Indirect Implications Research Articles

From innovation to inclusion: The dynamic influence of fintech on financial accessibility and future scopes in India

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is analyze the effects of Fintech and its various sub-sets on Financial Inclusion. Additionally, the authors have analyzed the presence of Fintech in India, its emergence, and its future scope. Design/methodology/approach – As a literature review, no specific methodology is required. Findings – Research has shown core sub-sectors of Fintech like Reg-tech, Insur-Tech, Online Banking, and Digital Lending to be sectors that contribute the most to financial inclusion from Fintech if further investment is made these sectors have promising potential Research limitations/implications – The review would prove to be a dire catalyst in the research of present Fintech situations, aiding professionals in finding key sectors where further attention and investment in financial inclusion can prove to provide positive outcomes. Practical implications – The study highlights areas of Fintech that have the most positive impact on financial inclusion providing a clear path to investors and government officials on which areas to focus on. Social implications – As a literature review, there are only indirect social implications in the sense that the studies reviewed could be used to impact people’s lives. Originality/value – As a literature review, originality is not an applicable criterion, however, the study adds value for the reader by highlighting gaps in the current body of knowledge and bringing together various studies in one location.

Hemoincompatibility in Hemodialysis-Related Therapies and Their Health Economic Perspectives

Hemobiologic reactions associated with the hemoincompatibility of extracorporeal circuit material are an undesirable and inevitable consequence of all blood-contacting medical devices, typically considered only from a clinical perspective. In hemodialysis (HD), the blood of patients undergoes repetitive (at least thrice weekly for 4 h and lifelong) exposure to different polymeric materials that activate plasmatic pathways and blood cells. There is a general agreement that hemoincompatibility reactions, although unavoidable during extracorporeal therapies, are unphysiological contributors to non-hemodynamic dialysis-induced systemic stress and need to be curtailed. Strategies to lessen the periodic and direct effects of blood interacting with artificial surfaces to stimulate numerous biological pathways have focused mainly on the development of ‘more passive’ materials to decrease intradialytic morbidity. The indirect implications of this phenomenon, such as its impact on the overall delivery of care, have not been considered in detail. In this article, we explore, for the first time, the potential clinical and economic consequences of hemoincompatibility from a value-based healthcare (VBHC) perspective. As the fundamental tenet of VBHC is achieving the best clinical outcomes at the lowest cost, we examine the equation from the individual perspectives of the three key stakeholders of the dialysis care delivery processes: the patient, the provider, and the payer. For the patient, sub-optimal therapy caused by hemoincompatibility results in poor quality of life and various dialysis-associated conditions involving cost-impacting adjustments to lifestyles. For the provider, the decrease in income is attributed to factors such as an increase in workload and use of resources, dissatisfaction of the patient from the services provided, loss of reimbursement and direct revenue, or an increase in doctor–nurse turnover due to the complexity of managing care (nephrology encounters a chronic workforce shortage). The payer and healthcare system incur additional costs, e.g., increased hospitalization rates, including intensive care unit admissions, and increased medications and diagnostics to counteract adverse events and complications. Thus, hemoincompatibility reactions may be relevant from a socioeconomic perspective and may need to be addressed beyond just its clinical relevance to streamline the delivery of HD in terms of payability, future sustainability, and societal repercussions. Strategies to mitigate the economic impact and address the cost-effectiveness of the hemoincompatibility of extracorporeal kidney replacement therapy are proposed to conclude this comprehensive approach.

