Rates of sustainment in the Universal Stages of Implementation Completion

Background Sustainment is a desirable outcome of implementation, but its precise definition remains unclear, contributing to the difficulty of identifying a generalized rate of sustainment. Several studies and reviews on the topic differ on both definition and levels of analysis. Furthermore, methodological limitations might have influenced the results, including the unknown quality with which some interventions were delivered. The Universal Stages of Implementation Completion (UniSIC) is a standardized measurement tool that tracks the implementation process and milestone completion across a wide range of real-world implementations—this provides a unique opportunity to identify a generalized rate of sustainment. Methods UniSIC data was captured from the SIC website on 27 September 2020 and included data from all sites (n = 1778) that had been tracked to date. Data were restricted to sites that achieved competency in program delivery, and thus had a newly adopted program worthy of sustainment. Dates and indicator variables of implementation activities were combined to form two alternate definitions of sustainment: sustained (start-up) was achieved if sites continued to deliver services 2 years past their program start-up date; sustained (competent) was achieved if sites continued to deliver services 2 years past their competence and/or certification date. Of sites eligible for inclusion based on these definitions (N = 208), descriptive analyses were conducted to determine a rate of sustainment for all programs that successfully started a program. These definitions were also applied to a combined sample for a general rate of sustainment among all sites. Rates of competency among both a sample of sites that started up and a combined sample were also identified. Results The rate of competence was 58.5% and the rate of sustained (start-up) was 37.1%, while the rate of sustained (competent) was 25.1%. The rates of competence and sustainment among the combined samples were far lower: 15.6% for competence, 6.8% for sustained (start-up), and 4.4% for sustained (competent). Conclusions These identified rates of sustainment are accurate initial estimates of sustainment of community-based practices, or in general. Future research on rates of sustainment should carefully define measures of sustainment and be transparent about the real-world conditions on which analyses are centered.

Extracellular vesicle research in reproductive science— Paving the way for clinical achievements

Mammalian conception involves a multitude of reciprocal interactions via a molecular dialogue between mother and conceptus. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted membrane-encapsulated particles that mediate cell-to-cell communication in various contexts. EVs, which are present in seminal, follicular, oviductal, and endometrial fluids, as well as in embryo secretions, carry molecular constituents that impact gamete maturation, fertilization, early embryo development, and embryo-maternal communication. The distribution, concentration, and molecular cargo of EVs are regulated by steroid hormones and the health status of the tissue of origin, and thus are influenced by menstrual phase, stage of conception, and the presence of infertility-associated diseases. EVs have been recognized as a novel source of biomarkers and potential reproductive medicine therapeutics, particularly for assisted reproductive technology (ART). There are still many technological and scientific hindrances to be overcome before EVs can be used in clinical diagnostic and therapeutic ART applications. Issues to be resolved include the lack of standardized measurement protocols and an absence of absolute EV quantification technologies. Additionally, clinically suitable and robust EV isolation methods have yet to be developed. In this review, we provide an overview of EV-mediated interactions during the early stages of reproduction from gamete maturation to embryo implantation and then outline the technological progress that must be made for EV applications to be translated to clinical settings.

An algorithm and application to efficiently analyze DNA fiber data

The duplication of genetic information (DNA replication) is central to life. Numerous control mechanisms ensure the exact course of the process during each cell division. Disturbances of DNA replication have severe consequences for the affected cell, and current models link them to cancer development. One of the most accurate methods for studying DNA replication is labeling newly synthesized DNA molecules with halogenated nucleotides, followed by immunofluorescence and microscopy detection, known as DNA fiber labeling. The method allows the registration of the activity of single replication complexes by measuring the length of the "trace" left by each of them. The major difficulty of the method is the labor-intensive analysis, which requires measuring the lengths of a large number of labeled fragments. Recently, the interest in this kind of image analysis has grown rapidly. In this manuscript, we provide a detailed description of an algorithm and a lightweight Java application to automatically analyze single DNA molecule images we call "DNA size finder". DNA size finder significantly simplified the analysis of the experimental data while increasing reliability by the standardized measurement of a greater number of DNA molecules. It is freely available and does not require any paid platforms or services to be used. We hope that the application will facilitate both the study of DNA replication control and the effects of various compounds used in human activity on the process of DNA replication.

