scholarly journals A systematic review and meta-analysis of tenderness metrics in control groups used in comparative nutrition experiments1,2

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-276
Author(s):  
M. J. Powell ◽  
C. Yuan ◽  
R. S. Dzikamunhenga ◽  
R. Tarté ◽  
E. Huff-Lonergan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Force ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
National Level ◽  
Pork Quality ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Nutritional Interventions ◽  
Change In The Mean ◽  
Review Reports ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Abstract This review reports the pork quality attributes, Warner-Bratzler Shear Force, Slice Shear Force, Star Probe, pH, marbling, color (Minolta L*/L or Hunter L*/L), and sensory tenderness evaluation, in control groups used in comparative nutrition experiments over the past 20 yr. The original aim of this study was to evaluate if changes in pork quality based on the above metrics occurred over time. To address this question, it was anticipated that data may come from 3 sources with decreasing relevance: representative retail pork surveys, representative post-harvest carcass surveys, and control groups from comparative nutrition experiments. To identify the study population, a review of studies reported in Centre for Agricultural Biosciences International Abstracts (Web of Knowledge; 1994–2014) was conducted. Two national level surveys of retail pork and 146 relevant nutritional experiments studies, with 228 control groups, were identified by the search. It was not possible to conduct a meta-analysis of the retail pork surveys based on only 2 time points. For the comparative studies, a random effects meta-analysis was conducted with year as a covariate to assess the impact of time on the outcome. In the absence of modifiers, there was no evidence of meaningful change in the mean Warner-Bratzler Shear Force, pH, color, marbling, or sensory scores over the study period. There was evidence of substantial between-study heterogeneity in the characteristics of control pigs used over the years for Warner-Bratzler Shear Force and measures of color. The absence of publicly-available representative surveys of pork quality meant the changes in pork quality over time were not clear. If changes in pork quality have occurred, the data suggest that pigs used as controls in experiments may have become less representative of commercial pigs over time and the translatability of study findings from nutrition experiments might be reduced over time. Alternately, if commercial pigs have not changed, then control pigs reflect this. The study does not address if control groups in other experimental intervention studies had similar tenderness patterns as reported here for nutritional interventions. A large amount of potentially available data was excluded from the analysis due to incomplete reporting in the original study reports.

Party Change and Adaptation in Latin America

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Cyr ◽  
Nicolás Liendo
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
National Level ◽  
Party Change ◽  
New Parties ◽  
Empirical Measures ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
New Research ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Political parties are not what they used to be. They evolve, often in response to external motivations, but also as a function of the historical time period in which they emerge. There are several determinants of party change and adaptation in Latin America. Most importantly, multiple exogenous forces, including a shift in the economic model, the adoption of decentralization policies, and the growing political voice of minoritized groups, have challenged parties to adapt for survival. While not all parties have successfully endured, some have employed diverse strategies to do so. To be sure, new parties also emerge as a function of exogenous challenges and opportunities. In Latin America, new parties have differed in form and in function from their predecessors. The emergence of new parties represents a second type of party change that must be contemplated. Overall, parties in the 21st century look quite different from their 20th-century counterpoints. Additionally, empirical measures suggest that the dynamics of party change vary across the region and also within countries across time. A novel concept, party survival, has been elaborated to address adaptation strategies that neither lead to continued electoral success at the national level nor end in full party collapse. Indeed, several countries in the region have faced at least one crisis of representation, wherein voters defected from existing parties to vote for new parties and politicians. A new research agenda, which examines the role of resources in provoking successful party emergence and adaptation over time, provides one fruitful explanation for why parties can survive a sudden and dramatic loss of national votes. Overall, knowledge of party change and adaptation has accumulated over time. It has also evolved with respect to nuance and sophistication. Still, there is much left to be learned about party change and adaptation, including the impact new parties will have on representation, governance, and democracy more generally.

Effect of Indoor Wall Climbing on Self-Efficacy and Self-Perceptions of Children with Special Needs

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin R. Mazzoni ◽  
P. Lynn Purves ◽  
Julie Southward ◽  
Ryan E. Rhodes ◽  
Viviene A. Temple
Keyword(s):  
Special Needs ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Children With Special Needs ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Self Worth ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

