Data Extraction Research Articles

Scope of nursing work and models of service delivery in Australian primary and secondary schools: a scoping review protocol.

The objective of this review is to generate a national picture of the scope of nursing work and models of service delivery in Australian primary and secondary schools. Schools are an important setting for providing health services to school-aged children and youth. Early intervention with identified health needs has the potential to improve health and educational outcomes across the life course. Additionally, many children and young people present with health issues requiring sophisticated management at school. Nurses have worked in Australian schools for more than a century, but there is a lack of clarity about the scope of nursing work and models of service delivery in Australian schools. The review will include papers describing the work of registered or enrolled nurses in primary and secondary Australian schools providing education to children aged 3-18 years, in urban, regional, and remote areas of all states and territories. Peer-reviewed, non-peer-reviewed, and gray literature, not limited by publication date or language, will be included. The review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Databases to be searched will include CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO (all via EBSCOhost), together with ERIC, Informit, and Google. Two authors will independently screen titles and abstracts, and extract data from included papers. Data will be analyzed by state/territory and by education sector (government/non-government) to generate a national picture. The findings will be reported in a narrative synthesis aligned with the review questions. Open Science Framework https://osf.io/6yqrm.

Improvement in Skin Hydration Status Following 8% Ajwa Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Extract Lotion Application: A Clinical Trial on Xerosis Cutis Patients in an Elderly Population

Improvement in Skin Hydration Status Following 8% Ajwa Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Extract Lotion Application: A Clinical Trial on Xerosis Cutis Patients in an Elderly Population

Factors Associated with Sexually Explicit Internet Material Use among Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

The advent of the Internet has made pornography more accessible to many people, including teenagers. This systematic review aimed to synthesize data on factors associated with the consumption of sexually explicit internet materials (SEIM) among adolescents. A total of 753 records in Scopus, Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, and PsycINFO databases were sorted. Forty-eight quantitative survey studies that presented original empirical results and addressed SEIM use among adolescents were included for data extraction, quality analysis, and synthesis. The prevalence of SEIM use varied substantially between studies due to inconsistencies between the operationalization methods used to assess the theoretical construct of SEIM, the period of use (days, months, years), and the age of the participants. SEIM use was highly related to being a boy and having an independent relational style. It was moderately associated with more sexual agency and hyperfemininity for girls and associated with small-to-moderate effect size, with more willingness to engage in casual sex. Sexual performance orientation, sexual permissiveness, bullying behavior, and Internet addiction might be associated with SEIM consumption, although the effect size of these associations was not calculated. Among developmental predictors with high and medium effect sizes, greater use of SEIM in adolescents was associated with being older or reaching puberty. Peer pressure or striving for peer popularity can account for boys' greater exposure to SEIM. The results described show the importance of standardizing the evaluation of SEIM use. Literacy in the use of pornography among teenagers is essential to prevent the possible negative impacts of SEIM consumption.

Promoting physical activity among cancer survivors through general practice: a realist review.

Multiple studies have shown that physical activity improves cancer survivorship, by decreasing risk of second primary cancers and chronic conditions. However, cancer survivor physical activity levels remain low. General practice presents more opportunities for lifestyle interventions, such as increasing physical activity. We conducted a realist review of physical activity interventions relevant to general practice. A total of 9728 studies were obtained from a systematic search of the CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus databases from the inception of the electronic database to 21 June 2024. We focussed on intervention studies that improved physical activity among cancer survivors and were relevant to general practice. Data extraction focussed on: what makes physical activity interventions effective for cancer survivors (what works) and what factors promote physical activity for cancer survivors (for whom it works). Thirty-seven studies were used to generate themes on the components of physical activity interventions that are likely to work and for whom; these studies facilitated goal setting, action planning, self-monitoring, social support, and shaping of knowledge; through delivering tailored motivational support, evoking a teachable moment, and promoting the use of self-monitoring tools. Interventions that were cost-effective and easily implementable improved sustainability, deployability, and uptake by cancer survivors. Cancer survivor psychological and physical factors, such as baseline motivational levels and post-treatment symptoms, influenced the uptake of physical activity interventions. Our realist review has highlighted opportunities for general practices to promote physical activity among cancer survivors through collaborative goal setting, action planning, self-monitoring, social support, and shaping of knowledge.

