bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishing mercury-free medical facilities: a Malaysian case study
Authors: Amir Sultan Mohamad Mahathir , Goh Choo Ta , Wan Puteh Sharifa Ezat , Mokhtar Mazlin
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Mercury is widely used in medical and healthcare facilities as dental amalgam, mercury-added medical devices, thiomersal-containing vaccines, laboratory analysis and for other general applications despite the hazards. Various agencies consistently promote mercury-free medical facilities through mercury-free alternatives and better management practices, which are in line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury that aims to protect human health and environment from anthropogenic mercury release. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a gap analysis on recommended practices gathered from the literature and current practices gathered through semi-structured interviews with Malaysian medical personnel. A life cycle approach was adopted covering mercury use: input, storage, handling, accident, waste disposal and governance phases.

Findings

The authors found that there are significant gaps between recommended and current mercury management practices. Analysis indicates improper mercury management as the main contributor to these gaps. The authors found from recommended practices that core components needing improvement include: mercury management action plan, mercury use identification team, purchasing policy, proper guidelines and monitoring systems.

Practical implications

This study helps us to understand mercury management practices and suggests essential steps to establish a mercury-free medical facility.

Originality/value

This study explored the gaps between recommended and current mercury management practices in a medical facility and contributes to the Minamata Convention on Mercury aspirations.
Quality of patient information in emergency department
Authors: Farzandipour Mehrdad , Karami Mahtab , Arbabi Mohsen , Abbasi Moghadam Sakine
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Data comprise one of the key resources currently used in organizations. High-quality data are those that are appropriate for use by the customer. The quality of data is a key factor in determining the level of healthcare in hospitals, and its improvement leads to an improved quality of health and treatment and ultimately increases patient satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to assess the quality of emergency patients’ information in a hospital information system.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 randomly selected records of patients admitted to the emergency department of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran, in 2016. Data on five dimensions of quality, including accuracy, accessibility, timeliness, completeness and definition, were collected using a researcher-made checklist and were then analyzed in SPSS. The results are presented using descriptive statistics, such as frequency distribution and percentage.

Findings

The overall quality of emergency patients’ information in the hospital information system was 86 percent, and the dimensions of quality scored 87.7 percent for accuracy, 86.8 percent for completeness, 83.9 percent for timeliness, 79 percent for definition and 62.1 percent for accessibility.

Originality/value

Increasing the quality of patient information at emergency departments can lead to improvements in the timely diagnosis and management of diseases and patient and personnel satisfaction, and reduce hospital costs.
Relationship between patient costs and patient pathways
Authors: Dahlin Sara , Raharjo Hendry
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify actual (as-is) patient pathway variation among breast cancer patients and to investigate the relationship between pathways and the cost incurred by patients.

Design/methodology/approach

Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to analyze data from four Swedish hospital groups. Quantitative methods include event-log data mining and statistical analyses on the related patient cost from the Swedish breast cancer quality registry and case-costing system. Qualitative methods included collaboration with and interviewing domain experts.

Findings

Unique pathways, followed by only one patient, were generally costlier than the most and less frequent pathways. Earlier study findings are confirmed for mastectomy patients, with more frequent pathways having a lower cost, whereas contradicting and inconclusive results emerged for the partial mastectomy patient groups. Highest variation in pathways was identified for patients receiving chemotherapy.

Practical implications

The common belief – if one follows a standardized patient pathway, then the cost will be lower – should be re-examined based on the actual pathways that occur in reality.

Originality/value

The relationships between patient pathways and patient cost allow more complex insights, beyond the general causal relationship between successfully implementing a “to-be” care pathway and lower cost. This highlights data-driven research’s importance, where actual pathways (as-is) provide more useful information than to-be care pathways.
The privatisation of healthcare system in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Redwanur
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that triggered the privatisation of Bangladesh’s health sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows systematic reviews in its undertaking and is based on an extensive review of both published and unpublished documents. Different search engines and databases were used to collect the materials. The study takes into account of various research publications, journal articles, government reports, policy and planning documents, relevant press reports/articles, and reports and discussion papers from the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Findings

While Bangladesh’s healthcare sector has undergone an increasing trend towards privatisation, this move has limited benefits on the overall improvement in the health of the people of Bangladesh. The public sector should remain vital, and the government must remobilise it to provide better provision of healthcare.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focusses only on the public policy aspect of privatisation in healthcare of a country.

Practical implications

The paper examines the issue of privatisation of healthcare and concludes that privatisation not only makes services more expensive, but also diminishes equity and accountability in the provision of services. The study, first, makes a spate of observations on improving public healthcare resources, which can be of value to key decision makers and stakeholders in the healthcare sector. It also discourages the move towards private sector interventions.

