Multiple Studies Research Articles

Multireference and Coupled-Cluster Study of Dimethyltetroxide (MeO4Me) Formation and Decomposition.

Peroxyl radicals (RO2) are important intermediates in the atmospheric oxidation processes. The RO2 can react with other RO2 to form reactive intermediates known as tetroxides, RO4R. The reaction mechanisms of RO4R formation and its various decomposition channels have been investigated in multiple computational studies, but previous approaches have not been able to provide a unified methodology that is able to connect all relevant reactions together. An apparent difficulty in modeling the RO4R formation and its decomposition is the involvement of open-shell singlet electronic states along the reaction pathway. Modeling such electronic states requires multireference (MR) methods, which we use in the present study to investigate in detail a model reaction of MeO2 + MeO2 → MeO4Me, and its decomposition, MeO4Me → MeO + O2 + MeO, as well as the two-body product complexes MeO···O2 + MeO and MeO···MeO + O2. The used MR methods are benchmarked against relative energies of MeO2 + MeO2, MeO4Me, and MeO + MeO + O2, calculated with CCSD(T)/CBS, W2X, and W3X-L methods. We found that the calculated relative energies of the overall MeO2 + MeO2 → MeO4Me → MeO + O2 + MeO reaction are very sensitive to the chosen MR method and that the CASPT2(22e,14o)-IPEA method is able to reproduce the relative energies obtained by the various coupled-cluster methods. Furthermore, CASPT2(22e,14o)-IPEA and W3X-L results show that the MeO···O2 product complex + MeO is lower in energy than the MeO···MeO complex + O2. The formation of MeO4Me is exothermic, and its decomposition is endothermic, relative to the tetroxide. Both the formation and decomposition reactions appear to follow pathways with no saddle points. According to potential energy surface scans of the decomposition pathway, the concerted cleavage of both MeO···O bonds in MeO4Me is energetically preferred over the corresponding sequential decomposition.

Cross-country analysis of contextual factors and implementation strategies in under-5 mortality reduction in six low- and middle-income countries 2000-2015.

The Exemplars in Under-5 Mortality (U5M) was a multiple cases study of how six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, and Senegal, implemented health system-delivered evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to reduce U5M between 2000 and 2015 more effectively than others in their regions or with similar economic growth. Using implementation research, we conducted a cross-country analysis to compare decision-making pathways for how these countries chose, implemented, and adapted strategies for health system-delivered EBIs that mitigated or leveraged contextual factors to improve implementation outcomes in reducing amenable U5M. The cross-country analysis was based on the hybrid mixed methods implementation research framework used to inform the country case studies. The framework included a common pathway of Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Adaptation, andSustainment (EPIAS). From the existing case studies, we extracted contextual factors which were barriers, facilitators, or determinants of strategic decisions; strategies to implement EBIs; and implementation outcomes including acceptability and coverage. We identified common factors and strategies shared by countries, and individual approaches used by countries reflecting differences in contextual factors and goals. We found the six countries implemented many of the same EBIs, often using similar strategies with adaptations to local context and disease burden. Common implementation strategies included use of data by decision-makers to identify problems and prioritize EBIs, determine implementation strategies and their adaptation, and measure outcomes; leveraging existing primary healthcare systems; and community and stakeholder engagement. We also found common facilitators included culture of donor and partner coordination and culture and capacity of data use, while common barriers included geography and culture and beliefs. We found evidence for achieving implementation outcomes in many countries and EBIs including acceptability, coverage, equity, and sustainability. We found all six countries used a common pathway to implementation with a number of strategies common across EBIs and countries which contributed to progress, either despite contextual barriers or by leveraging facilitators. The transferable knowledge from this cross-country study can be used by other countries to more effectively implement EBIs known to reduce amenable U5M and contribute to strengthening health system delivery now and in the future.

What Is New about Parsley, a Potential Source of Cardioprotective Therapeutic Substances?

Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss (Apiaceae), popularly known as parsley, is a ubiquitous aromatic herb used for culinary and medicinal purposes worldwide. In addition to the richness in nutrients, several bioactive secondary metabolites, especially the flavone apigenin and its glycosides, have been described in this species. Parsley has already been shown to have several health-promoting activities, such as antithrombotic, antihypertensive, and hypolipidemic properties. The multiple studies conducted in animal models so far suggest this species is a potential source of cardioprotective agents. This review provides up-to-date information and perspectives on the potential of parsley and its bioactive compounds for the development of nutraceutical products and drugs for promoting cardiovascular health. It includes not only a discussion of parsley’s reported bioactivities but also the knowledge of supplements and food additives developed as innovative parsley-based products.

