bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A new parallel high-pressure packing system enables rapid multiplexed production of capillary columns
Authors: Müller-Reif Johannes B. , Hansen Fynn M. , Schweizer Lisa , Treit Peter V. , Geyer Philipp E. , Mann Matthias 
Published: February 2021

AbstractReversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most commonly applied peptide separation technique in mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics. Particle-packed capillary columns are predominantly used in nano-flow HPLC systems. Despite being the broadly applied standard for many years capillary columns are still expensive and suffer from short lifetimes, particularly in combination with ultra-high-pressure chromatography systems. For this reason, and to achieve maximum performance, many laboratories produce their own in-house packed columns. This typically requires a considerable amount of time and trained personnel. Here, we present a new packing system for capillary columns enabling rapid, multiplexed column production with pressures reaching up to 3000 bar. Requiring only a conventional gas pressure supply and methanol as driving fluid, our system replaces the traditional setup of helium pressured packing bombs. By using 10x multiplexing, we have reduced the production time to just under 2 minutes for several 50 cm columns with 1.9 µm particle size, speeding up the process of column production 40 to 800 times. We compare capillary columns with various inner diameters (ID) and length packed under different pressure conditions with our newly designed, broadly accessible high-pressure packing station.One sentence summaryA newly constructed parallel high-pressure packing system enables the rapid multiplexed production of capillary columns.Abstract Figure
Stability of ligand-induced protein conformation influences affinity in maltose-binding protein
Authors: van den Noort Marco , de Boer Marijn , Poolman Bert 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTOur understanding of what determines ligand affinity of proteins is poor, even with high-resolution structures available. Both the non-covalent ligand-protein interactions and the relative free energies of available conformations contribute to the affinity of a protein for a ligand. Distant, non-binding site residues can influence the ligand affinity by altering the free energy difference between a ligand-free and ligand-bound conformation. Our hypothesis is that when different ligands induce distinct ligand-bound conformations, it should be possible to tweak their affinities by changing the free energies of the available conformations. We tested this idea for the maltose-binding protein (MPB) fromEscherichia coli. We used singlemolecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) to distinguish several unique ligand-bound conformations of MBP. We engineered mutations, distant from the binding site, to affect the stabilities of different ligand-bound conformations. We show that ligand affinity can indeed be altered in a conformation-dependent manner. Our studies provide a framework for the tuning of ligand affinity, apart from modifying binding site residues.
Comparative infectivity and pathogenesis of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in Syrian hamsters
Authors: Abdelnabi Rana , Boudewijns Robbert , Foo Caroline S. , Seldeslachts Laura , Sanchez-Felipe Lorena , Zhang Xin , Delang Leen , Maes Piet , Kaptein Suzanne J. F. , Weynand Birgit , Velde Greetje Vande , Neyts Johan , Dallmeier Kai 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWithin one year after its emergence, more than 108 million people contracted SARS-CoV-2 and almost 2.4 million succumbed to COVID-19. New SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC) are emerging all over the world, with the threat of being more readily transmitted, being more virulent, or escaping naturally acquired and vaccine-induced immunity. At least three major prototypic VoC have been identified, i.e. the UK (B.1.1.7), South African (B.1.351) and Brazilian (B.1.1.28.1), variants. These are replacing formerly dominant strains and sparking new COVID-19 epidemics and new spikes in excess mortality. We studied the effect of infection with prototypic VoC from both B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 lineages in Syrian golden hamsters to assess their relative infectivity and pathogenicity in direct comparison to two basal SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated in early 2020. A very efficient infection of the lower respiratory tract of hamsters by these VoC is observed. In line with clinical evidence from patients infected with these VoC, no major differences in disease outcome were observed as compared to the original strains as was quantified by (i) histological scoring, (ii) micro-computed tomography, and (iii) analysis of the expression profiles of selected antiviral and pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. Noteworthy however, in hamsters infected with VoC B.1.1.7, a particularly strong elevation of proinflammatory cytokines was detected. Overall, we established relevant preclinical infection models that will be pivotal to assess the efficacy of current and future vaccine(s) (candidates) as well as therapeutics (small molecules and antibodies) against two important SARS-CoV-2 VoC.
Conceptualising HR outsourcing effectiveness and scale development of HROSERVPERF using PLS-SEM
Authors: Sim Siew Chen , Kaliannan Maniam , Avvari Mohan 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThis study aims to provide a conceptualisation of HR outsourcing (HRO) effectiveness from a service quality perspective and subsequently develop a scale – HROSERVPERF to measure HRO service performance underpinned S-O-R theory.Design/methodology/approachGrounded on theoretical conceptualisation, literature and information collected through semi-structured interviews, HRO service performance items pool were generated. 257 responses from manufacturing firms in Malaysia that have outsourced their HR were collected. PLS-SEM is used for scale confirmation and validation.FindingsThe conceptualisation of HRO effectiveness and HRO service performance suggests a need for scale development that encompasses service quality-satisfaction-loyalty framework supported by S-O-R theory. Operational improvement, resource alignment and service delivery emerged as the service performance dimensions of HROSERVPERF.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was limited to manufacturing firms in Malaysia, hence little generalisation could be drawn beyond this context. However, this serves as future research opportunities.Practical implicationsHR managers and service providers can employ HROSERVPERF to measure and improve HRO service performance more effectively. Service providers can re-strategise and target their scarce resources to better retain their clients.Originality/valueThis is the first paper that provides HRO effectiveness conceptualisation from a service quality perspective followed by a scale development with formative measures using PLS-SEM underpinned S-O-R theory.
Technological knowledge access and transfer of multinational corporations from emerging economies: a comparison study
Authors: Zhang Feng 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThis study aims to analyze the subsequent investment success of EMNCs after their strategic asset-seeking foreign direct investments (FDIs), while internationalization trajectories of multinational corporations from emerging economies (EMNCs) have been extensively studied, Post-internationalization investment success of EMNCs is defined as extensive technological knowledge access and transfer for knowledge combination. This paper focuses on EMNC explicit knowledge access and transfer.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzes US patents granted between 2000 and 2014 to leading innovation-oriented EMNCs from China and India as well as to their key competitors from mature industrialized countries (MMNCs). Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test is used to compare the explicit technological knowledge access and transfer patterns of EMNCs and MMNCs. With MMNCs as the benchmark, the comparison allows to imply the patterns and extent of technological knowledge access and transfer of EMNCs.FindingsWhile subsidiary reverse knowledge transfer is largely missing, EMNCs adopt a parent-centric approach in which the parent directly accesses and transfers explicit knowledge from the external environment of host locations. In doing so, EMNCs at least partially achieve the knowledge access and transfer goals of strategic asset-seeking FDIs.Originality/valueThis study contributes to an in-depth understanding of EMNCs by empirically testing key predictions in extant EMNC literature, namely, the strategic asset-seeking in host locations and the systematic integration of accessed knowledge and resources with home country activities. This study also pioneers the use of the US patent and citation data to empirically study EMNCs.
A hybrid method for optimizing selective disassembly sequence planning in adaptive reuse of buildings
Authors: Mahmoudi Motahar Mehran , Hosseini Nourzad Seyed Hossein 
Published: February 2021

