Summary
Response models used in marketing are not always constructed for later marketing optimisation, which often results in unsatisfactory results in target selection for future marketing ...activities. To solve this problem, we develop a new binary response model and a new marketing target selection method. The proposed model can predict multiple propensity scores per customer through customer‐specific propensity score distributions, which is not possible with existing response models, filling a gap in the literature. The target selection method can determine the best propensity scores from those predicted by the proposed model and use them to select customers for further marketing activities. Our simulation results and application to real marketing data confirm that the performance of the proposed model in target selection is significantly better than that of the existing models, including some popular machine learning methods, which indicate that our method can be very useful in practice.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The intercept of the log(1 + e)- log sigma 'v straight line is introduced to describe the effect of the starting point on the compressibility of natural and reconstituted clays. It is found that when ...the effective stress exceeds the remoulded yield stress, the compression behaviour of reconstituted clays is controlled solely by the water content at the remoulded yield stress and the liquid limit. Comparison of the compression behaviour of natural and reconstituted clays indicates that their difference in compressibility is caused by soil structure and the difference in water content at the compression starting point. The compression behaviour of natural clays can be classified into three regimes: (a) the pre-yield regime, characterised by small compressibility, with soil structure restraining the deformation up to the consolidation yield stress; (b) the transitional regime, characterised by a gradual loss of soil structure when the effective stress is between the consolidation yield stress and the transitional stress; and (c) the post-transitional regime, characterised by the same change law in compression behaviour as reconstituted clays when the effective stress is higher than the transitional stress. For the investigated clays, the transitional stress is 1.0-3.5 times the consolidation yield stress. The compression index varies solely with the void ratio at an effective stress of 1.0 kPa for both natural clays in the post-transitional regime and reconstituted clays when the effective stress exceeds the remoulded yield stress, and when compressed in such cases the compression curves of both natural clays and reconstituted clays can be well normalised to a unique line using the void index.
Summary
Background
Inflammation plays a vital role in liver cirrhosis progression and prognosis.
Aim
To investigate the prognostic significance of inflammatory response markers in decompensated ...cirrhotic patients without acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF).
Methods
Independent predictors were identified using multivariate Cox model and then assembled into a nomogram to predict survival. Concordance index (C‐index) and time‐dependent receiver operating characteristics (td‐ROC) analysis were adopted to evaluate and compare the performance of nomogram, model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) scores, MELD‐Na and Chronic Liver Failure‐consortium score for acute decompensated (CLIF‐C ADs).
Results
A total of 902 decompensated cirrhotic patients with different aetiologies were enrolled, with 6‐month, 1‐year and 3‐year mortality of 18.6%, 24.4% and 34.8%, respectively. The cut‐off values for neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) determined by X‐tile program were 5.7 and 1.1 respectively. Patients with NLR>5.7 or LMR≤1.1 had significantly higher mortality (P < 0.001). Independent factors derived from multivariable Cox analysis of development cohort to predict mortality were age, NLR and LMR (hazard ratio (HR): 1.064, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.045–1.084, P < 0.001; HR: 1.124, 95%CI: 1.091–1.158, P < 0.001; HR: 0.794, 95%CI: 0.702–0.898, P < 0.001, respectively). The C‐indexes of nomogram were higher than that of MELD score, MELD‐Na and CLIF‐C ADs for predicting survival. The tdROC and decision curves showed that nomogram was superior to MELD score, MELD‐Na and CLIF‐C ADs. Similar results were observed in validation cohort.
Conclusion
The proposed nomogram with neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio resulted in accurate prognostic prediction for decompensated cirrhotic patients without ACLF.
Linked ContentThis article is linked to Forest and Cai and Shi et al papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14183 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14208.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
ABSTRACT We provide a novel, unifying physical interpretation on the origin, average shape, scatter, and cosmic evolution for the main sequences of star-forming galaxies and active galactic nuclei ...(AGNs) at high redshift . We achieve this goal in a model-independent way by exploiting: (i) the redshift-dependent star formation rate functions based on the latest UV/far-IR data from HST/Herschel, and related statistics of strong gravitationally lensed sources; (ii) deterministic evolutionary tracks for the history of star formation and black hole accretion, gauged on a wealth of multiwavelength observations including the observed Eddington ratio distribution. We further validate these ingredients by showing their consistency with the observed galaxy stellar mass functions and AGN bolometric luminosity functions at different redshifts via the continuity equation approach. Our analysis of the main sequence for high-redshift galaxies and AGNs highlights that the present data are consistently interpreted in terms of an in situ coevolution scenario for star formation and black hole accretion, envisaging these as local, time-coordinated processes.
