bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Celebrating a Legacy
Authors: Razzack Azra , Siddiqui M. Atyab
Published: December 2022

Chapter V titled Celebrating a Legacy presents what can be considered to be the legacy of this school. Over the years the school has contributed in many ways but the three areas which stand out and are discussed in this chapter are—outstandingly the game of football, personalities associated with the institution, and the Urdu language. Interesting aspects of the affinity of the institution with the game of football and its magical heroes which have made a name at the highest level has been highlighted. Some of the well-known teachers, students, and Urdu poets affiliated with the school are mentioned. There is also a discussion on some of the prominent office bearers of the Delhi Education Society, under the aegis of which the school runs. The school’s contribution to the Urdu language too is discussed. Its legacy is enviable and unmatched.
Health in Historical Political Economy
Authors: Feigenbaum James J.
Published: December 2022

This chapter studies the intersection of health and political economy in history, with a focus on the United States during the epidemiological transition. Few of the major factors that drove mortality reduction and health improvements would have been possible without the state. And where there is the state, there are questions of political economy. The chapter asks two related questions: What was the political economy behind the transition and what were the political economic effects of the transition? It is divided into three substantive sections. The first section focuses on the public health measures and investments in the era of the epidemiological transition. The second section considers the political economy of epidemics and pandemics and the political economy left in their wake. The third section traces the development of American health care as both a profession and an industry.
Slavery and Roman Law
Authors: Gamauf Richard
Published: December 2022

This chapter addresses central institutions of Roman slave law and shows how slaves were legally understood as objects/chattels and actors at the same time. It discusses the benefits a slave peculium offered to a master and its perks for slaves. It analyses the role of the state and of legislation in controlling slaves by preventing abuses of masters’ powers, as well as by keeping slaves from resorting to revenge against them. In this context, it also discusses different means of formal as well as informal mediation that were employed to keep conflicts from escalating. Finally, it stresses that, in addition to dealing with a wide range of legal problems, Roman legal texts (approximately 25% of which mention slaves) are pivotal for understanding what legitimate and illegitimate choices were open to (at least) some members of the Roman slave population.
Profile of loiasis infection through clinical and laboratory diagnostics: the importance of biomarkers
Authors: Dieki Roland , Eyang Assengone E R , Nsi Emvo E , Akue J P
Published: December 2022

Background

Detection of Loa loa microfilariae in peripheral blood is insensitive given only 30% of individuals are microfilaraemic while 70% are amicrofilaraemic with a variety of clinical signs. Biomarkers may improve the diagnosis of loiasis.

Methods

A total of 545 individuals exposed to L. loa were analysed using clinical data collected through a questionnaire (requesting information on eye worm, Calabar swelling, pruritis) and detection of microfilariae, immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4), DNA and antigens using microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot, respectively.

Results

The results revealed that the rates of detection of L. loa microfilariae in the blood, of DNA by qPCR, of IgG4 by ELISA and of antigen by Western blot were 4.7%, 5.5%, 15.60% and 10.09%, respectively.

Conclusions

This study showed that clinical signs based on a questionnaire are highly subjective. Therefore it is imperative to use IgG4 and DNA biomarkers as well as antigens detected by Western blot to identify individuals infected with L. loa.
Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Patients With Placenta Accreta Spectrum
Authors: Miller Sarah E. , Leonard Stephanie A. , Meza Pamela K. , Ku Seul , Ren Lily Y. , Lyell Deirdre J. , Sultan Pervez , Butwick Alexander
Published: December 2022

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate red blood cell use during delivery in patients with placenta accreta spectrum.

DATA SOURCES:

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Scopus for clinical trials and observational studies published between 2000 and 2021 in countries with developed economies.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION:

Abstracts (n=4,275) and full-text studies (n=599) were identified and reviewed by two independent reviewers. Data on transfused red blood cells were included from studies reporting means and SDs, medians with interquartile ranges, or individual patient data. The primary outcome was the weighted mean number of units of red blood cells transfused per patient. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed with an I2 statistic. Secondary analyses included red blood cell usage by placenta accreta subtype.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS:

Of the 599 full-text studies identified, 20 met criteria for inclusion in the systematic review, comprising 1,091 cases of placenta accreta spectrum. The number of units of red blood cells transfused was inconsistently described across studies, with five studies (25.0%) reporting means, 11 (55.0%) reporting medians, and four (20.0%) reporting individual patient data. The weighted mean number of units transfused was 5.19 (95% CI 4.12–6.26) per patient. Heterogeneity was high across studies (I2=91%). In a sensitivity analysis of five studies reporting mean data, the mean number of units transfused was 6.61 (95% CI 4.73–8.48; n=220 patients). Further quantification of units transfused by placenta accreta subtype was limited due to methodologic inconsistencies between studies and small cohort sizes.

