Average Deviation Research Articles

Short-acting growth hormone supplementation for bone age and growth rate in children with idiopathic short stature: a meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of short-acting growth hormone (GH) supplementation on bone age and growth rate of children with idiopathic short stature.MethodsThe authoritative databases such as PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science were extensively searched through the systematic and comprehensive literature retrieval strategy to compile the clinical research data on the treatment of idiopathic short stature with short-acting GH. The study will be strictly screened to ensure that all enrolled research subjects are patients with idiopathic short stature, and the intervention method is defined as short-acting GH replacement therapy, and a reasonable control group is set, such as placebo treatment, to ensure the scientificity and comparability of research results. Outcome index data such as basic characteristics, sample size, follow-up time, and total effective rate of the included studies were extracted. In this study, RevMan 5.3, a professional statistical software tool, was used to systematically perform the meta-analysis process. Weighted average difference (WMD) was calculated as the primary outcome to evaluate the effect of bone age and growth rate, and the WAD in adverse reactions was considered as the secondary outcome.ResultsNine studies were included in the study, and 491 patients with idiopathic short stature were included in the study. The results of the meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference in bone age but a significant difference in growth rate when compared with the control group.ConclusionShort-acting GH supplementation can significantly improve the growth rate of children with idiopathic short stature, but has little effect on bone age.

A Hysteresis Model Incorporating Varying Pinching Stiffness and Spread for Enhanced Structural Damage Simulation

The widely used Bouc–Wen–Baber–Noori (BWBN) hysteresis model, although effective in simulating hysteresis behaviors, does not account for variations in the pinching region of hysteretic behaviors. This can negatively impact the accuracy of the BWBN model in simulating structural responses and damage mechanisms in structures such as reinforced concrete (RC) and timber, which exhibit highly pinched hysteresis behavior when damaged by earthquakes. This paper introduces a BWBN model with varying pinching region characteristics (BWBN-VP model) which can degrade pinching stiffness and increase pinching effects under seismic loads. Unlike the original BWBN model using constant pinching stiffness (kp), this modified new model, inspired by real-world structural damage, improves structural damage detection, identifiability, and analysis in real-world scenarios. Model validation uses experimental data from three RC column tests with different failure modes and hysteresis loop shapes, resulting in an ~0.98 correlation coefficient between the experimental and simulated responses. Further validation uses real-world seismic data from a six-story RC building and achieves an average correlation of ~0.97 with a minor 2.5% difference in the peak restoring forces compared to direct measurements. The proposed BWBN-VP model also accurately and realistically captures damage to both the elastic and pinching stiffness values of the building, with an average difference of ~4%. Results confirm that the BWBN-VP model, compared to the original, more accurately predicts hysteretic responses, especially in Shear Failure (SF) modes. Therefore, the BWBN-VP model, superior in simulating highly pinched behaviors in RC and timber structures, would be an advanced tool for resilient seismic design and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM).

Cross-tissue comparison of epigenetic aging clocks in humans.

Epigenetic clocks are a common group of tools used to measure biological aging-the progressive deterioration of cells, tissues, and organs. Epigenetic clocks have been trained almost exclusively using blood-based tissues, but there is growing interest in estimating epigenetic age using less-invasive oral-based tissues (i.e., buccal or saliva) in both research and commercial settings. However, differentiated cell types across body tissues exhibit unique DNA methylation landscapes and age-related alterations to the DNA methylome. Applying epigenetic clocks derived from blood-based tissues to estimate epigenetic age of oral-based tissues may introduce biases. We tested the within-person comparability of common epigenetic clocks across five tissue types: buccal epithelial, saliva, dry blood spots, buffy coat (i.e., leukocytes), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We tested 284 distinct tissue samples from 83 individuals aged 9-70 years. Overall, there were significant within-person differences in epigenetic clock estimates from oral-based versus blood-based tissues, with average differences of almost 30 years observed in some age clocks. In addition, most epigenetic clock estimates of blood-based tissues exhibited low correlation with estimates from oral-based tissues despite controlling for cellular proportions and other technical factors. Notably, the Skin and Blood clock exhibited the greatest concordance across all tissue types, indicating its unique ability to estimate chronological age in oral- and blood-based tissues. Our findings indicate that application of blood-derived epigenetic clocks in oral-based tissues may not yield comparable estimates of epigenetic age, highlighting the need for careful consideration of tissue type when estimating epigenetic age.

