Correctness Of Use Research Articles

A rarefaction approach for measuring population differences in rare and common variation.

In studying allele-frequency variation across populations, it is often convenient to classify an allelic type as "rare," with nonzero frequency less than or equal to a specified threshold, "common," with a frequency above the threshold, or entirely unobserved in a population. When sample sizes differ across populations, however, especially if the threshold separating "rare" and "common" corresponds to a small number of observed copies of an allelic type, discreteness effects can lead a sample from one population to possess substantially more rare allelic types than a sample from another population, even if the two populations have extremely similar underlying allele-frequency distributions across loci. We introduce a rarefaction-based sample-size correction for use in comparing rare and common variation across multiple populations whose sample sizes potentially differ. We use our approach to examine rare and common variation in worldwide human populations, finding that the sample-size correction introduces subtle differences relative to analyses that use the full available sample sizes. We introduce several ways in which the rarefaction approach can be applied: we explore the dependence of allele classifications on subsample sizes, we permit more than two classes of allelic types of nonzero frequency, and we analyze rare and common variation in sliding windows along the genome. The results can assist in clarifying similarities and differences in allele-frequency patterns across populations.

Improved Infilling of Missing Metadata from Expendable Bathythermographs (XBTs) Using Multiple Machine Learning Methods

Abstract Historical in situ ocean temperature profile measurements are important for a wide range of ocean and climate research activities. A large proportion of the profile observations have been recorded using expendable bathythermographs (XBTs), and required bias corrections for use in climate change studies. It is generally accepted that the bias, and therefore bias correction, depends on the type of XBT used. However, poor historical metadata collection practices mean the XBT probe type information is often missing, for 59% of profiles between 1967 and 2000, limiting the development of reliable bias corrections. We develop a process of estimating missing instrument type metadata (the combination of both model and manufacturer) systematically, constructing a machine learning pipeline based on thorough data exploration to inform these choices. The predicted instrument type, where missing, will facilitate improved XBT bias corrections. The new approach improves the accuracy of the XBT type classification compared to previous approaches from a recall value of 0.75–0.94. We also develop an approach to account for the uncertainty associated with metadata assignments using ensembles of decision trees, which could feed into an ensemble approach to creating ocean temperature datasets. We describe the challenges arising from the nature of the dataset in applying standard machine learning techniques to the problem. We have implemented this in a portable, reproducible way using standard data science tools, with a view to these techniques being applied to other similar problems in climate science.

Determination of Thermomechanical Stresses in Elements of Vehicles' Braking Systems

The main objective of the study was to develop a model and analyze the thermomechanical behavior of the hub material of the vehicle brake disk. The simulation strategy was based on the solution of the three-dimensional problem of the theory of elasticity for the case of effect of external loads and temperature fields on the metal structure element of the vehicle brakes. To solve this type of task of the theory of elasticity, the differential equations of the second order were used for the first time. Adaptation of the proposed model, completed in the article, has proved the correctness of use of these equations in modeling the thermomechanical processes with determination of stresses and displacements in unevenly heated rotary cylinders of the final length. The proposed method can be applied with high efficiency in stress strain state simulation of individual parts of vehicles.

Robust, fiducial-free drift correction for super-resolution imaging

We describe a robust, fiducial-free method of drift correction for use in single molecule localization-based super-resolution methods. The method combines periodic 3D registration of the sample using brightfield images with a fast post-processing algorithm that corrects residual registration errors and drift between registration events. The method is robust to low numbers of collected localizations, requires no specialized hardware, and provides stability and drift correction for an indefinite time period.

