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The influence of family support and psychological capital (PsyCap) is a topical discourse in entrepreneurship studies due to the unsupportive and turbulent environments most entrepreneurs operate in. However, studies concluding on the nature and direction of family support and PsyCap effects on start-up formation appear scant. This study aims to empirically examine family support effects on start-up formation with psychological capital (PsyCap) as a mediation factor. Specific emphasis was given to extended family support. The study utilized the partial least square (PLS) method for hypotheses testing with cross-sectional data collected from 261 randomly sampled trainees in an entrepreneurship training program organized by the Delta State Ministry of Youth Development. The PLS analysis showed that family support (β = 0.317, p = 0.000) and PsyCap (β = 0.202, p = 0.000) have a significant positive effect on start-up formation. The results proved that family support and PsyCap are valuable antecedent factors for positioning entrepreneurs to engage and thrive productively in the start-up formation process. Furthermore, PsyCap did not mediate the significant positive effect of family support on start-up formation (β = 0.235, p = 0.000; β = 0.103, p = 0.052). This result demonstrates that family support may not be enough for PsyCap to transmit its significant positive effect on start-up formation. Hence, there is a need to procure other alternate support from formal or informal settings.

Objective: This study seeks to determine the contribution of government policy and Financial Inclusion (FI) to the financial and non-financial performance of SMEs in South Eastern Nigeria. Research Design & Methods: The study adopts qualitative methodology. The interview guide was pre-tested for reliability and validity. The study data were generated from purposively selected one hundred and twenty respondents. The audio recorded interview was transcribed and subjected to thematic content analysis. Findings: SMEs that received support from the government recorded marginal financial performance and improved non-financial performance. Also, SMEs that adopted FI strategies and devices experienced improvement in both their financial and non-financial performance. However, SMEs that combined government, friends and family supports, and FI strategies and devices recorded better improvements in their financial and non-financial performance. Contribution & Value Added: The combination of government, friends/family supports and FI strategies and devices gives better improvement to the financial and non-financial performance of SMEs in South Eastern Nigeria. Thus, the government can reinvent its policies so as to strengthen its implementing agencies and the families of SME owners. SME owners can achieve better financial and non-financial performance by combining government entrepreneurship incentives, friends/family supports and FI strategies and devices.

Background We aimed to assess the probability and factors associated with the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody among HCV seronegative kidney transplant recipients receiving HCV-infected (nucleic acid testing positive) donor kidneys. Methods This is a retrospective review examining HCV antibody seroconversion of all kidney transplant recipients receiving an organ from an HCV-infected donor between 1 March 2018 and 2 December 2019 at a high-volume kidney transplant center in the southeast United States. Results Of 97 patients receiving HCV-infected kidneys, the final cohort consisted of 85 recipients with 5 (5.9%) recipients noted to have HCV antibody seroconversion in the setting of HCV viremia. The HCV RNA level at closest time of antibody measurement was higher in the seroconverted patients versus the ones who never converted [median and (interquartile range): 1,091,500 (345,000–8,360,000) vs 71,500 (73–313,000), p = 0.02]. No other significant differences including type of immunosuppression were noted between the HCV antibody positive group and HCV antibody negative group. Donor donation after cardiac death status [Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was: 8.22 (1.14–59.14)], donor age [OR (95% CI) (+5 years) was: 3.19 (1.39–7.29)] and Kidney Donor Profile Index [OR (95% CI) (+1) was:1.07 (1.01–1.15)] showed a statistically significant association with HCV seroconversion. Conclusions HCV antibody should not be considered routine screening for presence of infection in previously HCV naïve kidney transplant recipients receiving kidneys from HCV-infected donors, as only a modest percentage have antibody despite active viremia. The assessment of HCV viral load should be routine in all transplant recipients receiving organs from public health service increased risk donors.

