Effects Of Different Strategies Research Articles

The pandemic coping project: a randomized clinical trial of strategies for coping with isolation

ABSTRACT Past research has suggested that isolation is associated with poorer psychological well-being, an issue of particular importance given the quarantines imposed during the recent coronavirus pandemic. The aim of the present randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies for coping with loneliness and distress during isolation. In the online study, participants (N = 330) from a nationwide and international sample were randomly assigned to practice one of six strategies (i.e. social support, prosocial behavior, structure, distraction, exercise, using helpful resources) or to a comparison group. They completed measures of psychological distress and loneliness at baseline and after one and two weeks assigned to their strategy for coping. Results revealed that a strategy of structuring daily activities was more effective at reducing distress than the other coping strategies. Younger and middle-aged participants experienced less distress using structure than other strategies, but there was no difference in distress based on extraversion or personal need for structure. For loneliness, results depended on personal need for structure such that those with average or higher need for structure experienced less loneliness when using the structure strategy. Neither age nor extraversion was a significant factor in the impact of structure on loneliness. Structuring daily activities appears to be superior to other strategies for coping during isolation, except for older individuals and those with lower need for structure, who may benefit from other strategies. Based on the study findings, providers should consider a recommendation of structuring daily activities as a way of managing distress and loneliness during social isolation.

Agent-Based Analysis of Financial Crisis Management Strategies to Enhance the Energy Transition in Germany

Crises appear to be occurring with increased frequency, whether provoked directly by human actions or through indirect causes such as resource scarcity or natural disasters. Crisis management strategies are frequently implemented with the aim of mitigating the immediate impacts of these crises. Nevertheless, it is critical to also consider the long-term consequences of such strategies. This study investigates both the short- and long-term effects of various crisis management strategies during a financial crisis in relation to the energy transition. An agent-based model of the German electricity sector is developed to analyze the effects of different strategies. The findings suggest that a reduction in electricity demand by 10% achieves the most favorable outcomes, decreasing short-term electricity costs by 11% and long-term carbon dioxide emissions by 9%.

Research on Challenges and Solutions for Optimizing Read Rate in RFID Systems

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields for the automatic identification and tracking of object tags, which is widely used in supply chain management, transport and retail. And key issues in its application encompass reliability, security, and privacy. In contrast to mainstream research that primarily focuses on solutions for security and privacy, the paper concentrates on boosting the overall reliability of RFID systems, particularly in fault detection of read rates. Through the review and analysis of the relevant literature, this paper highlights the key challenges and issues in the RFID field, particularly focusing on read rate. Various methods proposed to improve RFID read rates are reviewed, including hardware optimization, tag design, software algorithm improvement, and environmental adjustments. In addition, it outlines the effectiveness of different strategies, addresses the challenges faced in real-world applications, notes the limitations of the research, and proposes potential directions for future studies. The results demonstrate that anti-collision algorithms such as DFSA and improved binary tree search can effectively reduce signal conflicts in multi-tag environments

Healing potentiality of blood clot, S-PRF and A-PRF as scaffold in treatment of non-vital mature single rooted teeth with chronic peri-apical periodontitis following regenerative endodontic therapy: randomized clinical trial

