bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
To what extent is arbitration acceptable in individual labor disputes? A critique from a Jordanian law perspective
Authors: Alawamleh Kamal Jamal 
Published: May 2021

Purpose
In several recent judgments, the Jordanian Court of Cassation has found that using arbitration to resolve individual labor disputes is null. The aforementioned approach which constituted a departure from the well-established former approach that the same court has followed has been confirmed by the new amendments that the Jordanian Arbitration Act has seen in 2018. In view of this, this study aims to highlight and critically analyze the above-mentioned court’s decisions and the new amendments pertaining to arbitration clauses from a Jordanian Labor Law perspective and the distinct characteristics rooted in it to find out the extent to which applying arbitration in such a context is acceptable or not.

Design/methodology/approach
To examine how effective are the approaches followed by the Jordanian courts and the legislator in ruling the unacceptability of arbitration clauses in individual labor contracts and to observe to what extent it has been successful in this relation, this work makes use of the secondary data available in this regard as the main method to complete such an examination and this includes the relevant different legislations, court’s decisions and jurisprudence. By critically analyzing and comparing the various data contained in these secondary data sources, this work will identify the problems associated with such approaches and accordingly bring up different recommendations and conclusions.

Findings
While the current author do largely agree with the conclusions that have been reached recently by the aforementioned courts, it is submitted that these courts and the legislator have not dealt with such a matter in an adequate and comprehensive manner as they should have spilled more ink on this area of law. Furthermore, this work argues that while the principles that necessitate arbitration shall be respected, the distinct characteristics of the labor law warrant a more careful approach than actually followed by the competent authorities.

Originality/value
Taking into consideration the recent different approaches followed by the Jordanian courts and legislator in ruling the unacceptability of arbitration clauses in individual labor contracts, it would not be a surprise to say that there is no comprehensive and updated scholarly work which has either examined such different approaches or addressed its implications. Accordingly, this work derives its originality and value from being the first and most updated work that examines and addresses such a thorny matter.
Impact of lean six sigma at pharmacy unit on hospital profitability before and during Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Iswanto A. Heri 
Published: May 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare the impact of lean six sigma (LSS) implementation carried out in a pharmaceutical unit on the profitability of outpatient and inpatient care before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/method/approach
The data were analyzed descriptively to see the development patterns in four periods: before implementation, during the implementation before the pandemic, during the pandemic and during the enforcement of new normal, in general, and by the length of stay (LOS).

Findings
The inventory purchase in the pharmaceutical unit dramatically decreased after implementation even during the pandemic and new normal wherein the pre-pandemic it decreased by 27%, during the pandemic 29% and in the new normal 37% compared to pre-LSS. The hospital deficit decreased after implementation before the pandemic by 26% and during the pandemic by 10% from the pre-LSS time. However, during the new normal, the deficit increased by 29%, indicating a diminished effect of LSS on the hospital profits.

Research limitations/implications
This research raised the possible implication that the implementation of LSS needed to be carried out in the entire hospital to have a large effect, especially on the inpatient care and long-term care installations.

Originality/value
This research provided empirical evidence regarding the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the ability of LSS at the unit level to provide efficiency at the unit level and the entire hospital at various levels of LOS.
Implementing asset data management in power companies
Authors: Gavrikova Elizaveta , Volkova Irina , Burda Yegor 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to design a framework for asset data management in power companies. The authors consider asset data management from a strategic perspective, linking operational-level data with corporate strategy and taking into account the organizational context and stakeholder expectations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a multiple case study based on a literature review and three series of in-depth interviews with experts from three Russian electric power companies.FindingsThe main challenge in asset data management for electric power companies is the increasing amount and complexity of asset data, which is frequently incomplete or inaccurately collected, hard to translate to managerial language, focused primarily on the operational level. Such fragmented approach negatively affects strategic decision-making. The proposed framework introduces a holistic approach, provides context and accountability for decision-making and attributes data flows, roles and responsibilities to different management levels.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of our study lie in the exploratory nature of case study research and limited generalization of the observed cases. However, the authors used multiple sources of evidence to ensure validity and generalization of the results. This article is a first step toward further understanding of the issues of transformation in power companies and other asset intensive businesses.Originality/valueThe novelty of the framework lies in the scope, focus and detailed treatment of asset data management in electric power companies.
Advancing open government data portals: a comparative usability evaluation study
Authors: Wang Di , Richards Deborah , Bilgin Ayse Aysin , Chen Chuanfu 
Published: May 2021

