bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical characterisation of kenaf/PALF reinforced composite-metal laminates: Effects of hybridisation and weaving architectures
Authors: Feng Ng Lin , Malingam Sivakumar Dhar , Ping Chen Wei
Published: September 2020

Fibre metal laminates are advanced sandwich materials that offer various outstanding properties over conventional metallic alloys and composites. This research study intends to investigate the effects of weaving architectures and stacking configurations on the mechanical properties of fibre metal laminates based on kenaf/pineapple leaf fibre. Fibre metal laminates were fabricated through the hot moulding compression technique. Mechanical tests were performed on the kenaf/pineapple leaf fibre-based fibre metal laminates. In accordance with the findings obtained, hybridisation had led to the improvement in the mechanical properties of fibre metal laminates in comparison with [K/K/K] fibre metal laminates. Overall, twill woven-ply [P/P/P] fibre metal laminates showed the highest tensile and flexural strength, which was 14.53% and 33.50% higher than twill woven-ply [K/K/K] fibre metal laminates, respectively. Besides, the twill woven-ply [P/P/P] fibre metal laminates also displayed the highest impact strength and indentation properties compared to other non-hybrid and hybrid fibre metal laminates. When comparing the fibre metal laminates with different weaving architectures, twill woven-ply fibre metal laminates were shown to have higher mechanical properties over those of plain woven-ply fibre metal laminates.
Sentiments as Status Processes? A Theoretical Reformulation from the Expectation States Tradition
Authors: Bianchi Alison J. , Shelly Robert K.
Published: September 2020

Do the ties that bind also create social inequality? Using an expectation states theoretical framework, we elaborate status characteristics and behavior-status theories to explore how sentiments, network connections based on liking and disliking, may affect processes entailing status, the prestige based on one’s differentially valued social distinctions. Within task groups, we theorize that positive and negative sentiments may themselves be status elements capable of evoking performance expectations within dyadic configurations typically modeled by expectation states theorists. Having a reputation for being liked or disliked “imported” into the group may enact status generalization. Alternatively, a status element based on sentiments may emerge during task group interaction as group members ascertain if alters are liked or disliked. Finally, we conclude by discussing how our theorizing motivates future theories and empirical studies.
Profession as a major drive of work engagement and its effects on job performance among healthcare employees in Greece: A comparative analysis among doctors, nurses and administrative staff
Authors: Bakertzis Efstathios , Myloni Barbara
Published: September 2020

Objectives

The current research explores how employees’ work engagement in the Greek healthcare sector influences their job performance level in each profession. A secondary objective is to examine the correlation between work engagement and demographics.

Method

In order to achieve these objectives, a questionnaire containing Likert 5 point-scale questions was used to collect data from 269 participants. Our sample, drawn from the healthcare sector, consisted of 85 doctors, 139 nurses, and 45 administrative staff. Regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between work engagement and job performance among the different professional groups.

Results

Our findings showed that a strong correlation exists between work engagement and job performance among doctors, but this relationship is weak among administrative staff and nurses. Additionally, though doctors scored higher on engagement and lower on job performance as compared to administrative staff and nurses, a reverse trend was found among the last two employee categories. Engagement levels were also found to increase with age, though not necessarily with experience.

Conclusions

The most important conclusion is that although work engagement levels significantly affect employee job performance as hypothesised, the relationship is much stronger among doctors than among nurses or administrative staff. This implies profession has a major role in driving work engagement and, thereby, performance. Furthermore, age seems to be significantly linked to the level of work engagement, indicating that more mature employees are more likely to be engaged with their work as compared to less mature ones.
Coupled rigid-flexible modelling and dynamic characteristic analysis of electromechanical brake (EMB) units on trains
Authors: Weng Jingjing , Tian Chun , Wu Mengling , Chen Maolin
Published: September 2020

The electromechanical braking is a novel braking mode, which is the development direction of the electrification and intelligent train braking system. In this paper, a coupled-rigid-flexible model of the EMB unit is developed, and dynamic characteristics of the EMB unit are analysed based on the model. Firstly, assumed mode method is used to describe the axial and torsional vibration of the screw in nut-screw assembly, and lumped mass method is used to describe motions of other components in the EMB unit. Secondly, the EMB unit model is established and simulated in Matlab/Simulink software based on electro-mechanical and rigid-flexible coupling characteristics. Then the model parameters are calibrated by experiment. Finally, the simulated model is studied to analyse the influence of various factors on the dynamic characteristics of the EMB unit. The results indicate that an increment in viscous damping flats the fluctuation of the pushout force. The maximal pushout force decreases and the changing trend of force is different along with the rotational structure damping increases. The flexible vibration of the screw results in higher pushout force, meanwhile the fluctuation of the force is greater with higher braking instruction current value. When the ratio of the screw length to the screw cross-sectional diameter is 30, the pushout force varies along with the friction pairs wear under vibration. The study can provide references for structure design, control design and fault diagnosis of EMB units.
Role of high technology exports for energy efficiency: Empirical evidence in the context of Gulf Cooperation Council countries
Authors: Waheed Rida , Sarwar Suleman , Mighri Zouheir
Published: September 2020

