bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulation for behind armor blunt trauma of human torso under non-penetrating ballistic impact
Authors: Tang Fan , Guo Zerong , Yuan Mengqi , Qian Xinming , Du Zhiming
Published: March 2019

A human torso finite element model with high bio-fidelity was developed to study the behind armor blunt trauma (BABT) of pistol cartridge on human torso with bulletproof composite structure (BCS) and the effect of buffer layer (expandable polyethylene, EPE) on BABT. The bulletproof structure was made of multilayered composite of aluminum alloy (AlSi10Mg) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), and the ANSYS/LS-DYNA software was used to simulate the blunt ballistic impact process of pistol cartridge on human torso. Results indicated that the BCS could resist the shooting speed of 515 m/s without being broken. During the process of pistol cartridge shooting the BCS, the energy of pistol cartridge was transmitted to the human organs through the BCS, thereby causing human injury. Moreover, the mechanical response parameters of various organs were determined by the distance between the human organs and the impact point. The sternal fracture and liver rupture were not produced based on the threshold stress of sternum and liver injury, no matter whether the buffer layer was added or not. According to the Axelsson injury model, a slight to moderate injury was created when there was no buffer layer, but the injury level was trace to slight caused by the buffer layer with thickness of 1.0 mm, and the buffer layer with thickness of 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm caused subtle BABT. It was concluded that the buffer layer could effectively reduce the BABT, and the reduction was related to the thickness of the buffer layer. This study reveals the mechanism of the BABT, which can provide a theoretical basis for the design of the bulletproof structure and the evaluation of structural bulletproof performance and protection performance.
Modelling input data interactions for the optimization of artificial neural networks used in the prediction of pitting corrosion
Authors: Boucherit Mohamed Nadir , Amzert Sid Ahmed , Arbaoui Fahd , Boukhari Yakoub , Brahimi Abdelkrim , Younsi Aziz
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to predict the localized corrosion resistance by the application of artificial neural networks. It emphasizes the importance to take into account the relationships between the physical parameters before presenting them to the network.

Design/methodology/approach

The work was conducted in two phases. At the beginning, the authors executed an experimental program to measure pitting corrosion resistance of carbon steel in an aqueous environment. More than 900 electrochemical experiments were conducted in chemical solutions containing different concentrations of pitting agents, corrosion inhibitors and oxidant reagents. The obtained results were collected in a table where for a combination of the experimental parameters corresponds a pitting potential Epit obtained from the corresponding electrochemical experiment. In the second step, the authors used the experimental data to train different artificial neuron networks for predicting pitting potentials.

Findings

In this step, the authors considered the relationships that the chemical parameters are likely to have between them. Two types of relationships were taken into account: chemical equilibria which are controlled by the pH and the synergistic relationships that some corrosion inhibitors may have when they are in the presence of a chemical oxidant.

Originality/value

This comparative study shows that adjusting the input data by considering the physical relationships between them allows a better prediction of the pitting potential. The quality of the prediction, quantified by a regression factor, is qualitatively confirmed by a statistical distribution of the gap between experimental and calculated pitting potentials.
Students’ perceptions of employability following a capstone course
Authors: Gilbert Guinevere , Wingrove Dallas
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Graduate employability represents a fundamental outcome of higher education. The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare students’ perceptions of their employability through their experience of a simulated or real-life project. The context of the project is a capstone course, implemented in an Australian university, which was designed to enhance employability and foster transferable graduate attributes, including professional communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors designed and conducted quantitative research to capture and measure students’ perceptions of their employability at the conclusion of a capstone course over three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017.

Findings

The results of this paper show that students undertaking a real-life project which makes a social contribution reported a significantly stronger development of work-ready skills in managing projects than students undertaking a simulation project. Specifically, interaction with industry and leadership were reported to be more developed.

Originality/value

The study contributes to knowledge of the relationship between capstone learning and students’ perceptions of employability. It advances the understanding of capstone course design and pedagogy which strengthens the link between learning and work.
Effects of host incentives on multiple listings in accommodation sharing
Authors: Xie Karen L. , Chen Yong
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Despite the importance of hosts who contribute to the success of accommodation sharing through sharing underutilized space with guests, current literature sheds little light on what exactly incentivizes hosts to grow their properties. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of multifaceted motivations including financial benefits, online social interaction and membership seniority and their interplay on hosts’ multiple listing behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is instantiated on real-world business data collected from an accommodation-sharing platform in China. The data set includes 3,199 observations of 252 multi-listing hosts in Beijing who managed 815 properties from September 2012 to October 2016.

