Global exponential almost periodicity of a delayed memristor-based neural networks

In this paper, the existence, uniqueness and stability of almost periodic solution for a class of delayed memristor-based neural networks are studied. By using a new Lyapunov function method, the neural network that has a unique almost periodic solution, which is globally exponentially stable is proved. Moreover, the obtained conclusion on the almost periodic solution is applied to prove the existence and stability of periodic solution (or equilibrium point) for delayed memristor-based neural networks with periodic coefficients (or constant coefficients). The obtained results are helpful to design the global exponential stability of almost periodic oscillatory memristor-based neural networks. Three numerical examples and simulations are also given to show the feasibility of our results.     

Matrix measure strategies for stability and synchronization of inertial BAM neural network with time delays

A single inertial BAM neural network with time-varying delays and external inputs is concerned in this paper. First, by choosing suitable variable substitution, the original system can be transformed into first-order differential equations. Then, we present several sufficient conditions for the global exponential stability of the equilibrium by using matrix measure and Halanay inequality, these criteria are simple in form and easy to verify in practice. Furthermore, when employing an error-feedback control term to the response neural network, parallel criteria regarding to the exponential synchronization of the drive-response neural network are also generated. Finally, some examples are given to illustrate our theoretical results.     

Pre-service midwifery education in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review

BackgroundIn response to a global call for more midwives, maternal health stakeholders have called for increased investment in midwifery pre-service education. Given the already long list of challenges and the increasing burden on health care systems due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to prioritize investment is acute, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. An important first step is to examine the current evidence.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature about pre-service midwifery education in sub-Saharan Africa. A search of studies published between 2015 and 2021 in French or English was conducted using six databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and African Index Medicus).ResultsThe search yielded 3061 citations, of which 72 were included. Most were a mix of qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional, country-specific studies. Organized by pre-service educational domain, the literature reflected a misalignment between international standards for midwifery education and what schools and clinical sites and the larger administrative systems where they operate, reliably provide. Inadequate infrastructure, teaching capacity in school and clinical settings and clinical site environment were factors that commonly impede learning. Literature related to faculty development and deployment were limited.ConclusionSchools, faculty and clinical sites are overwhelmed yet recommendations by key stakeholders for change are substantive and complex. Efforts are needed to help schools map their current status by pre-service education domain and prioritize where scarce resources should be directed. These results can inform research and investments in pre-service midwifery education in sub-Saharan Africa.     

Motor impairment,depression, dementia: Which forms the impression of disease severity in Parkinson's disease?

IntroductionClinical Global Impression of Severity (CGIS) is a common measure in clinical research on Parkinson's disease (PD). However, patient features that contribute to the impression of the physician remain unclear. In particular, the impact of cognitive impairment and depression is understudied.MethodsIn a nationwide study on 1449 outpatients with PD, examined by 315 office-based neurologists, PD severity was documented with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-I, II, and IV). All patients were screened with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) for depression. The diagnosis of dementia was based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV Text Revision criteria. Each patient was rated on the CGIS.ResultsCGIS ratings were available for 1438 patients, of which 50.8% were rated as “borderline” to “moderately ill” and 49.2% as “markedly” to “extremely ill.” Worse ratings were associated with higher age (p < 0.001), longer PD duration (p < 0.001), and female sex (p < 0.001). The impact of patient and physician variables on CGIS rating was calculated with three regression models (A: single bivariate regression; B: multivariate regression; and C: multivariate, multilevel regression, including physician variables). In all models, higher UPDRS-II scores and longer disease duration of PD were the strongest predictors for a worse CGIS rating. In the multivariate models (B and C), neuropsychiatric symptoms were unrelated to the CGIS rating.ConclusionThe additional burden of dementia and depression was underestimated in the CGIS rating, suggesting that they are possibly relativized against the motor impairment.     

