260 research outputs found
Operational research to support equitable non-communicable disease policy in low-income and middle-income countries in the sustainable development era : a scoping review
Introduction Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent a growing health burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Operational research (OR) has been used globally to support the design of effective and efficient public policies. Equity is emphasised in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) framework introduced in 2015 and can be analysed within OR studies.
Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science for studies published between 2015 and 2018 at the intersection of five domains (OR, LMICs, NCDs, health and decision-making and/or policy-making). We categorised the type of policy intervention and described any concern for equity, which we defined as either analysis of differential impact by subgroups or, policy focus on disadvantaged groups or promoting universal health coverage (UHC).
Results A total of 149 papers met the inclusion criteria. The papers covered a number of policy types and a broad range of NCDs, although not in proportion to their relative disease burden. A concern for equity was demonstrated by 88 of the 149 papers (59%), with 8 (5%) demonstrating differential impact, 47 (32%) targeting disadvantaged groups, and 68 (46%) promoting UHC.
Conclusion Overall, OR for NCD health policy in the SDG era is being applied to a diverse set of interventions and conditions across LMICs and researchers appear to be concerned with equity. However, the current focus of published research does not fully reflect population needs and the analysis of differential impact within populations is rare
Entropy Crisis, Ideal Glass Transition and Polymer Melting: Exact Solution on a Husimi Cactus
We introduce an extension of the lattice model of melting of semiflexible
polymers originally proposed by Flory. Along with a bending penalty, present in
the original model and involving three sites of the lattice, we introduce an
interaction energy that corresponds to the presence of a pair of parallel bonds
and a second interaction energy associated with the presence of a hairpin turn.
Both these new terms represent four-site interactions. The model is solved
exactly on a Husimi cactus, which approximates a square lattice. We study the
phase diagram of the system as a function of the energies. For a proper choice
of the interaction energies, the model exhibits a first-order melting
transition between a liquid and a crystalline phase. The continuation of the
liquid phase below this temperature gives rise to a supercooled liquid, which
turns continuously into a new low-temperature phase, called metastable liquid.
This liquid-liquid transition seems to have some features that are
characteristic of the critical transition predicted by the mode-coupling
theory.Comment: To be published in Physical Review E, 68 (2) (2003
Deoxyriboâ and Ribonucleoside HâPhosphonates
Most methods for preparing Hâphosphonate monoesters suffer from variable yields and are often incompatible with common protecting groups used in oligonucleotide synthesis. This unit describes four procedures that consistently give high yields of the desired products. Taken together, they provide an arsenal of phosphonylation prodecures that it compatible with most common protecting groups.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143703/1/cpnc0206.pd
Photoassociation spectroscopy of cold calcium atoms
Photoassociation spectroscopy experiments on 40Ca atoms close to the
dissociation limit 4s4s 1S0 - 4s4p 1P1 are presented. The vibronic spectrum was
measured for detunings of the photoassociation laser ranging from 0.6 GHz to 68
GHz with respect to the atomic resonance. In contrast to previous measurements
the rotational splitting of the vibrational lines was fully resolved. Full
quantum mechanical numerical simulations of the photoassociation spectrum were
performed which allowed us to put constraints on the possible range of the
calcium scattering length to between 50 a_0 and 300 a_0
Spin density wave dislocation in chromium probed by coherent x-ray diffraction
We report on the study of a magnetic dislocation in pure chromium. Coherent
x-ray diffraction profiles obtained on the incommensurate Spin Density Wave
(SDW) reflection are consistent with the presence of a dislocation of the
magnetic order, embedded at a few micrometers from the surface of the sample.
Beyond the specific case of magnetic dislocations in chromium, this work may
open up a new method for the study of magnetic defects embedded in the bulk.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Isospin Asymmetry in Nuclei and Neutron Stars
The roles of isospin asymmetry in nuclei and neutron stars are investigated
using a range of potential and field-theoretical models of nucleonic matter.
