bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of vendor rationalization strategy for manufacturing cycle time reduction in engineer to order (ETO) environment
Authors: Seth Dinesh , Rastogi Subhash
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the application of vendor rationalization strategy for streamlining the supplies and manufacturing cycle time reduction in an Indian engineer-to-order (ETO) company. ETO firms are known for a large number of vendors, co-ordination hassles, rework problems and its impact on cycle time and operational excellence.

Design/methodology/approach

The research demonstrates the case-based application of Kraljic’s matrix for supply and leverages items, on-the-job observations, field visits, discussions and analysis of supplies reports.

Findings

The study guides on the rationalization of supplies and the necessary strategic alignments that can significantly reduce supply risk, costs, manufacturing and delivery cycle time along with co-ordination hassles. The study depicts the challenges of ETO environment with respect to supplies, and demonstrates the effectiveness of vendor rationalization application for the case company and weaknesses of commonly practiced vendor management approaches.

Practical implications

To be competitive, companies should rationalize supply items and vendors based on the nature of items and their subsequent usage by applying Kraljic’s matrix-based classification. The immediate implication of vendor rationalization is misunderstood as reducing supply base, but it does much more and includes review of supplies, nature of items and strategic alignments, leading to win-win situation for company and suppliers.

Originality/value

For the rationalization of supplies, while procuring and dealing with vendors, executives should envisage engineering nature of components, considering cross-functional requirements and integration of components in context to ETO products/projects environments. There is a dearth of studies focusing on vendor rationalization aspects in ETO setups in fast-developing country context.
Two modes of learning-oriented leadership: a study of first-line managers
Authors: Ellström Eva , Ellström Per-Erik
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore what learning-oriented leadership could mean in practice and to identify possible sources of variability in this leadership between first-line managers (FLMs). The empirical basis of the study comprised FLMs in nursing homes for elderly care.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was carried out using a sequential mixed-method design based on interviews, observations and documentary analysis.

Findings

The study contributes an in-depth analysis of two modes of learning-oriented leadership: development-oriented and production-oriented. The two orientations represent an open and enabling pattern versus a constraining and controlling pattern of leading and organizing employee learning and development. The observed differences in learning-oriented leadership between the FLMs were interpreted in terms of the demands–constraints–choices model proposed by Stewart (1982; 1989).

Research limitations/implications

Future research should include data from employees to analyze how the mode of learning-oriented leadership shapes the conditions and opportunities for learning at work.

Practical implications

Employee learning and development issues should be clearly linked to business strategies, and it is imperative that senior managers actively support and follow up on FLMs’ work with these issues. Furthermore, there is a strong need for training and development of FLMs – formal and informal – to improve their knowledge of and skills in leading and organizing workplace learning.

Originality/value

The study adds to previous research by elaborating what learning-oriented leadership could mean in practice and how it can be theoretically understood.
Survival of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium in alginate beads during stress treatments
Authors: Cavalheiro Carlos , Ruiz-Capillas Claudia , Herrero Ana Maria , Jiménez-Colmenero Francisco , de Menezes Cristiano Ragagnin , Fries Leadir Lucy
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to protect Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium encapsulated in alginate beads during stress treatments, such as high temperatures and concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2).

Design/methodology/approach

Free and encapsulated probiotics were subjected to 70 and 80°C during 5, 10, 20 and 30 min. In addition, the probiotics were subjected to concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 per cent NaCl and 0.5 and 1.0per cent of NaNO2.

Findings

Free Lactobacillus plantarum was more resistant to heat than free Enterococcus faecium. Alginate-encapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum (ALP) also was more resistant to heat treatments than alginate-encapsulated Enterococcus faecium (AEF). After 30 min at 70°C, ALP showed levels about 6.9 log CFU/g while AEF presented 4.3 log CFU/g (p = 0.005). However, at 80°C, ALP maintained levels higher than 6 log CFU/g for up to 10 min, while AEF was able to maintain those levels only for approximately 5 min (p = 0.003). Encapsulation process provided adequate protection for both probiotics against NaCl. In relation to NaNO2 concentrations, 0.5 and 1.0 per cent reduced viability of both probiotics (p = 0.014), either as free cells or as alginate-encapsulated forms.

Practical implications

Alginate beads containing probiotics is an interesting alternative for application in foods such as cooked meat products.

Originality/value

Alginate beads elaborated with milk powder, inulin and trehalose were effective to protect probiotics in stress situations similar to those can be found in the processing of foods, such as cooked meat products.
Track evolution and surface characteristics of selective laser melting Ti6Al4V
Authors: Zhang Luo , Zhu Haihong , Liu Jiahe , Zeng Xiaoyan
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the track evolution and surface characteristics of selective laser melting Ti6Al4V.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present paper, Ti6Al4V single-track, multi-track and bulk sample were formed at different scanning speed by selective laser melting (SLM). Then, the surface morphology, three-dimension profile and surface roughness were evaluated. The width of the single and multi-track was measured and compared.