Homicide Manner-of-Death Classification in Arrest-Related Death.

Multiple studies have documented various factors that influence or determine forensic pathologist classification of manner of death. There do not appear to be any published studies on manner of death classification specifically regarding arrest-related deaths (ARDs). The goal of this study was to consider a large body of cases of nonfirearm ARDs to analyze the homicide classification with regards to numerous decedent and practitioner (medical examiner/coroner [ME/C]) variables. We analyzed 1145 US autopsy reports from the years 2006-2020, inclusive, and considered decedent variables of age, ethnicity, height, weight, body mass index, toxicology, and mention of a conducted electrical weapon and ME/C influence variables of gender, country region, and year. We found that the homicide classification likelihood increased by a factor of 1.04-1.05 per year, 1.34-1.37 for a female medical examiner, and 1.4-1.5 going from Southern states to Western states. There is an increasing trend for ME/C to label nonfirearm ARDs as homicides in the United States. The homicide classification is more common in Western states and less common in Southern states, and it was more common with a female ME/C.

Association of SLC6A3 variants with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a genetic association study of dopamine-related genes in schizophrenia.

Most genetic analyses that have attempted to identify a locus or loci that can distinguish patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) from those who respond to treatment (non-TRS) have failed. However, evidence from multiple studies suggests that patients with schizophrenia who respond well to antipsychotic medication have a higher dopamine (DA) state in brain synaptic clefts whereas patients with TRS do not show enhanced DA synthesis/release pathways. To examine the contribution (if any) of genetics to TRS, we conducted a genetic association analysis of DA-related genes in schizophrenia patients (TRS, n = 435; non-TRS, n = 539) and healthy controls (HC: n = 489). The distributions of the genotypes of rs3756450 and the 40-bp variable number tandem repeat on SLC6A3 differed between the TRS and non-TRS groups. Regarding rs3756450, the TRS group showed a significantly higher ratio of the A allele, whereas the non-TRS group predominantly had the G allele. The analysis of the combination of COMT and SLC6A3 yielded a significantly higher ratio of the putative low-DA type (i.e., high COMT activity + high SLC6A3 activity) in the TRS group compared to the two other groups. Patients with the low-DA type accounted for the minority of the non-TRS group and exhibited milder psychopathology. The overall results suggest that (i) SLC6A3 could be involved in responsiveness to antipsychotic medication and (ii) genetic variants modulating brain DA levels may be related to the classification of TRS and non-TRS.

Genetic risk for hospitalization of African American patients with severe mental illness reveals HLA loci.

Mood disorders such as major depressive and bipolar disorders, along with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia (SCZ), and other psychotic disorders, constitute serious mental illnesses (SMI) and often lead to inpatient psychiatric care for adults. Risk factors associated with increased hospitalization rate in SMI (H-SMI) are largely unknown but likely involve a combination of genetic, environmental, and socio-behavioral factors. We performed a genome-wide association study in an African American cohort to identify possible genes associated with hospitalization due to SMI (H-SMI). Patients hospitalized for psychiatric disorders (H-SMI; n=690) were compared with demographically matched controls (n=4467). Quality control and imputation of genome-wide data were performed following the Psychiatric Genetic Consortium (PGC)-PTSD guidelines. Imputation of the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) locus was performed using the HIBAG package. Genome-wide association analysis revealed a genome-wide significant association at 6p22.1 locus in the ubiquitin D (UBD/FAT10) gene (rs362514, p=9.43x10-9) and around the HLA locus. Heritability of H-SMI (14.6%) was comparable to other psychiatric disorders (4% to 45%). We observed a nominally significant association with 2 HLA alleles: HLA-A*23:01 (OR=1.04, p=2.3x10-3) and HLA-C*06:02 (OR=1.04, p=1.5x10-3). Two other genes (VSP13D and TSPAN9), possibly associated with immune response, were found to be associated with H-SMI using gene-based analyses. We observed a strong association between H-SMI and a locus that has been consistently and strongly associated with SCZ in multiple studies (6p21.32-p22.1), possibly indicating an involvement of the immune system and the immune response in the development of severe transdiagnostic SMI.

A Bayesian nonparametric meta-analysis model for estimating the reference interval.

