bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self‐management program for adolescents with chronic kidney disease: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sezer Tufan Aslı , Çavuşoğlu Hicran , Düzova Ali
Published: December 2020

Background

It is important to develop self‐management behaviours in adolescents to prevent chronic kidney disease progression.

Objectives

This study evaluates the effect of a self‐management program that was developed based on individual and family self‐management theory to aid adolescents with chronic kidney disease in the acquisition of competencies in the management of their disease.

Design

This is a randomized controlled study.

Participants

The study was conducted with 20 intervention and 20 control patients, who were treated at two hospitals in Ankara between December 2018 and May 2019.

Measurements

Self‐Management Assessment Form, Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory‐Adolescent Form and clinical parameters. A training program, specific to chronic kidney disease, was administered over three sessions in a group training setting when the patients came to the clinic for follow‐up. After the training program was completed, the patients were monitored for three months through home visits once every two weeks, totalling six visits.

Results

Following the application of self‐management training, a statistically significant difference was found self‐management knowledge and behaviours, quality of life and anxiety mean scores of intervention and control group (p <.05), a significant decrease in only blood urea nitrogen among the clinical parameters when compared to the control group.

Conclusions

In this study, a self‐management training program was developed based on Individual and Family Self‐Management Theory, aiming to have a positive effect on the self‐management behaviours of adolescents in the cognitive and psychosocial domains.
Rural schoolteachers' knowledge about oral health and perceived roles in oral health education
Authors: Lopez Naty , Quick Karin , Sager Joanna
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To explore schoolteachers' knowledge about oral health, their perception of their role as oral health educators, and their preparedness to teach oral health in rural public schools.

Methods

We conducted a survey of 119 schoolteachers in four public elementary and middle schools in rural Minnesota during spring semester of 2019. We used descriptive statistics to analyze the data.

Results

Sixty percent of 119 teachers participated. Schoolteachers have knowledge about basic oral health hygiene but have limited awareness about fluoride and periodontal disease. Correct agreements to the fluoride statements ranged from 23 percent to 87 percent and 23 percent to 70 percent agreed correctly to statements about periodontal disease. They prefer passive roles in oral health education. There was a high rate of agreement (51‐83 percent) to integrate oral health topics with subjects taught in classrooms.

Conclusions

Schoolteachers see themselves as integrating oral health topics in the subjects they currently teach but will need further training to augment their limited knowledge of oral health.
Cumulative culture and complex cultural traditions
Authors: Buskell Andrew
Published: December 2020

Cumulative cultural evolution is often claimed to be distinctive of human culture. Such claims are typically supported with examples of complex and historically late‐appearing technologies. Yet by taking these as paradigm cases, researchers unhelpfully lump together different ways that culture accumulates. This article has two aims: (a) to distinguish four types of cultural accumulation: adaptiveness, complexity, efficiency, and disparity and (b) to highlight the epistemic implications of taking complex hominin technologies as paradigmatic instances of cumulative culture. Addressing these issues both clarifies the cumulative culture concept and demonstrates the importance of further cumulative culture research into non‐human animals and ancestral hominins.
Representing shape in sight and touch
Authors: Green E. J.
Published: December 2020

We represent shape in both sight and touch, but how do these abilities relate to one another? This issue has been discussed in the context of Molyneux's question of whether someone born blind could, upon being granted sight, identify shapes visually. Some have suggested that we might look to real‐world cases of sight restoration to illuminate the relation between visual and tactual shape representations. Here, I argue that newly sighted perceivers should not be relied on in this way because they are unlikely to form the kinds of shape representations responsible for cross‐modal recognition in normally sighted perceivers. I then argue that the available evidence makes a compelling case for the type identity view, on which the visual and tactual representations responsible for cross‐modal recognition are type‐identical.
Comparison of depression and anxiety among pacemaker and implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator recipients: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Rafsanjani Mojgan Haj Ahmadi Pour , Masoudi Sima , Radmanesh Majid , Bostani Zahra
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Anxiety and depression among implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) recipients can lead to physical or psychological consequences and reduce the quality of life of these patients. Few studies have compared the frequency and severity of depressive and anxiety disorders in the pacemaker (PM) and ICD recipients. The aim of the present study was to compare depression and anxiety among PM and ICD recipients.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was performed on 296 patients referred to a specialized cardiology teaching hospital from October 1, 2019 to July 1, 2020. Patients were selected using convenience sampling method.

Results

Regarding anxiety, the results showed that the overall prevalence of anxiety in PM, ICD, and control groups was 23.5%, 28%, and 8%, respectively. Results showed no significant difference between PM and ICD recipients regarding the anxiety prevalence (p = .46). With regard to depression, the results showed that the overall prevalence of depression in the PM, ICD, and control groups was 7.1%, 23%, and 4.1%, respectively. The results showed a significant difference between PM and ICD recipients in terms of depression prevalence (p = .03). The results also showed that the prevalence of depression was significantly higher among PM and ICD recipients than the control group (p = .01).

