bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy assessment analysis and key improvements to a production system
Authors: Shiau Yau-Ren , Chang Hui-Min 
Published: November 2019

Purpose
The framework of Six Sigma Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control was applied in this study, and various tools and techniques were used at different stages to implement lean measures to ensure quality. The purpose of this paper is to develop a decision-making framework that assesses key quality performance to ensure that practitioners improve quality and control by modeling and optimizing production processes.

Design/methodology/approach
A model of a quality performance index system was established. The weights of factors and sub-factors, which were estimated using an FAHP, were used as a reference for the decision maker under fuzzy uncertainly to make a decision, and thus, results present the bottlenecks in processes. Furthermore, any other factors that may affect the key process bottlenecks must be considered. The critical to quality characteristics were determined, and factor levels were set. The interaction between the factors was analyzed, their significance was studied using the Design of experiments and the parameters were predicted. Finally, quality improvement decisions were made through failure mode and effects analysis.

Findings
The implementation results of this research prove that the proposed model could successfully determine the key processes and focus on the improvement of critical quality factors under limited resources.

Originality/value
This study establishes a set of performance appraisal methods for production systems, which can be used for improving productivity and quality.
Physical and physiological impacts of ocean warming alter phenotypic selection on sperm morphology
Authors: Chirgwin Evatt , Marshall Dustin J. , Monro Keyne 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Global warming may threaten fertility, which is a key component of individual fitness and vital for population persistence. For males, fertility relies on the ability of sperm to collide and fuse with eggs; consequently, sperm morphology is predicted to be a prime target of selection owing to its effects on male function.

In aquatic environments, warming will expose gametes of external fertilizers to the physiological effects of higher temperature and the physical effects of lower viscosity. However, the consequences of either effect for fertility, and for selection acting on sperm traits to maintain fertility, are poorly understood.

Here, we test how independent changes in water temperature and viscosity alter male fertility and selection on sperm morphology in an externally fertilizing marine tubeworm. To create five fertilization environments, we manipulate temperature to reflect current‐day conditions (16.5°C), projected near‐term warming (21°C) and projected long‐term warming (25°C), then adjust two more environments at 21°C and 25°C to the viscosity of environments at 16.5°C and 21°C, respectively. We then use a split‐ejaculate design to measure the fertility of focal males, and selection on their sperm, in each environment.

Projected changes in temperature and viscosity act independently to reduce male fertility, but act jointly to alter selection on sperm morphology. Specifically, environments resulting from projected warming alter selection on the sperm midpiece in ways that suggest shifts in the energetic challenges of functioning under stressful conditions. Selection also targets sperm head dimensions and tail length, irrespective of environment.

We provide the first evidence that projected changes in ocean temperature and viscosity will not only impact the fertility of marine external fertilizers, but expose their gametes to novel selection pressures that may drive them to adapt in response if gamete phenotypes are sufficiently heritable.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Validating loci associated with bovine respiratory disease complex in pre‐weaned Holstein calves
Authors: Kiser J.N. , Cornmesser M.A. , Blackburn R. , McGuirk S.M. , Taylor J.F. , Seabury C.M. , Womack J.E. ,   the Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Coordinated Agricultural Project Research Team, Neibergs H.L. 
Published: November 2019

