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STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR NISSAN MOTOR CO. LTD: NAVIGATING CHALLENGES IN A COMPETITIVE AUTOMOTIVE LANDSCAPE
Get PDFThis study presents a comprehensive analysis of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.'s strategic management plan amidst the evolving challenges of the automotive industry. The primary focus centers on the need for Nissan to navigate a competitive landscape characterized by technological disruption, shifting consumer preferences toward electric vehicles (EVs), and stringent environmental regulations. Employing a synergistic approach, the research integrates two analytical frameworks: SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis and PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) analysis. The methodology involves extensive qualitative and quantitative research, leveraging industry reports, corporate documents, and academic literature to contextualize Nissan's strategic position. The investigation delineates Nissan's internal and external environments, demonstrating how external factors such as political instability and economic fluctuations—exemplified by recent supply chain disruptions and impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic—affect its operational efficacy. Concurrently, the analysis reveals internal challenges relative to corporate governance and historical management controversies that have influenced stakeholder trust. Through SWOT analysis, the study identifies Nissan's robust brand equity and commitment to innovation as significant strengths, while financial vulnerabilities and operational disruptions emerge as pressing weaknesses. Informed by the findings, this essay articulates actionable strategic recommendations designed to fortify Nissan’s market position and enhance its competitive advantage. Key recommendations propose strengthened investments in research and development (R&D) focused on electric mobility, eco-friendly technologies, and initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of cultivating stakeholder relationships and ethical corporate governance as essential elements in rebuilding public trust and enhancing reputation. Fundamentally, this investigation underscores the dual necessity of responding to external market dynamics while redefining internal operational frameworks to sustain long-term growth in an increasingly competitive automotive environment. By aligning its strategic objectives with evolving consumer trends and ecological mandates, Nissan can reposition itself as a leader in the global automotive sector, embodying both economic viability and social responsibility in its journey forward
Sustaining continuity of carer in practice: A service evaluation of a local maternity system in Northwest England.
No full textWhere midwifery is integrated fully into health systems, evidence demonstrates that relational, midwifery-led continuity of carer (MCoC) improves biopsychosocial outcomes for birthing women, people and babies. MCoC is where one or a small team of midwives are the lead carer throughout the childbearing continuum regardless of place of birth, pre-existing or emerging risk factors; working with multidisciplinary professionals if required. In England, wide-scale system changes and implementation were underway to scale up MCoC. However, this was halted due to multiple complexities following the pandemic and ongoing staffing issues. Our mixed method study carried out in 2021 was an external research evaluation across a region of four NHS sites who were at different stages of MCoC implementation. Here we report qualitative insights capturing the successes and challenges in four different contexts to help guide the reintroduction of MCoC services. Recruitment was conducted via stakeholder events and social media; included 123 survey participants (68 providing qualitative data) and 28 interview participants. Thematic analysis was carried out with a global thematic network approach to interpret the data. One global theme of ‘Making it Work: Sustaining MCoC’ was developed comprising of four organising themes - ‘making a difference’, ‘making a start’, ‘making it count’, and ‘making it fit’. Collectively, these findings highlight what works well for staff, families, and the service, alongside MCoC challenges and how to overcome them. These findings offer practical insights to support successful implementation - ‘making it work: future transformations’ – critical to the ongoing sustainability of a service wide transformation
THE ROLE OF VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY IN LIQUID BIOPSY OF HIGH-GRADE GLIOMA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
