bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient Safety Culture: Effects on Errors, Incident Reporting, and Patient Safety Grade
Authors: Kaya Sıdıka , Banaz Goncuoglu Merve , Mete Buse , Asilkan Zeliha , Mete Anı Hande , Akturan Saadet , Tuncer Nursel , Yukselir Alasirt Fatma , Toka Onur , Gunes Tugba , Gumus Rana
Published: September 2023

Objectives

This study mainly examines the effects of patient safety culture dimensions on 4 outcomes (self-reported errors, witnessing errors, incident reporting, and patient safety grade).

Methods

The data were collected using the Turkish version of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire, which consists of 6 dimensions (teamwork climate, safety climate, job satisfaction, stress recognition, perceptions of management, and working conditions). Of 1679 personnel working in 6 hospitals in Ankara, 860 were randomly selected. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Spearman correlation coefficient, and binary logistic regression analyses.

Results

The response rate was 62.7%. When the overall patient safety culture score increased by 1 point; the probability of witnessing an error was 2 times lower (P < 0.001), the probability of incident reporting was 4.22 times higher (P < 0.001), and the probability of assessing the patient safety grade as excellent was 29.86 times higher (P < 0.001). The teamwork climate was negatively related to making errors and witnessing errors (P < 0.001). The safety climate and working conditions were positively related to incident reporting and patient safety grade (P < 0.001). Job satisfaction was negatively related to incident reporting (P < 0.001). Perceptions of management were positively related to making errors and patient safety grade (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The patient safety culture scores were positively correlated with incident reporting and patient safety grade but negatively correlated with the occurrence of errors. Each dimension of the patient safety culture, except stress recognition, affected different outcomes. Therefore, managers should focus on different dimensions of patient safety culture to improve different outcomes.
Counterintuitive prey strategies against predators with finite budgets: protection heterogeneity among sites matters more than their number
Authors: Clémençon Paul , Alpern Steve , Gal Shmuel , Casas Jérôme
Published: September 2023

Combining the search and pursuit aspects of predator–prey interactions into a single game, where the payoff to the Searcher (predator) is the probability of finding and capturing the Hider (prey) within a fixed number of searches was proposed by Gal and Casas (
J. R. Soc. Interface
11
, 20140062 (
doi:10.1098/rsif.2014.0062
)). Subsequent models allowed the predator to continue its search (in another ‘round’) if the prey was found but escaped the chase. However, it is unrealistic to allow this pattern of prey relocation to go on forever, so here we introduce a limit of the total number of searches, in all ‘rounds’, that the predator can carry out. We show how habitat structural complexity affects the mean time until capture: the quality of the location with the lowest capture probability matters more than the number of hiding locations. Moreover, we observed that the parameter space defined by the capture probabilities in each location and the budget of the predator can be divided into distinct domains, defining whether the prey ought to play with pure or mixed hiding strategies.
The resuscitation-promoting factor (Rpf) from Micrococcus luteus and its putative reaction product 1,6-anhydro-MurNAc increase culturability of environmental bacteria
Authors: Guzman Juan , Raval Dipansi , Hauck Dirk , Titz Alexander , Poehlein Anja , Degenkolb Thomas , Daniel Rolf , Vilcinskas Andreas
Published: September 2023

Dormant bacterial cells do not divide and are not immediately culturable, but they persist in a state of low metabolic activity, a physiological state having clinical relevance, for instance in latent tuberculosis. Resuscitation-promoting factors (Rpfs) are proteins that act as signalling molecules mediating growth and replication. In this study we aimed to test the effect of Rpfs from

Micrococcus luteus

on the number and diversity of cultured bacteria using insect and soil samples, and to examine if the increase in culturability could be reproduced with the putative reaction product of Rpf, 1,6-anhydro-N-acetylmuramic acid (1,6-anhydro-MurNAc). The rpf gene from

Micrococcus luteus

was amplified and cloned into a pET21b expression vector and the protein was expressed in

Escherichia coli

BL21(DE3) cells and purified by affinity chromatography using a hexa-histidine tag. 1,6-Anhydro-MurNAc was prepared using reported chemical synthesis methods. Recombinant Rpf protein or 1,6-anhydro-MurNAc were added to R2A cultivation media, and their effect on the culturability of bacteria from eight environmental samples including four cockroach guts and four soils was examined. Colony-forming units, 16S rRNA gene copies and Illumina amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene were measured for all eight samples subjected to three different treatments: Rpf, 1,6-anhydro-MurNAc or blank control. Both Rpf and 1,6-anhydro-MurNAc increased the number of colony-forming units and of 16S rRNA gene copies across the samples although the protein was more effective. The Rpf and 1,6-anhydro-MurNAc promoted the cultivation of a diverse set of bacteria and in particular certain clades of the phyla

