Convenient Assessment Tool Research Articles

Modern Trends, Examples and Methods for Assessing Physical Activity of City Residents

Introduction. A sufficient level of physical activity (PA) is crucial for maintaining population health. There is a wide range of methods and approaches to PA assessment, such as questionnaires that are a convenient tool for assessment of PA levels. Another modern way to assess PA is individual wearable devices, including accelerometers. Data obtained from accelerometers and other tools can contribute to questionnaire results used in PA studies. Purpose. This review was carried out with the aim of considering modern trends, examples and common methods of physical activity assessment of city residents. Materials and methods. Relevant information was collected using PubMed and E-Library databases. Google and Yandex search systems were used to obtain additional data. Results. This paper describes global trends in modern PA studies, presents the examples of Russian and foreign papers on PA of city population, as well as summarizes the main features of PA assessment tools. Notably, PA can be assessed using subjective and objective methods. International and national questionnaires are widely applied as a subjective assessment tool. At the same time, technologies for objective assessment based on digital systems, wearable devices and other approaches to PA monitoring are being developed. Methods for assessing PA can be selected in several stages using decision-making algorithms. Conclusions. Upon the obtained results we assume that modern study design and methods of assessment of FA level among city residents helps to identify factors influencing the formation and maintenance of healthy lifestyle in urban environment.

КОНЦЕПТУАЛЬНІ Й ПРИКЛАДНІ ЗАСАДИ КОНТЕКСТУ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ У СИСТЕМІ УПРАВЛІННЯ ЯКІСТЮ

Розглянуто категорію «контекст організації», її дефініційне наповнення, складові й структуру відповідно до міжнародного стандарту ISO 9001:2015. Визначено суттєву невідповідність між поняттями «контекст» (що міститься в оригінальній версії стандарту) і «середовище» (адаптований український переклад стандарту) організації. Запропоновано методичні підходи та інструменти для оцінювання і актуалізації контексту організації, зокрема SWOT-аналіз, PESTEL-методологію, «модель 7S». З огляду на відсутність у стандарті ISO 9001:2015 жорсткої регламентації і вимог щодо конкретних методичних підходів визначення контексту, зазначено широкі можливості вибору для організацій найбільш оптимальних і зручних інструментів оцінювання. Запроваджено й обґрунтовано поняття «контекстуальна амбідекстрія» для організацій, що означає здатність організації до одночасного балансування між постійною адаптацією до умов зовнішнього, постійно мінливого середовища і забезпеченням усталених параметрів поточних бізнес-процесів. Наголошено, що контекст організації є не тільки елементом СУЯ, який потребує постійної уваги в плані формування й актуалізації, він також відіграє ключову роль у процесі формування загальної культури якості й справляє істотний вплив на показники продуктивності (як індивідуальні, так і колективні). Визначено в післявоєнному відновленні України місце і роль СУЯ, і особливо категорії контексту організації, як одного із стовпів і важелів, що надають додаткових можливостей і створюють підґрунтя для активізації внутрішніх механізмів адаптації, формування економічно обґрунтованих стратегічних орієнтирів розвитку, мотивації і залучення команди до створення цінніснозначущого продукту.

Relative Validity of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire for Disadvantaged Families in Hong Kong.

Individuals with lower socioeconomic status are more vulnerable in securing good nutritional quality. It was also found that people who had received a lower education level had greater difficulty in completing the conventional dietary assessment such as a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Previous studies have demonstrated the validity of a short FFQ in Hong Kong's pregnant women, but its validity among a wider community was still unknown. For the present study, we aimed to validate a short FFQ among disadvantaged communities in Hong Kong. Amongst 103 individuals participating in a dietary intervention programme, their dietary data were collected by FFQs and three-day dietary records. Relative validity was assessed by correlation analysis, cross-tabulation, one-sample t-test, and linear regression. In general, water and total energy intake had significant correlations (0.77 for crude water intake and 0.87 for crude total energy intake) between values reported by FFQ and dietary records, good agreement (both with over 50% of observations falling into the same quartile), and insignificant differences between assessment methods reported by one-sample t-test and linear regression. Meanwhile, several nutrients had good agreement in terms of the values reported by FFQ and dietary records, such as energy from total fat, carbohydrates, total fat, cholesterol, phosphorus, and potassium. The results of this study demonstrated that the short version FFQ could be a convenient assessment tool of multiple dietary behaviors, especially in total energy and water intakes.

