2,633 research outputs found

    Analysing the impact of post-pandemic factors on entrepreneurial intentions: The enduring significance of self-efficacy in student planned behaviour.

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    After the pandemic, there has still been an increased interest in examining university students’ entrepreneurial goals. In this study, we looked at the practicality and validity of using self-efficacy to broaden the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in assessing students’ intent to be entrepreneurs. Additionally, we looked at how students’ geographic location and gender affected their plans to start their businesses. Following the epidemic, we analyzed data obtained from a number of university students in both urban and rural regions of India using PLS-SEM and ANN methods. Our study confirmed the pivotal role that university students’ self-efficacy had in their entrepreneurial goals. The results of multi-group analysis (MGA) reported the insignificant moderating role of gender for the students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Still, they found a statistically significant difference in their said behavior control for entrepreneurial intentions regarding location. Based on their perceived behavioral control, the findings also suggest that youths in rural areas had lower entrepreneurial inclinations than urban students. The study indicated that considering the importance of student self-efficacy, universities should focus on improving students’ skill sets and problem-solving mindsets while constructing education courses

    Beyond weight loss: establishing a postbariatric surgery patient support group - what do patients want?

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    Purpose: There are limited resources for long-term specialist follow-up after bariatric surgery. In selected centres, patients can access a postoperative support group, but there is no clear evidence to guide their delivery. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of bariatric surgery patients (n = 152) who had been discharged from specialist follow-up (mean time since surgery 5.5 years), covering weight history, physical and psychosocial comorbidities, and the need for a postoperative bariatric support group. Results: Fifty-eight percent wanted a postbariatric surgery patient support group. This was not associated with operation type or the amount of weight lost or regained. However, those who wanted a support group were significantly more likely to be struggling to keep the weight off, to be unhappy with the way they look, or to be experiencing difficulties returning to work. Conclusions: These data point to an unmet patient requirement for a postoperative support group that is independent of weight loss success. More research is required to ascertain how such a group should be delivered, but our data would suggest that supporting patients with weight loss maintenance, body image, and return to work is an important part of postoperative care, and these needs extend well beyond the immediate period of specialist follow-up

    Preventing strokes in people with atrial fibrillation by improving ABC.

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    Nationally, anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is improving but remains characterised by marked provider variation. Uncontrolled blood pressure and coronary artery disease further increase cardiovascular risk. Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and local National Health Service (NHS) hospital trusts supported a programme to improve anticoagulation, blood pressure and cholesterol management; the ABC of AF improvement. The programme was delivered by a clinical pharmacist in 43 general practices, who used Active Patient Link (APL-AF) software to identify and electronically review the records of AF patients potentially suitable for anticoagulation. These patients were invited for a general practitioner (GP)-pharmacist consultation with initiation of anticoagulation where appropriate. Blood pressure and lipid treatment were also optimised. The university-based Clinical Effectiveness Group (CEG) provided software support using standard data entry templates from which the APL-AF software was enabled. This identified suitable patients (eg, on aspirin monotherapy, no treatment or inappropriate dual treatments) for clinical and treatment review. It also reported real-time overall practice performance. Additionally, GP education on direct oral anticoagulant initiation in general practices, use of software and performance reviews, took place for all practices in Redbridge. A weekly multidisciplinary team (MDT) video conference discussed complex patients with a cardiologist, haematologist, GP with specialist interest in cardiology, GP coordinator and clinical pharmacist. This enabled sharing of patient records between GPs and hospital specialists with improved communication and learning. Over 1 year 2016-2017, anticoagulation in eligible AF patients (CHA2DS2-VASc≥2) increased significantly by 6.3% from 77.0% to 83.3% (p<0.0001), in comparison to 2.8% average improvement in England. Exception reporting was also significantly reduced from 10.0% to 5.8%; a reduction of 4.2% in comparison to a reduction in England of 1.5%. Use of antiplatelet monotherapy was approximately halved, from 12.3% to 6.4%. These methods are being scaled locally in other London CCGs and are potentially scalable nationally, specifically targeting the poorer performing CCGs

    Mucin-Inspired Thermoresponsive Synthetic Hydrogels Induce Stasis in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and Human Embryos.

