bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managerial dynamic capabilities of family firm retail managers: strategic enabling in a context of economic uncertainty
Authors: Ljungkvist Torbjörn , Boers Börje , Axell Christoffer
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study explores how retail family firm managers’ cognitive capabilities are used to enable firm strategy in a context of economic uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a case study using 31 interviews with family firm managers and archival data from retail micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Findings

The results indicate how managerial cognitive enabling mechanisms shape the manifestation of retail family firm dynamic capabilities (DCs) configurations.

Originality/value

Three retail managerial cognitive strategic enabling mechanisms and their microfoundations are identified, explaining how three retail family firm DC configurations are shaped: (1) retail family firm customization-based sensing, (2) retail family firm lateral seizing and (3) retail family firm trust-based reconfiguring. The manifestation of these DC configurations illuminates how retail family firm managers can enable firm strategy in a context of economic uncertainty.
Predictive accuracy of the logit model to determine factors affecting delivery and postnatal care services utilization in Tanzania
Authors: Muya Mwajuma , Ilembo Bahati , Anasel Mackfallen
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This paper examines factors affecting the delivery care (DC) and postnatal care (PNC) services utilization in Tanzania using the predictive accuracy of the binary logit model by including DC as among the predictors of PNC utilization.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used secondary data from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (2022) based on a sample of 13,266 women aged 15–49. Binary logit was used to analyze the association between independent variables and each binary dependent variable, followed by a stepwise likelihood ratio test for binary logistic regression analysis to select the most important predictors associated with DC and PNC. Odds ratios were used to predict the likelihood of the occurrence of significant explanatory variables in explaining the outcomes.

Findings

The results showed that the type of place of residence, wealth index, region, highest educational level, husband/partner’s level of education and respondent’s occupation were significant predictors of DC utilization. In contrast, the woman’s age, region, highest educational level, wealth index, DC and husband/partner’s educational level were significant predictors of PNC utilization. Public health interventions are needed to promote and increase the utilization of delivery and postal care services. The targets should be poor women and those residing in rural or remote areas.

Originality/value

Including DC as a predictor variable (which was not used before) in PNC utilization improved the predictive power of the model and the robustness of the results.
Revisiting the determinants of tax revenue: an integrative model with conventional, economic policy and institutional factors
Authors: Garg Shubham , Mittal Sangeeta , Garg Aman
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The Indian government is grappling in generating sufficient revenue resources through taxation to meet their expenditure on public goods and services. Therefore, the government authorities must possess adequate information on factors affecting the taxation revenue of the country to craft and execute policies effectively. Hence, this study endeavors to explore the determinants of tax revenue by incorporating conventional, economic policy and institutional factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modeling by using the data set from 1991 to 2022 according to the availability of the data.

Findings

The findings illustrate that trade openness, life expectancy, value added by the manufacturing sector and per capita GDP (Gross domestic Product) positively affect the tax efforts of the government in the conventional determinants. Similarly, in economic policy factors, the financial deepening also exhibits a favorable effect. Conversely, the inflation rate positively boosts the tax efforts in the short run, but it ultimately erodes the tax effort of the government in the long run. In the institutional factors, the official development assistance also illustrates a positive effect.

Practical implications

The findings assert that the Indian government should devise better macro-economic and foreign trade policies with expediting the economic restructuring and bolstering their ability to manage and utilize the foreign aid assistance to boost the tax revenue of the country.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to incorporate these factors in the Indian context.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-04-2024-0314
Improving the morphology of terrace-like transfer film to reduce wear rate of graphite/PTFE composites via filling low content silica
Authors: Zhang Longxiao , Wang Binghe , Chen Kun , Wang Shouren , Wang Gaoqi , Wang Peng , Xie Ting
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to fill low content of silica to improve the wear resistance of graphite/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites, and to discuss the effect of low content of silica on the morphology of terrace-like transfer film.

Design/methodology/approach

The tribological properties of silica/graphite/PTFE composites were tested by rotating pin-on-disk friction and wear tester, and the morphology of terrace-like transfer film was observed by 3D laser scanning microscope and quantitatively analyzed through the multi-Gaussian function linear combination model.

Findings

The results showed that adding 3 wt.% silica in graphite/PTFE composites can reduce the wear rate by 87%. More importantly, the morphology of terrace-like transfer film changed significantly after filling a small amount of silica, including the increase of the number of layers and the coverage rate of transfer film.

