scholarly journals experDesign: stratifying samples into batches with minimal bias

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (67) ◽  
pp. 3358
Author(s):  
Lluís Sancho ◽  
Juan-José Lozano ◽  
Azucena Salas
Keyword(s):  
Minimal Bias

scholarly journals Influence of Intermittent Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Administration on the Outcomes of Orthodontic Tooth Movement—A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 5268
Author(s):  
Zohaib Khurshid ◽  
Faris Yahya Asiri
Keyword(s):  
Parathyroid Hormone ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Tooth Movement ◽  
Orthodontic Tooth Movement ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Medical Subject Headings ◽  
Periodontal Tissues ◽  
Minimal Bias ◽  
Intermittent Pth

Objective: The aim of this review is to summarize the effects of local and systemic PTH administration on periodontal tissues during orthodontic tooth movement. Materials and methods: An electronic search was conducted on the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, SCOPUS and Embase. On PubMed/MEDLINE, the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) keywords used were: “orthodontic tooth movement” OR (“tooth” (All Fields) AND “tooth movement” (All Fields)) OR “tooth movement” (All Fields)) AND (“parathyroid hormone”); all studies included using CONSORT. Results: After elimination of duplicates and articles not meeting our inclusion criteria, seven animal studies were included in this review. Although the majority of the studies suggest that PTH may a have a favorable outcome on OTM, most studies were found to have several sources of bias. Conclusion: Animal studies with minimal bias and long-term clinical studies are needed to ascertain the efficacy of intermittent PTH administration in improving the rate and retention of OTM.

EVA 2.0: Emotional and rational multimodal argumentation between virtual agents

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas Rach ◽  
Klaus Weber ◽  
Yuchi Yang ◽  
Stefan Ultes ◽  
Elisabeth André ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
User Feedback ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Multi Agent System ◽  
Dialogue Game ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Minimal Bias ◽  
Intuitive Interface ◽  
Emotional Level

Abstract Persuasive argumentation depends on multiple aspects, which include not only the content of the individual arguments, but also the way they are presented. The presentation of arguments is crucial – in particular in the context of dialogical argumentation. However, the effects of different discussion styles on the listener are hard to isolate in human dialogues. In order to demonstrate and investigate various styles of argumentation, we propose a multi-agent system in which different aspects of persuasion can be modelled and investigated separately. Our system utilizes argument structures extracted from text-based reviews for which a minimal bias of the user can be assumed. The persuasive dialogue is modelled as a dialogue game for argumentation that was motivated by the objective to enable both natural and flexible interactions between the agents. In order to support a comparison of factual against affective persuasion approaches, we implemented two fundamentally different strategies for both agents: The logical policy utilizes deep Reinforcement Learning in a multi-agent setup to optimize the strategy with respect to the game formalism and the available argument. In contrast, the emotional policy selects the next move in compliance with an agent emotion that is adapted to user feedback to persuade on an emotional level. The resulting interaction is presented to the user via virtual avatars and can be rated through an intuitive interface.

scholarly journals Oral care and nosocomial pneumonia: a systematic review

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Carolina Nunes Vilela ◽  
Gustavo Zanna Ferreira ◽  
Paulo Sérgio da Silva Santos ◽  
Nathalie Pepe Medeiros de Rezende
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Nosocomial Pneumonia ◽  
Oral Hygiene ◽  
Oral Care ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Grade Of Recommendation ◽  
Minimal Bias

To perform a systematic review of the literature on the control of oral biofilms and the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia, in addition to assessing and classifying studies as to the grade of recommendation and level of evidence. The review was based on PubMed, LILACS, and Scopus databases, from January 1st, 2000 until December 31st, 2012. Studies evaluating oral hygiene care related to nosocomial infections in patients hospitalized in intensive care units were selected according to the inclusion criteria. Full published articles available in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, which approached chemical or mechanical oral hygiene techniques in preventing pneumonia, interventions performed, and their results were included. After analysis, the articles were classified according to level of evidence and grade of recommendation according to the criteria of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. A total of 297 abstracts were found, 14 of which were full articles that met our criteria. Most articles included a study group with chlorhexidine users and a control group with placebo users for oral hygiene in the prevention of pneumonia. All articles were classified as B in the level of evidence, and 12 articles were classified as 2B and two articles as 2C in grade of recommendation. It was observed that the control of oral biofilm reduces the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia, but the fact that most articles had an intermediate grade of recommendation makes clear the need to conduct randomized controlled trials with minimal bias to establish future guidelines for oral hygiene in intensive care units.