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    Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs; both embryonic and induced pluripotent) rapidly proliferate in adherent culture to maintain their undifferentiated state. However, for mammals exhibiting delayed gestation (diapause), mucin-coated embryos can remain dormant for days or months in utero, with their constituent PSCs remaining pluripotent under these conditions. Here we report cellular stasis for both hPSC colonies and preimplantation embryos immersed in a wholly synthetic thermoresponsive gel comprising poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)-poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) [PGMA55-PHPMA135] diblock copolymer worms. This hydroxyl-rich mucin-mimicking nonadherent 3D gel maintained PSC viability and pluripotency in the quiescent G0 state without passaging for at least 14 days. Similarly, gel-coated human embryos remain in a state of suspended animation (diapause) for up to 8 days. The discovery of a cryptic cell arrest mechanism for both hPSCs and embryos suggests an important connection between the cellular mechanisms that evoke embryonic diapause and pluripotency. Moreover, such synthetic worm gels offer considerable utility for the short-term (weeks) storage of either pluripotent stem cells or human embryos without cryopreservation

    ABC's of Writing Medical Papers in English

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    Publishing medical papers in English is important as English remains the predominant language for most medical papers (both electronic and traditional journal publications). In addition, journals with the highest impact factors are published in English and a publication in English thus enhances the visibility of authors and their institutions, and is important for promotion in some academic centers. This article reviews the basic principles that will help you successfully publish a manuscript in English. Although other books and articles are available on this subject, there are relatively few references. The present article is based on this author's experience of publishing nearly 400 articles in English. It will emphasize writing original articles, but the principles can be applied to virtually any type of manuscript

    Problem gambling: a suitable case for social work?

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    Problem gambling attracts little attention from health and social care agencies in the UK. Prevalence surveys suggest that 0.6% of the population are problem gamblers and it is suggested that for each of these individuals, 10–17 other people, including children and other family members, are affected. Problem gambling is linked to many individual and social problems including: depression, suicide, significant debt, bankruptcy, family conflict, domestic violence, neglect and maltreatment of children and offending. This makes the issue central to social work territory. Yet, the training of social workers in the UK has consistently neglected issues of addictive behaviour. Whilst some attention has been paid in recent years to substance abuse issues, there has remained a silence in relation to gambling problems. Social workers provide more help for problems relating to addictions than other helping professions. There is good evidence that treatment, and early intervention for gambling problems, including psycho-social and public health approaches, can be very effective. This paper argues that problem gambling should be moved onto the radar of the social work profession, via inclusion on qualifying and post-qualifying training programmes and via research and dissemination of good practice via institutions such as the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). Keywords: problem gambling; addictive behaviour; socia

    Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Increases Glycemic Variability and Time in Hypoglycemia in Patients With Obesity and Prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study

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    OBJECTIVE: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is an established treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity. The study objective was to establish RYGB's effects on glycemic variability (GV) and hypoglycemia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 10 participants with obesity and prediabetes or type 2 diabetes who underwent RYGB. Patients were studied before RYGB (Pre) and 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years postsurgery with continuous glucose measurement (CGM). A mixed-meal test (MMT) was conducted at Pre, 1 month, and 1 year. RESULTS: After RYGB, mean CGM decreased (at 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years), and GV increased (at 1 year and 2 years). Five of the 10 participants had a percent time in range (%TIR) <3.0 mmol/L (54 mg/dL) greater than the international consensus target of 1% at 1 or 2 years. Peak glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucagon area under the curve during MMT were positively and negatively associated, respectively, with contemporaneous %TIR <3.0 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing RYGB are at risk for development of postbariatric hypoglycemia due to a combination of reduced mean glucose, increased GV, and increased GLP-1 response
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