Updating the evolutionary history of Carnivora (Mammalia): a new species-level supertree complete with divergence time estimates

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Although it has proven to be an important foundation for investigations of carnivoran ecology, biology and evolution, the complete species-level supertree for Carnivora of Bininda-Emonds et al. is showing its age. Additional, largely molecular sequence data are now available for many species and the advancement of computer technology means that many of the limitations of the original analysis can now be avoided. We therefore sought to provide an updated estimate of the phylogenetic relationships within all extant Carnivora, again using supertree analysis to be able to analyze as much of the global phylogenetic database for the group as possible. Results In total, 188 source trees were combined, representing 114 trees from the literature together with 74 newly constructed gene trees derived from nearly 45,000 bp of sequence data from GenBank. The greater availability of sequence data means that the new supertree is almost completely resolved and also better reflects current phylogenetic opinion (for example, supporting a monophyletic Mephitidae, Eupleridae and Prionodontidae; placing Nandinia binotata as sister to the remaining Feliformia). Following an initial rapid radiation, diversification rate analyses indicate a downturn in the net speciation rate within the past three million years as well as a possible increase some 18.0 million years ago; numerous diversification rate shifts within the order were also identified. Conclusions Together, the two carnivore supertrees remain the only complete phylogenetic estimates for all extant species and the new supertree, like the old one, will form a key tool in helping us to further understand the biology of this charismatic group of carnivores. PMID:22369503

Weed management at ArborGen, South Carolina SuperTree Nursery

Treesearch

Mike Arnette

2009-01-01

Weed management is vital to producing healthy hardwood seedlings. Several methods are available to each nursery, and it is common knowledge that what works for one situation may not work for another. The weed control methods used in nursery beds of hardwood species at the South Carolina SuperTree Nursery (Blenheim) are listed below.

Reconstructing (super)trees from data sets with missing distances: not all is lost.

PubMed

Kettleborough, George; Dicks, Jo; Roberts, Ian N; Huber, Katharina T

2015-06-01

The wealth of phylogenetic information accumulated over many decades of biological research, coupled with recent technological advances in molecular sequence generation, presents significant opportunities for researchers to investigate relationships across and within the kingdoms of life. However, to make best use of this data wealth, several problems must first be overcome. One key problem is finding effective strategies to deal with missing data. Here, we introduce Lasso, a novel heuristic approach for reconstructing rooted phylogenetic trees from distance matrices with missing values, for data sets where a molecular clock may be assumed. Contrary to other phylogenetic methods on partial data sets, Lasso possesses desirable properties such as its reconstructed trees being both unique and edge-weighted. These properties are achieved by Lasso restricting its leaf set to a large subset of all possible taxa, which in many practical situations is the entire taxa set. Furthermore, the Lasso approach is distance-based, rendering it very fast to run and suitable for data sets of all sizes, including large data sets such as those generated by modern Next Generation Sequencing technologies. To better understand the performance of Lasso, we assessed it by means of artificial and real biological data sets, showing its effectiveness in the presence of missing data. Furthermore, by formulating the supermatrix problem as a particular case of the missing data problem, we assessed Lasso's ability to reconstruct supertrees. We demonstrate that, although not specifically designed for such a purpose, Lasso performs better than or comparably with five leading supertree algorithms on a challenging biological data set. Finally, we make freely available a software implementation of Lasso so that researchers may, for the first time, perform both rooted tree and supertree reconstruction with branch lengths on their own partial data sets. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Accurate Phylogenetic Tree Reconstruction from Quartets: A Heuristic Approach

PubMed Central

Reaz, Rezwana; Bayzid, Md. Shamsuzzoha; Rahman, M. Sohel

2014-01-01

Supertree methods construct trees on a set of taxa (species) combining many smaller trees on the overlapping subsets of the entire set of taxa. A ‘quartet’ is an unrooted tree over taxa, hence the quartet-based supertree methods combine many -taxon unrooted trees into a single and coherent tree over the complete set of taxa. Quartet-based phylogeny reconstruction methods have been receiving considerable attentions in the recent years. An accurate and efficient quartet-based method might be competitive with the current best phylogenetic tree reconstruction methods (such as maximum likelihood or Bayesian MCMC analyses), without being as computationally intensive. In this paper, we present a novel and highly accurate quartet-based phylogenetic tree reconstruction method. We performed an extensive experimental study to evaluate the accuracy and scalability of our approach on both simulated and biological datasets. PMID:25117474

Phylogenomic Reconstruction of the Oomycete Phylogeny Derived from 37 Genomes

PubMed Central

McCarthy, Charley G. P.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The oomycetes are a class of microscopic, filamentous eukaryotes within the Stramenopiles-Alveolata-Rhizaria (SAR) supergroup which includes ecologically significant animal and plant pathogens, most infamously the causative agent of potato blight Phytophthora infestans. Single-gene and concatenated phylogenetic studies both of individual oomycete genera and of members of the larger class have resulted in conflicting conclusions concerning species phylogenies within the oomycetes, particularly for the large Phytophthora genus. Genome-scale phylogenetic studies have successfully resolved many eukaryotic relationships by using supertree methods, which combine large numbers of potentially disparate trees to determine evolutionary relationships that cannot be inferred from individual phylogenies alone. With a sufficient amount of genomic data now available, we have undertaken the first whole-genome phylogenetic analysis of the oomycetes using data from 37 oomycete species and 6 SAR species. In our analysis, we used established supertree methods to generate phylogenies from 8,355 homologous oomycete and SAR gene families and have complemented those analyses with both phylogenomic network and concatenated supermatrix analyses. Our results show that a genome-scale approach to oomycete phylogeny resolves oomycete classes and individual clades within the problematic Phytophthora genus. Support for the resolution of the inferred relationships between individual Phytophthora clades varies depending on the methodology used. Our analysis represents an important first step in large-scale phylogenomic analysis of the oomycetes. IMPORTANCE The oomycetes are a class of eukaryotes and include ecologically significant animal and plant pathogens. Single-gene and multigene phylogenetic studies of individual oomycete genera and of members of the larger classes have resulted in conflicting conclusions concerning interspecies relationships among these species, particularly for the Phytophthora genus. The onset of next-generation sequencing techniques now means that a wealth of oomycete genomic data is available. For the first time, we have used genome-scale phylogenetic methods to resolve oomycete phylogenetic relationships. We used supertree methods to generate single-gene and multigene species phylogenies. Overall, our supertree analyses utilized phylogenetic data from 8,355 oomycete gene families. We have also complemented our analyses with superalignment phylogenies derived from 131 single-copy ubiquitous gene families. Our results show that a genome-scale approach to oomycete phylogeny resolves oomycete classes and clades. Our analysis represents an important first step in large-scale phylogenomic analysis of the oomycetes. PMID:28435885

Genomic taxonomy of vibrios

PubMed Central

Thompson, Cristiane C; Vicente, Ana Carolina P; Souza, Rangel C; Vasconcelos, Ana Tereza R; Vesth, Tammi; Alves, Nelson; Ussery, David W; Iida, Tetsuya; Thompson, Fabiano L

2009-01-01

Background Vibrio taxonomy has been based on a polyphasic approach. In this study, we retrieve useful taxonomic information (i.e. data that can be used to distinguish different taxonomic levels, such as species and genera) from 32 genome sequences of different vibrio species. We use a variety of tools to explore the taxonomic relationship between the sequenced genomes, including Multilocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA), supertrees, Average Amino Acid Identity (AAI), genomic signatures, and Genome BLAST atlases. Our aim is to analyse the usefulness of these tools for species identification in vibrios. Results We have generated four new genome sequences of three Vibrio species, i.e., V. alginolyticus 40B, V. harveyi-like 1DA3, and V. mimicus strains VM573 and VM603, and present a broad analyses of these genomes along with other sequenced Vibrio species. The genome atlas and pangenome plots provide a tantalizing image of the genomic differences that occur between closely related sister species, e.g. V. cholerae and V. mimicus. The vibrio pangenome contains around 26504 genes. The V. cholerae core genome and pangenome consist of 1520 and 6923 genes, respectively. Pangenomes might allow different strains of V. cholerae to occupy different niches. MLSA and supertree analyses resulted in a similar phylogenetic picture, with a clear distinction of four groups (Vibrio core group, V. cholerae-V. mimicus, Aliivibrio spp., and Photobacterium spp.). A Vibrio species is defined as a group of strains that share > 95% DNA identity in MLSA and supertree analysis, > 96% AAI, ≤ 10 genome signature dissimilarity, and > 61% proteome identity. Strains of the same species and species of the same genus will form monophyletic groups on the basis of MLSA and supertree. Conclusion The combination of different analytical and bioinformatics tools will enable the most accurate species identification through genomic computational analysis. This endeavour will culminate in the birth of the online genomic taxonomy whereby researchers and end-users of taxonomy will be able to identify their isolates through a web-based server. This novel approach to microbial systematics will result in a tremendous advance concerning biodiversity discovery, description, and understanding. PMID:19860885

One tree to link them all: a phylogenetic dataset for the European tetrapoda.

PubMed

Roquet, Cristina; Lavergne, Sébastien; Thuiller, Wilfried

2014-08-08

Since the ever-increasing availability of phylogenetic informative data, the last decade has seen an upsurge of ecological studies incorporating information on evolutionary relationships among species. However, detailed species-level phylogenies are still lacking for many large groups and regions, which are necessary for comprehensive large-scale eco-phylogenetic analyses. Here, we provide a dataset of 100 dated phylogenetic trees for all European tetrapods based on a mixture of supermatrix and supertree approaches. Phylogenetic inference was performed separately for each of the main Tetrapoda groups of Europe except mammals (i.e. amphibians, birds, squamates and turtles) by means of maximum likelihood (ML) analyses of supermatrix applying a tree constraint at the family (amphibians and squamates) or order (birds and turtles) levels based on consensus knowledge. For each group, we inferred 100 ML trees to be able to provide a phylogenetic dataset that accounts for phylogenetic uncertainty, and assessed node support with bootstrap analyses. Each tree was dated using penalized-likelihood and fossil calibration. The trees obtained were well-supported by existing knowledge and previous phylogenetic studies. For mammals, we modified the most complete supertree dataset available on the literature to include a recent update of the Carnivora clade. As a final step, we merged the phylogenetic trees of all groups to obtain a set of 100 phylogenetic trees for all European Tetrapoda species for which data was available (91%). We provide this phylogenetic dataset (100 chronograms) for the purpose of comparative analyses, macro-ecological or community ecology studies aiming to incorporate phylogenetic information while accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty.

Comparing Phylogenetic Trees by Matching Nodes Using the Transfer Distance Between Partitions

PubMed Central

Giaro, Krzysztof

2017-01-01

Abstract Ability to quantify dissimilarity of different phylogenetic trees describing the relationship between the same group of taxa is required in various types of phylogenetic studies. For example, such metrics are used to assess the quality of phylogeny construction methods, to define optimization criteria in supertree building algorithms, or to find horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events. Among the set of metrics described so far in the literature, the most commonly used seems to be the Robinson–Foulds distance. In this article, we define a new metric for rooted trees—the Matching Pair (MP) distance. The MP metric uses the concept of the minimum-weight perfect matching in a complete bipartite graph constructed from partitions of all pairs of leaves of the compared phylogenetic trees. We analyze the properties of the MP metric and present computational experiments showing its potential applicability in tasks related to finding the HGT events. PMID:28177699

Comparing Phylogenetic Trees by Matching Nodes Using the Transfer Distance Between Partitions.

PubMed

Bogdanowicz, Damian; Giaro, Krzysztof

2017-05-01

Ability to quantify dissimilarity of different phylogenetic trees describing the relationship between the same group of taxa is required in various types of phylogenetic studies. For example, such metrics are used to assess the quality of phylogeny construction methods, to define optimization criteria in supertree building algorithms, or to find horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events. Among the set of metrics described so far in the literature, the most commonly used seems to be the Robinson-Foulds distance. In this article, we define a new metric for rooted trees-the Matching Pair (MP) distance. The MP metric uses the concept of the minimum-weight perfect matching in a complete bipartite graph constructed from partitions of all pairs of leaves of the compared phylogenetic trees. We analyze the properties of the MP metric and present computational experiments showing its potential applicability in tasks related to finding the HGT events.

A Bayesian Supertree Model for Genome-Wide Species Tree Reconstruction

PubMed Central

De Oliveira Martins, Leonardo; Mallo, Diego; Posada, David

2016-01-01

Current phylogenomic data sets highlight the need for species tree methods able to deal with several sources of gene tree/species tree incongruence. At the same time, we need to make most use of all available data. Most species tree methods deal with single processes of phylogenetic discordance, namely, gene duplication and loss, incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) or horizontal gene transfer. In this manuscript, we address the problem of species tree inference from multilocus, genome-wide data sets regardless of the presence of gene duplication and loss and ILS therefore without the need to identify orthologs or to use a single individual per species. We do this by extending the idea of Maximum Likelihood (ML) supertrees to a hierarchical Bayesian model where several sources of gene tree/species tree disagreement can be accounted for in a modular manner. We implemented this model in a computer program called guenomu whose inputs are posterior distributions of unrooted gene tree topologies for multiple gene families, and whose output is the posterior distribution of rooted species tree topologies. We conducted extensive simulations to evaluate the performance of our approach in comparison with other species tree approaches able to deal with more than one leaf from the same species. Our method ranked best under simulated data sets, in spite of ignoring branch lengths, and performed well on empirical data, as well as being fast enough to analyze relatively large data sets. Our Bayesian supertree method was also very successful in obtaining better estimates of gene trees, by reducing the uncertainty in their distributions. In addition, our results show that under complex simulation scenarios, gene tree parsimony is also a competitive approach once we consider its speed, in contrast to more sophisticated models. PMID:25281847

Exact solutions for species tree inference from discordant gene trees.

PubMed

Chang, Wen-Chieh; Górecki, Paweł; Eulenstein, Oliver

2013-10-01

Phylogenetic analysis has to overcome the grant challenge of inferring accurate species trees from evolutionary histories of gene families (gene trees) that are discordant with the species tree along whose branches they have evolved. Two well studied approaches to cope with this challenge are to solve either biologically informed gene tree parsimony (GTP) problems under gene duplication, gene loss, and deep coalescence, or the classic RF supertree problem that does not rely on any biological model. Despite the potential of these problems to infer credible species trees, they are NP-hard. Therefore, these problems are addressed by heuristics that typically lack any provable accuracy and precision. We describe fast dynamic programming algorithms that solve the GTP problems and the RF supertree problem exactly, and demonstrate that our algorithms can solve instances with data sets consisting of as many as 22 taxa. Extensions of our algorithms can also report the number of all optimal species trees, as well as the trees themselves. To better asses the quality of the resulting species trees that best fit the given gene trees, we also compute the worst case species trees, their numbers, and optimization score for each of the computational problems. Finally, we demonstrate the performance of our exact algorithms using empirical and simulated data sets, and analyze the quality of heuristic solutions for the studied problems by contrasting them with our exact solutions.

Ancient origins and multiple appearances of carotenoid-pigmented feathers in birds

PubMed Central

Thomas, Daniel B.; McGraw, Kevin J.; Butler, Michael W.; Carrano, Matthew T.; Madden, Odile; James, Helen F.

2014-01-01

The broad palette of feather colours displayed by birds serves diverse biological functions, including communication and camouflage. Fossil feathers provide evidence that some avian colours, like black and brown melanins, have existed for at least 160 million years (Myr), but no traces of bright carotenoid pigments in ancient feathers have been reported. Insight into the evolutionary history of plumage carotenoids may instead be gained from living species. We visually surveyed modern birds for carotenoid-consistent plumage colours (present in 2956 of 9993 species). We then used high-performance liquid chromatography and Raman spectroscopy to chemically assess the family-level distribution of plumage carotenoids, confirming their presence in 95 of 236 extant bird families (only 36 family-level occurrences had been confirmed previously). Using our data for all modern birds, we modelled the evolutionary history of carotenoid-consistent plumage colours on recent supertrees. Results support multiple independent origins of carotenoid plumage pigmentation in 13 orders, including six orders without previous reports of plumage carotenoids. Based on time calibrations from the supertree, the number of avian families displaying plumage carotenoids increased throughout the Cenozoic, and most plumage carotenoid originations occurred after the Miocene Epoch (23 Myr). The earliest origination of plumage carotenoids was reconstructed within Passeriformes, during the Palaeocene Epoch (66–56 Myr), and not at the base of crown-lineage birds. PMID:24966316

Analyzing and synthesizing phylogenies using tree alignment graphs.

PubMed

Smith, Stephen A; Brown, Joseph W; Hinchliff, Cody E

2013-01-01

Phylogenetic trees are used to analyze and visualize evolution. However, trees can be imperfect datatypes when summarizing multiple trees. This is especially problematic when accommodating for biological phenomena such as horizontal gene transfer, incomplete lineage sorting, and hybridization, as well as topological conflict between datasets. Additionally, researchers may want to combine information from sets of trees that have partially overlapping taxon sets. To address the problem of analyzing sets of trees with conflicting relationships and partially overlapping taxon sets, we introduce methods for aligning, synthesizing and analyzing rooted phylogenetic trees within a graph, called a tree alignment graph (TAG). The TAG can be queried and analyzed to explore uncertainty and conflict. It can also be synthesized to construct trees, presenting an alternative to supertrees approaches. We demonstrate these methods with two empirical datasets. In order to explore uncertainty, we constructed a TAG of the bootstrap trees from the Angiosperm Tree of Life project. Analysis of the resulting graph demonstrates that areas of the dataset that are unresolved in majority-rule consensus tree analyses can be understood in more detail within the context of a graph structure, using measures incorporating node degree and adjacency support. As an exercise in synthesis (i.e., summarization of a TAG constructed from the alignment trees), we also construct a TAG consisting of the taxonomy and source trees from a recent comprehensive bird study. We synthesized this graph into a tree that can be reconstructed in a repeatable fashion and where the underlying source information can be updated. The methods presented here are tractable for large scale analyses and serve as a basis for an alternative to consensus tree and supertree methods. Furthermore, the exploration of these graphs can expose structures and patterns within the dataset that are otherwise difficult to observe.

Analyzing and Synthesizing Phylogenies Using Tree Alignment Graphs

PubMed Central

Smith, Stephen A.; Brown, Joseph W.; Hinchliff, Cody E.

2013-01-01

Phylogenetic trees are used to analyze and visualize evolution. However, trees can be imperfect datatypes when summarizing multiple trees. This is especially problematic when accommodating for biological phenomena such as horizontal gene transfer, incomplete lineage sorting, and hybridization, as well as topological conflict between datasets. Additionally, researchers may want to combine information from sets of trees that have partially overlapping taxon sets. To address the problem of analyzing sets of trees with conflicting relationships and partially overlapping taxon sets, we introduce methods for aligning, synthesizing and analyzing rooted phylogenetic trees within a graph, called a tree alignment graph (TAG). The TAG can be queried and analyzed to explore uncertainty and conflict. It can also be synthesized to construct trees, presenting an alternative to supertrees approaches. We demonstrate these methods with two empirical datasets. In order to explore uncertainty, we constructed a TAG of the bootstrap trees from the Angiosperm Tree of Life project. Analysis of the resulting graph demonstrates that areas of the dataset that are unresolved in majority-rule consensus tree analyses can be understood in more detail within the context of a graph structure, using measures incorporating node degree and adjacency support. As an exercise in synthesis (i.e., summarization of a TAG constructed from the alignment trees), we also construct a TAG consisting of the taxonomy and source trees from a recent comprehensive bird study. We synthesized this graph into a tree that can be reconstructed in a repeatable fashion and where the underlying source information can be updated. The methods presented here are tractable for large scale analyses and serve as a basis for an alternative to consensus tree and supertree methods. Furthermore, the exploration of these graphs can expose structures and patterns within the dataset that are otherwise difficult to observe. PMID:24086118

Efficient FPT Algorithms for (Strict) Compatibility of Unrooted Phylogenetic Trees.

PubMed

Baste, Julien; Paul, Christophe; Sau, Ignasi; Scornavacca, Celine

2017-04-01

In phylogenetics, a central problem is to infer the evolutionary relationships between a set of species X; these relationships are often depicted via a phylogenetic tree-a tree having its leaves labeled bijectively by elements of X and without degree-2 nodes-called the "species tree." One common approach for reconstructing a species tree consists in first constructing several phylogenetic trees from primary data (e.g., DNA sequences originating from some species in X), and then constructing a single phylogenetic tree maximizing the "concordance" with the input trees. The obtained tree is our estimation of the species tree and, when the input trees are defined on overlapping-but not identical-sets of labels, is called "supertree." In this paper, we focus on two problems that are central when combining phylogenetic trees into a supertree: the compatibility and the strict compatibility problems for unrooted phylogenetic trees. These problems are strongly related, respectively, to the notions of "containing as a minor" and "containing as a topological minor" in the graph community. Both problems are known to be fixed parameter tractable in the number of input trees k, by using their expressibility in monadic second-order logic and a reduction to graphs of bounded treewidth. Motivated by the fact that the dependency on k of these algorithms is prohibitively large, we give the first explicit dynamic programming algorithms for solving these problems, both running in time [Formula: see text], where n is the total size of the input.

Hotspots and the conservation of evolutionary history

PubMed Central

Sechrest, Wes; Brooks, Thomas M.; da Fonseca, Gustavo A. B.; Konstant, William R.; Mittermeier, Russell A.; Purvis, Andy; Rylands, Anthony B.; Gittleman, John L.

2002-01-01

Species diversity is unevenly distributed across the globe, with terrestrial diversity concentrated in a few restricted biodiversity hotspots. These areas are associated with high losses of primary vegetation and increased human population density, resulting in growing numbers of threatened species. We show that conservation of these hotspots is critical because they harbor even greater amounts of evolutionary history than expected by species numbers alone. We used supertrees for carnivores and primates to estimate that nearly 70% of the total amount of evolutionary history represented in these groups is found in 25 biodiversity hotspots. PMID:11854502

Muroid rodent phylogenetics: 900-species tree reveals increasing diversification rates

PubMed Central

Schenk, John J.

2017-01-01

We combined new sequence data for more than 300 muroid rodent species with our previously published sequences for up to five nuclear and one mitochondrial genes to generate the most widely and densely sampled hypothesis of evolutionary relationships across Muroidea. An exhaustive screening procedure for publically available sequences was implemented to avoid the propagation of taxonomic errors that are common to supermatrix studies. The combined data set of carefully screened sequences derived from all available sequences on GenBank with our new data resulted in a robust maximum likelihood phylogeny for 900 of the approximately 1,620 muroids. Several regions that were equivocally resolved in previous studies are now more decisively resolved, and we estimated a chronogram using 28 fossil calibrations for the most integrated age and topological estimates to date. The results were used to update muroid classification and highlight questions needing additional data. We also compared the results of multigene supermatrix studies like this one with the principal published supertrees and concluded that the latter are unreliable for any comparative study in muroids. In addition, we explored diversification patterns as an explanation for why muroid rodents represent one of the most species-rich groups of mammals by detecting evidence for increasing net diversification rates through time across the muroid tree. We suggest the observation of increasing rates may be due to a combination of parallel increases in rate across clades and high average extinction rates. Five increased diversification-rate-shifts were inferred, suggesting that multiple, but perhaps not independent, events have led to the remarkable species diversity in the superfamily. Our results provide a phylogenetic framework for comparative studies that is not highly dependent upon the signal from any one gene. PMID:28813483

New analytic results for speciation times in neutral models.

PubMed

Gernhard, Tanja

2008-05-01

In this paper, we investigate the standard Yule model, and a recently studied model of speciation and extinction, the "critical branching process." We develop an analytic way-as opposed to the common simulation approach-for calculating the speciation times in a reconstructed phylogenetic tree. Simple expressions for the density and the moments of the speciation times are obtained. Methods for dating a speciation event become valuable, if for the reconstructed phylogenetic trees, no time scale is available. A missing time scale could be due to supertree methods, morphological data, or molecular data which violates the molecular clock. Our analytic approach is, in particular, useful for the model with extinction, since simulations of birth-death processes which are conditioned on obtaining n extant species today are quite delicate. Further, simulations are very time consuming for big n under both models.

Microbial genomic taxonomy

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

A need for a genomic species definition is emerging from several independent studies worldwide. In this commentary paper, we discuss recent studies on the genomic taxonomy of diverse microbial groups and a unified species definition based on genomics. Accordingly, strains from the same microbial species share >95% Average Amino Acid Identity (AAI) and Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI), >95% identity based on multiple alignment genes, <10 in Karlin genomic signature, and > 70% in silico Genome-to-Genome Hybridization similarity (GGDH). Species of the same genus will form monophyletic groups on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, Multilocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) and supertree analysis. In addition to the established requirements for species descriptions, we propose that new taxa descriptions should also include at least a draft genome sequence of the type strain in order to obtain a clear outlook on the genomic landscape of the novel microbe. The application of the new genomic species definition put forward here will allow researchers to use genome sequences to define simultaneously coherent phenotypic and genomic groups. PMID:24365132

Facilitation can increase the phylogenetic diversity of plant communities.

PubMed

Valiente-Banuet, Alfonso; Verdú, Miguel

2007-11-01

With the advent of molecular phylogenies the assessment of community assembly processes has become a central topic in community ecology. These processes have focused almost exclusively on habitat filtering and competitive exclusion. Recent evidence, however, indicates that facilitation has been important in preserving biodiversity over evolutionary time, with recent lineages conserving the regeneration niches of older, distant lineages. Here we test whether, if facilitation among distant-related species has preserved the regeneration niche of plant lineages, this has increased the phylogenetic diversity of communities. By analyzing a large worldwide database of species, we showed that the regeneration niches were strongly conserved across evolutionary history. Likewise, a phylogenetic supertree of all species of three communities driven by facilitation showed that nurse species facilitated distantly related species and increased phylogenetic diversity.

Endemicity and evolutionary value: a study of Chilean endemic vascular plant genera

PubMed Central

Scherson, Rosa A; Albornoz, Abraham A; Moreira-Muñoz, Andrés S; Urbina-Casanova, Rafael

2014-01-01

This study uses phylogeny-based measures of evolutionary potential (phylogenetic diversity and community structure) to evaluate the evolutionary value of vascular plant genera endemic to Chile. Endemicity is regarded as a very important consideration for conservation purposes. Taxa that are endemic to a single country are valuable conservation targets, as their protection depends upon a single government policy. This is especially relevant in developing countries in which conservation is not always a high resource allocation priority. Phylogeny-based measures of evolutionary potential such as phylogenetic diversity (PD) have been regarded as meaningful measures of the “value” of taxa and ecosystems, as they are able to account for the attributes that could allow taxa to recover from environmental changes. Chile is an area of remarkable endemism, harboring a flora that shows the highest number of endemic genera in South America. We studied PD and community structure of this flora using a previously available supertree at the genus level, to which we added DNA sequences of 53 genera endemic to Chile. Using discrepancy values and a null model approach, we decoupled PD from taxon richness, in order to compare their geographic distribution over a one-degree grid. An interesting pattern was observed in which areas to the southwest appear to harbor more PD than expected by their generic richness than those areas to the north of the country. In addition, some southern areas showed more PD than expected by chance, as calculated with the null model approach. Geological history as documented by the study of ancient floras as well as glacial refuges in the coastal range of southern Chile during the quaternary seem to be consistent with the observed pattern, highlighting the importance of this area for conservation purposes. PMID:24683462

The Evolution of Haploid Chromosome Numbers in the Sunflower Family

PubMed Central

Mota, Lucie; Torices, Rubén; Loureiro, João

2016-01-01

Chromosome number changes during the evolution of angiosperms are likely to have played a major role in speciation. Their study is of utmost importance, especially now, as a probabilistic model is available to study chromosome evolution within a phylogenetic framework. In the present study, likelihood models of chromosome number evolution were fitted to the largest family of flowering plants, the Asteraceae. Specifically, a phylogenetic supertree of this family was used to reconstruct the ancestral chromosome number and infer genomic events. Our approach inferred that the ancestral chromosome number of the family is n = 9. Also, according to the model that best explained our data, the evolution of haploid chromosome numbers in Asteraceae was a very dynamic process, with genome duplications and descending dysploidy being the most frequent genomic events in the evolution of this family. This model inferred more than one hundred whole genome duplication events; however, it did not find evidence for a paleopolyploidization at the base of this family, which has previously been hypothesized on the basis of sequence data from a limited number of species. The obtained results and potential causes of these discrepancies are discussed. PMID:27797951

DendroBLAST: approximate phylogenetic trees in the absence of multiple sequence alignments.

PubMed

Kelly, Steven; Maini, Philip K

2013-01-01

The rapidly growing availability of genome information has created considerable demand for both fast and accurate phylogenetic inference algorithms. We present a novel method called DendroBLAST for reconstructing phylogenetic dendrograms/trees from protein sequences using BLAST. This method differs from other methods by incorporating a simple model of sequence evolution to test the effect of introducing sequence changes on the reliability of the bipartitions in the inferred tree. Using realistic simulated sequence data we demonstrate that this method produces phylogenetic trees that are more accurate than other commonly-used distance based methods though not as accurate as maximum likelihood methods from good quality multiple sequence alignments. In addition to tests on simulated data, we use DendroBLAST to generate input trees for a supertree reconstruction of the phylogeny of the Archaea. This independent analysis produces an approximate phylogeny of the Archaea that has both high precision and recall when compared to previously published analysis of the same dataset using conventional methods. Taken together these results demonstrate that approximate phylogenetic trees can be produced in the absence of multiple sequence alignments, and we propose that these trees will provide a platform for improving and informing downstream bioinformatic analysis. A web implementation of the DendroBLAST method is freely available for use at http://www.dendroblast.com/.

A broad-scale comparison of aerobic activity levels in vertebrates: endotherms versus ectotherms

PubMed Central

Gomez, Juan Pablo; Mavrodiev, Evgeny V.

2017-01-01

Differences in the limits and range of aerobic activity levels between endotherms and ectotherms remain poorly understood, though such differences help explain basic differences in species' lifestyles (e.g. movement patterns, feeding modes, and interaction rates). We compare the limits and range of aerobic activity in endotherms (birds and mammals) and ectotherms (fishes, reptiles, and amphibians) by evaluating the body mass-dependence of VO2 max, aerobic scope, and heart mass in a phylogenetic context based on a newly constructed vertebrate supertree. Contrary to previous work, results show no significant differences in the body mass scaling of minimum and maximum oxygen consumption rates with body mass within endotherms or ectotherms. For a given body mass, resting rates and maximum rates were 24-fold and 30-fold lower, respectively, in ectotherms than endotherms. Factorial aerobic scope ranged from five to eight in both groups, with scope in endotherms showing a modest body mass-dependence. Finally, maximum consumption rates and aerobic scope were positively correlated with residual heart mass. Together, these results quantify similarities and differences in the potential for aerobic activity among ectotherms and endotherms from diverse environments. They provide insights into the models and mechanisms that may underlie the body mass-dependence of oxygen consumption. PMID:28202808

SWPhylo - A Novel Tool for Phylogenomic Inferences by Comparison of Oligonucleotide Patterns and Integration of Genome-Based and Gene-Based Phylogenetic Trees.

PubMed

Yu, Xiaoyu; Reva, Oleg N

2018-01-01

Modern phylogenetic studies may benefit from the analysis of complete genome sequences of various microorganisms. Evolutionary inferences based on genome-scale analysis are believed to be more accurate than the gene-based alternative. However, the computational complexity of current phylogenomic procedures, inappropriateness of standard phylogenetic tools to process genome-wide data, and lack of reliable substitution models which correlates with alignment-free phylogenomic approaches deter microbiologists from using these opportunities. For example, the super-matrix and super-tree approaches of phylogenomics use multiple integrated genomic loci or individual gene-based trees to infer an overall consensus tree. However, these approaches potentially multiply errors of gene annotation and sequence alignment not mentioning the computational complexity and laboriousness of the methods. In this article, we demonstrate that the annotation- and alignment-free comparison of genome-wide tetranucleotide frequencies, termed oligonucleotide usage patterns (OUPs), allowed a fast and reliable inference of phylogenetic trees. These were congruent to the corresponding whole genome super-matrix trees in terms of tree topology when compared with other known approaches including 16S ribosomal RNA and GyrA protein sequence comparison, complete genome-based MAUVE, and CVTree methods. A Web-based program to perform the alignment-free OUP-based phylogenomic inferences was implemented at http://swphylo.bi.up.ac.za/. Applicability of the tool was tested on different taxa from subspecies to intergeneric levels. Distinguishing between closely related taxonomic units may be enforced by providing the program with alignments of marker protein sequences, eg, GyrA.

SWPhylo – A Novel Tool for Phylogenomic Inferences by Comparison of Oligonucleotide Patterns and Integration of Genome-Based and Gene-Based Phylogenetic Trees

PubMed Central

Yu, Xiaoyu; Reva, Oleg N

2018-01-01

Modern phylogenetic studies may benefit from the analysis of complete genome sequences of various microorganisms. Evolutionary inferences based on genome-scale analysis are believed to be more accurate than the gene-based alternative. However, the computational complexity of current phylogenomic procedures, inappropriateness of standard phylogenetic tools to process genome-wide data, and lack of reliable substitution models which correlates with alignment-free phylogenomic approaches deter microbiologists from using these opportunities. For example, the super-matrix and super-tree approaches of phylogenomics use multiple integrated genomic loci or individual gene-based trees to infer an overall consensus tree. However, these approaches potentially multiply errors of gene annotation and sequence alignment not mentioning the computational complexity and laboriousness of the methods. In this article, we demonstrate that the annotation- and alignment-free comparison of genome-wide tetranucleotide frequencies, termed oligonucleotide usage patterns (OUPs), allowed a fast and reliable inference of phylogenetic trees. These were congruent to the corresponding whole genome super-matrix trees in terms of tree topology when compared with other known approaches including 16S ribosomal RNA and GyrA protein sequence comparison, complete genome-based MAUVE, and CVTree methods. A Web-based program to perform the alignment-free OUP-based phylogenomic inferences was implemented at http://swphylo.bi.up.ac.za/. Applicability of the tool was tested on different taxa from subspecies to intergeneric levels. Distinguishing between closely related taxonomic units may be enforced by providing the program with alignments of marker protein sequences, eg, GyrA. PMID:29511354

Elevated Extinction Rates as a Trigger for Diversification Rate Shifts: Early Amniotes as a Case Study

PubMed Central

Brocklehurst, Neil; Ruta, Marcello; Müller, Johannes; Fröbisch, Jörg

2015-01-01

Tree shape analyses are frequently used to infer the location of shifts in diversification rate within the Tree of Life. Many studies have supported a causal relationship between shifts and temporally coincident events such as the evolution of “key innovations”. However, the evidence for such relationships is circumstantial. We investigated patterns of diversification during the early evolution of Amniota from the Carboniferous to the Triassic, subjecting a new supertree to analyses of tree balance in order to infer the timing and location of diversification shifts. We investigated how uneven origination and extinction rates drive diversification shifts, and use two case studies (herbivory and an aquatic lifestyle) to examine whether shifts tend to be contemporaneous with evolutionary novelties. Shifts within amniotes tend to occur during periods of elevated extinction, with mass extinctions coinciding with numerous and larger shifts. Diversification shifts occurring in clades that possess evolutionary innovations do not coincide temporally with the appearance of those innovations, but are instead deferred to periods of high extinction rate. We suggest such innovations did not cause increases in the rate of cladogenesis, but allowed clades to survive extinction events. We highlight the importance of examining general patterns of diversification before interpreting specific shifts. PMID:26592209

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor Gene Family Phylogenetics and Nomenclature

PubMed Central

Skinner, Michael K.; Rawls, Alan; Wilson-Rawls, Jeanne; Roalson, Eric H.

2010-01-01

A phylogenetic analysis of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene superfamily was performed using seven different species (human, mouse, rat, worm, fly, yeast, and plant Arabidopsis) and involving over 600 bHLH genes [1]. All bHLH genes were identified in the genomes of the various species, including expressed sequence tags, and the entire coding sequence was used in the analysis. Nearly 15% of the gene family has been updated or added since the original publication. A super-tree involving six clades and all structural relationships was established and is now presented for four of the species. The wealth of functional data available for members of the bHLH gene superfamily provides us with the opportunity to use this exhaustive phylogenetic tree to predict potential functions of uncharacterized members of the family. This phylogenetic and genomic analysis of the bHLH gene family has revealed unique elements of the evolution and functional relationships of the different genes in the bHLH gene family. PMID:20219281

Horizontal gene flow from Eubacteria to Archaebacteria and what it means for our understanding of eukaryogenesis.

PubMed

Akanni, Wasiu A; Siu-Ting, Karen; Creevey, Christopher J; McInerney, James O; Wilkinson, Mark; Foster, Peter G; Pisani, Davide

2015-09-26

The origin of the eukaryotic cell is considered one of the major evolutionary transitions in the history of life. Current evidence strongly supports a scenario of eukaryotic origin in which two prokaryotes, an archaebacterial host and an α-proteobacterium (the free-living ancestor of the mitochondrion), entered a stable symbiotic relationship. The establishment of this relationship was associated with a process of chimerization, whereby a large number of genes from the α-proteobacterial symbiont were transferred to the host nucleus. A general framework allowing the conceptualization of eukaryogenesis from a genomic perspective has long been lacking. Recent studies suggest that the origins of several archaebacterial phyla were coincident with massive imports of eubacterial genes. Although this does not indicate that these phyla originated through the same process that led to the origin of Eukaryota, it suggests that Archaebacteria might have had a general propensity to integrate into their genomes large amounts of eubacterial DNA. We suggest that this propensity provides a framework in which eukaryogenesis can be understood and studied in the light of archaebacterial ecology. We applied a recently developed supertree method to a genomic dataset composed of 392 eubacterial and 51 archaebacterial genera to test whether large numbers of genes flowing from Eubacteria are indeed coincident with the origin of major archaebacterial clades. In addition, we identified two potential large-scale transfers of uncertain directionality at the base of the archaebacterial tree. Our results are consistent with previous findings and seem to indicate that eubacterial gene imports (particularly from δ-Proteobacteria, Clostridia and Actinobacteria) were an important factor in archaebacterial history. Archaebacteria seem to have long relied on Eubacteria as a source of genetic diversity, and while the precise mechanism that allowed these imports is unknown, we suggest that our results support the view that processes comparable to those through which eukaryotes emerged might have been common in archaebacterial history. © 2015 The Author(s).

Horizontal gene flow from Eubacteria to Archaebacteria and what it means for our understanding of eukaryogenesis

PubMed Central

Akanni, Wasiu A.; Siu-Ting, Karen; Creevey, Christopher J.; McInerney, James O.; Wilkinson, Mark; Foster, Peter G.; Pisani, Davide

2015-01-01

The origin of the eukaryotic cell is considered one of the major evolutionary transitions in the history of life. Current evidence strongly supports a scenario of eukaryotic origin in which two prokaryotes, an archaebacterial host and an α-proteobacterium (the free-living ancestor of the mitochondrion), entered a stable symbiotic relationship. The establishment of this relationship was associated with a process of chimerization, whereby a large number of genes from the α-proteobacterial symbiont were transferred to the host nucleus. A general framework allowing the conceptualization of eukaryogenesis from a genomic perspective has long been lacking. Recent studies suggest that the origins of several archaebacterial phyla were coincident with massive imports of eubacterial genes. Although this does not indicate that these phyla originated through the same process that led to the origin of Eukaryota, it suggests that Archaebacteria might have had a general propensity to integrate into their genomes large amounts of eubacterial DNA. We suggest that this propensity provides a framework in which eukaryogenesis can be understood and studied in the light of archaebacterial ecology. We applied a recently developed supertree method to a genomic dataset composed of 392 eubacterial and 51 archaebacterial genera to test whether large numbers of genes flowing from Eubacteria are indeed coincident with the origin of major archaebacterial clades. In addition, we identified two potential large-scale transfers of uncertain directionality at the base of the archaebacterial tree. Our results are consistent with previous findings and seem to indicate that eubacterial gene imports (particularly from δ-Proteobacteria, Clostridia and Actinobacteria) were an important factor in archaebacterial history. Archaebacteria seem to have long relied on Eubacteria as a source of genetic diversity, and while the precise mechanism that allowed these imports is unknown, we suggest that our results support the view that processes comparable to those through which eukaryotes emerged might have been common in archaebacterial history. PMID:26323767

treeman: an R package for efficient and intuitive manipulation of phylogenetic trees.

PubMed

Bennett, Dominic J; Sutton, Mark D; Turvey, Samuel T

2017-01-07

Phylogenetic trees are hierarchical structures used for representing the inter-relationships between biological entities. They are the most common tool for representing evolution and are essential to a range of fields across the life sciences. The manipulation of phylogenetic trees-in terms of adding or removing tips-is often performed by researchers not just for reasons of management but also for performing simulations in order to understand the processes of evolution. Despite this, the most common programming language among biologists, R, has few class structures well suited to these tasks. We present an R package that contains a new class, called TreeMan, for representing the phylogenetic tree. This class has a list structure allowing phylogenetic trees to be manipulated more efficiently. Computational running times are reduced because of the ready ability to vectorise and parallelise methods. Development is also improved due to fewer lines of code being required for performing manipulation processes. We present three use cases-pinning missing taxa to a supertree, simulating evolution with a tree-growth model and detecting significant phylogenetic turnover-that demonstrate the new package's speed and simplicity.

Deduction of probable events of lateral gene transfer through comparison of phylogenetic trees by recursive consolidation and rearrangement

PubMed Central

MacLeod, Dave; Charlebois, Robert L; Doolittle, Ford; Bapteste, Eric

2005-01-01

Background When organismal phylogenies based on sequences of single marker genes are poorly resolved, a logical approach is to add more markers, on the assumption that weak but congruent phylogenetic signal will be reinforced in such multigene trees. Such approaches are valid only when the several markers indeed have identical phylogenies, an issue which many multigene methods (such as the use of concatenated gene sequences or the assembly of supertrees) do not directly address. Indeed, even when the true history is a mixture of vertical descent for some genes and lateral gene transfer (LGT) for others, such methods produce unique topologies. Results We have developed software that aims to extract evidence for vertical and lateral inheritance from a set of gene trees compared against an arbitrary reference tree. This evidence is then displayed as a synthesis showing support over the tree for vertical inheritance, overlaid with explicit lateral gene transfer (LGT) events inferred to have occurred over the history of the tree. Like splits-tree methods, one can thus identify nodes at which conflict occurs. Additionally one can make reasonable inferences about vertical and lateral signal, assigning putative donors and recipients. Conclusion A tool such as ours can serve to explore the reticulated dimensionality of molecular evolution, by dissecting vertical and lateral inheritance at high resolution. By this, we mean that individual nodes can be examined not only for congruence, but also for coherence in light of LGT. We assert that our tools will facilitate the comparison of phylogenetic trees, and the interpretation of conflicting data. PMID:15819979

Dinosaurs and the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution

PubMed Central

Lloyd, Graeme T; Davis, Katie E; Pisani, Davide; Tarver, James E; Ruta, Marcello; Sakamoto, Manabu; Hone, David W.E; Jennings, Rachel; Benton, Michael J

2008-01-01

The observed diversity of dinosaurs reached its highest peak during the mid- and Late Cretaceous, the 50 Myr that preceded their extinction, and yet this explosion of dinosaur diversity may be explained largely by sampling bias. It has long been debated whether dinosaurs were part of the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution (KTR), from 125–80 Myr ago, when flowering plants, herbivorous and social insects, squamates, birds and mammals all underwent a rapid expansion. Although an apparent explosion of dinosaur diversity occurred in the mid-Cretaceous, coinciding with the emergence of new groups (e.g. neoceratopsians, ankylosaurid ankylosaurs, hadrosaurids and pachycephalosaurs), results from the first quantitative study of diversification applied to a new supertree of dinosaurs show that this apparent burst in dinosaurian diversity in the last 18 Myr of the Cretaceous is a sampling artefact. Indeed, major diversification shifts occurred largely in the first one-third of the group's history. Despite the appearance of new clades of medium to large herbivores and carnivores later in dinosaur history, these new originations do not correspond to significant diversification shifts. Instead, the overall geometry of the Cretaceous part of the dinosaur tree does not depart from the null hypothesis of an equal rates model of lineage branching. Furthermore, we conclude that dinosaurs did not experience a progressive decline at the end of the Cretaceous, nor was their evolution driven directly by the KTR. PMID:18647715

PhyloExplorer: a web server to validate, explore and query phylogenetic trees

PubMed Central

Ranwez, Vincent; Clairon, Nicolas; Delsuc, Frédéric; Pourali, Saeed; Auberval, Nicolas; Diser, Sorel; Berry, Vincent

2009-01-01

Background Many important problems in evolutionary biology require molecular phylogenies to be reconstructed. Phylogenetic trees must then be manipulated for subsequent inclusion in publications or analyses such as supertree inference and tree comparisons. However, no tool is currently available to facilitate the management of tree collections providing, for instance: standardisation of taxon names among trees with respect to a reference taxonomy; selection of relevant subsets of trees or sub-trees according to a taxonomic query; or simply computation of descriptive statistics on the collection. Moreover, although several databases of phylogenetic trees exist, there is currently no easy way to find trees that are both relevant and complementary to a given collection of trees. Results We propose a tool to facilitate assessment and management of phylogenetic tree collections. Given an input collection of rooted trees, PhyloExplorer provides facilities for obtaining statistics describing the collection, correcting invalid taxon names, extracting taxonomically relevant parts of the collection using a dedicated query language, and identifying related trees in the TreeBASE database. Conclusion PhyloExplorer is a simple and interactive website implemented through underlying Python libraries and MySQL databases. It is available at: and the source code can be downloaded from: . PMID:19450253

Do Macrophylogenies Yield Stable Macroevolutionary Inferences? An Example from Squamate Reptiles.

PubMed

Title, Pascal O; Rabosky, Daniel L

2017-09-01

Advances in the generation, retrieval, and analysis of phylogenetic data have enabled researchers to create phylogenies that contain many thousands of taxa. These "macrophylogenies"-large trees that typically derive from megaphylogeny, supermatrix, or supertree approaches-provide researchers with an unprecedented ability to conduct evolutionary analyses across broad phylogenetic scales. Many studies have now used these phylogenies to explore the dynamics of speciation, extinction, and phenotypic evolution across large swaths of the tree of life. These trees are characterized by substantial phylogenetic uncertainty on multiple levels, and the stability of macroevolutionary inferences from these data sets has not been rigorously explored. As a case study, we tested whether five recently published phylogenies for squamate reptiles-each consisting of more than 4000 species-yield congruent inferences about the processes that underlie variation in species richness across replicate evolutionary radiations of Australian snakes and lizards. We find discordance across the five focal phylogenies with respect to clade age and several diversification rate metrics, and in the effects of clade age on species richness. We also find that crown clade ages reported in the literature on these Australian groups are in conflict with all of the large phylogenies examined. Macrophylogenies offer an unprecedented opportunity to address evolutionary and ecological questions at broad phylogenetic scales, but accurately representing the uncertainty that is inherent to such analyses remains a critical challenge to our field. [Australia; macroevolution; macrophylogeny; squamates; time calibration.]. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press, on behalf of the Society of Systematic Biologists. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Integrative modeling of gene and genome evolution roots the archaeal tree of life

PubMed Central

Szöllősi, Gergely J.; Spang, Anja; Foster, Peter G.; Heaps, Sarah E.; Boussau, Bastien; Ettema, Thijs J. G.; Embley, T. Martin

2017-01-01

A root for the archaeal tree is essential for reconstructing the metabolism and ecology of early cells and for testing hypotheses that propose that the eukaryotic nuclear lineage originated from within the Archaea; however, published studies based on outgroup rooting disagree regarding the position of the archaeal root. Here we constructed a consensus unrooted archaeal topology using protein concatenation and a multigene supertree method based on 3,242 single gene trees, and then rooted this tree using a recently developed model of genome evolution. This model uses evidence from gene duplications, horizontal transfers, and gene losses contained in 31,236 archaeal gene families to identify the most likely root for the tree. Our analyses support the monophyly of DPANN (Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, Nanohaloarchaea), a recently discovered cosmopolitan and genetically diverse lineage, and, in contrast to previous work, place the tree root between DPANN and all other Archaea. The sister group to DPANN comprises the Euryarchaeota and the TACK Archaea, including Lokiarchaeum, which our analyses suggest are monophyletic sister lineages. Metabolic reconstructions on the rooted tree suggest that early Archaea were anaerobes that may have had the ability to reduce CO2 to acetate via the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway. In contrast to proposals suggesting that genome reduction has been the predominant mode of archaeal evolution, our analyses infer a relatively small-genomed archaeal ancestor that subsequently increased in complexity via gene duplication and horizontal gene transfer. PMID:28533395

Patterns and effects of GC3 heterogeneity and parsimony informative sites on the phylogenetic tree of genes.

PubMed

Ma, Shuai; Wu, Qi; Hu, Yibo; Wei, Fuwen

2018-05-20

The explosive growth in genomic data has provided novel insights into the conflicting signals hidden in phylogenetic trees. Although some studies have explored the effects of the GC content and parsimony informative sites (PIS) on the phylogenetic tree, the effect of the heterogeneity of the GC content at the first/second/third codon position on parsimony informative sites (GC1/2/3 PIS ) among different species and the effect of PIS on phylogenetic tree construction remain largely unexplored. Here, we used two different mammal genomic datasets to explore the patterns of GC1/2/3 PIS heterogeneity and the effect of PIS on the phylogenetic tree of genes: (i) all GC1/2/3 PIS have obvious heterogeneity between different mammals, and the levels of heterogeneity are GC3 PIS  > GC2 PIS  > GC1 PIS ; (ii) the number of PIS is positively correlated with the metrics of "good" gene tree topologies, and excluding the third codon position (C3) decreases the quality of gene trees by removing too many PIS. These results provide novel insights into the heterogeneity pattern of GC1/2/3 PIS in mammals and the relationship between GC3/PIS and gene trees. Additionally, it is necessary to carefully consider whether to exclude C3 to improve the quality of gene trees, especially in the super-tree method. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Integrative modeling of gene and genome evolution roots the archaeal tree of life.

PubMed

Williams, Tom A; Szöllősi, Gergely J; Spang, Anja; Foster, Peter G; Heaps, Sarah E; Boussau, Bastien; Ettema, Thijs J G; Embley, T Martin

2017-06-06

A root for the archaeal tree is essential for reconstructing the metabolism and ecology of early cells and for testing hypotheses that propose that the eukaryotic nuclear lineage originated from within the Archaea; however, published studies based on outgroup rooting disagree regarding the position of the archaeal root. Here we constructed a consensus unrooted archaeal topology using protein concatenation and a multigene supertree method based on 3,242 single gene trees, and then rooted this tree using a recently developed model of genome evolution. This model uses evidence from gene duplications, horizontal transfers, and gene losses contained in 31,236 archaeal gene families to identify the most likely root for the tree. Our analyses support the monophyly of DPANN (Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, Nanohaloarchaea), a recently discovered cosmopolitan and genetically diverse lineage, and, in contrast to previous work, place the tree root between DPANN and all other Archaea. The sister group to DPANN comprises the Euryarchaeota and the TACK Archaea, including Lokiarchaeum , which our analyses suggest are monophyletic sister lineages. Metabolic reconstructions on the rooted tree suggest that early Archaea were anaerobes that may have had the ability to reduce CO 2 to acetate via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. In contrast to proposals suggesting that genome reduction has been the predominant mode of archaeal evolution, our analyses infer a relatively small-genomed archaeal ancestor that subsequently increased in complexity via gene duplication and horizontal gene transfer.

Coalescent methods for estimating phylogenetic trees.

PubMed

Liu, Liang; Yu, Lili; Kubatko, Laura; Pearl, Dennis K; Edwards, Scott V

2009-10-01

We review recent models to estimate phylogenetic trees under the multispecies coalescent. Although the distinction between gene trees and species trees has come to the fore of phylogenetics, only recently have methods been developed that explicitly estimate species trees. Of the several factors that can cause gene tree heterogeneity and discordance with the species tree, deep coalescence due to random genetic drift in branches of the species tree has been modeled most thoroughly. Bayesian approaches to estimating species trees utilizes two likelihood functions, one of which has been widely used in traditional phylogenetics and involves the model of nucleotide substitution, and the second of which is less familiar to phylogeneticists and involves the probability distribution of gene trees given a species tree. Other recent parametric and nonparametric methods for estimating species trees involve parsimony criteria, summary statistics, supertree and consensus methods. Species tree approaches are an appropriate goal for systematics, appear to work well in some cases where concatenation can be misleading, and suggest that sampling many independent loci will be paramount. Such methods can also be challenging to implement because of the complexity of the models and computational time. In addition, further elaboration of the simplest of coalescent models will be required to incorporate commonly known issues such as deviation from the molecular clock, gene flow and other genetic forces.

Hunter-Gatherers and the Origins of Religion.

PubMed

Peoples, Hervey C; Duda, Pavel; Marlowe, Frank W

2016-09-01

Recent studies of the evolution of religion have revealed the cognitive underpinnings of belief in supernatural agents, the role of ritual in promoting cooperation, and the contribution of morally punishing high gods to the growth and stabilization of human society. The universality of religion across human society points to a deep evolutionary past. However, specific traits of nascent religiosity, and the sequence in which they emerged, have remained unknown. Here we reconstruct the evolution of religious beliefs and behaviors in early modern humans using a global sample of hunter-gatherers and seven traits describing hunter-gatherer religiosity: animism, belief in an afterlife, shamanism, ancestor worship, high gods, and worship of ancestors or high gods who are active in human affairs. We reconstruct ancestral character states using a time-calibrated supertree based on published phylogenetic trees and linguistic classification and then test for correlated evolution between the characters and for the direction of cultural change. Results indicate that the oldest trait of religion, present in the most recent common ancestor of present-day hunter-gatherers, was animism, in agreement with long-standing beliefs about the fundamental role of this trait. Belief in an afterlife emerged, followed by shamanism and ancestor worship. Ancestor spirits or high gods who are active in human affairs were absent in early humans, suggesting a deep history for the egalitarian nature of hunter-gatherer societies. There is a significant positive relationship between most characters investigated, but the trait "high gods" stands apart, suggesting that belief in a single creator deity can emerge in a society regardless of other aspects of its religion.

Major Clades of Australasian Rutoideae (Rutaceae) Based on rbcL and atpB Sequences

PubMed Central

Bayly, Michael J.; Holmes, Gareth D.; Forster, Paul I.; Cantrill, David J.; Ladiges, Pauline Y.

2013-01-01

Background Rutaceae subfamily Rutoideae (46 genera, c. 660 species) is diverse in both rainforests and sclerophyll vegetation of Australasia. Australia and New Caledonia are centres of endemism with a number of genera and species distributed disjunctly between the two regions. Our aim was to generate a high-level molecular phylogeny for the Australasian Rutoideae and identify major clades as a framework for assessing morphological and biogeographic patterns and taxonomy. Methodology/Principal Findings Phylogenetic analyses were based on chloroplast genes, rbcL and atpB, for 108 samples (78 new here), including 38 of 46 Australasian genera. Results were integrated with those from other molecular studies to produce a supertree for Rutaceae worldwide, including 115 of 154 genera. Australasian clades are poorly matched with existing tribal classifications, and genera Philotheca and Boronia are not monophyletic. Major sclerophyll lineages in Australia belong to two separate clades, each with an early divergence between rainforest and sclerophyll taxa. Dehiscent fruits with seeds ejected at maturity (often associated with myrmecochory) are inferred as ancestral; derived states include woody capsules with winged seeds, samaras, fleshy drupes, and retention and display of seeds in dehisced fruits (the last two states adaptations to bird dispersal, with multiple origins among rainforest genera). Patterns of relationship and levels of sequence divergence in some taxa, mostly species, with bird-dispersed (Acronychia, Sarcomelicope, Halfordia and Melicope) or winged (Flindersia) seeds are consistent with recent long-distance dispersal between Australia and New Caledonia. Other deeper Australian/New Caledonian divergences, some involving ant-dispersed taxa (e.g., Neoschmidia), suggest older vicariance. Conclusions/Significance This comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the Australasian Rutoideae gives a broad overview of the group’s evolutionary and biogeographic history. Deficiencies of infrafamilial classifications of Rutoideae have long been recognised, and our results provide a basis for taxonomic revision and a necessary framework for more focused studies of genera and species. PMID:23967311

Biomic specialization and speciation rates in ruminants (Cetartiodactyla, Mammalia): a test of the resource-use hypothesis at the global scale.