Originality/value

This study is an independent explanation of a country’s healthcare system. Lesson learned from this study could also be used for developing public policy in similar socio-economic contexts.
Organisational culture: the hidden operand in clinical laboratories
Authors: Chang Wee Leong , Meyer Jill , Merien Fabrice
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present organisational cultural determinants that can influence total quality management (TQM) in clinical laboratories.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a viewpoint paper using evidence provided by a literature research about cultural patterns using Competing Values Framework to explain the relationship between organisational culture and TQM.

Findings

Cultural aspects likely to enhance creativity and innovation are considered as incentives in promoting cultural transformation. TQM in the average modern clinical laboratory requires a long overdue transformational change in values, culture and attitude.

Social implications

Valuing people, making up an organisation, is expected to enhance TQM.

Originality/value

This paper provokes a shift in thinking among traditional clinical laboratory managers and results in a win-win for both staff and total quality outcomes.
An investigation into the financial sustainability of
Islamic Saving, Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOS) in Tanzania
Authors: Said Mariam Swalehe , Annuar Hairul Azlan , Hamdan Hamdino Bin
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the financial sustainability of
Islamic Saving Credit Corporative Society (SACCOS) and the factor(s)
affecting their financial sustainability in the Tanzanian context.

Design/methodology/approach

The data set used in this study comes from four SACCOS audited financial
reports from the year 2010 to 2014 and from interviews with SACCOS’s
management.

Findings

The study found that the IMFIs in Tanzania are not financially sustainable.
Additionally, having responsible staff members, regular review of financial
guidelines, education to members, cooperation between employees and
management and staff training are found to be highly contributing factors
towards SACCOS’s financial sustainability. Moreover, the findings
reveal that depending on the single source of income, i.e., charges on
members contributed much in these SACCOS’s not being financially
sustainable.

Research
limitations/implications

Only two available registered Islamic SACCOS was used. Additionally,
conventional SACCOS have been in service provision for a long time as
compared to Islamic ones; hence, caution must be taken for comparison
purposes.

Practical implications

Based on these findings, the Islamic SACCOS needs to initiate productive
projects that can enable them to have other income sources apart from
charges on members.

Originality/value

This study traces the financial trend of Islamic SACCOS in Tanzania since its
establishment in 2010. Such trace enables Islamic SACCOS and other
stakeholders to be aware on the financial progress of Islamic SACCOS and act
accordingly to ensure sustainability.
When is helping considered helping? The recipient’s view of helping during the stages of receiving help
Authors: Chou Shih Yung , Ramser Charles , Chang Tree
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model that describes when helping is considered helping from the recipient’s point of view.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical model was conceptually developed by drawing upon attribution theory, self-consistency theory and social cognitive theory, as well as relevant literature.

Findings

The authors propose that receiving help encompasses three sequential stages: the pre-help-receiving stage, the help-receiving stage and the post-help-receiving stage. Additionally, the authors theorize that the more other-oriented helping motives are attributed by the recipient, the more likely the recipient views the helper’s help as helping, that the more self-esteem preserving behaviors along with helping actions the recipient receives from the helper, the more likely the recipient views the helper’s help as helping and that the more gaps between actual and desired level of task performance are closed by the helper’s help, the more likely the recipient views the helper’s help as helping.

Originality/value

From a theoretical standpoint, this paper offers a process approach that may guide future research on help receiving in organizations.
Explaining socially responsible consumption
Authors: Prendergast Gerard Paul , Tsang Alex S.L.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Consumers are becoming increasingly socially conscious when making their purchasing decisions, which in turn is providing an incentive for firms to integrate social responsibility considerations into their product offerings. Explaining the various categories of socially responsible consumption (SRC) is therefore important. The purpose of this paper is to explain the various categories of socially responsible consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded in the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this paper surveyed a sample of 1,202 Hong Kong consumers.

Findings

The findings indicate that attitude towards the behavior, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are all significant predictors of three categories of SRC (i.e. intention to purchase from firms based on their CSR performance, intention to practice recycling and intention to try to avoid or minimize their use of products based on their environmental impact). Intention to engage in SRC was then shown to be a significant predictor of SRC behavior.

Research limitations/implications

This paper relied on only the single-factor test as a measure of socially desirable responding. Furthermore, while the quota sampling was designed for broad representativeness, it is difficult to verify if the well-controlled quota controls entirely removed the possibility of a biased selection of respondents within each cell.

Practical implications

Recommendations are made for public policy-makers and marketers to devise ways to shape consumer behavior to facilitate more responsible consumption.

