bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Friendship to Kinship
Authors: Rajendiran Anbumathi , Dorai Sriram
Published: September 2019

This chapter explains the effect of brand engagement on brand evangelism in an Indian context. It explores the motives that drive fans in brand engagement that leads to brand evangelism behavior. A nomological model is developed based on literature reviews and authors tested empirically using a survey design for two mobile phone brands. Results of the empirical study reinforces the role of brand engagement as a significant influencer of brand evangelism. Additionally, brand involvement, brand personality and self-brand connect are the constructs elucidating brand engagement, whereas brand interactivity has a direct effect on brand evangelism. Conceptual model tested among users of premium and value brand of mobile phones enlightens that customers of premium brand demonstrate stronger brand engagement and evangelism intent.
Fandom as an Art Form
Authors: Olds Kirsten Fleur
Published: September 2019

This chapter examines the practice of fandom as an art form in and of itself, exploring the example of fan clubs and zines by artists in the international mail art scene (known as the Eternal Network) in the 1970s. Fandom as an artistic practice differs from fan art produced in admiration of celebrities. Instead, what this chapter argues is that the artists of the Eternal Network engaged in fan activities. The first part of the chapter explores the network and compares several of their practices to fan behavior, including the desire for social connectivity, cultivation of insiders, and semiotic productivity. The second part delves into fan clubs and their publications as representational devices, and considers the role of affective behavior, including humor and the power of naming, to create group identity. The last section examines fandom as a form to critique social, political, and economic systems, analyzing a publicly circulated mock presidential campaign. The chapter concludes by suggesting that artists deploy fandom as a strategy to imagine the worlds they want to inhabit.
Involvement, Hedonism, and Luxury
Authors: Favia Monica J. , Hall Kenneth D.
Published: September 2019

The popular music industry finds itself beset by circumstances in which most of its best-selling artists are more than 50 years old and some top sellers have died. This chapter investigates popular-music fandom through the lens of product involvement and looks to the literature on luxury-goods management for potential managerial insights that might help the industry navigate an otherwise uncertain future. Highly committed fans may be marked by enduring involvement and may be more attracted to artists who are able to position themselves successfully as “classic” (expert aesthetic, enduring duration), adapted from the luxury-goods setting. Broad, long-term popular appeal may be achievable with successful positioning of the artist as “modern” (novice/surface aesthetic, enduring duration). Preliminary recommendations are offered, and avenues for further research are discussed.
Sci-Fi Fandoms in the Digital Age
Authors: Loehr Gabrielle T , Shackleford Lee , Dill-Shackleford Karen Elizabeth , Metcalf Melody
Published: September 2019

This chapter discusses the evolution of the Doctor Who, Star Wars, and Star Trek fandoms from their beginnings to their current releases. These brief histories highlight how fans communicated with each other before social media and how those communications changed with the advent of the internet and social media. The dynamics of online groups, individual behavior in online groups, and the life cycle of a group are all discussed before moving onto trolling and the spectrum of online incivility. Overall, most of the trolling that occurs in sci-fi fandoms comes from devotion to the franchise rather than from the desire to be divisive or negative. However, some online incivility is solely guided by sexism, racism, and the desire to sow social discord. Two examples of sexist and racist fan behavior from Star Wars: The Last Jedi illustrates the different motivations of fandom trolls as well as ways to respond. Although every fandom is different, group behavior is predictable thus insights from these iconic sci-fi fandoms can be applied to many different fandoms.
Paid to Play
Authors: Pun Lok Fai
Published: September 2019

With the rise of game broadcasting appearing in video sharing or streaming platforms, there is a new social phenomenon in which fans or consumers could co-operate with the game companies in their mutual interest. This social phenomenon has further diverged into two types of tamed labour fans, the expert fans in gaming and live-streaming and tamed fans in marketing and socializing in fandom as company agency. This article will investigate the nature of this new role of tamed fan labour and explore how it functions in the fan community, especially in terms of relieving fans' resistance against the game companies and consolidating the fan community by revealing their affinity for their fan. Using the example of a successful Chinese mobile game app, “Tower of Saviour,” this article will shed light on this rethinking of the fan structure, as well as on Chinese fan studies that show how tamed fan labour can benefit game companies in the Chinese cultural context.
Ethical Implications of Cooperation and Safety vis-à-vis Cyber Security in Africa
Authors: Essien Essien D.
Published: September 2019

