bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Happiness at work: a systematic literature review
Authors: Farooq Foziya , Mohammad Sheikh Sajid , Nazir Nazir Ahmed , Shah Parvez Ahmad
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to systematically review the literature on happiness at work (HAW) by analysing existing studies, identifying relevant themes in HAW research and evaluating the methodologies used in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a systematic review process, following the guidelines and principles outlined in the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement 2020 and checklist. Articles were collected from six databases: Emerald insight, Taylor & Francis Online, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, Springer and MDPI. Subsequently, systematic review was performed on 41 HAW articles published in 29 different journals between 2010 and 2022. The authors only considered articles that were either indexed by Scopus or in the Academic Journal Guide (AJG) list.

Findings

The study identified six major themes, assessed the operationalisation of HAW and analysed the research methodologies and statistical tools used in the sample studies. Majority of the articles discussed the antecedents of HAW followed by the HAW as a mediator. There is a high heterogeneity in the operationalisation of HAW in the reviewed articles. Moreover, majority of the studies have prioritised service sectors over the industrial sectors.

Originality/value

This study represents the first comprehensive review of the existing literature on HAW by using a systematic review methodology.
Behavior of elastohydrodynamic lubricating film point contact problems in the unsteady state of reciprocating motion
Authors: Abd Alsamieh Mohamed
Published: January 2024

Purpose

In this study a numerical analysis of the elastohydrodynamic lubrication point contact problem in the unsteady state of reciprocating motion is presented. The effects of frequency, stroke length and load on film thickness and pressure variation during one operating cycle are discussed. The general tribological behavior of elastohydrodynamic lubrication during reciprocating motion is explained.

Design/methodology/approach

The system of equations of Reynolds, film thickness considering surface deformation and load balance equations are solved using the Newton-Raphson technique with the Gauss-Seidel iteration method. Numerical solutions were performed with a sinusoidal contact surface velocity to simulate reciprocating elastohydrodynamics. The methodology is validated using historical experimental measurements/observations and numerical predictions from other researchers.

Findings

The numerical results showed that the change in oil film during a stroke is controlled by both wedge and squeeze effects. When the surface velocity is zero at the stroke end, the squeeze effect is most noticeable. As the frequency increases, the general trend of central and minimum film thickness increases. With the same entraining speed but different stroke lengths, the properties of the oil film differ from one another, with an increase in stroke length leading to a reduction in film thickness. Finally, the numerical results showed that the overall film thickness decreases with increasing load.

Originality/value

General tribological behaviors of elastohydrodynamic lubricating point contact, represented by pressure and film thickness variations over time and profiles, are analyzed under reciprocating motion during one working cycle to show the effects of frequency, stroke length and applied load.
Why Avoid Participating in an Accelerator? Countersignalling by High‐Quality FinTech Ventures
Authors: Browne Oliver , Cumming Douglas , Hutchinson Mark C. , Kirshner Samuel N. , O'Reilly Philip
Published: January 2024

This study investigates whether accelerators attract the highest‐performing FinTech ventures. Drawing on countersignalling theory, we present a model of accelerator participation that predicts high‐quality FinTech ventures will avoid accelerator programmes. Using a unique financial reporting dataset of FinTech accelerator participants and a propensity score‐matched sample of comparison firms, we find support for the prediction from our countersignalling model. FinTech accelerator participants have worse performance, both before and after completing a programme, when compared to peer non‐accelerator ventures. Overall, our results indicate that FinTech ventures are less suited for accelerators due to the current breadth of outside funding options available, which provides little incentive for participation from high‐quality ventures. This research has important implications for entrepreneurs, accelerators and investors.
Family ideology: uneasy entanglements of eldercare in Germany
Authors: Weiss Hadas
Published: January 2024

Material pressures on privatized households are commonly absorbed through a family ideology, according to which members must pool resources and care for each other, while the family relations they thereby nurture are inherently valuable and constitute their own reward. Drawing on my fieldwork on family‐based eldercare in Germany, I explore the implications of this ideology. Specifically, I argue that it mollifies family caregivers’ unease about the injustices of Germany's eldercare system. Family members are entangled in this system as employers of mostly low‐paid, migrant caregivers; as performers of unremunerated care work at high personal costs; and, if they are women, as reproducers of a gendered division of care labour they object to and resent. Because this entanglement is filtered through the lens of family ideology, the focus of family caregivers shifts away from these broader injustices and towards co‐caregiver conflicts as well as expectations from and commitments towards other family members.
Inclusion in Russian schools: Exploring parents' perspectives
Authors: Malinina Irina
Published: January 2024

