Epidemiology of psoriatic arthritis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Husni ◽  
Madonna Michael
Keyword(s):  
Psoriatic Arthritis ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Gender ◽  
High Level

The epidemiological studies of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is quite challenging as our understanding of the disease is evolving. A wide range of incidence and prevalence is reported among different countries suggesting genetic and environmental factors influencing the epidemiology of PsA. Other contributing factors accounting for the wide range and variation of PsA epidemiology include age and gender variations, ethnicity, lack of precise case definition, and small sample size. A high level of suspicion in patients with pre-existing psoriasis, and collaborative efforts shared between primary care physicians (PCP), dermatologist, and rheumatologist, will enhance early detection and management of PsA, subsequently improving overall patient outcomes, and quality of life.

Measurements method of the audio recordings acoustic quality indicator prepared for registration and processing in the Unified Biometric System

2019 ◽  
pp. 40-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.V. Savchenko ◽  
A.V. Savchenko
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Digital Processing ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Acoustic Measurements ◽  
Pitch Frequency ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Automated Quality Control

We consider the task of automated quality control of sound recordings containing voice samples of individuals. It is shown that in this task the most acute is the small sample size. In order to overcome this problem, we propose the novel method of acoustic measurements based on relative stability of the pitch frequency within a voice sample of short duration. An example of its practical implementation using aninter-periodic accumulation of a speech signal is considered. An experimental study with specially developed software provides statistical estimates of the effectiveness of the proposed method in noisy environments. It is shown that this method rejects the audio recording as unsuitable for a voice biometric identification with a probability of 0,95 or more for a signal to noise ratio below 15 dB. The obtained results are intended for use in the development of new and modifying existing systems of collecting and automated quality control of biometric personal data. The article is intended for a wide range of specialists in the field of acoustic measurements and digital processing of speech signals, as well as for practitioners who organize the work of authorized organizations in preparing for registration samples of biometric personal data.

scholarly journals Congenital Micropenis: Aetiology And Management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna Rita Stancampiano ◽  
Kentaro Suzuki ◽  
Stuart O’Toole ◽  
Gianni Russo ◽  
Gen Yamada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Penile Length ◽  
Appearance Quality ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In the newborn, penile length is determined by a number of androgen dependent and independent factors. The current literature suggests that there are inter-racial differences in stretched penile length in the newborn and although congenital micropenis should be defined as a stretched penile length of less than 2.5SDS of the mean for the corresponding population and gestation, a pragmatic approach would be to evaluate all boys with a stretched penile length below 2 cm, as congenital micropenis can be a marker for a wide range of endocrine conditions. However, it remains unclear as to whether the state of micropenis, itself, is associated with any long-term consequences. There is a lack of systematic studies comparing the impact of different therapeutic options on long-term outcomes, in terms of genital appearance, quality of life and sexual satisfaction. To date, research has been hampered by a small sample size and inclusion of a wide range of heterogeneous diagnoses; for these reasons, condition specific outcomes have been difficult to compare between studies. Lastly, there is a need for a greater collaborative effort in collecting standardized data so that all real-world or experimental interventions performed at an early age can be studied systematically into adulthood.

Identifying the determinants of Malaysian corporate Sukuk rating

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 432-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Amirah Borhan ◽  
Noryati Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rating Agencies ◽  
High Level ◽  
Rating Category

Purpose This study aims to identify the determinants of Malaysian corporate Sukuk rating and attempts to find out which determinant has the most significant impact. Design/methodology/approach The framework tries to establish a relationship between firm’s size, profitability, Sukuk guarantee status and types of Sukuk with Sukuk rating from the perspective of Agency Theory and Information Asymmetry Theory. The data consist of 43 Sukuk issuances from 2006 to 2015. Multinomial Logistic Regression Model is then used to find out the significant determinants of Sukuk rating. Findings The study found that only three variables significantly impact Sukuk rating. The results show that a guaranteed Sukuk Ijarah or a guaranteed Sukuk Musyarakah that is issued by a highly profitable firm has a higher likelihood of getting rating AAA or rating AA as compared to getting rating A. A type of Sukuk, particularly Sukuk Murabahah, is the most significant variable influencing Sukuk rating. However, firm size is not a significant determinant of Sukuk rating in the context of this study. Research limitations implications The first limitation of the study is the relatively small sample size. Second, the study only tested four independent variables. Practical implications Several implications are derived from the results of the study. First, new firms that are planning to issue Sukuk should consistently maintain a high level of profit and consider issuing debt-based Sukuk to ensure that the issued Sukuk have higher rating. To increase the likelihood of getting higher rating, they should also consider providing a third-party guarantor. As for existing Sukuk issuers that are in lower rating category, they should increase their profitability to be upgraded to higher rating category. Second, risk-adverse investors should invest in highly profitable, guaranteed and debt-based Sukuk, as these Sukuk are likely to be in higher rating category and provide guarantee in terms of capital payments during liquidation or bankruptcy. Third, to reduce information asymmetry, policymakers should make it compulsory for all Sukuk issuers to have their Sukuk rated annually and make it mandatory for all rating agencies in Malaysia to publish their Sukuk rating methodologies. Originality/value This paper helps to expand the limited existing literature about the determinants of Sukuk rating, particularly for the Malaysian corporate Sukuk.

