bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technological capability and technology management
Authors: Wu Weiwei , Li Tan , Yu Bo , Wang Jiliang
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of technological capability (TC) and technology management (TM) on the development of China’s telecommunications industry by examining two interrelated questions: Which is the order parameter for China’s telecommunications industry? and What are the relationships between TC and TM? The paper will develop models to analyze TC, TM and the development of China’s telecommunications industry quantitatively.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reviews literature related to TC and TM and investigates the technical features of China’s telecommunications industry. Then, the paper makes a theoretical analysis of the relationships among them. First, it analyzes the effects of TC and TM on the industry and tries to explore the order parameter. Second, the paper analyzes the interaction between TC and TM. Then, the paper applies the Haken model to construct an analysis model. It also constructs models for measuring TC and TM. Using the data of China’s telecommunications industry from 1991 to 2010, the paper identifies the order parameter for the industry and tests the relationships between TC and TM.

Findings

– The paper finds that TC plays a dominant role in the development of China’s telecommunications industry. The paper also finds that TC promotes the development of TM. However, TM fails to promote the development of TC. The paper presents two other important findings. The first one is that China’s telecommunications industry has constructed a positive feedback mechanism for continuous development of TC, which provides an impetus for industry upgrades and development. The second one is that there is no positive feedback growth mechanism for TM capability, which has increased the lag between TM and TC and has become one of the important reasons why TM does not promote TC.

Research limitations/implications

– Theoretical and managerial implications are put forward. Thus, TC must be improved to propel the development of China’s telecommunications industry; TM should be greatly improved and an effective growth mechanism for TM should be constructed; the synergy between TM and TC should be achieved. Research limitations are also pointed out. Thus, the results in this paper probably cannot be generalized to other industries; it does go on to discuss the synergetic mode of TM and TC that can best compel industrial development, and it does not explain what the growth mechanisms for TM and TC should be.

Originality/value

– The paper is original, as it provides new perspectives of TM and TC for analyzing industrial development, and it provides the method and model for quantitatively analyzing TC and TM at an industry level. It discovers the order parameter and new problems of China’s telecommunications industry, which no one has identified before. The paper also offers references for analyzing other industries from the perspectives of TM and TC.
“Brave Young Singers”: children's poetry-writing and 1930s Australian distance education
Authors: Anae Nicole
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– There has been virtually no explication of poetry-writing pedagogy in historical accounts of Australian distance education during the 1930s. The purpose of this paper is to satisfy this gap in scholarship.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper concerns a particular episode in the cultural history of education; an episode upon which print media of the 1930s sheds a distinctive light. The paper therefore draws extensively on 1930s press reports to: contextualise the key educational debates and prime-movers inspiring verse-writing pedagogy in Australian education, particularly distance education, in order to; concentrate specific attention on the creation and popular reception ofBrave Young Singers(1938), the first and only anthology of children's poetry written entirely by students of the correspondence classes of Western Australia.

Findings

– Published under the auspices of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) with funds originating from the Carnegie Corporation, two men in particular proved crucial to the development and culmination ofBrave Young Singers. As the end result of a longitudinal study conducted by James Albert Miles with the particular support of Frank Tate, the publication attracted acclaim as a research document promoting ACER's success in educational research investigating the “experiment” of poetry-writing instruction through correspondence schooling.

Originality/value

– The paper pays due critical attention to a previously overlooked anthology of Australian children's poetry while simultaneously presenting an original account of the emergence and implementation of verse-writing instruction within the Australian correspondence class curriculum of the 1930s.
Experimenting with education: spaces of freedom and alternative schooling in the 1970s
Authors: McLeod Julie
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore philosophies of progressive education circulating in Australia in the period immediately following the expansion of secondary schools in the 1960s. It examines the rise of the alternative and community school movement of the 1970s, focusing on initiatives within the Victorian government school sector. It aims to better understand the realisation of progressive education in the design and spatial arrangements of schools, with specific reference to the re-making of school and community relations and new norms of the student-subject of alternative schooling.

Design/methodology/approach

– It combines historical analysis of educational ideas and reforms, focusing largely on the ideas of practitioners and networks of educators, and is guided by an interest in the importance of school space and place in mediating educational change and aspirations. It draws on published writings and reports from teachers and commentators in the 1970s, publications from the Victorian Department of Education, media discussions, internal and published documentation on specific schools and oral history interviews with former teachers and principals who worked at alternative schools.

Findings

– It shows the different realisation of radical aims in the set up of two schools, against a backdrop of wider innovations in state education, looking specifically at the imagined effects of re-arranging the physical and symbolic space of schooling.

