bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some Aspects of Methodology for Research in Information Systems
Authors: Remenyi Dan , Williams Brian
Published: December 2018

A prerequisite for conducting sound academic research in information systems is to understand the research process – how to identify a suitable research problem, how to create a theoretical conjecture and hypotheses, how to collect data and how to test and analyse them. An appreciation of these issues is essential before any professional research may be conducted either for general academic publication or for a higher degree. This paper discusses, in general terms, the nature of academic research and how the scientific method is used in practice. It identifies three major categories of research and explains the steps which the research needs to follow if a claim is to be made that a significant addition has been made to the collection of knowledge. Easy to follow flow charts showing the necessary stages in the research process are supplied.
A Framework for Deciding what to Outsource in Information Technology
Authors: Cronk Jonathan , Sharp John
Published: December 2018

The theory and background of outsourcing are examined from a general perspective. It is concluded that the pressures to outsource activities can best be understood through two main sources: the work of organization theorists on the management of organizational complexity and the transaction economics approach of Williamson which argues the virtues of provision of many organizational services through market mechanisms rather than by internal departments. Within IT, the early motivation for outsourcing was the cost reduction one implied by the Williamson approach. However, a number of authors have argued that the complexity of managing IT outsourcing means that it is often preferable to try to improve the efficiency of internal suppliers. This suggests that there is a need to develop a framework that will enable a decision to be made about what to outsource and what to insource. A model is applied to the IT sourcing decision.
Domestic and Global Outsourcing Practices of America's Most Effective is Users
Authors: Sobol Marion G. , Apte Uday
Published: December 2018

With increasing cost-reduction pressures, outsourcing – selectively turning over some information systems functions and processing services to a subcontractor – has emerged in the last few years as an important option for chief information officers (CIOs). In this paper we present the results of our exploratory, empirical research into the practices and views of IS outsourcing. The research methodology of a questionnaire-based mail survey was used. The survey sample consisted of companies that were identified as the most effective users of IS by Computerworld magazine. The paper provides empirical evidence on the extent to which outsourcing of various IS functions is being practised, and the views of CIOs concerning the advantages, disadvantages and motives of IS outsourcing. The paper also sheds light on the relationship between various firm characteristics and IS outsourcing, and investigates the economics of, and decision-making processes in, IS outsourcing. There is a special focus on the comparison of USA-based and global IS outsourcing.
Is Innovation and Organizational Alignment – a Professional Juggling Act
Authors: Burn Janice M
Published: December 2018

The securing and maintaining of alignment between business strategies and information systems (IS) strategies is frequently cited as a critical concern of IS managers. Consequently it has been ranked as an important issue for IS research agendas over the last decade. Very few empirical studies, however, have been reported with the result that there is no firm evidence to support the need for alignment, far less evidence for the way that strategies might interact. This paper reports the results of a longitudinal study which examines both IS and business strategies using an external-internal alignment model. After four years of data collection and analysis there is strong support for an alignment model which follows a lead-lag strategy. This implies that alignment is not a steady state but will reflect a dynamic model of change. In order to foster innovation in IS this change model requires to be managed through a ‘r'evolutionary cycle. This resembles a professional juggling act rather than a managed stage growth process. The alignment and change models are described and related to the management of innovation and organicity. In addition a continuing and future research agenda is identified.
Deconstruction Contexts in Interpreting Methodology
Authors: Watson Heather , Wood-Harper Trevor
Published: December 2018

This paper considers how a methodology's theory and practice shapes contexts for interpretation. With these two terms as starting points, we also address a paradoxical situation: any description of interpreting contexts is bound to leave something out. To address this, we propose deconstruction as a double strategy for critically interpreting contexts in each situation. This relies on terms of existing oppositions in conceptual frameworks but seeks to displace the limitations they impose on how we conduct inquiry. Since meaning is context-bound but contexts are boundless, we argue that inquiry should be conducted through critical perspectives, and we describe this in terms of a systems analyst's expertise in conceptual triangulation: the defining of an unknown point in relation to two known extremes.
Executive Information System Development: A Case Study of a Manufacturing Company
Authors: Nandhakumar Joe
Published: December 2018

Despite the widespread adoption of Executive Information Systems (EIS) and their increasing importance in organizations, the process of their development is not well understood. The mainstream EIS literature tends to report success stories of EIS in the organizations studied and attribute this to a pre-planned rational process of origin and design of EIS. In this paper, a case study of the EIS development process in a manufacturing company is used to critique this rational view and to illustrate the applicability of an alternative perspective based on an organizational behavioural model. This paper suggests that greater recognition of the social nature of the process of IS development is necessary to understand how systems projects may be better managed.
A Framework for Software Risk Management
Authors: Lyytinen Kalle , Mathiassen Lars , Ropponen Janne
Published: December 2018

