scholarly journals Novel case-control observational method for assessing effectiveness of red-light cameras

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 407-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Jasem Abdulsalam ◽  
Dane Rowlands ◽  
Said M. Easa ◽  
Abd El Halim O. Abd El Halim
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Bayes ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Specific Criterion ◽  
Red Light Cameras ◽  
Empirical Bayes Methods ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Conventional Methods ◽  
Different Characteristics

Conventional methods for estimating the effect of an intervention suffer from selection bias, where the units that receive the treatment have different characteristics from those in the control group. This paper proposes a novel method that provides a specific criterion for selecting the control group. The method, called propensity score matching (PSM), was applied to the evaluation of red-light cameras (RLC) and its performance was compared with conventional cross-sectional and empirical Bayes methods. The application was performed using field data from the City of Ottawa involving 30 RLC intersections and 89 non-camera intersections observed for a period of 15 years. All three methods yielded fairly consistent results, indicating an increase in property damage collisions and a decrease in injury and fatal collisions. Given the strong theoretical basis of the PSM method and its ability to produce a more stable and reliable estimator, the method is recommended as a viable alternative to the conventional methods.

scholarly journals Sharp power in social media: Patterns from datasets across electoral campaigns

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simo Hanouna ◽  
Omer Neu ◽  
Sharon Pardo ◽  
Oren Tsur ◽  
Hila Zahavi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Activity Pattern ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Election Campaign ◽  
Democratic Process ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Federal Election ◽  
Electoral Campaigns ◽  
Novel Method

Using Christopher Walker’s and Jessica Ludwig’s ‘sharp power’ theoretical framework, and based on some preliminary findings from the May 2019 European Parliament election and the two 2019 rounds of elections in Israel, this article describes a novel method for the automatic detection of political trolls and bots active in Twitter in the October 2019 federal election in Canada. The research identified thousands of accounts invested in Canadian politics that presented a unique activity pattern, significantly different from accounts in a control group. The large-scale cross-cross-sectional approach enabled a distinctive perspective on foreign political meddling in Twitter during the recent federal election campaign. Thisforeign political meddling, we argue, aims at manipulating and poisoning the democratic process and can challenge democracies and their values, as well as their societal resilience.

DYSLIPIDEMIA IN THYROID DISORDERS

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kashish Narula ◽  
Narendra Kumar Dara ◽  
Shyam Lal Meena
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Thyroid Dysfunction ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Thyroid Disorders ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Carbohydrate And Lipid Metabolism ◽  
History Of ◽  
Thyroid Profile ◽  
Basal Energy Expenditure

Background: Thyroid hormones influence nearly all major metabolic pathways. Their most obvious and well-known action is the increase in basal energy expenditure obtained by acting on protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The lipid metabolism is more influenced by the thyroid hormone. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with suspicion of thyroid disorders were taken as cases. One hundred patients with normal thyroid profile and no history of other chronic diseases were taken as control group. Results: The serum TC, TG and LDL levels in hypothyroid individuals (both overt and subclinical) were significantly higher than euthyroid subjects but the levels were comparable between hyperthyroid and euthyroid group. Conclusion: Dyslipidemias are associated with thyroid disorders, so biochemical screening for thyroid dysfunction in all dyslipidemic patients. Therefore, patients presenting with dyslipidemia are recommended for investigation to explore thyroid dysfunction. Keywords: Thyroid profile, Total cholesterol, Triglycerides and LDL

ASSESSMENT OF CORRELATION BETWEEN LEUKODERMA AND PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Mukesh Batra
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Study Participant ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Control Group ◽  
P Value ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Duration Of Disease ◽  
Illness Anxiety

