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Background: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes, success rate, and complications of performing elective ureteroscopy at different times: <1 week from renal colic initiation (early) and more than 1 week from renal colic initiation (late) in patients with ureteral stone larger than 6 mm. Materials and Methods: This comparative observational study was conducted on 338 consecutive patients. Patients were evaluated in two groups: patients who underwent ureteroscopy in <1 week (A) and patients who underwent ureteroscopy in more than 1 week (B) from renal colic initiation. Helical unenhanced computed tomography was used to assess the size, location, and hardness of stone for all patients. Operation success was defined as complete clearance of stone with no stone residue (stone free) at 2-week postoperative ultrasonography with no need to further interventions. Operation data were collected using medical records, and postoperative complications were investigated at 2 weeks postoperative follow-up visits. Results: Group A included 165 patients and Group B included 173 patients. The overall mean stone size was 8.60 ± 1.12 mm: for Group A 9.13 ± 0.94 mm and for Group B 8.10 ± 1.04 mm (P < 0.001). Stone residues were found in 11 patients: 9 in Group A (5.4%) and 2 in Group B (1.1%) (P = 0.026). Nine patients needed repeated ureteroscopy: 8 (4.8%) in Group A and 1 (0.6%) in Group B (P = 0.015). A double-J stent was used for 85 (51.5%) patients in Group A and 66 (38.2%) patients in Group B (P = 0.016). Major intraoperative complications did not happen in any patients. Fifty-three (32.1%) patients in Group A and 28 (16.2%) patients in Group B suffered from postoperative complications (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Our study revealed that performing elective ureteroscopy with an interval of more than 1 week from the onset of renal colic in combination with medical treatments was associated with less need for double-J stent placement, less need for repeated ureteroscopy, and fewer postoperative complications compared to performing elective ureteroscopy in <1 week from the renal colic onset in nonemergent patients with ureteral stone larger than 6 mm. Although the rate of ureteroscopy failure was higher among the patients who underwent ureteroscopy in <1 week from their renal colic initiation, there was no statistically significant relationship between performing ureteroscopy in <1 week and an increased risk for ureteroscopy failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to provide an open innovation model for hi-tech startups in the unit of industries related to information technology (IT). The research method of the present study is mixed and it is done with two types of qualitative and quantitative (mixed) approaches. In the qualitative part of the research, in order to collect data, interview questions were developed. In the following, the ISM questionnaire and the researcher-made questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale were used. The statistical population in the qualitative and ISM sections consisted of 10 qualified experts who were selected using the purposeful and non-probability sampling method and in-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted with them. The first step of the current study is to identify the main and sub-categories of the research by using the method of qualitative analysis of the theme (the approach of editing interviews, summarizing them and interpreting concepts and words). MAXQDA software was used for qualitative analysis. Then, in the second and quantitative part of the research, the structural-interpretive modeling method and MICMAC software were used to identify the causal relationships between the main categories of the research. In total, the pattern obtained consists of 10 main themes. The results showed that the strategic management of open innovation, investment and financing, and information technology infrastructure affect technology development in services and products and innovative leadership. Innovative leadership and technology development have an effect on knowledge management and human resource empowerment and lead to the participation of startups in open innovation and improving competence of startups. Through improving the competence and participation of hi-tech startups, it is finally possible to achieve open innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]