Findings

The results showed that the heat accumulation played a great role on the evolution of tracks and surface characteristics from single-track to multi-track and to bulk. The surface morphology of the subsequent tracks became more regular when the single-track was irregular at the same high scanning speed. The width of last track Wn was always larger than that of the first track W1. The Ra of the top of the bulk increased with the increase of the scanning speed, this trend was as same as the Ra of the single-track, but the trend of Ra of the side was opposite.

Originality/value

The effect of heat accumulation on the track evolution and surface characteristics is obtained. The results can help to derive a smooth surface with a regular and continuous track in SLM.
The role of additive technologies in the prototyping issues of design
Authors: Carfagni Monica , Fiorineschi Lorenzo , Furferi Rocco , Governi Lapo , Rotini Federico
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to argue about the involvement of additive technologies (ATs) in the prototyping issues of designing. More precisely, it reviews the literature contributions focused on the different perspectives of prototyping activities for design purposes, searching for both available knowledge and research needs concerning the correct exploitation of ATs.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-step literature review has been performed. In the first step, general information has been retrieved about prototyping issues related to design. In the second step, the literature searches were focused on retrieving more detailed information about ATs, concerning each of the main issues identified in the previous step. Extracted information has been analyzed and discussed for understanding the actual coverage of the arguments and for identifying possible research needs.

Findings

Four generally valid prototyping issues have been identified in the first step of the literature review. For each of them, available information and current lacks have been identified and discussed about the involvement of AT, allowing to extract six different research hints for future works.

Originality/value

This is the first literature review concerning AT-focused contributions that cover the complex and inter-disciplinary issues characterizing prototyping activities in design contexts.
A chunk-based slicer for cooperative 3D printing
Authors: McPherson Jace , Zhou Wenchao
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to develop a new slicing scheme for the emerging cooperative three-dimensional (3D) printing platform that has multiple mobile 3D printers working together on one print job.

Design/methodology/approach

Because the traditional lay-based slicing scheme does not work for cooperative 3D printing, a chunk-based slicing scheme is proposed to split the print job into chunks so that different mobile printers can print different chunks simultaneously without interfering with each other.

Findings

A chunk-based slicer is developed for two mobile 3D printers to work together cooperatively. A simulator environment is developed to validate the developed slicer, which shows the chunk-based slicer working effectively, and demonstrates the promise of cooperative 3D printing.

Research limitations/implications

For simplicity, this research only considered the case of two mobile 3D printers working together. Future research is needed for a slicing and scheduling scheme that can work with thousands of mobile 3D printers.

Practical implications

The research findings in this work demonstrate a new approach to 3D printing. By enabling multiple mobile 3D printers working together, the printing speed can be significantly increased and the printing capability (for multiple materials and multiple components) can be greatly enhanced.

Social implications

The chunk-based slicing algorithm is critical to the success of cooperative 3D printing, which may enable an autonomous factory equipped with a swarm of autonomous mobile 3D printers and mobile robots for autonomous manufacturing and assembly.

Originality/value

This work presents a new approach to 3D printing. Instead of printing layer by layer, each mobile 3D printer will print one chunk at a time, which provides the much-needed scalability for 3D printing to print large-sized object and increase the printing speed. The chunk-based approach keeps the 3D printing local and avoids the large temperature gradient and associated internal stress as the size of the print increases.
Thermal simulation of the cooling down of selective laser sintered parts in PA12
Authors: Li Xiaopeng , Van Hooreweder Brecht , Lauwers Wout , Follon Bavo , Witvrouw Ann , Geebelen Kurt , Kruth Jean-Pierre
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The cooling process of polymer components fabricated by selective laser sintering (SLS) plays a vital role in determining the crystallinity, density and the resultant properties of the produced parts. However, the control and optimization of the cooling process remains challenging. The purpose of this paper is to therefore investigate the cooling process of the SLS fabricated polyamide 12 (PA12) components through simulations. This work provides necessary fundamental insights into the possibilities for optimization and control of this cooling process for achieving desired properties.

Design/methodology/approach

The thermal properties of the PA12 powder and SLS fabricated PA12 components including density, specific heat and thermal conductivity were first determined experimentally. Then, the finite element method was used to optimize a container (a cuboid aluminum box where PA12 parts are built by the SLS) geometry in which the SLS parts can cool down in a controlled manner. Also, the cooling parameters required for maximum temperature homogeneity and minimum cooling time were determined.

