Knowledge-Based Human Resource Management, Logistics Capability, and Organizational Performance in Small Finnish Logistics Service Providers

Background: In the current knowledge age, the performance of logistics firms increasingly depends on knowledge and capabilities they can leverage in value-creation processes. The objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between knowledge-based human resource management (HRM) practices and organizational performance mediated by logistics capability. Methods: Data from 93 small Finnish logistics service providers was collected by a questionnaire survey. Structural equation modeling and partial least squares analysis were used to test the hypothesized relationships between HRM practices and the organizational performance of logistics companies, as well as the mediating impact of logistics capability. Results: The results demonstrate that logistics capability fully mediates the relationship between HRM practices and the organizational performance of small logistics companies. Each of the three knowledge-based HRM practices-knowledge-based recruitment, training and development, and motivation-significantly influences logistics capability, which is, in turn, associated with the organizational performance of companies. Conclusions: This paper is one of the few among discussing knowledge-based HRM practices in logistics service research. The paper contributes to the literature on logistics by demonstrating the value of knowledge-based HRM practices in acquiring, developing, and leveraging knowledge to create organizational capabilities and ensure organizational performance. This study provides an improved understanding of the role of HRM and the resulting logistics capability in the performance of small logistics service companies.

Comparative Study of Clinical Outcomes of Severe and Critical COVID-19 Patients With and Without Hemoperfusion Admitted in a Referral Hospital

Introduction: COVID-19 has been a global problem since 2020, and is challenging to manage, leading to countless deaths worldwide. Severe cases are due to cytokine release syndrome resulted in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Hemoperfusion has been proposed as a means of removing cytokines from the circulation, theoretically improving survival. Objective(s): This study compared the clinical outcomes of hemoperfusion among severe and critical COVID-19 patients admitted in a COVID-19 referral hospital. Method(s): This is a retrospective cohort study involving hospital records of severe and critical COVID-19 adult patients. Patients were grouped according to severity and hemoperfusion status. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square and Kaplan Meier survival analysis, through SPSS ver 22. Result(s): There were 435 patients included in the study, of which 155 were patients without hemoperfusion, and 280 with hemoperfusion. There was significant reduction in inflammatory markers (CRP, LDH, Ferritin & D-dimer with pvalue <0.01) post-hemoperfusion for both severe critical groups. There was a higher survival probability of 45% and 20% on the 10th and 20th day of admission respectively among severe COVID-19 with hemoperfusion. Severe COVID-19 patient with hemoperfusion had higher extubation rate of 34.4% than those without (9.5%). Among patients on Day 1-6 illness with hemoperfusion, they had higher survival probability of 80% than those who had it later. Conclusion(s): Hemoperfusion was associated with higher survival outcome among severe COVID-19 patients than those without. Apt timing of initiation of hemoperfusion can improve survival.

Improvise, Adapt & Overcome: Successful Surgery-Sparing Prosthetic Hip Infection Antibiotic Suppression During COVID-19 Crisis

CASE: A 79-year-old active male presented during the first COVID-19 pandemic surgery moratorium with late Staphylococcus lugdunensis periprosthetic total hip arthroplasty infection. Due to the unprecedented circumstances, novel treatment of IV and oral antibiotic suppression was trialed without preceding surgical intervention. At latest follow-up, the patient has two-year revision-free survival with normalization of inflammatory markers and MRI findings, and resolution of clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION: We report a novel surgery-sparing treatment for periprosthetic hip infection. Judicious caution should be used in the application of similar therapies, as host and organism characteristics likely contributed substantially to the success of this case.

COVID-19 Disruption Impacts on Supply Chains: An Empirical Exploration on Disruptions, Resiliency, and Risk Management Strategies

COVID-19 pandemic, which has spread to every country around the world, is causing major economic and social disruptions with far-reaching impacts on global supply chains. While the pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains and the dependence on certain geographical areas and purchasing categories, it also revealed the importance to manage supply chains in a way that ensures long-term resiliency and building new competencies and capabilities. The crisis created by the pandemic revealed the significance of having strong risk management practices in place. For building recovery abilities and resiliency for possible similar future events, it is important to explore and understand the real impacts of the pandemic on the supply chains. In this chapter, the impacts of COVID-19 on upstream and downstream supply chains are studied by using a survey data from the medical device industry which has been one of the critical industries during the pandemic era. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Chest ct findings on admission of COVID-19 pneumonia and its association with disease severity and duration of illness: A retrospective study

