Success Story Research Articles

Towards sustainable lean success: a systematic literature review on critical failure factors

PurposeLean manufacturing (LM) is a leading philosophy used by organizations to become inevitable in the challenging market. However, prior research showed evidence that 90% failure rate of LM within 10 years of implementation, hence this study is to undertake a systematic literature review on the failure of LM implementation.Design/methodology/approachThis study was conducted with the guidance by review protocol, research questions’ formulation, systematic searching based on identification, screening and eligibility using Scopus and Web of Science databases, quality appraisal, data exclusion and analysis.FindingsDerived from 15 sub-themes, five main themes were discovered based on the thematic analysis to answer the research question on “What strategies should manufacturers do to prevent the failure of LM implementation?”, namely (1) leadership, (2) culture, (3) knowledge, (4) resources and (5) suppliers.Research limitations/implicationsWoS and Scopus were employed in this review, despite there are 14 databases with the ability to search for potential articles in them. Mixed-Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to evaluate the quality control process, however using various quality assessment techniques helps to search for appropriate review objectives.Practical implicationsThe primary emphasis of this study can be used as a reference by the manufacturers to ensure that LM implementation is a success story to gain a competitive advantage.Originality/valueDespite a large body of literature on LM, there has been little attempt to review this study in a systematic approach, discover trends and generate thematic potential on the failure factors of LM, making it difficult for academics to replicate and interpret.

Success Stories of Junior High School Master Teachers Towards Professional Development: A Phenomenological Inquiry

Professional development of master teachers involves acknowledging expertise and fostering ongoing development through individualized, self-directed learning. This study explored the success stories of master teachers' professional development, influenced by Malcolm Knowles' 1980 Andragogy Theory. Utilizing phenomenology, the research examines consciousness structures from a first-person perspective. The central structure of an experience was its intentionality, its being directed toward something, as it was an experience of or about some object. Based on the responses of the participants, my analysis revealed three emerging themes under the success stories of junior high school master teachers towards professional development were: harmonious group dynamics, supportive team player and coordinated collaboration. Recognizing group dynamics within professional development for master teachers optimizes collaborative learning experiences, enhancing both student interactions and educators' growth while fostering impactful learning spaces and collaborative skills. The educational insights that were drawn from the experiences on the success stories of master teachers towards professional development. The insights of these teachers were geared towards two themes namely: encouraging support and continual professional development. Future researchers concentrating on master teachers' growth may investigate the enduring impact of new teaching methods and their correlation with improved student learning, as well as explore expanding successful master teacher programs to enhance educators' effectiveness.

Identifying the contributors to nursing caring success stories.

To (a) seek examples of nursing caring success stories and (b) identify the common contributors to these successes. By focusing on the successes of nursing care rather than critically examining failures, this research seeks to provide examples of proven and feasible approaches and processes for improving care. This study used a narrative inquiry design. Data were collected through group interviews. Four interviews were conducted with a total of 20 nurse participants working in inpatient settings in South Australian hospitals. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. Two dominant themes concerning the contributors to caring success were identified. These contributors were (1) the provision of holistic care and (2) the influence of the caring community, which includes family members and other patients. The findings also indicated that the definition of caring success according to nurses is not aligned with organisational performance indicators but is more closely represented by caring values. Success, according to nurses, is not exclusively defined by patient outcomes but includes the approach to, and process of, care delivery. Nurses value the caring process while working in an environment that primarily values clinical and systems-level outcomes. Nurses want patients and their families, allied health professionals and hospital executives to be involved and invested in the process of care. This study addressed a gap in the current literature to identify commonalities in nursing success stories, the contributors informing these successes and how these contributors can facilitate improved patient care. Understanding nursing definitions of caring success provides an opportunity to expand upon current accepted industry definitions and perspectives such as key performance indicators. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. No direct patient or public contribution.

