西夏宗义书《诸宗二谛显理要集记》初探

文章介绍《诸宗二谛显理要集记》并提供西夏录文和汉译。在此基础上讨论《诸宗二谛显理要集记》在西夏藏译宗义书中的地位,主要假设是西夏存在"大手印"和"大圆满"二种宗义书体系,《集记》似乎属于后者,即属于"旧译密咒"体系。文章认为,本文献内容显示其属于西夏本土佛教文献,系圆融汉藏佛教资料而成的宗义书。     

Robustness,Infinitesimal Neighborhoods,and Moment Restrictions

This paper is concerned with robust estimation under moment restrictions. A moment restriction model is semiparametric and distribution‐free; therefore it imposes mild assumptions. Yet it is reasonable to expect that the probability law of observations may have some deviations from the ideal distribution being modeled, due to various factors such as measurement errors. It is then sensible to seek an estimation procedure that is robust against slight perturbation in the probability measure that generates observations. This paper considers local deviations within shrinking topological neighborhoods to develop its large sample theory, so that both bias and variance matter asymptotically. The main result shows that there exists a computationally convenient estimator that achieves optimal minimax robust properties. It is semiparametrically efficient when the model assumption holds, and, at the same time, it enjoys desirable robust properties when it does not.     

Education and the Orthodox Religion

The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church discusses the role of the church in Russian society and politics, and argues against giving other religions a place in the school curriculum.     

Cognitive functions and health-related quality of life in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia and symptoms of overactive bladder when treated with a combination of tamsulosin and solifenacin in a higher dosage

Aim: To study the cognitive functions and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals taking a combination of tamsulosin and solifenacin in a higher dosage.

Methods: All patients (n?=?262) were assigned to group A (N?=?93, tamsulosin 0.4?mg?+?solifenacin 10?mg per day), group B (N?=?83, tamsulosin 0.4?mg?+?solifenacin 20?mg), and control group C (N?=?86; tamsulosin 0.4?mg?+?placebo). The lower urinary tract (LUT) condition was assessed on the scales International Prostate Symptom Score, Over Active Bladder Awareness Tool and uroflowmetry. The state of cognitive status was assessed on the scales Mini-mental State Examination, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised, Wechsler III, Color Trails Test, California Verbal Learning Test.

Results: The values of cognitive function indicators in the individuals from all groups after treatment did not significantly differ from the respective values at the baseline (p?>?.05). The values of most HRQoL parameters of the functional state of the LUT significantly improved in groups A and B. A significant correlation between the state of cognitive status and HRQoL, as well as LUT was absent (r?<0.3).

Conclusion: The combination of solifenacin in a double dosage along with tamsulosin can be recommended for elderly benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with overactive bladder symptoms.     

The effective tool for self-assessment of adherence to treatment in patients with benign prostatic obstruction and overactive bladder symptoms

Purpose: Study of validity of the Medication Adherence Self-Report Inventory (MASRI) for use in clinical practice to treat patients with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) accompanied with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms.

Methods: During 12 weeks of the randomized study, 452 patients with BPO and OAB symptoms (mean age of 61.3 (12.7)) were studied for adherence to the treatment with Tamsulosin, Solifenacin and Trospium using the MASRI. External monitoring instruments included the Brief Medication Questionnaire (BMQ) and the visual remaining pill count. The state of the prostate gland and the lower urinary tract was monitored using questionnaires I-PSS, OAB Awareness Tool, uroflowmetry and voiding diaries.

Result: Correlation between the percentage of men non-adherent to treatment (MASRI) and the percentage of patients having a belief barrier on the screen of the BMQ was r?=?0.89, p?≤0.05, r?=?0.92, p?≤0.01, r?=?0.85, p?≤0.05, a number of missed doses on the Regimen Screen of the BMQ was r?=?0.79; p?≤0.05; r?=?0.81; p?≤0.05; r?=?0.75, p?≤0.05, a number of non-adherent patients according to the BMQ was r?=?0.83 (p?≤0.05), r?=?0.88 (p?≤0.05), r?=?0.79, p?≤0.05, the results of the pill count were r?=?0.65–0.76; p?≤0.05-0.01. These data confirm high validity of the MASRI.

Conclusion: The MASRI is a valid tool for rapid assessment of adherence to treatment of patients with BPO and OAB receiving Tamsulosin and antimuscarinic drugs and may be recommended for use in clinical practice.