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1 – 8 of 8Sérgio B Gonçalves, Pedro Dantas, Francisco Guedes de Melo, João Gouveia, José Guimarães Consciência, Jorge Martins and Miguel Tavares da Silva
Arthroscopic osteochondroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that has been used to treat femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, leading to significant improvements in…
Abstract
Purpose
Arthroscopic osteochondroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that has been used to treat femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, leading to significant improvements in patients’ clinical outcomes and quality of life. However, some studies suggest that inadequate bone resection can substantially alter hip biomechanics. These modifications may generate different contact profiles and higher contact forces, increasing the risk of developing premature joint degeneration. To improve control over bone resection and biomechanical outcomes during arthroscopic osteochondroplasty surgery, this study aims to present a novel system for measuring femoroacetabular contact forces.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a structured design process for the development of medical devices, the steps required for its production using additive manufacturing with material extrusion and easily accessible sensors are described. The system comprises two main devices, one for measuring femoroacetabular contact forces and the other for quantifying the force applied by the assistant surgeon during lower limb manipulation. The hip device was designed for use within an arthroscopic environment, eliminating the need for additional portals.
Findings
To evaluate its performance, the system was first tested in a laboratory setup and later under in-service conditions. The 3D printing parameters were tuned to ensure the watertighness of the device and sustain the intraoperative fluid pressures. The final prototype allowed for the controlled measurement of the hip contact forces in real-time.
Originality/value
Using additive manufacturing and readily available sensors, the present work presents the first device to quantify joint contact forces during arthroscopic surgeries, serving as an additional tool to support the surgeon’s decision-making process regarding bone resection.
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Kexin Liu, Shuhan Meng, Yi Zhang, Peng Zhou, Tao Zhang and Fuhui Wang
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings and sealed PEO coatings on the corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings and sealed PEO coatings on the corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility of a novel Mg-1Zn-0.45Ca alloy in simulated body fluid (SBF).
Design/methodology/approach
The microstructure, corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility of PEO coatings and phosphate conversion-treated PEO coatings were investigated and was compared with the bare Mg alloy.
Findings
The hot-extruded Mg-Zn-Ca alloy exhibit inhomogeneous microstructure and suffered from localized corrosion in the SBF. The PEO coating after phosphate conversion treatment offers enhanced protectiveness to the Mg alloy within an immersion period of up to 60 days, which is significantly improved compared with the performance of the PEO-coated Mg alloy, but the cytocompatibility was slightly decreased.
Originality/value
This work offers new perspective in balancing the protectiveness and cytocompatibility of bio-materials.
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Yogesh Patil, Milind Akarte, K. P. Karunakaran, Ashik Kumar Patel, Yash G. Mittal, Gopal Dnyanba Gote, Avinash Kumar Mehta, Ronald Ely and Jitendra Shinde
Integrating additive manufacturing (AM) tools in traditional mold-making provides complex yet affordable sand molds and cores. AM processes such as selective laser sintering (SLS…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrating additive manufacturing (AM) tools in traditional mold-making provides complex yet affordable sand molds and cores. AM processes such as selective laser sintering (SLS) and Binder jetting three-dimensional printing (BJ3DP) are widely used for patternless sand mold and core production. This study aims to perform an in-depth literature review to understand the current status, determine research gaps and propose future research directions. In addition, obtain valuable insights into authors, organizations, countries, keywords, documents, sources and cited references, sources and authors.
Design/methodology/approach
This study followed the systematic literature review (SLR) to gather relevant rapid sand casting (RSC) documents via Scopus, Web of Science and EBSCO databases. Furthermore, bibliometrics was performed via the Visualization of Similarities (VOSviewer) software.
Findings
An evaluation of 116 documents focused primarily on commercial AM setups and process optimization of the SLS. Process optimization studies the effects of AM processes, their input parameters, scanning approaches, sand types and the integration of computer-aided design in AM on the properties of sample. The authors performed detailed bibliometrics of 80 out of 120 documents via VOSviewer software.
Research limitations/implications
This review focuses primarily on the SLS AM process.
Originality/value
A SLR and bibliometrics using VOSviewer software for patternless sand mold and core production via the AM process.
