SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Data archiving”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Methods for minimizing the confounding effects of word length in the analysis of phonotactic probability and neighborhood density.

Recent research suggests that phonotactic probability (the likelihood of occurrence of a sound sequence) and neighborhood density (the number of words phonologically similar to a given word) influence spoken language processing and acquisition across the lifespan in both normal and clinical populations. The majority of research in this area has tended to focus on controlled laboratory studies rather than naturalistic data such as spontaneous speech samples or elicited probes. One difficulty in applying current measures of phonotactic probability and neighborhood density to more naturalistic samples is the significant correlation between these variables and word length. This study examines several alternative transformations of phonotactic probability and neighborhood density as a means of reducing or eliminating this correlation with word length. Computational analyses of the words in a large database and reanalysis of archival data supported the use of z scores for the analysis of phonotactic probability as a continuous variable and the use of median transformation scores for the analysis of phonotactic probability as a dichotomous variable. Neighborhood density results were less clear with the conclusion that analysis of neighborhood density as a continuous variable warrants further investigation to differentiate the utility of z scores in comparison to median transformation scores. Furthermore, balanced dichotomous coding of neighborhood density was difficult to achieve, suggesting that analysis of neighborhood density as a dichotomous variable should be approached with caution. Recommendations for future application and analyses are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Effectiveness of comprehensive geriatric assessment in primary care].

OBJECTIVE: To review and update evidence on the effectiveness of the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) of the elderly in the community environment. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (January 1997 to November 2001) and The Cochrane Library, completed with a manual search. SELECTION OF STUDIES: Randomised clinical trials (RCT) to study the effects of a CGA in people over 64 and not in an institution. Trials that assessed mortality, institutionalisation and functional status were included. Those conducted after hospital discharge or not in a community environment were excluded. 133 summaries were reviewed and 16 articles analysed. DATA EXTRACTION: Methodological quality assessed with adapted Jadad scale. A data archive was worked out to collect information on characteristics of the population and the intervention and on the main findings. RESULTS: The quality of the trials was adequate, though they had important methodological differences. Eleven trials found no favourable effects in the result variables studied. Five of the twelve trials which assessed functional status and one of the twelve that evaluated admissions to institutions found some favourable effect. None of the nine studies with mortality data found favourable results. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence for the effectiveness of the CGA for the elderly not in institutions continues to be inconsistent and insufficient. Nevertheless, given the complexity of this intervention, it seems prudent to continue to conduct CGAs of the elderly in the PC environment until such time as further studies clarify the role of these programmes.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Methods for evaluating a mature substance abuse prevention/early intervention program.

The authors describe methods for work in progress to evaluate four workplace prevention and/or early intervention programs designed to change occupational norms and reduce substance abuse at a major U.S. transportation company. The four programs are an employee assistance program, random drug testing, managed behavioral health care, and a peer-led intervention program. An elaborate mixed-methods evaluation combines data collection and analysis techniques from several traditions. A process-improvement evaluation focuses on the peer-led component to describe its evolution, document the implementation process for those interested in replicating it, and provide information for program improvement. An outcome-assessment evaluation examines impacts of the four programs on job performance measures (e.g., absenteeism, turnover, injury, and disability rates) and includes a cost-offset and employer cost-savings analysis. Issues related to using archival data, combining qualitative and quantitative designs, and working in a corporate environment are discussed.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed2005

OligoFaktory: a visual tool for interactive oligonucleotide design.

SUMMARY: The OligoFaktory is a set of tools for the design, on an arbitrary number of target sequences, of high-quality long oligonucleotide for micro-array, of primer pair for PCR, of siRNA and more. The user-centered interface exists in two flavours: a web portal and a standalone software for Mac OS X Tiger. A unified presentation of results provides overviews with distribution charts and relative location bar graphs, as well as detailed features for each oligonucleotide. Input and output files conform to a common XML interchange file format to allow both automatic generation of input data, archiving, and post-processing of results. The design pipeline can use BLAST servers to evaluate specificity of selected oligonucleotides. AVAILABILITY: The web portal http://ueg.ulb.ac.be/oligofaktory/; the software for Macintosh: http://www.oligofaktory.org/

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

Around Semipalatinsk nuclear test site: progress of dose estimations relevant to the consequences of nuclear tests (a summary of 3rd Dosimetry Workshop on the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site area, RIRBM, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 9-11 of March, 2005).