Originality/value

This work is of great significance for further understanding the transfer film and achieving its morphology control to optimize the wear of high performance PTFE composites.
Carbon omission and financial market sustainability via government effectiveness: a cross-culture comparison of OECD and Asian emerging economies
Authors: Muneer Saqib , AlShammari Awwad Saad , Alshammary Khalid Mhasan O. , Waris Muhammad
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Financial market sustainability is gaining attention as investors and stakeholders become more aware of environmental, social and governance issues, pushing demand for responsible and ethical investment practices. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of carbon (CO2) emissions from three sources, oil, gas and coal, on the stock market sustainability via effective government policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The eight countries belong to two different regions of world: Asian economies such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia and China, and OECD economies such as Germany, France, the UK and the USA are selected as a sample of the study. The 22-year data from 2000 to 2022 are collected from the DataStream and the World Bank data portal for the specified countries. The generalized methods of movement (GMM) and wavelet are used as the econometric tool for the analysis.

Findings

Our findings show that the CO2 emission from coal and gas significantly negatively impacts stock market sustainability, but CO2 emission from oil positively impacts stock market sustainability. Moreover, all the emerging Asian economies’ CO2 emissions from coal and gas have a much greater significant negative impact on the stock market sustainability than the OECD countries due to the critical situation. However, the government’s effective policies have a positive significant moderating impact between them, reducing the effect of CO2 emission on the stock market.

Research limitations/implications

This study advocated strong implications for policymakers, governments and investors.

Practical implications

Effective government policies can protect the environment and make business operations suitable, leading to market financial stability. This study advocated strong implications for policymakers, governments and investors.

Originality/value

This study provides fresh evidence of the government’s effective role to control the carbon environment that provide the sustainability to the organizations with respect to OECD and emerging economy.
Does ICT adoption influence the bank’s risk-taking behavior? Evidence from advanced, developing and emerging nations
Authors: Jeris Saeed Sazzad , Rafath Md. Anzir Hossain , Shahrin Must. Ayesha , Alharthi Majed
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This is the first attempt to investigate the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on the risk-taking behavior of banks.

Design/methodology/approach

This study considers 74 advanced, developing and emerging countries in the period of 2010–2021. The study considers internet use, mobile subscriptions, broadband access and ATM availability as ICT indicators, while using bank Z_score as a proxy for risk-taking. To get comprehensive insights, pooled OLS, fixed effect models and generalized methods of moments (GMM) are applied.

Findings

It is found that ICT has a consistently positive influence on the risk-taking behavior of banks in advanced, developing and emerging countries. Notably, internet users and broadband access have a bigger impact in advanced economies, but mobile cellular subscriptions and ATMs are more significant in developing and emerging countries. Other factors, such as GDP growth and market capitalization, positively influence the bank’s risk-taking approaches, but the cost-to-income ratio and inflation have an inverse connection.

Practical implications

This will provide useful advice to the government, bank executives, financial regulators, policymakers, regulators, academicians, technology developers and other relevant stakeholders who want to maximize the advantages of ICT in the banking sector while reducing related risks.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine the impact of ICT on banks’ risk-taking approaches in advanced, developing and emerging countries.
Audit committee financial expertise and internal control weakness: does CEO overconfidence matter?
Authors: Ananzeh Husam
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The presence of financial experts within audit committees (AC, hereafter) has been a central concern for regulatory bodies. These guidelines underscore the significance of having members with distinct financial acumen and proficiency on AC. The primary objective of this research is to explore the influence of financial expertise within AC on internal control weaknesses (ICWs, hereafter). Furthermore, another aim of this study is to examine the potential combined impact of CEO overconfidence on this correlation.

Design/methodology/approach

The statistical analysis has been done through the implementation of a multiple regression model by adopting a sample of 82 Jordanian companies, chosen from the years 2014 to 2020.

Findings

This research reveals that an AC with higher levels of financial expertise is linked to fewer ICWs. Upon further examination, this paper observes that this negative impact is primarily driven by the presence of accounting expertise, as opposed to nonaccounting expertise. It is also evident that CEOs with overconfidence may interfere with the decision-making processes of the audit committees, thus compromising the internal controls even though the committee is financially and accountancy literate.

Originality/value

This research distinguishes between accounting and nonaccounting financial experience in AC and shows that accounting experience significantly reduces internal control problems. In addition, it introduces CEO overconfidence as a moderating variable, which provides new insights into the field of corporate governance. The implications of these findings are far-reaching in enhancing transparency, trust and accountability by enhancing the quality of internal control.
The role of cluster ecosystems and intellectual capital in achieving high-growth entrepreneurship: evidence from Germany
Authors: Temouri Yama , Luong Ha-Phuong , Pereira Vijay , Rammal Hussain
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This paper examines the role played by business cluster ecosystems and intellectual capital (IC) in achieving high-growth firm (HGF) status.

Design/methodology/approach

We draw our insights from the knowledge-based perspective and economic geography as a theoretical lens, which combined offer a more unifying understanding of how business cluster ecosystems and IC foster high growth entrepreneurship.

