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We study the maximum hands off control problem, that is, finding the sparsest control among the feasible controls. We show the equivalence of the Lp optimal control problem and the maximum hands off control problem for the class of affine nonlinear systems.

Function block diagrams (FBD) are widely used for implementation of programmable logic control (PLC) in safety critical domains and in the conventional factory automation. With the growing software intensity of such systems, the size and complexity of the PLC FBD applications is growing. The implicit execution order of PLC FBD can be ambiguous for developers, causing misinterpretation of the control programs behaviour. This work aims at reducing this ambiguity, investigating re-implementation of FBDs in a new programming language of IEC 61499, which has explicit mechanism for defining the execution order. A method is proposed for generation of IEC 61499 FBDs from the PLC FBDs. We also present a tool that implements our approach and which is complemented with an automated tester to prove the equivalence in the behaviour of the source and generated systems.

Clinical relevance: A scoring criterion of three-or-more letters correct on a line results in the most equivalent visual acuity score to letter-by-letter scoring.Background: Using the criterion of three-or-more letters correct on a line of five letters to measure a line visual acuity is common. In this study, different line acuity criteria are compared to letter-by-letter visual acuity scoring to determine which criterion is the most accurate as well as least variable.Methods: One eye each of 32 subjects was tested with high-contrast visual acuity charts at 4.88 m. Subjects had 16 acuities measured: 8 under normal conditions and 8 under a + 1.50D blur condition. For each set of 8, logMAR visual acuity results were obtained by retrospectively applying each of four scoring criteria twice: letter-by-letter acuity and three line acuities (three-or-more, four-or-more, or five correct on a line). Differences in means were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey testing. Test-retest variability was analysed via Bland-Altman analysisResults: The mean visual acuities (in logMAR) were -0.10, -0.11, -0.07, and -0.01 for letter-by-letter, three-or-more correct, four-or-more correct, and all five correct, respectively. With blur, the mean visual acuities were 0.41, 0.39, 0.45, and 0.53 for the respective criteria. Under both normal and blur conditions, the different acuity scoring criteria resulted in significant differences (p

Building a dynamic equivalent model that can accurately describe the dynamic characteristics of power grid with wind farms is the basis of studying the operation and control of power system with high proportion of wind power. In this paper, a practical method of wind farm clustering modeling for power grid dynamic equivalence is proposed. The dynamic equivalence of wind farms is carried out step by step, and the equivalence of clusters, wind farms and networks with multiple wind farms is completed in turn; The calculation formula of aggregate equivalence of parameters of each part is given. The effectiveness of the method is verified by an example.

Shortened versions of self-reported questionnaires may be used to reduce respondent burden. When shortened screening tools are used, it is desirable to maintain equivalent diagnostic accuracy to full-length forms. This manuscript presents a case study that illustrates how external data and individual participant data meta-analysis can be used to assess the equivalence in diagnostic accuracy between a shortened and full-length form. This case study compares the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and a 4-item shortened version (PHQ-Dep-4) that was previously developed using optimal test assembly methods. Using a large database of 75 primary studies (34,698 participants, 3,392 major depression cases), we evaluated whether the PHQ-Dep-4 cutoff of ≥ 4 maintained equivalent diagnostic accuracy to a PHQ-9 cutoff of ≥ 10. Using this external validation dataset, a PHQ-Dep-4 cutoff of ≥ 4 maximized the sum of sensitivity and specificity, with a sensitivity of 0.88 (95% CI 0.81, 0.93), 0.68 (95% CI 0.56, 0.78), and 0.80 (95% CI 0.73, 0.85) for the semi-structured, fully structured, and MINI reference standard categories, respectively, and a specificity of 0.79 (95% CI 0.74, 0.83), 0.85 (95% CI 0.78, 0.90), and 0.83 (95% CI 0.80, 0.86) for the semi-structured, fully structured, and MINI reference standard categories, respectively. While equivalence with a PHQ-9 cutoff of ≥ 10 was not established, we found the sensitivity of the PHQ-Dep-4 to be non-inferior to that of the PHQ-9, and the specificity of the PHQ-Dep-4 to be marginally smaller than the PHQ-9.

Strengths use is an essential personal resource to consider when designing higher-educational programs and interventions. Strengths use is associated with positive outcomes for both the student (e.g., study engagement) and the university (e.g., academic throughput/performance). The Strengths Use Scale (SUS) has become a popular psychometric instrument to measure strengths use in educational settings, yet its use has been subjected to limited psychometric scrutiny outside of the U.S. Further, its longitudinal stability has not yet been established. Given the wide use of this instrument, the goals of this study were to investigate (a) longitudinal factorial validity and the internal consistency of the scale, (b) its equivalence over time, and (c) criterion validity through its relationship with study engagement over time. Data were gathered at two-time points, 3 months apart, from a sample of students in the Netherlands (n = 360). Longitudinal confirmatory factor analyses showed support for a two-factor model for overall strengths use, comprised of Affinity for Strengths and Strengths Use Behaviors. The SUS demonstrated high levels of internal consistency at both the lower- and upper bound limits at both time points. Further, strict longitudinal measurement invariance was established, which confirmed the instrument's temporal stability. Finally, criterion validity was established through relating strengths use to study engagement at different time stamps. These findings support the use of the SUS in practice to measure strengths use and to track the effectiveness of strengths use interventions within the higher education sector. ispartof: Frontiers In Psychology vol:12 pages:1-17 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: Published online

