Stakeholder theory and management: Understanding longitudinal collaboration networks

This paper explores the evolution of research collaboration networks in the 'stakeholder theory and management' (STM) discipline and identifies the longitudinal effect of co-authorship networks on research performance, i.e., research productivity and citation counts. Research articles totaling 6,127 records from 1989 to 2020 were harvested from the Web of Science Database and transformed into bibliometric data using Bibexcel, followed by applying social network analysis to compare and analyze scientific collaboration networks at the author, institution and country levels. This work maps the structure of these networks across three consecutive sub-periods (t1: 1989-1999; t2: 2000-2010; t3: 2011-2020) and explores the association between authors' social network properties and their research performance. The results show that authors collaboration network was fragmented all through the periods, however, with an increase in the number and size of cliques. Similar results were observed in the institutional collaboration network but with less fragmentation between institutions reflected by the increase in network density as time passed. The international collaboration had evolved from an uncondensed, fragmented and highly centralized network, to a highly dense and less fragmented network in t3. Moreover, a positive association was reported between authors' research performance and centrality and structural hole measures in t3 as opposed to ego-density, constraint and tie strength in t1. The findings can be used by policy makers to improve collaboration and develop research programs that can enhance several scientific fields. Central authors identified in the networks are better positioned to receive government funding, maximize research outputs and improve research community reputation. Viewed from a network's perspective, scientists can understand how collaborative relationships influence research performance and consider where to invest their decision and choices

Efeitos da terapia ultrassônica de baixa intensidade sobre o infarto agudo do miocárdio em ratos

Introdução. O infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) é considerado importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade no mundo e no Brasil. Novas intervenções terapêuticas estão sendo testadas isoladas ou em associação com as já existentes com o intuito de impedir a progressão ou atenuar o remodelamento no coração infartado. Dentre elas destaca-se a aplicação do Ultra-som (US) conjunto com agentes trombolíticos. Entretanto, na aplicação da energia ultrassônica como terapêutica pós-infarto é avaliado somente o seu possível efeito como agente trombolítico, não sendo investigado a sua possível implicação no processo de cicatrização da área infartada e parâmetros funcionais cardíacos. Objetivos. Diante dessas informações, nós objetivamos avaliar os efeitos da terapia ultrassônica transtorácica não-invasiva de baixa intensidade (NITUS) sobre a morfologia e função do músculo cardíaco de ratos infartados cirurgicamente após o 5° e 30° dia. Metodologia. Ratos machos Wistar (200-250g) foram pesados e divididos aleatoriamente em oito grupos com oito animais em cada grupo. Quatro grupos de animais foram submetidos à indução do IAM através da oclusão permanente da artéria coronária descendente anterior esquerda, sendo que dois destes grupos foram sacrificados no 5° dia após o IAM e as cinco aplicações da terapia ultrassônica e os outros dois grupos foram sacrificados no 30° dia após o IAM e as 5 aplicações da terapia ultrassônica. Quatro grupos de animais foram submetidos à cirurgia fictícia (Sham), sendo que dois destes grupos foram sacrificados no 5° dia após a cirurgia fictícia e as 5 aplicações da terapia ultrassônica e os outros dois grupos foram sacrificados no 30° dia após a cirurgia fictícia e as 5 aplicações da terapia ultrassônica. Os parâmetros da terapia ultrassônica foram freqüência de 1MHz, potência de 1W/cm2, modo pulsado e tempo de aplicação de 5 minutos. Para avaliação dos parâmetros funcionais foi realizado registros hemodinâmicos de todos os grupos e após a coleta dos registros os corações foram retirados para análise morfométrica a fim de avaliar a área da cicatriz do infarto. Os corações foram cortados em 4 fatias sendo retirados 3 cortes com espessura de 8 micrômetros da terceira fatia do ápice para a base, e estes foram corados com picrosírius. Foi utilizada uma câmera de vídeo para capturar uma área que contivesse todo o corte. A imagem era capturada com a utilização do programa AMCap e após a captura, esta era arquivada. A imagem arquivada era transferida para o programa ImageJ 1.42q/java no qual era marcada a área da cicatriz. De modo semelhante, era marcada toda a área da parede ventricular, para se obter a relação entre a área da cicatriz e a área total da parede ventricular. Resultados. No que concerne aos parâmetros hemodinâmicos, observamos que 30 dias após o IAM houve redução na pressão diastólica final (PDF) (mmHg) do grupo IAM+US quando comparado com grupo IAM (15±1.9 e 26±1.4; p<0.01 respectivamente). Não houve diferença significativa na área da cicatriz do infarto entre os grupos IAM e IAM+US no 5º. dia após infarto (31.6%±3.1% e 34.5%±1.6, respectivamente). Houve redução da área da cicatriz do infarto no grupo IAM+US quando comparado ao grupo IAM (21.5%±1.4% e 26.2%±1.7%; p<0.05, respectivamente) no 30º dia após IAM. Conclusão. A terapia com US dentro dos parâmetros estabelecidos, reduziu a área da cicatriz do infarto no grupo IAM+US (30 dias) bem como manteve a PDF dentro de valores fisiológicos, provavelmente por exercer influência nas fases inflamatória, proliferativa e de remodelamento, o que favorece um aumento na velocidade da resposta inflamatória por meio da mobilização de células inflamatórias como neutrófilos, macrófagos, ao mesmo tempo em que estimulou à degranulação dos mastócitos, bem como interferiu na mobilização leucocitária

Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89.6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle (753 of 1242, 60.6 per cent; odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.14 to 0.21, P <0001) or low (363 of 860, 422 per cent; OR 008, 007 to 010, P <0.001) HDI. Checklist use was less common in elective surgery than for emergency laparotomy in high-HDI countries (risk difference -94 (95 per cent c.i. -11.9 to -6.9) per cent; P <0001), but the relationship was reversed in low-HDI countries (+121 (+7.0 to +173) per cent; P <0001). In multivariable models, checklist use was associated with a lower 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 0.60, 0.50 to 073; P <0.001). The greatest absolute benefit was seen for emergency surgery in low- and middle-HDI countries. Conclusion Checklist use in emergency laparotomy was associated with a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate. Checklist use in low-HDI countries was half that in high-HDI countries.Peer reviewe

Global variation in anastomosis and end colostomy formation following left-sided colorectal resection

Background End colostomy rates following colorectal resection vary across institutions in high-income settings, being influenced by patient, disease, surgeon and system factors. This study aimed to assess global variation in end colostomy rates after left-sided colorectal resection. Methods This study comprised an analysis of GlobalSurg-1 and -2 international, prospective, observational cohort studies (2014, 2016), including consecutive adult patients undergoing elective or emergency left-sided colorectal resection within discrete 2-week windows. Countries were grouped into high-, middle- and low-income tertiles according to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Factors associated with colostomy formation versus primary anastomosis were explored using a multilevel, multivariable logistic regression model. Results In total, 1635 patients from 242 hospitals in 57 countries undergoing left-sided colorectal resection were included: 113 (6·9 per cent) from low-HDI, 254 (15·5 per cent) from middle-HDI and 1268 (77·6 per cent) from high-HDI countries. There was a higher proportion of patients with perforated disease (57·5, 40·9 and 35·4 per cent; P < 0·001) and subsequent use of end colostomy (52·2, 24·8 and 18·9 per cent; P < 0·001) in low- compared with middle- and high-HDI settings. The association with colostomy use in low-HDI settings persisted (odds ratio (OR) 3·20, 95 per cent c.i. 1·35 to 7·57; P = 0·008) after risk adjustment for malignant disease (OR 2·34, 1·65 to 3·32; P < 0·001), emergency surgery (OR 4·08, 2·73 to 6·10; P < 0·001), time to operation at least 48 h (OR 1·99, 1·28 to 3·09; P = 0·002) and disease perforation (OR 4·00, 2·81 to 5·69; P < 0·001). Conclusion Global differences existed in the proportion of patients receiving end stomas after left-sided colorectal resection based on income, which went beyond case mix alone

The effect of ict enabled social networks on performance

Research in sociology of information and technology use highlight the importance of information and communication technology (ICT) for supporting networks among professional peers. This paper explores the effects of different types and patterns of ICT usage for supporting professional networks. In this study, we ask-how can different types ICT help support professional networks? What are the implications of patterns of ICT usage on supporting professional networks? Given an association between ICT types, usage, network structure for supporting professional networks, what are its implications on performance? In our study, we apply the theory of structural holes and its underlying assumptions (i.e., efficiency and effectiveness) to develop a theoretical framework and propositions for exploring interlock between types and patterns of ICT usage, network structure, and professional support networks for measuring the performance of effective clinical care. Empirical evidence from Australian rural general practitioners' data show that both network structure and Internet-enabled ICT use play a crucial role when it comes to performance in the medical consultation.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Towards a social network model for understanding information and communication technology use for general practitioners in rural Australia

