Class of 2005 Abstract / Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore whether current meta-analyses on exercise interventions assess adherence and/or compliance of the studies included in the meta-analyses and to determine if subject adherence had any effect on outcomes of the analyses. Methods: Data was collected through a search of the MEDLINE database using the key words exercise, adherence, compliance, clinical trials, and meta-analysis. Data on study title, author, number of studies screened, number in meta-analysis, range of sample sizes, total number of subjects, primary intervention, primary outcome, how study quality was assessed, how adherence was assessed, whether adherence was used as a control variable, and did adherence affect the outcome was recorded on a paper and pencil data extraction form. Data was analyzed by constructing a table describing the meta-analyses and calculating the number and percent of analyses that included adherence. The table allowed for the evaluation of the strength and methodology of each piece of literature with respect to acknowledging adherence as a significant variable in the strength and legitimacy of each analysis. Results: Nineteen meta-analyses met our search criteria and were evaluated. Five of the nineteen meta-analyses (26 percent) described a method for assessing adherence. It was found that none of these used adherence as a control variable. Four of the nineteen meta-analyses did not assess the quality of the studies contained within the analysis. One of these meta-analyses suggested that adherence may have confounded outcomes, but did not provide any data to address their concerns. Conclusions: In meta-analyses, adherence is unlikely to be addressed. Current meta-analyses frequently lack methods for assessing adherence, and do not use adherence as a control variable. Whether adherence to exercise regimens affects outcomes cannot be determined from current meta-analyses.

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an accessible and widely used biomarker. NLR may be used as an early marker of poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19. Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of the NLR in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Observational studies that reported the association between baseline NLR values (ie, at hospital admission) and severity or all-cause mortality in COVID-19 patients were included. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Random effects models and inverse variance method were used for meta-analyses. The effects were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Small study effects were assessed with the Egger's test. Results: We analysed 61 studies (n = 15 522 patients), 58 cohorts, and 3 case-control studies. An increase of one unit of NLR was associated with higher odds of severity (OR 6.22; 95%CI 4.93 to 7.84; P <.001) and higher odds of all-cause mortality (OR 12.6; 95%CI 6.88 to 23.06; P <.001). In our sensitivity analysis, we found that 41 studies with low risk of bias and moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 53% and 58%) maintained strong association between NLR values and both outcomes (severity: OR 5.36; 95% CI 4.45 to 6.45; P <.001; mortality: OR 10.42 95% CI 7.73 to 14.06; P =.005). Conclusions: Higher values of NLR were associated with severity and all-cause mortality in hospitalised COVID-19 patients. / Revisión por pares

ITC/USA 2010 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Sixth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 25-28, 2010 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / A few years ago XidML was introduced as an open XML standard for capturing the meta-data associated with flight test instrumentation (FTI). This meta-data schema was broken down into elements for Parameter (name, range, units, offset-binary), Instrument (name, serial number, misses-to loss), Package (bits per word, words per minor-frame, rate) and Link (name, type) and so on. XidML remains one of the only published schema for FTI meta-data and with XidML 3.0 many simplifications have been introduced along with support for nested tree structures and a single instrument schema allowing anyone to define the validation for instruments from any vendor. This paper introduces the XidML schema and describers the benefits of XidML 3.0 in particular. It begins by giving a brief description of what XidML is and describes its history and motivation. The paper then outlines the main differences between XidML-3.0 and earlier versions, and how the XidML schema has been further refined to meet the challenges faced by the FTI community. As an example of usage the FTIManager software developed at Eurocopter will be briefly presented in order to illustrate the XidML ability to describe a multi-vendor FTI configuration.

No description available.

