A multivariate modeling framework to quantify immune checkpoint context-dependent stimulation on T cells

Cells receive, and adjust to, various stimuli, which function as part of complex microenvironments forming their “context”. The possibility that a given context impacts the response to a given stimulus defines “context-dependency” and it explains large parts of the functional variability of physiopathological and pharmacological stimuli. Currently, there is no framework to analyze and quantify context-dependency over multiple contexts and cellular response outputs. We established an experimental system including a stimulus of interest, applied to an immune cell type in several contexts. We studied the function of OX40 ligand (OX40L) on T helper (Th) cell differentiation, in 4 molecular (Th0, Th1, Th2, and Th17) and 11 dendritic cell (DC) contexts (monocyte-derived DC and cDC2 conditions). We measured 17 Th output cytokines in 302 observations, and developed a statistical modeling strategy to quantify OX40L context-dependency. This revealed highly variable context-dependency, depending on the output cytokine and context type itself. Among molecular contexts, Th2 was the most influential on OX40L function. Among DC contexts, the DC type rather than the activating stimuli was dominant in controlling OX40L context-dependency. This work mathematically formalizes the complex determinants of OX40L functionality, and provides a unique framework to decipher and quantify the context-dependent variability of any biomolecule or drug function.

Computational Thinking and Robotics

This chapter explores a unique framework that expresses freshness and innovation within revolutionary learning experiences. The chapter focuses on the implementation of computational thinking skills as an essential element of a robotics education program that was driven by hands-on activities instilling the notion of imagination through innovative projects. Engineering design applications with robotics created an atmosphere in which students applied abstract mathematics and science concepts. The robot and its technology imploding in the field of education created excitement in the minds of students with renewed, revitalized interest, and curiosity stretching across the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Robotics education along with computational thinking skills are primary keys for unlocking the unlimited creative and innovative potential with engaging hands-on activities. Robots, a fascinating learning instrument, rejuvenate, animate, and revive 21st century skills in tech-savvy language familiar with today's students.

The Population-based Microbiome Research Core: a longitudinal infrastructure for assessment of household microbiome and human health research

Purpose: The Population-based Microbiome Research Core (PMRC) is an expandable and longitudinal research core infrastructure to support the study of the human microbiome within the context of environmental, sociodemographic, and health factors. Broadly, the purpose of this infrastructure is to provide new insights into how human-environment interactions affect health through its influence on the composition and function of the microbiome. The PMRC was established as an ancillary study of the Survey of Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) and serves as a platform for ancillary studies, ongoing follow-up of the cohort, and expansion of the microbiome biorepository. Participants: The study recruited adult participants who had previously participated in the Wisconsin Microbiome Study (WMS). Over 59% of the eligible WMS participants agreed to provide a repeat stool sample and household samples including dust, high touch surface swabs and outside soil. Findings to date: PMRC includes 323 individuals; the majority (96%) were over the age of eighteen, white (84%), urban (75%), and lived in their homes for over one year (92%). Overall, 97% of participants completed the questionnaire and household high-touch surface swab collection, and 93% and 94% completed dust and stool collection, respectively. Soil samples were collected for 86% of all participant homes. Future plans: Sample protocols developed for the PMRC offer a unique framework for future household-based microbiome research. This infrastructure can support the generation of new knowledge on the role of the home environment in relation to the human microbiome and identify new opportunities for intervention research.

Shop Floor Digital Twin in Smart Manufacturing: A Systematic Literature Review

The digital twin is currently recognized as a key technology allowing the digital representation of a real-world system. In smart manufacturing, the digital twin enables the management and analysis of physical and digital processes, products, and people in order to foster the sustainability of their lifecycles. Although past research addressed this topic, fragmented studies, a lack of a holistic view, and a lack of in-depth knowledge about digital twin concepts and structures are still evident in the domain of the shop floor digital twin. Manufacturing companies need an integrated reference framework that fits the main components of both physical and digital space. On the basis of a systematic literature review, this research aims to investigate the characteristics of the digital twin for shop floor purposes in the context of smart manufacturing. The “hexadimensional shop floor digital twin” (HexaSFDT) is proposed as a comprehensive framework that integrates all the main components and describes their relationships. In this way, manufacturing organizations can rely on an inclusive framework for supporting their journey in understanding the shop floor digital twin from a methodological and technological viewpoint. Furthermore, the research strengthens the reference literature by collecting and integrating relevant contributions in a unique framework.

Informality and Entrepreneurship in Developing Economy: Case for Entrepreneurial Financing

