关键词： SME business resilience   technology adoption   government support   financial resource   multigroup analysis   Collins Ntim, University of Southampton, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland   Entrepreneurship   Firm objectives, Organization, and Behavior   Industrial Organization   L00   L2   L26   RESOURCE-BASED THEORY   INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGY   DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES   FINANCIAL LITERACY   KNOWLEDGE   COMMERCE   PERFORMANCE   ACCEPTANCE   CHALLENGES   MANAGEMENT  

摘要： In spite of the devastating effects of COVID-19 on businesses, many SMEs have demonstrated resilience and continued on with their operations. This study investigates the determinants of SMEs' business resilience in Malaysia and Indonesia, with a focus on the moderating factor of technology adoption. The Resource-Based View (RBV) Theory, the Dynamic Capability View Theory (DCV), and the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) Framework were combined to analyze a set of business resilience-impacting factors in each country. Online surveys with respondents were used to gather data. Partial least squares-based structural equation modeling was used to examine a total of 539 respondents, of whom 335 were from Indonesia and 204 were from Malaysia. The results showed that government support, technological use, and compliance costs have a significant direct impact on the business resilience of SMEs in both countries. Notably, it was discovered that there were insignificant effects from financial resources and financial literacy. The association between financial resources and business resilience in Indonesia and the relationship between government support and business resilience in Malaysia are both negatively moderated by technology adoption. The findings of this study contributed to a multigroup analysis between neighboring countries, offering valuable insights on the factors influencing SMEs' business resilience to withstand the COVID-19 crisis and their subsequent recovery. It helps explain how SMEs cope with the epidemic, use government support, and use technology to adapt to the changing business climate. These findings enabled SMEs and governments to use preparation and resilience methods to anticipate future difficulties.

关键词： Tuberculosis   COVID-19   infection prevention and control   case study   implementation  

摘要： There are many examples of poor TB infection prevention and control (IPC) implementation in the academic literature, describing a high-risk environment for nosocomial spread of airborne diseases to patients and health workers. We developed a positive deviant organisational case study drawing on Weick's theory of organisational sensemaking. We focused on a district hospital in the rural Eastern Cape, South Africa and used four primary care clinics as comparator sites. We interviewed 18 health workers to understand TB IPC implementation over time. We included follow-up interviews on interactions between TB and COVID-19 IPC. We found that TB IPC implementation at the district hospital was strengthened by continually adapting strategies based on synergistic interventions (e.g. TB triage and staff health services), changes in what value health workers attached to TB IPC and establishing organisational TB IPC norms. The COVID-19 pandemic severely tested organisational resilience and COVID-19 IPC measures competed instead of acted synergistically with TB. Yet there is the opportunity for applying COVID-19 IPC organisational narratives to TB IPC to support its use. Based on this positive deviant case we recommend viewing TB IPC implementation as a social process where health workers contribute to how evidence is interpreted and applied.

关键词： COVID-19   renal functional reserve   chronic kidney disease   FUNCTIONAL RESERVE  

摘要： Introduction: Kidney damage in COVID-19 is common and may lead to CKD. Early recognition of progression is mandatory, so there is a need for sensitive markers of kidney damage. Renal functional reserve (RFR) is described as the ability of the kidneys to augment their function in special situations. Aim of Work: Was to assess subclinical renal dysfunction post-COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study investigates 31 patients previously infected with COVID-19 within 2-3 months and 31 healthy subjects with matched age and sex. Assessment of RFR was done by calculating the estimated GFR using the CKD-EPI equation before and 2 hours after 80 g protein load by intravenous infusion. Results: RFR was significantly lower in post-COVID-19 patients (mean of 11.19 +/- 4.76) than the control (mean of 25.81 +/- 4.42, p < 0.001). ConclusionDespite preserved eGFR, there is a reduction in RFR, indicating progressive loss of nephron mass post-COVID.

