141 research outputs found
A Mechanism for LIBOR
The investigations into LIBOR have highlighted that it is subject to manipulation. We examine a new method for constructing LIBOR that produces an unbiased estimator of the true rate. LIBOR itself is based solely on transactions. We allow for fines when a bank’s transaction is different than a comparison rate, which depends on the set of transactions and non-manipulated rates elicited by a revealed preference mechanism. These non-manipulated rates will always be used in the fines, but transactions may not. We address how this approach applies to other financial benchmarks and how it works even in markets in which there are few transactions
Risk for Tuberculosis among Children
Risk among children is underestimated in countries with a high incidence of this disease
Factors influencing quality of life following lower limb amputation for peripheral arterial occlusive disease: a systematic review of the literature
Background: The majority of lower limb amputations are undertaken in people with peripheral arterial occlusive disease,\ud
and approximately 50% have diabetes. Quality of life is an important outcome in lower limb amputations; little is known\ud
about what influences it, and therefore how to improve it.\ud
Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to identify the factors that influence quality of life after lower limb\ud
amputation for peripheral arterial occlusive disease.\ud
Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched to identify\ud
articles that quantitatively measured quality of life in those with a lower limb amputation for peripheral arterial occlusive\ud
disease. Articles were quality assessed by two assessors, evidence tables summarised each article and a narrative\ud
synthesis was performed.\ud
Study design: Systematic review.\ud
Results: Twelve articles were included. Study designs and outcome measures used varied. Quality assessment scores\ud
ranged from 36% to 92%. The ability to walk successfully with a prosthesis had the greatest positive impact on quality\ud
of life. A trans-femoral amputation was negatively associated with quality of life due to increased difficulty in walking\ud
with a prosthesis. Other factors such as older age, being male, longer time since amputation, level of social support and\ud
presence of diabetes also negatively affected quality of life.\ud
Conclusion: Being able to walk with a prosthesis is of primary importance to improve quality of life for people with lower\ud
limb amputation due to peripheral arterial occlusive disease. To further understand and improve the quality of life of this\ud
population, there is a need for more prospective longitudinal studies, with a standardised outcome measure
Participant Experiences with a New Online Modified-Delphi Approach for Engaging Patients and Caregivers in Developing Clinical Guidelines
Background
Patient engagement in clinical practice guideline (CPG) development has increased significantly in recent years. However, only a few patients and caregivers join CPG development groups.
Objective
To describe participant experiences with a novel online, scalable approach for patient and caregiver engagement in CPG development.
Design
We developed and tested the RAND/PPMD Patient-Centeredness Method (RPM), a novel online modified-Delphi approach to patient engagement in CPG development that consists of an optional idea generation round and two rating rounds interspersed with an online discussion round.
Setting and Participants
Using the online ExpertLens™ system, we ran 2 concurrent panels of patients and caregivers of individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
Main Outcome Measures
We surveyed all 95 panel participants about their participation and satisfaction with the process. We also conducted telephone interviews with 25 participants.
Results
Participants expressed satisfaction with various ExpertLens™ features, noting that the system fostered lively interaction among them. Panelists also appreciated participating in an educational, interactive and convenient discussion forum that allowed them to share their opinions on the importance and acceptability of different recommendations. The RPM was viewed as empowering by patients and their caregivers who felt it would be useful for CPG developers.
