Group Of Academicians Research Articles

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico: A Call to Action.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an ongoing public health crisis in Mexico, particularly in states bordering the United States. The national highest incidence and mortality of RMSF occur in this region, resulting in a case-fatality rate that ranges annually between 10% and 50%, primarily affecting vulnerable groups such as children, elderly adults, and persons living in poverty. Multiple biological, environmental, and social determinants can explain its growing presence throughout the country and how it challenges the health system and society. It is necessary to integrate resources and capacities from health authorities, research centers, and society to succeed in dealing with this problem. Through a scientific symposium, a group of academicians, U.S. health officials, and Mexican health authorities met on November 8-10, 2023, in Hermosillo, Mexico, to discuss the current situation of RMSF across the country and the challenges associated with its occurrence. An urgent call for action to improve national capacity against RMSF in the aspects of epidemiological and acarological surveillance, diagnosis, medical care, case and outbreak prevention, health promotion, and research was urged by the experts. The One Health approach is a proven multidisciplinary strategy to integrate policies and interventions to mitigate and prevent the burden of cases, deaths, and suffering caused by RMSF in Mexico.

The Underutilization of Forensic Microbiology: A Narrative Review

One of the main reasons of death in India is infection. At many centers, determining the infectious cause of death during autopsy is not regularly done. Although it is still a neglected field, postmortem microbiology has the potential to be a crucial tool for identifying the reason and circumstances of unexpected death. In addition to its use in forensic autopsies and medicolegal investigations, this tool can help with the detection of novel pathogen presentations, estimation of drug resistance, identification of bioterrorism agents, and a better understanding of infectious diseases like toxic shock syndrome, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In India, there has not been much use of microbiology in postmortem, and there is a dearth of specific guidelines or recommendations by regulatory agencies. In an effort to highlight the value of microbiology in postmortem, this narrative review focusses on suggestions made by a group of academicians from Europe in February 2016 and how they may be used in an Indian context. Based on the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards, we have briefly discussed about postmortem in coronavirus disease 2019 related deaths.

Adaptation and Validation of Responsible Innovation Practices Scale for Innovativeness and Competitiveness of Pharmaceutical Companies in Pakistan

The primary goal of this study was to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the adapted 5-Dimensional Responsible Innovation Practices Scale (5DRIPS) with identical measures and related outcomes, such as organizational innovativeness and competitiveness. This scale is designed to measure the responsible innovation practices of organizations aiming to achieve greater societal good in close consultation with the stakeholders. A group of academicians and industry experts established the face and content validity of the 5DRIPS. In a two-wave field survey, data were obtained from a randomized sample of 297 pharmaceutical managers approached conveniently. Results supported that 5DRIPS has excellent internal consistency, factor structure, and convergent, criterion, and discriminant validities. The scale significantly predicted organizational outcomes in terms of innovativeness and competitiveness. The mediation mechanism exhibited that all five dimensions of 5DRIPS significantly improved organizational innovativeness, which in turn enhanced organizational competitiveness. Implications of these findings are discussed. We suggest using 5DRIPS as a reliable and valid measure of responsible innovation practices in pharmaceutical organizations. It can also be applied in other small, medium, and large-scale manufacturing organizations.

Adaptation and Validation of Responsible Innovation Practices Scale for Innovativeness and Competitiveness of Pharmaceutical Companies in Pakistan

The primary goal of this study was to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the adapted 5-Dimensional Responsible Innovation Practices Scale (5DRIPS) with identical measures and related outcomes, such as organizational innovativeness and competitiveness. This scale is designed to measure the responsible innovation practices of organizations aiming to achieve greater societal good in close consultation with the stakeholders. A group of academicians and industry experts established the face and content validity of the 5DRIPS. In a two-wave field survey, data were obtained from a randomized sample of 297 pharmaceutical managers approached conveniently. Results supported that 5DRIPS has excellent internal consistency, factor structure, and convergent, criterion, and discriminant validities. The scale significantly predicted organizational outcomes in terms of innovativeness and competitiveness. The mediation mechanism exhibited that all five dimensions of 5DRIPS significantly improved organizational innovativeness, which in turn enhanced organizational competitiveness. Implications of these findings are discussed. We suggest using 5DRIPS as a reliable and valid measure of responsible innovation practices in pharmaceutical organizations. It can also be applied in other small, medium, and large-scale manufacturing organizations.

