Reliable Comparison Research Articles

Comparison of interobserver and Intraobserver reliability of alpha angle measurements using different types of circles for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome

Comparison of interobserver and Intraobserver reliability of alpha angle measurements using different types of circles for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome

Approaching ballistic motion in 3D simulations of gamma-ray burst jets in realistic binary neutron star merger environments

The concomitant observation of gravitational wave and electromagnetic signals from a binary neutron star (BNS) merger in 2017 confirmed that these events can produce relativistic jets responsible for short gamma-ray bursts (sGRBs). The complex interaction between the jet and the surrounding post-merger environment shapes the angular structure of the outflow, which is then imprinted in the prompt and afterglow sGRB emission. The outcome of relativistic (magneto)hydrodynamic simulations of jets piercing through post-merger environments is often used as input to compute afterglow signals that can be compared with observations. However, for reliable comparisons, the jet propagation should be followed until nearly ballistic regimes, in which the jet acceleration is essentially over and the angular structure is no longer evolving. This condition is typically reached in 2D simulations, but not in 3D ones. Our goal is to extend a (specific) jet simulation in 3D up to a nearly ballistic phase and analyse the overall dynamical evolution from the jet breakout. Our work is based on a previous 3D magnetohydrodynamic jet simulation employing a realistic environment imported from a BNS merger simulation, extended here far beyond the evolution time originally covered. After approximately 3 seconds of the jet evolution on the original spherical grid, we remapped the system into a uniform Cartesian grid and reached about 10 seconds without loss of resolution. The specific jet considered here struggled to pierce the dense surroundings, resulting in a rather asymmetrical emerging outflow with a relatively low Lorentz factor. Analysis of the energy conversion processes and corresponding acceleration showed that at the end of our simulation, 98% of the energy is in kinetic form. Moreover, at that time the angular structure is frozen. We thus obtained suitable inputs for computing the afterglow emission. Our procedure is general and applicable to any jet simulation of the same kind.

Performance and reliability comparison: original vs. revised bone reporting and data system (Bone-RADS).

To propose a revised bone reporting and data system (Bone-RADS) and evaluate its diagnostic performance and inter-reader reliability compared to the original Bone-RADS for solitary bone lesions on CT. This retrospective study included 159 adult patients (mean age: 56 ± 19years; 88 men) who underwent bone biopsy for solitary bone lesions between March 2005 and September 2021. Two radiologists (R1/2) independently categorized the lesions twice, once using the original Bone-RADS and once using the revised version. Lesions were classified as follows: (1, benign; 2, incompletely assessed; 3, indeterminate; 4, malignancy or requiring treatment). The revised Bone-RADS excluded the original criteria for lesion related pain and history of malignancy. Diagnostic performance was assessed using histopathology as the reference standard, and inter-reader reliability was analyzed. The bone lesions included 96 lucent and 63 sclerotic/mixed lesions. Sensitivity showed no significant difference between the original and revised Bone-RADS for both readers across lucent and sclerotic/mixed lesions (all P ≥ .05). However, the specificity of the revised Bone-RADS was significantly higher than that of the original (lucent: 11% vs. 50% [R1], 11% vs. 46% [R2]; sclerotic/mixed: 32% vs. 92% [R1], 32% vs. 86% [R2]). Other performance metrics, including positive/negative predictive value and accuracy, were also higher in the revised Bone-RADS. Inter-reader reliability was higher for the revised Bone-RADS compared to the original (κ = .744 vs .854). The revised Bone-RADS significantly improved specificity while maintaining sensitivity compared to the original version.

