Sample Sign Test Research Articles

Prospective analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of digital rectal examination and magnetic resonance imaging for T staging of prostate cancer.

Accurate staging of prostate cancer (PCa) is the basis for the risk stratification to select targeted treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy rates of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and digital rectal examination (DRE) for preoperative T staging of potentially resectable PCa. From March 2021 to March 2022, patients with PCa with T staging by prostate biopsy were included. All examinations used postoperative histopathologic T staging as the reference standard. All patients underwent DRE and MRI before the puncture. Two blinded urologists and radiologists independently evaluated DRE and MRI, respectively. Before the examination, patients were then divided into early- (T1, T2) and late-(T3, T4) stage cancer. Analysis of a paired sample sign test was performed to determine differences between DRE and MRI. A total of 136 study participants with PCa were evaluated histopathologically, of whom 71% (97/136) and 29% (39/136) were at the early- and late-stage cancer, respectively. MRI had a significantly higher accuracy (91.9% vs. 76.5%, P < 0.001) compared with DRE. Further, MRI showed a higher sensitivity than DRE to diagnose early PCa (92.8% vs. 74.2%; P < 0.001). However, the specificity was not significantly different between them (89.7% vs. 82.1%; P = 0.375). Area under the curve (receiver operating curve) values were calculated as 0.78 ± 0.038 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-0.86), 0.91 ± 0.028 (95% CI, 0.86-0.97), and 0.872 ± 0.028 (95% CI, 0.80-0.92) for DRE-, MRI-, MRI + DRE-based PCa predictions, respectively. The prediction performance of MRI was better than that of DRE (DeLong test, z = 3.632, P = 0.0003) and MRI + DRE (DeLong test, z = 3.715, P = 0.0002). For resectable PCa, the diagnostic potential of MRI in assessing the T stage was higher than that of DRE. However, DRE is still valuable, especially for patients with locally advanced PCa.

The Effect of Smart Pinwheel Games on the Ability to Recognize Numbers in Children Aged 5-6 Years at TK Negeri Pembina 1 Medan T.A 2022/2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the smart wheel game tool on the ability to recognize numbers in children aged 5-6 years at TK Negeri Pembina 1 Medan. This type of research is experimental research with a Pre-Experimental Design, in the form of a One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The population in the study were 5 class B, then the sample for this study used a non-probability sampling technique. The sample in this study were Kindergarten B children, totaling 16 people. Data collection using the instrument sheet. The data analysis technique uses non-parametric statistics with a sample sign test ≤ 25. The test results show that the APE of the smart wheel has a significant effect on the ability to recognize numbers in children with the criteria of testing the hypothesis if H0 is accepted 0.05≤ probability of sample results, H0 is rejected if 0 .05 &gt; sample outcome probability. The results of the hypothesis test are 0.05&gt; 0.0021, it is proven that H0 is rejected, meaning that there is a significant increase in the child's ability to recognize numbers before and after treatment using the APE smart wheel. Thus it can be concluded that there is a significant effect of the use of the smart wheel APE on the ability to recognize numbers in children aged 5-6 years at TK Negeri Pembina 1 Medan T.A 2022/2023. Based on the results of this study, it is suggested for PAUD teachers to be able to use the smart wheel APE in introducing numbers to children.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients With Adult-Onset Still's Disease: A Cohort Study From China.

Objective: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is an autoinflammatory disease with a higher prevalence rate in young females. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether AOSD has an adverse impact on pregnancy outcomes, or conversely exacerbated by pregnancy.Methods: The outcomes of 191 pregnancies were evaluated in 86 female patients with AOSD. The generalized linear mixed model and propensity score matching method were conducted to evaluate the influence of AOSD on pregnancy outcomes. A dependent sample sign test was applied to assess the impact of pregnancy on the relapse of AOSD.Results: The results showed that the post-AOSD group had a lower proportion of normal delivery (25.0 vs. 52.4%, p = 0.036) and a higher proportion of spontaneous abortion (STA) (18.8 vs. 0.6%, p = 0.002) compared with the pre-AOSD group. Moreover, pregnancy after being diagnosed with AOSD was a significant high risk factor of STA (adjusted OR = 4.577, 95% CI: 4.166–845.119; p = 0.003). Disease flare upon conception was observed in one of 16 post-AOSD pregnancies (p = 1.000). There were 11 patients with new-onset AOSD during gestation or postpartum, among which five (45.4%) evolved into the polycyclic course.Conclusions: AOSD patients might suffer from a higher risk of STA, however, pregnancy might not be related with the exacerbation of diagnosed AOSD. New-onset AOSD during gestation or postpartum tend to evolve into the polycyclic course.

