2,064 research outputs found
Depressive symptoms across the menopause transition: findings from a large population-based cohort study
No full textObjective: The aim of the study was to describe the trajectories of depressive symptoms in a large populationbased cohort of midaged women, and to examine the associations of current and changing reproductive stage with depressive symptoms over time. Methods: Prospective, population-based cohort study of 13,715 women aged 45 to 50 years followed up for over 15 years (Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health). Nearly 6,000 women provided complete data for this study. Menopause status was determined from questionnaires about hysterectomy, oophorectomy, hormone therapy, and menstrual patterns. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CESD-10). Results: Latent class analysis indicated four distinct profiles of CESD-10 scores over 15 years: stable low (80.0%), increasing (9.0%), decreasing (8.5%), and stable high (2.5%). Those with ‘‘increasing’’ depressive symptoms were more likely to have had bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or be perimenopausal at baseline compared with women in the ‘‘stable low’’ group. Depressive symptoms were higher in perimenopausal women, (higher CESD-10 score of 0.19, 95% CI 0.02, 0.31), after hysterectomy alone (0.53, 95% CI 0.31, 0.74), bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with/without hysterectomy (0.85, 95% CI 0.58, 1.12), hormone therapy users (0.19, 95% CI 0.01, 0.36), and after starting or stopping hormone therapy compared with postmenopausal women (adjusted for sociodemographic factors, vasomotor symptoms, health behaviors, and history of depression diagnosis or treatment). Conclusions: Depressive symptoms follow distinct trajectories across the menopause transition. Most women have stable symptoms, but around 9% have increasing symptoms and a similar proportion (8.5%) decreasing symptoms. Increasing depressive symptoms were independent of vasomotor symptoms but were associated with oophorectomy and stopping or starting hormone therapy. A large number of women were excluded due to missing data, and thus the results should be interpreted with caution.Martha Hickey, Danielle A.J.M. Schoenaker, Hadine Joffe and Gita D. Mishr
Culture, community, and cancer: understandings of breast cancer from a non-lived experience among women living in Soweto
No full textAbstract Background Individual perceptions, socio-cultural beliefs and health system factors are key determinants of people’s health seeking behavior and are widely cited as the causes of delayed breast cancer diagnosis among women from structurally vulnerable settings. Asking: “how do women with a non-lived experience of cancer understand the disease and, what informs their health seeking behaviors?”, we qualitatively explored, individual, sociocultural and health system elements from a conceptual model derived from the Socioecological, Health Belief and Cancer Stigma Frameworks, to understand perspectives of breast cancer in a South African urban community setting. Methods Using a deductive approach and allowing new themes to emerge inductively, we investigated phenomenologically, breast cancer perceptions among 34 women from Soweto, Johannesburg (aged 35–74 years) in 6 Focus Group Discussions. We then conducted 20 follow-up semi-structured in-depth interviews to explore novel themes and suggestions for increasing breast cancer screening. Results Findings revealed some awareness of breast and other cancers, but confusion and gaps in understanding of the disease, resulting in socio-culturally influenced misperceptions of risks, causes, and outcomes following treatment of breast cancer. This fueled perceptions of profound fear and stigma against people with breast and other cancers. These findings together with participant perceptions of primary healthcare providers being unwelcoming, under-resourced, and insufficiently trained to deal with breast cancer, resulted in women reporting being reluctant to participating in screening/early detection care seeking behavior. Women only accessed primary care when experiencing extreme pain or ill-health. Participants suggested as solutions for future interventions, the need for sustained community engagement, harnessing existing clinic and community stakeholders and resources to provide clear and understandable breast cancer information and encouragement for screening uptake. Conclusions Health literacy gaps surrounding breast cancer fuels socio-culturally influenced misperceptions, fear, stigma, and fatalism among women from Soweto. Women perceive primary care providers of having insufficient knowledge, skills, and resources to provide effective breast cancer screening services. Participants suggested the need for greater community engagement involving primary clinics and existing community stakeholders working collaboratively. Clear, understandable, and consistent information about breast cancer must be regularly disseminated and communities must be regularly encouraged to utilize breast cancer screening services
China's Institutionalised Cultural Presence in Africa
No full textThis study looks at the effects of Chinese cultural diplomacy on the African continent. While for a long time China's investments in large infrastructure projects were viewed positively, Joffe now notes a growing awareness both in civil society and in government agencies of ambivalent consequences. Many African countries are now groaning under the burden of debt, and about two-thirds of new loans now come from China. This study provides insight into Chinese investments, particularly in the area of international cultural policy. The study's findings highlight the complexity of Chinese engagement in Africa and the various facets of its associated impacts. The author suggests that African actors should ensure that a more equitable engagement develops, where conditions are determined by local needs and culture, and more aggressively advocate for equality, needs, and respect for national sovereignty
MoReLab: A Software for User-Assisted 3D Reconstruction
