Impact of perception of COVID-19 on NPI, job satisfaction, and customer orientation: Highlighting three types of NPIs for the airline industry.

Without vaccines or pharmaceutical treatments for a viral pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as washing hands and wearing masks are likely the most effective ways to control infections at airports and on airplanes. Although the aviation market is a major entry point for viruses, little is known about how flight attendants view the risk of COVID-19 and whether they follow individual-organizational-governmental NPI protocols. Guided by protection motivation theory (Rogers, 1975), this study proposed an NPI model tailored specifically to the airline industry and examined how an extended NPI would affect job satisfaction and customer orientation of Korean flight attendants (n = 371). Results revealed that perceptions of COVID-19 are positively related to three types of NPIs, which in turn positively influenced job satisfaction and customer orientation. Given that the examined three types of NPIs had not been paid attention in previous research, the study's proposed conceptual model should better guide the airline industry in protecting its flight attendants with NPI strategies inside and outside aircraft.

Environmental effects of the technology transformation from hard-disk to solid-state drives from resource depletion and toxicity management perspectives.

Solid-state drives (SSDs) are used as data storage systems in various electronic devices in place of hard-disk drives (HDDs) due to their higher speed and durability and lower noise and power consumption. Although SSDs have these advantages, the environmental consequences of the technology transformation from HDD to SSD need to be examined from resource depletion and toxicity management perspectives because most electronic components and devices contain rare, precious, and toxic metals. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess and compare resource depletion and toxicity potentials from metals in an HDD and an SSD on a same capacity basis. The environmental impact potentials were evaluated based on the metal contents and masses of the drives and environmental impact characterization factors used in life cycle impact assessments. The SSD had 86% to 94% lower resource depletion potentials than the HDD, due primarily to the lower contents of Au, Cu, Pd, Ru, and Pt, whereas the SSD had 33% higher potential for only In. The SSD also had 87% to 94% lower toxicity potentials due primarily to the lower contents of Ni, Pb, Cu, and Cr. Thus, this study showed that the technology transformation is environmentally desirable to conserve resources and to protect human and ecological health. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:292-298. © 2019 SETAC.

Free-breathing dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the abdomen and chest using a radial gradient echo sequence with K-space weighted image contrast (KWIC).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility of free-breathing, dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI of the abdomen and thorax using the radial-gradient-echo sequence with k-space weighted image contrast (KWIC) reconstruction. METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained. Fourteen patients underwent free-breathing radial DCE-MRI. Radial MRI yielded full-frame images by gridding all k-space data and time-resolved subframe images by using KWIC reconstruction technique. Using subframe KWIC images, voxel-wise perfusion maps were created. For comparison, the breath-hold conventional Cartesian 3D-gradient-echo sequence (VIBE) was also performed during the equilibrium phase. The image qualities of radial and conventional VIBE images were compared quantitatively and qualitatively. RESULTS: Radial DCE-MRI provided high spatial resolution (1.4 × 1.4 mm) and temporal resolution (4.1 s for subframe images) allowing voxel-wise perfusion mapping with negligible motion or streaking artefacts. There were no significant differences in SNR between full-frame radial images and conventional VIBE images (79.08 vs 74.80, P > 0.05). Overall image quality score of full-frame radial images was slightly lower than that of conventional VIBE images (3.88 ± 0.59 vs. 4.31 ± 0.97, P < 0.05), but provided clinically useful images. CONCLUSIONS: The free-breathing radial DCE-MRI can provide high spatial and temporal resolution while maintaining reasonably high image quality and thus is a feasible technique for DCE-MRI in the abdomen and thorax. KEY POINTS: • Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE) MRI is important in oncological imaging • Radial MRI with k-space weighted image contrast (KWIC) reconstruction offers potential improvements • Radial DCE-MRI provides good image quality, reduced artefacts and high spatial/temporal resolution.

Quantitative color mapping of the arterial enhancement fraction in patients with diffuse liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether color mapping of the arterial enhancement fraction of the liver with multiphasic liver CT can depict the hemodynamic changes associated with diffuse liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 142 patients (59 men, 83 women; mean age, 50 years) with diffuse liver disease and 25 patients acting as controls (11 men, 14 women; mean age, 54 years) were classified into three groups: controls (n = 25), patients with acute liver injury (no underlying chronic liver disease [n = 25], acute exacerbation of chronic liver disease [n = 17]), and patients with chronic hepatic injury (hepatitis [n = 25]; cirrhosis [n = 75], 25 each with Child-Pugh A, B, and C disease). The quantitative arterial enhancement fraction color map of the liver was generated from routine multiphasic CT images with prototype software. The mean arterial enhancement fractions of each group were compared by analysis of variance. The correlation between arterial enhancement fraction and Child-Pugh grade was evaluated with Spearman correlation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for arterial enhancement fraction in the detection of acute liver injury and noncompensated chronic liver disease was calculated. RESULTS: The mean arterial enhancement fractions of the liver in each group were significantly different (p < 0.0001, analysis of variance): control, 28.5%; acute liver injury without underlying chronic liver disease, 51.1%; acute exacerbation of chronic liver disease, 42.0%; chronic hepatitis, 25.4%; Child-Pugh A disease, 23.7%; Child-Pugh B disease, 32.2%; Child-Pugh C disease, 43.4%. Arterial enhancement fraction correlated with Child-Pugh grade (Spearman ρ = 0.553, p < 0.0001). The areas under the curve of arterial enhancement fraction in the detection of acute liver injury and noncompensated chronic liver disease were 0.96 and 0.78. CONCLUSION: With color mapping of the arterial enhancement fraction derived from multiphasic liver CT scans, it is possible to visualize the hemodynamic changes associated with the severity of cirrhosis and acute liver injury.

