Crisis-related observations in competition: a case study in basketball

This study presents a unique observational approach to basketball, based on the theory of psychological performance crisis in competition. The approach used takes into account the responses of a player's actions to significant social factors such as team-mates, spectators, the coach and the referees. The contribution of this approach beyond traditional observational techniques is discussed. In our investigation, a single case design was used, in which a professional basketball player was observed during 10 home and 3 away games of the regular season. The relations between the observations and the crisis concept are discussed in detail. In addition, some relevant methodological and applied aspects are presented.     

队列研究中纵向缺失数据填补方法的模拟研究

目的 数据缺失是队列研究中几乎无法避免的问题。本文旨在通过模拟研究,比较当前常见的8种缺失数据处理方法在纵向缺失数据中的填补效果,为纵向缺失数据的处理提供有价值的参考。方法 模拟研究基于R语言编程实现,通过Monte Carlo方法产生纵向缺失数据,通过比较不同填补方法的平均绝对偏差、平均相对偏差和回归分析的Ⅰ类错误,评价不同填补方法对于纵向缺失数据的填补效果及对后续多因素分析的影响。结果 均值填补、k近邻填补（KNN）、回归填补和随机森林的填补效果接近,且表现稳定;多重插补和热卡填充次于以上填补方法;K均值聚类和EM算法填补效果最差,表现也最不稳定。均值填补、EM算法、随机森林、KNN和回归填补可较好地控制Ⅰ类错误,多重插补、热卡填充和K均值聚类不能有效控制Ⅰ类错误。结论 对于纵向缺失数据,在随机缺失机制下,均值填补、KNN、回归填补和随机森林均可作为较好的填补方法,当缺失比例不太大时,多重插补和热卡填充也表现较好,不推荐K均值聚类和EM算法。     

海南省传染病漏报调查分析

目的　为探讨法定传染病疫情的报告情况和漏报原因,为制订传染病防治策略提供理论依据。方法　采用分层抽样和随机抽样方法对１５ 家医疗机构和２ ９３７ 名疟区居民进行流行病学调查。结果　医疗机构传染病漏报率为４４ ．４０ ％ ,个体诊所最为严重,既不填写传染病登记本,也不报告疫情。漏报较严重的病种是疟疾、肝炎、梅毒、淋病。居民疟疾漏报率为９１ ．７３ ％ ,不同疟区差异具有显著性（ Ｐ＜ ０．０１）。结论　传染病疫情报告存在严重的漏报,应不断完善报告制度,提高报告质量     

Human carcinogenic risk evaluation, Part V: The national toxicology program vision for assessing the human carcinogenic hazard of chemicals.

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has over 25 years of experience in the design, performance, and interpretation of assays for identifying carcinogenic hazards to humans. Through the years we have examined alternative assays and adjunct assays to the standard rodent cancer bioassay including batteries of genetic toxicity tests and genetically modified mouse models. As our collective understanding of carcinogenesis advances, toxicologists and regulatory scientists will at some point begin to rely on mechanism-based biological observations rather than the two-year rodent bioassay to predict human cancer hazards. The goal of the NTP Vision for the 21st Century is to develop the science base that will advance the use of mechanism-based biological observations, eventually providing a replacement for disease-specific toxicology models in the protection of public health.     

ACCOUNTING FOR DROPOUT BIAS USING MIXED-EFFECTS MODELS

Treatment effects are often evaluated by comparing change over time in outcome measures. However, valid analyses of longitudinal data can be problematic when subjects discontinue (dropout) prior to completing the study. This study assessed the merits of likelihood-based repeated measures analyses (MMRM) compared with fixed-effects analysis of variance where missing values were imputed using the last observation carried forward approach (LOCF) in accounting for dropout bias. Comparisons were made in simulated data and in data from a randomized clinical trial. Subject dropout was introduced in the simulated data to generate ignorable and nonignorable missingness. Estimates of treatment group differences in mean change from baseline to endpoint from MMRM were, on average, markedly closer to the true value than estimates from LOCF in every scenario simulated. Standard errors and confidence intervals from MMRM accurately reflected the uncertainty of the estimates, whereas standard errors and confidence intervals from LOCF underestimated uncertainty.     

Total Talar Extrusion without Soft Tissue Attachments

Total talar extrusion without a soft tissue attachment is an extremely rare injury and is rarely reported. Appropriate treatment remains controversial. We describe the long-term outcomes of two patients who had complete talar extrusion without remaining soft tissue attachment treated with arthrodesis. Both of our patients had complications such as infection and progressive osteolysis. We suggest reimplantation of the extruded talus after thorough debridement as soon as possible as a reasonable option unless the talus is contaminated or missing, because an open wound may arise from inside to outside.     

Nurse managers don’t get the corner office

Aim To provide an original perspective on the power and status of first-line nurse managers by observing their working environment. Background The role of first-line nurse managers includes clinical, administrative and managerial components, with their responsibilities not always reflected in their level of organizational power. The business literature suggests that an appropriately resourced workspace is not merely functional, it also confers power and status. Method Twenty Australian rural nurse managers’ workspaces were observed, as part of a larger qualitative study that explored their role and organizational power using semi-structured interviews. The observational data consisted of detailed researcher notes that were analysed thematically. Results The nurse managers’ workspaces were suboptimal and did not provide sufficient physical space or resources for the participants’ to manage tasks effectively. These results were considered using Kanter’s theory of organizational power. Implications for nursing management The findings support those reported in the business literature that inadequate physical workspaces are counterproductive in terms of both functionality and organizational power. Suggestions are made regarding the workspace needs of first-line nurse managers, based on a closer alignment between the work environment and their role responsibilities. These findings have implications for decisions regarding organizational support of first-line nurse managers.     

The Role of Multiple Imputation in Noninferiority Trials for Binary Outcomes

We consider the role of multiple imputation (MI) when analyzing noninferiority (NI) clinical trials with missing data. When the endpoint is measured longitudinally, direct-likelihood methods can be used. In this article, the focus is on the situation in which the endpoint is not measured longitudinally but other relevant data are measured at or after baseline prior to planned collection of the primary endpoint data. Simulation results are presented for various scenarios based on the missingness mechanism, the dropout rate, and the size of NI margin. When the endpoint is binary, the ratio of the amount of missing data to the noninferiority margin will affect the operating characteristics of any analysis strategy (whether imputation based or not), an issue that is unique to noninferiority trials. Biased estimates of treatment effect under missingness, not completely at random, may arise when using a misspecified imputation model lacking treatment effect, resulting in substantially inflated Type I error rates in noninferiority trials by making the two groups appear more similar, opposite the usual impact in superiority trials. As in superiority trials, MI will have most benefit when data are missing at random, and the important predictor variables are included in the imputation model.     

Effects in Adherent Subjects

Dropouts confound the treatment effect when the outcome and the dropout process both depend on subject characteristics. If dropout is unrelated to treatment, there is an unconfounded effect, but it is the effect in a principal stratum, rather than a de jure effect. There are at least two different definitions of the effect if all subjects adhered, giving effects different numerically from each other and from the effect in the adherent principal stratum. Estimation of either of these two effects requires an assumption (MAR) different from but sometimes confused with the assumption that dropout is unrelated to treatment.