Patterns and Predictors of First-Line Taxane Use in Patients with Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in US Clinical Practice

We investigated first-line (1L) treatment patterns and predictors of taxane use to better understand the evolving metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) treatment landscape. This retrospective analysis of the Truven Health MarketScan® (Somers, NY, USA) Database included women with mTNBC who received 1L therapy within six months of diagnosis (January 2005–June 2015). Multivariate logistic regression models identified predictors of taxane use, adjusting for prognostic factors. A total of 2,271 women with newly diagnosed mTNBC received 1L treatment during the study period. Half received a 1L taxane (53%), more often in combination than as monotherapy (58% versus 42%), though this varied by specific taxane. Nab-Paclitaxel monotherapy increased substantially after 2010. More recent treatment year (odds ratio, 2.16 (95% CI 1.69–2.76]) and number of metastases (≥3 versus 1: 1.73 (1.25–2.40)) predicted taxane monotherapy versus combination. Having a health maintenance organization versus a preferred provider organization plan predicted less nab-paclitaxel versus paclitaxel (0.32 (0.13–0.80)) or docetaxel (0.30 (0.10–0.89)) use. More recent index year (2011–2015 vs 2005–2010) was the only predictor favoring nab-paclitaxel versus paclitaxel (2.01 (1.26–3.21)) or docetaxel (3.63 (2.11–6.26)). Taxane-containing regimens remained the most common 1L mTNBC treatments. Paclitaxel and nab-paclitaxel use changed substantially over time, with nab-paclitaxel use associated with insurance coverage.

Performance Analysis of Mobile Banking During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period Comparing with the Pre-pandemic Period of Covid-19: An Empirical Study on Bangladesh

Objective - Mobile banking is a growing activity to engage the non-banking people in the banking system in Bangladesh, so researchers of this paper try to find out how much it is affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Basically, this study is developed to assess the performance of mobile banking during the COVID-19 pandemic period comparing with the pre-pandemic period. Methodology/Technique - Authors use descriptive statistics to evaluate the performance of mobile bank during the study period from 2014 to August 2020. Findings - This paper finds that during the COVID period the average change of monthly number of active accounts & registered clients have increased, on the other hand the average change of monthly number of agents have decreased at the same time. Except cash in & cash out, all other types of transactions proportion of mobile banking have increased during the COVID-19 period. Novelty - As the mobile banking is a key resource for banking people as well as non-banking people to transact financial things at setting at the house, so this paper will be beneficial for mobile banking service provider organization to assess the whole things of mobile banking at this ongoing period, and they can take necessary action. Type of Paper - Empirical. Keywords: Mobile Banking, COVID-19, Financial Performance, Bangladesh. JEL Classification: G21, G22. URI: http://gatrenterprise.com/GATRJournals/AFR/vol6.1_2.html DOI: https://doi.org/10.35609/afr.2021.6.1(2) Pages 54 – 68

KibioR & Kibio: a new architecture for next-generation data querying and sharing in big biology

Motivation The growing production of massive heterogeneous biological data offers opportunities for new discoveries. However, performing multi-omics data analysis is challenging, and researchers are forced to handle the ever-increasing complexity of both data management and evolution of our biological understanding. Substantial efforts have been made to unify biological datasets into integrated systems. Unfortunately, they are not easily scalable, deployable and searchable, locally or globally. Results This publication presents two tools with a simple structure that can help any data provider, organization or researcher, requiring a reliable data search and analysis base. The first tool is Kibio, a scalable and adaptable data storage based on Elasticsearch search engine. The second tool is KibioR, a R package to pull, push and search Kibio datasets or any accessible Elasticsearch-based databases. These tools apply a uniform data exchange model and minimize the burden of data management by organizing data into a decentralized, versatile, searchable and shareable structure. Several case studies are presented using multiple databases, from drug characterization to miRNAs and pathways identification, emphasizing the ease of use and versatility of the Kibio/KibioR framework. Availability Both KibioR and Elasticsearch are open source. KibioR package source is available at https://github.com/regisoc/kibior and the library on CRAN at https://cran.r-project.org/package=kibior. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Is the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme Intervention Delivered as Planned? An Observational Study of Fidelity of Intervention Delivery