Originality/value

Previous research relating to SRC has not explained the various categories of SRC and often failed to test the relationship between intention and behavior, representing a considerable gap in the literature. This paper applied the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explain intention and behavior with regards to the various categories of SRC.
Nourish what you own: psychological ownership, materialism and pro-environmental behavioral intentions
Authors: Felix Reto , Almaguer Jacob
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Researchers have become increasingly interested in the construct of psychological ownership in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to extend the target of psychological ownership to planet Earth as a whole and investigate its relationship with materialism and pro-environmental behavioral intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a survey with 236 college students from a public university in the Southeast of the USA. The model fit from a confirmatory factor analysis is very satisfactory. Mediation of psychological ownership for the planet is formally tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) and Hayes’ (2013) macro for SPSS.

Findings

The findings of this paper support the expectation that both the individual (my planet) and the collective-oriented dimensions (our planet) of individual-level psychological ownership are positively related to recycling intentions and the intention to purchase green products. Further, formal mediation tests show that psychological ownership for my planet, but not for our planet, mediates the relationship between material values and pro-environmental behaviors.

Practical implications

Companies that aim to gain competitive advantage through green citizenship can highlight the individual or shared ownership of the planet to align the political agenda of government officials with their company mission, vision and brand positioning.

Originality/value

The current paper contributes to the emerging body of literature on psychological ownership by extending its target to planet Earth as a whole. It is the first paper to explain the previously observed negative relationship between materialism and pro-environmental behaviors through the mechanism of psychological ownership.
Comparison of fire resistance of damaged fireproofed steel beams under hydrocarbon pool fire and ASTM E119 fire exposure
Authors: Mahamid Mustafa , Taghipour Anvari Ataollah , Torra-Bilal Ines , Brindley Tom , McNallan Michael
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate different types of fire on structural steel members with damaged fireproofing. Two types of fire scenarios are considered, ASTM E119 fire and Hydrocarbon fire. In industrial facilities such as oil refineries, certain units maybe subjected to hydrocarbon fire, and its effect might be different than standard fire. The purpose of this study is to compare both types of fire scenarios on steel beams with damaged fireproofing and determine the fire rating of the damaged beams under each fire scenario.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is performed using computational methods, thermal-stress finite element analysis that is validated with experimental results. The results of practical beam sizes and typical applied loads in such structures have been plotted and compared with steel beams with non-damaged fireproofing.

Findings

The results show significant difference in the beam fire resistance between the two fire scenarios and show the fire resistance for beam under each case. The study provides percentage reduction in fire resistance under each case for the most commonly used cases in practice under different load conditions.

Originality/value

Extensive literature search has been performed by the authors, and few studies were found relevant to the topic. The question this study answers comes up regularly in practice. There are no standards to codes that address this issue.
ANN prediction of fire temperature in timber
Authors: Cachim Paulo
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Fire degradation is an extremely important risk that threatens timber structures. It is therefore normal that timber design codes include provisions for the design and verification of structures under fire loading. Eurocode 5 is no exception to this, but the simplified methods presented in the code show some inconsistencies, and the advanced method is not practical to use for design purposes. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have the ability to model complex problems and have been used in a variety of construction engineering problems. They can learn from a subset of data, and then they can be used to predict the results for other input parameters. The purpose of this study is to present the possibility of the use of ANNs for the prediction of temperatures in rectangular timber cross sections, under fire exposure.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, a multilayer feedforward ANN has been trained to predict the temperatures within a timber cross section, using as input the size of the cross section, the timber density, the time of exposure and the coordinates of the point within the cross section.

Findings

The results obtained clearly indicate that ANN can be used to predict the temperatures in a timber cross section subjected to fire.

Originality/value

ANNs have not been used for the prediction of temperatures in timber cross sections. The use of ANN makes the temperature prediction under a standard fire loading in a cross section extremely easy to implement in any code. These results can be used to calculate the strength of the elements after fire.
Perspectives on the relationship between records management and information governance
Authors: Brooks Julie
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The increasing prominence of the use of the term information governance (IG) raises fundamental questions about the role and relevance of records management in today’s organisations. As a starting point, this paper aims to explore the relationship between records management and IG by considering both recordkeeping and non-recordkeeping perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

The research discusses literature chiefly from 2013 to the present to shed light on how discussion of the relationship between records management and IG has evolved over the past few years.

