bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advergames for children's health education and communication practices
Authors: Lee Pui Yuen , Lau Kung Wong
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Appropriate and deliberate use of drug prevention methods is the key to educating children about the dangers of addiction and the way of prevention. With the growing prevalence of digital games among youngsters, health education and communication among children can try adopting advergames on digital television instead of traditional media, which has also been supported by prior research. It is, therefore, this research attempts to apply digital games as a means of health promotion and carry drug prevention messages through digital gameplay. Based on behavioral models, this research investigated the communication design and effectiveness of advergames for children's health promotion.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies were conducted in this research. In Study 1, the research team investigated how public health message was assimilated into advergames, which affect the health behaviors of children, they are (1) Knowledge about Drug, (2) Attitude Toward Drug and (3) Perceived Severity toward Drug-abuse. In Study 2, this research investigated the effects of the advergames on children through a between-group experiment. A pre-test/post-test for the control group and experimental group with 180 primary school children in Hong Kong was conducted.

Findings

The finding showed the potential use of advergames in health communication among children. The result proved that the anti-drug advergame is a more successful intervention among the participating children in the experimental group than the control group. The result triggers further investigations in academic, professional and educational values for advergames design, health education and communication areas.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen small sampling locally in Hong Kong, the research results may lack generalizability for other countries or practices.

Practical implications

The study evokes children's awareness of drug prevention, encourages their physical and emotional wellness, and finally advocates a healthy lifestyle for them, through the deployment of health game communication.

Originality/value

Despite this research studied the use of advergames, instead of digital games in general, for health promotion and delivering drug prevention messages. The research design distinctively allowed the primary students to participate in the design of the advergames instead of being passive players and/or in the information delivery process. This approach is indeed a pioneer attempt in that limited practice has been found academically. The study expands academic and practical knowledge on health game communication.
Product information failures on websites and their impact on mobile shopping behaviour
Authors: Amsl Sarah , Watson Iain , Teller Christoph , Wood Steve
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Inaccurate product information on retail websites lead to dissatisfied customers and profit losses. Yet, the effects of product information failures (PIFs) remain under-explored, with the mobile commerce channel commonly overlooked. This paper aims (1) to investigate the negative effects of PIFs on shoppers' attitudes and behaviours in a mobile context. The authors further (2) evaluate the impacts of the cause and duration of a PIF, changes of expectations towards the retailer after a PIF occurred and how previous mobile shopping experience in general decreases the effects of PIFs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a scenario-based experiment with a one-factorial between-subjects design. The six most common PIFs of an international leading online fashion retailer are operationalized and tested against a control group. The final sample consists out of 758 mobile shoppers from the UK.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the perceived severity of PIFs based on showing customers incorrect information is higher when key information is lacking. Further, when the cause of a PIF is attributed to the retailer, it results in higher recovery expectations towards them. The results also reveal that respondents who have shopped mobile before perceive PIFs as less severe than inexperienced ones.

Originality/value

This research expands the online service failure literature by examining PIFs and its effects in the specific context of mobile commerce. The authors also provide recommendations for a better management of PIFs like the incorporation of PIFs information into reporting packs.
Socializing employees into a culture of health
Authors: Martin Natalie , Brann Maria , Goering Elizabeth
Published: April 2023

Purpose

A culture of health within an organization offers benefits such as managing healthcare costs and supporting employees in becoming and staying healthy. This study aims to identify successful organization's strategies utilized to socialize employees into a culture of health.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 representatives from organizations recognized for their success in creating a culture of health. Grounded theory analysis of collected data was used to identify themes related to the goals of this study.

Findings

New employees are socialized into the culture of health during the recruitment process, at new employee orientation and throughout the early employment period. Existing employees are also continually socialized using a variety of on-going communication strategies. This process is consistent with Jablin's organizational assimilation model, and this study offers the opportunity to use this model to help understand organizational health.

Practical implications

Organizations desiring to create a culture of health can support this culture by incorporating socialization strategies into the recruitment, hiring and new employee on-boarding process.

Originality/value

Though strategies have been shown to be helpful in socializing new employees into organizations, limited research has explored the relationship between socialization and a culture of health. Results from this study offer insight into how organizations that have been recognized for their success in creating a culture of health socialize new and existing employees to create and maintain a culture that supports health and well-being. Also, this study applies socialization theories to health within the workplace, offering new insights both theoretically and practically.
Mutual legal assistance and extradition under anti-money laundering laws: a comparative analysis between Palestine and Malaysia
Authors: Alshaer Husameddin , Md. Said Muhamad Helmi , Rajamanickam Ramalinggam
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The global cooperation and cooperation between nations at differing stages in anti-money laundering (AML) is critical. To improve the effectiveness of international cooperation in AML, it is essential to diversify international cooperation mechanisms and improve the capacity of law enforcement officers in the field of preventing this crime. This paper aims to provide a comparative analysis of mutual legal assistance (MLA) and extradition within the AML legal framework in Palestine and Malaysia. It investigates the gaps and weaknesses in Palestine’s AML legal framework and offers recommendations to address them.

