scholarly journals Participation in the international coalition against Daesh and the rise of foreign fighters

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cind Du Bois ◽  
Caroline Buts
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Conflict Zone ◽  
Cautious Interpretation ◽  
International Role ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Foreign Fighters

The flow of foreign fighters leaving for Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic has slowed, but they often still pose a serious threat, either by encouraging others toward violence or by directly assisting themselves in a terrorist attack after their return. This article studies the effect of a country’s active involvement in a conflict zone on the flow of foreign fighters. Specifically, we test whether a nation’s participation in the international coalition against Daesh influences its number of foreign fighters. Despite the small sample size resulting from limited official data on foreign fighters, we report several interesting insights for cautious interpretation and only regarding the countries included. Findings from a negative binomial model suggest that a country’s active international role against Daesh also increases the foreign fighters coming from that country. Hence, it is important to keep in mind that the cost of a military intervention can be higher than the cost of the operation itself. Policymakers should also account for the cost of the increased number of foreign fighters and the resulting threat.

scholarly journals Pattern of use of biologics in psoriasis among Indian dermatologists – A cross sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Shekhar Neema ◽  
Disha Dabbas ◽  
S. Radhakrishnan ◽  
Arun Kumar Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Target Organ Damage ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Organ Damage ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Prohibitive Cost ◽  
The Cost

Background and Aims: Biologics are a relatively new class of highly effective drugs in the management of psoriasis. They act on specific immune processes, achieve rapid and sustained clearance and do not cause target organ damage unlike conventional systemic therapy. It appears that their use in our country is not as widespread as in developed nations despite these benefits ; their prohibitive cost may be a major factor for the limited usage. This survey aimed to find out the extent of use and factors hindering usage of biologics for the management of psoriasis by Indian dermatologists. Methods: It was a cross-sectional questionnaire based study. The questionnaire was designed after a focussed group discussion, followed by validation. The survey was sent in the form of a link to Indian dermatologists. The responses were recorded in excel-sheet and the data was analyzed by SPSS ver 25. Results: Of the 310 participants who took part, 287 completed the survey. Two hundred (70%) were users of biologics, while 87 (30%) had never used them. Cost was the major factor which prevented biologic use. Majority of the respondents used biologics in less than 2 cases per month. Secukinumab was the most common biologic used followed by etanercept. The factors which determined choice of biologics were convenience, cost, previous experience, co-morbid conditions and recommendations by an expert. Limitations: A small sample size was the limitation of the study. Dermatologists who do not use biologics may be under-represented in the study. Conclusions: Biologics are not used optimally by Indian dermatologists for management of psoriasis. The cost, fear of adverse effects, lack of awareness and inadequate felt need are major factors which prevent their regular use.

Modeling the Number of the First- and Second-Order Branches within the Live Tree Crown of Korean Larch Plantations in Northeast, China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Miao ◽  
Lianjun Zhang ◽  
Faris Rafi Almay Widagdo ◽  
Lihu Dong ◽  
Fengri Li
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Count Data Models ◽  
Generalized Poisson ◽  
Live Tree

Modeling the number of branches is fundamental for simulating other branch characteristics and crown structure. In this study, a total of 77 Korean larch trees (Larix olgensis Henry) were destructively sampled from the plantations in the Northeast of China. The number of the first- and second-order branches were modeled using seven count data models, i.e., Poisson, negative binomial (i.e. NB, including NB-1, NB-2, and NB-P) and generalized Poisson (i.e. GP, including GP-1, GP-2, and GP-P) regression models. Further, the generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) were applied to those models using the sampled trees as the random effects. The results showed that (1) the Poisson regression was preferred for modeling the number of the first-order branches; (2) the GP-1 regression was considered the optimal model for the number of the second-order branches; (3) the significant predictor variables included tree height increment, branch position, relative tree size, average dominant height, and tree age; (4) the GLMM models significantly improved both modeling fitting and prediction performance; (5) the prediction accuracy of the GLMM models increased gradually with the increasing number of sample sizes; and (6) a relatively small sample size with an appropriate sampling strategy would be adequate to provide a good estimation at a specific crown section.

scholarly journals Cost, Quality, and Access of Healthcare in Piura, Peru

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Griffin ◽  
Elaina Osterbur
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Medical Providers ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Cost ◽  
To Receive