A biosimilar is a biological product that is highly similar to and has no clinically meaningful differences from an approved reference product. Focusing on two-arm randomized clinical trials that aim to establish the equivalence between a test biosimilar product and the reference product, we propose the elastic meta-analytic-predictive (EMAP) prior method to leverage rich historical data available on the reference product to improve the power of the biosimilar trials. We first extract the prior information from multiple historical studies through meta-analysis, and then we discount the resulting meta-analytic-predictive (MAP) prior adaptively according to the congruence between the historical reference data and the trial reference arm data via an elastic function. The EMAP prior method is information-borrowing consistent in that asymptotically it achieves full information borrowing when trial reference arm data are congruent to historical reference data, and no information borrowing when trial reference arm data are not congruent to historical reference data. As a result, the method asymptotically controls the type I error rate at the nominal value. Extensive simulation studies show that the EMAP prior outperforms the robust MAP prior. The EMAP prior generates comparable or higher power and provides better-controlled type I errors. We illustrate the proposed methodology using two trial examples.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Objective: Morphine-standardized doses are used in clinical practice and research to account for molecular potency. Ninety milligrams of morphine equivalents (MME) per day are considered a “high dose” risk threshold in guidelines, laws, and by payers. Although ubiquitously cited, the “CDC definition” of daily MME lacks a clearly defined denominator. Our objective was to assess denominator-dependency on “high dose” classification across competing definitions. Methods: To identify definitional variants, we reviewed literature and electronic prescribing tools, yielding 4 unique definitions. Using Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs data (July to September 2018), we conducted a population-based cohort study of 3,916,461 patients receiving outpatient opioid analgesics in California (CA) and Florida (FL). The binary outcome was whether patients were deemed “high dose” (>90 MME/d) compared across 4 definitions. We calculated I 2 for heterogeneity attributable to the definition. Results: Among 9,436,640 prescriptions, 42% overlapped, which led denominator definitions to impact daily MME values. Across definitions, average daily MME varied 3-fold (range: 17 to 52 [CA] and 23 to 65 mg [FL]). Across definitions, prevalence of “high dose” individuals ranged 5.9% to 14.2% (FL) and 3.5% to 10.3% (CA). Definitional variation alone would impact a hypothetical surveillance study trying to establish how much more “high dose” prescribing was present in FL than CA: from 39% to 84% more. Meta-analyses revealed strong heterogeneity (I 2 range: 86% to 99%). In sensitivity analysis, including unit interval 90.0 to 90.9 increased “high dose” population fraction by 15%. Discussion: While 90 MME may have cautionary mnemonic benefits, without harmonization of calculation, its utility is limited. Comparison between studies using daily MME requires explicit attention to definitional variation.

Simple Summary Neurosurgical decisions for patients with glioblastoma depend on tumor characteristics in the preoperative MR scan. Currently, this is based on subjective estimates or manual tumor delineation in the absence of a standard for reporting. We compared tumor features of 1596 patients from 13 institutions extracted from manual segmentations by a human rater and from automated segmentations generated by a machine learning model. The automated segmentations were in excellent agreement with manual segmentations and are practically equivalent regarding tumor features that are potentially relevant for neurosurgical purposes. Standard reports can be generated by open access software, enabling comparison between surgical cohorts, multicenter trials, and patient registries. Abstract Treatment decisions for patients with presumed glioblastoma are based on tumor characteristics available from a preoperative MR scan. Tumor characteristics, including volume, location, and resectability, are often estimated or manually delineated. This process is time consuming and subjective. Hence, comparison across cohorts, trials, or registries are subject to assessment bias. In this study, we propose a standardized Glioblastoma Surgery Imaging Reporting and Data System (GSI-RADS) based on an automated method of tumor segmentation that provides standard reports on tumor features that are potentially relevant for glioblastoma surgery. As clinical validation, we determine the agreement in extracted tumor features between the automated method and the current standard of manual segmentations from routine clinical MR scans before treatment. In an observational consecutive cohort of 1596 adult patients with a first time surgery of a glioblastoma from 13 institutions, we segmented gadolinium-enhanced tumor parts both by a human rater and by an automated algorithm. Tumor features were extracted from segmentations of both methods and compared to assess differences, concordance, and equivalence. The laterality, contralateral infiltration, and the laterality indices were in excellent agreement. The native and normalized tumor volumes had excellent agreement, consistency, and equivalence. Multifocality, but not the number of foci, had good agreement and equivalence. The location profiles of cortical and subcortical structures were in excellent agreement. The expected residual tumor volumes and resectability indices had excellent agreement, consistency, and equivalence. Tumor probability maps were in good agreement. In conclusion, automated segmentations are in excellent agreement with manual segmentations and practically equivalent regarding tumor features that are potentially relevant for neurosurgical purposes. Standard GSI-RADS reports can be generated by open access software.

Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADASs) have become increasingly popular. To ensure safety, simulation testing is essential. In this research, we conducted a case study to investigate the fault-detection effectiveness of existing ADAS testing standards: We tested the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), which is a prebuilt ADAS module of MATLAB and Simulink. We first tested LKAS using the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), which contains 40 prebuilt driving scenarios in MATLAB. Our results show that none of the 40 scenarios detected any failure. We then continued the tests by applying a simple metamorphic relation "equivalence under geometric transformation," and a previously unknown real-life bug in LKAS was immediately revealed. We reported this finding to the MATLAB team in the US, who then confirmed the bug and corrected the LKAS code. This research provides a strong case for incorporating metamorphic testing into ADAS testing standards and protocols.

