2,530 research outputs found
SMAD2, SMAD3 and SMAD4 mutations in colorectal cancer
No full textAbstract not availableNicholas I. Fleming, Robert N. Jorissen, Dmitri Mouradov, Michael Christie, Anuratha Sakthianandeswaren, Michelle Palmieri, Fiona Day, Shan Li, Cary Tsui, Lara Lipton, Jayesh Desai, Ian T. Jones, Stephen McLaughlin, Robyn L. Ward, Nicholas J. Hawkins, Andrew R. Ruszkiewicz, James Moore, Hong-Jian Zhu, John M. Mariadason, Antony W. Burgess, Dana Busam, Qi Zhao, Robert L. Strausberg, Peter Gibbs, and Oliver M. Siebe
Cost-effectiveness analysis of germ-line BRCA testing in women with breast cancer and cascade testing in family members of mutation carriers
No full textPurpose:
To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of BRCA testing in women with breast cancer, and cascade testing in family members of BRCA mutation carriers.
Methods:
A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using a cohort Markov model from a health-payer perspective. The model estimated the long-term benefits and costs of testing women with breast cancer who had at least a 10% pretest BRCA mutation probability, and the cascade testing of first- and second-degree relatives of women who test positive.
Results:
Compared with no testing, BRCA testing of affected women resulted in an incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained of AU1,880; incremental QALY gain 0.10) with reductions of 0.04 breast and 0.01 ovarian cancer events. Testing affected women and cascade testing of family members resulted in an incremental cost per QALY gained of AU665; incremental QALY gain 0.07) with additional reductions of 0.06 breast and 0.01 ovarian cancer events.
Conclusion:
BRCA testing in women with breast cancer is cost-effective and is associated with reduced risk of cancer and improved survival. Extending testing to cover family members of affected women who test positive improves cost-effectiveness beyond restricting testing to affected women only.Griffith Health, School of MedicineNo Full Tex
Pilot testing of the Research Impact Assessment Framework
No full textTraditional academic impact frameworks and metrics have been criticised, because they fail to assess the 'real-world' value of research. The Research Impact Assessment Framework was developed to complement and extend existing impact assessment frameworks by focusing on health system needs and priorities. This paper reports on piloting of the Research Impact Assessment Framework for feasibility and utility with researchers working in health and research organisations in Sydney, Australia. The Framework's Research Environment domain was assessed through a bespoke employee survey, and the Alignment and Influence of Research domain through independent review of case studies. Using synthetic data, the outputs from the two domains were combined to compare institutions. The tools tested in this pilot are feasible to use in assessing an organisation's capacity to produce impactful research that is aligned with identified health, social and economic priorities. The case study reviews illustrated the challenge of determining potential versus realised impact. This study identified that implementation of the Research Impact Assessment Framework will be enabled by use of existing routinely collected data, such as annual employee surveys, and the use of artificial intelligence tools to reduce administrative burden and ensure consistency of outputs.</p
Model-based inference for estimating shifts in species distribution, area occupied and centre of gravity
No full text1. Changing climate is already impacting the spatial distribution of many taxa, including bees, plants, birds, butterflies and fishes. A common goal is to detect range shifts in response to climate change, including changes in the centre of the population’s distribution (the centre of gravity, COG), population boundaries and area occupied. Conventional estimators, such as the abundance-weighted average (AWA) estimator for COG, confound range shifts with changes in the spatial distribution of available survey data and may be biased when the distribution of survey data shifts over time. AWA also does not estimate the standard error of COG in individual years and cannot incorporate data from multiple survey designs.
2. To explicitly account for changes in the spatial distribution of survey effort, we propose an alternative species distribution function (SDF) estimator. The SDF approach involves calculating distribution metrics, including COG, population boundary and area occupied, directly from the predicted species distribution or density function. We illustrate the SDF approach using a spatio-temporal model that is available as an R package. Using simulated data, we confirm that the SDF substantially decreases bias in COG estimates relative to the AWA estimator. We then illustrate the method by analysing data from two data sets spanning 1977–2013 for 18 marine fishes along the U.S. West Coast.
3. In our case study, the SDF estimator shows significant northward shifts for six of 18 species (with southward shifts for only 2), where two species (darkblotched and greenstriped rockfishes) have both a northward shift and a decreased area occupied. Pelagic species (e.g. Pacific hake and spiny dogfish) have more variable distribution than bottom-associated species. We also find substantial differences between AWA and SDF estimates of COG that are likely caused by shifts in sampling distribution (which affect the AWA but not the SDF estimator).
