415 research outputs found
Author Correction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Italy: features on chest computed tomography using a structured report system (Scientific Reports, (2020), 10, 1, (17236), 10.1038/s41598-020-73788-5)
No full textThe original version of this Article contained errors in the spelling of the authors Roberto Grassi, Roberta Fusco, Maria Paola Belfiore, Alessandro Montanelli, Gianluigi Patelli, Fabrizio Urraro, Antonella Petrillo, Vincenza Granata, Palmino Sacco, Maria Antonietta Mazzei, Beatrice Feragalli, Alfonso Reginelli & Salvatore Cappabianca which were incorrectly given as Grassi Roberto, Fusco Roberta, Belfiore Maria Paola, Montanelli Alessandro, Patelli Gianluigi, Urraro Fabrizio, Petrillo Antonella, Granata Vincenza, Sacco Palmino, Mazzei Maria Antonietta, Feragalli Beatrice, Reginelli Alfonso & Cappabianca Salvatore. These errors have now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article
Milan Kundera au fil de la manipulation identitaire. Une lecture de "Risibles amours"
No full textCet article vise à réfléchir à la prégnance de la notion de manipulation
dans l’oeuvre littéraire de Milan Kundera en prenant pour point de départ
trois récits contenus dans le recueil Risibles Amours. Bien souvent, en effet dans ses oeuvres, certains personnages se présentent comme « autres » et
« manipulent » la réalité, en essayant de faire agir le deutéragoniste à leur
gré. La production romanesque de Milan Kundera met en scène, au fil des
années, des malentendus, des jeux, des simulations – voire des manipulations
– dont les conséquences paradoxales déterminent une crise identitaire
profonde, souvent irréversible, chez maints protagonistes. Il incombe
généralement au narrateur de désamorcer cette crise par une ironie subtile
et cinglante ; il porte à l’extrême les enchaînements de la manipulation
et, tout en les ridiculisant, il montre comment ceux-ci deviennent, par la
mise au point des rouages d’une mécanique narrative que nous nous proposons
d’élucider, des révélateurs puissants de la face cachée et complexe,
souvent tragique, de la condition humaine.
The aim of this article is to reflect upon the pervasiveness of the notion
of manipulation across three novels of Milan Kundera’s Risibles Amours.
Indeed, throughout his works, characters often present themselves as ‘others’
and ‘manipulate’ reality to influence the actions of the deuteragonist.
Over the years, Kundera, renowned for his theatrical approach, has presented
numerous misunderstandings, games, simulations–even manipulations
– whose paradoxical consequences engender a profound, often irreversible
identity crisis in many of the protagonists. It is generally up to the narrator
to resolve such disorders by means of subtle, scathing satire. By pushing
and mocking manipulative sequences to their extreme, while simultaneously
perfecting the narrative mechanism, the author effectively reveals
the hidden, complex, and often tragic aspects of the human condition
Does Size Matter? In-library study of two Canadian public library branches
No full textThis paper summarizes a library use study of the central and community branches of a Canadian public library. An exit survey documented the in-branch activities of users as part of a library strategic planning process. Survey results were used in combination with branch statistics, postal code circulation statistics, neighbourhood demographics, and other data sources to document the in-library use of the two facilities.
Questionnaires were administered to library users 15 years of age or older at the exits of the central and community branches. The survey collected data on their activities and services used during their current visit. Additional sources such as branch-level statistics, furniture tally sheets, photographs, Canada Census data, and circulation analysis by patron postal code and lending branch were used during the analysis stage.
Both branches are heavily used but in different ways. Branch circulation and gate count per square foot of floor space were high relative to other Canadian libraries. Patron visits to the community branch were short in duration, in line with previous public library studies. User visit duration and in-library activities within the main branch somewhat resembled those of the central branch of a larger library system but likely for different reasons.
The study was exploratory. Data were collected during two coinciding days of library operation, a Thursday and a Saturday, and may not be representative of the underlying population. The study was limited in scope as it was a community service project for undergraduate university students.
Branch library use surveys, in combination with library statistics and demographics, can provide useful insights concerning in-library patron behaviour when the use of ethnographic techniques is not feasible.
