bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
<xhtml:span xmlns:xhtml="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en">Title:&#160;<em>Bordetella trematum</em>&#160;Bacteraemia Secondary to an Empyema in an Immunocompromised Host: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
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Authors: Wong Crystal S L , Calungsud Lynna Grace , La My-Van 
Published: June 2023

Introduction:
Bordetella trematum infection remains uncommon. More cases of bacteraemia are reported in recent years with the primary infection largely originating from skin and soft tissue sites. Yet, our understanding of its virulence, antibiotic susceptibility profile and treatment is still limited.
Case presentation:
We report the first case of B. trematum bacteraemia from a left-sided empyema. An 87-year old female with a past medical history of ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus complicated by nephropathy and locally advanced left breast adenocarcinoma presented with fever, productive cough and shortness of breath. The B. trematum isolates from blood and pleural fluid were identified by MALDI-TOF and 16S rRNA sequencing. Ceftriaxone and azithromycin commenced empirically on admission were switched to piperacillin-tazobactam after 2 days due to lack of clinical improvement. Despite a pleurocentesis and one week of piperacillin-tazobactam with microbiological clearance in blood, she continued to deteriorate. Decision to withdraw treatment was made in view of her prognosis, and she succumbed on the 14th day of admission. The isolate was susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, imipenem and meropenem but had reduced susceptibility or was non-susceptible to cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, cefepime, the aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.
Conclusion:
Invasive B. trematum infection is associated with significant mortality. Consensus for antibiotic treatment remains unclear, with limited susceptibility data to support specific antibiotic use. We expect more clinical cases will surface with improved microbial identification systems, as well as enhanced clinical awareness. Standardised and more robust susceptibility work are needed to provide clear recommendations and establish consensus in treating invasive infections.
Personalizing renal replacement therapy initiation in the intensive care unit: a reinforcement learning-based strategy with external validation on the AKIKI randomized controlled trials
Authors: Grolleau François , Petit François , Gaudry Stéphane , Diard Élise , Quenot Jean-Pierre , Dreyfuss Didier , Tran Viet-Thi , Porcher Raphaël 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundTrials sequentially randomizing patients each day have never been conducted for renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation. We used clinical data from routine care and trials to learn and validate optimal dynamic strategies for RRT initiation in the intensive care unit (ICU).MethodsWe included participants from the MIMIC-III database for development, and AKIKI and AKIKI2 (two randomized controlled trials on RRT timing) for validation. Participants were eligible if they were adult ICU patients with severe acute kidney injury, receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, catecholamine infusion, or both. We used doubly-robust estimators to learn when to start RRT after the occurrence of severe acute kidney injury given a patient’s evolving characteristics—for three days in a row. The ‘crude strategy’ aimed to maximize hospital-free days at day 60 (HFD60). The ‘stringent strategy’ recommended initiating RRT only when there was evidence at the 0.05 threshold that a patient would benefit from initiation. For external validation, we evaluated the causal effects of implementing our learned strategiesversusfollowing current best practices on HFD60.ResultsWe included 3 748 patients in the development set (median age 69y [IQR 57– 79], median SOFA score 9 [IQR 6–12], 1 695 [45.2%] female), and 1 068 in the validation set (median age 67y [IQR 58–75], median SOFA score 11 [IQR 9–13], 344 [32.2%] female). Through external validation, we found that compared to current best practices, the crude and stringent strategies improved average HFD60 by 13.7 [95% CI-5.3–35.7], and 14.9 [95% CI - 3.2–39.2] days respectively. Contrasted to current best practices where 38% of patients initiated RRT within three days, with the stringent strategy, we estimated that only 14% of patients would.ConclusionWe developed a practical and interpretable dynamic decision support system for RRT initiation in the ICU. Its implementation could improve the average number of days that ICU patients spend alive and outside the hospital.
Vaccines at Velocity: Evaluating Potential Lives Saved by Earlier Vaccination in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Więcek Witold , Johnston David , Dulka Tomas , Toomey Danny , Lewis Enlli 
Published: June 2023