Challenges in Teledermoscopy Diagnostic Outcome Studies: Scoping Review of Heterogeneous Study Characteristics.

Teledermoscopy has demonstrated benefits such as decreased costs and enhanced access to dermatology care for skin cancer detection. However, the heterogeneity among teledermoscopy studies hinders the systematic reviews' synopsis of diagnostic outcomes, impeding trust and adoption in general practice and limiting overall health care benefits. This study aims to improve understanding and standardization of teledermoscopy diagnostic studies, by identifying and categorizing study characteristics contributing to heterogeneity. Subsequently, the variability and consistency of these characteristics were assessed. A review of systematic reviews regarding the diagnostic outcomes of teledermoscopy was performed to discern reported study characteristics contributing to heterogeneity. These characteristics were thematically grouped into 3 domains (population, index test, and reference standard), forming a data extraction framework. A scoping review on teledermoscopy diagnostic outcomes studies was performed, guided by the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. Data pertaining to study characteristics from included studies were extracted and analyzed through descriptive content analysis. Systematic reviews' reference lists validated the scoping review query. The literature search yielded 4 systematic reviews, revealing 15 heterogeneous studies across the population, index test, and reference standard domains. The scoping review identified 49 studies, with 27 overlapping with the systematic reviews. Population characteristics varied, with one-third (16/49, 33%) of studies reporting fewer than 100 samples; most studies (41/49, 84%) reported on the type of lesion, and most (20/49, 41%) teledermoscopy consultations took place in secondary care. One-fifth (11/49, 22%) did not describe inclusion or exclusion criteria, or the criteria varied highly. Index test characteristics showed differences in clinical expertise, profession, and training in dermatoscopic photography, and 59% (29/49) did not report on 1 or more index test characteristics. Image quality and clinical information reporting likewise varied. Reference standard characteristics involved teledermatologists' assessment, but 16 studies did not report teledermatologists' experience levels. Most studies (26/49, 53%) used histopathology as a gold standard. The heterogeneity in the population, index tests, and reference standard domains across teledermoscopy diagnostic outcome studies underscores the need for standardized reporting. This hinders the synopsis of teledermoscopy diagnostic outcomes in systematic reviews and limits the integration of research results into practice. Adopting a (tailored) STARD (Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) checklist for teledermoscopy diagnostic outcome studies is recommended to enhance the consistency and comparability of outcomes. We suggest performing a Delphi study to gather consensus on the tailored STARD guideline.

The Performance of the Optical Flow Field based Dense Image Matching for UAV Imagery

Abstract. With the rapid development of sensing platforms, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based mapping has become increasingly popular because of its economic efficiency and flexibility, especially for providing 3D information to support urban growth monitoring and change detection to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs). This paper presents an improved optical flow field-based dense matching algorithm (OFFDM) for low-altitude UAV images based on the Ph.D. thesis of Yuan (Yuan, 2018). First, high-precision seed points were used to compute the optical flow field within stereo pairs, effectively minimizing redundant calculations during the fine-matching phase. Second, a fine-matching approach, integrating multiple constraints, was applied to refine the coarse matching results based on the optical flow field. Extensive dense matching experiments on UAV low-altitude aerial imagery assessed the performance of OFFDIM across four dimensions: 3D point cloud visualization, matching success rate, precision, and reliability. Extensive experiments on low-altitude UAV imagery, characterized by a resolution of 7cm per pixel over a 10,608×8,608 pixel dimension and a 60% forward overlap, evaluate the OFFDM's efficacy. The quantitative evaluation revealed that the proposed method achieved an accuracy of ±0.7 pixels in image coordinates and ±20 cm on the ground, with a matching success rate exceeding 97%. The processing time was approximately 272 seconds for handling one single stereo pair. When compared to the widely adopted PMVS algorithm, known for its effectiveness in dense matching for UAV images, the proposed method demonstrated higher completeness and improved matching efficiency by more than five times. These results demonstrated that the proposed approach is more suitable for dense matching on UAV imagery-based high-precision 3D spatial data extraction, supporting global mapping tasks more effectively.