Actinomycetota

and

Bacillota

. This study opens the path for improved cultivation strategies aiming to isolate and study yet undescribed living bacterial organisms.
Continued selection on cryptic SARS-CoV-2 observed in Missouri wastewater
Authors: Gregory Devon A. , Rushford Clayton , Lin Chung-Ho , Darby Christie , Niehues Nicole , Semkiw Elizabeth , Reynolds Melissa , Wenzel Jeff , Johnson Marc C.
Published: September 2023

Deep sequencing of wastewater to detect SARS-Cov-2 has been used during the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor viral variants as they appear and circulate in communities. SARS-CoV-2 lineages of an unknown source that have not been detected in clinical samples, referred to as cryptic lineages, are sometimes repeatedly detected in specific locations. We have continued to detect one such lineage previously seen in a Missouri site. This cryptic lineage has continued to evolve, indicating continued selective pressure similar to that observed in Omicron lineages.

Author Summary

Monitoring sewage for SARS-CoV-2 has been an important part of understanding the dynamics of the virus’s spread and persistence within and across communities during the pandemic. We and others have also observed variants appearing in wastewater that do not appear in clinical sampling. Many of these variants not only possess genomic changes identical to or at the same position as those that have been observed in variants of concern, particularly currently circulating Omicron variants, but often acquire the changes before they have been observed in clinical samples. We report here the continued observation of a variant in Missouri wastewater, but not in clinical sampling, that has continued to evolve, gaining genomic changes that often are the same and predate changes seen in clinical samples. These observation add to our understanding of the selective pressures driving the evolution of SAR-CoV-2.
Selective refueling of CAR T cells using ADA1 and CD26 boosts antitumor immunity
Authors: Hu Yue , Sarkar Abhijit , Song Kevin , Michael Sara , Hook Magnus , Wang Ruoning , Heczey Andras , Song Xiaotong
Published: September 2023

CAR T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies, but its efficacy in solid tumors remains limited due to the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment and the inability of T cells to persist and traffic to the tumor site. While current strategies focus on enhancing CAR T cell activity through costimulatory molecules and cytokines, a critical yet often overlooked factor is the competition for nutrients between tumor cells and T cells in the nutrient-deprived tumor microenvironment. To address this challenge, we employed a selective metabolic refueling (MR) strategy by providing T cells with inosine as an alternative fuel source for growth and functionality. In this study, we engineered CAR T cells to co-express a membrane-bound CD26 and a cytoplasmic adenosine deaminase 1 (ADA1) fused to an anti-CD3 scFv. ADA1 irreversibly converts both intracellular and extracellular adenosine to inosine, overcoming adenosine-mediated immunosuppression and providing T cells with inosine for growth. The inclusion of an anti-CD3 scFv fusion partner and overexpressing CD26 boosts ADA1 capture in a membrane proximal manner, providing inosine for T cells and minimizing feeding the tumor cells. We demonstrate that ADA1 is conditionally secreted only in stress conditions and that it activates CAR T cells through trans-signaling in a tumor-specific manner. In addition, we show that, compared to unmodified CAR T cells, CD26-overexpressing CAR T cells have better migration capacity and are less susceptible to TGF-β1 suppression. Finally, we found that, in mice models of human hepatocellular carcinoma (GPC3-MR-CAR) and human non-small cell lung cancer (HER2-MR-CAR), metabolically refueled CAR T cells (MR-CAR) are more efficient in reducing tumor growth than unmodified CAR T cells. Thus, selective refueling CAR T cells using ADA1 and CD26 holds promise for improving the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy of solid tumors.
De novodesigned Hsp70 activator dissolves intracellular condensates
Authors: Zhang Jason Z , Greenwood Nathan , Hernandez Jason , Cuperus Josh T , Huang Buwei , Ryder Bryan D , Queitsch Christine , Gestwicki Jason E , Baker David
Published: September 2023

Protein quality control (PQC) is carried out in part by the chaperone Hsp70, in concert with adapters of the J-domain protein (JDP) family. The JDPs, also called Hsp40s, are thought to recruit Hsp70 into complexes with specific client proteins. However, the molecular principles regulating this process are not well understood. We describe thede novodesign of a set of Hsp70 binding proteins that either inhibited or stimulated Hsp70’s ATPase activity; a stimulating design promoted the refolding of denatured luciferasein vitro, similar to native JDPs. Targeting of this design to intracellular condensates resulted in their nearly complete dissolution. The designs inform our understanding of chaperone structure-function relationships and provide a general and modular way to target PQC systems to condensates and other cellular targets.
A draft of human N-glycans of glycoRNA
Authors: Bi Ming , Zhang Zirui , Wang Tao , Liang Hongwei , Tian Zhixin
Published: September 2023

In addition to the backbone molecules of proteins and lipids, RNAs have recently been found to be N-glycosylated as well in cell models. Some overlap of N-glycans between RNA and protein exist in terms of monosaccharide composition. Here we report a draft of human tissue N-glycans of glycoRNA covering 12 typical organs as characterized by mass spectrometry-based N-glycomics. RNAs were first prepared, N-glycans were then enzymatically released, hydrophilically enriched, permethylated, analyzed by RPLC-MS/MS, and finally identified by N-glycan search engine GlySeeker. A total of 676 putative sequence structures with 236 monosaccharide compositions were identified across the 12 organs. Organ-specific similarity and heterogeneity of N-glycosylation in glycoRNAs were annotated. This first comprehensive draft of human glycoRNAs serves a foundation for future structural and functional studies.