SummaryBovine respiratory disease (BRD) is considered one of the most economically important diseases in the cattle industry. Ultimately, the selection of cattle that are less susceptible to disease will allow producers to reduce the prevalence of BRD and lessen its economic impact. The objective of this study was to validate previously identified loci associated with susceptibility to BRD in an independent population of 140 pre‐weaned Holstein calves from Wisconsin (WI). Using the McGuirk health scoring system, calves were classified as either clinically affected with BRD (n = 35) or healthy (n = 105). Additive genotypic tests were performed for genomic regions previously associated with susceptibility to BRD in calves from California (CA) and New Mexico (NM). Using this method, 4 loci (P < 0.01) consisting of 10 SNP were validated in the WI population, including 2 loci from CA, 1 locus from NM, and 1 locus from a combined CA + NM population. Most of the positional candidate genes and transcription factor binding site motifs associated with these loci have functions related to innate and adaptive immune responses. The validation of loci associated with susceptibility to BRD in independent populations allows producers to more reliably select cattle that are less susceptible to BRD, improving animal welfare, decreasing the annual revenue losses, and lowering the prevalence of the disease.
Response of tree diversity and community composition to forest use intensity along a tropical elevational gradient
Authors: Monge‐González María Leticia , Craven Dylan , Krömer Thorsten , Castillo‐Campos Gonzalo , Hernández‐Sánchez Alejandro , Guzmán‐Jacob Valeria , Guerrero‐Ramírez Nathaly , Kreft Holger 
Published: November 2019

AbstractQuestionLand‐use change and intensification are currently the most pervasive threats to tropical biodiversity. Yet, their effects on biodiversity change with elevation are unknown. Here, we examine how tree diversity and community composition vary with elevation and how the effects of forest use intensity on tree diversity and community composition change within elevations.LocationEastern slopes of the Cofre de Perote mountain, state of Veracruz, Mexico.MethodsWe assessed tree diversity and composition using a sampling design in which elevation was crossed with three levels of forest use intensity: old‐growth, degraded, and secondary forests. We established 120 20 m × 20 m forest plots, located at eight sites between 0 m and 3,545 m. At each site, five replicate plots were inventoried for each level of forest use intensity.ResultsOur analyses revealed an interactive effect between elevation and forest use intensity affecting tree diversity and community composition along the elevational gradient. Contrasting effects of forest use intensity within elevation resulted in tree diversity following a low‐plateau pattern for old‐growth and a bimodal pattern for degraded and secondary forests. Along the entire elevational gradient, there were 217 tree species distributed within 154 genera and 80 families. Species accumulation curves revealed that forests at 0 m and 1,500 m elevation showed differences in species richness among forest use intensities. In contrast, species richness did not differ between old‐growth forest and the other forest use intensities in five of the eight studied elevations. In terms of community composition, secondary forests differed from old‐growth and degraded forests.ConclusionOur results suggest that the interactive effects of elevation and forest use intensity change tree diversity patterns and community composition along a tropical elevational gradient. Degraded forests were similar to old‐growth forests in terms of species diversity and composition, suggesting that they may act as a safeguard of tree diversity in human‐dominated tropical landscapes.
Brief Report on PROSPER Academic Outcomes: Extended Model of Crossover Effects on Young Adult College Success
Authors: Spoth Richard , Trudeau Linda , Redmond Cleve , Shin Chungyeol , Feinberg Mark E. , Greenberg Mark T. 
Published: November 2019

