bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Влияние аккумуляционного слоя на спектральные свойства полностью покрытых майорановских нанопроводов
Authors: Копасов А.А. , Мельников А.С.
Published: June 2020

We study the influence of the accumulation layer on the spectral properties of semiconducting nanowires fully covered by a superconducting shell within the framework of the Bogoliubov - de Gennes equations. It is shown that both the decrease in the thickness of the layer and the increase in the ratio of Fermi velocities in the shell and the core result in the enhancement of the spectral gap and limit the parameter range corresponding to topologically nontrivial phase. The presence of the accumulation layer can also lead to reentrant magnetic flux dependencies of the gap, which can be experimentally observed in measurements of charge transport through the nanowire in the Coulomb blockade conditions.
Эффекты магнитного поля в экситонной генерации оптических гармоник
Authors: Павлов В.В.
Published: June 2020

Mechanisms responsible for the optical harmonics generation in several classes of materials at excitonic transitions are considered. In the cubic semiconductor GaAs, magnetically induced second harmonic generation (SHG) was observed in the region of orbital quantization for the valence and conduction bands. An unusually strong third harmonic generation was detected in the region of the 1s exciton in an external magnetic field due to the exciton-polariton resonance. Magnetic field induced SHG was revealed in the hexagonal wide bandgap semiconductor ZnO at exciton resonances 1s, 2s, and 2p. Depending on the symmetry of the exciton states, the SHG mechanisms are determined by the spin and orbital Zeeman effects, and the magneto-Stark effect. Magnetically induced contribution to SHG was studied in the antiferromagnet Cr2O3 at exciton transitions in an external magnetic field.
Нанопроволоки из сплавов FeNi и FeCo: синтез, структура и мёссбауэровские измерения
Authors: Долуденко И.М. , Загорский Д.Л. , Фролов К.В. , Перунов И.В. , Чуев M.A. , Каневский B.M. , Ерохина H.C. , Бедин С.А.
Published: June 2020

Nanowires (NWs) of FeNi and FeCo alloys were obtained by matrix synthesis based on galvanic filling of pores in track membranes. The change in the elemental composition of NWs when changing the composition of the electrolyte and when changing the deposition potential was studied. The effect of anomalous co-deposition of Fe is observed in the FeNi NWs: the iron content in the NWs is noticeably higher than that in the electrolyte. This difference increases when the initial concentration increases and when the growth potential decreases. An increase in the concentration of iron at the tops of the wires was also detected. For FeCo NWs, the composition corresponds to the composition of the electrolyte and did not change much when the potential changed. X-ray diffraction analysis allowed to determine the nature of changes in the spectra when the growth conditions change. The dependence of the X - ray spectra of FeNi on the growth potential is found- the intensity of the phase peaks changes. Mössbauer measurements revealed spontaneous magnetization for all samples of NW arrays along their axes. The dependence of the value of the ultrathin magnetic field Bh f on 57Fe nuclei on the composition of NWs (FexCo1−x and FexNi1−x) was obtained for the first time. It was found that the value of Bh f decreases with an increase in the speed of the electrodeposition process (or with an increase in the value of the deposition potential U).
Управление магнитной структурой CoNi-микрочастиц при помощи механических напряжений
Authors: Нургазизов Н.И. , Бизяев Д.А. , Бухараев А.А. , Чукланов А.П.
Published: June 2020

In work, the change of domain structure of CoNi microparticles caused by mechanical stress was studied. For this purpose, an array of identical square-shaped planar CoNi particles was formed on the surface of a polished glass substrate. Elastic bending of the substrate was used for creating of mechanical stress in the particles. It was shown by magnetic force microscopy, the magnetic structure of particles is possible to change from multidomain to quasi-homogeneous state by mechanical stress.
Частота спин-инжекционного излучения в магнитном переходе с учетом спиновой подвижности электронов
Authors: Вилков Е.А. , Никитов С.А. , Бышевский-Конопко О.А. , Cафин А.Р. , Фомин Л.А. , Чигарев С.Г.
Published: June 2020

Taking into account the difference in the mobility of electrons with different spin projections, the frequencies of spin-injection radiation in magnetic contact with a current formed by two ferromagnets are calculated. It is shown that at a certain density of current exceeding the threshold value, these frequencies lie in the terahertz range, and the current density required to generate the terahertz radiation, even at small values of the difference in mobilities, may be two orders of magnitude less than at the same mobility. The effect of the ratio of spin polarizations of ferromagnets, which form the magnetic transition, on the radiation frequency was analyzed.
Особенности фазовых состояний двумерного разбавленного магнетика с фрустрацией
Authors: Ясинская Д.Н. , Улитко В.А. , Панов Ю.Д.
Published: June 2020