Findings

Two different approximations in the finite element (FE) model were used and compared. It was found that the approximation which considers powder as a solid medium with porous material properties gives better results as compared to the approximation which treats powder as a collection of air and particles with solid material properties. The results also showed that the geometry of the containers has an important influence on the cooling process of the SLS fabricated PA12 components regarding temperature homogeneity and cooling time required. A container with a small width, long length and high height tends to result in a more homogenous temperature distribution during the cooling process.

Originality/value

Thermal constants of PA12 powder and parts were accurately determined as a starting point for numerical simulations. The FE model developed in this work provides useful and necessary information for the optimization and control of the cooling process of the SLS fabricated PA12 components and can thus be used for ensuring high-quality products with desired component properties.
Trust and its impact towards continuance of use in government-to-business online service
Authors: Pinem Ave Adriana , Immanuella Ivonne Margi , Hidayanto Achmad Nizar , Phusavat Kongkiti , Meyliana Meyliana
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to understand the antecedent of trust towards government-to-business (G2B) service in Indonesia. Trust will be viewed through four aspects, namely, cognition-based trust, personality-oriented trust, affect-based trust and experience–based trust. Then, these antecedents of trust were examined as the factors of continuance intention by extending the expected confirmation theory (ECT).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a quantitative approach, and 389 respondents were involved in the study. The respondents are the investors who represent their organization which uses e-government service to report their investment activities to the Investment Coordinating Board of Indonesia. Data were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modelling approach with WarpPLS 4.0.

Findings

The result shows that factors that determine a user’s trust in government online service are service quality, trust towards government entity, recommendation to use the service and user’s habit of using the service. Factors that do not determine a user’s trust in government online service is a disposition to trust. Another finding is that a user’s trust on an online service does not directly influence his/her continuance of use. Trust will impact the continuance of use through perceptions of benefits and perceived satisfaction of using the online service.

Research limitations/implications

ECT is applicable in G2B process. Organizations have a perception of benefit while using a public e-service and confirm the perception through their experience while using an e-service to gain satisfaction, and this will encourage them to continue using the service.

Practical implications

To improve organizations’ trust on the e-service, the government needs to improve the e-service quality (by evaluating the efficiency, privacy, user support, reliability and information quality), investor familiarity of the system (training or socialization), investor trust on the government entity (improve the employee competence) and recommendation on using the system.

Originality/value

Trust dimension has also been studied to be a factor that influences the intention or continuance of use of technology; however, it has rarely been studied towards its effect in the ECT’s context. In e-government study, there are various studies related to government-to-citizen (G2C) concept. However, the research in government-to-business (G2B) area that has not been explored much.
Marine vibrators: the new phase of seismic exploration
Authors: Laws R.M. , Halliday D. , Hopperstad J.‐F. , Gerez D. , Supawala M. , Özbek A. , Murray T. , Kragh E.
Published: October 2018

Marine seismic vibrators are generally considered to be less intrusive than airguns from an environmental perspective. This is because they emit their energy spread out in time, rather than in a single, high‐intensity pulse. There are also significant geophysical benefits associated with marine vibrators, and they stem from the ability to specify in detail the output acoustic waveform. The phase can be specified independently at each frequency. Such detailed control cannot be achieved with conventional airgun sources, where the phase can only be modified using simple overall time delays. The vibrator phase can be employed in several different ways: it can be applied to the overall source phase in a sequence so that it varies from one source point to the next; it can be applied to the individual vibrators within the source array so the source directivity is changed; it can be applied to the overall source phase of each source in a simultaneous source acquisition. Carefully designed phase sequences can attenuate the residual source noise, and this in turn allows extra source points to be interleaved between the conventional ones. For these extra source points, the relative phase of the vibrators within the array can be chosen to create a transverse gradient source, which illuminates the earth predominantly in directions out of the plane of the sail line without left/right ambiguity. If seismic vibrator data are acquired using interleaved conventional and transverse gradient sweeps, more information is collected per kilometre of vessel travel than is the case in conventional acquisition. This richer data acquisition leads to the possibility of acquiring all the necessary seismic data in a shorter time. Three‐dimensional reconstruction techniques are used to recover the same image quality that would have been obtained using the conventional, more time‐consuming acquisition. For a marine vibrator to be suitable for these techniques it must, in general terms, have ‘high fidelity’. The precise device specifications are defined through realistic end‐to‐end simulations of the physical systems and the processing. The specifications are somewhat more onerous than for a conventional vibrator, but they are achievable. A prototype vibrator that satisfies these requirements has been built. In a simulated case study of a three‐dimensional deep‐water ocean bottom node survey, the seismic data could have been acquired using marine vibrators in one third of the time that it would have taken using airguns.
Estimating the hospital costs of inpatient harms
Authors: Anand Priyanka , Kranker Keith , Chen Arnold Y.
Published: October 2018

Objective

To estimate the additional hospital costs associated with inpatient medical harms occurring during an index inpatient admission and costs from subsequent readmissions within 90 days.

