Cross-Spectral Analysis For Spatial Point-Lattice Processes

In this study, we explore the relationship between the components of a hybrid process consisting of a spatial point process arid a lattice process using two-dimensional spectral techniques. Simulated spatial point-lattice patterns are used to demonstrate how the different cross-spectral statistics can reveal correlation between the two components. A method to adjust for jumps that normally occur in the cross-spectral phase statistic is then proposed. Such adjustment is needed to enable us to calculate the slope of the phase spectrum which measures the shift between the two components. Several methods to calculate the slope are investigated. Asymptotic properties of the cross-spectral statistics are derived and their confidence intervals estimated. A test that the components are independent is described. In a study region, lattice processes are observed at regular grids whereas point, processes can be observed anywhere. In order to account for discrepancies that. might arise due to this, methods to discretise the point pattern are suggested. Cross-spectral techniques are then applied to analyse the joint process of the discretised point pattern and the lattice pattern. Finally, we apply the techniques suggested above to study the joint properties of two data sets. The first consists of altitude data of a region in a rain forest in French Guyana together with the locations of a number of tree species in that region. The second set consists of altitude data of the Sahel region of Africa together with location of storms and some of their characteristics. In order to incorporate the storm characteristics in the analysis, cross-spectral tools used to analyse two components are extended to three components

Openness Personality Trait Associated With Benefit From a Nonpharmacological Breathlessness Intervention in People With Intrathoracic Cancer: An Exploratory Analysis

Context: Breathlessness is common in people with lung cancer. Nonpharmacological breathlessness interventions reduce distress because of and increase mastery over breathlessness. Objectives: Identify patient characteristics associated with response to breathlessness interventions. Methods: Exploratory secondary trial data analysis. Response defined as a one-point improvement in 0–10 Numerical Rating Scale of worst breathlessness/last 24 hours (response—worst) or a 0.5-point improvement in the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ) mastery (response—mastery) at four weeks. Univariable regression explored relationships with plausible demographic, clinical, and psychological variables followed by multivariable regression for associated (P < 0.05) variables. Results: About 158 participants with intrathoracic cancer (mean age 69.4 [SD 9.35] years; 40% women) were randomized to one or three breathlessness training sessions. About 91 participants had evaluable data for response—worst and 107 for response—mastery. In the univariable analyses, the personality trait openness was associated with response—worst (odds ratio [OR] 1.99 [95% CI 1.08–3.67]; P = 0.028) and response—mastery (OR 1.84 [95% CI 1.04–3.23]; P = 0.035). Higher CRQ—fatigue (OR 0.61 [95% CI 0.41–0.91]; P = 0.015), CRQ—emotion (OR 0.68 [95% CI 0.47–0.96]; P = 0.030), and worse CRQ—mastery (OR 0.61 [95% CI 0.42–0.88]; P = 0.008), and the presence of metastases and fatigue were associated with reduced odds of response—mastery. In the adjusted response—mastery model, only openness remained (OR 1.73 [95% CI 0.95–3.15]; P = 0.072). Conclusion: Worse baseline health, worse breathlessness mastery, but not severity, and openness were associated with a better odds of response. Breathlessness services must be easy to access, and patients should be encouraged and supported to attend

Loneliness, social isolation and social relationships: what are we measuring? A novel framework for classifying and comparing tools

OBJECTIVES: We present a novel way of classifying and comparing measures of social relationships to help readers interpret the growing literature on loneliness and social isolation and to provide researchers with a starting point to guide their choice of measuring tool. METHODS: Measures of social relationships used in epidemiological studies were identified from two systematic reviews—one review on the association between social relationships and health and social care service use, and a second review on the association between social relationships and health. Questions from each measure were retrieved and tabulated to derive a classification of social relationship measures. RESULTS: We present a classification of measures according to two dimensions: (1) whether instruments cover structural or functional aspects of social relationships and (2) the degree of subjectivity asked of respondents. We explain how this classification can be used to clarify the remit of the many questionnaires used in the literature and to compare them. CONCLUSIONS: Different dimensions of social relationships are likely to have different implications for health. Our classification of social relationship measures transcends disciplinary and conceptual boundaries, allowing researchers to compare tools that developed from different theoretical perspectives. Careful choice of measures is essential to further our understanding of the links between social relationships and health, to identify people in need of help and to design appropriate prevention and intervention strategies

Effect of consanguinity on birth weight for gestational age in a developing country.

