bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variability in carbapenemase activity of intrinsic OxaAb (OXA-51-like) beta-lactamase enzymes inAcinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Takebayashi Yuiko , Findlay Jacqueline , Heesom Kate J. , Warburton Philip J. , Avison Matthew B. , Evans Benjamin A.
Published: July 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to measure the variability in carbapenem susceptibility conferred by different OxaAb variants, characterise the molecular evolution ofoxaAband elucidate the contribution of OxaAb and other possible carbapenem resistance factors in the clinical isolates using WGS and LC-MS/MS.

Methods

Disc susceptibility and MIC broth microdilution tests were performed on ten clinicalA. baumanniiisolates and interpreted according to CLSI guidelines. Imipenem and meropenem MICs were evaluated for alloxaAbvariants cloned into susceptibleA. baumanniiCIP70.10 and increasedadeABCefflux pump gene expression BM4547 backgrounds, with and without their natural promoters. Molecular evolution analysis of theoxaAbvariants was performed using FastTree and SplitsTree4. Resistance determinants were studied in the clinical isolates using WGS and LC-MS/MS analysis.

Results

OxaAb(82), OxaAb(83), OxaAb(107), and OxaAb(110) carrying I129L and L167V substitutions increased carbapenem MICs when transferred into susceptibleA. baumanniibackgrounds without an upstream IS element. Carbapenem resistance was conferred with the addition of their natural upstream ISAba1promoter. LC-MS/MS analysis on the original clinical isolates showed no differences in expression levels of proteins commonly associated with carbapenem resistance.

Conclusions

ISAba1-driven overexpression of OxaAb variants with substitutions I129L and L167V confers carbapenem resistance with no need for additional resistance mechanisms.
Common genetic variants with fetal effects on birth weight are enriched for proximity to genes implicated in rare developmental disorders
Authors: Beaumont Robin N. , Mayne Isabelle K. , Freathy Rachel M. , Wright Caroline F.
Published: July 2020

Birth weight is an important factor in newborn and infant survival, and both low and high birth weights are associated with adverse later life health outcomes. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 190 loci associated with either maternal or fetal effects on birth weight. Knowledge of the underlying causal genes and pathways is crucial to understand how these loci influence birth weight, and the links between infant and adult morbidity. Numerous monogenic developmental syndromes are associated with birth weights at the extreme upper or lower ends of the normal distribution, and genes implicated in those syndromes may provide valuable information to help prioritise candidate genes at GWAS loci. We examined the proximity of genes implicated in developmental disorders to birth weight GWAS loci at which a fetal effect is either likely or cannot be ruled out. We used simulations to test whether those genes fall disproportionately close to the GWAS loci. We found that birth weight GWAS single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) fall closer to such genes than expected by chance. This is the case both when the developmental disorder gene is the nearest gene to the birth weight SNP and also when examining all genes within 258kb of the SNP. This enrichment was driven by genes that cause monogenic developmental disorders with dominant modes of inheritance. We found several examples of SNPs located in the intron of one gene that mark plausible effects via different nearby genes implicated in monogenic short stature, highlighting the closest gene to the SNP not necessarily being the functionally relevant gene. This is the first application of this approach to birth weight loci, which has helped identify GWAS loci likely to have direct fetal effects on birth weight which could not previously be classified as fetal or maternal due to insufficient statistical power.
Serine 165 Phosphorylation of SHARPIN regulates the Activation of NF-κB
Authors: Thys An , Trillet Kilian , Rosinska Sara , Gayraud Audrey , Douanne Tiphaine , Danger Yannic , Renaud Clotilde , Antigny Luc , Lavigne Régis , Pineau Charles , Com Emmanuelle , Vérité Franck , Gavard Julie , Bidère Nicolas
Published: July 2020

The adaptor SHARPIN composes, together with the E3 ligases HOIP and HOIL1, the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. This enzymatic complex catalyzes and stamps atypical linear ubiquitin chains onto substrates to modify their fate, and has been linked to the regulation of the NF-κB pathway downstream most immunoreceptors, inflammation and cell death. However, how this signaling complex is regulated is not fully understood. Here, we report that a portion of SHARPIN is constitutively phosphorylated on the serine in position 165 in lymphoblastoid cells, and can be further induced following antigen receptor stimulation. Analysis of a phosphorylation-resistant mutant of SHARPIN revealed that this mark is dispensable for the generation of linear ubiquitin chains. However, phosphorylation allows the optimal activation of NF-κB in response to TNFα and T-cell receptor engagement. These results identify a new layer of regulation of the LUBAC, and unveil new strategies to modulate its action.
A computational exploration of resilience and evolvability of protein-protein interaction networks
Authors: Klein Brennan , Holmér Ludvig , Smith Keith M. , Johnson Mackenzie M. , Swain Anshuman , Stolp Laura , Teufel Ashley I. , Kleppe April S.
Published: July 2020

Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks represent complex intra-cellular protein interactions, and the presence or absence of such interactions can lead to biological changes in an organism. Recent network-based approaches have shown that a phenotype’s PPI network’sresilienceto environmental perturbations is related to its placement in the tree of life; though we still do not know how or why certain intra-cellular factors can bring about this resilience. Here, we explore the influence of gene expression and network properties on PPI networks’ resilience. We use publicly-available data of PPIs forE. coli, S. cerevisiae, andH. sapiens, where we compute changes in network resilience as new nodes (proteins) are added to the networks under three node addition mechanisms—random, degree-based, and gene-expression-based attachments. By calculating the resilience of the resulting networks, we estimate the effectiveness of these node addition mechanisms. We demonstrate that adding nodes with gene-expression-based preferential attachment (as opposed to random or degree-based) preserves and can increase the original resilience of PPI network in all three species, regardless of gene expression distribution or network structure. These findings introduce a general notion ofprospective resilience, which highlights the key role of network structures in understanding the evolvability of phenotypic traits.
Analysis of Complex DNA Rearrangements During Early Stages of HAC Formation
Authors: Pesenti Elisa , Liskovykh Mikhail , Okazaki Koei , Mallozzi Alessio , Reid Caitlin , Abad Maria Alba , Jeyaprakash A. Arockia , Kouprina Natalay , Larionov Vladimir , Masumoto Hiroshi , Earnshaw William C.
Published: July 2020

Human Artificial Chromosomes (HACs) are important tools for epigenetic engineering, for measuring chromosome instability (CIN) and possible gene therapy. However, their use in the latter is potentially limited because the input HAC-seeding DNA can undergo an unpredictable series of rearrangements during HAC formation. As a result, after transfection and HAC formation, each cell clone contains a HAC with a unique structure that cannot be precisely predicted from the structure of the HAC-seeding DNA. Although it has been reported that these rearrangements can happen, the timing and mechanism of their formation has yet to be described. Here we synthesized a HAC-seeding DNA with two distinct structural domains and introduced it into HT1080 cells. We characterized a number of HAC-containing clones and subclones to track DNA rearrangements during HAC establishment. We demonstrated that rearrangements can occur early during HAC formation. Subsequently, the established HAC genomic organization is stably maintained across many cell generations. Thus, early stages in HAC formation appear to at least occasionally involve a process of DNA shredding and shuffling that resembles chromothripsis, an important hallmark of many cancer types. Understanding these events during HAC formation has critical implications for future efforts aimed at synthesizing and exploiting synthetic human chromosomes.
The molecular landscape of neural differentiation in the developingDrosophilabrain revealed by targeted scRNA-seq and a multi-informatic analysis paradigm
Authors: Michki Nigel S. , Li Ye , Sanjasaz Kayvon , Zhao Yimeng , Shen Fred Y. , Walker Logan A. , Lee Cheng-Yu , Cai Dawen
Published: July 2020

TheDrosophilatype-II neuroblast (NB) lineages present an attractive model to investigate the neural differentiation process. With only 16 stem cells, the type-II NB lineages generate many intermediate neural progenitors (INPs) to rapidly expand the neuron and glia pool, similar to those in the human outer subventricular zone (OSVZ). We performed targeted single-cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in 3rd instar larval brains and created MiCV, an scRNA-seq data visualization web tool to integrate results from multiple bioinformatics analyses, display co-expression patterns of multiple genes simultaneously, and retrieve gene function and ortholog annotations. We identified novel markers that label distinct neural subsets using MiCV and subsequentlyin situprofiled them to recover the spatial information lacking in the scRNA-seq data. These new markers further enabled us to build novel neural developmental trajectories that lead to unique neuronal cell fates. Combining prior knowledge,in silicoanalyses, andin situevidence, this multi-informatic investigation describes the molecular landscape of neural differentiation from a single developmental snapshot inDrosophila, and provides an experimental and analytical roadmap for navigating the differentiation process of more complex brains.
Multiple Emulsions Able To Be Use For Oral Administration Of Actives Pharmaceutical Ingredients: Different Phases Physico-Chemical Parameters Study
Authors: Augustin Diaga D. L. , Rodrigue D. A. , Mamadou S. , Mouhamed D. S. , Mady S. P. , Gora M. , Mounibé D.
Published: July 2020

When formulating emulsions, the preliminary tests, also known as formulation tests, constitute a step which can be long and expensive because of the quantity of reagents that can be used. A rigorous methodology could thus be of great interest, that is at the aim of our study which consists of evaluating the physico-chemical parameters of different phases used to make thus multiple emulsions.