Findings

Drawing on a sample of 11,360 German incorporated firms across 80 clusters, we find that cluster ecosystems play a significant role in supporting firms to become HGFs. More specifically, being located in business clusters increases the likelihood of becoming HGFs by 2.2% to 4.49%. We also find that clusters with more productive firms in the ecosystems provide favorable conditions for member firms to achieve HGF status, while the impact of other cluster-specific conditions (high-tech cluster membership and multinational enterprise share in clusters) is less clear. Additional insights suggest that firm IC (investments in intangible assets) enables firms to achieve high growth status.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this paper hold theoretical and managerial relevance and shed more light on the impact of cluster-specific factors in the ecosystems and firm IC in achieving high growth entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first of its kind to bring together three distinct literatures (HGFs, business clusters and IC) and utilize insights from each to derive a conceptual framework that links them in explaining high-growth entrepreneurship.
Feasibility study of establishing an integrated geographic information system: a case study of medical libraries
Authors: Valizadeh-Haghi Saeideh , Parsapour Mahvash , Pournaghi Roya , Baghestani Ahmad-Reza , Parsapour Yazdan
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Medical libraries can extend their resources’ accessibility by creating a network through web-based geographical information system (WEBGIS) that connects physical and non-physical resources. Geographical information system (GIS allows) libraries to create strong connections with other libraries by establishing a shared server for loading and using digital information. This research aims to explore the feasibility of creating a unified GIS-based service system for medical libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The target population for this study includes a total of 32 medical libraries across three medical universities (in this case called A, B and C). A researcher-designed 34-item questionnaire was applied in this study.

Findings

Findings revealed that the libraries affiliated with University A have the highest average (46.54%) and better situation in terms of all of the needed infrastructures. Furthermore, in terms of the technical infrastructure required for implementing the integrated WEBGIS, the libraries of University B are in a better situation in comparison with other libraries (64.55%). Weak technical infrastructure belongs to libraries affiliated with University C, with 59.17% availability of infrastructure. The findings underscored the existing gaps in various aspects and highlighted the need for further improvements, particularly in financial and legal aspects, to enhance the overall availability of infrastructure.

Originality/value

This study was conducted for the first time in medical science libraries. The findings of this research shed light on the shortages within the surveyed universities in terms of human infrastructure. Results highlight the need for financial, legal and technical support to bridge the gap between the current status and the desired situation. By focusing on improving the various infrastructural aspects, libraries can foster a conducive environment for the effective utilization of spatial information systems, ultimately benefiting academic research, education and overall information management in the field of medical sciences.
When the Bough Breaks: The Financial Burden of Childbirth and Postpartum Care by Insurance Type
Authors: ALLEN HEIDI , SPISHAK‐THOMAS MANDI , UNDERHILL KRISTEN , LIU CHEN , DAW JAMIE R.
Published: November 2024

Policy Points

This study examines exposure to out‐of‐pocket (OOP) costs related to childbirth and postpartum care for those with a Medicaid‐insured birth compared with those with a commercially insured birth and subsequent financial outcomes at 12 months postpartum.

We find that Medicaid is highly protective against health care costs for childbirth and postpartum care relative to commercial insurance, particularly for birthing people with low income.

We find persistent medical debt and worry at 12 months postpartum for Medicaid recipients who reported OOP childbirth expenses.

Context

Out‐of‐pocket (OOP) costs related to childbirth and postpartum care may cause financial hardship, depending on type of insurance and income.

Methods

We estimated OOP spending on childbirth and postpartum care and financial strain 1 year after birth, comparing Medicaid‐insured births with commercially insured births. The Postpartum Assessment of Health Survey followed up with respondents to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System after a 2020 birth in six states and New York City. The survey included questions on health care costs and financial well‐being. Our analytic sample consisted of 4,453 postpartum people, 1,544 with a Medicaid‐insured birth and 2,909 with a commercially insured birth.

Findings

We observe significant financial hardship from childbirth that persists into the postpartum year, with significant differences by insurance and income. We find Medicaid is highly financially protective relative to commercial insurance; 81.4% of Medicaid‐insured births were free to the patient, compared with 15.7% of commercially insured births (p < 0.001). Six of ten commercially insured births (59%) cost over $1,000 OOP. Among respondents reporting OOP costs for childbirth, we found that Medicaid enrollees are more likely to have borrowed money from friends or family to pay for childbirth (8% vs. 1%, p < 0.001) and one in five had not made any payments 1 year postpartum (26% vs. 5% of commercially insured births, p < 0.001). Among the commercially insured, those with incomes under 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) fared worse financially than those above 200% FPL on a number of indicators, including debt in collection (33% vs. 13%, p < 0.001) and financial worry (55% vs. 34%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The cost of childbirth and postpartum health care results in significant and persistent financial hardship, particularly for families with lower income with commercial insurance. Medicaid offers greater protection for families with low income by offering reduced cost sharing for childbirth and postpartum health care, but even minimal cost sharing in Medicaid causes financial strain.
Trending extinctions: online interest in recently extinct animals
Authors: Canavan S. , Doyle D.M. , Kane A. , Nolan G. , Healy K.
Published: November 2024

