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Purpose: To give an overview of the multicenter Prostate Cancer Outcomes (PCO) study, involving paper-based and web-based collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) in patients undergoing local treatment for prostate cancer in certified centers in Germany. The PCO study is part of the larger Movember-funded TrueNTH Global Registry. The article reports on the study's design and provides a brief progress report after the first 2 years of data collection. Methods: Prostate cancer centers (PCCs) certified according to German Cancer Society requirements were invited to participate in collecting patient-reported information on symptoms and function before and at least once (at 12 months) after treatment. The data were matched with disease and treatment information. This report describes progress in patient inclusion, response rate, and variations between centers relative to online/paper use, and also data quality, including recruitment variations relative to treatment in the first participating PCCs. Results: PCC participation increased over time; 44 centers had transferred data for 3094 patients at the time of this report. Patient recruitment varied widely across centers. Recruitment was highest among patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. The completeness of the data was good, except for comorbidity information. Conclusions: The PCO study benefits from a quality improvement system first established over 10 years ago, requiring collection and harmonization of a predefined clinical dataset across centers. Nevertheless, establishing a PROM routine requires substantial effort on the part of providers and constant monitoring in order to achieve high-quality data. The findings reported here may be useful for guiding implementation in similar initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present school-based study, a convenience sample of 477 students in grades 6-9 and second year in high school from a city and a smaller town recorded daily occurrence and intensity of headaches in a standard paper diary during a 3-week period. Total headache activity (headache sum), number of headache days, intensity level and duration for weekly headaches were estimated. Approximately 85% of the adolescents had experienced headache of any intensity level during the 3-week recording period. On the average, they reported 2.5 headache days per week and a mean intensity level for headache episodes of 1.7. Our estimates for headache of any intensity level (1-5) occurring at least once a week was surprisingly high (73.8%). For the highest intensity level across the whole 3-week period, almost identical proportions of mild and moderate headaches were reported by students (22.3-22.5%), while about twice as many (40.7%) had experienced severe headaches. Girls consistently reported more headaches than boys, in particular of the moderate and severe intensity types. Students in the city also reported more frequent and intense headaches than those in the town. Peak headache activity was observed at noon and in the afternoon and in the days from the middle of the week until weekend. The use of prospective recordings in diaries will further advance our knowledge on the prevalence and characteristics of recurrent headaches among children and adolescents in community samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 represents the most advanced stage of organization of industrial companies, allowing them to respond to an uncertain and changing environment, particularly as accentuated by the recent crisis resulting from COVID-19. Management innovation (MI) contributes to this process of permanent adaptation. The MI implementation phase is a critical step in MI generation that can generate many potential obstacles. This study focuses on these obstacles while considering the different activities (or subprocesses) embedded in this phase and the different actors involved in this complex process. We conducted a longitudinal case study in real time to investigate the implementation of MI internally generated by a multinational industrial company. Our results show that the obstacles encountered during the MI implementation phase may differ depending on the different activities and actors of this phase, thus leading us to question current implementation frameworks. This paper contributes by refining the theoretical model of MI generation and providing a better understanding of the obstacles that occur during the MI implementation phase. From a managerial perspective, this paper highlights key management principles to overcome the obstacles identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychosocial work characteristics are potential determinants of retirement intentions and actual retirement. A systematic review was conducted of the influence of psychosocial work characteristics on retirement intentions and actual retirement among the general population. This did not include people who were known to be ill or receiving disability pension. Relevant papers were identified by a search of PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases to December 2016. We included longitudinal and cross-sectional papers that assessed psychosocial work characteristics in relation to retirement intentions or actual retirement. Papers were filtered by title and abstract before data extraction was performed on full texts using a predetermined extraction sheet. Forty-six papers contained relevant evidence. High job satisfaction and high job control were associated with later retirement intentions and actual retirement. No consistent evidence was found for an association of job demands with retirement intentions or actual retirement. We conclude that to extend working lives policies should increase the job control available to older employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to extend and evaluate methods of Bayesian historical borrowing applied to longitudinal data with a focus on parameter recovery and predictive performance. Bayesian historical borrowing allows researchers to utilize information from previous data sources and to adjust the extent of borrowing based on the similarity of current data to historical data. We examine the utility of three static historical borrowing methods including complete pooling, Bayesian synthesis with aggregated data-dependent priors, traditional power priors, and two dynamic borrowing methods including Bayesian dynamic borrowing and commensurate priors. Using data from two administrations of the United States Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, we evaluate these methods in terms of in-sample simulation statistics, as well as pseudo out-of-sample measures of predictive performance. A case study examining growth in reading competency over time revealed that for one historical cycle, most methods of historical borrowing perform similarly with respect to predictive performance and parameter recovery. Pooling and power priors performed relatively poorly across the conditions in this study, particularly when the current data and the historical data were heterogeneous. Results from a comprehensive simulation study revealed that the advantages of different historical borrowing methods vary across different evaluation criteria. Overall, Bayesian dynamic borrowing and commensurate priors are no worse, and in some cases better, than other methods in terms of parameter recovery and predictive performance, and considering a previous paper by Kaplan et al. (Psychometrika, 10.1007/s11336-022-09869-3, 2022) found clear benefits of Bayesian dynamic borrowing over other methods of historical borrowing in the multilevel context using data from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) with five historical cycles, this paper argues that Bayesian dynamic borrowing or commensurate priors is a prudent choice for borrowing information from previous cycles of longitudinal data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we bring together two concepts that we have been developing separately over recent years, to challenge linear and simplistic notions of migrant integration, depict multi-dimensional processes of settling and changeability over time. The concept of embedding has been proposed to capture dynamism beyond the more static notion of Granovetter's embeddedness. The concept explores the contexts and contingencies of where and how migrants establish different degrees of attachment in different places and through different social relationships. Also the concept of anchoring has been developed to offer an antireductionist processual and multi-dimensional understanding of migrant adaptation and settling, highlighting the issues of security and stability. In this paper, using longitudinal research, we explore for the first time how bringing our two concepts together may offer additional insights and understandings of migrants' experiences of and responses to the uncertainties and complexities of contemporary society, exacerbated by Brexit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical frameworks acknowledge the dynamic and evolving nature of technology transfer. However, there is a scarcity of empirical work in the field incorporating a dynamic and longitudinal perspective. Several literature reviews call for technology transfer research agendas to include longitudinal studies. In response to such calls, this special section comprises selected contributions to the 2018 Technology Transfer Society (T2S) Conference which address this gap from different angles. The three qualitative and three quantitative works chosen contain research questions and