Meta-analysis methods for synthesizing treatment effects in multisite studies: hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) perspective

The objectives of the present mixed-effects meta-analytic application are to provide practical guidelines to: (a) Calculate treatment effect sizes from multiple sites; (b) Calculate the overall mean of the site effect sizes and their variances; (c) Model the heterogeneity in these site treatment effects as a function of site and program characteristics plus unexplained random error using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM); (d) Improve the ability of multisite evaluators and policy makers to reach sound conclusions about the effectiveness of educational and social interventions based on multisite evaluations; and (e) Illustrate the proposed methodology by applying these methods to real multi-site research data. Accessed 58,759 times on https://pareonline.net from June 23, 2003 to December 31, 2019. For downloads from January 1, 2020 forward, please click on the PlumX Metrics link to the right

Which Is the Best Parametric Statistical Method For Analyzing Delphi Data?

This study compares the three parametric statistical methods: coefficient of variation, Pearson correlation coefficient, and F-test to obtain reliability in a Delphi study that involved more than 100 participants. The results of this study indicated that coefficient of variation was the best procedure to obtain reliability in such a study

Analyzing The Effect Of Top Management Support On Information System (IS) Performance Across Organizations And Industries Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling

Top management support has long been conceivable as an important factor for the success of IS projects. Due to the hierarchical nature of an organization, a cross-level interaction can occur among nested levels. Thus, using inappropriate statistical analysis can cause misleading results and lost of information. This study provides two contributions to the IS research. First, Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) was used to explain the cross-level interaction between organizational level and industry level. Second, unlike other studies focusing on an organizational level, this study considers top management support at the industry level and examines the mediating role of top management support between the two levels

Thyroidal angiogenesis in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to high perchlorate concentration

As a well known environmental contaminant, perchlorate inhibits thyroidal iodide uptake and reduces thyroid hormone levels. In zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to high concentrations of sodium perchlorate (200, 350 and 500 mg/L) for 10 days, remarkable angiogenesis was identified, not onlyhistopathologically but also statistically by counting of the small, medium and large sized (grades 1 to 3) vessels per unit area. Angiogenic response is concluded as the most sensitive parameter for rating of high concentrations of perchlorate exposure

A scoping review of media campaign strategies used to reach populations living with or at high risk for Hepatitis C in high income countries to inform future national campaigns in the United Kingdom

BACKGROUND: With the advent of direct acting antivirals, the World Health Organisation proposed eliminating Hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. To achieve this, countries need to diagnose, engage in care and treat their undiagnosed populations. This will require sensitisation campaigns. However previous media campaigns have had mixed impact. We conducted a scoping review to identify and understand the impact of previous Hepatitis C media campaigns. These findings could inform the delivery of future campaigns. METHODS: We searched five electronic databases for published literature on media campaigns conducted for Hepatitis C awareness, testing, and treatment in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries since 2010. Two independent reviewers screened citations for inclusion. Additionally, we spoke to stakeholders in the Hepatitis C field in the UK and conducted a Google search to identify any unpublished literature. A quantitative synthesis was conducted to identify targeted populations, strategies and media used, aims and impact of the campaigns. RESULTS: A title and year of publication screening of 3815 citations resulted in 113 papers that had a full abstract screen. This left 50 full-text papers, 18 were included of which 9 (50%) were from Europe. 5 (27.8%) of campaigns targeted minority ethnicities, and 9 (50%) aimed to increase testing. A Google search identified 6 grey literature sources. Most campaigns were not evaluated for impact. Discussions with stakeholders identified several barriers to successful campaigns including lack of targeted messaging, stigmatising or accusatory messaging, and short-lived or intermittent campaign strategies. CONCLUSION: Future campaigns will likely need to be multifaceted and have multiple tailored interventions. Campaigns will need to be sizeable and robust, integrated into health systems and viewed as an ongoing service rather than one-offs

Solubility and decomposition of organic compounds in subcritical water

In this article, studies on organic solubility and stability in subcritical water reported during the past 25 years have been reviewed. Data on the solubility and decomposition of organic compounds in subcritical water, a green solvent, are needed in environmental remediation, chemistry, chemical engineering, medicine, polymer, food, agriculture, and many other fields. For solubility studies, the experimental systems used to measure solubility, mathematical equations derived and applied for the modeling of the experimentally determined solubility data, and the correlation between the predicated and experimental data have been summarized and discussed. This paper also reviewed organic decomposition under subcritical water conditions. In general, the solubility of organics is significantly enhanced with increasing water temperature. Likewise, the percentage of organic decomposition also increases with higher temperature