AbstractFast development of COVID-19 vaccines likely averted millions of deaths. We estimate how many more lives could have been saved if safe and effective vaccines were available earlier in the pandemic, in particular, before the epidemic waves in winter of 2020. We fit an epidemiological model informed by retrospective data and simulate counterfactual vaccination scenarios for the United Kingdom and the United States in which vaccines are available between 30 and 90 days earlier. We find that up to 1 July 2021 reductions in mortality range from 10,000 to 48,000 in the UK and 53,000 to 130,000 in the US, depending on when vaccinations start. This corresponds to a maximum of 7.1 and 4 deaths averted per 10,000 people in the UK and US respectively, or a reduction in overall deaths of 50% and 32%. We find that our model is sensitive to uncertain vaccine parameters and benefits depend on the time horizon of the analysis. However, the large average reductions we estimate suggests that it is highly cost-effective to make large investments in strategies to expedite vaccine availability.
Association of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir treatment and COVID-19 neutralizing antibody titers in a longitudinal healthcare worker cohort
Authors: Decker Slade , Xiao Shaoming , Dillen Carly , Schumacher Christina M. , Milstone Aaron M. , Frieman Matthew , Debes Amanda K. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractNirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (NMV/r) is used for the treatment of COVID-19 infection. However, rebound COVID-19 infections can occur after taking NMV/r. We examined neutralizing antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein before and after infection in people who did and did not take NMV/r to determine if NMV/r impedes the humoral immune response.
Nucleus-Independent Transgenerational Small RNA Inheritance inC. elegans
Authors: Rieger Itai , Weintraub Guy , Lev Itamar , Goldstein Kesem , Bar-Zvi Dana , Anava Sarit , Gingold Hila , Shaham Shai , Rechavi Oded 
Published: June 2023

AbstractStudies usingC. elegansnematodes demonstrated that, against the dogma, animals can transmit epigenetic information transgenerationally. While it is now clear that in these worms ancestral RNA interference (RNAi) responses continue to regulate gene expression for many generations, it is still debated whether the primary agent that perpetuates heritable silencing is RNA or chromatin, and whether the information is communicated to the next generation inside or outside of the nucleus. Here we take advantage of the tractability of gene-specific double stranded RNA-induced heritable silencing to answer these questions. We demonstrate that RNAi can be inherited independently of any changes to the chromatin or any other nuclear factors via mothers that are genetically engineered to transmit only their ooplasm but not the oocytes’ nuclei to the next generation. Nucleus-independent RNA inheritance depends on ZNFX-1, an RNA-binding germ granule resident protein. We find that upon manipulation of normal germ granules functions (inpptr-1mutants) nucleus-independent RNA inheritance becomes stronger, and can occur even inznfx-1mutants. Utilizing RNA sequencing, chimeric worms, and sequence polymorphism between differentC. elegansisolates, we identify endogenous small RNAs which, similarly to exogenous siRNAs, are inherited in a nucleus-independent manner. From an historical perspective, nucleus-independent inheritance of small RNAs might be regarded as partial vindication of discredited cytoplasmic inheritance theories from the 19thcentury, such as Darwin’s “pangenesis” theory.
On the alignment of competitive strategies for successful acquisitions: a two-decade longitudinal analysis
Authors: López-Manuel Lucas , Sartal Antonio , Vázquez Xosé H. 
Published: June 2023

Purpose
Most studies explore the success of mergers and acquisitions through ex ante analyses based on the compatibility of resources and capabilities between the acquirer and target. As more than half of them fail, there seems to be room for enhancing our understanding of when and how acquisitions can actually improve firms' competitiveness. Diverging from these conventional approaches, the authors posit that attention should be at the strategic level. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to explore the existence of compatibility between acquirers’ and targets’ competitive strategies and its effect on post-acquisition business performance.

Design/methodology/approach
Through the Thomson Reuters Eikon financial and acquisition databases, the authors built a unique data panel of 174 acquirer–target matched acquisitions in the manufacturing sector from 24 different countries between 2000 and 2020. The authors used a two-step System-GMM approach to address the hypotheses proposed in this paper. This methodology allowed to isolate and easily compare the differential effects of each possible combination of strategic similarity and dissimilarity between the target and acquiring company on the latter’s post-acquisition strategies.

Findings
The need to unravel the motives behind successful acquisitions has gained enormous interest in recent years among academics and managers to improve – or maintain – firm competitiveness. Through a panel data of 174 acquisitions among manufacturing firms (2000–2020), this study shows that differentiated firms improve their business performance by acquiring firms with similar strategies; nevertheless, their performance worsens if the acquired firm follows a cost-leadership strategy. Concerning acquirers with a cost-leadership strategy, the lack of clear behavioral patterns suggests that the lower knowledge absorption capacity associated with these firms might be a decisive factor in being able to assimilate and efficiently exploit the acquired firm's knowledge.