A reference interval represents the normative range for measurements from a healthy population. It plays an important role in laboratory testing, as well as in differentiating healthy from diseased patients. The reference interval based on a single study might not be applicable to a broader population. Meta-analysis can provide a more generalizable reference interval based on the combined population by synthesizing results from multiple studies. However, the assumptions of normally distributed underlying study-specific means and equal within-study variances, which are commonly used in existing methods, are strong and may not hold in practice. We propose a Bayesian nonparametric model with more flexible assumptions to extend random effects meta-analysis for estimating reference intervals. We illustrate through simulation studies and two real data examples the performance of our proposed approach when the assumptions of normally distributed study means and equal within-study variances do not hold.

Mental Health in Elite Athletes: A Systematic Review of Suicidal Behaviour as Compared to the General Population.

Previous systematic reviews on mental health in athletes have found athletes to be at a potentially increased risk for mental health diagnoses compared to the public. Multiple cross-sectional studies have examined suicide behaviour within different athlete populations, but there is a need for a comprehensive review to synthesize and identify risk factors and epidemiology regarding suicide behaviour in the elite athlete population, especially as it compares to the general population. A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science from 1990 to January 2023. Inclusion criteria included original peer-reviewed research articles examining suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, or suicide completion within elite athlete populations. Exclusion criteria included athletes participating in high-school or Paralympic level sports, studies that did not report results regarding elite athletes and non-athletes separately, and non-peer reviewed work. All studies were screened for inclusion by two independent reviewers. The primary outcome variables extracted from included studies included rates, risk factors, and protective factors for suicide behaviour. The study quality and risk of bias was evaluated for each study using the Joanna-Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Of the 875 unique studies identified, 22 studies, all of which were cross-sectional in nature, met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies evaluated previous athletes, 13 studies evaluated current athletes, and two studies included a combination of previous and current athletes. Seven studies involved varsity college athletes, nine involved professional athletes of various sports, and six focused on international or Olympic level athletes. The rate of suicidal ideation in professional athletes ranged from 6.9 to 18% across four studies, while the rate in collegiate athletes ranged from 3.7 to 6.5% across three studies. Ten studies compared athletes to the general population, the majority of which found athletes to be at reduced risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide completion. Only one study found athletes to have increased rates of suicide compared to matched non-athletes. Risk factors for suicide behaviour identified across multiple studies included male sex, non-white race, older age, and depression. Player position, athletic level, sport played, and injuries showed trends of having limited effect on suicide behaviour risk. This review suggests that elite athletes generally demonstrate reduced risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide completion compared to the general population. Coaches should remain aware of specific factors, such as male sex, non-white race, and higher athletic level, in order to better identify at-risk athletes. Limitations of this review include the heterogeneity in the methodology and athlete populations across the included studies. Therefore, future targeted research is essential to compare suicide behaviour between sports and identify sport-specific suicide risk factors. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42023395990.

Mining corporate boardrooms still a male club? Experiences and challenges faced by South African women

Calls for transformation in the mining sector are legislated. Whilst the composition of boards in terms of gender diversity and equal representation has improved, little is known on how women directors experience boardrooms. This research investigated the experiences of South African women in male-dominated mining boards. It questions why women remain marginalised in boardrooms, even when they are qualified as the men in their respective fields. The experiences of South African women on male-dominated mining boards were investigated by means of a multiple case study using a qualitative research methodology. Interviews were conducted with 16 women and 12 men serving across six JSE-listed South African mining companies. The findings show that irrespective of their qualification and experience, women's, contributions are often ignored, and they are assigned to more social roles. Regardless of race, all women experienced gender stereotyping. Strategies are required to ensure that board cultures embrace female talent, where women can effectively contribute to decision-making and maximize their talent. It is argued that gender and identity should be studied in relation to post-colonial history in African countries. Women have multiple, varying identities, and their experiences require a unique investigation that would enable strategies to overcome barriers, through the implementation of an appropriate diversity management programme.

Pharmacokinetics of panobinostat: Inter-species difference in metabolic stability.

