1,721,112 research outputs found
Mathematical modeling and robustness analysis to unravel COVID-19 transmission dynamics: The Italy case
No full textThis study started from the request of providing predictions on hospitalization and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) rates that are caused by COVID-19 for the Umbria region in Italy. To this purpose, we propose the application of a computational framework to a SEIR-type (Susceptible, Exposed, Infected, Removed) epidemiological model describing the different stages of COVID-19 infection. The model discriminates between asymptomatic and symptomatic cases and it takes into account possible intervention measures in order to reduce the probability of transmission. As case studies, we analyze not only the epidemic situation in Umbria but also in Italy, in order to capture the evolution of the pandemic at a national level. First of all, we estimate model parameters through a Bayesian calibration method, called Conditional Robust Calibration (CRC), while using the official COVID-19 data of the Italian Civil Protection. Subsequently, Conditional Robustness Analysis (CRA) on the calibrated model is carried out in order to quantify the influence of epidemiological and intervention parameters on the hospitalization rates. The proposed pipeline properly describes the COVID-19 spread during the lock-down phase. It also reveals the underestimation of new positive cases and the need of promptly isolating asymptomatic and presymptomatic cases. The results emphasize the importance of the lock-down timeliness and provide accurate predictions on the current evolution of the pandemic
Physician And Patient Barriers To Radiotherapy Service Access: Treatment Referral Implications
No full textRadiotherapy is one of the mainstays of cancer treatment, and about 60% of cancer patients receive this type of treatment during their course of treatment. An evident gap between optimal and actual radiotherapy utilization proportions has recently been reported, which has been ascribed to lack of referral to radiation oncology. There are many factors influencing the radiotherapy referral, including patient anxiety about toxicity, wrong perception of efficacy and side effects by physicians and patients, insufficient knowledge of referral process. These factors, defined as barriers can be categorized in health system barriers, physician and patient barriers. In the present brief narrative review, we discussed barriers to radiotherapy referral focusing on physician and patient barriers
Problemi di confrontabilità dei dati di sopravvivenza.
No full textIl presente studio ha esaminato l'omogeneità dei criteri di registrazione e follow up adottati dai diversi registri partecipanti, per consentire una corretta valutazione dei dati e delle differenze osservate tra le diverse aree geografiche italiane. Il controllo sui dati ha riguardato la corrispondenza alle regole internazionali di registrazione, la loro correttezza e la metodologia adottata per il follow up. Per le differenze osservate nella gestione di alcune neoplasie a più incerto inquadramento clinico e biologico, secondo quanto emerso anche a livello internazionale (codifica tumori in situ, neoplasie vescicali), l'analisi è stata integrata da un questionario somministrato a tutti i registri. Sono emerse alcune differenze nei metodi di registrazione seguiti. I problemi più rilevanti sono stati riscontrati nella registrazione dei tumori vescicali, principalmente nella valutazione dei tumori in situ e a comportamento incerto, e nella proporzione dei pazienti a breve sopravvivenza per alcune aree geografiche. Buoni livelli di qualità e omogeneità sono stati osservato globalmente per i principali indici di valutazione della registrazione (verifiche microscopiche, gestione del follow up). In conclusione i livelli qualitativi osservati nelle procedure di registrazione appaiono sostanzialmente in grado di assicurare una corretta confrontabilità dei dati. Solo per alcune sedi tumorali (in particolare la vescica) si sono evidenziati problemi significativi che suggeriscono maggiore cautela nell'interpretazione della sopravvivenza e delle differenze territoriali osservate
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
I trend dei tumori in Italia negli anni duemila (1998-2005). Italian Cancer Trend (1998-2005).
No full textObjective: the aim of this collaborative project of the Italian Network of Cancer Registries (Airtum; www.registri-tumori.it) was to analyse cancer incidence and mortality trends in Italy
with special reference to the period 1998-2005.
Method: the study was based on the Airtum database, which collects and checks data from all the Airtum registries. The present study was based on 20 general and 2 specific population based cancer registries. Overall, we analysed 818,017 incident cases and 342,444 cancer deaths for the time period 1998-2005. Seventy percent of the analysed population was from the North of Italy, 17% from the Centre, and 13% from the South. A joinpoint analysis was carried out to detect the point in time where the trend changed; trends are described by means of the estimated
annual percent change (APC), with appropriate 95% confidence intervals. Crude and standardized incidence and
mortality rates were computed for 36 cancer sites, for both sexes, three age-classes (0-49, 50-69 and 70+ years), and three geographic areas (North, Centre, and South of Italy).
Specific chapters are devoted to long-term trends (1986-2005), differences among age-groups, and international comparisons. Results: In 1998-2005, cancer mortality for all sites showed a statistically significant decrease among men (APC - 1.7) and women (- 0.8). Mortality significantly decreased in both sexes for stomach cancer, rectum cancer, liver cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Mortality also decreased among men for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, oesophagus, lung, prostate, urinary bladder, and leukaemia. Among women mortality decreased for cancers of the colon, bone, breast, and uterus not otherwise specified. An increase in mortality was recorded for lung cancer among women (+1.5) and melanoma among men (+2.6). Incidence for all cancers together (except non-melanoma skin cancers) increased among men (APC +0.3) and remained stable among women. Cancer sites which showed increasing incidence were thyroid and melanoma in both sexes, colon, testis, soft tissue among men, and lung and Hodgkin lymphoma among women. For several cancer sites incidence decreased, e.g., stomach and Kaposi sarcoma (men and women), upper aerodigestive tract, oesophagus, lung, urinary bladder, myeloma and leukaemia (men), gallbladder, cervix uteri and ovary (women). Conclusions: this monograph presents a detailed description of cancer incidence and mortality trends in Italy. It is based on the Italian Network of Cancer Registries which presently covers about one-third of the whole Italian population. This monograph is a useful scientific tool for all those, be they researchers or public health administrators, who are involved in the fields of cancer prevention and care
Occupational brain cancer risks in Umbria (Italy), with a particular focus on steel foundry workers.
No full textObjectives. As a part of the Occupational Cancer
Monitoring (OCCAM) project, a routine analysis based on
Umbria region cancer registry (RTUP) database in 2002-2008
was performed. Among other results, the incidental finding of
brain cancer increased risk in steel foundry workers in Terni
province (Italy), lead us to deepen the analysis, focusing
on this specific industrial sector.
Methods. A monitoring study, based on Umbria Regional
Cancer Registry data, was recently carried out. Brain cancer
cases and controls identified within this preliminary study were
selected. Therefore, we considered all incident cases (in Umbria
region 2002-2008) of brain cancer occurred among workers
occupied for at least one year in private companies since 1974
and controls randomly sampled from the same population.
Afterwards, taking in to account results from steel foundry in
Terni province, we further deepened our analysis, focusing on
this productive sector. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 90%
confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multiple logistic
regression models, adjusted by age at diagnosis or sampling,
sex and province of residence, when appropriate.
Results. Statistical analyses were carried out on 14913 subjects,
56 cases and 14857 controls. Significantly increased ORs were
observed for garment, mechanical manufacturing and chemical
industries. Moreover, the risk estimates were strongly correlated
with exposures in iron and steel foundries and a cluster of 14
cases in the same foundry in Terni was observed (OR 9.59,
90%CI 2.76-33.34).
Conclusions. Results of this explorative study showed increased
ORs of brain cancer in some productive branches, involving
possible exposures to chemical compounds and/or solvents.
Moreover, our results pointed out a significantly increased
risk in Terni foundry workers, determining an interesting
brain cancer cluster (14 cases). Further studies on this
industrial sector are needed with improved definitions
of tasks and exposures
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