From Model Organisms to Humans, the Opportunity for More Rigor in Methodologic and Statistical Analysis, Design, and Interpretation of Aging and Senescence Research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniella E Chusyd ◽  
Steven N Austad ◽  
Andrew W Brown ◽  
Xiwei Chen ◽  
Stephanie L Dickinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Survival Curve ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Interference Effects ◽  
Maximum Lifespan ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Analysis Design ◽  
Complex Relationships ◽  
Analysis Errors

Abstract This review identifies frequent design and analysis errors in aging and senescence research and discusses best practices in study design, statistical methods, analyses, and interpretation. Recommendations are offered for how to avoid these problems. The following issues are addressed: 1) errors in randomization, 2) errors related to testing within-group instead of between-group differences, 3) failing to account for clustering, 4) failing to consider interference effects, 5) standardizing metrics of effect size, 6) maximum lifespan testing, 7) testing for effects beyond the mean, 8) tests for power and sample size, 9) compression of morbidity versus survival curve-squaring, and 10) other hot topics, including modeling high-dimensional data and complex relationships and assessing model assumptions and biases. We hope that bringing increased awareness of these topics to the scientific community will emphasize the importance of employing sound statistical practices in all aspects of aging and senescence research.

scholarly journals Can Health-Promoting Schools Contribute to Better Health Behaviors? Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Dietary Habits among Israeli Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1183
Author(s):  
Hila Beck ◽  
Riki Tesler ◽  
Sharon Barak ◽  
Daniel Sender Moran ◽  
Adilson Marques ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Time Behavior ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
The Mean

Schools with health-promoting school (HPS) frameworks are actively committed to enhancing healthy lifestyles. This study explored the contribution of school participation in HPS on students’ health behaviors, namely, physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and dieting. Data from the 2018/2019 Health Behavior in School-aged Children study on Israeli adolescents aged 11–17 years were used. Schools were selected from a sample of HPSs and non-HPSs. Between-group differences and predictions of health behavior were analyzed. No between-group differences were observed in mean number of days/week with at least 60 min of PA (HPS: 3.84 ± 2.19 days/week, 95% confidence interval of the mean = 3.02–3.34; non-HPS: 3.93 ± 2.17 days/week, 95% confidence interval of the mean = 3.13–3.38). Most children engaged in screen time behavior for >2 h/day (HPS: 60.83%; non-HPS: 63.91%). The odds of being on a diet were higher among more active children (odds ratio [OR] = 1.20), higher socio-economic status (OR = 1.23), and female (OR = 2.29). HPS did not predict any health behavior. These findings suggest that HPSs did not contribute to health behaviors more than non-HPSs. Therefore, health-promoting activities in HPSs need to be improved in order to justify their recognition as members of the HPS network and to fulfill their mission.

scholarly journals Influence of Menstrual Cycle or Hormonal Contraceptive Phase on Energy Intake and Metabolic Hormones—A Pilot Study

Endocrines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-90
Author(s):  
Johanna K. Ihalainen ◽  
Ida Löfberg ◽  
Anna Kotkajuuri ◽  
Heikki Kyröläinen ◽  
Anthony C. Hackney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Hormonal Contraceptive ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Metabolic Hormones ◽  
Recreational Athletes ◽  
Total Ghrelin ◽  
17Β Estradiol ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Training