Design/methodology/approach

The present paper is solely legal. The method adopted in this research paper is qualitative research with an emphasis on the doctrinal mechanism. As a result, it concentrates on procedures, protocols, legislation and policies.

Findings

The Malaysian AML legal framework offers a clearer and more comprehensive framework for MLAs and extradition than the Palestinian AML legal framework. This framework is supported by laws that meet the basic requirements to support the issues of AML international cooperation. Both countries agree that the absence of a “bilateral or multilateral agreement” is not considered a reason for rejecting international cooperation in the field of AML with foreign countries. Moreover, the Malaysian AML legal framework divides the roles well between the law enforcement agencies and the competent authorities competing to Palestine.

Originality/value

This paper would be beneficial for the Palestinian legislative, policymakers and law enforcement agencies to make international cooperation, especially with MLAs and extradition effective.
Entrepreneurship as emancipation: a process framework for female entrepreneurs in resource-constrained environments
Authors: Atarah Bede Akorige , Finotto Vladi , Nolan Eimear , van Stel André
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The aim of this research is to determine the stages that women in resource-constrained environments go through in order to emancipate themselves through entrepreneurial activities. Based on their fieldwork, the authors develop a process framework of emancipation-through-entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 57 female entrepreneurs in two resource-constrained countries in West Africa. Non-participant observations were employed as a secondary data collection technique to provide important sources of information for triangulation.

Findings

This study's findings indicate that the process of female emancipation through entrepreneurship begins with the perception of one's personal motivations, followed by the choice of economic activities, the gathering of various necessary resources, and finally the commencement and running of a venture to bring about the desired emancipation. Various factors, such as family, the external environment, personal qualities and ease of operations, were found to influence the choice of entrepreneurial activities. We also found that human, social, cultural and political capital interact to produce economic capital, a central form of capital for the starting and running of ventures in resource-constrained environments.

Originality/value

Although extant studies have shown that entrepreneurship can be a vehicle for women to liberate themselves from various constraints, it is as yet unclear which process these women follow to achieve such emancipation. The development of a process framework of emancipation-through-entrepreneurship is the key contribution of this paper. Despite extant research demonstrating that entrepreneurship can assist women in financially limited settings to achieve economic independence, the specific steps these women take in the process remain unclear. Thus, this paper presents a process framework that focuses on women in constrained environments and their journey to emancipation through entrepreneurship.
Exploring governance effectiveness, tourism development and poverty reduction relationship in SAARC countries using panel dynamic estimation
Authors: Shah Imtiyaz Ahmad
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The present study aims to examine the moderating impact of governance quality on the tourism poverty nexus using a panel of six South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries during the period 2002 to 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

For the soundness of the results, fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) econometric models were applied to determine the long-run relationship.

Findings

The findings confirmed the positive and significant impact of tourism development (international tourism arrival) and governance quality (effectiveness of governmental services) on poverty (per capita household consumption) reduction. Interestingly results confirm that governance quality and tourism development have complementary impacts on poverty reduction.

Originality/value

The present study has twofold contributions; First, despite the high potential of SAARC tourism, research remains limited in studies examining the role of tourism and governance quality on poverty reduction within the SAARC region. As a result, the present paper presents critical insights into the impact of tourism inflow and governance quality on poverty reduction in South Asian countries. Second, to the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first attempt to conduct an econometric analysis to examine the role of governance quality on the relationship between tourism inflow and poverty reduction in SAARC countries.
Exposure to risk communication, compliance with preventive measures and information-sharing behavior among students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Tung Le Thanh , Thanh Pham Tien
Published: April 2023

Purpose

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, public health risk communication has been a vital work. Students account for a large proportion of the population and are often highly mobile; thus, they face a high risk of contagion and spreading the disease. Therefore, risk communication to this group during the pandemic has been essential. This research examines the relationship between risk communication to students and their appropriate behaviors (compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures and COVID-19 information sharing).

Design/methodology/approach

This research used structural equation model (SEM) and generalized structural equation model (GSEM) to analyze the data collected from students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

The findings revealed that risk communication in mass media was positively associated with students' compliance with preventive measures and sharing pandemic-related information. Additionally, their compliance behavior was positively associated with their information-sharing behavior.

Practical implications

This research offers some implications regarding the containment of a highly-infectious virus, especially for the context when the risk of outbreak is high and an effective vaccine is not available, by focusing on risk communication and compliance and information-sharing behaviors.

