bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observable indicators of person-centred care: an interview study with patients, relatives and professionals
Authors: Ekman Nina , Moons Philip , Taft Charles , Boström Eva , Fors Andreas
Published: May 2022

Objective

To identify key observable indicators of person-centred care (PCC) from interviews with patients, relatives and professionals with experience of receiving or working with PCC.

Design

A qualitative interview study using deductive content analysis.

Setting

Primary and hospital care settings in Western Sweden.

Participants

Twelve participants with extensive experience of receiving or working with PCC were interviewed: two patients, two patients representative with long-term conditions, one relative and informal carer, three registered nurses, one physician, two occupational therapists and one social worker/researcher.

Results

Nine observable indicators were identified and subsumed under three predetermined categories: initiating, working and safeguarding the partnership. The first category comprised three subcategories: welcoming, interested and courteous reception; agreeing on structure and aims of the conversation; and eliciting patients’ wishes for involvement of significant others. The second category comprised four subcategories: attentive, empathic and encouraging manner; promoting mutual understanding; promoting patient engagement; and encouraging and friendly body language. The last category consisted of two subcategories: collaboration and transparency in documentation and verifying that patient’s and professional’s views, goals and wants are correctly documented.

Conclusion

Our results underline the need for health professionals to actively and conscientiously convey to patients their interest in and respect for the patient as a person and their willingness to collaborate as partners in their care from the very outset of the interaction. Non-verbal behaviours were seen to play a major role in shaping patients’ impressions of health professionals. Given that patients’ first impressions were considered to impact the content, course and outcomes of the interaction, more research attention should be given to their implications for the effective delivery of PCC.
Optimising telephone triage of patients calling for acute shortness of breath during out-of-hours primary care: protocol of a multiple methods study (Opticall)
Authors: Spek Michelle , Venekamp Roderick , De Groot Esther , Geersing Geert-Jan , Erkelens Daphne Carmen , van Smeden Maarten , Rutten Frans H , Zwart Dorien L
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Callers with acute shortness of breath (SOB) are a challenge for telephone triage at out-of-hours primary care (OHS-PC) as SOB could be the sign of a potentially life-threatening disease, yet mostly is a symptom of a broad range of self-limiting disorders. Current telephone triage practice is mainly expert based and clear evidence on accuracy, safety and efficiency of the use of the Netherlands Triage Standard (NTS) by triage nurses based on the eventual clinical outcome is lacking for this domain.

Methods and data analysis

Multiple methods study in five OHS-PC services in the Utrecht region, the Netherlands. Data will be collected from OHS-PC electronic health records (EHR) and backed up tapes of telephone triage conversations, which will be linked to routine primary care EHR data. In cross-sectional studies, we will (1) validate the NTS urgency classification for adults with SOB against final diagnoses and (2) develop diagnostic prediction models for urgent diagnoses (eg, composite endpoint of urgent diagnoses, pulmonary embolism, acute coronary syndrome, acute heart failure and pneumonia). We will develop improvement measures for the use of the NTS by triage nurses through practice observations and semistructured interviews with patients, triage nurses and general practitioners (GPs). In an action research approach, we will, in collaboration with these stakeholders, implement and evaluate our findings in both GP and triage nurse educational programmes as well as in OHS-PC services.

Ethics and dissemination

The Medical Ethics Review Committee Utrecht, the Netherlands, approved the study protocol (protocol 21/361). We will take into account the ‘code of conduct for responsible research’ of the WHO, the EU General Data Protection Regulation and the ‘Dutch Medical Treatment Contracts Act’. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and at (inter)national meetings.

Trial registration number

NL9682.
Effect of restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 pandemic on the antenatal care and pregnancy outcomes: a prospective observational study from rural North India
Authors: Goyal Lajya Devi , Garg Priyanka , Verma Madhur , Kaur Navdeep , Bakshi Dapinder , Arora Jatinder
Published: May 2022

Objectives

To assess the difficulties faced by the pregnant women in seeking appropriate antenatal care due to the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic; assess the difficulties encountered during delivery and postpartum period; the suitability of the teleconsultation services offered; effect of COVID-19 infection on pregnancy outcomes and the effect of restrictions on the nutrition profile of the pregnant women.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting and participants

We included 1374 pregnant women from the rural areas of three districts of Punjab, India registered at government health centres before the implementation of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on 24 March 2020.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome was the difficulties faced by the women during their pregnancies due to restrictions imposed during the lockdown. The secondary outcomes included the effect of COVID-19 infections on pregnancy outcomes, satisfaction from the telemedicine services and restrictions on the nutrition profile of the pregnant women.