PubMed

Cantalapiedra, Juan L; Hernández Fernández, Manuel; Morales, Jorge

2011-01-01

The resource-use hypothesis proposed by E.S. Vrba predicts that specialist species have higher speciation and extinction rates than generalists because they are more susceptible to environmental changes and vicariance. In this work, we test some of the predictions derived from this hypothesis on the 197 extant and recently extinct species of Ruminantia (Cetartiodactyla, Mammalia) using the biomic specialization index (BSI) of each species, which is based on its distribution within different biomes. We ran 10000 Monte Carlo simulations of our data in order to get a null distribution of BSI values against which to contrast the observed data. Additionally, we drew on a supertree of the ruminants and a phylogenetic likelihood-based method (QuaSSE) for testing whether the degree of biomic specialization affects speciation rates in ruminant lineages. Our results are consistent with the predictions of the resource-use hypothesis, which foretells a higher speciation rate of lineages restricted to a single biome (BSI = 1) and higher frequency of specialist species in biomes that underwent high degree of contraction and fragmentation during climatic cycles. Bovids and deer present differential specialization across biomes; cervids show higher specialization in biomes with a marked hydric seasonality (tropical deciduous woodlands and schlerophyllous woodlands), while bovids present higher specialization in a greater variety of biomes. This might be the result of divergent physiological constraints as well as a different biogeographic and evolutionary history.

Biomic Specialization and Speciation Rates in Ruminants (Cetartiodactyla, Mammalia): A Test of the Resource-Use Hypothesis at the Global Scale

PubMed Central

Cantalapiedra, Juan L.; Hernández Fernández, Manuel; Morales, Jorge

2011-01-01

The resource-use hypothesis proposed by E.S. Vrba predicts that specialist species have higher speciation and extinction rates than generalists because they are more susceptible to environmental changes and vicariance. In this work, we test some of the predictions derived from this hypothesis on the 197 extant and recently extinct species of Ruminantia (Cetartiodactyla, Mammalia) using the biomic specialization index (BSI) of each species, which is based on its distribution within different biomes. We ran 10000 Monte Carlo simulations of our data in order to get a null distribution of BSI values against which to contrast the observed data. Additionally, we drew on a supertree of the ruminants and a phylogenetic likelihood-based method (QuaSSE) for testing whether the degree of biomic specialization affects speciation rates in ruminant lineages. Our results are consistent with the predictions of the resource-use hypothesis, which foretells a higher speciation rate of lineages restricted to a single biome (BSI = 1) and higher frequency of specialist species in biomes that underwent high degree of contraction and fragmentation during climatic cycles. Bovids and deer present differential specialization across biomes; cervids show higher specialization in biomes with a marked hydric seasonality (tropical deciduous woodlands and schlerophyllous woodlands), while bovids present higher specialization in a greater variety of biomes. This might be the result of divergent physiological constraints as well as a different biogeographic and evolutionary history. PMID:22174888

Phylotranscriptomic analysis of the origin and early diversification of land plants

PubMed Central

Wickett, Norman J.; Mirarab, Siavash; Nguyen, Nam; Warnow, Tandy; Carpenter, Eric; Matasci, Naim; Ayyampalayam, Saravanaraj; Barker, Michael S.; Burleigh, J. Gordon; Gitzendanner, Matthew A.; Ruhfel, Brad R.; Wafula, Eric; Graham, Sean W.; Mathews, Sarah; Melkonian, Michael; Soltis, Douglas E.; Soltis, Pamela S.; Miles, Nicholas W.; Rothfels, Carl J.; Pokorny, Lisa; Shaw, A. Jonathan; DeGironimo, Lisa; Stevenson, Dennis W.; Surek, Barbara; Villarreal, Juan Carlos; Roure, Béatrice; Philippe, Hervé; dePamphilis, Claude W.; Chen, Tao; Deyholos, Michael K.; Baucom, Regina S.; Kutchan, Toni M.; Augustin, Megan M.; Wang, Jun; Zhang, Yong; Tian, Zhijian; Yan, Zhixiang; Wu, Xiaolei; Sun, Xiao; Wong, Gane Ka-Shu; Leebens-Mack, James

2014-01-01

Reconstructing the origin and evolution of land plants and their algal relatives is a fundamental problem in plant phylogenetics, and is essential for understanding how critical adaptations arose, including the embryo, vascular tissue, seeds, and flowers. Despite advances in molecular systematics, some hypotheses of relationships remain weakly resolved. Inferring deep phylogenies with bouts of rapid diversification can be problematic; however, genome-scale data should significantly increase the number of informative characters for analyses. Recent phylogenomic reconstructions focused on the major divergences of plants have resulted in promising but inconsistent results. One limitation is sparse taxon sampling, likely resulting from the difficulty and cost of data generation. To address this limitation, transcriptome data for 92 streptophyte taxa were generated and analyzed along with 11 published plant genome sequences. Phylogenetic reconstructions were conducted using up to 852 nuclear genes and 1,701,170 aligned sites. Sixty-nine analyses were performed to test the robustness of phylogenetic inferences to permutations of the data matrix or to phylogenetic method, including supermatrix, supertree, and coalescent-based approaches, maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods, partitioned and unpartitioned analyses, and amino acid versus DNA alignments. Among other results, we find robust support for a sister-group relationship between land plants and one group of streptophyte green algae, the Zygnematophyceae. Strong and robust support for a clade comprising liverworts and mosses is inconsistent with a widely accepted view of early land plant evolution, and suggests that phylogenetic hypotheses used to understand the evolution of fundamental plant traits should be reevaluated. PMID:25355905

Patterns of astragalar fibular facet orientation in extant and fossil primates and their evolutionary implications.

PubMed

Boyer, Doug M; Seiffert, Erik R

2013-07-01

A laterally sloping fibular facet of the astragalus (=talus) has been proposed as one of few osteological synapomorphies of strepsirrhine primates, but the feature has never been comprehensively quantified. We describe a method for calculating fibular facet orientation on digital models of astragali as the angle between the planes of the fibular facet and the lateral tibial facet. We calculated this value in a sample that includes all major extant primate clades, a diversity of Paleogene primates, and nonprimate euarchontans (n = 304). Results show that previous characterization of a divide between extant haplorhines and strepsirrhines is accurate, with little overlap even when individual data points are considered. Fibular facet orientation is conserved in extant strepsirrhines despite major differences in locomotion and body size, while extant anthropoids are more variable (e.g., low values for catarrhines relative to non-callitrichine platyrrhines). Euprimate outgroups exhibit a mosaic of character states with Cynocephalus having a more obtuse strepsirrhine-like facet and sampled treeshrews and plesiadapiforms having more acute haplorhine-like facets. Surprisingly, the earliest species of the adapiform Cantius have steep haplorhine-like facets as well. We used a Bayesian approach to reconstruct the evolution of fibular facet orientation as a continuous character across a supertree of living and extinct primates. Mean estimates for crown Primatomorpha (97.9°), Primates (99.5°), Haplorhini (98.7°), and Strepsirrhini (108.2°) support the hypothesis that the strepsirrhine condition is derived, while lower values for crown Anthropoidea (92.8°) and Catarrhini (88.9°) are derived in the opposite direction. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Impact of Missing Data on Species Tree Estimation.

PubMed

Xi, Zhenxiang; Liu, Liang; Davis, Charles C

2016-03-01

Phylogeneticists are increasingly assembling genome-scale data sets that include hundreds of genes to resolve their focal clades. Although these data sets commonly include a moderate to high amount of missing data, there remains no consensus on their impact to species tree estimation. Here, using several simulated and empirical data sets, we assess the effects of missing data on species tree estimation under varying degrees of incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and gene rate heterogeneity. We demonstrate that concatenation (RAxML), gene-tree-based coalescent (ASTRAL, MP-EST, and STAR), and supertree (matrix representation with parsimony [MRP]) methods perform reliably, so long as missing data are randomly distributed (by gene and/or by species) and that a sufficiently large number of genes are sampled. When data sets are indecisive sensu Sanderson et al. (2010. Phylogenomics with incomplete taxon coverage: the limits to inference. BMC Evol Biol. 10:155) and/or ILS is high, however, high amounts of missing data that are randomly distributed require exhaustive levels of gene sampling, likely exceeding most empirical studies to date. Moreover, missing data become especially problematic when they are nonrandomly distributed. We demonstrate that STAR produces inconsistent results when the amount of nonrandom missing data is high, regardless of the degree of ILS and gene rate heterogeneity. Similarly, concatenation methods using maximum likelihood can be misled by nonrandom missing data in the presence of gene rate heterogeneity, which becomes further exacerbated when combined with high ILS. In contrast, ASTRAL, MP-EST, and MRP are more robust under all of these scenarios. These results underscore the importance of understanding the influence of missing data in the phylogenomics era. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Efficient algorithms for dilated mappings of binary trees

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iqbal, M. Ashraf

1990-01-01

The problem is addressed to find a 1-1 mapping of the vertices of a binary tree onto those of a target binary tree such that the son of a node on the first binary tree is mapped onto a descendent of the image of that node in the second binary tree. There are two natural measures of the cost of this mapping, namely the dilation cost, i.e., the maximum distance in the target binary tree between the images of vertices that are adjacent in the original tree. The other measure, expansion cost, is defined as the number of extra nodes/edges to be added to the target binary tree in order to ensure a 1-1 mapping. An efficient algorithm to find a mapping of one binary tree onto another is described. It is shown that it is possible to minimize one cost of mapping at the expense of the other. This problem arises when designing pipelined arithmetic logic units (ALU) for special purpose computers. The pipeline is composed of ALU chips connected in the form of a binary tree. The operands to the pipeline can be supplied to the leaf nodes of the binary tree which then process and pass the results up to their parents. The final result is available at the root. As each new application may require a distinct nesting of operations, it is useful to be able to find a good mapping of a new binary tree over existing ALU tree. Another problem arises if every distinct required binary tree is known beforehand. Here it is useful to hardwire the pipeline in the form of a minimal supertree that contains all required binary trees.

Empirical evidence of the importance of comparative studies of diagnostic test accuracy.

PubMed

Takwoingi, Yemisi; Leeflang, Mariska M G; Deeks, Jonathan J

2013-04-02

Systematic reviews that "compare" the accuracy of 2 or more tests often include different sets of studies for each test. To investigate the availability of direct comparative studies of test accuracy and to assess whether summary estimates of accuracy differ between meta-analyses of noncomparative and comparative studies. Systematic reviews in any language from the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from 1994 to October 2012. 1 of 2 assessors selected reviews that evaluated at least 2 tests and identified meta-analyses that included both noncomparative studies and comparative studies. 1 of 3 assessors extracted data about review and study characteristics and test performance. 248 reviews compared test accuracy; of the 6915 studies, 2113 (31%) were comparative. Thirty-six reviews (with 52 meta-analyses) had adequate studies to compare results of noncomparative and comparative studies by using a hierarchical summary receiver-operating characteristic meta-regression model for each test comparison. In 10 meta-analyses, noncomparative studies ranked tests in the opposite order of comparative studies. A total of 25 meta-analyses showed more than a 2-fold discrepancy in the relative diagnostic odds ratio between noncomparative and comparative studies. Differences in accuracy estimates between noncomparative and comparative studies were greater than expected by chance (P < 0.001). A paucity of comparative studies limited exploration of direction in bias. Evidence derived from noncomparative studies often differs from that derived from comparative studies. Robustly designed studies in which all patients receive all tests or are randomly assigned to receive one or other of the tests should be more routinely undertaken and are preferred for evidence to guide test selection. National Institute for Health Research (United Kingdom).

Evidence for Paper and Online ACT® Comparability: Spring 2014 and 2015 Mode Comparability Studies. ACT Research Report Series 2017-1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Dongmei; Yi, Qing; Harris, Deborah

2017-01-01

In preparation for online administration of the ACT® test, ACT conducted studies to examine the comparability of scores between online and paper administrations, including a timing study in fall 2013, a mode comparability study in spring 2014, and a second mode comparability study in spring 2015. This report presents major findings from these…

[On comparison of hospital performance].

PubMed

Kjekshus, L E

2000-10-20

The motivation to identify the causes of rising health care cost and variations across providers has intensified in all industrialized countries. These countries have an ongoing debate on efficiency and effectiveness in hospital production. In this debate, national and international comparative studies are important. There are very few international comparative studies that include Norwegian hospitals. Actually we know very little about how Norwegian hospitals are performing compared to others. This paper gives an introduction to comparative studies and to the DEA model which is often used in such studies and also a multilevel model which is not so common. A short review is given of a comparative study of Norwegian and North American hospitals. I also discuss the feasibility of comparative studies of hospitals from the Nordic countries, with references to several comparative studies performed in these countries. Comparative studies are often closely linked to national health politics, policy making and reforms; thus the outcome of such studies is important for the hospitals included. This makes such studies a sensitive field of research. It is important to be aware of the strength and weaknesses of comparative studies and acknowledge their importance beyond the development of new knowledge.

Comparative Study of Physics Curriculum in Iran with Several Other Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shekarbaghani, Ashrafoalsadat

2016-01-01

This article is a qualitative study, which was done in 2013-2014. In this study using a comparative study was conducted to compare physics curriculum elements of Iran with the countries studied. Countries studied: Singapore, Turkey, India, England and Australia have diverse educational system. In this study, the structure of the educational…

76 FR 76978 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-09

... comparative visuals, and using vaguer language. This study is designed to apply the existing comparative... Effectiveness) studies designed to explore comparative effectiveness. When this large project is completed, FDA... Request; Experimental Study of Comparative Direct-to-Consumer Advertising AGENCY: Food and Drug...

Comparative Pessimism or Optimism: Depressed Mood, Risk-Taking, Social Utility and Desirability.

PubMed

Milhabet, Isabelle; Le Barbenchon, Emmanuelle; Cambon, Laurent; Molina, Guylaine

2015-03-05

Comparative optimism can be defined as a self-serving, asymmetric judgment of the future. It is often thought to be beneficial and socially accepted, whereas comparative pessimism is correlated with depression and socially rejected. Our goal was to examine the social acceptance of comparative optimism and the social rejection of comparative pessimism in two dimensions of social judgment, social desirability and social utility, considering the attributions of dysphoria and risk-taking potential (studies 2 and 3) on outlooks on the future. In three experiments, the participants assessed either one (study 1) or several (studies 2 and 3) fictional targets in two dimensions, social utility and social desirability. Targets exhibiting comparatively optimistic or pessimistic outlooks on the future were presented as non-depressed, depressed, or neither (control condition) (study 1); non-depressed or depressed (study 2); and non-depressed or in control condition (study 3). Two significant results were obtained: (1) social rejection of comparative pessimism in the social desirability dimension, which can be explained by its depressive feature; and (2) comparative optimism was socially accepted on the social utility dimension, which can be explained by the perception that comparatively optimistic individuals are potential risk-takers.

Preapproval and postapproval availability of published comparative efficacy research on biological agents.

PubMed

Thomas, Rachel Hutchins; Freeman, Maisha Kelly; Hughes, Peter J

2013-07-15

Preapproval and postapproval availability of published comparative efficacy studies on biological agents approved between 2000 and 2010 was investigated. Approval packages published on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website were examined for all biological agents approved between 2000 and 2010 to determine if comparative efficacy studies were available at the time of FDA approval. The availability of comparative efficacy studies published subsequent to approval was determined by searching PubMed for randomized, active-controlled experimental or observational study designs that measured efficacy as the primary endpoint and were relevant to the original FDA-approved indication. From 2000 to 2010, 107 biological agents were approved by FDA. Of the biological agents with alternative treatments, 54.6% had comparative efficacy data available at the time of approval. Although standard-reviewed biological agents were more likely to have comparative efficacy trials included in the FDA approval packages than priority-reviewed biological agents, statistically significant differences are unlikely. Subsequent to approval, 58.1% of biological agents had at least one published comparative efficacy trial, representing a 3.5% absolute increase in the availability of comparative efficacy studies since the time of approval. Vaccines and biological agents in the hematologic diseases, oncology, and miscellaneous diseases classes had fewer published postapproval comparative efficacy studies per agent compared with the overall group of biological agents. Nearly half of all biological agents approved for marketing between 2000 and 2010 lacked publicly accessible, active-controlled efficacy studies at the time of drug approval; a slightly greater proportion of biological agents had comparative efficacy data published subsequent to their approval.

Comparative effectiveness of colony-stimulating factors in febrile neutropenia prophylaxis: how results are affected by research design.

PubMed

Henk, Henry J; Li, Xiaoyan; Becker, Laura K; Xu, Hairong; Gong, Qi; Deeter, Robert G; Barron, Richard L

2015-01-01

To examine the impact of research design on results in two published comparative effectiveness studies. Guidelines for comparative effectiveness research have recommended incorporating disease process in study design. Based on the recommendations, we develop a checklist of considerations and apply the checklist in review of two published studies on comparative effectiveness of colony-stimulating factors. Both studies used similar administrative claims data, but different methods, which resulted in directionally different estimates. Major design differences between the two studies include: whether the timing of intervention in disease process was identified and whether study cohort and outcome assessment period were defined based on this temporal relationship. Disease process and timing of intervention should be incorporated into the design of comparative effectiveness studies.

Lessons learned: A comparative study of the integration experiences of Armenian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-01

design is based on two comparative case studies, examining Palestinian and Armenian refugees in Lebanon, respectively. These two cases are particularly...A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE INTEGRATION EXPERIENCES OF ARMENIAN AND PALESTINIAN REFUGEES IN LEBANON by Pascal Ghobeira June 2017 Thesis...REPORT DATE June 2017 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Master’s thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE LESSONS LEARNED: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE

Weber, Durkheim, and the comparative method.

PubMed

Kapsis, R E

1977-10-01

This essay compares and contrasts the means by which Durkheim and Weber dealt with methodological issues peculiar to the comparative study of societies, what Smelser has called "the problem of sociocultural variability and complexity." More specifically, it examines how Weber and Durkheim chose appropriate comparative units for their empirical studies. The approaches that Weber and Durkheim brought to theproblem of cross-cultural comparison have critical implications for more current procedures used in the comparative study of contemporary and historical societies.

76 FR 38663 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Experimental...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-01

... on the Experimental Study of Comparative Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Advertising. This study is designed... indirect comparisons, using comparative visuals, and using vaguer language. This study is designed to apply... Effectiveness) studies designed to explore comparative effectiveness. When this large project is completed, FDA...

International Comparative Studies in Education: Descriptions of Selected Large-Scale Assessments and Case Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Washington, DC. Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education.

Since its inception in 1988, the Board on International Comparative Studies in Education (BICSE) has monitored U.S. participation in those cross national comparative studies in education that are funded by its sponsors, the National Science Foundation and the National Center for Education Statistics. This set of international study descriptions…

The challenges to gender integration in the career fire services: a comparative case study of men in nursing

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-01

GENDER INTEGRATION IN THE CAREER FIRE SERVICES: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY OF MEN IN NURSING by Anna L. Schermerhorn-Collins March 2017...IN THE CAREER FIRE SERVICES: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY OF MEN IN NURSING 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 6. AUTHOR(S) Anna L. Schermerhorn-Collins 7... comparative case study of men in nursing. Research is based in academic and historical accounts, in addition to the use of participant-observation

Comparative Transcriptomes and EVO-DEVO Studies Depending on Next Generation Sequencing.

PubMed

Liu, Tiancheng; Yu, Lin; Liu, Lei; Li, Hong; Li, Yixue

2015-01-01

High throughput technology has prompted the progressive omics studies, including genomics and transcriptomics. We have reviewed the improvement of comparative omic studies, which are attributed to the high throughput measurement of next generation sequencing technology. Comparative genomics have been successfully applied to evolution analysis while comparative transcriptomics are adopted in comparison of expression profile from two subjects by differential expression or differential coexpression, which enables their application in evolutionary developmental biology (EVO-DEVO) studies. EVO-DEVO studies focus on the evolutionary pressure affecting the morphogenesis of development and previous works have been conducted to illustrate the most conserved stages during embryonic development. Old measurements of these studies are based on the morphological similarity from macro view and new technology enables the micro detection of similarity in molecular mechanism. Evolutionary model of embryo development, which includes the "funnel-like" model and the "hourglass" model, has been evaluated by combination of these new comparative transcriptomic methods with prior comparative genomic information. Although the technology has promoted the EVO-DEVO studies into a new era, technological and material limitation still exist and further investigations require more subtle study design and procedure.

What Do We Compare When We Compare Religions? Philosophical Remarks on the Psychology of Studying Comparative Religion Abroad

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Irvine, Andrew

2015-01-01

The issue of comparison is a vexing one in religious and theological studies, not least for teachers of comparative religion in study abroad settings. We try to make familiar ideas fresh and strange, in settings where students may find it hard not to take "fresh" and "strange" as signs of existential threat. The author explores…

Comparing the Similarity of Responses Received from Studies in Amazon’s Mechanical Turk to Studies Conducted Online and with Direct Recruitment

PubMed Central

Bartneck, Christoph; Duenser, Andreas; Moltchanova, Elena; Zawieska, Karolina

2015-01-01

Computer and internet based questionnaires have become a standard tool in Human-Computer Interaction research and other related fields, such as psychology and sociology. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (AMT) service is a new method of recruiting participants and conducting certain types of experiments. This study compares whether participants recruited through AMT give different responses than participants recruited through an online forum or recruited directly on a university campus. Moreover, we compare whether a study conducted within AMT results in different responses compared to a study for which participants are recruited through AMT but which is conducted using an external online questionnaire service. The results of this study show that there is a statistical difference between results obtained from participants recruited through AMT compared to the results from the participant recruited on campus or through online forums. We do, however, argue that this difference is so small that it has no practical consequence. There was no significant difference between running the study within AMT compared to running it with an online questionnaire service. There was no significant difference between results obtained directly from within AMT compared to results obtained in the campus and online forum condition. This may suggest that AMT is a viable and economical option for recruiting participants and for conducting studies as setting up and running a study with AMT generally requires less effort and time compared to other frequently used methods. We discuss our findings as well as limitations of using AMT for empirical studies. PMID:25876027

Comparing the similarity of responses received from studies in Amazon's Mechanical Turk to studies conducted online and with direct recruitment.

PubMed

Bartneck, Christoph; Duenser, Andreas; Moltchanova, Elena; Zawieska, Karolina

2015-01-01

Computer and internet based questionnaires have become a standard tool in Human-Computer Interaction research and other related fields, such as psychology and sociology. Amazon's Mechanical Turk (AMT) service is a new method of recruiting participants and conducting certain types of experiments. This study compares whether participants recruited through AMT give different responses than participants recruited through an online forum or recruited directly on a university campus. Moreover, we compare whether a study conducted within AMT results in different responses compared to a study for which participants are recruited through AMT but which is conducted using an external online questionnaire service. The results of this study show that there is a statistical difference between results obtained from participants recruited through AMT compared to the results from the participant recruited on campus or through online forums. We do, however, argue that this difference is so small that it has no practical consequence. There was no significant difference between running the study within AMT compared to running it with an online questionnaire service. There was no significant difference between results obtained directly from within AMT compared to results obtained in the campus and online forum condition. This may suggest that AMT is a viable and economical option for recruiting participants and for conducting studies as setting up and running a study with AMT generally requires less effort and time compared to other frequently used methods. We discuss our findings as well as limitations of using AMT for empirical studies.

Comparative approaches to gentrification

PubMed Central

Phillips, Martin; Smith, Darren P

2018-01-01

The epistemologies and politics of comparative research are prominently debated within urban studies, with ‘comparative urbanism’ emerging as a contemporary lexicon of urban studies. The study of urban gentrification has, after some delay, come to engage with these debates, which can be seen to pose a major challenge to the very concept of gentrification. To date, similar debates or developments have not unfolded within the study of rural gentrification. This article seeks to address some of the challenges posed to gentrification studies through an examination of strategies of comparison and how they might be employed within a comparative study of rural gentrification. Drawing on Tilly (Big structures Large Processes Huge Comparisons. New York: Russell Sage), examples of four ‘strategies of comparison’ are identified within studies of urban and rural gentrification, before the paper explores how ‘geographies of the concept’ and ‘geographies of the phenomenon’ of rural gentrification in the United Kingdom, United States and France may be investigated using Latour’s (Pandora’s Hope. London: Harvard University Press) notion of ‘circulatory sociologies of translation’. The aim of our comparative discussion is to open up dialogues on the challenges of comparative studies that employ conceptions of gentrification and also to promote reflections of the metrocentricity of recent discussions of comparative research. PMID:29657708

Comparative approaches to gentrification: Lessons from the rural.

PubMed

Phillips, Martin; Smith, Darren P

2018-03-01

The epistemologies and politics of comparative research are prominently debated within urban studies, with 'comparative urbanism' emerging as a contemporary lexicon of urban studies. The study of urban gentrification has, after some delay, come to engage with these debates, which can be seen to pose a major challenge to the very concept of gentrification. To date, similar debates or developments have not unfolded within the study of rural gentrification. This article seeks to address some of the challenges posed to gentrification studies through an examination of strategies of comparison and how they might be employed within a comparative study of rural gentrification. Drawing on Tilly ( Big structures Large Processes Huge Comparisons . New York: Russell Sage), examples of four 'strategies of comparison' are identified within studies of urban and rural gentrification, before the paper explores how 'geographies of the concept' and 'geographies of the phenomenon' of rural gentrification in the United Kingdom, United States and France may be investigated using Latour's ( Pandora's Hope . London: Harvard University Press) notion of 'circulatory sociologies of translation'. The aim of our comparative discussion is to open up dialogues on the challenges of comparative studies that employ conceptions of gentrification and also to promote reflections of the metrocentricity of recent discussions of comparative research.

Using Meta-analyses for Comparative Effectiveness Research

PubMed Central

Ruppar, Todd M.; Phillips, Lorraine J.; Chase, Jo-Ana D.

2012-01-01

Comparative effectiveness research seeks to identify the most effective interventions for particular patient populations. Meta-analysis is an especially valuable form of comparative effectiveness research because it emphasizes the magnitude of intervention effects rather than relying on tests of statistical significance among primary studies. Overall effects can be calculated for diverse clinical and patient-centered variables to determine the outcome patterns. Moderator analyses compare intervention characteristics among primary studies by determining if effect sizes vary among studies with different intervention characteristics. Intervention effectiveness can be linked to patient characteristics to provide evidence for patient-centered care. Moderator analyses often answer questions never posed by primary studies because neither multiple intervention characteristics nor populations are compared in single primary studies. Thus meta-analyses provide unique contributions to knowledge. Although meta-analysis is a powerful comparative effectiveness strategy, methodological challenges and limitations in primary research must be acknowledged to interpret findings. PMID:22789450

The Differential Effects of Two Self-Managed Math Instruction Procedures: Cover, Copy, and Compare versus Copy, Cover, and Compare

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grafman, Joel M.; Cates, Gary L.

2010-01-01

This study compared the fluency and error rates produced when using the Cover, Copy, and Compare (CCC) and a modified CCC procedure (MCCC) called Copy, Cover, and Compare to complete subtraction math problems. Two second-grade classrooms consisting of 47 total students participated in the study. The following items were administered to…

Results of the 1978 NACUBO Comparative Performance Study and Investment Questionnaire.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dresner, Bruce M.

Information from the 1978 Comparative Performance Study and investment questionnaire conducted by the National Association of College and University Business Officers is presented. One hundred forty-four institutions provided information about 164 investment pools. The Comparative Performance Study provides participating institutions with…

Outcomes of Group Care for Youth: A Review of Comparative Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Bethany R.; Bright, Charlotte L.; Svoboda, Deborah V.; Fakunmoju, Sunday; Barth, Richard P.

2011-01-01

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review empirical evidence of the effects of placement in group care compared to other interventions. Method: Two-group empirical studies were identified and effect sizes for all reported outcomes were calculated. Results: Nineteen two-group studies were found that compared group care with family foster…

Quadriceps Tendon Autograft in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Hurley, Eoghan T; Calvo-Gurry, Manuel; Withers, Dan; Farrington, Shane K; Moran, Ray; Moran, Cathal J

2018-05-01

To systematically review the current evidence to ascertain whether quadriceps tendon autograft (QT) is a viable option in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A literature review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Cohort studies comparing QT with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft (BPTB) or hamstring tendon autograft (HT) were included. Clinical outcomes were compared, with all statistical analyses performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22.0, with P < .05 being considered statistically significant. We identified 15 clinical trials with 1,910 patients. In all included studies, QT resulted in lower rates of anterior knee pain than BPTB. There was no difference in the rate of graft rupture between QT and BPTB or HT in any of the studies reporting this. One study found that QT resulted in greater knee stability than BPTB, and another study found increased stability compared with HT. One study found that QT resulted in improved functional outcomes compared with BPTB, and another found improved outcomes compared with HT, but one study found worse outcomes compared with BPTB. Current literature suggests QT is a viable option in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, with published literature showing comparable knee stability, functional outcomes, donor-site morbidity, and rerupture rates compared with BPTB and HT. Level III, systematic review of Level I, II, and III studies. Copyright © 2018 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sulfonylureas and the Risks of Cardiovascular Events and Death: A Methodological Meta-Regression Analysis of the Observational Studies.

PubMed

Azoulay, Laurent; Suissa, Samy

2017-05-01

Recent randomized trials have compared the newer antidiabetic agents to treatments involving sulfonylureas, drugs associated with increased cardiovascular risks and mortality in some observational studies with conflicting results. We reviewed the methodology of these observational studies by searching MEDLINE from inception to December 2015 for all studies of the association between sulfonylureas and cardiovascular events or mortality. Each study was appraised with respect to the comparator, the outcome, and study design-related sources of bias. A meta-regression analysis was used to evaluate heterogeneity. A total of 19 studies were identified, of which six had no major design-related biases. Sulfonylureas were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in five of these studies (relative risks 1.16-1.55). Overall, the 19 studies resulted in 36 relative risks as some studies assessed multiple outcomes or comparators. Of the 36 analyses, metformin was the comparator in 27 (75%) and death was the outcome in 24 (67%). The relative risk was higher by 13% when the comparator was metformin, by 20% when death was the outcome, and by 7% when the studies had design-related biases. The lowest predicted relative risk was for studies with no major bias, comparator other than metformin, and cardiovascular outcome (1.06 [95% CI 0.92-1.23]), whereas the highest was for studies with bias, metformin comparator, and mortality outcome (1.53 [95% CI 1.43-1.65]). In summary, sulfonylureas were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in the majority of studies with no major design-related biases. Among studies with important biases, the association varied significantly with respect to the comparator, the outcome, and the type of bias. With the introduction of new antidiabetic drugs, the use of appropriate design and analytical tools will provide their more accurate cardiovascular safety assessment in the real-world setting. © 2017 by the American Diabetes Association.

Autograft versus Allograft for Cervical Spinal Fusion

PubMed Central

Brodke, Darrel S.; Youssef, Jim A.; Meisel, Hans-Jörg; Dettori, Joseph R.; Park, Jong-Beom; Yoon, S. Tim; Wang, Jeffrey C.

2017-01-01

Study Design Systematic review. Objective To compare the effectiveness and safety between iliac crest bone graft (ICBG), non-ICBG autologous bone, and allograft in cervical spine fusion. To avoid problems at the donor site, various allograft materials have been used as a substitute for autograft. However, there are still questions as to the comparative effectiveness and safety of cadaver allograft compared with autologous ICBG. Methods A systematic search of multiple major medical reference databases was conducted to identify studies evaluating spinal fusion in patients with cervical degenerative disk disease using ICBG compared with non-ICBG autograft or allograft or non-ICBG autograft compared with allograft in the cervical spine. Radiographic fusion, patient-reported outcomes, and functional outcomes were the primary outcomes of interest. Adverse events were evaluated for safety. Results The search identified 13 comparative studies that met our inclusion criteria: 2 prospective cohort studies and 11 retrospective cohort studies. Twelve cohort studies compared allograft with ICBG autograft during anterior cervical fusion and demonstrated with a low evidence level of support that there are no differences in fusion percentages, pain scores, or functional results. There was insufficient evidence comparing patients receiving allograft with non-ICBG autograft for fusion, pain, revision, and functional and safety outcomes. No publications directly comparing non-ICBG autograft with ICBG were found. Conclusion Although the available literature suggests ICBG and allograft may have similar effectiveness in terms of fusion rates, pain scores, and functional outcomes following anterior cervical fusion, there are too many limitations in the available literature to draw any significant conclusions. No individual study provided greater than class III evidence, and when evaluating the overall body of literature, no conclusion had better than low evidence support. A prospective randomized trial with adequate sample size to compare fusion rates, efficacy measures, costs, and safety is warranted. PMID:28451511

Technology-Enhanced Consultation in Counselling: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Astramovich, Randall L.; Jones, W. Paul; Coker, J. Kelly

2004-01-01

Two quasi-experimental studies comparing technology-enhanced counselling consultation were conducted with a sample of 147 students enrolled in an undergraduate counselling and consultation course for elementary and secondary teachers. Study 1 (N = 76) compared the effectiveness of counselling consultation using telephone, text chat, or text chat…

Systematic literature review of health-related quality of life among aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors.

PubMed

Lin, Vincent W; Blaylock, Barbara; Epstein, Josh; Purdum, Anna

2018-05-18

Studies have shown that a proportion of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) treated with standard chemotherapy will have long-term life expectancy comparable to those in the age-adjusted general population. This systematic literature review summarizes current literature regarding health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of long-term (≥2 years) survivors of aggressive NHL. Electronic databases (without restriction on years) and abstracts from four major oncology and HRQoL conferences from 2014 to 2017 were searched. Studies were included if HRQoL or health utility was assessed at least 2 years after NHL diagnosis. Studies focusing on central nervous system lymphoma, or indolent NHL, were excluded. Results were categorized relative to baseline (improvement, deterioration or no change) and compared to the general population (better, comparable or worse). Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Twelve studies included ≥1 HRQoL instrument, and two measured health utilities using EQ-5D. Half of the studies showed improvement (5/10) and half no change (5/10) in overall HRQoL. Compared to the general population, overall HRQoL was more comparable when assessed at ≥3 years from baseline (3/3 better or comparable) versus assessment at <3 years (2/3 better or comparable). Six studies reported on the physical HRQoL domain with improvement in 4/6 studies and no change in 2/6 studies. HRQoL of NHL survivors may improve from baseline and becomes more comparable to general population HRQoL with longer survival. Overall HRQoL improvement is driven mostly by improvements in the physical domain.

Prospective cohort studies of newly marketed medications: using covariate data to inform the design of large-scale studies.

PubMed

Franklin, Jessica M; Rassen, Jeremy A; Bartels, Dorothee B; Schneeweiss, Sebastian

2014-01-01

Nonrandomized safety and effectiveness studies are often initiated immediately after the approval of a new medication, but patients prescribed the new medication during this period may be substantially different from those receiving an existing comparator treatment. Restricting the study to comparable patients after data have been collected is inefficient in prospective studies with primary collection of outcomes. We discuss design and methods for evaluating covariate data to assess the comparability of treatment groups, identify patient subgroups that are not comparable, and decide when to transition to a large-scale comparative study. We demonstrate methods in an example study comparing Cox-2 inhibitors during their postmarketing period (1999-2005) with nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Graphical checks of propensity score distributions in each treatment group showed substantial problems with overlap in the initial cohorts. In the first half of 1999, >40% of patients were in the region of nonoverlap on the propensity score, and across the study period this fraction never dropped below 10% (the a priori decision threshold for transitioning to the large-scale study). After restricting to patients with no prior NSAID use, <1% of patients were in the region of nonoverlap, indicating that a large-scale study could be initiated in this subgroup and few patients would need to be trimmed from analysis. A sequential study design that uses pilot data to evaluate treatment selection can guide the efficient design of large-scale outcome studies with primary data collection by focusing on comparable patients.

Explaining Sectarian Violence in the Middle East: A Comparative Study of Bahrain and Yemen

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BAHRAIN AND YEMEN by Breanna C. Strand June 2016 Thesis Advisor: Mohammed Hafez...3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Master’s thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE EXPLAINING SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF...through comparative analysis and literature on Middle Eastern sectarianism and ethnic violence theory. This thesis has identified four primary

75 FR 18507 - International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-12

... Veterinary Drugs in Food-Producing Animals: Comparative Metabolism Studies in Laboratory Animals (VICH GL47... Food-Producing Animals: Comparative Metabolism Studies in Laboratory Animals,'' VICH GL47. This draft... Food-Producing Animals: Comparative Metabolism Studies in Laboratory Animals,'' VICH GL47. In recent...

Comparing DIF Methods for Data with Dual Dependency

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jin, Ying; Kang, Minsoo

2016-01-01

Background: The current study compared four differential item functioning (DIF) methods to examine their performances in terms of accounting for dual dependency (i.e., person and item clustering effects) simultaneously by a simulation study, which is not sufficiently studied under the current DIF literature. The four methods compared are logistic…

Results of the 1980 NACUBO Comparative Performance Study and Investment Questionnaire.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dresner, Bruce M.

The purpose of the annual National Association of College and University Business Officers' (NACUBO) Comparative Performance Study is to aid administrators in evaluating the performance of their investment pools. The 1980 study contains two parts: (1) comparative performance information and related investment performance statistics; and (2) other…

Results of the 1979 NACUBO Comparative Performance Study and Investment Questionnaire.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dresner, Bruce M.

Results of the 1979 Comparative Performance Study of the National Association of College and Business Officers are presented. The study is designed to aid administrators in evaluating the performance of their investment pools. The report covers comparative performance information and related investment performance statistics and other endowment…

Comparing current definitions of return to work: a measurement approach.

PubMed

Steenstra, I A; Lee, H; de Vroome, E M M; Busse, J W; Hogg-Johnson, S J

2012-09-01

Return-to-work (RTW) status is an often used outcome in work and health research. In low back pain, work is regarded as a normal activity a worker should return to in order to fully recover. Comparing outcomes across studies and even jurisdictions using different definitions of RTW can be challenging for readers in general and when performing a systematic review in particular. In this study, the measurement properties of previously defined RTW outcomes were examined with data from two studies from two countries. Data on RTW in low back pain (LBP) from the Canadian Early Claimant Cohort (ECC); a workers' compensation based study, and the Dutch Amsterdam Sherbrooke Evaluation (ASE) study were analyzed. Correlations between outcomes, differences in predictive validity when using different outcomes and construct validity when comparing outcomes to a functional status outcome were analyzed. In the ECC all definitions were highly correlated and performed similarly in predictive validity. When compared to functional status, RTW definitions in the ECC study performed fair to good on all time points. In the ASE study all definitions were highly correlated and performed similarly in predictive validity. The RTW definitions, however, failed to compare or compared poorly with functional status. Only one definition compared fairly on one time point. Differently defined outcomes are highly correlated, give similar results in prediction, but seem to differ in construct validity when compared to functional status depending on societal context or possibly birth cohort. Comparison of studies using different RTW definitions appears valid as long as RTW status is not considered as a measure of functional status.

A comparative study of parenteral molindone and haloperidol in the acutely psychotic patient.

PubMed

Binder, R; Glick, I; Rice, M

1981-05-01

This study compares the efficacy of intramuscular haloperidol with intramuscular molindone, a newer antipsychotic medication. Molindone appears to be comparable in efficacy to haloperidol in acutely agitated and psychotic patients.

At a Distance: A Comparative Study of Distance Delivery Modalities for PhD Nursing Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Black, Andrew G.

2010-01-01

This study sought to ascertain and compare the attitudes and perceptions of PhD nursing students attending their coursework through synchronous and asynchronous means at two different universities. Many studies have been performed comparing both synchronous videoconferencing and asynchronous online education with the traditional classroom, but no…

Quality of Austrian and Dutch Falls-Prevention Information: A Comparative Descriptive Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schoberer, Daniela; Mijnarends, Donja M.; Fliedner, Monica; Halfens, Ruud J. G.; Lohrmann, Christa

2016-01-01

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the quality of written patient information material available in Austrian and Dutch hospitals and nursing homes pertaining to falls prevention. Design: Comparative descriptive study design Setting: Hospitals and nursing homes in Austria and the Netherlands. Method: Written patient…

Teacher Preparation and Professional Development in APEC Members: A Comparative Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Darling-Hammond, Linda, Ed.; Cobb, Velma L., Ed.

This document is the final report of Phase I of a comparative study of teacher-training practices among 12 nation members of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. The purposes of the study were to: (1) provide concrete, comparable descriptions of teacher-preparation systems useful to educators, researchers, and policymakers in all APEC member…

Opening the Door: A Comparative Study of Leadership Competencies of Traditional and Nontraditional Superintendents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Usmani, Sarah

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the leadership competencies of the two types of superintendents: traditional and nontraditional superintendents in urban school districts. The study examined the essential skills required of all superintendents and compared these skills between the two superintendent categories. Structured interviews were…

A Comparative Analysis of General Culture Courses within the Scope of Knowledge Categories in Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs "Turkey and the USA"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hayirsever, Fahriye; Kalayci, Nurdan

2017-01-01

In this study, general culture and general education courses within the scope of knowledge categories in undergraduate teacher education programs in Turkey and the USA are comparatively analyzed. The study is a comparative education study and uses a descriptive model. In the study, the general culture - general education courses taught in the…

Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy Versus Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy for Achalasia: A Meta-Analysis of Nonrandomized Comparative Studies.

PubMed

Zhang, Yuan; Wang, Hongjuan; Chen, Xingdong; Liu, Lan; Wang, Hongbo; Liu, Bin; Guo, Jianqiang; Jia, Hongying

2016-02-01

We aimed to assess the short-term outcomes of per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) compared with laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) for achalasia through a meta-analysis of nonrandomized comparative studies.We searched PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for studies that compared POEM and LHM for achalasia and were published between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Random- and fixed-effects meta-analytical models were used, and between-study heterogeneity was assessed.Four nonrandomized comparative studies that included 317 patients (125 in the POEM group and 192 in the LHM group) met our research criteria and were assessed. There were no differences between the POEM and LHM groups in terms of sex, preoperative Eckhart score, length of myotomy, operation time, length of hospital stay, and complications. The patients in the POEM group were older than those in the LHM group (MD =2.81, 95% CI 0.27-5.35; P = 0.03) with high between-study homogeneity (χ = 1.96, df = 2, I = 0%; P = 0.38). The patients in the POEM group had a lower Eckardt score after surgery compared with those in the LHM group (MD = -0.30, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.18; P < 0.001) with high between-study homogeneity (χ = 0.00, df = 1, I = 0%; P = 1.00).The efficacy and safety of POEM appear to be comparable to those of LHM. Multicenter and randomized trials with larger sample size are needed to further compare the efficacy and safety of POEM and LHM for the treatment of achalasia.

Relatively fast! Efficiency advantages of comparative thinking.

PubMed

Mussweiler, Thomas; Epstude, Kai

2009-02-01

Comparisons are a ubiquitous process in information processing. Seven studies examine whether, how, and when comparative thinking increases the efficiency of judgment and choice. Studies 1-4 demonstrate that procedurally priming participants to engage in more vs. less comparison influences how they process information about a target. Specifically, they retrieve less information about the target (Studies 1A, 1B), think more about an information-rich standard (Study 2) about which they activate judgment-relevant information (Study 3), and use this information to compensate for missing target information (Study 4). Studies 2-5 demonstrate the ensuing efficiency advantages. Participants who are primed on comparative thinking are faster in making a target judgment (Studies 2A, 2B, 4, 5) and have more residual processing capacities for a secondary task (Study 5). Studies 6 and 7 establish two boundary conditions by demonstrating that comparative thinking holds efficiency advantages only if target and standard are partly characterized by alignable features (Study 6) that are difficult to evaluate in isolation (Study 7). These findings indicate that comparative thinking may often constitute a useful mechanism to simplify information processing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).

Autograft versus Allograft for Cervical Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Tuchman, Alexander; Brodke, Darrel S; Youssef, Jim A; Meisel, Hans-Jörg; Dettori, Joseph R; Park, Jong-Beom; Yoon, S Tim; Wang, Jeffrey C

2017-02-01

Systematic review. To compare the effectiveness and safety between iliac crest bone graft (ICBG), non-ICBG autologous bone, and allograft in cervical spine fusion. To avoid problems at the donor site, various allograft materials have been used as a substitute for autograft. However, there are still questions as to the comparative effectiveness and safety of cadaver allograft compared with autologous ICBG. A systematic search of multiple major medical reference databases was conducted to identify studies evaluating spinal fusion in patients with cervical degenerative disk disease using ICBG compared with non-ICBG autograft or allograft or non-ICBG autograft compared with allograft in the cervical spine. Radiographic fusion, patient-reported outcomes, and functional outcomes were the primary outcomes of interest. Adverse events were evaluated for safety. The search identified 13 comparative studies that met our inclusion criteria: 2 prospective cohort studies and 11 retrospective cohort studies. Twelve cohort studies compared allograft with ICBG autograft during anterior cervical fusion and demonstrated with a low evidence level of support that there are no differences in fusion percentages, pain scores, or functional results. There was insufficient evidence comparing patients receiving allograft with non-ICBG autograft for fusion, pain, revision, and functional and safety outcomes. No publications directly comparing non-ICBG autograft with ICBG were found. Although the available literature suggests ICBG and allograft may have similar effectiveness in terms of fusion rates, pain scores, and functional outcomes following anterior cervical fusion, there are too many limitations in the available literature to draw any significant conclusions. No individual study provided greater than class III evidence, and when evaluating the overall body of literature, no conclusion had better than low evidence support. A prospective randomized trial with adequate sample size to compare fusion rates, efficacy measures, costs, and safety is warranted.

Comparative developmental psychology: how is human cognitive development unique?

PubMed

Rosati, Alexandra G; Wobber, Victoria; Hughes, Kelly; Santos, Laurie R

2014-04-29

The fields of developmental and comparative psychology both seek to illuminate the roots of adult cognitive systems. Developmental studies target the emergence of adult cognitive systems over ontogenetic time, whereas comparative studies investigate the origins of human cognition in our evolutionary history. Despite the long tradition of research in both of these areas, little work has examined the intersection of the two: the study of cognitive development in a comparative perspective. In the current article, we review recent work using this comparative developmental approach to study non-human primate cognition. We argue that comparative data on the pace and pattern of cognitive development across species can address major theoretical questions in both psychology and biology. In particular, such integrative research will allow stronger biological inferences about the function of developmental change, and will be critical in addressing how humans come to acquire species-unique cognitive abilities.

A Comparative Study of the Quality of Teaching Learning Process at Post Graduate Level in the Faculty of Science and Social Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shahzadi, Uzma; Shaheen, Gulnaz; Shah, Ashfaque Ahmed

2012-01-01

The study was intended to compare the quality of teaching learning process in the faculty of social science and science at University of Sargodha. This study was descriptive and quantitative in nature. The objectives of the study were to compare the quality of teaching learning process in the faculty of social science and science at University of…

Educational Outcomes of Synchronous and Asynchronous High School Students: A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Study of Online Algebra 1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berry, Sharon

2017-01-01

This study used a quantitative, causal-comparative design. It compared educational outcome data from online Algebra 1 courses to determine if a significant difference existed between synchronous and asynchronous students for end-of-course grades, state assessments scores, and student perceptions of their course. The study found that synchronous…

Comparative Study of the Use of ICT in English Teaching-Learning Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zare-ee, Abbas; Shekary, Abbas

2010-01-01

The use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in cultural, political, social, economic, and academic activities has recently attracted the attention of many researchers and it should now be an important component of the comparative study of education. The present study was conducted to compare the amount and quality of ICT use in English…

Efficacy and safety of biosimilar insulins compared to their reference products: A systematic review.

PubMed

Tieu, Carolyn; Lucas, Eleanor J; DePaola, Mindi; Rosman, Lori; Alexander, G Caleb

2018-01-01

For nearly a century, no generic form of insulin has been available in the United States. However, the first biosimilar insulin, Basaglar, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2015, and subsequently Admelog and Lusduna in 2017. To summarize the scientific evidence comparing the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of biosimilar and reference insulin products. We conducted a systematic review using PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Latin America and Caribbean Health Sciences, South Asian Database of Controlled Clinical Trials, and IndiaMED from their inception through January 14, 2018. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing safety, clinical efficacy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of any biosimilar insulin with a reference product in adults regardless of sample size and location. Two researchers independently reviewed all titles, abstracts and text; extracted data; and performed quality assessments. Efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of biosimilar and reference insulin products. Of 6945 articles screened, 11 studies were included in the data synthesis. LY2963016, Basalog, Basalin, and MK-1293 were compared to Lantus while SAR342434 was compared to Humalog. Three trials enrolled healthy volunteers, five enrolled type 1 diabetics, and two enrolled type 2 diabetics. One study enrolled both healthy and type 1 diabetics. Of the eleven studies, six examined pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic parameters and five examined clinical efficacy and immunogenicity. All studies included adverse events. All PK and/or PD studies showed that comparable parameters of biosimilar and reference products were within the pre-specified equivalence margins. Clinical studies suggested similar clinical efficacy and immunogenicity. Adverse events were similar between the groups across all studies. Few published studies have compared biosimilar and reference insulins, though those that did suggest that the biosimilars have comparable safety and clinical efficacy as its reference product.

Change in gait after high tibial osteotomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Lee, Seung Hoon; Lee, O-Sung; Teo, Seow Hui; Lee, Yong Seuk

2017-09-01

We conducted a meta-analysis to analyze how high tibial osteotomy (HTO) changes gait and focused on the following questions: (1) How does HTO change basic gait variables? (2) How does HTO change the gait variables in the knee joint? Twelve articles were included in the final analysis. A total of 383 knees was evaluated. There were 237 open wedge (OW) and 143 closed wedge (CW) HTOs. There were 4 level II studies and 8 level III studies. All studies included gait analysis and compared pre- and postoperative values. One study compared CWHTO and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), and another study compared CWHTO and OWHTO. Five studies compared gait variables with those of healthy controls. One study compared operated limb gait variables with those in the non-operated limb. Gait speed, stride length, knee adduction moment, and lateral thrust were major variables assessed in 2 or more studies. Walking speed increased and stride length was increased or similar after HTO compared to the preoperative value in basic gait variables. Knee adduction moment and lateral thrust were decreased after HTO compared to the preoperative knee joint gait variables. Change in co-contraction of the medial side muscle after surgery differed depending on the degree of frontal plane alignment. The relationship between change in knee adduction moment and change in mechanical axis angle was controversial. Based on our systematic review and meta-analysis, walking speed and stride length increased after HTO. Knee adduction moment and lateral thrust decreased after HTO compared to the preoperative values of gait variables in the knee joint. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Three Dimensions and Four Levels: Towards a Methodology for Comparative Religious Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bråten, Oddrun Marie Hovde

2015-01-01

This article is an abstract of a suggested methodology for comparative studies in religious education. It is based on a study where religious education in state schools in England and Norway were compared. The methodology is a synthesis of two sets of ideas. The first is an idea of three dimensions in comparative education: supranational, national…

A Comparative Study of the Critical Thinking Skills among the Students of Accounting and Software in the Female Technical and Vocational University in the City of Borojerd

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bagheri, Mahdi; Nowrozi, Reza Ali

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study is to compare the critical thinking skills among the students of accounting and software in the female technical and vocational university in the city of Borojerd. This study is a descriptive-comparative research. The statistical population of this study includes the female students of accounting and software in the…

Case Studies Comparing System Advisor Model (SAM) Results to Real Performance Data: Preprint

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Blair, N.; Dobos, A.; Sather, N.

2012-06-01

NREL has completed a series of detailed case studies comparing the simulations of the System Advisor Model (SAM) and measured performance data or published performance expectations. These case studies compare PV measured performance data with simulated performance data using appropriate weather data. The measured data sets were primarily taken from NREL onsite PV systems and weather monitoring stations.

40 CFR Appendix A to Part 132 - Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative Methodologies for Development of Aquatic Life Criteria and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... on the material) have higher Genus Mean Acute Values (GMAVs). An acute test is a comparative study in... were properly measured at appropriate times during the test. A chronic test is a comparative study in...-cycle test is a comparative study in which organisms, that are subjected to different treatments, are...

40 CFR Appendix A to Part 132 - Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative Methodologies for Development of Aquatic Life Criteria and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... on the material) have higher Genus Mean Acute Values (GMAVs). An acute test is a comparative study in... were properly measured at appropriate times during the test. A chronic test is a comparative study in...-cycle test is a comparative study in which organisms, that are subjected to different treatments, are...

40 CFR Appendix A to Part 132 - Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative Methodologies for Development of Aquatic Life Criteria and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... on the material) have higher Genus Mean Acute Values (GMAVs). An acute test is a comparative study in... were properly measured at appropriate times during the test. A chronic test is a comparative study in...-cycle test is a comparative study in which organisms, that are subjected to different treatments, are...

A Study Comparing the Pedagogical Effectiveness of Virtual Worlds and of Classical Methods

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-08-01

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. A Study Comparing the Pedagogical Effectiveness of Virtual Worlds and of Classical Methods...ABSTRACT A Study Comparing the Pedagogical Effectiveness of Virtual Worlds and of Classical Methods Report Title This experiment tests whether a virtual... PEDAGOGICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF VIRTUAL WORLDS AND OF TRADITIONAL TRAINING METHODS A Thesis by BENJAMIN PETERS

The active comparator, new user study design in pharmacoepidemiology: historical foundations and contemporary application

PubMed Central

Lund, Jennifer L.; Richardson, David B.; Stürmer, Til

2016-01-01

Better understanding of biases related to selective prescribing of, and adherence to, preventive treatments has led to improvements in the design and analysis of pharmacoepidemiologic studies. One influential development has been the “active comparator, new user” study design, which seeks to emulate the design of a head-to-head randomized controlled trial. In this review, we first discuss biases that may affect pharmacoepidemiologic studies and describe their direction and magnitude in a variety of settings. We then present the historical foundations of the active comparator, new user study design and explain how this design conceptually mitigates biases leading to a paradigm shift in pharmacoepidemiology. We offer practical guidance on the implementation of the study design using administrative databases. Finally, we provide an empirical example in which the active comparator, new user study design addresses biases that have previously impeded pharmacoepidemiologic studies. PMID:26954351

Automatic identification of comparative effectiveness research from Medline citations to support clinicians’ treatment information needs

PubMed Central

Zhang, Mingyuan; Fiol, Guilherme Del; Grout, Randall W.; Jonnalagadda, Siddhartha; Medlin, Richard; Mishra, Rashmi; Weir, Charlene; Liu, Hongfang; Mostafa, Javed; Fiszman, Marcelo

2014-01-01

Online knowledge resources such as Medline can address most clinicians’ patient care information needs. Yet, significant barriers, notably lack of time, limit the use of these sources at the point of care. The most common information needs raised by clinicians are treatment-related. Comparative effectiveness studies allow clinicians to consider multiple treatment alternatives for a particular problem. Still, solutions are needed to enable efficient and effective consumption of comparative effectiveness research at the point of care. Objective Design and assess an algorithm for automatically identifying comparative effectiveness studies and extracting the interventions investigated in these studies. Methods The algorithm combines semantic natural language processing, Medline citation metadata, and machine learning techniques. We assessed the algorithm in a case study of treatment alternatives for depression. Results Both precision and recall for identifying comparative studies was 0.83. A total of 86% of the interventions extracted perfectly or partially matched the gold standard. Conclusion Overall, the algorithm achieved reasonable performance. The method provides building blocks for the automatic summarization of comparative effectiveness research to inform point of care decision-making. PMID:23920677

Quality of life and response of negative symptoms in schizophrenia to haloperidol and the atypical antipsychotic remoxipride. The Canadian Remoxipride Group.