Originality/value

– Its value lies in offering the beginnings of a history of 1970s educational progressivism. It brings forward a focus on the spatial dimensions of radical schooling, and moves from characterisation of a mood of change to illuminate the complexities of these ideas in the contrasting ambitions and design of two signature community schools.
Success tools for CEO coaches
Authors: Rao M.S.
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to stress the need for continuous learning and constant feedback to help people develop as leaders.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study equips Chief Executive Officer (CEO) coaches with tools to build leaders who will become ladders for others. In addition, it considers examples of leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi.

Findings

– The study emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and constant feedback, which it covers from the perspective of executive coaching and education.

Practical implications

– It explains that open discussion between senior leaders and entry-level leaders can help ensure a seamless supply of leadership talent.

Social implications

– The study claims that the findings can be applied in industry to build new leaders to replace those from the baby-boomer generation who are currently retiring.

Originality/value

– The study lays the accent on feedback as a leadership-development tool.
Managing the risks of social media
Authors: Chelliah John , Field James
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the risks employers face when employees use social media.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper considers the types of risks and suggests how they could be mitigated.

Findings

– It is revealed that employers need two policies to manage risks associated with the use of social media: one covering business use of social media and another covering employees’ personal use of social media.

Practical implications

– This paper guides managers in assessing the exposure of their organizations and clients to the risks identified.

Social implications

– This paper draws attention to the risks associated with the widespread use of social media for both business and employees’ personal purposes.

Originality/value

– The issue of organizational awareness and preparedness to tackle the challenges posed by social media has been raised.
Beyond assistive technology: presentation at Texas library association conference
Authors: Todd Kate
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article was to summarize the author's presentation about improving library services to people with disabilities made at the 2014 Texas Library Association annual conference.

Design/methodology/approach

– She uses expertise developed teaching face-to-face and online course about assistive technologies and library services for patrons with disabilities.

Findings

– Topics covered include early approaches to library accessibility, sample assistive technology applications for iPad, iPhone or Android and suggestions for developing a plan for improving services.

Practical implications

– Readers are encourages to evaluate the current level of services and develop plans for improvement.

Social implications

– An increasing number of patrons with disabilities are visiting public, school, college and university libraries. Librarians want to provide the best possible service. Information and recommendations from this article will provide assistance.

Original/value

– This conference provided a wonderful opportunity for sharing and planning with other librarians.
Community, complexity, the public library and community orientation
Authors: Sen Barbara
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a model of the complexity in public libraries based on a case study of Cumbria Libraries, a public library service in the North West of England. The model illustrates the complexity of the library as a societal organisation with multiple stakeholder perspectives. The model is based on community orientation as a form of market orientation, in combination with other multiple strategic orientations that combine to add value for stakeholders within the community.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is based on a case study of Cumbria Libraries. The data were gathered during field visits via conversations, interviews, photographs, documents and observations and includes 85 participants from multiple stakeholder groups. The analytical approach blended thematic and situational analyses.

Findings

– A key finding was the existence of multiple strategic orientations, the criticality of the leadership roles in managing the complexity and in motivating staff and community stakeholders towards offering a cohesive and relevant service suitable for community needs.

Originality/value

– There is currently no literature on strategic orientation in libraries. The paper present an original model illustrating the complexity of the strategic orientations identified within the case study.
Enhanced OAI-PMH services for metadata sharing in heterogeneous environments
Authors: Houssos Nikos , Stamatis Kostas , Koutsourakis Panagiotis , Kapidakis Sarantos , Garoufallou Emmanouel , Koulouris Alexandros
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to propose a toolset that enables individual digital collections owners to satisfy the requirements of aggregators even in cases where their IT and software infrastructure is limited and does not support them inherently. Managers of repositories/digital collections face the challenge of exposing their data via Open Archives Initiative – Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH) to multiple aggregators and conforming to their possibly differing requirements, for example on output metadata schemas and selective harvesting.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors developed a software server that is able to wrap existing systems or even metadata records in plain files as OAI-PMH sources. They analysed the functionality of OAI-PMH data providers in a flow of discrete steps and used a software library to modularise the software for these steps so that the whole process can be easily customised to the needs of each pair of OAI-PMH data provider and service provider. The developed server includes a mechanism for the implementation of schema mappings using an XML specification that can be defined by non-IT personnel, for example metadata experts. The server has been applied in various real-life use cases, in particular for providing content to Europeana.

Findings

– It has been concluded through real-life use cases that it is indeed possible and feasible in practice to expose metadata records of digital collections via OAI-PMH even when the data sources do not support the required protocols and standards. Even advanced OAI-PMH features like selective harvesting can be supported. Mappings between input and output schemas in many practical cases can be implemented entirely or to a large extent as XML specifications by metadata experts instead of software developers.

Practical implications

– Exposing data via OAI-PMH to aggregators like Europeana is made feasible/easier for digital collections owners, even when their software infrastructure does not inherently support the required protocols and standards.

