cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Patient characteristics and outcomes after ruxolitinib discontinuation in patients with myelofibrosis
Creators: name: Mascarenhas, John
name: Maneesha Mehra
name: Jianming He
name: Potluri, Ravi
name: Loefgren, Christina
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Biotechnology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Science Policy

description: Background: This retrospective analysis evaluates morbidities, outcomes and associated risk factors in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) after ruxolitinib discontinuation, using Truven Health Analytics MarketScan (TR), Optum integrated virtual electronic health records and claims databases (OP), and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database (SM). Methods: A total of 290 patients with MF between 2006 and 2015 (using ICD-9 and ICD-O-3 codes), who were treated with and discontinued ruxolitinib were identified. Only patients with ≥90 days of medical history prior to index diagnosis (TR + OP) and Part A, B, and D enrollment at the time of index diagnosis (SM) were included. Morbidities were assessed during the 30-day period each following ruxolitinib initiation, prior to and post ruxolitinib discontinuation. Cumulative incidence of cytopenias and efficacy outcomes were evaluated from baseline. Results: Median age of patients was 68 years, with equal proportion of either gender. Median time to ruxolitinib discontinuation was 284 days and median follow-up after discontinuation was 70.9 days. The majority of patients were diagnosed with anemia and >30% of the patients received RBC transfusions during 30-day period prior to and the 30-day period post ruxolitinib discontinuation. After ruxolitinib discontinuation, half of the patients developed cytopenias. The median treatment progression-free survival, and overall survival after ruxolitinib discontinuation were 6.0 (4.4, 8.3) months and 11.1 (8.4, 14.5) months, respectively. Age at ruxolitinib discontinuation (HR [95% CI] = 2.071 [1.320, 3.248]), Charlson Comorbidity Index score (HR [95% CI] = 1.172 [1.093, 1.257]) and gender (HR [95% CI] = 1.620 [1.108, 2.369]) increased the risk of treatment progression (start of the subsequent treatment regimen) or death. Conclusion: Results from this large, retrospective, US population-based outcome analysis of MF patients show an increase in morbidity burden and identifies the risk factors of survival outcomes among real-world patients who have discontinued ruxolitinib.
Economic impact of cardiac implantable electronic device infections: cost analysis at one year in a large U.S. health insurer
Creators: name: Eby, Elizabeth L.
name: Bengtson, Lindsay G. S.
name: Johnson, Michael P.
name: Burton, Mark L.
name: Hinnenthal, Jennifer
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Space Science
subject: Medicine
subject: Microbiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy

description: Aims: Cardiac device infections (CDIs) are serious adverse events associated with morbidity and mortality, significant costs and increased healthcare utilization. The objective of the current study was to characterize the CDI rate by device type, risk factors for infection and healthcare costs from a large U.S. health insurer perspective. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of a large U.S. health insurer database identified commercial and Medicare Advantage with Part D (MAPD) members ≥18 years with ≥1 claim for a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedure between 01 October 2011 and 31 October 2015. CIEDs included pacemakers (IPG), implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy – pacemakers without (CRT-P) and with defibrillation (CRT-D). Probabilities of CDI through one-year post implant were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. A regression model with stepwise variable selection was used to select risk factors associated with CDIs. Results: A total of 63,406 patients were included with an overall CDI rate of 1.28% (1.0% de novo and 1.74% replacement devices), varying by device type: IPG = 0.91%; ICD = 1.63%; CRT-p = 1.50%; CRT-D = 2.22%. The average adjusted annual medical costs were 2.4 times greater [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.1–2.7] for those with an infection compared to those without, and the incremental cost difference was estimated to be $57,322 [95% CI $46,572–$70,484]. Observed risk factors of CDIs included prior device infection [Odds ratio (OR) = 11.356; 95% CI = 7.923–16.276], undergoing a CIED replacement procedure (OR = 1.644; 95% CI = 1.361–1.987), implantation of a high-power device (OR = 1.354; 95% CI = 1.115–1.643), and younger age (age < 65) (OR = 1.607; 95% CI = 1.307–1.976). Conclusions: The CDI rate at one year ranged from 0.91%–2.22% depending on device type. Management of CDIs among commercial and MAPD members is associated with high healthcare expenditures.
Alternative Assessment in the EFL Environment: A Project-Based Approach
Creators: name: Georgia Nasta*
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: alternative assessment, project-based learning, checklist, collaboration, critical thinking.