PurposeA successful adaptive reuse process relies heavily on the strong performance of disassembly sequence planning (DSP), yet the studies in the field are limited to sequential disassembly planning (SDP). Since in sequential disassembly, one component or subassembly is removed with only one manipulator at a time, it can be a relatively inefficient and lengthy process for large or complex assemblies and cannot fully utilize the DSP benefits for adaptive reuse of buildings. This study aims to present a new hybrid method for the single-target selective DSP that supports both sequential and parallel approaches.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses asynchronous parallel selective disassembly planning (aPDP) method, one of the newest and most effective parallel approaches in the manufacturing industry, to develop a parallel approach toward DSP in adaptive reuse of buildings. In the proposed method, three objectives (i.e. disassembly sequence time, cost and environmental impacts) are optimized using the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II).FindingsThe proposed method can generate feasible sequential solutions for multi-objective DSP problems as the sequence disassembly planning for buildings (SDPB) method, and parallel solutions lead to 17.6–23.4% time reduction for understudy examples. Moreover, in disassembly planning problems with more complex relations, the parallel approach generates more effective and time-efficient sequences.Originality/valueThis study introduces the parallel approach for the first time in this field. In addition, it supports both sequential and parallel approaches as a novel strategy that enables the decision-makers to select the optimum approach (i.e. either the parallel or the sequential approach) for DSP. Moreover, a metaheuristic method (i.e. NSGA-II) is adopted as the optimization tool with robust results in the field in which those heuristic methods have only been employed in the past.
Moderating effect of career planning on job support and motivational process of training transfer
Authors: Park Yoonhee , Lim Doo Hun , Lee Jaeeun 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThis study aims to examine the direct effects of job support and the indirect effects of individual career planning on the motivational process of training transfer, which consists of the structural relationship between learning goal orientation, learning motivation, transfer motivation and training transfer.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was administered to 255 respondents in South Korea, and 252 valid responses were used for analysis. A hypothetical model was examined using a structural equation model and multi-group analysis.FindingsThis study found that the synchronous process model of training transfer was well validated in the Korean context; moreover, job support promoted employee motivations that led to their training transfer. In addition, career planning was found to have a moderating role in the relationships explored in this study. That is, when the level of career planning was high, job support directly affected the motivation to transfer, and the link between intrinsic learning orientation and motivation to learn was highly activated compared to the group with a low level of career planning.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited by the single-dimensional measurement of its constructs, including job support, goal orientation and motivation to transfer. This limitation should be considered when interpreting the study’s results. In terms of implications, the study suggests that organizations should help individuals identify their career interests and establish a strategy to achieve their career goals by providing information about specific areas of interest.Originality/valueThis study proposes that the motivational mechanisms leading to training transfer are affected by trainees’ level of career planning. In addition, the study findings emphasize the importance of organizations’ role in guiding individual employees’ career planning to facilitate performance through training transfer.
What influences real estate volatility in Hong Kong? An ARMA-GARCH approach
Authors: Wang Shizhen , Hartzell David 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to examine real estate price volatility in Hong Kong. Monthly data on housing, offices, retail and factories in Hong Kong were analyzed from February 1993 to February 2019 to test whether volatility clusters are present in the real estate market. Real estate price determinants were also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach
Autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity–Lagrange multiplier test is used to examine the volatility clustering effects in these four kinds of real estate. An autoregressive and moving average model–generalized auto regressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model was used to identify real estate price volatility determinants in Hong Kong.