Comorbid health outcomes in patients with schizophrenia: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

There is no comprehensive umbrella review exploring the connection between schizophrenia and various health outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review existing meta-analyses about schizophrenia-associated comorbid health outcomes and validate the evidence levels. We performed an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies to explore comorbid health outcomes in individuals with schizophrenia. Searches were conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, ClinicalKey, and Google Scholar up to September 5, 2023, targeting meta-analyses of observational studies related to comorbid health outcomes in individuals with schizophrenia. We applied AMSTAR2 for data extraction and quality assessment, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Evidence credibility was evaluated and categorized by evidence quality. Our protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024498833). Risk and protective factors were analyzed and presented through equivalent odds ratios (eRR). In this umbrella review, we analyzed 9 meta-analyses, including 88 original articles, covering 21 comorbid health outcomes with over 66 million participants across 19 countries. Patients with schizophrenia showed significant associations with multiple health outcomes, including asthma (eRR, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.05-2.78], class and quality of evidence [CE] = non-significant), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.73 [1.25-2.37], CE = weak), pneumonia (2.63 [1.11-6.23], CE = weak), breast cancer of female patients (1.31 [1.04-1.65], CE = weak), cardiovascular disease (1.53 [1.12-2.11], CE = weak), stroke (1.71 [1.30-2.25], CE = weak), congestive heart failure (1.81 [1.21-2.69], CE = weak), sexual dysfunction (2.30 [1.75-3.04], CE = weak), fracture (1.63 [1.10-2.40], CE = weak), dementia (2.29 [1.19-4.39], CE = weak), and psoriasis (1.83 [1.18-2.83] CE = weak). Our study underscores the imperative for an integrated treatment approach to schizophrenia, highlighting its broad impact across respiratory, cardiovascular, sexual, neurological, and dermatological health domains. Given the predominantly non-significant to weak evidence levels, further studies are needed to reinforce our understanding.

Acupuncture combined with opioid for treatment of lung cancer-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Many individuals diagnosed with lung cancer suffer from tremendous pain, and it is crucial to implement more effective measures to assist these patients in alleviating their pain. The present study utilizes a meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of acupuncture combined with opioids for treating lung cancer-related pain in patients. We have searched 8 electronic databases: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang Database, and SinoMed. We included all randomized controlled trials of acupuncture combined with opioids for lung cancer-related pain in adults. We observed the main outcome indicators, including pain relief rates, numeric rating scale scores, and adverse events. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening, literature data extraction, and assessment of bias risk in the literature quality. Any disagreements were resolved through discussions between the 2 researchers or consultations with a third researcher. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the revised risk of bias assessment tool. The overall quality of evidence for each outcome was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations. We retrieved 812 lung cancer patients from 11 trials. The study showed that compared to opioids alone, the combination of acupuncture and opioids significantly reduced numeric rating scale scores, increased pain relief rates, and decreased the occurrence of side effects. The current evidence indicates that combining acupuncture with opioid analgesics is superior to using opioid analgesics alone for managing lung cancer-related pain. Additionally, this combination therapy has fewer adverse reactions.

Exploring Trends and Gaps in Osteoarthritis Biomarker Research (1999-2024): A Citation Analysis of Top 50 Cited Articles.

This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the landscape of osteoarthritis (OA) biomarker research through the citation analysis of top-cited articles, identifying trends and gaps in this field. The Web of Science Core Collection was utilized to retrieve the top 50 cited articles on OA biomarkers. Data extraction included publication characteristics, citation metrics, and biomarker categorization. Statistical analyses were conducted to discern correlations and assess significance. The top 50 cited articles spanned the years 1999 to 2020, and collectively cited 4849 articles, accumulating a total of 6177 citations, resulting in an average of 123.5 citations per document. Citations per article varied between 78 and 359, with a citation density ranging from 3.9 to 23.93. Analysis of the top 50 cited articles revealed comparable impact between recent and older publications. Predominant trends included cartilage-related and blood-based biomarkers, while inflammation-related, radiomics, and multi-omics emerged as potential future research directions. In BIPEDS classification, gaps were identified in biomarkers evaluating intervention efficacy and safety. Despite significant advancements, there is no universally acknowledged biomarker for OA. Addressing gaps in biomarker exploration is crucial for enhancing OA management strategies. This study provides insights into prevailing trends and future research directions in OA biomarkers, guiding future investigations and therapeutic development.