description: Abstract: This article focuses on examining how alternative assessment can become a very successful teaching tool in the hands of educators who wish to assess their students' performance in a non-traditional way. In order to achieve such an aim, the teacher chose to create three projects, which were based on the coursebook material, and focus on classroom observation metodology by incorporating a student observation checklist and three different types of assessment forms per project: a student self-assessment form as well as group-to-group and within-group peer assessment ones. The choice of such material is based on the benefits of project-based learning. As well as that, self-assessment forms and peer/group assessment enhance student autonomy, boost collaboration within the classroom and offer an enjoyable and meaningful alternative to more traditional and rigid forms of student evaluation such as standardised testing. The three projects were concluded in corresponding teaching sessions which aimed at different skills, after which sessions there followed an evaluation process implementing everything mentioned above.
Cost-effectiveness of denosumab for high-risk postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in Thailand
Creators: name: Chatlert Pongchaiyakul
name: Ratanavadee Nanagara
name: Thawee Songpatanasilp
name: Aasis Unnanuntana
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: 19999 Mathematical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy

description: Aims: This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of denosumab for treating postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (PMO) at high risk of fracture in Thailand. Materials and methods: A published Markov cohort cost-effectiveness model was populated with country-specific data as available and other published data as needed. The model used a societal perspective, lifetime horizon, efficacy data from network meta-analysis of trials, and included costs for direct medical and non-medical care, informal care, and osteoporosis treatments to compare denosumab to no pharmacologic treatment (calcium and vitamin D supplements only) and to oral weekly alendronate. The base case (high-risk population) included postmenopausal women with femoral neck T-score ≤−2.5, mean age 65 years at entry, and history of vertebral fracture. Results: High-risk women with osteoporosis using denosumab had the greatest number of life years and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) with higher reductions in hip and vertebral fracture incidence compared with patients with no pharmacologic treatment. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was 119,575 Thai Baht (THB) per QALY for denosumab versus no pharmacologic treatment and 199,186 THB per QALY for denosumab versus alendronate. Among Thai postmenopausal women with high-risk of fractures, denosumab was cost-effective compared with no pharmacologic treatment at a willingness-to-pay threshold of 160,000 THB per QALY. One-way sensitivity analysis showed models were most sensitive to changes in denosumab pricing. Limitations: Data from other countries used when country-specific data were unavailable may not accurately reflect the true experience in Thailand. The model focused explicitly on hip, vertebral, and wrist fractures, and therefore provides a conservative estimate of the overall potential impact of osteoporosis-related fracture. The fracture risk was not adjusted to reflect potential changes in risk after denosumab treatment discontinuation. Conclusions: In Thailand, denosumab offers a cost-effective osteoporosis treatment option versus no pharmacologic treatment in postmenopausal women at high risk of fracture.
Wet Snow Mapping in the Karakoram using SAR and Topographic Data
Creators: name: Li, Shiyi
name: Huang, Lanqing
name: Bernhard, Philipp
name: Hajnsek, Irena
Publisher: name: ETH Zurich
Year: 2023

description: Wet snow is a critical component of the cryosphere, and its spatial and temporal distribution has important implications for water resources, natural hazards, and the regional climate. However, mapping wet snow in alpine regions such as the Karakoram is challenging due to complex topography, harsh weather conditions, and limited in-situ observations.

Previous studies have shown that synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can effectively detect wet snow surfaces using the backscattering ratio between the current and reference images (e.g. the average of summer acquisitions). However, its regional application on a large-scale and complex terrain is hampered, as the ratio value is easily affected by the land cover, local topography, surface roughness, and snow wetness.

In this study, we present a new approach for mapping wet snow in the Karakoram using a combination of SAR data and topographic information. The SAR data used in the analysis were obtained from Sentinel-1, and the topographic data included a digital elevation model (DEM), slope angle, and slope aspect ratio. We first used a Gaussian Mixture Model to classify the ratio image of Sentinel-1 into wet snow (WS) and non-wet snow (NWS) classes, then transformed the two classes into a logistic function to characterize the probability of WS based on the backscattering ratio. Secondly, we categorized the image based on the topography and calculated the likelihood of WS for each topographic bin using the WS probability. The joint WS likelihood map was finally obtained by multiplying the WS probability on the backscattering ratio with the WS likelihood on topography, and a binary WS map was generated by setting a threshold on the joint likelihood map.

The proposed method was validated using snow maps generated from Sentinel-2 images. Compared with the traditional method of using only the SAR backscattering ratio, our method significantly reduced false negative detections and preserved the high true positive rate, indicating an improvement of robustness and accuracy by combining SAR and topographic data for regional wet snow mapping.

