Multicriterial ranking approach for evaluating bank branch performance

14 ranking methods based on multiple criteria are suggested for evaluating the performance of the bank branches. The methods are explained via an illustrative example, and some of them are applied to a real-life data for 23 retail bank branches in a large-scale private Turkish commercial bank

Dynamic evolution for risk-neutral densities

Option price data is often used to infer risk-neutral densities for future prices of an underlying asset. Given the prices of a set of options on the same underlying asset with different strikes and maturities, we propose a nonparametric approach for estimating the evolution of the risk-neutral density in time. Our method uses bicubic splines in order to achieve the desired smoothness for the estimation and an optimization model to choose the spline functions that best fit the price data. Semidefinite programming is employed to guarantee the nonnegativity of the densities. We illustrate the process using synthetic option price data generated using log-normal and absolute diffusion processes as well as actual price data for options on the S&P500 index. We also used the risk-neutral densities that we computed to price exotic options and observed that this approach generates prices that closely approximate the market prices of these options.FCT POCI/MAT/59442/2004, PTDC/MAT/64838/2006

СТАНДАРТИ НАДАННЯ МЕДИЧНОЇ ДОПОМОГИ ХВОРИМ НА ЦУКРОВИЙ ДІАБЕТ МЕДИЧНОЮ СЕСТРОЮ ЗАГАЛЬНОЇ ПРАКТИКИ

The article represents an exemplary local protocol for providing of medical care to patients with diabetes mellitus by general duty nurse, created by the authors on the basis of modern normative documents (clinical protocols of medical care to patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2).У статті наведено примірний локальний протокол із надання медичної допомоги хворим на цукровий діабет медичною сестрою загальної практики, розроблений авторами на основі сучасних нормативних документів (уніфікованих клінічних протоколів із надання медичної допомоги хворим на цукровий діабет 1 та 2 типів)

Portfolio Optimization Using SPEA2 with Resampling

Proceeding of: Intelligent Data Engineering and Automated Learning – IDEAL 2011: 12th International Conference, Norwich, UK, September 7-9, 2011The subject of financial portfolio optimization under real-world constraints is a difficult problem that can be tackled using multiobjective evolutionary algorithms. One of the most problematic issues is the dependence of the results on the estimates for a set of parameters, that is, the robustness of solutions. These estimates are often inaccurate and this may result on solutions that, in theory, offered an appropriate risk/return balance and, in practice, resulted being very poor. In this paper we suggest that using a resampling mechanism may filter out the most unstable. We test this idea on real data using SPEA2 as optimization algorithm and the results show that the use of resampling increases significantly the reliability of the resulting portfolios.The authors acknowledge financial support granted by the Spanish Ministry of Science under contract TIN2008-06491-C04-03 (MSTAR) and Comunidad de Madrid (CCG10- UC3M/TIC-5029).Publicad

ПРОБЛЕМИ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ЗАХВОРЮВАНОСТІ СЕРЕД ФАРМАЦЕВТИЧНИХ ПРАЦІВНИКІВ

The article presents the experience of investigation of pharmacists’morbidity in some countries of the world. Basic factors influencing on the structure and level of pharmacists’morbidity were determined.У статті проаналізовано досвід вивчення захворюваності аптечних працівників у деяких зарубіжних країнах. Визначено основні чинники, що впливають на рівень та структуру захворюваності аптечних працівників

Seroprevalence of Human Brucellosis in a Rural Area of Western Anatolia, Turkey

This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of human brucellosis and identify the potential risk factors in a rural area of Western Anatolia, Turkey. A simple random-sampling method was used for identifying 1,052 subjects for the study. Blood samples, collected from all the subjects, were studied following the methods of Rose Bengal slide agglutination and standard tube agglutination tests. One thousand and one samples (95.2%) were seronegative, and 51 (4.8%) were seropositive. There was a statistically significant correlation between seropositivity and age, sex, consuming fresh cheese and cream made from unboiled milk (p values 0.005, 0.019, <0.001, and <0.001 respectively). Seropositivity was not related to educational level (0.270). It is concluded that pasteurization of milk and dairy products and education regarding eating habits must be pursued for eradication of human brucellosis from rural areas. The findings of the study suggest that human brucellosis is still an important public-health problem in the western Anatolia region of Turkey, especially in rural areas

Prognostic significance of pathologic lymph node invasion in metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the immunotherapy era