Half of all species are predicted to face extinction by the end of the century. Despite this, awareness of certain species' extinctions remains surprisingly muted, highlighting the need to improve and quantify public awareness. We explore the connection between biodiversity loss and public awareness by quantifying the changes in online interest on Twitter (now known as X) and Wikipedia both before and after the extinctions of eight species and following their reclassification in the IUCN Red List. Our findings reveal that extinction announcements generally spike online interest for most species, albeit briefly on Twitter (i.e. tweets and retweets about species), while Wikipedia (i.e. article pageviews of species) exhibits a more prolonged interest. IUCN reports were generally not associated with increased interest. Coordinated media coverage, especially when aligned with broader environmental narratives and key events, enhanced the impact of extinction announcements. On Twitter, spatially we observed a shift from local to global interest of users following extinction. We also found a small subset of influential users on Twitter, including content creators and media organisations, who disproportionately shaped conservation discussions. Environmentally oriented individuals and organisations also play a significant role, collectively comprising a third of the top retweeted users. Overall, these results highlight the need for conservation bodies, such as the IUCN, to engage more directly both with media organisations and content creators in order to drive public interest for conservation efforts, especially for less charismatic species. The tragedy of species extinction necessitates such efforts to ensure sustained and meaningful public awareness. Our findings also show that while social media outlets can generate global interest quickly, which may drive public discussions regarding ongoing extinctions and potential future de‐extinctions, this is likely to be short‐lived, underscoring the importance of alternative platforms such as Wikipedia, which can foster longer‐term engagement.
Adolescent microsurgical varicocelectomy and changes in sperm parameters: A matched cohort analysis
Authors: Petrella Francis , Raymo Adele , Sadri Iman , Velasquez David , Madhusoodanan Vinayak , Deebel Nicholas , Bidhan Joginder , Nassau Daniel , Ramasamy Ranjith
Published: November 2024

Background

Varicocele, a common vascular abnormality surrounding the testis, is known to be associated with impaired semen parameters and male infertility in adults. However, its impact on the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population is less well known.

Objectives

The study aimed to assess the improvement in sperm parameters following varicocelectomy in the AYA population, comparing them to matched adult counterparts, and investigating potential advantages of early intervention.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted using a comprehensive database at the University of Miami spanning from 2012 to 2023. We included AYA (under 25 years of age) men who underwent varicocelectomy. To ensure comparability, they were matched with adult patients (over 30 years of age) based on preoperative follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) values and varicocele grade in a 1:2 ratio. Semen parameters were evaluated before and after surgery, including sperm count, motility, morphology, and overall semen quality.

Results

We included 45 patients in the Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) category, and matched them with 116 adults based on FSH and varicocele grade, all of whom underwent microsurgical varicocelectomy. The AYA group exhibited greater improvements post‐varicocelectomy compared to the matched cohort. Furthermore, postoperative sperm concentration in the AYA men demonstrated a remarkable increase, with a 1.7‐fold increase in mean concentration compared to the adult group (p < 0.001). Additionally, motility also displayed significant enhancement among the AYA men, with a final mean total motile sperm count (TMSC) improvement of 2.25‐fold compared to the adult cohort (p = 0.002).

Discussion

This study highlights the potential benefits of varicocelectomy as a viable treatment option for adolescents and young adults with varicocele, particularly those with impaired semen parameters. By intervening at an earlier stage of development, patients in this age group can achieve significant improvements in semen quality, as compared to their adult counterparts.

Conclusion

These findings underscore the importance of considering varicocelectomy as a valuable therapeutic approach for the younger demographic, potentially alleviating future fertility concerns.
Intracardiac Echocardiography and Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Dextrocardia
Authors: Zhang Shuang , Chen Mingxian , Hu Lin , Tang Hanze , Liao Liyi , Li Xuping
Published: November 2024

Background

Dextrocardia with atrial fibrillation (AF) complicates radiofrequency ablation treatment.

Methods

A case of successful AF ablation in dextrocardia, guided by intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) and the Carto 3 high‐density mapping system, is reported.

Results

ICE‐guided transseptal puncture and three‐dimensional mapping facilitated successful pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). The patient had a good recovery with no recurrence.