This study demonstrates a practical method of merging SAR backscattering features and topographic information for robust regional wet snow mapping in complex mountain ranges. It also provides new insights into the incorporation of different datasets using a probabilistic framework. With the proposed method, the operational monitoring of wet snow distribution in the Karakoram using SAR becomes feasible and reliable.
description: EGUsphere
The burden of osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia: a scorecard and economic model
Creators: name: Aziziyeh, Rima
name: Perlaza, Javier Garcia
name: Saleem, Najma
name: Sadat-Ali, Mir
name: Abdulaziz Elsalmawy
name: McTavish, Rebecca K.
name: Duperrouzel, Corinne
name: Cameron, Chris
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy

description: Objectives: Aging populations are contributing to an increased volume of osteoporotic fractures. The goals of this study were to (1) develop a scorecard on epidemiological burden, policy framework, service provision, and service uptake for osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia and (2) estimate the direct costs of managing osteoporotic fractures in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Osteoporosis data specific to Saudi Arabia were collected through a systematic literature review and surveys with osteoporosis experts. The data were used to build a scorecard, as done previously for the European Union and select Latin American countries. The scorecard applied traffic light colour coding to identify areas of risk in Saudi Arabia’s management of osteoporosis. The data were also used to parameterize a burden of illness model. The model estimated the direct medical costs of fractures among adults aged 50–89 years in Saudi Arabia. The model included hospitalization, testing, hip fracture surgery, and drug costs. Results: In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health was aware of impending increases in the number of fractures and had prioritized osteoporosis on the national agenda. Accordingly, reimbursement restrictions for osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment were minimal. However, a national fracture registry and unified system for monitoring care were not in operation. This represents a critical gap in care that will continue to contribute to the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of osteoporosis if not addressed. In total, 174,225 osteoporosis-related fractures were estimated to occur in Saudi Arabia in 2019, with an annual cost of SR2.38 billion ($636 million USD; $1.55 billion PPP). Hospitalization was the primary cost driver. Conclusions: In 2019, Saudi Arabia was expected to incur SR2.38 billion ($636 million USD; $1.55 billion PPP) in costs owing to 174,225 osteoporosis-related fractures. The establishment of a national fracture registry and implementation of fracture liaison services will be paramount to reducing the fracture burden.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of implantable cardiac devices in patients with systolic heart failure: a US perspective using real world data
Creators: name: Dhvani Shah
name: Xiaoxiao Lu
name: Paly, Victoria F.
name: Tsintzos, Stelios I.
name: May, Damian M.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Science Policy

description: Aims: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has a substantial impact on costs and patients’ quality-of-life. This study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers (CRT-P), cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D), and optimal pharmacologic therapy (OPT) in patients with HFrEF, from a US payer perspective. Materials and methods: The analyses were conducted by adapting the UK-based cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) to the US payer perspective by incorporating real world evidence (RWE) on baseline hospitalization risk and Medicare-specific costs. The CEA was based on regression equations estimated from data from 13 randomized clinical trials (n = 12,638). Risk equations were used to predict all-cause mortality, hospitalization rates, health-related quality-of-life, and device-specific treatment effects (vs. OPT). These equations included the following prognostic characteristics: age, QRS duration, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, ischemic etiology, and left bundle branch block (LBBB). Baseline hospitalization rates were calibrated based on RWE from Truven Health Analytics MarketScan data (2009–2014). A US payer perspective, lifetime time horizon, and 3% discount rates for costs and outcomes were used. Benefits were expressed as quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Incremental cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted for 24 sub-groups based on LBBB status, QRS duration, and NYHA class. Results: Results of the analyses show that CRT-D was the most cost-effective treatment at a $100,000/QALY threshold in 14 of the 16 sub-groups for which it is indicated. Results were most sensitive to changes in estimates of hospitalization costs. Limitations: Study limitations include small sample sizes for NYHA I and IV sub-groups and lack of data availability for duration of treatment effect. Conclusions: CRT-D has higher greater cost-effectiveness across more sub-groups in the indicated patient populations against as compared to OPT, ICD, and CRT-P, from a US payer perspective.
Making exhibitions, brokering meaning: designing new connections across communities of practice
Creators: name: Kocsis, Anita
name: Barnes, Carolyn
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: New media museum exhibits often see designers representing the research of expert content providers. Despite perceptions that such exhibits provide museum visitors with a greater depth and range of experience, differences in knowledge and practice between designers and content providers can see content development become an unruly, competitive process in which audience experience, digital mediation, visualisation techniques and meaning become contested territory. Drawing on Etienne Wenger's theory of 'communities of practice', this paper argues that designers' advocacy for audiences and distance from exhibition content well positions them to broker interdisciplinary goal setting so that exhibitions observe the representational objectives of content providers and meet the needs and preferences of museum visitors. A wide range of design literature already discusses the pragmatic benefits and ethical importance of user-centered design, while the literature on co-design suggests that designed outcomes are more successful if the design process considers the interests of all stakeholders. These discussions can be compelling, but the inherent challenges in engaging others' perspectives and knowledge in the design process are less acknowledged, Wenger's ideas on the social dynamics of group enterprise offering designers valuable insights into the actuality of negotiating designed outcomes with non-designer stakeholders. The paper has two main aspects. The first outlines the theory of communities of practice, focusing on the brokering of knowledge and practice between disciplines. This discussion frames an analysis of the design process for two museum exhibitions. Representing an original application of Wenger's ideas, the discussion recognises the unique role of the designed artifact in brokering information visualization processes, transcending the actions and intentions of individual stakeholders. While accepting there are successful examples of interdisciplinary exchange in various areas of design, the interpretation of examples via Wenger contributes useful principles to the theorisation of co-design with non-designer stakeholders.
Exploring Latin America & the Caribbean in New York City Museums
Creators: Riofrío, María del Pilar
Alfonso, Lina
Publisher: name: Columbia University
Year: 2016
Subjects: Arts, Latin American
Art museums
Art--Study and teaching
Education, Elementary
Education, Secondary

