Linkage Strategies Research Articles

Poor record linkage sensitivity biased outcomes in a linked cohort analysis

ObjectivesTo examine the validity of deterministic compared to probabilistic record linkage in the ascertainment of hospitalizations in two linked cohorts. Study Design and SettingHIV-negative (HIV-ve) (n = 1,325) and HIV-positive (HIV+ve) gay and bisexual men (n = 557) recruited in Sydney, Australia, were probabilistically and deterministically linked to a statewide hospital registry (July 2000–June 2012). ResultsUsing probabilistic linkage as the reference standard, deterministic linkage had higher specificity but much lower sensitivity [34.67% (95% confidence interval: 33.44, 35.92)]. A disproportionate number of links missed were individuals with poorer socioeconomic and health indicators, including HIV status. Risk of hospitalization compared to the general male population [HIV+ve standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 1.45 (1.33–1.59); HIV-ve SIR = 0.72 (0.67–0.78)] was significantly underestimated when deterministic linkage was used [HIV+ve SIR = 0.46 (0.37–0.58); HIV-ve SIR = 0.29 (0.24–0.35)]. The impact of linkage strategy on the calculation of incidence rate ratios (IRRs) was less, but a greater discrepancy in IRRs was seen for diagnostic categories where event rates were low or where the sensitivity of the deterministic linkage was differential between the two cohorts. ConclusionLinkage without proven high sensitivity and specificity should be carefully considered. In circumstances of undetermined sensitivity, SIRs should not be calculated as the extent of underestimation is unknown. The comparison of linked events within or between cohorts is more robust to linkage misclassification; however, selection bias does affect estimates and should be considered before linkage.

Party–voter linkages derived from the calculus of voting model: Electoral mobilization in Ecuador

This article derives a theory of party–voter linkages. It uses the decision theoretic calculus of voting model to theorize about political party strategies to mobilize voters under democratic competition. I show that parties will devise categorically distinct linkage strategies to operate upon different terms in the calculus of voting model. In particular, the theory implies four strategies: programmatic, clientelist, symbolic, and vote-buying. I illustrate their empirical relevance with case narratives of four parties in Ecuador.

Enhancement of Rural Women Employment through Shg-Bank Linkage Strategy in Andhra Pradesh

In India, productive employment is central to poverty reduction strategy and to bring about economic equality in the society. But the results of unfettered operation of market forces are not always equitable, especially in India, where some groups are likely to be subjected to disadvantage as a result of globalization. Women constitute one such vulnerable group. In this context, there is a need to give importance in addressing the issue of inclusive growth of India from the banking perspectives. The concept inclusion should be seen as a process of including the excluded as agents whose participation is essential in the very design of the development process and not simply as welfare targets of development programmes. Growth is inclusive when it creates economic opportunities along with ensuring equal access to the women. Apart from addressing the issue of inequality, the inclusive growth may also make the poverty reduction efforts more effective by explicitly creating productive economic opportunities for the poor and vulnerable sections of the society. Self-Help Group Bank Linkage Strategy is taken as a key strategy for addressing both poverty alleviation and women's empowerment. The government of Andhra Pradesh has become a role model initiating this programme more effectively when compared to other regions. The main objective of the study is to examine the impact of SHG bank linkage strategy on occupation, employment and income patterns of rural poor women in Andhra Pradesh. A multi stage random sample method is used for the purpose of the study. Totally two hundred sample women SHG respondents were interviewed for the purpose of the study with a well structured questionnaire through schedule method. The study finally reveals that there is a positive impact of SHGs on creation of economic activity, employment and income generation of the rural poor women SHG members in Andhra Pradesh.

