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This study examines the factors that affect pre-service and in-service teachers’ intention to use Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) in their teaching through the proposed Mobile Augmented Reality Acceptance Model (MARAM). The MARAM builds on the existing Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to incorporate four other components namely perceived relative advantage, perceived enjoyment, facilitating conditions, and mobile self-efficacy. In addition, this study investigates the validity of the MARAM. Data were collected from 137 pre-service and 169 in-service teachers who completed a questionnaire after having developed their own MAR applications during an undergraduate university course and a training seminar, respectively. Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis was conducted separately for each group, as well as for both samples together. We also conducted a multi-group analysis to examine differences across the two samples. The results for both samples together (N = 306), showed that intention was affected by attitude, perceived usefulness and facilitating conditions. In turn, attitude was affected by perceived enjoyment and perceived usefulness. Perceived usefulness was affected by perceived enjoyment and perceived relative advantage. Perceived ease of use was affected by mobile self-efficacy and facilitating conditions. However, perceived ease of use did not affect perceived usefulness or attitude. A multi-group analysis conducted on the sample of pre-service and in-service teachers produced similar results, with minor differentiations. These results have implications for the use of MAR in research and schools, as well as technology acceptance models in education.

BackgroundDespite the extensive literature on laparoscopic antireflux surgery, comparative evidence across different procedures is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess and rank the most efficacious and safe laparoscopic procedures for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.MethodsMedline, Embase, AMED, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and OpenGrey databases were queried for randomized trials comparing two or more laparoscopic antireflux procedures with each other or with medical treatment for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Pairwise meta-analyses were conducted for each pair of interventions using a random-effects model. Network meta-analysis was employed to assess the relative efficacy and safety of laparoscopic antireflux procedures for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.ResultsForty-four publications reporting 29 randomized trials which included 1892 patients were identified. The network of treatments was sparse with only a closed loop between different types of wraps; 270°, 360°, anterior 180° and anterior 90°; and star network between 360° and other treatments; and between anterior 180° and other treatments. Laparoscopic 270° (odds ratio, OR 1.19, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.64–2.22), anterior 180°, and anterior 90° were equally effective as 360° for control of heartburn, although this finding was supported by low quality of evidence according to GRADE modification for NMA. The odds for dysphagia were lower after 270° (OR 0.38, 95%, CI 0.24–0.60), anterior 90° (moderate quality evidence), and anterior 180° (low-quality evidence) compared to 360°. The odds for gas-bloat were lower after 270° (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27, 0.95) and after anterior 90° compared to 360° (low-quality evidence). Regurgitation, morbidity, and reoperation were similar across treatments, albeit these were associated with very low-quality evidence.ConclusionLaparoscopic 270° fundoplication achieves a better outcome than 360° total fundoplication, especially in terms of postoperative dysphagia, although other types of partial fundoplication might be equally effective.Registration no.CRD42017074783.

Objective: We aimed to systematically evaluate the available clinical evidence concerning the comparable efficacy and safety of currently used anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) for seizure prophylaxis in patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumor excision and synthesize this with a network meta-analysis (NMA). Methods: A systematic literature review was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) relevant to the prophylactic use of AEDs in seizure-naïve patients subjected to brain tumor excision. Total, early, or late post-craniotomy seizures constituted primary outcome measures, while mortality and treatment-related adverse effects served as secondary endpoints. Pairwise and network meta-analysis were conducted for each pair of interventions to obtain ‘direct’ treatment effect estimates, while NMA was employed to assess the relative efficacy and safety of prophylactic use of AEDs in post-craniotomy epilepsy management in brain tumor cases. Results: Twelve eligible RCTs involving 10 interventions were retrieved. Levetiracetam (OR 0.08; 95%CI 0.02–0.43) and phenytoin (OR 0.43; 95%CI 0.20–0.91) showed superior efficacy over placebo on early seizure control, while none of the applied interventions demonstrated any significant effect on late seizures versus placebo. With the single exception of carbamazepine (OR 3.29; 95%CI 1.21–8.91), none of the implemented AEDs exerted a notable effect on mortality. Phenytoin presented a higher incidence of treatment-related AEs, imposing drug discontinuation compared to other treatment regimens, yet this effect did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Our NMA indicates that, in seizure-naive individuals subjected to brain tumor excision, levetiracetam and phenytoin effectively prevent postoperative short-term seizure activity. Notwithstanding the fact that levetiracetam presents an enhanced safety profile over other AEDs, no statistical superiority could be demonstrated. PROSPERO registration CRD42022377136.