Findings

The study discloses that financial benefits, online social interaction and membership seniority significantly incentivize hosts to list multiple properties on the accommodation-sharing platform. In particular, the social incentive is the most important driver among the three. With a 1 per cent increase in online social interactions, the number of properties operated by a host would increase by 13.5 per cent. While the financial benefits and online social interaction motivate hosts to engage in the multi-listing behavior, such effects are significantly mitigated as the membership seniority increases.

Research limitations/implications

This study adds to the extant literature a unique yet less researched perspective of supply expansion driven by hosts. It also provides important practical implications for managing multiple properties for a healthy and viable accommodation-sharing community.

Originality/value

While a majority of the extant research on the sharing economy primarily takes a consumer-related perspective, this study addresses a different and original topic about hosts’ multiple-listing behavior that drives the supply of accommodation sharing. It is a first empirical investigation of the increase of accommodation sharing supply with host motivations explained.
Strategy development using TOWS matrix for international project risk management based on prioritization of risk categories
Authors: Dandage Rahul Vishwanath , Mantha Shankar S. , Rane Santosh B.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

International projects very commonly experience failure due to various factors at the global level. Especially, large projects at the international level virtually have no chance of meeting scope, time, cost and quality. This fact has been underlined by most of the international surveys and published literature. Effective risk management plays a vital role in preventing projects from failure by implementing appropriate risk response strategies. The success of risk management will be based on the understanding of various risk categories which specifically affect international projects, analysis of their interdependence, prioritize them according to their importance and develop strategies for risk management based on the prioritization. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper represents typical eight risk categories frequently observed in the international projects through literature survey and feedback from project professionals. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and Matrice d’Impacts croises-multiplication applique´ an classment (MICMAC) analysis have been used to analyze the interactions among the risk categories and prioritize them. The strategy management tool threats, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths (TOWS) matrix has been used to develop the strategies for effective project risk management.

Findings

The analysis represents political risks, contractual and legal risks, cultural risks, and financial and economic risks as the highest priority risk categories, the mitigation of which should be paid the highest attention. The strengths-threats strategy has been applied to develop the strategies by identifying the various internal strengths of project organization to overcome the various threats caused by the eight risk categories observed in international projects.

Research limitations/implications

This paper tries to represent the prioritization of international project risk categories which are generic in nature. For any specific international project, the risk categories as well as their prioritization may be slightly varying. The tool used for prioritization; Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) is more suitable for few numbers of variables as it becomes complex as the number of variables increases. The strengths and threats considered for developing strategies using TOWS matrix are based on the feedback from project professionals and may vary according to the nature of project.

Originality/value

This paper uses ISM and MICMAC for risk prioritization in international projects and TOWS matrix for developing risk management strategies. This may trigger new opportunities for in-depth research in the risk management strategy development for international projects.
When the going gets tough
Authors: Perez-Floriano Lorena R. , Gonzalez Jorge A.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Integrating the transactional model of stress with risk analysis perspectives and death awareness theory, this paper aims to explore how job-related risks and the experience of a critical job injury influence work stress and withdrawal intentions for workers in dangerous occupations, as well as the relationship between stress and job performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study relies on survey and archival data from Mexican police officers, taking into account the occupational and national context.

Findings

The results showed differences between officers who had or had not been injured in the line of duty and a complex stress-performance relationship for the former group. Officers who had been injured reported higher job-related risks and work stress. Also, for them, work stress had a direct, positive relationship with job performance, as well as an indirect, negative relationship with such outcome through work withdrawal intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The uniqueness of the setting may present problems with generalisability, but the study provides a rich contextual description to guide scholars and practitioners. The complex work stress – job performance relationship implies that managers can assess and use workers’ construction of danger and risk to improve their work performance, but that they should be mindful of potential adverse repercussions on work withdrawal.

Originality/value

The study informs the transactional model of stress and the monolithic model of police culture, affirms the role of perception of resources to manage risk and stress in dangerous occupations, introduces the role of mortality cues in shaping risk perceptions and points to the benefits of performance metrics in risk and work stress research.
Miles and Snow’s strategic typology redux through the lens of ambidexterity
Authors: Sollosy Marc , Guidice Rebecca M. , Parboteeah K. Praveen
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to link firms’ strategic archetypes as formulated by Miles and Snow (1978) to the more recent literature on organizational ambidexterity. Examining these obvious linkages, the paper also addresses how these firms address their entrepreneurial, engineering and administrative problem domains in relationship with the firm’s strategic archetype.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 503 firms across the US. Measures previously validated were used to collect information related to the strategic archetype as well as the three problem domains. Multiple discriminant and regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Most of the hypotheses relating the entrepreneurial (exploration and exploitation), engineering (radical and incremental innovation) and administrative problem (adaptation and alignment) to the four strategic archetypes (defender, prospector, analyzer and reactor) were supported. Additionally, the authors found that the firms that had the closest alignment along the three problem domains outperformed the other firms.