PubMed

Awad, A G; Lapierre, Y D; Angus, C; Rylander, A

1997-07-01

In a large, multicenter, double-blind study of the effect of haloperidol and the atypical antipsychotic remoxipride on improvement of negative symptoms in schizophrenia, quality of life was also assessed using a modified version of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). Compared with previous studies, this study had a longer duration (28 weeks), and the dose of the comparator, haloperidol, was much lower. At the end of the study, compared with the baseline, both treatment groups reported comparable improvement in negative symptoms as defined by the protocol (at least 20% improvement). Similarly, both groups showed comparable changes on global and multidimensional self-assessments of quality of life. All the subfactors of the modified version of the SIP were similar in both groups, except for the subfactor that relates to alertness behavior, which possibly reflects remoxipride's lack of any sedating properties compared with haloperidol. This study presents an approach for inclusion of quality of life as an outcome measure in the design of clinical trials of new antipsychotic medications.

Pattern and Process in the Comparative Study of Convergent Evolution.

PubMed

Mahler, D Luke; Weber, Marjorie G; Wagner, Catherine E; Ingram, Travis

2017-08-01

Understanding processes that have shaped broad-scale biodiversity patterns is a fundamental goal in evolutionary biology. The development of phylogenetic comparative methods has yielded a tool kit for analyzing contemporary patterns by explicitly modeling processes of change in the past, providing neontologists tools for asking questions previously accessible only for select taxa via the fossil record or laboratory experimentation. The comparative approach, however, differs operationally from alternative approaches to studying convergence in that, for studies of only extant species, convergence must be inferred using evolutionary process models rather than being directly measured. As a result, investigation of evolutionary pattern and process cannot be decoupled in comparative studies of convergence, even though such a decoupling could in theory guard against adaptationist bias. Assumptions about evolutionary process underlying comparative tools can shape the inference of convergent pattern in sometimes profound ways and can color interpretation of such patterns. We discuss these issues and other limitations common to most phylogenetic comparative approaches and suggest ways that they can be avoided in practice. We conclude by promoting a multipronged approach to studying convergence that integrates comparative methods with complementary tests of evolutionary mechanisms and includes ecological and biogeographical perspectives. Carefully employed, the comparative method remains a powerful tool for enriching our understanding of convergence in macroevolution, especially for investigation of why convergence occurs in some settings but not others.

Is Health-Related Quality of Life after Radical Cystectomy Using Validated Questionnaires Really Better in Patients with Ileal Orthotopic Neobladder Compared to Ileal Conduit: A Meta-Analysis of Retrospective Comparative Studies.

PubMed

Cerruto, Maria A; D'Elia, Carolina; Siracusano, Salvatore; Porcaro, Antonio B; Cacciamani, Giovanni; De Marchi, Davide; Niero, Mauro; Lonardi, Cristina; Iafrate, Massimo; Bassi, Pierfrancesco; Belgrano, Emanuele; Imbimbo, Ciro; Racioppi, Marco; Talamini, Renato; Ciciliato, Stefano; Toffoli, Laura; Rizzo, Michele; Visalli, Francesco; Verze, Paolo; Artibani, Walter

2017-07-01

From the most recent systematic revision of the literature, an orthotopic neobladder would seem to show marginally better health related quality of life (HR-QoL) scores compared with an ileal conduit. The aim of this study was to review all relevant published studies about the comparison between ileal orthotopic neobladder (IONB) and ileal conduit using validated HR-QoL questionnaires. Studies were identified by searching multiple literature databases. Data were synthesized using meta-analytic methods conformed to the PRISMA statement. The literature search identified 10 papers; pooled effect sizes of combined quality of life outcomes for ileal conduit versus IONB showed a significantly better HR-QoL in patients with IONB (Hedges' g = 0.278; p = 0.000);. The present study has an important limitation due to the type of the analyzed comparative studies, all retrospective and not randomized. This meta-analysis of not-randomized, retrospective comparative studies on the impact of ileal conduit versus IONB on HR-QoL showed a significant advantage of IONB subgroups.

The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD): A Resource for Comparative Toxicological Studies

PubMed Central

CJ, Mattingly; MC, Rosenstein; GT, Colby; JN, Forrest; JL, Boyer

2006-01-01

The etiology of most chronic diseases involves interactions between environmental factors and genes that modulate important biological processes (Olden and Wilson, 2000). We are developing the publicly available Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) to promote understanding about the effects of environmental chemicals on human health. CTD identifies interactions between chemicals and genes and facilitates cross-species comparative studies of these genes. The use of diverse animal models and cross-species comparative sequence studies has been critical for understanding basic physiological mechanisms and gene and protein functions. Similarly, these approaches will be valuable for exploring the molecular mechanisms of action of environmental chemicals and the genetic basis of differential susceptibility. PMID:16902965

76 FR 57057 - International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-15

... Drugs in Food-Producing Animals: Comparative Metabolism Studies in Laboratory Animals; Availability...: Comparative Metabolism Studies in Laboratory Animals'' (VICH GL47). This guidance has been developed for... Metabolism and Residue Kinetics of Veterinary Drugs in Food- Producing Animals: Comparative Metabolism...

Bias in Observational Studies of Prevalent Users: Lessons for Comparative Effectiveness Research From a Meta-Analysis of Statins

PubMed Central

Danaei, Goodarz; Tavakkoli, Mohammad; Hernán, Miguel A.

2012-01-01

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are usually the preferred strategy with which to generate evidence of comparative effectiveness, but conducting an RCT is not always feasible. Though observational studies and RCTs often provide comparable estimates, the questioning of observational analyses has recently intensified because of randomized-observational discrepancies regarding the effect of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy on coronary heart disease. Reanalyses of observational data that excluded prevalent users of hormone replacement therapy led to attenuated discrepancies, which begs the question of whether exclusion of prevalent users should be generally recommended. In the current study, the authors evaluated the effect of excluding prevalent users of statins in a meta-analysis of observational studies of persons with cardiovascular disease. The pooled, multivariate-adjusted mortality hazard ratio for statin use was 0.77 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65, 0.91) in 4 studies that compared incident users with nonusers, 0.70 (95% CI: 0.64, 0.78) in 13 studies that compared a combination of prevalent and incident users with nonusers, and 0.54 (95% CI: 0.45, 0.66) in 13 studies that compared prevalent users with nonusers. The corresponding hazard ratio from 18 RCTs was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77, 0.91). It appears that the greater the proportion of prevalent statin users in observational studies, the larger the discrepancy between observational and randomized estimates. PMID:22223710

Social Studies Teachers' In-Service Training Needs towards Project Tasks: A Comparative Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Uyar, Melis Yesilpinar; Karakus, Fatma

2017-01-01

This study aims to determine in-service training needs of novice and professionally experienced social studies teachers regarding the planning, implementation and assessment processes of project tasks. The study was carried out using comparative case study from qualitative research patterns as base. Eight social studies teachers who were…

Toward Accurate and Quantitative Comparative Metagenomics

PubMed Central

Nayfach, Stephen; Pollard, Katherine S.

2016-01-01

Shotgun metagenomics and computational analysis are used to compare the taxonomic and functional profiles of microbial communities. Leveraging this approach to understand roles of microbes in human biology and other environments requires quantitative data summaries whose values are comparable across samples and studies. Comparability is currently hampered by the use of abundance statistics that do not estimate a meaningful parameter of the microbial community and biases introduced by experimental protocols and data-cleaning approaches. Addressing these challenges, along with improving study design, data access, metadata standardization, and analysis tools, will enable accurate comparative metagenomics. We envision a future in which microbiome studies are replicable and new metagenomes are easily and rapidly integrated with existing data. Only then can the potential of metagenomics for predictive ecological modeling, well-powered association studies, and effective microbiome medicine be fully realized. PMID:27565341

Toward Accurate and Quantitative Comparative Metagenomics.

PubMed

Nayfach, Stephen; Pollard, Katherine S

2016-08-25

Shotgun metagenomics and computational analysis are used to compare the taxonomic and functional profiles of microbial communities. Leveraging this approach to understand roles of microbes in human biology and other environments requires quantitative data summaries whose values are comparable across samples and studies. Comparability is currently hampered by the use of abundance statistics that do not estimate a meaningful parameter of the microbial community and biases introduced by experimental protocols and data-cleaning approaches. Addressing these challenges, along with improving study design, data access, metadata standardization, and analysis tools, will enable accurate comparative metagenomics. We envision a future in which microbiome studies are replicable and new metagenomes are easily and rapidly integrated with existing data. Only then can the potential of metagenomics for predictive ecological modeling, well-powered association studies, and effective microbiome medicine be fully realized. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparative optimism in older adults' future health expectations.

PubMed

Vanderzanden, Karen; Ruthig, Joelle C

2018-05-13

Despite a common belief that health declines with age, many older adults remain optimistic about their future health. However, the longitudinal impact of personal and comparatively optimistic future health estimates (FHEs) is unclear. Among 408 older adults (M age  = 70.32 years), this study identified the prevalence, source, and two-year stability of comparatively optimistic FHEs; examined demographic, psychosocial, and health correlates of comparative FHEs; and assessed the role of comparative FHEs in predicting eight-year survival odds. Nearly half of participants were comparatively optimistic due to interpersonal pessimism more so than personal optimism. Regarding stability, comparative optimism declined over the two-year period. Being younger and having more perceived control, dispositional optimism, and recent positive emotions were associated with better FHEs for oneself and a similar other. Beyond effects of age, gender, relationship status, and dispositional optimism, optimistic personal FHEs predicted eight-year survival odds. Findings have implications for predicting survival and advancing the conceptual understanding of comparative FHEs. Statement of contribution What is already known on the subject? Previous research has demonstrated that older adults tend to believe diminished health accompanies increasing age. Despite this notion, older adults remain comparatively optimistic about their health. What does this study add? The longitudinal results of the current study indicated that nearly half of participants were categorized as comparative optimists, primarily due to interpersonal pessimism. The current study demonstrated that there is little distinction between personal FHEs and those for a similar other in terms of demographic, psychosocial, and health correlates. The current study identified factors that predicted eight-year survival among older adults, such as being female, younger, in a committed relationship, and better personal FHEs. © 2018 The British Psychological Society.

Hysteroscopic Tubal Sterilization

PubMed Central

McMartin, K

2013-01-01

Background Hysteroscopic tubal sterilization is a minimally invasive alternative to laparoscopic tubal ligation for women who want permanent contraception. The procedures involves non-surgical placement of permanent microinserts into both fallopian tubes. Patients must use alternative contraception for at least 3 months postprocedure until tubal occlusion is confirmed. Compared to tubal ligation, potential advantages of the hysteroscopic procedure are that it can be performed in 10 minutes in an office setting without the use of general or even local anesthesia. Objective The objective of this analysis was to determine the effectiveness and safety of hysteroscopic tubal sterilization compared with tubal ligation for permanent female sterilization. Data Sources A standard systematic literature search was conducted for studies published from January 1, 2008, until December 11, 2012. Review Methods Observational studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews and meta-analyses with 1 month or more of follow-up were examined. Outcomes included failure/pregnancy rates, adverse events, and patient satisfaction. Results No RCTs were identified. Two systematic reviews covered 22 observational studies of hysteroscopic sterilization. Only 1 (N = 93) of these 22 studies compared hysteroscopic sterilization to laparoscopic tubal ligation. Two other noncomparative case series not included in the systematic reviews were also identified. In the absence of comparative studies, data on tubal ligation were derived for this analysis from the CREST study, a large, multicentre, prospective, noncomparative observational study in the United States (GRADE low). Overall, hysteroscopic sterilization is associated with lower pregnancy rates and lower complication rates compared to tubal ligation. No deaths have been reported for hysteroscopic sterilization. Limitations A lack of long-term follow-up for hysteroscopic sterilization and a paucity of studies that directly compare the two procedures limit this assessment. In addition, optimal placement of the microinsert at the time of hysteroscopy varied among studies. Conclusions Hysteroscopic sterilization is associated with: lower pregnancy rates compared to tubal ligation (GRADE very low) lower complication rates compared to tubal ligation (GRADE very low) no significant improvement in patient satisfaction compared to tubal ligation (GRADE very low) Plain Language Summary Hysteroscopic tubal sterilization is a minimally invasive alternative to conventional tubal ligation for women who want a permanent method of contraception. Both approaches involve closing off the fallopian tubes, preventing the egg from moving down the tube and the sperm from reaching the egg. Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure to tie or seal the fallopian tubes, and it usually requires general anesthesia. In contrast, hysteroscopic tubal sterilization can be performed in 10 minutes in an office setting without general or even local anesthesia. A tiny device called a microinsert is inserted into each fallopian tube through the vagina, cervix, and uterus without surgery. An instrument called a hysteroscope allows the doctor to see inside the body for the procedure. Once the microinserts are in place, scar tissue forms around them and blocks the fallopian tubes. Health Quality Ontario conducted a review of the effectiveness and safety of hysteroscopic tubal sterilization compared to tubal ligation. This review indicates that hysteroscopic tubal sterilization is associated with: lower pregnancy rates compared to tubal ligation lower complication rates compared to tubal ligation no significant improvement in patient satisfaction compared to tubal ligation However, we found a number of limitations to the studies available on hysteroscopic tubal sterilization. Among other concerns, most studies did not include long-term follow-up and only 1 study directly compared hysteroscopic tubal sterilization to tubal ligation. PMID:24228084

Acculturative Stressors and Acculturative Strategies as Predictors of Negative Affect among Chinese International Students in Australia and Hong Kong: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pan, Jia-Yan; Wong, Daniel Fu Keung

2011-01-01

Objective: There are few studies comparing cross-cultural adaptation of migrant groups in two different cultural settings. This study compares the level of negative affect and acculturative stressors between Chinese international students in Australia and Mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong. The predictive effects of acculturative stressors and…

A Comparative Study of Socioeconomically Disadvantaged and Non-Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Fourth-Grade Students in Reading and Math in an Online Charter School and a Traditional School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mansheim, Richard Lynn

2017-01-01

Few empirical studies explore how socioeconomic status (SES) disadvantaged students perform academically in a 100% online school. This causal-comparative ex post facto quantitative study examined how SES-disadvantaged students at an online charter school performed academically when compared with both SES-disadvantaged and non-SES-disadvantaged…

"We're as Good as Anybody Else": A Comparative Study of Working-Class University Students' Experiences in England and Ireland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Finnegan, Fergal; Merrill, Barbara

2017-01-01

This article is based on a comparative study of working-class students' experiences in English and Irish higher education. It highlights the lack of comparative studies on this topic based on qualitative research and why filling this gap is important in understanding access and widening participation. Drawing on biographical interviews with 139…

How to study the aetiology of burn injury: the epidemiological approach.

PubMed

Bouter, L M; Knipschild, P G; van Rijn, J L; Meertens, R M

1989-06-01

Effective prevention of burn injury should be based on sound aetiological knowledge. This article deals with epidemiological methods to study the incidence of burn injury as a function of its risk factors. Central methodological issues are comparability of baseline prognosis, comparability of measurements (of effects in cohort studies and of risk factors in case-control studies), and comparability of external circumstances. These principles are clarified with a number of fictitious examples of risk factors for burn injury. It is explained that in preventive trials comparability may be achieved by randomization, blinding and placebo intervention. The main tools in non-experimental studies are deliberate selection and multivariate analysis. Special attention is given to the definition of the source population and to reducing measurement incomparability in case-control studies. Some well-designed case-control studies following these principles might bring effective prevention of burn injury some steps nearer.

Comparing University Organizations across Boundaries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bleiklie, Ivar

2014-01-01

The article discusses comparative organizational studies, focusing on change in higher education institutions, and in particular (but not only) on studies that compare organizations in different national settings. It first presents and discusses different approaches to comparison based on a couple of typologies that have been developed to identify…

Preventing Escalation in the South China Sea Disputed Waters: A Comparative Study of Republic of the Philippines and Socialist Republic of Vietnam

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-01

among claimants’ civilian and military maritime forces in the South China Sea, and there are few studies of how the lack of civil-military cooperation...ESCALATION IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTED WATERS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM by Askari...SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTED WATERS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SOCIALIST REPUBUC OF VIETNAM 6. AUTHOR(S) Askari 7

Comparative Study of Middle School Students' Attitudes towards Science: Rasch Analysis of Entire TIMSS 2011 Attitudinal Data for England, Singapore and the U.S.A. as Well as Psychometric Properties of Attitudes Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oon, Pey Tee; Subramaniam, R.

2018-01-01

We report here on a comparative study of middle school students' attitudes towards science involving three countries: England, Singapore and the U.S.A. Complete attitudinal data sets from TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) 2011 were used, thus giving a very large sample size (N = 20,246), compared to other studies in the…

Programme Content Orientation in Vocational Education and Training and Life Chances--A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kap, Hrvoje

2014-01-01

Comparative studies of vocational education and training systems rarely conduct systematic comparisons of the content of educational programmes, partly because of methodological difficulties. Yet, comparing the organisation of curricula can increase our understanding of how programme design reflects orientation towards various life chances in…

Have we progressed in the surgical literature? Thirty-year trends in clinical studies in 3 surgical journals.

PubMed

Shawhan, Robert R; Hatch, Quinton M; Bingham, Jason R; Nelson, Daniel W; Fitzpatrick, Emile B; McLeod, Robin; Johnson, Eric K; Maykel, Justin A; Steele, Scott R

2015-01-01

We practice in an era of evidence-based medicine. In 1993, Solomon and McLeod published an article examining study designs in 3 surgical journals from 1980 and 1990. The purpose of this study was to evaluate subsequent 30-year trends in the quality of selected literature. All of the articles from Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, Surgery, and the British Journal of Surgery during 2000 and 2010 were classified by study design. Nonclinical studies were substratified by animal/laboratory, surgical technique, editorial/review, or miscellaneous articles. Clinical articles were categorized as case or comparative studies, further categorized by study design, and rated on a 10-point scale to determine strength. We compared interobserver reliability using a random sample. This study was conducted at 3 North American medical centers. Patients described in the scope of the literature were included in this study. Frequency, type, and strength of study design were measured. We evaluated 1911 articles (967 clinical; 17% comparative). There was a significant increase in multicenter clinical studies (from 12% to 27%; p < 0.0001) and mean study population (from 326 to 6775; p < 0.05). Studies using administrative data increased from 14% to 43% (p < 0.0001). Case reports decreased from 16% to 7% of all clinical studies (p < 0.001), whereas the percentage of comparative studies increased from 14% to 21% (p = 0.001). The percentage of randomized controlled trials did not increase significantly (8.5% in 2000; 10.0% in 2010; p = 0.44). The mean 10-point score for comparative studies was 6.7 for both years (p = 0.50). There was good interobserver agreement in the classification of studies (κ = 0.70) and moderate agreement in scoring comparative studies (κ = 0.47). This descriptive study cannot fully account for the reasons behind the identified differences. Comparative and multicenter studies, mean study population, and the use of administrative data increased from 2000 to 2010. This suggests that increased use of administrative databases has allowed larger populations of patients from more institutions to be studied and may be more generalizable. Researchers should strive toward improving the level of evidence (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/DCR/A167).

A Comparative Case Study of Student Preparation for Postsecondary Education: How GEAR UP, Socioeconomic Status, and Race Influence Academic and Non-Academic Factors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lunceford, Christina J.; Sondergeld, Toni A.; Stretavski, Elizabeth L.

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of early preparation for postsecondary education and explore the effectiveness of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). This comparative case study included 836 students from two cohorts (GEAR UP and Non GEAR UP). We compared high school attendance,…

Review and standardization of cell phone exposure calculations using the SAM phantom and anatomically correct head models.

PubMed

Beard, Brian B; Kainz, Wolfgang

2004-10-13

We reviewed articles using computational RF dosimetry to compare the Specific Anthropomorphic Mannequin (SAM) to anatomically correct models of the human head. Published conclusions based on such comparisons have varied widely. We looked for reasons that might cause apparently similar comparisons to produce dissimilar results. We also looked at the information needed to adequately compare the results of computational RF dosimetry studies. We concluded studies were not comparable because of differences in definitions, models, and methodology. Therefore we propose a protocol, developed by an IEEE standards group, as an initial step in alleviating this problem. The protocol calls for a benchmark validation study comparing the SAM phantom to two anatomically correct models of the human head. It also establishes common definitions and reporting requirements that will increase the comparability of all computational RF dosimetry studies of the human head.

Review and standardization of cell phone exposure calculations using the SAM phantom and anatomically correct head models

PubMed Central

Beard, Brian B; Kainz, Wolfgang

2004-01-01

We reviewed articles using computational RF dosimetry to compare the Specific Anthropomorphic Mannequin (SAM) to anatomically correct models of the human head. Published conclusions based on such comparisons have varied widely. We looked for reasons that might cause apparently similar comparisons to produce dissimilar results. We also looked at the information needed to adequately compare the results of computational RF dosimetry studies. We concluded studies were not comparable because of differences in definitions, models, and methodology. Therefore we propose a protocol, developed by an IEEE standards group, as an initial step in alleviating this problem. The protocol calls for a benchmark validation study comparing the SAM phantom to two anatomically correct models of the human head. It also establishes common definitions and reporting requirements that will increase the comparability of all computational RF dosimetry studies of the human head. PMID:15482601

Clinical, Ergonomic, and Economic Outcomes With Multichamber Bags Compared With (Hospital) Pharmacy Compounded Bags and Multibottle Systems: A Systematic Literature Review.

PubMed

Alfonso, Jorge Emilio; Berlana, David; Ukleja, Andrew; Boullata, Joseph

2017-09-01

Multichamber bags (MCBs) may offer potential clinical, ergonomic, and economic advantages compared with (hospital) pharmacy compounded bags (COBs) and multibottle systems (MBSs). A systematic literature review was performed to identify and assess the available evidence regarding advantages of MCBs compared with COBs and MBSs. Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Databases, and EconLit were searched for articles reporting clinical, ergonomic, and economic outcomes for MCBs compared with COBs or MBSs. The search was limited to studies conducted in hospitalized patients >2 years of age that were published in English between January 1990 and November 2014. The Population Intervention Comparison Outcomes Study Design (PICOS) framework was used for the analysis. From 1307 unique citations, 74 potentially relevant publications were identified; review of references identified 2 additional publications. Among the 76 publications, 18 published studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were retrospective in design. Ten studies reported clinical outcomes, including 1 prospective randomized trial and multiple retrospective analyses that reported a lower risk of bloodstream infection for MCBs compared with other delivery systems. Sixteen studies reported ergonomic and/or economic outcomes; most reported a potential cost benefit for MCBs, with consistent reports of reduced time and labor compared with other systems. The largest cost benefit was observed in studies evaluating total hospitalization costs. The systematic literature review identified evidence of potential clinical, ergonomic, and economic benefits for MCBs compared with COBs and MBSs; however, methodological factors limited evidence quality. More prospective studies are required to corroborate existing evidence.

Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy Versus Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy for Achalasia

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yuan; Wang, Hongjuan; Chen, Xingdong; Liu, Lan; Wang, Hongbo; Liu, Bin; Guo, Jianqiang; Jia, Hongying

2016-01-01

Abstract We aimed to assess the short-term outcomes of per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) compared with laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) for achalasia through a meta-analysis of nonrandomized comparative studies. We searched PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for studies that compared POEM and LHM for achalasia and were published between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Random- and fixed-effects meta-analytical models were used, and between-study heterogeneity was assessed. Four nonrandomized comparative studies that included 317 patients (125 in the POEM group and 192 in the LHM group) met our research criteria and were assessed. There were no differences between the POEM and LHM groups in terms of sex, preoperative Eckhart score, length of myotomy, operation time, length of hospital stay, and complications. The patients in the POEM group were older than those in the LHM group (MD =2.81, 95% CI 0.27–5.35; P = 0.03) with high between-study homogeneity (χ2 = 1.96, df = 2, I2 = 0%; P = 0.38). The patients in the POEM group had a lower Eckardt score after surgery compared with those in the LHM group (MD = −0.30, 95% CI −0.42 to −0.18; P < 0.001) with high between-study homogeneity (χ2 = 0.00, df = 1, I2 = 0%; P = 1.00). The efficacy and safety of POEM appear to be comparable to those of LHM. Multicenter and randomized trials with larger sample size are needed to further compare the efficacy and safety of POEM and LHM for the treatment of achalasia. PMID:26871816

Is Health-Related Quality of Life after Radical Cystectomy Using Validated Questionnaires Really Better in Patients with Ileal Orthotopic Neobladder Compared to Ileal Conduit: A Meta-Analysis of Retrospective Comparative Studies

PubMed Central

Cerruto, Maria A.; D'Elia, Carolina; Siracusano, Salvatore; Porcaro, Antonio B.; Cacciamani, Giovanni; De Marchi, Davide; Niero, Mauro; Lonardi, Cristina; Iafrate, Massimo; Bassi, Pierfrancesco; Belgrano, Emanuele; Imbimbo, Ciro; Racioppi, Marco; Talamini, Renato; Ciciliato, Stefano; Toffoli, Laura; Rizzo, Michele; Visalli, Francesco; Verze, Paolo; Artibani, Walter

2017-01-01

Introduction From the most recent systematic revision of the literature, an orthotopic neobladder would seem to show marginally better health related quality of life (HR-QoL) scores compared with an ileal conduit. The aim of this study was to review all relevant published studies about the comparison between ileal orthotopic neobladder (IONB) and ileal conduit using validated HR-QoL questionnaires. Materials and Methods Studies were identified by searching multiple literature databases. Data were synthesized using meta-analytic methods conformed to the PRISMA statement. Results The literature search identified 10 papers; pooled effect sizes of combined quality of life outcomes for ileal conduit versus IONB showed a significantly better HR-QoL in patients with IONB (Hedges' g = 0.278; p = 0.000);. The present study has an important limitation due to the type of the analyzed comparative studies, all retrospective and not randomized. Conclusion This meta-analysis of not-randomized, retrospective comparative studies on the impact of ileal conduit versus IONB on HR-QoL showed a significant advantage of IONB subgroups. PMID:28785189

Use of Vein Conduit and Isolated Nerve Graft in Peripheral Nerve Repair: A Comparative Study

PubMed Central

Ahmad, Imran; Akhtar, Md. Sohaib

2014-01-01

Aims and Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vein conduit in nerve repair compared with isolated nerve graft. Materials and Methods. This retrospective study was conducted at author's centre and included a total of 40 patients. All the patients had nerve defect of more than 3 cm and underwent nerve repair using nerve graft from sural nerve. In 20 cases, vein conduit (study group) was used whereas no conduit was used in other 20 cases. Patients were followed up for 2 years at the intervals of 3 months. Results. Patients had varying degree of recovery. Sensations reached to all the digits at 1 year in study groups compared to 18 months in control group. At the end of second year, 84% patients of the study group achieved 2-point discrimination of <10 mm compared to 60% only in control group. In terms of motor recovery, 82% patients achieved satisfactory hand function in study group compared to 56% in control group (P < .05). Conclusions. It was concluded that the use of vein conduit in peripheral nerve repair is more effective method than isolated nerve graft providing good sensory and motor recovery. PMID:25405029

Active-comparator design and new-user design in observational studies

PubMed Central

Yoshida, Kazuki; Solomon, Daniel H.; Kim, Seoyoung C.

2015-01-01

SUMMARY Over the past decade, an increasing number of observational studies have examined the effectiveness or safety of rheumatoid arthritis treatments. However, unlike randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies of drug effects face methodological challenges including confounding by indication. Two design principles - active comparator design and new user design can help mitigate such challenges in observational studies. To improve validity of study findings, observational studies should be designed in such a way that makes them more closely approximate RCTs. The active comparator design compares the drug of interest to another commonly used agent for the same indication, rather than a ‘non-user’ group. This principle helps select treatment groups similar in treatment indications (both measured and unmeasured characteristics). The new user design includes a cohort of patients from the time of treatment initiation, so that it can assess patients’ pretreatment characteristics and capture all events occurring anytime during follow-up. PMID:25800216

Comparative health systems research among Kaiser Permanente and other integrated delivery systems: a systematic literature review.

PubMed

Maeda, Jared Lane K; Lee, Karen M; Horberg, Michael

2014-01-01

Because of rising health care costs, wide variations in quality, and increased patient complexity, the US health care system is undergoing rapid changes that include payment reform and movement toward integrated delivery systems. Well-established integrated delivery systems, such as Kaiser Permanente (KP), should work to identify the specific system-level factors that result in superior patient outcomes in response to policymakers' concerns. Comparative health systems research can provide insights into which particular aspects of the integrated delivery system result in improved care delivery. To provide a baseline understanding of comparative health systems research related to integrated delivery systems and KP. Systematic literature review. We conducted a literature search on PubMed and the KP Publications Library. Studies that compared KP as a system or organization with other health care systems or across KP facilities internally were included. The literature search identified 1605 articles, of which 65 met the study inclusion criteria and were examined by 3 reviewers. Most comparative health systems studies focused on intra-KP comparisons (n = 42). Fewer studies compared KP with other US (n = 15) or international (n = 12) health care systems. Several themes emerged from the literature as possible factors that may contribute to improved care delivery in integrated delivery systems. Of all studies published by or about KP, only a small proportion of articles (4%) was identified as being comparative health systems research. Additional empirical studies that compare the specific factors of the integrated delivery system model with other systems of care are needed to better understand the "system-level" factors that result in improved and/or diminished care delivery.

Sustaining and Improving Study Abroad Experiences Through Comparative Evaluation.

PubMed

Johanson, Linda S

Researchers have related participation in study abroad experiences to many positive outcomes for nursing students; however, educators are faced with the task of not only developing meaningful study abroad opportunities but sustaining and improving them as well. Educators can evaluate repeat study abroad programs by comparing experiences, looking for trends, and conjecturing rationales. To illustrate this process, an example of a study abroad opportunity that has been repeated over 11 years is presented. The first six years have been compared to the most recent five years, revealing three categories of change for evaluation and the resulting course improvements.

Redirected Radicals: Understanding the Risk of Altered Targeting Trajectories Among ISIL’s Aspiring Foreign Fighters

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-01

severe. Chapter III begins the first part of the comparative case study analysis by focusing on Canada’s current foreign fighter issues, propaganda...violence in their home countries. Through an extensive comparative case study analysis of recent ISIL-related violent incidents and plots in the United...overseas, decided instead to alter their targeting trajectory and commit violence in their home countries. Through an extensive comparative case study

Comparing Instructional and Assessment Strategy Use in Graduate- and Undergraduate-Level Leadership Studies: A Global Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jenkins, Daniel M.

2018-01-01

This study compares the differences in instructional and assessment strategy use between instructors who teach undergraduate- and graduate-level face-to-face, academic credit-bearing leadership studies courses. Findings suggest that, overall, discussion-based pedagogies, case studies, and self-assessments are the most frequently used instructional…

SOAR versus SQ3R: A Test of Two Study Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jairam, Dharma; Kiewra, Kenneth A.; Rogers-Kasson, Sarah; Patterson-Hazley, Melissa; Marxhausen, Kim

2014-01-01

Although researchers have long investigated ways to improve study habits and raise achievement, few studies compare study strategy systems with one another. No study to date has compared the long popular SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review) system with the more modern SOAR (Select, Organize, Associate, Regulate) system. This study…

The Essential Role of Curricular Analyses in Comparative Studies of Mathematics Achievement: Developing "Fair" Tests

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chavez, Oscar; Papick, Ira; Ross, Dan J.; Grouws, Douglas A.

2010-01-01

The purpose of this paper was to describe the process of development of assessment instruments for the Comparing Options in Secondary Mathematics: Investigating Curriculum (COSMIC) project. The COSMIC project was a three-year longitudinal comparative study focusing on evaluating high school students' mathematics learning from two distinct…

From Comparative Education to Comparative Pedagogy: A Physical Education Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Georgakis, Steve; Graham, Jessica

2016-01-01

In the last two decades forces of globalization and the rise of and access to information technology have transformed the nature of educational research. Traditional disciplines such as comparative education have not been immune to these transformational impacts. Although one might expect globalization to promote the study of comparative…

Comparative Historical Approaches in Religious Education Research--Methodological Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schröder, Bernd

2016-01-01

This article summarises the state of comparative historical research in the field of religious education. After describing a range of purposes to be fulfilled by comparative studies, it categorises a number of studies written in either English, French or German according to their methodological approach and subject focus. As a result, a…

Important Questions of Comparative Studies in Asian Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pazyura, Natalia

2015-01-01

The issue of the "identity" of comparative education as a field of study or a discipline has been discussed for decades. Yet a kind of systematic structure that provides the basic principles for a coherent exposition of the field remains open. "Comparative education" is no longer conceived as an imaginary field's coherence but,…

A Quantitative Comparative Study of Blended and Traditional Models in the Secondary Advanced Placement Statistics Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Owens, Susan T.

2017-01-01

Technology is becoming an integral tool in the classroom and can make a positive impact on how the students learn. This quantitative comparative research study examined gender-based differences among secondary Advanced Placement (AP) Statistic students comparing Educational Testing Service (ETS) College Board AP Statistic examination scores…

Ethnic Differences in Self Poisoning: A Comparative Study between an Asian and White Adolescent Group.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biswas, Sheela

1990-01-01

Conducted retrospective case note study comparing various characteristics of self-poisoning between White (N=34) and Asian adolescents (N=38). Results showed "Culture Conflict" was implicated in slightly more Asian female self-poisonings as compared to males, Asian females used "non ingestants" significantly more than White…

Comparing the Effectiveness of Error-Correction Strategies in Discrete Trial Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turan, Michelle K.; Moroz, Lianne; Croteau, Natalie Paquet

2012-01-01

Error-correction strategies are essential considerations for behavior analysts implementing discrete trial training with children with autism. The research literature, however, is still lacking in the number of studies that compare and evaluate error-correction procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare two error-correction strategies:…

Student Achievement in Ohio Charter Schools: A Comparative and Longitudinal Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kotler, Ruth M.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate fifth-grade student achievement in Ohio public charter schools as compared to student achievement in traditional public schools, and to determine whether the performance of charter schools changed over time. Research questions asked 1) how does student achievement in Ohio's public charters compare to…

Comparing the Perceptions of Inclusion between General Education and Special Education Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruster, Debra Dungan

2014-01-01

This causal-comparative, quantitative study compared the perceptions of inclusion of students with disabilities in the mainstream classroom that are held by high school general education teachers and high school special education teachers that teach in inclusive settings. The study determined there is a difference between the perceptions of…

Teaching the Comparative Approach to American Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seaberg, Stanley

The rationale behind this book of five suggested or sample comparative units contains several elements: 1) an interdisciplinary social science approach to studying the American past, present, and future; and 2) a view of our country's history in terms of a world setting and in the light on contemporary concerns. The global comparative method…

Professionalism: A Comparative Case Study of Teachers, Nurses, and Social Workers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bair, Mary Antony

2016-01-01

While there are numerous calls to enhance the professionalism of teachers, there is little empirical research in the United States that examines educators' understanding of the concept. This comparative case study compared the conceptualisation of professionalism by faculty and students in a college of education vis-à-vis the conceptualisation of…

A Comparative Study of Data Envelopment Analysis and Other Approaches to Efficiency Evaluation and Estimation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-11-01

ADA27 91 A COMPARATIVE STJDO DATAENVEOPMENT ANALYSISAND / HER APPROACHES TO A .i)TEXAS UN VAT AUSIN CENTER FOCAS RE CCYR 5 NO BERRETIC STADIES A... COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS AND OTHER APPROACHES TO EFFICIENCY EVALUATION AND ESTIMATIONt by A. Charnes W.W. Cooper H.D. Sherman...School of Business, 1981, entitled "Measurement of Hospital Efficiency: A Comparative Analysis of Data Envelopment Analysis and Other Approaches for

A systematic literature review on the efficacy–effectiveness gap: comparison of randomized controlled trials and observational studies of glucose-lowering drugs

PubMed Central

Ankarfeldt, Mikkel Z; Adalsteinsson, Erpur; Groenwold, Rolf HH; Ali, M Sanni; Klungel, Olaf H

2017-01-01

Aim To identify a potential efficacy–effectiveness gap and possible explanations (drivers of effectiveness) for differences between results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies investigating glucose-lowering drugs. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted in English language articles published between 1 January, 2000 and 31 January, 2015 describing either RCTs or observational studies comparing glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs (GLP-1) with insulin or comparing dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) with sulfonylurea, all with change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as outcome. Medline, Embase, Current Content, and Biosis were searched. Information on effect estimates, baseline characteristics of the study population, publication year, study duration, and number of patients, and for observational studies, characteristics related to confounding adjustment and selection- and information bias were extracted. Results From 312 hits, 11 RCTs and 7 observational studies comparing GLP-1 with insulin, and from 474 hits, 16 RCTs and 4 observational studies comparing DPP-4i with sulfonylurea were finally included. No differences were observed in baseline characteristics of the study populations (age, sex, body mass index, time since diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and HbA1c) or effect sizes across study designs. Mean effect sizes ranged from −0.43 to 0.91 and from −0.80 to 1.13 in RCTs and observational studies, respectively, comparing GLP-1 with insulin, and from −0.13 to 2.70 and −0.20 to 0.30 in RCTs and observational studies, respectively, comparing DPP-4i and sulfonylurea. Generally, the identified observational studies held potential flaws with regard to confounding adjustment and selection- and information bias. Conclusions Neither potential drivers of effectiveness nor an efficacy–effectiveness gap were identified. However, the limited number of studies and potential problems with confounding adjustment, selection- and information bias in the observational studies, may have hidden a true efficacy-effectiveness gap. PMID:28176959

Comparative effectiveness research - what is it and how does one do it?

PubMed

Goss, Christopher H; Tefft, Nathan

2013-09-01

Recent initiatives have increased focus on medical research that explores robust comparisons of clinical approaches broadly defined as comparative effectiveness research (CER). Federal mandates have generated definitions, established priorities, and offered organizational approaches for coordinating and conducting CER. This review will summarize the various definitions of CER, the role of cost assessment, and key study components of CER including study populations, study design, the use of secondary data, comparators employed in studies, outcome measures, and how results of CER should be disseminated. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

A Meta-analysis of Studies Comparing Outcomes of Diverse Acellular Dermal Matrices for Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction.

PubMed

Lee, Kyeong-Tae; Mun, Goo-Hyun

2017-07-01

The current diversity of the available acellular dermal matrix (ADM) materials for implant-based breast reconstruction raises the issue of whether there are any differences in postoperative outcomes according to the kind of ADM used. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether choice of ADM products can affect outcomes. Studies that used multiple kinds of ADM products for implant-based breast reconstruction and compared outcomes between them were searched. Outcomes of interest were rates of postoperative complications: infection, seroma, mastectomy flap necrosis, reconstruction failure, and overall complications. A total of 17 studies met the selection criteria. There was only 1 randomized controlled trial, and the other 16 studies had retrospective designs. Comparison of FlexHD, DermaMatrix, and ready-to-use AlloDerm with freeze-dried AlloDerm was conducted in multiple studies and could be meta-analyzed, in which 12 studies participated. In the meta-analysis comparing FlexHD and freeze-dried AlloDerm, using the results of 6 studies, both products showed similar pooled risks for all kinds of complications. When comparing DermaMatrix and freeze-dried AlloDerm with the results from 4 studies, there were also no differences between the pooled risks of complications of the two. Similarly, the meta-analysis of 4 studies comparing ready-to-use and freeze-dried AlloDerm demonstrated that the pooled risks for the complications did not differ. This meta-analysis demonstrates that the 3 recently invented, human cadaveric skin-based products of FlexHD, DermaMatrix, and ready-to-use AlloDerm have similar risks of complications compared with those of freeze-dried AlloDerm, which has been used for longer. However, as most studies had low levels of evidence, further investigations are needed.

Review of methodological challenges in comparing the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus primary debulking surgery for advanced ovarian cancer in the United States.

PubMed

Cole, Ashley L; Austin, Anna E; Hickson, Ryan P; Dixon, Matthew S; Barber, Emma L

2018-05-11

Randomized trials outside the U.S. have found non-inferior survival for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) versus primary debulking surgery (PDS) for advanced ovarian cancer (AOC). However, these trials reported lower overall survival and lower rates of optimal debulking than U.S. studies, leading to questions about generalizability to U.S. practice, where aggressive debulking is more common. Consequently, comparative effectiveness in the U.S. remains controversial. We reviewed U.S. comparative effectiveness studies of NACT versus PDS for AOC. Here we describe methodological challenges, compare results to trials outside the U.S., and make suggestions for future research. We identified U.S. studies published in 2010 or later that evaluated the comparative effectiveness of NACT versus PDS on survival in AOC through a PubMed search. Two independent reviewers abstracted data from eligible articles. Nine of 230 articles were eligible for review. Methodological challenges included unmeasured confounders, heterogeneous treatment effects, treatment variations over time, and inconsistent measurement of treatment and survival. Whereas some limitations were unavoidable, several limitations noted across studies were avoidable, including conditioning on mediating factors and immortal time introduced by measuring survival beginning from diagnosis. Without trials in the U.S., non-randomized studies are an important source of evidence for the ideal treatment for AOC. However, several methodological challenges exist when assessing the comparative effectiveness of NACT versus PDS in a non-randomized setting. Future observational studies must ensure that treatment is consistent throughout the study period and that treatment groups are comparable. Rapidly-evolving oncology data networks may allow for identification of treatment intent and other important confounders. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Simulation-based training for cardiac auscultation skills: systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

McKinney, James; Cook, David A; Wood, David; Hatala, Rose

2013-02-01

The current review examines the effectiveness of simulation-based medical education (SBME) for training health professionals in cardiac physical examination and examines the relative effectiveness of key instructional design features. Data sources included a comprehensive, systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, ERIC, Web of Science, and Scopus through May 2011. Included studies investigated SBME to teach health profession learners cardiac physical examination skills using outcomes of knowledge or skill. We carried out duplicate assessment of study quality and data abstraction and pooled effect sizes using random effects. We identified 18 articles for inclusion. Thirteen compared SBME to no-intervention (either single group pre-post comparisons or SBME added to other instruction common to all learners, such as traditional bedside teaching), three compared SBME to other educational interventions, and two compared two SBME interventions. Meta-analysis of the 13 no-intervention comparison studies demonstrated that simulation-based instruction in cardiac auscultation was effective, with pooled effect sizes of 1.10 (95 % CI 0.49-1.72; p < 0.001; I(2) = 92.4 %) for knowledge outcomes and 0.87 (95 % CI 0.52-1.22; p < 0.001; I(2) = 91.5 %) for skills. In sub-group analysis, hands-on practice with the simulator appeared to be an important teaching technique. Narrative review of the comparative effectiveness studies suggests that SBME may be of similar effectiveness to other active educational interventions, but more studies are required. The quantity of published evidence and the relative lack of comparative effectiveness studies limit this review. SBME is an effective educational strategy for teaching cardiac auscultation. Future studies should focus on comparing key instructional design features and establishing SBME's relative effectiveness compared to other educational interventions.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Exoskeletons as Assistive and Rehabilitation Devices in the Treatment of Neurologic Gait Disorders in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Fisahn, Christian; Aach, Mirko; Jansen, Oliver; Moisi, Marc; Mayadev, Angeli; Pagarigan, Krystle T.; Dettori, Joseph R.; Schildhauer, Thomas A.

2016-01-01

Study Design Systematic review. Clinical Questions (1) When used as an assistive device, do wearable exoskeletons improve lower extremity function or gait compared with knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) in patients with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury? (2) When used as a rehabilitation device, do wearable exoskeletons improve lower extremity function or gait compared with other rehabilitation strategies in patients with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury? (3) When used as an assistive or rehabilitation device, are wearable exoskeletons safe compared with KAFO for assistance or other rehabilitation strategies for rehabilitation in patients with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury? Methods PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases and reference lists of key articles were searched from database inception to May 2, 2016, to identify studies evaluating the effectiveness of wearable exoskeletons used as assistive or rehabilitative devices in patients with incomplete or complete spinal cord injury. Results No comparison studies were found evaluating exoskeletons as an assistive device. Nine comparison studies (11 publications) evaluated the use of exoskeletons as a rehabilitative device. The 10-meter walk test velocity and Spinal Cord Independence Measure scores showed no difference in change from baseline among patients undergoing exoskeleton training compared with various comparator therapies. The remaining primary outcome measures of 6-minute walk test distance and Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury I and II and Functional Independence Measure–Locomotor scores showed mixed results, with some studies indicating no difference in change from baseline between exoskeleton training and comparator therapies, some indicating benefit of exoskeleton over comparator therapies, and some indicating benefit of comparator therapies over exoskeleton. Conclusion There is no data to compare locomotion assistance with exoskeleton versus conventional KAFOs. There is no consistent benefit from rehabilitation using an exoskeleton versus a variety of conventional methods in patients with chronic spinal cord injury. Trials comparing later-generation exoskeletons are needed. PMID:27853668

DPP-4 inhibitor therapy and bone fractures in people with Type 2 diabetes - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Mamza, Jil; Marlin, Carol; Wang, Cai; Chokkalingam, Kamal; Idris, Iskandar

2016-06-01

Fracture risk is higher in older adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Oral glucose-lowering medications have different effects on bone metabolism. The purpose of this study is to appraise the evidence from literature and determine the effect of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor on the risk of developing bone fractures. Using Boolean search terms, the search strategy combined synonyms of 'fracture' and 'DPP-4 inhibitor'. Comprehensive electronic databases which include EMBASE, MEDLINE, the EMA and the WHO ICTRP databases were searched for randomised controlled trial (RCT) studies which compared a DPP-4 inhibitor with an active comparator or placebo amongst patients with T2DM. Meta-analysis was performed to compare DPP-4 inhibitor with either an active comparator or a placebo. The outcome measure was the presence or absence of fracture. The search yielded 5061 records relating to fractures and DPP-4 inhibitor, from which 51 eligible RCTs were selected for meta-analysis (N=36,402). Thirty-seven (37) studies compared DPP-4 inhibitor with placebo (n=23,974), while fourteen (14) studies (n=12,428) compared DPP-4 inhibitor with an active comparator. The mean age of patients was 57.5±5.4years, the average glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was 8.2%, while the average BMI was 30±2kg/m(2). Overall, there was no significant association of fracture events with the use of DPP-4 inhibitor when compared with placebo (OR; 0.82, 95% CI 0.57-1.16, P=0.9) or when DPP-4 inhibitor was compared against an active comparator (OR; 1.59, 95% CI 0.91-2.80, P=0.9). This study offers a larger, up-to-date review of the subject. The meta-analysis showed that there was no significant association between DPP-4 inhibitor use and the incidence of fractures. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

L-Carnitine treatment reduces severity of physical and mental fatigue and increases cognitive functions in centenarians: a randomized and controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Malaguarnera, Mariano; Cammalleri, Lisa; Gargante, Maria Pia; Vacante, Marco; Colonna, Valentina; Motta, Massimo

2007-12-01

Centenarians are characterized by weakness, decreasing mental health, impaired mobility, and poor endurance. L-Carnitine is an important contributor to cellular energy metabolism. This study evaluated the efficacy of L-carnitine on physical and mental fatigue and on cognitive functions of centenarians. This was a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, 2-phase study. Sixty-six centenarians with onset of fatigue after even slight physical activity were recruited to the study. The 2 groups received either 2 g levocarnitine once daily (n = 32) or placebo (n = 34). Efficacy measures included changes in total fat mass, total muscle mass, serum triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living, and a 6-min walking corridor test. At the end of the study period, the levocarnitine-treated centenarians, compared with the placebo group, showed significant improvements in the following markers: total fat mass (-1.80 compared with 0.6 kg; P < 0.01), total muscle mass (3.80 compared with 0.8 kg; P < 0.01), plasma concentrations of total carnitine (12.60 compared with -1.70 mumol; P < 0.05), plasma long-chain acylcarnitine (1.50 compared with -0.1 micromol; P < 0.001), and plasma short-chain acylcarnitine (6.0 compared with -1.50 micromol; P < 0.001). Significant differences were also found in physical fatigue (-4.10 compared with -1.10; P < 0.01), mental fatigue (-2.70 compared with 0.30; P < 0.001), fatigue severity (-23.60 compared with 1.90; P < 0.001), and MMSE (4.1 compared with 0.6; P < 0.001). Our study indicates that oral administration of levocarnitine produces a reduction of total fat mass, increases total muscular mass, and facilitates an increased capacity for physical and cognitive activity by reducing fatigue and improving cognitive functions.

Longitudinal comparison study of pressure relief (C-Flex) vs. CPAP in OSA patients.

PubMed

Dolan, Diana C; Okonkwo, Renata; Gfullner, Florian; Hansbrough, J Randall; Strobel, Richard J; Rosenthal, Leon

2009-03-01

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices with the option of flexible pressure delivery (e.g., C-Flex) are thought to provide an improved degree of comfort and result in better therapeutic adherence while maintaining standard CPAP efficacy. The purpose of this study was to compare adherence and subjective measures of comfort between C-Flex and CPAP treatment. The study was an international, multisite, single-blinded study with participants randomized to either C-Flex or CPAP. Participants completed subjective measures of sleepiness and comfort at baseline, and at 30-, 90-, and 180-day follow-ups. Additionally, compliance data were downloaded from the device at each follow-up. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to assess the effects of treatment. There were 138 men and 46 women (average age of 48 +/- 9.2, average Epworth Sleepiness Scale score of 14.9 +/- 3.6, and average diagnostic apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) of 51.9 +/- 27.7). C-Flex and CPAP groups were comparable on baseline measures, achieved comparable AHI on titration, and had comparable PAP pressure requirements. C-Flex users had comparable average hours of use per night and total nights of use across the study, but had a trend (p < .07) toward achieving greater total hours of utilization. While both groups had comparable decreases in sleepiness, C-Flex users reported on visual analog scales greater comfort (64.3 vs. 57.4; p = .01). The results of this study demonstrated that C-Flex has comparable resolution of respiratory indices and adherence. Furthermore, C-Flex users reported greater mask comfort.

The effectiveness of manual stretching in the treatment of plantar heel pain: a systematic review

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Plantar heel pain is a commonly occurring foot complaint. Stretching is frequently utilised as a treatment, yet a systematic review focusing only on its effectiveness has not been published. This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of stretching on pain and function in people with plantar heel pain. Methods Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, and The Cochrane Library were searched from inception to July 2010. Studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were independently assessed, and their quality evaluated using the modified PEDro scale. Results Six studies including 365 symptomatic participants were included. Two compared stretching with a control, one study compared stretching to an alternative intervention, one study compared stretching to both alternative and control interventions, and two compared different stretching techniques and durations. Quality rating on the modified Pedro scale varied from two to eight out of a maximum of ten points. The methodologies and interventions varied significantly between studies, making meta-analysis inappropriate. Most participants improved over the course of the studies, but when stretching was compared to alternative or control interventions, the changes only reached statistical significance in one study that used a combination of calf muscle stretches and plantar fascia stretches in their stretching programme. Another study comparing different stretching techniques, showed a statistically significant reduction in some aspects of pain in favour of plantar fascia stretching over calf stretches in the short term. Conclusions There were too few studies to assess whether stretching is effective compared to control or other interventions, for either pain or function. However, there is some evidence that plantar fascia stretching may be more effective than Achilles tendon stretching alone in the short-term. Appropriately powered randomised controlled trials, utilizing validated outcome measures, blinded assessors and long-term follow up are needed to assess the efficacy of stretching. PMID:21703003

A Comparative Literature Review of the Studies on Drama in English Language Teaching in Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ustuk, Özgehan; Inan, Dilek

2017-01-01

This study presents a comparative literature review of the research studies related to the effects of drama in teaching English as a foreign language. First, the study explains drama in education with regard to foreign language education. In a narrative review design, it demonstrates international studies in four categories under which the…

A Comparative Study of Iranian and Japanese English Teachers' Demotivational Factors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baniasad-Azad, Somayeh; Ketabi, Saeed

2013-01-01

This study examined demotivational factors among Iranian and Japanese college teachers of English. To achieve the purpose, the study used a 35-item questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The results were compared with the similar study in Japan by Sugino (2010). The findings of the study revealed that Iranian and Japanese lecturers are much…

Religion and Education: Comparative and International Perspectives. Oxford Studies in Comparative Education. Oxford Studies in Comparative Education Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sivasubramaniam, Malina, Ed.; Hayhoe, Ruth, Ed.

2018-01-01

Despite the increased trend towards secularization in state schooling, issues of religion and spirituality have remained important. Increased pluralism within societies through expanding migration patterns is changing the religious and cultural contours of many countries in Europe and North America, and is creating a need for a deeper…

A Comparative Study of Academic Achievement and Participation in a High School Freshman Academy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seng, Mark Patrick

2014-01-01

The transition to high school can be problematic for many ninth graders. Researchers and administrators have sought ways to improve academic performance and promotion rates while reducing dropout rates. A quantitative causal-comparative (ex post facto) and correlation study using a two-group design compared two freshman classes at separate…

A Comparative Study on Power Point Presentation and Traditional Lecture Method in Material Understandability, Effectiveness and Attitude

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sewasew, Daniel; Mengestle, Missaye; Abate, Gebeyehu

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to compare PPT and traditional lecture method in material understandability, effectiveness and attitude among university students. Comparative descriptive survey research design was employed to answer the research questions raised. Four hundred and twenty nine participants were selected randomly using stratified sampling…

Mobile Learning vs. Traditional Classroom Lessons: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Furió, D.; Juan, M.-C.; Seguí, I.; Vivó, R.

2015-01-01

Different methods can be used for learning, and they can be compared in several aspects, especially those related to learning outcomes. In this paper, we present a study in order to compare the learning effectiveness and satisfaction of children using an iPhone game for learning the water cycle vs. the traditional classroom lesson. The iPhone game…

A Comparative Study of Test Data Dimensionality Assessment Procedures Under Nonparametric IRT Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Abswoude, Alexandra A. H.; van der Ark, L. Andries; Sijtsma, Klaas

2004-01-01

In this article, an overview of nonparametric item response theory methods for determining the dimensionality of item response data is provided. Four methods were considered: MSP, DETECT, HCA/CCPROX, and DIMTEST. First, the methods were compared theoretically. Second, a simulation study was done to compare the effectiveness of MSP, DETECT, and…

Role of intrapartum transcervical amnioinfusion in patients with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

PubMed

Bhatia, Pushpa; Reena, Kumari; Nangia, Sangita

2013-03-01

The study was undertaken to evaluate maternal, perinatal outcomes following transcervical intrapartum amnioinfusion in women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. A prospective comparative study was conducted on 100 women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid in labor. Group A: study group (50 cases) received amnioinfusion. Group B: control group (50 cases) did not receive amnioinfusion. FHR monitoring was done using cardiotocography. Significant relief from variable decelerations was seen in 68.18 % cases in the amnioinfusion group as compared to 7.1 % cases in the control group. 78 % cases who were given amnioinfusion had vaginal delivery as compared to 18 % cases in the control group. Fourteen percent cases in the study group had cesarean delivery as compared to 68 % cases in the control group. Meconium aspiration syndrome was seen in six percent neonates in the study group as compared to 20 % in the control group. Two neonates died in the control group due to meconium aspiration syndrome. There was no maternal mortality or major maternal complication. Intrapartum transcervical amnioinfusion is valuable in patients with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Proposing a sequential comparative analysis for assessing multilateral health agency transformation and sustainable capacity: exploring the advantages of institutional theory

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background This article proposes an approach to comparing and assessing the adaptive capacity of multilateral health agencies in meeting country and individual healthcare needs. Most studies comparing multilateral health agencies have failed to clearly propose a method for conducting agency comparisons. Methods This study conducted a qualitative case study methodological approach, such that secondary and primary case study literature was used to conduct case study comparisons of multilateral health agencies. Results Through the proposed Sequential Comparative Analysis (SCA), the author found a more effective way to justify the selection of cases, compare and assess organizational transformative capacity, and to learn from agency success in policy sustainability processes. Conclusions To more affectively understand and explain why some multilateral health agencies are more capable of adapting to country and individual healthcare needs, SCA provides a methodological approach that may help to better understand why these agencies are so different and what we can learn from successful reform processes. As funding challenges continue to hamper these agencies' adaptive capacity, learning from each other will become increasingly important. PMID:24886283

Proposing a sequential comparative analysis for assessing multilateral health agency transformation and sustainable capacity: exploring the advantages of institutional theory.