The parameters of these models are fixed by fitting the properties of
homogeneous bulk matter and closed-shell nuclei. We discuss and unravel the
causes of correlations among the neutron skin thickness in heavy nuclei, the
pressure of beta-equilibrated matter at a density of 0.1 fm, the
derivative of the nuclear symmetry energy at the same density and the radii of
moderate mass neutron stars. Constraints on the symmetry properties of nuclear
matter from the binding energies of nuclei are examined. The extent to which
forthcoming neutron skin measurements will further delimit the symmetry
properties is investigated. The impact of symmetry energy constraints for the
mass and moment of inertia contained within neutron star crusts and the
threshold density for the nucleon direct Urca process, all of which are
potentially measurable, is explored. We also comment on the minimum neutron
star radius, assuming that only nucleonic matter exists within the star.Comment: 49 pages, 17 figures, Phys. Rep. (in press); made improvements to
"RAPR" and corrected transition densitie
The Vlasov limit and its fluctuations for a system of particles which interact by means of a wave field
In two recent publications [Commun. PDE, vol.22, p.307--335 (1997), Commun.
Math. Phys., vol.203, p.1--19 (1999)], A. Komech, M. Kunze and H. Spohn studied
the joint dynamics of a classical point particle and a wave type generalization
of the Newtonian gravity potential, coupled in a regularized way. In the
present paper the many-body dynamics of this model is studied. The Vlasov
continuum limit is obtained in form equivalent to a weak law of large numbers.
We also establish a central limit theorem for the fluctuations around this
limit.Comment: 68 pages. Smaller corrections: two inequalities in sections 3 and two
inequalities in section 4, and definition of a Banach space in appendix A1.
Presentation of LLN and CLT in section 4.3 improved. Notation improve
Does It Really Work? Re-Assessing the Impact of Pre-Departure Cross-Cultural Training on Expatriate Adjustment
Cultural adjustment is considered to be a prerequisite for expatriate success abroad. One way to enhance adjustment is to provide employees with knowledge and awareness of appropriate norms and behaviors of the host country through cross-cultural training (CCT). This article analyzes the impact of pre-departure CCT on expatriate adjustment and focuses on variations in participation, length and the comprehensiveness of training. Unlike previous research, the study focuses on the effectiveness of pre-departure CCT for non-US employees expatriated to a broad range of host country settings. Employing data from 339 expatriates from 20 German Multinational Corporations (MNCs) the study finds CCT has little if any effect on general, interactional or work setting expatriate adjustment. However, a significant impact of foreign language competence was found for all three dimensions of expatriate adjustment. We used interviews with 20 expatriates to supplement our discussion and provide further implications for practice
Prostate cancer and Hedgehog signalling pathway
[Abstract] The Hedgehog (Hh) family of intercellular signalling proteins have come to be recognised as key mediators in many fundamental processes in embryonic development. Their activities are central to the growth, patterning and morphogenesis of many different regions within the bodies of vertebrates. In some contexts, Hh signals act as morphogens in the dose-dependent induction of distinct cell fates within a target field, in others as mitogens in the regulation of cell proliferation or as inducing factors controlling the form of a developing organ. These diverse functions of Hh proteins raise many intriguing questions about their mode of action. Various studies have now demonstrated the function of Hh signalling in the control of cell proliferation, especially for stem cells and stem-like progenitors. Abnormal activation of the Hh pathway has been demonstrated in a variety of human tumours. Hh pathway activity in these tumours is required for cancer cell proliferation and tumour growth. Recent studies have uncovered the role for Hh signalling in advanced prostate cancer and demonstrated that autocrine signalling by tumour cells is required for proliferation, viability and invasive behaviour. Thus, Hh signalling represents a novel pathway in prostate cancer that offers opportunities for prognostic biomarker development, drug targeting and therapeutic response monitoring
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