The study explored differences and similarities in user behaviour in two types of library facilities, a central and a community branch. Few published studies make such a direct comparison. The study explored the perceived benefits received by patrons from public library use and incorporated branch statistics, circulation analysis, and Census data.Peer reviewedAuthor Accepted Manuscript, final article has been publishedThis Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) has been deposited under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial International Licence 4.0 (CC BY-NC 4.0). Any reuse is allowed in accordance with the terms outlined by the licence. To reuse the AAM for commercial purposes, permission should be sought by contacting [email protected].
Citation to the published version:
Shepherd, J., Petrillo, L. and Wilson, A. (2019), "Does size matter? In-library study of two Canadian public library branches", Library Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-08-2019-0058data analysispublic librarylibrary use studieslibrary userscirculation analysisin-library us
Treatment satisfaction and well-being in patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization treated with ranibizumab in the REPAIR study
No full textThe Ranibizumab for the Treatment of Choroidal Neovascularisation (CNV) Secondary to Pathological Myopia (PM): an Individualized Regimen (REPAIR) trial was a prospective study exploring the efficacy and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab 0.5 mg using an individualized treatment regimen over 12 months. The current study investigated the impact of treatment with ranibizumab as needed (pro re nata [PRN]) on individuals with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) in the REPAIR study, using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for treatment satisfaction and well-being. This study included 65 adults with mCNV and a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) letter score of 24-78 in the study eye. Patients completed the Macular Disease Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (MacTSQ) at months 1, 6 and 12, and the 12-item Well-Being Questionnaire (W-BQ12) at baseline and months 1, 6 and 12. Subgroup analyses investigated the relationship between PROM scores and treatment in the better- or worse-seeing eye (BSE/WSE), number of injections received, baseline BCVA, BCVA improvement and age. Pearson correlations between change in BCVA, MacTSQ scores and W-BQ12 scores were calculated. The main outcome measures were treatment satisfaction measured with the MacTSQ (score 0-72) and well-being measured with the W-BQ12 (score 0-36). Treatment satisfaction significantly increased over the study period (p = 0.0001). Mean MacTSQ scores increased by 9.7 and 10.0 in patients treated in their WSE and BSE, respectively. Treatment satisfaction was highest in individuals receiving only one injection at month 1; however, by month 12, scores were similar across injection subgroups. Patients aged 68 years or older had the highest MacTSQ scores. Well-being scores also significantly increased over the study period (p = 0.03). Mean W-BQ12 scores increased by 1.7 in patients treated in their WSE and by 2.1 in patients treated in their BSE. Individuals aged 40 years or younger had the greatest increases in general well-being. Patients who experienced stable or improved BCVA at month 12 had greater increases in W-BQ12 scores than those who experienced a decrease. Correlations between BCVA, MacTSQ scores and W-BQ12 scores were largely non-significant. In conclusion, treatment satisfaction and well-being increased during treatment with ranibizumab PRN. Although directly comparable data are limited for the MacTSQ and W-BQ12 in mCNV, these results complement PROM outcomes reported in related studies
How might we help someone to gain perspective on school dropouts: Research compiled using design thinking and liberatory design
No full textSpain school dropout rate is bad, but... really how bad? why is it happening? and how we're
going to help our audience become more culturally responsive teachers. (Author abstract)Botella, B.L., Bowie, E., Cummings, K., Sacanell, G., and Petrillo, M. (2021). How might we help someone to gain perspective on school dropouts: Research compiled using design thinking and liberatory design. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.ed
Patient-reported visual function outcomes improve after ranibizumab treatment in patients with vision impairment due to diabetic macular edema: randomized clinical trial
No full textFew data are available on relative changes in vision-related function after treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME). To determine the impact of intravitreal ranibizumab, 0.5 mg, compared with laser on patient-reported visual function. Phase 3, randomized, double-masked, 12-month study (RESTORE). Outpatient retina practices in Australia, Canada, and Europe. Patients 18 years or older with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus and visual impairment due to DME. Patients were randomized to ranibizumab plus sham laser (n = 116), ranibizumab plus laser (n = 118), or sham injections plus laser (n = 111). Ranibizumab and sham injections were given for 3 consecutive months then as needed; laser or sham laser treatment was given at baseline then as needed. National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 (NEI VFQ-25) scores at 0, 3, and 12 months for patients receiving 1 or more study treatments with 1 or more postbaseline NEI VFQ-25 assessments and last observation carried forward for missing data. Mean baseline NEI VFQ-25 composite scores were 72.8, 