bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Plasma Soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 and sCD14 With Mortality in HIV-1–Infected West African Adults With High CD4 Counts
Authors: Affi Roseline , Gabillard Delphine , Dunyach-Remy Catherine , Ntakpe Jean-Baptiste , Moh Raoul , Badje Anani , Kouame Gérard M. , Karcher Sophie , Le Carrou Jérome , Danel Christine , Chevalier Mathieu F. , Rouzioux Christine , Eholie Serge P. , Lavigne Jean-Philippe , Inwoley Andre , Anglaret Xavier , Weiss Laurence
Published: October 2020

Background:

Several biomarkers of inflammation and coagulation were reported to be associated with HIV disease progression in different settings. In this article, we report the association between 11 biomarkers and medium-term mortality in HIV-infected West African adults.

Methods:

In Temprano ANRS 12136, antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive HIV-infected adults with high CD4 counts were randomly assigned either to start ART immediately or defer ART until the World Health Organization criteria were met. Participants who completed the 30-month trial follow-up were invited to participate in a posttrial phase. The posttrial phase end point was all-cause death. We used multivariate Cox proportional models to analyze the association between baseline plasma biomarkers [IL-1ra, IL-6, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1), sCD14, D-dimer, fibrinogen, IP-10, sCD163, albumin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and 16S rDNA] and all-cause death in the Temprano participants randomized to defer ART.

Results:

Four hundred seventy-seven patients (median age 35 years, 78% women, and median CD4 count: 379 cells/mm3) were randomly assigned to defer starting ART until the World Health Organization criteria were met. The participants were followed for 2646 person-years (median 5.8 years). In the follow-up, 89% of participants started ART and 30 died. In the multivariate analysis adjusted for the study center, sex, baseline CD4 count, isoniazid preventive therapy, plasma HIV-1 RNA, peripheral blood mononuclear cell HIV-1 DNA, and ART, the risk of death was significantly associated with baseline sVCAM-1 (≥1458 vs. <1458: adjusted hazard ratio 2.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.13 to 5.82) and sCD14 (≥2187 vs. <2187: adjusted hazard ratio 2.79, interquartile range 1.29–6.02) levels.

Conclusions:

In these sub-Saharan African adults with high CD4 counts, pre-ART plasma sVCAM-1 and sCD14 levels were independently associated with mortality.
Ethics of Codes and Codes of Ethics
Authors: Kopar Piroska K. , Brown Douglas E. , Turnbull Isaiah R.
Published: October 2020

Objective:

Our study aims to provide a paradigm when it is ethical to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summary Background Data:

Hospitals around the nation are enacting systems to limit CPR in caring for COVID+ patients for a variety of legitimate reasons and based on concepts of medical futility and allocation of scarce resources. No ethical framework, however, has been proposed as a standard to guide care in this crucial matter.

Methods:

Our analysis begins with definitions of ethically relevant terms. We then cycle an illustrative clinical vignette through the mathematically permissible possibilities to account for all conceivable scenarios. Scenarios with ethical tension are examined.

Results:

Patients have the negative right to refuse care including CPR, but they do not have the positive right to demand it. Our detailed ethical analysis and recommendations support CPR if and only if 1) CPR is judged medically beneficial, and in line with the patient's and values and goals, 2) allocations or scarce resources follow a just and transparent triage system, and 3) providers are protected from contracting the disease.

Conclusions:

CPR is an intervention like any other, with attendant risks and benefits and with responsibility for the utilization of limited resources. Our ethical analysis advocates for a systematic approach to codes that respects the important ethical considerations in caring for the critically ill and facilitates patient-centered, evidence-based, and fair treatment to all.
Accelerating Surgical Site Infection Abstraction With a Semi-automated Machine-learning Approach
Authors: Skube Steven J. , Hu Zhen , Simon Gyorgy J. , Wick Elizabeth C. , Arsoniadis Elliot G. , Ko Clifford Y. , Melton Genevieve B.
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To demonstrate that a semi-automated approach to health data abstraction provides significant efficiencies and high accuracy.

Background:

Surgical outcome abstraction remains laborious and a barrier to the sustainment of quality improvement registries like ACS-NSQIP. A supervised machine learning algorithm developed for detecting SSi using structured and unstructured electronic health record data was tested to perform semi-automated SSI abstraction.

Methods:

A Lasso-penalized logistic regression model with 2011–3 data was trained (baseline performance measured with 10-fold cross-validation). A cutoff probability score from the training data was established, dividing the subsequent evaluation dataset into “negative” and “possible” SSI groups, with manual data abstraction only performed on the “possible” group. We evaluated performance on data from 2014, 2015, and both years.

