bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Project management: openings for disruption from AI and advanced analytics
Authors: Niederman Fred 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this essay is to illustrate how project management “pull” and AI or analytics technology “push” are likely to result in incremental and disruptive evolution of project management capabilities and practices.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is written as a critical essay reflecting the experience and reflections of the author with many ideas drawn from and extending selected items from project management, artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics literatures.FindingsNeither AI nor sophisticated analytics is likely to elicit hands on attention from project managers, other than those producing AI or analytics-based artifacts or using these tools to create their products and services. However, through the conduit of packaged software support for project management, new tools and approaches can be expected to more effectively support current activities, to streamline or eliminate activities that can be automated, to extend current capabilities with the availability of increased data, computing capacity and mathematically based algorithms and to suggest ways to reconceive how projects are done and whether they are needed.Research limitations/implicationsThis essay includes projections of possible, some likely and some unlikely, events and states that have not yet occurred. Although the hope and purpose are to alert readers to the possibilities of what may occur as logical extensions of current states, it is improbable that all such projections will come to pass at all or in the way described. Nonetheless, consideration of the future ranging from current trends, the interplay among intersecting trends and scenarios of future states can sharpen awareness of the effects of current choices regarding actions, decisions and plans improving the probability that the authors can move toward desired rather than undesired future states.Practical implicationsProject managers not involved personally with creating AI or analytics products can avoid mastering detailed skill sets in AI and analytics, but should scan for new software features and affordances that they can use enable new levels of productivity, net benefit creation and ability to sleep well at night.Originality/valueThis essay brings together AI, analytics and project management to imagine and anticipate possible directions for the evolution of the project management domain.
Does green intellectual capital matter for green innovation adoption? Evidence from the manufacturing SMEs of Pakistan
Authors: Ali Waheed , Wen Jun , Hussain Hadi , Khan Nadeem Akhtar , Younas Muhammad Waleed , Jamil Ihsan 
Published: March 2021

PurposeIn the era of knowledge economy, the significance of intellectual capital has been increasing globally. Similarly, recent studies have focused on the importance of green intellectual capital in mitigating environmental degradation. However, only a few studies have analysed green intellectual capital and its impacts in the specific case of Pakistan. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effects of green intellectual capital on green innovation adoption in Pakistan’s manufacturing small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachWe used a data sample of 235 SMEs, gathered from the four manufacturing sectors of Pakistan including: textile, chemical, pharmaceutical and steel and analysed using a multiple regression analysis approach.FindingsThe empirical results of this research indicate that green human capital and green structural capital significantly increase green innovation adoption. However, it must be noted that green relational capital has a positive but insignificant impact on green innovation adoption in manufacturing SMEs in Pakistan.Originality/valueThe findings and recommended policy measures of this study are important for the managers of manufacturing SMEs and policymakers to mitigate environmental destruction and achieve sustainable development through green intellectual capital.
Is the real estate profession under threat? Assessing the effect of the involvement of non-professionals in Nigeria real estate agency service provision
Authors: Agboola Alirat Olayinka , Jasper Oluwasola Rebecca , Zakari Amamata Larai 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThis paper examines the effects of non-professionals' involvements in real estate service provision on real estate agency practice in Ibadan Nigeria, in order to provide information that could enhance real estate agency practice in the country.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered through questionnaire administration on a total sample of 232 respondents comprising 82 estate surveyors and valuers, 100 non-professional estate agents and 25 real estate agency service consumers each from the respective clients of the two groups. A respondent-driven sampling (RDS) technique was adopted for data collection and was particularly useful in accessing non-professionals with characteristically less identifiable organizational structure. Data were analysed using mean scores on a Likert type scale while Spearman rank correlation was used to compare and establish if significant differences exist between the perceptions of clients of professionals and non-professionals on the services provided.FindingsThis study revealed that while the involvement of non-professionals in real estate agency practice deprives professionals of opportunities for legitimate earnings and is attributed to incidences of fraudulent transactions in the market, non-professionals often also serve as facilitators of transactions for the professionals. Hence, there seems to be a symbiotic relationship between the two groups and also a tacit validation of the involvement of the former by the latter.Originality/valueThis work contributes to and extends the body of knowledge on non-professionals' involvement in real estate professional practice by providing insights into the effects of activities of individuals who are not members of the real estate profession on real estate agency professional practice, particularly in the context of an emergent and less transparent market.
