Confounding

Author(s):  
Mark Elwood

This chapter gives the definition of confounding, a central issue in epidemiology and its dependence on two associations, with exposure and with outcome. It explains confounding in trials, cohort and case-control studies, and Simpson’s paradox. It explains the five methods of controlling confounding: restriction, randomisation, stratification, matching and multivariate methods. For randomised trials, the limits of randomisation, residual confounding, pre-stratification, intention-to-treat, management and explanatory trials, pragmatic trials are explained. It shows the Mantel–Haenszel risk ratio or odds ratio, direct and indirect standardisation, and effect modification. Frequency and individual matching, their value and limitations, over matching, confounding by indication, and calculation of matched odds ratio are shown. It explains multivariate methods, including linear, logistic, Poisson, and Cox’s proportionate hazards models, including the relationship between coefficients and odds ratios, dummy variables, conditional methods, and propensity scores.

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Lv ◽  
Yanju Ma ◽  
Ye Zhang ◽  
Zhi Li

Although many previous studies have reported the relationship between GSTP1 rs1695 gene polymorphism and myelosuppression induced by platinum-based drugs, the conclusions are not consistent. The aim of the study is to evaluate the association between granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia induced by platinum-based drugs and GSTP1 rs1695 gene polymorphism by meta-analysis. A literature search was performed using the Pubmed, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang databases, and the odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the correlation. Finally,12 case-control studies comprising 1657 patients were included in our study. GSTP1 rs1695 gene polymorphism showed a significant correlation with granulocytopenia induced by platinum-based drugs (dominant genetic model: OR=1.60, 95% CI=1.19. 2.15, P=0.002; recessive genetic model: OR=3.72, 95% CI=1.73, 8.00, P=0.001; allelic genetic model: OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.34, 2.33, P=0.001). This gene polymorphism is not associated with thrombocytopenia (OR=0.87, 95% CI=0.47, 1.60, P=0.649). False-positive report probability showed that the association between polymorphism and adverse reactions is true. Sensitivity analysis showed that the results were stable. However, there was a certain publication bias in the included studies. In conclusion, the GSTP1 rs1695 gene polymorphism is associated with granulocytopenia induced by platinum-based drugs.


2019 ◽  
pp. 169-186
Author(s):  
Daniel Westreich

In contrast to an observational cohort study in which participants are identified, exposures are measured, and then outcomes status is measured after follow-up, a case-control study is an observational study in which researchers sample participants based on their outcome status, often only after all outcomes have already occurred. This chapter echoes the structure of the previous two chapters in the discussion of case-control studies. In this chapter, the author’s focus is on understanding the relationship between cohort studies and case-control studies and on how the interpretation of the odds ratio estimated from the case-control study depends on the relationship of the case-control study to a cohort study.


Author(s):  
Oleksii Chepov ◽  

The qualitative and clear definition of the legal regime of the capital of Ukraine, the hero city of Kyiv, is influenced by its legislative enshrinement, however, it should be noted that discussions are ongoing and one of the reasons for the unclear legal status of the capital is the ambiguity of current legislation in this area. Separation of the functions of the city of Kyiv, which are carried out to ensure the rights of citizens of Ukraine and the functions that guarantee the rights of the territorial community of the city of Kyiv. In the modern world, in legal doctrine and practice, the capital is understood as the capital of the country, which at the legislative level received this status and, accordingly, is the administrative and political center of the state, which houses the main state bodies and diplomatic missions of other states. It is the identification of the boundaries of the relationship between the competencies of state administrations and local self-government, in practice, often raises questions about their delimitation and ways of regulatory solution. Peculiarities of local self-government in Kyiv city districts are defined in the provisions of the Law on the Capital, which reveal the norms of the Constitution in these legal relations, according to which the issue of organizing district management in cities belongs to city councils. Likewise, it is unregulated by law to lose the particularity of the legal status of the territory of the city. It should be emphasized that the subject of administrative-legal relations is not a certain administrative-territorial entity, but the social group is designated - the territorial community of the city of Kiev, kiyani. Thus, the provisions on the city of Kyiv partially ignore the potential of the territorial community.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwiyanto Indiahono ◽  
Erwan Purwanto ◽  
Agus Pramusinto

This research aims to examine differences in the relationship of bureaucratic and political officials during the New Order (Soeharto’s era) and the Reformation (post-Soeharto) era within the arena of public policy implementation. This is a matter of importance given that there is a change in relations between the two from integration in the New Order to bureaucratic impartiality in the Reformation Era. This study attempts to answer the question: How were the relations of bureaucratic and political officials in the implementation of local level public policy during the New Order and the Reformation Era? A qualitative research has been conducted in Tegal Municipality using the following data collection techniques: interview, focus group discussion, documentation, and observation. Tegal Municipality was selected as the study location because of the unique relationship shown between the mayor and the bureaucracy. Its uniqueness lies in the emergence of bureaucratic officials who dare to oppose political officials, based on their convictions that bureaucratic/public values should be maintained even if it means having to be in direct conflict with political officials. This research indicates that the relationship between bureaucratic and political officials in the arena of local level policy implementation during the New Order was characterized as being full of pressure and compliance, whereas during the Reformation Era bureaucrats have the audacity to hinder policy implementation. Such audacity to thwart policies is considered to have developed from a stance that aims to protect public budget and values in policies. The occurring conflict of values here demonstrates a dichotomy of political and bureaucratic officials that is different from the prevailing definition of politics-administration dichotomy introduced at the onset of Public Administration studies.