ObjectivesThis randomized prospective controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of different strategies of regenerative endodontic therapy on necrotic mature anterior teeth with chronic periapical periodontitis with 18 months follow up.MethodsA total analyzed 51 adult participant with mature single rooted teeth having necrotic pulp with chronic periapical periodontitis (PAI ≥ 3) were selected. Patients had been randomly categorized into three distinct groups (n = 17 each group). All groups received the same treatment on the first visit. After 2 weeks, regenerative treatment was performed using either blood clot technique, Standard-PRF and Advanced-PRF approach. A standardized radiograph was taken, and the patients instructed for 6, 12 and 18 months follow up periods. Fisher's exact test was applied to compare the frequency of PAI scores at different follow-up intervals between the three groups.ResultsThe results showed radiographic success at 18 months (58.8% in blood group, 94.1% in S-PRF group and 76.5% in A-PRF group). There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups according to incidence of healing at 6, 12 and 18 months. Clinical success was 82.4% in blood group and 88.2% in both S-PRF and A-PRF groups. There was no significant difference between the three groups (p = 1). The overall success (clinical and radigraphic) was 76.5%. Incidence of the gaining sensitivity after 12 and 18 months was 29.4% with A-PRF group and 41.2% within the S-PRF group, 17.6% with BC group.ConclusionPRF based regenerative technique may outperform the blood clot technique in treatment of non-vital mature teeth with chronic periapical periodontitis. There is a need for future randomized clinical studies to consolidate procedures in this field with more prolonged evaluation periods.Clinical trial registrationThe study was retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04606719) in 28/10/2020.

How emerging-market brands can overcome a weak country image

PurposeThis study offers a comprehensive analysis of the relative effectiveness of different strategies that emerging-market brands can use to mitigate a weak country image.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs discrete choice conjoint analysis to evaluate the relative effectiveness of store image, warranty duration, third-party certification and corporate engagement on US consumers’ perceptions of products from China and Cambodia. China, representing an advanced emerging market, and Cambodia, representing a less advanced market, were selected to provide a diverse context for comparison. The study examines electric scooters (relatively more hedonic) and refrigerators (relatively more utilitarian) to test the robustness of the findings across different product categories.FindingsThe study demonstrates that retail store image is the most influential factor in mitigating negative COO effects. An extensive warranty emerges as the second most effective mitigation strategy, followed closely by third-party certification. In contrast, corporate social engagement is found to be the least effective strategy across all studies. The study further explores moderating influences on these preferences. The findings are largely robust, with only minimal effects of age, gender, product home country and product type on the relative effectiveness of the identified mitigation strategies.Practical implicationsThe findings offer valuable insights for managers of emerging-market brands, suggesting a prioritization of marketing efforts.Originality/valueThe study enhances the theoretical understanding of COO effects, presenting a nuanced view of how various strategies can be deployed to mitigate negative perceptions of brands associated with emerging markets.

Comparative Proteomics and N-Glycoproteomics Reveal the Effects of Different Plasma Protein Enrichment Technologies.

Human plasma proteomic and glycoproteomic analyses have emerged as an alternate avenue to identify disease biomarkers and therapeutic approaches. However, the vast number of high-abundance proteins in plasma can cause mass spectrometry (MS) suppression, which makes it challenging to detect low-abundance proteins (LAP). Currently, immunoaffinity-based depletion methods and strategies involving nanomaterial protein coronas have been developed to remove high-abundance proteins (HAP) and enhance the depth of plasma protein identification. Despite these advancements, there is a lack of systematic comparison and evaluation of the qualitative and quantitative effects of different strategies on the human plasma proteome and glycoproteome. In this study, we evaluated the performance of four depletion methods including combinatorial peptide ligand libraries (CPLL), Top 2, Top 14, and the nanomaterial protein corona formed by magnetic nanoparticles (MN) in both plasma proteomics and N-glycoproteomics. Compared to the CPLL, Top 2, and Top 14 strategies, the MN approach significantly increased the number of identified peptides and proteins. However, it demonstrated a relatively lower efficacy in identifying intact N-glycopeptides and N-glycoproteins. In contrast, the immunoaffinity-based depletion methods are better suited to glycoproteomics due to higher identification numbers. We believe that this work provides valuable insights and options for various research objectives, as well as clinical applications.