Leaders' trait signaling effect on followers' psychological contract dynamics
Authors: Ishaq Erum , Raja Usman , Bouckenooghe Dave , Bashir Sajid 
Published: March 2021

PurposeUsing signaling theory and the literature on psychological contracts, the authors investigate how leaders' personalities shape their followers' perceptions of the type of psychological contract formed. They also suggest that leaders' personalities impact their followers' perceived contract breach. Furthermore, the authors propose that power distance orientation in organizations acts as an important boundary condition that enhances or exacerbates the relationships between personality and contract type and personality and perceived breach.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through multiple sources in Pakistan from 456 employees employed in 102 bank branches. Multilevel moderated path analyses provided reasonably good support for our hypotheses.FindingsThe leaders' personalities impacted the relational contracts of their followers in the cases of extraversion and agreeableness, whereas neuroticism had a significant relationship with the followers' formation of transactional contracts. Similarly, agreeableness, neuroticism and conscientiousness had significant relationships with perceived breach. Finally, the power distance of the followers aggregated at a group level moderated the personality-contract type and personality-perceived breach relationships.Research limitations/implicationsThis research advances understanding of psychological contracts in organizations. More specifically, it shows that the personality of leader would have profound impact on the type of contract their employees form and the likelihood that would perceive the breach of contract.Originality/valueThis research extends existing personality-psychological contract literature by examining the role of leaders' personalities in signaling to employees the type of contract that is formed and the perception of its breach. The role of power distance organizational culture as a signaling environment is also considered.
Horizontal transfer of large plasmid with type IV secretion system and mosquitocidal genomic island with excision and integration capabilities in Lysinibacillus sphaericus
Authors: Geng Peiling , Cheng Jiao , Yuan Zhiming , Xiong Hairong , Wang Haiying , Hu Xiaomin 
Published: March 2021

SummaryWe identified a ~30‐kb genomic island (named GI8) carrying the binary toxin gene operon binA/binB on both the chromosome and large pBsph plasmid in the mosquitocidal Lysinibacillus sphaericus C3‐41 strain. We found that GI8 is related to the occurrence of binA/binB within L. sphaericus and displays excision and integration capability by recognizing the attB region, which consists of a 2‐nt target site (AT) flanked by an 11‐nt imperfect inverted repeat. pBsph and two pBsph‐like plasmids (p2362 and p1593) were found to carry a type IV secretion system (T4SS) and displayed transmissibility within a narrow host range specific to L. sphaericus. GI8 can be co‐transferred with pBsph as a composite element by integration into its attB site, then excised from pBsph and re‐integrated into the chromosomal attB site in the new host. The potential hosts of GI8, regardless of whether they are toxic or non‐toxic to mosquito larvae, share good collinearity at the chromosomal level. Data indicated that the appearance of the mosquitocidal L. sphaericus lineage was driven by horizontal transfer of the T4SS‐type conjugative plasmid and GI8 with excision and specific integration capability.