In our study, physico chemical parameters such as conductivity, pH, density, viscosity, and surface tension have been studied by direct measurement using equipment and also by means of suitable mounting.

The results showed that the pH and the surface tension have an important role in the prediction of the stability of emulsions, these latter must be of the same order of magnitude. For all phases conductivity does not have too much interest apart from helping to determine the type of the emulsion.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Multiple emulsions are of great therapeutic interest especially in the administration of medicament which can be inactivated by digestive enzymes, moreover the researches of formulation not being often easy, a control of the physicochemical parameters of the different phases would be of great interest in rapid formulations and at low cost.
Metagenome-assembled genomes fromMonte CristoCave (Diamantina, Brazil) reveal prokaryotic lineages as functional models for life on Mars
Authors: Bendia Amanda G. , Callefo Flavia , Araújo Maicon N. , Sanchez Evelyn , Teixeira Verônica C. , Vasconcelos Alessandra , Battilani Gislaine , Pellizari Vivian H. , Rodrigues Fabio , Galante Douglas
Published: July 2020

Although several studies have explored microbial communities in different terrestrial subsurface ecosystems, little is known about the diversity of their metabolic processes and survival strategies. The advance of bioinformatic tools is allowing the description of novel and not-yet cultivated microbial lineages in different ecosystems, due to the genome reconstruction approach from metagenomic data. The recovery of genomes has the potential of revealing novel lifestyles, metabolic processes and ecological roles of microorganisms, mainly in ecosystems that are largely unknown, and in which cultivation could be not viable. In this study, through shotgun metagenomic data, it was possible to reconstruct several genomes of cultivated and not-yet cultivated prokaryotic lineages from a quartzite cave, located in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, which showed to possess a high diversity of genes involved with different biogeochemical cycles, including reductive and oxidative pathways related to carbon, sulfur, nitrogen and iron. Tree genomes were selected, assigned asTruepera sp.,Ca. Methylomirabilis sp. andCa. Koribacter sp. based on their lifestyles (radiation resistance, anaerobic methane oxidation and potential iron oxidation) for pangenomic analysis, which exhibited genes involved with different DNA repair strategies, starvation and stress response. Since these groups have few reference genomes deposited in databases, our study adds important genomic information about these lineages. The combination of techniques applied in this study allowed us to unveil the potential relationships between microbial genomes and their ecological processes with the cave mineralogy, as well as to discuss their implications for the search for extant lifeforms outside our planet, in silica- and iron-rich environments, especially on Mars.
The transcriptional repressor Zfp125 modifies hepatic energy metabolism in response to fasting and insulin resistance
Authors: Fernandes Gustavo W. , Bocco Barbara M. L. C. , Fonseca Tatiana L. , Salas-Lucia Federico , Nickel Olivia , Russo Samuel C. , Gereben Balázs , Kettelhut Isis C. , Bianco Antonio C.
Published: July 2020

Zfp125 is a transcriptional repressor that inhibits hepatic VLDL secretion. Here we show that mice with liver-specific Zfp125 knockdown exhibited lower respiratory quotient, reduced glycemia and pyruvate-stimulated liver glucose output, and higher levels of β-hydroxyl-butyrate. Microarray and ChIP-seq studies identified Zfp125 peaks in the promoter of 135 metabolically relevant genes, including genes involved in fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis, e.g. Ppara, Cpt1a, Bdh1 and Hmgcs2. Repression by Zfp125 involved recruitment of the corepressors Kap1 and the histone methyl transferase Setdb1, increasing the levels of H3K9me3, a heterochromatin marker of gene silencing. The resulting increase in acetyl-CoA levels accelerated gluconeogenesis through allosteric activation of pyruvate carboxylase. Zfp125 knockdown in isolated mouse hepatocytes amplified the induction of ketogenesis by glucagon or insulin resistance, whereas the expression of key gluconeogenic genes Pck1 and G6pc was amplified by Zfp125. These findings place Zfp125 at the center of fuel dysregulation of type 2 diabetes.
Mendelian imputation of parental genotypes for genome-wide estimation of direct and indirect genetic effects
Authors: Young Alexander I. , Nehzati Seyed Moeen , Lee Chanwook , Benonisdottir Stefania , Cesarini David , Benjamin Daniel J. , Turley Patrick , Kong Augustine
Published: July 2020