methodologies related to dynamic aspects of technology transfer. We argue that historical and processual studies offer additional new directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We re-evaluate the findings of one of the most cited and disputed papers in gene-environment interaction (GxE) literature. In 2003, a paper was published in Science in which the authors demonstrated that the relationship between stress and depression is moderated by a polymorphism in the promoter region (5-HTTLPR) of the gene SLC6A4. Replication has been weak and led many to challenge the overall significance of GxE research. Here, we utilize data from Add Health, a large, nationally representative, and well-powered longitudinal study to re-examine the genetic determinants of stress sensitivity. We characterize environmental sensitivity using a genome-wide polygenic indicator rather than relying on one polymorphism in a single candidate gene. Our results provide support for the stress-diathesis perspective and validate the scientific contributions of the original paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of remote measurement technologies (RMTs) across mobile health (mHealth) studies is becoming popular, given their potential for providing rich data on symptom change and indicators of future state in recurrent conditions such as major depressive disorder (MDD). Understanding recruitment into RMT research is fundamental for improving historically small sample sizes, reducing loss of statistical power, and ultimately producing results worthy of clinical implementation. There is a need for the standardisation of best practices for successful recruitment into RMT research. The current paper reviews lessons learned from recruitment into the Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse- Major Depressive Disorder (RADAR-MDD) study, a large-scale, multi-site prospective cohort study using RMT to explore the clinical course of people with depression across the UK, the Netherlands, and Spain. More specifically, the paper reflects on key experiences from the UK site and consolidates these into four key recruitment strategies, alongside a review of barriers to recruitment. Finally, the strategies and barriers outlined are combined into a model of lessons learned. This work provides a foundation for future RMT study design, recruitment and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and traffic-related injuries are two major public health problems disproportionately affecting young people. Young drivers, whose driving skills are still developing, are particularly vulnerable to impaired driving due to brain injuries. Despite this, there is a paucity of research on how mTBI impacts driving and when it is safe to return to drive after an mTBI. This paper describes the protocol of the study, R2DRV, Longitudinal Assessment of Driving After Mild TBI in Young Drivers, which examines the trajectory of simulated driving performance and self-reported driving behaviors from acutely post-injury to symptom resolution among young drivers with mTBI compared to matched healthy drivers. Additionally, this study investigates the associations of acute post-injury neurocognitive function and cognitive load with driving among young drivers with and without mTBI. Methods: A total of 200 young drivers (ages 16 to 24) are enrolled from two study sites, including 100 (50 per site) with a physician-confirmed isolated mTBI, along with 100 (50 per site) healthy drivers without a history of TBI matched 1:1 for age, sex, driving experience, and athlete status. The study assesses primary driving outcomes using two approaches: (1) high-fidelity driving simulators to evaluate driving performance across four experimental study conditions at multiple time points (within 96 h of injury and weekly until symptom resolution or 8 weeks post-injury); (2) daily self-report surveys on real-world driving behaviors completed by all participants. Discussion: This study will fill critical knowledge gaps by longitudinally assessing driving performance and behaviors in young drivers with mTBI, as compared to matched healthy drivers, from acutely post-injury to symptom resolution. The research strategy enables evaluating how increased cognitive load may exacerbate the effects of mTBI on driving, and how post-mTBI neurocognitive deficits may impact the driving ability of young drivers. Findings will be shared through scientific conferences, peer-reviewed journals, and media outreach to care providers and the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Established health-related quality of life scores do not consider both subjective and objective indices of health. We propose the subjective and objective quality of life score (SOQOL) for the comprehensive assessment of health-related quality of life and aim to provide normative population data. The SOQOL is compatible with smartphone applications, allowing widespread use on a global scale. Methods: Normative SOQOL population data was sourced from pre-existing datasets on the EQ-5D-5L, daily step count, and walking speed. Normative values were calculated using weighted grand means. We trialled the SOQOL in a group of five patients presenting to a spinal neurosurgery clinic. Results: SOQOL scores decreased with age, and women had lower scores in every age group. In our case series, the spine patients with the biggest SOQOL deficit compared to age- and sex-matched population averages were found to be surgical while the rest were non-surgical. Conclusions: The SOQOL shows promise as a simple and effective scoring tool that is compatible with smartphones, potentially useful for screening in primary and specialized care settings, and for assessment following healthcare interventions. This study, however, is preliminary, and the findings are primarily suggestive. They underline the necessity for future, more comprehensive studies to validate and expand upon these initial observations. The conclusion of both this abstract and the full paper will clearly state these limitations and the preliminary nature of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Never in recent history has mankind been so severely and diversely affected by any disease like the COVID-19 infection. Many post-COVID complications have been mentioned in the literature and other platforms, of which post-COVID Dysphagia is a very distressing complaint. The severity of dysphagia may range from mild discomfort in swallowing to life-threatening aspiration. This paper aims to study post-COVID dysphagia, its various presentations, possible causative factors and diagnosis. Like any other new disease on the block, continuous study and research is the need of the hour, for us to be able to mitigate the damage already inflicted by this pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India has approximately 23 million children without parental care, who need alternative forms of care (MOSPI, 2018). Udayan Care, an NGO, designed an innovative group care model for children and youth in need of care and protection, implementing the indigenously developed LIFE (Living in Family Environment) strategy in 17 Udayan Ghars. (Sunshine Homes). With child participation as a core pillar, Udayan Care developed a Questionnaire to Assess the Needs of Children in Care (QANCC) in 2011, which is to be filled up by children annually, as a longitudinal study. The tool is conceived to ascertain whether children in the Ghars perceived if their rights were being fulfilled and that their needs were being addressed. With "meaningful participation" of children stipulated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the objective was to develop an evidence-based tool to assess the views of children on the services meted out to them, from their standpoint, and inform actual care practices annually. The self-assessment tool consists of questions, assessing the four dimensions of basic/fundamental, emotional, educational, and interpersonal needs, on a four-point Likert rating scale. A convenient purposive sampling is done on children, aged 10 to 18 years, who receive care and protection at the Ghars, and have resided there for a minimum of 6 months. This paper has two objectives, where at one end, the deductions of the previous years' data are made (2011–12 to 2016–17) with demarcating the differences with year 2018–19 data and at the second level, there is an update on the efforts made to establish the reliability and validity of the tool and create a standardized tool that can be implemented by other child care organizations in India. The paper illustrates how listening to direct voices of children and incorporating their inputs into actual care practice, can go a long way in improving the holistic wellness of children living in an alternative care setting. The results indicate that all needs of the majority of the children in Udayan Ghars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing prevalence of chronic conditions driving 85% of all healthcare costs, digital health offers a promising opportunity to reverse disease and improve health at-scale. The healthcare industry's predominant approach to behavior change is performance-based with a focus on goals and tracking. This has not reversed the epidemic of chronic diseases and also can harm chronically ill and vulnerable patients via perceived failure-induced loss of motivation. Still nascent, the digital health industry is uniquely positioned to adopt and scale new and better behavior change approaches. In this paper, we present the theoretical foundation and initial findings of a neuroscience-based behavior change approach—what we call the Iterative Mindset MethodTM. We