This study examined the statistical consequences of employing various methods of computing and cumulating effect sizes in meta-analysis. Six methods of computing effect size, and three techniques for combining study outcomes, were compared. Effect size metrics were calculated with one-group and pooled standardizing denominators, corrected for bias and for unreliability of measurement, and weighted by sample size and by sample variance. Cumulating techniques employed as units of analysis the effect size, the study, and an average study effect. In order to determine whether outcomes might vary with the size of the meta-analysis, mean effect sizes were also compared for two smaller subsets of studies. An existing meta-analysis of 60 studies examining the effectiveness of computer-based instruction was used as a data base for this investigation. Recomputation of the original study data under the six different effect size formulas showed no significant difference among the metrics. Maintaining the independence of the data by using only one effect size per study, whether a single or averaged effect, produced a higher mean effect size than averaging all effect sizes together, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. The sampling distribution of effect size means approached that of the population of 60 studies for subsets consisting of 40 studies, but not for subsets of 20 studies. Results of this study indicated that the researcher may choose any of the methods for effect size calculation or cumulation without fear of biasing the outcome of the metaanalysis. If weighted effect sizes are to be used, care must be taken to avoid giving undue influence to studies which may have large sample sizes, but not necessarily be the most meaningful, theoretically representative, or elegantly designed. It is important for the researcher to locate all relevant studies on the topic under investigation, since selective or even random sampling may bias the results of small meta-analyses.

The burden of depression requires modalities other than individual psychotherapy if we are to reduce it. Over the past two decades preventative programs for depression have been developed and refined for different populations. The six years since the last meta-analysis of preventative interventions—inclusive of all program types—have seen a number of new studies. The current study used the greater statistical power provided by these new studies to analyze moderators of, and sub-group differences in, the effect of these interventions on depression. Moreover, this meta-analysis synthesized effect sizes for outcomes other than, but often related to, depression (e.g., anxiety) and for within-group change scores with the goal of better informing program implementation and evaluation. Twenty-nine studies met inclusion criteria and indicated that small, robust effects exist for reductions in depression diagnoses and symptomatology. Significant effects were also observed for anxiety, general health, and social functioning.

This thesis provides the first meta-analysis investigating the effect of corporate tax competition among states, with special focus on the effect of the corporate tax rate change in competing country on the corporate tax rate in the home country. It examines 523 estimates from 20 published studies and working papers. Results of the meta-analysis show an evidence of substantial publication selectivity: researchers tend to discard negative and insignificant estimates, which overvalues the estimated effect size. Conducted precision effect test failed to find the evidence for the existence of a genuine effect of corporate tax competition. Empirical analysis shows that differences in the measurement of statutory and effective tax rate matter, thus the analysis was conducted on two separate sub-samples. Meta-regression analysis have found significant impact of variables related to publication bias for both sub-samples. Next to it, the results provide an evidence of significant influence of politically orientated controls, especially of the variable controlling whether or not there were elections in the particular year and state in case when the corporate tax rate changed. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

No description available.

