Cross-cultural validation and analysis of responsiveness of the QUALIOST(®): QUAlity of Life questionnaire In OSTeoporosis

BACKGROUND: The QUALIOST(® )was designed for use with the SF-36 to measure established osteoporosis-specific quality of life (QoL). The reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) and validity of the questionnaire were established in a stand-alone psychometric validation study. The objective of this paper is to provide additional information on the instrument's responsiveness using clinical trial data, along with the reliability and validity of translated versions. METHODS: The Spinal Osteoporosis Therapeutic Intervention (SOTI) was an international clinical trial comparing strontium ranelate to placebo on the occurrence of new vertebral fracture in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. QoL was a secondary endpoint, assessed using the SF-36 and QUALIOST(® )at baseline and every six months, with the main analysis at 3-year follow-up. Questionnaire acceptability, analysis of the hypothesised structure, internal consistency reliability and responsiveness to clinical change over time were assessed at the 3-year follow up. RESULTS: 1592 patients from 11 countries completed at least one QoL questionnaire. The psychometric properties of the questionnaires were assessed on cross-sectional (N = 1486) and longitudinal (N = 1288) data. Item discriminant validity of the QUALIOST(® )was excellent, as was item convergent validity, with 100% of item-scale correlations being above the 0.40 level. Internal consistency reliability was also extremely good, with high Cronbach's alpha scores above the 0.70 benchmark. Responsiveness results were consistent for all QUALIOST(® )scores, indicating that greater decreases in QoL corresponded to greater numbers of fractures experienced. QUALIOST(® )scores also differed according to the type of fracture suffered. This was demonstrated by increased effect sizes for more severe vertebral fractures (clinical vertebral and painful vertebral). In comparing responsiveness, the QUALIOST(® )scores were generally more consistent than those of the SF-36. Most notably, the QUALIOST(® )was more responsive with regard to painful vertebral fractures than the SF-36. CONCLUSION: The QUALIOST(® )is a reliable and valid tool for measuring QoL in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Being available in several validated language versions, it is ready to be used in a variety of settings, including international clinical trials

A pragmatic patient-reported outcome strategy for rare disease clinical trials: application of the EORTC item library to myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia.

BackgroundNovel, pragmatic, patient-centered strategies are needed to ensure fit-for-purpose patient-reported outcomes (PRO) instruments in clinical trial research for rare diseases such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). The objective of the current study was to select supplemental items to add to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) to ensure content coverage of all important clinical concepts in patients with higher-risk (HR) MDS, low-blast count (LB) AML, and CMML, thus, improving the instrument's ability to detect clinically meaningful treatment benefit for this context of use.MethodsOur mixed methods approach comprised literature review, clinician consultation (n = 3), and qualitative and quantitative analysis of two stages of patient interview data (n = 14, n = 18) to select library bank items to supplement a generic cancer PRO, the EORTC QLQ-C30.ResultsUnique symptom (n = 54) and impact (n = 72) concepts were organized into conceptual frameworks of treatment benefit, compared with EORTC QLQ-C30 items and conceptual gaps identified. Supplemental items (n = 13) addressing those gaps were selected from the EORTC Item Library and tested with patients. Supplemental item endorsement frequencies met World Health Organization Quality of Life criteria, suggesting good targeting and relevance for this sample. However, three supplemental items were confirmed as problematic based upon cognitive debriefing results, and expert clinical consultations. Ultimately, 10 supplemental items (n = 7 symptom; n = 3 impact) were selected for the MDS/AML/CMML context.ConclusionSupplemental items were selected to enhance the conceptual coverage of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in the areas of fatigue, shortness of breath, and functioning

The Impacts of Platform Quality on Gig Workers’ Autonomy and Job Satisfaction

Gig economy jobs rely heavily on the use of platforms including mobile applications. Even though such platforms are necessary to participate in the gig economy, we know very little about how the quality of these platforms affects gig workers. Drawing from a survey of Uber drivers, in this paper we examine the impacts of platform quality on gig workers’ job autonomy and job satisfaction. Preliminary results suggest that gig workers working in the high quality of platforms are more likely to have greater job autonomy and satisfaction. This study contributes to the literature by identifying platform quality as an important factor of gig workers’ job autonomy and satisfaction and suggesting possible applications of the preliminary findings in future research.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145612/1/cscwp044-kimA.pd