CONCLUSION:

Based on the upper limit of the CI in our main analysis and the high study heterogeneity, we recommend that a minimum of 6 units of red blood cells be available before delivery for patients with placenta accreta spectrum. These findings may inform future guidelines for predelivery blood ordering and transfusion support.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION:

PROSPERO, CRD42021240993.
Policy Changes as a Context for Moral Injury Development in the Wake of Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization
Authors: Desai Alisha , Holliday Ryan , Wallis Marianne , Thornewill Alice , Bahraini Nazanin H. , Borges Lauren M.
Published: December 2022

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization held that the U.S. Constitution does not confer the right to an abortion, which set into motion an overhaul of reproductive health care services in certain states. Health care professionals are now operating within a rapidly changing landscape of clinical practice in which they may experience conflict between personal and professional morals (eg, bodily autonomy, patient advocacy), uncertainty regarding allowable practices, and fear of prosecution (eg, loss of medical license) related to reproductive health care services. The ethical dilemmas stemming from Dobbs create a context for exposure to potentially morally injurious events, moral distress, and moral injury (ie, functional impairment stemming from exposure to moral violations) among health care professionals. Considerations related to clinical intervention and approaches to policy are reviewed. Early identification of health care professionals' potentially morally injurious event exposure related to restricted reproductive services is critical for preventing and intervening on moral injury, with implications for improving functioning and retention within the medical field.
Accuracy of a Risk Alert Threshold for ICU Hypoglycemia: Retrospective Analysis of Alert Performance and Association With Clinical Deterioration Events
Authors: Horton William B. , Hannah Elaine E. , Morales Frances L. , Chaney Cherie R. , Krahn Katy N. , Chernyavskiy Pavel , Clark Matthew T. , Moorman J. Randall
Published: December 2022

OBJECTIVES:

To quantify the accuracy of and clinical events associated with a risk alert threshold for impending hypoglycemia during ICU admissions.

DESIGN:

Retrospective electronic health record review of clinical events occurring greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 12 hours after the hypoglycemia risk alert threshold was met.

SETTING:

Adult ICU admissions from June 2020 through April 2021 at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

PATIENTS:

Three hundred forty-two critically ill adults that were 63.5% male with median age 60.8 years, median weight 79.1 kg, and median body mass index of 27.5 kg/m2.

INTERVENTIONS:

Real-world testing of our validated predictive model as a clinical decision support tool for ICU hypoglycemia.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

We retrospectively reviewed 350 hypothetical alerts that met inclusion criteria for analysis. The alerts correctly predicted 48 cases of level 1 hypoglycemia that occurred greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 12 hours after the alert threshold was met (positive predictive value = 13.7%). Twenty-one of these 48 cases (43.8%) involved level 2 hypoglycemia. Notably, three myocardial infarctions, one medical emergency team call, 19 deaths, and 20 arrhythmias occurred greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 12 hours after an alert threshold was met.

CONCLUSIONS:

Alerts generated by a validated ICU hypoglycemia prediction model had a positive predictive value of 13.7% for real-world hypoglycemia events. This proof-of-concept result suggests that the predictive model offers clinical value, but further prospective testing is needed to confirm this.
Associations between early-life exposure to PM2.5 and reductions in childhood lung function in two North American longitudinal pregnancy cohort studies
Authors: Rosa Maria José , Lamadrid-Figueroa Hector , Alcala Cecilia , Colicino Elena , Tamayo-Ortiz Marcela , Mercado-Garcia Adriana , Kloog Itai , Just Allan C , Bush Douglas , Carroll Kecia N. , Téllez-Rojo Martha María , Wright Robert O. , Gennings Chris , Wright Rosalind J.
Published: December 2022

Background:

Data integration of epidemiologic studies across different geographic regions can provide enhanced exposure contrast and statistical power to examine adverse respiratory effects of early-life exposure to particulate matter <2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5). Methodological tools improve our ability to combine data while more fully accounting for study heterogeneity.

Methods:

Analyses included children enrolled in two longitudinal birth cohorts in Boston, Massachusetts, and Mexico City. Propensity score matching using the 1:3 nearest neighbor with caliper method was used. Residential PM2.5 exposure was estimated from 2 months before birth to age 6 years using a validated satellite-based spatiotemporal model. Lung function was tested at ages 6–11 years and age, height, race, and sex adjusted z scores were estimated for FEV1, FVC, FEF25–75%, and FEV1/FVC. Using distributed lag nonlinear models, we examined associations between monthly averaged PM2.5 levels and lung function outcomes adjusted for covariates, in unmatched and matched pooled samples.