Associations between genotype and phenotype derive from four sources: direct genetic effects, indirect genetic effects from relatives, population stratification, and correlations with other variants affecting the phenotype through assortative mating. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of unrelated individuals have limited ability to distinguish the different sources of genotype-phenotype association, confusing interpretation of results and potentially leading to bias when those results are applied – in genetic prediction of traits, for example. With genetic data on families, the randomisation of genetic material during meiosis can be used to distinguish direct genetic effects from other sources of genotype-phenotype association. Genetic data on siblings is the most common form of genetic data on close relatives. We develop a method that takes advantage of identity-by-descent sharing between siblings to impute missing parental genotypes. Compared to no imputation, this increases the effective sample size for estimation of direct genetic effects and indirect parental effects by up to one third and one half respectively. We develop a related method for imputing missing parental genotypes when a parent-offspring pair is observed. We provide the imputation methods in a software package, SNIPar (single nucleotide imputation of parents), that also estimates genome-wide direct and indirect effects of SNPs. We apply this to a sample of 45,826 White British individuals in the UK Biobank who have at least one genotyped first degree relative. We estimate direct and indirect genetic effects for ∼5 million genome-wide SNPs for five traits. We estimate the correlation between direct genetic effects and effects estimated by standard GWAS to be 0.61 (S.E. 0.09) for years of education, 0.68 (S.E. 0.10) for neuroticism, 0.72 (S.E. 0.09) for smoking initiation, 0.87 (S.E. 0.04) for BMI, and 0.96 (S.E. 0.01) for height. These results suggest that GWAS based on unrelated individuals provides an inaccurate picture of direct genetic effects for certain human traits.
“A transient heritable memory regulates HIV reactivation from latency”
Authors: Lu Yiyang , Singh Abhyudai , Dar Roy D.
Published: July 2020

Reactivation of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) from latently infected T cells is a critical barrier to successfully eradicate HIV-1 from patients. Latency models in Jurkat T-cells reveal that individual cells reactivate in an all-or-none fashion when exposed to latency reversal agents (LRAs). Remarkably, this heterogeneity arises within a clonal cell population of genetically identical cells containing a single copy of the provirus integrated at the same genomic site. To characterize these single-cell responses, we leverage the classical Luria-Delbrück fluctuation test where single cells are isolated from a clonal population, and exposed to LRAs after a period of colony expansion. If cellular responses are purely random, then the fraction of reactivating cells should have minimal colony-to-colony fluctuations given the large number of cells present after weeks of colony growth. In contrast, data shows considerable colony-to-colony fluctuations with the fraction of reactivating cells following a skewed distribution. Systematic measurements of fluctuations over time in combination with mathematical modeling uncovers the existence of a heritable memory that regulates HIV-1 reactivation, where single cells are in a LRA-responsive state for a few weeks before switching back to an irresponsive state. These results have enormous implications for designing therapies to purge the latent reservoir and illustrate the utility of fluctuation-based assays to uncover hidden transient cellular states underlying phenotypic heterogeneity.
RhoA effectors LOK/SLK activate ERM proteins to locally inhibit RhoA and define apical morphology
Authors: Zaman Riasat , Lombardo Andrew , Sauvanet Cécile , Viswanatha Raghuvir , Awad Valerie , Bonomo Locke Ezra-Ros , McDermitt David , Bretscher Anthony
Published: July 2020

Activated Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin (ERM) proteins link the plasma membrane to the actin cytoskeleton to generate apical structures, including microvilli. Among many kinases implicated in ERM activation are the homologs LOK and SLK. CRISPR/Cas9 was used to knockout all ERM proteins or LOK/SLK in human cells. LOK/SLK knockout eliminates all ERM activating phosphorylation. The apical domain of cells lacking LOK/SLK or ERMs is strikingly similar and selectively altered, with loss of microvill, and junctional actin replaced by ectopic myosin-II containing apical stress-fiber-like structures. Constitutively active ezrin can reverse the phenotypes of either ERMs or LOK/SLK knockouts, showing that the major function of LOK/SLK is to activate ERMs. Both knockout lines have elevated active RhoA with concomitant enhanced myosin light chain phosphorylation, revealing that active ERMs are negative regulators of RhoA. As RhoA-GTP activates LOK/SLK to activate ERM proteins, the ability of active ERMs to negatively regulate RhoA-GTP represents a novel local feedback loop necessary for the proper apical morphology of epithelial cells.
Long-read genome sequencing for the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Hiatt Susan M. , Lawlor James M.J. , Handley Lori H. , Ramaker Ryne C. , Rogers Brianne B. , Partridge E. Christopher , Boston Lori Beth , Williams Melissa , Plott Christopher B. , Jenkins Jerry , Gray David E. , Holt James M. , Bowling Kevin M. , Bebin E. Martina , Grimwood Jane , Schmutz Jeremy , Cooper Gregory M.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Exome and genome sequencing have proven to be effective tools for the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), but large fractions of NDDs cannot be attributed to currently detectable genetic variation. This is likely, at least in part, a result of the fact that many genetic variants are difficult or impossible to detect through typical short-read sequencing approaches.