Results:

Overall, 6188 patients were in the 2011–3 training dataset and 5132 patients in the 2014–5 evaluation dataset. With use of the semi-automated approach, applying the cut-off score decreased the amount of manual abstraction by >90%, resulting in < 1% false negatives in the “negative” group and a sensitivity of 82%. A blinded review of 10% of the “possible” group, considering only the features selected by the algorithm, resulted in high agreement with the gold standard based on full chart abstraction, pointing towards additional efficiency in the abstraction process by making it possible for abstractors to review limited, salient portions of the chart.

Conclusion:

Semi-automated machine learning-aided SSI abstraction greatly accelerates the abstraction process and achieves very good performance. This could be translated to other post-operative outcomes and reduce cost barriers for wider ACS-NSQIP adoption.
Natural Language Processing in Surgery
Authors: Mellia Joseph A. , Basta Marten N. , Toyoda Yoshiko , Othman Sammy , Elfanagely Omar , Morris Martin P. , Torre-Healy Luke , Ungar Lyle H. , Fischer John P.
Published: October 2020

Objective:

The aim of this study was to systematically assess the application and potential benefits of natural language processing (NLP) in surgical outcomes research.

Summary Background Data:

Widespread implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) has generated a massive patient data source. Traditional methods of data capture, such as billing codes and/or manual review of free-text narratives in EHRs, are highly labor-intensive, costly, subjective, and potentially prone to bias.

Methods:

A literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase identified all articles published starting in 2000 that used NLP models to assess perioperative surgical outcomes. Evaluation metrics of NLP systems were assessed by means of pooled analysis and meta-analysis. Qualitative synthesis was carried out to assess the results and risk of bias on outcomes.

Results:

The present study included 29 articles, with over half (n = 15) published after 2018. The most common outcome identified using NLP was postoperative complications (n = 14). Compared to traditional non-NLP models, NLP models identified postoperative complications with higher sensitivity [0.92 (0.87–0.95) vs 0.58 (0.33–0.79), P < 0.001]. The specificities were comparable at 0.99 (0.96–1.00) and 0.98 (0.95–0.99), respectively. Using summary of likelihood ratio matrices, traditional non-NLP models have clinical utility for confirming documentation of outcomes/diagnoses, whereas NLP models may be reliably utilized for both confirming and ruling out documentation of outcomes/diagnoses.

Conclusions:

NLP usage to extract a range of surgical outcomes, particularly postoperative complications, is accelerating across disciplines and areas of clinical outcomes research. NLP and traditional non-NLP approaches demonstrate similar performance measures, but NLP is superior in ruling out documentation of surgical outcomes.
Laryngeal and Pharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Antireflux Surgery in the 5 Nordic Countries
Authors: Yanes Manar , Santoni Giola , Maret-Ouda John , Ness-Jensen Eivind , Färkkilä Martti , Lynge Elsebeth , Pukkala Eero , Romundstad Pål , Tryggvadóttir Laufey , Euler-Chelpin My von , Lagergren Jesper
Published: October 2020

Objective:

The aim of this study was to clarify whether antireflux surgery prevents laryngeal and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Summary Background Data:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) seems to increase the risk of laryngeal and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods:

All-Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) population-based cohort study of adults with documented GERD in 1980 to 2014. First, cancer risk after antireflux surgery was compared to the expected risk in the corresponding background population by calculating standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Second, cancer risk among antireflux surgery patients was compared to nonoperated GERD patients using multivariable Cox regression, providing hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CIs, adjusted for sex, age, calendar period, and diagnoses related to tobacco smoking, obesity, and alcohol overconsumption.

Results:

Among 814,230 GERD patients, 47,016 (5.8%) underwent antireflux surgery. The overall SIRs and HRs of the combined outcome laryngeal or pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (n=39) were decreased after antireflux surgery [SIR=0.62 (95% CI 0.44–0.85) and HR=0.55 (95% CI 0.38–0.80)]. The point estimates were further decreased >10 years after antireflux surgery [SIR=0.48 (95% CI 0.26–0.80) and HR=0.47 (95% CI 0.26–0.85)]. The risk estimates of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were particularly decreased >10 years after antireflux surgery [SIR=0.28 (95% CI 0.08–0.72) and HR=0.23 (95% CI 0.08–0.69)], whereas no such decrease over time after surgery was found for pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Analyses of patients with severe GERD (reflux esophagitis or Barrett esophagus) showed similar results.

Conclusion:

Antireflux surgery may decrease the risk of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and possibly also of pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Laparoscopic Appendectomy Performed by Surgical Interns: Is it Too Early?
Authors: Valinoti Agustin C. , Dreifuss Nicolas H. , Angeramo Cristian A. , Schlottmann Francisco
Published: October 2020

Background:

Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is a common procedure among surgical trainees. However, first-year residents’ involvement in this procedure is scarcely studied. We aimed to determine the safety and outcomes of LA performed by surgical interns early in their first year of surgical training.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent LA for acute appendicitis from 2006 to 2019 was performed. All patients operated by surgical interns were included. The sample was divided into 2 groups: LA performed during the first (G1) and last 3 months (G2) of their first year of residency. Demographics, operative variables, and postoperative outcomes were compared between groups.