We present a simple, but powerful framework for software risk management. The framework synthesizes, refines, and extends current approaches to managing software risks. We illustrate its usefulness through an empirical analysis of two software development episodes involving high risks. The framework can be used as an analytical device to evaluate and improve risk management approaches and as a practical tool to shape the attention and guide the actions of risk managers.
Dealing with Risk: A Practical Approach
Authors: Heemstra Fred J. , Kusters Rob J.
Published: December 2018

Most software projects take place in a volatile environment in which many dangers exist that may affect the successful outcome of the project. After completion of the project an evaluation may show that many of the problems encountered during the project could have been foreseen before they actually occurred. Risk management is an approach that is aimed at predicting the occurrence of this type of problem and at taking counter measures to either prevent them from affecting the project or to soften their impact. In this paper the basic activities related to risk management are described. Furthermore a concrete method aimed at supporting risk management is presented. This method has been used successfully in practice. Some of the results obtained by using it are presented on the basis of five cases. Some conclusions are that:

(1) the use of a short and structured checklist will ease identification of and discussions about risks,

(2) a risk management method in which explicit use is made of a group related approach, involving all parties, will increase reliability and acceptance of the results, and

(3) involvement of a neutral process risk advisor will further both the successful use of the method and the acceptance of the results.
The Politics of Risk: Trials and Tribulations of the Taurus Project
Authors: Drummond Helga
Published: December 2018

The term ‘risk management’ implies that risk is something which can be quantified, predicted and controlled. This paper seeks to demonstrate the limits of this assumption where complex projects are involved. The argument is based upon a case study of a failed £80 million IT venture known as Taurus. Analysis focuses upon the relationship between politics and the assumption of risk. Acceptance of risk, it is argued, is ultimately determined by the balance of power between decision makers. Moreover, risk analysis and other techniques of management may actually compound the difficulties by fostering an illusion of control and escalation. The implications for project management are discussed.
Power, Knowledge and Social Process in Technology Analysis: The Case of CAD/CAM
Authors: Harris Martin
Published: December 2018

“Social process’ analyses of technology implementation have had a major influence on research carried out over the last 15 years. Technology implementation is now widely regarded as a ‘socially negotiated’ process the outcome of which is likely to be shaped by different interests and constituencies within the innovating firm. However, the explanatory status accorded to questions of power and political process remains problematic. This paper combines an empirical investigation of the political processes associated with the implementation of CAD/CAM with a cross-disciplinary treatment of the underlying theoretical issues. The concluding part of the paper focuses on ‘political’ and ‘learning’ aspects of technical change. ‘Power’, ‘knowledge’ and ‘control’ rationalities are included in a revised theorization of the technical change process.
The SIMA: A Practical Approach to Information Technology Management
Authors: Klompé Rick , Pothuizen Leon
Published: December 2018

The management of information technology (IT) must be organized efficiently and most of all effectively in order to support the organization's business processes optimally. The IT department must focus more on its customers and the services provided to support their business processes, thus enabling customers to gain competitive advantages from IT. Therefore the IT department should be treated as a separate business unit with its own characteristic services and business processes. The complexity of the IT infrastructure must be reduced by breaking it down into pieces according to the type of function its components perform. Each part must be treated as a separate unit, with services, relations and responsibilities in its own right. All this requires a major reorganization of the IT department. This paper presents the first results in the development of a practical method for organizing the IT management function and for effecting the inevitable organizational changes.
Integrating an Intelligent Tutoring Facility into a Gaming Simulation Environment
Authors: Siemer Julika , Angelides Marios C.
Published: December 2018

Gaming simulations and intelligent tutoring systems are both substantive research and development areas within the field of computer-based education and training which have the potential for mutual enhancement. This paper argues that the pedagogical effectiveness of gaming simulations can be increased through the integration of an intelligent tutoring facility and examines possible roles for such support within a gaming simulation environment. It then commences to present INTUITION, the implementation of the Metal Box Business Simulation game, that illustrates how an intelligent tutoring facility may be integrated within a gaming simulation environment in order to increase its educational value.
A Field Study of the Effects of Asynchronous Groupware Support on Process Improvement Groups
Authors: Kock Ned , Mcqueen Robert
Published: December 2018