‘My life is not to be called a failure’: how family reputation in the origin affects return considerations among South Asian migrants in the Gulf

ABSTRACT Families are an important factor to consider when trying to understand if and when labor migrants decide to return to the origin. Research has mainly focused on how families provide incentives to return. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, stories about return migration decisions among male South Asian migrants in the Gulf reveal that families can exert substantial pressure on migrants to stay abroad, even during times of crisis. Using in-depth interviews with maigrants in the UAE, returnees and family members between 2020 and 2022, we find that social expectations of migrants to maintain or build family reputation through actions abroad, in the context of broader communities of origin, is a key factor in deterring migrants from returning. Migrants and their families in the origin often seek to continue signaling a successful migration project, particularly by telling stories of entrepreneurial success or of being embedded in the destination through strong and resourceful networks. Returning early from a migration project, even during the pandemic, can be interpreted as a failure and risks negatively impacting the family's reputation. We observe that those who return early, despite family pressure to stay, face significant social sanctions from family and community.

A satellite constellation dedicated to frequently monitor methane emissions from oil and gas facilities around the world

This paper discusses GHGSat’s pioneering operating satellites dedicated to high-resolution measurements of methane emissions. We demonstrate their role as an integral part of an emissions intensity improvement strategy. The instrument on board each satellite uses spectroscopy principles to detect and quantify methane emissions, exhibiting a spatial resolution of less than 30 m. A discussion on how this constellation can be used as a key system in the mitigation of emissions is presented. Results reflect observations taken with GHGSat’s satellites. Recent examples of oil and gas emitting facilities around the world are shown followed by how this constellation can serve three objectives: (1) emissions mitigation; (2) regulatory compliance; and (3) a system to achieve voluntary efforts such as OGMP 2.0. The intention is to show that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but that the use of a satellite constellation is a complimentary and efficient way of monitoring for large leaks with increased frequency. This paper also reviews GHGSat’s top-down approach through its aircraft sensor technology as another solution for monitoring smaller leaks. Mitigation success stories are discussed providing opportunities for achievement of regulatory certifications in regions like the United States, Australia and Iraq. The resulting datasets are integrated into GHGSat’s ESRI ArcGIS-based portal, SPECTRA, to facilitate the interpretation of its high-resolution measurements, giving further insights through the available analytics layers. This platform provides situational awareness of methane emissions to operators, creating opportunities for mitigation.

Motivational strategies used by health care professionals in stroke survivors in rehabilitation: a scoping review of experimental studies

IntroductionCognitive and motor impairments are common among stroke survivors. Physical therapy is often used to improve the functional capacity of stroke survivors. However, limited adherence to rehabilitation programs is a challenge. Motivation plays a crucial role in the success of rehabilitation programs as it influences individual adherence to treatment and overall health outcomes. This review aims to identify current trends in motivational strategies used by healthcare professionals for stroke survivor rehabilitation.MethodsFollowing the framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley, a scoping review was conducted. We performed a literature search using MEDLINE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Nursing & Allied Health, and MedicLatina databases.ResultsA total of 906 papers were identified. After selecting and analyzing the articles, 17 papers were included in this review. Health professionals use various strategies to motivate stroke survivors. These approaches include establishing a therapeutic alliance, improving patients’ health literacy, defining realistic goals, fostering problem-solving skills, personalizing the rehabilitation program, showcasing success stories, utilizing persuasive techniques, offering encouragement and compliments, providing emotional support, and effectively managing symptoms.ConclusionThe knowledge gathered in this review can guide healthcare professionals in helping patients overcome barriers to rehabilitation, improve their motivation, and ultimately enhance their recovery outcomes.