The paper is an analytical overview of the main results presented at the 3rd Dosimetry Workshop in Hiroshima(9-11 of March 2005), where different aspects of the dose reconstruction around the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site(SNTS) were discussed and summarized. The results of the international intercomparison of the retrospective luminescence dosimetry(RLD) method for Dolon' village(Kazakhstan) were presented at the Workshop and good concurrence between dose estimations by different laboratories from 6 countries (Japan, Russia, USA, Germany, Finland and UK) was pointed out. The accumulated dose values in brick for a common depth of 10mm depth obtained independently by all participating laboratories were in good agreement for all four brick samples from Dolon' village, Kazakhstan, with the average value of the local gamma dose due to fallout (near the sampling locations) being about 220 mGy(background dose has been subtracted).Furthermore, using a conversion factor of about 2 to obtain the free-in-air dose, a value of local dose approximately 440 mGy is obtained, which supports the results of external dose calculations for Dolon': recently published soil contamination data, archive information and new models were used for refining dose calculations and the external dose in air for Dolon village was estimated to be about 500 mGy. The results of electron spin resonance(ESR) dosimetry with tooth enamel have demonstrated the notable progress in application of ESR dosimetry to the problems of dose reconstruction around the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. At the present moment, dose estimates by the ESR method have become more consistent with calculated values and with retrospective luminescence dosimetry data, but differences between ESR dose estimates and RLD/calculation data were noted. For example mean ESR dose for eligible tooth samples from Dolon' village was estimated to be about 140 mGy(above background dose), which is less than dose values obtained by RLD and calculations. A possible explanation of the differences between ESR and RLD/calculations doses is the following: for interpretation of ESR data the "shielding and behaviour" factors for investigated persons should be taken into account. The "upper level" of the combination of "shielding and behaviour" factors of dose reduction for inhabitants of Dolon' village of about 0.28 was obtained by comparing the individual ESR tooth enamel dose estimates with the calculated mean dose for this settlement. The biological dosimetry data related to the settlements near SNTS were presented at the Workshop. A higher incidence of unstable chromosome aberrations, micronucleus in lymphocytes, nuclear abnormalities of thyroid follicular cells, T-cell receptor mutations in peripheral blood were found for exposed areas (Dolon', Sarjal) in comparison with unexposed ones(Kokpekty). The significant greater frequency of stable translocations (results of analyses of chromosome aberrations in lymphocytes by the FISH technique) was demonstrated for Dolon' village in comparison with Chekoman(unexposed village). The elevated level of stable translocations in Dolon' corresponds to a dose of about 180 mSv, which is close to the results of ESR dosimetry for this village. The importance of investigating specific morphological types of thyroid nodules for thyroid dosimetry studies was pointed out. In general the 3rd Dosimetry Workshop has demonstrated remarkable progress in developing an international level of common approaches for retrospective dose estimations around the SNTS and in understanding the tasks for the future joint work in this direction. In the framework of a special session the problems of developing a database and registry in order to support epidemiological studies around SNTS were discussed. The results of investigation of psychological consequences of nuclear tests, which are expressed in the form of verbal behaviour, were presented at this session as well.

Body Burden↗

PubMed2005

The Web Experiment List: a Web service for the recruitment of participants and archiving of Internet-based experiments.

The Web Experiment List (http://genpsylab-wexlist.unizh.ch/), a free Web-based service for the recruitment of participants in Internet-based experiments, is presented. The Web Experiment List also serves as a searchable archive for the research community. It lists more than 250 links to and descriptions of current and past Web experiments. Searches can be conducted by area of research, language, type of study, date, and status (active vs. archived). Data from log file analyses reveal an increasing use of the Web Experiment List and provide a picture of the distribution of the use of the Web experiment method across disciplines. On a general theoretical note, Web services are discussed as a viable software alternative to the traditional program format.

Archives↗

PubMed2003

Some possible codes for encrypting data in DNA.

Three codes are reported for storing written information in DNA. We refer to these codes as the Huffman code, the comma code and the alternating code. The Huffman code was devised using Huffman's algorithm for constructing economical codes. The comma code uses a single base to punctuate the message, creating an automatic reading frame and DNA which is obviously artificial. The alternating code comprises an alternating sequence of purines and pyrimidines, again creating DNA that is clearly artificial. The Huffman code would be useful for routine, short-term storage purposes, supposing--not unrealistically--that very fast methods for assembling and sequencing large pieces of DNA can be developed. The other two codes would be better suited to archiving data over long periods of time (hundreds to thousands of years).