Process improvement (PI) groups have been among the main change instruments of widely adopted and publicized organizational development approaches such as total quality management and business process re-engineering. Asynchronous groupware tools, such as electronic messaging systems, have found widespread use in organizations yet very little field research exists on how PI groups are affected by such tools. We try to fill this gap with a field study of the effects of asynchronous groupware support on seven PI groups in two New Zealand organizations. Our study indicates that, while not having perceived negative effects on group effectiveness, asynchronous groupware support was perceived as increasing process adoption, hierarchy suppression, departmental heterogeneity and contribution length and decreasing discussion duration, cost and interaction in PI groups. We argue that, based on these findings, the use of asynchronous groupware tools is likely to be beneficial in PI projects, particularly where a large number of PI groups proposing incremental process changes is conducted.
Is Outsourcing Practices in the Usa, Japan and Finland: A Comparative Study
Authors: Apte Uday M. , Sobol Marion G. , Hanaoka Sho , Shimada Tatsumi , Saarinen Timo , Salmela Timo , Vepsalainen Ari P. J.
Published: December 2018

With increasing cost-reduction pressures, outsourcing of information systems (IS) functions has emerged as an important option for managers in companies around the world. In this paper we present the results of our exploratory, empirical research comparing practices of domestic and global IS outsourcing in the USA, Japan and Finland. The research methodology of a mail survey with similar questionnaires was used in all three countries. The paper provides new empirical evidence comparing these countries on the types of functions being commonly outsourced, the extent to which these functions are outsourced, views of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) on the desired cost savings and the comparative ratings of the advantages and disadvantages of IS outsourcing. Also compared are the roles played by different executives in making outsourcing decisions. The implications of these results for IS managers and directions for future research are presented in the conclusions.
Examining Information Systems Outsourcing: A Case Study from the United Kingdom
Authors: Jeffs Alan , Ben Fowler
Published: December 2018

This paper examines the issue of outsourcing information services (IS) through the framework of case study-based, grounded research, located in a major UK company. The impact of outsourcing drivers including efficiency, IS alignment and the human resource dimension are explored and balanced against the perceived outsourcing risks. It is also postulated that although managers claim rational economic benefits, when making outsourcing decisions, they may, in fact, be bounded in their rationality by their perception of the quality experienced as users of IS/IT. Hence, it is suggested that the real justification for outsourcing may be that it provides a definitive, albeit drastic, vehicle for change.
Gaps within the is Department: Barriers to Service Quality
Authors: Pitt Leyland , Berthon Pierre , Lane Nikala
Published: December 2018

While the external measurement of service quality, and even the measurement of the expectations and perceptions of internal customers, is well established in the services literature, less attention has been given to the assessment of the ‘gaps’ which cause the customer discrepancy. This paper describes a study which ascertained internal gaps (‘1 through 4') in a large information systems department within a major consulting and accounting firm.
Computers and the NHS: An Analysis of their Contribution to the Past, Present and Future Delivery of the National Health Service
Authors: Gillies Alan
Published: December 2018

This paper looks at the contribution that computers have made to the delivery of the National Health Service through a period of major reform that began in 1986, and is still ongoing. The paper starts with a retrospective analysis of the first generation of NHS Reforms and the role played by computer systems. The major empirical component is a case study looking at the impact of computers on health promotion activities among over 1 million patients in Lancashire. Finally, the paper looks forward to the latest NHS reforms, as outlined in the 1997 White Paper The New DHS (Department of Health, 1997, HMSO, London) and outlines the information implications and a strategic framework to deliver changes required if the reforms are to succeed.
Cyber-Ethnography and the Emergence of the Virtually New Community
Authors: Ward Katie J.
Published: December 2018

The aim is to demonstrate how cyber-ethnography has become the most appropriate tool in reaching a definition of the virtual community. It is argued through the cyber-ethnographic examination of two virtual communities that, interpretative research methods traditionally associated with the social sciences enforce preconceived ideas and normative frameworks on to the virtual community. Cyber-ethnography allows a reflexive methodology to emerge, thus enabling the participants of virtual communities to define their own reality and perimeters. It is propounded that there are two elements to the virtual community. First, it is emphasized that a hybrid space is rapidly emerging that is neither absolutely physical or virtual. Through its convergence with the physical the virtual community's existence is apparent, though not unconditionally virtual. Secondly, the participants are depicted as having a transitory, unconditional relationship with the virtual community. That is; they will only participate for short periods when they require use of the resources that the virtual community has to offer.
The Uptake and Application of Work Flow Management Systems in the UK Financial Services Sector
Authors: Doherty Neil F. , Perry I.
Published: December 2018

Work flow management systems (WFMSs) are an important new technology, which are likely to have a significant impact on the way in which clerical and administrative operations are organized and executed. This paper seeks to investigate how WFMSs are being exploited and used commercially by UK-based organizations operating in the financial services sector. In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 project managers to explore the development, application and commercial implications of this powerful yet flexible technology. The results indicate that work flow technology has the potential to facilitate significant changes in the way in which an organization conducts its business, through the automation of a wide range of document-intensive operations. Furthermore, when applied in a well-focused manner, it has the potential to realize significant increases in an organization's flexibility and productivity, as well as delivering major improvements to the quality, speed and consistency of customer service.
Eating Disorders in the Workplace: A Qualitative Investigation of Women’s Experiences
Authors: Siegel Jaclyn A. , Sawyer Katina B.
Published: December 2018