Discussion and Conclusion
The results of our study show the overall participant satisfaction with a novel, scalable, online approach to engaging patients and caregivers in CPG development, which allows them to share their perspectives and lived experiences using a rigorous, systematic and iterative way that is similar to how clinicians provide their input
The RAND/PPMD Patient-Centeredness Method: a novel online approach to engaging patients and their representatives in guideline development
Although clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) provide recommendations for how best to treat a typical patient with a given condition, patients and their representatives are not always engaged in CPG development. Despite the agreement that patient participation may improve the quality and utility of CPGs, there is no systematic, scalable method for engaging patients and their representatives, as well as no consensus on what exactly patients and their representatives should be asked to do during CPG development. To address these gaps, an interdisciplinary team of researchers, patient representatives, and clinicians developed the RAND/PPMD Patient-Centeredness Method (RPM) - a novel online approach to engaging patients and their representatives in CPG development. The RPM is an iterative approach that allows patients and their representatives to provide input by (1) generating ideas; (2) rating draft recommendations on two criteria (importance and acceptability); (3) explaining and discussing their ratings with other participants using online, asynchronous, anonymous, moderated discussion boards, and (4) revising their responses if needed. The RPM was designed to be consistent with the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method used by clinicians and researchers to develop CPG, while helping patients and their representative rate outcome importance and recommendation acceptability - two key components of the GRADE Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework. With slight modifications, the RPM has the potential to explore consensus among key stakeholders on other dimensions of the EtD, including feasibility, equity, and resource use
Molecular Characterization of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis Strains, Iraqi Kurdistan
Of 260 children with acute diarrhea in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, 96 (37%) were infected with rotavirus. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction identified G1, G4, G2, G9, P[8], P[6], and P[4] as the most common genotypes. Eight G/P combinations were found, but P[8]G1 and P[4]G2 accounted for >50% of the strains
Molecular characterization of rotavirus gastroenteritis strains, Iraqi Kurdistan
Of 260 children with acute diarrhea in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, 96 (37%) were infected with rotavirus. Reverse transcription?polymerase chain reaction identified G1, G4, G2, G9, P[8], P[6], and P[4] as the most common genotypes. Eight G/P combinations were found, but P[8]G1 and P[4]G2 accounted for >50% of the strains
Landsat 9 Thermal Infrared Sensor 2 Architecture and Design
The Thermal Infrared Sensor 2 (TIRS-2) will fly aboard the Landsat 9 spacecraft and leverages the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) design currently flying on Landsat 8. TIRS-2 will provide similar science data as TIRS, but is not a buildto-print rebuild due to changes in requirements and improvements in absolute accuracy. The heritage TIRS design has been modified to reduce the influence of stray light and to add redundancy for higher reliability over a longer mission life. The TIRS-2 development context differs from the TIRS scenario, adding to the changes. The TIRS-2 team has also learned some lessons along the way
The Gravity Collective: A Search for the Electromagnetic Counterpart to the Neutron Star-Black Hole Merger GW190814
We present optical follow-up imaging obtained with the Katzman Automatic
Imaging Telescope, Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, Nickel
Telescope, Swope Telescope, and Thacher Telescope of the LIGO/Virgo
gravitational wave (GW) signal from the neutron star-black hole (NSBH) merger
GW190814. We searched the GW190814 localization region (19 deg for the
90th percentile best localization), covering a total of 51 deg and 94.6%
of the two-dimensional localization region. Analyzing the properties of 189
transients that we consider as candidate counterparts to the NSBH merger,
including their localizations, discovery times from merger, optical spectra,
likely host-galaxy redshifts, and photometric evolution, we conclude that none
of these objects are likely to be associated with GW190814. Based on this
finding, we consider the likely optical properties of an electromagnetic
counterpart to GW190814, including possible kilonovae and short gamma-ray burst
afterglows. Using the joint limits from our follow-up imaging, we conclude that
a counterpart with an -band decline rate of 0.68 mag day, similar to
the kilonova AT 2017gfo, could peak at an absolute magnitude of at most
mag (50% confidence). Our data are not constraining for ''red'' kilonovae and
rule out ''blue'' kilonovae with (30% confidence). We
strongly rule out all known types of short gamma-ray burst afterglows with
viewing angles 17 assuming an initial jet opening angle of
and explosion energies and circumburst densities similar to
afterglows explored in the literature. Finally, we explore the possibility that
GW190814 merged in the disk of an active galactic nucleus, of which we find
four in the localization region, but we do not find any candidate counterparts
among these sources.Comment: 86 pages, 9 figure
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