As schools in Russia become more inclusive for students with special educational needs (SEN), there is a scarcity of research on stakeholders' perspectives. Parents are one of the main actors in education, who possess valuable knowledge about their children and can represent their children's needs in a vicarious manner. This study gives voice to the parents of children with SEN and offers parents' perspectives on the liaison between families and schools. The article focuses on the experience of two families with children with special educational needs (namely, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and intellectual disability). Data was collected through semi‐structured interviews and questionnaires and analysed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The main findings demonstrate that parents' expertise is sometimes neglected and marginalized for different reasons and the school system in Russia is rigid and not able to adjust its approaches to different learners as well as address and allay parents' concerns. Lack of direct interaction blocks the pathway for compromises and mutual understanding. In the parents' view, teachers act on their own assumptions which are oftentimes emotionally loaded and not clearly articulated for the parents. However, parents believe that all the actors of the educational process, that is, teachers, learners and parents, would benefit if teacher‐parent relationships involved a more sensitive and attentive attitude towards each other's requirements and wishes, providing opportunities for negotiating and discussing arguable issues. The paper demonstrates two cases of misunderstanding between teachers and parents and offers implications for practice in teacher education, policy‐making and social work.
Exploring stingless bee honey from selected regions of Peninsular Malaysia through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry–based untargeted metabolomics
Authors: Manickavasagam Ganapaty , Saaid Mardiana , Lim Vuanghao
Published: January 2024

Volatile organic compounds in honey are known for their considerable impact on the organoleptic properties of honey, such as aroma, flavor, taste, and texture. The type and composition of volatile organic compounds are influenced by entomological, geographical, and botanical origins; thus, these compounds have the potential to be chemical markers. Sixty‐two volatile compounds were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry from 30 Heterotrigona itama (H. itama) honey samples from 3 different geographical origins. Hydrocarbons and benzene derivatives were the dominant classes of volatile organic compounds in the samples. Both clustering and discriminant analyses demonstrated a clear separation between samples from distant origins (Kedah and Perak), and the volcano plot supported it. The reliability and predictability of the partial least squares–discriminant analysis model from the discriminant analysis were validated using cross‐validation (R2: 0.93; Q2: 0.83; accuracy: 0.97) and the permutation test (p < 0.001), and the output depicted that the model is legitimate. In combination with the variable importance of projection (VIP > 1.0) and the Kruskal–Wallis test (p < 0.01), 19 volatile organic compounds (encompassed aldehydes, benzene derivatives, esters, hydrocarbons, and terpenoids) were sorted and named potent chemical markers in classifying honey samples from three geographical origins. In brief, this study illustrated that volatile organic compounds of stingless honey originated from the same bee species, but different geographical origins could be applied as chemical markers.
Molecular descriptors of icewine odorants: A first insight into their relationship with metabolism and olfactory perception
Authors: Ma Yue , Xu Yan , Tang Ke
Published: January 2024

To investigate the differences in physicochemical parameters of compounds that are metabolized from different precursors and contribute to the aroma perception of icewine, odor‐active compounds in icewine were identified by gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC–O) analysis combined with comprehensive two‐dimensional GC and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (GC  ×  GC–TOFMS) analysis, and the molecular descriptors of these odor‐active compounds were calculated by computational chemistry software. The distribution pattern of these odorants classified by their precursors and their olfactory perception was visualized on the basis of their molecular descriptor differences. The results showed that the odorants sourced from different precursors could be clearly separated from each other based on their molecular descriptors, which belonged to blocks such as constitution indices and 2D matrix‐based descriptors. The results also showed that honey and cooked potatoe descriptions or peach and smoke descriptions have quite different molecular descriptors. This study should contribute to future research that relates to computational chemistry‐based aroma perception and prediction in fermented beverages.

Practical Application

The results obtained from this study may be useful for the construction of a classification system of various odor‐active compounds in a given product and may provide a molecular solution for the determination of different perceptual dimensions of an odor mixture.
Improving the colloidal stability of pectin–phycocyanin complexes by increasing the mixing ratio
Authors: Buecker Stephan , Gibis Monika , Bartmann Laura , Bussler Sara , Weiss Jochen
Published: January 2024

In the food industry, the phycobiliprotein phycocyanin acts as a color pigment or the functional part of the superfood “Spirulina.” It is industrially extracted from Arthrospira platensis. Current scientific research is focusing on finding complex partners with the potential to stabilize phycocyanin against its sensitivity toward heating and pH changes. Less attention is paid to the factors that influence complexation. This study focuses on the mixing ratio of phycocyanin with pectin. Phycocyanin concentration was fixed, and the mixing ratios ranged from 0.67 to 2.50 (pectin:phycocyanin). All samples were analyzed for their color, size, microscopic structure, zeta potential, and sedimentation stability before and after heating at 85°C. It was found that increasing the pectin content fostered the initial interactions with the protein and chromophore, resulting in a color shift from blue to turquoise. The size of the complexes decreased from several micrometers to nanometers with increasing pectin concentration. Those smaller complexes that were formed at a mixing ratio of 2.5 showed a higher colloidal stability over a period of ∼2 days. It is suggested that at a low mixing ratio (0.67), phycocyanin cannot be completely entrapped within the complexes and attaches to the complex surface as well. This results in aggregation and precipitation of the complexes upon heating. With increasing aggregation and consequently size as well as density of the complexes, sedimentation was accelerated.