Algorithms↗

PubMed1991

Talent, history, and the fulfillment of promise.

Life course studies are a flourishing enterprise across the social sciences and humanities, particularly since the 1960s, but the historical roots of this work extend back at least to the turn of the century (Elder 1985; Sorensen et al. 1986). The new era is distinguished by a rapidly growing number of longitudinal samples as well as by innovative techniques for collecting and analyzing life histories. Most distinctive of the new work is its consciousness of the interplay between lives and times. To understand life trajectories one must consider the social changes underway. The events, continuities, and transformations of a changing world shape the pathways of aging. This research explores the long-term consequences of one era of social change in particular (World War II and the preceding decade of hard times) for the life experiences and career achievements of men who lived through that period. Using the data archives of the oldest longitudinal study still active in the United States (Terman 1925), we assess the career achievements of the men (born 1904-1917) in relation to cohort membership, social origins, and wartime mobilization. Through different opportunities, resources, and support, the life stage of these men in the 1930s and 40s shaped the distinctive impact of historical circumstances on their accomplishments. All of the men are members of the Stanford-Terman study, which began in 1922 with more than 800 males and has continued across 11 additional data waves up to 1986.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Technology and archives in radiology research: a sampling analysis of articles published in the AJR and Radiology. American Journal of Roentgenology.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the use of advanced technology and archiving and the contribution of countries other than United States in the articles published in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) and Radiology. We analyzed the association of these features with the type of research, the main technical features of the modalities used, and the countries of origin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We determined the proportion of articles published in 18 randomly selected issues of the AJR and Radiology that required advanced imaging techniques and relied on the analysis of archived data. "Advanced technology" was defined as imaging techniques that serve a purpose other than simple anatomic imaging or that are not widely available because of the high cost of the technology, such as functional imaging and computer programming designed for an individual study or simulation studies. We analyzed the association of these features with the country of origin, the topic, and the methodology used. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of the studies required advanced technology. MR imaging, CT, and sonography were the most frequently used modalities (31%, 27%, and 15% of studies, respectively). Archiving was used in 37% of the studies, and 67% of the original articles were prospective. The articles most commonly originated in North America (67%), Europe (20%), and Asia (12%). CONCLUSION: Only a small percentage of published research studies required advanced technology and approximately one third of the studies used archiving. These results may suggest that other criteria, such as the design of the study, its relevance for daily clinical use, and the originality of the paper, have a major impact on the acceptance of papers in clinically oriented radiology journals.

Periodicals as Topic↗

PubMed1991

[The analysis of mortality in urban areas].

BACKGROUND: To investigate health status inequalities in small urban areas, using mortality differences between districts of Reus (pop. 85000), Spain. METHODS: For the period 1986-1988, data from the Civil Register and from death certificates issued indicated 1521 valid cases. Infant mortality, adjusted mortality indices (AMI) and years of potential life lost (YPLL) were calculated for the 17 groups of cause-of-death based on the International Classification of Diseases and Preventable Causes of Death. Both indicators (AMI and YPLL) were studied for each district and for the city as a whole. The exact confidence limits for the Standard Mortality Ratio were calculated. RESULTS: Although AMI and YPLL gave results that were quantitatively very different, districts IV and VIII consistently had the worst indices while districts II and VI had the best. CONCLUSION: Archive data over a period of several years together with exact calculation methods, can demonstrate inequalities in health or in socioeconomic conditions even in small areas. These methods may also be useful in delineating different urban living areas.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Development of biochemistry in the Biology Department of Kharkhov State University. Formation of a new direction--physiology and biochemistry of aging].

The article presents some data on teaching Biochemistry at the Nature Department of Kharkiv Imperial University Physico-Mathematical Faculty, as well as restoration of biochemical education and scientific researches as a result of the University reorganization in the Soviet period and foundation of the Biochemistry Chair at the Biological Faculty in the renovated Kharkiv State University. The analysis of scientific biochemical investigations conducted in the Kharkiv University till now is revealed. The special attention is paid to development of such a scientific trend as age physiology and biochemistry. The article deals with the comprehensive information on scientific and pedagogical activity of the outstanding scientists such as O. V. Nagorny and I. M. Bulankin as founders of the Kharkiv school of age physiology and biochemistry. The work has utilized some archive data.

