bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lateral Access Spine Surgery Following Liver Transplantation: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Akeda Koji , Takegami Norihiko , Yamada Junichi , Kishiwada Masashi , Sakurai Hiroyuki , Mizuno Shugo , Isaji Shuji , Sudo Akihiro
Published: May 2020

Background With improving prognosis for recipients of liver transplantation, the necessity of medical care for musculoskeletal disorders, including spinal diseases, of these patients is also increasing. Only few reports are available on cases of spine surgery following liver transplantation. Furthermore, a case of lateral access surgery following liver transplantation has not thus far been reported. The purpose of this study is to present first two cases of patients treated with lateral access spine surgery following liver transplantation.Case presentation Case 1. A 49-year-old female had received living donor liver transplantation (LT) for acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) ten years prior to spine surgery. The patient underwent two levels of lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) followed by posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for degenerative lumbar disease. Although neurological symptoms in the lower extremity improved, a liver disorder resulting from acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity occurred at an early stage following spine surgery.Case 2. A 66-year-old female had received living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) six years prior to spine surgery. She underwent posterior instrumentation surgery followed by T12 corpectomy using a wide-foot print expandable cage for T12 vertebral collapse. Following surgery, her weakened muscle strength in the lower extremities were significantly improved. Conclusions Lateral access spine surgery for lumbar and thoracolumbar lesions can be successfully performed for patients following liver transplantation. However, careful follow-up should be performed for complications related to the function of the liver graft following spine surgery.Conclusions Lateral access spine surgery for lumbar and thoracolumbar lesions can be successfully performed for patients following liver transplantation. However, careful follow-up should be performed for complications related to the function of the liver graft following spine surgery.
Prognostic value of members of the HSP70 family in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Jiang Haixing , Liang Ziyu , Qin Shanyu , Liu Kang
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND: Despite multiple functions in the disease, the prognosis of the heat shock protein (HSP) 70 family in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. METHODS: The UALCAN database has provided information about the expression level of HSP70 family members in both HCC and in normal tissues. Overall survival (OS) was conducted by Kaplan-Meier plotter (KM plotter). Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were accomplished by DAVID database. GeneMANIA and STRING were applied to construct gene-gene and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. RESULTS: From the UALCAN database, we found that the expression levels of eight members of the HSP70 family in HCC patients were higher than in normal liver tissues. These eight members were, namely, HSPA1A, HSPA1B, HSPA1L, HSPA2, HSPA5, HSPA6, HSPA8 and HSPA9. From KM plotter database, high expression of HSPA1A, HSPA1B, HSPA6 and HSPA8 has been observed to be associated with worse OS in patients with HCC (hazard ratio [HR] =1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-2.15, P=0.031; HR=1.49, 95%CI: 1.05-2.12, P=0.026; HR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.06-2.2, P=0.021 and HR=1.81, 95%CI: 1.21-2.71, P=0.0036, respectively). We also found that the high expressions of HSPA1A, HSPA1B, HSPA6 and HSPA8 were related to unfavorable OS of HCC patients with other factors such as clinical stage, gender, race and hepatitis virus. From GO and KEEG analysis, we detected a close relationship between these eight genes and Biological process, Cellular component, Molecular function and cancer related signaling pathways. The PPI network and GeneMANIA results showed that there was a strong co-expression relationship between the protein homology and the genes. CONCLUSIONS: According to previous studies and analysis, when HSPA1A, HSPA1B, HSPA6 and HSPA8 were highly expressed in HCC patients, they generally demonstrated lower OS. Therefore, the members of HSP70 family are likely to be used as drug targets and prognostic biomarkers when treating HCC patients.
Gender Barriers to Knowledge Transfer and Exchange Among Vaccine Researchers in Low-, Middle- and High-Income Countries – An International Cross-Sectional Study in 44 Countries
Authors: El-Halabi Soha , McCabe Ronan , Forsberg Birger C. , Elling Devy L , El-Khatib Ziad
Published: May 2020

Background: Globally, women constitute 30% of researchers. Despite an increasing proportion of women in research, they are still less likely to have international collaborations. Literature on barriers to knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) between men and women, remain limited. This study aimed to elucidate perceived gender barriers to KTE activities in vaccination related research in low, middle- and high-income countries. Methods: This was a cross-sectional data from a self-administered questionnaire distributed to researchers in the field of vaccination research. Structural factors to KTE were assessed using 12 statements measured with 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). An index ranging from 12 to 60 points was created to assess structural factors to KTE, with higher score indicating higher perceived barriers. Linear regression modelling was applied to examine the association between KTE barriers and gender. Results: Regardless of gender, researchers experienced challenges with respect to KTE activities, particularly factors related to the availability of human and financial resources, and level of technical expertise among their target audience. We were also able to identify perceived facilitators among men and women, such as the presence of structures that link researchers and target audiences, the investment of target audiences in KTE efforts and the presence of stable contacts among target audience. Our linear regression analysis showed that women have a reduction of 1.069 in their scores in comparison with men (R2=0.014; B=-1.069; 95%CI -4.035;1.897). Conclusions: Men and women shared common perspectives on barriers to KTE. KTE activities could be strengthened by improving structural efforts to reduce gender differences and increase collaborations between researchers and their target audience.
Individualized mechanical ventilation in a shared ventilator setting: limits, safety and technical details.
Authors: Stiers Michiel , Mergeay Matthias , Pinson Hannah , Janssen Luc , Voets Evy , De Cauwer Harald , Schepens Tom
Published: May 2020

