1545 research outputs found
Sort by
An Ounce of Prevention: What Promotes Crisis Readiness and How Does It Drive Firm Performance?
Get PDFOrganizations develop crisis readiness to avoid and mitigate crises. This study investigates several factors that influence crisis readiness, including market dynamism, perceived likelihood of a crisis (PLC), and firm size. It also evaluates the impact of crisis readiness on firm performance. Results from a PLS-SEM assessment of 301 managers in the United States suggest that market dynamism drives firm performance while heightening both PLC and crisis readiness. When compared to large organizations, managers in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reported higher PLC but lower crisis readiness, underscoring the challenges faced by small firms regarding crisis preparation. Crisis readiness was also positively linked to both financial and non-financial performance. The model tested in this study supports the influence of external and organizational factors on crisis preparation, as well as subsequent links with firm performance
Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) Medication Reconciliation Technology Requires a Shared Understanding of Its Value Among Healthcare Providers
No full textRecent efforts to reform the healthcare delivery system have focused on improving patient safety during transitions of care, when patients move between healthcare providers and settings as their conditions change during the course of an illness (1-5). Medication errors, which represent the most common patient safety error during care transitions (e.g., admission, transfer, and discharge), are estimatedto harm 1.5 million people and cost at least $3.5 billion per year. Adverse drug events are also estimated to affect approximately 2 million hospital stays per year and prolong the length of stay by 1.7–4.6 days (6,7). Transitions of care pose a higher risk for medication errors due to greater potential for communication breakdowns regarding patient medications between healthcare settings. Over 40 percent of medication errors are known to result from inadequate reconciliation of patient medications during transitions of care. In other words, many of these errors could be averted if consistent medication reconciliation (MedRec) processes were in place (5-7)
Perceived Stress of College Students During COVID-19: Adverse Childhood Experiences
Get PDFACEs are adverse childhood experiences experienced in the first 18 years of life. They are present in over a third of the population and lead to adverse health outcomes (Karatekin, 2017). The goal of this study was to examine whether ACEs could be used to identify stress levels of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on ACEs and stress levels were collected from students actively enrolled at a college or university (N= 183). Findings indicated that high ACEs were predictive of high stress, specifically considering stressful factors experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study suggest the implementation of conventional screenings for ACEs within college students. Introducing stress prevention and intervention measures to students could decrease the likelihood of developing adverse health outcomes
A Comparison of State Policies on Sexual Assault Kit Submission and Testing
No full textThe media have brought attention to the number of untested sexual assault kits (SAKs) in storage that law enforcement has failed to submit for testing despite the valuable information they can provide to assist in the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases. Numerous studies have demonstrated a need for changes in SAK policies to better address the submission of SAKs and ensure that no SAK goes untested, but less attention has been paid to the content and language of these changes. Current and pending state legislation addressing the handling of SAKs in each of the fifty states in the United States and Washington D.C. were collected through an internet search. A content analysis of collected policies was conducted to determine the prevalence of SAK legislative changes, the number of states to incorporate model policy recommendations from the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) and Joyful Heart Foundation, and the variation in the inclusion of these recommendations. This study found that states have predominately not adopted the policy recommendations into their legislation, many states have not updated their SAK policies recently, and, where these recommendations were adopted, there was substantial variation in the way they were addressed. These findings demonstrate a need for states to adopt all components of the SAKI and Joyful Heart Foundation model policy recommendations and for future analyses on the impact of such SAK policy adoption on the current SAK backlog
Investigation of Palatal Rugoscopy for Forensic Human Identification
Get PDFHuman identification is critical to the field of forensic science as well as in many sub-disciplines, including forensic pathology, forensic anthropology, and forensic odontology. While few widely-accepted methods of identification dominate the discipline (primarily fingerprint and dental record analysis), the study of palatal rugae patterns (rugoscopy) is an emerging tool in human identification. Some studies suggest that patterns of the palatal rugae are an individualizing characteristic among humans. While the use of rugoscopy for identification has been explored as an identifying marker in the dental and orthodontic communities, its use for forensic applications is not widely recognized. Also, while some literature is available about global populations, American studies of palatal rugae are quite limited.