Originality/value

Although the Miles and Snow typology has received considerable research attention, the obvious links with more contemporary research on organizational ambidexterity has been neglected. Through this integration, with more recent key strategic management concepts, this paper shows the utility and current relevance of the Miles and Snow archetypes.
Understanding TQM implementation barriers involving construction companies in a difficult environment
Authors: Dilawo Richard Stuart , Salimi Zahra
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that affect TQM implementation in construction companies and it suggests solutions for TQM implementation in a difficult environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Studies were carried out at six large construction companies who ply their trade in Southern Africa and in-depth investigations were conducted to assess TQM implementation practices and associated TQM barriers. Interviews were conducted on directors and key personnel that play important roles in TQM implementation in their respective organisations. The empirical study also utilised a number of organisational documents which added rigour to the findings.

Findings

This study identified three core categories and ten main barriers affecting TQM implementation in Southern Africa construction companies. The core categories are motivation, infrastructure and penchants and tendencies while the factors are lack of quality support, poor TQM knowledge and TQM awareness, poor information sharing, temporary workers, overdependence on contract document, poor data collection measurement, undefined TQM roles and responsibilities, award to lowest bidder tendency, poor business environment and corruption.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted based on companies plying their trade in Southern Africa and mostly around Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique. It does not study companies in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa and Botswana.

Practical implications

TQM cannot be exported wholly from another region to a new setting without taking into consideration the local factors associated with that setting. For successful TQM implementation in construction in Southern Africa, characteristics of this region have to be known. This study illuminates a number of TQM implementation barriers associated with construction especially applied to this difficult environment. Application of this knowledge would enhance TQM and heighten competitive advantage initiatives. The proportions highlighted in this study therefore help build up the TQM implementation awareness.

Social implications

At society level, the findings of this study indicate societal problems such as corruption and business environment which require wide level approaches to deal with these barriers. In addition, if TQM applied in road construction projects, the quality of the roads will be improved, this in turn will have direct impact on quality of life in the society, better roads means easier access to hospitals, schools and public places, better transport and movements of goods and services, etc. It can also save money for the country in long run and economic benefits to the society.

Originality/value

The factors identified in this study are based on current TQM implementation practices at established construction companies in Southern Africa. They provide a practical basis for guiding TQM in construction companies operating in difficult environments.
Just in time elements extraction and prioritization for health care unit using decision making approach
Authors: Kaswan Mahender Singh , Rathi Rajeev , Singh Mahipal
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritize prime just-in-time (JIT) elements in Indian healthcare sector based on the degree of importance and difficulty. This facilitates the implementation of JIT philosophy in healthcare services without any failure as well as provides quality services to patients at low cost.

Design/methodology/approach

JIT elements related to health care services have been sorted out from comprehensive literature survey. Moreover, important and difficult JIT elements have been ranked on the basis of score obtained by the quantitative method using statistical tools. Furthermore, validation and prioritization of important JIT elements based on the degree of importance have been computed using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and best worst method (BWM).

Findings

The present work provides important, difficult and easy to implement JIT elements in healthcare services. Besides, this work justifies the application of decision-making tool (AHP, BWM) for the prioritization of JIT elements in the health care sector.

Practical implications

The present study develops a deep understanding of JIT concepts in health care services. Furthermore, it motivates professionals for implementing JIT in healthcare services with healthy situation for both hospital and supplier.

Social implications

The present work is beneficial for all the dimensions of sustainable development (social, economic and environmental). The implementation of JIT with a proper understanding of its elements results in an improved patient care, lesser cost of healthcare delivery, time and better management of associated medical items. This work also facilitates the proper management of inventory items together with the reduction in various Lean wastes with the proper implementation of JIT in healthcare. The reduction in various associated wastes leads to cleaner surrounding and lesser environmental degradation.

Originality/value

This paper outlines the need of a robust JIT approach in the healthcare sector for quality services. The efficacy of JIT, AHP and BWM has been explored to find out critical elements for successful JIT implementation in health care.
Finding determinants of e-commerce success: a PLS-SEM approach
Authors: Sharma Himanshu , Aggarwal Anu G.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

With the growth in internet technology, the competition between the e-commerce firms has become fierce. This has forced these online vendors to consider customer-centric strategies apart from the retail strategies for generating revenue. The purpose of this paper is to propose a structural model to study the interrelationship between a formative endogenous latent variable (LV), i.e. e-commerce success, and other LVs representing the customer-oriented success factors such as website service quality (WSQ), customer support system (CSS), personalization and electronic word-of-mouth (EWOM).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop a structural model to validate the determinants of electronic commerce success. Survey-based data obtained from 265 respondents are used to validate the model hypotheses. To analyze the data, partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is performed using smartPLS 2.0 software. The results on the interrelationships between the constructs are determined using path analysis.

