bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pulse Transit Time as a Predictor of the Efficacy of a Celiac Plexus Block in Patients With Chronic Intractable Abdominal Pain
Authors: Kim Young Uk , Kim Doo Hwan , Cheong Yuseon , Kong Yu-Gyeong , Lee Jonghyuk , Park Soo Kyoung , Karm Myong-Hwan , Suh Jeong Hun 
Published: August 2015

Objective:
There is no well-defined predictor of satisfactory pain relief after celiac plexus block (CPB) at the early stage of treatment. This study evaluated whether measurement of the electrocardiographic R-wave and the arrival time of the pulses at the toe pulse transit time (E-T PTT) can be an early predictor of pain response and success of CPB in patients with chronic intractable visceral pain.

Methods:
Twelve patients aged between 20 and 80 years who underwent CPB for treatment of chronic intractable cancer-related abdominal pain were included. A successful CPB was determined as a >50% decrease on the numerical rating scale measured 24 hours after the procedure. The E-T PTT at baseline and at 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes after the injection of local anesthetic was measured as the time between the R-wave on the electrocardiogram and the peak point of the corresponding plethysmogram wave from the ipsilateral great toe. The change in the E-T PTT that was predictive of a successful CPB was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results:
A CPB was successful in 9 of 12 cases; the dE-T PTT5/E-T PTT0 of the success group was 6.84%±5.04% versus 0.72%±0.78% in the failure group (P=0.021). The mean E-T PTTx differed significantly between timepoints (F=9.313, P=0.014) and between the success and failure groups (P<0.01). The best value of dE-T PTT5/E-T PTT0 indicating a successful CPB, estimated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, was 2.30% (sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 100%). The area under the curve was 96% (95% confidence interval, 85.7%-100%).

Conclusions:
Prolongation of E-T PTT at 5 minutes after CPB correlates closely with a significant analgesic effect.
What’s New in Pediatric Flatfoot?
Authors: Bauer Kathryn , Mosca Vincent S. , Zionts Lewis E. 
Published: August 2015

Background:
Children with flatfeet are frequently referred to pediatric orthopaedic clinics. Most of these patients are asymptomatic and require no treatment. Care must be taken to differentiate patients with flexible flatfeet from those with rigid deformity that may have underlying pathology and have need of treatment. Rigid flatfeet in infants may be attributable to a congenital vertical talus (CVT); whereas those in older children and adolescents may be due to an underlying tarsal coalition. We performed a review of the recent literature regarding evaluation and management of pediatric flatfeet to discuss new findings and suggest areas where further research is needed.

Methods:
We searched the PubMed database for all papers related to the treatment of pediatric flatfoot, tarsal coalition, and CVT published from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014, yielding 85 English language papers.

Results:
A total of 18 papers contributed new or interesting findings.

Conclusions:
The pediatric flexible flatfoot (FFF) remains poorly defined, making the understanding, study, and treatment of the condition extremely difficult.
Pediatric FFF is often unnecessarily treated. There is very little evidence for the efficacy of nonsurgical intervention to affect the shape of the foot or to influence potential long-term disability for children with FFF. The treatment of tarsal coalition remains challenging, but short-term and intermediate-term outcome studies are satisfactory, whereas long-term outcome studies are lacking. Management of the associated flatfoot deformity may be as important as management of the coalition itself. The management of CVT is still evolving; however, early results of less invasive treatment methods seem promising.

Level of Evidence:
Level 4—literature review.
Surgical Techniques for Displaced Radial Neck Fractures: Predictive Factors of Functional Results
Authors: Gutiérrez-de la Iglesia Diego , Pérez-López Laura M. , Cabrera-González Marisa , Knörr-Giménez Jorge 
Published: August 2015

Background:
Fractures of the radial neck represent about 1% of all childhood fractures and 5% to 10% of childhood traumatic lesions involving the elbow. Management of these fractures in children is still controversial. Intramedullary percutaneous nail reduction (Métaizeau technique) is considered the most effective surgical technique because of its excellent results and easy learning curve. Complications may arise, however, especially in Böhler technique, in which a percutaneous pin is placed over the radial head. When this technique does not provide correct reduction, open reduction must be performed. Because open reduction is traditionally associated with a high risk of complications, however, its use is restricted to severely displaced fractures and only when the percutaneous techniques have failed or their application contraindicated because of associated injuries to the distal radius.