Practical Application

Under acidic conditions, as found in many foods and beverages (e.g., soft drinks, hard candy), phycocyanin tends to agglomerate and lose its color. Specifically heating, triggers denaturation, causing phycocyanin to aggregate and lose vital protein–chromophore interactions necessary to maintain a blue color. To prevent precipitation of the phycocyanin‐pectin complexes, increasing the amount of pectin to a ratio of at least 2.0 is effective. This illustrates how adjusting the mixing ratio improves stability. Conversely, lower mixing ratios  induce color precipitation, valuable in purification processes. Thus, practical use of biopolymer‐complexes, requires determination of the optimal mixing ratio for the desired effect.
An integrated approach for improving clinical management of non‐obstructive azoospermia
Authors: Shi Fu , Liu Ye , Chen Zheng , Li Dongliang , Yao Yuanqing , Zhou Meixun , Zhuo Yumin , Ma Xin , Cao Dandan
Published: January 2024

Background

Non‐obstructive azoospermia is the most severe form of male infertility. A testicular biopsy is required for the diagnosis of non‐obstructive azoospermia, and the causal factors for non‐obstructive azoospermia remain unknown.

Objectives

To reduce the risk of multiple biopsies and identify factors that contribute to non‐obstructive azoospermia, we proposed an integrated approach for the preoperative diagnosis and clinical management of non‐obstructive azoospermia by applying the chromosome‐spreading technique and whole‐exome sequencing.

Materials and Methods

Between July 2020 and December 2022, after ruling out definitive obstructive azoospermia and non‐obstructive azoospermia patients with testicular volume < 6 mL, 20 patients with non‐obstructive azoospermia who underwent preoperative testicular diagnostic biopsy using testicular sperm aspiration were subjected to retrospective analysis.

Results

Microscopic examination identified four patients with sperm cells, and 16 without sperm cells. Routine pathological analysis classified one patient as normal spermatogenesis, three as hypospermatogenesis, five as maturation arrest, nine as Sertoli cell‐only, and two as unable to judge. With chromosome‐spreading technology using routine cell suspension samples for microscopic examination, 18 patient diagnoses were validated, and two patients without a definitive diagnosis were supplemented. Detection of the Y chromosome and a well‐organized whole‐exome sequencing analysis revealed potential genetic factors.

Discussion and Conclusion

The full use of testicular biopsy is beneficial for the diagnosis of azoospermia, as it avoids the risk of multiple biopsies. Moreover, in combination with whole‐exome sequencing, clinicians can obtain more information regarding the pathogenesis of non‐obstructive azoospermia, which may guide treatment.
Need‐supportive leadership behaviors and sickness absence among employees: The mediating role of basic psychological need satisfaction
Authors: Stenling Andreas , Nielsen Karina , Olafsen Anja Hagen , Tafvelin Susanne
Published: January 2024

Research exploring relationships between leadership behaviors and sickness absence is scarce. Grounded in self‐determination theory (SDT), the present study examined: (i) the relationship between need‐supportive leadership and sickness absence; and (ii) whether satisfaction of the basic psychological needs mediates the relationship between need‐supportive leadership and sickness absence. Municipal employees (n = 347, 78% women, age span = 19–66 years) provided baseline data on perceived need‐supportive leadership and reported their need satisfaction at work 8 weeks later. Sickness absence data were obtained from municipality records. Two‐part regression models showed that need‐supportive leadership was negatively associated with sick days (b = −0.28, 95% CI [−0.45, −0.11]). Need‐supportive leadership had an indirect effect on the number of sick days through a composite score of need satisfaction (ab = −1.96, 95% CI [−5.11, −0.12]). Mediation models with each need separately indicated that autonomy (ab = −2.12, 95% CI [−5.33, −0.23]) and relatedness (ab = −1.33, 95% CI [−3.41, −0.11]) mediated the relationship between need‐supportive leadership and number of sick days. Need‐supportive leadership and need satisfaction at work may function as protective factors that provide followers with opportunities to deal with symptoms of ill health and reduce the risk of prolonged sickness absence.
Fennel seeds dietary inclusion as a sustainable approach to reduce methane production and improve nutrient utilization and ruminal fermentation
Authors: Kholif Ahmed E. , Gouda Gouda A. , Fahmy Mahmoud , Morsy Tarek A. , Abdelsattar Mahmoud M. , Vargas‐Bello‐Pérez Einar
Published: January 2024

