bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The drug logistics process: an innovative experience
Authors: Pinna Roberta , Carrus Pier Paolo , Marras Fabiana 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present the latest innovations in the drug distribution processes of hospital companies, which are currently dealing with high inventory and storage costs and fragmented organizational responsibilities.

Design/methodology/approach
– The literature review and the in-depth analysis of a case study support the understanding of the unit dose drug distribution system and the subsequent definition of the practical implications for hospital companies.

Findings
– Starting from the insights offered by the case study, the analysis shows that the unit dose system allows hospitals to improve the patient care quality and reduce costs.

Research limitations/implications
– The limitations of the research are those related to the theoretical and exploratory nature of the study, but from a practical point of view, the work provides important indications to the management of healthcare companies, which have to innovate their drug distribution systems.

Originality/value
– This paper analyzes a new and highly topical issue and provides several insights for the competitive development of a fundamental sector.
Service-based vs. goods-based positioning of the product concept
Authors: Cassia Fabio , Ugolini Marta Maria , Cobelli Nicola , Gill Liz 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
– To counteract increasing competition and satisfy evolving customers’ needs, many firms are changing the positioning of their product concepts, from being product-based into service-based. Despite the increasing relevance of this shift, it is still unclear if this choice has a differential impact on customer perceived value. The purpose of this paper is to analyze customer perceived value for a firm’s product concept being positioned either as service-based or goods-based.

Design/methodology/approach
– An experiment was conducted using stimuli for two different product categories (hearing aids and bicycles) and measuring customers perceived value through the PERVAL scale’s four dimensions (quality value, emotional value, price value and social value).

Findings
– The results show that presenting the product concepts as service-based instead of good-based can enhance customer perceived value (in particular: quality, emotional and social value), but only if customers are not familiar with the product.

Research limitations/implications
– The study is based on one experiment and considers only two product categories. Further studies are needed to corroborate findings.

Practical implications
– The findings suggest that, under specific circumstances, the firm may improve customers’ attitude toward the product by emphasizing a service-based instead of a good-based positioning of the product concept.

Originality/value
– To our knowledge, this is the first research to evaluate the effects on customer perceived value of repositioning a product which has been traditionally goods-based (such a hearing aid and a bicycle) into service-based.
Applicability of SIRIM Green 5-S Model for productivity
&
business growth in Malaysia
Authors: Ho Sam , Mohd Hashim Abdul Ghani Bin , Mohd Idris Mohd Azman 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
– Based on the TQM Model developed in a previous paper published at the TQMJ, the authors have a chance to test out the model in a number of firms in Malaysia through Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM). Furthermore, riding on the success, SIRIM has named it as the SIRIM Green 5-S Model. As a result, the purpose of this paper is to share the experience of the “SIRIM Green 5-S Model for business sustainability and organisational development”.

Design/methodology/approach
– Based on questionnaire survey of 81 organisations cutting across different industries in Malaysia (+2 in-depth interview), this research is to study three research questions relating to 5-S and Lean Management. RQ1: is the 5-S Practices a necessary and sufficient condition for Organisational Productivity (OP)?; RQ2: is the L5S Practices a necessary and sufficient condition for Business Growth (BG)?; and RQ3: is the SIRIM Green 5-S applicable and effective for OP and BG?

Findings
– There is a ranking of effectiveness of the 5-S and L5S criteria in quality improvement. There is a strong correlation of the 5-S and L5S functions in quality improvement. How to use Green 5-S Model to improve productivity, increase sales and reduced cost. How to use Green 5-S Model to establish and maintain quality environment for OP and BG in order to provide competitiveness for business and industries of Malaysia.

