Category: Statistics

Int J Comput Dent. 2023 Jan 5;0(0):1-22. doi: 10.3290/j.ijcd.b3759621. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the accuracy of root canal length determination in dependence of CBCT acquisition protocol and evaluating the influence of additional superimposed computerized optical impressions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT scans with low-dose (LD) and high-definition (HD) protocols and computerized optical impressions of thirty extracted human molars were acquired. The Sicat Endo software (Sicat, Bonn, Germany) was used for CBCT root canal length (RCL) measurements with (LD+, HD+) and without (LD-, HD-) a superimposed optical impression. To evaluate the accuracy, absolute differences between test groups and the actual root canal length (ARCL) were calculated and statistically analyzed using the Wilcoxon-Rank-Sum-Test.

RESULTS: Absolute differences between the ARCL and the tested measurement methods varied significantly (p<0.05). Both, higher resolution and additionally superimposed computerized optical impression improved measurement accuracy. Mean differences compared to the ARCL were 0.26 mm (HD+), 0.34 mm (HD-), 0.43 (LD+) and 0.66mm (LD-). 93.4% of all measurements in the HD+ group were within the limits of ±0.5 mm.

CONCLUSIONS: Both resolution and superimposition of additional computerized optical impressions have a significant influence on root canal length measurements using CBCT.

PMID:36602786 | DOI:10.3290/j.ijcd.b3759621

Int J Comput Dent. 2023 Jan 5;0(0):1-14. doi: 10.3290/j.ijcd.b3759607. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this in vitro study was the evaluation of the in-vitro performance and fracture force of 3D-printed anterior implant-supported temporary partial dentures (TPD) with different filler content.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Identical anterior resin-based TPDs (tooth situation 11-13; n=8 per material) were 3D-printed of methacrylate resins with different filler content. A cartridge polymethacrylate (PMMA) material was used as a reference. After temporary cementation, combined thermal cycling and mechanical loading (TCML) was performed on all restorations to mimic clinical application. Behavior during TCML and fracture force was determined and failures were analyzed. Data were statistically investigated (Kolmogorov- Smirnov-test, one-way-ANOVA; post-hoc-Bonferroni, Kaplan-Meier-survival, α=0.05).

RESULT: Failure during TCML varied between three failures and total failure during loading time. Mean survival time varied between 93±206 x10³ cycles and 329±84 x10³ cycles. Significant different survival cycles between individual materials could be determined (Log Rank test Mantel Cox: Chi2 21,861, df =4, p<0.001). A correlation between filler level and survival cycles could be found (Pearson: 0.186, p=0.065). Fracture values of the surviving TPDs varied between 499 N and 835 N. Failures were characterized by fracture of the connector (n=24) followed by fractures at the abutment (n=10).

CONCLUSION: TDPs showed different filler-dependent survival. Individual 3D-printed materials provided comparable or even better performance than a standard cartridge system, and might be sufficient for temporary application of at least half a year.

PMID:36602785 | DOI:10.3290/j.ijcd.b3759607

JAMA Oncol. 2023 Jan 5. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.6288. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Both tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) assessment and immune-related gene expression signatures by RNA profiling predict higher pathologic complete response (pCR) and improved event-free survival (EFS) in patients with early-stage ERBB2/HER2-positive breast cancer. However, whether these 2 measures of immune activation provide similar or additive prognostic value is not known.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prognostic ability of TILs and immune-related gene expression signatures, alone and in combination, to predict pCR and EFS in patients with early-stage ERBB2/HER2-positive breast cancer treated in 2 clinical trials.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this prognostic study, a correlative analysis was performed on the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 40601 trial and the PAMELA trial. In the CALGB 40601 trial, 305 patients were randomly assigned to weekly paclitaxel with trastuzumab, lapatinib, or both for 16 weeks. The primary end point was pCR, with a secondary end point of EFS. In the PAMELA trial, 151 patients received neoadjuvant treatment with trastuzumab and lapatinib for 18 weeks. The primary end point was the ability of the HER2-enriched subtype to predict pCR. The studies were conducted from October 2013 to November 2015 (PAMELA) and from December 2008 to February 2012 (CALGB 40601). Data analyses were performed from June 1, 2020, to January 1, 2022.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Immune-related gene expression profiling by RNA sequencing and TILs were assessed on 230 CALGB 40601 trial pretreatment tumors and 138 PAMELA trial pretreatment tumors. The association of these biomarkers with pCR (CALGB 40601 and PAMELA) and EFS (CALGB 40601) was studied by logistic regression and Cox analyses.

RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 50 years (IQR, 42-50 years), and 305 (100%) were women. Of 202 immune signatures tested, 166 (82.2%) were significantly correlated with TILs. In both trials combined, TILs were significantly associated with pCR (odds ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02; P = .02). In addition to TILs, 36 immune signatures were significantly associated with higher pCR rates. Seven of these signatures outperformed TILs for predicting pCR, 6 of which were B-cell related. In a multivariable Cox model adjusted for clinicopathologic factors, including PAM50 intrinsic tumor subtype, the immunoglobulin G signature, but not TILs, was independently associated with EFS (immunoglobulin G signature-adjusted hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.42-0.93; P = .02; TIL-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.98-1.02; P = .99).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Results of this study suggest that multiple B-cell-related signatures were more strongly associated with pCR and EFS than TILs, which largely represent T cells. When both TILs and gene expression are available, the prognostic value of immune-related signatures appears to be superior.

