bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The seroepidemiology of varicella zoster virus among pregnant Bangladeshi and white British women in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, UK
Authors: TALUKDER Y. S. , KAFATOS G. , PINOT de MOIRA A. , AQUILINA J. , PARKER S. P. , CROWCROFT N. S. , BROWN D. W. G. , BREUER J. 
Published: April 2007

SUMMARYWe investigated the comparative seroepidemiology of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in pregnant women of two ethnic groups, white British and Bangladeshi, living in an inner city area of London, United Kingdom. Women aged 16–45 years were recruited from antenatal clinics of the Royal London Hospital in the Borough of Tower Hamlets. Complete data were obtained from 275 white British and 765 Bangladeshi women. VZV antibody prevalence was 93·1% (95% CI 89·4–95·8) and 86·0% (95% CI 83·3–88·4) respectively. Women who were born in Bangladesh and lived there at least until the age of 15 years had the lowest odds of being immune (OR 0·37, 95% CI 0·22–0·63). This implies they will have an increased risk of varicella during pregnancy. Women arriving in the United Kingdom in adulthood should be screened routinely during pregnancy and vaccination offered postpartum if they are susceptible.
ICD-10 codes are a valid tool for identification of pneumonia in hospitalized patients aged ⩾65 years
Authors: SKULL S. A. , ANDREWS R. M. , BYRNES G. B. , CAMPBELL D. A. , NOLAN T. M. , BROWN G. V. , KELLY H. A. 
Published: April 2007

SUMMARYThis study examines the validity of using ICD-10 codes to identify hospitalized pneumonia cases. Using a case-cohort design, subjects were randomly selected from monthly cohorts of patients aged ⩾65 years discharged from April 2000 to March 2002 from two large tertiary Australian hospitals. Cases had ICD-10-AM codes J10–J18 (pneumonia); the cohort sample was randomly selected from all discharges, frequency matched to cases by month. Codes were validated against three comparators: medical record notation of pneumonia, chest radiograph (CXR) report and both. Notation of pneumonia was determined for 5098/5101 eligible patients, and CXR reports reviewed for 3349/3464 (97%) patients with a CXR. Coding performed best against notation of pneumonia: kappa 0·95, sensitivity 97·8% (95% CI 97·1–98·3), specificity 96·9% (95% CI 96·2–97·5), positive predictive value (PPV) 96·2% (95% CI 95·4–97·0) and negative predictive value (NPV) 98·2% (95% CI 97·6–98·6). When medical record notation of pneumonia is used as the standard, ICD-10 codes are a valid method for retrospective ascertainment of hospitalized pneumonia cases and appear superior to use of complexes of symptoms and signs, or radiology reports.
Two Nosocomial Pertussis Outbreaks and Their Associated Costs—King County, Washington, 2004
Authors: Baggett Henry C. , Duchin Jeffrey S. , Shelton William , Zerr Danielle M. , Heath Joan , Ortega-Sanchez Ismael R. , Tiwari Tejpratap 
Published: April 2007

Objective.Pertussis outbreaks in healthcare settings result in resource-intensive control activities, but studies have rarely evaluated the associated costs. We describe and estimate costs associated with 2 nosocomial pertussis outbreaks in King County, Washington, during the period from July 25 to September 15, 2004. One outbreak occurred at a 500-bed tertiary care hospital (hospital A), and the other occurred at a 250-bed pediatric hospital (hospital B).Methods.We estimated the costs of each outbreak from the hospitals' perspective through standardized interviews with hospital staff and review of contact tracing logs. Direct costs included personnel time and laboratory and medication costs, whereas indirect costs were those resulting from hospital staff furloughs.Results.Hospital A incurred direct costs of $195,342 and indirect costs of $68,015; hospital B incurred direct costs of $71,130 and indirect costs of $50,000. Cost differences resulted primarily from higher personnel costs at hospital A ($134,536), compared with hospital B ($21,645). Total cost per pertussis case was $43,893 for hospital A (6 cases) and $30,282 for hospital B (4 cases). Total cost per person exposed to a pertussis patient were $357 for hospital A (738 exposures) and $164 for hospital B (737 exposures).Conclusions.Nosocomial pertussis outbreaks result in substantial costs to hospitals, even when the number of pertussis cases is low. The cost-effectiveness of strategies to prevent nosocomial pertussis outbreaks, including vaccination of healthcare workers, should be evaluated.
Associations Between Surgical Site Infection Risk and Hospital Operation Volume and Surgeon Operation Volume Among Hospitals in the Dutch Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Network
Authors: Muilwijk Jan , Hof Susan van den , Wille Jan C. 
Published: April 2007