Percutaneous sacroplasty with the use of C-arm flat-panel detector CT: technical feasibility and clinical outcome.

PURPOSE: Sacroplasty for sacral insufficiency fractures (SIFs) has been performed mostly under computed tomography (CT) or fluoroscopy guidance. The purposes of this study are to describe technical tips and clinical outcomes of sacroplasty under C-arm flat panel detector CT (C-arm CT) guidance, and to compare the cement distributions shown on C-arm CT with those on multi-detector CT (MDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study consisted of patients who underwent sacroplasty for SIF using C-arm CT from May 2006 to May 2009. Technical success was assessed in terms of cement filling and leakage. Clinical outcome was assessed at short-term (less than 1 month) and long-term (more than 1 month) follow-up using a four-grade patient satisfaction scale: poor, fair, good, and excellent. After sacroplasty, all patients underwent MDCT and three radiologists compared MDCT images with C-arm CT images in consensus, focusing on the cement distribution and cement leakage. RESULTS: Sacroplasties were performed on both sacral alae in all 8 patients (male:female = 2:6, mean age = 76.9, range = 63-82). The technical success rate was 100%. At short-term follow up, 6 patients (87.5%) reported significant improvement. Five patients (62.5%) were available for long-term follow-up and all 5 patients reported a reduced pain and an improved ability to ambulate. Using MDCT as the standard of reference, the cement distribution was visualized equally well by C-arm CT. CONCLUSION: Sacroplasty under C-arm CT showed excellent technical success and good clinical outcome. There was an excellent correlation between C-arm CT and MDCT in evaluating cement distribution and cement leakage.

A Study on the Procurement of HLA Class I Typing Trays Using Gushed Out Blood During Placental Delivery / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Microlymphocytotoxicity test is most widely used for HLA Class I typing but almost all laboratories depend on imported HLA Class I typing trays. Matching criteria for the selection of HLA-matched platelets to treat platelet refractoriness is not as strict as for bone marrow transplantation. Therefore, with the acquisition of various antisera against high frequency HLA antigens, self-made HLA typing trays can be used for HLA typing of HLA-matched platelet donors. METHODS: 140 samples obtained during placental delivery were tested for the presence of HLA antibodies against a well-characterized panel of 90 cells. Specificity of HLA antisera were determined by evaluating the correlation coefficient r of the 2x2 table, kappa2 test. Antisera strength was evaluated by the strength index. RESULTS: HLA antibodies were detected in 25 samples by primary screening and 23 samples also showed a positive reaction in secondary screening (16%). Among 23 samples, 11 antisera were of reagent grade quality and 7 were monospecific antisera. DISCUSSION: Imported HLA typing trays can be replaced by harvesting HLA antisera against HLA antigens which are relatively common in Koreans through continuous HLA antibody screening using gushed out blood during placental delivery.

A Study the Procurement of HLA Class I Typing Trays Using Gushed Out Blood During Placental Delivery

BACKGROUND: Microlymphocytotoxicity test is most widely used for HLA Class l typing but almost all laboratories depend on imported HLA Class 1 typing trays. Matching criteria for the selection of HLA- matched platelets to treat platelet refractoriness is not as strict as for bone marrow transplantation. Therefore, with the acquisition of various antisera against high frequency HLA antigens, self-made HLA typing trays can be used for HLA typing of HLA-matched platelet donors. METHODS: 140 samples obtained during placental delivery were tested for the presence of HLA antibodies against a well-characterized panel of 90 cells. Specificity of HLA antisera were determined by evaluating the correlation coefficient r of the 2 x 2 table, x2 test. Antisera strength was evaluated by the strength index. RESULTS: HLA antibodies were detected in 25 samples by primary screening and 23 samples also showed a positive reaction in secondary screening(16%). Among 23 samples, 1 1 antisera were of reagent grade quality and 7 were monospecific antisera. DISCUSSION: Imported HLA typing trays can be replaced by harvesting HLA antisera against HLA antigens which are relatively common in Koreans through continuous HLA antibody screening using gushed out blood during placental delivery. (Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 53-60, 1999)