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, 2007. / Submitted by Luis Felipe Souza (luis_felas@globo.com) on 2008-11-26T17:51:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_2007_ClaudiaMaria.pdf: 1191785 bytes, checksum: 2fee6e5e47ef0eeb75b5f7f8f9d3266b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Georgia Fernandes(georgia@bce.unb.br) on 2009-02-10T16:40:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_2007_ClaudiaMaria.pdf: 1191785 bytes, checksum: 2fee6e5e47ef0eeb75b5f7f8f9d3266b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2009-02-10T16:40:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_2007_ClaudiaMaria.pdf: 1191785 bytes, checksum: 2fee6e5e47ef0eeb75b5f7f8f9d3266b (MD5) / A proposta deste estudo foi desenvolver, aplicar e avaliar um programa de intervenção das metas de realização em jovens atletas de tênis de mesa de altorendimento do Distrito Federal. O Programa teve como fundamentação teórica a Teoria Sócio-Cognitiva das Metas de Realização, trabalhando com os construtos do clima motivacional, orientação e envolvimento às metas; além do estabelecimento de objetivos e adequação do nível de ativação e ansiedade, pois são fatores determinantes para a manutenção do nível motivacional do atleta. Para a elaboração das tarefas das intervenções, trabalhou-se com ênfase nas habilidades mentais e motoras, buscando a auto-regulação do atleta em momentos críticos do treinamento e de competições. Para avaliar a proposta, foi necessária a realização de um estudo preliminar, o Estudo 1, e para isso, a construção de instrumentos que avaliassem a percepção do clima motivacional de equipe (QPCME), a percepção do nível de ativação do atleta (QPNA), e a tradução de instrumento que avaliasse as orientações às metas dos atletas (TEOSQ). A amostra foi composta por 594 atletas de quatro modalidades (tênis de mesa, voleibol, atletismo e handebol), entre 13 e 18 anos de idade, sendo a média 15,86 e o desvio padrão 0,5, das cinco regiões do pais e representantes do sexo masculino (46,6%) e feminino (53.3%). Na seqüência, foi realizada a validação dos instrumentos, com análise fatorial exploratória e estatística descritiva, os quais se mostraram válidos para aplicação posterior no Programa de Intervenção. O Estudo 2 teve como foco as implicações do estudo da Teoria Motivacional Sócio-Cognitiva Metas de Realização e a intervenção por meio desta teoria. A amostra constituiu-se de 10 atletas de tênis de mesa, que foram avaliados pelos construtos das Metas de Realização e aptidão física. Posteriormente, o Estudo 2 estabeleceu as análises quantitativas do Grupo Experimental e do Grupo Controle da amostra e as análises qualitativas dos atletas Grupo Experimental. Os resultados apresentados demonstraram que desenvolver um Programa Motivacional, com ênfase na elaboração de tarefas que envolvam as habilidades mentais e motoras, leva o atleta a aumentar sua percepção de habilidades, persistência e esforço, a estabelecer metas a curto, médio, longo prazo, e a melhorar seu desempenho e sua auto-regulação. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT / The purpose of this study was to develop, to apply and to assess a goal achievement intervention program into Distrito Federal young athletes of table tennis. To achieve this purpose, the Achievement Goal Theory frameworks like perceived motivational climate, goal orientation and goal involvement was used. Besides, the goal setting, activation and anxiety adequacies, determine the factors for the motivational maintenance athlete level. The intervention tasks emphasis the mental and motor skills, searching the athlete self-regulation at training and competitions critical moments. To assess the proposal, it was necessary the accomplishment of a preliminary study; Study 1, and therefore, the instrument construction to assess the perception of the motivational climate of team (QPCME), the perceived arousal of the athlete (QPNA), and the translation of the instrument that assess the goal orientation of the athletes (TEOSQ). The sample was made of 594 athletes from four different modalities (table tennis, volleyball, athletics and handeball), between 13 and 18 years old, being the average média 15,86 and the diversion standard 0,5, from five regions of the country and representing both male (46,6%) and female (53,3%). After this, the reliability instruments through exploratory factorial analysis the descriptive statistics had applied in the Intervention Program. Later, the Study 2 establishes the quantitative analyses of the Experimental Group and the Group Control of the sample and the qualitative analyses of the athletes Experimental Group. Study 2 partner-cognitive had as focus the implications of the study of the motivational through Goals Achievement Theory. The presented results, having as analysis 3 athletes of the Experimental Group, had demonstrated that to develop a Motivational Program, with emphasis in the elaboration of tasks that involve the mental and motor skills, it takes the athlete to increase its perception of abilities, persistence and effort, to goal setting and to improve its performance and the self-regulation.

The following thesis explores the impact of the dataset distributional prop- erties on classification performance. We use Gaussian copulas to generate 1000 artificial dataset and train classifiers on them. We train Generalized linear models, Distributed Random forest, Extremely randomized trees and Gradient boosting machines via H2O.ai machine learning platform accessed by R. Classi- fication performance on these datasets is evaluated and empirical observations on influence are presented. Secondly, we use real Australian credit dataset and predict which classifier is possibly going to work best. The predicted perfor- mance for any individual method is based on penalizing the differences between the Australian dataset and artificial datasets where the method performed com- paratively better, but it failed to predict correctly. 1