bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaption‐innovation theory and knowledge use in organizations
Authors: Chilton Michael A. , Bloodgood James M.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how an individual's cognitive style influences the type of knowledge they prefer to work with, and to identify how this relationship influences knowledge management strategies and their outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper integrates adaption‐innovation theory and aspects of knowledge management theories.

Findings

Adaptors are likely to prefer to work with knowledge that is relatively more explicit and innovators are likely to prefer to work with knowledge that is relatively more tacit. Understanding these preferences, and making the appropriate type of knowledge available to the right mix of adaptor and innovator types of individuals may influence organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

Conceptual and empirical research should consider how individuals' cognitive style influences their ability to utilize organizational knowledge resources.

Practical implications

Organizations should consider evaluating the cognitive style of their members in order to be able to better assign them to knowledge tasks. Group tasks should be planned with the mix of individuals' cognitive style in mind. These efforts should help to avoid underutilization of appropriate knowledge as well as overuse of inappropriate knowledge.

Originality/value

The paper proposes that cognitive style influences the degree to which an individual prefers to work with tacit or explicit knowledge. This preference can influence the type and degree of knowledge use when performing organizational tasks.
Individual choice or institutional practice
Authors: Tello Steven , Latham Scott , Kijewski Valerie
Published: September 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the degree to which individual technology transfer officers' heuristics and biases, as well as peer technology transfer institutions' practices, influence the technology commercialization decision‐making process.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative method was used to gather data from technology transfer officers (TTO) regarding how they make commercialization decisions. Responses were examined in the context of rational choice theory and institutional theory in an attempt to discern whether common decision‐making practices are shared among officers from different institutions.

Findings

The subjects shared relatively few common organizational and professional decision‐making practices. The sample was relatively evenly divided by TTO with an individual heuristic bias and those with a rational approach to decision making. Individual heuristics influenced all subjects to varying degrees.

Research limitations/implications

The TTO plays a central role in the technology commercialization process yet the paper found little evidence that professional practice and standards were integrated into decision‐making processes. Further research examining why this is the case, and examining if there is a relationship to outcome success, is warranted.

Practical implications

Managers need to better understand and monitor how decisions are made within individual offices. Technology transfer directors should conduct a process audit to determine the extent decision‐making processes are internally or externally defined, and then implement best practice where appropriate.

Originality/value

Very few studies examine how TTO make commercialization decisions, and fewer examine this phenomenon in the context of both a rational choice and institutional theory framework.
Auditing employee ownership in a neo‐liberal world
Authors: Reeves Knyght P. , Kouzmin Alexander , Kakabadse Nada K. , Kakabadse Andrew P.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

Employee ownership has attracted much attention across the globe. Whether affected by the global financial crisis (GFC), or not, this paper seeks to canvass what is known about employee ownership in neo‐liberal political economies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a literature review, cross cultural analysis and critique.

Findings

The findings indicate future research directions.

Research limitations/implications

The paper suggests a reconsideration of organizational configurations for possible greater application in the future.

Social implications

The paper hightlights the re‐regulation of neo‐liberal markets.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on employee share ownership schemes.
UK managers' conceptions of employee training and development
Authors: McDowall Almuth , Saunders Mark N.K.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The first purpose of this paper is to review the practical and theoretical distinctions between training and development in the organisational psychology and human resource development (HRD) literatures. Then the paper seeks to investigate how managers responsible for the training and development function conceptualise these activities in practice, the factors that guide their decision making, how they evaluate the outcomes and the extent to which they perceive a relationship between training and development.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking a critical realist perspective, 26 interviews were conducted with UK managers and analysed through thematic coding using template analysis.

Findings

Managers' conceptualisations of training and development vary. Formal training is prioritised due to a perceived more tangible demonstrable return on investment. Perceived success in training focuses on improvements to job‐related skills, whereas success outcomes for development are more varied and difficult to measure. Managers consider that training and development are more valuable when combined.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need for further process‐driven research to understand the interrelationship between training and development and to develop methods that can be used by organisations to evaluate both. This necessitates going beyond methods currently in use and including both qualitative and quantitative measures.

Practical implications

Managers may take a more proactive and directive role in facilitating development than the literature suggests; consequently, their role needs to be considered more actively in HRD learning strategies.