Discourses on the threats to cyber security in today's digital society have revealed that cyberspace has become an arena of complex national security concern. This lends credence to the fact that many countries, especially in Africa, need to urgently scale up their efforts to effectively secure the Internet and ICT infrastructures. Drawing upon extensive literature on cyber-security challenges, this chapter examines the phenomenon of cybercrime using Ronald Rogers' “protection motivation theory”. The study employs qualitative analysis of the current cyber-security landscape in Africa. Findings posit that with the risk and vulnerability of the cyberspace, cyber security in Africa poses a number of unique challenges which predicate a coordinated response for security and safety engagement. The study suggests collaborative measures to counter cybercrime through investigation, prosecution, and sharing information.
Avatar-Based Modeling of Digital Communication in Political Conflicts
Authors: Aleshina Ekaterina Yuryevna , Mkrttchian Vardan , Gamidullaeva Leyla Ayvarovna
Published: September 2019

Many of the findings within the data have generated more questions than answers; but in doing so, illuminated several paths of further investigation that may provide greater insights into the complexities of stabilizing troubled states. This chapter then, is a starting point on a journey to discover more effective means to deliver humanitarian and development aid to conflicted societies without doing greater harm in the process. Holland discusses the utility of flight simulators in helping commercial airline pilots experience a variety of scenarios that would be unthinkable to expose passengers to in the real world. The value of the pilot's experience in the simulator depends on how closely the simulator matches the aircraft it models. With even greater numbers of lives and resources at stake, utilizing agent-based modeling as a policy simulator would allow leaders to experiment with numerous response and intervention strategies in a very short period of time.
Development and Implementation of Adaptive Trade Policy in the Era of Digital Globalization Based on Virtual Exchange of Intellectual Knowledge
Authors: Chernyshenko Vsevolod , Vertakova Yulia , Mkrttchian Vardan
Published: September 2019

Different countries practice economic nationalism in different ways based on their emerging priorities in the social, political, and economic contexts. Both the developed economies and developing economies are exhibiting a recent surge in economic nationalism. The increasing globalization and the growth of world markets through greater exports has threatened the economic growth of developed economies that import more than export like the U.S.A. Many Asian firms have become globally competitive by using the processes of globalization and economic nationalism. Through effective firm strategy and economic nationalistic policies of China, the Chinese multi-national firm Huawei has exceeded Swedish firm Ericsson for making telecommunication equipment. Other examples include Lenovo and Haier from China and Infosys from India. Many Western nations including U.S. are beginning to warm up to the idea of using economic nationalistic policies to promote their own industries and make them more competitive globally. A country's economic openness affects its economic nationalism.
Training for the Digital Economy
Authors: Krevskiy Igor
Published: September 2019

In this chapter, we will focus on training because the success of the digital economy is determined by knowledge, and therefore the people who create and apply knowledge. In the context of the digital economy, training has two main contexts: training with competencies that are in demand for the digital economy (regardless of the learning technology), and e-learning, in fact, implementing digital technologies in education, for training in any field. In general, the Federal project “Personnel for the digital economy” offers a fairly comprehensive approach to training. It is planned to create conditions for the implementation of personal trajectories of development and profiles of competencies of citizens, the development of the education system for the training of competent specialists in the field of digital economy, the implementation of retraining programs for the professions in demand in the digital economy, the involvement of highly-qualified foreign specialists, and the implementation of promising educational projects with the support of the venture fund.
Participant Perspectives on Benefits and Challenges of Engaging in an Online Pain Self-Management Program
Authors: Wilson Marian , Shaw Michele R.
Published: September 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate participants' perspectives after engaging in an 8-week online pain self-management program. Unexplored qualitative data for this analysis were collected via secure online surveys distributed during a previously published randomized controlled trial. Participants for the present study were 47 adults prescribed opioid medicines for chronic pain. A qualitative descriptive approach using content analysis methods was used to identify common themes regarding online participation. Three themes described the benefits of the program and included: positive reframing, improved accountability, and feeling supported. Two themes described how participants would like to improve the program experience and included: ease of use and desire for personalizing. Participants' insights can assist health care providers and program developers in understanding how online programs may improve chronic disease self-management for a multitude of health problems.
Headache App
Authors: Dantas Tânia , Rodrigues dos Santos Milton , Queirós Alexandra , Silva Anabela G.
Published: September 2019

Mobile applications show great potential for the assessment and registration of information regarding headaches. However, data on the content and usability of mobile applications for headache that are accessible to the public in European Portuguese are scarce, as well the criterion validity. Therefore, this article aims to search for and characterize the mobile applications related to headache in terms of content, usability and criterion validity. A search in the Android app store of applications was conducted. Four mobile applications were found in European Portuguese that matched a set of predefined criteria. These were characterized in terms of general characteristics, content, usability and criterion validity. Three of the applications were specific for headaches and one could be used for any type of pain, including headache. All applications allowed recording of pain characteristics and its extraction in a form of a report. In the discussion section several challenges related to the use of mobile applications in the assessment and management of headache are discussed.
Videogames as Therapy
Authors: Griffiths Mark D. , Kuss Daria J. , Ortiz de Gortari Angelica B.
Published: September 2019

