Brown University

About: Brown University is a education organization based out in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 35778 authors who have published 90896 publications receiving 4471489 citations. The organization is also known as: brown.edu & Brown.

Intermedia: the concept and the construction of a seamless information environment

Abstract: A description is given of Intermedia, a tool designed to support both teaching and research in a university environment. This multiapplication hypermedia system provides linking capabilities integrated into a desktop user environment. Hypermedia is simply an extension of hypertext that incorporates other media in addition to text. To promote consistency, the applications were built with an object-oriented framework. A sample Intermedia session is presented. >

Switching to Another SSRI or to Venlafaxine With or Without Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents With SSRI-Resistant Depression: The TORDIA Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract: Context Only about 60% of adolescents with depression will show an adequate clinical response to an initial treatment trial with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). There are no data to guide clinicians on subsequent treatment strategy. Objective To evaluate the relative efficacy of 4 treatment strategies in adolescents who continued to have depression despite adequate initial treatment with an SSRI. Design, Setting, and Participants Randomized controlled trial of a clinical sample of 334 patients aged 12 to 18 years with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder that had not responded to a 2-month initial treatment with an SSRI, conducted at 6 US academic and community clinics from 2000-2006. Interventions Twelve weeks of: (1) switch to a second, different SSRI (paroxetine, citalopram, or fluoxetine, 20-40 mg); (2) switch to a different SSRI plus cognitive behavioral therapy; (3) switch to venlafaxine (150-225 mg); or (4) switch to venlafaxine plus cognitive behavioral therapy. Main Outcome Measures Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement score of 2 or less (much or very much improved) and a decrease of at least 50% in the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R); and change in CDRS-R over time. Results Cognitive behavioral therapy plus a switch to either medication regimen showed a higher response rate (54.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 47%-62%) than a medication switch alone (40.5%; 95% CI, 33%-48%;P = .009), but there was no difference in response rate between venlafaxine and a second SSRI (48.2%; 95% CI, 41%-56% vs 47.0%; 95% CI, 40%-55%;P = .83). There were no differential treatment effects on change in the CDRS-R, self-rated depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, or on the rate of harm-related or any other adverse events. There was a greater increase in diastolic blood pressure and pulse and more frequent occurrence of skin problems during venlafaxine than SSRI treatment. Conclusions For adolescents with depression not responding to an adequate initial treatment with an SSRI, the combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and a switch to another antidepressant resulted in a higher rate of clinical response than did a medication switch alone. However, a switch to another SSRI was just as efficacious as a switch to venlafaxine and resulted in fewer adverse effects. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00018902

Finite time stability under perturbing forces and on product spaces

Abstract: This paper continues the development of a qualitative theory of stability, recently initiated by the authors, for systems operating over finite time intervals. The theory is motivated by 1) the need for a more practical concept of stability than is provided by the classical theory; and 2) the search for methods for investigating stability of a system trajectory (either analytically or numerically given) without the necessity of performing complicated transformations of the differential equations involved. The systems studied in this paper are nonautonomous, i.e., they are under the influence of external forces, and the concept of finite time stability (precisely defined in the paper) in this case involves the bounding of trajectories within specified regions of the state space during a given finite time interval. (The input is assumed to be bounded by a known quantity during this time interval.) Sufficient conditions are given for various types of finite time stability of a system under the influence of perturbing forces which enter the system equations linearly. These conditions take the form of existence of "Liapunov-like" functions whose properties differ significantly from those of classical Liapunov functions. In particular, there is no requirement of definiteness on such functions or their derivative. The remainder of the paper deals with the problem of determining finite time stability properties of a system from knowledge of the finite time stability properties of lower-order subsystems which, when appropriately coupled, form the original system. An example is given which illustrates some of the concepts discussed in the paper.

Guidelines for improving entry into and retention in care and antiretroviral adherence for persons with HIV: evidence-based recommendations from an International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care panel.

Abstract: Description: After HIV diagnosis, timely entry into HIV medical care and retention in that care are essential to the provision of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART adherence is among the key determinants of successful HIV treatment outcome and is essential to minimize the emergence of drug resistance. The International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care convened a panel to develop evidence-based recommendations to optimize entry into and retention in care and ART adherence for people with HIV. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to produce an evidence base restricted to randomized, controlled trials and observational studies with comparators that had at least 1 measured biological or behavioral end point. A total of 325 studies met the criteria. Two reviewers independently extracted and coded data from each study using a standardized data extraction form. Panel members drafted recommendations based on the body of evidence for each method or intervention and then graded the overall quality of the body of evidence and the strength for each recommendation. Recommendations: Recommendations are provided for monitoring of entry into and retention in care, interventions to improve entry and retention, and monitoring of and interventions to improve ART adherence. Recommendations cover ART strategies, adherence tools, education and counseling, and health system and service delivery interventions. In addition, they cover specific issues pertaining to pregnant women, incarcerated individuals, homeless and marginally housed individuals, and children and adolescents, as well as substance use and mental health disorders. Recommendations for future research in all areas are also provided.

The Effect of Teacher Coaching on Instruction and Achievement: A Meta-Analysis of the Causal Evidence:

Abstract: Teacher coaching has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional models of professional development. We review the empirical literature on teacher coaching and conduct meta-analyses to estima...