bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Robotic-Assisted Excision of a Left Ventricular Thrombus
Authors: Lutz Charles J. , Bhamidipati Castigliano M. , Ford Brant , Swartz Mike , Hauser Michael , Kyobe Moses , Dilip Karikehalli 
Published: May 2008

Objective Left ventricular thrombus is a rare entity usually associated with myocardial infarction. The daVinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif) offers excellent visualization of the mitral subvalvular apparatus and should provide an effective means to excise a left ventricular mass. Methods A 34-year-old man presented to an outside institution with fever of unknown origin and ulcerative colitis. As part of this workup, he underwent a transthoracic echocardiogram and subsequently a transesophageal echocardiogram that showed a 2-cm left ventricular apical pedunculated mass. He was referred to our institution for excision of this ventricular mass. Because of the pedunculated nature of the mass, he was deemed a candidate for a robotic-assisted minimally invasive approach. Results The patient underwent successful robotic-assisted excision of a left ventricular mass. Total robotic time was 15 minutes. Pathology revealed that the mass was a left ventricular thrombus. The patient experienced an uneventful recovery and was discharged home in 4 days. Conclusions Left ventricular mass excision can be safely performed with the daVinci Surgical System. The daVinci Surgical System offers excellent visualization of the entire left ventricular cavity.
“Spot” ECGs Underestimate Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Surgical Ablation
Authors: Puskas John D. , Corvera Joel S. , Neill Alexis , Kilgo Patrick , Vassiliades Thomas , Guyton Robert A. 
Published: May 2008

Objective Historically, success of surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been measured by electrocardiograms (ECGs) at various intervals. However, continuous monitoring of cardiac rhythms by “autocapture” devices has recently become more available and convenient. The concordance of measurements of freedom from AF by these two techniques has not been reported after surgical ablation. Methods Between August 2005 and May 2006, 47 patients at a single academic center underwent surgical ablation procedures for AF and had recurrence of AF assessed by both “spot” 12-lead ECG and autocapture event monitoring. Forty-one ablation procedures were concomitant with other cardiac surgery and six were stand alone, nonsternotomy procedures. Agreement between these diagnostic modes was measured using the κ statistic at 3, 6, and 12 months (κ of 1 is perfect agreement, 0 is no agreement). McNemar test was employed to determine whether agreement significantly changed from 3 to 12 months. Results At 3 months follow-up, spot ECGs suggested that 81% (38 of 47) of surgical patients were free of any AF, whereas 1-week event recordings found only 70% (31 of 44) of patients were free of any AF. At 6 months, spot ECGs estimated that 87% (40 of 46) of surgical patients were free of AF; 1-week event recordings found only 74% (34 of 46) of patients were free of AF. At 12 months, spot ECGs estimated that 84% (26 of 31) of surgical patients were free of AF compared with only 68% (19 of 28) as measured by the 1-week event recorder. The κ measures (with 95% confidence interval) at 3, 6, and 12 months were 0.52 (0.24–0.80), 0.60 (0.32–0.87), and 0.63 (0.32–0.94) respectively, showing only moderate agreement. McNemar test showed no significant shift in agreement from 3 to 6 months (P = 0.7055), 3 to 12 months (P = 1.000), or 6 to 12 months (P = 1.000). There were no deaths or strokes, but one myocardial infarction among these 47 patients during 12 months follow-up. Conclusions “Spot” ECGs underestimate the incidence of recurrent AF after surgical ablation for AF and show poor agreement with the more reliable 1-week autocapture event recordings.
How Does Successful Off-Pump Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Influence Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Activity?
Authors: Suwalski Grzegorz , Suwalski Piotr , Kalisnik Jurij M. , Sledz Mariusz , Switaj Julita , Czachor Marcin , Gersak Borut , Suwalski Kazimierz B. 