Results

One-third of the women (38.4%) considered their last pregnancy unplanned. Women faced difficulties due to the restrictions in getting adequate nutrition (76.5%), accessing transportation facilities (35.4%), consultations from doctors (22.4%) or getting an ultrasonography scan (48.7%). One-fifth (21.9%) of women could not access safe abortion services. Only 3.6% of respondents ever took any teleconsultation services offered by the government. Most of them felt unsatisfied compared with routine visits (77.5%). COVID-19-infected women were primarily asymptomatic (76.1%), but there was a high incidence of preterm birth (42.8%). Frontline workers could visit 64.3% of the women in the postpartum period despite restrictions.

Conclusions

Lockdown compromised the antenatal care in our study area while the frontline workers attempted to minimise the inconvenience. Telemedicine services did not prove to be of many benefits to pregnant women and should only work as a supplement to the existing protocols of antenatal care.
Prevalence and incidence of diabetes among Aboriginal people in remote communities of the Northern Territory, Australia: a retrospective, longitudinal data-linkage study
Authors: Hare Matthew J L , Zhao Yuejen , Guthridge Steven , Burgess Paul , Barr Elizabeth L M , Ellis Elna , Butler Deborah , Rosser Amy , Falhammar Henrik , Maple-Brown Louise J
Published: May 2022

Objectives

To assess the prevalence and incidence of diabetes among Aboriginal peoples in remote communities of the Northern Territory (NT), Australia.

Design

Retrospective cohort analysis of linked clinical and administrative data sets from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2019.

Setting

Remote health centres using the NT Government Primary Care Information System (51 out of a total of 84 remote health centres in the NT).

Participants

All Aboriginal clients residing in remote communities serviced by these health centres (N=21 267).

Primary outcome measures

Diabetes diagnoses were established using hospital and primary care coding, biochemistry and prescription data.

Results

Diabetes prevalence across all ages increased from 14.4% (95% CI: 13.9% to 14.9%) to 17.0% (95% CI: 16.5% to 17.5%) over 7 years. Among adults (≥20 years), the 2018/2019 diabetes prevalence was 28.6% (95% CI: 27.8% to 29.4%), being higher in Central Australia (39.5%, 95% CI: 37.8% to 41.1%) compared with the Top End region (24.2%, 95% CI: 23.3% to 25.1%, p<0.001). Between 2016/2017 and 2018/2019, diabetes incidence across all ages was 7.9 per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 7.3 to 8.7 per 1000 person-years). The adult incidence of diabetes was 12.6 per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 11.5 to 13.8 per 1000 person-years).

Conclusions

The burden of diabetes in the remote Aboriginal population of the NT is among the highest in the world. Strengthened systems of care and public health prevention strategies, developed in partnership with Aboriginal communities, are needed.
Predictors of digital support services use by informal caregivers: a cross-sectional comparative survey
Authors: Hassan Alhassan Yosri Ibrahim , Lamura Giovanni , Hagedoorn Mariët
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Digital support services may provide informal caregivers with remote access to information and training about care issues. However, there is limited specific data on how factors such as demographics, socioeconomic resources and the caregiving context may influence caregivers’ use of digital support services. The aim of this study is to identify associations between informal caregiver’s characteristics and the use of the internet to access digital support services in two countries: Italy and Sweden.

Setting and participants

A sample of 663 respondents who have access to the internet participated in a cross-sectional survey by completing the online questionnaire. Respondents were recruited by the Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing and the Swedish Family Care Competence Centre.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of caregivers’ frequent use of the internet to access digital support services.

Results

Educational attainment (OR 3.649, 95% CI 1.424 to 9.350, p=0.007), hours per week spent caring (OR 2.928, 95% CI 1.481 to 5.791, p=0.002), total household income (OR 0.378, 95% CI 0.149 to 0.957, p=0.040), care recipient relationship to the caregiver (OR 2.895, 95% CI 1.037 to 8.083, p=0.042) and gender of care recipient (OR 0.575, 95% CI 0.356 to 0.928, p=0.023) were significant predictors in the multivariate analysis for the Italian caregivers group. Hours per week spent caring (OR 2.401, 95% CI 1.105 to 5.218, p=0.027) and age of caregiver (OR 2.237, 95% CI 1.150 to 4.352, p=0.018) were significant predictors in the multivariate analysis for the Swedish caregivers group.

Conclusions

Digital support services could be important tools to empower informal caregivers. When it comes to policy and practice in relation to caregivers, similarly to other broad vulnerable groups, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, and it is therefore important to consider the specific characteristics and needs of both caregivers and care recipients.
Effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving healthcare workers’ knowledge of early recognition, diagnosis and management of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in rural far-western Nepal: a pre/post-intervention study
Authors: Bhatt Navin , Karki Ashmita , Shrestha Biplav , Singh Amul , Rawal Lal B , Sharma Sanjib Kumar
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remain among the major heart problems among children in Nepal. Although these conditions are preventable and treatable, the lack of proper knowledge and resources to diagnose and manage these conditions in rural health centres is a key concern. This study assessed the impact of educational sessions to improve the knowledge of healthcare workers in the early recognition, diagnosis, and management of RF and RHD in rural far-western Nepal.