Validation of the Chinese Version of the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale.

Objective The Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS) is an interview-based assessment tool for evaluating the cognitive deficit and daily functioning of patients with schizophrenia. Methods Sixty-eight patients with schizophrenia and 68 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited to validate the Chinese version of SCoRS in this study. All participants underwent cognitive assessment using the SCoRS, which was verified by the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), and the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment, Brief Version (UPSA-B). Patients with schizophrenia were additionally assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results SCoRS ratings reported by patients (SCoRS-S), those reported by the interviewer (SCoRS-I), and SCoRS global scores (SCoRS-G) showed significant correlation with all subscales of the BACS and the UPSA-B. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, SCoRS-S, SCoRS-I, and SCoRS-G significantly differentiated patients with schizophrenia from healthy controls. Moreover, SCoRS-S and SCoRS-I ratings showed positive correlation with the negative symptoms and general symptoms of PANSS. Conclusion The Chinese version of SCoRS showed good discriminant, concurrent, and external validity, suggesting that it is a useful and convenient tool for assessment of cognitive function among Mandarin-speaking patients with schizophrenia in clinical practice.

FReSCO: Flow Reconstruction and Segmentation for low-latency Cardiac Output monitoring using deep artifact suppression and segmentation.

PurposeReal‐time monitoring of cardiac output (CO) requires low‐latency reconstruction and segmentation of real‐time phase‐contrast MR, which has previously been difficult to perform. Here we propose a deep learning framework for “FReSCO” (Flow Reconstruction and Segmentation for low latency Cardiac Output monitoring).MethodsDeep artifact suppression and segmentation U‐Nets were independently trained. Breath‐hold spiral phase‐contrast MR data (N = 516) were synthetically undersampled using a variable‐density spiral sampling pattern and gridded to create aliased data for training of the artifact suppression U‐net. A subset of the data (N = 96) was segmented and used to train the segmentation U‐net. Real‐time spiral phase‐contrast MR was prospectively acquired and then reconstructed and segmented using the trained models (FReSCO) at low latency at the scanner in 10 healthy subjects during rest, exercise, and recovery periods. Cardiac output obtained via FReSCO was compared with a reference rest CO and rest and exercise compressed‐sensing CO.ResultsThe FReSCO framework was demonstrated prospectively at the scanner. Beat‐to‐beat heartrate, stroke volume, and CO could be visualized with a mean latency of 622 ms. No significant differences were noted when compared with reference at rest (bias = −0.21 ± 0.50 L/min, p = 0.246) or compressed sensing at peak exercise (bias = 0.12 ± 0.48 L/min, p = 0.458).ConclusionsThe FReSCO framework was successfully demonstrated for real‐time monitoring of CO during exercise and could provide a convenient tool for assessment of the hemodynamic response to a range of stressors.

Development and Psychometric Testing of a New Short-Form of the Premenstrual Symptoms Questionnaire (PSQ-S).

PurposeThe Premenstrual Symptoms Questionnaire (PSQ) is a patient-reported outcome measurement tool for premenstrual symptoms. Although the PSQ is a very useful tool with 14 items to screen for a wide variety of premenstrual symptoms, not everyone will respond to all the questions. Fewer questions would be less burdensome on the respondents. We aimed to develop and analyze the psychometric properties of a short-form of the PSQ (PSQ-S).Patients and MethodsThe study participants were from an earlier study with a sample of 1388 female students. We reanalyzed data collected from 922 students with regular menstrual cycles who completed the PSQ, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) scale, Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8), and numerical rating scale (NRS) for menstrual pain. First, we selected nine items for the PSQ-S based on the results of the corrected item-total correlation analysis. The PSQ-S was then analyzed for reliability and validity using the classical test theory. Moreover, item response theory was applied to test the psychometric properties of the PSQ-S.ResultsCronbach’s α for the PSQ-S score was 0.93. Principal component factor analysis revealed a one-factor model. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the one-factor model was a good fit. The PSQ-S total score was strongly correlated with the PSQ total score, PMDD scale score, and SSS-8 score (r=0.978, 0.854, and 0.648, respectively) and moderately correlated with the NRS (r=0.437). Item response theory analyses showed that the constructs and items of the PSQ-S had satisfactory discrimination, difficulty parameters, item information curves, and test information curves. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a cut-off score of ≥22 for suspected premenstrual disorders based on the total PSQ-S score.ConclusionThe PSQ-S, consisting of nine items from the PSQ, had sufficient reliability and validity and could be a convenient assessment tool for premenstrual symptoms in routine clinical practice.