The MJO-QBO Relationship in a GCM with Stratospheric Nudging

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-69
Author(s):  
Zane Martin ◽  
Clara Orbe ◽  
Shuguang Wang ◽  
Adam Sobel
Keyword(s):  
Climate Models ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Global Climate Model ◽  
Global Climate Models ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Meridional Winds ◽  
Goddard Institute ◽  
Minimal Bias

AbstractObservational studies show a strong connection between the intraseasonal Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) and the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO): the boreal winter MJO is stronger, more predictable, and has different teleconnections when the QBO in the lower stratosphere is easterly versus westerly. Despite the strength of the observed connection, global climate models do not produce an MJO-QBO link. Here the authors use a current-generation ocean-atmosphere coupled NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies global climate model (Model E2.1) to examine the MJO-QBO link. To represent the QBO with minimal bias, the model zonal mean stratospheric zonal and meridional winds are relaxed to reanalysis fields from 1980-2017. The model troposphere, including the MJO, is allowed to freely evolve. The model with stratospheric nudging captures QBO signals well, including QBO temperature anomalies. However, an ensemble of nudged simulations still lacks an MJO-QBO connection.

scholarly journals Effect of Xenon-Induced Flow Activation on Xenon-Enhanced Computed Tomography Cerebral Blood Flow Calculations

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 1192-1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter D. Obrist ◽  
Zihong Zhang ◽  
Howard Yonas
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Blood Velocity ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Standard Analysis ◽  
Stable Xenon ◽  
Flow Activation ◽  
Induced Flow ◽  
Minimal Bias ◽  
Enhanced Computed Tomography

Computer simulations of stable xenon (sXe) uptake curves were used to evaluate the effect of xenon-induced flow activation on CBF calculations by xenon-enhanced computed tomography, Estimates of flow activation were based on repeated transcranial Doppler measurements of blood velocity during 4,5 minutes of sXe inhalation, The synthetic curves were generated from a generalized Kety equation that included time-varying blood flow activation, In contrast to the peak 35% increase in blood flow velocity during sXe inhalation, a standard analysis of the flow-varying synthetic curves revealed only minor 3% to 5% increases in calculated CBF. It is concluded that brief xenon inhalations can provide blood flow estimates that contain minimal bias from activation.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Three Minimally Invasive Cardiac Output Devices with Thermodilution in Elective Cardiac Surgery

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1014-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. Phan ◽  
R. Kluger ◽  
C. Wan ◽  
D. Wong ◽  
A. Padayachee
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Output ◽  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Kappa Statistic ◽  
Altman Analysis ◽  
Limits Of Agreement ◽  
Fluid Bolus ◽  
Elective Cardiac Surgery ◽  
Measured Change ◽  
Minimal Bias ◽  
Oesophageal Doppler Monitor

This study compared the cardiac output responses to haemodynamic interventions as measured by three minimally invasive monitors (Oesophageal Doppler Monitor, the VigileoFlotrac and the LiDCOrapid) to the responses measured concurrently using thermodilution, in cardiac surgical patients. The study also assessed the precision and bias of these monitors in relation to thermodilution measurements. After a fluid bolus of at least 250 ml, the measured change in cardiac output was different among the devices, showing an increase with thermodilution in 82% of measurements, Oesophageal Doppler Monitor 68%, VigileoFlotrac 57% and LiDCOrapid 41%. When comparing the test devices to thermodilution, the kappa statistic showed at best only fair agreement, Oesophageal Doppler Monitor 0.34, LiDCOrapid 0.28 and VigileoFlotrac -0.03. After vasopressor administration, there was also significant variation in the change in cardiac output measured by the devices. Using Bland-Altman analysis, the precision of the devices in comparison to thermodilution showed minimal bias, but wide limits of agreement with percentage errors of Oesophageal Doppler Monitor 64.5%, VigileoFlotrac 47.6% and LiDCOrapid 54.2%. These findings indicate that these three devices differ in their responses, do not always provide the same information as thermodilution and should not be used interchangeably to track cardiac output changes.