Multimodal Remote Sensing Image Classification with Small Sample Size Based on High-Level Feature Fusion

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 111001
Author(s):  
贺琪 Qi He ◽  
李瑶 Yao Li ◽  
宋巍 Wei Song ◽  
黄冬梅 Dongmei Huang ◽  
何盛琪 Shengqi He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Image Classification ◽  
Feature Fusion ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Remote Sensing Image ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Remote Sensing Image Classification ◽  
High Level ◽  
High Level Feature

scholarly journals Copy number variation analysis of twin pairs discordant for cleft lip with or without cleft palate

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 205873841985587
Author(s):  
Luca Scapoli ◽  
Francesco Carinci ◽  
Annalisa Palmieri ◽  
Francesca Cura ◽  
Alessandro Baj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cleft Palate ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cleft Lip ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Copy Number Variants ◽  
Monozygotic Twins ◽  
Monozygotic Twin ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
High Level

Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (nsCL/P) is a frequent orofacial malformation. The comparison of concordance rate observed in monozygotic and dizygotic twins supports high level of heritability and a strong genetic component. However, phenotype concordance for orofacial cleft in monozygotic twins is about 50%. The aim of the present investigation was to detect postzygotic events that may account for discordance in monozygotic twins. High-density SNP microarrays hybridization was used to genotype two pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for nsCL/P. Discordant SNP genotypes and copy number variants were analyzed to identify genetic differences responsible of phenotype discrepancy. A number of differences were observed, none involving known nsCL/P candidate genes or genomic regions. Considering the limitation of the study, related to the small sample size and to the large-scale investigation method, the results suggest that the detection of discordant events in other monozygotic twin pairs would be remarkable and warrant further investigations.

scholarly journals Statistical Analysis and Stochastic Modelling of Hydrological Extremes

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Tabari
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Stochastic Modelling ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Hydrological Extremes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Scale Models ◽  
Projected Changes

Analysis of hydrological extremes is challenging due to their rarity and small sample size and the interconnections between different types of extremes and gets further complicated by an untrustworthy representation of meso-scale processes involved in extreme events by coarse spatial and temporal scale models as well as biased or missing observations due to technical difficulties during extreme conditions. The special issue “Statistical Analysis and Stochastic Modelling of Hydrological Extremes”—motivated by the need to apply and develop innovative stochastic and statistical approaches to analyze hydrological extremes under current and future climate conditions —encompass 13 research papers. Case studies presented in the papers exploit a wide range of innovative techniques for hydrological extremes analyses. The papers focus on six topics: Historical changes in hydrological extremes, projected changes in hydrological extremes, downscaling of hydrological extremes, early warning and forecasting systems for drought and flood, interconnections of hydrological extremes and applicability of satellite data for hydrological studies. This Editorial provides an overview of the covered topics and reviews the case studies relevant for each topic.

scholarly journals Study of the Prevalence of Food Allergens in Patients with Allergies Admitted to Mofid Children’s Hospital During 2010 to 2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Fereshte Dehghan Banadaki ◽  
Mahboubeh Mansouri ◽  
Reza Shekarriz-Foumani
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Allergic Diseases ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Food Allergies ◽  
Food Allergens ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Gender

