Selection Of Independent Binary Features Using Probabilities: An Example From Veterinary Medicine

Supervised classification into c mutually exclusive classes based on n binary features is considered. The only information available is an n×c table with probabilities. Knowing that the best d features are not the d best, simulations were run for 4 feature selection methods and an application to diagnosing BSE in cattle and Scrapie in sheep is presented

Pattern matching models of veterinary diagnosis

In a survey of veterinarians and veterinary students pattern matching, pathophysiological reasoning and probabilities were recognised by both groups as pattern recognition strategies used in diagnosis. Veterinary students stated that they used pathophysiological reasoning most often and the veterinarians replied that they used pattern matching most frequently. Logical exclusion was used provided the data was reliable. The veterinarians indicated that they used the signs observed to be present and the signs observed to be absent during pattern recognition.Pattern recognition analysis using case reports identified that pattern recognition was a function of a pattern matching model and not a function of a Bayes' theorem probability model with cr without prevalence data. The pattern matching model most closely resembled the results of each veterinarian regardless of their experience level.A pattern matching system for the identification of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (B.S.E) was devised. This system contained four pattern matching models.The system used prototype descriptions of the differential diagnoses based upon the point prevalence frequencies of the signs within diseases. The most accurate model for the recognition of the prototype disease descriptions used the signs observed to be present and absent with logical exclusion.The sensitivities of the B.S.E. pattern matching system and 25 final year veterinary students were tested with 50 confirmed B.S.E case reports. The model with the highest sensitivity used the signs observed to be present and logical exclusion. Three cf the models were significantly better than the veterinary students at diagnosing B.S.E in patients with the disease. The model which allowed for the greatest amount of uncertainty regarding the input data had the lowest sensitivity.A hypothetico-deductive pattern matching model was devised using sign point prevalence frequencies. This hypothetico-deductive pattern matching model of diagnosis was compared to 5 veterinarians. The performance of the model was equivalent to cr better than the veterinarians

Thank You to Our Reviewers

As Editor-in-chief I would like to thank all of our editors and reviewers for their continued support of the Veterinary Evidence journal and their diligence in meeting demanding timelines. Their knowledge, expertise and insights are duly acknowledged and highly valued. All reviewers who have taken the time to review for Veterinary Evidence are listed in the full text.In the coming year we hope to develop a new approach and construct for the recognition and delivery of important information needs. This will take the form of a condition specific decision support algorithm with links to Knowledge Summaries providing the best current evidence. We also intend to publish a series of papers from targeted invited authors to highlight important areas of evidence-based practice including patient safety, quality improvement, business and workplace learning. We have also launched a Knowledge Summary competition for students studying veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and veterinary bio-science, so that we may engage with the next generation of practice professionals.I look forward to a challenging and innovative new year with your continued support.Thank you to all who have contributed.  <img src="https://www.veterinaryevidence.org/rcvskmod/icons/oa-icon.jpg" alt="Open Access" /

ASTRALogy: Unrealistic Expectations?

Revascularization versus medical therapy for renal-arter

Distance limits of OH...<i>Y</i> hydrogen bonds (<i>Y</i> = Cl, Br, I) in solid hydroxides, structure refinement of laurionite-type Ba(OD)I, Sr(OD)I and Sr(OH)I by neutron and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction

Synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction experiments on Sr(OH)I, Sr(OD)I and Ba(OD)I have been performed at ambient temperature. The structure data obtained by Rietveld refinement confirm the laurionite-type structure {Pnma, Z = 4; RI = 5.9, 7.9 and 7.8%; a = 7.7294 (1), b = 4.24697 (7) and c = 10.7374 (1) Å [Sr(OH)I]; a = 7.7303 (8), b = 4.2465 (4) and c = 10.7399 (10) Å [Sr(OD)I]; a = 8.0291 (9), b = 4.4961 (5) and c = 11.0196 (16) Å [Ba(OH)I]; a = 8.0203 (13), b = 4.4912 (7) and c = 11.0193 (14) Å [Ba(OD)I]} proposed from IR and Raman spectra. In contrast to the respective lead compound, only very weak hydrogen bonds are formed. The strength of the hydrogen bonds of OH− ions in condensed material is discussed with respect to intermolecular H...Y distances, furcation of the bonds and M—O bond lengths (synergetic effect). The longest H...Y distances (Y′ = Cl, Br, I), for which hydrogen bonds due to OH− have been established, are 2.80, 2.90 and 3.25 Å, respectively.</jats:p