Background- The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased need for ventilators. The potential to ventilate more than one patient with a single ventilator, a so-called split ventilator setup, provides an emergency solution. Our hypothesis is that ventilation can be individualized by adding a flow restrictor to limit tidal volumes, add PEEP, titrate FiO 2 and monitor ventilation. This way we could ensure optimization of patient safety and clinical applicability. We performed bench testing to test our hypothesis and identify limitations. Methods- We performed a bench testing in two lungs: 1) determine lung compliance 2) determine volume, plateau pressure and PEEP, 3) illustrate individualization of airway pressures and tidal volume with a flow restrictor, 4a) illustrate that PEEP can be applied and individualized 4b) create and measure intrinsic PEEP 4c-d) determine PEEP as a function of flow restriction, 5) individualization of FiO 2 . Results- The lung compliance varied between 13 and 27 mL/cmH 2 O. Set ventilator settings could be applied and measured. Extrinsic PEEP can be applied except for settings with a large expiratory time. Volume and pressure regulation is possible between 70-39% flow restrictor valve closure. Flow restriction in the tested circuit had no effect on the other circuit or on intrinsic PEEP. FiO 2 could be modulated individually between 0.21 and 0.8 by gradually adjusting the additional flow, and minimal affecting FiO 2 in the other circuit. Conclusions- Tidal volumes, PEEP and FiO2 can be individualized and monitored in a bench testing of a split ventilator. In vivo research is needed to further explore the clinical limitations and outcomes, making implementation possible as a last resort ventilation strategy.
Artists and the Public Spaces of the City
Authors: Lovell Vivien
Published: May 2020

The paper presents the variety of ways in which contemporary artists and curators are engaging with the city today. Public art, in its many manifestations, from monument to ephemeral sculpture, forms our mental image and memory of a city. Artists are contributing to the vibrancy of
the city right across the public realm, from development, transport, health, sport, education and faith, and finding ways of engaging the public meaningfully in the creative process. Focusing on London, a sample of formal and informal commissioning practices in 'public art' is presented, from
its procurement through the planning process to non-commissioned 'guerilla' street art. The role of artists on design teams and the value of one-off installations and temporary programmes of sculpture and light will be explored, alongside the range of patronage of public art today. Aff ordable
studio spaces for artists are a continual issue in a city with rising property values: the paper cites models for retaining artists' homes and studios as well as problems encountered by creatives being forced ever further from now peripheral areas. Many contemporary art galleries are also
finding themselves 'priced out' of the centre, bar the more established international galleries. Since artists and galleries have been responsible for regenerating entire districts, can their presence be safeguarded through planning regulations?
Wybrane zagadnienia wpływu procesów tribologicznych w środkach transportu drogowego na stan środowiska
Authors: Kulczycki Andrzej , Kaźmierczak Urszula , Kałużny Jarosław , Dzięgielewski Wojciech
Published: May 2020

Artykuł poświęcony jest zagadnieniom uciążliwości transportu samochodowego dla środowiska. Problematyka ta omówiona jest w kontekście procesów tribologicznych, których efektem jest zwiększone zużycie paliwa i w konsekwencji zwiększona emisja składników gazów spalinowych. Na podstawie danych literaturowych określono udział oporów tarcia w poszczególnych zespołach samochodów osobowych, ciężarowych i autobusów w sumarycznej konsumpcji paliwa. Wykorzystując dane statystyczne dla Polski określono wpływ procesów tarcia w poszczególnych grupach pojazdów na roczną emisję CO2 ze środków transportu. W końcowej części artykułu przedstawiono wyniki wstępnych badań nad możliwością obniżania oporów tarcia w różnych węzłach tarcia występujących w pojazdach samochodowych przez wprowadzenie do olejów smarowych nanomateriałów węglowych.
A sertéshússal és a sertésből készült termékekkel kapcsolatos preferenciák vizsgálata egyetemista hallgatók körében
Authors: Nagy Orsolya Bernadett
Published: May 2020