Analysis of the Way and Correctness of Using Automated External Defibrillators Placed in Public Space in Polish Cities—Continuation of Research

Immediate resuscitation is required for any sudden cardiac arrest. To improve the survival of the patient, a device to be operated by witnesses of the event—automated external defibrillator (AED)—has been produced. The aim of this study is to analyze the way and correctness of use of automated external defibrillators placed in public spaces in Polish cities. The data analyzed (using Excel 2019 and R 3.5.3 software) are 120 cases of use of automated external defibrillators, placed in public spaces in the territory of Poland in 2008–2018. The predominant location of AED use is in public transportation facilities, and the injured party is the traveler. AED use in non-hospital settings is more common in male victims aged 50–60 years. Owners of AEDs inadequately provide information about their use. The documentation that forms the basis of the emergency medical services intervention needs to be refined. There is no mention of resuscitation performed by a witness of an event or of the use of an AED. In addition, Poland lacks the legal basis for maintaining a register of automated external defibrillators. There is a need to develop appropriate documents to determine the process of reporting by the owners of the use of AEDs in out-of-hospital conditions (OHCA).

Design of a Pseudo-Wide Dynamic Range CMOS Image Sensor by Using the Bidirectional Gamma Curvature Technique

This brief presents a $640\times 480$ CMOS image sensor (CIS) with in-circuit bidirectional gamma correction for use in computer vision applications. The conventional gamma correction method can saturate the bright region in an image, leading to the loss of bright image information. Using the proposed bidirectional gamma correction method, which can be implemented with a log-exponential counter, both bright and dark regions in an image can be simultaneously corrected. The transfer function of an 8-bit single-slope analog-to-digital converter can be selected considering either linear or bidirectional gamma curves with three different slope-change points to enhance the visibility in the pseudo-dynamic range. From the prototype sensor, we observed that the visibility of dark images was increased with proper bidirectional gamma curvatures. The CIS was fabricated in a 110 nm CIS process, and the full chip area was 5900 $\mu \text{m}\,\,\mathbf {\times }\,\,5240\,\,\mu \text{m}$ . The total power consumption was 6 mW at a rate of 15 frames per second with an analog, pixel, and digital supply voltage of 3.3 V, 3.3 V, and 1.5 V, respectively.

Retrospective motion artifact correction of structural MRI images using deep learning improves the quality of cortical surface reconstructions

Head motion during MRI acquisition presents significant challenges for neuroimaging analyses. In this work, we present a retrospective motion correction framework built on a Fourier domain motion simulation model combined with established 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures. Quantitative evaluation metrics were used to validate the method on three separate multi-site datasets. The 3D CNN was trained using motion-free images that were corrupted using simulated artifacts. CNN based correction successfully diminished the severity of artifacts on real motion affected data on a separate test dataset as measured by significant improvements in image quality metrics compared to a minimal motion reference image. On the test set of 13 image pairs, the mean peak signal-to-noise-ratio was improved from 31.7 to 33.3 dB. Furthermore, improvements in cortical surface reconstruction quality were demonstrated using a blinded manual quality assessment on the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) dataset. Upon applying the correction algorithm, out of a total of 617 images, the number of quality control failures was reduced from 61 to 38. On this same dataset, we investigated whether motion correction resulted in a more statistically significant relationship between cortical thickness and Parkinson's disease. Before correction, significant cortical thinning was found to be restricted to limited regions within the temporal and frontal lobes. After correction, there was found to be more widespread and significant cortical thinning bilaterally across the temporal lobes and frontal cortex. Our results highlight the utility of image domain motion correction for use in studies with a high prevalence of motion artifacts, such as studies of movement disorders as well as infant and pediatric subjects.

Synthesis of an algorithm for increasing the detection range of signals from radio-electronic means by means of radio control based on the estimated-correlation-compensation processing of signals with an unknown shape and additive noise in the receiving channel

