bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Departmental Workload and Physician Errors in Radiation Oncology
Authors: Tariq Muhammad B. , Meier Tim , Suh John H. , Reddy Chandana A. , Godley Andrew , Kittel Jeff , Hugebeck Brian , Kolar Matt , Barrett Patty , Chao Samuel T. 
Published: July 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this work was to evaluate measures of increased departmental workload in relation to the occurrence of physician-related errors and incidents reaching the patient in radiation oncology.

Materials and Methods
All data were collected for the year 2013. Errors were defined as forms received by our departmental process improvement team; of these forms, only those relating to physicians were included in the study. Incidents were defined as serious errors reaching the patient requiring appropriate action; these were reported through a separate system. Workload measures included patient volumes and physician schedules and were obtained through departmental records for daily and monthly data. Errors and incidents were analyzed for relation with measures of workload using logistic regression modeling.

Results
Ten incidents occurred in the year. The number of patients treated per day was a significant factor relating to incidents (P < 0.003). However, the fraction of department physicians off-duty and the ratio of patients to physicians were not found to be significant factors relating to incidents. Ninety-one physician-related errors were identified, and the ratio of patients to physicians (rolling average) was a significant factor relating to errors (P < 0.03). The number of patients and the fraction of physicians off-duty were not significant factors relating to errors.
A rapid increase in patient treatment visits may be another factor leading to errors and incidents. All incidents and 58% of errors occurred in months where there was an increase in the average number of fields treated per day from the previous month; 6 of the 10 incidents occurred in August, which had the highest average increase at 26%.

Conclusions
Increases in departmental workload, especially rapid changes, may lead to higher occurrence of errors and incidents in radiation oncology. When the department is busy, physician errors may be perpetuated owing to an overwhelmed departmental checks system, leading to incidents reaching the patient. Insights into workload and workflow will allow for the development of targeted approaches to preventing errors and incidents.
The Impact of Cross-Unit Coordination and Process Improvement Efforts in Anatomic Pathology: A Systems Perspective
Authors: Bonzo Sarah M. , Liker Jeffrey K. 
Published: July 2016

Background:
The impact of coordination and problem solving on health care quality has become increasingly prevalent within the literature. However, few studies have empirically investigated the impact of these factors across organizational boundaries.

Methods:
This was an embedded, single-case study conducted within a large, academic Anatomic Pathology department. We surveyed 96 team members within 18 distinct processing or specialty units within the department and forward the Network Alignment Approach to measure coordination between units. In addition, we measure perceived safety culture and frequency of error in specimen documentation and preparation.

Results:
Regression results suggest that downstream cross-unit coordination between units (clarity of customer requirements) significantly improves safety culture (P < .001). In addition, within-unit process improvement efforts improved safety culture (P < .001). These 2 factors alone accounted for 30% of the variation in the regression model, with safety culture as our dependent variable.

Conclusion:
Clarity of customer requirements and process improvement efforts significantly improve safety culture within the system. This approach to understanding and analyzing connections within complex systems provides insight into specific ways that leaders can begin to understand how each unit or department can improve as both a customer and a supplier within the larger system.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings After Percutaneous Irreversible Electroporation of Liver Metastases
Authors: Barabasch Alexandra , Distelmaier Martina , Heil Philipp , Krämer Nils Andreas , Kuhl Christiane K. , Bruners Philipp 
Published: July 2016

Objective
The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the course of magnetic resonance (MR) signal intensity (SI) changes that occur in noncirrhotic livers after irreversible electroporation (IRE) of liver metastases.

Methods
This study is an institutional review board–approved prospective longitudinal follow-up study on 27 patients with 37 liver metastases who underwent computed tomography–guided percutaneous IRE and a standardized follow-up protocol by serial hepatic MR imaging studies that consisted of a gadobutrol-enhanced dynamic series, axial T2-weighted (T2w) turbo spin echo, and diffusion-weighted imaging (b = 0/50/800), acquired before, within 2, and at 24 hours after IRE; at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks after IRE; and every 3 months thereafter for a follow-up of at least 12 months.

