scholarly journals Cytokine Profiles during Invasive Nontyphoidal Salmonella Disease Predict Outcome in African Children

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 601-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. Gilchrist ◽  
Jennifer N. Heath ◽  
Chisomo L. Msefula ◽  
Esther N. Gondwe ◽  
Vivek Naranbhai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component ◽  
Neutrophil Function ◽  
Cytokine Profile ◽  
Severe Malnutrition ◽  
Fatal Disease ◽  
Content Type ◽  
African Children ◽  
Cytokine Responses ◽  
Hiv Coinfection

NontyphoidalSalmonellais a leading cause of sepsis in African children. Cytokine responses are central to the pathophysiology of sepsis and predict sepsis outcome in other settings. In this study, we investigated cytokine responses to invasive nontyphoidalSalmonella(iNTS) disease in Malawian children. We determined serum concentrations of 48 cytokines with multiplexed immunoassays in Malawian children during acute iNTS disease (n= 111) and in convalescence (n= 77). Principal component analysis and logistic regression were used to identify cytokine signatures of acute iNTS disease. We further investigated whether these responses are altered by HIV coinfection or severe malnutrition and whether cytokine responses predict inpatient mortality. Cytokine changes in acute iNTS disease were associated with two distinct cytokine signatures. The first is characterized by increased concentrations of mediators known to be associated with macrophage function, and the second is characterized by raised pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines typical of responses reported in sepsis secondary to diverse pathogens. These cytokine responses were largely unaltered by either severe malnutrition or HIV coinfection. Children with fatal disease had a distinctive cytokine profile, characterized by raised mediators known to be associated with neutrophil function. In conclusion, cytokine responses to acute iNTS infection in Malawian children are reflective of both the cytokine storm typical of sepsis secondary to diverse pathogens and the intramacrophage replicative niche of NTS. The cytokine profile predictive of fatal disease supports a key role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of NTS sepsis.

Financial development and agricultural performance in Nigeria: what role do institutions play?

2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isiaka Akande Raifu ◽  
Alarudeen Aminu
Keyword(s):  
Financial Development ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Institutional Variables ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agricultural Performance

Purpose The centrality of agricultural sector to the economy, particularly in developing countries, has drawn the attention of researchers to critically examine different factors determining the performance of the sector. Given that massive investment is required to ensure maximum productivity in the sector, one of the factors identified is the issue of financing. However, financing agricultural sector in a poor institutional environment can be depressing. In the light of this, the purpose of this paper is to examine the nexus between financial development and agricultural performance in Nigeria with a view to investigating the role of institutions. Design/methodology/approach The study employed annual data spanning the period from 1981 to 2016. Three indicators of financial development and five institutional variables were used. Besides, for robust analysis, the study also computed an aggregate measure of financial development and institutions using principal component method. Autoregressive distributed lag method of estimation was used to examine the short-run and long-run effects of financial development on agricultural performance in Nigeria. Findings The findings showed that financial development has a positive impact on agricultural performance in Nigeria. However, this positive impact is being undermined by institutional variables. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only study that examines the mediating role of institutional factors such as the rule of law, control of corruption, etc., in the financial development–agricultural performance nexus in Nigeria.

scholarly journals Serological Diagnostic Assays for HIV-Associated Tuberculosis in Sub-Saharan Africa?

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 787-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen D. Lawn
Keyword(s):  
Potential Role ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Simple Point ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Diagnostic Assays ◽  
Hiv Coinfection ◽  
Sub Saharan

ABSTRACTIn this issue ofClinical and Vaccine Immunology, Siev and colleagues present an evaluation of antibody responses to four immunodominant proteins ofMycobacterium tuberculosisin patients with HIV-associated pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa (M. Siev, D. Wilson, S. Kainth, V. O. Kasprowicz, C. M. Feintuch, E. Jenny-Avital, and J. J. Achkar, 21:791–798, 2014, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/CVI.00805-13). This commentary discusses the enormous need for simple point-of-care assays for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in patients with and without HIV coinfection in high-burden settings and considers the potential role of serological assays and the huge challenges inherent in developing and validating such assays.

