MEASURING EFFICIENCY USING DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS: APPLICATION ON 12 POLICE PRECINCTS IN DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES

Public security plays a vital role in a developing country. It brings positive externalities. This means that it is the function of government to ensure the protection of citizens, persons in their territory, organization, and institutions against threats. The main purpose of this study is to determine the efficiency of 12 Police Precincts in Davao City, Philippines. The inputs and outputs for police performance measurement were first identified. Data Envelopment Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to measure efficiency and changes to overall services between 2015-2017. We use window analysis and output-oriented DEA models to sharpen our efficiency estimates with both constant and variable returns to scale. The problem of the presence of non-discretionary input variables is explicitly treated in the models used. Potential improvements in the technical efficiency of police precincts are examined by readjusting the output/input indicators. The analysis indicates that some differences in operating environments, especially socioeconomic factors such as residents and young people's population, significantly influence the efficiency of police precincts. JEL: H11; H50; H76  Article visualizations

Alice in Accounting Land: The Adventure of Two Economic Historians in Accounting Records of the 19th Century

This article aims to share our experience of working with São Paulo's municipal budgets published during the 19th century and discuss the difficulties of using this kind of source to analyze the municipal public finance from a historical perspective. The budget laws published draw the researcher's attention because they are abundant and relatively easy to work with, providing a huge documentary set that may be used as a means for studies in the fields of economic history, political history, and cultural history within the imperial period. These laws are printed, therefore, readable, and easily accessible through the digital web portal Acervo Histórico da Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de São Paulo Historical Collection of the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly]. They detail the origins and destinations of public resources, municipality by municipality, allowing the researcher to reconstruct the financial life of municipalities, identifying changes in time and space of the fortunes of the 19th-century São Paulo state communities. However, may we really trust these budgets? Conversations and collaborations between two researchers showed that these accessible, readable, and abundant sources are not as appropriate as they seem at first glance. This article reports our troubled and even contradictory journey into the world of municipal public accounting, in order to detail our findings and provide a warning on these sources. A comparative methodology between budget laws and handwritten balance sheets was used at time intervals of 1, 2, and 3 years, in search of correlations and adjustment patterns between budgeted and spent amounts of money. Our experience has shown that budget laws do not have much in common with the actual financial experience of municipalities within the imperial period, therefore, they are not the most appropriate sources to know the financial daily life in the 19th-century São Paulo state villages

Trajectories of femorotibial cartilage thickness among persons with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis : development of a prediction model to identify progressors

OBJECTIVE: There is significant variability in the trajectory of structural progression across people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). We aimed to identify distinct trajectories of femorotibial cartilage thickness over 2 years and develop a prediction model to identify individuals experiencing progressive cartilage loss. METHODS: We analysed data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) (n = 1,014). Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was used to identify trajectories of medial femorotibial cartilage thickness assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline, 1 and 2 years. Baseline characteristics were compared between trajectory-based subgroups and a prediction model was developed including those with frequent knee symptoms at baseline (n = 686). To examine clinical relevance of the trajectories, we assessed their association with concurrent changes in knee pain and incidence of total knee replacement (TKR) over 4 years. RESULTS: The optimal model identified three distinct trajectories: (1) stable (87.7% of the population, mean change -0.08 mm, SD 0.19); (2) moderate cartilage loss (10.0%, -0.75 mm, SD 0.16) and (3) substantial cartilage loss (2.2%, -1.38 mm, SD 0.23). Higher Western Ontario & McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores, family history of TKR, obesity, radiographic medial joint space narrowing (JSN) ≥1 and pain duration ≤1 year were predictive of belonging to either the moderate or substantial cartilage loss trajectory [area under the curve (AUC) 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74, 0.84]. The two progression trajectories combined were associated with pain progression (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.34, 2.97) and incidence of TKR (OR 4.34, 1.62, 11.62). CONCLUSIONS: A minority of individuals follow a progressive cartilage loss trajectory which was strongly associated with poorer clinical outcomes. If externally validated, the prediction model may help to select individuals who may benefit from cartilage-targeted therapies

Efecto de tres diferentes aditivos anti-micotoxinas en los pollos de engorde expuestos a aflatoxina B1

