Kendall's Tau Research Articles

Recurrence-free survival as a surrogate for overall survival in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Nationwide real-world data from Japan.

269 Background: One of the limitations of the established gold standard, overall survival (OS), is that it requires an extended follow-up period. Addressing this challenge involves investigating appropriate statistically and clinically relevant surrogate endpoints. However, there is a paucity of studies using real-world data (RWD) to explore surrogacy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Our study aims to investigate whether recurrence-free survival (RFS) is a valid surrogate endpoint for OS in surgically resectable advanced ESCC patients, utilizing a comprehensive nationwide database in Japan. Methods: The ESCC patients who received neoadjuvant CF (cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) or DCF (docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) at 58 Japanese esophageal centers certified by the Japan Esophageal Society were retrospectively reviewed. Kendall's tau between RFS and OS was used at the individual level, and the coefficient of determination was used at the institutional level to assess surrogacy. Additionally, surrogacy between each short-term postoperative endpoint (pathological complete response [pCR] or pathological grade) and OS was investigated using novel statistical methods. Results: Our study encompassed 3154 ESCC patients who underwent subtotal esophagectomy from 2010 to 2015. The cStage I/II/III/IVA/IVB (due to supraclavicular lymph node metastasis) was 224 (7.1%), 1008 (32.0%), 1664 (52.8%), 117 (3.7%), and 140 (4.4%), respectively. The 5-year OS and RFS rate for the entire cohort was 56.6% and 47.7%, respectively. In the primary analysis, a strong correlation between RFS and OS was found (Kendall's tau = 0.797, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.782 to 0.812) at the individual level. Subgroup analysis revealed that the better the pathological response, the higher the tau value. An adjusted R2 of 100.0% (95% CI: 40.2 to 100.0) was obtained with the meta-regression model at the institutional level. The surrogate threshold effect was 0.703. Tau between pCR or pathological grade and OS were -0.025 (95% CI: -0.335 to 0.285) and 0.062 (95% CI: -0.086 to 0.209), respectively. Conclusions: The present study was the first nationwide RWD investigation to demonstrate a strong correlation between RFS and OS in surgically resectable ESCC patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Notably, this correlation was more pronounced in patients who had a more effective response to NAC. These findings hold promise for expediting the development of novel neoadjuvant treatment by shortening the duration of clinical trials.

Catchment land use effect on mercury concentrations in lake sediments: A high-resolution study of Qinghai Lake

Mercury (Hg) contamination in aquatic environments presents a significant ecological and human health concern. This study explored the relationship between catchment land use and Hg concentrations within Qinghai Lake sediment, the largest lake in China, situated on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The study entailed detailed mapping of Hg sediment concentrations and a subsequent environmental risk assessment. Considering the complex nature of the plateau landform and surface vegetation, the study area was delineated at a 100 km radius centered on Qinghai Lake, which was divided into 30 sectors to quantify relationships between land use and the sediment Hg concentration. The results revealed a mean sediment Hg concentration of 29.91 μg/kg, which was elevated above the background level. Kendall's correlation analysis revealed significant but weak associations between sediment Hg concentrations and three land use types: grassland (rangeland and trees) (rs = 0.27, p < 0.05), crops (rs = −0.37, p < 0.05), and bare ground (rs = −0.25, p < 0.1), suggesting that growing areas of grassland correlated with higher Hg levels in the lake sediment, in contrast to bare ground or crops area, which correlated with lower Hg concentrations. Multiple linear regression models also observed weak negative relationships between bare ground and crops with sediment Hg concentration. This research methodology enhances our understanding of the impact of land use on Hg accumulation in lake sediments and underscores the need for integrated watershed management strategies to mitigate Hg pollution in Qinghai Lake.