Indian Thyroid society expert consensus on salt Iodisation

ABSTRACT Iodine, an essential micronutrient, is crucial for the production of thyroid hormones - triiodothyronine(T3) and thyroxine(T4). Thyroid hormones regulate the optimum mental development, physical growth and development, regulation of body metabolism, heat generation, and maintenance of body temperaturein an individual. Geological processes like flooding, soil erosion, deforestation, and rivers changing course, deplete the surface soil of iodine, as it is present in the top layers of soil and easily soluble in water. As a result, the population residing in the area with iodinedeficient soil, becomes susceptible to a spectrum of functional and developmental abnormalities due to dietary deficiency of iodine. Universal Salt Iodization (USI) for prevention of IDDs in India is a public health success story. The adoption of the salt iodization strategy serves as a textbook example of the journey of an intervention through the iterative loop of research to policy to programme. Salt iodization has proved to be a safe, accessible, available, affordable, and cost-effective strategy to address the burden of IDDs in India. India has been at the forefront of the efforts to control IDDs globally. India is on its way to achieving the target of > 90 percent household coverage of adequately iodized salt. Revised Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations released in 2019 introduced an upper limit for iodine concentration in salt, the adequate iodine level required at the production and consumer level, including the distribution channel at 15 – 30 ppm. Universal Salt Iodisation (USI) is India's public health success story. There is a need to consolidate progress so far and focus on strategy to reach the “last mile”. Sustainable elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs) with Universal Salt Iodisation (USI) being the primary strategy needs to also factor in harmonisation with salt reduction strategy for control of non-communicable diseases.

The Issues and Challenges of Diversification Strategy in Multiple Industries: The Case of Kental Bina Sdn. Bhd.

A diversification strategy is one of the means to expand business among corporations, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). In Malaysia, many successful stories of SMEs’ diversification strategies permit others to follow in their footstep. The success of the strategy allows businesses to develop not only locally but also venture into the international market. However, various issues and challenges could be associated with diversification strategy implementation particularly among SMEs within multiple industries involved. Therefore, this study aims to discover the issues and challenges faced by Kental Bina Sdn. Bhd., one of the steadily growing diversified businesses in Northern Peninsular Malaysia. This study employed a few rounds of one-on-one interviews with the business owner as the key informant to meet the study objective. The recorded interview sessions are then transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis through the Nvivo12 software. From the policy viewpoint, this study sheds light on the development of entrepreneurial training programs. The training program conducted by the relevant ministries and government agencies, including the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (MECD), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), SME Corporation (SMECorp.), and Tekun Nasional (TEKUN), needs to be specifically designed to address the issues and challenges of business diversification particularly among SMEs. For practical implication, this study helps to offer important information and inputs among other businesses, particularly SMEs, on what to expect when starting their diversification planning and strategy.

Gas adsorption and framework flexibility of CALF-20 explored via experiments and simulations

In 2021, Svante, in collaboration with BASF, reported successful scale up of CALF-20 production, a stable MOF with high capacity for post-combustion CO2 capture which exhibits remarkable stability towards water. CALF-20’s success story in the MOF commercialisation space provides new thinking about appropriate structural and adsorptive metrics important for CO2 capture. Here, we combine atomistic-level simulations with experiments to study adsorptive properties of CALF-20 and shed light on its flexible crystal structure. We compare measured and predicted CO2 and water adsorption isotherms and explain the role of water-framework interactions and hydrogen bonding networks in CALF-20’s hydrophobic behaviour. Furthermore, regular and enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations are performed with both density-functional theory (DFT) and machine learning potentials (MLPs) trained to DFT energies and forces. From these simulations, the effects of adsorption-induced flexibility in CALF-20 are uncovered. We envisage this work would encourage development of other MOF materials useful for CO2 capture applications in humid conditions.

Natural lipopeptide surfactin inhibits insulin aggregation and prevents amyloid-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation

Despite the centennial of the pioneering discovery of insulin, challenges regarding insulin aggregation at the site of repeated injection, as well as during industrial production, storage, and transportation, have cast a gloom over this remarkable success story. Aggregation substantially impacts the quality, potency, and effectiveness of insulin formulation, decreasing bioavailability, intensifying the risk of immunogenicity, and endangering patient health. Herein, the suitability of Bacillus-derived amphiphilic biosurfactant surfactin was demonstrated to evade temperature-induced fibrillation of insulin. Fluorometric assessment employing thioflavin-T and intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence indicated the dose-dependent reduction in insulin unfolding and subsequent formation of fibrils. Decreased thioflavin fluorescence at the plateau stage and about a 79% increase in fibrillation lag time was observed for samples containing an equimolar ratio of insulin to surfactin. Circular dichroism analysis further indicated about a 30% increase in α-helix content in samples containing an equimolar ratio of insulin and surfactin, as compared to controls. The findings were further bolstered by dynamic light scattering, electron microscopic analysis, and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Molecular docking and simulation studies did not indicate any structural destabilization of insulin with surfactin, having major interactions at the hydrophobic and potential amyloidogenic regions of insulin B-chain: B12-B19 (VEALYLVC) and B23-B27 (GFFYT) through hydrophobic and hydrogen bonds. Notably, an almost 22% increase in cell viability was observed for cells incubated with aggregated insulin containing equimolar concentrations of SFN. Surfactin also subdued insulin amyloid-induced upregulation of the pro-inflammatory genes. Thus, surfactin may be contemplated as an additive in biopharmaceutical formulations to imbue stability and may also be evaluated as anti-amyloid therapeutics for other pathological proteinopathies.

Level 7 degree apprenticeships – a story of challenge, resilience and success

ABSTRACT This study explores the lived experience of both in-service and pre-service apprentices studying Level 7 apprenticeship programmes. Using qualitative questionnaires, this article facilitates a thematic analysis exploring how aspects such as: rationale for enrolment; study habits; prioritisation of workload; resilience and wellbeing are experienced by educators studying either an Academic Professional Apprenticeship or a Senior Leaders Apprenticeship programme. Results demonstrate a mixed landscape is apparent for Level 7 apprentices, with tangible differences, both within and between groups, exhibited regarding reason for enrolment and study habits. The challenge around balancing work-life priorities and the encroachment of work commitments on study time (and vice versa) are a common theme for both cohorts, with those who have better established working patterns and relationships more resilient to the challenges of Level 7 apprenticeship study.

A POLICY ENTREPRENEUR’S EIGHT‐STEP GUIDE TO TURN IDEAS TO IMPACT

AbstractSheldrick, the co‐founder of Global Citizen, writes about “how to bring about meaningful change in today’s divided world.” He discusses the concept of the policy entrepreneur, which he says is “a term coined by political scientist John Kingdon.” Sheldrick’s eight steps of policy entrepreneurship are, in his words, (1) Know your policy goal (2) Know which stakeholders matter and how to influence them (3) Mastering the art of timing (4) Mastering the art of storytelling (5) Embrace pragmatic idealism (6) Leveraging your partners’ strengths (7) Know your endgame (8) Communicate stories of success. Within step one: “A well‐defined policy goal is a linchpin that turns good intentions, such as halting illegal deforestation or curbing the spread of infectious diseases, into impactful change.” In step two: “To drive effective change, you must go where those in power meet.” In step three: “Effective policy entrepreneurs identify the opportune moment to advocate for their policy goal and proactively explore ways to expand its acceptability.” In step four: “To craft a memorable story, emphasize the “why” to build trust and provide practical solutions—the “how” —for a chaotic world.”

The Indonesian House of Representatives and its role during democratic regression

ABSTRACT Parliament and the separation of power are essential elements of democratic consolidation. However, what role does parliament take if democracy is in retreat? Following a comparative approach, this article analyses the role of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) during a process of democratic decline. Indonesia is seen as a success story of democratisation. Since 1998, the country has transitioned from an autocratic regime to a vibrant multi-party democracy. However, twenty years on, academics have been highlighting far-reaching patterns of democratic regression. Whereas there have been studies of the democratic setback globally and more in-depth analyses of aspects of the Indonesian democracy in retreat, there has been little attention on the role of the country’s legislature in this situation. This article analyses how the DPR has been executing its legislative mandate during Joko Widodo’s second presidential term from 2019 to 2024. Examining three cases of legislation, it found the DPR is not actively resisting the democratic decline. On the contrary, the hypothesis has been proven that the parliament is an active factor in autocratic legalism. This has been most visible in the reduced scrutiny of draft legislation, limited deliberation, and narrow public consultation to serve elite interests. In addition to a weakened legislative role by the DPR, there has been reduced oversight and scrutiny of government policies, visible through limited questioning of ministers or inquiries into the use of the budget and the appointment of government-favoured candidates to national commissions, courts, and state bodies. Moreover, the nature of a consensus-based decision-making system has allowed the executive to effectively control the parliament, instead of the other way around. This is despite some reminders from the Constitutional Court to respect the legal provisions that require deliberation and consultation of the people.

