Ambiguity in public sector performance measurement: a systematic literature review

Purpose: This paper presents a systematic literature review aiming at analysing how research has addressed performance measurement systems’ (PMSs) ambiguities in the public sector. This paper embraces the ambiguity perspective that PMSs in public sector coexist with and cope with existing ambiguities. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted a literature review in Scopus and ScienceDirect, considering articles published since 1985, and the authors selected articles published in the journals included in the Association of Business Schools' Academic Journal Guide (Chartered ABS, 2018). Of the 1,278 abstracts that matched the study’s search criteria, the authors selected 131 articles for full reading and 37 articles for the final discussion. Findings: The study's key findings concern the elements of ambiguity in PMSs discussed in the literature. The study’s results suggest that ambiguity is still a relevant problem in performance measurement, as a problem that is impossible to be solved and therefore needs to be better understood by researchers and public managers. The analysis allows us to summarize the antecedents and consequences of ambiguity in the public sector. Research limitations/implications: The key findings of the study concern the main sources of ambiguity in PMSs discussed in the literature, their antecedents and their consequences. The study results suggest that ambiguity exists in performance measurement and that is an issue to be handled with various strategies that can be implemented by managers and employees. Practical implications: Managers and researchers may benefit from this research as it may represent a guideline to understand ambiguities in their organizations or in field research. Researchers may also benefit from a summary list of the key issues that have been analysed in the empirical cases provided by this research. Social implications: This research may provide insights to limit ambiguity and thus contribute to improve performance measurement in the public sector. Originality/value: This research presents a comprehensive review on the topic. It provides insight that suggests what future research should attend to in helping to interpret ambiguity, considering also what should be done to influence ambiguity

Implant placement in patients under treatment with rivaroxaban: A retrospective clinical study

The management of patients under treatment with Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) has led clinicians to deal with two clinical issues, such as the hemorrhagic risk in case of non-interruption or the risk of thromboembolism in case of suspension of the treatment. The primary aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the incidence of perioperative bleeding events and healing complications in patients who were under treatment with Rivaroxaban and who received dental implants and immediate prosthetic restoration. Patients treated with Rivaroxaban (Xarelto 20 mg daily) and who needed implant rehabilitation were selected. Four to six implants were placed in mandibular healed sites or fresh extraction sockets. All patients, in agreement with their physicians, interrupted the medication for 24 h and received implants and immediate restorations. Twelve patients and 57 implants were analyzed in the study. No major postoperative bleeding events were reported. Three patients (25%) presented slight immediate postoperative bleeding controlled with compression only. The implant and prosthetic survival rate were both 100% after 1 year. Within the limitations of this study, multiple implant placement with an immediate loading can be performed without any significant complication with a 24 h discontinuation of Rivaroxaban, in conjunction with the patient’s physician

Psychosocial care for adult cancer patients: guidelines of the Italian Medical Oncology Association

SIMPLE SUMMARY: People with cancer often experience psychological and social needs, related to their disease and treatments, that can negatively impact quality of life. Various social interventions can be helpful but are not always offered to patients who would benefit from them. This guideline aims to help oncology professionals address the psychosocial aspects of their adult patients and of those who care for them. It was compiled by a multidisciplinary panel, including patients, using rigorous methodology. Topics include patient information and communication, screening and management of psychosocial needs, and caregiver support. In particular, evidence emphasizes that nurses play a central role in providing psychosocial care and information for cancer patients, and that Physician communication skills must be improved with specific evidence-based training. In addition, psychosocial needs must be promptly detected and managed, especially with appropriate non-pharmacological interventions. ABSTRACT: Psychosocial morbidity can have negative consequences for cancer patients, including maladaptive coping, poor treatment adherence, and lower quality of life. Evidence shows that psychosocial interventions can positively impact quality of life, as well as symptoms and side effects; however, they are not always offered to patients who might benefit from them. These guidelines were produced by a multidisciplinary panel of 16 experts, including patients, following GRADE methodology. The panel framed clinical questions and voted on outcomes to investigate. Studies identified by rigorous search strategies were assessed to rate certainty of evidence, and recommendations were formulated by the panel. Although the quality of the evidence found was generally moderate, interventions could be recommended aimed at improving patient information, communication with healthcare professionals and involvement in decision-making; detecting and managing patient psychosocial needs, particularly with non-pharmacological therapy; and supporting families of patients with advanced cancer. The role of nurses as providers of information and psychosocial care is stressed. Most recommended interventions do not appear to necessitate new services or infrastructures, and therefore do not require allocation of additional resources, but predominantly involve changes in clinical staff behavior and/or ward organization. Patients should be made aware of psychosocial care standards so that they can expect to receive them