Originality/value
Overall, this approach offers a new and valuable perspective for practitioners because it improves understanding of the possible causes of merger failure and opens new attentions to consider in maximizing success and long-term competitiveness. The results of this study bring, thus, an unexpected result to this research: the importance of the acquirer’s strategy beyond the similarity or dissimilarity of the strategies of the acquirer and the acquired company.
Assessing the impact of WoredaNet usage on dynamic capabilities: a structural equation modeling of Woredas in Ethiopia
Authors: Senshaw Debas 
Published: June 2023

Purpose
The paper aims to assess the impact of a government digital platform, WoredaNet on the dynamic capabilities (DCs) of government organizations, that provides government services to citizens in Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a quantitative strategy using 10 local government administrative regions in Ethiopia (Woredas), which digitally innovate using the government digital platform. This study sampled 970 employees from government organizations to better understand the usage of digital government in low-income countries to enhance service delivery through DCs. The study adopted a conceptual formative model using the covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. The model integrated seven latent variables, namely, WoredaNet usage, adaptive capability, absorptive capability, innovative capability, opportunity-sensing ability, opportunity-seizing ability and opportunity-reconfiguring ability. The relationships between the latent variables were then created, and 15 hypotheses were designed.

Findings
The research showed that government organizations’ ability to adapt, absorb and innovate is enhanced by using WoredaNet. The study revealed how government organizations could enhance their opportunity seizing and opportunity reconfiguring capabilities by leveraging their adaptive, absorptive and innovative capabilities. On the other hand, the findings of the study indicated that there is no significant relationship between WoredaNet usage and the microfoundations of government organizations. This could be because of the varied nature of government organizations. And hence, could be addressed by considering the same formative model on narrower segment of government organizations.

Originality/value
The paper contributes to digital government literature in revealing how DCs of government organizations in resource-constrained low-income countries could be assessed effectively using formative models.
An introduction to equity leadership: meeting individual employee needs across organizations
Authors: Hurtienne Laura E. , Hurtienne Matthew 
Published: June 2023

Purpose
As human resource development (HRD) seeks to develop organizations and unleash human expertise (Swanson and Holton, 2009), leaders should be encouraged to consider every employee as a complex individual with unique needs and aspirations. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of equity leadership (EL), which identifies individual employees’ personal and professional resource, relationship and opportunity needs in an effort to support employees in reaching their fullest potential in the workforce, therefore increasing positive organizational outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach
The theoretical foundations of EL are social exchange theory (SET; Saks and Rotman, 2006) and the ERG theory of motivation (Alderfer, 1969). SET recognizes the give-and-take relationship between leaders and employees, while ERG theory of motivation considers an individual’s personal and professional existence, relatedness and growth needs. The theories provide a foundation for EL’s definition.

Findings
EL posits that leaders’ attention to employees’ resource, relationship and opportunity needs in the workplace could result in a positive effect on the social exchange between leaders and employees. EL provides a framework for these exchanges to occur and for employee needs to be considered, thus resulting in increased employee engagement, productivity and retention.

Research limitations/implications
EL can take a significant amount of time, especially when starting with new employees; however, the relationships and positive organizational outcomes provide justification for engaging in the leadership style.

Practical implications
This paper seeks to advance the field of HRD by defining EL, exploring the theoretical underpinnings of EL and providing actionable steps for leaders to put EL into action.

Social implications
The nuanced theory of EL encourages organizations to evolve from the factory model of expectations to a model that considers the unique needs of individuals in organizations. Grounded partly in SET, EL promotes positive relationships between leaders and employees.

Originality/value
There are many leadership theories; however, EL, unlike any other leadership theory, uniquely considers the individual needs of each employee through consistent one-on-one conversations between the leader and individual employees to discover employee needs and also strives for positive organizational outcomes as a result of the social exchanges.
A novel fractional multivariate GM(1,N) model with interaction effects and its application in forecasting carbon emissions from China's civil aviation
Authors: Hu Mingli , Zhu Lingtong 
Published: June 2023

