bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The utility of performance review systems: A total quality management perspective
Authors: Liao Ying Ying , Soltani Ebrahim , Iqbal Abdullah , van der Meer Robert 
Published: March 2024

AbstractScholars and practitioners alike have argued that performance review is prone to destructive effects and negative outcomes in progressive work organizations with a total quality management (TQM) orientation. Despite its pervasive use and significant consequences at individual, team, and organizational levels across contemporary workplaces, it has remained inadequately explored for its current operational systems and their role in helping employees achieve job mastery and enabling organizations to attain desired quality outcomes. To address this lacuna, this study aims to explore how performance review systems can align with continuous quality improvement in contemporary workplaces that espouse a culture of continuous learning and quality improvement. Given the exploratory and broad scope of the research, it adopts a multiple case study design which offers benefits both in terms of process and outcomes. The findings are indicative of two different performance review systems with very different implications for managing employees and achieving quality outcomes in line with TQM: tactical system with a focus on employee obedience to rigid top‐down control system for achieving conformance quality measures, and a dynamic system with a focus on employee ownership of the quality process for achieving desired quality.
Removal of chromium using rhamnolipid biosurfactant, ferrous sulfate and cationic tannin‐based flocculant in a dissolved air floating system using a central composite design (CCD)
Authors: Santos Olga Silva , Lima Frederico Alves , Cardoso Vicelma Luiz , de Resende Miriam Maria 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis research studied the wastewater chromium removal efficiency by dissolved air flotation (DAF) using a rhamnolipid (RL) biosurfactant as a collector. An experimental flotation DAF apparatus with 6 vessels of 2 L containing a coupled saturator injecting compressed air at 5.88 kPa in the vessels was used. The total RL concentration of the broth resulting from fermentation was 9 ± 1.0 g/L. This broth was used in nature in the DAF experiments. A central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize removal of Cr(VI) and total Cr with regards to two independent variables, pH (3.17–8.83) and iron concentration of the medium (0–225.0 mg/L), with a three assays performed at the conditions of the central point of the design. The experimental conditions for DAF were an initial hexavalent Cr concentration of 100 mg/L; RL broth volume of 500 mL; saturated with oxygen water volume of 200 mL; and a rapid mixing time of 6 min through stirring at 120 rpm. The results showed that under acidic pH conditions and with high iron concentrations, both the Cr(VI) and total Cr removal rates were highest. The optimal removal region determination was at a pH of 3.5 and iron concentration of 180 mg/L. Subsequently, cationic tannin‐based flocculant was also evaluated as a collector, and ferrous sulfate was used as a coagulant during Cr(III) removal. The best Cr(III) removal percentage was obtained at cationic polymer concentrations of 300 mg/L with Cr(III) removal of 50.8% and a pH of 5.5.
The antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential of biosurfactants derived from Enterococcus faecalisBHT‐2
Authors: Kaundal Tamanna , Sharma Anjali , Batra Navneet 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBiosurfactants are amphiphilic molecules containing one hydrophilic and one hydrophobic moiety. They are synthesized by microorganisms either on the cell surface or secreted extracellularly which serve as natural surfactant substitutes with a wide range of applications in different sectors. The present study aims to assess the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm properties of biosurfactants derived from Enterococcus faecalis BHT‐2 against different microorganisms (E. clocae, P. aeruginosa, M. luteus, S. aureus, C. albicans, and E. coli). Derived biosurfactants showed antimicrobial activity against test microorganisms in the range between 0.6 and 3 mg/mL. It displayed potent antibiofilm ability by inhibiting the bacterial attachment to surfaces, leading to the disruption of biofilm formation by altering the integrity of microbial biofilms when observed on coverslips by SEM and fluorescence microscopy. The treatment of microbial biofilms by biosurfactants greatly reduced the exopolysaccharide biomass, that is, carbohydrate and protein content. Thus, in vitro assessment of antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of biosurfactants derived from E. faecalis BHT‐2 indicated that it act as a better alternative antimicrobial agents.
Impacts of the attributes of patches and the surrounding matrix on the phylogenetic diversity of tree species in urban remnant forests
Authors: Yang Jingyi , Wu Feng 
Published: March 2024