Data Source

2009 to 2011 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's State Inpatient Databases from 12 states.

Study Design

We compare hospital costs incurred by patients experiencing a specific harm during their hospital stay to the costs incurred by similar patients who did not experience that harm.

Data Extraction

We extracted records for adult patients admitted for a reason other than rehabilitation or mental health, were at risk of a harm, and were admitted for less than a year.

Principal Findings

The costliest inpatient harms, such as surgical site infections and severe pressure ulcers, are associated with approximately $30 000 in additional index stay costs per harm. Less costly harms, such as catheter‐ or hospital‐associated urinary tract infections and venous thromboembolism, can add $6000 to $13 000. Birth and obstetric traumas add as little as $100.

Conclusions

Our analysis represents rigorous estimates of the hospital costs of a variety of inpatient harms; these should be of interest to health care administrators and policy makers to identify areas for cost savings to the health care system.
A Retrospective Study on Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent Dose Reducing Potential of an Anti‐Platelet Activation Membrane Dialyzer in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Kakuta Takatoshi , Ishida Mari , Komaba Hirotaka , Suzuki Hajime , Fukagawa Masafumi
Published: October 2018

Our previous small‐scale trial demonstrated an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA)‐sparing potential of the TORAYLIGHT NV (NV) dialyzer in hemodialysis patients with high interleukin‐6 levels. We now retrospectively explored this ESA‐sparing potential of the NV dialyzer in 122 and 129 prevalent dialysis patients who were on the NV and conventional polysulfone (PS) dialyzers, respectively, for 12 months. ESA resistance index (ERI) increased with the PS dialyzers whereas neither ERI nor ESA dose changed with the NV dialyzer. Analyses of baseline ERI or ESA dose‐based subgroups revealed a decrease in ERI and ESA dose with the NV dialyzer in patients with a baseline ERI ≥12 IU·dL/week·kg·g Hb (P < 0.05) and in those with a baseline ESA dose >6000 IU/week (P < 0.001), respectively. Neither ERI nor ESA dose improved in the corresponding subgroups on the PS dialyzers. These findings suggest that NV dialyzer can improve ESA responsiveness in hemodialysis patients with advanced ESA resistance.
Relationship between long‐chain omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and ankle brachial index, pulse wave velocity and resting heart rate in a sample of overweight adults: A secondary analysis of baseline data in the HealthTrack study
Authors: Senevirathne Anjana , Neale Elizabeth , Peoples Gregory , Tapsell Linda
Published: October 2018

Aim

The present study aimed to explore the association between dietary long‐chain omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCn3PUFA) intake and cardiovascular risk indicators (ankle brachial index, resting heart rate and brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity) in a clinical sample of overweight and obese participants volunteering for a weight loss trial.

Methods

This was a secondary analysis of baseline data from the HealthTrack study (n = 351). LCn3PUFA intake was calculated via a diet history and the association with ankle brachial index, resting heart rate and brachio‐ankle pulse wave velocity was explored using linear regression after controlling for covariates.

Results

LCn3PUFA intake was inversely associated with ankle brachial index (R2 change = 0.021, F change (1, 339) = 8.864, P < 0.05) and resting heart rate (R2 change = 0.014, F change (1, 342) = 5.337, P < 0.05) but not with brachio‐ankle pulse wave velocity (R2 change = 0.001, F change (1, 339) = 0.725, P > 0.05).

Conclusions

In this clinical sample of overweight adults, LCn3PUFA consumption was significantly associated with a lower resting heart rate, adding to the current evidence on the potential benefits of LCn3PUFA consumption. It also supports the value of targeting a diet rich in this nutrient when planning future dietetic approaches. Relationships with ankle brachial index and pulse wave velocity require further investigation. Future research should assess the effect of changes in dietary LCn3PUFA intake on novel cardiovascular risk indicators.
Antidiabetic, Antihyperlipidemic, and Antioxidant Activities of Mulberry Lees Fermented Products in Diabetic Mice
Authors: Hwang JeanYu , Shieh Den‐En , Shyu Yung‐Shin , Hsu Cheng‐Kuang , Lin Chuan‐wang
Published: October 2018