Consanguinity, the marriage between relatives, has been associated with adverse child health outcomes because it increases homozygosity of recessive alleles. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of consanguinity on the birth weight of newborns in Greater Beirut, Lebanon. Cross-sectional data were collected on 10,289 consecutive liveborn singleton newborns admitted to eight hospitals belonging to the National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network during the years 2000 and 2001. Birth weight was modeled by use of the fetal growth ratio, defined as the ratio of the observed birth weight to the median birth weight for gestational age. A mixed-effect multiple linear regression model was used to predict the net effect of first- and second-cousin marriage on the birth weight for gestational age, accounting for within-hospital clustering of data. After controlling for medical and sociodemographic covariates, the authors found a statistically significant negative association between consanguinity and birth weight at each gestational age. No significant difference was observed in the decrease in birth weight between the first- and second-cousin marriages. Overall, consanguinity was associated with a decrease in birth weight for gestational age by 1.8% (beta = -0.018, 95% confidence interval: -0.027, -0.008). The largest effects on fetal growth were seen with lower parity and smoking during pregnancy

Tobacco use among 1,310,716 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in 42 low- and middle-income countries : secondary data analysis from the 2010-2016 Demographic and Health Surveys

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use among women, especially during pregnancy is a public health concern. There is a need to understand the diverse nature of their tobacco consumption across the globe. METHODS: We used Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data collected between 2010 and 2016 from 42 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to estimate the prevalence of smoking, smokeless tobacco, and dual use among pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age (15–49 y). We compared tobacco use between both groups adjusted for age, type of residence, education and combined wealth index, and a subgroup analysis for the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) as the tobacco use in SEAR among women is far more diverse than in other regions primarily due to the popularity of smokeless tobacco use in this region. RESULTS: Based on the data of 1 310 716 women in 42 LMICs, the prevalence of smoking was 0.69%(95%CI: 0.51–0.90) among pregnant women and 1.09%(95%CI: 0.81–1.42) among non-pregnant women. The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use was 0.56%(95%CI: 0.33–0.84) among pregnant women and 0.78%(95%CI: 0.35–1.37) among non-pregnant women. The relative risk ratios(RRR) for smoking (0.85; 95%CI: 0.67–1.09) and smokeless tobacco use (0.81; 95%CI:0.67–1.00) were not-significantly lower among pregnant women than non-pregnant women and education and wealth index had an inverse relationship with both forms of tobacco. In SEAR, among pregnant women, the prevalence of smoking and smokeless tobacco use was 1.81% and 0.45%, respectively. However, pregnant women were 7%(RRR 1.07; 95%CI:1.02–1.12) more likely to use smokeless tobacco than non-pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Despite the added risk of foetal harm during pregnancy, there is no evidence that the tobacco consumption between pregnant and non-pregnant women differ in 42 LMICs. A significantly higher use of smokeless tobacco among pregnant women in SEAR is of particular concern and warrants further investigation. IMPLICATIONS: Tobacco use among women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is lower than high-income countries (HICs), but this may be because LMICs are earlier in the epidemiological transition of tobacco use. If ignored as a public health issue and the tobacco industry continues to market its products to women, the level of tobacco use may rise as it did in HICs. Also, despite low prevalence rates and with no evidence that these differ among pregnant and non-pregnant women, is concerning as tobacco consumption in any form during pregnancy is associated with poor birth outcomes. This suggests a need for raising awareness about the harms of tobacco use among women in LMICs, especially during pregnancy. There is a need to develop preventive and cessation interventions to decrease tobacco use (smoking and smokeless) among women who are from low socio-economic status and less educated, as they bear the greatest burden of tobacco use

Which Behaviour Change Techniques may help Waterpipe smokers to quit? An expert consensus using a Modified Delphi Technique

Introduction: Waterpipe smoking is addictive and harmful. The determinants of waterpipe smoking may differ from those of cigarette smoking; therefore, behavioral approaches to support quitting may also differ between these two tobacco products. While some evidence exists on effective behavioral change techniques (BCTs) to facilitate cigarette smoking cessation, there is little research on waterpipe smoking cessation. Methods: Twenty-four experts were selected from the author lists of peer-reviewed, randomized controlled trials on waterpipe smoking cessation. They were invited to two rounds of a consensus development exercise using modified Delphi technique. Experts ranked 55 BCTs categorized further into those that promote; “awareness of harms of waterpipe smoking and advantages of quitting” (14), “preparation and planning to quit” (29), and “relapse prevention and sustaining an ex-smoker identity” (12) on their potential effectiveness. Kendall’s W statistics was used to assess agreement. Results: Fifteen experts responded in round 1 and 14 completed both rounds. A strong consensus was achieved for BCTs that help in “relapse prevention and sustaining ex-smoker identity” (w = 0.7; p < .001) and a moderate for those that promote “awareness of harms of waterpipe smoking and advantages of quitting” (w = 0.6; p < .001) and “preparation and planning to quit” (w = 0.6; p < .001). Providing information on the consequences of waterpipe smoking and its cessation, assessing readiness and ability to quit, and making people aware of the withdrawal symptoms, were the three highest-ranking BCTs. Conclusion: Based on expert consensus, an inventory of BCTs ordered for their potential effectiveness can be useful for health professionals offering cessation support to waterpipe smokers. Implications: Waterpipe smoking is addictive, harmful, and gaining global popularity, particularly among youth. An expert consensus on behavior change techniques, likely to be effective in supporting waterpipe smokers to quit, has practice and research implications. Smoking cessation advisors can use these techniques to counsel waterpipe smokers who wish to quit. Behavioral and public health scientists can also use these to develop and evaluate behavioral support interventions for this client group