A scoping review of patient safety checklists in dentistry.

Not much is known about safety checklists use in dentistry. We aim to examine, assess, and provide a comprehensive understanding of the current knowledge concerning the use of checklists to improve patient safety in dentistry. We conducted a comprehensive literature search using Medline and Embase for studies that use or describe the development of dental patient safety checklists. All study designs were included for citations published through December 2023. Following abstract and full-text screening, 27 studies remained for data extraction and analysis. Oral surgery emerged as the main dental specialty where the utilization and evaluation of checklists were primarily concentrated (n = 15). The majority of the included studies described either checklist development, their implementation, or both (n = 18). Only 6 studies assessed the effectiveness of checklists in improving patient safety outcomes. Of the effectiveness studies, five found a decrease in incidents and dental adverse events, along with an improvement in patient care and safety, associated with the use of checklists. This scoping review highlights the limited current knowledge regarding checklist use and effectiveness in reducing adverse events across dental practices; it demonstrates the need on how to best guide the profession towards implementing this important evidence-based patient safety tool. Checklists are effective tools to improve patient safety and have become integral to medical practice. Dentistry can also benefit from these tools to improve patient safety.

Evaluation of automatic tube current modulation in a CT scanner using a customised homogeneous phantom

Objective.The introduction of automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) has resulted in complex relationships between scanner parameters, patient body habitus, radiation dose, and image quality. ATCM adjusts tube current based on x-ray attenuation variations in the scan region, and overall patient dose depends on a combination of factors. This work aims to develop mathematical models that predict CT radiation dose and image noise in terms of attenuating diameter and all relevant scanner parameters.Approach.A homogenous phantom, equipped with the features to conduct discrete and continuous adaption tests, was developed to model ATCM in a Philips CT scanner. Scanner parameters were varied based on theoretical dose relationships, and a MATLAB script was developed to extract data from DICOM images. R statistical software was employed for data analysis, plotting, and regression modelling.Main Results.Phantom data provided the following insights: Median tube current decreased by 81% as tube potential varied from 80 kVp to 140 kVp. Doubling the DoseRight Index (DRI) from 12 to 24, at 24 cm diameter, produced a 294% increase in mA and a 46% decrease in noise. Mean mA increased by 53% whilst mean noise increased by 5.7% as helical pitch increased from 0.6 to 0.925. Changing rotation time from 0.33s to 0.75s gave a 56% reduction in mean mA and no change in image noise. Increasing detector collimation (n×T) resulted in higher tube currents and lower output image noise values, asnandTwere varied independently. Interpreting these results to apply transformations relevant to each independent variable produced models for tube current and noise with adjusted R-squared values of 0.965 and 0.912, respectively.Significance.The models developed more accurately predict radiation dose and image quality for specific patients and scanner settings. They provide imaging professionals with a practical tool to optimize scan protocols according to patient diameters and clinical objectives.