A bivariate test for location based on simplicial depth

We translate the simplicial data depth concept of Liu (1990) into a bivariate test of location that is distribution free under the assumption of angular symmetry about zero, without loss of generality. The test statistic is a count of the number of data triangles that contain zero and rejects the null hypothesis for small values of the test statistic. A straightforward method for computing this statistic is provided. The exact null distribution is computed and tabled for n ≤ 15, the asymptotic null distribution is derived and a formula for approximate critical values is provided. Simulations show that the power of the test is comparable to other bivariate sign type tests. The analogous one dimensional distribution free test is found to be equivalent to a two sided one sample sign test. These ideas are then extended to three dimensions, where we show that, surprisingly, the test is not generally distribution free under the null hypothesis.

Tourism Experience Comparisons between China and Thailand: Empirical Evidence from Young Generation Chinese Respondents

The goal of this research is to study the satisfaction of traveling experienced between time in China and Thailand from the full-time bachelor degree Chinese students by using the normality and nonparametric 1 sample sign test. This study, therefore, examines young generation, Chinese respondents, regarding their experiences of traveling in Thailand to gain a better understanding of Chinese tourist behavior, and identify motivational factors that significantly influence their satisfaction. This research has compared and measured customer satisfaction for both experience in China against experience in Thailand in six variables namely Cost of traveling, Weather, Taste of local food, Interesting places, long-distance public transportation and Quality of life. To collect the relevant quantitative and qualitative data, questionnaires were given to the respondents with Chinese language translation. The findings show that Chinese students are highly satisfied with time in Thailand because of favorable weather, the taste of local food, interesting places, and better quality of life. However, the costs of traveling and long-distance public transportation for Thailand are doubtful in Chinese students perception.

Eight steps’ paradigm shift in men’s 110 metres hurdles: an 89 years retrospective study

Men’s 110 metres hurdles is one of the oldest disciplines in the Olympic Games and yet scarce anecdotal reports are found to pinpoint technical elements indicators of success. The approach technique to the hurdles has been raised by coaches as a potential element of success however it seems that the approach strategies undertaken to the first hurdle have not been investigated to the current date. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the employment of the seven and eight steps strategy until the first hurdle in the 110 m discipline among the Olympic Games and World Championships in Athletics’ finalists. Public domain videos of the events in the period between 1924 and 2013 were assessed. An international level sprint and hurdles’ coach, using the Dartfish software, assessed the number of steps taken until the first hurdle. A left-tailed one sample sign test showed that although the seven steps strategy adoption seems to have begun in 1960 it was only in 2011 that it was considered a dominant tactic. Due to determination of factors that influence the choice of strategy or their respective influence on performance falling outside the scope of this study, future research is needed in this area. Notwithstanding, the success by the hurdlers that adopt the seven steps strategy, evidenced by the number of medals won, allowed to pinpoint the approach strategy to the first hurdle as a potential performance variable to be investigated.

Sign test based on k-tuple general ranked set samples

ABSTRACTThe sign test based on the k-tuple ranked set samples is discussed here. We first derive the distribution of the k-tuple ranked set sample sign test statistic, and then the asymptotic distribution is also obtained. We then compare its performance with its counterparts based on simple random sample and classical ranked set sample. The asymptotic relative efficiency and the power are then derived. Finally, the effect of imperfect ranking on the procedure is assessed.