Impact Assessment Frameworks for Nature-Based Climate Solutions: A Review of Contemporary Approaches

This study provides a comparative analysis of ecological impact assessment (EcIA) guidance for the design and approval stages of carbon sequestration and emission reduction projects, which are rapidly proliferating in response to the global need for climate change mitigation. Previous reports of negative effects on biodiversity from such projects suggest a need for more robust project design and assessment processes to improve synergies with conservation. Using a content and thematic analysis methodology, we compared four published frameworks that guide the assessment of carbon projects in natural environments. The results showed considerable variation in environmental assessment components including the level of attention to ecosystem services and the identification of areas of high conservation value that may require specific protections. There was a general lack of guidance on the inclusion of indirect and supply chain effects despite their relevance to ecological impacts. Critically, guidance in common use in the climate mitigation sector shows differing applications of the baseline and counterfactual scenarios that are used to quantify impacts. We discuss the need to focus assessment and reporting on comparisons with recent baselines to identify the contributions of individual projects and enable adaptive management and show how aligning with the concepts of Nature-based Solutions and nature-positive could be used to reimagine the role of EcIA to achieve these objectives. If these current weaknesses can be improved, EcIA has the potential to become an important implementation pathway for the conservation–climate change nexus due to its pivotal role in project design and approval processes. Conversely, a failure to reliably address these aspects will undermine the utility of EcIA as a decision support tool for sustainable development. We encourage the further exploration of EcIA practices in this direction and highlight the pressing need for reliable comparisons to support more strategic and sustainable solutions for both the conservation and climate change agendas.

Regression models for estimating Baillonella toxisperma Pierre (moabi) production in south-eastern Cameroon

ABSTRACT Baillonella toxisperma Pierre is a forest tree species whose seeds are used for producing a marketable high-quality vegetable oil. The species has thus a significant socio-economic impact on the forest-dwelling populations in West and Central Africa. Unfortunately, it is impossible up to now to anticipate its fruits/seeds production. This study seeks to develop regression models to estimate this production. Dendrometric parameters and moabi production data were collected on 94 moabi trees of different diameter classes (61.8-334 cm). Linear regressions were used to develop models with fruits/seeds number and weight as response variables, and diameter (DBH), trunk height and crown diameter as explanatory variables. On average, production of a moabi tree was 2982 fruits weighing 785 kg, and 5148 seeds weighing 64.24 kg. The coefficient of determination remained low (R2.Adj = 0.121–0.246). However, the models that considered DBH and crown diameter gave better fits than the other tested models tested. Validation showed that models with less than 125% bias were retained as acceptable, bearing in mind that they are associated with an overestimation of the prediction. This study paves the way to reliable comparisons of the economic value of harvesting NTFPs of moabi trees or of moabi harvested for timber.

Tackling Fish Passage Problems: Conservation Implications of Fish Ascending Hypobaric Pressure Gradients in a Pipe

ABSTRACTInstream barriers disrupt the connectivity of rivers worldwide, threatening fish communities by limiting access to essential habitats. Innovative conduit fishways, such as the siphon fishway with flow regulators, have potential for improving native fish passage in Australian rivers but necessitate fish to negotiate pressure reduction below ambient atmospheric pressure. We investigated the volitional passage of juvenile silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) against hypobaric pressure gradients to 1‐m (~91.5 kPa) and 2‐m (~81.8 kPa) elevations inside a pipe, with and without flow. Fish negotiated both elevations (~20% maximum pressure reduction relative to ambient atmospheric pressure) without adverse impacts, and the presence of flow resulted in faster passage across elevations. The probability for a proportion of the group of five fish passing within an hour ranged from 38% to 80% across four treatments, with a predicted 50% chance of passage of three out of five individuals occurring under 45 min for three treatment groups. A reliable comparison of passage performance between treatments, however, was complicated by the possible effect of fish conditioning. In demonstrating fish ability to negotiate hypobaric pressure gradients, we provided a foundation for using the siphon fishways as a cost‐effective fish passage for threatened native species. These findings present significant conservation opportunities for improving connectivity at sites affected by low head barriers globally.

In silico tools for mechanical analysis of extra- and intra-luminal artificial urinary sphincters.