Published: May 2008

Objective Surgical pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) blocks trigger stimulation from PVs and partially disconnects the atria from sympathetic and parasympathetic neural stimulation. This study describes long-term changes in heart rate variability (HRV) and autonomic activity (AA) after successful bipolar radiofrequency PVI. Methods Twenty-seven patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and successful (defined as stable sinus rhythm for 1 year) off-pump bipolar radiofrequency PVI for PAF were prospectively followed 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery including 24 hours Holter electrocardiogram. The following HRV and AA parameters were calculated: mean NN-interval, SD of NN-intervals, SD of averaged NN-intervals, root mean square of successive differences, low frequency (LF) power (0.04–0.15 Hz; a parameter specific for sympathetic activity), high frequency (HF) power (0.15–0.4 Hz; a parameter specific for parasympathetic activity), and the LF:HF ratio. Results Preoperatively, high HRV and AA parameters were recorded. In 3-, 6-, and 12-month time, a progressive reduction of HRV and AA was observed, reaching significance after 12 months. Respective rates before surgery and 12 months after it were: for SD of averaged NN-intervals (122.4 ± 113; 80.5 ± 42 milliseconds; P = 0.046), for root mean square of successive differences (79.2 ± 93; 45 ± 20 milliseconds; P = 0.04). The LF:HF ratios were 1.22 and 0.73 before and 12 months after surgery, respectively. The statistically significant continuous reduction in LF:HF ratio (P = 0.02) is suggestive of a progressive parasympathetic dominance 12 months after surgery. Conclusions Successful PVI for PAF results in HRV and sympathetic activity reduction with preoperative sympathetic dominance and oncoming vagal dominance after 1 year from surgery. Despite preoperative sympathetic dominance, successful PVI for PAF results in HRV and a reduction in sympathetic activity with emerging parasympathetic dominance 12 months after surgery.
Propensity-Score Analysis of Early Outcomes after Bilateral versus Single Internal Thoracic Artery Grafting
Authors: Pusca Sorin V. , Kilgo Patrick D. , Vega J. David , Cooper William A. , Vassiliades Thomas A. , Chen Edward P. , Lattouf Omar M. , Guyton Robert A. , Puskas John D. 
Published: May 2008

Objective The use of bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITAs) during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) improves long-term and event-free survival compared with single internal thoracic artery (SITA) grafting. It is controversial whether BITA grafting alters in-hospital adverse events after CABG. Methods Isolated CABG cases using BITA or SITA at a single US academic center between January 1, 1997 and June 30, 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. A propensity score was used as a covariate to balance the treatment groups (BITA and SITA) with respect to 44 preoperative risk factors. A multivariable logistic regression model tested whether treatment type was significantly associated with in-hospital death, deep sternal wound infection (DSWI), or hospital length of stay (LOS). Results There were 599 BITA and 10,212 SITA cases performed. Overall for all BITA versus SITA cases, adjusted mortality (0.8% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.85) was not different between the groups. However, adjusted incidence of DSWI (2.0% vs. 1.2%, P = 0.036) and LOS (6.7 vs. 6.1, P = 0.025) were significantly higher in BITA patients. Subsets analyses of obese patients and diabetic patients revealed no statistical differences for any of the outcomes between BITA and SITA. Conclusions The long-term benefits of BITA grafting do not come at the cost of increased adjusted risk of in-hospital death. BITA grafting was associated with an increased risk of DSWI and a longer adjusted LOS. Neither obesity, nor diabetes significantly increased the risk of poor outcomes after BITA.
Classification, interdisciplinarity, and the study of science
Authors: Szostak Rick 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to respond to the 2005 paper by Hjørland and Nissen Pedersen by suggesting that an exhaustive and universal classification of the phenomena that scholars study, and the methods and theories they apply, is feasible. It seeks to argue that such a classification is critical for interdisciplinary scholarship.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a literature‐based conceptual analysis, taking Hjørland and Nissen Pedersen as its starting point. Hjørland and Nissen Pedersen had identified several difficulties that would be encountered in developing such a classification; the paper suggests how each of these can be overcome. It also urges a deductive approach as complementary to the inductive approach recommended by Hjørland and Nissen Pedersen.FindingsThe paper finds that an exhaustive and universal classification of scholarly documents in terms of (at least) the phenomena that scholars study, and the theories and methods they apply, appears to be both possible and desirable.Practical implicationsThe paper suggests how such a project can be begun. In particular it stresses the importance of classifying documents in terms of causal links between phenomena.Originality/valueThe paper links the information science, interdisciplinary, and study of science literatures, and suggests that the types of classification outlined above would be of great value to scientists/scholars, and that they are possible.
INFOLITRANS: a model for the development of information competence for translators
Authors: Pinto Maria , Sales Dora 
Published: May 2008

PurposeSince every community of practice generates, seeks, retrieves and uses information resources and sources related to the cognitive structure being researched or studied and the tasks being performed, the need arises to undertake studies focused on real user communities, which in the case of this paper is the group of translators. This paper aims to investigate this issue.Design/methodology/approachIn this arena of application, it is important to remember that translators are not only information users, but also information processors and producers. Thus, their documentary competence has to evolve in three dimensions: the informational, the methodological and the strategic. The conceptual model proposed in the paper is based on information literacy (INFOLIT) standards and also the authors' knowledge of translation practice and the competencies it demands, where INFOLIT plays a starring role. This paper is part of a broader research currently in progress, whose main goal is to provide translators and interpreters with a solid instruction in information literacy.FindingsThe paper introduces a model for information literacy specifically intended to develop the information competence of this community of users, it reveals that the model is a gathering of skills, competences, knowledge and values, and it is based on the cooperation between the authors' expert knowledge of information science and professional translation practice.Originality/valueThis paper puts forward the first proposal for information literacy applied to translation training.