TOC Graphic
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Antibiotic Use among the Support Staff of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in India
Authors: Nair Nayana , Kadhe Neha , Badhan Vrushali
Published: September 2023

Aims & Objectives

Antimicrobial resistance is a global problem arising mainly due to the irrational use of antibiotics, selfmedication being one of the key contributors. Such practices are particularly common in developing countries where a large section of the population lacks awareness of the proper use of antibiotics.

Many studies in the past have assessed knowledge and practices about antibiotic use in public and healthcare personnel. However, literature on the Indian population, specifically, about support staff hospital workers (aya, hamal, ward boy, sweeper) is scarce. The fact that these workers closely interact with both doctors and patients renders them crucial to spreading the right information in the community. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards antibiotic use in the support staff of a tertiary healthcare hospital and to identify the demographic factors that affect their knowledge, attitude, and practices towards antibiotic use.

Methodology

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using a self-administered, pretested, pre-validated structured questionnaire, in 403 support healthcare workers at a tertiary healthcare hospital. The questionnaire had 4 sections on demographic characteristics, knowledge of antibiotic use and resistance, attitude, and practices of antibiotic consumption.

Individual responses were scored and classified as good, average, or poor.

Results

Category-wise overall respondents’ scores were as follows: Knowledge (64.5% good, 27.8% average, 7.7% poor), Attitude (59.2% good, 33.9% average, 6.9% poor), and Practices (55.6% good, 44.1% average, 0.3% poor). Although 58% of respondents took antibiotics on doctor’s recommendation only, 93% did not use their leftover medication for family. 100% of people with age >50 years completed full courses of prescribed antibiotic therapy.

Conclusion and Significance

The study showed an association between good Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices with better education and income. While >50% study population scored well on all 3 criterion, certain issues, such as using leftover antibiotics for family and taking antibiotics without a doctor’s recommendation, are heavily prevalent. More awareness is required to prevent such practices.
Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with localized brain differences that partially mediate associations with increased adolescent psychopathology
Authors: Baranger David AA , Miller Alex P , Gorelik Aaron J , Paul Sarah E , Hatoum Alexander S , Johnson Emma C , Colbert Sarah MC , Smyser Christopher D , Rogers Cynthia E , Bijsterbosch Janine D , Agrawal Arpana , Bogdan Ryan
Published: September 2023

Prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) is associated with mental health problems, but the neurobiological mechanisms remain unknown. We find that PCE is associated with localized differences across neuroimaging metrics that longitudinally mediate associations with mental health in adolescence (n=9,322-10,186). Differences in brain development may contribute to PCE-related variability in adolescent mental health.
Exploring Degradation of Intrinsically Disordered Protein YAP induced by PROTACs
Authors: Zhou Chen , Sun Chunbao , Pi Liya , Li Chenglong
Published: September 2023

Yes-associated protein (YAP), a potent oncogene and a key player in the Hippo tumor suppression pathway, has long been considered challenging to target due to its partially intrinsically disordered nature. However, recent advances in High-throughput Screening (HTS) have led to the discovery of a few YAP binders. Building upon this progress, a novel approach utilizing Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) technology was employed to design and synthesize a series of YAP degraders. Here, our degraders were created by linking NSC682769, a previously reported YAP binder, with either VHL ligand 2 or pomalidomide using various linkers of different lengths and types. The most promising degraderYZ-6recruits the E3 ligase VHL, inducing rapid and sustained YAP degradation leading to suppression of YAP/TEAD-led transcription in both YAP-dependent NCI-H226 and Huh7 cancer cell lines. In addition to its degradation capabilities,YZ-6also exhibited potent antiproliferative activity in both cell lines. Importantly,YZ-6efficiently suppresses tumor development in the Huh7 xenograft mouse model without adverse effects on the mice. These findings highlight the potential of PROTAC-mediated degradation as a viable strategy for reducing oncogenic YAP levels and attenuating downstream signaling in cancer cells. Moreover, the development of PROTACs based on NSC672869 holds promise for treating YAP-driven malignancies.
Adaptation of a Mutual Exclusivity Framework to Identify Driver Mutations within Biological Pathways
Authors: Wang Xinjun , Kostrzewa Caroline , Reiner Allison , Shen Ronglai , Begg Colin
Published: September 2023

