An investigation of the drivers of social commerce and e-word-of-mouth intentions: Elucidating the role of social commerce in E-business

Building on social commerce (s-commerce) perspectives and the trust transfer theory, this study develops a theoretical model that explains the indirect effects of two types of s-commerce attributes (community and platform) on behavioral outcomes (s-commerce intentions and e-Word-of-Mouth (e-WOM) intentions) through trust in community and platform. We analyze data collected from s-commerce users on travel booking websites using structural equation modeling technique. Results confirm that s-commerce intentions and e-WOM intentions are contingent upon s-commerce community and platform attributes. Moreover, the results provide evidence for the mediating effects of trust in community and platform on the relationship between s-commerce attributes and behavioral outcomes. The study provides further insights about the impact of s-commerce experience on s-commerce intention and e-WOM intention. Moreover, this study contributes to s-commerce research and practice by developing and validating the role of s-commerce community and platform attributes in forming consumers’ s-commerce behavioral outcomes

Exploring the interrelationships between technological predictors and behavioral mediators in online tax filing: The moderating role of perceived risk

This study investigates the interrelationships between technological predictors and behavioral mediators in explaining users' continuance intention for online tax filing. Building on information systems (IS) success and IS continuance literature, this study proposes an extended conceptual framework by adding perceived functional benefit (PFB) as mediating, perceived risk as moderating, and demographic characteristics as control variables. The data collected, through a web-based survey, from 409 users of e-tax services in an emerging economy are analyzed through covariance-based structural equation modeling. Results confirm that PFB, confirmation of expectation, and satisfaction are the major antecedents of continuance intention for e-tax filing. The study also finds the evidence for the indirect effects of IS success factors on continuance intention through such antecedents. In addition, results suggest that the relationships between PFB and satisfaction as well as between PFB and continuance intention are contingent on the users' levels of perceived risk. The study concludes with the useful implications for academicians and policymakers in the context of an emerging economy

An integration of antecedents and outcomes of business model innovation: A meta-analytic review

Despite the existence of a large body of literature on the business model innovation (BMI), comprehensive empirical reviews of the antecedents and outcomes of BMI are limited. This study develops a theoretical framework and carries out a meta-analysis of empirical studies to investigate the relationships among BMI, its antecedents, and firm performance. The results validate a significant positive association between external and internal antecedents and BMI. Likewise, BMI is positively associated with firm performance. Besides, BMI and firm performance measurement reveal borderline significant moderating effects on the relationship between BMI and firm performance, and environmental uncertainty has a significant positive effect on the BMI-firm performance link. However, the moderating effect of BMI measurement on the antecedents-BMI relationship is not confirmed during the subgroup analyses. This study contributes to research on BMI and assists practitioners in interpreting and developing BMI strategies for organizations

The impact of channel integration on consumers’ channel preferences: Do showrooming and webrooming behaviors matter?

This study investigates the relationships among channel integration and consumers' online and offline patronage intentions. The theoretical framework proposes perceived empowerment, perceived assortment, and perceived benefits as mediating variables in the channel integration–patronage intention relationship, with consumer showrooming and webrooming behaviors as moderating variables. Data was collected by means of two studies; that is, for search and for experience products, respectively. The proposed conceptual model was tested by employing variance-based structural equation modeling. The results of both studies confirm that channel integration significantly affects consumers’ channel preferences. The mediating roles of empowerment, assortment, and benefits were confirmed for all of the relationships except for the mediating effect of empowerment on the relationship between channel integration and offline patronage intention. Further, showrooming and webrooming moderated the positive impact of channel integration on online/offline patronage intentions. The study contributes to the multi-channel retailing literature by providing useful implications for academicians and practitioners

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

High sensitivity transparent glass ceramic systems development based on MgSO4:Dy2O3–B2O3 and MgSO4:Dy2O3–B2O3:ZnO:An investigation of FT-IR and thermal properties for thermoluminescence dosimeter applications