Originality/value

This research is one of the early attempts to examine the risk communication to students, their compliance with preventive measures and their information-sharing behavior during a pandemic.
From TMT multiculturalism to strategic agility: business model innovation in MNEs
Authors: Lakshman C. , Gonzalez Jorge
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to theoretically explore the relationship between potential antecedents of business model innovation (BMI) in multinational enterprises (MNEs) and the paths through which BMI unfolds in such contexts. This study theorizes how multiculturalism in top management teams (TMTs) influences team-level cultural intelligence (CQ), which enhances firm strategic agility and helps develop BMI in MNEs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study’s cross-level theoretical framework describes the mediating role of CQ of TMTs in the relationship between team multiculturalism and strategic agility, which subsequently influences BMI. This study discusses contributions, limitations and future directions.

Findings

MNEs’ capability of developing and recombining disruptive knowledge from globally dispersed sources and integrating them to innovate is subject to the knowledge-sourcing paradox. Despite the importance of intra-member diversity in the form of multicultural individuals in multicultural teams, inter-member diversity is more prominent in the literature. Regardless, the applicability of a comprehensive conceptualization of diversity in multicultural teams to BMI has yet to be examined. This study’s theoretical model links multiculturalism in TMTs with BMI in MNEs through a cross-level framework.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the International Business literature by proposing a novel conceptualization of team multiculturalism and leverage theoretical underpinnings of the Dynamic Managerial Capabilities perspective to develop a cross-level model of factors influencing BMI in MNEs.
Research on new technology of laser forging coupled arc welding of E690 marine steel
Authors: Cai Wenlong , Zhang Yongkang , Liu Jianhang
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to reduce the cracks, pores and unfused defects in arc welding, improve the crystalline structure of the weld, refine its grains and improve the mechanical properties.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking E690 marine steel as the research object, the experiment adopts a new process method of laser forging coupled arc welding. Welding for comparative experiments. Experiments show that the “V”-shaped groove arc welding process has a larger fusion area, but has pores, the arc current is 168 A, the arc voltage is 28 V and the welding speed is 600 mm/min.

Findings

It can be seen from tensile tests that the coupling welding process has the highest tensile strength and yield strength, 872 MPa and 692 MPa, respectively, and the fracture elongation is 29.29%. The single-beam laser forging coupled arc welding process has a distance of laser and wire of 6–8 mm, a laser wavelength of 1,064 nm and the highest weld fusion ratio. The microhardness test shows that the average hardness of single-beam laser forging in the weld zone is 487.54 HV, which is 10.30% higher than that of arc welding. The average hardness in the fusion zone is 788.08 HV, which is 14.52% higher than that of the arc welding process.

Originality/value

The originality of the experiment: proposed a new process method of coupling arc repair for offshore steel forging; adopted a new process method of simultaneous coupling of single-beam short-pulse laser, double-beam short-pulse laser and arc welding; and obtained effect of pulsed laser and arc composite repair on porosity and fusion of E690 marine steel welds.
Analyzing patient satisfaction in a rural wound care center
Authors: Cudney Elizabeth A. , Reynolds Kueny Clair , Murray Susan L.
Published: April 2023

Purpose

As healthcare continues to become more expensive and complex, considering the voice of the patient in the design and operation of healthcare practices is important. Wound care and rural healthcare scenarios pose additional complexities for providers and patients. This study sought to identify key determinants of patient service quality in wound care.

Design/methodology/approach

Patients at the wound care/ostomy clinic (WOC) in a rural hospital were surveyed using the Kano model. The Kano model enables the categorization of quality attributes based on the attributes' contribution to the subject's overall satisfaction (and dissatisfaction). Chi-square goodness-of-fit testing, multinomial analysis and power analysis were then used to determine the Kano categories for each satisfaction-related attribute.

Findings

The analyses resulted in 14 one-dimensional attributes and 3 indeterminable attributes. For the one-dimensional attributes, customer satisfaction is directly proportional to the level of performance for that attribute. The one-dimensional attributes included providing correct care on the first, provision of necessary supplies for care, appropriately qualified medical staff and confidence in care provided by medical staff, among others. Understanding the attributes important to the patient drive patient-centered care, which improves positive patient outcomes and recovery. These attributes can then be used by healthcare professionals to design patient-centric processes and services. This research provides a framework for incorporating the voice of the patient into healthcare services.

Research limitations/implications

While the research methodology can be used in other healthcare settings, the findings are not generalizable to other wound care clinics. This research was conducted in one small, rural hospital. In addition, the sample size was small due to the size of the wound clinic; therefore, an analysis of the differences between demographics could not be performed.