Results:

In the matched pooled sample, PM2.5 exposure between postnatal months 35–44 and 35–52 was associated with lower FEV1 and FVC z scores, respectively. A 5 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a reduction in FEV1 z score of 0.13 (95% CI = –0.26, –0.01) and a reduction in FVC z score of 0.13 (95% CI = –0.25, –0.01). Additionally PM2.5 during postnatal months 23–39 was associated with a reduction in FEF25–75% z score of 0.31 (95% CI = –0.57, –0.05).

Conclusions:

Methodological tools enhanced our ability to combine multisite data while accounting for study heterogeneity. Ambient PM2.5 exposure in early childhood was associated with lung function reductions in middle childhood.
Early-life exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and infant gut microbial composition
Authors: Laue Hannah E. , Moroishi Yuka , Palys Thomas J. , Christensen Brock C. , Criswell Rachel L. , Peterson Lisa A. , Huset Carin A. , Baker Emily R. , Karagas Margaret R. , Madan Juliette C. , Romano Megan E.
Published: December 2022

Background:

Human milk is rich in essential nutrients and immune-activating compounds but is also a source of toxicants including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Evidence suggests that immune-related effects of PFAS may, in part, be due to alterations of the microbiome. We aimed to identify the association between milk PFAS exposure and the infant gut microbiome.

Methods:

PFAS [perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA)] were quantified in milk from ~6 weeks postpartum using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. A molar sum (ΣPFAS) was calculated. Caregivers collected infant stool samples at 6 weeks (n = 116) and/or 1 year postpartum (n = 119). Stool DNA underwent metagenomic sequencing. We estimated the association of PFAS with diversity and relative abundances of species with linear regression. Single- and multi-PFAS models adjusted for potential confounders in complete case analyses and with imputed missing covariate data for 6-week and 1-year microbiomes separately. We assessed sensitive populations with stratification.

Results:

PFOS and PFOA were detected in 94% and 83% of milk samples, respectively. PFOS was associated with increased diversity at 6 weeks among infants fed exclusively human milk [β = 0.24 per PFOS doubling, (95% CI = 0.03, 0.45), P = 0.03] and born to primiparous mothers [β = 0.37 (0.06, 0.67), P = 0.02]. Estimates were strongest in multi-PFAS models and among complete cases. ΣPFAS was associated with Bacteroides vulgatus relative abundance at 1 year [(β = –2.34% per doubling (–3.63, –1.05), FDR q = 0.099].

Conclusions:

PFAS may increase infant gut microbiome diversity and alter the relative abundance of biologically relevant bacteria. Additional analyses may identify related health outcomes.
Susceptibility of the Intact and Traumatized Feline Cornea to In Vitro Binding and Invasion by Acanthamoeba castellanii
Authors: Ledbetter Eric C. , Dong Longying
Published: December 2022

Purpose:

Acanthamoeba castellanii (A. castellanii) displays host specificity at the level of the ocular surface. This study determined the susceptibility of the intact and traumatized feline cornea to A. castellanii binding and invasion relative to other host species with established susceptibility and resistance to Acanthamoeba binding.

Methods:

Full-thickness buttons of fresh feline, porcine, and canine corneas were prepared. The corneal epithelium was confirmed intact by fluorescein staining or lightly scarified with a 25-G needle to simulate corneal trauma. Acanthamoeba castellanii was axenically cultivated. Corneal buttons were incubated with the parasite suspension or parasite-free medium for 18 hours at 35°C. Corneal buttons were rinsed, fixed, and processed for histopathology and immunohistochemistry using immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence methods of amoeba detection.

Results:

Numerous amoebae were bound to feline and porcine corneas incubated with parasites. In both intact and traumatized corneas, amoebae were detected at all levels in the corneal epithelium and within the anterior stroma. In traumatized corneal sections, amoebae were frequently present in regions of epithelial damage. Corneal architecture was well-preserved in sections incubated with parasite-free medium; however, epithelial cell sloughing, separation of epithelial layers, and epithelial detachment from the stroma were observed in corneas incubated with amoebae. Intact and traumatized canine corneas were relatively free of adherent amoebae, and corneal architecture was indistinguishable between sections incubated with the parasite suspension and parasite-free medium.

Conclusions:

The feline cornea is highly susceptible to in vitro binding and invasion by A. castellanii. Acanthamoeba binding to the feline cornea does not require a previous epithelial defect.
Health/Nutrition Science
Authors: Rowe Sylvia , Alexander Nick
Published: December 2022

The health and nutrition science communication literature is replete with articles about financial conflicts of interest. Relatively little appears concerning conflicts among scientists and communicators themselves—the opinions, perspectives, and biases that obstruct consensus. In recent years, researchers and communicators have spoken of the need for science collaborations in exploring such complex issues as obesity, food security, personalized nutrition, and others. But some experts have identified obstacles to cooperation and sought to encourage holistic approaches to achieving research and communication goals in health and nutrition science. In the present article, the authors explore collaboration obstacles and discuss ways health and nutrition science communications might embrace more comprehensive strategies to bring disparate scientific disciplines together and advance understanding.
Social Vulnerability and Emergency General Surgery among Medicare Beneficiaries
Authors: Zhang Yuqi , Kunnath Nicholas , Dimick Justin B , Scott John W , Ibrahim Andrew M
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND:

Although the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was created to identify vulnerable populations after unexpected natural disasters, its ability to identify similar groups of patients undergoing unexpected emergency surgical procedures is unknown. We sought to examine the association between SVI and outcomes after emergency general surgery.