Objective.To examine the association between hospital operation volume and surgeon operation volume and the risk of surgical site infection (SSI).Design.Prospective, multicenter cohort study based on surveillance data.Methods.Data were obtained from the Dutch surveillance network for nosocomial infections (Preventie Ziekenhuisinfecties door Surveillance [PREZIES]) on 9 different types of orthopedic surgery, general surgery, and gynecology procedures performed during 1996-2003. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the independent effect of hospital volume and surgeon volume on SSI risk.Results.Hospital volume was not significantly associated with SSI risk for any of the selected procedures. Low surgeon volume was associated with an increased risk for an infection for 7 of 9 types of procedures, although this effect was statistically significant only for knee arthroplasty. For 4 procedures, the odds of exceeding the 75th percentile for duration of surgery were greater when the surgeon volume was low than when the surgeon volume was moderate or high.Conclusions.Patients operated on by surgeons with a low operation volume seem to have a higher risk of developing an SSI with some procedures, particularly knee arthroplasty. The higher SSI risk for surgeons with a low operation volume is possibly partly mediated by the longer duration of surgery, a well-known risk factor for development of SSI.
Policies for Endotracheal Suctioning of Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Niël-Weise B. S. , Snoeren R. L. M. M. , van den Broek P. J. 
Published: April 2007

Objective.The Dutch Working Party on Infection Prevention (Werkgroep Infectiepreventie [WIP]) aimed to determine whether certain policies on endotracheal suctioning are better than others in terms of prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit.Methods.Publications were retrieved by a systematic search of Medline and the Cochrane Library for literature published before February 2006. Additionally, the reference lists of all identified trials were examined. All randomized trials, quasi-randomized trials, and systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomized or quasi-randomized trials that compared different policies on endotracheal suctioning for patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit were selected. Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Disagreements were resolved by discussion with a third reviewer. Data from the original publications were used to calculate the relative risk of VAP. Data for VAP were combined in the analysis where appropriate, by use of a random-effects model.Results.Ten trials were included in the review. The quality of the trials and the way they were reported were generally unsatisfactory. Eight low-quality trials indicate that use of closed instead of open suction systems has no effect on the incidence of VAP. Two moderate-quality trials indicate that changing in-line suction catheters less frequently than every 24 hours does not increase the incidence of VAP.Conclusion.The WIP recommends that there be no preferential use of either open or closed endotracheal suction systems to reduce the rate of VAP, but it elucidates that the quality of the evidence is low. Considerations other than prevention of VAP should determine the choice of the suction system. When closed systems are used, the WIP recommends changing the in-line suction catheters every 48 hours. In case of mechanical failure or soiling of the suction system, they may be changed more frequently.
Immunity Against Infectious Diseases Predictive Value of Self-Reported History of Vaccination and Disease
Authors: Trevisan Andrea , Frasson Clara , Morandin Marta , Beggio Michela , Bruno Alberto , Davanzo Elisabetta , Marco Livio Di , Simioni Livio , Amato Guglielmo 
Published: April 2007

Objective.
To determine whether self-reported history of disease and/or vaccination is predictive of immunity against hepatitis B, varicella, rubella, mumps, and measles.

Design.
The seroprevalence of viral antibodies and the predictive value of a self-report questionnaire were determined for 616 paramedical students who matriculated into Padua Medical School (Padua, Italy) during 2003-2005.

Results.
The majority of subjects (86.9%) remembered being vaccinated against hepatitis B but had no recollection of disease. Among vaccinees, 1.5% showed markers of previous infection, 6.7% tested negative for anti-hepatitis B virus surface antigen (anti-HBsAg) antibodies, and 91.8% tested positive for anti-HBsAg. Self-reported vaccination history had a positive predictive value of 93.2% for test results positive for immunity against hepatitis B. Immunity against varicella (93.7% of subjects) and rubella (95.5%) was high, compared with immunity against mumps (79.9%) and measles (83.1%). In addition, results of tests for detection of immunity against mumps and measles were equivocal for more than 7% of subjects, probably because their vaccination regimen was not completed. Self-reported histories of varicella disease and rubella disease and vaccination had high positive predictive values (greater than 98% each) for testing positive for antiviral antibodies, compared with self-reported histories of mumps disease and vaccination and measles disease and vaccination; however, high positive predictive values were observed for self-reported histories of mumps only (92.0%) and measles only (94.7%).

