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The objective of this study was to assess the relationship of prenatal diagnosis of critical congenital heart disease (CHD) to preoperative and postoperative patient findings. Retrospective analysis of neonates with critical CHD who underwent cardiothoracic surgery at one of four centers in North Carolina between 2008 and 2013. Surgical data collected by sites for submission to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS-CHSD) and the North Carolina CHD Lifespan Database were queried. There were 715 patients with STS records; 558 linked to the NC-CHD database. Patients with prenatal diagnosis had a lower incidence of preoperative risk factors, including need for mechanical ventilation and presence of shock. However, prenatally diagnosed patients had worse short-term outcomes, including higher operative mortality, higher incidence of select postoperative complications, and longer LOS. There was no difference in one-year mortality. Our findings are consistent with current literature which suggests that prenatal diagnosis of critical CHD is associated with a more optimized preoperative clinical status. However, we found that patients with prenatal diagnoses had less favorable postoperative outcomes. This needs to be investigated further, but may be secondary to patient-specific factors, such as CHD disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Changes in left ventricular (LV) systolic function have not been well described in premature neonates after transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure. Methods and Results: We retrospectively identified all premature neonates < 3 kg who underwent a transcatheter PDA closure at our center between January 1 2015 and January 31, 2021. LV indices before and after closure were extracted and an analysis was performed. Overall, 23 neonates were included with a mean procedural weight of 1894 ± 622 g. At 24 h after closure, the median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (66% interquartile range [IQR] 12% vs. 61% IQR 12, P< 0.001) and median LV end-diastolic dimension z-score (3.3 IQR 1.8 vs. 1.4 IQR 2.6, P < 0.001) both decreased and 5 (22%) neonates had an LVEF <55%. Patients who had an LVEF <55% at 24 h had a higher preprocedure LV end-diastolic dimension z-score (4.2 IQR 1.2 vs. 2.8 IQR 1.6, P = 0.01), a higher preprocedure LV end-diastolic volume (19 mL IQR 4 mL vs. 11 mL IQR 11, P = 0.03), a higher birth weight (940 g IQR 100 g vs. 760 g IQR 140, P = 0.04), and were more likely to receive intravenous calcium during the procedure (60% vs. 11%, P = 0.04) compared to those with an LVEF ≥55% at 24 h after closure. Of those with LVEF <55% at 24 h, all normalized before discharge. Conclusion: In preterm neonates who underwent successful transcatheter PDA closure, 23% developed abnormal LVEF after closure and those with significant LV dilation before the procedure were at increased risk for the development of LVEF <55% after closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) are at risk for poor academic performance. The degree to which receipt of health care services is associated with adverse academic outcomes is not known. We examined the association between episodes of cardiac care and third-grade performance in children with CHD. We identified subjects between 1/1/2008 and 4/30/2012 among 5 centers in North Carolina. We classified children by CHD type and linked subjects to the state educational records. Any inpatient or outpatient cardiac encounter on a date of service was considered an encounter. We calculated the number of encounters by adding the number of inpatient or outpatient cardiac visits prior to the date of the end-of-grade (EOG) tests. We estimated the odds of failing third-grade reading or math EOG tests by episodes of care stratified at the 50th percentile, controlling for CHD type, maternal education, sex, race/ethnicity, birth weight, and gestational age. A total of 184 children had third-grade EOG scores linked to health care records. The median number of episodes of care was 4 (range: 1–60). Those with visits ˃ 50th percentile (> 4 encounters/year over the 4.3 year observation period) had 2.09 (95% CI 1.04, 4.21) greater odds of failing the math EOG compared to those ≤ 50th percentile (1–4 encounters). The third-grade math score declined by 1.5 points (P < 0.008) for every 10 episodes of care. There was no association of episodes of care on third-grade reading performance. Children with CHD with > 4 episodes of cardiac care/year may be at risk for delays in third-grade academic performance. Strategies to minimize school absenteeism may improve academic success in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of a dilated left ventricular (LV) on right ventricular (RV) diastolic function has not been investigated. We hypothesized that in patients with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), LV dilation causes elevation of the RV end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP) through ventricular-ventricular interaction. We identified patients' ages 6 months to 18 years who underwent transcatheter PDA closure at our center from 2010 to 2019. One hundred and thirteen patients were included with a median age of 3 years (0.5-18). The median LV end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) Z-score was 1.6 (-1.4-6.3). RVEDP was positively associated with RV systolic pressure (0.38, P < 0.01), ratio of pulmonary artery/aortic systolic pressure (0.4, P < 0.01), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (0.71, P < 0.01). RVEDP was not associated with LVEDD Z-score (0.03, P = 0.74). In children with a PDA, RVEDP was not associated with LV dilation, but was positively associated with RV systolic pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With improved surgical outcomes, infants and children with congenital heart disease (CHD) may die from other causes of death (COD) other than CHD. We sought to describe the COD in youth with CHD in North Carolina (NC). Patients from birth to 20 years of age with a healthcare encounter between 2008 and 2013 in NC were identified by ICD-9 code. Patients who could be linked to a NC death certificate between 2008 and 2016 were included. Patients were divided by CHD subtypes (severe, shunt, valve, other). COD was compared between groups. Records of 35,542 patients < 20 years old were evaluated. There were 15,277 