Sex hormones are suggested to influence energy intake (EI) and metabolic hormones. This study investigated the influence of menstrual cycle (MC) and hormonal contraceptive (HC) cycle phases on EI, energy availability (EA), and metabolic hormones in recreational athletes (eumenorrheic, NHC = 15 and monophasic HC-users, CHC = 9). In addition, 72-h dietary and training logs were collected in addition to blood samples, which were analyzed for 17β-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), leptin, total ghrelin, insulin, and tri-iodothyronine (T3). Measurements were completed at four time-points (phases): Bleeding, mid-follicular (FP)/active 1, ovulation (OVU)/active 2, mid-luteal (LP)/inactive in NHC/CHC, respectively. As expected, E2 and P4 fluctuated significantly in NHC (p < 0.05) and remained stable in CHC. In NHC, leptin increased significantly between bleeding and ovulation (p = 0.030) as well as between FP and OVU (p = 0.022). No group differences in other measured hormones were observed across the MC and HC cycle. The mean EI and EA were similar between phases, with no significant differences observed in macronutrient intake over either the MC or HC. While the MC phase might have a small, but statistically significant effect on leptin, the findings of the present study suggest that the MC or HC phase does not significantly alter ad libitum EI or EA in recreational athletes.

scholarly journals OP0159 EFFICACY OF COMPREHENSIVE TECHNOLOGY-ASSISTED HOME-BASED EXERCISE IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS: A RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED TRIAL

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 100.3-100
Author(s):  
Y. Wang ◽  
X. Liu ◽  
Y. Shi ◽  
X. Ji ◽  
W. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Home Based ◽  
The Mean

Background:Clinical practice guidelines recommend that exercise is an essential component in the self-management of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Attending supervised interventions requiring periodic medical center visits can be burdensome and patients may decline participation, whereas, effective home-based exercise interventions that do not need regular medical center visits are likely to be more accessible and acceptable for patients with AS. Recently, increasing evidences have been accumulated that the wearable devices could facilitate patients with inflammatory arthritis by giving exercise instructions and improving self-efficacy. Therefore, patients with AS may benefit from an effective technology-assisted home-based exercise intervention.Objectives:To investigate the efficacy of a comprehensive technology-assisted home-based exercise intervention on disease activity in patients with AS.Methods:This study was a 16-week assessor-blinded, randomized, waiting-list controlled trial (ChiCTR1900024244). Patients with AS were randomly allocated to the home-based exercise intervention group and the waiting-list control group. A 16-week comprehensive exercise program consisting of a moderate intensity (64%-76% HRmax) aerobic training for 30min on 5 days/week and a functional training for 60min on 3 days/week was given to patients in the intervention group immediately after randomization, with 1.5h training sessions for two consecutive days by a study physical therapist at baseline and Week 8. The aerobic exercise intensity was controlled by a Mio FUSE Wristband with a smartphone application. The functional training consisted of the posture training, range of motion exercises, strength training, stability training and stretching exercises. Patients in control group received standard care during the 16-week follow-up and started to receive the exercise program at Week 16. The primary outcome was ASDAS at Week 16. The secondary outcomes were BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, ASAS HI, peak oxygen uptake, body composition and muscle endurance tests. The mean difference between groups in change from baseline was analyzed with the analysis of covariance.Results:A total of 54 patients with AS were enrolled (26 in intervention group and 28 in control group) and 46 (85.2%) patients completed the 16-week follow-up. The mean difference of ASDAS between groups in change from baseline to 16-week follow-up was −0.2 (95% CI, −0.4 to 0.003, P = 0.032), and the mean change from baseline was -0.4 (95% CI, -0.5 to -0.2) in the intervention group vs -0.1 (95% CI, -0.3 to 0.01) in the control group, respectively. Significant between-group differences were found between groups for BASDAI (−0.5 [95% CI, −0.9 to −0.2], P = 0.004), BASMI (−0.7 [95% CI, −1.1 to −0.4], P <0.001), BASFI (−0.3 [95% CI, −0.6 to 0.01], P=0.035), peak oxygen uptake (2.7 [95% CI, 0.02 to 5.3] ml/kg/min, P=0.048) and extensor endurance test (17.8 [95% CI, 0.5 to 35.2]s, P=0.044) at Week 16. Between-group differences were detected in ASAS HI (−0.9 [95% CI, −1.7 to −0.1], P=0.030), body fat percentage (−1.0 [95% CI, −2.0 to −0.01] %, P=0.048) and visceral adipose tissue (−4.9 [95% CI, −8.5 to −1.4] cm2, P=0.008) at Week 8, but not at Week 16. No significant between-group differences were detected in the total lean mass, time up and go test and the flexor endurance test during the follow-up.Conclusion:Comprehensive technology-assisted home-based exercise has been shown to have beneficial effects on disease activity, physical function, spinal mobility, aerobic capacity, and body composition as well as in improving fatigue and morning stiffness of patients with AS.References:[1]van der Heijde D, Ramiro S, Landewé R, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2017;76:978–991.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Narcolepsy Severity Scale: a reliable tool assessing symptom severity and consequences