Decoding the transport policy maze towards climate neutrality: Cross-sectoral policy landscapes

Making transport sustainable is one of the grand global challenges. Numerous policies are currently underway, particularly in the European Union, to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions substantially. Germany has set ambitious targets, aiming for a 65% reduction in emissions by 2030 and becoming climate neutral by 2045. Unlike other sectors, Germany and the European Union have struggled to reduce emissions in the transport sector. Thus, the effectiveness of the current policy framework has been questioned. This study presents the outcomes of a comprehensive policy review across multiple sectors with direct or indirect implications for the sustainable transition in the transport sector. For this purpose, 44 policies were identified in the fields of transport, energy, agriculture, bioeconomy, and climate change. A mixed method content analysis approach was used to scrutinize policy documents, examining targets, fuel alternatives, transport modes, and coherence among policies. The findings underscore Germany’s commitment to meet the climate targets through different pathways regulated by national and European policies. Electrification has been the predominant pathway for the decarbonization of the transport sector, followed by renewable fuels, e.g., Power-to-X fuels. Although well-designed plans exist for the electrification of road passenger transport, findings indicate low policy support for renewable fuels, especially for parts of the transport sector not well-suited for electrification, e.g., aviation and maritime.

Coupling an integrated assessment model with an input–output database

MESSAGE is an Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) useful for developing anthropogenic climate change scenarios and the evaluation of long-term energy policies. MESSAGE is constrained by its internal scenario generator, which project energy commodity demand inputs based only on population and GDP growth assumptions; the lack of sectoral and supply-chain details prevents modeling impacts from develpoments in non-energy sectors. Here we link MESSAGEix-Australia, a national-level MESSAGE IAM variant, to an input-output scenario builder to generate future energy commodity demands. The coupled IO_IAM framework then captures indirect energy implications of various socio-economic scenarios. Two scenarios were used to demonstrate this capability: first on the policy-based decarbonisation pathways for Australia, and second on the adoption of self-healing roads. This study showcases that a link between IO and IAM methods provides an opportunity for bringing together the strengths of the two approaches for assessing a wide range of sustainability questions.

Green Innovation and Energy Efficiency: Moderating Effect of Institutional Quality Based on the Threshold Model

AbstractRecent studies demonstrated that green innovation and environment-related technologies reduce energy intensity and improve energy efficiency, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. However, the existing studies employ linear estimation methods to examine the relationship between green innovation and energy intensity and do not consider the indirect implications of institutional quality for the effect of green technology on energy intensity. Institutional quality is found to be an essential driver of innovation, and countries may need to achieve at least a minimum level of institutional quality to promote green innovation and improve their energy intensity. To test this hypothesis, this paper examines the relationship between energy intensity and green innovation using a panel dataset from 72 countries between 1996 and 2017 and a panel threshold model when institutional quality is considered a threshold variable. The findings highlight that green innovation reduces the energy intensity if and only if countries surpass a certain threshold of institutional quality. Therefore, countries need to improve their institutional quality to promote green innovation and benefit from green technologies in improving their energy intensity.

The Direct and Indirect Performance Implications of Inter-firm Governance

The Direct and Indirect Performance Implications of Inter-firm Governance

Insights from GoFundMe posts: Analyzing GoFundMe financial aid requests from brain tumor patients in Ontario, Canada

Abstract Background Primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors significantly affect individuals globally, with patients in Ontario, Canada, often bearing financial burdens for treatments such as oral chemotherapy due to insufficient coverage, resulting in complex insurance processes or out-of-pocket payments. However, limited understanding exists regarding other direct and indirect financial implications of their diagnosis. This study examines the financial strains, unmet needs, and overarching challenges encountered by Ontario’s brain tumor patients, utilizing GoFundMe posts as a unique data source to explore additional financial costs linked to CNS tumor diagnoses in the region. Methods A qualitative descriptive design employing thematic analysis analyzed GoFundMe posts supporting CNS tumor patients in Ontario from 2014 to 2021. A search strategy targeted posts featuring primary CNS tumor keywords, with NVivo 10 software facilitating post organization and coding. Results Focused on Ontario, the study yielded a final dataset of 154 posts from an initial pool of 9025, revealing further financial strain due to income loss among patients and caregivers. Posts highlighted various concerns: (1) navigating the complexities of accessing support services, (2) worries about family’s long-term financial and overall well-being, (3) insufficient public awareness about the financial and emotional burden on those affected, and (4) seeking emotional support, hope, and encouragement from the community. Conclusions These GoFundMe posts highlight a connection between financial burden, emotional distress, and the need for improved access to financial and emotional support services. The results emphasize distinct financial challenges faced by CNS tumor patients within Ontario’s healthcare system.