Results:

A total of 2009 LA were performed during the study period; 1647 (82%) were done by surgical interns. A total of 934 LA were performed at both ends of the year; 505 belonged to G1 and 429 to G2. Each surgical intern performed a mean of 40 LA. Demographics, complicated appendicitis rates, and presence of peritonitis were comparable between groups. Operative time was longer in G1 (G1: 61 vs. G2: 52 min, P<0.0001). Major morbidity (G1: 2.1% vs. G2: 3.4%, P=0.2), postoperative intra-abdominal abscess rates (G1: 2.8% vs. G2: 2.8%, P=0.66), median length of hospital stay (G1: 1.9 vs. G2: 1.8 d, P=0.59), and readmission rates (G1: 1.6% vs. G2: 2%, P=0.73) were similar between groups. There was no mortality in the series.

Conclusions:

LA can be safely performed by supervised surgical interns early in their training. Despite a longer operative time, postoperative outcomes were favorable and similar as those achieved at the end of surgical internship.
Respiratory tract explant infection dynamics of influenza A virus in California sea lions, northern elephant seals, and rhesus macaques
Authors: Liu Hongwei , Plancarte Magdalena , Ball Erin. E. , Weiss Christopher M. , Gonzales-Viera Omar , Holcomb Karen , Ma Zhong-Min , Allen A. Mark , Reader J. Rachel , Duignan Pádraig J. , Halaska Barbie , Khan Zenab , Kriti Divya , Dutta Jayeeta , van Bakel Harm , Jackson Kenneth , Pesavento Patricia A. , Boyce Walter M. , Coffey Lark L.
Published: October 2020

To understand susceptibility of wild California sea lions and Northern elephant seals to influenza A virus (IAV), we developed anex vivorespiratory explant model and used it to compare infection kinetics for multiple IAV subtypes. We first established the approach using explants from colonized rhesus macaques, a model for human IAV. Trachea, bronchi, and lungs from 11 California sea lions, 2 Northern elephant seals and 10 rhesus macaques were inoculated within 24 hours post-mortem with 6 strains representing 4 IAV subtypes. Explants from the 3 species showed similar IAV infection kinetics with peak viral titers 48-72 hours post-inoculation that increased by 2-4 log10plaque forming units (PFU)/explant relative to the inoculum. Immunohistochemistry localized IAV infection to apical epithelial cells. These results demonstrate that respiratory tissue explants from wild marine mammals support IAV infection. In the absence of the ability to perform experimental infections of marine mammals, thisex vivoculture of respiratory tissues mirrors thein vivoenvironment and serves as a tool to study IAV susceptibility, host-range, and tissue tropism.

Importance

Although influenza A virus can infect marine mammals, a dearth of marine mammal cell lines and ethical and logistical challenges prohibiting experimental infections of living marine mammals means that little is known about IAV infection kinetics in these species. We circumvented these limitations by adapting a respiratory tract explant model first to establish the approach with rhesus macaques and then for use with explants from wild marine mammals euthanized for non-respiratory medical conditions. We observed that multiple strains representing 4 IAV subtypes infected trachea, bronchi, and lungs of macaques and marine mammals with variable peak titers and kinetics. Thisex vivomodel can define infection dynamics for IAV in marine mammals. Further, use of explants from animals euthanized for other reasons reduces use of animals in research.
Mapping sites of carboxymethyllysine modification on proteins reveals its consequences for proteostasis and cell proliferation
Authors: Di Sanzo Simone , Spengler Katrin , Leheis Anja , Kirkpatrick Joanna M. , Rändler Theresa L. , Baldensperger Tim , Parca Luca , Marx Christian , Wang Zhao-Qi , Glomb Marcus A. , Ori Alessandro , Heller Regine
Published: October 2020

Posttranslational mechanisms play a key role in modifying the abundance and function of cellular proteins. Among these, modification by advanced glycation end products (AGEs) has been shown to accumulate during aging and age-associated diseases but specific protein targets and functional consequences remain largely unexplored. Here, we devised a proteomic strategy to identify specific sites of carboxymethyllysine (CML) modification, one of the most abundant AGEs. We identified over 1000 sites of CML modification in mouse and primary human cells treated with the glycating agent glyoxal. By using quantitative proteomics, we found that protein glycation triggers a proteotoxic response and directly affects the protein degradation machinery. We show that glyoxal induces cell cycle perturbation in primary endothelial cells and that CML modification reduces acetylation of tubulins and impairs microtubule dynamics. Our data demonstrate the relevance of AGE modification for cellular function and pinpoint specific protein networks that might become compromised during aging.