The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on global cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease: An update meta-analysis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease. At present, there are currently no drugs that can cure AD. A number of empirical studies have shown that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be used to treat cognitive abnormalities in patients with AD. We will through meta-analysis reviews tDCS overall research on the effects of cognitive function in patients with AD. Systematic searches were performed in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their creation until 8 March 2024. Using a fixed effect model and random effect model to evaluate the average difference between the treatment group and control group (MD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). The study included 10 randomized controlled trials (Nactive = 165, Nsham = 167). The results of the overall analysis showed that tDCS did not significantly improve the overall cognitive function (SMD = 0.17; 95%CI = -0.05, 0.39; p = 0.14; I² = 51%). Quality of life of AD patients after treatment was also evaluated, but no improvement was seen. Subgroup analysis showed no significant improvement in global cognitive function after tDCS treatment. The sensitivity analysis to confirm the reliability of the data, risk assessment did not find any high-risk projects. The tDCS treatment did not improve cognitive function in patients with AD. Further empirical research in the future will help to explore new schemes for tDCS to improve cognitive function of patients.

Evaluating the Impact of Faking on the Criterion‐Related Validity of Personality Assessments

ABSTRACTPersonality assessments are commonly used in hiring, but concerns about faking have raised doubts about their effectiveness. Qualitative reviews show mixed and inconsistent impacts of faking on criterion‐related validity. To address this, a series of meta‐analyses were conducted using matched samples of honest and motivated respondents (i.e., instructed to fake, applicants). In 80 paired samples, the average difference in validity coefficients between honest and motivated samples across five‐factor model traits ranged from 0.05 to 0.08 (largest for conscientiousness and emotional stability), with the validity ratio ranging from 64% to 72%. Validity was attenuated when candidates faked regardless of sample type, trait relevance, or the importance of impression management, though variation existed across criterion types. Both real applicant samples (k = 25) and instructed response conditions (k = 55) showed a reduction in validity across honest and motivated conditions, including when managerial ratings of job performance were the criterion. Thus, faking impacted the validity in operational samples. This suggests that practitioners should be cautious relying upon concurrent validation evidence (for personality inventories) and expect attenuated validity in operational applicant settings, particularly for conscientiousness and emotional stability scales. That said, it is important to highlight that personality assessments generally maintained useful validity even under‐motivated conditions.

Diadochokinetic rate in Thai adults using between auditory-perceptual and instrumental methods

Background: Diadochokinetic (DDK) rate refers to the time taken to execute rapid repetitive movements of articulators during speech. DDK rate assessment has been used to screen or as part of an assessment to diagnose and plan treatment for motor speech disorders. It contained alternating motion rate (AMR) and sequential motion rate (SMR) assessments. There were two main methods for DDK assessment: perceptual speech assessment and instrumental speech assessment. Objective: This study aimed to compare the DDK rate measured by auditoryperceptual and instrumental methods and investigate the effects of age and gender on the DDK rate in normal Thai adults. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, the participants were Thai adults aged 21-78. Sixty participants were divided equally into three age groups: young adult, middle-aged adult, and older adult group. All participants were asked to repeat four speech tasks as rapidly as possible, namely, AMR as [ph a:], [th a:], [kh a:], and SMR as [ph a:-th a:-kh a:]. DDK rates were measured using two methods, namely, the auditory-perceptual method and the instrumental method, which used the Praat program. The paired sample t-test examined the difference in average DDK rates between the two methods. The one-way ANOVA was utilized to analyze the average rate differences among three age groups, while gender differences were analyzed through an independent sample t-test. Results: The averages of SMR between the auditory-perceptual method and thePraat program were significantly different (p<0.05), whereas the averages of AMRwere not significantly different. The findings also found that averages of SMR hadsignificant differences (p<0.05) between three age groups and two genders. The young adult group had a higher average of SMR than middle-aged adult and olderadult groups. Males had a higher average of SMR than females. Conclusion: This result indicates that different assessment methods result in different DDK rates, especially SMR. Therefore, choosing the DDK rate assessment method should be careful and consider its accuracy. Moreover, the SMR task may be more sensitive than the AMR task to age-related change and gender factors.