Mulberry lees are the sediment in the bottom of the barrel, which can be obtained from the processing of mulberry wine, and they are considered as low‐value byproducts. In this study, mulberry lees were extracted with ethanol, and then fermented with Monascus pilosus to obtain fermented products (M × M). Male ICR mice were diabetes induced by STZ, and then oral administration of fermented products. The results showed that fermented products could reduce 31.9% to 47.9% plasma glucose, 25.8% to 48.2% total cholesterol, and 16.7% to 25% triglyceride levels in diabetic mice, and it can greatly lower the malondialdehyde (MDA) content by 26.4% to 59.7% but raise antioxidant enzyme activity in the liver of the mice. Moreover, fermented products not only could reduce AST and ALT activity of the diabetic mice, thereby alleviating liver inflammation, but also lowered the urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, improved glomerulus volume, and reduced swelling and inflammation in the kidneys. It was concluded that mulberry lees fermented products could be served as a value‐added resource for human health.
Value of the preoperative neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor for long‐term survival in postoperative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients
Authors: Xu Guang‐wen , Wu Han‐ran , Xiong Ran , Li Cai‐wei , Liu Chang‐qing , Xu Mei‐qing , Xie Ming‐ran
Published: October 2018

Background

This study investigated the relationship between the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients with postoperative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

The preoperative NLR was evaluated in 419 patients who underwent esophagectomy for ESCC. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to verify the accuracy of the NLR for predicting survival. Correlation between the NLR and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed using the χ2 test. Prognostic influence was calculated by using the Kaplan–Meier method and the difference was assessed by log‐rank test. Multivariate Cox regression models were applied to evaluate the independent prognostic value.

Results

The cutoff value of the NLR was 2.998, the area under the curve was 0.735, and the sensitivity and specificity were 69.3% and 69.3%, respectively. Tumor length (P = 0.0317), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0352), pathological tumor node metastasis (pTNM) stage (P = 0.0271), and postoperative radiotherapy (P = 0.0385) were significantly different between the groups. Multivariate analysis showed that pTNM stage (P = 0.0098), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), and NLR (P = 0.0022) were independent prognostic factors for survival. Moreover, when patients were stratified by TNM stage, the adverse effects of preoperative NLR on cancer‐specific survival were greater in patients with stage II and III ESCC and in patients with lymph node metastasis.

Conclusions

The preoperative NLR is significantly correlated with long‐term prognosis in postoperative patients with ESCC, particularly in patients with lymph node metastasis and stage II and III ESCC.
New Perspectives in Internal Audit Research: A Structured Literature Review
Authors: Roussy Mélanie , Perron Alexandre
Published: October 2018

This structured literature review adopts a multimethod and multitheoretical approach to identify current knowledge about internal audit as well as related knowledge gaps. To that end, it provides an overview of post‐Sarbanes‐Oxley Act literature, organizing it under three themes: the multiple roles of internal audit, internal audit quality (IAQ), and the practice of internal audit. Despite the volume of literature published during the period covered by this review (2005 to mid‐2017), the first two themes are still in development, while the third is emergent. We suggest research avenues to fill the following main gaps: (i) Given differing opinions about the expected or actual roles of internal audit, prior literature infers that the internal audit function has become the “jack of all trades” of governance, but does not clearly capture its actual roles. (ii) The viewpoint of external auditors has dominated IAQ research, leading to a misunderstanding of how actors with greater stakes in the practice of internal audit conceptualize and evaluate IAQ. (iii) Knowledge of the actual practice of internal audit and its accountability and ethical issues is fragmentary, therefore the literature's current picture of internal audit is far from comprehensive.
External Auditors' Judgment and Decision Making: An Audit Process Task Analysis
Authors: Mactavish Carolyn , McCracken Susan , Schmidt Regan N.
Published: October 2018

This manuscript reviews the external auditor judgment and decision making (JDM) literature from the past decade by specific tasks in the auditing process. Decomposing the literature review by audit task was chosen to enable audit and behavioral researchers and graduate students to identify the trends of JDM research subsequent to Nelson and Tan's () literature review. In addition to identifying gaps/omissions in the current literature, suggestions for future research are also advanced based on forthcoming transformations in the auditing institutional environment.
Grassroots Intervention to Increase Appointment of Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators in Massachusetts Emergency Departments
Authors: Camargo Carlos A. , Boggs Krislyn M. , Sullivan Ashley F. , Gutierrez Camilo E. , Petrack Emory M.
Published: October 2018

Objectives

Appointment of a pediatric emergency care coordinator (PECC) is considered the single best intervention to improve pediatric emergency care and has been recommended for all U.S. general emergency departments (EDs) for more than a decade. Unfortunately, many EDs do not adhere with this recommendation. In 2017, we performed a grassroots intervention to establish a PECC in every Massachusetts ED.

Methods

We conducted annual surveys of all 73 Massachusetts EDs from 2014 to 2018. Data collection included ED visit volumes, presence of a pediatric area, and PECC status. The intervention in 2017–2018 included e‐mails and telephone calls to every ED director to not only assess PECC status but also encourage him/her to appoint one as needed.