AbstractUrbanization is a major cause of biotic homogenization and evolutionary poverty. Urban remnant forests are biodiversity hotspots in cities but are prone to phylogenetic homogenization. However, how urbanization‐driven changes in patch attributes and landscape heterogeneity levels of the surrounding matrix affect plant phylogenetic diversity in urban remnant forests remains unclear. We quantified tree phylogenetic diversity and structure in 30 remnant forest patches in Guiyang, China, using chloroplast genome data and analyzed the effects of patch attributes and the surrounding matrix on tree phylogenetic diversity and structure in the forests while considering tree species stage. The phylogenetic diversity of saplings/seedlings was lower than that of adult trees. Small patches contributed more than large patches to the overall phylogenetic diversity of remnant forest ecosystems. Additionally, tree phylogenetic diversity was positively associated with configurational heterogeneity of the surrounding matrix, while phylogenetic diversity and relatedness were negatively related to the percentage of surrounding impervious surfaces and patch size. Accordingly, we suggest maintaining configurational heterogeneity and controlling the speed of urban expansion in the surrounding matrix to better conserve urban remnant forests. Furthermore, the preservation of small forest remnants and tree species in the sapling/seedling stage should be prioritized.
Systemic Symptoms in Huntington's Disease: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Mehanna Raja , Jankovic Joseph 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundAlthough Huntington's disease (HD) is usually thought of as a triad of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms, there is growing appreciation of HD as a systemic illness affecting the entire body.ObjectivesThis review aims to draw attention to these systemic non‐motor symptoms in HD.MethodsWe identified relevant studies published in English by searching MEDLINE (from 1966 to September 2023), using the following subject headings: Huntington disease, autonomic, systemic, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, sexual and cutaneous, and additional specific symptoms.ResultsData from 123 articles were critically reviewed with focus on systemic features associated with HD, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, sexual and sweating.ConclusionThis systematic review draws attention to a variety of systemic and autonomic co‐morbidities in patients with HD. Not all of them correlate with the severity of the primary HD symptoms or CAG repeats. More research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology and treatment of systemic and autonomic dysfunction in HD.
Recycling investment strategies in two‐sided competition with diverse vertical structures
Authors: Liu Jing , Li Kai , Zhang Liming , Xu Shuling 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe supply chain consisting of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a downstream retailer encounters vertical competition along with two‐sided competition from a third party remanufacturer (3PR). The two‐sided competition refers to competition in both recycling and sales. We investigate the recycling investments by the OEM and retailer in diverse vertical structures. Our findings indicate that cooperative investment is optimal when either the OEM or retailer is the Stackelberg leader, but neither party is willing to invest in recycling when they are in vertical Nash. The experiments reveal that the OEM, acting as the Stackelberg leader, and implementing the cooperative investment strategy, yields better economic and environmental benefits.
PO‐AKID‐teller: An interpretable machine learning tool for predicting acute kidney injury requiring dialysis after acute type A aortic dissection surgery
Authors: Chen Qiuying , Fu Biao , Yang Jue , Jin Zhe , Zhang Lu , Fan Ruixin , Zhang Bin , Zhang Shuixing 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPostoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis (PO‐AKID) is a serious adverse event that not only affects acute morbidity and mortality, but also long‐term prognosis. Here, we developed a practical and explainable web‐based calculator (PO‐AKID‐teller) to detect patients who might experience PO‐AKID after acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery. This retrospective study reviewed 549 patients undergoing ATAAD surgery from October 2016 to June 2021. PO‐AKID frequency was 19.7% (108 of 549 patients). The initial dataset was split into an 80% training cohort (n = 439) and a 20% test cohort (n = 110). There were seven predictors that could indicate PO‐AKID, including prior cardiovascular surgery, platelet, serum creatinine, the terminal site of dissection involvement, right coronary artery involvement, estimated blood loss, and urine output. Among six machine learning classifiers, the random forest model exhibited the best predictive performance, with an area under the curve of 0.863 in the training cohort and 0.763 in the test cohort. This model was translated into a web‐based risk calculator PO‐AKID‐teller to estimate an individual's probability of PO‐AKID. The PO‐AKID‐teller can accurately estimate an individual's risk for PO‐AKID in an interpretable manner, which may aid in informed decision‐making, patient counseling, perioperative optimization, and longer‐term care provision.
O‐glycosylation in viruses: A sweet tango
Authors: Ming Annan , Zhao Jianxin , Liu Yihan , Wang Yibo , Wang Xiaohui , Li Jing , Zhang Leiliang 
Published: March 2024