A Study of Heat Insulation Methods for Enhancing the Internal Temperature on Artificial Stingless Bee Hive

The stingless bees have gained a large popularity among the beekeepers, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions such as the Americas, Africa, and Southeast Asia. This is because the honey of stingless bees has a distinct flavour and is highly valued for its medicinal qualities. Traditionally, stingless bee colonies constructed from wood logs are fragile and vulnerable to outside attacks. These predator or parasite attacks can cause Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) if not eliminated. Thus, a PVC, 3D-printed PET-G, and acrylic artificial hive has been created to replace the old one. According to earlier research, stingless bees are especially susceptible to temperatures above 38°C. This paper's main goal is to discuss the results of studies on the best artificial hive insulation method. Over a month and a half, clay, wood powder, polystyrene, bubble aluminium foil, and a water- cooling system were tested as insulators. Results shows that artificial hives with bubble aluminium foil have the biggest average difference between internal and external temperatures (6.4°C) and are closest to traditional hives (8.6°C). The average temperature difference between the artificial hive's exterior and inside was 2.9°C without heat insulation. Clay-insulated artificial hives have the lowest standard deviation value for humidity at 0.46. Since temperature is vital to stingless bee survival, bubble aluminium foil container is the best insulation solution since it increases heat resistance more than other materials.

Chất lượng nội tại của công việc và đặc điểm nhân khẩu học: Nghiên cứu tình huống các nhân viên ngân hàng tại Việt Nam

The intrinsic job quality is a current topic in developing countries, especially Vietnam. This term refers to the extent to which a set of intrinsic job characteristics can meet the requirements and expectations of employees and organizations. The objective of this study is to compare intrinsic job quality among groups of bank employees in Vietnam via different demographic characteristics. Qualitative research methods were used to examine theories and develop measurement scales, then the author conducted quantitative research through data collected from a survey conducted from April to July 2024 with 368 bank employees in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Independent Samples T-Test and One-way ANOVA via SPSS 27 show the average mean difference of marital status for work intensity, nature of tasks and work conditions. The study also found differences in age and tenure when assessing skill variety and nature of tasks. From there, some important managerial implications such as creating a flexible working environment, training to improve skills, and ensuring the rationality and fairness in task allocation may help managers use and design jobs effectively and appropriately for bank employees in Vietnam.

Evaluation of perioperative pachymetry of thin corneas during corneal crosslinking using hypo-osmolar riboflavin and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

This study aimed to analyze variations in intraoperative corneal thickness during corneal cross-linking in patients with keratoconus and to investigate its possible correlation with presurgical maximal keratometry (Kmax) and pachymetry. This was a prospective case series. We used a method similar to the Dresden protocol, with the application of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 0.1% hypo-osmolar riboflavin in corneas between 330 and 400 µm after epithelium removal. Corneal thickness was measured using portable calipers before and immediately after epithelium removal, and 30 and 60 min after the procedure. The 30 patients in this study were followed up for one year. A statistically significant difference was observed in pachymetry values during the intraoperative period (p<0.0001) and an increase of 3.05 µm (95%C1: 0.56-5.54) for each diopter was seen after epithelium removal (p0.019). We found an average Kmax difference of -2.12 D between men and women (p0.013). One year after treatment, there was a statistically significant reduction in pachymetry (p<0.0001) and Kmax (p0.0170) values. A significant increase in pachymetry measurements was seen during the procedure, and most patients showed a regression in Kmax and pachymetry values one year after surgery.

Hypergammaglobulinemia in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patients: A New Emerging Association.

Hypergammaglobulinemia is a sign of B cell and plasma cell hyperactivity marked by elevated levels of gamma globulins, proteins within the gamma fraction of serum electrophoresis, linked to diseases like acute hepatitis, Hodgkin's lymphoma, autoimmune conditions, and neoplasms. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is found in 3.2% of individuals over 50 and 5.3% over 70 due to immunosenescence, the gradual immune decline influenced by chronic infections, malnutrition, hormonal dysregulation, and smoking. This retrospective, single-center observational study explored the association between hypergammaglobulinemia and Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) based on sex, age, disease severity (IHS4 score), and Adalimumab treatment. Sixty patients (54% women, 46% men, average age 47) were observed over 12 months. Hypergammaglobulinemia was found in 68% of patients, with the highest prevalence in the 15-29 age group (80%). It was also associated with increased disease severity, particularly in younger patients, who showed a reduced clinical response to Adalimumab (average HiSCR difference of 25%). While common inflammation markers like CRP and ESR remain essential for HS management, this study highlighted that hypergammaglobulinemia is more prevalent in younger patients with severe forms of HS. Unlike older patients, where immunosenescence can lead to more normal gamma globulin levels, younger patients demonstrated a strong link between chronic inflammation and disease. The findings suggest further investigation is needed to determine whether hypergammaglobulinemia is merely a marker or contributes to HS pathogenesis. If validated, hypergammaglobulinemia could be used to monitor disease progression and customize treatments. In conclusion, integrating immunological assessments into HS management could improve patient outcomes, particularly in younger demographics. With larger studies, hypergammaglobulinemia might be considered a predictive factor for HS, especially for severe or treatment-resistant cases.