Results

Survey response rates were > 85% in all years and 100% during 2016 to 2018. While Massachusetts EDs did not materially change over time (in terms of visit volumes or presence of a pediatric area), the 2017 intervention increased the percentage of EDs with an appointed PECC. Specifically, PECCs were present in approximately 30% of EDs during 2014 to 2016, climbed to 85% in 2017, and reached 100% in 2018. Most of the newly appointed PECCs were physicians.

Conclusions

Through a relatively simple grassroots intervention, we increased the appointment of PECCs in Massachusetts EDs from 30% to 100%. In addition to providing PECCs with online educational materials, ongoing work is focused on building community, identifying best practices, and implementing interventions at the local level.
Long‐term Mortality in Pediatric Firearm Assault Survivors: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Comparative Cohort Study
Authors: Shaahinfar Ashkon , Yen Irene H. , Alter Harrison J. , Gildengorin Ginny , Pan Sun‐Ming J. , Betts James M. , Fahimi Jahan
Published: October 2018

Objectives

The objective was to determine whether children surviving to hospital discharge after firearm assault (FA) and nonfirearm assault (NFA) are at increased risk of mortality relative to survivors of unintentional trauma (UT). Secondarily, the objective was to elucidate the factors associated with long‐term mortality after pediatric trauma.

Methods

This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients aged 0 to 16 years who presented to the three trauma centers in San Francisco and Alameda counties, California, between January 2000 and December 2009 after 1) FA, 2) NFA, and 3) UT. The Social Security Death Master File and the California Department of Public Health Vital Statistics (2000–2014) were queried through December 31, 2014, to identify those who died after surviving their initial hospitalization and to delineate cause of death. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to determine associations between exposure to assault and long‐term mortality.

Results

We analyzed 413 FA, 405 NFA, and 7,062 UT patients who survived their index hospital visit. A total of 75 deaths occurred, including 3.9, 3.2, and 0.7% of each cohort, respectively. Two‐thirds of all long‐term deaths were due to homicide. After multivariate adjustment, adolescent age, male sex, black race/ethnicity, and public insurance were independent risk factors for long‐term mortality. FA (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.82–4.0) and NFA (AHR = 1.9, 95% CI = 0.93–3.9) did not convey a statistically significant difference in risk of long‐term mortality compared to UT. Being assaulted by any means (with or without a firearm), however, was an independent risk factor for long‐term mortality in the full study population (AHR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.01–3.4) and among adolescents (AHR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.01–3.6).

Conclusion

Children and adolescents who survive assault, including by firearm, have increased long‐term mortality compared to those who survive unintentional, nonviolent trauma.
Establishing the Key Outcomes for Pediatric Emergency Medical Services Research
Authors:   Members of the SAEM Consensus Conference Emergency Medical Services Subcommittee, Adelgais Kathleen M. , Hansen Matthew , Lerner E. Brooke , Donofrio J. Joelle , Yadav Kabir , Brown Kathleen , Liu Yiju T. , Denslow Paula , Denninghoff Kurt , Ishimine Paul , Olson Lenora M.
Published: October 2018

The evidence supporting best practices when treating children in the prehospital setting or even the effect emergency medical services (EMS) has on patient outcomes is limited. Standardizing the critical outcomes for EMS research will allow for focused and comparable effort among the small but growing group of pediatric EMS investigators on specific topics. Standardized outcomes will also provide the opportunity to collectively advance the science of EMS for children and demonstrate the effect of EMS on patient outcomes.

This article describes a consensus process among stakeholders in the pediatric emergency medicine and EMS community that identified the critical outcomes for EMS care in five clinical areas (traumatic brain injury, general injury, respiratory disease/failure, sepsis, and seizures). These areas were selected based on both their known public health importance and their commonality in EMS encounters. Key research outcomes identified by participating stakeholders using a modified nominal group technique for consensus building, which included small group brainstorming and independent voting for ranking outcomes that were feasible and/or important for the field.
FAANG, establishing metadata standards, validation and best practices for the farmed and companion animal community
Authors: Harrison P. W. , Fan J. , Richardson D. , Clarke L. , Zerbino D. , Cochrane G. , Archibald A. L. , Schmidt C. J. , Flicek P.
Published: October 2018