Conclusion

Considering the results of the present study and the high prevalence of anxiety and depression, it seems necessary to focus more on educating patients about the effectiveness of PM and ICD devices in reducing anxiety and depression.
Policy Regime Decay
Authors: Sheingate Adam
Published: December 2020

This paper develops the concept of policy regime decay to examine what happens when the political foundations of public policies break down. Policy regime decay consists of an erosion of consensus over policy goals, an unraveling of support coalitions, and an exhaustion of institutional capacity to structure the policy process. These elements of decay have observable implications and they inform an empirical strategy for a case study of U.S. food and agriculture policy. Using content analysis of congressional hearings, analysis of legislative roll calls, and policy agenda measures, the paper finds evidence of elite disagreement over nutrition programs, a partisan divide on Farm Bill votes, and a diffusion of committee jurisdiction over food and agriculture issues in Congress. These findings have implications for understanding the policy consequences of polarization, policy feedback effects, and the dynamics of policy regimes.
The Historical Presidency: From Truman to Trump: Presidents' Use and Abuse of the Incarceration of Japanese Americans
Authors: Pistol Rachel
Published: December 2020

From Harry Truman to Barack Obama, both Republican and Democratic presidents have recognized the injustice suffered by Japanese Americans incarcerated under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066, offering apologies and redress, including the 1988 Civil Liberties Act signed by Ronald Reagan. This article contextualizes the vast gulf between Donald Trump's use of this contested history and all postwar presidents before him and finds that Trump embodies a changed Republican Party that refuses to honor and learn from the injustice of Japanese American incarceration during the Second World War.
In the eye of the storm…again! Social policy responses to COVID‐19 in Southern Europe
Authors: Moreira Amílcar , Léon Margarita , Coda Moscarola Flavia , Roumpakis Antonios
Published: December 2020

This paper aims to describe and discuss the significance of the social policy measures implemented in Southern European countries—Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain—in response to the first wave of COVID‐19. Our analysis covers interventions from 1 March to June 30, 2020. Despite significant differences in how the COVID‐19 pandemic spread—with Italy and Spain experiencing much higher rates of infection and lethality—Southern European economies are among the most hard‐hit—and are likely to find themselves in the eye of the storm, once more. The paper shows that despite differences in how countries have countered the spread of COVID‐19, there are important commonalities in the actions governments took to counteract the economic impact of the pandemic. Foremost efforts were directed at wage subsidy schemes to contain mass job destruction, additional temporary benefits to compensate self‐employed and other non‐standard workers for the loss of earnings; the expansion of unemployment insurance; and finally, the introduction and/or strengthening of schemes to provide support to families with care responsibilities. The scale of the social policy and employment protection response has nevertheless been constrained by the fiscal position of each individual country in the post‐Euro crisis context. We argue that, in the long run, the response capacity of these governments and the social and economic consequences of this crisis will need to be contextualised against the backdrop of the deep and prolonged impact of austerity‐driven measures on public budgets, production and welfare regimes over the last decade.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Willianms Ellery
Published: December 2020

Business and Management Studies (BMS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether BMS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 6, Number 4Abdul-Kahar Adam, University of Education, Winneba, GhanaAndrzej Niemiec, Poznań University of Economics and Business, PolandAnnu Tomar, Indian Institute of Management, IndiaAsad Ghalib, The University of Manchester, UKAshford Chea, Benedict College, USAFábio Albergaria de Queiroz, Catholic University of Brasília, BrazilGabriela O. Chiciudean, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaIulia Cristina Muresan, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaIuliana Petronela GÂRDAN, Spiru Haret University, RomaniaJason Caudill, King University, USAKenichi Shimizu, Technical University of Braunschweig, GermanyKonstantinos N. Malagas, University of the Aegean, GreeceMarica Ion Dumitrasco, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, MoldovaMichael Okoche, University of South Africa, UgandaMythili Kolluru, College of Banking and Financial Studies, OmanOnur Dogan, Dokuz Eylül University, TurkeySandeep Kumar, Tecnia Institute of Advanced Studies, Affiliated to GGSIP University Delgi, IndiaZoran Mastilo, University of East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Ellery WillianmsEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Business and Management StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://bms.redfame.com
For Girls, “Just” Just Isn’t Scientific
Authors: Malik Umairia , Low David , Wilson Kate
Published: December 2020

We ask questions of students in order to probe their understanding. We design our questions in such a way that we can assess a student’s progress towards an accurate worldview. However, there is a consensus that a performance gap exists in many physics assessments, where male students outperform their female peers. While early work in this area considered the overall performance gap on testing instruments, in recent years the focus has shifted to item-level gaps. If the reason(s) that performance gaps arise in questions can be identified, then assessment can be designed to reduce or eliminate gender-based biases.
Voltaic Cells: The Good (Faraday), the Bad (Volta), and the Ugly
(Galvani)
Authors: Saslow Wayne M.
Published: December 2020