We consider a two-dimentional spin-pseudospin model to study the critical properties of a diluted Ising magnet. The model with charged impurities is frustrated due to competition between charge and spin orders. We used classical Monte Carlo method to obtain the ground state phase diagram, and study unconventional phase states at finite temperatures, including order-order and reentrant phase transitions.
Landscape of Participant-Centric Initiatives for Medical Research in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan: Scoping Review
Authors: Hamakawa Nao , Nakano Rumiko , Kogetsu Atsushi , Coathup Victoria , Kaye Jane , Yamamoto Beverley Anne , Kato Kazuto
Published: June 2020

Background

Information and communication technology (ICT) has made remarkable progress in recent years and is being increasingly applied to medical research. This technology has the potential to facilitate the active involvement of research participants. Digital platforms that enable participants to be involved in the research process are called participant-centric initiatives (PCIs). Several PCIs have been reported in the literature, but no scoping reviews have been carried out. Moreover, detailed methods and features to aid in developing a clear definition of PCIs have not been sufficiently elucidated to date.

Objective

The objective of this scoping review is to describe the recent trends in, and features of, PCIs across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Methods

We applied a methodology suggested by Levac et al to conduct this scoping review. We searched electronic databases—MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), Embase (Excerpta Medica Database), CINAHL (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature), PsycINFO, and Ichushi-Web—and sources of grey literature, as well as internet search engines—Google and Bing. We hand-searched through key journals and reference lists of the relevant articles. Medical research using ICT was eligible for inclusion if there was a description of the active involvement of the participants.

Results

Ultimately, 21 PCIs were identified that have implemented practical methods and modes of various communication activities, such as patient forums and use of social media, in the field of medical research. Various methods of decision making that enable participants to become involved in setting the agenda were also evident.

Conclusions

This scoping review is the first study to analyze the detailed features of PCIs and how they are being implemented. By clarifying the modes and methods of various forms of communication and decision making with patients, this review contributes to a better understanding of patient-centric involvement, which can be facilitated by PCIs.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/resprot.7407
Assessment of Adaptive Engagement and Support Model for People With Chronic Health Conditions in Online Health Communities: Combined Content Analysis
Authors: Green Brian M , Van Horn Katelyn Tente , Gupte Ketki , Evans Megan , Hayes Sara , Bhowmick Amrita
Published: June 2020

Background

With the pervasiveness of social media, online health communities (OHCs) are an important tool for facilitating information sharing and support among people with chronic health conditions. Importantly, OHCs offer insight into conversations about the lived experiences of people with particular health conditions. Little is known about the aspects of OHCs that are important to maintain safe and productive conversations that support health.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the provision of social support and the role of active moderation in OHCs developed in accordance with and managed by an adaptive engagement model. This study also aimed to identify key elements of the model that are central to the development, maintenance, and adaptation of OHCs for people with chronic health conditions.

Methods

This study used combined content analysis, a mixed methods approach, to analyze sampled Facebook post comments from 6 OHCs to understand how key aspects of the adaptive engagement model facilitate different types of social support. OHCs included in this study are for people living with multiple sclerosis, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. An exploratory approach was used in the analysis, and initial codes were grouped into thematic categories and then confirmed through thematic network analysis using the Dedoose qualitative analysis software tool. Thematic categories were compared for similarities and differences for each of the 6 OHCs and by topic discussed.

Results

Data on the reach and engagement of the Facebook posts and the analysis of the sample of 5881 comments demonstrate that people with chronic health conditions want to engage on the web and find value in supporting and sharing their experiences with others. Most comments made in these Facebook posts were expressions of social support for others living with the same health condition (3405/5881, 57.89%). Among the comments with an element of support, those where community members validated the knowledge or experiences of others were most frequent (1587/3405, 46.61%), followed by the expression of empathy and understanding (1089/3405, 31.98%). Even among posts with more factual content, such as insurance coverage issues, user comments still had frequent expressions of support for others (80/213, 37.5%).

Conclusions

The analysis of this OHC adaptive engagement model in action shows that the foundational elements—social support, engagement, and moderation—can effectively be used to provide a rich and dynamic community experience for individuals with chronic health conditions. Social support is demonstrated in a variety of ways, including sharing information or validating information shared by others, expressions of empathy, and sharing encouraging statements with others.
Supervised Digital Neuropsychological Tests for Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Usability and Clinical Validity Study
Authors: Lunardini Francesca , Luperto Matteo , Romeo Marta , Basilico Nicola , Daniele Katia , Azzolino Domenico , Damanti Sarah , Abbate Carlo , Mari Daniela , Cesari Matteo , Borghese Nunzio Alberto , Ferrante Simona
Published: June 2020

Background

Dementia is a major and growing health problem, and early diagnosis is key to its management.

