A systematic review of frameworks for the interrelationships of mental health evidence and policy in low- and middle-income countries

Background: The interrelationships between research evidence and policy-making are complex. Different theoretical frameworks exist to explain general evidence–policy interactions. One largely unexplored element of these interrelationships is how evidence interrelates with, and influences, policy/political agenda-setting. This review aims to identify the elements and processes of theories, frameworks and models on interrelationships of research evidence and health policy-making, with a focus on actionability and agenda-setting in the context of mental health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: A systematic review of theories was conducted based on the BeHeMOTh search method, using a tested and refined search strategy. Nine electronic databases and other relevant sources were searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature. Two reviewers screened the abstracts, reviewed full-text articles, extracted data and performed quality assessments. Analysis was based on a thematic analysis. The included papers had to present an actionable theoretical framework/model on evidence and policy interrelationships, such as knowledge translation or evidence-based policy, specifically target the agenda-setting process, focus on mental health, be from LMICs and published in English. Results: From 236 publications included in the full text analysis, no studies fully complied with our inclusion criteria. Widening the focus by leaving out ‘agenda-setting’, we included ten studies, four of which had unique conceptual frameworks focusing on mental health and LMICs but not agenda-setting. The four analysed frameworks confirmed research gaps from LMICs and mental health, and a lack of focus on agenda-setting. Frameworks and models from other health and policy areas provide interesting conceptual approaches and lessons with regards to agenda-setting. Conclusion: Our systematic review identified frameworks on evidence and policy interrelations that differ in their elements and processes. No framework fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Four actionable frameworks are applicable to mental health and LMICs, but none specifically target agenda-setting. We have identified agenda-setting as a research theory gap in the context of mental health knowledge translation in LMICs. Frameworks from other health/policy areas could offer lessons on agenda-setting and new approaches for creating policy impact for mental health and to tackle the translational gap in LMICs

Belle II Vertex Detector Performance

The Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB accelerator (KEK, Tsukuba, Japan) collected its first e+e− collision data in the spring 2019. The aim of accumulating a 50 times larger data sample than Belle at KEKB, a first generation B-Factory, presents substantial challenges to both the collider and the detector, requiring not only state-of-the-art hardware, but also modern software algorithms for tracking and alignment. The broad physics program requires excellent performance of the vertex detector, which is composed of two layers of DEPFET pixels and four layers of double sided-strip sensors. In this contribution, an overview of the vertex detector of Belle II and our methods to ensure its optimal performance, are described, and the first results and experiences from the first physics run are presented

Comparison of total endoscopic thyroidectomy with conventional open thyroidectomy for treatment of papillary thyroid cancer

BackgroundRecent advance of endoscopic techniques has allowed surgeons to perform thyroidectomy via an incision placement at hidden places which lead to better cosmetic acceptability compared with conventional open thyroidectomy.AimsThis study was conducted to summarize the current evidence that compare open thyroidectomy with endoscopic ‎thyroidectomy in treatment of papillary thyroid cancer‎.‎Methods An electronic literature review, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCO that examining randomized trials of endoscopic thyroidectomy (ET), conventional open thyroidectomy (COT), and management of papillary thyroid carcinoma was carried out.Results The review included 8 randomized studies that compare total endoscopic thyroidectomy versus conventional open thyroidectomy in treatment of papillary thyroid cancer. The findings showed endoscopic thyroidectomy had statically significant cosmetic appearance, less amount of blood loss and occurrence of transient hypocalcaemia than conventional open thyroidectomy in form of cosmetic outcome, amount lower blood loss.ConclusionThe current review showed that, ET has a better cosmetic outcome and lower blood loss compared with COT. While COT was associated with significantly low operation time, hospital stay, drainage time, amount of drainage fluid and transient recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Profile of Hospital Admissions Due to Preterm Labor and Delivery in England

Objectives: Preterm labor and delivery are associated with various short- and long-term complications in neonates and infants. This research aimed to look at the trends in preterm labor and birth-related hospitalizations in England. Material and Methods: The Hospital Episode Statistics database was used to extract hospital admission data for the ecological study of preterm labor and delivery between April 2012 and April 2020 in England. Results: The overall admission rates decreased by 26.2%, from 14,210 in 2012 (CI: 99.18–102.49) to 10,490 in 2020 (CI: 73.02–75.87) per 100,000 individuals. Hospitalizations were frequently caused by spontaneous labor with preterm delivery, spontaneous labor without delivery, and preterm delivery without spontaneous labor (68.9%, 20.6%, and 9.6%, respectively). The rate of hospital admission due to preterm delivery without spontaneous labor, preterm labor without delivery, preterm spontaneous labor with preterm delivery, and preterm spontaneous labor with term delivery decreased by 32.0%, 26.9%, 24.4%, and 14.7%, respectively. Women aged 25–29 years accounted for most hospital admissions. Conclusion: Preterm labor and delivery-related hospital admissions rates have significantly decreased over the past decade. Women in the reproductive age range of 25–34 years were more prone to hospital admission followed by preterm labor due to various reasons

A New Iterative Predictor-Corrector Algorithm for Solving a System of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Flow Equations of Fractional Order

Nuclear magnetic resonance flow equations, also known as the Bloch system, are said to be at the heart of both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The main aim of this research was to solve fractional nuclear magnetic resonance flow equations (FNMRFEs) through a numerical approach that is very easy to handle. We present a New Iterative Predictor-Corrector Algorithm (NIPCA) based on the New Iterative Algorithm and Predictor-Corrector Algorithm to solve nonlinear nuclear magnetic resonance flow equations of fractional order involving Caputo derivatives. Graphical representation of the solutions with detailed error analysis shows the higher accuracy of the new technique. This New Iterative Predictor-Corrector Algorithm requires less computational time than previously published numerical methods. The results achieved in this article indicate that the algorithm is fit to use for other chaotic systems of fractional differential equations

Effect of Career Development Module (CDIM) on Students' Career Maturity and Decision Making in Saudi Arabia

Human development tasks must be geared toward achieving career planning for adolescents' future careers. Career planning is an important part that will determine the success of adolescents' future lives. This study examines the impact of a career development intervention module on high school students' career maturity and decision-making in Saudi Arabia. A quasi-experimental design involving pre-test and post-tests was adopted using forty respondents randomly selected from each of the two high schools assigned into experimental and control groups. Two sets of questionnaires were adopted and used for data collection. An independent t-test showed that a career development intervention module has a significant effect on Saudi high school students' career maturity and career decision-making. Thus, the career development intervention module significantly improved students' maturity in career choice and decision-making for future life. As a result, professional career training should be designed around this model to provide counselors with the skills needed to help high school students in Saudi Arabia make better career choices

Theory of Fractional Hybrid Problems in the Frame of ψ-Hilfer Fractional Operators

In the present manuscript, we develop and extend a qualitative analysis for two classes of boundary value problems for nonlinear hybrid fractional differential equations with hybrid boundary conditions involving a ψ-Hilfer fractional order derivative introduced by Sousa and de Oliveira (2018). First, we derive the equivalent fractional integral equations to the proposed problems from some properties of the ψ-fractional calculus. Next, we establish the existence theorems in the weighted spaces via equivalent fractional integral equations with the help of Dhage’s fixed-point theorem (2004). Besides, for an adequate choice of the kernel ψ, we recover most of all the preceding results on fractional hybrid equations. Finally, two examples are constructed to make our main findings effective