Panobinostat is a potent pan-HDAC inhibitor that has been tested in multiple studies for the treatment of brain tumors. There have been contrasting views surrounding its efficacy for the treatment of tumors in the CNS following systemic administration when examined in different models or species. We conducted experiments using three different mouse strains or genotypes to have a more comprehensive understanding of the systemic as well as the CNS distributional kinetics of panobinostat. Our study found that panobinostat experienced rapid degradation in vitro in FVB mouse matrices and a faster degradation rate was observed at 37{degree sign}C compared with room temperature and 4{degree sign}C, suggesting that the in vitro instability of panobinostat was due to enzymatic metabolism. Panobinostat also showed inter-strain and inter-species differences in the in vitro plasma stability; and was stable in human plasma. The objective of this study was to examine the in vitro metabolic stability of panobinostat in different matrices and assess the influence of that metabolic stability on the in vivo pharmacokinetics and CNS delivery of panobinostat. Importantly, the plasma stability in various mouse strains was not reflected in the in vivo systemic pharmacokinetic behavior of panobinostat. Several hypotheses arise from this finding, including: the binding of panobinostat to red blood cells, the existence of competing endogenous compounds to enzyme(s), the distribution into tissues with a lower level of enzymatic activity or the metabolism occurring in the plasma is a small fraction of the total metabolism in vivo Significance Statement Panobinostat showed different in vitro degradation in plasma from different mouse strains and genotypes. However, despite the differences surrounding in vitro plasma stability, panobinostat showed similar in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior in different mouse models. This suggests that the inter-strain difference in enzymatic activity did not affect the in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior of panobinostat and its CNS distribution in mice. This lack of translation between in vitro metabolism assays and in vivo disposition can confound drug development.

Genomic Alterations in Melanocytic Tumors: A Review of Spitz Tumors, Blue Nevi, Deep Penetrating Melanocytomas and Pigmented Epithelioid Melanocytomas

The arena of melanocytic histopathology has experienced tremendous growth in the last decade. The advancement is attributed to incorporating various molecular tests in benign, intermediate, and malignant melanocytic tumors. Most molecular testing has been mainly applied in clinically advanced-stage melanoma to determine the molecular alteration to help guide therapy (e.g., BRAF inhibitors in BRAF mutated melanomas). However, with more availability and, to a certain degree, affordability of certain molecular tests, multiple studies have been conducted on benign/intermediate lesions in an attempt to understand further the driving molecular alterations allowing for the proliferation of certain melanocytic lineages. This review article discusses and illustrates examples of recently recognized entities with their corresponding genomic alterations in the Spitz lineage, blue nevi, deep penetrating melanocytomas, and pigmented epithelioid melanocytomas.

Revisiting operations agility and formalizing digitalization in response to varying levels of uncertainty and customization

This paper aims to find how digitalization supports inter-organizational purchasing/order fulfillment processes and the required agility to respond to supply/demand uncertainties. The research method includes multiple case studies. Qualitative data are collected via interviews and documentation review. Within-case and cross-case analyses of the research lead to 14 propositions and a novel framework, which formalize and link agility and digitalization at different levels. The research findings point out the agility in micro and macro types for the demand and supply sides of the business, responding to different levels of uncertainties. The findings categorize the relevant applications of digitalization at three levels: data interchange, data integration, and predictive data analytics. Moreover, the agility-digitalization relationships are defined for different levels of customization, represented by customer order decoupling points. This paper contributes to the literature by offering an in-depth and explicit understanding of the impacts of digitalization on different types of agility for different levels of customization.

Rural primary school principals’ leadership strategies for ICT integration

This paper explored the factors influencing the leadership strategies of school principals in rural primary schools regarding the integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the process of teaching and learning in their schools. School principals are responsible for ensuring that there is ICTs integration in their schools’ teaching and learning processes. Embedded within the theory of learning-centred leadership (LCL), school principals have a responsibility to lead, foster, manage, and support the learning process for teachers and learners in their schools. Thus, school principals need to be well acquainted with innovative technologies for teaching and learning amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), which is global, complex, and fast-paced, to lead learning through ICT integration. Underpinned by the interpretive qualitative approach and using a multiple case study as a research design, this study generated data from three selected South African rural primary schools through face-to-face interviews with the three school principals. Data were analysed thematically. Findings revealed that school principals’ leadership strategies are influenced by their attitudes towards ICT integration into teaching and learning, their exposure to ICT workshops, and their own judgements of their abilities in using ICT. The paper recommends customised in-service training for school principals and teachers to alter and improve their exposure to, attitudes, perceptions toward ICT integration in teaching and learning.