P442: SPINK2 PROTEIN EXPRESSION QUANTIFIED BY IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY REFINES RISK STRATIFICATION AND PREDICTS THERAPY OUTCOMES IN AML

Background: Suboptimal prognostication, therapy refractoriness and relapse contribute to the poor outcome of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients. Leukemic stem cells (LSC) are considered crucial drivers of relapse and therapy resistance. Clinicopathological characterization of LSC-associated genes with convenient assessment tools such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) is needed. Our initial screening of AML datasets for LSC-associated genes identified Serine Protease Inhibitor Kazal type 2 (SPINK2) with high expression in AML, particularly in LSC fractions. However, in-depth analysis of its clinicopathological associations and prognostic utility in AML are lacking. Aims: To assess SPINK2 expression in adult AML with IHC, and determine its clinicopathological associations, prognostic impact and association with therapy response Methods: We studied the expression of SPINK2 by IHC in 172 non-M3 adult AML patients (median age:52yrs, range: 18-86yrs) treated at the Prince of Wales Hospital. The majority (90.8%) were de novo type and 72.3% had intermediate-risk(IR) cytogenetics, with 88.5% receiving Daunorubicin + Ara-C (DA 7 + 3) induction. SPINK2 expression was assessed by 3 hematopathologists in a double-blinded manner and quantified by a composite score (range: 0-16). Clinical data was collected for all cases. Results:SPINK2 staining in leukemic blasts was consistently cytoplasmic, and its protein expression strongly correlated with mRNA levels by qPCR in a subset of 128 patients (r=0.716, P<0.0001). The cohort was dichotomized at the median score 3, since this cut-off showed strongest association with poor event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). High SPINK2 (SPINK2hi) patients accounted for 77/172 (44.8%) cases, and low SPINK2 (SPINK2lo) patients for 95/172(55.2%). SPINK2hi associated with IR cytogenetics (P=0.014), normal karyotype (P=0.019) and NPM1 mutation (P<0.001), while SPINK2lo with t(8;21) and CEBPA double-mutation (both P<0.001). Survival and treatment-response analyses were performed on a subgroup of 137 patients who received DA 7 + 3 based induction. SPINK2hi patients had lower CR rates (73.8% vs 88.3%,P=0.028), higher 6-month relapse rates (31.8% vs 9.1%,P=0.004), lower 5-yr RFS (25.8% vs 46.8%,P=0.004), EFS (16.6% vs 37.2%,P<0.001) and OS (25.3% vs 51.2%,P<0.001). SPINK2 status also identified high risk patients of the IR cytogenetic subgroup. Of these, SPINK2hi patients had lower CR rates (68.6% vs 90.0%,P=0.013), higher 6-month relapse rates (31.4% vs 6.9%,P=0.018), lower 5-yr RFS(27.0% vs 44.6%,P=0.018), EFS(15.4% vs 38.3%,P<0.001) and OS(22.9% vs 51.5%,P=0.002). In this subgroup, median SPINK2 score was higher in patients requiring ≥2 inductions to achieve CR vs. patients requiring 1 course (7 vs 2,P=0.009). Multivariate analyses in whole and IR cytogenetics cohorts showed the poor prognostic effect of SPINK2hi on EFS and OS independent of age, cytogenetic risk, mutations and achievement of CR1, including stem cell transplantation given in CR (Table 1). In our NPM1mut subgroup (N=41), SPINK2hi status associated with poor EFS (HR:3.3,P=0.04) and OS (HR: 4.0,P=0.007) independent of age and FLT3-ITD with high allelic ratio. Incorporation of SPINK2 with FLT3 status refined ELN2017 risk definition, whereby 15/22 favorable-risk patients could be reclassified as intermediate-risk. Image:Summary/Conclusion: High SPINK2 protein expression by IHC predicted increased chemoresistance and early relapse risk in AML, and was an independent adverse prognostic biomarker, particularly in patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetics and NPM1 mutations.