Effectiveness of different strategies to teach empathy among medical students: A randomized controlled study

Effectiveness of different strategies to teach empathy among medical students: A randomized controlled study

The Triple E project: a factorial randomised controlled trial to enhance engagement with eHealth approaches to improve health risk behaviours among adolescents

BackgroundDigital, or eHealth, interventions are highly promising approaches to help adolescents improve their health behaviours and reduce their risk of chronic disease. However, they often have low uptake and retention. There is also a paucity of high-quality research into the predictors of eHealth engagement, and a lack of studies that have systematically evaluated existing engagement strategies in adolescent populations. This paper describes the protocol for a randomised controlled trial which primarily aims to assess the effectiveness of different strategies in increasing engagement with a healthy lifestyles app, Health4Life. Associations between the engagement strategies and improvements in adolescent health behaviours (healthy eating, physical activity, sleep, recreational screen time, smoking, alcohol use) will also be examined, along with potential predictors of adolescents’ intentions to use health apps and their use of the Health4Life app.MethodsThe current study will aim to recruit 336 adolescent and parent/guardian dyads (total sample N = 672) primarily through Australia wide online advertising. All adolescent participants will have access to the Health4Life app (a multiple health behaviour change, self-monitoring mobile app). The trial will employ a 24 factorial design, where participants will be randomly allocated to receive 1 of 16 different combinations of the four engagement strategies to be evaluated: text messages, access to a health coach, access to additional gamified app content, and provision of parent/guardian information resources. Adolescents and parents/guardians will both complete consent processes, baseline assessments, and a follow-up assessment after 3 months. All participants will also be invited to complete a qualitative interview shortly after follow-up. The primary outcome, app engagement, will be assessed via an App Engagement Index (Ei) using data collected in the Health4Life app and the Mobile App Rating Scale – User version.DiscussionThis research will contribute significantly to building our understanding of the types of strategies that are most effective in increasing adolescents’ engagement with health apps and which factors may predict adolescents’ use of health apps.Trial registrationThe trial is registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12623000399695). Date registered: 19/04/2023.

Leveraging Multi-Sectoral Partnership for Colorectal Cancer Education and Screening in the African American Community: A Protocol and Preliminary Results

Colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness and screening rates are still low in African Americans (AAs), especially for those who do not have regular access to health care. We established a multi-sector community partnership between academia, health system, cancer advocacy, and local county treasurer’s office (CTO), to test a pilot CRC screening intervention using a tailored educational brochure and fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Participants were recruited at a local CTO in an urban midwestern region. Once eligible, participants were assigned to 2-by-2 intervention arms by educational strategy (brochure vs. no brochure) and FIT provision strategy (direct provision by onsite staff vs. indirect provision via phone/online request). We compared the effect of different strategies on FIT return rates. Of 1500 individuals approached, 212 were eligible for the study. The final sample consisted of 209 participants who were predominantly men (57%) and AAs (85%). No differences were found in the return rates by educational brochure (24% [brochure] vs. 23% [no brochure]; p = 0.82). In regard to FIT provision strategy, direct FIT provision yielded higher return rates than indirect provision (31% vs. 15%; p = 0.01). When the four groups were compared, direct provision with education brochure yielded the highest return rates (33.9%), followed by direct provision only (27.5%), indirect provision only (18%), and indirect provision with a brochure (12.2%). For community-based CRC screening intervention using stool-based test, the direct provision of FIT kits with educational brochure outperforms the other three strategies.

A Critical Review of Anti-Bullying Strategies: Analyzing Survey Results Across Regions

Survey participants were asked to rate the effectiveness of different strategies for dealing with bullying on a scale from 1 to 5. The results of the survey, which were checked for reliability and accuracy, indicate that social support and avoidance of aggression are the preferred methods. An analysis of responses from adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 shows that many of them turn to their friends for comfort and support. The correlation coefficient is highest at age 14 (13.044), while the coefficients for ages 12, 15, and 16 (7.593, 12.497, 12.167 respectively) are closer to the average and suggest a moderate relationship between the variables. The lowest correlation coefficient is at age 17 (8.308), indicating a weaker connection between that age group and the ability to seek comfort and support. People have different ways of responding to bullying and defending themselves. Not everyone chooses to confront the bully directly; some seek support and try to avoid conflict. Adolescents who are 14 years old (7.598) seem to be the most willing and able to respond to bullying, likely due to their stronger sense of social support and conflict avoidance strategies. On the other hand, those who are 12, 16, and 17 years old (4.438, 6.021, 5.029) may struggle more with showing empathy and support, possibly because they are more inclined to avoid conflict or lack the necessary skills in this area.

