Evaluating alternative study designs for optimal sampling of species' climatic niches

Abstract. The aim of the study was to review recent findings on the use of POM supplements in athletes of various disciplines and physically active participants. Eleven articles published between 2010 and 2018 were included, where the total number of investigated subjects was 176. Male participants constituted the majority of the group (n = 155), as compared to females (n = 21). 45% of research described was conducted on athletes, whereas the remaining studies were based on highly active participants. Randomised, crossover, double-blind study designs constituted the majority of the experimental designs used. POM supplementation varied in terms of form (pills/juice), dosage (50 ml–500 ml) and time of intervention (7 days–2 months) between studies. Among the reviewed articles, POM supplementation had an effect on the improvement of the following: whole body strength; feeling of vitality; acute and delayed muscle fatigue and soreness; increase in vessel diameter; blood flow and serum level of TAC; reduction in the rate of increase for HR, SBP, CK and LDH; support in the recovery of post-training CK, LDH, CRP and ASAT to their baseline levels; reduction of MMP2, MMP9, hsCRP and MDA; and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase). In the majority of reviewed articles POM supplementation had a positive effect on a variety of parameters studied and the authors recommended it as a supplement for athletes and physically active bodies.

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Patientenbezogene Komplexität in der Pflege – Kollektive Case Studies im Akutspital

Pflege ◽

10.1024/1012-5302/a000626 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 237-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Caroline Gurtner ◽

Rebecca Spirig ◽

Diana Staudacher ◽

Evelyn Huber

Keyword(s):

Case Studies ◽

Study Designs

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Die patientenbezogene Komplexität der Pflege ist durch die Merkmale „Instabilität“, „Unsicherheit“ und „Variabilität“ definiert. Aufgrund der reduzierten Aufenthaltsdauer und der steigenden Zahl chronisch und mehrfach erkrankter Personen erhöht sich die Komplexität der Pflege. Ziel: In dieser Studie untersuchten wir das Phänomen patientenbezogener Komplexität aus Sicht von Pflegefachpersonen und Pflegeexpertinnen im Akutspital. Methode: Im Rahmen eines kollektiven Case-Study-Designs schätzten Pflegefachpersonen und Pflegeexpertinnen die Komplexität von Pflegesituationen mit einem Fragebogen ein. Danach befragten wir sie in Einzelinterviews zu ihrer Einschätzung. Mittels Within-Case-Analyse verdichteten wir die Daten induktiv zu Fallgeschichten. In der Cross-Case-Analyse verglichen wir die Fallgeschichten hinsichtlich deduktiv abgeleiteter Merkmale. Ergebnisse: Die Ausprägung der Komplexität hing in den vier Cases im Wesentlichen davon ab, ob klinische Probleme kontrollierbar und prognostizierbar waren. Je nach individuellen Ressourcen der Patientinnen und Patienten stieg bzw. sank die Komplexität. Schlussfolgerungen: Komplexe Patientensituationen fordern von Pflegefachpersonen Fachwissen, Erfahrung, kommunikative Kompetenzen sowie die Fähigkeit zur Reflexion. Berufsanfänger und Berufsanfängerinnen werden zur Entwicklung dieser Fähigkeiten idealerweise durch erfahrene Berufskolleginnen oder -kollegen unterstützt und beraten.

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Innovative study designs and methods for optimizing and implementing behavioral interventions to improve health.

Health Psychology ◽

10.1037/hea0000657 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 37 (12) ◽

pp. 1081-1091 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sylvie Naar ◽

Susan M. Czajkowski ◽

Bonnie Spring

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Study Designs ◽

Improve Health

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A historical cohort of temporal lobe surgery for medically refractory epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis to guide future nonrandomized controlled trial studies

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2019.4.jns183235 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 133 (1) ◽

pp. 71-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Anthony T. Lee ◽

John F. Burke ◽

Pranathi Chunduru ◽

Annette M. Molinaro ◽

Robert Knowlton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Temporal Lobe ◽

