Category: Nevin Manimala

Nat Commun. 2022 Apr 5;13(1):1837. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-29389-z.

ABSTRACT

Large scale screening is a critical tool in the life sciences, but is often limited by reagents, samples, or cost. An important recent example is the challenge of achieving widespread COVID-19 testing in the face of substantial resource constraints. To tackle this challenge, screening methods must efficiently use testing resources. However, given the global nature of the pandemic, they must also be simple (to aid implementation) and flexible (to be tailored for each setting). Here we propose HYPER, a group testing method based on hypergraph factorization. We provide theoretical characterizations under a general statistical model, and carefully evaluate HYPER with alternatives proposed for COVID-19 under realistic simulations of epidemic spread and viral kinetics. We find that HYPER matches or outperforms the alternatives across a broad range of testing-constrained environments, while also being simpler and more flexible. We provide an online tool to aid lab implementation: http://hyper.covid19-analysis.org .

PMID:35383149 | DOI:10.1038/s41467-022-29389-z

Occup Environ Med. 2022 Apr 5:oemed-2021-107947. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2021-107947. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the reported UK incidence of occupational inhalation accidents, and to consider changes of incidence and potential causes over time.

METHODS: Cases of occupational inhalation accident reported to Surveillance of Work Related Occupational Respiratory Diseases (SWORD) over 20 years were grouped into four 5-year time periods. Cases were characterised by causative exposure, occupation and industrial sector. Incidence rates were calculated using Office of National Statistics employment data.

RESULTS: The 172 actual cases reported to SWORD equated to an estimated 502 cases after adjusting for reporting frequency. Their mean age was 41.3 years (SD 12.3); 77% were male. The annual incidence fell from 1.7 per million employed in the first 5-year period, to 0.5 in the most recent. The most common occupations, responsible for 35% of all cases, were in descending order (number, % of total cases): Labourers in process and plant operations (8, 4.7), welding trades (8, 4.7), fire service officers (8, 4.7), heavy goods vehicle drivers (7, 4.1), metal working production and maintenance fitters (7, 4.1), civil service administrative officers and assistants (7, 4.1), food, drink and tobacco process operatives (6, 3.5), and three summated categories of elementary and service occupations including cleaners and domestics (10, 5.8).Three of 40 exposure categories were common to all time periods; acids (19.6% of all cases 1999-2004, 2.3% 2005-2009, 6.3% 2010-2013, 6.3% 2014-2018), chlorine/hypochlorites (7.2%, 7.0%, 2.5%, 6.3%, respectively) and solvents (14.4%, 11.6%, 12.5%, 6.3%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of inhalation accidents appears to have fallen, although certain exposures appear to be persistently linked to cases.

PMID:35383119 | DOI:10.1136/oemed-2021-107947

Anat Cell Biol. 2022 Apr 6. doi: 10.5115/acb.21.217. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cubital fossa is the site where the venous accesses are frequently made. Superficial veins at this site display variations in their pattern among different populations. Knowledge of different venous pattern in the cubital fossa is important for diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic procedures. The purpose of this study was to report variations of the cubital superficial vein patterns in the southern Ethiopian subjects. An institution based cross-sectional study design was employed among 401 randomly selected patients presented at the triage room of Arba Minch General Hospital from January 15 to February 15, 2021. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and images of the common and variant superficial venous patterns were recorded. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. P < 0.05 was considered as statistical significance. In the present study, a total of 802 cubital fossae from 401 study participants were examined. Five patterns of superficial veins were identified. Type 2 was the most common pattern and observed in 55% of cubital fossae (42.1% right and 67.9 left cubital fossae). The least common, type 5 variant was detected in 2.6% cubital fossae (2.8% right and 2.5 left). Statistically significant association based on sex and laterality was noted. The current study concluded that type 2 and type 3 patterns were more frequent superficial venous patterns in the cubital fossa and more common in males than female. Awareness of these uncommon cubital venous patterns and their incidence is very useful for those performing venipuncture or venisection especially under emergency conditions.