No full textAIMS In recent years, liquid biopsy has shown potential use in early diagnosis, disease monitoring and prognostica- tion within neuro-oncology. The integration of current liquid biopsy into routine practice remains challenging due to detection of circulating biomarkers. Vibrational spectroscopy (VS) including Raman (RS) and Infrared spectroscopies is an alternative multi-omic technology which detects biomarkers in the form of bio-spectral fin- gerprints. We aim to review the current literature and practice of the use of VS as liquid biopsy tool in patients with high-grade glioma (HGG). METHODS Protocol was registered a priori on PROSPERO (CRD42024611005). Five databases were systematically screened from inception to December 2024 including PubMed, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, Web of Science and Clinical- trials.gov. PRISMA reporting guidelines were followed. Data extraction, and risk of bias (using QUADAS-2) were conducted. RESULTS One-hundred and sixty-six articles were identified. Fifty duplicates removed followed by exclusion of 104 arti- cles. Twelve articles published between 2013-2024 were included for data extraction with a cumulative cohort of 827 control vs 2,021 brain tumours (819 were HGG). Nine studies utilises Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) whilst 3 studies utilises RS. Ten studies utilises serum whilst only 2 studies utilises plasma. Four articles were included in forest plot of sensitivity/specificity for glioblastoma vs control using ATR-FTIR on serum samples (cumulative cohort of 200 HGG vs 167 control). The sensitivity ranges from 87.4%-95.5% whilst the specificity ranges from 80%-100%. The accuracy ranges from 89.9%-96.9%. CONCLUSION This represents the first systematic review to evaluate current evidence on VS for HGG as liquid biopsy tool. All evidence remains largely case-control studies, providing proof-of-concept. Further high-quality studies re- quired to draw robust conclusion on the applicability and to standardise the methodology used. No studies were done to evaluate the potential use of of VS in monitoring disease progression which requires research to elucidate its capability
Primary author contact for systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials: A systematic review.
Get PDFSystematic reviews (SRs) synthesize and evaluate data, mainly from randomized trials, which then guides the development of clinical recommendations in evidence-based medicine. However, the data and methodological information in the included papers can often be lacking or unclear, and reviewers usually need to contact the authors of included studies for clarifications. Contacting authors is recommended, but it is unclear how often SR teams do it, or what the level of response is. To investigate how often reviewers undertake contact with the authors of included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for clarification on data and risk of bias concerns, to explore the factors that influence whether SR authors contact or do not contact the authors, and the content and level of responses. We conducted a systematic electronic database search in MEDLINE using the search string "(systematic review)" AND "(RCT OR randomized OR trial)" for articles published between 1 January 2024 and 19 February 2024, without language restrictions. Screening and data extraction was done independently by two reviewers, and conflicts resolved by a senior author. Contact authors of included SRs were contacted for clarifications. Of the 329 included SRs, 38% ( = 125) explicitly mentioned contact with the authors of included studies. The remaining 62% ( = 204) did not. We attempted contact with all SR teams for clarifications and received 90 responses (19.4%). Of the 50 respondents who did not explicitly mention contact in their SRs, 25 (50%) replied that they did make contact. We received a total of 64 responses on the level and content of information sought. The mean ± SD contacts SR teams made were 10 (10), replies received 5 (6.7), and response waiting time 10.1 (28.3) weeks. Resources, time, poor previous experience, perceived likelihood of poor response and bias concerns were reported as barriers to attempting contact. The majority of SRs published in 2024 did not confirm seeking clarifying or missing information from primary study authors. However, SR teams reported that 50% of contacted primary authors respond. Additional research can clarify this rate of response and establish methods to increase the integration of this core methodological element in SRs. [Abstract copyright: ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Not All Wounds Gush Blood’: A Feminist Analysis of the Representation of Sex, Violence, and Gender in 1Q84
Get PDFSince the early 2000s, there has been an exponential growth in the consumption of Japanese fiction in translation in the Western literary world. It has been noted that this increase of interest in Japanese literature in translation may be attributed to author Haruki Murakami, beginning with his novel Norwegian Wood. Across his literary oeuvre, Murakami has faced a multitude of criticisms over his characterisation and objectification of women. This thesis explores how the male gaze operates within the novel 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami and its effect on the representation of sex, violence against women and gender. It will do so by performing an active reading of the three volumes of 1Q84 to examine how the patriarchal influence of the author governs the perception of the male and female characters in the novel. This thesis aims to study the depiction of masculinity and patriarchal expectations of female sexuality, as well as to explore to what extent the women in the novel are sexualised and objectified by expressions of male fantasy coming from the author. It will conclude by arguing that the influence of the author’s male gaze directly impacts the understanding of both the women and men in the novel and that the objectification of women in literature remains a significant issue to the present day
Parvalbumin and Perineuronal net expression in the medial and lateral regions of the Dorsal Striatum in an Idiopathic model of ASD, through development.