The impact of a six-week indoor wall climbing on the perceptions of self for children with special needs aged 6–12 years was explored. Participants (n = 46) were randomly assigned to the intervention (girls, n = 4; boys, n = 19) and control groups (girls, n = 5; boys, n = 18). Belayers’ and children’s perceptions of efficacy were measured using specifically designed questionnaires and perceptions of competence and global self-worth were measured using Harter’s (1985) Self-Perception Profile for Children for participants with an adaptive age of 8 years or higher. Children’s self-efficacy and belayers’ ratings of children’s efficacy improved significantly, t(21) = 3.9, p = .001, d = .84 and F(2, 44) = 30.03, p < .001, respectively. The children’s judgments of their athletic and social competence and global self-worth, however, did not change over time or differ from the wait-listed control group (p > .05). These results suggest that it is likely that many experiences that enhance self-efficacy may be needed to improve self-perceptions.

scholarly journals ART initiations following community-based distribution of HIV self-tests: meta-analysis and meta-regression of STAR Initiative data

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (Suppl 4) ◽  
pp. e004986
Author(s):  
Melissa Neuman ◽  
Katherine L Fielding ◽  
Helen Ayles ◽  
Frances M Cowan ◽  
Bernadette Hensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
National Level ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Variable Effect ◽  
Standard Testing ◽  
Meta Regression ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionMeasuring linkage after community-based testing, particularly HIV self-testing (HIVST), is challenging. Here, we use data from studies of community-based HIVST distribution, conducted within the STAR Initiative, to assess initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and factors driving differences in linkage rates.MethodsFive STAR studies evaluated HIVST implementation in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. New ART initiations during the months of intervention at clinics in HIVST and comparison areas were presented graphically, and study effects combined using meta-analysis. Meta-regression was used to estimate associations between the impact of community-based HIVST distribution and indicators of implementation context, intensity and reach. Effect size estimates used (1) prespecified trial definitions of ART timing and comparator facilities and (2) exploratory definitions accounting for unexpected diffusion of HIVST into comparison areas and periods with less distribution of HIVST than was expected.ResultsCompared with arms with standard testing only, ART initiations were higher in clinics in HIVST distribution areas in 4/5 studies. The prespecified meta-analysis found positive but variable effects of HIVST on facility ART initiations (RR: 1.14, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.40; p=0.21). The exploratory meta-analysis found a stronger impact of HIVST distribution on ART initiations (RR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.55, p=0.02).ART initiations were higher in studies with greater self-reported population-level intensity of HIVST use (RR: 1.12; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.21; p=0.02.), but did not differ by national-level indicators of ART use among people living with HIV, number of HIVST kits distributed per 1000 population, or self-reported knowledge of how to link to care after a reactive HIVST.ConclusionCommunity-based HIVST distribution has variable effect on ART initiations compared with standard testing service alone. Optimising both support for and approach to measurement of effective and timely linkage or relinkage to HIV care and prevention following HIVST is needed to maximise impact and guide implementation strategies.

The Impact of STRICTA and CONSORT on Reporting of Randomised Control Trials of Acupuncture: A Systematic Methodological Evaluation

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 349-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simen Svenkerud ◽  
Hugh MacPherson
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Primary Analysis ◽  
Quality Of Reporting ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Background Clear and unambiguous reporting is essential for researchers and clinicians to be able to assess the quality of research. To enhance the quality of reporting, consensus-based reporting guidelines are commonly used. Objectives To update and extend previous research by evaluating the more recent impact of STRICTA (STandards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture) and CONSORT (CONsolidated Standards Of Reporting Trials) guidelines on the quality of reporting of acupuncture trials. Methods By random sampling, approximately 45 trials from each of five 2-year time periods between 1994 and 2015 were included in the study. Using scoring sheets based on the STRICTA and CONSORT checklist items (range 0 to 7 and 0 to 5, respectively), the distribution of items reported over time was investigated, with changes shown using scatterplots. The primary analysis used a before-and-after t-test to compare time periods. A meta-analysis investigated whether or not trials published in journals that endorsed STRICTA were associated with better reporting. Results The study included 207 trials. Improved reporting of items over time was observed, as represented by changes in the scatterplot slope and intercept. The mean STRICTA score increased from 4.27 in the 1994–1995 period to 5.53 in 2014–2015, an 18% improvement. The mean CONSORT score rose from 1.01 in the 1994–1995 period to 3.32 in 2014–2015, an increment of 46%. There was proportionately lower reporting for items related to practitioner background (STRICTA) and for randomisation implementation and allocation concealment (CONSORT). Trials published in journals that endorsed STRICTA had statistically significantly superior reporting of both STRICTA and CONSORT items overall. Conclusion This study has provided evidence of an improvement in reporting of STRICTA and CONSORT items over the time period from 1994 to 2015. Journals that endorse STRICTA have a better record in terms of reporting quality. Some evidence suggests that the publication of STRICTA has had a positive impact on reporting quality.