description: This resource guide provides information about five museums in New York City that exhibit artwork from Latin America and the Caribbean. The goal of the guide is to present this information to K-12 teachers and educators in one single booklet, including education resources, to help their students make connections between what museums show and what students learn in class.
A three-stage model pipeline predicting regional avalanche danger in Switzerland (RAvaFcast v1.0.0): a decision-support tool for operational avalanche forecasting
Creators: name: Maissen, Alessandro
name: Techel, Frank
name: Volpi, Michele
Publisher: name: ETH Zurich
Year: 2024

description: Despite the increasing use of physical snow-cover simulations in regional avalanche forecasting, avalanche forecasting is still an expert-based decision-making process. However, recently, it has become possible to obtain fully automated avalanche danger level predictions with satisfying accuracy by combining physically-based snow-cover models with machine learning approaches. These predictions are made at the location of automated weather stations close to avalanche starting zones. To bridge the gap between these local predictions and fully data- and model-driven regional avalanche danger maps, we developed and evaluated a three-stage model pipeline (RAvaFcast v1.0.0), involving the steps classification, interpolation, and aggregation. More specifically, we evaluated the impact of various terrain features on the performance of a Gaussian process-based model for interpolation of local predictions to unobserved locations on a dense grid. Aggregating these predictions using an elevation-based strategy, we estimated the regional danger level and the corresponding elevation range for predefined warning regions, resulting in a forecast similar to the human-made avalanche forecast in Switzerland. The best-performing model matched the human-made forecasts with a mean day accuracy of approximately 66 % for the entire forecast domain, and 70 % specifically for the Alps. However, the performance depended strongly on the classifier's accuracy (i.e., a mean day accuracy of 68 %) and the density of local predictions available for the interpolation task. Despite these limitations, we believe that the proposed three-stage model pipeline has the potential to improve the interpretability of machine-made danger level predictions and has, thus, the potential to assist avalanche forecasters during forecast preparation, for instance, by being integrated in the forecast process in the form of an independent virtual forecaster.
description: EGUsphere
The usefulness of pocket PC in facilitating teaching in higher education
Creators: name: Chow, Geoffrey
name: Ho, Henry
name: Ling, Peter
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: Mobile technologies offer new opportunities for electronic teaching and learning and including their ability to enable people to collaborate “anywhere, anytime”. They are, however, being introduced in an environment in which usage of electronic teaching and learning has increased apace without proper regard to its effectiveness and justification. Around the world tertiary institutions have invested heavily in technology with a view to their image in the eye of the public. In research and publication focused on higher education, little has examined the adoption and use of mobile handheld devices by academics or teachers. The aim of this paper is to examine how teaching academics perceive using a Pocket PC to facilitate university teaching and administrative duties. In this study the utility of Pocket PCs is compared with that of desktop and laptop computers operating in a wireless environment. A survey of academics using Pocket PCs was conducted and the results were analysed and interpreted. The results may assist the management of the tertiary institutions to enhance related services to both staff members and students.
Structural optimization and vibrational analysis of an antidiabetic drug: tolbutamide
Creators: name: Sert, Yusuf
name: Karakaya, Mustafa
name: Çağrı Çırak
name: Eskiyurt, Buse
name: Kürekçi, Mehmet
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Biotechnology
Medicine
Physics
Engineering
Biophysics