The “Latines Lideres En Salud (LaLiSa)” study: Rationale and design

The “Latines Lideres En Salud (LaLiSa)” study: Rationale and design

Preserving system activity while controlling epidemic spreading in adaptive temporal networks

Human behavior strongly influences the spread of infectious diseases: understanding the interplay between epidemic dynamics and adaptive behaviors is essential to improve response strategies to epidemics, with the goal of containing the epidemic while preserving a sufficient level of operativeness in the population. Through activity-driven temporal networks, we formulate a general framework which models a wide range of adaptive behaviors and mitigation strategies, observed in real populations. We analytically derive the conditions for a widespread diffusion of epidemics in the presence of arbitrary adaptive behaviors, highlighting the crucial role of correlations between agents behavior in the infected and in the susceptible state. We focus on the effects of sick leave, comparing the effectiveness of different strategies in reducing the impact of the epidemic and preserving the system operativeness. We show the critical relevance of heterogeneity in individual behavior: in homogeneous networks, all sick-leave strategies are equivalent and poorly effective, while in heterogeneous networks, strategies targeting the most vulnerable nodes are able to effectively mitigate the epidemic, also avoiding a deterioration in system activity and maintaining a low level of absenteeism. Interestingly, with targeted strategies both the minimum of population activity and the maximum of absenteeism anticipate the infection peak, which is effectively flattened and delayed, so that full operativeness is almost restored when the infection peak arrives. We also provide realistic estimates of the model parameters for influenza-like illness, thereby suggesting strategies for managing epidemics and absenteeism in realistic populations. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Regulations of Bulk and Interfacial Chemistry of Mn-Based Cathode Materials for Sodium Ion Batteries

Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) show the great potential to achieve large-scale energy storage due to their low cost and good safety as well as abundant resources of sodium. Among the cathode materials for SIBs, manganese-based layered oxides with adjustable structure have been attached great interest for the high energy density and low-cost SIBs. . Particularly, P2-type Mn-based materials exhibit anionic redox during charge and discharge processes, which can not only elevate the battery potential but also provide extra capacity, drastically boosting the energy density of the batteries. However, the irreversible phase transition, Jahn-Teller effect of manganese and interphase degradation at high charge cutoff voltage during anionic redox largely affect the cyclic stability of the cathodes. Therefore, it is essential to develop effective strategies to regulate the structural and interfacial chemistry for suppressing the phase transition and voltage hysteresis as well as increasing the cycle life of cathode materials. In this work, various electrochemical inert/active elements have been introduced into Mn-based P2 type cathode materials for regulating the electronic structure of the cathodes to promote more anionic redox and improve the structural stability. In addition, a new type of ionic liquid is introduced to build a stable interphase and improve the high voltage stability of the cathode material. Multi-model synchrotron-based X-ray characterization techniques combined with first-principles calculation are used to reveal the effectiveness of different strategies on the electrochemical properties of SIBs. The results provide valuable information for the development of high-performance cathode materials. Acknowledgement This work at Shanghai Jiao Tong University was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22209106).

Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent Group B streptococcal infections in newborn infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing various strategies

Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent Group B streptococcal infections in newborn infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing various strategies

Non-visual spatial strategies are effective for maintaining precise information in visual working memory