Findings

A range of perspectives on the relationship between records management and IG was evident and, notably, a lack of direct engagement from the records management community. Taking the positive perspectives that emerged, IG was seen as an opportunity for records management. By contrast, others regarded it as a necessary successor to records management, the latter perceived as too associated with the paper era to be capable of meeting the organisational information needs of today. Equally, others were sceptical about the real difference IG offered, suggesting it was in part a rebranding exercise, which did not necessarily articulate anything fundamentally new.

Originality/value

Defining literature in the broadest sense, this paper offers a high-level review of some of the recent discussions that have taken place in a wide variety of contexts around the relationship between records management and IG. It includes journal articles, books, online discussions from professional forums and listservs, vendor contributions, opinion-pieces and blogs and in particular focuses on presenting a range of viewpoints from individuals operating within various information-related spaces, including records and information management, IG, and information technology. It is hoped that this preliminary research will encourage further engagement on the subject from recordkeeping professionals.
Leadership and political will for implementation of the access to information (ATI) Act (2016) in Kenya
Authors: Kabata Victor , Garaba Francis
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of leadership and political will towards successful implementation of an access to information (ATI) legislation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopted a mixed methods approach with a bias towards a quantitative survey, complemented by a qualitative follow-up and triangulation during data collection. A complement of theoretical models underpinned the paper, thus enhancing understanding of the multifaceted phenomenon of ATI.

Findings

The paper revealed that the state has demonstrated leadership and political will for ATI by developing government-wide records management manual for public entities; developing an ATI implementation action plan and availing resources for ATI. However, there is need to review laws that perpetuate secrecy; formulate regulations to operationalize the Act and allocate adequate finances for ATI activities.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focused on assessing the extent of leadership and political will on the executive arm of the government excluding the Judiciary and the legislature.

Practical implications

The paper proposes an ATI implementation roadmap, which can be adopted by other countries with comparable contexts.

Social implications

The proposed action plan if adopted will result in an informed citizenry that understands and leverages ATI to claim their socio-economic rights.

Originality/value

The paper provides empirical evidence on some aspects of leadership such as the ministries with ATI policy; level of engagement of policy-makers in ATI matters and the availability of resources for ATI. Further, the paper adopted a multidisciplinary approach by including the concept of ‘meaningful engagement’ whose theoretical foundation is in law to the concept of access to information.
Measuring hospital‐specific disparities by dual eligibility and race to reduce health inequities
Authors: Lloren Anouk , Liu Shuling , Herrin Jeph , Lin Zhenqiu , Zhou Guohai , Wang Yongfei , Kuang Meng , Zhou Sheng , Farietta Thalia , McCole Kerry , Charania Sana , Dorsey Sheares Karen , Bernheim Susannah
Published: January 2019

Objective

To propose and evaluate a metric for quantifying hospital‐specific disparities in health outcomes that can be used by patients and hospitals.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Inpatient admissions for Medicare patients with acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, or pneumonia to all non‐federal, short‐term, acute care hospitals during 2012‐2015.

Study Design

Building on the current Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services methodology for calculating risk‐standardized readmission rates, we developed models that include a hospital‐specific random coefficient for either patient dual eligibility status or African American race. These coefficients quantify the difference in risk‐standardized outcomes by dual eligibility and race at a given hospital after accounting for the hospital's patient case mix and proportion of dual eligible or African American patients. We demonstrate this approach and report variation and performance in hospital‐specific disparities.

Principal Findings

Dual eligibility and African American race were associated with higher readmission rates within hospitals for all three conditions. However, this disparity effect varied substantially across hospitals.

Conclusion

Our models isolate a hospital‐specific disparity effect and demonstrate variation in quality of care for different groups of patients across conditions and hospitals. Illuminating within‐hospital disparities can incentivize hospitals to reduce inequities in health care quality.
Histological and anatomical variations of septomarginal trabecula in bovine hearts
Authors: Nascimento Sérgio Ricardo Rios , Ruiz Cristiane Regina , de Oliva Samara Urban
Published: January 2019

