IT Readiness, ICT Usage, and National Sustainability Development: Testing the Source-Position-Performance Framework

Utilizing the Source-Position-Performance (SPP) framework of competitive advantage and the literature on information technology (IT) and sustainability as the guiding theoretical lenses, we posit that the government and business IT readiness (i.e., sources of advantage) leads to differentiation in government and business ICT usage (i.e., positional advantage), which in turn affects the national sustainability (i.e., performance) in terms of economic, environmental, and social developments. Based on secondary data from 108 countries, our results generally supported the hypothesized model. Specifically, government and business IT readiness in a country appeared to be a significant enabler of government and business ICT usage respectively, which in turn led to enhancement of national sustainability development. Post hoc mediation analysis indicates that government ICT usage (1) fully mediated the effect of government IT readiness on environmental and social developments; and (2) partially mediated the effect of government IT readiness on economic development. On the other hand, business ICT usage (1) fully mediated the effect of business IT readiness on economic development; (2) did not mediate the effect of business IT readiness on environmental development; and (3) partially mediated the effect of business IT readiness on social development. Our findings contribute to the theoretical discourse on “IT and sustainability” by identifying the role of IT readiness among government and businesses in a country and provide indications to practice on enhancing its sustainability by increasing the levels of ICT usage among them

Prevalence and factors associated with tuberculosis infection in India

Background: The risk of tuberculosis (TB) disease is higher in individuals with TB infection. In a TB endemic country like India, it is essential to understand the current burden of TB infection at the population level. The objective of the present analysis is to estimate the prevalence of TB infection in India and to explore the factors associated with TB infection. Methods: Individuals aged > 15 years in the recently completed National TB prevalence survey in India who were tested for TB infection by QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) assay were considered for this sub- analysis. TB infection was defined as positive by QFT-Plus (value > 0.35 IU/ml). The estimates for prevalence, prevalence ratio (PR) and adjusted risk ratio (aRR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Of the 16864 individuals analysed, the prevalence of TB infection was 22.6% (95% CI:19.4 −25.8). Factors more likely to be associated with TB infection include age > 30 years (aRR:1.49;95% CI:1.29–1.73), being male (aRR:1.26; 95%CI: 1.18–1.34), residing in urban location (aRR:1.58; 95%CI: 1.03–2.43) and past history of TB (aRR:1.49; 95%CI: 1.26–1.76). Conclusion: About one fourth (22.6%) of the individuals were infected with TB in India. Individuals aged > 30 years, males, residing in urban location, and those with past history of TB were more likely to have TB infection. Targeted interventions for prevention of TB and close monitoring are essential to reduce the burden of TB in India

Dual diagnosis in a forensic patient sample: A preliminary tripartite investigation to inform group treatment delivery for substance use

The aetiology of forensic dual diagnosis or co-occurring substance misuse problems in individuals with severe mental illnesses and forensic offending histories and the efficacy of psychosocial substance use interventions remain poorly understood. Using a tripartite investigative paradigm in conjunction with a grounded qualitative approach, this multi-study: (1) Systematically examined the literature base to determine what is empirically known about the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of forensic psychosocial substance use interventions; (2) Empirically quantified from forensic inpatient’s perspectives (n=12) psychosocial risk factors relevant to the initiation and maintenance of substance using behaviours (Study 1); and (3) Evaluated from a service users (n=12) and service providers (n=9) standpoint the acceptability and feasibility of a novel psychosocial substance use intervention administered for use with forensic inpatients detained within conditions of a high secure hospital (Study 2). Findings showed that: (1) Existing psychosocial substance use interventions are mostly acceptable, nominally feasible, but of limited effectiveness in the treatment of forensic dual diagnosis; and (2) Eleven aetiological psychosocial risk factors and two bifurcative pathways within a broader proposed Forensic Aetiological Dual Diagnosis Framework are arguably implicated in the development and maintenance of substance using behaviours. Implications for treatment and directions for future research are outlined

Elucidating the relationship between alexithymia and aggression: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

This paper aims to consider the under-researched association between alexithymia and aggression perpetration, accounting for its raised prevalence in offender populations. Using a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA), a total of 37 papers were included. Five subordinate themes were identified; (1) Those with alexithymia are reactive but not primarily instrumentally/proactively aggressive; (2) Difficulties in identifying and distinguishing between feelings and somatic sensations, is particularly predictive of aggression; (3) Continuum-based measures are more sensitive than categorical-based measures of aggression in detecting an association between alexithymia and aggression; (4) Prison environments could exacerbate the manifestation of alexithymia and the association with aggression, and (5) The association between alexithymia and aggression in forensic and community mental health populations is understudied. Evidence was clear in indicating an association between alexithymia and aggression, thereby raising the value of this clinical concept to future aggression research and considerations for assessment and therapeutic engagement with those presenting with aggression who may otherwise be considered simply to ‘lack empathy’. It would appear such a conclusion would be too rudimentary and fail to acknowledge the complexity of what could be an alexithymia presentation

MICROBIAL COUNTS OF DARK RED LATOSOL SAMPLES STORED AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

The number of colony forming units (CFU) of different groups of bacteria and fungi in samples stored at temperatures of 5 to -12oC for 0-32 weeks was evaluated. The number of CFU obtained after the different periods of storage of red latossol soil was compared with the number of colonies obtained immediately after removal of soil samples (time zero). The number of total bacteria and actinomycetes in the samples remained practically unchanged throughout the storage period. The number of Gram-negative bacteria decreased by as much as 69% compared to control, while the number of Bacillus spp and of fungi increased 1.9 to 4.9 times starting from the 12th week in samples stored at 5oC. Except for the variations observed in fungal counts, the remaining groups of bacteria practically showed the same variation in number of colonies in soil samples stored at 5oC and -12oC

Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of Friction Stir Processed Ultrafine Grained Al-Mg-Sc Alloy

Twin-roll cast (TRC) Al-Mg-Sc alloy was frictionstir processed (FSP) to obtain ultrafine grained (UFG) microstructure. Average grain size of TRC alloy in as-received (AR) condition was 19.0 ± 27.2 μm. The grain size reduced to 0.73 ± 0.44 μm after FSP. About 80% of the grains were smaller than 1 μm in FSP condition. FSP resulted into 80% of the grain boundaries to have high angle grain boundary (HAGBs) character. Uniaxial tensile testing of UFG alloy showed an increase in yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) (by ∼100 MPa each) of the alloy with a very marginal decrease in total and uniform elongation (total - 27% in AR and 24% in UFG and uniform - 19% in AR and 14% in UFG). A theoretical model predicted that the grain refinement cannot take place via discontinuous dynamic recrystallization. Zener pinning model correctly predicted the grain size distribution for UFG alloy. From work hardening behaviors in both the conditions, it was concluded that grain boundary spacing is more important than the character of grain boundaries for influencing extent of uniform deformation of an allo

Critical Grain Size for Change in Deformation Behavior in Ultrafine Grained Al-Mg-Sc Alloy

Experimental evaluation of critical grain size for the change in deformation behavior from strain hardening to strain softening in ultrafine grained (UFG) Al-Mg-Sc was carried out. UFG alloy was processed using friction stir processing (FSP). Two different average grain sizes were obtained by changing the FSP parameters. UFG alloy with grain size larger than the subgrain size showed sufficient strain hardening during tensile testing, whereas smaller grain size material exhibited strain softening