A geoadditive Bayesian latent variable model for Poisson indicators

We introduce a new latent variable model with count variable indicators, where usual linear parametric effects of covariates, nonparametric effects of continuous covariates and spatial effects on the continuous latent variables are modelled through a geoadditive predictor. Bayesian modelling of nonparametric functions and spatial effects is based on penalized spline and Markov random field priors. Full Bayesian inference is performed via an auxiliary variable Gibbs sampling technique, using a recent suggestion of Frühwirth-Schnatter and Wagner (2006). As an advantage, our Poisson indicator latent variable model can be combined with semiparametric latent variable models for mixed binary, ordinal and continuous indicator variables within an unified and coherent framework for modelling and inference. A simulation study investigates performance, and an application to post war human security in Cambodia illustrates the approach

Responsible Procurement

This open access book emphasizes that procuring goods at the expense of the environment and those who live there is no longer acceptable. Fortunately, there is now an unstoppable force, created by a collective of diverse stakeholders, driving the sustainability agenda. A company’s sustainability standards can only truly be as good as those along its entire supply chain. The purpose of this book is to encourage and inspire companies on their journey to transform into responsible and sustainable businesses by addressing the supply chain, which reflects a significant part of a company’s expenses and thu

Contradictions, methodological flaws, and potential for misinterpretations in ranking treatments of depression

In this journal Malhi et al. recommended cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), antidepressants, and counseling ahead of short-term psychodynamic therapy (STPP) referring to UK NICE guidelines for depression. However, these recommendations continue the ambiguous and therefore confusing NICE guidelines, which on the one hand list the above treatments as equal options as first-line treatment for depression and emphasizes the importance of patient preference and implementations factors, but on the other hand rank these first-line treatments, implying superiority of some treatments over others. Furthermore, we highlight several methodological flaws of the NICE treatment ranking and that the NICE treatment ranking is not justified by NICE’s own and independent evidence and criteria. Presently it is not clear which patients benefit from which empirically-supported treatment. Thus, we continue to discourage the devaluing of efficacious treatments so that as many patients as possible may benefit from them

Follow-up of women with breast cancer: comparison between MRI and FDG PET

Abstract.: The aim of this study was to compare MRI of the breast with 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with suspected local or regional breast cancer recurrence or suspected contralateral breast cancer. Thirty-two patients (mean age 57.2years, age range 32-76years) with suspected loco-regional recurrence (n=19), chest wall recurrence (n=5), and suspected secondary tumor of the contralateral breast (n=8) underwent MRI of the breast and FDG PET of the whole body and breast region. Cytology/histology (n=17) or a clinical follow-up examination (n=15) with additional imaging served as the standard of reference. A McNemar test was performed to compare PET and MRI, and kappa was determined to quantify agreement of both methods. Sensitivity was 79 and 100%, specificity was 94 and 72%, and accuracy was 88 and 84% for MRI and PET, respectively. Additional metastases outside the field of view of MRI were found in PET in 5 patients. In this study both imaging methods had comparable accuracy. The detection of distant metastases with whole-body PET imaging can influence patient managemen