infants with an annual mortality rate of 3.5 deaths per 100 live births. The most frequent COD in infants (age < 1 year) were CHD (31.7%), lung disease (16.1%), and infection (11.4%). In 20,265 children (age 1 to < 20 years), there was annual mortality rate of 9.7 deaths per 1000 at risk. The most frequent COD in children were CHD (34.2%), neurologic disease (10.2%), and infection (9.5%). In the severe subtype, CHD was the most common COD. In infants with shunt-type CHD disease, lung disease (19.5%) was the most common COD. The mortality rate in infants was three times higher when compared to children. CHD is the most common underlying COD, but in those with shunt-type lesions, extra-cardiac COD is more common. A multidisciplinary approach in CHD patients, where development of best practice models regarding comorbid conditions such as lung disease and neurologic disease could improve outcomes in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effect of various antecedent variables on marketers' perceptions of the role of ethics and social responsibility in the overall success of the firm. Variables examined included Hofstede's cultural dimensions (i.e., power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity, and Confucian dynamism), as well as corporate ethical values and enforcement of an ethics code. Additionally, individual variables such as ethical idealism and relativism were included. Results indicated that most of these variables impacted marketers' perceptions of the importance of ethics and social responsibility, although to varying degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment involving 400 randomly selected professionals from the midwestern United States indicated that the response rate to a mail questionnaire was significantly increased by the use of an enclosed one dollar incentive. Promised incentives of two dollars and entry into a lottery with awards of fifty dollars, thirty dollars, and twenty dollars in return for a completed questionnaire did not significantly change the response rate to the mail questionnaire relative to the no incentive (control) group response rate. The two dollar promised incentive group had a higher response rate than the lottery-type promised incentive group with prizes of fifty, thirty, and twenty dollars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because pediatric cardiologists can accurately diagnose innocent murmurs by physical exam alone, the authors developed a system for remote cardiac auscultation. They hypothesized that their system could accurately classify auscultatory findings as normal/innocent or pathologic. Patients undergoing evaluation underwent examination, echocardiography, and heart sound recording. Pediatric cardiologists evaluated the heart sounds and classified the case as either normal/innocent or pathologic. They reviewed103 heart sound data sets; 85% of the cases were accurately classified as either normal/innocent or pathologic, with a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 86%. However, when accounting for clinical diagnosis, reviewer uncertainty, and ECG abnormalities, the sensitivity and specificity improved to 91% and 88% (accuracy 89%), respectively. Degree of certainty with the telecardiology diagnosis correlated with correct interpretation (P < .005). Digital heart sound recordings evaluated via telemedicine can distinguish normal/innocent murmurs from pathologic ones. Such a system could improve the use of pediatric cardiology services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of a study that investigated the roles that one’s money ethic, religiosity and attitude toward business play in determining consumer attitudes/beliefs in various situations regarding questionable consumer practices. Two dimensions of religiosity – intrinsic and extrinsic religiousness – were studied. A global scale of money ethic was examined, as was a global measure of attitude toward business. Results indicate that both types of religiosity as well as one’s money ethic and attitude toward business were significant determinants of at least some types of consumer ethical beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of a study that investigated the roles that religiosity and ones money ethic play in determining consumer attitudes/beliefs in various situations regarding questionable consumer practices. One dimension of religiosity - intrinsic religiousness - was studied. Four separate dimensions of a money ethic scale were initially examined, but only one was used in the final analyses. Results indicated that both intrinsic religiousness and one's money ethic were significant determinants of most types of consumer ethical beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of an exploratory study that investigated the role that religiosity plays in determining consumer attitudes/beliefs in various situations regarding questionable consumer practices. Two dimensions of religiosity - intrinsic and extrinsic religiousness - were studied. Results indicated that an intrinsic religiousness was a significant determinant of consumer ethical beliefs, but extrinsic religiousness was not related to those beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a cross-cultural study of the antecedents of the perceived role of ethics and social responsibility in the decision-making process of managers from Spain, Turkey, Great Britain and the U.S. This study demonstrates that, regardless of one's country, the perceived importance of ethics and social responsibility to the success of the firm (PRESOR) is indeed influenced by the individual decision-maker's own ethical perspective and the corporate culture of his/her organization. Furthermore, organizational commitment and enforcement of coded of ethics were both significant determinants of at least one dimension of PRESOR. Given the diversity in the cultures included in the study, it is noteworthy that personal and organizational factors have such an impact on perceptions regarding the importance of ethics and social responsibility. These results tend to highlight the important role that the organizational culture plays in ethical decision-making regardless of the more macro-culture that one is operating within. The significant influence of organizational commitment, existence of corporate values and the enforcement of a code of ethics as a longer term, top priority tend to further support this viewpoint.