To analyse and compare the functionality of extraluminal and intraluminal artificial urinary sphincters (AUSs), an in silico procedure has been defined and applied. Design and reliability assessments of the AUS are typically performed using a clinical approach, which does not provide data on mechanical stimulation of urethral tissues. Mechanical stimulation may determine tissue degeneration, such as urethral atrophy or erosion, the main causes of AUS failure. In silico techniques can provide a quantitative description of stress and strain fields due to the interaction between tissues and AUS and allow investigating an extremely large number of situations, considering different configurations of AUS and urethra. Computational investigations were carried out to evaluate the mechanical reliability of the main extraluminal and intraluminal AUS, AMS 800 and Relief. The lower urinary tract was modelled based on previous experiments. The AUS models took into account the main components that interact with biological tissues. Urethra and AUS models were coupled and used to investigate mechanical stimulation of urethral tissues. In silico simulations provide quantitative information about the mechanical stimulation of urethral tissue, such as compressive strain and stress and hydrostatic pressure, due to interaction with the AUS. Such mechanical quantities allow a comparison of reliability between extraluminal and intraluminal devices. The activities define and demonstrate the effectiveness of a novel in silico approach to the design and reliability assessment of AUS devices, increasing the investigative possibilities and reducing the time, ethical and economic costs.

Electrochemical Cell for Operando Grazing-Incidence X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic Studies of Low-Loaded Electrodes.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful technique that provides information about the electronic and local geometric structural properties of newly developed electrocatalysts, especially when it is performed under operating conditions (i.e., operando). However, the large amounts of catalyst typically needed to achieve sufficiently high spectral quality and temporal resolution can result in working electrodes of several micrometers in thickness. This can in turn lead to an inhomogeneous potential distribution across the electrode, delamination, and/or incomplete utilization of the catalyst layer (CL), as well as to the (partial) shielding of the CL with electrochemically evolved bubbles trapped within its pores. These limitations can be tackled by performing such spectrochemical measurements with low-loaded (and thus thin) electrodes, which call for the acquisition of XAS spectra in fluorescence mode and using an X-ray beam incidence angle of ≤0.1° with regards to the working electrode's substrate plane in a grazing-incidence (GI) configuration. Thus, in this work, we introduce a new spectroelectrochemical flow cell that allows one to perform such measurements in this GI mode and verify its functionality by tracking the potential-induced formation of palladium hydride (PdHx) in a Pd nanoparticle-based electrocatalyst. A time resolution of 10 s per spectrum was achieved with a very low Pd-loading of only 30 μgPd/cm2. Moreover, the implementation of an ion-conductive membrane to separate the working- and counter-electrode compartments enables the quantification of reaction products, which, in the case of gaseous species, can be detected in a time-resolved manner by means of mass spectrometry. Chiefly, this allows us to determine the electrocatalytic activity and selectivity of a given material in the same cell configuration used for the spectroscopic measurements and assures a reliable comparison among the results derived from both techniques.

X-Ray Computed Tomography for Estimating Density and Porosity in Reservoir Analogous Rocks: A Study on Laminated Limestones from the Crato Formation

In recent decades, faster and more affordable methods for characterizing reservoir rocks in environmental and geological studies have gained importance, particularly for hydrocarbon exploration and resource management. One promising method is X-Ray Computed micro-Tomography (XR-?CT), enabling non-destructive analysis of rock properties. However, this technique presents challenges related to image interpretation, property characterization below the voxel scale, and result comparison across configurations. In this study, laminated limestones from the Crato Formation, analogs to the pre-salt Barra Velha Formation, were analyzed using XR-?CT to estimate density and porosity. These rocks serve as substitutes for actual reservoir conditions, addressing the challenge of limited subsurface samples. This study assessed the feasibility of XR-?CT for characterizing these properties and understanding the impact of millimeter-scale laminations on their distribution. Calibration values for calcite, the primary mineral, were used to ensure accuracy and repeatability. The results demonstrate that XR-?CT is a viable tool for environmental and geological characterization. Laminations due to stratification influenced porosity distribution in the axial direction, with higher concentrations in certain sections of the samples. The porosity values calculated using XR-?CT align relatively well with the gas porosimetry results, with most samples showing a relative difference of less than 10%. However, exceptions were observed in LM4 and T10.2, where the relative difference reached -15.90% and -12.80%, respectively. Despite these challenges, qualitative analysis was achieved. The study highlights the necessity of accounting for mineralogy and calibration in XR-?CT to ensure reliable comparisons across different tomographic systems, enhancing the method’s applicability in environmental and geological studies.