Originality/value

This is one of the first qualitative studies to explore the conceptualisations of managers responsible for training and development, highlighting the inter‐relationship between training and development and the factors guiding decisions regarding these activities.
The role of individual and training design factors on training transfer
Authors: Awais Bhatti Muhammad , Kaur Sharan
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to highlight the role of individual and training design factors on training transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature is conducted, and this review highlights a dual role of perceived content validity in the form of increasing self‐efficacy and the role of trainees' reaction. The study suggests that transfer design factors improve performance self‐efficacy and reaction measures work as a bridge between content validity and transfer motivation. In addition, the role of transfer design in training transfer theory is explained.

Findings

A combination of variables is proposed, suggesting further investigation to build a strong training transfer theory. The study highlights the dual role of perceived content validity as a factor to develop positive trainee reaction and increase trainee performance self‐efficacy. Furthermore, the study proposes that transfer design and perceived content validity increase trainee performance self‐efficacy, which leads to maximizing training transfer through transfer motivation. The study also explains that perceived content validity influences transfer motivation through trainee reaction, and proposes a framework coupled with future research directions.

Research limitations/implications

The suggested framework provides a theoretical basis for researchers to build a strong training transfer theory. This conceptual paper elaborates the role of perceived content validity, transfer design, reaction, performance self‐efficacy and transfer motivation to substantiate training transfer theory. Future researchers should test the proposed framework empirically and highlight other factors that could increase the efficacy and motivation levels of trainees in order to maximize training transfer.

Practical implications

Transfer design factors in this paper provide practical implications for training transfer in general and training professionals in particular. Thus, training transfer is maximized through positive trainee reaction, which is an important facet of training. Another factor, i.e. perceived content validity, not only develops positive reaction but also increases the efficacy level of trainees. Therefore, in order to increase the performance self‐efficacy and motivation level of trainees, training professionals should focus on the content and transfer design factors to maximize training transfer.

Originality/value

This conceptual paper contributes to the existing training transfer literature by suggesting a combination of variables that provides a theoretical basis for building a strong training transfer theory.
Organizational change and development in India
Authors: Bhatnagar Jyotsna , Budhwar Pawan , Srivastava Pallavi , Saini Debi S.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine developments in the field of organizational change (OC) with reference to the context of India. It highlights the need to analyze this topic in the present Indian economic environment and discusses the main developments reported in the Indian literature on the same.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical evidence based on a qualitative analysis of a case study undertaken at a public‐private partnership transformation at North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) in India is presented.

Findings

The findings focus on trust building and belongingness for the employees, establishing a high‐performance orientation, quality improvements, and the resultant transformations at NDPL. The analysis indicates a number of ways by which NDPL sought to improve its efficiency in order to better adapt to the rapidly changing Indian business environment.

Practical implications

Based on the findings, the paper identifies key messages for policy makers and change agents regarding how to transform companies in the rapidly changing business contexts of emerging markets such as India.

Originality/value

The paper offers an in‐depth analysis of OC practices in a large organization in India.
China's state‐owned enterprises: economic reform and organizational restructuring
Authors: Hassard John , Morris Jonathan , Sheehan Jackie , Yuxin Xiao
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the Chinese economic reform process has engendered significant changes in the structure and management of work organizations. Central to this process has been the “marketization” of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs). The paper reviews the attempts to reform SOEs as conducted, primarily, under the modern enterprise system (MES) and group company system (GCS) programmes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses institutional issues relating to organizational restructuring, describes the evolution of the SOE “problem” in China, and discusses case evidence of enterprise reform in one of the largest SOE‐dominated industries, iron and steel. Qualitative field data, collected regularly (mostly yearly) since 1995, were derived from in‐depth interviews with executives of ten large SOEs that have restructured as part of MES and GCS programmes.

Findings

It is suggested that the historic reluctance of SOEs to embrace reform stems from three main factors – the opaque nature of property rights, the failure of ministries to produce a firm strategy for channelling surplus labour and the inability of government agencies to offer a sense of managerial autonomy to SOE executives. Recent policies designed to overcome these problems together with kindred ones for separating government functions from business operations in the drive to prepare SOEs for global markets are described. It can be argued that China's preference for gradual reform reflects the wider reform context where economic restructuring has not been accompanied by a greater expression of political democracy.