Seasonal and Spatial Variations of Atmospheric Ammonia in the Urban and Suburban Environments of Seoul, Korea

Atmospheric ammonia is a significant pollutant throughout the year, necessitating standardized measurement and identification of emission factors. We performed a quantized evaluation of ammonia concentrations at various locations in and around Seoul, South Korea. The established testing methods of the Radiello Passive Sampler were used for ammonia sampling, and the method was validated using annular denuder sampling. Urban and suburban areas were studied to gain a deeper understanding of the factors responsible for ammonia pollution. This study aimed to establish the fluctuations in concentration over one year, by analyzing the seasonal and regional variation in ammonia concentration. Livestock and agricultural areas recorded the highest concentration of ammonia among all sites, with the highest concentration recorded in autumn. However, at most of the other studied sites, the highest and lowest ammonia concentrations were recorded during summer and winter, respectively. This study attempted to establish a correlation between ammonia concentration and temperature, as well as ammonia concentration and altitude.

Reliable evaluation method of heating power of magnetic nanofluids to directly predict the tumor temperature during hyperthermia

Reliable measurement of heating power of magnetic nanofluids (MNs) to accurately predict the AC heat-induction performance in tumors is highly desirable for clinical magnetic nanofluids hyperthermia (MNFH) application because it can save time for screening the performance of newly developed MNFH agent and minimize the over-use of animals dramatically. Here, a bio-mimicking phantom model, called Pseudo-Tumor Environment System (P-TES), biochemically designed by considering the external and internal critical factors related to the complex biological environments is proposed to provide a highly reliable evaluation method of heating performance of MNs for in-vivo MNFH applications. According to the experimentally analyzed results, the heating power of MNs measured using the P-TES is well accorded with the heating temperature measured in the tumors during in-vivo MNFH. This result strongly demonstrates that the proposed P-TES can be recommended as a standardized measurement method of heating performance of MNs for clinical MNFH application.

729. Lassa Fever Associated Hearing Loss

Background Hearing loss (HL) is the second leading cause of disability affecting approximately 19% of the world’s population. Despite well known social, economic, and neurologic consequences this condition receives little attention. Lassa Fever (LF) was noted to be associated with HL shortly after its discovery in the 1970’s. However, the true burden of this sequelae is likely underestimated due to a lack of standardized measurement and reporting. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of LF survivors and household controls in Kenema, Sierra Leone. Upon recruitment, survivors and controls were screened for HL by determining Pure Tone Averages (PTA) of air conduction thresholds using an AMBCO audiometer, according to WHO standards. Individuals found to have elevated PTAs were referred to confirmatory testing measuring both air and bone thresholds using a SHOEBOX audiometer to differentiate sensorineural and conductive HL. All subjects completed symptom questionnaires and physical exams to understand the full spectrum of viral sequelae. Results 94 LF survivors and 281 controls were recruited. The average age of LF survivors was higher than controls (32.9 vs 28.7, p=0.008). Of these 94 LF survivors, 40 (43%) were found to have HL in comparison to 40 (14%) of controls (p< 0.001). Lassa fever survivors were also found to have significantly worse HL with 16 (40%) found to have profound HL compared to only 2 (5%) of controls (p< 0.001). Logistic regression of this cohort found that LF infection (OR = 1.30, p< 0.001), any inner or middle ear symptoms (OR = 1.20, p=0.041), or pharyngeal symptoms (OR = 1.23, p=0.012) were significant risk factors of developing HL (p< 0.001). Interestingly the development of any pulmonary symptoms was protective of HL (OR = 0.86, p=0.039). Animal model studies suggested that LF infection may result in the development of an ANCA vasculitis which may be causative of LF sequelae. A subset of LF survivors (n=80) and IgG negative controls (n=9) were tested for ANCA proteins, of these 20 (25%) survivors vs 5 (55%) tested positive with mean concentrations of 202.4 µg/ml and 135.7 µg/ml (p=0.449), respectively. Conclusion This data further characterizes the sequelae of LF and suggests mechanisms of pathogenesis of symptoms. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Prevalence of anxiety symptoms among Chinese university students amid the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Review question / Objective: The prevalence of anxiety disorders among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 epidemic. Eligibility criteria: The inclusion criteria for eligible studies are: (a) The prevalence of anxiety symptoms is reported in the article (b) The subjects of the study are Chinese college students, including overseas Chinese students (c) Anxiety symptoms are measured with standardized measurement tools (d) All studies It was carried out during the COVID-19 epidemic. We excluded the participants from non-Chinese college students, a mixed study that did not separately report the results of a group of college students, and a study that did not use standardized test tools for anxiety.