This article explores the impacts of high technology exports on energy consumption, energy intensity, and carbon intensity for a panel of six GCC economies covering a period of 1990 to 2017. For detailed empirical analysis, we employ panel techniques to explore the linkages between high technology exports and energy efficiency in GCC countries. The empirical results demonstrate that high technology exports help to reduce overall energy demand with −0.154% and energy intensity with −0.254% in GCC countries. Notably, we observe that effects on technology exports on carbon intensity are significantly lower in magnitude with −0.010%. Notably, the long empirics are in consistent with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) of GCC countries (cleaner and affordable energy, environmental awareness, climate change action, etc.). The findings suggest that new and innovative energy conservation policies should be introduced to promote energy efficient equipment’s and technologies for cleaner and greener growth.
Dipyridamole Potentiates the Endothelium-Dependent and -Independent Vasomotion in Isolated Human Small Arteries
Authors: Pedrinelli Roberto
Published: September 2020

Background

To investigate the effects of dipyridamole, a drug with phosphodiesterase-, adenosine reuptake-inhibiting, and prostacyclin-stimulating activity on the biological actions of nitric oxide, 30 norepinephrine-precontracted subcutaneous arterioles were prepared from specimens removed during surgery.

Methods and Results

Specimens were mounted on a myograph and relaxed through either acetylcholine, a muscarinic agonist that stimulates endothelial nitric oxide production, or sodium nitroprusside, an endothelium-independent vasodilator. Studies were performed under control conditions and after dipyridamole which potentiated in a concentration-dependent manner the vasorelaxation induced both by acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, indicating an endothelium-independent mechanism of action. The contribution of nitric oxide to the relaxation produced by acetylcholine was confirmed by N-monomethyl-L-arginine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. In contrast, indomethacin, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, was ineffective, indicating that prostacyclin stimulation could not explain the effect of dipyridamole. CGS 21680 C, an A2-selective adenosine receptor agonist insensitive to tissue deaminase, did not influence the relaxations induced by acetylcholine, suggesting that interference with adenosine metabolism was not implicated in the potentiating action of dipyridamole.

Conclusion

Dipyridamole potentiated the vasorelaxing effect of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in human subcutaneous arterioles; neither prostacyclin stimulation nor A2 adenosine receptor stimulation could explain this effect. The data are consistent with an increase in intracellular cyclic 3’ 5'-guanosine monophosphate levels secondary to the phosphodiesterase-inhibiting properties of the drug.
Effect of Oxygen Free Radicals on Cardiac Contractile Activity and Sarcolemmal Na+–Ca2+ Exchange
Authors: Matsubara Taku , Dhalla Naranjan S.
Published: September 2020

Background

Although oxygen free radicals have been shown to induce myocardial cell damage and cardiac dysfunction, the exact mechanism by which these radicals affect the heart function is not clear. Since the occurrence of intracellular Ca2+ overload is critical in the genesis of cellular damage and cardiac dysfunction, and since the sarcolemmal Na+–Ca2+ exchange is intimately involved in Ca2+ movements in myocardium, this study was undertaken to examine the effects of oxygen free radicals on the relationship between changes in cardiac contractile force development and sarcolemmal Na+–Ca2+ exchange activity.

Methods and Results

Isolated rat hearts were perfused with a medium containing xanthine plus xanthine oxidase for different times, and changes in contractile force as well as sarcolemmal Na+–Ca2+ exchange activity were monitored. Perfusion of the heart with xanthine plus xanthine oxidase resulted in a transient increase followed by a marked decrease in contractile activity; the resting tension was markedly increased. The xanthine plus xanthine oxidase-induced depression in developed tension, rate of contraction, and rate of relaxation, except the transient increase in contractile activity, was prevented by the addition of catalase, but not by superoxide dismutase, in the perfusion medium. A time-dependent depression in sarcolemmal Na+–Ca2+ was also evident upon perfusing the heart with xanthine plus xanthine oxidase. This depression in Na+-dependent Ca2+ uptake was associated with a decrease in the maximal velocity of reaction without any changes in the affinity of Na+–Ca2+ exchanger for Ca2+. The presence of catalase, unlike superoxide dismutase, prevented the decrease in sarcolemmal Na+–Ca2+ exchange activity in hearts perfused with xanthine plus xanthine oxidase.

Conclusion

The results support the view that a depression in the sarcolemmal Na+–Ca2+ exchange activity may contribute to the occurrence of intracellular Ca2+ overload and subsequent decrease in contractile activity. Furthermore, these actions of xanthine plus xanthine oxidase in the whole heart appear to be a consequence of H2O2 production rather than the ‘ generation of superoxide radicals.
Reduction of Myocardial Necrosis after Glycosaminoglycan Administration: Effects of a Single Intravenous Administration of Heparin or N-Acetylheparin 2 Hours before Regional Ischemia and Reperfusion
Authors: Gralinski Michael R. , Driscoll Edward M. , Friedrichs Gregory S. , DeNardis Michael R. , Lucchesi Benedict R.
Published: September 2020

Background

We determined if a single administration of heparin or nonanticoagulant N-acetylheparin could reduce myocardial injury resulting from a 90-minute occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) and 6 hours of reperfusion in the anesthetized canine.

