The conduct and reporting of mediation analysis in recently published randomized controlled trials : results from a methodological systematic review

Objectives: To describe the methodological characteristics of mediation analyses (MAs) reported in recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and to propose recommendations on the planning, conduct, and reporting of MAs in practice. Study Design and Setting: We conducted a systematic review by searching MEDLINE (January 1, 2017, to December 1, 2018) for all reports of RCTs or secondary analyses of previously published RCTs that reported a MA. Two reviewers independently screened the title, abstracts, and full texts of the identified reports and extracted the data from the 98 eligible studies. Results: MAs were nearly always (96%) based on a traditional mediation approach. Most studies did not report a sample size calculation for the MA (96%) or assess potential treatment-by-mediator interactions (96%). In 53% of studies, mediators and outcomes were simultaneously measured. In 57% of studies, mediator-mediator and mediator-outcome confounders were adjusted for in the analysis, although adjustment was often limited to few potential confounders. About 30% of studies discussed the assumptions underlying the MA. Conclusion: The conduct and reporting of MAs remained quite heterogeneous in practice. Future MAs could benefit from a consensus-based planning, conduct, and reporting guideline for MA

KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND NEGOTIATION SUPPORT IN MULTIPERSON DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS

A number of DSS for supporting decisions by more than one person have been proposed. These can be categorized by spatial distance (local vs. remote), temporal distance (meeting vs. mailing), commonality of goals (cooperation vs. bargaining), and control (democratic vs. hierarchical). Existing frameworks for model management in single-user DSS seem insufficient for such systems. This paper views multiperson DSS as a loosely coupled system of model and data bases which may be human (the DSS builders and users) or computerized. The systems components have different knowledge bases and may have different interests. Their interaction is characterized by knowledge sharing for uncertainty reduction and cooperative problem-solving, and negotiation for view integration, consensus-seeking, and compromise. Requirements for the different types of multiperson DSS can be formalized as application-level communications protocols. Based on a literature review and recent experience with a number of multiperson DSS prototypes, artificial intelligence-based message-passing protocols are compared with database-centered approaches and model-based techniques, such as multicriteria decision making.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Randomized controlled trial of a coordinated care intervention to improve risk factor control after stroke or transient ischemic attack in the safety net: Secondary stroke prevention by Uniting Community and Chronic care model teams Early to End Disparities (SUCCEED).

BackgroundRecurrent strokes are preventable through awareness and control of risk factors such as hypertension, and through lifestyle changes such as healthier diets, greater physical activity, and smoking cessation. However, vascular risk factor control is frequently poor among stroke survivors, particularly among socio-economically disadvantaged blacks, Latinos and other people of color. The Chronic Care Model (CCM) is an effective framework for multi-component interventions aimed at improving care processes and outcomes for individuals with chronic disease. In addition, community health workers (CHWs) have played an integral role in reducing health disparities; however, their effectiveness in reducing vascular risk among stroke survivors remains unknown. Our objectives are to develop, test, and assess the economic value of a CCM-based intervention using an Advanced Practice Clinician (APC)-CHW team to improve risk factor control after stroke in an under-resourced, racially/ethnically diverse population.Methods/designIn this single-blind randomized controlled trial, 516 adults (≥40 years) with an ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack or intracerebral hemorrhage within the prior 90 days are being enrolled at five sites within the Los Angeles County safety-net setting and randomized 1:1 to intervention vs usual care. Participants are excluded if they do not speak English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Korean or if they are unable to consent. The intervention includes a minimum of three clinic visits in the healthcare setting, three home visits, and Chronic Disease Self-Management Program group workshops in community venues. The primary outcome is blood pressure (BP) control (systolic BP <130 mmHg) at 1 year. Secondary outcomes include: (1) mean change in systolic BP; (2) control of other vascular risk factors including lipids and hemoglobin A1c, (3) inflammation (C reactive protein [CRP]), (4) medication adherence, (5) lifestyle factors (smoking, diet, and physical activity), (6) estimated relative reduction in risk for recurrent stroke or myocardial infarction (MI), and (7) cost-effectiveness of the intervention versus usual care.DiscussionIf this multi-component interdisciplinary intervention is shown to be effective in improving risk factor control after stroke, it may serve as a model that can be used internationally to reduce race/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in stroke in resource-constrained settings.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01763203

Architecture for Provenance Systems

This document covers the logical and process architectures of provenance systems. The logical architecture identifies key roles and their interactions, whereas the process architecture discusses distribution and security. A fundamental aspect of our presentation is its technology-independent nature, which makes it reusable: the principles that are exposed in this document may be applied to different technologies

Urban information model for city planning

City planning is a complex task and therefore needs to consider the interplay between multi-aspects of a city, for example, transport, pollution, and crime. A city model is important to representing urban issues in a clear manner to the relative stakeholders. Although some city models have been used in the planning process, they are often based on narrow data sets. When sustainability and the quality of urban life generally is considered a more holistic analysis of city issues during the planning process is needed. It calls for city models to be based on integrated data sets. The paper describes the concept and challenges of nD urban information model. The research work on how to develop an nD urban information model to accommodate data sets relevant to different aspects of city planning is presented

The 1990 progress report and future plans

This document describes the progress and plans of the Artificial Intelligence Research Branch (RIA) at ARC in 1990. Activities span a range from basic scientific research to engineering development and to fielded NASA applications, particularly those applications that are enabled by basic research carried out at RIA. Work is conducted in-house and through collaborative partners in academia and industry. Our major focus is on a limited number of research themes with a dual commitment to technical excellence and proven applicability to NASA short, medium, and long-term problems. RIA acts as the Agency's lead organization for research aspects of artificial intelligence, working closely with a second research laboratory at JPL and AI applications groups at all NASA centers

Towards Semantic Integration of Heterogeneous Sensor Data with Indigenous Knowledge for Drought Forecasting

In the Internet of Things (IoT) domain, various heterogeneous ubiquitous devices would be able to connect and communicate with each other seamlessly, irrespective of the domain. Semantic representation of data through detailed standardized annotation has shown to improve the integration of the interconnected heterogeneous devices. However, the semantic representation of these heterogeneous data sources for environmental monitoring systems is not yet well supported. To achieve the maximum benefits of IoT for drought forecasting, a dedicated semantic middleware solution is required. This research proposes a middleware that semantically represents and integrates heterogeneous data sources with indigenous knowledge based on a unified ontology for an accurate IoT-based drought early warning system (DEWS).Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, In Proceedings of the Doctoral Symposium of the 16th International Middleware Conference (Middleware Doct Symposium 2015), Ivan Beschastnikh and Wouter Joosen (Eds.). ACM, New York, NY, US

An Architecture for Provenance Systems

This document covers the logical and process architectures of provenance systems. The logical architecture identifies key roles and their interactions, whereas the process architecture discusses distribution and security. A fundamental aspect of our presentation is its technology-independent nature, which makes it reusable: the principles that are exposed in this document may be applied to different technologies

ENLACE: Human Subjects Protocol

The study “ENLACE: A Promotora-Led Physical Activity Intervention Trial for Latinas in Texas” is a clinical trial (NCT00869583) funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) (R01HL111718).This record includes the IRB-approved Human Subjects Protocol used for the ENLACE study.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)Liberal Art