Ruminants are considered a major producer of methane (CH4). Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the ability of dry fennel seeds to affect in vitro gas production and fermentation. Fennel seeds were included at 0% (Control), 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% DM of a diet containing per kg DM: 500 g concentrate feed mixture, 400 g berseem hay, and 100 g of rice straw. The incubations lasted 48 h. Fennel seeds increased (P < 0.001) the asymptotic gas production and decreased its rate, while decreasing the production and proportion of CH4 (P < 0.05) and increased its rate. Moreover, fennel seed increased DM and neutral detergent fiber (P < 0.01) degradability, and increased total production of short‐chain fatty acids, acetate, and propionate (P < 0.05). Compared to the control, fennel seeds increased (P < 0.01) metabolizable energy, partitioning factor, and microbial crude protein production. Overall, fennel seeds can be included up to 2% DM in ruminant diets as an environmentally friendly product in animal farming due to its ability to improve feed utilization, ruminal fermentation and while reducing CH4 production.
Surveillance for lumpy skin disease and foot and mouth disease in the Kimberley, Western Australia
Authors: Mackereth GF , Rayner KL , Larkins AJ , Morrell DJ , Pierce EL , Letchford PJ
Published: January 2024

We quantified the sensitivity of surveillance for lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot and mouth disease (FMD) in cattle in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. We monitored producer and veterinary activity with cattle for 3 years commencing January 2020. Each year, ~274,000 cattle of 685,540 present on 92 pastoral leases (stations) were consigned to other stations, live export or slaughter. Veterinarians examined 103,000 cattle on the stations, 177,000 prior to live export, and 10,000 prior to slaughter. Detection probabilities for the disease prior to transport or during veterinary procedures and inspections were elicited by survey of 17 veterinarians working in Northern Australia. The veterinarians estimated the probabilities that they would notice, recognise, and submit samples from clinical cases of LSD and FMD, given a 5% prevalence of clinical signs in the herd. We used scenario tree methodology to estimate monthly surveillance sensitivity of observations made by producers and by veterinarians during herd management visits, pre‐export inspections, and ante‐mortem inspections. Average monthly combined sensitivities were 0.49 for FMD and 0.37 for LSD. Sensitivity was high for both diseases during the dry season and low in the wet season. We estimated the confidence in freedom from the estimated surveillance sensitivity given one hypothetically infected herd, estimated probability of introduction, and prior confidence in freedom. This study provided assurance that the Kimberley is free of these diseases and that routine producer and veterinary interactions with cattle are adequate for the timely detection of the disease should they be introduced.
The impact of a new approach to family safeguarding in social care: Initial findings from an analysis of routine data
Authors: Irving Dulcie , Buivydaite Ruta , Tsiachristas Apostolos , Thomas Steve , Farncombe Hannah , Perera‐Salazar Rafael , Vincent Charles
Published: January 2024

Child safeguarding services intervene when a child is at risk of serious emotional or physical harm. Oxfordshire County Council is implementing a new approach to child safeguarding (Family Solutions Plus [FSP]) with a greater focus on whole family support and reducing the need for foster care. We sampled two cohorts of children closed within 1 year and examined the time spent in services. The sample included 474 children entering services before the new model's implementation and 561 children after. A greater proportion of children receiving FSP required a single care plan before their case was closed (85.9%; 69.4%, p < 0.001) and only experienced the lowest level plan (74.5%; 61.8%, p < 0.001). On average, this group spent less time in services for the period being observed (MD = 17.58, 95% confidence interval = 6.19, 28.96). At this early stage, no significant reduction in the number of children requiring foster care was seen (5.5%; 3.9%, p = 0.23). These initial findings suggest a potential association of FSP with a reduced number and level of care plans as well as length of time. Local authorities in England may investigate further whether FSP is a potentially useful model in improving safeguarding services.
Prusogliptin (DBPR108) monotherapy in treatment‐naïve patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double‐blind, active and placebo‐controlled, phase 3 study
Authors: Wang Wei , Guo Xiaohui , Zhang Cheng , Ning Tao , Ma Guoqing , Huang Yanli , Jia Rui , Zhou Deai , Cao Mengya , Zhang Tianhao , Yao Lingli , Yuan Jing , Chen Ling ,   DBPR108 monotherapy phase 3 study collaborative group
Published: January 2024

Aim

This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of prusogliptin (DBPR108), a novel and highly selective dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor, in individuals with type 2 diabetes who had not been using glucose‐lowering agents regularly for the 8 weeks before the screening period.

Materials and Methods

In this multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, phase 3 study, adult patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to receive either DBPR108 100 mg, sitagliptin 100 mg, or placebo once daily during the initial 24‐week double‐blind treatment period, followed by a 28‐week open‐label extension period during which all patients received DBPR108 100 mg once daily. The primary endpoint was the mean change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels from baseline to week 24.

