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The study described here was aimed at assessing the capability of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) based on the backscatter coefficient (BSC) for classifying disease states, such as breast cancer response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and quantification of fatty liver disease. We evaluated the effectiveness of an in situ titanium (Ti) bead as a reference target in calibrating the system and mitigating attenuation and transmission loss effects on BSC estimation. Traditional BSC estimation methods require external references for calibration, which do not account for ultrasound attenuation or transmission losses through tissues. To address this issue, we used an in situ Ti bead as a reference target, because it can be used to calibrate the system and mitigate the attenuation and transmission loss effects on estimation of the BSC. The capabilities of the in situ calibration approach were assessed by quantifying consistency of BSC estimates from rabbit mammary tumors (N = 21). Specifically, mammary tumors were grown in rabbits and when a tumor reached ≥1 cm in size, a 2 mm Ti bead was implanted in the tumor as a radiological marker and a calibration source for ultrasound. Three days later, the tumors were scanned with an L-14/5 38 array transducer connected to a SonixOne scanner with and without a slab of pork belly placed on top of the tumors. The pork belly acted as an additional source of attenuation and transmission loss. QUS parameters, specifically effective scatterer diameter (ESD) and effective acoustic concentration (EAC), were calculated using calibration spectra from both an external reference phantom and the Ti bead. For ESD estimation, the 95% confidence interval between measurements with and without the pork belly layer was 6.0, 27.4 using the in situ bead and 114, 135.1 with the external reference phantom. For EAC estimation, the 95% confidence intervals were –8.1, 0.5 for the bead and –41.5, –32.2 for the phantom. These results indicate that the in situ bead method has reduced bias in QUS estimates because of intervening tissue losses. The use of an in situ Ti bead as a radiological marker not only serves its traditional role but also effectively acts as a calibration target for QUS methods. This approach accounts for attenuation and transmission losses in tissue, resulting in more accurate QUS estimates and offering a promising method for enhanced disease state classification in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interval model is employed to describe the uncertain behavior of phase change materials (PCM) integrated walls. A numerical model is developed for the forward interval analysis, by which the interval bounds of thermal response, such as the temperature on the inner wall and the degree of phase change of PCM, can be estimated when materials and environmental parameters are interval variables. This model integrates the advantages of the quadtree-scaled boundary finite element method (quadtree SBFEM), the Legendre polynomial surrogate (LPS), interval model, and optimization method, to gain a comprehensive benefit of convenient mesh regeneration, reliable bounds estimation, and the alleviation of heavy computational burden in the optimization process. On the other side, a numerical model is presented for the inverse interval analysis, by which the interval bounds of material parameters can be identified when the intervals of measurement of temperature and the degree of phase change of PCM are provided, and the impact of nosy data is taken into account. This model may be enlightening for a deeper investigation of inverse interval analysis of PCM-integrated walls since no attention seems to have been paid to this issue. In terms of computing accuracy, computational cost, and numerical examples are provided to elucidate the effectiveness of proposed approaches, and satisfactory results are achieved in both forward and inverse interval analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, several attempts have been made to quantitatively evaluate covert attention using microsaccades. However, several unclear aspects exist regarding the measurement method of microsaccades, and a unified analysis method does not exist. Therefore, the current status is such that the interpretation of the results is divided among the research groups. To address this problem, empirical studies on microsaccades must be accumulated and measured and evaluated using a unified method. Therefore, in this study, to accumulate empirical studies on microsaccades, an experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of the presence or absence of gazing at a fixation point on the interval of occurrence of microsaccades in a measurement task. The participants were 15 healthy young people, and we compared the following two types of measurement tasks. Task-I: The participants freely visually searched a white wall 1 m away for 120 s. Task-II: The participants gazed at a fixation point located 1 m ahead at eye level for 120 s. For the microsaccade detection algorithm, we adopted a method imitating the EK method proposed by Engbert and Kliegl in 2003, divided 120 s of time-series data and analyzed it every 2 s, and subsequently evaluated the time-series data for the entire 120 s by concatenating them. Consequently, the interval of occurrence of microsaccades during Task-II decreased by more than 1 Hz compared with that of Task-I (p<0.05). The study confirmed that the presence or absence of gazing at the fixation point during microsaccade measurement affected the interval of occurrence of microsaccades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the inter-day reliability of time-domain, frequency-domain, and nonlinear HRV metrics in healthy highly active younger and older adults. The study also assessed the effect of age on the HRV metrics. Methods: Forty-four older adults (34 M, 10F; 59 ± 5 years; V ˙ O 2peak = 40.9 ± 7.6 ml kg−1 min−1) and twenty-two younger adults (16 M, 6F; 22 ± 4 years; V ˙ O 2peak = 47.2 ± 12.8 ml kg−1 min−1) attended the laboratory. Visit one assessed aerobic fitness through an exercise test. In visits two and three, participants completed a 30-min supine RR interval measurement to derive the HRV metrics. Results: The younger group (YG) and older group (OG) demonstrated poor to good day-to-day relative and absolute reliability for all HRV metrics (OG, ICCs = 0.33 to 0.69 and between day CVs = 3.8 to 29.2%; YG, ICCs = 0.37 to 0.93 and between day CVs = 3.5 to 36.5%). There was a significant reduction in ApEn (P < 0.001), SampEn (P = 0.031), RMSSD (P < 0.001), SDNN (P < 0.001), LF power (P < 0.001) and HF power (P < 0.001), HRV metrics with ageing. There was no significant effect of age the complexity metrics DFA α1 (P = 0.107), α2 (P = 0.147) and CI-8 (P = 0.493). Conclusion: HRV metrics are reproducible between days in both healthy highly active younger and older adults. There is a decline in linear and nonlinear HRV metrics with age, albeit there being no age-related change in the nonlinear metrics, DFA α1, α2 and CI-8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A decrease in the left ventricular (LV) long-axis early diastolic peak velocity (e′) is evident by early-middle age, but it is unknown to what extent this decrease is due to slowing of the speed of active relaxation versus a reduction in LV long-axis excursion during early diastole (EDExc). Methods: Pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) signals were acquired from the septal and lateral borders of the mitral annulus in 62 healthy adult subjects of age 18–45 years. EDExc and LV systolic excursion (SExc) were measured as the integrals of the respective TDI signals. The speed of active relaxation was indirectly assessed using time interval measurements related to the TDI early diastolic signal, including the isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT′), the acceleration time (EDAT), and the duration (EDDur). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify the relationships between e′, age, EDExc, SExc, and time intervals. Results: The findings were similar for both LV walls. Age was negatively correlated with e′ and EDExc, but was not correlated with SExc, IVRT′, EDAT, or EDDur. The closest correlate of EDExc was SExc, and EDExc was independently correlated with both SExc and age. e′ was also positively correlated with SExc, but the closest correlate of e′ was EDExc, and when combined with EDExc, EDDur became an independent predictor of e′. Conclusion: The aging-related decrease in e′ evident by early-middle age occurs in the absence of aging-related slowing of active relaxation and therefore can be largely attributed to the accompanying reduction in EDExc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several variants of the autoregressive structural equation model were suggested over the past years, including, for example, the random intercept autoregressive panel model, the latent curve model with structured residuals, and the STARTS model. The present work shows how to place these models into a mixed-effects model framework and how to estimate them in mixed-effects model software, namely the R package nlme. We also show how nlme can be used to fit extensions of these models, for example, models that do not assume equally spaced time intervals between measurement occasions (i.e., continuous time models). Overall, our expositions show that autoregressive structural equations models and mixed-effects models are closely related. We think that this insight eases researchers to understand the differences between the variants of the autoregressive structural equation model and also allows them to profitably link the two different modeling perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the optimal method for monitoring the size distribution of cultivated yellowtail growth, we employed three different approaches: capture measurement, manual measurement using stereo cameras, and automatic measurement through stereo camera-based image recognition technology. Conventional capture measurements showed inadequate prediction interval owing to limited sample size, preventing accurate assessment of growth. Both manual and automatic camera measurements successfully conformed to a growth model exhibiting periodicity. The expected values