Although the phrase “seat of EMF” in describing chemical cells has fallen into disuse, by distinguishing the distinct but incorrect conceptions both of Galvani and of Volta, in favor of the correct view of Faraday, “seat of EMF” it becomes possible (among other things) to understand:
A Simple Method to Measure the Local Geomagnetic Field Accurately in a
First-Year Physics Laboratory
Authors: Wang Si , Huang Shiqi , Liu Chenchen , Tang Ziqian , Shi Qingfan , Schulte Jurgen
Published: December 2020

The directional feature of Earth’s geomagnetic field has been contributing to the technological development and prosperity of humankind since the invention of the magnetic compass navigation centuries ago. Today, for instance, magnetoresistance sensors are commonly used in nanosatellites and unmanned aerial vehicles for high accuracy geomagnetic field-based navigation and mineral survey exploration.
Dancing pins and waving flowers: Two new demos for visualizing magnetic field lines
Authors: Behroozi F.
Published: December 2020

The usual demo to visualize magnetic field lines is to place a paper sheet over a bar magnet and sprinkle iron filings over the sheet. The filings follow the field lines to form the familiar 2D image shown in Fig. 1.
There goes the Sun: Sunset simulations old and new
Authors: Chiaverina Chris
Published: December 2020

The blue color of the sky is due to scattering of sunlight by molecules of air. The process is called Rayleigh scattering in honor of Lord Rayleigh, the physicist who first explained it. Blue light is scattered much more efficiently than light with longer wavelengths, so blue is perceived as the sky’s dominant color.
Acoustic differences between voiced and whispered speech in gender diverse speakers
Authors: Houle Nichole , Levi Susannah V.
Published: December 2020

Whispered speech is a naturally produced mode of communication that lacks a fundamental frequency. Several other acoustic differences exist between whispered and voiced speech, such as speaking rate (measured as segment duration) and formant frequencies. Previous research has shown that listeners are less accurate at identifying linguistic information (e.g., identifying a speech sound) and speaker information (e.g., reporting speaker gender) from whispered speech. To further explore differences between voiced and whispered speech, acoustic differences were examined across three datasets (hVd, sVd, and ʃVd) and three speaker groups (ciswomen, transwomen, cismen). Consistent with previous studies, vowel duration was generally longer in whispered speech and formant frequencies were shifted higher, although the magnitude of these differences depended on vowel and gender. Despite the increase in duration, the acoustic vowel space area (measured either with a vowel quadrilateral or with a convex hull) was smaller in the whispered speech, suggesting that larger vowel space areas are not an automatic consequence of a lengthened articulation. Overall, these findings are consistent with previous literature showing acoustic differences between voiced and whispered speech beyond the articulatory change of eliminating fundamental frequency.
Can a Multicomponent-Overnight Camp Increase Physical Activity Among Danish Children? A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Jakobsen Dorthe Dalstrup , Schipperijn Jasper , Bruun Jens Meldgaard
Published: December 2020

Background: In Denmark, most children are not sufficiently physically active and only a few interventions have been found to increase long-term physical activity among overweight and obese children. The aim of our study was to investigate if children are physically active in correspondence to Danish recommendations after attending a multicomponent-overnight camp. Methods: A questionnaire was developed to estimate children’s physical activity level and behavior and investigate how transport, economy, availability, time, motivation, and knowledge about physical activity affect children’s physical activity level and behavior. Results: In this study, 60.9% of the children did vigorous physical activity (VPA) minimum 30 minutes 3 times per week up to 3 years after camp. Most children were physically active at a sports club (44.3%) and only 5.7% of the children did not participate in physical activity. Parental physical activity and child motivation toward physical activity were significantly (P < .05) associated with children doing VPA. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that 60.9% of children who attended camp engage in VPA after camp, which compared with a recent Danish study, is more frequent than children who did not attend camp. Further investigations are needed to determine the long-term health effects in children attending interventions such as multicomponent-overnight camps.
Jiu-Jitsu and Society: Male Mental Health on the Mats
Authors: Sugden Jack Thomas
Published: December 2020

The growth in mixed martial arts (MMA) gyms worldwide, along with adjunct media discourse has been matched by the number of participants, characterized by the dedication and sacrifice imbued. These factors catalyzed this research which sought initially to understand the motivations of MMA gym members and the role that the training plays in their lives. Through an immersive participant ethnography lasting 3 years, the author trained, socialized, fought, and competed with members of an urban MMA gym in the United Kingdom. The findings focus on the subculture of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu existing within and alongside MMA and where men of diverse ages and creeds follow a path to improved mental health. Drawing from the salutogenic health model and the sociology of health literature, this paper shows that through membership of an MMA gym and dedication to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, participants embody a version of health that is closely aligned with Antonovsky’s theory of salutogenesis. This theory of health helps explain not only the dedication of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners and the growth of MMA more broadly but also posits a fresh perspective on the role of alternative physical activities in male mental health redress.
Acupuncture for the treatment of lower limb diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review
Authors: Nash Jane , Armour Mike , Penkala Stefania
Published: December 2020

Objective:

To examine evidence for acupuncture interventions in the management of diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy (DPN) symptoms.