PMID:35383135 | DOI:10.5115/acb.21.217

eNeuro. 2022 Apr 4:ENEURO.0447-21.2022. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0447-21.2022. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Visuomotor rotations are frequently used to study cognitive processes underlying motor adaptation. Explicit aiming strategies and implicit recalibration are two of these processes. A large body of literature indicates that both processes are in fact dissociable and mainly independent components that can be measured using different manipulations in visuomotor rotation tasks. Visual feedback is a crucial element in these tasks, and it therefore plays an important role when assessing explicit re-aiming and implicit recalibration. For instance, researchers have found timing of visual feedback to affect the contribution of implicit recalibration to learning: if feedback is shown only at the end of the movement (instead of continuously), implicit recalibration decreases. Similarly, participants show lower levels of implicit recalibration if visual feedback is presented with a delay (instead of immediately). We thus hypothesized that the duration of feedback availability might also play a role. The goal of this study was thus to investigate the effect of longer versus shorter feedback durations on implicit recalibration in human participants. To this end, we compared three feedback durations in a between-subject design: 200ms, 600ms and 1200ms. Using a large sample size, we found differences between groups to be quite small, to the point where most differences indicated statistical equivalence between group means. We therefore hypothesize that feedback duration, when only endpoint feedback is presented, has a negligible effect on implicit recalibration. We propose that future research investigate the effect of feedback duration on other parameters of adaptation, so as proprioceptive recalibration and explicit re-aiming.Significance statementKnowledge about explicit and implicit processes in motor adaptation forms a crucial aspect in our understanding of motor learning in general. We know that the smallest changes in visual feedback might lead to more or less implicit recalibration, which in turn can lead to changes in performance. One aspect, that has not yet been tested, is whether duration of visual feedback affects implicit recalibration. We find that changes implicit recalibration are very small, if they exist at all. This is an important finding which extends our knowledge about the factors that do or don’t influence implicit recalibration.

PMID:35383109 | DOI:10.1523/ENEURO.0447-21.2022

BMJ Open. 2022 Apr 5;12(4):e061908. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061908.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: To successfully combat COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and increase uptake, research has demonstrated that interventions are most effective when tailored to meet local needs through active engagement and co-development with communities. This mixed-methods project uses a human-centred design (HCD) approach to understand local perspectives of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and develop strategies to enhance vaccine confidence for children and adolescents.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Project ECHO (Étude Communautaire sur l’Hésitation vaccinale contre la COVID-19) combines population-based surveys of parents and adolescents with community-based participatory action research to design and pilot strategies to enhance COVID-19 vaccine confidence in two underserved and ethnoculturally diverse neighbourhoods of Montreal, Canada. Two surveys conducted 6 months apart through primary and secondary schools are used to monitor vaccine acceptance and its social determinants among children and youth. Analyses of survey data include descriptive and inferential statistical approaches. Community-led design teams of parents and youth from the two participating neighbourhoods, supported by academic researchers, design thinking experts and community partners, use an HCD approach to: (1) gather data to understand COVID-19 vaccine decision-making among parents and youth in their community and frame a design challenge (inspiration phase); (2) develop an intervention to address the design challenge (ideation phase) and (3) pilot the intervention (implementation phase). Strategies to evaluate the community-led interventions will be co-developed during the implementation phase.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the research ethics boards of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre and the University of Montreal. Community design teams will be involved in the dissemination of findings and the design of knowledge translation initiatives that foster dialogue related to COVID-19 vaccination for children and adolescents among community, school and public health stakeholders. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, community forums, policy briefs, and social media content.

PMID:35383090 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061908

BMJ Open. 2022 Apr 5;12(4):e057009. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057009.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The evidence base for social prescribing is inconclusive, and evaluations have been criticised for lacking rigour. This realist review sought to understand how and why social prescribing evaluations work or do not work. Findings from this review will contribute to the development of an evidence-based evaluation framework and reporting standards for social prescribing.

