Search results

A staff canteen in the workplace can offer a healthier diet, which may lower the blood pressure (BP). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether the presence of staff canteen in the workplace is associated with consumption of healthy food and lower systolic and diastolic BP.

A cross-sectional study was conducted, randomly selecting workers through a multistage sampling, stratified by company size in Brazil. Demographic, socioeconomic, and life style characteristics were evaluated, and weight, height, and BP were measured. Statistical analysis used generalized linear models, controlling for design effect and confounding factors, to assess the association between BP and staff canteen and the intake of food items.

In total, 4.818 workers, aged 35.4±10.7 years, 76.5 percent men, with 8.7±4.1 years of formal education were enrolled. Prevalence of hypertension was 24.7 percent (p-value <0.001) among workers from industries with staff canteen vs 30.6 percent among those with no staff canteen. Workers of industries with staff canteen consumed higher proportion of fruits, green leafy vegetables, and milk than workers of industries without canteen, and had lower systolic and diastolic BP, independently of the frequency of intake.

Workers of industries with staff canteen consumed a healthier diet, and had lower systolic and diastolic BP, and lower prevalence of hypertension than workers from workplaces without staff canteen.

This study was the first carried out among workers of industries reporting that the presence of a staff canteen in the workplace is associated with lower systolic and diastolic BP and prevalence of hypertension.

The purpose of this research study is to improve sentiment analysis (SA) at the aspect level, which is accomplished through two independent goals of aspect term and opinion extraction and subsequent sentiment classification.

The proposed architecture uses neighborhood and dependency tree-based relations for target opinion extraction, a domain–ontology-based knowledge management system for aspect term extraction, and deep learning techniques for classification.

The authors use different deep learning architectures to test the proposed approach of both review and aspect levels. It is reported that Vanilla recurrent neural network has an accuracy of 83.22%, long short-term memory (LSTM) is 89.87% accurate, Bi-LSTM is 91.57% accurate, gated recurrent unit is 65.57% accurate and convolutional neural network is 82.33% accurate. For the aspect level analysis, ρ_aspect comes out to be 0.712 and Δ²_aspect is 0.384, indicating a marked improvement over previously reported results.

This study suggests a novel method for aspect-based SA that makes use of deep learning and domain ontologies. The use of domain ontologies allows for enhanced aspect identification, and the use of deep learning algorithms enhances the accuracy of the SA task.

Identifying and analyzing aspects related to sustainable human resources (HRs) in an emerging, Iberoamerican location (Monterrey, Mexico). Documenting employee experiences regarding sustainable practices of HR in their companies to understand the enacted meaning of sustainable HR management (HRM). This study aims to seek answers to understand the ways environmental sustainability is present in HR subprocesses and the ways companies regard HRs from a sustainability perspective.

This exploratory research has a qualitative approach. The authors collected and summarized semi-structured interviews with 31 key informants that work fully or partially in HRs in a large, industrialized city in an Iberoamerican, emerging economy (Monterrey, Mexico).

The main findings based on responses from HR professionals are as follows: HR activities may contribute to the sustainability of the business and its physical environment; HR can create a culture of care for the resources, but training and development activities are not currently used optimally; and in addition to the economic sustainability of the employers, social and environmental sustainability are also within HR’s influence sphere.

This study contributes to the emerging literature on sustainability in HRM, due the dearth of information related to “green” or environmental practices in HRM. This study reports specifically on the ways this perspective adds value within Mexican enterprises, but the authors are confident that these findings also generalize across industries, enterprises and regions.

Identificar y analizar aspectos relacionados con la sustentabilidad de los recursos humanos de empresas en una localidad iberoamericana emergente (Monterrey, México). Documentar las experiencias de los trabajadores respecto a las prácticas sustentables de recursos humanos en sus empresas para comprender el significado de la administración de Recursos Humanos (RR.HH.) sustentable en la práctica. Hemos buscado respuestas respecto a las maneras en que la sostenibilidad ambiental está presente en los subprocesos de RR.HH. y las maneras en que las organizaciones utilizan una perspectiva de sostenibilidad en la gestión de recursos humanos.

Esta investigación exploratoria tiene un enfoque cualitativo. Recolectamos y resumimos treinta y un entrevistas semiestructuradas con informantes clave que trabajan total o parcialmente en en una ciudad grande e industrializada perteneciente a una economía iberoamericana emergente (Monterrey, México).

Nuestros principales hallazgos basados en las respuestas de los profesionales de RR.HH. son: a) las actividades de RR.HH. pueden contribuir a la sostenibilidad del negocio y su medio ambiente físico, b) RR.HH. puede crear una cultura de cuidado de los recursos, pero las actividades de formación, entrenamiento y desarrollo no se utilizan actualmente de forma óptima, y c) Además de la sostenibilidad económica de las organizaciones, la sostenibilidad social y medioambiental también están dentro de la esfera de influencia de RR.HH.