Results

In total, 766 patients were enrolled and received DBPR108 100 mg (n = 462), sitagliptin 100 mg (n = 152), or placebo (n = 152). The mean age of all patients was 54.3 ± 10.5 years, with 58% being men. The median duration of type 2 diabetes was 0.38 (0.02, 2.65) years, and the mean HbA1c (SD) at baseline was 7.94% (0.62), 7.88% (0.61) and 7.83% (0.59) for DBPR108, sitagliptin and placebo groups, respectively. At week 24, the least square mean (SE) changes from baseline in HbA1c were −0.63% (0.04%) for DBPR108, −0.60% (0.07%) for sitagliptin and −0.02% (0.07%) for placebo. The mean treatment difference between DBPR108 and placebo was −0.61% (95% CI –0.77% to −0.44%), and between DBPR108 and sitagliptin was −0.03% (95% CI –0.19% to 0.13%). These results indicate that DBPR108 was superior to placebo and non‐inferior to sitagliptin. DBPR108 also significantly reduced fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels and had little effect on body weight. The mean (SD) changes in HbA1c from baseline to week 52 were −0.50% (0.97%) for the DBPR108 group, −0.46% (0.96%) for the sitagliptin group and −0.41% (0.95%) for the placebo group. The incidence of adverse events was comparable across all three groups.

Conclusions

DBPR108 showed superiority to placebo and non‐inferiority to sitagliptin in terms of glycaemic control over the initial 24 weeks in treatment‐naïve patients with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, its efficacy was sustained for up to 52 weeks.
An event‐related potential study of prepotent motor activity and response inhibition deficits in schizophrenia
Authors: Hong Xiangfei , Xu Lihua , Hu Yegang , Qian Zhenying , Wang Jijun , Li Chunbo , Sheng Jianhua
Published: January 2024

Response inhibition deficits in schizophrenia (SZ) are accompanied by reduced neural activities using event‐related potential (ERP) measurements. However, it remains unclear whether the reduction in inhibition‐related ERPs in SZ is contingent upon prepotent motor tendencies. This study aimed to examine the relationship between ERP markers of prepotent motor activity (lateralised readiness potential, LRP) and response inhibition (P3) by collecting behavioural and EEG data from healthy control (HC) subjects and SZ patients during a modified Go/No‐Go task. A trial‐averaged analysis revealed that SZ patients made more commission errors in No‐Go trials compared with HC subjects, although there was no significant difference in the inhibition‐related P3 effect (i.e. larger P3 amplitudes in No‐Go compared with Go trials) between the two groups. Subsequently, No‐Go trials were sorted and median‐split into bins of stronger and weaker motor tendencies. Both HC and SZ participants made more commission errors when faced with stronger motor tendencies. The LRP‐sorted P3 data indicated that HC subjects exhibited larger P3 effects in response to stronger motor tendencies, whereas this trial‐by‐trial association between P3 and motor tendencies was absent in SZ patients. Furthermore, SZ patients displayed diminished P3 effects in No‐Go trials with stronger motor tendencies but not in trials with weaker motor tendencies, relative to HC subjects. Taken together, these findings suggest that SZ patients are unable to dynamically adjust inhibition‐related neural activities in response to changing inhibitory control demands and emphasise the importance of considering prepotent motor activity when investigating the neural mechanisms underlying response inhibition deficits in SZ.
Single‐cell transcriptomics analysis of cellular heterogeneity and immune mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: He Ziping , Chen Qianqian , Wang Kaiyue , Lin Jiang , Peng Yilin , Zhang Jinlong , Yan Xisheng , Jie Yan
Published: January 2024

Single‐cell transcriptomics analysis is an advanced technology that can describe the intracellular transcriptome in complex tissues. It profiles and analyses datasets by single‐cell RNA sequencing. Neurodegenerative diseases are identified by the abnormal apoptosis of neurons in the brain with few or no effective therapy strategies at present, which has been a growing healthcare concern and brought a great burden to society. The transcriptome of individual cells provides deep insights into previously unforeseen cellular heterogeneity and gene expression differences in neurodegenerative disorders. It detects multiple cell subsets and functional changes during pathological progression, which deepens the understanding of the molecular underpinnings and cellular basis of neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, the transcriptome analysis of immune cells shows the regulation of immune response. Different subtypes of immune cells and their interaction are found to contribute to disease progression. This finding enables the discovery of novel targets and biomarkers for early diagnosis. In this review, we emphasize the principles of the technology, and its recent progress in the study of cellular heterogeneity and immune mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases. The application of single‐cell transcriptomics analysis in neurodegenerative disorders would help explore the pathogenesis of these diseases and develop novel therapeutic methods.
Transcendental arguments and metaphysical neutrality: A Wittgensteinian proposal
Authors: Shahid Sidra
Published: January 2024