discuss its promise, as a potentially more effective, neuroscience-based approach to changing health behaviors long-term, particularly in vulnerable populations. We conclude with avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Protective behaviors were essential for minimizing the spread of the virus during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It is often assumed that awareness of bodily sensations (interoception) can improve decision-making and facilitate adaptive behavior. Objective: This paper investigates cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between different aspects of self-reported interoception, trait anxiety, COVID-related worry, and health protective behaviors. Methods: The study was conducted on a community sample of 265 adults. The two data collection phases took place online, before (baseline) and during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary. Results: Contrary to our expectations, neither cross-sectional nor longitudinal associations were found between protective behaviors and indicators of self-reported interoception. However, worry at baseline predicted protective behaviors during the second wave, even after controlling for socio-economical characteristics and protective behaviors at baseline. Conclusion: Our results highlight the adaptivity of health-related worry when behavioral steps to avoid threats are known and available. Also, higher level of perceived interoception did not appear to be health protective under these circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a case study of an Indian aerospace industry, XYZ Aeronautics Limited, with an objective to bring reduction in cycle time of outsourcing process. The focus is to identify bottleneck areas and investigate into the improvement opportunities. The paper enriches the present body of knowledge by contributing a methodology and its application for a real-life case study to understand the implications of outsourcing on operational planning. The analysis reported in this research is based on the available knowledge and extensive experience gained while working in the outsourcing department of the case organization for a long period of time. The research integrates action research, longitudinal case study research, and simulation for the detailed and scientific analysis of the problem for a case organization. The study employs a six-step analysis approach for investigating the outsourcing-related issues in case organization. The simulation study has helped to reduce the average cycle time of purchase order placement to 69 days, i.e., improvement by 33.65% over the present 104 days. This would enable the case organization to conduct "what-if" analysis and evaluate the implications of bringing improvements in select bottleneck areas for reducing cycle time of outsourcing process. The investigation is expected to help managers to negotiate on appropriate dimensions with vendors and convince them for the adoption of e-sourcing, e-contract, and e-catalog technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In our companion paper, we addressed the interplay between caregiver impact, out-of-pocket expenditures, and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) disability. We found that DMD caregiver impact could be characterized by four Latent Profile Analysis impact profiles: lowest, lower middle, upper middle, and highest impact. The impact on caregivers was often but not always worse with greater out-of-pocket expenditures. Further, while the lowest-, lower-middle, and highest-impact profiles reflected low, moderate and high disability-related caregiver burden, respectively, the upper-middle profile group was quite variable in level of disability across domains. To better understand the four caregiver-impact profiles, we examine how a comprehensive set of psychosocial factors differentiate the four profile groups. Methods: Psychosocial factors assessed included demographic characteristics, quality of life (QOL), stress, cognitive appraisal, reserve-building, and general and COVID-specific resilience. Linear modeling examined relationships between impact profiles and psychosocial factors. We used effect size rather than p-value as the criterion for determining relevance of the broad range of characteristics examined. Results: Multivariate analyses implicated stress and environmental mastery, appraisal sampling of experience, COVID-specific variables, appraisal standards of comparison, appraisal goals, demographics, appraisal combinatory algorithm, reserve-building, and resilience, in order of prominence (average eta2 = 0.29, 0.29, 0.16, 0.15, 0.09, 0.07, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, and 0.02, respectively). On the whole, comparisons of highest-versus-lowest impact profiles revealed more and larger differences than comparisons of upper-middle versus lower-middle impact profiles. Life stress, goals, and reserve-building activities had a smaller differentiating effect in the middle groups. Conclusion: A more comprehensive 'story' about DMD caregiver impact involves life stress, environmental mastery, COVID-specific variables, and cognitive and behavioral factors. Implications are discussed for coaching interventions to support DMD caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiral drawings on paper are used as routine measures in hospitals to assess Parkinson's Disease motor deficiencies. In the age of emerging mobile health tools and Artificial Intelligence a comprehensive digital setup enables granular biomarker analyses and improved differential diagnoses in movement disorders. This study aims to evaluate on discriminatory features among Parkison's Disease patients, healthy subjects and diverse movement disorders. Overall, 24 Parkinson's Disease patients, 27 healthy controls and 26 patients with similar differential diagnoses were assessed with a novel tablet-based system. It utilizes an integrative assessment by combining a structured symptoms questionnaire—the Parkinson's Disease Non-Motor Scale—and 2-handed spiral drawing captured on a tablet device. Three different classification tasks were evaluated: Parkinson's Disease patients versus healthy control group (Task 1), all Movement disorders versus healthy control group (Task 2) and Parkinson's Disease patients versus diverse other movement disorder patients (Task 3). To systematically study feature importances of digital biomarkers a Machine Learning classifier is cross-validated and interpreted with SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values. The number of non-motor symptoms differed significantly for Tasks 1 and 2 but not for Task 3. The proposed drawing features partially differed significantly for all three tasks. The diagnostic accuracy was on average 94.0% in Task 1, 89.4% in Task 2, and 72% in Task 3. While the accuracy in Task 3 only using the symptom questionnaire was close to the baseline, it greatly improved when including the tablet-based features from 60 to 72%. The accuracies for all three tasks were significantly improved by integrating the two modalities. These results show that tablet-based drawing features can not only be captured by consumer grade devices, but also capture specific features to Parkinson's Disease that significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy compared to the symptom questionnaire. Therefore, the proposed system provides an objective type of disease characterization of movement disorders, which could be utilized for home-based assessments as well. Clinicaltrials.gov Study-ID: NCT03638479. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) has emerged as a promising solution for addressing the implementation challenges of AI/ML in healthcare. However, little is known about how developers and clinicians interpret XAI and what conflicting goals and requirements they may have. This paper presents the findings of a longitudinal multi-method study involving 112 developers and clinicians co-designing an XAI solution for a clinical decision support system. Our study identifies three key differences between developer and clinician mental models of XAI, including opposing goals (model interpretability vs. clinical plausibility), different sources of truth (data vs. patient), and the role of exploring new vs. exploiting old knowledge. Based on our findings, we propose design solutions that can help address the XAI conundrum in healthcare, including the use of causal inference models, personalized explanations, and ambidexterity between exploration and exploitation mindsets. Our study highlights the importance of considering the perspectives of both developers and clinicians in the design of XAI systems and provides practical recommendations for improving the effectiveness and usability of XAI in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that the trauma population has needs for rehabilitation services that are best provided in a continuous and coordinated way. The discharge destination after acute care is the second step to ensuring quality of care. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the factors associated with the discharge destination for the overall trauma population. This paper aims to identify sociodemographic, geographical, and injury-related factors associated with discharge destination following acute care at trauma centers for patients with moderate-to-severe traumatic injuries. Methods: A multicenter, population-based, prospective study was conducted with patients of all ages with traumatic injury [New Injury Severity Score (NISS) > 9] admitted within 72 h after the injury to regional trauma centers in southeastern and northern Norway over a 1-year period (2020). Results: In total, 601 patients were included; a majority (76%) sustained severe injuries, and 22% were discharged directly to specialized rehabilitation. Children were primarily discharged home, and most of the patients ≥ 65 years to their local hospital. Depending on the centrality of their residence [Norwegian Centrality Index (NCI) 1–6, where 1 is most central], we found that patients residing in NCI 3–4 and 5–6 areas sustained more severe injuries than patients residing in NCI 1–2 areas. An increase in the NISS, number of injuries, or a spinal injury with an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) ≥ 3 was associated with discharge to local hospitals and specialized rehabilitation than to home. Patients with an AIS ≥ 3 head injury (RRR 6.1, 95% Confidence interval 2.80–13.38) were significantly more likely to be discharged to specialized rehabilitation than patients with a less severe head injury. Age < 18 years was negatively associated with discharge to a local hospital, while NCI 3–4, preinjury comorbidity, and increased severity of injuries in the lower extremities were positively associated. Conclusions: Two-thirds of the patients sustained severe traumatic injury, and 22% were discharged directly to specialized rehabilitation. Age, centrality of the residence, preinjury comorbidity, injury severity, length of hospital stay, and the number and specific types of injuries were factors that had the greatest influence on discharge destination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two studies reported in the paper examined (1) the extended parallel process model's (EPPM; Witte 1992) ability to predict and explain college students' COVID-19 vaccination behavior, and (2) the EPPM-related reasons for college students' COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Study 1 was a longitudinal study that measured the EPPM constructs at Time 1 and COVID-19 vaccine behavior two months later at Time 2. For danger control, results indicate that perceived threat and perceived efficacy positively predicted intentions and that intentions positively predicted behavior. For fear control, results indicate that perceived threat positively predicted fear, that perceived efficacy did not predict fear, and that fear negatively predicted defensive avoidance, reactance, and fatalism. Study 2 was a cross-sectional survey that assessed EPPM-related reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Results indicate that the main reasons for vaccine hesitancy were related to response efficacy (i.e., participants were concerned about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine). The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the dynamics of child and household poverty in rural Ethiopia using three rounds of household survey and qualitative data collected by Young Lives, a longitudinal study of child poverty. It uses a mixed-method taxonomy of poverty to classify children and their households into four groups, analyse their movements in and out of poverty, and explore the underlying factors. The final section of the paper uses qualitative case studies to explore child welfare dynamics in more detail, looking at the interplay between the progress or decline of households and that of children within those households. It concludes that while the percentage of poor households within this sample reduced from 50 to 20 % between rounds 1 and 3 (2002-2009), these changes were not always beneficial to children and did not reach nearly 1 in 10 households classified as ultra-poor. A deepened understanding of those changes, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, is deemed crucial in post-2015 millennium development goal discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biologic aging reflects the genetic, molecular, and cellular changes underlying the development of morbidity and mortality with advancing chronological age. As several potential mechanisms have been identified, there is a growing interest in developing robust measures of biologic age that can better reflect the underlying biology of aging and predict age-related outcomes. To support this endeavor, the Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN) conducted a workshop in January 2022 to discuss emerging concepts in the field and identify opportunities to move the science forward. This paper presents workshop proceedings and summarizes the identified research needs, priorities, and recommendations for measuring biologic age. The highest priorities identified were the need for more robust measures, longitudinal studies, multidisciplinary collaborations, and translational approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Implementation of evidence-informed educational interventions (EEI) involves applying and adapting theoretical and scientific knowledge to a specific context. Knowledge translation (KT) approaches can both facilitate and structure the process. The purpose of this paper is to describe lessons learned from applying a KT approach to help implement an EEI for clinical reasoning in medical students. Methods: Using the Knowledge to Action framework, we designed and implemented an EEI intended to support the development of students' clinical reasoning skills in a renewed medical curriculum. Using mixed-methods design, we monitored students' engagement with the EEI longitudinally through a platform log; we conducted focus groups with students and stakeholders, and observed the unfolding of the implementation and its continuation. Data are reported according to six implementation outcomes: Fidelity, Feasibility, Appropriateness, Acceptability, Adoption, and Penetration. Results: Students spent a mean of 24 min on the activity (fidelity outcome) with a high completion rate (between 75% and 95%; feasibility outcome) of the entire activity each time it was done. Focus group data from students and stakeholders suggest that the activity was acceptable, appropriate, feasible, adopted and well-integrated into the curriculum. Discussion: Through the process we observed the importance of having a structuring framework, of working closely and deliberatively with stakeholders and students, of building upon concurrent evaluations in order to adapt iteratively the EEI to the local context and, while taking students' needs into consideration, of upholding the EEI's core educational principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ranking as one of the largest mobility modes for passengers and freight, highway transportation globally accounts for huge amounts of fossil-based energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Correspondingly, on-road transportation causes detrimental effects on air quality, climate change, and global warming, particularly over the short term. In order to prevent a further escalation of this detrimental environmental issue, long-term efficacious policies aimed at reducing the transportation-driven CO2 emission should be urgently enacted and implemented on a global scale. Thus, this paper presents an exploratory study with the main objective of investigating the impact of four adopted mitigation scenarios that suggest switching to Euro 6 vehicle emission standards, increasing the average urban traffic speed limits, encouraging public transport, and increasing the proportion of hybrid electric vehicles. This study then compared and contrasted each strategy and its subgroups with a reference scenario projected for the year 2025. The evidence from this research showed that transition to Euro 6 compliant vehicles significantly decarbonizes the transportation sector, yet more vehicle electrification is required to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement targets. The results also indicate that by 2025, a 10% shift from passenger cars to public transport will decrease CO2 emissions by 3%, whilst increasing the urban traffic speed by 10 km/h will yield a 1.38% CO2 gas emission saving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to translate and validate an Arabic version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Head and Neck Scale (FACT-H&N, v-4) for use among Sudanese oral cancer patients. Methods: The instrument underwent translation and validation following the standard FACT translation methodology. The translated instrument was pre-tested for face validity and content validity using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with ten oral cancer patients to assess acceptability. The questionnaire was pilot tested with 60 patients; reliability was tested for internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha while construct validity was tested using 'known-group validity'. Results: The pre-test study revealed no major issues, apart from a reluctance to answer questions on sexual satisfaction. The FACT-H&N demonstrated good internal consistency, it considered five particular constructs: PWB, SWB, EWB, FWB and FACT-H&N, their Cronbach's α values were positive and close to 1 with values of 0.85, 0.788, 0.86, 0.895 and 0.703 respectively, indicating that the questionnaire was valid and the responses consistent. Sixty patients were asked the global health-related quality of life item, 36.3% rated their QOL as very good or good (36.3%), while 41.7% rated it as average, and 21.7% as poor or very poor. Then FACT subscale mean scores were tabulated against three categories; patients with very poor/poor recorded significantly lower scores indicating construct validity. Some psychometric properties were consistent with other FACT-H&N translations such as the Chinese, French, Pakistani and Malaysian. Conclusions: This study validates the Arabic version of