Ozone depletion events observed in the high latitude surface layer during the TOPSE aircraft program

During the Tropospheric Ozone Production about the Spring Equinox (TOPSE) aircraft program, ozone depletion events (ODEs) in the high latitude surface layer were investigated using lidar and in situ instruments. Flight legs of 100 km or longer distance were flown 32 times at 30 m altitude over a variety of regions north of 58° between early February and late May 2000. ODEs were found on each flight over the Arctic Ocean but their occurrence was rare at more southern latitudes. However, large area events with depletion to over 2 km altitude in one case were found as far south as Baffin Bay and Hudson Bay and as late as 22 May. There is good evidence that these more southern events did not form in situ but were the result of export of ozone-depleted air from the surface layer of the Arctic Ocean. Surprisingly, relatively intact transport of ODEs occurred over distances of 900–2000 km and in some cases over rough terrain. Accumulation of constituents in the frozen surface over the dark winter period cannot be a strong prerequisite of ozone depletion since latitudes south of the Arctic Ocean would also experience a long dark period. Some process unique to the Arctic Ocean surface or its coastal regions remains unidentified for the release of ozone-depleting halogens. There was no correspondence between coarse surface features such as solid ice/snow, open leads, or polynyas with the occurrence of or intensity of ozone depletion over the Arctic or subarctic regions. Depletion events also occurred in the absence of long-range transport of relatively fresh “pollution” within the high latitude surface layer, at least in spring 2000. Direct measurements of halogen radicals were not made. However, the flights do provide detailed information on the vertical structure of the surface layer and, during the constant 30 m altitude legs, measurements of a variety of constituents including hydroxyl and peroxy radicals. A summary of the behavior of these constituents is made. The measurements were consistent with a source of formaldehyde from the snow/ice surface. Median NOx in the surface layer was 15 pptv or less, suggesting that surface emissions were substantially converted to reservoir constituents by 30 m altitude and that ozone production rates were small (0.15–1.5 ppbv/d) at this altitude. Peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN) was by far the major constituent of NOy in the surface layer independent of the ozone mixing ratio

Valutazione della bontà educativa dei casi clinici di ECCE, il programma di formazione a distanza (FAD) basato sulle evidenze destinato ai medici italiani

OBIETTIVO. Valutare la qualit\ue0 dei percorsi clinici di un programma FAD destinato a tutti i medici italiani verificando le loro propriet\ue0 psicometriche. METODI. AIFA ha lanciato un programma nazionale di sostegno dell\u2019informazione indipendente tramite la distribuzione gratuita ai medici di Clinical Evidence (CE). Sulla base dei contenuti di CE \ue8 stato sviluppato un programma FAD all\u2019interno del sistema di Educazione Continua in Medicina (ECM) dal nome ECCE, anch\u2019esso gratuito. I medici hanno accesso a CE online e ai relativi percorsi clinici. Superandoli il medico ottiene i crediti ECM. Nel corso del 2006 \ue8 stata valutata la qualit\ue0 di un campione di venti percorsi, su un totale di 120. La valutazione formale della qualit\ue0 dei 20 casi selezionati \ue8 avvenuta attraverso le seguenti dimensioni psicometriche: Giudizio generale sui percorsi da parte degli utilizzatori (face validity); Valutazione dei contenuti da parte di clinici esperti (content validity); Valutazione della attendibilit\ue0 del test attraverso un criterio di consistenza interna (internal reliability); Difficolt\ue0 degli items; Capacit\ue0 del test di rilevare una modificazione della conoscenza (responsiveness). RISULTATI: Alcune migliaia di utenti hanno partecipato alla valutazione fornendo esiti contrastanti: mentre la face e content validity sono state valutate positivamente dagli utilizzatori e dai clinici esperti, altri parametri come l\u2019internal reliability e la difficolt\ue0 degli items hanno mostrato grande variabilit\ue0 tra i percorsi. Sette casi mostrano un valore di alpha complessivo inferiore a 0.50 (soglia minima di affidabilit\ue0). I casi si sono dimostrati nel complesso medio-facili. Facendo riferimento solo alle proprie conoscenze i partecipanti rispondevano correttamente a circa a met\ue0 delle domande. La lettura delle fonti era associata a un miglioramento della performance (miglioramento prima-dopo statisticamente significativo, p<0.05 per 19/20 percorsi). CONCLUSIONI: L\u2019importante eterogeneit\ue0 tra percorsi dimostrerebbe come differenti casi possono analizzare in maniera molto disomogenea il domino conoscenza evidence-based derivata dai contenuti di CE