description: The purpose of this study is to investigate the vibrational spectrum of tolbutamide by ab initio techniques in combination with experimental studies. The Fourier transform infrared spectra (400–4000 cm−1) and Laser-Raman spectra (100–4000 cm−1) of tolbutamide have been obtained in the solid phase. Assignments have been found by the combination of the vibrational frequencies and the contribution of the potential energy distributions. Assignments have been compared with the theoretical and experimental results of similar structures as reported in the literature. Structural parameters such as bond lengths and angles, frequencies and infrared intensities and Raman activities of tolbutamide have been computed by density functional theory and Hartree–Fock methods using 6–311G++(d,p) and 6–31G(d) basis sets. The computed vibrational frequencies and optimized structural parameters are consistent with the corresponding experimental results. In addition, the images of tolbutamide frontier molecular orbitals (highest occupied and lowest unoccupied) and its energy gaps have been interpreted with the assistance of quantum chemical calculations.
Analysis of motivational factors in a not-for-profit organisation
Creators: name: Tippet, John
name: Kluvers, Ron
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: This paper is a contribution to effective remuneration policy in the third sector. The essential issue of the paper is an understanding of the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards on the motivation of not-for-profit staff. The paper reports on a study, using discriminant analysis, undertaken in an organisation providing services for people with disabilities, and which is facing a changing funding model. The organisation is made up of two units, in one of which employees can earn a performance bonus. This situation allows for a clear assessment of how extrinsic rewards are perceived by staff as a source of motivation. The important findings of the study are that remuneration policy in the third sector should take account of the fact that intrinsic rewards play a significant role in motivation. Extrinsic rewards do motivate staff, but in combination with intrinsic rewards.
What do you tell people you do for a living? 'If I am being a bit factious I tell them I am a paper stainer'
Creators: name: Geldens, Paula
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: Drawn from a broader study into the experiences of newspaper printers within the context of ongoing technological innovation in their industry, this paper takes stock of the ways in which a group of 20 newspaper printers negotiate questions about what they “do for a living”. The findings revealed that whilst most participants would prefer not to talk about themselves at all, addressing this question was a common source of frustration. So much so that some had established specific techniques for avoiding such conversations or ‘short-hands’ that would enable them to extricate themselves from the interactions before awkward technical discussions were raised. Along with identifying the industries they worked in, references to children, their marital status and the recreational and sporting activities that they were involved in were key features of “the kinds of things you might talk about/the kinds of things that you would tell someone you had just met”.
The burden of osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia: A scorecard and economic model
Creators: name: Aziziyeh, Rima
name: Perlaza, Javier Garcia
name: Saleem, Najma
name: Sadat-Ali, Mir
name: Abdulaziz Elsalmawy
name: McTavish, Rebecca K.
name: Duperrouzel, Corinne
name: Cameron, Chris
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Physiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Ecology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy

description: Objectives: Aging populations are contributing to an increased volume of osteoporotic fractures. The goals of this study were to: (1) develop a scorecard on epidemiological burden, policy framework, service provision, and service uptake for osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia, and (2) estimate the direct costs of managing osteoporotic fractures in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Osteoporosis data specific to Saudi Arabia were collected through a systematic literature review and surveys with osteoporosis experts. The data were used to build a scorecard, as done previously for the European Union and select Latin American countries. The scorecard applied traffic light color coding to identify areas of risk in Saudi Arabia’s management of osteoporosis. The data were also used to parameterize a burden of illness model. The model estimated the direct medical costs of fractures among adults aged 50-89 years in Saudi Arabia. The model included hospitalization, testing, hip fracture surgery, and drug costs. Results: In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health was aware of impending increases in the number of fractures and had prioritized osteoporosis on the national agenda. Accordingly, reimbursement restrictions for osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment were minimal. However, a national fracture registry and unified system for monitoring care were not in operation. This represents a critical gap in care that will continue to contribute to the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of osteoporosis if not addressed. In total, 174,225 osteoporosis-related fractures were estimated to occur in Saudi Arabia in 2019, with an annual cost of SR2.38 billion ($636 million USD; $1.55 billion PPP). Hospitalization was the primary cost driver. Conclusions: In 2019, Saudi Arabia was expected to incur SR2.38 billion ($636 million USD; $1.55 billion PPP) in costs owing to 174,225 osteoporosis-related fractures. The establishment of a national fracture registry and implementation of fracture liaison services will be paramount to reducing the fracture burden.
Fostering social foresight in the community sector
Creators: name: Floyd, Josh
name: Hayward, Peter
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: Slaughter's layered social foresight development model has played a central role in the Swinburne University Strategic Foresight Program's teaching and research since inception. The model formed the theoretical basis for a recent project to build foresight capacity with the Victorian community services sector. Following completion of the project, research was conducted into the effectiveness of the model and its prospects for enabling social foresight capacity. The application of the model and assessment of its outcomes in fostering social foresight form the subject of this paper. The prospects for a similar model to be applied more generally to the development of social innovation and entrepreneurship capacity are also considered briefly.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of implantable cardiac devices in patients with systolic heart failure: A US perspective using real world data
Creators: name: Dhvani Shah
name: Xiaoxiao Lu
name: Paly, Victoria F
name: Tsintzos, Stelios I
name: May, Damian M.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Science Policy