Este estudio contribuye a la literatura emergente sobre sostenibilidad en la gestión de recursos humanos, debido a la falta de información relacionada con las prácticas “verdes” o ambientales de RR.HH. En este documento reportamos específicamente sobre las formas en que esta consideración de valor en RR.HH sostenible dentro de las empresas mexicanas, sin embargo, está claro que estos hallazgos tienen una importancia más amplia en todas las empresas y regiones.

Identificar e analisar aspectos relacionados à sustentabilidade dos recursos humanos em empresas de uma localidade ibero-americana emergente (Monterrey, México). Observar as experiências dos trabalhadores de práticas sustentáveis de RH em suas empresas para entender o que significa na prática a gestão sustentável de RH. Buscamos respostas sobre as formas como a sustentabilidade ambiental está presente nos subprocessos de RH e as formas como as organizações utilizam a perspectiva da sustentabilidade na gestão de recursos humanos.

Esta pesquisa exploratória tem abordagem qualitativa. Coletamos e resumimos trinta e uma entrevistas semiestruturadas com informantes-chave que trabalham total ou parcialmente em uma grande cidade industrializada pertencente a uma economia emergente ibero-americana (Monterrey, México).

Nossos principais achados com base nas respostas dos profissionais de RH são: a) as atividades de RH podem contribuir para a sustentabilidade do negócio e seu ambiente físico, b) o RH pode criar uma cultura de cuidado com os recursos, mas as atividades de educação, treinamento e desenvolvimento atualmente não são utilizadas de forma otimizada, e c) Além da sustentabilidade econômica das organizações, a sustentabilidade social e ambiental também estão dentro da esfera de influência do RH.

Este estudo contribui a literatura emergente sobre sustentabilidade na gestão de recursos humanos, devido à falta de informação relacionada às práticas “verdes” ou ambientais de RH. Neste estudo reportamos especificamente sobre o valor dos RH nas empresas mexicanas, no entanto, fica claro que essas descobertas podem ser generalizadas a outras indústrias, empresas e regiões.

This study aims to present Lean Six Sigma (LSS) deployment and sustainment strategies for the healthcare sector from a multi-level perspective. The objective is to present LSS implementation insights to enable policymakers, practitioners and academicians to test and develop an LSS framework for healthcare sectors.

The strategies identified are the result of a multi-method research design involving literature review, action research (AR) and Delphi study. Further, the AR portion of the study involved more than 10 years of projects focused on the deployment of LSS in the healthcare sector.

The strategies include a holistic view from the multi-level perspective, considering the Top Management Level, Middle Management Level and Operational Level. The authors ascertained 27 strategies across the three levels of organizational structure for the effective deployment of LSS. Further, the authors present a customized LSS “pocket guide” from the healthcare perspective for quick reference.

The strategies delineated in this study are based on the Indian healthcare section only; thus, further research in additional geographic contexts is needed. Also, further research is necessary to provide additional empirical validation of the effects of the identified strategies on LSS program outcomes and to verify that the strategies operate at the proposed organizational levels. Future research should also focus on identifying the interrelationships between strategies within and across levels, developing a “road map” for LSS implementation in hospitals and designing the LSS curriculum for medical schools and other medical training programs.

Observations of this study can contribute to developing a holistic framework for successful LSS implementation in the healthcare sector for academicians, practitioners and policymakers. This, in turn, ensures an enhanced value proposition, improved quality of life and reduced healthcare operational costs. Thus, it ensures a win-win situation among all the stakeholders of the healthcare sector.

The strategies put forth will enable the LSS researchers, academicians and, more particularly, practitioners to delve deeper into specific enablers and safeguard the LSS deployment from backlash. The research has two significant benefits. Firstly, it enhances the understanding of LSS from the healthcare perspective. Secondly, it provides direction for future studies with specific components for hospitals’ LSS framework, which can be further tested, refined and improved.

The key purpose of conducting this review is to identify the issues that affect the structural integrity of pipeline structures. Heat affected zone (HAZ) has been identified as the weak zone in pipeline welds which is prone to have immature failures

In the present work, literature review is conducted on key issues related to the structural integrity of pipeline steel welds. Mechanical and microstructural transformations that take place during welding have been systematically reviewed in the present review paper.

Key findings of the present review underline the role of brittle microstructure phases, and hard secondary particles present in the matrix are responsible for intergranular and intragranular cracks.

The research limitations of the present review are new material characterization techniques that are not available in developing countries.