AbstractO‐glycosylation is an ancient yet underappreciated protein posttranslational modification, on which many bacteria and viruses heavily rely to perform critical biological functions involved in numerous infectious diseases or even cancer. But due to the innate complexity of O‐glycosylation, research techniques have been limited to study its exact role in viral attachment and entry, assembly and exit, spreading in the host cells, and the innate and adaptive immunity of the host. Recently, the advent of many newly developed methodologies (e.g., mass spectrometry, chemical biology tools, and molecular dynamics simulations) has renewed and rekindled the interest in viral‐related O‐glycosylation in both viral proteins and host cells, which is further fueled by the COVID‐19 pandemic. In this review, we summarize recent advances in viral‐related O‐glycosylation, with a particular emphasis on the mucin‐type O‐linked α‐N‐acetylgalactosamine (O‐GalNAc) on viral proteins and the intracellular O‐linked β‐N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAc) modifications on host proteins. We hope to provide valuable insights into the development of antiviral reagents or vaccines for better prevention or treatment of infectious diseases.
Protective Mechanism of Polysaccharide ORP‐1 Isolated from Oudemansiella raphanipes against Age‐Related Cognitive Decline through the Microbiota‐Gut‐Brain Axis
Authors: Ren Yu‐Ru , Cui Wen‐Ting , Jiang Kai‐Li , He Kai‐Qi , Lu Yong‐Ming , Chen Yan , Pan Wen‐Juan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAge‐related cognitive decline is primarily attributed to the progressive weakening of synaptic function and loss of synapses, while age‐related gut microbial dysbiosis is known to impair synaptic plasticity and cognitive behavior by metabolic alterations. To improve the health of the elderly, the protective mechanisms of Oudemansiella raphanipes polysaccharide (ORP‐1) against age‐related cognitive decline are investigated. The results demonstrate that ORP‐1 and its gut microbiota‐derived metabolites SCFAs restore a healthy gut microbial population to handle age‐related gut microbiota dysbiosis mainly by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria Dubosiella, Clostridiales, and Prevotellaceae and reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria Desulfovibrio, strengthen intestinal barrier integrity by abolishing age‐related alterations of tight junction (TJ) and mucin 2 (MUC2) proteins expression, diminish age‐dependent increase in circulating inflammatory factors, ameliorate cognitive decline by reversing memory‐ and synaptic plasticity‐related proteins levels, and restrain hyperactivation of microglia‐mediated synapse engulfment and neuroinflammation. These findings expand the understanding of prebiotic–microbiota–host interactions.
Botulinum toxin injections for the treatment of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome: A systematic review
Authors: Woodworth Tyler T. , Le Austin , Miller Campbell , Conger Aaron , Mahan Mark A. , Cushman Daniel M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBotulinum toxin (BTX) injections into the musculature surrounding the brachial plexus have been examined as a potential treatment for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS). This systematic review identified 15 publications, of which one was a randomized controlled trial. BTX injections performed with ultrasound or electromyographic guidance, and with the inclusion of the pectoralis minor muscle, in addition to the anterior and/or middle scalenes, tended to provide greater symptom improvement and may predict response to first rib resection. Importantly, most studies were of low quality; thus, the results should be interpreted with caution. Further high‐quality studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Neurocognitive factors predicting BMI changes from adolescence to young adulthood
Authors: Reyes Sussanne , Peirano Patricio , Gahagan Sheila , Blanco Estela , Algarín Cecilia 
Published: March 2024

