bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
E-public procurement: Which factors determine its acceptance by small- to medium-sized enterprises and large companies in Belgium?
Authors: Alomar Mohamad Amin , de Visscher Christian 
Published: July 2017

The dematerialisation of public procurement (hereinafter, e-procurement) is one of the most innovative public management initiatives in Europe today. However, according to European statistics, the acceptance of this new public procurement technique by private companies remains very limited. Furthermore, despite the existence of an abundant literature dealing with the acceptance of technology, for example, in the field of e-commerce, very few studies have addressed the field of e-procurement. The aim of this article is to analyse the latter by making a distinction between the acceptance determinants of e-procurement by small- to medium-sized enterprises, on the one hand, and by large companies, on the other. Based on several theories on the acceptance of innovation in general, and on the acceptance of technology in particular – the Technology Acceptance Model, the Innovation Diffusion Theory and the model of Iacovou et al. – we developed a model and tested it on a sample of firms. The results of the survey, covering 695 small- to medium-sized enterprises and 126 large companies in Belgium, have enabled us to identify four main factors that can account for about 33.4% of the total variability in the acceptance of e-procurement by small- to medium-sized enterprises. In addition, we have identified two factors that could account for around 28.5% of the total variability of e-procurement acceptance by large firms. Points for practitioners Our study was able to account for about 33.4% of the total variability of e-procurement acceptance by small- to medium-sized enterprises and 28.5% by large companies. Identifying the determinants of this acceptance by distinguishing between small- to medium-sized enterprises and large companies can help decision-makers at the political and administrative level to develop a more effective action plan to promote the adoption of this new procurement technology, and thus to make the most of the benefits expected from it.
Person–job fit matters in parastatal institutions: Testing the mediating effect of person–job fit in the relationship between talent management and employee outcomes
Authors: Mensah James Kwame , Bawole Justice Nyigmah 
Published: July 2017

This article responds to recent calls for research examining the mechanisms through which talent management affects talented employee outcomes. Drawing insights from attraction–selection–attrition and ability, motivation and opportunity theories, the article examines one such mechanism, person–job fit, through which talent management influences talented employees’ affective commitment and quit intentions in parastatal institutions in Ghana. A sample of 232 talent pool members was used to test a partial mediation model using structural equation modelling. Our findings suggest that talent management has not only a direct effect, but also an indirect effect, on talented employee outcomes of affective commitment and quit intention via person–job fit. Implications of these finding are discussed. Points for practitioners Human resource practitioners can attempt to increase affective commitment and reduce quit intentions by seeking to match job tasks with talented employees’ knowledge, skills and abilities while, at the same time, addressing their needs by the supplies that emanate from their jobs using talent management practices. Human resource professionals can choose to assess the person–job fit of talented employees during the pre-selection phase to their talent pool. Human resource practitioners can achieve the person–job fit of current talent pool members by using job design and career planning, as well as career progression. For human resource professionals concerned with the retention of talented employees and increasing their commitment, attention to creating person–job fit through talent management practices may be useful in reducing employee intentions to leave and maintaining high commitment.
Effects of Autogenous Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate on Radiographic Integration of Femoral Condylar Osteochondral Allografts
Authors: Oladeji Lasun O. , Stannard James P. , Cook Cristi R. , Kfuri Mauricio , Crist Brett D. , Smith Matthew J. , Cook James L. 
Published: July 2017

Background:Transplantation of fresh osteochondral allografts (OCAs) is an attractive treatment option for symptomatic articular cartilage lesions in young, healthy patients. Because the lack of OCA bone integration can be a cause of treatment failure, methods for speeding and enhancing OCA bone integration to mitigate this potential complication are highly desirable.Purpose:To determine if autogenous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMC) treatment of large femoral condylar OCAs would be associated with superior radiographic OCA bone integration compared with nontreated allografts during the critical first 6 months after surgery.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:A review of patients enrolled in a prospective registry who were treated with transplantation of large OCAs to one or both femoral condyles at our institution from March 12, 2013 to March 14, 2016 was performed. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on BMC treatment versus no BMC treatment; the treatment was nonrandomized and was rooted in a shift in practice and a continuing effort to optimize OCA transplantation at our institution. Patients were excluded if they did not have orthogonal view radiographs performed at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Each condyle undergoing OCA transplantation was assessed individually by an independent musculoskeletal radiologist, who was blinded to the treatment group and time point. OCAs were assessed with respect to graft integration (0%-100%; 0 = no integration, 100 = complete integration) and degree of sclerosis (0-3; 0 = normal, 1 = mild sclerosis, 2 = moderate sclerosis, and 3 = severe sclerosis) of the graft at each time point.Results:This study identified 17 condyles in 15 patients who underwent OCA transplantation without BMC and 29 condyles in 22 patients who underwent OCA transplantation with BMC. The BMC group had significantly ( P = .033) higher graft integration scores at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. Graft sclerosis was significantly ( P = .017) less in the BMC group at 6 weeks and 3 months, with no significant difference at 6 months after surgery. When combining the groups to examine the influence of smoking on graft integration, nonsmokers had significantly ( P = .007) higher graft integration scores at 6 months.Conclusion:Large femoral condylar OCAs treated with autogenous BMC before implantation showed superior radiographic integration to bone and less sclerosis during the initial 6-month postoperative period. BMC treatment of OCAs may mitigate the failure of OCA bone healing.
External Validity of Electronic Sniffers for Automated Recognition of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: McKown Andrew C. , Brown Ryan M. , Ware Lorraine B. , Wanderer Jonathan P. 
Published: July 2017