Design, setting and participants

This study used a pretest and post-test interventional design and was conducted among 64 healthcare workers in two primary healthcare centres and a peripheral district-level hospital in Achham district in the far-western region of Nepal. A self-administered questionnaire was used before and after the educational sessions. Data were analysed using SPSS V.21.

Results

The overall test scores increased from 10 (SD=2.4) pre-intervention to 13.8 (SD=1.9) post-intervention (p<0.001). Similarly, participant confidence (graded 1–5) in differentiating bacterial from viral sore throat rose from 3.6 (SD=1.08) pre-intervention to 3.98 (SD=1.09) post-intervention (p<0.05). Confidence in managing RF increased from 3.9 (SD=0.88) pre-intervention to 4.30 (SD=0.8) post-intervention (p<0.001).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the investigated educational sessions are promising with respect to improving the knowledge and confidence of healthcare workers in the early recognition, diagnosis, and management of RF and RHD at the primary healthcare level. Further studies with a larger sample size and conducted in different parts of the country are warranted to assess the effectiveness and impact of scaling up such educational interventions in Nepal.
Patients’ expectations of preventive measures of medical institutions during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Germany in women with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer: a cross-sectional, web-based survey
Authors: Schwab Roxana , Droste Annika , Stewen Kathrin , Brenner Walburgis , Schmidt Marcus , Hasenburg Annette
Published: May 2022

Objectives

To identify patient-approved contingency measures for protection of patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) from COVID-19 infection and to use these findings to improve staff’s preparedness to cope with the course of this pandemic or similar situations.

Methods (design, setting, participants, interventions)

We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey of women with an increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer, regardless of whether they had experienced an active malignant disease during the pandemic. A self-reported questionnaire, developed for this study, was used to assess expectations and opinions about preventive measures within medical institutions.

Results

Sixty-four (71.9%) of the 89 potential participants responded to at least one question regarding contingency measures within medical institutions. Approximately 37% of the respondents preferred having information about their facility’s hygiene protocols before appointment; 57.8% of the respondents endorsed regular SARS-CoV-2 testing of patients prior to medical appointments and 95.3% endorsed regular testing of HCWs. Additionally, 84.4% of the respondents supported HCWs’ use of surgical masks and 68.8% supported HCWs’ use of masks with greater protection. Notably, 75.0% of the respondents advocated for the presence of a significant other during medical consultations; 71.9% approved the use of telemedicine and 93.8% endorsed changes in appointment practices to enable social distancing. No significant associations were found between respondents’ sociodemographic, disease-specific or pandemic-specific factors and their opinions on hygiene precautions.

Conclusions

Patients at high risk of infection or severe course of COVID-19 approve strict contingency measures designed to lower the transmission of COVID-19 in medical facilities. Moreover, vulnerable groups may profit from contingency plans in healthcare facilities in order to follow preventive measures, avoid diagnostic delay or avoid worsening of pre-existing conditions. However, they also value the presence of a significant other during medical consultations and procedures.
Clinical practice guideline recommendations for pediatric injury care: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Moore Lynne , Freire Gabrielle , Ben Abdeljelil Anis , Berube Melanie , Tardif Pier-Alexandre , Gnanvi Eunice , Stelfox Henry Thomas , Beaudin Marianne , Carsen Sasha , Stang Antonia , Beno Suzanne , Weiss Matthew , Labrosse Melanie , Zemek Roger , Gagnon Isabelle J , Beaulieu Emilie , Berthelot Simon , Klassen Terry , Turgeon Alexis F , Lauzier François , Pike Ian , Macpherson Alison , Gabbe Belinda J , Yanchar Natalie
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Evidence suggests the presence of deficiencies in the quality of care provided to up to half of all paediatric trauma patients in Canada, the USA and Australia. Lack of adherence to evidence-based recommendations may be driven by lack of knowledge of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), heterogeneity in recommendations or concerns about their quality. We aim to systematically review CPG recommendations for paediatric injury care and appraise their quality.

Methods and analysis

We will identify CPG recommendations through a comprehensive search strategy including Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Excerpta Medica dataBASE, Cochrane library, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials and websites of organisations publishing recommendations on paediatric injury care. We will consider CPGs including at least one recommendation targeting paediatric injury populations on any diagnostic or therapeutic intervention from the acute phase of care with any comparator developed in high-income countries in the last 15 years (January 2007 to a maximum of 6 months prior to submission). Pairs of reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full text of eligible articles, extract data and evaluate the quality of CPGs and their recommendations using Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II and AGREE Recommendations Excellence instruments, respectively. We will synthesise evidence on recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Evidence-to-Decision framework and present results within a recommendations matrix.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not a requirement as this study is based on available published data. The results of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at international scientific meetings and distributed to healthcare providers.