This article presents the results of a study that investigated the role that religiosity plays in determining consumer attitudes/beliefs regarding various questionable consumer practices. Additionally, other personal factors were examined including idealism, relativism, consumer alienation and selected demographics such as income and age. All of these constructs were examined as antecedents of consumer ethical beliefs. The results of a post hoc analysis indicated that religiosity was a significant determinate of both idealism and relativism, and since idealism and relativism determine consumer ethical beliefs, religiosity is a significant indirect determinate of consumer ethical beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multinational study of marketing professionals was conducted in the US,England,Spain and Turkey.Respondents from these countries were compared on various ethics-related constructs such as idealism,relativism,moral intensity and corporate ethical values.Analyses of variance indicated that moral intensity had a signi ?cant impact on both ethical judgments and behavioral intentions.However,corporate ethical values,an idealistic ethical perspective and a relativistic ethical perspective only partially impacted ethical judgments and intentions.Country differences showed that the US was highest in terms of corporate ethical values while being the lowest in terms of relativism and signi?cantly lower than Spain and Turkey in terms of idealism.Turkey was the highest in terms of both idealism and relativism yet lowest in terms of corporate ethical values.Country differences in terms of moral intensity tended to be situation-speci?c.One managerial implication,for ?rms in all four countries,is that a clear set of corporate policies concerning ethics can positively in?uence the behavioral intentions of employees.It is important that employees do not misinterpret the desires of top management where ethical issues are involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study of ethical decision making by individuals in organizations found moral intensity, as defined by Jones (1991), to significantly influence ethical decision making intentions of managers. Moral intensity explained 37% and 53% of the variance in ethical decision making in two decision-making scenarios. In part, the results of this research support our theoretical understanding of ethical/unethical decision-making and serve as a foundation for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of a study undertaken to determine the predictive validity of admission variables used to screen applicants for graduate study in business at a medium sized university are reported. Stepwise linear regression analysis was utilized to identify the variables which explain significant amounts of variance in graduate grade point average (GGPA)—the criterion variable. The study revealed that the following variables explained slightly less than 21 percent of the total variance in GGPA: (1) junior/senior undergraduate grade point average (GPA), (2) Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) score, (3) full/part-time attendance in the graduate program, (4) number of credit hours required in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, (5) undergraduate major, (6) age and (7) pursuance of the MBA at the same institution where the student received the undergraduate degree. Junior/senior GPA, GMAT score, and full vs. part-time attendance in the MBA program were significant at the .01 level. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ABSTRACT: Several studies have identified and reported various factors influencing career-choice decisions of accountants; but none has been reported that systematically relates career-choice factors of accountants with those of other professionals. To provide data for comparisons, ratings of career-choice factors were obtained from accountants, attorneys, engineers, and physicians. A multiple discriminant analysis of these data reveals distinctive differences in career-choice and motivating factors among the four professions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional-technical employee perceptions of the R and D subsystem climate were believed to be influenced by personal, joint personal-situational, and situational characteristics. One hundred and five professional-technical employees, above the technical level, from seven organizations cooperated in a study to ascertain the factors which contribute to the formation of subsystem climate perceptions. The findings failed to support the expected relationship between personal characteristics and subsystem climate, but did indicate that joint personal-situational factors accounted for significant amounts of variance in climate perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of an experiment designed to examine the possible impact of (I) the corporate image of the advertiser and (2) the degree of specificity of the candidate qualifications, on the likelihood of reader response to a recruitment advertisement. The data indicated that the corporate image of the advertiser significantly influenced the likelihood of reader response, whereas the degree of specificity of the candidate qualifications did not significantly influence the likelihood of reader response to recruitment advertisement. The implications of the findings are discussed and avenues for further study are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically assessed the various roles essential to managers on different levels of the managerial hierarchy. A sample of 352 top, middle, and low-level managers from both large and small organizations in a variety of industries was asked to rate the various roles required by their positions. The analysis of variance results indicate that 7 of the 10 roles are influenced by hierarchical level. A quadratic discriminant analysis was used to identify a role profile for managers on different levels of the managerial hierarchy. Implications for the practice and teaching of business are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four hundred professionals were sent surveys which measured the individual's propensity for financial risk and self-descriptions of personal and business financial risk-taking behavior. One of four possible incentives (a prepaid $1 payoff, a promised $2 payoff, a $100 lottery, and no incentive) was offered to each surveyed subject. The prepaid $1 incentive resulted in the highest response rate. The type of incentive did not result in meaningful bias in the response pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]