Face-saving tactics as an aid to construction negotiation in Hong Kong

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 609-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tak Wing Yiu ◽  
Yuet Nog Chung
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component ◽  
Negotiation Process ◽  
Collaborative Project ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Interactions ◽  
The Face ◽  
Face Saving ◽  
Distinct Features ◽  
Mutual Agreement

Purpose – In construction, the involvement of complex human interactions and incompatible interests among negotiating parties would pose as an obstacle in any negotiation process. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of face in governing the behaviour of negotiating parties. Design/methodology/approach – This paper identified the generic types of face-saving tactics used by construction negotiators, investigated the tactic-outcome relationships and examined the effects of face-inducement factors on these relationships with the use of moderated multiple regression (MMR). Findings – A taxonomy of face-saving tactics has been developed by employing the technique of principal component of factor analysis. The results suggest that the use of face-saving tactics in construction negotiation would statistically result in an achievement of mutual agreement, maintenance of harmony and avoidance of offending situations. The MMR models finally affirm that some tactic-outcome relationships would significantly depend on the face-inducement factors. Research limitations/implications – This research highlights the usefulness of face-saving tactics in construction negotiation. Practical implications – The findings revealed that these tactics can help facilitate the achievement of mutual agreement, maintain harmony and avoid offending situations. In this connection, an awareness of the proper use of face-saving tactics is worth-noticing in order to have successful dealings in negotiating project disputes. Originality/value – In construction, there are some distinct features which may influence the use of face-saving tactics and the behaviour of project dispute negotiators. The findings of this research would provide an insight into promoting proactive and collaborative project dispute resolution.

The role of food quality certification on consumers' food choices

2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Botonaki ◽  
Konstantinos Polymeros ◽  
Efthimia Tsakiridou ◽  
Konstantinos Mattas
Keyword(s):  
Food Quality ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Certification ◽  
Organic Products ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine consumer attitudes and behavior towards organic products and products produced under the system of integrated management (SIM) and to compare the socioeconomic characteristics and attitudes that affect consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for these two different certification systems.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on cross‐sectional data collected through a questionnaire survey. Respondents' attitudes towards the organic and SIM certification systems are examined. A principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation was primarily applied to provide a more manageable set of variables relevant to attitudes. Those attitudes together with socioeconomic factors and variables relevant to respondents' motivations to food consumption were used for the estimation of the WTP for organic and SIM products.FindingsFindings suggest that consumers' level of awareness and information towards the studied certification systems is rather low especially for SIM products. This can be mainly attributed to the inadequate promotion and the low availability of certified products in the Greek market. The study also reveals that the WTP for organic products is higher among consumers who place much importance on health, consume organic fruits/vegetables and get information about food/nutrition issues from doctors/nutritionists/health institutes and magazines. WTP for SIM products is affected mainly by married consumers, regular buyers of organic products and those who consume frequently fruits/vegetables.Originality/valueThis paper provides an outline of the level of awareness and trust of food quality certification systems by Greek consumers, a topic that has not been widely discussed in Greece. The findings can help all the involved bodies to avoid the impediments and develop an adequate marketing strategy for the effective promotion of certified food products.