Practical implications

Considering the perspectives of rural wound care patients is important, as the patients are an under-served population with unique challenges related to patient care. The research findings detail rural patients' expectations during wound care treatments, which enable the clinic to focus on improving patient satisfaction. This research contributes to understanding the factors that are important to patient satisfaction in wound care. Further, the methodology presented can be applied to other healthcare settings.

Originality/value

While studies exist using the Kano model in healthcare and the literature is sparse in rural healthcare, this is the first case study using the Kano model in wound care to understand patient preferences.
CircRNA ZKSCAN1 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression by miR‐185‐5p/TAGLN2 axis
Authors: Yu Nanbin , Gong Huaijun , Chen Wei , Peng Weixing
Published: April 2023

Background

Circ‐ZKSCAN1 has been found to accelerate non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression; however, the role and mechanism of circ‐ZKSCAN1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cisplatin (DDP) resistance remain unclear.

Methods

Levels of genes and proteins were examined using qRT‐PCR. Functional experiments were performed using CCK‐8 assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay and xenograft model assay, respectively. Glucose metabolism was calculated by detecting glucose consumption, lactate production, ATP and HK‐2 levels. The interaction between miR‐185‐5p and circ‐ZKSCAN1 or transgelin 2 (TAGLN2) was validated by dual‐luciferase reporter assay.

Results

Circ‐ZKSCAN1 was highly expressed in DDP‐resistant LUAD tissues and cell lines, and circ‐ZKSCAN1 knockdown weakened DDP resistance and suppressed cell viability, migration, invasion, and glycolysis in LUAD. Circ‐ZKSCAN1 acted as a sponge of miR‐185‐5p, and the regulatory effects of circ‐ZKSCAN1 knockdown on LUAD were reversed by miR‐185‐5p downregulation. Meanwhile, miR‐185‐5p directly targeted TAGLN2, and performed anticancer effects by regulating TAGLN2. Importantly, silencing of circ‐ZKSCAN1 hindered tumor growth and promoted DDP sensitivity in vivo via regulating miR‐185‐5p and TAGLN2.

Conclusion

Circ‐ZKSCAN1 promoted LUAD tumorigenesis and DDP resistance by regulating miR‐185‐5p/TAGLN2 axis.
The response of Australian firms to AASB 138 disallowing the recognition of internally generated identifiable intangibles
Authors: Ho Shawn , Sidhu Baljit K. , Yang Fan
Published: April 2023

This paper responds to a call by the Australian Accounting Standards Board to investigate how Australian firms responded to a perceived loss of information pursuant to AASB 138 (IAS38) which mandated the de‐recognition of previously recognised internally generated identifiable intangibles, from its effective date of 1 January 2005. We find that the sample firms did not choose to provide alternative or substitute disclosure elsewhere in their annual report or financial statements anytime during our sample period (2005–2010). Prima facie, this is surprising given prior evidence from the value relevance literature that disclosures relevant to the value of internally generated intangibles are correlated with firm value and presumably informative for investors. However, we caution against the drawing of simple conclusions that this finding implies alternative disclosure may not be valuable. Rather, it is important to understand the forces or frictions that contribute to this result. Schipper (The Accounting Review, 82, 2007, 301) and Skinner (Accounting and Business Research, 38, 2008, 191) offer valuable insights into the potential issues such as the costs of alternative disclosure including proprietary costs of disclosing competitive information and, the lower credibility of financial disclosures outside of audited financial statements. These are important considerations in the on‐going standard‐setting debate on recognition versus disclosure of value relevant information on intangible assets.
A cervical screening initiative for elderly women in Denmark
Authors: Skorstengaard Malene , Viborg Petra Hall , Telén Andersen Ane Birgitte , Andersen Berit , Holten Bennetsen Mary , Jochumsen Kirsten Marie , Johansen Tonje , Larsen Lise Grupe , Bruun Laustsen Maja Ulrikka , Salmani Rouzbeh , Serizawa Reza , Waldstrøm Marianne , Lynge Elsebeth
Published: April 2023

Introduction

To assess outcome of a one‐time human papillomavirus (HPV)‐screening in 2017 of Danish women aged 70+.

Material and methods

Women born 1947 or before were personally invited to have a cell‐sample collected by their general practitioner. Screening‐ and follow‐up samples were analyzed in hospital laboratories in the five Danish regions and registered centrally. Follow‐up procedures varied slightly across regions. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 (CIN2) was recommended treatment threshold. Data were retrieved from the Danish Quality Database for Cervical Cancer Screening. We calculated CIN2+ and CIN3+ detection rates per 1000 screened women, and number of biopsies and conizations per detected CIN2+ case. We tabulated annual number of incident cervical cancer cases in Denmark for the years 2009–2020.