Originality/value

The paper's findings offer insights from a major longitudinal field study of two of the main programmes of China's reform period.
Privatization, organizational change and performance: evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Yonnedi Efa
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between privatization of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs), organizational change and performance. It explores the processes by which privatization affects corporate performance through the internal changes within organizations in a developing country context.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involved the use of a survey questionnaire. Responses were obtained from 86 managers in 86 organizations, comprised of SOEs, privatized firms and private enterprises in Indonesia.

Findings

Cross‐sectional analysis shows that there had been a statistical significant difference across the types of ownership pertaining to organizational elements that were expected to change. The evidence suggested that privatization brought about important alignments among the organization's goals, design elements and resources and between the organization and its competitive environment.

Practical implications

The implications of the study are discussed in relation to the organizational changes that take place in the transition from public to private sector ownership. The study contributes to our understanding about the relationship between ownership‐performance by providing an organizational change perspective on the examination of privatization‐performance effect.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights into how privatization processes alter the behavior, incentives and performance of formerly SOEs in Indonesia.
How value is created, captured and destroyed
Authors: Bowman Cliff , Ambrosini Véronique
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address value and the value‐creation process. It argues that the firm operating in line with investor interests, acts as both a customer and a supplier of value and considers the internal activities that reflect these motivations.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of propositions are developed regarding the creation, capture and destruction of value.

Findings

It is argued that two types of value‐creating activities can be identified. In addition there are activities directed at the maintenance of the firm, and the maintenance of its capital stock, and there are activities that destroy value. Value capture is determined by bargaining relationships between stakeholders and their representatives. The paper concludes with some comments regarding value appropriation.

Originality/value

The paper addresses the critical issue of “value” in the resource‐based view (RBV) and specifically begins to develop the RBV away from its neo‐classical roots.
Collaborative emergency management and national emergency management network
Authors: Kapucu Naim , Arslan Tolga , Demiroz Fatih
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze scholarly discussions and findings regarding collaborative emergency management (CEM). Several aspects such as leadership, decision making, intergovernmental and interorganizational relations, technology applications in CEM have been investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review was conducted using three popular search data bases, Academic Search Premier, Academic OneFile, and Info Track OneFile using the following keywords: CEM, collaborative and emergency and management, collaborative networks, emergency networks, emergency network, interorganizational networks, Interorganizational and networks, intergovernmental and networks, and National Emergency Management Network (NEMN).

Findings

The paper emphasizes that high expectations of public and stakeholders in emergency and disaster management require effective use of resources by collaborative networks.

Practical implications

Emergency and disaster managers should be able to adopt their organization culture, structure and processes to the collaborative nature of emergency management.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on a very important subject in emergency and disaster management using NEMN as example.
Embedding issue management as a strategic element of crisis prevention
Authors: Jaques Tony
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to characterize the danger period which extends before a crisis and to position issue management as an effective crisis prevention discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores scholarship regarding the developing concept of active pre‐crisis management, the growing acceptance of crisis management as an integrated process and the implications of this holistic approach in providing opportunities for proactive intervention.

Findings

While crisis preparedness and prevention have become established as integral parts of organizational crisis management, there is no agreement on taxonomy and no accepted optimal process to formalize the methodology to deliver effective strategies.

Originality/value

After identifying and characterizing this gap in management research, the paper nominates issue management as an optimal option and identifies four broad areas where issue management can contribute to crisis prevention.
Approaching disaster management through social learning
Authors: O'Brien Geoff , O'Keefe Phil , Gadema Zaina , Swords Jon
Published: September 2010

Purpose

Coping with and adjusting to disruptive challenges has always been a characteristic of human development. Formalisation of this has led to the emergence of a number approaches addressing disruptive challenges. Often formalised practice has a narrow focus. Increasingly complex challenges require a refocus of formalised approaches. Drawing from these approaches, the purpose of this paper is to posit that a greater focus on preparedness through pre‐disaster planning is needed for a more holistic approach to disaster management.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the evolution of disaster management thinking and practice and proposes that changes are needed to the dominant disaster management model. These changes are drawn from a number of alternative perspectives. Based on the uncertainties surrounding complex or “wicked” problems, for example, climate change and variability, this paper develops a more holistic approach.

Findings

Responding to “wicked problems” requires a greater focus on preparedness. In terms of disaster risk reduction a greater emphasis on pre‐disaster planning is needed driven by social learning processes.