The use of hearts from different animals as models in the experimental pharmacology and surgical clinic has led, in recent years, to an increase on interest of research with this organ. The heart’s conducting system, from the septomarginal trabecula, presents several variations, which generates numerous controversies in the literature. So, the objective of the present study is to analyse the morphology of the septomarginal trabecula of bovine hearts, identifying possible macro‐ and microscopic variations. Thirty‐four bovine hearts were analysed. Each trabecula was analysed macroscopically to obtain an anatomical description and measurements of its length and thickness. For histological and morphometric analysis, the samples were fixed in Bouin’s solution and then subjected to histological processing. In all the analysed bovine hearts, the septomarginal trabecula presented itself as a smooth, tubular meaty structure of muscular consistency, with variable length and diameter. The anatomical variations observed included a trabecula with forked marginal fixation, and single septal fixation, in addition to a trabecula with extremely reduced or excessively thick caliber. The septomarginal trabecula consists of cardiac muscle fibres, connective tissue, vascular tissue and conduction myofibrils or Purkinje fibres. In the samples of smaller thicknesses, there was a predominance of connective tissue and scarce cardiac muscle tissue, whereas in the thicker samples the predominance was of cardiac striated muscle tissue. Therefore, there are significant macro‐ and microscopic differences between the bovine septomarginal trabecula concerning their diameter and constituent tissue, and that can lead to possible changes in cardiac physiology.
Contribution of airway eosinophils in airway wall remodeling in asthma: Role of MMP‐10 and MET
Authors: Kuo Chih‐Hsi S. , Pavlidis Stelios , Zhu Jie , Loza Matthew , Baribaud Fred , Rowe Anthony , Pandis Ioannis , Gibeon David , Hoda Uruj , Sousa Ana , Wilson Susan J. , Howarth Peter , Shaw Dominick , Fowler Stephen , Dahlen Barbro , Chanez Pascal , Krug Norbert , Sandstrom Thomas , Fleming Louise , Corfield Julie , Auffray Charles , Djukanovic Ratko , Sterk Peter J. , Guo Yike , Adcock Ian M. , Chung Kian Fan ,   On behalf of the U‐BIOPRED Project Team
Published: January 2019

Background

Eosinophils play an important role in the pathophysiology of asthma being implicated in airway epithelial damage and airway wall remodeling. We determined the genes associated with airway remodeling and eosinophilic inflammation in patients with asthma.

Methods

We analyzed the transcriptomic data from bronchial biopsies of 81 patients with moderate‐to‐severe asthma of the U‐BIOPRED cohort. Expression profiling was performed using Affymetrix arrays on total RNA. Transcription binding site analysis used the PRIMA algorithm. Localization of proteins was by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Using stringent false discovery rate analysis, MMP‐10 and MET were significantly overexpressed in biopsies with high mucosal eosinophils (HE) compared to low mucosal eosinophil (LE) numbers. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed increased expression of MMP‐10 and MET in bronchial epithelial cells and in subepithelial inflammatory and resident cells in asthmatic biopsies. Using less‐stringent conditions (raw P‐value < 0.05, log2 fold change > 0.5), we defined a 73‐gene set characteristic of the HE compared to the LE group. Thirty‐three of 73 genes drove the pathway annotation that included extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, mast cell activation, CC‐chemokine receptor binding, circulating immunoglobulin complex, serine protease inhibitors, and microtubule bundle formation pathways. Genes including MET and MMP10 involved in ECM organization correlated positively with submucosal thickness. Transcription factor binding site analysis identified two transcription factors, ETS‐1 and SOX family proteins, that showed positive correlation with MMP10 and MET expression.

Conclusion

Pathways of airway remodeling and cellular inflammation are associated with submucosal eosinophilia. MET and MMP‐10 likely play an important role in these processes.
Using spectral reflectance to distinguish between tracheal and oesophageal tissue: applications for airway management
Authors: Nawn C. D. , Blackburn M. B. , De Lorenzo R. A. , Ryan K. L.
Published: January 2019

Proper placement of the tracheal tube requires confirmation, and the predominant method in addition to clinical signs is the presence of end‐tidal carbon dioxide. Such is the importance of confirmation that novel methods may also have a place. We previously demonstrated using ex‐vivo swine tissue a unique spectral reflectance characteristic of tracheal tissue that differs from oesophageal tissue. We hypothesised that this characteristic would be present in living swine tissue and human cadavers. Reflectance spectra in the range 500–650 nm were captured using a customised fibreoptic probe, compact spectrometer and white light source from both the trachea and the oesophagus in anesthetised living swine and in human cadavers. A tracheal detection algorithm using ratio comparisons of reflectance was developed. The existence of the unique tracheal characteristic in both in‐vivo swine and cadaver models was confirmed (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons between tracheal and oesophageal tissue at all target wavelengths in both species). Furthermore, our proposed tracheal detection algorithm exhibited a 100% positive predictive value in both models. This has potential utility for incorporation into airway management devices.
The role of angiogenic factors in the management of preeclampsia
Authors: Flint Emma J. , Cerdeira A. Sofia , Redman Christopher W. , Vatish Manu
Published: January 2019

