Assembling the Proofs of Ordered Model Transformations

In model-driven development, an ordered model transformation is a nested set of transformations between source and target classes, in which each transformation is governed by its own pre and post- conditions, but structurally dependent on its parent. Following the proofs-as-model-transformations approach, in this paper we consider a formalisation in Constructive Type Theory of the concepts of model and model transformation, and show how the correctness proofs of potentially large ordered model transformations can be systematically assembled from the proofs of the specifications of their parts, making them easier to derive.Comment: In Proceedings FESCA 2013, arXiv:1302.478

Validating the Gambling Functional Assessment-Revised in a Sample of Probable Problem/Disordered Gamblers

The Gambling Functional Assessment-Revised (GFA-R) was designed to measure whether the respondent’s gambling is maintained by positive reinforcement or escape. However, it has only been administered in samples dominated by nonproblem gamblers. One hundred five adult participants who scored three or more on the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) completed the GFA-R and the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Confirmatory factor analyses showed that a 15-item GFA-R demonstrated a sound factor structure. The internal consistency of the GFA-R subscales was good to excellent for both probable problem and disordered gamblers. Participants scored significantly higher on gambling for positive reinforcement than as an escape. However, probable disordered gamblers endorsed gambling as an escape significantly more than probable problem gamblers. Gambling as an escape, but not for positive reinforcement, was also a significant predictor of participants’ PGSI scores independent of their SOGS scores. The results suggest that the GFA-R may be a valid and useful measure for both researchers and practitioners. The results also highlight the prominent role gambling as an escape plays in problem and disordered gambling

TESTE DE DIFERENÇAS DE GÊNERO NA DEPRECIAÇÃO POR ATRASO DE DIFERENTES BENS USANDO UMA AMOSTRA DE UNIVERSITÁRIOS

Many studies have investigated how individuals discount delayed outcomes, but few, if any, have explicitly studied whether gender differences exist in discounting. The present study employed a university sample to complete a delay-discounting task that included the commodities of cigarettes, money (two amounts), the ideal body image, and the perfect mate. Significant gender differences were observed in discounting $100,000 and ideal body image, with females displaying a greater degree of discounting than males. Factor analyses on the measures of delay discounting across the different commodities yielded a similar factor structure between genders, suggesting that although the genders may sometimes differ in how they discount particular consequences, these differences are likely linked to state, not trait, variables.Keywords: Delay discounting; Gender differences; Money, Body Image, Factor analysis; College sampleMuitos estudos investigaram como indivíduos depreciam pagamentos atrasados, mas poucos, se alguém o fez, estudaram explicitamente se existem diferenças de gênero na depreciação. O presente estudo solicitou a uma amostra de universidade para completar uma tarefa de depreciação, que inclui bens como cigarrros, dois valores em dinheiro, imagem corporal ideal e o par perfeito. Diferenças de gênero significativas foram observadas para a depreciação de US$100,00 e imagem corporal ideal, com as mulheres exibindo um maior grau de depreciação do que os homens. A análise fatorial das medidas de depreciação com atraso entre os diferentes bens resultou em uma estrutura similar de fatores entre os gêneros, sugerindo que ainda que os gêneros possam às vezes diferir em como eles depreciam consequências específicas, essas diferenças estão ligadas a variáveis de estado, não de traço.Palavras-chave: Depreciação por atraso; Diferenças de gênero; Dinheiro, Imagem corporal, Análise fatorial; Amostra de universitário

The Relationship Between Reported Frequency of Gambling and Rate of Discounting Different Commodities Using a Fill-In-The-Blank Procedure

The present study had 302 participants complete temporal-discounting tasks pertaining to five different commodities using the “fill-in-the-blank” method. These data were analyzed using two different equations, and the resulting rates of discounting were correlated with participants’ self-reported frequency of gambling. The discounting data were not entirely consistent with other published data. Statistically significant correlations between discounting and gambling frequency were observed, but varied depending on the type of discounting analysis that was employed and were not always in the same direction as past researc

Predictors of poor sleep quality among head and neck cancer patients

Objectives/Hypothesis: The objective of this study was to determine the predictors of sleep quality among head and neck cancer patients 1 year after diagnosis. Study Design: This was a prospective, multisite cohort study of head and neck cancer patients (N = 457). Methods: Patients were surveyed at baseline and 1 year after diagnosis. Chart audits were also conducted. The dependent variable was a self-assessed sleep score 1 year after diagnosis. The independent variables were a 1 year pain score, xerostomia, treatment received (radiation, chemotherapy, and/or surgery), presence of a feeding tube and/or tracheotomy, tumor site and stage, comorbidities, depression, smoking, problem drinking, age, and sex. Results: Both baseline (67.1) and 1-year postdiagnosis (69.3) sleep scores were slightly lower than population means (72). Multivariate analyses showed that pain, xerostomia, depression, presence of a tracheotomy tube, comorbidities, and younger age were statistically significant predictors of poor sleep 1 year after diagnosis of head and neck cancer ( P < .05). Smoking, problem drinking, and female sex were marginally significant ( P < .09). Type of treatment (surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy), primary tumor site, and cancer stage were not significantly associated with 1-year sleep scores. Conclusions: Many factors adversely affecting sleep in head and neck cancer patients are potentially modifiable and appear to contribute to decreased quality of life. Strategies to reduce pain, xerostomia, depression, smoking, and problem drinking may be warranted, not only for their own inherent value, but also for improvement of sleep and the enhancement of quality of life. Laryngoscope, 2010Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75789/1/20924_ftp.pd

Efficacy and safety of tafamidis doses in the Tafamidis in Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy Clinical Trial (ATTR-ACT) and long-term extension study.