Expression of Fibroblast Activation Protein-alpha in Odontogenic Lesions – A Retrospective Immunohistochemical Study

Abstract Background: The tumor microenvironment (TME) includes cellular and noncellular components that play important roles in tumor genesis, progression, and therapy response. While much study has been done on the TME in other types of cancer, our understanding of its involvement in odontogenic lesions is still restricted. Materials and Methods: The study group included total (171) odontogenic lesions, which were further divided into two categories. Odontogenic tumors (80) and (2) odontogenic cysts (91). There were 50 cases in the control group. Lymphoma was chosen as the negative control, whereas colorectal and breast carcinomas were chosen as the positive controls. All groups were immunohistochemically stained with the fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-alpha antibody. The samples from the study groups were compared to clinical parameters and statistically evaluated using the Chi-square and Kendall’s tau tests. Unpaired t-test was used to compare the final immune reactivity score (IRS) with the presence or absence of epithelium, radiographic locularity, and ramus involvement. Cronbach’s alpha was used to calculate inter-rater reliability. Results: The ameloblastoma tumor group and the odontogenic keratocysts in the cyst group showed a high mean IRS. When the final IRS was compared to a few clinical characteristics such as lesion extension and ramus involvement, showed statistical co-relation. Conclusion: With significant connections between the final IRS and a few clinical features, FAP-alpha appears to be a reliable marker for odontogenic lesions. It could be employed as a therapeutic and prognostic marker in future.

High protein intake and nitrogen balance in patients receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A descriptive cohort study.

This retrospective cohort study sought to describe the ability of high protein regimens to achieve nitrogen equilibrium in patients receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO). Patients aged ≥18 years with a documented nitrogen balance study (NB) on VV ECMO between February 2018 and December 2021 were included. Studies with incomplete 24-h urine collections or changes in blood urea nitrogen ≥10 mg/dl were excluded. Data were summarized, correlation between first NB and potentially contributing variables was assessed with Kendall tau. Subanalysis described findings after stratifying for weight class (obese vs nonobese) and duration of VV ECMO at the time of NB. A total of 68 NBs in 30 patients were included; 47% of the cohort had obesity. The number of NBs per patient was 2.2 ± 1.1, which were completed on a median of 31.5 (interquartile range: 16, 53.8) days receiving ECMO. Nitrogen equilibrium or positive balance was achieved in 72% of studies despite elevated nitrogen excretion. Patients received 87.9 ± 16.8% of prescribed protein on NB days for average intakes of 2.4 ± 0.4 g/kg of actual weight per day and 2.4 ± 0.5 g/kg of ideal weight per day in patients without and with obesity. Median NB in patients without obesity was -1.46 (-8.96, 2.98) g/day and -0.21 (-10.58, 4.04) g/day in patients with obesity. A difference in median NB after stratification for timing was observed (P = 0.029). Nitrogen equilibrium can be achieved with high protein intake in adults receiving VV ECMO. NB monitoring is one tool to individualize protein prescriptions throughout the course of VV ECMO.

Hubungan Usia dengan Tingkat Kecamasan pada Pasien Bedah Elektif Dewasa

Background: Every patient has different views and reactions to surgery,one of which is experiencing anxiety. Anxiety can be influenced by several characteristics, including age, gender, education, work situation, and marital status. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between patient age and anxiety level in elective surgical patients at Goeteng Taroenadibrata Hospital. Methods: This study used an analytical correlation research method with a quantitative approach. The sampling technique used Consecutive Sampling and 79 pre-anesthesia respondents were sampled for this study. The testused in this study is Kendall Tau Result: The results of the correlation test obtained a significance value for the level of anxiety with a P-value of 0.002 &lt;0.05, and the majority of respondents experienced a moderate level of anxiety with a total of 42 respondents. Implications: From the results of the study, it can be seen that there is a correlation between age and anxiety levels of adult surgical patients at Goeteng Taroenadibrata Purbalingga Hospital. The findings of this study, it is expected to improve pre-operative care for patients in emergencies such as providing preoperative education to reduce anxiety in surgery patients. Keywords: Age;Anxiety;Surgery

Pengaruh Pendidikan Kesehatan Reproduksi Terhadap Perilaku Seksual Remaja: Studi Literatur