derived from each model closely matched with the mean of landings conducted at the end of the study. However, the 95% prediction interval for manual measurement with cameras was comparable to that for the landing measurement, whereas the prediction interval for the automatic measurement with cameras was overestimated. Additionally, the growth rate of farmed yellowtail demonstrated seasonal fluctuations. Notably, the mean obtained from a single automatic measurement with cameras, prior to landing, significantly deviated from the overall mean of all measurements. This suggests a potential risk associated with relying on accidental outliers in a single measurement. Therefore, it is crucial to employ a growth model unaffected by outliers in continuous measurements to ensure reliable predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method of accuracy error compensation for the time interval is examined, allowing to decrease the dependence of accuracy error on the duration of measured intervals and minimising the influence of destabilising factors – ambient temperature changes and the initial deviation of the meter clock generator frequency from the nominal value. The compensation method is based on a calibration procedure that measures precise time intervals under conditions of changing ambient temperature. Then the dependence of the accuracy error on temperature for a particular meter is recorded. Based on these data, a correction table is compiled containing correction factors and temperature values at which these factors were determined. Under real measurement conditions, the correction factor corresponding to the current temperature is determined from the table for measured result correction. The table with correction factor values could be stored in the memory of the meter or processing computer. Experimental verification of the method showed that applying a correction for a meter with a standard XO class clock generator (certificated instability of ±50 ppm) could obtain an equivalent clock generator instability of ±0.15 ppm. The application of the method is efficient in cases where the use of high-end clocking to ensure the required measurement accuracy is not economically feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularization of electricity-gas systems leads to increasing demand for state management of systems. However, the existence of neglected measurement correlations brings uncertainties to the electricity-gas systems state estimation. In this paper, an interval state estimation method that considers measurement correlations existing in the electricity-gas systems is presented. We derive the linear measurement model for the electricity-gas systems through Taylor series expansion and estimate the measurement variance-covariance matrix with measurement correlations. The system parameter matrix and the measurement variance-covariance matrix containing measurement correlations are combined into an interval, and the interval state matrix considering measurement correlations is constructed. Then, the linear equations for the state estimation interval considering measurement correlations are established based on the measurement containing correlations and interval state matrix; as a result, the electricity-gas system state estimation model containing measurement correlations is established. In addition, a method for determining the range of state estimation intervals is proposed. Numerical tests on an integrated electricity-gas system comprising a 10-node natural gas network and IEEE 30-bus system indicate that the proposed approach has more advantages over the UT+KO approach in computation accuracy and computation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial mimicry is the automatic imitation of the facial affect expressions of others. It serves as an important component of interpersonal communication and affective co-experience. Facial mimicry has so far been measured by Electromyography (EMG), which requires a complex measuring apparatus. Recently, software for measuring facial expressions have become available, but it is still unclear how well it is suited for measuring facial mimicry. This study investigates the comparability of the automated facial coding software Affdex with EMG for measuring facial mimicry. For this purpose, facial mimicry was induced in 33 subjects by presenting naturalistic affect-expressive video sequences (anger, joy). The response of the subjects is measured simultaneously by facial EMG (corrugator supercilii muscle, zygomaticus major muscle) and by Affdex (action units lip corner puller and brow lowerer and affects joy and anger). Subsequently, the correlations between the measurement results of EMG and Affdex were calculated. After the presentation of the joy stimulus, there was an increase in zygomaticus muscle activity (EMG) about 400 ms after stimulus onset and an increase in joy and lip corner puller activity (Affdex) about 1200 ms after stimulus onset. The joy and the lip corner puller activity detected by Affdex correlate significantly with the EMG activity. After presentation of the anger stimulus, corrugator muscle activity (EMG) also increased approximately 400 ms after stimulus onset, whereas anger and brow lowerer activity (Affdex) showed no response. During the entire measurement interval, anger activity and brow lowerer activity (Affdex) did not correlate with corrugator muscle activity (EMG). Using Affdex, the facial mimicry response to a joy stimulus can be measured, but it is detected approximately 800 ms later compared to the EMG. Thus, electromyography remains the tool of choice for studying subtle mimic processes like facial mimicry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) mission, operated by NASA, was launched in September 2018. The mission aims to obtain height measurements that create a global portrait of Earth's radial dimension, gathering data to monitor changes of terrain including glaciers, sea ice, forests and more. It is important to understand the error budget of the observations, one component of which is radial orbit error. Apart from the altimetric ranging errors, radial orbit errors directly influence the accuracy of the measurement of sea surface height (SSH). These errors can be assessed by analyzing the difference of SSHs at ground track intersections, so-called crossover differences (XO differences). An effective approach is to model the orbit error by minimizing the residual XO difference by the least-squares method. XO differences are assumed to be caused by the difference of radial orbit errors between ascending and descending arcs, the sea surface variation, mispointing, and measurement errors. Since the sea surface variation in a short time interval and measurement errors can be considered as random variable, these residuals can be reduced by the method of XO adjustment. In our study, the RMS XO differences of ICESat-2 is significantly reduced from 17.2 cm to 8.7 cm in the Arctic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness has long been associated with depressive symptoms, but there is no evidence on the question of "which comes first". To help us to answer this question, this study conducted a meta-analysis using a cross-lagged formula to examine the reciprocal relations between loneliness and depressive symptoms, as well as potential moderators. The meta-analytic dataset consisted of 37 studies with sample sizes ranging from 52 to 5991. Effect sizes (including autoregressive effects and lagged coefficients) were included. We computed weighted mean effect sizes for the correlation effect and cross-lagged effect between loneliness and depressive symptoms. We also performed a meta-regression to investigate potential moderators. The results showed that loneliness and depressive symptoms reciprocally predicted each other over time with similar effect sizes. There was no moderation of our overall effect size in either direction by time interval between measurements, the proportion of female participants, mean age of the sample, or type of measurement. Caution should be taken in drawing final conclusions about the relative strength of reciprocal effects between loneliness and depressive symptoms due to the potential influence of varied research focus in the included studies, which could affect the effect size. These findings advance the study of the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms by providing evidence that the link between them is symmetrically reciprocal and robust, which may help clinicians to develop effective intervention methods. • We examined the reciprocal relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms using a cross-lagged model. • Loneliness and depressive symptoms reciprocally predicted each other with similar effect sizes. • There was no moderation of our overall effect size in either direction by potential moderators. • The reciprocal relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms in the general population was robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension, a primary risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases, is a global health concern. Early identification and effective management of hypertensive individuals are vital for reducing associated health risks. This study explores the potential of deep learning (DL) techniques, specifically GoogLeNet, ResNet-18, and ResNet-50, for discriminating between normotensive (NTS) and hypertensive (HTS) individuals using photoplethysmographic (PPG) recordings. The research assesses the impact of calibration at different time intervals between measurements, considering intervals less than 1 h, 1–6 h, 6–24 h, and over 24 h. Results indicate that calibration is most effective when measurements are closely spaced, with an accuracy exceeding 90% in all the DL strategies tested. For calibration intervals below 1 h, ResNet-18 achieved the highest accuracy (93.32%), sensitivity (84.09%), specificity (97.30%), and F1-score (88.36%). As the time interval between calibration and test measurements increased, classification performance gradually declined. For intervals exceeding 6 h, accuracy dropped below 81% but with all models maintaining accuracy above 71% even for intervals above 24 h. This study provides valuable insights into the feasibility of using DL for hypertension risk assessment, particularly through PPG