A tanulmány célja a sertéshússal és a sertésből készült termékekkel kapcsolatos fogyasztói preferenciák vizsgálata volt. Az elemzéshez felhasznált minta (N=324) a Debreceni Egyetem Gazdaságtudományi Karának hallgatói köréből került kiválasztásra. A felmérés online kérdőíves formában zajlott le.  Az adatok feldolgozásához leíró statisztikák, Khi-négyzet próbák, Spearman-féle rangkorreláció vizsgálatok, Mann-Whitney és Kruskal-Wallis próbák használata valósult meg. Az eredmények alapján elmondható, hogy a vizsgált mintában szereplő fogyasztók többsége, mindössze 50% alatti összeggel lenne hajlandó többet fizetni a magyar és az egészségesebb termékekért.  Az elemzések során szignifikáns eltérés született a férfiak és nők között minden vizsgálatba bevont a vásárlásnál figyelembe vett tényező tekintetében; a középfokú és a felsőfokú végzettséggel rendelkezők között a gyártó/márka megítélésében; a jövedelemkategória csoportoknál pedig az ár és az egészséges táplálkozás szerint.
Műhely rendszerű termelés logisztikai kiszolgálásának automatizálási lehetőségei
Authors: Ferenczi Balázs , Németh Péter
Published: May 2020

A gyártási rendszerek egyik legfontosabb kiszolgáló alrendszere a technológiai fázisok közötti anyagmozgatást végző logisztikai rendszer, mely a gyártási struktúrától függő mértékben integrálódik. A rendkívül rugalmas műhelyrendszerű termelés sajátossága, hogy az anyagmozgatási rendszer jellemzően elkülönül és a mozgatási igények egymástól függetlenül, sztochasztikusan jelentkeznek, így az elvárt termelési cél eléréséhez az anyagmozgató rendszer rugalmassága is szükséges. A gyakorlatban ezért az anyagmozgatás szervezése, elvégzése jelenetős mértékben az emberi tényezőre van ráutalva. A jelen kutatás célja az anyagmozgatási tevékenység automatizálási lehetőségeinek feltárása ebben a különlegese termelési környezetben.
An exploratory study on the level of trust among Hungarian food manufacturer companies
Authors: Erdei Edina
Published: May 2020

The intensification of globalized economic competition is playing an increasingly important role in the lives of companies to determine their true position among their competitors. Food companies are of paramount importance because of their role and weight in the national economy. In Hungary, the food industry plays an important social and economic role and is a world leader in terms of employment and value added. Currently, there are nearly 1100 active food companies in Hungary, so it is worth examining the peculiarities of the role of trust between companies.

There are often contradictory statements in the literature about the effects of Industry 4.0 technologies and the trust placed in IT tools. Therefore, it is a relevant research question to examine whether the characteristics of the role of trust - e.g. staff, suppliers, IT tools and technologies, etc. as confidence levels can have a direct positive impact on the efficiency, profits, liquidity, etc. of the companies in question. development.

During the research, I analyzed the level of trust between the food trading companies, in which I discuss the trust within the industry within the company. My aim is to further enrich my previous research knowledge in this field.
Az intellektuális tőke hatékonysága, mint meghatározó innovációs tényező
Authors: Béresné Mártha Bernadett , Lakatos Vilmos , Tömöri Gergő
Published: May 2020

Napjaink világgazdaságában erőteljes elmozdulás érzékelhető a termelő vállalatok felől a szolgáltatások irányába, amely mind a gazdaságpolitikai döntéshozókat, mind az üzleti vállalkozás érintettjeit, a tulajdonosokat, beszállítókat, versenytársakat, illetve a hétköznapi embereket, a fogyasztókat is kihívás elé állítja: a szerkezetváltás egyaránt ösztönöz minden gazdasági szereplőt arra, hogy megtanuljon alkalmazkodni az új tendenciákhoz. Kutatásunk fókuszában éppen ezért az innovációt és a vállalatok értékteremtő képességét állítottuk. Az IT szektor jelenleg az egyik leggyorsabban fejlődő és leginnovatívabb ágazatnak számít a szolgáltató iparágon belül. Az IT vállalatok sikerességét jelentős mértékben meghatározza az a képessége, hogy mennyire hatékonyan használják fel a rendelkezésükre álló immateriális javakat, azon belül is az intellektuális tőkét, amelyet viszont nem pénzügyi értékteremtő eszközként definiálunk. Felmerülhet tehát a kérdés: hogyan lehetséges számszerűsíteni, pénzben kifejezni a vizsgálni kívánt vállalatok intellektuális tőkéjét?  A legsikeresebb magyar IT vállalatokra vonatkozóan éppen ezért kiszámítottuk a széles körben elismert mutatót, a VAICTM mutatót, melyre vonatkozóan hazai számítások még nem állnak rendelkezsére. Ez a mutató kiküszöböli a beszámolási sztenderdekből fakadó információhiányt azzal, hogy a módszertan a mindenki által hozzáférhető, nyilvános pénzügyi beszámolók adatain alapul. Maga a mutató egy csúcsmutató, amelynek két fő részmutatója az intellektuális tőke hatékonyságát illetve a fizikai tőke hatékonyságát számszerűsíti.
Supplier Evaluation Schemes in Case of Different Research Frameworks
Authors: Pató Gáborné Szűcs Beáta , Kiss Fanni
Published: May 2020