Despite periods of resurgence over the last decades, it is safe to say that transcendental arguments no longer enjoy a prominent presence in the philosophical landscape. One reason for their declining prominence is the sustained suspicion that despite their self‐proclaimed metaphysical neutrality, transcendental arguments are, in fact, metaphysically committed. This paper aims to revive the discussion of transcendental considerations by offering a metaphysically neutral account of transcendental arguments. I argue that a metaphysically neutral conception of transcendental arguments requires a revision of two concepts constitutive of transcendental claims, namely, transcendental necessity and the a priori. I propose a transcendental reading of Wittgenstein's On Certainty, which, I maintain, provides us with an alternative, metaphysically neutral understanding of these concepts. Thus revised, transcendental claims are suitable for what Mark Sacks once described as the “post‐metaphysical” orientation of contemporary philosophy.
P–S–N curves fitting method of small samples obeying Weibull distribution
Authors: Song Jiaxin , Zhao Bingfeng , Xie Liyang , Yang Xiaoyu , Wu Ningxiang , Wang Lei
Published: January 2024

A three‐parameter Weibull small sample aggregation method is proposed to address the problem of small sample fatigue data in practical engineering. First, based on the empirical assumption that the shape parameter is a constant and data equivalent conversion and aggregation, the small sample fatigue life data are converted into “equivalent large samples.” Second, through the linear relationship between logarithmic scale parameter and stress, an iterative procedure is established to estimate the scale parameters of small sample data. At the same time, the moment and rank estimation methods are used to solve the location parameters quickly. Finally, P–S–N curves with different survival rates are given, and a 7‐series aluminum alloy is selected to verify the correctness and reliability of the method proposed in this study. The results show that the predicted life obtained by the method still has high accuracy under a high survival rate, which can provide a theoretical basis for solving practical engineering problems.
Aerodynamic fatigue evaluation of the equipment cabin of high‐speed trains based on sub‐zone loading method
Authors: Xiao Heting , Liang Xi‐feng , Sun Bo , Zhou Wei , Zhang Qiang
Published: January 2024

The equipment cabins of high‐speed trains encountered alternating pressure loads during operation. A fatigue evaluation methodology based on sub‐zone aerodynamic loading was proposed. Theoretical model was given between pressure load at each zone and the accompanying six structural stress components. Stress recovery matrix was formulated by finite element analysis (FEA) in sub‐zone loading cases to relate the stress to the measured pressure loads. Vehicle test gathered the pressure time‐history data of cabin sub‐zones at the head car in different ambient conditions, from which the two‐dimensional stress spectrum was derived by rain‐flow counting. The fatigue damage of welds was then assessed utilizing the Miner's and Corten Dolan's rules, yielding maximum equivalent damages of 0.72 and 0.23, respectively. The structural fatigue damage under high environmental wind conditions was 1–3 times greater than in calm weather. Nonetheless, the fatigue damage incurred by the metal matrix was significantly lower, demonstrating a substantial safety margin.
Spatial variation in population genomic responses to over a century of anthropogenic change within a tidal marsh songbird
Authors: Benham Phred M. , Walsh Jennifer , Bowie Rauri C. K.
Published: January 2024

Combating the current biodiversity crisis requires the accurate documentation of population responses to human‐induced ecological change. However, our ability to pinpoint population responses to human activities is often limited to the analysis of populations studied well after the fact. Museum collections preserve a record of population responses to anthropogenic change that can provide critical baseline data on patterns of genetic diversity, connectivity, and population structure prior to the onset of human perturbation. Here, we leverage a spatially replicated time series of specimens to document population genomic responses to the destruction of nearly 90% of coastal habitats occupied by the Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) in California. We sequenced 219 sparrows collected from 1889 to 2017 across the state of California using an exome capture approach. Spatial–temporal analyses of genetic diversity found that the amount of habitat lost was not predictive of genetic diversity loss. Sparrow populations from southern California historically exhibited lower levels of genetic diversity and experienced the most significant temporal declines in genetic diversity. Despite experiencing the greatest levels of habitat loss, we found that genetic diversity in the San Francisco Bay area remained relatively high. This was potentially related to an observed increase in gene flow into the Bay Area from other populations. While gene flow may have minimized genetic diversity declines, we also found that immigration from inland freshwater‐adapted populations into tidal marsh populations led to the erosion of divergence at loci associated with tidal marsh adaptation. Shifting patterns of gene flow through time in response to habitat loss may thus contribute to negative fitness consequences and outbreeding depression. Together, our results underscore the importance of tracing the genomic trajectories of multiple populations over time to address issues of fundamental conservation concern.
An examination of auditor hypothesis testing strategies in ‘tone at the top’ evaluations: Evidence of diagnostic knowledge structures
Authors: Schmidt Regan N.
Published: January 2024

This study examines the tests auditors design to assess a client's ‘tone at the top’. By exploiting conceptual differences in the constructs of ethicality and competence, the study investigates auditor knowledge structures by disentangling auditor hypothesis testing strategies. The results of an experiment document that auditors design tests to yield evidence of unethical and competent, rather than ethical and incompetent, client management behaviour. This overall pattern of results, and in particular auditors' focus on seeking evidence of client management competence, is consistent with a diagnostic hypothesis testing strategy and is not consistent with a conservative testing strategy. Collectively, these results provide insights into how auditors' ‘tone at the top’ knowledge is organized and used.
Rapid beef quality detection using spectra pre‐processing methods in electrical impedance spectroscopy and machine learning
Authors: Qiu Junhong , Lin Yuduan , Wu Jiaqing , Xiao Yuhui , Cai Honghao , Ni Hui
Published: January 2024