Time trends and disparities of obesity and related national policies and programs in Nepal: a systematic review

ObjectiveOverweight and obesity prevalence has increased in low-income countries. This study systematically reviewed the obesity trend, disparities, and prevention and control efforts in Nepal. MethodsWe searched PubMed and Google Scholar for articles and reports published between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2022. Additional information on National policies and programs related to obesity prevention was retrieved from governmental websites and consultation with relevant experts. Overweight and obesity were defined using the World Health Organization body mass index cut points. Thirty-two studies and reports were included. ResultsOverall, overweight and obesity rates increased in all groups in Nepal although nationally representative data remained limited. The combined overweight and obesity (OW/OB) and obesity rates in women aged 15‒49 years increased from 8.5% to 22.2% and from 0.9% to 5.1% between 2006 and 2016, respectively. OW/OB and obesity rates in men were 17.1% and 2.5% based on data from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey. OW/OB rate in under-five children increased from 0.6% to 2.8% between 2006 and 2016. Obesity rates for school-age (5‒9 years) boys and girls in 2016 were 2.4% and 2.8%, respectively, and were 1.1% and 1.4% for male and female adolescents aged 10‒19 years, respectively. OW/OB prevalence was much higher among women, residents in urban areas and central provinces, and in higher socioeconomic status groups. Projected prevalence of OW/OB and obesity for 2030 in adults aged 15‒49 was 44.7% and 8.3%, respectively, while it was 2.2% for OW/OB in preschool children. Policies and direct interventions that specifically focused on obesity prevention and control are limited. ConclusionsOW/OB prevalence in Nepal has increased during the past 1.8 decades, disproportionately affecting population groups. Existing interventions mostly focused on undernutrition with some indirect implications for obesity prevention. In the future, Nepal needs to develop population-based programs for obesity prevention.

Plant–Entomopathogenic Fungi Interaction: Recent Progress and Future Prospects on Endophytism-Mediated Growth Promotion and Biocontrol

Entomopathogenic fungi, often acknowledged primarily for their insecticidal properties, fulfill diverse roles within ecosystems. These roles encompass endophytism, antagonism against plant diseases, promotion of the growth of plants, and inhabitation of the rhizosphere, occurring both naturally and upon artificial inoculation, as substantiated by a growing body of contemporary research. Numerous studies have highlighted the beneficial aspects of endophytic colonization. This review aims to systematically organize information concerning the direct (nutrient acquisition and production of phytohormones) and indirect (resistance induction, antibiotic and secondary metabolite production, siderophore production, and mitigation of abiotic and biotic stresses) implications of endophytic colonization. Furthermore, a thorough discussion of these mechanisms is provided. Several challenges, including isolation complexities, classification of novel strains, and the impact of terrestrial location, vegetation type, and anthropogenic reluctance to use fungal entomopathogens, have been recognized as hurdles. However, recent advancements in biotechnology within microbial research hold promising solutions to many of these challenges. Ultimately, the current constraints delineate potential future avenues for leveraging endophytic fungal entomopathogens as dual microbial control agents.

The Ethical Implications of Illusionism

Illusionism is a revisionary view of consciousness, which denies the existence of the phenomenal properties traditionally thought to render experience conscious. The view has theoretical attractions, but some think it also has objectionable ethical implications. They take illusionists to be denying the existence of consciousness itself, or at least of the thing that gives consciousness its ethical value, and thus as undermining our established ethical attitudes. This article responds to this objection. I argue that, properly understood, illusionism neither denies the existence of consciousness nor entails that consciousness does not ground ethical value. It merely offers a different account of what consciousness is and why it grounds ethical value. The article goes on to argue that the theoretical revision proposed by illusionists does have some indirect implications for our ethical attitudes but that these are wholly attractive and progressive ones. The illusionist perspective on consciousness promises to make ethical decision making easier and to extend the scope of our ethical concern. Illusionism is good news.

