1,720,967 research outputs found
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe 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
Get PDF“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
Get PDFWe 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
Acyclovir desensitization. A case report and a review of desensitization strategies
Get PDFIntroduction: Acyclovir is a synthetic purine nucleoside analog that is used to treat infections caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) by targeting the viral enzyme thymidine kinase. However, its use can lead to hypersensitivity reactions (HR) in rare cases, resulting in treatment discontinuation. Rapid drug desensitization (DD) by intravenous or oral administration protocols are used in these patients in order to avoid treatment discontinuation. This approach has been proven to be effective and safe. Here, we review all the desensitization strategies adopted so far, and also report our experience. Methodology: We reviewed all reports related to acyclovir desensitization; focusing on skin test results, protocols and premedication performed, and their effectiveness. We also report on the case of a 74-year-old woman affected by multiple myeloma who developed HR to acyclovir. She underwent skin tests, and lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) with acyclovir, and was subsequently subjected to oral desensitization. Results. Six articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this review, along with a case report. All DD procedures were well-tolerated, with only mild reactions reported in one patient. Skin tests gave negative results but one result was deemed doubtful response. Moreover, the LPT performed in our case had positive result, indicating a hypersensitive immune response to acyclovir. Conclusions. Acyclovir desensitization is a safe and effective approach for patients experiencing HR. Standardized in vivo and in vitro testing are required to better estimate the risk of DD and find the safest individualized DD protocol
Real-world effectiveness of mepolizumab in asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textObjective: Exacerbations and suboptimal disease control are common in severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype (SAep). Mepolizumab, an anti-interleukin-5 monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated efficacy and safety in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We aimed to strengthen the real-world evidence base for mepolizumab in SAep. Methods: We analyzed data from Italian participants of REALITI-A, a global, real-world, prospective, observational study (primary outcome: rate of clinically significant exacerbations [CSEs]). Using these data and those from Italian real-world studies of mepolizumab (identified by systematic literature review), we performed a meta-analysis. Results: In the Italian cohort of REALITI-A (n = 244), mean CSE rate was lower 12 months post-mepolizumab initiation versus 12 months pre-mepolizumab (0.67 vs. 3.74 CSEs/patient/year; relative risk [RR], 0.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.15–0.22; p <.001). The meta-analysis included 863 patients. Mean CSE rate decreased from 4.2/patient/year at baseline to 0.71/patient/year post-mepolizumab initiation. Mean oral corticosteroid (OCS) dose reduced by 8.66 mg/day (95% CI, 6.17–11.16 mg/day; p <.0001) from baseline (10.0 mg/day). The RR for OCS maintenance, post- versus pre-mepolizumab, was 0.37 (95% CI, 0.27–0.52; p <.0001). A mean increase in Asthma Control Test score of 6.50 (95% CI, 5.67–7.33; p <.00001) was observed. Proportions of patients reporting adverse events were low. Conclusions: Real-world experience in this unified health care system identifies that mepolizumab has a low adverse event rate and provides consistent clinical benefits. Mepolizumab represents an important treatment option for patients with SAep
Successful rapid desensitization to zoledronic acid in a multiple myeloma patient
Get PDFBackground: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy characterized by the proliferation of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow, leading to osteolytic lesions. This condition is accompanied by a serum accumulation of monoclonal immunoglobulin. Zoledronic acid (ZA) is a new-generation bisphosphonate commonly used to prevent bone complications. However, allergic reactions can pose challenges, potentially leading to ZA discontinuation. Thus, rapid desensitization (RD) has been proposed as a solution to continue treatment in patients with severe HR. RD consists in the induction of a temporary state of tolerance by administering increasing doses of the offending medication. Methods: We present the case of a 57-year-old woman with MM who developed face angioedema, flushing with itching, dizziness and fever to ZA. Thus, an allergy work-up with skin prick test and intradermal test (IDT) with ZA were performed. Subsequently, considering the necessity of maintaining ZA treatment, a 3-dilution, 12-step RD infusion protocol was implemented. Skin tests were also repeated after three RD infusions. Results: Skin tests showed positive IDT reactions to ZA confirming the hypersensitivity state of the patient to the medication. Then, the patient underwent RD procedures without any HR. Skin tests performed after three RD procedures were deemed negative. Conclusions: Here, we demonstrate successful management with RD in an MM patient with HR to ZA, providing a valuable therapeutic option for patients experiencing such reactions. The effectiveness of RD to ZA was confirmed by the negative response to skin tests after 3 RD procedures. Nevertheless, further research is needed to refine RD protocols and establish their safety and efficacy for patients with HR to ZA. Standardized in vitro testing may also improve the diagnosis and management of ZA hypersensitivity
Efficacy and safety of benralizumab in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: A meta‐analysis of eight studies
Get PDFEosinophilic granulomatous polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare autoimmune
disease characterized by multisystemic inflammation, with eosinophils
playing a central role in its pathogenesis. Traditional management relies heavily
on corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, which are associated with significant
side effects. The emergence of biologic agents, such as benralizumab, offers
targeted therapeutic options by inhibiting the interleukin-5
receptor α, thereby
reducing eosinophilic inflammation
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Get PDFWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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