In modern conditions of rapid development of telecommunication technologies radio engineering means of different function are used everywhere in all spheres of ability to live of the person. Thus organizational-technical systems of civil appointment and power departments use the wide nomenclature of radio-electronic means of various classes with a wide spectrum of parameters, kinds of radiations and operating modes. In turn, it causes formation of difficult electromagnetic conditions in administrative-industrial regions and their near environment. The primary goal of services of radio control in these conditions is control over correctness of use by organizational-technical systems of the allocated resource of a radiofrequency spectrum and the parameters radiating of radio-electronic means. One of the main difficulties with which means of radio control in the course of the analysis of electromagnetic conditions in the set territorial area face a considerable quantity of radiating radio-electronic means with various parameters in a wide range of the relation a signal/noise, and also presence of stirring influence of any hindrances is. These factors make rigid demands to indicators of quality of functioning of panoramic detectors-direction finders which make a basis of mobile and stationary means of radio control. One of the basic indicators of quality of panoramic detectors-direction finders of means of radio control is range of detection of the radio-electronic means, defined by the set level of sensitivity and demanded values of probabilities of detection and a false alarm. Authors in article result results of working out of algorithm of increase of range of detection of signals by means of radio control on the basis of an estimated-correlation-compensatory way of measurement and indemnification of average capacity of additive hindrances in the reception channel. By results of the researches spent in article it is shown that: the increase in average capacity of cumulative external inadvertent and deliberate hindrances for the set typical initial data leads in VHF a range to reduction of range of detection of radio-electronic means not less, than in 1,4 times from the demanded; at demanded value of probability of detection, for example, and probabilities of a false alarm, at relative level of external set of a hindrance the panoramic detectors-direction finder of means of radio control with the realised procedure of measurement and indemnification of average value of capacity (dispersion) of inadvertent, deliberate hindrances and internal noise allows to lower the requirement to the threshold relation a signal/(noise) (on pressure) more, than in 1,3 times that will allow to approach value of range of detection to a reference value.

Operational Global Actual Evapotranspiration: Development, Evaluation and Dissemination.

Satellite-based actual evapotranspiration (ETa) is becoming increasingly reliable and available for various water management and agricultural applications from water budget studies to crop performance monitoring. The Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model is currently used by the US Geological Survey (USGS) Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) to routinely produce and post multitemporal ETa and ETa anomalies online for drought monitoring and early warning purposes. Implementation of the global SSEBop using the Aqua satellite’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature and global gridded weather datasets is presented. Evaluation of the SSEBop ETa data using 12 eddy covariance (EC) flux tower sites over six continents indicated reasonable performance in capturing seasonality with a correlation coefficient up to 0.87. However, the modeled ETa seemed to show regional biases whose natures and magnitudes require a comprehensive investigation using complete water budgets and more quality-controlled EC station datasets. While the absolute magnitude of SSEBop ETa would require a one-time bias correction for use in water budget studies to address local or regional conditions, the ETa anomalies can be used without further modifications for drought monitoring. All ETa products are freely available for download from the USGS FEWS NET website.

A Robust, Fiducial Free Drift Correction for Superresolution Imaging

We present a robust, fiducial-free method of drift correction for use in single molecule localization-based super-resolution methods. The method combines periodic 3D registration of the sample using brightfield images with a fast post-processing algorithm that corrects residual registration errors and drift between registration events. The method is robust to low numbers of collected localizations, requires no specialized hardware, and provides stability and drift correction for an indefinite time period. For brightfield registration, we establish a protocol in which super-resolution imaging is performed for a sequence of movie frames, which we term a dataset. A z-stack of brightfield reference images is obtained initially. After each dataset is collected, a new brightfield z-stack is obtained and compared with the previous reference z-stack, finding the best z and (x, y) fits via a scaled cross-correlation, allowing the reference z-stack and the current z-stack to be aligned, and subsequently the following dataset. The procedure then repeats with the next dataset. Once all the datasets are collected, a post-drift correction procedure is applied to the data. This procedure divides the problem into intra-dataset and inter-dataset drift correction, both minimizing a cost function that is simply the thresholded sum of the nearest neighbor distances for all the predicted emitter positions in a dataset, either with respect to itself for intra-dataset drift correction, or the first dataset for inter-dataset drift correction. Intra-dataset drift correction is performed first, with the results saved for the next phase. For inter-dataset drift correction, the datasets are drift corrected in sequence against the first dataset. We demonstrate our methodology on experimental 2D and simulated 3D data.

