Raising awareness of uncertain choices in empirical data analysis: A teaching concept toward replicable research practices.

Throughout their education and when reading the scientific literature, students may get the impression that there is a unique and correct analysis strategy for every data analysis task and that this analysis strategy will always yield a significant and noteworthy result. This expectation conflicts with a growing realization that there is a multiplicity of possible analysis strategies in empirical research, which will lead to overoptimism and nonreplicable research findings if it is combined with result-dependent selective reporting. Here, we argue that students are often ill-equipped for real-world data analysis tasks and unprepared for the dangers of selectively reporting the most promising results. We present a seminar course intended for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students of data analysis fields such as statistics, data science, or bioinformatics that aims to increase the awareness of uncertain choices in the analysis of empirical data and present ways to deal with these choices through theoretical modules and practical hands-on sessions.

Role of detailed psychological evaluation and treatment in pulmonary rehabilitation programs for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Psychological co-morbidities are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but remain overlooked. Psychosocial interventions are deemed to promote mental health and optimize management. This study aimed to determine the role of detailed psychological evaluation and treatment in the comprehensive management of COPD. COPD patients after screening with the general health questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) for psychological co-morbidity were divided into three groups (26 patients each): i) group A [GHQ-12 score<3, received pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and standard medical management]; ii and iii) group B and C (GHQ-12 score>3, in addition, received management by a psychiatrist and counseling by a pulmonologist, respectively). At baseline and 8 weeks of follow-up, all participants were evaluated for respiratory [forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), six-minute walk distance (6-MWD), St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ), modified medical research council (mMRC) dyspnea scale], and psychological [GHQ-12, patient distress thermometer (PDT), coping strategy checklist (CSCL), World Health Organization-quality of life-brief (WHOQOL-Bref-26), and depression anxiety stress scales (DASS)] parameters. Psychological distress (GHQ-12>3) decreased significantly at follow-up, with 11.5% and 53.8% of patients having psychological distress in groups B and C, respectively, versus baseline (p<0.001). mMRC score, SGRQ score, FEV1 and 6-MWD significantly improved in all three groups. Improvement in mMRC and SGRQ was maximal in group B when compared with the other groups. PDT, CSCL, and WHO-QOL-Bref-26 scores improved significantly at follow-up in all three groups, with maximum improvement in group B, followed by group C, and then group A. The DASS score also improved maximally in group B. Patients should be screened for psychological co-morbidities using simple screening tools. PR plays an important role in improving the psychology of COPD patients. However, results are better with directed psycho-educative sessions by non-experts and best with definitive treatment by psychiatrists.

Tuberculosis and childhood cancer - A review of literature.

Tuberculosis and malignancy are major public health problems in developing countries like India and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an aerobic acid-fast bacilli which is an important pathogen especially complicating clinical status of paediatric oncology patients and treatment of infection with this bacilli is challenging in this subpopulation of patients because of ongoing immunosuppression and relative lack of published guidelines. Atypical presentations of tuberculosis in children also complicate the diagnosis and management. All the more, in tuberculosis endemic area lung cancer may be mistakenly diagnosed as tuberculosis or vice versa and this wrong diagnosis increases the burden on country's health status. It is noted that tuberculosis prevalence is high in children with haematological malignancy and head and neck tumours compared to other solid organ tumours. Moreover, it is found that morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis is more in children from WHO listed high TB burden countries who undergo hematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplantation. Use of immune checkpoint inhibitors as novel therapy in treatment of childhood malignancies has led to modification of the body's immunological response and has resulted in increased latent tuberculosis infection reactivation as one immune-related infectious consequence. Latent TB infection screening is important concept in management of paediatric oncology patients. Currently, the tests employed as screening diagnostics for LTBI are interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test and the tuberculin skin test (TST). Various regimens have been suggested for the treatment of LTBI. But, after a positive IGRA or TST and prior to latent TB treatment, active tuberculosis should be ruled out by detailed history taking, examination and appropriate investigations so as to minimize the risk of drug resistance with anti-tuberculosis monotherapy used in LTBI treatment. To add on to literature, Non tuberculous mycobacteria are universally present environmental organisms. However, in immunocompromised children especially in subpopulation of malignancy, NTM is known to cause infections which needs protocol based management. Also importance has to given to implementation of adequate preventive and corrective measures to prevent such opportunistic infection in paediatric oncology subpopulation. In this review, we provide an overview of tuberculosis in paediatric oncology patients and summarize the expansive body of literature on the tuberculosis mimicking carcinoma, tuberculosis burden in transplantation patients and those receiving immune check point inhibitors, latent TB infection screening and management, and NTM infection in children with malignancy.

Comentários de um treinador de futebol em condições de treino e competição / Comments from a soccer coach during training and competition situations

O principal objetivo deste trabalho é verificar se há diferenças nos comentários de um treinador de futebol amador direcionados a atletas em treino e competição. Participou da pesquisa um professor de educação física, que é treinador de uma escolinha de futebol. Com um gravador MP4 foram gravados quatro treinos e dois jogos. Os comentários do treinador foram transcritos e categorizados de acordo com duas grandes categorias de análise: Negativa, que se subdivide em Corretiva e Irônico-repressiva e Positiva, que se subdivide em Reforçadora, Motivadora e Instrucional. Os resultados apontam que a categoria Instrucional ocorre com maior frequência em ambas as situações de análise. Os dados indicam, no entanto, uma diferença na frequência total de comentários. A frequência total de comentários foi maior durante ambos os jogos em comparação aos treinos precedentes. Além disto, a ocorrência de comentários reforçadores é pouco frequente, fato que pode ter implicações no aprendizado dos alunos/jogadores.

The primary objective of this paper was to verify if there were differences in an amateur soccer coach comments targeted to athletes in training and competition situations. The behavior of a physical education teacher coaching an amateur soccer team was recorded, with a MP4 device. Coaching comments were recorded during two games and four training situations. Further, these comments were transcribed and categorized in two main categories: Negative, which is subdivided into Corrective and Ironic-Repressive comments, and Positive, which is subdivided into Reinforcing, Motivating and Instructional comments. The results indicated that the Instructional category occurred more frequently in both analysis conditions. The data shows, however, differences in the overall frequency of comments. The overall comments frequency were higher during both games than during the previous trainings situations. Furthermore, the occurrence of reinforcing feedback is infrequent, which may have implications for the students/players learning.