scholarly journals Ballpark Learning: Estimating Labels from Rough Group Comparisons

Author(s):  
Tom Hope ◽  
Dafna Shahaf
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beáta Erika Nagy ◽  
Brigitta Munkácsi ◽  
Karolina Eszter Kovács

Background & Introduction: Due to the increasing prevalence of type-1-diabetes an increasing number of studies draws investigation draws attention to its psychological effects and long-term consequences. As Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic, non-curable, yet maintanable condition, with the affected children and their families facing a lifelong challenge. Our research focuses on the factors influencing adherence. Methods & Results: The adherence of youth was examined in a sample involving 114 patients treated in the Medical and Health Science Centre at the University of Debrecen by employing a new adherence questionnaire (DAQ abbreviated version, Munkácsi et al, 2019) (DAF 2017; N=114). The influence of socio-demographic variables and those related to the disease (age at the diagnosis, time elapsed since diagnosis, method of treatment, the time elapsed since the use of the pump) were measured by linear regression. Furthermore, the between-group comparisons were made by independent sample t-tests and variance analysis. The investigation was carried out between September 2017 and May 2018. The effect of using insulin pump as therapy is significant and positive (0.36. p=0.045). The adherence of the patients using insulin pump is higher while the effect of the age at the diagnosis has a significantly negative effect (-.247, p=0.035). Thus, earlier detection of the disease may lead to a higher level of adherence. The effects of the socio-demographic variables (gender, family structure, educational level, type of the settlement, owning sibling and birth order) were not significant (p>0.05). Regarding the between-group comparisons, a significant difference could be pointed out concerning the siblings and birth-order as the adherence of the those with siblings was higher (p=0.044). Moreover, concerning insulin pump therapy, the adherence of patients using pump was significantly better (p=0.048). Also, regarding the age of the diagnosis, the adherence of those diagnosed before 12 was seemingly higher (p=0.039). Concerning the other socio-demographical and disease-related variables, no significant differences could be detected. Conclusions: The results suggest that the treatment has an outstanding role in the adherence of the disease. Moreover, the role of the appropriate treatment, living conditions as well as the early diagnosis is relevant.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. e100076
Author(s):  
Naomi S Bardach ◽  
Regina Lam ◽  
Carolyn B Jasik

ObjectiveInteractive patient care systems (IPCS) at the bedside are becoming increasingly common, but evidence is limited as to their potential for innovative clinical trial implementation. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the IPCS could feasibly be used to automate recruitment and enrolment for a clinical trial.MethodsIn medical-surgical units, we used the IPCS to randomise, recruit and consent eligible subjects. For participants not interacting with IPCS study materials within 48 hours, study staff-initiated recruitment in-person. Eligible study population included all caregivers and any patients >6 years old admitted to medical-surgical units and oncology units September 2015 to January 2016. Outcomes: randomisation assessed using between-group comparisons of patient characteristics; recruitment success assessed by rates of consent; paperless implementation using successful acquisition of electronic signature and email address. We used χ2 analysis to assess success of randomisation and recruitment.ResultsRandomisation was successful (n=1012 randomised, p>0.05 for all between-group comparisons). For the subset of eligible, randomised patients who were recruited, IPCS-only recruitment (consented: 2.4% of n=213) was less successful than in-person recruitment (61.4% of n=87 eligible recruited, p<0.001). For those consenting (n=61), 96.7% provided an electronic signature and 68.9% provided email addresses.ConclusionsOur results suggest that as a tool at the bedside, the IPCS offers key efficiencies for study implementation, including randomisation and collecting e-consent and contact information, but does not offer recruitment efficiencies. Further research could assess the value that interactive technologies bring to recruitment when paired with in-person efforts, potentially focusing on more intensive user-interface testing for recruitment materials.Trial registration numberNCT02491190.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Klintö ◽  
Maria Sporre ◽  
Magnus Becker

