bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The appropriateness of empirical antibiotic therapy in the management of symptomatic urinary tract infection patients-A cross sectional study in Nairobi County, Kenya
Authors: Onyango Hellen A. , Sloan Derek J , Keenan Katherine , Kesby Mike , Ngugi Caroline , Gitonga Humphrey , Hammond Robert 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBackgroundIn low- and- middle income countries, symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) patients are often prescribed antibiotics without microbiological confirmation. UTIs caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria are increasingly common and this heightens the risk of empirical treatment failure. This study evaluates the appropriateness of empirical antibiotic therapy to symptomatic UTI patients.MethodsA hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Nairobi County, Kenya among symptomatic adult and child patients. UTI was defined as a monoculture growth with colony counts of ≥104. cfu/ml. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Empirical therapy was considered appropriate if the pathogen isolated was susceptible to the prescribed antibiotic and inappropriate if pathogen was resistant to prescribed antibiotic.ResultsA total of 552 participants were enrolled with a median age of 29 years (IQR:24-36). The majority were female; 398 (72%). Of the 552, 274 (50%) received empirical antibiotic therapy, 95/274 (35%) were confirmed to have UTI by culture. The antibiotics most frequently prescribed were fluoroquinolones [ciprofloxacin in 80 (30%) and levofloxacin 43 (16%)], amoxicillin-clavulanic-acid in 48 (18%), and nitrofurantoin in 32 (12%). Amongst the 95 patients with bacteriological confirmation of UTI, 50 (53%) received appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy, whilst for 38 (40%) participants, the therapy was inappropriate. Appropriateness of empirical therapy to 7 (7%) patients could not be determined as the antibiotics prescribed were not in the AST panel.ConclusionThe complexity of appropriate empirical treatment for UTIs is compounded by high levels of resistance in UTI pathogens. AMR surveillance strategies that could help in designing appropriate empirical regimens in resource constrained settings should be adopted for optimal empiric therapy.
Clinical and molecular characterization of the vinorelbine-platinum chemotherapeutic regimen in HER2(-) metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Ho I-Wei , Tseng Yi-Ru , Liu Chun-Yu , Tsai Yi-Fang , Huang Chi-Cheng , Tseng Ling-Ming , Chao Ta-Chung , Lai Jiun-I 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIntroductionDespite rapidly improving therapeutics, challenges remain in treatment of advanced breast cancer. Vinorelbine, a semisynthetic vinca alkaloid, is effective and well-tolerated in breast cancer treatment. The combination of vinorelbine and platinum-combination is a well-tolerated but underreported chemotherapy regimen. Bevacizumab, a VEGF-neutralizing antibody, has shown efficacy in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC) when combined with chemotherapy. In this study we aim to investigate the clinical and molecular effects of vinorelbine-platinum in heavily pretreated HER2-negative mBC, as well as the role of addition of bevacizumab.Material and methodsWe conducted a retrospective study at Taipei Veterans General Hospital to evaluate the effectiveness of the vinorelbine-platinum regimen in heavily pretreated HER2-negative mBC patients from 2016 to 2020, with a portion of patients receiving additional bevacizumab. To model the molecular perturbations at a cellular level, transcriptional profiling of a triple negative breast cancer cell line treated with cisplatin-vinorelbine was done by RNA-sequencing.ResultsThe cohort included 54 patients. 50% of the patients received ≥ 5 lines of systemic treatment in the metastatic setting. All the patients had received anthracyclines and taxane. In patients treated with vinorelbine-platinum combination, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 2.3 and 7.3 months, respectively. With bevacizumab, median PFS improved to 4.1 months. Objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) without bevacizumab were 11.1% and 27.7%, respectively, improving to 25% and 83.3% with bevacizumab. Adverse events occurred in 37.0% of patients, with no grade IV events reported. Transcriptional profiling revealed significant downregulation of MAPK pathway, angiogenesis, and growth factor signaling related genes.ConclusionThe vinorelbine-platinum regimen, particularly with bevacizumab, shows efficacy even in heavily pretreated HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients. Molecular analyses of treated cells highlight potential targets and mechanisms of action, providing a basis for future therapeutic strategies.
Quantum mechanics of composite fermions
Authors: Shi Junren 
Published: June 2024

