Session Summary Research Articles

Challenges and Possible Solutions to Pediatric Organ Donation and Transplantation in Turkey and the Middle East: Panel Discussion/Brainstorm Session Summary Report.

Organ transplantation is the best therapeutic option for children with end-stage organ failure. Pediatric transplantation centers and prioritization of organs for children are being established around the world. However, there is an important discrepancy observed when comparing high-income countries versus low-income and middle-income countries, as programs are active in some, but not in many others. Deceased organ donation is low in many places, which has led to an increase of organ shortage; consequently, there is a need to rely on the use of living donor organs. This is frequently the case for pediatric transplantation. To gather information about the possible reasons underlying these challenges and to propose possible solutions, a brainstorming session took place during the International Symposium on Pediatric Organ Donation and Transplantation in Ankara, Turkey. A description on different topics that were discussed is presented herein.

Data Science for Integrated Dynamic Structural Biology—the 21st IUPAB Congress session summary commentary

Data Science for Integrated Dynamic Structural Biology—the 21st IUPAB Congress session summary commentary

A Comparison Between Clinical Guidelines and Real-World Treatment Data in Examining the Use of Session Summaries: Retrospective Study.

BackgroundAlthough behavioral interventions have been found to be efficacious and effective in randomized clinical trials for most mental illnesses, the quality and efficacy of mental health care delivery remains inadequate in real-world settings, partly owing to suboptimal treatment fidelity. This “therapist drift” is an ongoing issue that ultimately reduces the effectiveness of treatments; however, until recently, there have been limited opportunities to assess adherence beyond large randomized controlled trials.ObjectiveThis study explored therapists’ use of a standard component that is pertinent across most behavioral treatments—prompting clients to summarize their treatment session as a means for consolidating and augmenting their understanding of the session and the treatment plan.MethodsThe data set for this study comprised 17,607 behavioral treatment sessions administered by 322 therapists to 3519 patients in 37 behavioral health care programs across the United States. Sessions were captured by a therapy-specific artificial intelligence (AI) platform, and an automatic speech recognition system transcribed the treatment meeting and separated the data to the therapist and client utterances. A search for possible session summary prompts was then conducted, with 2 psychologists validating the text that emerged.ResultsWe found that despite clinical recommendations, only 54 (0.30%) sessions included a summary. Exploratory analyses indicated that session summaries mostly addressed relationships (n=27), work (n=20), change (n=6), and alcohol (n=5). Sessions with meeting summaries were also characterized by greater therapist interventions and included greater use of validation, complex reflections, and proactive problem-solving techniques.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess a large, diverse data set of real-world treatment practices. Our findings provide evidence that fidelity with the core components of empirically designed psychological interventions is a challenge in real-world settings. The results of this study can inform the development of machine learning and AI algorithms and offer nuanced, timely feedback to providers, thereby improving the delivery of evidence-based practices and quality of mental health care services and facilitating better clinical outcomes in real-world settings.

Structure Functions and Parton Densities: a Session Summary

Studies of fragmentation and parton density functions are a core component of research in high energy particle and nuclear physics. These quantities are inherently interesting as a probe of the quantum nature of the strong force and are also essential ingredients to additional studies in high energy scattering experiments. These proceedings provide an overview of the state of the art in this area, as presented at the Deep-Inelastic Scattering Conference in the Spring of 2021.

Keynote 4 Session Summary - Conception of Nanoparticles as Diagnostic Agents

Keynote 4 Session Summary - Conception of Nanoparticles as Diagnostic Agents

Keynote 1 Session Summary - Molecular imaging for systemic treatment decisions in patients with cancer

Keynote 1 Session Summary - Molecular imaging for systemic treatment decisions in patients with cancer

Keynote 2 Session Summary - Translation of New Chemical Methods and Radiopharmaceuticals for Neuroimaging

Keynote 2 Session Summary - Translation of New Chemical Methods and Radiopharmaceuticals for Neuroimaging

Current and emerging treatments for people living with lower limb ulcers: Session summary

Lower limb ulcers (LLUs) are common, with a prevalence of 0.8 to 2.2 patients per 1000 population, doubling in incidence in people aged over 65. Lower limb ulcers significantly impact an affected individual’s quality of life and are costly to treat. Diagnosing the cause of the ulcer is critical to successful management. Many affected individuals have ulcers with mixed etiology, which makes diagnosis and therapy challenging. (Session summary from Wounds Canada 2021 National Conference.)