Latar belakang: Remaja adalah kelompok umur yang sedang dalam tahap perkembangan secara fisik, psikologis dan mental yang menjadikan remaja menjadi pribadi yang memiliki rasa keingintahuan yang tinggi sehingga remaja cenderung melakukan hal-hal berisiko salah satunya perilaku seksual pranikah. Salah satu faktor yang melatarbelakangi remaja menjadi terjerat perilaku seksual yang berisiko adalah kurangnya pengetahuan remaja yang dapat ditangani salah satu intervensi yaitu pendidikan kesehatanTujuan: Untuk melihat pengaruh dari pendidikan kesehatan reproduksi pada perilaku seksual yang dilakukan oleh remajaMetode: Peneliti menggunakan metode studi literatur yaitu dengan cara mengambil artikel melalui database online seperti Google Scholar, PubMed, dan Taylor and Francis Online dan seleksi artikel berdasarkan PRISMA sehingga didapatkan 4 artikel yang digunakan dalam studi ini dengan batasan waktu publikasi 7 tahun mulai dari tahun 2017 hingga 2023Hasil: Hasil uji univariat dan bivariat dari 4 artikel menunjukkan terdapat pengaruh pada pemberian pendidikan kesehatan tentang reproduksi terhadap perilaku seksual yang dilakukan oleh remajaImplikasi: Pendidikan kesehatan reproduksi dengan metode apapun terbukti berpengaruh dalam menurunkan perilaku seksual yang berisiko oleh remajaKata Kunci: Perilaku Seksual Remaja; Pendidikan Kesehatan

Self-Efficacy Weight Management and Family Support on Risk Factors of Prediabetes Patient

The shift in the pattern of non-communicable diseases to a younger age makes prediabetes undetected and tends to be ignored. Monitoring weight is an essential behavior for individuals to reduce the risk of obesity as a predictor of prediabetes. In addition, family support plays a crucial role in maintaining each individual's health in deciding his lifestyle. This study aimed to determine the relationship between self-efficacy weight management (SEWM) and family support on risk factors for prediabetes at the Community Health Center, Batam. The research design is a descriptive correlation with the cross-sectional approach. Fifty respondents were chosen using a purposive sampling technique based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Instrument of INA-PRISC questionnaire, Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Short Form Questionnaire, and Perceived Social Support from Family (PSS- Fa) utilized in this study. Based on univariate results, the majority of respondents aged 26-35 years (30%), female (68%), higher education background (78%), obesity (&gt;25) (80%), had a family history of DM (60%), not smoking (70%), physical activity &lt;150 minutes/week (94%), hypertension &gt;160/100 mmHg (44%), moderate risk of prediabetes (48%), low SEWM (70%), and good family support (38%). A bivariate statistical test using Kendall's Tau B revealed there was a significant relationship between SEWM (&lt; 0.05) and family support for risk factors for prediabetes (&lt; 0.05). It is suggested that respondents increase self-awareness in the early detection of prediabetes risk and the family's active role in assisting family members in starting an active and healthy lifestyle.

Depression and Anxiety of Portuguese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study about Prevalence and Associated Factors

Background. The mental health of university students has worsened over time, and it is young people who have suffered the most from the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of mental health. Anxiety and depression are the most common symptoms reported by university students and are often the cause of disabilities, either in academic performance or in other spheres of life. Aim. The aim of this study was to both assess the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in Portuguese university students and analyze the factors associated with these symptoms. Methods. A quantitative cross-sectional study with a sample of 3,399 university students from seven Portuguese higher education institutions was conducted. The following questionnaires were used: the generalized anxiety disorder assessment scale (GAD-7), the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), and a study-created sociodemographic questionnaire. The Kendall correlation coefficient, chi-square test of independence, Spearman correlation coefficient, Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann–Whitney-Wilcoxon test, and Kruskall-Wallis test were used to analyze the association between variables. The statistical analysis was done using the software R Statistics (Version 4.0.4), using a significance level of 0.05. Results. Mild to severe anxiety symptoms were reported by 75% of the participants, and 61.2% described mild to severe depressive symptoms. Of the sample, 19.5% reported a previous diagnosis of a mental disorder, with 38.7% diagnosed after the pandemic began. Additionally, 23% reported taking medication for mental health issues, and 26.7% had considered self-harm or harbored thoughts of being “better off dead.” The study found lower anxiety and depressive symptoms (p&lt;0.05) among men, students with higher socioeconomic status, those who frequently traveled home, individuals without prior mental health diagnoses, those with better academic performance, and those who avoided substances like coffee, tobacco, cannabis, and other illegal psychoactive substances. Interestingly, students in romantic relationships exhibited more anxiety symptoms (p&lt;0.05). Moreover, participants who believed they had experienced moral or sexual harassment displayed higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions. There was a decrease in the mental health of university students after the pandemic compared to prepandemic studies, and the proportion of students with anxiety and depressive symptoms was alarming. There is an urgent need to implement programs in universities to promote students’ mental health.