We establish the quantum mechanics of composite fermions based on the dipole picture initially proposed by Read. It comprises three complimentary components: a wave equation for determining the wave functions of a composite fermion in ideal fractional quantum Hall states and when subjected to external perturbations, a wave-function for mapping a many-body wave function of composite fermions to a physical wave function of electrons, and a microscopic approach for determining the effective Hamiltonian of the composite fermion. The wave equation resembles the ordinary Schrödinger equation but has drift velocity corrections that are not present in the Halperin-Lee-Read theory. The wave-function constructs a physical wave function of electrons by projecting a state of composite fermions onto a half-filled bosonic Laughlin state of vortices. Remarkably, Jain's wave-function can be reinterpreted as the new in an alternative wave-function representation of composite fermions. The dipole picture and the effective Hamiltonian can be derived from the microscopic model of interacting electrons confined in a Landau level, with all parameters determined. In this framework, we can construct the physical wave function of a fractional quantum Hall state deductively by solving the wave equation and applying the wave-function , based on the effective Hamiltonian derived from first principles, rather than relying on intuition or educated guesses. For ideal fractional quantum Hall states in the lowest Landau level, the approach reproduces the well-established results of the standard theory of composite fermions. We further demonstrate that the reformulated theory of composite fermions can be easily generalized for flat Chern bands.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Attosecond photoionization delays in molecules: The role of nuclear motion
Authors: Suñer-Rubio Adrián J. , Lemell Christoph , Bello Roger Y. , Burgdörfer Joachim , Palacios Alicia , Martín Fernando 
Published: June 2024

Molecular photoionization delays are often analyzed by assuming that nuclei remain fixed during the ionization process since they move much more slowly than electrons. However, recent high-energy resolution and multicoincidence experiments have shown that nuclear motion can have a significant and visible effect on the measured ionization delays on the attosecond time scale. To analyze this behavior, we have chosen the simplest of all molecules, H2+, and performed nearly exact calculations of streaking and RABBIT (reconstruction of attosecond beatings by interferences in two-photon transitions) spectra by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in full dimensionality, and retrieved the corresponding photoionization delays. We show that, when two-center effects are at play, nuclear motion is responsible for a substantial increase of the photoionization delays, in particular of the so-called continuum-continuum delays. The magnitude of such an increase is comparable to the absolute values of the measured delays.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Utilizing open educational practices to support sustainable higher education in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Halder Adhya Debolina , Al Bastaki Eesa M. , Suleymanova Sara , Muhammad Nasiruddeen , Purushothaman Arunprasad 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has compelled higher education institutions (HEI) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and globally to shift to a new pedagogy that is sustainable and resilient to crises and disruptions. It necessitated the integration of technologies as part of pedagogical innovation and modification of higher education practices – advancing toward a more holistic integration of physical and digital tools and methods to enable more flexible, creative, collaborative and participatory learning. In terms of pedagogy, an open approach to learning is essential, combining in-person teaching with technological tools and online learning.Design/methodology/approachThis paper examines theoretical and empirical literature to define the potential benefits of utilizing open educational practices (OEP) in higher education, including better access, furthering equity and enhancing teaching, learning and assessment.FindingsIt proposes a comprehensive framework built on a continuum of open pedagogy (OP) that comprises “Emphasis”, “Essentials” and “Evolution”. Based on this framework, a set of recommendations for using OEP for successful knowledge building is provided.Originality/valueThe research determined the significance of increased OEP involvement for sustainable learning possibilities and the UAE’s initiatives in developing educators to support innovative pedagogies and technology-enabled teaching-learning standards. The study suggests placing more emphasis on faculty and student scaffolding while using OP for better learning experiences and outcomes, as well as more institutional support and the need for policy development to transform the UAE into a global hub for sustainable education.
Geoeconomic and foreign policy implications of Vietnam’s economic dependency on China
Authors: Nguyen-Vo Trinh 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThis research aims to offers a new method for assessing geoeconomic risks in bilateral relations and evaluate the level of such risks from Vietnam’s economic dependency on China.Design/methodology/approachI apply descriptive analysis to identify asymmetrical dependency in Vietnam–China economic relations and propose a geoeconomic risk assessment framework to evaluate risk levels in bilateral economic linkages.FindingsThe proposed geoeconomic risk framework assesses risk levels, which are positively influenced by the degree of asymmetrical relations (vulnerabilities), the net impacts on the receiving economy (impacts) and the sending state’s ability to control economic tools (threats). In contrast, risk levels are negatively affected by the effectiveness of existing mitigation efforts. The framework employs ordinal likelihood scales to rank various risk levels. In the context of Vietnam–China relations, market access for agricultural products and control of the Mekong water emerge as the most risky areas for economic coercion, followed by Chinese official development finance in infrastructure and critical input imports. On the other hand, debt dependency and foreign direct investment in the energy sector are considered more secure areas—less likely targets for economic coercion. Hence, risk mitigation strategies should prioritize reducing asymmetry in vulnerable dependence areas while maintaining current practices in more secure areas.Originality/valueMethodologically, it introduces a new approach for assessing bilateral geoeconomic risk. Empirically, it provides Vietnam’s policymakers with a comprehensive evaluation of the implications of economic interdependence with China.
Measuring central bank independence in India – a legal and behavioural case of Reserve Bank of India
Authors: Bhat Aijaz Ahmad , Khan Javaid Iqbal , Bhat Javed Ahmad , Bhat Sajad Ahmad 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThis study attempts to quantify the degree of independence of Central Bank of India from both legal and behavioural contexts over the period 1990–1991 to 2018–2019, a period encompassing major developments in the operation and regulation of Reserve Bank of India (RBI).Design/methodology/approachWe followed Jasmine et al. (2019) to calculate the magnitude of de jure independence of RBI and for de facto independence, “turnover rate (TOR) of CB governor” as proposed by Cukierman et al. (1992) is applied.FindingsThe results report that the legal autonomy of RBI increased specifically after the reforms and post formulation of Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). However, the actual independence of RBI remains more or less in line within the critical threshold limit of 0.2.Practical implicationsThe study proposes effective implementation of laws and procedures designed to promote the independence of Central Bank of India imperative for an effective monetary operation along with a coordinated fiscal policy.Originality/valueTargeted study of a particular central bank on its “independence” aspect in general and of the Reserve Bank of India in particular has not been attempted as on date. It is to this end that the present study contributes.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2023-0098.
Sisterhood in COVID-19’s she-cession: does stronger female representation mean weaker female discrimination?
Authors: Tőkés László 
Published: June 2024