Findings

The data analysis results infer the impact of these success factors on e-commerce success systems. After applying bootstrapping technique, the authors observed that WSQ, CSS, personalization and EWOM have a significant positive effect on e-commerce system success (ESS). Further studies can be performed considering mobile commerce and their critical success factors.

Practical implications

The findings of the study emphasize on the importance of these four exogenous variables for e-businesses in order to achieve a competitive edge over their competitors. The study provides a detailed managerial implication with respect to each causal relationship, so as to suggest some remedial measures to gain customer market.

Originality/value

Here, the authors consider an empirical model which shows the determinants of ESS. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, a distinctive system success framework is modeled considering a unique combination of exogenous variables not considered by previous studies.
Identifying factors in currency exchange rate estimation: a study on AUD against USD
Authors: Jan Jae-huei , Gopalaswamy Arun Kumar
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate long-term currency exchange rate and also identify the key factors for decision makers in the currency exchange market. The study is expected to aid decision makers to take positions in the dynamic Forex market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on quantitative and fundamental analysis of statistically oriented regression models. The trend of quarterly exchange rates is investigated using 110 variables including economic elements, interest rate and other currencies. This research is based on the same information that banks’ dealers use for the analysis. Ordinary least squares linear regression also known as “least squared errors regression” was used to estimate the value of the dependent variable.

Findings

The study concludes that “only Australian economic data” or “only the US economic data” cannot fully reflect the trend of AUD/USD. EUR influences AUD relatively larger than the other main market currencies. Six-month Australian interest rate itself affects AUD/USD trend much more than the six-month interest difference between AUD and USD.

Research limitations/implications

The results indicate that the economic autoregressive moving average model can be used to predict future exchange rate using primary factors identified and not from the generic market or economic view. This helps adjust to the general, common (and possibly wrong) views when making a buy or sell decision.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies in the context using the information of bank dealers for AUD/USD. This study is highly relevant in the current context, given the significant growth in Forex trade.
National culture insights on manufacturing competitiveness and talent management relationship
Authors: Deif Ahmed , Van Beek Marilyn
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the critical relationship between talent management (TM) and manufacturing competitiveness (MC) can be better understood through national culture. The authors specifically focus on the moderation effect of the long-term orientation (LTO) culture dimension over this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploration of the moderation effect is carried out by comparing the impact of LTO on the hypothesized linear relationship between the Manufacturing Competitiveness Index (MCI) and different aspects of the Global Talent Management Competitiveness Index (GTCI). The authors compare whether LTO had any improvement in the ability of the different TM pillars to better explain some of the variation of MCI scores among the considered countries.

Findings

The authors found enough support for most of the proposed hypotheses, with results showing a positive relationship between MCI and GTCI. The authors conclude that differences in this relationship can be better explained using the national culture dimension of LTO. The managerial impact of such findings suggests that manufacturing strategists need to consider deeper knowledge of the regional national culture when assessing investments locations.

Research limitations/implications

This research provides a conceptual foundation for the relationship among LTO, TM and MC, but has some limitations due to its exploratory nature. These limitations are related to using secondary data that can be updated in the future, excluding other national culture dimensions that can also relate to the previous variables, and also not considering some relevant political and economic parameters.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper will help to understand the positive relationship among TM, MC and the LTO dimension of national culture; better explain variations that exist in the impact of different TM practices on MC; and give managers some knowledge for global manufacturing excellence decisions within national cultural context.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, no previous work captured the relation between MC and TM from a national culture perspective. With more manufacturing economies evolving toward being more knowledge based, research focusing on how talents and skills required for such evolution are related to national cultures is becoming more critical.
Unintentional participant observation: a research method to inform peer support in mental health?
Authors: Voyce Andrew
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to validate peer support in mental health care.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review and meta-analysis methodology are used.

Findings

The unintentional nature of peer support is a valid methodology for the understanding of mental health issues and mental health care.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation is that peer experience should be accepted as a valued method for research.

Practical implications

Professional domains may not keep a monopoly of research approaches in mental health.

Social implications

Peer support may mean more avenues for empowerment of mental health service users from peer role models who have unintentional acquaintance with mental health issues and care.