FC22 Assessment of pustular psoriasis genes in generalized and palmoplantar pustular psoriasis suggest transethnic differences in disease susceptibility, an oligogenic inheritance in both psoriatic subtypes and an involvement of purinergic receptors

Abstract Generalized (GPP) and palmoplantar pustular psoriasis (PPP) are psoriatic subtypes affecting fewer psoriatic patients but often more severely than common psoriasis vulgaris. While several susceptibility genes have been identified in GPP mainly in Africa and Europe, there is currently a lack of established risk factors for PPP. Recently, P2RX7 variants were suggested to contribute to chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CNO), a clinically overlapping disease. In order to estimate the effect sizes of susceptibility variants in GPP and CNO genes, we assessed 195 exome/ genome sequences of GPP and PPP systematically and performed a literature search for published datasets of European pustular psoriasis patients. Depending on the reported state of disease-variants, we compared allele or genotype frequencies to those of controls. In the case of bi-allelic variants, we considered ∼4900 individuals in whom allele dosage could be determined. Meta-analysis in GPP revealed significant effect sizes for IL36RN and MPO variants in European carriers of mono-, but especially of bi-allelic variants [IL36RN: odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 334.2 (106.5–1599.2); MPO: 73.7 (16.5–328.5)], as expected for a monogenic/ oligogenic disease like GPP. Nine PPP patients (8%) carried a coding variant in either IL36RN or MPO, one additional individual with disease-contributing variants in both IL36RN and MPO suggests that oligogenic inheritance might also be relevant in PPP. Not a single PPP patient, but five GPP patients were identified to carry P2RX7 missense variants predicted/shown to have an impact on the signalling pathway; notably, one of the latter patients carried two variants, suggesting autosomal recessive inheritance. Putative disease variants in AP1S3 were not associated, while SERPINA3 variants were too rare to perform reliable comparisons. We did not analyse CARD14, as there are numerous missense variants and the classification of many missense variants into different ACMG categories is rather arbitrary. Our study indicates a continuum of GPP-PPP-CNO and a significant contribution of IL36RN and MPO variants on disease susceptibility in bi-allelic states and in European GPP patients, less commonly in PPP. The lack of association of pustular psoriasis with BTN3A3 in European patients and with MPO variants in Asian patients suggests transethnic differences in disease susceptibility. The overall allele frequencies of up to 4.5% of variants in AP1S3 and BTN3A3 in certain populations and a considerable frequency of homozygous, healthy carriers of risk alleles in BTN3A3 and AP1S3 render an impact on disease susceptibility less likely. As variants in known disease genes affect <40% of GPP patients and a low percentage in PPP, there is a high need to elucidate the molecular basis of pustular psoriasis, in order to offer more targeted, individualized therapy.

Guidelines for Reporting Oral Epidemiologic Studies to Inform Burden Estimation (GROESBE)

High-quality prevalence and incidence studies of oral conditions are essential for estimation of disease burden and comparison of estimates among countries and over time, as well as for priority setting, resource allocation, and planning public health action. Existing systematic reviews of the epidemiology of untreated dental caries, severe periodontitis, and edentulism, carried out for the Global Burden of Disease study, showed inadequate and incomplete reporting of the measurement of oral conditions as well as a lack of consistency and comparability with other health conditions. These issues are more accentuated in studies from low- and middle-income countries. Studies must meet the highest standards so that these efforts do not waste resources. This report extends the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines to improve and standardize the reporting of descriptive oral epidemiologic studies of common oral conditions. The aim of the Guidelines for Reporting Oral Epidemiologic Studies to Inform Burden Estimation (GROESBE) is to promote transparency, clarity, and comparability of scientific reporting, specifically for prevalence and incidence studies of untreated caries, severe periodontitis, and edentulism. The GROESBE guidelines and checklist were developed following a structured and formal consultation process with a geographically diverse group of 23 individuals involved in the conduct and analysis of oral epidemiologic studies. GROESBE focuses on elements that are not included in STROBE, adding 14 specific recommendations to existing guidelines. They will facilitate reliable comparison of emerging prevalence and incidence data on untreated caries, severe periodontitis, and edentulism across settings worldwide and the synthesis of robust evidence to inform estimation of disease burden in future iterations of the Global Burden of Disease study.