Perceptual metrics based on features of deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have shown remarkable success when used as loss functions in a range of computer vision problems and significantly outperform classical losses such as L1 or L2 in pixel space. The source of this success remains somewhat mysterious, especially since a good loss does not require a particular CNN architecture nor a particular training method. In this paper we show that similar success can be achieved even with losses based on features of a deep CNN with random filters. We use the tool of infinite CNNs to derive an analytical form for perceptual similarity in such CNNs, and prove that the perceptual distance between two images is equivalent to the maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) distance between local distributions of small patches in the two images. We use this equivalence to propose a simple metric for comparing two images which directly computes the MMD between local distributions of patches in the two images. Our proposed metric is simple to understand, requires no deep networks, and gives comparable performance to perceptual metrics in a range of computer vision tasks.

We propose a method to design a tensegrity joint, making its elastic deformation an accurate joint-like motion, such as a rotation around the designed rotational center. The tensegrity joint can be a revolute, universal, and ball joint through this method. Axis drift is presented as a design criterion to describe the rotational center’s deviation degree with respect to the compliance center since the rotational center is not fixed to one point for different positions of the tensegrity joint. The axis drift is designed to be in a prescribed range so that the tensegrity joint is approximately equivalent to a rigid joint. In other words, the tensegrity joint’s elastic response under external torque and force becomes precise rigid joint-like kinematics and can replace rigid joints to transfer motion, force, and energy. A large-size tensegrity rotational joint is developed to verify the joint equivalence experimentally. The experimental results show that the tensegrity joint achieved maximum dimensionless axis drift of less than 2%, which indicates an excellent joint equivalence. The tensegrity joints’ ability to replace rigid joints as modular joints to construct a hyper redundant serial structure is demonstrated using a tensegrity robotic arm. The proposed compliant tensegrity joint has notable benefits of tensegrity structure, such as high mechanical efficiency, modularity, and scalability. It can be extended to many robotic applications, such as large-size serial robotic arms and snake-like robots.

In this chapter, we show that a bayesian network can be an efficient way to diagnose a fault in multivariate processes. We have selected two statistical fault detection techniques (the T 2 chart and the MEWMA chart) and we have demonstrated that these charts can be viewed as a discriminant analysis and so can be implemented in a simple bayesian network. As the efficiency of bayesian network for the diagnosis of systems has already been demonstrated (Verron et al., 2006; Verron et al., 2007), the evident outlook of this work is the full study of the use of bayesian network in order to monitor and control a multivariate process (detection and diagnosis in the same network).

In this article, we show how to obtain all of the Pareto optimal decision vectors and solutions for the finite horizon indefinite mean-field stochastic cooperative linear-quadratic (LQ) difference game. First, the equivalence between the solvability of the introduced N coupled generalized difference Riccati equations (GDREs) and the solvability of the multiobjective optimization problem is established. However, it is difficult to obtain Pareto optimal decision vectors based on the N coupled GDREs because the optimal joint strategy adopted by all players to optimize the performance criterion of some players in the game is different from the strategies of other players, which rely on the weighted matrices of cost functionals that may be different among players. Second, a necessary and sufficient condition is developed to guarantee the convexity of the costs, which makes the weighting technique not only sufficient but also necessary for searching Pareto optimal decision vectors. It is then shown that the mean-field Pareto optimality algorithm (MF-POA) is presented to identify, in principle, all of the Pareto optimal decision vectors and solutions via the solutions to the weighted coupled GDREs and the weighted coupled generalized difference Lyapunov equations (GDLEs), respectively. Finally, a cooperative network security game is reported to illustrate the results presented. Simulation results validate the solvability, correctness, and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.

Kurosawa et al. formulate a universally composable (UC) security definition of dynamic searchable symmetric encryption (DSSE). They also show (weak) equivalence between the UC and the game-based definition, and introduce a UC secure DSSE scheme (KSOY scheme). However, there is a problem in their update protocol such that just documents containing the same keyword can be modified. Hence, the KSOY scheme does not satisfy forward security which guarantees that the server cannot know any relationship between an added or modified document and past search queries. In this paper, we introduce a new DSSE scheme such that documents containing different keywords can be modified, by extending the KSOY scheme. In addition, since Kurosawa et al.'s UC definition does not guarantee forward security, we extend their UC definition to guarantee forward security, and prove (weak) equivalence between the game-based definition of forward security and our UC definition. We also show that the proposed scheme satisfies UC security by proving the game-based definition.

BackgroundWe aimed to investigate the range of intakes linked to efficacy and to make an initial assessment of variability in response to the water-soluble tomato extract, Fruitflow®. Platelet response to ADP agonist and thrombin generation capacity were monitored at baseline and 24h after consuming 0,30,75,150,300mg of Fruitflow® in a randomized, double-blinded crossover study in male subjects 30–65 years of age (n=12, ISRCTN53447583,24/02/2021). ResultsResults showed that the changes from baseline aggregation (-12.0±13.9 to -17.7±15.7%) and thrombin generation (-8.6±4.1 to -11.3±2.3%) achieved for the 75mg, 150mg, and 300mg supplements were equivalent. Effects observed for 0 mg and 30mg supplements were non-equivalent to150mg and not different from baseline (aggregation changed by -0.7±10.2 to 3.0±5.0%, thrombin generation by 0.8±3.1%). ConclusionsThe data suggest that the efficacious range for Fruitflow® lies between 75mg and 300mg, depending on the individual. It may be pertinent to personalize the daily intake of Fruitflow® depending on individual platelet response.