Methods and Results

Heparin (2 mg/kg), N-acetylheparin (2 mg/kg), or vehicle, 0.9% sodium chloride (control), was administered intravenously to separate groups of animals 2 hours before LCX occlusion. To ensure parity of LCX ischemia, only animals with ischemic zone regional blood flow < 0.16 mL/min/g tissue were included in the final analysis. Hemodynamics did not differ among the three study groups. Infarct size as a percentage of the left ventricular area at risk was obtained for each group. Myocardial infarct size was 43.0 ± 3.9% in the vehicle, 28.8 ± 5.8% in the heparin ( P < .05 vs vehicle) and 24.7 ± 4.6% ( P < .05 vs vehicle) in the N-acetylheparin-treated animals.

Conclusion

Pretreatment with heparin or its nonanticoagulant derivative, N-acetylheparin, provides significant protection to the regionally ischemic and reperfused canine myocardium independent of either plasma glycosaminoglycan concentration or alterations in the coagulation system.
The Role of Digoxin in the Treatment of Chronic Congestive Heart Failure
Authors: Ott Peter , Marcus Frank I.
Published: September 2020

It is now well established that digoxin is an effective drug for the treatment of heart failure. Since treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduces mortality in congestive heart failure, digoxin should be added to ACE inhibitors in patients with moderate or severe heart failure. The beneficial effects of digoxin may be due, in part, to its well-documented sympathoinhibitory effects that can avert the adverse effects of long-term excessive sympathetic adrenergic stimulation in heart failure.
Late-phase hypercyanescence during indocyanine green angiography for assessment of myopic choroidal neovascularization
Authors: Zhang Taoran , Wang Wei , Li Mingming , Huang Yingxiang
Published: September 2020

Purpose:

Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) is a major diagnostic modality but the clinical implications of specific staining patterns in active myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) are unclear. We examined the associations of ICGA cyanofluorescence patterns with disease characteristics and response to an as-needed intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) treatment regimen among active mCNV patients.

Methods:

Twenty-four subjects with active mCNV treated by IVR were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Information from medical records were reviewed, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein angiography (FA) findings, ICGA cyanofluorescence patterns, and spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) results. The CNV lesion size, CNV thickness, and central retinal thickness (CRT) were measured from these images.

Results:

Two staining patterns were identified on late-phase ICGA images, hypercyanescence (9/24, 37.5%) and non-hypercyanescence (15/24, 62.5%). There were no differences in baseline BCVA, CNV thickness, and CRT between ICGA pattern groups; however, the hypercyanescence group demonstrated a larger CNV lesion size ( p = 0.035) and required more IVR injections than the non-hypercyanescence group (2.67 ± 1.58 vs 1.07 ± 0.27, p = 0.016), while the non-hypercyanescence group demonstrated better final BCVA improvement ( p = 0.041). Hypercyanescence could be divided into two types, a uniform type and rim type. A pseudopodia-like protrusion of CNV enlargement with a rim-enhanced type hypercyanescence at the protrusion rim was predictive of required retreatment.

Conclusions:

Hypercyanescence on late-phase ICGA may assist in identifying more active mCNV requiring intensive treatment.
Hip resurfacing arthroplasty in young patients: international high-volume centres’ report on the outcome of 11,382 metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasties in patients ⩽50 years at surgery
Authors: Van Der Straeten Catherine , Gross Thomas P , Amstutz Harlan , Brooks Peter J , Samuel Linsen T. , Su Edwin P , Pritchett James W , Kim Paul , Shimmin Andrew , Walter William L. , Sugano Nobuhiko , McMinn Derek , Daniel Joseph , Treacy Ronan , Cobb Justin , Latham Jeremy , De Smet Koen , Girard Julien , Günther Klaus-Peter , Winter Eugen , Strenzke Joseph , Schulte-Mattler Martin , Völker Raimund , Moroni Antonio , Micera Giovanni , Calistri Alessandro , van Susante Job , Araujo Sergio , Quelhas Monjardim , Aleixo Hugo , Ribas Manel , Gonzalez-Adrio Rafael , Marin-Peña Oliver , Lage Lafayette
Published: September 2020

Background:

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients younger than 50 years poses significant challenges including postoperative limitations of activity and higher failure rates. Sub-par outcomes of hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) in registries remain controversial due to multiple confounders. Favourable HRA results in some studies are often regarded as irreproducible. The aim of this study is to analyse HRA outcomes in a large international cohort.

Patients and methods:

We compiled a database of 11,382 HRA patients ⩽50 years from an international group of 27 experienced HRA centres from 13 countries. 18 different metal-on-metal (MoM) HRA designs were included with a mean follow-up of 7.6 years. Outcomes were implant survivorship, revision rates, causes for revision, clinical scores and metal ion levels. Outcomes were compared between genders, sizes, implant types and pre-operative diagnoses.

