| 1. |
- Ekholm, Birgit, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of diagnostic procedures in Swedish patients with schizophrenia and related psychoses
- 2005
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In: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0803-9488 .- 1502-4725. ; 59:6, s. 457-464
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We aimed to estimate the value of structured interviews, medical records and Swedish register diagnoses for assessing lifetime diagnosis of patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatric records and diagnostic interviews of 143 Swedish patients diagnosed by their treating physician with schizophrenia and related disorders were scrutinized. Based on record analysis only, or a combined record and interview analysis, DSM-IV diagnoses were obtained by the OPCRIT algorithm. Independent of the OPCRIT algorithm, a standard research DSM-IV diagnosis, based on both record and interview analysis, was given by the research psychiatrist. Concordance rates for the different psychosis diagnoses were calculated. DSM-IV diagnoses based on records only, showed a good to excellent agreement with diagnoses based on records and interviews. Swedish register diagnoses displayed generally poor agreement with the research diagnoses. Nevertheless, 94% of subjects sometimes registered with a diagnosis of schizophrenic psychoses (i.e. schizophrenia, schizoaffective psychosis or schizophreniform disorder) displayed a standard research DSM-IV diagnosis of these disorders. For patients in long-term treatment for schizophrenia in Sweden, psychiatric record reviews should be optimal, cost effective and sufficient for assessment of lifetime research diagnoses of schizophrenia. For these patients a research interview adds little new information. The results further indicate that a Swedish register diagnosis of schizophrenic psychoses has a high positive predictive power to a standard research DSM-IV diagnosis of the disorders. It is concluded that for future Swedish large-scale genetic studies focusing on a broad definition of schizophrenia, it would be sufficient to rely on the Swedish register diagnoses of schizophrenic psychosis.
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| 2. |
- Becker, Sascha O., et al.
(author)
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Offshoring and the onshore composition of tasks and skills
- 2013
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In: Journal of International Economics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-1996 .- 1873-0353. ; 90:1, s. 91-106
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We analyze the relationship between offshoring and the onshore workforce composition in German multinational enterprises (MNEs), using plant data that allow us to discern tasks, occupations, and workforce skills. Offshoring is associated with a statistically significant shift towards more non-routine and more interactive tasks, and with a shift towards highly educated workers. The shift towards highly educated workers is in excess of what is implied by changes in either the task or the occupational composition. Offshoring to low-income countries-with the exception of Central and Eastern European countries-is associated with stronger onshore responses. We find offshoring to predict between 10 and 15% of observed changes in wage-bill shares of highly educated workers and measures of non-routine and interactive tasks.
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| 3. |
- Birk, Wolfgang, et al.
(author)
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Interactive modeling and visualization of complex processes in pulp and paper making
- 2010
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper discusses a new approach to interactive modeling, visualization and analysis of complex industrial processes. A theoretical framework based on signal flow graphs for modeling and visualization is presented. Using this framework a software tool is designed, called ProMoVis, which can be used to model a process, to visualize the models together with process construction and control system, and to perform analysis regarding e.g. feasible control strategies for the process. Moreover, a case study is conducted, where ProMoVis is used to model, visualize and analyze a stock preparation plant. The results indicate that the proposed methods and tools improve work flows, increase process understanding and simplify decision making on control strategies for complex process.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Ekholm, Tomas, et al.
(author)
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Critical Hardy-Lieb-Thirring Inequalities for Fourth-Order Operators in Low Dimensions
- 2010
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In: Letters in Mathematical Physics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0377-9017 .- 1573-0530. ; 94:3, s. 293-312
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper considers Hardy-Lieb-Thirring inequalities for higher order differential operators. A result for general fourth-order operators on the half-line is developed, and the trace inequality tr((-Delta)(2)-C(d,2)(HR)1/vertical bar x vertical bar(4)-V(x))(-)(gamma)<= C-gamma integral V-Rd(x)(+)(gamma+d/4)dx, gamma >= 1 - d/4, where C-d,2(HR) the sharp constant in the Hardy-Rellich inequality and where C-gamma > 0 is independent of V. is proved for dimensions d = 1, 3. As a corollary of this inequality, a Sobolev-type inequality is obtained.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Ekholm, Tomas, et al.
(author)
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Schrodinger operators on regular metric trees with long range potentials: Weak coupling behavior
- 2010
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In: Journal of Differential Equations. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-0396 .- 1090-2732. ; 248:4, s. 850-865
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Consider a regular d-dimensional metric tree Gamma with root o. Define the Schrodinger operator -Delta -V, where V is a non-negative, symmetric potential, on Gamma. with Neumann boundary conditions at o. Provided that V decays like |x|(-gamma) at infinity, where 1 <= gamma <= d <= 2, gamma not equal 2, we will determine the weak coupling behavior of the bottom of the spectrum of -Delta -V. In other words. we will describe the asymptotic behavior of inf sigma(-Delta - alpha V) as alpha -> 0+. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- Kitutu, Freddy, 1982-, et al.