The paper proposes a method for calculating longterm asymmetric modes of power supply systems at industrial enterprises under conditions of incomplete source information. Power quality in power supply systems has been one of the most significant issues which determines reliability and efficiency of power consumption. One of the electricity quality indicators is three-phase voltage unbalance, which affects the performance of almost all types of electrical receivers and reduces their efficiency. Therefore, calculating a long-term asymmetric mode is relevant, especially under conditions of incomplete source information. The purpose of the research is to develop a methodology for calculating long-term asymmetric modes of electrical networks for computer modeling, which makes it possible to solve problems of ensuring the electricity quality in electrical engineering and operating power supply systems at enterprises at a higher technical and economic level. To achieve this goal, the authors propose to apply the deterministic model of the asymmetric mode and the equivalence method in order to simplify the model under consideration. G-form equations are used to mathematically describe the negative sequence mode. On the basis of the proposed model, the authors developed an algorithm for modeling asymmetric modes. The algorithm was used within machine, mechanical repair, machine assembly and electrical repair workshops at enterprises. The results obtained can be used to calculate the asymmetric mode, as well as to establish measures to minimize asymmetry levels both in electrical engineering and operating enterprises.

Equivalence checking techniques help establish whether two versions of a program exhibit the same behavior. The majority of popular techniques for formally proving/refuting equivalence are evaluated on small and simplistic benchmarks, omitting "difficult" programming constructs, such as non-linear arithmetic, loops, floating-point arithmetic, and string and array manipulation. This hinders efficient evaluation of these techniques and the ability to establish their practical applicability in real scenarios. This paper addresses this gap by contributing EqBench – the largest and most comprehensive benchmark for equivalence checking analysis, which contains 147 equivalent and 125 non-equivalent cases, in both C and Java languages. We believe EqBench can facilitate a more realistic evaluation of equivalence checking techniques, assessing their individual strength and weaknesses. EqBench is publicly available at: https://osf.io/93s5b/.

Background To utilize the external quality assessment (EQA)/proficiency testing (PT) scheme to evaluate the equivalence of different clinical enzymatic measuring systems in Beijing. Methods The Beijing Center for Clinical Laboratory (BCCL) distributed three investigation samples to mutual recognition clinical laboratories in Beijing including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ‐glutamyltransferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). These samples were derived from serum pools with values assigned by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) enzymatic reference measurement procedures (RMPs). Each laboratory performed duplicate tests of the samples. Then, the samples at level 1 were used to recalibrate individual measuring systems for repeating the tests. BCCL collected data for evaluation of their analytical quality. Results Before recalibration, the biases of ALT and AST tests were not traceable to the IFCC RMPs, and the bias pass rates of GGT, CK, and LDH tests were only 51.2%, 55.7%, and 48.6% respectively. After recalibration, the pass rates of ALT, AST, GGT, CK, and LDH increased to 95.1%, 82.9%, 95.1%, 97.1%, and 70.0% respectively. The EQA/PT also showed that after recalibration, more than 95% of laboratories met the optimum level specifications of the biological variation for ALT, AST, GGT, and CK tests and the desirable for LDH tests. Conclusion The enzymatic tests in Beijing need to be further standardized by category 1 or 2 EQA/PT scheme for mutual recognition between clinical laboratories. The criteria of biological variation are more relevant for determining the equivalence of clinical enzymatic tests., Using fresh human serum pools which assigned valued by IFCC RMPS performed re‐calibration, the trueness of enzymatic tests results had been improved. It is also necessary to implement Category 1or 2 EQA/PT schemes to monitor the equivalence of results and the success of standardization in Beijing.

Objective To create and validate a Spanish sentence test for evaluation of speech understanding of Spanish-speaking listeners with hearing loss or cochlear implants (CI). Study design Two thousand sentences were recorded from two male and two female speakers. The average intelligibility of each sentence was estimated as the mean score achieved by five listeners presented with a five-channel cochlear implant simulation. The mean scores of each sentence were used to construct 42 lists of 20 sentences with similar mean scores. List equivalency was then validated by presenting all lists to 10 CI users and in a 2-list comparison in a clinical setting to 38 CI patients. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients Normal-hearing listeners (n = 5), CI users in a research study (n = 10), and CI patients (n = 38) in routine clinical follow-up. Intervention Multiple sentence lists from a newly minted speech perception test. Main outcome measures List intelligibility and equivalence across sentence lists. Results Forty-two lists of sentences were equivalent when all lists were presented in random order to 10 adult CI recipients. The variability of scores observed on lists presented to the same listener in the same condition was captured using a binomial distribution model based on a 40-item list for 38 adult implant recipients. Conclusion The Spanish AzBio Sentence Test includes 42 lists of 20 sentences. These sentences are roughly equivalent in terms of overall difficulty and confidence limits have been provided to assess the significance of variability in list scores observed within or across conditions. These materials will be of benefit when assessing native Spanish speakers in both research and clinical settings.