Methods:

Five electronic databases were searched up to June 2017 for studies that included participants with symptoms of DPN, used an acupuncture intervention, and reported before-and-after DPN-related outcome measures. Two reviewers independently performed the data extraction. The level of homogeneity was assessed, and studies were appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, the STRICTA guidelines for acupuncture reporting and the NICMAN scale for acupuncture quality.

Results:

Ten studies with 432 participants were included: three randomised controlled trials (RCTs), two pilot RCTs, three uncontrolled clinical trials, one quasi-RCT and one prospective case series. Improvements in DPN pain symptoms were reported by all studies. Heterogeneity of outcome measures prevented a meta-analysis. Variations were found in needle retention time and point selection, as well as total number and frequency of treatments. Common acupuncture point selections were ST36 and SP6. Half of the studies used local point selection. Studies conducted outside China had better acupuncture reporting and quality according to the STRICTA checklist and NICMAN scales, respectively. Risk of bias was high or unclear in the majority of studies for all domains except attrition bias.

Conclusions:

Acupuncture for DPN appears to improve symptoms. However, the application of acupuncture varies greatly, and the quality of included studies was generally low. Available studies have varying methodologies and different outcome measures. Further, suitably powered studies using appropriate DPN outcome measures are required.
Sirolimus for the treatment of polyposis of the rectal remnant and ileal pouch in four patients with familial adenomatous polyposis: a pilot study
Authors: Roos Victorine H , Meijer Bartolomeus J , Kallenberg Frank G J , Bastiaansen Barbara A J , Koens Lianne , Bemelman Frederike J , Bossuyt Patrick M M , Heijmans Jarom , van den Brink Gijs , Dekker Evelien
Published: December 2020

Objective

After prophylactic colectomy, adenomas continue to develop in the remaining intestine of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). There is a lack of standard clinical recommendation for chemoprevention in patients with FAP. Because of promising in vivo studies, the aim of this pilot study was to investigate the safety of sirolimus and its effect on progression of intestinal adenomas.

Design

Patients with FAP with InSiGHT Polyposis Staging System 3 of the retained rectum or pouch received sirolimus for 6 months, dosed at plasma concentration levels of 5–8 µg/L. Primary outcomes were safety and change in marked polyp size. Secondary outcomes were change in number of polyps and effect on proliferation and apoptosis assessed by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Each of the included four patients reported 4 to 18 adverse events (toxicity grades 1–3). One patient prematurely terminated the study because of adverse events. Marked polyp size decreased in 16 (80%)/20 and remained the same in 4 (20%)/20 patients. The number of polyps decreased in all patients (MD −25.75, p=0.13). Three out of four patients showed substantial induction of apoptosis or inhibition of proliferation.

Conclusion

Six months of sirolimus treatment in four patients with FAP showed promising effects especially on the number of polyps in the rectal remnant and ileal pouch, although at the cost of numerous adverse events.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT03095703.
Prevalence, risk factors and metabolic profile of the non-obese and obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a rural community of South Asia
Authors: Rahman M Masudur , Kibria Md Golam , Begum Hasina , Haque Mazhar , Sultana Nigar , Akhter Mahfuza , Rowshon A H M , Ahmed Faruqe , Hasan Mahmud
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Since there is a paucity of data on the epidemiology of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), particularly in rural areas in Asia, we undertook such a study among the population of a rural community in Bangladesh with the aims to (1) determine the prevalence of non-obese and obese NAFLD, (2) compare the sociodemographic clinical and metabolic characteristics between non-obese and obese NAFLD subjects, and (3) determine the risk factors of NAFLD and no-nobese NAFLD.

Methods

In this door-to-door survey, clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, biochemical tests and ultrasonography were performed on the adult population (≥18 years) of three villages in Bangladesh.

Results

Of 1682, 1353 (80.44%) responded. After the exclusion of 48 subjects for alcohol consumption, HBsAg or anti-hepatitis C virus positivity, 1305 ((mean age 41.28±15.10 years, female 908 (69.6%)) were included in the final analysis. On ultrasonography, among the study population, 57 (4.4%) non-obese, 185 (14.2%) obese and, overall, 242 (18.5 %, (male 23.40%, female 16.4%, p=0. 003)) participants had NAFLD. NAFLD was detected in 57/804 (7.1%) of non-obese and 185/501 (36.93%) obese participants. Among the lean subjects, 24/592 (4.1%) had NAFLD. Among NAFLD subjects, 57 (23.55%) were non-obese, and 53 (22%) had raised alanine aminotransferase. On multivariate analysis, age >40 years, male gender, metabolic syndrome (MS), diabetes mellitus (DM), abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity were found as the risk factors for NAFLD. There were no differences in sociodemographic characteristics, DM, MS, abdominal obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia between non-obese and obese NAFLD (all p>0.05).