Utilisation and associated socio-demographic factors related to the maternal continuum of care in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Maternal continuum of care (MCC) is the utilisation of maternal health care services, including 4+ antenatal care (ANC) visits, skilled birth attendants (SBAs), and postnatal care (PNC). This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the pooled proportion of MCC utilisation among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and its association with selected sociodemographic factors. We identified keywords and MeSH terms related to the condition (MCC), the context (SSA), and population (women with history of childbirth) to search for published or unpublished observational studies. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute tool to extract data and the Newcastle Ottawa Scale for quality assessment. Meta-analysis was used to compute pooled estimates (MCC utilisation and odds ratio (OR) associates) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Stata 17. Of 45 402 studies identified, we included 23 involving 320 353 women. The pooled estimate of MCC utilisation across SSA was 18.72% (95% CI = 14.51, 22.93), showing a significant increase (P < 0.05) from 2015 to 2022. Southern Africa had the highest MCC utilisation (38%; 95% CI = 36.59, 39.41), while East Africa had the lowest (17.5%; 95% CI = 12.22, 22.75). Maternal continuum of care utilisation was associated with maternal age 25-34 years (pooled odds ratio (POR) = 1.27), urban residence (POR = 2.69), richer/richest wealth status (POR = 1.68), as well as higher level of education and employment (POR = 1.32). MCC utilisation in SSA remains low, with significant variation across the sub-regions and sociodemographic strata. Context-specific interventions targeting identified factors are essential to enhance MCC utilisation in SSA. PROSPERO: CRD42021272708.

GRU-IKF scene taxiing trajectory prediction model based on attention mechanism

Aircraft taxi trajectory prediction helps solve operational problems such as airport taxiing conflicts and long waiting times, ensuring airport safety while improving service levels and increasing airport throughput. In view of the fact that the performance of machine learning models depends on good data sets, a method for predicting taxi trajectories of aircraft on the ground based on attention mechanism, fusion of gated recurrent unit (GRU) and improved Kalman filter algorithm (IKF) is proposed. Firstly, three independent gated recurrent unit networks are used to capture the motion state and temporal dependency of aircraft at future moments, and the attention mechanism is introduced to enhance the ability to extract data difference features and learn the mapping relationship from input to output; then, it is fused with the improved extended Kalman filter to integrate the output results of the neural network into the state prediction and update process to improve the accuracy of the predicted trajectory sequence. Finally, the effectiveness of the model was verified using the actual taxiing trajectory of aircraft at Lukou Airport. The simulation results show that the model can effectively and accurately predict the taxiing trajectory of aircraft on the surface, with an overall mean square error of about 0.00128. Compared with the single recurrent neural network (RNN), long short-term memory network (LSTM) and GRU model, the RMSE is reduced by 72.9%and respectively 39.9%, 54.7%and the prediction time is 40 ms. It can accurately and quickly predict the taxiing trajectory, which helps to reduce the operating load of the airport surface management system.

The Effect of Memory Training on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review

Memory is related to the processes that allow us to record, store and then retrieve experiences and information. Memory as an information processor is analogized by psychologists and neurologists as a computer. The recording process, called encoding, is the process of obtaining information conveyed to the system by translating it into neural code which is processed in the brain.The goal of the research titled is to systematically evaluate and synthesize existing studies to determine the impact of memory training interventions on various aspects of cognitive function. This includes assessing how memory training may enhance skills such as attention, processing speed, working memory, and overall cognitive performance. By identifying patterns, strengths, and limitations in the current literature, the study aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of memory training programs and guide future research and practical applications in cognitive enhancement.Method: Articles used in systematic reviews are typically sourced from various academic databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Google Scholar. These include studies published in peer-reviewed journals. The keywords used for searching may include phrases like "memory training," "cognitive function," "cognitive enhancement," "working memory," and other related terms. This combination of keywords helps filter relevant articles. For instance, in this review, there might be 150 articles identified through the initial search. After a selection process based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, approximately 30 articles are chosen for further analysis. The articles included in the systematic review are examined systematically, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines: Study Identification,Study Selection,Data Extraction,Analysis and Synthesis Analyzing the results from the selected studies and compiling conclusions based on the available evidence.Results: The findings from these five literature studies cumulatively imply that activities involving the Al-Quran, such as listening, reading, or memorizing, have a positive impact on various aspects of physical and mental health, cognitive function, and brain responses. The implications of these results may stimulate further research in the field of cognitive interventions, as well as provide a more in-depth look at the role of memorization in the development of cognitive abilities at critical developmental stages.Conclusion: From the five studies reviewed, it can be concluded that memory training interventions, especially in the context of memorizing the Qur'an, contribute positively to the improvement of cognitive function in various age groups, including children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. The implications of these findings give impetus to further research in the field of cognitive intervention, focusing on memorization strategies, as well as providing deeper insight into the role of memorization in the development of cognitive abilities at critical stages of life.