Performance evaluation is not only important in employer and employee relationships, but also in partnerships between a supply chain’s members. In order to satisfy customers’ needs according to the 7 Rights of logistics, all members of the given chain have to perform properly. To ensure the best performance, supplier evaluation can act as a starting point. Besides continous feedback, supplier evaluation plays an important role in performance development of suppliers. The aim of our research is to develop and introduce innovative supplier evaluation models, which include the advantages of traditional and electronic supplier evaluation forms. In addition to this, these models are visualised, making it easier to understand expectations and information. In this study, the aim is to present two different models the PaTeNt©- SESC (Pató Tetrahedrons of interNational Theory - Supplier Evaluation of Supply Chain) and the Douple Evaluation Platform, based on previous research.
What Fields Can Technology Management be Applied to?
Authors: Pataki Béla , Bíró-Szigeti Szilvia , Sándorfi Gergő
Published: May 2020

There are two types of technology management definitions. The narrow ones only refer to business organizations, the broad ones refer to any kind of organizations, including non-profit and governmental organizations. By using the narrow definitions, the interest of the non-profit and governmental organizations cannot be attracted, they could think that they do not need to deal with technology management, but in reality they obviously use it. To avoid the undue failing to utilize technology management knowledge outside the business world the broad definitions are recommended.
A diszkrét választási kísérlet elméleti áttekintése
Authors: Czine Péter
Published: May 2020

Jelen tanulmány egy preferenciaértékelési módszer, a diszkrét választási kísérlet bemutatását célozza. Az olvasó információt nyerhet a módszer hátterével, alkalmazási területeivel (külön hangsúlyt fektetve az egészség-gazdaságosság területére), folyamatával és modelljei közül hárommal (multinomiális logit, random paraméterű logit, nested logit) kapcsolatosan. A szakirodalmi elemzés eredményei alapján elmondható, hogy a módszer rendkívül ígéretes, viszont számos területen még fejlesztésre szorul.
Személygépjárművek dinamikai modellezési eljárásainak áttekintése
Authors: Deák Krisztián , Hajdu Sándor , Szántó András
Published: May 2020

A járműdinamikai modellek a modell egyszerűsítése alapján két csoportra oszthatók. Vannak egyszerűsített modellek, amelyek során elhanyagolásokkal élünk: ezek jellemzően a hossz-, oldal- és függőleges irányok közül nem tartalmazzák az összes irányt. Az egyszerűsített modellekre több ok miatt is szükség lehet: vannak szabályozási, becslési, valamint analízis módszerek, amelyek csak egyszerűsített modellek alapján alkalmazhatók, valamint a számítási idő miatt is szükség lehet egyszerűsítésre. Az egyszerűsített modellek mellett léteznek valós modellek, amelyek célja egy virtuális plant biztosítása a valós járműről, virtual prototyping alapú fejlesztésekhez. Ebben a cikkben egy rövid bevezetés után néhány egyszerűsített járműmodell kerül bemutatásra.
Futómű alkatrészek (lengőkar és stabilizátor rúd) maradó feszültségének meghatározásához szükséges BHN vizsgálati berendezés tervezése és megvalósítása
Authors: Balogh Gábor , Da Silva Lucas Pereira
Published: May 2020

Napjaink gépjármű iparában gyártói - , és szerviz oldalról is fontos igény az adott alkatrészek várható élettartamának rendkívül precíz meghatározása. Ennek módja jelenleg a rendelkezésre álló tekintélyes elméleti tudástár felhasználása mellett a műszaki gyakorlatból és gyártási-, felhasználási tapasztalatokból álló tudásbázis alkalmazása. Anyagtudományi, és törésmechanikai aspektusból ez a terület ma már kellőképpen lefedettnek tekinthető. Azonban a maradó feszültségek, melyek additívan keletkeznek már az alapanyag gyártás lépéseinél, valamint az esetleges további mechanikai alakítások, és hőkezelések, felületkezelések során, jelenleg nem megfelelően elkülöníthetők. Ennek technológiai vizsgálataira több párhuzamos fizikai módszer létezik, melyek alkalmazhatósága mindig a gyártómű döntésén, az ott dolgozó mérnökök tapasztalataira építve valósul meg. Ez a terület tehát még nem egyértelműen szabványosított így még vállalaton belül is adódhatnak eltérések egy-egy módszer megítélése kapcsán.
Meleg fémporszórással felvitt réteg kopásvizsgálata
Authors: Balogh Gábor , Pálinkás Sándor , Bodzás Sándor , Fazekas Lajos , Molnár András
Published: May 2020