Objective

With the ultimate goal of providing a monitoring tool that could be used to support the screening for cognitive decline, this study aims to develop a supervised, digitized version of 2 neuropsychological tests: Trail Making Test and Bells Test. The system consists of a web app that implements a tablet-based version of the tests and consists of an innovative vocal assistant that acts as the virtual supervisor for the execution of the test. A replay functionality is added to allow inspection of the user’s performance after test completion.

Methods

To deploy the system in a nonsupervised environment, extensive functional testing of the platform was conducted, together with a validation of the tablet-based tests. Such validation had the two-fold aim of evaluating system usability and acceptance and investigating the concurrent validity of computerized assessment compared with the corresponding paper-and-pencil counterparts.

Results

The results obtained from 83 older adults showed high system acceptance, despite the patients’ low familiarity with technology. The system software was successfully validated. A concurrent validation of the system reported good ability of the digitized tests to retain the same predictive power of the corresponding paper-based tests.

Conclusions

Altogether, the positive results pave the way for the deployment of the system to a nonsupervised environment, thus representing a potential efficacious and ecological solution to support clinicians in the identification of early signs of cognitive decline.
Effect of Prior Health Knowledge on the Usability of Two Home Medical Devices: Usability Study
Authors: Chaniaud Noémie , Métayer Natacha , Megalakaki Olga , Loup-Escande Emilie
Published: June 2020

Background

Studies on the usability of health care devices are becoming more common, although usability standards are not necessarily specified and followed. Yet, there is little knowledge about the impact of the context of use on the usability outcome. It is specified in the usability standard (ISO 9241-11, 2018) of a device that it may be affected by its context of use and especially by the characteristics of its users. Among these, prior health knowledge (ie, knowledge about human body functioning) is crucial. However, no study has shown that prior health knowledge influences the usability of medical devices. 

Objective

Our study aimed to fill this gap by analyzing the relationship between the usability of two home medical devices (soon to be used in the context of ambulatory surgery) and prior health knowledge through an experimental approach.

Methods

For assessing the usability of two home medical devices (blood pressure monitor and pulse oximeter), user tests were conducted among 149 students. A mixed-methods approach (subjective vs objective) using a variety of standard instruments was adopted (direct observation, video analysis, and questionnaires). Participants completed a questionnaire to show the extent of their previous health knowledge and then operated both devices randomly. Efficiency (ie, handling time) and effectiveness (ie, number of handling errors) measures were collected by video analysis. Satisfaction measures were collected by a questionnaire (system usability scale [SUS]). The qualitative observational data were coded using inductive analysis by two independent researchers specialized in cognitive psychology and cognitive ergonomics. Correlational analyses and clusters were performed to test how usability relates to sociodemographic characteristics and prior health knowledge.

Results

The results indicated a lack of usability for both devices. Regarding the blood pressure monitor (137 participants), users made approximately 0.77 errors (SD 1.49), and the mean SUS score was 72.4 (SD 21.07), which is considered “satisfactory.” The pulse oximeter (147 participants) appeared easier to use, but participants made more errors (mean 0.99, SD 0.92), and the mean SUS score was 71.52 (SD 17.29), which is considered “satisfactory.” The results showed a low negative and significant correlation only between the effectiveness of the two devices and previous knowledge (blood pressure monitor: r=−0.191, P=.03; pulse oximeter: r=−0.263, P=.001). More subtly, we experimentally identified the existence of a threshold level (χ²2,146=10.9, P=.004) for health knowledge to correctly use the pulse oximeter, but this was missing for the blood pressure monitor.

Conclusions

This study has the following two contributions: (1) a theoretical interest highlighting the importance of user characteristics including prior health knowledge on usability outcomes and (2) an applied interest to provide recommendations to designers and medical staff.
Characteristics of Twitter Use by State Medicaid Programs in the United States: Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Zhu Jane M , Sarker Abeed , Gollust Sarah , Merchant Raina , Grande David
Published: June 2020

Background

Twitter is a potentially valuable tool for public health officials and state Medicaid programs in the United States, which provide public health insurance to 72 million Americans.

Objective

We aim to characterize how Medicaid agencies and managed care organization (MCO) health plans are using Twitter to communicate with the public.

Methods

Using Twitter’s public application programming interface, we collected 158,714 public posts (“tweets”) from active Twitter profiles of state Medicaid agencies and MCOs, spanning March 2014 through June 2019. Manual content analyses identified 5 broad categories of content, and these coded tweets were used to train supervised machine learning algorithms to classify all collected posts.