No full textWe present MoReLab, a tool for user-assisted 3D reconstruction. This reconstruction requires an understanding of the shapes of the desired objects. Our experiments demonstrate that existing Structure from Motion (SfM) software packages fail to estimate accurate 3D models in low-quality videos due to several issues such as low resolution, featureless surfaces, low lighting, etc. In such scenarios, which are common for industrial utility companies, user assistance becomes necessary to create reliable 3D models. In our system, the user first needs to add features and correspondences manually on multiple video frames. Then, classic camera calibration and bundle adjustment are applied. At this point, MoReLab provides several primitive shape tools such as rectangles, cylinders, curved cylinders, etc., to model different parts of the scene and export 3D meshes. These shapes are essential for modeling industrial equipment whose videos are typically captured by utility companies with old video cameras (low resolution, compression artifacts, etc.) and in disadvantageous lighting conditions (low lighting, torchlight attached to the video camera, etc.). We evaluate our tool on real industrial case scenarios and compare it against existing approaches. Visual comparisons and quantitative results show that MoReLab achieves superior results with regard to other user-interactive 3D modeling tools
Measurement of the branching ratio of B[over ¯]→D^{(*)}τ^{−}ν[over ¯]_{τ} relative to B[over ¯]→D^{(*)}ℓ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{ℓ} decays with hadronic tagging at Belle
No full textWe report a measurement of the branching fraction ratios R(D(*)) of ¯B→D(*)τ−¯ντ relative to ¯B→D(*)ℓ−¯νℓ (where ℓ=e or μ) using the full Belle data sample of 772×106B¯B pairs collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e− collider. The measured values are R(D)=0.375±0.064(stat)±0.026(syst) and R(D∗)=0.293±0.038(stat)±0.015(syst). The analysis uses hadronic reconstruction of the tag-side B meson and purely leptonic τ decays. The results are consistent with earlier measurements and do not show a significant deviation from the standard model prediction
Les Fusarium isolés à partir d\u27avocats et d\u27avocatiers d\u27Israël
No full textLes Fusarium isolés de 30 échantillons d\u27avocats et de brindilles d\u27avocatier récoltés dans la plaine côtière Israélienne comprennent F. avenaceum, F. equiseti, F. moniliforme, F. moniliforme, var. minus, F. oxysporum, F. sambucinum, F. semitectum, F. solani. Nous donnons une liste des symptômes avec lesquels étaient associées les espèces ci-dessus. En culture in vitro la plupart de ces espèces montrent un optimum de croissance à 20¼ C et au-dessus. Lors de tests d\u27inoculation dans des fruits incisés toutes les espèces (sauf F. moniliforme var. minus non testée) ont montré un pouvoir pathogène. A des températures supérieures à 20¼ C les temps d\u27incubation pour la plupart des espèces sont de 5 à 10 jours, sauf pour F. semitectum qui demande un plus long déla
Search for the rare decay D^{0}→γγ at Belle
No full textWe search for the rare radiative decay D 0 → γγ using a data sample with an integrated luminosity of 832 fb−1 recorded by the Belle detector at the KEKB e +e − asymmetric-energy collider. We find no statistically significant signal and set an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(D 0 → γγ) \u3c 8.5 × 10−7 at 90% confidence level. This is the most restrictive limit on the decay channel to date
A glossary for health impact assessment
No full textHealth impact assessments look at the effect on health of policies implemented outside the healthcare sector. A glossary is provided in the following article
Measurement of the τ Lepton Polarization and R(D^{*}) in the Decay B[over ¯]→D^{*}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ}
No full textWe report the first measurement of the τ lepton polarization Pτ (D ∗ ) in the decay B¯ → D ∗ τ −ν¯τ as well as a new measurement of the ratio of the branching fractions R(D ∗ ) = B(B¯ → D ∗ τ −ν¯τ )/B(B¯ → D ∗ ` −ν¯`), where ` − denotes an electron or a muon, and the τ is reconstructed in the modes τ − → π −ντ and τ − → ρ −ντ . We use the full data sample of 772×106 BB¯ pairs recorded with the Belle detector at the KEKB electron-positron collider. Our results, Pτ (D ∗ ) = −0.38±0.51(stat.) +0.21 −0.16(syst.) and R(D ∗ ) = 0.270 ± 0.035(stat.) +0.028 −0.025(syst.), are consistent with the theoretical predictions of the Standard Model
Predicted health impacts of urban air quality management
No full textStudy objective: The 1995 UK Environment Act required local authorities to review air quality and, where UK National Air Quality Strategy objectives (except ozone) are likely to be exceeded in 2005, to declare local air quality management areas and prepare action plans. This study modelled the impacts on health of reductions from current levels of PM10 to these objectives.Design: The framework for conducting quantified health impact assessment assessed causality, then, if appropriate, examined the shape and magnitude of the exposure-response relations. The study modelled declines in pollution to achieve the objectives, then modelled the numbers of deaths and admissions affected if air pollution declined from existing levels to meet the objectives, using routine data.Setting: Westminster, central London.Main results: Attaining the 2004 PM10 24 hour objective in Westminster results in 1-21 lives no longer shortened in one year (annual deaths 1363). Reducing exceedences from 35 to seven almost doubles the estimates. The 2009 objective for the annual mean requires a substantial reduction in PM10, which would delay 8-20 deaths. About 20 respiratory and 14-20 circulatory admissions would be affected and around 5% of emergency hospital attendances for asthma by attaining the lower annual mean target. The effects of long term exposure to particulates may be an order of magnitude higher: models predict about 24 deaths are delayed by reaching the 2004 annual target (40 mug/m(3) ([gravimetric])) and a hundred deaths by reducing annual mean PM10 to 20 mug/m(3) ([gravimetric]).Conclusions: Modelling can be used to estimate the potential health impacts of air quality management programmes
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