Determinants affecting consumers' attention to fish eco-labels in purchase decisions: a cross-country study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonino Galati ◽  
Lluís Miret-Pastor ◽  
Dario Siggia ◽  
Maria Crescimanno ◽  
Mariantonietta Fiore
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Purchase Decisions ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Seafood ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
Age Range

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the role of consumer altruism and other socio-cultural factors in predicting how much attention consumers pay to seafood eco-labels.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical investigation was carried out by administering an online questionnaire to a sample of Italian and Spanish people from December 2019 to April 2020. After carrying out the principal component analysis procedure, the work made use of an ordinal logistic regression.FindingsBoth Italian and Spanish consumers with an altruistic attitude, who feel that food produced in a sustainable way can protect the environment and workers, appear more likely to take an eco-label into account. In addition, in both countries, consumers with a higher level of education and in the older age range are more likely to read eco-labels before buying fish products.Research limitations/implicationsThe first limitation is mainly related to the sampling procedure, which is not probabilistic and does not allow for generalisation of the results. Furthermore, some indicators related to COVID-19 were not included as the planning stage of the research methodology occurred before the pandemic.Practical implicationsA better understanding of the main determinants predicting consumers' attention to seafood eco-labels could be crucial to promote effective marketing strategies aimed at increasing consumer interest and awareness in sustainable seafood and eco-labels.Originality/valueExploring the role of consumers' altruism in how much attention is paid to seafood eco-labels appears to be a new approach that emphasises the role of altruism as a variable capable of bridging the “value-action gap”.

scholarly journals Platelet-Dependent Neutrophil Function Is Dysregulated by M Protein from Streptococcus pyogenes

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 3515-3525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinéad M. Hurley ◽  
Fredrik Kahn ◽  
Pontus Nordenfelt ◽  
Matthias Mörgelin ◽  
Ole E. Sørensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complex Formation ◽  
Streptococcus Pyogenes ◽  
Streptococcal Infection ◽  
Neutrophil Function ◽  
Bacterial Killing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sepsis And Septic Shock ◽  
Neutrophil Dysfunction ◽  
Chemotactic Ability

Platelets are rapidly responsive sentinel cells that patrol the bloodstream and contribute to the host response to infection. Platelets have been reported to form heterotypic aggregates with leukocytes and may modulate their function. Here, we have investigated platelet-neutrophil complex formation and neutrophil function in response to distinct agonists. The endogenous platelet activator thrombin gave rise to platelet-dependent neutrophil activation, resulting in enhanced phagocytosis and bacterial killing.Streptococcus pyogenesis an important causative agent of severe infectious disease, which can manifest as sepsis and septic shock. M1 protein fromS. pyogenesalso mediated platelet-neutrophil complex formation; however, these neutrophils were dysfunctional and exhibited diminished chemotactic ability and bacterial killing. This reveals an important agonist-dependent neutrophil dysfunction during platelet-neutrophil complex formation and highlights the role of platelets during the immune response to streptococcal infection.

scholarly journals Measuring financial inclusion: a composite FI index for the developing countries

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Truc Huong Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Sustainable Economic Growth ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on measuring financial inclusion (FI) level for the developing countries.Design/methodology/approachBy using a two-stage principal component analysis method, we construct a composite FI index to measure the degree of FI. Data are collected through secondary sources including World Bank and IMF reports for the period 2012–2018.FindingsWe have built an overall FI index which is considered as a comprehensive measure of FI, a useful tool for policymaking and policy evaluation. Comparison with other studies shows that our FI index corroborates with them.Practical implicationsBuilding a good FI measurement method is important for developing countries. It helps to assess and compare the level of FI of each country and between countries together, made easily and accurately.Originality/valueThis study emphasizes the important role of FI in the economy. From there, an FI solution is integrated into the construction and calculation of its impact on other factors. This will help policymakers to take effective measures to increase FI levels to achieve sustainable economic growth.