Results

We identified 15 state Medicaid agencies and 81 Medicaid MCOs on Twitter. The mean number of followers was 1784, the mean number of those followed was 542, and the mean number of posts was 2476. Approximately 39% of tweets came from just 10 accounts. Of all posts, 39.8% (63,168/158,714) were classified as general public health education and outreach; 23.5% (n=37,298) were about specific Medicaid policies, programs, services, or events; 18.4% (n=29,203) were organizational promotion of staff and activities; and 11.6% (n=18,411) contained general news and news links. Only 4.5% (n=7142) of posts were responses to specific questions, concerns, or complaints from the public.

Conclusions

Twitter has the potential to enhance community building, beneficiary engagement, and public health outreach, but appears to be underutilized by the Medicaid program.
Development and Preliminary Evaluation of the Effects of an mHealth Web-Based Platform (HappyAir) on Adherence to a Maintenance Program After Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Jiménez-Reguera Begoña , Maroto López Eva , Fitch Shane , Juarros Lourdes , Sánchez Cortés Marta , Rodríguez Hermosa Juan Luis , Calle Rubio Myriam , Hernández Criado María Teresa , López Marta , Angulo-Díaz-Parreño Santiago , Martín-Pintado-Zugasti Aitor , Vilaró Jordi
Published: June 2020

Background

Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the main interventions to reduce the use of health resources, and it promotes a reduction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) costs. mHealth systems in COPD aim to improve adherence to maintenance programs after pulmonary rehabilitation by promoting the change in attitude and behavior necessary for patient involvement in the management of the disease.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the effects of an integrated care plan based on an mHealth web-based platform (HappyAir) on adherence to a 1-year maintenance program applied after pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients.

Methods

COPD patients from three hospitals were randomized to a control group or an intervention group (HappyAir group). Patients from both groups received an 8-week program of pulmonary rehabilitation and educational sessions about their illness. After completion of the process, only the HappyAir group completed an integrated care plan for 10 months, supervised by an mHealth system and therapeutic educator. The control group only underwent the scheduled check-ups. Adherence to the program was rated using a respiratory physiotherapy adherence self-report (CAP FISIO) questionnaire. Other variables analyzed were adherence to physical activity (Morisky-Green Test), quality of life (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test, St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, and EuroQOL-5D), exercise capacity (6-Minute Walk Test), and lung function.

Results

In total, 44 patients were recruited and randomized in the control group (n=24) and HappyAir group (n=20). Eight patients dropped out for various reasons. The CAP FISIO questionnaire results showed an improvement in adherence during follow-up period for the HappyAir group, which was statistically different compared with the control group at 12 months (56.1 [SD 4.0] vs 44.0 [SD 13.6]; P=.004) after pulmonary rehabilitation.

Conclusions

mHealth systems designed for COPD patients improve adherence to maintenance programs as long as they are accompanied by disease awareness and patient involvement in management.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04479930; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04479930
Epidemiological Observations on the Association Between Anosmia and COVID-19 Infection: Analysis of Data From a Self-Assessment Web Application
Authors: Denis Fabrice , Galmiche Simon , Dinh Aurélien , Fontanet Arnaud , Scherpereel Arnaud , Benezit Francois , Lescure François-Xavier
Published: June 2020

Background

We developed a self-assessment and participatory surveillance web application for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which was launched in France in March 2020.

Objective

Our objective was to determine if self-reported symptoms could help monitor the dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak in France.

Methods

Users were asked questions about underlying conditions, sociodemographic status, zip code, and COVID-19 symptoms. Depending on the symptoms reported and the presence of coexisting disorders, users were told to either stay at home, contact a general practitioner (GP), or call an emergency phone number. Data regarding COVID-19–related hospitalizations were retrieved from the Ministry of Health.

Results

As of March 29, 2020, the application was opened 4,126,789 times; 3,799,535 electronic questionnaires were filled out; and 2,477,174 users had at least one symptom. In total, 34.8% (n=1,322,361) reported no symptoms. The remaining users were directed to self-monitoring (n=858,878, 22.6%), GP visit or teleconsultation (n=1,033,922, 27.2%), or an emergency phone call (n=584,374, 15.4%). Emergency warning signs were reported by 39.1% of participants with anosmia, a loss of the sense of smell (n=127,586) versus 22.7% of participants without anosmia (n=1,597,289). Anosmia and fever and/or cough were correlated with hospitalizations for COVID-19 (Spearman correlation coefficients=0.87 and 0.82, respectively; P<.001 for both).

