Defining “Comparable”: An Analysis of Reduction in Force Provisions in Ohio School Districts

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Kyle Ingle ◽  
Chris Willis ◽  
Ann Herd

Guided by Honig and Hatch's (2004) conceptualization of bridging and buffering, we undertook an analysis of reduction in force (RIF) provisions from 546 Ohio teacher collective bargaining agreements. We asked the following question: Are the most disadvantaged school districts providing greater protections to tenured teachers when making RIF decisions? Logistic regression analysis revealed a negative relationship ( p < 0.05) between the percentage of students within the district living in poverty and bridging to state efforts to reform the use of seniority alone in RIF decisions.

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nopparat Ruchakorn ◽  
Pintip Ngamjanyaporn ◽  
Thanitta Suangtamai ◽  
Thanuchporn Kafaksom ◽  
Charin Polpanumas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Identification of universal biomarkers to predict systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares is challenging due to the heterogeneity of the disease. Several biomarkers have been reported. However, the data of validated biomarkers to use as a predictor for lupus flares show variation. This study aimed to identify the biomarkers that are sensitive and specific to predict lupus flares. Methods One hundred and twenty-four SLE patients enrolled in this study and were prospectively followed up. The evaluation of disease activity achieved by the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI-2K) and clinical SLEDAI (modified SLEDAI). Patients with active SLE were categorized into renal or non-renal flares. Serum cytokines were measured by multiplex bead-based flow cytometry. The correlation and logistic regression analysis were performed. Results Levels of IFN-α, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-18 significantly increased in active SLE and correlated with clinical SLEDAI. Complement C3 showed a weakly negative relationship with IFN-α and IL-18. IL-18 showed the highest positive likelihood ratios for active SLE. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that IL-6, IL-8, and IL-18 significantly increased odds ratio (OR) for active SLE at baseline while complement C3 and IL-18 increased OR for active SLE at 12 weeks. IL-18 and IL-6 yielded higher sensitivity and specificity than anti-dsDNA and C3 to predict active renal and active non-renal, respectively. Conclusion The heterogeneity of SLE pathogenesis leads to different signaling mechanisms and mediates through several cytokines. The monitoring of cytokines increases the sensitivity and specificity to determine SLE disease activity. IL-18 predicts the risk of active renal SLE while IL-6 and IL-8 predict the risk of active non-renal. The sensitivity and specificity of these cytokines are higher than the anti-dsDNA or C3. We propose to use the serum level of IL-18, IL-6, and IL-8 to monitor SLE disease activity in clinical practice.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiko Masaka ◽  
Yohichi Wakita ◽  
Kenta Iwasaki ◽  
Masato Hayamizu

AbstractWidespread decline of white birch shelterbelts was observed in central Hokkaido, northern Japan. Many exit holes bored by adults of the white-spotted longicorn beetle have been found at the bases of the trunks of trees in these stands. The number of adult longicorn beetle exit holes (Nholes) of dead standing trees tended to be greater than that of living trees. Nholes tended to increase with increasing DBH, and there was a negative relationship between Nholes and tree vigor. We found a size-dependent lethal threshold in Nholes. A resonance-measurement device (RMD) for diagnosing the level of wood defection inside the trunk was also tested. The RMD examination together with the lethal threshold in Nholes can be a useful tool for the diagnosis of white birch trees. We estimated Nholes of dead standing trees with a DBH of 25 cm in each plot (ND25) to compare the severity of infestation among plots. Logistic regression analysis revealed that 50% of stands will be degraded if ND25 = 25.0. Thus, the degradation could also be evaluated by Nholes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33
Author(s):  
Megawati Sinambela ◽  
Evi Erianty Hasibuan

Antenatal care is a service provided to pregnant women to monitor, support maternal health and detect mothers whether normal or problematic pregnant women. According to the WHO, globally more than 70% of maternal deaths are caused by complications of pregnancy and childbirth such as hemorrhage, hypertension, sepsis, and abortion. Based on data obtained from the profile of the North Sumatra provincial health office in 2017, in the city of Padangsidimpuan in 2017 the coverage of ANC visits reached (76.58%) and had not reached the target in accordance with the 2017 Provincial Health Office strategy plan (95%). This type of research was an observational analytic study with a cross sectional design. The population in this study were independent practice midwives who were in the Padangsidimpuan, the sample in this study amounted to 102 respondents. The technique of collecting data used questionnaires and data analysis used univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis with logistic regression analysis. Based on bivariate analysis showed that there was a relationship between facilities, knowledge and attitudes of independent midwives with compliance with the standards of antenatal care services with a value of p <0.05. The results of the study with multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the factors associated with the compliance of independent midwives in carrying out antenatal care service standards were attitudes with values (p = 0.026).