Polymeric complex micelles based on the double-hydrazone linkage and dual drug-loading strategy for pH-sensitive docetaxel delivery

Stimuli-triggered drug release and improved drug loading are two key prerequisites in the preparation of nano-drug delivery systems. Herein, we constructed the first pluronic P123-double (d)-hydrazone bond (hyd)-docetaxel (DTX)/DTX complex micelles (P123-d-hyd-DTX/DTX) which integrated the highly pH-sensitive strategy and the dual drug-loading pattern in one platform. We synthesized pluronic P123-double (d)-hydrazone bond (hyd)-docetaxel (DTX) conjugates (P123-d-hyd-DTX) by conjugating DTX to the PEO chains of P123 via two hydrazone linkages in the backbone for the first time. An increase in the number of hydrazone linkages within the unimolecular conjugate was conducive to improve the pH sensitivity of conjugated-based micelles. Besides, aiming at improving drug loading, the dual drug-loading strategy (chemical conjugation and physical encapsulation) was adopted. Namely, pH-sensitive P123-d-hyd-DTX was used as a vehicle to further encapsulate DTX for preparing P123-d-hyd-DTX/DTX complex micelles. The resulting P123-d-hyd-DTX/DTX micelles exhibited intact spherical shape, uniform particle size distribution (110.37 nm) and higher drug loading (12.64%). The release study in vitro confirmed that P123-d-hyd-DTX/DTX micelles and P123-d-hyd-DTX micelles (as a control) showed highly pH-responsive release properties. In particular at pH 6.5, almost 90.9% and 75% of DTX was released within 48 h, respectively. Compared to P123-d-hyd-DTX micelles, P123-d-hyd-DTX/DTX complex micelles exhibited higher proliferation inhibition effects on B16F10 cells (p < 0.01), while the cytotoxicity of P123-d-hyd-DTX/DTX complex micelles was slightly inferior to that of free DTX (p < 0.05). In the xenograft B16F10 melanoma model, P123-d-hyd-DTX/DTX complex micelles suppressed tumor growth more effectively than Duopafei® (p < 0.01) and P123-d-hyd-DTX micelles (p < 0.05), without causing obvious adverse effects. Overall, the novel polymeric complex micelle based on double-hydrazone bond and dual drug-loading strategies was a promising delivery platform to improve therapeutic efficiency and decrease side effects in cancer treatments.

How home HIV testing and counselling with follow-up support achieves high testing coverage and linkage to treatment and prevention: a qualitative analysis from Uganda.

IntroductionThe successes of HIV treatment scale-up and the availability of new prevention tools have raised hopes that the epidemic can finally be controlled and ended. Reduction in HIV incidence and control of the epidemic requires high testing rates at population levels, followed by linkage to treatment or prevention. As effective linkage strategies are identified, it becomes important to understand how these strategies work. We use qualitative data from The Linkages Study, a recent community intervention trial of community-based testing with linkage interventions in sub-Saharan Africa, to show how lay counsellor home HIV testing and counselling (home HTC) with follow-up support leads to linkage to clinic-based HIV treatment and medical male circumcision services.MethodsWe conducted 99 semi-structured individual interviews with study participants and three focus groups with 16 lay counsellors in Kabwohe, Sheema District, Uganda. The participant sample included both HIV+ men and women (N=47) and HIV-uncircumcised men (N=52). Interview and focus group audio-recordings were translated and transcribed. Each transcript was summarized. The summaries were analyzed inductively to identify emergent themes. Thematic concepts were grouped to develop general constructs and framing propositional statements.ResultsTrial participants expressed interest in linking to clinic-based services at testing, but faced obstacles that eroded their initial enthusiasm. Follow-up support by lay counsellors intervened to restore interest and inspire action. Together, home HTC and follow-up support improved morale, created a desire to reciprocate, and provided reassurance that services were trustworthy. In different ways, these functions built links to the health service system. They worked to strengthen individuals’ general sense of capability, while making the idea of accessing services more manageable and familiar, thus reducing linkage barriers.ConclusionsHome HTC with follow-up support leads to linkage by building “social bridges,” interpersonal connections established and developed through repeated face-to-face contact between counsellors and prospective users of HIV treatment and male circumcision services. Social bridges link communities to the service system, inspiring individuals to overcome obstacles and access care.