This study examines crossover effects of adolescent substance misuse preventive interventions on academic success in college. It evaluates pathways of influence on college grades, via effects on school engagement, problem‐solving skills, and substance misuse in high school. Data were collected as part of an Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) evaluating a multicomponent intervention conducted in 28 school districts with middle school students. At age 19, study participants (N = 1,488) enrolled in college reported on college grades. The model fit the data, supporting hypothesized pathways of intervention impacts. Inclusion of a significant direct effect on college grades further improved model fit. Results support the potential for universal substance misuse preventive interventions delivered by community partnerships during middle school to yield effects on long‐term academic success.
Cabergoline may act as a radioprotective agent in Cushing's disease
Authors: Thakkar Kunal , Lila Anurag , Sarathi Vijaya , Ramteke‐Jadhav Swati , Goroshi Manjunath , Memon Saba Samad , Krishnatry Rahul , Gupta Tejpal , Jalali Rakesh , Goel Atul , Shah Abhidha , Sankhe Shilpa , Patil Virendra , Bandgar Tushar , Shah Nalini S. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractContextConventional fractionated radiotherapy (CRT) achieves control of pathological hypercortisolism in 75%‐80% of patients with persistent or recurrent Cushing's disease (CD), over a mean period of 18‐24 months. Medical therapy is recommended as bridge therapy while awaiting RT effect.ObjectiveTo determine long‐term outcome of CRT and its predictors in CD patients.Design, Setting and PatientsThis is a retrospective case record analysis of 42 patients with CD who received CRT as a treatment modality and had at least 12 months post‐RT follow‐up. The dose delivered was 45 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks. Demographic details, hormonal evaluation and radiological data were extracted from case records. Dexamethasone suppressed cortisol at cut‐off of 1.8 µg/dL was used to define remission or recurrence. Possible predictors for remission and recurrence were analysed.ResultsThe mean age at the time of CRT administration was 23.7 ± 10.7 (range: 12‐48) years. A total of 29 (69%) patients achieved remission 26.5 ± 28.5 (median: 18, range: 3‐120) months after RT, while 13 (31%) patients had persistent disease at last follow‐up. There were no significant predictors of disease remission after CRT. Six (20.7%) patients had recurrence after a documented initial remission. Recurrence occurred 66.6 ± 25.9 (median: 74; range: 18 to 90) months after documented remission. Recurrence of the disease was exclusively seen in patients who received peri‐RT cabergoline. Peri‐CRT use of cabergoline was significantly associated with increased recurrence rates (P = .016).ConclusionUse of cabergoline in the peri‐CRT period did not affect initial remission after CRT but was associated with increased recurrence after initial remission in CD.
Physical activity, sedentary time and cardiometabolic health indicators among Mexican children
Authors: Jáuregui Alejandra , Salvo Deborah , García‐Olvera Armando , Villa Umberto , Téllez‐Rojo Martha M. , Schnaas Lourdes M. , Svensson Katherine , Oken Emily , Wright Robert O. , Baccarelli Andrea A. , Cantoral Alejandra 
Published: November 2019

SummaryWe examined the independent associations of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) with cardiometabolic indicators in Mexican children (4‐6 years of age). We conducted a cross‐sectional study (n = 400) using the measures of MVPA and ST (7‐day accelerometry) and the following indicators: % body fat, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) z‐score, glycated haemoglobin, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, leptin, adiponectin and resting blood pressure. We examined the independent associations of MVPA and ST with cardiometabolic indicators through confounder‐adjusted and mutually adjusted (including both MVPA and ST) linear regression models. Confounder‐adjusted models showed that MVPA was associated with higher BMI z‐scores and lower adiponectin levels in girls and lower body fat among boys. ST was associated with higher body fat, in the full sample, and lower LDL cholesterol among boys. After mutually adjusting for MVPA and ST, MVPA (10‐minute increase) remained significantly associated with BMI z‐score in girls (β = 0.187, 95% CI: 0.019, 0.356) and ST (60‐minute increase) remained significantly associated with higher body fat (β = 1.11%, 95% CI: 0.019, 2.203) among boys and higher glycated haemoglobin (β = 0.047% points, 95% CI: 0.000, 0.094) in the full sample. In preschool‐aged children, the objective measures of ST and MVPA were associated with small differences in cardiometabolic health indicators. ST was unfavourably associated with some cardiometabolic indicators even after adjusting for MVPA, and thus appeared to have a more significant role than MVPA, especially in boys. Future longitudinal studies should confirm these results.
Multidrug resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumor with multiple metastases to the skin and subcutaneous soft tissue: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Aickara Divya J. , McBride Jeffrey , Morrison Brian , Romanelli Paolo 
Published: November 2019

AbstractGastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are mesenchymal neoplasms which account for less than 1% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. Of all the extra‐abdominal metastases of GIST, superficial soft tissue metastases are the rarest. Previous reports have found success with sunitinib in imatinib‐resistant GIST, but we report a certain wild‐type KIT mutation GIST with cutaneous and subcutaneous metastasis that was unresponsive to multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatments. This case illustrates that knowing the specific type of KIT mutations may uncover resistance of certain GIST's to TKIs, necessitating more targeted and alternative therapy.
Electronic cigarettes: Ever use, current use and attitudes among alcohol and other drug clients
Authors: Skelton Eliza , Silberberg Louis , Guillaumier Ashleigh , Dunlop Adrian J. , Wilkinson Ross B. , Bonevski Billie 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIntroduction and AimsElectronic cigarettes (e‐cigarettes) are becoming popular and may be a potential harm reduction and quit smoking aid for people who use other drugs. Data on e‐cigarette use and perceptions among people who use drugs is limited. The current study examines tobacco smoking status, use and attitudes towards e‐cigarettes among people in drug and alcohol treatment.Design and MethodsData were collected through a standardised Patient Experience Tracking System device installed in the waiting room of six drug and alcohol clinical service programs located within one area health service in New South Wales, Australia during April to June 2017. Participants were clients of participating services aged 18 years and older.ResultsFive hundred and eleven participants completed the survey, 85% were current smokers, 9% were ex‐smokers and 6% were non‐smokers. Over half of all participants (53%) had tried e‐cigarettes in their lifetime, 26% reported current use and 77% of those were using them with nicotine. Just less than half of all participants believed that e‐cigarettes were helpful for quitting or cutting down smoking tobacco cigarettes (48%). More than half of all respondents (59%) believed that tobacco cigarettes were more harmful than e‐cigarettes (59%) and believed that e‐cigarettes were an acceptable quit smoking aid for patients of drug and alcohol services (64%).Discussion and ConclusionsMost participants were current tobacco smokers and had tried an e‐cigarette though a minority were currently using e‐cigarettes. Participant attitudes were favourable towards the use of e‐cigarettes as quit smoking aids.
Blame avoidance strategies in governmental performance measurement
Authors: Rajala Tomi 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPerformance measurement and blame avoidance are significant forces that shape the development of the public sector. Unfortunately, extant literature has not paid much attention to blame avoidance in performance measurement. Thus, this article aims to show how blame avoidance strategies can be embedded in performance measurement. This case study's results provide theoretical ideas and empirical examples that demonstrate how a particular performance measure––central government productivity––enabled blame avoidance. These results will help practitioners and academics view blame avoidance aspects in performance measurement.
Scavenger communities and fisheries waste: North Sea discards support 3 million seabirds, 2 million fewer than in 1990
Authors: Sherley Richard B. , Ladd‐Jones Hannah , Garthe Stefan , Stevenson Olivia , Votier Stephen C. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractEvery year fisheries discard >10 million tonnes of fish. This provides a bounty for scavengers, yet the ecological impact of discarding is understudied. Seabirds are the best‐studied discard scavengers and fisheries have shaped their movement ecology, demography and community structure. However, we know little about the number of scavenging seabirds that discards support, how this varies over time or might change as stocks and policy change. Here, we use a Bayesian bioenergetics model to estimate the number of scavenging birds potentially supported by discards in the North Sea (one of the highest discard‐producing regions) in 1990, around the peak of production, and again after discard declines in 2010. We estimate that North Sea discards declined by 48% from 509,840 tonnes in 1990 to 267,549 tonnes in 2010. This waste had the potential to support 5.66 (95% credible intervals: 3.33–9.74) million seabirds in the 1990s, declining by 39% to 3.45 (1.98–5.78) million birds by 2010. Our study reveals the potential for fishery discards to support very large scavenging seabird communities but also shows how this has declined over recent decades. Discard bans, like the European Union's Landing Obligation, may reduce inflated scavenger communities, but come against a backdrop of gradual declines potentially buffering deleterious impacts. More work is required to reduce uncertainty and to generate global estimates, but our study highlights the magnitude of scavenger communities potentially supported by discards and thus the importance of understanding the wider ecological consequences of dumping fisheries waste.
SGLT1 inhibition boon or bane for diabetes‐associated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Kalra Jaspreet , Mangali Suresh Babu , Dasari Deepika , Bhat Audesh , Goyal Srashti , Dhar Indu , Sriram Dharamrajan , Dhar Arti 
Published: November 2019