Originality/value

– The approach is original and applicable in practice to diverse technology environments, effectively addressing the indisputable fact of the heterogeneity of software and systems used to implement digital repositories and collections worldwide.
Personal digital libraries: a self-archiving approach
Authors: N. Karanikolas Nikitas , Skourlas Christos
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine personal digital libraries (PDL) as a self-archiving approach, mainly based on individuals’ activities. Literature presents a wide range of perceptions of the term PDL. The rationale of using PDL and the capabilities that PDL should offer are also discussed. The key questions we focus on are: “What are the critical features of PDL?” and “Are there technologies that enable the implementation/incorporation of such capabilities in a low cost software product?”

Design/methodology/approach

– We focus on “a user centred view of information process”, and examine how PDL could assist individuals to “create, seek, share and manage the life of information” (Foster et al., 2010). The capabilities that PDL should support, and the related technologies, are also discussed. Then, we describe experimentation with a prototype implemented to support/provide the mentioned capabilities. It is used to clarify our view for the creation of PDL. Finally, further discussion and conclusions are presented.

Findings

– The technology is mature enough for building up PDLs with the specified features/capabilities.

Originality/value

– A new perception of the term PDLs is presented. This perception tries to combine the self-archiving approach of information, based on a low-cost tool, and the user-centred approach to manage the “life of information”. This type of library is mainly used to cover personal needs. Users benefit from this type of PDL by personalised handling of information, reduced time to search and seek specific documents in their personal collections and less possibility for broken links or unavailable documents. We must also mention that new opportunities seem to appear for offering PDL as a service in the cloud.
School libraries’ impact on secondary education: a users’ study
Authors: Bikos Georgios , Papadimitriou Panagiota , A. Giannakopoulos Georgios
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to offer an overview of students’ and teachers’ perceptions of school libraries’ impact on academic performance in secondary education in Greece, using sociological analysis to assess the data and contextualise it in the particular case and social context of Greece after the crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper developed structured questionnaires for the key categories of users visiting school libraries, teachers and students, trying to explore a set of questions which would give us a better image of their behaviour. The results from our empirical study, following the creation and distribution of a purpose made questionnaire in secondary schools in the area of Athens, was then evaluated in the context of sociological analysis. This paper argued that social factors may explain discrepancy in opinions regarding school libraries’ (SLs) role.

Findings

– The data which the paper present elucidates, not only the frequency and ways in which pupils of an age up to 14 years use SLs but also their own and their teachers’ assumptions as to the degree in which SLs affect their performance. In this way, the data documents currently dominant perceptions of key categories of users in the Greek context but also reveals, via its critical assessment, the kinds of social factors that enhanced or hindered its impact on learning and academic performance in secondary education in Greece.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper consists of a study based on a limited sample of users from Greek schools in Athens; hence, its results are indicative.

Practical implications

– The paper considers possibilities in which educational and cultural policies in relation to SLs should shift attention following the findings and their interpretation.

Social implications

– The paper provides policy implications regarding Greek education. The paper provides some recommendations as to ways in which SLs and research in their users may provide a fresh way of implementing strategies as to their role in Greek education in the period of recession.

Originality/value

– This study focuses exclusively on the Greek context, taking into consideration, for the analysis of the data derived from the empirical survey undertaken in Greek schools, sociological parameters tied to the Greek context after the crisis.
Archival studies in Greece and the emerging field of integrated information
Authors: A. Giannakopoulos Georgios , Koumantakis Ioannis
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a survey carried out on a sample of Greek university students (including students of library and archival science) that aimed to map and clarify perceptions of the archive among the students as well as their understanding of the nature of archival science. Moreover, it intends to investigate the information regarding student’s opinions and expectations about their archival studies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two separate groups took part in this research and were asked to answer a questionnaire with 16 closed-type multiple-choice questions. The first group included 244 individuals, all of them Higher-Educational Institutions students from almost all academic fields. The second group contained 130 students from the three Information Departments of Greece.

Findings

– The conclusions verify Greek society’s view of archives. Even though no consistent definition of the archive seems to exist among the sample of students on which this survey drew, there is a clear understanding of the archive as a source of information emerging from the questionnaires as a shared undisputed fact.

Practical implications

– The research indicates that archival science is an important part of the information studies. The survey results were taken into account during the revamping of the curriculum of the Department of Library Science and Information Systems, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens.

Originality/value

– The study has advanced the understanding of archival science as an informational discipline which has to contribute a great part in the integrated field of information.
Using digital corpora for preserving and processing cultural heritage texts: a case study
Authors: Galiotou Eleni
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the creation and exploitation of a historical corpus in an attempt to contribute to the preservation and availability of cultural heritage documents.