Methods

Here, we describe a genomic analysis using Pacific Biosciences circular consensus sequencing (CCS) reads, which are both long (>10 kb) and accurate (>99% bp accuracy). We used CCS on six proband-parent trios with NDDs that were unexplained despite extensive testing, including genome sequencing with short reads.

Results

We identified variants and createdde novoassemblies in each trio, with global metrics indicating these data sets are more accurate and comprehensive than those provided by short-read data. In one proband, we identified a likely pathogenic (LP),de novoL1-mediated insertion inCDKL5that results in duplication of exon 3, leading to a frameshift. In a second proband, we identified multiple largede novostructural variants, including insertion-translocations affectingDGKBandMLLT3, which we show disruptMLLT3transcript levels. We consider this extensive structural variation likely pathogenic.

Conclusion

The breadth and quality of variant detection, coupled to finding variants of clinical and research interest in two of six probands with unexplained NDDs strongly support the value of long-read genome sequencing for understanding rare disease.
DALES - a prospective cross-sectional study of incidence of penicillin allergy labels, risk of true allergy and attitudes of patients and anaesthetists to de-labelling strategies
Authors: Savic L , Thomas C , Fallaha D , Wilson Michelle , Hopkins PM , Savic S , Clark SH ,   RAFT collaborators (see Supplementary materials)
Published: July 2020

Background

Direct drug provocation testing (DPT) in patients with low-risk penicillin allergy labels would allow population-level ‘de-labelling’. We sought to determine the incidence and nature of penicillin allergy labels in a large UK surgical cohort and to define patient and anaesthetist attitudes towards penicillin allergy testing.

Methods

A prospective cross-sectional study was performed in 213 UK hospitals. ‘Penicillin allergic’ patients were interviewed and risk-stratified. Knowledge and attitudes around penicillin allergy were defined in patients and anaesthetists, determining potential barriers to widespread testing.

Findings

Of 21,281 patients 12% self-reported penicillin allergy and 67% of these were potentially suitable for direct DPT (stratified low or intermediate risk). Irrespective of risk category 62% wanted allergy testing. Of 4,978 anaesthetists 40% claimed to routinely administer penicillin when they judge the label to be low-risk; 64% would then tell the patient they had received penicillin. Only 47% of all anaesthetists would be happy to administer penicillin to a patient previously de-labelled by an allergy specialist using direct DPT; the commonest reason not to administer penicillin was perceived lack of support from their hospital. On the study days, 13% of low-risk patients requiring penicillin received it, and 6 patients with high-risk labels received it. There were no adverse events in any of this group. However, 1 patient who received an alternative antibiotic suffered suspected anaphylaxis to this.

Interpretation

The majority of patients with a penicillin allergy label may be suitable for direct DPT and demand for testing is high among patients. Anaesthetists demonstrate inconsistent, potentially unsafe prescribing in patients labelled as penicillin allergic. More than half of anaesthetists are not reassured by a negative DPT undertaken by a specialist. Significant knowledge gaps may prevent widespread de-labelling being effectively implemented in surgical patients.

Funding

The National Institute of Academic Anaesthesia.
HIV and risk of COVID-19 death: a population cohort study from the Western Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Davies Mary-Ann
Published: July 2020

Background

The effect of HIV co-infection on COVID-19 outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa is unknown.

Methods

We conducted a population cohort study using linked data from adults attending public sector health facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa. We used Cox-proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, location and comorbidities to examine the association between HIV and COVID-19 death among (i) public sector “active patients” (≥1 health visit in the 3 years before March 2020), (ii) laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 cases and (iii) hospitalized COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 was diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests. We calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for COVID-19 comparing HIV positive vs. negative adults using modelled population estimates.

Results

Among 3,460,932 public sector patients (16% HIV positive), 22,308 were diagnosed with COVID-19, of whom 625 died. In adjusted analysis, HIV increased risk of COVID-19 mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]:2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.70; 2.70), with similar risks across strata of viral load and immunosuppression. increased HIV-associated risk of COVID-19 death remained when restricting to COVID-19 cases (aHR:1.70; 95%CI:132; 2.18) or hospitalized cases (aHR:1.45; 95%CI:1.14; 1.84). Current and previous tuberculosis also increased COVID-19 mortality risk (aHR [95%CI]:2.70 [1.81; 4.04] and 1.51 [1.18; 1.93] respectively). The SMR for COVID-19 death associated with HIV was 2.39 (95% CI:1.96; 2.86); population attributable fraction 8.5% (95%CI:6.1; 11.1).