Aging↗

PubMed2001

Archival, demographic and genetic studies define a Sardinian sub-isolate as a suitable model for mapping complex traits.

Genetic isolates represent exceptional resources for the mapping of complex traits but not all isolates are similar. We have selected a genetic and cultural isolate, the village of Talana from an isolated area of Sardinia, and propose that this population is suitable for the mapping of complex traits. A wealth of historical and archive data allowed the reconstruction of the demographic and genealogical history of the village. Key features of the population, which has grown slowly with no significant immigration, were defined by using a combination of historical, demographic and genetic studies. The genealogy of each Talana inhabitant was reconstructed and the main maternal and paternal lineages of the village were defined. Haplotype and phylogenetic analyses of the Y chromosome and characterisation of mitochondrial DNA haplogroups were used to determine the number of ancestral village founders. The extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD) was evaluated by the analysis of several microsatellites in chromosomal region Xq13.3, which was previously used to asses the extension of LD. Genealogical reconstructions were confirmed and reinforced by the genetic analyses, since some lineages were found to have merged prior to the beginning of the archival records, suggesting an even smaller number of founders than initially predicted. About 80% of the present-day population appears to derive from eight paternal and eleven maternal ancestral lineages. LD was found to span, on average, a 5-Mb region in Xq13.3. This suggests the possibility of identifying identical-by-descent regions associated with complex traits in a genome-wide search by using a low-density marker map. The present study emphasises the importance of combining genetic studies with genealogical and historical information.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed2002

Optimizing ambulatory ECG monitoring of T-wave alternans for arrhythmia risk assessment.

Considerable scientific data support the potential value of T-wave alternans (TWA) as an index of vulnerability to ventricular fibrillation. This chapter summarizes our state of knowledge regarding the use of routine ambulatory ECGs to evaluate TWA and discusses recent methodologic approaches designed to optimize AECG-based TWA analysis for arrhythmia risk stratification. Newer methods, including the nonspectral technique of Modified Moving Average analysis, appear promising in detecting TWA during the changing conditions associated with daily activities. The Modified Moving Average approach does not require specialized electrodes and is not encumbered by the need to achieve target heart rates, as is the case for conventional spectral-based methods. Guidelines are provided for evaluating latent cardiac electrical instability using AECG-based TWA testing. These recent developments make possible the TWA analysis of ambulatory ECGs not only in prospective trials but also in vast stores of archival data.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

PubMed2004

Risk of occupationally acquired illnesses from biological threat agents in unvaccinated laboratory workers.

Many vaccines for bioterrorism agents are investigational and therefore not available (outside of research protocol use) to all at-risk laboratory workers who have begun working with these agents as a result of increased interest in biodefense research. Illness surveillance data archived from the U.S. offensive biological warfare program (from 1943 to 1969) were reviewed to assess the impact of safety measures on disease prevention (including biosafety cabinets [BSCs]) before and after vaccine availability. Most laboratory-acquired infections from agents with higher infective doses (e.g., anthrax, glanders, and plague) were prevented with personal protective measures and safety training alone. Safety measures (including BSCs) without vaccination failed to sufficiently prevent illness from agents with lower infective doses in this high-risk research setting. Infections continued with tularemia (average 15/year), Venezuelan equine encephalitis (1.9/year), and Q fever (3.4/year) but decreased dramatically once vaccinations became available (average of 1, 0.6, and 0 infections per year, respectively). While laboratory-acquired infections are not expected to occur frequently in the current lower-risk biodefense research setting because of further improvements in biosafety equipment and changes in biosafety policies, the data help to define the inherent risks of working with the specific agents of bioterrorism. The data support the idea that research with these agents should be restricted to laboratories with experience in handling highly hazardous agents and where appropriate safety training and precautions can be implemented.

Biological Warfare↗

PubMed1986

Notes on the interpretation of traffic accident data and of risk homeostasis theory: a reply to L. Evans.