DESIGN: A realist review.

DATA SOURCES: ASSIA, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus Online, Social Care Online, Web of Science and grey literature.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Documents reporting on social prescribing evaluations using any methods, published between 1998 and 2020 were included. Documents not reporting findings or lacking detail on methods for data collection and outcomes were excluded.

ANALYSIS: Included documents were segregated into subcases based on methodology. Data relating to context, mechanisms and outcomes and the programme theory were extracted and context-mechanism-outcome configurations were developed. Meta-inferences were drawn from all subcases to refine the programme theory.

RESULTS: 83 documents contributed to analysis. Generally, studies lacked in-depth descriptions of the methods and evaluation processes employed. A cyclical process of social prescribing evaluation was identified, involving preparation, conducting the study and interpretation. The analysis found that coproduction, alignment, research agency, sequential mixed-methods design and integration of findings all contributed to the development of an acceptable, high-quality social prescribing evaluation design. Context-mechanism-outcome configurations relating to these themes are reported.

CONCLUSIONS: To develop the social prescribing evidence base and address gaps in our knowledge about the impact of social prescribing and how it works, evaluations must be high quality and acceptable to stakeholders. Development of an evaluation framework and reporting standards drawing on the findings of this realist review will support this aim.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020183065.

PMID:35383075 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057009

BMJ Open. 2022 Apr 5;12(4):e055633. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055633.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Patients and families affected by paediatric cancer experience psychosocial burden not only during active treatment but also during follow-up care. Use of health services during follow-up treatment should be organised according to patients’ and family members’ needs with regard to their physical and mental situation. This study aims (1) at analysing healthcare use (medical and psychosocial) and associated factors in follow-up care of paediatric cancer patients and (2) at investigating the psychosocial situation and support needs of children and their families during follow-up care. Based on the results, recommendations for healthcare planning and for the development of new and the optimisation of existing support offers will be derived.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a prospective observational study using a naturalistic explorative design with quantitative and qualitative methods. Paediatric cancer patients in follow-up care, their parents and siblings will be invited to fill out a questionnaire at three measurement points (baseline, 6 months follow-up, 12 months follow-up; target n=252 complete data sets over all measurement points). Additionally, parents will be interviewed using a semistructured interview guideline (target n=15-20) at baseline. Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, linear mixed models and regression models. Moreover, explorative analyses will be conducted. Qualitative data will be analysed using qualitative content analyses.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the Local Psychological Ethics Committee (LPEK-0281). Our findings will be published in scientific, peer-reviewed journals and presented to clinicians and researchers on conferences. To assure that results will be available to affected patients and families, a lay summary will be written and disseminated using several ways (upload on the homepage of the research group, upload on the homepage of the psychosocial working group in the Society for Paediatric Oncology/Haematology in Germany, sending to relevant patient organisations).

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS00025289.

PMID:35383068 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055633

Am J Perinatol. 2022 Apr 5. doi: 10.1055/a-1817-5522. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: A statewide Maryland Perinatal Neonatal Quality Collaborative, facilitated by the Maryland Patient Safety Center (MPSC), identified the three specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-limited (SMART) aims to improve outcomes of NAS care: (1) to reduce hospital length of stay (LOS), (2) to reduce interhospital transfers, and (3) to reduce 30-day readmission rates of infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

STUDY DESIGN: The Maryland collaborative developed a bundle of best practices for care of infants with NAS. MPSC partnered with Vermont Oxford Network (VON) to utilize the VON NAS toolkit and provide its standardized NAS educational curriculum to address the three objectives for participating birthing hospitals. Efforts began in quarter 4 (Q4) 2016 and continued for two years. Thirty-one of Maryland’s 32 delivery hospitals (97%) participated in the two-year collaborative. Additionally, one specialty pediatric hospital with a NAS unit participated in the group learnings. Participating facilities implemented components of the MPSC NAS bundle and provided their staff caring for infants with NAS and their mothers access to the VON standardized educational curriculum. MPSC partnered with VON to conduct two audits of implementation of policies and procedures in Q1 2016 and Q3 2018. The Maryland Department of Health supplied quarterly aggregate hospital information on LOS, interhospital transfers, and 30-day readmissions of infants with a discharge diagnosis of ICD-10 P96.1.

