Sailing through the pandemic: role of authentic leadership and horizontal collectivism in unlocking work engagement in Indian startups

Purpose: Responding to the radical changes in work practices and extensive virtual forms of interaction brought by COVID-19, this study aims to investigate the role played by authentic leadership and horizontal collectivism in helping the Indian startups sail through the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: Data was gathered through standardized questionnaires from 300 leaders and 300 employees from Indian startups during the second phase of lockdown. Statistical analysis using AMOS 23.0 checks for the direct effect of authentic leadership on work engagement and the moderating effect of horizontal collectivism on the relationship between the two. This study also compares the results between self-ascribed and perceived authentic leadership. Findings: Statistical analysis using AMOS 23.0 was done to check for the direct effect of authentic leadership on work engagement and the moderating effect of horizontal collectivism on the relationship between authentic leadership and work engagement. This study also compared the results between self-ascribed and perceived authentic leadership. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that explores the role of authentic leadership in unlocking work engagement among employees serving in Indian startups during the pandemic. The lesson learned from this is when employees perceived their leaders to be authentic, the work culture to be nonhierarchical and felt collective responsibility toward work, it unlocked their high potential and made them soulfully engaged in their work. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Wind of change brought by COVID-19: Exploring the response and the new normal from the perspectives of Indian flexpatriates

Drawing from the positive organizational change theory, this paper aims to explore how Indian flexpatriates responded to the change brought by the pandemic of COVID-19 and what is the new normal according to them. Thematic analysis of 19 in-depth interviews with flexpatriates from the IT industry revealed four explicit phases of change process – reflection, communication, collaboration, and transformation. Further, the analysis brought out four tenets of the new normal. First, it is time to blend physical and virtual work;second, the "personal” touch of Indians in international assignments is irreplaceable;third, working from home amidst the entire household being housebound is the new normal;and last, international travel will resume soon with some changed protocols. This is the first qualitative study combining the issue of global talent management with Indian flexpatriates vis-à-vis the impact of COVID-19, the findings of which expand the positive organizational change theory and have important implications. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Analyzing historical diagnosis code data from NIH N3C and RECOVER Programs using deep learning to determine risk factors for Long Covid

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) or Long COVID is an emerging medical condition that has been observed in several patients with a positive diagnosis for COVID-19. Historical Electronic Health Records (EHR) like diagnosis codes, lab results and clinical notes have been analyzed using deep learning and have been used to predict future clinical events. In this paper, we propose an interpretable deep learning approach to analyze historical diagnosis code data from the National COVID Cohort Collective (N3C)1 to find the risk factors contributing to developing Long COVID. Using our deep learning approach, we are able to predict if a patient is suffering from Long COVID from a temporally ordered list of diagnosis codes up to 45 days post the first COVID positive test or diagnosis for each patient, with an accuracy of 70.48%. We are then able to examine the trained model using Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (GradCAM) to give each input diagnoses a score. The highest scored diagnosis were deemed to be the most important for making the correct prediction for a patient. We also propose a way to summarize these top diagnoses for each patient in our cohort and look at their temporal trends to determine which codes contribute towards a positive Long COVID diagnosis. © 2022 IEEE.

Understanding the dynamics of entrepreneurial implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand the rational cogent correlation among the factors that are responsible for the implementation of entrepreneurship to reinstate the severely affected ecosystem during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThis paper attempts to identify the various units of entrepreneurship and public policies of entrepreneurship from the coherent literature review and examine the units' objectives. Examination of these units will help understand how the economy can recover from the COVID-19 impact. Total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) and matrix impacts cross multiplication applique and classement (MICMAC) have been used to recognize the factors, which are responsible for detangling the slowdown of the economy.FindingsOn the basis of the literature review, a total of 13 factors have been identified. The TISM methodology represents the hierarchical structure of the recognized factors and examines the pros and cons.Research limitations/implicationsThe TISM lags to explain the strength and bond among the factors. The MICMAC addresses this problem and advises what factor plays an essential role and which factor impact is the least. An advocate administration of the factors could help to achieve a successful entrepreneurial plan.Originality/valueAn analytic study of the literature review demonstrates the relationship among the units to frame an entrepreneurial plan during the COVID-19 pandemic by using the TISM methodology. Hence, TISM provides reasonable facts to examine why and what factors need more attention for the generation of new business starters in the economic crisis.