Russian literary resources: a reference companion
Authors: Semertzidou Helen 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to outline the aims, purposes and contents of the various reference guides to Russian literature.Design/methodology/approachIt features a highly detailed classified arrangement with sections organized by type of research source (guides, bibliography of bibliography, bibliographies, periodicals, periodical indexes, online journals, electronic texts, literary subject sites).FindingsThe past two decades have witnessed a veritable explosion in the publication of reference works in the field of Russian literary studies. The availability to the student and scholar alike of an array of fundamental reference works demonstrates the mature state of scholarship now being achieved in the field of Russian literature and in the broader area of Slavic and East European Studies.Practical implicationsThis annotated reference companion provides guidance in the selection and use of reference works.Originality/valueThe present work is an attempt to provide some bibliographic guidance to the researcher who wants to identify and use research tools for studying Russian literature. It is an attempt to get a measure of bibliographic control over this literary field.
Rescue robot module with sliding membrane locomotion
Authors: Molfino Rezia , Zoppi Matteo , Rimassa Luca 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a cost‐effective design for a new rescue robot locomotion module using the principle of a continuous sliding membrane to achieve propulsion ratio (PR) near 1. Such high PR cannot be reached by other locomotion mechanisms that have been proposed.Design/methodology/approachThe paper first introduces the PR as a reference parameter to assess locomotion effectiveness of snake‐ and worm‐like robots. The state‐of‐the‐art is reviewed. A direction to step beyond getting PR near 1 is indicated. The way is by realizing a continuous sliding membrane. Two solutions in this direction which have been recently proposed are recalled. It is shown that none of them can be practically implemented to realize functioning systems with today's available technology. A new design with membrane actuation has been identified and it is described in detail. A prototype has been realized and earliest results and evidence of functioning described.FindingsCritical discussion of the concept of locomotion based on a sliding membrane was conducted. A new design for a robot locomotion module applying this concept was presented. Earliest evidence of functioning and effectiveness of the new system proposed was given.Research limitations/implicationsA new locomotion principle is shown. The state‐of‐the‐art background is discussed. A design to realize the new system in a cost‐effective way is described. The research implications lie in the future development of new mobile robots with higher locomotion capability than today's available systems. Several future research and development directions are shown.Practical implicationsA new generation of more locomotion‐effective snake‐ and worm‐robots, especially for rescue application in rubble, is foreseen. The design proposed takes cost‐effectiveness and practical realizability into account.Originality/valueThe continuous sliding membrane concept had been already proposed but no reasonable realization and actuation solutions had been singled out. The design of the new locomotion system is totally new and contains several breakthrough ideas. A prototype is available proving worthy in concept and functioning. It is cost‐effective and this will allow shorter application to real robots.
Mobile robot localization in quasi‐dynamic environments
Authors: Ramirez‐Serrano Alejandro , Liu Hubert , Pettinaro Giovanni C. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address the online localization of mobile (service) robots in real world dynamic environments. Most of the techniques developed so far have been designed for static environments. What is presented here is a novel technique for mobile robot localization in quasi‐dynamic environments.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed approach employs a probability grid map and Baye's filtering techniques. The former is used for representing the possible changes in the surrounding environment which a robot might have to face.FindingsSimulation and experimental results show that this approach has a high degree of robustness by taking into account both sensor and world uncertainty. The methodology has been tested under different environment scenarios where diverse complex objects having different sizes and shapes were used to represent movable and non‐movable entities.Practical implicationsThe results can be applied to diverse robotic systems that need to move in changing indoor environments such as hospitals and places where people might require assistance from autonomous robotic devices. The methodology is fast, efficient and can be used in fast‐moving robots, allowing them to perform complex operations such as path planning and navigation in real time.Originality/valueWhat is proposed here is a novel mobile robot localization approach that enables unmanned vehicles to effectively move in real time and know their current location in dynamic environments. Such an approach consists of two steps: a generation of the probability grid map; and a recursive position estimation methodology employing a variant of the Baye's filter.
