The role of information and communication technology in the urgent decision making process : a work in progress report

This paper reports part of a study that examines how members of a senior management team in a public sector organisation make decisions under urgency. Four regional managers, who are geographically dispersed around New Zealand were interviewed, either face-to-face or via telephone, regarding their experiences of decision making under urgency.

Preliminary results indicate that only three out of a possible seven steps of a conventional decision making process are used during the urgent decision making process. The study also shows that participants do not fully utilise the information and communication technology available during the decision making process. The implications the findings have for practice and research are discussed.

Races of Albugo candida causing white blister rust on brassica vegetables in Australia

Albugo Candida races of Australian isolates from B. oleracea var. italica (broccoli), B. rapa var. pekinensis (pak choi) and var. chinensis (Chinese cabbage), and Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherd's purse) were identified on a set of Brassicaceae hosts. Isolates from broccoli were identified as A. candida race 9 (Ac 9), from pak choi and Chinese cabbage as the sub-race V of Ac 7 or as a mixed population of sub-races A and V of the same race. Isolates from Shepherd's purse were identified as Ac 4. Australian Ac 9 isolates caused white blister disease on broccoli, broccolini, cauliflower, Brussels sprout and other related Brassicaceae hosts including B. nigra (black mustard), B. napus (oilseed rape), and on B. rapa (turnip rape) 'Torch' (a differential host of Ac 7). All cultivars of cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata) and one new broccoli 'Booster' inoculated with isolates from broccoli were immune to the isolate tested. This result indicates that the Australian A. candida varies from the European one that causes disease on cabbage as well as on other B. oleracea varieties and additionally on shepherd's purse and an American one that causes disease on cabbage. The genotype of B. nigra tested was susceptible to both Ac 9 and Ac 7. This result indicates that B. nigra can serve as a host for both races. This study provides the first record of white blister disease on B. napus ('Hobson' and 'Regent') in Australia.

Patient-reported outcomes following islet cell or pancreas transplantation (alone or after kidney) in type 1 diabetes: a systematic review

Aims For selected individuals with complex Type 1 diabetes, pancreatic islet transplantation (IT) offers the potential of excellent glycaemic controlwithout significant hypoglycaemia, balanced by the need for ongoing systemic immunosuppression. Increasingly, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are considered alongside biomedical outcomes as a measure of transplant success. PROs in IT have not previously been compared directlywith the closest alternate treatment option, pancreas transplant alone (PTA) or pancreas after kidney (PAK).

Methods We used a Population, Intervention, Comparisons, Outcomes (PICO) strategy to search Scopus and screened 314 references for inclusion.

Results Twelve studies [including PRO assessment of PAK, PTA, islet-after kidney (IAK) and islet transplant alone (ITA); n = 7–205] used a total of nine specified and two unspecified PRO measures. Results were mixed but identified some benefits which remained apparent up to 36 months post-transplant, including improvements in fear of hypoglycaemia, as well as some aspects of diabetes-specific quality of life (QoL) and general health status. Negative outcomes included short-term pain associated with the procedure, immunosuppressant side effects and depressed mood associated with loss of graft function.

Conclusions The mixed resultsmay be attributable to limited sample sizes. Also, some PROmeasures may lack sensitivity to detect actual changes, as they exclude issues and domains of life likely to be important forQoL post-transplantation and when patients may no longer perceive themselves to have diabetes. Thus, the full impact of islet ⁄ pancreas transplantation (alone or after kidney) on QoL is unknown. Furthermore, no studies have assessed patient satisfaction, which may highlight further advantages and disadvantages of transplantation.

Accurate modeling of low actuation voltage RFMEMS switches using artificial neural networks

This paper presents a fast and accurate method for extracting the scattering parameters of a RF MEMS switch by using its essential parameters. A neural network is developed for parametric modeling of the switch. The essential parameters of the switch are analyzed in terms of its return loss and isolation with variation of its geometrical component values. Simulation results show that the proposed approach can be used to accurately model the RF characteristics of RF-MEMS switches. The results show good agreement between the neural network prediction and electromagnetic simulations.

Fixed-angle locking proximal humerus plate: an evaluation of functional results and implant-related outcomes

Background
Displaced and unstable proximal humeral fractures are challenging injuries to treat. Proximal humeral locking plates are a recent development for the treatment of these complex fractures.

Methods
Retrospective analysis of 23 patients with 23 proximal humeral fractures treated with the Synthes locking proximal humerus plate. These were Neer two-, three- and four-part fractures. Follow-up was at a mean of 22 months and included clinical assessment using the Constant score (CS) and the Short Form-12 health questionnaire. Radiographic assessment was performed to assess implant-related complication in relation to the initial fracture pattern and the presence of adequate medial support.

Results
The mean CS for all patients was 60.4 (range, 29–85). The mean adjusted CS was 82% (range, 30–117), active forward flexion 127 degrees and the active abduction 115 degrees. Initial fracture pattern, the presence or absence of adequate medial support and age did not significantly influence the clinical scores. Complications included one infection, two cases of avascular necrosis, two cases of varus collapse with screw penetration and one non-union. The overall reoperation rate was 26%. There was an increased rate of complications in those with inadequate medial support (P = 0.0183) and a trend to higher complication rates in four-part fractures.

Conclusion
Using the locking proximal humerus plate for the treatment of proximal humeral fractures is an acceptable procedure with comparable outcomes with historical controls, but with a complication rate of 30%. More important than implant selection, however, is the ability to achieve a stable reduction with calcar support.