bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New perspectives on the high-density lipoprotein system and its role in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Authors: Lan Nick S.R. , Watts Gerald F. 
Published: August 2024

Purpose of review
The causal role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains debated. Considering recent evidence, the purpose of this review is to a provide a focused update and new perspectives on HDL and CVD.

Recent findings
A Mendelian randomization study demonstrated an increased risk of CVD when HDL-cholesterol was predominantly transported in larger HDL particles and a decreased risk of CVD when HDL-cholesterol was predominantly transported in smaller HDL particles. Moreover, another Mendelian randomization study demonstrated that concentration and content of medium HDL particles is associated with CVD. A Mendelian randomization study that utilized stratified analyses demonstrated that individuals with HDL-cholesterol 50 mg/dl or less were at increased risk of CVD. Lastly, the AEGIS-II trial demonstrated that CSL112, a human apolipoprotein A-I that increases cholesterol efflux, did not significantly reduce cardiovascular events in patients at very high risk. Exploratory analyses showed that patients treated with CSL112 had numerically lower rates of cardiovascular events.

Summary
Qualitative markers of HDL may be causally related to CVD. There is a need for ongoing research into HDL therapeutics that promote the biological properties of HDL. The optimal cohort or disease state that will benefit from these therapies needs to be identified.
Best Practices and Lessons Learned From the Public Health Disability Specialists Program: Addressing the Needs of People With Disabilities During COVID-19
Authors: Cree Robyn A. , Wray Allison , Evans Adrianna , Lyons Sara , Burrous Haley , Nilz Margaret , Clarke Cendra , Li Jennifer , Baio Jon 
Published: August 2024

Context
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) applied funding issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement the Public Health Disability Specialists Program, part of a project to address the needs of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disability specialists (subject matter experts) were embedded within state, territorial, and city/county health departments to help ensure disability inclusion in emergency planning, mitigation, and recovery efforts.

Objective
To evaluate the success of the Disability Specialists Program in improving emergency response planning, mitigation, and recovery efforts for people with disabilities within participating jurisdictions.

Design
Disability specialists worked with their assigned jurisdictions to conduct standardized baseline health department needs assessments to identify existing gaps and inform development and implementation of improvement plans. CDC, ASTHO, and NACCHO implemented a mixed methods framework to evaluate specialists’ success.

Setting
State, territorial, and local health departments across 28 jurisdictions between January 2021 and July 2022.

Main Outcome Measures
Average number of categories of gaps addressed and qualitative documentation of strategies, barriers, and promising practices.

Results
Specialists identified 1010 gaps (approximately 36 per jurisdiction) across eight needs assessment categories, most related to mitigation, recovery, resilience, and sustainability efforts (n = 213) and communication (n = 193). Specialists addressed an average of three categories of gaps identified; common focus areas included equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution and accessible communications. Specialists commonly mentioned barriers related to limited health agency capacity (eg, resources) and community mistrust. Promising practices to address barriers included sharing best practices through peer-to-peer networks and building and strengthening partnerships between health departments and the disability community.

Conclusions
Embedding disability specialists within state, territorial, and local health departments improved jurisdictional ability to meet evolving public health needs for the entire community, including people with disabilities.
Agreement and Consistency of Absolute and Relative Corticospinal Stimulus–Response Curves for Upper, Lower, and Axial Musculature in Healthy Adults
Authors: Hougland Juliana R. , Proessl Felix , Meglino Nicholas , Canino Maria C. , Sterczala Adam J. , Connaboy Chris , Nindl Bradley C. , Flanagan Shawn D. 
Published: August 2024

Purpose:
To assess the agreement and consistency of absolute and relative stimulus–response curve (SRC) parameter estimates for upper extremity, lower extremity, and axial muscles.

Methods:
Thirty (15 W, age: 27.0 ± 6.3 y, height: 171.9 ± 8.9 cm, weight: 80.2 ± 19.3 kg) healthy adults completed absolute (5% to 100% stimulator output) and relative (65% to 160% motor threshold) SRCs of the first dorsal interosseous, vastus lateralis, and rectus abdominis during submaximal isometric contractions. Mean motor-evoked potential amplitudes were fit with nonlinear regression to derive MEPmax, V50, and slope. Absolute agreement and consistency were assessed with ICCs, Cronbachs alphas, and Bland–Altman plots. Independent t-tests were used to examine differences in motor threshold, physical activity, strength, and muscle activity among participants with valid and invalid SRC parameters.