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Kotera

Abstract Background Postanesthetic shivering is an unpleasant adverse event in surgical patients. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug has been reported to be useful in preventing postanesthetic shivering in several previous studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of flurbiprofen axetil being a prodrug of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for preventing postanesthetic shivering in patients undergoing gynecologic laparotomy surgeries. Method This study is a retrospective observational study. I collected data from patients undergoing gynecologic laparotomy surgeries performed between October 1, 2019, and September 30, 2020, at Kumamoto City Hospital. All the patients were managed with general anesthesia with or without epidural analgesia. The administration of intravenous 50 mg flurbiprofen axetil for postoperative pain control at the end of the surgery was left to the individual anesthesiologist. The patients were divided into two groups: those who had received intravenous flurbiprofen axetil (flurbiprofen group) and those who had not received intravenous flurbiprofen axetil (non-flurbiprofen group), and I compared the frequency of postanesthetic shivering between the two groups. Additionally, the factors presumably associated with postanesthetic shivering were collected from the medical charts. Intergroup differences were assessed with the χ2 test with Yates’ correlation for continuity category variables. The Student’s t test was used to test for differences in continuous variables. Furthermore, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to elucidate the relationship between the administration of flurbiprofen axetil and the incidence of PAS. Results I retrospectively examined the cases of 141 patients aged 49 ± 13 (range 21-84) years old. The overall postanesthetic shivering rate was 21.3% (30 of the 141 patients). The frequency of postanesthetic shivering in the flurbiprofen group (n = 31) was 6.5%, which was significantly lower than that in the non-flurbiprofen group (n = 110), 25.5% (p value = 0.022). A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that administration of flurbiprofen axetil was independently associated with a reduced incidence of postanesthetic shivering (odds ratio 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.66, p value = 0.015). Conclusions My result suggests that intraoperative 50 mg flurbiprofen axetil administration for postoperative pain control is useful to prevent postanesthetic shivering in patients undergoing gynecologic laparotomy surgeries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215145932199616
Author(s):  
Robert Erlichman ◽  
Nicholas Kolodychuk ◽  
Joseph N. Gabra ◽  
Harshitha Dudipala ◽  
Brook Maxhimer ◽  
...  

Introduction: Hip fractures are a significant economic burden to our healthcare system. As there have been efforts made to create an alternative payment model for hip fracture care, it will be imperative to risk-stratify reimbursement for these medically comorbid patients. We hypothesized that patients readmitted to the hospital within 90 days would be more likely to have a recent previous hospital admission, prior to their injury. Patients with a recent prior admission could therefore be considered higher risk for readmission and increased cost. Methods: A retrospective chart review identified 598 patients who underwent surgical fixation of a hip or femur fracture. Data on readmissions within 90 days of surgical procedure and previous admissions in the year prior to injury resulting in surgical procedure were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine if recent prior admission had increased risk of 90-day readmission. A subgroup analysis of geriatric hip fractures and of readmitted patients were also performed. Results: Having a prior admission within one year was significantly associated (p < 0.0001) for 90-day readmission. Specifically, logistic regression analysis revealed that a prior admission was significantly associated with 90-day readmission with an odds ratio of 7.2 (95% CI: 4.8-10.9). Discussion: This patient population has a high rate of prior hospital admissions, and these prior admissions were predictive of 90-day readmission. Alternative payment models that include penalties for readmissions or fail to apply robust risk stratification may unjustly penalize hospital systems which care for more medically complex patients. Conclusions: Hip fracture patients with a recent prior admission to the hospital are at an increased risk for 90-day readmission. This information should be considered as alternative payment models are developed for hip fracture care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongxin Wang ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Shuiqing Hu