Background: Leukoderma is an acquired disease of pigmentation which is presented by depigmented areas of different shape and sizes on the skin. In various researches it was reported that these defects in melanocytes occurred due to autoimmune pathway or the complex causation of oxidative stress and genetics. Material & Methods: In the present cross‑sectional prospective study 100 patients who were diagnosed with Leukoderma and controls who were not having depigmentation of skin and without any known clinical disease were enrolled for present study by simple random sampling. Written informed consent was taken from each study participant. Clearance from institutional ethical committee was also taken prior to the study. Results: The prevalence of psychiatric illness among leukoderma group was 22% and among 78% patients we did not found any psychiatric illness. The most common symptom was depression which was present among 22% of patients with Leukoderma and 18% patients with Leukoderma had anxiety symptoms. Among the control group depression was present in 5 % subjects and anxiety symptoms were present in 7% of subjects. The mean WHO-Quality of life scores was low among Leukoderma group in relation to the control group (p value <0.05). On correlation with psychiatric illness, observations were statistically non-significant (p > 0.05) with HAMA-A and HAMA- D. The observations were statistically significant (p < 0.05) with GHQ total and BSA score. Conclusion:  Higher prevalence of psychitric morbidity among patients with leukoderma and it was found associated with duration of disease and BSA scores. The most common symptom was depression which was followed by anxiety symptoms. Key words: Leukoderma, psychiatric illness, anxiety, depression.

Pengaruh bising lalu lintas terhadap penurunan fungsi pendengaran pada juru parkir di kota Denpasar

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ni Ketut Susilawati ◽  
Wayan Sudana ◽  
Eka Putra Setiawan
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hearing Function

Background: Noise pollution or noise is an unwanted sound which is disturbing to human beings.However small or soft the sound, if it is undesirable it is considered as noise. Noise induced hearingloss is a sensorineural hearing loss that is commonly encountered second to presbycusis. Purpose: Toknow the effect of traffic noise exposure on hearing impairment to the employees of the Parking DistrictCompany of the Denpasar city and to improve diagnostic detection on hearing impairment caused bynoise. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted at the Parking District Company office. Thepopulations of this study were the employees of the Parking District Company. Samples of this study were the employees who were exposed to traffic noise and control samples were an employee who was unexposed. Samples were selected by simple random sampling. Results: From 40 parking attendants,27 persons (67.5%) aged above 35 years old. The parking attendants who had been working for ten to fifteen years were 36 persons (90%) and no history using ear protection when working. Seven persons(17.5%) had referred DPOAE upon examination with increase hearing threshold on audiogram result.In this study the parking attendants who had hearing deficit induced by noise were 7 persons (17.5%)and only one person (2.5%) in control group. There was a statistically significant effect of traffic noiseto hearing function deficit (p<0.05). Conclusion: Traffic noise has effect in hearing function deficit onthe parking attendants.ORLI Vol. 40 No. 2 Tahun 2010Key words: NIHL, parking attendant, audiometry, DPOAE.

Clinical and sonological features in endometriomas in women of reproductive age

2016 ◽  
pp. 85-89
Author(s):  
О. Shapoval ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Endometrial Hyperplasia ◽  
Benign Tumor ◽  
Pain Syndrome ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Women Of Reproductive Age ◽  
Ovarian Endometriosis ◽  
Gynecological Examination ◽  
Different Characteristics ◽  
Ovarian Endometriomas

The objective: to study the prevalence of ovarian endometriosis in women of reproductive age, the features of clinical and ultrasound picture of endometriosis. Patients and methods. The study involved 22 patients with endometriomas, the control group – 50 women gynecological and somatically healthy. Results. The incidence of ovarian endometriomas in the structure of benign tumor-like formations of ovaries is 0.62%. In 72.73% of ovarian endometriomas occur on a background of concomitant gynecological pathology. Clinically, in 77.27% of cases there is a pain syndrome, in 59.09% – algomenorrhea, in 13.64% – infertility; 18.18% of cases endometriomas remain «dumb» and proceed with the erased clinical picture. Sonologically in patients with endometriomas adenomyosis, endometrial hyperplasia, changes in the contralateral ovary are determined. Conclusion. Without additional methods of diagnostic gynecological examination may identify the 3 cm tumor-like formation of the ovary with different characteristics, which does not allow to differentiate endometrioma from inflammation, functional and ovarian tumors. Ultrasound can diagnose pathological ovarian formation of 1 cm, detailing the nature of the cyst. Key words: endometriosis, reproductive age, retrospective analysis, ultrasound.