Originality/value
– Since 1993, the authors used the proprietary 5-S Checklist for training and consultancy in no less than ten countries with over 50,000 persons from around 2,000 organisatioins world-wide. On the other hand, HKSAR takes the lead in the global oil energy consumption/GPD. The experience will be shared in this paper.
Understanding fungal functional biodiversity during the mitigation of environmentally dispersed pentachlorophenol in cork oak forest soils
Authors: Varela Adélia , Martins Celso , Núñez Oscar , Martins Isabel , Houbraken Jos A. M. P. , Martins Tiago M. , Leitão M. Cristina , McLellan Iain , Vetter Walter , Galceran M. Teresa , Samson Robert A. , Hursthouse Andrew , Silva Pereira Cristina 
Published: March 2015

SummaryPentachlorophenol (PCP) is globally dispersed and contamination of soil with this biocide adversely affects its functional biodiversity, particularly of fungi – key colonizers. Their functional role as a community is poorly understood, although a few pathways have been already elucidated in pure cultures. This constitutes here our main challenge – elucidate how fungi influence the pollutant mitigation processes in forest soils. Circumstantial evidence exists that cork oak forests in N. W. Tunisia – economically critical managed forests are likely to be contaminated with PCP, but the scientific evidence has previously been lacking. Our data illustrate significant forest contamination through the detection of undefined active sources of PCP. By solving the taxonomic diversity and the PCP‐derived metabolomes of both the cultivable fungi and the fungal community, we demonstrate here that most strains (predominantly penicillia) participate in the pollutant biotic degradation. They form an array of degradation intermediates and by‐products, including several hydroquinone, resorcinol and catechol derivatives, either chlorinated or not. The degradation pathway of the fungal community includes uncharacterized derivatives, e.g. tetrachloroguaiacol isomers. Our study highlights fungi key role in the mineralization and short lifetime of PCP in forest soils and provide novel tools to monitor its degradation in other fungi dominated food webs.
Race/Ethnicity and Overuse of Care: A Systematic Review
Authors: KRESSIN NANCY R. , GROENEVELD PETER W. 
Published: March 2015