Search for CP Violation in the decays D+ -> K_S pi+ and D+ -> K_S K+

A high statistics sample of photo-produced charm from the FOCUS(E831) experiment at Fermilab has been used to search for direct CP violation in the decays D+->K_S pi+ and D+ -> K_S K+. We have measured the following asymmetry parameters relative to D+->K-pi+pi+: A_CP(K_S pi+) = (-1.6 +/- 1.5 +/- 0.9)%, A_CP(K_S K+) = (+6.9 +/- 6.0 +/- 1.5)% and A_CP(K_S K+) = (+7.1 +/- 6.1 +/- 1.2)% relative to D+->K_S pi+. The first errors quoted are statistical and the second are systematic. We also measure the relative branching ratios: \Gamma(D+->\bar{K0}pi+)/\Gamma(D+->K-pi+pi+) = (30.60 +/- 0.46 +/- 0.32)%, \Gamma(D+->\bar{K0}K+)/\Gamma(D+->K-pi+pi+) = (6.04 +/- 0.35 +/- 0.30)% and \Gamma(D+->\bar{K0}K+)/\Gamma(D+->\bar{K0}pi+) = (19.96 +/- 1.19 +/- 0.96)%.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

A High Statistics Measurement of the Lambdac+ Lifetime

A high statistics measurement of the Lambdac+ lifetime from the Fermilab fixed-target FOCUS photoproduction experiment is presented. We describe the analysis technique with particular attention to the determination of the systematic uncertainty. The measured value of 204.6 +/- 3.4 (stat.) +/- 2.5 (syst.) fs from 8034 +/- 122 Lambdac -> pKpi decays represents a significant improvement over the present world average.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Search for Λc+→pK+π−\Lambda_c^+ \to p K^+ \pi^- and Ds+→K+K+π−D_s^+ \to K^+ K^+ \pi^- Using Genetic Programming Event Selection

We apply a genetic programming technique to search for the double Cabibbo suppressed decays $\Lambda_c^+ \to p K^+ \pi^-$ and $D_s^+ \to K^+ K^+ \pi^-$. We normalize these decays to their Cabibbo favored partners and find $\text{BR}($\Lambda_c^+ \to p K^+ \pi^-$)/\text{BR}($\Lambda_c^+ \to p K^- \pi^+$) = (0.05 \pm 0.26 \pm 0.02)$ and $\text{BR}($D_s^+ \to K^+ K^+ \pi^-$)/\text{BR}($D_s^+ \to K^+ K^- \pi^+$) = (0.52\pm 0.17\pm 0.11)$ where the first errors are statistical and the second are systematic. Expressed as 90% confidence levels (CL), we find $< 0.46$ and $< 0.78$ respectively. This is the first successful use of genetic programming in a high energy physics data analysis.Comment: 10 page

A Measurement of the Ds+ Lifetime

A high statistics measurement of the Ds+ lifetime from the Fermilab fixed-target FOCUS photoproduction experiment is presented. We describe the analysis of the two decay modes, Ds+ -> phi(1020)pi+ and Ds+ -> \bar{K}*(892)0K+, used for the measurement. The measured lifetime is 507.4 +/- 5.5 (stat.) +/- 5.1 (syst.) fs using 8961 +/- 105 Ds+ -> phi(1020)pi+ and 4680 +/- 90 Ds+ -> \bar{K}*(892)0K+ decays. This is a significant improvement over the present world average.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, submitted to PR