Results:

Overall cumulative Kaplan-Meier survivorship was 88.9% at 22 years (95% CI: 88.3–89.5%). 2 HRA designs (DePuy Articular Surface Replacement (ASR), and Corin Cormet Hip Resurfacing System (CORMET)) led to inferior results while all others yielded similar survivorships. Excluding ASR and CORMET, implant survivorship in 11,063 cases was 95% at 10 years and 90% at 22 years. In men, implant survivorship was excellent: 99% at 10 years and 92.5% at 21 years. In females, implant survivorship was 90% at 10 years and 81.3% at 22 years. The overall revision rate was 3.6% with most common reasons for revision being implant loosening and adverse local tissue reactions. The best survivorship was found in patients with osteoarthritis (95% CI, 92.1–93.3% at 22 years), the poorest was among dysplastic hips (78.3%; 95% CI, 76.5–80.1% at 20 years, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Comparable revision rates demonstrated here may mitigate some concerns for safety and longevity of MoM HRA implants. Higher demands for activity and functionality in younger patients make HRA a potential alternative to THA.
Three in one: sizing, grafting and fire retardant treatment for producing fire-resistant textile material
Authors: Rafikov Adham Salimovich , Yuldosheva Ozoda Muhammadsodik Kizi , Karimov Sardorbek Khodjibaevich , Khakimova Mukaddas Shamuratovna , Abdusamatova Dilfuza Ozotovna , Doschanov Mavlonbek Rajabbaevich
Published: September 2020

In the weaving industry, cotton yarn undergoes mandatory sizing to uniformly pass the threads through the mechanisms of weaving machines, reduce breakage and improve the weaving process. Sizing is only necessary for weaving, and then sizing substances are removed from the fabric. With a successful combination of the sizing process and special processing of fabrics, significant progress is achieved in the technology of manufacturing fire-resistant fabrics and a significant economic, environmental effect. The purpose of the study is the development of a fire-retardant composition based on collagen, a method of grafting collagen to cellulose at the stage of sizing cotton yarn and obtaining fire-resistant textile material. By grafting a sizing composition containing collagen, polyacrylamide, boric acid, urea and potassium persulfate to cellulose, a highly effective fire-resistant material was obtained. The introduction of collagen and polyacrylamide in the composition sticks together the fibers of the yarn, at the same time makes the cotton material non-flammable when exposed to direct fire, reduces the time of smoke and the coefficient of smoke formation, which made it possible to obtain fire-resistant textile material belonging to a high category. By combining the processes of sizing and fire retardant processing of the main and weft yarns using biodegradable collagen, the technological operations of the production of fire-resistant material are reduced, which contributes to the conservation of natural resources and the solution of an acute environmental problem.
Associations of situational and performance variables with defensive transitions outcomes in FIFA World Cup 2018
Authors: Freitas Rui , Volossovitch Anna , Almeida Carlos H
Published: September 2020

Transition moments play a major role in match outcome and constitute an important part of the soccer coaching process. Nevertheless, the body of literature on match analysis reveals a lack of knowledge regarding transition moments, particularly the defensive ones. This study aimed to analyse how several situational and performance variables were associated with different defensive transition outcomes. A sample of 977 defensive transitions from 15 matches of FIFA World Cup 2018 was coded using a bespoke observational system. Data were analysed through log-linear modelling and Pearson’s chi-square. Regarding performance variables, final position ( p ≤ 0.001; ES = 0.390[≥0.290]; large effect size), duration ( p ≤ 0.001; ES = 0.206[0.07; 0.21]) , defensive approach ( p ≤ 0.001; ES = 0.419[0.30; 0.50]) , defensive pressure ( p ≤ 0.001; ES = 0.147[0.05; 0.15]; medium effect sizes), numerical relations ( p ≤ 0.05; ES = 0.113[0.07; 0.21]) , initial position ( p ≤ 0.05; ES = 0.092[0.06; 0.17]) , initial number of zones ( p ≤ 0.05; ES = 0.083[0.05; 0.15]) , final number of zones ( p ≤ 0.001; ES = 0.112[0.05; 0.15]) and defensive coverage ( p ≤ 0.001; ES = 0.130[0.05; 0.15]; small effect sizes) were significantly associated with the defensive transitions outcomes. A small-sized and non-significant association ( p = 0.126; ES = 0.080[0.07; 0.21]) was found for type of ball loss. Concerning the situational variables, a small-sized and significant association between match outcome and defensive transitions outcome was identified ( p ≤ 0.05; ES = 0.092[0.07; 0.21]). Our findings provide new knowledge on factors that influence team success in defensive transitions. The coaching staff should be aware that the exploitation of areas behind the most retreated player of the midfield sector ought to be avoided. Furthermore, a reduction in the space available to ball carriers and an increased effort to quickly recover possession should be encouraged.
Pain during physical examination of a healing upper extremity fracture
Authors: Gonzalez Amanda I. , Kortlever Joost T. P. , Crijns Tom J. , Ring David , Reichel Lee M. , Vagner Gregg A.
Published: September 2020

The evidence that symptom intensity and magnitude of limitations correlate with thoughts and emotions means that subjective signs, such as pain with physical examination, reflect both physical and mental health. During a 1-month evaluation of a rapidly healing upper extremity fracture with no risk of nonunion, 117 people completed measures of adaptiveness to pain and pain during the physical examination. Greater pain during examination correlated with less adaptive responses to pain and older age. This finding raises questions about using tenderness to assess fracture union.