Highlights

A peptide enrichment strategy allows mapping of CML modification in cells and tissues

CML modification competes with ubiquitination or acetylation of lysines

Glyoxal treatment destabilizes the 26S proteasome

Glyoxal arrests cell cycle and impairs microtubule dynamics via altering the tubulin code
Autotoxin-mediated voluntary triage in starved yeast community
Authors: Oda Arisa H. , Tamura Miki , Kaneko Kunihiko , Ohta Kunihiro , Hatakeyama Tetsuhiro S.
Published: October 2020

When organisms face crises, such as starvation, every individual should adapt to environmental changes (1, 2), or the community alters their behaviour (3–5). Because a stressful environment reduces the carrying capacity (6), the population size of unicellular organisms shrinks in such conditions (7, 8). However, the uniform stress response of the cell community may lead to overall extinction or severely damage their entire fitness. How microbial communities accommodate this dilemma remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate an elaborate strategy of the yeast community against glucose starvation, named the voluntary triage. During starvation, yeast cells release some autotoxins, such as leucic acid and L-2keto-3methylvalerate, which can even kill the cells producing them. Although it may look like mass suicide at first glance, cells use epigenetic “tags” to adapt to the autotoxin inheritably. If non-tagged latecomers, regardless of whether they are closely related, try to invade the habitat, autotoxins kill them and inhibit their growth, but the tagged cells can selectively survive. Phylogenetically distant fission and budding yeast (9) share this strategy using the same autotoxins, which implies that the universal system of voluntary triage may be relevant to the major evolutional transition from unicellular to multicellular organisms (10).
CRISPR screening identifies novel PARP inhibitor classification based on distinct base excision repair pathway dependencies
Authors: Breuer Gregory A. , Bezney Jonathan , Fons Nathan R. , Sundaram Ranjini K. , Feng Wanjuan , Gupta Gaorav P. , Bindra Ranjit S.
Published: October 2020

DNA repair deficiencies have become an increasingly promising target for novel therapeutics within the realm of clinical oncology. Recently, several inhibitors of Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases (PARPs) have received approval for the treatment of cancers primarily with deleterious mutations in the homologous recombination (HR) proteins, BRCA1 and BRCA2. Despite numerous clinical trials which have been completed or are currently ongoing, the mechanism of action by which PARP inhibitors selectively kill tumor cells is poorly understood. While many believe “trapping” of PARP proteins to DNA at sites of damage is the most important determinant driving cytotoxicity by these drugs, clinically effective inhibitors exist with a diverse range of PARP-trapping qualities. These findings suggest that characterization of inhibitors as strong versus weak trappers does not properly capture the intra-class characteristics of these drugs. Here, we use a novel, targeted DNA damage response (DDR) CRISPR/Cas9 screening library to reveal heterogenous genetic dependencies on the base excision repair (BER) pathway for PARP inhibitors, which is not correlated with PARP trapping ability or catalytic inhibition of PARP. These findings demonstrate that inhibition of PARylation and induction of PARP trapping are not the only factors contributing to distinct biological activity for different PARP inhibitors, and they provide insight into the optimal choice of PARP inhibitors for use in the setting of specific DDR defects.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

Targeted cancer therapies rely on our general understanding of which genetic mutations are involved in both sensitivity and resistance to such anticancer agents. In this study, we describe the use of functional genetic screening to evaluate the role of various DNA repair proteins in response to inhibitors of PARP, a quintessential example of targeted therapy. While PARP inhibitors are best known for their utility in cancers with homologous recombination defects, we show that some inhibitors within this class may have additional functionality in cancers with deficient base excision repair. These findings highlight not only the importance of PARP inhibitor selection in the appropriate context, but also the mechanistic differences that exist within this class of inhibitors. It is our hope that our findings will inspire future work evaluating the use of specific PARP inhibitor selection in designing clinical trials to further expand the use of PARP inhibitors beyond tumors with homologous recombination deficiencies.
Fundamental limits on the rate of bacterial growth
Authors: Belliveau Nathan M. , Chure Grifin , Hueschen Christina L. , Garcia Hernan G. , Kondev Jane , Fisher Daniel S. , Theriot Julie A. , Phillips Rob
Published: October 2020

Recent years have seen an experimental deluge interrogating the relationship between bacterial growth rate, cell size, and protein content, quantifying the abundance of proteins across growth conditions with unprecedented resolution. However, we still lack a rigorous understanding of what sets the scale of these quantities and when protein abundances should (or should not) depend on growth rate. Here, we seek to quantitatively understand this relationship across a collection ofEscherichia coliproteomic data covering ≈ 4000 proteins and 36 growth rates. We estimate the basic requirements for steady-state growth by considering key processes in nutrient transport, cell envelope biogenesis, energy generation, and the central dogma. From these estimates, ribosome biogenesis emerges as a primary determinant of growth rate. We expand on this assessment by exploring a model of proteomic regulation as a function of the nutrient supply, revealing a mechanism that ties cell size and growth rate to ribosomal content.
Unraveling the transcriptional networks that drive oligodendrocyte fate specification in Sonic hedgehog-responsive neocortical progenitors
Authors: Winkler Caitlin C. , Tran Luuli N. , Milan Ellyn P. , García-Moreno Fernando , Franco Santos J.
Published: October 2020