STUDY DESIGN:

This study is a cross-sectional review of 887,193 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent 1 of 4 common emergency general surgery procedures (appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, and ventral hernia repair) performed in the urgent or emergent setting between 2014 and 2018. These data were merged with the SVI at the census-track level of residence. Risk-adjusted outcomes (30-day mortality, serious complications, readmission) were evaluated using a logistic regression model accounting for age, sex, comorbidity, year, procedure type, and hospital characteristics between high and low social vulnerability quintiles and within the 4 SVI subthemes (socioeconomic status; household composition and disability; minority status and language; and housing type and transportation).

RESULTS:

Compared with beneficiaries with low social vulnerability, Medicare beneficiaries living in areas of high social vulnerability experienced higher rates of 30-day mortality (8.56% vs 8.08%; adjusted odds ratio 1.07; p < 0.001), serious complications (20.71% vs 18.40%; adjusted odds ratio 1.17; p < 0.001), and readmissions (16.09% vs 15.03%; adjusted odds ratio 1.08; p < 0.001). This pattern of differential outcomes was present in subgroup analysis of all 4 SVI subthemes but was greatest in the socioeconomic status and household composition and disability subthemes.

CONCLUSIONS:

National efforts to support patients with high social vulnerability from natural disasters may be well aligned with efforts to identify communities that are particularly vulnerable to worse postoperative outcomes after emergency general surgery. Policies targeting structural barriers related to household composition and socioeconomic status may help alleviate these disparities.
Proposals to emend Rules 8, 15, 22, 25a, 30(3)(b), 30(4), 34a, and Appendix 7 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes
Authors: Oren Aharon , Arahal David R. , Göker Markus , Moore Edward R. B. , Rossello-Mora Ramon , Sutcliffe Iain C.
Published: December 2022

To complete the ongoing revision of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes, we here propose emendation of Rules 8, 15, 22, 25a, 30(3)(b), 30(4), 34a and Appendix 7. These proposed emendations deal with: the nomenclatural type of taxa above genus; the suitability of names published in supplementary material or in papers published on e-print servers for effective publication; the number of culture collection designations to be included in an effective publication of a name of a species or subspecies to qualify for validation of the name; the kinds of restrictions that may be attached to deposits of type strains; and the question whether elevation of a subspecies to the rank of species or lowering of a species to the rank of subspecies establish new combinations. Some of these emendations change the meaning of the Code while others are mere textual clarifications.
Gordonia tangerina sp. nov., isolated from seawater
Authors: He Yufei , Lyu Lina , Hu Ziyan , Yu Zhiqiang , Shao Zongze
Published: December 2022

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic bacterium, designated GW1C4-4T, was isolated from the seawater sample from the tidal zone of Guanyinshan Coast, Xiamen, Fujian Province, PR China. The strain was reddish-orange, rod-shaped and non-motile. Cells of strain GW1C4-4T were oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. The strain could grow at 10–42 °C (optimum, 32–35 °C), pH 5–9 (optimum, pH 6) and with 0–10 % NaCl (w/v; optimum, 1 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA sequences indicated that strain GW1C4-4T belonged to the genus

Gordonia

, having the highest similarity to

Gordonia mangrovi

HNM0687T (98.5 %), followed by

Gordonia bronchialis

DSM 43247T (98.4 %). The G+C DNA content was 66.5 mol %. Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain GW1C4-4T and

G. mangrovi

HNM0687T were 85.8 and 30.0 %, respectively. The principal fatty acids of strain GW1C4-4T were C16 : 0, C18 : 0 10-methyl (TBSA) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1
 ω7c/C16 : 1
 ω6c). MK-9 (H2) was the sole respiratory quinone. The polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and an unidentified lipid. Based on its phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic characteristics, it is proposed that strain GW1C4-4T represents a novel species within the genus

Gordonia

, for which the name Gordonia tangerina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GW1C4-4T (=MCCC 1A18727T=KCTC 49729T).
Vendors’ perceptions on the bushmeat trade dynamics across West Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned on sanitary measures and awareness campaigns
Authors: Gaubert P. , Djagoun C.A.M.S. , Missoup A.D. , Ales N. , Amougou C.V. , Dipita A. Din , Djagoun J. , Gossé K.J. , Koffi C.E. , N’Goran E.M. , Noma Y.N. , Zanvo S. , Tindo M. , Antunes A. , Gonedelé-Bi S.
Published: December 2022