Religious and Spiritual Beliefs and Attitudes Towards Addiction Treatment: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Throughout history, ideas about addiction have been informed and influenced by religious belief and practice. Even continuing into the present, religion and spirituality are often thought to impact attitudes towards addiction and its treatment, particularly given the use of religion and spirituality in various well-known treatments such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Although research has flourished with regards to the role that addiction and spirituality might play in vulnerability to addiction or the treatment of addiction, there has been comparatively less research examining how religion might impact attitudes toward addiction more broadly. Method: The present work sought to examine the current state of empirical literature evaluating the relationships between religion and attitudes toward addiction and addiction treatment. In service of the above aim, a systematic review was conducted. Results: This summary of peer-reviewed, quantitative studies (n=36) found that higher religiosity is related to more belief in the disease model of addiction in providers, negative attitudes towards addiction, and a stronger support for spiritually based treatments. However, results varied based on the measures used and many relationships tested were not significant. There also appeared to be differences in the interaction between religion and spirituality and other variables, such as the respondent’s sex or whether the individual was a student or provider, in terms of attitudes. Conclusions: Further research is needed to fully understand the nuances in the relationship between these variables, including more clear operationalization and standardized measurement. Until such research is conducted, no cohesive conclusions can be drawn, and clinical implications remain unclear.

CONSERVATIVE IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS TREATMENT WITH BRACE PRODUCED USING 3D TECHNOLOGY

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the immediate correction capacity of the Wood-Chêneau-Rigo brace (WCR), produced using digital technological resources and robotic engineering, in primary and secondary curves of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods A retrospective study was conducted of 138 patients with a diagnosis of AIS and who received a WCR brace from a laboratory that makes orthoses and orthopedic prostheses between 2019 and 2021. These individuals were submitted to an independent analysis of the radiographic parameters by a single researcher, the main outcome of which was the standardized measurement of the main and secondary curves using the Cobb method. The radiographs analyzed were performed in orthostasis before and immediately after the adaptation of the brace on the patient. The correction capacity was calculated as the ratio of the difference between the pre- and post-brace curves to the pre-brace curve. Results The mean correction with the WCR was 48.4% for the main curve and 41.0% for the secondary curve. The level of correction of the main curve was significantly higher in patients with a main curve with the apex of convexity in the thoracolumbar region (p = 0.004), especially in the left thoracolumbar region (p = 0.010); curves of magnitude between 10º and 24.9º (p <0.001); and curves classified as simple (p <0.001). Conclusion The use of the WCR, which is produced using modern technological resources, was effective in the immediate correction of AIS. Long-term studies on this new modality of conservative scoliosis treatment are necessary. Level of evidence III; Retrospective study.

Diffusion equation modelling for energy flow analysis in reverberation chambers

Noise is a growing concern in the built environment. Sound absorbers are a viable option for noise treatment. However, the characterization of their absorption coefficient in standardized measurement chambers still show challenges for high accuracy as required in practice. In recent years, experimental analysis has shown that assumptions of diffuse sound fields made in well-known reverberation chambers are unfulfilled. Specifically, that sound intensities in chamber-based measurement methods are presumed to be isotropic or diffuse. Diffusion equation models have shown dramatic changes in energy flow in the presence of highly absorptive materials under test. This has been attributed to well-documented inconsistencies reported from reverberation chamber measurements across different laboratories. This work will demonstrate that the diffusion equation model is proving to be a computationally efficient and viable method for predicting sound energy flows, garnering an increasing amount of interest from the acoustical community.