In the developing nervous system, progenitors first generate neurons before making astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. We previously showed that increased Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling in dorsal forebrain progenitors is important for their production of oligodendrocytes as neurogenesis winds down. Here, we analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing datasets to better understand how Shh controls this neuron-to-oligodendrocyte switch in the neocortex. We first identified Shh-responding progenitors using a dataset in which Shh was overexpressed in the mouse dorsal forebrain. Pseudotime trajectory inferences revealed a subpopulation committed to the oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) lineage. Genes upregulated along this lineage defined a pre-OPC state, as cells transitioned from progenitors to OPCs. Using several datasets from wild-type mouse and human embryos at different ages, we confirmed a pre-OPC state preceding OPC emergence during normal development. Finally, we show that pre-OPCs are enriched for a gene regulatory network involving the transcription factor Ascl1. Genetic lineage-tracing demonstrated Ascl1+dorsal progenitors primarily make oligodendrocytes. We propose a model in which Shh shifts the balance between opposing transcriptional networks toward an Ascl1 lineage, thereby facilitating the switch between neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis.
Temporal changes in plasma membrane lipid content induce endocytosis to regulate developmental epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
Authors: Piacentino Michael L. , Hutchins Erica J. , Andrews Cecelia J. , Bronner Marianne E.
Published: October 2020

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dramatic change in cellular physiology during development and metastasis which involves coordination between cell signaling, adhesion, and membrane protrusions. These processes all involve dynamic changes in the plasma membrane, yet how membrane lipid content regulates membrane function during developmental EMT remains incompletely understood. By screening for differential expression of lipid-modifying genes over the course of EMT in avian neural crest, we have identified the ceramide-producing enzyme neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) as a critical regulator of a developmental EMT. nSMase2 expression begins at the onset of EMT, andin vivoknockdown experiments demonstrate that nSMase2 is necessary for neural crest migration. Further, we find that nSMase2 promotes Wnt and BMP signaling, and is required to activate the mesenchymal gene expression program. Mechanistically, we show that nSMase2 is sufficient to induce endocytosis, and that inhibition of endocytosis mimics nSMase2 knockdown. Our results support a model in which nSMase2 is expressed at the onset of neural crest EMT to produce ceramide and induce membrane curvature, thus increasing endocytosis of Wnt and BMP signaling complexes and activating pro-migratory gene expression. These results highlight the critical role of plasma membrane lipid metabolism in regulating transcriptional changes during developmental EMT programs.
Differential effects of prediction error and adaptation along the auditory cortical hierarchy during deviance processing
Authors: Schlossmacher Insa , Dilly Jacky , Protmann Ina , Hofmann David , Dellert Torge , Roth-Paysen Marie-Luise , Moeck Robert , Bruchmann Maximilian , Straube Thomas
Published: October 2020

Neural mismatch responses have been proposed to rely on different mechanisms, including prediction error-related activity and adaptation to frequent stimuli. However, the cortical hierarchical structure of these mechanisms is unknown. To investigate this question, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and an auditory oddball design with a suited control condition that enabled us to delineate the contributions of prediction error- or adaptation-related brain activation during deviance processing. We found that while prediction-error related processes increased with the hierarchical position of the brain area, adaptation declined. This suggests that the relative contribution of different mechanisms in deviance processing varies across the cortical hierarchy.
Accounting's role in resisting wage theft: a labour process theory analysis
Authors: Yang Da , Dumay John , Tweedie Dale
Published: October 2020

Purpose

In 2015, one university student in KC – a small town in regional Australia – unknowingly launched a resistance movement and national debate on modern wage theft. We apply labour process theory to analyse accounting's role in this case.

Design/methodology/approach

We study multiple instances of wage theft in one Australian town. This case site reveals how wage theft can emerge in a developed economy with well-established legal and institutional constraints. We use Thompson's “core” labour process theory to analyse accounting's role via two interrelated dialectics: (1) structure and agency and, (2) control and resistance.

Findings

Accounting was “weaponised” by both sides of the controversy: as a tool of employer control and as a vehicle for student resistance. Digital technologies enabled employee resistance to form unconsciously and organically. Proponents mobilised informally, with information and accounting the ammunition.

Social implications

Wage theft affects industrialised as well as developing economies, especially “precarious” workers. We show how accounting can conceal exploitation, but also how – with the right support – accounting can help vulnerable workers enforce their rights and entitlements.