AbstractChronic hyperglycaemia is a peculiar feature of diabetes mellitus (DM). Sequential metabolic abnormalities accompanying glucotoxicity are some of its implications. Glucotoxicity most likely corresponds to the vascular intricacy and metabolic alterations, such as increased oxidation of free fatty acids and reduced glucose oxidation. More than half of those with diabetes also develop cardiac abnormalities due to unknown causes, posing a major threat to the currently available marketed preparations which are being used for treating these cardiac complications. Even though impairment in cardiac functioning is the principal cause of death in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), reducing plasma glucose levels has little effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that inhibitors of sodium glucose transporter (SGLT) represent a putative therapeutic intervention for these pathological conditions. Several clinical trials have reported the efficacy of SGLT inhibitors as a novel and potent antidiabetic agent which along with its antihyperglycaemic activity possesses the potential of effectively treating its associated cardiac abnormalities. Thus, hereby, the present review highlights the role of SGLT inhibitors as a successful drug candidate for correcting the shifts in deregulation of cardiac energy substrate metabolism together with its role in treating diabetes‐related cardiac perturbations.
Language learning at the dinner table: Two case studies of French homestays
Authors: Kinginger Celeste , Carnine Julia 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDrawing on Vygotsky's insights on the sociocultural origins of development, we examine the French homestay as a site for learning, with a focus on the dinner table. Based on audio recordings of mealtime interactions, interviews, and field notes, we present two case studies of French language learners and their host families. “Amelia” lived for one semester with an “empty nest” couple whose prior experience of interacting with learners had shaped a distinct folk pedagogical style. “Irène” was hosted for a full academic year by a family of four; over the course of the year, her hosts continually and explicitly assisted her involvement in multiparty family talk thus fostering Irène's ability to display a locally appropriate participatory conversational style. Our findings underscore the importance of attending to the host family's role and contribute to the evidence suggesting that communicative repertoires emerge from, and are shaped by, particular experiences of communication.
The Paris Agreement objectives will likely halt future declines of emperor penguins
Authors: Jenouvrier Stéphanie , Holland Marika , Iles David , Labrousse Sara , Landrum Laura , Garnier Jimmy , Caswell Hal , Weimerskirch Henri , LaRue Michelle , Ji Rubao , Barbraud Christophe 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe Paris Agreement is a multinational initiative to combat climate change by keeping a global temperature increase in this century to 2°C above preindustrial levels while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C. Until recently, ensembles of coupled climate simulations producing temporal dynamics of climate en route to stable global mean temperature at 1.5 and 2°C above preindustrial levels were not available. Hence, the few studies that have assessed the ecological impact of the Paris Agreement used ad‐hoc approaches. The development of new specific mitigation climate simulations now provides an unprecedented opportunity to inform ecological impact assessments. Here we project the dynamics of all known emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) colonies under new climate change scenarios meeting the Paris Agreement objectives using a climate‐dependent‐metapopulation model. Our model includes various dispersal behaviors so that penguins could modulate climate effects through movement and habitat selection. Under business‐as‐usual greenhouse gas emissions, we show that 80% of the colonies are projected to be quasiextinct by 2100, thus the total abundance of emperor penguins is projected to decline by at least 81% relative to its initial size, regardless of dispersal abilities. In contrast, if the Paris Agreement objectives are met, viable emperor penguin refuges will exist in Antarctica, and only 19% and 31% colonies are projected to be quasiextinct by 2100 under the Paris 1.5 and 2 climate scenarios respectively. As a result, the global population is projected to decline by at least by 31% under Paris 1.5 and 44% under Paris 2. However, population growth rates stabilize in 2060 such that the global population will be only declining at 0.07% under Paris 1.5 and 0.34% under Paris 2, thereby halting the global population decline. Hence, global climate policy has a larger capacity to safeguard the future of emperor penguins than their intrinsic dispersal abilities.