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Purpose: The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a summary of Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science (MPEES)-related activities in 2021. Manuscripts submitted: In 2021 original submissions (i.e., not counting revised manuscripts) increased by [approximately]20% as compared to 2020. Fifty-eight countries were represented across the 464 original manuscripts submitted to MPEES in 2021. MPEES continues to welcome high-quality submissions from around the world in 2022. Manuscripts submitted by section: The seven sections of MPEES are: (1) exercise science, (2) physical activity, (3) physical education pedagogy, (4) psychology, (5) research methodology and statistics, (6) sport management and administration, and (7) tutorial and teacher's toolbox. More than three-fourths of the manuscripts submitted to MPEES in 2021 were submitted to one of three sections: exercise science or physical activity or research methodology and statistics. MPEES continues to welcome high-quality submissions within each of the seven sections that comprise the journal in 2022. Review process: Each of the original manuscripts submitted to MPEES in 2021 had received an initial decision by April 4, 2022 (i.e., 464 of the 464 manuscripts received). When an immediate decision (e.g., desk-rejection) was rendered by the editor-in-chief it always (i.e., for 369 of 369 manuscripts) occurred within 10 days of receiving the manuscript. When a manuscript was assigned to a section editor by the editor-in-chief it typically (i.e., for 91 of 95 manuscripts) received an initial decision within 90 days of receiving the manuscript. Twenty-four countries were represented across reviewers for the original manuscripts sent out for external review by MPEES in 2021. We gratefully acknowledge, and list in the Appendix, the many scholars (N = 151) from around the world who served as a reviewer for MPEES in 2021. Manuscripts published: Volume 25 (i.e., the volume published in 2021) of MPEES published a total of 37 manuscripts. More than two-thirds of the published manuscripts were submitted to one of two sections: exercise science or research methodology and statistics. MPEES continues to strive for publishing high-quality manuscripts within each of the seven sections that comprise the journal in 2022. Fourteen countries were represented across the manuscripts published in Volume 25 of MPEES. MPEES continues to strive for publishing high-quality manuscripts written by one or more authors from around the world in 2022. Impact factor: The 2020 impact factor for MPEES was 2.30 representing an increase of [approximately]31% compared to 2019 when the journal's impact factor was 1.75. The value of the 2020 impact factor placed MPEES in the second quartile (i.e., ranked #131 out of 265 journals) within the Education & Educational Research category of Clarivate Analytics. The 2021 impact factor for MPEES is expected to be released in [approximately]June 2022.

Despite the prevalence of quantitative approaches in applied linguistics (AL) and second language acquisition (SLA) research (Gass, 2009), evidence indicates a need for improvement in analyzing and reporting SLA data (e.g., Larson-Hall & Plonsky, 2015). However, to improve quantitative research, researchers must possess the statistical knowledge necessary to conduct quality research. This study assesses AL and SLA researchers' knowledge of key statistical concepts on a statistical knowledge test. One hundred and ninety-eight AL and SLA researchers from North America and Europe responded to 26 discipline-specific questions designed to measure participants' ability to (a) understand basic statistical concepts and procedures, (b) interpret statistical analyses, and (c) critically evaluate statistical information. Results indicate that participants generally understood basic descriptive statistics, but performance on items requiring more advanced statistical knowledge was lower. Quantitative research orientation, number of statistics courses taken, and frequent use of statistics textbooks had positive influences on researchers' statistical knowledge.

The International Statistical Literacy Project (ISLP) was established in 1994 by the International Statistical Institute and operates under the auspices of the International Association for Statistical Education. Today, the ISLP has 134 country coordinators spread across all continents of the world. The aim of this article is to describe and assess the activities of those country coordinators and discuss their contribution to advancing statistical literacy and that of ISLP. Some strategic issues for the ISLP executive are discussed, in particular, given the recent success of the ISLP in Latin America, and how this might inform future developments of the International Statistical Literacy Project.

The purpose of this annual report is to provide a summary of measurement in physical education and exercise science-related activities in 2017. A recent trend for an annual increase in manuscript submissions to measurement in physical education and exercise science continued in 2017. Twenty-nine countries were represented (i.e., corresponding author) with the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Spain, and Australia collectively accounting for slightly more than two-thirds of the submissions. Measurement in physical education and exercise science continues to welcome high-quality submissions from around the world in 2018. More than three-quarters of the manuscripts that were submitted to measurement in physical education and exercise science in 2017 were submitted to the exercise science section or the physical activity section or the research methodology and statistics section. Measurement in physical education and exercise science continues to welcome high-quality submissions within each of the seven sections that comprise the journal in 2018. We also gratefully acknowledge the many scholars from around the world who served as a reviewer for measurement in physical education and exercise science in 2017. Twenty-two countries were represented with the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany collectively accounting for more than 85% of the total number of reviewers. Measurement in physical education and exercise science continues to welcome high-quality manuscript reviews from around the world in 2018. Volume 21 (i.e., the volume published in 2017) of measurement in physical education and exercise science published a total of 26 manuscripts. More than three-quarters of the published manuscripts were submitted to the research methodology and statistics section or the physical education pedagogy section or the exercise science section or the physical activity section. Twelve countries were represented with the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia collectively accounting for approximately three-fourths of the publications. Measurement in physical education and exercise science continues to strive for publishing high-quality manuscripts from around the world in 2018.

Because of their efficiency and ability to keep many other factors constant, twin studies have a special appeal for investigators. Just as with any teaching dataset, a "matched-sets" dataset used to illustrate a statistical model should be compelling, still relevant, and valid. Indeed, such a "model dataset" should meet the same tests for worthiness that news organization editors impose on their journalists: are the data new? Are they true? Do they matter? This article introduces and shares a twin dataset that meets, to a large extent, these criteria. In fact, while more than two decades old, the data are still widely cited today in ongoing related research. This dataset was the basis of a clever study that confirmed an inspired hunch, changed the way pregnancies in HIV-positive mothers are managed, and led to reductions in the rates of maternal-to-child transmission of HIV.