73.5, and 74.1 in the ranibizumab, laser, and ranibizumab plus laser groups, respectively. At 12 months, the mean composite scores (95% CIs) improved by 5.0 (ranibizumab vs laser, 2.6 to 7.4; P = .01 vs laser) and 5.4 (ranibizumab plus laser vs laser alone, 3.3 to 7.4; P = .004 vs laser) from baseline in the ranibizumab and ranibizumab plus laser groups, respectively, compared with 0.6 (-1.8 to 3.0) for the laser group. Near activities scores improved by 9.0 (ranibizumab vs laser, 5.0 to 13.0; P = .01) and 9.1 (ranibizumab plus laser vs laser, 5.6 to 12.6; P = .006) compared with 1.1 (-3.0 to 5.2) for the laser group, whereas distance activities scores improved by 5.3 (ranibizumab vs laser, 1.8 to 8.9; P = .04) and 5.6 (ranibizumab plus laser vs laser, 2.3 to 9.0; P = .03) compared with 0.4 (-3.1 to 3.8) for the laser group. Patients with better baseline visual acuity or lower central retinal thickness had greater improvements with ranibizumab treatment compared with laser in composite and some subscale scores compared with patients with worse visual acuity or higher central retinal thickness. These data provide vision-related, patient-reported outcome evidence that mirrors visual acuity outcomes and supports benefits from ranibizumab or ranibizumab plus laser treatment for patients with DME and characteristics similar to those enrolled in this randomized clinical trial. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT0068780
Government policy and healthcare management: proposal of a shared decision-making model
No full textAs a consequence of the current economic crisis many changes have been introduced to health systems on national levels to reduce expenditure and to introduce more cost-effective methods. Then recent developments in medical technology have led to a shift in the traditional framework of physician-patient responsibility in health care decision making. In this context, the health community urges, in any case, decision makers to ensure that all changes introduced are in accordance with Health System Values. This paper presents a new decision making platform, as a tool to facilitate shared decision making, to improve the quality and transparency of tactical and strategic decisions. This new application, based on analytic quantitative method, is a component of a wider distribute web system under development, which aims to inform the new effective health technologies supporting designers in the user need elicitation and early stage health technology assessments. A case study aiming to elicit the user needs affecting the decision of whether to adopt a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also presented
Development of the EXACT-U: a preference-based measure to report COPD exacerbation utilities.
No full textBACKGROUND: The exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease tool (EXACT) is a condition-specific daily diary recently developed to evaluate the frequency, severity, and duration of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. A preference-based algorithm for the EXACT would allow utilities to be reported from patients during an exacerbation when EQ-5D data are not available. OBJECTIVE: To develop the exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease tool-utility (EXACT-U), a condition-specific preference-based measure to report utilities from the EXACT for use in cost-effectiveness studies. METHODS: Five items with three to five levels comprise the EXACT-U. Two groups of health states and respondents were constructed to allow for model development (Development group) and predictive validity testing (Validation group) using independent samples. Members of the UK general public each valued 11 randomized health states using time trade-offs (TTOs) scaled from full health/dead with 10-year durations. Regression models estimated from the Development group using individual data, mean data, and panel designs. Models assessed by number of inconsistent coefficients estimated and R(2) and tested against observed utilities from the Validation group using mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean squared error (RMSE). RESULTS: A total of 55 health states, including the best and worst states, were valued in TTO interviews conducted with 400 respondents. Ten models were developed. The final preferred model contained no logical inconsistencies and found MAE = 0.04 and RMSE = 0.05 with a predicted utility range from 0.09 to 0.95. CONCLUSIONS: The EXACT-U is a condition-specific preference-based measure with strong predictive validity to report daily utilities during an exacerbation
Converting condition-specific measures into preference-based outcomes for use in economic evaluation.
No full textQuality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) play an important role in reimbursement decisions when one of the criteria is the cost-effectiveness of the health technology. While for many generic QALYs (e.g., based on the EQ-5D) are viewed as the gold standard, there has been a considerable increase in interest in using condition-specific data to generate QALYs. There are two main methods: mapping from the condition-specific data to a generic health-related quality of life measure; and direct valuation of condition-specific health states. Whether one believes condition-specific data are useful even if generic QALY data are available, or simply that condition-specific data are helpful in the absence of generic measures of health-related quality of life, it is timely to review recent research activity directed at making greater use of condition-specific data to inform assessments of cost-effectiveness
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