Evaluation of Survey Data Quality Based on Interviewers’ Assessments: An Example from Taiwan’s Election and Democratization Study

Chi-lin Tsai,Tsung-Wei Liu,Yi-ju Chen 충남대학교 아시아여론연구소 2019 Asian journal for public opinion research Vol.7 No.1

Researchers usually examine the quality of survey data by several conventional measures of reliability and validity. However, those measures are mainly designed to examine the quality of an individual measurement, rather than the quality of a data set as a whole. There is a relative lack of methods for evaluation of the overall data quality. This paper attempts to fill this gap. We propose using interviewers’ assessments as one of criteria for evaluating the overall data quality. Interviewers are the ones who literally conduct and thus directly observe interviews. Taiwan’s Election and Democratization Studies (TEDS) have required interviewers to assess how trustworthy the responses of each of their interviewees are, and to provide several descriptions about the process and environment of the interviews. We use this information to evaluate the data quality of TEDS surveys and compare it with the results from the conventional test-retest method. The findings are that the interviewer assessment is a fair indicator of the overall reliability of attitudinal questions but not a good indicator when factual questions are examined. Regarding the evaluation of data validity, more data is required to see whether or not interviewers’ assessment is informative in terms of data quality.

Evaluation of Survey Data Quality Based on Interviewers' Assessments: An Example from Taiwan's Election and Democratization Study

Tsai, Chi-lin,Liu, Tsung-Wei,Chen, Yi-ju Center for Asian Public Opinion ResearchCollaborat 2019 Asian journal for public opinion research Vol.7 No.1

Researchers usually examine the quality of survey data by several conventional measures of reliability and validity. However, those measures are mainly designed to examine the quality of an individual measurement, rather than the quality of a data set as a whole. There is a relative lack of methods for evaluation of the overall data quality. This paper attempts to fill this gap. We propose using interviewers' assessments as one of criteria for evaluating the overall data quality. Interviewers are the ones who literally conduct and thus directly observe interviews. Taiwan's Election and Democratization Studies (TEDS) have required interviewers to assess how trustworthy the responses of each of their interviewees are, and to provide several descriptions about the process and environment of the interviews. We use this information to evaluate the data quality of TEDS surveys and compare it with the results from the conventional test-retest method. The findings are that the interviewer assessment is a fair indicator of the overall reliability of attitudinal questions but not a good indicator when factual questions are examined. Regarding the evaluation of data validity, more data is required to see whether or not interviewers' assessment is informative in terms of data quality.

Transcarotid Mechanical Thrombectomy for Embolic Intracranial Large Vessel Occlusion after Endovascular Deconstructice Embolization for Carotid Blowout Syndrome

Lu Chi-Ju,Lin Yen-Heng,Lee Chung-Wei 대한신경중재치료의학회 2020 Neurointervention Vol.15 No.1

Carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) is a fatal complication of head and neck cancer. Endovascular treatment, particularly deconstructive embolization, is effective for CBS, but it might result in thromboembolic events. We report the case of a 57-year-old man with underlying recurrent head and neck cancer who had CBS. The patient received endovascular embolization of the right internal, external, and common carotid arteries. Right internal carotid artery to middle cerebral artery embolic occlusion was noted immediately after the procedure, and left-sided weakness and facial palsy were found. Ipsilateral suprabulbar cervical internal carotid artery puncture was performed under fluoroscopic guidance, and rescue suction thrombectomy was successful. The patient had no significant neurological sequela. Transcarotid intraarterial thrombectomy is a reasonable method for managing postembolization large vessel occlusion, even in the neck, after irradiation.

Biochemical Compositions of Follicular Fluid and the Effects of Culture Conditions on the In Vitro Development of Pig Oocytes

Huang, Wei-Tung,Lu, She-Ghi,Tang, Pin-Chi,Wu, Shinn-Chih,Cheng, San-Pao,Ju, Jyh-Cherng Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2002 Animal Bioscience Vol.15 No.10