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disorder causing substantial maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. In the UK, its diagnosis currently depends upon new onset hypertension and proteinuria. There is a clinical need for enhanced screening to prevent unnecessary resource use and improve outcomes. Here, the current practice in preeclampsia diagnosis will be summarized, with assessment of the evidence that angiogenic factors could improve its management. Although the combination of new onset hypertension and proteinuria define and hence diagnose the disorder, separately they are poorly predictive. Preeclampsia is ultimately a placental disease caused by syncytiotrophoblast dysfunction. The angiogenic factors placental growth factor, soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1 and soluble endoglin, all originating at least in part from the syncytiotrophoblast, are biomarkers with predictive potential for preeclampsia and related adverse outcomes. Recent work with the soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1/placental growth factor ratio has identified key measurement cutoffs, with one having a high negative predictive value for preeclampsia. The soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1/placental growth factor ratio seems particularly promising as a screening measure, able to predict accurately the short‐term absence of preeclampsia and suggest the likelihood of adverse events within 4 weeks. The ratio could be used to allocate specific management plans to patients according to risk. An understanding of angiogenic factors may also lead to new therapeutic options for a condition currently only curable by delivery, although it must be remembered that the factors are markers of underlying syncytiotrophoblast stress, which would not be resolved by targeting them.
Increase in tympanostomy tube placements despite pneumococcal vaccination, a population‐based study
Authors: Eythorsson Elias , Sigurdsson Samuel , Erlendsdóttir Helga , Hrafnkelsson Birgir , Kristinsson Karl G. , Haraldsson Ásgeir
Published: January 2019

Aim

The aim was to estimate the impact of the 10‐valent pneumococcal vaccine (PHiD‐CV) on tympanostomy tube placements (TTP) in children under five years of age in Iceland.

Methods

This population‐based observational cohort study followed 11 consecutive birth‐cohorts 2005–2015 from birth until their fifth birthday. Population registries were merged using national identification numbers. The risk of TTP was compared between birth‐cohorts adjusted for the number of previous otitis media diagnoses and antimicrobial prescriptions. A Cox regression model was applied and the hazard ratio (HR) of TTP was estimated between each birth‐cohort and the last vaccine non‐eligible birth‐cohort. The vaccine impact of PHiD‐CV10 on TTP was estimated as 1‐HR ×100%.

Results

In total, 51 247 children were followed for 210 724 person‐years, of which 14 351 underwent 20 373 procedures. The estimated vaccine impact on TTP was −6% (95% CI −16% to 2.7%). Children in the vaccine‐eligible cohorts had fewer previous otitis media diagnoses and had been prescribed fewer antimicrobials prior to the procedure than children in the vaccine non‐eligible cohorts.

Conclusion

Despite high uptake of PHiD‐CV10, tympanostomy procedures increased in Iceland during the study period. Vaccine‐eligible children had milder disease prior to the procedure. The reason underlying these findings are speculative.
Increased central adiposity and decreased subcutaneous adipose tissue 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 are associated with deterioration in glucose tolerance—A longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Crowley Rachel K. , Woods Conor P. , Hughes Beverly A. , Gray Joanna , McCarthy Theresa , Taylor Angela E. , Gathercole Laura L. , Shackleton Cedric H. L. , Crabtree Nicola , Arlt Wiebke , Stewart Paul M. , Tomlinson Jeremy W.
Published: January 2019

Objective and Context

Increasing adiposity, ageing and tissue‐specific regeneration of cortisol through the activity of 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 have been associated with deterioration in glucose tolerance. We undertook a longitudinal, prospective clinical study to determine if alterations in local glucocorticoid metabolism track with changes in glucose tolerance.

Design, Patients, and Measurements

Sixty‐five overweight/obese individuals (mean age 50.3 ± 7.3 years) underwent oral glucose tolerance testing, body composition assessment, subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsy and urinary steroid metabolite analysis annually for up to 5 years. Participants were categorized into those in whom glucose tolerance deteriorated (“deteriorators”) or improved (“improvers”).

Results

Deteriorating glucose tolerance was associated with increasing total and trunk fat mass and increased subcutaneous adipose tissue expression of lipogenic genes. Subcutaneous adipose tissue 11β‐HSD1 gene expression decreased in deteriorators, and at study completion, it was highest in the improvers. There was a significant negative correlation between change in area under the curve glucose and 11β‐HSD1 expression. Global 11β‐HSD1 activity did not change and was not different between deteriorators and improvers at baseline or follow‐up.