The demand for highly sensitive radiation dosimeters is increasing. Recent research underscores the effectiveness of MgSO4:Dy2O3–B2O3 and MgSO4:Dy2O3–B2O3:ZnO as new thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) in comparison to the commercial TLD-100. Two series of glass ceramics, [(MgSO4)86(Dy2O3)14]x[B2O3]1-x with x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and [MgSO4-Dy2O3–B2O3]0·2[ZnO]x with x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, were successfully prepared using the melt quenching technique. The synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The XRD pattern confirmed the transparent ceramic nature of the samples, while DTA revealed their thermal stability. FTIR analysis identified the expected composition and vibrational bonds. Upon irradiation, the samples MSDB0.2 and MSDBZ0.05 exhibited the highest sensitivity and dose response, with TLD readings of 1278.84 nC and 3262.63 nC, respectively, compared to the TLD-100 reading of 213.45 nC. This enhanced sensitivity is attributed to MgSO4:Dy2O3 and ZnO, which facilitate charge carrier movement and effective trapping and release of charges in borate glass ceramics. The increase in sensitivity indicates improved accuracy, highlighting the potential of these materials as high performance radiation dosimeters for environmental and medical applications

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Identification and Computational Analysis of Rare Variants of Known Hearing Loss Genes Present in Five Deaf Members of a Pakistani Kindred

Hearing loss (HL) is the most common neurosensory defect in humans that affects the normal communication. Disease is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, rendering challenges for the molecular diagnosis of affected subjects. This study highlights the phenotypic and genetic complexity of inherited HL in a large consanguineous Pakistan kindred. Audiological evaluation of all affected individuals revealed varying degree of mild to profound sensorineural HL. Whole exome (WES) of four family members followed by Sanger sequencing revealed candidate disease-associated variants in five known deafness genes: GJB2 (c.231G&gt;A; p.(Trp77 *)), SLC26A4 (c.1337A&gt;G; p.(Gln446Arg)), CDH23 (c.2789C&gt;T; p.(Pro930Leu)), KCNQ4 (c.1672G&gt;A; p.(Val558Met)) and MPDZ (c.4124T&gt;C; p.(Val1375Ala)). All identified variants replaced evolutionary conserved residues, were either absent or had low frequencies in the control databases. Our in silico and 3-Dimensional (3D) protein topology analyses support the damaging impact of identified variants on the encoded proteins. However, except for the previously established &ldquo;pathogenic&rdquo; and &ldquo;likely pathogenic&rdquo; categories for the c.231G&gt;A (p.(Trp77 *)) allele of GJB2 and c.1377A&gt;G (p.(Gln446Arg)) of SLC26A4, respectively, all the remaining identified variants were classified as &ldquo;uncertain significance&rdquo; based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) variant pathogenicity guidelines. Our study highlights the complexity of genetic traits in consanguineous families, and the need of combining the functional studies even with the comprehensive profiling of multiple family members to improve the genetic diagnosis in complex inbred families

Identification and Computational Analysis of Rare Variants of Known Hearing Loss Genes Present in Five Deaf Members of a Pakistani Kindred

Hearing loss (HL) is the most common neurosensory defect in humans that affects the normal communication. Disease is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, rendering challenges for the molecular diagnosis of affected subjects. This study highlights the phenotypic and genetic complexity of inherited HL in a large consanguineous Pakistan kindred. Audiological evaluation of all affected individuals revealed varying degree of mild to profound sensorineural HL. Whole exome (WES) of four family members followed by Sanger sequencing revealed candidate disease-associated variants in five known deafness genes: GJB2 (c.231G&gt;A; p.(Trp77 *)), SLC26A4 (c.1337A&gt;G; p.(Gln446Arg)), CDH23 (c.2789C&gt;T; p.(Pro930Leu)), KCNQ4 (c.1672G&gt;A; p.(Val558Met)) and MPDZ (c.4124T&gt;C; p.(Val1375Ala)). All identified variants replaced evolutionary conserved residues, were either absent or had low frequencies in the control databases. Our in silico and 3-Dimensional (3D) protein topology analyses support the damaging impact of identified variants on the encoded proteins. However, except for the previously established “pathogenic” and “likely pathogenic” categories for the c.231G&gt;A (p.(Trp77 *)) allele of GJB2 and c.1377A&gt;G (p.(Gln446Arg)) of SLC26A4, respectively, all the remaining identified variants were classified as “uncertain significance” based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) variant pathogenicity guidelines. Our study highlights the complexity of genetic traits in consanguineous families, and the need of combining the functional studies even with the comprehensive profiling of multiple family members to improve the genetic diagnosis in complex inbred families.</jats:p