Design/methodology/approach

– At first, the digitization process and attempts to the availability and awareness of the books and manuscripts in a historical library in Greece are presented. Then, processing and exploitation, taking into account natural language processing techniques of the digitized corpus, are discussed.

Findings

– In the course of the project, methods that take into account the state of the documents and the particularities of the Greek language were developed.

Practical implications

– In its present state, the use of the corpus facilitates the work of theologians, historians, philologists, paleographers, etc. and in the same time, prevents the original documents from further damage.

Originality/value

– The results of this undertaking can give useful insights as for the creation of corpora of cultural heritage documents and as for the methods for the processing and exploitation of the digitized documents which take into account the language in which the documents are written.
Attracting consumers in the thriving cosmeceuticals market
Authors: Phaiboon-udomkarn Bongkot , Josiassen Alexander
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to analyze and mitigate consumers’ perceived risk in purchasing cosmeceutical products. The lucrative market of cosmeceuticals has motivated many cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies to rethink their existing product lines to gain a strong foothold in cosmeceuticals industry. It is important that these corporates are taking note and scrambling to integrate their marketing activities to gain a foothold in this emerging sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire set was created to survey among 473 consumers, using cosmeceutical skincare products as a product group. The risk mitigation and assessment are investigated to understand consumers’ final decision on whether or not to purchase a product.

Findings

– Results indicate that positive expert opinion reduces consumer risk perception, better product-country image can minimize consumer’s perceived risk and strong brand image lowers perceived risks of consumer.

Practical implications

– Practitioners should have a close examination of the product-country image and brand images, as well as an advantageous use of expert opinions – all of which may affect the consumer’s willingness to buy and lower perceived risks associated with the product.

Originality/value

– This study enhances the limited research in the new field of pharmaceuticals, which also leads to a better understanding of risk mitigation and factors driving consumers’ willingness to buy a healthcare product.
A comparison of quality satisfaction between transactional and relational customers in e-commerce
Authors: Yen Yung-Shen
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine quality satisfaction between transactional and relational customers in e-commerce, and it also explores the moderating effect of perceived control and perceived enjoyment on quality satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– Multivariate analysis of variance and two-way ANOVA were conducted to test the study hypotheses. The samples include 470 university students in the northeastern USA to whom an online survey was administered.

Findings

– Results show that system quality satisfaction is more significant for transactional customers, but information quality and service quality satisfactions are more important for relational customers. Moreover, perceived control and perceived enjoyment partially moderate quality satisfaction between transactional and relational customers.

Research limitations/implications

– One limitation is that a student cohort is selected as the sample. This study verifies the understanding of quality satisfaction between transactional and relational customers in e-commerce.

Practical implications

– Practitioners shall consider the quality of services for fitting different types of customers. While a high-quality system design is better for new customers, high-quality information and service support is helpful for loyal customers. However, if loyal customers have a high degree of perceived control, they may also be more sensitive to system quality satisfaction. Similarly, if new customers have a high degree of perceived control or a high degree of perceived enjoyment, they may be more sensitive to information quality satisfaction.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the knowledge regarding quality satisfaction for transactional and relational customers in e-commerce.
The Journals, the Clerks of the Parliaments and the Under‐Clerks 1485–1601
Authors: Hawkyard Alasdair
Published: October 2014

The journals for both the house of lords and the house of commons for the Tudor period are not, in our sense of the word, journals. Political historians coming to them with unwarranted expectations based on the modern concept of journal have been disappointed by what they have found. The men who compiled both sets of records never saw them as more than notes on the business of both Houses which they kept for their own use.
Ernest Blythe as Minister for Finance in the Irish Free State, 1923–32
Authors: McCourt Ryan
Published: October 2014

This article explores Ernest Blythe's tenure as minister for finance of the Irish Free State, 1923–32. Using a range of sources, but particularly his papers in University College Dublin Department of Archives, this work aims to redress the academic neglect of one of the Free State's most infamous characters. In a broader sense, this study offers a commentary on Blythe's party, Cumann na nGaedheal, and Irish political culture generally. Throughout the text, attention is paid to the existing historiography of the period, and, where deemed necessary, some critiques are made.
The Whips of the Liberal Unionist Party in the House of Commons
Authors: Ferris Wesley
Published: October 2014

This note provides the most complete list of Liberal Unionist whips in the house of commons, thus contributing to our understanding of the history of the party in parliament over the entire period of its existence from 1886 to 1912, and charts the extent of the responsibility of the party whip for the organisation of the party outside the house of commons, which peaked during the tenure of Lord Wolmer as whip from 1888 to 1892. The note concludes by observing that the division of labour regarding organisation implemented in the Conservative Party in 1911 mirrors that adopted by the Liberal Unionist Party in 1892, and that this was likely the result of Wolmer, now 2nd earl of Selborne, serving on the committee that recommended the 1911 reforms.
Emergency Department Visits in the United States for Pediatric Depression: Estimates of Charges and Hospitalization
Authors: Sun Diana , Abraham Ivo , Slack Marion , Skrepnek Grant H.
Published: October 2014

Objectives

The objective of this study was to calculate national estimates of depression‐related emergency department (ED) visits and associated health care resource use among children and adolescents 17 years or younger. Another goal was to explore the effects of certain sociodemographic and health care system factors and comorbidities on ED charges and subsequent hospitalization in the United States.