Originality/value

This research refers to ethnographic precedents to describe methodology relevant to twenty-first century peer support in mental health. It is original in valuing the unintentional participant observation acquired from experience of the mental health system.
Unlocking value through an extended social media analytics framework
Authors: Wu Gavin Jiayun , Xu Zhenning “Jimmy” , Tajdini Saeed , Zhang Jie , Song Lei
Published: March 2019

Purpose

To unlock social media’s value, this study aims to integrate insights from several theoretical perspectives and the relevant literature, developing an extended social media analytics framework. It identifies the stages underlying the social media analytics process and tests the framework in three important and interconnected areas: social media (Twitter), new product adoption (iWatch and Google Glass) and social media analytic techniques (text mining and sentiment analysis).

Design/methodology/approach

Based upon a systematic review of different research approaches, theories and media types, this paper presents and tests an extended framework in three important and interconnected areas mentioned above.

Findings

This paper offers a theory-driven social media analytics framework. It validates the framework by providing concrete processes, examples, evidence and insights related to three chosen areas mentioned above, thereby helping managers create effective and efficient social media and new product development strategies.

Originality/value

This paper integrates insights from theories of the middle range (Merton, 1949), Campbell’s (1965) model of sociocultural evolution and Fan and Gordon’s (2014) social media analytics framework, developing its own extended social media analytics framework and validating it in three important and interconnected areas mentioned above. This paper demonstrates not only how the proposed framework can be applied to the context of new product development, but also how social media are transforming research approaches (qualitative, quantitative and mixed method) and the very nature of business itself (increased importance of digital business).
A guide on empirical tests of the EMH
Authors: Peón David , Antelo Manel , Calvo Anxo
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The efficient market hypothesis (EMH) states that asset prices in financial markets always reflect all available information about economic fundamentals. The purpose of this paper is to provide a guide as to which predictions of the EMH seem to be borne out by empirical evidence.

Design/methodology/approach

Rather than following the classic three groups of tests for the different forms of EMH that are common in the literature, the authors consider how the two alternative definitions of the EMH and the joint hypothesis problem impact on the tests and leave the controversy unsolved. The authors briefly report the antecedents, the main theoretical and empirical contributions and recent literature on each type of tests.

Findings

Eventually, as a summary for each type of tests, the authors provide a critical view on the main sources of acrimony between the alternative schools of thought in understanding asset price formation.

Originality/value

The paper may be seen as an up-to-date introductory review for researchers on the different tests of the EMH performed, and for newcomers to understand the key sources of acrimony between rationalists and behaviorists.
First‐line pemetrexed/carboplatin or cisplatin/bevacizumab compared with paclitaxel/carboplatin/bevacizumab in patients with advanced non‐squamous non‐small cell lung cancer with wild‐type driver genes: A real‐world study in China
Authors: Chang Qing , Zhang Yanwei , Xu Jianlin , Zhong Runbo , Qiang Huiping , Zhang Bo , Han Baohui , Qian Jialin , Chu Tianqing
Published: March 2019

Background

The study was conducted to compare the effectiveness and safety of pemetrexed/carboplatin or cisplatin/bevacizumab (PemPBev) and paclitaxel/carboplatin/bevacizumab (PacCBev) as first‐line therapy for advanced non‐squamous non‐small cell lung cancer (NS‐NSCLC) patients with wild‐type driver genes in a real‐world setting.

Methods

We retrospectively collected the medical records of advanced NS‐NSCLC patients with wild‐type driver genes administered first‐line PemPBev or PacCBev therapy at Shanghai Chest Hospital between January 2014 and June 2016, and analyzed the differences in survival outcomes, efficacy, and safety between PemPBev and PacCBev treatment.

Results

A total of 390 patients were included in our analysis: 249 in the PemPBev group and 141 in the PacCBev group. Patients administered PemPBev experienced significantly improved progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to those administered PacCBev (PFS 7.5 vs. 6.2 months, hazard ratio [HR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53–0.84, P < 0.001; OS:18.6 vs. 16.0 months, HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52–0.90, P = 0.002). The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were similar between the groups (ORR 21.7% vs. 30.5%, P = 0.053; DCR 69.1% vs. 67.4%, P = 0.728). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the groups (64.7% vs. 68.8%; P = 0.407), but the incidence of peripheral neuropathy in the PacCBev group was higher than in the PemPBev group (7.8% vs. 2.4%; P = 0.012).

Conclusion

Our study shows that for advanced NS‐NSCLC patients with wild‐type driver genes, first‐line PemPBev might be a better treatment option compared to PacCBev.
Adverse Reactions to Medications: Concept Analysis and Development of a New Risk Nursing Diagnosis
Authors: Monteiro Mantovani Vanessa , Moorhead Sue , de Abreu Almeida Miriam , Rabelo‐Silva Eneida Rejane
Published: March 2019

PURPOSE

To analyze the concept of adverse reaction to medications and to develop the new nursing diagnosis Risk for Adverse Reactions to Medications.