The Search for Petroleum in The Sultanate of Oman – The First 120 Years

Abstract This is a story of failure and success, of disappointment and elation. World wars, a market glutted with cheap oil and geologists unable to access areas of interest hampered the search. Early expeditions provided the first maps of the mountains and Dhofar, and glimpses of the geology of the interior, but no evidence of oil. Geological and geophysical surveys began in earnest in the 1950s, leading to the first exploratory drilling and the discovery of heavy oil at Marmul. Commercial oil was discovered a few years later at Fahud and Natih. All Oman's largest oil fields were found over the next 20 years based on 2-D seismic data. Early concessions were large and ill-defined. More companies became involved as interest grew in exploration offshore and as acreage was relinquished onshore. Although gas was encountered as a byproduct of oil activities, exploration for gas did not begin until 1984 when it became apparent that the known accumulations were insufficient for future needs. Large accumulations of gas and condensate were subsequently discovered in central Oman. Petroleum continues to underpin the economy of the Sultanate as it strives to diversify and decarbonise. Useful lessons can be learned from the search so far.

Abstract PO5-26-08: Caveats behind the improved outcomes observed in recent clinical trials for women with breast cancer: Korean breast cancer consensus meeting 2023

Abstract Introduction Korean Breast Cancer Society has organized the biennial Korean Breast Cancer Consensus Conference to find solutions to clinical situations that cannot be answered by randomized clinical trials or other definitive treatment research data. Unlike guidelines which are designed to apply to the majority of patients with early or advanced breast cancer encountered in daily practice, consensus meetings yield answers from clinicians’ perspectives and experiences. Therefore, this meeting aimed to integrate patient preferences, treatment availability, or other individual circumstances upon recent medical advances and available evidence. Materials and methods. Panelists were invited from various filed, such as medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology, nuclear medicine, hereditary cancer specialist. Results. 1. caveats behind optimizing treatment There had been strong interests in refinening thresholes for treatment and it can be more or less than previous standard treatment. Some patients clearly required escalated treatment, such as ovarian function suppression, combined HER2-targeted treatment, and utilization of immunotherapy during neoadjuvant systemic treatment. However, even same agent which showed great success for high risk patients showed Disappointing results and even failure. Furthermore, we need more sophisticated decision even for successful stories which introduced above, because of their serious adverse events. AntiPd-1/PD-L1 showed different serious adverse events profiles and Trastuzumab-deruxtecan is related with life-threatening pulmonary complication. Therefore, there is a clinical equipoise for an appropriate therapeutic threshold not only for low-risk patients but also high-risk patients who can safely forgo recommend treatment escalation in the newly introduced clinical trials. 2. Completely new serious adverse events observed in new drugs. Unlike chemotherapy, most targeted therapies cause lethal damage that clinicians may not have experienced. Some, such as pulmonary complications from trastuzumab deruxtecan, can be fatal if not treated immediately. Even if patients survive, they may suffer catastrophic outcomes because these agents leave a fatal disability that is too great for the patient's quality of life. Moreover, in South Korea, where government-run health insurance is the only payer and at the same time policy maker, non-medical constraints such as passive reimbursement plans, value-based medicine, and intentional delay or denial of certain drugs, panelist delivered varing opinions on the extent to which new agents can be utilized and which treatment plan could offer equal clinical benefit with less toxicity, or provide for a measurable improvement in outcomes. 3. utilizing genomic signatures Panelist raised issues genetic assay which analyzed genes currently we do not have treatment options which can modify disease process. Many questions were addressed such as, appropriate sampling time, which sample, liquid or tumor, can yield meaningful information. Conclusion Korean Breast Cancer consensus meeting highlighted important caveats behinds new promising findings. Clinical unmet need and uncertainty should be disclosed before patients because what clinician and patients work with is their life. Shared decision making is essential and patients should become well aware of science and medicine. Proactive approach of clinician is critical for these movements. Citation Format: Airi Han, Young-Joon Kang, Sei Hyun Kim, Eui Su Chae, Han Cho Kim, Kyong Hwa Park. Caveats behind the improved outcomes observed in recent clinical trials for women with breast cancer: Korean breast cancer consensus meeting 2023 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-26-08.