Epilepsy Surgery ◽

Refractory Epilepsy ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Small Sample ◽

Seizure Freedom ◽

Level I ◽

Study Designs ◽

Medically Refractory Epilepsy

OBJECTIVERecent trials for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) highlight the challenges of investigating surgical outcomes using randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Although several reviews have examined seizure-freedom outcomes from existing data, there is a need for an overall seizure-freedom rate estimated from level I data as investigators consider other methods besides RCTs to study outcomes related to new surgical interventions.METHODSThe authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the 3 RCTs of TLE in adults and report an overall surgical seizure-freedom rate (Engel class I) composed of level I data. An overall seizure-freedom rate was also collected from level II data (prospective cohort studies) for validation. Eligible studies were identified by filtering a published Cochrane meta-analysis of epilepsy surgery for RCTs and prospective studies, and supplemented by searching indexed terms in MEDLINE (January 1, 2012–April 1, 2018). Retrospective studies were excluded to minimize heterogeneity in patient selection and reporting bias. Data extraction was independently reverified and pooled using a fixed-effects model. The primary outcome was overall seizure freedom following surgery. The historical benchmark was applied in a noninferiority study design to compare its power to a single-study cohort.RESULTSThe overall rate of seizure freedom from level I data was 72.4% (55/76 patients, 3 RCTs), which was nearly identical to the overall seizure-freedom rate of 71.7% (1325/1849 patients, 18 studies) from prospective cohorts (z = 0.134, p = 0.89; z-test). Seizure-freedom rates from level I and II studies were consistent over the years of publication (R2< 0.01, p = 0.73). Surgery resulted in markedly improved seizure-free outcomes compared to medical management (RR 10.82, 95% CI 3.93–29.84, p < 0.01; 2 RCTs). Noninferiority study designs in which the historical benchmark was used had significantly higher power at all difference margins compared to using a single cohort alone (p < 0.001, Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test).CONCLUSIONSThe overall rate of seizure freedom for temporal lobe surgery is approximately 70% for medically refractory epilepsy. The small sample size of the RCT cohort underscores the need to move beyond standard RCTs for epilepsy surgery. This historical seizure-freedom rate may serve as a useful benchmark to guide future study designs for new surgical treatments for refractory TLE.

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Designing Optimal Sampling Networks, Fixed and Adaptive for Ocean Forecast Modeling

10.21236/ada613063 ◽

2006 ◽

Author(s):

Paola Rizzoli

Keyword(s):

Optimal Sampling ◽

Forecast Modeling

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The comparison of the diversity of activated sludge plants

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1998.0585 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 37 (4-5) ◽

pp. 71-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Thomas P. Curtis ◽

Noel G. Craine

Keyword(s):

Cluster Analysis ◽

Activated Sludge ◽

Treatment Process ◽

Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Optimal Sampling ◽

Bacterial Populations ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Probable Presence ◽

Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Sampling Regime

The explicit engineering of bacterial populations requires that we know which organisms perform which tasks. The comparison of the bacterial diversity of activated sludge plants may give important information about the functions of different bacteria. This difficult task may be made easier by the use of technologies based on 16S rRNA based techniques. In this study we have used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to determine the optimal sampling regime for comparative studies and used cluster analysis to show how plants may be quantitatively compared. We sought evidence of spatial, diurnal and intrasample variation in a number of sites. No evidence for variation was found in the plants studied and we concluded that a single sample of an activated sludge plant was sufficient for a plant to plant comparison. The cluster analysis was able to distinguish between plants, though further work is required to find the most appropriate basis for such comparisons. We found organisms from raw sewage in the mixed liquor samples, these organisms may have no functional significance in the treatment process and thus complicate plant to plant comparisons as will the probable presence of heteroduplex rDNA products. Nevertheless we believe that these drawbacks do not outweigh the advantages of being able to take and compare relatively large numbers of samples.

