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Objective:To evaluate the positive predictive value of claims-based V85 codes for identifying individuals with varying degrees of BMI relative to their measured BMI obtained from medical record abstraction. Methods:This was a retrospective validation study utilizing administrative claims and medical chart data from 1 January 2009 to 31 August 2015. Randomly selected samples of patients enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) or commercial health plan and with a V85 claim were identified. The claims-based BMI category (underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese class I–III) was determined via corresponding V85 codes and compared to the BMI category derived from chart abstracted height, weight and/or BMI. The positive predictive values (PPVs) of the claims-based BMI categories were calculated with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results:The overall PPVs (95% CIs) in the MAPD and commercial samples were 90.3% (86.3%–94.4%) and 91.1% (87.3%–94.9%), respectively. In each BMI category, the PPVs (95% CIs) for the MAPD and commercial samples, respectively, were: underweight, 71.0% (55.0%–87.0%) and 75.9% (60.3%–91.4%); normal, 93.8% (85.4%–100%) and 87.8% (77.8%–97.8%); overweight, 97.4% (92.5%–100%) and 93.5% (84.9%–100%); obese class I, 96.9 (90.9%–100%) and 97.2% (91.9%–100%); obese class II, 97.0% (91.1%–100%) and 93.0% (85.4%–100%); and obese class III, 85.0% (73.3%–96.1%) and 97.1% (91.4%–100%). Conclusions:BMI categories derived from administrative claims, when available, can be used successfully particularly in the context of obesity research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose We compared methods to control bias and confounding in observational studies including inverse probability weighting (IPW) and stabilized IPW (sIPW). These methods often require iteration and post-calibration to achieve covariate balance. In comparison, entropy balance (EB) optimizes covariate balance a priori by calibrating weights using the target's moments as constraints. Methods We measured covariate balance empirically and by simulation by using absolute standardized mean difference (ASMD), absolute bias (AB), and root mean square error (RMSE), investigating two scenarios: the size of the observed (exposed) cohort exceeds the target (unexposed) cohort and vice versa. The empirical application weighted a commercial health plan cohort to a nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey target on the same covariates and compared average total health care cost estimates across methods. Results Entropy balance alone achieved balance (ASMD ≤ 0.10) on all covariates in simulation and empirically. In simulation scenario I, EB achieved the lowest AB and RMSE (13.64, 31.19) compared with IPW (263.05, 263.99) and sIPW (319.91, 320.71). In scenario II, EB outperformed IPW and sIPW with smaller AB and RMSE. In scenarios I and II, EB achieved the lowest mean estimate difference from the simulated population outcome ($490.05, $487.62) compared with IPW and sIPW, respectively. Empirically, only EB differed from the unweighted mean cost indicating IPW, and sIPW weighting was ineffective. Conclusion Entropy balance demonstrated the bias-variance tradeoff achieving higher estimate accuracy, yet lower estimate precision, compared with IPW methods. EB weighting required no post-processing and effectively mitigated observed bias and confounding. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sol-gel approach was used to synthesise lanthanum and aluminium doped yttrium ferrite nanoparticles. The absorption peak is observed at ~265 nm corresponds to band gap of 2.9–3.1 eV. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR – TEM) were used to analyse the structural and microstructural properties of the product. The particle size calculated to be 60–110 nm from the HR-TEM analysis. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) showed high magnetisation with reversible loop and increased surface-induced magnetisation, the presence of all elements were confirmed using energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). From BET analysis, the surface area, pore volume and pore diameter are 2.688 m2 g−1, 5.178 cm3 g−1 and 7.704 nm respectively, the isotherm represents type (V), with an H3 hysteresis loop. The obtained product, La1−XAlXYYFe2−YO4, showed good photo-catalytic activity when employed for the photo-catalytic degradation of methyl red dye within 210 min. Highlights: The lattice constant increases in the concentration of x, indicating the cubic spinel structure. In La1−XAlXYYFe2−YO4 Bohr magneton, anisotropy and coercivity increases with increase in the concentration of x. Ms, Mr increases with concentration of Aluminium and Yttrium substitution, confirming the B-site occupancy of Lanthanum ion. Catalyst for the successful photocatalytic degradation of methyl red dye within 210 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]