Impact of preoperative clinical state on 2-year clinical outcomes following degenerative lumbar scoliosis surgery.

To assess the preoperative clinical state's impact on clinical outcomes after surgery for degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) based on the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Preoperative and follow-up (FU) scores in eachScoliosis Research Society-22(SRS-22)domain were compared with age- and sex-matched normative references. At baseline, patients were classified by differences from normative values in four groups: Worst, Severe, Poor, and Moderate. At 2 years postoperative FU, patients were divided into four groups (WorstSevere Poor Asymptomatic) based on the difference in MCID between postoperative and normal values. The changes in MCID were considered as the criterion for surgical efficacy. In addition, we calculated the classification of preoperative and FU clinical symptom severity in each domain in same patient. The distinction among curve types was also performed based on the SRS-Schwab classification. A total of 123 patients were included. During FU, patients with more severe preoperative clinical symptoms were more likely to achieve clinical changes (>1 MCID, p < 0.05), but the rate of reaching "asymptomatic" was lower (p < 0.05). Kendall's tau-b correlation analysis found that preoperative clinical severity was correlated with clinical changes category in Activity (Tau-b = 0.252; p = 0.002), Pain (Tau-b = 0.230; p = 0.005), Appearance (Tau-b = 0.307; p < 0.001), and Mental (Tau-b = 0.199; p = 0.016), and it also was correlated with FU clinical severity in Activity (Tau-b = 0.173; p = 0.023), Pain (Tau-b = 0.280; p < 0.001), and Mental (Tau-b = 0.349; p < 0.001). There was a correlation between preoperative clinical severity and FUSRS-22 score outcomes. Patients with severe preoperative clinical symptoms can experience better treatment outcomes during FU, but it is also more difficult to recover to the normal reference.

Linearithmic and unbiased implementation of DeLong’s algorithm for comparing the areas under correlated ROC curves

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis is a widespread framework in two-group classification problems. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) has been a popular figure of merit to summarize the performance of binary classifiers. Because of its simplicity of implementation, DeLong’s algorithm (DLA) has been widely used in practice. However, DLA suffers two drawbacks of time inefficiency and biasedness. The authors’ previous work has overcome the first drawback. Specifically, the time complexity of DLA is reduced from the quadratic order down to a linearithmic one, by exploiting the relationship between the Heaviside function and the mid-ranks of samples. Unfortunately, the second drawback of DLA remains unaddressed, to the best of our knowledge. Motivated by such unsatisfactory situation, in this paper, the authors correct the bias of DLA with the assistance of an efficient implementation of Kendall’s tau (KT). The overall computational load of the improved DLA (being strictly unbiased) is in linearithmic time. Theoretical analyses and numerical results verified the proposed algorithmic findings in this work.

Enhancing undergraduate research talents: the role of tutors in dental basic research education.