Conclusions

This study suggests that anosmia may be strongly associated with COVID-19 and its severity. Despite a lack of medical assessment and virological confirmation, self-checking application data could be a relevant tool to monitor outbreak trends.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04331171; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04331171
Nurse-Led Education and Engagement for Diabetes Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Singh Arti , Nichols Michelle
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

As the impact of diabetes grows steeply in sub-Saharan Africa, improvement of the control and treatment of diabetes is a goal that health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa must achieve in the near future. Sub-Saharan Africa faces a number of challenges in addressing the increasing effects of diabetes. One important factor is the shortage of adequately trained health care workers. Diabetes management in sub-Saharan Africa would benefit from innovative approaches that are founded upon solid theoretical constructs, built upon existing human resources and infrastructure, and culturally tailored to the priorities and needs of the local population. Existing resources, such as mobile phones and task-shifting strategies, may be used to assist individuals with glycemic self-management and to facilitate management of additional day-to-day clinical responsibilities.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Nurse-Led Education and Engagement Study for Diabetes Care (NEEDS) mixed-methods protocol is to develop a practical, collaborative, effective, and sustainable program for diabetes prevention and management specifically for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan Africa. The protocol aims to improve access to care through task-shifting strategies and the use of mobile health technology.

METHODS

This study was designed using a convergent parallel mixed-methods approach that consisted of surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and focused ethnography. Novel approaches, such as task-shifting strategies and the use of mobile technology, were implemented for type 2 diabetes mellitus health care in sub-Saharan Africa—currently an under-researched area.

RESULTS

Data collection began in February 2018, after ethics approval, at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. As of May 2020, participant surveys have been completed (N=100), key informant interviews (n=7) have been completed, and focus groups (5 focus groups; patients, n=18; caregivers, n=6; community leaders, n=2; and faith leaders, n=3) as well as focused ethnographic field observations have been completed. All audio recordings have been transcribed and transcripts of sessions recorded in Twi have been translated to English. Data analysis is currently underway and anticipated completion is in the spring of 2020. Following data analysis, investigators plan to publish study findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Insights from this study will inform the preliminary development of a feasible and effective nurse-led education and engagement mobile health intervention that has the potential to reduce diabetes-related morbidity, mortality, and burden in sub-Saharan Africa.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/15408
Value of Eye-Tracking Data for Classification of Information Processing–Intensive Handling Tasks: Quasi-Experimental Study on Cognition and User Interface Design (Preprint)
Authors: Wegner Stephan , Lohmeyer Quentin , Wahlen Dimitri , Neumann Sandra , Groebli Jean-Claude , Meboldt Mirko
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

In order to give a wide range of people the opportunity to ensure and support home care, one approach is to develop medical devices that are as user-friendly as possible. This allows nonexperts to use medical devices that were originally too complicated to use. For a user-centric development of such medical devices, it is essential to understand which user interface design best supports patients, caregivers, and health care professionals.

OBJECTIVE

Using the benefits of mobile eye tracking, this work aims to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges of user cognition. As a consequence, its goal is to identify the obstacles to the usability of the features of two different designs of a single medical device user interface. The medical device is a patient assistance device for home use in peritoneal dialysis therapy.

METHODS

A total of 16 participants, with a subset of seniors (8/16, mean age 73.7 years) and young adults (8/16, mean age 25.0 years), were recruited and participated in this study. The handling cycle consisted of seven main tasks. Data analysis started with the analysis of task effectiveness for searching for error-related tasks. Subsequently, the in-depth gaze data analysis focused on these identified critical tasks. In order to understand the challenges of user cognition in critical tasks, gaze data were analyzed with respect to individual user interface features of the medical device system. Therefore, it focused on the two dimensions of dwell time and fixation duration of the gaze.

RESULTS

In total, 97% of the handling steps for design 1 and 96% for design 2 were performed correctly, with the main challenges being task 1 insert, task 2 connect, and task 6 disconnect for both designs. In order to understand the two analyzed dimensions of the physiological measurements simultaneously, the authors propose a new graphical representation. It distinguishes four different patterns to compare the eye movements associated with the two designs. The patterns identified for the critical tasks are consistent with the results of the task performance.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that mobile eye tracking provides insights into information processing in intensive handling tasks related to individual user interface features. The evaluation of each feature of the user interface promises an optimal design by combining the best found features. In this way, manufacturers are able to develop products that can be used by untrained people without prior knowledge. This would allow home care to be provided not only by highly qualified nurses and caregivers, but also by patients themselves, partners, children, or neighbors.
Mobile Health for Pediatric Weight Management: Systematic Scoping Review (Preprint)
Authors: Tully Louise , Burls Amanda , Sorensen Jan , El-Moslemany Riyad , O'Malley Grace
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