The Functional Annotation of ANimal Genomes (FAANG) project aims, through a coordinated international effort, to provide high quality functional annotation of animal genomes with an initial focus on farmed and companion animals. A key goal of the initiative is to ensure high quality and rich supporting metadata to describe the project's animals, specimens, cell cultures and experimental assays. By defining rich sample and experimental metadata standards and promoting best practices in data descriptions, deposition and openness, FAANG champions higher quality and reusability of published datasets. FAANG has established a Data Coordination Centre, which sits at the heart of the Metadata and Data Sharing Committee. It continues to evolve the metadata standards, support submissions and, crucially, create powerful and accessible tools to support deposition and validation of metadata. FAANG conforms to the findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data principles, with high quality, open access and functionally interlinked data. In addition to data generated by FAANG members and specific FAANG projects, existing datasets that meet the main—or more permissive legacy—standards are incorporated into a central, focused, functional data resource portal for the entire farmed and companion animal community. Through clear and effective metadata standards, validation and conversion software, combined with promotion of best practices in metadata implementation, FAANG aims to maximise effectiveness and inter‐comparability of assay data. This supports the community to create a rich genome‐to‐phenotype resource and promotes continuing improvements in animal data standards as a whole.
Contractual dependencies:
Authors: DEVLIEGER CLARA
Published: October 2018

One of the most conspicuous livelihood strategies for physically disabled people in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, is a particular style of begging known locally as “doing documents.” Confronted with the stigma of begging, disabled beggars create documents in an attempt to legitimize and regulate begging through formalization and bureaucracy, presenting their relationship with donors as NGO fund‐raising and government tax‐collecting. The dynamics of petitioning for these “contractual dependencies” provide a nuanced perspective on desired dependencies: dependencies can be presented in multiple ways, and people consider some dependencies more legitimate and valuable than others. Recipients are not passive but play a defining role in shaping these relationships, seeking a balance between proximity and desired distance to patrons. [dependence,disability,distribution,bureaucracy,begging,temporality,Democratic Republic of Congo]
Upper limb disorders in anaesthetists – a survey of Association of Anaesthetists members
Authors: Leifer S. , Choi S. W. , Asanati K. , Yentis S. M.
Published: October 2018

Upper limb disorders (affecting the hand, arm and neck) are common. The nature of anaesthetists’ work poses a potential extra risk from poor posture that may contribute to the development of upper limb disorders in this professional group. However, to date, the problem has received scant attention in the literature. Following a 2 to 3‐month period of publicity via newsletter, email and social media, all 10,231 electronically accessible members of the Association of Anaesthetists were invited by email to complete an online survey that was administered by a third‐party company. A total of 3884 usable responses were received (38%). Analysis of possible risk factors found a significant association between upper limb disorders and years since starting anaesthetic training, having children (irrespective of respondents’ sex or the number of children) and right‐handedness. Years of practice and having children are less modifiable identified risk factors. However, right‐handedness may be linked to the ergonomic design of the environment/equipment used within this specialty and may thus be a potentially modifiable risk factor worthy of further investigation.
Application of polycaprolactone, chitosan, and collagen composite as a nanofibrous mat loaded with silver sulfadiazine and growth factors for wound dressing
Authors: Nejaddehbashi Fereshte , Hashemitabar Mahmoud , Bayati Vahid , Abbaspour Mohammadreza , Moghimipour Eskandar , Orazizadeh Mahmoud
Published: October 2018

Fabrication of nanofibrous biomaterials composed of natural and synthetic materials that incorporated with antibiotic and growth factors with controlled release manner is an attractive topic in wound healing. The purpose of this study was to prepare optimal composite of materials as biomimetic nanofibrous mats for application in wound healing. The mat was prepared of polycaprolactone (PCL) in the bottom, chitosan/poly ethylene oxide (Cs/PEO) in the middle, and PCL/collagen (PCL/Coll) in the top layer. A panel of standard characterization tests of nanofibrous mat was performed and its compatibilities in strength and integration were confirmed. Middle layer was loaded with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and silver sulfadiazine (SSD) was incorporated in the bottom layer as an anti‐infection factor. Then, on the dorsum of rats, a 400‐mm2 wound was created and surrounded by a silicone ring to control the usual tissue contractions. Nanofibrous mats with or without growth factors were applied as wound dressings and at day 14, the healing process was evaluated. At day 14, the treated group by designed mat showed faster epithelialization and angiogenesis. Silicone ring in the test group was desirable in wound closure compared to the control group. Reformation of skin tissue was manifested in a shorter time. This composite nanofibrous mat could be introduced as a dynamic and effective candidate for wound dressing.
Bouncing Back from Failure: Entrepreneurial Resilience and the Internationalisation of Subsequent Ventures Created by Serial Entrepreneurs
Authors: Lafuente Esteban , Vaillant Yancy , Vendrell‐Herrero Ferran , Gomes Emanuel
Published: October 2018