The aims of this study were, firstly, to analyze the biochemical compositions of serum and follicular fluid (FF) from prepubertal gilts after PMSG (1,000 IU) treatment. The concentrations of total proteins, lipids, cholesterol, glucose and sex hormones (progesterone, $P_4$; estradiol-$17{\beta}$, $E_2$; testosterone, T) were measured. Secondary, the effects of porcine FF (pFF) addition (40% and 100%) in IVM media and different culture conditions [Exp. 1: mBMOC-2+20% porcine serum (PS), fresh IVM medium, filtered IVMconditioned medium, or rabbit oviducts; Exp. 2: mBMOC-2+20%PS or stepwise medium replacement procedures (SMRP) cocultured with or without cumulus cells] on the in vitro development (IVD) of porcine oocytes were also examined. Results showed that no significant differences were found in total protein levels between serum and pFF from different sizes (large, >7 mm; medium, ~5-7 mm; small, <3-5 mm) of follicles (75-85 and 49-90 mg/dl; p>0.05). Total lipid concentrations remained constant in serum (395-472 mg/dl), and reduced significantly in the pFF from large follicles (287 mg/dl) at 132 h after PMSG treatment when compared to those at other time points (441-480 mg/dl). Basal cholesterol levels in serum and pFF at 12 h were similar (153-161 mg/dl), but increased at 36 h (186-197 mg/dl). Basal P4 and E2 levels in serum (0.1 ng/ml and 5.5 pg/ml) were low, but increased from 0.34 ng/ml and 12.13 pg/ml at 24 h to 0.81 ng/ml and 61.70 pg/ml at 98 h, respectively, after PMSG treatment (p<0.05). P4 levels increased linearly in pFF from large follicles during 12 through 132 h (138-1,288 ng/ml). A similar increase was also observed in $E_2$ levels (22-730 pg/ml) before 60 h post PMSG treatment, and then dropped afterwards (730-121 pg/ml). The development of the oocytes fertilized in 40% pFF-medium was greater than that in 100% pFF-medium group without gonaodtropin addition (31% vs 10%, p<0.05). However, both were lower than those in mBMOC-2+20%PS and in rabbit oviducts (p<0.05). When cocultured with cumulus cell monolayers, a greater cleavage rate was observed in the group cultured in filtered IVM-conditioned medium than the SMRP group (36% vs 18%, p<0.05). A similar phenomenon was also observed in the culture without cumulus cell monolayers (33% vs 19%, p<0.05). It is concluded that neither the fresh IVM nor filtered IVM-conditioned medium has positive effect on the IVD of oocytes. Coculture with cumulus cell monolayers and the SMRP were not beneficial to the development of IVF pig oocytes.

Subjective and Objective Analysis of Schedule Delaying Factors for Container Shipping Lines

Cheng-Wei Lin,Wan-Chi Jackie Hsu,Hui-Ju Su 인하대학교 정석물류통상연구원 2020 JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS AND TRADE Vol.18 No.4

Evaluation of Malignancy Risk of Ampullary Tumors Detected by Endoscopy Using 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT

Chuang Pei-Ju,Wang Hsiu-Po,Tien Yu-Wen,Chin Wei-Shan,Hsieh Min-Shu,Chen Chieh-Chang,Hong Tzu-Chan,Ko Chi-Lun,Wu Yen-Wen,Cheng Mei-Fang 대한영상의학회 2024 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.25 No.3

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2-[18F]FDG PET/CT) can aid in evaluating the risk of malignancy in ampullary tumors detected by endoscopy. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed 155 patients (79 male, 76 female; mean age, 65.7 ± 12.7 years) receiving 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT for endoscopy-detected ampullary tumors 5–87 days (median, 7 days) after the diagnostic endoscopy between June 2007 and December 2020. The final diagnosis was made based on histopathological findings. The PET imaging parameters were compared with clinical data and endoscopic features. A model to predict the risk of malignancy, based on PET, endoscopy, and clinical findings, was generated and validated using multivariable logistic regression analysis and an additional bootstrapping method. The final model was compared with standard endoscopy for the diagnosis of ampullary cancer using the DeLong test. Results: The mean tumor size was 17.1 ± 7.7 mm. Sixty-four (41.3%) tumors were benign, and 91 (58.7%) were malignant. Univariable analysis found that ampullary neoplasms with a blood-pool corrected peak standardized uptake value in earlyphase scan (SUVe) ≥ 1.7 were more likely to be malignant (odds ratio [OR], 16.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.13–36.18; P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified the presence of jaundice (adjusted OR [aOR], 4.89; 95% CI, 1.80–13.33; P = 0.002), malignant traits in endoscopy (aOR, 6.80; 95% CI, 2.41–19.20; P < 0.001), SUVe ≥ 1.7 in PET (aOR, 5.43; 95% CI, 2.00–14.72; P < 0.001), and PET-detected nodal disease (aOR, 5.03; 95% CI, 1.16–21.86; P = 0.041) as independent predictors of malignancy. The model combining these four factors predicted ampullary cancers better than endoscopic diagnosis alone (area under the curve [AUC] and 95% CI: 0.925 [0.874–0.956] vs. 0.815 [0.732–0.873], P < 0.001). The model demonstrated an AUC of 0.921 (95% CI, 0.816–0.967) in candidates for endoscopic papillectomy. Conclusion: Adding 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT to endoscopy can improve the diagnosis of ampullary cancer and may help refine therapeutic decision-making, particularly when contemplating endoscopic papillectomy.