Get PDFParvalbumin-expressing fast-spiking interneurons (PV+FSIs) within the dorsal striatum, associated with the generation of habitual behaviour and motor stereotypy, are a commonly reported node of alteration in various forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous investigations of altered striatal PV+FSIs and their associated perineuronal nets (PNNs) in ASD lack consideration of the potential differences between dorsal striatum subregions (dorsomedial and dorsolateral striatum), sex, and developmental stage. This study utilised immunohistochemical and qPCR methods on tissue from an idiopathic murine model of ASD (BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mice; n = 20) and C57 L/J control mice (n = 20). The density of PV+FSIs, PNNs, their colocalisation, and the relative intensity of fluorescent staining within the dorsal striatum was compared between mouse strain, subregion, sex, and developmental stage. The relative expression of pvalb, hapln1, tnr, and acan mRNA was compared between mouse strain, sex, and developmental stage. A significantly lower density of PV+FSIs and colocalised PNN+PV+FSIs was observed within the dorsomedial striatum of BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J relative to C57 L/J mice (F(1,58) = 21.6, p = 0.0134; F(1,58) = 8.56, p = 0.007). Whilst a significant reduction in the density of PV+FSIs was identified through development in C57 L/J mice, this was not significantly different between 3-4 and 6-8wk BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mice (F(1,58)=18.9, p = 0.000138; p = 0.400). Further, a greater basal density of PV+FSIs within the dorsomedial striatum was observed in male relative to female mice whereas a greater basal density in the dorsolateral striatum was observed in female mice (F(1,58) = 25.91, p = 0.0002; p = 18 0.0427). A greater basal density of colocalised PNN+PV+FSIs within the dorsolateral striatum was also observed in female mice (F(1,58) = 9.99, p > 0.0001). Altered expression of PV+FSIs and colocalised PNN+PV+FSIs in the dorsal striatum may be a common biological phenotype for idiopathic and other models of ASD, largely explained by downregulation within the dorsomedial striatum. These subregion specific alterations may contribute to different elements of the ASD behavioural phenotype. Further, the identification of basal sex differences in the expression of colocalised PNN+PV+FSIs within dorsal striatum subregions highlights the importance of considering sex within investigations of ASD aetiology
THE IMPACT OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW: A SWISS STUDY
Get PDFBackground
Living with intimate partner violence (IPV) puts children at risk of negative short- and long-term outcomes. Studies on this topic are mainly quantitative and often focused on psychological and behavioral outcomes.
Objective
This qualitative study examines, more broadly and from their own perspective, impacts on the health and well-being of children.
Participants and Setting
In 2022, we interviewed 20 adolescents and young adults who had experienced parental IPV when they were minors and whose parent attended a Swiss clinical forensic consultation for IPV between 2011 and 2018.
Methods
Semi-structured individual interviews were carried out, covering the main areas of the participants’ life since birth. A thematic analysis was conducted on the interview transcripts.
Findings
Short- and long-term impacts were reported. Impacts on mental health included fear, worry, and anxiety; trauma; feelings of sadness and abandonment; negative self-image and anger. Impacts on behaviors were sleep problems; social isolation and difficulties; fleeing from home; self-harm; and aggression and violence. Injuries and other physical impacts were mentioned, such as pain, fatigue, and weight problems. Financial and social impacts, impacts on school, and damage to relationships, especially with the victimized parent, were also reported. Interactions between impacts and cascading effects were often noted.