Level of evidence: II
Tool and machinery-related hand injuries: a review of national Hospital Episodes Statistics and data from a tertiary hand unit
Authors: Green Rebecca , Uzoho Chukwudi , Arrowsmith Jill , Bainbridge Chris , Johnson Nick A.
Published: September 2020

We sought to identify national trends in tool and machinery-related hand injuries. Hospital Episodes Statistics data in England from 1998 to 2017 were analysed. Data from our hand unit from 2011 to 2017 were also reviewed to establish the types of tool and machinery causing injury. During the 19-year study period 210,291 admissions occurred as a result of tool and machinery-related injuries. The overall incidence rate and mean age increased. The largest increase in incidence rate was in the oldest age group (75 years+). The incidence rate in children fell. During the period studied, 2150 patients underwent surgery in our unit for tool and machinery-related injuries. The hand was involved in 2069 (96%) of the injuries. Adult injuries were caused by a similar proportion of types of tool or machinery in all age groups. This study demonstrates a clear and sustained trend of increasing incidence of tool and machinery-related injuries in adults. The largest increase is in older patients.

Level of evidence: IV
Simple trapeziectomy versus trapeziectomy with flexor carpi radialis suspension: a 17-year follow-up of a randomized blind trial
Authors: Brennan Adrian , Blackburn Julia , Thomson Jane , Field Jeremy
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate if there were any significant differences in the long-term outcomes of patients who participated in a randomized trial of trapeziectomy alone compared with trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI). Sixty-five patients were invited for a follow-up visit at a mean of 17 years (range 15–20) postoperatively. Twenty-eight patients attended, who had 34 operations, 14 trapeziectomy alone and 20 with LRTI. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of satisfaction with surgery or functional outcomes, with most measurements showing minimal or no differences in means between the two groups. There was no difference in the space between the metacarpal and scaphoid. Radial abduction was the only parameter that was significantly greater in the patients with simple trapeziectomy (median 79°) compared with trapeziectomy with LRTI (median 71°) ( p = 0.04). Even at 17 years there is no significant benefit of LRTI over trapeziectomy alone for thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis.

Level of evidence: I
Vasculotoxic snakebite envenomation: Management challenges in pregnancy
Authors: Singh Sweta , Mohanty Rashmi R
Published: September 2020

Snakebite envenomation in pregnancy is rare. We report two cases of vasculotoxic snakebite in pregnancy and discuss the management challenges in pregnancy for successful maternal and perinatal outcomes. The first case was a 19-year-old woman who was eight weeks of gestation in her second pregnancy when she was bitten. She subsequently delivered by caesarean section at 33 weeks and 3 days because she developed eclampsia. The second case was a 24 year old woman in her third pregnancy, who was bitten at 29 weeks of gestation, who delivered vaginally at 36 weeks of gestation. Both were treated with multidisciplinary team approach including antisnake venom and antibiotics, along with fasciotomy for the second case. Both mothers recovered completely, without evidence of attributable fetal or neonatal morbidity. To conclude, antisnake venom, if indicated, and a multidisciplinary team approach plays an important role for successful maternal and perinatal outcomes in snakebite envenomation in pregnancy.
Food allergies and atopic dermatitis
Authors: Akinwande Idris , Salako Kazeem
Published: September 2020

Atopic dermatitis, frequently referred to as atopic eczema, is a common illness that can cause significant psychological and financial burden to patients and their care givers. Therefore, it is not surprising that a cure is often sought. Patients, parents and carers are often concerned about the possibility of food causing or exacerbating the illness. It is not uncommon for patients and care givers to request investigation in the hope of identifying food items that maybe acting as triggers and of effecting improvement or cure with avoidance and dietary changes. This article seeks to review the relationship between atopic dermatitis and food allergies, as well as the relevance of diagnostic tests.
Effect of Plyometric Training on Sport Performance in Adolescent Overhead Athletes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Eraslan Leyla , Castelein Birgit , Spanhove Valentien , Orhan Ceren , Duzgun Irem , Cools Ann
Published: September 2020

Context:

Plyometric training has been shown to be beneficial in adolescent overhead athletes. However, existing research on the effects of plyometrics on sport performance has been limited.

Objective:

To systematically review the current literature to investigate whether plyometric training intervention improves upper- and lower-body sport performance.

Data Sources:

Two electronic databases (MEDLINE and Web of Science) were searched using specific Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms up to February 2019, and hand-searching was performed by looking to relevant studies that were cited in other studies.