Conclusion

HIV was associated with a doubling of COVID-19 mortality risk. While our findings may over-estimate the HIV-associated risk COVID-19 death due to residual confounding, people with HIV should be considered a high-risk group for COVID-19 management.
Accrual income statements and present value models
Authors: Robison Lindon J. , Barry Peter J.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper demonstrates that present value (PV) models can be viewed as multiperiod extensions of accrual income statements (AISs). Failure to include AIS details in PV models may lead to inaccurate estimates of earnings and rates of return on assets and equity and inconsistent rankings of mutually exclusive investments. Finally, this paper points out that rankings based on assets and equity earnings and rates of return need not be consistent, requiring financial managers to consider carefully the questions they expect PV models to answer.

Design/methodology/approach

AISs are used to guide the construction of PV models. Numerical examples illustrate the results. Deductions from AIS definitions demonstrate the potential conflict between asset and equity earnings and rates of return.

Findings

PV models can be viewed as multiperiod extensions of AISs. Mutually exclusive rankings based on assets and equity earnings and rates of return need not be consistent.

Research limitations/implications

PV models are sometimes constructed without the details included in AISs. The result of this simplified approach to PV model construction is that earnings and rates of return may be miscalculated and rankings based as asset and equity earnings and rates of return are inconsistent. Tax adjustments for asset and equity earnings may be miscalculated in applied models.

Practical implications

This paper provides guidelines for properly constructing PV models consistent with AISs.

Social implications

PV models are especially important for small to medium size firms that characterize much of agricultural. Providing a model consistent with AIS construction principles should help financial managers view the linkage between building financial statements and investment analysis.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to develop the idea that the PV model can be viewed as a multiperiod extension of an AIS.
Exploring compression and parallelization techniques for distribution of deep neural networks over Edge–Fog continuum – a review
Authors: Nazir Azra , Mir Roohie Naaz , Qureshi Shaima
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The trend of “Deep Learning for Internet of Things (IoT)” has gained fresh momentum with enormous upcoming applications employing these models as their processing engine and Cloud as their resource giant. But this picture leads to underutilization of ever-increasing device pool of IoT that has already passed 15 billion mark in 2015. Thus, it is high time to explore a different approach to tackle this issue, keeping in view the characteristics and needs of the two fields. Processing at the Edge can boost applications with real-time deadlines while complementing security.

Design/methodology/approach

This review paper contributes towards three cardinal directions of research in the field of DL for IoT. The first section covers the categories of IoT devices and how Fog can aid in overcoming the underutilization of millions of devices, forming the realm of the things for IoT. The second direction handles the issue of immense computational requirements of DL models by uncovering specific compression techniques. An appropriate combination of these techniques, including regularization, quantization, and pruning, can aid in building an effective compression pipeline for establishing DL models for IoT use-cases. The third direction incorporates both these views and introduces a novel approach of parallelization for setting up a distributed systems view of DL for IoT.

Findings

DL models are growing deeper with every passing year. Well-coordinated distributed execution of such models using Fog displays a promising future for the IoT application realm. It is realized that a vertically partitioned compressed deep model can handle the trade-off between size, accuracy, communication overhead, bandwidth utilization, and latency but at the expense of an additionally considerable memory footprint. To reduce the memory budget, we propose to exploit Hashed Nets as potentially favorable candidates for distributed frameworks. However, the critical point between accuracy and size for such models needs further investigation.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, no study has explored the inherent parallelism in deep neural network architectures for their efficient distribution over the Edge-Fog continuum. Besides covering techniques and frameworks that have tried to bring inference to the Edge, the review uncovers significant issues and possible future directions for endorsing deep models as processing engines for real-time IoT. The study is directed to both researchers and industrialists to take on various applications to the Edge for better user experience.
Coaching and mentoring in higher education institutions: a case study in Oman
Authors: Hakro Ahmed Nawaz , Mathew Priya
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly recognizing the value of coaching for professional and organizational development. This study is designed to investigate whether Cognitive Coaching, implemented as a programme in an HEI in Oman, made any difference to the behaviour and attitudes of employees holding leadership positions in academic, administrative and professional services departments. It also explored the factors that hindered or supported the coaching programme and offers recommendations to strengthen coaching initiatives in similar contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect feedback from the 15 participants of the programme. A case study approach was adopted in this study for an in-depth examination of the effectiveness of coaching interventions.

Findings

The findings suggest that coaching can be an effective approach, facilitating personal and professional development and also contributing to the achievement of organizational goals.

Research limitations/implications

As a case study of a coaching programme in a single institution, the findings of the study are not generalizable to other contexts, though a “thick description” of the context in which the study took place will enable institutions in similar contexts to draw lessons from the experience.

Practical implications

This study discusses the benefits of a coaching programme for an HEI in the Middle East. Suggestions to strengthen coaching include board level endorsement and sensitivity to cultural nuances in coaching relationships.

