BACKGROUND The Bean plataspid (Megacopta cribraria) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), native to Asia, is becoming an invasive species in North America; its potential spread to soybean producing areas in the US is of great concern. Ecological niche modelling (ENM) has been used increasingly in predicting invasive species' potential distribution; however, poor niche model transferability was sometimes r...

PURPOSE To evaluate the learning effect in standard automated perimetry using SITA strategy, central 24-2 program, possible associated factors and spatial distribution in individuals with no perimetry experience. METHODS A total of 55 healthy subjects were submitted to Humphrey perimetry in two different sessions in one day. Reliability and global indices, and threshold sensitivity at each po...

A discrepancy exists with regard to the effect of smartphone applications (apps) on weight reduction due to the several limitations of previous studies. This is a retrospective cohort study, aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a smartphone app on weight reduction in obese or overweight individuals, based on the complete enumeration study that utilized the clinical and logging data entered...

In this paper we propose a test statistic to discriminate between models with finite variance and models with infinite variance. The test statistic is the ratio of the sample standard deviation and the sample interquartile range. Both asymptotic and finite sample properties of the test statistic are discussed. We show that the test has good power properties against infinite-variance distributio...

INTRODUCTION Distractions and interruptions of doctor's work, although common and potentially deleterious in the intensive care unit (ICU), are not well studied. METHODS We used a simple observational method to describe the frequency, sources and severity of such distractions, and explore at-risk situations in the ICU. Independent paired observers separately shadowed eight residents and three...

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a genetic disorder with multisystem involvement that poses significant challenges to the affected child and family. Caregiver knowledge in the South African population has not previously been reported. A prospective study of the parents of 21 children with tuberous sclerosis complex was undertaken. Median parental age was 38 (interquartile range 34.5-45) years. Par...

OBJECTIVES Poor quality of reporting of confounding has been observed in observational studies prior the STrenghtening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement, a reporting guideline for observational studies. We assessed whether the reporting of confounding improved after the STROBE statement. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We searched MEDLINE for all articles abou...

There are errors in Table 6, the last paragraph of the Experiment 1 Cognitive Estimation Task (CET) section, and Tables S6 and S7. Please view the correct paragraph and tables here: The distribution of the error scores for version A of the CET adjusted for age, gender and education is as follows: M = 4.11, Mdn = 4.00, SD = 3.32, minimum = -2, maximum = 21, interquartile range = 4.00. The distri...

An educational intervention was implemented at the University of Michigan starting in 2008, in which anesthesiology interns complete a dedicated month-long didactic rotation in evidence-based medicine (EBM) and research methodology. We sought to assess its utility. Scores on a validated EBM test before and after the rotation were compared and assessed for significance of improvement. A survey w...

BACKGROUND In adults it is recommended that the minimum of 10,000 steps/day should be performed in order to consider an individual as active. The pedometer, a small device that counts steps, has been used to monitor and/or motivate physical activity in various populations. OBJECTIVE To investigate the short-term effects of a protocol using a pedometer or an informative booklet to increase dai...