scholarly journals Competitors or Complements: A Meta-analysis of the Effect of Airbnb on Hotel Performance

2021 ◽  
pp. 004728752110426
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Marta Nieto García ◽  
Giampaolo Viglia ◽  
Juan Luis Nicolau
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Hotel Performance ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Meta Regression ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

The rise of peer-to-peer accommodation has challenged the traditional hotel business model. A lingering question is the effect of Airbnb supply on hotel performance. By analyzing 466 estimates from 33 different studies, our results reveal that the negative effect of Airbnb supply on hotel performance is moderate. The meta-regression of effect size recognizes the significant effects of different factors on the strength of the negative effect. In particular, the negative effect is smaller for high-end (vs. low-end) hotels, and its magnitude is shrinking over time. Additionally, the detrimental effect is less pronounced for European (vs. Asian) hotels. The study also reports that negative effects are more common in research published in academic journals. The synthesis of the effects across existing studies contributes to a robust and comprehensive understanding of the impact of Airbnb supply on hotel performance.

scholarly journals Racism in Australia: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jehonathan Ben ◽  
Amanuel Elias ◽  
Ayuba Issaka ◽  
Mandy Truong ◽  
Kevin Dunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
National Level ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Economic Outcomes ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Racism has been identified as a major source of injustice and a health burden in Australia and across the world. Despite the surge in Australian quantitative research on the topic, and the increasing recognition of the prevalence and impact of racism in Australian society, the collective evidence base has yet to be comprehensively reviewed or meta-analysed. This protocol describes the first systematic review and meta-analysis of racism in Australia at the national level. The current study will considerably improve our understanding of racism, including its manifestations and fluctuation over time, variation across settings and between groups, and associations with health and socio-economic outcomes. Methods The research will consist of a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Searches for relevant studies will focus on the social and health science databases CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed and Scopus. Two reviewers will independently screen eligible papers for inclusion, and extract data from included studies. Studies will be included in the review and meta-analysis where they meet the following criteria: 1) report quantitative empirical research based on study participants’ self-reports; 2) report data on the prevalence of racism, or its association with health (e.g., mental health, physical health, health behaviours) or socio-economic outcomes (e.g., education, employment, income); and 3) report Australian data. Existing reviews will be manually searched for additional studies. Study characteristics will be summarised, and a meta-analysis of the prevalence of racism and its associations will be conducted using random effects models and mean weighted effect sizes. Moderation and subgroup analyses will be conducted as well. All analyses will use the software CMA 3.0. Discussion This study will provide a novel and comprehensive synthesis of the quantitative evidence base on racism in Australia. It will answer questions about the fluctuation of racism over time, its variation across settings and groups, and its relationship with health and socio-economic outcomes. Findings will be discussed in relation to broader debates in this growing field of research, and will be widely disseminated to inform anti-racism research, action and policy nationally. Registration: submitted, 20.07.2021.

Cutting Through

Uneven Odds ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 171-206
Author(s):  
Divya Vaid
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Affirmative Action ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
National Level ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Downward Mobility ◽  
Class Mobility ◽  
Specific Occupation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

This chapter brings out the influence of caste on social class mobility and analyses in detail the association between caste and social class in India. While theories of social change posit a decline in the impact of caste on social mobility over time, this chapter questions whether we see evidence of this at the national level. More crucially has the association between caste and class declined? And, has the relative importance of caste on achieveing a specific occupation, and hence social mobility, also declined overtime? In light of debates on affirmative action, this chapter asks whether certain castes find it harder to take advantage of upward class mobility chances, and conversely whether some castes are cushioned from downward mobility chances.

Analysis of weight loss as a prognostic factor in patients (pts) with advanced gastric cancer from REGARD, RAINBOW and RAINFALL phase III studies.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 348-348
Author(s):  
Wasat Mansoor ◽  
Eric Roeland ◽  
Aafia Chaudhry ◽  
Ran Wei ◽  
Anindya Chatterjee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Prognostic Factor ◽  
Advanced Gastric Cancer ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Phase 3 ◽  
Nutritional Interventions ◽  
Negative Prognostic Factor ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
The Impact