The fraudulent practice of beef adulteration is a growing concern, as it violates consumer rights. Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) combined with machine learning has emerged as a widely used approach to identify low‐quality meat. Unlike traditional biochemical methods that require expensive instruments, complex sample preparation, and chemical reagents, EIS is a cost‐effective alternative. However, EIS data are susceptible to temperature fluctuations, requiring a waiting period under consistent temperature conditions for data stabilisation before measurements. This process becomes impractical when dealing with a large number of samples. To overcome this limitation, standardisation, normalisation, and smoothing methods were introduced in the meat quality detection based on EIS data. A recognition model for detecting carrageenan adulteration in beef was established. Under an inconsistent temperature condition, by applying the spectra pre‐processing methods to the prediction dataset, the model accuracy reached 84%, whereas the accuracy of the unprocessed prediction dataset dropped to 54%. This study demonstrates that acquiring EIS data under consistent temperature conditions is unnecessary if proper spectra pre‐processing methods are applied. By eliminating the waiting time for data stabilisation, this practical approach enhances the efficiency and accuracy of meat quality detection.
Effects of microwave cooking on the physicochemical and sensory properties of seaweed‐based analogue rice
Authors: Ramadhan Wahyu , Purwaningsih Sri , Nafisah Salma
Published: January 2024

Despite considerable progress in seaweed‐based analogue rice development, understanding the effects of cooking methods on its physicochemical and sensory properties is an essential area for further investigation. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of microwave cooking on the physical and sensory properties of seaweed‐based analogue rice. The experiment was carried out using various microwave power levels (180, 270 and 360 W) and heating duration (5 and 7 min). The optimal condition was achieved at 270 W for 7 min, leading to 94% water absorption, with L*, a* and b* values of 51.99, −0.75 and 8.09 respectively. The texture profile analysis showed hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness and chewiness of 10.52 N, 0.69 mm, 0.60, 71.30 g.s and 4.29 mJ respectively. The check‐all‐that‐apply sensory evaluation was also described the dominant sensory attributes of product. This method also demonstrated greater chemical compound and energy consumption when compared to conventional cooking methods. Eventually, this finding anticipates high rice demand and promotes seaweed‐based analogue rice as a new functional food with convenient cooking methods to address the growing need for efficient and time‐saving food preparation in modern lifestyles.
The distinctive incorporation of sociological neoinstitutionalism into Japanese sociology and its theoretical insights for the discipline
Authors: Hosoki Ralph I.
Published: January 2024

Although sociological neoinstitutionalist thought has made indelible imprints across the social sciences in Japan, its incorporation into Japanese sociology at large has been relatively limited, and its broader applications to analyses of global social phenomena using World Society Theory are even less prominent. To empirically gauge the emergence, growth, content evolution, and production/consumption patterns of this scholarship, sociological neoinstitutionalist works published across the 1977–2021 period by authors affiliated with Japanese institutions were manually coded for content, marquee publications/authors cited, primary author's final degree discipline, and publication's outlet field. The article briefly introduces core ideas in sociological neoinstitutionalism and World Society Theory before delving into the survey details and results, an explanation for the literature's distinctive pattern of incorporation into Japanese sociology, and concluding thoughts on its theoretical implications for Japanese sociology and beyond. The study finds that this scholarship has been produced and consumed primarily throughout—in declining order—business‐related fields, education, and sociology. As its incorporation diversified in the mid‐1990s, bifurcation occurred between a growing share of “middle‐of‐the‐road” sociological neoinstitutionalist scholarship that embraced the range of ideas that broke from the “old” institutionalisms, and a small and declining share that pushed the phenomenological and social constructionist thrust of the theory to its limits and/or acknowledged the perspective's global‐comparative applicability. These patterns seem to track the concomitant theoretical, substantive, and methodological inclinations within the discipline in Japan. Sociological neoinstitutionalist thought holds promise for a range of research areas interested in exploring domestic and global determinants of social change.
Evaluating definitions of social entrepreneurship: A rulebook from the philosophy of science
Authors: Glasbeek Luc , Wickert Christopher , Schad Jonathan
Published: January 2024