Distinguishing genomic alterations in cancer genes that have functional impact on tumor growth and disease progression from the ones that are passengers and confer no fitness advantage has important clinical implications. Evidence-based methods for nominating drivers are limited by existing knowledge on the oncogenic effects and therapeutic benefits of specific variants from clinical trials or experimental settings. As clinical sequencing becomes a mainstay of patient care, applying computational methods to mine the rapidly growing clinical genomic data holds promise in uncovering novel functional candidates beyond the existing knowledge-base and expanding the patient population that could potentially benefit from genetically targeted therapies. We propose a statistical and computational method (MAGPIE) that builds on a likelihood approach leveraging the mutual exclusivity pattern within an oncogenic pathway for identifying probabilistically both the specific genes within a pathway and the individual mutations within such genes that are truly the drivers. Alterations in a cancer gene are assumed to be a mixture of driver and passenger mutations with the passenger rates modeled in relationship to tumor mutational burden. A limited memory BFGS algorithm is used to facilitate large scale optimization. We use simulations to study the operating characteristics of the method and assess false positive and false negative rates in driver nomination. When applied to a large study of primary melanomas the method accurately identified the known driver genes within the RTK-RAS pathway and nominated a number of rare variants with previously unknown biological and clinical relevance as prime candidates for functional validation.
Energetic Demands Regulate Sleep-Wake Rhythm Circuit Development
Authors: Poe Amy R. , Zhu Lucy , Tang Si Hao , Valencia Ella , Kayser Matthew S.
Published: September 2023

Sleep and feeding patterns lack strong daily rhythms during early life. As diurnal animals mature, feeding is consolidated to the day and sleep to the night. InDrosophila, circadian sleep patterns are initiated with formation of a circuit connecting the central clock to arousal output neurons; emergence of circadian sleep also enables long-term memory (LTM). However, the cues that trigger the development of this clock-arousal circuit are unknown. Here, we identify a role for nutritional status in driving sleep-wake rhythm development inDrosophilalarvae. We find that in the 2ndinstar larval period (L2), sleep and feeding are spread across the day; these behaviors become organized into daily patterns by the 3rdinstar larval stage (L3). Forcing mature (L3) animals to adopt immature (L2) feeding strategies disrupts sleep-wake rhythms and the ability to exhibit LTM. In addition, the development of the clock (DN1a)-arousal (Dh44) circuit itself is influenced by the larval nutritional environment. Finally, we demonstrate that larval arousal Dh44 neurons act through glucose metabolic genes to drive onset of daily sleep-wake rhythms. Together, our data suggest that changes to energetic demands in developing organisms trigger the formation of sleep-circadian circuits and behaviors.
Fossil-calibrated inference of divergence times among the Volvocine algae enables reconstruction of the steps that led to differentiated multicellularity
Authors: Lindsey Charles Ross , Knoll Andrew H. , Herron Matthew D. , Rosenzweig Frank
Published: September 2023

Throughout its nearly four-billion-year history, life has undergone evolutionary transitions in which simpler subunits have become integrated to form a more complex whole. Many of these transitions opened the door to innovations that resulted in increased biodiversity and/or organismal efficiency. The evolution of multicellularity from unicellular forms represents one such transition, one that paved the way for cellular differentiation, including differentiation of male and female gametes. A useful model for studying the evolution of multicellularity and cellular differentiation is the volvocine algae, a clade of freshwater green algae whose members range from unicellular to colonial, from undifferentiated to completely differentiated, and whose gamete types can be isogamous, anisogamous, or oogamous. To better understand how multicellularity, differentiation, and gametes evolved in this group, we used comparative genomics and fossil data to establish a geologically calibrated roadmap of when these innovations occurred. Our results, presented as ancestral-state reconstructions, show that multicellularity arose independently twice in this clade. Our chronograms indicate multicellularity evolved during the Carboniferous-Triassic periods in Goniaceae + Volvocaceae, and possibly as early as the Cretaceous in Tetrabaenaceae. Using divergence time estimates we inferred when, and in what order, specific developmental changes occurred that led to differentiated multicellularity and oogamy. We find that in the volvocine algae the temporal sequence of developmental changes leading to differentiated multicellularity is much as proposed by David Kirk, and that multicellularity is correlated with the acquisition of anisogamy and oogamy. Lastly, morphological, molecular, and divergence time data suggest the possibility of cryptic species in Tetrabaenaceae.
Save GPU RAM Usage in Convolutional Layers to Load Larger Histopathological Images
Authors: Ando Takumi
Published: September 2023

