Nationwide changes in radiation oncology travel and location of care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Alexandra N. De Leo(Alexandra N. De Leo ),Fantine Giap(Fantine Giap ),Matthew M. Culbert(Matthew M. Culbert ),Nicolette Drescher(Nicolette Drescher ),Ryan J. Brisson(Ryan J. Brisson ),Vincent Cassidy( 대한방사선종양학회 2023 Radiation Oncology Journal Vol.41 No.2

Purpose: Patients with cancer are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus disease (COVID). Transportation barriers made travel to obtain medical care more difficult during the pandemic. Whether these factors led to changes in the distance traveled for radiotherapy and the coordinated location of radiation treatment is unknown. Materials and Methods: We analyzed patients across 60 cancer sites in the National Cancer Database from 2018 to 2020. Demographic and clinical variables were analyzed for changes in distance traveled for radiotherapy. We designated the facilities in the 99th percentile or above in terms of the proportion of patients who traveled more than 200 miles as “destination facilities.” We defined “coordinated care” as undergoing radiotherapy at the same facility where the cancer was diagnosed. Results: We evaluated 1,151,954 patients. There was a greater than 1% decrease in the proportion of patients treated in the Mid-Atlantic States. Mean distance traveled from place of residence to radiation treatment decreased from 28.6 to 25.9 miles, and the proportion traveling greater than 50 miles decreased from 7.7% to 7.1%. At “destination facilities,” the proportion traveling more than 200 miles decreased from 29.3% in 2018 to 24% in 2020. In comparison, at the other hospitals, the proportion traveling more than 200 miles decreased from 1.07% to 0.97%. In 2020, residing in a rural area resulted in a lower odds of having coordinated care (multivariable odds ratio = 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.83–0.95). Conclusion: The first year of the COVID pandemic measurably impacted the location of U.S. radiation therapy treatment.

Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Dietary Supplementation with Turmeric or Herbal Combination Tablets on Skin Barrier Function in Healthy Subjects

Alexandra R. Vaughn,Ashley K. Clark,Manisha Notay,Raja K. Sivamani 한국식품영양과학회 2018 Journal of medicinal food Vol.21 No.12

To compare the effects of turmeric tablets and turmeric-containing herbal combination tablets versus placebo on skin barrier function and sebum production by measuring facial sebum and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in healthy subjects. This study was a prospective, double-blinded, rater-blinded, randomized pilot study. Thirty-three generally healthy participants were recruited from the UC Davis Department of Dermatology clinic and the surrounding community from 2016 to 2017, 30 participants were enrolled, and 28 participants completed the study. Thirty individuals were recruited and randomized to the placebo, turmeric, or herbal combination tablet groups. The participants were instructed to take the intervention tablets by mouth twice daily for 4 weeks. Facial sebum production and TEWL were assessed at baseline and 4 weeks. Twenty-eight participants completed the study and there were no adverse events. There were no significant changes in sebum excretion rate in any group after 4 weeks compared with baseline. In the herbal combination tablet group, there was a significant decrease in TEWL (P = .003). No significant changes in TEWL were detected in the turmeric or placebo groups. Turmeric-containing herbal combination tablets significantly decreased TEWL after 4 weeks of twice-daily supplementation. There were no adverse events in any of the three intervention arms. Overall, our findings spark future interest in determining how oral supplementation with herbal formulations may improve skin barrier function and skin appearance, and potentially offer alternative or complementary treatment options.

Prediagnostic Utterances in the HIV-consultation : Constituting and Modifying Asymmetries

Alexandra Gross 행정언어와 질적연구학회 2013 행정언어와 질적연구 Vol.4 No.1

Cognitive Impairment in Grandparents: A Systematic Review

Alexandra Rafael,Lí,dia Sousa,Só,nia Martins,Lia Fernandes 대한신경정신의학회 2021 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.18 No.7

Objective To evaluate the relationship between grandparenting and the cognitive impairment in older persons. Methods The protocol was submitted to the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), registration number: CRD42018105849. Authors conducted a systematic review, following “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) recommendations. Electronic databases were accessed through august 2018: PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. Selection of records and quality appraisal were made by two reviewers, independently. Results A total of 178 records was found, after removing duplicates. From those, 17 were considered eligible for integral text reading and eight were included: five original studies, one classic review and two editorials. From the five original studies included, four suggested a positive effect on cognition resulting from grandparenting and one suggested that there was no evidence for a causal effect. Though the boundary was not consensual, some studies suggested that a higher frequency of grandparenting has a negative impact on cognition. Conclusion Overall, studies suggested a trend towards a positive effect of grandchild care on grandparents’ cognition. However, there was a significant heterogeneity between methodologies and a significant risk of bias which can hamper conclusions, indicating the need for further and more robust research. Psychiatry Investig 2021;18(7):593-602

TOURIST INNOVATIVENESS & ETHICAL TOURIST BEHAVIOR

Alexandra Ganglmair-Wooliscroft,Ben Wooliscroft 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2014 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2014 No.1