This study endeavors to investigate ways to optimize the role of teachers in undergraduate dental basic research education (UDBRE) with the aim of nurturing the research potential of undergraduate students. We conducted a cross-sectional study among medical undergraduates enrolled at the School of Stomatology, Guangzhou Medical University. Descriptive statistics were employed to comprehensively analyze UDBRE's fundamental aspects. Kendall rank correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between the quality of feedback provided by tutors to undergraduates and the students' scientific research abilities. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to uncover the factors influencing the effectiveness of UDBRE. A total of 168 medical students were surveyed with a valid response rate of 93.85%. The effectiveness of UDBRE was demonstrated by undergraduates' self-rated research abilities, active participation in scientific research projects, and a certain amount of academic outputs. Significant and positive correlations (𝓣b> 0.5, p < 0.001) were identified between the tutor-undergraduate feedback quality and students' self-rated scores for scientific research abilities. These abilities included developing scientific questions, designing research projects, retrieving and reading literature, academic writing, experiment operation, and analyzing and evaluating experimental results. Positive effects on students' academic performance (p < 0.05) were observed when higher-quality feedback, an authoritative tutoring style and tutors with middle-career experience were present. This study underscores the pivotal role of UDBRE in fostering the scientific research aptitude of medical undergraduates. It emphasizes the constructive influence of tutor-undergraduate feedback, authoritative teaching styles, providing valuable insights for establishing an effective mentorship framework.

Pan-cancer transcriptomic data of ABI1 transcript variants and molecular constitutive elements identifies novel cancer metastatic and prognostic biomarkers.

Abelson interactor 1 (ABI1) is associated with the metastasis and prognosis of many malignancies. The association between ABI1 transcript spliced variants, their molecular constitutive exons and exon-exon junctions (EEJs) in 14 cancer types and clinical outcomes remains unsolved. To identify novel cancer metastatic and prognostic biomarkers from ABI1 total mRNA, TSVs, and molecular constitutive elements. Using data from TCGA and TSVdb database, the standard median of ABI1 total mRNA, TSV, exon, and EEJ expression was used as a cut-off value. Kaplan-Meier analysis, Chi-squared test (X2) and Kendall's tau statistic were used to identify novel metastatic and prognostic biomarkers, and Cox regression analysis was performed to screen and identify independent prognostic factors. A total of 35 ABI1-related factors were found to be closely related to the prognosis of eight candidate cancer types. A total of 14 ABI1 TSVs and molecular constitutive elements were identified as novel metastatic and prognostic biomarkers in four cancer types. A total of 13 ABI1 molecular constitutive elements were identified as independent prognostic biomarkers in six cancer types. In this study, we identified 14 ABI1-related novel metastatic and prognostic markers and 21 independent prognostic factors in total 8 candidate cancer types.

Prognostic effect of programmed cell death ligand 1/programmed cell death 1 expression in cancer stem cells of human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The relationship between cancer stem cells (CSCs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to clarify the association between the CD44v3high/CD24low immunophenotype of CSCs in OSCC and PD-L1/PD-1 co-expression, and to assess the prognostic effect of CSCs in terms of immune checkpoint molecules. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples and clinicopathological data from 168 patients with OSCC were retrospectively retrieved. Immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction were applied to a tissue microarray of the invasive front of each case. Semi-automated cell counting was used to assess CD44v3, CD24, PD-L1 and PD-1 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using a digital image analysis program. Associations between immunological markers and clinicopathological variables were estimated. Patients with the CSC immunophenotype CD44v3high/CD24low, and patients with a high PD-L1/PD-1-positive cell density in the tumor parenchyma and stroma had significantly lower survival rates. Furthermore, patients with the CSC immunophenotype (CD44v3high/CD24low) and high PD-L1/PD-1 co-expression had even lower survival rates (P<0.01, log-rank test). Notably, there was a positive correlation between CD44v3 and PD-L1 expression (τ=0.1096, P=0.0366, Kendall rank correlation coefficient) and a negative correlation between CD24 and PD-1 expression (τ=-0.1387, P=0.0089, Kendall rank correlation coefficient). Additionally, the high CD44v3 expression group, as determined by IHC, exhibited significantly decreased expression of U2 small nuclear RNA auxiliary factor 1 (U2AF1) at the mRNA level compared with that in the low CD44v3 expression group (P<0.001, Mann-Whitney U test), and U2AF1 and PD-L1 mRNA expression exhibited a significant negative correlation (τ=-0.3948, P<0.001, Kendall rank correlation coefficient). In conclusion, CSCs in OSCC may evade host immune mechanisms and maintain CSC stemness via PD-L1/PD-1 co-expression, resulting in unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Electric Vehicle and Photovoltaic Power Scenario Generation under Extreme High-Temperature Weather