Assessment of the levels of damage caused by Fusarium head blight in wheat using an improved YoloV5 method

Object segmentation in deep learning has been recently used for the detection of Fusarium head blight (FHB), a worldwide disease in wheat. Such method, however, cannot detect the disease with high accuracy and is difficult to be used in labelling annotation. However, object detection network can solve the above problem. The object detection network has high detection accuracy and easy for labeling. Yolov5 is an advanced object detection network, but it can’t detect the neighboring wheat ears well. So in this study, a novel method was developed based on object detection network, feature extraction and classifier to overcome these disadvantages. We combined Yolov5 object detection network with distance intersection over union non maximum suppression (DIOU-NMS) to form an improved Yolov5 object detection network. The improved YoloV5 object detection network was employed to detect and record wheat ears in images collected from field plots at two locations over 2 years. Pre-segmentation was conducted for single individual wheat ear images using threshold segmentation; HSV and CMYK color spaces were used as the baseline in each wheat ear image for extracting comprehensive color feature (CCF). The Res-Net network was used for extracting each wheat ear’s high dimension feature (HDF). CCF and HDF were then merged as the comprehensive feature (CF) of each single wheat image. The random forest was used to classify wheat ear images into healthy wheat ears and diseased wheat ears by CF and then calculate the ratio of diseased wheat ears to total wheat ears as the level of damage caused by FHB. The results of performance evaluation of the proposed method in two different locations and years demonstrate its strong robustness in both time and spatial domains to effectively detect the levels of damage caused by FHB under the complex field background conditions. The average detection accuracy and detection time were 90.67% and 0.73 ms, respectively. The average accuracies of counting total wheat ears and diseased wheat ears were 96.16% and 81.66%, respectively. The improved YoloV5 method developed from this study can be used as a quick, efficient, and convenient tool for assessment of the levels of damage caused by FHB in wheat under field conditions.

The Significance of Routine Biochemical Markers in Patients with Sepsis

Background: Sepsis is a highly complex and fatal syndrome, considered to be the main cause of death in the intensive care unit. Early diagnosis is beneficial to reduce the mortality and improve the prognosis of patients. Therefore, we look forward to finding cheap and fast diagnostic criteria to quickly assess the patient’s condition. Methods: Our study enrolled 499 patients in our hospital from January to 2020, and 96 healthy cases in the same period. Used the diagnostic criteria of bacterial infection, SIRS criteria and Sepsis-2 consensus criteria, 499 patients were divided into 4 groups: sepsis group (n=300), SIRS group (n=151), infection group (n=48). We collected the results of routine laboratory tests, inflammation indicators and blood culture results of these patients. Results: The sepsis group compared with the control group, many indicators had significant statistical differences. D-dimer, CRP and PCT had higher diagnostic efficiency. Compared between the infection group and the SIRS group, PLT and IL-6 were statistically different, and have a certain diagnostic value. Sepsis group VS infection group, WBC, IL-6, NE and TBIL showed significant differences. Among them, NE had the highest diagnostic efficiency and the highest specificity (95.8%). Conclusions: This retrospective study shows that NE, WBC and D-dimer are helpful for early diagnosis of sepsis in which of them D-dimer performs best. WBC and NE can be used to distinguish sepsis from common infection. This result can provide a timely and convenient assessment tool for early diagnosis of sepsis.

A team approach to applying the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Rehabilitation set in clinical evaluation.

ObjectiveTo develop a team approach to applying the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Rehabilitation Set (ICF-RS) in clinical evaluation.DesignA Delphi study.SubjectsExperts from rehabilitation institutions in China including physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.MethodsA 2-round Delphi survey and expert panel discussion were used to generate the team approach. Firstly, the candidate types of professionals for team rating were chosen through expert panel discussion. A carefully selected group of participants was then asked to score the suitability of physicians, nurses, or other candidate therapists for each category’s rating, applying the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Rehabilitation Set in clinical evaluation. After initial assignment of category to types of professionals, a second round Delphi survey was conducted to quantify the professionals’ agreement with the category assignments and generate a final team evaluation approach.ResultsThirty of the category assignments achieved consensus. The final team evaluation approach assigned 6 categories to physicians to evaluate, 7 categories to nurses, 9 categories to physiotherapists, and 8 to occupational therapists.ConclusionSuch a team evaluation approach could facilitate implementation of the ICF-RS in clinical settings and provide a more convenient assessment tool for professionals.LAY ABSTRACTAs the Chinese International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Rehabilitation Set became widely used in rehabilitation institutions in China, it was found to be timeconsuming and inefficient for a single rater to complete the entire evaluation in a single setting. Team evaluation provides an alternative team approach for busy professionals, especially when used to evaluate patients with complex problems or poor communication ability. The whole set of 30 evaluation categories was divided among a hypothetical team consisting of a physician, a nurse, a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist, with 6 categories assigned to the physician, 7 to the nurse, 9 to the physiotherapist, and 8 to the occupational therapist. Each professional in the team rated categories closely related to their daily work. The team evaluation approach promises to better share the evaluation workload, perhaps improving the accuracy of evaluations and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration in the clinic.