Weighted Interpretive Structural Modeling for Supply Chain Risk Management: An Application to Logistics Service Providers in Turkey

Background: The aim of this paper is to introduce weighted interpretive structural modeling approach to supply chain risk management efforts by presenting an application to identify micro risks of logistics service providers at the industry level in Turkey. Methods: In this research, eighteen risk factors in the logistics sector have been identified through both literature review and recommendations from a group of academicians and experts in the sector. A survey was conducted to rank these risks. They were further analyzed through a weighted interpretive structural modeling (WISM) approach in order to demonstrate mutual relationships among these risks. Results: Finally, using a WISM approach, an analysis was conducted to identify the driving and dependence power of the risk factors. This study covers a variety of micro-risk factors of logistics service providers and demonstrates the relationships among them and clusters them based on their driving and dependence power. Conclusions: Such a clustering of the risk factors helps us identify those that affect the others and are of paramount importance in risk management and mitigation.

Academicians’ Term of Experience on Sharing of Knowledge in Malaysian University

Knowledge sharing in Malaysian University is a vital driving force to enrich the pool of knowledge as well as offering fresh knowledge to students. However, extensive research in knowledge sharing between university academicians especially with different working experiences has been rather less discussed. This study aimed to identify the contrast between group of academicians with working experience of 10 years and below, with group of academicians with working experience of 11 years and above on three knowledge sharing factors; organizational factor, technological factor and individual factor. This study is conducted over a set of survey instrument among academicians in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Results from this study demonstrated that both groups of academicians approve that all factors are crucial especially knowledge self-efficacy under individual factors, but driving factors that are considered moderately important are organizational rewards under organizational factors and system quality under technical factors. These findings conclude that while there are no main concerns with individual factors of academicians in knowledge sharing, UKM's organization and technology in regards to knowledge sharing has rooms for improvement, specifically on organizational rewards and system quality.

A Graduate Curriculum in Cyber-Physical Systems

Editor’s notes: A group of academicians from the University of Virginia has developed a graduate curriculum for cyber-physical systems education. The curriculum follows the National Academy of Engineering report on the need for such content consisting of multidisciplinary classes and professional development skills. — Mohammad Abdullah Al Faruque, University of California Irvine

On violations of the Charter of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)

24.07.2016 a large group of academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) wrote a letter to the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin, in which they gave an unfavorable assessment of the current state of Russian science. The letter listed a number of measures aimed at correcting the current state of science, and noted that "the time of political correctness is over, it is high time to speak out openly calling things by their proper names".Meeting with a group of academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences in December of 2016, the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin stressed the timeliness of setting the above problems and the need to eliminate the noted deficiencies, drawing attention to the fact that only outstanding scientists of international standing with significant scientific achievements should be elected as academicians of the RAS.In connection with the critical assessment of the current state of Russian science in its various fields, expressed in the aforesaid letter of the academicians, it is of some interest to analyze the scientific activities and scientific achievements of some Russian scientists, in particular, in the field of thermal power engineering. For this analysis, articles were used published in the Teploenergetika (Heat Power Engineering) journal as well as a Report prepared under agreement No.14.574.21.0017 with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (hereinafter — MoE&S) on improving the thermodynamic and technical-economic efficiency of trigeneration plants at distributed and small-scale power generation facilities.As follows from this analysis, the authors of the aforesaid publications mislead the scientific community and the MoE&S concerning the alleged increase of thermodynamic and technical-economic efficiency of trigeneration plants considered by them. There are no grounds for such conclusions, since the listed materials contain no specific results of experimental and/or calculation studies of thermodynamic and technical-economic efficiency of trigeneration plants. It is therefore very strange that a Committee of the MoE&S signed an Act certifying “proper” implementation of Agreement No. 14.574.21.0017.