Study Selection:

A total of 932 items were identified and were further assessed for the eligibility in the systematic review. For a study to be eligible, each of the following inclusion criteria had to be met: (1) participants were aged 13 to 18 years and selected from a sports or athletic population and the study (2) involved the evaluation of a plyometric training intervention with an aim to improve sports performance; (3) must have included a control intervention and/or control group; (4) included a quantitative objective measure of sport performance variables concerning throwing, jumping, running, and sprinting; and (5) was published in English.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Data Extraction:

A first screening was conducted based on title and abstract of the articles. In the second screening, the full text of the remaining articles was evaluated for the fulfillment of the inclusion criteria.

Results:

A total of 14 studies were included in this review. The methodological quality of the included studies ranged from low to moderate. There is moderate evidence that plyometric training intervention improves throwing and jumping performances. There is also preliminary evidence that plyometric training intervention improves sprint performance.

Conclusion:

The current evidence suggests that sport performance consisting of throwing capacity, jumping ability, and sprint performance significantly improved due to plyometric training interventions in adolescent overhead athletes.
Arabic version of pharmacy survey on patient safety culture: Hospital pharmacy settings
Authors: Abdallah Wael , Johnson Craig , Nitzl Christian , Mohammed Mohammed Amin
Published: September 2020

Objective:

The objective was to assess the validity and reliability of a translated Arabic language version of the pharmacy survey on patient safety culture released by the United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in 2012 and to utilize this to assess staff attitudes and perceptions of the patient safety culture in hospital pharmacies of Kuwait.

Methods:

This study used a cross-sectional timeframe. Data were gained from three of the largest public hospital pharmacies and three of the largest private hospital pharmacies in Kuwait. The primary and secondary outcome measures were descriptive statistics, internal consistency, construct validity, model fit, and calculation of the positive response rate for all composites and items.

Results:

The results demonstrated that 9 of the 11 composites had a Cronbach’s alpha (α) of >0.7, and all composites had factor loadings above 0.6. The standardized root mean residual score appropriately fitted the data with a value of 0.072. The intercorrelations among the patient safety composites ranged from 0.29 to 0.83. The proportion of pharmacy staff who categorized the grade of patient safety as “Good,” Very good,” or “Excellent” was 93%.

Conclusion:

The Arabic version of the pharmacy survey on patient safety culture questionnaire indicated suitable levels of reliability and validity. Also, the results demonstrated that the pharmacy staff surveyed in Kuwait have a positive perception of patient safety culture in their organizations.
Endoscopic resection of Barrett's adenocarcinoma: Intramucosal and low‐risk tumours are not associated with lymph node metastases
Authors: Benech Nicolas , O'Brien Jean Marc , Barret Maximilien , Jacques Jéremie , Rahmi Gabriel , Perrod Guillaume , Hervieu Valérie , Jaouen Alexandre , Charissoux Aurélie , Guillaud Olivier , Legros Romain , Walter Thomas , Saurin Jean‐Christophe , Rivory Jérôme , Prat Fréderic , Lépilliez Vincent , Ponchon Thierry , Pioche Mathieu
Published: September 2020

Background

Superficial oesophageal adenocarcinoma can be resected endoscopically, but data to define a curative endoscopic resection are scarce.

Objective

Our study aimed to assess the risk of lymph node metastasis depending on the depth of invasion and histological features of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Methods

We retrospectively included all patients undergoing an endoscopic resection for T1 oesophageal adenocarcinoma among seven expert centres in France in 2004–2016. Mural invasion was defined as either intramucosal or submucosal tumours; the latter were further divided into superficial submucosal (<1000 mm) and deep submucosal (>1000 mm). Absence or presence of lymphovascular invasion and/or poorly differentiated cancer (G3) defined a low‐risk or a high‐risk tumour, respectively. For submucosal tumours, invasion depth and histological features were systematically confirmed after a second dedicated histological assessment (new 2‐mm thick slices) performed by a second pathologist. Occurrence of lymph node metastasis was recorded during the follow‐up from histological or PET CT reports when an invasive procedure was not possible.

Results

In total, 188 superficial oesophageal adenocarcinomas were included with a median follow‐up of 34 months. No lymph node metastases occurred for intramucosal oesophageal adenocarcinomas (n = 135) even with high‐risk histological features. Among submucosal oesophageal adenocarcinomas, only tumours with lymphovascular invasion or poorly differentiated cancer or with a depth of invasion >1000 μm developed lymph node metastasis tumours (n = 10/53%; 18.9%; hazard ratio 12.04). No metastatic evolution occurred under a 1000‐mm threshold for all low‐risk tumours (0/25), nor under 1200 mm (0/1) and three over this threshold (3/13%, 23.1%).

Conclusion

Intramucosal and low‐risk tumours with shallow submucosal invasion up to 1200 mm were not associated with lymph node metastasis during follow‐up. In case of high‐risk features and/or deep submucosal invasion, endoscopic resections are not sufficient to eliminate the risk of lymph node metastasis, and surgical oesophagectomy should be carried out. These results must be confirmed by larger prospective series.
An Interprofessional Approach in Caring for a Patient on Maintenance Hemodialysis with COVID-19 in Toronto, Canada: An Educational Case Report
Authors: Hendren Elizabeth M. , Matthews Nicola , Oliver Mathew , Rice Julie , Tobe Sheldon W. , Auguste Bourne L.
Published: September 2020

Rationale:

Hemodialysis patients are at significant risk from COVID-19 due to their frequent interaction with the health care system and medical comorbidities. We followed up the trajectory of the first COVID-19–positive maintenance hemodialysis patient at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. We present the lessons learned and changes in practices that occurred to prevent an outbreak in our center.