METHODS

Concept analysis using Walker and Avant's eight step method.

FINDINGS

Thirty‐three articles indexed in four databases were included. The components of the new nursing diagnosis were determined, including possible nursing outcomes and interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

The concept analysis supported the development of the new nursing diagnosis Risk for Adverse Reactions to Medications, which may help nurses to evaluate and identify patients susceptible to adverse reactions.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The establishment of this nursing diagnosis will provide nurses an opportunity to implement interventions to anticipate and effectively intervene with patients at risk for this condition.
Comparison of Pentax Airway Scope and Macintosh laryngoscope for orotracheal intubation in children: A randomised non‐inferiority trial
Authors: Yi In Kyong , Kwak Hyun Jeong , Kim Kyung Mi , Ahn Soo Hwan , Lee Sook Young , Kim Jong Yeop
Published: March 2019

Background

Pentax Airway Scope (AWS) is a recently developed videolaryngoscope for use in both normal and difficult airways, yet its use in paediatric patients has not been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Pentax AWS regarding intubation time, laryngeal view and ease of intubation in paediatric patients with normal airway, compared to Macintosh laryngoscope.

Method

A total of 136 paediatric patients aged 1‐10 with American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I or II undergoing general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups: Macintosh laryngoscope (n = 68) and Pentax Airway Scope (n = 68). Primary outcome was intubation time. Cormack‐Lehane laryngeal view grade, application of optimal laryngeal external manipulation, intubation difficulty scale, intubation failure rate and adverse events were also measured.

Result

No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding intubation time (P = 0.713). As for the laryngeal view grade, the Pentax group resulted in lower graded cases compared to the Macintosh group (P = 0.000). No optimal laryngeal external manipulation application was required in the Pentax group. Intubation difficulty scale resulted in lower values for Pentax group (P = 0.001). Failure rate was not different between the two groups (P = 0.619). There were significantly more teeth injury cases in the Pentax group than Macintosh group (P = 0.042).

Conclusion

Pentax Airway Scope provided similar intubation time and success rate, while improving laryngeal view, compared to Macintosh laryngoscopy in children with normal airway. When using Pentax AWS in children, however, the risk of teeth injury may increase.
Disclosure Overload? An Empirical Analysis of International Financial Reporting Standards Disclosure Requirements
Authors: Saha Amitav , Morris Richard D. , Kang Helen
Published: March 2019

Despite the positive effects of the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) noted in the literature, standard setters have issued reports suggesting that the required disclosures in IFRS have become too burdensome and should be reduced. We examine this disclosure overload problem by testing whether the disclosure reduction recommendations of the Excess Baggage Report issued by professional accounting bodies from Scotland and New Zealand in 2011 are associated with companies’ disclosure incentives and are value relevant for a sample of 196 Australian listed companies. The Excess Baggage Report classifies current IFRS disclosure requirement items into three categories: Retain; Delete; and Disclose if Material. We find that Retain items are disclosed the most, followed by those classified as Disclose if Material, and then by Delete items. Only Retain items are significantly associated with companies’ disclosure incentives. We also find that these disclosure categories are value relevant, especially for below‐median profitability firms. Our findings may provide input to the IASB’s ongoing Disclosure Initiatives project.
Subdissociative‐dose Ketamine Is Effective for Treating Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Pain
Authors: Lumanauw Debryna D. , Youn Sylvia , Horeczko Timothy , Yadav Kabir , Tanen David A.
Published: March 2019

Background

Subdissociative‐dose ketamine (SDDK) is used to treat acute pain. We sought to determine if SDDK is effective in relieving acute exacerbations of chronic pain.

Methods

This study was a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial conducted May 2017 to June 2018 at a public teaching hospital (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02920528). The primary endpoint was a 20‐mm decrease on a 100‐mm visual analog scale (VAS) at 60 minutes. Power analysis using three groups (0.5 mg/kg ketamine, 0.25 mg/kg ketamine, or placebo infused over 20 minutes) estimated that 96 subjects were needed for 90% power. Inclusion criteria included age > 18 years, chronic pain > 3 months, and acute exacerbation (VAS ≥ 70 mm). Pain, agitation, and sedation were assessed by VAS at baseline and 20, 40, and 60 minutes after initiation of study drug. Telephone follow‐up at 24 to 48 hours used a 10‐point numeric rating scale for pain.