Conclusion

Longitudinal deterioration in metabolic phenotype is not associated with increased 11β‐HSD1 activity, but decreased subcutaneous adipose tissue gene expression. These changes may represent a compensatory mechanism to decrease local glucocorticoid exposure in the face of an adverse metabolic phenotype.
A primary cutaneous vascular neoplasm with histologic features of anastomosing hemangioma
Authors: Tran Tien Anh N. , Linos Konstantinos , Carlson John A. , Bridge Julia A.
Published: January 2019

Anastomosing hemangioma (AH) is a relatively novel variant of benign vascular tumors originally described in the genitourinary tract. Although AH was subsequently documented in various anatomic locations, a primary AH of the skin has not been reported in the literature. The current case report documents a vascular lesion with histologic features reminiscent of an AH. A 41‐year‐old female patient underwent an excision of a painful nodule on the leg. Histologic examination showed a well‐circumscribed vascular lesion composed of anastomosing sinusoidal capillary‐sized vessels, several intravascular fibrin thrombi, rare intraluminal nucleated red blood cells, and focal intracytoplasmic hyaline globules. As AH was hitherto only documented in extracutaneous sites, most dermatopathologists are probably not familiar with this variant of hemangioma. The current case report details the morphologic features of a potential example of a primary cutaneous AH to increase the awareness of this distinctive hemangioma variant among dermatopathologists. Larger studies of vascular lesions with similar histologic features and immunohistochemical profiles are warranted to investigate the potential existence of primary AH in the skin.
Diagnostic impact of reflectance confocal microscopy as a second‐level examination for facial skin lesions
Authors: Ahlgrimm‐Siess Verena , Weitzer Friedrich , Arzberger Edith , Laimer Martin , Hofmann‐Wellenhof Rainer
Published: January 2019

Background and objective

Benign and malignant facial skin lesions may be difficult to differentiate clinically and with dermoscopy. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential utility of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) as a second‐level examination for facial skin neoplasms.

Patients and Methods

Retrospective and blinded evaluation of 160 consecutive facial lesions was carried out in two separate steps. Clinical and dermoscopic images were assessed first, followed by combined evaluation of clinical/dermoscopic and RCM images. Our study included 60 % malignant lesions, comprising 43 % melanomas, 9 % basal cell carcinomas, 5 % in situ squamous cell carcinomas and 3 % lymphomas.

Results

Ancillary RCM significantly improved diagnostic specificity for the detection of malignancy compared to clinical/dermoscopic evaluation alone (58 % vs 28 %). However, sensitivity was slightly lower for RCM‐based image evaluation (93 % vs 95 %) due to misclassification of one in situ SCC and one lymphoma. In terms of melanoma diagnosis, RCM‐based image evaluation was generally superior; sensitivity was only slightly increased (88 % vs 87 %), but melanoma specificity was significantly higher (84 % vs 58 %).

Conclusion

RCM is a valuable diagnostic adjunct for facial skin lesions; unnecessary biopsies in this cosmetically sensitive area could be reduced by one third without missing a melanoma.
The role of executive function and social‐emotional skills in the development of literacy and numeracy during preschool: a cross‐lagged longitudinal study
Authors: Wolf Sharon , McCoy Dana Charles
Published: January 2019

The majority of evidence on the interplay between academic and non‐academic skills comes from high‐income countries. The aim of this study was to examine the bidirectional associations between Ghanaian children's executive function, social‐emotional, literacy, and numeracy skills longitudinally. Children (N = 3,862; M age = 5.2 years at time 1) were assessed using direct assessment at three time points over the course of two school years. Controlling for earlier levels of the same skill, early executive function predicted higher subsequent literacy and numeracy skills, and early literacy and numeracy skills predicted higher subsequent executive function, indicating that the development of executive function and academic skills is inter‐related and complementary over time. Early literacy and numeracy predicted subsequent social‐emotional skills, but early social‐emotional skills did not predict subsequent literacy and numeracy skills. The findings provide longitudinal evidence on children's learning and development in West Africa and contribute to a global understanding of the relations between various developmental skills over time.
The road to partnerships in practice: Practical wisdom as an alternative to managerialism in NGO partnerships
Authors: Aagaard Peter , Eberhard Trykker Signe
Published: January 2019

Motivation

The idea of partnerships in international development originated in the 1970s and was canonized in the rhetoric of the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, but such partnerships have been criticized for their inability to create ownership and capacity changes in practice.

Purpose

The article presents a case study of a partnership between a Northern NGO (NNGO) and a Southern NGO (SNGO) that aims to enhance capacity development.

Approach and methods

While acknowledging the critiques of partnerships, we ask how a praxis‐informed analysis of the SNGO–NNGO partnership might create a basis for capacity development. A case study of an NNGO–SNGO partnership that seeks to enhance capacity development.

Results

We argue that the potential for capacity development through partnerships can be enhanced by using a pragmatically oriented approach that renders visible power relations and values differences between donors and recipients.