Image recognition models have evolved tremendously. Despite the progress for general images, histopathological images are not easy targets. One of the reasons is that histopathological images can be 100000-200000px in height and width which are often too large for a deep neural network model to handle directly because the RAM of the GPU is limited. Mitigating the obstacle is expected to be a progress in the histopathological image analysis. In this study, we save the RAM consumption in a convolutional layer by allocating only the required data to GPU only when needed and by dividing the calculation into per channel. This RAM Saving Convolutional layer (RSConv) can load larger images than a normal convolutional layer. The code is available athttps://github.com/tand826/RAMSavingConv2d.
Caring for Terminally Ill Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Literature on the Stress Experienced by Family Caregivers
Authors: Jhang Kaijyun , Luh Dih-Ling
Published: September 2023

Objective

This research takes previous study, Cancer family caregivers during the palliative, hospice, and bereavement phases: A review of the descriptive psychosocial literature, limited in recent decade, as methodology template. The purpose of this review was to organize the literature as compared to the different result of previous study.

Method

As a systematic review, major databases were searched for non-intervention descriptive studies. Psychosocial variables of family caregivers to adults with cancer during the different phases would be included.

Result

The 23 studies reviewed were conducted in ten countries and varied considerably by samples, outcome measures, and results. Despite limiting several conditions, results, such as age, gender, and relationship to the patient, were inconsistent. Across the 23 studies, 53 unique instruments were used; 13 of which were no psychometric testing. The family caregivers who were younger and faced level of daily life impairment tended to be burden, anxious, depress. To summarize the different factors influencing caregivers’ status, complicated grief was consistent with their situation.

Conclusion

As comparewith previous study, it demonstrated inconsistent results, which were spouse, gender and age, affecting family caregivers’ status. However, regarding to measurement instruments using, it was much more rigorous than before. Also, it had been changed in the major study site and the number of study. As a consequence of physical and psychosocial status of family caregivers, they were in high risk population.
PCR-based amplification of acox1mini-DNA barcode gene from feces: A non-invasive molecular technique to identify environmental DNA samples of maritime shrew (Sorex maritimensis)
Authors: Jalilvand Golnar , Stewart Donald T.
Published: September 2023

The Maritime Shrew (Sorex maritimensis) is endemic to Canada and found only in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The Maritime Shrew has been identified as one of the vertebrate species in Nova Scotia that is most susceptible to the effects of climate change and global warming, and it is listed by NatureServe as Vulnerable (category G3). While generally regarded as a wetland specialist, relatively little is known about their specific habitat preferences. Non-invasive methods of sampling have proven valuable in identifying and monitoring such rare species. The objective of this study was to optimize a non-invasive method to document presence of Maritime Shrews using non-invasively collected fecal DNA and to develop a PCR-based protocol to amplify a short, ∼120 base pair section of thecox1gene using shrew-specific primers. We used baited feeding tubes to collect shrew feces. Cox1PCR primers were designed to preferentially amplify this mini-DNA barcode for shrews in samples that may contain feces from rodents as well. The primers were designed to amplify a small amplicon to increase the likelihood of successful amplification from degraded DNA. This technique is likely to be effective for documenting the distribution and habitat preferences of this relatively rare shrew in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
The PI3K-AKT-mTOR axis persists as a therapeutic dependency in KRASG12D-driven non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: McDaid W. J. , Wilson L. , Adderley H. , Baker M. J. , Searle J. , Ginn L. , Budden T. , Aldea M. , Marinello A. , Aredo J. , Viros A. , Besse B. , Wakelee H. A. , Blackhall F. , Lindsay C. R. , Malliri A.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

KRASG12Cand KRASG12Dinhibitors represent a major translational breakthrough for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and cancer in general by directly targeting its most mutated oncoprotein. However, resistance to these small molecules has highlighted the need for rational combination partners necessitating a critical understanding of signaling downstream of KRAS mutant isoforms.

Methods

We contrasted tumor development betweenKrasG12CandKrasG12Dgenetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs). To corroborate findings and determine mutant subtype-specific dependencies, isogenic models ofKrasG12CandKrasG12Dinitiation and adaptation were profiled by RNA sequencing. We also employed cell line models of established KRAS mutant NSCLC and determined therapeutic vulnerabilities through pharmacological inhibition. We analysed differences in survival outcomes for patients affected by advancedKRASG12CorKRASG12D-mutant NSCLC.

Results

KRASG12Dexhibited higher potencyin vivo, manifesting as more rapid lung tumor formation and reduced survival of KRASG12DGEMMs compared to KRASG12C. This increased potency, recapitulated in an isogenic initiation model, was associated with enhanced PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling. However, KRASG12Concogenicity and downstream pathway activation were comparable with KRASG12Dat later stages of tumorigenesisin vitroandin vivo, consistent with similar clinical outcomes in patients. Despite this, established KRASG12DNSCLC models depended more on the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, while KRASG12Cmodels on the MAPK pathway. Specifically, KRASG12Dinhibition was synergistically enhanced by AKT inhibition.