4. We caution that common estimators for range shift can yield inappropriate inference whenever sampling designs have shifted over time. We conclude by suggesting further improvements in model-based approaches to analysing climate impacts, including methods addressing the impact of local and regional temperature changes on species distribution.Peer reviewe
The Baron, his niece and friends : Friedrich von Hügel as a spiritual director, 1915-1925
No full textWhile the practice of spiritual direction is widespread and increasingly popular, there has been relatively little research on the practices of those perceived to be exemplary spiritual directors. The primary focus of this dissertation is Baron Friedrich von Hügel's spiritual direction of Gwendolen Greene, during the final decade of his life (1915-1925). It also analyses his direction of nine other individuals during this same period, enabling one to recognise and evaluate recurring trends in von Hügel's approach to spiritual nurture.
The key to the interpretation of von Hügel's approach is his conception of the 'Three Elements of Religion,' the Mystical, Intellectual and Institutional Elements. The thesis illustrates through analysis of von Hügel's correspondence and diaries the extent to which these shape his whole approach to spiritual direction.
The research is archival, focusing on von Hügel's letters of spiritual direction and his personal diaries. The methodology is critical historical research, based on a close reading and assessment of the materials available. To this end, a great deal of original material is unearthed and discussed for the purposes of articulating and evaluating the nature of von Hügel's role as a spiritual director.
The findings of this investigation indicate strengths and weaknesses in von Hügel's approach to spiritual direction. His primary contribution is his articulation and utilisation of the 'Three Elements of Religion.' These provide a balanced and holistic approach to spiritual direction. The primary weaknesses in his approach to spiritual direction are evident when he succumbs to values more indicative of the age in which he lived, than of the essence of the Christian tradition
Dynamics of Network Formation Processes in the Co-Author Model
No full textThis article studies the dynamics in the formation processes of a mutual consent network in game theory setting: the Co-Author Model. In this article, a limited observation is applied and analytical results are derived. Then, 2 parameters are varied: the number of individuals in the network and the initial probability of the links in the network in its initial state. A simulation result shows a finding that is consistent with an analytical result for a state of equilibrium while it also shows different possible equilibria.Dynamics, Network, Game Theory, Model,Simulation, Equilibrium, Complexity
An Interview with Marlon L. Fick
No full textA conversation with a Fellow for the National Endowment for the Arts in Writing for the United States as well as Mexico (ConaCulta), Marlon L. Fick. Fick is the author of several books, including translations, volumes of poetry, and short fiction. He is the author of two forthcoming novels from Jaded Ibis Press - the two novels are part of a trilogy with the third underway. The novels, The Nowhere Man and Rhapsody in a Circle, are written against a backdrop of twentieth-century political turmoil in third world countries: The Congo (then Zaire), Nicaragua, Mexico, and Pakistan. Although at the heart of both novels lies questions of identity, the potentially futile quest for the soul, the theme of individuality and freedom eventually collides with politics. Fick believes we are prisoners of the body politic. The author does not like to speak of the novel as history, except to assert that 'history is a poor word for something for which we have yet to find a better word'
Not today, but tomorrow.
No full textIncludes bibliographical references.'Not today, but tomorrow', the title of this body of work, references a collection of daily lists I assembled during my first year of the Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) programme. I had written 'not today but tomorrow' on one of my Monday lists and that was all. It seems a fitting description and context for this body of work as I try to hold on to the moment, today, in anticipation of what is yet to come, tomorrow
Impact of Web technologies on student-lecturer expert power relationship
No full textExpert power is “the power that comes from having knowledge and expertise in a particular area” (Nazarko, 2004). In the history of the development of higher education, the relationship between the lecturer and the students has changed because of many different factors. Before the internet and web revolution, the lecturer used to be the main information source for his/her students. The web as a modern source of knowledge is now used universally and this spreading trend might affect the relationship between the lecturer and his students. Understanding the impact of this change appears to be important as it would be employed in improving teaching techniques. In this area, many studies have focused on the impact of using the internet and web applications on students and lecturers. These studies have widely investigated this impact on student’s achievements, attitude and also have shown how the role and performance of the faculty have changed. This paper aims to investigate the impact of using web resources as a source of knowledge on the student-lecturer relationship from students’ perspectives. The investigation focuses on how students’ knowledge gained from using websites has impacted on the relationship with their lecturer as a knowledgeable person which theoretically means Expert power. 1661 students from 30 universities/ educational institutions participated in this research
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