Whole-fat dairy food intake is inversely associated with obesity prevalence: findings from the Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg study

Because research focusing on dairy food consumption and the risk for obesity is inconsistent and only a few studies have even examined specific dairy products, in regard to type of food and fat content, in relation to obesity risk, this cross-sectional study investigated whether dairy food consumption is associated with the prevalence of global and abdominal obesity. Data were analyzed from 1352 participants in the Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg survey. We hypothesized that higher total dairy food consumption would be independently associated with reduced prevalence of obesity. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to measure intakes of dairy foods. Odds for global obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m²) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference >102 cm for men and >88 cm for women) were determined based on total dairy food intake as well as intakes of individual low- and whole-fat dairy products (milk, yogurt, and cheese). Total dairy food intake was inversely associated with the likelihood of global obesity (odds ratio [OR], 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.89; P < .05) and abdominal obesity (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.32-0.83; P < .01). Participants in the highest tertile of whole-fat dairy intakes (milk, cheese, yogurt) had significantly lower odds for being obese (global obesity: OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29-0.72; P < .01; abdominal obesity: OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.23-0.54; P < .001), compared with those in the lowest intake tertile, after full adjustment for demographic, lifestyle, dietary, and cardiovascular risk factor variables. Increasing consumption of dairy foods may have the potential to lower the prevalence of global and abdominal obesity.     

The Global Activity Limitation Index mainly measured functional disability,whereas self-rated health measured physical morbidity

ObjectivesAs the Global Activity Limitation Index (GALI) has only recently been created and it is not yet known whether it adds any additional information to self-rated health (SRH), two hypotheses were tested: (1) GALI is primarily correlated with functional disability and secondarily with morbidity and (2) SRH is primarily correlated with morbidity and secondarily with functional disability.MethodsThe data source used was a subsample of the 2006 Spanish National Health Survey comprising people aged more than 64 years (N = 7,835). Age, sex, social class, physical and mental morbidities, and functional disability were selected as predictors in multinomial logistic regression models, in which GALI and SRH were the outcome variables. Fractional polynomials were used to handle the continuous predictors.ResultsThe results supported, generally, both hypotheses: functional disability was the main correlate of GALI and physical morbidity, rather than mental morbidity, was the main correlate of SRH. Furthermore, mental morbidity was as strong a correlate of GALI as SRH, but physical morbidity was notably less strong a correlate for GALI than for SRH.ConclusionIn older people, GALI mainly measured functional disability, whereas SRH mainly measured physical morbidity.     

单纯17q25.3拷贝数重复导致全面性发育迟缓和多发性先天异常一例

目的探讨单纯17q25.3拷贝数重复的临床特征、遗传方式及基因型与表型的关系。方法应用全外显子测序、染色体微阵列、染色体核型分析、荧光原位杂交技术联合对先证者及其家系成员进行分析。结果先证者为一例4岁的多发性先天异常男性患儿,表现为全面性发育迟缓、矮小、智力障碍、脑发育不良、小头、特殊面容、肌张力低下、注意力缺陷多动障碍、共济失调、骨骼和心血管异常等。全外显子测序和染色体微阵列分析鉴定其在染色体17q25.3→qter发生5.7 Mb拷贝数重复,可能为患儿致病的原因。荧光原位杂交证实先证者该拷贝数重复是遗传自携带该片段平衡易位的母亲,其外祖母和舅舅也为该片段平衡易位携带者,而小姨未见异常。结论本研究结果丰富了单纯17q25.3拷贝数重复的临床表型谱,为遗传咨询提供了依据,并初步提示了P4HB、ACTG1、BAIAP2及TBCD基因为17q25.3拷贝数重复候选基因。     

Nursing Now 2020: the Nightingale Challenge

Global healthcare expenditure is increasing, along with the numbers of older patients with multiple comorbidities, while the numbers of health workers are hugely decreasing, and many nursing and midwifery vacancies remain unfilled. With the World Health Organization declaring 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, and commencing the Nursing Now campaign with partners including the International Council of Nurses and the International Confederation of Midwives, has allowed these professions to unite, encourage advocacy and the call for global investment in nursing and midwifery. These actions will permit these professions to address universal health coverage, global inconsistencies of professional practice, and recruitment and retention. The Nightingale Challenge seeks to place early career nurses and midwives at the forefront of transformation, calling on employers worldwide to invest and provide nursing leadership development, and to become a key part of the solution to address the issues of providing universal health coverage, promoting gender equality and supporting economic growth. This will help place them at the heart of tackling 21st century health challenges.     

Clinical nursing and midwifery education in the pandemic age

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted clinical nursing and midwifery education. This disruption has long-term implications for the nursing and midwifery workforce and for future healthcare responses to pandemics. Solutions may include enhanced partnerships between schools of nursing and midwifery and health service providers and including schools of nursing and midwifery in preparedness planning. These suggestions notwithstanding, we call upon national and international nursing and midwifery bodies to study how to further the clinical education of nurses and midwives during pandemics and other times of crisis.