recordings. It demonstrates that closely spaced calibration measurements can lead to highly accurate classification, emphasizing the potential for real-time applications. These findings may pave the way for advanced, non-invasive, and continuous blood pressure monitoring methods that are both efficient and reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Small choroidal melanocytic lesions have a low rate of metastasis and can be reasonably managed with surveillance until they demonstrate evidence of growth or clinical risk factors for melanoma. However, even choroidal nevi are not stationary, with many exhibiting slow growth over time. We sought to quantify the growth rates of indeterminate choroidal lesions that were initially observed prior to a clinical diagnosis of melanoma. Methods: A single-center retrospective study was performed of patients diagnosed with choroidal melanoma based upon clinical characteristics who were initially followed for indeterminate lesions over at least 6 months. Subjects were included if they had a minimum of two B-scan ultrasound measurements prior to the visit at which melanoma was diagnosed. Demographic and tumor characteristics were collected from the medical record. Growth rates were calculated as the change in lesion thickness in mm per month and were recorded at 6-month intervals; ultrasound measurements less than 1 month apart were excluded. The characteristics of indeterminate lesions with faster versus slower growth rates prior to melanoma diagnosis were compared. Results: Fifty-four patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age at melanoma diagnosis was 67.4 years, and 53.7% were female. Subjects had a median of four B-scan ultrasound measurements prior to melanoma diagnosis (range 2–19) and were followed for a median of 40.6 months (range 9.9–138.0 months). The mean lesion thickness was 1.4 mm (range 0.5–2.2 mm) at presentation, and increased to 2.3 mm (range 1.5–5.7 mm) at melanoma diagnosis. The mean growth rate did not exceed 0.021 mm/month (95% CI: 0.004–0.039; equivalent to 0.25 mm/year) for indeterminate lesions, but increased to 0.057 mm/month (95% CI: 0.043–0.071 mm/month; equivalent to 0.68 mm/year) at the time of melanoma diagnosis. Rapidly growing lesions had a greater tumor thickness and shorter duration of observation at the time of melanoma diagnosis. Conclusion: For most indeterminate choroidal lesions eventually diagnosed as melanoma, the lesion thickness was relatively stable for a period of time, then rose significantly between the penultimate visit and the final visit. These findings confirm the recommendation for continued monitoring of suspicious choroidal lesions, as the growth rate may accelerate just prior to melanoma diagnosis. Lesions with a mean growth rate of up to 0.25 mm/year were observed, whereas lesions clinically determined to have transformed into melanoma demonstrated a mean growth rate of 0.68 mm/year. These values provide a baseline for future studies and potential therapies directed at stabilizing or reducing the growth of indeterminate choroidal lesions or small choroidal melanomas. Limitations of this study include its retrospective nature and reliance on clinical diagnostic criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole-stand Models (WSM) have always been fitted with permanent plot data organised in a sequential age-matched database, i.e., i and i+1, where i = 1, 2, ... N plot measurements. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the statistical efficiency of a monthly distributed data structure by fitting the models of Clutter (1963), Buckman (1962) in the version modified by A. L. da Silva et al. (2006), and deep learning, and (2) to evaluate the possibility of gaining accuracy in yield projections made from an early age to harvest age of eucalypt stands. Three alternatives for organizing the data were analyzed. The first is with data paired in sequential measurement ages, i.e., i and i+1, where i = 1, 2, ... N plot measurements. In the second, all possible measurement intervals for each plot were considered, i.e., i, i+1; i, i+2; ...; i, N; i+1, i+2; ..., N-1, N. The third has data paired by month (j), always with an interval of one month, i.e., j, j+1; j+1, j+2; j+M-1, M, where M is the stand age of the plot measurement in months. This study shows that the accuracy and consistency of the projections depend on the organization of the monthly distributed data, except for the Clutter model. A better alternative to increasing the statistical assumptions of the forecast from early to harvest age is based on a monthly distributed data structure using a deep learning method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Reliable measurement of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) using a comprehensive, patient self-reported scale, such as the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0, would be of clinical and research benefit. Methods: In the Trajectories of Outcome in Neurological Conditions-MS study, WHODAS 2.0 (WHODAS-36 items for working, WHODAS-32 items if not working, WHODAS-12 items short-form) was examined using Rasch analysis in 5809 people with MS. Results: The 36- and 32-item parallel forms, and the cognitive and physical domains, showed reliability consistent with individual or group use. The 12-item short-form is valid for group use only. Interval level measurement for parametric statistics can be derived from all three scales which showed medium to strong effect sizes for discrimination across characteristics such as age, subtype, and disease duration. Smallest detectable difference for each scale was < 6 on the standardised metric of 0–100 so < 6% of the total range. There was no substantial differential item functioning (DIF) by age, gender, education, working full/part-time, or disease duration; the finding of no DIF for time or sample supports the use of WHODAS 2.0 for longitudinal studies, with the 36- and 32-item versions and the physical and cognitive domains valid for individual patient follow-up. Conclusions: Disability in MS can be comprehensively measured at interval level by the WHODAS 2.0, and validly monitored over time. Routine use of this self-reported measure in clinical and research practice would give valuable information on the trajectories of disability of individuals and groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The hospital-at-home (HAH) model is a viable alternative for conventional in-hospital stays worldwide. Serum electrolyte abnormalities are common in acute patients, especially in those with many comorbidities. Pathologic changes in cardiac electrophysiology pose a potential risk during HAH stays. Periodical electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing is therefore advised, but few studies have evaluated the accuracy and efficiency of compact, self-activated ECG devices in HAH settings. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of such a device in comparison with a standard 12-lead ECG. Methods: We prospectively recruited consecutive patients admitted to the Sheba Beyond Virtual Hospital, in the HAH department, during a 3-month duration. Each patient underwent a 12-lead ECG recording using the legacy device and a consecutive recording by a compact six-lead device. Baseline patient characteristics during hospitalization were collected. The level of agreement between devices was measured by Cohen's kappa coefficient for inter-rater reliability (Ϗ). Results: Fifty patients were included in the study (median age 80 years, IQR 14). In total, 26 (52%) had electrolyte disturbances. Abnormal D-dimer values were observed in 33 (66%) patients, and 12 (24%) patients had elevated troponin values. We found a level of 94.5% raw agreement between devices with regards to nine of the options included in the automatic read-out of the legacy device. The calculated Ϗ was 0.72, classified as a substantial consensus. The rate of raw consensus regarding the ECG intervals' measurement (PR, RR, and QT) was 78.5%, and the calculated Ϗ was 0.42, corresponding to a moderate level of agreement. Conclusion: This is the first report to our knowledge regarding the feasibility of using a compact, six-lead ECG device in the setting of an HAH to be safe and bearing satisfying agreement level with a legacy, 12-lead ECG device, enabling quick, accessible arrythmia detection in this setting. Our findings bear a promise to the future development of telemedicine-based hospital-at-home methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the issues regarding the improvement of the metrological characteristics, weight, dimensions, and technical and economic indicators of calibration units with weighing devices because of the introduction of a flow switch with variable nozzle exit geometry to their design. The use of this flow switch design can solve the problem of filling the nozzle exit with water, reduce the dimensions of the hydraulic path, simplify the maintenance procedure, and minimize the cost of installation. This work describes the design, operating principle, and timing diagram of a flow switch with variable nozzle exit geometry. Herein, the local hydrodynamic characteristics of water flow were investigated using a Pitot tube with changes in the nozzle exit width and mass flow rate in the range of 25–550 t/h. Moreover, the optimal values of the nozzle exit width were experimentally determined based on the value of the liquid mass flow rate, at which it is filled with water. Using a comparison standard, the metrological characteristics of a calibration unit with weighing devices, which include a flow switch with variable nozzle exit geometry, were analyzed in a wide range of liquid mass flow rates. Additionally, the impact of the nozzle exit width on the metrological characteristics of a calibration unit with weighing devices in the investigated range of liquid flow was established. Dependency diagrams of the expanded measurement uncertainty of the installation when reproducing the unit of liquid mass flow rate on the measurement time interval and the liquid mass flow rate are demonstrated here. From the results, the optimal values of the nozzle exit width and measurement time intervals were determined based on the liquid mass flow rates when using a flow switch with variable nozzle exit geometry. Furthermore, the operation range expansion of weighing