The Implementation of the Legislation and Inspections on Genetically Modified Food and Feed in Turkey

Genetiği değiştirilmiş gıda ve yem ürünleri, dünyada olduğu gibi Türkiye'de de gündemi meşgul etmeye devam etmektedir. Söz konusu ürünler tüketici üzerinde merak uyandıran bir konu olması, insanlarının dikkatini çeken ve sürekli takip edilen konular arasında olması nedeniyle medya kuruluşları için de haber değeri taşıma özelliğine sahiptir. Konunun bu derecede çekici olması, medyada yer alan ve tüketiciyi derinden etkileyen GDO tartışmalarını gıda ürünlerinde yaratılan spekülasyonların belki de en can alıcısı haline getirmektedir. Türkiye' de son yıllarda GDO konusunda mevzuat anlamında ilerlemeler görülmektedir. Avrupa Birliği mevzuatı çerçevesinde hazırlanan mevzuatlar çerçevesinde yapılan gıda ve yem denetimlerinde artışlar görülmekte bununla birlikte denetim sisteminde bazı sorunlar da yaşanmaktadır. Bu çalışma ile Türkiye'de mevcut mevzuat düzenlemeleri incelenmiş olup genetiği değiştirilmiş organizmalar ile ilgili gıda amaçlı olarak onay verilmiş gen olmamasına rağmen, yem olarak ithalatı gerçekleştirilen ürünlerin gıda olarak kullanılabileceği, yapılan denetim ve kontrollerde ithalat kontrollerinin sıklaştırılması, izlenebilirlik mekanizmasının etkinleştirilmesi ve laboratuvar analizlerinin etkinliğinin gözden geçirilmesi gerektiği sonucuna varılmıştır.The genetically modified food and feed products have continued to be a current issue in Turkey as well as throughout the world. The issue has always seen as newsworthy by the media since it arouses the curiosity of the consumers and attracts the attention of the people and makes them follow this topic continuously. The attractiveness of the issue puts the discussions which take place in media and effect the consumers deeply, into the center of the speculations regarding foodstuff. In recent years, a progression in terms of GMO legislation has been observed in Turkey. Pursuant to the legislation prepared according to EU legislation, there is an increase in the frequency of the inspections of food and feed. However there has been some problems in the inspection system. By this study, the in-force legislative arrangements are analysed, and it is concluded that there is no gene approved for use as food, whereas the the products that are imported as feed can be used as food. In the context of inspections and controls the frequency of the import controls should be increased and the traceability system should be strengthened and the effectiveness of the laboratory analyses should be reviewed

Investigating rates and risk factors for hepatitis C virus reinfection in people receiving antiviral treatment in England

England has committed to the World Health Organization target to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a public threat by the year 2030. Given successful treatments for HCV in recent years, it is unclear whether HCV reinfection will impact England's ability to achieve HCV elimination. We aimed to estimate the HCV reinfection rate among a cohort of patients receiving antiviral treatment using available surveillance data. Linkage between a treatment dataset from 2015-2019 and an HCV RNA testing dataset were used to identify people who experienced reinfection using three criteria. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine risk factors associated with HCV reinfection among a cohort who received treatment and had follow-up HCV RNA testing. The reinfection rate among those receiving HCV treatment was 7.91 per 100 person-years (PYs, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.37-8.49) and highest among current injecting drug users (22.55 per 100 PYs, 95%CI 19.98-25.46) and people who had been in prison (20.42 per 100 PYs, 95%CI 17.21-24.24). In the adjusted model, women had a significantly reduced risk of reinfection. Being of younger age, current injecting drug users, and receipt of first treatment in prison were each significantly associated with increased risk of reinfection. Two-fifths of those with reinfection (43%, n=329/767) were linked to treatment after reinfection, and of those starting treatment, three quarters (75%, n=222/296) achieved a sustained virologic response. Guidance for testing groups at risk of reinfection and harm reduction strategies to minimize transmission should be implemented if England is to achieve HCV elimination targets