Electrochemotherapy of cutaneous tumor nodules requires local or general anesthesia. For multiple and larger nodules, general anesthesia is recommended by standard operating procedures. The choice of ...general anesthesia is at the discretion of the treating center. Continuous intravenous sedation is also an option. Our study aimed to elucidate the tolerability, safety and possible advantages of continuous intravenous sedation in comparison to general anesthesia in patients undergoing electrochemotherapy.
In the prospective study, 27 patients undergoing electrochemotherapy were either under general anesthesia or under continuous intravenous sedation. Evaluated were different endpoints, such as feasibility and safety, duration of anesthesia and compliance with the patients.
Ten patients were treated under general anesthesia, and 17 patients were under continuous intravenous sedation. The comparison of the approaches indicated that continuous intravenous sedation required a lower overall dosage of propofol, a shorter duration of anesthesia, a shorter time to reach an Aldrete score >8, and greater satisfaction of the patients with the procedure compared to general anesthesia.
The results indicate the feasibility and safety of continuous intravenous sedation for patients undergoing electrochemotherapy of cutaneous tumor nodules. This proved the preferred choice of anesthesia due to its shorter duration and better compliance with the patients compared to general anesthesia.
•The number of firms performing activities associated with RE actions is rising.•OLC stage is an important factor influencing the number and type of RE actions.•Firms in the conservative stage ...participate in a larger number of RE actions.•Firms in the conservative stage undertake RE actions related to savings.•Firms in the innovative stage implement fewer, yet more complex RE actions.
Attempts to understand how firms view environmentally-friendly operations and conscious consumerism are easy to find in the resource efficiency literature. Although scholars consider various resource efficiency business models, opportunities to seize the benefits of the organizational life cycle theory remain under-researched. In the current study, we analyze resource efficiency actions undertaken by close to 1,200 firms in the innovative and conservative stages of a firm’s evolution from four European Union member states: Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain. Logistic regression results show that firms in the conservative stage are more likely to undertake resource efficiency actions related to the saving of water, energy, and materials than firms in the innovative stage which are expected to be implementing actions associated with the design of sustainable product. Surprisingly, our findings also suggest that firms in the conservative stage perform more resource efficiency actions than firms in the innovative one. Various actions are applied by firms in different stages among member states that share similar economic conditions. Moreover, support mechanisms are also considered in this study. The findings allow us to contribute by expanding how the resource efficiency field is conceived in the terms of firm-specific characteristics, their needs and limitations while providing insights and recommendations for researchers and policymakers to accelerate the transition to a sustainable society.
•The paper raises critical concerns about universal circular economy models.•The organisational life cycle theory is located within the circular economy.•Qualitative comparative analysis is used to ...upgrade the firms’ life cycle theory.•The study develops the circular economy configuration indicators.•Policymakers might benefit from a differentiation of firms by stage of evolution.
Circular economy is a rapidly evolving economic system designed to benefit society, business and environment. However, the current circular economy policies and resulting business models are more or less universal, meaning they largely neglect the organisational specifics. Therefore, research that seeks to enhance the circular economy mindset and, at the same time, the innovativeness of firms needs to include more analyses of firm-specific characteristics and issues with a view to more quickly making the modern sustainable reality. As a response, the current study contributes to a better understanding of the role of circular economy practices at different stages of the firms’ evolution. Using crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis we upgrade the organisational life cycle theory by developing 13 circular economy configuration indicators, 10 for the innovative (In1-In10) and 3 for the conservative (Co1-Co3) stage of the organisational life cycle. The various circular economy practices and (non–) financial mechanisms at work throughout the organisational life cycle reveal that a holistic approach to examining the field should be a priority.
To ensure the food industry continues to grow, it is vital to properly understand the factors that impact the purchasing of organic food. Research offers ambiguous findings about what drives ...consumers to decide to purchase food labeled as organic. This study advances the current theories on organic food-purchasing behavior, which overlook the importance of the two-way interaction of social norms and individual behavior, suggesting that the role of social norms may have been simplified. We suggest the causal processes associated with organic food decision-making involve the social feedback loop, a powerful force that takes the current state into the phase of transition. Positive feedback is key to maintaining and developing the sustainable behavior of the society, where an initial change in consumer behavior to purchase organic food is magnified when that change resounds through social norms. This is especially pronounced in Norway and Slovenia, where marketers can make more cost- and time-efficient use of persuasive messages and requests. In addition, we provide a comprehensive delineation of organic food purchase decision-making of close to 14,000 individuals from 15 countries that includes key psychosocial antecedents, along with Schwartz’s values, attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions. Using a mixed-methods approach (i.e., statistical matching, spatial econometrics, structural equation modeling), the present paper thus intends to add to the understanding of environmentally friendly purchase behavior beyond unidirectional and single-theory relationships.
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