Background The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS-DPP) has been delivered by four commercial organizations across England, to prevent people with impaired glucose tolerance developing Type 2 diabetes. Evidence reviews underpinning the NHS-DPP design specification identified 19 Behavior Change Techniques (BCTs) that are the intervention “active ingredients.” It is important to understand the discrepancies between BCTs specified in design and BCTs actually delivered. Purpose To compare observed fidelity of delivery of BCTs that were delivered to (a) the NHS-DPP design specification, and (b) the programme manuals of four provider organizations. Methods Audio-recordings were made of complete delivery of NHS-DPP courses at eight diverse sites (two courses per provider organization). The eight courses consisted of 111 group sessions, with 409 patients and 35 facilitators. BCT Taxonomy v1 was used to reliably code the contents of NHS-DPP design specification documents, programme manuals for each provider organization, and observed NHS-DPP group sessions. Results The NHS-DPP design specification indicated 19 BCTs that should be delivered, whereas only seven (37%) were delivered during the programme in all eight courses. By contrast, between 70% and 89% of BCTs specified in programme manuals were delivered. There was substantial under-delivery of BCTs that were designed to improve self-regulation of behavior, for example, those involving problem solving and self-monitoring of behavior. Conclusions A lack of fidelity in delivery to the underlying evidence base was apparent, due to poor translation of design specification to programme manuals. By contrast, the fidelity of delivery to the programme manuals was relatively good. Future commissioning should focus on ensuring the evidence base is more accurately translated into the programme manual contents.

STRATEGI PENINGKATAN KINERJA DENGAN IMPORTANCE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS (IPA) DAN ANALISIS STRENGTHS, OPPORTUNITIES, ASPIRATIONS, RESULTS (SOAR)

Bidkeu Polda D.I. Yogyakara as a work unit for financial development within the Kepolisian Daerah D.I. Yogyakarta is responsible for making the implementation of the financial administration process run smoothly, transparently, accountably and professionally. In order to support the implementation of the achievement of these goals, it is necessary to know the extent of the performance conditions and determine the strategy for improving the performance of the Bidang Keuangan Polda D.I. Financial Yogyakarta. Data analysis in this study used Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) and SOAR. IPA is an analyst by comparing the performance and level of expectations or interests of service recipients as an effort to improve the performance of the service provider organization. Furthermore, SOAR consists of four variables, namely S: Strength, O: Opportunity, A: Aspirations, R: Result. SOAR analysis comes from the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach, which is basically a strategy based on the positive things that a business or organization has to develop and make it its main advantage.Based on the results of research with IPA and SOAR, it is concluded that the strategy to improve the performance of the Bidang Keuangan Polda D.I. Financial Yogyakarta is a strategy: (1) Improving the quality of work results and timeliness of reporting; (2) Making efforts to add and maintain the facilities and infrastructure to office support ; (3) Maintaining the friendliness of personnel in service; (4) Increasing the discipline of personnel working time; (5) Developing personnel potential; (6) Increase the work motivation of personnel; (7) Striving for the regeneration of Bidkeu Polda D.I. Yogyakarta.

Deciding a Sensible Approach to Commissioning when Multiple Commissioners Are Involved

This chapter considers when it is advantageous for commissioners to work together to ‘buy’ the services needed for their populations, and when it is not. Often simple commissioning arrangements between a commissioner and provider organization are the most workable, but occasionally a number of commissioners might explore commissioning together. There are two main scenarios. These are a collaborative commissioning (collaborative contracting) approach, or a ‘collaboration of intent’. With both of these collaborative models, all participating commissioners have an aligned vision of the service to be commissioned. The crux of the matter is then around whether there is pooling of financial risk and the contracting arrangements. There is an overview of these arrangements and how to work out what is feasible. Choosing carefully is important, as using a ‘collaborative commissioning’ arrangement when it is actually a collaboration of intent in spirit can be difficult to manage and can eventually unfold.