Findings
There was volatility clustering in all four kinds of real estate. Determinants of price volatility vary among different types of real estate. In general, housing volatility in Hong Kong is influenced primarily by the foreign exchange rate (both RMB and USD), whereas commercial real estate is largely influenced by unemployment. The results of the exponential GARCH model show that there were no asymmetric effects in the Hong Kong real estate market.

Research limitations/implications
This volatility pattern has important implications for investors and policymakers. Residential and commercial real estate have different volatility determinants; investors may benefit from this when building a portfolio. The analysis and results are limited by the lack of data on real estate price determinants.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first study that evaluates volatility in the Hong Kong real estate market using the GARCH class model. Also, this paper is the first to investigate commercial real estate price determinants.
Developing a framework for carbon accounting disclosure strategies: a strategic reference points (SRP) matrix-based analysis
Authors: Vaseyee Charmahali Mehdi , Valiyan Hasan , Abdoli Mohammadreza 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
During the current century, environmental sustainability and waste reduction processes have always been subject to scrutiny in developed societies. Developed communities have gained considerable momentum by investing in environmental infrastructure and integrating corporate performance disclosure and less developed communities are involved with it. Carbon disclosure is one of the aspects of green accounting in “corporate strategies,” especially those operating across the capital market. Adherence to the disclosure of facts can facilitate sustainable development in societies. This study aims to present strategic reference points matrix-based model to develop a framework for carbon disclosure strategies through institutional and stakeholder pressures throughout the capital market.

Design/methodology/approach
As a case study, by reviewing similar research on carbon disclosure, this study seeks to illustrate various carbon disclosure aspects and strategies in a matrix based on institutional (vertical axis) and stakeholder (horizontal axis) pressures

Findings
The study attempts to states that carbon disclosure is affected solely by the company because of the presence of agency gaps between external stakeholders and corporate executives.