Results:
Absolute and relative SRCs displayed good agreement and consistency for MEPmax and V50 but not slope. Motor thresholds were lower among participants with valid absolute SRCs for the rectus abdominis and vastus lateralis. Motor threshold, physical activity, strength, and muscle activity did not differ among those with valid and invalid parameters for all relative SRCs and absolute SRCs for the first dorsal interosseous.

Conclusions:
Absolute and relative SRCs produce similar MEPmax and V50 estimates in the first dorsal interosseous, vastus lateralis, and rectus abdominis. The validity of absolute and relative SRC results may differ depending on individual characteristics and tested muscles.
Social Isolation During Adolescence Differentially Affects Spatial Learning in Adult Male and Female Mice
Authors: Hanif Sadiyah , Sclar Mia , Lee Jinah , Nichols Caleb , Likhtik Ekaterina , Burghardt Nesha S. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractSocial isolation is a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to these effects, because they are in a critical period of development marked by significant physical, hormonal, and social changes. However, it is unclear if the effects of social isolation on learning and memory are similar in both sexes or if they persist into adulthood after a period of recovery. We socially isolated male and female 129Sv/Ev mice throughout adolescence (post-natal days 29-56), provided a 2-week re-socialization recovery period, and then tested spatial learning and cognitive flexibility in the active place avoidance task. After behavioral testing, mice were injected with 5’-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) so that lasting effects of social isolation on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus could be examined. We found that in males, isolation led to a modest impairment in the rate of initial spatial learning, whereas in females, initial learning was unaffected. However, when the location of the shock zone was switched during the conflict variant of the task, cognitive flexibility was impaired in females only. Similarly, social isolation reduced cell proliferation in the ventral dentate gyrus only in females. Together, these findings indicate that social isolation during adolescence differentially impairs spatial processing in males and females, with effects that persist into adulthood.
Identification of novel fructo-oligosaccharide bacterial consumers by pulse metatranscriptomics in a human stool sample
Authors: Prattico Catherine , Gonzalez Emmanuel , Dridi Lharbi , Jazestani Shiva , Low Kristin E. , Abbott D. Wade , Maurice Corinne F. , Castagner Bastien 
Published: August 2024

AbstractDietary fibres influence the composition of the human gut microbiota and directly contribute to its downstream effects on host health. As more research supports the use of glycans as prebiotics for therapeutic applications, the need to identify the gut bacteria that metabolize glycans of interest increases. Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) is a common diet-derived glycan that is fermented by the gut microbiota and has been used as a prebiotic. Despite being well studied, we do not yet have a complete picture of all FOS-consuming gut bacterial taxa. To identify new bacterial consumers, we used a short exposure of microbial communities in a stool sample to FOS or galactomannan as the sole carbon source to induce glycan metabolism genes. We then performed metatranscriptomics, paired with whole metagenomic sequencing (WMS), and 16S amplicon sequencing. The short incubation induced genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, like carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), including glycoside hydrolase family 32 genes, which hydrolyze fructan polysaccharides like FOS and inulin. Interestingly, FOS metabolism transcripts were notably overexpressed inBlautiaspecies not previously reported to be fructan consumers. We therefore validated the ability of differentBlautiaspecies to ferment fructans by monitoring their growth and fermentation in defined media. This pulse metatranscriptomics approach is a useful method to find novel consumers of prebiotics and increase our understanding of prebiotic metabolism by CAZymes in the gut microbiota.SignificanceComplex carbohydrates are key contributors to the composition of the human gut microbiota and play an essential role in the microbiota’s effects on host health. Understanding which bacteria consume complex carbohydrates, or glycans, provides a mechanistic link between dietary prebiotics and their beneficial health effects, an essential step for their therapeutic application. Here, we used a pulse metatranscriptomics pipeline to identify bacterial consumers based on glycan metabolism induction in a human stool sample. We identified novel consumers of FOS amongBlautiaspecies, expanding our understanding of this well-known glycan. Our approach can be applied to identify consumers of understudied glycans and expand our prebiotic repertoire. It can also be used to study prebiotic glycans directly in stool samples in distinct patient populations to help delineate the prebiotic mechanism.
Unboxing the temporal patterns of employee engagement: a daily and weekly analysis of needs satisfaction, work motivation and employee well-being
Authors: Wang Zheni 
Published: August 2024