PubMed

Gómez, Eduardo J

2014-05-20

This article proposes an approach to comparing and assessing the adaptive capacity of multilateral health agencies in meeting country and individual healthcare needs. Most studies comparing multilateral health agencies have failed to clearly propose a method for conducting agency comparisons. This study conducted a qualitative case study methodological approach, such that secondary and primary case study literature was used to conduct case study comparisons of multilateral health agencies. Through the proposed Sequential Comparative Analysis (SCA), the author found a more effective way to justify the selection of cases, compare and assess organizational transformative capacity, and to learn from agency success in policy sustainability processes. To more affectively understand and explain why some multilateral health agencies are more capable of adapting to country and individual healthcare needs, SCA provides a methodological approach that may help to better understand why these agencies are so different and what we can learn from successful reform processes. As funding challenges continue to hamper these agencies' adaptive capacity, learning from each other will become increasingly important.

Are batterers different from other criminals? An fMRI study

PubMed Central

Verdejo-Román, Juan; Contreras-Rodríguez, Oren; Carmona-Perera, Martina; Pérez-García, Miguel; Hidalgo-Ruzzante, Natalia

2016-01-01

Abstract Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex and global phenomenon that requires a multi-perspective analysis. Nevertheless, the number of neuroscientific studies conducted on this issue is scarce as compared with studies of other types of violence, and no neuroimaging studies comparing batterers to other criminals have been conducted. Thus, the main aim of this study was to compare the brain functioning of batterers to that of other criminals when they are exposed to IPV or general violence pictures. An fMRI study was conducted in 21 batterers and 20 other criminals while they observed IPV images (IPVI), general violence images (GVI) and neutral images (NI). Results demonstrated that batterers, compared with other criminals, exhibited a higher activation in the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex and in the middle prefrontal cortex and a decreased activation in the superior prefrontal cortex to IPVI compared to NI. The paired t-test comparison between IPVI and GVI for each group showed engagement of the medial prefrontal cortex, the posterior cingulate and the left angular cortices to IPVI in the batterer group only. These results could have important implications for a better understanding of the IPV phenomenon. PMID:26884544

A Comparative Reference Study for the Validation of HLA-Matching Algorithms in the Search for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donors and Cord Blood Units

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-15

HLA ISSN 2059-2302 A comparative reference study for the validation of HLA-matching algorithms in the search for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell...from different inter- national donor registries by challenging them with simulated input data and subse- quently comparing the output. This experiment...original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. Comparative reference validation of HLA

Hierarchy of evidence: differences in results between non-randomized studies and randomized trials in patients with femoral neck fractures.

PubMed

Bhandari, Mohit; Tornetta, Paul; Ellis, Thomas; Audige, Laurent; Sprague, Sheila; Kuo, Jonathann C; Swiontkowski, Marc F

2004-01-01

There have been a number of non-randomized studies comparing arthroplasty with internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures. However, there remains considerable debate about whether the results of non-randomized studies are consistent with the results of randomized, controlled trials. Given the economic burden of hip fractures, it remains essential to identify therapies to improve outcomes; however, whether data from non-randomized studies of an intervention should be used to guide patient care remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether the pooled results of mortality and revision surgery among non-randomized studies were similar to those of randomized trials in studies comparing arthroplasty with internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures. We conducted a Medline search from 1969 to June 2002, identifying both randomized and non-randomized studies comparing internal fixation with arthroplasty in patients with femoral neck fractures. Additional strategies to identify relevant articles included Cochrane database, SCISEARCH, textbooks, annual meeting programs, and content experts. We abstracted information on mortality and revision rates in each study and compared the pooled results between non-randomized and randomized studies. In addition, we explored potential reasons for dissimilar results between the two study designs. We identified 140 citations that addressed the general topic of comparison of arthroplasty and internal fixation for hip fracture. Of these, 27 studies met the eligibility criteria, 13 of which were non-randomized studies and 14 of which were randomized trials. Mortality data was available in all 13 non-randomized studies ( n=3108 patients) and in 12 randomized studies ( n=1767 patients). Non-randomized studies overestimated the risk of mortality by 40% when compared with the results of randomized trials (relative risk 1.44 vs 1.04, respectively). Information on revision risk was available in 9 non-randomized studies ( n=2764 patients) and all 14 randomized studies ( n=1901 patients). Both estimates from non-randomized and randomized studies revealed a significant reduction in the risk of revision surgery with arthroplasty compared with internal fixation (relative risk 0.38 vs 0.23, respectively). The reduction in the risk of revision surgery with arthroplasty compared with internal fixation was 62% for non-randomized studies and 77% for randomized trials. Thus, non-randomized studies underestimated the relative benefit of arthroplasty by 19.5%. Non-randomized studies with point estimates of relative risk similar to the pooled estimate for randomized trials all controlled for patient age, gender, and fracture displacement in their comparisons of mortality. We were unable to identify reasons for differences in the revision rate results between the study designs. Similar to other reports in medical subspecialties, non-randomized studies provided results dissimilar to randomized trials of arthroplasty vs internal fixation for mortality and revision rates in patients with femoral neck fractures. Investigators should be aware of these discrepancies when evaluating the merits of alternative surgical interventions, especially when both randomized trials and non-randomized comparative studies are available.

Comparative effectiveness research in cancer with observational data.

PubMed

Giordano, Sharon H

2015-01-01

Observational studies are increasingly being used for comparative effectiveness research. These studies can have the greatest impact when randomized trials are not feasible or when randomized studies have not included the population or outcomes of interest. However, careful attention must be paid to study design to minimize the likelihood of selection biases. Analytic techniques, such as multivariable regression modeling, propensity score analysis, and instrumental variable analysis, also can also be used to help address confounding. Oncology has many existing large and clinically rich observational databases that can be used for comparative effectiveness research. With careful study design, observational studies can produce valid results to assess the benefits and harms of a treatment or intervention in representative real-world populations.

Design of the North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness and Survivorship Study (NC ProCESS).

PubMed

Chen, Ronald C; Carpenter, William R; Kim, Mimi; Hendrix, Laura H; Agans, Robert P; Meyer, Anne-Marie; Hoffmeyer, Anna; Reeve, Bryce B; Nielsen, Matthew E; Usinger, Deborah S; Strigo, Tara S; Jackman, Anne M; Anderson, Mary; Godley, Paul A

2015-01-01

The North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness & Survivorship Study (NC ProCESS) was designed in collaboration with stakeholders to compare the effectiveness of different treatment options for localized prostate cancer. Using the Rapid Case Ascertainment system of the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry, 1,419 patients (57% of eligible) with newly-diagnosed localized prostate cancer were enrolled from January 2011 to June 2013, on average 5 weeks after diagnosis. All participants were enrolled prior to treatment and this population-based cohort is sociodemographically diverse. Prospective follow-up continues to collect data on treatments received, disease control, survival and patient-reported outcomes. This study highlights several important considerations regarding stakeholder involvement, study design and generalizability regarding comparative effectiveness research in prostate cancer.

Comparative analysis of the large truck crash causation study and naturalistic driving data.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-11-01

The aim of this study was to compare the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) and Naturalistic Driving : (ND) datasets to identify discrepancies and to determine the source(s) of these discrepancies. The project included a : generalized comparat...

Minoxidil 2% lotion for eyebrow enhancement: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, spilt-face comparative study.

PubMed

Lee, Saridpong; Tanglertsampan, Chuchai; Tanchotikul, Mingkwan; Worapunpong, Nigun

2014-02-01

Topical minoxidil has been successfully used to treat androgenetic alopecia. It can also be applied to enhance eyebrows. However, there is no study comparing minoxidil lotion with placebo for eyebrow enhancement. In this trial, we determined the efficacy and safety of minoxidil 2% lotion for eyebrow enhancement compared with placebo. Forty patients were randomized for minoxidil on the eyebrow on one side of the face and placebo on the other. Efficacy was evaluated by global photographic assessment, eyebrow diameter, eyebrow count and subject's satisfaction. Side-effects were also evaluated. Thirty-nine patients (97.5%) completed the study. After 16 weeks, the minoxidil group achieved significantly better results in all measured outcomes compared to the placebo group. Side-effects were minor and did not preclude patients from continuing the study. Our study suggests that minoxidil 2% lotion is a safe and effective treatment for eyebrow hypotrichosis. © 2014 Japanese Dermatological Association.

Cytokine Profile in Chronic Periodontitis Patients with and without Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PubMed Central

Abduljabbar, Tariq; Abu Hassan, Mohamed Ibrahim; Vohra, Fahim

2016-01-01

To investigate the cytokine profile as biomarkers in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of chronic periodontitis (CP) patients with and without obesity, MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, and SCOPUS databases were combined with handsearching of articles published from 1977 up to May 2016 using relevant MeSH terms. Meta-analyses were conducted separately for each of the cytokines: resistin, adiponectin, TNF-α, leptin, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β. Forest plots were produced reporting standardized mean difference of outcomes and 95% confidence intervals. Eleven studies were included. Three studies showed comparable levels of leptin among obese and nonobese patients with CP. Four studies reported comparable levels of interleukin- (IL-) 6 and resistin whereas five studies reported comparable levels of adiponectin. Two studies reported similar levels of CRP in patients with periodontitis with and without obesity. One study showed higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in obese patients with CP. One study showed higher levels of IL-1β and IL-8 in obese patients with CP. The level of localized periodontal inflammation may have a greater influence on the GCF proinflammatory biomarker levels as compared to systemic obesity. Whether patients having chronic periodontitis with obesity have elevated proinflammatory GCF biomarkers levels compared to nonobese individuals remains debatable. PMID:27795608

Vowel Space Characteristics of Speech Directed to Children With and Without Hearing Loss

PubMed Central

Wieland, Elizabeth A.; Burnham, Evamarie B.; Kondaurova, Maria; Bergeson, Tonya R.

2015-01-01

Purpose This study examined vowel characteristics in adult-directed (AD) and infant-directed (ID) speech to children with hearing impairment who received cochlear implants or hearing aids compared with speech to children with normal hearing. Method Mothers' AD and ID speech to children with cochlear implants (Study 1, n = 20) or hearing aids (Study 2, n = 11) was compared with mothers' speech to controls matched on age and hearing experience. The first and second formants of vowels /i/, /ɑ/, and /u/ were measured, and vowel space area and dispersion were calculated. Results In both studies, vowel space was modified in ID compared with AD speech to children with and without hearing loss. Study 1 showed larger vowel space area and dispersion in ID compared with AD speech regardless of infant hearing status. The pattern of effects of ID and AD speech on vowel space characteristics in Study 2 was similar to that in Study 1, but depended partly on children's hearing status. Conclusion Given previously demonstrated associations between expanded vowel space in ID compared with AD speech and enhanced speech perception skills, this research supports a focus on vowel pronunciation in developing intervention strategies for improving speech-language skills in children with hearing impairment. PMID:25658071

Impact of bioresorbable versus permanent polymer on longterm vessel wall inflammation and healing: a comparative drug-eluting stent experimental study.

PubMed

Wilson, Gregory J; McGregor, Jennifer; Conditt, Gerard; Shibuya, Masahiko; Sushkova, Natalia; Eppihimer, Michael J; Hawley, Steven P; Rouselle, Serge D; Huibregtse, Barbara A; Dawkins, Keith D; Granada, Juan F

2018-02-20

Drug-eluting stents (DES) have evolved to using bioresorbable polymers as a method of drug delivery. The impact of bioresorbable polymer on long-term neointimal formation, inflammation, and healing has not been fully characterised. This study aimed to evaluate the biological effect of polymer resorption on vascular healing and inflammation. A comparative DES study was performed in the familial hypercholesterolaemic swine model of coronary stenosis. Permanent polymer DES (zotarolimus-eluting [ZES] or everolimus-eluting [EES]) were compared to bioresorbable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (BP-EES) and BMS. Post implantation in 29 swine, stents were explanted and analysed up to 180 days. Area stenosis was reduced in all DES compared to BMS at 30 days. At 180 days, BP-EES had significantly lower area stenosis than EES or ZES. Severe inflammatory activity persisted in permanent polymer DES at 180 days compared to BP-EES or BMS. Qualitative para-strut inflammation areas (graded as none to severe) were elevated but similar in all groups at 30 days, peaked at 90 days in DES compared to BMS (p<0.05) and, at 180 days, were similar between BMS and BP-EES but were significantly greater in DES. BP-EES resulted in a lower net long-term reduction in neointimal formation and inflammation compared to permanent polymer DES in an animal model. Further study of the long-term neointima formation deserves study in human clinical trials.

Networking Course Syllabus in Accredited Library and Information Science Programs: A Comparative Analysis Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abouserie, Hossam Eldin Mohamed Refaat

2009-01-01

The study investigated networking courses offered in accredited Library and Information Science schools in the United States in 2009. The study analyzed and compared network syllabi according to Course Syllabus Evaluation Rubric to obtain in-depth understanding of basic features and characteristics of networking courses taught. The study embraced…

Study on Lexical Cohesion in English and Persian Research Articles (A Comparative Study)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mirzapour, Fatemeh; Ahmadi, Maryam

2011-01-01

The present study aims to analyze comparatively English and Persian research articles (Linguistics, Literature, and Library and Information disciplines) in terms of number and degree of utilization of sub-types of lexical cohesion in order to appreciate textualization processes in the two languages concerned. The study analyzes 60 research…

Comparison of Three Methods of Reducing Test Anxiety: Systematic Desensitization, Implosive Therapy, and Study Counseling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cornish, Richard D.; Dilley, Josiah S.

1973-01-01

Systematic desensitization, implosive therapy, and study counseling have all been effective in reducing test anxiety. In addition, systematic desensitization has been compared to study counseling for effectiveness. This study compares all three methods and suggests that systematic desentization is more effective than the others, and that implosive…

Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness among Schizophrenic Patients and Their Families (Comparative Study)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahmoud, Sahar; Zaki, Rania A.

2015-01-01

This study was a comparative study aiming to assess the extent of internalized stigma of mental illness among patients with schizophrenia & identify stigma as perceived by family members caring schizophrenic patients. The study was conducted in two settings 1st clinic was outpatient clinic for psychiatric patient affiliated to Abbasia…

Effects of Coaching on Instructional Practices: A Comparative Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carlson, Rosie M.

2017-01-01

This comparative case study analyzed two styles of coaching, team and individual, and the perceived impact each style has on instructional practices. This study was conducted in two elementary schools that are part of the same charter organization in California. The study identified the challenges and benefits of each style through interviews with…

"Lies, damned lies ..." and observational studies in comparative effectiveness research.

PubMed

Albert, Richard K

2013-06-01

A new federal initiative has allocated $1.1 billion to comparative effectiveness research, and many have emphasized the importance of including observational studies in this effort. The rationale for using observational studies to assess comparative effectiveness is based on concerns that randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are not "real world" because they enroll homogeneous patient populations, measure study outcomes that are not important to patients, use protocols that are overly complex, are conducted in specialized centers, and use study treatments that are not consistent with usual care, and that RCTs are not always feasible because of a lack of equipoise, the need to assess delayed endpoints, and concerns that they take years to complete and are expensive. This essay questions the validity of each of these proposed limitations, summarizes concerns raised about the accuracy of results generated by observational studies, provides some examples of discrepancies between results of observational studies and RCTs that pertain to pulmonary and critical care, and suggests that using observational studies for comparative effectiveness research may increase rather than decrease the cost of health care and may harm patients.

Clinical and Health Outcomes Initiative in Comparative Effectiveness for Bipolar Disorder (Bipolar CHOICE): a pragmatic trial of complex treatment for a complex disorder.

PubMed

Nierenberg, Andrew A; Sylvia, Louisa G; Leon, Andrew C; Reilly-Harrington, Noreen A; Shesler, Leah W; McElroy, Susan L; Friedman, Edward S; Thase, Michael E; Shelton, Richard C; Bowden, Charles L; Tohen, Mauricio; Singh, Vivek; Deckersbach, Thilo; Ketter, Terence A; Kocsis, James H; McInnis, Melvin G; Schoenfeld, David; Bobo, William V; Calabrese, Joseph R

2014-02-01

Classic and second-generation antipsychotic mood stabilizers are recommended for treatment of bipolar disorder, yet there are no randomized comparative effectiveness studies that have examined the 'real-world' advantages and disadvantages of these medications. We describe the strategic decisions in the design of the Clinical and Health Outcomes Initiative in Comparative Effectiveness for Bipolar Disorder (Bipolar CHOICE). This article outlines the key issues and solutions the investigators faced in designing a clinical trial that would maximize generalizability and inform real-world clinical treatment of bipolar disorder. Bipolar CHOICE was a 6-month, multi-site, prospective, randomized clinical trial of outpatients with bipolar disorder. This study compares the effectiveness of quetiapine versus lithium, each with adjunctive personalized treatments (APTs). The co-primary outcomes selected are the overall benefits and harms of the study medications (as measured by the Clinical Global Impression-Efficacy Index) and the Necessary Clinical Adjustments (a measure of the number of medication changes). Secondary outcomes are continuous measures of mood, the Framingham General Cardiovascular Risk Score, and the Longitudinal Interval Follow up Evaluation Range of Impaired Functioning Tool (LIFE-RIFT). The final study design consisted of a single-blind, randomized comparative effectiveness trial of quetiapine versus lithium, plus APT, across 10 sites. Other important study considerations included limited exclusion criteria to maximize generalizability, flexible dosing of APT medications to mimic real-world treatment, and an intent-to-treat analysis plan. In all, 482 participants were randomized to the study, and 364 completed the study. The potential limitations of the study include the heterogeneity of APT, selection of study medications, lack of a placebo-control group, and participants' ability to pay for study medications. We expect that this study will inform our understanding of the benefits and harms of lithium, a classic mood stabilizer, compared to quetiapine, a second-generation antipsychotic with broad-spectrum activity in bipolar disorder, and will provide an example of a well-designed and well-conducted randomized comparative effectiveness clinical trial.

An empirical analysis of the public's attitudes toward advertising hospital services: a comparative cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Moser, H Ronald; Freeman, Gordon L

2014-01-01

This study investigates current opinions about hospital advertising and compares them to the attitudes expressed 25 years ago. It replicates a survey done in 1985, using the same questionnaire and population to compare responses longitudinally. The study indicates some changes in the public's opinions of hospital advertising. Although the image of hospitals remains positive, most of the 2010 respondents' opinions were rather mixed regarding whether it is proper for hospitals to advertise. The study also confirmed that the quality of service and reputation of hospitals remain more important to the public than price.

The Effect of German and Turkish Mathematics Teachers' Teaching Experience on Mathematics Education Values: A Cross-Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dede, Yuksel

2013-01-01

This study reported the specific findings of a larger comparative study concerning Turkish and German mathematics teachers' values. The main focus was on the teaching experience of the mathematics teachers. Interactions related to nationality were also of interest. The research methodology employed in this study was a descriptive study. The…

National Study of Student Support Services. Third-Year Longitudinal Study Results and Program Implementation Study Update.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chaney, Bradford; Muraskin, Lana; Cahalan, Margaret; Rak, Rebecca

This follow-up study, part of the National Study of Student Support Services compared the status of 2,900 disadvantaged students receiving student support services (SSS) since entering college 3 years earlier and 2,900 nonparticipating comparable students. Services offered varied among institutions but were all intended to help students stay in…

Quality Assessment of Comparative Diagnostic Accuracy Studies: Our Experience Using a Modified Version of the QUADAS-2 Tool

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wade, Ros; Corbett, Mark; Eastwood, Alison

2013-01-01

Assessing the quality of included studies is a vital step in undertaking a systematic review. The recently revised Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) tool (QUADAS-2), which is the only validated quality assessment tool for diagnostic accuracy studies, does not include specific criteria for assessing comparative studies. As…

76 FR 76422 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Experimental...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-07

...] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Experimental Study on Comparing Data Obtained From Landline Telephone and Cell Phone Surveys AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration... notice. This notice solicits comments on a study entitled ``Experimental Study on Comparing Data Obtained...

Developing comparative criminology and the case of China: an introduction.

PubMed

Liu, Jianhong

2007-02-01

Although comparative criminology has made significant development during the past decade or so, systematic empirical research has only developed along a few topics. Comparative criminology has never occupied a central position in criminology. This article analyzes the major theoretical and methodological impediments in the development of comparative criminology. It stresses a need to shift methodology from a conventional primary approach that uses the nation as the unit of analysis to an in-depth case study method as a primary methodological approach. The article maintains that case study method can overcome the limitation of its descriptive tradition and become a promising methodological approach for comparative criminology.

Composite scores in comparative effectiveness research: counterbalancing parsimony and dimensionality in patient-reported outcomes.

PubMed

Schwartz, Carolyn E; Patrick, Donald L

2014-07-01

When planning a comparative effectiveness study comparing disease-modifying treatments, competing demands influence choice of outcomes. Current practice emphasizes parsimony, although understanding multidimensional treatment impact can help to personalize medical decision-making. We discuss both sides of this 'tug of war'. We discuss the assumptions, advantages and drawbacks of composite scores and multidimensional outcomes. We describe possible solutions to the multiple comparison problem, including conceptual hierarchy distinctions, statistical approaches, 'real-world' benchmarks of effectiveness and subgroup analysis. We conclude that comparative effectiveness research should consider multiple outcome dimensions and compare different approaches that fit the individual context of study objectives.

The Use of Learning Study in Designing Examples for Teaching Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jian-Peng; Yang, Ling-Yan; Ding, Yi

2017-07-01

Researchers have consistently demonstrated that studying multiple examples is more effective than studying one example because comparing multiple examples can promote schema construction and facilitate discernment of critical aspects. Teachers, however, are usually absent from those self-led text-based studies. In this experimental study, a learning study approach based on variation theory was adopted to examine the effectiveness of teachers' different ways of designing multiple examples in helping students learn a physics principle. Three hundred and fifty-one tenth-grade students learned to distinguish action-reaction from equilibrium (a) by comparing examples that varied critical aspects first separately and then simultaneously, or (b) by comparing examples that separately varied critical aspects only. Results showed that students with average academic attainment benefited more from comparing examples in the first condition. Students with higher academic attainment learned equally within both conditions. This finding supports the advantage of simultaneous variation. The characteristics of students and instructional support should be taken into account when considering the effectiveness of patterns of variation.

Comparing lumbo-pelvic kinematics in people with and without back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Clinicians commonly examine posture and movement in people with the belief that correcting dysfunctional movement may reduce pain. If dysfunctional movement is to be accurately identified, clinicians should know what constitutes normal movement and how this differs in people with low back pain (LBP). This systematic review examined studies that compared biomechanical aspects of lumbo-pelvic movement in people with and without LBP. Methods MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, AMI, CINAHL, Scopus, AMED, ISI Web of Science were searched from inception until January 2014 for relevant studies. Studies had to compare adults with and without LBP using skin surface measurement techniques to measure lumbo-pelvic posture or movement. Two reviewers independently applied inclusion and exclusion criteria, and identified and extracted data. Standardised mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for group differences between people with and without LBP, and where possible, meta-analyses were performed. Within-group variability in all measurements was also compared. Results The search identified 43 eligible studies. Compared to people without LBP, on average, people with LBP display: (i) no difference in lordosis angle (8 studies), (ii) reduced lumbar ROM (19 studies), (iii) no difference in lumbar relative to hip contribution to end-range flexion (4 studies), (iv) no difference in standing pelvic tilt angle (3 studies), (v) slower movement (8 studies), and (vi) reduced proprioception (17 studies). Movement variability appeared greater for people with LBP for flexion, lateral flexion and rotation ROM, and movement speed, but not for other movement characteristics. Considerable heterogeneity exists between studies, including a lack of detail or standardization between studies on the criteria used to define participants as people with LBP (cases) or without LBP (controls). Conclusions On average, people with LBP have reduced lumbar ROM and proprioception, and move more slowly compared to people without LBP. Whether these deficits exist prior to LBP onset is unknown. PMID:25012528

Cost-effectiveness of health research study participant recruitment strategies: a systematic review.

PubMed

Huynh, Lynn; Johns, Benjamin; Liu, Su-Hsun; Vedula, S Swaroop; Li, Tianjing; Puhan, Milo A

2014-10-01

A large fraction of the cost of conducting clinical trials is allocated to recruitment of participants. A synthesis of findings from studies that evaluate the cost and effectiveness of different recruitment strategies will inform investigators in designing cost-efficient clinical trials. To systematically identify, assess, and synthesize evidence from published comparisons of the cost and yield of strategies for recruitment of participants to health research studies. We included randomized studies in which two or more strategies for recruitment of participants had been compared. We focused our economic evaluation on studies that randomized participants to different recruitment strategies. We identified 10 randomized studies that compared recruitment strategies, including monetary incentives (cash or prize), direct contact (letters or telephone call), and medical referral strategies. Only two of the 10 studies compared strategies for recruiting participants to clinical trials. We found that allocating additional resources to recruit participants using monetary incentives or direct contact yielded between 4% and 23% additional participants compared to using neither strategy. For medical referral, recruitment of prostate cancer patients by nurses was cost-saving compared to recruitment by consultant urologists. For all underlying study designs, monetary incentives cost more than direct contact with potential participants, with a median incremental cost per recruitment ratio of Int$72 (Int$-International dollar, a theoretical unit of currency) for monetary incentive strategy compared to Int$28 for direct contact strategy. Only monetary incentives and source of referral were evaluated for recruiting participants into clinical trials. We did not review studies that presented non-monetary cost or lost opportunity cost. We did not adjust for the number of study recruitment sites or the study duration in our economic evaluation analysis. Systematic and explicit reporting of cost and effectiveness of recruitment strategies from randomized comparisons is required to aid investigators to select cost-efficient strategies for recruiting participants to health research studies including clinical trials. © The Author(s) 2014.

A Comparative Study on China-U.S.' APTHS (Academic Proficiency Test for High Schools): Past, Present and Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Xin; Yan, Wenfan

2012-01-01

This study followed the comparative research mode of description, interpretation, juxtaposition and comparison. Based on the literatures and data collected on the topic, the paper compared and analyzed the past, present and future of APTHS (academic proficiency test for high schools) in the two countries. Some contemplations on the common issues…

The Validity and Precision of the Comparative Interrupted Time-Series Design: Three Within-Study Comparisons

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

St. Clair, Travis; Hallberg, Kelly; Cook, Thomas D.

2016-01-01

We explore the conditions under which short, comparative interrupted time-series (CITS) designs represent valid alternatives to randomized experiments in educational evaluations. To do so, we conduct three within-study comparisons, each of which uses a unique data set to test the validity of the CITS design by comparing its causal estimates to…

Sociotechnical Narratives in Rural, High-Poverty Elementary Schools: Comparative Findings from East Texas and South India

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Byker, Erik J.

2014-01-01

The article's purpose is to compare case studies of computer technology use at two rural elementary schools across two international settings. This study uses the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) theory to guide this comparative investigation of how elementary school teachers and students in East Texas and South India construct meaning for…

Does Family Structure Matter? Comparing the Life Goals and Aspirations of Learners in Secondary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davids, Eugene Lee; Roman, Nicolette Vanessa

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to compare the goals and aspirations of learners from single- and two-parent families. The study used a quantitative methodology with a cross-sectional comparative group design. The sample consisted of 853 Grade 11 learners from secondary schools in the Northern, Southern and Metro Central education districts in the…

Assessment of Whole-Class Instrumental Music Learning in England and the United States of America: An International Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Daniel; Fautley, Martin

2017-01-01

Despite ostensibly sharing a common language, music education terminology as used in England and the United States has many different practical meanings and corresponding connotations. In this comparative study, the authors consider these differences in relation to whole-class learning of instrumental music, a comparative newcomer to the English…

Selection Process of School Principals in Turkey and Some Other Countries: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akbasli, Sait; Sahin, Mehmet; Gül, Burak

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study is to analyze the process of school principal selection and appointment in Turkey and some other developed countries in a comparative way. The specific purpose is to make suggestions in order to improve the school principal selection process in Turkey by comparatively analyzing school principal selection process in Turkey…

Implications of a Comparative Study for Mathematics Education in the English Education System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Delice, Ali; Roper, Tom

2006-01-01

This paper reports upon particular aspects of a study carried out by Delice in 2003, the main aim of which was to compare the performance of students in the 16-19 age group from Turkey and England on trigonometry of "A-level standard" and then to compare the curriculum and assessment provision in each country to seek possible…

Does Compare-Contrast Text Structure Help Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Comprehend Science Text?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carnahan, Christina R.; Williamson, Pamela S.

2013-01-01

Using a single-subject reversal design, this study evaluated the use of a compare-contrast strategy on the ability of students with autism spectrum disorder to comprehend science text. Three middle school students with high-functioning autism and their teacher participated in this study. A content analysis comparing the number of meaning units in…

Music Programs in Charter and Traditional Schools: A Comparative Study of Chicago Elementary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelley, Jamey; Demorest, Steven M.

2016-01-01

Since the arrival of the first charter school in Minnesota in 1991, charter schools have become one of the largest movements in educational reform. In recent years, research has emerged that has compared the effectiveness of charter schools with their traditional school counterparts. The purpose of this study was to compare the extent of music…

A Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of the Computer Assisted Method and the Interactionist Approach to Teaching Geometry Shapes to Young Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zaranis, Nicholas; Synodi, Evanthia

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study is to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of computer assisted teaching of geometry shapes and an interactionist approach to teaching geometry in kindergarten versus other more traditional teaching methods. Our research compares the improvement of the children's geometrical competence using two teaching approaches. The…

The Technology in the Programs of Life Sciences in Turkey and Sachunterricht in Germany

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keskin, Tuba

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study is to compare the gains of the Life Sciences program in Turkey and the Life sciences program (Sachunterricht) used in the state of Niedersachsen in Germany. The study aiming to compare the technology-related acquisitions in Life sciences program in Turkey and Germany is a comparative education research that used…

A Comparative Study of Pre-Service Education for Preschool Teachers in China and the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gong, Xin; Wang, Pengcheng

2017-01-01

This study provides a comparative analysis of the pre-service education system for preschool educators in China and the United States. Based on collected data and materials (literature, policy documents, and statistical data), we compare two areas of pre-service training: (1) the formal system; (2) the informal system. In the formal system, most…

A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Group Equine Assisted Counseling with At-Risk Children and Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trotter, Kay Sudekum; Chandler, Cynthia K.; Goodwin-Bond, Deborah; Casey, Janie

2008-01-01

This study demonstrates the efficacy of Equine Assisted Counseling (EAC) by comparing EAC to classroom-based counseling. Students (n = 164) identified as being at high risk for academic and/or social failure participated in 12 weekly counseling sessions. Within-group paired sample t-test results comparing pre- and post-treatment scores for…

A regulator's view of comparative effectiveness research.

PubMed

Temple, Robert

2012-02-01

'Comparative effectiveness' is the current enthusiasm, and for good reason. After knowing a treatment works, the most critical question is how it compares with alternatives. Comparative studies are not commonly conducted by drug companies and they represent a significant methodological challenge. Comparative data could include evidence of overall superiority to an alternative or advantages in identifiable subsets, for example, people who do not respond to or tolerate alternatives, or members of a genetic subset and could also include convincing evidence that there is little difference between two treatments. To describe regulations, guidance, and Food and Drug Administration experience related to studies of comparative effectiveness, including approaches to showing superiority and problems encountered in showing similarity. Review of Food and Drug Administration regulations and guidance and experience with showing superiority and similarity, particularly related to randomized trials and epidemiologic studies. Methods exist, and they have been successful for showing overall superiority of one drug over another, advantages in specific population subsets. Efforts to show true equivalence face problems of definition and very large sample sizes needed to rule out small differences. There is need for further discussion of what is meant by similarity or equivalence of two treatments. Comparative studies are challenging because differences between effective therapies are likely to be small and can be detected reliably only in randomized trials, often large ones. Despite the difficulties, comparative trials have been successful and we clearly would like to see more of them.

Inter- and Intrarater Reliability Using Different Software Versions of E4D Compare in Dental Education.

PubMed

Callan, Richard S; Cooper, Jeril R; Young, Nancy B; Mollica, Anthony G; Furness, Alan R; Looney, Stephen W

2015-06-01

The problems associated with intra- and interexaminer reliability when assessing preclinical performance continue to hinder dental educators' ability to provide accurate and meaningful feedback to students. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the validity of utilizing various technologies to assist educators in achieving that goal. The purpose of this study was to compare two different versions of E4D Compare software to determine if either could be expected to deliver consistent and reliable comparative results, independent of the individual utilizing the technology. Five faculty members obtained E4D digital images of students' attempts (sample model) at ideal gold crown preparations for tooth #30 performed on typodont teeth. These images were compared to an ideal (master model) preparation utilizing two versions of E4D Compare software. The percent correlations between and within these faculty members were recorded and averaged. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to measure both inter- and intrarater agreement among the examiners. The study found that using the older version of E4D Compare did not result in acceptable intra- or interrater agreement among the examiners. However, the newer version of E4D Compare, when combined with the Nevo scanner, resulted in a remarkable degree of agreement both between and within the examiners. These results suggest that consistent and reliable results can be expected when utilizing this technology under the protocol described in this study.

Outcome reporting following navigated high tibial osteotomy of the knee: a systematic review.

PubMed

Yan, James; Musahl, Volker; Kay, Jeffrey; Khan, Moin; Simunovic, Nicole; Ayeni, Olufemi R

2016-11-01

This systematic review evaluates radiographic and clinical outcome reporting following navigated high tibial osteotomy (HTO). Conventional HTO was used as a control to compare outcomes and furthermore investigate the quality of evidence in studies reporting outcomes for navigated HTO. It was hypothesized that navigated HTO will show superior clinical and radiographic outcomes compared to conventional HTO. Two independent reviewers searched PubMed, Ovid (MEDLINE), EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for studies reporting outcomes following navigated HTO. Titles, abstracts, and full-text were screened in duplicate using an a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics were calculated using Minitab ® statistical software. Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) and Cochrane Risk of Bias Scores were used to evaluate methodological quality. Thirty-four studies which involved 2216 HTOs were analysed in this review, 1608 (72.6 %) navigated HTOs and 608 (27.4 %) conventional HTOs. The majority of studies were of level IV evidence (16). Clinical outcomes were reported in knee and function scores or range of motion comparisons. Postoperative clinical and functional scores were improved by navigated HTO although it is not demonstrated if there is significant improvement compared to conventional HTO. Most common clinical outcome score reported was Lysholm scores (6) which report postoperative scores of 87.8 (standard deviation 5.9) and 88.8 (standard deviation 5.9) for conventional and navigation-assisted HTO, respectively. Radiographic outcomes reported commonly were weight-bearing mechanical axis, coronal plane angle, and posterior tibial slope angle in the sagittal plane. Studies have shown HTO gives significant correction of mechanical alignment and navigated HTO produces significantly less change in posterior tibial slope postoperatively compared to conventional. The mean MINORS for the 17 non-comparative studies was 9/16, and 15/24 for the 14 non-randomized comparative studies. Navigation HTO results in improved mechanical axis alignment and demonstrates significantly better control over the tibial slope angle change postoperatively compared to conventional methods; however, these improvements have not yet been reflected in clinical outcome scores. Overall the studies report HTO does create significantly improved knee scores and functions compared to patients' preoperative ratings regardless of technique. Future studies on HTO outcomes need to focus on consistency of outcome reporting. IV.

The conclusion of a comparative efficacy study of fluralaner and sarolaner against the tick Amblyomma americanum on dogs is based on results obtained at study times that are outside the fluralaner label recommendations.

PubMed

Armstrong, Rob

2017-03-24

The only fluralaner-related conclusion presented in a study comparing the efficacy of fluralaner and sarolaner for control of the tick Amblyomma americanum on dogs is based on study times that are outside the label administration recommendations. Label recommendations for fluralaner treatment of A. americanum on dogs in the USA require re-administration at 56 days. This 56 day re-administration was not conducted in the study; therefore, all assessed time points following 56 days post-treatment in the study present comparisons that are not consistent with fluralaner administration recommendations. The only comparative time point assessed prior to 56 days showing a difference between treatments was at 42 days post-administration, a time point when methodological problems were identified by the investigators. Therefore, the only comparative study conclusion that a difference was shown between fluralaner and sarolaner beyond 6 weeks (42 days) after treatment is not based on recommended product use. Furthermore, if the study does not show that there is a difference between the treatments at times when the products are used as recommended, then there also can be no comparative discussion of the risk of tick-borne pathogen transmission risk between treatments.

Osteopathic manipulative treatment: A systematic review and critical appraisal of comparative effectiveness and health economics research.

PubMed

Steel, Amie; Sundberg, Tobias; Reid, Rebecca; Ward, Lesley; Bishop, Felicity L; Leach, Matthew; Cramer, Holger; Wardle, Jon; Adams, Jon

2017-02-01

In recent years, evidence has emerged regarding the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT). Despite growing evidence in this field, there is need for appropriate research designs that effectively reflect the person-centred system of care promoted in osteopathy and provide data which can inform policy decisions within the healthcare system. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify, appraise and synthesise the evidence from comparative effectiveness and economic evaluation research involving OMT. A database search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, PEDro, AMED, SCOPUS and OSTMED.DR, from their inception to May 2015. Two separate searches were undertaken to identify original research articles encompassing the economic evaluation and comparative effectiveness of OMT. Identified comparative effectives studies were evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and appraised using the Good Reporting of Comparative Effectiveness (GRACE) principles. Identified economic studies were assessed with the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) guidelines. Sixteen studies reporting the findings of comparative effectiveness (n = 9) and economic evaluation (n = 7) research were included. The comparative effectiveness studies reported outcomes for varied health conditions and the majority (n = 6) demonstrated a high risk of bias. The economic evaluations included a range of analyses and considerable differences in the quality of reporting were evident. Despite some positive findings, published comparative effectiveness and health economic studies in OMT are of insufficient quality and quantity to inform policy and practice. High quality, well-designed, research that aligns with international best practice is greatly needed to build a pragmatic evidence base for OMT. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative assessment of implantable hip devices with different bearing surfaces: systematic appraisal of evidence.

PubMed

Sedrakyan, Art; Normand, Sharon-Lise T; Dabic, Stefan; Jacobs, Samantha; Graves, Stephen; Marinac-Dabic, Danica

2011-11-29

To determine comparative safety and effectiveness of combinations of bearing surfaces of hip implants. Systematic review of clinical trials, observational studies, and registries. Medline, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, reference lists of articles, annual reports of major registries, summaries of safety and effectiveness for pre-market application and mandated post-market studies at the United States Food and Drug Administration. Criteria for inclusion were comparative studies in adults reporting information for various combinations of bearings (such as metal on metal and ceramic on ceramic). Data search, abstraction, and analyses were independently performed and confirmed by at least two authors. Qualitative data syntheses were performed. There were 3139 patients and 3404 hips enrolled in 18 comparative studies and over 830 000 operations in national registries. The mean age range in the trials was 42-71, and 26-88% were women. Disease specific functional outcomes and general quality of life scores were no different or they favoured patients receiving metal on polyethylene rather than metal on metal in the trials. While one clinical study reported fewer dislocations associated with metal on metal implants, in the three largest national registries there was evidence of higher rates of implant revision associated with metal on metal implants compared with metal on polyethylene. One trial reported fewer revisions with ceramic on ceramic compared with metal on polyethylene implants, but data from national registries did not support this finding. There is limited evidence regarding comparative effectiveness of various hip implant bearings. Results do not indicate any advantage for metal on metal or ceramic on ceramic implants compared with traditional metal on polyethylene or ceramic on polyethylene bearings.

Comparing Results from Constant Comparative and Computer Software Methods: A Reflection about Qualitative Data Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Putten, Jim Vander; Nolen, Amanda L.

2010-01-01

This study compared qualitative research results obtained by manual constant comparative analysis with results obtained by computer software analysis of the same data. An investigated about issues of trustworthiness and accuracy ensued. Results indicated that the inductive constant comparative data analysis generated 51 codes and two coding levels…

Effect of Foot Manipulation on Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain: A Feasibility Study.

PubMed

Melkersson, Camilla; Nasic, Salmir; Starzmann, Karin; Bengtsson Boström, Kristina

2017-09-01

The objective of this study was to investigate if the research process to evaluate the effect of foot manipulation on pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) is feasible. A randomized, single-blind (patients and evaluators) pilot trial was performed to compare foot manipulation to a comparative group at 6-weekly treatment sessions at 5 physiotherapy outpatient clinics in Skaraborg primary care (Skövde, Sweden). Women at 12 to 31 weeks of pregnancy with well-defined PPGP (n = 97) and joint dysfunction or decreased range of movement in the feet were included. Women with a twin pregnancy, low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, or other serious diseases and those who had previous foot manipulation were excluded. Visual analog scale scores were recorded before study start, before and after each treatment session, and 3 months after delivery. One-hundred and two women were eligible, and 97 were included (group 1: foot manipulation, n = 47; group 2: comparative treatment, n = 50); 40 and 36 in the foot manipulation and comparative treatment groups, respectively, completed the study. The foot manipulation group had a nonsignificant pain relief score compared with that of the comparative group, which had higher pain relief scores. The difference was most pronounced at the first and second treatment sessions. A power analysis showed that at least 250 individuals would be needed in each group to confirm the effect of foot manipulation. This study showed that it is feasible to assess the effect of foot manipulation on PPGP in a multicenter physical therapy outpatient clinic setting. A new larger study should choose a different comparative method and test this hypothesis in a full-scale trial.

Dosimetric Anchoring of In Vivo and In Vitro Studies for Perfluorooctanoate and Perfluorooctanesulfonate

EPA Science Inventory

In order to compare between in vivo toxicity studies, dosimetry is needed to translate study-specific dose regimens into dose metrics such as tissue concentration. These tissue concentrations may then be compared with in vitro bioactivity assays to perhaps identify mechanisms rel...

Bioactivity and Osseointegration of PEEK Are Inferior to Those of Titanium: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Najeeb, Shariq; Bds, Zohaib Khurshid; Bds, Sana Zohaib; Bds, Muhammad Sohail Zafar

2016-12-01

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has been suggested as an alternative to replace titanium as a dental implant material. However, PEEK's bioactivity and osseointegration are debatable. This review has systematically analyzed studies that have compared PEEK (or PEEK-based) implants with titanium implants so that its feasibility as a possible replacement for titanium can be determined. The focused question was: "Are the bioactivity and osseointegration of PEEK implants comparable to or better than titanium implants?" Using the key words "dental implant," "implant," "polyetheretherketone," "PEEK," and "titanium" in various combinations, the following databases were searched electronically: PubMED/MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane Database. 5 in vitro and 4 animal studies were included in the review. In 4 out of 5 in vitro studies, titanium exhibited more cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, osteoblast maturation, and osteogenesis compared to PEEK; one in vitro study observed comparable outcomes regardless of the implant material. In all animal studies, uncoated and coated titanium exhibited a more osteogenic behavior than did uncoated PEEK, while comparable bone-implant contact was observed in HA-coated PEEK and coated titanium implants. Unmodified PEEK is less osseoconductive and bioactive than titanium. Furthermore, the majority of studies had multiple sources of bias; hence, in its unmodified form, PEEK is unsuitable to be used as dental implant. Significantly more research and long-term trials must focus on improving the bioactivity of PEEK before it can be used as dental implant. More comparative animal and clinical studies are warranted to ascertain the potential of PEEK as a viable alternative to titanium.

Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with end-stage renal failure and in subjects without kidney disease: a comparative study.

PubMed

Madsen, Trine; Christensen, Jeppe H; Svensson, My; Witt, Petra M; Toft, Egon; Schmidt, Erik B

2011-03-01

Patients with end-stage renal disease treated with chronic hemodialysis (HD) are reported to have low levels of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma and cell membranes compared with healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether n-3 PUFA levels in plasma and cells are lower in HD patients as compared with subjects without kidney disease. A comparative study was carried out. This study was carried out at the Departments of Nephrology and Cardiology, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. This study consisted of 2 study populations comprising HD patients and 5 study populations comprising subjects without kidney disease. The fatty acid distribution in plasma phospholipids and platelet phospholipids was measured using gas chromatography. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA) levels in plasma or serum phospholipids and platelet phospholipids in HD patients were compared with n-3 PUFA levels in subjects without kidney disease. EPA and DHA were lower and AA/EPA was higher in plasma/serum phospholipids in HD patients than in subjects without kidney disease. Similarly, higher AA and AA/EPA and lower EPA and DHA levels were found in platelet phospholipids of HD patients. Adjustment for gender, age, and habitual intake of fish and fish oil supplements did not change these results. HD patients have lower n-3 PUFA levels in plasma and cells compared with subjects without kidney disease. Copyright © 2011 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

25G compared with 20G vitrectomy under Resight non-contact wide-angle lenses for Terson syndrome.

PubMed

Mao, Xinbang; You, Zhipeng

2017-08-01

The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of 25G vitrectomy to standard 20G vitrectomy for treatment of Terson syndrome under Resight non-contact wide-angle lenses. This was a case-control study of 20 patients with Terson syndrome (study group) that underwent 25G vitrectomy under Resight non-contact wide-angle lenses, with those of 20 matched patients that underwent 20G vitrectomy (control group). Medical records were reviewed from between July 2011 and October 2013. Data included results of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study examination, ophthalmology B-scan ultrasonography and fundus photography. The mean age, follow-up time, the preoperative visual acuity of LogMAR and the preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) were all comparable in the two groups (all P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in postoperative visual acuity of LogMAR compared with preoperative visual acuity (P<0.001) in both groups, but no difference between the groups (P=0.845). However, the operative times (13.5 min in study group vs. 42 min in control group) and post-operative IOP at day 1 (13.5 vs. 20 mmHg) were significantly reduced in the study group compared to the control group (P<0.001). Therefore, the present findings suggest that 25G Vitrectomy for Terson syndrome under Resight non-contact wide-angle lenses can achieve a significantly shorter operative time and lower post-operative IOP compared with 20G Vitrectomy.

Performance and Scalability of Discriminative Metrics for Comparative Gene Identification in 12 Drosophila Genomes

PubMed Central

Lin, Michael F.; Deoras, Ameya N.; Rasmussen, Matthew D.; Kellis, Manolis

2008-01-01

Comparative genomics of multiple related species is a powerful methodology for the discovery of functional genomic elements, and its power should increase with the number of species compared. Here, we use 12 Drosophila genomes to study the power of comparative genomics metrics to distinguish between protein-coding and non-coding regions. First, we study the relative power of different comparative metrics and their relationship to single-species metrics. We find that even relatively simple multi-species metrics robustly outperform advanced single-species metrics, especially for shorter exons (≤240 nt), which are common in animal genomes. Moreover, the two capture largely independent features of protein-coding genes, with different sensitivity/specificity trade-offs, such that their combinations lead to even greater discriminatory power. In addition, we study how discovery power scales with the number and phylogenetic distance of the genomes compared. We find that species at a broad range of distances are comparably effective informants for pairwise comparative gene identification, but that these are surpassed by multi-species comparisons at similar evolutionary divergence. In particular, while pairwise discovery power plateaued at larger distances and never outperformed the most advanced single-species metrics, multi-species comparisons continued to benefit even from the most distant species with no apparent saturation. Last, we find that genes in functional categories typically considered fast-evolving can nonetheless be recovered at very high rates using comparative methods. Our results have implications for comparative genomics analyses in any species, including the human. PMID:18421375

Clinical Health Outcomes Initiative in Comparative Effectiveness for Bipolar Disorder (Bipolar CHOICE): A Pragmatic Trial of Complex Treatment for a Complex Disorder

PubMed Central

Nierenberg, Andrew A.; Sylvia, Louisa G.; Leon, Andrew C.; Reilly-Harrington, Noreen; Shesler, Leah W.; McElroy, Susan L.; Friedman, Edward S.; Thase, Michael E.; Shelton, Richard C.; Bowden, Charles; Tohen, Mauricio; Singh, Vivek; Deckersbach, Thilo; Ketter, Terence; Kocsis, James; McInnis, Melvin G.; Schoenfeld, David; Bobo, William V.; Calabrese, Joseph R.

2015-01-01

Background Classic and second generation antipsychotic mood stabilizers are recommended for treatment of bipolar disorder, yet there are no randomized comparative effectiveness studies that have examined the “real-world” advantages and disadvantages of these medications Purpose We describe the strategic decisions in the design of the Clinical and Health Outcomes Initiative in Comparative Effectiveness for Bipolar Disorder (Bipolar CHOICE). This paper outlines the key issues and solutions the investigators faced in designing a clinical trial that would maximize generalizability and inform real-world clinical treatment of bipolar disorder. Methods Bipolar CHOICE was a 6-month, multi-site, prospective, randomized clinical trial of outpatients with bipolar disorder. This study compares the effectiveness of quetiapine versus lithium, each with adjunctive personalized treatments. The co-primary outcomes selected are the overall benefits and harms of the study medications (as measured by the Clinical Global Impression-Efficacy Index) and the Necessary Clinical Adjustments (a measure of the number of medication changes). Secondary outcomes are continuous measures of mood, the Framingham General Cardiovascular Risk Score and the Longitudinal Interval Follow up Evaluation Range of Impaired Functioning Tool. Results The final study design consisted of a single-blind, randomized comparative effectiveness trial of quetiapine versus lithium, plus adjunctive personalized treatment (APT), across ten sites. Other important study considerations included limited exclusion criteria to maximize generalizability, flexible dosing of APT medications to mimic real-world treatment, and an intent-to-treat analysis plan. 482 participants were randomized to the study and 364 completed. Limitations The potential limitations of the study include the heterogeneity of APT, selection of study medications, lack of a placebo-control group, and participants’ ability to pay for study medications. Conclusion We expect that this study will inform our understanding of the benefits and harms of lithium, a classic mood stabilizer, compared to quetiapine, a second generation antipsychotic with broad-spectrum activity in bipolar disorder and will provide an example of a well-designed and well-conducted randomized comparative effectiveness clinical trial. PMID:24346608

Making transit-oriented development work in low-income Latino neighborhoods : a comparative case study of Boyle Heights, Los Angeles and Logan Heights, San Diego.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-12-01

This research project is a continuation of a previous NITC-funded study. The first study compared the MacArthur Park TOD in Los Angeles to the : Fruitvale Village TOD in Oakland. The findings from this new study further validate the key findings from...

Exploring Intercultural Competence in Teacher Education: A Comparative Study between Science and Foreign Language Teacher Trainers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akpinar, Kadriye Dilek; Ünaldi, Ihsan

2014-01-01

This study investigated the intercultural outcomes of short-term study visit programs for Foreign Language and Science teacher trainers. A mixed method including quantitative and qualitative data was used to compare the differences between the two groups' intercultural development in terms of their study field. Fantini's questionnaire was used for…

Coming to Journalism: A Comparative Case Study of Postgraduate Students in Dublin and Amman

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Boyle, Neil; Knowlton, Steven

2015-01-01

This article presents findings from a pilot study of postgraduate journalism students in Dublin and Amman. The study compared professional outlooks and social characteristics of students in both contexts and examined institutional settings. The study finds that journalism students in Dublin and Amman have very similar views on the profession,…

Learning Center and Study Carrels: A Comparative Study. Technical Report #18.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chun, Sherlyn; And Others

This Kamehameha Early Education Program (KEEP) report presents a comparative study of the work rates of kindergarten and first grade children in two classroom environments: a learning-center and a study-carrel environment. The subjects, seven matched pairs of kindergarten and first grade students, were chosen on the basis of the results of a…

An International Study of Career Drivers of Accounting Students in Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chia, Yew Ming; Koh, Hian Chye; Pragasam, John

2008-01-01

This is a comparative study of the career drivers of accounting students in Singapore, Australia and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The study examines the motivational factors that steer accounting students into choosing accounting as a programme of study in their respective countries. Comparative analyses are performed to…

Opiate treatment for opiate withdrawal in newborn infants.

PubMed

Osborn, David A; Jeffery, Heather E; Cole, Michael J

2010-10-06

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) due to opiate withdrawal may result in disruption of the mother-infant relationship, sleep-wake abnormalities, feeding difficulties, weight loss and seizures. To assess the effectiveness and safety of using an opiate compared to a sedative or non-pharmacological treatment for treatment of NAS due to withdrawal from opiates. The review was updated in 2010 with additional searches CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE supplemented by searches of conference abstracts and citation lists of published articles. Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of opiate treatment in infants with NAS born to mothers with opiate dependence. Each author assessed study quality and extracted data independently. Nine studies enrolling 645 infants met inclusion criteria. There were substantial methodological concerns in all studies comparing an opiate with a sedative. Two small studies comparing different opiates were of good methodology.Opiate (morphine) versus supportive care (one study): A reduction in time to regain birth weight and duration of supportive care and a significant increase in hospital stay was noted.Opiate versus phenobarbitone (four studies): Meta-analysis found no significant difference in treatment failure. One study reported opiate treatment resulted in a significant reduction in treatment failure in infants of mothers using only opiates. One study reported a significant reduction in days treatment and admission to the nursery for infants receiving morphine. One study reported a reduction in seizures, of borderline statistical significance, with the use of opiate.Opiate versus diazepam (two studies): Meta-analysis found a significant reduction in treatment failure with the use of opiate.Different opiates (six studies): there is insufficient data to determine safety or efficacy of any specific opiate compared to another opiate. Opiates compared to supportive care may reduce time to regain birth weight and duration of supportive care but increase duration of hospital stay. When compared to phenobarbitone, opiates may reduce the incidence of seizures but there is no evidence of effect on treatment failure. One study reported a reduction in duration of treatment and nursery admission for infants on morphine. Compared to diazepam, opiates reduce the incidence of treatment failure. A post-hoc analysis generates the hypothesis that initial opiate treatment may be restricted to infants of mothers who used opiates only. In view of the methodologic limitations of the included studies the conclusions of this review should be treated with caution.

Four Decades of β-Lactam Antibiotic Pharmacokinetics in Cystic Fibrosis.

PubMed

Bulitta, Jürgen B; Jiao, Yuanyuan; Drescher, Stefanie K; Oliver, Antonio; Louie, Arnold; Moya, Bartolome; Tao, Xun; Wittau, Mathias; Tsuji, Brian T; Zavascki, Alexandre P; Shin, Beom Soo; Drusano, George L; Sörgel, Fritz; Landersdorfer, Cornelia B

2018-06-23

The pharmacokinetics (PK) of β-lactam antibiotics in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has been compared with that in healthy volunteers for over four decades; however, no quantitative models exist that explain the PK differences between CF patients and healthy volunteers in older and newer studies. Our aims were to critically evaluate these studies and explain the PK differences between CF patients and healthy volunteers. We reviewed all 16 studies that compared the PK of β-lactams between CF patients and healthy volunteers within the same study. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models were developed. In four early studies that compared adolescent, lean CF patients with adult healthy volunteers, clearance (CL) in CF divided by that in healthy volunteers was 1.72 ± 0.90 (average ± standard deviation); in four additional studies comparing age-matched (primarily adult) CF patients with healthy volunteers, this ratio was 1.46 ± 0.16. The CL ratio was 1.15 ± 0.11 in all eight studies that compared CF patients and healthy volunteers who were matched in age, body size and body composition, or that employed allometric scaling by lean body mass (LBM). Volume of distribution was similar between subject groups after scaling by body size. For highly protein-bound β-lactams, the unbound fraction was up to 2.07-fold higher in older studies that compared presumably sicker CF patients with healthy volunteers. These protein-binding differences explained over half of the variance for the CL ratio (p < 0.0001, ANCOVA). Body size, body composition and lower protein binding in presumably sicker CF patients explained the PK alterations in this population. Dosing CF patients according to LBM seems suitable to achieve antibiotic target exposures.