Conclusions.
The self-report questionnaire used in this study did not accurately predict immunity against 5 transmittable but vaccine-preventable diseases. A complete serological evaluation of healthcare workers, followed by vaccination of those with negative or equivocal results of serological tests, is an appropriate measure to decrease the risk of infection in this population.
Text and Identity
Authors: Lieu Judith 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe literary productivity of early Christianity invites the model of textual communities. This productivity includes the appropriation of the Jewish Scriptures and other writings and the claim to their correct interpretation, as well as the creation of a range of new writings reflecting both continuities and discontinuities with contemporary conventions. The selection of particular texts as authoritative is part of a process of self-definition, which excludes other claimants. Approached independently of such processes allows the diversity of texts to challenge rigid categories of Christianity versus Judaism or of orthodoxy versus heresy.
Boundaries
Authors: Lieu Judith 
Published: April 2007

AbstractRecent social-scientific study has explored the role of boundaries in the construction and maintenance of identity as points of transformation and negotiation as well as of exclusion. Applied to Judaism, her boundary-markers are shown to be more fluid and subject to selection and transformation than is often recognized. Patterns of continuity and of discontinuity with these produce different and even competing understandings of early Christianity. Different contexts and different genres also highlight different boundary lines, while in all cases there is evidence that socially these boundaries between groups were regularly crossed or negotiated.
Space and Place
Authors: Lieu Judith 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSpatial origins and a place to inhabit are integral to perceptions of Roman identity. In Jewish thought, land, city, and temple play a focal role, while the experience of exile and diaspora demanded their reinterpretation. Besides redefining these concepts, early Christian writings had to negotiate, with a range of results, the tensions between the local and the universal, and between belonging to and choosing alienation from society.
The Christian Race
Authors: Lieu Judith 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe use of and claims to labels such as Jews, Israelis, and Hebrew carry different resonances and potential in Jewish and Graeco-Roman sources, which are furthered in early Christian writings. The Jewish development of a language and of strategies of ethnic identity is adopted by some early Christian writings. In others, the emergence of a distinctive terminology, ‘Christian’ and ‘Christianity’, is focal, although others found this hazardous and avoided it. The use of labels both to separate and claim authenticity for oneself as well as to denigrate others is common throughout.
‘The Other’
Authors: Lieu Judith 
Published: April 2007

AbstractCommon to nearly all constructions of identity is that of ‘the [stereotyped] other’, the ‘not-us’, often defined negatively, in opposition to, and in order to sustain, a self-understanding. In Graeco-Roman thought, this is represented by the idea of ‘the barbarian’, and in Jewish thought by ‘the Gentiles’. In early Christian writings, we can explore the function and construction of ‘the Gentiles’, ‘the Greeks, and ‘the Jews’. In addition, the language of otherness is applied to an undifferentiated ‘world’ as well as to those who hold other views, the construction of heresy. Yet, as in modern debate, other models of a relationship with the Other than the hostile are possible and leave their traces.
Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies Are a Useful Serological Marker for the Diagnosis of Celiac Disease in Patients With Down Syndrome
Authors: Shamaly Hussein , Hartman Corina , Pollack Shimon , Hujerat Mohammad , Katz Rina , Gideoni Osnat , Shamir Raanan 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:Celiac disease (CD) is overrepresented among patients with Down syndrome (DS), who frequently lack any typical symptoms. Therefore, screening for CD is recommended in this high‐risk group. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of CD in Arab children with DS and evaluate the contribution of immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgG anti‐gliadin antibodies (AGA), IgA and IgG tissue transglutaminase (TTG) antibodies, and IgA anti‐endomysial antibodies (EMA) to screen for CD in children with DS.Patients and Methods:A total of 52 Arab patients with DS and 52 healthy Arab control subjects were studied for CD using various serological markers. Data on age, sex, weight, height, gastrointestinal symptoms, and endocrine abnormalities were recorded. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) was studied in patients undergoing small intestinal biopsy.Results:Five patients with DS were IgA TTG–positive and only 1 patient with DS was IgG TTG–positive. EMA was negative in all patients with DS. TTG (IgA and IgG) and EMA were negative in all control children. IgA AGA was positive in 12 patients with DS and 3 control subjects (P = 0.02), whereas IgG AGA was positive in 41 patients with DS and 26 control subjects (P = 0.004). Only children testing positive for TTG underwent upper endoscopy with duodenal biopsy. Two children with DS were diagnosed with CD. Both patients were IgA TTG–positive. One was HLA DQ2–positive and another was negative for HLA DQ2 and DQ8.Conclusions:CD is prevalent (3.8%) in Arab patients with DS. Based on our cohort, IgA TTG is useful in diagnosing patients with CD and DS.
Criteria for successful blended learning
Authors: Mitchell Anthony , Honore Sue 
Published: April 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to highlight the factors that need to be considered when implementing a blended learning solution in a group environment.Design/methodology/approachThe insights are based on the authors experience of delivering a blended learning module to successive cohorts of international Executive MBA candidates over a three year period. A range of post‐module evaluation mechanisms were utilized to collect quantitative and qualitative data and this was supported by face‐to‐face and online discussion with participants. In addition, the authors own reflections on the experience as faculty and e‐learning consultants has been taken account of in the interpretation of the results.FindingsThe importance of human behavioral factors over content and tool selection when implementing a blended learning solution cannot be ignored. The role of group dynamics in achieving the learning outcomes also needs to be considered, as does the perceived value of the approach to be taken by the participants. Findings relate to both the e‐learning experience and other learning methods experienced on the course, influenced partly by the students' expectations and preferences.Practical implicationsKey learning is shared with readers so that they can learn from the author's experiences such that anyone considering a blended learning approach in the future considers the three‐way partnership of the organization, the learner and the supplier.Originality/valueThis article will be of special interest to e‐learning developers or development specialists considering blended learning approaches as it draws their attention to the factors beyond the technological application itself which is where attention can become overly focused.
Coaching your way to the top
Authors: Sweeney Tony 
Published: April 2007

