13 research outputs found
Mid-infrared Hall effect in thin-film metals: Probing the Fermi surface anisotropy in Au and Cu
A sensitive mid-infrared (MIR, 900-1100 cm-1, 112-136 meV) photo-elastic
polarization modulation technique is used to measure simultaneously Faraday
rotation and circular dichroism in thin metal films. These two quantities
determine the complex AC Hall conductivity. This novel technique is applied to
study Au and Cu thin films at temperatures down to 20 K and magnetic fields up
to 8 T. The Hall frequency is consistent with band theory predictions. We
report the first measurement of the MIR Hall scattering rate, which is
significantly lower than that derived from Drude analysis of zero magnetic
field MIR transmission measurements. This difference is qualitatively explained
in terms of the anisotropy of the Fermi surface in Au and Cu.Comment: 14 pages of text, 5 figure
Ab-initio ground state correlation calculations for semiconductors with the Local Ansatz
Particle filter design for mobile robot localization based on received signal strength indicator
Low risk for digital ulcer development in SSc patients with increasing disease duration and lack of Scl-70 autoantibodies
Low risk for digital ulcer development in SSc patients with increasing disease duration and lack of Scl-70 autoantibodies
SLAM-inspired simultaneous localization of UAV and RF sources with unknown transmitted power
From the Transnational to the Intimate: Multidirectional Memory, the Holocaust and Colonial Violence in Australia and Beyond
Psychometric properties of the updated EORTC module for assessing quality of life in patients with lung cancer (QLQ-LC29): an international, observational field study
BACKGROUND
The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer 13 (QLQ-LC13) assesses quality of life (QOL) in patients with lung cancer and was the first EORTC module developed for use in international clinical trials. Since its publication in 1994, major treatment advances with possible effects on QOL have occurred. These changes called for an update of the module and its international psychometric validation. We aimed to investigate the scale structure and psychometric properties of the updated lung cancer module, QLQ-LC29, in patients with lung cancer.
METHODS
This international, observational field study was done in 19 hospitals across 12 countries. Patients aged older than 18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of lung cancer and no other previous primary tumour, and who were mentally fit with sufficient language skills to understand and complete the questionnaire were included. Patients were asked during a hospital visit to fill in the paper versions of the core questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 plus QLQ-LC29, and investigators selected half of these patients to complete the questionnaire again 2-4 weeks later. Our primary aim was to assess the scale structure and psychometric properties of EORTC QLQ-LC29. We analysed scale structure using confirmatory factor analysis; reliability using Cronbach's 伪 value (internal consistency) and intra-class coefficient (test-retest reliability); sensitivity using independent t tests stratified by Karnofsky performance status; and responsiveness to change over time by ANOVA. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02745691.
FINDINGS
Between April 12, 2016, and Sept 26, 2018, 523 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of either non-small-cell lung cancer (n=442) or small-cell lung cancer (n=81) were recruited. Confirmatory factor analysis provided a solution composed of five multi-item scales (coughing, shortness of breath, fear of progression, hair problems, and surgery-related symptoms) plus 15 single symptom or side-effect items: 蠂=370路233, root mean square error of approximation=0路075, and comparative-fit index=0路901. Cronbach's 伪 for internal consistencies of all multi-item scales were above the threshold of 0路70. Intra-class coefficients for test-retest reliabilities ranged between 0路82 and 0路97. Three (shortness of breath, fear of progression, and hair problems) of the five multi-item scales showed responsiveness to change over time (p values <0路05), as did nine of 15 single symptom items. Four (coughing, shortness of breath, fear of progression, and surgery-related symptoms) of the five multi-item scales and ten of the 15 single symptom items were sensitive to known group differences (ie, lower vs higher Karnofsky performance status).
INTERPRETATION
Results determined the psychometric properties of the updated lung cancer module, which is ready for use in international clinical studies.
FUNDING EORTC Quality of Life Group