Alcohol Toolkit: Empowering Sabah Indigenous Communities to Reduce Alcohol Related Harm

Alcohol misuse compromises the quality of life of individuals, families, communities and whole societies in a variety of ways. Malaysia acknowledges the problems, implementing policies and health promotion activities in line with the World Health Organization Global Strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol by 10% between 2010 and 2025. Sabah, one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo, has more than 30 different indigenous ethnic groups. Alcohol production and consumption have traditional and unique roles in the cultural practices of many of these groups, making one common programme difficult to implement. Preliminary research suggests that alcohol is a serious problem in indigenous communities in Sabah. It also shows lack of knowledge on recommended limits for alcohol consumption and understanding of alcohol-related harm. The objective of this action-research is to produce a toolkit that will transfer knowledge and empower communities to adopt safer drinking and reduce alcohol-related harm. It must be attractive, appropriate, easily understood and be able to be tailored to suit different communities. The alcohol tool-kit was developed by a group of academicians using evidence-based information. Qualitative research methods were used to evaluate the initial alcohol tool-kit. A purposive sample of 45 village representatives was selected and divided into 5 groups for focus group discussion. Their feedback was recorded and transcribed verbatim. The alcohol tool-kit was edited accordingly. All participants agreed the alcohol tool-kit was important and can empower communities to reduce alcoholrelated harm directly improving their quality of life. The amended alcohol tool-kit will be recommended for health promotion material and evaluated from time to time.

Reflections on an academic career.

There are many undefined aspects to an academic medical career. This article attempts to provide some guidance about things to consider.

Sample Size: Profound Implications of Mundane Calculations

Controversies in the design of clinical trials excite a small but feisty group of academicians. On one side of the controversy is a group I call the "rigorists," who argue that clinical medicine must be based only on facts that are established by scientifically rigorous clinical trials.1,2 Arguments for scientific rigor have an attractive purity about them that is both mathematical and moral. The simple certainties of statistical science can lead one to believe that, if only we would live by them, we would achieve not only low P values but universal peace and harmony as well. Thus, it may be considered not just good science but an ethical requirement of good research that studies be of sufficient size to give statistically significant results. No moral argument can confront such assertions head on. Nobody argues, for example, that studies ought to be of insufficient size to give meaningful results. Instead, on the other side of this debate we find a group whom I call "apologists," who make arguments about why, even though scientific rigor is the highest good, other considerations sometimes dictate that medical practice be based on knowledge that falls short of the highest scientific standards. These arguments can be based on the physician's primary loyalty to his or her patient,3-5 to the difficulties in deciding whether or not a sufficient state of uncertainty about the relative merits of two treatments exists to ethically justify clinical trials,6,7 or on the special difficulties in obtaining informed consent or randomizing patients in particular populations.8-10

The Scientists' Campaign Against the Strategic Defense Initiative

To the Editor.— It is amazing to see the pages of JAMA (Aug 7 issue) turned over to political propaganda such as that purveyed by Kogut. 1 He outlines how a willful group of academicians are proceeding in their campaign to abort a feasible nuclear defense policy for the United States. Dr Kogut's article should have been entitled Scientists' Campaign to Weaken the Defense of America, since that is the only possible outcome of his boycott initiative. Until such time as the Soviet Union becomes a peaceful and stable society, research intended to protect us from the threat of military defeat and political domination by the Soviets is well worth our effort as well as the expense required. The Soviets' current willingness to negotiate some limits on missiles is an initial victory for the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), as even Dr Kogut admits. It also may be merely a