Developing Country's Participation in Political Network Based on the Positional Power theory : Focused on the Linkage Strategy of Laos

In this research we analyze how the developing countries form the positional power in their networks by cooperation, and competition between the countries. For showing these analysis we suggested the Laos as the example that the hinterland countries which does not reach the ocean. In the Network Power theory, between the developing countries and middle power countries, the most important things they have to considered to take possession of the positional power is the difference of the scale. If the developing countries want to participate in the network power politics they must strengthen diplomacy for form the positional power. In this research we look through the process of Laos as the isolation countries, develop as the connection countries and how they form the positional power through the participation of the Network power politics. We search the social and political situation of the Laos in 1980s and consider the relationship between the Laos and the socialism countries after end of cold war era in 1990s. In this research we look through the process of Laos as the isolation countries, develop as the connection countries and how they form the positional power through the participation of the Network power politics. We search the social and political situation of the Laos in 1980s and consider the relationship between the Laos and the socialism countries after end of cold war era in 1990s. Also we want to see how Laos focused on the positional power for strengthen the diplomacy, through the relationship between the countries around the Mekong River. According to the nine economic corridor of GMS and cooperate with a main organization we analyze that Laos does not weighted toward specific countries (among the Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China) they exercise a Positional Power properly. Through the research we can know that the developing country Laos which is not hegemon or middle power countries they limit the network range and make a relationship with the close countries using the close-centrality. Also they positioning the strategy diplomatic attitude for dominate the positioning power within the region. Through this research that mainly discussed about the Laos we can assume thedeveloping countries can form the powerful positioning power using the Network policy and we can find significance from this analysis can effect other developing countries will be develop to the connection countries.

Recovering full-length viral genomes from metagenomes.

Infectious disease metagenomics is driven by the question: “what is causing the disease?” in contrast to classical metagenome studies which are guided by “what is out there?” In case of a novel virus, a first step to eventually establishing etiology can be to recover a full-length viral genome from a metagenomic sample. However, retrieval of a full-length genome of a divergent virus is technically challenging and can be time-consuming and costly. Here we discuss different assembly and fragment linkage strategies such as iterative assembly, motif searches, k-mer frequency profiling, coverage profile binning, and other strategies used to recover genomes of potential viral pathogens in a timely and cost-effective manner.

New insights from monogenic diabetes for "common" type 2 diabetes.

Boundaries between monogenic and complex genetic diseases are becoming increasingly blurred, as a result of better understanding of phenotypes and their genetic determinants. This had a large impact on the way complex disease genetics is now being investigated. Starting with conventional approaches like familial linkage, positional cloning and candidate genes strategies, the scope of complex disease genetics has grown exponentially with scientific and technological advances in recent times. Despite identification of multiple loci harboring common and rare variants associated with complex diseases, interpreting and evaluating their functional role has proven to be difficult. Information from monogenic diseases, especially related to the intermediate traits associated with complex diseases comes handy. The significant overlap between traits and phenotypes of monogenic diseases with related complex diseases provides a platform to understand the disease biology better. In this review, we would discuss about one such complex disease, type 2 diabetes, which shares marked similarity of intermediate traits with different forms of monogenic diabetes.

The Link4Health study to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination intervention strategy for linkage to and retention in HIV care in Swaziland: protocol for a cluster randomized trial.

BackgroundGaps in the HIV care continuum contribute to suboptimal individual health outcomes and increased risk of HIV transmission at the population level. Implementation science studies are needed to evaluate clinic-based interventions aimed at improving retention of patients across the continuum.Methods/designLink4Health uses an unblended cluster site-randomized design to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination intervention strategy (CIS) as compared to standard of care on linkage to and retention in care among HIV-diagnosed adults in Swaziland. The CIS intervention targets a multiplicity of structural, behavioral, and biomedical barriers through five interventions: (1) point-of-care CD4 testing at time of HIV testing, (2) accelerated antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation for eligible patients, (3) mobile phone appointment reminders, (4) care and prevention packages, and (5) non-cash financial incentives for linkage and retention. The unit of randomization is a network of HIV clinics inclusive of a secondary facility coupled with an affiliated primary facility. Ten study units were randomized based on implementing partner, geographic location, and historic volume of HIV patients. Target enrollment was 2200 individuals, each to be followed for 12 months. Eligibility criteria includes HIV-positive test, age >18 years, willing to receive HIV care at a clinic in the study unit and consent to study procedures. Exclusion criteria included previous HIV care in the past 6 months, planning to leave the community, and current pregnancy.The primary study outcome is linkage within 1 month and retention at 12 months after testing HIV positive. Secondary outcomes include viral load suppression at 12 months, time to ART eligibility and initiation, participant acceptability, and cost-effectiveness. The trial status is that study enrollment is complete and follow-up procedures are ongoing.DiscussionLink4Health evaluates a novel and pragmatic combination intervention strategy to improve linkage to and retention in care among adults with HIV in Swaziland. If the strategy is found to be effective, this study has the potential to inform HIV service delivery in resource-limited settings.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT01904994

Is Psychosis a Disorder of XY Epigenetics?