The effect of environmental concern on conscious green consumption of post-millennials: the moderating role of greenwashing perceptions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cagri Bulut ◽  
Murat Nazli ◽  
Erhan Aydin ◽  
Adnan Ul Haque
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Purchasing Behavior ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Behavior ◽  
Green Purchasing ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose This study aims to demonstrate how greenwashing perceptions shape the effect of environmental concern on post-millennials purchasing behavior. Design/methodology/approach Based on 174 responses gathered through a street survey method from 5 different universities in Turkey, data are analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences software (SPSS 16.0). Principal component analysis is performed to assess the differentiation in factors. Multiple regression analysis is used to examine the effects of the items on the post-millennials purchasing and recommendation behavior. Findings The main findings revealed that the environmental concern trait of post-millennials triggers their green purchasing behavior. When the concern on green products is high, the awareness of perceiving that “if the product is actually green or pretending to be green” is high. When the post-millennials take the greenwashing perception into account, their environmental concern has lower effects on their green behavior. The moderating role of greenwashing between environmental concern and green purchasing is apparent. Greenwashing perception decreases the effects of environmental concern on green behavior. Originality/value The research raises the concept of greenwashing perception that moderates the relationship between environmental concern and post-millennials purchasing behavior. This study also demonstrates that greenwashing awareness has a critical role in creating a purchasing behavior of post-millennials that have environmental concerns.

Entrepreneurs’ competencies and networking as determinants of women-owned ventures success in post-economic crisis era in Greece

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lida Kyrgidou ◽  
Naoum Mylonas ◽  
Eugenia Petridou ◽  
Evdokia Vacharoglou
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Family Background ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Family Status ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Competencies ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine factors leading to venture success, emphasizing the role of entrepreneurs as critical in the whole process, based on a sample of women entrepreneurs. Drawing upon the competence-based view of the firm, it examines the effect of entrepreneurial competencies, managerial competencies and reliance on networks toward increased female venture success rates. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was allocated to women entrepreneurs to seek respondents’ perceptions. Principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation was undertaken to confirm the constructs’ validity. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to test the hypotheses. Findings Networking stands out as having the most significant positive effect on venture success while entrepreneurial and managerial core competencies are both important, with entrepreneurial competencies demonstrating a slightly higher score. Also, years of entrepreneurial experience, entrepreneurial family background and family status prove significant. Research limitations/implications The study confirms prior research, highlighting the role of entrepreneurs as central, sharpening understanding of the required determinants of venture success. It further provides new insight into venture success from the perspective of the competence-based theory, highlighting clear-cut competencies. Practical implications The study paves the way for the design of entrepreneurial learning programs targeting entrepreneurs and particularly females, highlighting the need for on-going education and educational programs to support entrepreneurs and distinctly women. Originality/value The study contributes to the effective management of venture progress and success and provides insight into entrepreneurs and policymakers.

The role of intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of honey for Italian millennial consumers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Blanc ◽  
Raffaele Zanchini ◽  
Giuseppe Di Vita ◽  
Filippo Brun
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Sports Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Local Product ◽  
Label Information

PurposeThis study aims to examine the importance that different intrinsic and extrinsic attributes represent for young Italian consumers of honey, analysing how these aspects influence the quality perceived during consumption. In addition, demographic and lifestyle aspects have been considered as possible discriminants influencing millennial generation honey consumers.Design/methodology/approachThe authors performed a non-parametric rank-based test (Mann–Whitney U test) to analyse which attributes millennials value most, relating these to gender, sports activity or rural and urban origin. Then, to identify consumption patterns, principal component analysis, applying Kaiser normalisation and varimax rotation, was used.FindingsThis study confirms the remarkable sensitivity of the millennials towards environmental sustainability aspects. This attribute of choice seems particularly important for a clearly identifiable segment of the sample examined, represented by women who regularly practice sports and who come from urban areas. This result makes it possible to identify a type of consumer who, from early adulthood, is mindful of their lifestyle and ecological footprint. Moreover, it emerges that the most important attributes during purchasing are those related to label information, local product and origin, highlighting the awareness of young people and their maturity in the consumption of agro-food products.Originality/valueThe authors identified a trend in consumption that diverges from the classic patterns based on brand and the intrinsic characteristics of honey, but which forges new pathways more closely intertwined with the aspects of sustainability and the relationship with the territory, in addition to food safety.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document