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Promising Treatments for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Call for Additional Research

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867324666170526120916 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (41) ◽

pp. 5690-5697 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lorrin M. Koran ◽

Elias Aboujaoude

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

High Dose ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Open Label ◽

Research Attention ◽

Acceptance Commitment Therapy ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Study Designs ◽

Virtual Reality Exposure

Many patients with OCD respond partially or not at all to standard medications and cognitive behavioral therapy approaches, making alternate treatments necessary. We review the preliminary evidence that exists in support of the use of stimulants, high-dose caffeine, opiates, memantine, ondansetron, ketamine, and transcranial magnetic stimulation in some patients with OCD. Although limited by small or modest sample sizes, open-label study designs, and brief follow-up periods, studies suggest that each of these strategies can help some patients who have inadequately responded to first-line treatments. The existing data and the unmet needs of OCD patients justify research attention to further test these treatments’ safety and efficacy. Previously untested drugs also deserve attention, especially as recent research has suggested new possible contributors to OCD pathophysiology. Similarly, psychotherapeutic interventions beyond CBT should be investigated, and treatments with preliminary evidence in OCD, including Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Danger Ideation Reduction Therapy, and technology-enabled interventions like computerized CBT and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy, should be carefully tested.

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Transplantation of Adipose-derived Cells for Periodontal Regeneration: A Systematic Review

Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy ◽

10.2174/1574888x13666181105144430 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 504-518 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dilcele Silva Moreira Dziedzic ◽

Bassam Felipe Mogharbel ◽

Priscila Elias Ferreira ◽

Ana Carolina Irioda ◽

Katherine Athayde Teixeira de Carvalho

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Animal Models ◽

Platelet Rich Plasma ◽

Periodontal Regeneration ◽

In Vitro Studies ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Cell Sources ◽

Study Designs

This systematic review evaluated the transplantation of cells derived from adipose tissue for applications in dentistry. SCOPUS, PUBMED and LILACS databases were searched for in vitro studies and pre-clinical animal model studies using the keywords “ADIPOSE”, “CELLS”, and “PERIODONTAL”, with the Boolean operator “AND”. A total of 160 titles and abstracts were identified, and 29 publications met the inclusion criteria, 14 in vitro and 15 in vivo studies. In vitro studies demonstrated that adipose- derived cells stimulate neovascularization, have osteogenic and odontogenic potential; besides adhesion, proliferation and differentiation on probable cell carriers. Preclinical studies described improvement of bone and periodontal healing with the association of adipose-derived cells and the carrier materials tested: Platelet Rich Plasma, Fibrin, Collagen and Synthetic polymer. There is evidence from the current in vitro and in vivo data indicating that adipose-derived cells may contribute to bone and periodontal regeneration. The small quantity of studies and the large variation on study designs, from animal models, cell sources and defect morphology, did not favor a meta-analysis. Additional studies need to be conducted to investigate the regeneration variability and the mechanisms of cell participation in the processes. An overview of animal models, cell sources, and scaffolds, as well as new perspectives are provided for future bone and periodontal regeneration study designs.

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Identifying Public Health Problems

10.1093/oso/9780190681050.003.0005 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Scott Burris ◽

Micah L. Berman ◽

Matthew Penn, and ◽

Tara Ramanathan Holiday

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Problems ◽

Health Priorities ◽

Disability Adjusted Life Years ◽

Quality Adjusted Life Years ◽

Disability Adjusted Life ◽

Life Years ◽

Study Designs ◽

Quality Adjusted Life

Chapter 5 discusses the use of epidemiology to identify the source of public health problems and inform policymaking. It uses a case study to illustrate how researchers, policymakers, and practitioners detect diseases, identify their sources, determine the extent of an outbreak, and prevent new infections. The chapter also defines key measures in epidemiology that can indicate public health priorities, including morbidity and mortality, years of potential life lost, and measures of lifetime impacts, including disability-adjusted life years and quality-adjusted life years. Finally, the chapter reviews epidemiological study designs, differentiating between experimental and observational studies, to show how to interpret data and identify limitations.

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