Predictors of web-based follow-up response in the Prevention of Low Back Pain in the Military Trial (POLM)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Achieving adequate follow-up in clinical trials is essential to establish the validity of the findings. Achieving adequate response rates reduces bias and increases probability that the findings can be generalized to the population of interest. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the influence of attention, demographic, psychological, and health status factors on web-based response rates in the ongoing Prevention of Low Back Pain in the Military (POLM) trial.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty companies of Soldiers (n = 4,325) were cluster randomized to complete a traditional exercise program including sit-ups (TEP) with or without a psychosocial educational program (PSEP) or a core stabilization exercise program (CSEP) with or without PSEP. A subgroup of Soldiers (n = 371) was randomized to receive an additional physical and ultrasound imaging (USI) examination of key trunk musculature. As part of the surveillance program, all Soldiers were encouraged to complete monthly surveys via email during the first year. Descriptive statistics of the predictor variables were obtained and compared between responders and non-responders using two sample t-tests or chi-square test, as appropriate. Generalized linear mixed models were subsequently fitted for the dichotomous outcomes to estimate the effects of the predictor variables. The significance level was set at .05 a priori.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall response rate was 18.9% (811 subjects) for the first year. Responders were more likely to be older, Caucasian, have higher levels of education and income, reservist military status, non smoker, lower BMI, and have received individualized attention via the physical/USI examination (p < .05). Age, race/ethnicity, education, military status, smoking history, BMI, and whether a Soldier received the physical/USI examination remained statistically significant (p < .05) when considered in a full multivariate model.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The overall web based response rate during the first year of the POLM trial was consistent with studies that used similar methodology, but lower when compared to rates expected for standard clinical trials. One year response rate was significantly associated with demographic characteristics, health status, and individualized attention via additional testing. These data may assist for planning of future trials that use web based response systems.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>This study has been registered at reports at <url>http://clinicaltrials.gov</url> (<a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00373009">NCT00373009</a>).</p

Joint Evolutionary Trees: A Large-Scale Method To Predict Protein Interfaces Based on Sequence Sampling

The Joint Evolutionary Trees (JET) method detects protein interfaces, the core residues involved in the folding process, and residues susceptible to site-directed mutagenesis and relevant to molecular recognition. The approach, based on the Evolutionary Trace (ET) method, introduces a novel way to treat evolutionary information. Families of homologous sequences are analyzed through a Gibbs-like sampling of distance trees to reduce effects of erroneous multiple alignment and impacts of weakly homologous sequences on distance tree construction. The sampling method makes sequence analysis more sensitive to functional and structural importance of individual residues by avoiding effects of the overrepresentation of highly homologous sequences and improves computational efficiency. A carefully designed clustering method is parametrized on the target structure to detect and extend patches on protein surfaces into predicted interaction sites. Clustering takes into account residues' physical-chemical properties as well as conservation. Large-scale application of JET requires the system to be adjustable for different datasets and to guarantee predictions even if the signal is low. Flexibility was achieved by a careful treatment of the number of retrieved sequences, the amino acid distance between sequences, and the selective thresholds for cluster identification. An iterative version of JET (iJET) that guarantees finding the most likely interface residues is proposed as the appropriate tool for large-scale predictions. Tests are carried out on the Huang database of 62 heterodimer, homodimer, and transient complexes and on 265 interfaces belonging to signal transduction proteins, enzymes, inhibitors, antibodies, antigens, and others. A specific set of proteins chosen for their special functional and structural properties illustrate JET behavior on a large variety of interactions covering proteins, ligands, DNA, and RNA. JET is compared at a large scale to ET and to Consurf, Rate4Site, siteFiNDER|3D, and SCORECONS on specific structures. A significant improvement in performance and computational efficiency is shown

Crowdsourcing hypothesis tests: Making transparent how design choices shape research results

To what extent are research results influenced by subjective decisions that scientists make as they design studies? Fifteen research teams independently designed studies to answer fiveoriginal research questions related to moral judgments, negotiations, and implicit cognition. Participants from two separate large samples (total N > 15,000) were then randomly assigned to complete one version of each study. Effect sizes varied dramatically across different sets of materials designed to test the same hypothesis: materials from different teams renderedstatistically significant effects in opposite directions for four out of five hypotheses, with the narrowest range in estimates being d = -0.37 to +0.26. Meta-analysis and a Bayesian perspective on the results revealed overall support for two hypotheses, and a lack of support for three hypotheses. Overall, practically none of the variability in effect sizes was attributable to the skill of the research team in designing materials, while considerable variability was attributable to the hypothesis being tested. In a forecasting survey, predictions of other scientists were significantly correlated with study results, both across and within hypotheses. Crowdsourced testing of research hypotheses helps reveal the true consistency of empirical support for a scientific claim.</div

Multidimensional signals and analytic flexibility: Estimating degrees of freedom in human speech analyses