Originality/value

The paper uncovers novel dynamics of exploitation and resistance at work under contemporary economic and technological conditions. Labour process theory can provide a more dialectical perspective on accounting's role in these dynamics, including the emancipatory potential of informal and opportunistic counter-accounts.
The Lost Papers: Managing An Academic Institution (A)
Authors: Barua Samir K
Published: October 2020

The case illustrates situations that often arise in an organization that have ethical dilemmas for various functionaries in the organization. The perspective of the functionaries is coloured by the role they play in the organization and their perception of their responsibility and accountability. Should pragmatism in such tricky situations over-ride the need for ensuring natural justice to those who may be negatively impacted by the situation? Should ethics and integrity over-ride the risk of loss of reputation an organization may run, at least in the short term, for being ethical? What should the individuals do if they have to deal with authority that may ask them to be unethical? The case provides an interesting context to discuss such imponderable issues.
Nirman: A skill building initiative for semi-skilled workers in informal sector
Authors: Abhishek  , Saxena Richa
Published: October 2020

SAATH is among the most respected NGOs of India catering to the needs of slum-dwellers by training them in different livelihood programs. About one and half years ago, the NGO launched Nirman program to train the workers of construction sector. After initial experimentation with processes, the Executive Director of SAATH, now plans to scale up the program. This case highlights the strengths of Nirman program and shows the impact on beneficiaries. It presents the dilemma for an organization in NGO sector to design the impact measurement process for its training program. The case also details out the challenges in implementing the training program for workers in informal sector.
Gujarat Fisheries Central Co-operative Association Limited
Authors: Yagnesh Dalvadi , Tilak Madhura , Alemu Lakew , Makwana Chetna , Chand Vijaya Sherry
Published: October 2020

Mr D M Patel, Senior Manager, Mobile Fish-selling Vans project, Gujarat Fisheries Central Co-operative Association Limited (GFCCA), had to present a plan to the Governing Body for the project which had been making losses for the last few years. He had GFCCA's annual accounts for 2009-2010 with him, but did not have specific details on the financial performance of the three vans. He needs to decide whether the project should be wound up or should undergo some modifications, while taking into account the objectives of the Governing Body. This case is meant for use in an introductory class in decision making for postgraduate or undergraduate management students to illustrate the process of rational decision making. It is also aimed at helping students write decision reports. The case requires the student to intuitively arrive at an understanding of the problem of fixed costs not being covered by the margin that the project is allowed to make, thus making sales volume a critical factor in breaking even. A second aspect that the students will have to identify is the possibility of reducing fixed costs by addressing cost inefficiencies or by making operational changes.
The Akal Academies
Authors: Ghura Amarpreet Singh , Chand Vijaya Sherry
Published: October 2020

In July 2016, Baba Iqbal Singh Kingra Ji, Chairperson, The Kalgidhar Trust-Society (TKTS), a non-profit social development organization based in Himachal Pradesh, India, wanted a plan for expanding the rural school activities of TKTS. In 2012, TKTS had fixed a target of 500 academies with 250,000 students to be achieved by 2020. As of 2016, it ran 129 schools that catered to 62,000 students. Apart from continuing with its donations and bank loan-based model, TKTS could explore franchising, entering into management contracts with existing schools, lease in land, or enter into public-private partnerships with the government.
Adoption and implementation of building information modelling (BIM) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): a review and conceptualization
Authors: Saka Abdullahi B. , Chan Daniel W.M.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Despite the SMEs representing a large percentage of firms in the construction industry, there has been an under-representation of SMEs’ perspective in BIM research studies. This paper aims to systematically review the few extant studies with a view of synthesizing the findings.

Design/methodology/approach

Hermeneutic philosophy using the interpretivist epistemology approach with a touch of metasynthesis was adopted to critically review and analyse extant studies published over the last decade.

Findings

The findings revealed a scarcity of BIM studies in SMEs, the status of adoption, identified barriers, benefits and drivers. A conceptual model was then developed based on the literature review and theoretical lenses of innovation diffusion model, technology–organization–environment framework and institutional theory. The paper presents pertinent propositions to drive BIM in the SMEs.

Originality/value

This paper holistically reviews extant BIM studies from the perspective of SMEs that are the backbone of the construction industry. It synthesizes extant studies and sets scenes for further studies.
Modified accident causation model for highway construction accidents (ACM-HC)
Authors: Tong Ruipeng , Zhao Hui , Zhang Na , Li Hongwei , Wang Xiaolong , Yang Hongqing
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to establish a modified accident causation model for highway construction accidents (ACM-HC) and describe the establishment process of the ACM-HC.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the 2–4 Model, a framework of the ACM-HC was constructed, and the accident causal factors (CF) were extracted from four aspects of human, material, environment and management. In addition, association rule mining (ARM) was introduced to analyze accident investigation reports to obtain the interrelationships between the factors. Based on the framework, factors and ARM results, the ACM-HC was established. Finally, the ACM-HC was verified with a tunnel collapse accident.

Findings

Both the external and internal causes of contractor cause accidents. The flaws of safety management of other stakeholders are external causes. In terms of the internal causes, there are four stages: direct causes, indirect causes, radical causes and root causes. More specifically, the direct causes refer to the unsafe acts and the unsafe conditions; ineffective safety supervision and poor individual factors of frontline workers constitute the indirect causes; the radical causes lie in the flaws of construction procedures and technical schemes; the root causes are related to the poor individual factors of decision makers and managers.

