Organizing and Analyzing Data from the SHARE Study with an Application to Age and Sex Differences in Depressive Symptoms

The SHARE study contains health, lifestyle, and socioeconomic data from individuals ages 50 and older in European countries collected over several waves. Leveraging these data for research purposes can be daunting due to the complex structure of the longitudinal design. The two aims of our study are (1) to develop a framework and R code for data management of the SHARE data to prepare for data analysis, and (2) to demonstrate how to apply the framework to a specific research question, where the aim is to model the presence of clinically significant depression assessed by the 12-item Europe depression scale. The result is a framework that substantially reduces the time to initiate research studies using SHARE data, facilitating the data extraction, data preparation and initial data analysis, with reproducible R code. Further, we illustrate the extensive work required to prepare an analysis-ready data set to ensure the validity of the modeling results. This underlines the importance of carefully considering and recording data management decisions that have to be built into the research process. The results about sex differences in the probability of depression are consistent with previous literature. Our findings about age-associated changes can be opportunities for adequate treatment interventions.

EXPRESS: Measurement of vitamin D in dried blood spots stored under different temperature conditions

Background: As part of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) study, dried blood spot (DBS) samples were obtained for measurement of potential biological biomarkers, among those vitamin D. Unfortunately, no studies describe the impact of high temperatures on DBS samples and vitamin D measurements. Materials and methods: Capillary samples were collected on DBS cards from 40 outpatients (median age 78 years) along with venous blood samples. To mimic the different environmental and temporal challenges during collection and shipment until final storage in the SHARE study, DBS cards were stored at different temperatures, at time span and with/without freeze-thaw. Vitamin D concentrations in venous plasma samples was measured by conventional immunoassay (on Architect i2000SR), while vitamin D concentrations in DBS samples were measured using LC-MS/MS with a well-described extraction method and with relevant calibration and comparison with a reference method. Results: Vitamin D measured in DBS samples did not differ significantly from venous plasma measurements under the different storage conditions tested. The optimal vitamin D correlation between the two matrices were by storage at either 21 °C or 35 °C for four days (r = 0.9060 and 0.9026, resp.). Freeze-thaw of the DBS samples did not have any significant effect. Conclusion: We find that vitamin D measured in DBS samples do not differ significantly from venous plasma measurements despite storage at different temperatures and freeze-thaw, which enables the use of DBS in multicenter studies taking place under alternating temperature conditions.

International Sexual Health And REproductive health (I-SHARE) survey during COVID-19: study protocol for online national surveys and global comparative analyses

BackgroundCOVID-19 may have a profound impact on sexual health, reproductive health and social life across the world. Shelter in place regulations that have extended across the globe may influence condomless sex, exacerbate intimate partner violence and reduce access to essential reproductive health services. Population representative research is challenging during shelter in place, leaving major gaps in our understanding of sexual and reproductive health during COVID-19. This International Sexual Health And ReproductivE health (I-SHARE) study protocol manuscript describes a common plan for online national surveys and global comparative analyses.MethodsThe purpose of this cross-sectional study is to better understand sexual and reproductive health in selected countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate multinational comparisons. Participants will be recruited through an online survey link disseminated through local, regional and national networks. In each country, a lead organisation will be responsible for organising ethical review, translation and survey administration. The consortium network provides support for national studies, coordination and multinational comparison. We will use multilevel modelling to determine the relationship between COVID-19 and condomless sex, intimate partner violence, access to reproductive health services, HIV testing and other key items. This study protocol defines primary outcomes, prespecified subanalyses and analysis plans.ConclusionThe I-SHARE study examines sexual and reproductive health at the national and global level during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will use multilevel modelling to investigate country-level variables associated with outcomes of interest. This will provide a foundation for subsequent online multicountry comparison using more robust sampling methodologies.

Export Competitiveness of Indian Oilseeds: The Method of Constant Market Share (CMS) with Special Reference to Groundnut

This research Paper examines the export competiveness of oilseeds. The main and huge production in agriculture is oilseeds which make India on the first number in Production of oilseeds in the world. Oilseeds compose one of the significant groups of cash crops in Indian agriculture. India has a proportional benefit in agriculture and there is a considerable potential in raising farm returns and employment by stepping up agro base exports. The constant market share (CONSTANT MARKET SHARE) study framework is used to decompose changes in India’s share of the worldwide market for goods export in to competitiveness and structural consequence over 2001-2017. The CONSTANT MARKET SHARE Method is universally used to observe empirically the country’s export performance. This paper is addressed to examine the regions export performance by applying CONSTANT MARKET SHARE Method.