Suicidal iron overdose: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Yu Dongfang , Giffen Mark A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAcute iron toxicity in adults is rare, usually occurring due to intentional ingestion in suicide attempts. Few cases of the clinical and autopsy findings in acute iron toxicity have previously been reported in the literature. Ingestion of large amounts of iron salts can lead to hemorrhagic shock, multi‐system organ failure, coagulopathy, and death. We present the case of a 25‐year‐old man who reportedly ingested a large quantity of iron tablets along with ethanol in a suicide attempt and subsequently died approximately 65.5 h later. His clinical course and laboratory findings demonstrated hepatic and renal compromise with markedly elevated serum iron levels. At autopsy, iron encrustations were present over the gastric rugae. Superficial deposits of stainable iron were present overlying areas of mucosal necrosis with underlying submucosal fibrin thrombi. No significant stainable iron was present in the liver. Literature review revealed that the clinical course and laboratory testing of severe acute iron overdose is fairly non‐specific. The length and type of treatment may alter the clinical course and laboratory results. Peak serum iron levels may be helpful in differentiating acute toxicity from chronic iron overload states. Gross findings of gastric iron encrustation are specific for acute ingestion when present.
The intriguing giant deer from the Bate cave (Crete): could paleohistological evidence question its taxonomy and nomenclature?
Authors: PALOMBO Maria Rita , ZEDDA Marco 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe research describes for the first time a possible case of pituitary gigantism in fossil mammals, precisely in deer. The pathology was detected in 2 long bones (tibia and metatarsus) belonging to an individual of an unusual large size found at the Bate cave (Rethymnon, Northern Crete). It formed the basis of Candiacervus major, the largest among the endemic deer species recorded in the Pleistocene‐Early Holocene of Crete. Radiological and histomorphological examinations highlighted a reduction in cortical bone thickness and the presence of wide lacunae inside of the bone tissue. The pathological conditions suggest a pituitary gigantism diagnosis also supported by some morphological evidence, such as the extremely elongated distal part of the metatarsal diaphysis, the proportionally small proximal epiphysis, and some bone gracility. The diagnosis of a case of pituitary gigantism as presumed responsible for the extraordinary elongation of the tibia and the metatarsal bone is intriguing as they are, respectively, the paratype and the holotype of the C. major. The species represents a case of a deviation from the “island rule” in Pleistocene large mammals. The new evidence recommends a taxonomic and nomenclatural revision of this species. The main outcomes of this research are as follows: (i) a case of pituitary gigantism is described for the first time in an extinct mammal; (ii) it is underlined that paleohistology may provide interesting clues for disentangling taxonomic and nomenclatural issues; (iii) one of the very few cases of gigantism in insular mammals is being questioned.
Anthropogenic pressures increase extinction risk of an isolated Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) population in southwestern China, as revealed by a combination of molecular‐ and landscape‐scale approaches
Authors: CHEN Ying , SUN Yakuan , ATZENI Luciano , GIBSON Luke , HUA Mei , LI Keyu , SHI Kun , DUDGEON David 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIdentification of the effect of anthropogenic threats on ecosystem is crucial. We used molecular tools and remote sensing to evaluate the population status of an isolated Asian elephant population in southwestern China in response to changes in habitat suitability between 1989 and 2019. A total of 22 unique genotypes were identified from 117 dung samples collected between March and June 2018 using microsatellite DNA analysis, including 13 males and 9 females. Based on the size of fecal boli, 1 animal was a juvenile, 9 were subadults, and 12 were adults, indicating that recruitment was limited. The effective population size was small (15.3) but there was no signature of a recent population bottleneck. We observed a low genetic diversity (He= 0.46 ± 0.05) and a high level of inbreeding (Fisof 0.43 ± 0.11), suggesting low population viability and high risk of extinction. In total, these elephants lost nearly two thirds (62%) of their habitat in 3 decades. The expansion of agriculture and rubber plantations followed by an increase in human settlements after 1989 increased the isolation of this population. We recommend that resettlement of 800 inhabitants of 2 villages and the abandonment of associated farmland and rubber plantations would make an additional 20 km2of suitable habitat available. This could allow a population increase of 14 elephants, possibly by translocating individuals from elsewhere in China. Our findings can be applied to the management and conservation of other fragmented populations in China or in other range countries of Asian elephants.