Policy Points:Racial/ethnic differences in the overuse of care (specifically, unneeded care that does not improve patients’ outcomes) have received little scholarly attention.Our systematic review of the literature (59 studies) found that the overuse of care is not invariably associated with race/ethnicity, but when it was, a substantial proportion of studies found greater overuse of care among white patients.The absence of established subject terms in PubMed for the overuse of care or inappropriate care impedes the ability of researchers or policymakers to synthesize prior scientific or policy efforts.ContextThe literature on disparities in health care has examined the contrast between white patients receiving needed care, compared with racial/ethnic minority patients not receiving needed care. Racial/ethnic differences in the overuse of care, that is, unneeded care that does not improve patients’ outcomes, have received less attention. We systematically reviewed the literature regarding race/ethnicity and the overuse of care.MethodsWe searched the Medline database for US studies that included at least 2 racial/ethnic groups and that examined the association between race/ethnicity and the overuse of procedures, diagnostic (care) or therapeutic care. In a recent review, we identified studies of overuse by race/ethnicity, and we also examined reference lists of retrieved articles. We then abstracted and evaluated this information, including the population studied, data source, sample size and assembly, type of care, guideline or appropriateness standard, controls for clinical confounding and financing of care, and findings.FindingsWe identified 59 unique studies, of which 11 had a low risk of methodological bias. Studies with multiple outcomes were counted more than once; collectively they assessed 74 different outcomes. Thirty‐two studies, 6 with low risks of bias (LRoB), provided evidence that whites received more inappropriate or nonrecommended care than racial/ethnic minorities did. Nine studies (2 LRoB) found evidence of more overuse of care by minorities than by whites. Thirty‐three studies (6 LRoB) found no relationship between race/ethnicity and overuse.ConclusionsAlthough the overuse of care is not invariably associated with race/ethnicity, when it was, a substantial proportion of studies found greater overuse of care among white patients. Clinicians and researchers should try to understand how and why race/ethnicity might be associated with overuse and to intervene to reduce it.
Resilience and Justice
Authors: Fainstein Susan 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe term resilience has become the popular formulation for plans that deal with preparedness for disaster. It implies adaptation rather than returning to a pre‐crisis state. Its use has been extended from environmental events to social and economic crises. Its fault is that it obfuscates underlying conflict and the distribution of benefits resulting from policy choices. Development of resilience policies is cloaked in complicated models showing complexity and indeterminacy. Marxist analysis provides insights that cut through the failure of these models to assign agency, but it does not offer approaches short of revolution to assist present‐day planning. The conclusion of the essay presents strategies that can lead to greater justice in planning to cope with the impacts of devastating events.
Application value of MRI combined with positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in diagnosis and preoperative staging of tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chen Wenbo , Zhang Chunxing , Zhang Shuixing , Liang Long , Zhang Bin , Liu Chunling , Zhang Zhonglin , Liang Changhong 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIntroductionThis study aimed to compare and analyse the findings of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) on MRI and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and explore the diagnostic utility of combined MRI‐PET/CT in the diagnosis and preoperative staging of TSCC.MethodsA prospective analysis of MRI and PET/CT data in 18 TSCC cases was performed. Cases were comprehensively staged on MRI and PET/CT preoperatively according to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging criteria and confirmed by pathological results.ResultsThe highest and lowest sensitivities of preoperative AJCC staging I–IV using MRI alone, PET/CT alone and combined MRI‐PET/CT were 100.0%, 100.0% and 100.0% (stage II) and 50.4%, 55.6% and 55.6% (stage I), respectively. The highest specificities were 100.0%, 100.0% and 100.0% (stage II), and the highest correct rates were 100.0%, 96.5% and 100.0% (stage II). Compared with the postoperative pathological staging, preoperative staging showed no significant difference for stages I–II and IV (P > 0.05); however, stage III showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). When combined MRI‐PET/CT was compared with MRI alone in the accuracy of preoperative TSCC staging, there was no significant difference for stages I–III (P > 0.05), but there was a significant difference for stage IV (P < 0.05).ConclusionsCombined MRI and PET/CT could serve as an important tool for the accurate diagnosis and preoperative staging of TSCC and could improve the accuracy of preoperative TSCC staging.
Use of implanted gold fiducial markers with MV‐CBCT image‐guided IMRT for pancreatic tumours
Authors: Packard Matthew , Gayou Olivier , Gurram Krishna , Weiss Brandon , Thakkar Shyam , Kirichenko Alexander 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIntroductionVisualisation of soft tissues such as pancreatic tumours by mega‐voltage cone beam CT (MV‐CBCT) is frequently difficult and daily localisation is often based on more easily seen adjacent bony anatomy. Fiducial markers implanted into pancreatic tumours serve as surrogates for tumour position and may more accurately represent absolute tumour position. Differences in daily shifts based on alignment to implanted fiducial markers vs. alignment to adjacent bony anatomy were compared.MethodsGold fiducial markers were placed into the pancreatic tumour under endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guidance in 12 patients. Patients subsequently received image‐guided intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IG‐IMRT). MV‐CBCT was performed prior to each fraction and isocentre shifts were performed based on alignment to the fiducial markers. We retrospectively reviewed archived MV‐CBCT datasets and calculated shift differences in the left‐right (LR), superior‐inferior (SI) and anterior‐posterior (AP) axes relative to shifts based on alignment to adjacent bony anatomy.ResultsTwo hundred forty‐three fractions were analysed. The mean absolute difference in isocentre shifts between the fiducial markers and those aligned to bony anatomy was 3.4 mm (range 0–13 mm), 6.3 mm (range 0–21 mm) and 2.6 mm (range 0–12 mm), in LR, SI and AP directions, respectively. The mean three‐dimensional vector shift difference between markers vs. bony anatomy alignment was 8.6 mm.ConclusionsThese data suggest that fiducial markers used in conjunction with MV‐CBCT improve the accuracy of daily target delineation compared with localisation using adjacent bony anatomy and that gold fiducial markers using MV‐CBCT alignment are a viable option for target localisation during IG‐IMRT.