Originality/value

Faced with an increasingly uncertain and complex future, current approaches to conceptualising disaster management are inadequate. This paper develops an approach that is likely to be more effective.
Professional accounting media: accountants handing over control to the system
Authors: Baldvinsdottir Gudrun , Burns John , Nørreklit Hanne , Scapens Robert
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between management accounting software and the management accountant, as (re)produced in adverts appearing in professional management accounting journals. The paper analyses how such adverts have shaped the management accountant and the social practice of management accounting; in particular, whether these adverts are producing an image of management accountants who are in control of their management accounting system or who are controlled by it. The paper also discusses whether these adverts reflect changes in broader social practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses two software adverts that were published in Chartered Institute of Management Accountants' professional journal. It uses discourse analysis to understand both the image of management accountants and the nature of the management accounting software portrayed in these adverts, as well as to explore the relationship between management accountants and their control systems.

Findings

It is concluded that the software adverts project an image of management accountants who are effectively handing over control to their systems, and who are encouraged to place substantial trust in the software. The paper relates these changes to trends in contemporary social practices, and reflects in the light of recent events in the financial markets and global economy more generally.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by adding more insight to the diffusion of the images of the accountant as a more action oriented and hedonistic person (while the software system “does the work”), as well as considering the broader implications of such diffusion in the context of the recent financial crisis.
Benchmarking the service quality of ocean container carriers using AHP
Authors: Kannan Vanumamalai
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a framework based on analytic hierarchy process to ocean container carriers operating in India, with a view to assist them in benchmarking their service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore various service attributes, review of carrier selection literature, customer satisfaction survey questionnaires, SERVQUAL, telephonic interviews and focus groups were used and to cluster the attributes into various criteria, another focus group was conducted. This focus group also carried out pairwise comparisons of criteria by using a questionnaire. This paper has used the expert choice 11.5 software for benchmarking.

Findings

Indian shippers use 48 attributes in the carrier evaluation process and they cluster these attributes under seven meaningful criteria, namely rate, customer service, operations, reputation, infrastructure, scheduling and information technology orientation and communication. Out of these, rate is considered as the most important criterion. Then it is explained how the focal firm shall identify the benchmark by using the framework in a step‐by‐step manner.

Practical implications

By using the framework, the container carriers operating in India shall carry out benchmarking of their service quality in order to win over competition and ensure breakthrough performance.

Originality/value

The paper presents premier research in the area of Indian container carrier industry and is expected to widen the knowledge base of the transportation literature. The framework is complete in all respects, incorporating sensitivity and gap analyses and it shall be generalized to any service firm for its competitive service quality benchmarking needs.
Techniques on developing context‐aware web services
Authors: Sheng Quan Z. , Yu Jian , Segev Aviv , Liao Kewen
Published: September 2010

Purpose

In the last decade, web services have become a major technology to implement loosely coupled business processes and perform application integration. Through the use of context, a new generation of web services, namely context‐aware web services (CASs), is currently emerging as an important technology for building innovative context‐aware applications. Unfortunately, CASs are still difficult to build. Issues like lack of context provisioning management approach and lack of generic approach for formalizing the development process need to be solved in the first place for easy and effective development of CASs. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the techniques on developing CASs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focuses on introducing a model‐driven platform, called ContextServ, and showcasing how to use this platform to rapidly develop a context‐aware web application, Smart Adelaide Guide. ContextServ adopts a model‐driven development (MDD) approach where a Unified Modeling Language (UML)‐based modeling language – ContextUML – is used to model web services and its context‐awareness features.

Findings

The paper presents novel techniques for efficient and effective development of CASs using a MDD approach. The ContextServ platform is the only one that provides a comprehensive software toolset that supports graphical modeling and automatic model transformation of CASs.

Practical implications

The proposed approach has been validated in practice by developing various CASs. The experimental study demonstrates the efficiency and effectiveness of the approach.

Originality/value

The paper presents a novel platform called ContextServ, which offers a set of visual editing and automation tools for easy and fast generating and deploying CASs.
Querying and restructuring XML data by graphical query language
Authors: Ykhlef Mourad , Alqahtani Sarra
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The rapid development of Extensible Markup Language (XML) from a mere data exchange format to a universal syntax for encoding domain specific information increases the need of new query languages specifically visualized to address the characteristics of XML. Such languages should be able not only to extract information from XML documents, but also to apply powerful restructuring operators, based on a well‐defined semantics. Moreover, XML queries should be natural to write and understand, as also end‐users are expected to access the large XML information bases supporting their businesses. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new graphical query language for XML (GQLX) for querying and restructuring XML data.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology emphasizes on GQLX's development, which is based on G‐XML data model syntax to express a wide variety of XML queries, ranging from simple selection to expressive data transformations involving grouping, aggregation and sorting. GQLX has an operational semantics based on the annotated XML, which serves to express queries and data trees in the form of XML. The paper also presents an algorithm to achieve the matching between data and query trees after translating them into annotated XML.

