Instantaneous maturity rate: a novel and compact characterization of biological growth curve models.

Modeling and analysis of biological growth curves are an age-old study area in which much effort has been dedicated to developing new growth equations. Recent efforts focus on identifying the correct model from a large number of equations. The relative growth rate (RGR), developed by Fisher (1921), has largely been used in the statistical inference of biological growth curve models.

A Novel Unification Method to Characterize a Broad Class of Growth Curve Models Using Relative Growth Rate.

Growth curve models serve as the mathematical framework for the quantitative studies of growth in many areas of applied science. The evolution of novel growth curves can be categorized in two notable directions, namely generalization and unification. In case of generalization, a modeler starts with a simple mathematical form to describe the behavior of the data and increases the complexity of the equation by incorporating more parameters to obtain a more flexible shape.

The Preventative Effect of Hydrocolloid Dressings on Nasal Bridge Pressure Ulceration in Acute Non-Invasive Ventilation.

Background: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a valuable treatment in the management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. NIV is not without risks. One such adverse effect is the development of pressure ulcers over the nasal bridge which have an incidence of up to 20% of patients requiring NIV in this setting.

Utility of respiratory ward-based NIV in acidotic hypercapnic respiratory failure.

Background And Objective: We sought to elicit predictors of in-hospital mortality for first and subsequent admissions with acidotic hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) in a cohort of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients who have undergone ward-based non-invasive ventilation (NIV), and identify features associated with long-term survival.

Methods: Analysis of prospectively collected data at a single centre on patients undergoing NIV for AHRF between 2004 and 2009. Predictors of in-hospital mortality and intubation were sought by logistic regression and predictors of long-term survival by Cox regression.