scholarly journals The role of European health system characteristics in affecting Covid 19 lethality during the early days of the pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Giancotti ◽  
Milena Lopreite ◽  
Marianna Mauro ◽  
Michelangelo Puliga

AbstractThis article examines the main factors affecting COVID-19 lethality across 16 European Countries with a focus on the role of health system characteristics during the first phase of the diffusion of the virus. Specifically, we investigate the leading causes of lethality at 10, 20, 30, 40 days in the first hit of the pandemic. Using a random forest regression (ML), with lethality as outcome variable, we show that the percentage of people older than 65 years (with two or more chronic diseases) is the main predictor variable of lethality by COVID-19, followed by the number of hospital intensive care unit beds, investments in healthcare spending compared to GDP, number of nurses and doctors. Moreover, the variable of general practitioners has little but significant predicting quality. These findings contribute to provide evidence for the prediction of lethality caused by COVID-19 in Europe and open the discussion on health policy and management of health care and ICU beds during a severe epidemic.

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. p107
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari

Background: The nucleus accumbens’ (NAc) size, function, and density influence individuals’ body mass index (BMI). However, little is known about racial and socioeconomic status (SES) differences in the role of NAc density as a predictor of childhood BMI. Objectives: We used the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) data to investigate racial and SES differences in the effect of NAc density on childhood BMI. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 9497 children between ages 9 and 10. Mixed-effects regression models were used to analyze the data. The predictor variable was NAc density measured using diffusion MRI (dMRI). The outcome variable was BMI, operationalized as a continuous variable. Covariates included sex, age, ethnicity, family structure, and parental education. Race (White, African American, Asian, and Other/mixed) and household income (< 50k, 50-100 k, and 100+ k) were the moderators. Results: High NAc diffusion tension (density) was predictive of higher BMI, net of covariates. However, the positive association between NAc density and BMI was stronger in African Americans than in White, and in low-income than in high-income children. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that although high NAc has implications for children’s BMI, this effect varies across racial and SES groups. More research should be performed on the role of obesogenic environments in altering the effect of NAc on childhood BMI.


Author(s):  
Abdulaziz Farooq ◽  
Laura Basterfield ◽  
Ashley J. Adamson ◽  
Mark S. Pearce ◽  
Adrienne R. Hughes ◽  
...  

The combined role of objectively assessed moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) is unclear in obesity prevention. This study aimed to identify latent groups for MVPA and SB trajectories from childhood to adolescence and examine their relationship with obesity risk at adolescence. From the Gateshead Millennium Study, accelerometer-based trajectories of time spent in MVPA and SB at ages 7, 9, 12, and 15 were derived as assigned as the predictor variable. Fat mass index (FMI), using bioelectrical impedance at age 15, was the outcome variable. From 672 children recruited, we identified three distinct multiple trajectory groups for time spent in MVPA and SB. The group with majority membership (54% of the cohort) had high MVPA and low SB at childhood, but MVPA declined and SB increased by age 15. One third of the cohort (31%) belonged to the trajectory with low MVPA and high time spent sedentary throughout. The third trajectory group (15% of the cohort) that had relatively high MVPA and relatively low SB throughout had lower FMI (−1.7, 95% CI (−3.4 to −1.0) kg/m2, p = 0.034) at age 15 compared to the inactive throughout group. High MVPA and low SB trajectories when combined are protective against obesity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas S. Mayende ◽  
Ibrahim A. Musenze

Orientation: Retention of quality staff in a highly competitive and dynamic working environment has made retention research necessary. Current focus is on how job resources influence ethical leadership in driving staff retention. Studies investigating the moderation effect of job resources in the ethical leadership–staff retention sequence in Uganda’s healthcare sector are scarce. Thus, the establishment of the moderation effect of job resources in the ethical leadership–staff retention sequence was needed.Research purpose: This study aimed at examining the moderating role of job resources in the association between ethical leadership and staff retention.Motivation for the study: Staff retention in Uganda’s healthcare sector is pervasive even with several government interventions such as salary enhancement. Rising maternal and infant mortality rates, low immunisation coverage, inter alia, are some of the effects. Reversing this scenario calls for leaders to exercise ethical leadership.Research approach/design and method: This study utilised a cross-sectional research design. Analyses were conducted by SPSS v. 21 on a sample of 214 healthcare workers.Main findings: The results show that ethical leadership positively affects staff retention. Also, the moderation role of the composite job resources variable in the ethical leadership–staff retention sequence was significant.Practical/managerial implications: This study demonstrated the important contribution of both ethical leadership and job resources in staff retention management.Contribution/value-add: This moderation model offers an additional complete explanation for the moderating effect of job resources in these conditions. The study also contributes to theory by demonstrating that contrary to the previous investigations where ethical leadership has been studied as an outcome variable, it is a predictor variable of staff retention.