Introduction and objectives: Cirrhosis-related mortality is underestimated and is increasing; extrahepatic factors may contribute. We examined trends in cirrhosis mortality from 1999-2017 in the United States attributed to liver-related (varices, peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma, sepsis) or extrahepatic (cardiovascular disease, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, malignancy) causes, and compared mortality trends with congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) populations. Materials and methods: A national mortality database was used. Changes in age-standardized mortality over time were determined by joinpoint analysis. Average annual percentage change (AAPC) was estimated. Results: Cirrhosis cohort: From 1999-2017, both liver-related (AAPC 1.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7-1.9) and extrahepatic mortality (AAPC 1.0%; 95% CI 0.7-1.2) increased. Cirrhosis vs other chronic disease cohorts: changes in all-cause mortality were higher in cirrhosis (AAPC 1.0%; 95% CI 0.7-1.4) than CHF (AAPC 0.1%; 95% CI -0.5- 0.8) or COPD (AAPC -0.4%; 95% CI -0.6- -0.2). Sepsis mortality was highest in cirrhosis (AAPC 3.6%, 95% 3.2- 4.1) compared to CHF (AAPC 0.6%, 95% CI -0.5- 1.7) or COPD (AAPC 0.8%, 95% CI 0.5- 1.2). Cardiovascular mortality increased in cirrhosis (AAPC 1.3%, 95% CI 1.1- 1.5), declined in CHF (AAPC -2.0%, 95% CI -5.3- 1.3) and remained unchanged in COPD (AAPC 0.1%, 95% CI -0.2- 0.4). Extrahepatic mortality was higher among women, rural populations, and individuals >65 years with cirrhosis. Conclusions: Extrahepatic causes of death are important drivers of mortality and differentially impact cirrhosis compared to other chronic diseases.

Objective: This study seeks to determine the contributory factors to successful succession and post-succession performance. And the role of these factors in the post-succession financial and non-financial performance of family-owned SMEs in South Eastern Nigeria. Research Design & Methods: The adopted quantitative methodology is interview. In each of the purposively selected 25 family-owned SMEs, the incumbent, a sibling of the incumbent and a top level manager were interviewed. In all, 75 respondents were interviewed. The transcribed interviews were subjected to thematic content analysis. Findings: The contributory factors to successful succession are the characteristics of succession planning, the incumbent, the potential successor, and the family-owned SME. The factors that contribute to the post-succession performance are the culture of making succession planning a continuous process, and the characteristics of the incumbent and the family-owned SME. These factors ensure that children of the incumbent in the SME become more active so as to be selected as potential successors. Contribution & Value Added: The study identified the contributory factors to successful succession and post-succession performance of the family-owned SMEs. To achieve successful succession and post-succession performance, the incumbents should inculcate the characteristics of these factors into their potential successors. Also, these characteristics should be made part of the culture of the family-owned SMEs.

Researchers and practitioners are divided on the preferred measures of business performance, largely due to the quality of available financial data and the measurability of the non-financial indicators. However, owing to the embeddedness of social networking in families and in the business world, this study reviews the contribution of social networking to the financial and non-financial performance of family businesses. The study is based on a review of 55 peer-reviewed published journal articles. Consequently, the most frequently used social networking platforms, the measures of financial performance, the measures and proxies of non-financial performance and the differences between financial and non-financial performance were identified. The study proposes the use of both financial and non-financial measures in assessing the performance of family businesses due to their complementary roles.

Background & aimsFormal Hepatitis C virus (HCV) education improves HCV knowledge but the impact on treatment uptake and outcome is not well described. We aimed to evaluate the impact of formal HCV patient education on primary provider-specialist HCV comanagement and treatment.MethodsPrimary care providers within the San Francisco safety-net health care system were surveyed and the records of HCV-infected patients before and after institution of a formal HCV education class by liver specialty (2006-2011) were reviewed retrospectively.ResultsCharacteristics of 118 patients who received anti-HCV therapy were: mean age 51, 73% males and ~50% White and uninsured. The time to initiation of HCV treatment was shorter among those who received formal education (median 136 vs 284 days, P < 0.0001). When controlling for age, gender, race and HCV viral load, non-1 genotype (OR 6.17, 95% CI 2.3-12.7, P = 0.0003) and receipt of HCV education (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.1-7.9, P = 0.03) were associated with sustained virologic treatment response. Among 94 provider respondents (response rate = 38%), mean age was 42, 62% were White, and 63% female. Most providers agreed that the HCV education class increased patients' HCV knowledge (70%), interest in HCV treatment (52%), and provider-patient communication (56%). A positive provider attitude (Coef 1.5, 95% CI 0.1-2.9 percent, P = 0.039) was independently associated with referral rate to education class.ConclusionsFormal HCV education expedites HCV therapy and improves virologic response rates. As primary care provider attitude plays a significant role in referral to HCV education class, improving provider knowledge will likely enhance access to HCV specialty services in the vulnerable population.