PurposeThis research used a temporal approach to operationalize employee engagement, capturing subjective/objective time of the day and day of the week to analyze the dynamic patterns of employees’ daily/weekly well-being, basic needs satisfaction, and situational work motivation under the integrated framework of self-determination theory.Design/methodology/approachMulti-level data was collected using the survey structure outlined under the day reconstruction methodology (DRM) with samples of Canadian part-time working undergraduate students and full-time US corporate employees (1980 work episodes reported by 321 participants).FindingsMulti-level confirmatory factorial analysis results supported the measurement invariance for within-person variables in all the working episodes across the US and Canada samples. Structural equation modeling path analysis results, using the within-person variables, captured the daily temporal patterns that employees’ well-being (vitality and positive affect), basic psychological needs (autonomy and relatedness), and situational autonomous motivation started at a high level and decreased with both subjective and objective time of the day. Negative affect showed asymmetric daily and weekly temporal patterns compared to positive affect. A few indirect paths were found, including one from the subjective time of the day to employee well-being (vitality and affect) via situational autonomous motivation and another one from the day of the week to vitality and positive affect via relatedness needs satisfaction and situational autonomous motivation.Research limitations/implicationsThe socio-cultural and business impacts of work scheduling practices and implications for theory-driven, evidence-based organizational development practices were discussed together with the research limitations.Practical implicationsResults on how the variations in self-regulation during the performance of different work tasks in a single work event help practitioners to connect repeated situational motivational change patterns to effective supervision. HR business partner can also utilize such findings to shape evidence-based practice to improve employee engagement.Originality/valueThis research is one of the few pioneer studies to look into how temporal factors, such as work scheduling, affect employees' well-being through the dynamic understanding of the mediated path model from time to employee well-being via psychological engagement conditions such as motivation and needs satisfaction.
Economic effectiveness of investment in higher education: an evaluation at the individual and national levels
Authors: Kasnauskiene Gindrute , Badaras Rokas , Pauliene Rasa , Thrassou Alkis 
Published: August 2024

PurposeThis study evaluates the economic effectiveness of higher education in Lithuania by measuring returns to investment in higher education for both individual university graduates and the state, particularly aiming to discover how higher education investments impact economic returns at both micro (individual) and macro (national) levels.Design/methodology/approachA dual methodological approach has been applied, utilizing both the Mincer earnings equation and the full discounting method, to draw a clear distinction between the returns enjoyed by individuals and those accrued to the country. Calculations for individual economic returns are done using the most recent available Lithuanian Department of Statistics data on the wage structure, while national return on education was based on the State Tax Inspectorate and Lithuanian Public Finance databases.FindingsThe research confirms that Lithuanian investments in education positively influence both individual earnings and society at large, mainly due to the low cost of education and the high returns. For individuals, net present value varies from €126,000 to €224,000, and the internal rate of return is from 7% to 46%, with the highest return being for males working in companies of 50–249 employees and holding a bachelor’s degree. It is also noteworthy that one additional year spent in education increases earnings on average by 4.1%. The financing of first cycle studies costs the state two times less than second and third cycle studies. For this reason, the net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) of first cycle studies are higher than those of second and third cycle studies.Originality/valueWhile higher education is generally and globally seen as a way to ensure financial stability and career advancement at the individual level and socioeconomic development at the national one, the question of cost versus benefits at both levels is principal and diachronic. Our research quantifies the NPV and IRR of education investments and highlights the differential economic returns of various education levels, where policymakers can utilize these insights to inform strategic decisions regarding education funding and resource allocation. This study, therefore, provides explicit quantitative answers and presents individuals and policymakers with tangible results and practicable direction in their decision-making. The findings are applicable to the specific country-focus, but also constitute an applicable case study in the international context, particularly for European and other countries of comparable economic structure and developmental stage.
Understanding Gen Z shoppers' interaction with customer-service robots: a cognitive-affective-normative perspective
Authors: Osakwe Christian Nedu , Říha David , Elgammal Islam Mahmoud Yousef , Ramayah T. 
Published: August 2024