In recent years, with the intensification of global warming, extreme weather has become more frequent, intensifying the uncertainty of new energy output and load power, and seriously affecting the safe operation of power systems. Scene generation is an effective method to solve the uncertainty problem of stochastic planning of integrated systems of new energy generation. Therefore, this paper proposes a scenario generation and scenario reduction model of photovoltaic (PV) output and electric vehicle (EV) load power under extreme weather based on the copula function. Firstly, the non-parametric kernel density estimation method is used to fit a large number of sample data. The kernel density estimation expressions of PV and EV powers under extreme weather conditions are obtained and the corresponding goodness of fit tests are carried out. Then, a variety of joint distribution models based on the copula function are established to judge the goodness of fit of each model, and the optimal copula function is selected as the joint probability distribution function by combining the Kendall and Spearman correlation coefficients of each model. Finally, the optimal copula joint probability distribution is used to generate PV and EV power scenarios. The data of extremely hot weather in a certain province were selected for an example analysis. The results show that the output scenario obtained conforms to the correlation under this extreme weather, and has higher accuracy in reflecting the actual PV output and load power in this province under this extreme weather, which can provide a reference for reliability analyses of power systems and power grid planning.

Comparative Analysis of AI-SONICTM Thyroid System and Six Thyroid Risk Stratification Guidelines in Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of AI-SONICTM Thyroid System (AI-SONICTM) with six thyroid nodule ultrasound risk stratification systems, as well as the interobserver agreement among different-year ultrasound examiners using the same diagnostic approach. This retrospective study included patients who underwent thyroid ultrasound examination and surgery between 2010 and 2022. Three ultrasound examiners with 2, 5, and 10 years of experience, respectively, used AI-SONICTM and six guidelines to risk-stratify the nodules. The diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement were assessed. A total of 370 thyroid nodules were included, including 195 papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) and 175 benign nodules. For physicians of varying seniority from low to high, AI-SONICTM had a moderate sensitivities of 82.56%, 83.08%, 84.62%, respectively, while AACE/ACE/AME had the highest diagnostic sensitivities (96.41%, 95.38%, 96.41%, respectively); And relatively higher specificities were 85.14%, 85.71%, 85.71% for KSThR, while moderate specificities with values of 84.0%, 85.14%, and 85.71%, respectively were found for AI-SONICTM; The accuracy was highest for ATA (excluding non-classifiable nodules), with values of 87.26%, 87.93%, and 88.82%, respectively, while the accuracy for AI-SONICTM were 83.24%, 84.05%, and 85.14%, respectively. The Kendall's tau coefficient indicated strong or moderate interobserver agreement among all examiners using different diagnostic methods (Kendall's tau coefficient >0.6, P<0.001). AI-SONICTM showed the highest interobserver agreement (Kendall's tau coefficient=0.995, P<0.001). A binary probit regression analysis showed that nodules with cystic components had a significantly higher regression coefficient value of 0.983 (P=0.002), indicating that AI-SONICTM may have higher accuracy for nodules with cystic components. AI-SONICTM and the six thyroid nodule ultrasound risk stratification systems showed high diagnostic performance for papillary thyroid carcinoma. All examiners showed strong or moderate interobserver agreement when using different diagnostic methods. AI-SONICTM may have higher accuracy for nodules with cystic components.

Developing a streamlined risk-adjusted cesarean section rate model for evaluation of obstetrical quality across hospitals by using EHRs: A provincial-scale multicenter retrospective study.