Abstract Background The etiology of reflux esophagitis (RE) is multi-factorial. This study analyzed the relationship of depression, anxiety, lifestyle and eating habits with RE and its severity and further explored the impact of anxiety and depression on patients’ symptoms and quality of life. Methods From September 2016 to February 2018, a total of 689 subjects at Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University participated in this survey. They were divided into the RE group (patients diagnosed with RE on gastroscopy, n = 361) and the control group (healthy individuals without heartburn, regurgitation and other gastrointestinal symptoms, n = 328). The survey included general demographic information, lifestyle habits, eating habits, comorbidities, current medications, the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) questionnaire (GerdQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression scale and the General Anxiety Disorder-7 anxiety scale. Results The mean age and sex ratio of the two groups were similar. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the following factors as related to the onset of RE (p < 0.05): low education level; drinking strong tea; preferences for sweets, noodles and acidic foods; sleeping on a low pillow; overeating; a short interval between dinner and sleep; anxiety; depression; constipation; history of hypertension; and use of oral calcium channel blockers. Ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between sleeping on a low pillow and RE severity (p = 0.025). Depression had a positive correlation with the severity of symptoms (rs = 0.375, p < 0.001) and patients’ quality of life (rs = 0.306, p < 0.001), whereas anxiety showed no such association. Conclusions Many lifestyle factors and eating habits were correlated with the onset of RE. Notably, sleeping on a low pillow was positively correlated with RE severity, and depression was positively related to the severity of symptoms and patients’ quality of life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 933
Author(s):  
Byung Woo Cho ◽  
Du Seong Kim ◽  
Hyuck Min Kwon ◽  
Ick Hwan Yang ◽  
Woo-Suk Lee ◽  
...  

Few studies have reported the relationship between knee pain and hypercholesterolemia in the elderly population with osteoarthritis (OA), independent of other variables. The aim of this study was to reveal the association between knee pain and metabolic diseases including hypercholesterolemia using a large-scale cohort. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Korea National Health and the Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-V, VI-1; 2010–2013). Among the subjects aged ≥60 years, 7438 subjects (weighted number estimate = 35,524,307) who replied knee pain item and performed the simple radiographs of knee were enrolled. Using multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis, variables affecting knee pain were identified, and the odds ratio (OR) was calculated. Of the 35,524,307 subjects, 10,630,836 (29.9%) subjects experienced knee pain. Overall, 20,290,421 subjects (56.3%) had radiographic OA, and 8,119,372 (40.0%) of them complained of knee pain. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that among the metabolic diseases, only hypercholesterolemia was positively correlated with knee pain in the OA group (OR 1.24; 95% Confidence Interval 1.02–1.52, p = 0.033). There were no metabolic diseases correlated with knee pain in the non-OA group. This large-scale study revealed that in the elderly, hypercholesterolemia was positively associated with knee pain independent of body mass index and other metabolic diseases in the OA group, but not in the non-OA group. These results will help in understanding the nature of arthritic pain, and may support the need for exploring the longitudinal associations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siew Man Cheong ◽  
Rashidah Ambak ◽  
Fatimah Othman ◽  
Feng J. He ◽  
Ruhaya Salleh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Excessive intake of sodium is a major public health concern. Information on knowledge, perception, and practice (KPP) related to sodium intake in Malaysia is important for the development of an effective salt reduction strategy. This study aimed to investigate the KPP related to sodium intake among Malaysian adults and to determine associations between KPP and dietary sodium intake. Methods Data were obtained from Malaysian Community Salt Survey (MyCoSS) which is a nationally representative survey with proportionate stratified cluster sampling design. A pre-tested face-to-face questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic background, and questions from the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization were adapted to assess the KPP related to sodium intake. Dietary sodium intake was determined using single 24-h urinary sodium excretion. Respondents were categorized into two categories: normal dietary sodium intake (< 2000 mg) and excessive dietary sodium intake (≥ 2000 mg). Out of 1440 respondents that were selected to participate, 1047 respondents completed the questionnaire and 798 of them provided valid urine samples. Factors associated with excessive dietary sodium intake were analyzed using complex sample logistic regression analysis. Results Majority of the respondents knew that excessive sodium intake could cause health problems (86.2%) and more than half of them (61.8%) perceived that they consume just the right amount of sodium. Overall, complex sample logistic regression analysis revealed that excessive dietary sodium intake was not significantly associated with KPP related to sodium intake among respondents (P > 0.05). Conclusion The absence of significant associations between KPP and excessive dietary sodium intake suggests that salt reduction strategies should focus on sodium reduction education includes measuring actual dietary sodium intake and educating the public about the source of sodium. In addition, the relationship between the authority and food industry in food reformulation needs to be strengthened for effective dietary sodium reduction in Malaysia.


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