Though employment is typically associated with positive mental health outcomes for individuals with disabilities, the ubiquity of stress and stigma at work may complicate the relation between work and well-being for women with eating disorders (EDs). To date, however, the experiences of women with EDs in the workplace have not been examined. By utilizing a qualitative methodology to form an initial framework for the examination of EDs in the workplace, we address this gap in the literature. Seventy adult women with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder discussed the relation between work and their condition. The data analysis led to the delineation of a theoretical model, which we propose explains the interconnections between key study constructs, including individual characteristics; workplace stressors; identity, stigma, and stress management techniques; and related personal and organizational outcomes. Our research suggests that, depending on how stress is managed, the workplace can serve as a bridge or a barrier to ED recovery. This study lays the groundwork for understanding the ways in which workplace life interacts and interferes with ED management, opening up a new line of investigation for researchers working to enhance the lives of individuals with EDs across life domains.
It Is Not Your Parents’ Long-Term Services System: Nursing Homes in a Changing World
Authors: Applebaum Robert , Mehdizadeh Shahla , Berish Diane
Published: December 2018

The long-term services system has changed substantially since the mid-1970s, when the landmark book Last Home for the Aged argued that the move to the nursing home was the last move an older person would make until death. Using detailed nursing home utilization data from the Minimum Data Set, this study tracks three cohorts of first-time nursing home admissions in Ohio from 1994 through 2014. Each cohort was followed for a 3-year period. Study results report dramatic reductions in nursing home length of stay between the 1994 and 2011 cohorts. Reduction in length of stay has important implications for nursing home practice and quality monitoring. The article argues that administrative and regulatory practices have not kept pace with the dramatic changes in how nursing homes are now being used in the long-term services system.
An integrated framework of enterprise information systems in smart manufacturing system via business process reengineering
Authors: Qu Yuanju , Ming Xinguo , Ni Yanrong , Li Xiuzhen , Liu Zhiwen , Zhang Xianyu , Xie Liuyue
Published: December 2018

Enterprise information systems play a significant role in the Industry 4.0 era and are the crucial component to realize smart manufacturing systems. However, traditional enterprise information systems have some limits: (1) lack of complete information, (2) only satisfy limited business needs, and (3) lack of seamless integration, business intelligence, value-driven processes, and dynamic optimization. Clearly, the existing enterprise information systems are unable to satisfy the requirements for smart manufacturing systems: (1) autonomous operation, (2) sustainable values, and (3) self-optimization. In addition, smart manufacturing systems have become more efficient and effective, demanding for seamless information flow in enterprise information systems, knowledge, and data-driven accurately decision. Therefore, a new enterprise information systems framework is needed to bridge gaps between the requirements for traditional manufacturing system and smart manufacturing system. In this article, the integrative framework is proposed based on the business process reengineering, lean thinking, and intelligent management methods, with inclusion of six enterprise information systems aspects to provide upgrading guidelines from traditional manufacturing to smart manufacturing. The procedure of this method contains three steps: (1) it identifies requirements and acquires best practices using AS-IS model, (2) it redesigns six aspects of enterprise information systems using TO-BE model, and (3) it proposes a new enterprise information systems framework. Finally, the proposed framework is validated by real cases.
Drilling of bone: Effect of drill bit geometries on thermal osteonecrosis risk regions
Authors: Ali Akhbar Mohd Faizal , Yusoff Ahmad Razlan
Published: December 2018

Bone-drilling operation necessitates an accurate and efficient surgical drill bit to minimize thermal damage to the bone. This article provides a methodology for predicting the bone temperature elevation during surgical bone drilling and to gain a better understanding on the influences of the point angle, helix angle and web thickness of the drill bit. The proposed approach utilized the normalized Cockroft–Latham damage criterion to predict material cracking in the drilling process. Drilling simulation software DEFORM-3D is used to approximate the bone temperature elevation corresponding to different drill bit geometries. To validate the simulation results, bone temperature elevations were evaluated by comparison with ex vivo bone-drilling process using bovine femurs. The computational results fit well with the ex vivo experiments with respect to different drill geometries. All the investigated drill bit geometries significantly affect bone temperature rise. It is discovered that the thermal osteonecrosis risk regions could be reduced with a point angle of 110° to 140°, a helix angle of 5° to 30° and a web thickness of 5% to 40%. The drilling simulation could accurately estimate the maximum bone temperature elevation for various surgical drill bit point angles, web thickness and helix angles. Looking into the future, this work will lead to the research and redesign of the optimum surgical drill bit to minimize thermal insult during bone-drilling surgeries.
Transplantation of Human Neural Progenitor Cells (NPC) into Putamina of Parkinsonian Patients: A Case Series Study, Safety and Efficacy Four Years after Surgery
Authors: Madrazo I. , Kopyov O. , Ávila-Rodríguez M. A. , Ostrosky F. , Carrasco H. , Kopyov A. , Avendaño-Estrada A. , Jiménez F. , Magallón E. , Zamorano C. , González G. , Valenzuela T. , Carrillo R. , Palma F. , Rivera R. , Franco-Bourland R. E. , Guízar-Sahagún G.
Published: December 2018

