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Biostatistical Methods and Applications in Health Research.
No full textSupported by real-world case studies, this essential textbook provides a detailed overview of the use of biostatistical tools and methods, enabling students and researchers to undertake their own research with confidence and understanding.
After a general introduction to the field, the book provides a step-by-step description of the essential statistical methods that are foundational to analysing data from clinical trials, epidemiological studies and other health-related research. From basic concepts such as probability and distribution through to hypothesis testing, regression analysis, survival analysis, meta-analysis and systematic reviews, each chapter is designed with a clear pedagogical approach featuring explanatory diagrams, real-life examples and sample problems. Later sections of the book cover clinical trial design and analysis, diagnostic testing, Bayesian methods and machine learning. Through this detailed, comprehensive treatment of the key tools and methods, the book encourages readers to develop their own critical thinking skills, recognising good or bad pieces of research when they see them, asking questions about where evidence and assumptions come from or choosing the most appropriate biostatistical methodologies in their own research.
Written by a team of experts with extensive teaching experience in this field, this is the ideal textbook for graduate students and researchers across the biomedical sciences, from public health to epidemiology to clinical medicine
Automating building energy performance simulation with EnergyPlus using modular JSON–Python workflows: a case study of the Hilton Watford hotel
Get PDFAccurate prediction of building energy performance is critical for achieving sustainability goals and reducing operational costs. This study presents a novel and automated simulation framework that integrates EnergyPlus 25.1 with modular JSON configurations and Python 3.11 scripting to streamline the modelling and analysis process. Using the Hilton Watford Hotel in the UK as a case study, the framework generates detailed Input Data Files (IDFs).
based on architectural and operational data, enabling efficient exploration of various usage scenarios through batch simulations. Automation is achieved using custom Python scripts built on the Eppy library, allowing scalable modification and generation of simulation inputs. Post-processing and visualisation are performed using Pandas 2.0.3, NumPy 1.25.2, and Matplotlib 3.7.2, while model outputs are calibrated against measured performance.
data in accordance with ASHRAE guidelines. To enhance predictive capabilities, machine learning algorithms—Random Forest and XGBoost—are applied to estimate annual energy
consumption under different operating conditions. This integrated approach not only reduces manual modelling effort but also narrows the gap between predicted and actual
performance, offering a replicable pathway for retrofitting analysis and energy policy support in similar commercial buildings
Comparative study of optimised embodied carbon and cost in RC slab structures
Get PDFFollowing World War II, the rapid expansion of construction led to intensive use of natural
resources, leading to resource depletion and accelerating climate change. Prioritising
sustainability in structural design has therefore become essential. This study investigates
three reinforced concrete (RC) slab systems typical of office buildings: flat slab, beam and
slab, and two-way joist slab, using Eurocode 2 design principles. A 3 × 3 bay model
with spans from 4 m to 14 m and three concrete grades (C25/30, C32/40, C40/50) was
analysed through nonlinear finite element modelling. The methodology uniquely combines
structural optimisation with embodied carbon and cost assessments across multiple slab
typologies and span configurations, an approach rarely addressed in prior research. Results
show that two-way joist slabs achieve the most favourable balance, reducing embodied
carbon by 25–35% and construction cost by up to 15% compared to flat and beam and slab
systems. This advantage is particularly evident at spans of 10 m or more, where the ribbed
geometry significantly reduces concrete volume. Flat slabs are cost-efficient for short spans
of up to 8 m but incur up to 40% higher carbon at longer spans due to increased thickness
and punching shear reinforcement requirements. Beam and slab systems consistently
recorded the highest cost and carbon values, offering limited environmental benefits
despite their structural stiffness. The findings provide practical guidance for span-sensitive
slab selection in early design, enabling the delivery of reinforced concrete buildings that
are both cost-effective and environmentally responsible
Spatiotemporal contrastive learning for Echocardiography View Classification
No full textEchocardiographic view classification is essential for accurate cardiac assessments, yet it remains challenging due to anatomical overlap, operator variability, motion artifacts, image quality issues, and dataset limitations. Deep learning methods could address these issues by incorporating temporal models, representation learning, and domain adaptation to improve classification robustness. This study proposes a contrastive representation learning framework that integrates temporal and spatial augmentation strategies, to learn more robust and invariant feature representations. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves an accuracy of 96.4%, surpassing previous methods. The findings indicate that the model effectively captures robust and invariant feature representations, strengthening its ability to distinguish between echocardiographic views and consequently enhancing classification performance
VoIP Steganalysis Using Shallow Multiscale Convolution and Transformer
No full textSteganography is an effective method for transmitting secret information, but it can also be used for illegal activities such as terrorism, organized crime and data theft, etc. To solve the problem of steganography being used for malicious purposes, steganalysis technology has been developed. Steganalysis aims to detect whether the data has been steganography and identify whether it contains secret information, which is a kind of reverse process of steganography. VoIP data stream usually has high redundancy, which makes it an ideal carrier for steganography. In this paper, a Steganalysis Transformer (SAT) VoIP voice steganalysis method based on Transformer neural network is proposed with VoIP voice as the research object. The method first encodes the relative position of the features extracted from VoIP voice signals, combines the multi-scale convolution method to improve the local feature extraction to obtain more detailed feature information, transforms the high-dimensional sparse matrix into the low-dimensional dense features by mapping, and then realizes the steganalysis analysis through the feature extraction by the improved Transformer; the proposed SAT method is able to obtain the global features from the shallow layer and learn the high quality intermediate features. Experiments show that the SAT method proposed in this paper has superior performance, and the accuracy of VoIP steganalysis reaches 96.41%
Assessment Of Population Willingness To Consider Elderly Day Care Centers In Saudi Arabia.