Introduction: Automated electronic sniffers may be useful for early detection of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) for institution of treatment or clinical trial screening. Methods: In a prospective cohort of 2929 critically ill patients, we retrospectively applied published sniffer algorithms for automated detection of acute lung injury to assess their utility in diagnosis of ARDS in the first 4 ICU days. Radiographic full-text reports were searched for “edema” OR (“bilateral” AND “infiltrate”) and a more detailed algorithm for descriptions consistent with ARDS. Patients were flagged as possible ARDS if a radiograph met search criteria and had a PaO2/FiO2 or SpO2/FiO2 of 300 or 315, respectively. Test characteristics of the electronic sniffers and clinical suspicion of ARDS were compared to a gold standard of 2-physician adjudicated ARDS. Results: Thirty percent of 2841 patients included in the analysis had gold standard diagnosis of ARDS. The simpler algorithm had sensitivity for ARDS of 78.9%, specificity of 52%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 41%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 85.3% over the 4-day study period. The more detailed algorithm had sensitivity of 88.2%, specificity of 55.4%, PPV of 45.6%, and NPV of 91.7%. Both algorithms were more sensitive but less specific than clinician suspicion, which had sensitivity of 40.7%, specificity of 94.8%, PPV of 78.2%, and NPV of 77.7%. Conclusions: Published electronic sniffer algorithms for ARDS may be useful automated screening tools for ARDS and improve on clinical recognition, but they are limited to screening rather than diagnosis because their specificity is poor.
Job Perceptions of Public Health Workforce in Rural Area of Yavatmal District, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Ambadekar Nitin N. , Zodpey Sanjay P. , Giri Vivekanand C. , Rajkuntwar G.K. , Sharma Anjali 
Published: July 2017

Introduction: Being a primary source for health care delivery, public health personnel shall be well trained and motivated as their performance has a strong impact on overall health system performance. There is large gap in knowledge about determinants of motivation in Indian set-up; so the present study was undertaken to understand the perceptions of health workforce regarding their job conditions and their expectations. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in District Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India. Total participants were 940 which included 96 medical officers (MOs) and 844 allied health personnels (AHPs). Data collection was completed using structured self-administered questionnaire. Results: Highest number of MOs mentioned ‘good working relationship’ (93 per cent) while among AHPs highest participant consider ‘training opportunity’ (88 per cent) as ‘more important attribute’. Among MOs difference between expected and availability of study attributes was statistically significant for 14 attributes but none in favour of availability. In AHP group, significantly higher proportion of respondents felt that good working relationships, good income, superior recognizing good work were considered as more important attributes by fewer respondents but significantly greater proportion of respondents in AHP group felt that these attributes were present in the job. Discussion and conclusions: Findings suggested that for MOs motivating factors in job was related to the independence in working and recognition from superiors and patients while AHPs’ main motivational force seemed to be recognition and clarity of work. Training opportunity and congenial environment at workplace were common desirable attributes. There were few attributes which majority of health workforce considered as ‘mostly available attribute’ in their present job which leaves much scope for improvement in job conditions for health workforce in rural area.
Evaluating Completeness of Reporting in Behavioral Interventions Pilot Trials
Authors: Bhatt Meha , Zielinski Laura , Sanger Nitika , Shams Ieta , Luo Candice , Bantoto Bianca , Shahid Hamnah , Li Guowei , Abbade Luciana P. F. , Nwosu Ikunna , Jin Yanling , Wang Mei , Chang Yaping , Sun Guangwen , Mbuagbaw Lawrence , Levine Mitchell A. H. , Adachi Jonathan D. , Thabane Lehana , Samaan Zainab 
Published: July 2017