PurposeTo address the key problem of lack of use in the advancement of open government data (OGD) portals from the aspect of good usability, which is an essential prerequisite to the acceptance and usage of a portal, this paper aims to develop a usability framework including design principles and criteria for OGD portals and to discover problems in the present usability design.Design/methodology/approachThis study builds the usability framework by extending usability principles for general websites to address the specific needs of OGD portals. Criteria for each principle are developed accordingly based on the literature. A comparative heuristic evaluation involving five expert evaluators and 13 Chinese province-level OGD portals has been carried out to test the capability of the usability framework.FindingsA usability framework with 24 principles and 63 criteria has been built. The heuristic evaluation shows OGD portals performed better in meeting general principles than the OGD portals specific ones. Insufficient help functions weakened OGD portals' usability. Similarities and differences were found of Chinese OGD portals compared with similar studies in the United States.Originality/valueThis paper proposed a usability framework for OGD portals and proved its capability in recognizing usability problems and its causes by carrying out a comparative heuristic evaluation in China. By comparing the evaluation results with other studies in the United States, the findings and lessons learnt in this study can thus be shared across international borders.
Above‐ and below‐ground complementarity rather than selection drive tree diversity–productivity relationships in European forests
Authors: Jing Xin , Muys Bart , Bruelheide Helge , Desie Ellen , Hättenschwiler Stephan , Jactel Hervé , Jaroszewicz Bogdan , Kardol Paul , Ratcliffe Sophia , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael , Selvi Federico , Vancampenhout Karen , van der Plas Fons , Verheyen Kris , Vesterdal Lars , Zuo Juan , Van Meerbeek Koenraad 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBiodiversity experiments have identified both complementarity and selection as important drivers of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. However, their relative importance in above‐ and below‐ground ecosystem compartments of mature forests remains yet to be explored.We adopted a trait‐based approach to partition biodiversity effects in above‐ and below‐ground complementarity and selection. This approach was based on canopy and root traits measured in single‐ and mixed‐species plots in mature forests across a European latitudinal gradient.We assessed the relative importance of above‐ and below‐ground selection and complementarity in driving the relationship between tree species diversity and above‐ground wood production. We used the expected values (based on the values measured in monocultures) of leaf area index (LAI) and fine root biomass as proxies for above‐ and below‐ground selection, whereas canopy packing and rooting depth variability were used as proxies for above‐ and below‐ground complementarity.Our results showed that tree species richness–wood production relationships were driven by above‐ and below‐ground complementarity (i.e. canopy packing and rooting depth variability), rather than selection. The proxies for selection were found to have a positive effect on wood production but were not affected by tree species richness.We concluded that above‐ground‐ but also the largely neglected below‐ground complementarity drives biodiversity–productivity relationships in mature forests. Our findings suggest that choosing tree species with complementary above‐ and below‐ground traits should be considered in afforestation and forest management to promote tree diversity and productivity in European forests.
The effects of vertically integrated care on health care use and outcomes in inpatient rehabilitation facilities
Authors: Sood Neeraj , Shier Victoria , Huckfeldt Peter J. , Weissblum Lianna , Escarce José J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo understand the effects of receiving vertically integrated care in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) on health care use and outcomes.Data SourcesMedicare enrollment, claims, and IRF patient assessment data from 2012 to 2014.Study DesignWe estimated within‐IRF differences in health care use and outcomes between IRF patients admitted from hospitals vertically integrated with the IRF (parent hospital) vs patients admitted from other hospitals. For hospital‐based IRFs, the parent hospital was defined as the hospital that owned the IRF and co‐located with the IRF. For freestanding IRFs, the parent hospital(s) was defined as the hospital(s) that was in the same health system. We estimated models for freestanding and hospital‐based IRFs and for fee‐for‐service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage (MA) patients. Dependent variables included hospital and IRF length of stay, functional status, discharged to home, and hospital readmissions.Data Extraction MethodsWe identified Medicare beneficiaries discharged from a hospital to IRF.Principal FindingsIn adjusted models with hospital fixed effects, our results indicate that FFS patients in hospital‐based IRFs discharged from the parent hospital had shorter hospital (−0.7 days, 95% CI: −0.9 to −0.6) and IRF (−0.7 days, 95% CI: −0.9 to −0.6) length of stay were less likely to be readmitted (−1.6%, 95% CI: −2.7% to −0.5%) and more likely to be discharged to home care (1.4%, 95% CI: 0.7% to 2.0%), without worse patient clinical outcomes, compared to patients discharged from other hospitals and treated in the same IRFs. We found similar results for MA patients. However, for patients in freestanding IRFs, we found little differences in health care use or patient outcomes between patients discharged from a parent hospital compared to patients from other hospitals.ConclusionsOur results indicate that receiving vertically integrated care in hospital‐based IRFs shortens institutional length of stay while maintaining or improving health outcomes.
Metagenomics: A viable tool for reconstructing herbivore diet
Authors: Chua Physilia Y. S. , Crampton‐Platt Alex , Lammers Youri , Alsos Inger G. , Boessenkool Sanne , Bohmann Kristine 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMetagenomics can generate data on the diet of herbivores, without the need for primer selection and PCR enrichment steps as is necessary in metabarcoding. Metagenomic approaches to diet analysis have remained relatively unexplored, requiring validation of bioinformatic steps. Currently, no metagenomic herbivore diet studies have utilized both chloroplast and nuclear markers as reference sequences for plant identification, which would increase the number of reads that could be taxonomically informative. Here, we explore how in silico simulation of metagenomic data sets resembling sequences obtained from faecal samples can be used to validate taxonomic assignment. Using a known list of sequences to create simulated data sets, we derived reliable identification parameters for taxonomic assignments of sequences. We applied these parameters to characterize the diet of western capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus) located in Norway, and compared the results with metabarcoding trnL P6 loop data generated from the same samples. Both methods performed similarly in the number of plant taxa identified (metagenomics 42 taxa, metabarcoding 43 taxa), with no significant difference in species resolution (metagenomics 24%, metabarcoding 23%). We further observed that while metagenomics was strongly affected by the age of faecal samples, with fresh samples outperforming old samples, metabarcoding was not affected by sample age. On the other hand, metagenomics allowed us to simultaneously obtain the mitochondrial genome of the western capercaillies, thereby providing additional ecological information. Our study demonstrates the potential of utilizing metagenomics for diet reconstruction but also highlights key considerations as compared to metabarcoding for future utilization of this technique.
Beyond taxonomy: Validating functional inference approaches in the context of fish‐farm impact assessments
Authors: Laroche Olivier , Pochon Xavier , Wood Susanna A. , Keeley Nigel 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCharacterization of microbial assemblages via environmental DNA metabarcoding is increasingly being used in routine monitoring programs due to its sensitivity and cost‐effectiveness. Several programs have recently been developed which infer functional profiles from 16S rRNA gene data using hidden‐state prediction (HSP) algorithms. These might offer an economic and scalable alternative to shotgun metagenomics. To date, HSP‐based methods have seen limited use for benthic marine surveys and their performance in these environments remains unevaluated. In this study, 16S rRNA metabarcoding was applied to sediment samples collected at 0 and ≥1,200 m from Norwegian salmon farms, and three metabolic inference approaches (Paprica,Picrust2andTax4Fun2)evaluated against metagenomics and environmental data. While metabarcoding and metagenomics recovered a comparable functional diversity, the taxonomic composition differed between approaches, with genera richness up to 20× higher for metabarcoding. Comparisons between the sensitivity (highest true positive rates) and specificity (lowest true negative rates) of HSP‐based programs in detecting functions found in metagenomic data ranged from 0.52 and 0.60 to 0.76 and 0.79, respectively. However, little correlation was observed between the relative abundance of their specific functions. Functional beta‐diversity of HSP‐based data was strongly associated with that of metagenomics (r ≥ 0.86 forPapricaandTax4Fun2) and responded similarly to the impact of fish farm activities. Our results demonstrate that although HSP‐based metabarcoding approaches provide a slightly different functional profile than metagenomics, partly due to recovering a distinct community, they represent a cost‐effective and valuable tool for characterizing and assessing the effects of fish farming on benthic ecosystems.
Stigmatization of people with alcohol use disorders: An updated systematic review of population studies
Authors: Kilian Carolin , Manthey Jakob , Carr Sinclair , Hanschmidt Franz , Rehm Jürgen , Speerforck Sven , Schomerus Georg 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundWe summarize research on the public stigmatization of persons with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in comparison with other mental health conditions and embed the results into a conceptual framework of the stigma process.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search using Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed and PsycINFO (via Ovid), and Web of Science for population‐based studies on the public stigma in AUD and at least 1 other mental health condition, published between October 1, 2010 and December 20, 2020, thus including all studies published since the last systematic review on this topic. The study is registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42020173054).ResultsWe identified 20,561 records, of which 24 met the inclusion criteria, reporting results from 16 unique studies conducted in 9 different countries. Compared to substance‐unrelated mental disorders, persons with AUD were generally less likely to be considered mentally ill, while they were perceived as being more dangerous and responsible for their condition. Further, the public desire for social distance was consistently higher for people with AUD. We found no consistent differences in the public stigma toward persons with AUD in comparison with other substance use disorders.ConclusionThe stigmatization of persons with AUD remains comparatively high and is distinct from that of other substance‐unrelated disorders.
Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with calmness and gentleness in honey bees using whole‐genome sequences
Authors: Guichard M. , Dainat B. , Eynard S. , Vignal A. , Servin B. ,   the Beestrong Consortium, Neuditschko M. 
Published: May 2021