Results

In total, 359 763 women were invited of whom 108 585 (30% of invited) were screened; 4479 (4.1% of screened, and 4.3% of screened 70–74 years) tested HPV‐positive; of whom 2419 (54% of HPV‐positive) were recommended follow‐up with colposcopy, biopsy and cervical sampling, and 2060 with cell‐sample follow‐up. In total, 2888 women had histology; of whom 1237 cone specimen and 1651 biopsy only. Out of 1000 screened women 11 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11–12) had conization. In total, 579 women had CIN2+; 209 CIN2, 314 CIN3, and 56 cancer. Out of 1000 screened women five (95% CI: 5–6) had CIN2+. Detection rate of CIN2+ was highest in regions where conization was used as part of first‐line follow‐up. In 2009–2016, number of incident cervical cancers in women aged 70+ in Denmark fluctuated around 64; in 2017 it reached 83 cases; and by 2021 the number had decreased to 50.

Conclusions

The prevalence of high‐risk HPV of 4.3% in women aged 70–74 is in agreement with data from Australia, and the detection of five CIN+2 cases per 1000 screened women is in agreement with data for 65–69 year old women in Norway. Data are thus starting to accumulate on primary HPV‐screening of elderly women. The screening resulted in a prevalence peak in incident cervical cancers, and it will therefore take some years before the cancer preventive effect of the screening can be evaluated.
The meaning of masculinity for educated young Bedouins
Authors: Allassad Alhuzail Nuzha
Published: April 2023

Israel's Bedouin population—an Indigenous, traditional, collective, patriarchal society—is at the height of social change, introducing modernization, religion and altered gender relations. Young Bedouin men are experiencing the ramifications of their masculine identity. As in other collective societies that emphasize mutual dependence and cooperation, honour has great meaning and unlike individualistic societies, maintaining masculine and family honour is important in the construction of masculinity. These cultural differences may influence young men's views of honour, particularly family honour, which is a key principle in collective cultures. An exploratory qualitative study used semi‐structured interviews of 20 educated Bedouin young men and grounded theory to investigate what masculinity means for them. They defined masculinity by comparing theirs to that of the ‘other’. They also described the crucial evaluators of masculinity: the family's older men. Protection and close supervision of women were found to be key factors in the assessment of masculinity. Also evident was the influence of the men's education on their gendered perceptions and their use of Western‐oriented language regarding egalitarianism and women's rights. The findings may contribute to social work practice, especially in patriarchal societies, and may help in understanding how men may use their patriarchal power to generate change.
A small HDM2 antagonist peptide and a USP7 inhibitor synergistically inhibit the p53‐HDM2‐USP7 circuit
Authors: Mukherjee Srijata , Saha Gouranga , Roy Neeladri Sekhar , Naiya Gitashri , Ghosh Mrinal K. , Roy Siddhartha
Published: April 2023

HDM2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is a crucial regulator of many proliferation‐related pathways. It is also one of the primary regulators of p53. USP7, a deubiquitinase, also plays a key role in the regulation of both p53 and HDM2, thus forming a small regulatory network with them. This network has emerged as an important drug target. Development of a synergistic combination targeting both proteins is desirable and important for regulating this module. We have developed a small helically constrained peptide that potently inhibited p53‐HDM2 interaction and exerted anti‐proliferative effects on p53+/+ cells. A combination of this peptide—when attached to cell entry and nuclear localization tags—and a USP7 inhibitor showed synergistic anti‐proliferative effects against cells harboring wild‐type alleles of p53. Synergistic inhibition of two important drug targets may lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
Special issue: Child protection in the digital age. Latent profiles in cyberbullying and the relationship with self‐concept and achievement goals in preadolescence
Authors: Escortell Raquel , Delgado Beatriz , Baquero Asier , Martínez‐Monteagudo María C.
Published: April 2023

In recent years, the scientific community has taken an interest in cyberbullying research due to the emotional and educational impact on all those involved. However, the scant evidence on samples from primary education is derived from statistical methodologies focusing on the individual, which generate specific profiles rather than acting roles. The present study focuses on the profiles of cyberbullying and its variability with the levels of self‐concept and academic goals, using a sample of 548 Spanish primary education students aged 10–13 (M = 10.95, SD = 0.7). After analysing the data using Latent Class Analysis and MANOVA, the profiles developed were ‘not‐involved’ (38.82%), ‘moderate victimization’ (37.17%), ‘high bully‐victimization’ (19.29%) and ‘low victimization’ (4.7%). In addition, the group of students with the not‐involved profile scored higher on the self‐concept of their relationship with their parents, in language, in mathematics and their general self‐concept than the group with moderate victimization. The same pattern was also observed for learning goals. The findings have significant implications for the creation of person‐centred cyberbullying prevention programmes that permit a more targeted approach to cyberbullying behaviours in order to halt its progress.
Efficient Hardware Acceleration of Robust Volumetric Light Transport Simulation
Authors: Moonen Nol , Jalba Andrei C.
Published: April 2023

