bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prehabilitation intervention for patients undergoing elective colectomy
Authors: Taniguchi Hideki , Kamada Takaaki , Sato Tomoyuki , Ueda Tomomi , Yamamoto Tatsuo 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Aim:
Patients with sarcopenia who undergo surgery for colorectal cancer have an increased incidence of postoperative complications and prolonged hospital stay, thus requiring prehabilitation. We evaluated the effectiveness of a prehabilitation intervention comprising exercise and nutritional therapy for patients undergoing colorectal resection.

Methods:
This prospective study included 44 patients undergoing colorectal resection between August 2018 and July 2019. Patients’ mean age and body mass index were 71.6 ± 10.8 years and 21.4 ± 3.4 kg/m2, respectively; 57% of the patients were female. Prehabilitation intervention comprised ≥2000 walking steps and handgrip training as exercise therapy and a postexercise 125 mL L-leucine-enriched beverage (160 kcal, 11.0 g protein, 2300 mg L-leucine) as nutritional therapy. This routine was performed preoperatively, twice a day for 10.2 ± 2.5 (7–20) consecutive days. The primary endpoint was increased skeletal mass index. The secondary endpoints were increased handgrip strength, body weight, skeletal muscle mass, body fat, and serum transthyretin concentrations. We compared patients with and without sarcopenia (sarcopenia group [SG] vs nonsarcopenia group).

Results:
The skeletal muscle index (before vs after intervention: 6.2 ± 1.0 vs 6.4 ± 1.0 kg/m2, P < .001), body weight (52.8 ± 11.4 vs 53.5 ± 11.4 kg, P < .001), skeletal muscle mass (21.1 ± 4.9 vs 21.5 ± 4.9 kg, P < .001), and serum transthyretin concentration (24.6 ± 6.7 vs 26.7 ± 6.7 mg/dL, P < .0001) increased after the intervention. Sub-analysis results (SG: n = 13, nonsarcopenia group: n = 30) indicated an additional increase in skeletal muscle index (P = .02) and handgrip strength (P = .02) and a further decrease in body fat ratio (P = .03) in the SG.

Conclusions:
Short-term prehabilitation intervention using a leucine-enriched beverage was effective in patients with sarcopenia undergoing colorectal resection.

Clinical trial registry:
This study was registered with the Center for Clinical Trials, Japan Medical Association at https://dbcentre3.jmacct.med.or.jp/jmactr/App/JMACTRE02_04/JMACTRE02_04.aspx?kbn=3&seqno=7436 (registration no.: JMA-IIA00321).
On the state independency and log-linearity of error propagation for discrete group affine systems with application to attitude estimation
Authors: Wang Jiaolong , Zhang Chengxi , Wu Jin 
Published: December 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to propose a general and rigorous study on the propagation property of invariant errors for the model conversion of state estimation problems with discrete group affine systems.

Design/methodology/approach
The evolution and operation properties of error propagation model of discrete group affine physical systems are investigated in detail. The general expressions of the propagation properties are proposed together with the rigorous proof and analysis which provide a deeper insight and are beneficial to the control and estimation of discrete group affine systems.

Findings
The investigation on the state independency and log-linearity of invariant errors for discrete group affine systems are presented in this work, and it is pivotal for the convergence and stability of estimation and control of physical systems in engineering practice. The general expressions of the propagation properties are proposed together with the rigorous proof and analysis.

Practical implications
An example application to the attitude dynamics of a rigid body together with the attitude estimation problem is used to illustrate the theoretical results.

Originality/value
The mathematical proof and analysis of the state independency and log-linearity property are the unique and original contributions of this work.
“This article is interesting, however”: exploring the language use in the peer review comment of articles published in the BMJ
Authors: Zhang Guangyao , Wang Licheng , Xie Weixi , Shang Furong , Xia Xinlu , Jiang Chunlin , Wang Xianwen 
Published: December 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reveal a symbol – “however” that authors are very interested in, but few research studies pay attention to the existing literature. The authors aim to further insight its function.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, the authors selected 3,329 valid comments on articles published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) from 2015 to 2020 as the research objects. The authors showed the length distribution of reviewers' comments. In what follows, the authors analyzed the general distribution of words in comments and reviewer comments’ position to understand reviewers' comments qualitatively in word dimension. Specially, the authors analyzed functions of “however” and “but”, words that authors are most concerned with. In addition, the authors also discussed some factors, which may be related to “however,” that reflect reviewers' praise through regression analysis.FindingsThe authors found that there are marked differences in the length of reviewers' comments under different review rounds. By mapping the reviewers' comments to different sections, the authors found that reviewers are deeply concerned to methods section. Adjectives and adverbs in comments written in different sections of the manuscripts also have different characteristics. The authors tried to interpret the turning function of “however” in scientific communication. Its frequency of use is related to reviewers' identities, specifically academic status. More precisely, junior researchers use “however” in praise more frequently than senior researchers do.Research limitations/implicationsThe linguistic feature and function of “however” and “but” in the reviewers' comments of the rejected manuscripts may be different from accepted papers and also worth exploring. Regrettably, the authors cannot obtain the peer review comments of rejected manuscripts. This point may limit the conclusion of the investigation of this article.Originality/valueOverall, the survey results revealed some language features of reviewers' comments, which could provide a basis of future endeavors for many reviewers in open peer review (OPR) field. Specially, the authors also put forward an interesting symbol to examine the review comments, “however”, for the first time.
Translocate, to fund or not to fund: challenges in funding an emerging market start-up
Authors: De Jesus Carlos , Ker-Fox Jason , Senyatsi Phuti 
Published: December 2021

