Knowledge Boundary Spanning Mechanisms in a Shared Services Centre Context

This study focuses on the roles of knowledge boundary spanning mechanisms and intellectual capital (human, structural, and relational) in managing knowledge sharing in an IT-specialized shared services centre (IT-SSC) context. Although the literature stresses the growing utilization of the SSC as an outsourcing model, there is a lack of studies that examine the dynamic process of knowledge sharing across the organizational boundaries in this specific business model. Drawing on the literatures on SSC and on cross-boundary knowledge sharing we propose a conceptual framework based on four research propositions that were validated with primary and secondary data. The results suggest that IT-SSCs present high human capital, but encounter challenges developing relational and structural capitals. It also appears that IT-SSC management tends to prefer the utilization of boundary spanners and boundary objects instead of boundary discourses and boundary practices as mechanisms for efficient boundary spanning

Emerging Early Actions to Bend the Curve in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Nutrition Transition

BACKGROUND : Sub-Saharan Africa is the last region to undergo nutrition transition and can still avoid its adverse health outcomes. OBJECTIVE : The paper explores emerging responses to ―bend the curve‖ in sub-Saharan Africa‘s nutrition transition to steer public health outcomes onto a healthier trajectory. METHODS : Early responses in three countries at different stages in food system transformation are examined: South Africa -advanced, Ghana –intermediate, and Uganda -early. By comparing these with international experience, actions are proposed to influence nutrition and public health trajectories as Africa‘s food systems undergo rapid structural change. RESULTS : Arising from rapid urbanization and diet change, major public health problems associated with overweight are taking place, particularly in South Africa and among adult women. However, public health responses are generally tepid in sub-Saharan Africa. Only in South Africa have policy makers instituted extensive actions to combat overweight and associated non-communicable diseases through regulation, education and public health programmes. Elsewhere, in countries in the early and middle stages of transition, public health systems continue to focus their limited resources primarily on under-nutrition. Related pressures on the supply side of Africa‘s food systems are emerging that also need to be addressed. CONCLUSIONS :Three types of intervention appear most feasible: Maternal and child health programmes to simultaneously address short-term undernutrition problems while at the same time helping to reduce future tendencies towards overweigh; Regulatory and fiscal actions to limit access to unhealthy foods; Modernization of Africa‘s agrifood food system, through job skills training, marketing reforms and food industry entrepreneurship.http://www.elsevier.com /locate/compind2017-06-30hb2016Food Scienc

Mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

The genetic make-up of an individual contributes to the susceptibility and response to viral infection. Although environmental, clinical and social factors have a role in the chance of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the severity of COVID-191,2, host genetics may also be important. Identifying host-specific genetic factors may reveal biological mechanisms of therapeutic relevance and clarify causal relationships of modifiable environmental risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcomes. We formed a global network of researchers to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. Here we describe the results of three genome-wide association meta-analyses that consist of up to 49,562 patients with COVID-19 from 46 studies across 19 countries. We report 13 genome-wide significant loci that are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe manifestations of COVID-19. Several of these loci correspond to previously documented associations to lung or autoimmune and inflammatory diseases3,4,5,6,7. They also represent potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection. Mendelian randomization analyses support a causal role for smoking and body-mass index for severe COVID-19 although not for type II diabetes. The identification of novel host genetic factors associated with COVID-19 was made possible by the community of human genetics researchers coming together to prioritize the sharing of data, results, resources and analytical frameworks. This working model of international collaboration underscores what is possible for future genetic discoveries in emerging pandemics, or indeed for any complex human disease