Semantic Textual Similarity (STS) and paraphrase de- tection are two NLP tasks that have a high focus on the meaning of sentences, and current research in both re- lies heavily on comparing fragments of text. Little to no work has been done in studying inference-centric ap- proaches to solve these tasks. We study the relation be- tween existing work and what we call mutual implica- tion (MI), a binary relationship between two sentences that holds when they textually entail each other. MI thus shifts the focus of STS and paraphrase detection to un- derstanding the meaning of a sentence in terms of its in- ferential properties. We study the comparison between MI, paraphrasing, and STS work. We then argue that MI should be considered a complementary evaluation met- ric for advancing work in areas as diverse as machine translation, natural language inference, etc. Finally, we study the limitations of MI and discuss possibilities for overcoming them.

In the process of power system res toration after a large power outage, the power support of wind farms is taken into account that it can speed up the restoration of the system. However, the uncertainty of wind farm output also increases the risk of secondary power outages. To solve this problem, this paper adopts the uncertain bi-level programming theory to establish a load recovery optimization model that takes into account the uncertainties of wind power and load, and the model converts it into load power and wind power forecasting errors for processing. Furthermore, the traditional deterministic power grid safe operation constraint is changed to a chance constraint in the form of confidence. In order to meet the requirements of online rapid decision-making, the normal distribution theory is used to transform the uncertainty model into its definite equivalence model, and CPLEX is used to solve it. Finally, an IEEE39-bus system with wind farms is taken as an example to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

The theorem proposed in the original article ( IEEE Microw. Wireless Compon. Lett. , vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 145–147, Mar. 2015.) regarding the replacement of six quarter-wavelength lines of conventional rat-race coupler (RRC) using asymmetric two-port networks (TNs) is absolutely correct. This letter will further illustrate the concept of single-frequency equivalence of the conventional RRC using asymmetric TNs.

As service firms look to international markets for growth opportunities, they often encounter consumers who have significantly different expectations and perceptions of service performance. Little is known of the relationships between service performance, price perceptions, satisfaction and behavioral outcomes in diverse cross-cultural consumer segments. Prior work also questions the equivalence in cross-cultural settings of service performance instruments developed in U.S. service environments. Using the international airline industry as the context, an industry-specific service performance instrument is developed and found invariant across Western and Asian settings. The results also reveal both similarities and differences in service performance evaluation and behavior across cultures. This study addresses the need for invariant service performance measures in order to be able to evaluate cross-cultural differences in service performance evaluation effectively; and the importance of service strategy differentiation for diverse cultural groups in international travel settings.

Objective The purpose of the present study was to provide a translation into Spanish, as well as a cross-cultural adaptation, of the English version of the Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire (LVQOL). There are currently some questionnaires designed to assess vision related quality of life in Spanish, although none of them specifically examines the quality of life of patients with visual disability. Method The LVQOL consists of 25 items and examines 4 different dimensions: distance vision; mobility and illumination; adaptation, reading and precision work, and daily life activities. The process of translation and cross-cultural adaptation was conducted following the recommendations of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes. This included, amongst other variables, a direct translation, a back-translation, and a cognitive debriefing with a small sample of patients with visual impairment. Work was supervised by an expert committee consisting of an ophthalmologist, a psychologist with expertise in Patient Reported Outcomes, and an optician-optometrist with experience in the field of low vision. Results A total of 46 phrases were considered for translation of which, 41 (89.1%) had excellent equivalence, 3 (6.5%) moderate equivalence, and 2 poor equivalence. The cognitive debriefing phase showed a high degree of acceptance of the questionnaire by the sample of participants with visual impairment. Conclusions The results obtained suggest that the Spanish version of this tool is understandable for patients with visual impairment. Its properties as a measuring tool will be evaluated in a later study to determine its validity, reliability, and sensitivity to changes.

Path-based equivalence checkers (PBECs) have been successfully applied for verification of programmes from diverse domains and from various stages of high-level synthesis. In the case of non-equivalence, PBEC provides very little information which is not sufficient for further investigation of the two programmes being compared by some human expert. In this work, the authors show how a counter-trace (cTrace) can be generated in the case of non-equivalence reported by the PBEC. Using this cTrace, they also present a procedure to find suitable initialisation values for input variables which reveal the non-equivalence (i.e. counter-example) by using off-the-shelf satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) solvers. To aid the human expert, they also show that how they can visualise this cTrace in the control and data-flow graph of the programmes using the graph visualisation software – Graphviz. This counter-example and visual representation of the corresponding cTrace will be helpful in debugging the root cause of the non-equivalence. The experimental results are encouraging.

Sagging elastic cables are inherently nonlinear structures due to the presence of self-weight apart from the presence of conventional physical and geometrical nonlinearities. Recently, authors have proposed a force method of weightless sagging elastic cables with linear tension–extension relations and undergoing small elastic displacements to focus explicitly on their characteristic ‘configurational’ nonlinearity. This force method is based upon the rate-type constitutive equations and third-order differential equations of motion. Existing displacement method is reconstructed here for the physically linear weightless sagging elastic cables undergoing finite elastic displacements. In place of nodal forces in force method, deformed state nodal placements are the primary variables in this placement method. Rate-type constitutive equations for two-node weightless planar sagging elastic cables are derived. The objective of the present paper is to compare and contrast these two contending methods in reference to their underlying hypotheses, analytical reach, and quantitative predictions of structural response. Possible equivalence of the proposed third-order and the popular incremental second-order differential equation of motion are explored. Theoretical significance of the present paper is critically evaluated.