Conclusion

ICE and Carto 3 system's high‐density mapping aid in ablation for abnormal cardiac anatomy, reducing surgical complications.
The Spatiality of Popular Politics on the Urban Margins: Insights from Argentina and Chile
Authors: Halvorsen Sam , Angelcos Nicolás
Published: November 2024

Popular politics—a heterogeneous set of grassroots demands and subjectivities antagonistic to dominant power blocs—finds itself at a crossroads in Latin America. In Argentina and Chile, progressive governments have failed to curtail a resurgent populist‐right despite, as recently as 2019, appearing to be on the brink of a new centre‐left hegemony. This paper argues that paying attention to the spatiality of popular politics demonstrates a failure to articulate popular politics within a national movement, either neglecting them (under Boric in Chile) or incorporating them in a top‐down strategy that erased particularities (under Fernández in Argentina). It does so from the vantage point of two neighbourhoods at the urban margins in Buenos Aires and Santiago. Bringing together Ernesto Laclau's work on populism together with Henri Lefebvre's relational understanding of urban space, it analyses how popular demands and subjectivities have been articulated in relation to national progressive politics.
Higher risk and earlier onset glaucoma in Cushing's syndrome
Authors: Sharon Yael , Shochat Tzipora , Rudman Yaron , Kushnir Shiri , Zahavi Alon , Shimon Ilan , Fleseriu Maria , Akirov Amit
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Glaucoma incidence in patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS) has never been established. We aim to assess the risk for glaucoma among CS patients compared to controls and determine the age of disease onset.

Methods

A nationwide retrospective matched‐cohort study of patients with endogenous CS diagnosed between 2000 and 2023. Patients with CS were matched in a 1:5 ratio, with a control group individually matched for age, sex, socioeconomic status and body mass index. Main outcomes were the incidence of glaucoma and disease onset.

Results

A total of 609 patients [396 women (65%); mean age 48.1 ± 17 years] were included in the CS group and 3018 controls. Follow‐up duration was 14.6 years (IQR 9.8–20.2) for the study group. The aetiology of hypercortisolism was divided into pituitary (259, 42.6%), adrenal (206, 33.8%) and unconfirmed aetiology (144, 23.6%) patients. At baseline, 44 (7.2%) CS patients had a diagnosis of glaucoma, compared with 151 (5%) controls. The overall risk for glaucoma was 74% higher in patients with CS compared with matched controls (hazard ratio = 1.74, p = 0.002). Patients with CS who developed glaucoma were younger (mean age of 62 ± 14.7 years) than controls (mean age of 66 ± 11.3 years), (p = 0.02) [Correction added on 1 February 2025, after first online publication: The mean age has been corrected in the preceding sentence]. The overall risk for glaucoma in CS was high for both patients in remission and patients with persistent hypercortisolism (p = 0.048). Patients with active hypercortisolism experienced an earlier glaucoma onset (82.1 ± 88.0 months).

Conclusions

Endogenous CS is associated with increased risk for glaucoma regardless of remission status and develops at a younger age compared with the general population.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Dialogue: Bypassing Elected Staff Representatives?
Authors: Bastian Fanny , Bocquet Rachel , Poussing Nicolas
Published: November 2024

The adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has implications for a company's relationships with its stakeholders. Specifically, by engaging in social dialogue, companies can promote direct relationships with employees, or indirect relationships with them, through elected staff representatives. This study investigates the relationships between companies' involvement in CSR and their engagement in social dialogue, both with employees and elected staff representatives. The results of two surveys, carried out among company representatives and elected staff representatives, indicate that employers do not implement CSR to bypass elected staff representatives. Instead, CSR relates positively to direct relationships with employees and these relationships are not substitutes for dialogue with elected staff representatives, but instead, a factor that can weaken it.
Ethical xenotransplant research on human brain‐dead decedents
Authors: Bobier Christopher
Published: November 2024

Can it be ethical to conduct xenotransplant research on a human brain‐dead decedent (HB‐DD) whose organs could otherwise be given to persons in need? The ethical consensus is that it is better to save existing persons via organ donation than to devote a HB‐DD to research that will not directly benefit anyone. I argue otherwise. Given how rapidly xenotransplant research is progressing, and its clinical promise in the next couple of years or decades, I argue that it can be ethical to conduct xenotransplant research on a HB‐DD whose organs could otherwise be given to individuals in need.
Hospitalization and Hospitalized Delirium Are Associated With Decreased Access to Kidney Transplantation and Increased Risk of Waitlist Mortality
Authors: Long Jane J. , Hong Jingyao , Liu Yi , Nalatwad Akanksha , Li Yiting , Ghildayal Nidhi , Johnston Emily A. , Schwartzberg Jordan , Ali Nicole , Oermann Eric , Mankowski Michal , Gelb Bruce E. , Chanan Emily L. , Chodosh Joshua L. , Mathur Aarti , Segev Dorry L. , McAdams‐DeMarco Mara A.
Published: November 2024

Background

Kidney transplant (KT) candidates often experience hospitalizations, increasing their delirium risk. Hospitalizations and delirium are associated with worse post‐KT outcomes, yet their relationship with pre‐KT outcomes is less clear. Pre‐KT delirium may worsen access to KT due to its negative impact on cognition and ability to maintain overall health.