Results
The ablated target lesion remained visible within the ablation zone in 23 (62%) of 37 of cases for a mean time of 21 ± 20 weeks (median, 12 weeks). The ablation zone appeared homogeneously hyperintense on T2w turbo spin echo images on the day of IRE in 37 of 37 cases. By 24 hours after IRE, the ablation zone inverted its SI in 35 of 37 cases to intermediately hypointense, with a rim of T2w bright SI that exhibited arterial phase enhancement; this persisted for 7 ± 5 weeks (median, 4 weeks). The rim resolved in 35 (95%) of 37 cases within 3 months. The ablation zone increased slightly over the first 48 hours, then shrank progressively. Complete healing of the ablation zone was observed in 57% (21/37) after an average of 14 ± 15 (median, 8 weeks).
Average apparent diffusion coefficient values of the ablation zone decreased from 0.74 ± 0.36 × 10−3 mm2/s pre-IRE to 0.63 ± 0.27 × 10−3 mm2/s within the first 24 hours (P < 0.05), followed by a progressive normalization to 0.91 ± 0.30 × 10−3 mm2/s at 2 months.

Conclusions
Knowledge of the broad spectrum of MR imaging findings after IRE is important to avoid diagnostic errors in the follow-up of patients after IRE.
A positive risk approach when clients choose to live at risk: a palliative case discussion
Authors: De Bono Christopher E. , Henry Blair 
Published: July 2016

Purpose of review
The article discusses recent approaches in the literature about clients who chose to live at risk in their homes. It argues for a positive risk-based approach and a tool to help manage risk in the home, and applies these to a hypothetical end-of-life scenario.

Recent findings
Historically, safety plans to consider risk management involved a culture of risk aversion supported by sometimes paternalistic motives intended to protect vulnerable clients. New findings in the literature engage in a process that respects the ethical principles underlying harm reduction philosophies. The literature also argues for a perspective that moves away from viewing risk as only harmful, to one that supports a positive understanding of risk as part of a client's informed choice.

Summary
A risk support management plan, based on a positive approach, can provide a way to both support a client's choice to live at risk, anticipate for expected complications, and inform the creation of a contingency plan to address concerns as they may arise. The added value of a structured approach like the one proposed here for risk support management plans is that it provides adequate due diligence and informed decision-making when planning for risk-taking in complex situations.
Service delivery of complex interventions for refractory breathlessness
Authors: Booth Sara , Ryan Richella , Spathis Anna 
Published: July 2016

Purpose of review
The review considers the evidence for different service models existing for helping people manage the chronic, irreversible breathlessness that accompanies advanced disease.

Recent findings
Many of the service models that are delivering care have not yet published their results in the scientific literature because these ideas, and the methods to evaluate them, are relatively new. There are three randomized controlled trials published which demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach and one which suggests that more episodes of some intervention components are not necessarily better.

Summary
Breathlessness severity gives a better guide to a patient's prognosis than physiological measures in many diseases and the general population. Randomized controlled trial evidence confirms that a complex intervention for breathlessness can improve quality of life, reduce symptom impact, and support carers. Some preliminary data suggest prognosis improvement in some people. Integrated care is needed for both rapidly progressive disease, where death is inevitable, and chronic illness, when health improvement is possible.
Expanded Safety and Efficacy Data for a New Method of Performing Electroconvulsive Therapy
Authors: Sahlem Gregory L. , Short E. Baron , Kerns Suzanne , Snipes Jon , DeVries William , Fox James B. , Burns Carol , Schmidt Matthew , Nahas Ziad H. , George Mark S. , Sackeim Harold A. 
Published: July 2016

Objective
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most rapid and effective antidepressant treatment but with concerns about cognitive adverse effects. A new form of ECT, focal electrically administered seizure therapy (FEAST), was designed to increase the focality of stimulation and better match stimulus parameters with neurophysiology. We recently reported on the safety and feasibility of FEAST in a cohort (n = 17) of depressed patients. We now report on the safety, feasibility, preliminary efficacy, and cognitive effects of FEAST in a new cohort.

Methods
Open-label FEAST was administered to 20 depressed adults (6 men; 3 with bipolar disorder; age 49.1 ± 10.6 years). Clinical and cognitive assessments were obtained at baseline and end of course. Time to orientation recovery was assessed at each treatment. Nonresponders switched to conventional ECT.

Results
Participants tolerated the treatment well with no dropouts. Five patients (25%) transitioned from FEAST to conventional ECT due to inadequate response. After FEAST (mean, 9.3 ± 3.5 sessions; range, 4–14), there was a 58.1% ± 36.0% improvement in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores compared with that in the baseline (P < 0.0001); 13 (65%) of 20 patients met response criteria, and 11 (55%) of 20 met remission criteria. Patients achieved reorientation (4 of 5 items) in 4.4 ± 3.0 minutes (median, 4.5 minutes), timed from eyes opening. There was no deterioration in neuropsychological measures.