Presenting concerns of the patient:

The patient, a 66-year-old woman on in-center hemodialysis, initially presented with a 2-day history of a productive cough. She subsequently developed a fever, was placed on contact and droplet isolation, and admitted to hospital.

Diagnoses:

On March 13, 2020, the patient tested positive for COVID-19. Within the next 48 hours, she developed hypoxia and acute respiratory distress syndrome as a complication of her illness requiring an extended critical care stay. This extended critical care stay resulted in critical illness–associated secondary sclerosing cholangitis.

Interventions:

An interprofessional team was established, performing rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement cycles to improve screening practices and promote the safety of patients and staff in the hemodialysis unit.

Outcomes:

We present here the lessons learned, the changes to our screening protocols, and the clinical course of our first in-center hemodialysis patient with SARS-CoV-2.

Teaching points:

Regular review of the infection screening processes is paramount in preventing outbreaks of COVID-19, particularly in hemodialysis units. Hospital admission should be arranged if a patient exhibits any clinical signs of hemodynamic compromise or hypoxia. Early education for health care practitioners caring for patients with COVID-19 and refresher information regarding personal protective equipment helped promote the safety of staff and prevent health care–associated outbreaks.
Gender-Specific Predictors of Suicidal Ideation Among Korean Older Adults: A 2-Year Prospective Study
Authors: Lyu Jiyoung , Lim Yeon Ok , Kim Young Bum
Published: September 2020

This study aimed at assessing gender-specific predictors associated with suicidal ideation among Korean older adults using a longitudinal study. Participants of this study were 926 older adults aged 65 years and above (583 women, 343 men) who completed both 2016 and 2018 surveys on Elderly Life Conditions in Chuncheon, Korea, and reported never having thought about suicide or attempted suicide at baseline. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the predictors (at baseline) of suicidal ideation (at 2-year follow-up) separately for each gender group. The results showed that among women, predictors of suicidal ideation were fearlessness about death (personal factor), filial responsibility (family factor), and social activities (social factor). However, among men, only psychological inflexibility (personal factor) predicted suicidal ideation. Results of this study provide evidence for the need to adopt separate strategies for each gender, taking the different predictors of suicidal ideation into account in the development of suicide prevention programs for older adults in Korea.
Does Generation Moderate the Effect of Total Rewards on Employee Retention? Evidence From Jordan
Authors: Alhmoud Ayman , Rjoub Husam
Published: September 2020

Skill shortages along with changes in employee demographics have required that employers reconsider hitherto undifferentiated retention strategies in favor of a more targeted approach that accounts for precisely which total reward factors induce retention among talented employees. One notable gap in corresponding research is insufficient empirical data regarding the impact of employees’ generation on the relation between total rewards and retention. This article addresses existed gab(s) in the literature by exploring how total rewards—categorized into extrinsic, intrinsic, and social rewards—influence retention among two distinct groups in today’s labor force, Generation X and Generation Y, via surveys conducted among schoolteachers in Jordan. A total of 250 copies of structured questionnaire were administered to the high school teachers in the eastern areas of Jordan, while partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for the model analysis, and multigroup analysis was conducted to determine the moderating effects of generations. Findings revealed that no statistically significant difference in terms of the total rewards–employee retention relationship exists between the two generations. For both generations, extrinsic rewards had a significant impact on retention, while social rewards had none. Intrinsic rewards proved effective among Generation Y though not Generation X employees although the difference was minimal. Ultimately, in recruiting and managing employees of both generations in Jordan’s education sector, the results of this study indicate that employers should channel their resources primarily into providing attractive extrinsic rewards.
Refining the influence of family involvement in management on firm performance: The mediating role of technological innovation efficiency
Authors: Martínez-Alonso Rubén , Martínez-Romero María J. , Rojo-Ramírez Alfonso A.
Published: September 2020

Determining what factors influence firm performance constitutes an essential issue in both the management and the family firm research fields. This article, building on the resource-based view perspective, develops a mediation model that involves a unique intervening mechanism, namely, technological innovation efficiency (TI efficiency), with the potential to explain the inconsistencies found in prior work on the ways through which family involvement in management affects performance outcomes. Regression analyses utilizing a longitudinal sample of 1,118 Spanish private firms largely support the hypothesized mediating relationship, revealing that TI efficiency leads to richer firm performance in family firms with active family involvement in management. Overall, our findings help elucidate the black box of performance outcomes within family firms and make several contributions to theory and practice.