关键词： COVID-19   knowledge   attitude   Nigeria   vaccination   HESITANCY  

摘要： Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, caused over 6.8 million deaths globally as of March 2023. The knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of people to COVID-19 varied in different locations around the world. In this study, we investigated the KAP of women attending Maimusari Primary Healthcare in Jere Local Government, Borno state during the pandemic with a view to understanding the KAP related to COVID-19 across different demographics of women. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using self-administered questionnaire on 400 women attending the health facility. The questionnaire surveyed participants' demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, practices, and willingness to take vaccine. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze the data. Results: Of the 400 participants, a higher proportion were between the ages of 20 and 29 (36.2%), Kanuri by tribe (47.2%), from monogamous family (66.0%) with less than 5 in terms of family size (64.8%) with no formal education (57.8%). The overall mean knowledge score was 13.64 +/- 2.36, which differs significantly (p < 0.05) among age, ethnic group, marital status, family size and educational level. Educational level (chi 2 = 12.329, p = 0.000) and age (chi 2 = 58.943, p = 0.000) were associated with having good knowledge while ethnic group (chi 2 = 52.59, p = 0.000) and family size (chi 2 = 4.32, p = 0.038) were associated with having a positive attitude. Finally, 68.8% of the respondents were willing to get vaccinated while 82.2% considers the vaccines are safe. Conclusion: The findings in this study suggest that after the peak of the pandemic, majority of the respondents demonstrated good knowledge, positive attitude and undertook safe practices toward minimizing the transmission of COVID-19. However, over 60% have not taken the vaccine suggesting the need for improved awareness on vaccine safety.

关键词： Foreign aid   aid effectiveness   official development assistance (ODA)   economic growth   poverty reduction   governance   international development   aid deployment   Africa   Read Robert, Economics, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, UK   Development Studies   Development Policy   Rural Development   Economics and Development   Politics & Development   Sustainable Development   FOREIGN-AID   POVERTY INTENSITY   OPPORTUNITY   ALLOCATION   INEQUALITY   REDUCTION  

摘要： This paper contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding aid administration for sustainable development in the post-COVID-19 era. African economies experienced a 1.5% contraction during this period, leading to a 35.85% increase in the number of people living in poverty. The paper addresses the crucial question of aid effectiveness in light of these challenges. Utilizing a systematic review approach, we examine existing studies and identify gaps in the literature related to aid effectiveness. Our analysis focuses on a sample of 84 highly cited peer-reviewed articles from the Web of Science (WoS) database spanning the years 2003-2023. The findings reveal a trend where international donors allocate aid to numerous African countries characterized by weak governance and leadership structures. Consequently, a sizable portion of aid funds fails to reach the intended beneficiaries due to the complex challenges associated with aid administration. In response to these challenges, we advocate the adoption of comprehensive frameworks to monitor rent-seeking behaviour, which often hampers economic growth. This approach aims to address issues of embezzlement by local elites, who disproportionately receive funds on behalf of their constituencies. This will ensure that every allocated dollar of aid reaches its designated recipients. This study is distinct in its contribution by offering insights into various frameworks for aid administration while laying the foundation for improved aid management in transitional economies by providing valuable knowledge to enhance the effectiveness of aid initiatives.

关键词： Inactivated vaccine   recombinant protein vaccine   adenovirus type-5 (Ad5) vectored COVID-19 vaccine   booster vaccine   heterologous   Omicron   IMMUNOGENICITY   INFECTION   VACCINES  

摘要： BackgroundDespite the widespread administration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, the impact on patients with asymptomatic to mild illness remains unclear. Here, we aimed to assess the efficacy of various vaccine doses and types on the duration of isolation duration and discharge rates, the viral shedding duration, and negative rates in asymptomatic to mild COVID-19 *** included adult patients at the Fangcang isolation centres in Pazhou or Yongning between November and December 2022. We analysed data on basic demographics, admission details, laboratory indicators and vaccination *** total of 6560 infected patients were included (3584 from Pazhou and 2976 from Yongning). Of these, 90.6% received inactivated vaccines, 3.66% received recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunit vaccines and 0.91% received adenovirus vaccines. Among the 6173 vaccinated individuals, 71.9% received a booster dose. By day 9, the isolation rate reached 50% among vaccinated patients. On day 7.5, the positive rate among vaccinated individuals reached 50%.ConclusionsFull vaccination was effective, with heterologous vaccines showing greater efficacy than inactivated vaccines alone. However, there was no significant difference in the vaccine protective effect 12 months after vaccination.