Purpose: This systematic survey evaluates the completeness of reporting in pilot and feasibility randomized controlled trials investigating behavioral interventions based on the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) extension for pilot trials. Methods: The authors searched Medline/Pubmed and randomly selected 100 articles from 2012 through 2016 to determine the proportion of reported CONSORT extension items. They examined study factors related to reporting, including year and country of publication, psychotherapy intervention, multiple centers, industry funding, and journal endorsement of CONSORT. Results: The authors found that the mean reporting score on the CONSORT extension was 51.6% ( SD = 15.1). Studies of psychotherapy interventions had significantly higher reporting scores than other interventions (incidence rate ratio = 1.10, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.20). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that current reporting quality is suboptimal. Many included trials failed to provide rationale for piloting, assess feasibility objectives, or indicate clear progression to a future large trial. Reporting quality should be reevaluated following uptake of the 2016 CONSORT extension for pilot trials.
Cytogenetic Profile and FLT3 Gene Mutations of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Alkhayat Nawaf , Elborai Yasser , Al Sharif Omer , Al Shahrani Mohammad , Alsuhaibani Omar , Awad Mohammed , Elghezal Hatem , ben-abdallah Bouhajar Inesse , Alfaraj Mona , Al Mussaed Eman , Alabbas Fahad , Elyamany Ghaleb 
Published: July 2017

Background: Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is characterized by recurrent genetic aberrations. The identification of those abnormalities is clinically important because they are considered significant risk-stratifying markers. Aims: There are insufficient data of cytogenetic profiles in Saudi Arabian patients with childhood ALL leukemia. We have examined a cohort of 110 cases of ALL to determine the cytogenetic profiles and prevalence of FLT3 mutations and analysis of the more frequently observed abnormalities and its correlations to other biologic factors and patient outcomes and to compare our results with previously published results. Materials and methods: Patients—We reviewed all cases from 2007 to 2016 with an established diagnosis of childhood ALL. Of the 110 patients, 98 were B-lineage ALL and 12 T-cell ALL. All the patients were treated by UKALL 2003 protocol and risk stratified according previously published criteria. Cytogenetic analysis—Chromosome banding analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to detect genetic aberrations. Analysis of FLT3 mutations—Bone marrow or blood samples were screened for FLT3 mutations (internal tandem duplications, and point mutations, D835) using polymerase chain reaction methods. Result: Cytogenetic analysis showed chromosomal anomalies in 68 out of 102 cases with an overall incidence 66.7%. The most frequent chromosomal anomalies in ALL were hyperdiploidy, t(9;22), t(12;21), and MLL gene rearrangements. Our data are in accordance with those published previously and showed that FLT3 mutations are not common in patients with ALL (4.7%) and have no prognostic relevance in pediatric patients with ALL. On the contrary, t(9;22), MLL gene rearrangements and hypodiploidy were signs of a bad prognosis in childhood ALL with high rate of relapse and shorter overall survival compared with the standard-risk group ( P = .031).The event-free survival was also found to be worse ( P = .040). Conclusions: Our data are in accordance with those published previously, confirming the overall frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities and their prognostic relevance.
Delay in clearing cervical spine injuries in obtunded trauma patients and its implications
Authors: Parmar Kamaljit K , Ho Kwok M , Bowles Timothy 
Published: July 2017

Introduction Prompt recognition of cervical spine injuries may limit spinal cord damage. This prospective audit assessed the time needed to formally confirm the status of cervical spine using a computed tomography scan, the reasons for any delays, and the subsequent outcomes. Methodology Prospective audit analysed the data of 100 consecutive unconscious trauma patients, admitted over a seven-month period, to ascertain whether there was a ‘weekend’ effect in validating the cervical spine status radiologically, and whether the delays were associated with an increased risk of pneumonia and other complications. The sensitivity and specificity of using bony fractures and mal-alignment on the computed tomography scans to diagnose cervical spine injuries were calculated. Results Significant radiological evidence of cervical spine injuries occurred in 37 patients (37%). A delay in >48 h to ascertain the cervical spine status occurred in 36 patients, mostly due to logistical (58%) reasons, and this was associated with an increased risk of pneumonia requiring antibiotics (p < 0.001). A ‘weekend’ effect and presence of cervical spine injuries were not significantly related to the time to confirm the cervical spine injury status radiologically. The specificity (98%) of using bony fractures and mal-alignment on the computed tomography to diagnose cervical spine injuries was high, but its sensitivity (83.8%) was only modest. Conclusions A delay to confirm the cervical spine injury status was common and associated with an increased risk of pneumonia in unconscious trauma patients, particularly among those who did not sustain any cervical spine injuries. The low sensitivity of computed tomography to exclude non-bony cervical spine injuries suggests that selective early use of magnetic resonance imaging scans for high-risk unconscious trauma patients may improve patient outcomes.
Ultrasound probe grip: the afternoon tea technique
Authors: McMenamin Luke , Wolstenhulme Stephen , Hunt Max , Nuttall Stuart , Weerasinghe Asoka 
Published: July 2017