ПОСТРОЕНИЕ АНИЗОТРОПНОЙ ГИДРОДИНАМИЧЕСКОЙ МОДЕЛИ И ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ВЛИЯНИЯ АНИЗОТРОПИИ ПРОНИЦАЕМОСТИ НА ПРИМЕРЕ МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЯ БЛОКА МЕСТОРОЖДЕНИЯ

Актуальность исследования определена тем, что наличие адаптированной под исторические данные эксплуатации геолого-гидродинамической модели месторождения является мощным инструментом, с помощью которого инженеры имеют возможность проводить мониторинг текущей ситуации и рассматривать эффективность предлагаемых решений в ближайшем будущем. Поэтому для получения достоверных результатов весьма важным является качество построения модели коллекторов с учётом их геологических особенностей. Одной из таких особенностей можно считать анизотропию проницаемости. Весьма важной она является при рассмотрении коллекторов с низкими фильтрационно-емкостными свойствами, к разработке которых на текущий момент активно начали приступать нефтегазодобывающие компании. В цели данной работы входила оценка влияния анизотропии проницаемости на поведение гидродинамической модели продуктивного коллектора нефтяного месторождения. Объектом исследования является одно из нефтяных месторождений Томской области, состоящее из терригенных отложений. Особенностью месторождения является его месторасположение в системе сложных локальных поднятий разного порядка. Основной продуктивный коллектор представлен юрскими отложениями, сформировавшимися в регрессивно-трансгрессивную серию осадконакопления и имеющими сложное распределение фильтрационно-емкостных свойств. Методы исследования основаны на построении модели месторождения и проведении гидродинамических расчётов, включающих подбор близкого к реальности значения анизотропии проницаемости на основе промысловых данных, оптимизацию ранее существующей системы разработки, а также построение и анализ карт разработки. В результате исследования было установлено, что упущение анизотропии проницаемости приводит к завышению накопленных показателей разработки месторождений. Было получено, что повышение величины анизотропии не всегда приводит к росту накопленной добычи нефти, что несомненно подчеркивает особенность геологического строения коллектора. На завершающем этапе был проведён гидродинамический расчёт разработки в срок на 15 лет, по результатам которого также сделаны выводы о правильности применения операций по повышению нефтеотдачи.

Determination of the force transmission error in a single-sinker magnetic suspension densimeter due to the fluid-specific effect and its correction for use with gas mixtures containing oxygen

Density measurements from single-sinker magnetic suspension densimeters need to be corrected to compensate for the magnetic effects of the measuring cell materials and the fluid on the coupling transmission system. While the magnetic effect of the densimeter materials can be easily determined, the fluid effect requires the calculation of an apparatus-specific constant, ερ. In this work, the apparatus-specific constant of the single-sinker magnetic suspension densimeter at the University of Valladolid has been determined by using two alternative methods. The first method, which uses density data for the same fluid and conditions and different sinkers, yielded a value of ερ = 4.6·10−5. The second method, obtained from measurements with pure oxygen, yielded a value of ερ = 8.822·10−5. The second value is considered as more reliable, as the first method presents inherent limitations in this case.

Surface winds from atmospheric reanalysis lead to contrasting oceanic forcing and coastal upwelling patterns