A hagyományos értelemben vett felrakó hegesztés és a különböző fémporszórási technológiák alkalmazása során új felület felvitelével a jelentős igénybevételnek kitett alkatrészek kopásból eredő méretcsökkenését, esetleg kitörését pótolni, illetve ezek felületminőségét javítani lehet. Ezzel a megoldással egyszerűsíthető a gépelemek kialakítása és gazdaságossági szempontból is jelentős megoldás, mivel nem kell cserélni az egész munkadarabot. A felrakó hegesztéssel ellentétben a meleg fémporszórás esetén diffúziós kötés jön létre, amelynek számos előnye mutatkozik meg a felhasználás során. Kutatómunkánk célkitűzése, hogy a felvitt réteg kopással szembeni ellenállását vizsgáljuk különböző rétegfelviteli technológiák alkalmazásával. Ebben a cikkünkben meleg fémporszórással kezelt minták koptatóvizsgálatának eredményeit reprezentáljuk, különböző por alapanyagok esetében.
Neutral Inhomogeneity in Circular Cylinder Subjected to Axial Load on its Lateral Boundary
Authors: Ecsedi István , Lengyel Ákos József , Baksa Attila
Published: May 2020

In this paper we consider the problem of single circular elastic inhomogeneity embedded within a circular cylinder whose curved boundary surface is subjected to surface traction acting on axial direction. We investigate the displacement neutrality of the coupled system of host body and inclusion. Neutral inhomogeneity (inclusion) does not disturb the displacement, strain and stress fields in the host body. The deformation of the considered inhomogenneous cylinder is antiplane shear deformation.
Improving Quality of Care in Rheumatoid Arthritis Through Mobile Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement: Focus Group Study (Preprint)
Authors: Desai Sonali , Stevens Emma , Emani Srinivas , Meyers Peter , Iversen Maura , Solomon Daniel H
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for chronic disease management can be integrated into the routine workflow by leveraging mobile technology.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to describe the process of our quality improvement (QI) efforts using tablets for PRO collection in a busy, academic rheumatology practice to support a treat-to-target (TTT) approach for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management.

METHODS

Our QI team designed a process for routine collection of PROs for RA patients at the Arthritis Center, employing information technology and an electronic medical record (EMR) system. Patients received a tablet at the clinic check-in desk to complete the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) survey, a validated RA PRO. RAPID3 scores were uploaded to the EMR in real time and available for use in shared decision making during routine office visits. Weekly data were collected on RAPID3 completion rates and shared with front desk staff and medical assistants to drive improvement. Patients in our patient family advisory council and focus groups provided informal feedback on the process.

RESULTS

From May 1, 2017, to January 31, 2019, a total of 4233 RAPID3 surveys were completed by 1691 patients. The mean age of patients was 63 (SD 14) years; 84.00% (1420/1691) of the patients were female, and 83.00% (1403/1691) of the patients were white. The rates of RAPID3 completion increased from 14.3% (58/405) in May 2017 to 68.00% (254/376) in September 2017 and were sustained over time through January 2019. Informal feedback from patients was positive and negative, relating to the usability of the tablet and the way rheumatologists used and explained the RAPID3 data in shared decision making during the office visit.

CONCLUSIONS

We designed a sustainable and reliable process for collecting PROs from patients with RA in the waiting room and integrated these data through the EMR during office visits.
Quality Assessment of an Integrated Care Pathway Using Telemonitoring in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study (Preprint)
Authors: Herkert Cyrille , Kraal Jos Johannes , Spee Rudolph Ferdinand , Serier Anouk , Graat-Verboom Lidwien , Kemps Hareld Marijn Clemens
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

Chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often coexist and are associated with a high morbidity and reduced quality of life (QoL). Although these diseases share similarities in symptoms and clinical course, and exacerbations of both diseases often overlap, care pathways for both conditions are usually not integrated. This results in frequent outpatient consultations and suboptimal treatment during exacerbations, leading to frequent hospital admissions. Therefore, we propose an integrated care pathway for both diseases, using telemonitoring to detect deterioration at an early stage and a single case manager for both diseases.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate whether an integrated care pathway using telemonitoring in patients with combined CHF and COPD results in a higher general health-related QoL (HRQoL) as compared with the traditional care pathways. Secondary end points include disease-specific HRQoL, level of self-management, patient satisfaction, compliance to the program, and cost-effectiveness.

METHODS

This is a monocenter, prospective study using a quasi-experimental interrupted time series design. Thirty patients with combined CHF and COPD are included. The study period of 2.5 years per patient is divided into a preintervention phase (6 months) and a postintervention phase (2 years) in which end points are assessed. The intervention consists of an on-demand treatment strategy based on monitoring symptoms related to CHF/COPD and vital parameters (weight, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature), which are uploaded on a digital platform. The monitoring frequency and the limit values of the measurements to detect abnormalities are determined individually. Monitoring is performed by a case manager, who has the opportunity for a daily multidisciplinary meeting with both the cardiologist and the pulmonologist. Routine appointments at the outpatient clinic are cancelled and replaced by telemonitoring-guided treatment.

RESULTS

Following ethical approval of the study protocol, the first patient was included in May 2018. Inclusion is expected to be complete in May 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to evaluate the effects of a novel integrated care pathway using telemonitoring for patients with combined CHF and COPD. Unique to this study is the concept of remote on-demand disease management by a single case manager for both diseases, combined with multidisciplinary meetings. Moreover, modern telemonitoring technology is used instead of, rather than as an addition to, regular care.