Aims Tafamidis is an effective treatment for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in the Tafamidis in Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy Clinical Trial (ATTR-ACT). While ATTR-ACT was not designed for a dose-specific assessment, further analysis from ATTR-ACT and its long-term extension study (LTE) can guide determination of the optimal dose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Methods and results In ATTR-ACT, patients were randomized (2:1:2) to tafamidis 80 mg, 20mg, or placebo for 30months. Patients completing ATTR-ACT could enrol in the LTE (with placebo-treated patients randomized to tafamidis 80 or 20 mg; 2:1) and all patients were subsequently switched to high-dose tafamidis. All-cause mortality was assessed in ATTR-ACT combined with the LTE (median follow-up 51 months). In ATTR-ACT, the combination of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations over 30 months was significantly reduced with tafamidis 80mg (P = 0.0030) and 20mg (P = 0.0048) vs. placebo. All-cause mortality vs. placebo was reduced with tafamidis 80mg [Cox hazards model (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.690 (0.487–0.979), P = 0.0378] and 20mg [0.715 (0.450–1.137), P = 0.1564]. The mean (standard error) change in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide from baseline to Month 30 was −1170.51 (587.31) (P = 0.0468) with tafamidis 80 vs. 20 mg. In ATTR-ACT combined with the LTE there was a significantly greater survival benefit with tafamidis 80 vs. 20 mg [0.700 (0.501–0.979), P = 0.0374]. Incidence of adverse events in both tafamidis doses were comparable to placebo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusion Tafamidis, both 80 and 20mg, effectively reduced mortality and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations in patients with ATTR-CM. The longer-term survival data and the lack of dose-related safety concerns support tafamidis 80mg as the optimal dose. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01994889; NCT02791230post-print369 K

Salivary Gland Sparing and Improved Target Irradiation by Conformal and Intensity Modulated Irradiation of Head and Neck Cancer

The goals of this study were to facilitate sparing of the major salivary glands while adequately treating tumor targets in patients requiring comprehensive bilateral neck irradiation (RT), and to assess the potential for improved xerostomia. Since 1994 techniques of target irradiation and locoregional tumor control with conformal and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have been developed. In patients treated with these modalities, the salivary flow rates before and periodically after RT have been measured selectively from each major salivary gland and the residual flows correlated with glands’ dose volume histograms (DVHs). In addition, subjective xerostomia questionnaires have been developed and validated. The pattern of locoregional recurrence has been examined from computed tomography (CT) scans at the time of recurrence, transferring the recurrence volumes to the planning CT scans, and regenerating the dose distributions at the recurrence sites. Treatment plans for target coverage and dose homogeneity using static, multisegmental IMRT were found to be significantly better than standard RT plans. In addition, significant parotid gland sparing was achieved in the conformal plans. The relationships among dose, irradiated volume, and the residual saliva flow rates from the parotid glands were characterized by dose and volume thresholds. A mean radiation dose of 26 Gy was found to be the threshold for preserved stimulated saliva flow. Xerostomia questionnaire scores suggested that xerostomia was significantly reduced in patients irradiated with bilateral neck, parotid-sparing RT, compared to patients with similar tumors treated with standard RT. Examination of locoregional tumor recurrence patterns revealed that the large majority of recurrences occurred inside targets, in areas that had been judged to be at high risk and that had received RT doses according to the perceived risk. Tangible gains in salivary gland sparing and target coverage are being achieved, and an improvement in some measures of quality of life is suggested by our findings. Additional reduction of xerostomia may be achieved by further sparing of the salivary glands and the non-involved oral cavity. A mean parotid gland dose of ≤ 26 Gy should be a planning objective if significant parotid function preservation is desired. The pattern of recurrence suggests that careful escalation of the dose to areas judged to be at highest risk may improve tumor control.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41298/1/268_2003_Article_7105.pd

Effects of Two Commercial Electronic Prescribing Systems on Prescribing Error Rates in Hospital In-Patients: A Before and After Study

In a before-and-after study, Johanna Westbrook and colleagues evaluate the change in prescribing error rates after the introduction of two commercial electronic prescribing systems in two Australian hospitals

Predicting youth participation in urban agriculture in Malaysia: insights from the theory of planned behavior and the functional approach to volunteer motivation

This study examines factors associated with the decision of Malaysian youth to participate in a voluntary urban agriculture program. Urban agriculture has generated significant interest in developing countries to address concerns over food security, growing urbanization and employment. While an abundance of data shows attracting the participation of young people in traditional agriculture has become a challenge for many countries, few empirical studies have been conducted on youth motivation to participate in urban agriculture programs, particularly in non-Western settings. Drawing on the theories of planned behavior and the functional approach to volunteer motivation, we surveyed 890 students from a public university in Malaysia about their intention to join a new urban agriculture program. Hierarchical regression findings indicated that the strongest predictor of participation was students’ attitude toward urban agriculture, followed by subjective norms, career motives and perceived barriers to participation. The findings from this study may provide useful information to the university program planners in Malaysia in identifying mechanisms for future students’ involvement in the program