THE EFFECTS OF KINESIO TAPING ON MUSCULAR ENDURANCE OF DEEP NECK FLEXORS FOR SUBJECTS WITH FORWARD HEAD POSTURE?A PILOT STUDY

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Kinesio taping on head posture and muscular endurance of deep neck flexors for subjects with forward head posture. The subjects were two males (mean age 19.0 ± 1.4 years, mean body height 172.0 ± 5.6 cm, mean body weight 72.0 ± 18.3 kg) and three females (mean age 19.7 ± 2.0 years, mean body height 162.0± 2.0 cm, mean body weight 55.3 ± 6.6 kg) who agreed to participate in this study. The forward head posture was measured by postural assessment system, meanwhile the muscular endurance of deep neck flexors was measured by using the neck strength measure instrument while two taping methods applied to the subjects. The placebo taping method resulted in more improvement on neck flexor muscles endurance and head posture than traditional taping method. Placebo taping method may be better than the traditional taping method for correcting forward head posture and improving muscular endurance of deep neck flexors

Managerial Efficiency in the Food and Beverage Industry in Taiwan

This study evaluates the managerial efficiency of food and beverage companies by employing the output-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. Consequently, the input and output variables of ten Taiwanese listed food and beverage companies were collected from 2011 to 2014. Then the Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine the difference in efficiency between restaurant companies and beverage and dessert companies. The major findings are as follows: (1) An inverse relationship exists between the scale and managerial efficiencies of the food and beverage industry. (2) The Mann-Whitney U test shows that the beverage and dessert companies are statistically more efficient. The results not only offer different managerial insights into the food and beverage industry’s operating efficiency but also determine which factors have a significant and direct impact on these restaurants’ or beverage and dessert shops’ success or failure, which is the considerable contribution of this study for the service industry

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Parallel Session 34, Mega Events & Music Festivals Track: Holiday Effects on the Stock Price of the Amusement Park and Attractions Industry in the United States

Purpose Since Fama (1970) proposed the Efficient Markets Hypothesis (EMH), many related research studies have been widely conducted. However, behavioral finance scholars have not agreed because EHM cannot completely explain the holiday effects/ calendar effect such as Monday effect, January effect, and so on. Therefore, according to the theory of behavior finance, the purpose of this study is to examine the abnormal returns and volatilities in the amusement park ad attractions industry before and after the holiday in the United States. This study not only offers further evidence of the holiday effects on the stock price with a higher excess return and volatility, but also presents additional and different perspectives on the holiday effect phenomenon in the amusement park and attractions industry in the United States. Design/methodology/approach In order to fill the gap of the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) that cannot explain an abnormal phenomenon, the study employs the theory of behavioral finance to explain the holiday effects because the calendar effect plays a vital role both in behavioral finance and in the amusement parks and attractions industry. This study follows the methodology from Corhay and Rad (1994). Thus, the GARCH model is adopted with a dummy variable as a proxy of holiday event to examine whether the holiday effect exists, including pre-holiday and post-holiday. The holidays include New Year\u27s Day, Mother\u27s Day, Father\u27s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and so on. In addition, this study separates the holidays to identify which category of holiday has a greater impact on abnormal returns and volatilities in the amusement park and attractions industry in the United States. All companies in this study are publicly traded companies and belong to the amusement parks and attractions industry. Findings There is an 11.39% significant effect for abnormal return rates and 22.22% significant effect for abnormal volatility rate, including pre-holidays and post-holidays. This indicates that abnormal volatility rate is higher than abnormal return for the holiday effects. In addition, there is a 5.83% positive and significant effect while 5.56% negative and significant impact. Both of these rates are not high. However, for abnormal volatility, there is no positive and significant effect but there is a 22.22% negative and significant effect, which means all significant abnormal volatilities are negative. For the abnormal returns, there is an 8.33% significant rate for pre-holiday but post-holiday receives 14.44%. This implies that the abnormal return rate that exists in post-holidays is higher than the rate in pre-holiday. However, for the abnormal volatilities, pre-holiday accounts for 37.22% while post-holiday has 7.22%. This indicates that the abnormal volatility rate occurs in pre-holiday is way higher than the rate in post-holiday. Research limitations/implications There are some limitations in this study. The companies that this study adopts are all publicly traded companies. The number of the publicly traded companies in the amusement parks and attractions industry is less than the number of publicly traded firms in other industries. Therefore, the sample of data collection in the amusement parks and attractions is not that big. Moreover, this study focuses on the holiday impacts on the stock price of the amusement parks and attractions industry and to determine whether different holidays can have different effects on the businesses of the amusement parks and attractions. However, this study does not consider whether different scales of companies with different revenue growth and financial situations. For the research implications, this study reveals that the calendar effects happen, which means that stock returns and volatilities can predicted for certain days of the week, days of the month, or certain holidays of the year. In addition, this study examines the theory of behavioral finance; behavioral finance can bridge the knowledge gap left by the traditional financial and economic theory such as Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) that cannot explain an abnormal phenomenon in the stock market. Practical implications This study contributes to both academia and industry. For the academia, this study can be examined by the theory of behavioral finance and can explain the holiday effects for amusement parks and attractions industry. The findings of this study also have crucial managerial implications in the industry because more people now take their days off than in the past. People realize leisure and recreation can enhance their quality of life. Therefore, taking part in leisure activities such as going to amusement parks or attractions is part of people\u27s lives, especially in holidays with their family and children. Hence, it is important to examine what extent and how holiday effect phenomenon has an impact on the amusement parks and attractions industry. Additionally, through this study, these amusement parks companies can develop better marketing strategies and adjust business models for the specific dates to maximize their sales and also increase profits. Furthermore, this study can benefit the shareholders of these amusement park companies because investors can determine the time to purchase or sell the stocks to earn money. Originality/value The examination of the holiday impacts on amusement parks and attractions is a novel idea because for the companies, they can realize what extent or how the holidays can bring the maximization of revenues and for the investors, they can know the right time to buy or sell their stocks for maximizing their personal financial management. This study also provides a new and different insight into the entertainment industry through holiday effects/ events. More complete contents with details be discussed in the full paper. The figures, tables, and recommendations will be presented in the full paper as well