Reduced survival in a soaring bird breeding in wind turbine proximity along the northern Baltic Sea coast

Wind power plays a vital role in global climate action and plans for new turbines in the Baltic Sea region are underway. However, it is crucial not to overlook the environmental impact on wildlife, which can be difficult to quantify, especially in elusive and hard-to-track species. One of these species is the white-tailed eagle, a conservation success story that faces a significant collision risk with rotor blades, particularly as turbines are being constructed in its coastal habitats. To assess the effect of wind turbines on survival of territorial adults, we genotyped DNA from adult feathers collected at nests between 2010 and 2022. By tracking individuals across years, we measured survival and breeding dispersal in relation to wind turbine presence. Turbines within a 5 km radius of nests were found to reduce annual survival rates by 7.6 %, while resighting probability and breeding dispersal probability were unaffected. The proportion of territories exposed to wind turbines is currently low (4–5 %), mainly because recent construction sites have been further inland. However, future projections suggest an increase in territory exposure, indicating potential for population-level risks. This highlights the need for substantial safety buffers around nest sites (preferably >5 km) to protect the breeding white-tailed eagle population. Currently, a comprehensive understanding of the large-scale impact on the Baltic Sea white-tailed eagle population is lacking. As wind power expands, it is necessary to consider its impact on wildlife and we recommend conducting ongoing environmental assessments to monitor and adapt conservation measures.

Medical image Classification using Transfer Learning: Convolutional Neural Network Models approach

A relatively low life expectancy in their greatest grade is caused by more debilitating diseases in the medical sector. Any kind of misdiagnosis may lead to improper medical intervention and lower the likelihood that a patient will survive. Making an appropriate treatment plan to cure and enhance the quality of life for patients suffering from any kind of illness starts with an accurate diagnosis. Convolutional neural networks and computer-aided disease detection systems have produced success stories and advanced the science of machine learning significantly. Compared to more conventional neural network layers, the deep convolutional layers automatically extract significant and reliable characteristics from the input space. Within the suggested structure, we use two convolutional neural network architectures (VGG16 and VGG19) to perform two types of medical imaging (x-ray and MRI) investigations in order to categorize brain tumors as normal and up normal as well as classify x-ray pneumonia or normal. The transfer learning strategies by VGG16 and vgg19 models that is, using MRI and x-ray to fine-tune and freeze are then examined in each investigation. In order to increase dataset samples and decrease the likelihood of over-fitting, data augmentation techniques are performed to MRI slices and x-rays for results that can be more broadly utilized. In the proposed studies, the fine-tune VGG19, VGG16 architecture attained highest accuracy up to 0.95with x-ray and 0.80 respectively. The accuracy0.98 used MRI in terms of classification and detection with VGG19.

Spontaneous Resolution of a Combined Hamartoma in a One-Year-Old Child.