description: Aims: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has a substantial impact on costs and patients’ quality of life. In this study we aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), cardiac resynchronisation therapy pacemakers (CRT-P), cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillators (CRT-D), and optimal pharmacologic therapy (OPT) in patients with HFrEF, from a US payer perspective. Materials and Methods: The analyses were conducted by adapting the UK-based cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) to the US payer perspective by incorporating real world evidence (RWE) on baseline hospitalization risk and Medicare-specific costs. The CEA was based on regression equations estimated from data from 13 randomized clinical trials (N = 12,638). Risk equations were used to predict all-cause mortality, hospitalization rates, health-related quality of life and device-specific treatment effects (vs. OPT). These equations included the following prognostic characteristics: age, QRS duration, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, ischemic etiology, and left bundle branch block (LBBB). Baseline hospitalization rates were calibrated based on RWE from Truven Health Analytics MarketScan data (2009-2014). A US payer perspective, lifetime time horizon, and 3% discount rates for costs and outcomes were used. Benefits were expressed as quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Incremental cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted for 24 subgroups based on LBBB status, QRS duration and NYHA class. Results: Results of our analyses show that CRT-D was the most cost-effective treatment at a $100,000/QALY threshold in 14 of the 16 subgroups for which it is indicated. Results were most sensitive to changes in estimates of hospitalization costs. Limitations: Study limitations include small sample sizes for NYHA I and IV subgroups and lack of data availability for duration of treatment effect. Conclusions: CRT-D has higher greater cost-effectiveness across more subgroups in the indicated patient populations against as compared to OPT, ICD and CRT-P, from a US payer perspective.
Management of Biotic Interaction Data in the Encyclopedia of Life
Creators: name: Schulz, Katja
name: Hammock, Jennifer
name: Poelen, Jorrit H
name: Agbayani, Eli
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: biodiverstiy
informatics
biology
species interactions
ecology
Encyclopedia of Life
Global Biotic Interactions

description: Poster was presented at the (virtual) 4th Annual Digital Data in Biodiversity Research Conference at Indiana University 1-3 June 2020 . Abstract: Species interactions (predator-prey, parasite-host, pollinator-plant, etc.) are an important component of TraitBank, the structured data resource developed by the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL, eol.org/traitbank). TraitBank gains access to these data through Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI, globalbioticinteractions.org), an open-source infrastructure for the efficient integration & sharing of interaction data from diverse sources, including scientific literature/databases, specimens from natural history collections, text mining & citizen science projects. Interaction data are featured on EOL taxon pages in data tables & food web visualizations, and human- & machine-accessible interfaces are provided to query & download data. To facilitate harvesting by EOL, GloBI supplies data summarized by reference in an association extension based on the Darwin Core standard. The data are further processed in a custom EOL connector that addresses taxonomic redundancies & applies a series of validation rules designed to catch data errors, for example, a claim of a plant pollinating an animal. To support efficient feedback about potential data problems, validation failures result in the creation of new refuted interaction records that challenge the original claim. This EOL curated dataset of refuted interaction records is then indexed by GloBI, so other GloBI users have the option to identify data records that are incorrect or controversial. Included audio files contain an introduction and commentary on the poster by Katja Schulz. See also https://www.idigbio.org/wiki/index.php/4th_Annual_Digital_Data_Conference,_Indiana_University.
Microbes As Biocontrol Agents for The Management of Root-Knot Nematodes
Creators: name: Megha Sharma*, Sunita Devi, Kumari Manorma, Kritika Kesta
Publisher: name: The Science world a Monthly e magazine
Year: 2024