scholarly journals Noninvasive evaluation of pulmonary artery pressure during exercise: the importance of right atrial hypertension

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 1901617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaru Obokata ◽  
Garvan C. Kane ◽  
Hidemi Sorimachi ◽  
Yogesh N.V. Reddy ◽  
Thomas P. Olson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Artery ◽  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Right Atrial ◽  
Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
The Right ◽  
Minimal Bias

IntroductionIdentification of elevated pulmonary artery pressures during exercise has important diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications. Stress echocardiography is frequently used to estimate pulmonary artery pressures during exercise testing, but data supporting this practice are limited. This study examined the accuracy of Doppler echocardiography for the estimation of pulmonary artery pressures at rest and during exercise.MethodsSimultaneous cardiac catheterisation-echocardiographic studies were performed at rest and during exercise in 97 subjects with dyspnoea. Echocardiography-estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (ePASP) was calculated from the right ventricular (RV) to right atrial (RA) pressure gradient and estimated RA pressure (eRAP), and then compared with directly measured PASP and RAP.ResultsEstimated PASP was obtainable in 57% of subjects at rest, but feasibility decreased to 15–16% during exercise, due mainly to an inability to obtain eRAP during stress. Estimated PASP correlated well with direct PASP at rest (r=0.76, p<0.0001; bias −1 mmHg) and during exercise (r=0.76, p=0.001; bias +3 mmHg). When assuming eRAP of 10 mmHg, ePASP correlated with direct PASP (r=0.70, p<0.0001), but substantially underestimated true values (bias +9 mmHg), with the greatest underestimation among patients with severe exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (EIPH). Estimation of eRAP during exercise from resting eRAP improved discrimination of patients with or without EIPH (area under the curve 0.81), with minimal bias (5 mmHg), but wide limits of agreement (−14–25 mmHg).ConclusionsThe RV–RA pressure gradient can be estimated with reasonable accuracy during exercise when measurable. However, RA hypertension frequently develops in patients with EIPH, and the inability to noninvasively account for this leads to substantial underestimation of exercise pulmonary artery pressures.

Assessment of tacrolimus and creatinine concentration collected using Mitra microsampling devices

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 389-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J Marshall ◽  
Jon Jin Kim ◽  
Sarah Brand ◽  
Catherine Bryne ◽  
Brian G Keevil
Keyword(s):  
Renal Transplant ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Dried Blood Spots ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Spectrometric Analysis ◽  
Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Fixed Amount ◽  
Transplant Patients ◽  
Capillary Blood Sample ◽  
Minimal Bias

Background Current practice requires regular venous blood samples for monitoring of tacrolimus concentrations post renal transplant requiring regular hospital visits. Mitra devices use volumetric absorptive microsampling technology and absorb a fixed amount of blood (10  μL) from a capillary blood sample. They are a viable volumetric alternative to dried blood spots and are able to be posted to the laboratory for analysis. Objective The aim was to develop and validate liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assays for tacrolimus and creatinine analysis using Mitra devices. The usefulness of this approach was assessed in renal transplant patients routinely monitored for tacrolimus and creatinine. Method Routine tacrolimus samples were used to assess the utility and reliability of Mitra sampling. Shared sample preparation for both tacrolimus and creatinine was carried out in a 96-deep well plate; mass spectrometric analysis was then undertaken for tacrolimus followed by re-injection for creatinine analysis. Results Comparison of 131 Mitra samples with a routine LC-MS/MS assay for tacrolimus showed a minimal bias –5.6% (95% CI –8.5 to –2.7%). Comparison of 135 serum and Mitra samples for creatinine using a fully validated LC-MS/MS assay showed a bias –6.5% (95% CI –8.5 to –4.5%). Discussion We have developed assays for tacrolimus and creatinine on fingerprick blood using the Mitra device and believe this approach provides a viable alternative to repeated venepuncture for therapeutic drug monitoring. This method could open up the opportunity for patients to perform tacrolimus and kidney function monitoring at home.

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