Objective: Despite the various approaches that have been adopted to control the negative consequences of environmental and social challenges, these consequences have persisted. Studies that have critiqued these challenges and the proffered solutions with the intent of offering a more encompassing and result oriented solutions are rare in the literature. Thus, based on the unprecedented dimensions the challenges have assumed, this study seeks to propose a holistic and more encompassing approach for managing the challenges. Research Design & Methods: The study adopts a research methodology that is based on a critical review and analysis of 25 related papers. The keywords employed to select the papers that were published between 1980 and 2020 are environmental challenges, social challenges and strategic development goals. Findings: The approaches adopted so far to manage environmental and social challenges have not yielded the desired results. This is because: all the stakeholders are not involved in the formulation and implementation of the approaches; the approaches are formulated and implemented as though environmental and social challenges are not interrelated; the approaches vary among the different institutions, countries and regions; in some areas, the level of implementation is partial, while in others it is full. Contribution & Value Added: Environmental and social challenges are interrelated. As such the Environmental and Social Responsibility Network (ESRN) is proposed as a more encompassing approach since it will bring together all those who are directly and indirectly affected by the challenges.

BACKGROUND:The utility of ex vivo Magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) in donor liver fat quantification is unknown. PURPOSE:To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and utility in predicting early allograft dysfunction (EAD) of ex vivo MRI-PDFF measurement of fat in deceased donor livers using histology as the gold standard. METHODS:We performed Ex vivo, 1.5 Tesla MRI-PDFF on 33 human deceased donor livers before implantation, enroute to the operating room. After the exclusion of 4 images (technical errors), 29 MRI images were evaluable. Histology was evaluable in 27 of 29 patients. EAD was defined as a peak value of aminotransferase >2000 IU/mL during the first week or an INR of ≥1.6 or bilirubin ≥10 mg/dL at day 7. RESULTS:MRI-PDFF values showed a strong positive correlation (Pearson's correlation coefficient) when histology (macro-steatosis) was included (r = 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.57-0.89, p

Background: With the introduction of direct‐acting antiviral therapies (DAAs), the non‐use rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐positive donor organs (D+) has decreased significantly. We present the donor, recipient, and transplant allograft characteristics, along with recipient outcomes, in one of the largest cohorts of HCV‐D+ transplants into HCV‐naïve recipients (R−). Methods: Charts of HCV D+/R− kidney (KT), liver (LT), and simultaneous liver‐kidney (SLKT) transplant recipients between January 2019 and July 2022 were reviewed. Primary outcomes of interest included waitlist times and 1‐year graft failure. Secondary outcomes included hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, post‐transplant complications, effectiveness of DAA therapy, and characteristics of patients who relapsed from initial DAA therapy. Results: Fifty‐five HCV D+/R− transplants at our center [42 KT (26 nucleic acid testing positive [NAT+], 16 NAT−), 12 LT (eight NAT+, four NAT−), and one SLKT (NAT+)] had a median waitlist time of 69 days for KT, 87 days for LT, and 15 days for SLKT. There were no graft failures at 1 year. All viremic recipients were treated with a 12‐week course of DAAs, of which 100% achieved end of treatment response (EOTR)—85.7% (n = 30) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) and 14.3% relapsed (n = 5; four KT, one LT). All relapsed recipients were retreated and achieved SVR. The most common post‐transplantation complications include BK virus infection (n = 9) for KT and non‐allograft infections (n = 4) for LT. Conclusions: Our study has demonstrated no graft failures or recipient deaths at 1 year, and despite a 14.3% relapse rate, we achieved 100% SVR. Complications rates of D+/R− appeared comparable to national D−/R− complication rates. Further studies comparing D+/R− to D−/R− outcomes are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]