Assessing visceral and subcutaneous adiposity using segmented T2-MRI and multi-frequency segmental bioelectrical impedance: A sex-based comparative study.

Background and Aim:This study aims to quantify abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and assess the extent of its concordance with VAT surface-area measured by a state-of-the-art segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device. A comparison between manual and semi-automated segmentation was conducted. Further, abdominal VAT and SAT sex-based comparison in healthy Arab adults was piloted.Methods:A cross-sectional design was followed to recruit subjects. Abdominal VAT and SAT were determined on T2-weighted MRI manually and semi-automatically. Body composition was assessed using a BIA machine. Statistical differences between the abdominal VAT areas defined by BIA, manual, and semi-automated MRI were compared. Correlation between all methods was assessed, and statistical differences between sex abdominal VAT/SAT defined areas were compared.Results:A total of 165 abdominal T2-weighted MR images taken for 55 overweight/obese adult subjects were analyzed Differences between manual and semi-automated MRI-obtained abdominal VAT and SAT were found statistically significant (P<0.001) for all subjects. Mean abdominal VAT using the BIA technique was found to correlate significantly with manually and semi-automated T2-weighted MRI defined VAT (r=0.7436; P<0.001 and r=0.8275; P<0.001, respectively). Abdominal VAT was significantly (P<0.001) different between male and female subjects accumulating at different abdominal levels.Conclusion:Semi-automatic segmentation showed a stronger significant correlation with BIA compared to manual segmentation, implying a more reliable quantification of abdominal VAT/SAT. A Segmental multi-frequency BIA machine may display an initial estimation for the visceral adiposity in obese subjects that warrants further confirmation by MRI or other accurate techniques. (www.actabiomedica.it)

NEW TUTORS’ PERSPECTIVE ON MOODLE PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY IN UNIVERSITAS TERBUKA

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspective of new tutors using Moodle at the Universitas Terbutka (UT).This study uses a qualitative method with a case study design. The research informants were seven new UT lecturers with different educational backgrounds. Researchers used a questionnaire to investigate new tutor perspectives on Moodle's performance. The questionnaire is closed which consists of 8 questions. In the questionnaire, the researcher modified the questions by classifying the range of responses with 5 scales: strongly agree, agree, doubt, disagree, strongly disagree. In applying the questionnaire, the researcher took two steps. First, researchers distributed questionnaires to study participants. Second, researchers began to extract, analyze, and conclude the data that had been collected using a questionnaire. In extracting data from the questionnaire, the researcher developed an analytical method based on Dey's theory which consists of describing phenomena, classifying them, and seeing how our concepts are related.The results reveal that there are three main things in relation to the new tutor's perspective: friendly to use, simple modification features, and convenient assessment tools. The results of this study are a major concern for tutors because this aspect is an important part that can support teaching and learning activities when using Moodle.

Psychometric examination of the Connor–Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC-10) among Vietnamese students

PurposeThis study examined psychometric properties of the ten-item Connor–Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC-10) among university undergraduate students in Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachThe study followed a cross-sectional design using a sample of 414 students from multiple universities in Southern Vietnam. Three bilingual experts back-translated the provided scale to verify its content. Factor analyses were used to explore and confirm the scale structure, and item response theory (IRT) model for polytomous responses was selected to further examine individual items and the entire scale.FindingsFactor analyses confirmed a single-dimensional structure of the CD-RISC-10. IRT analysis demonstrated that individual items and the entire scale reliably measured resilience. However, probabilities to endorse the lowest category were particularly low for most of the items, suggesting a potential to modify the number of the response categories. The overall results indicated that the CD-RISC-10 in Vietnamese was a reliable and accurate tool to measure a range of university students' resilience levels.Research limitations/implicationsConvenience sampling method, the use of self-reported survey and the inclusion of only university students were limitations of the study. However, using IRT to thoroughly examine the CD-RISC-10 was an important contribution to the work of validating research instruments.Practical implicationsThe CD-RISC-10 could be a valid, reliable and convenient assessment tool for school psychologists and psychiatrists to use in trainings, counseling services or resilience intervention programs.Originality/valueWhile many studies have investigated psychometric properties of the CD-RISC-10 in other languages, none has been conducted in Vietnamese.