Dynamics of related and unrelated digital diversification in established firms: Strategies, programs, process, and outcomes

Research on digital transformation focuses on business models and technological innovation but it often lacks a detailed exploration of how firms develop, execute, and evaluate related and unrelated digital diversification strategies. To address this gap, this study employs a multiple case study approach to uncover the varied processes and outcomes of implementing digital diversification programs in established firms. The findings reveal that established firms frequently refine and adjust their digital diversification strategies to achieve desired results. Specifically, related digital diversification strategies benefit from well-defined market segments, clear technological focus, and robust senior management support. In contrast, unrelated digital diversification strategies thrive through extensive exploration and experimentation with novel digital technologies and markets, reduced senior managerial intervention and increased middle- and lower-level management involvement. Semi-related digital diversification strategies, which incorporate elements of both related and unrelated approaches, often encounter tensions owing to conflicting traditional and new program execution methods, posing significant realization challenges. Key factors identified as instrumental in the success of digital diversification strategies include technology, markets, management & organization, and program execution. The study concludes by discussing the managerial and academic implications and offers recommendations for future research in this domain.

Etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and differential diagnosis in Lower Back Pain with comparison of possible methods of treatment

Introduction and purpose Non-specific and specific lower back pain syndrome is one of the leading causes of musculoskeletal disability and affects more than half of the population worldwide. The aim of this paper is to confront the problem of lumbar pain, possible diagnostic options, conservative and surgical opportunities with long term satisfactory rate. State of knowledge The paper reviews literature on lower back pain syndrome, sciatica, radiculopathy and lumbar disc herniation in regards to detection of the problem, classifying it and possible methods of resolvement. The WHO defines lower back pain as one of the leading causes of musculoskeletal dysfunction and it focuses on reducing the occurrence by programs like WHO Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative, UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and others. The paper also focuses on non surgical options of treatment. Material and method A review of the literature available in the “PubMed” and Google Schoolar was conducted. We focused on differential diagnosis depending on clinical presentation and possible treatment methods depending on symptoms, pathogenesis of the disorder and available procedures. Summary Our review managed to present the current state of development, possible differential diagnosis, prevalence of neural compressions, sciatica and radiculopathy in different diagnostic options. By receiving multiple studies we confront varied opinions of specialists regarding the approach to lower back pain syndrome and favorable forms of care. Additionally we came to the conclusion that the difference of patients' long term satisfactory rate in regards to nonoperative and operative treatment is not significant, and flattens over the years.

Important Strategies for Preventing Hypertension Through Risk Factor Approaches

Hypertension causes high morbidity (sickness) and mortality (death). Hypertension occurs as a result of interactions and various risk factors that a person has. Multiple studies have linked various risk factors to the emergence of hypertension. The research aims to determine the Essential Hypertension strategy through a risk factor approach at the Asy-Asyifa Clinic. The research design used was an analytical study with a case-control study design by selecting cases who suffered from essential hypertension and controls who did not suffer from essential hypertension. Primary data collection was carried out directly by researchers using research instruments in the form of questionnaires. In fact, the results of this study determined that age is related to the incidence of hypertension. The higher the age group, the more often the incidence of hypertension. The results of the Chi-Square statistical test with a value of p = 0.06 mean that there is a significant relationship between obesity and the incidence of hypertension. The results of the Chi-Square statistical test with a value of p = 0.048 mean that there is an essential relationship between people who smoke and the incidence of hypertension. In this study, there was no significant relationship with the Chi-Square statistical test with a value of p = 0.020, meaning that there was a meaningful relationship between people who consumed much salt and the incidence of hypertension. The variables influencing essential hypertension are obesity, salt consumption, and age. The dominant variable that influences essential hypertension at the Asy-Asyifa Clinic in Medan is the obesity variable. Regular exercise and a balanced diet are crucial to maintaining a healthy weight.

Typhoidal salmonella disease in Mukuru informal settlement, Nairobi Kenya; carriage, diversity, and antimicrobial resistant genes.