PurposeGender equality is an important issue targeted all around the world, see, for example, the Gender Equality Strategy articulated by the European Union (EU). These goals were hindered by COVID-19, which caused a well-documented she-cession: females were hit harder than males. This paper shows that a “sisterhood behaviour” can mitigate the effects of the she-cession: female decision-makers were more likely to favour other females in recruitment and retention.Design/methodology/approachMotivated by theories from psychology and industrial demography, we hypothesise a so-called sisterhood effect or homophily: female decision-makers are more likely to favour other females in recruitment and retention. We use firm-level survey data from 19 European countries collected before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we apply a difference-in-differences methodology to test the hypothesised sisterhood behaviour.FindingsOur study finds that in firms where the top manager was a woman, gender discrimination was less likely or even not at all presented, i.e. COVID-19 did not decrease the proportion of female employees.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that promoting gender equality in leadership dimensions can also moderate discrimination at the level of the employees. Therefore, in a wider context, gender equality goals are interrelated.Originality/valueTo the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to analyse the existence of the theories mentioned before in a manager – employee relationship using firm-level data from the COVID-19 period.
Employees are not the weakest link: an occupational safety view of information security
Authors: Dennis Alan R. 
Published: June 2024

PurposeI adapt the Integrated Model of Workplace Safety (Christian et al., 2009) to information security and highlight the need to understand additional factors that influence security compliance and additional security outcomes that need to be studied (i.e. security participation).Research limitations/implicationsThis model argues that distal factors in four major categories (employee characteristics, job characteristics, workgroup characteristics and organizational characteristics) influence two proximal factors (security motivation and security knowledge) and the security event itself, which together influence two important outcomes (security compliance and security participation).Practical implicationsSafety is a systems design issue, not an employee compliance issue. When employees make poor safety decisions, it is not the employee who is at fault; instead, the system is at fault because it induced the employee to make a poor decision and enabled the decision to have negative consequences.Social implicationsSecurity compliance is as much a workgroup issue as an individual issue.Originality/valueI believe that by reframing information security from a compliance issue to a systems design issue, we can dramatically improve security.
What do we know about key influences on police attrition and retention rates? A literature review 2019–2023
Authors: Davies Amanda Jane , Stephenson Antony , Briggs Belinda , Allan Douglas 
Published: June 2024