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess whether inhibitory task performance in adolescence could be prospectively related to weight gain in young adulthood. We proposed that this association would differ according to the BMI group in adolescence.MethodsA total of 318 adolescents performed the anti‐saccade task, and 530 completed the Stroop test. Accuracy and reaction time were assessed for each incentive type (neutral, loss, and reward) in the anti‐saccade task and for each trial type (control and incongruent trials) in the Stroop test. Changes in the BMI z score (∆BMI z score) from adolescence to young adulthood were calculated.ResultsThe relationship between the BMI z score and the anti‐saccade task accuracy showed an effect on the ∆BMI z score (β = −0.002, p < 0.05). The neutral and loss accuracies were related to ∆BMI z score in the groups with overweight (all β = −0.004, p = 0.05) and obesity (β = −0.006 and β = −0.005, p < 0.01). The interaction between adolescents' BMI z score with control (β = −0.312, p < 0.001) and incongruent (β = −0.384, p < 0.001) trial reaction times showed an effect on the ∆BMI z score. Control (β = 0.730, p = 0.036) and incongruent (β = 0.535, p = 0.033) trial reaction times were related to ∆BMI z score in the group with overweight.ConclusionsOur findings support the hypothesis that cognitive vulnerability could predict the BMI gain from adolescence to young adulthood.
Policy approaches to stimulate exports: The case of Georgia
Authors: Klasen Andreas , Lomitashvili Tengiz , Rosbach Kristian , Taniguchi Kiyoshi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis report examines exporters’ challenges and possible solutions for public intervention to promote foreign trade. Based on fieldwork conducted in Georgia, we explore which policy approaches can help to stimulate Georgian exports further. Our outcomes show that exporters face substantial barriers such as navigating complex trade regulations, lack of knowledge about target markets, trade finance gaps, as well as new export promotion programs (EPPs) in competitor countries. Other upper‐middle‐income countries can learn from our results that exporters can significantly benefit from a comprehensive export promotion strategy combined with an ecosystem‐based “team” approach. EPPs related to awareness and capacity building in Georgia should be part of this strategy, focusing on challenges such as a lack of knowledge about trade practices and international business skills. Other EPPs must help to mitigate related market failures, as information gathering is costly, and firms have no incentive to share this information with competitors. Furthermore, targeted marketing support and customer matchmaking can answer Georgian exporters’ challenges, such as lack of market access and low sector visibility. Our results also show that public intervention through financial support and risk mitigation is essential for firms with an international orientation. The high‐quality, rich outcomes provide significant value for other upper‐middle‐income countries by exploring the example of Georgia’s contemporary circumstances in an in‐depth manner based on extensive interviews and document analysis. Limitations include that our work primarily relies on qualitative data and further research could involve a quantitative study with a diverse range of sectors.
Private land conservation towards large landscape goals: Role of relational values, property rights orientations and perceived efficacy in ranchers' actions
Authors: Wardropper Chloe B. , Graves Rose A. , Brandt Jodi , Burnham Morey , Carter Neil , Hale Rebecca L. , Hillis Vicken , Williamson Matthew A. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Many of the world's iconic, endangered and endemic species rely on large, contiguous landscapes for their survival.

In the US West, working ranches are integral to large landscape conservation goals and there are numerous influences on ranchers' conservation actions, including their relational values, perceived self‐efficacy and property rights concerns.

Using survey data from 681 ranchers in eastern Idaho and western Montana, we sought to answer the question: How do relational values, property rights orientations, perceived efficacy and public lands dependence affect reported conservation actions on private ranch lands?