Originality/value

The ACM-HC expresses the causes, sequence and mechanism of highway construction accidents in a visual way. In addition, this study describes a process of using a qualitative–quantitative hybrid approach to establish a modified ACM, which provides a different perspective for the establishment of an ACM.
Bazzar case: exporting gourmet Brazil
Authors: Kogut Clarice Secches , Binhote Juliana Molina , de Mello Renato Dourado Cotta , Merchan Caballero Andres Josue
Published: October 2020

Learning outcomes

Students should learn gradual process of internationalization and commitment; reasons for internationalization; and role of networks.

Case overview/synopsis

This case is about Bazzar, a small company that sells sauces, toppings and desserts made only with high-quality Brazilian ingredients. The case dilemma refers to market entry strategies and commitment, although other IB topics are addressed.

Complexity academic level

Originally designed for MBA courses.

Subject code

CSS 5: International Business

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.
Estimating the price of apartments in Tehran using extracted compound variables
Authors: Koohpayma Javad , Argany Meysam
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Housing price is a barometer of a national economy. In recent years, Iran experienced high inflation in its economy, which affects everything, including housing. The purpose of this study is the estimation of the value of residential apartments of Tehran using ordinary least square (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) methods.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposed a method for determining the compound variables and used them to estimate and evaluate the prices in the district six of Tehran city. Also, this paper compared the GWR and OLS methods with different types of factors and their influences in house price estimations.

Findings

During the high inflation period of the study period, the age of buildings, inflation, parking, storage room and their locations are the most critical factors that affect the price of apartments in district six of Tehran. Besides, compound variables have the most influence on the prediction of the prices.

Research limitations/implications

The exact location of the apartments in the study area were unknown. Therefore, the positions are extracted from their addresses. The uncertainty of location forced us to ignore the neighborhood terms in the hedonic method.

Practical implications

The exact locations of the apartments in the study area were unknown. Therefore, the positions are extracted from their addresses. The uncertainty of location forced us to ignore the neighborhood terms in the hedonic method.

Originality/value

The originality of the proposed method is that it used a different approach to determine the valid variables of the apartment prices. Also, the evaluation of the method showed that the proposed variables are significantly useful.
Revealing the hidden facets of normative assessments: improving the management of major infrastructure projects through engaged scholarship
Authors: Brunet Maude , Baba Sofiane , Aubry Monique , El Boukri Sanaa , Primeau Marie-Douce , Dollard Debra
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study focuses on the dynamic relationship between organizational actors and engaged scholars involved in a normative assessment conducted in a public organization managing major projects.

Design/methodology/approach

We build on a 15-month engaged scholarship experience carried out in the Ministry of Transport of Quebec. We explain and analyze the normative assessment process, using a storytelling approach and vignettes to explore four situated learning moments.

Findings

This study offers a deeper understanding of how normative assessment is conducted, and how situated and collective learning occur throughout. We find that both organizational actors and researchers learn through this process and synchronize their mutual learning such that researchers actually participate in a larger organizational transformation.

Research limitations/implications

Like any qualitative endeavor, this research is context-specific. We offer several research avenues to extend the applicability of findings.

Practical implications

This article could inspire organizations and scholars to collaborate on normative assessment during organizational transformation. This approach is of particular interest in the context of a worldwide pandemic where public and private organizations all have to adapt to new sanitary, economic, technological and social realities.

Social implications

In a context marked by growing concern for the research-practice gap and the relevance of scholarship, our study illustrates the development of a mutually beneficial collaboration between practitioners and researchers that enhances understanding of complex organizational phenomena and issues.

Originality/value

This research highlights the relevance of engaged scholarship and supports normative assessment as a social process to generate mutual learning.
Promoting sustainable development in higher education institutions: the use of the balanced scorecard as a strategic management system in support of green marketing
Authors: Fuchs Paulo , Raulino Carlos , Conceição Diogo , Neiva Samara , Amorim Wellyngton Silva de , Soares Thiago Coelho , Andrade de Lima Maurício , Montenegro De Lima Carlos Rogerio , Soares João Coelho , Andrade Guerra José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Sustainability is understood as a complex and integrating area, involving the most diverse areas and fields of knowledge. Because of the innumerable socio-environmental challenges in the current scenario, a sustainable development that finds the necessary changes and advances for communities, industry and the various stakeholders involved is required. In this process of promoting sustainable development, universities stand out for being institutions capable of taking an analytical and questioning look at the directions of the society in which they are inserted and not just helping them to pursue them, serving as a model and living laboratory for the implementation of greener practices in cities. One of the actions that contributes to the consolidation process of a more sustainable university and the development of the green campus is the use of green marketing, understood as a set of all the practices that involve conventional marketing, focused on the search to reduce the negative impact or promote positive effects on the relationship between the institution and the environment. This paper aims, based on the balanced scorecard (BSC), to propose a strategic management tool as support for green marketing strategies, thus promoting, more quickly, the promotion of sustainable development in higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach

Four universities were chosen, from the literature, in terms of best practices for sustainable development, where the main dimensions used by green marketing were mapped. Based on them, the BSC structure was adapted to enhance its strategies.