Subject area:
Financial management – Specifically start-up valuations.

Study level/applicability:
Honours or masters level (professional or academic).

Case overview:
The case is around a tech start-up in the informal transport market in South Africa, that has obtained some government funding and developed a working SaaS. However, requires funding to expand and grow. Informal transport is significant in emerging and developing markets and the product is portable internationally. In South Africa, two listed companies (US and SA) were started with similar concepts in Logistics and private client market and are now global in 124 and 24 countries. Management of the venture capital firm are senior and experienced and have invested years and funding into this company, and while willing to offer equity had quite a high value in mind, the venture capital company (with an impact mandate) needs to decide whether to fund the start-up and negotiate a value.

Expected learning outcomes:
Characteristics of a successful start-up are formulating an appropriate discount rate, using real world data; performing a DCF and relative valuations given limited information; scenario analysis and sensitivity analysis; and the importance of negotiating (understanding managements side).

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Complexity academic level
This case was written for use in financial management classes in either an academic full-time student (final year undergraduate/bachelor) or a postgraduate program with working students/professional (MBA) program level.

Subject code
CSS: 1: Accounting and finance.
Does membership of local Chambers of Commerce networks enhance rural SME performance?: An empirical analysis
Authors: Tiwasing Pattanapong , Sawang Sukanlaya 
Published: December 2021

PurposeLocal Chambers of Commerce networks provide small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an opportunity to access essential information and networking with other businesses, resulting in improved business performance. However, rural SMEs are less likely to participate in these networks and often possess lower performance. This paper aims to examine the relationship between being members of local Chambers of Commerce networks and rural SMEs’ performance by comparing business performance between rural SMEs who are members and non-members of local Chambers of Commerce networks. This paper also further explores difference in business growth plans between rural SMEs members and non-members.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical analysis draws on cross-sectional data of 3,769 rural SMEs in England and Wales from the UK's Government Longitudinal Small Business Survey 2015. Propensity score matching (PSM) is applied to control for selection bias and variations in business characteristics before comparing business performance, measured in terms of annual turnover, sale growth and profitability, between rural SMEs that are members and non-members of local Chambers of Commerce networks.FindingsOur results show that rural SME members of local Chambers of Commerce networks are more likely to grow their sales than non-members. However, they perform as good as non-members in terms of turnover and profitability. The results also emphasise that local Chambers of Commerce networks are crucial for rural SMEs to develop the skills of the workforce and leadership capability of managers, new product/service development and new working practices. Therefore, to enhance rural SMEs' performance, tailoring the services of local Chambers of Commerce to support rural businesses' needs and encouraging rural SMEs to make use of business networks are recommended.Practical implicationsThe paper unpacks the relationships between being local Chamber of Commerce membership and business performance, offering lessons for rural SMEs to boost their business performance and growth through participating in local business association networks.Originality/valueThis paper is the first study that explores the comparative analysis of business performance and growth plans between rural SMEs that are members and non-members of the local Chamber of Commerce networks. We provide an empirical evidence-based analysis to existing literature regarding the advantages of being local Chamber of Commerce memberships to enhance business performance in rural areas.
Institutional pressure and open innovation: the moderating effect of digital knowledge and experience-based knowledge
Authors: Jiao Hao , Yang Jifeng , Cui Yu 
Published: December 2021

Purpose
When considering the influence of external social, technical and political environments on organizations’ open innovation behavior, especially in emerging markets, institutional theory is especially salient. This study aims to answer the question of how to integrate organizations’ external institutional pressures and internal knowledge structure to mitigate the challenges in the open innovation process.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a sample of 2,126 observations from the 2012 World Bank Enterprise Survey. A multivariate regression model is designed to explore the impact of external institutional pressure (i.e. coercive pressure, mimetic pressure and normative pressure) on open innovation, as well as the moderating effect of digital knowledge and experience-based knowledge.