Conclusion

In this community study in Bangladesh, NAFLD was present in 18.5% participants, one-quarter of whom were non-obese. Apart from body mass index, the metabolic profile was comparable between obese and non-obese NAFLD. Public health measures are needed to control and prevent NAFLD and MS and their adverse health consequences.
Injuries and frequent use of emergency department services: a systematic review
Authors: Laferté Catherine , Dépelteau Andréa , Hudon Catherine
Published: December 2020

Objective

To review all studies having examined the association between patients with physical injuries and frequent emergency department (ED) attendance or return visits.

Design

Systematic review.

Data source

Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PsycINFO databases were searched up to and including July 2019.

Eligibility criteria

English and French language publications reporting on frequent use of ED services (frequent attendance and return visits), evaluating injured patients and using regression analysis.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two independent reviewers screened the search results, and assessed methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool for prevalence studies. Results were collated and summarised using a narrative synthesis. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the repercussions of removing a study that did not meet the quality criteria.

Results

Of the 2184 studies yielded by this search, 1957 remained after the removal of duplicates. Seventy-eight studies underwent full-text screening leaving nine that met the eligibility criteria and were included in this study: five retrospective cohort studies; two prospective cohort studies; one cross-sectional study; and one case-control study. Different types of injuries were represented, including fractures, trauma and physical injuries related to falls, domestic violence or accidents. Sample sizes ranged from 200 to 1 259 809. Six studies included a geriatric population while three addressed a younger population. Of the four studies evaluating the relationship between injuries and frequent ED use, three reported an association. Additionally, of the five studies in which the dependent variable was return ED visits, three articles identified a positive association with injuries.

Conclusions

Physical injuries appear to be associated with frequent use of ED services (frequent ED attendance as well as return ED visits). Further research into factors including relevant youth-related covariates such as substance abuse and different types of traumas should be undertaken to bridge the gap in understanding this association.
C-reactive protein at discharge and 1-year mortality in hospitalised patients with acute decompensated heart failure: an observational study
Authors: Nishimoto Yuji , Kato Takao , Morimoto Takeshi , Yaku Hidenori , Inuzuka Yasutaka , Tamaki Yodo , Yamamoto Erika , Yoshikawa Yusuke , Kitai Takeshi , Taniguchi Ryoji , Iguchi Moritake , Kato Masashi , Takahashi Mamoru , Jinnai Toshikazu , Ikeda Tomoyuki , Nagao Kazuya , Kawai Takafumi , Komasa Akihiro , Nishikawa Ryusuke , Kawase Yuichi , Morinaga Takashi , Su Kanae , Kawato Mitsunori , Seko Yuta , Inoko Moriaki , Toyofuku Mamoru , Furukawa Yutaka , Nakagawa Yoshihisa , Ando Kenji , Kadota Kazushige , Shizuta Satoshi , Ono Koh , Kuwahara Koichiro , Ozasa Neiko , Sato Yukihito , Kimura Takeshi
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To examine the association of a high C-reactive protein (CRP) level at discharge from an acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) hospitalisation with the 1-year clinical outcomes.

Design

A post-hoc subanalysis of a prospective cohort study of patients hospitalised for ADHF (using the Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure (KCHF) registry) between October 2014 and March 2016 with a 1-year follow-up.

Setting

A physician-initiated multicentre registry enrolled consecutive hospitalised patients with ADHF for the first time at 19 secondary and tertiary hospitals in Japan.

Participants

Among the 4056 patients enrolled in the KCHF registry, the present study population consisted of 2618 patients with an available CRP value both on admission and at discharge and post-discharge clinical follow-up data. We divided the patients into two groups, those with a high CRP level (>10 mg/L) and those with a low CRP level (≤10 mg/L) at discharge from the index hospitalisation.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome measure was all-cause death after discharge from the index hospitalisation. The secondary outcome measures were heart failure hospitalisations, cardiovascular death and non-cardiovascular death.

Results

The high CRP group and low CRP group included 622 patients (24%) and 1996 patients (76%), respectively. During a median follow-up period of 468 days, the cumulative 1-year incidence of the primary outcome was significantly higher in the high CRP group than low CRP group (24.1% vs 13.9%, log-rank p<0.001). Even after a multivariable analysis, the excess mortality risk in the high CRP group relative to the low CRP group remained significant (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.71; p<0.001). The excess mortality risk was consistent regardless of the clinically relevant subgroup factors.

Conclusions

A high CRP level (>10 mg/L) at discharge from an ADHF hospitalisation was associated with an excess mortality risk at 1 year.

Trial registration details

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02334891 (NCT02334891) https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000017241 (UMIN000015238).
‘To be on the safe side’: a qualitative study regarding users’ beliefs and experiences of internet-based self-sampling for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing
Authors: Grandahl Maria , Larsson Margareta , Herrmann Björn
Published: December 2020

Objectives

In Sweden, an increasing number of tests for sexually transmitted infections are conducted. Self-sampling services are provided free of charge at the national eHealth website. Our aim was to obtain a deeper understanding of users’ beliefs and experiences of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) self-sampling services.