Conclusions
Impacts occur at different levels of the social ecology and stem not only from the experience of acute IPV events, but more broadly from the daily experience of IPV, where coercive control and other victimizations are often the norm. Recommendations for practice are provided
Holistic Evaluation of Lifestyle and Performance Diagnostics (HELP-D): A Theoretical Framework for Screening and Managing Non-Communicable Diseases
No full textNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a cluster of chronic conditions represented by slow health-to-disease transitions and convoluted disturbances in biological networks that underpin human pathologies. The collective burden of NCDs accumulates into an annual death toll of approximately 41 million individuals. Research has identified several modifiable NCD risk factors, which may serve as the behavioral precursors to disruptions in these biological networks. Furthermore, lifestyle-based interventions indicate efficacy in managing or reversing NCDs. Consequently, our objective was to design a theoretical framework for screening and managing NCDs in local gymnasiums, presenting the facilities as the nexus between healthcare and lifestyle medicine. We utilized a quasi-structured narrative review using predefined search terms combined with Boolean operators across three databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, and ProQuest) from December 1, 2024, to June 12, 2025. The literature search consisted of three phases, starting with preliminary search strings and evolving to 14 distinct keywords. Henceforth, snowballing and forward citation search strategies were applied to correspond with the broad scope of the review. Additionally, we employed a prioritization method to assess the relevance of inclusion and utilized a modified feasibility assessment framework to compare screening modalities. Our quasi-structured narrative review evolved into the Holistic Evaluation of Lifestyle and Performance Diagnostics (HELP-D) framework. The theoretical framework comprises a sociodemographic analysis, a prescreening tool, a lifestyle questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, an overhead squat assessment, handgrip strength testing, and a maximal oxygen uptake evaluation, alongside assessments of potential confounding factors (e.g., caffeine intake). To illustrate its potential diagnostic and inferential significance, the model is applied to the population of the State of Kuwait. Although the embedded screening tools are grounded in empirical research, the model has contemporary limitations that necessitate a pilot study. Contingent upon validation, the theoretical HELP-D framework holds promise for widespread adoption
Novel flow synthesized phase pure and doped zinc oxides with tailorable properties for potential anticancer applications
No full textCancer is a leading cause of nearly 10 million deaths each year and it's expected to increase up to 30 % in low-income countries by 2040. Traditional methods of treating most cancers rely on varying combinations of chemotherapy and surgeries. Chemotherapeutic drugs have significant side effects but remain the main cornerstone of current treatments. Nanotechnology has recently offered potentially viable alternatives as certain inorganic nanoparticles display selectivity towards cancer cells. Oxides such as Zinc Oxides have been the focus of significant interest due to their cancer cell selectivity and antibacterial properties. Doped Zinc Oxides exhibit enhanced biological performance. Traditional routes of Zinc Oxide synthesis are mostly multistep, require stringent control over reaction parameters and are time consuming. Flow Synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles is a high throughput approach that aids discovery through tunability and its continuity. This work forms the first comprehensive report on synthesis and characterization of low temperature flow synthesis of phase pure and doped zinc oxides (Cerium, Potassium, Calcium, Iron and Magnesium in the 0.5–2.0 mol% range). X-ray diffraction confirmed the synthesis of phase pure and doped zinc oxides (and an effect on dopant type and its concentration on particle size and overall crystallinity). Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy confirmed that the type of dopant, dopant ion concentration and heat-treatments affect particulate morphology and size, which in-turn are expected to have an effect on biological performance. UV–Vis Diffuse Reflectance spectroscopy revealed that the band-gap decreased from 3.1 eV for phase-pure Zinc Oxide to 2.62 eV for 2.0 mol% Fe doping (theoretical). This also corresponded to the highest cancer cell killing potential (MCF-7 breast cancer and neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells, respectively) determined using cytotoxicity results. Summarily, this work demonstrated the tailorability of the flow synthesis process through its effect on particle size, morphology, dopant ion concentration, crystallinity, and biological performance of phase-pure and doped zinc oxides. This work also successfully demonstrated the anticancer potential of novel flow synthesized phase pure, and ion doped zinc oxides