PROSPERO registration number

International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42021226934).
Conceptualising paediatric advance care planning: a qualitative phenomenological study of paediatricians caring for children with life-limiting conditions in Australia
Authors: Vemuri Sidharth , Hynson Jenny , Williams Katrina , Gillam Lynn
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Advance care planning (ACP) helps families and paediatricians prepare and plan for end-of-life decision-making. However, there remains inconsistency in its practice with the limited literature describing what this preparation involves, and whether paediatricians recognise a difference between the process of ACP and its outcomes, such as resuscitation plans. This study aims to understand how paediatricians conceptualise ACP when caring for children with life-limiting conditions (LLC) who are unable to participate in decision-making for his/herself.

Design

Individual, semistructured, vignette-based qualitative interviews.

Setting

Acute inpatient and long-term outpatient paediatric care in three secondary and two tertiary centres in Victoria, Australia.

Participants

25 purposively sampled paediatricians who treat children with LLC, outside the neonatal period. Paediatricians were excluded if they worked within specialist palliative care teams or assisted in this study’s design.

Results

Four key themes were identified when approaching end-of-life decision-making discussions: (1) there is a process over time, (2) there are three elements, (3) the role of exploring parental values and (4) the emotional impact. The three elements of this process are: (1) communicating the child’s risk of death, (2) moving from theoretical concepts to practice and (3) documenting decisions about resuscitation or intensive technologies. However, not all paediatricians recognised all elements as ACP, nor are all elements consistently or intentionally used. Some paediatricians considered ACP to be only documentation of decisions in advance.

Conclusion

There is a preparatory process of discussions for end-of-life decision-making, with elements in this preparation practised within therapeutic relationships. Complexity in what constitutes ACP needs to be captured in guidance and training to include intentional exploration of parental values, and recognition and management of the emotional impact of ACP could increase its consistency and value.
Beliefs about back pain and associations with clinical outcomes: a primary care cohort study
Authors: Grøn Søren , Jensen Rikke K , Kongsted Alice
Published: May 2022

Objective

To investigate associations between beliefs about low back pain (LBP) at baseline and pain intensity and disability at 2-week, 13-week and 52-week follow-up.

Design

Observational cohort study.

Setting

Primary care private chiropractic clinics in Denmark.

Participants

A total of 2734 adults consulting a chiropractor for a new episode of LBP, with follow-up data available from 71%, 61% and 52% of the participants at 2, 13 and 52 weeks, respectively.

Outcome measures

Beliefs about LBP were measured by the Back Belief Questionnaire (BBQ) before consulting the chiropractor. Pain (Numerical Rating Scale 0–10) and disability (the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire) were measured at baseline and after 2, 13 and 52 weeks. Associations were explored using longitudinal linear mixed models estimating interactions between BBQ and time, and by estimating associations between single items of BBQ and 13-week outcomes.

Results

More positive beliefs about LBP were weakly associated with a reduction in pain at 2 weeks (β interaction BBQ#Time=−0.02 (95% CI −0.04 to −0.001)), at 13 weeks (−0.03 (95% CI −0.05 to −0.01)) and at 52 weeks of follow-up (−0.03 (95% CI −0.05 to −0.01); p=0.003). For disability, the association was uncertain (p=0.7). The item ‘Back trouble means periods of pain for the rest of one’s life’ had the strongest association with both reduction in pain (−0.29, 95% CI −0.4 to −0.19, p<0.001) and disability (−2.42, 95% CI −3.52 to −1.33, p<0.001) at 13-week follow-up.

Conclusion

Positive beliefs regarding LBP, measured by the BBQ, were associated with a reduction in pain intensity at both short-term and long-term follow-up. However, the association was weak, and the clinical relevance is therefore questionable. No clear association was demonstrated between beliefs and disability. This study did not show promise that back beliefs as measured by the BBQ were helpful for predicting or explaining the course of LBP in this setting.
Developing a typology of models of palliative care delivery in prisons in high-income countries: protocol for a scoping review with narrative synthesis
Authors: Gilbert Emma , Turner M , de Viggiani Nick , Selman Lucy
Published: May 2022

Introduction

A combination of punitive sentencing practices within ageing populations, compounded by the health challenges faced by people in prison, means that dedicated palliative care provision within prisons is a pressing requirement. However, evidence about exactly how quality palliative and end-of-life care is delivered in this environment remains sparse.

This review aims to develop a typology of models of palliative and end-of-life care delivery within prisons in high-income countries to inform service development and policy.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a scoping review of published studies and grey literature, following the Arksey and O’Malley framework. We will report data on models of palliative and end-of-life care delivery in prisons in high-income countries. Searches will be undertaken in Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Social Sciences Citation Index and PsyINFO for all study types, published from 1 January 2000 to December 2021, and reference lists from key reviews and studies will be screened for additional references. We will also screen grey literature from within other high-income countries using a targeted search strategy. For published reports of original research, study quality and risk of bias will be assessed independently by two reviewers using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A narrative synthesis of the data will be undertaken, integrating the results of the quality assessment.