Schlafens: Emerging Therapeutic Targets.

The interferon (IFN) family of immunomodulatory cytokines has been a focus of cancer research for over 50 years with direct and indirect implications in cancer therapy due to their properties to inhibit malignant cell proliferation and modulate immune responses. Among the transcriptional targets of the IFNs is a family of genes referred to as Schlafens. The products of these genes, Schlafen proteins, exert important roles in modulating cellular proliferation, differentiation, immune responses, viral replication, and chemosensitivity of malignant cells. Studies have demonstrated that abnormal expression of various Schlafens contributes to the pathophysiology of various cancers. Schlafens are now emerging as promising biomarkers and potentially attractive targets for drug development in cancer research. Here, we highlight research suggesting the use of Schlafens as cancer biomarkers and the rationale for the development of specific drugs targeting Schlafen proteins.

Capillary Processes in Extraterrestrial Contexts

AbstractThe Earth is no longer the only known celestial body containing one or more liquid phases. The Cassini spacecraft has discovered seas of hydrocarbons at the surface of Titan, while a series of corroborating evidences argue in favor of the existence of an aqueous ocean beneath the icy crust of several moons. Capillarity embraces a family of physical processes occurring at the free surface of a liquid. These phenomena depend on the liquid properties and on the local planetary conditions. Capillarity may have important direct or indirect implications on the geoscientific and astrobiological points of view. In this paper, we discuss capillarity physics among solar system objects and expected consequences for planetary science.

Service Quality Dynamics: A Study on Indian Hotel Industry

The significance of assessing service quality for business performance has been acknowledged in various service marketing studies due to its direct influence on customer satisfaction and its indirect implications for customer loyalty. Despite the recognition of service quality and its measurement, very few studies have empirically examined the precursors and consequences of service quality after Covid-19 pandemic which has had a colossal structural impact on the world and from Indian context. In this study we gauge the antecedents and consequences of service quality pre and post the Covid-19 pandemic. The present study endeavors to ascertain whether all the dimensions of SERVQUAL carry equal weight in terms of their impact on overall service quality before and after the pandemic. Additionally, the study intends to evaluate whether the ranking of the SERVQUAL dimensions remains consistent before and after the pandemic. The study further empirically determines whether there exists a disparity in the total service quality score between the pre-Covid and post-Covid periods. The empirical findings suggest that all service quality dimensions are not of equal importance and exhibit a significant difference in their impact on the total service quality score during the post-Covid period. Consequently, in the study we conclude that ranking of five dimensions remains consistent in terms of their effect on the total service quality score during pre- and post-Covid periods.

Application of the DEMATEL approach to analyse the root causes of building defects

Building defects are a common phenomenon in the construction industry. The negative consequences of building defects are not limited to waste generation or low resource efficiency. This challenge can have several direct and indirect implications such as cost overruns, unforeseen delays in project completion time, building occupants’ dissatisfaction and health and safety risks. Despite the increase in the number of studies investigating building defects in recent years, little is known about the prioritisation of their causes by considering the interaction among the causes of defects. Therefore, this study employed the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method to bridge this gap. Experts' opinion was sought using a questionnaire developed in the form of a matrix and semi-structured interview questions. Thereafter, the interactions among the causes of building defects were analysed and the most prominent causes are identified. The study showed that materials, workmanship and design are the major causes of building defects. Despite being specific context, the findings can be the basis for further research in this area with a focus on a range of different building typologies. Furthermore, the recommendations provided will act as a facilitator to minimise the occurrence of building defects. Lastly, the research findings can be considered in the planning stage of any construction project, to ensure the construction quality, reduce potential waste and enhance the circular economy and resource efficiency in the built environment sector.