Methods:
In this retrospective study, we evaluated 51 children between the ages of 6 and 15 years who presented to our institution from 1996 to 2012 with Métaizeau-modified Judet grades 3, 4a, and 4b radial head fractures. The surgical techniques used were closed reduction and casting under general anesthesia (n=7), closed reduction and intramedullary nailing using Métaizeau technique (n=27), and Métaizeau technique and open reduction with intramedullary nailing (n=17). Functional results of the 3 surgical techniques were evaluated using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and compared by modified Judet classification using χ2 analysis.

Results:
No statistic significant association was found between type of surgery and final MEPS was observed (P=0.110). However, a significant association was found between initial modified Judet grade and final MEPS.

Conclusions:
In the present study, final functional outcome seems to be not affected by open reduction but was significantly associated with initial modified Judet grade.

Level of Evidence:
Level III—retrospective study comparing closed and open reduction techniques, performed at the same institution.
Surgical Reconstruction of Metatarsal Type Preaxial Polydactyly Using an Amalgamating Osteotomy
Authors: Boyle Matthew J. , Hogue Grant D. , Kasser James R. 
Published: August 2015

Background:
Polydactyly of the foot is a relatively common condition. Approximately 15% of cases are preaxial, with one third of these cases involving duplication of the metatarsal [metatarsal type preaxial polydactyly (MTPP)].
Surgical reconstruction of polydactyly is indicated to improve shoe tolerance. Reconstruction of MTPP has traditionally involved resection of the hypoplastic lateral ray in addition to soft tissue reconstruction to correct hallux varus. Poor postoperative results have frequently been reported, primarily due to residual hallux varus. We present a novel surgical technique for the treatment of children with MTPP presenting with a cosmetic lateral hallux, involving an amalgamating osteotomy that permits retention of the stable medial metatarsotarsal joint while avoiding the complication of residual hallux varus.

Methods:
This was a retrospective case series describing the surgical technique of an amalgamating osteotomy in the treatment of patients with MTPP and a cosmetic lateral hallux. The surgical technique involves corresponding metatarsal osteotomies of the medial and lateral halluces, with amalgamation of the metatarsals and ablation of the residual medial hallux, without the need for extensive soft tissue reconstruction. Clinical and radiologic outcomes were evaluated at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively in 2 patients who underwent this technique.

Results:
Two children, 1 female and 1 male, underwent an amalgamating osteotomy at the age of 31 and 18 months, respectively. At latest follow-up, 7.3 and 2.8 years after osteotomy, respectively, both patients displayed an excellent functional result according to the Phelps and Grogan clinical outcome scale. Plain radiographs in both cases demonstrated a well-aligned first ray with no growth abnormality and no hallux varus.

Conclusions:
We have presented a novel surgical technique for the reconstruction of MTPP presenting with a cosmetic lateral hallux, involving an amalgamating osteotomy without extensive soft tissue reconstruction. This simple technique maintains the stable medial metatarsotarsal joint, permits ongoing longitudinal metatarsal growth, and avoids the complication of hallux varus.

Level of Evidence:
Level IV—case series.
Self-reported Adherence to a Low-Sodium Diet and Health Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Song Eun Kyeung , Moser Debra K. , Kang Seok-Min , Lennie Terry A. 
Published: August 2015

Background:
Most clinicians rely on patients’ self-report of following a low-sodium diet to determine adherence of patients with heart failure (HF). Whether self-reported adherence to a low-sodium diet is associated with cardiac event–free survival is unclear.

Purposes:
To determine (1) whether self-reported is concordant with adherence to a low-sodium diet measured by food diaries and 24-hour urinary sodium excretion and (2) whether self-reported adherence to a low-sodium diet predicts cardiac event–free survival.

Methods:
Adherence to a low-sodium diet was measured using 3 measures in 119 HF patients: (1) self-reported adherence, 1 item from the Self-care of Heart Failure Index scale; (2) a 3-day food diary; (3) 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. Patients were followed up for a median of 297 days to determine cardiac hospitalization or emergency department visit. One-way analysis of variance and Cox regression were used to address our purposes.

Results:
Self-reported adherence was concordant with adherence to a low-sodium diet measured by food diaries and 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. Thirty-one patients who reported they always follow a low-sodium diet had an average sodium intake less than 3 g/d (F = 5.07, P = .002) and 3.3 g of a mean 24-hour urinary sodium excretion (F = 3.393, P = .020). Patients who reported they never or rarely follow a low-sodium diet had 4.7 times greater risk of having cardiac events than did those who always followed a low-sodium diet (P = .017).