The impact of robotic surgery on the treatment of benign esophageal and gastric disease: early experience of a specialized unit.

Laparoscopic surgery is a well-established approach in the surgical treatment of reflux, hiatal hernia and esophageal motility disorders such as achalasia. Robotic platforms have only recently been incorporated in surgery for esophageal motility disorders and their exact value remains to be determined. In the present study, we present the preliminary results of our early experience with a case series of benign upper gastrointestinal diseases treated using the robotic system in our department. Data on all consecutive patients undergoing surgery for benign upper gastrointestinal tract (UGI) disease during the last 5years (01/2029-12/2023) was prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. All patients attended regular follow-up appointments. Patients with relapse or deterioration of their symptoms were referred for objective testing using high-resolution manometry and/or 24-h impedance pHmetry. A total of 34 patients were included in our series. Fourteen patients with achalasia underwent robotic Heller myotomy and modified Dor fundoplication, sixteen patients underwent hiatal hernia repair with fundoplication and four patients had a Nissen fundoplication for reflux esophagitis. The median postoperative Eckardt score of the patients treated for achalasia was 2 and a median GERD score of 1 was recorded for patients treated for reflux. Two patients with achalasia were evaluated with manometry due to temporary symptom relapse. The manometric findings were unremarkable. The incorporation of the robotic approach in the surgical treatment of benign UGI diseases is safe and feasible with excellent perioperative and postoperative functional results. Further experience and investigation will allow for reliable comparison to the laparoscopic approach.

The Effect of Learning Using the Structural Analysis Method on Students' Understanding of Poetry in Wasiat Renungan Masa by Maulana Syaikh

This study investigates the impact of the Structural Analysis Method on students' understanding of the poetry Wasiat Renungan Masa by Maulana Syaikh, addressing a critical gap in effective teaching methods for poetry in secondary education, where students often struggle to grasp the deeper meanings of literary works. The research was conducted with 54 students in class XI Science (IPA) and class XI Social Science (IPS) at MA NW Ar-Rahmaniyah Senyiur, using a quasi-experimental design with a Nonequivalent Control Group to ensure reliable comparisons. The experimental group was taught using the Structural Analysis Method, which focuses on dissecting the structural elements of the poem, while the control group received conventional instruction without emphasis on such analysis. Data were collected through pre-tests and post-tests designed to measure students' understanding of key poetic elements. The collected data were analyzed using parametric statistics, including t-tests, to compare the groups' performance in a statistically rigorous manner. The results show a significant improvement in poetry comprehension for the experimental group, with an average gain score of 19.5, compared to 9.0 in the control group. Statistical analysis using a t-test confirms a significant difference (t-value = 11.54, p < 0.001) between the two groups. The study concludes that the method is highly effective in enhancing poetry understanding and suggests broader applications in literature education, particularly in improving students' ability to analyze and interpret complex texts more effectively.