Conclusions

Our data highlight a unique combination treatment vulnerability and suggest that patient selection strategies for combination approaches using direct KRAS inhibitors should be i) contextualised to individual RAS mutants, and ii) tailored to their downstream signaling.
Changes in accounting estimates during the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA
Authors: Li Valerie , Luo Yan
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The authors investigate how managers adapt their financial reporting and disclosure practices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through changes in accounting estimates (CAEs).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors define the pandemic period as starting on March 1, 2020. The sample consists of 9,575 CAEs disclosed in quarterly (10-Qs) and annual (10-Ks) financial reports by US firms between January 1, 2004 and May 31, 2022. The authors perform multivariate analyses of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of CAEs and on whether the impact of CAEs on firms' financial performance and reporting quality changes during the pandemic.

Findings

In the examination of the CAE footnote disclosures in the quarterly (10-Qs) and annual (10-Ks) reports of US companies, the authors find no evidence that the incidence of CAEs in 10-Ks or the number of firms reporting CAEs are significantly different in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, but the incidence of CAEs in 10-Qs is significantly higher in the pandemic period than in the pre-pandemic period. The authors also find that the number of CAEs related to revenue recognition increase significantly in the pandemic period, but CAEs in other categories decrease, with the sharpest drop seen in the liabilities category. Further investigation suggests that although the dollar impact of 10-K CAEs on current financial statements is higher during the pandemic period, firms with CAEs, especially positive CAEs, in either 10-Ks or 10-Qs are less likely to use CAEs to boost earnings in the pandemic period. However, the authors find evidence that firms tend to use CAEs to “big bath” current earnings and create reserve for future period. The authors have not observed any significant differences in how the various phases of the pandemic affect the reporting of CAEs. Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest that financially distressed firms report more or fewer CAEs during the pandemic.

Practical implications

The results are consistent with the notion that, during the pandemic, firms exercise greater caution in their CAE disclosures, refraining from using CAEs as a means of boosting earnings but as a strategy to create reserve for future period. The paper highlights the challenges that various stakeholders face when assessing a company's current and future financial performance based on management's accounting estimates.

Originality/value

This study captures the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of CAEs and CAEs' impact on the financial performance and financial reporting quality of firms during the pandemic.
The nexus between social media advertising and customers’ purchase intention with the mediating role of customers’ brand consciousness: evidence from three South Asian countries
Authors: Hosain Md Sajjad , Mamun Abdullah Mohammad Ahshanul
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This empirical paper is an endeavor to explore the relationship between social media advertising (SMA) and customers' purchase intention (CPI) in three South Asian countries. SMA was further divided into three relevant dimensions: perceived relevance (PR), perceived informativeness (PI) and perceived credibility (PC). Furthermore, the authors incorporated a single mediator: customers' brand consciousness (CBC) to test the mediating effects on the direct relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors purposively selected 1937 fashion-conscious individuals based on a cross-sectional survey design. The authors applied SPSS 25 for explanatory statistics and structural equation modeling (SEM) (through AMOS 25) for testing the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

Based on the responses and the application of statistical measures, the authors revealed that all of the three dimensions of SMA have significant positive relationships with CPI. CBC is also significantly and positively related to CPI. Regarding the mediating effects, CBC was identified to have full mediation effects on the relationships between PR and CPI and PI and CPI. On the contrary, the same variable was found to have partial mediation on the relationship between PC and CPI.

Originality/value

South Asia is a growing business hub and the largest consumer market in terms of population. This empirical study was undertaken to reveal the role of SMA on CPI in the three highly populated South Asian countries, which is rare in academia. The outcomes of this empirical study are expected to be useful for further research attempts regarding SMA and consumer behavior. Businesses and policymakers are also expected to benefit from formulating SMA-related strategies to retain present buyers as well as attract the prospective ones.
Abolee: way forward in rural markets
Authors: Chatterjee Joyee
Published: September 2023

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this study are as follows:

Teaching Objective 1: Students will describe specific characteristics of the rural market in India and will draw out the differences vis-a-vis the urban markets.

Teaching Objective 2: Students will describe about the push versus pull strategy and various channels of distribution in rural areas.

Teaching Objective 3: The students will explain the 4As of the rural marketing mix and apply the same in the context of the case.

Teaching Objective 4: The case can be applied with respect to the health-belief model to help students analyse the behaviour change model.

Teaching Objective 5: Students will analyse the challenges associated with supply chain and logistics in rural areas.