Reproducibility and repeatability of 18F-(2S, 4R)-4-fluoroglutamine PET imaging in preclinical oncology models.

Measurement of repeatability and reproducibility (R&R) is necessary to realize the full potential of positron emission tomography (PET). Several studies have evaluated the reproducibility of PET using 18F-FDG, the most common PET tracer used in oncology, but similar studies using other PET tracers are scarce. Even fewer assess agreement and R&R with statistical methods designed explicitly for the task. 18F-(2S, 4R)-4-fluoro-glutamine (18F-Gln) is a PET tracer designed for imaging glutamine uptake and metabolism. This study illustrates high reproducibility and repeatability with 18F-Gln for in vivo research. Twenty mice bearing colorectal cancer cell line xenografts were injected with ~9 MBq of 18F-Gln and imaged in an Inveon microPET. Three individuals analyzed the tumor uptake of 18F-Gln using the same set of images, the same image analysis software, and the same analysis method. Scans were randomly re-ordered for a second repeatability measurement 6 months later. Statistical analyses were performed using the methods of Bland and Altman (B&A), Gauge Reproducibility and Repeatability (Gauge R&R), and Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient. A comprehensive equivalency test, designed to reject a null hypothesis of non-equivalence, was also conducted. In a two-way random effects Gauge R&R model, variance among mice and their measurement variance were 0.5717 and 0.024. Reproducibility and repeatability accounted for 31% and 69% of the total measurement error, respectively. B&A repeatability coefficients for analysts 1, 2, and 3 were 0.16, 0.35, and 0.49. One-half B&A agreement limits between analysts 1 and 2, 1 and 3, and 2 and 3 were 0.27, 0.47, and 0.47, respectively. The mean square deviation and total deviation index were lowest for analysts 1 and 2, while coverage probabilities and coefficients of the individual agreement were highest. Finally, the definitive agreement inference hypothesis test for equivalency demonstrated that all three confidence intervals for the average difference of means from repeated measures lie within our a priori limits of equivalence (i.e. ± 0.5%ID/g). Our data indicate high individual analyst and laboratory-level reproducibility and repeatability. The assessment of R&R using the appropriate methods is critical and should be adopted by the broader imaging community.

Modeling of Urban Gravity Zones and Hierarchy of Administrative Centers in Bosnia And Herzegovina Using the Huff Model

This research applies the Huff model in delineating urban gravitational zones (UGZs) and hierarchy ranking of administrative centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on the attributes of travel time (min) and attractiveness, i. e. the mass of the city, gravitational attraction raster models were derived for each center. UGZs were compared with the official administrative units - cantons (FB&amp;H) and regions (RS) based on area and shape attributes. Hierarchy of centers according to UGZs is compared with the official data. Some discrepancies have been observed between theoretical UGZs and actual administrative regions, mostly due to socio-political factors that significantly influence urban development pattern and social dynamics. It was found that polygons of official administrative units are more complex regarding shape than UGZs, indicating a more fragmented structure. The results showed that the average relative difference in area of official administrative units and the UGZs is 60.94%. Out of 16 administrative centers, 10 (62.5%) of them have the same hierarchical rank in both models, while the other six centers differ. An important feature of Huff method is that it uses a spatial model with exact data (parameters) and formulas rather than subjective procedures.

Differences in Serum Creatinine Levels in Controlled and Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Diabetes Mellitus is in the top 10 causes of death in the world. Indonesia ranks 5th out of 10 countries in the number of diabetes mellitus sufferers in adults aged 20-79 years. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is the most common type of Diabetes Mellitus. Examination of the HbA1c value is the gold standard examination for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. In PERKENI 2021, the risk of suffering from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus increases with increasing age and it is recommended to screen for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at the age of &gt; 40 years. The second most common complication of Diabetes Mellitus in Indonesia is nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of end-stage renal failure which is the 5th stage of chronic renal failure. Examination of creatinine in the blood is an important parameter to determine kidney function. The aim of this study was to determine the average difference between serum creatinine levels in controlled and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. This research was an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design using secondary data from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus sufferers without Chronic Kidney Failure from medical records at Hospital X in Jakarta in January-December 2023. The research data consisted of 368 respondents. The result was p-value = 0.688. The conclusion of this study is that there is no difference in mean between serum creatinine levels in controlled and uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus sufferers. Furthermore, research can be carried out using respondents with a duration of Diabetes Mellitus ≥ 10 year.