关键词： Free vaccination behavior   urban and rural   China   propensity score matching   interaction analysis   HERD-IMMUNITY   HEALTH   INEQUALITIES   PROGRAM  

摘要： This study aimed to evaluate how the duration of travel affects the behavior of urban and rural residents regarding free COVID-19 vaccination, and provide scientific evidence for promoting free vaccination and building an immune barrier to cope with future epidemics. From August 3, 2022 to February,18,2023, A follow-up survey was conducted in urban and rural adults in four cities in China to collect information on socio-demographic factors, vaccination status and travel time for vaccination. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was deployed to measure the net difference of the enhanced vaccination rate between urban and rural residents in different traffic time distribution. A total of 5780 samples were included in the study. The vaccination rate of the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among rural residents was higher than that of urban residents with a significant P-value (69.36% VS 64.49%,p < .001). The traffic time had a significant negative impact on the COVID-19 booster vaccination behavior of urban and rural residents. There was a significant interaction between the travel time to the vaccination point and the level of trust in doctors. Travel time had a negative impact on the free vaccination behavior of both urban and rural residents. The government should optimize and expand the number of vaccination sites and enhance residents' trust in the medical system. This is crucial for promoting free vaccination and effective epidemic management in the future.

关键词： Pertussis   seroepidemiology   immunological response   vaccination   anti-PT IgG   anti-FHA IgG   BORDETELLA-PERTUSSIS   SEROPREVALENCE   POPULATION   CIRCULATION   INFECTIONS   ADOLESCENT   IMMUNITY   NEED   AGE  

摘要： This study employed sero-epidemiological methods to estimate the incidence of pertussis within a healthy population located in eastern China. The aim was to gain deeper insights into the epidemiological characteristics and burden of pertussis within the country. Blood samples were collected from healthy individuals in Jiangsu Province between June 2019 and December 2022. The levels of IgG antibodies against pertussis toxin (anti-PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (anti-FHA) in the serum were quantitatively measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, pertussis case data reported in Jiangsu Province were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and compared with the results of this study. In 2022, the reported incidence of pertussis stood at 1.0 per 100,000 individuals, marking the highest rate observed in the past two decades. Among 1,909 patients examined, the geometric mean concentration (GMC) of anti-PT IgG antibody was 20.2 (18.5-21.9) IU/ml, while that of anti-FHA IgG antibody was 27.0 (25.4-28.7) IU/ml. The IgG-PT and IgG-FHA seropositivity rate (>20.0 IU/ml) was highest in the 1 similar to 2 y old group and decreased rapidly to the lowest in the 3 similar to 4 y old group and then increased gradually with age. The estimated rate of pertussis infection based on seroprevalence was approximately 25,625-fold higher than the reported notification rate in the >= 15 year age group. Our findings highlight decreased immunity post-vaccination, stressing the importance of additional booster shots for adolescents and adults to maintain immunity and reduce severe illness. Additionally, they offer vital guidance for policymakers to enhance immunization strategies.

关键词： Chronic kidney disease   COVID-19   prognosis   red blood cell distribution width   monocyte   ASSOCIATION  

摘要： We aimed to test whether red blood cell distribution width (RDW) to monocyte percentage ratio (RMR) was associated with the acute-phase prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Prospective enrollment and 90-day follow-up of CKD patients with COVID-19 were conducted from December 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023. Demographics, clinical data, and laboratory and radiographic findings were collected, and multiple logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed. A total of 218 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 59 years and 69.7% being male. The 90-day mortality rate was 24.8%. The lnRMR level was 5.18 (4.91-5.43) and emerged as an independent risk factor (OR: 3.01, 95% CI: 1.72-5.85). The lnRMR-mortality association was consistent across sex, age, CKD stage, COVID-19 vaccination, and comorbidity subgroups. The area under the ROC curve of lnRMR was 0.737 (95% CI: 0.655-0.819). Our findings indicate that lnRMR is a simple and practical predictor for identifying high-risk CKD patients during the acute phase of COVID-19.