Chromosome‐level genome assembly of burbot (Lota lota) provides insights into the evolutionary adaptations in freshwater
Authors: Han Zhiqiang , Liu Manhong , Liu Qi , Zhai Hao , Xiao Shijun , Gao Tianxiang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe burbot (Lota lota) is the only member of the order Gadiformes adapted solely to freshwater. This species has the widest longitudinal range among freshwater fish worldwide. Burbot serves as a good model for studies on adaptive genome evolution from marine to freshwater environments. However, a high‐quality reference genome of burbot has not yet been released. Here, the first chromosome‐level genome of burbot was constructed using PacBio long sequencing and Hi‐C technology. A total of 95.24 Gb polished PacBio sequences were generated, and the preliminary genome assembly was 575.83 Mb in size with a contig N50 size of 2.15 Mb. The assembled sequences were anchored to 22 pseudochromosomes by using Hi‐C data. The final assembled genome after Hi‐C correction was 575.92 Mb, with a contig N50 of 2.01 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 22.10 Mb. A total of 22,067 protein‐coding genes were predicted, 94.82% of which were functionally annotated. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that burbot diverged with the Atlantic cod approximately 43.8 million years ago. In addition, 377 putative genes that appear to be under positive selection in burbot were identified. These positively selected genes might be involved in the adaptation to the freshwater environment. These genome data provide an invaluable resource for the ecological and evolutionary study of the order Gadiformes.
High cost of illness in fibromyalgia patients in Iran, irrespective of disease severity: A prospective cost study
Authors: Gharibpoor Faeze , Nasrollahzadeh Elaheh , Ghavidel‐Parsa Banafshesh , Ghaffari Mohammad Ebrahim , Bidari Ali 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsThis study aimed to estimate the economic burden of fibromyalgia (FM) in 6 months, using a cost‐diary, and to evaluate its relationship with the disease severity.MethodsThis is a prospective cost‐of‐illness study on 62 participants with an FM diagnosis within a 6 month period. Patients completed the questionnaires, including FIQR (Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire) and SF‐12 (12‐item short‐form survey). The cost‐diary method was used to track the cost of the disease. The participants received six cost‐diary booklets during the study period to report their FM‐related costs, hours, and days of productivity loss. The final costs are reported in US dollars.ResultsMost of the participants were women (90.3%) with a mean (±SD) age of 40.80 (±5.50) years and a mean (±SD) FIQR score of 54.38 (±14.13). Moreover, 45.2% of patients fulfilled all six booklets, whereas 24.2% returned only one booklet. The participants showed a mean (±SD) direct healthcare, non‐healthcare, and indirect cost of $ 2817.08 (±$ 1860.04), $ 1497.98(±$ 1358.21), and $ 1449.05(±$ 3637.41) per patient for 6 months, respectively.ConclusionFibromyalgia is associated with high health‐related and non‐health‐related costs in our country, irrespective of its severity. This study warrants urgent consideration in managing the disease burden on both patients and society.
Digital Health in Response to COVID‐19 in Low‐ and Middle‐income Countries: Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Mitgang Elizabeth A. , Blaya Joaquin A. , Chopra Mickey 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCOVID‐19 has pulled back the curtain on health system fragility to expose persistent and deepening inequities worldwide. The limited capacity of low‐ and lower‐middle income countries (LMICs) to respond to the pandemic and its impact on the health of populations – particularly the most vulnerable – presents a marked challenge. In this context, countries face the enormous task of rethinking the way essential services will be delivered. A critical and essential part of solving these challenges will be using information and communication technology and digital health to enhance direct communication with the public; scale proven and innovative service delivery models; and empower the frontlines. However, if the deployment, adaptation, or expansion of these innovations are not user‐centered for the most marginalized or do not learn from past lessons, it could be highly wasteful at best. At worst, such shortcomings could exacerbate pre‐existing weaknesses in the health care system such as exclusion of peripheral populations, disempowerment of health workers, and proliferation of unregulated private providers. We provide recommendations of which innovations should be prioritized and implementation principles to address the current challenges while responding to the need to fundamentally change service delivery for accelerated impact.