PurposeLiterature and research are emerging in an effort to contribute to strategy development and implementation to address these challenges. Currently, there is no readily identified study that combines examination of both academic and grey (i.e. media, government, and non-government reports) literature in a recent time frame (2019–2023) focused specifically on identification of the factors that influence attrition and retention rates; or detailed studies that have evaluated the implementation of strategies to address these challenges within the law enforcement and policing employment field. The study presented in this article seeks to add to the body of knowledge informed by recent (2019–2023) literature and in parallel offer insight into the critical areas of influence to be considered by police and law enforcement decision-makers.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilised the PRISMA-P concept for systematic reviews as a general guide for identifying appropriate literature which revealed a total of 37 academic peer-reviewed articles and 21 grey literature documents contributing to identification of five overarching areas influencing attrition and retention.FindingsThe study identified the following factors contributing to attrition and retention: Job satisfaction and organisational factors; Supervision; Work-life balance; Recruitment, Training and Officer expectations; Financial compensation and job alternatives. There are differences in factors between this study and previous studies, i.e. recruitment strategies related to officer expectations was identified as a contributing factor. These additional factors offer a further contribution to future policy and strategy deliberations and implementations to address the workforce levels within police agencies.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research endeavours may include examining the outcomes of strategic endeavours addressing the five core influencing factors for retention of law enforcement and police officers.Practical implicationsThe identification of these five factors drawn from the literature review offers potential direction/areas of concentration for law enforcement and policing agencies to direct their efforts in addressing retention and attrition of staff.Originality/valueCurrently, there is no readily identified study that (a) combines examination of both academic and grey (i.e. media, government and non-government reports) literature in a recent time frame (2019–2023) focused specifically on identification of the factors that influence attrition and retention rates; or detailed studies for addressing these challenges within the law enforcement and policing employment field. The study presented in this article seeks to address this gap in the literature and in parallel offer insight into the critical areas of influence to be considered by police and law enforcement decision-makers.
Government’s failure to protect its citizens against nomadic herders’ aggression: a tacit permission for self-defense in Plateau State, Nigeria
Authors: Kasa Adamu Gayus , Egharevba Matthew , Jegede Ajibade 
Published: June 2024

Purpose
This paper aims to present the continuous Nigerian Government’s failure to protect the lives and property of its citizens against the incessant itinerant herders’ violence, despite its numerous programs in attempts to end the carnage. It sought also to examine the relationship between this government’s failure to meet its responsibility and the ineluctable self-defense mechanisms adopted by the people of Plateau State, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach
The research was both quantitative and qualitative. The study was conducted in four of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state: Bassa, Jos-south, Riyom and Barkin Ladi. A sample size of 400 was determined using Yamane Taro’s sampling size formula. Four hundred respondents were interviewed using a Google questionnaire (found at this link: https://forms.gle/tu96ZDwP85e8JsGu8). In this study, a total of seven key informant interviews and nine focus group discussions were conducted.

Findings
The finding revealed that most indigenous ethnic groups were dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the nomadic herders’ aggression. Therefore, 99.1% of Berom, 99.0% of Irigwe and 92.9% of other ethnicities argued that the government’s failure to protect them is a tacit permission for self-defense. On the contrary, 60.0% of the Fulani were satisfied with the government’s strategies in ending the aggression and 95.0% of them argued that the government’s failure to protect its citizens is not an implied permission for self-defense. It was also found that a relationship exists between the government’s lack of capacity to end the nomadic herders’ aggression and implied consent for self-defense in Plateau State, Nigeria.

Originality/value
This is a research paper that uses primary data. The findings are germane to ending the challenge of recurrent aggression of nomadic herders on other Nigerians. The study concludes that the government must live up to its responsibility of the protection of its citizens’ lives and property, failure to do so is an implicit permission to the citizens to defend themselves. It also recommended that the government should return displaced people to their communities.
Positioning precarity: The contingent nature of precarious work in structure and practice
Authors: Jankowski Krzysztof Z. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractConceptualising precarity has come to rest on the multi‐dimensional and differentiated insecurities of job and worker, this however belies the relationship between structure and experience where precarity originates. To bridge that relationship, I employ the landscape concept to position workers relative to the structural contingency of precarious work. To study this landscape, I conducted an ethnography involving job searching, working, and interviewing workers. While certainly insecure, these jobs displayed parallel characteristics of streamlined hiring and short‐notice starts which workers took advantage of. I explore three ideal‐typical ‘jobs’—the first, only, and best job—to examine how vulnerability is balanced with contingency to produce precarity. This analysis and the landscape approach locate the political‐economic transformation of work in the context of workers' lives and their labour market position. Taking precarious work is an act of balancing one's vulnerabilities in a way that constructs and thus naturalises precarity. Overall, the article contributes an image of an economy where workers have to be opportunistic in a continual struggle for work while stratified by their personal circumstances and position in this labour market.