An investigation into the ecology and distribution of Kalmiopsis leachiana (Hend.) Rehder

Ecological factors associated with the relictual distribution of the endemic shrub Kalmiopsis leachiana (Ericaceae) were investigated. A prostrate evergreen species with small coriaceous leaves, K. leachiana is restricted to two disjunct populations in the Siskiyou Mountains and southern Cascade Mountains of southwestern Oregon, USA. Exact distributions of individual populations were mapped and were related to soils, geology, climate, and fire history using these factors to define in part this species' ecological range. Further investigation involved intensive sampling of associated vegetation, pressure chamber studies, seed germination and seedling growth experiments, and preliminary study of herbivore relationships and the heterostylous breeding system. Associated vegetation of Kalmiopsis populations was sampled using a nested plot technique. Analysis showed there to exist three major vegetation units: (1) low elevation Siskiyou stands (300-600 m), characterized by a conifer, broadleaf sclerophyll tree, evergreen shrub, and herb layer; (2) high elevation Siskiyou stands (900 m), differing from low elevation site by the absence of a broadleaf sclerophyll canopy; and (3) Southern Cascades vegetation, having relatively low species diversity associated with a more dense conifer canopy. In the latter stands, Kalmiopsis is found to grow almost invariably only on exposed, silicified rock outcrops. Soil in the Cascades did not prove to be inhibitory to germination and seedling development. Thus it is suggested that competition for light, water, and nutrients plays an important role in the species distribution and especially in its exclusion from surrounding vegetation of Cascades rock outcrops. In turn loss of the broadleaf sclerophyll canopy at high elevations in the Siskiyous, and related decrease in overstory canopy cover, is correlated with the much greater abundance of Kalmiopsis at high elevations there. The nature of the growth form and morphology of this plant and how they appear to be advantageous for establishment and growth in rocky, competition low microhabitats is discussed. Measurements of internal moisture stress were taken in the Siskiyou Mountains on Kalmiopsis and two sympatric sclerophyllous shrub species. Results of predawn and midday measurements at the height of the drought season indicate that Kalmiopsis undergoes higher stress levels than the other two species do in the same location, and appears to shut its stomata early in the day to avoid high stress buildup. In contrast the two sympatric shrubs appear to be able to remain photosynthesizing longer into the day, and this combined with their ability to handle higher stress, might account for their occurrence at more xeric topographic positions where K. leachiana is not found. Germination and growth experiments on natural soils showed that Kalmiopsis seeds can germinate under low light conditions, are, heat sensitive, and resulting seedlings have relatively slow growth rates. The seedlings' small size and slow growth rates are suggested to account for the low reproductive rate observed in the field and to be a contributing factor in the restricted distribution of the species. Kalmiopsis is distylous, this being the first reported case of heterostyly in the Ericaeae. In addition evidence is given that this morphological adaptation for outcrossing is strengthened by genetic self-incompatibility within and between plants of similar morphological types. Evidence of herbivory was practically absent in all populations. Two seed eating species, a lygaeid bug in the genus Kleidocerys and a species of mite in Trichoribates, were found to be associated with the persistent capsules. These may play an important role in the reproductive output of this plant

Combine harvesters in Missouri

Cover title.Includes bibliographical references

Impacts of Perceived Behavior Control and Emotional Labor on Gig Workers

Gig economy workers enjoy flexibility in choosing certain aspects of their work. Nonetheless, platform companies still need to control workers’ behaviors to scale their business and ensure customers quality service. Mechanisms of control have been widely studied in traditional organizations; however, work in the gig economy differs from traditional organizations in that the role of a human supervisor is replaced with digital systems. Thus, there is reason to suspect that our traditional theories of control may not hold for new forms of work in the gig economy. To address these concerns, this study examines how gig economy workers, specifically Uber drivers, perceive behavior control and its effect on their job satisfaction. Our results suggest that emotional labor mediates the relationship between perceived behavior control and job satisfaction.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145617/1/Marquis_cscwp072_Abstract.pd

Corn tillage studies on rolling Putnam silt loam

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