Tensions Between Diversity and Shared Leadership: The Role of Team Political Skill

Maintaining workplace diversity is an important legal and ethical issue in modern organizations. However, demographic heterogeneity might discourage the development of shared leadership in work teams as individuals are inherently not inclined to share leadership roles with dissimilar others. The present study is designed to investigate how political skill assists team members to overcome interpersonal dissimilarities and become engaged in mutual influence with their peers. By studying 63 student project teams using multiwave, multisource surveys, we find that team demographic faultlines on gender and race are negatively associated with shared leadership magnitude and therefore discourage team task performance. However, such destructive direct (on shared leadership magnitude) and indirect (on team performance) effects of team demographic faultlines can be mitigated when the team is staffed with many politically skilled members. Our findings bring important implications for organizations in building and encouraging shared leadership, especially in newly formed professional work teams

A Survey of Traditional Chinese Medicine use Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Claims Data-based Cohort Study

Introduction/objectives: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is commonly used for symptom relief in patients with chronic diseases. Nevertheless, large-scale surveys focusing on the utilization of TCM among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are limited, especially in Taiwan, where TCM is highly popular. This cohort study aimed to describe the utilization of TCM and determine the factors related to TCM usage among RA patients. Method: A national health insurance database was used to identify 6532 newly diagnosed RA patients aged between 20 and 70 years, together with 12,246 subjects without RA matched by sex, age, and index year between 2000 and 2010. Incidence density of TCM use and its related factors was calculated by the Poisson regression model. Results: Findings indicated that RA patients experienced higher incidence density of TCM use than non-RA patients, with an adjusted incidence density ratio of 1.30 (95% confidence interval = 1.21–1.36). Multivariate analysis showed that RA patients who were female, were young, had high monthly income, had high Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index scores, and lived in the highly urbanized area with high TCM density were more likely to use TCM services. The top three reasons for seeking TCM services were diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, the respiratory system, and the digestive system. Conclusions: The findings allow healthcare providers to identify the pattern of TCM use and characterize the factors that affect TCM utilization. Further research is required to fully address the efficiency and safety of TCM in treating RA patients

Reduction in Hospital-Wide Clinical Laboratory Specimen Identification Errors following Process Interventions: A 10-Year Retrospective Observational Study.

Accurate patient identification and specimen labeling at the time of collection are crucial steps in the prevention of medical errors, thereby improving patient safety.All patient specimen identification errors that occurred in the outpatient department (OPD), emergency department (ED), and inpatient department (IPD) of a 3,800-bed academic medical center in Taiwan were documented and analyzed retrospectively from 2005 to 2014. To reduce such errors, the following series of strategies were implemented: a restrictive specimen acceptance policy for the ED and IPD in 2006; a computer-assisted barcode positive patient identification system for the ED and IPD in 2007 and 2010, and automated sample labeling combined with electronic identification systems introduced to the OPD in 2009.Of the 2000345 specimens collected in 2005, 1023 (0.0511%) were identified as having patient identification errors, compared with 58 errors (0.0015%) among 3761238 specimens collected in 2014, after serial interventions; this represents a 97% relative reduction. The total number (rate) of institutional identification errors contributed from the ED, IPD, and OPD over a 10-year period were 423 (0.1058%), 556 (0.0587%), and 44 (0.0067%) errors before the interventions, and 3 (0.0007%), 52 (0.0045%) and 3 (0.0001%) after interventions, representing relative 99%, 92% and 98% reductions, respectively.Accurate patient identification is a challenge of patient safety in different health settings. The data collected in our study indicate that a restrictive specimen acceptance policy, computer-generated positive identification systems, and interdisciplinary cooperation can significantly reduce patient identification errors

Low-Temperature Cu/SiO₂ Hybrid Bonding with Low Contact Resistance Using (111)-Oriented Cu Surfaces

We adopted (111)-oriented Cu with high surface diffusivity to achieve low-temperature and low-pressure Cu/SiO2 hybrid bonding. Electroplating was employed to fabricate arrays of Cu vias with 78% (111) surface grains. The bonding temperature can be lowered to 200 °C, and the pressure is as low as 1.06 MPa. The bonding process can be accomplished by a 12-inch wafer-to-wafer scheme. The measured specific contact resistance is 1.2 × 10−9 Ω·cm2, which is the lowest value reported in related literature for Cu-Cu joints bonded below 300 °C. The joints possess excellent thermal stability up to 375 °C. The bonding mechanism is also presented to provide more understanding on hybrid bonding