JEL CLASSIFICATION L25; M12; O32
Estimating lifeline resilience factors using post-disaster business recovery data
Authors: Liu Huan , Tatano Hirokazu , Kajitani Yoshio
Published: September 2020

Recent studies have discussed lifeline resilience factors for industrial sectors. However, these results are derived from business surveys on hypothetical disasters or estimations based on expert opinions: this is mainly due to a lack of data from businesses that actually experienced lifeline disruptions after a disaster. Therefore, this study proposes a modeling framework to estimate the remaining proportions of production capacity after lifeline disruptions due to a disaster, called lifeline resilience factors, in different business sectors. Lifeline resilience factors are estimated using a production function based on responses from a post-disaster business survey in areas affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. A comparative study between the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors was conducted to understand their relative resilience and vulnerability. The results show the varying importance of different lifeline services among sectors and are consistent with those of existing studies. These findings make a significant contribution in confirming the reliability and stability of lifeline services for post-disaster economic impact analysis.
Separation and imaging of seismic diffractions using a localized rank-reduction method with adaptively selected ranks
Authors: Wang Hang , Liu Xingye , Chen Yangkang
Published: September 2020

Seismic diffractions are weak seismic events hidden within the more dominant reflection events in a seismic profile. Separating diffraction energy from the poststack seismic profiles can help infer the subsurface discontinuities that generate the diffraction events. The separated seismic diffractions can be migrated with a traditional seismic imaging method or a specifically designed migration method to highlight the diffractors, that is, the diffraction image. Traditional diffraction separation methods based on the underlying plane-wave assumption are limited by either the inaccurate slope estimation or the plane-wave assumption of the plane-wave destruction filter and thus will cause reflection leakage into the separated diffraction profile. The leaked reflection energy will deteriorate the resolution of the subsequent diffraction imaging result. We have adopted a new diffraction separation method based on a localized rank-reduction (LRR) method. The LRR method assumes the reflection events to be locally low-rank and the diffraction energy can be separated by a rank-reduction operation. Compared to the global rank-reduction method, the LRR method is more constrained in selecting the rank and is free of separation artifacts. We use a carefully designed synthetic example to demonstrate that the LRR method can help separate the diffraction energy from a poststack seismic profile with kinematically and dynamically accurate performance.
A psychiatrist's perspective from a COVID-19 epicentre: a personal account
Authors: Pacchiarotti Isabella , Anmella Gerard , Fico Giovanna , Verdolini Norma , Vieta Eduard
Published: September 2020

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has and will have a huge impact on mental health, especially in countries that have been significantly affected, such as Spain.

Aims

Here we aim to provide the perspectives of a group of psychiatrists from Barcelona, one of the epicentres of the pandemic so far, to highlight the potential fatality of a virus that caught us unaware and unprepared, and hopefully this article will be of aid to countries about to face the pandemic.

Results

The unprecedented situations that we have been faced with so far have included reconfiguring hospitals and the redeployment of healthcare professionals, with flexibility and adaptability key to managing the overload in demand. This has led to healthcare professionals being exposed to extremely stressful situations and they have had impossible decisions to make that may have mental health consequences, some of which may be severe and long lasting.

Conclusions

A rebound effect on mental health problems is to be expected in the medium and long term, especially for healthcare professionals and psychiatric patients, necessitating a strengthening of preventive approaches and policies for mental health along with a prompt reopening of mental health services. Ways to provide psychiatric healthcare in the immediate future need to be re-evaluated, and the development of telepsychiatry services is probably to be expected.
Young Adult Experience in an Outpatient Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Cancer Clinic
Authors: Avery Jonathan , Mosher Pamela J. , Kassam Alisha , Srikanthan Amirrtha , D’Agostino Norma , Zimmermann Camilla , Castaldo Yan , Aubrey Rachel , Rodrigues Caroline M. , Thavaratnam Adrian , Samadi Mahsa , Al-Awamer Ahmed , Gupta Abha
Published: September 2020

PURPOSE:

Young adults (YAs; defined as 18-39 years of age) with advanced cancer are a group for whom standardized age-appropriate palliative care has not been established. The purpose of this study was to explore the YA experience and perceptions of palliative care in an outpatient interdisciplinary palliative care clinic for this population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Using an interpretive descriptive design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 YAs with advanced cancer who were being seen jointly by a palliative care physician and psychiatrist in an ambulatory palliative care clinic. Interviews explored participants’ understanding and experiences of receiving palliative care. Six family members were also interviewed to build on the YA experience. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently, drawing on the constructivist grounded theory method to analyze the data.

RESULTS:

Participants described being referred to and seen in the interdisciplinary palliative care clinic as a conflicting and at times difficult experience because of the feeling of being categorized as palliative as YAs. Even so, there were key aspects associated with the specific palliative care approach that allowed YAs to cope with this new label, leading to a beneficial experience, specifically: provided YAs with time and space to explore the experience of having cancer at a younger age, created repeat opportunities to talk openly with people who “got it,” and highlighted the importance of including family support in the care of YAs.

CONCLUSION:

YAs who were referred to the interdisciplinary palliative care clinic struggled with the category of palliative care but also found the care they received beneficial. Findings provide an approach to palliative care tailored to YAs with advanced cancer.