There is a long history of using videogames in a therapeutic capacity including rehabilitation for stroke patients, people with traumatic brain injuries, burns victims, wheelchair users, Erb's palsy sufferers, children undergoing chemotherapy, children with muscular dystrophy, autistic children and individuals looking to overcome real-life challenges (including symptoms of depression) and boost their wellbeing (including boosting life satisfaction, self-efficacy and social support). This paper briefly and selectively examines a number of areas including: (1) videogames as physiotherapy and occupational therapy, (2) videogames as distractors in the role of pain management, (3) videogames and cognitive rehabilitation, (4) videogames and the development of social and communication skills among the learning disabled, (5) videogames and impulsivity/attention deficit disorders, (6) videogames and therapeutic benefits in the elderly, (7) videogames in psychotherapeutic settings, (8) videogames and health care, (9) videogames and anxiety disorders, and (10) videogames and psychological wellbeing. It is concluded that there has been considerable success when games are specifically designed to address a specific problem or to teach a certain skill. However, generalizability outside the game-playing situation remains an important consideration.
Electoral Umpires and the Task of Tracking Political Campaign Funds
Authors: Assay Benjamin Enahoro
Published: September 2019

In some climes, the electoral law places a limit on the amount political parties and candidates can spend during campaigns. But very often, contestants and their parties flout the law on campaign funds limit especially in evolving democracies where the implementation of the law is weak. And this has prompted stakeholders in the political process to urgently canvass for the tracking of campaign funds by Election Management Bodies (EMBs). In Nigeria, despite the existence of a law which requires political parties to make public their campaign spending and submit same to the Independent National Electoral Commission for scrutiny, there appears to be a zero compliance with the Electoral Act. Political parties' non-compliance with the provisions of the law has placed INEC in a precarious situation as far as the tracking of campaign funds is concerned. It is against this backdrop that this chapter proffers solutions and recommends ways to make the electoral umpire live up to its responsibilities.
The Narratives of Neuroscience in Fiction as Propaganda Warfare
Authors: Boyte Kenneth James
Published: September 2019

Raising questions about ethics, transhumanism, national security, and the spread of Nazi science internationally following World War II, this qualitative study considers the possibility that the narratives of the biologically based study of the mind known as neuroscience in fiction—conceptualized as a medium of propaganda warfare embedded with socio-political and religious assumptions—have functioned to veil the development and promote the normalization and social acceptance of neuroscience since the dawn of the Scientific Revolution. With a focus on the intertwined relationship between the literary genre and technological innovations in the contest of “killer robots,” “ray guns,” “Skynet,” and now “brain implants,” this chapter examines how the narratives of an internet-connected-and-neural-electrode-dominated future world driven by artificial intelligence has inspired billionaire investors in Silicon Valley to bring to market the neurotechnology that potentially could enslave and wipe out the human race.
The Biased Media and Their Utilization of Propaganda
Authors: Ross David B. , Peyton Gina L. , Sasso Melissa T. , Matteson Rande W. , Matteson Cortney E.
Published: September 2019

Propaganda is a widely controversial issue, especially when it collides with the media and politicians. This complex system creates a tension between those who have a personal agenda to disseminate false statements to advance their plan to manipulate the minds of the public. Based upon 24/7 cable news and social media, there seems to be a miscommunication and disconnect from the truth regarding how the media reports world events, politics, environment, and how politicians were elected to help their constituents, not their own personal agendas. This chapter will address the concern for a better system of reporting the facts and not personal agendas of propaganda-styled broadcasts and non-fact stories that lack truth. In addition, the history of the utilization of propaganda, the definition of this term, the theoretical framework for the theory of propaganda will be revealed, and how this ties in with media and political actors. Furthermore, various techniques, media, politics, and how to rectify these situations with open, trusting, and straightforward communications will be debated.
MixMash
Authors: Maçãs Catarina , Rodrigues Ana , Bernardes Gilberto , Machado Penousal
Published: September 2019

This article presents MixMash, an interactive tool which streamlines the process of music mashup creation by assisting users in the process of finding compatible music from a large collection of audio tracks. It extends the harmonic mixing method by Bernardes, Davies and Guedes with novel degrees of harmonic, rhythmic, spectral, and timbral similarity metrics. Furthermore, it revises and improves some interface design limitations identified in the former model software implementation. A new user interface design based on cross-modal associations between musical content analysis and information visualisation is presented. In this graphic model, all tracks are represented as nodes where distances and edge connections display their harmonic compatibility as a result of a force-directed graph. Besides, a visual language is defined to enhance the tool's usability and foster creative endeavour in the search of meaningful music mashups.
Sarcasm Detection Using RNN with Relation Vector
Authors: Hiai Satoshi , Shimada Kazutaka
Published: September 2019