Findings

Developed and demonstrated were: a G‐XML syntax; annotated XML for the semantic operations and a matching algorithm.

Research limitations/implications

The future research work on this language lies in expanding it to include recursion and nested queries.

Practical implications

The algorithms/approaches proposed can be implemented to enhance the performance of the XML query language.

Originality/value

The proposed work integrates various novel techniques for XML query syntax/semantic into a single language with a suitable matching algorithm.
Exploring corporate social responsibility disclosure: the case of Islamic banks
Authors: Hassan Abul , Syafri Harahap Sofyan
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether any discrepancy exists between the corporate social activities disclosed in the annual reports of Islamic banks and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure index which has been developed based on the Islamic business ethics framework.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports on a survey of annual reports of seven Islamic banks using the method of content analysis to measure the volume of CSR disclosure.

Findings

The results show the overall mean CSR disclosure index of one Islamic bank out of seven to be above average and the issues of CSR are not of major concern for most Islamic banks.

Research limitations/implications

CSR disclosure in the Islamic banks is experimental and could be explored in greater depth in future studies.

Practical implications

The findings have important implications for academics and researchers, as they pave the ways for further investigation. The results also have important implication for Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions in developing a CSR reporting standard if Islamic banks are to enhance their image and reputation globally, as well as to remain competitive.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the growing debate on CSR in ethical perspective and key underlying issues associated with the emergence of new disclosure practices for Islamic financial institutions. Through this paper, new visibilities explored, and competing dilemmas opened up.
Satisfaction among Gen Y patients
Authors: Hazilah Abd Manaf Noor , Mohd Dinon , Abdullah Kalthom
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess satisfaction of Generation Y (Gen Y) patients in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

A patient satisfaction study was conducted on an outpatient clinic at the Health Centre of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The majority of students at the IIUM comprise undergraduates who are within the age group categorised as Gen Y. Patient satisfaction questionnaire was used as the main method of data collection. The survey was administered to patients over a two‐week period during regular semester session.

Findings

More than 85 per cent of the respondents are below 25 years of age, reflecting the Gen Y demography. Significant difference is found in the level of satisfaction on the service of doctors between the younger Gen Y undergraduate students and postgraduate students; as well as the Gen Y and the employees. Level of confidence in the clinic is also lower among those of the Gen Y age group, reflecting the higher expectation of service quality.

Originality/value

Patient satisfaction is an important measure of the quality of care provided by healthcare organisations. Understanding the needs of a target group of patients can be used for continuous improvement where their specific needs and expectations can be addressed. A study on patient satisfaction among the Gen Y has been rarely explored. The study is an early attempt in filling the void.
Social impacts of events and the role of anti‐social behaviour
Authors: Deery Margaret , Jago Leo
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The research focusing on the social impacts of events on communities has reached a level of critical mass and this paper aims to synthesise the literature, including the research methods used and analytical techniques that have been employed in order to provide a platform for future research in this important area.

Design/methodology/approach

The key method used is a literature review of all the available academic research into the social impacts of events on communities and the development of a model for future research.

Findings

After reviewing the social impact literature, the paper finds that one negative social impact, in particular, has the potential to undermine the key positive impacts that events can deliver for a host community. This impact, which is collectively known as anti‐social behaviour (ASB) incorporates behaviour such as drunken, rowdy and potentially life and property threatening behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

The consequences of the impact of ASB are so serious, partly because it is an impact which the media often highlight, can seriously tarnish the image of an event in the eyes of the local community and reduce their pride in the destination. Community tourism leaders need to manage this impact in order to maintain resident support. The paper concludes with a model for future research into the social impacts of events on communities, focusing on the role that ASB plays in residents' perceptions of events.