Ethics and dissemination

Approval by research ethics committee is not required since the review only includes published and publicly accessible data. We will publish our findings in a peer-reviewed journal as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidance.

Protocol registration

The final protocol was registered with the Research Registry on 26 November 2021 (www.researchregistry.com).

Unique ID number: reviewregistry1260.
Retrospective, matched case–control analysis of tickborne encephalitis vaccine effectiveness by booster interval, Switzerland 2006–2020
Authors: Zens Kyra D , Haile Sarah R , Schmidt Axel J , Altpeter Ekkehardt S , Fehr Jan S , Lang Phung
Published: May 2022

Objective

To estimate effectiveness of tickborne encephalitis (TBE) vaccination by time interval (<5, 5–10 and 10+years) postvaccination.

Design

A retrospective, matched case–control study

Participants

Cases—all adult (age 18–79) TBE cases in Switzerland reported via the national mandatory disease reporting surveillance system from 2006 to 2020 (final n=1868). Controls—community controls from a database of randomly selected adults (age 18–79) participating in a 2018 cross-sectional study of TBE vaccination in Switzerland (final n=4625).

Primary outcome measures

For cases and controls, the number of TBE vaccine doses received and the time since last vaccination were determined. Individuals were classified as being ‘unvaccinated’ (0 doses), ‘incomplete’ (1–2 doses) or ‘complete’ (3+ doses). Individuals with ‘complete’ vaccination were further classified by time since the last dose was received (<5 years, 5–10 years or 10+ years). A conditional logistic regression model was used to calculate vaccine effectiveness (VE: 100 × [1−OR]) for each vaccination status category.

Results

VE for incomplete vaccination was 76.8% (95% CI 69.0% to 82.6%). For complete vaccination, overall VE was 95.0% (95% CI 93.5% to 96.1%). When the most recent dose was received <5 years prior VE was 91.6% (95% CI 88.4% to 94.0%), 95.2% (95% CI 92.4% to 97.0%) when the most recent dose was received 5–10 years prior, and 98.5% (95% CI 96.8% to 99.2%) when the most recent dose was received 10+ years prior.

Conclusions

That VE does not decrease among completely vaccinated individuals over 10+ years since last vaccination supports the longevity of the protective response following complete TBE vaccination. Our findings support the effectiveness of 10-year TBE booster intervals currently used in Switzerland.
Association between social supports and depression among patients with diabetes mellitus in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Diress Alen Gedefaw , Endalifer Melese Linger , Addisu Amanuel , Mengist Belayneh
Published: May 2022

Objective

The adverse effects of poor social support on quality of life and adherence to treatment are established. However, the relationship between social support and depression is not well understood. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aim to examine the association between social support and depressive symptoms among type 2 patients with diabetes.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

We searched PubMed, African Journals Online, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library electronic databases. Some studies were also identified through manual Google search and Google scholar.

Eligibility criteria

We systematically searched electronic databases for studies published up to October 2020. Only English-language articles were included.

Data extraction and synthesis

Screening, data extraction and quality appraisal were conducted by two independent reviewers. A random-effect model was applied to estimate ORs with 95% CIs. The Higgins I2test was used to assess the heterogeneity between the studies. The risk of publication bias was estimated using the Egger test. Leave-one-out analysis was done. Data were analysed using Stata V.11.

Results

Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. The findings from included studies revealed that poor social support increases the odds of depression among patients with diabetes (adjusted OR=2.14, 95% CI 1.34 to 3.43, p=0.003). There was no risk of publication bias (p=0.064), and heterogeneity was substantial (I2=70.7%). The leave-one-out analysis confirmed the consistency of the findings.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis revealed that patients who had poor social support were significantly associated with an increased level of depression. Additional studies exploring factors that might moderate or mediate this association are needed. Targeted interventions for comorbid depression should be implemented in clinical practice.

Systematic review registration

We have submitted the protocol for registration at the PROSPERO on 9 October 2020. But we have not yet received a registration number.
Development of a multicomponent intervention to increase parental vaccine confidence and young people’s access to the universal HPV vaccination programme in England: protocol for a co-design study
Authors: Fisher Harriet , Chantler Tracey , Denford Sarah , Finn Adam , Hickman Matthew , Mounier-Jack Sandra , Roderick Marion , Tucker Leanne , Yates Julie , Audrey Suzanne
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Persistent infection with HPV can result in cancers affecting men and, especially, women. Lower uptake exists by area and different population groups. Increasing parental confidence about, and adolescent access to, the universal HPV vaccination programme may help reduce inequalities in uptake. However, the evidence-base for interventions to address uptake for schools-based HPV vaccination programmes is currently lacking. This study protocol outlines how a multicomponent intervention to address this evidence gap will be codesigned with parents.