The aim of the study is to investigate the patient perceptions on the cost, quality, and access of health care services in Piura, Peru. Although one of the largest cities in Peru, Piura has one of the lowest densities of health care workers in the country which greatly impacts the population’s ability to receive medical treatment. Lack of financial resources and health literacy, among other health disparities exist. Modeled after CAHPS Health Plan Adult Commercial Survey 5.0 and the Patient Satisfaction Survey, a forty-four question English and Spanish survey was created with questions to study healthcare variables. As a correlational study with convenience sampling, the survey was administered to both patients and medical providers in eight city health centers. Over a period of twelve days, 107 surveys were collected. After eliminating subjects who did not meet the study criteria, 92 patients and 13 medical providers were included in the study. Findings from medical providers are not reported because of the small sample size. The results of this study suggests that 32% of subjects do not have health insurance, 24% of subjects rated their healthcare received as average, 18% of participants rated their healthcare as the best possible on a scale of zero to ten, and 29% of subjects had to wait an average of seven days for access to healthcare services when care is urgent. The results of this analysis can be used to better understand the Peruvian healthcare system and educate the Piura community and the Parish Santísimo Sacramento as they continue to improve and expand their health care services. KEYWORDS: Cost; Quality; Access; Healthcare; Piura; Peru; Satisfaction; Parroquia Santísimo Sacramento; EsSalud; SIS; MINSA

The NBP Negative Binomial Model for Assessing Differential Gene Expression from RNA-Seq

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanming Di ◽  
Daniel W Schafer ◽  
Jason S Cumbie ◽  
Jeff H Chang
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Differential Gene Expression ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Dispersion Parameter ◽  
Additional Parameter ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Differential Gene

We propose a new statistical test for assessing differential gene expression using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data. Commonly used probability distributions, such as binomial or Poisson, cannot appropriately model the count variability in RNA-Seq data due to overdispersion. The small sample size that is typical in this type of data also prevents the uncritical use of tools derived from large-sample asymptotic theory. The test we propose is based on the NBP parameterization of the negative binomial distribution. It extends an exact test proposed by Robinson and Smyth (2007, 2008). In one version of Robinson and Smyth’s test, a constant dispersion parameter is used to model the count variability between biological replicates. We introduce an additional parameter to allow the dispersion parameter to depend on the mean. Our parametric method complements nonparametric regression approaches for modeling the dispersion parameter. We apply the test we propose to an Arabidopsis data set and a range of simulated data sets. The results show that the test is simple, powerful and reasonably robust against departures from model assumptions.

INDUSTRY'S EXPERIENCES WITH THE SCIENTIFIC ADVICE OFFERED BY THE FEDERAL JOINT COMMITTEE WITHIN THE EARLY BENEFIT ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS IN GERMANY

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charalabos-Markos Dintsios ◽  
Sara Schlenkrich
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Benefit Assessment ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Scientific Advice ◽  
Federal Joint Committee ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Early Benefit Assessment ◽  
Early Benefit

Objectives: Optional scientific advice (SA) for the early benefit assessment of pharmaceuticals is offered by the German decision maker, the Federal Joint Committee (FJC). The aim of this study was to elicit manufacturers’ experiences with the SA procedures offered by the FJC to date.Methods: A preliminary survey on a small sample size was conducted. Subsequently, a questionnaire comprising eight items, which was developed on the basis of that survey, was used. Data were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative approaches.Results: The elicitation, including a sample of 25 percent of the completed advice, highlighted the following, regarding the process as well as to the content shortcomings of the SA procedures from an industrial perspective: inconsistencies, FJC's lack of expertise in conducting clinical trials, partially incomplete answers. and a low willingness of the FJC to engage in dialogue with industry were criticized. On the other hand, the majority of respondents expressed a positive attitude concerning unambiguousness, completeness, traceability, discussion atmosphere, and the protocol of the advice. Early SA, before pivotal trials start, showed a significantly higher completeness compared with late SA with respect to endpoints and study duration. Within 4 years the quality of FJC's propositions on some topics improved significantly.Conclusions: Only a few statistically significant differences were detectable between early versus late SA. A positive trend in industry's perception of the SA can be observed over time. A more active involvement of additional stakeholders and the incorporation of procedural elements from other healthcare systems could improve the quality of the SA offered by the FJC.

scholarly journals International Real Estate Review

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-170
Author(s):  
Cynthia Holmes ◽  
◽  
Michael LaCour-Little ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Default Risk ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Mortgage Lending ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Mortgage Market ◽  
Multifamily Housing ◽  
Loan Pricing ◽  
Loan Terms ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The U.S

We combine loan data from distinct sources to compare and contrast multifamily mortgage lending in Canada and the U.S. After a general comparison of the multifamily housing markets in the two countries, we focus on loan pricing and non-price contract terms in the two environments. We find longer loan terms in the U.S. compared to Canada and attribute this to the greater liquidity available from a more established secondary mortgage market. We also find that while nominal rates are higher in Canada, mortgage spreads are actually lower, a result likely due to contract features that raise the cost of default for borrowers and restrict prepayments". In terms of loan performance, we found greater prepayment risk in U.S. mortgages and greater default risk in Canadian mortgages, although findings regarding default are limited by small sample size.