Methods

The authors analyzed data from the 2006 and 2009 National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), the largest source of U.S. ED data. ED visits with all listed diagnoses (i.e., principal diagnosis plus secondary conditions) of depression were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) codes 293.83, 296.2X, 296.3X, 300.4, and 311. Population‐based estimates of ED visits, hospitalization, resource use, comorbidities, and demographics associated with pediatric depression were calculated. Potentially significant covariate associations were also explored using ED charges and hospital admission from the ED.

Results

The 2006 and 2009 NEDS sample contained 365,713 ED visits for pediatric depression; the majority were made by adolescents (87.9%). Of these, 27.2% were admitted to the hospital, 69.5% were treated and released, and <0.1% died in ED. The ED charges in 2012 U.S. dollars summed to a hospital bill of $443.8 million, with the ED plus inpatient charges ($1.2 billion) being more than double that amount. The median inpatient length of stay (LOS) was 4.0 days. Suicide and intentional self‐inflicted injury were attempted by 31.4% of the patients. Attention‐deficit, conduct, and disruptive disorders; anxiety disorders; substance use disorders; asthma; and infections were the most common comorbidities. In year 2009, a higher number of diagnoses, older age, being female, key comorbidities, and suicide and intentional self‐inflicted injury were significantly associated with higher ED charges (all p < 0.05). Increased odds of hospital admission from the ED were significantly associated with a higher number of diagnoses, key comorbidities, and suicide and intentional self‐inflicted injury (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Pediatric depression is common in the ED and is associated with significant burden to the health care system. Certain factors such as a higher number of diagnoses, key comorbidities, and suicide and intentional self‐inflicted injury are associated with increased health care costs and resource use. Special attention should be given to these factors, when present.
Ethics Seminars: A Best‐practice Approach to Navigating the Against‐Medical‐Advice Discharge
Authors: Clark Mark A. , Abbott Jean T. , Adyanthaya Tara
Published: October 2014

Patients who sign out or choose to leave the emergency department (ED) against medical advice (AMA) present important challenges. The current approach to the complex legal, ethical, and medical challenges that arise when adult patients decline medical care in the ED would benefit from a systematic best‐practice strategy to maximize patient care outcomes, minimize legal risk, and reach the optimal ethical standard for this at‐risk population. Professional responsibilities generated during an AMA encounter include determination of patient decision‐making capacity, balancing protection of patient autonomy with prevention of harm, providing the best alternatives for patients who decline some or all of the proposed plan, negotiating to encourage patients to stay, planning for subsequent care, and documenting what transpired.

We present two cases that illustrate key insights into a best‐practice approach for emergency physicians (EPs) to address problems arising when patients want or need to leave the ED prior to completion of their care. We propose a practical, systematic framework, “AIMED” (assess, investigate, mitigate, explain, and document), that can be consistently applied in situations where patients consider leaving or do leave before their evaluations and urgent treatment are complete. Our goal is to maximize patient outcomes, minimize legal risk, and encourage a consistent and ethical approach to these vulnerable patients.
The Accuracy of Bedside Ultrasonography as a Diagnostic Tool for Fractures in the Ankle and Foot
Authors: Atilla Ozge Duman , Yesilaras Murat , Kilic Turgay Yilmaz , Tur Feriyde Caliskan , Reisoglu Ali , Sever Mustafa , Aksay Ersin
Published: October 2014

Objectives

Ultrasonography (US) has been shown to be helpful in diagnosing fractures in the emergency department (ED) setting. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of US for fractures in patients presenting to the ED with foot and/or ankle sprain and positive Ottawa foot and ankle rules.

Methods

This was a prospective study of consecutive patients aged 18 years and over were admitted to the ED with acute foot and/or ankle sprain and positive Ottawa foot and ankle rules. After the patients by were examined by bedside US, anteroposterior and lateral ankle radiographs were obtained, as well as anteroposterior and oblique foot radiographs. The films were evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon who was blinded to the US examination results. The orthopedic surgeon's evaluation was considered the criterion standard for diagnosing a fracture.