Is Psychosis a Disorder of XY Epigenetics?

Six-Axis Linkage Strategy and Its Models for Non-Circular Helical Gears Based on Diagonal Hobbing

Among cutter teeth of the hob when hobbing non-circular helical gears, there are some issues such as uneven load and wear. To solve those problems, a simultaneous six-axis hobbing model had been developed based on diagonal hobbing. Four probable working conditions were provided. Linkage models corresponding to the four conditions were verified by virtual hobbing, in which the profile accuracies were compared and analyzed. The four working conditions were analyzed including linear (or angular) velocities and linear (or angular) accelerations. Consequently, two implementation strategies including repeating axial shift and reciprocating axial shift were offered. The linkage models and their strategies have been verified by hobbing testing. Experimental results show that diagonal hobbing is superior to non-diagonal hobbing in that the hob life of the former is 3.68 longer than that of the latter, and the micro-topography in the teeth surface of the former is more stable during transmission.

Linkage engineering in hosts for dramatic efficiency enhancement of blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes.

Higher triplet energy and balanced charge mobility is two key factors for high-efficiency host materials of phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLED), which are integrated in a carbazole-diphenylene-fluorene hybrid FDPCz2 (9,9'-(4',4"-(9H-fluorene-9,9-diyl)bis(biphenyl-4',4-diyl))bis(9H-carbazole)) on the basis of indirect linkage strategy. Owing to rationally spatial allocation of conjugation blocking and extension for diphenylene linkages, FDPCz2 achieves both high triplet energy of 2.97 eV and favorable charge mobility by order of 6.3 × 10(-6) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). Compared to conventional hosts and a short-conjugated analogue FPCz2 (9,9'-(4,4'-(9H-fluorene-9,9-diyl)bis(4,1-phenylene)) bis(9H-carbazole)), FDPCz2 dramatically elevated device efficiencies with peak values of 40.6 cd A(-1) and 20.2% for blue PhOLEDs.

Deterministic Linkage as a Preceding Filter for Other Record Linkage Methods

Deterministic record linkage (RL) is frequently regarded as a rival to more sophisticated strategies like probabilistic RL. We investigate the effect of combining deterministic linkage with other linkage techniques. For this task, we use a simple deterministic linkage strategy as a preceding filter: a data pair is classified as ‘match' if all values of attributes considered agree exactly, otherwise as ‘nonmatch'. This strategy is separately combined with two probabilistic RL methods based on the Fellegi–Sunter model and with two classification tree methods (CART and Bagging). An empirical comparison was conducted on two real data sets. We used four different partitions into training data and test data to increase the validity of the results. In almost all cases, application of deterministic linkage as a preceding filter leads to better results compared to the omission of such a pre-filter, and overall classification trees exhibited best results. On all data sets, probabilistic RL only profited from deterministic linkage when the underlying probabilities were estimated before applying deterministic linkage. When using a pre-filter for subtracting definite cases, the underlying population of data pairs changes. It is crucial to take this into account for model-based probabilistic RL.

Linkage Strategy with Official Development Assistance and Coordination in Agri-business of the Overseas Operations

Linkage Strategy with Official Development Assistance and Coordination in Agri-business of the Overseas Operations

Korea’s linkage strategy between FTA hub policy and middle power leadership in regional economic integration

This article focuses on Korea’s free trade agreement (FTA) hub policy and its implication for Korea’s role in the regional integration process of the Asia-Pacific. It particularly bridges a gap in the existing literature, addressing why Korea, pursuing an FTA hub nation, simultaneously takes a proactive approach toward a range of regional projects. It argues that Korea’s FTA hub policy has not been solely driven by economic consideration, and the Korean government’s intent to use an FTA hub status to gain political objectives is equally, or even more, important. In particular, Korea has linked its FTA hub policy and the exercise of middle power leadership in the shaping of the regional trade architecture. The Korean government has perceived Korea’s FTA hub status as a useful instrument for Korea’s leading roles such as facilitating regional trade liberalization, managing its manners and sequence, and mediating between the USA-led and the China-led regional initiatives.