Prevalence of hypertension and uncontrolled hypertension after solid organ transplantation: a 5-year follow-up of the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study.

Hypertension (HTN) increases cardiovascular risk and is a frequent finding across all solid organ transplant recipients. We describe the prevalence of HTN and uncontrolled HTN, as well as details on pharmacologic treatment of HTN across solid organs transplant recipients up to five years after transplantation. This retrospective study is nested in the prospective Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (www.stcs.ch) that includes kidney, heart, lung, and liver transplantation. Data extraction from 2008 to 2019 was used for this study and follow-up data at 6, 12 and 60 months was analyzed. A total of 3865 transplant recipients were included for analysis. The prevalence of HTN at 6 and 60 months was 88.9% and 90.4% in kidney (P = 0.21), 61.8% and 76.1% in liver (P < 0.01), 72.6% and 84.9% in lung (P < 0.01), and 89.3% and 85.8% in heart (P = 0.33) transplant recipients, respectively. The prevalence of uncontrolled HTN at 6 and 60 months was 40.3% and 38.9% in kidney (P = 0.48), 21.2% and 30.5% in liver (P = 0.05), 26.0% and 36.8% in lung (P = 0.03) and 38.9% and 18.5% in heart (P < 0.01) transplant recipients, respectively. At 12 months, compared to heart transplant recipients, kidney [odds ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.1], liver (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.6) and lung (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.6-4.0) transplant recipients had a higher likelihood of presenting with uncontrolled HTN. HTN prevalence after solid organ transplantation is high. Uncontrolled and untreated HTN remain a major issue post transplantation, particularly in organ recipients not necessarily suffering from cardiovascular diseases such as liver or lung transplant recipients.

Socioeconomic and behavioral factors of road traffic accidents among drivers in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta analysis

BackgroundRoad traffic accidents (RTAs) are a pressing public health issue in Ethiopia, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and motorization. Despite efforts, escalating rates persist due to various factors like human behavior and road infrastructure deficiencies. This study addresses the need for comprehensive data on RTAs in Ethiopia, aiming to uncover socioeconomic and behavioral factors to inform evidence-based policies.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted from March to April 2024, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Major databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched using specific keywords related to RTAs and Ethiopia. Studies conducted between 2014 and 2024 were included, with eligibility criteria. Data extraction followed a standardized Microsoft Excel format. Study quality was assessed using the JBI checklist, with high-quality articles included. Statistical analysis, conducted using STATA version 17, included descriptive analysis, forest plots for RTA prevalence, and examination of publication bias using Egger and Begs tests. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression explored moderating factors and sources of heterogeneity.ResultsThe systematic review identified eight studies meeting inclusion criteria, conducted between 2014 and 2022. RTA prevalence was 36% (95% CI: 23; 49). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the estimated prevalence. Publication bias was detected via Egger’s test, though Begg’s test was non-significant. Meta-regression found no significant influence of publication year or sample size on RTA prevalence. Socioeconomic factors like income level and driving experience, alongside behavioral factors like traffic rule violations and substance use, were identified as key drivers of RTAs in Ethiopia.ConclusionsThe study highlights the significant burden of road traffic accidents in Ethiopia, influenced by socioeconomic and behavioral factors. Socioeconomic factors such as income level and driving experience, along with behavioral factors like traffic rule violations and substance use, emerged as prominent determinants of RTAs. Policymakers should prioritize evidence-based interventions targeting these factors to improve road safety nationwide.