RESULTS: Among term infants with NAS with total hospital stay greater than 5 days, we observed a non-significant reduction in both mean and median LOS of 1.5 days. In this same group, the rate of interhospital transfers fell significantly from 20.1% in 2016 to 13.8% in 2017 and to 11.0% in 2018.

CONCLUSION: The best practice bundle created by the Maryland collaborative was associated with a reduction in the percentage of infants with NAS who required interhospital transfer, thereby reducing family disruption.

PMID:35381608 | DOI:10.1055/a-1817-5522

J Am Acad Audiol. 2022 Apr 5. doi: 10.1055/a-1817-6840. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Identifying and understanding speech is difficult for individuals with sensorineural hearing loss, especially in noisy environments. Possible causes include less audibility of the signal, impaired temporal resolution and low selectivity of frequency. The hearing aid is the most common option used to minimize the problems faced by individuals with sensorineural hearing loss.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of multichannel and channel-free hearing aid signal processing techniques on spectral-temporal resolution and speech understanding in noise.

RESEARCH DESIGN: A experimental study was used in which the determined tests were applied to the participants.

STUDY SAMPLE: Thirty-four individuals with bilateral symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss between the ages of 18-70 were included in our study.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Spectral-temporally modulated ripple test, random gap detection test (RDGT) and Turkish matrix test were applied to the participants using multichannel and channel-free hearing aids. All the data obtained were compared statistically in terms of the performances of the hearing aids.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between multichannel and channel-free hearing aids for spectral resolution and speech understanding in noise tests (p>0.05). While there was no significant difference between the two hearing aids for 500 Hz and 4000 Hz RGDT in temporal resolution measurement (p>0.05); for 1000 Hz (p=.045), 2000 Hz (p=.046) and composite RGDT (p=.001), statistically significant better performances were obtained with the channel-free hearing aids.

CONCLUSIONS: It is thought that faster processing of the incoming signal in the channel-free hearing aids improves the temporal resolution performance. It is predicted that our study findings might help to determine the signal processing technique that will maximize the communication skills of the patients in various conditions.

PMID:35381603 | DOI:10.1055/a-1817-6840

Child Abuse Negl. 2022 Apr 2;128:105624. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105624. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Violence disclosure and help-seeking can mitigate adverse health effects associated with childhood violence, but little is known about facilitators and barriers of disclosure and help-seeking behaviors in sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To understand factors associated with disclosure and help-seeking to inform care.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants aged 13-24 years old in the 2019 Namibia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS).

METHODS: We assessed the prevalence of victimization, disclosure, and help-seeking and examined factors associated with violence disclosure and help-seeking, separately, by gender.

RESULTS: 4211 girls and 980 boys participated in the Namibia VACS. The prevalence of childhood sexual violence differed significantly by gender (15.7% among girls, 9.8% among boys), but physical violence prevalence did not differ by gender. Among victims of sexual violence, 57.3% of girls disclosed and 10.4% sought help, compared with only 30.7% and 3.2% of boys. Among victims of physical violence, 61.1% of girls and 53.4% of boys disclosed, and 16.9% of girls and 17.7% of boys sought help. Older age, social support, and experiencing more types of violence were associated with sexual violence disclosure among boys, but none of these factors were associated with sexual violence disclosure among girls. Lower education, perpetrator type, and witnessing violence were associated with physical violence disclosure among girls, while peer support and perpetrator type were associated with physical violence disclosure among boys.

CONCLUSIONS: Factors associated with childhood violence differed by gender and violence type in Namibia, highlighting a need for gender-specific violence services to facilitate violence disclosure and help-seeking.

PMID:35381545 | DOI:10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105624