Converter-control-based generators exhibit different dynamic characteristics compared with traditional synchronous generators, and thus affect the oscillation modes and small-signal stability of power systems in a different manner. Simplified representation of a great number of grid-connected inverters is indispensable for efficient and accurate dynamic analysis of power systems integrated with large-scale renewable energy generation. This paper proposes a novel dynamic aggregation modeling method of grid-connected inverters using coherency-based equivalence, and validates the applicability of the aggregated model for small-signal stability analysis. Modal analysis and dynamic simulation are conducted on the detailed model and aggregated models of the test system. The frequency-domain results and the time-domain results from PSCAD/EMTDC both verify the adequacy of the coherent equivalence practice in the small-signal rotor angle stability analysis.

As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment process, developers are required to assess the indirect effects of fish entrapment however, presently there is little guidance to support quantitative assessments of food resource losses to higher trophic levels. To address this gap, a detailed and quantitative tool termed Dietary Equivalence Analysis is presented in this paper. Dietary Equivalence Analysis combines bioenergetic modelling with dietary and demographic information to express entrapment predictions in terms of the number of marine predators, or the proportion of a population, that would be sustained by the biomass of fish prey had it not been entrapped. The application of this tool is demonstrated by way of a worked example and includes a sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulation to determine the influence of input parameter uncertainty on dietary equivalence estimates. It is shown that the Dietary Equivalence Analysis framework can be used to develop project- and regional-specific quantitative assessments for a number of marine predators. This is considered to provide competent authorities with a new and more realistic perspective from which the magnitude of predicted fish entrapment effects can be viewed and assessed.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate a new approach to establish compliance of segmentation tools with the computed tomography volumetry profile of the Quantitative Imaging Biomarker Alliance (QIBA); and determine the statistical exchangeability between real and simulated lesions through an international challenge. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study used an anthropomorphic phantom with 16 embedded physical lesions and 30 patient cases from the Reference Image Database to Evaluate Therapy Response with pathologically confirmed malignancies. Hybrid datasets were generated by virtually inserting simulated lesions corresponding to physical lesions into the phantom datasets using one projection-domain-based method (Method 1), two image-domain insertion methods (Methods 2 and 3), and simulated lesions corresponding to real lesions into the Reference Image Database to Evaluate Therapy Response dataset (using Method 2). The volumes of the real and simulated lesions were compared based on bias (measured mean volume differences between physical and virtually inserted lesions in phantoms as quantified by segmentation algorithms), repeatability, reproducibility, equivalence (phantom phase), and overall QIBA compliance (phantom and clinical phase). RESULTS For phantom phase, three of eight groups were fully QIBA compliant, and one was marginally compliant. For compliant groups, the estimated biases were -1.8 ± 1.4%, -2.5 ± 1.1%, -3 ± 1%, -1.8 ± 1.5% (±95% confidence interval). No virtual insertion method showed statistical equivalence to physical insertion in bias equivalence testing using Schuirmann's two one-sided test (±5% equivalence margin). Differences in repeatability and reproducibility across physical and simulated lesions were largely comparable (0.1%-16% and 7%-18% differences, respectively). For clinical phase, 7 of 16 groups were QIBA compliant. CONCLUSION Hybrid datasets yielded conclusions similar to real computed tomography datasets where phantom QIBA compliant was also compliant for hybrid datasets. Some groups deemed compliant for simulated methods, not for physical lesion measurements. The magnitude of this difference was small (

A growing number of clinical trials employ electronic media, in particular smartphones and tablets, to collect patient-reported outcome data. This is driven by the ubiquity of the technology, and an increased awareness of associated improvements in data integrity, quality and timeliness. Despite this, there remains a lingering question relating to the measurement equivalence of an instrument when migrated from paper to a screen-based format. As a result, researchers often must provide evidence demonstrating the measurement equivalence of paper and electronic versions, such as that recommended by the ISPOR ePRO Good Research Practices Task Force. In the last decade, a considerable body of work has emerged that overwhelmingly supports the measurement equivalence of instruments using screen-based electronic formats. Our review of key works derives recommendations on evidence needed to support electronic implementation. We recommend application of best practice recommendations is sufficient to conclude measurement equivalence with paper PROMs. In addition, we recommend that previous usability evidence in a representative group is sufficient, as opposed to per-study testing. Further, we conclude that this also applies to studies using multiple screen-based devices, including bring-your-own-device, if a minimum device specification can be ensured and the instrument is composed of standard response scale types.

The present paper proposes an improved colour-modelled CH* and C2* measurement using a digital colour camera. A complete measurement description has been given. As an important part of the method, the camera sensor spectral response has been obtained through the optical calibration process. With this spectral response, an improved model that pivots on the relationship between image colour and flame chemiluminescence has been established, and its accuracy has been evaluated by determining CH*/C2* ratios of the premixed propane (C3H8) flames at different equivalence ratios (Φ = 0.93 − 1.53). The two sets of results rendered by the improved and the conventional methods have been compared rigorously.