PRP for Degenerative Cartilage Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies

PubMed Central

Laver, Lior; Marom, Niv; Dnyanesh, Lad; Mei-Dan, Omer; Espregueira-Mendes, João; Gobbi, Alberto

2016-01-01

Objective: To explore the utilization of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for degenerative cartilage processes and evaluate whether there is sufficient evidence to better define its potential effects. Design: Systematic literature reviews were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane electronic databases till May 2015, using the keywords “platelet-rich plasma OR PRP OR autologous conditioned plasma OR ACP AND cartilage OR chondrocyte OR chondrogenesis OR osteoarthritis (OA) OR arthritis.” Results: The final result yielded 29 articles. Twenty-six studies examined PRP administration for knee OA and 3 involved PRP administration for hip OA. The results included 9 prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (8 knee and 1 hip), 4 prospective comparative studies, 14 case series, and 2 retrospective comparative studies. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was used as a control in 11 studies (7 RCTs, 2 prospective comparative studies, and 2 retrospective cohort). Overall, all RCTs reported on improved symptoms compared to baseline scores. Only 2 RCTs—one for knee and one for hip—did not report significant superiority of PRP compared to the control group (HA). Nine out of 11 HA controlled studies showed significant better results in the PRP groups. A trend toward better results for PRP injections in patients with early knee OA and young age was observed; however, lack of uniformity was evident in terms of indications, inclusion criteria, and pathology definitions in the different studies. Conclusion: Current clinical evidence supports the benefit in PRP treatment for knee and hip OA, proven to temporarily relieve pain and improve function of the involved joint with superior results compared with several alternative treatments. Further research to establish the optimal preparation protocol and characteristics of PRP injections for OA is needed. PMID:28317389

Comparing the usefulness of the 1997 and 2009 WHO dengue case classification: a systematic literature review.

PubMed

Horstick, Olaf; Jaenisch, Thomas; Martinez, Eric; Kroeger, Axel; See, Lucy Lum Chai; Farrar, Jeremy; Ranzinger, Silvia Runge

2014-09-01

The 1997 and 2009 WHO dengue case classifications were compared in a systematic review with 12 eligible studies (4 prospective). Ten expert opinion articles were used for discussion. For the 2009 WHO classification studies show: when determining severe dengue sensitivity ranges between 59-98% (88%/98%: prospective studies), specificity between 41-99% (99%: prospective study) - comparing the 1997 WHO classification: sensitivity 24.8-89.9% (24.8%/74%: prospective studies), specificity: 25%/100% (100%: prospective study). The application of the 2009 WHO classification is easy, however for (non-severe) dengue there may be a risk of monitoring increased case numbers. Warning signs validation studies are needed. For epidemiological/pathogenesis research use of the 2009 WHO classification, opinion papers show that ease of application, increased sensitivity (severe dengue) and international comparability are advantageous; 3 severe dengue criteria (severe plasma leakage, severe bleeding, severe organ manifestation) are useful research endpoints. The 2009 WHO classification has clear advantages for clinical use, use in epidemiology is promising and research use may at least not be a disadvantage. © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Examining the use of comparative and cost-effectiveness analyses in radiology.

PubMed

Goehler, Alexander; Gazelle, G Scott

2014-11-01

This article explores key principles of comparative effectiveness analysis--in particular, how radiologic comparative and cost-effectiveness studies differ from other clinical trials. Exemplary studies are reviewed to show how comparative effectiveness has been implemented in radiology and how future studies might be conducted. Finally, the article closes with a discussion of several additional key themes relevant to quality and value in clinical radiology going forward. Comparative effectiveness is likely to require a paradigm shift in thinking within the discipline. For new radiologic applications to be accepted, we will need to show at least a significant change in treatment planning and at best a meaningful change in patient outcomes. This shift will require a forward-thinking approach to robust evidence generation for new imaging modalities or indications and the inclusion of other modes of value demonstration such as clinical decision support and intelligent data mining.

Comparison of Masticatory and Swallowing Functional Outcomes in Surgically and Prosthetically Rehabilitated Maxillectomy Patients.

PubMed

Sreeraj, R; Krishnan, Vinod; V, Manju; Thankappan, Krishnakumar

This study compared masticatory and swallowing functional outcomes in maxillectomy patients who underwent surgical and prosthetic rehabilitation or prosthetic rehabilitation only following surgical resection. This comparative cross-sectional study involved 20 maxillectomy patients and compared their masticatory and swallowing functions following combined surgical and prosthodontic management vs an exclusively prosthodontic approach. Masticatory performance was measured by an originally modified sieve method using hydrocolloid material, and video fluoroscopic examination was employed for swallowing assessments. Masticatory performance was significantly better in the patient group treated with flaps and removable denture prostheses compared to patients treated with obturator prosthesis alone. Swallowing outcomes were comparable in both groups. Flap reconstruction followed by an obturator prosthesis seems to be a preferable option when planning for functional rehabilitation in maxillectomy patients. Further research is needed to substantiate the functional outcomes noted in this study.

Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG): An Al-Qaeda Associate Case Study

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-10-01

completed in August 2017. In order to conduct this assessment, CNA used a comparative methodology that included eight case studies on groups affiliated...assessment, CNA used a comparative methodology that included eight case studies on groups affiliated or associated with Al-Qaeda. These case studies ...Case Study P. Kathleen Hammerberg and Pamela G. Faber With contributions from Alexander Powell October 2017 This work was performed

[Comparative analysis of Andean and Caribbean region health systems].

PubMed

Gómez-Camelo, Diana

2005-01-01

Carrying out a comparative analysis of Andean and Caribbean health systems contributing towards the general panorama of Andean and Caribbean region health care system experience. This study was aimed at carrying out a comparative analysis of health systems in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Cuba between 1990 and 2004. Documentary information from secondary sources was used. Reform and changes during the aforementioned period were compared, as well as the systems' current configurations. Described typologies were used for studying the health systems. Different organisational designs were found for the systems: a national health system (NHS), segmented systems and systems based on mandatory insurance. The trend of reforms introduced in the 1990s and current proposals in almost all systems are directed towards adopting mandatory insurance via a basic packet of services and strengthening competition in providing services through a public and private mix. The organisation and structure of most systems studied have introduced and continue to introduce changes in line with international guidelines. The generality of these structures means that efforts must still be made to adopt designs strengthening them as instruments improving populations' quality of life. Comparative analysis is a tool leading to studying health systems and producing information which can nourish debate regarding current sector reform. This work took shape during the first approach to a comparative study of Andean region and Caribbean health systems.

Comparative Analysis of Selected Motor Fitness Profile of Football Referees in Cross River and AKWA IBOM States, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ogabor, J. O.; Sanusi, M.; Saulawa, A. I.

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare selected motor fitness profile of football referees in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. Motor fitness profiles compared were running speed and agility of the referees. Standardized equipment and procedures were employed in the tests. To achieve the objectives of the study, two research hypotheses were…

Socio-Political Influences on EFL Motivation and Attitudes: Comparative Surveys of Korean High School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Tae-Young

2010-01-01

This paper investigates Korean high school students' English learning motivation and attitudes. In this regard, the results of a 2002 study were compared with those of a 2006 study. Questionnaire data were obtained from a total of 1,037 high school students in a major city in South Korea, and the data were compared with those on the students'…

Perceptions of Teachers Regarding Technology Integration in Classrooms: A Comparative Analysis of Elite and Mediocre Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zehra, Rida; Bilwani, Anam

2016-01-01

The primary purpose and objective of this study was to examine and compare the perceptions of teachers in elite and mediocre schools in Karachi. The secondary objectives included comparing the use of technology in classrooms by teachers and the challenges and barriers that they face in the integration of technology. This study was designed as a…

Deliberate Self-Harm within an International Community Sample of Young People: Comparative Findings from the Child & Adolescent Self-Harm in Europe (CASE) Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Madge, Nicola; Hewitt, Anthea; Hawton, Keith; de Wilde, Erik Jan; Corcoran, Paul; Fekete, Sandor; van Heeringen, Kees; De Leo, Diego; Ystgaard, Mette

2008-01-01

Background: Deliberate self-harm among young people is an important focus of policy and practice internationally. Nonetheless, there is little reliable comparative international information on its extent or characteristics. We have conducted a seven-country comparative community study of deliberate self-harm among young people. Method: Over 30,000…

A Comparative Study of Performance in the Conners' Continuous Performance Test between Brazilian and North American Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miranda, Monica Carolina; Sinnes, Elaine Girao; Pompeia, Sabine; Bueno, Orlando Francisco Amodeo

2008-01-01

Objective: The present study investigated the performance of Brazilian children in the Continuous Performance Test, CPT-II, and compared results to those of the norms obtained in the United States. Method: The U.S. norms were compared to those of a Brazilian sample composed of 6- to 11-year-olds separated into 4 age-groups (half boys) that…

Comparing the Development of Transversal Skills between Virtual and Physical Exchanges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van der Velden, Bart; Millner, Sophie; Van der Heijden, Casper

2016-01-01

This paper aims to compare the impact on the development of transversal skills, such as self-esteem, of virtual and physical exchanges. This is done by comparing the Europe on the Edge programme to the results of the Erasmus Impact Study. In doing so it fills the need that has been expressed in the telecollaboration field to study the impact of…

Non-traditional vs. Traditional Academic Delivery Systems: Comparing ETS Scores for Undergraduate Students in Business Programs, 1996-1999. AIR 1999 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jonas, Peter M.; Weimer, Don

This two-year study involving five colleges and universities compared the academic achievement, as measured by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Major Field Achievement Test (MFAT) in Business of students in traditional undergraduate programs and those in non-traditional accelerated adult degree programs. The study also compared the subjects'…

A Comparative Analysis between the Assessment Criteria Used to Assess Graduating Teachers at Rustaq College (Oman) and Griffith University (Australia) during the Teaching Practicum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Malki, Moza Abdullah; Weir, Katie

2014-01-01

This article reports the findings from a study that compares the assessment criteria used to measure pre-service teachers' professional competencies at Rustaq College of Applied Sciences in Oman, and at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. The study adopts a discourse analytic approach to deconstruct and critically compare the assessment…

The Impact of Troops to Teachers Participants on Student Achievement: A Causal-Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Osuch, Kurt Stanley

2014-01-01

The purpose of this causal-comparative study is to examine the impact of Troops to Teachers (TTT) participants on student achievement by comparing the mean scores of Texas students in the eighth grade during the 2011-2012 academic year taught by TTT participants with the mean scores of all other Texas eighth grade students on each of four…

Healthcare outcomes assessed with observational study designs compared with those assessed in randomized trials.

PubMed

Anglemyer, Andrew; Horvath, Hacsi T; Bero, Lisa

2014-04-29

Researchers and organizations often use evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the efficacy of a treatment or intervention under ideal conditions. Studies of observational designs are often used to measure the effectiveness of an intervention in 'real world' scenarios. Numerous study designs and modifications of existing designs, including both randomized and observational, are used for comparative effectiveness research in an attempt to give an unbiased estimate of whether one treatment is more effective or safer than another for a particular population.A systematic analysis of study design features, risk of bias, parameter interpretation, and effect size for all types of randomized and non-experimental observational studies is needed to identify specific differences in design types and potential biases. This review summarizes the results of methodological reviews that compare the outcomes of observational studies with randomized trials addressing the same question, as well as methodological reviews that compare the outcomes of different types of observational studies. To assess the impact of study design (including RCTs versus observational study designs) on the effect measures estimated.To explore methodological variables that might explain any differences identified.To identify gaps in the existing research comparing study designs. We searched seven electronic databases, from January 1990 to December 2013.Along with MeSH terms and relevant keywords, we used the sensitivity-specificity balanced version of a validated strategy to identify reviews in PubMed, augmented with one term ("review" in article titles) so that it better targeted narrative reviews. No language restrictions were applied. We examined systematic reviews that were designed as methodological reviews to compare quantitative effect size estimates measuring efficacy or effectiveness of interventions tested in trials with those tested in observational studies. Comparisons included RCTs versus observational studies (including retrospective cohorts, prospective cohorts, case-control designs, and cross-sectional designs). Reviews were not eligible if they compared randomized trials with other studies that had used some form of concurrent allocation. In general, outcome measures included relative risks or rate ratios (RR), odds ratios (OR), hazard ratios (HR). Using results from observational studies as the reference group, we examined the published estimates to see whether there was a relative larger or smaller effect in the ratio of odds ratios (ROR).Within each identified review, if an estimate comparing results from observational studies with RCTs was not provided, we pooled the estimates for observational studies and RCTs. Then, we estimated the ratio of ratios (risk ratio or odds ratio) for each identified review using observational studies as the reference category. Across all reviews, we synthesized these ratios to get a pooled ROR comparing results from RCTs with results from observational studies. Our initial search yielded 4406 unique references. Fifteen reviews met our inclusion criteria; 14 of which were included in the quantitative analysis.The included reviews analyzed data from 1583 meta-analyses that covered 228 different medical conditions. The mean number of included studies per paper was 178 (range 19 to 530).Eleven (73%) reviews had low risk of bias for explicit criteria for study selection, nine (60%) were low risk of bias for investigators' agreement for study selection, five (33%) included a complete sample of studies, seven (47%) assessed the risk of bias of their included studies,Seven (47%) reviews controlled for methodological differences between studies,Eight (53%) reviews controlled for heterogeneity among studies, nine (60%) analyzed similar outcome measures, and four (27%) were judged to be at low risk of reporting bias.Our primary quantitative analysis, including 14 reviews, showed that the pooled ROR comparing effects from RCTs with effects from observational studies was 1.08 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96 to 1.22). Of 14 reviews included in this analysis, 11 (79%) found no significant difference between observational studies and RCTs. One review suggested observational studies had larger effects of interest, and two reviews suggested observational studies had smaller effects of interest.Similar to the effect across all included reviews, effects from reviews comparing RCTs with cohort studies had a pooled ROR of 1.04 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.21), with substantial heterogeneity (I(2) = 68%). Three reviews compared effects of RCTs and case-control designs (pooled ROR: 1.11 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.35)).No significant difference in point estimates across heterogeneity, pharmacological intervention, or propensity score adjustment subgroups were noted. No reviews had compared RCTs with observational studies that used two of the most common causal inference methods, instrumental variables and marginal structural models. Our results across all reviews (pooled ROR 1.08) are very similar to results reported by similarly conducted reviews. As such, we have reached similar conclusions; on average, there is little evidence for significant effect estimate differences between observational studies and RCTs, regardless of specific observational study design, heterogeneity, or inclusion of studies of pharmacological interventions. Factors other than study design per se need to be considered when exploring reasons for a lack of agreement between results of RCTs and observational studies. Our results underscore that it is important for review authors to consider not only study design, but the level of heterogeneity in meta-analyses of RCTs or observational studies. A better understanding of how these factors influence study effects might yield estimates reflective of true effectiveness.

Investigation of relative risk estimates from studies of the same population with contrasting response rates and designs.

PubMed

Mealing, Nicole M; Banks, Emily; Jorm, Louisa R; Steel, David G; Clements, Mark S; Rogers, Kris D

2010-04-01

There is little empirical evidence regarding the generalisability of relative risk estimates from studies which have relatively low response rates or are of limited representativeness. The aim of this study was to investigate variation in exposure-outcome relationships in studies of the same population with different response rates and designs by comparing estimates from the 45 and Up Study, a population-based cohort study (self-administered postal questionnaire, response rate 18%), and the New South Wales Population Health Survey (PHS) (computer-assisted telephone interview, response rate ~60%). Logistic regression analysis of questionnaire data from 45 and Up Study participants (n = 101,812) and 2006/2007 PHS participants (n = 14,796) was used to calculate prevalence estimates and odds ratios (ORs) for comparable variables, adjusting for age, sex and remoteness. ORs were compared using Wald tests modelling each study separately, with and without sampling weights. Prevalence of some outcomes (smoking, private health insurance, diabetes, hypertension, asthma) varied between the two studies. For highly comparable questionnaire items, exposure-outcome relationship patterns were almost identical between the studies and ORs for eight of the ten relationships examined did not differ significantly. For questionnaire items that were only moderately comparable, the nature of the observed relationships did not differ materially between the two studies, although many ORs differed significantly. These findings show that for a broad range of risk factors, two studies of the same population with varying response rate, sampling frame and mode of questionnaire administration yielded consistent estimates of exposure-outcome relationships. However, ORs varied between the studies where they did not use identical questionnaire items.

Are batterers different from other criminals? An fMRI study.

PubMed

Bueso-Izquierdo, Natalia; Verdejo-Román, Juan; Contreras-Rodríguez, Oren; Carmona-Perera, Martina; Pérez-García, Miguel; Hidalgo-Ruzzante, Natalia

2016-05-01

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex and global phenomenon that requires a multi-perspective analysis. Nevertheless, the number of neuroscientific studies conducted on this issue is scarce as compared with studies of other types of violence, and no neuroimaging studies comparing batterers to other criminals have been conducted. Thus, the main aim of this study was to compare the brain functioning of batterers to that of other criminals when they are exposed to IPV or general violence pictures. An fMRI study was conducted in 21 batterers and 20 other criminals while they observed IPV images (IPVI), general violence images (GVI) and neutral images (NI). Results demonstrated that batterers, compared with other criminals, exhibited a higher activation in the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex and in the middle prefrontal cortex and a decreased activation in the superior prefrontal cortex to IPVI compared to NI. The paired t-test comparison between IPVI and GVI for each group showed engagement of the medial prefrontal cortex, the posterior cingulate and the left angular cortices to IPVI in the batterer group only. These results could have important implications for a better understanding of the IPV phenomenon. © The Author (2016). Published by Oxford University Press. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

State Structures for the Governance of Higher Education: A Comparative Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bowen, Frank M.; Bracco, Kathy Reeves; Callan, Patrick M.; Finney, Joni E.; Richardson, Richard C., Jr.; Trombley, William

This comparative study synthesizes data from a national study which examined differences among states in their governance structures, and asked if differences in performance were related to governing structures and whether governance structure affected strategies of state policymakers. The seven states examined were grouped into four governance…

Comparative, Diachronic, Ethnographic Research on Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tobin, Joseph

2014-01-01

Most qualitative studies in international education take place in a single site in a single nation. When studies are of more than one country, they most often use more quantitative than qualitative approaches. Beatrice and John Whiting conducted the most systematic of comparative cross-cultural studies of child rearing in their "Six…

Does Working Part-Time Enhance Secondary Education?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McNelly, Don E.; And Others

This study established baseline data, compared Tennessee high school students' and parents' perceptions about working This study established baseline data, compared Tennessee sales tax contributions of the students. The study was limited to the perceptions of the high school students and their parents concerning working part time while in high…

A Comparative Study of Learning Organisation Practices of Indian Businesses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bhattacharya, Sonali; Neelam, Netra; Behl, Abhishek; Acharya, Sabyasachi

2017-01-01

Purpose: In this study we compared the learning organisation practices of Indian Businesses across sectors. Methodology: The study is based on a sample of 406 managers of banking, information technology and information technology enabled services (IT/ITES), manufacturing, hotel & hospitality and hospital and healthcare sectors. Learning…

75 FR 44181 - Mevinphos; Proposed Data Call-in Order for Pesticide Tolerance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-28

... are most often collected in a study called the comparative cholinesterase assay (CCA). Since that time....1520 Processing studies Not Required 24 months (tomatoes) 870.6300 Comparative 6 months 12 months... mevinphos including: 1. A developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) study in rats (with expanded protocol to extend...

New Image Qualities in Education: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Çankaya, Ibrahim

2018-01-01

The aim of this study is to compare Turkish and European Union Countries Educations in terms of the new image qualities such as data like access to online education, digital access, foreign languages learnt per pupil, research & development investments, human resources employed in science and technology, the study opportunities offered to…

Comparative Packaging Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perchonok, Michele; Antonini, David

2008-01-01

This viewgraph presentation describes a comparative packaging study for use on long duration space missions. The topics include: 1) Purpose; 2) Deliverables; 3) Food Sample Selection; 4) Experimental Design Matrix; 5) Permeation Rate Comparison; and 6) Packaging Material Information.

Methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents - assessment of adverse events in non-randomised studies.

PubMed

Storebø, Ole Jakob; Pedersen, Nadia; Ramstad, Erica; Kielsholm, Maja Lærke; Nielsen, Signe Sofie; Krogh, Helle B; Moreira-Maia, Carlos R; Magnusson, Frederik L; Holmskov, Mathilde; Gerner, Trine; Skoog, Maria; Rosendal, Susanne; Groth, Camilla; Gillies, Donna; Buch Rasmussen, Kirsten; Gauci, Dorothy; Zwi, Morris; Kirubakaran, Richard; Håkonsen, Sasja J; Aagaard, Lise; Simonsen, Erik; Gluud, Christian

2018-05-09

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood. The psychostimulant methylphenidate is the most frequently used medication to treat it. Several studies have investigated the benefits of methylphenidate, showing possible favourable effects on ADHD symptoms, but the true magnitude of the effect is unknown. Concerning adverse events associated with the treatment, our systematic review of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) demonstrated no increase in serious adverse events, but a high proportion of participants suffered a range of non-serious adverse events. To assess the adverse events associated with methylphenidate treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD in non-randomised studies. In January 2016, we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, 12 other databases and two trials registers. We also checked reference lists and contacted authors and pharmaceutical companies to identify additional studies. We included non-randomised study designs. These comprised comparative and non-comparative cohort studies, patient-control studies, patient reports/series and cross-sectional studies of methylphenidate administered at any dosage or formulation. We also included methylphenidate groups from RCTs assessing methylphenidate versus other interventions for ADHD as well as data from follow-up periods in RCTs. Participants had to have an ADHD diagnosis (from the 3rd to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or the 9th or 10th edition of theInternational Classification of Diseases, with or without comorbid diagnoses. We required that at least 75% of participants had a normal intellectual capacity (intelligence quotient of more than 70 points) and were aged below 20 years. We excluded studies that used another ADHD drug as a co-intervention. Fourteen review authors selected studies independently. Two review authors assessed risk of bias independently using the ROBINS-I tool for assessing risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions. All review authors extracted data. We defined serious adverse events according to the International Committee of Harmonization as any lethal, life-threatening or life-changing event. We considered all other adverse events to be non-serious adverse events and conducted meta-analyses of data from comparative studies. We calculated meta-analytic estimates of prevalence from non-comparative cohorts studies and synthesised data from patient reports/series qualitatively. We investigated heterogeneity by conducting subgroup analyses, and we also conducted sensitivity analyses. We included a total of 260 studies: 7 comparative cohort studies, 6 of which compared 968 patients who were exposed to methylphenidate to 166 controls, and 1 which assessed 1224 patients that were exposed or not exposed to methylphenidate during different time periods; 4 patient-control studies (53,192 exposed to methylphenidate and 19,906 controls); 177 non-comparative cohort studies (2,207,751 participants); 2 cross-sectional studies (96 participants) and 70 patient reports/series (206 participants). Participants' ages ranged from 3 years to 20 years. Risk of bias in the included comparative studies ranged from moderate to critical, with most studies showing critical risk of bias. We evaluated all non-comparative studies at critical risk of bias. The GRADE quality rating of the evidence was very low.Primary outcomesIn the comparative studies, methylphenidate increased the risk ratio (RR) of serious adverse events (RR 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17 to 1.57; 2 studies, 72,005 participants); any psychotic disorder (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.57; 1 study, 71,771 participants); and arrhythmia (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.48 to 1.74; 1 study, 1224 participants) compared to no intervention.In the non-comparative cohort studies, the proportion of participants on methylphenidate experiencing any serious adverse event was 1.20% (95% CI 0.70% to 2.00%; 50 studies, 162,422 participants). Withdrawal from methylphenidate due to any serious adverse events occurred in 1.20% (95% CI 0.60% to 2.30%; 7 studies, 1173 participants) and adverse events of unknown severity led to withdrawal in 7.30% of participants (95% CI 5.30% to 10.0%; 22 studies, 3708 participants).Secondary outcomesIn the comparative studies, methylphenidate, compared to no intervention, increased the RR of insomnia and sleep problems (RR 2.58, 95% CI 1.24 to 5.34; 3 studies, 425 participants) and decreased appetite (RR 15.06, 95% CI 2.12 to 106.83; 1 study, 335 participants).With non-comparative cohort studies, the proportion of participants on methylphenidate with any non-serious adverse events was 51.2% (95% CI 41.2% to 61.1%; 49 studies, 13,978 participants). These included difficulty falling asleep, 17.9% (95% CI 14.7% to 21.6%; 82 studies, 11,507 participants); headache, 14.4% (95% CI 11.3% to 18.3%; 90 studies, 13,469 participants); abdominal pain, 10.7% (95% CI 8.60% to 13.3%; 79 studies, 11,750 participants); and decreased appetite, 31.1% (95% CI 26.5% to 36.2%; 84 studies, 11,594 participants). Withdrawal of methylphenidate due to non-serious adverse events occurred in 6.20% (95% CI 4.80% to 7.90%; 37 studies, 7142 participants), and 16.2% were withdrawn for unknown reasons (95% CI 13.0% to 19.9%; 57 studies, 8340 participants). Our findings suggest that methylphenidate may be associated with a number of serious adverse events as well as a large number of non-serious adverse events in children and adolescents, which often lead to withdrawal of methylphenidate. Our certainty in the evidence is very low, and accordingly, it is not possible to accurately estimate the actual risk of adverse events. It might be higher than reported here.Given the possible association between methylphenidate and the adverse events identified, it may be important to identify people who are most susceptible to adverse events. To do this we must undertake large-scale, high-quality RCTs, along with studies aimed at identifying responders and non-responders.

The Analytical Potential of Comparative Educational Research: Review of Two Historical Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tippelt, Rudolf

2017-01-01

In this review, Rudolf Tippelt focuses on two central comparative educational publications that compare the English and German education systems under specific historical perspectives: (1) Lenhart V, "Die erste Schrift zur vergleichenden Erziehungswissenschaft"/"The First Treatise in Comparative Education." Fredericus Augustus…

A framework for comparative analysis of health systems: experiences from the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

PubMed

Healy, Judith Mary; Tang, Shenglan; Patcharanarumol, Walaiporn; Annear, Peter Leslie

2018-04-01

Drawing on published work from the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, this paper presents a framework for undertaking comparative studies on the health systems of countries. Organized under seven types of research approaches, such as national case-studies using a common format, this framework is illustrated using studies of low- and middle-income countries published by the Asia Pacific Observatory. Such studies are important contributions, since much of the health systems research literature comes from high-income countries. No one research approach, however, can adequately analyse a health system, let alone produce a nuanced comparison of different countries. Multiple comparative studies offer a better understanding, as a health system is a complex entity to describe and analyse. Appreciation of context and culture is crucial: what works in one country may not do so in another. Further, a single research method, such as performance indicators, or a study of a particular health system function or component, produces only a partial picture. Applying a comparative framework of several study approaches helps to inform and explain progress against health system targets, to identify differences among countries, and to assess policies and programmes. Multi-method comparative research produces policy-relevant learning that can assist countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3: ensure healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages by 2030.

Microstructural effects of Ramadan fasting on the brain: a diffusion tensor imaging study.

PubMed

Bakan, Ayse Ahsen; Yıldız, Seyma; Alkan, Alpay; Yetis, Huseyin; Kurtcan, Serpil; Ilhan, Mahmut Muzaffer

2015-01-01

We aimed to examine whether the brain displays any microstructural changes after a three-week Ramadan fasting period using diffusion tenson imaging. This study included a study and a control group of 25 volunteers each. In the study group, we examined and compared apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the participants during (phase 1) and after (phase 2) a period of fasting. The control group included individuals who did not fast. ADC and FA values obtained in phase 1 and phase 2 were compared between the study and control groups. In the study group, ADC values of hypothalamus and, to a lesser extent, of insula were lower in phase 1 compared with phase 2 and the control group. The FA values of amygdala, middle temporal cortex, thalamus and, to a lesser extent, of medial prefrontal cortex were lower in phase 1 compared with phase 2 and the control group. Phase 2 ADC and FA values of the study group were not significantly different compared with the control group at any brain location. A three-week Ramadan fasting period can cause microstructural changes in the brain, and diffusion tensor imaging enables the visualization of these changes. The identification of brain locations where changes occurred in ADC and FA values during fasting can be helpful in diagnostic imaging and understanding the pathophysiology of eating disorders.

Microstructural effects of Ramadan fasting on the brain: a diffusion tensor imaging study

PubMed Central

Bakan, Ayse Ahsen; Yıldız, Seyma; Alkan, Alpay; Yetis, Huseyin; Kurtcan, Serpil; Ilhan, Mahmut Muzaffer

2015-01-01

PURPOSE We aimed to examine whether the brain displays any microstructural changes after a three-week Ramadan fasting period using diffusion tenson imaging. METHODS This study included a study and a control group of 25 volunteers each. In the study group, we examined and compared apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the participants during (phase 1) and after (phase 2) a period of fasting. The control group included individuals who did not fast. ADC and FA values obtained in phase 1 and phase 2 were compared between the study and control groups. RESULTS In the study group, ADC values of hypothalamus and, to a lesser extent, of insula were lower in phase 1 compared with phase 2 and the control group. The FA values of amygdala, middle temporal cortex, thalamus and, to a lesser extent, of medial prefrontal cortex were lower in phase 1 compared with phase 2 and the control group. Phase 2 ADC and FA values of the study group were not significantly different compared with the control group at any brain location. CONCLUSION A three-week Ramadan fasting period can cause microstructural changes in the brain, and diffusion tensor imaging enables the visualization of these changes. The identification of brain locations where changes occurred in ADC and FA values during fasting can be helpful in diagnostic imaging and understanding the pathophysiology of eating disorders. PMID:25835077

Study design elements for rigorous quasi-experimental comparative effectiveness research.

PubMed

Maciejewski, Matthew L; Curtis, Lesley H; Dowd, Bryan

2013-03-01

Quasi-experiments are likely to be the workhorse study design used to generate evidence about the comparative effectiveness of alternative treatments, because of their feasibility, timeliness, affordability and external validity compared with randomized trials. In this review, we outline potential sources of discordance in results between quasi-experiments and experiments, review study design choices that can improve the internal validity of quasi-experiments, and outline innovative data linkage strategies that may be particularly useful in quasi-experimental comparative effectiveness research. There is an urgent need to resolve the debate about the evidentiary value of quasi-experiments since equal consideration of rigorous quasi-experiments will broaden the base of evidence that can be brought to bear in clinical decision-making and governmental policy-making.

Virtual reality in the psychological treatment for mental health problems: An systematic review of recent evidence.

PubMed

Valmaggia, Lucia R; Latif, Leila; Kempton, Matthew J; Rus-Calafell, Maria

2016-02-28

The aim of this paper is to provide a review of controlled studies of the use of Virtual Reality in psychological treatment (VRT). Medline, PsychInfo, Embase and Web of Science were searched. Only studies comparing immersive virtual reality to a control condition were included. The search resulted in 1180 articles published between 2012 and 2015, of these, 24 were controlled studies. The reviewed studies confirm the effectiveness of VRT compared to treatment as usual, and show similar effectiveness when VRT is compared to conventional treatments. Current developments and future research are discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antibiotics for community-acquired pneumonia in children.

PubMed

Lodha, Rakesh; Kabra, Sushil K; Pandey, Ravindra M

2013-06-04

Pneumonia caused by bacterial pathogens is the leading cause of mortality in children in low-income countries. Early administration of antibiotics improves outcomes. To identify effective antibiotic drug therapies for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) of varying severity in children by comparing various antibiotics. We searched CENTRAL 2012, Issue 10; MEDLINE (1966 to October week 4, 2012); EMBASE (1990 to November 2012); CINAHL (2009 to November 2012); Web of Science (2009 to November 2012) and LILACS (2009 to November 2012). Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in children of either sex, comparing at least two antibiotics for CAP within hospital or ambulatory (outpatient) settings. Two review authors independently extracted data from the full articles of selected studies. We included 29 trials, which enrolled 14,188 children, comparing multiple antibiotics. None compared antibiotics with placebo.Assessment of quality of study revealed that 5 out of 29 studies were double-blind and allocation concealment was adequate. Another 12 studies were unblinded but had adequate allocation concealment, classifying them as good quality studies. There was more than one study comparing co-trimoxazole with amoxycillin, oral amoxycillin with injectable penicillin/ampicillin and chloramphenicol with ampicillin/penicillin and studies were of good quality, suggesting the evidence for these comparisons was of high quality compared to other comparisons.In ambulatory settings, for treatment of World Health Organization (WHO) defined non-severe CAP, amoxycillin compared with co-trimoxazole had similar failure rates (odds ratio (OR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91 to 1.51) and cure rates (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.89). Three studies involved 3952 children.In children with severe pneumonia without hypoxaemia, oral antibiotics (amoxycillin/co-trimoxazole) compared with injectable penicillin had similar failure rates (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.24), hospitalisation rates (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.38 to 3.34) and relapse rates (OR 1.28, 95% CI 0.34 to 4.82). Six studies involved 4331 children below 18 years of age.In very severe CAP, death rates were higher in children receiving chloramphenicol compared to those receiving penicillin/ampicillin plus gentamicin (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.76 to 2.07). One study involved 1116 children. For treatment of patients with CAP in ambulatory settings, amoxycillin is an alternative to co-trimoxazole. With limited data on other antibiotics, co-amoxyclavulanic acid and cefpodoxime may be alternative second-line drugs. Children with severe pneumonia without hypoxaemia can be treated with oral amoxycillin in an ambulatory setting. For children hospitalised with severe and very severe CAP, penicillin/ampicillin plus gentamycin is superior to chloramphenicol. The other alternative drugs for such patients are co-amoxyclavulanic acid and cefuroxime. Until more studies are available, these can be used as second-line therapies.There is a need for more studies with radiographically confirmed pneumonia in larger patient populations and similar methodologies to compare newer antibiotics. Recommendations in this review are applicable to countries with high case fatalities due to pneumonia in children without underlying morbidities and where point of care tests for identification of aetiological agents for pneumonia are not available.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: rifaximin for the prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

PubMed

Goel, A; Rahim, U; Nguyen, L H; Stave, C; Nguyen, M H

2017-12-01

The primary and secondary prevention of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is recommended in high-risk patients with cirrhosis. Several studies evaluating the efficacy of rifaximin for SBP prophylaxis have yielded conflicting results. Rifaximin has the potential advantage of preventing bacterial overgrowth and translocation without the systemic side effects of broad-spectrum antibiotics. To evaluate the efficacy of rifaximin in the primary and secondary prevention of SBP. A literature search using five databases was performed to identify studies on the association between rifaximin and SBP. We performed two meta-analyses: (1) rifaximin compared to systemic antibiotics and (2) rifaximin compared to no antibiotics. Random-effect modelling was conducted to determine overall pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Five studies with 555 patients (295 rifaximin, 260 systemic antibiotics) compared rifaximin with systemic antibiotics. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for SBP was 0.45 (95% CI 0.16-1.27; P = .13) in patients receiving rifaximin and strengthened on sensitivity analysis (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.19-0.76, P = .01). In the analysis comparing rifaximin with no antibiotics, there were five studies with 784 patients (186 rifaximin, 598 no antibiotics). The OR for SBP was 0.34 (95% CI 0.11-0.99; P < .05) in patients receiving rifaximin. In subgroup analysis, rifaximin reduced the risk of SBP by 47% compared to no antibiotics for primary prophylaxis and by 74% compared to systemic antibiotics for secondary prophylaxis. Rifaximin may be effective in preventing SBP in patients with cirrhosis and ascites compared to systemically absorbed antibiotics and compared to placebo. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

15N-metabolic labeling for comparative plasma membrane proteomics in Arabidopsis cells.

PubMed

Lanquar, Viviane; Kuhn, Lauriane; Lelièvre, Françoise; Khafif, Mehdi; Espagne, Christelle; Bruley, Christophe; Barbier-Brygoo, Hélène; Garin, Jérôme; Thomine, Sébastien

2007-03-01

An important goal for proteomic studies is the global comparison of proteomes from different genotypes, tissues, or physiological conditions. This has so far been mostly achieved by densitometric comparison of spot intensities after protein separation by 2-DE. However, the physicochemical properties of membrane proteins preclude the use of 2-DE. Here, we describe the use of in vivo labeling by the stable isotope 15N as an alternative approach for comparative membrane proteomic studies in plant cells. We confirm that 15N-metabolic labeling of proteins is possible and efficient in Arabidopsis suspension cells. Quantification of 14N versus 15N MS signals reflects the relative abundance of 14N and 15N proteins in the sample analyzed. We describe the use of 15N-metabolic labeling to perform a partial comparative analysis of Arabidopsis cells following cadmium exposure. By focusing our attention on plasma membrane proteins, we were able to confidently identify proteins showing up to 5-fold regulation compared to unexposed cells. This study provides a proof of principle that 15N-metabolic labeling is a useful technique for comparative membrane proteome studies.

Indoor Air Quality and Respiratory Health among Malay Preschool Children in Selangor.

PubMed

Rawi, Nur Azwani Mohd Nor; Jalaludin, Juliana; Chua, Poh Choo

2015-01-01

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has been the object of several studies due to its adverse health effects on children. Methods. A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among Malay children in Balakong (2 studied preschools) and Bangi (2 comparative preschools), Selangor, with the aims of determining IAQ and its association with respiratory health. 61 and 50 children aged 5-6 years were selected as studied and comparative groups. A questionnaire was used to obtain an exposure history and respiratory symptoms. Lung function test was carried out. IAQ parameters obtained include indoor concentration of particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, air velocity (AV), and relative humidity. Results. There was a significant difference between IAQ in studied and comparative preschools for all parameters measured (P < 0.001) except for CO2 and AV. Studied preschools had higher PM and CO concentration. FVC, FEV1, FVC% and FEV1% predicted values were significantly lower among studied group. Exposures to PM, VOCs, and CO were associated with wheezing. Conclusion. The finding concluded that exposures to poor IAQ might increase the risk of getting lung function abnormality and respiratory problems among study respondents.

Indoor Air Quality and Respiratory Health among Malay Preschool Children in Selangor

PubMed Central

Chua, Poh Choo

2015-01-01

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has been the object of several studies due to its adverse health effects on children. Methods. A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among Malay children in Balakong (2 studied preschools) and Bangi (2 comparative preschools), Selangor, with the aims of determining IAQ and its association with respiratory health. 61 and 50 children aged 5-6 years were selected as studied and comparative groups. A questionnaire was used to obtain an exposure history and respiratory symptoms. Lung function test was carried out. IAQ parameters obtained include indoor concentration of particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, air velocity (AV), and relative humidity. Results. There was a significant difference between IAQ in studied and comparative preschools for all parameters measured (P < 0.001) except for CO2 and AV. Studied preschools had higher PM and CO concentration. FVC, FEV1, FVC% and FEV1% predicted values were significantly lower among studied group. Exposures to PM, VOCs, and CO were associated with wheezing. Conclusion. The finding concluded that exposures to poor IAQ might increase the risk of getting lung function abnormality and respiratory problems among study respondents. PMID:25984527

Comparative Adult Education 1998. The Contribution of ISCAE to an Emerging Field of Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reischmann, Jost, Ed.; Bron, Michal, Jr., Ed.; Jelenc, Zoran, Ed.

This document contains 24 papers from the 1995 and 1998 International Society for Comparative Adult Education (ISCAE) conferences. The following papers are included: "International and Comparative Adult Education" (Jost Reischmann); "Development and Fundamental Principles of International and Comparative Adult Education"…

Towards Comparative Educational Administration: Building the Case for a Cross-Cultural School-Based Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dimmock, Clive; Walker, Allan

1998-01-01

Advocates a stronger comparative emphasis in the study of educational administration and management while acknowledging comparative educational administration's weak knowledge base. Clarifies the potential import of a comparative, cross-cultural perspective embracing five societal/cultural dimensions: individualism versus collectivism, power…

A pilot comparative study of topical latanoprost and tacrolimus in combination with narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy and microneedling for the treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo.

PubMed

Korobko, Igor V; Lomonosov, Konstantin M

2016-11-01

Prostaglandins and their analogues are beneficial as topical agents in vitiligo treatment, yet neither of the previous study addressed their comparative efficiency with conventional topical agents used in vitiligo treatment. In this pilot (24 patients) left-right comparative study we addressed efficiency of prostaglandin F2α analogue latanoprost versus tacrolimus when combined with narrow-band ultraviolet B and microneedling in repigmentation of nonsegmental vitiligo lesions. Our results confirm potency of prostaglandins, in particular, that of latanoprost, in inducing repigmentation, with the efficiency being at least comparable to that of tacrolimus, while contribution of microneedling remains unclear. In summary, results of our study provide further evidences for justified use of prostaglandins, in particular, latanoprost, in vitiligo treatment. In turn, this warrants future studies on the topic aiming to conclusively introduce prostaglandin-based formulations as conventional agents for vitiligo management. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The comparison between limited open carpal tunnel release using direct vision and tunneling technique and standard open carpal tunnel release: a randomized controlled trial study.

PubMed

Suppaphol, Sorasak; Worathanarat, Patarawan; Kawinwongkovit, Viroj; Pittayawutwinit, Preecha

2012-04-01

To compare the operative outcome of carpal tunnel release between limited open carpal tunnel release using direct vision and tunneling technique (group A) with standard open carpal tunnel release (group B). Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in the present study. A single blind randomized control trial study was conducted to compare the postoperative results between group A and B. The study parameters were Levine's symptom severity and functional score, grip and pinch strength, and average two-point discrimination. The postoperative results between two groups were comparable with no statistical significance. Only grip strength at three months follow up was significantly greater in group A than in group B. The limited open carpal tunnel release in the present study is effective comparable to the standard open carpal tunnel release. The others advantage of this technique are better cosmesis and improvement in grip strength at the three months postoperative period.

[Laservaporization of the prostate: current status of the greenlight and diode laser].

PubMed

Rieken, M; Bachmann, A; Gratzke, C

2013-03-01

In the last decade laser vaporization of the prostate has emerged as a safe and effective alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). This was facilitated in particular by the introduction of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) with a 532 nm 80 W KTP laser in 2002. Prospective randomized trials comparing PVP and TURP with a maximum follow-up of 3 years mostly demonstrated comparable functional results. Cohort studies showed a safe application of PVP in patients under oral anticoagulation and with large prostates. Systems from various manufacturers with different maximum power output and wavelengths are now available for diode laser vaporization of the prostate. Prospective randomized trials comparing diode lasers and TURP are not yet available. In cohort studies and comparative studies PVP diode lasers are characterized by excellent hemostatic properties but functional results vary greatly with some studies reporting high reoperation rates.

Instrumental variable methods in comparative safety and effectiveness research.

PubMed

Brookhart, M Alan; Rassen, Jeremy A; Schneeweiss, Sebastian

2010-06-01

Instrumental variable (IV) methods have been proposed as a potential approach to the common problem of uncontrolled confounding in comparative studies of medical interventions, but IV methods are unfamiliar to many researchers. The goal of this article is to provide a non-technical, practical introduction to IV methods for comparative safety and effectiveness research. We outline the principles and basic assumptions necessary for valid IV estimation, discuss how to interpret the results of an IV study, provide a review of instruments that have been used in comparative effectiveness research, and suggest some minimal reporting standards for an IV analysis. Finally, we offer our perspective of the role of IV estimation vis-à-vis more traditional approaches based on statistical modeling of the exposure or outcome. We anticipate that IV methods will be often underpowered for drug safety studies of very rare outcomes, but may be potentially useful in studies of intended effects where uncontrolled confounding may be substantial.

Confronting Crisis. A Comparative Study of Household Responses to Poverty and Vulnerability in Four Poor Urban Communities. Environmentally Sustainable Development Studies and Monographs Series No. 8.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moser, Caroline O. N.

This volume presents the main findings of a comparative study of four poor urban communities in countries experiencing economic difficulties during the late 1980s: Chawama (Zambia), Cisne Dos (Ecuador), Commonwealth (the Philippines), and Angyalfold (Hungary). The study extended a longitudinal community panel study begun in Ecuador by using a…

A comparison of the results of prospective and retrospective cohort studies in the field of digestive surgery.

PubMed

Ukai, Tomohiko; Shikata, Satoru; Nakayama, Takeo; Takemura, Yousuke C

2017-07-01

We compared the results of prospective and retrospective cohort studies in the field of digestive surgery to clarify whether the results of prospective cohort studies were more similar to those of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We conducted a secondary analysis of the results to compare the results of RCTs with those of cohort studies in meta-analyses of 18 digestive surgical topics. The data from the prospective and retrospective cohort studies were combined. The summary estimates of each design were compared with those of RCTs. We used the Z score to investigate discrepancies. Twenty-nine outcomes of 11 topics were investigated in 289 cohort studies (prospective, n = 69; retrospective, n = 220). These were compared with the outcomes of 123 RCTs. In comparison to retrospective studies, the summary estimates of the prospective cohort studies were more similar to those of the RCTs [19/29 (prospective) vs. 10/29 (retrospective), P = 0.035). Five of the 29 outcomes of prospective studies and 6 of 29 outcomes of retrospective studies (P = 0.99) showed significant discrepancies in comparison to RCTs. In the digestive surgical field, the results of prospective cohort studies tended to be more similar to those of RCTs than retrospective studies; however, there were no significant discrepancies between the two types of cohort study.

The Four-Day School Calendar: A Comparative Study of Student Performance Indicators in a Colorado School District

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reeves, Cheryl L.

2014-01-01

Because there was a gap in the literature about the nuances of a four-day school week, it was not known if there was a difference in performance indicators in a school calendar with Monday off compared to a school calendar with Friday off. The purpose of this comparative descriptive study was to determine if there was a difference in achievement…

COMPARE : a method for analyzing investment alternatives in industrial wood and bark energy systems

Treesearch

Peter J. Ince

1983-01-01

COMPARE is a FORTRAN computer program resulting from a study to develop methods for comparative economic analysis of alternatives in industrial wood and bark energy systems. COMPARE provides complete guidelines for economic analysis of wood and bark energy systems. As such, COMPARE can be useful to those who have only basic familiarity with investment analysis of wood...

Continuous subcutaneous infusion of insulin lispro in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Kaiserman, Kevin; Rodriguez, Henry; Stephenson, Amanda; Wolka, Linda; Fahrbach, Jessie L

2012-01-01

To provide a comprehensive review of insulin lispro administered by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in children and adolescents. We performed PubMed literature searches to identify clinical studies of insulin lispro administered via CSII within pediatric and adolescent populations. Twenty-six studies involving 2521 pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus met inclusion criteria. Of these, 10 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 6 of which compared insulin lispro CSII with multiple daily injection (MDI) therapy. We identified 7 additional prospective, nonrandomized studies and 9 retrospective studies. Within the RCTs, endpoint hemoglobin A1c levels ranged from 6.3% to 8.5% for insulin lispro CSII therapy and from 6.2% to 8.7% for those trials with MDI comparator arms. In those trials that compared insulin lispro CSII with MDI, the endpoint hemoglobin A1c achieved with insulin lispro was similar or improved compared with observations in the MDI treatment arm. In the RCTs, severe hypoglycemia rates of 0.1 to 0.3 episodes/patient per year were reported for insulin lispro CSII therapy; those trials with MDI comparator arms reported relatively similar severe hypoglycemia rates (0.1 to 0.5 episodes/patient per year). Events of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) were rare. Where reported, insulin lispro CSII and MDI therapy demonstrated a similar occurrence of DKA and incidence of severe hypoglycemia. Prospective and retrospective studies demonstrated results similar to the RCT findings. In 26 studies of more than 2500 pediatric and adolescent patients with type 1 diabetes, with more than 1000 patients specifically receiving insulin lispro CSII, insulin lispro CSII therapy consistently demonstrated similar or improved efficacy and safety vs studied comparators.

HRM Practices in Public and Private Universities of Pakistan: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iqbal, Muhammad Zafar; Arif, Muhammad Irfan; Abbas, Furrakh

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the HRM practices of public and private universities in Punjab province of Pakistan. The data for the study was collected through a questionnaire comprising 30 items mainly related to job definition, training and development, compensation, team work, employee's participation and performance appraisal. The…

Opportunities and Challenges in Using Studies without a Control Group in Comparative Effectiveness Reviews

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paulus, Jessica K.; Dahabreh, Issa J.; Balk, Ethan M.; Avendano, Esther E.; Lau, Joseph; Ip, Stanley

2014-01-01

When examining the evidence on therapeutic interventions to answer a comparative effectiveness research question, one should consider all studies that are informative on the interventions' causal effects. "Single group studies" evaluate outcomes longitudinally in cohorts of subjects who are managed with a single treatment strategy.…

The Comparability of Focus Group and Survey Results: Three Case Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward, Victoria M.; And Others

1991-01-01

Focus group findings were compared with survey findings for three studies in which both methods were used. Studies conducted on voluntary sterilization in Guatemala, Honduras, and Zaire with over 2,000 subjects confirm that focus groups yield information similar to that obtained from surveys and are useful in program planning. (SLD)

Comparative study of fungal deterioration in Liquidambar orientalis mill heartwood extractives

Treesearch

Roderquita K Moore; Doreen Mann; Nural Yilgor

2017-01-01

A comparative study was done on Liquidambar Orientalis Mill heartwood extractive samples. These extractives were collected from wood decay specimens. The objective of the study was to determine the chemical composition of the extractives remaining after exposure to brown rot fungi Tyromyces Palustris and white rot fungi Trametes Vericolor...

Competency-Based Education: A Quantitative Study of the U.S. Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houser, Bonnie L.

2017-01-01

There are relatively few empirical studies that examine whether using a competency-based education (CBE) approach results in increased student learning or achievement when compared to traditional education approaches. This study uses a quantitative research methodology, a nonexperimental comparative descriptive research design, and a two-group…

Successful Developmental Math Students in Traditional Format and Online Delivery: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomas, Jeremy Lloyd

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare student performance in online and traditional classroom based developmental math courses at Texas community colleges. This study specifically examined: (a) student performance in both delivery methods, (b) students who successfully completed the developmental math course, and (c) student performance in the…

Channel One and CNN Newsroom: A Comparative Study of Seven Districts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nasstrom, Roy; Gierok, Anne

Many American schools use the televised news programs Channel One and CNN Newsroom. Channel One has received considerable scrutiny, some of it highly unfavorable, while attention to CNN Newsroom has been less extensive and mostly benign. This study compares the two programs within seven school districts in Wisconsin. The study addresses three…

Political Ideology: A Comparative Study of Three Chicano Youth Organizations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garcia, Richard A.

The study investigated the political ideology of three Chicano youth groups in El Paso, Texas: Mexican American Youth Association (MAYA), Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), and the Alianza. Purpose of the study was to identify and compare the political ideas and attitudes of the three organizations. Questionnaires were administered to…

A Comparative Study of the FET Phase Mathematical Literacy and Mathematics Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mhakure, Duncan; Mokoena, Mamolahluwa Amelia

2011-01-01

This article is based on a study that compared the FET (further education and training) phase mathematics literacy curriculum and mathematics curriculum. The study looked into how the conceptualization of a mathematical literacy curriculum enhanced the acquisition of mathematical concepts among the learners. In order to carry out this comparison…

Re-Seeing Race in a Post-Obama Age: Asian American Studies, Comparative Ethnic Studies, and Intersectional Pedagogies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schlund-Vials, Cathy J.

2011-01-01

Focused on comparative ethnic studies and intersectionality, the author commences with a discussion about Barack Obama's historic inauguration and the Asian American literature classroom. This essay argues that courses, programs, and departments focused on ethnicity, race, gender, class, and sexuality remain important precisely because they…

Comparing Empirically Historical Awareness in East and West Germany.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Borries, Bodo von; Lehmann, Rainer H.

A study compared the historical awareness of 2,000 East and West German children in the sixth, ninth, and twelfth grades. Because of differing school systems and the general design of the study, researchers analyzed ninth grade data. The study was conducted during the disintegration and reunification of Germany. Students from the two regions…

Living With and Learning about Radioactivity: A Comparative Conceptual Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alsop, Steve

2001-01-01

Documents a quasi-scientific comparative study of two groups of 'recent school leavers' in the UK. Studies non-science university undergraduates and explores whether people living with the immediacy and relevance of higher-than-average levels of radioactivity were more knowledgeable and emotionally detached than a similar group removed from this…

A Comparative Study of Teaching Typing Skills on Microcomputers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindsay, Robert M.

A 4-week experimental study was conducted with 105 high school students in 4 introductory typewriting classes of a large urban school in British Columbia during the 1981 spring semester. The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness of teaching the skill-building components of typewriting speed and accuracy using either the…

Comparison of Observational Methods and Their Relation to Ratings of Engagement in Young Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wood, Brenna K.; Hojnoski, Robin L.; Laracy, Seth D.; Olson, Christopher L.

2016-01-01

Although, collectively, results of earlier direct observation studies suggest momentary time sampling (MTS) may offer certain technical advantages over whole-interval (WIR) and partial-interval (PIR) recording, no study has compared these methods for measuring engagement in young children in naturalistic environments. This study compared direct…

Which Group Teaching Styles Best Promote Information Gain for Adults with Mental Disorders?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emer, Denise; McLarney, Amber; Goodwin, Melinda; Keller, Peggy

2002-01-01

Group psychoeducation formats were evaluated to determine which promoted the greatest learning and retention of therapeutically relevant information in adult clients with mental disorders. Study 1 compared lecture and interactive formats; Study 2 compared two types of interactive formats. Both studies also measured client satisfaction with the…

A Study of Digital Communications between Universities and Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Drake, Perry D.

2017-01-01

This study examined the digital and social media communication practices of nine urban universities including UMSL and compared those to known corporate best practices. The purpose of this study was to (1) research how these universities are using social/digital communications to engage with students and prospective students; (2) compare the…

Ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel preparations on the Belgian market: a comparative study.

PubMed

Vanheusden, V; De Braekeleer, K; Corthout, J

2012-03-01

Preparations formulated as coated or film-coated tablets, containing levonorgestrel and the combination ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel, were evaluated in a comparative study. This study comprised in vitro dissolution, assay and content uniformity. The analytical methods were previously validated according to international guidelines. All examined products complied with the postulated requirements.

Technical Writing Redesign and Assessment: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winter, Gaye Bush

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare scores on writing assignments from traditional, fully online courses in technical writing to pilot, hybrid courses at a southern university. A total of 232 students' assignments were compared in this study. All writing assignments were scored by six trained instructors of English using the same five point…

Sustainability of Social Programs: A Comparative Case Study Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savaya, Riki; Spiro, Shimon; Elran-Barak, Roni

2008-01-01

The article reports on the findings of a comparative case study of six projects that operated in Israel between 1980 and 2000. The study findings identify characteristics of the programs, the host organizations, and the social and political environment, which differentiated programs that are sustained from those that are not. The findings reaffirm…

Traditional vs. Experiential: A Comparative Study of Instructional Methodologies on Student Achievement in New York City Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mohan, Subhas

2015-01-01

This study explores the differences in student achievement on state standardized tests between experiential learning and direct learning instructional methodologies. Specifically, the study compares student performances in Expeditionary Learning schools, which is a Comprehensive School Reform model that utilizes experiential learning, to their…

Results of the 1974 NACUBO Comparative Performance Study and Investment Questionnaire.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Association of College and University Business Officers, Washington, DC.