Multiple studies have shown that typhoid fever is endemic in developing countries characterized by poor hygiene. A unique way of Salmonella Typhi (S.Typhi) pathogenicity is establishing a persistent, usually asymptomatic carrier state in some infected individuals who excrete large numbers of bacteria in faeces. This study aimed to determine the isolation rate of S.Typhi from blood and stool samples among cases and asymptomatic individuals in the Mukuru informal settlement and identify antibiotic resistance patterns within the same population. We recruited 1014 outpatient participants presenting with typhoid-like symptoms in selected health centres in Nairobi, Kenya. Bacterial isolation was done on Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate agar (XLD) and Mac Conkey agar (Oxoid), followed by standard biochemical tests. Identification was done using API20E, and S.Typhi was confirmed by serotyping using polyvalent antisera 0-9 and monovalent antisera d. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to test the antimicrobial susceptibility of S.Typhi isolates, while Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) strains were characterized using conventional PCR. Of 1014 participants, 54 (5%) tested positive for S.Typhi. Thirty-eight (70%) of the S.Typhi isolated were from stool samples, while sixteen (30%) were from blood. Three (0.2%) of the isolates were from asymptomatic carriers. Of the 54 S.Typhi isolates, 20 (37%) were MDR. Resistance to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid was 43% and 52%, respectively. Resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (a beta-lactam inhibitor) was 2%. The BlaTEM-1 gene was present in 19/20 (95%) MDR isolates. MDR S.Typhi is prevalent in Mukuru Informal settlement. The sharp increase in nalidixic acid resistance is an indication of reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones, which are currently the recommended drugs for the treatment of typhoid fever. This study highlights the need for effective antimicrobial stewardship and routine surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to inform policy on the prevention and control of MDR Typhoid disease.

Technology Integration in Teacher Education Practices in Two Southern African Universities

Abstract The integration of digital technology into the practices of teacher education is expected to become the norm in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. This study sought to determine how lecturers integrate technology into teacher education in two Southern African universities (one in South Africa and one in the Kingdom of Eswatini). In this study, a multiple case study design was utilised, employing a qualitative research approach within an interpretive research paradigm. The study occurred at the two universities as mentioned earlier, conveniently chosen as they were the workplaces of the researchers. Data collection involved an open-ended questionnaire completed by lecturers, and a focus group discussion consisted of purposively selected lecturers from both institutions. Thematic analysis was applied to examine the data gathered from study participants. The findings indicated that initially, lecturers from both universities had limited digital literacy as they were in the process of transitioning from traditional face-to-face teaching methods and required guidance on integrating technology into their instructional practices. The study concludes that the availability of digital tools, software, and the Internet will not automatically equip student teachers with the required competencies to include technology into their instructional methods.

Remediation of multifarious metal ions and molecular docking assessment for pathogenic microbe disinfection in aqueous solution by waste-derived Ca-MOF.

The present study demonstrates an eco-friendly and cost-effective synthesis of calcium terephthalate metal-organic frameworks (Ca-MOF). The Ca-MOF were composed of metal ions (Ca2+) and organic ligands (terephthalic acid; TPA); the former was obtained from egg shells, and the latter was obtained from processing waste plastic bottles. Detailed characterization using standard techniques confirmed the synthesis of Ca-MOF with an average particle size of 461.9 ± 15nm. The synthesized Ca-MOF was screened for its ability to remove multiple metal ions from an aqueous solution. Based on the maximum sorption capacity, Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+ ions were selected for individual parametric batch studies. The obtained results were interpreted using standard isotherms and kinetic models. The maximum sorption capacity (qm) obtained from the Langmuir model was found to be 644.07 ± 47, 391.4 ± 26, and 260.5 ± 14mgg-1 for Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+, respectively. Moreover, Ca-MOF also showed an excellent ability to remove all three metal ions simultaneously from a mixed solution. The metal nodes and bonded TPA from Ca-MOF were dissociated by the acid dissolution method, which protonated and isolated TPA for reuse. Further, the crystal structure of Ca-MOF was prepared and docked with protein targets of selected pathogenic water-borne microbes, which showed its disinfection potential. Overall, multiple metal sorption capability, regeneration studies, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity confirmed the versatility of synthesized Ca-MOF for industrial wastewater treatment.

An Entrepreneurial Lens on Backshoring Implementation by SMEs

AbstractUsing the lenses of internationalization process theory and of effectuation theory, this study investigates how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) implement backshoring initiatives. A qualitative multiple case study is developed involving six SMEs that have relocated from China back to their respective home countries. The analysis illuminates SMEs’ perspectives on the uncertainty perceived when returning to the home country and on how SMEs dynamically manage their domestic commitment and network of relations. The study also sheds light on the different alternative approaches they employ during different phases of the backshoring process and on the outcomes of these initiatives. Notably, the study demonstrates that the conceptual frameworks commonly employed in the literature to explain internationalization can effectively be extended to the domain of backshoring. Successful backshoring for SMEs hinges on their accurate perception of domestic uncertainty and their dynamic utilization of both planning and effectuation implementation strategies. Conversely, the failure of backshoring initiatives can be traced back to SMEs’ misperception of their position within the domestic business network, a cognitive bias that can lead to suboptimal decisions and outcomes.