Recent development of antiviral nano-coatings for COVID-19 management-a review

Global pandemic COVID-19 has affected almost the entire world population in every aspect of life in terms of health, environment, and economy. According to WHO, the main source of transmission of this deadly virus (SARS-CoV-2) is proven to be through the aerosol coming from the infected person's cough, sneeze, or exhalation. These aerosols are likely to settle down on the exposed surfaces and such infected surfaces are known to be potential source of contamination. The spread of the viral infections can be controlled in a great extent with the development of anti-viral nano-coating materials for various surfaces. Thus, development of such anti-viral nano-coating materials becomes increasingly popular amongst the researchers due to their extensive applications on surfaces, such as, glass, cotton, plastic and many more. In this short review, we will describe a summary of the popular metals and metal oxide nanomaterials commonly explored as antiviral coatings to control the spread of various viral disease along with the corresponding working principle and effectivity of such coatings.

A Pandemic Resilient Framework for Sustainable Soil Health and Food Security: Response beyond COVID-19

The vulnerability of the highly contagious coronavirus pandemic has bushwhacked the entire world and crippled the global development to a state of tremendous medical emergency. All the vital sectors of society such as the agriculture, industry, trade, and economics, education have perceived serious blows. The medical research for suitable medications is underway;however, patient history reveals that a highly immune body can bear the infection without any morbidity or mortality. This phenomenon brings forward the necessity of research and policy enactment for ensuring a nutrition-sensitive agricultural system. Soil serving as the medium of crop growth, also inculcates several researchable issues like carbon sequestration, balanced fertilization, bio-fortification, composting and rearing beneficial microbes, wastewater treatment, soil pollution remediation, and remote-sensing-based land capability studies. The post COVID-19 period soil research should integrate other agricultural disciplines to strive for the coveted sustainable goal of a hunger-free world where food and nutrition security persists for disease resilience. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Amitava Rakshit, Somsubhra Chakraborty, Manoj Parihar, Vijay Singh Meena, P.K. Mishra, H.B. Singh;individual chapters, the contributors.

Teleworking: role of psychological well-being and technostress in the relationship between trust in management and employee performance

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic and technological advancements have enabled employees to telework. Referring to this emerging phenomenon, the authors aim to examine how employees' levels of trust in management mediated by psychological well-being impact their performance as they telework. Deploying the theoretical lens of person-environment misfit, the authors also explore the role of technostress in the trust-wellbeing-performance relationship. Design/methodology/approach: The data was collected from 511 full-time service sector employees across Indian organizations through a structured survey questionnaire. The proposed moderation-mediation model for this study was tested using structural equation modeling and bootstrapping method. Findings: Structural equation modeling results indicate that trust in management significantly impacts employee performance while teleworking. While psychological well-being was observed as a significant mediator, technostress played the moderator role in the trust-performance relationship. The moderated-mediation effect of psychological well-being in the trust-performance relationship was stronger when technostress was low and weaker when technostress was high. Research limitations/implications: The authors extend the person-environment misfit theory in the context of telework, highlighting the role of technostress that may impact the trust-wellbeing- performance relationship in such work settings. Practical implications: The study informs leaders and managers on balancing delicate aspects such as employee trust and well-being that significantly impact performance as they telework. The authors also highlight the critical role of managers in respecting employees' personal and professional boundaries to alleviate technostress. Originality/value: The authors make a novel theoretical contribution to the emerging literature on teleworking by examining the trust-psychological wellbeing-performance link and the role of technostress in this relationship. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Simon Wile Symposium: Pivoting in the Pandemic for Pediatric Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Services

Objectives: The goal of this year's Simon Wile Symposium is to explore innovative strategies to adjust systems and services addressing pediatric mental health challenges in hospital settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatric mental health needs climbed significantly during the pandemic, and pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry services (PCLPS) have been at the forefront of addressing these needs in our community health systems. They have also been critical in supporting emotional health and well-being of fellow healthcare workers. National experts will share their innovative approaches to pivoting their PCLPS in their respective institutions and communities during the pandemic. Method(s): Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC) members were polled on preferred topics in collaborative care and pediatric consultation-liaison to be presented at the upcoming annual meeting. We sought those pursuing innovative strategies that also might be able to provide to a variety of regions and programs. The literature around the PCLPS provision during the pandemic was reviewed, resulting in the current Symposium submission. Result(s): We will share data and strategies to support emotional health and well-being of healthcare workers in a large hospital system in an urban area that was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will share data and lessons learned from one PCLPS in utilizing telehealth to support and augment pediatric mental health services in a large children's hospital. We will also review from a multisite survey of pediatric consultation-liaison and other data in comparison to one academic site, reviewing adaptations in services and utilization in children's hospitals across the country. We will present the recipient of the 2022 Simon Wile Award, who will present on a consultation-liaison or collaborative care topic. Conclusion(s): As child and adolescent psychiatrists continue to work to address the significantly increased child mental health needs in communities across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, programs that have found innovative strategies to address these needs in children's hospitals and large health systems can help us learn how to respond to similar public health challenges in the future. Our speakers will share how child and adolescent psychiatrists can be at the forefront of meeting public health challenges now and in the future. CON, DS, PYI Copyright © 2022