Results

A total of 106 subjects were recruited, with three excluded for baseline pain < 70 mm. After randomization, 35 received 0.5 mg/kg ketamine, 36 received 0.25 mg/kg ketamine, and 35 received placebo. Three subjects receiving 0.5 mg/kg withdrew during the infusion due to adverse effects, and one subject in each group had incomplete data, leaving 97 for analysis. Initial pain scores (91.9 ± 8.9 mm), age (46.5 ± 12.6 years), sex distribution, and types of pain reported were similar. Primary endpoint analysis found that 25 of 30 (83%) improved with 0.5 mg/kg ketamine, 28 of 35 (80%) with 0.25 mg/kg ketamine, and 13 of 32 (41%) with placebo (p = 0.001). More adverse effects occurred in the ketamine groups with one subject in the 0.25 mg/kg group requiring a restraint code for agitation. A total of 89% of subjects were contacted at 24 to 48 hours, and no difference in pain level was detected between groups.

Conclusion

Ketamine infusions at both 0.5 and 0.25 mg/kg over 20 minutes were effective in treating acute exacerbations of chronic pain but resulted in more adverse effects compared to placebo. Ketamine did not demonstrate longer‐term pain control over the next 24 to 48 hours.
POST‐CHOLEDOCHOENTEROSTOMY ‘SUMP SYNDROME’
Authors: MIROS MICHAEL , KERLIN PAUL , STRONG RUSSELL , HARTLEY LIONEL , DICKEY DEREK
Published: March 2019

The ‘sump syndrome’ is an uncommon, late complication of a side‐to‐side choledochoenterostomy. Five patients with this syndrome were encountered over a 5‐year period. Pain or cholangitis was the clinical presentation in four patients, whereas one patient presented with secondary septic arthritis and a hepatic abscess. Liver function tests were mildly abnormal in each patient. All patients had a stomal size of less than 1 cm as assessed by forward‐ or side‐viewing endoscopy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed either stones or debris in the distal common bile ducts of all patients. Four patients had a surgical clearance of their duct with concurrent closure of the choledochojejunostomy in three patients and the creation of a Rouxen‐Y end‐to‐side choledochojejunostomy in the fourth patient. The other patient had an endoscopic sphincterotomy performed. After 1–4 years of follow‐up, four patients have had a total resolution of symptoms. The other patient with follow‐up for 4 years has had one episode of cholangitis which resolved rapidly with antibiotic treatment.

The pathogenesis and clinical spectrum of the sump syndrome are reviewed and current management strategies are discussed.
USE OF DESMOPRESSIN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ASPIRIN‐RELATED AND INTRACTABLE HAEMORRHAGE AFTER CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS
Authors: CHARD R. B. , KAM C. A. , NUNN G. R. , JOHNSON D. C. , MELDRUM-HANNA W.
Published: March 2019

Desmopressin (DDAVP) has been used both prophylactically and therapeutically in the management of excessive bleeding after cardiopulmonary bypass. A series of four consecutive cases is presented in which DDAVP was used to treat excessive bleeding, associated with aspirin antiplatelet therapy in three cases and after all other measures had failed in one. The therapeutic use of DDAVP in aspirin‐related bleeding after bypass has not been reported previously. There was no measured haemodynamic effect of the regimen used. Bleeding ceased promptly after administration of DDAVP in all cases. No morbidity was observed in any of the patients. The indications for use of DDAVP and postulated mechanisms of action are discussed.
TRANSOMENTAL HERNIATION MIMICKING SIGMOID VOLVULUS
Authors: SIDDINS M. T. B. , MACGOWAN K.
Published: March 2019

Transomental herniation as a mechanism for large bowel obstruction is a comparative surgical rarity. The second such case is presented, together with a brief review of available literature. The pathogenesis of omental foraminae is discussed, and an additional aetiological mechanism is proposed.
SUCCESSFUL SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF A CASE OF PULMONARY AND PERICARDIAL MELIOIDOSIS
Authors: MAJID ALJAFRI ABDUL
Published: March 2019

A 35 year old diabetic presented with features of septicaemia and developed cardiac tamponade. He was found to have pulmonary, acute septicaemic and pericardial melioidosis. Some initial improvement was achieved with medical therapy but only with surgical intervention was a successful outcome achieved.
FEASIBILITY OF SIGMOIDOSCOPIC SCREENING FOR COLORECTAL CANCER IN THE HUNTER REGION
Authors: AGREZ M. V. , REDMAN S. , SANSON-FISHER R. , HENNRIKUS D.
Published: March 2019