A quick and summary comment is made on a paper by Evans, who set out to "definitively answer" the question "whether there is any validity" in risk homeostasis theory (RHT), and who arrives at the conclusion that the "theory should be rejected" because the data "provide the clearest evidence refuting the theory." It will be argued here that the seven cases Evans puts forward against RHT do not justify such a rather boldly-worded conclusion. On the contrary, the data presented by Evans can be seen to be either not inconsistent with RHT (Case 1), in error (Case 2), or fail to take account of relevant economic changes (Case 3) and of pertinent exposure variables (Case 5), incomplete or the product of guess-work (Case 4), irrelevant (Case 6), nonrepresentative (Case 7) and in all cases open to alternative interpretations that do not conflict with the theory under debate. Moreover, Evans' reasoning seems to betray not only careless reading of what RHT does in fact say, but also a fundamental misunderstanding of the notion of target risk in particular. Refuting a "refutation" does not, of course, imply that RHT is valid, or valid at least within as yet to be defined limits. Attempts to address the validity question should preferably take the form of well-controlled field experiments, instead of retrospective analyses of multi-interpretable archival data that can be debated ad infinitum.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1999

A protocol building software tool for medical device quality control tests.

Q-Pro is an application for Quality Control and Inspection of Medical Devices. General system requirements include friendly and comprehensive graphical environment and proper, quick, easy and intuitive user interface. Functions such as, a tool library for protocol design widely used multimedia, as well as, a support of a local database for protocol and inventory data archiving are provided by the system. In order to serve the different categories of users, involved in Quality Control procedures, the system has been split into three modules of different functionality and complexity, each of which can work as a stand-alone application. The implementation of protocols and use of the software functions, as well as, the user interface itself have been proved by the evaluators to be clear and intuitive. The software seems to adapt easily to different kinds of Quality Control procedures and objectives. Q-Pro effectively supports and enhances the processes to attain a highly tuned, professional, responsive and effective quality control and preventive maintenance procedures for biomedical equipment management.

Data Collection↗

PubMed2001

[Dual chamber rate responsive pacing and chronotropic insufficiency. Comparison of double and respiratory sensors].

Late responsive DDD pacemakers are the most technically advanced devices presently available. These pacemakers are particularly useful in patients with chronotropic insufficiency when the sinus node is incapable of accelerating during exercise. The latest pacemakers have two sensors to reproduce optimal physiological sinus acceleration. The aim of this study was to analyse the performances of a new rate responsive pacemaker with a double activity and respiratory sensor, the interaction of which is automatically controlled by a sophisticated algorithm, in 12 patients (8 men and 4 women) with a mean age of 75 +/- 7 years. Analysis was based on the performance of the sensors used singly or in association: during three exercise stress tests with measurement of the VO2 max; during everyday activities using the data archived by the pacemaker and the answers to a simplified questionnaire on quality of life. The results showed that during exercise stress testing with measurement of VO2 max, the best performances were obtained with the double sensor or the respiratory sensor compared with the activity sensor alone, suggesting that these two sensors are more effective in intense exercise. This tendency was also observed in the analysis of the memory bank of the pacemaker which showed that the total duration of the faster heart rates was greater with the two sensors. On the other hand, the quality of life was not significantly different, whichever sensor was studied. Longer scale trials are necessary to appreciate the real value of these new double sensor pacing devices and to identify the best indications for their usage.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Diagnostic interview for genetic studies. Rationale, unique features, and training. NIMH Genetics Initiative.

This article reports on the development and reliability of the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS), a clinical interview especially constructed for the assessment of major mood and psychotic disorders and their spectrum conditions. The DIGS, which was developed and piloted as a collaborative effort of investigators from sites in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Genetics Initiative, has the following additional features: (1) polydiagnostic capacity; (2) a detailed assessment of the course of the illness, chronology of psychotic and mood syndromes, and comorbidity; (3) additional phenomenologic assessments of symptoms; and (4) algorithmic scoring capability. The DIGS is designed to be employed by interviewers who exercise significant clinical judgment and who summarize information in narrative form as well as in ratings. A two-phase test-retest (within-site, between-site) reliability study was carried out for DSM-III-R criteria-based major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. Reliabilities using algorithms were excellent (0.73 to 0.95), except for schizoaffective disorder, for which disagreement on estimates of duration of mood syndromes relative to psychosis reduced reliability. A final best-estimate process using medical records and information from relatives as well as algorithmic diagnoses is expected to be more reliable in making these distinctions. The DIGS should be useful as part of archival data gathering for genetic studies of major affective disorders, schizophrenia, and related conditions.

Adult↗