Conservation adoption varied widely by action, with invasive plant removal having the highest (92%) and conifer removal the lowest (21%) rates of adoption.

Conservation adoption was higher among ranchers who believe they are responsible for conserving nature, believe their land should be used to provide environmental benefits to the region, have higher perceived self‐efficacy, lower property rights concerns and higher incomes.

Programmes encouraging the adoption of conservation on private lands could benefit from message framing that resonates with the worldviews of landowners and land managers.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
3D woven tubular composites with bamboo‐structures for enhanced energy absorption: Designing, manufacturing and performance analysis
Authors: Wen Fangfang , Qian Yongfang , Gao Yuan , Zhou Xinghai , Lyu Lihua 
Published: March 2024

Abstract3D woven tubular composites (3D‐WTC), known for their lightweight and high‐strength characteristics, are widely used in various energy‐absorbing components. To enhance the energy absorption capacity of 3D‐WTC, this study conducted a mechanical analysis of bamboo tube structures and proposed concentric circular nested biomimetic structures with “single tube + double ribs” and “double tubes + double ribs.” 3D woven tubular composites with bamboo‐structures (3DWTC‐Bamboo) were fabricated using the vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. Axial compression tests were conducted using a universal testing machine to reveal and discuss the energy absorption capacity and failure modes of 3DWTC‐Bamboo. The results showed that 3DWTC‐Bamboo with a “double tube + double ribs” concentric circular nested biomimetic structures performed exceptionally, with a peak load of 28.93KN and specific energy absorption of 7.74 J·g−1. The failure mode was a hybrid of “rib folding + tube wall buckling.” Finally, finite element analysis of the stress distribution during the compression of 3DWTC‐Bamboo was conducted using ABAQUS, which validated the experimental results. In summary, this work provides a reference for structural innovation in 3D‐WTC and further expands its application in the field of energy absorption.Highlights
Propose “single tube + double ribs” and “double tubes + double ribs” structures.
Introducing the “rib” structures to enhance the local strength/stiffness.
Test results show that 3DWTC‐Bamboo has great potential in energy absorption.
The “ribs” can increase the local strength/stiffness of the tube structures.
Bio‐based PA56/GO nanocomposite fiber with 1.2 GPa strength via in situ precipitation and solvent‐free polymerization
Authors: Wang Zhongjiang , Zhu Hao , Fan Pengmin , Wu Jian , Chu Liangyong , Bao Ningzhong 
Published: March 2024

AbstractToward high‐strength bio‐based polyamide 56 (PA56) fiber, we first in situ precipitate graphene oxide (GO), adipic acid and 1,5‐pentanodiamine together by reaction crystallization in ethanal to obtain PA56 salt/GO particles with well dispersed GO, then prepare PA56/GO nanocomposite with PA56 salt/GO via solvent‐free polymerization including solid‐state prepolycondensation and melt polycondensation. Finally, PA56/GO nanocomposite fiber is prepared by extrusion drawing. With 0.2 wt% GO, the tensile strength of PA56/GO fiber reaches 1050 MPa, which is 3.3 times that of pure PA56 fiber. Furtherly, we add PA56/GO with high GO content to commercial PA56 to prepare the hybrid fiber, of which the tensile strength reaches 1248 MPa. The great improvement is mainly due to the good dispersion of GO in the whole process, which increases the heterogeneous nucleation in favor of higher and oriented PA56 crystallization.Highlights
Bio‐based PA56/GO nanocomposite fiber with 1.2 GPa strength has been prepared.
PA56 salt/GO particles with well‐dispersed GO are in situ precipitated.
Solvent‐free polymerization is used instead of solution melt polymerization.
Well‐dispersed GO results in high and oriented crystallinity of PA56/GO fiber.
Tensile strength of PA56/GO fiber is 2.3 times that of commercial PA56 fiber.