CLINICALTRIAL

Netherlands Trial Register NL6741; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6741

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/20571
A Scoping Review of Interventions Aimed at Improving Knowledge, Detection Practices and Management of Dementia among Health Professionals (Preprint)
Authors: Krishna Prasad Pathak Krishna
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

Health professionals (HPs) play a key role in dementia management and detection. However, there is a gap in the literature as to what represents best practice with regard to educating HPs to improve their dementia detection practices and management.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this scoping review is to synthesize the aggregated studies aimed at improving health care knowledge, detection practices and management of dementia among HPs.

METHODS

We searched electronically published relevant articles with inclusion criteria; (1) intervention studies aimed at improving HPs practices concerning dementia care and (2) educational interventions focused on nurses and doctors’ knowledge, detection practice and management of dementia. Twenty-five articles fit the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Collaborative programs of practice based workshops, interactive learning activities with community and multi-faced educational program were the most effective.

CONCLUSIONS

HPs should be supported to improve their knowledge, tackle behavioural problems associated with dementia, be made aware of services and be enabled to engage in more early diagnosis.

CLINICALTRIAL

no applicable
Impostor Syndrome: A Calling for a Career in Medical Education? (Preprint)
Authors: Sotiropoulos Marinos G
Published: May 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

Is it possible that medical students suffer from impostor syndrome due to inadequate teaching methods? Although there is no evidence to support this hypothesis, it is worth exploring: impostor syndrome could be an outcome of defective teaching methodology in medical schools. Students who are most affected may be the ones most invested in growth and learning, and the impostor feelings could signify a tendency to simplify, understand and explain essential concepts. This could translate into a talent in medical teaching. A personal experience that led to a vocation for medical education is used as an example of this internal process that could benefit medical students and healthcare professionals with similar perceptions.
Converting Visitors of Physicians’ Personal Websites to Customers in Online Health Communities: Longitudinal Study (Preprint)
Authors: Chen Qin , Yan Xiangbin , Zhang Tingting
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

With the dramatic development of Web 2.0, increasing numbers of patients and physicians are actively involved in online health communities. Despite extensive research on online health communities, the conversion rate from visitor to customer and its driving factors have not been discussed.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the conversion rate of online health communities and to explore the effects of multisource online health community information, including physician-generated information, patient-generated information, and system-generated information.

METHODS

An empirical study was conducted to examine the effects of physician-generated, patient-generated, and system-generated information on the conversion rate of physicians’ personal websites by analyzing short panel data from 2112 physicians over five time periods in a Chinese online health community.

RESULTS

Multisource online health community information (ie, physician-generated, patient-generated, and system-generated information) positively affected the conversion rate. Physician-generated and patient-generated information showed a substitute relationship rather than a complementary relationship. In addition, the usage time of a personal website positively moderated patient-generated information, but negatively moderated physician-generated information.

CONCLUSIONS

This study contributes to the electronic health literature by investigating the conversion rate of online health communities and the effect of multisource online health community information. This study also contributes to understanding the drivers of conversion rate on service websites, which can help to successfully improve the efficiency of online health communities.
Risk assessment of mass gathering to control COVID-19 outbreak: Viewpoints (Preprint)
Authors: Boo Yebeen Ysabelle , Williams Sarah , Allaham Shereen , Aisyah Dewi Nur , Salim Faizul Nizam Abu , AL Choong Abigail , Manikam Logan
Published: May 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

With an increasing number of cases and global spread, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on the 11th March by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Mass gatherings (MGs) are particularly concerning as they’ve the potential to spread the disease both within and between countries, with transmission occurring; (i) during the event, (ii) whilst travelling to and from it and (iii) when attendees return to their home communities. In Malaysia, a ‘Tabligh’ religious gathering was held in late February. Approximately 16,000 people attended, including 1,500 foreigners from over 20 countries, at Seri Petaling Mosque near to Kuala Lumpur. This gathering was linked to a surge in cases in Malaysia and across Singapore, Indonesia, India, Brunei, Cambodia, and Thailand. It remains Malaysia’s largest COVID-19 cluster and as of 13th April was responsible for 38% of cases and 18 deaths in the country. It is important to risk assess MGs consistently with the COVID-19 risk assessment tool. To ensure the acceptability and success of MG cancellation decisions they should be: (1) Implemented early to reduce event travel; (2) Clearly communicated so that attendees understand why such decisions were taken including reinforcing good hygiene practices & (3) Make use of alternative arrangements such as postponement or technologies to hold the event remotely if safe to do so.
The Hamilton Case: Colonialism and Diasporic Identities
Authors: Wang Qian
Published: May 2020

As the term diaspora can also be used to think through the intrusion of the colonialism, Michelle de Kretser’s The Hamilton Case is divided into three parts due to the characters’ attitudes towards the West. Sam’s positive reflection on colonialism is revealed in his hope to move to the West and struggle to embrace his dream of western metropolis by complying with the British criteria. Jaya’s resistant stance motivates him to initiate the country’s political independence and ethnic strife to combat colonialism. Shiva resists colonialism in Sri Lanka, but he caters to the taste of local readers by making use of exoticism after his migration to the West.
A Narrative Analysis of Graduate Students’ Academic Writing Experiences across Two Languages: English and Arabic
Authors: Alhojailan Ahmad I
Published: May 2020