Clinical-Reported Outcomes Of Deferoxamine Versus Deferasirox In The Treatment Of Homozygous BetaThalassemia

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (SPL1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeina A Munim Al-Thanoon ◽  
Zeina A Munim Al-Thanoon ◽  
Mustafa Basil ◽  
Nasih A Al-Kazzaz
Keyword(s):  
Serum Ferritin ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Iron Chelator ◽  
Beta Thalassemia ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Multiple Blood ◽  
Group 2

Iron chelation therapy with deferoxamine (DFO),the current standard for the treatment of iron overload in patients with betathalassemia,requires regular subcutaneous or intravenous infusions. This can lead to reduced quality of life and poor adherence,resulting in increased morbidity and mortality in iron-overloaded patients with beta-thalassemia. Deferasirox (DFX) is an orally administered iron chelator that has been approved for use in many countries. The requirement of an effective,well tolerated iron chelator with a less demanding mode of administration has led to the development of deferasirox. The present study was aimed to compare the satisfaction and compliance with deferoxamine versus deferasirox (Exjade®),a novel oral iron chelator in patients with transfusion - dependent beta- thalassemia. A cross-sectional,single-center investigation study was carried out in the Thalassemia Center of Ibn-Atheer Teaching Hospital in Nineveh province,Iraq. One hundred and eight thalassemic patients aged between 2- 20 years old having received multiple blood transfusions and a serum ferritin greater than 1500 ng/ml. Patients were randomised into two groups. Group 1 received deferoxamine at a dose of 20-50mg/kg/day and group 2 received deferasirox at the dose of 10-30 mg/kg/day. Another 56 apparently healthy volunteers were used as a control group. The assessment of chelation was done during the period between November 2013 and February 2014 by measurement of serum ferritin. Satisfaction and compliance was assessed by using a special questionnaire prepared by the researcher. Out of the 108 thalassemic patients enrolled there was no discontinuation in treatment with the two drugs under study. The serum ferritin did not change significantly in any of the chelation groups. In comparison with the patients who were treated with DFO,those receiving DFX reported a significantly higher rate of compliance and satisfaction (P < 0.05). However,no significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding their satisfaction (P > 0.05).Compliance with deferasirox (50 %) was more than that with deferoxamine (20 %). Satisfaction with deferoxamine was significantly lower than deferasirox (p= 0.00).

Cut off value of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration for predicting metabolic syndrome

2019 ◽  
pp. 68-73
Author(s):  
Trong Nghia Nguyen ◽  
Thi Nhan Nguyen ◽  
Thi Dua Dao
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
The Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Key Words Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
And Control