Conclusion:
Self-reported adherence to a low-sodium diet predicted cardiac event–free survival demonstrating clinicians can use this as an indicator of adherence.
Shift and adapt: the costs and benefits of karyotype variations
Authors: Gerstein Aleeza C. , Berman Judith 
Published: August 2015

AbstractVariation is the spice of life or, in the case of evolution, variation is the necessary material on which selection can act to enable adaptation. Karyotypic variation in ploidy (the number of homologous chromosome sets) and aneuploidy (imbalance in the number of chromosomes) are fundamentally different than other types of genomic variants. Karyotypic variation emerges through different molecular mechanisms than other mutational events, and unlike mutations that alter the genome at the base pair level, rapid reversion to the wild type chromosome number is often possible. Although karyotypic variation has long been noted and discussed by biologists, interest in the importance of karyotypic variants in evolutionary processes has spiked in recent years, and much remains to be discovered about how karyotypic variants are produced and subsequently selected.
Canadian chefs’ workplace learning
Authors: Cormier-MacBurnie Paulette , Doyle Wendy , Mombourquette Peter , Young Jeffrey D. 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to examine the formal and informal workplace learning of professional chefs. In particular, it considers chefs’ learning strategies and outcomes as well as the barriers to and facilitators of their workplace learning.

Design/methodology/approach
– The methodology is based on in-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with 12 executive chefs from a variety of restaurant types. Chefs were asked questions that focused on how they learned, the learning outcomes that they experienced and factors that inhibited or facilitated their learning.

Findings
– Findings suggest that the strategies, outcomes, barriers and facilitators experienced by professional chefs are similar in many respects to those of other occupational/professional groups. However, there were some important differences that highlight the context of chefs’ workplace learning.

Research limitations/implications
– The sample, which is relatively small and local, focuses on one city in Canada, and it is limited in its generalizability. Future research should include a national survey of professional chefs.

Originality/value
– Using a qualitative approach, this in-depth study adds to the literature on workplace learning, strategies, outcomes, barriers, facilitators and context factors by addressing a relatively understudied profession.
The mediating role of social support in the evaluation of training effectiveness
Authors: Alvelos Rita , Ferreira Aristides I , Bates Reid 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to contribute to the understanding of factors that affect training effectiveness. According to the literature, social support, perceived content validity, transfer design, the motivation to improve work through learning and positive transfer, contribute to the effectiveness of training.

Design/methodology/approach
– The sample used consisted of 202 employees with ages between 18 and 60 years, working for an insurance company where they had training for a period of three months.

Findings
– The results show a relationship between perceived content validity and transfer design, as well as with the motivation to improve work through learning. A mediating role of social support was also evident in this relationship. Finally, the authors highlight the findings of the relationship between motivation to improve work through learning and positive transfer.