Findings

To achieve the objective of this work, this paper proposed an adaptation of the original BSC for better management of green marketing strategies for universities, based on four dimensions: community members, university members, product and strategy.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is to propose a BSC as a strategic management system focused on the green marketing of universities to accelerate the promotion of sustainable development in HEIs.
Influence of information technology capability on service innovation in manufacturing firms
Authors: Chen Meng , Chen Yao , Liu Hefu , Xu Henry
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the influence of information technology (IT) capability (i.e. IT exploration and exploitation) on service innovation and ultimately financial performance in manufacturing firms. Moreover, this paper examines the contingent role of cross-functional integration (CFI) on the IT capability–service innovation relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs seemingly unrelated regression to test the theoretical model based on survey data from 121 manufacturers in China.

Findings

IT exploration is positively related to radical and incremental service innovations, whereas IT exploitation is only positively related to radical service innovation. CFI positively moderates the relationship between IT exploitation and service innovation. Radical and incremental service innovations are positively related to manufacturers' financial performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to existing information systems and servitization literature by uncovering the varying effects of IT exploration and exploitation on radical and incremental service innovations and by revealing the different contingent roles of CFI in moderating the above effects in the manufacturing context.
Estimating population‐specific predation effects on Chinook salmon via data integration
Authors: Sorel Mark H. , Zabel Richard W. , Johnson Devin S. , Wargo Rub A. Michelle , Converse Sarah J.
Published: October 2020

Recent success in the conservation of many marine mammals has resulted in new management challenges due to increasing conflict with fisheries. Increasing predation by pinnipeds on threatened salmon is of particular concern. Seemingly, pinniped conservation is now in conflict with the recovery of threatened salmon, creating a dilemma for managers.

We use the Lower Columbia River as a case study for examining the relationship between seasonal California sea lion Zalophus californianus abundance and survival of threatened salmon. To quantify mortality associated with increasing sea lion abundance, we examined the effect of seasonal sea lion abundance on adult Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha survival during migrations through the Lower Columbia River. We integrated data on survival with data on population‐specific migration timing, allowing quantification of the relationship between sea lion abundance and survival in 18 populations of spring–summer Chinook salmon listed as Threatened or Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Of the 18 populations examined, earlier migrating populations experienced lower survival in association with increased exposure to higher sea lion abundance. We estimated that in years with high sea lion abundance, the nine earliest‐migrating populations experienced an additional 21.1% (95% CI = 16.3–26.1) mortality compared to years with baseline sea lion abundance, while the nine latest migrating populations experienced an additional 10.1% (7.5–13.0).

Synthesis and applications. Integrating datasets on seasonal survival and migration timing made it possible for us to estimate population‐specific mortality associated with increased sea lion abundance in the Lower Columbia River. This information could not be produced from any one dataset, highlighting the utility of data integration approaches. The mortality experienced by early migrating Chinook salmon suggests the potential for demographic and evolutionary consequences. Management actions such as hazing, relocating, or removing individuals that are frequent predators on salmon have been proposed. Identifying the management actions that will allow for socially and legally acceptable trade‐offs between multiple conservation and other social values will be facilitated by development of explicit multi‐species management frameworks. Continued monitoring will help to reduce the substantial uncertainty about the effect of pinnipeds on salmon and the predicted outcomes of alternative management actions.
Data on coral species occurrences in Japan since 1929
Authors: Kitano Yuko F. , Hongo Chuki , Yara Yumiko , Sugihara Kaoru , Kumagai Naoki H. , Yamano Hiroya
Published: October 2020

This paper describes the species occurrence record of zooxanthellate reef‐building corals at 1047 sites on the Japanese coast, recorded from 1929 to 2017. The dataset includes 484 confirmed scientific species names compiled from 152 literature sources, most of which were written in Japanese and published as gray literature in local journals or individual reports. Scientific names were consolidated under currently accepted nomenclature based on the World Register of Marine Species. Further revision of species names was made by referring to monographs on temperate coral species of Japan, along with expert knowledge. The dataset includes the coral species recorded each year at each study site, the geographical location of each site, and the scientific names of the corals. Three supporting datasets were created, containing a list of literature, the names of the sites and synonymization and confirmation of the coral names. This up‐to‐date collection of data is a contribution to the study of coral biogeography and conservation planning, as well as long‐term changes in coral species distributions in response to climate change.

The complete data set for this abstract published in the Data Paper section of the journal is available in electronic format in MetaCat in JaLTER athttp://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP-2020-08.1/jalter-en.