Association between egg consumption and cardiovascular disease events, diabetes and all-cause mortality

Purpose The association between egg consumption and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains controversial. We investigated the association between egg consumption and risk of CVD (primary outcome), T2D and mortality in the Caerphilly prospective cohort study (CAPS) and National Diet and Nutritional Survey (NDNS). Methods CAPS included 2512 men aged 45–59 years (1979–1983). Dietary intake, disease incidence and mortality were updated at 5-year intervals. NDNS included 754 adults aged 19–64 years from 2008 to 2012. Results Men free of CVD (n = 1781) were followed up for a mean of 22.8 years, egg consumption was not associated with new incidence of CVD (n = 715), mortality (n = 1028) or T2D (n = 120). When stroke (n = 248), MI (n = 477),heart failure (n = 201) were investigated separately, no associations between egg consumption and stroke and MI were identified, however, increased risk of stroke in subjects with T2D and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, fasting plasma glucose ≥ 6.1 mmol/L), adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) were 1.0 (reference), 1.09 (0.41, 2.88), 0.96 (0.37, 2.50), 1.39 (0.54, 3.56) and 2.87 (1.13, 7.27) for egg intake (n) of 0 ≤ n ≤ 1, 1 < n ≤ 2, 2 < n ≤ 3, 3 < n < 5, and n ≥ 5 eggs/wk, respectively (P = 0.01). In addition, cross-sectional analyses revealed that higher egg consumption was significantly associated with elevated fasting glucose in those with T2D and/or IGT (CAPS: baseline P = 0.02 and 5-year P = 0.04; NDNS: P = 0.05). Conclusions Higher egg consumption was associated with higher blood glucose in subjects with T2D and/or IGT. The increased incidence of stroke with higher egg consumption among T2D and/or IGT sub-group warrants further investigation

Student perspectives of preparedness characteristics for clinical learning within a fully distributed veterinary teaching model.

The transition into the clinical environment is challenging and associated with significant stress and anxiety. This study aimed to examine the perspectives of students on the characteristics important for preparedness for clinical learning and the influence of gender, age, and graduate status on those perspectives. This descriptive, questionnaire-based study of 62 characteristics categorised into six themes was conducted within the Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine completed by 139 students commencing their final clinical year. The Friedman test and post-hoc Wilcoxon signed rank sum test explored for differences in ranking across the themes. Ordinal logistic regression and Mann-Whitney U pairwise comparisons were utilised to investigate for effects of gender, age, and graduate status on theme ranking. There was a significant difference (P 0.05) of gender, age or graduate status on student rating of preparedness characteristics. Integrating learning opportunities of those preparedness characteristics in the pre-clinical curriculum may improve students' preparedness for the clinical environment

Student perspectives of preparedness characteristics for clinical learning within a fully distributed veterinary teaching model.

The transition into the clinical environment is challenging and associated with significant stress and anxiety. This study aimed to examine the perspectives of students on the characteristics important for preparedness for clinical learning and the influence of gender, age, and graduate status on those perspectives. This descriptive, questionnaire-based study of 62 characteristics categorised into six themes was conducted within the Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine completed by 139 students commencing their final clinical year. The Friedman test and post-hoc Wilcoxon signed rank sum test explored for differences in ranking across the themes. Ordinal logistic regression and Mann-Whitney U pairwise comparisons were utilised to investigate for effects of gender, age, and graduate status on theme ranking. There was a significant difference (P 0.05) of gender, age or graduate status on student rating of preparedness characteristics. Integrating learning opportunities of those preparedness characteristics in the pre-clinical curriculum may improve students' preparedness for the clinical environment

Guidelines for pre-operative cardiac risk assessment and perioperative cardiac management in non-cardiac surgery : the Task Force for Preoperative Cardiac Risk Assessment and Perioperative Cardiac Management in Non-cardiac Surgery of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and endorsed by the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA)

Non-cardiac surgery; Pre-operative cardiac risk assessment; Pre-operative cardiac testing; Pre-operative coronary artery revascularization; Perioperative cardiac management; Renal disease; Pulmonary disease; Neurological disease; Anaesthesiology; Post-operative cardiac surveillanc