Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Program Efficiency”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cd-hit: a fast program for clustering and comparing large sets of protein or nucleotide sequences.

MOTIVATION: In 2001 and 2002, we published two papers (Bioinformatics, 17, 282-283, Bioinformatics, 18, 77-82) describing an ultrafast protein sequence clustering program called cd-hit. This program can efficiently cluster a huge protein database with millions of sequences. However, the applications of the underlying algorithm are not limited to only protein sequences clustering, here we present several new programs using the same algorithm including cd-hit-2d, cd-hit-est and cd-hit-est-2d. Cd-hit-2d compares two protein datasets and reports similar matches between them; cd-hit-est clusters a DNA/RNA sequence database and cd-hit-est-2d compares two nucleotide datasets. All these programs can handle huge datasets with millions of sequences and can be hundreds of times faster than methods based on the popular sequence comparison and database search tools, such as BLAST.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2004

HAPLORE: a program for haplotype reconstruction in general pedigrees without recombination.

MOTIVATION: Haplotype reconstruction is an essential step in genetic linkage and association studies. Although many methods have been developed to estimate haplotype frequencies and reconstruct haplotypes for a sample of unrelated individuals, haplotype reconstruction in large pedigrees with a large number of genetic markers remains a challenging problem. METHODS: We have developed an efficient computer program, HAPLORE (HAPLOtype REconstruction), to identify all haplotype sets that are compatible with the observed genotypes in a pedigree for tightly linked genetic markers. HAPLORE consists of three steps that can serve different needs in applications. In the first step, a set of logic rules is used to reduce the number of compatible haplotypes of each individual in the pedigree as much as possible. After this step, the haplotypes of all individuals in the pedigree can be completely or partially determined. These logic rules are applicable to completely linked markers and they can be used to impute missing data and check genotyping errors. In the second step, a haplotype-elimination algorithm similar to the genotype-elimination algorithms used in linkage analysis is applied to delete incompatible haplotypes derived from the first step. All superfluous haplotypes of the pedigree members will be excluded after this step. In the third step, the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm combined with the partition and ligation technique is used to estimate haplotype frequencies based on the inferred haplotype configurations through the first two steps. Only compatible haplotype configurations with haplotypes having frequencies greater than a threshold are retained. RESULTS: We test the effectiveness and the efficiency of HAPLORE using both simulated and real datasets. Our results show that, the rule-based algorithm is very efficient for completely genotyped pedigree. In this case, almost all of the families have one unique haplotype configuration. In the presence of missing data, the number of compatible haplotypes can be substantially reduced by HAPLORE, and the program will provide all possible haplotype configurations of a pedigree under different circumstances, if such multiple configurations exist. These inferred haplotype configurations, as well as the haplotype frequencies estimated by the EM algorithm, can be used in genetic linkage and association studies. AVAILABILITY: The program can be downloaded from http://bioinformatics.med.yale.edu.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1996

Fast Second Order Learning Algorithm for Feedforward Multilayer Neural Networks and its Applications.

The paper presents the efficient training program of multilayer feedforward neural networks. It is based on the best second order optimization algorithms including variable metric and conjugate gradient as well as application of directional minimization in each step. Its efficiency is proved on the standard tests, including parity, dichotomy, logistic and two-spiral problems. The application of the algorithm to the solution of higher dimensionality problems like deconvolution, separation of sources and identification of nonlinear dynamic plant are also given and discussed. It is shown that the appropriately trained neural network can be used for the nonconventional solution of these standard signal processing tasks with satisfactory accuracy. The results of numerical experiments are included and discussed in the paper. Copyright 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

[Efficiency of guidelines and educational program: a training process for the diagnosis of low back pain].

BACKGROUND: The Italian National Health Plan has included low back pain (LBP) among the pathologies for which clinical guidelines should be created and disseminated. A change in the clinical behaviour of doctors requires forms of intervention whose efficiency is not fully known. OBJECTIVES: This study proposes to evaluate the efficacy of a multifaceted intervention, including educational materials, lectures, workshops and local consensus processes, in order to modify the General Practitioners' (GP) clinical treatment of LBP. METHODS: Changes in diagnostic capacity have been evaluated through a controlled (before/after) trial based on the frequency of etiological diagnoses of LBP, the testing of clinical knowledge with multiple choice tests, and on priorities given in confronting problems of treatment of LBP by the three GP's groups that had voluntarily adhered to the study. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase of diagnostic capacity (the frequency of exact responses in the multiple choice test) was achieved. There was also a shifting of priorities in confronting problems in the treatment of LBP, from the diagnosis as a primary issue before intervening, to communication with the patient. CONCLUSIONS: Within the Italian context, the study also confirms the efficiency of a multifaceted intervention based on a training process aimed at modifying the clinical behaviour of the GP with respect to LBP.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Serodiagnosis of African swine fever using the recombinant protein p30 expressed in insect larvae.