The performance of economic entities has been a research matter even in the ancient world. The human \"genius\" has been recognized as a vehicle for certain valuable capabilities and as the critical enabler of transforming processes. But it has not been considered as an intellectual capitalizator or intellectual asset. This has happened recently in the promising field of intellectual capital and its related philosophy of knowledge management, although the related research status quo is still in its infancy. Applies the VAICTM method in order to analyze the data of Japanese banks for the financial period 1 April 2000-31 March 2001. Analyzes the intellectual or human (HC) and physical capital (CA) of the Japanese banking sector and discusses their impact on the banks' value-based performance. Focuses on the actual status of HC and CA capital and its predictive, discriminative and integrative impact on the \"intellectual\" added value-based performance situation. Confirms the existence of significant performance differences among the various groups of Japanese banks but also the differences between the Japanese and some European banks (Greece and Austria).

ObjectiveTo inform the development of an AGREE II extension specifically tailored for surgical guidelines.Summary background dataAGREE II was designed to inform the development, reporting, and appraisal of clinical practice guidelines. Previous research has suggested substantial room for improvement of the quality of surgical guidelines.MethodsA previously published search in MEDLINE for clinical practice guidelines published by surgical scientific organizations with an international scope between 2008 and 2017, resulted in a total of 67 guidelines. The quality of these guidelines was assessed using AGREE II. We performed a series of statistical analyses (reliability, correlation and Factor Analysis, Item Response Theory) with the objective to calibrate AGREE II for use specifically in surgical guidelines.ResultsReliability/correlation/factor analysis and Item Response Theory produced similar results and suggested that a structure of 5 domains, instead of 6 domains of the original instrument, might be more appropriate. Furthermore, exclusion and re-arrangement of items to other domains was found to increase the reliability of AGREE II when applied in surgical guidelines.ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggest that statistical calibration of AGREE II might improve the development, reporting, and appraisal of surgical guidelines.

BackgroundOver the past 25 years, the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) has been issuing clinical guidance documents to aid surgical practice. We aimed to investigate the awareness and use of such documents among EAES members. Additionally, we conceptually appraised the methodology used in their development in order to propose a bundle of actions for quality improvement and increased penetration of clinical practice guidelines among EAES members.MethodsWe invited members of EAES to participate in a web-based survey on awareness and use of these documents. Post hoc analyses were performed to identify factors associated with poor awareness/use and the reported reasons for limited use. We further summarized and conceptually analyzed key methodological features of clinical guidance documents published by EAES.ResultsThree distinct consecutive phases of methodological evolvement of clinical guidance documents were evident: a “consensus phase,” a “guideline phase,” and a “transitional phase”. Out of a total of 254 surgeons who completed the survey, 72% percent were aware of EAES guidelines and 47% reported occasional use. Young age and trainee status were associated with poor awareness and use. Restriction by colleagues was the primary reason for limited use in these subgroups.ConclusionsThe methodology of EAES clinical guidance documents is evolving. Awareness among EAES members is fair, but use is limited. Dissemination actions should be directed to junior surgeons and trainees.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a constellation of risk factors, including central obesity, elevated fasting blood glucose, high blood pressure and atherogenic dyslipidemia. This prospective observational study aimed to assess the impact of MetS on perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery with laparotomy. We included 105 consecutive non-diabetic patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery with laparotomy. Patients were divided into two groups based on MetS diagnosis. Perioperative adverse events were recorded according to the definitions of the European Perioperative Clinical Outcome guidelines. The prevalence of MetS was 57.1%. The presence of MetS was associated with a 2.64 higher odds (95% CI 1.18–5.95, P = 0.019) for respiratory events and a 3.42 higher odds (95% CI 1.05–11.13, P = 0.041) for superficial surgical site infections. Furthermore, regarding MetS patients, all individual components of MetS were associated with worse outcomes in an independent manner. MetS as an entity along with its individual components are associated with an increased risk of perioperative events in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery with laparotomy. •MetS has a high prevalence among surgical patients and has been associated with several perioperative complications.•We assessed the impact of MetS on perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery with laparotomy.•The presence of MetS was associated with postoperative respiratory events and superficial surgical site infections.•Regarding MetS patients, all individual components of MetS were independently associated with worse outcomes.