Ocean surface winds determine energy, material and momentum fluxes through the air-sea interface. Accounting for wind variability in time and space is thus essential to reliably analyze and simulate ocean circulation and the dynamics of marine ecosystems. Here, we present an assessment of surface winds from three widely used atmospheric reanalysis products (NCEP/NCAR, ERA-Interim and JRA-55) and their corresponding ocean forcing data sets (CORE v2.1, DFS v5.2 and JRA55-do), which include corrections for use in ocean simulations. We compared wind patterns most relevant to ocean circulation (surface wind stress, its curl and estimates of induced vertical upwelling velocity) across global and regional scales, with added emphasis on the main Eastern Boundary Upwelling Ecosystems (EBUEs). All products provided consistent large-scale patterns in surface winds and wind stress, although agreement was reduced for indices involving the calculation of spatial derivatives, like wind stress curl and Ekman pumping. Fidelity with respect to a reference reanalysis based on blended satellite and buoy observations (CCMP v2.0) improved in more recent, higher resolution products like JRA-55 and ERA-Interim. Adjustments applied when deriving ocean forcing data sets from atmospheric reanalysis robustly improved wind speed and wind stress vectors, but degraded wind stress curl (and implied Ekman upwelling) in two of the three ocean forcing products considered (DFS v5.2 and CORE v2.1).At regional scales, we found significant inconsistencies in equatorial and polar regions, as well as in coastal areas. In EBUEs, upwelling favorable winds were weaker in atmospheric reanalysis products and ocean forcing data sets than estimates based on CCMP v2.0 and QuikSCAT. All reanalysis products featured lower amplitude seasonal cycles and contrasting patterns of low frequency variability within each EBUE, including the presence of sudden changes in mean upwelling only for some products.Taken together, our results highlight the importance of incorporating uncertainties in wind forcing into ocean simulation experiments and retrospective analysis, and of correcting reanalysis products for ocean forcing data sets. Despite the continued improvement in the quality of wind data sets, prevailing limitations in reanalysis models demonstrate the need to confirm global products against regional measurements whenever possible and improve correction strategies across multiple ocean-relevant wind properties.

Optical correction of refractive error for preventing and treating eye symptoms in computer users.

Optical correction of refractive error for preventing and treating eye symptoms in computer users.

A novel method for quanitifying comfort in child passengers demonstrates an association between child restraint comfort and errors in use of booster seats

ABSTRACTObjective: Misuse of child restraint systems is a widespread and long-standing problem impacting risk of injury and death in car crashes. Discomfort has been suggested as a causative factor for misuse, particularly in errors introduced by children while they use the restraints. However, the relationship between comfort and errors in use has never been studied. In this study we examine the reliability and sensitivity of a newly developed observational method for assessing comfort in children in vehicles. We then use this method to examine the relationship between comfort and errors in use of booster seats.Methods: A novel method was developed for assessing comfort by counting fidgeting and postural adjustment behaviors to derive a Discomfort Avoidance Behavior (DAB) score. The sensitivity of the DAB score was examined by observing children in four different seating conditions designed as “comfortable” and “uncomfortable” (Part 1). Paired-samples t-tests were used to compare differences in DAB between seating conditions. The reliability of the DAB score was assessed by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between DAB scores recorded by different researchers. The association between comfort and correctness of use was examined by observing children using booster seats (Part 2). The association between DAB score and number of usage errors was tested using linear regression analysis. Participants were children ages 4–8 years. Fourteen children participated in Part 1 and 15 children in Part 2.Results: The DAB score was sensitive to changes in seat condition (p < 0.01), and was repeatable between different researchers (ICC 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.954–0.991). Increases in DAB were associated with increases in the number of use errors among children using booster seats (errors in use = 3.89 × DAB − 2.18, p < 0.0001).Conclusion: The DAB score is a reliable and valid measure of comfort of children in child restraints but could be improved by incorporating a measurement of postural positioning. Comfort, as characterized by fidgeting and postural adjustment behaviors, is associated with correct use of child restraints. The broader implication is that this confirms ergonomic design of child restraints as important for minimizing errors in use. There is a need for further study of the impact of specific restraint design features on comfort experienced by children.