Methods

This qualitative study is part of the national project ‘Internet-based chlamydia and gonorrhoea self-sampling test’, conducted in Sweden. Individuals ordering a CT/NG self-sampling test at home from the eHealth website were invited to participate. Of the 114 individuals who agreed, a purposeful sample including 20 women and men aged 18–49 years (mean, 30.8 years) participated in a telephone interview in 2019.

Results

The test service for CT/NG was highly appreciated by men and women of different ages. Round-the-clock accessibility, avoiding clinical visits, ease of use, confidentiality and a rapid test result were reasons for this appreciation. Language, uncertainty about the correct sampling procedure, unreliable postal services and concerns about handling of personal data were mentioned as barriers. Reasons for testing were checking after unprotected sex, symptoms, checking a partner’s fidelity or a regular routine—‘to be on the safe side’. Knowledge about the infections and their consequences was limited; some considered them severe, especially if they could threaten fertility, and others were less concerned. Disclosing an infection was described as emotionally stressful. Participants had high self-efficacy in relation to the test and would not hesitate to use the service again, even if it involved a cost.

Conclusions

Internet-based CT/NG self-sampling at home was highly appreciated and was used for individual health reasons, but also out of concern for others’ health and for society as a whole. The benefits seem to outweigh the barriers, and the service may therefore continue to be widely offered.
Effect of medicines management versus standard care on readmissions in multimorbid patients: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Lea Marianne , Mowé Morten , Molden Espen , Kvernrød Kristin , Skovlund Eva , Mathiesen Liv
Published: December 2020

Objective

To investigate the effect of pharmacist-led medicines management in multimorbid, hospitalised patients on long-term hospital readmissions and survival.

Design

Parallel-group, randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Recruitment from an internal medicine hospital ward in Oslo, Norway. Patients were enrolled consecutively from August 2014 to the predetermined target number of 400 patients. The last participant was enrolled March 2016. Follow-up until 31 December 2017, that is, 21–40 months.

Participants

Acutely admitted multimorbid patients ≥18 years, using minimum four regular drugs from minimum two therapeutic classes. 399 patients were randomly assigned, 1:1, to the intervention or control group. After excluding 11 patients dying in-hospital and 2 erroneously included, the primary analysis comprised 386 patients (193 in each group) with median age 79 years (range 23–96) and number of diseases 7 (range 2–17).

Intervention

Intervention patients received pharmacist-led medicines management comprising medicines reconciliation at admission, repeated medicines reviews throughout the stay and medicines reconciliation and tailored information at discharge, according to the integrated medicines management model. Control patients received standard care.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary endpoint was difference in time to readmission or death within 12 months. Overall survival was a priori the clinically most important secondary endpoint.

Results

Pharmacist-led medicines management had no significant effect on the primary endpoint time to readmission or death within 12 months (median 116 vs 184 days, HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.04, p=0.106). A statistically significantly increased overall survival was observed during 21–40 months follow-up (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.90, p=0.008).

Conclusions

Pharmacist-led medicines management had no statistically significant effect on time until readmission or death. A statistically significant increased overall survival was seen. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the effect of such an intervention on a larger scale.

Trial registration number

NCT02336113.
Cross-sectional analysis to explore the awareness, attitudes and actions of UK adults at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19
Authors: Flint Stuart W , Brown Adrian , Tahrani Abd A , Piotrkowicz Alicja , Joseph Anny-Claude
Published: December 2020

Objectives

This study explored the impact of COVID-19 on people identified as at high risk of severe illness by UK government, and in particular, the impact of lockdown on access to healthcare, medications and use of technological platforms.

Design

Online survey methodology.

Setting

UK.

Participants

1038 UK adults were recruited who were either identified by UK government as at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or self-identified as at high risk with acute or other chronic health conditions not included in the UK government list. Participants were recruited through social media advertisements, health charities and patient organisations.

Main outcomes measures

The awareness, attitudes and actions survey which explores the impact of COVID-19, on including access to healthcare, use of technology for health condition management, mental health, depression, well-being and lifestyle behaviours.

Results

Nearly half of the sample (44.5%) reported that their mental health had worsened during the COVID-19 lockdown. Management of health conditions changed including access to medications (28.5%) and delayed surgery (11.9%), with nearly half of the sample using telephone care (45.5%). Artificial Intelligence identified that participants in the negative cluster had higher neuroticism, insecurity and negative sentiment. Participants in this cluster reported more negative impacts on lifestyle behaviours, higher depression and lower well-being, alongside lower satisfaction with platforms to deliver healthcare.