Sarcasm detection has been treated as a task that classifies text as sarcastic or non-sarcastic. Sarcasm detection is a significant challenge for sentiment analysis because sarcasm involves a positive expression with a negative meaning. Surface information in text is commonly used as a classification feature. However, the authors must consider both surface and non-surface features. In this article, the authors focus on relation information between pairs of role expressions, such as “boss and staff,” and propose a sarcasm detection method based on surface and relation information. First, the authors extract role pairs from a corpus. Then, the authors construct a relation vector generated from these role pairs and incorporate the relation vector into a recurrent neural network model. The authors evaluated the proposed method by comparing it to previously proposed methods. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of introducing the relation vector to sarcasm detection.
Image Encryption Method Using Dependable Multiple Chaotic Logistic Functions
Authors: Gupta Ranu , Pachauri Rahul , Singh Ashutosh K.
Published: September 2019

This article explores an efficient way of image encryption using chaotic logistic function. A set of two chaotic logistic functions and a 256 bit long external secret key are employed to enhance the security in the encrypted images. The initial condition of first logistic function has been obtained by providing the suitable weights to all bits of the secret key. The initial condition of second logistic function has been derived from first chaotic logistic function. In this proposed algorithm, ten different operations are used to encrypt the pixel of an image. The outcome of the second logistic map decides the operation to be used in the encryption of the particular image pixel. Various statistical parameter comparisons show that the proposed algorithm provides an image encryption method with better security and efficiency for all real-time applications.
A Privacy-Aware Data Aggregation Scheme for Smart Grid Based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography With Provable Security Against Internal Attacks
Authors: Kamil Ismaila Adeniyi , Sunday Oyinlola Ogundoyin
Published: September 2019

In smart grids (SGs), smart meters (SMs) are usually deployed to collect and transmit customers' electricity consumption data in real-time to the control center. Due to the open nature of the SG communication, several privacy-preserving data aggregation schemes have been proposed to protect the privacy of customers. However, most of these schemes cannot protect against internal attackers and they are not efficient, since SMs are constrained in processing, memory, and computing capabilities. To address these problems, the authors propose a privacy-aware lightweight data aggregation scheme against internal attackers based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). The scheme satisfies all the security requirements of SG, and supports conditional traceability, strong anonymity and autonomy. The authors demonstrate that the proposed scheme provides confidentiality based on the Computational Diffie-Hellman (CDH) assumption and unforgeability in the security model based on the intractability of the Discrete Logarithm (DL) problem. Extensive performance analysis shows that the proposed scheme is very efficient.
Management Role in Leading IS-Technological Innovation Offensive Strategy among Universal Banks in Ghana
Authors: Obeng Asare Y.
Published: September 2019

As part of management's role to respond to threats in the banking industry, the capabilities of information technology are leveraged to devise technology-driven offensive strategies. Participants of the study were drawn from eight universal banks in Ghana. The relationships that exist among managerial roles, managerial roles and participants, and how participants are related were examined. The systematic procedure of grounded theory design and subsequent analysis of the generated frequencies using a quantitative technique of correspondence analysis were followed. The obtained results of p-value = 0.000 indicates a strong dependency in the data. The inertia >.5 indicates strong associations among the categories and participants. The two-dimensional solution obtained accounted for 96.2% of total inertia. Findings of the study show that, the success of leading an information systems (IS)-technological innovation offensive-strategy depends on strong innovation capabilities developed through collaboration between business managers and IS/IT heads.
The Knowledge Economy as a Development Potential for Industrialized Countries and a Perspective for Developing Countries
Authors: Fhima Fredj , Trabelsi Walid
Published: September 2019

Based on a panel of 51 countries (22 developed and 29 developing) for a period from 2002 to 2012, this study develops a number of indicators and indexes to compare these two groups of countries according to their knowledge economy content. Results show that in OECD countries, knowledge plays a central role in economic performance and growth. These countries have managed to convert knowledge to ability; they are called knowledge-based economies. Developing countries, although they use knowledge, only few of them are regarded as knowledge-based. The success of a strategy of building the knowledge economy requires investments in knowledge which translates into expenditures on research and development and a strong education system.
Beyond the Screen
Authors: Li Hong
Published: September 2019

Long-distance romantic relationships have become prevalent in today's globalized world. Although mainstream communication technologies have provided instant, cheap, and convenient channels for people to communicate at a distance, the emphasis of these technologies is placed on functionality as they are designed for a large variety of end users, rather than providing emotional communication which the author argues is meaningful and necessary for the individuals to maintain ties to their romantic partners who are forced to live physically apart for some reason. The author envisions that there is a gap between understanding the users' needs in research and designing technologies for them in practice. The author's PhD research has been dedicated to bridging this gap by mediating emotional communication for serious long-distance romantic relationships through unconventional artefacts. This manuscript presents an overview of the work thus far.
A QoS Guaranteed Call Admission Control (QOG-CAC) Algorithm for Broadband Networks
Authors: Mohammed Aminu , Solomon Yese Orduen , Saidu Ibrahim
Published: September 2019

