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This study evaluated the suitability of the latest retrospective Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement V06 (IMERG) Final Run product with a relatively long period (beginning from June 2000) for drought monitoring over mainland China. First, the accuracy of IMERG was evaluated by using observed precipitation data from 807 meteorological stations at multiple temp
Objective: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an established therapy for systemic sclerosis (SSc), but its pharmacokinetics in this disease remains unexplored. We have investigated drug exposure in MMF-Treated patients with SSc in relation to clinical features of the disease and common concomitant drugs. Methods: This study was predefined to include 35 MMF-Treated SSc patients who were using MMF at a
A modification to our previous simulation of breast anatomy is proposed to improve the quality of simulated x-ray projections images. The image quality is affected by the voxel size of the simulation. Large voxels can cause notable spatial quantization artifacts; small voxels extend the generation time and increase the memory requirements. An improvement in image quality is achievable without redu
Purpose: Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a promising breast cancer screening tool that has already begun making inroads into clinical practice. However, there is ongoing debate over how to quantitatively evaluate and optimize these systems, because different definitions of image quality can lead to different optimal design strategies. Powerful and accurate tools are desired to extend our und
Rationale and Objectives: Studies have demonstrated a relationship between mammographic parenchymal texture and breast cancer risk. Although promising, texture analysis in mammograms is limited by tissue superposition. Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a novel tomographic x-ray breast imaging modality that alleviates the effect of tissue superposition, offering superior parenchymal texture vis
Communicating results from genomic sequencing to family members can play an essential role allowing access to surveillance, prevention, treatment or prophylactic measures. Yet, many patients struggle with communication of these results and it is unclear to what extent this is discussed during the consent process. We conducted an online systematic search and used content analysis to explore how con
The Gaia-ESO Survey (GES) observed many open clusters as part of its programme to spectroscopically characterize the various Milky Way populations. GES spectroscopy and Gaia astrometry from its second data release are used here to assign membership probabilities to targets towards 32 open clusters with ages from 1 to 3800 Myr, based on maximum likelihood modelling of the 3D kinematics of the clust
Background: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death, and out of all stroke cases, 10-15% originate from a previously asymptomatic stenosis in the internal carotid artery. Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate whether dietary and lifestyle habits were associated with future risk of incident carotid artery disease (CAD). Methods: Baseline examinations on middle-aged individuals (n = 30,
Whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) have become increasingly available in the research and clinical settings and are now also being offered by direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing (GT) companies. This offer can be perceived as amplifying the already identified concerns regarding adequacy of informed consent (IC) for both WES/WGS and the DTC GT context. We performed a
Transitional care for adolescents with congenital malformations, such as anorectal malformations (ARM), is described sparsely in the literature and referred to as being inadequate. In order to organize future successful healthcare structures, knowledge of patient-reported important aspects of transition is required. The aim of the study was therefore to explore the needs and expectations of transi
Based on extensive qualitative (interviews, n50) and quantitative data (survey questionnaire, n3200), this paper identifies management – and not only managerial regimes – as a problem in in public sector work places. The paper specifically explores what nurses and social workers identify as central areas of conflict shaping their work, and what forms of structural and organizational change they vi
In this study, static coefficients of friction for laminated veneer lumber on steel surfaces were determined experimentally. The focus was on the frictional behaviors at different pressure levels, which were studied in combination with other influencing parameters: fiber orientation, moisture content, and surface roughness. Coefficients of friction were obtained as 0.10–0.30 for a smooth steel sur
A new photoconjugation approach was developed to prepare nanoparticle-supported boronic acid polymer for effective separation and enrichment of bacteria. The photo-activated polymer immobilization was demonstrated by coupling an azide-modified copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide and glycidyl methacrylate to a perfluorophenyl azide-modified silica surface. The thermoresponsive polymer was synthesize
Background: Empowered women have improved decision-making capacity and can demand equal access to health services. Community-based interventions based on building women’s groups for awareness generation on maternal and child health (MCH) are the best and cost-effective approaches in improving their access to health services. The present study evaluated a community-based intervention aimed at impro
Background and purpose: Infections with human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) have been linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) development. For EBV, late infection has been proposed as a risk factor, but serological support is lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate how age affects the EBV and HHV-6A associated risks of developing MS. Methods: In this nested case–co
Natural history collections constitute an enormous wealth of information of Life on Earth. It is estimated that over 2 billion specimens are preserved at institutions worldwide, of which less than 10% are accessible via biodiversity data aggregators such as GBIF. Moreover, they are a very important resource for eco-evolutionary research, which greatly depends on knowing the precise location where
Structured reflective writing during clinical placement has been shown to be valuable for students’ learning and for their personal and professional development. The aim of this study was to examine clinical supervisors’ experiences of midwifery students’ daily written reflections on their practice at birthing units. A qualitative study was performed, and data were analysed using content analysis.