In West Africa, the bushmeat trade is a major societal issue with contrasting implications on biodiversity, health and economy. We studied perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the bushmeat trade dynamics through questionnaires addressed to 377 vendors across three West African countries. We showed that bushmeat vendors constitute a socio-economic category driven by ethnicity and gender bias, engaged in profitable, long-term careers. There was a general consensus among vendors that the COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental measures had a negative impact on their activities and the number of clients, a cost still perceived as visible at the time of the survey. However, we observed large discrepancies among the national trade dynamics relative to the constraints of the pandemic. Côte d’Ivoire was hardly hit by the bushmeat ban and perceived governmental measures as rather negative, whereas Cameroon generally did not report a temporary stop of bushmeat activities and engaged in the stockpiling of pangolins, and Benin mostly suffered from a weakened supply chain. Because such differences are rooted in the geography and political agenda of each country, predicting the impact of mitigation measures on the global dynamics of bushmeat markets might be an unrealistic task if national specificities are not taken into account. West African vendors generally did not believe that pangolins were involved in the pandemic, for the reason that people have always been eating pangolins and have never been sick. We recommend that future awareness campaigns through television and social networks also include education on microbial evolution and host shift.
Nutritional Impacts of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol: Are there unintended diet consequences?
Authors: Leckcivilize Attakrit , Whybrow Stephen , Gao Ni , McKenzie Lynda , Kopasker Daniel , McNamee Paul , Ludbrook Anne
Published: December 2022

Background

In 2018, Scotland introduced a Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy to remove very-low-cost alcoholic drinks from the market and reduce adverse social and health-related impacts of excessive alcohol consumption. Any increased spending on alcohol may reduce spending on food, and adversely impact diet quality.

Objectives

To estimate the effect of MUP on dietary energy, nutrients and diet quality.

Methods

Analyses were conducted on household level purchase data, collected by Kantar Worldpanel (KWP) over 53 weeks before and 54 weeks after the introduction of MUP, from 1987 households in Scotland and 6064 households in the north of England. Energy and food purchases were adjusted to per adult-equivalent values after accounting for estimated unavoidable food waste. Difference-in-differences analyses were conducted for energy, energy density, Diet Quality Index, and foods and nutrients that are relevant to the Scottish dietary goals. The Poisson pseudomaximum likelihood regression model with household fixed-effects was used, with estimates adjusted for age of main shopper, household composition, duration of KWP participation, total spending on non-food items, and month of the year. The effects of area level deprivation and levels of alcohol purchase were also explored.

Results

The introduction of MUP in Scotland led to a 1.6% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.02% - 3.16%) reduction in sugar purchase or 8 grams per adult-equivalent per week. This reduction was partly a result of a 16.6% (95% CI 7.15% - 25.96%) reduction in sugar from alcoholic drinks purchased. No significant associations were found between MUP and energy, energy density, other nutrients or diet quality. Households from more deprived areas, or with greater alcohol purchases, had greater levels of sugar reduction from alcohol.

Conclusions

The introduction of MUP in Scotland was associated with small, but beneficial, statistically significant reductions in the purchase of sugar. There was no significant change in overall diet quality.
Joint inference of transcription factor activity and context-specific regulatory networks
Authors: Chen Chen , Padi Megha
Published: December 2022

Transcriptional regulation is a critical process that determines cell fate and disease. One of the challenges in understanding transcriptional regulation is that there is no easy way to infer the main regulators from gene expression data. Many existing methods focus on estimating the activity of individual transcription factors (TFs) using static TF-gene interaction databases, but regulomes are often altered in different cell types and disease conditions. To address this problem, we developed a new algorithm – Transcriptional Inference using Gene Expression and Regulatory data (TIGER) – that leverages Bayesian matrix factorization to simultaneously infer TF regulomes and transcription factor (TF) activities from RNA-seq data. We show that, when applied to yeast, A375, and MCF7 TF knock-out datasets, TIGER can provide more accurate predictions than comparable methods. The application to single-cell RNA-seq data reveals TIGER’s potential for uncovering cell differentiation mechanisms. Our results reinforce the importance of incorporating context-specific regulation when studying the mechanisms driving disease in different cell types.
Highly multiplexed detection of microRNAs, proteins and small molecules using barcoded molecular probes and nanopore sequencing
Authors: Koch Caroline , Reilly-O’Donnell Benedict , Gutierrez Richard , Lucarelli Carla , Siong Ng Fu , Gorelik Julia , Ivanov Aleksandar P. , Edel Joshua B.
Published: December 2022