In this research, multiple palatal rugae patterns were examined and classified, and attempts were undertaken to individualize the patterns observed. Using 76 images of palatal rugae patterns (including 60 images of dental casts and 16 intraoral images), the rugoscopic identity was calculated for each set of patterns and affirmed the individualizing nature of palatal rugae patterns. Additionally, a new, forensically-focused classification system was proposed using shape, length, and number of rugae as parameters. This research also investigated intraoral imaging and the creation of alginate impression records to determine the most optimal method for saving palatal rugae patterns from unidentified human remains (UHR) for further analysis. It may be concluded that palatal rugae patterns can be used for postmortem forensic identification in addition to existing methods, or as a substitute when such other methods may not be viable or available to establish human identity
The Co-Evolution of Global Legitimation and Technology Upgrading: The Case of Huawei
Get PDFThis study explores the underlying relationship between acquisition of global legitimacy and the search for technology upgrading by Chinese multinational enterprises (MNEs). Using Huawei’s investment in Russia, Kenya, the United Kingdom and Canada as an in-depth case study, we observe that through corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in foreign markets and engaging with local community, Chinese MNEs can acquire global legitimacy and gradually catch up with industry leaders. However, the process of global legitimation and innovation continues to evolve. We find that, together with engaging in CSR activities, acquisition of sophisticated knowledge and creation of innovation bring more legitimacy challenges to these firms. Thus, we suggest that Chinese MNEs’ global legitimation and innovation processes are closely coupled and mutually influential, resulting in co-evolution
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a Model for Borrelia burgdorferi Infection
No full textBorrelia burgdorferi is a spirochetal bacterium which can cause Lyme disease. The infectious mechanisms of B. burgdorferi have been traditionally studied in different in vitro and in vivo systems. For example, various animal models have been used in understanding the transmission and pathogenesis of B. burgdorferi and the host immune response. Mice, dogs and Rhesus macaques have been instrumental in providing information about the pathogenesis of Lyme disease. However, they have many drawbacks such as high cost and long development time. The zebrafish, Danio rerio, has been recently established as an excellent model for infectious diseases for variety of bacterial pathogens, such as the spirochetal bacterium, Leptospira interrogans. This raised the question about whether the zebrafish could be a suitable animal model for B. burgdorferi infection. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate whether zebrafish can be infected by B. burgdorferi and whether the B. burgdorferi can survive in zebrafish for long period of time. To introduce B. burgdorferi into the zebrafish, two different infection methods were used in this study: immersion assay and microinjection assay. The infected zebrafish were evaluated by monitoring physiological and behavioral parameters and B. burgdorferi presence was assessed by wholemount immunohistochemistry staining and different PCR methods. The results showed the zebrafish can be indeed infected with B. burgdorferi using any of the methods. Interestingly, findings also suggest that B. burgdorferi could affect the zebrafish physiology by altering the heart rate. To assess whether the zebrafish’s immune system would be able to clear the B. burgdorferi infection, Reverse Transcription/Real Time PCR was performed over a 2-month window post-infection. The results showed active B. burgdorferi transcription in all samples which suggest an ongoing infection. In summary, our study has provided evidence that B. burgdorferi infection model in zebrafish can be established by both immersion and microinjection methods. This study will widen the field at which the mechanism of B. burgdorferi infection can be studied in zebrafish as an animal model
Assessing the Relationship Between Youth Religiosity and Their Alcohol Use: A Meta-Analysis from 2008 to 2018
No full textUnderage alcohol use, and associated deleterious consequences, persists as a serious public health issue. In particular, early initiation of alcohol use increases risk for the development of alcohol use disorders later on in life. Religiosity – a multidimensional construct, encompassing personal beliefs, commitments, practices, and public behaviors – has demonstrated a strong protective effect on alcohol consumption; as one’s religiosity increases their alcohol use behaviors decrease. This meta-analysis includes research spanning years 2008–2018, and specifically examines whether measuring religiosity via a single dimension, as compared to multiple dimensions, impacts the association between alcohol use and religiosity
Relaunching ABR in the Midst of a Global Pandemic: Highlights of Vol. 23 (No. 1)
Get PDFWe relaunched the all-digital American Business Review (ABR) in Fall 2019. Little did we imagine that COVID-19 would appear in Spring 2020 and disrupt life all over the globe. All three audiences of ABR viz. Businesses, Business Students and Business Faculty have had to scramble over the last few months. Businesses that we research, teach and learn about as Business Professors and Students had the most difficult time of all with the global lockdowns. Essential businesses including food, medicine, sanitation and their supply chains and distribution channels had to keep working somehow-anyhow. Along with essential services were our lifesavers including medical, emergency, and national security personnel globally who continued to work at great personal health risk. Those businesses that were not considered essential had to shut down for public health and safety. In the process, all businesses had to suffer great losses. We at ABR recognize and salute you all for your great contribution during this global health crisis. Business students, in the US had to leave campus and continue studies online and at very short notice. Similarly, business faculty had to move face-to-face classes online overnight as campuses went into lockdown. Against this challenging backdrop our review board and referees did an outstanding job of providing knowledgeable and constructive reviews to our authors. Our author/s responded to reviewer comments in great detail and the joint efforts of reviewers resulted in the issue that is before you
What CEOs Have to Say: Insights on the STEM Workforce
Get PDFEstablishing and maintaining the supply of skilled STEM workers are issues that many businesses are currently facing. CEOs can provide unique perspectives on the roles of parents, educators and schools, industry and community partners, and government on this issue. To this end, a Qualtrics panel was used to survey 45 CEOs located in the state of Georgia in the southeastern United States. CEOs responded to open-ended questions that were later analyzed using topic modeling techniques to uncover the themes and the factors that have the potential to increase the number of STEM-capable graduates and, ultimately, a sustained STEM workforce. The results of this study indicate that CEOs perceive parents, educators and schools, industry and community partners, and government as key players who are recommended to interact, engage and collaborate to successfully create a sustained pipeline of STEM talent. Business leaders, university business programs, and business faculty should stay abreast of the factors affecting the supply and demand of STEM workers, and this paper adds value by reporting on CEO perspectives on this important problem