Conclusions
These findings provide further support for the safety and efficacy of FEAST. The remission and response rates were in the range found using conventional ECT, and the time to reorientation may be quicker. However, without a randomized comparison group, conclusions are tentative.
Fostering social sustainability management through safety controls and accounting
Authors: Gunarathne Nuwan , Samudrage Dileepa , Wijesinghe Dinushi Nisansala , Lee Ki-Hoon 
Published: July 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to identify the usefulness of safety controls and accounting in corporate social sustainability management in response to various stakeholders’ demands and expectations in the mining sector.

Design/methodology/approach
The case study approach is followed in this study as it provides in-depth understanding of complex social phenomena. Data collection is mainly based on semi-structured interviews, on-site assessments and documentation reviews. Visits were repeated and cross-checked to ensure the validity of data collection and analysis.

Findings
The study identifies a reciprocal relationship between stakeholder management strategies and the safety control system that encapsulates a mix of leading and lagging key safety performance indicators (KSPIs). A safety control system with the right mix of KSPIs drives corporate value-creation by instigating internal organizational changes. Yet, the stakeholders’ expectations and pressures are dependent on national, historical, cultural and social settings and institutions that will impact on the safety controls and safety accounting in a substantial way.

Originality/value
The paper demonstrates the usefulness of safety controls and accounting in corporate stakeholder management in the mining sector in Sri Lanka. The paper, by addressing how safety control systems and accounting meet various stakeholder demands and expectations, provides new insights into corporate social sustainability performance in mining companies and the role and implications of sustainability (management) accounting.
Using external environmental reporting to embed sustainability into organisational practices
Authors: Biswas Sharlene , O’Grady Winnie 
Published: July 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to explore the relationship between external environmental reporting (EER) and internal strategies, processes and activities (ISPA) to understand the role EER plays in embedding sustainability into organisational practices.

Design/methodology/approach
The case study considered how carbon measures associated with the carbon emissions management and reporting scheme (CEMARS) embedded sustainability into organisational practices in a family-owned wine company. Evidence collected during semi-structured interviews with informed employees was triangulated with observational data, field notes and documentary evidence.

Findings
A dynamic relationship was found between EER and ISPA, which embedded sustainability into organisational practices and promoted the developments of environmental reporting. CEMARS data were embedded into production management, capital expenditure and budget review processes, whereas more frequent EER was required by managers to support their operational activities. The company at times relied on an eco-validation approach to justify sustainability decisions despite their negative impact on short-term profit. EER contributed to the strategic planning, target setting and control functions of the management control systems.

Research limitations/implications
Sustainability research should simultaneously address EER and ISPA. The interplay between the two dimensions determines whether sustainability is embedded in organisations and whether organisations will act in a sustainable manner.

Practical implications
The practical implication of the research is that organisations need to integrate EER information into ISPA if they want managers to establish patterns of behaviour that simultaneously consider the financial and environmental impacts of decisions. An EER such as CEMARS can provide coherence and focus for sustainability initiatives.

Originality/value
This research reveals that sustainability is embedded into organisations through the interactions between EER and ISPA, thus contributing to the understanding of internal organisational change. It identifies an eco-validation approach to decision-making that complements the eco-efficiency approach and shows that EER need not operate independent of internal processes and can be integrated into management control systems.
An empirical investigation on the links within a sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC) framework and their impact on financial performance
Authors: Sands John Stephen , Rae Kirsten Nicole , Gadenne David 
Published: July 2016

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the feasibility of integrating the social, environmental and innovation processes within the four-perspective sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC) model by determining the extent of linkages between and within the four SBSC perspectives.Design/methodology/approachA survey collected responses from senior management and middle management of large Australian companies.FindingsThe findings support several positive significant associations. Direct associations are found between value-creating processes within the internal process perspective. These results support the feasibility of integrating environmental, social and innovation-orientated value-creating process into the internal process of the four-perspective SBSC model. The results also provide evidence about the extent to which direct or indirect associations exist between the four SBSC perspectives: first, direct association of human capital (learning and growth perspective) with value-creating processes (internal processes perspective); second, direct association of value-creating (internal processes perspective) with customer value (customer perspective); and third, direct and indirect associations of value-creating (internal processes perspective) with financial performance (FP; financial perspective).Research limitations/implicationsSeveral limitations are acknowledged related to cross-sectional data, senior and middle managers’ perceptions and assumptions underpinning structural equation modelling.Practical implicationsThe implications for practice from this study concern how organisational management should relate to their stakeholders while providing value in their FP.Social implicationsThese associations reflect the influence of stakeholders’ recognised needs on process and product innovation. These needs highlight the benefits of focusing on future-orientated environmental budgets and ongoing employee training that lead to customer value and FP.Originality/valueThis is an initial in-depth study of a four-perspective SBSC model that provides an effective means of integrating social, environmental and innovation processes within the traditional four SBSC perspectives.
A new cluster validity index using maximum cluster spread based compactness measure
Authors: Wani M. Arif , Riyaz Romana 
Published: July 2016

Purpose
– The most commonly used approaches for cluster validation are based on indices but the majority of the existing cluster validity indices do not work well on data sets of different complexities. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new cluster validity index (ARSD index) that works well on all types of data sets.

