Search results for "Variability"
showing 10 items of 904 documents
Harmonization of Immune Biomarker Assays for Clinical Studies
2011
Assays that measure a patient's immune response play an increasingly important role in the development of immunotherapies. The inherent complexity of these assays and independent protocol development between laboratories result in high data variability and poor reproducibility. Quality control through harmonization--based on integration of laboratory-specific protocols with standard operating procedures and assay performance benchmarks--is one way to overcome these limitations. Harmonization guidelines can be widely implemented to address assay performance variables. This process enables objective interpretation and comparison of data across clinical trial sites and also facilitates the ide…
The effect of resonance frequency breathing when used as a preparatory exercise in music psychotherapy : A single-case experimental study of a client…
2017
This study aimed at evaluating the possible benefits of starting Integrative Improvisational Music Therapy (IIMT) sessions with 10 min of Resonance Frequency Breathing (RFB), a type of slow breathing known to be beneficial for stress reduction and emotional regulation. A client diagnosed with anxiety disorder and social phobia attended 12 IIMT sessions. Using an alternating treatments design, RFB was systematically alternated with a control intervention (vibroacoustic therapy, VAT). Therapy processes were assessed through the Session Evaluation Questionnaire (SEQ) and the continuous measurement of heart rate variability (HRV), a biomarker of autonomic nervous system response. RFB was consis…
Anti-muscarinic drugs as preventive treatment of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in children and adults.
2020
Regular physical activity is strongly recommended to prevent chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma. On the other hand, vigorous physical training may trigger airway symptoms and bronchoconstriction. The transient airway narrowing occurring because of exercise is named exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Despite management according to guidelines, a significant proportion of patients experiences uncontrolled EIB, which thus represents a relevant unmet medical need. In particular, although prevention and treatment of EIB are effectively based on the use of beta-2 bronchodilator drugs, high heterogeneity in individual responses has been reported. Furthermore, even though beta-…
Effect of long-acting β2-agonists olodaterol and formoterol on heart rate and blood pressure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
2018
Abstract Background Cardiovascular comorbidities are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and elevated heart rate reflects increased cardiovascular risk over time, which is associated with unfavourable neurohumoral activation. Long-acting β 2 -agonists (LABAs) are established treatments in COPD, but potentially increase heart rate. We report a post hoc pooled analysis of the effect of olodaterol (5 or 10 μg) or formoterol (12 μg) on heart rate and blood pressure (BP) in Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Stage 2–4 COPD patients. Methods Four randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III studies were analysed. Changes in heart rate and systoli…
Unequal distribution of RT-PCR artifacts along the E1-E2 region of Hepatitis C virus.
2009
Although viral variability studies have focused traditionally on consensus sequences, the relevance of molecular clone sequences for studying viral evolution at the intra-host level is being increasingly recognized. However, for this approach to be reliable, RT-PCR artifacts do not have to contribute excessively to the observed variability. Molecular clone sequences were obtained from an in vitro transcript to estimate the maximum error rate associated to RT-PCR for the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1-E2 region. On average, the frequency of RT-PCR errors was one order of magnitude lower than the level of intra-host genetic variability observed in samples from an HCV outbreak. However, RT-PCR err…
ENVISAT/AATSR derived land surface temperature over a heterogeneous region
2007
Abstract In this paper a method for evaluating land surface temperature (LST) algorithms over heterogeneous areas is presented. The evaluation was made for a set of 12 algorithms derived by using the split-window (SW) and dual-angle (DA) techniques for estimating sea and land surface temperature (SST and LST) from Advanced Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) data. A validation of the proposed algorithms was carried out over a heterogeneous region of Morocco in the framework of the WATERMED (WATer use Efficiency in natural vegetation and agricultural areas by Remote sensing in the MEDiterranean basin) project. AATSR data and in situ measurements over this heterogenous region were compare…
Exploring single polarization X-band weather radar potentials for local meteorological and hydrological applications
2015
Summary The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential use of a low-cost single polarization X-band weather radar, verified by a disdrometer and a dense rain gauge network, installed as a supporting tool for hydrological applications and for monitoring the urban area of Palermo (Italy). Moreover, this study focuses on studying the temporal variability of the Z–R relation for Mediterranean areas. The radar device is provided with an automatic operational ground-clutter filter developed by the producer. Attention has been paid to the development of blending procedures between radar measurements and other auxiliary instruments and to their suitability for both meteorological and hydrologic…
Précipitations et relief en Afrique orientale et australe : modélisations statistiques et géostatistiques.
2008
By considering two examples in Eastern and Southern Africa, this work has two aims: a better understanding of the influence of topography on the spatial distribution of rainfall and an optimal interpolation of station rainfall data, taking into account topography. To this end, an original methodology is developped, partly derived from previous studies focusing on extratropical regions.First, a statistical model is defined. With the help of a multi-scalar decomposition of topographical information into descriptors, a multiple linear regression is performed. This model is used to better understand the relationship between rainfall and topography. In Eastern Africa, the spatial distribution of…
From synoptic to interdecadal variability in southern African rainfall: toward a unified view across time scales.
2018
International audience; During the austral summer season (November–February), southern African rainfall, south of 20°S, has been shown to vary over a range of time scales, from synoptic variability (3–7 days, mostly tropical temperate troughs) to interannual variability (2–8 years, reflecting the regional effects of El Niño–Southern Oscillation). There is also evidence for variability at quasi-decadal (8–13 years) and interdecadal (15–28 years) time scales, linked to the interdecadal Pacific oscillation and the Pacific decadal oscillation, respectively. This study aims to provide an overview of these ranges of variability and their influence on regional climate and large-scale atmospheric c…
How do tropical temperate troughs form and develop over southern Africa?
2014
16 pages ; Corrigendum Figure (Macron C, B Pohl, Y Richard & M Bessafi (2014) CORRIGENDUM. Journal of Climate, 27, 5198-5199. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00319.1); International audience; This paper aims at separating the respective influences of tropical and midlatitude variability on the development and life cycle of tropical temperate troughs (TTTs) over southern Africa in austral summer (November-February). Cluster analysis is applied to 1971-2000 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) daily outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) anomalies to identify TTTs and monitor tropical convection. The same analysis applied to the zonal wind stretching deformation at 200 hPa (ZDEF) characterizes midlatitude trans…