Корректность использования микродозированных комбинированных оральных контрацептивов у молодых женщин

Корректность использования микродозированных комбинированных оральных контрацептивов у молодых женщин

Extracting lift and drag polars from blade-resolved computational fluid dynamics for use in actuator line modelling of horizontal axis turbines

Low order rotor models such as the actuator line method are desirable as an efficient method of computing the large range of operating and environmental conditions, required to design wind and tidal rotors and arrays. However, the integrated thrust and torque predictions for each rotor are dominated by the blade loading on the outboard sections, where three-dimensional (3D) effects become increasingly significant, and the accuracy of the reduced order methods remains uncertain. To investigate the accuracy of the spanwise blade loading on an individual rotor, actuator line and blade boundary layer resolved computations of the Model Rotor Experiments in Controlled Conditions (MEXICO) rotor are presented. The high fidelity blade-resolved simulations give good agreement with measured pressure coefficient and particle image velocimetry data. Alternative lift and drag polars are extracted from the 3D simulated flow fields as a function of radial position. These are then used as replacement inputs for the actuator line method. Significant improvement in the accuracy of the actuator line predictions is found when using these 3D extracted polars, compared with using simulated two-dimensional lift and drag polars with empirical correction applied to the spanwise loading distribution. Additionally, the 3D flow field data is used to derive different axial and tangential spanwise loading corrections for use with the two-dimensional blade polars. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A refined tip correction based on decambering

AbstractA new tip correction for use in performance codes based on the blade element momentum (BEM) or the lifting‐line technique is presented. The correction modifies the circulation by taking into account the additional influence of the induction of the vortices in the wake, using the so‐called decambering effect and thin‐airfoil theory. A limitation of the standard Prandtl tip correction is that it represents the surface loading by a line distribution that does not take into account the actual shape of the rotor blade. Thus, the chord distribution does not appear as a parameter in the model, and the loading in the proximity of the tip is generally found to be overestimated. The new tip correction is implemented as an additional correction in order to represent the surface loading by a line distribution. Comparing computations using the new model with standard BEM results and computations using a 3D panel code show that the inclusion of the correction greatly improves the results. The new model also explains some of the discrepancies that earlier on have been observed when using a BEM technique based alone upon standard tip corrections. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Is the Excess Cardiovascular Morbidity in Pheochromocytoma Related to Blood Pressure or to Catecholamines?

It is generally accepted that pheochromocytoma is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. This is however not based on studies with an appropriate control group of patients with essential hypertension. We examined whether patients with pheochromocytoma have an excess cardiovascular morbidity as compared to hypertensive patients. In a retrospective case-control study we reviewed the medical charts of 109 pheochromocytoma patients for cardiovascular events within 5 years prior to the diagnosis. These patients were matched to control patients with essential hypertension for gender and year of birth and diagnosis. Outcome variables were ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents, and transient ischemic attacks. Classical cardiovascular risk factors were also assessed. A significantly higher rate of patients with pheochromocytoma suffered a cardiovascular event (13.8%; 95% confidence interval: 7.9%-21.6%) as compared to hypertensive patients (1.1%, 95% confidence interval: 0.1%-3.9%) (P < .001). Blood pressure level was lower in pheochromocytoma patients (153/91 ± 35/15 mm Hg) than in hypertensive patients (170/103 ± 18/8 mm Hg) (P < .001), even after correction for use of antihypertensive medication (P < .02). The difference in event rates could not be attributed to differences in other cardiovascular risk factors. Pheochromocytoma patients have a clearly higher rate of cardiovascular events than patients with essential hypertension. This cannot be attributed to differences in blood pressure or other cardiovascular risk factors. The most likely explanation for the excess event rate is the prolonged exposure to the toxic effects of tumoral catecholamines. These data underpin the importance of a timely diagnosis and treatment of pheochromocytoma.

Quality Improvement Project: Analysis of efficiency of current order set for the diagnostic workup used to evaluate neurogenic stress myocardium in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

To evaluate patterns of utilization of the aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) protocol order set for neurogenic stress myocardium (NSM). Retrospective chart review. The results of this study demonstrate that protocol order sets can be prone to omissions, variations in practice, and delays. Education and implementation of an intervening compliance monitor are essential to improve utilization and correctness in use of the aSAH protocol order set for NSM. Advance practice nurses (APNs) or nursing staff could provide this service. This would improve teamwork, improve efficiency of care delivery and utilization of resources, promote leadership and improved outcomes, and promote relationship-based care.