Call admission control (CAC) is one of the techniques deployed in managing network resources. Recently, the dynamic QoSaware CAC (DQA-CAC) algorithm was proposed to reduce the new connection blocking rate and improve resource utilization. However, the algorithm admits new connections and degrades existing ones without recourse to delay requirements of delay-intolerant extended real-time polling service (ertPS) and real-time polling service (rtPS) connections—which may incur additional delay, leading to an increase in packet drop rate and, consequently, reduced throughput. In this article, a QoS-guaranteed call admission control (QOG-CAC) algorithm is proposed to ensure QoS and consequently increase the throughput of all class of connections. The proposed QOG-CAC is simulated using a Java-based discrete event simulator. The results of the extensive simulation experiments conducted show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the compared scheme with regard to average system throughput, new connection blocking rate, and per-flow throughput of real-time as well as non-real-time connections
T Cell Metabolism Is Dependent on Anatomical Location within the Lung
Authors: Roberts Lydia M , Evans Tyler J , Bosio Catharine M
Published: September 2019

The metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis is universally accepted as a necessary step for immune cells to mount effector functions. However, it is unknown if this paradigm holds true for T cells regardless of anatomical location. In this study, we compared metabolic responses among distinct mouse pulmonary CD4+ effector T cell (Teff) pools following intranasal vaccination with either Francisella tularensis or Bordetella pertussis. Surprisingly, in contrast to circulating CD4+ Teff, upon ex vivo stimulation, resident CD4+ Teff did not shift to glycolysis. This impairment in the resident pool was modestly overcome following in vivo infection. However, consistent with an ex vivo triggered shift toward glycolysis, circulating CD4+ Teff remained superior compared with resident CD4+ Teff after in vivo infection. These data indicate differences in lung T cell metabolism is associated with anatomic location, a feature which may be exploited to enhance or dampen pulmonary T cell responses.
Intra- and Extracellular Degradation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps by Macrophages and Dendritic Cells
Authors: Lazzaretto Beatrice , Fadeel Bengt
Published: September 2019

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) composed of nuclear DNA associated with histones and granule proteins are involved in the extracellular killing of pathogens. Excessive NET formation has been implicated in several noninfectious pathological conditions. The disposal of NETs is, therefore, important to prevent inadvertent effects resulting from the continued presence of NETs in the extracellular environment. In this study, we investigated the interaction of NETs released by freshly isolated, PMA-stimulated primary human neutrophils with primary human monocyte–derived macrophages or dendritic cells (DCs). NETs were internalized by macrophages, and removal of the protein component prevented engulfment of NETs, whereas complexation with LL-37 restored the uptake of “naked” (protein-free) NETs. NETs were also found to dampen the bacterial LPS-induced maturation of DCs. Cytokine profiling was conducted by using a multiplex array following the interaction of NETs with macrophages or DCs, and NETs alone were found to be noninflammatory, whereas immunomodulatory effects were noted in the presence of LPS with significant upregulation of IL-1β secretion, and a marked suppression of other LPS-induced factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in both cell types. Moreover, macrophage digestion of NETs was dependent on TREX1 (also known as DNaseIII), but not DNaseII, whereas extracellular DNase1L3-mediated degradation of NETs was observed for DCs. Collectively, these findings shed light on the interactions between NETs and phagocytic cells and provide new insights regarding the clearance of NETs, double-edged swords of innate immunity.
IL-37 Attenuates Lung Fibrosis by Inducing Autophagy and Regulating TGF-β1 Production in Mice
Authors: Kim Mi So , Baek Ae Rin , Lee June Hyuk , Jang An Soo , Kim Do Jin , Chin Su Sie , Park Sung Woo
Published: September 2019

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and destructive lung disease with a poor prognosis resulting in a high mortality rate. IL-37 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that inhibits innate and adaptive immunity by downregulating proinflammatory mediators and pathways. However, the exact role of IL-37 in lung fibrosis is unclear. In this study, we found that the IL-37 protein was expressed in alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) and alveolar macrophages in healthy controls but significantly reduced in patients with IPF. IL-37 significantly inhibited oxidative stress–induced primary mouse AEC death in a dose-dependent manner, and knockdown of IL-37 significantly potentiated human lung cancer–derived AEC (A549 cells) death. IL-37 attenuated constitutive mRNA and protein expression of fibronectin and collagen I in primary human lung fibroblasts. IL-37 inhibited TGF-β1–induced lung fibroblast proliferation and downregulated the TGF-β1 signaling pathway. Moreover, IL-37 enhanced beclin-1–dependent autophagy and autophagy modulators in IPF fibroblasts. IL-37 significantly decreased inflammation and collagen deposition in bleomycin-exposed mouse lungs, which was reversed by treatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine. Our findings suggested that a decrease in IL-37 may be involved in the progression of IPF and that IL-37 inhibited TGF-β1 signaling and enhancement of autophagy in IPF fibroblasts. Given its antifibrotic activity, IL-37 could be a therapeutic target in fibrotic lung diseases, including IPF.
Laparoscopic versus open extended cholecystectomy with bi-segmentectomy (s4b and s5) in patients with gallbladder cancer
Authors: Nag Hirdaya Hulas , Sachan Ashish , Nekarakanti Phani Kumar
Published: September 2019