devices, which are part of the calibration units with weighing devices, is justified. The proposed design of the flow switch with variable nozzle exit geometry is recommended for use in the design and modernization of operated calibration units with weighing devices of flow switches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transactional processes between parental support and adolescents' depressive symptoms might differ in the short term versus long term. Therefore, this multi-sample study tested bidirectional within-family associations between perceived parental support and depressive symptoms in adolescents with datasets with varying measurement intervals: Daily (N = 244, M age = 13.8 years, 38% male), bi-weekly (N = 256, M age = 14.4 years, 29% male), three-monthly (N = 245, M age = 13.9 years, 38% male), annual (N = 1,664, M age = 11.1 years, 51% male), and biennial (N = 502, M age = 13.8 years, 48% male). Preregistered random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) showed negative between- and within-family correlations. Moreover, although the preregistered models showed no within-family lagged effect from perceived parental support to adolescent depressive symptoms at any timescale, an exploratory model demonstrated a negative lagged effect at a biennial timescale with the annual dataset. Concerning the reverse within-family lagged effect, increases in adolescent depressive symptoms predicted decreases in perceived parental support 2 weeks and 3 months later (relationship erosion effect). Most cross-lagged effects were not moderated by adolescent sex or neuroticism trait level. Thus, the findings mostly support adolescent-driven effects at understudied timescales and illustrate that within-family lagged effects do not generalize across timescales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu2FeBO5 ludwigite single crystals have been grown from a solution–melt by spontaneous crystallization. Using the X-ray diffraction method, the crystal structure has been resolved in detail. Cations in sites M2, M3, and M4 have turned out to be structurally disordered. It has been found that oxygen atoms are disordered in one of five nonequivalent sites (O4). As can be seen from Mössbauer spectroscopy data, Fe3+ ions occupy four nonequivalent sites with different distortions of coordination octahedra. In the temperature range 40 K ≤ T ≤ 300 K, the spectra represent a superposition of quadrupole doublets. Static susceptibility measurements have revealed two magnetic features at T1 = 35 K and T2 = 20 K and spin-glass effects. Specific heat measurements in the interval 4–300 K have not discovered magnetic-transition-related anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major eruptive flare occurred on 12 January 2022 in the northeast not far behind the solar limb (N32 E116). The eruption produced a fast coronal mass ejection (CME). The rising ejecta was observed by the telescopes in the extreme ultraviolet and by the multi-frequency Siberian Radioheliograph (SRH) in the 5.8 – 11.8 GHz range. We show how the slope of the decrease in the brightness temperature of the rising ejecta, measured from the microwave SRH images, is related to the heat inflow or outflow in its body during rapid expansion with high acceleration and under the assumption that the plasma ionization state changes insignificantly within the measurement interval. We found that the low-temperature plasma component in the erupting prominence underwent heating. Most likely, this was due to the predominance of ohmic heating because i) the polytropic index of expanding plasma expected in this case was closest to the experimentally measured one, and ii) the ohmic dissipation due to electron-proton collisions loses its efficiency during expansion much slower than the other mechanisms of heating or cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Investigation of inter-satellite radiofrequency measurement-based autonomous orbit determination. • Range data type provides better state estimation than range-rate or line-of-sight angle data type. • The navigation system in the mesh topology provides better overall state estimation than the centralized topology. • Measurement biases and high measurement intervals reduce the overall system performance. Recent advances in space technology provide an opportunity for small satellites to be launched in cislunar space. However, tracking these small satellites still depends on ground-based operations. Autonomous navigation could be a possible solution considering the challenges presented by costly ground operations and limited onboard power available for small satellites. There have been various studies on autonomous navigation methods for cislunar missions. One of them, LiAISON, provides an autonomous orbit determination solution solely using inter-satellite measurements. This study aims at providing a detailed performance analysis of crosslink radiometric measurements based on autonomous orbit determination for cislunar small satellite formations considering the effects of measurement type, measurement accuracy, bias, formation geometry, and network topology. This study shows that range observations provide better state estimation performance than range-rate observations for the autonomous navigation system in cislunar space. Line-of-sight angle measurements derived from radiometric measurements do not improve the overall system performance. In addition, less precise crosslink measurement methods could be an option for formations in highly observable orbital configurations. It was found that measurement biases and measurements with high intervals reduce the overall system performance. In case there are more than two spacecraft in the formation, the navigation system in the mesh topology provides a better overall state estimation than the centralized topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ergodicity (or at least the tantalizing promise of it) is a core animating principle of molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations: Put simply, sample for long enough (in time), and you will make representative visits to states of a system all throughout phase space, consistent with the desired statistical ensemble. However, one is not guaranteed a priori that the chosen window of sampling in a production run is sufficiently long to avoid problematically non-ergodic observations; one is also not guaranteed that successive measurements of an observable are statistically independent of each other. In this paper, we investigate several particularly striking and troublesome examples of statistical correlations in MD simulations of nanoconfined fluids, which have profound implications on the quantification of uncertainty for transport phenomena in these systems. In particular, we show that these correlations can lead to confidence intervals on the fluid self-diffusion coefficient that are dramatically overconfident and estimates of this transport quantity that are simply inaccurate. We propose a simple approach—based on the thermally accelerated decorrelation of fluid positions and momenta—that ameliorates these issues and improves our confidence in MD measurements of nanoconfined fluid transport properties. We demonstrate that the formation of faithful confidence intervals for measurements of self-diffusion under nanoscale confinement typically requires at least 20 statistically independent samples, and potentially more depending on the sampling technique used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the estimation of photovoltaic parameters has drawn the attention of researchers, and most of them propose new optimization methods to solve this problem. However, the process of photovoltaic parameters estimation can be affected by other aspects. In a real experimental setup, the I–V characteristic is obtained with IV tracers. Depending on their technical specifications, these instruments can influence the quality of the I–V characteristic, which in turn is inevitably linked to the estimation of photovoltaic parameters. Besides the uncertainties that accompany the measurement process, a major effect on parameters estimation is the size of the measurement interval of current and voltage, where some instruments are limited to measure a small portion of the characteristic or cannot reach their extremum regions. In this paper, three case studies are presented to analyse this phenomenon: different characteristic measurement starting points and different measurement intervals. In the simulation study the parameters are extracted from 1000 trial runs of the simulated I-V curve. The results are then validated using an experimental study where an IV tracer was built to measure the I–V characteristic. Both simulation and experimental studies concluded that starting the measurements at the open circuit voltage and having an interval spanning a minimum of half of the I–V curve results in an optimal estimation of photovoltaic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining whether different items provide the same information or mean the same thing within a population is a central concern when determining whether different scales or constructs are overlapping or redundant. In the present study, we suggest that retest-adjusted correlations provide a valuable means of adjusting for item-level unreliability. More exactly, we suggest dividing the estimated correlation between items X and Y measured over measurement interval | d | by the average retest correlations of the items over the same measurement interval. For instance, if we correlate scores from items X and Y measured 1 week apart, their retest-adjusted correlation is estimated by using their 1-week retest correlations. Using data from four inventories, we provide evidence that retest-adjusted correlations are significantly better predictors of whether two items are consensually regarded as "meaning the same thing" by judges than raw-score correlations. The results may provide the first empirical evidence that Spearman's (1904, 1910) suggested reliability adjustment do—in certain (perhaps very constrained!) circumstances—improve upon raw-score correlations as indicators of the informational or semantic equivalence of different tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust in situ magnetic field measurements are critical to understanding the