Challenges in managing HIV in people who use drugs.

HIV management in people who use drugs (PWUD) is typically complex and challenging due to the presence of multiple medical and psychiatric comorbidities as well as social, physical, economic and legal factors that often disrupt the HIV continuum of care. In this review, we describe the individual, health systems and societal barriers to HIV treatment access and care retention for PWUD. In addition, the clinical management of HIV-infected PWUD is often complicated by the presence of multiple infectious and noninfectious comorbidities. Improved HIV treatment outcomes can be enhanced through improved testing and linkage strategies along with better treatment retention and antiretroviral (ART) adherence. Improved ART adherence can be achieved through the provision of opioid substitution therapy (OST), directly administered ART (DAART) and integration of ART with OST services. Recent advances with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) have shown superior outcomes than interferon-based regimes in HIV-HCV coinfected patients. Newer diagnostic technologies for tuberculosis (TB) hold promise for earlier diagnosis for PWUD coinfected with TB, and TB treatment outcomes are improved through combination with OST. HIV-infected PWUDs are a key population who frequently experience suboptimal outcomes along the HIV continuum of care. A comprehensive strategy that encompasses evidence-based prevention and treatment interventions that target the individual, family, healthcare system, legal and societal structure is required to ensure greater participation and success in HIV treatment and care.

Factors Associated With Follow-Up Attendance Among Rape Victims Seen in Acute Medical Care

Objective: Rape is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related comorbidities. Most victims do not obtain treatment for these conditions. Acute care medical settings are well positioned to link patients to services; however, difficulty engaging victims and low attendance at provided follow-up appointments is well documented. Identifying factors associated with follow-up can inform engagement and linkage strategies. Method: Administrative, patient self-report, and provider observational data from Harborview Medical Center were combined for the analysis. Using logistic regression, we examined factors associated with follow-up health service utilization after seeking services for rape in the emergency department. Results: Of the 521 diverse female (n = 476) and male (n = 45) rape victims, 28% attended the recommended medical/counseling follow-up appointment. In the final (adjusted) logistic regression model, having a developmental or other disability (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.21–0.77), having a current mental illness (OR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.13–0.49), and being assaulted in public (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.28–0.87) were uniquely associated with reduced odds of attending the follow-up. Having a prior mental health condition (OR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.86–4.91), a completed Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner’s (SANE) examination (OR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.84–4.81), and social support available to help cope with the assault (OR = 3.54, 95% CI = 1.76–7.11) were associated with an increased odds of attending the follow-up. Conclusions: Findings point to relevant characteristics ascertained at the acute care medical visit for rape that may be used to identify victims less likely to obtain posttraumatic medical and mental health services. Efforts to improve service linkage for these patients is warranted and may require alternative service delivery models that engage rape survivors and support posttraumatic recovery.

Developing Country's Participation in Political Network Based on the Positional Power theory : Focused on the Linkage Strategy of Laos

Developing Country's Participation in Political Network Based on the Positional Power theory : Focused on the Linkage Strategy of Laos

The Linkage Strategies of Chinese education in the department of Chinese language &amp; literature at Dong-A University

The Linkage Strategies of Chinese education in the department of Chinese language &amp; literature at Dong-A University

Democracy and Multilateralism: The Case of Vote Buying in the UN General Assembly

AbstractDemocracies are more supportive of US positions on important votes in the UN General Assembly than of nondemocracies. Is this because democracies share common perspectives, or does this pattern reflect coercion? Since 1985, US law has stipulated that the US State Department identify important votes and that aid disbursements reflect voting decisions. To unravel these alternative explanations, we introduce a strategic statistical model that allows us to estimate voting preferences, vulnerability to influence, and credibility of linkage, which are theoretical quantities of interest that are not directly observable. The results reject the hypothesis of shared democratic values: poor democracies have voting preferences that are more oppositional to US positions than autocracies, and they are more willing than autocracies to take symbolic stands that may cost them foreign aid. Democracies support US positions, however, because US aid linkages are more credible when directed toward democratic countries. Splitting the sample into Cold War and post–Cold War segments, we find that the end of the Cold War changed the way US linkage strategies treated allies and left- and right-leaning governments, but the effects of democracy remained constant.