Document Retrieval and Claim Verification to Mitigate COVID-19 Misinformation

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of misinformation on online social media has grown exponentially. Unverified bogus claims on these platforms regularly mislead people, leading them to believe in half-baked truths. The current vogue is to employ manual fact-checkers to verify claims to combat this avalanche of misinformation. However, establishing such claims' veracity is becoming increasingly challenging, partly due to the plethora of information available, which is difficult to process manually. Thus, it becomes imperative to verify claims automatically without human interventions. To cope up with this issue, we propose an automated claim verification solution encompassing two steps - document retrieval and veracity prediction. For the retrieval module, we employ a hybrid search-based system with BM25 as a base retriever and experiment with recent state-of-the-art transformer-based models for re-ranking. Furthermore, we use a BART-based textual entailment architecture to authenticate the retrieved documents in the later step. We report experimental findings, demonstrating that our retrieval module outperforms the best baseline system by 10.32 NDCG@100 points. We escort a demonstration to assess the efficacy and impact of our suggested solution. As a byproduct of this study, we present an open-source, easily deployable, and user-friendly Python API that the community can adopt.

Digital detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in a droplet microfluidic all-fiber device

Silica fibers and capillaries offer opportunities for compact integration of optics with microfluidics while adding advantages such as;flexibility within a high aspect ratio format, uniaxial arrangements, and measurement-at-a-distance. Here, we describe droplet microfluidics-based nucleic acid detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a lab-in-a-fiber platform. The fiber component integrates three modules with key functions: droplet generation, incubation, and fluorescence detection. Within the scope of this work, we developed the component specifically to target the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA through reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). The all-fiber component could successfully generate uniform droplets and differentiate pre-amplified positive LAMP reaction from negative sample. © 2021 MicroTAS 2021 - 25th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences. All rights reserved.

Social isolation promotes mammary cancer recurrence, increases IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling and causes mitochondrial dysfunction in tamoxifen treated rats, and a traditional herbal mixture reverses all these changes

Social isolation is associated with increased risk and mortality from many diseases, such as breast cancer. Socially isolated breast cancer survivors have a 43% higher risk of recurrence and a 64% higher risk of breast cancer-specific mortality than socially integrated survivors. Since Covid-19 has dramatically increased the incidence of social isolation, it is important to determine if social isolation affects the response to endocrine therapy and/or recurrence after the therapy is completed. Since previous studies indicate that social isolation increases circulating inflammatory cytokines, we investigated if an anti-inflammatory herbal mixture Jaeumkanghwa-tang (JGT) prevents the adverse effects of social isolation on breast cancer mortality. Estrogen receptor positive mammary tumors were initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. When a rat developed a palpable mammary tumor, it was either socially isolated (SI) by housing it singly or a rat was allowed to remain group-housed (GH). Tamoxifen (340ppm via diet) or tamoxifen + JGT (500ppm via drinking water) started when the first mammary tumor reached a size of 11 mm in diameter. Tamoxifen administration ended when a complete response to this therapy had lasted for 9 weeks (corresponds to 5 years in women). During tamoxifen therapy, social isolation non-significantly reduced the rate of complete responses to 21%, from 31% in GH group (p>0.05). After the therapy was completed, SI significantly increased local mammary tumor recurrence (p<0.001;45% GH vs 75% SI). RNAseq analysis was performed in the mammary glands. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of transcriptome showed that the increased recurrence risk in socially isolated rats was associated with an enrichment of IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling: this result was confirmed in the tumors. In addition, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway was suppressed: the suppressed genes included those involved in mitochondrial pyruvate transport and conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA as well as genes in the TCA cycle and mediating electron transport in mitochondrial complexes I-IV. Social isolation also increased the expression of inflammatory receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) (p≤0.05). Consumption of an anti-inflammatory JGT inhibited IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling, upregulated OXPHOS signaling and prevented the increased risk of mammary cancer recurrence in socially isolated animals. The percentage of recurrences in the SI rats dropped from 75% without JGT to 22% with JGT (p<0.001). Breast cancer mortality among socially isolated survivors may be most effectively prevented by focusing on the period following endocrine therapy using tools that inhibit IL6/JAK/STAT3 inflammatory cytokine signaling and correct disrupted OXPHOS and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Evaluation of the Dynamics of Large Scale COVID-19 Related Literature through Bibliometric Analysis from a Mathematical Standpoint