This study aims to explore a streamlined risk-adjusted cesarean section rate (RCSR) model and to compare its practical application effects with the traditional RCSR models. Utilizing obstetric electronic health record (EHR) data from provincial multicenter hospitals, this study establishes a streamlined RCSR model alongside the traditional RCSR model and evaluates the efficacy of both models. Subsequently, the RCSRs of 56 hospitals within the province are calculated and ranked using both models. The consistency of these rankings is then quantified using Kendall's tau coefficient of concordance. Comparison of model effectiveness evaluation of the traditional RCSR model versus the streamlined RCSR model is as follows: AUC (0.840 vs 0.839), accuracy (0.875 vs 0.872), sensitivity (0.690 vs 0.685), specificity (0.898 vs 0.892), positive predictive value (0.908 vs 0.903), negative predictive value (0.664 vs 0.660), and Brier score (0.069 vs 0.067). In the test of the consistency of hospital rankings based on two models, Kendall's tau coefficients were observed to be 0.979 (year 2017), 0.978 (year 2018), and 0.978 (year 2019) over a span of 3 years, with an aggregate coefficient of 0.974. In the realm of model performance evaluation as well as the pragmatic application within hospital settings, the streamlined model exhibits a substantial congruence with the traditional model. Therefore, the streamlined model can effectively serve as a viable surrogate for the traditional model, potentially establishing itself as a refined paradigm for the appraisal of quality in obstetric healthcare services.

Dental Cavity Grading: Comparing Algorithm Reliability and Agreement with Expert Evaluation.

The current study introduces a novel, algorithm-based software developed to objectively evaluate dental cavity preparations. The software aims to provide an alternative or complement to traditional, subjective assessment methods used in operative dentistry education. The software was tested on cavity preparations carried out by 70 participants on artificial molar teeth. These cavities were also independently assessed by an experienced academic panel. The software, using 3D imaging, calculated cavity dimensions and assigned an error score based on deviation from ideal measurements. Statistical analyses included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Cohen's kappa, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3k), Spearman's rho, Kendall's tau correlation coefficients, and a confusion matrix. The software demonstrated a high degree of accuracy and agreement with the panel assessments. The average software and panel scores were 64.1 and 60.91, respectively. Sensitivity (0.98) was high, specificity (0.55) was moderate, and the ICC3k value (0.857) indicated a strong agreement between the software and the panel. Further, Spearman's rho (0.73) and Kendall's tau (0.56) suggested a strong correlation between the two grading methods. The results support the algorithm-based software as a valid and reliable tool for dental cavity preparation assessments. The software's potential use in dental education is promising, though future research is necessary to validate and optimize this technology for wider application.

Uniform in number of neighbors consistency and weak convergence of $ k $NN empirical conditional processes and $ k $NN conditional $ U $-processes involving functional mixing data

&lt;abstract&gt;&lt;p&gt;$ U $-statistics represent a fundamental class of statistics arising from modeling quantities of interest defined by multi-subject responses. $ U $-statistics generalize the empirical mean of a random variable $ X $ to sums over every $ m $-tuple of distinct observations of $ X $. Stute [182] introduced a class of so-called conditional $ U $-statistics, which may be viewed as a generalization of the Nadaraya-Watson estimates of a regression function. Stute proved their strong pointwise consistency to: $ r^{(m)}(\varphi, \mathbf{t}): = \mathbb{E}[\varphi(Y_{1}, \ldots, Y_{m})|(X_{1}, \ldots, X_{m}) = \mathbf{t}], \; \mbox{for}\; \mathbf{ t}\in \mathcal{X}^{m}. $ In this paper, we are mainly interested in the study of the $ k $NN conditional $ U $-processes in a functional mixing data framework. More precisely, we investigate the weak convergence of the conditional empirical process indexed by a suitable class of functions and of the $ k $NN conditional $ U $-processes when the explicative variable is functional. We treat the uniform central limit theorem in both cases when the class of functions is bounded or unbounded satisfying some moment conditions. The second main contribution of this study is the establishment of a sharp almost complete Uniform consistency in the Number of Neighbors of the constructed estimator. Such a result allows the number of neighbors to vary within a complete range for which the estimator is consistent. Consequently, it represents an interesting guideline in practice to select the optimal bandwidth in nonparametric functional data analysis. These results are proved under some standard structural conditions on the Vapnik-Chervonenkis classes of functions and some mild conditions on the model. The theoretical results established in this paper are (or will be) key tools for further functional data analysis developments. Potential applications include the set indexed conditional &lt;italic&gt;U&lt;/italic&gt;-statistics, Kendall rank correlation coefficient, the discrimination problems and the time series prediction from a continuous set of past values.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/abstract&gt;