SummaryThe identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) through genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) is a powerful method for unravelling the genetic background of selected traits and improving early‐stage predictions. In honey bees (Apis mellifera), past genetic analyses have particularly focused on individual queens and workers. In this study, we used pooled whole‐genome sequences to ascertain the genetic variation of the entire colony. In total, we sampled 216 Apis mellifera mellifera and 28 Apis mellifera carnica colonies. Different experts subjectively assessed the gentleness and calmness of the colonies using a standardised protocol. Conducting a GWAS for calmness on 211 purebred A. m. mellifera colonies, we identified three QTL, on chromosomes 8, 6, and 12. The two first QTL correspond to LOC409692 gene, coding for a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain‐containing protein 10, and to Abscam gene, coding for a Dscam family member Abscam protein, respectively. The last gene has been reported to be involved in the domestication of A. mellifera. The third QTL is located 13 kb upstream of LOC102655631, coding for a trehalose transporter. For gentleness, two QTL were identified on chromosomes 4 and 3. They are located within gene LOC413669, coding for a lap4 protein, and gene LOC413416, coding for a bicaudal C homolog 1‐B protein, respectively. The identified positional candidate genes of both traits mainly affect the olfaction and nervous system of honey bees. Further research is needed to confirm the results and to better understand the genetic and phenotypic basis of calmness and gentleness.
Association of inbreeding and regional equine leucocyte antigen homozygosity with the prevalence of insect bite hypersensitivity in Old Kladruber horse
Authors: Vostry L. , Vostra‐Vydrova H. , Citek J. , Gorjanc G. , Curik I. 
Published: May 2021