El crecimiento de hongos filamentosos en alimentos puede implicar, aparte de deterioro, la producción de micotoxinas que causan pérdidas económicas en la industria avícola, debido a la disminución de la productividad y aumento de susceptibilidad a enfermedades en aves de corral. Adsorbentes basados en la pared celular de la levadura Saccharomyces cerevisiae, que contiene glucomanano esterificado, son una alternativa para reducir la biodisponibilidad de las micotoxinas. Este estudio comparó in vitro e in vivo el rendimiento de tres nuevos aditivos antimicotoxinas (AMA) basados en la pared celular de la levadura de Saccharomyces cerevisiae. El proceso de adsorción se cuantificó in vitro, y los datos obtenidos cuando se representa con el modelo matemático de la ecuación de Hill indicaron un proceso cooperativo. Tres diferentes AMA fueron probados por su capacidad para reducir los efectos de las aflatoxinas. La adición de 1 mg kg-1 de aflatoxina B1 en la dieta de pollos de engorde afectó negativamente los parámetros de rendimiento, con aumento del peso del hígado, degeneración grasa y necrosis hepática. La adición de dos tipos diferentes de AMA (0,2%) revirtió tales efectos, y uno mostró un efecto sinérgico con aflatoxina B1 Concluyendo, AMA 1 y 2 son aditivos con buen potencial para su aplicación en producción animal. Los ingredientes del AMA 3 deben ser reexaminados solo por su capacidad de adsorción. Estos son los primeros datos en Brasil correspondientes a aditivos antimicotoxinas por medio del estudio de isotermas de adsorción. Debido a que las características beneficiosas son dependientes de la cepa, este estudio sugiere dos nuevas alternativas prometedoras para mejorar el problema de las micotoxinas.The growth of filamentous fungi on food often causes, aside from its deterioration, the mycotoxin production which determines economic losses in poultry industry, such as decreased productivity and injuries on poultry's carcass. Adsorbents based on yeast cell wall from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which contain esterified glucomannan, are an alternative to reduce the mycotoxins bioavailability. The aim of this study was to compare in vitro and in vivo the performance of new three anti-mycotoxin additives (AMA) based on yeast cell wall from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The adsorption process was quantified in vitro, and the data obtained when plotted with Hill's equation indicated a cooperative process. Then, the three different AMA were tested for its ability to reduce the effects of aflatoxins in the diet of growing broiler chickens. The addition of 1 mg kg-1 aflatoxin B1 to the diets of broilers caused a negative change on the performance parameters besides increasing liver weight, fatty degeneration and liver necrosis. The addition of two different kinds of AMA (0.2%) could reverse such effects. In conclusion, AMA 1 and 2 are additives with good potential for application on animal production. The AMA 3 ingredients must be re-tested alone for its adsorption capacity. These are the first data reported from Brazil anti-mycotoxin additives with preliminary isothermal analysis. Since beneficial characteristics of S. cerevisiae cell wall in animal industry are strain dependent, this study suggests two new promising alternatives to ameliorate mycotoxin problem.Fil: Oliveira, A. A.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Keller, K. M.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Deveza, M. V.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Keller, L. A. M.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Dias, E. O.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Martini Santos, B. J.. Fundação Dom André Arcoverde; BrasilFil: Leitão, D. F. G. M.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Cavaglieri, Lilia Reneé. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rosa, C. A. R.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro; Brasi

Clinimetrics of ultrasound pathologies in osteoarthritis:systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: The aims of this study were to systematically review clinimetrics of commonly assessed ultrasound pathologies in knee, hip and hand osteoarthritis (OA), and to conduct a meta-analysis for each clinimetric. Methods: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from their inceptions to September 2016. According to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Instrument Selection Algorithm, data extraction focused on ultrasound technical features and performance metrics. Methodological quality was assessed with modified 19-item Downs and Black score and 11-item Quality Appraisal of Diagnostic Reliability (QAREL) score. Separate meta-analyses were performed for clinimetrics: (1) inter-rater/intra-rater reliability; (2) construct validity; (3) criteria validity; and (4) internal/external responsiveness. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Excel and Comprehensive Meta-analysis were used. Result: Our search identified 1126 records; of these, 100 were eligible, including a total of 8542 patients and 32,373 joints. The average Downs and Black score was 13.01, and average QAREL was 5.93. The stratified meta-analysis was performed only for knee OA, which demonstrated moderate to substantial reliability [minimum kappa > 0.44(0.15,0.74), minimum intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) > 0.82(0.73—0.89)], weak construct validity against pain (r = 0.12 to 0.27), function (r = 0.15 to 0.23), and blood biomarkers (r = 0.01 to 0.21), but weak to strong correlation with plain radiography (r = 0.13 to 0.60), strong association with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) [minimum r = 0.60(0.52,0.67)] and strong discrimination against symptomatic patients (OR = 3.08 to 7.46). There was strong criterion validity against cartilage histology [r = 0.66(−0.05,0.93)], and small to moderate internal [standardized mean difference(SMD) = 0.20 to 0.58] and external (r = 0.35 to 0.43) responsiveness to interventions. Conclusion: Ultrasound demonstrated strong criterion validity with cartilage histology, poor to strong correlation with patient findings and MRI, moderate reliability, and low responsiveness to interventions

A consensus-based framework for conducting and reporting osteoarthritis phenotype research

Abstract Background: The concept of osteoarthritis (OA) heterogeneity is evolving and gaining renewed interest. According to this concept, distinct subtypes of OA need to be defined that will likely require recognition in research design and different approaches to clinical management. Although seemingly plausible, a wide range of views exist on how best to operationalize this concept. The current project aimed to provide consensus-based definitions and recommendations that together create a framework for conducting and reporting OA phenotype research. Methods: A panel of 25 members with expertise in OA phenotype research was composed. First, panel members participated in an online Delphi exercise to provide a number of basic definitions and statements relating to OA phenotypes and OA phenotype research. Second, panel members provided input on a set of recommendations for reporting on OA phenotype studies. Results: Four Delphi rounds were required to achieve sufficient agreement on 11 definitions and statements. OA phenotypes were defined as subtypes of OA that share distinct underlying pathobiological and pain mechanisms and their structural and functional consequences. Reporting recommendations pertaining to the study characteristics, study population, data collection, statistical analysis, and appraisal of OA phenotype studies were provided. Conclusions: This study provides a number of consensus-based definitions and recommendations relating to OA phenotypes. The resulting framework is intended to facilitate research on OA phenotypes and increase combined efforts to develop effective OA phenotype classification. Success in this endeavor will hopefully translate into more effective, differentiated OA management that will benefit a multitude of OA patients