Originality/value

This paper provides a review of the literature on social impacts to date and is a resource for researchers in the area. In addition, the paper highlights the role that ASB plays in aggravating negative perceptions of tourism in communities and the need for a more in‐depth understanding of ASB.
Explicating inter‐organizational linkages of a host community's events network
Authors: Ziakas Vassilios , Costa Carla A.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the inter‐organizational patterns of an events network that shape a host community's capacity to capitalize on its event portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach

Network analysis was employed to measure the relationships within an events network. The network included nine organizations that participated in the organization of the host community's event portfolio. Data were collected using an instrument adapted from Provan et al. and analyzed using the statistical software for social network analysis, UCINET. Four types of links were measured (shared information, shared resources, help sent, and help received) as well as attitudes toward trust and collaboration.

Findings

Results showed that collaboration was not consistent across all types of links. The most central organizations in the network were the Tourism Department and the Chamber. Shared information was the predominant type of link with other types of links being weaker resulting in low multiplexity scores. Reciprocity among existing links was above average. Finally, the organizations appeared to have high levels of trust and positive attitudes toward collaboration.

Research limitations/implications

An events network can be studied as a measurable mechanism assessing community capacity building in event management and explicating the collaboration patterns in event portfolios that facilitate the joint use of an integrated set of resources for sport and cultural events.

Practical implications

Network analysis can be employed to explore and assess the nature, patterns, and effectiveness of inter‐organizational relationships affecting event planning, implementation, and leveraging.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates the usefulness of network analysis as a tool for host communities to help build their capacity in event management through the development of local networks. It also suggests that the study of event portfolios provides a suitable context for future research to examine community capacity building in terms of fostering the necessary relationships and synergies to plan, implement, and leverage a series of different events.
Frequency of respiratory deterioration after immunisation in preterm infants
Authors: Hacking Douglas F , Davis Peter G , Wong Ester , Wheeler Kevin , McVernon Jodie
Published: September 2010

Aim:  To determine the relationship between the initiation of respiratory support and the first routine immunisation of neonates at 2 months of age during primary hospitalisation.

Methods:  An historical cohort study design was used to study the neonatal factors associated with the initiation of respiratory support within 7 days of immunisation in a cohort of 7629 preterm and term infants admitted to the Neonatal Unit of the Royal Women's Hospital between 2001 and 2008.

Results:  The 411 infants who received their first immunisations in hospital were both very preterm and of extremely low birth weight (ELBW, below 1000 g). Twenty‐two infants experienced post‐immunisation apnoea of sufficient severity to warrant the initiation of either intermittent positive pressure ventilation (two cases) or continuous positive airway pressure (20 cases). Infants exhibiting a respiratory deterioration following immunisation had a higher incidence of previous septicaemia (Odds ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.0, 6.1; P = 0.04) and received CPAP for a longer period prior to vaccination (P = 0.03).

Conclusion:  Apnoea following immunisation may be an aetiological factor in the requirement of respiratory support in a small number of preterm, ELBW infants particularly those with significant lung disease and those who have previously experienced septicaemia.
Immunisation rates of children with cystic fibrosis using the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register
Authors: Cugley Kathryn , Crawford Nigel , Royle Jenny , Elia Sonja , Massie John
Published: September 2010

Aim:  The Australian Immunisation Handbook (ninth edition) recommends children with cystic fibrosis (CF) receive routine scheduled immunisations plus annual influenza vaccine and an additional pneumococcal vaccine at both 12 months and 4–5 years. Adherence with these recommendations is unknown. This study aimed to determine the immunisation status of children with CF attending the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), Melbourne.

Methods:  A retrospective audit of children with CF aged 6 months to 7 years (at 1 January 2008) was performed on the RCH CF outpatient clinic database. The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) and RCH Immunisation Service records were used to determine immunisation status.

Results:  Eighty‐nine children with CF were identified, 52 (58%) were male, with median age of 3.6 years. Eighty‐two of 89 children (92%) were up to date with routine immunisations. According to the ACIR, of the 89 children sampled, 24 (27%) were given influenza vaccine in accordance with recommendations in 2007. Eighty children were older than 12 months of age at 1 January 2008 and 17 (21%) of these children had received the additional pneumococcal vaccine at 12 months. Thirty‐eight children were older than 4 years of age at 1 January 2008 and 6 (16%) received the recommended 23vPPV booster.