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) suffer from motor and mental disturbances due to degeneration of dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neuronal systems. Although they provide temporary symptom relief, current treatments fail to control motor and non-motor alterations or to arrest disease progression. Aiming to explore safety and possible motor and neuropsychological benefits of a novel strategy to improve the PD condition, a case series study was designed for brain grafting of human neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to a group of eight patients with moderate PD. A NPC line, expressing Oct-4 and Sox-2, was manufactured and characterized. Using stereotactic surgery, NPC suspensions were bilaterally injected into patients’ dorsal putamina. Cyclosporine A was given for 10 days prior to surgery and continued for 1 month thereafter. Neurological, neuropsychological, and brain imaging evaluations were performed pre-operatively, 1, 2, and 4 years post-surgery. Seven of eight patients have completed 4-year follow-up. The procedure proved to be safe, with no immune responses against the transplant, and no adverse effects. One year after cell grafting, all but one of the seven patients completing the study showed various degrees of motor improvement, and five of them showed better response to medication. PET imaging showed a trend toward enhanced midbrain dopaminergic activity. By their 4-year evaluation, improvements somewhat decreased but remained better than at baseline. Neuropsychological changes were minor, if at all. The intervention appears to be safe. At 4 years post-transplantation we report that undifferentiated NPCs can be delivered safely by stereotaxis to both putamina of patients with PD without causing adverse effects. In 6/7 patients in OFF condition improvement in UPDRS III was observed. PET functional scans suggest enhanced putaminal dopaminergic neurotransmission that could correlate with improved motor function, and better response to L-DOPA. Patients’ neuropsychological scores were unaffected by grafting. Trial Registration: Fetal derived stem cells for Parkinson’s disease https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN39104513Reg#ISRCTN39104513
It’s how I am . . . it’s what I am . . . it’s a part of who I am: A narrative exploration of the impact of adolescent-onset chronic illness on identity formation in young people
Authors: Wicks Sarah , Berger Zoe , Camic Paul M
Published: December 2018

In Western society, identity formation is argued to be one of the key developmental tasks of adolescence. Despite implications for adolescent development, research into chronic illness (CI) onset during this period has been notably sparse. This study aimed to explore how diagnosis impacts on the developmental tasks of adolescence, what role adolescent-onset CI plays in identity formation, and how adolescents incorporate the diagnosis into their identity using a narrative analysis. Individual semi-structured interviews were carried out with eight young people aged 14 to 19years who lived with a diagnosis of a CI diagnosed between the ages of 12 and 16 years. Five core narrative themes emerged: walking a different path, tolerating contradiction, a changed interface with others, locating power and a fluid relationship. Narratives were considered to have been influenced by factors such as the interview context and dominant social narratives concerning health and illness. Adolescent-onset CI was found to have a significant, though not exclusively negative, impact on developmental tasks. The findings are discussed in relation to existing literature and potential clinical implications.
Applying an experimental design to improve the manufacturing process and properties of a novel sound absorber with recycled fibres from End-of-Life-Tyres
Authors: Segura-Alcaraz Jorge G , Zamorano Manolo , Miro Pau , Nadal Antonio , E Crespo Jose
Published: December 2018

The present work analyses the acoustic properties of acoustic absorbent textile products obtained from the thermo-compression of recycled End-of-Life Tyres. The objective is to obtain products of greater added value from the waste of End-of-Life Tyres, which can become a substitute for the fibrous materials currently used as acoustic absorbents. Experimental design was used to determine the number of samples to be prepared and the manufacturing conditions to maximise acoustic absorption. Five factors were taken into account: material type, temperature, time, weight and compaction factor. The obtained results demonstrate the validity of the experimental design to select the manufacturing factors in order to improve the sound absorption of these textile waste products.
Development and Psychometric Report of a Middle-School Mathematics Vocabulary Measure
Authors: Hughes Elizabeth M. , Powell Sarah R. , Lee Joo-Young
Published: December 2018