Visual working memory content is commonly thought to be composed of a precise visual representation of stimulus information (e.g., color, shape). Nevertheless, previous research has shown that individuals represent this visual information in different formats, historically dichotomized into “verbal” and “visual” formats. With growing popular knowledge of aphantasia, or the absence of sensory mental imagery, recent studies have demonstrated that individuals with aphantasia perform similarly to individuals with typical imagery on visual working memory tasks. This suggest that the use of non-visual strategies may be sufficient to perform visual working memory tasks, which were previously thought to be strictly visual. To investigate the effects of different strategies on performance in a visual working memory task, we recruited individuals across the visual imagery spectrum and tested their ability to identify relatively small (3°), medium (6°), or large (10°) changes in the degree of orientation of gratings held in working memory. Subsequently, participants indicated the extent to which they used five different strategies: visual, spatial, verbal, semantic, and sensorimotor. Results revealed that individuals with aphantasia and typical imagery performed similarly to each other across all task difficulty levels. Individuals with typical imagery dominantly used visuospatial strategies, but surprisingly, individuals with aphantasia overwhelmingly preferred the use of non-visual spatial and sensorimotor strategies over verbal strategies. These results suggest that non-visual spatial and sensorimotor strategies can be adopted in visual working memory tasks and these strategies are equally effective as visuospatial strategies. This calls for a rethinking of the “visual” versus “verbal” dichotomy, and provides evidence for the use of other non-visual mental representations in working memory tasks.

Systematic comparison of deep-learning based fusion strategies for multi-modal ultrasound in diagnosis of liver cancer

Systematic comparison of deep-learning based fusion strategies for multi-modal ultrasound in diagnosis of liver cancer

Reducing freeloading in Global Virtual Teams: A quasi-experimental approach

Reducing freeloading in Global Virtual Teams: A quasi-experimental approach

Developing Ultra‐High Strength Bainitic Steel by Hot Stamping Process and Anisothermal Holding

Hot stamping is a well‐established process in the automotive industry for structural parts to decrease the weight of a vehicle without reducing the safety and stiffness of components. In this work, a bainitic approach during the hot stamping process is studied by anisothermal annealing. The effect of different strategies on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the hot‐stamped parts is investigated. The microstructure is analyzed using light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) techniques. Tensile and hardness tests are applied to analyze mechanical properties. A microstructure consisting of a carbide‐free bainite matrix containing martensite, fine‐grained ferrite, and retained austenite is obtained. SEM analysis of fracture surfaces from tensile samples reveals that the bainitic microstructure showed mainly a ductile fracture by dimples and voids along with some quasi‐cleavage fracture.

The Strategies of Air Quality Improvement in Urban Governance: A Case Study of Beijing

In recent years, the economy of China has a rapid development. Meanwhile, there are a few problems exposed that are harmful to human health, especially environmental problems and air pollution in Beijing are concerned by all citizens. Since 2013, under the guidance of national governance policy, the Beijing government has been paying high attention to dealing with air pollution and officially launched air pollution control activities. With the cooperation and joint efforts of government, enterprises and academic institutions, air governance has achieved remarkable results, which reduced the index of air pollutants in terms of PM2.5, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and PM10. This paper will summarize the core countermeasures including the policy effect launched by the government, and the promotion effect of shared transportation modes by enterprises. Based on the measurements taken by government and enterprises, this paper analyzes the effects of different strategies. In addition, the suggestions for air quality control will be presented.

The effectiveness of BIM features application strategies for building refurbishment project performance improvement

Abstract This research presents a study that explores the effectiveness of different strategies for implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) features in enhancing the performance of building refurbishment projects. The study adopts a combined quantitative and qualitative approach to measure the significance of BIM features in relation to building refurbishment project performance improvement. It aims to uncover the correlation between BIM feature application strategies and building refurbishment project performance and provides recommendations on utilizing BIM features to improve project outcomes. The study encompasses a comprehensive review of existing literature on BIM and building refurbishment projects, followed by a mixed-methods approach. This approach involves quantitative analysis of data from refurbishment projects that have implemented BIM, as well as qualitative analysis of expert interviews with industry professionals. The findings of the expert interviews shed light on the factors influencing the effectiveness of BIM in building refurbishment projects, such as the level of BIM adoption, the availability of skilled personnel, and the integration of BIM into project workflows. The research contributes valuable insights to enhance the understanding of BIM utilization in building refurbishment projects, offering guidance to practitioners and decision-makers in leveraging BIM technologies for such endeavourrs.