Get PDFBackground:
The ageing population is one of the topics that are debated the most today. In all affluent nations, the senior population is expanding rather consistently. To ensure the long-term stability of national healthcare systems, a significant increase in the number of healthcare providers and facilities is needed, particularly in Saudi Arabia. In this regard, one of the solutions is the utilisation of daycare facilities. Thus, the objective of this study is to assess the population’s willingness to consider elderly day care for their older relatives.
Methods
The research employs a cross-sectional study design in which questionnaires were randomly distributed to Saudi citizens aged between 18 and 59 years. A multiple logistic regression is used to identify important factors associated with public willingness to consider their relatives in daycare centres.
Results
Around three-fifths of the Saudis are willing to enrol the elderly in daycare institutions. People aged 45-51 years were three times more willing to consider elderly daycare institutions for their older relatives (aOR: 3.85, 95% CI: 1.72-8.33). Factors that are associated with higher willingness include “Seniors play an important role in our society" (aOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.30-2.13) and “The elders are wise and knowledgeable about the traditions of their community” (aOR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.19-1.89). The factors associated with higher willingness are awareness regarding the existence of elderly day care institutions in Saudi Arabia (aOR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.67). Other important factors associated with a higher willingness to consider daycare are nature of occupation, financial capacity, being strong enough physically to handle the elderly, and understanding the elderly.
Conclusion
It has been suggested that many Saudis are fully aware of the concept of elderly daycare centres and willing to let their older relatives join them. Therefore, spreading awareness and introducing daycare care centers to more people can make a difference in our community to provide the care our elderly deserve
Impact of intermediate home-based care on functional health of older adults with stroke in low-income and middle-income countries: A systematic review
Get PDFBackground: Intermediate care services are designed to facilitate transition from medical dependence to functional
independence, ultimately improving the overall quality of life. Despite the recognized benefits of intermediate care in rehabilitation, data on its impact on functional outcomes for older adults with stroke in low- and middle-income countries are limited. Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of an intermediate care model among older adults with stroke. Methods: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. Scopus, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and reference lists of manually selected articles were searched. Only studies published in English from 2012 to 2023 were included. Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies focusing on functional improvement in motor function, activities of daily living (ADLs), and quality of life in older adults with stroke receiving home-based or community intermediate care were considered. Data extraction utilized the PICO framework. Three reviewers independently conducted a critical appraisal and risk of bias assessments, with two additional reviewers resolving any discrepancies.
Results: Eleven studies from low- and middle-income countries were included. The interventions varied,
encompassing exercise programs, therapy sessions, video-based programs, reminiscence therapy, and caregiver-assisted
therapy, targeting various aspects of stroke recovery and rehabilitation. The interventions demonstrated positive effects on functional outcomes, significantly improving ADLs and overall quality of life. Conclusions: Despite variability in functional outcomes, the study highlights that implementing home-based intermediate care can be crucial for stroke patients in low-resource settings
Intracerebral hemorrhage: the global differential burden and secular trends from 1990 to 2019 and its prediction up to 2030.
Get PDFObjectives: This study aims to analyze the global burden and temporal trends of intracerebral haemorrhage from 1990 to 2019 and to project the burden up to 2030, considering variations across regions, sexes, and age groups.
Methods: Data were sourced from the GBD (Global Burden of Disease) 2019 study. We assessed ASIR (age-standardized incidence rates), ASMR (age-standardized mortality rates), and ASDR (age-standardized disability adjusted life year rate) using the BAPC (Bayesian age-period-cohort) model. Spearman's Rho correlation was used to examine the relationship between disease burden and the SDI (Socio-Demographic Index).
Results: From 1990 to 2019, the global ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR of intracerebral haemorrhage decreased by 1.52%, 1.64%, and 1.64%, respectively, while absolute case numbers increased. Males consistently exhibited higher ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR than females. The projections suggest that by 2030, the incidence and absolute cases of intracerebral haemorrhage will continue to rise, while mortality rates will decline.
Conclusion: Despite reductions in age-standardized rates, the global burden of intracerebral haemorrhage continues to increase due to population growth and aging. Effective prevention and treatment strategies, especially in low-SDI regions, are urgently needed
A suicide bereavement model: based on a meta-ethnography of the experiences of adult suicide loss survivors
Get PDFIntroduction: The annual suicide death rate is c.760,000 therefore, using the widely accepted estimate of 135 people being exposed to each suicide, the worldwide annual exposure rate is over 100 million. While male suicide-loss survivors (SLSs) are equally exposed, the vast majority of suicide bereavement research includes a large majority of female participants.
Methods: Following the eMERGe and PRISMA guidelines, a meta-ethnography (systematic review of qualitative studies) was carried out to assess historical research into suicide-loss survivorship. Seven data sources were searched, up to 30-Nov-2022, for peer-reviewed studies, written in English, that used identifiable and interpretative qualitative methods, had at least 50% male participation, and offered a valuable contribution to the synthesis.
Results: Overall, 1,645 records were screened, and 15 reports of included studies assessed. Eight main themes were identified: changed forever, trauma, stigmatization, protector, lost futures, lost in plain sight, societal norms, and dualities. Via line of argument synthesis, and considering the broader literature, a model for suicide bereavement, applicable to all, is proposed that brings together the gamut of pertinent factors into an integrated framework.
Discussion: The model could be used in practice (clinical, therapy/counseling, education) to enable better understanding of the highly complex and interwoven components of suicide bereavement, thereby facilitating improved and extended services available to SLSs that are more in-tune with their needs. While the model cannot confer full comprehension of suicide bereavement, it can go a long way to assist those looking to assist SLSs by providing a platform for dialogue and empathy