Proficiency with mathematics requires an understanding of mathematical language. Students are required to make sense of both spoken and written mathematical terms. An essential component of mathematical language involves the understanding of the vocabulary of mathematics in which students connect vocabulary terms to mathematical concepts or procedures. In this brief psychometric report, we developed and tested a measure of mathematics vocabulary for students in the late middle-school grades (i.e., Grades 7 and 8) to determine the reliability of such a measure and to learn how students answer questions about mathematics vocabulary terms. The vocabulary terms on the measure were those terms determined as essential by middle-school teachers for success with middle-school mathematical language. Analysis indicates the measure demonstrated high reliability and validity. Student scores were widely distributed and students, on average, only answered two-thirds of vocabulary terms correctly.
Evaluation and optimization of the design schemes of reconfigurable machine tools based on multiple-attribute decision-making
Authors: Yi Guodong , Wang Yang , Zhao Xin
Published: December 2018

A reconfigurable manufacturing system is one designed for rapid change in its structure, to quickly adjust its production capacity and functionality within a part family. Aiming at the diversity, cost and complexity of reconfiguration design, a method for evaluating the design scheme of a reconfigurable machine tool based on VIKOR is proposed. The module similarity between a reconfigurable machine tool and a prototype machine tool is defined, and on this basis, three quantitative evaluation indicators are established as follows: the module chain similarity determines the difficulty, effort, time and efficiency of machine tool reconstruction; the module interface complexity determines the feasibility and complexity of the disassembly and assembly of the reconfiguration module; and the reconfiguration cost determines the economic advantages of reconfigurable machines relative to fixed-structure equipment. According to three indicators, a multi-attribute decision-making method based on VIKOR is used to evaluate, calculate and sort the design scheme set of the reconfigurable machine tool, and the optimal feasible solution is obtained. An example of the reconfiguration design of a machine tool is analysed to verify the validity and feasibility of the proposed method compared with the methods of simple average weighting and technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution.
Viscoelastic behavior of a casing material and its utilization in premium connections in high-temperature gas wells
Authors: Zhang Ying , Lian Zhanghua , Zhou Mi , Lin Tiejun
Published: December 2018

At the high or extra-high temperatures in a natural gas oilfield, where the premium connection is employed by casing, gas leakage in the wellbore is always detected after several years of gas production. As the viscoelastic material’s mechanical properties change with time and temperature, the relaxation of the contact pressure on the connection sealing surface is the main reason for the gas leakage in the high-temperature gas well. In this article, tension-creep experiments were conducted. Furthermore, a constitutive model of the casing material was established by the Prony series method. Moreover, the Prony series’ shift factor was calculated to study the thermo-rheological behavior of the casing material ranging from 120°C to 300°C. A linear viscoelastic model was implemented in ABAQUS, and the simulation results are compared to our experimental data to validate the methodology. Finally, the viscoelastic finite element model is applied to predict the relaxation of contact pressure on the premium connections’ sealing surface versus time under different temperatures. And, the ratio of the design contact pressure and the intending gas sealing pressure is recommended for avoiding the premium connections failure in the high-temperature gas well.
Cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma: an overview and promising therapeutic strategies
Authors: Wang Nuozhou , Wang Shanshan , Li Ming-Yue , Hu Bao-guang , Liu Li-ping , Yang Sheng-li , Yang Shucai , Gong Zhongqin , Lai Paul B. S. , Chen George G.
Published: December 2018

The poor clinical outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is ascribed to the resistance of HCC cells to traditional treatments and tumor recurrence after curative therapies. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified as a small subset of cancer cells which have high capacity for self-renewal, differentiation and tumorigenesis. Recent advances in the field of liver CSCs (LCSCs) have enabled the identification of CSC surface markers and the isolation of CSC subpopulations from HCC cells. Given their central role in cancer initiation, metastasis, recurrence and therapeutic resistance, LCSCs constitute a therapeutic opportunity to achieve cure and prevent relapse of HCC. Thus, it is necessary to develop therapeutic strategies to selectively and efficiently target LCSCs. Small molecular inhibitors targeting the core stemness signaling pathways have been actively pursued and evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. Other alternative therapeutic strategies include targeting LCSC surface markers, interrupting the CSC microenvironment, and altering the epigenetic state. In this review, we summarize the properties of CSCs in HCC and discuss novel therapeutic strategies that can be used to target LCSCs.
Effects of concentrated growth factor on proliferation, migration, and differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells in vitro
Authors: Jin Runze , Song Guangtai , Chai Jihua , Gou Xiaohui , Yuan Guohua , Chen Zhi
Published: December 2018