Currently, most blood tests in a clinical setting only investigate a handful of markers. A low-cost, rapid, and highly multiplexed platform for the quantitative detection of blood biomarkers has the potential to advance clinical diagnostics beyond the single biomarker paradigm. In this study, we perform nanopore sequencing of barcoded molecular probes that have been engineered to recognise a panel of biological targets (miRNAs, proteins, and small molecules such as neurotransmitters), allowing for highly multiplexed simultaneous detection. Our workflow is rapid, from sample preparation to results in 1 hour. We also demonstrate that the strategy can be used to detect biomarkers directly from human serum without extraction or amplification. The established method is easily adaptable, as the number and type of targets detected can be greatly expanded depending on the application required.
Crystal structures of (Z)-(ethene-1,2-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine sulfide) and its complex with PtII dichloride
Authors: Rawls Brian , Cunningham Jeremy , Bender John E. , Staples Richard J. , Biros Shannon M.
Published: December 2022

The crystal structures of (Z)-(ethene-1,2-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine sulfide), C26H22P2S2 (I), along with its complex with PtII dichloride, dichlorido[(Z)-(ethene-1,2-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine sulfide)-κ2
S,S′]platinum(II), [PtCl2(C26H22P2S2)] (II), are described here. Compound I features P=S bond lengths of 1.9571 (15) and 1.9529 (15) Å, with a torsion angle of 166.24 (7)° between the two phosphine sulfide groups. The crystal of compound I features both intramolecular C—H...S hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions. Molecules of compound I are held together with intermolecular π–π and C—H...π interactions to form chains that run parallel to the z-axis. The intermolecular C—H...π interaction has a H...Cg distance of 2.63 Å, a D...Cg distance of 3.573 (5) Å and a D—H...Cg angle of 171° (where Cg refers to the centroid of one of the phenyl rings). These chains are linked by relatively long C—H...S hydrogen bonds with D...A distances of 3.367 (4) and 3.394 (4) Å with D—H...A angles of 113 and 115°. Compound II features Pt—Cl and Pt—S bond lengths of 2.3226 (19) and 2.2712 (19) Å, with a P=S bond length of 2.012 (3) Å. The PtII center adopts a square-planar geometry, with Cl—Pt—Cl and S—Pt—S bond angles of 90.34 (10) and 97.19 (10)°, respectively. Molecules of compound II are linked in the crystal by intermolecular C—H...Cl and C—H...S hydrogen bonds.
Revisit of Okun's law case of Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan and Oman
Authors: Neifar Malika
Published: December 2022

Purpose

In this paper, the author aims to investigate the relationship between economic growth and unemployment in six Arab countries from Middle East and North Africa (MENA) zone including Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan and Oman through the implementation of Okun's law using quarterly dataset covering the time period 2000: 1–2014: 4.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, static and dynamic linear and nonlinear models are used to test the linkage between cyclical unemployment and cyclical growth rate.

Findings

The empirical results from considered models confirm an inverse linkage between unemployment rate and economic growth, as the Okun's law suggests (except for Oman). In a nonlinear autoregressive dynamic linear (NARDL) framework and gap specification, statistically significant Okun's coefficients indicate that output growth can be translated into employment gains. Absolute effect of an economic contraction is significantly larger than that of an expansion in Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco and Lebanon. The opposite is true for Jordan and Oman.

Practical implications

Empirical finding provides then an additional proof that Okun's law could exist in a developing countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon and Jordan. Hence, any attempt to increase gross domestic product (GDP) through some economic fiscal and/or monetary policies in these countries would reduce unemployment rate.

Originality/value

Based on asymmetric specification, the author can conclude with precision that an economic upturn of 3.37, 2.98 and 2.5%, respectively, in Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt reduces unemployment by 1%, whilst the downturn of 5.03 and 2.43% (and about 12%), respectively, in Tunisia and Morocco (and Lebanon and Jordan) achieves the opposite.
Healthcare expenditure, good governance and human development
Authors: Banik Banna , Roy Chandan Kumar , Hossain Rabiul
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the consequence of the quality of governance (QoG) in moderating the effect of healthcare spending on human development.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ a two-step Windmeijer finite sample-corrected system-generalized method of moments (sys-GMM) estimation technique on a panel dataset of 161 countries from 2005 to 2019. The authors use healthcare expenditure as the main explanatory variable and the Human Development Index (HDI) as the dependent variable and also consider voice and accountability (VnA), political stability and absence of terrorism (PSnAT), governance effectiveness (GoE), regulatory quality (ReQ), rules of law (RLaw) and control of corruption (CoC) dimensions of governance indicators as proxies of good governance. The authors develop a new measure of good governance from these six dimensions of governance using principal component analysis (PCA).

Findings

The authors empirically revealed that allocating more healthcare support alone is insufficient to improve human development. Individually, PSnAT has the highest net positive effect on health expenditure that helps to increase human welfare. Further, the corresponding interaction effect between expenditure and the Good Governance Index (GGI) is negative but insignificant for low-income countries (LICs); negative and statistically significant for sub-Saharan African (SSA) economies and positive but insignificant for South Asian nations.