Effect of fund size on the performance of Australian superannuation funds
Authors: Cummings James R. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis study examines the relationship between fund size and performance for two major superannuation industry sectors in Australia: retail and not‐for‐profit, using a unique but confidential database. Results suggest that members benefit from being invested in larger superannuation funds for three reasons: (i) larger not‐for‐profit funds provide diversification benefits of investing in more asset classes including unlisted property and private equity, (ii) larger funds in both sectors avoid the scale diseconomies in investment returns documented in studies of equity mutual funds and (iii) larger funds make substantial savings by spreading fixed operating costs (such as IT infrastructure) over a larger asset base.
Inter‐observer reliability of the PASI in a clinical setting
Authors: Cabrera Samantha , Chinniah Niranthari , Lock Nannette , Cains Geoffrey D. , Woods Jane 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundWith the evolving emphasis on evidence‐based practice, the use of reliable clinical scales forms an important foundation for clinical assessment. The psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) is the most widely used tool for the measurement of psoriasis severity; however, there has been some debate over the potential reproducibility of PASI scoring.ObjectivesTo determine the inter‐observer reliability of the PASI at a large tertiary hospital with a psoriasis treatment centre.MethodsIn total, 34 patients who were due for their 3‐monthly follow up at a psoriasis treatment centre were independently evaluated by five clinical staff (observers) from the Department of Dermatology. Each observer independently determined the PASI score of each patient and the inter‐observer reliability coefficient was determined by employing intra‐class correlation coefficients (ICC).ResultsThere was a significant degree of concordance among the PASI scoring of observers (ICC = 0.804; CI 95%: 0.706–0.883).ConclusionsOur cross‐sectional study suggests that the PASI provides a reproducible method of assessing psoriasis severity among patients seen in a busy dermatology clinic at a large tertiary hospital.
Biological therapies for psoriasis: Adherence and outcome analysis from a clinical perspective
Authors: Ross Christopher , Marshman Gillian , Grillo Marianne , Stanford Tyman 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWe evaluated and compared patients' long‐term adherence to biological therapies in a real‐life clinical setting. Secondary aims included weight changes on biological therapy and reporting adverse effects. This prospective case‐note review included 58 patients, undergoing 84 treatment series including etanercept (21), adalimumab (24), infliximab (14) and ustekinumab (25). Patients' adherence was greatest with ustekinumab (being 6.7‐fold less likely to withdraw from treatment than etanercept, P = 0.014), while the difference in treatment adherence of adalimumab and infliximab compared to etanercept was not statistically significant. Adalimumab and infliximab were associated with an increase in weight, while ustekinumab was associated with weight loss compared with etanercept (not statistically significant). Long‐term patient adherence to biologic therapy in patients with psoriasis is greatest with ustekinumab.
Prophylactic antibiotics in dermatological surgery
Authors: Lee Michael R , Paver Robert 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis is a review of the common pathogens of surgical site infections, antibiotic coverage for particular anatomical sites, mechanisms by which surgical site infections occur and the latest data and recommendations for prophylactic antibiotics in the prevention of surgical site infections, infective endocarditis and haematogenous joint infections. Recent evidence‐based guidelines on surgical prophylaxis is for restricted indications and a shorter duration of antibiotic prophylaxis in situations where no clinical benefit of prolonged therapy has been proven, in order to minimise the potential adverse ecological and clinical effects associated with antibiotic therapy. This review recommends the cautious use of prophylactic antibiotics in dermatological surgery to help prevent the growing problem of bacterial resistance as well as other morbidity and health‐care costs.
Estimated glomerular filtration rates cannot replace measured GFR in type 1 diabetes patients with hyperfiltration
Authors: Perrin NES , Berg UB 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimThis study of children and young adults with type 1 diabetes with normal to high glomerular filtration rates (GFR) compared estimated GFR (eGFR) with measured GFR (mGFR).MethodsGFR was measured by inulin clearance, and we carried out simultaneous analyses of standardised creatinine and cystatin C. eGFR was calculated using different formulas.ResultsWe enrolled 106 patients, including 56 males, aged 21.9 (standard deviation 9.2) years with 13.7 (9.1) years' duration of diabetes and a mean haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 7.7% (61 mmol/mol). The median mGFR was 128 (111–143) mL/min/1.73 m2. Most of the eGFR estimations failed to detect a significant proportion of hyperfiltration based on inulin clearance. The best accuracy (P30) between eGFR and mGFR was seen with eGFRCKD‐EPI (92%), eGFRcys C Berg (86%), eGFRcys C CAPA (78%) and eGFRcys C Inker (84%) where eGFRCKD‐EPI and eGFR cys C Berg showed the lowest bias. Most eGFRcys C measurements showed greater accuracy when combined with eGFRcr (P30 92–94%).ConclusionThe best accuracy (P30) and lowest bias were found with eGFRCKD‐EPI and eGFR Berg. in this cohort. However, eGFR cannot accurately replace mGFR to detect hyperfiltration and follow GFR over time in young patients with type 1 diabetes.
Evidence for a vasomotor cyclo‐oxygenase dependent mechanism of sensitization at the cutaneous level
Authors: Mahé G. , Abraham P. , Humeau‐Heurtier A. , Gascoin L. , Lefthériotis G. , Durand S. 
Published: March 2015

