Validation of surrogate end points in multiple randomized clinical trials with failure time end points

Before a surrogate end point can replace a final (true) end point in the evaluation of an experimental treatment, it must be formally 'validated'. The validation will typically require large numbers of observations. It is therefore useful to consider situations in which data are available from several randomized experiments. For two normally distributed end points Buyse and co-workers suggested a new definition of validity in terms of the quality of both trial level and individual level associations between the surrogate and true end points. This paper extends this approach to the important case of two failure time end points, using bivariate survival modelling. The method is illustrated by using two actual sets of data from cancer clinical trials.     

EVALUATING SOCIAL LEARNING POTENTIALS GENERATED BY EU STRUCTURAL FUNDING PROGRAMMES

The EU structural funding programmes affect the circumstances in which people and organizations are to take part in regional development. The evaluation of this institutional impact poses a challenge to policy analysis. This paper suggests that the evolution of participation conditions can be evaluated by focusing on the social learning potential generated by the practices of programme implementation. Following Bourdieu, the context of social learning is described as a field; the crucial quality of a field is its level of autonomy. The analysis of the regional implementation of two Objective 5b programmes shows that the logic of structural funding restricts participation in many crucial ways. At the same time the constitution of social learning potential depends on the quality of the fields for which the programmes provide symbolic capital. However, policy implementation is non-linear by nature. The initiatives of civil actors and ‘reflexive practitioners’ can, for example, make a difference.     

Joint Modelling of Recurrent Infections and Antibody Response by Bayesian Data Augmentation

Abstract.  A joint dynamic model for the interdependence between infection, immunity and risk of disease is presented. Recurrent latent infections are modelled as realizations from a renewal process and antibody dynamics as a diffusion with a decreasing drift modified by the stimulating effect of the random infections. The augmented submodels are estimated simultaneously in one large Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. As an example, we consider the risk of recurrent ear infections when having only partially observed information on bacterial carriage and antibody concentrations.     

Values of Portuguese/non‐Portuguese mothers of kindergarten children,and of kindergarten teachers

The aim of this research was to identify continuities/discontinuities in the values of Portuguese mothers with kindergarten children belonging to high and low socio‐cultural backgrounds, mothers from different cultures and kindergarten teachers. The sample was composed of sixty‐five mothers (fourteen Roma, fifteen Indian, twelve African, and ten Portuguese from low socio‐cultural backgrounds, and fourteen Portuguese from middle and high socio‐cultural backgrounds) and fifteen kindergarten teachers, from middle and high socio‐cultural backgrounds. They all worked in multicultural classes, and all were aged between 18 and 45. A list of behaviors and open questions about adaptive/non‐adaptive behaviors and the metaphor of Adaptive Adult were applied to identify their values. Results show continuities and discontinuities in mothers’ and kindergarten teachers’ values. The most important were: (1) valuing of autonomy by the kindergarten teachers and Portuguese mothers from high socio‐economic backgrounds and (2) valuing of conformity by Indian and Roma mothers. Discontinuities were also observed between (1) kindergarten teachers and all groups of mothers concerning personal fulfillment, only valued by kindergarten teachers, (2) professional fulfillment, only valued by Indian mothers, and (3) self characteristics, only valued by Portuguese mothers from a low socio‐economic background. Implications of these results are analyzed with regard to research, the training of kindergarten teachers and the nature of interventions with parents.     

An Investigation into Needs of People Living with Multiple Sclerosis, and Their Families

Forty people living with multiple sclerosis and/or their families were interviewed to assess their knowledge of, use of, needs for, and attitudes towards support groups. The majority of participants were both misinformed about their illness and ignorant of resources available to them, resulting in much stress and anxiety. It is felt that information-both about their disease condition and of support structures-needs systematically to be available and accessible to patients on diagnosis, and is a necessary component for empowerment.     

Universities Need a Market Orientation to Attract Non-Traditional Stakeholders as New Financing Sources

Reflecting the level of priority currently attributed to public university financing in ongoing discussions, the objective of this article is to debate alternative forms of attracting resources from stakeholders not normally associated with the financing of public universities. We begin by detailing sources of university financing as it slowly migrates from the public sector to the market. After we move on to describe the main public university stakeholders and the respective relationships between the parties. Finally, our discussion focuses on different means and alternatives ways, to finance public universities through use of non-traditional stakeholders giving some examples. In conclusions we find that despite university managers normally being aware of such entities, the other internal university actors show a lack of pro-activeness regarding the opportunities presented by different stakeholders. So the public universities need to actively engage with the marketplace, and this reality can be achieved if at internal level they are assigned priorities for the relationships with these new stakeholders.