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Zurong Chen, Jia Zhao and Chen Jin
Textile and contemporary apparel manufacturers are adopting and integrating cutting-edge technologies to reduce their impact on the environment and gain an advantage in the…
Abstract
Purpose
Textile and contemporary apparel manufacturers are adopting and integrating cutting-edge technologies to reduce their impact on the environment and gain an advantage in the marketplace. Most previous studies have ignored business intelligence systems (BIS), notably in the textile and apparel industry (T&A), in favor of looking at the larger picture of how big data would affect retail and distribution in a company. This is especially true for the T&As.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors report that they conducted 14 semi-structured interviews with 12 international luxury tourism service providers. In this case, researchers use snowball features and systematic techniques to select participants. A qualitative content analysis strategy is used to capture the focus of the interviews.
Findings
Problems with T&A company sustainability, opportunities to increase value creation via use of industry-leading business intelligence (BI) solutions and perceived roadblocks to BIS adoption were all found by the poll. Garment retail and distribution sector has benefited greatly from the increased use of Industry 4.0 technologies, especially those that provide better BI solutions. Determine the extent to which industry participation slows down or speeds up the process. The Company Information System (BIS) will help convince non-tech-savvy business owners of the financial, economic and environmental benefits of adopting certain technologies developed as part of the industry 4.0 movement.
Research limitations/implications
The authors of this research claim theirs is one of the first to investigate what variables affect the uptake of BIS, ultimately hoping to find out how BIS may be used by T&A businesses to tackle environmental issues through the use of Industry 4.0 technologies. The purpose of this study was to see whether BIS might aid T&A firms with their sustainability issues.
Practical implications
In the last several years, there has been a meteoric rise in interest in big data and business analytics among firms and educational institutions alike. This paper tries to introduce readers to the concept of business analytics in a way that is both academic and accessible, considering both the present and future of the field. This paper begins with a quick introduction, followed by a summary of the three distinct forms of predictive modeling discussed.
Originality/value
In an effort to help aspiring analytics professionals, they have identified, categorized and evaluated the nine distinct players that are now active in the analytics market. Following this, they will provide a high-level summary of the many different research projects currently being worked on by their group.
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Bodour Mubarak, Maisa Ahmed, Nahed Hussein and Marwa Ezz El-Din Ibrahim
This study aims to evaluate the caffeinated drinks, levels of vitamin D and calcium in the blood, and their relationship to bone mineral density (BMD) in osteoporotic women in…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the caffeinated drinks, levels of vitamin D and calcium in the blood, and their relationship to bone mineral density (BMD) in osteoporotic women in Al-Ahsa Saudi Arabia.
Design/methodology/approach
This study included 85 women over approximately 18 months with ages ranging from 40 to 70 years who were evaluated in the laboratory via blood analysis. Moreover, sociodemographic data and information on health and nutritional awareness were collected via a questionnaire. The BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and considered osteopenia when the T value total of the lumbar spine or hip was between −1 and −2.5 and osteoporosis < −2.5. Blood levels of vitamin D and calcium were measured via blood analysis.
Findings
There were 54.1% and 45.9% of women who suffered from osteoporosis and low BMD, respectively. There was a significant difference in the number of osteoporotic, and low bone mineral mass groups in marital status (p = 0.04), but no difference was found in age and educational level. A significant difference (p = 0.01) between low bone mass and osteoporosis groups in heights. BMD was significantly and negatively correlated with vitamin D in the blood in individuals with osteoporosis (r = −0.358, P = 0.014). In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between calcium in the blood and total samples (r = −0.355, P = 0.0578). There was a negative significant relationship between calcium supplements and BMD in individuals with low BMD (rt = −0.279, P = 0.041). There was a significant association between cola intake with the occurrence of low BMD (p = 0.027), whereas tea drinking was not associated with risk in both groups.
Originality/value
The study indicated that there is a direct relationship between osteoporosis and low bone mass with different variables. This study was conducted to address the lack of research related to the levels of vitamin D and calcium in the blood and their relationship with BMD in women with low BMD and osteoporosis in Al-Ahsa province-KSA.