Characteristics and outcomes of thymomas in Latin America: Results from over 10 years of experience (CLICaP‐LATimus)
Authors: Martín Claudio , Enrico Diego , Mas Luis , Patane Ana Karina , Arrieta Oscar , Soria Tannia , Cardona Andrés F. , Ruiz‐Patiño Alejandro , Ruiz Rossana , Rioja Patricia , Lozano Sophia , Zatarain‐Barrón Zyanya Lucia , Barrón Feliciano , Puparelli Carmen , Tsou Florencia , Corassa Marcelo P. , Freitas Helano C. , Cordeiro de Lima Vladmir Cláudio , Rojas Leonardo , Ordóñez‐Reyes Camila , Corrales Luis , Sotelo Carolina , Rodríguez July , Ricaurte Luisa , Ávila Jenny , Archila Pilar , Rosell Rafael , Cuello Mauricio , Remon Jordi ,   CLICaP
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundThymomas are a group of rare neoplasms of the anterior mediastinum. The objective of this study was to describe the demographics, clinical characteristics and treatment approaches in Latin America.MethodsThis was a retrospective multicenter cohort study including patients with histologically proven thymomas diagnosed between 1997 and 2018. Demographics, clinicopathological characteristics and therapeutic outcomes were collected locally and analyzed in a centralized manner.ResultsA total of 135 patients were included. Median age at diagnosis was 53 years old (19–84), 53.3% (n = 72) of patients were female and 87.4% had an ECOG performance score ranging from 0–1. A total of 47 patients (34.8%) had metastatic disease at diagnosis. Concurrent myasthenia gravis occurred in 21.5% of patients. Surgery was performed in 74 patients (54.8%), comprising 27 (20%) tumorectomies and 47 (34.8%) thymectomies. According to the Masaoka‐Koga system, overall survival (OS) at five‐years was 73.4%, 63.8% and 51%, at stages I–II, III–IVA and IVB, respectively (p = 0.005). Furthermore, patients with low lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (≤373 IU/L) at baseline and myasthenia gravis concurrence showed significantly better OS (p = 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). In multivariate analysis, high LDH levels (HR 2.8 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–7.8]; p = 0.036) at baseline and not performing a surgical resection (HR 4.1 [95% CI: 1.3–12.7]; p = 0.016) were significantly associated with increased risk of death.ConclusionsOur data provides the largest insight into the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with thymomas in Latin America. Survival in patients with thymomas continues to be very favorable, especially when subjected to adequate local control.
Clinical‐therapeutic study on the efficacy and safety of thalidomide in the management of discoid lupus erythematosus. A single‐centre, retrospective study
Authors: Tirado‐Sánchez Andrés , Aguilar‐Mena Cristina , Rodriguez‐Mendoza Angeles , Hernández‐Salgado Yesica , Bonifaz Alexandro 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThalidomide is a second‐line treatment for discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). The efficacy of this treatment, the minimum effective doses, and safety is poorly documented in the literature. The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy and tolerance of thalidomide as first or second line of therapy for discoid lupus erythematosus. We present a retrospective single‐centre study of 68 patients with DLE treated with thalidomide from 2003 to 2019. The inclusion criteria were the presence of clinical lesions suggestive of DLE, confirmed by histological examination and direct immunofluorescence. The mean age at diagnosis was 37.45 years (range 18–65 years). Thalidomide was started an average of 2.25 years after the diagnosis of DLE, as second‐line therapy in 85% of the cases (58 patients), and as first‐line therapy in 10 patients (15%). Fifty‐six patients improved with thalidomide (82%), 39 cases achieved complete remission and 17 partial remissions. The mean duration of follow‐up with thalidomide was 8.4 months (range 3–25 months). Five patients discontinued thalidomide due to adverse events. The most frequent side effect was headache (23.5%). Thalidomide is effective and safe in DLE patients as first or second‐line treatment with a good safety profile.