Over a decade ago, scholars in different domains of knowledge such as strategic management, economics, accounting, and finance have largely contributed to the theoretical and empirical studies of entrepreneurial financing. However, bridging of the domains or the theories that underly the domains, and expanding the frontier of the phenomenon in the context of informal entrepreneurship, are missing in the literature. This paper attempts to conceptualise and problematise various issues that confront informal sector entrepreneurship in accessing adequate financing for start-up opportunity, innovative products, services and technology in the informal markets, and explore how the ambiguity of the diverse domains of knowledge of entrepreneurial financing could be resolved by unifying and integrating the domains within a unique framework. Equally, this paper also aims to provide theoretical contributions to the extant literature of entrepreneurial financing by suggesting how management accounting research can bridge the gaps of informality problems that confront informal entrepreneurial financing. There is no doubt that informal businesses are saddled with legitimacy concerns such as non-conformity with legality and institutionalised policies. Similarly, the sector is also confronted with the issues of information asymmetry, moral hazard conflict, informal financial and ownership structure. Nonetheless, the informal entrepreneurship sector unarguably has a relevance to the opportunity discovery and innovativeness dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation, with the consequence of positive contributions to the economy in terms of large-scale employment growth. Hence, the scholars in the accounting discipline can leverage on the emerging different financial technology and fund providers to expand the literature on how the untold hardships and complexity that surround the funding of informal entrepreneurial start-ups and innovation can be mitigated. Management accounting discipline, being an applied field of strategic management can play vital roles in mitigating the aforesaid problems of informal entrepreneurship funding, if it could focus on expanding the literature or methodology on goal congruence, information management and controls, financial contracting model, incentive modelling for regulatory policy and search and match model that focuses on informal entrepreneur, investors and financial intermediaries.

An Integrated Framework of Leadership for Healthcare Organizations to Navigate Through COVID-19 Crisis

COVID-19 crisis has strained healthcare systems immensely creating a multi-front challenge to overcome. Healthcare leaders face stressful situations like long arduous hours of work, isolation from their loved ones, immense mental health issues along with fighting false narratives and campaigns by social media. Hence, there is a dire need for leaders to embrace this uncertainty and evolve by adopting a strategic shift in their mindset. To propose an effective functional leadership model of practice during crisis, author has undertaken a qualitative approach to understand the various literature published on crisis management, reviewed the literature on healthcare leadership, contextualized the papers about unique challenges posed by a crisis like COVID-19, and utilize the learnings to design an integrated framework for healthcare organizations to be applied during a crisis. Author presents a systems-based view of leadership challenges in healthcare organizations during a crisis and proposes a unique framework of 3A- Acknowledge, Activate, and Agility which could serve a comprehensive tool of strategic leadership for healthcare leaders to adopt during a crisis. When healthcare organizations adopt the principles embedded within 3A model elements, it would help them realize better patient outcomes, develop compassionate organizational culture, and enhance professional satisfaction within their teams.

Contemporary Influences on the Role of Imams in Britain: A Critical Analysis of Leadership and Professionalisation for the Imamate in 21st Century Britain

This article is based on the findings from a research project, referred to hereafter as #ImamsBritain, commenced with a series of discussions with Imams in the north of England.. The role of the Imam has undergone far-reaching changes over the last thirty years chiefly due to the changing socio-economic and political climate, which in turn has directly affected the needs of Muslim communities. Consequently, Imams are now seen as professionals who need a wider range of pastoral care skills that go beyond those of their traditional role, which was mainly focused on religious teaching and spiritual guidance, The second stage of the data analysis for the research involved the exploratory Group Delphi technique, in which the Imam respondents underwent the processes of two critical reflections on the data collected. The resultant findings reflect their individual perceptions of the kind of training and development they need. This provides a unique framework for constructing a professional guide for Imams in Great Britain. The discussions and critical analyses in this paper draw on the discourses of professionalisation and pastoral care and relevant reports and reviews on Imam training in Europe and Canada.

Scam design: the anatomy of online products & services scams

<p><b>Netsafe New Zealand’s (2018) quarterly reports indicate that millions of dollars are lost through online products and services scams in New Zealand through social media and online platforms every year. In 2018 alone, there were over 10,740 total scams, with the highest reported fraud type being products and services. However, despite regular media attention and community conversation on the problem, why is the number of everyday users who fall for the same online traps continuously increasing? From fake competitions to counterfeit online goods retailers, it is shown that many users are quick to believe these impersonated companies are real, only to publicly vocalise their distress once they have succumbed to a scam.</b></p> <p>This study provides insights into the overarching processes of how online products and services scams are constructed and implemented within social media and websites. Specifically, this study explores the mechanics, tools, techniques and frameworks that make up the basis of how online products and services scams work. Through these investigations, this study will develop a unique framework that captures the overarching process of how online products and services scams function from start to end. By creating 2 small design experiments, this new framework is further demonstrated within the context of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic online scams by deconstructing then reconstructing both commonly encountered and potential COVID-19 New Zealand specific scams that have appeared between March - June 2020.</p>

Scam design: the anatomy of online products & services scams

<p><b>Netsafe New Zealand’s (2018) quarterly reports indicate that millions of dollars are lost through online products and services scams in New Zealand through social media and online platforms every year. In 2018 alone, there were over 10,740 total scams, with the highest reported fraud type being products and services. However, despite regular media attention and community conversation on the problem, why is the number of everyday users who fall for the same online traps continuously increasing? From fake competitions to counterfeit online goods retailers, it is shown that many users are quick to believe these impersonated companies are real, only to publicly vocalise their distress once they have succumbed to a scam.</b></p> <p>This study provides insights into the overarching processes of how online products and services scams are constructed and implemented within social media and websites. Specifically, this study explores the mechanics, tools, techniques and frameworks that make up the basis of how online products and services scams work. Through these investigations, this study will develop a unique framework that captures the overarching process of how online products and services scams function from start to end. By creating 2 small design experiments, this new framework is further demonstrated within the context of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic online scams by deconstructing then reconstructing both commonly encountered and potential COVID-19 New Zealand specific scams that have appeared between March - June 2020.</p>