Methods

Using a prospective cohort of 2374 KT candidates evaluated at a single center (2009–2020), we abstracted hospitalizations and associated delirium records after listing via chart review. We evaluated associations between waitlist mortality and likelihood of KT with hospitalizations and hospitalized delirium using competing risk models and tested whether associations differed by gerontologic factors.

Results

During a median of 1.8 years after listing, 735 (31.0%) candidates had ≥1 hospitalizations. Candidates with less education, frailty, depressive symptoms, and lower extremity function impairment were more likely to be hospitalized. Hospitalization was associated with higher waitlist mortality (aSHR = 3.65, 95% CI: 2.99–4.45) and a lower likelihood of KT (aSHR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.66–0.84). Among candidates who were hospitalized, 80 (11%) had ≥1 delirium episodes. Candidates who were older, frail, and impaired in lower extremity function were more likely to have delirium, which was associated with higher waitlist mortality (aSHR = 4.87, 95% CI: 3.42–6.93) and a lower likelihood of KT (aSHR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.27–0.74). The association between hospitalization and KT differed by candidate age (pinteraction < 0.001), with those aged ≥65 having a 61% lower likelihood of KT.

Conclusion

Hospitalization and delirium are associated with worse pre‐KT outcomes and have serious implications on candidates’ access to KT. Providers should work to reduce preventable instances of delirium.
Using Design Thinking to Address Bias in Management Decision‐Making
Authors: Cooke T. , Dickinson J. , Sullivan K. , Cline H. , Parsons B.
Published: November 2024

It is easy to dismiss staying with a bad plan as foolish, but most people are at risk of falling into this trap under the right circumstances.

Plan continuation bias and escalation of commitment are two traps that have doomed many a project and plan. Thoughtfully applying design thinking can help overcome these obstacles and lead to successful outcomes.
Botulinum toxin type A treatment for a parotid gland injury in two adult horses
Authors: Jimenez C. , Comino F. , Gorvy D.
Published: November 2024

The most common disorder affecting the salivary glands in horses is trauma to the parotid gland or duct. Several management techniques have been described, each with their own set of complications. The objective of this case report was to describe the direct injection of botulinum toxin type A into the parotid gland and its outcome in two clinical cases involving damage to either the parotid salivary gland or its duct. Both cases involved iatrogenic damage to either the parotid salivary gland or its duct. Treatment for both cases involved the injection of 200 units of botulinum toxin type A into the parotid gland in order to reduce salivary production and to prevent the potential development of a chronic fistula. Follow‐up assessment after the treatment was conducted via telephone consultation and photographs from the owners. In both clinical cases, a marked reduction in saliva production from the parotid gland was noted within 2 days after toxin injection and the wounds healed without complication. In the first case, the treatment was repeated after 3 weeks. No short‐ or long‐term side effects after injection were reported by the owners. Limitations were the small number of cases and the lack of literature regarding the dose and treatment regime for botulinum toxin type A in horses. It was concluded that the administration of botulinum toxin type A appears to be a safe and effective therapeutic alternative or complementary procedure for the treatment and prevention of parotid gland or duct fistulas in horses.
Obesity, white adipose tissue and cancer
Authors: Solsona‐Vilarrasa Estel , Vousden Karen H.
Published: November 2024

White adipose tissue (WAT) is crucial for whole‐body energy homeostasis and plays an important role in metabolic and hormonal regulation. While healthy WAT undergoes controlled expansion and contraction to meet the body's requirements, dysfunctional WAT in conditions like obesity is characterized by excessive tissue expansion, alterations in lipid homeostasis, inflammation, hypoxia, and fibrosis. Obesity is strongly associated with an increased risk of numerous cancers, with obesity‐induced WAT dysfunction influencing cancer development through various mechanisms involving both systemic and local interactions between adipose tissue and tumors. Unhealthy obese WAT affects circulating levels of free fatty acids and factors like leptin, adiponectin, and insulin, altering systemic lipid metabolism and inducing inflammation that supports tumor growth. Similar mechanisms are observed locally in an adipose‐rich tumor microenvironment (TME), where WAT cells can also trigger extracellular matrix remodeling, thereby enhancing the TME's ability to promote tumor growth. Moreover, tumors reciprocally interact with WAT, creating a bidirectional communication that further enhances tumorigenesis. This review focuses on the complex interplay between obesity, WAT dysfunction, and primary tumor growth, highlighting potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Feature Transfer Learning for Fatigue Life Prediction of Additive Manufactured Metals With Small Samples
Authors: Wu Hao , Fan Zhi‐Ming , Gan Lei
Published: November 2024

A feature transfer learning (FTL)‐based model is proposed to address small‐sample problems in fatigue life prediction of additively manufactured (AM) metals. Transfer component analysis (TCA) is studied for data alignment before model training. Correspondingly, two TCA improvement strategies are further considered to aggregate training data from distinct AM processing conditions. An experimental database consisting of 103 fatigue data is built for model evaluation. The results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms conventional machine learning models and other transfer learning‐based models in terms of accuracy and data demand, showing good applicability for AM fatigue life assessment.
Parent Involvement in Post‐School Transition Services for Senior High School Students With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Hsieh Yu‐Jung , Ho Wei‐Sho , Sun Shu‐Jou
Published: November 2024

Background

Parents play a key role in the transition process of their children. After high school students with intellectual disabilities leave the school system, they need the cooperation of schools and families to ensure successful employment and independent living.

