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Background: This study aimed to explore associations between various elements of primary care, patient satisfaction, and loyalty. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a modified version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), which was adapted for Japan. We distributed the PCAT questionnaire to patients aged 20 years or older at five rural primary care centres in Japan. We confirmed the va
In order to tap the energy saving and climate mitigation potential of buildings, transaction costs of implementing energy efficient technologies need to be better understood and ultimately reduced. The objective of this paper is to identify and analyze the nature and scale of transaction costs resulting from the application of the passive house concept in energy efficient renovations. Related conc
We tested whether pregnant and non-pregnant women differ in COVID-19 symptom profile and severity, and we extended previous investigations on hospitalized pregnant women to those who did not require hospitalization. Two female community-based cohorts (18–44 years) provided longitudinal (smartphone application, N = 1,170,315, n = 79 pregnant tested positive) and cross-sectional (web-based survey, N
Background: Left ventricular longitudinal strain (LVLS) may be a sensitive indicator of left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with sepsis, but is dependent on high image quality and analysis software. Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) and the novel left ventricular longitudinal wall fractional shortening (LV-LWFS) are bedside echocardiographic indicators of LV systolic
With their potential to effectively address multiple urban sustainability challenges, the emerging policy discourse on nature-based solutions seeks to encourage the development of multifunctional nature for sustainable and just cities. Nature-based solutions, however, are vulnerable to co-option by powerful interests in ways that limit their contribution to a broad range of sustainability goals. RWith their potential to effectively address multiple urban sustainability challenges, the emerging policy discourse on nature-based solutions seeks to encourage the development of multifunctional nature for sustainable and just cities. Nature-based solutions, however, are vulnerable to co-option by powerful interests in ways that limit their contribution to a broad range of sustainability goals. R
Background: Trans fatty acids (TFAs) have been hypothesised to influence breast cancer risk. However, relatively few prospective studies have examined this relationship, and well-powered analyses according to hormone receptor-defined molecular subtypes, menopausal status, and body size have rarely been conducted. Methods: In the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC),
The lakes on the Yangtze Plain, a critical source of freshwater and fisheries for hundreds of millions of people in China, have lost a considerable portion of their surface area due to reclamation since the 1950s. Landsat satellites can provide long-term collections of high-resolution images and thus offer great potential for hindcasting the lake reclamations of aquaculture zones and their long-te
In this paper, paraffin mixed with nanoparticles Al2O3, CuO, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared for cooling multiple heat sources. For thermal management of heat sources, performances of the composite phase change materials (PCMs) were investigated at different heating power. Enhanced performance in terms of heat sources temperature, temperature difference between two heat so
Water purification is one of the most essential services provided by wetlands. A lot of concerns regarding wetlands subjected to climate change relate to their susceptibility to hydrological change and the increase in temperature as a result of global warming. A warmer condition may accelerate the rate of decomposition and release of nutrients, which can be exported downstream and cause serious ec
This article explores the transformative role of practices of countering digital disinformation in European Union diplomacy. It argues that an overlooked dimension of the change brought by the rise of digital disinformation is located in the emergence of everyday countering practices. Efforts to counter disinformation have led to the recruitment of new actors with different dispositions and skills
The mobile research lab is an emerging research methodology increasingly applied in urban studies to investigate phenomena like places, infrastructures, nature and inhabitants of cities. This essay critically explores this relatively new methodology, also known as ‘mobile labs’, as part of in-situ research for a two-year research project supported by the International Fellowship Program of the JapThe mobile research lab is an emerging research methodology increasingly applied in urban studies to investigate phenomena like places, infrastructures, nature and inhabitants of cities. This essay critically explores this relatively new methodology, also known as ‘mobile labs’, as part of in-situ research for a two-year research project supported by the International Fellowship Program of the Jap
While Fusobacterium necrophorum historically has been considered normal tonsillar flora, recent studies from Europe and the US have suggested that carriage occur transiently in adolescence and young adulthood. However, no studies originating from Africa exist. In this cross-sectional study of tonsillar carriage of F. necrophorum, we aimed to investigate geographical differences in tonsillar carria
As physical distancing is a core measure of containing the spread of COVID-19, this pandemic is a crisis that has uprooted social interaction. While current research mainly focuses on crises as a challenge for entrepreneurial ventures and potential regulatory response mechanisms, we complement this research by addressing the question of how crises in general—and COVID-19's physical distancing meas
STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) in 110 patients with prostate cancer operated for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the association between SINS and clinical outcomes after surgery for MSCC in patients with prostate cancer. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The SINS is a useful tool for assessing tumor-relat
Modeling diffusion of nonspherical particles presents an unsolved and considerable challenge, despite its importance for the understanding of crowding effects in biology, food technology and formulation science. A common approach in experiment and simulation is to map nonspherical objects on effective spheres to subsequently use the established predictions for spheres to approximate phenomena for
This article systematically studies consensus of linear multiagent systems (MASs) on directed graphs through adaptive event-triggered control. It presents innovative adaptive event-triggered state-feedback protocols with novel composite event-triggering conditions. Two specific designs in terms of different event-triggering conditions and laws of adaption are first discussed for linear MASs on str
OBJECTIVE Degenerative cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a major cause of spinal cord dysfunction with an unpredictable prognosis. Βiomarkers reflecting pathophysiological processes in CSM have been insufficiently investigated. It was hypothesized that preoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker levels are altered in patients with CSM and correlate with neurological status and outcome.
Solar radiation (Rs) is one of the main parameters controlling the energy balance at the Earth’s surface and plays a major role in evapotranspiration and plant growth, snow melting, and environmental studies. This work aimed at evaluating the performance of seven empirical models in estimating daily solar radiation over 1990–2004 (calibration) and 2004–2010 (validation) at 13 Peruvian meteorologic