Design/methodology/approach
– The authors introduce a new compactness measure that depicts the typical behaviour of a cluster where more points are located around the centre and lesser points towards the outer edge of the cluster. A novel penalty function is proposed for determining the distinctness measure of clusters. Random linear search-algorithm is employed to evaluate and compare the performance of the five commonly known validity indices and the proposed validity index. The values of the six indices are computed for all nc ranging from (nc
min, nc
max) to obtain the optimal number of clusters present in a data set. The data sets used in the experiments include shaped, Gaussian-like and real data sets.

Findings
– Through extensive experimental study, it is observed that the proposed validity index is found to be more consistent and reliable in indicating the correct number of clusters compared to other validity indices. This is experimentally demonstrated on 11 data sets where the proposed index has achieved better results.

Originality/value
– The originality of the research paper includes proposing a novel cluster validity index which is used to determine the optimal number of clusters present in data sets of different complexities.
Compliance with international financial reporting standards: the case of listed firms in Ghana
Authors: Appiah Kingsley Opoku , Awunyo-Vitor Dadson , Mireku Kwame , Ahiagbah Christian 
Published: July 2016

Purpose
This study aims to examine the association between five firm-specific characteristics and the level of compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by companies listed on Ghana Stock Exchange. The five firm-specific characteristics are firm size, profitability, leverage, auditor type and firm age.

Design/methodology/approach
The study uses dataset from 31 listed Ghanaian firms from 2008 to 2012. Random effect is used to examine the influence of the predictive variables on the level of IFRS corporate compliance.

Findings
The result reveals a positive significant relationship between the level of compliance and firm size, auditor type, cross-listing and sector (information and communications technology (ICT) and agro-forestry). On the contrary, the level of compliance exhibits a negative significant association with leverage and firm age. It is observed that the level of compliance is not related to profitability. The results are robust to different model specifications.

Practical implications
This study identifies firm-specific characteristics that influence IFRS compliance by listed firms in Ghana. This would aid accounting policy makers to institute strategies to encourage compliance with IFRS by the listed firms.

Originality/value
The study contributes to financial reporting literature relating to developing economies and Ghana, in particular.
Fair value accounting and the financial crisis: a literature-based analysis
Authors: Menicucci Elisa , Paolucci Guido 
Published: July 2016

Purpose
The aim of this paper is to review the main results of accounting research literature examining the role of fair value accounting (FVA) within financial crisis. This research analyzes theoretical and empirical studies on the controversial topic about FVA and its alleged pro-cyclicality in the context of the financial crisis to offer solid reflections for improving the fair value research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper consists of a descriptive literature review. Theoretical and empirical research studies were investigated and then systematized in a framework to guide a literature-based analysis and critique of the relevant literature published about this topic.

Findings
The review reveals that there has been only a limited amount of research into the role of FVA within the financial crisis. This topic has not been researched extensively, and there is no empirical evidence that FVA caused the financial crunch and the subsequent financial crisis.

Research limitations/implications
The restricted amount of literature that directly deals with FVA in the context of the financial crisis is the main limitation of this paper. The specificity of the theme narrows the coverage. However, the adopted research methodology enabled the main contributions concerning this issue to be collected, to realize a concise and comprehensive portrait of the debate surrounding FVA and the financial crisis.

Practical implications
This paper can be of use to both researchers and practitioners interested in investigating strengths and weaknesses of the fair value concept for accounting purposes. The paper sets out the main findings of the academic literature and identifies future avenues of theoretical and practical research which may support standard setters to draw up improved accounting regulation.

Originality/value
Few existing studies consist of a literature review that examines theoretical and empirical researches on the influence of FVA on the financial system. This review offers a comprehensive overview on research literature concerning the responsibility of FVA in causing the financial crisis. The main contribution of this paper relates to further understanding the role and effects of accounting matters concerning fair value in a broad sense within the context of the financial crisis.