Background: Elevated rates of suicidal behavior were reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, information is scarce on patients' profiles during this period. Studies evoke the potential adverse effects of the mandatory lockdown, but they remain relatively speculative. Methods: We monitored fluctuations in suicide attempts (SA) in six European countries. We gathered data, retrospectively for under 18-year-old SA episodes (1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021), through records of psychiatric emergency services. We collected clinical profiles individually. We extracted environmental indicators by month, as provided by Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT). We used the Pruned Exact Linear Time (PELT) method to identify breakpoints in SA episodes reported for each country, and logistic regressions to estimate changes in patients' characteristics after the breakpoints. Finally, we used a univariate and multivariate negative binomial model to assess the link between SA and OxCGRT indicators, accounting for the delay (lag) between the interventions and their impact on SA. Results: The study comprised 2,833 children and adolescents (mean age = 15.1 years (SD 1.6); M: F sex-ratio = 1:5.4). A significant increase in SA was found either 6 or 10 months after the beginning of the pandemic, varying by country. Patients were more likely to be girls (aOR = 1.77 [1.34; 2.34]) and used SA methods "other than self-poisoning" (aOR = 1.34 [1.05; 1.7]). In the multivariate model, an association was found between SA and the contact tracing indicator with an 11 months delay, and the number of COVID-19 deaths with a 3-months delay. Conclusions: Findings confirmed a delayed increase in SA during the COVID-19 pandemic in children and adolescents as well as changes in patients' profiles. The duration and severity of the pandemic emerged as the strongest predictor in the rise of SA. If faced with a similar pandemic in the future, the gap between the onset of pandemic and the increase in suicide attempts presents an opportunity for prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim s : Community‐ and school‐based lifestyle interventions are an efficient method of preventing type 2 diabetes in vulnerable populations. Many participants, however, fail to complete the necessary follow‐ups. We investigated factors affecting the continuous participation in follow‐up evaluations during the Feel4Diabetes‐study, a multilevel intervention programme implemented across Europe. Methods: Socioeconomic, sociodemographic and clinical factors were assessed for 2702 participants within six participating countries: Bulgaria and Hungary (low‐to‐middle‐income countries, LMIC), Belgium and Finland (high‐income countries, HIC) and Greece and Spain (high‐income countries under austerity measures, HICAM). Results: Statistically significant differences were detected with respect to sex, control group, education level, employment status, BMI and blood pressure measurements (systolic and diastolic blood pressure). Post hoc analysis revealed significant differences within socioeconomic regions. Higher levels of education were associated with significantly lower attrition in HIC (p < 0.05) and HICAM (p < 0.001), higher employment status was associated with lower attrition in HICAM (p < 0.001) and being female was associated with lower attrition in LMIC (p < 0.001). Surprisingly, the intervention group exhibited higher‐than‐expected attrition in HIC (p < 0.001) and HICAM (p = 0.003), and lower attrition in LMIC (p = 0.007). When tested together in the same multivariable predictive model, all sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables along with higher BMI retained their statistical significance, while systolic and diastolic blood pressure failed to remain significant. Conclusions: Key socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors along with BMI play a significant role in determining continuous participation in follow‐up evaluations during school‐ and community‐based intervention programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with increases in morbidity and mortality worldwide. The mechanisms of how SARS-CoV-2 may cause cardiovascular (CV) complications are under investigation. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CV risk. Methods: These are single-centre Bialystok PLUS (Poland) population-based and case‒control studies. The survey was conducted between 2018 and 2022 on a sample of residents (n = 1507) of a large city in central Europe and patients 6–9 months post-COVID-19 infection (n = 126). The Systematic Coronary Risk Estimation 2 (SCORE2), the Systematic Coronary Risk Estimation 2-Older Persons (SCORE2-OP), the Cardiovascular Disease Framingham Heart Study and the LIFEtime-perspective model for individualizing CardioVascular Disease prevention strategies in apparently healthy people (LIFE-CVD) were used. Subsequently, the study populations were divided into CV risk classes according to the 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Results: The study population consisted of 4 groups: a general population examined before (I, n = 691) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (II, n = 816); a group of 126 patients post-COVID-19 infection (III); and a control group matched subjects chosen from the pre-COVID-19 pandemic (IV). Group II was characterized by lower blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) values than group I. Group III differed from the control group in terms of lower LDL-c level. There was no effect on CV risk in the general population, but in the population post-COVID-19 infection, CV risk was lower using FS-lipids, FS-BMI and LIFE-CVD 10-year risk scores compared to the prepandemic population. In all subgroups analysed, no statistically significant difference was found in the frequency of CV risk classes. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic did not increase the CV risk calculated for primary prevention. Instead, it prompted people to pay attention to their health status, as evidenced by better control of some CV risk factors. As the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn people's attention to health, it is worth exploiting this opportunity to improve public health knowledge through the design of wide-ranging information campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the new 2022 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) criteria in Turkish adult patients previously diagnosed with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). Patients and methods: One hundred sixty-four patients (96 males, 68 females; mean age: 49.6±14.4 years; range, 18 to 87 years) diagnosed with AAV by experienced rheumatologists between July 2016 and May 2022 were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study and reclassified based on the 1990 ACR criteria, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) algorithm, and the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria. For external validation, 83 patients (48 males, 35 females; mean age: 47.3±17.5 years; range, 19 to 81 years) diagnosed with immunoglobulin (Ig)A vasculitis were included. Results: One hundred twenty-six (76.8%) patients had granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), 13 (7.9%) patients had eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and 25 (15.2%) patients had microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). According to the criteria, the number of unclassified patients was nine (5.5%) for both the 2022 ACR/EULAR AAV classification criteria and the EMEA algorithm. The new criteria had an almost perfect agreement with the clinician's diagnosis (Cohen's kappa coefficient [k]=0.858 for GPA, k=0.820 for EGPA, and k=0.847 for MPA). The kappa statistics for agreement of 2022 ACR/EULAR classification criteria with the EMEA algorithm were found 0.794 for GPA, 0.820 for EGPA, and 0.700 for MPA. None of the 83 patients diagnosed with IgA vasculitis could be classified as GPA, EGPA, or MPA using the new ACR/EULAR AAV classification criteria. Conclusion: The 2022 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for AAV showed substantial or perfect agreement with the clinical diagnosis and the EMEA algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the EPICOVIDEHA survey's findings concerning the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients with haematological malignancies, highlighting a persistent risk associated with ICU admission despite decreasing COVID-19 severity overall. It aims to analyze epidemiology, risk factors, and outcomes using data from the EPICOVIDEHA registry.