PurposeThe article looks at how coaching has become more accessible and functional with direct benefits for the individual and the organization.Design/methodology/approachThe coaching program in each example sited was developed and delivered over a period of several months. In most instances, coaching was included as assessment of needs, group based training (a workshop) followed by tailored coaching. Key outcomes and goals were agreed between the coach and the individual.FindingsResults were measured by holding a review to assess the issues, barriers, objectives, learning and successes.Originality/valueThe following key learning points are outlined: recipient and coach clarify and agree objectives; engage and gain commitment to the coaching plan; assess activity to track learning and measure results; integrate the learning into the workplace; and encourage recognition of successes and celebrate them.
The contribution of e‐HRM to HRM effectiveness
Authors: Ruël Huub J.M. , Bondarouk Tanya V. , Van der Velde Mandy 
Published: April 2007

PurposeBoth for‐profit and not‐for‐profit organisations have been replacing face‐to‐face HRM activities with web‐based HRM tools, e‐HRM for short, for employees and managers since the 1990s. This paper aims to look at whether this is of benefit to an organisation.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in The Netherlands, where e‐HRM in the form of employee self‐service applications was introduced.FindingsThe study shows that individual assessment of e‐HRM applications influences HRM technical and strategic effectiveness. This is especially so in the perceived quality of the content and the structure of e‐HRM applications which have a significant and positive effect on technical and strategic HRM effectiveness.Research limitations/implicationsIt is difficult to form generalizations from the research into only one company.Practical implicationsThe basic expectations are that using e‐HRM will decrease costs, will improve the HR service level and will give the HR department space to become a strategic partner. This study investigates whether this is the case.Originality/valueThe area on which this study concentrates has not had extensive academic research conducted into it.
An analysis of the role of European works councils in British workplaces
Authors: Redfern David 
Published: April 2007

PurposeThe paper seeks to identify the nature of the contribution that European works councils (EWCs) have made to six British workplaces and their employees.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative longitudinal study of the workplaces (2001‐2004) is discussed, which analyses the views of those senior managers and representatives directly involved together with those who have no immediate role but are intended to be beneficiaries of a council's activities: managers, representatives and employees.FindingsA range of factors are identified that, in most instances, frustrated the realisation of the intended objective of EWCs. Those findings contrasted with the initial optimism concerning EWCs created by the use of quantitative research methods. Whilst councils are diverse in character, a backdrop is provided to some of the challenging representational issues and it explores the scope for managerial manipulation and control, given the limitations of the legislation and the sometimes fragmented activities of representatives.Research limitations/implicationsHowever, it is acknowledged that in a limited number of instances EWCs have made a significant contribution.Originality/valueThe paper reflects the expertise of the author and will be of interest to those in the field.
How quality control circles enhance work safety: a case study
Authors: Salaheldin Salaheldin I. , Zain Mohamed 
Published: April 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how quality control circles (QCCs) enhance work safety in a manufacturing firm in a developing country environment of the Middle East.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is an exploratory investigation into the role of QCCs in enhancing work safety based on a case study method. This includes: a comprehensive scrutiny of the relevant literature; and an analysis of a case study of QCCs implementation for enhancing work safety in Direct Reduction Furnace Zone at Qasco, a steel mill in the State of Qatar.FindingsAt the outset, the QCC team identified three specific targets for them to achieve in order to ensure a safe work environment for its workers. After having identified the causes of the problems, the team members were able to analyze the problems, generate alternative solutions, and eventually implement the best solutions. Consequently, the members were able to achieve all their targets.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a need to empirically test and refine the critical factors affecting the successful implementation of QCCs and to explore the most important barriers that might impede the success of their implementation.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can be considered as a roadmap for successful implementation of QCCs in all the subsidiaries of Industries Qatar, the parent company of Qasco, and perhaps in all other organizations in the different sectors and industries but with a similar working environment to that of Qasco.Originality/valueGenerally, the results of this research should enhance the current practices of QCCs implementation, which mostly follow narrowly‐focused approaches. In essence, the results of this research will help management in making crucial decisions and in resource allocations that are required to make the QCCs implementation a success.