How Should We Define Meaningful Improvement? A Commentary on Minimal Clinically Important Difference Assessment for Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement in Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds guide clinicians and researchers in determining whether changes in patient-reported outcome measures are truly meaningful from the patient's perspective. This article focuses on MCID calculation methods for the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement, two widely used patient-reported outcome measures in total hip and total knee arthroplasty. While distribution-based methods (e.g., the half-standard deviation threshold) are common for their simplicity and lack of extra data requirements, they are limited by reliance on statistical properties rather than patient perception. In contrast, anchor-based methods, endorsed by the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments, use external "anchors" such as satisfaction or quality-of-life measures to capture the patient's view of improvement. Predictive modeling, a sophisticated anchor-based technique, is particularly robust, producing smaller confidence intervals and adjusting for various patient characteristics. However, all anchor-based approaches depend heavily on the choice and quality of the anchor, highlighting a need for standardization and validation of these external measures. Moreover, MCID thresholds are population-specific and can vary according to baseline function, comorbidities, demographics, and surgical context. Ceiling effects in both Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement further complicate MCID assessment. To address these challenges, the article recommends prioritizing anchor-based methods, standardizing anchors, and interpreting MCID values within each study's clinical context. Comprehensive reporting of baseline characteristics and instrument sensitivity (including ceiling effects) is also essential for reliable comparisons and evidence-based practice.

Feasibility of spectro-polarimetric measurement in separating reflection components for improving water contaminant determination

Water bodies are critical to the environment, providing numerous ecological benefits; however, human activities increasingly threaten their quality. Natural water systems exhibit regional variability, dominated by organic and inorganic species, rendering in-situ measurements insufficient. Current remote sensing methods often overlook the impact of surface light components, which vary with solar radiation and wave intensity. This study demonstrates an approach for water quality monitoring utilizing spectral reflectance and polarization in the visible and near-infrared regions. A line spectrometer with a polarization filter was employed for hyperspectral measurements under simulated wave conditions. Chlorophyll (Chl) and suspended sediment (SS) pollution were simulated using locally sourced products at various concentrations. The contaminant reflectance was computed, and the polarization components were analyzed using the Pickering method and Stokes vectors. Normalization and continuum removal techniques ensured reliable comparisons across the spectra. The spectral angle mapper (SAM) algorithm quantified the similarity between unpolarized wave conditions and total reflectance spectra under calm conditions, while spectral entropy quantified wave effects compared to calm water. The results indicated that the polarized components of Chl and SS reflectance were minimal in calm water but increased under wave conditions, particularly at lower wavelengths. Higher contaminant concentrations exhibited greater spectral similarity, with lower SAM values indicating reduced specular reflections. The raw and normalized unpolarized reflectance spectra displayed characteristic features; however, the reflectance at high concentrations was lower than anticipated, likely due to spectrometer sensitivity and strong water absorption. The degree of Linear Polarization (DoLP) analysis revealed distinct scattering behaviors: Chl exhibited a lower DoLP than SS. Wave conditions enhanced the DoLP due to increased specular reflections. Overall, the method effectively separates reflection components but is sensitive to measurement conditions, emphasizing the necessity to account for angles and water conditions when estimating contaminants.

A Scoping Review of Motor and Language Measurement Tools Used in Early Childhood Research

Early childhood is a critical period characterized by rapid development of motor and language skills. Reliably assessing motor and language development in early childhood is difficult, and there is a lack of agreement on measurement tool use. This scoping review aims to identify measurement tools used to examine motor and language skills in infants and young children (0–5 years) when the relationship between these two domains is studied. A scoping review of existing literature on motor and communication skills was conducted across studies measuring gross and/or fine motor and language development in children aged 0–5 years. Systematic searches were conducted in six online databases using carefully selected keywords and search parameters. The resulting corpus of existing literature was reviewed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. Sixty motor and 99 language measurement tools were found. The most used measurement tools for motor and language skills were the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddlers Development, Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Mullen Scales of Early Learning, MacArthur–Bates Communicative Development Inventories, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, and Gross Motor Function Classification System. Of these, the measurements used to address language skills did not include reference to all language aspects, particularly lacking were emphasis on skills associated with phonology, morphology, and pragmatics with more focused attention on the semantic language component. This study refines existing knowledge about commonly used early childhood measurement tools. This may help to inform research and encourage consistent measurement use across studies as well as in clinical practice to improve reliable comparisons across outcomes and use measurement tools with diagnostic purpose. Further, a broader inclusion of discrete language components within measurement tools is warranted to better determine the rich, nuanced relationship between early motor and language skills.

Multi-culture label-free quantitative cell migration sensing with single-cell precision.