The 1974 Comparative Performance Study includes 150 endowment pools representing 136 institutions. The market value of the pools which provided information as of June 30, 1974, was 6.9 billion dollars. The study identifies endowment pools by code and indicates each pool's investment objective, approximate market value, the percentage in cash and…

A Study of Assessments Designed for Student Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Delepine, Sidney G., III

2012-01-01

The purpose of this quantitative study is to compare a new assessment tool, the SkillsUSA Connect Assessment with the NOCTI assessment to determine which test results in more students achieving success. A quantitative study, designed to compare test scores of students taking the NOCTI assessment and new assessments from SkillsUSA, called the…

Comparative Study on the Senior Secondary School Mathematics Curricula Development in Ethiopia and Australia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meleta, Fufa E.; Zhang, Weizhong

2017-01-01

The main objective of this study is to compare the process of the senior secondary school mathematics curricula development in Ethiopia and Australia. The study was investigated qualitatively with document analysis and semi-structured interview research methods. The documents were collected from Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of…

Differences in Self-Disclosure Patterns among Americans versus Chinese: A Comparative Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Guo-Ming

A study investigated differences in self-disclosure, comparing patterns in Americans versus Chinese. Subjects, 198 American college students and 146 Chinese (Taiwan) students studying in the United States, completed a 200-item self-disclosure chart to target persons on special topics. Results of t-tests and analysis of variance indicated that…

A Quantitative Comparative Study Measuring Consumer Satisfaction Based on Health Record Format

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Vivianne E.

2013-01-01

This research study used a quantitative comparative method to investigate the relationship between consumer satisfaction and communication based on the format of health record. The central problem investigated in this research study related to the format of health record used and consumer satisfaction with care provided and effect on communication…

Entrepreneurial Training: A Comparative Study across Fifteen European Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matricano, Diego

2014-01-01

This paper arises from the contents of the Lisbon Strategy, a set of cooperation policies stressing the role of education and training. The findings from a comparative study of the influence that entrepreneurial training--classified as formal or informal--can have on start-up expectations are analysed. The study covers fifteen European countries…

Student and Professional Attitudes Regarding Advertising Influence on Broadcast News Content: A Comparative Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Hubert W.; Barnes, Beth E.

Students studying Broadcast Journalism or Advertising and professionals working in those fields were surveyed on their attitudes regarding advertising influence on broadcast news content. This study compares the attitudes of the students and practitioners in the respective professions. While students and professionals agreed on a majority of…

Study Indicates Some Improvement in U.S. Science Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krieger, James H.

1984-01-01

Preliminary analysis of the Second International Science Study shows, counter to trends in recent studies, improved overall science scores among fifth and ninth graders compared to the 1970s. In particular, fifth graders know more about biology and physical sciences and less about space travel compared to the 1970s. (JN)

Effectiveness of Telementoring in Surgery Compared With On-site Mentoring: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Bilgic, Elif; Turkdogan, Sena; Watanabe, Yusuke; Madani, Amin; Landry, Tara; Lavigne, Daniel; Feldman, Liane S; Vassiliou, Melina C

2017-08-01

Mentorship is important but may not be feasible for distance learning. To bridge this gap, telementoring has emerged. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of telementoring compared with on-site mentoring. A search was done up to March 2015. Studies were included if they used telementoring between surgeons during a clinical encounter and if they compared on-site mentoring and telementoring. A total of 11 studies were included. All reported no difference in complication rates, and 9 (82%) reported similar operative times; 4 (36%) reported technical issues, which was 3% of the total number of cases in the 11 studies. No study reported on higher levels of evidence for effectiveness of telementoring as an educational intervention. Studies reported that telementoring is associated with similar complication rates and operative times compared with on-site mentoring. However, the level of evidence to support the effectiveness of telementoring as a training tool is limited. There is a need for studies that provide evidence for the equivalence of the effectiveness of telementoring as an educational intervention in comparison with on-site mentoring.

Autograft versus nonirradiated allograft tissue for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review.

PubMed

Mariscalco, Michael W; Magnussen, Robert A; Mehta, Divyesh; Hewett, Timothy E; Flanigan, David C; Kaeding, Christopher C

2014-02-01

An autograft has traditionally been the gold standard for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), but the use of allograft tissue has increased in recent years. While numerous studies have demonstrated that irradiated allografts are associated with increased failure rates, some report excellent results after ACLR with nonirradiated allografts. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine whether the use of nonirradiated allograft tissue is associated with poorer outcomes when compared with autografts. Patients undergoing ACLR with autografts versus nonirradiated allografts will demonstrate no significant differences in graft failure risk, laxity on postoperative physical examination, or differences in patient-oriented outcome scores. Systematic review. A systematic review was performed to identify prospective or retrospective comparative studies (evidence level 1, 2, or 3) of autografts versus nonirradiated allografts for ACLR. Outcome data included graft failure based on clinical findings and instrumented laxity, postoperative laxity on physical examination, and patient-reported outcome scores. Studies were excluded if they did not specify whether the allograft had been irradiated. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed by 2 examiners. Nine studies comparing autografts and nonirradiated allografts were included. Six of the 9 studies compared bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autografts with BPTB allografts. Two studies compared hamstring tendon autografts to hamstring tendon allografts, and 1 study compared hamstring tendon autografts to tibialis anterior allografts. The mean patient age in 7 of 9 studies ranged from 24.5 to 32 years, with 1 study including only patients older than 40 years and another not reporting patient age. The mean follow-up duration was 24 to 94 months. Six of 9 studies reported clinical graft failure rates, 8 of 9 reported postoperative instrumented laxity measurements, 7 of 9 reported postoperative physical examination findings, and all studies reported patient-reported outcome scores. This review demonstrated no statistically significant difference between autografts and nonirradiated allografts in any outcome measure. No significant differences were found in graft failure rate, postoperative laxity, or patient-reported outcome scores when comparing ACLR with autografts to nonirradiated allografts in this systematic review. These findings apply to patients in their late 20s and early 30s. Caution is advised when considering extrapolation of these findings to younger, more active cohorts.

Patients’ subjective concepts about primary healthcare utilisation: the study protocol of a qualitative comparative study between Norway and Germany

PubMed Central

Herrmann, Wolfram J; Haarmann, Alexander; Flick, Uwe; Bærheim, Anders; Lichte, Thomas; Herrmann, Markus

2013-01-01

Background In Germany, utilisation of ambulatory healthcare services is high compared with other countries: While a study based on the process data of German statutory health insurances showed an average of 17.1 physician-patient-contacts per year, the comparable figure for Norway is about five. The usual models of healthcare utilisation, such as Rosenstock's Health Belief Model and Andersen's Behavioural Model, cannot explain these differences adequately. Organisational factors of the healthcare system, such as gatekeeping, do not explain the magnitude of the differences. Our hypothesis is that patients’ subjective concepts about primary healthcare utilisation play a major role in explaining different healthcare utilisation behaviour in different countries. Hence, the aim of this study is to explore these subjective concepts comparatively, between Germany and Norway. Methods/design With that aim in mind, we chose a comparative qualitative study design. In Norway and Germany, we are going to interview 20 patients each with qualitative episodic interviews. In addition, we are going to conduct participant observation in four German and four Norwegian primary care practices. The data will be analysed by thematic coding. Using selected categories, we are going to conduct comparative case and group analyses. Ethics and dissemination The study adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki. All interviewees will sign informed consent forms and all patients will be observed during consultation. Strict rules for data security will apply. Developed theory and policy implications are going to be disseminated by a workshop, presentations for experts and laypersons and publications. PMID:23794555

Comparing the Persuasiveness of Narrative and Statistical Evidence Using Meta-Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allen, Mike; Preiss, Raymond W.

1997-01-01

Compares the persuasiveness of using statistical versus narrative evidence (case studies or examples) across 15 investigations. Indicates that when comparing messages, statistical evidence is more persuasive than narrative evidence. (PA)

Cross Cultural Comparative Education--Fortifying Preconceptions or Transformation of Knowledge?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birkeland, Åsta

2016-01-01

The purpose of this article is to carry out a critical inquiry of comparative education by using an example of a comparative programme within kindergarten teacher education in Norway. The article discusses the inclination, in cross-cultural comparative studies, to emphasise cultural essentialism, to evaluate educational practice from a…

Comparative Economics Systems in the Undergraduate Curriculum: An Update

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kovzik, Alexander; Johnson, Marianne

2016-01-01

In this study, the authors report on the status of comparative economics systems in the U.S. undergraduate economics curriculum. The treatment of comparative economics systems topics in introductory courses is examined through a survey of standard textbooks. To evaluate comparative economics systems at the advanced undergraduate level, they rely…

Comparative Physical Education and Sport: The Area Defined.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howell, Maxwell L.; Howell, Reet A.

The emerging field of comparative physical education and sport, or international physical education and sport, rests squarely on the shoulders of comparative education; an understanding and appreciation of the latter is necessary for an understanding of the former. Comparative education is an older field of study and has gone through certain…

The Comparative Method of Language Acquisition Research: A Mayan Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pye, Clifton; Pfeiler, Barbara

2014-01-01

This article demonstrates how the Comparative Method can be applied to cross-linguistic research on language acquisition. The Comparative Method provides a systematic procedure for organizing and interpreting acquisition data from different languages. The Comparative Method controls for cross-linguistic differences at all levels of the grammar and…

Three New Teosintes (Zea spp., Poaceae) From Mexico

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The discovery of new species of teosinte from México motivated the comparative study of populations from México, Guatemala and Nicaragua through detailed ecogeographic, morphologic, cytogenetic and molecular characterization. The study involved a comparative analysis of morphological, ecogeographic,...

Comparative feasibility study of two concepts for a space-based astrometric satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bamdermann, L.; Bareket, N.; Metheny, W.

1982-01-01

A comparative feasibility study of two concepts for an astrometric satellite: a visual imaging telescope with a 16.5 meter focal length and a white light interferometer with a 15 meter baseline separation was conducted.

Oral 5-aminosalicylic acid for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis.

PubMed

Wang, Yongjun; Parker, Claire E; Feagan, Brian G; MacDonald, John K

2016-05-09

Oral 5-aminosalicylic (5-ASA) preparations were intended to avoid the adverse effects of sulfasalazine (SASP) while maintaining its therapeutic benefits. Previously, it was found that 5-ASA drugs were more effective than placebo but had a statistically significant therapeutic inferiority relative to SASP. This updated review includes more recent studies and evaluates the effectiveness, dose-responsiveness, and safety of 5-ASA preparations used for maintenance of remission in quiescent ulcerative colitis. The primary objectives were to assess the efficacy, dose-responsiveness and safety of oral 5-ASA compared to placebo, SASP, or 5-ASA comparators for maintenance of remission in quiescent ulcerative colitis. A secondary objective was to compare the efficacy and safety of once daily dosing of oral 5-ASA with conventional (two or three times daily) dosing regimens. A literature search for relevant studies (inception to 9 July 2015) was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. Review articles and conference proceedings were also searched to identify additional studies. Studies were accepted for analysis if they were randomized controlled trials with a minimum treatment duration of six months. Studies of oral 5-ASA therapy for treatment of patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis compared with placebo, SASP or other 5-ASA formulations were considered for inclusion. Studies that compared once daily 5-ASA treatment with conventional dosing of 5-ASA and 5-ASA dose ranging studies were also considered for inclusion. The primary outcome was the failure to maintain clinical or endoscopic remission. Secondary outcomes included adherence, adverse events, withdrawals due to adverse events, and withdrawals or exclusions after entry. Trials were separated into five comparison groups: 5-ASA versus placebo, 5-ASA versus sulfasalazine, once daily dosing versus conventional dosing, 5-ASA versus comparator 5-ASA formulation, and 5-ASA dose-ranging. Placebo-controlled trials were subgrouped by dosage. Once daily versus conventional dosing studies were subgrouped by formulation. 5-ASA-controlled trials were subgrouped by common 5-ASA comparators (e.g. Asacol and Salofalk). Dose-ranging studies were subgrouped by 5-ASA formulation. We calculated the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for each outcome. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Forty-one studies (8928 patients) were included. The majority of included studies were rated as low risk of bias. Ten studies were rated at high risk of bias. Seven of these studies were single-blind and three studies were open-label. However, two open-label studies and four of the single-blind studies utilized investigator performed endoscopy as an endpoint, which may protect against bias. 5-ASA was significantly superior to placebo for maintenance of clinical or endoscopic remission. Forty-one per cent of 5-ASA patients relapsed compared to 58% of placebo patients (7 studies, 1298 patients; RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.77). There was a trend towards greater efficacy with higher doses of 5-ASA with a statistically significant benefit for the 1 to 1.9 g/day (RR 0.65; 95% CI 0.56 to 0.76) and the > 2 g/day subgroups (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.89). SASP was significantly superior to 5-ASA for maintenance of remission. Forty-eight per cent of 5-ASA patients relapsed compared to 43% of SASP patients (12 studies, 1655 patients; RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.27). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence for the primary outcome for the placebo and SASP-controlled studies was high. No statistically significant differences in efficacy or adherence were found between once daily and conventionally dosed 5-ASA. Twenty-nine per cent of once daily patients relapsed over 12 months compared to 31% of conventionally dosed patients (8 studies, 3127 patients; RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.01). Eleven per cent of patients in the once daily group failed to adhere to their medication regimen compared to 9% of patients in the conventional dosing group (6 studies, 1462 patients; RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.64). There does not appear to be any difference in efficacy among the various 5-ASA formulations. Forty-four per cent of patients in the 5-ASA group relapsed compared to 41% of patients in the 5-ASA comparator group (6 studies, 707 patients; RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.28). A pooled analysis of two studies showed no statistically significant difference in efficacy between Balsalazide 6 g and 3 g/day. Twenty-three per cent of patients in the 6 g/day group relapsed compared to 33% of patients in the 3 g/day group (216 patients; RR 0.76; 95% CI 0.45 to 2.79). One study found Balsalazide 4 g to be superior to 2 g/day. Thirty-seven per cent of patients in the 4 g/day Balsalazide group relapsed compared to 55% of patients in the 2 g/day group (133 patients; RR 0.66; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.97). One study found a statistically significant difference between Salofalk granules 3 g and 1.5 g/day. Twenty-five per cent of patients in the Salofalk 3 g/day group relapsed compared to 39% of patients in the 1.5 g/day group (429 patients; RR 0.65; 95% CI 0.49 to 0.86). Common adverse events included flatulence, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, headache, dyspepsia, and nasopharyngitis. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of adverse events between 5-ASA and placebo, 5-ASA and SASP, once daily and conventionally dosed 5-ASA, 5-ASA and comparator 5-ASA formulations and 5-ASA dose ranging studies. The trials that compared 5-ASA and SASP may have been biased in favour of SASP because most trials enrolled patients known to be tolerant to SASP which may have minimized SASP-related adverse events. 5-ASA was superior to placebo for maintenance therapy in ulcerative colitis. However, 5-ASA had a statistically significant therapeutic inferiority relative to SASP. Oral 5-ASA administered once daily is as effective and safe as conventional dosing for maintenance of remission in quiescent ulcerative colitis. There does not appear to be any difference in efficacy or safety between the various formulations of 5-ASA. Patients with extensive ulcerative colitis or with frequent relapses may benefit from a higher dose of maintenance therapy. High dose therapy appears to be as safe as low dose and is not associated with a higher incidence of adverse events.

The Effects of Occupational Therapy and Psychosocial Interventions on Interpersonal Functioning and Personal and Social Performance Levels of Corresponding Patients.

PubMed

Çakmak, Soner; Süt, Hüzün; Öztürk, Sibel; Tamam, Lut; Bal, Ufuk

2016-09-01

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of occupational therapy and psychosocial interventions on the interpersonal functioning and individual and social performance levels of corresponding patients under the heading of psychosocial treatment approaches in psychiatry clinics as well as the attitudes of the patients in regard to those interventions. In 2013, out of psychotic (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder/mania) and nonpsychotic (depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, alcohol dependence) inpatients in our clinic, 48 patients who participated in occupational activities were included in the study group and 43 patients who did not participate in these activities were included in the control group. We prepared and implemented a 3-item questionnaire constructed by our team, which probed the patients' thoughts on these occupational activities. The Interpersonal Functioning Scale (IFS) and Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) were applied to both groups on hospital admission and discharge; variations in scale scores were evaluated on par with sociodemographic variables, and the study and control groups were compared. In total, 91% of the study group provided positive feedback regarding the aforementioned interventions. When comparing the study and control groups, the IFS variance score of the study group did not show a significant difference with respect to that of the control group. A statistically significant difference (p<0.0001) was observed in the PSP scores. Evaluation of the PSP of the occupational activities, focusing on sociodemographics and diagnostic labels, revealed a significant improvement in nonpsychotic patients (p=0.002) compared with psychotic patients, in females (p=0.001) compared with males, in unemployed patients (p=0.0001) compared with employed patients, in single patients (p=0.002) compared with married patients, in less-educated patients (p=0.004) compared with high school graduates, and in patients younger than 45 years (p=0.002) compared with those older than 45 years. The findings of our study showed coherence with the literature regarding similar studies conducted on psychotic subgroups. The results demonstrated significantly positive repercussions, specifically in the treatment of nonpsychotic patients; both groups benefited from occupational activities, as shown by improvements in all psychiatric inpatients' PSP scores in comparison with scores of the control group. We concluded that the recruitment of psychosocial treatment approaches enhanced personal and social performance in the patient groups, thereby leading to additional clinical benefits.

Impact of a Comparative Study on the Management of Scoliosis in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Are Corticosteroids Decreasing the Rate of Scoliosis Surgery in the United States?

PubMed

Raudenbush, Brandon L; Thirukumaran, Caroline P; Li, Yue; Sanders, James O; Rubery, Paul T; Mesfin, Addisu

2016-09-01

A cross-sectional analysis. The aim of this study was to determine whether the surgical treatment for scoliosis due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has decreased over a recent 11-year period, specifically, after the wide acceptance of glucocorticoid treatment for DMD. DMD can result in a flaccid neuromuscular scoliosis that has been traditionally treated surgically. In 2004, a comparative study demonstrated that glucocorticoid treatment decreased the progression of scoliosis in DMD. We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2001 to 2012 to identify patients with DMD undergoing spinal fusion. Demographic information (age, hospital size, location, geographic status) was collected. We examined the distribution of patient and hospital characteristics among cohorts undergoing spinal fusion from 2001 to 2004 (period 1; before publication of the comparative study), 2005 to 2008 (period 2; immediately following publication of the comparative study), and 2009 to 2012 (period 3; moderate duration following publication of the comparative study). We identified 1874 males undergoing spinal fusion. During this period, the overall rate of DMD surgeries declined by 48%-from 1.87 surgeries in 2001 to 0.97 surgeries in 2012 per million US males per year. This decline was significantly pronounced following the publication of the comparative study [periods 2 and 3; For period 2 vs. period 1: incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.56-0.91, P = 0.01; For period 3 vs. period 1: IRR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61-0.97, P = 0.03]. Our study demonstrates a significant decrease in the rate of scoliosis surgery for DMD from 2001 to 2012. It appears that the decline in surgical treatment could be related to the publication and landmark study demonstrating decreased progression of scoliosis with glucocorticoid treatment. 3.

Phosphorus Concentrations in Stream-Water and Reference Samples - An Assessment of Laboratory Comparability

USGS Publications Warehouse

McHale, Michael R.; McChesney, Dennis

2007-01-01

In 2003, a study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy and precision of 10 laboratories that analyze water-quality samples for phosphorus concentrations in the Catskill Mountain region of New York State. Many environmental studies in this region rely on data from these different laboratories for water-quality analyses, and the data may be used in watershed modeling and management decisions. Therefore, it is important to determine whether the data reported by these laboratories are of comparable accuracy and precision. Each laboratory was sent 12 samples for triplicate analysis for total phosphorus, total dissolved phosphorus, and soluble reactive phosphorus. Eight of these laboratories reported results that met comparability criteria for all samples; the remaining two laboratories met comparability criteria for only about half of the analyses. Neither the analytical method used nor the sample concentration ranges appeared to affect the comparability of results. The laboratories whose results were comparable gave consistently comparable results throughout the concentration range analyzed, and the differences among methods did not diminish comparability. All laboratories had high data precision as indicated by sample triplicate results. In addition, the laboratories consistently reported total phosphorus values greater than total dissolved phosphorus values, and total dissolved phosphorus values greater than soluble reactive phosphorus values, as would be expected. The results of this study emphasize the importance of regular laboratory participation in sample-exchange programs.

Population Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Model-Based Comparability Assessment of a Recombinant Human Epoetin Alfa and the Biosimilar HX575

PubMed Central

Yan, Xiaoyu; Lowe, Philip J.; Fink, Martin; Berghout, Alexander; Balser, Sigrid; Krzyzanski, Wojciech

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to develop an integrated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model and assess the comparability between epoetin alfa HEXAL/Binocrit (HX575) and a comparator epoetin alfa by a model-based approach. PK/PD data—including serum drug concentrations, reticulocyte counts, red blood cells, and hemoglobin levels—were obtained from 2 clinical studies. In sum, 149 healthy men received multiple intravenous or subcutaneous doses of HX575 (100 IU/kg) and the comparator 3 times a week for 4 weeks. A population model based on pharmacodynamics-mediated drug disposition and cell maturation processes was used to characterize the PK/PD data for the 2 drugs. Simulations showed that due to target amount changes, total clearance may increase up to 2.4-fold as compared with the baseline. Further simulations suggested that once-weekly and thrice-weekly subcutaneous dosing regimens would result in similar efficacy. The findings from the model-based analysis were consistent with previous results using the standard noncompartmental approach demonstrating PK/PD comparability between HX575 and comparator. However, due to complexity of the PK/PD model, control of random effects was not straightforward. Whereas population PK/PD model-based analyses are suited for studying complex biological systems, such models have their limitations (statistical), and their comparability results should be interpreted carefully. PMID:22162538

Pain-relieving agents for infantile colic.

PubMed

Biagioli, Elena; Tarasco, Valentina; Lingua, Carla; Moja, Lorenzo; Savino, Francesco

2016-09-16

Infantile colic is a common disorder in the first months of life, affecting somewhere between 4% and 28% of infants worldwide, depending on geography and definitions used. Although it is self limiting and resolves by four months of age, colic is perceived by parents as a problem that requires action. Pain-relieving agents, such as drugs, sugars and herbal remedies, have been suggested as interventions to reduce crying episodes and severity of symptoms. To assess the effectiveness and safety of pain-relieving agents for reducing colic in infants younger than four months of age. We searched the following databases in March 2015 and again in May 2016: CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO, along with 11 other databases. We also searched two trial registers, four thesis repositories and the reference lists of relevant studies to identify unpublished and ongoing studies. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs evaluating the effects of pain-relieving agents given to infants with colic. We used the standard methodological procedures of The Cochrane Collaboration. We included 18 RCTs involving 1014 infants. All studies were small and at high risk of bias, often presenting major shortcomings across multiple design factors (e.g. selection, performance, attrition, lack of washout period).Three studies compared simethicone with placebo, and one with Mentha piperita; four studies compared herbal agents with placebo; two compared sucrose or glucose with placebo; five compared dicyclomine with placebo; and two compared cimetropium - one against placebo and the other at two different dosages. One multiple-arm study compared sucrose and herbal tea versus no treatment. Simethicone. Comparison with placebo revealed no difference in daily hours of crying reported for simethicone at the end of treatment in one small, low-quality study involving 27 infants. A meta-analysis of data from two cross-over studies comparing simethicone with placebo showed no difference in the number of of infants who responded positively to treatment (risk ratio (RR) 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73 to 1.23; 110 infants, low-quality evidence).One small study (30 participants) compared simethicone with Mentha piperita and found no difference in crying duration, number of crying episodes or number of responders. Herbal agents. We found low-quality evidence suggesting that herbal agents reduce the duration of crying compared with placebo (mean difference (MD) 1.33, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.96; three studies, 279 infants), with different magnitude of benefit noted across studies (I² = 96%). We found moderate-quality evidence indicating that herbal agents increase response over placebo (RR 2.05, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.70; three studies, 277 infants). Sucrose. One very low-quality study involving 35 infants reported that sucrose reduced hours spent crying compared with placebo (MD 1.72, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.06). Dicyclomine. We could consider only one of the five studies of dicyclomine (48 infants) for the primary comparison. In this study, more of the infants given dicyclomine responded than than those given placebo (RR 2.50, 95% CI 1.17 to 5.34). Cimetropium bromide. Data from one very low-quality study comparing cimetropium bromide with placebo showed reduced crying duration among infants treated with cimetropium bromide (MD -30.20 minutes per crisis, 95% CI -39.51 to -20.89; 86 infants). The same study reported that cimetropium increased the number of responders (RR 2.29, 95% CI 1.44 to 3.64).No serious adverse events were reported for all of the agents considered, with the exception of dicyclomine, for which two of five studies reported relevant adverse effects (longer sleep 4%, wide-eyed state 4%, drowsiness 13%). At the present time, evidence of the effectiveness of pain-relieving agents for the treatment of infantile colic is sparse and prone to bias. The few available studies included small sample sizes, and most had serious limitations. Benefits, when reported, were inconsistent.We found no evidence to support the use of simethicone as a pain-relieving agent for infantile colic.Available evidence shows that herbal agents, sugar, dicyclomine and cimetropium bromide cannot be recommended for infants with colic.Investigators must conduct RCTs using standardised measures that allow comparisons among pain-relieving agents and pooling of results across studies. Parents, who most often provide the intervention and assess the outcome, should always be blinded.

Laser treatment of infantile hemangioma: A systematic review.

PubMed

Chinnadurai, Sivakumar; Sathe, Nila A; Surawicz, Tanya

2016-03-01

To systematically review studies of laser treatment of infantile hemangioma (IH). We searched multiple databases including MEDLINE® and EMBASE from 1982 to June 2015. Two investigators independently screened studies against predetermined criteria and extracted key data. Investigators independently assessed study risk of bias and the strength of the evidence of the body of literature. We identified 29 studies addressing lasers: 4 randomized controlled trials, 8 retrospective cohort studies, and 17 case series. Lasers varied across studies in type, pulse width, or cooling materials. Most comparative studies (n = 9) assessed variations of pulsed dye laser (PDL) and examined heterogeneous endpoints. Most studies reported on treatment of cutaneous lesions. Overall, longer pulse PDL with epidermal cooling was the most commonly used laser for cutaneous lesions; Nd:YAG was the most commonly used intralesionally. Most studies reported a higher success rate with longer pulse PDL compared with observation in managing the size of IH, although the magnitude of effect differed substantially. CO2 laser was used for subglottic IH in a single study, and was noted to have a higher success rate and lower complication rate than both Nd:YAG and observation. Studies comparing laser with β-blockers or in combination with β-blockers reported greater improvements in lesion size in combination arms versus β-blockers alone and greater effects of lasers on mixed superficial and deep IH. Strength of the evidence for outcomes after laser treatments ranged from insufficient to low for effectiveness outcomes. Strength of the evidence was insufficient for the effects of laser compared with β-blockers or in combination with β-blockers as studies evaluated different agents and laser types. Studies assessing outcomes after CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers typically reported some resolution of lesion size, but heterogeneity among studies limits our abilities to draw conclusions. Studies of laser treatment of IH primarily addressed different laser modalities compared with observation or other laser modalities. PDL was the most commonly studied laser type, but multiple variations in treatment protocols did not allow for demonstration of superiority of a single method. Most studies reported a higher success rate with longer pulse PDL compared to observation in managing the size of IH, although the magnitude of effect differed substantially. Studies generally found PDL more effective than other types of lasers for cutaneous lesions. When first introduced as a primary treatment for IH, various laser modalities generally offered superior outcomes compared with steroid therapy and observation. In the era of β-blocker therapy, laser treatment may retain an important role in the treatment of residual and refractory lesions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Processing Instruction and Dictogloss: A Study on Object Pronouns and Word Order in Spanish

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

VanPatten, Bill; Inclezan, Daniela; Salazar, Hilda; Farley, Andrew P.

2009-01-01

In the current study, we present the findings of an experiment with 108 participants of Spanish as a second language in which we compared the effects of dictogloss (DG) and processing instruction (PI) and compared both sets of effects to a control group. Our findings do not support the results of a recent study, Qin (2008). In that study, DG and…

A Corpus-Based Study of Theme and Thematic Progression in English and Russian Non-Translated Texts and in Russian Translated Texts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alekseyenko, Nataliya V.

2013-01-01

The present study is a corpus-based comparative investigation of Theme and thematic progression in English and Russian. While monolingual thematic studies have a long history in Linguistics, comparative studies are relatively few, in particular for the given language pair. In addition to filling the existing gap in the field of Translation…

Faculty Perceptions Regarding the Infusion of Global Perspectives into the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Curriculum: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Magtoto, Ronaldo Lising

2017-01-01

A comparative study was conducted to explore faculty perceptions regarding the infusion of global perspectives into the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) curriculum at Iowa State University. King (1991) provided the original base for the study which enabled a comparison with data recently collected. This study may fill a void in the…

The Emotional and Academic Consequences of Parental Conditional Regard: Comparing Conditional Positive Regard, Conditional Negative Regard, and Autonomy Support as Parenting Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roth, Guy; Assor, Avi; Niemiec, Christopher P.; Deci, Edward L.; Ryan, Richard M.

2009-01-01

The authors conducted 2 studies of 9th-grade Israeli adolescents (169 in Study 1, 156 in Study 2) to compare the parenting practices of conditional positive regard, conditional negative regard, and autonomy support using data from multiple reporters. Two socialization domains were studied: emotion control and academics. Results were consistent…

Combination pharmacotherapy for the treatment of fibromyalgia in adults.

PubMed

Thorpe, Joelle; Shum, Bonnie; Moore, R Andrew; Wiffen, Philip J; Gilron, Ian

2018-02-19

Fibromyalgia is a chronic widespread pain condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Current pharmacotherapies are often ineffective and poorly tolerated. Combining different agents could provide superior pain relief and possibly also fewer side effects. To assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of combination pharmacotherapy compared to monotherapy or placebo, or both, for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain in adults. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase to September 2017. We also searched reference lists of other reviews and trials registries. Double-blind, randomised controlled trials comparing combinations of two or more drugs to placebo or other comparators, or both, for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain. From all studies, we extracted data on: participant-reported pain relief of 30% or 50% or greater; patient global impression of clinical change (PGIC) much or very much improved or very much improved; any other pain-related outcome of improvement; withdrawals (lack of efficacy, adverse events), participants experiencing any adverse event, serious adverse events, and specific adverse events (e.g. somnolence and dizziness). The primary comparison was between combination and one or all single-agent comparators. We also assessed the evidence using GRADE and created a 'Summary of findings' table. We identified 16 studies with 1474 participants. Three studies combined a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with a benzodiazepine (306 participants); two combined amitriptyline with fluoxetine (89 participants); two combined amitriptyline with a different agent (92 participants); two combined melatonin with an antidepressant (164 participants); one combined carisoprodol, paracetamol (acetaminophen), and caffeine (58 participants); one combined tramadol and paracetamol (acetaminophen) (315 participants); one combined malic acid and magnesium (24 participants); one combined a monoamine oxidase inhibitor with 5-hydroxytryptophan (200 participants); and one combined pregabalin with duloxetine (41 participants). Six studies compared the combination of multiple agents with each component alone and with inactive placebo; three studies compared combination pharmacotherapy with each individual component but did not include an inactive placebo group; two studies compared the combination of two agents with only one of the agents alone; and three studies compared the combination of two or more agents only with inactive placebo.Heterogeneity among studies in terms of class of agents evaluated, specific combinations used, outcomes reported, and doses given prevented any meta-analysis. None of the combinations of drugs found provided sufficient data for analysis compared with placebo or other comparators for our preferred outcomes. We therefore provide a narrative description of results. There was no or inadequate evidence in any comparison for primary and secondary outcomes. Two studies only reported any primary outcomes of interest (patient-reported pain relief of 30%, or 50%, or greater). For each 'Risk of bias' item, only half or fewer of studies had unequivocal low risk of bias. Small size and selective reporting were common as high risk of bias.Our GRADE assessment was therefore very low for primary outcomes of pain relief of 30% or 50% or greater, PGIC much or very much improved or very much improved, any pain-related outcome, participants experiencing any adverse event, any serious adverse event, or withdrawing because of an adverse event.Three studies found some evidence that combination pharmacotherapy reduced pain compared to monotherapy; these trials tested three different combinations: melatonin and amitriptyline, fluoxetine and amitriptyline, and pregabalin and duloxetine. Adverse events experienced by participants were not serious, and where they were reported (in 12 out of 16 studies), all participants experienced them, regardless of treatment. Common adverse events were nausea, dizziness, somnolence, and headache. There are few, large, high-quality trials comparing combination pharmacotherapy with monotherapy for fibromyalgia, consequently limiting evidence to support or refute the use of combination pharmacotherapy for fibromyalgia.

Methods for comparative evaluation of propulsion system designs for supersonic aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tyson, R. M.; Mairs, R. Y.; Halferty, F. D., Jr.; Moore, B. E.; Chaloff, D.; Knudsen, A. W.

1976-01-01

The propulsion system comparative evaluation study was conducted to define a rapid, approximate method for evaluating the effects of propulsion system changes for an advanced supersonic cruise airplane, and to verify the approximate method by comparing its mission performance results with those from a more detailed analysis. A table look up computer program was developed to determine nacelle drag increments for a range of parametric nacelle shapes and sizes. Aircraft sensitivities to propulsion parameters were defined. Nacelle shapes, installed weights, and installed performance was determined for four study engines selected from the NASA supersonic cruise aircraft research (SCAR) engine studies program. Both rapid evaluation method (using sensitivities) and traditional preliminary design methods were then used to assess the four engines. The method was found to compare well with the more detailed analyses.

On the Formulation of Anisotropic-Polyaxial Failure Criteria: A Comparative Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parisio, Francesco; Laloui, Lyesse

2018-02-01

The correct representation of the failure of geomaterials that feature strength anisotropy and polyaxiality is crucial for many applications. In this contribution, we propose and evaluate through a comparative study a generalized framework that covers both features. Polyaxiality of strength is modeled with a modified Van Eekelen approach, while the anisotropy is modeled using a fabric tensor approach of the Pietruszczak and Mroz type. Both approaches share the same philosophy as they can be applied to simpler failure surfaces, allowing great flexibility in model formulation. The new failure surface is tested against experimental data and its performance compared against classical failure criteria commonly used in geomechanics. Our study finds that the global error between predictions and data is generally smaller for the proposed framework compared to other classical approaches.

Comparative study between EDXRF and ASTM E572 methods using two-way ANOVA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krummenauer, A.; Veit, H. M.; Zoppas-Ferreira, J.

2018-03-01

Comparison with reference method is one of the necessary requirements for the validation of non-standard methods. This comparison was made using the experiment planning technique with two-way ANOVA. In ANOVA, the results obtained using the EDXRF method, to be validated, were compared with the results obtained using the ASTM E572-13 standard test method. Fisher's tests (F-test) were used to comparative study between of the elements: molybdenum, niobium, copper, nickel, manganese, chromium and vanadium. All F-tests of the elements indicate that the null hypothesis (Ho) has not been rejected. As a result, there is no significant difference between the methods compared. Therefore, according to this study, it is concluded that the EDXRF method was approved in this method comparison requirement.

Study protocol for the dabigatran, apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban, warfarin comparative effectiveness research study.

PubMed

Krumme, Alexis A; Pawar, Ajinkya; Schneeweiss, Sebastian; Glynn, Robert J; Choudhry, Niteesh K; Kulldorff, Martin; Ortiz, Adrian Santiago; Avorn, Jerome; Gagne, Joshua J

2018-01-01

Since 2010, four oral anticoagulants have been approved for marketing in addition to warfarin for treatment of thromboembolic disease. Limited head-to-head data exist comparing these treatments, leaving patients and clinicians with little guidance for selecting a strategy that balances recurrence reduction with bleeding risk. In the dabigatran, apixaban, rivaroxban, edoxaban and warfarin comparative effectiveness research study, we compare all five currently available oral anticoagulant agents for the extended treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, as well as no extended treatment, and evaluate whether results differ in specific sub-populations. As our population includes Medicare novel anticoagulant users and large numbers of commercially insured and Medicaid patients, our results will likely be transportable to the majority of US patients experiencing a DVT or pulmonary embolism. NCT03271450.

Validation of cone-beam computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the porcine spine: a comparative study with multidetector computed tomography and anatomical specimens.

PubMed

de Freitas, Ricardo Miguel Costa; Andrade, Celi Santos; Caldas, José Guilherme Mendes Pereira; Kanas, Alexandre Fligelman; Cabral, Richard Halti; Tsunemi, Miriam Harumi; Rodríguez, Hernán Joel Cervantes; Rabbani, Said Rahnamaye

2015-05-01

New spinal interventions or implants have been tested on ex vivo or in vivo porcine spines, as they are readily available and have been accepted as a comparable model to human cadaver spines. Imaging-guided interventional procedures of the spine are mostly based on fluoroscopy or, still, on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are also available methods to guide interventional procedures. Although some MDCT data from porcine spines are available in the literature, validation of the measurements on CBCT and MRI is lacking. To describe and compare the anatomical measurements accomplished with MDCT, CBCT, and MRI of lumbar porcine spines to determine if CBCT and MRI are also useful methods for experimental studies. An experimental descriptive-comparative study. Sixteen anatomical measurements of an individual vertebra from six lumbar porcine spines (n=36 vertebrae) were compared with their MDCT, CBCT, and MRI equivalents. Comparisons were made for the absolute values of the parameters. Similarities were found in all imaging methods. Significant correlation (p<.05) was observed with all variables except those that included cartilaginous tissue from the end plates when the anatomical study was compared with the imaging methods. The CBCT and MRI provided imaging measurements of the lumbar porcine spines that were similar to the anatomical and MDCT data, and they can be useful for specific experimental research studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Systematic review of robotic surgery in gynecology: robotic techniques compared with laparoscopy and laparotomy.

PubMed

Gala, Rajiv B; Margulies, Rebecca; Steinberg, Adam; Murphy, Miles; Lukban, James; Jeppson, Peter; Aschkenazi, Sarit; Olivera, Cedric; South, Mary; Lowenstein, Lior; Schaffer, Joseph; Balk, Ethan M; Sung, Vivian

2014-01-01

The Society of Gynecologic Surgeons Systematic Review Group performed a systematic review of both randomized and observational studies to compare robotic vs nonrobotic surgical approaches (laparoscopic, abdominal, and vaginal) for treatment of both benign and malignant gynecologic indications to compare surgical and patient-centered outcomes, costs, and adverse events associated with the various surgical approaches. MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to May 15, 2012, for English-language studies with terms related to robotic surgery and gynecology. Studies of any design that included at least 30 women who had undergone robotic-assisted laparoscopic gynecologic surgery were included for review. The literature yielded 1213 citations, of which 97 full-text articles were reviewed. Forty-four studies (30 comparative and 14 noncomparative) met eligibility criteria. Study data were extracted into structured electronic forms and reconciled by a second, independent reviewer. Our analysis revealed that, compared with open surgery, robotic surgery consistently confers shorter hospital stay. The proficiency plateau seems to be lower for robotic surgery than for conventional laparoscopy. Of the various gynecologic applications, there seems to be evidence that renders robotic techniques advantageous over traditional open surgery for management of endometrial cancer. However, insofar as superiority, conflicting data are obtained when comparing robotics vs laparoscopic techniques. Therefore, the specific method of minimally invasive surgery, whether conventional laparoscopy or robotic surgery, should be tailored to patient selection, surgeon ability, and equipment availability. Copyright © 2014 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Outcomes assessment in men undergoing open retropubic radical prostatectomy, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, and robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.

PubMed

Kowalczyk, Keith J; Yu, Hua-Yin; Ulmer, William; Williams, Stephen B; Hu, Jim C

2012-02-01

To review the various methods of outcomes assessment used for effectiveness studies comparing retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), and robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). A review of the peer reviewed literature was performed for reported series of RRP, LRP, and RALP using Pubmed and MEDLINE with emphasis on comparing perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes. Common methods used for outcomes assessment were categorized and compared, highlighting the pros and cons of each approach. The majority of the literature comparing RRP, LRP, and RALP comes in the form of observational data or administrative data from secondary datasets. While randomized controlled trials are ideal for outcomes assessment, only one such study was identified and was limited. Non-randomized observational studies contribute to the majority of data, however are limited due to retrospective study design, lack of consistent endpoints, and limited application to the general community. Administrative data provide accurate assessment of operative outcomes in both academic and community settings, however has limited ability to convey accurate functional outcomes. Non-randomized observational studies and secondary data are useful resources for assessment of outcomes; however, limitations exist for both. Neither is without flaws, and conclusions drawn from either should be viewed with caution. Until standardized prospective comparative analyses of RRP, LRP, and RALP are established, comparative outcomes data will remain imperfect. Urologic researchers must strive to provide the best available outcomes data through accurate prospective data collection and consistent outcomes reporting.

A Comparative Study of Analgesic Efficacy of Intrathecal Buprenorphine with Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postcesarean Delivery Analgesia.

PubMed

Marappa, Prakash; Chikkapillappa, Manjunath Abloodu; Chennappa, Nagaraj Mungasuvalli; Pujari, Vinayak Seenappa

2017-01-01

Women undergoing cesarean (CS) delivery present a unique set of challenges to the anesthetist in terms of postoperative pain management. This study was conducted to compare the analgesic efficacy of intrathecal buprenorphine (ITB) with ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in post-CS delivery pain. A prospective randomized comparative study of sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II pregnant patients divided into two groups of thirty each as ITB group and TAP block group after satisfying the inclusion criteria. In the present study, demographic data were comparable between both groups. The time to first analgesic request was significantly longer in ITB group (389.67 ± 90.78 min) compared to TAP group (669.17 ± 140.65 min) and was statistically significant, P < 0.001. The mean paracetamol consumption in the first 24 h was higher in the TAP group (3.5 g) compared to the ITB group (1.13 g) and was statistically significant, P < 0.0001, and the mean tramadol consumed in first 24 h was higher in the TAP (46.66 mg) group as compared to the ITB group (16.66 mg) and was statistically significant, P < 0.001. The mean visual analog scale scores assessed at 4, 6, 12, and 24 h was higher in the TAP group and was statistically significant, P < 0.001. Our study showed that patients receiving ITB for post-CS pain management reported longer duration of analgesia, lower pain scores, and lower analgesic consumption during the first 24 h. The benefits of neuraxial opiates are significant and far outweigh the side effects.

Internal versus external ureteric stents for uretero-ileal anastomosis after laparoscopic radical cystectomy with orthotopic neobladder: A prospective comparative study.

PubMed

Abdel Hakim, Mahmoud A; Abdalla, Ahmed A; Saad, Ismail R; ElSheemy, Mohammed S; El Feel, Ahmed S; Salem, Hosni K; Abdel Hakim, Amr M

2016-06-01

To prospectively compare the use of external ureteric stents with internal JJ stenting of the uretero-ileal anastomosis in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) with a Y-shaped ileal orthotopic neobladder (ON). The study included 69 patients undergoing LRC with ON. Patients were grouped according to the type of uretero-ileal stents used. An external ureteric stent was used in Group A (33 patients) and a JJ stent was used in Group B (36). We prospectively compared the duration of hospital stay, the incidence of short- and intermediate-term complications in the two study groups. The mean (SD) follow-up periods were 29.18 (3.94) and 28.19 (3.37) months for patients in Groups A and B, respectively. Perioperative patient characteristics were comparable in the two study groups. The use of JJ stenting was associated with a shorter hospital stay compared with external stenting, at a mean (SD) of 14.63 (3.74) and 6.8 (3.03) days in Groups A and B, respectively (P < 0.001). The incidence of urinary leakage was comparable in the two study groups, at 6.1% in Group A vs 8.3% in Group B (P = 1.0). Strictures of the uretero-ileal anastomosis occurred in two patients (6%) in Group A and confirmed by intravenous urography. All strictures were treated with antegrade JJ fixation. JJ stents could be used as an effective alternative to external ureteric stents to support the uretero-ileal anastomosis. JJ stenting is associated with a shorter hospital stay and similar complication rates compared with external stenting in patients undergoing LRC with ON.

Residual effects of cannabis use in adolescent and adult brains - A meta-analysis of fMRI studies.

PubMed

Blest-Hopley, Grace; Giampietro, Vincent; Bhattacharyya, Sagnik

2018-05-01

While numerous studies have investigated the residual effects of cannabis use on human brain function, results of these studies have been inconsistent. Using meta-analytic approaches we summarize the effects of prolonged cannabis exposure on human brain function as measured using task-based functional MRI (fMRI) across studies employing a range of cognitive activation tasks comparing regular cannabis users with non-users. Separate meta-analyses were carried out for studies investigating adult and adolescent cannabis users. Systematic literature search identified 20 manuscripts (13 adult and 7 adolescent studies) meeting study inclusion criteria. Adult analyses compared 530 cannabis users to 580 healthy controls while adolescent analyses compared 219 cannabis users to 224 healthy controls. In adult cannabis users brain activation was increased in the superior and posterior transverse temporal and inferior frontal gyri and decreased in the striate area, insula and middle temporal gyrus. In adolescent cannabis users, activation was increased in the inferior parietal gyrus and putamen compared to healthy controls. Functional alteration in these areas may reflect compensatory neuroadaptive changes in cannabis users. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Methodological Challenges in Studies Comparing Prehospital Advanced Life Support with Basic Life Support.

PubMed

Li, Timmy; Jones, Courtney M C; Shah, Manish N; Cushman, Jeremy T; Jusko, Todd A

2017-08-01

Determining the most appropriate level of care for patients in the prehospital setting during medical emergencies is essential. A large body of literature suggests that, compared with Basic Life Support (BLS) care, Advanced Life Support (ALS) care is not associated with increased patient survival or decreased mortality. The purpose of this special report is to synthesize the literature to identify common study design and analytic challenges in research studies that examine the effect of ALS, compared to BLS, on patient outcomes. The challenges discussed in this report include: (1) choice of outcome measure; (2) logistic regression modeling of common outcomes; (3) baseline differences between study groups (confounding); (4) inappropriate statistical adjustment; and (5) inclusion of patients who are no longer at risk for the outcome. These challenges may affect the results of studies, and thus, conclusions of studies regarding the effect of level of prehospital care on patient outcomes should require cautious interpretation. Specific alternatives for avoiding these challenges are presented. Li T , Jones CMC , Shah MN , Cushman JT , Jusko TA . Methodological challenges in studies comparing prehospital Advanced Life Support with Basic Life Support. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(4):444-450.

Supplementary search methods were more effective and offered better value than bibliographic database searching: A case study from public health and environmental enhancement.

PubMed

Cooper, Chris; Lovell, Rebecca; Husk, Kerryn; Booth, Andrew; Garside, Ruth

2018-06-01

We undertook a systematic review to evaluate the health benefits of environmental enhancement and conservation activities. We were concerned that a conventional process of study identification, focusing on exhaustive searches of bibliographic databases as the primary search method, would be ineffective, offering limited value. The focus of this study is comparing study identification methods. We compare (1) an approach led by searches of bibliographic databases with (2) an approach led by supplementary search methods. We retrospectively assessed the effectiveness and value of both approaches. Effectiveness was determined by comparing (1) the total number of studies identified and screened and (2) the number of includable studies uniquely identified by each approach. Value was determined by comparing included study quality and by using qualitative sensitivity analysis to explore the contribution of studies to the synthesis. The bibliographic databases approach identified 21 409 studies to screen and 2 included qualitative studies were uniquely identified. Study quality was moderate, and contribution to the synthesis was minimal. The supplementary search approach identified 453 studies to screen and 9 included studies were uniquely identified. Four quantitative studies were poor quality but made a substantive contribution to the synthesis; 5 studies were qualitative: 3 studies were good quality, one was moderate quality, and 1 study was excluded from the synthesis due to poor quality. All 4 included qualitative studies made significant contributions to the synthesis. This case study found value in aligning primary methods of study identification to maximise location of relevant evidence. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Comparative Labor Market Role of Newspaper Help Wanted Ads and Public Employment Service Job Listings. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Miriam; Sugarman, Marged

A 1-year study of 12 U.S. labor market areas compared job listings in the help wanted ads of local newspapers to job orders in the local public employment services to help determine what the role of the public employment service should be. The study gathered two types of data. One type was used to compare the "stock," or inventory, of…

Comparative Methodology and Postmodern Relativism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Robert

1997-09-01

The author addresses the problems of conducting comparative studies in education if one adopts a viewpoint of postmodern relativism. While acknowledging the value of postmodernist thought in opening up a new understanding of the educational process, he finds that postmodernism raises difficulties when one attempts to deal with the differences and interactions between cultures. He rejects the extremes of both relativism and universalism and argues that comparative studies should be based on a balance between the two.

Comparative efficacy of tulathromycin versus florfenicol and tilmicosin against undifferentiated bovine respiratory disease in feedlot cattle.

PubMed

Skogerboe, Terry L; Rooney, Kathleen A; Nutsch, Robert G; Weigel, Daniel J; Gajewski, Kimberly; Kilgore, W Randal

2005-01-01

Four studies conducted at feedlots in Greeley and Wellington, Colorado; Nebraska; and Texas compared the efficacy of tulathromycin to florfenicol or tilmicosin for the treatment of cattle with undifferentiated bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and subsequent feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. In each study, 100 calves with BRD were treated with tulathromycin given SC at 2.5 mg/kg body weight. At the Greeley, CO, and Nebraska study locations, 100 calves were treated with florfenicol given SC at 40 mg/kg body weight, and at the Wellington, CO, and Texas study locations, tilmicosin was given SC at 10 mg/kg body weight. Cure rate, a derived variable that included assessments of mortality, rectal temperature, and attitude and respiratory scores from day 3 to day 28 and day 3 through harvest, was the primary assessment of BRD efficacy. Cure rates of calves treated with tulathromycin were significantly (P < or = .009) higher than those calves treated with florfenicol. At Wellington, CO, the cure rate of calves treated with tulathromycin was significantly higher (P < or = .018) compared with tilmicosin-treated calves. The differences in cure rates between tulathromycin and tilmicosin treatment groups in the Texas study were not significantly different (P > .05). Tulathromycin was more efficacious in the treatment of undifferentiated BRD compared with florfenicol and, in one study, compared with tilmicosin.

Comparative efficacy and safety of two 0.025% tretinoin gels: results from a multicenter double-blind, parallel study.

PubMed

Lucky, A W; Cullen, S I; Jarratt, M T; Quigley, J W

1998-04-01

The addition of polyolprepolymer-2 in tretinoin formulations may reduce tretinoin-induced cutaneous irritation. This study compared the efficacy and safety of a new 0.025% tretinoin gel containing polyolprepolymer-2, its vehicle, and a commercially-available 0.025% tretinoin gel in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris. In this 12-week multicenter, double-blind, parallel group study, efficacy was evaluated by objective lesion counts and the investigators' global evaluations. Subjective assessment of cutaneous irritation by the investigators and patients evaluated safety. The efficacy of the two active treatments in this 215 patient study was comparable, and both treatments were statistically significantly more effective than vehicle. When compared with the commercially-available tretinoin gel, the formulation containing polyolprepolymer-2 demonstrated statistically significantly less peeling at days 28, 56, and 84, statistically significantly less dryness by day 84, and statistically significantly less itching at day 14. Irritation scores for the formulation containing polyolprepolymer-2 were numerically lower but not statistically different from those of the commercially-available gel for erythema and burning. The number of cutaneous and noncutaneous adverse events were similar for both active medications. The two 0.025% gels studied demonstrated comparable efficacy. However, the gel formulation containing polyolprepolymer-2 caused significantly less peeling and drying than the commercially-available formulation by day 84 of the study.

Solar system exploration from the Moon: Synoptic and comparative study of bodies in our Planetary system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bruston, P.; Mumma, M. J.

1994-01-01

An observational approach to Planetary Sciences and exploration from Earth applies to a quite limited number of targets, but most of these are spatially complex, and exhibit variability and evolution on a number of temporal scales which lie within the scope of possible observations. Advancing our understanding of the underlying physics requires the study of interactions between the various elements of such systems, and also requires study of the comparative response of both a given object to various conditions and of comparable objects to similar conditions. These studies are best conducted in 'campaigns', i.e. comprehensive programs combining simultaneous coherent observations of every interacting piece of the puzzle. The requirements include both imaging and spectroscopy over a wide spectral range, from UV to IR. While temporal simultaneity of operation in various modes is a key feature, these observations are also conducted over extended periods of time. The moon is a prime site offering long unbroken observation times and high positional stability, observations at small angular separation from the sun, comparative studies of planet Earth, and valuable technical advantages. A lunar observatory should become a central piece of any coherent set of planetary missions, supplying in-situ explorations with the synoptic and comparative data necessary for proper advance planning, correlative observations during the active exploratory phase, and follow-up studies of the target body or of related objects.

Using semantic memory to boost 'episodic' recall in a case of developmental amnesia.

PubMed

Brandt, Karen R; Gardiner, John M; Vargha-Khadem, Faraneh; Baddeley, Alan D; Mishkin, Mortimer

2006-07-17

We report two experiments that investigated factors that might boost 'episodic' recall for Jon, a developmental amnesic whose episodic memory is gravely impaired but whose semantic memory seems relatively normal. Experiment 1 showed that Jon's recall improved following a semantic study task compared with a non-semantic study task, as well as following four repeated study trials compared with only one. Experiment 2 additionally revealed that Jon's recall improved after acting compared with reading action phrases at study, but only if the phrases were well integrated semantically. The results provide some support for the hypothesis that Jon's 'episodic' recall depends on the extent to which he is able to retrieve events using semantic memory.

The incidence and prevalence of ankle sprain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective epidemiological studies.

PubMed

Doherty, Cailbhe; Delahunt, Eamonn; Caulfield, Brian; Hertel, Jay; Ryan, John; Bleakley, Chris

2014-01-01

Ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries, yet a contemporary review and meta-analysis of prospective epidemiological studies investigating ankle sprain does not exist. Our aim is to provide an up-to-date account of the incidence rate and prevalence period of ankle sprain injury unlimited by timeframe or context activity. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses of English articles using relevant computerised databases. Search terms included Medical Search Headings for the ankle joint, injury and epidemiology. The following inclusion criteria were used: the study must report epidemiology findings of injuries sustained in an observed sample; the study must report ankle sprain injury with either incidence rate or prevalence period among the surveyed sample, or provide sufficient data from which these figures could be calculated; the study design must be prospective. Independent extraction of articles was performed by two authors using pre-determined data fields. One-hundred and eighty-one prospective epidemiology studies from 144 separate papers were included. The average rating of all the included studies was 6.67/11, based on an adapted version of the STROBE (STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology) guidelines for rating observational studies. 116 studies were considered high quality and 65 were considered low quality. The main findings of the meta-analysis demonstrated a higher incidence of ankle sprain in females compared with males (13.6 vs 6.94 per 1,000 exposures), in children compared with adolescents (2.85 vs 1.94 per 1,000 exposures) and adolescents compared with adults (1.94 vs 0.72 per 1,000 exposures). The sport category with the highest incidence of ankle sprain was indoor/court sports, with a cumulative incidence rate of 7 per 1,000 exposures or 1.37 per 1,000 athlete exposures and 4.9 per 1,000 h. Low-quality studies tended to underestimate the incidence of ankle sprain when compared with high-quality studies (0.54 vs 11.55 per 1,000 exposures). Ankle sprain prevalence period estimates were similar across sub-groups. Lateral ankle sprain was the most commonly observed type of ankle sprain. Females were at a higher risk of sustaining an ankle sprain compared with males and children compared with adolescents and adults, with indoor and court sports the highest risk activity. Studies at a greater risk of bias were more likely to underestimate the risk of ankle sprain. Participants were at a significantly higher risk of sustaining a lateral ankle sprain compared with syndesmotic and medial ankle sprains.

A comparative study of female and male air traffic controller trainees.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1972-05-01

The study compares age, education, pre-FAA experience, aptitudes, training-course performance measures, and post-Academy attrition rates of the 83 women who entered basic air traffic control (ATC) training at the FAA Academy during November 1968 thro...