In this study, we develop a theoretical model based on social network theories and the social influence model to understand how knowledge professionals utilise technology for work and communication. We investigate the association between ego-centric network properties (structure, position and tie) and information and communication technology (ICT) use of individuals in knowledge-intensive and geographically dispersed settings. Analysis from data collected using a reliable and validated questionnaire show that task-level ICT use is significantly associated with degree centrality and functional tie diversity; and communication-level ICT use is negatively associated with efficiency. The implications of these associations for knowledge-intensive work mean that it is important to consider the professional social network characteristics of potential users of the technology for designing ICT-enabled organizations. The greater the number and diversity of peers individuals interact with translates into more opportunities to use ICT for context-specific tasks. Results from this study also show that individuals who tend to isolate themselves from peers tend to be slow adopters or low users of ICT. Thus, an understanding of how network structure inter-relates with technology and its adopters proves beneficial in reaping benefits required at the organizational (macro) and individual (micro) levels. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Individual performance in knowledge intensive work through social networks

Studies in Information Systems (IS) research have widely documented task-oriented and communication structure effects as a result of information and communication technology (ICT) use. These effects have been evidenced at inter- and intraorganisational and occupational community levels. Research on the direct interplay between social network structure, ICT use and individual performance is however lacking to date. This research proposes a theoretical model along with operational constructs for understanding how performance of individuals in knowledge-intensive work can be affected by social network structure and ICT use. The context of the study is the occupational community of general practitioners (GP) in rural New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Numerous problems such as decreasing performance with age, obsolescence of technological knowledge, isolation from urban communities and various problems specific to rural practice makes this study significant. The study is motivated by the research question - "How can the interplay between social network structure and ICT use enhance individual performance?" It argues that individuals with high levels of ICT use, dense social network structures and those rich in connections to social clusters or groups who are themselves not well connected perform better. Copyright 2007 ACM.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Exploring temporal communication through social networks

The dissemination of information in social networks and the relative effect of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) use has long been an interesting area of study in the field of sociology, human computer interaction and computer supported cooperative work. To date, a lot of research has been conducted regarding an actor's mobile phone usage behavior while disseminating information within a mobile social network. In this study, we explore the structured network position of individuals using mobile phone and their ability to disseminate information within their social network. Our proposition is that an actor's ability to disseminate information within a social group is affected by their structural network position. In this paper, we determine an actor's structural network position by four different measures of centrality - (i) degree, (ii) closeness, (iii) betweenness, and (iv) eigenvector centrality. We analyse the Reality Mining dataset, which contains mobile phone usage data over a 9 month period for exploring the association between the structural positions of different actors in a temporal communication. We extract relational data to construct a social network of the mobile phone users in order to determine the association between their position in the network and their ability to disseminate information. The following questions form the basis for this study: Does information dissemination capability of an actor reflect their structural position within a social network? How do different measures of centrality associate with the information dissemination capability of an actor? Are highly central actors able to disseminate information more effectively than those who have a lower central position within a social network? © IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2007.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Egocentric analysis of co-authorship network structure, position and performance

In this study, we propose and validate social networks based theoretical model for exploring scholars' collaboration (co-authorship) network properties associated with their citation-based research performance (i.e.; g-index). Using structural holes theory, we focus on how a scholar's egocentric network properties of density, efficiency and constraint within the network associate with their scholarly performance. For our analysis, we use publication data of high impact factor journals in the field of "Information Science & Library Science" between 2000 and 2009, extracted from Scopus. The resulting database contained 4837 publications reflecting the contributions of 8069 authors. Results from our data analysis suggest that research performance of scholars' is significantly correlated with scholars' ego-network measures. In particular, scholars with more co-authors and those who exhibit higher levels of betweenness centrality (i.e.; the extent to which a co-author is between another pair of co-authors) perform better in terms of research (i.e.; higher g-index). Furthermore, scholars with efficient collaboration networks who maintain a strong co-authorship relationship with one primary co-author within a group of linked co-authors (i.e.; co-authors that have joint publications) perform better than those researchers with many relationships to the same group of linked co-authors. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Envisioning compexity in healthcare systems using discrete event simulation and social network analysis

This demonstration exhibit combines discrete event simulation and social network analysis to provide a lens on the complexity of socio-technical systems such as in healthcare. Copyright 2013 ACM