PMID:36602784 | DOI:10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.6288

Inhal Toxicol. 2023 Jan 5:1-16. doi: 10.1080/08958378.2022.2164388. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The air quality index (AQI) forecasts are one of the most important aspects of improving urban public health and enabling society to remain sustainable despite the effects of air pollution. Pollution control organizations deploy ground stations to collect information about air pollutants. Establishing a ground station all-around is not feasible due to the cost involved. As an alternative, satellite-captured data can be utilized for AQI assessment. This study explores the changes in AQI during various COVID-19 lockdowns in India utilizing satellite data. Furthermore, it addresses the effectiveness of state-of-the-art deep learning and statistical approaches for forecasting short-term AQI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Google Earth Engine (GEE) has been utilized to capture the data for the study. The satellite data has been authenticated against ground station data utilizing the beta distribution test before being incorporated into the study. The AQI forecasting has been explored using state-of-the-art statistical and deep learning approaches like VAR, Holt-Winter, and LSTM variants (stacked, bi-directional, and vanilla).

RESULTS: AQI ranged from 100 to 300, from moderately polluted to very poor during the study period. The maximum reduction was recorded during the complete lockdown period in the year 2020. Short-term AQI forecasting with Holt-Winter was more accurate than other models with the lowest MAPE scores.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings, air pollution is clearly a threat in the studied locations, and it is important for all stakeholders to work together to reduce it. The level of air pollutants dropped substantially during the different lockdowns.

PMID:36602767 | DOI:10.1080/08958378.2022.2164388

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2023 Jan 4. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0054. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: Flaviviruses are agents with high zoonotic potential of importance to human health. They are transmitted by mosquitoes of the Culicidae family, and birds act as host-amplifiers. Birds, mammals, and humans are susceptible hosts to infection. Methods: In this study, West Nile virus (WNV), flavivirus, infection was studied in 37 serum samples from 22 hens on Easter Island, Chile. Results: WNV was detected by ELISA (ID Screen® West Nile Competition Multi-Species). We report absence of antibodies to WNV, and to related viruses of the Japanese Encephalitis Virus serocomplex, and, therefore, absence of infection across the sample. Conclusion: This is the first evaluation of its type carried out in Chile, and represents a positive result for public health at Easter Island.

PMID:36602757 | DOI:10.1089/vbz.2022.0054

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jan 5. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-24700-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study examines the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT), GDP growth, population, and globalization on the environmental quality of 31 Asian economies (i.e., categorized as lower middle-income, upper middle-income, and high-income groups Asian economies). This analysis employed the time series data from 1990 to 2018. The robust second-generation econometric technologies are used in this analysis. This study applied the Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) premises under the extended “STIRPAT model” to add population and GDP (per capita) and information technologies (ICTs) by employing ecological footprint. To estimate, the estimators of this study used the CS-ARDL estimates, and for robustness check, this study used the augmented mean group (AMG) test. The co-integration test found the long-run association between ecological footprint and its main determinants. The results of CS-ARDL have confirmed the imperative role of information technologies in mitigating the ecological footprint in the higher, upper-middle, and lower-middle-income economies of Asian economies. The statistical findings of this study are robust to diagnostic tests and alternative estimation proxies and techniques. Moreover, policymakers need to identify the direction of the information technology-ecological footprint nexus through cooperation in combating climate change with financial assistance in the ICT sector.

PMID:36602742 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-24700-3

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jan 5. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-24853-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

To minimize the environmental burdens and to promote natural resource conservation and sustainability, a composite additive (CA) is proposed using paper and wood industry waste, i.e., lignosulphonate (LS) and lime (LM) as a replacement for conventional stabilizers. However, the implication of this proposed stabilizer for real construction scenarios requires a multi-objective optimization for a thorough guideline for practitioners. In this regard, the response surface methodology is used for the mix design optimization of the proposed CA for various construction scenarios (i.e., buildings, roadways, and slopes). An extensive testing program is designed and conducted to obtain different geotechnical parameters related to the mechanical, volumetric change, and hydraulic behavior of the soil with special attention to the stabilization mechanism. The interplay between variables (LS and LM) and responses is examined using the effective 3D surface diagrams, and mathematical models are derived for which the difference between R², Adj R², and Pred R² is found to be less than 0.2. In addition, LM is found to be more sensitive in terms of mechanical and hydraulic parameters than LS whereas LS moderately contributes to altering the parameters related to the volumetric change and hydraulic behavior. The optimized mix design of CA (i.e., LS:LM) is determined against the expansive soil stabilization for foundation, subgrade, and slope stability cases which are found to be 1.03:3.57, 0.84:2.90, and 0.9:2.75 as best suitable for these cases, respectively. Predicted responses for the optimal solution for slope stability cases are found to have an error of 0-9.6%. The stabilization mechanism shows that LS and LM work well in conjunction and lead to a more stable soil structure with better interlocking and cementation between soil particles along with the formation of new cementing materials, i.e., calcium aluminate hydrate (CAH) and calcium silicate gel (CSH). The LS in CA is observed to reduce the LM concentration in soil stabilization by up to 45% with improved geotechnical performance. Thus, the proposed CA is vital for natural resource conservation and paper and wood industry-related waste management.