Efficiently simulating the full range of light effects in arbitrary input scenes that contain participating media is a difficult task. Unified points, beams and paths (UPBP) is an algorithm capable of capturing a wide range of media effects, by combining bidirectional path tracing (BPT) and photon density estimation (PDE) with multiple importance sampling (MIS). A computationally expensive task of UPBP is the MIS weight computation, performed each time a light path is formed. We derive an efficient algorithm to compute the MIS weights for UPBP, which improves over previous work by eliminating the need to iterate over the path vertices. We achieve this by maintaining recursive quantities as subpaths are generated, from which the subpath weights can be computed. In this way, the full path weight can be computed by only using the data cached at the two vertices at the ends of the subpaths. Furthermore, a costly part of PDE is the search for nearby photon points and beams. Previous work has shown that a spatial data structure for photon mapping can be implemented using the hardware‐accelerated bounding volume hierarchy of NVIDIA's RTX GPUs. We show that the same technique can be applied to different types of volumetric PDE and compare the performance of these data structures with the state of the art. Finally, using our new algorithm and data structures we fully implement UPBP on the GPU which we, to the best of our knowledge, are the first to do so.
A comparison of a hydrochlorothiazide plus triamterene combination (Dyazide) and atenolol in the treatment of patients with mild hypertension: A multicentre study in general practice
Authors: Philip I G , Qureshi S M , Richards H H , Sharma S K , Wright F G De L , Young P H , Rowley‐Jones D
Published: April 2023

One hundred and eighteen patients with diastolic blood pressure between 95 and 110 mmHg were treated with the diuretic agents hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg plus triamterene 50 mg in combination, (Dyazide) initially one tablet, rising if required to two tablets per day, and 119 Patients were treated with atenolol (100 mg) in a multicentre, single blind randomised comparative study. Both treatments were associated with a significantly reduced supine and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure within three weeks, with further reductions after six weeks.

Atenolol produced an overall reduction in the mean of supine and standing diastolic and systolic blood pressure of 14 and 18 mmHg compared with 11 and 18 mmHg respectively for hydrochlorothiazide plus triamterene. Twenty four per cent of patients on hydrochlorothiazide plus triamterene had the dose of medication doubled after three weeks. After six weeks, 33 per cent of patients on hydrochlorothiazide plus triamterene and 26 per cent on atenolol had achieved a blood pressure of less than 140/95 mmHg (mean supine/standing).

Nine patients in the hydrochlorothiazide plus triamterene group and eight in the atenolol group were withdrawn because of adverse events; additionally one patient on the diuretic combination died following a ruptured aortic aneurysm, which was considered to be unrelated to treatment. There was a higher overall frequency of adverse events in the atenolol group (0.64 events/patient) than in the hydrochlorothiazide plus triamterene group (0.49 events/patient). Mild hypokalaemia (minimum 3.3 mmol/l) occurred in three patients on hydrochlorothiazide plus triamterene, but more patients on atenolol were hyperkalaemic (maximum 6.0 mmol/1) at the end of the study. As expected, a higher proportion of patients on hydrochlorothiazide plus triamterene had elevated blood urea, serum creatinine and uric acid than on atenolol, although in no patient was treatment stopped because of the abnormal laboratory values.

Both treatments were effective and generally well tolerated in the treatment of mild hypertension, the differences between them being of no clinical significance.
Recurrence of childhood diverticulitis
Authors: Farouk A R A , Rees B I , Duthie G S
Published: April 2023

We update a previously reported case1 of a boy who, after resection of sigmoid colon due to diverticular disease at age 16, subsequently developed a mass in his left iliac fossa due to recurrent diverticular disease at age 19, requiring further colonic resection.
Unilateral facial pain as a rare presentation of bronchial carcinoma
Authors: Jones M T , Lawson Ram
Published: April 2023

Two cases are described in which unilateral facial pain was the presenting symptom of inoperable bronchial carcinoma. In each case the tumour involved the upper lobe of the lung with involvement of the contiguous mediastinum, either due to direct invasion or adenopathy. In the first patient the diagnosis was delayed due to the unusual presentation, and in the second patient a routine chest X‐ray was diagnostic. The varied presentation of bronchial carcinoma is discussed, and the anatomical basis for referred pain due to pressure on the vagus nerve in the upper mediastinum is described.
Initial presentation of malignant disease to accident and emergency departments
Authors: Han K H , Bradburn D M
Published: April 2023

A retrospective study on malignant disease presenting primarily to the Accident and Emergency Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary shows that amongst 20 cases seen over a period of four months, eight (40 per cent) were first presentations to the Casualty staff. Although the major work load of Accident and Emergency Units is for trauma, the staff working in this specialty should be aware of the possibility of underlying malignant disease in the vast number of patients who come through the doors.
ACE inhibitors and diuretics causing hypokalaemia
Authors: D'Costa D F , Basu S K , Gunasekera N P R
Published: April 2023

Angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and diuretics are known to cause hyperkalaemia. We undertook a prospective analysis over a period of six months of patients admitted under our care. Of 217 patients, 39(18 per cent) were admitted with congestive cardiac failure/left ventricular failure. Of these 39 patients, 21 (54 per cent) were prescribed ACE inhibitors. Seven of these 21 patients subsequently developed hypokalaemia. This was irrespective of the type or dose of the diuretic but seemed to be related to the dose of the ACE inhibitor. In three cases the hypokalaemia was corrected by the addition of a potassium‐sparing diuretic; in two cases a potassium supplement was added; and in the other three an increase in the dose of the ACE inhibitor for the resistant heart failure corrected the potassium deficit. This study shows that one should be alert to both hyperkalaemia and hypokalaemia when using a combination of ACE inhibitors and diuretics.
Enprostil, a prostaglandin E2 analogue, in the treatment of gastric ulcer — a multicentre comparison with pirenzepine
Authors: Reed P I , Jazrawi R P , Northfield T C , Carr‐Locke D , Mountford R A , Williams J G , Schiller K F R , English J R
Published: April 2023

In a double‐blind, multicentre study 77 patients with benign gastric ulcer were randomly allocated to treatment with either enprostil 35 μg bd or pirenzepine 50 mg bd. After four weeks of treatment 13/26 (50 per cent) of evaluable enprostil‐treated patients and 9/30 (30 per cent) of evaluable pirenzepine‐treated patients were healed. Corresponding healing figures after eight weeks were 20/25 (80 per cent) and 25/31 (81 percent). Both drugs rapidly reduced the severity of ulcer pain and the need for antacid use. No statistically significant differences were detected between the treatments with respect to healing rate or symptom control. Adverse events were reported by eight patients taking enprostil and by 17 patients taking pirenzepine. Two patients withdrew from each treatment group because of adverse events. None of these was serious.

In conclusion, enprostil and pirenzepine were equally effective in healing gastric ulcers and no statistically significant differences in safety and efficacy were detected. There was a tendency for earlier healing and fewer side effects in the enprostil‐treated patients.
Hypertension in the elderly: a study of a combination of atenolol and nifedipine
Authors: Duckett G K , Cheadle B
Published: April 2023

The antihypertensive effects and tolerability of a once‐daily, fixed combination of atenolol 50 mg and nifedipine retard 20 mg ('Nif‐Ten'®) were monitored in a 12‐month open study in 30 elderly hypertensive patients, whose blood pressure was inadequately controlled after four weeks treatment with atenolol 50 mg once daily.

Sitting (and standing) blood pressure and heart rate one to four hours after dosing were recorded at entry (191/95 mmHg) and at the end of the run‐in period (186/93 mmHg). After one month's therapy with the fixed combination the mean sitting blood pressure fell to 169/89 mm Hg and was maintained at this level for the entire 12‐month period of observation.

During the study four patients complained of side effects on fixed combination therapy with one patient withdrawn due to flushes and hot sweats. One other patient suffered flushes and hot sweats and two patients complained of mild dizziness. There were no demonstrable effects of fixed combination therapy upon the biochemical parameters measured.

We conclude that the fixed combination of atenolol plus nifedipine retard was well tolerated over a 12‐month period in the group of elderly hypertensive patients studied. The combination appears to exert a greater antihypertensive effect than the beta‐blocker monotherapy with no evidence of tachyphylaxis, although these findings require confirmation in a controlled trial.
Complicated peptic ulceration in a child
Authors: Abel P D , McCormack T T
Published: April 2023

The dual complications of haemonhage and perforation from a peptic ulcer only rarely co‐exist synchronously in adults and even more rarely in children. We report a case in an adolescent.
Post‐operative sputum retention treated by minitracheostomy — a ward procedure?
Authors: Buckels N J , Khan Z H , Irwin S T , Gibbons J R P
Published: April 2023

Cricothyroidotomy, using the percutaneous ‘minitracheotomy’ technique, was performed in 67 patients (55 for sputum retention, two for endobronchial rupture of an empyema, 10 prophylactically). In two patients the cricothyroid membrane was penetrated with considerable difficulty, and in one further patient insertion was not possible due to calcification of the cricothyroid membrane. One patient required exploration of the insertion site because of bleeding. Two patients inhaled the “Mark 1 Minitrach' device and required urgent bronchoscopic removal. In those patients undergoing successful cricothyroidotomy, there was a dramatic improvement in respiratory distress. There were no deaths related to the insertion of the minitracheotomy device in this series.
A randomised, double‐blind study of mebeverine versus dicyclomine in the treatment of functional abdominal pain in young adults
Authors: Grillage M G , Nankani J N , Atkinson S N , Prescott P
Published: April 2023