The Effect of the Cost of Strikes on the Volume of Strike Activity

ILR Review ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 552-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis R. Maki
Keyword(s):  
Time Series Data ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Strike Activity ◽  
Transfer Function Analysis ◽  
Output Losses ◽  
The One ◽  
The Cost

This paper presents a method for testing whether the volume of strike activity in a unionized firm or industry is affected by the cost of such activity as measured by output lost, and applies that method to Canadian data at the one-digit SIC level. Output losses are estimated through bivariate transfer function analysis of time series data, and rank correlations between these estimates and a measure of strike activity are then calculated across industries. The results support the hypothesis that strike activity varies inversely with the cost of strikes, but this evidence is not strong, possibly due to the small sample size used in the cross-section analysis.

scholarly journals Participation in Community Walking Following Stroke: The Influence of Self-Perceived Environmental Barriers

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 620-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia A. Robinson ◽  
Patricia Noritake Matsuda ◽  
Marcia A. Ciol ◽  
Anne Shumway-Cook
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Environmental Features ◽  
Observational Study Design ◽  
Physical Features

Background Community walking is limited among survivors of stroke; however, the contributing factors are not clearly understood. Objective This study examined the association of features in the environment with frequency of community walking following stroke. Design An observational study design was used, with frequency of community walking data collected prospectively. Method Thirty survivors of stroke (mean age=67 years; mean months since stroke=40), and 30 older adults without stroke (mean age=68 years) participated. Frequency of community walking (number of trips, walking-related activities [WRA], and the ratio of WRA to trips) and satisfaction were measured using self-report. The Environmental Analysis of Mobility Questionnaire (EAMQ) was used to determine frequency of encounter with versus avoidance of environmental features during community walking. Negative binomial and linear regression models were used to analyze the association of environmental features with measures of community walking. Results Survivors of stroke reported reduced community walking and fewer encounters with and greater avoidance of features within 8 dimensions of the environment compared with a control group of adults without stroke. Following stroke, avoidance of features in some environmental dimensions was associated with frequency of community walking as measured by number of trips, number of WRA, and the ratio of WRA to trips. Environmental features explained little of the variability in community walking. Limitations Limitations included a small sample size and limited diversity among participants. This study examined only physical features in the environment and did not include other environmental factors, such as social support, which may influence participation. Conclusions Avoidance of features within some, but not all, environmental dimensions was associated with self-reported frequency of community walking following stroke, suggesting that some environmental features may limit community walking more than others.

Probing the ultrastructure of the mitotic and meiotic spindle in eggs: An expeditious approach based on semi-thin (0.25 μm) serial sections

1983 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 552-555
Author(s):  
Conly L. Rieder ◽  
S. Bowser ◽  
R. Nowogrodzki ◽  
K. Ross ◽  
G. Sluder
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Meiotic Spindle ◽  
Serial Sections ◽  
Mitotic Apparatus ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Cell Cycles ◽  
Ultrastructural Studies

Eggs have long been a favorite material for studying the mechanism of karyokinesis in-vivo and in-vitro. They can be obtained in great numbers and, when fertilized, divide synchronously over many cell cycles. However, they are not considered to be a practical system for ultrastructural studies on the mitotic apparatus (MA) for several reasons, the most obvious of which is that sectioning them is a formidable task: over 1000 ultra-thin sections need to be cut from a single 80-100 μm diameter egg and of these sections only a small percentage will contain the area or structure of interest. Thus it is difficult and time consuming to obtain reliable ultrastructural data concerning the MA of eggs; and when it is obtained it is necessarily based on a small sample size.We have recently developed a procedure which will facilitate many studies concerned with the ultrastructure of the MA in eggs. It is based on the availability of biological HVEM's and on the observation that 0.25 μm thick serial sections can be screened at high resolution for content (after mounting on slot grids and staining with uranyl and lead) by phase contrast light microscopy (LM; Figs 1-2).

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