Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-09-30"
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- Regularisation and central limit theorems for an inverse problem in network sampling applicationsPublication . Antunes, Nelson; Jacinto, Gonçalo; Pipiras, VladasAn inverse problem motivated by packet sampling in communication networks and edge sampling in directed complex networks is studied through the operator perspective. The problem is shown to be ill-posed, with the resulting naive estimator potentially having very heavy tails, satisfying non-Gaussian central limit theorem and showing poor statistical performance. Regularisation of the problem leads to the Gaussian central limit theorem and superior performance of the regularised estimator, as a result of desirable properties of underlying operators. The limiting variance and convergence rates of the regularised estimator are also investigated. The results are illustrated on synthetic and real data from communication and complex networks.
- Developing a european psychotherapy consortium (EPoC): towards adopting a single-item self-report outcome measure across European countriesPublication . Gonçalves, Miguel M.; Lutz, Wolfgang; Schwartz, Brian; Oliveira, João Tiago; Saarni, Suoma E.; Tishby, Orya; Rubel, Julian A.; Boehnke, Jan R.; Montesano, Adrian; Paiva, Dario; Ceridono, Davide; Zech, Emmanuelle; Willemsen, Jochem; Saarni, Samuli I.; Erzar, Katarina Kompan; Janeiro, Luís; Gelo, Omar C. G.; Errázuriz, Paula; Holas, Pawel; Styła, Rafał; Rožič, Tatjana; Rosenström, Tom; Békés, Vera; Unoka, Zsolt; Barkham, MichaelBackground: Complementing the development of evidence-based psychological therapies, practice-based evidence has developed from patient samples collected in routine care, addressing questions relevant to patients and practitioners, and thereby expanding our knowledge of psychological therapies and their impact. Implementation of assessments in routine care allows for timely clinical decision support and the collection of multiple practice-based data sets by addressing the needs of patients and clinicians (e.g., routine outcome monitoring) and the needs of researchers (e.g., identifying the impact of therapist variables on outcomes). Method: In this article we describe an initiative developed in Europe, through the European Chapter of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, aimed at creating a consortium that has the potential for collecting data on tens of thousands of patients per year. Results: A survey identified one of the main problems in the development of a common data set to be the heterogeneity of measures used by members (e.g., 87 different pre-post outcomes). We report on the results of the survey and the initial stage of identifying a single-item - the Emotional and Psychological Outcome (EPO-1) - measure and the process of its translation into multiple European languages. Conclusions: We conclude this first stage of the overall project by discussing the future potential of the Consortium in relation to the development of procedures that allow crosswalks of outcome measures and the creation of a task force that may be consulted when new data sets are collected, aiming for new common measures to be implemented and shared.
- Predictors of myositis in mixed connective tissue disease: a multicentre retrospective studyPublication . Melo, A. T.; António, M. Silvério; Martinho, J. Martins; Guimarães, F.; Dourado, E.; Oliveira, D.; Lopes, J.; Saraiva, A.; Gago, A.; Correia, M.; Fernandes, A. L.; Dinis, S.; Teixeira, R.; Silva, S. P.; Costa, C.; Beirão, T.; Furtado, C.; Abreu, P.; Khmelinskii, N.Objectives: We aimed to identify clinical and serological predictors of myositis in mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Methods: We performed a nationwide, retrospective, multicentre study including adult-onset MCTD patients fulfilling at least one of the following diagnostic criteria: Sharp’s, Kasukawa, Alarcón-Segovia, or Kahn’s. Univariable analysis was performed using Chi-square, Fisher exact, Student’s t or Mann-Whitney U tests, as appropriate. Multivariable analysis was performed using binary logistic regression. Results: Ninety-eight patients were included. Myositis was observed in 43.9% of patients, of whom 60.5% had myositis at disease onset. Proximal muscle weakness was described in 30 patients with muscle involvement (70%). Gastrointestinal involvement was identified in 28% and respiratory involvement in 29% of myositis patients. In the same subgroup of patients, 41.7% had a myopathic pattern on electromyography, and 47.1% had histological myositis features in the muscle biopsy. Fever (OR=6.96, p=0.022) was an independent predictor of myositis, regardless of sex, age at diagnosis, ancestry, and respiratory involvement. African ancestry (OR=8.39, p=0.019), leukopenia at the disease onset (OR 6.24, p=0.021), and younger age at diagnosis (OR=1.07/year, p=0.035) were identified as independent predictors of myositis at disease onset, regardless of sex and scleroderma pattern in capillaroscopy. Conclusions: Myositis is a common manifestation of MCTD, even at the disease onset. African ancestry, leukopenia at the disease onset, younger age at diagnosis, and fever should prompt a thorough evaluation for myositis.