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Dauvilliers ◽  
Lucie Barateau ◽  
Regis Lopez ◽  
Anna Laura Rassu ◽  
Sofiene Chenini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daytime Sleepiness ◽  
Age At Onset ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Diagnosis Delay ◽  
Severity Scale ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Nighttime Sleep ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

Abstract Study Objectives To define clinically relevant Narcolepsy Severity Scale (NSS) score ranges, confirm its main performances and sensitivity to medications, and determine whether items need to be weighted. Methods One hundred and forty-three consecutive untreated and 238 treated adults with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) completed the NSS, a 15-item self-administered questionnaire (score: 0–57) that assesses the severity and consequences of the five major narcolepsy symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and disturbed nighttime sleep (DNS). They also completed the Epworth Sleepiness scale (ESS; daytime sleepiness), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; depressive symptoms), and EQ5D (quality of life). Results The mean symptom number (4.3 vs 3.5), NSS total score (33.3 ± 9.4 vs 24.3 ± 10.2), and number of narcolepsy symptoms (five symptoms: 53.1% vs 24.8%; four symptoms: 26.6% vs 22.7%; three symptoms: 15.4% vs 32.4%; two symptoms: 4.9% vs 20.2%) were significantly different between untreated and treated patients (p &lt; 0.0001). DNS was often the third symptom (95.5 per cent). The symptom number was associated with diagnosis delay, age at onset, and ESS and BDI scores. Comparisons with ESS, BDI and EQ5D showed that NSS item weighting was not necessary to highlight between-group differences. Four NSS severity levels were defined (mild, moderate, severe, and very severe) with between-group differences related to treatment. The probability of having ESS ≥ 16, BDI ≥ 20, and EQ-5D &lt; 60 increased with the severity level. Conclusion NSS is valid, reliable, and responsive to treatment in patients with NT1, with four clinically relevant severity score ranges provided. NSS has adequate clinimetric properties for broadening its use for both clinic and research.

scholarly journals Comparison of corneal irregular astigmatism by the type of corneal regular astigmatism

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuta Ueno ◽  
Risa Nomura ◽  
Takahiro Hiraoka ◽  
Katsuhito Kinoshita ◽  
Mutsuko Ohara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Order ◽  
Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Corneal Surface ◽  
Fourier Harmonic ◽  
Normal Human ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Human Eyes ◽  
Topography Data ◽  
Irregular Astigmatism

AbstractWe investigated the relation between corneal regular and irregular astigmatism in normal human eyes. In 951 eyes of 951 patients, corneal irregular astigmatism, such as asymmetry and higher-order irregularity components, was calculated using the Fourier harmonic analysis of corneal topography data within the central 3-mm zone of the anterior corneal surface. The eyes were classified by the type of corneal regular astigmatism into four groups; minimum (< 0.75 diopters), with-the-rule (WTR), against-the-rule (ATR), and oblique astigmatism. The mean age was significantly different among the four groups (P < 0.001); patients with WTR astigmatism were the youngest, followed by those with minimum, oblique, and ATR astigmatism. Significant inter-group differences were found among the four groups in asymmetry (P = 0.005) and higher-order irregularity components (P < 0.001); the largest was in eyes with oblique astigmatism, followed by ATR, WTR, and minimum astigmatism. The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that corneal regular astigmatism pattern significantly influenced the amount of corneal irregular astigmatism after controlling for confounding factors (P < 0.001). Corneal irregular astigmatism, such as asymmetry and higher order irregularity components, was the largest in eyes with oblique astigmatism, followed by those with ATR, WTR, and minimum astigmatism, even after adjustment for age of subjects.