Conclusion:  Most children with CF received their routine childhood immunisations but not the additional recommended immunisations. This highlights the potential value of the ACIR to accurately record all vaccines administered and for ACIR reminder letters to include the additional vaccines for children in special‐risk groups.
Androgen substitution with testosterone undecanoate in survivors of bilateral testicular cancer requires individually‐adjusted injection intervals
Authors: Brabrand Sigmund , Fosså Sophie D. , Cvancarova Milada , Lehne Gustav
Published: September 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)  Level of Evidence 4

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

There is insufficient documentation on androgen substitution with intramuscular testosterone undecanoate, a new injection depot formulation, in anorchid men. This prospective study explores the efficacy and safety and contributes to the treatment recommendations on substitution with intramuscular testosterone undecanoate in bilaterally orchiectomized survivors after germ cell cancer.

OBJECTIVES

• To explore the efficacy and safety of testosterone undecanoate (TU) (Nebido®; Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany) in patients with bilateral germ cell testicular cancer (GCTC) who have switched androgen substitution from testosterone enanthate (Primoteston Depot®, Bayer Schering Pharma AG).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• In total, 47 bilaterally orchidectomized GCTC patients were included in a prospective study to monitor serum gonadal hormones, biochemical safety and symptoms of hypogonadism based on the Aging Males’ Symptoms scale during TU treatment for a 28‐week period.

RESULTS

• During treatment, serum levels of total (TT) and calculated free testosterone (CFT) increased with simultaneously decreasing levels of FSH and LH. However, considerable variations in median levels of TT and CFT were observed during the study. The highest levels of TT and CFT were observed 1–2 weeks after each injection and the lowest immediately before the second injection.

• Insufficient levels of TT (<8 nmol/L) were observed in 10 patients, with nine of these during the second half of the first treatment cycle. Supernormal levels of TT (>35 nmol/L) were measured in 28 patients of which 26 occurred at least once during the first 3 weeks of each treatment cycle.

• A follow‐up review at median 39 months after study start showed a median steady‐state injection interval of 10 weeks, with an individual variability of 6–14 weeks. Symptoms according to the Aging Males’ Symptoms scale remained unchanged. No severe toxicity was encountered. Only one patient experienced transient elevation of serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase with maximal Common Toxicity Criteria, grade 2.

CONCLUSIONS

• TU is safe and highly efficient for the treatment of anorchid GCTC survivors.

• Androgen substitution with TU in bilateral GCTC survivors requires individually‐adjusted injection intervals. In most cases, 10‐week intervals appear to be sufficient.
Newly Designed Glass Scribing Wheel Made of Chemical Vapor Deposition Diamond Film
Authors: Chang Hsiao‐Kuo , Huang Jow‐Lay , Sung James C. , Yang Shang‐Ray
Published: September 2010

Scribing wheel (SW) is an important tool for separating glass panels in thin‐film transistor liquid crystal display industry. In this study, unlike the traditional SW completely made of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or cemented tungsten carbide (c‐WC), an alternative partially taking advantage of chemical vapor deposition diamond (CVDD) was newly developed. The fabrication of such unique sandwich‐like CVDD‐SW combined hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD), welding, and other machining processes. Both hard CVDD scribing edge and tough c‐WC supporting layers contributed to SW structure. CVDD was prepared by adjusting the concentration of methane fed into HFCVD chamber. Morphological observation confirmed the reproducibility of microcrystal diamond (MCD), submicrocrystal diamond (SMCD), and nanocrystal diamond (NCD) diamond. Besides grain size, the existence of columnar structure, the nondiamond carbon content, the residual stress, and I(220)/I(111) ratio of CVDD films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. Based on results, SMCD was predicted as the optimized CVDD for making a scribing edge. After three CVDD films were respectively integrated into SW, this prediction was supported by preliminary scribing test. Selecting Corning‐1737 as the cutting object, among three CVDD‐SWs and one self‐made PCD‐SW, only the scribing edge of SMCD‐SW kept almost undamaged. The outperformance of our design was thus confirmed.
Polymer‐Derived SiOC–barium–strontium aluminosilicate Coatings as an Environmental Barrier for C/SiC Composites
Authors: Liu Jia , Zhang Litong , Liu Qiaomu , Cheng Laifei , Wang Yiguang
Published: September 2010