Ethical consumption, including ethical tourist behavior, is of growing importance to governments, companies and consumers and consumers increasingly act accordingly (Sheth, Sethia, & Srinivas, 2010). Most ethical tourist behaviors conform to service industry characteristics, being intangible, heterogeneous and fusing production and consumption. Adopting ethical tourist behaviors (ETBs) requires activities, practices or ideas that consumers perceive as new, components that are key characteristics of innovations (Goldsmith, d’Hauteville, & Flynn, 1998; Rogers & Shoemaker, 1971). Studies frequently explore environmentally friendly behavior of a specific tourist segment - existing eco-tourists (Dolnicar, Laesser, & Matus, 2010) and limit their focus to environmental issues. In line with the World Tourism Organization’s conceptualization that highlights the importance of environmental, cultural and sociological aspects (http://ethics.unwto.org/en/content/global-code-ethics-tourism), this research uses the term ethical tourist behavior and investigates the concept using a sample of ordinary tourists. Consumer innovativeness has been defined as the “degree to which an individual is relatively earlier in adopting an innovation than other members of his system” (Rogers and Shoemaker, 1971, p. 27). Innovativeness, the propensity to adopt, is focusing on an individual’s behavior relative to other people in a population (Goldsmith & Hofacker, 1991; Im, Bayus, & Mason, 2003). Diffusion of innovation, investigating the spread of an innovation through the population, is frequently modeled using an S-curve (Rogers, 1995). ETB includes a wide range of activities with the behavior expected to be cumulative; for example somebody who chooses to stay in tourist accommodations with environmental certification is also likely to recycle. Cumulative patterns fit the Rasch Model (RM) (Rasch 1960/80). Well established in education and psychology, the model gains increasing attention in marketing (for example Ewing, Salzberger, & Sinkovics, 2005; Ganglmair-Wooliscroft & Wooliscroft, 2013; Salzberger & Koller, 2013; Wooliscroft, Ganglmair-Wooliscroft, & Noone, 2014). The probabilistic RM is based on a mathematically elegant equation (Bond & Fox, 2007), specifying that people who undertake more extreme ethical tourist behavior will also have a higher probability of engaging in (and subsequently agreeing to or endorsing a) comparably easier ethical tourist behavior. Item Characteristic Curves (Bond & Fox, 2007) embody the theoretical curve for an item’s endorsability. If empirical answer patterns follow the theoretical curve (and a number of other fit statistics are satisfactory) the item fits requirements of the Rasch Model. This study develops an ETB hierarchy and explores parallels between characteristics of Rasch Modelling (Rasch, 1960/80) and the Adoption of Innovation (Rogers, 1995). Additionally, the study explores variables influencing the level of ETB, representing actualized ethical tourist innovativeness. The final ETB hierarchy contains of 27 ethical tourist behaviors that relate to a wide range of holidays. Using a cross-sectional sample of 322 respondents, representative of the population, the research finds that ethical tourist behavior diffuses through the population in a structured, ordered sequence, providing support for parallels between the Diffusion of Innovation Model (Rogers, 1995) and Rasch Model’s ICC characteristics. Most respondents undertake only a small range of ethical tourist behaviors, indicating that many ethical issues are at a very early stage of the diffusion process. The level of ethical tourist behavior adaption - operationalized through respondent’s position on the ETB hierarchy is influenced by high importance of universalism, age and gender.

Recent update on sCHE and Alitretinoin

( Alexandra Marta ) 대한피부과학회 2019 대한피부과학회 학술발표대회집 Vol.71 No.1

Supporting ethnic craftswomen in Chiang Mai through digital media: acknowledging the possibilities and challenges

Alexandra Denes,Woralun Boonyasurat 국립민속박물관 2023 International Journal of Intangible Heritage Vol.18 No.-

Since becoming a member of the Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in 2017, Chiang Mai has implemented a range of projects aimed at protecting and promoting the city’s craft heritage. This article focuses on one project – the Women E-nspire Culture project – which was a pilot initiative launched by UNESCO Bangkok, with the support of Samsung Electronics, aimed at safeguarding traditional crafts by providing digital entrepreneurial skills for ethnic craftswomen, including Hmong, Akha and Karen ethnic groups. The Social Research Institute (SRI) at Chiang Mai University became a partner in the second phase of this project in July 2020, when a community-based workshop was organised in collaboration with UNESCO Bangkok to further develop and strengthen the digital skills of Hmong craftswomen and youth in Doi Pui village. This article discusses the sociocultural background leading to the project as well as key lessons learned and the challenges of using digital technologies to support craftswomen in Chiang Mai’s ethnic communities.

World Soil Classification, The Systems Approach, And Multiscale Gis Mapping

Alexandra Nikiforova,Maria Fleis,Michail Borisov 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

Biochar, Fertiliser & Pasture: A Field Trial

Alexandra Keith,Balwant Singh,Feike Dijkstra 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

Polymorphisms of the BARX1 and ADAMTS17 Locus Genes in Individuals With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Alexandra Argyrou,Evangelia Legaki,Christos Koutserimpas,Maria Gazouli,Ioannis Papaconstantinou,George Gkiokas,George Karamanolis 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2019 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.25 No.3

Background/AimsGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) represents a common condition having a substantial impact on the patients’ quality of life, aswell as the health system. According to many studies, the BARX1 and ADAMTS17 genes have been suggested as genetic risk loci forthe development of GERD and its complications. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential association between GERDand BARX1 and ADAMTS17 polymorphisms. MethodsThe present is a prospective cohort study of 160 GERD patients and 180 healthy control subjects of Greek origin, examined for BARX1and ADAMTS17 polymorphisms (rs11789015 and rs4965272) and a potential correlation to GERD. ResultsThe rs11789015 AG and GG genotypes were found to be significantly associated with GERD (P = 0.032; OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.06-2.57 and P = 0.033; OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.15-7.82, respectively), as well as the G allele (P = 0.007; OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.14- 2.24). Concerning the rs4965272, only the GG genotype was significantly associated with GERD (P = 0.035; OR, 3.42; 95% CI, 1.06-11.05). ConclusionsThis is a study investigating the potential correlation between BARX1 and ADAMTS17 polymorphisms and the development ofGERD, showing a considerable association between both polymorphisms and the disease. This finding suggests that esophagealdifferentiation or altered regulation on microfibrils in the cell environment could be implicated as possible mechanisms in thepathogenesis of GERD.