Findings
The results show that institutional pressure has a positive role in promoting open innovation; digital knowledge weakens the positive relationship between institutional pressure and open innovation; experience-based knowledge strengthens the positive relationship between institutional pressure (especially coercive pressure) and open innovation.

Originality/value
This study combines institutional theory and knowledge management to enriches insights into open innovation in emerging markets. Beyond recognizing the inherent multidimensionality of the concept of institutional pressure, this study creates an integrated path for the legitimacy acquiring of enterprises through the knowledge structure design (i.e. digital knowledge and experience-based knowledge). It also deepens the institutional pressure to enable the implementation of digital knowledge to manage open innovation processes.
Hospital‐level variation in outcomes after in‐hospital cardiac arrest in Denmark
Authors: Stankovic Nikola , Andersen Lars W. , Granfeldt Asger , Holmberg Mathias J. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundWe investigated hospital‐level variation in outcomes after in‐hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in Denmark, and assessed whether variation in outcomes could be explained by differences in patient characteristics.MethodsAdult patients (≥18 years old) with IHCA in 2017 and 2018 were included from the Danish IHCA Registry (DANARREST). Data on patient characteristics and outcomes were obtained from population‐based registries. Predicted probabilities, likelihood ratio tests, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and median odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival to 30 days, and survival to 1 year.ResultsA total of 3340 patients with IHCA from 24 hospitals were included. We found that hospital‐level variation in outcomes after IHCA existed across all measures of variation. The unadjusted median OR for ROSC, survival to 30 days, and survival to 1 year were 1.28 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24, 1.45), 1.38 (95% CI: 1.33, 1.60), and 1.44 (95% CI: 1.39, 1.70), respectively. The unadjusted ICC suggest that 2.0% (95%: 1.6%, 4.4%), 3.3% (95%: 2.7%, 6.8%), and 4.3% (95%: 3.5%, 8.6%) of the total individual variation in ROSC, survival to 30 days, and survival to 1 year was attributable to hospital‐level variation. These results decreased but persisted in the analyses adjusted for select patient characteristics.ConclusionsIn this study, we found that outcomes after IHCA varied across hospitals in Denmark. However, only about 2%–4% of the total individual variation in outcomes after IHCA was attributable to differences between hospitals, suggesting that most of the individual variation in outcomes was attributable to patient‐level variation.
Anaesthetic considerations in posterior instrumentation of scoliosis due to spinal muscular atrophy: Case series of 56 operated patients
Authors: Förster Johannes G. , Schlenzka Dietrich , Österman Heikki , Pitkänen Mikko 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundSpinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare illness that often leads to severe kyphoscoliosis. This case series adds to the heretofore sparse information as regards the anaesthetic management of SMA scoliosis patients.MethodsThis retrospective study reviewed the charts of 79 SMA patients (type II n = 34 and type III n = 45) presenting for possible scoliosis surgery during the time period 2007–2019. Special attention focused on preoperative assessment and clearance requirements, anaesthesia protocol and postoperative handling.ResultsOut of 79 patients, 17 did not receive clearance for the procedure mostly due to grave respiratory insufficiency. Out of 62 patients with clearance for both surgery and anaesthesia, 56 patients [44 females, 12 males; age mean ± SD (range) 22 ± 7.3 (10–40) years] underwent the procedure. Their forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s were mean ± SD (range) 1.41 ± 0.53 (0.61–2.65) L and 1.26 ± 0.47 (0.52–2.27) L, respectively. Intubation difficulties and their resolution, e.g. with the help of fibreoptic technique and video laryngoscopy, are described. All 56 patients were extubated in the operating room postoperativley. Patients stayed at the postanaesthesia care unit for one (n = 48) or two (n = 8) nights. A considerable amount of the patients (19/56) developed hypokalaemia postoperatively.ConclusionThis analysis is one of the bigger series of its kind and adds insight into the preoperative clearance process, the anaesthetic protocol and some of the postoperative complications, e.g. the tendency for developing postoperative hypokalaemia which has not been reported previously.
Glucose management team significantly improves glycaemic care and commitment to in‐hospital guidelines within arthroplastic patients