Social implications

One of the effects of a coaching programme is the collegial atmosphere that it can foster. This can have wider impacts on the community as there is more open communication and trust engendered amongst employers and employees belonging to different cultural backgrounds.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to report the findings of a systematically organized coaching programme in an HEI in the Middle East.
The alternatives to being silent: exploring opinion expression avoidance strategies for discussing politics on Facebook
Authors: Wu Tai-Yee , Xu Xiaowen , Atkin David
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study integrates the spiral of silence (SoS) theory and theory of planned behavior (TPB) by examining Facebook users' opinion expression avoidance, the reactions to dissenting views without revealing one's true opinion, in the context of political discussions. The present integrative approach provides a more comprehensive framework that expands our understanding of online opinion expression and withdrawal.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional online survey was employed, which rendered 348 valid responses from US college students (61.5% female; average age 19.11) recruited from a northeastern university.

Findings

The results categorized two sets of opinion avoidance strategies from six Facebook features. The intention to adopt “proactive avoidance strategies” (filtering out unwanted information) is positively related to descriptive norms and perceived self-efficacy, but negatively related to fear of isolation and perceived control of the urge to debate. Regarding the intention to employ “reactive avoidance strategies” (less obtrusive articulations), fear of isolation and attitudes toward opinion expression avoidance are positive determinants, whereas perceived control of the urge to debate again exerts a negative influence.

Originality/value

This study examines the growing variety of features that users adopt to avoid expressing their true opinion in reacting to dissenting views, updating our understanding of opinion circumvention in social media environment. As one of the few theoretically driven empirical investigations of SoS theory and TPB, the findings not only elucidate the significance of perceived behavioral control as the common ground in association with user adoption intention but also identify distinct qualities of the two sets of strategies that affect the likelihood of adoption. That is, proactive avoidance is more susceptible to normative influences, while reactive avoidance reflects user attitude and belief. This theoretical integration also helps identify diverse levels of intentions to strategically avoid opinion expression influenced by fear of isolation.
YouTube marketing: how marketers' video optimization practices influence video views
Authors: Tafesse Wondwesen
Published: July 2020

Purpose

YouTube's vast and engaged user base makes it central to firms' digital marketing effort. With extant studies focusing on viewers' post-view engagement behavior, however, research into what motivates viewers to click on and watch YouTube videos is scarce. This study investigates the implications of marketers' video optimization practices for video views on YouTube.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a data set of videos (N = 4,398) gathered by scraping YouTube's trending list. Using a combination of text and sentiment analysis, the study measured four video optimization practices: information content of video titles, emotional intensity of video titles, information content of video descriptions and volume of video tags. It then analyzed the effect of these video optimization practices on video views.

Findings

The study finds that greater availability of information in video titles is negatively associated with video views, whereas intensity of negative emotional sentiment in video titles is positively associated with video views. Further, greater availability of information in video descriptions is positively associated with video views. Finally, an inverted U-shaped relationship is found between volume of video tags and video views. Up to 17 video tags can contribute to more video views; however, beyond 17 tags, the relationship turns negative.

Originality/value

This study investigates the effect of marketers' video optimization practices on video views. While extant studies mainly focus on viewers' post-view engagement behavior, such as liking, commenting on and sharing videos, this study examines video views. Similarly, extant studies investigate videos' internal content, while this study investigates elements of the video metadata.
CSFs for Six Sigma implementation: a systematic literature review
Authors: Singh Gurwinder , Singh Davinder
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The success or failure of any Six Sigma program/project depends on some critical factors. The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore critical success factors (CSFs) of Six Sigma from an extensive literature review of research articles published in the context of Six Sigma and propose a categorized list of vital CSFs.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used is the systematic analysis of 64 different research publications and case studies from 34 different journals that are relevant in the context of Six Sigma by filtering, using keywords like Six Sigma and CSFs. This analysis leads to the exploration of a number of CSFs followed by their prioritization by using a Pareto analysis quality tool. These CSFs are then sorted into a proposed list of “vital few” and “useful many” CSFs groups in accordance to their frequency of occurrence.

Findings

The literature revealed 13 vital CSFs: management involvement and commitment, training, cultural change, communication, customer focus and requirements, organizational infrastructure and resources, project management skills, project prioritization and selection, understanding the Six Sigma methodology, tools and techniques, linking Six Sigma to business strategy, linking Six Sigma to customers, customer focus and requirements, quality data and reporting and linking Six Sigma to suppliers. The consideration of these CSFs will increase the success rates of a Six Sigma program/project in an organization.

Research limitations/implications

The CSFs extracted spotlight only small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and do not consider large industries. This paper is confined to those articles that argued that the Six Sigma is beneficial to SMEs and does not consider the failure experience of the industries.