Comedications and potential drug-drug interactions with direct-acting antivirals in hepatitis C patients on hemodialysis

( Po-yao Hsu ),( Yu-ju Wei ),( Jia-jung Lee ),( Sheng-wen Niu ),( Jiun-chi Huang ),( Cheng-ting Hsu ),( Tyng-yuan Jang ),( Ming-lun Yeh ),( Ching-i Huang ),( Po-cheng Liang ),( Yi-hung Lin ),( Ming-ye 대한간학회 2021 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.27 No.1

Background/Aims: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have been approved for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis. Nevertheless, the complicated comedications and their potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with DAAs might limit clinical practice in this special population. Methods: The number, class, and characteristics of comedications and their potential DDIs with five DAA regimens were analyzed among HCV-viremic patients from 23 hemodialysis centers in Taiwan. Results: Of 2,015 hemodialysis patients screened in 2019, 169 patients seropositive for HCV RNA were enrolled (mean age, 65.6 years; median duration of hemodialysis, 5.8 years). All patients received at least one comedication (median number, 6; mean class number, 3.4). The most common comedication classes were ESRD-associated medications (94.1%), cardiovascular drugs (69.8%) and antidiabetic drugs (43.2%). ESRD-associated medications were excluded from DDI analysis. Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the highest frequency of potential contraindicated DDIs (red, 5.6%), followed by glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (4.0%), sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (1.3%), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (1.3%), and elbasvir/grazoprevir (0.3%). For potentially significant DDIs (orange, requiring close monitoring or dose adjustments), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the highest frequency (19.9%), followed by sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (18.2%), glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (12.6%), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (12.6%), and elbasvir/grazoprevir (7.3%). Overall, lipid-lowering agents were the most common comedication class with red-category DDIs to all DAA regimens (n=62), followed by cardiovascular agents (n=15), and central nervous system agents (n=10). Conclusions: HCV-viremic patients on hemodialysis had a very high prevalence of comedications with a broad spectrum, which had varied DDIs with currently available DAA regimens. Elbasvir/grazoprevir had the fewest potential DDIs, and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the most potential DDIs. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2021;27:186-196)

캐비티 맞춤형 미세다공성 고분자분리막을 통한 기체분리

Jong Geun Seong,Won Hee Lee,Jongmyeong Lee,So Young Lee,Yu Seong Do,Joon Yong Bae,Sun Ju Moon,Chi Hoon Park,Hye Jin Jo,Ju Sung Kim,Yi Ren,Conrad J. Roos,Ryan P. Lively,Kueir-Rarn Lee,Wei-Song Hung,Jui 한국막학회 2023 한국막학회 총회 및 학술발표회 Vol.2023 No.05

VSV-G Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Prepared from Pichia pastoris Enhances Transfection of DNA into Animal Cells

( Xin Liu ),( Ying Dong ),( Jingquan Wang ),( Long Li ),( Zhenmin-zhong ),( Yun-pan Li ),( Shao-jun Chen ),( Yu-cai Fu ),( Wen-can Xu ),( Chi-ju Wei ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2017 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.27 No.6

Vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G) has been widely used for pseudotyping retroviral, lentiviral, and artificial viral vectors. The objective of this study was to establish a potential approach for large-scale production of VSV-G. To this end, VSV-G was cloned with an N-terminal His-tag into Pichia pastoris expression vector pPIC3.5K. Three clones (Mut^s) containing the VSV-G expression cassette were identified by PCR. All clones proliferated normally in expansion medium, whereas the proliferation was reduced significantly under induction conditions. VSV-G protein was detected in cell lysates by western blot analysis, and the highest expression level was observed at 96 h post induction. VSV-G could also be obtained from the condition medium of yeast protoplasts. Furthermore, VSV-G could be incorporated into Ad293 cells and was able to induce cell fusion, leading to the transfer of cytoplasmic protein. Finally, VSV-G-mediated DNA transfection was assayed by flow cytometry and luciferase measurement. Incubation of VSV-G lysate with the pGL3-control DNA complex increased the luciferase activity in Ad293 and HeLa cells by about 3-fold. Likewise, incubation of VSV-G lysate with the pCMV-DsRed DNA complex improved the transfection efficiency into Ad293 by 10% and into HeLa cells by about 1-fold. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that VSV-G could be produced from P. pastoris with biofunctionalities, demonstrating that large-scale production of the viral glycoprotein is feasible.