visits per thousand population) in the past 2 weeks, compared with those living 5–20 km and over 20 km (54.84 and 54.02 per thousand population, respectively) from healthcare facilities. A similar trend with little significant differences was found for inpatient service use. Regarding household income, adults with an annual household income of above US$720 were more likely to seek outpatient service (OR=1.43, 95% CI 0.98 to 2.10) compared with those with an annual income of <US$360. After adjusting for other covariates, female adults were less likely to seek inpatient treatment (OR=0.55, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.84) and outpatient services (OR=0.86, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.15) than male adults.ConclusionsGeographic barrier, gender-based disparity and financial burdens were identified as key causes that significantly restrict ethnic people’s access to healthcare facilities. The study concludes that tackling health inequity in Northeastern Myanmar ethnic regions requires an improved primary healthcare system, proper financial protection mechanisms and a special focus on women.
Low-dose glucocorticoids plus rituximab versus high-dose glucocorticoids plus rituximab for remission induction in ANCA-associated vasculitis (LoVAS): protocol for a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Furuta Shunsuke , Sugiyama Takao , Umibe Takeshi , Kaneko Yuko , Amano Koichi , Kurasawa Kazuhiro , Nakaomi Daiki , Hiraguri Masaki , Hanaoka Hideki , Sato Yasunori , Ikeda Kei , Nakajima Hiroshi 
Published: December 2017

IntroductionAntineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a form of systemic vasculitis. The current standard induction therapy with the combination of high-dose glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide or rituximab has high remission rates of 80%–90%. However, it is also associated with various side effects, including death due to infection or cardiovascular disease. There is an unmet medical need of a new therapy to reduce side effects.Methods and analysisThis is a phase IV multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial that aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new remission induction regimen with the combination of low-dose glucocorticoids and rituximab. Newly diagnosed patients with AAV will be assessed for eligibility at 34 tertiary rheumatology/nephrology centres in Japan. One hundred and forty patients will be randomised (1:1) to receive low-dose prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg daily) plus rituximab (375 mg/m2weekly) or high-dose prednisolone (1 mg/kg daily) plus rituximab. The trial consists of remission induction and maintenance phases. The primary endpoint of the study is the remission rate at 6 months (induction phase). Relapse and long-term safety profile will also be assessed until 24 months (maintenance phase).Ethics and disseminationThe protocol was first approved by the Institutional Review Board of Chiba University Hospital (reference number: G25051), and then approved by each participating site. The trial was registered at the University hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) clinical registry (UMIN000014222) and ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT02198248). The Low-dose Glucocorticoid Vasculitis Induction Study (LoVAS) trial is currently ongoing and is due to finish in September 2019. The findings of this trial will be disseminated to participants through peer-reviewed publications and presented at national and international conferences in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Statement.Trial registration numberUMIN000014222;NCT02198248.