Originality/value

This study is an in-depth analysis of how governance impacts the effectiveness of healthcare expenditure to ensure higher human development, particularly in a large panel of 161 countries. The authors have developed a new index of good governance and later extended the analysis by separating countries based on the income level and geographical location, which are utterly absent in existing literature.
Zomato’s dilemma – a case of disgruntled delivery partners at Zomato
Authors: Saldanha Avil , Balasundaram Sathiyaseelan , Aranha Rekha
Published: December 2022

Learning outcomes

This case study provides students/managers an opportunity to learn about:▪ Learning objective 1: Critically analyse reasons for the disgruntlement of delivery partners of Zomato.▪ Learning objective 2: Evaluate Zomato’s moral obligations to gig workers in the absence of government regulations.▪ Learning objective 3: Analyse the drivers of well-being affecting e-commerce delivery partners.▪ Learning objective 4: Evaluate the welfare schemes undertaken by Zomato for its delivery partners and infer well-being measures that can be adopted to improve worker engagement.

Case overview/synopsis

The focus of this case was the crisis at Zomato as a result of the protests by gig workers engaged as delivery partners at the company. This case discussed the CEO’s dilemma in resolving the crisis. Zomato's business model was discussed to provide students an overview of the dynamics and challenges of online food delivery business; the company’s initiatives to enhance the robustness of its business model and the resulting media backlash questioning some of these initiatives that could endanger the lives of its delivery partners. In addition, this case explored the lack of regulatory provisions for gig workers in India. Finally, the options available to the protagonist to mitigate the crisis were discussed. The focal point was the well-being initiatives that the protagonist could consider implementing to address the concerns voiced by the delivery partners and encourage them to engage in Zomato's business with positivity.

Complexity academic level

The case is best suited for postgraduate and executive students studying Human Resources subjects in Commerce and Business Management streams.

Supplementary material

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 6: Human Resource Management.
Rocky road? Driving gender diversity & inclusion in Cummins India through inclusive leadership
Authors: Datta Sumita , Shah Snehal
Published: December 2022

Learning outcomes

1. To understand the importance of creating and implementing a vision for enhancing gender diversity and inclusion relevant to the manufacturing and engineering sector in an emerging market.

2. To develop insights into the vision and characteristics of an inclusive leader.

3. To evaluate the strategies and organizational levers that created and nurtured a climate of gender diversity and inclusion in Cummins India.

4. To identify organizational levers that will enable the sustenance and institutionalization of a climate of inclusion.

Case overview/synopsis

This case study traces a 16-year journey of diversity and inclusion at Cummins India, a subsidiary of the Fortune 500 manufacturing organization Cummins Inc. headquartered in the US. Initially spearheaded by Anant Talaulicar, and then continued by Ashwath Ram, gender D&I initiative at Cummins India has made significant strides. Talaulicar had an opportunity to immerse himself in the ethos of the parent company before joining the Indian subsidiary.

In India during the early 2000s the external environment was characterized by rapid technological and regulatory changes and increasing complexity. To make matters more difficult, the internal culture was steeped in a traditional manufacturing mindset marked by dismal female participation rate and an over-representation of locals with similar beliefs and value systems.

Given the mammoth task already taken up by Talaulicar by improving the diversity numbers from 3% to 33%, Ram had big shoes to fill. On one hand, he had to drive the business amidst uncertain market conditions; on the other hand, he had to carry on a legacy. Given that he himself had a lived experience of Cummins global values, he knew D&I was an integral part of the Cummins way of life. His familiarity with the socio-cultural challenges of the country coupled with his drive to continue and rejuvenate the D&I agenda, brought some interesting, yet challenging, questions for him. With the internal and external pressures looming large before him, could he institutionalize a climate of inclusion that could serve as a strategic lever to place the company on the path of growth, vibrancy and economic prosperity?

Through qualitative research conducted by the authors, this case study brought out learnings pertaining to linkage of leadership in creating a climate of inclusion and expansion of talent diversity through a set of people strategies and HR practices. The contribution of this case study is primarily to theory and practice in the field of Human Resource Management, D&I as well as in developing inclusive leadership.

Complexity academic level

MBA programs and leadership development programs

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 6: Human Resource Management.
Cooling of a periodic heat-generating solid element in an electronic cabinet using a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic nanofluid and a heat-conducting substrate
Authors: Loenko Darya , Öztop Hakan F. , Sheremet Mikhail A.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Nowadays, the most important challenge in mechanical engineering, power engineering and electronics is a development of effective cooling systems for heat-generating units. Taking into account this challenge, this study aims to deal with computational investigation of thermogravitational energy transport of pseudoplastic nanoliquid in an electronic chamber with a periodic thermally producing unit placed on the bottom heat-conducting wall of finite thickness under an influence of isothermal cooling from vertical side walls.