Inflation: Drivers and Dynamics 2020 CEBRA Annual Meeting Session Summary

The Cleveland Fed’s Center for Inflation Research sponsored a session on inflation dynamics at the 2020 CEBRA annual meeting. The presentations focused on inflation expectations and firms’ price-setting behavior. This Economic Commentary summarizes the papers presented during the session.

Inflation: Drivers and Dynamics | 2019 CEBRA Annual Meeting Session Summary

The relationship between the Phillips curve and inflation has become weaker over time, producing questions regarding how policymakers might connect inflation to the rest of the economy. Presentations given during the “Inflation: Drivers and Dynamics” session of the Central Bank Research Association’s annual meeting focused on the intersection of monetary policy and inflation dynamics to examine the ways in which policy might impact inflation and related expectations and processes. This Economic Commentary summarizes the papers presented during this session.

Developing strategies to improve fidelity of delivery of, and engagement with, a complex intervention to improve independence in dementia: a mixed methods study

BackgroundIt is important to evaluate fidelity of delivery and engagement during feasibility trials. However, there is little guidance on how to systematically develop strategies to improve implementation if problems arise. We aimed to: 1) Assess fidelity of delivery and engagement, 2) Identify factors influencing fidelity of delivery and engagement, and 3) Develop strategies to improve fidelity of delivery of, and engagement with, a complex intervention to improve independence in dementia, within a feasibility trial.MethodsA mixed methods evaluation of an intervention that aimed to improve independence in dementia. To assess fidelity of delivery and engagement, observation and self-report methods were used: 60% of audio-recorded intervention sessions were transcribed and reliably rated for fidelity. Providers (n = 12) and people with dementia/supporters (n = 34) were asked to complete checklists after each session. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. To identify factors influencing fidelity and engagement, one-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with providers (n = 8), people with dementia (n = 7) and supporters (n = 7). Thematic analysis and content analysis were used to analyse data. To develop strategies, we followed four steps proposed by the authors of the Behaviour Change Wheel (1. Understanding the behaviour, 2. Identifying intervention functions, 3. Specifying intervention content, 4. Identifying mode of delivery).ResultsResearcher ratings indicated moderate fidelity and provider/participant ratings indicated high fidelity of delivery. Knowledge, providers’ attributes, ease of adaptation of the intervention in relation to participants’ needs and logistical considerations influenced fidelity. We developed four strategies to improve fidelity of delivery of PRIDE: 1) showing a video, 2) giving an instruction sheet, 3) giving time to practice and 4) providing continued support. Participants reported high levels of engagement. Participants’ attributes, capability and opportunity influenced engagement. We developed four strategies to improve engagement with PRIDE: 1) a session summary document, 2) clear instructions, 3) time to practice activity and 4) providing regular compulsory telephone support.ConclusionFidelity of delivery and engagement are complex behaviours. This manuscript provides an example of how the Behaviour Change Wheel can be used during a feasibility trial to systematically develop strategies to improve implementation of complex interventions.

Pathology in Ecological Research With Implications for One Health: Session Summary.

This session explored the effects of pollutants on One Health at the ecosystem level that included microbes, insects, fish, and humans. The concept of One Health seeks to synergize medical, veterinary, and other health science disciplines to more effectively advance human and animal health. Presentations explored the interactions of pesticides, pathogens, phytochemicals, and xenobiotic biotransformation in bee colony losses critical for food security (bees have been recently listed under the 2017 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) veterinary feed directive); the role of pathology in identifying the effects of pollutants on fish as sentinels for human health; the effects in rats of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that can persist in the environment and contaminate drinking water; harmful algal blooms and toxin production leading to animal and human disease; and the processing of environmental carcinogens by intestinal microbiota.