RATIONALE: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has caused an ongoing pandemic, is diagnosed by realtime reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Computed tomography (CT) scans have shown typical changes of the disease but there is limited data comparing CT scan findings with COVID-19 clinical severity and illness duration. The study aims to determine the common chest CT findings of COVID-19 pneumonia in association with clinical severity and duration of symptoms.METHODS: This is a single-center, retrospective study including all adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, admitted from March 2020 to August 2020, with baseline RT-PCR and chest CT scan. Demographic data and CT scan findings were tabulated and analyzed using STATA 13.1.RESULTS: In this study of 304 patients, majority were above 60 years old (49%), male(62%), non-smokers (72.6%) with associated hypertension(56%) and diabetes mellitus(34%). Most common symptoms were cough (82%), dyspnea (76%) and fever (69%). Predominant chest CT patterns of COVID-19 pneumonia were ground glass opacity (GGO) (65%) and consolidation (39%) in bilateral, peripheral, and lower lobe distribution. Moderate group had higher GGO (72%, p0.047), unilateral (10%,p0.001) and peripheral distribution (68%,p0.001). Severe to critical groups had higher consolidation, number of lobes (>4 lobes), and diffuse involvement. Subjects with less than 14 days of symptoms, had more GGO. Those with more than 4 days of symptoms, had CT findings that were bilateral, more than 4 lobes, and extending to middle and upper lobes.CONCLUSION: Chest CT patterns typical of COVID-19 pneumonia and their extent of involvement were associated with clinical severity and illness duration. A simple Chest CT scan would help support physicians' decision making and prognostication.

Implementation and evaluation of a simulation-based shock curriculum in the Philippines

INTRODUCTION: Children in low-middle income countries are disproportionately affected by shock, resulting in high mortality. Simulation has been successfully used as an educational tool in some low-resource settings. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate educational efficacy of a simulation-based pediatric shock curriculum for pediatric residents in Manila, Philippines. We hypothesized that there would be decreased time to administration of first fluid bolus on a simulated mannequin after participation in the curriculum. METHODS: Prospective pre/post cohort study assessing a skills-based shock curriculum consisting of a multiple choice pre/post-test and a videotaped simulation-based pre/posttest. Implemented at Philippine Children's Medical Center in March 2020. Performance in simulation shock scenario was assessed by standardized checklist. Outcome measures were compared pre- and post intervention. Interrater and intrarater reliability on checklist assessed. RESULTS: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resident enrollment in the study was stopped prematurely. A total of 24 residents were enrolled. 96% of participants were female. Individuals reported a mean of 4/5 confidence in English in the medical setting (SD .66 CI 95% 3.7-4.3). Confidence in identifying shock (3.8 -> 4.3 p <0.01), identifying malnutrition (3.2 -> 4.1 p <0.01), managing hypovolemic shock (3.6 -> 4.3 p <0.01), managing septic shock (3.3 -> 4.1 p <0.01) and placing an IO (2.8 -> 4.0 p <0.01) all increased. Mean written test score showed no significant improvement (9.4/10 to 9.8/10, p = 0.15) but this may have been related to high pre-intervention performance on knowledge based test. The time to initiation of fluids did not change (83 s -> 75 s p = 0.42), although all residents initiated fluids within five minutes both pre and post-intervention. The total score on the checklist improved (9.8 -> 14.7, p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in time to initiation of fluids pre/post intervention. There was improvement in confidence with shock concepts. Overall score on the checklist improved, which may be the most accurate marker of knowledge acquisition in this scenario. Through international collaboration it is possible to establish a successful simulation-based education program for trainee.

Covid-19 and strategies to reduce anxiety in nursing: Scoping review and meta-analysis

Objective: to map the production of knowledge on the strategies used for the management of anxiety, in Nursing professionals, during the fight against COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Midlle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Method: a scoping review, followed by meta-analysis, conducted in the BVS, EMBASE, PUBMED, CINAHL, PsycINFo, SCOPUS and Web of Science information sources. The review protocol is registered in International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews under number under number CRD42020192918. Searches in electronic databases were carried out from 22 to 27 July 2020The data were analyzed and synthesized in a narrative fashion. Results: a total of 31 studies were included in the review;of these, 12 were included in the meta-analysis. The Nursing professionals presented higher anxiety indexes than the other health professionals. The following stood out in the interventions for the management of anxiety: emotional support, social support, educational campaign, implementation of safety policies, and adoption of a positive coping style. Conclusion: the evidence suggests that a considerable proportion of Nursing professionals experienced high anxiety levels, which interfered with COVID-19 prevention and control. Therefore, it becomes necessary to establish intervention protocols to reduce anxiety, with clear and objective language, favoring emotional support, positive coping techniques, and a welcoming work environment, in addition to implementing policies that ensure protective measures against COVID-19. © 2021, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. All rights reserved.