Originality/value
However, the firm’s decision to adopt a carbon disclosure strategy depends on the performance of stakeholder pressure (stakeholder salience level) and managers’ perceptions of institutional pressure (institutional pressure centrality level).
Enhancing transparency through open government data: the case of data portals and their features and capabilities
Authors: Lněnička Martin , Machova Renata , Volejníková Jolana , Linhartová Veronika , Knezackova Radka , Hub Miloslav 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to draw on evidence from computer-mediated transparency and examine the argument that open government data and national data infrastructures represented by open data portals can help in enhancing transparency by providing various relevant features and capabilities for stakeholders' interactions.Design/methodology/approachThe developed methodology consisted of a two-step strategy to investigate research questions. First, a web content analysis was conducted to identify the most common features and capabilities provided by existing national open data portals. The second step involved performing the Delphi process by surveying domain experts to measure the diversity of their opinions on this topic.FindingsIdentified features and capabilities were classified into categories and ranked according to their importance. By formalizing these feature-related transparency mechanisms through which stakeholders work with data sets we provided recommendations on how to incorporate them into designing and developing open data portals.Social implicationsThe creation of appropriate open data portals aims to fulfil the principles of open government and enables stakeholders to effectively engage in the policy and decision-making processes.Originality/valueBy analyzing existing national open data portals and validating the feature-related transparency mechanisms, this paper fills this gap in existing literature on designing and developing open data portals for transparency efforts.
Academics career success: the impact of organizational context and individual variables
Authors: Crisan Emil Lucian 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThis study aims to address a paucity of research into career success by exploring the impact of organizational context (“in-group” culture and the competitiveness strategy) and individual variables (self-efficacy and goal orientation), on objective career success (academic position) and subjective career success (career satisfaction).Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were obtained from 447 faculty members employed by Babeș-Bolyai University (BBU), the best-ranked Romanian higher education institution. For analysis, hierarchical multiple regressions analyzes were used.FindingsThe novel results of this quantitative analysis are that organizational context variables influence both subjective career success and objective career success. Academics who do not attain promotion have lower subjective career success and objective career success, as a result of the publish or perish university strategy. Self-efficacy has a positive impact on both success types, while goal orientation is for subjective career success a weak predictor.Practical implicationsOrganizational efforts should be focused on improving academics career development especially for those teachers who are in the current position already for many years. The development of performance-driven career paths should be also considered for diminishing the impact of organizational variables.Originality/valueThis paper extends the knowledge concerning objective and subjective career success by revealing the important impact of contextual determinants, as it confirms the impact of individual self-efficacy in a university context and partially the one of goal orientation.
High temperature erosion behavior of plasma sprayed Al2O3 coating on AISI-304 stainless steel
Authors: Prashar Gaurav , Vasudev Hitesh 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
In the present study, Al2O3 coatings were deposited on stainless steel AISI-304 material by using atmospheric plasma spraying technique to combat high temperature solid particle erosion. The present aims at the performance analysis of Al2O3 coatings at high temperature conditions.

Design/methodology/approach
The erosion studies were carried out at a temperature of 400°C by using a hot air-jet erosion tester for 30° and 90° impingement angles. The possible erosion mechanisms were analyzed from scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs. Surface characterization of the powder and coatings were conducted by using an X-ray diffractometer, SEM, equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer. The porosity, surface roughness and micro-hardness of the as-sprayed coating were measured. This paper discusses outcomes of the commonly used thermal spray technology, namely, the plasma spray method to provide protection against erosion.

Findings
The plasma spraying method was used to successfully deposit Al2O3 coating onto the AISI 304 substrate material. Detailed microstructural and mechanical investigations were carried out to understand the structure-property correlations. Major findings were summarized as under: the erosive wear test results indicate that the plasma sprayed coating could protect the substrate at both 30° and 90° impact angles. The coating shows better resistance at an impact angle of 30° compared with 90°, which is related to the pinning and shielding effect of the alumina particle. The major erosion wear mechanisms of Al2O3 coating were micro-cutting, micro-ploughing, splat removal and detachment of Al2O3 hard particles.

Originality/value
In the current study, the authors have followed the standard testing method of hot air jet erosion test as per American society for testing of materials G76-02 standard and reported the erosion behavior of the eroded samples. The coating was not removed at all even after the erosion test duration i.e. 10 min. The erosion test was continued till 3 h to understand the evolution of coatings and the same has been explained in the erosion mechanism. The outcome of the present study may be used to minimize the high temperature erosion of AISI-304 substrate.
A new K-means grey wolf algorithm for engineering problems
Authors: Mohammed Hardi M. , Abdul Zrar Kh. , Rashid Tarik A. , Alsadoon Abeer , Bacanin Nebojsa 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
This paper aims at studying meta-heuristic algorithms. One of the common meta-heuristic optimization algorithms is called grey wolf optimization (GWO). The key aim is to enhance the limitations of the wolves’ searching process of attacking gray wolves.

Design/methodology/approach
The development of meta-heuristic algorithms has increased by researchers to use them extensively in the field of business, science and engineering. In this paper, the K-means clustering algorithm is used to enhance the performance of the original GWO; the new algorithm is called K-means clustering gray wolf optimization (KMGWO).

Findings
Results illustrate the efficiency of KMGWO against to the GWO. To evaluate the performance of the KMGWO, KMGWO applied to solve CEC2019 benchmark test functions.

Originality/value
Results prove that KMGWO is superior to GWO. KMGWO is also compared to cat swarm optimization (CSO), whale optimization algorithm-bat algorithm (WOA-BAT), WOA and GWO so KMGWO achieved the first rank in terms of performance. In addition, the KMGWO is used to solve a classical engineering problem and it is superior.