the FACT-H&N. It is a reliable tool and, will assist further QoL research in other Arabic-speaking countries. Plain English Summary: While survival rates are routinely used to evaluate treatment outcomes in oral cancer, increased understanding of the human cost of this disease highlights the need to also consider the impact of the disease and therapy on patients' quality of life (QoL). Measurement of quality of life outcomes requires a validated QoL questionnaire with proven applicability in that specific context. Little research has been undertaken on the QoL of cancer patients in Sudan and no published research exists to date on the QoL of Sudanese oral cancer patients. While an Arabic version of the FACT-G general questionnaire exists, the FACT-H&N module was not previously available in Arabic. This paper describes the translation of the FACT-H&N from English into Arabic to suit Sudanese patients and other Arabic-speaking patients, with a detailed pre-test review by 10 patients, a pilot study with 60 patients and further validation with 130 patients. This study represents the first QoL research undertaken in oral cancer patients in Sudan and provides some insight into the impact of oral cancer on their lives. Findings from this study indicate that the Arabic version of the FACT-H&N questionnaire is a valid, reliable and acceptable method for assessing health related QoL in Arabic-speaking Sudanese oral cancer patients. This work will benefit future researchers working with Arabic-speaking oral cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and bystander CPR with public-access defibrillation improves OHCA survival outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges for emergency medical services (EMS), including the suggestion of compression-only resuscitation and recommendations for complete personal protective equipment, which have created operational difficulties and prolonged response time. However, the risk factors affecting OHCA outcomes during the pandemic are poorly defined. This study aimed to assess the characteristics and outcomes of OHCA patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand. Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study used data from electronic medical records and EMS paper records. All OHCA patients who visited Ramathibodi Hospital's emergency department before COVID-19 (March 2018 to December 2019) and during COVID-19 (March 2020-December 2021) were identified, and the number of emergency department returns of spontaneous circulation (ED-ROSC) and characteristics in OHCA patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand were collected. Results: A total of 136 patients were included (78 men [59.1%]; mean [SD] age, 67.9 [18] years); 60 of these were during the COVID-19 period (beginning March 2020), and 76 were before the COVID-19 period. The overall baseline characteristics that differed significantly between the two groups were bystander witness and mode of chest compression (p-values < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). The ED ROSC during the COVID-19 period was significantly lower than before the COVID-19 period (26.67% vs. 46.05%, adjusted OR 0.21, p-value < 0.001). There were significant differences in survival to admission between the COVID-19 period and before (25.00% and 40.79%, adjusted OR 0.26, p-value 0.005). However, 30-day survivals were not significantly different (3.3% during the COVID-19 period and 10.53% before the COVID-19 period). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, ED ROSC and survival to admission in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients were significantly reduced. Additionally, the witness responses and mode of chest compression were very different between the two groups. Trial registration: This trial was retrospectively registered on 7 December 2021 in the Thai Clinical Trial Registry, identification number TCTR20211207006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translation and application of current complex trauma knowledge for high-risk groups such as the homeless is needed. Existing research in this area has been limited by lack of a cohesive theoretical framework that captures the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of complex trauma within the context of ecological vulnerability (e.g. homelessness). This paper aims to address these gaps by proposing an integrated resources perspective framework situating Layne and colleagues' (Layne et al. 2009, 2010) concept of 'risk factor caravans' as central focus. We demonstrate how the 'risk factor caravan' representation captures current theoretical and clinical insights into the pervasive and enduring consequences of complex trauma exposure. Personal resources are highlighted as key for understanding resource loss and gain in the current context. Longitudinal person-centered approaches as integral methodological considerations for future application of this proposed framework are examined. Implications for reducing barriers to access of available support services are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Given that South Africa experienced significant food insecurity even before the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not surprising that the pandemic would result in even greater food insecurity in the country. This paper provides additional evidence on the relationship between food insecurity and health. Methods: Data came from the National Income Dynamics Study-Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey, a longitudinal survey of adult South Africans. Health was a self-reported indicator of general health, while food insecurity was measured by household hunger, the frequency of household hunger, and households running out of money to buy food. We performed descriptive and econometric analyses. Results: Food insecurity has remained high even in the face of greater re-opening of the economy. Moreover, among hunger-affected households, between a quarter and a third struggled with hunger almost daily or daily. Belonging to a hunger-affected household was associated with a 7-percentage point higher probability of worse health compared to not experiencing hunger. Compared to being unaffected by hunger, being hungry everyday was associated with a 15-percentage point higher probability of worse health in wave 1, an effect that became statistically insignificant by wave 4. Conclusions: These results show the enormity of the hunger problem in South Africa and its adverse effects on health. In the face of economic uncertainty and the removal of COVID-19 palliatives like the grant top-ups, we enjoin policy makers to protect the vulnerable from food insecurity by continuing the implementation of anti-hunger policies and other measures that enhance food security in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the scale and nature of employment flows into and out of the small business sector (SBS) in five United Kingdom manufacturing industries over the period 1979-85. It first provides a taxonomic framework for analysing these flows. It then draws on specially prepared analyses from the Annual Census of Production (ACOP) for the UK to show that the SBS in each industry has experienced very substantial turbulence: although the SBS (across all five industries) lost only four per cent of 1979 employment over the period, movement in and out each represented about half of 1979 employment. Most gains and losses were in the very small size bands. The paper also briefly explores the relation- ship between births and deaths and industrial characteristics across the five industries. The study raises questions about the causes and costs of high turbulence in the SBS. It also demonstrates the potential value of the ACOP data base for longitudinal studies of business in the UK.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Better Understanding the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy (BUMP) study is a longitudinal feasibility study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the pre-pregnancy and pregnancy symptom experience using digital tools. The present paper describes the protocol for the BUMP study. Over 1000 participants are being recruited through a patient provider-platform and through other channels in the United States (US). Participants in a preconception cohort (BUMP-C) are followed for 6 months, or until conception, while participants in a pregnancy cohort (BUMP) are followed into their fourth trimester. Participants are provided with a smart ring, a smartwatch (BUMP only), and a smart scale (BUMP only) alongside cohort-specific study apps. Participant centric engagement strategies are used that aim to co-design the digital approach with participants while providing knowledge and support. The BUMP study is intended to lay the foundational work for a larger study to determine whether participant co-designed digital tools can be used to detect, track and return multimodal symptoms during the perinatal window to inform individual level symptom trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Providing caregiving support to people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is challenging, beginning in early childhood, and continuing through the progression of multidimensional disability. This study addressed the interplay between caregiver impact, out-of-pocket expenditures, and DMD disability. To examine these interconnections, we investigated the association between caregiver impact domains and out-of-pocket expenditures; and the presence of clusters in caregivers on the basis of DMD-related disability domains in the patients for whom they provided caregiving support. Methods: This web-based study recruited 566 DMD caregivers (140 males, 426 females; mean age 41.6 years, SD 8.8, range 21–72), examining caregiver impact using the DMD Caregiver Impact Measure, PROMIS-derived parent-proxy (PPP) measures of their child's disability, and items tapping out-of-pocket expenditures related to home and vehicle accommodations and assistive devices. T-tests compared caregiver impact scores by out-of-pocket expenditures incurred. Latent Profile Analyses (LPA) were conducted to generate impact profiles related to child's disability as reported by caregiver proxies. Results: Higher out-of-pocket expenditures were generally associated with worse impact on the subscales, but several expenditures (e.g., kitchen, bathroom, scooter) were associated with lower impact. LPA indicated that the four-group solution provided the best relative fit and yielded good profile separation (entropy = 0.91). Caregivers with lowest impact reported the highest mobility, cognitive, and upper extremity functioning of their DMD care recipients, whereas the highest caregiver impact was driven by their care recipient's negative affect and fatigue. The upper-middle impact group showed great variability in proxy-disability domains, whereas the lower-middle group had similar levels of disability across domains. Profiles were represented across all child ages. Conclusion: Out-of-pocket expenditures were often associated with worse caregiver impact, but some associated with milder impact (i.e., bathroom or kitchen modification, investing in a ceiling lift or medical scooter). While their son's level of disability and age were related to impact on the DMD caregiver, the domains giving rise to highest caregiver impact were not the most visible aspects of disability, such as mobility, but rather negative affect and fatigue. Other contextual attributes are likely implicated, and will be addressed in the companion paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study (Tilak Study No: TIL-001) was to evaluate the medical modules on the mobile medical application OdySight and compare them to the gold standard tests for visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and Amsler Grid. Methods: A total of 120 eyes were evaluated in an open-label, single-arm, prospective, single-site study during which participants performed monocular, gold standard tests for measuring visual acuity (Sloan Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] letter chart at 40 cm testing distance and ETDRS letter chart at 4 m testing distance [40-cm and 4-m ETDRS, respectively), contrast sensitivity (Pelli–Robson contrast sensitivity chart [Pelli–Robson test]), and metamorphopsia/scotoma (Amsler Grid) followed by the respective modules on OdySight (also monocular). During this study, both the distance between the device and the patient's eye and room illumination were controlled by the examiner. Results: A Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated that there was no disagreement between the results of the OdySight visual acuity module and both the 40-cm Sloan ETDRS and 4-m ETDRS tests, with a very low level of bias (0.53 and − 1.53 letters, respectively). The same analysis of contrast sensitivity showed a broader disagreement between the results of the OdySight module and those of the Pelli–Robson test. A McNemar test indicated that there was no significant difference between results obtained by the OdySight Amsler Grid module and those obtained by the paper version for the detection of metamorphopsia and scotoma (p = 1.0 for both). Conclusion: The results from the TIL-001 study demonstrate good agreement, overall, between the measurements taken by the near visual acuity module and the Amsler grid module of OdySight as compared to currently used gold standards. The contrast sensitivity module of OdySight will require additional investigation. OdySight could be used for remote monitoring of vision between clinic visits and potentially assist in follow-up planning. Funding: Tilak Healthcare funded the study and the Rapid Service Fees. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03457441. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the thermoelastic Bresse system in one-dimensional bounded interval under mixed homogeneous Dirichlet-Neumann boundary conditions and two different kinds of dissipation working only on the longitudinal displacement and given by heat conduction of types I and III. We prove that the exponential stability of the two systems is equivalent to the equality of the three speeds of the wave propagations. Moreover, when at least two speeds of the wave propagations are different, we show the polynomial stability for each system with a decay rate depending on the smoothness of the initial data. The results of this paper complete the ones of Afilal et al. [On the uniform stability for a linear thermoelastic Bresse system with second sound (submitted), 2018], where the dissipation is given by a linear frictional damping or by the heat conduction of second sound. The proof of our results is based on the semigroup theory and a combination of the energy method and the frequency domain approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) holds promise for preventing prescription errors in the ambulatory setting, research on its effectiveness is inconclusive.Objective: To assess the impact of a stand-alone e-prescribing system on the rates and types of ambulatory prescribing errors.Design, Participants: Prospective, non-randomized study using pre-post design of 15 providers who adopted e-prescribing with concurrent controls of 15 paper-based providers from September 2005 through June 2007.Intervention: Use of a commercial, stand-alone e-prescribing system with clinical decision support including dosing recommendations and checks for drug-allergy interactions, drug-drug interactions, and duplicate therapies.Main Measures: Prescribing errors were identified by a standardized prescription and chart review.Key Results: We analyzed 3684 paper-based prescriptions at baseline and 3848 paper-based and electronic prescriptions at one year of follow-up. For e-prescribing adopters, error rates decreased nearly sevenfold, from 42.5 per 100 prescriptions (95% confidence interval (CI), 36.7-49.3) at baseline to 6.6 per 100 prescriptions (95% CI, 5.1-8.3) one year after adoption (p < 0.001). For non-adopters, error rates remained high at 37.3 per 100 prescriptions (95% CI, 27.6-50.2) at baseline and 38.4 per 100 prescriptions (95% CI, 27.4-53.9) at one year (p = 0.54). At one year, the error rate for e-prescribing adopters was significantly lower than for non-adopters (p < 0.001). Illegibility errors were very high at baseline and were completely eliminated by e-prescribing (87.6 per 100 prescriptions at baseline for e-prescribing adopters, 0 at one year).Conclusions: Prescribing errors may occur much more frequently in community-based practices than previously reported. Our preliminary findings suggest that stand-alone e-prescribing with clinical decision support may significantly improve ambulatory medication safety.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, Taconic Health Information Network and Community (THINC), NCT00225563, http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00225563?term=Kaushal&rank=6 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aim of this paper is to validate a procedure for correcting elbow flexion contracture in patients suffering from brachial plexus neonatal palsy sequelae during their teens. Elbow flexion contracture represents an unsolved problem in the natural history of obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) because of the consistent deformity recurrence. Following a previous paper, in which an original technique was proposed in a small sample of patients, the authors show the possible correction of the deformity in a larger group of patients. Methods: The procedure includes a combination of a posterior approach to the elbow with olecranon tip section and an anterior one with capsulotomy and soft tissue release to improve elbow range of motion. A series of 26 patients, who underwent the procedure, were checked out in medium and long term. Collected data were age, type of brachial plexus palsy, length of hospitalization, duration of surgery, preoperative and postoperative elbow range of motion, preoperative and postoperative DASH scores and satisfaction scores. Explaining further details about the procedure, the Authors report their results, including a statistical analysis. Results: At the final follow-up, the mean increase of elbow extension was about 22°. Functional outcomes were successful as well, with a mean increase of 10 points of DASH score. Over 75% of patients were fully satisfied with their outcome. Conclusions: The outcome has confirmed the good efficacy of the procedure in increasing elbow extension but also in improving cosmetic appearance in adolescents suffering from flexed elbow in OBPP sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present an efficient fractal method for detection and diagnosis of mass lesion in mammogram which is one of the abnormalities in mammographic images. We used 110 images that were carefully selected by a radiologist, and their abnormalities were also confirmed by biopsy. These images included circumscribed benign, ill-defined, and spiculated malignant masses. Firstly, we discriminated lesions automatically using new fractal dimensions. The results which were examined by different types of breast density showed that the proposed method was able to yield quite satisfactory detection results. Secondly, noting that contours of masses playing the most