Validity of the Korebalance® Balance System in Patients with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.

Objective:Balance is impaired in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Balance can be assessed with several tests and balance assessment systems. In our study, we investigated validity of Korebalance Balance System (KBS).Method:52 postmenopausal osteoporotic patient evaluated with balance tests (Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Time Up&Go Test (TUG)) and Korebalance Balance System. KBS is a balance evaluation and exercise system. The higher the score, the greater the deterioration in the balance. Static and dynamic balance evaluation results are recorded as score values. KBS, BBS and TUG compared with demographic and clinic parameters (age, 25OHvitD, menopausal age, fall history in last year, fracture history).Results:According to Pearson r correlation analysis, Korebalance Dynamic Test (KDT) and BBS had moderately negative correlation (r=-.38, p<.01), KDT and TUG had moderately positive correlation (r=-.42, p<.01). According to Spearman rho correlation analysis, Korebalance Static Test (KST) and BBS had moderately negative correlation (r=-.30, p<.05). Age and KST (r=.33, p<.05), age and KDT (r=.31, p<.05) had moderately positive correlation. No significant correlation was found with other parameters. In discriminant validity, there was no correlation between other nonfunctional demographic and clinical parameters.ConclusionKorebalance Balance System was found to be a convenient assessment tool with moderate convergent validity compared with BBS and TUG and has an excellent intraclass correlation.

Indomethacin reproducibly induces metamorphosis in Cassiopea xamachana scyphistomae.

Cassiopea xamachana jellyfish are an attractive model system to study metamorphosis and/or cnidarian–dinoflagellate symbiosis due to the ease of cultivation of their planula larvae and scyphistomae through their asexual cycle, in which the latter can bud new larvae and continue the cycle without differentiation into ephyrae. Then, a subsequent induction of metamorphosis and full differentiation into ephyrae is believed to occur when the symbionts are acquired by the scyphistomae. Although strobilation induction and differentiation into ephyrae can be accomplished in various ways, a controlled, reproducible metamorphosis induction has not been reported. Such controlled metamorphosis induction is necessary for an ensured synchronicity and reproducibility of biological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. For this purpose, we tested if differentiation could be pharmacologically stimulated as in Aurelia aurita, by the metamorphic inducers thyroxine, KI, NaI, Lugol’s iodine, H2O2, indomethacin, or retinol. We found reproducibly induced strobilation by 50 μM indomethacin after six days of exposure, and 10–25 μM after 7 days. Strobilation under optimal conditions reached 80–100% with subsequent ephyrae release after exposure. Thyroxine yielded inconsistent results as it caused strobilation occasionally, while all other chemicals had no effect. Thus, indomethacin can be used as a convenient tool for assessment of biological phenomena through a controlled metamorphic process in C. xamachana scyphistomae.

New Hick's law based reaction test App reveals “information processing speed” better identifies high falls risk older people than “simple reaction time”

The world is facing a major challenge on population aging and falls present a substantial health problem among the older population. The study is aimed to develop a reaction test App for assessing cognitive function related fall risks in older people. The developed App was tested on one hundred Korean women, consisting of twenty young healthy adults (age: 22.5 ± 0.6), forty community-dwelling older people with no history of falls (nonfallers; age: 72.5 ± 4.4) and forty matched older people with a history of falls (fallers; age: 71.8 ± 4.8). Simple reaction time and information processing speed of participants while performing the reaction test with the developed App were derived through a log-linear regression between the reaction time and number of equi-probable alternative choices based on Hick's law. Older people showed significantly longer simple reaction time and slower information processing speed than the young group. Even though there was no significant difference between older nonfallers and fallers on the simple reaction time (p = 0.54), the older fallers had significantly slower information processing speeds than older nonfallers (p < 0.001). Further, receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed excellent discriminative ability of information processing speed on classifying fallers and nonfallers, with sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 70%. These findings suggest slow information processing speed from the reaction test is an important risk factor for falling in older people. The developed reaction test App can be a convenient assessment tool for the older individuals and healthcare professionals to test cognitive function related falls risks.