Abstract Background and objective The survival outcomes of patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) differ significantly between individuals. The aim of this study is to build a ...prognostic score model (PSM) incorporating circulating tumour markers for metastatic NPC in an epidemic area. Methods Seven hundred and ninety-nine patients with disseminated NPC were analysed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted using the Cox proportion hazards model. Factors analysed included patients, characteristics (gender, age group, performance status), circulating tumour-marker characteristics (Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA level, EBV VCA-IgA level, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level), basic laboratory characteristics (leucocyte count, haemoglobin level, albumin level), and disease characteristics (presence of metastasis at presentation, disease-free interval, number of metastatic sites, specific metastatic sites). The PSM was built according to numerical score derived from the regression coefficients of each independent prognostic variable. The prognostic score of each patient was calculated by totalling up the scores of each independent variable. Results Independent prognostic factors included performance status, age, haemoglobin level, LDH level, ALP level and EBV DNA level. Three prognostic groups based on PSM were obtained: low risk (total score = 0–4); intermediate risk (5–8); high risk (9–12). Median survivals of the three groups were 25.5, 15.1 and 7 months, respectively, ( P < 0.001). Conclusion Clinical and laboratory characteristics can help guide the prognostication of patients with metastatic NPC in epidemic areas.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Summary
Long‐term prognosis varies widely among patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related liver cirrhosis. Our study aimed to investigate the applicability of albumin‐bilirubin (ALBI), Child‐Pugh ...and model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) scores to the long‐term prognosis prediction of HBV‐related cirrhosis. Patients diagnosed with HBV‐associated cirrhosis from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 2010 and December 2015 were enrolled in this study. The patients were followed up every 3 months. The prognostic performance of ALBI in long‐term outcome prediction for HBV‐related cirrhosis was compared with Child‐Pugh and MELD scores using time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (tdROC) and decision curve analysis. A total of 806 patients were included in our study with 275 (34.1%) deceased during the follow‐up. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that ALBI grade was an independent predictor associated with mortality. The tdROC analysis showed that ALBI score (0.787, 0.830 and 0.833) was superior to MELD (0.693, P=.003; 0.717, P<.001; 0.744, P<.001) and Child‐Pugh score (0.641, P<.001; 0.649, P<.001; 0.657, P<.001) for predicting 1‐year, 2‐year and 3‐year mortality. Additionally, decision curves also got the similar results. In addition, patients with lower ALBI score had a longer life expectancy, even among patients within the same Child‐Pugh class. Thus, ALBI score was effective in predicting the long‐term prognosis for patients with HBV‐related cirrhosis and more accurate than Child‐Pugh and MELD scores.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
Obesity is the main driving factor for comorbidities in Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) patients due to overeating behaviors. The gut microbiota has been implicated in the etiology of obesity and ...associated comorbidities. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the fecal microbiota in Chinese patients with PWS and compare it to that of patients with obesity as well as healthy controls.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study with 35 PWS patients (PWS), 35 patients with obesity (OB), and 35 healthy controls (HC). Metagenomic sequencing was performed in stool samples.
Results
The composition of the fecal microbiota in PWS patients differed from that of participants in the OB and HC groups. It was characterized by increased
Akkermansia Eubacterium, Eubacterium rectale
, and
Roseburia intestinalis
and decreased
Parabacteroides
and
Phascolarctobacterium
. Additionally, the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was lower in PWS patients than in patients with obesity. Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that
Achromobacter
,
Acidiphilium
,
Xylophilus
, and
Frisingicoccus
were significantly negatively correlated with HOMA-IR.
Conclusion
The composition of the gut microbiota in Chinese PWS patients differed from that in patients with obesity, which might contribute to higher insulin sensitivity in PWS patients.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Multimode entanglement is an essential resource for quantum information processing and quantum metrology. However, multimode entangled states are generally constructed by targeting a specific graph ...configuration. This yields to a fixed experimental setup that therefore exhibits reduced versatility and scalability. Here we demonstrate an optical on-demand, reconfigurable multimode entangled state, using an intrinsically multimode quantum resource and a homodyne detection apparatus. Without altering either the initial squeezing source or experimental architecture, we realize the construction of thirteen cluster states of various sizes and connectivities as well as the implementation of a secret sharing protocol. In particular, this system enables the interrogation of quantum correlations and fluctuations for any multimode Gaussian state. This initiates an avenue for implementing on-demand quantum information processing by only adapting the measurement process and not the experimental layout.
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