(author)
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Can malaria rapid diagnostic tests by drug sellers under feld conditions classify children 5 years old or less with or without Plasmodium falciparum malaria? : Comparison with nested PCR analysis
- 2018
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In: Malaria Journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2875. ; 17
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) available as dipsticks or strips, are simple to perform, easily interpretable and do not require electricity nor infrastructural investment. Correct interpretation of and compliance with the malaria RDT results is a challenge to drug sellers. Thus, drug seller interpretation of malaria RDT strips was compared with laboratory scientist re-reading, and PCR analysis of Plasmodium DNA extracted from malaria RDT nitrocellulose strips and Fast Transient Analysis (FTA) cards. Malaria RDT cassettes are also assessed as potential source of Plasmodium DNA.MethodsA total of 212 children aged between 2 and 60 months, 199 of whom had complete records at two study drug shops in south west Uganda participated in the study. Duplicate 5μL samples of capillary blood were picked from the 212 children, dispensed onto the sample well of the CareStartTM Pf-HRP2 RDT cassette and a fast transient analysis (FTA), WhatmanTM 3MM filter paper in parallel. The malaria RDT strip was interpreted by the drug seller within 15 to 20 minutes, visually re-read centrally by laboratory scientist and from it; Plasmodium DNA was recovered and detected by PCR, and compared with FTA recovered P. falciparum DNA PCR detection.ResultsMalaria positive samples were 62/199 (31.2% 95% CI 24.9 - 38.3) by drug seller interpretation of malaria RDT strip, 59/212 (27.8% 95% CI 22.2 – 34.3) by laboratory scientist, 55/212 (25.9% 95% CI 20.0 – 32.6) by RDT nitrocellulose strip PCR and 64/212 (30.2% 95% CI 24.4 – 37.7). The overall agreement between the drug seller interpretation and laboratory scientist re-reading of the malaria RDT strip was 93% with kappa value of 0.8 (95 % CI 0.7, 0.9). The drug seller compliance with the reported malaria RDT results and kappa value were 92.5% and 0.8 (95% CI 0.7, 0.9), respectively. The performance of the three diagnostic strategies compared with FTA PCR as the gold standard had sensitivity between 76.6% and 86.9%, specificity above 90%, positive predictive value ranging from 79% to 89.8% and negative predictive value above 90%.Conclusion:Drug sellers can use of malaria RDTs in field conditions and achieve acceptable accuracy for malaria diagnosis, and they comply with the malaria RDT results. Plasmodium DNA can be recovered from malaria RDT nitrocellulose strips even in the context of drug shops. Future malaria surveillance and diagnostic quality control studies with malaria RDT cassette as a source of Plasmodium DNA are recommended.
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| 10. |
- Kitutu, Freddy, et al.
(author)
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Perceived quality of paediatric fever care from private drug shops and care-seeking choice in South Western Uganda: data from household surveys.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundChild mortality is influenced by interventions beyond the health sector such as adequate access to education, quality water and sanitation, transport and general socio-economic wellbeing. Child mortality due to febrile illnesses remains unevenly distributed within countries. The role of context and variables that act at a higher level such as a geographical location has been largely under-examined. Factors that act at group level are commonly described in literature as neighbourhood factors. The aim of the study was to investigate whether contextual differences in choice of childhood fever care-seeking in South Western Uganda remain after relevant individual and household characteristics have been taken into account, for three outcome variables, namely, choice of care-seeking in private versus government health facilities, choice of care-seeking in private health facilities versus community level and perceived quality of childhood fever care at drug shops, among households in Mbarara and Bushenyi districts.MethodsTwo household surveys were conducted at different time periods in Bushenyi and Mbarara districts. The first survey of 2261 households was conducted from July to October 2013 before implementation of an adapted integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) intervention for paediatric febrile illness in drug shops in Mbarara district. The second survey of 3073 households was done from April to May 2015 after the intervention. These data were analysed for effect of contextual factors, the iCCM intervention and other predictors on choice of care-seeking and perceived quality of care among the households in Mbarara and Bushenyi. Results:In the pre-intervention survey , more households in both Mbarara and Bushenyi reported time required to travel to either a private clinic (31%) or drug shop (43%) of 15 minutes or less as compared to a government health facility (12%). The crude second level (neighbourhood) variance of the odds ratio for care-seeking in private versus government health facility was 0.446 (SE, 0.089). The intra-neighbourhood correlation and median odds ratio were 11.9% and 1.89, respectively, for the crude model. After adjusting for covariates that were kept in the prediction model, the estimates of neighbourhood variance, intra-neighbourhood correlation and mean odds ratio decreased to 0.241 (0.069), 6.8% and 1.6, respectively. Conclusion: In addition to individual factors, contextual characteristics of the neighbourhoods predict the choice of care-seeking from private versus government health facilities, private health facilities versus in the community and perceived quality of pediatric fever care at drug shops.
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