Conclusions

This study provides novel evidence of the impact of COVID-19 on people identified as at high risk of severe illness. These findings should be considered by policy-makers and healthcare professionals to avoid unintended consequences of continued restrictions and future pandemic responses.
StromalMED12exon 2 mutations in complex fibroadenomas of the breast
Authors: da Silva Edaise M , Beca Francisco , Sebastiao Ana Paula Martins , Murray Melissa P , Silveira Catarina , Da Cruz Paula Arnaud , Pareja Fresia , Wen Hannah Y , D'Alfonso Timothy M , Edelweiss Marcia , Weigelt Britta , Brogi Edi , Reis-Filho Jorge S , Zhang Hong
Published: December 2020

Aims

Here we explore the presence of mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12) exon 2 and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter hotspot mutations in complex fibroadenomas (CFAs) of the breast.

Methods

The stromal components from 18 CFAs were subjected to Sanger sequencing ofMED12exon 2 and theTERTpromoter hotspot loci. The epithelial and stromal components of twoMED12mutated CFAs were subjected to laser capture microdissection, and Sanger sequencing ofMED12exon 2,TERTpromoter andPIK3CAexons 9 and 20, separately.

Results

MED12exon 2 mutations were identified in the stroma of 17% of CFAs. The analyses of epithelial and stromal components, microdissected separately, revealed thatMED12mutations were restricted to the stroma. NoTERTpromoter orPIK3CAmutations in exons 9 and 20 were detected in analysed CFAs.

Conclusions

Like conventional fibroadenomas,MED12exon 2 mutations appear to be restricted to the stromal component of CFAs, supporting the notion that CFAs are stromal neoplasms.
HiggsBounds-5: testing Higgs sectors in the LHC 13 TeV Era
Authors: Bechtle Philip , Dercks Daniel , Heinemeyer Sven , Klingl Tobias , Stefaniak Tim , Weiglein Georg , Wittbrodt Jonas
Published: December 2020

We describe recent developments of the public computer code . In particular, these include the incorporation of LHC Higgs search results from Run 2 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, and an updated and extended framework for the theoretical input that accounts for improved Higgs cross section and branching ratio predictions and new search channels. We furthermore discuss an improved method used in to approximately reconstruct the exclusion likelihood for LHC searches for non-standard Higgs bosons decaying to $$\tau \tau $$

τ
τ

final states. We describe in detail the new and updated functionalities of the new version .
Spin-induced scalarization of Kerr black holes with a massive scalar field
Authors: Doneva Daniela D. , Collodel Lucas G. , Krüger Christian J. , Yazadjiev Stoytcho S.
Published: December 2020

In the present paper we study the onset of the spin-induced scalarization of a Kerr black hole in scalar-Gauss–Bonnet gravity with a massive scalar field. Our approach is based on a $$(2+1)$$

(
2
+
1
)

time evolution of the relevant linearized scalar field perturbation equation. We examine the region where the Kerr black hole becomes unstable giving rise to new scalarized rotating black holes with a massive scalar field. With increasing of the scalar field mass, the minimum value of the Gauss–Bonnet coupling parameter at which scalarization is possible, increases and thus the instability region shrinks. Interestingly, the introduction of scalar field mass does not change the critical minimal value of the black hole angular momentum $$a_{\mathrm{crit}}/M$$

a
crit

/
M

where the instability of the Kerr black hole develops.
On the Torus quotients of Schubert varieties
Authors: Bonala Narasimha Chary , Pattanayak Santosha Kumar
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we consider the GIT quotients of Schubert varieties for the action of a maximal torus. We describe the minuscule Schubert varieties for which the semistable locus is contained in the smooth locus. As a consequence, we study the smoothness of torus quotients of Schubert varieties in the Grassmannian. We also prove that the torus quotient of any Schubert variety in the homogeneous space [Formula: see text] is projectively normal with respect to the line bundle [Formula: see text] and the quotient space is a projective space, where the line bundle [Formula: see text] and the parabolic subgroup [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] are associated to the highest root [Formula: see text].
THE IMPACT OF TRADE CONFLICT ON MONETARY POLICY IN TARGET ECONOMIES
Authors: ZHAO XIN-XIN , WEN JUN , WANAGURU SUMILA , CHANG CHUN-PING
Published: December 2020

The nexus between trade conflict and monetary policy is of great importance in international political and economic analysis. By employing data from a panel of global countries covering the period 2000–2015, this paper empirically analyzes the impact of trade conflict on monetary policy and how it works. We document the evidence that trade conflict has caused targeted countries to implement loose monetary policy. We also find that the impact of trade conflict is not only effective in the current year, but also continues in the next five years. In addition, we show that the significant impact on monetary policy is manifested in non-OECD countries and transition countries but not in OECD countries and non-transition countries. Consequently, we believe our findings should shed light on those policy makers in target countries, who can hopefully prepare for potential trade conflict and avoid similar disputes from interfering with the effectiveness of monetary policies in the domestic economy by providing practical currency and valuation strategies.
Critical load and wear regime of hydrothermal-aged SrO-doped ZTA composite
Authors: Basha Shaik Akbar , Sarkar Debasish
Published: December 2020