Results

A total of 246 patients were included in the study. In 76 (30.9%) of the patients, a total of 79 fractures were detected by radiography. Ten false‐negative and nine false‐positive results were obtained by US examination. Only one patient, whose US showed a fracture but whose radiographs were normal, had a fracture detected by computed tomography (CT). The sensitivity and specificity of US scanning in detecting fractures were 87.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 77.5% to 93.4%) and 96.4% (95% CI = 93.1% to 98.2%), respectively.

Conclusions

Ultrasound had good sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing fifth metatarsal, lateral, and medial malleolus fractures in the patients with foot and/or ankle sprain. However, sensitivity and specificity of US for navicular fractures were low.
Defining and developing expertise in tracheal intubation using a GlideScope® for anaesthetists with expertise in Macintosh direct laryngoscopy: an in‐vivo longitudinal study
Authors: Cortellazzi P. , Caldiroli D. , Byrne A. , Sommariva A. , Orena E. F. , Tramacere I.
Published: October 2014

Although videolaryngoscopy can provide excellent views of the laryngeal structures as both the primary method of tracheal intubation and as a rescue technique for difficult direct laryngoscopy, the existing literature is inadequate to define expertise or even competence. We observed the performance of nine trainees during 890 intubations, with an additional 72 intubations performed by expert anaesthetists used as a control group. Univariate and multivariate mixed‐effects logistic regression models were applied to detect potential predictors of successful intubation and define the number of intubations necessary for a trainee to achieve expertise (> 90% probability of optimal performance). Optimal performance was predicted by single laryngoscope insertion (p < 0.001) and a Cormack and Lehane grade‐1 view (p < 0.001), and not by normal lifting force applied to the device (p = 0.15), with expertise reached after 76 attempts. These results indicate that expertise in videolaryngoscopy requires prolonged training and practice.
Epididymal contraction and sperm parameters are affected by clonidine
Authors: da Silva E. D. , de Souza B. P. , Vilela V. V. , Rodrigues J. Q. D. , Nichi M. , de Agostini Losano J. D. , Dalmazzo A. , Barnabe V. H. , Jurkiewicz A. , Jurkiewicz N. H.
Published: October 2014

The use of clonidine, a selective agonist of α2‐adrenoceptors, is related to the fertility impairment. Thus, it has been described that changes in the epididymal function are related to the loss of fertility. Therefore, this study was sought to further evaluate the effects of clonidine in the rat distal cauda epididymis contractions and its consequence in the sperm parameters. The in vitro effects of clonidine in the isolated distal cauda epididymis were evaluated by pharmacological experiments. The consecutive contractile responses for clonidine in distal cauda epididymis showed desensitization. The noradrenaline‐induced contractions were desensitized after in vitro clonidine pre‐treatment (10−5 m for 10 min). Clonidine was unable to alter the noradrenaline contractions if the in vitro pre‐treatment was made in the presence of idazoxan (α2‐adrenoceptor antagonist), whereas prazosin (α1‐adrenoceptor antagonist) was ineffective. Moreover, the in vitro clonidine pre‐treatment increased frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contraction of distal cauda epididymis. In addition, to induce in vivo desensitization of α2‐adrenoceptors, male Wistar rats were treated with crescent doses of clonidine and distal cauda of epididymis contraction and sperm parameters were analyzed. The in vivo treatment with clonidine diminished the potency of the contractions induced by adrenergic agonists and augmented the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contraction of distal cauda epididymis. This treatment also altered the sperm transit time in epididymis, epididymal sperm reserves, sperm lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes activity. The results suggest that clonidine was able to affect the sperm quantity and quality by decreasing the transit time related to the increase in the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions in epididymis, although the contractions induced by adrenergic agonists were desensitized.
Association of serum inorganic phosphate with sex steroid hormones and vitamin D in a nationally representative sample of men
Authors: Wulaningsih W. , Van Hemelrijck M. , Michaelsson K. , Kanarek N. , Nelson W. G. , Ix J. H. , Platz E. A. , Rohrmann S.
Published: October 2014