2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Eschen ◽  
Franzisca Zehnder ◽  
Mike Martin

This article introduces Cognitive Health Counseling 40+ (CH.CO40+), an individualized intervention that is conceptually based on the orchestration model of quality-of-life management ( Martin & Kliegel, 2010 ) and aims at improving satisfaction with cognitive health in adults aged 40 years and older. We describe the theoretically deduced characteristics of CH.CO40+, its target group, its multifactorial nature, its individualization, the application of subjective and objective measures, the role of participants as agents of change, and the rationale for choosing participants’ satisfaction with their cognitive health as main outcome variable. A pilot phase with 15 middle-aged and six older adults suggests that CH.CO40+ attracts, and may be particularly suitable for, subjective memory complainers. Implications of the pilot data for the further development of the intervention are discussed.


Author(s):  
Do Huy Thuong ◽  
Nguyen Thi Phuong Hong

Improving the quality in order to keep up with the trend in the world is the vital task of training institutions today. Training institutions need to grasp market needs and satisfy the requirements of customers - learners. Nadiri, H., Kandampully, J & Hussain, K. (2009) argue that the managers in education need to apply market strategies that are being used by manufacturing and business enterprises and need to be aware that the role of training institutions is a service industry which is responsible for satisfying learner needs (Elliott & Shin, 2002). Currently, there have been many researches on students’ satisfaction. However, each research has its own objectives and is conducted on different scales. This study is implemented to provide information about the factors affecting master students’ satisfaction with the training service at VNU School of Interdisciplinary Studies (VNU SIS). Through it, the research offers a number of solutions to improving the satisfaction level of the master students at VNU SIS in the coming time.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-93
Author(s):  
D. V. Slivinsky ◽  
I. A. Fomina ◽  
D. G. Menshikh

The presented study determines the role of business aviation in the modern economy and examines the specific features of its development in Russia.Aim. The study aims to analyze the development of business aviation in Russia and its correlation with economic development in general.Tasks. The authors determine the benefits of business aviation as a business tool, examine the specific features of the Russian business aviation market and problems of its development, and identify factors that affect the development of business aviation in Russia.Methods. This study uses the methods of comparative and retrospective analysis, cross-country comparison, systems approach, and expert analytics.Results. Business aviation is a new segment of civil aviation for Russia. Therefore, it is advisable to rely on foreign practices in the management of its development. In many countries, business aviation is a separate industry that specializes in providing transport services to a wide range of corporate clients and/or individuals. The development of this industry is associated with the economic growth rate and the development level of the national economy, and also depends on the national institutional specifics. This study describes the specific features of development of business aviation in Russia and problems arising in the organization and management of this type of business.Conclusions. The authors develop a system of factors affecting the development of business aviation in Russia, describe the major problems of this industry, and propose solutions. The results of this study can be used in the development (adjustment) of business aviation development strategies in Russia both at the industrial and corporate level, and in the implementation of the national policy in this field.


Author(s):  
E. M. Ratnikov ◽  
D. O. Milko

Annotation Purpose. Development of a program and methods for conducting experimental studies of the extrusion process with the definition of parameters and modes of operation of the extruder to improve its energy performance. Methods. Methods of mathematical statistics, synthesis, analysis, description and modeling were used. Results. The application of mathematical methods, in particular mathematical planning, reduces the number of experiments several times, and allows to evaluate the role of influencing factors, obtain a mathematical model of the process and determine the optimal conditions for its parameters and modes, etc. Conclusions. The methodology for experimental studies of a screw extruder is presented with the necessary equipment and methodology for processing the obtained experimental data. A mathematical method of planning, which reduces the number of experiments several times, allows us to evaluate the role of factors affecting productivity and energy intensity is presented. Keywords: extruder, auger, nutrients, research methodology, extrusion, processing, feed.


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