Originality/value
– These findings contribute to the literature by demonstrating how the role of social support can increase training effectiveness in organizations.
Social capital in entrepreneurial family businesses: the role of trust
Authors: Shi Henry X. , Shepherd Deborah M. , Schmidts Torsten 
Published: August 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical insights to understanding trust as a relational form of social capital, and its effects on entrepreneurial processes, in small- and medium-sized family businesses.Design/methodology/approach– This paper adopts a qualitative case-study approach, with data from fieldwork interviews, observations, and secondary sources analysed by using interpretative methods.Findings– Although multiple types of trust exist concurrently in small- and medium-sized Chinese family businesses, it is interpersonal trust on the basis of goodwill and competence that prevails, while contractual trust is weak and marginal. Three patterns of trusting relationships are identified, each of which has both positive and negative effects on entrepreneurship and innovation in family businesses. There is a potential “dark side” of trust, which incurs extra cost and commitment to small- and medium-sized family businesses in their entrepreneurial processes.Research limitations/implications– Future research with larger sample sizes is suggested to generalise the insights, by using both qualitative and quantitative methods. More empirical work is needed to further clarify the antecedents of trust as a social capital and the potential “dark side” of trust in small- and medium-sized family businesses, particularly across generations.Practical implications– Family business owner-managers should try to avoid relying on a single type of trust, which may incur extra costs to the entrepreneurial processes. They need to better understand why they trust certain actors in their business and social networks before assigning resources to specific business activities. Policy makers are suggested to recognise the “benefits” of the traditionally family-oriented values and that kinship-based trust is also a relational form of social capital and can produce entrepreneurial outcomes.Originality/value– The paper critically reviews existing literature on social capital, trust, entrepreneurship, and family business at their point of intersection and identifies gaps and oversights. Drawing on case studies from China, the paper explores different patterns in which trust develops in second-generation small- and medium-sized Chinese family businesses and their varying effects on entrepreneurship.
Towards a more integrated view of entrepreneurial careers
Authors: Zikic Jelena , Ezzedeen Souha 
Published: August 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to employ intelligent career theory to simultaneously explore the relationships between three types of entrepreneurial career capital (i.e. motivations, human, and social capital). It illustrates the interconnectedness of these three forms of capital as an important way to study entrepreneurial careers and provide a new lens for understanding both personal and venture success.Design/methodology/approach– This qualitative study of 22 in depth semi-structured interviews explores career stories of entrepreneurs in the high tech industry. The interviews focus on examining three aspects of their career, motivations to become an entrepreneur, ways of learning and developing their human and social capital. Interviews were transcribed and coded using grounded theory approach.Findings– The findings describe how entrepreneurial careers as simultaneously shaped by three types of career capital: motivations (knowing-why), knowledge (knowing-how), and relationships (knowing-whom). It also illustrates the accumulation of career capital as a continuous cycle of interrelationships between these three types of capital.Research limitations/implications– In sum, the findings add to the knowledge on entrepreneurial careers and the role that the three types of capital play in venture formation and success. It also points to the importance of a more integrated view of these careers, embedded in a web of motivational, social, and human capital.Practical implications– The study’s findings suggest that entrepreneurs should paid equal attention and nurture each form of career capital throughout their careers. It also has implications for entrepreneurship programs as well career advisers to.Originality/value– Prior entrepreneurship research has examined aspects of entrepreneur’s career capital (e.g. intentions, social, and human capital) typically in isolation from one another and little is known about their reinforcing relationships in entrepreneurial careers. This study provides novel insights for understanding the three types of career capital and the importance of this more integrated view in entrepreneurship education and career counseling.
Government and SMEs in the Maldives and Mauritius
Authors: Sambajee Pratima , Dhomun Mehdi Zulficar Azad 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the role of government in the development of SMEs in the Maldives and Mauritius. Using tourism SMEs, it seeks to identify, analyse and compare strategies deployed by SMEs operating in an “enabling” and a “constrained” business environment.

Design/methodology/approach
– An inductive approach to qualitative research is undertaken using seventeen semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders identified though a stakeholder analysis. Using multiple sources (six government officials, eight SME owner/managers, one private bank owner, one academic and one resort owner), variations and consensus in the data were identified through thematic analysis.

Findings
– The Maldivian Government is less proactive in supporting its SMEs compared to the Mauritian Government. Its failure to facilitate access to finance and provide business support services has led the Maldivian SMEs to use multiple methods of bootstrapping to sustain existing businesses and/or start new ones. In contrast, despite operating in a more enabling business environment, Mauritian SMEs were found to engage in similar strategies due to lack of trust in government-led initiatives.

Practical implications
– Policy-makers in island economies can use the findings to inform decision making in SME development planning.

Originality/value
– While this research adds to the sparse literature on government and SME development in island economies, it also highlights the relevance of bootstrapping for SMEs operating in economically constrained environments.
An empirical study on the influence of Islamic values in poverty alleviation
Authors: Senadjki Abdelhak , Sulaiman Jamalludin 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– This study aims to shed some light on the roles of Islamic values and principles in encouraging households to enhance their livelihood and, therefore, alleviate their poverty.

Design/methodology/approach
– A structured and tested socio-economic questionnaire instrument was randomly distributed to 102 randomly selected households from the state of Penang in Malaysia. Data collected were analysed using one-way ANOVA tests.

Findings
– The results indicated that poverty can be fought with commitment, faith and guided principles based on faith. While the self-reliance degree remains indispensable in the development progress of individuals, communities and societies, dependence on others leads to disappointment and failure.

Research limitations/implications
– This study has its own limitations. First, the study did not consider the gender factor in the analysis. Second, only cash transfer (role of the government) was considered in the study, although other roles such as taxation and social services are probably equally important. Third, the discussion did not pay attention to how the proposed three constructs (Micro, Meso and Macro) are related. Lastly, as proposed by an anonymous reviewer, the present study did not take in consideration how Islamic philosophy perceives the share of responsibility to the three proposed constructs. Does Islam give similar weight to each of them?

Practical implications
– Sadakah and Waqf should be integrated with the financial systems to halt any misuse of the financial assistance offered to the poor.

Social implications
– Government assistance remains indispensable through providing the necessities of comfort and well-being to the hardcore poor such as housing, health-care facilities and cash transfer.

Originality/value
– This study enhances the understanding of how religious adherence and Islamic values influence households’ well-being and paves the way for further research on this crucial issue.