Mental models of high reliability systems

Reliable performance in complex systems is determined in part by the ade quacy with which mental models of the system capture accurately the dimen sions of system coupling and system complexity. Failure to register coupling and complexity leads the observer to intervene into an imagined technology that does not exist and to convert opportunities for error into actual errors. To decrease the frequency with which this conversion occurs, people can make their models more complex or the systems they monitor less complex. Neither type of change is as daunting as it may appear, and this is illustrated by an analysis of the mental model and system design associated with the invasion of Grenada.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68652/2/10.1177_108602668900300203.pd

Reproducible Research in Vadose Zone Sciences

A significant portion of present-day soil and Earth science research is computational, involving complex data analysis pipelines, advanced mathematical and statistical models, and sophisticated computer codes. Opportunities for scientific progress are greatly diminished if reproducing and building on published research is difficult or impossible due to the complexity of these computational systems. Vadose Zone Journal (VZJ) is launching a Reproducible Research (RR) program in which code and data underlying a research article will be published alongside the article, thereby enabling readers to analyze data in a manner similar to that presented in the article and build on results in future research and applications. In this article, we discuss reproducible research, its background and use across other disciplines, its value to the scientific community, and its implementation in VZJ

Enterocolitis necrotizante en recién nacidos ingresados en el Servicio de Neonatología del Hospital Escuela "Carlos Roberto Huembes" en el período comprendido de Enero 2011 a Diciembre 2013

La enterocolitis necrotizante en el recién nacido presenta un amplio espectro de manifestaciones clínicas, caracterizándose principalmente por la tríada de distensión abdominal, sangramiento gastrointestinal y neumatosis intestinal. A pesar del avance en el cuidado intensivo neonatal, persiste como una enfermedad grave, que afecta habitualmente al recién nacido pretérmino, especialmente de muy bajo peso

Investment opportunities and leverage: some Australian evidence on the role of board monitoring and director equity ownership

This paper tests the hypothesis that the negative relationship between investment opportunity set (IOS) and debt is moderated by board monitoring and director equity ownership. According to contracting theory, firms with high growth opportunities (high IOS) are associated with lower levels of debt as a result of the asset substitution and the under-investment problem. However, our hypotheses test the conjecture that the negative debt / IOS relationship will be moderated by the proportion of non-executive directors (NEDs) on the board and director equity ownership. NEDs provide higher monitoring which reduces management discretion while director equity ownership provides incentives for managers to maximize the value of the firm. More specifically, we expect that high growth firms with a higher proportion of non-executive directors and director equity ownership are less likely to be associated with asset substitution and under investment. Thus, the negative investment opportunity set / debt relationship will be weaker for firms with higher levels of non-executive directors and high director equity ownership. Data collected from Australian companies support both these two hypotheses. Results have significant implications for corporate finance theory

Separation of conjoined twins: experiences of perioperative nurses and their recommendations

Within an 8-month period, an unprecedented and historical first in Queensland, Australia, the perioperative nurses were members of teams involved in the surgical separation of two sets of conjoined twins. Little is known about the (dis)stress that some of these perioperative nurses experienced nor how best to support them during such experiences. The aim of this paper is to report on the qualitative study that explored the experiences of those perioperative nurses involved in the surgical separation of cojoined twins and from their stories propose recommendations to support perioperative nurses who are confronted with such workplace experiences. Using a narrative methodology, nine perioperative nurses shared their stories of being involved in the surgical separation of conjoined twins in Australia. Narrative and thematic analyses were conducted and recommendations to support perioperative nurses through workplace (dis)stress were identified. Participants validated the findings and recommendations. The analyses revealed the themes of professionalism, teamwork, 'them vs. us' and emotional loads. Discussion: The sensationalism around the rarity of conjoined twins brought an intensive intrusiveness from the world media. As a result, secrecy within the hospital about the conjoined twin cases created divisions between those perioperative nurses on the teams and those not. The processes and outcomes of the two surgical cases were in contrast to each other. For some perioperative nurses this caused distress. It is essential that professional support is offered in a way in which the perioperative nurse can take it up without fear of negative judgement