This paper examines the impact over international propensity of past negative entrepreneurial experience for those who re‐enter into entrepreneurial activity; referred to as resilient serial entrepreneurs. We first hypothesise on the effects over entrepreneurial re‐entry that such negative past experience may have and highlight the link between the past entrepreneurial experience of resilient entrepreneurs and their subsequent propensity towards international markets. Building on insights from the generative experiential learning process of entrepreneurial activity and from cognition theories, we propose that resilient entrepreneurs who re‐enter business despite having faced negative entrepreneurial experiences in the past benefit from enriched cognitive schemas leading them to greater export propensity. The proposed hypotheses are tested on a unique sample drawn from a Spanish adult population survey. Results from the sequential deductive triangulation analysis reveal that practical experience is an essential prerequisite for entrepreneurial learning, and that the resilience of those with negative entrepreneurial experience induces the generative entrepreneurial learning especially suitable for subsequent internationally oriented ventures.
The Moderating Effect of Performance Feedback and the Mediating Effect of Self‐Set Goals on the Primed Goal‐Performance Relationship
Authors: Itzchakov Guy , Latham Gary P.
Published: October 2018

The effect of feedback and a self‐set goal on the relationship between a goal primed in the subconscious and performance were examined in three laboratory experiments and one field experiment (n = 241, 465, 201, 74 respectively), using normative (bogus) and absolute feedback manipulations, and different performance tasks that were coded for both performance quality (i.e. creativity) and quantity. The hypothesis that providing feedback, a moderator in goal setting theory, amplifies the causal effect of a primed goal on performance was supported. Specifically, in experiment 1, participants were randomly assigned to a 2 (prime of effective vs. ineffective performance) × 3 (positive, negative, no feedback) factorial design. The primed goal for effective performance led to higher performance than the negative primed goal. In addition, feedback, regardless of its sign, increased both task and creative performance when a primed goal for effective performance was presented, but did not do so when the goal primed ineffective performance. This effect was replicated in two subsequent laboratory experiments which employed three primed goal conditions (effective/neutral/ineffective). In experiments 2 and 3, a consciously set goal, with no prompting by an experimenter, mediated the relationship between a primed goal and performance when feedback was provided. Experiment 4 provided a conceptual replication in a work setting, involving employees in a customer service department of a large communication company. Finally, a meta‐analysis of these four experiments indicated an average effect size of d = 0.36, 95 per cent CI [0.23, 0.49] with no evidence of heterogeneity across the four experiments. These findings suggest that not only are subconscious goals a foundation for the difficulty level of consciously set goals, but in addition subconscious goals and conscious goals work together in affecting performance.
Tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline inhibits autophagic flux and prevents tube formation in vascular endothelial cells
Authors: Guan Yinglu , Li Xiang , Umetani Michihisa , Boini Krishna M. , Li Pin‐Lan , Zhang Yang
Published: October 2018

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant and an inhibitor of lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase (ASM). Amitriptyline is well known for its cardiovascular side effects and toxicity in psychiatric patients. However, the mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular side effects of amitriptyline remain largely undefined. This study aimed to determine the effects of amitriptyline on angiogenic capability of vascular endothelial cells in physiological settings and identify its mechanism of action. The ex vivo aortic ring angiogenesis and in vitro‐cultured endothelial cell tube formation assay were used to assess the effects of amitriptyline on endothelial angiogenic capability. It was demonstrated that amitriptyline impaired the angiogenesis of aortic rings, which was similar to that found in aortic rings with haploinsufficiency of the ASM gene. In cultured mouse microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs), amitriptyline impaired the proliferation and tube formation under basal condition, which were accompanied by attenuated angiogenic signalling pathways such as endothelial nitric oxide synthase, Akt and Erk1/2 pathways. Mechanistically, amitriptyline inhibited autophagic flux without affecting autophagosome biogenesis at basal condition. ASM gene silencing or autophagy inhibition mimics the inhibitory effects of amitriptyline on endothelial cell proliferation and tube formation. Collectively, our data suggest that amitriptyline inhibits endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis via blockade of ASM‐autophagic flux axis. It is implicated that the cardiovascular side effects of amitriptyline may be associated with its inhibitory action on physiological angiogenesis.
Cellular neurothekeoma: Report of two cases with unusual immunohistochemical features
Authors: Gallo Graziana , Kutzner Heinz , Mentzel Thomas , Cesinaro Anna M.
Published: October 2018

Cellular neurothekeoma (CNT) is a dermal lesion with still unknown histogenesis, characterized by immunohistochemical staining for NKI/C3, NSE, MiTF, CD10 and CD68, whereas S100 protein, desmin and cytokeratins are negative. Particularly, in several studies NKI/C3 has been reported as a strong marker of CNT. We describe herein the clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features of two cases morphologically consistent with myxoid CNT, one of which showing some atypical features, both characterized by negative immunohistochemical staining for NKI/C3. Our findings stress the importance of morphology in diagnosing CNT and underline the fact that NKI/C3 can fail to stain cases belonging to the “neurothekeoma family.” In selected cases of CNT, an expanded immunohistochemical panel is mandatory to differentiate this tumor from other dermal lesions.