Pilot-Reported Beta-Blockers Identified by Forensic Toxicology Analysis of Postmortem Specimens

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-01-01

This study compared beta-blockers reported by pilots with the medications found by postmortem toxicology analysis of specimens received from fatal aviation accidents between 1999 and 2015. Several studies have compared drugs using the standard approa...

Comparative Study Of Four Models Of Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Menter, Florian R.

1996-01-01

Report presents comparative study of four popular eddy-viscosity models of turbulence. Computations reported for three different adverse pressure-gradient flowfields. Detailed comparison of numerical results and experimental data given. Following models tested: Baldwin-Lomax, Johnson-King, Baldwin-Barth, and Wilcox.

Comparative modeling of InP solar cell structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jain, R. K.; Weinberg, I.; Flood, D. J.

1991-01-01

The comparative modeling of p(+)n and n(+)p indium phosphide solar cell structures is studied using a numerical program PC-1D. The optimal design study has predicted that the p(+)n structure offers improved cell efficiencies as compared to n(+)p structure, due to higher open-circuit voltage. The various cell material and process parameters to achieve the maximum cell efficiencies are reported. The effect of some of the cell parameters on InP cell I-V characteristics was studied. The available radiation resistance data on n(+)p and p(+)p InP solar cells are also critically discussed.

Remote monitoring of a thermal plume

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuo, C. Y.; Talay, T. A.

1979-01-01

A remote-sensing experiment conducted on May 17, 1977, over the Surry nuclear power station on the James River, Virginia is discussed. Isotherms of the thermal plume from the power station were derived from remotely sensed data and compared with in situ water temperature measurements provided by the Virginia Electric and Power Company, VEPCO. The results of this study were also qualitatively compared with those from other previous studies under comparable conditions of the power station's operation and the ambient flow. These studies included hydraulic model predictions carried out by Pritchard and Carpenter and a 5-year in situ monitoring program based on boat surveys.

Design and Rationale for the Veterans Affairs "Cooperative Study Program 594 Comparative Effectiveness in Gout: Allopurinol vs. Febuxostat" Trial.

PubMed

Timilsina, S; Brittan, K; O'Dell, J R; Brophy, M; Davis-Karim, A; Henrie, A M; Neogi, T; Newcomb, J; Palevsky, P M; Pillinger, M H; Pittman, D; Taylor, T H; Wu, H; Mikuls, T R

2018-05-01

Gout patients do not routinely achieve optimal outcomes related in part to suboptimal administration of urate lowering therapy (ULT) including first-line xanthine oxidase inhibitors allopurinol or febuxostat. Studies leading to the approval of febuxostat compared this agent to allopurinol in inappropriately low, fixed doses. We will compare allopurinol with febuxostat in gout using appropriately titrated doses of both agents and a "treat-to-target" strategy congruent with specialty guidelines. We have planned and initiated the Veterans Affairs (VA) Cooperative Study Program (CSP) 594, Comparative Effectiveness in Gout: Allopurinol vs Febuxostat study. This large double-blind, non-inferiority trial will enroll 950 gout patients randomized to receive allopurinol or febuxostat. Patients will be followed for a total of 72 weeks encompassing 3 distinct 24-week study phases. During Phase I (0-24 weeks), participants will undergo gradual dose titration of ULT until achievement of serum uric acid (sUA) <6.0 mg/dL or <5.0 mg/dL if tophi are present. Dose escalation will not be allowed during final three study visits of Phase 2 (24-48 weeks) and during Phase 3 (48-72 weeks). The primary study outcome is the proportion of participants experiencing at least one gout flare during Phase 3. Subsequent to the 72-week study, participants will be followed passively for up to 10 years after the study to assess long-term health outcomes. With its completion, the VA Comparative Effectiveness in Gout: Allopurinol vs Febuxostat study will demonstrate the central role of gradual ULT dose escalation and a treat-to-target strategy in gout management. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Role of lasers as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

PubMed

Abduljabbar, Tariq; Javed, Fawad; Shah, Altaf; Samer, Mazin Saleh; Vohra, Fahim; Akram, Zohaib

2017-02-01

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of adjunctive use of laser therapy (LT) alone or antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) to improve clinical periodontal and HbA1c levels in patients with both chronic periodontitis (CP) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Electronic search of the MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, and SCOPUS databases were combined with hand searching of articles published from 1975 up to and including March 2016 using relevant MeSH terms. Six studies were selected for this review. In these six studies, laser treatment was applied, after scaling and root planing (SRP), in two ways: Three studies used laser alone and three studies used laser with photosensitizer. All the six included studies reporting clinical periodontal and glycemic parameters showed that LT and aPDT were effective in the treatment of CP in T2DM subjects at follow-up. Two studies showed significantly better periodontal outcomes for LT as an adjunct to SRP as compared to SRP alone, whereas four studies showed comparable periodontal outcomes among adjunctive LT or aPDT with SRP. Two studies showed significant reduction of HbA1c levels in LT and aPDT as compared to SRP, whereas three studies showed comparable percentage levels at follow-up. It remains debatable whether LT or aPDT as adjunct to SRP is more effective as compared to SRP alone in the improvement of clinical periodontal and glycemic control in patients with both CP and T2DM, given that the scientific evidence is weak.

Assessment of orthodontic treatment need: a comparison of study models and facial photographs.

PubMed

Sherlock, Joseph M; Cobourne, Martyn T; McDonald, Fraser

2008-02-01

The current study aims to examine how orthodontic treatment need is prioritized depending upon whether dental study models or facial photographs are used as the means of assessment. A group of three orthodontists and three postgraduate orthodontic students assessed: (i) dental attractiveness; and (ii) need for orthodontic treatment in 40 subjects (19 males, 21 females). The 40 subjects displayed a range of malocclusions. Separate assessments were made from study models and facial photographs. There was a bias towards higher scores for dental attractiveness from facial photographs compared with assessment of study casts, for all examiners. This was statistically significant for five of the six examiners (P = 0.001-0.101). The need for orthodontic treatment was rated as 20% higher from study models compared with facial photographs (P < 0.001); overall the level of need for orthodontic treatment was rated as 18.9% higher from study models compared with facial photographs (P < 0.001). Reproducibility analyses showed that there was a considerable variation in the intra- and inter-examiner agreement. This study shows that a group of three orthodontists and three postgraduate students in orthodontics: (i) rated orthodontic treatment need higher from study models compared with facial photographs and; (ii) rated dental attractiveness higher from facial photographs compared with study models. It is suggested that the variable intra-examiner agreement may result from the assessment of orthodontic treatment need and dental attractiveness in the absence of any specific assessment criteria. The poor reproducibility of assessment of orthodontic treatment need and dental attractiveness in the absence of strict criteria may suggest the need to use an appropriate index.

Comparison of vaginal microbiota sampling techniques: cytobrush versus swab.

PubMed

Mitra, Anita; MacIntyre, David A; Mahajan, Vishakha; Lee, Yun S; Smith, Ann; Marchesi, Julian R; Lyons, Deirdre; Bennett, Phillip R; Kyrgiou, Maria

2017-08-29

Evidence suggests the vaginal microbiota (VM) may influence risk of persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical carcinogenesis. Established cytology biobanks, typically collected with a cytobrush, constitute a unique resource to study such associations longitudinally. It is plausible that compared to rayon swabs; the most commonly used sampling devices, cytobrushes may disrupt biofilms leading to variation in VM composition. Cervico-vaginal samples were collected with cytobrush and rayon swabs from 30 women with high-grade cervical precancer. Quantitative PCR was used to compare bacterial load and Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the V1-V3 regions of the 16S rRNA gene used to compare VM composition. Cytobrushes collected a higher total bacterial load. Relative abundance of bacterial species was highly comparable between sampling devices (R 2  = 0.993). However, in women with a Lactobacillus-depleted, high-diversity VM, significantly less correlation in relative species abundance was observed between devices when compared to those with a Lactobacillus species-dominant VM (p = 0.0049). Cytobrush and swab sampling provide a comparable VM composition. In a small proportion of cases the cytobrush was able to detect underlying high-diversity community structure, not realized with swab sampling. This study highlights the need to consider sampling devices as potential confounders when comparing multiple studies and datasets.

Editorial--Avoiding Unethical Helicobacter pylori Clinical Trials: Susceptibility-Based Studies and Probiotics as Adjuvants.

PubMed

Graham, David Y

2015-10-01

As a general rule, any clinical study where the result is already known or when the investigator(s) compares an assigned treatment against another assigned treatment known to be ineffective in the study population (e.g., in a population with known clarithromycin resistance) is unethical. As susceptibility-based therapy will always be superior to empiric therapy in any population with a prevalence of antimicrobial resistance >0%, any trial that randomizes susceptibility-based therapy with empiric therapy would be unethical. The journal Helicobacter welcomes susceptibility or culture-guided studies, studies of new therapies, and studies of adjuvants and probiotics. However, the journal will not accept for review any study we judge to be lacking clinical equipoise or which assign subjects to a treatment known to be ineffective, such as a susceptibility-based clinical trial with an empiric therapy comparator. To assist authors, we provide examples and suggestions regarding trial design for comparative studies, for susceptibility-based studies, and for studies testing adjuvants or probiotics. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparative immunoexpression of ICAM-1, TGF-β1 and ki-67 in periapical and residual cysts.

PubMed

Martins, R; Armada, L; Dos Santos, T-C; Pires, F-R

2017-01-01

This study compared the immunohistochemical expression of ki-67, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in inflammatory periapical cysts and residual cysts. The study sample was composed by 25 periapical cysts and 25 residual cysts and immunohistochemical reactions were carried out using antibodies directed against ICAM-1, TGF-β1 and ki-67. Clinical, radiological, gross, histological and immunohistochemical data were tabulated for descriptive and comparative analysis using the SPSS software and differences were considered statistically significant when p<0.05%. There were no differences between the expression of ICAM-1 (p=0.239) and TGF-β1 (p=0.258) when comparing both groups. Ki-67 labeling index was higher in residual cysts compared to periapical cysts (p=0.017). Results from the present study suggest that some specific inflammatory stimuli on residual cysts would modulate their mechanisms of etiopathogenesis, growing and repair.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Adult Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Chan, Matthew J; Chung, Tricia; Glassford, Neil J; Bellomo, Rinaldo

2017-08-01

To identify the normal baseline preoperative range of cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (SctO 2 ) derived using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and the efficacy of perioperative interventions designed to modulate SctO 2 in cardiac surgical patients. Systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) extracted from the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. Hospitals performing cardiac surgery. The study comprised 953 participants from 11 RCTs. Interventions included the following: (1) SctO 2 monitoring protocol compared with no monitoring; (2) use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) compared with no CPB; (3) normothermic CPB compared with hypothermic CPB; (4) glyceryl trinitrate during surgery compared with placebo; (5) midazolam during induction of anesthesia compared with propofol; (6) sevoflurane anesthesia compared with total intravenous anesthesia; (7) sevoflurane anesthesia compared with propofol-based anesthesia; and (8) norepinephrine during CPB compared with phenylephrine. Eleven RCTs with 953 participants measured baseline preoperative SctO 2 using NIRS. The pooled mean baseline SctO 2 was 66.4% (95% CI 65.0-67.7), generating a reference range of 51.0% to 81.8%. Four interventions (1, 3, 4, and 6 described in the Interventions section above) increased intraoperative SctO 2 across the majority of reported time points. Postoperative follow-up of SctO 2 occurred in only 1 study, and postoperative cognitive assessment correlating SctO 2 with cognitive function was applied in only 4 studies using variable methodology. The authors have established that reference values for baseline NIRS-derived SctO 2 in cardiac surgery patients are varied and have identified interventions that modulate SctO 2 . This information opens the door to standardized research and interventional studies in this field. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Xenografts Supplemented with Pamindronate placed in postextraction sockets to avoid crestal bone resorption. Experimental study in Fox hound dogs.

PubMed

Lozano-Carrascal, Naroa; Delgado-Ruiz, Rafael Arcesio; Gargallo-Albiol, Jordi; Maté-Sánchez, José Eduardo; Hernandez Alfaro, Federico; Calvo-Guirado, José Luis

2016-02-01

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of porcine xenografts (MP3(®)) with or without pamindronate for the healing of small and large defects of postextraction sockets. Six beagle dogs were used in the study; second premolars and first molars of the mandible were extracted, small defects (SD) and large defects (LD) were identified. Each defect was measured and randomly filled as follows: SC (small control defects filled with MP3(®) alone), ST (small test defects filled with MP3(®) modified with pamindronate), LC (large control defects filled with MP3(®) alone), LT (large test defects filled with MP3(®) modified with pamindronate). After 4 and 8 weeks, the animals were euthanized and the percentages of new bone formation (NB), residual graft (RG) and connective tissue (CT) were analysed by histology and histomorphometry of undecalcified samples. After 4 weeks, NB formation was higher for ST compared to all groups and for LT compared to LC (P < 0.05); RG was significantly higher in both control groups compared to tests (P < 0.05); and CT was higher in large defects (LC and LT) compared to small defects. After 8 weeks, NB formation was higher for test groups (ST and LT) compared to controls (P < 0.05); RG was significantly higher in both control groups compared to tests (P < 0.05); and CT was higher in large defects (LC and LT) compared to small defects (P < 0.05). Within the limitations of this experimental study, the findings suggest that porcine xenografts modified with pamindronate favours the new bone formation and increased the porcine xenograft substitution/replacement after 4 and 8 weeks of healing. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Dual Enrollment Programs: A Comparative Study of High School Students' College Academic Achievement at Different Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flores, Agnes L. Acker

2012-01-01

The "ex post facto" causal-comparative study examined the academic achievement of high school students who took their dual credit English or mathematics college credit-bearing course in two different environments, namely, the college setting and the high school setting. Due to non-experimental nature of the study, no causal inferences…

A Study of Reliability of Marking and Absolute Grading in Secondary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abdul Gafoor, K.; Jisha, P.

2014-01-01

Using a non-experimental comparative group design in a sample consisting of 100 English teachers randomly selected from 30 secondary schools of a district of Kerala and assigning fifty teachers to groups for marking and grading, this study compares inter and intra-individual reliability in marking and absolute grading. Studying (1) the in marking…

Comparative-Descriptive Study of Academic Vocabulary Specific Instruction on 3rd Grade English Language Learner Reading Scores

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward, Shelley

2017-01-01

Language must be taught with academic vocabulary that is meaningful and that can be transferred between content and context. This comparative-descriptive research study examines how academic specific instruction increases students' learning of a second language acquisition (i.e., English). The conceptual framework of the study drew research…

A Comparative Study of Factors Influencing Male and Female Lecturers' Job Satisfaction in Ghanaian Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Amos, Patricia Mawusi; Acquah, Sakina; Antwi, Theresa; Adzifome, Nixon Saba

2015-01-01

The study sought to compare factors influencing male and female lecturers' job satisfaction. Cross-sectional survey designs employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches were adopted for the study. Simple random sampling was used to select 163 lecturers from the four oldest public universities in Ghana. Celep's (2000) Organisational…

Job Satisfaction among Secondary-School-Heads: A Gender Based-Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suleman, Qaiser; Hussain, Ishtiaq

2018-01-01

The purpose of the study was to examine and compare the job satisfaction of male and female secondary-school heads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. All the male and female secondary-school heads working in pubic secondary schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa constituted the population of the study. A total sample of 402 secondary-school heads was…

Title I Comparability: A Preliminary Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Washington, DC.

This publication reports the results of a study of comparability data submitted by 80 of the nation's largest school districts. The study sought to determine the degree of school district compliance with USOE regulations implementing Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Of the 80 schools, the study found that (1) 29.38…

A Comparative Study of Male and Female Early Childhood Teachers' Job Satisfaction in Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sahin, Fatma Tezel; Sak, Ramazan

2016-01-01

The aim of the present study is to provide a comparative analysis of job satisfaction among male and female teachers in early childhood education. A total of 163 teachers participated in the study, which utilized Tahta's (An analysis of job satisfaction of preschool teachers, Hacettepe University, Ankara, 1995) Job Satisfaction Survey and a…

Public Pedagogy and Writing Program Administration: A Comparative, Cross-Institutional Study of Going Public in Rhetoric and Composition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holmes, Ashley J.

2012-01-01

In this project, I theorize public pedagogy in rhetoric and composition by examining a series of case studies within the writing programs and departments of the University of Arizona, Syracuse University, and Oberlin College. This cross-institutional study employs comparative analysis of historical, pedagogical, and institutional documents, as…

Comparative Study of Secondary School Building Costs. Educational Organization, Documents No. 4.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hutton, Jeoffrey; Rostron, Michael

This report summarizes a study to help member States compare their expenditures on educational facilities and to analyze their capital costs in the context of national resources and educational and social objectives. Sponsored by UNESCO, the study covered 14 UNESCO member States in Africa, Asia, and Latin America; and included visits to some 100…

Balancing Academic and Professional Pedagogies: A Comparative Study of Two Accounting Departments in South Africa and the UK

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van der Merwe, Nico; McChlery, Stuart; Visser, Sarah Susanna

2014-01-01

The paper adds to extant professional education literature by reflecting on apparent differences in pedagogy of similar professional programmes of study, allowing deeper insight into the unique strand of higher education influenced by the professions. A comparative international case study approach is adopted of an interpretive qualitative nature…

A Comparative Study of Strategic HRD Approaches for Workforce Planning in the Tourism Industry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bartlett, Kenneth; Johnson, Karen; Schneider, Ingrid E.

2006-01-01

This study compares the outcomes of two often used approaches for strategic HRD planning. Using methods framed within a strategic HRD planning framework the outcomes of a qualitative primary data approach are examined against quantitative labor market projections in a study of the future Minnesota tourism workforce. Results show each planning…

Attitudes toward Learning Oral Communication Skills Online: The Importance of Intrinsic Interest and Student-Instructor Differences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Keith M.; Phelan, Liam; McBain, Bonnie; Archer, Jennifer; Drew, Antony J.; James, Carole

2016-01-01

This study examined and compared attitudes of both students and instructors, motivated by an interest in improving the development and delivery of online oral communication learning (OOCL). Few studies have compared student and instructor attitudes toward learning technologies, and no known studies have conducted item response theory (IRT)…

Singapore Pre-Service Secondary Mathematics Teachers' Content Knowledge: Findings from an International Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Toh, Tin Lam; Kaur, Berinderjeet; Koay, Phong Lee

2013-01-01

In this article, we explore the mathematical content knowledge of one entire cohort of pre-service teachers (N = 107) through analysing their performance in a Secondary Mathematics Audit that was developed for the International Comparative Studies in Mathematics Teacher Training that was initiated by the University of Plymouth. We study how their…

Comparability of Computer- and Paper-Administered Multiple-Choice Tests for K-12 Populations: A Synthesis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kingston, Neal M.

2009-01-01

There have been many studies of the comparability of computer-administered and paper-administered tests. Not surprisingly (given the variety of measurement and statistical sampling issues that can affect any one study) the results of such studies have not always been consistent. Moreover, the quality of computer-based test administration systems…

A Comparative Case Study of Factors Distinguishing between High and Low-Performance on Reading Achievement in Elementary Rural Appalachian Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chambers, Jennifer R.

2012-01-01

This qualitative comparative case study identified factors that distinguish between high and low-performance on reading achievement in elementary rural Appalachian schools. This study determined the most effective instructional reading strategies, as well as other influential factors, implemented by school districts in the rural Appalachia area…

A Comparative Case Study of Factors Distinguishing between High and Low-Performance on Reading Achievement in Elementary Rural Appalachian Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chambers, Jennifer; Hausman, Charles

2014-01-01

This qualitative comparative case study identified factors that distinguish between high and low-performance on reading achievement in elementary rural Appalachian schools. This study determined the most effective instructional reading strategies, as well as other influential factors, implemented by school districts in the rural Appalachia area…

On-Campus and Fully-Online University Students: Comparing Demographics, Digital Technology Use and Learning Characteristics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Genevieve M.

2015-01-01

First-year university students (n = 185) completed an online questionnaire that allowed comparison of those who reported studying on-campus with those who reported studying fully-online. Independent sample t-tests compared the means of students in the two study modes on demographics, frequency of use of digital technology and metacognitive…

A Comparative Case Study of Developing Leaders through a Doctoral Program: A Study of One Academic Institution

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scanlon, Sheryl Lynne

2012-01-01

The purpose of this comparative case study was to determine how one academic institution could address the leadership gap facing organizations today, through a traditional, classroom doctoral program in Organizational Leadership. Data was gathered utilizing mixed methods methodology that included a survey questionnaire, focus group information,…

Traditional Instruction versus Virtual Reality Simulation: A Comparative Study of Phlebotomy Training among Nursing Students in Kuwait

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

William, Abeer; Vidal, Victoria L.; John, Pamela

2016-01-01

This quasi-experimental study compared differences in phlebotomy performance on a live client, between a control group taught through the traditional method and an experimental group using virtual reality simulation. The study showed both groups had performed successfully, using the following metrics: number of reinsertions, pain factor, hematoma…

Examining Sensory Modulation in Individuals with Autism as Compared to Community Controls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kern, Janet K.; Garver, Carolyn R.; Carmody, Thomas; Andrews, Alonzo A.; Mehta, Jyutika A.; Trivedi, Madhukar H.

2008-01-01

The purpose of the study was to examine sensory modulation items on the Sensory Profile in individuals with autism as compared to community controls. The data for this study were collected as part of a cross-sectional study that examined sensory processing, using the Sensory Profile, in 103 individuals with autism and/or pervasive developmental…

A Comparative Study of Advertising in Israel and the United States.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krohn, Franklin B.; Brahms, Robert

A study compared advertising media usage, advertising reach, and consumers' attitudes toward advertising in Israel and the United States. The study used data gathered from an Israeli survey of 1,600 consumers and an American survey of 1,500 consumers. The findings revealed that the press was the dominant advertising medium in both countries, in…

Comparing Delivery Approaches to Teaching Abnormal Psychology: Investigating Student Perceptions and Learning Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goette, William F.; Delello, Julie A.; Schmitt, Andrew L.; Sullivan, Jeremy R.; Rangel, Angelica

2017-01-01

This study compares the academic performance and perceptions of 114 undergraduate students enrolled in an abnormal psychology course. Specifically, this study focuses on whether face-to-face (F2F) or blended modalities are associated with student learning outcomes. In this study, data analysis was based upon the examination of end-of-course…

Diverse Assessment and Active Student Engagement Sustain Deep Learning: A Comparative Study of Outcomes in Two Parallel Introductory Biochemistry Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bevan, Samantha J.; Chan, Cecilia W. L.; Tanner, Julian A.

2014-01-01

Although there is increasing evidence for a relationship between courses that emphasize student engagement and achievement of student deep learning, there is a paucity of quantitative comparative studies in a biochemistry and molecular biology context. Here, we present a pedagogical study in two contrasting parallel biochemistry introductory…

The Comparative Impacts of Using Lexical Glossing and Inferencing Strategies on Students' Reading Comprehension

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Juliana

2018-01-01

The study compared the use of the lexical glossing and inferencing strategies that impact toward the students' reading comprehension. The objective of the study was to find out the effective strategy to use for enhancing the students' reading comprehension. The population of the study was 40 Informatics Systems students of Potensi Utama…

A Comparative Study of Students' Achievement in Botany and Zoology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tamir, P.

1974-01-01

A comparative study of student achievement in botany and zoology based on data of 10 studies conducted in 20 countries. Up to age 14, students achieve better in zoology; after age 14, students achieve better in botany. Based on the findings, recommendations are suggested regarding curriculum planning, laboratory work and the need for specific…

Aggression in Dating Relationships Compared by Country of Origin

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seligowski, Antonia; West, Doe

2009-01-01

Aims: The purpose of this study was to analyze prevalence levels of aggression in dating relationships and to compare this by country of origin. The study also seeks more understanding of the violence experienced by men in these countries. Method: A convenience sample was used; study participants were 194 females and 168 males ranging in age from…

Observational methods in comparative effectiveness research.

PubMed

Concato, John; Lawler, Elizabeth V; Lew, Robert A; Gaziano, J Michael; Aslan, Mihaela; Huang, Grant D

2010-12-01

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) may be defined informally as an assessment of available options for treating specific medical conditions in selected groups of patients. In this context, the most prominent features of CER are the various patient populations, medical ailments, and treatment options involved in any particular project. Yet, each research investigation also has a corresponding study design or "architecture," and in patient-oriented research a common distinction used to describe such designs are randomized controlled trials (RCTs) versus observational studies. The purposes of this overview, with regard to CER, are to (1) understand how observational studies can provide accurate results, comparable to RCTs; (2) recognize strategies used in selected newer methods for conducting observational studies; (3) review selected observational studies from the Veterans Health Administration; and (4) appreciate the importance of fundamental methodological principles when conducting or evaluating individual studies. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Health Status of Gulf War and Era Veterans Serving in the US Military in 2000.

PubMed

Porter, Ben; Long, Kyna; Rull, Rudolph P; Dursa, Erin K

2018-05-01

This research describes Gulf War and era veterans enrolled in the Millennium Cohort Study, who were sampled from US military personnel serving in 2000, and compares health characteristics of this sample to a Department of Veterans Affairs study sampled from the complete population. Demographics characteristics of this sample were described. Self-reported health characteristics were compared between the two studies. Gulf War and era veterans in the Millennium Cohort were generally healthier than in the VA study; they had fewer medical conditions and mental health disorders and better self-reported health. In both studies, Gulf War veterans had poorer health outcomes than era veterans. The Millennium Cohort Study is a unique resource for examining the long-term health effects of Gulf War deployment, particularly comparing deployed and nondeployed personnel and examining illnesses with long latencies.

Learning Oceanography from a Computer Simulation Compared with Direct Experience at Sea

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winn, William; Stahr, Frederick; Sarason, Christian; Fruland, Ruth; Oppenheimer, Peter; Lee, Yen-Ling

2006-01-01

Considerable research has compared how students learn science from computer simulations with how they learn from "traditional" classes. Little research has compared how students learn science from computer simulations with how they learn from direct experience in the real environment on which the simulations are based. This study compared two…

Educational Policies in a Comparative Perspective: Suggestions for a Research Agenda. IIEP Contributions, No. 6.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hallak, Jacques

Over recent decades, comparative analyses of educational problems or policies have become more common. This paper, which focuses on Western European countries, argues that comparative studies that are carefully designed, conducted, and used are essential for the improvement of educational policy and decision making. Comparative analyses are…

Bayesian data analysis in observational comparative effectiveness research: rationale and examples.

PubMed

Olson, William H; Crivera, Concetta; Ma, Yi-Wen; Panish, Jessica; Mao, Lian; Lynch, Scott M

2013-11-01

Many comparative effectiveness research and patient-centered outcomes research studies will need to be observational for one or both of two reasons: first, randomized trials are expensive and time-consuming; and second, only observational studies can answer some research questions. It is generally recognized that there is a need to increase the scientific validity and efficiency of observational studies. Bayesian methods for the design and analysis of observational studies are scientifically valid and offer many advantages over frequentist methods, including, importantly, the ability to conduct comparative effectiveness research/patient-centered outcomes research more efficiently. Bayesian data analysis is being introduced into outcomes studies that we are conducting. Our purpose here is to describe our view of some of the advantages of Bayesian methods for observational studies and to illustrate both realized and potential advantages by describing studies we are conducting in which various Bayesian methods have been or could be implemented.

Total ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis for the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis: a meta-analysis of comparative studies.

PubMed

Kim, Hyun Jung; Suh, Dong Hun; Yang, Jae Hyuk; Lee, Jin Woo; Kim, Hak Jun; Ahn, Hyeong Sik; Han, Seung Woo; Choi, Gi Won

2017-01-01

Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) and ankle arthrodesis (AA) are the main surgical treatment options for end-stage ankle arthritis. Although the superiority of each modality remains debated, there remains a lack of high-quality evidence-based studies, such as randomized controlled clinical trials, and meta-analyses of comparative studies. We performed a meta-analysis of comparative studies to determine whether there is a significant difference between these two procedures in terms of (i) clinical scores and patient satisfaction, (ii) re-operations, and (iii) complications. We conducted a comprehensive search in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases. Only retrospective or prospective comparative studies were included in this meta-analysis. The literature search, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. The primary outcomes were clinical scores and patient satisfaction. We also investigated the prevalence of complications and the re-operation rate. Ten comparative studies were included (four prospective and six retrospective studies). There were no significant differences between the two procedures in the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score, Short Form-36 physical component summary and mental component summary scores, visual analogue scale for pain, and patient satisfaction rate. The risk of re-operation and major surgical complications were significantly increased in the TAA group. The meta-analysis revealed that TAA and AA could achieve similar clinical outcomes, whereas the incidence of re-operation and major surgical complication was significantly increased in TAA. Further studies of high methodological quality with long-term follow-up are required to confirm our conclusions.

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment between Warm SMA and Conventional SMA

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-09-01

This report presents the comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) between warm stone mastic asphalt (SMA) and conventional : SMA. Specifically, the study evaluated and compared the life cycle environmental and economic performances of two mixtures: a ...

Direct access compared with referred physical therapy episodes of care: a systematic review.

PubMed

Ojha, Heidi A; Snyder, Rachel S; Davenport, Todd E

2014-01-01

Evidence suggests that physical therapy through direct access may help decrease costs and improve patient outcomes compared with physical therapy by physician referral. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on patients with musculoskeletal injuries and compare health care costs and patient outcomes in episodes of physical therapy by direct access compared with referred physical therapy. Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science, and PEDro were searched using terms related to physical therapy and direct access. Included articles were hand searched for additional references. Included studies compared data from physical therapy by direct access with physical therapy by physician referral, studying cost, outcomes, or harm. The studies were appraised using the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) levels of evidence criteria and assigned a methodological score. Of the 1,501 articles that were screened, 8 articles at levels 3 to 4 on the CEBM scale were included. There were statistically significant and clinically meaningful findings across studies that satisfaction and outcomes were superior, and numbers of physical therapy visits, imaging ordered, medications prescribed, and additional non-physical therapy appointments were less in cohorts receiving physical therapy by direct access compared with referred episodes of care. There was no evidence for harm. There is evidence across level 3 and 4 studies (grade B to C CEBM level of recommendation) that physical therapy by direct access compared with referred episodes of care is associated with improved patient outcomes and decreased costs. Primary limitations were lack of group randomization, potential for selection bias, and limited generalizability. Physical therapy by way of direct access may contain health care costs and promote high-quality health care. Third-party payers should consider paying for physical therapy by direct access to decrease health care costs and incentivize optimal patient outcomes.

Bioequivalence of diclofenac sodium 2% and 1.5% topical solutions relative to oral diclofenac sodium in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Holt, Robert J; Taiwo, Tolu; Kent, Jeffrey D

2015-08-01

Topical formulations of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally considered to be safer alternatives to oral NSAIDs due to lower systemic absorption. We conducted randomized, crossover studies that compared the pharmacokinetics (PK), bioequivalence and safety of topical diclofenac sodium 2% twice daily (BID), diclofenac sodium 1.5% four times daily (QID) and oral diclofenac sodium in healthy subjects. The results of three bioequivalence studies are reviewed. Healthy adult subjects (n = 76) applied topical diclofenac sodium 2% solution (40.4 mg/2 mL) BID; or 1.5% solution (19.3 mg/40 drops) QID to each knee for 7.5 consecutive days separated by a washout period. Subjects (n = 22) in one study also received oral diclofenac sodium 75 mg BID for 7.5 days. Plasma diclofenac concentrations were determined from serial blood samples collected on Days 1 and 8 (steady state), and diclofenac PK parameters were estimated by noncompartmental methods. The studies demonstrated comparable bioequivalence between the 2% and 1.5% topical solutions as well as lower systemic exposure compared to oral dosing (approximately 93% less). Daily systemic exposure was comparable between the two formulations with only a 12% difference in the AUCss(0-24) (p = 0.140). Furthermore, both topical solutions demonstrated delayed elimination with a t(1/2) of 4- to 6-fold longer, as compared to oral diclofenac. The 2% solution provided more consistent dosing relative to the 1.5% solution when comparing AUCss(0-24) and Cmaxss across studies. Mild application site reactions were the most common treatment-emergent adverse event reported with topical diclofenac. The steady-state PK profile of topical diclofenac 2% solution administered BID is similar to that of the 1.5% solution administered QID. Systemic exposure to diclofenac is substantially lower after topical application as compared to oral administration. (Study 2 was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT01202799; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=01202799&Search=Search).

Depression drug treatment outcomes in pregnancy and the postpartum period: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

McDonagh, Marian S; Matthews, Annette; Phillipi, Carrie; Romm, Jillian; Peterson, Kim; Thakurta, Sujata; Guise, Jeanne-Marie

2014-09-01

To evaluate the comparative benefits and harms in both mother and child of antidepressant treatment for depression in pregnant or postpartum women. MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov (inception to July 2013), manufacturers, and reference lists. Two reviewers independently selected studies of pregnant women with depression comparing antidepressants with each other, placebo or no treatment, or nondrug treatments. Studies making comparisons among women taking antidepressants for any reason and those not taking antidepressants (depression status unknown) were used to fill gaps in the evidence. Dual study data extraction and quality assessment were used. Six randomized controlled trials and 15 observational studies provided evidence. Low-strength evidence suggested neonates of pregnant women with depression taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors had higher risk of respiratory distress than did neonates of untreated women (13.9% compared with 7.8%; P<.001) but no difference in risk of neonatal convulsions (0.14% compared with 0.11%; P=.64) or preterm birth (17% compared with 10%; P=.07). Indirect evidence from studies of pregnant women receiving antidepressants for mixed or unreported reasons compared with pregnant women not taking antidepressants (depression status unknown) suggested future research should focus on congenital anomalies and autism spectrum and attention deficit disorders in the child. In postpartum depression, low-strength evidence suggested symptom response was not improved when sertraline was added to psychotherapy or when cognitive-behavioral therapy was added to paroxetine. Evidence was insufficient for other outcomes, including depression symptoms, functional capacity, breastfeeding, and infant and child development. A serious limitation is the lack of study populations of exclusively depressed pregnant and postpartum women. Evidence about the comparative benefits and harms of pharmacologic treatment of depression in pregnant and postpartum women was largely inadequate to allow informed decisions about treatment. Considering the prevalence of depression, filling this gap is essential.

Infant formulas containing hydrolysed protein for prevention of allergic disease and food allergy.

PubMed

Osborn, David A; Sinn, John Kh; Jones, Lisa J

2017-03-15

Allergy is common and may be associated with foods, including cow's milk formula (CMF). Formulas containing hydrolysed proteins have been used to treat infants with allergy. However, it is unclear whether hydrolysed formulas can be advocated for prevention of allergy in infants. To compare effects on allergy and food allergy when infants are fed a hydrolysed formula versus CMF or human breast milk. If hydrolysed formulas are effective, to determine what type of hydrolysed formula is most effective, including extensively or partially hydrolysed formula (EHF/PHF). To determine which infants at low or high risk of allergy and which infants receiving early, short-term or prolonged formula feeding may benefit from hydrolysed formulas. We used the standard search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group supplemented by cross referencing of previous reviews and publications (updated August 2016). We searched for randomised and quasi-randomised trials that compared use of a hydrolysed formula versus human milk or CMF. Trials with ≥ 80% follow-up of participants were eligible for inclusion. We independently assessed eligibility of studies for inclusion, methodological quality and data extraction. Primary outcomes included clinical allergy, specific allergy and food allergy. We conducted meta-analysis using a fixed-effect (FE) model. Two studies assessed the effect of three to four days' infant supplementation with an EHF whilst in hospital after birth versus pasteurised human milk feed. Results showed no difference in infant allergy or childhood cow's milk allergy (CMA). No eligible trials compared prolonged hydrolysed formula versus human milk feeding.Two studies assessed the effect of three to four days' infant supplementation with an EHF versus a CMF. One large quasi-random study reported a reduction in infant CMA of borderline significance among low-risk infants (risk ratio (RR) 0.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38 to 1.00).Prolonged infant feeding with a hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF was associated with a reduction in infant allergy (eight studies, 2852 infants; FE RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.95; risk difference (RD) -0.04, 95% CI -0.08 to -0.01; number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) 25, 95% CI 12.5 to 100) and infant CMA (two studies, 405 infants; FE RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.86). We had substantial methodological concerns regarding studies and concerns regarding publication bias, as substantial numbers of studies including those in high-risk infants have not comprehensively reported allergy outcomes (GRADE quality of evidence 'very low').Prolonged infant feeding with a hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF was not associated with a difference in childhood allergy and led to no differences in specific allergy, including infant and childhood asthma, eczema and rhinitis and infant food allergy. Many of the analyses assessing specific allergy are underpowered.Subroup analyses showed that infant allergy was reduced in studies that enrolled infants at high risk of allergy who used a hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF; used a PHF compared with a CMF; used prolonged and exclusive feeding of a hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF; and used a partially hydrolysed whey formula compared with a CMF. Studies that enrolled infants at high risk of allergy; used a PHF compared with a CMF; used prolonged and exclusive feeding of a hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF; and used a partially hydrolysed whey formula compared with a CMF found a reduction in infant CMA. We found no evidence to support short-term or prolonged feeding with a hydrolysed formula compared with exclusive breast feeding for prevention of allergy. Very low-quality evidence indicates that short-term use of an EHF compared with a CMF may prevent infant CMA.In infants at high risk of allergy not exclusively breast fed, very low-quality evidence suggests that prolonged hydrolysed formula feeding compared with CMF feeding reduces infant allergy and infant CMA. Studies have found no difference in childhood allergy and no difference in specific allergy, including infant and childhood asthma, eczema and rhinitis and infant food allergy.Very low-quality evidence shows that prolonged use of a partially hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF for partial or exclusive feeding was associated with a reduction in infant allergy incidence and CMA incidence, and that prolonged use of an EHF versus a PHF reduces infant food allergy.

WITHDRAWN: Infant formulas containing hydrolysed protein for prevention of allergic disease and food allergy.

PubMed

Osborn, David A; Sinn, John Kh; Jones, Lisa J

2017-05-25

Allergy is common and may be associated with foods, including cow's milk formula (CMF). Formulas containing hydrolysed proteins have been used to treat infants with allergy. However, it is unclear whether hydrolysed formulas can be advocated for prevention of allergy in infants. To compare effects on allergy and food allergy when infants are fed a hydrolysed formula versus CMF or human breast milk. If hydrolysed formulas are effective, to determine what type of hydrolysed formula is most effective, including extensively or partially hydrolysed formula (EHF/PHF). To determine which infants at low or high risk of allergy and which infants receiving early, short-term or prolonged formula feeding may benefit from hydrolysed formulas. We used the standard search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group supplemented by cross referencing of previous reviews and publications (updated August 2016). We searched for randomised and quasi-randomised trials that compared use of a hydrolysed formula versus human milk or CMF. Trials with ≥ 80% follow-up of participants were eligible for inclusion. We independently assessed eligibility of studies for inclusion, methodological quality and data extraction. Primary outcomes included clinical allergy, specific allergy and food allergy. We conducted meta-analysis using a fixed-effect (FE) model. Two studies assessed the effect of three to four days' infant supplementation with an EHF whilst in hospital after birth versus pasteurised human milk feed. Results showed no difference in infant allergy or childhood cow's milk allergy (CMA). No eligible trials compared prolonged hydrolysed formula versus human milk feeding.Two studies assessed the effect of three to four days infant supplementation with an EHF versus a CMF. One large quasi-random study reported a reduction in infant CMA of borderline significance among low-risk infants (risk ratio (RR) 0.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38 to 1.00).Prolonged infant feeding with a hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF was associated with a reduction in infant allergy (eight studies, 2852 infants; FE RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.95; risk difference (RD) -0.04, 95% CI -0.08 to -0.01; number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) 25, 95% CI 12.5 to 100) and infant CMA (two studies, 405 infants; FE RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.86). We had substantial methodological concerns regarding studies and concerns regarding publication bias, as substantial numbers of studies including those in high-risk infants have not comprehensively reported allergy outcomes (GRADE quality of evidence 'very low').Prolonged infant feeding with a hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF was not associated with a difference in childhood allergy and led to no differences in specific allergy, including infant and childhood asthma, eczema and rhinitis and infant food allergy. Many of the analyses assessing specific allergy are underpowered.Subroup analyses showed that infant allergy was reduced in studies that enrolled infants at high risk of allergy who used a hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF; used a PHF compared with a CMF; used prolonged and exclusive feeding of a hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF; and used a partially hydrolysed whey formula compared with a CMF. Studies that enrolled infants at high risk of allergy; used a PHF compared with a CMF; used prolonged and exclusive feeding of a hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF; and used a partially hydrolysed whey formula compared with a CMF found a reduction in infant CMA. We found no evidence to support short-term or prolonged feeding with a hydrolysed formula compared with exclusive breast feeding for prevention of allergy. Very low-quality evidence indicates that short-term use of an EHF compared with a CMF may prevent infant CMA.In infants at high risk of allergy not exclusively breast fed, very low-quality evidence suggests that prolonged hydrolysed formula feeding compared with CMF feeding reduces infant allergy and infant CMA. Studies have found no difference in childhood allergy and no difference in specific allergy, including infant and childhood asthma, eczema and rhinitis and infant food allergy.Very low-quality evidence shows that prolonged use of a partially hydrolysed formula compared with a CMF for partial or exclusive feeding was associated with a reduction in infant allergy incidence and CMA incidence, and that prolonged use of an EHF versus a PHF reduces infant food allergy.

A comparative study: use of a Brain-computer Interface (BCI) device by people with cerebral palsy in interaction with computers.

PubMed

Heidrich, Regina O; Jensen, Emely; Rebelo, Francisco; Oliveira, Tiago

2015-01-01

This article presents a comparative study among people with cerebral palsy and healthy controls, of various ages, using a Brain-computer Interface (BCI) device. The research is qualitative in its approach. Researchers worked with Observational Case Studies. People with cerebral palsy and healthy controls were evaluated in Portugal and in Brazil. The study aimed to develop a study for product evaluation in order to perceive whether people with cerebral palsy could interact with the computer and compare whether their performance is similar to that of healthy controls when using the Brain-computer Interface. Ultimately, it was found that there are no significant differences between people with cerebral palsy in the two countries, as well as between populations without cerebral palsy (healthy controls).

The Effects of Discourses in Regional Contexts on the Development of Curriculum-Based Literacy Standards for Adolescents in Schooling: A Comparative Study of South Australia and Ontario

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fenwick, Lisl

2017-01-01

This study analyses how discourses in regional contexts affect the development of curriculum-based literacy standards for adolescents in schooling. A comparative case-study research design enabled the influences of discourses at the regional level to be analysed. The case studies include the development of curricula to define a minimum literacy…

An Inquiry into Testing of Information Retrieval Systems. Comparative Systems Laboratory Final Technical Report, Part III: CSL Related Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zull, Carolyn Gifford, Ed.; And Others

This third volume of the Comparative Systems Laboratory (CSL) Final Technical Report is a collection of relatively independent studies performed on CSL materials. Covered in this document are studies on: (1) properties of files, including a study of the growth rate of a dictionary of index terms as influenced by number of documents in the file and…

Comparative Analysis of Student-Athletes with Learning Disabilities Academic Performance In and Out-of-Season

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hadfield, Jason Luke

2017-01-01

Academics and athletics have been studied in the past and will be studied more in the future. There has not been a study conducted on this topic related to students who have an IEP or 504 service agreement for learning disabilities. This study compared the in-season and out-of-season GPA of these groups of students as well as the supports they…

Acupuncture for neurogenesis in experimental ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Lu, Lin; Zhang, Xiao-guang; Zhong, Linda L D; Chen, Zi-xian; Li, Yan; Zheng, Guo-qing; Bian, Zhao-xiang

2016-01-20

Acupuncture has been used for patients with stroke and post-stroke rehabilitation for thousands of years. Previous studies reported that acupuncture enhanced stroke recovery through neurogenesis. Hence, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis for preclinical studies to assess the current evidence for acupuncture effect on neurogenesis in treating ischaemic stroke. Studies were obtained from six databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP information database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Ultimately, 34 studies containing 1617 animals were identified. Neurogenesis markers of Brdu, Nestin, PSA-NCAM, NeuN and GFAP were selected as major outcomes. The pooled results of 15 studies marked with Brdu showed significant effects of acupuncture for improving proliferation when compared with control groups (P < 0.01); 13 studies marked with Nestin showed significant effects of acupuncture for increasing proliferation when compared with control groups (P < 0.01); 4 studies marked with PSA-NCAM showed significant effects of acupuncture for enhancing migration when compared with control groups (P < 0.01); 4 studies marked with NeuN showed significant effects of acupuncture for stimulating differentiation when compared with control groups (P < 0.01). The findings suggest that acupuncture is a prospective therapy targeting neurogenesis for ischemic stroke.

TRANSMISSION NETWORK PLANNING METHOD FOR COMPARATIVE STUDIES (JOURNAL VERSION)

EPA Science Inventory

An automated transmission network planning method for comparative studies is presented. This method employs logical steps that may closely parallel those taken in practice by the planning engineers. Use is made of a sensitivity matrix to simulate the engineers' experience in sele...

Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in women compared with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

PubMed

Yuan, Shuai; Xue, Hong-Liang; Yu, Hong-Jie; Huang, Yao; Tang, Bo-Wen; Yang, Xu-Hao; Li, Qing-Xiao; He, Qi-Qiang

2018-06-13

Few studies have investigated the effect of smoking on type 2 diabetes in women compared with men, even though several epidemiological studies provided a clear picture of the risk among the entire population. We systematically searched PubMed and Embase up to August 2017 for prospective studies that were stratified by sex with measures of the relative risk (RR) for type 2 diabetes and current smoking compared with non-smoking. The sex-specific RRs and their ratios (RRRs), comparing women with man, were pooled using random-effects models. Seventeen articles were identified including 20 prospective cohorts with 5 077 289 participants and 223 084 incident cases of type 2 diabetes. The pooled RRR suggested a similar risk of type 2 diabetes associated with smoking in women compared with men (RRR: 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.96-1.01). Furthermore, no significant sex difference in the RR was found between former smokers and those who had never smoked (RRR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.92-1.04). The findings of this meta-analysis indicate that female smokers had similar risk of type 2 diabetes with male smokers.

PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI TEN YEARS AGO COMPARED TO THE CURRENT PREVALENCE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING UPPER ENDOSCOPY

PubMed Central

FRUGIS, Sandra; CZECZKO, Nicolau Gregori; MALAFAIA, Osvaldo; PARADA, Artur Adolfo; POLETTI, Paula Bechara; SECCHI, Thiago Festa; DEGIOVANI, Matheus; RAMPANAZZO-NETO, Alécio; D´AGOSTINO, Mariza D.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Background: Helicobacter pylori has been extensively studied since 1982 it is estimated that 50% of the world population is affected. The literature lacks studies that show the change of its prevalence in the same population over time. Aim: To compare the prevalence of H. pylori in 10 years interval in a population that was submitted to upper endoscopy in the same endoscopy service. Method: Observational, retrospective and cross-sectional study comparing the prevalence of H. pylori in two samples with 10 years apart (2004 and 2014) who underwent endoscopy with biopsy and urease. Patients were studied in three consecutive months of 2004, compared to three consecutive months of 2014. The total number of patients was 2536, and 1406 in 2004 and 1130 in 2014. Results: There were positive for H. pylori in 17 % of the sample as a whole. There was a significant decrease in the prevalence from 19.3% in 2004 to 14.1% in 2014 (p<0.005). Conclusion: There was a 5.2% reduction in the prevalence of H. pylori comparing two periods of three consecutive months with 10 years apart in two equivalent population samples. PMID:27759776

Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Therapy Does Not Improve Hypotension Compared to Sodium Bicarbonate for Tricyclic Antidepressant Toxicity: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study in a Swine Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-01

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Therapy Does Not Improve Hypotension Compared to Sodium Bicarbonate for Tricyclic Antidepressant...and chronic pain. Intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) is a recent antidote for lipophilic drug overdose with unclear effectiveness. ILE has been studied in...Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Therapy Does Not Improve Hypotension Compared to Sodium Bicarbonate for Tricyclic Antidepressant Toxicity: A Randomized, Controlled

A randomized, crossover, head-to-head comparison of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation to reduce inflammation markers in men and women: the Comparing EPA to DHA (ComparED) Study.

PubMed

Allaire, Janie; Couture, Patrick; Leclerc, Myriam; Charest, Amélie; Marin, Johanne; Lépine, Marie-Claude; Talbot, Denis; Tchernof, André; Lamarche, Benoît

2016-08-01

To date, most studies on the anti-inflammatory effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in humans have used a mixture of the 2 fatty acids in various forms and proportions. We compared the effects of EPA supplementation with those of DHA supplementation (re-esterified triacylglycerol; 90% pure) on inflammation markers (primary outcome) and blood lipids (secondary outcome) in men and women at risk of cardiovascular disease. In a double-blind, randomized, crossover, controlled study, healthy men (n = 48) and women (n = 106) with abdominal obesity and low-grade systemic inflammation consumed 3 g/d of the following supplements for periods of 10 wk: 1) EPA (2.7 g/d), 2) DHA (2.7 g/d), and 3) corn oil as a control with each supplementation separated by a 9-wk washout period. Primary analyses assessed the difference in cardiometabolic outcomes between EPA and DHA. Supplementation with DHA compared with supplementation with EPA led to a greater reduction in interleukin-18 (IL-18) (-7.0% ± 2.8% compared with -0.5% ± 3.0%, respectively; P = 0.01) and a greater increase in adiponectin (3.1% ± 1.6% compared with -1.2% ± 1.7%, respectively; P < 0.001). Between DHA and EPA, changes in CRP (-7.9% ± 5.0% compared with -1.8% ± 6.5%, respectively; P = 0.25), IL-6 (-12.0% ± 7.0% compared with -13.4% ± 7.0%, respectively; P = 0.86), and tumor necrosis factor-α (-14.8% ± 5.1% compared with -7.6% ± 10.2%, respectively; P = 0.63) were NS. DHA compared with EPA led to more pronounced reductions in triglycerides (-13.3% ± 2.3% compared with -11.9% ± 2.2%, respectively; P = 0.005) and the cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio (-2.5% ± 1.3% compared with 0.3% ± 1.1%, respectively; P = 0.006) and greater increases in HDL cholesterol (7.6% ± 1.4% compared with -0.7% ± 1.1%, respectively; P < 0.0001) and LDL cholesterol (6.9% ± 1.8% compared with 2.2% ± 1.6%, respectively; P = 0.04). The increase in LDL-cholesterol concentrations for DHA compared with EPA was significant in men but not in women (P-treatment × sex interaction = 0.046). DHA is more effective than EPA in modulating specific markers of inflammation as well as blood lipids. Additional studies are needed to determine the effect of a long-term DHA supplementation per se on cardiovascular disease risk. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01810003. © 2016 American Society for Nutrition.

Comparative effectiveness of prostate cancer treatments for patient-centered outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA Compliant).

PubMed

Jayadevappa, Ravishankar; Chhatre, Sumedha; Wong, Yu-Ning; Wittink, Marsha N; Cook, Ratna; Morales, Knashawn H; Vapiwala, Neha; Newman, Diane K; Guzzo, Thomas; Wein, Alan J; Malkowicz, Stanley B; Lee, David I; Schwartz, Jerome S; Gallo, Joseph J

2017-05-01

In the context of prostate cancer (PCa) characterized by the multiple alternative treatment strategies, comparative effectiveness analysis is essential for informed decision-making. We analyzed the comparative effectiveness of PCa treatments through systematic review and meta-analysis with a focus on outcomes that matter most to newly diagnosed localized PCa patients. We performed a systematic review of literature published in English from 1995 to October 2016. A search strategy was employed using terms "prostate cancer," "localized," "outcomes," "mortality," "health related quality of life," and "complications" to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs), prospective, and retrospective studies. For observational studies, only those adjusting for selection bias using propensity-score or instrumental-variables approaches were included. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratio was used to assess all-cause and disease-specific mortality. Funnel plots were used to assess the level of bias. Our search strategy yielded 58 articles, of which 29 were RCTs, 6 were prospective studies, and 23 were retrospective studies. The studies provided moderate data for the patient-centered outcome of mortality. Radical prostatectomy demonstrated mortality benefit compared to watchful waiting (all-cause HR = 0.63 CI = 0.45, 0.87; disease-specific HR = 0.48 CI = 0.40, 0.58), and radiation therapy (all-cause HR = 0.65 CI = 0.57, 0.74; disease-specific HR = 0.51 CI = 0.40, 0.65). However, we had minimal comparative information about tradeoffs between and within treatment for other patient-centered outcomes in the short and long-term. Lack of patient-centered outcomes in comparative effectiveness research in localized PCa is a major hurdle to informed and shared decision-making. More rigorous studies that can integrate patient-centered and intermediate outcomes in addition to mortality are needed.

Assessing the comparative effectiveness of long-acting injectable vs. oral antipsychotic medications in the prevention of relapse provides a case study in comparative effectiveness research in psychiatry.

PubMed

Kane, John M; Kishimoto, Taishiro; Correll, Christoph U

2013-08-01

As psychopathology and social functioning can worsen with repeated psychotic episodes in schizophrenia, relapse prevention is critical. Because high nonadherence rates limit the efficacy of pharmacotherapy, the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics is considered an important treatment option. To date, many studies comparing LAIs and oral antipsychotics have been conducted; however, the results are mixed, and careful interpretation of the data is required. Selective review of existing literature regarding LAIs. We especially focused the discussion on the impact of the design of studies with different approaches comparing LAIs and oral antipsychotics in preventing relapse. The results were diverse and were influenced by the design used, that is, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed LAIs and oral antipsychotics to have similar effects, whereas mirror-image and some large cohort studies showed LAIs to be superior to oral antipsychotics. Divergent results from studies using different methodologies create a dilemma for comparative effectiveness research, and LAI studies may serve as an example of a situation in which a conventional RCT is not the gold standard. Traditional RCTs generally increase adherence compared with clinical practice and, therefore, might not be well suited to detect differences between LAIs and oral medications, because any increase in adherence affects patients on oral medications more than those on LAIs and thus leads to an underestimation of any potential difference in effectiveness. A possible solution would be the implementation of a true effectiveness trial in which post-randomization involvement would be kept to a minimum to better reflect routine practice. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pen Devices for Insulin Self-Administration Compared With Needle and Vial: Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Lasalvia, Pieralessandro; Barahona-Correa, Julián Esteban; Romero-Alvernia, Diana Marcela; Gil-Tamayo, Sebastián; Castañeda-Cardona, Camilo; Bayona, Juan Gabriel; Triana, Juan José; Laserna, Andrés Felipe; Mejía-Torres, Miguel; Restrepo-Jimenez, Paula; Jimenez-Zapata, Juliana; Rosselli, Diego

2016-07-01

Pen devices offer advantages compared with vial and syringe (VaS). The purpose of this article was to evaluate efficacy of pen devices compared to VaS. A systematic review of literature was performed in 8 different databases. References were independently screened and selected. Primary observational or experimental studies comparing pen devices with VaS for insulin administrations were included. Studies on specific populations were excluded. Risk of bias was evaluated using appropriate tools. Data on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), hypoglycemia, adherence, persistence, patient preference, and quality of life (QOL) were collected. Meta-analysis was performed when appropriate. Heterogeneity and risk of publication bias were evaluated. Otherwise, descriptive analyses of the available data was done. In all, 10 348 articles were screened. A total of 17 studies were finally selected: 7 experimental and 10 analytical. The populations of the included articles were mainly composed of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Important risk of bias was found in all of the articles, particularly experimental studies. Meta-analyses were performed for HbA1c, hypoglycemia, adherence and persistence. Pen device showed better results in mean HbA1c change, patients with hypoglycemia, adherence and persistence compared to VaS. No difference was observed in number of patients achieving <7% HbA1c. Preference studies showed a tendency favoring pen devices, however nonvalidated tools were used. One QoL study showed improvements in some subscales of SF-36. There is evidence that pen devices offer benefits in clinical and, less clearly, patient-reported outcomes compared to VaS for insulin administration. However, these results should be taken with caution. © 2016 Diabetes Technology Society.