Purpose - To present a study analyzing the intellectual performance of Greek listed corporations on the Athens Stock Exchange under the distinctive aspect of being a \"globalized\" or \"localized\" firm.Design methodology approach - Due to the used VAIC™ method the firm's performance is researched under its intellectual (IC) and physical (CA) aspect. The investigation confirms the existence of some semantic - added value-based - performance differences by using predictor variables (discriminant analysis) and factors or \"drivers\" (factor analysis) influencing the actual \"globalization status quo\".Findings - States that \"localized firms\" are the distinct small technocratic, blue-collar intellectual performers while the \"globalized\" ones are the large plutocratic, white-collar intellectual performers.Research limitations implications - There is a need to analyze data of more corporations and for a longer time period in order to prove clearly the assumptions of the VAIC™ method. Additional comparative research with other (international) corporations will prove (or not) the above findings concerning intellectual differences due to the \"globalization\" status.Practical implications - Offers an international comparative research possibility for \"advanced\" researchers in academia or praxis and enables \"beginners\" to learn a way of measuring intellectual capital performance.Originality value - This paper is an original research based on confirmed data of listed firms, using a \"simple\" but excellent method, in order to highlight the intellectual phenomenon in a \"rational\" (metric) way.

BackgroundVariation exists in practice pertaining to bowel preparation before minimally invasive colorectal surgery. A survey of EAES members prioritized this topic to be addressed by a clinical practice guideline.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to develop evidence-informed clinical practice recommendations on the use of bowel preparation before minimally invasive colorectal surgery, through evidence synthesis and a structured evidence-to-decision framework by an interdisciplinary panel of stakeholders.MethodsThis is a collaborative project of EAES, SAGES, and ESCP. We updated a previous systematic review and performed a network meta-analysis of interventions. We appraised the certainty of the evidence for each comparison, using the GRADE and CINeMA methods. A panel of general and colorectal surgeons, infectious diseases specialists, an anesthetist, and a patient representative discussed the evidence in the context of benefits and harms, the certainty of the evidence, acceptability, feasibility, equity, cost, and use of resources, moderated by a GIN-certified master guideline developer and chair. We developed the recommendations in a consensus meeting, followed by a modified Delphi survey.ResultsThe panel suggests either oral antibiotics alone prior to minimally invasive right colon resection or mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) plus oral antibiotics; MBP plus oral antibiotics prior to minimally invasive left colon and sigmoid resection, and prior to minimally invasive right colon resection when there is an intention to perform intracorporeal anastomosis; and MBP plus oral antibiotics plus enema prior to minimally invasive rectal surgery (conditional recommendations); and recommends MBP plus oral antibiotics prior to minimally invasive colorectal surgery, when there is an intention to localize the lesion intraoperatively (strong recommendation). The full guideline with user-friendly decision aids is available in https://app.magicapp.org/#/guideline/LwvKej.ConclusionThis guideline provides recommendations on bowel preparation prior to minimally invasive colorectal surgery for different procedures, using highest methodological standards, through a structured framework informed by key stakeholders.Guideline registration number PREPARE-2023CN045.