Understanding old age and victimisation: a critical exploration
Authors: Powell Jason L. , Wahidin Azrini 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of paper is to shine light on the under‐theorised relationship between old age and victmisation. In classical criminological studies, the relationship between “age”, victimisation and crime has been dominated by analysis of younger people's experiences. This paper aims to address this knowledge deficit by exploring older people's experiences by linking it to the social construction of vulnerability.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores both historical and contemporary narratives relating to the diverse experiences of older people as victims in the UK. In particular, from 1945 to the present, statistical context and theoretical advancement illuminates that older people as a social group have a deep “fear of crime” to their relative victimisation.FindingsA careful survey of the criminological literature highlights a paucity of research relating to older people's views and experiences of crime and victimisation. The conceptual issue of vulnerability in different contexts is important in understanding ageing and victimisation in UK. The paper's findings illustrate that their experiences have remained marginalised in the debates around social policy, and how the criminal justice system responds to these changes remains yet to be seen.Research limitations/implicationsAny research attempt at theorising “age” should take into consideration not just younger people, but also the diverse experiences of older people. Policy makers may care to ponder that benchmarks be written that takes into full consideration of older people's experiences as vulnerability.Practical implicationsFor criminal justice scholars and practitioners, there is a need to listen to the narratives of older people that should help shape and frame debate about their lived experiences. There should be an examination of existing formal and informal practices regarding elders, as the first step in developing an explicit and integrated set of policies and programmes to address the special needs of this group.Originality/valueThis is an original paper in highlighting how important old age is in construction of “victims” in modern society. By theorising age, victimisation and crime it is hoped to dispel and challenge some of the myths surrounding later life, crime and the older victim.
An empirical examination of service recovery design
Authors: Seawright Kristie K. , Bell DeTienne Kristen , Preston Bernhisel M. , Hoopes Larson Charlotte L. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present results from an empirical study of various service recovery designs. When service failures occur, service recovery is the primary way a firm can retain its customers and minimize the costs associated with customer defection and negative word of mouth. While researchers concur on the importance of service recovery in retaining customers, recommendations on implementation differ considerably. Consequently, actual service recovery design and results vary widely among practitioners.Design/methodology/approachThe method employed uses an experimental design, employing controlled scenario manipulations.FindingsThis paper examines two issues that offer possible explanations for the variation in previous research results: elements of service recovery system design that make a difference and degree of primary failure. An additional issue, research methodology, may also contribute to variations in research results and is likewise addressed.Practical implicationsIn failed service encounters, the degree of failure significantly affects customer satisfaction and loyalty. Both psychological and tangible factors are important contributors to service recovery satisfaction.Originality/valueThis study builds upon previous research and fills previous gaps by being the first study to experimentally test the impact that varying service recovery design has on recovery success within environments of varying levels of degree of failure.
Exploring the differences between accountants and marketers in terms of information sharing
Authors: Barker Tansu 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of information sharing, rewards and selected performance measures based on the dyadic relationship between accountants and marketers.Design/methodology/approachMail survey administered to senior executives of larger Canadian firms. MANOVA followed by univariate analyses are used to identify significant dimensions. Variables that are important to distinguish between the two groups are identified using logistic regression.FindingsAccountants are more satisfied with the quality of shared information and rate its impact on performance higher than marketers. Marketers view accountants as a more important source of information.Research limitations/implicationsLongitudinal studies, in‐depth surveys within a single firm and employing respondents at different hierarchical levels would provide important insights and reduce common‐method bias.Practical implicationsAccountants should recognize marketing as an important source of information since resource complementarity is crucial to collaborative success. Using market‐based reward systems and establishing quality as an important goal would have a bigger impact on marketers in enhancing information sharing between the two functions.Originality/valueContributes to filling the gap regarding the nature of information sharing between marketing and accounting as well as its relationship to market‐based rewards and selected performance measures.
An introduction to the work and well‐being of older workers
Authors: Peeters Maria C.W. , van Emmerik Hetty 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe article's aim is to introduce the papers contained in this special issue of the Journal of Managerial Psychology.Design/methodology/approachSpecifically the present article starts by discussing the meaning of the factor age and by considering who is actually termed an older worker. Next, the consequences of cognitive, physical and mental changes during the aging process for work and organizations are being discussed. Before presenting a general introduction to the research contributions that are included in this special issue, a plea is made for a more positive approach to older employees. The article presents a literature review, a discussion of the main topics and suggestions for future pathways for research and HRM.FindingsIt is indisputable that some cognitive, physical and mental changes take place while people grow older. However, what is less certain is how these changes impede on employees' well‐being. Recently, scholars seem to agree that the picture is not as negative as one used to think.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications are: use different conceptualizations of age; focus on the process of aging instead of on age as a factor; shift the focus from managing threats to creating opportunities.Practical implicationsIt is in both employers' and employees' interest to make the best use of employees of all ages and to manage employees in accordance with individual attributes and capacities rather than by making assumptions based on age.Originality/valueThe article frames the issues and sets the stage for a more positive approach towards older workers.