description: Introduction

Biological Control agents (BCA) are the organisms, such as an insect or strains of any microorganisms or modified organisms that reduce the incidence or severity of diseases caused by plant pathogens. It exhibits an antagonistic activity toward a particular phytopathogen. Microbial biological control agents (MBCA) are comprised of microorganisms that are applied to crops for the control of plant pathogens where they act through various modes of action. Some MBCAs interacts with plants by (i) inducing resistance or priming plants without any direct interaction with the targeted pathogen (ii) nutrient competition, (iii) modulating the growth conditions for the pathogen, and (iv) hyperparasitism and antibiosis (directly interferes with the pathogen).
Asymmetric Forecast Densities for U.S. Macroeconomic Variables from a Gaussian Copula Model of Cross-Sectional and Serial Dependence
Creators: name: Smith, Michael S.
name: Vahey, Shaun P.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Neuroscience
subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: 19999 Mathematical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: Most existing reduced-form macroeconomic multivariate time series models employ elliptical disturbances, so that the forecast densities produced are symmetric. In this article, we use a copula model with asymmetric margins to produce forecast densities with the scope for severe departures from symmetry. Empirical and skew t distributions are employed for the margins, and a high-dimensional Gaussian copula is used to jointly capture cross-sectional and (multivariate) serial dependence. The copula parameter matrix is given by the correlation matrix of a latent stationary and Markov vector autoregression (VAR). We show that the likelihood can be evaluated efficiently using the unique partial correlations, and estimate the copula using Bayesian methods. We examine the forecasting performance of the model for four U.S. macroeconomic variables between 1975:Q1 and 2011:Q2 using quarterly real-time data. We find that the point and density forecasts from the copula model are competitive with those from a Bayesian VAR. During the recent recession the forecast densities exhibit substantial asymmetry, avoiding some of the pitfalls of the symmetric forecast densities from the Bayesian VAR. We show that the asymmetries in the predictive distributions of GDP growth and inflation are similar to those found in the probabilistic forecasts from the Survey of Professional Forecasters. Last, we find that unlike the linear VAR model, our fitted Gaussian copula models exhibit nonlinear dependencies between some macroeconomic variables. This article has online supplementary material.
Recovering from the guillotine - Hydra-based construction of a new institution-level performance-based development framework for Aalborg University
Creators: name: Larsen, Birger
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Research Evaluation

description: Slides of a Lightning Talk on the discontinuation of the Danish Bibliometric Research Indicator (BFI) and the new institution-level performance-based development framework created for Aalborg University, held during the 4th SYoS event on 25 April 2024.
Palladium, Gold, and Gold–Palladium Nanoparticle-Supported Carbon Materials for Cyclohexane Oxidation
Creators: name: Vishal J. Mayani
name: Suranjana V. Mayani
name: Kim, Sang Wook
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Space Science
subject: Medicine
subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Ecology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Inorganic Chemistry