Summary Objective

To compare the efficacy and acceptability of mebeverine and dicyclomine in relieving the symptoms of functional abdominal pain in young adults (12–35 years).
A deficit of bladder cancer in an Asian community in the UK
Authors: McLoughlin J , Fletcher A , Williams J , Kelley C J
Published: April 2023

Over a 10‐year period, the incidence of bladder cancer in the local Asian community living within the Ealing hospital catchment area was compared with that in the indigenous population and that in England and Wales. A significantly reduced incidence was seen in the Asian community, using both comparisons.
Mitral annulus calcification
Authors: Morrison W L , McNeill G P , Davidson K G
Published: April 2023

A 67‐year‐old woman had aortic and mitral annulus calcification resulting in severe stenosis and incompetence of the valves. Mitral annulus calcification produces specific echocardiographic abnormalities which may forewarn of technical difficulties during surgery.
Mammographic screening for breast cancer: recall rates using two views compared with the oblique view alone
Authors: Haiart D C , Kirkpatrick A E
Published: April 2023

Six thousand and eighty women aged 40 to 64 years were screened for breast cancer by single oblique view mammography and 908 (14.9 per cent) were recalled for further examinations. It was estimated that the use of two‐view mammography for initial screening would have resulted in a fall of the number of women recalled to 581 (9.5 per cent). More recently, with better equipment and the routine use of a moving grid, the recall rate at initial singleview screening in women over the age of 50 has fallen to the region of 10 per cent.

The place of two‐view screening is being evaluated in conjunction with grid films and, should a similar proportional fall in recall rates be gained by the addition of a second view, there may well be a place for two‐view screening in this situation too.
An open multicentre study of the efficacy and safety of a single dose of fluconazole 150 mg in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis in general practice
Authors: Phillips R J M , Watson S A , McKay F F
Published: April 2023

The efficacy and tolerability of fluconazole given as a single oral dose of 150 mg were assessed in 1,017 patients in general practice presenting with signs and symptoms of vaginal candidiasis.

At the review visit 7–14 days after treatment, about 95 per cent of patients reported being either cured or improved. High vaginal swabs taken from 43 patients out of 50 who failed following treatment revealed Candida albicans in 17 (1.8 per cent). Efficacy in patients with predisposing factors (oral contraceptives, antibiotics and recurrent vaginal candidiasis — four episodes or more in previous year) was not significantly different from that in those without these factors.

Of patients who had received previous intravaginal therapy for vaginal candidiasis, 88 per cent preferred fluconazole, 10 per cent previous therapy and two per cent had no preference.

Investigators assessed efficacy after fluconazole as excellent or good in 91 per cent and tolerability as excellent or good in 91 per cent of patients. Significant adverse effects were reported in less than one per cent of patients.
Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: a comparison of a combination tablet of terfenadine and pseudoephedrine with the individual ingredients
Authors: Backhouse C I , Rosenberg R M , Fidler C
Published: April 2023

This single‐centre, double‐blind, parallel randomised study of one week's duration compared terfenadine 40 mg, pseudoephedrine 60 mg and a combination of the two (40 mg/60 mg) given three times a day in the management of hayfever. Of 88 known hayfever sufferers recruited during the 1988 season 86 were evaluable for efficacy. Demographic data were similar, but some significant differences in baseline symptom values made direct comparison of post‐treatment scores difficult to interpret. Nevertheless, comparisons of improvements from baseline show that all three treatments provide good control of the individual seven symptoms (nasal block, sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose, watery eyes, red eyes, itchy eyes). Terfenadine provided a statistically greater improvement in mean total symptom score than pseudoephedrine alone. Overall assessments favoured terfenadine and the combination, and rhinoscopy examination showed a trend in favour of terfenadine alone. Adverse events were recorded more frequently in the combination group: 45% of patients versus 21% in the terfenadine group and 26% in the pseudoephedrine group.

In this group of patients, terfenadine, pseudoephedrine or a combination provide good relief of hayfever symptoms, including nasal block, with terfenadine and the combination being preferred to pseudoephedrine in the treatment of this condition. However, the combination can be expected to cause a greater incidence of side‐effects.
Clips or sutures for herniorrhaphy wounds?
Authors: Gilbert H W , Everett W G
Published: April 2023

This study compares the pain experienced by fifty patients following bilateral herniorrhaphy using two different methods of wound closure. No significant difference was found between the use of Michel clips and interrupted monofilament nylon sutures. Clips were preferred by a significant majority of patients, probably because they cause less pain on removal. The use of Michel clips should not be limited by the belief that they cause more pain than conventional sutures.