PurposeLarge supermarket chains are adopting customer-service robots to improve service delivery in physical stores. Successful deployment of these robots depends on shoppers' willingness to interact with them, requiring an understanding of influencing factors. This study, grounded in the Cognitive-Affective-Normative (CAN) theory, seeks to systematically explore the factors influencing Gen Z shoppers' willingness to interact with customer-service robots.Design/methodology/approachA hybrid approach combining Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) was employed to analyze survey data collected from 945 Gen Zs in the Czech Republic.FindingsThe results from SEM highlight significant cognitive, normative, and affective factors that influence the intention of Gen Z shoppers to interact with a customer-service robot. Specifically, cognitive factors such as effort and performance expectancy, along with normative factors like subjective norms, emerged as critical determinants. Furthermore, affective factors such as technology anxiety and positive emotions significantly influence users' readiness to use customer-service robots for service requests. The study also underscores that positive emotions, effort expectancy, performance expectancy, and subjective norms are vital prerequisites for interacting with customer-service robots.Originality/valueThe originality of this work lies in its two significant contributions to the burgeoning field of SRs in retail literature. First, it extends the CAN theory to the context of SRs among Gen Z shoppers in Czechia, thereby enriching the existing literature on SRs in retail. Second, by employing a hybrid analytical approach, our research offers both empirical and methodological advancements, providing rigorous insights crucial for enhancing the understanding of the pivotal factors influencing shoppers' interactions with SRs in physical store environments.
The mediation role of positive psychological capital in the relationship between perceived organizational support and employee performance: a research on port administration employees
Authors: Özgül Burcu , Çelenk Erdem 
Published: August 2024

PurposeIn this study, a conceptual model was developed and analyzed to test the mediating role of positive psychological capital (PPC) in the impact of organizational support perceived by employees who continue their professional lives in the port sector, which is an important sub-branch of the maritime sector, on employee performance (EP).Design/methodology/approachThe data for the analysis of the model in question were collected through a survey method from employees in the work site and units of 14 port enterprises in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Türkiye. A total of 406 usable data were analyzed with the SmartPLS 4 analysis program.FindingsThe analysis did not confirm the significant positive effect of perceived organizational support (POS) on EP. On the other hand, the analysis found that POS had a significant positive impact on PPC. Likewise, the significant positive effect of PPC on EP was confirmed. The analysis also concluded that PPC was the full mediator variable in the impact of POS on EP.Practical implicationsThis study helps managers find out how they can improve employees' EP with qualified POS and PPC.Originality/valueThe current study reveals the role of PPC in the mechanism underlying the controversial relationship between POS and EP and, thus, contributes significantly to both literature and practice.
The integration between Lean Construction and the Internet of Things (IoT): a systematic literature review
Authors: Albalkhy Wassim , Sweis Rateb , Jaï Hassan , Lafhaj Zoubeir 
Published: August 2024

PurposeThis study explores the role of the Internet of Things (IoT) as an enabler for Lean Construction principles and tools in construction projects.Design/methodology/approachIn response to the scarcity of studies about IoT functionalities in construction, a two-round systematic literature review (SLR) was undertaken. The first round aimed to identify IoT functionalities in construction, encompassing an analysis of 288 studies. The second round aimed to analyze their interaction with Lean Construction principles, drawing insights from 43 studies.FindingsThe outcome is a comprehensive Lean Construction-IoT matrix featuring 54 interactions. The highest levels of interaction were found in the Lean Construction principle “flow” and the functionality of “data transfer and real-time information sharing”.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on the role of IoT as an enabler for Lean Construction. Future work can cover the role of Lean as an enabler for advanced technology implementation in construction.Originality/valueThe Lean Construction-IoT matrix serves as a resource for researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers seeking to enhance Lean Construction by leveraging IoT technology. It also provides various examples of how advanced technology can support waste elimination and value generation in construction projects.
E‐consultation as existential media: Exploring doctor‐patient ‘digital thrownness’ in Danish general practice
Authors: Klausen Maja , Assing Hvidt Elisabeth 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn this article we use an existential media framework to explore the asynchronous, written and digital form of GP‐patient communication that takes place through e‐consultations in a Danish general practice context. This approach acknowledges e‐consultation as more than a tool for information delivery and frames GP and patient not as skilful media users but as dependent co‐existers: Both thrown into and trying to navigate the digital healthcare ecology. Through a thematic analysis of 38 semi‐structured qualitative interviews with patients and GPs we carve out three themes unpacking the existential dimensions of e‐consultation: 1. Patient and GP are placed in a Culture of non‐stop connectivity and we show the ambivalences arising herein fostering both relief, reassurance and new insecurities. 2. Ethical challenges of responsible co‐existence points to dilemmas of boundary setting and caring for self and co‐exister in the digital encounter. 3. We‐experiences illustrates the potential of e‐consultation to signal GP presence, even when the GP is silent. We also discuss the existential ethics of care emerging from the contemporary digital healthcare ecology and call for empirically grounded studies of the existential dimensions tied to encounters in contemporary digital care infrastructures.