Methods and analysis

The proposed research will be undertaken in localities covered by two immunisation teams in London and the south-west of England. The ‘person-based approach’ to intervention development will be followed. In the first phase, an exploratory qualitative study will be undertaken with key stakeholders (n=8) and parents (n=40) who did not provide consent for their adolescent child to be vaccinated. During the interviews, parents’ views on ways to improve parental confidence about, and adolescents’ access to, HPV vaccination will be sought. The findings will be used to inform the co-design of a preliminary plan for a targeted, multicomponent intervention. In the second phase, at least two parent working groups (n=8) will be convened and will work with creative designers to co-design communication materials aimed at increasing parents’ confidence in vaccination. At least two workshops with each parent group will be organised to obtain feedback on the intervention plan and communication materials to ensure they are fit for purpose. These findings will inform a protocol for a future study to test the effectiveness of the intervention at increasing HPV vaccination uptake.

Ethics and dissemination

The National Health Services Research Ethics Service and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Observational / Interventions Research Ethics Committee provided approvals for the study (reference 22/SW/0003 & 26902, respectively). We will work with parent advisory groups to inform our dissemination strategy and co-present our findings (eg, at community events or through social media). We will disseminate our findings with academics and healthcare professionals through webinars and academic conferences, as well as peer-reviewed publications.
Reflections on antifreeze proteins and their evolution
Authors: Davies Peter L.
Published: May 2022

The discovery of radically different antifreeze proteins (AFPs) in fishes during the 1970s and 1980s suggested that these proteins had recently and independently evolved to protect teleosts from freezing in icy seawater. Early forays into the isolation and characterization of AFP genes in these fish showed they were massively amplified, often in long tandem repeats. The work of many labs in the 1980s onward led to the discovery and characterization of AFPs in other kingdoms, such as insects, plants, and many different microorganisms. The distinct ice-binding property that these ice-binding proteins (IBPs) share has facilitated their purification through adsorption to ice, and the ability to produce recombinant versions of IBPs has enabled their structural characterization and the mapping of their ice-binding sites (IBSs) using site-directed mutagenesis. One hypothesis for their ice affinity is that the IBS organizes surface waters into an ice-like pattern that freezes the protein onto ice. With access now to a rapidly expanding database of genomic sequences, it has been possible to trace the origins of some fish AFPs through the process of gene duplication and divergence, and to even show the horizontal transfer of an AFP gene from one species to another.
Echoes from asymmetric wormholes and black bounce
Authors: Ou Min-Yan , Lai Meng-Yun , Huang Hyat
Published: May 2022

The time evolutions of the field perturbations in certain asymmetric wormhole and black bounce backgrounds are investigated. It is found that the echo signals arise only in some wormhole cases. We examine the influences of these wormhole echoes by their mass and charge, as well as the asymmetry of spacetime. The results show that a massive wormhole with smaller charge is easier to observe echo signals. Particularly, the asymmetry of wormhole spacetime causes lower frequency echoes. Besides, analytical results show that the negative regions of effective potentials are enclosed by the black hole horizons for a class of symmetric black bounce metrics. This suggests the stability of these symmetric metrics.
Treatment of tantalum using argon glow discharge plasma for applied purposes
Authors: Talab A. A. , Abido AMR M. N. , Ismail M. I.
Published: May 2022

The main purpose of this work is to use a low-cost DC plasma discharge to enhance the material properties. The source of the DC glow discharge plasma was the Batorm device. By using a low-pressure argon gas, the best operating conditions of the plasma were obtained at a pressure [Formula: see text] and a breakdown voltage of 160 V. Electrical parameters of the plasma have been experimentally estimated at two different pressures [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Tantalum material has been chosen to be treated along this work due to its great importance in industry. In addition, it is used as a cathode for the ion source inside the Egyptian cyclotron at the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA). A U-shaped tantalum sample, exactly like the cyclotron filament, was exposed to plasma created from [Formula: see text] and 250 V for 30 min. At these low conditions, the obtained results were promising where the surface treatment of the sample caused cleaning and increased its hardness.
Facile, economical, and environmental-friendly fabrication of N, P co-doped porous carbon/Sn composite with enhanced lithium storage properties
Authors: Liu Kun , Sun Juncai
Published: May 2022

Despite the satisfactory development in preparing heteroatom-doped porous carbon/Sn composite structures, most strategies rely on complicated and multi-step template processes to tailor the porous carbon structure. Herein, a facile, economical, and environmental-friendly strategy for the one-step synthesis of N, P co-doped porous C/Sn (Sn/NPPC) composite is reported. The NPPC can relieve the large volume change and supply good electronic conductivity as well as more defects. Benefiting from the integration of these advantages, the Sn/NPPC electrode achieves superior discharge capacity (689.5 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 100 mA/g). This strategy can supply fundamental breakthroughs for reducing the synthesis cost and simplifying the synthesis complexity of heteroatom-doped porous carbon/Sn composite.
Electrochemical properties and morphology of boron-doped diamond thin films
Authors: Gwon Jin Uk , Jang Tae Hwan , Kim Min Su , Kim Tae Gyu , Bae Mun Ki
Published: May 2022