various mechanisms that couple mass, momentum, and energy throughout our solar system. However, the spacecraft on which magnetometers are often deployed contaminate the magnetic field measurements via onboard subsystems including reaction wheels and magnetorquers. Two magnetometers can be deployed at different distances from the spacecraft to determine an approximation of the interfering field for subsequent removal, but constant data streams from both magnetometers can be impractical due to power and telemetry limitations. Here we propose a method to identify and remove time‐varying magnetic interference from sources such as reaction wheels using statistical decomposition and convolutional neural networks, providing high‐fidelity magnetic field data even in cases where dual‐sensor measurements are not constantly available. For example, a measurement interval from the Parker Solar Probe outboard magnetometer experienced a 95.1% reduction in reaction wheel interference following application of the proposed technique. Plain Language Summary: Measurements of magnetic fields captured by instruments onboard spacecraft are necessary to further our understanding of the solar system. These measurements are often contaminated by magnetic noise from the host spacecraft, substantially reducing the fidelity of the data. One common method to reduce the impact of these interfering magnetic fields utilizes a pair of magnetometers deployed at different distances from the main body of the spacecraft. The difference between the two sensors allows for an approximation of the interfering fields to be calculated for subsequent removal. However, many missions cannot afford to send data from both instruments back to Earth. This manuscript proposes a method for the mitigation of magnetic interference caused by the host spacecraft, even with limited data from the magnetometer pair. Specifically, signal decomposition techniques and machine learning are used to isolate and remove the interfering magnetic fields. For example, the proposed method applied to a measurement interval from the Parker Solar Probe outboard magnetometer enabled a 95% reduction in magnetic interference. Key Points: Local magnetic interference is a common issue faced by in situ magnetometersGradiometer measurements have historically been required to denoise in situ magnetometer dataStatistical decomposition and machine learning enable denoising even with limited gradiometer data [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the presence of recall bias when patients retrospectively report cough scores.Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent lung surgery between July 2021 and November 2021 were recruited for this study. We retrospectively assessed the severity of cough within the past 24 hours and the past 7 days using a 0– 10 numerical rating scale. Recall bias was defined as the difference between the scores reported on the two assessments. Patients were grouped based on the longitudinal change in cough scores from pre-operation to 4 weeks after discharge using group-based trajectory models. Using generalized estimating equation to explore the factors influencing recall bias.Results: Overall, 199 patients were analyzed and demonstrated the three distinct trajectories of post-discharge cough: high (21.1%), medium (58.3%), and low (20.6%). Significant recall bias was found in week 2 for the high-trajectory patients (6.26 vs 5.10, P< 0.01) and in week 3 for the medium-trajectory patients (2.88 vs 2.60, P=0.01). Among all recall bias, 41.8% were of underestimation, and 21.7% of overestimation. The high trajectory group (β=1.14, P< 0.01) and measurement interval (β=0.36, P< 0.01) were risk factors for underestimation, while post-discharge time (β=− 0.57, P< 0.01) and measurement interval (β=− 0.13, P=0.02) were protective factors for overestimation.Conclusion: Retrospective assessment of post-discharge cough in patients who underwent lung surgery will introduce recall bias, with a tendency of underestimation. The high-trajectory group, interval time and post-discharge time are influencing factors of recall bias. For patients with severe cough at discharge, a shorter recall periods should be employed for monitoring, due to the large bias that results from a longer recall period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on photometric observations published in the literature, the manifestations of the activity of the K2 V dwarf HD 166620 were studied. The obtained results are compared with the results of the analysis of the chromospheric activity of the star. HD 166620 is entering in a long magnetic minimum and may be the first reliable candidate for objects that are at a minimum of activity similar to the Maunder minimum (MM) of the Sun. Studies of changes in the magnetic activity of the star were carried out based on the values of the S-index (1885 measurements in the observation interval for 53.6 years), obtained mainly before its entry into the MM phase, and on photometric measurements of the brightness in the b and y filters covering 17 seasons from 1993 to 2020 obtained with the automatic APT telescope (MM phase and its beginning). It has been established that the Kamogata Wide-field Survey observation data combined into a single array in the filters B, V, and Ic (about 1400 measurements) convincingly demonstrates the long-term variability of the HD 166620 brightness in the phase of the probable MM state. At the same time, the observations of the Kamogata Wide-field Survey fill the gap in the photometric data of the APT automatic telescope well. The value of the cycle (about 4000 days) is comparable to the duration of observations; if it is refined according to the data of a larger time interval, it is possible that it will correspond more to the value found from the data on chromospheric activity. The main results of the work should include the cyclic long-term changes in the activity of the star detected by us during the beginning of the MM phase. The question of clarifying the value of the rotation period HD 166620 remains open. There were no significant peaks corresponding to the value days, previously accepted as the period of rotation of the star, on almost all the power spectra constructed by us. It is noted that further observations are required to establish the full duration of the minimum phase of the star's activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims There is growing interest in whether Helicobacter pylori eradication (HPE) can affect body weight. Methods Data from 5 universities between January 2013 and December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. H. pylori -positive subjects who had body weight measurements taken at least twice at intervals of 3 months or longer were included. Using propensity score (PS)-matched data, changes in body mass index (BMI) and the lipid profile after HPE were compared with the non-HPE group. Results Among 363 eligible patients, 131 HPE patients were PS-matched to 131 non-HPE patients. The median intervals between the measurements were 610 (range, 154-1250) days and 606 (range, 154-1648) days in the HPE and non-HPE groups, respectively. In both groups, the mean BMI increased (from 24.5 kg/m² to 24.7 kg/m² in the HPE group, and from 24.4 kg/m² to 24.5 kg/m² in the non-HPE group). The 2 groups did not show significantly different changes (P = 0.921). In the lowest baseline BMI quartile, the BMI increased after HPE by 1.23 (standard deviation [SD], 3.72) kg/m² (P = 0.060), and the non-HPE group showed a decreased BMI at the time of follow-up (by -0.24 [SD, 5.25] kg/m²; P = 0.937) (between-group P = 0.214). Triglyceride levels increased after HPE (mean: 135 [SD, 78] to 153 [SD, 100] mg/dL; between-group P = 0.053). Conclusion The overall BMI change was not significantly different between the HPE and non-HPE groups, but patients with low BMI showed a tendency to gain weight after HPE. Triglyceride levels increased after HPE with marginal significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in the paranasal sinuses and pneumatizations originating from these structures are clinically important for surgical procedures to be performed in the nose and nasal cavity regions. No systematic review examining the sinus septi nasi, crista galli and other minor pneumatizations was found in the literature review. This study aimed to review the papers in the literature including the sinus septi nasi, crista galli and other minor pneumatizations and standardize the mean incidence, distribution by sex, age and origin of these structures. Furthermore, it was aimed to examine the height, length, and width values of sinus septi nasi and crista galli pneumatizations, determine the measurement intervals and measurement values, and standardize them. The studies involving these pneumatizations were reviewed from various databases. After being evaluated according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 35 articles between the years 1991-2021 were reviewed. Based on the data obtained from these articles, we examined the incidence of sinus septi nasi, crista galli, and other minor pneumatizations. Middle nasal turbinate pneumatization had the highest incidence among all these pneumatizations. Uncinate process pneumatization had the lowest incidence. Considering the distribution by sex, no difference was found. Upon examining the age range, there were people aged between 1-95 years, and the mean age range was 33.05-41.48. The length, width and height values of crista galli and sinus septi nasi could not be standardized due to the insufficient number of studies and variable data in the literature. We believe that our study will contribute to similar future studies in larger populations with the clinical procedures to be performed in and around the nasal cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the prognostic value of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), weight-for-height Z -score (WHZ) and weight-for-age Z -score (WAZ) for predicting death over periods of 1, 3 and 6 months follow-up in children. Design: Pooled analysis of twelve prospective studies examining survival after anthropometric assessment. Sensitivity and false-positive ratios to predict death within 1, 3 and 6 months were compared for three individual anthropometric indices and their combinations. Setting: Community-based, prospective