A fair comparison of multiple live cell cultures requires examining them under identical environmental conditions, which can only be done accurately if all cells are prepared simultaneously and studied at the same time and place. This contribution introduces a multiplexed lensless digital holographic microscopy system (MLS), enabling synchronous, label-free, quantitative observation of multiple live cell cultures with single-cell precision. The innovation of this setup lies in its ability to robustly compare the behaviour, i.e., migratory pathways, of cells cultured or contained in different ways (with varied stimuli applied), making it a valuable tool for dynamic biomedical diagnostics on a cellular level. The system's design allows for potential expansion to accommodate as many samples as needed, thus broadening its application scope in future quantitative diagnostics on global multi-culture cellular behaviours via their localized single-cell spatiotemporal optical signatures. We believe that our method has the potential to empower reliable live cell multi-culture comparisons through simultaneous quantitative imaging, enhancing label-free investigations into cell cultures and the effects of biochemical or physical stimuli over large areas, and unlocking novel mechanistic understandings through high-throughput time-lapse observations.

Comparison of Middlewares in Edge-to-Edge and Edge-to-Cloud Communication for Distributed ROS 2 Systems

The increased data transmission and number of devices involved in communications among distributed systems make it challenging yet significantly necessary to have an efficient and reliable networking middleware. In robotics and autonomous systems, the wide application of ROS 2 brings the possibility of utilizing various networking middlewares together with DDS in ROS 2 for better communication among edge devices or between edge devices and the cloud. However, there is a lack of comprehensive communication performance comparison of integrating these networking middlewares with ROS 2. In this study, we provide a quantitative analysis for the communication performance of utilized networking middlewares including MQTT and Zenoh alongside DDS in ROS 2 among a multiple host system. For a complete and reliable comparison, we calculate the latency and throughput of these middlewares by sending distinct amounts and types of data through different network setups including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and 4G. To further extend the evaluation to real-world application scenarios, we assess the drift error (the position changes) over time caused by these networking middlewares with the robot moving in an identical square-shaped path. Our results show that CycloneDDS performs better under Ethernet while Zenoh performs better under Wi-Fi and 4G. In the actual robot test, the robot moving trajectory drift error over time (96 s) via Zenoh is the smallest. It is worth noting we have a discussion of the CPU utilization of these networking middlewares and the perfosrmance impact caused by enabling the security feature in ROS 2 at the end of the paper.

Comparison of KMO Results, Eigen Value, Reliability, and Standard Error of Measurement: Original & Rescaling Through Summated Rating Scaling

This study aims to compare the results of KMO MSA analysis, Eigen Value, reliability, and Standard Error Measurement (SEm) between raw scores (original) and standardized scores (rescaling) through the summated rating scaling method on critical reasoning attitudes of vocational students in Yogyakarta City. This study used a quantitative descriptive approach involving 204 private vocational students as subjects. The instrument used to measure critical reasoning attitudes has gone through thorough validity and reliability testing before the research was carried out. The analysis process was carried out by calculating the KMO MSA, Eigen Value, reliability, and SEm values on both raw and standardized scores. The results of the two types of scores were then compared to identify any differences. Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that the raw score had a KMO MSA of 0.87, reliability of 0.823, and SEm of 0.337. After rescaling, the KMO MSA value decreased slightly to 0.86, the reliability also decreased slightly to 0.821, while the SEm increased to 0.406. Eigenvalue analysis showed that both the raw and standardized scores yielded seven factors with Eigenvalues greater than 1. The differences found between these two types of scores, namely 0.01 for KMO MSA, 0.002 for reliability, and -0.069 for SEm, indicate small but significant changes, especially in terms of the increase in SEm after rescaling, which impacts the level of measurement accuracy.

Comparison of Utility and Reliability in Low-Resource Laboratory Settings of Low Cost Hemoglobinopathy Point-of-Care Screening Devices

Comparison of Utility and Reliability in Low-Resource Laboratory Settings of Low Cost Hemoglobinopathy Point-of-Care Screening Devices