Design/methodology/approach

The control equations formulated using the Boussinesq approach, Ostwald–de Waele power law and single-phase nanofluid model with experimentally based correlations of Guo et al. for nanofluid dynamic viscosity and Jang and Choi for nanofluid thermal conductivity have been worked out by the in-house computational procedure using the finite difference technique. The impact of the Rayleigh number, nanoadditives concentration, frequency of the periodic heat generation from the local element and thickness of the bottom solid substrate on nanoliquid circulation and energy transport has been studied.

Findings

It has been found that a raise of the nanoadditives concentration intensifies the cooling of the heat-generating element, while a growth of the heat-generation frequency allows reducing the amplitude of the heater temperature.

Originality/value

Mathematical modeling of a pseudoplastic nanomaterial thermogravitational energy transport in an electronic cabinet with a periodic thermally generating unit, a heat-conducting substrate and isothermal cooling vertical surfaces to identify the possibility of intensifying heat removal from a heated surface.
A co-created value scale for the hospitality service: applying a text mining approach
Authors: Kwon Wooseok
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Although co-creation draws attention from researchers and practitioners, the concept is theoretically discussed, and it is not known enough how to measure co-created value (CCV) substantially at service encounters. This study aims to conceptualize CCV from the service-dominant (S-D) logic perspective and develop a CCV scale for hospitality services.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition to the conventional psychometric procedure for scale development, this study combined text-mining techniques and interviews to generate items to capture the concept of CCV comprehensively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted using two different surveys. Moreover, structural equation modeling was performed to test concurrent validity.

Findings

The study developed a CCV scale, including four sub-dimensions: CCV-in-use, CCV-in-interaction, CCV-in-involvement and CCV-in-experience. The validity test results demonstrated that the new scale effectively measured CCV in a hospitality setting.

Research limitations/implications

The multidimensional constructs and the scale that this study developed will contribute to empirical research and improve understanding of CCV at the service encounter. Moreover, managers can enhance their competitive advantages by identifying and evaluating factors to facilitate CCV.

Originality/value

The study reconceptualized CCV, drawing on a resource-based view from S-D logic, and developed a scale to measure the degree to which customers perceive CCV. Furthermore, it achieved methodological advancement in adopting text mining of online reviews for the scale development process.
Innovating to survive in competitive markets: business model innovation of Chinese digital businesses
Authors: Bell Robin
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Business model innovation (BMI) has been posited as essential for both new and existing digital business, as they commonly operate in competitive and fast-moving markets with limited entry barriers. However, it is highlighted within the literature that the understanding of how BMI contributes to business success and how new digital ventures develop competitive advantage is still unclear. This study aims to address this lacuna by exploring how young Chinese digital businesses develop and innovate their business models to survive in fast-moving and competitive markets.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopted a multiple case study design, with qualitative data being collected from the founders of five Chinese digital businesses, to develop an understanding of the evolution of their business models and BMI from their inception.

Findings

The findings add support for the contention that BMI can play an important role and is beneficial in the success of such new digital ventures in highly competitive environments. The founders attribute their success to a willingness for continued BMI, an openness to new opportunities, developing customer relationships and continuous iteration.

Originality/value

This research addresses calls to further the authors’ understanding of how BMI contributes to business success and how new digital ventures develop competitive advantage by exploring the BMI of five highly successful digital businesses from their inception.
Language mediation in psychotherapeutic healthcare for refugees in Germany – shunting responsibility between levels and actors
Authors: Reiter Renate , Walter Lisa
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Refugees’ access to psychotherapeutic care is insufficient in Germany. One factor particularly contributing to hindering their access to adequate therapeutic care is a lack of provision of language mediation. This paper aims to explore the institutional system in which the financing of language mediation in the context of the medical treatment of asylum seekers in Germany is located. It examines why the language barrier problem resulting from a lack of financing is not being solved, even though it has been well known for years as a structural problem of day-patient health care to refugees and migrants in Germany.

Design/methodology/approach

The financing of language mediation is analysed against the background of theories of the so-called “shunting yard”, in which public responsibilities for the assumption of costs are shifted from one level and actor to the other, thus preventing sustainable solutions being achieved. A mix of qualitative methods including the evaluation of official documents, reports and secondary literature, and of 23 expert interviews was used.

Findings

The financing of language mediation is a perfect example of the “shunting yard” phenomenon, with responsibilities being shifted between federal government, health insurance bodies and the municipalities in Germany. This paper argues that the specific financing structure in the German federal system can be viewed as a reason for the non-solution of the language barrier that hinders refugees’ access to health care.

Originality/value

The problem of the financing of language mediation in the context of health care has been rarely treated from a social sciences perspective. This paper contributes to addressing this gap.