Introduction:

The outcome of laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy (EC) with wedge hepatic resection (LECW) in patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) has been compared with that of open EC with wedge hepatic resection (OECW), but studies comparing laparoscopic EC with bi-segmentectomy (LECB) with open EC with bi-segmentectomy (OECB) are lacking.

Patients and Methods:

This retrospective study comprised of 68 patients with GBC who were offered either LECB or OECB from July 2011 to July 2018. Patients were divided into laparoscopic group (LG) and open group (OG), and appropriate statistical methods were used for comparison.

Results:

Out of the total 68 patients, 30 patients were in LG and 38 patients were in OG. Demographic, clinical and biochemical characteristics were similar except significantly higher number of male patients in OG (P = 0.01). In LG versus OG, the mean operation time was 286 versus 274 min (P = 0.565), mean blood loss was 158 versus 219 ml (P = 0.006) and mean hospital stay was 6.4 versus 9 days (P = 0.0001). The complication rate was 16.6% in LG and 31.5% in OG, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.259). The median number of lymph nodes was 12 in both LG and OG (P = 0.62). Distribution of patients among American Joint Committee on Cancer stages I to IV was similar in both the groups (P = 0.5). Fifty percent of the patients in both the groups received adjuvant treatment (P = 1). In LG versus OG, the recurrence rate was 20% versus 28.9% (P = 0.4), mean recurrence-free survival was 48 months versus 44 months (P = 0.35) and overall survival was 51 months versus 46 months (P = 0.45). In LG versus OG, 1, 3 and 5-year survival was 96% versus 94%, 79% versus 72% and 79% versus 62% (P = 0.45). The median follow-up was statistically significantly shorter (24 vs. 36 months) in LG versus OG (P = 0.0001).

Conclusions:

The oncological outcome and survival after LECB in patients with resectable GBC is not inferior to that after OECB. Laparoscopic approach has a potential to improve perioperative outcome in patients with GBC.
Implementation of Country-Wide Pharmacoeconomic Principles in Cancer Care in Developing Countries: Expert-Based Recommendations
Authors: Jazieh Abdul Rahman , Pizzo Elena , Gulacsi Laszlo , Eldahiyat Faris , Abu-Helalah Munir , Ibrahim Nagwa , AlAbdulkareem Hana , Maraiki Fatma , AlSaggabi Aabdulaziz , Cornes Paul
Published: September 2019

Introduction: Cancer care is a major challenge to health care and for optimal outcomes, health systems need to align policy across many areas of public life. The recognition that even the wealthiest nations can fail optimum outcomes indicates a need for increased efficiency in cancer control programs. Fundamental to this is the efficient direction of resources––a process that can be optimized through economic measures. This article contains expert recommendations on how decision makers can implement pharmacoeconomic principles at national level in developing countries. Methods: A multidisciplinary panel of 10 experts was formed of oncologists, clinical pharmacists, health economists, and chronic disease control and public health experts from different countries and health-care sectors. The panel developed consensus recommendations for different stakeholders using a framework analysis method. Results: Recommendations were categorized as national level, hospital level, industry level, and public-community level to support decision makers in implementing pharmacoeconomic principles in a systematic way. The recommendations included having proper well-structured, data-driven processes with a specific role for each stakeholder. We proposed required structures and processes in such a way that they can be customized based on individual country plans. Conclusion: The expert panel recommendations will serve as a guide to relevant stakeholders at a national level. Adaptation of these recommendations to each setting is important to accommodate the situation and needs of each country.
Stability of Almost Periodic Nicholson’s Blowflies Model Involving Patch Structure and Mortality Terms
Authors: Huang Chuangxia , Long Xin , Huang Lihong , Fu Si
Published: September 2019

Taking into account the effects of patch structure and nonlinear density-dependent mortality terms, we explore a class of almost periodic Nicholson’s blowflies model in this paper. Employing the Lyapunov function method and differential inequality technique, some novel assertions are developed to guarantee the existence and exponential stability of positive almost periodic solutions for the addressed model, which generalize and refine the corresponding results in some recently published literatures. Particularly, an example and its numerical simulations are arranged to support the proposed approach.
A Cross-Sectional Investigation of the Quality of Selected Medicines for Noncommunicable Diseases in Private Community Drug Outlets in Cambodia during 2011–2013
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Sofiqur , Yoshida Naoko , Tsuboi Hirohito , Sokchamroeun Uy , Keila Tep , Sovannarith Tey , Kiet Heng Bun , Dararath Eav , Akimoto Yoshio , Tanimoto Tsuyoshi , Kimura Kazuko
Published: September 2019