Defects in bone regulatory pathways have been linked to chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and cancer. In men, a link between bone metabolism and gonadal hormones has been suggested. However, to date, there is lack of evidence on the association between serum inorganic phosphate (Pi) and sex steroid hormones. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between Pi, sex steroid hormones and a known Pi metabolic regulator, vitamin D, in men in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III). From NHANES III, we selected 1412 men aged 20+ who participated in the morning session of Phase I (1988–1991) with serum measurements of Pi, sex hormones, and vitamin D. Multivariable linear regression was used to calculate crude and geometric mean Pi by total and estimated free testosterone and estradiol, sex hormone‐binding globulin, androstanediol glucuronide (AAG), and vitamin D. Similar analyses were performed while stratifying by race/ethnicity and vitamin D levels. We found a lack of statistically significant difference in geometric means of Pi across quintiles of concentrations of sex hormones, indicating a tight regulation of Pi. However, Pi levels were inversely associated with calculated free testosterone in non‐Hispanic black men, with geometric mean levels of Pi of 1.16 and 1.02 ng/mL for those in the lowest and highest quintiles of free testosterone, respectively (p‐trend < 0.05). A similar but weaker pattern was seen between total testosterone and Pi. An inverse association was also seen between AAG and Pi in men with vitamin D concentration below the median (<24.2 ng/mL). No associations were observed among men with vitamin D levels at or above the median. Our findings suggest a weak link among sex hormones, vitamin D, and Pi in men. The observed effects of race/ethnicity and vitamin D indicate a complex association involving various regulators of Pi homeostasis.
Long‐term results of up to 12 years of over 700 cases of viscocanalostomy for open‐angle glaucoma
Authors: Grieshaber Matthias C. , Peckar Clive , Pienaar Ané , Koerber Norbert , Stegmann Robert
Published: October 2014

Purpose

To study the safety and long‐term efficacy of classic viscocanalostomy in patients with open‐angle glaucoma (OAG) in different populations.

Methods

A total of 726 eyes of 726 patients from Europe or South Africa with primary OAG (POAG) and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXFG) were included in this retrospective multicentre study. Complete (qualified) success was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) equal to or lower than 21, 18 and 16 mmHg without (with or without) medications, respectively. A failed procedure was defined if IOP was above 21 mmHg, not controllable by laser goniopuncture or medications.

Results

The mean IOP before surgery was 42.6 ± 14.2 mmHg for all patients, 29.6 ± 6.6 mmHg for European patients and 48.1 ± 12.9 mmHg for African patients. The follow‐up time was 86.2 ± 43.1 months. Mean IOP was 15.4 ± 3.6 mmHg at 5 years, 15.5 ± 4.4 mmHg at 10 years and 16.8 ± 4.2 mmHg at 15 years. The qualified success rate for an IOP of 21, 18 or 16 mmHg or less after 5 years was 92% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88–0.96], 70% (95% CI 0.63–0.77) and 43% (95% CI 0.36–0.51) in European patients, and 90% (95% CI 0.87–0.93), 77% (95% CI 0.74–0.81) and 67% (95% CI 0.63–0.72) in African patients, respectively. There was no difference between the success rate for POAG and PXFG for an IOP of 21, 18 or 16 mmHg or less at 5 years (p = 0.64, p = 0.20, p = 0.22, respectively). Laser goniopuncture was performed postoperatively on a total of 127 eyes (17.7%), lowering the pressure from 23.1 ± 1.9 mmHg to 15.0 ± 2.2 mmHg. There were no significant complications, in particular, no blebitis or endophthalmitis.

Conclusion

Viscocanalostomy produced a sustained long‐term reduction of IOP with a low‐risk profile in European and African patients with OAG over 12 years.
Atypical birefringence pattern and the diagnostic ability of scanning laser polarimetry with enhanced corneal compensation in glaucoma
Authors: Rao Harsha L. , Yadav Ravi K. , Begum Viquar U. , Addepalli Uday K. , Senthil Sirisha , Choudhari Nikhil S. , Garudadri Chandra S.
Published: October 2014

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of typical scan score (TSS), when within the acceptable limits, on the diagnostic performance of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) parameters with the enhanced corneal compensation (ECC) protocol of scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) in glaucoma.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional study, 203 eyes of 160 glaucoma patients and 140 eyes of 104 control subjects underwent RNFL imaging with the ECC protocol of SLP. TSS was used to quantify atypical birefringence pattern (ABP) images. Influence of TSS on the diagnostic ability of SLP parameters was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) regression models after adjusting for the effect of disease severity [based on mean deviation (MD)] on standard automated perimetry).

Results

Diagnostic abilities of all RNFL parameters of SLP increased when the TSS values were higher. This effect was statistically significant for TSNIT (coefficient: 0.08, p < 0.001) and inferior average parameters (coefficient: 0.06, p = 0.002) but not for nerve fibre indicator (NFI, coefficient: 0.03, p = 0.21). In early glaucoma (MD of −5 dB), predicted area under ROC curve (AUC) for TSNIT average parameter improved from 0.642 at a TSS of 90 to 0.845 at a TSS of 100. In advanced glaucoma (MD of −15 dB), AUC for TSNIT average improved from 0.832 at a TSS of 90 to 0.947 at 100.