Concentrated growth factor, a novel autologous plasma extract, contained various growth factors which promoted tissue regeneration. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biological effects of concentrated growth factor on human dental pulp stem cells. The microstructure and biocompatibility of concentrated growth factor scaffolds were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Cell proliferation and migration, odontoblastic and endothelial cell differentiation potential were assessed after exposing dental pulp stem cells to different concentrations (5%, 10%, 20%, 50%, or 80%) of concentrated growth factor extracts. The results revealed that concentrated growth factor scaffolds possessed porous fibrin network with platelets and leukocytes, and showed great biocompatibility with dental pulp stem cells. Higher cell proliferation rates were detected in the concentrated growth factor–treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, in comparison to the controls, the low doses (<50%) of concentrated growth factor increased cell migration, alkaline phosphatase activity, and mineralized tissue deposition, while the cells treated in high doses (50% or 80%) showed no significant difference. After stimulating cell differentiation, the expression levels of dentin matrix protein-1, dentin sialophosphoprotein, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and cluster of differentiation 31 were significantly upregulated in concentrated growth factor–supplemented groups than those of the controls. Furthermore, the dental pulp stem cell–derived endothelial cells co-induced by 5% concentrated growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor formed the most amount of mature tube-like structures on Matrigel among all groups, but the high-dosage concentrated growth factor exhibited no or inhibitory effect on cell differentiation. In general, our findings confirmed that concentrated growth factor promoted cell proliferation, migration, and the dental pulp stem cell–mediated dentinogenesis and angiogenesis process, by which it might act as a growth factor–loaded scaffold to facilitate dentin–pulp complex healing.
Postoperative Outcomes in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients With Preexisting Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Luan Erfe Betty M. , Boehme Jacqueline , Erfe J. Mark , Brovman Ethan Y. , Bader Angela M. , Urman Richard D.
Published: December 2018

Introduction:

To evaluate the body of evidence on the predictive value of preoperative cognitive impairment on in-hospital, short-term, and midterm postoperative outcomes for elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Significance:

With an aging population, an increasing percentage of the U.S. patient population will be living with cognitive impairment. There is currently no systematic review that assesses postoperative outcomes of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or preexisting diagnosis of dementia while undergoing elective primary TKA.

Results:

A database search between January 1, 1997, and November 1, 2017 in EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed was conducted to identify articles that compared postoperative outcomes after TKA between patients aged 60 years with and without cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment included preexisting diagnosis of dementia or MCI identified during preoperative assessment. Eligible articles were selected using dual reviewer and third-party arbitrator. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The strength of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. A total of 6163 abstracts were screened. Only 11 full text articles met inclusion criteria, including 1 case–control, 5 prospective cohort, and 5 retrospective cohort studies. Two studies were of poor quality. Overall, there is moderate strength of evidence for increased risk of postoperative delirium, increased length of stay, and discharge to health-care facility among patients with preoperative MCI or preexisting dementia. The body of evidence is weak for other outcomes of interest including mortality, functionality and complications while in-hospital and in the short- and midterm.

Conclusion:

This review highlights the need for additional good quality studies to provide more information about MCI and dementia as risk factors in primary TKA.
“Not Giving Up”: Ghanaian Students’ Perspectives on Resilience, Risk, and Academic Achievement
Authors: Abukari Ziblim
Published: December 2018

Resilience research began in North America and Western Europe but there is a growing call for exploration of what resilience might mean in specific cultural contexts. Placed within the context of Africentrism and resilience perspectives, this study explores academic experiences of Ghanaian youth in three universities. Semistructured and focus group interviews were used to explore the academic resilience of 30 college freshmen in Ghana. Using narrative inquiry, the study examined the schooling experiences of young people in Ghana who have made it to college despite a myriad of adversities. Academic and socioeconomic adversity stemming from spatial inequality and negative cultural practices emerged as risk factors that negatively influence academic outcomes. Similarly, social support systems in the form of collective family/kinship values, future orientation, and individual characteristic of “not giving up” emerged as protective factors that tend to support academic resilience. Implications of the findings for social work education, practice, and policy are discussed.
A Cross-Sectional Survey of Low Back Pain in Nurses Working in Orthopedic Departments
Authors: Li Lingli , Deng Xiaofan , Zhang Hongxia , Yang Hui , Chen Jiali , Hou Xiaoling , Ning Ning , Li Jiping
Published: December 2018

The study aimed to gain knowledge about low back pain (LBP) in nurses working in the orthopedic departments of tertiary hospitals in Sichuan province, China. We used a cross-sectional survey to examine the prevalence of LBP among 797 inpatient nurses who had worked for 1 year in an orthopedic department in one of 29 hospitals (Grade 3A) in Sichuan province. The survey included a questionnaire to determine the prevalence of LBP and factors related to LBP, a screening graph of LBP symptoms, the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) for LBP. The 1-year period prevalence of LBP in the nursing population was 66.8% and the point prevalence was 51.3%. Among the 523 nurses who had experienced LBP, the mean total number of days that LBP had been experienced during the past year was 20.2 ± 16.3 days (range = 1-90 days). The annual number of episodes of LBP was 5.7 ± 4.5 times/year (range = 1-20 times/year). More than half the orthopedic nurses (51.1%) planned to quit, and 5.8% thought of leaving their job due to LBP. These study findings indicate that nurses in this region experience a burden of LBP similar to those in other regions in the world.
Leptospirosis
Authors: Phillips Jennan A.
Published: December 2018