studies from twelve countries in Africa and Asia. Participants: Children aged 6–59 months living in the study areas. Results: For all anthropometric indices, the receiver operating characteristic curves were higher for shorter than for longer durations of follow-up. Sensitivity was higher for death with 1-month follow-up compared with 6 months by 49 % (95 % CI (30, 69)) for MUAC < 115 mm (P < 0·001), 48 % (95 % CI (9·4, 87)) for WHZ < -3 (P < 0·01) and 28 % (95 % CI (7·6, 42)) for WAZ < -3 (P < 0·005). This was accompanied by an increase in false positives of only 3 % or less. For all durations of follow-up, WAZ < -3 identified more children who died and were not identified by WHZ < -3 or by MUAC < 115 mm, 120 mm or 125 mm, but the use of WAZ < -3 led to an increased false-positive ratio up to 16·4 % (95 % CI (12·0, 20·9)) compared with 3·5 % (95 % CI (0·4, 6·5)) for MUAC < 115 mm alone. Conclusions: Frequent anthropometric measurements significantly improve the identification of malnourished children with a high risk of death without markedly increasing false positives. Combining two indices increases sensitivity but also increases false positives among children meeting case definitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac monitoring can be performed by means of an accelerometer attached to a subject's chest, which produces the Seismocardiography (SCG) signal. Detection of SCG heartbeats is commonly carried out by taking advantage of a simultaneous electrocardiogram (ECG). SCG-based long-term monitoring would certainly be less obtrusive and easier to implement without an ECG. Few studies have addressed this issue using a variety of complex approaches. This study proposes a novel approach to ECG-free heartbeat detection in SCG signals via template matching, based on normalized cross-correlation as heartbeats similarity measure. The algorithm was tested on the SCG signals acquired from 77 patients with valvular heart diseases, available from a public database. The performance of the proposed approach was assessed in terms of sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of the heartbeat detection and accuracy of inter-beat intervals measurement. Sensitivity and PPV of 96% and 97%, respectively, were obtained by considering templates that included both systolic and diastolic complexes. Regression, correlation, and Bland–Altman analyses carried out on inter-beat intervals reported slope and intercept of 0.997 and 2.8 ms (R2 > 0.999), as well as non-significant bias and limits of agreement of ±7.8 ms. The results are comparable or superior to those achieved by far more complex algorithms, also based on artificial intelligence. The low computational burden of the proposed approach makes it suitable for direct implementation in wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological variation (BV) data have many applications in laboratory medicine. However, these depend on the availability of relevant and robust BV data fit for purpose. BV data can be obtained through different study designs, both by experimental studies and studies utilizing previously analysed routine results derived from laboratory databases. The different BV applications include using BV data for setting analytical performance specifications, to calculate reference change values, to define the index of individuality and to establish personalized reference intervals. In this review, major achievements in the area of BV from last decade will be presented and discussed. These range from new models and approaches to derive BV data, the delivery of high-quality BV data by the highly powered European Biological Variation Study (EuBIVAS), the Biological Variation Data Critical Appraisal Checklist (BIVAC) and other standards for deriving and reporting BV data, the EFLM Biological Variation Database and new applications of BV data including personalized reference intervals and measurement uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) could accompany with latent syndesmotic diastasis (LSD), which is difficult to distinguish before surgery. Tibiofibular interval width and extravasation of joint fluid ('lambda sign') on MRI are widely used in the diagnosis of syndesmotic injury, but the reliability of these methods in distinguishing the associated LSD in CLAI was rarely studied. Our objective was to compare the diagnostic value of the measurement of the transverse tibiofibular interval and 'lambda sign' on MRI in distinguishing LSD in CLAI and to investigate the radiological predictor that best matched the intraoperatively measured syndesmotic width. Methods: 138 CLAI patients undergoing arthroscopy in our institute from March 2017 to June 2020 were enrolled (CLAI group). Anterior space width (ASW) and posterior space width (PSW) at 10 mm layer above tibial articular and fluid height above tibial articular surface (FH) were measured on preoperative MRI. The same parameters were measured on MRI of 50 healthy volunteers as control group. At arthroscopy, syndesmotic width was measured and the patients were divided into arthroscopic widening (AW) and arthroscopic normal (AN) subgroup taking 2 mm as critical value. The CLAI group was compared with the control group to explore the interval changes related to CLAI. The AW and AN subgroups were compared to explore the potential diagnostic indicators and reference values for the LSD. Results: All parameters showed significant difference between CLAI group and control group (p < 0.05), but only PSW (p = 0.004) showed significant difference between AW and AN subgroups other than FH (p = 0.461). Only PSW was involved in formula of multiple-factor analysis (p = 0.005; OR, 1.819; 95%CI, 1.196–2.767). ROC analysis showed critical value of PSW was 3.8 mm (sensitivity, 66%; specificity, 66%; accuracy, 66.7%), while accuracy of lambda sign was 41.3%. Conclusions: Transverse tibiofibular interval measurements were more reliable than the 'lambda sign' in distinguishing associated LSD in CLAI patients. The PSW ≥ 3.8 mm could be a predictor of syndesmotic diastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The quality of fresh meat largely relates to water-holding capacity (WHC) which is an important attribute associated with consumer acceptance and food-processing technology. Regarding this, the industry requires methods that can easily, with a great precision, determine the WHC of meat and meat products. The EZ-DripLoss method is relatively new gravimetric method that is used for determination of excessive drip in meat. Currently, there is diversity in the literature regarding the use of EZ-DripLoss methodology. Therefore, this technical note aimed to research drip loss in chicken breast meat measured across the period of three days using two different EZ-DripLoss methodologies. In the standardized EZ-DripLoss method, drip loss is calculated by weighing specialized EZ containers, whereas in the modified EZ-DripLoss method drip loss is calculated by weighing samples. This technical note indicates that different EZ-DripLoss methodology results in different drip loss values in chicken breast meat. Therefore, comparisons of the EZ-DripLoss results should be performed with great caution. The EZ-DripLoss method is relatively new gravimetric method that is used for the determination of excessive drip in meat. The literature reports diversity regarding the use of EZ-DripLoss methodology. In the standardized EZ-DripLoss method, drip loss is calculated as the change in the container weight, whereas in the modified EZ-DripLoss method, it is calculated as the change in sample weight. This technical note aimed to research the relationship between these two methods on chicken breast meat (40 broilers from the line Ross 308) during the measurement interval of 24, 48, and 72 h. The results showed statistically a significant positive linear increase in drip loss values regardless of the used method during all of the investigated measurement intervals. At 24, 48, and 72 h of storage, the average drip loss in the weighed samples was 0.77, 1.40, and 2.23 percentage points greater than in the not weighed samples (p < 0.0001), respectively. A strong and positive estimate of correlation coefficients between the drip loss of weighed and not weighed samples was found after 24 h (r = 0.95), 48 h (r = 0.92), and 72 h (r = 0.86). This technical report indicates that the used EZ-DripLoss methodology highly influences the drip loss in chicken breast meat and the comparisons of the EZ-DripLoss results should be performed with great caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart rate variability (HRV) features support several clinical applications, including sleep staging, and ballistocardiograms (BCGs) can be used to unobtrusively estimate these features. Electrocardiography is the traditional clinical standard for HRV estimation, but BCGs and electrocardiograms (ECGs) yield different estimates for heartbeat intervals (HBIs), leading to differences in calculated HRV parameters. This study examines the viability of using BCG-based HRV features for sleep staging by quantifying the impact of these timing differences on the resulting parameters of interest. We introduced a range of synthetic time offsets to simulate the differences between BCG- and ECG-based heartbeat intervals, and the resulting HRV features are used to perform sleep staging. Subsequently, we draw a relationship between the mean absolute error in HBIs and the resulting sleep-staging performances. We also extend our previous work in heartbeat interval identification algorithms to demonstrate that our simulated timing jitters are close representatives of errors between heartbeat interval measurements. This work indicates that BCG-based sleep staging can produce accuracies comparable to ECG-based techniques such that at an HBI error range of up to 60 ms, the sleep-scoring error could increase from 17% to 25% based on one of the scenarios we examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To date, no reference interval is available for lipid profile, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, etc., in a non-fasting state. Hence, the study was taken up with the objective of exploring the possibility of establishing a reference interval for non-fasting lipid profile consisting of serum TC, TG, LDL, HDL, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol. Materials and