Authors: Ylikoski Marianne , Immonen Heidi , Tiihonen Raine , Kauppi Markku J. , Huhtala Heini , Jokinen Janne J. , Lahtela Jorma 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundPerioperative dysglycaemias are a risk for harm but guidelines to improve glucose management are poorly adhered to.AimTo determine whether a specialized team and diabetes education improves the implementation of guidelines and glucose values.MethodsWe conducted a prospective study of 611 nonselected, consecutive patients attending for elective hip or knee arthroplasty. The first 209 patients received conventional care and the following 402 patients received intervention (Acute Glucose Service, AGS) in two chronological groups; either perioperatively (AGS1) or also preoperatively (AGS2). The AGS‐team provided diabetes education, identified the patients with diabetes risk and adjusted the medication when needed. Capillary plasma glucose (CPG) was repeatedly measured and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) obtained before and after the surgery. The study objectives were to evaluate the staff actions when hyperglycaemia was severe (CPG >10 mmol/L), and to assess improvement of the glycaemic values and the complication rate within 3 months.ResultsNone of the severely hyperglycaemic events in the reference group were treated according to guidelines. In the AGS 1 group, 50% and in the AGS2 group, 53% were appropriately managed (p < .001). The events of hyperglycaemia (CPG >7.8 mmol/L at least twice) and of severe hyperglycaemia (CPG >10 mmol/L) decreased in all patient groups. The medians of the highest, mean and variability of CPG values improved. The mean HbA1c improved significantly within AGS 2. There was no association between improved glycaemic care and early complications.ConclusionsAGS intervention significantly improves adherence to guidelines and glucose values.
Comparative study of functional outcomes between ultra‐low anterior resection and inter‐sphincteric resection: a propensity matched analysis
Authors: Gori Jayesh , Kazi Mufaddal , Rajkumar Barath , Bhuta Prajesh , Ankathi Suman Kumar , Desouza Ashwin , Saklani Avanish 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundComparative bowel functional outcomes between ultralow anterior resections (ULAR) and inter‐sphincteric resection (ISR) for similar tumour and patient characteristics is not known.MethodsSingle centre study of low rectal caners (<5cm from anal verge) with 1:1 propensity matching of age, sex, body mass index, prior radiation, and surgical approach (open vs. minimally invasive) was performed for the ULAR and ISR groups. Primary outcome measure was Wexner Incontinence scores and Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) score at a single time point after stoma reversal.ResultsSeventy‐two matched patients were included. Median Wexner scores were five and eight for the ULAR and ISR cohorts (p = 0.006). Major incontinence (Wexner >11) was found in 5.6% versus 33% after ULAR and ISR, respectively. Major LARS (score > 29) was demonstrated in 11% versus 25% in ULAR versus ISR (p = 0.293). Majority in both groups has no LARS (score < 20), that is, 72.2% versus 63.9% in ULAR against ISR. Besides these, stool fragmentation (p < 0.001), nocturnal defecation (p < 0.001) and use of anti‐diarrhoeal medications (p = 0.023) were significantly more after ISR.ConclusionsBowel continence was relatively inferior after ISR as compared to an ULAR for low rectal cancers in matched cohorts. Major LARS in ISR was twice as prevalent without statistical differences.
Risk of complications in the late vs early days of the 42nd week of pregnancy: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Andersson Charlotte Brix , Petersen Jesper Padkaer , Johnsen Søren Paaske , Jensen Martin , Kesmodel Ulrik Schiøler 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIntroductionUncertainty remains about the most appropriate timing of induction of labor in late‐term pregnancies. To address this issue, this study aimed to compare the risk of neonatal morbidity and pregnancy‐ and birth‐related complications between gestational age (GA) 41+4–42+0 and GA 41+0–41+3 weeks.Material and methodsThis nationwide registry‐based cohort study included singleton births without major congenital malformations, with registered GA, and with intended vaginal delivery at GA 41+0– 42+0 weeks between 2009 and 2018 in Denmark. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the crude risk ratio and adjusted risk ratio (RRA) of neonatal and obstetric adverse outcomes in births at GA 41+4– 42+0 weeks compared with GA 41+0– 41+3 weeks. The results were adjusted for relevant confounders, including induction of labor.ResultsA higher incidence of neonatal morbidity and birth complications was observed in births at GA 41+4–42+0 weeks than in births at GA 41+0–41+3 weeks. Neonatal morbidities included an increased risk of low Apgar score (Apgar 0–6 after 5 min; RRA 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.34), meconium aspiration (RRA 1.25, 95% CI 1.06–1.48), need for respiratory support (continuous positive airway pressure; RRA 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.15), and a composite outcome of need for comprehensive treatment at a neonatal department or neonatal death (RRA 1.65, 95% CI 1.29–2.11). Birth complications included emergency cesarean section (RRA 1.17, 95% CI 1.14–1.21), severe lacerations (RRA 1.11, 95% Cl 1.04–1.17), and increased blood loss after birth (RRA 1.13, 95% CI 1.06–1.21).ConclusionsBirths at GA 41+4–42+0 weeks were associated with an increased risk of neonatal morbidity and birth complications compared with births at GA 41+0–41+3 weeks. The results of this study may aid clinicians in deciding when to recommend induction of labor in late‐term pregnancies.