Abstract Background When evaluating speech in children with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP/L), children with known syndromes and/or additional malformations (CP/L+) are usually excluded. The aim of this study was to present speech outcome of a consecutive series of 5-year-olds born with CP/L, and to compare speech results of children with CP/L + and children with CP/L without known syndromes and/or additional malformations (CP/L-). Methods One hundred 5-year-olds (20 with CP/L+; 80 with CP/L-) participated. All children were treated with primary palatal surgery in one stage with the same procedure for muscle reconstruction. Three independent judges performed phonetic transcriptions and rated perceived velopharyngeal competence from audio recordings. Based on phonetic transcriptions, percent consonants correct (PCC) and percent non-oral errors were investigated. Group comparisons were performed. Results In the total group, mean PCC was 88.2 and mean percent non-oral errors 1.5. The group with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) had poorer results on both measures compared to groups with other cleft types. The average results of PCC and percent non-oral errors in the CP/L + group indicated somewhat poorer speech, but no significant differences were observed. In the CP/L + group, 25 % were judged as having incompetent velopharyngeal competence, compared to 15 % in the CP/L- group. Conclusions The results indicated relatively good speech compared to speech of children with CP/L in previous studies. Speech was poorer in many children with more extensive clefts. No significant differences in speech outcomes were observed between CP/L + and CP/L- groups.


1967 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 304-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederic M. Lord
Keyword(s):  

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 122-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda M. Bartoshuk ◽  
Katharine Fast ◽  
Derek J. Snyder

People use intensity descriptors to compare sensory differences: “This tastes strong to me; is it strong to you?” These comparisons are deceptive because they assume that intensity descriptors like strong denote the same absolute perceived intensities to everyone. This assumption is false. Visual-analogue and category scales are labeled with intensity descriptors, and whenever there are systematic differences across groups in the absolute perceived intensity denoted by these descriptors, across-group comparisons will be invalid. We have explored this problem using studies of taste perception. When intensity descriptors are falsely assumed to have universal meaning, real differences can be blunted, abolished, or reversed. One solution to this problem is to express sensations of interest relative to an unrelated standard; any variation in this standard will be equivalent across groups, allowing valid group comparisons. The importance of detecting and correcting these measurement errors is not limited to sensory comparisons, but applies to hedonic comparisons as well.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 205846011875757
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Morimoto ◽  
Takayuki Yamada ◽  
Kunihisa Miyakawa ◽  
Yasuo Nakajima

Background Pericolic fat stranding on computed tomography (CT) scans has been an important feature for staging colon cancer. However, the factors associated with pericolic fat stranding have not been elucidated to date. Purpose To determine factors associated with pericolic fat stranding of colon cancer on CT colonography (CTC). Material and Methods Overall, 150 patients with 155 colon cancer lesions were retrospectively assessed by two radiologists for pericolic fat stranding on CTC. Circumferential proportion of the tumor (CPtumor; <50%, 50–75%, and ≥75%), longitudinal length, depth of invasion (≤T2, T3, T4), lymph node and distant metastasis, and lymphovascular invasion were recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed between pericolic fat stranding and each factor. Multi-group comparisons were performed for the CPtumor and depth of invasion. Results Pericolic fat stranding was identified in 57 lesions (36.8%). Univariate analysis revealed significant associations of pericolic fat stranding with all factors ( P < 0.027), except for lymph node metastasis ( P = 0.087). Multi-group comparisons revealed that pericolic fat stranding was more frequent with increasing CPtumor ( P < 0.001); however, no significant differences were observed beyond subserosal infiltration ( P = 0.225). Logistic regression analysis revealed the CPtumor (<75% vs. ≥75%; P = 0.008, <50% vs. 50–75%; P = 0.047) and longitudinal length ( P = 0.001) as explainable variables. Conclusion Pericolic fat stranding identified on CT images of colon cancer is demonstrated more frequently with increasing circumferential proportion of the tumor and longitudinal length.


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