Methods A total of 1,350 apparently healthy subjects, including 636 healthy men and 714 healthy women of 18 years and beyond of age, were enrolled in the study. Reference individuals were recruited using cluster sampling method from various villages and semi-urban regions irrespective of their sex, religion, socioeconomic status, or any other demographic profile, and samples were analyzed in Beckman Coulter AU480 analyzer. Results The mean age of 1,350 participants was 38.23 ± 15.94 years. We found that all the test parameters require a different reference interval than the established fasting reference range, except for HDL cholesterol in females. The data were subdivided into subjects below 40 years, between 40 and 60 years, and older than 60 years of age. All five parameters in the lipid profile were individually analyzed and were compared age group-wise and gender-wise with the total study population. Significant differences in the various dataset were found. Conclusion A shift toward non-fasting lipid interval measurement is, thus, a piece of evidence-driven mechanism. Even from a patient's perspective, it sets in ease and convenience in lipid-profile testing, subsequently leading to a more compliant cardiovascular management and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate whether the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS) can provide interval level measurement of disability in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), allowing parametric analyses. Methods: Data on the WHODAS 12, 32, and 36-item versions, from 1120 patients studied at one or more time points, were fit to the Rasch model and comparisons made against ALSFRS-R, King's staging, and mortality. Trajectory modeling was undertaken for a newly diagnosed (≤6 months) cohort of 454 individuals. Results: Total scores for WHODAS 32 and 36-item versions can be converted to interval level measurement suitable for individual clinical use, and the 12-item WHODAS total for group use. The 36-item version is shown to be equivalent to the 32-item version. Expected correlations were seen with King's staging, ALSFRS-R, and EQ-5D-5L. Trajectory analysis of disability (WHODAS 2.0) showed three clearly demarcated groups with differences in King's staging, depressive symptomatology and mortality, but not age. Conclusions: The WHODAS 2.0 is a brief patient reported outcome measure which can be used to measure disability in ALS. Provided the patient answers all 36 (32 if not working) items, the conversion table produces an interval level estimate for parametric analyses. The different trajectories demonstrated from diagnosis support the concept of a prodromal period, and suggest the WHODAS 2.0 could be used for surveillance of at risk populations, such as those with genetic predisposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature lacks a reliable holistic approach for the three-dimensional (3D) assessment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) including all three adaptive processes, which are believed to contribute to the position of the mandible: (1) adaptive condylar changes, (2) glenoid fossa changes, and (3) condylar positional changes within the fossa. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to propose and assess the reliability of a semi-automatic approach for a 3D assessment of the TMJ from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) following orthognathic surgery. The TMJs were 3D reconstructed from a pair of superimposed pre- and postoperative (two years) CBCT scans, and spatially divided into sub-regions. The changes in the TMJ were calculated and quantified by morphovolumetrical measurements. To evaluate the reliability, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated at a 95% confidence interval on the measurements of two observers. The approach was deemed reliable if the ICC was good (>0.60). Pre- and postoperative CBCT scans of ten subjects (nine female; one male; mean age 25.6 years) with class II malocclusion and maxillomandibular retrognathia, who underwent bimaxillary surgery, were assessed. The inter-observer reliability of the measurements on the sample of the twenty TMJs was good to excellent, ICC range (0.71–1.00). The range of the mean absolute difference of the repeated inter-observer condylar volumetric and distance measurements, glenoid fossa surface distance measurements, and change in minimum joint space distance measurements were (1.68% (1.58)–5.01% (3.85)), (0.09 mm (0.12)–0.25 mm (0.46)), (0.05 mm (0.05)–0.08 mm (0.06)) and (0.12 mm (0.09)–0.19 mm (0.18)), respectively. The proposed semi-automatic approach demonstrated good to excellent reliability for the holistic 3D assessment of the TMJ including all three adaptive processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time temperature monitoring is critical to the success of thermally ablative therapies. This work validates a 3D thermometry sequence with k-space field drift correction designed for use in magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound treatments for breast cancer. Fiberoptic probes were embedded in tissue-mimicking phantoms, and temperature change measurements from the probes were compared with the magnetic resonance temperature imaging measurements following heating with focused ultrasound. Precision and accuracy of measurements were also evaluated in free-breathing healthy volunteers (N = 3) under a non-heating condition. MR temperature measurements agreed closely with those of fiberoptic probes, with a 95% confidence interval of measurement difference from −2.0 °C to 1.4 °C. Field drift-corrected measurements in vivo had a precision of 1.1 ± 0.7 °C and were accurate within 1.3 ± 0.9 °C across the three volunteers. The field drift correction method improved precision and accuracy by an average of 46 and 42%, respectively, when compared to the uncorrected data. This temperature imaging sequence can provide accurate measurements of temperature change in aqueous tissues in the breast and support the use of this sequence in clinical investigations of focused ultrasound treatments for breast cancer. • Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound for breast cancer treatment • Respiratory artifact correction without gating or acquisition of additional data • Accurate thermometry in the breast using a segmented echo planar imaging readout [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the number of OCT scans necessary to detect moderate and rapid rates of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness worsening at different levels of accuracy using a large sample of glaucoma and glaucoma-suspect eyes. Descriptive and simulation study. Twelve thousand one hundred fifty eyes from 7392 adult patients with glaucoma or glaucoma-suspect status followed up at the Wilmer Eye Institute from 2013 through 2021. All eyes had at least 5 measurements of RNFL thickness on the Cirrus OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec) with signal strength of 6 or more. Rates of RNFL worsening for average RNFL thickness and for the 4 quadrants were measured using linear regression. Simulations were used to estimate the accuracy of detecting worsening—defined as the percentage of patients in whom the true rate of RNFL worsening was at or less than different criterion rates of worsening when the OCT-measured rate was also at or less than these criterion rates—for two different measurement strategies: evenly spaced (equal time intervals between measurements) and clustered (approximately half the measurements at each end point of the period). The 75th percentile (moderate) and 90th percentile (rapid) rates of RNFL worsening for average RNFL thickness and the accuracy of diagnosing worsening at these moderate and rapid rates. The 75th and 90th percentile rates of worsening for average RNFL thickness were –1.09 μm/year and –2.35 μm/year, respectively. Simulations showed that, for the average measurement frequency in our sample of approximately 3 OCT scans over a 2-year period, moderate and rapid RNFL worsening were diagnosed accurately only 47% and 40% of the time, respectively. Estimates for the number of OCT scans needed to achieve a range of accuracy levels are provided. For example, 60% accuracy requires 7 measurements to detect both moderate and rapid worsening within a 2-year period if the more efficient clustered measurement strategy is used. To diagnose RNFL worsening more accurately, the number of OCT scans must be increased compared with current clinical practice. A clustered measurement strategy reduces the number of scans required compared with evenly spacing measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Instabilities, Dynamics, and Energetics accompanying Atmospheric Layering (IDEAL) program was conceived to improve understanding of the dynamics of thin strongly stratified "sheet" and deeper weakly stratified "layer" (S&L) structures in the lower troposphere under strongly stable conditions. The field portion of the IDEAL program was conducted from 24 October to 15 November 2017 at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, to target nighttime lower troposphere S&L conditions. It employed a synergistic combination of observations by multiple simultaneous DataHawk-2 (DH2) small unmanned aircraft systems (sUASs) and concurrent ground-based profiling by the NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory Integrated Sounding System (ISS) comprising a wind profiler radar and hourly high-resolution radiosonde soundings. DH2 measurement intervals as well as vertical (∼ 2–4 km) and horizontal (∼ 5–10 km) flight trajectories were chosen based on local high-resolution weather forecasting and guided by near-real-time ISS measurements. These flights combined simultaneous vertical and slant-path profiling, and/or horizontal racetrack sampling, spanning several hours before sunrise. High-spatial- and temporal-resolution data were downlinked in real time to enable near-real-time changes in DH2 flight paths based on observed flow features. The IDEAL field program performed 70 DH2 flights on 16 d, coordinated with 93 high-resolution radiosonde soundings. In this paper, raw and derived measurements from this campaign are outlined, and preliminary analyses are briefly described. This data set, along with "quick look" figures, is available for access by other researchers, as described herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-spectral face verification between short-wave infrared (SWIR) and visible light (VIS) face images poses a challenge, which is motivated by various real-world applications such as surveillance at night time or in harsh environments. This paper proposes a hybrid solution that takes advantage of both traditional feature engineering and modern deep learning techniques to overcome the issue of limited imagery as encountered in the SWIR band. Firstly, the paper revisits the theory of measurement levels. Then, two new operators are introduced which act at the nominal and interval levels of measurement and are named the Nominal Measurement Descriptor (NMD) and the Interval Measurement Descriptor (IMD), respectively. A composite operator Gabor Multiple-Level Measurement (GMLM) is further proposed which fuses multiple levels of measurement. Finally, the fused features of GMLM are passed through a succinct and efficient neural network based on PCA. The network selects informative features and also performs the recognition task. The overall framework is named GMLM-CNN. It is compared to both traditional hand-crafted operators as well as recent deep learning-based models that are state-of-the-art, in terms of cross-spectral verification performance. Experiments are conducted on a dataset which comprises frontal VIS and SWIR faces acquired at varying standoffs. Experimental results demonstrate that, in the presence of limited data, the proposed hybrid method GMLM-CNN outperforms all the other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous research suggests that there is a bidirectional relationship between incidental affect (i.e., how people feel in day-to-day life) and physical activity behavior. However, many inconsistencies exist in the body of work due to the lag interval between affect and physical activity measurements.Purpose: Using a novel continuous-time analysis paradigm, we examined the temporal specificity underlying the dynamic relationship between positive and negative incidental affective states and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).Methods: A community sample of adults (n = 126, Mage = 27.71, 51.6% Male) completed a 14-day ambulatory assessment protocol measuring momentary positive and negative incidental affect six times a day while wearing a physical activity monitor (Fitbit). Hierarchical Bayesian continuous-time structural equation modeling was used to elucidate the underlying dynamics of the relationship between incidental affective states and MVPA.Results: Based on the continuous-time cross-effects, positive and negative incidental affect predicted subsequent MVPA. Furthermore, engaging in MVPA predicted subsequent positive and negative incidental affect. Incidental affective states had a greater relative influence on predicting subsequent MVPA compared to the reciprocal relationship. Analysis of the discrete-time coefficients suggests that cross-lagged effects increase as the time interval between measurements increase, peaking at about 8 h between measurement occasions before beginning to dissipate.Conclusions: The results provide support for a recursive relationship between incidental affective states and MVPA, which is particularly strong at 7-9 hr time intervals. Future research designs should consider these medium-term dynamics, for both theory development and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unknown whether the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on emergency surgical care in Sweden. This study aimed to compare frequency, treatment strategies, severity, and complication rate of appendicitis during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic with those of previous years. In this single-center study, we identified all patients admitted with appendicitis between March 16 and June 16, 2020, at the Stockholm South General Hospital, and compared these with patients hospitalized with appendicitis during the same calendar period the three previous years. We used multivariate logistic regression to calculate Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals as measurement of the association between appendicitis treatment and perforation rate during the COVID-19 period compared to the nonCOVID-19 periods. In all, 892 patients hospitalized with appendicitis were identified, 241 (27%) in 2020 (Covid period group) and the remaining 651 (73%) during the same calendar periods 2017-2019 (nonCovid period group). Appendicitis during the COVID-19 period was associated with double the risk for undergoing conservative treatment (OR 2.15 [95% CI 1.44-3.21]), and a decreased risk for being diagnosed with perforated appendicitis (OR 0.68 [95% CI 0.48-0.98]). Patients admitted with appendicitis during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Stockholm, Sweden, were more likely to receive conservative treatment and less likely to suffer from perforated appendicitis compared to patients hospitalized before the pandemic. Hypothetically, this difference could have been due to pandemic-associated resource reallocation, or it may simply reflect an increasing trend towards conservative management of appendicitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta-analyses were used to test associations of parental depression with child internalizing and externalizing problems, based on 107 cross-sectional and 127 longitudinal effects for 164,047 parent-child pairs in 112 studies published between 2009 and 2020. For each child, internalizing and externalizing problems were assessed with the same measure and source of data. Meta-analyses were conducted with random effects, multi-level Structural Equation Modeling with Bayesian estimation. Mean Pearson rs between parental depression and children's internalizing and externalizing problems were statistically significant in both cross-sectional (rs =.267 and.264) and longitudinal (rs =.207 and.194) analyses. The difference between the correlations of parental depression with internalizing versus externalizing problems was not statistically significant for cross-sectional or longitudinal effects. For both internalizing and externalizing problems, the cross-sectional correlation was significantly larger than the longitudinal correlation. Using the Lag as Moderator Meta-Analyses (LAMMA), evidence of a linear negative effect of the measurement interval between parental depression and child internalizing problems was found. In addition, several significant methodological moderators were found, with most implicating informant factors. Significant non-methodological moderators included the proportion of girls in a sample and children's White ethnicity. Overall, the study provided evidence of small but consistent associations between parental depression and child internalizing and externalizing problems, including that these associations are present over substantial periods of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A measurement system fit for use is an essential resource to perform quality control activities: its assessment must be carried out periodically to quantify its bias(location) and precision(width) error to qualify it for the purpose it is used. In particular, the measurement system capability must be determined to evaluate how much of the observed variability originates from the gauge's precision error. Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility (R&R$R{\&}R$) studies are aimed at getting a reliable estimate of the precision error σM$\sigma _M$ of the measurement system. The outcome of a Gauge R&R$R{\&}R$ study are point estimates and confidence intervals of the precision error components and related measurement capability metrics. Here, a general bootstrap‐based procedure is proposed to get confidence interval estimations of the measurement error and its components from a Gauge (R&R$R{\&}R$) study for continuous observations carried out with either the Average and Range (ARGG) control chart or the experimental design method. An application of the proposed bootstrap‐method is presented for a dataset of observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Tinnitus is a complex and debilitating phenomenon with potentially significant implications on quality of life. New presentations can be resource and time intensive for clinicians. Validated comprehensive tinnitus questionnaires may lack practical utility in the high‐volume clinical setting. Concise, targeted questionnaires may offer an efficient alternative. This study aimed to assess the validity of the FiveQ, a novel five question construct designed to measure tinnitus severity. Convergent validity was assessed through correlating FiveQ against two comprehensive validated questionnaires, the Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ) and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Design: Cross‐sectional study with prospective recruitment. The 117 voluntarily recruited participants completed the FiveQ, THI and THQ questionnaires. Results were comparatively analysed. Setting: Recruitment was via electronic and print media, audiology clinics and public and private otolaryngology outpatient clinics. Surveys were completed electronically. Participants: Members of the public aged over 18 with subjective tinnitus were invited to participate. Main Outcome Measured: Analyses for establishing the content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, explorary factor analysis, and responsiveness of FiveQ was performed. Results: FiveQ demonstrated a high positive correlation with both the THI (r = 0.773, p <.001) and THQ (r = 0.808, p <.001). Internal consistency for FiveQ reached an acceptable threshold (Cronbach's alpha 0.86). Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that one latent factor underlies the five items of the FiveQ. FiveQ demonstrated better responsiveness than both the THI and THQ after a 6 week interval repeat measurement. Conclusion: FiveQ demonstrated high‐positive correlations with existing validated tinnitus questionnaires as well as acceptable internal consistency and factor analysis. The concise construct of FiveQ allows clinicians to efficiently estimate tinnitus severity, target treatment towards dominant symptoms and establish a reliable estimation of treatment response following interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]