Recent empirical studies have highlighted the large degree of analytic flexibility in data analysis which can lead to substantially different conclusions based on the same data set. Thus, researchers have expressed their concerns that these researcher degrees of freedom might facilitate bias and can lead to claims that do not stand the test of time. Even greater flexibility is to be expected in fields in which the primary data lend themselves to a variety of possible operationalizations. The multidimensional, temporally extended nature of speech constitutes an ideal testing ground for assessing the variability in analytic approaches, which derives not only from aspects of statistical modeling, but also from decisions regarding the quantification of the measured behavior. In the present study, we gave the same speech production data set to 46 teams of researchers and asked them to answer the same research question, resulting insubstantial variability in reported effect sizes and their interpretation. Using Bayesian meta-analytic tools, we further find little to no evidence that the observed variability can be explained by analysts’ prior beliefs, expertise or the perceived quality of their analyses. In light of this idiosyncratic variability, we recommend that researchers more transparently share details of their analysis, strengthen the link between theoretical construct and quantitative system and calibrate their (un)certainty in their conclusions

Comportement en fluage et en traction de superalliages monocristallins à base de nickel

Nous avons étudié les différences de comportement en fluage (760ʿC/840 MPa, 950ʿC/300 MPa, 1050ʿC/150 MPa, 1150ʿC/100MPa) et en traction (entre 20ʿC et 1100ʿC) entre un superalliage monocristallin de première génération (AMI) et un superalliage monocristallin de nouvelle génération (MC-NG). La différence entre les chimies des deux alliages réside dans le fait que le MC-NG, contrairement à l'AM1, contient entre autres du rhénium et du ruthénium. L'influence de la microstructure g/g' des superalliages a également été prise en compte. Nous avons identifié les paramètres qui contrôlent la déformation en fluage des superalliages à 760ʿC. La différence de comportement que nous rencontrons entre l'AM1 et le MC-NG a dans ce cas été attribuée au durcissement en solution solide de la phase g qui est plus important dans le MC-NG que dans l'AM1. Lors de la comparaison du comportement en fluage à 950ʿC et 1150ʿC nous avons mis en exergue le rôle bénéfique du rhénium dans le MC-NG qui inhibe la plasticité dans la phase g au travers de différents mécanismes. Nous avons poussé plus avant nos investigations concernant le comportement en fluage à 1050ʿC de ces alliages. En effet, des études préliminaires avaient montré le caractère particulier des courbes de fluage du MC-NG comparé à d'autres superalliage à cette température. Nous avons identifié les mécanismes pilotant le début du stade de fluage tertiaire précoce dans le cas du MC-NG de même que les causes de la déstabilisation de la microstructure lamellaire g/g'. En traction le but était de comprendre dans quelle mesure la limite élastique à 0,2\% de déformation plastique était plus importante dans l'AM1 que dans le MC-NG au basse température. L'étude de ce comportement en fonction de la température ainsi que l'examen des structures de dislocations nous ont permis de conclure. Ainsi, le fait que la phase g' du MC-NG soit moins alliée en éléments titane et tantale que celle de l'AM1 est rendu responsable de cette différence.We have study the different mechanical behaviour (creep test performed at 760ʿC/840 MPa, 950ʿC/300 MPa, 1050ʿC/150 MPa, 1150ʿC/100MPa, and tensile test performed between 20ʿC and 1100ʿC) between a first generation single-crystal superalloy (AM1) and a new generation single-crystal superalloy (MC-NG). Difference between the chemistries of the two superalloys lies in the fact that MC-NG contrary to AM1 contains, among others, rhenium and ruthenium. Influence of the g\g' microstructures had been taking into account. We have identified parameters who control the superalloys creep deformation at 760ʿC. The difference of behaviour that we encounter between AM1 and MC-NG had been attributed to the solid solution strengthening of the gphase of the MC-NG which is higher than in the AM1. During creep comparison at 950ʿC and 1150ʿC we have enlighten the beneficial effect due to rhenium in the MC-NG who inhibit plasticity in the gphase trough different mechanisms. We have push forward our investigations concerning creep behaviour at 1050ʿC on these two alloys. In fact, previous studies had been shown the particular nature of the MC-NG creep curve compare to other superalloys at this temperature. We have identify mechanisms driving the early onset of the tertiary creep in the MC-NG case as well as lamellar g\g' microstructure destabilisation causes. Concerning tensile test, the aim was to understand in which extent 0,2\% yield stress was higher in the AM1 than in the MC-NG at low temperatures. Study of this behaviour according to temperature as well as dislocations structures examination allow us to conclude. So, the fact that MC-NG g' phase be less alloying in titanium and tantalum than the AM1 one is responsible of this difference.ORSAY-PARIS 11-BU Sciences (914712101) / SudocPARIS12-THIAIS CNRS ICMPE (940732301) / SudocSudocFranceF