This study examines how Arabic and English narratives are constructed by Saudi Arabic speakers. The data consist of interviews with five Saudi Arabic speakers studying for their master’s degrees in different fields at various universities in the USA. The interviews were conducted in Arabic, and the interviewees were asked to tell a story and later retell the same story but in English. Interestingly, the role of the narratives went beyond mentioning events to include social roles. Furthermore, the interviewees used external evaluation and embedded evaluation in the Arabic versions of the narratives and only external evaluation in the English versions. Additionally, the effects of the participants’ fields of study, saving face, attempting to avoid ambiguity, and reinforcing the point of the story are possible reasons why some interviewees produced longer versions of the narratives. Finally, the English narratives did not include the historical present, which could be attributed to the effect of L1.
The Slow Road to the Social Investment Perspective in the European Union
Authors: Dinan Shannon
Published: May 2020

The European Union has no unilateral legislative capacity in the area of social policy. However, the European Commission does play the role of guide by providing a discursive framework and targets for its 28 Member States to meet. Since the late 1990’s, the EU’s ideas on social policy have moved away from the traditional social protection model towards promoting social inclusion, labour activation and investing in children. These new policies represent the social investment perspective, which advocates preparing the population for a knowledge-based economy to increase economic growth and job creation and to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty. The EU began the gradual incorporation of the social investment perspective to its social dimension with the adoption of ten-year strategies. Since 2000, it has continued to set goals and benchmarks as well as offer a forum for Member States to coordinate their social initiatives. Drawing on a series of interviews conducted during a research experience in Brussels as well as official documents, this paper is a descriptive analysis of the recent modifications to the EU’s social dimension. It focuses on the changes created by the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Social Investment Package. By tracing the genesis and evolution of these initiatives, the author identifies four obstacles to social investment in the European Union's social dimension.

 

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v10i1.263
The European Stability Mechanism and the IMF: From the Enhanced Cooperation to Embedded Supervisor
Authors: Climie Cameron
Published: May 2020

This paper examines the role played by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), finding that the ESM has greatly expanded the IMF’s surveillance and oversight roles in the European Monetary Union (EMU). Building from a liberal intergovernmental framework of integration analysis, this paper argues that the IMF’s function as a de facto EMU supervisor in the ESM, a significant break from prior European integration, stems from the alignment of crisis response preferences amongst the EMU’s largest economies, the erosion of the credibility of the European Commission as an enforcer of structural reforms, and the IMF’s close fit with the preferred institutional arrangements that derived from the bargaining dynamics between euro members.

 

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v12i1.1232
Economic Patriotism After the Crisis: Explaining Continuity and Change in European Securities Enforcement
Authors: Foster Chase
Published: May 2020

Since the global financial crisis, European governments have sought to intensify the supervision of financial markets. Yet, few studies have empirically examined whether regulatory approaches have systematically shifted in the aftermath of the crisis, and how these reforms have been mediated by longstanding national strategies to promote domestic financial interests in the European single market. Examining hundreds of enforcement actions in three key European jurisdictions, I find a mixed pattern of continuity and change in the aftermath of the crisis. In the UK, aggregate monetary penalties and criminal sanctions have skyrocketed since 2009, while in France and Germany, the enforcement pattern suggests continuity, with both countries assessing penalties and prosecuting insider trading at similar rates before and after the crisis. I conclude that financial regulation is still structured by longstanding industrial strategies (Story and Walter, 1997), but where pre-existing regulatory approaches were seen as contributing to the crisis, a broader regulatory overhaul has been pursued. Thus, in the UK, where the financial crisis served as a direct rebuke to the country’s “light touch” regulation, financial supervision was overhauled, and monetary sanctions dramatically increased, to preserve London’s status as an international financial centre. By contrast, in France and Germany, where domestic regulatory systems were implicated by the financial crisis, domestic securities supervision and enforcement was less dramatically altered. While the crisis has led to the further institutionalization of European-level supervisory institutions, these changes have not yet led to convergence in national regulatory approaches.

 

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v12i1.1233
Elites in Transition: The Case of Privatization in Veliky Novgorod, Russia
Authors: Aervitz Irina
Published: May 2020

This paper is an attempt to develop a critical reflection on the social, political, and economic transformation that Russia experienced in the last couple of decades. I argue that the continuity of elites in Russia is one of the major features of its transition. This paper attempts to illuminate the continuity of elites as a general trend by using the case study of the privatization process in Veliky Novgord, Russia. This project looks at privatization as an avenue or means of resource allocation by elites during the transition. The data were obtained from 16 structured and unstructured interviews conducted in Veliky Novgorod in the summer 2004 among the representatives of the business and political elites. This paper deals with one group of the nomenklatura elite – top enterprise managers.