scholarly journals Validity of Two Awake Wear-Time Classification Algorithms for activPAL in Youth, Adults, and Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Jordan A. Carlson ◽  
Fatima Tuz-Zahra ◽  
John Bellettiere ◽  
Nicola D. Ridgers ◽  
Chelsea Steel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Classification Algorithms ◽  
Wear Time ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Automated Algorithms ◽  
Multiple Assessment

Background: The authors assessed agreement between participant diaries and two automated algorithms applied to activPAL (PAL Technologies Ltd, Glasgow, United Kingdom) data for classifying awake wear time in three age groups. Methods: Study 1 involved 20 youth and 23 adults who, by protocol, removed the activPAL occasionally to create nonwear periods. Study 2 involved 744 older adults who wore the activPAL continuously. Both studies involved multiple assessment days. In-bed, out-of-bed, and nonwear times were recorded in the participant diaries. The CREA (in PAL processing suite) and ProcessingPAL (secondary application) algorithms estimated out-of-bed wear time. Second- and day-level agreement between the algorithms and diary was investigated, as were associations of sedentary variables with self-rated health. Results: The overall accuracy for classifying out-of-bed wear time as compared with the diary was 89.7% (Study 1) to 95% (Study 2) for CREA and 89.4% (Study 1) to 93% (Study 2) for ProcessingPAL. Over 90% of the nonwear time occurring in nonwear periods >165 min was detected by both algorithms, while <11% occurring in periods ≤165 min was detected. For the daily variables, the mean absolute errors for each algorithm were generally within 0–15% of the diary mean. Most Spearman correlations were very large (≥.81). The mean absolute errors and correlations were less favorable for days on which any nonwear time had occurred. The associations between sedentary variables and self-rated health were similar across processing methods. Conclusion: The automated awake wear-time classification algorithms performed similarly to the diary information on days without short (≤2.5–2.75 hr) nonwear periods. Because both diary and algorithm data can have inaccuracies, best practices likely involve integrating diary and algorithm output.

scholarly journals Clinical Efficacy of Fuzheng Guben Anticancer Decoction Combined with Taxol in Treating Ovarian Carcinoma and Its Effect on Complication Incidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Pinger Li ◽  
Yinmei Lou
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Carcinoma ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Clinical Efficacy ◽  
Remission Rate ◽  
General Information ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Value ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Experimental Group

Objective. To investigate the clinical value of Fuzheng Guben anticancer decoction combined with taxol in treating ovarian carcinoma (OC). Methods. The medical records of 80 OC patients treated in the First People’s Hospital of Fuyang Hangzhou (January 2018–January 2021) were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were split into the control group and the experimental group according to the treatment regimen, with 40 cases each. Those in the control group accepted the taxol chemotherapy, and on this basis, those in the experimental group took the Fuzheng Guben anticancer decoction, so as to compare its clinical efficacy and complication incidence. Results. No statistical between-group differences in patients’ general information were observed P > 0.05 ; compared with the control group, the disease objective remission rate of the experimental group was greatly higher P < 0.05 ; before and after treatment, the changes in CD8+ were not significant, indicating no statistically significant between-group differences P > 0.05 , and after treatment, CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ were obviously higher than before and were obviously higher in the experimental group than in the control group P < 0.05 ; after treatment, the CA125, CA199, and CEA levels were obviously lower than before and were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group P < 0.05 ; the mean survival of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (19.80 ± 5.84 vs. 14.075 ± 5.12 months, P < 0.05 ); and between the two groups, the incidence rate of adverse reactions of the experimental group was remarkably lower P < 0.05 . Conclusion. On the basis of taxol chemotherapy, jointly applying Fuzheng Guben anticancer decoction can significantly improve the clinical efficacy of OC, help to improve patients’ immune function, lower the complication incidence rate, and prolong the mean survival.