This objective of the research is to classify the types of translation technique from English to Indonesian subtitle, to determine the most dominant type of translation technique of English to Indonesian subtitle of “Bhaijan Bajrangi” movie. The study of this research used the descriptive qualitative method to describe the subject or the object of the research based on the fact or reality. The data of this research are utterances or sentences in the movie script, which involves two different languages, both the SL (English) and the TL (Indonesian). The source data are “Bhaijan Bajrangi” movie. The data were collected by using the documentation method in the movie. The type of translation techniques used are: 1) Literal (137 data or 28.84 %), 2) Modulation (86 data or 18.11 %), 3) Reduction/Omission (83 data or 17.47 %), 4) Established Equivalence (49 data or 10.32 %), 5) Amplification/Addition (42 data or 8.84 %), 6) Transposition/Shift (33 data or 6.95 %), 7) Borrowing (20 data or 4.21 %), 8) Particularization (12 data or 2.53 %), 9) Generalization (6 data or 1.26 %), 10) Adaptation (5 data or 1.05 %), and 11) Description (2 data or 0.42 %).

Background The high operational cost of MRI limits its utility for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening. Abbreviated-protocol dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (aMRI) may help lower cost while maintaining the high accuracy of complete-protocol diagnostic MRI (cMRI). Purpose To compare aMRI to cMRI for HCC detection in cirrhosis patients. Study type Cross-sectional study. Study population Cirrhosis patients undergoing MRI for suspected HCC. Field strength/sequence 1.5T and 3T; aMRI (coronal T2 -weighted, axial dynamic contrast-enhanced T1 -weighted fat-suppressed sequences); cMRI (aMRI sequences and unenhanced axial T2 -, T1 -, and diffusion-weighted sequences). Assessment From each cMRI, an abbreviated exam was created by extracting only the aMRI sequences. Five radiologists independently reviewed aMRI and cMRI and assigned per-patient screening results by the presence/absence of any actionable observation per Liver Imaging and Reporting Data System v2018 (LI-RADS 4, 5, M, or TIV categories). Per-patient HCC status was determined by the composite reference standard of histopathology, follow-up imaging, consensus expert panel imaging review, and clinical follow-up. Statistical tests Interreader agreement between aMRI and cMRI was compared with that of cMRI and tested for interchangeability against a tolerance margin of 0.05. Per-patient screening sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were compared between aMRI and cMRI and tested for equivalence against a tolerance margin of 0.05. Results In 93 cirrhosis patients, five radiologists recorded on average 121 liver observations. Interreader screening agreement probability (and 95% confidence interval confidence interval [CI]) was 0.914 [0.900, 0.926] between aMRI and cMRI, and 0.927 [0.908, 0.942] for cMRI; their difference was within the 0.05 margin for interchangeability. In 86 patients in whom a final HCC status could be determined, the detection sensitivity and specificity of aMRI was 0.921 [0.864, 0.956] and 0.886 [0.844, 0.918], within the 5% equivalence margin to cMRI, 0.936 [0.881, 0.965] and 0.883 [0.840, 0.915], respectively. Data conclusion Abbreviated-protocol screening MRI is interchangeable with, and equivalent to, complete-protocol diagnostic MRI for per-patient HCC detection in cirrhosis. Level of evidence 4 Technical Efficacy: Stage 6 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:415-425.

An equivalent constant-amplitude cyclic loading method for random vehicle load is proposed based on the concept of energy equivalence. The filtered compound Poisson process is adopted to describe random vehicle load, through which the vehicle load spectrum is gained. The total dissipated energy due to fatigue loads subjected to concrete structures is deduced by introducing a multi-scale model, in which the energy dissipation induced by the nano-cracks level is presented, and the energy transition from nano to macro scales is derived. By assuming that the total energy dissipation under random loading equals that under equivalent constant-amplitude loading, the equivalent load ratio and amplitude as well as the number of equivalent cycles for random vehicle load are obtained. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a set of numerical simulations is presented. The fatigue damage accumulations for concrete structures under both the random load and the equivalent loads converted by the proposed method and the classic root mean square method are calculated. By comparing with the root mean square method, the accuracy and advantage of the proposed equivalent load model are verified.

A new static–dynamic equivalence approach for beam bending is developed to determine the critical stability load of a vibrating beam resting on an elastic foundation. It is validated that the criti...

Background The popularity of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) has been resistant to concerns about validity and reliability. Utility-theoretic outcome equivalents are widely used in other areas of applied economics. Equivalence values can be derived for time, money, risk, and other metrics. These equivalence measures preserve all available information about individual preferences and are valid measures of individual welfare changes. Objective The objective of this study was to derive alternative generalized equivalence measures from first principles and illustrate their application in an empirical comparative-effectiveness example. Methods We specify a general-equilibrium model incorporating neoclassical utility functions, health production function, severity-duration preferences, and labor-market tradeoff function. The empirical implementation takes advantage of discrete-choice experiment methods that are widely accepted in other areas of applied economics and increasingly in health economics. We illustrate the practical significance of restrictive QALY assumptions using comparative-effectiveness results based on both QALYs and estimates of welfare-theoretic time-equivalent values for anti-tumor necrosis factor and prolonged corticosteroid treatments for Crohn’s disease in three distinct preference classes. Results The QALY difference between the two treatments is 0.2 months, while time-equivalent values range between 0.5 and 1.3 months for aggregate and class-specific differences. Thus, the QALY-based analysis understates welfare-theoretic values by 60%-85%. Conclusion These results suggest that using disease-specific equivalence values offer a meaningful alternative to QALYs to compare global outcomes across treatments. The equivalence values approach is consistent with principles of welfare economics and offers several features not represented in QALYs, including accounting for preference nonlinearities in disease severity and duration, inclusion of preference-relevant nonclinical healthcare factors, representing preferences of clinically-relevant patient subpopulations, and including utility losses related to risk aversion.

Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation DC voltage endurance coefficient (VEC) is an important basis in the selection of DC cable insulation design and factory test parameters. Studies on the degradation of XLPE insulation performance under DC electric field can also provide technical support for the reliability evaluation of cable operation. The step stress method as an efficient electrical life test method is widely used to obtain VEC. The parameters of step stress method present considerable influences on VEC. An analytical method based on the trajectory of the damage curve and equivalence between step stress test and constant stress test within zone division is proposed in this paper. According to the proposed method, several sets of step stress tests with different test parameters have been carried out. The accuracy of the test results has been confirmed via analyzing test data. The experimental results show that the VEC (n=12.0) obtained by the step stress test whose parameters are selected by proposed method has good equivalence with the result (n=12.2) under constant-stress method.

© 2019 Elsevier Inc. Although in many countries more than twenty percent of all households rely on the private rental market for housing, the research concerning the fundamentals of rental prices has been limited. Standard capital investment theory states that the market rental price of capital services will equal the user cost of capital in equilibrium. The empirical evidence in support of the rent-user cost equivalence theorem is, however, scarce if not non-existent. We examine the relationship between market rents and the user cost of rental properties based on a unique micro data set on the earnings and costs of Flemish landlords. Robust regression estimates of portfolio-average rental earnings on portfolio-average user costs point to a strong correspondence at the micro-level. In some cases, we find a user cost coefficient which is not significantly different from one together with an intercept estimate which is not significantly different from zero even when we control for landlord characteristics. ispartof: JOURNAL OF HOUSING ECONOMICS vol:44 pages:112-130 status: published

The use of terms that relate to processes of assessment and confirmation of conformity of instruments and techniques of implementing measurements to metrological requirements is considered. The terms are found in regulatory documents in force in the Russian Federation. Signs of generality, subordination, equivalence, and affinity of terms related to technical regulation, quality assurance, assessment of conformity, and management of measurements are discussed. Existing differences in the definitions of terms in regulatory documents are noted. Proposals to achieve a more orderly and unambiguous definition and understanding of the terms that are discussed here are formulated.

Background: Currently, the equivalence and the substitutability of two inhaled medications are mainly driven by comparability of doses, in vitro performance, therapeutic equivalence and sameness, and handling of the inhalers. The packaging configuration is usually not considered as a factor. Methods: Two capsule-based inhaled tiotropium-containing products that differ by their primary packaging configurations (blister versus bottle) were compared in terms of potential handling and resulting storage errors due to unintentional misuse. Use error scenarios were identified and investigated for both the blister-packaged tiotropium and the bottled tiotropium capsules. The impact of the air exposure resulting from the packaging interaction errors was evaluated in vitro using fine particle dose (FPD) and delivered dose. Results: Numbers of potential errors and criticality in terms of the potential effect impact on the FPD were larger for the bottled product (between 40% and 90% loss on FPD related to initial dose). The loss of FPD could significantly impact the amount of medication that can actually reach the patient's lungs. Conclusion: When considering prescribing an inhaled medication, the specifics of the packaging and the patient's abilities and situation shall be taken into account to minimize possible handling and subsequent dosing errors.

Objective To assess psychometric properties and cross-language measurement equivalence of six versions of the Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Scale (BRAF-MDQ) and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease Score (RAID in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Both questionnaires were completed by French (n = 206), German (n = 206), Dutch (n = 317), Spanish (n = 157), Swedish (n = 170) and UK (n = 210) RA patients. The presence of cross-language differential item functioning (DIF) was examined using the generalized partial credit model. The impact of DIF on the item and total scores was examined by comparing DIF unadjusted and DIF adjusted expected item and scale scores. IRT-based methods were used to assess psychometric properties of the instruments. Results 11 of the 20 BRAF-MDQ (55%) and 4 of the 7 RAID items (57%) exhibited significant DIF in at least one of the six countries. The mean number of items with DIF per country was 2.6 for BRAF-MDQ and 1.1 for RAID. However, the impact of DIF on the total RAID and BRAF-MDQ scores, as well as the BRAF subscales, was found to be negligible at the group level. Only for the BRAF physical subscale was there evidence of minor DIF. Marginal reliabilities of BRAF-MDQ (0.93) and RAID (0.89) were excellent, and precise scores could be obtained across the spectrum of disease impact and fatigue scores measured by these PROMs. Conclusion This study supports the cross-language measurement equivalence of BRAF-MDQ and RAID and provides further support for the psychometric properties of these measures in RA. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s11136-019-02188-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In power industries, it is a common practice to use an equivalent model of the external power network in an optimization model of the internal power network in order to protect data privacy. However, existing equivalent models cannot accurately consider the operational constraints of an external power network. In this paper, a unified equivalent model is proposed to precisely capture the transfer capacity region of tie lines. The operational constraints of the external power network are preserved via multi-parametric programming. The operational costs of the external power network are formulated as an explicit function of power transmission on tie lines. This unified equivalent model can consider both AC and DC tie lines. The intuitive difference between the transfer capacity of AC and DC tie lines is revealed from a new perspective. On this basis, a market model for the internal power network with the equivalence of the operational constraints for the external power network is presented. Two typical trading modes are considered: the bulk sale mode and the direct power purchase mode. The exact convex relaxation formulation of the market model is derived under the direct power purchase mode.