Enhancing Village Ranking: Leveraging Cluster Analysis and Machine Learning

The research presented in this paper addresses the critical challenge of ranking Indian villages based on their potential for socio-economic growth, inspired by the objectives of the Shyam Prasad Mukerji Rurban Mission (SPMRM). Leveraging a novel algorithm known as ClusterRank, an extension of the PageRank algorithm, we endeavor to provide a timely, efficient, and accurate solution for village ranking. The ClusterRank algorithm, an extension of the well-known PageRank algorithm, serves as the cornerstone of our approach. It excels in its ability to efficiently and accurately rank villages, outperforming alternative ranking methods. Notably, our findings reveal the superior convergence speed of the ClusterRank algorithm, affirming its capacity to produce rapid results. To assess the efficacy of ClusterRank, we employ a range of statistical ranking coefficients, including the Spearman, Kendall, and Point Biserial correlation coefficients. Our analysis demonstrates a strong positive correlation, with a Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.89, between the rankings generated by ClusterRank and the ground truth rankings provided by SPMRM. This correlation underscores the effectiveness of ClusterRank in identifying villages with high growth potential and highlights its alignment with the objectives of the SPMRM. This research presents a compelling case for the adoption of the ClusterRank algorithm by SPMRM as a valuable tool in the identification of rural areas poised for rurban development. Such adoption not only promises substantial time and resource savings but also directs the focus of SPMRM towards the implementation of targeted interventions and initiatives to uplift rural communities. Moreover, our supplementary analyses using Kendall and Point Biserial correlation coefficients further validate the robustness of the ClusterRank algorithm.

Celiac disease diagnosis: transglutaminase, duodenal biopsy and genetic tests correlations.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically susceptible individuals. The haplotypes HLA-DQ2 and DQ8, transglutaminase (TGA) antibodies, and biopsy findings are the main tests performed in the evaluation and CD diagnosis. The objective was to establish possible correlations between transglutaminase levels, genetic markers tests, and qualitative intestinal biopsy findings (modified Marsh classification) at the diagnosis. A retrospective cohort study. The selection criteria were confirmed CD cases with genetic tests performed. Statistical analysis was done mainly through One-way ANOVA, Kendall's correlation coefficient (T), and linear regression. The study included 112 patients, with a mean age of 6 ± 4 years. All cases were tested to HLA-DQ2, and it was positive in 93%. HLA-DQ8 was tested in 73% of cases and it was positive in 61%. The percentage of negative genetic markers (DQ2/DQ8) was 4.5% for patients tested to both haplotypes. A comparison of DQ2/DQ8 (positive and negative) with clinical findings and tests performed did not identify any differences for most of the parameters analyzed. Cases of type I diabetes presented significant negative expression for DQ2(-); p = 0.05 and positive expression for DQ8(+); p = 0.023. The TGA antibody levels ranged from 18 to 36,745 U/ml. An inverse correlation was found between age and TGA-L level (p = 0.043). In 23% of the cases, the TGA levels were greater than 1,000 U/ml and presented a moderate positive correlation with the atrophy biopsy profile (T = 0.245). Patients with an atrophic biopsy profile (Marsh III) had a moderate positive correlation with growth failure (T = 0.218) but a negative correlation with constipation (T = -0.277). In terms of diagnosis tests for CD, transglutaminase levels and age presented an inverse correlation, with the level decreasing as age increased. A moderately positive correlation was found between mean transglutaminase with intestinal atrophy and growth retardation. The genetic test DQ2 was positive for 93% and negative genetic markers (DQ2/DQ8) represented 4.5% of cases studied.