The prevalence and consequences of obesity among children and adolescents remain a leading global public health concern, and evidence-based, multidisciplinary lifestyle interventions are the cornerstone of treatment. Mobile electronic devices are widely used across socioeconomic categories and may provide a means of extending the reach and efficiency of health care interventions.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to synthesize the evidence regarding mobile health (mHealth) for the treatment of childhood overweight and obesity to map the breadth and nature of the literature in this field and describe the characteristics of published studies.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic scoping review in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews, by searching nine academic databases in addition to gray literature for studies describing acceptability, usability, feasibility, effectiveness, adherence, or cost-effectiveness of interventions assessing mHealth for childhood obesity treatment. We also hand searched the reference lists of relevant articles. Studies aimed at the prevention of overweight or obesity were excluded, as were studies in which mHealth was not the primary mode of treatment delivery for at least one study arm or was not independently assessed. A random portion of all abstracts and full texts was double screened by a second reviewer to ensure consistency. Data were charted according to study characteristics, including design, participants, intervention content, behavior change theory (BCT) underpinning the study, mode of delivery, and outcomes measured.

RESULTS

We identified 42 eligible studies assessing acceptability (n=7), usability (n=2), feasibility or pilot studies (n=15), treatment effect (n=17), and fidelity (n=1). Change in BMI z-scores or percentiles was most commonly measured, among a variety of dietary, physical activity, psychological, and usability or acceptability measures. SMS, mobile apps, and wearable devices made up the majority of mobile interventions, and 69% (29/42) of the studies specified a BCT used.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric weight management using mHealth is an emerging field, with most work to date aimed at developing and piloting such interventions. Few large trials are published, and these are heterogeneous in nature and rarely reported according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials for eHealth guidelines. There is an evidence gap in the cost-effectiveness analyses of such studies.

CLINICALTRIAL
Perceptions of Home Telemonitoring Use Among Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Qualitative Study (Preprint)
Authors: Lundell Sara , Modig Mari , Holmner Åsa , Wadell Karin
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem and an economic burden globally. There is growing interest in how electronic health (eHealth) can be used to provide efficient health care. Telemonitoring, where the patient’s health-related data is transmitted to a health care provider, can be used to detect early signs of exacerbations. A successful implementation of telemonitoring systems into clinical practice requires in-depth knowledge of the users’ preferences.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of the use of a home telemonitoring system among patients with COPD.

METHODS

Semistructured individual interviews were carried out with 8 women and 5 men who were participants in a project aimed at developing and evaluating a telemonitoring system. The web-based telemonitoring system measured pulmonary function, subjective symptoms, and oxygen saturation. Participants were interviewed after having used the system for 2-4 months. Interview transcripts were analyzed with qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

The analysis resulted in the theme A transition toward increased control and security and four categories: using with (in)security, affecting technical concern or confidence, providing easy access to health care, and increasing control over the disease. The participants reported various perceptions of using the telemonitoring system. They expressed initial feelings of insecurity, both in terms of operating the system and in terms of their disease. However, the practical management of the telemonitoring system became easier with time; the participants gradually gained confidence and improved their self-management. New technology was perceived as an important complement to existing health care, but the importance of maintaining a human contact in real life or through the telemonitoring system was emphasized.

CONCLUSIONS

This study captured a transition among the participants from being insecure and experiencing technical concerns to acquiring technical confidence and improving disease management. Telemonitoring can be a valuable complement to health care, leading to increased self-knowledge, a sense of security, and improved self-management. Suggestions to improve the further development and implementation of telemonitoring systems include better patient education and the involvement of end users in the technical development process. Additional research is needed, particularly in the design of user-friendly systems, as well as in developing tools to predict which patients are most likely to find the equipment useful, as this may result in increased empowerment, improved quality of life, reduced costs, and a contribution to equity in health.
A Mobile Health Intervention System for Women With Coronary Heart Disease: Usability Study (Preprint)
Authors: Sengupta Avijit , Beckie Theresa , Dutta Kaushik , Dey Arup , Chellappan Sriram
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death and disability among American women. The prevalence of CHD is expected to increase by more than 40% by 2035. In 2015, the estimated cost of caring for patients with CHD was US $182 billion in the United States; hospitalizations accounted for more than half of the costs. Compared with men, women with CHD or those who have undergone coronary revascularization have up to 30% more rehospitalizations within 30 days and up to 1 year. Center-based cardiac rehabilitation is the gold standard of care after an acute coronary event, but few women attend these valuable programs. Effective home-based interventions for improving cardiovascular health among women with CHD are vital for addressing this gap in care.

OBJECTIVE

The ubiquity of mobile phones has made mobile health (mHealth) behavioral interventions a viable option to improve healthy behaviors of both women and men with CHD. First, this study aimed to examine the usability of a prototypic mHealth intervention designed specifically for women with CHD (herein referred to as HerBeat). Second, we examined the influence of HerBeat on selected health behaviors (self-efficacy for diet, exercise, and managing chronic illness) and psychological (perceived stress and depressive symptoms) characteristics of the participants.