PMID:36602728 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-24853-1

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023 Jan 5:e30186. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30186. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adherence promotion is a critical component of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer care, but predictors of nonadherence that could be targeted in intervention efforts remain largely unknown. The purpose of this multi-site longitudinal observational study was to examine the relationship between barriers and medication adherence among AYAs with cancer.

PROCEDURE: Sixty-five AYAs (ages 15-24 years; mean age = 18.97 years, SD = 2.51; Mmean time since diagnosis = 1.42 years, SD = 1.95) with newly diagnosed or relapsed cancer completed self-report measures of barriers and adherence at quarterly study visits and used an electronic adherence monitoring device for 12 months. Longitudinal mixed effects models were used to examine our primary hypothesis that greater barriers are related to lower adherence over time. Descriptive statistics were used to explore our secondary aim of describing the frequency and patterns of barriers endorsed by AYAs with cancer.

RESULTS: After controlling for covariates (time, medication type, race, ethnicity, diagnosis, time since diagnosis), a greater number of barriers was associated with lower electronically monitored (β = -5.99, p = .005) and self-reported (β = -1.92, p < .001) adherence. The specific barriers endorsed by AYAs differed across participants, and the majority of AYAs endorsed an entirely different pattern of barriers than any other AYA in the study.

CONCLUSION: Barriers are associated with nonadherence and may be a promising target for intervention. Individual variability across barriers, however, suggests that tailoring may be necessary, and a promising next step is to explore personalized approaches to adherence promotion.

PMID:36602026 | DOI:10.1002/pbc.30186

Br J Math Stat Psychol. 2023 Jan 5. doi: 10.1111/bmsp.12298. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Diagnostic models provide a statistical framework for designing formative assessments by classifying student knowledge profiles according to a collection of fine-grained attributes. The context and ecosystem in which students learn may play an important role in skill mastery, and it is therefore important to develop methods for incorporating student covariates into diagnostic models. Including covariates may provide researchers and practitioners with the ability to evaluate novel interventions or understand the role of background knowledge in attribute mastery. Existing research is designed to include covariates in confirmatory diagnostic models, which are also known as restricted latent class models. We propose new methods for including covariates in exploratory RLCMs that jointly infer the latent structure and evaluate the role of covariates on performance and skill mastery. We present a novel Bayesian formulation and report a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm using a Metropolis-within-Gibbs algorithm for approximating the model parameter posterior distribution. We report Monte Carlo simulation evidence regarding the accuracy of our new methods and present results from an application that examines the role of student background knowledge on the mastery of a probability data set.

PMID:36601975 | DOI:10.1111/bmsp.12298

Hepatol Res. 2023 Jan 5. doi: 10.1111/hepr.13876. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Cabozantinib showed a favorable benefit-risk profile in Japanese patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in an open-label, phase 2 study (NCT03586973). This analysis presents cumulative data to final database lock.

METHODS: Patients with previously treated, advanced HCC received cabozantinib 60 mg/day. Progression-free survival (PFS) and tumor response rates in prior-sorafenib and sorafenib-naïve cohorts were assessed by independent radiology committee (IRC) and an investigator. Liver function was evaluated by albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score.

RESULTS: Median cabozantinib exposure was 5.6 months. In the prior-sorafenib cohort (n = 20), median PFS was 7.4 months per IRC assessment and 5.6 months per investigator assessment. In the sorafenib-naïve cohort (n = 14), median PFS was 3.6 months and 4.4 months per IRC and investigator assessment, respectively. Six-month PFS rate per IRC and investigator assessment in the prior-sorafenib cohort was 59.8% and 49.5%, respectively, and in the sorafenib-naïve cohort was 16.7% and 35.7%, respectively. Disease control rate by both IRC and investigator assessment was 85.0% in the prior-sorafenib cohort and 64.3% in the sorafenib-naïve cohort. Median overall survival (Kaplan-Meier estimate) was 19.3 months and 9.9 months in the prior-sorafenib and sorafenib-naïve cohort, respectively. Mean ALBI score remained relatively constant in patients able to continue treatment. The most frequent adverse events were palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, diarrhea, hypertension, and decreased appetite. No new safety concerns were identified.

CONCLUSIONS: Cabozantinib showed efficacy and a manageable safety profile in Japanese patients with advanced HCC. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:36601972 | DOI:10.1111/hepr.13876