AimsCurrent‐induced vasodilation (CIV) is an axon‐reflex response observed during monopolar current application such as iontophoresis. Cyclo‐oxygenase derivates (COD) participate in CIV and act as sensitizing agents at the anodal level. Mechanisms involved during cathodal current application (CCA) are partially unknown. In a randomized double‐blind crossover trial, we tested in 16 healthy subjects (i) the influence of the inter‐stimulation interval (I‐I) by comparing CIV following all‐at‐once 10 s CCA against 2 × 5 s CCA with intervals ranging from15 s–16 min and (ii) the participation of COD in CIV using 1 g aspirin or placebo intake.MethodsMeasurements were repeated 2 h and 14 days after treatment. Laser Doppler flowmetry assessed cutaneous blood flow, reported in multiples of baseline.ResultsBefore treatment, peak vasodilation 10 min after the last current application (CVCstim2) increased compared with baseline whatever the I‐I. Increase in CVCstim2 from baseline was greater for the 4 min (9.4 (5.3, 10.9) times; median (1st percentile, 3rd percentile)) and higher I‐Is compared with all‐at‐once delivery (3.0 (2.1, 4.3) times, P < 0.05). The response was similar after placebo but aspirin abolished this vasodilation (increase by 1.2 (1.1, 1.3) times for all‐at‐once delivery and by 1.5 (1.3, 1.7) ± 0.3 times for 4 min interval, 2 h after aspirin intake) that recovered after 14 days.ConclusionsThis confirms the participation of COD in CIV with CCA and their sensitizing action. This model can represent an attractive way to study the axon‐reflex and sensitizing function of COD in humans.
Delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction in adults with sickle cell disease: a 5‐year experience
Authors: Vidler Jennifer B. , Gardner Kate , Amenyah Kenneth , Mijovic Aleksandar , Thein Swee L. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryDelayed haemolytic transfusion reactions (DHTR) are potentially life‐threatening complications in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Between 1 August 2008 and 31 December 2013, 220 of 637 adult patients in our centre had at least one red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in 2158 separate transfusion episodes. Twenty‐three DHTR events occurred in 17 patients (13 female) including 15 HbSS, one HbSC and one HbSβ0 thalassaemia, equating to a DHTR rate of 7·7% of patients transfused. Mean interval from RBC transfusion to DHTR event was 10·1 ± 5·4 d, and typical presenting features were fever, pain and haemoglobinuria. Twenty of the 23 (87·0%) DHTR episodes occurred following transfusion in the acute setting. Notably, 11/23 (47·8%) of DHTRs were not diagnosed at the time of the event, most were misdiagnosed as a vaso‐occlusive crisis. 16/23 DHTRs had ‘relative reticulocytopenia’, which was more common in older patients. Seven of 23 episodes resulted in alloantibody formation, and three caused autoantibody formation. DHTRs are a severe but uncommon complication of RBC transfusion in SCD and remain poorly recognized, possibly because they mimic an acute painful crisis. Most of the DHTRs are triggered by RBC transfusion in the acute setting when patients are in an inflammatory state.