METHODS

Using a single-group, pretest, posttest design, 10 women participated in the 12-week usability study. Participants were provided a smartphone and a smartwatch on which the HerBeat app was installed. Using a web portal dashboard, a health coach monitored participants’ ecological momentary assessment data, their behavioral data, and their heart rate and step count. Participants then completed a 12-week follow-up assessment.

RESULTS

All 10 women (age: mean 64.4 years, SD 6.3 years) completed the study. The usability and acceptability of HerBeat were good, with a mean system usability score of 83.60 (SD 16.3). The participants demonstrated statistically significant improvements in waist circumference (P=.048), weight (P=.02), and BMI (P=.01). Furthermore, depressive symptoms, measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, significantly improved from baseline (P=.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The mHealth prototype was feasible and usable for women with CHD. Participants provided data that were useful for further development of HerBeat. The mHealth intervention is expected to help women with CHD self-manage their health behaviors. A randomized controlled trial is needed to further verify the findings.
Comparison between the Mentoring Interaction Perspectives of Mentors and Mentees in Illegal Drug Use Prevention: A Q methodology investigation (Preprint)
Authors: Huang Chiu-Mieh , Liao Jung-Yu , Hsu Hsiao-Pei , Lin Cheng-Yu , Guo Jong-Long
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Only limited empirical research has compared the different perspectives of mentors and mentees regarding mentoring interactions in drug use prevention. Perspective comparisons between these groups will provide a beneficial understanding of how mentoring can be improved. Using online self-assessment to understand perspectives was an innovative approach to uncover the similarities and differences between mentors and mentees.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify and compare the patterns of shared perspectives of mentors and mentees associated with their experiences in preventing illegal drug use during the mentoring process.

METHODS

In this study, we applied the Q methodology to cluster participants into groups according to the similarities of their Q sorts through online self-assessment. Accordingly, 39 Q statements were developed by integrating published literature and expert opinions. Further, a total of 31 pairs of mentors and mentees participated in the study to rank the designed Q statements by using a Q sort. Subsequently, we applied PQ Method 2.35 software to perform Q factor analysis on the Q sort data from mentors and mentees. Each resulting final factor represented a group of participants with similar perspectives.

RESULTS

This study included separate Q factor analyses for mentors and mentees. The analyses provided a five-factor solution for the mentors that accounted for 58% of the total variance. Another five-factor solution for the mentees explained 49% of the total variance. One similarity between the groups was the need to enhance the involvement of significant others to help mentees quit drugs. Further, a major identified difference between the groups was that whereas the mentees highlighted the importance of health consequences of drug misuse in helping them stop use, the mentors did not.

CONCLUSIONS

The adoption of the Q methodology enabled a direct comparison of the perspectives of mentors and mentees regarding illegal drug use prevention. The elucidation of more similarities and differences between mentors and mentees could offer a more insightful understanding of preventing the drug use by mentees.
Interpretation of Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young Genetic Variants Based on American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Criteria: Machine-Learning Model Development (Preprint)
Authors: Liu Yichuan , Qu Hui-Qi , Wenocur Adam S , Qu Jingchun , Chang Xiao , Glessner Joseph , Sleiman Patrick , Tian Lifeng , Hakonarson Hakon
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a group of dominantly inherited monogenic diabetes, with HNF4A-MODY, GCK-MODY, and HNF1A-MODY as the three most common forms based on the causal genes. Molecular diagnosis of MODY is important for precise treatment. Although a DNA variant causing MODY can be assessed based on the criteria of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines, gene-specific assessment of disease-causing mutations is important to differentiate among MODY subtypes. As the ACMG criteria were not originally designed for machine-learning algorithms, they are not true independent variables.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop machine-learning models for interpretation of DNA variants and MODY diagnosis using the ACMG criteria.

METHODS

We applied machine-learning models for interpretation of DNA variants in MODY genes defined by the ACMG criteria based on the Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD) and ClinVar database.

