Search results for "Research Design"
showing 10 items of 487 documents
New Author Guidelines for Displaying Data and Reporting Data Analysis and Statistical Methods in Experimental Biology
2019
The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics has revised the Instructions to Authors for Drug Metabolism and Disposition, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and Molecular Pharmacology These revisions relate to data analysis (including statistical analysis) and reporting but do not tell investigators how to design and perform their experiments. Their overall focus is on greater granularity in the description of what has been done and found. Key recommendations include the need to differentiate between preplanned, hypothesis-testing, and exploratory experiments or studies; explanations of whether key elements of study design, such as sample size and …
The short-term efficacy and safety of artificial total disc replacement for selected patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease compared with ant…
2018
PurposeTo systematically compare the efficacy and safety of lumbar total disc replacement (TDR) with the efficacy and safety of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease (LDDD).MethodsThe electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched for the period from the establishment of the databases to March 2018. The peer-reviewed articles that investigate the safety and efficacy of TDR and ALIF were retrieved under the given search terms. Quality assessment must be done independently by two authors according to each item of criterion. The statistical analyses were performed using RevMan (version 5.3) and Stata (v…
The interaction between social media, knowledge management and service quality: A decision tree analysis
2020
The existing literature fails to identify to which extent the utilization of social media could be relevant for increasing the effectiveness of knowledge management, in respect to overall business operations. In order to shed some light on this area we define three goals. Firstly, we investigate to what extent the different activities of clients on social media (SM), are important to the processes of knowledge management (KM) in companies. Secondly, we examine to what extent KM functions can be relevant in attaining the quality of IT services. Thirdly, we analyze to what extent KM mediates between SM and the quality of IT services, that is, which client activities on SM should be formalised…
Discrete Mathematics in Lower School Grades? Situation and Possibilities in Italy
2017
This paper presents an overview of the Italian situation in teaching discrete mathematics in primary and middle school, taking into account the national teaching guidelines and their connection with the subject. We describe research conducted with about 150 teachers, interviewed in a preliminary questionnaire. The data collected shows, for all teaching grades, interest in having more discrete mathematics in the school curriculum even if there are some difficulties in teaching it and in inserting it in the usual mathematical activities at school, mostly related to teachers’ knowledge and self-confidence about the subject. We also discuss results and future plans for a continuing research pro…
A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect
2021
We conducted a preregistered multilaboratory project ( k = 36; N = 3,531) to assess the size and robustness of ego-depletion effects using a novel replication method, termed the paradigmatic replication approach. Each laboratory implemented one of two procedures that was intended to manipulate self-control and tested performance on a subsequent measure of self-control. Confirmatory tests found a nonsignificant result ( d = 0.06). Confirmatory Bayesian meta-analyses using an informed-prior hypothesis (δ = 0.30, SD = 0.15) found that the data were 4 times more likely under the null than the alternative hypothesis. Hence, preregistered analyses did not find evidence for a depletion effect. Ex…
Highlighting inconsistencies regarding metal biosorption.
2015
Thousands of articles have been devoted to examine different types of biosorbents and their use in cleaning polluted waters. An important objective of some studies has been the identification of the biosorption mechanisms. This type of investigation is not always performed, as it can only be done if scientists are aware of all mechanisms that, at least theoretically, control the removal of the target substances. Mistakes are often made, even in highly cited review articles, where biosorption mechanisms are named and/or grouped. The aim of this article is to highlight errors and inaccuracies as well as to discuss different classification systems of the biosorption mechanisms. This article se…
Situación de la investigación en el cribado de cáncer de mama en España: implicaciones para la prevención
2012
ResumenObjetivoLa finalización del despliegue de los programas de detección precoz de cáncer de mama en todas las comunidades autónomas de España ha facilitado el inicio de una investigación conjunta, con información procedente de varios programas, orientada a mejorar su efectividad.MétodosSe ha construido una cohorte de más de 1 millón de mujeres cribadas para evaluar el riesgo y los determinantes de los resultados falsos positivos. Se ha evaluado el impacto del cambio de técnica de mamografía analógica a digital y se está estudiando el cáncer de intervalo y los resultados falsos negativos.ResultadosLos resultados ofrecen información muy útil, desde el punto de vista de salud pública, para…
Do-search -- a tool for causal inference and study design with multiple data sources
2020
Epidemiologic evidence is based on multiple data sources including clinical trials, cohort studies, surveys, registries, and expert opinions. Merging information from different sources opens up new possibilities for the estimation of causal effects. We show how causal effects can be identified and estimated by combining experiments and observations in real and realistic scenarios. As a new tool, we present do-search, a recently developed algorithmic approach that can determine the identifiability of a causal effect. The approach is based on do-calculus, and it can utilize data with nontrivial missing data and selection bias mechanisms. When the effect is identifiable, do-search outputs an i…
Polymorphisms in ABC transporter genes and concentrations of mercury in newborns - Evidence from two Mediterranean birth cohorts
2014
Background: The genetic background may influence methylmercury (MeHg) metabolism and neurotoxicity. ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters actively transport various xenobiotics across biological membranes. Objective: To investigate the role of ABC polymorphisms as modifiers of prenatal exposure to MeHg. Methods: The study population consisted of participants (n = 1651) in two birth cohorts, one in Italy and Greece (PHIME) and the other in Spain (INMA). Women were recruited during pregnancy in Italy and Spain, and during the perinatal period in Greece. Total mercury concentrations were measured in cord blood samples by atomic absorption spectrometry. Maternal fish intake during pregnancy w…
Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) v2018: diagnostic value of ancillary features favoring malignancy in hypervascular observations ≥ 1…
2020
This study was conducted in order to assess the diagnostic accuracy of LI-RADS v2018 ancillary features (AFs) favoring malignancy applied to LR-3 and LR-4 observations on gadoxetate-enhanced MRI. In this retrospective dual-institution study, we included consecutive patients at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) imaged with gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI between 2009 and 2014 fulfilling the following criteria: (i) at least one LR-3 or LR-4 observation ≥ 10 mm; (ii) nonrim arterial phase hyperenhancement; and (iii) confirmation of benignity or malignancy by pathology or imaging follow-up. We compared the distribution of AFs between HCCs and benign observations and the diagnostic p…