Background: The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of cardiometabolic risk factors that tend to cluster together in affected individuals more often than predicted by chance. The presence of the metabolic syndrome substantially increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and is associated with a range of adverse clinical outcomes, many of which are closely associated with aging. Current estimates suggest that approximately 20 - 25% of the world’s population is affected by the metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome rises with age and more than 45% of people aged over 60 years have the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies show that low vitamin D status is very common in the world and this is a risk factor of metabolic syndrome. Objective: (1) Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in subjects with metabolic syndrome. (2) Cut off value of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration for predicting metabolic syndrome. Material and method: A cross-sectional study with control group on 318 adult subjects for health examinations at International Medical Center at Hue Central Hospital, including 139 subjects with metabolic syndrome and control group of 179 healthy subjects. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the IDF, NHLBI, AHA, WHF, IAS, IASO (2009). Plasma hydroxyvitamin D concentration was measured using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Reciever operating characteristic (ROC) curve were generated to assess sensitivity and specificity for different cut off value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration for predicting metabolic syndrome. Results: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in subjects with metabolic syndrome was 26.4 ng/ml, incidence of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency (59.7%) was significantly higher than in control group (23.5%) (p < 0.001). The optimal cut off point for 25-OH-D concentration for predictor of metabolic syndrome as 26.4 ng/ml (AUC=0.657, sensitivity=53.4%, specificity=71.6%). Conclusion: In 139 subjects with metabolic syndrome, the plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 26.4 ng/ml and the incidence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in the metabolic syndrome group was 59.7%. The optimal cut off point for plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration for predictor of metabolic syndrome as 26.4 ng/ml. Key words: Metabolic syndrome, 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Psychosocial Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Frontline Healthcare Workers in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quratul-Ain Zafar
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Psychosocial Impact ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare workers in Pakistan in terms of psychological factors emotional distress, insomnia, and burnout. Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at different hospitals across Pakistan and data collection was carried out from 15th June 2020 till 15th August 2020. Material and Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study aiming to compare the levels of burnout and emotional distress between frontline COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 healthcare workers. Any physician, nurse, and other healthcare workers were recruited from emergency care units and Covid-19 care units (target group), and non-COVID-19 care units (control group). Participation was voluntary and participants had to complete self-reported questionnaires and scales. A mixed-mode data collection was carried out, either in paper or web-based form to ensure maximum participation. Results: The independent t-test showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding depression, stress, and insomnia. The study group showed higher scores for these factors than the control group. Chi-square test of association revealed significant scores of burnout and professional fulfillment in both groups. There was a higher prevalence of burnout in the study group than in the control group. Conclusion: This study concludes that there was a significant psychosocial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the frontline healthcare workers measured in terms of emotional distress, insomnia, and burnout.

Can Cytokines be used as an Activation Marker in Rheumatoid Arthritis?

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatih Öner Kaya ◽  
Yeşim Ceylaner ◽  
Belkız Öngen İpek ◽  
Zeynep Güneş Özünal ◽  
Gülbüz Sezgin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Joint Disease ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Das 28 ◽  
Tnf Α

Aims: The etiopathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is not clearly understood. However, the role of the cytokines takes an important part in this mechanism. We aimed to bring a new approach to the concept of 'remission' in patients with RA. Background: RA is a chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory disease that involves small joints in the form of symmetrical polyarthritis and progresses with exacerbations and remissions. Pain, swelling, tenderness and morning stiffness are typical of the joints involved. Although it is approached as a primary joint disease, a wide variety of extra-articular involvements may also occur. It is an interesting pathophysiological process, the exact cause of which is still unknown, with many environmental, genetic and potentially undiscovered possible factors in a chaotic manner. Objective: In this cross-sectional study, sedimentation rate (ESR), C- Reactive protein (CRP), Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, soluble-TNF-α receptor (TNF-R), Interleukin (IL)-1B and IL-10 were measured in three groups which were healthy volunteers, patients with RA in the active period, and patients with RA in remission. Disease activity score-28 (DAS-28) was calculated in active RA and RA in remission. Methods: This study included 20 healthy volunteers, 20 remission patients with RA and 20 active RA patients. Venous blood samples were collected from patients in both healthy and RA groups. Results: RA group consisted 43 (71.6%) female and 17 (28.4%) male. Control group consisted 11 (55%) female and 9 (45%) male. TNF-R was significantly high only in the active group according to the healthy group (p=0.002). IL-10 was significantly high in active RA according to RA in remission (p=0.03). DAS-28 was significantly high in active RA according to RA in remission (p=0.001). In the active RA group, ESR and TNF-R had a positive correlation (r:0.442; p=0.048). In the active RA group, there was also a positive correlation between TNF-R and CRP (r:0.621; p=0,003). Both healthy and active RA group had significant positive correlation between ESR and CRP (r: 0.481; p=0.032 and r: 0,697; p=0,001 respectively). Conclusion: TNF-R can be the main pathophysiological factor and a marker showing activation. TNF-R can be very important in revealing the effect of TNF on the disease and the value of this effect in the treatment and ensuring the follow-up of the disease with CRP instead of ESR in activation.

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