RESULTS

With a machine-learning procedure, we found that the weight matrix of the ACMG criteria was significantly different between the three MODY genes HNF1A, HNF4A, and GCK. The models showed high predictive abilities with accuracy over 95%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight the need for applying different weights of the ACMG criteria in relation to different MODY genes for accurate functional classification. As proof of principle, we applied the ACMG criteria as feature vectors in a machine-learning model and obtained a precision-based result.
Redefining Medicine’s Relationship with the Media in the Era of COVID-19 (Preprint)
Authors: Carlo Andrew David , Barnett Brian S. , Essien Utibe R. , Galea Sandro
Published: June 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

In recent months, there has been a substantial focus on the spread of mis- and disinformation through the media, but there has been little mention of the public health consequences of media overconsumption and data misinterpretation. Physicians and other health professionals have an important voice and the medical field can do more to mitigate the impact of unhealthy media interaction on public health communication in the Information Age. Doing this requires a coordinated, deliberate effort. Clinicians, researchers and medical thought leaders must be cognizant of how their data and words can be rapidly shared, internalized and possibly misinterpreted through media channels. Further, medicine needs to have clear standards or guidelines for interacting with the media during public health crises, much like the mental health field has established for completed suicides of public figures. Finally, medical schools, residencies and training programs should devise clear plans to train the upcoming generation for the inevitable next pandemic or disaster.
La migración internacional en Hidalgo: nuevas dinámicas y actores
Authors: Cortes Rivera Dalia , Granados Alcantar José Aurelio , Quezada Ramírez María Félix
Published: June 2020

La migración de hidalguenses a Estados Unidos de América se ha modificado de forma sustancial en los últimos años, actualmente son cada vez menos los hogares que reciben dinero del exterior, y sin embargo, existe un flujo permanente de migrantes. A la par de estos procesos, la migración de retorno y el aumento de personas jóvenes e infantes nacidas en Estados Unidos se presentan como fenómenos que dan cuenta de nuevos actores que configuran dinámicas sociales y demográficas en los municipios hidalguenses de alta y muy alta intensidad migratoria.
The Impact of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic Exposes the Inequalities and Inequities on Marginalized Communities
Authors: Bedell, EdD Fred
Published: June 2020

This essay speaks to the inequalities and inequities that have had a major impact on the political, economic and social fabric of the world in general and the United States in particular.These disparities and inequities came to the forefront in the world and our country as a consequence of the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic.The pandemic exposed the inefficiencies in our government and its institutions that were unable to abate the pandemic in a timely manner. These inefficiencies resulted in many citizens becoming ill and tragically it was reported there were over 100,000 deaths and rising at the time of this writing. Minorities were affected more than non-minority communities. The pandemic also highlighted the nation’s dependence on the work force that keeps the country safe and supplies the food and products that keep the economy going. First responders, health care workers and employees in the food supply chain became essential workers and were branded as heroes,” God bless them”. It is my hope that this essay will share some issues and circumstances that are not normally found in political discourse.
Critical macro-finance: A theoretical lens
Authors: Gabor Daniela
Published: June 2020

This forum contribution outlines four propositions of the critical macro-finance
approach: (1) US-led financial globalization has structurally evolved around
market-based finance, driven by the production of new asset classes and the
Americanization of national financial systems with changing practices for
producing liquidity; (2) global finance is a set of interconnected, hierarchical
balance sheets, increasingly subject to time-critical liquidity; (3) credit
creation in market-based finance involves new forms of money (systemic
liabilities); and (4) market-based finance structurally requires a derisking
state, for both systemic liabilities and for new asset classes. The precise
contours of the derisking state are determined through political struggles.
Rethinking liquidity: A critical macro-finance view
Authors: Pape Fabian
Published: June 2020

This forum contribution critically rethinks the macro-financial approach to
liquidity by focusing more explicitly on its public-private hybrid dimension. To
do so, it introduces the notion of a ‘liquidity regime’: a heuristic device
aimed at tracking the ensemble of social relations and institutions that govern
the coherence of the payments system at any given time. A key insight that
emerges from this approach is that the ability to make markets and access
liquidity is never neutral or apolitical. What requires closer attention,
therefore, is precisely how the interaction between public authorities and
private market participants affords some actors greater leverage in shaping the
financial system.
Fútbol: la fiesta se ha terminado… el retorno a la angustia
Authors: Agudelo Galeano Juan Jacobo
Published: June 2020

Desde los denominados "Hooligans" ingleses, los "Tifosi" italianos, los "Barrabrava" argentinos hasta llegar a nuestros hinchas colombianos, la violencia en el fútbol es un fenómeno acrecentado en los últimos años y que ha adquirido un tinte de problema de salud pública, obligando a los diferentes entes gubernamentales y sociales a tomar posturas frente al tema. Por ello, el presente artículo profundiza sobre la dinámica de las barras durante el antes y el después del partido, reconociendo la relación de estas con el entorno circundante y develando su configuración y estructura; además de definir cuáles son los productos psicológicos que dicha dinámica produce de forma individual, pero especialmente de forma grupal. Para lograr dichos objetivos, se elaboraron diarios de campo y se realizaron entrevistas a los portavoces de las barras bajo el método etnográfico; asimismo, se retomaron conceptos importantes de Enrique Pichón Riviere, Eduardo Pavlosky y René Kaés.