African swine fever (ASF) has a substantial economic impact in many African developing countries and its eradication is based only on an efficient diagnosis program because of the absence of an available vaccine. Previous data suggested the convenience of using the highly antigenic virus protein p30 as ELISA antigen for serological diagnosis of this disease. A simple and efficient method is described for producing the recombinant protein p30 from ASF virus in Trichoplusia ni larvae (cabbage looper) in order to facilitate the large-scale production of this recombinant protein in the absence of fermentation procedures. A baculovirus encoding the virus protein p30 was used to infect insect larvae, showing that recombinant protein production had a sharp optimal peak with a time of occurrence dependent on the initial virus dose inoculated to the larvae. Crude lysates of infected larvae were used without further purification as coating antigen in ELISA to analyse a limited number of sera from natural or experimentally ASF virus infected pigs. Remarkably, the recombinant protein obtained from a single infected larva was sufficient for serological diagnosis of at least 3750 serum samples. Recombinant p30 obtained by this procedure was also used in a confirmatory immunoblotting, reacting with all positive sera tested previously by ELISA. In conclusion, production of the recombinant ASF virus protein p30 in larvae should be applicable to large-scale production of diagnostic reagents for this disease in developing countries, eliminating the need for specialised facilities for tissue culture.

African Swine Fever↗
PubMed2004

The maximum-likelihood strategy for determining transcranial magnetic stimulation motor threshold, using parameter estimation by sequential testing is faster than conventional methods with similar precision.

BACKGROUND: The resting motor threshold (rMT) is the basic unit of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) dosing. Traditional methods of determining rMT involve finding a threshold of either visible movement or electromyography (EMG) motor-evoked potentials, commonly approached from above and below and then averaged. This time-consuming method typically uses many TMS pulses. Mathematical programs can efficiently determine a threshold by calculating the next intensity needed based on the prior results. Within our group of experienced TMS researchers, we sought to perform an illustrative study to compare one of these programs, the Maximum-Likelihood Strategy using Parameter Estimation by Sequential Testing (MLS-PEST) approach, to a modification of the traditional International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (IFCN) method for determining rMT in terms of the time and pulses required and the rMT value. METHODS: One subject participated in the study. Five researchers determined the same subject's rMT on 4 separate days-twice using EMG and twice using visible movement. On each visit, researchers used both the MLS-PEST and the IFCN methods, in alternating order. RESULTS: The MLS-PEST approach was significantly faster and used fewer pulses to estimate rMT. For EMG-determined rMT, MLS-PEST and IFCN derived similar rMT, whereas for visible movement MLS-PEST rMT was higher than for IFCN. CONCLUSIONS: The MLS-PEST algorithm is a promising alternative to traditional, time-consuming methods for determining rMT. Because the EMG-PEST method is totally automated, it may prove useful in studies using rMT as a quickly changing variable, as well as in large-scale clinical trials. Further work with PEST is warranted.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1993

Electronic databases and privacy protection: issues for a free society.

More efficiently managed programs of health insurance claims processing and remittance with reduced costs and paperwork burdens hold out the potential for increased benefits to subscribers and health insurers alike. The computer/telecommunications systems and databases by which these efficiencies may be realized also hold great promise for improved services in other arenas. Early and candid recognition of the equally great potential for danger and abuse in those systems and the technology can guide the development and implementation of appropriate and necessary safeguards to individual privacy and to a democratic society in concert with system design.

Civil Rights↗
PubMed1997

Five Weekend National Family Medicine Fellowship. Program for faculty development.