A boron-doped diamond (BDD) thin film was synthesized using the hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) method. The surface shape, growth rate, bonding structure, and electrochemical properties of the BDD thin films were estimated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. As the boron doping concentration increased, the growth rate and crystal size of the diamond thin film decreased. Through Raman analysis, it was confirmed that the 1332 cm[Formula: see text] peak of diamond gradually became less intense, and peaks were generated at 480 cm[Formula: see text] and 1220 cm[Formula: see text] due to the bonding of boron to carbon. Cyclic voltammetry analysis of the BDD thin film showed a large potential window with a width of approximately 2.8 V. The highest applied voltage (2 V) versus response current (0.02 A) was obtained at a B/C ratio of 2000 ppm.
Preparation of Ba(1−x)SrxTiO3 fiber arrays and influence on its dielectric properties
Authors: He Yike , Han Zhenyu , Zhang Yi , Wang Baoxuan , Zhang Jingjing , Liu Guishan
Published: May 2022

In this paper, the Ba[Formula: see text]Sr[Formula: see text]TiO3 (BST) fiber arrays in an orderly manner were successfully fabricated by electrospinning. The arrangement of the fiber arrays and their dielectric properties at different rotation speeds were investigated. The microstructure, phase composition and dielectric properties of the fabricated fiber arrays were detected via field-emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and automatic component analyzer. The results indicated that the orientation of the BST fiber arrays could be affected by the drum rotational speed variation of the roller receiver. The orientation degree of the BST fiber arrays increased and the diameter of the BST fiber arrays decreased with the increasing of the drum rotational speed. With the content of polyvinylpyrrolidone at 8% and the speed of 1000 r/min, the orientation degree of the BST fiber arrays gets a better state and the best dielectric constant of 104. Moreover, the ferroelectric performance of BST fiber arrays in ambient and cryogenic environments has a maxima Curie temperature of [Formula: see text]C.
Numerical and analytical investigations for solution of fractional Gilson–Pickering equation arising in plasma physics
Authors: Sagar B , Ray S. Saha
Published: May 2022

This paper deals with the numerical solution of the time-fractional Gilson–Pickering equation using the Kansa method, in which the multiquadrics were utilized as the radial basis function. To achieve this, a meshless numerical scheme based on the finite difference along with the Kansa method has been presented. First, the finite difference approach has been utilized to discretize the temporal derivative, and subsequently, the Kansa method is employed to discretize the spatial derivatives. The stability and convergence analysis of the numerical scheme are also elucidated in this paper. Furthermore, the soliton solutions have been acquired by implementing the Kudryashov method for comparison with the numerical results. Finally, numerical simulations are performed to confirm the applicability and accuracy of the proposed scheme.
Performance tunable passively Q-switched fiber laser based on single-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Zheng Jiancheng , He Chongjun , Wen Ying , Li Hongxiang
Published: May 2022

Passively Q-switched fiber laser (PQFL) has great potential applications in remote sensing, ranging, and optical communications. However, the PQFLs were seldom studied in view of both theory and experiment. This paper is dedicated to make up for this shortcoming. On the one hand, by describing the coupling rate equations of the PQFL system, the Q-switched pulse output with a modulation frequency of 17.61 kHz and a modulation period of 56.8 μs was obtained at 140 mW pump power. On the other hand, an erbium-doped PQFL whose performance is tunable by controlling the pump power and polarization state was constructed by using a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) as the saturable absorber (SA). The Q-switched pulse with a repetition rate of 17.61 kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio of 50.2 dB was output at a pump power of 140 mW. The theoretical simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental results. It was also verified from such two aspects that the repetition rate of the output pulse of PQFL was approximately proportional to the pump power. This research promotes the theory and design of PQFL.
Image encryption based on enhanced product trigonometric chaotic sequences
Authors: Yu Wanbo , Hu Zhenzhen
Published: May 2022

Image encryption based on chaotic sequence is an important hot research issue in the field of application at present. The quality of chaotic sequence, such as ergodicity, initial value sensitivity, dense periodicity and so on, is of great significance. In view of the good chaotic characteristics of trigonometric function system, this paper constructs a system of summation after product of two sinusoidal functions, and a system in which a linear function term is added after the product of trigonometric functions. The experimental analysis proves that the system has strong chaotic characteristics. Some equivalent forms of the system are discussed, and the chaotic sequences of the system are used for image encryption, and good encryption effect is achieved.
Influence of nonlinear absorption on the propagation of ultrashort optical pulses in an anisotropic optical medium with carbon nanotubes
Authors: Konobeeva Natalia N. , Belonenko Mikhail B.
Published: May 2022