scholarly journals The Development and Validation of a Module on Enhancing Students' Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Writing Skills

2020 ◽  
pp. 166-177
Author(s):  
Moustafa Mohamed Abdelmohsen
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Foundation Program ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Analysis Design ◽  
Addie Model ◽  
Development And Validation

This study aims to develop and test the validity of a module on enhancing students' collaboration, critical thinking (2Cs) and writing skills. To develop the module, the researcher used ADDIE model which incorporates five primary phases, namely Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation. The study used a tryout group which incorporated 20 participants who studied English at The General Foundation Program at a private college in Oman. The study employed a pretest-posttest quasiexperimental design. Paired Samples t-Test was used to compare the mean scores of both tests. Apropos of module validity, a total of 5 experts validated the module. The findings revealed that there is a statistically significant mean difference between the participants' scores in both the pretest and posttest. Further, it was found that the module has good validity and reliability.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Assessment of Tropical Stratospheric Upwelling in Specified Dynamics CESM1.2.2 (WACCM)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Davis ◽  
Sean M. Davis ◽  
Robert W. Portmann ◽  
Eric Ray ◽  
Karen H. Rosenlof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Meridional Circulation ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Mean Meridional Circulation ◽  
Community Earth System Model ◽  
Free Running ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Wave Momentum

Abstract. Specified dynamics (SD) schemes relax the circulation in climate models toward a reference meteorology to simulate historical variability. These simulations are widely used to isolate the dynamical contributions to variability and trends in trace gas species. However, it is not clear if trends in the stratospheric overturning circulation are properly reproduced by SD schemes. This study assesses numerous SD schemes and modeling choices in the Community Earth System Model (CESM) Whole Atmosphere Chemistry Climate Model (WACCM) to determine a set of best practices for reproducing interannual variability and trends in tropical stratospheric upwelling estimated by reanalyses. Nudging toward the reanalysis meteorology as is typically done in SD simulations expectedly changes the model’s mean upwelling compared to its free-running state, but does not accurately reproduce upwelling trends present in the underlying reanalysis. In contrast, nudging to anomalies from the climatological winds or from the zonal mean winds and temperatures preserves WACCM’s climatology and better reproduces trends in stratospheric upwelling. An SD scheme’s performance in simulating the acceleration of the shallow branch of the mean meridional circulation from 1980–2017 hinges on its ability to simulate the downward shift of subtropical lower stratospheric wave momentum forcing. Key to this is not nudging the zonal-mean temperature field. Gravity wave momentum forcing, which drives a substantial fraction of the upwelling in WACCM, cannot be constrained by nudging and presents an upper-limit on the performance of these schemes.

Gibbs Systems Dynamics: A Simple But Powerful Tool for Process Analysis, Design and Optimization

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Neveu ◽  
Nathalie Mazet
Keyword(s):  
Process Analysis ◽  
Irreversible Processes ◽  
Systems Dynamics ◽  
Vapor Compression ◽  
Technical Data ◽  
Design And Optimization ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Analysis Design ◽  
Phenomenological Coefficients ◽  
Condensing Pressure

Dynamic process modeling by the mean of Equivalent Gibbs systems is described here. It allows to model a large number of processes and only requires standard engineering knowledge. This method is issued from thermodynamics of irreversible processes, initiated by I. Prigogine, but applied here to process engineering. First, an Equivalent Gibbs System (EGS) is defined for each component involved in the process. In such system, mass, energy and entropy are linked through Gibbs equation and entropy production can easily be expressed according to fluxes and their related forces. Assuming linear phenomenological laws, phenomenological coefficients can be calculated from common engineering correlations, or evaluated from technical data if available. As an example, a conventional vapor compression chiller is simulated. Three control modes are analyzed on an exergy basis: on/off control with constant or floating condensing pressure, PID control with variable compressor speed.

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