Author(s):  
Natalia Popova

The concept of Europeanization has become quite fashionable in EU studies in recent years. It is often used for the analysis of the relations between the EU and non-member states. The aim of the article is to examine the possibilities of its application in explaining the relationship between the EU and Ukraine. The structure of the article is as follows: firstly, the concept of Europeanization is defined considering such two disputable issues as distinguishing among concepts of Europeanization and European integration as well as Europeanization and EU-ization. Next, the evolution of the theoretical research of Europeanization and definition of this concept are analyzed. Two main mechanisms of Europeanization (conditionality and socialization) are examined. The author considers main approaches to the analysis of the "external" Europeanization emphasizing the concept of "external governance". Three groups of factors which influence the effectiveness of Europeanization are briefly analyzed. And finally, the peculiarities of application of the Europeanization concept to the Ukraine-EU relations are outlined. Keywords: EU, Ukraine, Europeanization, EU-ization, ‘external’ Europeanization, conditionality, socialization, concept of ‘external governance’


Author(s):  
Суусар Искендерова

Аннотация: Исследование проблемы фольклоризма является наиболее актуальной в современной науке о фольклоре. На разных этапах развития художественной литературы для формирования индивидуального творчества писателя особенно значимым становятся фольклорные жанры, сюжетные мотивы и художественные средства. В статье рассматривается связь письменной литературы и фольклора, особенно точка зрения проблеме фольклоризма в прошлом и их анализ. Термин «фольклоризм» начал использоваться советскими исследователями учеными как научный термин еще в 1930-х гг. Термин «фольклоризм» используется в различных сферах культуры, а в этой статье мы будем рассматривать в литературе. Несмотря на то, что на протяжении многих лет этот вопрос изучается литературоведами, фольклористами, все -таки нет единого теоретического определения понятия. Ключевые слова: фольклор, фольклоризм, литература, культура, письменная литература, художественная литература, оседлый народ, пословицы и поговорки, фольклорные песни. Аннотация: Көркөм адабияттын өнүгүүсүнүн ар кайсы баскычтарында сүрөткердин жеке чыгармачылыгынын калыптанышы үчүн фольклордук жанрлар, сюжеттер, мотивдер жана көркөм каражаттар айрыкча мааниге ээ. Макалада жазма адабият менен фольклордук карым-катышы, айрыкча фольклоризм маселеси жөнүндө мурдагы көз караштарга кайрылып, аларга талдоо жүргүзүү менен бирге автор өз байкоолорунда келтирет. “Фольклоризм” деген илимий термин 1930-жылы баштап колдонула баштаган. “Фольклоризм” термини маданияттын түрдүү сфераларында кеңири колдо- нулат, бул жерде адабияттагы колдонулушун каралат. Макалада адабий материал менен фольклордук байланышын терең түшүнүү үчүн адабий фольклоризм маселесинин талаштуу жактары каралат. Түйүндүү сөздөр: фольклор, фольклоризм, адабият, маданият, жазма адабият, көркөм адабият, көчмөн калк, макал-лакап, фольклордук ырлар. Annotation: The study of the problem of folklore is the most relevant in the modern science of folklore. At various stages in the development of fiction, folklore genres, plot motifs, and artistic means become especially significant for the formation of the writer's individual creativity. The article examines the relationship between written literature and folklore, especially the point of view of the problem of folklorism in the past and their analysis. The term "folklorism" began to be used by Soviet scholars as a scientific term back in the 1930s. The term "folklorism" is used in various fields of culture, and in this article we will consider in the literature. Despite the fact that for many years this issue has been studied by literary scholars, folklorists, all the same there is no single theoretical definition of the concept. Keywords: folklore, folklorism, literature, culture, written literature, fiction, settled people, proverbs and sayings, folk songs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Hisyam Ihsan ◽  
Muhammad Abdy ◽  
Samsu Alam B

Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kajian pustaka yang bertujuan untuk mengkaji sifat-sifat submodul prima dan submodul prima lemah serta hubungan antara keduanya. Kajian dimulai dari definisi submodul prima dan submodul prima lemah, selanjutnya dikaji mengenai sifat-sifat dari keduanya. Pada penelitian ini, semua ring yang diberikan adalah ring komutatif dengan unsur kesatuan dan modul yang diberikan adalah modul uniter. Sebagai hasil dari penelitian ini diperoleh beberapa pernyataan yang ekuivalen, misalkan  suatu -modul ,  submodul sejati di  dan ideal di , maka ketiga pernyataan berikut ekuivalen, (1)  merupakan submodul prima, (2) Setiap submodul tak nol dari   -modul memiliki annihilator yang sama, (3) Untuk setiap submodul  di , subring  di , jika berlaku  maka  atau . Di lain hal, pada submodul prima lemah jika diberikan  suatu -modul,  submodul sejati di , maka pernyataan berikut ekuivalen, yaitu (1) Submodul  merupakan submodul prima lemah, (2) Untuk setiap , jika  maka . Selain itu, didapatkan pula hubungan antara keduanya, yaitu setiap submodul prima merupakan submodul prima lemah.Kata Kunci: Submodul Prima, Submodul Prima Lemah, Ideal Prima. This research is literature study that aims to examine the properties of prime submodules and weakly prime submodules and the relationship between  both of them. The study starts from the definition of prime submodules and weakly prime submodules, then reviewed about the properties both of them. Throughout this paper all rings are commutative with identity and all modules are unitary. As the result of this research, obtained several equivalent statements, let  be a -module,  be a proper submodule of  and  ideal of , then the following three statetments are equivalent, (1)  is a prime submodule, (2) Every nonzero submodule of   -module has the same annihilator, (3) For any submodule  of , subring  of , if  then  or . In other case, for weakly prime submodules, if given  is a unitary -module,  be a proper submodule of , then the following statements are equivalent, (1)  is a weakly prime submodule, (2) For any , if  then . In addition, also found the relationship between both of them, i.e. any prime submodule is weakly prime submodule.Keywords: Prime Submodules, Weakly Prime Submdules, Prime Ideal.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Khazaei ◽  
Erfan Ayubi ◽  
Saeid Bashirian ◽  
Ronak Hamzehei ◽  
Ensiyeh Jenabi

Background: The relationship between gestational diabetes and postpartum depression (PPD) is poorly understood and seldom studied. Objective: In an effort to explore this issue, the present study investigated the relationship between gestational diabetes and PPD. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed with 342 women who were referred to four urban health centers of Hamadan city, west of Iran. We used convenience sampling as a method to recruit women in each health center. We used a researcher-made checklist for gathering data on socio-demographic characteristics and potential risk factors of PPD. The Persian validated version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess PPD. Univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression was applied to estimate the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]). Results: Gestational diabetes was identified as the most important risk factor for PPD with OR (95% CI) of 2.19 (1.11, 4.31); P-value=0.02 after adjusting for other variables. Moreover, the adjusted odds ratio showed that PPD among lesseducated women (primary school) was 3.5 times higher compared to women with a university education (OR=3.54, 95% CI: 1.27, 9.84; P-value=0.01). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that PPD is more likely among women with gestational diabetes and those who were less educated. Interventional and educational activities for reducing the risk of PPD can be targeted for use with this population.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue-Cune Chang

BACKGROUND The Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is the new form of an acute infectious respiratory disease and has quickly spread over most continents in the world. Recently, it has been shown that Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) might protect against COVID-19. This study aims to investigate the possible correlation between BCG vaccination and morbidity/mortality/recovery rate associated with COVID-19 infection. OBJECTIVE Our findings confirm that the BCG vaccination might protect against COVID-19 virus infection. METHODS Data of COVID-19 confirmed cases, deaths, recoveries, and population were obtained from https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ (Accessed on 12 June, 2020). To have meaningful comparisons among countries’ mortality and recovery rates, we only choose those countries with COVID-19 infected cases at least 200. The Poisson regression and logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between BCG vaccination and morbidity, mortality and recovery rates. RESULTS Among those 158 countries with at least 200 COVID-19 infected cases, there were 141 countries with BCG vaccination information available. The adjusted rates ratio of COVID-19 confirmed cases for Current BCG vaccination vs. non-Current BCG vaccination was 0.339 (with 95% CI= (0.338,0.340)). Moreover, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of death and recovery after coronavirus infected for Current BCG vaccination vs. non-Current BCG vaccination were 0.258 (with 95% CI= (0.254,0.261)) and 2.151 (with 95% CI= (2.140,2.163)), respectively. CONCLUSIONS That data in this study show the BCG might provide the protection against COVID-19, with consequent less COVID-19 infection and deaths and more rapid recovery. BCG vaccine might bridge the gap before the disease-specific vaccine is developed, but this hypothesis needs to be further tested in rigorous randomized clinical trials. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.14.20131268


Author(s):  
Johannes Lindvall

This chapter introduces the problem of “reform capacity” (the ability of political decision-makers to adopt and implement policy changes that benefit society as a whole, by adjusting public policies to changing economic, social, and political circumstances). The chapter also reviews the long-standing discussion in political science about the relationship between political institutions and effective government. Furthermore, the chapter explains why the possibility of compensation matters greatly for the politics of reform; provides a precise definition of the concept of reform capacity; describes the book's general approach to this problem; and discusses the ethics of compensating losers from reform; and presents the book's methodological approach.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document