Drastic changes in ground-dwelling beetle communities following high-intensity deer culling: insights from an island ecosystem.

The overabundance of large herbivores can have detrimental effects on the local environment due to overgrazing. Culling is a common management practice implemented globally that can effectively control herbivore populations and allow vegetation communities to recover. However, the broader indirect effects of culling large herbivores remain relatively unknown, particularly on insect species such as ground-dwelling beetles that perform key ecosystem processes such as decomposition. Here we undertook a preliminary investigation to determine how culling sika deer on an island in North Japan impacted ground-beetle community dynamics. We conducted pitfall trapping in July and September in 2012 (before culling) and again in 2019 (after culling). We compared beetle abundance and community composition within 4 beetle families (Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, Geotrupidae, and Silphidae), across seasons and culling treatments. We found each family responded differently to deer culling. Scarabaeidae displayed the greatest decline in abundance after culling. Silphidae also had reduced abundance but to a lesser extent compared to Scarabaeidae. Carabidae had both higher and lower abundance after culling, depending on the season. We found beetle community composition differed between culling and season, but seasonal variability was reduced after culling. Overall, the culling of large herbivores resulted in a reduction of ground-dwelling beetle populations, particularly necrophagous species dependent on dung and carrion for survival. Our preliminary research highlights the need for long-term and large-scale experiments to understand the indirect ecological implications of culling programs on ecosystem processes.

Meta-lasso: new insight on infection prediction after minimally invasive surgery.

Surgical site infection (SSI) after minimally invasive lung cancer surgery constitutes an important factor influencing the direct and indirect economic implications, patient prognosis, and the 5-year survival rate for early-stage lung cancer patients. In the realm of predictive healthcare, machine learning algorithms have been instrumental in anticipating various surgical outcomes, including SSI. However, accurately predicting infection after minimally invasive surgery remains a clinical challenge due to the multitude of physiological and surgical factors associated with it. Furthermore, clinical patient data, in addition to being high-dimensional, often exists the long-tail problem, posing difficulties for traditional machine learning algorithms in effectively processing such data. Based on this insight, we propose a novel approach called meta-lasso for infection prediction following minimally invasive surgery. Our approach leverages the sparse learning algorithm lasso regression to select informative features and introduces a meta-learning framework to mitigate bias towards the dominant class. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients who had undergone minimally invasive surgery for lung cancer at Shanghai Chest Hospital between 2018 and 2020. The evaluation encompassed key performance metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, precision (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy. Our approach has surpassed the performance of logistic regression, random forest, Naive Bayes classifier, gradient boosting decision tree, ANN, and lasso regression, with sensitivity at 0.798, specificity at 0.779, precision at 0.789, NPV at 0.798, and accuracy at 0.788 and has greatly improved the classification performance of the inferior class.

The Effects of Climate Change on Human Health: A Review

‌The 21st century presents a serious risk to world health due to climate change. To raise public awareness, this study looked into the effects of climate change on health. This review study reviewed the literature and global research to investigate how climate change affects human health. The findings show that infectious diseases, dehydration, cardiovascular, respiratory, and skin diseases are among the illnesses linked to rising temperatures, heat waves, and climate change. Injuries, respiratory conditions, mental health issues, and dangerous aquatic infections are the main ailments linked to flooding and increasing sea levels. Lyme disease and malaria are two examples of vector-borne illnesses brought on by global warming. Respiratory illnesses and other issues brought on by deteriorating air quality are among the issues brought on by forest fires and psychological disorders. Vulnerable populations are generally more likely to be impacted by climate change, including children, the elderly the disabled, and pregnant women. Climate change has an impact on several areas, including mental health, non-communicable diseases, poisoning, diseases linked to malnutrition and food insecurity, water and foodborne illnesses, and reproductive health care. Because there are many direct and indirect implications of climate change on human health, responsible institutions need to use the media to inform the public and take appropriate action to mitigate these effects.