Effects of Computerized Decision Support Systems on Blood Glucose Regulation in Critically Ill Surgical Patients

The use of computerized decision support systems (CDSS) in glucose control for critically ill surgical patients has been reported in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Prospective studies evaluating its effect on glucose control are, however, lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate patient-specific computerized IV insulin dosing on blood glucose levels (BGLs) by comparing patients treated pre-CDSS with those treated post-CDSS. A prospective study was performed in 4 surgical ICUs and 1 progressive care unit comparing patient data pre- and post-implementation of CDSS. The primary outcomes measures were the impact of the CDSS on glycemic control in this population and on reducing the incidence of severe hypoglycemia. Data on 1,682 patient admissions were evaluated, which corresponded to 73,290 BGLs post-CDSS compared with 44,972 BGLs pre-CDSS. The percentage of hyperglycemic events improved, with BGLs of >150 mg/dL decreasing by 50% compared with 6-month historical controls during the 18-month study period from July 2010 through December 2011. This was true for all 5 units individually (p < 0.0001, by one sample sign test). In addition, severe hypoglycemia (defined as BGL <40 mg/dL) decreased from 1% to 0.05% after implementing CDSS (p < 0.0001 by 2-sided binomial test). Patients whose BGLs were managed using CDSS were statistically significantly more likely to have a glucose reading under control (<150 mg/dL) than in the 6-month historical controls and to avoid serious hypoglycemia (p < 0.0001).

The effect of mirtazapine in patients with chronic pain and concomitant depression

ABSTRACTObjective: To evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of mirtazapine in patients with the primary diagnosis of chronic pain and concomitant depression in an open post-marketing surveillance study.Research design and methods: 594 patients with a primary diagnosis of at least one chronic pain syndrome (minimum duration of 3 months) and the diagnosis of concomitant depression, appropriately made by a neurologist or psychiatrist, were recruited at psychiatric and/or neurological outpatient facilities throughout Germany. The primary efficacy parameter was pain at baseline and endpoint using a patient self-assessment scale. Secondary analyses were performed at baseline, week 1 (day 7 ± 2), week 4 (day 28 ± 4) and at endpoint (day 42 ± 4 or early termination) and included safety and tolerability assessments.Investigators rated the severity of different potential co-morbidities (including depression) with a four-step rating scale (not present, mild, moderate, severe).Results: 594 patients were enrolled and treated with mirtazapine (mean daily dose of 34.5 ± 10.4 mg at study endpoint). A statistically significant ( p < 0.0001; one sample sign test) reduction of pain from baseline to endpoint was found for the overall population. The percentage of patients free of pain or with only moderate pain increased significantly, irrespective of patients’ age or pain syndromes. Furthermore, we found a substantial improvement from baseline to endpoint regarding co-morbidities such as sleep disturbance, irritability and exhaustion. The number of adverse events was low (< 7%; n = 37), with fatigue (n = 13) and weight gain (n = 11) occurring most frequently. No previously-unknown side effects occurred. One hundred and six patients (18%) discontinued mirtazapine during the study. The main reason was lack of efficacy (6%, n = 33), which may be a reflection of sub-optimal response to the anti-depressant or analgesic effect of the drug, but no appropriate rating scale was used to clarify this question. Only a small number of patients stopped the drug due to adverse events (3%; n = 15). At study endpoint, the majority of physicians and patients rated the overall efficacy and tolerability of mirtazapine as good or very good. Most patients (80%) continued the therapy after 6 weeks.Conclusions: Despite the limitations of an open observational study, our findings suggest that mirtazapine is a safe and well-tolerated drug for use in daily clinical practice. It still remains unclear whether the reduction of pain, the enhancement of the depressed mood or the combination of both effects led to these results. Nevertheless, our data point to a potential beneficial effect of mirtazapine in the treatment of patients with pain and concomitant depression. However, more systematic research, including placebo-controlled studies, and further empirical testing are necessary.

Ranked set sample sign test for quantiles

A ranked set sample version of the sign test is proposed for testing hypotheses concerning the quantiles of a population characteristic. Both equal and unequal allocations are considered and the relative performance of different allocations is assessed in terms of Pitman's asymptotic relative efficiency. In particular, for each quantile, the allocation that maximizes the efficacy is identified and shown to not depend on the population distribution.