We study the features of the evolution of a pulse in a dielectric medium (crystal) with optical anisotropic properties taking into account pumping. The medium contains semiconductor carbon nanotubes of a fixed orientation directed at an angle to one of the principal axes of the crystal. We analyze the influence of pumping and resistance to disturbances. Our study shows that the effects of pumping and nonlinear absorption suppress the dispersive pulse spreading caused by the optically anisotropic properties of the medium.
Transformer Network Intelligent Flight Situation Awareness Assessment Based on Pilot Visual Gaze and Operation Behavior Data
Authors: Jiang Guangyi , Chen Hua , Wang Changyuan , Xue Pengxiang
Published: May 2022

Situational awareness is the ability of pilots to master flight status, which is of great significance to aviation flight safety and flight effect. According to the information processing model, the pilot’s main steps of processing information are feeling, perception and execution. There are many problems in situation awareness analysis guided by visual gaze, such as large analysis deviation and high delay due to various influencing factors and complex characteristics. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes a situation awareness assessment method based on artificial intelligence neural network and integrating visual gaze and flight control. First, this paper carries out simulated flight training experiments for flight cadets, and collects the data of eye movement, line of sight tracking, flight control and flight parameters of pilot cadets. Then, aiming at the flight subjects, a situation awareness analysis method based on events is established, and the situation awareness state in the experiment is evaluated and analyzed through the flight parameter data. Then, the visual gaze and flight control data are sliced in the unit of situational awareness events, and the data set is constructed. Finally, this paper designs a multi-channel sequence data classification and analysis model based on transformer, in which the situation awareness characteristics of visual gaze and operation behavior are analyzed through the attention mechanism. The experimental results show that the accuracy of situation awareness classification of the designed neural network model to the experimental data set is 96%, and can classify and evaluate the pilot’s situation awareness state in 5[Formula: see text]s.
Intelligent Robot English Speech Recognition Method Based on Online Database
Authors: Wu Yong , Li Guicang
Published: May 2022

In order to solve the problem of low accuracy of traditional English speech recognition, an intelligent robot English speech recognition method based on online database is proposed. A speech recognition device is installed on the intelligent robot as the hardware support for running the speech recognition method. The online English speech standard database is constructed to provide reference data for speech recognition. The real-time speech information is collected, and the speech signal is preprocessed by pre-emphasis, framing, windowing and other steps. According to the principle of speech signal generation, the features of speech signal are extracted, and the results of English speech recognition are obtained by similarity calculation and matching. Compared with the traditional recognition method, the experimental results show that the recognition rate of the optimised speech recognition method is improved by 1.3%, i.e. the recognition accuracy is improved.
Intelligent Correction System of Students’ English Pronunciation Errors Based on Speech Recognition Technology
Authors: Dai Meili
Published: May 2022

With the increasingly frequent international exchanges, English has become a common language for communication between countries. Under this research background, in order to correct students’ wrong English pronunciation, an intelligent correction system for students’ English pronunciation errors based on speech recognition technology is designed. In order to provide a relatively stable hardware correction platform for voice data information, the sensor equipment is optimised and combined with the processor and intelligent correction circuit. On this basis, the MLP (Multi-layer Perceptron) error correction function is defined; with the help of the known recognition confusion calculation results, the actual input speech error is processed by gain mismatch; and the software execution environment of the system is built. Combined with the related hardware structure, the intelligent correction system of students’ English pronunciation error based on speech recognition technology is successfully applied, and the comparative experiment is designed and the practical application value of the system is highlighted.
Immersion Teaching Method of Business English Based on Virtual Reality Technology
Authors: Xu Ting
Published: May 2022

In order to solve the problem of students’ low performance under the traditional business English immersion teaching method, the business English immersion teaching method is designed based on virtual reality technology. Based on the virtual reality technology, the virtual reality teaching courseware of business English is constructed, and the teaching virtual page is designed to simulate the negotiation of business trade English, and its virtual reality teaching function can be realised. At the same time, the teaching evaluation mechanism is established, the teaching content and method are adjusted in real time, and the method design is completed. The results show that the final scores of the students in the experimental class are generally higher than those in the ordinary class, which can solve the problem of students’ low scores under the traditional teaching methods.
A Method of Digital English Teaching Resource Sharing Based on Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Chen Chengxiong
Published: May 2022

In order to better improve the quality of English teaching, this paper studies the sharing method of English digital teaching resources combined with modern digital technology. Through the collection and management of English digital teaching resources, it constructs the evaluation index system of teaching resources, so as to comprehensively and objectively evaluate the digital teaching resources and promote the construction and development of digital teaching resource and to effectively promote and improve the teaching effect, and realise the research requirements of effective sharing of massive teaching resources in complex environment.