PROBLEM ADDRESSEDMany faculty development programs are thought time-consuming and inaccessible to academic family physicians or physicians wanting to move into academic positions. This is largely due to difficulty in leaving their practices for extended periods. Canadian family medicine needs trained leaders who can work in teams and are well grounded in the principles of their discipline as they relate to education, management, research, and policy making.OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAMTo develop a team of leaders in family medicine.MAIN COMPONENTS OF PROGRAMThe Five Weekend National Family Medicine Fellowship Program focuses on the essentials of education, management, communication, critical appraisal skills, and the principles of family medicine to develop leadership and team-building skills for faculty and community-based family physicians entering academic careers. This unique 1-year program combines intensive weekend seminars with small-group projects between weekends. It emphasizes a broader set of skills than just teaching, has regional representation, and focuses on leadership and teamwork using a time-efficient format.CONCLUSIONThe program has graduated 34 Fellows over the last 3 years. More than 90% of the 35 projects developed through course work have been presented in national or provincial peer-reviewed settings. Quantitative ratings of program structure, course content, and course outcomes have been positive.

Canada↗
PubMed1992

Quality assurance in EMS systems.

QA activities in EMS systems are severely hampered unless a central agency exists to coordinate data collection, funding, and communication between agencies and field providers. EMS systems must address these issues successfully to maximize their efforts. Some regions (San Francisco, King County, Washington, Burbank, California) have developed dedicated organizations for the evaluation of prehospital care. These organizations can greatly reduce the logistic impediments to evaluating EMS care and initiating improvements. A clear goal of any QA program is improved patient care. This noble goal by itself will not move an EMS system to embrace needed changes. Other compelling reasons for organizations to support quality management activities include decreased costs resulting from improved efficiency. QA programs may improve provider morale as a result of participation in the move toward excellence, and pride in workmanship. One survey found an improved sense of teamwork after initiating these programs. Patients must receive quality emergency medical care from the moment they enter the health care system. Leadership by the medical community is crucial if this goal is to be realized.

Data Collection↗
PubMed2006

The role of evidence in formulating public health programs to prevent oral disease and promote oral health in the United States.

A major goal of federal, state, and local health agencies is to reduce the burden of disease in populations. To obtain sufficient resources to achieve this goal, they must document the importance of the health problems addressed and the impact and efficiency of programs. CDC supports core activities within state and local health departments to promote health and prevent disease. This presentation will focus on the need for evidence to document the effectiveness of these activities that include routine monitoring of oral health, risk behaviors, and other factors; implementing effective population-based interventions; and evaluating programs to ensure successful translation of interventions. CDC supports research to build the evidence for innovative strategies to promote oral health in communities. This presentation should increase awareness of evidence-based tools and activities that are supported by CDC to strengthen public health practice within states.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗
PubMed2006

A highly efficient living donor kidney exchange program for both blood type and crossmatch incompatible donor-recipient combinations.

BACKGROUND: Lack of deceased donors for kidney transplant patients in the Netherlands encouraged alternative options to expand the living donor pool for recipients who have a willing donor but cannot donate directly because of a positive crossmatch or ABO blood type incompatibility. A national donor kidney exchange was considered as a possible solution. METHODS: From January 2004 until June 2006, 146 couples from seven kidney transplantation centers were enrolled and participated in 10 match procedures. The Dutch Transplant Foundation was responsible for the allocation and the National Reference Laboratory for Histocompatibility in Leiden performed all the serological crossmatches. RESULTS: For 72 out of the 146 (49%) donor-recipient combinations, a match was found. The success rate in the positive crossmatch group was significantly (P = 0.0015) higher than in the ABO-incompatible group (44/69 vs. 28/77); median panel reactive antibodies of the matched recipients in the positive crossmatch group was 38% (0-100) and in the ABO-incompatible group 0% (0-27; P < 0.001). We were least successful for ABO blood type incompatible pairs with blood type O recipients, but for 9/53 (17%) there were possibilities. These nine blood type incompatible pairs were coupled to nine positive crossmatch pairs, which reflects the efficiency of combining the two categories of donor-recipient combinations into one program. CONCLUSION: The donor kidney exchange program in the Netherlands, in which all seven kidney transplantation centers participated, proved to be a successful program to expand the number of living donor kidney transplantations.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed2005

MULTIHYDRO and MONTEHYDRO: conformational search and Monte Carlo calculation of solution properties of rigid or flexible bead models.

