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Article
Publication date: 1 December 2004

Vincent Henneken, Marcel Tichem and Bernhard Karpuschewski

An alternative way of performing micro‐assembly tasks is by means of product‐internal assembly functions. After a coarse alignment step, the parts are fine positioned relative to…

Abstract

An alternative way of performing micro‐assembly tasks is by means of product‐internal assembly functions. After a coarse alignment step, the parts are fine positioned relative to each other by functionality that is integrated with the product. This functionality includes part actuation, position sensing and part freezing. They replace expensive machinery and delicate manual labour, and are aimed to result in lower total production costs. Micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) technology has important benefits to be used as supporting technology, because it allows for cost reduction (batch production), and structures can be made with small dimensions and high accuracy. The objective of this paper is to develop a reliable and reproducible interconnection technology using MEMS‐based product‐internal assembly functions, by which packaging cost is reduced and yield is improved. The considered case is the packaging of optical fibre to chip couplings.

Details

Assembly Automation, vol. 24 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-5154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2007

James Shearer, Alex D. Wodak and Kate A. Dolan

The study evaluated the introduction of naltrexone in an Australian prison system for imprisoned male heroin users. Treatment outcomes were analysed for two sub‐samples taken from…

Abstract

The study evaluated the introduction of naltrexone in an Australian prison system for imprisoned male heroin users. Treatment outcomes were analysed for two sub‐samples taken from an unsuccessful randomised controlled trial. The first sample comprised 68 participants who were randomly allocated to naltrexone treatment. The second sample comprised 47 participants who commenced opioid pharmacotherapy during the study period. Thirteen per cent of subjects started naltrexone, with only 7% retained in treatment at six months. Six‐month retention was significantly lower in naltrexone compared to methadone (p = 0.0007). Poor patient acceptability and retention did not support oral naltrexone maintenance in this treatment group.

Details

International Journal of Prisoner Health, vol. 3 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1744-9200

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 October 2020

Mahi Mahmoud Al-Tehewy, Sara Ebraheem Abd Al-Razak, Tamer Shahat Hikal and Maha Magdy Wahdan

Patient safety indicators (PSIs) were developed as a tool for hospitals to identify potentially preventable complications and improve patient safety performance. The study aimed…

Abstract

Purpose

Patient safety indicators (PSIs) were developed as a tool for hospitals to identify potentially preventable complications and improve patient safety performance. The study aimed at measuring the incidence of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) PSI03 (pressure ulcer [PU] rate) and to identify the association between PSI03 and clinical outcomes including death, readmission within 30 days and length of stay (LOS) at the cardiothoracic surgery hospital at Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory prospective cohort study was conducted to follow up patients, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, from admission until one month after discharge at the cardiothoracic surgery hospital. Data were collected through basic information and follow-up sheets. The total number of included participants in the study was 330.

Findings

PSI03 incidence rate was 67.7 per 1,000 discharges. Patients aged 60 years and above had the highest risk among all age groups. In patients who developed PSI03, the risk ratio (RR) of death was 8.8 [95% CI (3.79–20.24)], RR of staying more than 30 days at the hospital was 1.5 [95% CI (1.249–1.872)] and of readmission within 30 days in patients who developed PSI03 was 1.5 [95% CI (0.38–6.15)]. In the study’s hospital, the patients who developed PSI03 were at higher risk of death and stayed longer at the hospital than patients without PSI03. This study demonstrated a clear association between PSI03 and patient outcomes such as LOS and mortality. Early detection, prevention and proper management of PSI03 are recommended to decrease unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Originality/value

The importance of PSIs lies in the fact that they facilitate the recognition of the adverse events and complications which occurred during hospitalization and give the hospitals a chance to improve the possible clinical outcomes. Therefore, the current study aimed at measuring the association between AHRQ PSI03 ( PU rate) and the clinical outcomes including death, readmission within 30 days and the LOS at the cardiothoracic surgery hospital at Ain Shams University. This study will provide the hospital management with baseline data for this type of adverse event and guide them to develop a system for identifying the high-risk group of patients and to upgrade relevant hospital policies and guidelines that lead to improved patient outcomes.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 33 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 January 2020

Juliane Barroso Leal, Juçara Barroso Leal, Joaline Barroso Portela Leal, Yan de Lima Borges, Maria Ivone Leal de Moura, Alfredo Anderson Teixeira-Araujo, Venilson Serafim da Costa and Ferdinando Oliveira Carvalho

This paper aims to verify the effect of 12 weeks of grape juice (GJ) consumption associated with aerobic exercise on the variation of the hypertensive elderly pressure.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to verify the effect of 12 weeks of grape juice (GJ) consumption associated with aerobic exercise on the variation of the hypertensive elderly pressure.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 45 hypertensive elderly of both sexes were distributed into: control group (CG, n = 10), exercise group (EG, n = 10), juice group (JG, n = 12) and juice and exercise group (JEG, n = 13). Blood pressure and heart rate were checked weekly before exercise in JG and JEG, and before and after intervention in all groups, with JG and JEG supplemented with 200 mL of GJ. Three weekly sessions of moderate walking were applied.

Findings

There was a reduction in EG, JG and JEG for systolic pressure and diastolic only for JG and JEG. The GJ consumption to the practice of aerobic exercise provided reductions in the arterial pressure of hypertensive, in addition to stabilization of the diastolic pressure.

Research limitations/implications

Although the objective of the study was to compare the effect and value of intervention with controls, the study had no intervention in food consumption, which could have led to more significant results. There was a limitation in the control drink, leading the study not to be blind, which may have impaired the results. However, it is probably not a bias, as the groups were divided by residence area, and therefore, had no direct contact with the other groups. Another limitation was that the sample size was still small, which would lead to more reliable results. Finally, although the existing limitations cannot be disregarded, the results of this research are very promising, especially when the objective is the effect of GJ and aerobic exercise on blood pressure, with the possibility of implementing supplemental GJ and the inclusion or not of exercise to the hypertensive elderly.

Originality/value

The paper deals with the benefits of GJ consumption associated with aerobic physical exercise on the blood pressure of elderly hypertensive patients. Considering that GJ along with physical exercise was enough to reduce the blood pressure of hypertensive elderly, this may be a new model to be used to reduce and/or control blood pressure, and GJ and the exercise to be part of the daily life of the population.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 50 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

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