What does 而 mean in 因森发·加计学院问题而曝光率增高的? In the following sentence:


  因森发·加计学院问题而曝光率增高的「sontaku」一词，也已经成为了日常用语。


I know the use of 而 as "and", but I feel it doesn't make sense here to use 而, since I don't understand what it connects.

So how does 而 work here? Also, is my understanding correct that 而 here doesn't express "and"?
而 is not used as and here, but as a result;with the result that;thus.

因A而B is a common usage; 因 is used to emphasize that A is the cause, 而 is used to represent that B is the result.

You can also use 因为 or 由于 instead of 因 in this usage.