A computer program, MULTIHYDRO, has been constructed for the calculation of hydrodynamic coefficients and other solution properties of multiple possible conformations of a bead model. With minimal additional programming to describe the model under study, this program interfaces efficiently with HYDRO for the calculation of solution properties, including hydrodynamic coefficients, radius of gyration, covolume, etc. A useful application is the conformation search of rigid macromolecules, because many possible conformations can be evaluated in a single run of the program. In this paper we also pay attention to the properties of flexible macromolecules, in the so-called Monte Carlo rigid-body approximation, which is virtually exact for the simpler solution properties. The theoretical aspects of the procedure are described, and we show how MULTIHYDRO can be employed for this calculation. However, for flexible molecules, a more general simulation scheme is importance-sampling Monte Carlo generation. We describe how this procedure is implemented in another computer program, MONTEHYDRO. Examples of the usage of these tools are provided.

Macromolecular Substances↗
PubMed1978

[Economic aspects of prevention. Efficiency and structure of the health care system].

The structure of the health care system has been examined, the health care sector being defined as all measures taken to promote and preserve good health. A review of the international literature came to the following conclusions:--The correlation between medical care and health status is at most very limited.--The empirical evidence suggests that efficient preventive programs--both for primary and for secondary prevention--would be possible.--We therefore come to the conclusion that the division between medical care and prevention is not optimal and that furthering prevention at the cost of medical care would increase the efficiency of the health care sector. Conclusive statements concerning the efficiency of additional preventive measures are not possible with the research undertaken to date.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1984

Effects of exercise on the physical fitness, intelligence, and adaptive behavior of institutionalized mentally retarded adults.

The effects of a seven-month aerobic-type exercise program on physical fitness and intelligence of institutionalized adult mentally retarded persons were evaluated. Sixty-five subjects, matched on IQ, CA, and sex, were assigned randomly to exercise (PF), attention control (AC), and nonintervention control (C) groups. PF and AC groups participated in 139 training sessions, three hours per day, five days per week. The exercise consisted of running/jogging, calisthenics, and circuit training; those in the AC groups received a special education program; the C group continued their normal institutional training programs. Cardiovascular efficiency improved in the PF group. IQ and adaptive behavior did not improve as a result of any treatment. Even though standardized tests reflected little change in adaptive behavior of participants, subjective reports suggest PF training may serve as an effective habilitation program for many institutionalized mentally retarded adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quest. An intervention program for children whose parent or grandparent has cancer.

PURPOSE: The emotional strains and anxiety experienced by a family system when a parent or significant adult member has cancer are well documented. Furthermore, the literature suggests a need for an intervention program for children whose parent or grandparent has cancer. The current article describes Quest, an intervention program for children and teenagers whose parent or grandparent has cancer. Quest is designed to facilitate positive coping with a parent's or grandparent's cancer diagnosis, increase understanding about cancer, and promote more positive communication about the diagnosis within the family system. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: Quest is a 2-hour, biannual evening program targeted to children and adolescents whose parent or grandparent has cancer and structured to include educational information as well as time for expression of feelings. RESULTS: The child, parent, and staff evaluations have been overwhelmingly positive and indicate the value of the program. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This program might be useful to other clinicians who have limited time to address a small, but important population affected by a cancer diagnosis in a family member. The structure and organization of the program make efficient use of time, yet address major issues affecting the children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Educational needs assessment in physical medicine and rehabilitation: the Foundation of Continuing Medical Education.

Continuing medical education (CME) needs of practitioners are often poorly defined, leaving CME providers little objective data for planning programs. Likewise, practitioners may not have a clear objective picture of their educational needs before engaging in CME. This paper identifies the responsibilities of both CME providers and practitioners for the identification of CME learners' needs as the first step in planning an efficient educational program. A quality CME program starts with learner needs assessment (LNA), plans and implements accordingly, and finishes with an evaluation linked to the initial LNA. Educational process effectiveness and cost effectiveness are two important results of the use of LNA. Four specific contributions of LNA to planning CME are also discussed: (1) who/what to assess, (2) identification of causes, (3) how to assess and (4) how to decide. This systematic LNA process has the potential to improve the quality of future CME offerings by allowing physiatrists to objectively assess their educational needs and by giving CME providers better data for planning CME.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗
PubMed1986

A microcomputer system for the practising cardiac surgeon.

The authors present a computer program designed for the practising cardiac surgeon who wishes to computerize patient data. The program is efficient, versatile and can be adapted to individual needs. It can be used with any IBM PC-compatible machine and requires little knowledge of computer science. More than 250 items on 30 000 patients can be stored and all this information analysed simultaneously. The program can chart a patient's profile and tabulate the information of the entire registry. It can generate lists of patients with their surgeons, cardiologists, diagnoses, operations and dates of intervention. It can also be used for mailing purposes.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