Adjusting for geographic variation in observational comparative effectiveness studies: a case study of antipsychotics using state Medicaid data.

PubMed

Root, Elisabeth Dowling; Thomas, Deborah S K; Campagna, Elizabeth J; Morrato, Elaine H

2014-08-27

Area-level variation in treatment and outcomes may be a potential source of confounding bias in observational comparative effectiveness studies. This paper demonstrates how to use exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and spatial statistical methods to investigate and control for these potential biases. The case presented compares the effectiveness of two antipsychotic treatment strategies: oral second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) vs. long-acting paliperiodone palmitate (PP). A new-start cohort study was conducted analyzing patient-level administrative claims data (8/1/2008-4/30/2011) from Missouri Medicaid. ESDA techniques were used to examine spatial patterns of antipsychotic prescriptions and outcomes (hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits). Likelihood of mental health-related outcomes were compared between patients starting PP (N = 295) and oral SGAs (N = 8,626) using multilevel logistic regression models adjusting for patient composition (demographic and clinical factors) and geographic region. ESDA indicated significant spatial variation in antipsychotic prescription patterns and moderate variation in hospitalization and ED visits thereby indicating possible confounding by geography. In the multilevel models for this antipsychotic case example, patient composition represented a stronger source of confounding than geographic context. Because geographic variation in health care delivery is ubiquitous, it could be a comparative effectiveness research (CER) best practice to test for possible geographic confounding in observational data. Though the magnitude of the area-level geography effects were small in this case, they were still statistically significant and should therefore be examined as part of this observational CER study. More research is needed to better estimate the range of confounding due to geography across different types of observational comparative effectiveness studies and healthcare utilization outcomes.

More realistic power estimation for new user, active comparator studies: an empirical example.

PubMed

Gokhale, Mugdha; Buse, John B; Pate, Virginia; Marquis, M Alison; Stürmer, Til

2016-04-01

Pharmacoepidemiologic studies are often expected to be sufficiently powered to study rare outcomes, but there is sequential loss of power with implementation of study design options minimizing bias. We illustrate this using a study comparing pancreatic cancer incidence after initiating dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) versus thiazolidinediones or sulfonylureas. We identified Medicare beneficiaries with at least one claim of DPP-4i or comparators during 2007-2009 and then applied the following steps: (i) exclude prevalent users, (ii) require a second prescription of same drug, (iii) exclude prevalent cancers, (iv) exclude patients age <66 years and (v) censor for treatment changes during follow-up. Power to detect hazard ratios (effect measure strongly driven by the number of events) ≥ 2.0 estimated after step 5 was compared with the naïve power estimated prior to step 1. There were 19,388 and 28,846 DPP-4i and thiazolidinedione initiators during 2007-2009. The number of drug initiators dropped most after requiring a second prescription, outcomes dropped most after excluding patients with prevalent cancer and person-time dropped most after requiring a second prescription and as-treated censoring. The naïve power (>99%) was considerably higher than the power obtained after the final step (~75%). In designing new-user active-comparator studies, one should be mindful how steps minimizing bias affect sample-size, number of outcomes and person-time. While actual numbers will depend on specific settings, application of generic losses in percentages will improve estimates of power compared with the naive approach mostly ignoring steps taken to increase validity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A study of renal function influence by integrating cloud-based manometers and physician order entry systems.

PubMed

Lin, Yuh-Feng; Sheng, Li-Huei; Wu, Mei-Yi; Zheng, Cai-Mei; Chang, Tian-Jong; Li, Yu-Chuan; Huang, Yu-Hui; Lu, Hsi-Peng

2014-12-01

No evidence exists from randomized trials to support using cloud-based manometers integrated with available physician order entry systems for tracking patient blood pressure (BP) to assist in the control of renal function deterioration. We investigated how integrating cloud-based manometers with physician order entry systems benefits our outpatient chronic kidney disease patients compared with typical BP tracking systems. We randomly assigned 36 chronic kidney disease patients to use cloud-based manometers integrated with physician order entry systems or typical BP recording sheets, and followed the patients for 6 months. The composite outcome was that the patients saw improvement both in BP and renal function. We compared the systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP), and renal function of our patients at 0 months, 3 months, and 6 months after using the integrated manometers and typical BP monitoring sheets. Nighttime SBP and DBP were significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group. Serum creatinine level in the study group improved significantly compared with the control group after the end of Month 6 (2.83 ± 2.0 vs. 4.38 ± 3.0, p = 0.018). Proteinuria improved nonsignificantly in Month 6 in the study group compared with the control group (1.05 ± 0.9 vs. 1.90 ± 1.3, p = 0.09). Both SBP and DBP during the nighttime hours improved significantly in the study group compared with the baseline. In pre-end-stage renal disease patients, regularly monitoring BP by integrating cloud-based manometers appears to result in a significant decrease in creatinine and improvement in nighttime BP control. Estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria were found to be improved nonsignificantly, and thus, larger population and longer follow-up studies may be needed.

Pain management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy-a randomized prospective trial of low pressure and standard pressure pneumoperitoneum.

PubMed

Singla, Sanjeev; Mittal, Geeta; Raghav; Mittal, Rajinder K

2014-02-01

Abdominal pain and shoulder tip pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy are distressing for the patient. Various causes of this pain are peritoneal stretching and diaphragmatic irritation by high intra-abdominal pressure caused by pneumoperitoneum . We designed a study to compare the post operative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy at low pressure (7-8 mm of Hg) and standard pressure technique (12-14 mm of Hg). Aim : To compare the effect of low pressure and standard pressure pneumoperitoneum in post laparoscopic cholecystectomy pain . Further to study the safety of low pressure pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A prospective randomised double blind study. A prospective randomised double blind study was done in 100 ASA grade I & II patients. They were divided into two groups -50 each. Group A patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with low pressure pneumoperitoneum (7-8 mm Hg) while group B underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with standard pressure pneumoperitoneum (12-13 mm Hg). Both the groups were compared for pain intensity, analgesic requirement and complications. Demographic data and intraoperative complications were analysed using chi-square test. Frequency of pain, intensity of pain and analgesics consumption was compared by applying ANOVA test. Post-operative pain score was significantly less in low pressure group as compared to standard pressure group. Number of patients requiring rescue analgesic doses was more in standard pressure group . This was statistically significant. Also total analgesic consumption was more in standard pressure group. There was no difference in intraoperative complications. This study demonstrates the use of simple expedient of reducing the pressure of pneumoperitoneum to 8 mm results in reduction in both intensity and frequency of post-operative pain and hence early recovery and better outcome.This study also shows that low pressure technique is safe with comparable rate of intraoperative complications.

Comparative Effect of Contrast Media Type on the Incidence of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PubMed

Eng, John; Wilson, Renee F; Subramaniam, Rathan M; Zhang, Allen; Suarez-Cuervo, Catalina; Turban, Sharon; Choi, Michael J; Sherrod, Cheryl; Hutfless, Susan; Iyoha, Emmanuel E; Bass, Eric B

2016-03-15

Iodine contrast media are essential components of many imaging procedures. An important potential side effect is contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). To compare CIN risk for contrast media within and between osmolality classes in patients receiving diagnostic or therapeutic imaging procedures. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials.gov, and Scopus through June 2015. Randomized, controlled trials that reported CIN-related outcomes in patients receiving low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM) or iso-osmolar contrast media for imaging. Independent study selection and quality assessment by 2 reviewers and dual extraction of study characteristics and results. None of the 5 studies that compared types of LOCM reported a statistically significant or clinically important difference among study groups, but the strength of evidence was low. Twenty-five randomized, controlled trials found a slight reduction in CIN risk with the iso-osmolar contrast media agent iodixanol compared with a diverse group of LOCM that just reached statistical significance in a meta-analysis (pooled relative risk, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.65 to 0.99]; P = 0.045). This comparison's strength of evidence was moderate. In a meta regression of randomized, controlled trials of iodixanol, no relationship was found between route of administration and comparative CIN risk. Few studies compared LOCM. Procedural details about contrast administration were not uniformly reported. Few studies specified clinical indications or severity of baseline renal impairment. No differences were found in CIN risk among types of LOCM. Iodixanol had a slightly lower risk for CIN than LOCM, but the lower risk did not exceed a criterion for clinical importance. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Laparoscopic versus Open Repair of Para-Umbilical Hernia- A Prospective Comparative Study of Short Term Outcomes.

PubMed

Korukonda, Sreeharsha; Amaranathan, Anandhi; Ramakrishnaiah, Vishnu Prasad Nelamangala

2017-08-01

Para-Umbilical Hernia (PUH) is one of the most common surgical problems. Since the prosthetic repair has become the standard of practice for inguinal hernia management, the same has been adapted for para-umbilical hernia management with better outcome. There is still debate going on regarding the optimal surgical approach. There are very few prospective studies comparing the laparoscopic and open method of para-umbilical hernia mesh repair. This study compared the short term outcomes following laparoscopic versus open mesh repair of PUH. To compare the early complications of open repair with laparoscopic repair of PUH. To compare the post-operative hospital stay of open repair with laparoscopic repair of PUH. This was a prospective comparative clinical study done from August 2014 to August 2016. All the patients above the age of 13 who attended our surgical outpatient department with PUH were taken into our study. Exclusion criteria included 1) Patients with obstructed or strangulated PUH 2) Patients with abdominal malignancies 3) Patients with coagulopathy, severe cardiopulmonary disease, ascites and renal failure 4) Patients who had PUH repair in combination with another major surgical operation such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy and inguinal hernia repair 5) Patients with recurrent PUH. Institute Ethical Committee clearance was obtained for this study. Out of 40 patients with PUH, 20 received open meshplasty and 20 patients received laparoscopic meshplasty. Postoperative pain and length of hospital stay is significantly less in laparoscopic PUH repair. Postoperative complications like wound infection, seroma, and haematoma are relatively less in laparoscopic group though statistically not significant. Laparoscopic PUH repair has significantly better outcome in terms of postoperative pain and postoperative hospital stay.

Editorial - Avoiding unethical Helicobacter pylori clinical trials: Susceptibility-based studies and probiotics as adjuvants

PubMed Central

Graham, David Y.

2016-01-01

As a general rule, any clinical study where the result is already known or when the investigator(s) compares an assigned treatment against another assigned treatment known to be ineffective in the study population (e.g. in a population with known clarithromycin resistance) is unethical. Since susceptibility-based therapy will always be superior to empiric therapy in any population with a prevalence of antimicrobial resistance greater than 0%, any trial that randomizes susceptibility-based therapy with empiric therapy would be unethical. The journal Helicobacter welcomes susceptibility or culture-guided studies, studies of new therapies and of adjuvants and probiotics. However, the Journal will not accept for review any study we judge to be lacking clinical equipoise or which assign subjects to a treatment known to be ineffective, such as a susceptibility-based clinical trial with an empiric therapy comparator. To assist authors we provide examples and suggestion regarding trial design for comparative studies, for susceptibility-based studies, and for studies testing adjuvants or probiotics. PMID:26123529

Fracture liaison service: report on the first successful experience from the Middle East.

PubMed

Bachour, Falah; Rizkallah, Maroun; Sebaaly, Amer; Barakat, Angelique; Razzouk, Hiba; El Hage, Rawad; Nasr, Riad; El Khoury, Mirvat; Maalouf, Ghassan

2017-09-19

This study aims to assess for the first time in the Middle East, the clinical benefits of an FLS model established in a hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. It shows a significant 54% relative risk reduction in re-fracture incidence, confirming the patient-oriented benefit of diffusing this system in the Middle East region. Few hospitals in Lebanon applied Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) program. A type A FLS is established at Bellevue hospital in Beirut in July 2013. This study aims to assess its clinical benefits and efficacy. Patients aged 50 years and above presenting to our hospital with minimal trauma fracture from July 2012 till June 2014 are enrolled. These are divided into two groups, before (group A) and after (group B) FLS implementation. Both groups are compared for re-fracture incidence, bone health assessment; osteoporosis treatment maintenance, and death in a 2-year follow-up. Nighty-eight patient composing group B are compared to 100 patients in the group A. Around 65% of patients in the FLS group underwent Dexa osteodensitometry following their fracture compared to 28% in the comparator group (p < 0.001). About 54% of patients in group B maintained osteoporosis treatment compared to 26% in group A (p < 0.001). Sixteen percent of patients died in the FLS study group compared to 16% of patients in the comparator group (p = 0.950). A second fracture, happened in 8.2% of patients in the FLS study group compared to 18% of the patients in the comparator group p = 0.004. Number needed to treat reached 10.2 patients. The statistical analysis results go with the overwhelming evidence concerning FLS importance in promoting bone health assessment and osteoporosis treatment in fracture patients. It also confirms the clinical value and the patient-oriented benefit of an implementation of such a system.

Prospective observational studies to assess comparative effectiveness: the ISPOR good research practices task force report.

PubMed

Berger, Marc L; Dreyer, Nancy; Anderson, Fred; Towse, Adrian; Sedrakyan, Art; Normand, Sharon-Lise

2012-01-01

In both the United States and Europe there has been an increased interest in using comparative effectiveness research of interventions to inform health policy decisions. Prospective observational studies will undoubtedly be conducted with increased frequency to assess the comparative effectiveness of different treatments, including as a tool for "coverage with evidence development," "risk-sharing contracting," or key element in a "learning health-care system." The principle alternatives for comparative effectiveness research include retrospective observational studies, prospective observational studies, randomized clinical trials, and naturalistic ("pragmatic") randomized clinical trials. This report details the recommendations of a Good Research Practice Task Force on Prospective Observational Studies for comparative effectiveness research. Key issues discussed include how to decide when to do a prospective observational study in light of its advantages and disadvantages with respect to alternatives, and the report summarizes the challenges and approaches to the appropriate design, analysis, and execution of prospective observational studies to make them most valuable and relevant to health-care decision makers. The task force emphasizes the need for precision and clarity in specifying the key policy questions to be addressed and that studies should be designed with a goal of drawing causal inferences whenever possible. If a study is being performed to support a policy decision, then it should be designed as hypothesis testing-this requires drafting a protocol as if subjects were to be randomized and that investigators clearly state the purpose or main hypotheses, define the treatment groups and outcomes, identify all measured and unmeasured confounders, and specify the primary analyses and required sample size. Separate from analytic and statistical approaches, study design choices may strengthen the ability to address potential biases and confounding in prospective observational studies. The use of inception cohorts, new user designs, multiple comparator groups, matching designs, and assessment of outcomes thought not to be impacted by the therapies being compared are several strategies that should be given strong consideration recognizing that there may be feasibility constraints. The reasoning behind all study design and analytic choices should be transparent and explained in study protocol. Execution of prospective observational studies is as important as their design and analysis in ensuring that results are valuable and relevant, especially capturing the target population of interest, having reasonably complete and nondifferential follow-up. Similar to the concept of the importance of declaring a prespecified hypothesis, we believe that the credibility of many prospective observational studies would be enhanced by their registration on appropriate publicly accessible sites (e.g., clinicaltrials.gov and encepp.eu) in advance of their execution. Copyright © 2012 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fatalities in the Peace Corps: a retrospective study, 1984 to 2003.

PubMed

Nurthen, Nancy M; Jung, Paul

2008-01-01

To determine causes of death for Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) between 1984 and 2003 and compare them with prior Volunteer death rates and with US death rates. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all PCV between 1984 and 2003 and compared them to published data for prior years and against US death rates. Of the 66 deaths in our study period, the major causes were unintentional injury, homicide, medical illness, and suicide. Comparisons to US mortality data controlled for age, marital status, and educational attainment found equal or lower death rates among Volunteers. When compared to previous study results from 1961 to 1983, the total number of deaths, as well as the death rate per Volunteer-year, decreased. Deaths from unintentional injury, suicide, and medical illness decreased in number and rate; only homicides increased in number during our study period, but this increase did not reach statistical significance. PCV are exposed to unique risks, but these risks have become significantly less fatal over the past 20 years when compared to prior Peace Corps data and matched US population data.

Use of Comparative Case Study Methodology for US Public Health Policy Analysis: A Review.

PubMed

Dinour, Lauren M; Kwan, Amy; Freudenberg, Nicholas

There is growing recognition that policies influence population health, highlighting the need for evidence to inform future policy development and reform. This review describes how comparative case study methodology has been applied to public health policy research and discusses the methodology's potential to contribute to this evidence. English-language, peer-reviewed articles published between 1995 and 2012 were sought from 4 databases. Articles were included if they described comparative case studies addressing US public health policy. Two researchers independently assessed the 20 articles meeting review criteria. Case-related characteristics and research design tactics utilized to minimize threats to reliability and validity, such as the use of multiple sources of evidence and a case study protocol, were extracted from each article. Although comparative case study methodology has been used to analyze a range of public health policies at all stages and levels, articles reported an average use of only 3.65 (out of 10) research design tactics. By expanding the use of accepted research design tactics, public health policy researchers can contribute to expanding the evidence needed to advance health-promoting policies.

Isotope ratios of trace elements in samples from human nutrition studies determined by TIMS and ICP-MS: precision and accuracy compared.

PubMed

Turnlund, Judith R; Keyes, William R

2002-09-01

Stable isotopes are used with increasing frequency to trace the metabolic fate of minerals in human nutrition studies. The precision of the analytical methods used must be sufficient to permit reliable measurement of low enrichments and the accuracy should permit comparisons between studies. Two methods most frequently used today are thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This study was conducted to compare the two methods. Multiple natural samples of copper, zinc, molybdenum, and magnesium were analyzed by both methods to compare their internal and external precision. Samples with a range of isotopic enrichments that were collected from human studies or prepared from standards were analyzed to compare their accuracy. TIMS was more precise and accurate than ICP-MS. However, the cost, ease, and speed of analysis were better for ICP-MS. Therefore, for most purposes, ICP-MS is the method of choice, but when the highest degrees of precision and accuracy are required and when enrichments are very low, TIMS is the method of choice.

Practice-based evidence study design for comparative effectiveness research.

PubMed

Horn, Susan D; Gassaway, Julie

2007-10-01

To describe a new, rigorous, comprehensive practice-based evidence for clinical practice improvement (PBE-CPI) study methodology, and compare its features, advantages, and disadvantages to those of randomized controlled trials and sophisticated statistical methods for comparative effectiveness research. PBE-CPI incorporates natural variation within data from routine clinical practice to determine what works, for whom, when, and at what cost. It uses the knowledge of front-line caregivers, who develop study questions and define variables as part of a transdisciplinary team. Its comprehensive measurement framework provides a basis for analyses of significant bivariate and multivariate associations between treatments and outcomes, controlling for patient differences, such as severity of illness. PBE-CPI studies can uncover better practices more quickly than randomized controlled trials or sophisticated statistical methods, while achieving many of the same advantages. We present examples of actionable findings from PBE-CPI studies in postacute care settings related to comparative effectiveness of medications, nutritional support approaches, incontinence products, physical therapy activities, and other services. Outcomes improved when practices associated with better outcomes in PBE-CPI analyses were adopted in practice.

Physical Therapy to Treat Torn Meniscus Comparable to Surgery for Many Patients

MedlinePlus

... to Surgery for Many Patients Spotlight on Research Physical Therapy to Treat Torn Meniscus Comparable to Surgery ... to avoid surgery and achieve comparable relief from physical therapy, according to a recent, multisite study funded ...

Dimensional adjectives: factors affecting children's ability to compare objects using novel words.

PubMed

Ryalls, B O

2000-05-01

A series of 3 studies tested the hypothesis that children's difficulty acquiring dimensional adjectives, such as big, little, tall, and short, is a consequence of how these words are used by adults. Three- and 4-year-olds were asked to compare pairs of objects drawn from a novel stimulus series using real dimension words (taller and shorter; Study 1) and novel dimension words (maller and borger; Studies 1-3). Characteristics of testing, including the presence or absence of a categorization task, were manipulated. Findings indicated that children easily acquired novel dimension words when they were used in a strictly comparative fashion but had difficulty when also exposed to the categorical form of usage. It is concluded that having to learn both categorical and comparative meanings at once may impede acquisition of dimensional adjectives. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Comparative effects of red and white grapes on oxidative markers and lipidemic parameters in adult hypercholesterolemic humans.

PubMed

Rahbar, Ali Reza; Mahmoudabadi, Mohammad Mehdi Shakouri; Islam, Md Shahidul

2015-06-01

The present study compared the effects of consuming red versus white whole grapes on oxidative and lipidemic indices in people with hypercholesterolemia. Sixty nine patients were randomized into three groups. The two treatment groups consumed 500 g of either Condori red grapes or Shahroodi white grapes daily for 8 weeks, and the third group served as a control. Plasma glucose, triacylglycerol (TG), cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined by colorimetric methods at baseline and at the end of the study. In addition, the polyphenol and fiber content of the two grape varieties was measured. TBARS was reduced in both study groups compared to the control group, and the reduction was greater in the group that consumed red grapes compared to the white grapes. TAC was increased significantly in both red and white grape consuming groups compared to the control group. Total cholesterol and LDL-C were decreased in the red grape group compared to the control group. No significant changes in fasting blood glucose, TG or HDL-C were observed among the groups. The results of this study suggest that consumption of the whole fruit of red grapes has more potent anti-oxidative and hypolipidemic effects compared to the white grapes in hyperlipidemic adult humans. Hence, the whole fruit of red grapes may be an excellent fruit choice not only to prevent oxidative stress related metabolic disorders but also cholesterol related cardiovascular diseases, particularly in hyperlipidemic adult humans.

A randomized comparative prospective study of platelet-rich plasma, platelet-rich fibrin, and hydroxyapatite as a graft material for mandibular third molar extraction socket healing.

PubMed

Dutta, Shubha Ranjan; Passi, Deepak; Singh, Purnima; Sharma, Sarang; Singh, Mahinder; Srivastava, Dhirendra

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), and hydroxyapatite (HA) for reduction of pain and swelling, absence of dry socket, soft tissue healing, and bone regeneration after mandibular third molar extraction in human patients. Forty patients requiring extraction of mandibular third molars were randomly grouped as control, PRP, PRF, and HA-treated. The patients were assessed for postoperative pain, swelling, dry socket, and soft tissue healing on the 3 rd , 7 th , and 14 th day of postoperative periods depending on the standard methods. Radiological assessment of the extraction site was done at 1, 2, and 6 months interval to compare the change in bone density in the sockets in control and treated patients. Pain and swelling were less on PRP and PRF site when compared to HA and control site. PRP and PRF site showed better soft tissue healing when compared to HA and control site. Radiographic assessment showed comparatively lesser bone density values in PRP, PRF, and control site at 1, 2, and 6 months than HA site. Our study showed that PRP and PRF are better graft materials than HA regarding pain, swelling, dry socket, and soft tissue healing. Bone regeneration is induced promptly by HA as compared to other graft materials. However, a more elaborate study with a larger number of clinical cases is very much essential to be more conclusive regarding the efficacy of the graft materials.

A randomized comparative prospective study of platelet-rich plasma, platelet-rich fibrin, and hydroxyapatite as a graft material for mandibular third molar extraction socket healing

PubMed Central

Dutta, Shubha Ranjan; Passi, Deepak; Singh, Purnima; Sharma, Sarang; Singh, Mahinder; Srivastava, Dhirendra

2016-01-01

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), and hydroxyapatite (HA) for reduction of pain and swelling, absence of dry socket, soft tissue healing, and bone regeneration after mandibular third molar extraction in human patients. Materials and Methods: Forty patients requiring extraction of mandibular third molars were randomly grouped as control, PRP, PRF, and HA-treated. The patients were assessed for postoperative pain, swelling, dry socket, and soft tissue healing on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day of postoperative periods depending on the standard methods. Radiological assessment of the extraction site was done at 1, 2, and 6 months interval to compare the change in bone density in the sockets in control and treated patients. Results: Pain and swelling were less on PRP and PRF site when compared to HA and control site. PRP and PRF site showed better soft tissue healing when compared to HA and control site. Radiographic assessment showed comparatively lesser bone density values in PRP, PRF, and control site at 1, 2, and 6 months than HA site. Conclusion: Our study showed that PRP and PRF are better graft materials than HA regarding pain, swelling, dry socket, and soft tissue healing. Bone regeneration is induced promptly by HA as compared to other graft materials. However, a more elaborate study with a larger number of clinical cases is very much essential to be more conclusive regarding the efficacy of the graft materials. PMID:28163478

Remission induction and maintenance effect of probiotics on ulcerative colitis: A meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Sang, Li-Xuan; Chang, Bing; Zhang, Wen-Liang; Wu, Xiao-Mei; Li, Xiao-Hang; Jiang, Min

2010-01-01

AIM: To evaluate the induction of remission and maintenance effects of probiotics for ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Information was retrieved from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. The induction of remission and promotion of maintenance were compared between probiotics treatment and non-probiotics treatment in ulcerative colitis. RESULTS: Thirteen randomized controlled studies met the selection criteria. Seven studies evaluated the remission rate, and eight studies estimated the recurrence rate; two studies evaluated both remission and recurrence rates. Compared with the non-probiotics group, the remission rate for ulcerative colitis patients who received probiotics was 1.35 (95% CI: 0.98-1.85). Compared with the placebo group, the remission rate of ulcerative colitis who received probiotics was 2.00 (95% CI: 1.35-2.96). During the course of treatment, in patients who received probiotics for less than 12 mo compared with the group treated by non-probiotics, the remission rate of ulcerative colitis was 1.36 (95% CI: 1.07-1.73). Compared with the non-probiotics group, the recurrence rate of ulcerative colitis patients who received probiotics was 0.69 (95% CI: 2.47-1.01). In the mild to moderate group who received probiotics, compared to the group who did not receive probiotics, the recurrence rate was 0.25 (95% CI: 0.12-0.51). The group who received Bifidobacterium bifidum treatment had a recurrence rate of 0.25 (95% CI: 0.12-0.50) compared with the non-probiotics group. CONCLUSION: Probiotic treatment was more effective than placebo in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis. PMID:20397271

Remission induction and maintenance effect of probiotics on ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Sang, Li-Xuan; Chang, Bing; Zhang, Wen-Liang; Wu, Xiao-Mei; Li, Xiao-Hang; Jiang, Min

2010-04-21

To evaluate the induction of remission and maintenance effects of probiotics for ulcerative colitis. Information was retrieved from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. The induction of remission and promotion of maintenance were compared between probiotics treatment and non-probiotics treatment in ulcerative colitis. Thirteen randomized controlled studies met the selection criteria. Seven studies evaluated the remission rate, and eight studies estimated the recurrence rate; two studies evaluated both remission and recurrence rates. Compared with the non-probiotics group, the remission rate for ulcerative colitis patients who received probiotics was 1.35 (95% CI: 0.98-1.85). Compared with the placebo group, the remission rate of ulcerative colitis who received probiotics was 2.00 (95% CI: 1.35-2.96). During the course of treatment, in patients who received probiotics for less than 12 mo compared with the group treated by non-probiotics, the remission rate of ulcerative colitis was 1.36 (95% CI: 1.07-1.73). Compared with the non-probiotics group, the recurrence rate of ulcerative colitis patients who received probiotics was 0.69 (95% CI: 2.47-1.01). In the mild to moderate group who received probiotics, compared to the group who did not receive probiotics, the recurrence rate was 0.25 (95% CI: 0.12-0.51). The group who received Bifidobacterium bifidum treatment had a recurrence rate of 0.25 (95% CI: 0.12-0.50) compared with the non-probiotics group. Probiotic treatment was more effective than placebo in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis.

Radiofrequency and Microwave Ablation Compared to Systemic Chemotherapy and to Partial Hepatectomy in the Treatment of Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Meijerink, Martijn R; Puijk, Robbert S; van Tilborg, Aukje A J M; Henningsen, Kirsten Holdt; Fernandez, Llenalia Garcia; Neyt, Mattias; Heymans, Juanita; Frankema, Jacqueline S; de Jong, Koert P; Richel, Dick J; Prevoo, Warner; Vlayen, Joan

2018-04-17

To assess safety and outcome of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) as compared to systemic chemotherapy and partial hepatectomy (PH) in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched. Randomized trials and comparative observational studies with multivariate analysis and/or matching were included. Guidelines from National Guideline Clearinghouse and Guidelines International Network were assessed using the AGREE II instrument. The search revealed 3530 records; 328 were selected for full-text review; 48 were included: 8 systematic reviews, 2 randomized studies, 26 comparative observational studies, 2 guideline-articles and 10 case series; in addition 13 guidelines were evaluated. Literature to assess the effectiveness of ablation was limited. RFA + systemic chemotherapy was superior to chemotherapy alone. PH was superior to RFA alone but not to RFA + PH or to MWA. Compared to PH, RFA showed fewer complications, MWA did not. Outcomes were subject to residual confounding since ablation was only employed for unresectable disease. The results from the EORTC-CLOCC trial, the comparable survival for ablation + PH versus PH alone, the potential to induce long-term disease control and the low complication rate argue in favour of ablation over chemotherapy alone. Further randomized comparisons of ablation to current-day chemotherapy alone should therefore be considered unethical. Hence, the highest achievable level of evidence for unresectable CRLM seems reached. The apparent selection bias from previous studies and the superior safety profile mandate the setup of randomized controlled trials comparing ablation to surgery.

International Standardization of Library and Documentation Techniques.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

International Federation for Documentation, The Hague (Netherlands).

This comparative study of the national and international standards, rules and regulations on library and documentation techniques adopted in various countries was conducted as a preliminary step in determining the minimal bases for facilitating national and international cooperation between documentalists and librarians. The study compares and…

A Comparative Study of Acousto-Optic Time-Integrating Correlators for Adaptive Jamming Cancellation

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-10-01

This final report presents a comparative study of the space-integrating and time-integrating configurations of an acousto - optic correlator...systematically evaluate all existing acousto - optic correlator architectures and to determine which would be most suitable for adaptive jamming

Comparative safety of the transport of high-level radioactive materials on dedicated, key, and regular trains: technical study

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-03-01

This study compares the risks in transporting spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste under three rail shipment alternatives: 1) regular train service, operating without restrictions with the exception of current hazardous materials regul...

A new fully human recombinant FSH (follitropin epsilon): two phase I randomized placebo and comparator-controlled pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic trials.

PubMed

Abd-Elaziz, Khalid; Duijkers, Ingrid; Stöckl, Lars; Dietrich, Bruno; Klipping, Christine; Eckert, Kelvin; Goletz, Steffen

2017-08-01

What are the differences and similarities of pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics of the novel recombinant human FSH follitropin epsilon expressed in the human cell line GlycoExpress compared with a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) derived compound and a urinary derived product? Overall follitropin epsilon, with a fully human glycosylation, shows a comparable PK profile at single-dose as well as multiple-dose administration compared to recombinant CHO-derived FSH as well as urinary derived FSH, whereas the PD properties differ from product to product with follitropin epsilon being most active in PD parameters. Recombinant FSH produced in CHO and FSH obtained from the urine of postmenopausal women show comparable PK and PD properties. However, more recently a comparative study of a recombinant FSH produced in the human cell line PerC6 and a CHO-derived FSH preparation revealed differences in PK and PD properties of the molecule. Both studies were randomized, placebo- and comparator-controlled, single-blind phase I studies in healthy pituitary-suppressed female volunteers aged 18 and 40 years. The single-dose, dose escalation study included 19 women (April 2011 to September 2011) with three ascending dose levels per subject or placebo/comparators with a 14-day washout phase between dosings. The multiple-dose study included 57 women (October 2011 to April 2012) in five cohorts with three dose levels versus placebo and two comparators. Randomization to the respective treatment was performed after successful downregulation of the pituitary gland prior to Investigational Medicinal Product dosing. In the single-dose study, 12 subjects received follitropin epsilon (25, 75, 150 and 300 IU) in three of four possible ascending doses and seven subjects received one dose of two comparators (150 IU Bravelle and 150 IU Gonal-f) and placebo in random order in each treatment period. In the multiple-dose study, 30 subjects received follitropin epsilon (75 IU or 150 IU once daily [QD], or 150 IU every other day [QAD], 10 subjects each) and 27 subjects received 150 IU Gonal-f, 150 IU Bravelle, or placebo for 7 days (11/10/6 subjects). Blood samples for measuring PK as well as PD parameters were collected systematically before, during and after dosing. Adverse events (AEs) and other relevant safety parameters were recorded. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. The single- and multiple-dose PK parameters maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-last) increased in a linear fashion with increasing dose levels of follitropin epsilon. Follitropin epsilon showed PK characteristics comparable to the comparators indicating that well established treatment schemes could be applied. There was a dose-response effect of single and multiple doses of follitropin epsilon on follicular growth, which was shown for the biomarker inhibin B as well as for the mean number and size of follicles. Multiple doses of 75 IU follitropin epsilon given daily, as well as 150 IU follitropin epsilon every second day, showed a follicle growth comparable with 150 IU Gonal-f given daily, while in case of daily administration of 150 IU Bravelle only weak follicle stimulation was observed. Multiple doses of 150 IU follitropin epsilon induced a much higher follicle growth compared to the same dose of Gonal-f. All single and multiple follitropin epsilon doses tested were safe and well tolerated, and overall there were no relevant differences between follitropin epsilon and the comparators in terms of safety. The average number of AEs increased with increasing dose levels. No clinically relevant abnormalities were reported for any of the other safety parameters assessed. No follitropin epsilon anti-drug antibodies were observed. The studies were conducted as a single-blind design. Hormone levels or other parameters assessed in serum are generally not considered as being subject to bias. Other assessments directly performed by the investigators, such as transvaginal ultrasound assessments, may have been subject to personal bias. No prospective calculations of statistical power had been made, as is common practice for first in human and early phase I studies in healthy volunteers. These early development studies showed that follitropin epsilon exhibits comparable PK characteristics, as well as inducing stronger PD effects in terms of follicle growth and serum inhibin B, than the comparators. Follitropin epsilon induced a dose-dependent increase in follicular growth. The results warrant further studies with this new fully human recombinant FSH. The studies were sponsored by GLYCOTOPE GmbH, Berlin, Germany. K.A-E. is an employee of QPS-Netherlands, B.V., which received funding for the studies from Glycotope GmbH; I.D. and C.K. are employees of Dinox B.V., which received funding for the studies from Glycotope GmbH; L.S. and S.G. are employees and shareholders of Glycotope GmbH; B.D. and K.E. are employees of Glycotope GmbH. www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01354886 (single-dose); NCT01477073 (multiple-dose). The single-dose trial was registered on 11 May 2011 while the multiple-dose trial was registered on 09 November 2011. First subject was enroled in the single-dose trial in 27 April 2011 and in the multiple-dose trial in 02 October 2011. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

Comparative study of Anaplasma parasites in tick carrying buffaloes and cattle

PubMed Central

Rajput, Z.I.; Hu, Song-hua; Arijo, A.G.; Habib, M.; Khalid, M.

2005-01-01

A comparative study on the prevalence of Anaplasma parasite was conducted on ticks carrying buffaloes and cattle. Five hundred blood samples of both animals (250 of each) were collected during February, March and April. Thin blood smears on glass slides were made, fixed in 100% methyl alcohol and examined. Microscopic examination revealed that 205 (41%) animals had Anaplasma parasites, out of which 89, 44 and 72 animals had Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma centrale and mixed infection respectively. Infected buffaloes and cattle were 75 and 130 respectively. The infection in female was 53 and 92 in buffaloes and cattle respectively. Twenty-two and 92 blood samples of male were found positive in buffaloes and cattle respectively. Comparative study revealed that the cattle were 26.82% more susceptible than buffaloes. The parasite prevailing percentage in female of both animals was slightly higher than that of the male. This investigation was aimed at studying the comparative prevalence of Anaplasma parasite in tick carrying buffaloes and cattle. PMID:16252338

Instrumental variable methods in comparative safety and effectiveness research†

PubMed Central

Brookhart, M. Alan; Rassen, Jeremy A.; Schneeweiss, Sebastian

2010-01-01

Summary Instrumental variable (IV) methods have been proposed as a potential approach to the common problem of uncontrolled confounding in comparative studies of medical interventions, but IV methods are unfamiliar to many researchers. The goal of this article is to provide a non-technical, practical introduction to IV methods for comparative safety and effectiveness research. We outline the principles and basic assumptions necessary for valid IV estimation, discuss how to interpret the results of an IV study, provide a review of instruments that have been used in comparative effectiveness research, and suggest some minimal reporting standards for an IV analysis. Finally, we offer our perspective of the role of IV estimation vis-à-vis more traditional approaches based on statistical modeling of the exposure or outcome. We anticipate that IV methods will be often underpowered for drug safety studies of very rare outcomes, but may be potentially useful in studies of intended effects where uncontrolled confounding may be substantial. PMID:20354968

Mindfulness training and stress reactivity in substance abuse: results from a randomized, controlled stage I pilot study.

PubMed

Brewer, Judson A; Sinha, Rajita; Chen, Justin A; Michalsen, Ravenna N; Babuscio, Theresa A; Nich, Charla; Grier, Aleesha; Bergquist, Keri L; Reis, Deidre L; Potenza, Marc N; Carroll, Kathleen M; Rounsaville, Bruce J

2009-01-01

Stress is important in substance use disorders (SUDs). Mindfulness training (MT) has shown promise for stress-related maladies. No studies have compared MT to empirically validated treatments for SUDs. The goals of this study were to assess MT compared to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in substance use and treatment acceptability, and specificity of MT compared to CBT in targeting stress reactivity. Thirty-six individuals with alcohol and/or cocaine use disorders were randomly assigned to receive group MT or CBT in an outpatient setting. Drug use was assessed weekly. After treatment, responses to personalized stress provocation were measured. Fourteen individuals completed treatment. There were no differences in treatment satisfaction or drug use between groups. The laboratory paradigm suggested reduced psychological and physiological indices of stress during provocation in MT compared to CBT. This pilot study provides evidence of the feasibility of MT in treating SUDs and suggests that MT may be efficacious in targeting stress.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Pu; Brutnell, Thomas P.

C 4 photosynthesis is used by only three percent of all flowering plants, but explains a quarter of global primary production, including some of the worlds’ most important cereals and bioenergy grasses. Recent advances in our understanding of C 4 development can be attributed to the application of comparative transcriptomics approaches that has been fueled by high throughput sequencing. Global surveys of gene expression conducted between different developmental stages or on phylogenetically closely related C 3 and C 4 species are providing new insights into C 4 function, development and evolution. Importantly, through co-expression analysis and comparative genomics, these studiesmore » help define novel candidate genes that transcend traditional genetic screens. In this review, we briefly summarize the major findings from recent transcriptomic studies, compare and contrast these studies to summarize emerging consensus, and suggest new approaches to exploit the data. Lastly, we suggest using Setaria viridis as a model system to relieve a major bottleneck in genetic studies of C 4 photosynthesis, and discuss the challenges and new opportunities for future comparative transcriptomic studies.« less

Comparative study of middle school students' attitudes towards science: Rasch analysis of entire TIMSS 2011 attitudinal data for England, Singapore and the U.S.A. as well as psychometric properties of attitudes scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pey Tee, Oon; Subramaniam, R.

2018-02-01

We report here on a comparative study of middle school students' attitudes towards science involving three countries: England, Singapore and the U.S.A. Complete attitudinal data sets from TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) 2011 were used, thus giving a very large sample size (N = 20,246), compared to other studies in the journal literature. The Rasch model was used to analyse the data, and the findings have shed some useful light on not only how the Western and Asian students responded on a comparative basis in the various scales related to attitudes but also on the validity, reliability, and unidimensionality of the attitudes instrument used in TIMSS 2011. There may be a need for TIMSS test developers to consider doing away with negatively phrased items in the attitudes instrument and phrasing these positively as the Rasch framework shows that response bias is associated with these statements.

Comparative study of organic transistors with different graphene electrodes fabricated using a simple patterning method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Narae; Smith, Christian W.; Ishigami, Masa; Khondaker, Saiful I.

2017-12-01

The performance of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) can be greatly limited due to the inefficient charge injection caused by the large interfacial barrier at the metal/organic semiconductor interface. To improve this, two-dimensional graphene films have been suggested as alternative electrode materials; however, a comparative study of OFET performances using different types of graphene electrodes has not been systematically investigated. Here, we present a comparative study on the performance of pentacene OFETs using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown graphene and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) as electrodes. The large area electrodes were patterned using a simple and environmentally benign patterning technique. Although both the CVD graphene and RGO electrodes showed enhanced device performance compared to metal electrodes, we found the maximum performance enhancement from CVD grown graphene electrodes. Our study suggests that, in addition to the strong π-π interaction at the graphene/organic interface, the higher conductivity of the electrodes also plays an important role in the performance of OFETs.

Gravity versus manual external rotation stress view in evaluating ankle stability: a prospective study.

PubMed

LeBa, Thu-Ba; Gugala, Zbigniew; Morris, Randal P; Panchbhavi, Vinod K

2015-06-01

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine whether gravity versus manual external rotation stress testing effectively detects widening of the medial clear space in isolated ankle fractures when compared with the uninjured contralateral side. Manual external rotation stress and gravity stress tests were performed on injured and uninjured ankles of ankle fracture patients in a clinic setting. Medial clear space measurements were recorded and differences between gravity and manual stress views were determined. Twenty consecutive patients with ankle injury were enrolled in the study. When compared with the uninjured side, gravity stress views showed a statistically significant (P = .017) increase in medial clear space widening (1.85 ± 1.07 mm) compared with manual stress view widening (1.35 ± 1.04 mm). This study suggests that gravity stress views are as effective as manual external rotation stress views in detecting medial clear space widening in isolated fibular fractures. Diagnostic, Level II: Prospective, comparative trial. © 2014 The Author(s).

Frictions between Formal Education Policy and Actual School Choice: Case Studies in an International Comparative Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Teelken, Christine; Driessen, Geert; Smit, Frederik

2005-01-01

This contribution is based on comparative case studies of secondary schools in England, the Netherlands and Scotland. The authors conclude that although opportunities for school choice are offered in a formal sense in each of the locations studied, in certain cases choice is not particularly encouraged. In order to explain this disparity between…

Virtual Reality Exposure and Imaginal Exposure in the Treatment of Fear of Flying: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rus-Calafell, Mar; Gutierrez-Maldonado, Jose; Botella, Cristina; Banos, Rosa M.

2013-01-01

Fear of flying (FF) is an impairing psychological disorder that is extremely common in developed countries. The most effective treatment for this particular type of phobia is exposure therapy. However, there are few studies comparing imaginal exposure (IE) and virtual reality (VR) exposure for the treatment of FF. The present study compared the…

Test-Retest Reliability of Standard and Emotional Stroop Tasks: An Investigation of Color-Word and Picture-Word Versions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strauss, Gregory P.; Allen, Daniel N.; Jorgensen, Melinda L.; Cramer, Stacey L.

2005-01-01

Previous studies have examined the reliability of scores derived from various Stroop tasks. However, few studies have compared reliability of more recently developed Stroop variants such as emotional Stroop tasks to standard versions of the Stroop. The current study developed four different single-stimulus Stroop tasks and compared test-retest…

Usability Studies in Virtual and Traditional Computer Aided Design Environments for Fault Identification

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-08-08

Usability Studies In Virtual And Traditional Computer Aided Design Environments For Fault Identification Dr. Syed Adeel Ahmed, Xavier University...virtual environment with wand interfaces compared directly with a workstation non-stereoscopic traditional CAD interface with keyboard and mouse. In...the differences in interaction when compared with traditional human computer interfaces. This paper provides analysis via usability study methods

A Causal-Comparative Study of Third Grade Reading Achievement and the Use of Commercial Reading Programs to Promote Literacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDonald, Wendy E.

2013-01-01

This quantitative, causal-comparative study examined the reading achievement of third grade students to ascertain the reading health of elementary students as measured through South Carolina's standardized assessment, the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS). The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference…

Are Replication Studies Possible in Qualitative Second/Foreign Language Classroom Research? A Call for Comparative Re-Production Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Markee, Numa

2017-01-01

A widely accepted orthodoxy is that it is impossible to do replication studies within qualitative research paradigms. Ontologically and epistemologically speaking, such a view is largely correct. However, in this paper, I propose that what I call comparative re-production research--that is, the empirical study of qualitative phenomena that occur…

The Effects of Motivational Constructs and Engagements on Mathematics Achievements: A Comparative Study Using TIMSS 2011 Data of Chinese Taipei, Singapore, and the USA

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ker, Hsiang-Wei

2017-01-01

Motivational constructs and students' engagements have great impacts on students' mathematics achievements, yet they have not been theoretically investigated using international large-scale assessment data. This study utilized the mathematics data of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2011 to conduct a comparative and…

A SWOT Analysis of Male and Female Students' Performance in Chemistry: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ezeudu, Florence O.; Chiaha, Gertrude-Theresa Uzoamaka; Anazor, Lynda Chioma; Eze, Justina Uzoamaka; Omeke, Faith Chinwe

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to do a SWOT analysis and compare performances of male and female students in chemistry. Four research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. Two boys', two girls' and two coeducational schools involving 1319 males and 1831 females, were selected by a stratified, deliberate sampling technique. A…

Private Schools and National Policy: A Comparative Study of Australia and the U.S.A.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Thomas A.

This paper summarizes the findings of a questionnaire study comparing government aid to private schools in Australia and the United States. The study drew questions from those raised in a hearing of the Senate Committee on finance about tax credits for private schools. The paper covers the answers of ten Australian respondents, given in the form…

To Flip or Not to Flip? An Exploratory Study Comparing Student Performance in Calculus I

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schroeder, Larissa B.; McGivney-Burelle, Jean; Xue, Fei

2015-01-01

The purpose of this exploratory, mixed-methods study was to compare student performance in flipped and non-flipped sections of Calculus I. The study also examined students' perceptions of the flipping pedagogy. Students in the flipped courses reported spending, on average, an additional 1-2 hours per week outside of class on course content.…

Examining Teacher Job Satisfaction and Principals' Instructional Supervision Behaviours: A Comparative Study of Turkish Private and Public School Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sungu, Hilmi; Ilgan, Abdurrahman; Parylo, Oksana; Erdem, Mustafa

2014-01-01

In spite of a strong body of research examining teacher job satisfaction and teachers' assessment of their principals' behaviours, most studies focus on the educational systems in the first world countries. This quantitative study focuses on a lesser-examined educational context by comparing school teachers' job satisfaction levels and principals'…

Bachelor's Degree in Library and Information Science Field: A Comparative Analysis Study Performed on Distinguished American Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abouserie, Hossam Eldin Mohamed Refaat

2009-01-01

This study explored the state of bachelor's degree offered at top Library and Information Science schools in the United States in 2009. Schools selected were accredited on the Master's level and ranked as top five Library and Information Science schools by the American Library Association, ALA. The study embraced the comparative analysis…

An Exploratory Study of High School Students' Creativity and Mathematical Problem Posing in China and the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yuan, Xianwei

2009-01-01

In recent decades many comparative studies in mathematics have been conducted involving students in China and the United States. There have been claims that U.S. students are more creative than their Chinese counterpart, but Chinese students have better basics in mathematics. Nevertheless, there have been very few comparative studies on creativity…

Comparative Study of Teaching Content in Teacher Education Programmes in Canada, Denmark, Finland and Singapore

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rasmussen, Jens; Bayer, Martin

2014-01-01

This article presents the results of a comparative study of the content in selected teacher education programmes for primary and lower secondary teachers in Canada, Denmark, Finland and Singapore. First and foremost, the study is a comparison between teacher education programmes in, on the one hand, Canada, Finland and Singapore, all of which…

The Next Generation of Disproportionality Research: Toward a Comparative Model in the Study of Equity in Ability Differences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Artiles, Alfredo J.; Bal, Aydin

2008-01-01

Minority student disproportionate representation in special education has been debated and (increasingly) studied in the United States for the past 40 years. The purpose of this article is to place this problem in the larger arena of equity studies related to "difference" in educational practice and propose a comparative model to study…

A Comparative Study of Problematic Internet Use and Loneliness among Turkish and Korean Prospective Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tutgun, Aylin; Deniz, Levent; Moon, Man-Ki

2011-01-01

The main aim of this study is to compare the problematic internet use and its relation to loneliness among two nations' prospective teachers, Turkey and South Korea. Five hundred and ninety five prospective teachers from three universities, two from Turkey and one from South Korea participated in the study. Generalized Problematic Internet Use…

A Comparative Study of University of Wisconsin-Stout Freshmen and Senior Education Major's Computing and Internet Technology Skills/Knowledge and Associated Learning Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sveum, Evan Charles

2010-01-01

A study comparing University of Wisconsin-Stout freshmen and senior education majors' computing and Internet technology skills/knowledge and associated learning experiences was conducted. Instruments used in this study included the IC[superscript 3][R] Exam by Certiport, Inc. and the investigator's Computing and Internet Skills Learning…

Study of Environment in School. Research in Comparative Education. International Conference on Public Education. (31st, Geneva, 1968)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Paris (France).

UNESCO and the International Bureau of Education devoted this international inquiry in comparative education to the study of environment in schools throughout 79 countries of the world. Concerning the scope of the topic, introductory comments note that "study of environment in schools is difficult to define or confine, for it constitutes more…

Teaching Benchmark Strategy for Fifth-Graders in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yang, Der-Ching; Lai, M. L.

2013-01-01

The key purpose of this study was how we taught the use of benchmark strategy when comparing fraction for fifth-graders in Taiwan. 26 fifth graders from a public elementary in south Taiwan were selected to join this study. Results of this case study showed that students had a much progress on the use of benchmark strategy when comparing fraction…

Immediacy and Distance in Teacher Talk--A Comparative Case Study in German Elementary- and Outdoor School-Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sahrakhiz, Sarah

2017-01-01

This case study examines authentic speech acts by a German primary school teacher in the classroom context and the outdoor learning location of a forest. The study will compare the degree of linguistic immediacy or distance in these two contexts, respectively. Once a week, the class is doing "outdoor school" ["Draußenschule"]…

Models of Transformative Learning for Social Justice: Comparative Case Studies of Non-Formal Development Education in Britain and Spain

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Eleanor J.

2015-01-01

This paper presents comparative case studies of non-formal development education by non-profit organisations in two European countries. The study aimed to explore the extent to which such activities provide opportunities for transformative learning. The research was qualitative and began with interviews with educators across 14 organisations in…

Volume I A Comparative Case Study Exploring How Federal Probation Officers Experience Different Distance Education Formats

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caufield, Eileen Claire

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of federal probation officers' perceived value of different distance education formats, the learning strategies they used to facilitate their learning, and the degree to which learner autonomy varied among the probation officers. This comparative case study sought to answer the following three…

Meta-Analysis of Comparative Studies of Depression in Mothers of Children with and without Developmental Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singer, George H. S.

2006-01-01

Meta-analysis was used to synthesize findings from comparative studies of depression in mothers of children with and without developmental disabilities. Effect sizes were determined for 18 studies conducted between 1984 and 2003. A weighted effect size of 0.39 indicated an elevated level of depression in mothers of children with developmental…

What Do Children Know? Comparative Education Review. International Studies on Educational Achievement. Vol. 18, No. 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Postlethwaite, T. Neville, Ed.

1974-01-01

This issue of the Comparative Education Review focuses on analysis of data gathered by 19 countries participating in a six-subject survey conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). The purpose of this and earlier IEA research (a pilot study and a mathematics study undertaken on the basis of the…

Organisation and Management of Continuing Higher Education: Findings of a Comparative Study in Six Countries from a German Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knust, Michaela; Zawacki-Richter, Olaf; Hanft, Anke

2008-01-01

An international comparison study investigated the organisation and management of continuing higher education (CHE) in Germany, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Austria and the United States of America. CHE is compared on the system level (boundaries between traditional study programmes and CHE, linking of CHE and vocational training,…

A Comparative Case Study on School Management Practices in Two Schools in the United States and Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silman, Fatos; Simsek, Hasan

2009-01-01

This study aimed at comparing administrative processes in two schools, one in the United States and one in Turkey, in light of the two distinct administrative paradigms: the Anglo-Saxon and Napoleonic traditions. The study showed that in the Turkish school, which is thought to be an example of the Napoleonic administrative tradition, school…

Determinants and Outcomes of Teachers' Professional Identity and Organizational Identification: A Comparative Analysis in Charter and Regular Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bogrek, Muhammed Fatih

2017-01-01

This empirical study compared the organizational identification and professional identity of teachers in charter and regular public schools. The purpose of study was three-fold; the first was to investigate whether charter school teachers differ from their regular public school peers in the study variables (i.e. self-efficacy, perceived…

Permissible Inferences from the Outcome of Training Studies in Cognitive Development Research. Technical Report No. 127.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Ann L.; Campione, Joseph C.

In modal training studies, the comparative groups differ in the use of a particular cognitive process; training to overcome the deficiency is provided for the deficient group only, and their performance is then compared to the standard set by the untrained group. Improvements are necessary in the design of training studies, as are a…

A Comparative Study of International Student Engagement and Success Based on Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Institutional Type

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Gareth Carlington

2013-01-01

The study examined international students' engagement and success using NSSE 2007 data. The sample consisted of 1996 first years and 2,158 seniors. These students were compared by race/ethnicity, gender, and institutional type. The study found that students' engagement differed by race/ethnicity as well as type of institution. The null hypotheses…

Connecting the Past to the Present in the Middle-Level Classroom: A Comparative Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brooks, Sarah

2014-01-01

This comparative case study examines the manner in which 2 middle-level social studies teachers established connections between the past and the present within their curriculums. The teachers who participated in this project worked in different school districts: one teaching a 7th-grade U.S. History curriculum and the other teaching a 6th-grade…

A Comparative Study of Entrepreneurship Curriculum Development and Review at the University of Zimbabwe and Botho University, Botswana

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Munyanyiwa, Takaruza; Svotwa, Douglas; Rudhumbu, Norman; Mutsau, Morgen

2016-01-01

The purpose of this research was to make comparative study of the development and review process of the entrepreneurship curriculum at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Faculty of Commerce and Botho University, (BU) Faculty of Business and Accounting in Gaborone, Botswana. The study focused on the processes and influences of curriculum development…

Teacher Empowerment as an Important Component of Job Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Teachers' Perspectives in Al-Farwaniya District, Kuwait

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Yaseen, Wafaa Salem; Al-Musaileem, Mohammad Yousef

2015-01-01

The present comparative study investigates the perceptions of male and female teachers regarding the relationship between empowerment and job satisfaction. The study aims to look at factors that empower teachers and lead to job satisfaction from teachers' perspectives. For that purpose, teachers were selected from three educational levels…

The Paradigm of Utilizing Robots in the Teaching Process: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bacivarov, Ioan C.; Ilian, Virgil L. M.

2012-01-01

This paper discusses a comparative study of the effects of using a humanoid robot for introducing students to personal robotics. Even if a humanoid robot is one of the more complicated types of robots, comprehension was not an issue. The study highlighted the importance of using real hardware for teaching such complex subjects as opposed to…

International Comparative Studies in Mathematics Education: Are We Obsessed with the International Rankings of Measured Educational Outcomes?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tsai, Tsung-Lung; Li, Hui-Chuan

2017-01-01

Over the past few decades, researchers, policy makers, educators and the general public, who have an interest in mathematics education in different countries, pay a great deal of attention to the results from international comparative studies. Of great interest to the international studies is the results of Eastern students consistently achieving…

Investigating and Comparing User Experiences of Course Management Systems: Blackboard vs. Moodle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Unal, Zafer; Unal, Aslihan

2014-01-01

The goal of this study is to report the results of a comparative usability study conducted in 2008-2009 on two different course management systems (CMS), BlackBoard and Moodle. 135 students enrolled in the fall 2008 and spring 2009 section of Introduction to Educational Technology participated in the study (72 and 63 respectively). At the…