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v1i1.158
Effective Competition and EU Competition Law
Authors: Baskoy Tuna
Published: May 2020

The notion of workable or effective competition is at the centre of EU competition law and policy, as it strives to achieve and maintain it. Some scholars do not mention it at all. Those who refer to it either do not explain it in any way or explicate it very shortly. In fact, the concept is too important to be ignored totally or elucidated briefly. The objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the concept by focusing on the theory of workable or effective competition. It is argued that effective competition is the key for an in-depth study of the political economy (i.e. real policy goals, economic rationale behind individual competition rules, institutional requirements, and implications for distribution of wealth) of EU competition law and policy.

 

Full text available at:https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v1i1.161
Common Markets Measuring Price Integration in European Agricultural Markets
Authors: Viju Crina , Nolan James , Kerr William A.
Published: May 2020

The accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European Union (EU) is assessed from the perspective of market integration in key agricultural sectors. An empirical investigation is conducted using monthly data for two periods: from 1975:01-1994:12 (the pre-EU period) and 1995:01-2004:12 (post-EU period). The existence of market integration both within the countries and within the EU is tested using time-series methods. A long-run equilibrium between prices for the same good in different markets does not exclude the possibility of short-run deviations in the individual data, so part of this analysis consists of estimating an econometric model (error correction) to uncover long-run effects of price deviations. Only a subset of agricultural prices moves together after EU integration.

 

 

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v2i1.164
Citoyenneté européenne, transnationale ou globale : penser la citoyenneté au-delà de l’État. Analyse critique d’un débat
Authors: Auvachez Élise
Published: May 2020

Objet politique pas toujours identifié, mais souvent controversé, la citoyenneté européenne, près de 15 ans après son introduction dans le Traité de Maastricht, continue de susciter le débat : quelle citoyenneté pour quelle Europe ? Quelle autonomie pour une citoyenneté européenne dont l’acquisition reste soumise à des règles nationales ? Finalement, la citoyenneté européenne est-elle possible ? La présente communication propose de lire la problématique de la citoyenneté européenne à la lumière d’un prisme élargissant l’intégrant dans un questionnement dépassant le débat spécifiquement européen, celui de la gouvernance supranationale. Les dynamiques de globalisation et de fragmentation qui caractérisent le contexte contemporain se traduisent dans la sphère politique par la multiplication des paliers de régulation. La sphère nationale n’est plus dans cette perspective le seul locus de la vie politique ; les enjeux et les rapports de force politiques se jouent à des échelles multiples. Ce constat a donné naissance à une prolifération d’analyses concernant la dimension de plus en plus européenne, post/trans/supra-nationale, voire globale, de la citoyenneté. Celles-ci constituent néanmoins un corpus théorique un corpus théorique marqué par une compréhension à la fois fractionnée et diluée de la notion de citoyenneté supranationale et caractérisé par une perspective statique conférant au débat entre les partisans d’une citoyenneté au-delà de l’État et les avocats d’une citoyenneté par essence nationale une circularité stérile. La démarche théorique proposée consiste alors moins à tenter de caractériser les changements contemporains à la lumière des critères de la citoyenneté dans une perspective dichotomique pour savoir si « la » citoyenneté est nationale ou postnationale mais plutôt à comprendre la « citoyennisation », la construction et la définition d’une citoyenneté au-delà de l’État-nation, en relation avec la constitution et la consolidation d’entités politiques supranationales.

 

Full text available: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v2i3.173
Integrating Immigrants through the Policy of Multiculturalism as a State’s New Response to the Sovereignty Challenge
Authors: Vorobyova Anna
Published: May 2020

Today the EU and Canada experience a significant international migration inflow that requires a delicate treatment on the government side which would not contradict with these countries’ adherence to a liberal nation-state idea. The non-ratification of the EU Constitution precluded the creation of a common immigration policy that could facilitate and level the social integration of immigrants within the EU member states that currently have different historically shaped strategies towards the newcomers. Even though the legal and economic barriers for immigration and naturalization have been reasonably decreased over the past decades across the EU, the legacies of nationalizing citizenship laws are still persistent and immigrants are expected to integrate into the host cultures. These path dependent repercussions contradict the idea of a liberal nation-state and erect the second level barriers (besides legal and economic ones) for integration of immigrants into the host societies. These cultural barriers are more persistent in the social consciousness than the institutionalized ones, which is a reason for why liberalizing laws are not the most effective means for facilitating the immigrants’ integration into the host societies. This situation of intensive immigration combined with the low opportunities for social integration gives grounds to instability and dissatisfaction within certain social groups in the EU. This paper investigates how multiculturalism policy in Canada contributes to a higher level of immigrants’ integration into Canadian society as compared to the EU memberstates. Moreover, the novel information from the Centre of Excellence for the Study of Immigration at Simon Fraser University suggests that maintenance of immigrant ethnicities contributes to the overall economic success of a country, which is another reason for the introducing multiculturalism and a common EU immigration policy.

Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v2i3.175