Introduction: Allergic diseases include a wide range of symptoms such as asthma, rhinitis, urticaria, eczema, and gastrointestinal symptoms that are becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s world. Exposure to food allergens is one of the contributing factors for allergic diseases in humans. The identification of susceptibility to food allergens plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases.Materials and Methods: After the clinical diagnosis of allergic diseases, patients were examined using the skin prick test.The method of collecting data was observational. All data were entered in SPSS software version 21 and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: A total of 466 patients with a mean age of                          years were studied, of which 58.6% were boys and 41.4% were girls. A total of 44.2% patients had asthma, 21.7% had allergic rhinitis, 2.1% had allergic sinusitis, 1.7% had conjunctivitis, 1.1% had angioedema, 11.6% had urticaria, 19.7% had eczema, and 26.8% had gastrointestinal allergic symptoms. A total of 114 patients (24.5%) had food allergies, of which 43.9% were girls and 56.1% were boys. In terms of the age and gender of patients, no statistically significant difference was observed between different food allergens (P<.05). The most common allergens in patients under study were peanuts (7.9%), milk (7.3%), almond (6.6%), freshwater fish (6.6%), and walnuts (6.4%).Conclusion: The findings revealed that allergen prevalence in each region is influenced by its climatic conditions, people’s food habits, their racial differences, and their lifestyles.

scholarly journals Effects of Hypoxia on the Behaviour, Mortality and Plasma Electrolyte Concentrations of Goldlined Seabream, Rhabdosargus sarba

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Hamed M. Al-Gheilani ◽  
Colin Waring ◽  
Abdulaziz Al-Kindi ◽  
Shehla Amer
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Time ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Hypoxic Conditions ◽  
Plasma Electrolyte ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Ventilation Rates

The behaviour, mortality rates and plasma electrolyte concentrations of goldlined seabream Rhabdosargus sarba challenged with low dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions was studied in an experimental setup, comprising a control (7.9 ml/l DO) and two hypoxic (2 ml/l and 1 ml/l DO) treatments. Increased ventilation rates and decreased swimming activity were observed in hypoxic treatments, but some fish exhibited strenuous avoidance actions. No mortalities were observed after 3 h, 6 h, or 24 h, but 50% of males and 18% of females died in the 48 h treatment at 1 ml/l DO. The mean size of surviving fish (305± 32.1 g total weight) was significantly smaller than those that died (425 ± 33.1 g). The plasma concentrations of Na+, Cl- and Mg2+ did not vary significantly relative to treatment, exposure time, fish size and gender, or interactions among treatment, time and gender. Ca2+ concentrations increased significantly after 48 h at 1 ml/l, but this result may be artificial because of the small sample size. The results suggest that R. sarba is comparatively tolerant of the low oxygen or hypoxic conditions that often occur in the coastal waters of Oman, where seasonal upwellings and  high primary productivity have in the past caused mass mortalities of demersal fishes.  

scholarly journals Comparative evaluation of goodness of fit tests for normal distribution using simulation and empirical data

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-251
Author(s):  
Achilleas Anastasiou ◽  
Alex Karagrigoriou ◽  
Anastasios Katsileros
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Normal Distribution ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Type I ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Omnibus Test ◽  
Wide Range

SummaryThe normal distribution is considered to be one of the most important distributions, with numerous applications in various fields, including the field of agricultural sciences. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the most popular normality tests, comparing the performance in terms of the size (type I error) and the power against a large spectrum of distributions with simulations for various sample sizes and significance levels, as well as through empirical data from agricultural experiments. The simulation results show that the power of all normality tests is low for small sample size, but as the sample size increases, the power increases as well. Also, the results show that the Shapiro–Wilk test is powerful over a wide range of alternative distributions and sample sizes and especially in asymmetric distributions. Moreover the D’Agostino–Pearson Omnibus test is powerful for small sample sizes against symmetric alternative distributions, while the same is true for the Kurtosis test for moderate and large sample sizes.

scholarly journals What People with Newly Diagnosed MS (and their Families and Friends) Need to Know

2000 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy Wollin ◽  
Helen Dale ◽  
Nancy Spenser ◽  
Anne Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract The aim of this retrospective study was to determine from people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their families what information would assist a person with newly diagnosed MS — in which format, when, and from whom it should be delivered. Thirty-four Queensland, Australia, residents with MS and 18 family members and friends participated in the main study. Participants were self-selected for this purposive, statewide, cross-sectional study. Nine of the respondents answered open-ended questions in addition to the standard questionnaires, and seven respondents gave in-depth interviews. The respondents recommended that people with a recent MS diagnosis and their families be given a wide range of information reflective of their personal needs. The information should be provided in person (in both group and individual sessions). They preferred to receive the information from their physicians and the staff of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Research aimed at cures and therapies, as well as counseling and support services, should be discussed early in the course of the disease. Because of the small sample size and retrospective design, additional studies with larger populations are suggested to confirm these results and their cross-cultural applicability.

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