Evidence from School Principals: Academic Supervision Decision-making on Improving Teacher Performance in Indonesia

Purpose: Decision Science is important in many fields, including education. In the current educational landscape, as educational processes evolve to meet the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution, this study utilizes a well-established impact factor, academic supervision, to enhance teacher performance. The expectations of school principals are considered critical factors in the implementation of decision supervisors. This study underscores the significance of elements influencing the improvement of teacher performance, with a focus on planning, decision-making, and implementation pressures within the context of academic supervision. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs a case study approach and collects data through interviews, observations, and document analysis. Data were analyzed by transcribing, taking notes, recording videos, and examining documents to generate ideas, codify data, develop themes, interpret the information, and draw conclusions. Findings: The study's findings reveal that the planning expectations for an academic supervision program decision are high and sufficient to consider the needs of teachers, involve all school apparatus components, and integrate the program with other activities. The expectations for making decisions and implementing the academic supervision program are met by fostering solid teamwork, increasing the frequency of classroom supervision visits, advancing the profession, and instilling a professional attitude among teachers. However, in terms of reviewing decisions, discussing them, seeking improvement solutions, and enhancing teacher performance, the evaluation expectations and follow-up results of academic supervision still need improvement. The findings of this study suggest that the decision-making expectations of principals as supervisors are crucial for decision performance and the success of academic supervision programs designed to make decisions and improve teacher performance. Originality/value: Considering the time constraints of this study, future researchers should explore school principals' expectations as supervisors in greater depth, especially concerning decision-making and the improvement of teacher performance. Practical implications: This study benefits school principals in their roles as decision-makers and supervisors, encompassing planning, implementation, and the monitoring of academic supervision decisions. It also covers outcomes such as reviews, discussions, and proposed solutions for enhancing teacher performance, with indirect implications for student learning.

Food security challenges: Evidence from the southeast Europe countries

Description of the subject. In the past half-century, the world has become increasingly aware of the challenges and threats to food security. The challenges of maintaining food security have been further increased under the influence of crises (COVID-19, Russia-Ukraine war). Many factors affect food security, and the effects of crises have additional negative consequences on food systems, with direct and indirect implications on the lives of everyone, especially the developing countries, such as countries of Southeast Europe. Objectives. Therefore, the aim of the research is analyzing the effects of socio-economic factors and policy factors on the level of food security of Southeast Europe countries. Method. This research covered countries of Southeast Europe: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, and North Macedonia. The research data were taken from the FAOSTAT database and World Bank for the countries of Southeast Europe during 15 years (2006-2020), and in this paper panel data analysis was used. Results. The results of the research showed that there is a statistically significant influence of socio-economic factors and policy factors on the level of food security of the Southeastern Europe countries. Conclusions. The results of the research showed that food production variability, food supply variability, food imports, inflation, GDP per capita and political stability have a significant impact on the level of food security in the countries of Southeast Europe.

CatBoost-based Intrusion Detection Method for the Physical Layer of Smart Agriculture

Agriculture holds a pivotal role in the progress of human society. The challenges stemming from a burgeoning population, land degradation, water scarcity, and urbanization have intensified the need for more efficient agricultural production. While smart farming brings significant benefits to farmers and agricultural output, it also introduces complex cybersecurity risks to agricultural production. The security of the physical layer in smart agriculture is intricately tied to crop growth and yield, with indirect implications for the security of the network and application layers. This paper introduces a novel intrusion detection scheme based on CatBoost for the physical layer and evaluates its effectiveness using the publicly available ToN_IOT dataset. In binary classification results, the scheme achieves a remarkable recognition accuracy of 99.94%, along with a precision and recall of 99.88%. In multi-classification results, the scheme outperforms other existing solutions across all metrics. The experimental findings clearly illustrate the exceptional recognition accuracy of this implemented method against physical layer attacks within the domain of smart agriculture. Furthermore, the system’s implementation ensures the security of input data for the smart agriculture network layer, cloud, and blockchain applications.