The Influence of Smoking Behavior on Dopamine Level Increase in the Blood of Active and Passive Smokers at Kwala Bekala Market, Medan

Cigarette is responsible for the death of 6 million people worldwide each year, with approximately 600,000 deaths related to exposure to secondhand smoke (World Health Organization (WHO)). A molecular biomarker in smoking behavior is the high level of dopamine in the blood. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the differences in the blood dopamine levels between active and passive smokers. This comparative study consisted of 80 respondents, comprising 40 active and 40 passive smokers. The blood samples of 3 cc were taken from the vein and taken to the laboratory for measurement of dopamine level using the ELISA method. The results showed that the average dopamine level in active smokers was higher, at 70.48±21.89, while passive smokers at 65.98±25.30, with an average difference of 4.5 pg/ml. This suggested that smoking behavior could influence dopamine level in the blood of both active and passive smokers. Consequently, public awareness should to be raised about the health impacts of smoking, and the enforcement of smoking bans in public places such as Smoke-Free Areas (KTR/KUTARO) was essential to protect others from the dangers of exposure to cigarette smoke.

In-Match and Out-Match Game Console Network Ping Comparison Analysis on a First-Person Arena Shooter (Case Study: East Jakarta, Indonesia)

As offline and online game technologies evolve, gaming technology and devices constantly change. Games can be played on PCs or various console machines, including portable and non-portable devices. XDefiant is a free-to-play, first-person arena shooter in which players compete in fast-paced online matches. This research aimed to compare the ping values between in-match and out-match when playing an online first-person shooter game on a console machine. The study utilized a quantitative method using primary data and a descriptive approach, with data collected from June to July 2024. The game capture latency stage involved taking 30 screenshots in 10 in-match scenarios and 30 screenshots during out-match scenarios. Network pings were analyzed during both in-match and out-match. The mean ping during the in-match was significantly higher than during the out-match, with an average difference of approximately 12.77 ms. The standard deviation for the in-match was also higher than that for the out-match. An interesting finding was that the maximum ping during out-match was higher than during in-match, though the difference was only 1 ms. The ping trend increased during the in-match, while it decreased for better performance during the out-match. Despite the varying trends in both in-match and out-match, players reported excellent game performance during the research period.

CFD ANALYSIS ON DART PAPERPLANE

This research aims to analyze the aerodynamic performances surrounding paper planes. The dart paper plane model was chosen for this work based on the availability of experimental work done by previous researchers. The dart paper plane can be categorized as one of the micro air vehicles (MAV), however, the basic aerodynamic performances have been underestimated by previous researchers and are still open to be explored. In this work, a CFD simulation study on the dart paper plane was utilized by using the ANSYS-CFX module platform. A steady state, incompressible flow Navier-Stokes equation (RANS) combined with the Shear Stress Turbulence (SST) model was used to analyze the flow structure over the dart paper planes. Experimental data availability is used to compare experimental and our simulation results. Based on the validation work, the highest average percentage difference between CLmagnitude, CLmax, and AOAstall between our results and the experimental ones is 11.9%, 29.5%, and 24.2%. However, overall CL trends similarly exhibited with experimental results since the average percentage difference of CLincre magnitude is continuously reduced from 6.48% to 0.9% towards increment of AOA. For drag performance analysis, the overall trend magnitude distribution of our simulation and experimental results consistently increases towards the increment of AOA. The massive CD distribution had overcome the consecutive CL generation, thus decreasing the overall CL/CDmax magnitude.