Background This study aimed to test the prognostic significance of pathologically confirmed lymph node invasion in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients in this immunotherapy era. Methods Surgically treated mRCC patients were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2018. Kaplan-Meier plots and multivariable Cox-regression models were fitted to test for differences in cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and overall mortality (OM) according to N stage (pN0 vs pN1 vs. pNx). Subgroup analyses addressing pN1 patients tested for CSM and OM differences according to postoperative systemic therapy status. Results Overall, 3149 surgically treated mRCC patients were identified. Of these patients, 443 (14%) were labeled as pN1, 812 (26%) as pN0, and 1894 (60%) as pNx. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, the median CSM-free survival was 15 months for pN1 versus 40 months for pN0 versus 35 months for pNx (P < 0.001). In multivariable Cox regression analyses, pN1 independently predicted higher CSM (hazard ratio [HR], 1.88; P < 0.01) and OM (HR, 1.95; P < 0.01) relative to pN0. In sensitivity analyses addressing pN1 patients, postoperative systemic therapy use independently predicted lower CSM (HR, 0.73; P < 0.01) and OM (HR, 0.71; P < 0.01). Conclusion Pathologically confirmed lymph node invasion independently predicted higher CSM and OM for surgically treated mRCC patients. For pN1 mRCC patients, use of postoperative systemic therapy was associated with lower CSM and OM. Consequently, N stage should be considered for individual patient counseling and clinical decision-making

Regional differences in clear cell metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients across the USA

Purpose To test for regional differences in clear cell metastatic renal cell carcinoma (ccmRCC) patients across the USA. Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2000–2018) was used to tabulate patient (age at diagnosis, sex, race/ethnicity), tumor (N stage, sites of metastasis) and treatment characteristics (proportions of nephrectomy and systemic therapy), according to 12 SEER registries. Multinomial regression models, as well as multivariable Cox regression models, tested the overall mortality (OM) adjusting for those patient, tumor and treatment characteristics. Results In 9882 ccmRCC patients, registry-specific patient counts ranged from 4025 (41%) to 189 (2%). Differences across registries existed for sex (24–36% female), race/ethnicity (1–75% non-Caucasian), N stage (N1 25–35%, NX 3–13%), proportions of nephrectomy (44–63%) and systemic therapy (41–56%). Significant inter-registry differences remained after adjustment for proportions of nephrectomy (46–63%) and systemic therapy (35–56%). Unadjusted 5-year OM ranged from 73 to 85%. In multivariable analyses, three registries exhibited significantly higher OM (SEER registry 5: hazard ratio (HR) 1.20, p = 0.0001; SEER registry 7:HR 1.15, p = 0.008M SEER registry 10: HR 1.15, p = 0.04), relative to the largest reference registry (n = 4025). Conclusion Important regional differences including patient, tumor and treatment characteristics exist, when ccmRCC patients included in the SEER database are studied. Even after adjustment for these characteristics, important OM differences persisted, which may require more detailed analyses to further investigate these unexpected differences

Categorizing natural history trajectories of ambulatory function measured by the 6-minute walk distance in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

High variability in patients' changes in 6 minute walk distance (6MWD) over time has complicated clinical trials of treatment efficacy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We assessed whether boys with DMD could be grouped into classes that shared similar ambulatory function trajectories as measured by 6MWD. Ambulatory boys aged 5 years or older with genetically confirmed DMD who were enrolled in a natural history study at 11 care centers throughout Italy were included. For each boy, standardized assessments of 6MWD were available at annual intervals spanning 3 years. Trajectories of 6MWD vs. age and trajectories of 6MWD vs. time from enrollment were examined using latent class analysis. A total of 96 boys were included. At enrollment, the mean age was 8.3 years (mean 6MWD: 374 meters). After accounting for age, baseline 6MWD, and steroid use, four latent trajectory classes were identified as explaining 3-year 6MWD outcomes significantly better than a single average trajectory. Patient trajectories of 6MWD change from enrollment were categorized as having fast decline (n\ue2\u80\u89=\ue2\u80\u8925), moderate decline (n\ue2\u80\u89=\ue2\u80\u8919), stable function (n\ue2\u80\u89=\ue2\u80\u8937), and improving function (n\ue2\u80\u89=\ue2\u80\u8915) during the 3-year follow-up. After accounting for trajectory classes, the standard deviation of variation in 6MWD was reduced by approximately 40%. The natural history of ambulatory function in DMD may be composed of distinct trajectory classes. The extent to which trajectories are associated with novel and established prognostic factors warrants further study. Reducing unexplained variation in patient outcomes could help to further improve DMD clinical trial design and analysis

On the Zwitterionic Nature of Gas-Phase Peptides and Protein Ions

Determining the total number of charged residues corresponding to a given value of net charge for peptides and proteins in gas phase is crucial for the interpretation of mass-spectrometry data, yet it is far from being understood. Here we show that a novel computational protocol based on force field and massive density functional calculations is able to reproduce the experimental facets of well investigated systems, such as angiotensin II, bradykinin, and tryptophan-cage. The protocol takes into account all of the possible protomers compatible with a given charge state. Our calculations predict that the low charge states are zwitterions, because the stabilization due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding and salt-bridges can compensate for the thermodynamic penalty deriving from deprotonation of acid residues. In contrast, high charge states may or may not be zwitterions because internal solvation might not compensate for the energy cost of charge separation