This study aims to analyze the dynamics of the published articles and preprints of Covid-19 related literature from different scientific databases and sharing platforms. The PubMed, ScienceDirect, and ResearchGate (RG) databases were under consideration in this study over a specific time. Analyses were carried out on the number of publications as (a) function of time (day), (b) journals and (c) authors. Doubling time of the number of publications was analyzed for PubMed "all articles" and ScienceDirect published articles. Analyzed databases were (1A) PubMed (01/12/2019-12/06/2020) "all_articles" (16) PubMed Review articles) and (1C) PubMed Clinical Trials (2) ScienceDirect all publications (01/12/2019- 25/05/2020) (3) RG (Article, Pre Print, Technical Report) (15/04/2020 - 30/4/2020). Total publications in the observation period for PubMed, ScienceDirect, and RG were 23000, 5898 and 5393 respectively. The average number of publications/day for PubMed, ScienceDirect and RG were 70.0 +/- 128.6, 77.6 +/- 125.3 and 255.6 +/- 205.8 respectively. PubMed shows an avalanche in the number of publications around May 10, the number of publications jumped from 6.0 +/- 8.4/day to 282.5 +/- 110.3/ day. The average doubling time for PubMed, ScienceDirect, and RG was 10.3 +/- 4 days, 20.6 days, and 2.3 +/- 2.0 days respectively. The average number of publications per author for PubMed, ScienceDirect, and RG was 1.2 +/- 1.4, 1.3 +/- 0.9, and 1.1 +/- 0.4 respectively. Subgroup analysis, PubMed review articles mean review <0 vertical bar 17 +/- 17 vertical bar 77> days: and reducing at a rate of -0.21 days (count)/day. The number of publications related to the COVID-19 until now is huge and growing very fast with time. It is essential to rationalize and limit the publications.

Assessing the uptake of postnatal glucose testing for patients with gestational diabetes (GDM)

Aims: To assess whether patients with GDM who delivered in Portsmouth received postnatal glucose testing in line with NICE guideline (NG3) and if not, to establish the reasoning for this. Methods: Electronic records were used to identify patients with GDM who delivered between April 2019 and April 2020 to determine whether they undertook a HbA1c or fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) following delivery. Patients with no documented tests were contacted by phone and asked why they did not undertake testing. Results: Case records for 569 patients were analysed, of whom 6% undertook a FPG between 6 and 13 weeks following delivery and 24% received either FPG or HbA1c between 13 weeks and 6 months, equivalent to 30% fulfilling NICE guidelines. 19% of patients had a premature HbA1c test between 6 and 13 weeks following delivery. Patients with no documented HbA1c or FPG were contacted (n = 180, 32%). 100 responses were obtained with the main reasons for non-testing reported as: covid-19 pandemic (34%), unaware of need for follow up (27%), forgetting (25%), too busy (18%), difficulty accessing GP appointment (14%) and not knowing they needed to self-book (12%). Conclusions: Uptake of recommended postnatal glucose testing is poor and 27% of patients who did not receive any follow up were not aware of the need for it. Education on the importance of post-partum testing during pregnancy and immediately postpartum, and reminders to patients to book tests may enhance uptake rates.

Pulse rate in long COVID: what does it signify

Background: The multisystem involvement of covid-19 lingers in post-covid phase. The significance of baseline resting pulse rate was looked for in long-covid relating to symptoms in acute phase, 2-chair test response, and echocardiography. Methods: Serial long-covid patients attending out-patient department were included. They were evaluated on demographic (age, height, weight, and BMI), characteristics, symptom score in acute phase (symptom severity in 0 to 5 scale X duration of symptoms), variables (pulse-rate and SpO2 changes) related to 2 chair test and resting Doppler echocardiography (LV ejection fraction, TSAPSE, left and right ventricular free wall GLS, and LV filling pressure. Two groups with pulse rate below or above 90/minute were compared. Results: The mean duration of acute illness for both the group is computed to be (118.44±95.95 vs. 152.77±102.25, p- value= 0.42) respectively. The baseline pulse rate were significantly different between those above (n=12) and below 90 (n=23) per minute (101±5.83 vs.72.85±8.14;p<0.0001);so is the post-exercise maximum pulse rate (p<0.004). Subjects with lower pulse rate had better height (p=0.05), weight (p=0.06), and higher anosmia (p=0.005) but lower total symptoms score (26.4±51.02 vs.29.66±66.12;p=0.008). The spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV1, FWV1/FVC) were better (although not significant) in those with lower pulse rate. The echocardiographic parameters as LVEF, TAPSE, LVFP were similar;the free wall GLS of both RV and LV were reduced in both the groups but that of RV (and LV were affected more in lower and higher pulse rate group respectively. Conclusion: Baseline pulse-rate in post covid subjects is likely related to neuro-inflammatory symptoms (anosmia) and poor LVGLS suggesting LV myocardial dysfunction.