important role in diagnosis of different mass types, we defined new fractal features based on information extraction from the contours. This information is able to identify the roughness in mass contours and determines the extent of spiculation or smoothness of the masses. In this manner, in classification of the spiculated malignant masses from the circumscribed benign tumors, we achieved highly satisfactory results, i.e., 0.98 measured in terms of area under ROC curve (AUC). In this paper, it is also shown that the roughness in contours is a suitable characteristic feature for diagnosis of ill-defined malignant tumors with AUC equal to 0.94 in their classification. The extracted information was also found to be useful in the classification of early malignancies whereas in the classification of spiculated and ill-defined malignant masses in their early stage from those of benign tumors, we achieved high accuracy of 0.99 and 0.90 for AUC, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The chief or presenting complaint is the reason for seeking health care, often in the patient's own words. In limited resource settings, a diagnosis-based approach to quantifying burden of disease is not possible, partly due to limited availability of an established lexicon or coding system. Our group worked with colleagues from the African Federation of Emergency Medicine building on the existing literature to create a pilot symptom list representing an attempt to standardize undifferentiated chief complaints in emergency and acute care settings. An ideal list for any setting is one that strikes a balance between ease of use and length, while covering the vast majority of diseases with enough detail to permit epidemiologic surveillance and make informed decisions about resource needs. Methods: This study was incorporated as a part of a larger prospective observational study on human immunodeficiency virus testing in Emergency Departments in South Africa. The pilot symptom list was used for chief complaint coding in three Emergency Departments. Data was collected on 3357 patients using paper case report forms. Chief complaint terms were reviewed by two study team members to determine the frequency of concordance between the coded chief complaint term and the selected symptom(s) from the pilot symptom list. Results: Overall, 3537 patients' chief complaints were reviewed, of which 640 were identified as 'potential mismatches.' When considering the 191 confirmed mismatches (29.8%), the Delphi process identified 6 (3.1%) false mismatches and 185 (96.9%) true mismatches. Significant chief-complaint clustering was identified with 9 sets of complaints frequently selected together for the same patient. "Pain" was used 2076 times for 58.7% of all patients. A combination of user feedback and expert-panel modified Delphi analysis of mismatched complaints and clustered complaints resulted in several substantial changes to the pilot symptom list. Conclusions: This study presented a systematic methodology for calibrating a chief complaint list for the local context. Our revised list removed/reworded symptoms that frequently clustered together or were misinterpreted by health professionals. Recommendations for additions, modifications, and/or deletions from the pilot chief complaint list we believe will improve the functionality of the list in low resource environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Germany, the respondents who had participated in the 2012 survey of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) were re-approached for the panel study PIAAC-L. PIAAC-L aims at investigating the longitudinal effects of skill outcomes over the life course and the development of the key skills assessed in PIAAC. Moreover, additional and alternative background information was collected and analyzed within PIAAC-L. PIAAC-L consists of three follow-up waves to the initial PIAAC 2012 survey. The present paper describes the rationale for PIAAC-L and the benefits of conducting a longitudinal PIAAC follow-up study in Germany. In addition, we outline the general design of PIAAC-L and the specific design of the three waves of data collection. Finally, we address the analytic potential of PIAAC-L data set and its availability to the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:The objective is to review the published literature on the aetiology and evidence-based management of stone disease in the spinal cord-injured patient.Methods:A PubMed and Medline search was performed using the terms 'spinal cord injury', 'paraplegia', 'stone', 'nephrolithiasis', 'urolithiasis', 'calculus', 'spinal cord injury' or 'paraplegia' with 'SWL', 'ureteroscopy', 'chemolysis' and 'PCNL.' The Cochrane database, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines and the Scottish Intercollegiate guidelines were searched using the terms 'spinal cord injury' and 'urolithiasis' and 'nephrolithiasis'.Results:A total of 32 papers were identified, mainly case series or case-cohort studies with few contemporary papers. The risk of developing a renal stone after spinal cord injury (SCI) is between 7 and 20% over a period of 8-10 years. Stone formation may be related to early demineralisation of bone or chronic infection. Biochemical abnormalities are not significantly different between stone-forming and non-stone forming patients, though these patients differ from healthy controls. Presentation may be atypical, but is most commonly recurrent urinary tract infection. Treatment may be complicated by lower limb contractures limiting retrograde access. Several case series report success with shock wave lithotripsy varying from 50 to 70%, though comparisons are limited by heterogeneous indications and reporting. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy remains the gold standard for stones measuring 2 cm and above. Stone-free rates of 90% have been reported, though surgery was often complex with higher complication rates.Conclusion:Management of upper urinary tract stones in patients with SCI is complex regarding surgical technique, post-operative care and recurrence rates. Further contemporary case series must use standardised reporting tools to allow valid comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:This paper reviews the literature concerning psychological adjustment to spinal cord injury, focusing on the recent methodological developments and new directions in research.Method:Several literature reviews using the search terms Spinal Cord Injury, Paraplegia, Coping and Adjustment were undertaken using the databases in Pubmed, Medline and Embase. The papers that were published from 2001 onwards, written in English and used a sample of adults were included.Results:The literature reviewed lends further support to the importance of appraisals and coping strategies in the adjustment to spinal cord injury. Methodological issues highlighted in earlier reviews are addressed in conjunction with further theoretical explorations.Conclusions:Although many of the methodological criticisms have been addressed, there remains a need for longitudinal research into the process of adjustment to spinal cord injury and the contributory role of appraisals and coping strategies. Measurement tools designed specifically for use within the spinal cord injured population should be utilized in the prevention of maladaptive adjustment issues, whereas able-bodied comparison groups would allow identification of coping strategies unique to the spinal cord injured population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers who are interested in breathing new life into the long dormant Louisville Twin Study (LTS) presented several papers at the 2015 meeting of the behavior genetics association. This brief introduction provides a short history of the Kentucky LTS as well as synopses of expanded analyses from the presentations on genetic change and continuity in cognitive and behavioral development and those exploring aspects of the influence of gene-environment interaction on cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As more states legalize cannabis for medical use, people increasingly use cannabis to treat medical conditions. Well-documented harms of cannabis use include increased risk of fatal auto accidents, neurocognitive deficits, and increased risk of addiction. Observational data supports the use of cannabis for pain, nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy, and multiple sclerosis spasticity symptoms. Given potential harms versus benefits of cannabis use, how should physicians counsel patients regarding their cannabis use? This paper briefly reviews the evidence supporting medical cannabis use for pain. We consider cannabis use as a harm reduction strategy for pain management. We encourage routine, longitudinal assessments of cannabis use among patients. We discuss the commercialization of cannabis for financial gain, contributing to potent and addictive cannabis. We highlight the concerning phenomena of cannabis dispensary workers as proxy clinicians. Finally, we present three strategies to reduce public harms associated with potent cannabis use including required testing and reporting of tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol concentrations, rigorous study of high-potency cannabis available for purchase in dispensaries across the USA, and large-scale efforts to measure cannabis consumption in medical records so prospective, longitudinal studies can be conducted to correlate consumption measures with medical and psychiatric outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal waves are the main flatness defects of metal sheets. This defect is typically eliminated by repeated elastoplastic bending via a multi-roll leveller to make the residual curvature of the sheet as small as possible. Therefore, an effective mathematical model is important for the leveller design and levelling parameter adjustment. In this paper, based on the basic principle of multi-roll levelling for the longitudinal wave of a metal sheet, a geometric model of multi-roll levelling was established via the curvature integration method; a bending-moment curvature model was also established to account for the residual curvature of reverse bending and the difference between the elastic section and the elastoplastic section. A coupled curvature integration model was constructed by combining the two models to systematically describe the multi-roll levelling process, and the variation of the curvature, surface profile curve and plastic deformation rate of the sheet during levelling were discussed; the influence of the intermesh of the work rolls on the levelling effect of the longitudinal wave was analysed. The results show that there are infinite intermesh combinations of the first work roll and the last work roll that make the residual curvature of the sheet close to zero after levelling. The results also show that the residual curvature is much more sensitive to the variation of the first work roll than to the variation of the last work roll. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the technique and results of an experimental study of the longitudinal force component, the vertical coordinate of its application point, and the overturning moment for the impact of a bore on a vertical plate. The bore was generated by removal of a shield which produced the initial free-surface level difference in the channel (in the model formulation of the dam-break problem). It is shown that the greatest forces and overturning moments occur at the ratio of the initial headwater and tailwater levels at which a bore with a developed head roller is formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantile regression is a powerful complement to the usual mean regression and becomes increasingly popular due to its desirable properties. In longitudinal studies, it is necessary to consider the intra-subject correlation among repeated measures over time to improve the estimation efficiency. In this paper, we focus on longitudinal single-index models. Firstly, we apply the modified Cholesky decomposition to parameterize the intra-subject covariance matrix and develop a regression approach to estimate the parameters of the covariance matrix. Secondly, we propose efficient quantile estimating equations for the index coefficients and the link function based on the estimated covariance matrix. Since the proposed estimating equations include a discrete indicator function, we propose smoothed estimating equations for fast and accurate computation of the index coefficients, as well as their asymptotic covariances. Thirdly, we establish the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators. Finally, simulation studies and a real data analysis have illustrated the efficiency of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. In this paper, we present an automated approach for breast density segmentation in mammographic images based on a supervised pixel-based classification and using textural and morphological features. The objective of the paper is not only to show the feasibility of an automatic algorithm for breast density segmentation but also to prove its potential application to the study of breast density evolution in longitudinal studies. The database used here contains three complete screening examinations, acquired 2 years apart, of 130 different patients. The approach was validated by comparing manual expert annotations with automatically obtained estimations. Transversal analysis of the breast density analysis of craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) views of both breasts acquired in the same study showed a correlation coefficient of ρ = 0.96 between the mammographic density percentage for left and right breasts, whereas a comparison of both mammographic views showed a correlation of ρ = 0.95. A longitudinal study of breast density confirmed the trend that dense tissue percentage decreases over time, although we noticed that the decrease in the ratio depends on the initial amount of breast density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pandemic mitigation, strategies such as social distancing and mask-wearing are vital to prevent disease resurgence. Yet, monitoring adherence is challenging, as individuals might be reluctant to share behavioral data with public health authorities. To address this challenge and demonstrate a framework for conducting observational research with sensitive data in a privacy-conscious manner, we employ a privacy-centric epidemiological study design: the federated cohort. This approach leverages recent computational advances to allow for distributed participants to contribute to a prospective, observational research study while maintaining full control of their data. We apply this strategy here to explore pandemic intervention adherence patterns. Participants (n = 3808) were enrolled in our federated cohort via the "Google Health Studies" mobile application. Participants completed weekly surveys and contributed empirically measured mobility data from their Android devices between November 2020 to August 2021. Using federated analytics, differential privacy, and secure aggregation, we analyzed data in five 6-week periods, encompassing the pre- and post-vaccination phases. Our results showed that participants largely utilized non-pharmaceutical intervention strategies until they were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except for individuals without plans to become vaccinated. Furthermore, this project offers a blueprint for conducting a federated cohort study and engaging in privacy-preserving research during a public health emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning for computer vision can be leveraged for interpreting surgical scenes and providing surgeons with real-time guidance to avoid complications. However, neither generalizability nor scalability of computer-vision-based surgical guidance systems have been demonstrated, especially to geographic locations that lack hardware and infrastructure necessary for real-time inference. We propose a new equipment-agnostic framework for real-time use in operating suites. Using laparoscopic cholecystectomy and semantic segmentation models for predicting safe/dangerous ("Go"/"No-Go") zones of dissection as an example use case, this study aimed to develop and test the performance of a novel data pipeline linked to a web-platform that enables real-time deployment from any edge device. To test this infrastructure and demonstrate its scalability and generalizability, lightweight U-Net and SegFormer models were trained on annotated frames from a large and diverse multicenter dataset from 136 institutions, and then tested on a separate prospectively collected dataset. A web-platform was created to enable real-time inference on any surgical video stream, and performance was tested on and optimized for a range of network speeds. The U-Net and SegFormer models respectively achieved mean Dice scores of 57% and 60%, precision 45% and 53%, and recall 82% and 75% for predicting the Go zone, and mean Dice scores of 76% and 76%, precision 68% and 68%, and recall 92% and 92% for predicting the No-Go zone. After optimization of the client-server interaction over the network, we deliver a prediction stream of at least 60 fps and with a maximum round-trip delay of 70 ms for speeds above 8 Mbps. Clinical deployment of machine learning models for surgical guidance is feasible and cost-effective using a generalizable, scalable and equipment-agnostic framework that lacks dependency on hardware with high computing performance or ultra-fast internet connection speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As meaningful measure of cognitive impairment (CI), cognitive phenotypes provide an avenue for symptom management and individualized rehabilitation. Since CI is highly variable in severity and progression, monitoring cognitive phenotypes over time may be useful to identify trajectory of cognitive decline in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Based on cognitive and mood information from patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and clinician-assessed outcomes (CAOs), four cognitive subgroups of people with MS (PwMS) were identified: phenotype 1 (44.5%) showed a preserved cognitive profile; phenotype 2 (22.8%) had a mild-cognitive impairment profile with attention difficulties; phenotype 3 (24.3%) included people with marked difficulties in visuo-executive, attention, language, memory and information processing speed; lastly, phenotype 4 (8.4%) grouped individuals with a multi-domain impairment profile (visuo-executive, attention, language, memory, orientation, information processing speed and mood disorders). Although some fluctuations occurred considering the rate of impairment, cognitive phenotypes did not substantially vary at follow up in terms of type and number of impairments, suggesting that 1 year is a relatively brief temporal window to observe considerable changes. Our results corroborate that investigating cognitive phenotypes and their stability over time would provide valuable information regarding CI and, in addition, increase clinical importance of PROs and CAOs and their uptake in decision-making and individualized treatment planning for PwMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]