The Effect of Occupational Art Therapy on Depression, Anxiety and Stress in the Elderly in Nursing Homes: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: Elderly individuals residing in care facilities possess the potential for low physical activity, frequent illness, a hostile environment, and a lack of self-confidence, causing older people to become anxious, stressed, and even depressed. Unfortunately, no intervention can overcome this problem. Occupational art therapy involves using artistic mediums as a form of treatment and creative processes to help express oneself, improve individual physical and coping skills, manage stress, and strengthen self-confidence. Methods: This research aims to explain the effect of occupational art therapy on depression, stress, and anxiety in older adults in nursing homes. This research uses a quasi-experimental pre and post-test design. The total sample used was 60 respondents, who were divided into intervention and control groups using a sampling technique, namely purposive sampling. Data were collected using the short version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (21 items). Descriptive statistics, frequency distribution, and Paired and Unpaired T-tests were applied for data analysis. Results: The findings of the research indicated that occupational arts therapy could reduce depression scores with an average difference of 8.63, namely an anxiety score of 5.54 and a stress score of 3.59. Data analysis showed that occupational art therapy significantly reduced anxiety, depression, and stress scores (p-value 0.000). Conclusion: Occupational art therapy can be used as a complementary therapy in nursing homes to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in older people. The findings of this study are expected to help improve services in nursing homes, especially for reducing depression, anxiety, and stress in older people.

Validation of a diode‐based phantom for high temporal and spatial measurements in a 1.5 T MR‐linac

AbstractBackgroundFor the development and validation of dynamic treatment modalities and processes on the MR‐linac, independent measurements should be performed that validate dose delivery and linac behavior at a high temporal resolution. To achieve this, a detector with both high temporal and spatial resolution is necessary.PurposeThis study investigates the suitability of a Delta4 Phantom+ MR (Delta4) detector array for time‐resolved dosimetry in the 1.5 T MR‐linac and characterizes the Delta4's performance with dynamic dose delivery, such as beam gating and field modulation during radiation.MethodsA Delta4 detector was used, including software for time‐resolved dosimetry. First validation experiments were performed and compared to reference measurements. Subsequently, demonstrator measurements were performed to show use cases of the Delta4's time‐resolved dose readouts. An example of such an experiment is the determination of the field speed during a sliding window experiment, traveling between 0.7 and 6.8 cm/s in the cranial‐caudal direction.ResultsValidation experiments of the dose reproducibility and dose rate dependency showed no difference relative to the standard static delivery. The field speed measured by the Delta4 showed an average field speed difference of −0.3% relative to MR‐linac log files. The Delta4 was capable of measuring the dose with high accuracy and temporal resolution during dynamic radiation delivery.ConclusionThe Delta4 can be used for time‐resolved dosimetry in a 1.5 T MR‐linac.

Poor Employment Conditions and Immigrant Health in Europe

Building on the extant literature and utilizing data from the EU-SILC and the EU-LFS surveys conducted between 2009 and 2023, we empirically investigate the impact of poor employment conditions—associated with insecure or precarious employment—on third-country nationals’ (TCNs’) self-perceived health status (SPH). The role of employment conditions in health is examined by employing indicators of temporary, part-time, and self-employment. Driven by theory and empirical analysis, we also investigate the effects of additional variables, including long-term unemployment. Finally, to probe differences across countries, we examine how the effects of employment conditions on TCNs’ health vary across institutional settings, namely across different types of welfare state. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses of panel data reveal that employment conditions affect immigrants’ SPH and surface significant differences across countries. The estimated country-specific effects point to statistical average differences between Germany and two groups of countries: one showing higher effects (i.e., Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and France) and another with lower effects (i.e., Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Spain). The welfare model adopted by different countries is a qualitative significant predictor of TCNs’ SPH. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of these findings for future research, but also policy initiatives to improve TCNs’ employment conditions and, consequently, their health and overall well-being.

Illumination correction of dyed fabrics method using the kernel extreme learning machine based on the improved Aquila Optimizer

Different environmental light affects the effect of textile surface color rendering, thus affecting the accuracy of machine vision-based textile quality inspection. In order to solve this problem, we propose an illumination correction model based on the improved Aquila Optimizer (AO) for the kernel extreme learning machine (KELM). First, a simulated annealing algorithm is used, and its better solution is used as the initial population of the AO, which increases the global search capability and improves the stability of the algorithm. Second, the KELM model is introduced and the AO optimization algorithm is used to obtain the optimal penalty parameter [Formula: see text] and kernel parameter γ of the KELM, thus constituting the SA-AO-KELM model. Finally, some textile images are selected to test the effect of the constructed light correction model using their chromaticity features, and the effect of light in the image is eliminated according to the model output. In order to verify the effectiveness of the designed illumination correction method, this paper adopts the chromatic aberration detection for the comparative analysis of the images before and after correction to evaluate the effect of illumination correction on improving the performance of textile color quality detection. The experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper can effectively improve the textile image presentation. The average color difference between the corrected image and the standard image is calculated to be 2.9991 using CIEDE2000, which reduces the color difference by about 24.43% compared with the traditional kernel extreme learning machine.