description: Transition metal supported porous carbon materials have become a promising aspirant in energy storage, solid catalysis, and material chemistry. Palladium, gold, and gold–palladium anchored carbon composites (CPC-25/170, CGC-25/170, and CGPC-25/170) with two different sized carbon cages (∼25 and 170 nm) were constructed using nano-silica ball (NSB) as the template and a pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO) based pitch residue as the carbon source. The Pd, Au, and Au–Pd doped carbon nanoreactors were characterized by various physicochemical analysis methods. The developed materials were used as heterogeneous catalysts for the oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone using H2O2 at room temperature (25°C) and atmospheric pressure. The most active catalyst CGC-170 showed combined cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone yield of 7.7% after 4 h reaction time. The conversion of 2.4%, 0.05%, and 0.32% was achieved using CGC-25, CGPC-25, and CGPC-170 catalysts, respectively. Recyclability of the catalysts maintains no observable loss of performance during catalytic oxidation reaction.
The mathematics of market timing
Creators: name: Metcalfe, Guy
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: Market timing is an investment technique that tries to continuously switch investment into assets forecast to have better returns. What is the likelihood of having a successful market timing strategy? With an emphasis on modeling simplicity, I calculate the feasible set of market timing portfolios using index mutual fund data for perfectly timed (by hindsight) all or nothing quarterly switching between two asset classes, US stocks and bonds over the time period 1993-2017. The historical optimal timing path of switches is shown to be indistinguishable from a random sequence. The key result is that the probability distribution function of market timing returns is asymmetric, that the highest probability outcome for market timing is a below median return. Put another way, simple math says market timing is more likely to lose than to win-even before accounting for costs. The median of the market timing return probability distribution can be directly calculated as a weighted average of the returns of the model assets with the weights given by the fraction of time each asset has a higher return than the other. For the time period of the data the median return was close to, but not identical with, the return of a static 60:40 stock:bond portfolio. These results are illustrated through Monte Carlo sampling of timing paths within the feasible set and by the observed return paths of several market timing mutual funds.
Testing Hypotheses in Nonparametric Models of Production
Creators: name: Kneip, Alois
name: Simar, Léopold
name: Wilson, Paul W.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: 19999 Mathematical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: 110309 Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: Data envelopment analysis (DEA) and free disposal hull (FDH) estimators are widely used to estimate efficiency of production. Practitioners use DEA estimators far more frequently than FDH estimators, implicitly assuming that production sets are convex. Moreover, use of the constant returns to scale (CRS) version of the DEA estimator requires an assumption of CRS. Although bootstrap methods have been developed for making inference about the efficiencies of individual units, until now no methods exist for making consistent inference about differences in mean efficiency across groups of producers or for testing hypotheses about model structure such as returns to scale or convexity of the production set. We use central limit theorem results from our previous work to develop additional theoretical results permitting consistent tests of model structure and provide Monte Carlo evidence on the performance of the tests in terms of size and power. In addition, the variable returns to scale version of the DEA estimator is proved to attain the faster convergence rate of the CRS-DEA estimator under CRS. Using a sample of U.S. commercial banks, we test and reject convexity of the production set, calling into question results from numerous banking studies that have imposed convexity assumptions. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
Design of trusses with light gauge cold formed steel sections
Creators: name: Mysore, K.
name: Watson, K.
name: Gad, Emad
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: The most complex component designed in light gauge framed residential stuctures are Roof trusses. In the design of light gauge cold formed metal trusses, the designer is meant to adhere to the requirements of Loading standards and steel design standards. Designers need to ensure that all the loads and load combinations stipulated in NASH Standard Residential and Low-rise Steel Framing Part 1 Design Crieteria and AS 4055 are checked and that the support, restraint conditions are accurately considered in the analysis. Various loads, load combinations, wind pressure coefficients, restraint and support conditions will be discussed in this paper. In the design of truss members, the requirement of AS/NZS 4600 should be strictly adhered. Effective length criteria for truss members is also discussed in this paper.This paper provides an illustrative example fo truss design using light gauge cold formed steel members. In the construction of roof, lateral restraints are provided by battens and other secondary members. The integrity of these restraints are discussed in this paper.
Testing Hypotheses in Nonparametric Models of Production
Creators: name: Kneip, Alois
name: Simar, Léopold
name: Wilson, Paul W.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: 110309 Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences
subject: Mathematics
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Medicine

description: Data envelopment analysis (DEA) and free disposal hull (FDH) estimators are widely used to estimate efficiency of production. Practitioners use DEA estimators far more frequently than FDH estimators, implicitly assuming that production sets are convex. Moreover, use of the constant returns to scale (CRS) version of the DEA estimator requires an assumption of CRS. Although bootstrap methods have been developed for making inference about the efficiencies of individual units, until now no methods exist for making consistent inference about differences in mean efficiency across groups of producers or for testing hypotheses about model structure such as returns to scale or convexity of the production set. We use the central limit theorem results of Kneip et al. (2015) to develop additional theoretical results permitting consistent tests of model structure and provide Monte Carlo evidence on the performance of the tests in terms of size and power. In addition, the variable returns to scale version of the DEA estimator is proved to attain the faster convergence rate of the CRS-DEA estimator under CRS. Using a sample of U.S. commercial banks, we test and reject convexity of the production set, calling into question results from numerous banking studies that have imposed convexity assumptions.
Palladium, Gold and Gold-Palladium Nanoparticle Supported Carbon Materials for Cyclohexane Oxidation
Creators: name: Vishal J. Mayani
name: Suranjana V. Mayani
name: Kim, Sang Wook
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Inorganic Chemistry
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Biological Sciences
subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Chemistry
subject: Earth and Environmental Sciences
subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: Engineering
subject: Biochemistry

description: ABSTRACTTransition metal supported porous carbon materials have become a promising aspirant in energy storage, solid catalysis and material chemistry. Palladium, gold and gold-palladium anchored carbon composites (CPC-25/170,CGC-25/170, and CGPC-25/170) with two different sized carbon cages (∼25 and 170 nm) were constructed using nano silica ball (NSB) as the template and a pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO) based pitch residue as the carbon source. The Pd, Au and Au-Pd doped carbon nanoreactors were characterized by various physico-chemical analysis methods. The developed materials were used as heterogeneous catalysts for the oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone using H2O2 at room temperature (25 °C) and atmospheric pressure. The most active catalyst CGC-170 showed combined cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone yield of 7.7% after 4 h reaction time. The conversion of 2.4%, 0.05% and 0.32% was achieved using CGC-25, CGPC-25 and CGPC-170 catalysts, respectively. Recyclability of the catalysts maintains no observable loss of performance during catalytic oxidation reaction.