Case overview/synopsis

This case study looked at a start-up company Rugved Hygienecare Industries Private Limited and their sanitary napkin brand “Abolee” designed and targeted for rural women in India. Onkar Charegaonkar and Mithila Charegaonkar started this venture in December 2017, realizing that sanitary napkins solved a greater purpose of helping women hygienically manage menstruation, and at the same time, there was no threat to this product because over a period of time, it became a necessity of life. Onkar and Mithila believed in giving back to the society and at the same time generate revenue for their company. Onkar and Mithila needed to make a decision with respect to the distribution structure for Abolee to improve penetration in different rural areas of Maharashtra. Onkar and Mithila needed to strategize to create a remarkable impact in the rural areas. There were multiple challenges that were faced by Abolee, such as: creating awareness about hygienically managing menstruation options among women, ensuring that women consumers continue to use hygienic menstruation management material, creating a preference for Abolee among women consumers and deciding on whether to focus on driving sales through existing channel partners or to invest in finding out alternative avenues for selling “Abolee” in rural areas.

Complexity academic level

This case study was primarily written for understanding rural marketing aspects of marketing management courses at both the undergraduate level and the postgraduate level. This case study also indicated about the role of gender and its impact on consumer behaviour in rural areas. Although this case study was related to the rural Indian market, it can also be related to other emerging economies.

Supplementary material

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS8: Marketing.
Measuring local public expenditure effectiveness using sustainable development goals
Authors: Matos Sandra , Jorge Susana , Moura e Sá Patrícia
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a tool to assess local public expenditure effectiveness based on a framework of alignment between outputs, outcomes and impacts – the Index of Municipal Expenditure Effectiveness (IMEE). This index is composed of a set of indicators associated with the typology of local expenditure.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the methodological approach used in the development of the Index, considering the insights from the literature review and the opinion of a panel of experts. The indicators of outcomes and social impacts that are part of the Index are intentionally aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as they provide an essential guide to assess public value creation in the current context. For simplicity purposes, three main components of municipal expenditure were considered, namely Education, Essential Public Services and Local Public Transportation. The Index is then illustrated through a pilot application, using data from five Portuguese municipalities.

Findings

This study argues that measuring the public expenditure effectiveness based on outcome and impact indicators can provide the data needed for local governments to better understand the effects of their activities over time, ultimately assessing their contribution to public value.

Practical implications

Assessing the impact of local spending is important to ensure the best use of public resources. Linking local public expenditures with the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs is a promising avenue to understand up to what extent the application of the public money is contributing to create public value by impacting on citizens’ lives.

Originality/value

The proposed IMEE contributes to addressing a gap identified in public organizations, including local governments, regarding the lack of consideration of expenditure and outcome/impact relationships, and the use of variables to measure long term impacts.
Factors influencing older adults' intention to use virtual fitting room technology during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hwang Chanmi , Jin Byoungho , Song Linfeng , Feng Jing
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence older adults' intention to use virtual fitting room technology during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the extended technology acceptance model (TAM).

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted with a sample of older adults from 60 to 90 years old (n = 819). A structural equation modeling was conducted to test a proposed research model.

Findings

The results revealed that older adults' behavioral intentions were positively influenced by perceived usefulness and ease of use, and fear of infection during the pandemic was significantly related to the perceived usefulness. Fit concern was not significantly related to perceived usefulness of virtual fitting room technology.

Originality

This research extends the TAM by adding antecedents to perceived usefulness in explaining older adults' adoption of virtual fitting technology.
Discussing the applicability of the maintenance management framework for asset management (MMFAM): a hydroelectric power plant case study
Authors: da Silva Renan Favarão , de Souza Gilberto Francisco Martha
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The Maintenance Management Framework for Asset Management (MMFAM) is a recently modeled framework to ensure the alignment of maintenance management with physical asset management based on the ISO 55000 series for asset management. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the applicability of the MMFAM considering the operational context of a hydroelectric power plant.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopted the case study method for the discussion of the applicability of the MMFAM to a real operational context. A hydroelectric power plant was chosen as the scope of the case study due to its relevance since the electricity sector is an example of an asset-intensive industry in which asset management performance is fundamental. To gain a detailed understanding of the organization, data were collected through direct requests to the plant, informal meetings with technical collaborators, a technical visit to the hydroelectric plant and on-site data collection. Then, the MMFAM processes were demonstrated based on this information and the results supported the discussion of the MMFAM applicability.

Findings

The case study provided a deeper understanding of the processes included in the MMFAM. In addition, the results suggested the applicability of the framework to other organizations besides the hydroelectric sector due to its generic approach and the possibility of choosing appropriate tools to support and implement the MMFAM processes.

Practical implications

The case study is expected to contribute to the practical understanding of the MMFAM processes within an operational context and assist maintenance professionals and researchers in their implementation in other organizations.

Originality/value

Although the literature provides different maintenance management frameworks, their practical discussion based on a real operational context is still a gap. Accordingly, this paper discusses the MMFAM under a case study method to expand its understanding beyond theory and contribute to practical comprehension in depth.
Building and nurturing a learning culture: a cross-dynamic and interactional perspective
Authors: Alves Sarah , Thiebaut Edouard
Published: September 2023

Purpose

If building and nurturing a learning organization is not a random chance, the question of where organizations should start is patent. Because learning culture is one of the core components of learning organizations, it is wondered how individuals and organizations contribute to this phenomenon. Under an interactional perspective, the authors explore the cross-dynamics between learning resources, structure and support (organizational level), and self-directed learning (individual level).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted qualitative and exploratory research in Spring 2021 in France. They used semi-structured interviews with HRMs and a Delphi panel as the main instruments. This dual approach brings a reflexive and complementary dialogue to the research question.