Methods

A case study was conducted in a Taiwanese high school special education class, collecting data from 12 participants through interviews, documents and diaries.

Results

The results showed that active parental involvement in transition activities, strong parent–teacher partnerships, understanding of students' strengths and support from social resources were key to successful transitions.

Conclusions

This study explored the effectiveness and difficulties of parents' participation in the post‐school transition of students with intellectual disabilities from the perspectives of teachers, parents and students. Finally, it proposed the need to be the child's significant other, early participation in transition planning and joint involvement of parents and their children.
Safety and efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection with gel immersion technique for superficial esophageal neoplasms
Authors: Iwatsubo Taro , Hakoda Akitoshi , Sugawara Noriaki , Sasaki Shun , Nakajima Noriyuki , Mori Yosuke , Tanaka Hironori , Ota Kazuhiro , Takeuchi Toshihisa , Nishikawa Hiroki
Published: November 2024

Background and Aim

Gel immersion (GI) endoscopy provides a good visual field in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD); however, its clinical outcomes are poorly understood. This study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes between esophageal gel immersion endoscopic submucosal dissection (GI‐ESD) and conventional ESD (C‐ESD) to determine the safety and efficacy of GI‐ESD.

Methods

The data of 71 consecutive patients who underwent esophageal ESD between April 2021 and March 2023 at a Japanese tertiary center were retrospectively reviewed. GI was achieved using an additional irrigation tube. The treatment outcomes between the GI‐ESD and C‐ESD groups were compared using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to control for confounding factors.

Results

A total of 75 superficial esophageal epithelial neoplasms (41 in the C‐ESD and 34 in the GI‐ESD groups) were treated using ESD. The mean procedure time in the GI‐ESD group was significantly shorter than that in the C‐ESD group (59.2 ± 36.2 vs 85.3 ± 45.7 min, P = 0.008). After IPTW adjustment, the mean procedural times were 62.6 ± 36.6 and 82.9 ± 41.7 min in the GI‐ESD and C‐ESD groups, respectively (P = 0.037), and the incidence rate of muscle layer damage was 4.2% in the GI‐ESD group and 30.6% in the C‐ESD group (P = 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, specimen size ≥ 30 mm (odds ratio [OR]: 9.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.46–36.30, P = 0.001) was positively correlated with longer procedural time (≥ 90 min), whereas GI‐ESD (OR: 0.19, 95%CI: 0.05–0.68, P = 0.011) showed a negative association.

Conclusions

Esophageal GI‐ESD may be useful in terms of safety and time efficiency. The GI technique could be an option for esophageal ESD.
Interventions to improve vitamin and mineral inadequacies among children in India: a scoping review
Authors: Mathias Edlin Glane , Halemani Kurvatteppa , Lobo Ameeka Shereen , Bhat Latha Thimappa
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are commonly seen in children, and they affect the physical, mental and cognitive development of a child.

Objective

This study aimed to map interventions to improve vitamin and mineral inadequacies among children in India.

Methods

A review was conducted using the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) 2018 checklist. Based on the PICO framework, further steps were followed in conducting the review. Studies conducted on children and adolescents (ranging in age from 6 months to 19 years) in India were considered. A search was carried out in PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science. Interventions that focused on improving vitamin and mineral inadequacies were collated. Studies published in the English language between 1 January 2012, and 30 September 2023, were included. The data from the included studies were reported narratively.

Results

The search yielded 1566 records through the databases. Finally, 18 studies were found to be eligible to be considered in this review. For improving vitamin and mineral deficiencies, different types of supplements like iron, vitamins A, C and D in different amounts; nutritional supplements like zinc‐rich foods, whole‐wheat recipes, milk, lipid‐based vitamin B12 supplements, ragi, porridge and iron‐fortified whole‐wheat drinks; or nutritional counselling worked better in children.

Conclusion

Vitamin and mineral supplementation for children reduces anaemia among children. Policymakers need to develop a strategy to increase awareness among parents, AWWs, caregivers and schoolteachers to reduce further complications.
The Predictive Effect of the Level of Psychological Resilience on the Level of Readiness for Discharge in Patients Undergoing Orthopaedic Surgery
Authors: Gündüz Emine Selda , Durmaz Melike , Aydin Bahattin Kerem
Published: November 2024

Aim

The aim of this study is to establish the correlation between the degree of psychological resilience and readiness for discharge in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery.