Digital technology for the national sport development: Designing a database model to analyse elite sports data

Relational database models offer a pathway for the storage, standardization, and analysis of factors influencing national sports development. While existing research delves into the factors linked with sporting success, there remains an unexplored avenue for the design of databases that seamlessly integrate quantitative analyses of these factors. This study aims to design a relational database to store and analyse quantitative sport development data by employing information technology tools. The database design was carried out in three phases: (i) exploratory study for context analysis, identification, and delimitation of the data scope; (ii) data extraction from primary sources and cataloguing; (iii) database design to allow an integrated analysis of different dimensions and production of quantitative indicators. An entity-relationship diagram and an entity-relationship model were built to organize and store information relating to sports, organizations, people, investments, venues, facilities, materials, events, and sports results, enabling the sharing of data across tables and avoiding redundancies. This strategy demonstrated potential for future knowledge advancement by including the establishment of perpetual data updates through coding and web scraping. This, in turn, empowers the continuous evaluation and vigilance of organizational performance metrics and sports development policies, aligning seamlessly with the journal’s focus on cutting-edge methodologies in the realm of digital technology.

Comparison of central precocious puberty frequency before and during COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe current systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the prevalence of central precocious puberty (CPP) throughout the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.DesignA systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out following the principles outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA, 2020).Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and WANFANG databases were searched from January 1, 2019, to March 30, 2023.Eligibility criteria for selecting studies(1) children and adolescents ≤ 15 years; (2) studies with the outcome of frequency of central precocious puberty, measured prior to and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) a novel CPP diagnosis was created depending on all of the following criteria: girls with a chronological age < 8 years and boys with a chronological age < 9 years at the onset of symptoms, basal luteinizing hormone (LH) levels > 0.3 UI/L, and/or GnRH-stimulated peak LH levels > 5 IU/L.Data extraction and synthesisThe process of extracting data and evaluating the likelihood of bias was carried out by two independent reviewers. The data were pooled employing the generic inverse-variance method and presented as mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs. The evaluation of heterogeneity was conducted employing the Cochran Q statistic, and the degree of heterogeneity was measured employing the I2 statistic.ResultsThis meta-analysis included 17 studies. In contrast to the same period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the occurrence of CPP elevated (OR = 2.57; 95% CI, 1.85–3.56). Moreover, body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) differences between CPP patients prior to COVID-19 and throughout the pandemic follow-up was 0.12 (95% CI − 0.01 to 0.25 P = 0.06).ConclusionOverall, CPP frequency significantly elevated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the restricted number of cohort investigations in this meta-analysis, additional research may be conducted on larger groups of children in order to establish a correlation between the observed rise in precocious puberty and specific pathogenic factors.

Influence of social media and the digital environment on international migration of health workforce from low- and middle-income countries post COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionMigration of the health workforce from low- and middle-income countries (LMCIs) is increasingly becoming a phenomenon of interest within migration governance systems. The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated health workforce shortages that...

Prescription criteria and effects of explosive strength training in indoor soccer players: a systematic review.

Explosive strength is fundamental in the performance of athletes. The objective is to identify the criteria used for the prescription of Explosive Strength Training (EST) and to verify the changes it produces in futsal players. A systematic review of studies analyzing the criteria used for the prescription of explosive strength training was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and Scielo, considering the period between 2017 and 2023. The search strategy used the terms: players, Futsal, Futsal training, strength, physical exercise, explosive strength, intervention, experimental study. Data extraction included: year of publication, country, sample, protocol performed (content and activity developed, duration, intensity, frequency, total weeks). A total of six studies were identified. Fifty percent of the studies were developed in Brazil, the others in Italy, Spain and Portugal. Five studies applied a training of 2 sessions per week and one indicated 2-3 sessions. Three studies describe the training sessions (study 1: 15-30 minutes, study 2: 20-25 minutes, study 3: 1 hour). Five studies used 1RM and one study used subjective perception of exertion (PSE). The contents of the interventions were varied, from squats with weights, accelerations and decelerations, leg press, leg extension, plyometrics. The training criteria for explosive strength were: intensity controlled by a 1RM, frequency of 2 to 3 sessions per week, duration of 15 to 30 minutes per session and the training contents were varied. These results suggest positive changes in CMJ, increasing explosive strength from ∼2.0 to 4.6 cm (5.8 to 13.7%). These findings highlight the need to develop a more standardized protocol to optimize the benefits of explosive strength training in this athletic population.