SummaryInbreeding depression is the reduction of performance caused by mating of close relatives. In livestock populations, inbreeding depression has been traditionally estimated by regression of phenotypes on pedigree inbreeding coefficients. This estimation can be improved by utilising genomic inbreeding coefficients. Here we estimate inbreeding depression for insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) prevalence, the most common allergic horse disease worldwide, in Old Kladruber horse. In a deep pedigree with 3214 horses (187 genotyped), we used a generalised linear mixed model with IBH phenotype from 558 horses examined between 1996 and 2009 (1368 records). In addition to the classical pedigree information, we used the single‐step approach that enabled joint use of pedigree and genomic information to estimate inbreeding depression overall genome and equine leucocyte antigen (ELA) class II region. Significant inbreeding depression was observed in all models fitting overall inbreeding coefficients (odds ratio between 1.018 and 1.074, P < 0.05) with the exception of Kalinowski’s new inbreeding (P = 0.0516). The increase of ELA class II inbreeding was significantly associated with increased prevalence of IBH (odds ratio 1.018; P = 0.027). However, when fitted jointly with the overall inbreeding coefficient, the effect of ELA class II inbreeding was not significant (odds ratio 1.016; P = 0.062). Overall, the higher ELA class II and/or overall inbreeding (pedigree or genomic) was associated with increased prevalence of IBH in Old Kladruber horses. The single‐step approach provides an efficient use of all the available pedigree, genomic, and phenotype information for estimation of overall and regional inbreeding effects.
Siberian cats help in solving part of the mystery surrounding golden cats
Authors: Beauvois H. , Dufaure de Citres C. , Gache V. , Abitbol M. 
Published: May 2021

SummaryGolden cats have been appreciated since the beginning of the cat fancy. Golden is a modification of the tabby coat. In the Siberian breed, a specific golden phenotype, named sunshine, has been described. Sunshine tabby cats exhibit a warm tone of tabby, a pink nose lacking the black lining and a large light cream area around the nose. Pedigree analyses revealed an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. A single candidate region was identified by genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and homozygosity mapping. Within that region, we identified CORIN (Corin, serine peptidase) as a strong candidate gene, since CORIN variants have been identified in mice and tigers with a golden phenotype and CORIN has been described as a modifier of the ASIP (Agouti Signaling Protein) pathway. A homozygous CORIN:c.2383C>T missense variant was identified in sunshine tabby cats. Segregation of the variant was consistent with recessive inheritance. The variant was also found in three Kurilian bobtail cats and in two ToyBob cats from the 99 Lives dataset but genotyping of 106 cats from 13 breeds failed to identify carriers in cats from other breeds. The CORIN:c.2383C>T variant was predicted to change an arginine to a cysteine at position 795 in the protein: CORIN:p.(Arg795Cys). Finally, hair observation in Siberian cats was consistent with elongated ASIP signaling as golden hair showed a large yellow band instead of the short subapical one usually observed in agouti hair. These results support an association of the Siberian sunshine modification with the CORIN:c.2383C>T variant. The Siberian cat has helped us to decipher one of the golden phenotypes observed in cats and we propose that the CORIN:c.2383C>T variant represents the wbSIB (Siberian recessive wideband) allele in the domestic cat.