Although the issue of substandard and falsified medicines is quite well known, most research has focused on medicines used to treat communicable diseases, and relatively little research has been carried out on the quality of medicines for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This study was designed to assess the quality of seven widely used medicines for NCDs in Cambodia during 2011–2013. Medicines were collected from private community drug outlets in Phnom Penh (urban area), by stratified random sampling and in Battambang, Kandal, Kampong Speu, and Takeo (rural areas) by convenience sampling. Samples were subsequently analyzed by visual inspection, authenticity investigation, and pharmacopoeial analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. Various discrepancies were observed in visual inspection of packages and medicines. Of 372 tablet/capsule samples from 64 manufacturers in 16 countries, the manufacturers confirmed 107 (28.8%) as authentic; the authenticity of other samples could not be verified. Three hundred sixty-four (97.8%) samples were registered in Cambodia. Among all samples, 23.4% (95% CI 19.2–28.0) were noncompliant in one or more of the quality tests: 12.9% (95% CI 9.7–16.7) contained an amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient outside the permitted range, including some showing extreme deviations, 14% (95% CI 10.6–17.9) failed because of content variation, and 10.8% (95% CI 7.8–14.4) failed to meet pharmacopoeial reference ranges in dissolution tests. Pharmaceutical quality appeared to be unrelated to storage conditions. Although no sample was obviously falsified, there is a high prevalence of substandard medicines for NCDs in Cambodia, indicating the need for focused regulatory action, including collaborative initiatives with manufacturers.
Anemia among Schoolchildren with Malaria and Soil-Transmitted Helminth Coinfections after Repeated Rounds of Mass Drug Administration in Muheza District, Tanzania
Authors: Ngasala Billy , Matata Ferdinand , Mwaiswelo Richard , Mmbando Bruno P.
Published: September 2019

Coinfections with malaria and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) has been common among school-aged children in Tanzania. However, after a countrywide scaling up of interventions for malaria and STHs, there are limited data on the prevalence of malaria–STH coinfections and its effect on anemia in schoolchildren in Tanzania. We assessed the distribution and risk factors for malaria, STHs, and malaria–STH coinfections, and its relation to anemia among 445 primary schoolchildren in Muheza district. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics of the children. Malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) was used to diagnose malaria infection. Soil-transmitted helminths were diagnosed using the Kato–Katz technique. Primary outcome was anemia, defined as hemoglobin concentration < 11 g/dL. Chi-square (χ2) or Fisher’s exact tests, Kruskal–Wallis or t-test, and logistic models were used as appropriate. Overall, the prevalence of malaria, STHs, malaria–STH coinfection, and anemia were 18.4%, 6.1%, 1.6%, and 19.8%, respectively. Anemic children were more likely to have malaria (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.538, 95% CI: 2.189–9.409), whereas frequent use of bed nets was associated with reduced risk of malaria (aOR = 0.234, 95% CI: 0.130–0.42). On the other hand, not always using latrines and eating raw uncooked food increased the risk of STH infection. The prevalence of anemia was high and was associated with both malaria and malaria–STH infections, therefore calling for more integrated malaria–STH control approaches to target school-aged children.
Beyond Accreditation: Issues in Healthcare Quality
Authors: Ikbal Feroz
Published: September 2019

In the last few years, there is an increased interest among Indian Healthcare institutions to get accredited from bodies, such as national accreditation board for hospitals and healthcare providers (NABH), Joint Commission International (JCI), Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS), and college of american pathologists Laboratory accreditation programme (CAP), etc. Hospital administrators, clinicians, academicians, promoters of the hospitals, policy makers and even government feel that accreditation is a panacea for all the problems associated with healthcare quality. But with the incidence of fire in one of the NABH accredited hospital in a metropolitan city, questions began to be asked on the correlation between quality and accreditation. Most of the hospitals use accreditation as a promotional tool, rather than a tool for continuous quality improvement. Often the entire focus of quality in a hospital is confined to the process of accreditation and re-accreditation. Time has come to think on the entire process of accreditation of hospitals in India, though it has a history of less than a decade. This paper intends to discuss various issues of quality in hospitals, outside the realms of accreditation. Need for strengthening and re-engineering the accreditation is also discussed. Accreditation essentially identifies the capability of the hospital to deliver quality care. It does not assure that hospitals delivers quality care. This aspect of accreditation has been often forgotten by the various stakeholders in healthcare. In this paper, an attempt is made to discuss other issues of quality, such as spurious drugs, quality of biomaterials, such as stents and biomedical equipments, quality of human resources, etc. which are often neglected by health institutions in its obsession to accreditation.