Conclusion

The case study has implications for partnerships in practice. As partnerships mature, organizational and strategic complexity increase the need for phronetic praxis, or practical wisdom, rather than just sticking to managerialism. An approach to capacity development that is less power‐blind, and more aware of value differences, could enhance the potential for capacity development.

Policy implications

Our study contributes to the pragmatic tradition in partnerships in development, suggesting that the praxis approach can be a way to enhance and deal with opportunities for capacity development.
Design and the SDGs
Authors:   DMI Review staff
Published: January 2019

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals: Let's get specific about how designers can help.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): what they are, and how designers can support them.
Landfill Waste Is a Design Choice: Or, There Is No “Away”
Authors: De Laney Velvette
Published: January 2019

Designers are nervous about bringing it up, but it turns out that clients, too, are interested in design for sustainability. What are the goals of this conversation, and what are the steps we can take toward having it?

Designing for sustainability, and how to have “the talk” with your clients.
THE IMPACT OF PEER PRESENCE ON CHEATING
Authors: Bäker Agnes , Mechtel Mario
Published: January 2019

Recent research has shown that the presence of peers can increase individual output both in the lab and the field. This paper tests for negative side effects of such peer settings. We investigate whether peer settings are particularly prone to cheating even if they do not provide additional monetary benefits of cheating. Participants in our real‐effort experiment had the opportunity to cheat when declaring their output levels. Although cheating did not have different monetary consequences when working alone than when working in the presence of a peer, we find that cheating is a more severe problem in peer settings.(JEL J20, J30, M50)
PD‐L1, RB1 and mismatch repair protein immunohistochemical expression in neuroendocrine carcinoma, small cell type, of the uterine cervix
Authors: Morgan Sarah , Slodkowska Elzbieta , Parra‐Herran Carlos , Mirkovic Jelena
Published: January 2019

Aims

Neuroendocrine carcinoma, small cell type, of the uterine cervix (SmCC‐Cx) is a rare human papilloma virus (HPV) related tumour with limited therapeutic options. Merkel cell carcinoma, another virus‐associated neuroendocrine malignancy, has significant programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression rates. PD‐L1 expression has been reported in other malignancies of the cervix. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PD‐L1 in the context of mismatch repair protein (MMR) and RB1 expression status in SmCC‐Cx.

Methods and results

Ten cases of SmCC‐Cx were tested by immunohistochemistry for expression of PD‐L1, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, RB1, CD3, CD20 and for HPV by in‐situ hybridisation (ISH). PD‐L1 expression was scored quantitatively (H‐score) in tumour cells and lymphocytes (tumoral/peritumoral). PD‐L1 positivity was seen in seven cases, focal in most (H‐score range 3–140). Three of nine cases showed MMR deficiency. PD‐L1 expression levels correlated with MMR expression status: all three MLH1/PMS2‐deficient cases had a ≥5% PD‐L1 staining and an H‐score ≥10 (P = 0.01). RB1 was lost in four of nine cases, all PD‐L1 positive, but this correlation was not statistically significant. Seven of nine tumours were positive for HPV‐ISH; two of these had MLH1/PMS2 loss. Of the two HPV‐ISH negative tumours, one had MLS1/PMS2 loss.

Conclusions

PD‐L1 expression, predominantly focal, is seen in 70% of SmCC‐Cx, while loss of MMR expression is seen in 33% of SmCC‐Cx in our cohort. PD‐L1 expression in more than 10% of tumour cells is seen in a subset of tumours in association with loss of MMR expression. These patients may be amenable to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy as a promising alternative for this aggressive disease.
Social modeling of exercise inventory: A measure of exercise‐specific social influence
Authors: Morton Lindsay C. , Layton Rebekah L. , Muraven Mark
Published: January 2019

Because social modeling relates to exercise behavior, the Social Modeling of Exercise Inventory (SMExI) was developed to assess this form of social influence. In Study 1a, participants (n = 294) were asked how others help them to exercise regularly. Based on these responses, Study 1b (n = 246) and Study 1c (n = 146) examined the created scale’s factor structure. Study 2a (n = 265) established reliability and validity and examined predictive power toward theoretically relevant variables. Study 2b (n = 123) validated a 7‐day response format. The SMExI demonstrated high reliability and good measurement validity. It was related to other exercise‐specific social influences, predicted the amount to which individuals engaged in regular exercise, and provided incremental validity beyond existing measures of social influence. The SMExI provides a specific instrument that can be used to examine the extent to which social modeling relates to exercise behavior. Limitations and future directions for research and application are discussed.