The present study investigates the validity of two writing tests respectively using one picture and a series of pictures to elicit writing samples. The study reveals the representativeness of writing assessment based ...The present study investigates the validity of two writing tests respectively using one picture and a series of pictures to elicit writing samples. The study reveals the representativeness of writing assessment based on writing samples elicited by only one picture is under reasonable suspicion, and the other approach seems to have preferable validity and discriminatory power.展开更多
BACKGROUND In 2015,Kidane published a Cochrane review and meta-analysis to summarise the impact of preoperative chemotherapy versus surgery alone on survival for resectable thoracic esophageal cancer.The authors concl...BACKGROUND In 2015,Kidane published a Cochrane review and meta-analysis to summarise the impact of preoperative chemotherapy versus surgery alone on survival for resectable thoracic esophageal cancer.The authors concluded that preoperative chemotherapy improved overall survival(OS).AIM The aim of this article was to assess the validity of the three most powerful studies included in the Cochrane review and the meta-analysis supporting the advantage of preoperative chemotherapy and to investigate the impact of an exclusion of these three studies on the result of the meta-analysis.METHODS OS was selected as the endpoint of interest.Among the ten included papers which analysed this endpoint,we identified the three publications with the highest weights influencing the final result.The validity of these papers was analysed using the CONSORT checklist for randomized controlled trials.We performed a new meta-analysis without the three studies to assess their impact on the general result of the original meta-analysis.RESULTS The three analysed studies revealed several inconsistencies.Inappropriate answers were found in up to one third of the items of the CONSORT checklist.Missing information about sample-size calculation and power,unclear or inadequate randomisation,and missing blinded set-up were the most common findings.When the three criticized studies were excluded in the meta-analysis,preoperative chemotherapy showed no benefit in OS.CONCLUSION The three most powerful publications in the Cochrane review show substantial deficits.After the exclusion of these studies from the meta-analysis,preoperative chemotherapy does not seem to result in an advantage in survival.We suggest a more critical appraisal regarding the validity of single studies.展开更多
Time-temperature indicators(TTIs) are convenient intuitive devices that are widely used to predict food quality. The aim of this study is to develop a new simple device which can be attached to food packages as a qual...Time-temperature indicators(TTIs) are convenient intuitive devices that are widely used to predict food quality. The aim of this study is to develop a new simple device which can be attached to food packages as a quality indicator for turbot sashimi. In this study, a solid TTI based on the reaction between tyrosinase and tyrosine was developed. The Arrhenius behavior of this enzymatic TTI was studied. The kinetics of the tyrosinase-based TTI was investigated in the form of color change from colorless to dark black induced by the enzymatic reaction. The mathematical formula for the color alterations as a function of time and temperature was established. The longest indication time for the developed TTI was 50 hours at 4℃. The activation energy of the tyrosinase-based TTI was 0.409 k J mol^(-1). The suitability of the tyrosinase-based TTI was validated for turbot sashimi using total plate count. The feasibility of using this TTI as a quality indicator for turbot sashimi was assessed based on the activation energy and indication time. Therefore, the tyrosinasebased TTI system developed in this study could be used as an effective tool for monitoring the quality changes of turbot sashimi during the distribution and storage.展开更多
Dear editor,In their comment,Krewer et al.1argue that before selecting a specific method for assessing proprioception,it is essential to consider which component of proprioception is to be assessed.They also note that...Dear editor,In their comment,Krewer et al.1argue that before selecting a specific method for assessing proprioception,it is essential to consider which component of proprioception is to be assessed.They also note that there is no single method for assessing all aspects of the various proprioceptive senses,展开更多
文摘The present study investigates the validity of two writing tests respectively using one picture and a series of pictures to elicit writing samples. The study reveals the representativeness of writing assessment based on writing samples elicited by only one picture is under reasonable suspicion, and the other approach seems to have preferable validity and discriminatory power.
文摘BACKGROUND In 2015,Kidane published a Cochrane review and meta-analysis to summarise the impact of preoperative chemotherapy versus surgery alone on survival for resectable thoracic esophageal cancer.The authors concluded that preoperative chemotherapy improved overall survival(OS).AIM The aim of this article was to assess the validity of the three most powerful studies included in the Cochrane review and the meta-analysis supporting the advantage of preoperative chemotherapy and to investigate the impact of an exclusion of these three studies on the result of the meta-analysis.METHODS OS was selected as the endpoint of interest.Among the ten included papers which analysed this endpoint,we identified the three publications with the highest weights influencing the final result.The validity of these papers was analysed using the CONSORT checklist for randomized controlled trials.We performed a new meta-analysis without the three studies to assess their impact on the general result of the original meta-analysis.RESULTS The three analysed studies revealed several inconsistencies.Inappropriate answers were found in up to one third of the items of the CONSORT checklist.Missing information about sample-size calculation and power,unclear or inadequate randomisation,and missing blinded set-up were the most common findings.When the three criticized studies were excluded in the meta-analysis,preoperative chemotherapy showed no benefit in OS.CONCLUSION The three most powerful publications in the Cochrane review show substantial deficits.After the exclusion of these studies from the meta-analysis,preoperative chemotherapy does not seem to result in an advantage in survival.We suggest a more critical appraisal regarding the validity of single studies.
基金the Science and Technology Major Projects of Shandong Province (No. 2015ZDZX05 003)the National Science & Technology Pillar Program (No. 2015BAD16B0902)
文摘Time-temperature indicators(TTIs) are convenient intuitive devices that are widely used to predict food quality. The aim of this study is to develop a new simple device which can be attached to food packages as a quality indicator for turbot sashimi. In this study, a solid TTI based on the reaction between tyrosinase and tyrosine was developed. The Arrhenius behavior of this enzymatic TTI was studied. The kinetics of the tyrosinase-based TTI was investigated in the form of color change from colorless to dark black induced by the enzymatic reaction. The mathematical formula for the color alterations as a function of time and temperature was established. The longest indication time for the developed TTI was 50 hours at 4℃. The activation energy of the tyrosinase-based TTI was 0.409 k J mol^(-1). The suitability of the tyrosinase-based TTI was validated for turbot sashimi using total plate count. The feasibility of using this TTI as a quality indicator for turbot sashimi was assessed based on the activation energy and indication time. Therefore, the tyrosinasebased TTI system developed in this study could be used as an effective tool for monitoring the quality changes of turbot sashimi during the distribution and storage.
基金sponsored by Shanghai Pujiang Program (No.15PJ1407600)
文摘Dear editor,In their comment,Krewer et al.1argue that before selecting a specific method for assessing proprioception,it is essential to consider which component of proprioception is to be assessed.They also note that there is no single method for assessing all aspects of the various proprioceptive senses,