Background Globally, ultrasound is being used to assist in central venous and difficult peripheral intravenous access in a variety of emergency and non-emergency clinical settings. Context After reading Flood’s paper on safe central venous access and noting the difficulties clinicians find in probe stabilisation whilst performing dynamic intravenous access, we decided to share our teaching technique. Innovation The purpose of this correspondence is to highlight the ‘afternoon tea technique’ as a potential teaching method for probe stabilisation. Implications It is hoped that this technique will improve the image quality in dynamic procedures and increase the success rate of ultrasound-guided intravenous access in clinical practice.
Isolated revision of the acetabular component using alumina-on-alumina bearings without a metal sleeve: A preliminary study
Authors: Wu Kuan-Ting , Wang Jun-Wen , Lu Yu-Der , Yen Shih-Hsiang , Lee Mel S. 
Published: July 2017

Introduction: There has been a debate on the use of ceramic-on-ceramic coupling with the retained femoral stem in isolated acetabular revision. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the results and complications of isolated revision of the acetabular component using alumina-on-alumina bearings. Methods: Between August 2010 and December 2013, 22 patients (23 hips) with a mean age of 60.74 years (40–73) underwent isolated revision of the acetabular component from metal-on-polyethylene to alumina-on-alumina bearings without using a metal sleeve on the undamaged trunnion. All patients completed clinical and radiographic evaluation. Results: At a mean follow-up of 3 years (2–5.5), all patients had a significant improvement in the clinical outcome, including Harris Hip Score (84.9 vs. 43, p < 0.001), West Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index Score (14.4 vs. 49.2, p < 0.001), and visual analogue pain score (1.42 vs. 6.63, p < 0.001). Complications included one aseptic loosening of the acetabular component and three noisy hips (click only). No fracture of the ceramic bearings, dislocation, infection, or squeaking noise were observed in any of the patients. Conclusion: Isolated revision of the acetabular component to alumina-on-alumina bearings on the undamaged trunnion may be considered if there is no available titanium sleeves. Our study showed a satisfactory early outcome with minimal complications. However, a longer term follow-up study is necessary.
Nonoperative Management of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee: Progression to Osteoarthritis and Arthroplasty at Mean 13-Year Follow-up
Authors: Sanders Thomas L. , Pareek Ayoosh , Johnson Nick R. , Carey James L. , Maak Travis G. , Stuart Michael J. , Krych Aaron J. 
Published: July 2017

Background: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a disorder of subchondral bone that commonly affects the knee. Purpose: To (1) evaluate the rate of arthritis and knee arthroplasty in a population-based cohort of patients with OCD lesions treated nonoperatively and (2) evaluate factors that may predispose patients to knee osteoarthritis and arthroplasty. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Eighty-six patients (mean age, 21.4 years) with OCD lesions treated nonoperatively were identified between 1976 and 2014. Information related to the diagnosis, laterality of lesion, details of treatment, and progression to arthritis was obtained from the medical record. Factors predictive of arthritis and arthroplasty (age, sex, body mass index [BMI], and lesion location) were examined. Results: At a mean ± SD follow-up of 12.6 ± 9.8 years from diagnosis, 13 patients (15%) were diagnosed with arthritis, corresponding to a cumulative incidence of 5.0% at 5 years, 10.0% at 10 years, 20.0% at 25 years, and 30.0% at 35 years. The cumulative incidence of arthroplasty was 1.0% at 5 years, 3.0% at 10 years, 8.0% at 25 years, and 8.0% at 35 years. BMI at diagnosis greater than 25 kg/m2 (hazard ratio [HR], 15.4; 95% CI, 1.9-124.5), patellar OCD lesions (HR, 15.0; 95% CI, 1.3-345.3), and diagnosis as an adult (HR, 21.7; 95% CI, 2.7-176.3) were factors associated with an increased risk of arthritis. Conclusion: Arthritis after nonoperative treatment of OCD lesions is a challenging problem, with an estimated 30% cumulative incidence at 35 years after diagnosis. In contrast, the long-term rate of arthroplasty is low. BMI at diagnosis greater than 25 kg/m2 and patellar OCD lesions are predisposing factors for arthritis. Diagnosis of OCD as an adult was associated with a greater risk of arthritis.