Leptospirosis is a leading zoonotic disease for morbidity and mortality in humans globally. Occupational health nurses should teach workers and the public about leptospirosis and the importance of disrupting the infection source through rodent control, animal vaccination, and flood prevention.
Vancomycin-Induced Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Sharma Pratibha , Sharma Eliza , Neupane Sanjay P. , Dahal Suyash , Dahal Sumit
Published: December 2018

Vancomycin causes different types of hypersensitivity reactions, ranging from localized skin reactions to generalized cardiovascular collapse. However, cases of vancomycin-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis are rare. In this article, we present a case where the patient developed palpable purpura on his bilateral lower limbs following treatment with vancomycin. He was diagnosed with vancomycin-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis that resolved without sequelae after withdrawal of vancomycin.
Phase 2 clinical trial of PBI-4050 in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Khalil Nasreen , Manganas Helene , Ryerson Christopher J. , Shapera Shane , Cantin Andre M. , Hernandez Paul , Turcotte Eric E. , Parker Joseph M. , Moran John E. , Albert Gary R. , Sawtell Renata , Hagerimana Aline , Laurin Pierre , Gagnon Lyne , Cesari Frank , Kolb Martin
Published: December 2018

PBI-4050 is a novel orally active small-molecule compound with demonstrated anti-fibrotic activity in several models of fibrosis, including lung fibrosis. We present results from our first clinical study of PBI-4050 in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

This 12-week open-label study explored the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of daily oral doses of 800 mg PBI-4050 alone and in combination with nintedanib or pirfenidone in patients with predominantly mild or moderate IPF. Nine patients received PBI-4050 alone, 16 patients received PBI-4050 with nintedanib and 16 patients received PBI-4050 with pirfenidone.

PBI-4050 alone or in combination with nintedanib or pirfenidone was well tolerated. Pharmacokinetic profiles for PBI-4050 were similar in the PBI-4050 alone and PBI-4050+nintedanib groups but reduced in the PBI-4050+pirfenidone group, suggesting a drug–drug interaction. There were no significant changes in forced vital capacity (FVC), either in % predicted or mL, from baseline to week 12 for PBI-4050 alone or PBI-4050+nintedanib. In contrast, a statistically significant reduction (p<0.024) in FVC % pred was seen for PBI-4050+pirfenidone after 12 weeks.

There were no safety concerns with PBI-4050 alone or in combination with nintedanib or pirfenidone in IPF patients. The stability of FVC between baseline and week 12 looked encouraging for PBI-4050 alone and in combination with nintedanib.
Role of anlotinib-induced CCL2 decrease in anti-angiogenesis and response prediction for nonsmall cell lung cancer therapy
Authors: Lu Jun , Zhong Hua , Chu Tianqing , Zhang Xueyan , Li Rong , Sun Jiayuan , Zhong Runbo , Yang Yuqin , Alam Mohammad Shah , Lou Yuqing , Xu Jianlin , Zhang Yanwei , Wu Jun , Li Xiaowei , Zhao Xiaodong , Li Kai , Lu Liming , Han Baohui
Published: December 2018

Background

Anlotinib has been demonstrated in clinical trials to be effective in prolonging the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of refractory advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and predictive biomarkers of anlotinib are still unclear.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of anlotinib administered to 294 NSCLC patients was performed to screen for underlying biomarkers of anlotinib-responsive patients. Transcriptome and functional assays were performed to understand the antitumour molecular mechanisms of anlotinib. Changes in serum CCL2 levels were analysed to examine the correlation of the anlotinib response between responders and nonresponders.

Results

Anlotinib therapy was beneficial for prolonging OS in NSCLC patients harbouring positive driver gene mutations, especially patients harbouring the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR)T790Mmutation. Moreover, anlotinib inhibited angiogenesis in an NCI-H1975-derived xenograft modelviainhibiting CCL2. Finally, anlotinib-induced serum CCL2 level decreases were associated with the benefits of PFS and OS in refractory advanced NSCLC patients.

Conclusions

Our study reports a novel anti-angiogenesis mechanism of anlotinibviainhibiting CCL2 in an NCI-H1975-derived xenograft model and suggests that changes in serum CCL2 levels may be used to monitor and predict clinical outcomes in anlotinib-administered refractory advanced NSCLC patients using third-line therapy or beyond.