The research work has demonstrated the effect of hydrothermal ageing ([Formula: see text]C, 40 h, 1.034 bar) on friction and wear behavior of SrO-doped zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) composite. Surface topography and wear regime behavior are established in the perspective of ageing time, load, phase transformation and toughening phenomena. The estimated critical load is confirming the expedition of mild to severe wear in the presence of microcrack formation during adhesive and abrasive wear between SrO-doped ZTA (disc) and ZrO2(ball) tribo couples, where adhesion between the SrO–ZTA disc and ZrO2ball results in transfer of ZrO2particles from ball to disc. Roughness parameters ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) are elucidated to understand the influence of load and ageing conditions, as well as the in vitro bioactivity of sintered specimens is assessed in simulative body fluid (SBF) solution.
Pronounced fluctuations of pions in ring-like events in 16O–Ag/Br interactions at 60AGeV/c in the framework of complex network analysis
Authors: Subba Nirpat , Ahmed Azharuddin , Haldar Prabir Kumar , Tawfik Abdel Nasser
Published: December 2020

Visibility graphs (VGs), horizontal visibility graphs (HVGs) and the sandbox algorithm (SB) are applied for multifractal characterization of complex network systems that are converted from time series measurements, are used to characterize the fluctuations in pseudorapidity densities of singly charged particles produced in [Formula: see text]O–AgBr interactions at 60[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]GeV. The work presents the analysis of ring-like and jet-like events in terms of multifractality characterization of [Formula: see text]O–AgBr interactions at 60[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]GeV. We systematically compared the experimental events of both ring- and jet-like events with Monte Carlo (MC) simulated events. The investigation reveals that the multifractal spectrum for the jet-like events and ring-like events is different and can be distinguished. The ring-like events have its parameters slightly higher than that of jet-like events. Further analysis shows that the strength of the nonstatistical fluctuations is larger for ring-like events than those of jet-like events. The SB method presented here appears to be more useful than the conventional methods used for multifractal characterization.
MEAN TIME TO ABSORPTION ON THE JOINT SIERPINSKI GASKET
Authors: ZHANG ZHIZHUO , WU BO
Published: December 2020

As a kind of classical fractal network models, Sierpinski Gasket and its extended network models have attracted the attention of many scholars because of their many applications in real-world networks. Based on the classical Sierpinski Gasket, this paper proposes a joint Sierpinski Gasket model, which can be used not only to study the topology and dynamic properties of Sierpinski Gasket itself, but also to study the Sierpinski Gasket under special conditions, such as the residual Sierpinski Gasket after damage. Since the mean time to absorption (MTA) on the network is a basic dynamic property related to the random walk, in this paper, we study the expression of MTA on the proposed general joint Sierpinski Gasket model, and find that the MTA is determined by the number of iterations [Formula: see text] and two variables determined by the mode variable [Formula: see text], which can be solved by matrix algorithm. Therefore, using the expression of MTA on the general joint Sierpinski Gasket model, we calculate the analytical expressions of the MTA on a general example of the joint Sierpinski Gasket model and three Sierpinski Gaskets with varying degrees of damage and do the corresponding numerical simulation to verify the correctness of the conclusion.
DISTRIBUTION OF LINEAR FRACTAL INTERPOLATION FUNCTION FOR RANDOM DATASET WITH STABLE NOISE
Authors: KUMAR MOHIT , UPADHYE NEELESH S. , CHAND A. K. B.
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we derive the probability distribution of linear fractal interpolation function (FIF) for a random dataset on [Formula: see text], where randomness in the data is induced, using [Formula: see text]-stable noise, in the second coordinate. In particular, we show that the distribution of linear FIF, at any point (on the first coordinate), is also stable, but with different parameters which can be estimated. Finally, we also provide statistical validity of our results.
TIME-VARYING MULTIFRACTAL ANALYSIS OF CRACK PROPAGATION AND INTERNAL FRACTURE PROCESS OF COAL UNDER DYNAMIC LOADING
Authors: FENG JUNJUN , WANG ENYUAN , HUANG QISONG , DING HOUCHENG , DANG LONG
Published: December 2020

Coal failure behavior under dynamic loading is significant for dealing with the failure issues encountered in underground coal mines. In this study, the crack propagation and internal fracture process of coal under dynamic loading were investigated by a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) experimental system and numerical approach, respectively. The experimental and numerical results show that the coal crack propagation and internal fracture surface manifest significant multifractal features. Further, multifractal analysis suggests that the multifractal feature becomes more and more significant during the dynamic loading. The formation mechanism of the multifractal features was further discussed, and the result demonstrates that the crack propagation path within coal is essentially a multifractal structure, thus causing the total fracture behavior of coal to show multifractal features under dynamic loading. Moreover, the multifractal spectrum parameter [Formula: see text] was proved to be closely related to the brittle fracture property of coal, which transpires that the multifractal feature is feasible to evaluate the coal brittleness under dynamic loading and also applicable to predict the coal failure risk in underground coal mines.