The practical limitations are new test methodologies and associated cost.

The fracture of pipelines significantly affects the surrounding ecology. The continuous spillage of oil pollutes the land and water of the surroundings.

The present review contains recent and past studies conducted on welded pipeline steel structures. The systematic analysis of studies conducted so far highlights various bottlenecks of the welding methods.

Telephone triage or hear and treat (H&T) describes the process of UK ambulance services nurses and paramedics undertaking enhanced telephone assessments of patients to determine the most appropriate response, which can sometimes result in no ambulance being sent. Given, however, that 999 is not considered an advice service, it may be reasonable to assert that the expectation of those calling 999 is always an immediate ambulance response. This may not always be realised and may affect patient experience. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the following: to what extent are the views of UK ambulance telephone triage service users being gathered? In answering this research question, this review also aims to explore the findings to determine service users’ expectations of ambulance telephone triage and the possibility that these expectations are influenced by the UK media. The findings of which could be used to inform the need and nature of future research.

Phase one consisted of a computerised literature search of online databases CINAHL, Pubmed, Science Direct, Cochrane library, Web of Science and UK government-funded databases. Phase two consisted of searches of all UK ambulance services websites and the submission of freedom of information requests. Phase three consisted of a computerised literature search of the ProQuest international news-stream database.

A total of 78 results were identified and after further screening 34 results were excluded, leaving 44 for final review. The extent to which users experience of ambulance service telephone triage are being gathered is low; and often limited to one off pieces of non-peer reviewed work. Patients felt overall that they were treated with respect, dignity and care. However, being listened to, reducing anxiety and a need for prompt assurances remain important to those whose overriding expectation is that an ambulance should attend every time a 999 call is made. There appears to be a balanced media portrayal of H&T with the UK media. However, unrealistic public expectations represent a significant barrier to providing sustainable care that users consider to be of high quality.

Some user experiences may have been gathered in more broad research exercises which explored various aspects of 999 ambulance service experience. This was not included if it could not be clearly differentiated as being related to H&T and thus may have resulted in data being omitted. It was not possible to systematically search social media platforms (such as facebook or twitter) for any media results related to this search strategy; only traditional print and online media platforms. This also may have resulted in data being omitted. The inclusion of non-peer reviewed research results and grey literature represents a possible limitation to the conclusions drawn within this review. The concept of Insider Research Bias cannot be ignored within this review. The author himself practices in telephone triage within a UK ambulance service; however, this insider bias is mitigated by the clearly articulated systematic methodology and use of the Critical Appraisal Skills framework. In a similar vein, reviews of this nature are also often conducted as part of a team, to reduce bias, increase objectivity and ensure the validity of findings. This review was a sole effort, and while this is not uncommon, there were no cross checks by peers of the search terms, strategy, paper selection, exclusion criteria or data extraction. This lack of peer critique is considered a possible limitation in mitigating selection and reviewer bias.

The results of this review would suggest a need to increase the amount of research and patient feedback gathered from those being assessed and managed by ambulance service telephone triage within the UK. Ambulance services could hold regular monthly small-scale qualitative interviews with patients and families to ascertain their views, perceptions and anxieties which can then provide an up-to-date understanding of user expectations and the health educational needs of local communities. Patient feedback received directly to ambulance services or via the Patient Advice and Liaison Service could be retrospectively analysed by researchers to determine key themes of positive practice or negative patient experience. Such feedback can be tracked through time and be used as a pre and post community intervention measure, to determine any changes. Moving forward, nationally standardised research frameworks should be adopted to provide more easily collated local and national data, which can monitor improvement strategies and provide a comparison between services to aid the sharing of best practice principles.

There is no other piece of work published which has reviewed the data in this area of clinical practice within the UK.

Social return on investment (SROI) has received increasing attention, both academically and professionally, since it was initially developed by the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund in the USA in the mid-1990s. Based on a systematic review of the literature that highlights the potential and limitations related to the academic and professional development of the SROI model, the purpose of this study is to systematize the academic debate and contribute to the future research agenda of blended value accounting.

Relying on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses approach, this study endeavors to provide reliable academic insights into the factors driving the usage of the SROI model and its further development.

A systematic literature review produced a final data set of 284 studies. The results reveal that despite the procedural accuracy characterizing the description of the model, bias-driven methodological implications, availability of resources and sector specificities can influence the type of approach taken by scholars and practitioners.

To dispel the conceptual and practical haze, this study discusses the results found, especially regarding the potential solutions offered to overcome the SROI limitations presented, as well as offers suggestions for future research.

This study aims to fill a gap in the literature and enhance a conceptual debate on the future of accounting when it concerns a blended value proposition.