The unbalanced ranked-set sample sign test

This paper is concerned with the sign test under unbalanced ranked-set sampling (URSS), which constitutes a generalization of the usual ranked-set sampling (RSS). The null distribution properties of the URSS sign test are discussed. Accordingly, a URSS sign test optimized on the basis of the asymptotic relative efficiency criterion is introduced. The proposed test is compared with the RSS analog by means of both asymptotic relative efficiency properties as well as small-sample Monte Carlo power simulations. The results strongly encourage the use of the optimized URSS sign test.

Optimal allocation procedure in ranked set sampling for unimodal and multi-modal distributions

This paper presents a ranked set sample allocation procedure that is optimal for a number of nonparametric test procedures. We define a function that measures the amount of information provided by each observation given the actual joint ranking of all the units in a set. The optimal ranked set sample allocates order statistics by maximizing this information function. This paper shows that the optimal allocation of order statistics in a ranked set sample is determined by the location of the mode(s) of the underlying distribution. For unimodal, symmetric distributions, optimal allocation always quantifies the middle observation(s). If the underlying distribution with cdf F is a multi-modal distribution with modes \(R, \ldots ,R_k \), then the optimal allocation procedure quantifies observations at \(mF(R_1 ), \ldots ,mF(R_1 )\) in a set of size m. We provide similar results for unimodal, asymmetric distributions. We also propose a new sign test which considers the relative positions of the quantified observations from the same cycle in a ranked set sample. The proposed sign test provides improvement in the Pitman efficiency over the ranked set sample sign test of Hettmansperger (1995). It is shown that the information optimal allocation procedure induced by Pitman efficiency is equivalent to the optimal allocation procedure induced by the information criteria. We show that the finite sample distribution of the proposed test based on this optimal design is binomial.

One-and two-sample sign tests for ranked set sample selective designs

Statistical inference based on a ranked set sample depends very much on the location of the quantified observations. A selective design which determines the location of the quantified observations in a ranked set sample is introduced. The paper investigates the effects of selective designs on one and two sample sign test statistics. The Pitman efficiencies of one- and two sample sign tests are calculated for selective designs and compared with ranked set samples of the same size. If the design quantifies observations at the center points, then the proposed procedure is superior to a ranked set sample of the same size in the sense of Pitman efficiency. Some practical problems are addressed for the two-sample sign test.

A ranked-set sample signed-rank statistic

A procedure analogous to the Wilcoxon signed-rank test is developed for settings in which ranked-set samples are used in place of simple random samples. The ranked-set sample statistic is shown to be distribution-free and to have a symmetric null distribution. The statistic is a linear combination of U-statistics, so U-statistics results can be used to obtain the asymptotic distribution. Asymptotic relative efficiencies of the test relative to its simple random sample counterpart and to the ranked-set sample sign test are derived. Results are derived for both perfect and imperfect judgment rankings

The computation of the distribution of the sign test statistic for ranked-set sampling

A simple and fast method for computing the exact distribution of the ranked-set sample sign test statistic is suggested. The proposed technique works even for very large sample sizes and is implemented by using the Mathematica package.

The ranked-set sample sign test

The method of ranked-set samples (RSS) as opposed to simple random sampling is discussed. In the ranked-set sampling method, k observations are ranked by an expert then a measurement is taken on the observation designated to have rank j for j = 1,…,k. This is repeated until we have k measurements on the order statistics.We observed k 2 items to get k measurements. This method is effective when observations are inexpensive and measurement is perhaps destructive orinvasive. The properties of the sign test along with the mediam and corresponding confidence interval for the RSS method are developed. It is shown that when it is appropriate, there can bea substantial efficiency gain when using ranked-set sampling. We consider a simple model to described theeffect of imperfect judgment. We also provide a brief comparison of the RSS median to the RSS mean.

A Robustification of the Sign Test Under Mixing Conditions

A robustified version of the two sample sign test is defined which is insensitive to certain deviations from the assumption of the independence of the observations. These deviations are described in terms of mixing conditions. The asymptotic value of the power function of this robustified sign test is computed on contiguous alternatives possessing the same dependence structure. This entails the calculation of its asymptotic relative efficiencies with respect to some tests which are optimal on these alternatives in the independent case. It becomes apparent that in general the relative performance of two tests heavily depends on the structure of dependence of the observations, i.e. it may either increase or decrease.