The success of u cancer detection programme depends on the co‐operation of the target population. The aim of this study was to identify factors which might influence those at average and at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer to undergo a sigmoidoscopic screening test if offered. This was addressed by means of a household survey of individuals aged 40 years and over. Overall consent to undergo screening approximated 45%. There was a significant relationship between agreement to sigmoidoscopy and each of the following: age, marital status, educational level attained, and a previous episode of rectal bleeding. Individuals who had undergone sigmoidoscopy in the past were less willing to have the test performed again. Although individuals with a family history of bowel cancer in first‐degree relatives perceived themselves as being more likely to develop colorectal cancer, this had no apparent impact on their willingness to have the test. The implications of these findings for community education programmes directed at colorectal cancer are discussed.
Delivery outcome after trial of labor in nulliparous women 40 years or older—A nationwide population‐based study
Authors: Ankarcrona Victoria , Altman Daniel , Wikström Anna‐Karin , Jacobsson Bo , Brismar Wendel Sophia
Published: March 2019

Introduction

The number of women postponing childbirth until an advanced age is increasing. Our aim was to study the outcome of labor in nulliparous women ≥40 years, compared with women 25‐29 years, after both spontaneous onset and induction of labor.

Material and methods

The nationwide population‐based Swedish Medical Birth Register was used to study the perinatal outcome in nulliparous women with a singleton, term (gestational weeks 37‐44), live fetus in cephalic presentation and a planned vaginal delivery from 1992 to 2011. We included 7796 nulliparous women ≥40 years and 264 262 nulliparous women 25‐29 years. Prevalence and risk of intrapartum cesarean section, operative vaginal delivery, obstetric anal sphincter injury and a 5‐minute Apgar score <7 were calculated for women ≥40 years stratified for spontaneous onset and induction of labor, using women 25‐29 years as the reference in both strata. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression and presented with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Overall, 79% of women ≥40 years with a trial of labor reached a vaginal delivery. After spontaneous onset, intrapartum cesarean section was performed in 15.4% of women ≥40 years compared with 5.4% of women 25‐29 years (aOR 3.07, 95% CI 2.81‐3.35). Operative vaginal delivery was performed in 22.3% of women ≥40 years compared with 14.2% of women 25‐29 years (aOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.59‐1.85). After induction of labor, an intrapartum cesarean section was performed in 37.2% women ≥40 years compared with 20.2% women 25‐29 years (aOR 2.51, 95% CI 2.24‐2.81). Operative vaginal delivery was performed in 22.6% of women ≥40 years compared with 18.4% women 25‐29 years (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.28‐1.65). The risk of obstetric anal sphincter injury or a 5‐minute Apgar score <7 was not increased in women ≥40 years, regardless of onset of labor.

Conclusions

Trial of labor ended in vaginal delivery in 79% of nulliparous women ≥40 years. The risks of intrapartum cesarean section and operative vaginal delivery were higher in women ≥40 years compared with women 25‐29 years, after both spontaneous onset and induction of labor. The risk of obstetric anal sphincter injury or a 5‐minute Apgar score <7 was not increased.
Long‐term prevention of capsular opacification after lens‐refilling surgery in a rabbit model
Authors: van Kooten Theo G. , Koopmans Steven A. , Terwee Thom , Langner Sönke , Stachs Oliver , Guthoff Rudolf F.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

To reduce capsular opacification by a peri‐surgical treatment of the lens capsule with drugs in an in vivo rabbit model. Lens‐refilling surgery is a potential therapeutic intervention to treat patients with a cataract lens. The lens material is replaced with an injectable (bio)polymer that retains the natural mechanical and optical lens properties, therewith allowing accommodation. The occurrence of capsular opacification mediated by lens epithelial cells negatively affects accommodation and vision and should be avoided in this lens restoration approach.

Methods

An in vivo rabbit animal model was used with lens replacement with a silicone‐based gel‐like polymer and concurrent treatment of the lens epithelium with drugs. A case‐study approach was applied as both drug combinations and implantation times were varied. The following drugs were investigated for their potential to prevent capsular opacification long‐term: actinomycin D, methotrexate, paclitaxel and Tween‐20. All were administered in a hyaluronic acid vehicle. The rabbits were clinically followed for periods up to 4 years postimplantation. Eyes, corneas and lenses were analysed post‐mortem using MRI and confocal microscopy.

Results

Treatment combinations containing actinomycin D generally led to the least appearance of capsular fibrosis. The use of Tween‐20 or paclitaxel without actinomycin D resulted in much earlier and pronounced fibrotic responses. The aspect of capsular opacification was highly variable in individual animals. Application of the drugs in a hyaluronic acid vehicle appeared to be a safe method that spared the corneal endothelium.

Conclusion

The feasibility of long‐term prevention of fibrosis over a period of more than 4 years has been demonstrated in lens refilling in the rabbit model.