Conclusion

Diagnostic performances of TSNIT and inferior average RNFL parameters with ECC protocol of SLP were significantly influenced by TSS even when the TSS values were within the acceptable limits. Diagnostic ability of NFI was unaffected by TSS values.
Effect of diabetes mellitus on Corvis ST measurement process
Authors: Pérez‐Rico Consuelo , Gutiérrez‐Ortíz Consuelo , González‐Mesa Ana , Zandueta Asunción M. , Moreno‐Salgueiro Agustín , Germain Francisco
Published: October 2014

Purpose

Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects corneal biomechanical parameters. We compared analyses using ORA (Ocular response analyser) and Corvis ST to determine the influence of disease duration, hyperglycaemia and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels on these parameters.

Methods

This observational, cross‐sectional, observer‐masked study assessed one eye of 94 consecutive DM patients and 41 healthy subjects. Two DM groups were analysed: the uncontrolled DM group (n = 54) (HbA1c ≥ 7%) and the controlled DM group (n = 40) (HbA1c < 7%). Central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured by ultrasonic pachymetry and intraocular pressure (IOP) by Goldmann applanation tonometry. ORA and Corvis ST analyses were performed to evaluate the changes.

Results

Most of the Corvis ST parameters [Deformation amplitude (DA), A1 and A2 times, A1 velocity] in the uncontrolled DM group eyes were found to be significantly different to controls and controlled DM group eyes (p = 0.005, p = 0.001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.002, respectively). DA on the Corvis ST was correlated with blood glucose concentration (p = 0.004) and HbA1c percentage (p = 0.002). ORA corneal hysteresis was significantly lower in diabetic patients with elevated HbA1c than in control subjects (p = 0.001) and was affected by disease duration (p = 0.037), whereas the corneal resistance factor remained unaltered.

Conclusions

A poor glucose control in DM affects corneal biomechanics measured by ORA and Corvis ST, which may cause high IOP measurements independent of CCT. The measurement of the corneal biomechanics should be taken into consideration in the clinical practice.
Diabetic retinopathy and its risk factors in a society with a type 2 diabetes epidemic: a Saudi National Diabetes Registry‐based study
Authors: Al‐Rubeaan Khalid , Abu El‐Asrar Ahmed M. , Youssef Amira M. , Subhani Shazia N. , Ahmad Najlaa A. , Al‐Sharqawi Ahmad H. , Alguwaihes Abdullah , Alotaibi Metib S. , Al‐Ghamdi Ali , Ibrahim Heba M.
Published: October 2014

Purpose

To assess diabetic retinopathy prevalence and its risk factors in a society with type 2 diabetes epidemic using the Saudi National Diabetes Registry (SNDR).

Method

This is a cross‐sectional study using patient's clinical data found in SNDR data base. A cohort of 50 464 Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥25 years were selected to assess for the prevalence and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy.

Results

The overall prevalence of diabetic retinopathy is 19.7%, where 9.1% have non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 10.6% have proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and 5.7% have macular oedema (ME). Duration of diabetes and age are the most significant risk factors for diabetic retinopathy with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 8.88 (8.30–9.50) and 5.76 (5.10–6.55), respectively. Nephropathy, neuropathy, insulin use, poor glycemic control, hypertension and male gender significantly increased the risk for diabetic retinopathy. Smoking, hyperlipidemia and obesity significantly reduced the risk for diabetic retinopathy among type 2 Saudi diabetic cohort.

Conclusion

vThe low prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in our registry may be a result of the shortage or absence of well‐structured screening programmes. Therefore, many patients with NPDR might have been missed. A prevention programme is needed to reduce the effect of diabetic retinopathy risk factors in this society.
Determining the size of retinal features in prematurely born children by fundus photography
Authors: Knaapi Laura , Lehtonen Tuomo , Vesti Eija , Leinonen Markku T.
Published: October 2014

Purpose

The purpose was to study the effect of prematurity on the macula–disc centre distance and whether it could be used as a reference tool for determining the size of retinal features in prematurely born children by fundus photography.

Methods

The macula–disc centre distance of the left eye was measured in pixels from digital fundus photographs taken from 27 prematurely born children aged 10–11 years with Topcon fundus camera. A conversion factor for Topcon fundus camera (194.98 pixel/mm for a 50° lens) was used to convert the results in pixels into metric units.

Results

The macula–disc centre distance was 4.74 mm, SD 0.29. No correlation between ametropia and the macula–disc centre distance was found (r = −0.07, p > 0.05). One child (subject 20) had high myopia and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and the macula–disc centre distance was longer than average (6.35 mm).

Discussion

The macula–disc centre distance in prematurely born children at the age of 10–11 years provides an easy‐to‐use reference tool for evaluating the size of retinal features on fundus photographs. However, if complications of ROP, for example temporal macular dragging or high ametropia, are present, the macula–disc centre distance is potentially altered and a personal macula–disc centre distance should be determined and used as a refined reference tool.