Optimal designs for non-competitive enzyme inhibition kinetic models

In this paper, we present a new method for determining optimal designs for enzyme inhibition kinetic models, which are used to model the influence of the concentration of a substrate and an inhibition on the velocity of a reaction. The approach uses a nonlinear transformation of the vector of predictors such that the model in the new coordinates is given by an incomplete response surface model. Although there exist no explicit solutions of the optimal design problem for incomplete response surface models so far, the corresponding design problem in the new coordinates is substantially more transparent, such that explicit or numerical solutions can be determined more easily. The designs for the original problem can finally be found by an inverse transformation of the optimal designs determined for the response surface model. We illustrate the method determining explicit solutions for the D-optimal design and for the optimal design problem for estimating the individual coefficients in a non-competitive enzyme inhibition kinetic model.     

A Unified Approach of Meta-Analysis: Application to an Antecedent Biomarker Study in Alzheimer's Disease

This article provides a unified methodology of meta-analysis that synthesizes medical evidence by using both available individual patient data (IPD) and published summary statistics within the framework of likelihood principle. Most up-to-date scientific evidence on medicine is crucial information not only to consumers but also to decision makers, and can only be obtained when existing evidence from the literature and the most recent individual patient data are optimally synthesized. We propose a general linear mixed effects model to conduct meta-analyses when individual patient data are only available for some of the studies and summary statistics have to be used for the rest of the studies. Our approach includes both the traditional meta-analyses in which only summary statistics are available for all studies and the other extreme case in which individual patient data are available for all studies as special examples. We implement the proposed model with statistical procedures from standard computing packages. We provide measures of heterogeneity based on the proposed model. Finally, we demonstrate the proposed methodology through a real life example studying the cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers to identify individuals with high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease when they are still cognitively normal.     

Examining the Incidence and Clients’ Experiences of Single Session Therapy in Italy: A Feasibility Study

Single session therapy (SST) postulates that one session can be sufficient for a client to take charge of the process and work toward their own solutions. Research has been conducted worldwide corroborating SST assumptions with several mental health conditions, but not in Italy. For the first time in Italy, this paper aims to explore: (1) if the most frequent number of sessions in traditional psychotherapy (not SST) is one (Study 1); and (2) the satisfaction of clients who attend SST services and the number who consider one session sufficient to address their presenting problem (Study 2). In Study 1, the records of 476 voluntary clients referred to three different traditional (not SST) psychological services in the west-central region of Latium, Italy, were retrospectively screened, and the number of sessions attended by each client recorded. In Study 2, 85 consecutive clients who voluntarily asked for SST with seven mental health professionals across Italy received a link to an online ad hoc survey, 1–3 weeks after the consultation, evaluating their experience. Study 1 found that the most frequent number of traditional psychotherapeutic (not intentionally SST) sessions was one (124 out of 476 clients (26%). Study 2 found that 44 out of 85 clients (52%) considered one session to be enough, as they felt better or much better and chose not to attend further sessions. Of those who asked for a second session (41 clients), 33 clients (80.5%) indicated that the first session was not enough and 8 clients (19.5%) wanted to address a new problem. These results converge with previous international studies and provide encouragement for the use of SST in both private and public psychological services to address the demand for timely mental health services in Italy. Further research is needed to support the efficacy of SST and to evaluate its cost-effectiveness.     

Comparing the effectiveness of individual and group therapy for students with symptoms of anxiety and depression: A randomized pilot study

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of individual versus group therapy for anxiety and depression among university students. Participants: Forty-one university students experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and/or depression participated during one of three academic semesters from 2015 to 2016. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to either 6-weeks of individual or group therapy and completed outcome measures at pre-and-post-treatment. Results: Significant reductions in both depression and anxiety scores were found across time, with no significant difference between group and individual therapy outcomes. Exploratory analysis of attitudes toward therapy found that while individual therapy was rated more favorably than group therapy overall, attitudes toward therapy became more favorable from pre to post-treatment for all participants. An interaction showed differences in attitudes toward individual and group therapy according to participants’ randomly assigned treatment. Conclusions: These findings support the increased usage of group therapy within university counseling centers, with implications for stepped care discussed.     

Implementing Single Session Therapy

In recent decades, discussion about clinical practice has been dominated by a focus on evidence‐based treatments, whilst the translation of evidence‐based treatments into practice has been neglected or avoided. The single session therapy (SST) field reflects this general trend. As a result, the community has not benefited from available service improvements simply because they have not found their way into core practice or been translated across state‐wide services. This article draws on a range of implementation projects managed by The Bouverie Centre, in particular a successful state‐wide SST implementation project conducted in collaboration with Victorian community health counselling services, to raise implementation dilemmas and suggest practical ideas about the translation of SST ideas into mainstream clinical practice. It is hoped this discussion will be of interest to those wanting to translate any new idea into practice.     

生态学视野下的群体分析

群体是事物存在的一种表现形式，事物的作用和事物作用的发挥程度与事物的群体是密不可分的。对事物群体的研究不但有助于对事物个体的深入了解，而且更能在整体上了解事物所具有的属性。事物的群体属性是事物的根本所在。     

求索的步履:新时期人学思潮的演进历程及其当下意义

文章阐述了新时期文学中人学思潮的演进历程及其各个阶段的不同诉求。新时期之初的人学思潮对过去失去理性的盲从进行了反思,呼唤整个民族的觉醒,带有全民族的整体性。之后从政治的反思转向文化的反思,主张探寻人的主体世界,发挥个体的创造性。随着中国社会转型期的到来,文学由对主体意识的重视逐渐深化为对个体自我生存处境和生命意识的关注。而新的人文价值观在当下文化语境中萌发出新启蒙的使命感,以期从生存困惑和价值失落中探寻人的未来发展。     

功利主义下实现分配正义的现实考量

在承认功利主义有用的前提下,还要实现分配正义,就是把个人福利与社会福利统一起来,既不能以单纯追求个人福利为目标,也不能以实现社会福利为名侵犯个人福利。这就需要对两个概念都进行修正,以思考创建适应社会主义市场经济体制的分配哲学,协调宏观经济增长与微观个体分配间的关系。     

Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for DSM-IV Sexual Dysfunctions in Breast Cancer Survivors: Predictors of Treatment Response

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated factors predictive of the effect of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in breast cancer survivors with a sexual dysfunction. Methods: Fifty-five women completed questionnaires assessing sexual functioning and distress at baseline and post-CBT. Results: Higher therapy compliance and better partner baseline sexual functioning predicted better post-CBT sexual functioning. Higher therapy compliance and higher partner relationship satisfaction predicted lower sexual distress. Therapy compliance, in turn, was predicted by active partner involvement in therapy and a stronger therapeutic relationship. Conclusions: To increase the effect of internet-based CBT, we recommend partner involvement in therapy and establishing a strong therapeutic relationship.