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Luis Mendes and Grazielle França
Healthcare organizations have been facing challenges due to high costs and low efficiency in health services. The growth of costs and losses caused by avoidable mistakes lead to…
Abstract
Purpose
Healthcare organizations have been facing challenges due to high costs and low efficiency in health services. The growth of costs and losses caused by avoidable mistakes lead to the search for solutions, and Health Lean Management appears as a potential solution to help in solving service quality problems, as well as reducing risks. This study aims to analyse the state of the art in the literature centred on the Lean approach in the context of risk management in healthcare organizations, and to identify new research opportunities, highlighting possible lines of future research.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a systematic literature review approach, 51 papers were considered relevant for this research, and reviewed to explore the development of literature in this area.
Findings
Based on the results, five main research streams were identified: (1) risk management oriented towards patient safety; (2) risk management oriented towards employee safety; (3) importance of attitudes and behaviours in risk reduction projects; (4) Lean tools used in healthcare risk management and (5) Integration of approaches. Moreover, several shortcomings were identified in literature.
Originality/value
Identified shortcomings represent significant opportunities for further research development.
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Angelo Rosa, Nicola Capolupo, Emilia Romeo, Olivia McDermott, Jiju Antony, Michael Sony and Shreeranga Bhat
This study aims to fully assess the readiness for Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and Quality Performance Improvement (QPI) in an Italian Public Healthcare ecosystem.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to fully assess the readiness for Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and Quality Performance Improvement (QPI) in an Italian Public Healthcare ecosystem.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing from previously established survey development and adaptation protocols, a replication study was carried out; Lean, Six Sigma and QPI were extracted and validated through confirmatory factor analysis in an Italian Public Healthcare setting, with a sample of health professionals from the Campania region.
Findings
This study reports the adaptation of an existing scale for measuring LSS and QPI in an Italian public healthcare organisation. This analysis extracts six conceptual domains and constitutes an original adaptation of an existing scale to assess the readiness to adopt Lean, Six Sigma and Quality Performance in Italian Public Health Organizations. The constructs show strong levels of internal consistency, as demonstrated by each item factor loading and each subscale reliability.
Practical implications
Managers, policymakers and academics can employ the proposed tool to assess the public healthcare ecosystem’s capability to implement LSS initiatives and strategies to improve quality performance.
Originality/value
This is one of the first studies to assess cross-regional organisational readiness for LSS and QPI in an Italian Public Healthcare environment at this scope and level.
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Wael Amin Nasr El-Din, Mona Hassan Mohammed Ali, Gisma Ahmed Madani and Islam Omar Abdel Fattah
Sex and age estimation is important, particularly when information about the deceased is unavailable. There are limited radiological studies investigating side, sex and age…
Abstract
Purpose
Sex and age estimation is important, particularly when information about the deceased is unavailable. There are limited radiological studies investigating side, sex and age differences in normal ankle morphometric parameters. The authors’ goal was to evaluate different ankle joint morphometric measurements and document variations among Egyptians.
Design/methodology/approach
A prospective study was conducted throughout 23 months on 203 (100 males and 103 females) adult Egyptians, aged between 20-69 years old, who were referred for a plain x-ray of bilateral normal ankle joints.
Findings
Ankle parameters showed no statistical difference between both sides, except for tarsal width (TaW) which was significantly higher on right than left side (26.92 ± 2.66 vs 26.18 ± 2.65 mm). Males showed significantly higher morphometric values except for anteroposterior gap (APG) and talus height (TaH) which were significantly higher in females (2.29 ± 0.80 vs 1.80 ± 0.61 mm and 13.01 ± 1.68 vs 11.87 ± 1.91 mm, respectively). There was significant increase in tibial arc length, APG, distance of level of MTiTh from anterior limit of mortise, distance of level of MTiTh from vertex of mortise, sagittal distance between tibial and talar vertices and sagittal radius of trochlea tali arc in old age group compared to young one. A significant decrease in tibial width, malleolar width, TaW and TaH was noted in old age group compared to young one.
Originality/value
Ankle joints of both sides are mostly symmetrical; however, there are significant differences in most morphometric values due to sex and age factors. These findings may be essential during side, sex and age determination.
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