METHODS: The clinical benefits of SGLT2i were assessed through a systematic literature review and affordability was assessed through the development of three budget impact analysis models simulating seventy scenarios. Each model varied by prescribing indications, restrictions, and SGLT2i involved (M1: glycemic control, HbA1c between 6.5 percent and 10 percent, empagliflozin-dapagliflozin-luseogliflozin; M2: cardiovascular benefits, HbA1c less than 10 percent, empagliflozin-dapagliflozin; M3: a composite of M1 and M2). The outcome of the HTA was presented to the MOH decision-makers.
RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference in glycemic control between the SGLT2i, differences exist in cardiovascular benefits conferred. Despite having scenarios with lower net budget impact (NBI) in the M1, M2, and M3 models, decision-makers decided to expand empagliflozin use to primary care setting and add dapagliflozin for hospital-only setting for both indications [NBI of $4.38 mil] due to empagliflozin's advantage in reducing risk for cardiovascular death and prior experience of its use in MOH.
CONCLUSIONS: The multiple HTA approach guided the complex decision-making process by providing a holistic understanding of the decision's impact.
METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study of 9922 subsidised residents across 59 NHs in Singapore, with analysis using administrative healthcare data. Key measures included inpatient admission and emergency department visit rates, final discharge diagnoses and estimated costs. We examined correlates of inpatient admissions with a multivariable zero-inflated negative binomial regression model incorporating demogra-phics, institutional characteristics and Charlson Comorbidity Index.
RESULTS: There were 6620 inpatient admissions in 2015, equivalent to 2.23 admissions per 1000 resident days, and the majority were repeat admissions (4504 admissions or 68.0%). Male sex (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.23), approaching end-of-life (IRR 2.14), hospitalisations in the past year (IRR 2.73) and recent NH admission within the last 6 months (IRR 1.31-1.99) were significantly associated with inpatient admission rate. Top 5 discharge diagnoses were lower respiratory tract infections (27.3%), urinary tract infection (9.3%), sepsis (3.1%), cellulitis (1.9%) and gastroenteritis (1.1%). We estimated the total system cost of admissions of subsidised residents to be SGD40.2 million (USD29.1 million) in 2015.
CONCLUSION: We anticipate that unplanned hospitali-sation rate will increase over time, especially with an increasing number of residents who will be cared for in NHs. Our findings provide a baseline to inform stakeholders and develop strategies to address this growing problem.
METHODS: In this study, electronic music (Tremor by Dimitri Vegas, Martin Garrix and Like Mike) and country music (Country Road by John Denver) were played in high and low volumes to investigate the influence of different genres of music on the blood feeding and mating responses of Ae. aegypti. The observations encompassed monitoring the landing attempts, blood-feeding endeavors, and mating behavior of Ae. aegypti.
RESULTS: High-volume electronic and country music with elevated pitch and amplitude significantly reduced host attacks and blood-feeding attempts by female mosquitoes compared to low-volume or music-off conditions.
INTERPRETATION CONCLUSION: However, the significant reduction of successful copula was only observed in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes exposed under electronic music with high volume. As transmission of dengue is through blood feeding and mating, this discovery may open new possibilities for developing music-based control strategies against mosquito-borne diseases.
METHODS: The development and validation process in this study consisted of four stages: Stage One involved item pool generation, Stage Two focused on content and face validation, Stage Three encompassed data collection, and Stage Four included the assessment of the psychometric properties of the RESQ. This final stage was conducted through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA; n = 275) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA; n = 313) to evaluate convergent validity, discriminant validity, and composite reliability.
RESULTS: The initial item pool generated 60 items, whereby 42 items were retained after the content validity evaluation process by the panel of experts. Next, EFA analysis suggested 31 items distributed across seven factors. Lastly, psychometric properties of RESQ with 26 items were established through CFA (GFI = 0.91, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.04, TLI = 0.96, X²/df = 1.52) and other psychometrics evidence.
CONCLUSION: Based on the collected psychometrics evidence, RESQ is a valid questionnaire to evaluate the commitment of recreational sports users. The newly developed questionnaire allows sports organizations to assess the factors influencing sport commitment among recreational sports users. Based on the results of RESQ, sport programmes can be tailored made to optimize sports engagement and promote continued commitment.
METHODS: We sequenced Trebouxia nuclear ribosomal ITS and rbcL of 139 lichen thalli from diverse biomes in South Africa and Namibia. Global Trebouxia phylogenies incorporating these new data were inferred with a maximum likelihood approach. Trebouxia biodiversity, biogeography, and mycobiont-photobiont associations were assessed in phylogenetic and ecological network frameworks.
RESULTS: An estimated 43 putative Trebouxia species were found across the region, including seven potentially endemic species. Only five clades represent formally described species: T. arboricola s.l. (A13), T. cf. cretacea (A01), T. incrustata (A06), T. lynniae (A39), and T. maresiae (A46). Potential endemic species were not significantly associated with the Greater Cape Floristic Region or desert. Trebouxia species occurred frequently across multiple biomes. Annual precipitation, but not precipitation seasonality, was significant in explaining variation in Trebouxia communities. Consistent with other studies of lichen photobionts, the Trebouxia-mycobiont network had an anti-nested structure.
CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the metric used, ca. 20-30% of global Trebouxia biodiversity occurs in southern Africa, including many species yet to be described. With a classification scheme for Trebouxia now well established, tree-based approaches are preferable over "barcode gap" methods for delimiting new species.
METHOD: The research employs a quantitative design, with responses collected from 353 students enrolled at a Malaysian public university. It aims to validate the influence of social norms, cultural identity, and affective disposition on narrative immersion while watching foreign TV dramas, as well as the subsequent enjoyment of media among local audiences.
RESULTS: The results indicate that social norms, cultural identity, and affective disposition significantly influence transportation and enjoyment. Furthermore, the influence of cultural identity on social norms has a positive moderating effect on transportation.
DISCUSSION: Storytelling that complies with social norms while offering new perspectives can maximally engage audiences, potentially altering their narrative cognition and deepening their immersion in fictional narratives. Cultural identity can shape audience perceptions and reactions to cross-cultural media consumption, ultimately influencing the degree to which audiences are drawn into the narrative. Furthermore, the audience's emotional connection to characters in the narrative or to situations in the drama significantly influences the overall cognitive and immersion levels.