Background: Performing cardiovascular and cancer screenings in target populations can reduce mortality. Visiting a General Practitioner (GP) once a year is related to an increased likelihood of preventive care. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of visiting a GP in the last year on the delivery of preventive services based on sex and household income. Methods: Cross-sectional study using data collected from the European Health Interview Survey 2013–2015 of individuals aged 40–74 years from 29 European countries. The variables included: sociodemographic factors (age, sex, and household income (HHI) quintiles [HHI 1: lowest income, HHI 5: more affluent]), lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and preventive care services (cardiometabolic, influenza vaccination, and cancer screening). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses and multilevel models (level 1: citizen, level 2: country) were performed. Results: 242,212 subjects were included, 53.7% were female. The proportion of subjects who received any cardiometabolic screening (92.4%) was greater than cancer screening (colorectal cancer: 44.1%, gynaecologic cancer: 40.0%) and influenza vaccination. Individuals who visited a GP in the last year were more prone to receive preventive care services (cardiometabolic screening: adjusted OR (aOR): 7.78, 95% CI: 7.43–8.15; colorectal screening aOR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.80–1.95; mammography aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.69–1.83 and Pap smear test: aOR: 1.89, 95% CI:1.85–1.94). Among those who visited a GP in the last year, the highest ratios of cardiometabolic screening and cancer screening benefited those who were more affluent. Women underwent more blood pressure measurements than men regardless of the HHI. Men were more likely to undergo influenza vaccination than women regardless of the HHI. The highest differences between countries were observed for influenza vaccination, with a median odds ratio (MOR) of 6.36 (under 65 years with comorbidities) and 4.30 (over 65 years with comorbidities), followed by colorectal cancer screening with an MOR of 2.26. Conclusions: Greater adherence to preventive services was linked to individuals who had visited a GP at least once in the past year. Disparities were evident among those with lower household incomes who visited a GP. The most significant variability among countries was observed in influenza vaccination and colorectal cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although leisure constraints that individuals have to cope with can negatively affect their social inclusion and satisfaction with life, little research has addressed the link between these variables. Therefore, the current paper examined the moderator role of leisure constraints on the relationship between satisfaction with life and leisure constraints among adults living in five different European countries. The respondents were 1,382 women and 877 men adults. The findings of analysis revealed that all factors used in the study accounted for 15% of the variance in satisfaction with life and social inclusion had a significant and positive impact on satisfaction with life. As a result, it can be said that leisure constraints had a moderating effect on the relationship between satisfaction with life and social inclusion. The present research study recommends that social inclusion should be encouraged through decreasing to leisure constraints to increase the life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The previous studies have suggested that serum homocysteine (Hcy) and vitamin B levels are potentially related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the causality between their concentrations and ASD risk remains unclear. To elucidate this genetic association, we used a Mendelian randomization (MR) design. Methods: For this MR analysis, 47 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—13 related to Hcy, 13 to folate, 14 to vitamin B6, and 7 to vitamin B12—were obtained from a large-scale Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) database and employed as instrumental variables (IVs). Our study used three approaches to calculate the MR estimates, including inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, MR-Egger method, and weighted median (WM) method. Among these, the IVW method served as our primary MR method. False discovery rate (FDR) was implemented to correct for multiple comparisons. We also performed a series of sensitivity analyses, including Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger's intercept, MR-PRESSO, leave-one-out analysis, and the funnel plot. Results: Univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR) analysis revealed a statistical association between serum vitamin B12 levels and ASD risk (OR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.12–2.52, P = 0.01) using the IVW method. However, neither the WM method (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 0.93–2.66, P = 0.09) nor the MR-Egger method (OR = 2.33, 95% CI 0.48–11.19, P = 0.34) was significantly association with higher levels of serum vitamin B12 and ASD risk. Additionally, we found no evidence of causal relationships between serum levels of vitamin B6, folate, Hcy, and ASD risk. After correcting for the FDR, the causality between serum vitamin B12 levels and ASD risk remained significant (q value = 0.0270). Multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis indicated an independent association between elevated serum vitamin B12 levels and the risk of ASD (OR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.03–2.95, P = 0.03) using the IVW method, but this finding was inconsistent when using the WM method (OR = 1.73, 95% CI 0.89–3.36, P = 0.11) and MR-Egger method (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 0.95–2.71, P = 0.08). Furthermore, no causal associations were observed for serum levels of vitamin B6 and folate in MVMR analysis. Sensitivity analyses confirmed that these results were reliable. Conclusion: Our study indicated that elevated serum vitamin B12 levels might increase the risk of ASD. The potential implications of our results for ASD risk warrant validation in randomized clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising employment uncertainty featured by higher risks of being temporarily employed or unemployed is often seen as the driving force behind delayed and declined partnering in Western countries. However, such an employment–partnering relationship is contextualized by labour market institutions and thus could diverge across countries over time. This paper aims to investigate how country-level variations in labour market regulations moderate individual-level effects of unstable employment on union formation, including the transitions into marriage or cohabitation unions. Using comparative panel data for 26 countries from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (the years 2010–2019), our multilevel fixed effects models showed that temporary employment and unemployment negatively affected the probability of union formation for single women and men in Europe. Moreover, the negative relationship between unstable employment and union formation was reinforced when labour market reforms were stimulating insider–outsider segregations or decreasing welfare provisions. Specifically, stricter employment protection legislations and higher coverage rates of collective bargaining agreements could reinforce the negative effects of temporary employment and unemployment on union formation, while more generous provisions of unemployment benefits could buffer such negative effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurses play an important role in interprofessional pharmaceutical care. Curricula related to pharmaceutical care, however, vary a lot. Mapping the presence of pharmaceutical care related domains and competences in nurse educational programs can lead to a better understanding of the extent to which curricula fit expectations of the labour market. The aim of this study was to describe 1) the presence of pharmaceutical care oriented content in nursing curricula at different educational levels and 2) nursing students' perceived readiness to provide nurse pharmaceutical care in practice. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used. Nursing schools in 14 European countries offering educational programs for levels 4–7 students were approached between January and April 2021. Through an online survey final year students had to indicate to what extent pharmaceutical care topics were present in their curriculum. Results: A total of 1807 students participated, of whom 8% had level 4–5, 80% level 6, 12% level 7. Up to 84% of the students indicated that pharmaceutical care content was insufficiently addressed in their curriculum. On average 14% [range 0–30] felt sufficiently prepared to achieve the required pharmaceutical care competences in practice. In level 5 curricula more pharmaceutical care domains were absent compared with other levels. Conclusions: Although several pharmaceutical care related courses are present in current curricula of level 4–7 nurses, its embedding should be extended. Too many students perceive an insufficient preparation to achieve pharmaceutical care competences required in practice. Existing gaps in pharmaceutical care should be addressed to offer more thoroughly prepared nurses to the labour market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood myopia represents a global concern with increasing prevalence in recent decades. Lifestyle factors significantly impact myopia. Aim: To evaluate lifestyle factors in myopic children from a metropolitan area in Europe. Methods: This was a descriptive study including myopic subjects aged 4–18 years. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected, including cycloplegic refraction in spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL). In addition, a questionnaire on lifestyle factors was conducted between September 2022 and April 2023. Results: A total of 321 myopic children were included, aged 10.72 ± 3.05 years, of whom 51.4% were boys, with SER −2.25 ± 1.9 D and AL 24.54 ± 0.98 mm. The mean age of myopia onset was 7.69 ± 3.05 years. A total of 59.8% had family history of myopia. Those children who had <2 h/day of screen time (on weekdays) presented SER −2 ± 1.91 D, compared to those who had >2 h/day, SER: −2.50 ±1.88 D (p = 0.009). Children who spent <2 h/day doing near work after school were less myopic compared to those who spent >2 h/day (SER: −1.75 ± 1.83 vs. SER: −2.75 ± 1.82, respectively, p = 0.03). However, no significant association was observed between SER and AL and time spent outdoors nor between SER and AL and academic performance (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Screen time and near-work time appear to be lifestyle factors related to myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interprofessional Education (IPE) is an educational approach that brings together students from different healthcare professions to foster collaborative learning and teamwork. Before integrating IPE into the curriculum of health preprofessional students, it is necessary to increase their readiness for IPE. Dentistry increasingly values interprofessional collaboration and teamwork for enhanced patient care and healthcare team competencies, an emphasis also echoed by recent dental education authorities. The aim of this quasi-experimental research was to assess the influence of Scenario Based Learning Peer Learning (SBPL) programme, which involved scenarios necessitating interprofessional communication, on the readiness for IPE among a cohort of undergraduate dental students studying within the framework of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Methods: This study investigates undergraduate dental students' readiness for IPE and the influence of SBPL programme on their readiness. Participants (n = 25) from 18 EHEA countries completed the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) before and after SBPL programme, held at the 70th European Dental Students' Association (EDSA) meeting. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test (p = 0.05). Results: After the SBPT programme, there was a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in the mean of the total scale, teamwork and collaboration, roles and responsibilities and professional identity subscale. In general, SBPL programme showed a constructive effect on interprofessional readiness. Although there was no statistically significant increase only in items 9,12,18 of the 19 items of the RIPLS, there was an increase in the averages in all except item 12. Conclusion: Our research emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives and IPE in the realm of dental education. Within the limits of this study, it showcases the efficacy of a brief half-day SBPL programme with interprofessional scenarios in enhancing participants' readiness. The programme notably enhanced dental students' readiness in grasping crucial aspects of IPE: teamwork and collaboration, professional identity, and roles and responsibilities. However, this study does not delve into the potential impact of a comprehensive, long-term curriculum integrating IPE principles. This gap underscores the need for further exploration into the sustained influence of IPE on the interprofessional skills of dental school graduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tailoring motor activities to the unique needs of children with special educational requirements has shown considerable efficacy. Our study aimed to develop a structured program specifically designed to enhance psychomotor abilities, focusing on balance and motor–cognitive skills among 28 students (aged 12–14) from two institutional centers in Romania. The program spanned 36 weeks, with biweekly 30 min sessions. Psychomotor skills were assessed through tests measuring balance, speed of movements, and upper limb motor laterality. Initial and final data were collected for evaluation. A statistical analysis, employing the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Wilcoxon Z tests, compared the assessments. The results indicated significant improvements in movement speed, with a notable increase in stimulus identification (averaging from approximately 13 to 14) (p < 0.05) and reduced processing time (decreasing from about 28.7 to 28 s) (p < 0.05). However, while the structured program demonstrated substantial enhancements in specific motor and cognitive–motor skills, it did not yield significant changes in dynamic balance, maintaining values close to 0.9 (p > 0.05) for open-eyed balance and 0.88 (p > 0.05) for closed-eyed balance. Additionally, an analysis of the processing speed in pulses per second showcased a marginal decline, from approximately 0.46 to 0.45, revealing notable disparities between the initial and final measurements (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding why patients seek informational and/or emotional support online is fundamental to providing patients with accurate and reliable support that is tailored to their needs, preferences, and personal situation. Based on the stress and coping theory and uses and gratifications theory (UGT), this study aimed to identify theoretically-founded profiles of cancer patients differing in their motives for seeking informational and/or emotional support online, and to compare the profiles in terms of patients' psychological and background characteristics, and perception of health care services. Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted, using questionnaire data from patients visiting a large Dutch health website (N = 181). This revealed three distinctive profiles, i.e., overall seekers (n = 83, 46.0%), occasional information seekers (n = 83, 46.0%), and contact exchangers (n = 15, 8.0%). Patients across these profiles differed in their eHealth literacy, with the contact exchangers being more eHealth literate than the overall seekers and occasional information seekers. The results can be used to create awareness among health care providers, web designers, and patient organizations on different types of cancer patients with different motives for seeking informational and/or emotional support online, and help them to tailor recommendations to and development of (online) sources that fit patients' needs. Future research could further investigate the integration of stress and coping theory with UGT by acknowledging the interplay of different coping strategies and different gratifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a highly debilitating neurodegenerative condition. Despite recent advancements in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying ALS, there have been no significant improvements in therapeutic options for ALS patients in recent years. Currently, there is no cure for ALS, and the only approved treatment in Europe is riluzole, which has been shown to slow the disease progression and prolong survival by approximately 3 months. Recently, tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) has emerged as a promising and effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases due to its neuroprotective activities. Methods: The ongoing TUDCA-ALS study is a double-blinded, parallel arms, placebo-controlled, randomized multicenter phase III trial with the aim to assess the efficacy and safety of TUDCA as add-on therapy to riluzole in patients with ALS. The primary outcome measure is the treatment response defined as a minimum of 20% improvement in the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) slope during the randomized treatment period (18 months) compared to the lead-in period (3 months). Randomization will be stratified by country. Primary analysis will be conducted based on the intention-to-treat principle through an unadjusted logistic regression model. Patient recruitment commenced on February 22, 2019, and was closed on December 23, 2021. The database will be locked in September 2023. Discussion: This paper provides a comprehensive description of the statistical analysis plan in order to ensure the reproducibility of the analysis and avoid selective reporting of outcomes and data-driven analysis. Sensitivity analyses have been included in the protocol to assess the impact of intercurrent events related to the coronavirus disease 2019. By focusing on clinically meaningful and robust outcomes, this trial aims to determine whether TUDCA can be effective in slowing the disease progression in patients with ALS. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03800524. Registered on January 11, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a crucial public health issue in Estonia, with high incidence and late diagnosis. The aim of this study was to examine time trends of stage-specific CC incidence in Estonia and factors associated with advanced-stage diagnosis of CC. This was a nationwide population-based retrospective study. Data on CC cases diagnosed in Estonia in 2007–2018 were obtained from the Estonian Cancer Registry, including tumour, nodes, metastases stage at diagnosis. Sociodemographic data were obtained from the Population Registry. To estimate the risk of advanced-stage diagnosis (stages II–IV vs stage I) associated with sociodemographic factors, Poisson regression with robust variance was used to calculate univariate and multivariate prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Time trends of stage-specific CC incidence for 2005–2019 were examined with joinpoint analysis. Incidence of stage I CC showed a significant decline of 4.9% per year since 2007, whereas no change was seen for other stages. Of the 2046 women diagnosed in 2007–2018, 1137 (55.6%) were diagnosed at an advanced stage; this proportion increased from 51% in 2007–2009 to 58% in 2015–2018 (P = 0.004). Multivariate regression analysis showed that advanced-stage diagnosis was associated with age (PR 2.16, 95% CI 1.87–2.49 for women aged ≥75 years compared with those aged 30–44 years), educational level (PR 1.32, 95% CI 1.15–1.51 for women with basic/primary education compared to university education) and marital status (PR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.29 for single women compared to married/cohabiting women). No associations were observed by region of residence or nationality. To reduce CC mortality, it is crucial to improve prevention and early diagnosis of CC in Estonia through human papillomavirus vaccination and effective and quality-assured screening particularly targeting high-risk groups as well as encouraging symptom awareness and regular check-ups among older women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To perform temporal validation of a risk prediction model for breast cancer‐related lymphoedema in the European population. Design: Temporal validation of a previously developed prediction model using a new retrospective cohort of women who had undergone axillary lymph node dissection between June 2018 and June 2020. Methods: We reviewed clinical records to identify women who did and did not develop lymphoedema within 2 years of surgery and to gather data regarding the variables included in the prediction model. The model was calibrated by calculating Spearman's correlation between observed and expected cases. Its accuracy in discriminating between patients who did versus did not develop lymphoedema was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: The validation cohort comprised 154 women, 41 of whom developed lymphoedema within 2 years of surgery. The value of Spearman's coefficient indicated a strong correlation between observed and expected cases. Sensitivity of the model was higher than in the derivation cohort, as was the value of the AUC. Conclusion: The model shows a good capacity to discriminate women at risk of lymphoedema and may therefore help in developing improved care pathways for individual patients. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: Identifying risk factors for lymphoedema secondary to breast cancer treatment is vital given its impact on women's physical and emotional well‐being. Impact: What problem did the study address? Risk of BCRL. What were the main findings? The prediction model has a good capacity to discriminate women at risk of lymphoedema. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? In clinical practice with women at risk of BCRL. Reporting Method: STROBE checklist. What Does this Paper Contribute to the Wider Global Clinical Community?: It presents a validated risk prediction model for BCRL. No Patient or Public Contribution: There was no patient or public contribution in the conduct of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this article is to describe and compare the nurse educator competences in four European countries using three different evaluators: nurse educators (n = 329), heads of a nursing subject (n = 60) and student nurses (n = 1058). Design: The study was conducted as a comparative cross‐sectional survey in Finland, Malta, Slovakia and Spain between May 2021 and February 2022. Methods: The data were collected with an online survey. The instrument used was a 20‐item Tool for Evaluation of Requirements of Nurse Teachers, utilizing a 5‐point Likert‐type scale. The data were analysed statistically and reported according to STROBE guidelines. Results: Nurse educators' competence evaluated positively in all the groups of evaluators, with a mean of >3.5. The self‐evaluation of nurse educators' competence was higher than the other evaluators' evaluations. Having a degree in nursing, having completed some pedagogical studies and longer work experience as a nurse educator had a positive association with higher self‐evaluated competence among nurse educators. Conclusions: Nurse educator competence is at a good level in the selected European countries, but further studies are required to find the reasons behind the differences in evaluations. Public Contribution: Each participating educational institution named a contact person who distributed the surveys to the participants and returned the study's metadata to the researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had direct and indirect effects on daily life. In hospitals, the impact of the pandemic was observed in the diagnostic and therapeutic workflow. In this work, we explored potential changes in activities related to the treatment of foreign body injuries (FBIs) in children and the behavioral habits of physicians during the first wave of the pandemic. An online survey was conducted among physicians of the Susy Safe network. The survey comprised items related to respondent information, reference center characteristics, the treatment of FBIs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a modified COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (CAS). The survey was distributed among the Susy Safe project international network surveillance registry for FBIs. A total of 58 physicians responded to the survey, including 18 (32%) from Europe and 16 (28%) from South America. The respondents indicated that the estimated number of aspirated foreign bodies during the pandemic was lower than or the same as that before the pandemic (43, 74%), and the same was observed for ingested foreign bodies (43, 74%). In univariable logistic regression, no single predictor was associated with a delay in routine care for children or an increasing tendency of medical personnel to avoid procedures. The workflow of physicians involved in the management of FBIs in children has not changed drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in emergency departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable information on dietary trends is essential. We compared individual-level dietary estimates for total energy, carbohydrate, fat, and protein intake over time with national supply data from the Global Expanded Nutrient Supply Model (186 paired estimates from 1961 to 2011, 18 countries). We hypothesized that supply data would overestimate individual measures and that the two measures would be weakly correlated. Individual- and supply-level estimates were compared using Spearman correlation coefficients and linear mixed-effect models were used to estimate the differences between measures. Overall, the correlations between individual- and supply-level measures were moderate for energy (r s = 0.34) and carbohydrate (r s = 0.39), strong for fat (r s = 0.85), and protein (r s = 0.69). Trends in total energy measured by individual-level surveys and total energy supply were positively correlated in 38.9% of countries, whereas trends in macronutrients aligned between estimates in most countries. Supply-level dietary data overestimated individual-level intakes, especially in higher income countries in Europe and in the United States. In the United States, supply-level data exceeded individual-level estimates by 26.3% to 29.9% for energy, carbohydrate, and fat, whereas protein estimates were similar between measures. In Europe, supply-level estimates overestimated individual-level intake by 19.9% for energy, 17.0% for carbohydrate, 13.7% for fat, and 7.7% for protein, whereas estimates for energy and macronutrients were similar in Asia. In Asia and lower income countries, our findings generally support the use of supply-level data in the absence of individual-level data, though this finding may be related to smaller sample size and differences in underlying national statistics that inform supply data. This article compares individual-level diet measures of energy, carbohydrate, fat, and protein to national supply-level data in 18 countries. Time trends in macronutrient intake and, to a lesser degree, total energy, align between individual and supply data. Supply data overestimated individual intakes, especially in the United States and higher income countries. Supply data may be an appropriate alternative in Asia and in lower income settings that lack individual data. Abbreviation: 95% CI, 95% confidence interval. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives While >50% of medical students and residents are women, their proportion drastically diminishes within higher ranks and leadership roles; this is known as the 'leaky pipeline'. We aimed to evaluate the leaky pipeline among rheumatologists across Europe and to assess determinants inducing rheumatologists to leave hospitals. Methods Experts in the field of economics developed a questionnaire with scientific focus on the leaky pipeline among rheumatologists, which was distributed electronically by national scientific societies of EULAR countries and by individual contacts. We performed common factor analysis, univariate t -tests and multivariate regression analyses to appraise our dataset. Results A total of 311 hospital-based rheumatologists from 23/45 EULAR countries (52.7% females, 47.3% males) answered the questionnaire. The presence of the leaky pipeline was evident for the entire sample. Of 64% female rheumatologists only 34.2% of departments' directors were female, with noteworthy regional differences. Female doctors reported higher intentions to leave their hospital (β = 0.28, P  < 0.05) and lower commitment towards their current organization (β = –0.34, P  < 0.05) when compared with males. Women reported lower levels of job satisfaction (β = –0.26, P  < 0.10), promotion justice (β = –0.55, P  < 0.01) and career perspectives (β = –0.26, P  < 0.10, one-tailed) than men, explaining their lower organizational commitment. Conclusion Female rheumatologists perceive worse job opportunities and satisfaction than males. Many reasons for the leaky pipeline are beyond the control of organizations. Based on our results, organizations should be encouraged to reconsider and adjust their performance management practices to enable an equitable work environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The awareness of the importance of physical literacy (PL) is globally increasing; however, knowledge of the applicability of PL measurement tools in southeastern Europe is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of translated versions of the CAPL-2 and PLAYself questionnaires in 9- to 11-year-old elementary school children from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The participants were 303 children (141 girls; all 9 to 11 years of age) from Croatia (n = 71), Bosnia and Herzegovina (n = 162), and Montenegro (n = 70), enrolled in regular elementary school. The participants were tested throughout a test–retest procedure using two PL evaluation tools, i.e., the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (shorter version, CAPL-2) and the Physical Literacy Assessment of Youth (PLAYself) questionnaires. With an intraclass correlation (ICC) of 0.70–0.80 for specific questionnaire subscales and 0.84 for the total score, PLAYself was found to be reliable. With Kappa values of 0.11–0.23 and a percentage of absolute agreement of less than 62%, CAPL-2 appeared to be less reliable. Factors related to sport participation were significantly positively associated with the PLAYself score, indicating its proper validity. In conclusion, we suggest the usage of the PLAYself questionnaire in further studies examining PL in children of a similar age in the region. Future studies in other age groups and languages are also warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Preventing weight regain can only be achieved by sustained changes in energy balance-related behaviors that are associated with weight, such as diet and physical activity. Changes in motivation and self-regulatory skills can support long-term behavioral changes in the context of weight loss maintenance. We propose that experiencing a supportive climate care is associated with enhanced satisfaction of basic psychological needs, intrinsic goals, and autonomous motivation. These factors are expected to be associate with the utilization of self-regulation skills, leading to more sustained behavior changes and ultimately preventing weight regain. This hypothesis was tested in this ancillary analysis of the NoHoW trial, where the study arms were pooled and followed for 12 months. Methods: The NoHoW was a three-center, large-scale weight regain prevention full factorial trial. In this longitudinal study, data were collected in adults who lost > 5% weight in the past year (N = 870, complete data only, 68.7% female, 44.10 ± 11.86 years, 84.47 ± 17.03 kg) during their participation in a 12-month digital behavior change intervention. Weight and validated measures of motivational- and self-regulatory skills-related variables were collected at baseline, six- and 12 months. Change variables were used in Mplus' path analytical models informed by NoHoW's logic model. Results: The bivariate correlations confirmed key mediators' potential effect on weight outcomes in the expected causal direction. The primary analysis showed that a quarter of the variance (r2 = 23.5%) of weight regain prevention was achieved via the mechanisms of action predicted in the logic model. Specifically, our results show that supportive climate care is associated with needs satisfaction and intrinsic goal content leading to better weight regain prevention via improvements in self-regulatory skills and exercise-controlled motivation. The secondary analysis showed that more mechanisms of action are significant in participants who regained or maintained their weight. Conclusions: These results contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of action leading to behavior change in weight regain prevention. The most successful participants used only a few intrinsic motivation-related mechanisms of action, suggesting that habits may have been learned. While developing a digital behavior change intervention, researchers and practitioners should consider creating supportive climate care to improve needs satisfaction and intrinsic goal contents. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN88405328, registered 12/22/2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we analyzed 593 patients with NMIBC who underwent radical cystectomy via a robotic-assisted or open approach between 2015 and 2020. Patients with NMIBC who underwent RARC or ORC were matched 1:1 by age, sex, BMI, year of surgery and urinary diversion. We found that RARC + ICUD for patients with NMIBC is safe and associated with a lower blood loss, a lower transfusion rate and a shorter hospital stay compared to ORC. Complication rates were similar. Concerning oncologic outcomes, RARC appeared non-inferior to ORC with no significant difference in DFS, CSS and OS. These results must be confirmed with prospective randomized studies. Background: For non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) requiring radical surgery, limited data are available comparing robotic-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion (iRARC) to open radical cystectomy (ORC). The objective of this study was to compare the two surgical techniques. Methods: A multicentric cohort of 593 patients with NMIBC undergoing iRARC or ORC between 2015 and 2020 was prospectively gathered. Perioperative and pathologic outcomes were compared. Results: A total of 143 patients operated on via iRARC were matched to 143 ORC patients. Operative time was longer in the iRARC group (p = 0.034). Blood loss was higher in the ORC group (p < 0.001), with a consequent increased post-operative transfusion rate in the ORC group (p = 0.003). Length of stay was longer in the ORC group (p = 0.007). Post-operative complications did not differ significantly (all p > 0.05). DFS at 60 months was 55.9% in ORC and 75.2% in iRARC with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.033) found in the univariate analysis. Conclusion: We found that iRARC for patients with NMIBC is safe, associated with a lower blood loss, a lower transfusion rate and a shorter hospital stay compared to ORC. Complication rates were similar. No significant differences in survival analyses emerged across the two techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages represents a watershed initiative adding substance to the EU's social dimension. It contains two ambitious objectives: establishing the minimum level of statutory minimum wages at 60% of the gross median wage, and increasing collective bargaining coverage (CBC) to at least 80% of workers. In this article, we assess how statutory minimum wages and collective bargaining coverage are associated with the likelihood of low pay. Using a time series cross-section of EU-SILC for income years 2004–2019, we identify and assess the absolute and relative size of 'effective wage floors' for full-time employees in 30 countries. We specify multilevel, random effects within-between regression models to assess the individual and joint associations of SMW and collective bargaining coverage with wage floors. Our results indicate that SMWs and CBC both have distinct roles in establishing the effective wage floor. First, higher collective bargaining coverage is on average associated with a lower share of workers earning below 60% gross median wages. Second, higher SMWs are strongly associated with higher effective wage floors. Third, both collective bargaining coverage and union density are strongly associated with higher wage floors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine urban–rural and regional differences in anthropometric characteristics among adolescents aged 12–14, as well as to present the prevalence of weight status. A total of 534 adolescents aged 12–14 from primary schools across Montenegro participated in this cross-sectional study (283 boys, aged 13.52 ± 0.42, body height 169.43 ± 8.89, body weight 60.54 ± 13.47; 251 girls, aged 13.51 ± 0.40, body height 165.54 ± 6.67, body weight 55.28 ± 9.27). The sample was divided by geographic region in Montenegro into northern, central, and coastal regions, and according to settlement type into urban and rural inhabitants. Anthropometric characteristics were assessed using a battery of seven variables: arm span (AS); body height (BH); body weight (BW); waist circumference (WC); hip circumference (HC); body mass index (BMI); and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). BMI was categorized based on the World Health Organization's (WHO) cut-offs. The results indicate that girls from urban areas exhibited significantly greater body height and lower BMI values compared to their rural counterparts. Similarly, boys from urban areas also demonstrated lower BMI values compared to their rural peers. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in other anthropometric characteristics between these two groups of adolescents. Based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc analysis, it was found that girls from central areas had significantly greater body height compared to those from northern and coastal areas. Likewise, boys from northern areas showed higher body mass and BMI values compared to those from central areas. Additionally, both boys and girls from central areas had higher values compared to those from coastal areas. Nevertheless, no significant differences were detected in other anthropometric characteristics among adolescents from these regions. This study identified significant differences in anthropometric parameters among participants based on urban–rural status and within regional divisions. However, further research encompassing a larger sub-sample and a broader array of anthropometric variables is needed to draw a more comprehensive conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the findings of the international research on the complex development potential of Europe's Great Lakes (ESPON LAKES), the authors examine the environmental, social, economic and governance challenges of Europe's great-lake regions and their potential for feeding into European policy. Statistical analysis of the Lake Balaton, Lake Constance and Lake Vänern regions has shown that they have significant differences in natural, social and economic terms, but also commonalities that link them. These include their significant but fragile ecological values and their peripheral, partly border location in social and administrative terms. For these reasons, it is worth developing the great-lake regions in an integrated way, while taking into account the challenges of the given region. The results of the study are also useful for national spatial policy, as they illustrate the role and development potential of regions facing specific challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical demands of soccer match-play have typically been assessed using a low-resolution whole match approach ignoring whether the ball is in or out of play (BIP/BOP) and during these periods which team has possession. This study investigated the effect of fundamental match structure variables (BIP/BOP, in/out of possession) on the physical demands, and especially intensity, of elite match-play. For 1083 matches from a major European league, whole match duration, and player physical tracking data, were divided into BIP/BOP, and in/out of possession periods throughout the match, using on-ball event data. These distinct phases were used to derive absolute (m) and rate (m·min−1) of distance covered in total and within six speed categories during BIP/BOP and in/out possession. The rate of distance covered, an index of physical intensity, was >2-fold greater during BIP vs BOP. Whole match total distance covered was confounded by BIP time and poorly associated with physical intensity during BIP (r = 0.36). Whole match rates of distance covered substantially underestimated those during BIP, particularly for higher running speeds (∼−62%). Ball possession markedly effected physical intensity, with the rates of distance covered running (+31%), at high-speed (+30%) and in total (+7%) greater out than in possession. Whole match physical metrics underestimated the physical intensity during BIP, and thus the rate(s) of distance covered during BIP are recommended for accurate measurement of physical intensity in elite soccer. The greater demands of being out of possession support a possession-based tactical approach to minimise fatigue and its negative consequences. This large-scale study utilising >1000 elite level competitive matches found profound differences in rate of distance covered between periods of BIP vs BOP, being 2-fold higher overall and 8- to 33-fold higher for the rates of distance covered within running, high-speed and sprinting speed categories. Consequently, commonly used whole match physical metrics, that incorporate both BIP and BOP, such as distances covered but even rates of distance covered, were not valid indices of physical intensity (rate of distance covered) during BIP. Thus a more valid and direct approach to quantifying physical intensity during elite soccer match-play as the rate of distance covered during BIP is proposed. Utilising a unique within-match analysis the effect of possession (i.e. in vs out) revealed that teams covered ≥30% more running and high-speed distance while out than in possession during BIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Upper extremity function (UEF) is often compromised in multiple sclerosis (MS), although its importance is regularly underrecognized relative to ambulation. We explored the concurrent presence of impairment in UEF and ambulation by examining various aspects of UEF across different levels of ambulation. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 247 patients with clinically definite MS or clinically isolated syndrome according to the revised 2010 McDonald criteria. The Nine-Hole Peg Test and the Expanded Disability Status Scale were used to stratify patients into clinically different subgroups. For UEF, cerebellar function (finger-to-nose test), pyramidal function (pronator drift test), and the ability to perform a task of activities of daily living (drinking- from-cup test) were examined. Patient-reported limitations of UEF in daily life were assessed using the Arm Function in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients in more severely impaired ambulation groups displayed poorer performance on all UEF measures. Although most patients had normal to mild (n = 147) or moderate (n = 46) ambulatory impairment, 87.7% exhibited some level of UEF impairment as defined using the Nine-Hole Peg Test. Most patients had mild UEF impairment (n = 174), accounting for the largest proportion in all ambulation groups (51.9%-77.8%). CONCLUSIONS: A distinct pattern of impairment was found for ambulation and multiple aspects of UEF. Independent assessment of multiple aspects of disability may be helpful in treatment decision-making and could support the development of rehabilitation strategies that specifically target UEF impairment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circularity of polymer waste is an emerging field of research in Europe. In the present research, the thermal, surface, mechanical, and tribological properties of polypropylene (PP)-based composite produced by injection molding were studied. The pure PP matrix was reinforced with 10, 30, and 40% wt. of pure cotton, synthetic polyester, and polyethylene terephthalate post-consumer fibers using a combination of direct extrusion and injection molding techniques. Results indicate that PP-PCPESF-10% wt. exhibits the highest value of tensile strength (29 MPa). However, the values of tensile and flexural strain were lowered with an increase in fiber content due to the presence of micro-defects. Similarly, the values of modulus of elasticity, flexural modulus, flexural strength, and impact energy were enhanced due to an increase in the amount of fiber. The PP-PCCF-40% wt. shows the highest values of flexural constant (2780 MPa) and strength (57 MPa). Additionally, the increase in fiber loadings is directly proportional to the creation of micro-defects, surface roughness, abrasive wear, coefficient of friction, and erosive wear. The lowest average absolute arithmetic surface roughness value (Ra) of PP and PP-PCCF, 10% wt., were 0.19 µm and 0.28 µm. The lowest abrasive wear value of 3.09 × 10−6 mm3/Nm was found for pure PP. The erosive wear value (35 mm3/kg) of PP-PCCF 40% wt. composite material was 2 to 17 times higher than all other composite materials. Finally, the single-step analysis of variance predicts reasonable results in terms of the p-values of each composite material for commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neural circuit alterations lay at the core of brain physiopathology, and yet are hard to unveil in living subjects. The Virtual Brain (TVB) modeling, by exploiting structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), yields mesoscopic parameters of connectivity and synaptic transmission. Methods: We used TVB to simulate brain networks, which are key for human brain function, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients, whose connectivity and synaptic parameters remain largely unknown; we then compared them to healthy controls, to reveal novel in vivo pathological hallmarks. Results: The pattern of simulated parameter differed between AD and FTD, shedding light on disease-specific alterations in brain networks. Individual subjects displayed subtle differences in network parameter patterns that significantly correlated with their individual neuropsychological, clinical, and pharmacological profiles. Discussion: These TVB simulations, by informing about a new personalized set of networks parameters, open new perspectives for understanding dementias mechanisms and design personalized therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol control strategies vary between countries and reflect differences in drinking cultures. This study explored how perceived effectiveness of alcohol control strategies varies according to individual characteristics and country of residence. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 1910 university students in Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Switzerland. It assessed the perceived effectiveness of 11 alcohol control strategies. Correlates included sensation-seeking, alcohol outcome expectancies, drink refusal self-efficacy, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores. Bivariate analysis using mixed-measures MANOVA and Pearson correlations were followed by linear regression to identify multivariate correlates. These analyses revealed that educational strategies (e.g. teaching people skills to resist peer pressure) were considered more effective than restrictive strategies (e.g. raising the legal drinking age). Perceived effectiveness was greater among women and lighter drinkers. Country of residence also explained unique variance. The findings highlight the need to consider the potential impact of drinking culture in alcohol-related harm-reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diagnosis of hypertension and hypertension-induced target organ injury by the 2022 American Heart Association (AHA) ambulatory blood pressure threshold as compared with 2014 AHA and 2016 European Society of Hypertension (ESH) thresholds has not been evaluated. Methods: In a cross-sectional study (n = 291, aged 5–18 years, at a tertiary care outpatient clinic), we compared 2022 AHA with 2014 AHA and ESH thresholds (revised with 2018 adult ESH thresholds where applicable) to diagnose ambulatory hypertension (AH), and detect ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and left ventricular target organ injury (LVTOI). Results: The 2022 AHA threshold diagnosed significantly more AH (53%) than the 2014 AHA (42%, p < 0.01) and ESH (36%, p < 0.001) thresholds. The 2022 AHA threshold demonstrated only a moderate agreement with the 2014 AHA (kappa (k) = 0.77) and ESH (k = 0.66) thresholds to diagnose AH. Adjusted logistic regression analysis found that only the 2022 AHA threshold predicted elevated AASI significantly (odds ratio 2.40, 95% CI 1.09, 5.25, p = 0.02; AUC 0.61, p < 0.01). In those with elevated AASI, more participants had AH by the 2022 AHA threshold (72%) than the 2014 AHA (46%, p = 0.02) and ESH (48%, p = 0.03) thresholds. AH defined by the 2022 AHA threshold continued to maintain higher odds, larger AUC, and higher sensitivity to identify LVTOI than the 2014 AHA and ESH thresholds; however, the difference did not reach a statistically significant level. Conclusions: AH defined by the 2022 AHA threshold diagnoses more children with hypertension and identifies more children with hypertension-induced target organ injury than the 2014 AHA and ESH thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forefoot is the foot part most affected by ill-fitting shoes. Footwear fitting considers the measurements of length, width, and arch length. Toe shape has not yet been used in sizing feet and fitting shoes. This study aims to investigate the variation in toe shape, as measured by the hallux valgus angle. An automatic and reproducible hallux valgus angle measuring method using 3D foot scans with no palpation markers is proposed and applied to about half a million samples collected across North America, Europe, and Asia. The measuring method is robust and can detect the medial contour along the proximal phalanx even in extreme cases. The hallux valgus angle has a normal distribution with long tails on both sides in the general population. Large dispersions of HVA values were observed for both genders and in all three geographical regions. Practitioner summary: The hallux valgus angle has a broad distribution in the general population. Females have larger hallux valgus angles than males, and people from Asia have larger hallux valgus angles than people from North America and Europe. Shoe toe boxes should be designed to fit the actual shapes of shoppers' toes. The proposed method for measuring HVA opens a new opportunity to study the causal relationship between shoe wearing habits and HVA on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the current state of fire statistics and data collection in Europe and other countries is needed to increase awareness of how fire incidents affect buildings and to support pan-European fire prevention and fire mitigation measures. The terminology and data collected regarding fire incidents in buildings in the EU Member States were mapped to obtain meaningful datasets to determine common terminology, collection methodology, and data interpretation system. An extensive literature review showed that fire data collection systems have been instrumental in informing firefighting strategies, evidence-based planning, prevention, and educational programmes. Differences and similarities between fire data collection systems were also investigated. The amount and quality of the information in fire statistical recording systems appear to be influenced by the complexity and structure with which the data are collected. The analysis also examined the existing fire statistics in the EU Member States and a few other countries. Finally, a detailed investigation of the number of fires, fire deaths, and injuries from 2009 to 2018 in several countries was examined based on data from a report by CTIF. The trends showed differences attributable to the existing fire statistical practices in terms of terminology and data collection, and interpretation. Part II proposes a common terminology for selected fire statistical variables. The results provide relevant information regarding fire safety at the European level and should be used to guide the development of more uniform fire statistics across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disease-specific studies on the impact of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) on education or work interruption and resumption are lacking. In a cross-sectional study conducted among long-term HL survivors enrolled from 1964 to 2004 in nine randomised EORTC-LYSA trials, the interruption and resumption of education/work was investigated. Survivors alive 5–44 years after diagnosis who were studying or working at time of diagnosis were included (n = 1646). Patient and treatment characteristics were obtained from trial records. Education and work outcomes were collected using the Life Situation Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to model education or work interruption; Cox regression was used to study resumption rates. Among survivors studying at time of diagnosis (n = 323), 52% (95% CI: 46–57%) interrupted their education; however, it was resumed within 24 months by 92% (95% CI: 87–96%). The probability of interruption decreased with time: the more recent the treatment era, the lower the risk (OR 0.70 per 10 years, 95% CI: 0.49–1.01). Treatment with radiotherapy (yes vs. no) was associated with a higher education resumption rate (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.07–3.78) whereas age, sex, stage, radiotherapy field and chemotherapy were not. Among survivors working at time of diagnosis (n = 1323), 77% (95% CI: 75–79%) interrupted their work. However, it was resumed within 24 months by 86% (95% CI: 84%-88%). Women were more likely to interrupt their work as compared to men (OR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.44–2.51) and, when interrupted, less likely to resume work (HR 0.70, 95% CI: 0.61–0.80). Survivors with a higher educational level were less likely to interrupt their work (OR 0.68 for university vs. no high school, 95% CI: 0.46–1.03); and when interrupted, more likely to resume work (HR 1.50 for university vs. no high school, 95% CI: 1.21–1.86). Increasing age was also associated with lower resumption rates (HR 0.62 for age ≥50 vs. 18–29 years, 95% CI: 0.41–0.94). An interruption in education/work was common among long-term HL survivors. However, most of the survivors who interrupted their studies or work had resumed their activities within 24 months. In this study, no associations between survivors' characteristics and failure to resume education were observed. Female sex, age ≥50 years, and a lower level of education were found to be associated with not resuming work after treatment for HL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how the effect of employee stock ownership on financial performance may hinge on the diverse cultural and societal contexts of European countries. Based on agency and national culture theories, we hypothesize that the positive relationship between employee stock ownership and return on assets (ROA) is stronger in those nations with lower uncertainty avoidance and higher social trust. Using a multisource, time‐lagged, large‐scale dataset of 1,741 firms from 21 countries in Europe, our multilevel, random coefficient modeling analysis found evidence for these hypotheses, suggesting that uncertainty avoidance and social trust serve as important contextual cues in predicting the linkage between employee stock ownership and financial performance. Our supplemental analysis with distinction between the managerial and nonmanagerial employee stock ownership further indicates managerial employee stock ownership has a direct positive effect on ROA. Although nonmanagerial employee stock ownership had a nonsignificant association with ROA, the relationship was positive and significant when uncertainty avoidance was low and social trust was high. This research contributes to the existing literature by illuminating some of the contextual influences altering the effectiveness of employee stock ownership. Our findings also offer practical suggestions for effectively using employee stock ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease first identified in mid-December 2019 in Wuhan, China is an ongoing pandemic and the virus has spread around the world. As of 13 March 2020, the number of new cases started to increase significantly in Europe, and Europe was considered as the new center of the Covid-19 pandemic as announced by the WHO. Confirmed case rate (CCR), computed from the numbers of confirmed cases over numbers of tests of the countries can be used to confirm the quality of the numbers, and to detect the manipulation for health surveillance systems of the countries for managing the situation by testing -whether or notfollow Benford's Law (BL). The main aim of this study is to test CCRs of the countries in Europe by BL to detect the data qualities and to monitor the manipulations, which can help to take precautions for the health surveillance systems of the countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]