Findings

The results show that non-learning organizations took advantage of the Covid-19 period. They created a learning biotope and fostered learning dynamics. Although this biotope acted as a learning marketplace and lacked guidance, individuals interacted with this learning biotope. They took learning initiatives and developed their self-directed learning. This understanding argues for constant interaction and co-influence between organizations and individuals to build and nurture a learning culture.

Originality/value

There is little discussion on how individuals and organizations contribute to building and nurturing a learning culture from an interactional perspective. Furthermore, literature on learning organizations considers self-directedness as a whole, considering self-directed learning as a characteristic and a process sharpens thinking. On methodological concerns, the authors used a dual qualitative approach with interviews and Delphi for the first time in research on learning organizations.
War in World Society: Towards a new order of global constitutionalism?
Authors: Brunkhorst Hauke
Published: September 2023

In world society, all wars are world wars and so is the present war in Ukraine even if the use of violence is broadly restricted to the Ukrainian area (a restriction imposed clearly imposed by global politics). World society emerged between 1750 and 1850 together with the first world wars and world revolutions that were fought on all continents and oceans (1). There is no society beyond world society any longer. The world society pushes (but by no means sufficiently) (a) law and politics to institutionalise a world constitution and (b) social actors to culturally symbolise global mindsets, world views and normativity (2). Yet, only a second wave of world revolutions and world wars between 1900 and 1950 caused the rise of autonomous world law that enabled a now interrupted but still lasting global process of fully inclusive democratisation (3). However, the rise of world law in 1945 was followed by its fall after 1989, and the present wars in Ukraine and beyond come close to a complete destruction of world law. There is only a small chance to end the use of violence in Ukraine that cannot and should not lead to sufficient victory of one of the warring parties but to a reconstruction and new foundation of world law and the constitutional order of the world. The alternative is not the national state but failed states and anomia (4).
Maternal and paternal risk factors for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Alcohol and other drug use as proximal influences
Authors: May Philip A. , Hasken Julie M. , de Vries Marlene M. , Marais Anna‐Susan , Abdul‐Rahman Omar , Robinson Luther K. , Adam Margaret P. , Manning Melanie A. , Kalberg Wendy O. , Buckley David , Seedat Soraya , Parry Charles D. H. , Hoyme H. Eugene
Published: September 2023

Objective

To explore and analyze the significance of proximal influences of maternal and paternal traits associated with bearing a child with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

Methods

Aggregated, maternal interview‐collected data (N = 2515) concerning alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use were examined to determine risk for FASD from seven cross‐sectional samples of mothers of first‐grade students who were evaluated for a possible diagnosis of FASD.

Results

Mothers of children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) reported the highest alcohol use throughout pregnancy, proportion of binge drinking, drinks per drinking day (DDD), drinking days per week, and total drinks per week. Mothers of children with FAS also consumed significantly more alcohol than mothers of children with partial FAS (PFAS), alcohol‐related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), or typically developing controls. Mothers of children with PFAS and ARND reported similar drinking patterns, which exposed fetuses to 3–4 times more alcohol than mothers of controls, but the PFAS group was more likely than the ARND group to abstain in latter trimesters. Fathers of all children were predominantly drinkers (70%–85%), but more fathers of children with FASD binged heavily on more days than fathers of controls. Compared to the few mothers of controls who used alcohol during pregnancy, the ARND group binge drank more (3+ DDD) throughout pregnancy and drank more DDD before pregnancy and first trimester. Regression analysis, controlling for tobacco use, indicated that mothers who reported drinking <1 DDD were significantly more likely than abstainers to bear a child with FASD (OR = 2.75) as were those reporting higher levels such as 5–5.9 DDD (OR = 32.99). Exclusive, first‐trimester maternal drinking increased risk for FASD five times over that of abstinence (p < 0.001, OR = 5.05, 95% CI: 3.88–6.58), first‐ and second‐trimester drinking by 12.4 times, and drinking all trimesters by 16 times (p < 0.001, OR = 15.69, 95% CI: 11.92–20.64). Paternal drinking during and prior to pregnancy, without adjustment, increased the likelihood of FASD significantly (OR = 1.06 and 1.11, respectively), but the significance of both relationships disappeared when maternal alcohol and tobacco use were controlled.

Conclusions

Differences in FASD risk emerged from the examination of multiple proximal variables of maternal alcohol and tobacco use, reflecting increased FASD risk at greater levels of maternal alcohol consumption.