348 Background: Maintaining weight (wt) and adequate nutrition during systemic treatment in advanced gastric cancer (G/GEJ) therapy remains a challenge. We investigated the impact of early wt-loss on survival in three phase 3 studies of ramucirumab (R); REGARD (RG), RAINBOW (RB), and RAINFALL (RF) in G/GEJ. Methods: ITT pts were categorized into 2 groups based on their body wt change from start to end of cycle 1 (C1; C = 28 days in RG, RB; C = 21 days in RF): wt-loss < 3% vs ≥3%. Univariate Cox PH models were performed in each individual study to evaluate the effects of body wt change from the start to end of C1 on OS. A pooled meta-analysis stratified by study and a sensitivity analysis of the subgroup of responders was also performed. Results: A total of 311 (RG: 212 in R+BSC; 99 in Placebo (PB)+BSC), 591 (RB: 306 in the R+Paclitaxel (P); 285 PB+P), and 562 (RF: 279 in R+Cape/Cis (CC); 283 in PB+CC) pts with body wt data during C1 were evaluated. The number of pts with wt-loss of ≥3% and < 3% are shown in Table. Pts with wt-loss < 3% during C1 experienced longer OS compared to those with wt-loss ≥3%, irrespective of treatment arms across studies (Table). In pooled treatment arms within each study, the HR for wt-loss group ( < 3% vs ≥3%) was 0.359 (95% CI = 0.254, 0.507), 0.632 (0.497, 0.804), 0.752 (0.608, 0.930) in RG, RB, RF, respectively. In the meta-analysis that combined the 3-studies, univariate Cox PH model stratified by study showed consistent effect of early wt-loss on OS regardless of treatment arm, HR ( < 3% vs ≥3%) = 0.632 (0.546, 0.732). Conclusions: Analysis from three phase 3 studies demonstrates early wt-loss ≥3% during C1 is an important negative prognostic factor for survival in gastric/GEJ cancer. Prospective studies of the relationship of weight preserving nutritional interventions on OS are warranted. Clinical trial information: NCT00917384, NCT01170663, NCT02314117. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Anticoagulation and Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunting for Treatment of Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 107602961988802
Author(s):  
Jessica P. E. Davis ◽  
Amy G. Ogurick ◽  
Carrie E. Rothermel ◽  
Min-Woong Sohn ◽  
Nicolas M. Intagliata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Portal Vein ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Hepatic Decompensation ◽  
Vein Thrombosis ◽  
Pooled Data ◽  
Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunting ◽  
Portosystemic Shunting ◽  
The Impact

Portal vein thromboses (PVTs) are associated with hepatic decompensation, worse survival, and worse liver transplant outcomes. We evaluated the impact of anticoagulation (AC) and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS) on recanalization and mortality in patients with cirrhosis and PVT. Systematic search of electronic databases was performed. Clinical trials and observational studies that evaluated primary outcomes of recanalization and survival in patients with cirrhosis having PVT treated with AC or TIPS were included. Risk of bias was assessed. Summary odds ratios (ORs) for pooled data from the included studies were generated using a random effects model. A total of 505 studies were screened for inclusion. After review, 7 studies were ultimately included. Data from 327 patients in total were evaluated. Overall, treatment with either AC or TIPS resulted in partial or complete recanalization (OR: 4.56 [95% confidence interval, CI: 2.46-8.47]) but did not significantly impact mortality (OR: 0.57 [95% CI: 0.21-1.57]). The summary OR of AC for recanalization was 6.00 (95% CI: 2.38-15.07). The summary OR of TIPS for recanalization was 3.80 (95% CI: 1.47-9.83). The summary OR of mortality in patients treated with AC for PVT was 0.28 (95% CI: 0.08-0.95). The mortality summary OR was 1.10 (95% CI 0.23-5.16) in patients who underwent TIPS. There was insufficient data to assess complications such as hepatic encephalopathy or bleeding. Both AC and TIPS have a significant effect on recanalization. Anticoagulation appears to have a protective effect on mortality that is not seen with TIPS. More studies with control groups are need.

Using meta-analysis to determine the influence of dietary factors on pork quality

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 107-107
Author(s):  
L Trefan ◽  
L Bünger ◽  
A Doeschl-Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Pork Quality ◽  
Statistical Tool ◽  
Quantitative Estimates ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Consumption of pork is declining in the UK, while demands of costumers for improved pork quality are rising. Various experimental studies suggest that dietary supplements such as vitamins and minerals could help to improve pork quality without negatively affecting other aspects of the production cycle (e.g. growth, welfare). However, results from different experiments are inconsistent, suggesting different magnitudes of effects caused by the same dietary supplementation. Meta-analysis (MA) is a statistical tool designed to combine results from different studies in a statistically sound manner to produce robust quantitative estimates of the impact of specific factors on traits of interest. In this study we tested the feasibility of meta-analysis for determining how supplementation of vitamin E as antioxidant reduces lipid oxidation and improves redness of pork over time, extending thus its shelf-life.

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