The combined hamartoma of the retina and the retinal pigment epithelium (CHR-RPE) is a rare but histologically benign tumor of which no clear consensus exists regarding its appropriate management. Most commonly CHR-RPE presents unilaterally in children as an elevated, pigmented lesion associated with vascular tortuosity and an epiretinal membrane (ERM). Patients may have decreased visual acuity (VA) in the affected eye, notably if the overlying ERM extends into the macula. For this reason, surgical intervention in the form of ERM removal has been pursued with notable success. Still, those who pursue observation cite the interwoven nature of the overlying glial membrane within the dysplastic retina, complicating surgery and accounting for variability in post-operative VA success. Given the rarity of the tumor coupled with the scarcity of data on its natural evolution, clinicians who pursue observation cannot know for sure whether withholding surgical management is predisposing their patients to worse visual outcomes as compared to those patients who undergo ERM peel as first-line therapy. This case report will discuss an infant with clinically diagnosed CHR-RPE whose lesion showed significant regression after 6 months of observation. This success story should cause Ophthalmologists to reconsider the management options at their disposal when faced with a case of CHR-RPE, and to call for further research to better define the risks of observation over surgical intervention. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:XX-XX.].

Monogamous hybridization of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with Mozambique tilapia (O. mossambicus) results in unprecedented all-female F1 hybrid

Tilapiine breeding success is season-dependent, with very rare exceptions. The female (f) to male (m) ratio differences showed significant variations in fruitful breeding. Furthermore, the female-to-male ratio in any hybridization protocol involving reciprocal crosses may be the most influential factor in determining breeding seasonality. The innate genetic traits of tilapia, a prominent contributor to global aquaculture production, enable them to easily adapt to a wide range of aquatic environments, rendering them suitable for domestication. The study aimed to determine the breeding timeframe of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, N) through interspecific monogamous/two-parent reciprocal crossing with Mozambique tilapia (O. mossambicus, M). Considering preselected genotypic characteristics by PrlLK microsatellite marker, different combinations of hybrid reciprocal crosses were performed in breeding hapa (3 × 3 × 3 cubic feet) inside an indoor plastered cemented tank and then in an outdoor earthen pond facility. Total 11 parental pairs were attempted to propagate inside a cemented tank with (9 pairs) and without (2 pairs) hapa during early April to mid-June. Unfortunately, the trials failed to produce any successful breeding within the schedule. Among those 11 pairs, 6 pairs were Nf × Mm and 5 pairs were Mf × Nm cross. In the earthen pond inside hapa, a total of 18 pairs were attempted where seven breeding successes were reported without demonstrating any dependency for hybridizations over cross types or genotypes and for individuals over sex or species. Successful breeding were reported from the month of May to November. There were few overlapping months of successful breeding for different grouping categories. During the successful breeding period, there were no successful outcomes in both August and October. An inadvertent all-female F1 generation was observed for Mf × Nm crosses, while the reciprocal cross Nf × Mm produced an F1 generation with a nearly 1:1 female to male ratio. The F1 sex ratios exhibited a significant reliance on parental genotypic combinations (p = 5.4e-11). The success stories from different cross combinations would help to frame the breeding protocol for future research. More precisely, for arranging a breeding schedule in freshwater earthen ponds inside hapa for a monogamous/two-parent hybrid cross the study light a close insight.

The equity implications of TOD in Curitiba

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) projects are being increasingly adopted worldwide as a way to promote the coordination between transport and land-use planning. However, little attention has been given to how TOD projects are associated with socioeconomic and spatial inequalities and its effects on people’s access to economic activities and public services, particularly in the Global South. In this paper we analyze how socio-spatial inequalities have been shaped by transport and land-use planning in Curitiba (Brazil), a city internationally recognized for its TOD planning based on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). We examine how the spatial organization of the BRT system is associated with the distribution of population densities, socioeconomic groups, and real-estate values and its implications in terms of inequalities of access to employment opportunities and health services. The results show that Curitiba's TOD has had limited influence on population densities, but contributed for the unequal distribution of its benefits, privileging high-income classes and premium real-estate along its main BRT corridors. These effects contribute to push low-income communities to peripheral urban areas with limited accessibility benefits from the transit system. Our findings suggest that Curitiba’s success story should be seen as a cautionary tale about the consequences of TOD planning, which perpetuate the spatial concentration of resources and reinforce inequalities of access to opportunities. The broader lesson of this study is that TOD planning must be constantly evaluated by its socials and environmental impacts, and be guided by mixed housing, and social inclusion to avoid potential consequences in terms of segregation and peripheralization of poorer communities.