Polysiloxanes polymer coatings were formed on carbon fiber‐reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) composites at 100°C in air with barium–strontium aluminosilicate (BSAS) as fillers. After the polymeric coatings were pyrolyzed at 1350°C under argon, a dense SiOC–BSAS‐coated C/SiC composite was obtained. The oxidation test in dry air and the corrosion test in water vapor were carried out on the coated composites at 1250°C, respectively. The results indicated that the polymer‐derived SiOC–BSAS coatings could protect the C/SiC composites well both in dry air and water vapor. Even after corroded for 200 h in water vapor, the coated C/SiC composites showed little weight loss and high residual flexural strength.
Electronic Conduction Mechanisms in BaTiO3–Ni Composites with Ultrafine Microstructure Obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering
Authors: Yoon Songhak , Pithan Christian , Waser Rainer , Dornseiffer Jürgen , Xiong Yan , Grüner Daniel , Shen Zhijian , Iwaya Shoichi
Published: September 2010

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) was used to densify BaTiO3–Ni composite powders to relative densities above 92.8%. With the increasing Ni content, a decrease in relative density is observed, suggesting that Ni hampers the consolidation process. The microstructures of the BaTiO3–Ni composites were of duplex character. The crystallite size of the BaTiO3‐grains was around 100 nm in average. The ceramic matrix phase of BaTiO3 surrounded Ni inclusions of approximately 1 μm in diameter that were completely incorporated without the formation of any elongated metallic filaments. The ac conductivity of these BaTiO3–Ni composites increased with increasing Ni content and with temperature. The dominant conduction mechanisms in SPSed BaTiO3–Ni composites showed quite a complicated behavior. A gradual change from band conduction of trapped electrons in oxygen vacancies to a hopping‐type motion of small polarons between Ti4+ and Ti3+ is suggested to occur, when the Ni content increases. The influence of oxygen vacancies and other lattice defects on the electrical properties of BaTiO3–Ni composites is discussed.
The effect of day care attendance on infant and toddler’s growth
Authors: Zmiri Pnina , Rubin Lisa , Akons Hanna , Zion Nataly , Shaoul Ron
Published: September 2010

Aim:  We aimed to study the association between day care attendance and changes in the height, weight and weight/height ratio over a 6‐month period.

Methods:  Data were retrieved from three maternal and child health care centres. Parents were asked to fill a short questionnaire regarding the infant/toddler life style, the day care facilities and the family demographic information.

Results:  One hundred and seventy infants participated in the study. The research group consisted of 85 infants that had placed in day care centre prior to the age of 18 months. The control group consisted of 85 infants who had placed in day care at a later age. The research group had significantly shorter stature 3 months after day care enrolment (mean height percentiles of 56.9 versus 66.3, respectively, p = 0.024,). This trend was more pronounced after 6 months (mean height percentiles of 52.3 versus 63.7, p = 0.022). We could not, however, demonstrate a concomitant significant deceleration in weight or weight/height percentiles.

Conclusions:  The explanation for this rather dramatic finding remains speculative. Possible mechanisms are stress‐related growth hormone suppression. Our findings reinforce the importance of monitoring infant/toddler weight and height growth velocities, especially when he/she is introduced to day care.
Central apnoeas in infants with bronchiolitis admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit
Authors: Schiller Ofer , Levy Itzhak , Pollak Uri , Kadmon Gili , Nahum Elhanan , Schonfeld Tommy
Published: September 2010

Aim:  To further characterize apnoea(s) complicating bronchiolitis because of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), to describe the incidence of this complication and identify possible risk factors for apnoea(s) and its development.

Methods:  The files of infants admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for RSV bronchiolitis during three bronchiolitis seasons (2004–2007) were reviewed for demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters. Parameters were compared between patients with and without apnoeas.

Results:  Seventy‐nine patients met the study criteria: 43 were admitted to the PICU for central apnoeas and the remainder for respiratory distress or failure. The percentage of infants admitted for apnoea increased during the study period (28.6 to 77.1%, p = 0.004). The overall prevalence of apnoea in this population was 4.3%. Possible risk factors for apnoea(s) were younger age (1.3 vs. 4.3 months, p = 0.002), lower admission weight (3.3 vs. 5 kg, p < 0.001), lower gestational age (35.8 vs. 37.8 weeks, p = 0.01), admission from the emergency room (50% vs. 9.1%, p < 0.001) and lack of hyperthermia (p < 0.001). Respiratory acidosis was found to be a protective factor on logistic regression analysis.

Conclusion:  The prevalence of apnoea in infants admitted to the PICU for RSV bronchiolitis in our centre may be increasing. Preterm, younger infants with no fever are at relatively high risk of apnoea at presentation, while older infants with fever are at lower risk.