Poster Session Summary (The 2nd day)

Poster Session Summary (The 2nd day)

Oral Session Summary (The 2nd day)

Oral Session Summary (The 2nd day)

Poster Session Summary (The 1st day)

Poster Session Summary (The 1st day)

Oral Session Summary (The 1st day)

Oral Session Summary (The 1st day)

Cooperative Session Summary, How should we face the Recent Emerging Risk?

Cooperative Session Summary, How should we face the Recent Emerging Risk?

Operationalizing the Reciprocal Engagement Model of Genetic Counseling Practice: a Framework for the Scalable Delivery of Genomic Counseling and Testing.

With the advent of widespread genomic testing for diagnostic indications and disease risk assessment, there is increased need to optimize genetic counseling services to support the scalable delivery of precision medicine. Here, we describe how we operationalized the reciprocal engagement model of genetic counseling practice to develop a framework of counseling components and strategies for the delivery of genomic results. This framework was constructed based upon qualitative research with patients receiving genomic counseling following online receipt of potentially actionable complex disease and pharmacogenomics reports. Consultation with a transdisciplinary group of investigators, including practicing genetic counselors, was sought to ensure broad scope and applicability of these strategies for use with any large-scale genomic testing effort. We preserve the provision of pre-test education and informed consent as established in Mendelian/single-gene disease genetic counseling practice. Following receipt of genomic results, patients are afforded the opportunity to tailor the counseling agenda by selecting the specific test results they wish to discuss, specifying questions for discussion, and indicating their preference for counseling modality. The genetic counselor uses these patient preferences to set the genomic counseling session and to personalize result communication and risk reduction recommendations. Tailored visual aids and result summary reports divide areas of risk (genetic variant, family history, lifestyle) for each disease to facilitate discussion of multiple disease risks. Post-counseling, session summary reports are actively routed to both the patient and their physician team to encourage review and follow-up. Given the breadth of genomic information potentially resulting from genomic testing, this framework is put forth as a starting point to meet the need for scalable genetic counseling services in the delivery of precision medicine.

INSIDE THE BLACK BOX: TRACKING DECISION-MAKING IN AN ACTION RESEARCH STUDY

Action research has been described as “designing the plane while flying it” (Herr & Anderson, 2005, p. 69). A black box documented the researcher’s decisions while facilitating leadership development sessions with teacher leaders. Ten process folio steps informed the study through six iterations. Planning steps included a design frame, researcher’s action research cycle, session agenda, facilitator’s guide and researcher’s checklist. Observation steps included videotape transcriptions and written participant and researcher reflections. Analytical steps included a logic model, session summary and cumulative themes. Secondary analysis across the data sets crystalized the research contributions. The black box effectively documented complex action research.

System Level Challenges and Resolutions in Organ Donation and Transplantation Program in Qatar

Introduction: Organ donation and transplantation programs are affected by factors impacting donation decisions of individuals. These factors have been widely researched world over. However, few researches have studied the organ donation system level challenges that jeopardize the system even when prospective donors are available. It is important to understand these challenges and find appropriate resolutions for them. This qualitative study was conducted to understand the challenges and resolutions in the organ donation and transplant system of Qatar. Methodology: Eight focus group discussions were carried out with homogenous groups of health care workers working in the field of organ donation or organ transplantation in Qatar. After consenting, they were asked open ended questions by an unbiased moderator. Each session lasted for 60-90 min and ended with session summary and participant feedback. The question workbooks were prepared after extensive review of literature and discussion with non-participating stake holders of the organ donation and transplant program in Qatar. Discussions were audio recorded, transcribed and later coded and analyzed on Nvivo software. COREQ checklist was used while reporting the results of this study. Results: Underutilization of potential donors, organ donation campaign, brain dead donors, family consenting, living donation, infrastructure, staff training, allocation and recruitment were main system level challenges to resolve to ensure maximum utilization of potential donors and donated organs. Conclusion: Inclusion of multidisciplinary teams during organ transplant, increased representation from departments doing transplants in transplant committee, minimizing wastage of available organs, streamlining the process of brain dead identification, declaration and maintenance of deceased organ, centralized facility for living donor work up and improved infrastructural facility were advocated to improve utilization of donated organs to resolve system level challenges. Improvement in after care and compliance in transplanted patients, registering higher number of donors and increasing family consent by ensuring communication of donation decision to family are the need of the hour.