Originality/value

This paper identifies the CSFs for implementing Six Sigma that are comprehensive and potential to address the quality-related issues of industries. This paper also provides an extract of the relevant publishing to both the academicians and practitioners in the field of Six Sigma for implementing Six Sigma framework in an organization. This study is apparently the first of its kind on CSF assessment and categorization.
Evaluating the effects of CRM practices on organizational learning, its antecedents and level of customer satisfaction
Authors: Kumar Mohit , Misra Madhvendra
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research paper is to evaluate the effects of customer relationship management (CRM) practices on the relationship of organizational learning (OL) with customer satisfaction (CS) essentially dealing with industrial and business organizations. Industrial organizations could benefit from this study’s contributions, where the effectiveness of OL and its antecedents is measured over the level of CS in the presence of CRM practices.

Design/methodology/approach

In investigating the dimension of the relationship between OL and CS, the research paper uses the moderating effect of CRM practices to measure the intensity of the relationship between OL and CS. Thirty-nine European business organizations with an Indian presence were selected and a questionnaire survey was conducted on 308 senior employees and managers to collect the relevant data. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to see the interaction effects of the variables and to test the hypothesis.

Findings

The research findings reveal that the moderating effect of CRM practices on the relationship between OL and CS is negatively significant and has an effect on increasing or decreasing the level of CS with attempts at OL. Organization size as a moderator between OL and CS was found not significant. This means that the size of an organization cannot affect the direct relationship between OL and CS.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on a cross-sectional research design which could limit the generalization after a certain period. This study has tried to remove common method bias by avoiding continuity when taking responses for independent, dependent and moderating variables.

Practical implications

OL far beyond its conceptual understanding to practical application is relevant to many fields of studies including human resources development, business and marketing, service marketing, education and so on. The study provides a significant contribution in business and industrial marketing areas in making OL and its shared interpretation effective to achieve a greater degree of CS and value creation.

Social implications

OL, when taken beyond its conceptual understanding to practical application, is relevant to many fields of study including human resources development, business and marketing, service marketing and education. This study provides a significant contribution to business and industrial marketing areas by making OL and its shared interpretation effective in achieving a greater degree of CS and value creation.

Originality/value

This study is original and unique in establishing the moderating relationship of CRM practices on OL and CS among European business organizations having operations in the Indian business sphere.
Drained‐to‐undrained transition of bulk modulus in fluid‐saturated porous rock induced by dead volume variation
Authors: Tan Wenhui , Müller Tobias M. , Ba Jing , Mikhaltsevitch Vassily , Cao Chenghao
Published: July 2020

We examine the effect of poroelastic boundary conditions when determining elastic properties of fluid‐saturated porous rocks from forced‐oscillation laboratory experiments. One undesired yet often unavoidable complication in the estimation of the undrained bulk modulus is due to the presence of the so‐called dead volume. It implies that some fluid mass can escape the rock sample under applying a confining pressure perturbation. Thus, the dead volume compromises the undrained state required to unambiguously determine the undrained bulk modulus. In this paper, we model data of recently performed low‐frequency (0.1 Hz) measurements. Therein, the dead volume has been systematically varied from 10% to 1000% of the pore volume. For the smallest dead volume, the inferred bulk modulus is close to the Biot–Gassmann undrained bulk modulus. With increasing dead volume, the experimentally inferred bulk modulus approaches the drained bulk modulus. We show that the transition from undrained to drained state as a function of dead volume can be modelled with a 1D poroelastic model for the rock sample‐dead volume system with a boundary condition that honours the continuity of the fluid volume flux. We discuss the limitations of the 1D model when applied to data recorded at higher frequencies (up to 100 Hz).
Implementing Marketization in Public Healthcare Systems: Performing Reform in the English National Health Service
Authors: Mason Katy , Araujo Luis
Published: July 2020

To implement marketization in public healthcare systems, policymakers need to situate abstract models of prescriptive practice in complex user settings. Using a performativity lens, we show how policy processes attempt to bring about the changes they presume. Investigating the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, and the development of policy instruments and ‘Clinical Commissioning Groups’, we explicate the performance of a marketization programme. Our longitudinal study of the interactions amongst the multiple constituencies the Act attempted to enrol, and the existing socio‐technical arrangements the Act aimed to change, generates three contributions: (1) we characterize the performativity of policy instruments as a process of bricolage that incorporates the principled attitude of making do on both sides – those who design the policy and those who are charged to implement it; (2) we identify the mechanisms through which the performativity of an envisioned model of marketization operates at multiple scales within a complex and highly distributed system of provision; and (3) we document and explicate why specific performances result in misfires and unintended outcomes. In short, we conceptualize policy performativity as a non‐linear, dynamic process where theories and their effects are constantly being assessed, reconfigured and fed back into policymaking and implementation.