The first and the second waves of Covid-19;difference in clinical dynamics as regards the symptoms- an appraisal

Background: Covid-19 affected our population in multiple waves. We have looked for the differences in frequency and the weight/impact of symptoms between the first and the second waves. Method: The post-covid-19 subjects attending our out-patient department for post-covid-19 problems after the 1st and he 2nd waves were enquired retrospectively about the demography with the frequency and severity of different symptoms cough, breathlessness, throat pain, nasal discharge, fever, body-ache, weakness, diarrhoea, constipation, pedal/finger swelling, headache, expectoration. anosmia, and loss of taste) that they suffered from. The weight/impact of a symptom was derived by multiplying the duration of symptoms (in days) with the severity (in Likert scale;0 to 5;0=none and 5=maximum possible symptoms). The data was analysed statistically using unpaired 't-test' and 'chi-square test' to compare between the two covid-19 waves. Result: 185 and 222 subjects' data were included for the 1st and the 2nd waves of covid-19 respectively. The gender ratio was similar but the mean age was significantly lower in the victims of the second wave (56.17±13.64, 51.32±15.59;p=0.0017). As regards the symptom-frequency, fever (p=0.0154), constipation (p=0.0243), headache (p=0.0014), anosmia (p=<0.0001) and loss of taste (p=0.0009) were significantly worse in the 2nd wave. The symptom severity of cough (p=0.0184), throat pain (p=0.039), mild weakness (p=0.0063), anosmia (p=0.0004) and loss of taste (p=0.0026) were also higher in the 2nd wave of Covid-19. Conclusion: It appears that each wave of the pandemic was distinct as regards the symptomatology. Such peculiarity in the clinical dynamics of Covid-19 needs to be noticed and followed in future.

Wastewater: Novel treatment technologies and source for epidemiological studies

Treating and reusing wastewater can augment water scarcity in water-stressed regions in the world. Additionally, wastewater streams contain useful resources that can be recovered and recycled to improve the economics of the water treatment processes. Another aspect that has been reported in the past few decades is the detection of novel contaminants of concern in the wastewater samples that often escape treatment and remediation. Studies have demonstrated that the conventional wastewater treatment practices are not sufficient to address resource recovery and emerging contaminants aspects. In this chapter, first, conventional wastewater treatment process based on activated sludge is presented, and subsequently novel wastewater treatment methods have been discussed. Theoretical aspect of each method is described, and its implementation in pilot or full-scale study has been highlighted. For increasing the water recovery rate from waste streams, membrane-based treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis will be crucial. Ion-exchange, adsorption, microalgal, and bioelectrochemical systems can be advantageous from resource recovery perspective. Further, epidemiological aspects of wastewater have been highlighted and the recent spread of COVID-19 has been discussed with respect to the virus’ detection in toilet wastewater. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cytokine storm in severe COVID-19: Does remdesivir/ tocilizumab improve clinical outcome?

Objective: To study correlation of age, gender, serum IL-6 & D-dimer value (on admission), and impact of Tocilizumab (immunomodulator)/ Remdesivir (antiviral) therapy on clinical outcome (28-day mortality), in severe COVID-19. Methodology: Confirmed cases of severe COVID-19 (ICMR/ WHO criteria), admitted in the COVID-ICU were included. Venous plasma samples were collected within 6 hours of admission on day 1 for measurement of IL-6 and Ddimer and analyzed within 2 hours. Demographic characteristics, laboratory tests and therapeutic interventions were recorded. Results: The incidence of death was significantly higher in males above fifty years. The mortality rate correlated with increasing values of IL-6 (highest at levels >70 pg/mL. D-dimer values above 0.5μg FEU/mL were associated with increased risk of poor outcome. 85.3% of patients treated with Remdesivir showed clinical improvement. When Tocilizumab and Remdisivir were administered together, 44.0% of patients survived while 56% expired. Conclusion: Men above fifty years were most vulnerable to a poor outcome. Higher levels of IL-6 and D-dimer correlated with increased mortality. Both these biomarkers may be estimated on admission, and serially thereafter, to guide clinicians in recognizing patients with severe COVID-19 early in the disease course, and monitor prognosis. Remdesivir improved clinical outcome. The mortality rate was higher when Remdesivir and Tocilizumab were administered together.