Design

This study is of a descriptive correlational type.

Material and Method

This study comprised a cohort of 190 patients who were admitted to the orthopaedics and traumatology department and had surgical procedures performed between November 2023 and April 2024. The study data were gathered via completion of the Introductory Information Form, the Psychological Resilience Scale and the Hospital Discharge Readiness Scale. IBM SPSS 25 package program was used to analyse the research data.

Results

In this study, 34.2% of the participants stated that they did not feel ready for discharge. Predictors of Readiness for Hospital Discharge were identified as being male (β = 0.118, p = 0.003), living alone (β = 0.222, p < 0.001), having undergone prosthesis, fracture or amputation surgery (β = 0.161, p < 0.001), not having received discharge training (β = 0.122, p = 0.001), not feeling ready for discharge (β = 0.442, p < 0.001) and resilience (β = 0.246, p < 0.001). These variables were found to explain 88.7% of Readiness for Hospital Discharge (adjusted R2 = 0.773).

Conclusion

The findings of this study emphasise that including patients in their healthcare and creating comprehensive discharge plans tailored to their specific care requirements have a beneficial impact on their readiness for discharge. Additionally, the study demonstrates that enhancing psychological resilience plays a mediating role in facilitating discharge readiness.

Implications for the Patient Care

Patients who feel ready for discharge are less likely to be hospitalised and their recovery may be faster. Including the patient in the discharge plan, taking individual needs into consideration and disseminating programmes to increase resilience should be an integral part of holistic care.

Reporting Method

The STROBE checklist was applied in the reporting of the finding.
Ethical and Regulatory Challenges of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: A Chinese Perspective
Authors: Yu Lanyi , Zhai Xiaomei
Published: November 2024

Aim

To provide practical insights that delve into the ethical issues and regulatory implications of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in healthcare. Ethical Challenges and Regulatory Impact in China is used as an example.

Background

Despite China's efforts to strike a delicate balance between protecting public welfare and promoting technological advancement, numerous unresolved issues persist in the practical integration of generative artificial intelligence into healthcare settings.

Conclusion

Key issues such as data application, privacy protection, cost‐effectiveness and regulatory remain areas of ambiguity that require clarification. Stringent ethical guidelines, data privacy protection measures and continuous supervision and evaluation of artificial intelligence decisions will help enhance the expected benefits of GenAI in healthcare.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

The potential use of GenAI in healthcare has garnered widespread attention, emerging as a significant global research topic. However, its application in this domain presents substantial ethical and regulatory challenges. Compared to other fields, GenAI's role in healthcare is more sensitive and complex, necessitating an urgent assessment of its ethical implications for future development and deployment. Challenges and ethical considerations are particularly pronounced in developing countries with limited healthcare resources.
What Are the Infection Prevention Behaviors of Kidney Transplant Recipients and the Factors Related to These?
Authors: Sarıgöl Ordin Yaprak , Karakılçık Bahar
Published: November 2024

Background

The infection prevention behaviours of kidney transplant recipients have been investigated, but the factors affecting these have not. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the infection prevention behaviours of kidney transplant recipients and the factors related to these.

Methods

The sample of this descriptive, cross‐sectional study included 148 kidney transplant recipients being followed in a kidney transplant outpatient clinic. Data were collected with a sociodemographic and clinical characteristics form, the Adherence to Measures against Infections Questionnaire and the Self‐Control and Self‐Management Scale between November 2022 and May 2023.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 50.29 ± 13.11 years. The rate of self‐reported hand hygiene was 51%. Age caused a significant difference in receiving a vaccine against pneumonia and wearing a mask. The rate of self‐reported behaviour of rinsing vegetables was higher among the married patients compared to single patients. Self‐management created a significant difference in receiving a vaccine against influenza and pneumonia, eating salad in a café or restaurant and wearing a mask outside home and consuming raw food, delicatessen products and street food (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study revealed that the kidney transplant recipients displayed incomplete infection prevention behaviours including hand hygiene. Infection prevention behaviours differed in terms of age and self‐control and self‐management. Education and interventions are needed to improve the infection prevention behaviours of kidney transplant recipients.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

This study illustrates the characteristics of, and relationship between, sociodemographic factors and self‐management of infection prevention behaviours in kidney transplant recipients.

Reporting Method

Strengthening the reporting of cross‐sectional studies (STROBE) was followed.

Patient Contribution

The study demonstrates that there is a need for interventions that will improve both the self‐management levels and infection protection behaviours of patients. Studies conducted in this direction will lead to a decrease in the infection rates of patients.