Scholars have long debated the definition of social entrepreneurship, but disagreement persists. Despite sustained efforts to craft a universal definition, social entrepreneurship has been characterized as an ʻessentially contested concept’. However, little is known about the root causes of this ongoing contestation. Therefore, we delve into the literature's social entrepreneurship definitions to examine this complex issue. Our systematic literature review leverages insights from the philosophy of science and formal logic—specifically, a theory of definition—to present four rules for definitional evaluation in the social sciences. Accordingly, definitions should convey the essence of a concept (Rule 1: essence), differentiate between their defining and defined terms (Rule 2: expression), be phrased positively (Rule 3: explication), and avoid figurative and obscure language (Rule 4: eloquence). Using these rules to analyse 156 original social entrepreneurship definitions reveals varying interpretations of the concept's essence and sheds light on epistemological issues, such as tautological definitions. Integrating these findings into a practical ʻrulebook’ for definitional evaluation significantly contributes to the social entrepreneurship literature and other highly contested fields by helping to understand different sources of contestation. Guided by our rulebook, we suggest future research avenues and highlight diverse theorizing styles, the engagement of opposing and paradoxical definitional views and the role of academic language in shaping the social entrepreneurship field.
Effect of tumour necrosis factor‐a inhibitors exposure on surgical site infections in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu Xinglin , Wei Cuie , Wang Jianan , Li Ming
Published: January 2024

A meta‐analysis investigation was executed to evaluate the effect of tumour necrosis factor‐a inhibitor exposure on surgical site infections in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery. A comprehensive literature investigation till October 2023 was applied, and 82 470 individuals with orthopaedic surgery were in the chosen investigations' starting point. Odds ratio (OR) in addition to 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was utilized to compute the value of the effect of tumour necrosis factor‐a inhibitors exposure on surgical site infections in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery by the dichotomous approaches and a fixed or random model. Tumour necrosis factor uses had significantly higher surgical site infections (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.21–2.25, p = 0.001) compared with tumour necrosis factor non‐use in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery. However, no significant difference was found between discontinued and continued tumour necrosis factor on surgical site infections (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.35–1.05, p = 0.07) in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery.Significantly higher surgical site infections was found comparing tumour necrosis factor uses to non‐use; however, no significant difference was found between discontinued and continued tumour necrosis factor on surgical site infections in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery. However, care must be exercised when dealing with its values because of the low sample size of some of the nominated investigations for the meta‐analysis.
RETRACTED: Influences of ultrasound osteotome on wound infection and wound complications following removal of mandibular wisdom teeth
Authors: Li Qingzheng , Liu Dandan , Wei Xiaoya , Li Zhao , Wen Mingzhu , Hou Zhenzhen , Zhang Wenjing
Published: January 2024

We conducted this study to assess the effect of ultrasound osteotome on surgical site wound infection and pain following removal of mandibular wisdom teeth. A computerised search of Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for publicly available randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the clinical effects of applying ultrasound osteotome to extract mandibular wisdom teeth was conducted from the inception of the databases to September 2023. Two researchers independently screened the retrieved results for literature screening, quality assessment and data extraction. RevMan 5.4 software was applied for data analysis. A total of 17 RCTs were included in this study, including 848 cases in the ultrasound osteotome group and 842 cases in the control group. The analysis revealed, compared with the control group, the ultrasound osteotome group showed a significantly lower incidence of postoperative wound infection (1.42% vs. 5.46%, odds ratio [OR]: 0.30, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.17–0.53, p < 0.0001), fewer postoperative complications (6.35% vs. 22.12%, OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.17–0.32, p < 0.00001), shorter operative time (standardised mean differences [SMD]: −1.30, 95% CI: −1.97 to −0.64, p = 0.0001) and lower wound pain scores (SMD: −2.26 95% CI −2.80 to −1.73, p < 0.00001). Strong evidence suggests that ultrasound osteotome applied to extract mandibular wisdom teeth is more advantageous in terms of lower postoperative wound infection, less wound pain, fewer postoperative complications and shorter operative time compared with conventional treatment methods, but large‐scale, multicentre RCTs are still needed to obtain more accurate results.
Meta‐analysis of the impact of laser interstitial hyperthermia on wound healing complications in brain tumors
Authors: Yu Pinrui , Yang Yiran
Published: January 2024

High‐grade gliomas (HGGs) may be amenable to the neurosurgical technique known as laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), which delivers thermal energy to interstitial brain injuries and wounds with pinpoint accuracy. The purpose of this extensive meta‐analysis was to evaluate the effects of LITT on wound complications among patients who have brain tumours. Diverse conclusions emerge from a systematic review of pertinent studies, necessitating a comprehensive examination. The meta‐analysis, performed utilizing the meta library provided by the R package meta, reveals an initial significant overall effect (RR: −2.1262, 95% CI [−2.7466, −1.5059], p < 0.0001) accompanied by considerable heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 61.13%). Following analyses that specifically examined the incidence of wounds, a complex correlation was found (RR: 0.0471, 95% CI [0.0264, 0.0842], p < 0.0001), indicating that LITT has a discernible but insignificant effect on the occurrence of wounds. Although the meta‐analysis emphasizes a notable decrease in wound complications subsequent to LITT treatment, additional research is warranted due to constraints in standardized reporting, data accessibility, and small sample sizes. The results of this study underscore the need for exhaustive protocols to analyse wound complications in patients with brain tumours undergoing LITT.