PurposeThe purpose is to forecasting carbon emissions from China's civil aviation more accurately, a novel fractional multivariate GM(1,N) model with interaction effects is developed in this paper.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the interaction term, the trend terms are introduced in the grey action term to reflect the influence of the interaction between the system-related variables on the change of the system characteristic variables and the time trend of the system development. Then fractional cumulative generating sequence is used as the modeling sequence to reduce the perturbation of the original data. Finally, in order to effectively find the optimal fraction accumulation generation coefficient, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used to determine the emerging coefficient.FindingsExperimental results show that FIEGM(1, N) outperforms other grey prediction models in predicting the carbon emissions of CAAC, which can better solve the problem of multivariate system prediction of small samples with trend interaction effect.Originality/valueBy considering the influence of interactions in the system and the trend of system development in combination with fractional accumulation theory, a new method to improve the prediction performance of the GM(1, N) model is proposed. The model is first applied to the prediction of carbon emission of civil aviation in China.
Implications of macroeconomic risks on NHFC'S incremental housing finance in South Africa
Authors: Oladeji Jonathan Damilola , Zulch (Kotze) Benita , Yacim Joseph Awoamim 
Published: June 2023

Purpose
The challenge of accessibility to adequate housing in several countries by a large percentage of citizens has given rise to different housing programs designed to facilitate access to affordable housing. In South Africa, the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) was created to provides housing loans to low- and middle-income earners. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the implication of the macroeconomic risk elements on the performance of the NHFC incremental housing finance.

Design/methodology/approach
This study used a mixed-method approach to examine the time-series data of the NHFC over 17 years (2003–2020), relative to selected macroeconomic indicators. Additionally, this study analysed primary data from a 2022 survey of NHFC Executives.

Findings
This study found that incremental housing finance addresses a housing affordability gap, caters to disadvantaged groups, adapts to changing macroeconomic conditions and can mitigate default risk. It also finds that the performance of the NHFC’s incremental housing finance is premised on the behaviour of the macroeconomic elements that drive its strategy in South Africa.

Originality/value
Unlike previous works on housing finance, this case study of the NHFC considers the implication of macroeconomic trends when disbursing incremental housing finance to low- and middle-level income earners as a risk mitigation measure for the South African market. Its mixed method use of quantitative and qualitative data also allows a robust insight into trends that drive investment in incremental housing finance in South Africa.
Sexual abuse and its impact on the well-being of women: evidence from India
Authors: Patel Avanish Bhai 
Published: June 2023

Purpose
Women are being victimized sexually everywhere today, whether it is at home or office. Women are targeted for molestation, eve-teasing, and rape and sometimes they are murdered after rape. The objective of the present study is to understand the trend of sexual abuse in the socio-cultural context of India. The study aims to examine the relationship between the victim woman and the perpetrator and the impact of sexual abuse on the well-being of women.

Design/methodology/approach
The study applies the content analysis method for collecting data and conducting research. The data for this study were collected from June 2020 to November 2020. The sample cases for the current study were gathered manually by reading each and every news section that was published on sexual abuse in the various newspapers and magazines that were referenced in the introduction.

Findings
The study has found that women are mostly targeted for sexual abuse by known persons. The study has also found that girls between 6 and 15 years of age have suffered most from sexual abuse. Moreover, the study has pointed out that sexual abuse has a negative impact on women such as sometimes women commit suicide after sexual abuse, face psychological problems and sometimes they are, and their family members are threatened. Incidents of sexual abuse are affecting the mental happiness of women and an environment of fear is being created for women in society.

Originality/value
This is an original work of the author. The research work is based on content analysis that examines the nature and impact of sexual abuse among women in society by using socio-cultural perspective.
It is best to say nothing at all – suspicious activity reporting in the financial services sector
Authors: Menz Mario 
Published: June 2023

Purpose
This paper aims to show how financial services firms determine whether customer transactions or behaviours meet the threshold for suspicious activity reporting mandated by the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and how suspicious activity reporting is executed in practice.

Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews have been carried out among compliance professionals in UK financial services.

Findings
Two issues related to suspicious activity reporting have been identified. Firstly, a widespread misunderstanding about the tipping-off offence under s. 333 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been identified, which appears to be a root cause for poor quality as well as over-reporting of suspicious activity. Secondly, issues related to the notice and moratorium periods used by the UK’s National Crime Agency appear to deter reporting of suspicious activity related to live transactions.

Practical implications
The paper makes suggestions for changes financial services firms and the UK’s National Crime Agency can make to improve the effectiveness of suspicious activity reporting.

Originality/value
The paper provides valuable insights which can be used to limit the flow of criminal funds, improve the quality of suspicious activity reporting and enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.