Interactive information system for simulation and visualization of nuclear transformations–Nuclear evolution software

The present paper gives a brief review of the methodology for modeling evolutions of fuel isotopic composition by the set of ordinary differential equations describing nuclide transmutation. Algorithms for modeling and calculation of main parameters of nuclear transformations based on directed graphs are suggested, which improves the speed and accuracy of calculations. Description is given of the designed software system for modeling radioactive decay transformations and transformations caused by particle fluxes (neutrons, protons, etc.). Specific features and functionality of this system are defined.Distinguishing features of the system include simplicity, developed user-friendly interface, high degree of automation of all stages of user work, simulated process imaging and convenient tools for calculation management and processing of results. The described system is intended for wide range of users from students and post-graduates to university professors and researchers, and can be used as the instrument in scientific research and in education. The presented system is a convenient tool for assessment of concentration of any isotope in the decay chain depending on the integral flux and time with varying starting quantities of isotopes.Advanced licensed software tools and libraries of visual reference components from leading global producers were utilized in the development of the system along with author's own developments, which allowed developing user-friendly interface and keeping abreast with leading software developments. Results of modeling are displayed in the form of interactive tables and characteristic curves. Examples are given of the use of the suggested software tools.

Comorbidities in the Aging Breast Cancer Population: Are Current Assessments Leading to Improved Outcomes?

Comorbidities in the Aging Breast Cancer Population: Are Current Assessments Leading to Improved Outcomes?

Refined Model Development and Performance Assessment of a Linear Induction-Type Electromagnetic Stirrer

To improve the production qualities of a steel mill, in-mold electromagnetic stirrers (M-EMS) are generally implemented at the continuous casting process to provide the desired stirring forces to remove those undesired inclusions and bubbles during the metal solidification. As the system is mainly operated by interaction of induced eddy currents and composite traveling electromagnetic fields in the molten metal, inputs of stator currents and structures of M-EMS will dominate the entire system performance. Assisted by three-dimensional (3-D) finite-element analysis (FEA) and flux path modeling refinements, a compact analytical model with sufficient accuracy that can adequately predict the time-averaged performance of the M-EMS system at various structure- and material-compositions will be devised. From these confirmed operational indices, a convenient assessment tool for on-site operation and maintenance of the M-EMS at the metal industry has been successfully established.

A Novel Diagnostic Tool for Detecting Functional Patency of the Small Bowel: the Given Patency Capsule

The current visualization of small-bowel strictures using traditional radiological methods is associated with high radiation doses and false-negative results. These methods do not always reveal small-bowel patency for solids. The aim is to assess the safety of the Given patency system and its ability to detect intestinal strictures in patients with strictures that are known or suspected radiologically. The Given patency capsule is composed of lactose, remains intact in the gastrointestinal tract for 40-100 hours post ingestion, and disintegrates thereafter. A total of 34 patients with small-bowel stricture were prospectively enrolled; 30 had a previous diagnosis of Crohn's disease, three had adhesion syndrome and in one ischemic enteritis was suspected. Of the patients, 15 (44.1 %) had previously undergone surgery. Following ingestion, the capsule was monitored for integrity and transit time, using a specially designed Given scanner and also radiologically. Seventeen patients had been enrolled with the intent of using the patency capsule as a preliminary test in patients with small-bowel strictures before undergoing video capsule endoscopy. 30 patients (88.2 %) retrieved the capsule in the stool; it was intact in 20 (median transit time 22 hours), and disintegrated in 10 patients (median transit time 53 hours). Six patients complained of abdominal pain which disappeared within 24 hours. The scanner successfully indicated the presence of the capsule in 94 % of cases. Ten patients underwent video capsule endoscopy following the patency capsule examination; in all of these the video capsule passed through the small-bowel stricture. This feasibility study has shown that the Given patency capsule is a safe, effective, and convenient tool for assessment of functional patency of the small bowel. It can indicate functional patency even in cases where traditional radiology indicates stricture.