How to cite this article

Ikbal F. Beyond Accreditation: Issues in Healthcare Quality. Int J Res Foundation Hosp Healthc Adm 2015;3(1):1-4.
Personal Protective Equipment used for Infection Control in Dental Practices
Authors: Pandit AP , Bhagatkar Neha , Ramachandran Mallika
Published: September 2019

The potential size of India's dental market is vast and is expected to become one of the largest single country markets for overseas dental products and materials. The total market for the dental equipment and materials is estimated to be around US$ 90 million annually. There are more than 1, 80,000 dental professionals in India, 297 dental institutes and over 5,000 dental laboratories. Thus, there is a huge potential for the market of personal protective equipment (PPE) used for infection control in dentistry. India's market for dental products is extremely dynamic, with a current estimated growth rate of between 25 and 30%. Overall, the dental market is expected to grow by 20%.1

The personal protective equipment used in the practice of dentistry in India. Since dentistry is predominantly a surgical discipline, it leads to exposure to the pathogenic microorganisms harbored in blood, body fluids and other potentially infectious material. Thus, the use of adequate and good quality PPE is imperative for infection control in dental practice. With the growing potential of India's dental market, the growth of the market for PPE is inevitable. But, it is equally important to raise the awareness among dental community about good quality products adhering to required standards to prevent the usage of low-cost, uncertified and sub-standard products that decrease the safety levels of personnel.

The present study is conducted with a view to observe the personal protective equipment used for infection control in dental practices.

How to cite this article

Pandit AP, Bhagatkar N, Ramachandran M. Personal Protective Equipment used for Infection Control in Dental Practices. Int J Res Foundation Hosp Healthc Adm 2015;3(1):10-12.
Planning and Designing an Isolation Facility in Hospitals: Need of the Hour
Authors: Gupta Shakti Kumar , Shweta K , Kant S
Published: September 2019

Emerging infectious diseases represent an ongoing threat to the health and livelihoods of people globally. Over the past decade, numerous infectious diseases have shown up in the United States including SARS in 2003, H1N1 or 'swine flu’ in 2009, and now, the Ebola virus.

Isolation of a patient is essentially an escalation of the core healthcare process. Best practice demands that isolation rooms be provided where care for the underlying medical condition is optimal. As uncontroversial as infection control may seem, the infrastructure required (such as washbasins and isolation rooms) is often lacking in hospitals. And if isolation rooms are available, proper maintenance of pressure gradients is an issue. In normal circumstances no purpose is served by routine cleaning of ventilation ducts. During replacement, dust is shed from old filters. All extract grilles and some types of supply grilles accumulate dust. These represent an infection risk. The dust reflects the air-borne flora at the time of deposition with organism death taking place at a rate determined by microbial, environmental and other factors.

It is vital that regular monitoring and maintenance of the ventilation system is in place. The physical design of a hospital is an essential component of its infection control measures to minimize the risk of transmission of any infectious disease. Today, with a more progressive outlook, it is the fundamental requirement to adopt a holistic view of the design and management of hospitals. This document will not only help in making strategy for planning or renovating an isolation room and also helps in cleaning or maintenance of ventilation.

How to cite this article

Shweta K, Gupta SK, Chandrashekhar R, Kant S. Planning and Designing an Isolation Facility in Hospitals: Need of the Hour. Int J Res Foundation Hosp Healthc Adm 2015;3(1):48-56.
Employee Satisfaction and the Role of Motivation: A Study of a Super-specialty Hospital
Authors: Bajpai Jharna
Published: September 2019

Employee satisfaction plays a role in motivation and ultimately, overall productivity and bottomline results. Employees who are more satisfied in their positions have more reasons to work hard and contribute to a shared work ethic that encourages others to do the same. Likewise, drops in productivity may stem from low levels of worker satisfaction. This paper throws light on the role of motivation and employee satisfaction in a super specialty hospital. A questionnaire pertaining to various motivations related questions was distributed to various employees. The sample size was 118 and a combination of descriptive and exploratory research methodology was used. Nominal scale and likert five points scaling was used for measuring the satisfaction level. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software program version-16 and conclusions were drawn. Approximately 53% of the employees were satisfied with the promotion policy. Sixty percent of respondents were satisfied with the working atmosphere of the organization and 32% were satisfied with the remuneration they are receiving. This paper discusses such more aspects which play a role in motivation and suggest solutions to make employees satisfied with their job.

How to cite this article

Bajpai J. Employee Satisfaction and the Role of Motivation: A Study of a Super-specialty Hospital. Int J Res Foundation Hosp Healthc Adm 2015;3(2):65-68.