Quality Evaluation Research Articles

Clear aligner therapy informed consent forms: A quality and readability evaluation

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the quality and readability of content contained within clear aligner therapy (CAT) informed consent forms. CAT informed consent forms were identified via an online search. The presence of details related to CAT-related processes, risks, benefits and alternatives in each form was recorded. A 4-point Likert type scale was used to determine the quality of content (QOC). The readability of content was evaluated with the Simple Measure of Gobbledegook (SMOG) and Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES). A total of 42 forms satisfied selection criteria. Nineteen (45.2%) were authored by companies who provided aligners to patients via clinicians. The QOC regarding CAT-related treatment processes [median 2.0; IQR 0, 2] and benefits [median 2.0; IQR 1, 2] was adequate. The QOC scores regarding treatment alternatives, consequences of no treatment and relapse were poor. There was no difference (P=0.59) in the median (IQR) QOC of the informed consent forms provided by direct-to-consumer (DTC) aligner providers [10 (8.25, 16.25)] and non-DTC aligner providers [12 (10, 14)]. The median (IQR) SMOG score was 12.1 (10.9, 12.7) and FRES was 39.0 (36.0, 44.25). The QOC of the evaluated forms was incomplete and poor. The content was difficult to read and failed to reach recommended readability standards. Consent is unlikely to be valid if it is based solely on the content of the forms. Clinicians need to be aware of the limitations of informed consent forms for CAT particularly in relation to alternatives, prognosis, risks, and the need for long-term maintenance of results.

Water quality evaluation based on water quality index and multiple linear regression: A research on Hanyuan Lake in southern Sichuan Province, China.

This study aims to understand the changes in the water quality of Hanyuan Lake and to show these changes over time. In this study, monthly sampling was conducted at three sampling sites in Hanyuan Lake, and water samples were measured for water quality indicators in the laboratory according to the methods specified in the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002). Based on the monitoring data from January to December 2019, the WQI comprehensive evaluation method was used to conduct multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, extract key indicators, and establish the WQImin model. The results show that according to the WQI comprehensive evaluation method, the WQI values of Hanyuan Lake are all above 90, and the grade is excellent. The overall water quality of Hanyuan Lake is excellent, and most of the water quality indexes reach the Class I standard in the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002). WQImin1 (R2 = 0.86, p < 0.001, PE = 4.28) as the best WQImin model. In this study, a model with fewer parameters was established by multiple linear regression method, which is conducive to better monitoring of water quality at monitoring stations while saving costs. PRACTITIONER POINTS: According to the WQI comprehensive evaluation method, the WQI values of Hanyuan Lake are all above 90, the rating is excellent. From January 2019 to September 2020, the monthly change trend of each section is roughly the same, showing a trend of first decreasing, then rising, then decreasing, and finally rising and flattening. The WQImin model was developed to completely describe the change in the water body.

Meta-analysis of the Relationship between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Renal Cancer Risk.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and the risk of renal cancer. A search was carried out on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China Biology Med-icine disc (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang and other data-bases. The search period was from 2000 to 2022. The two authors independently conducted literature screening, extracted literature data, and then conducted a literature quality evaluation. The type of study is a cohort study. Meta-analysis was carried out on the included literature through Stata12.0 software, and the combined value was calculated with RR value and 95% confidence interval. Subgroup analysis was carried out to explore the impact of different factors on the overall results. A total of 10 articles were included. Through cohort study, the meta-analysis on the risk of type 2 diabetes and renal cancer showed that the combined effect value Risk Ratio (RR) = 1.57 with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) (1.36, 1.82) and P<0.05. The difference had a signif-icant impact, indicating that the risk of renal cancer in type 2 diabetes patients was 1.55 times higher than that in non-type 2 diabetes patients. The subgroup analysis showed that the combined effect value RR and 95% CI for men was 1.49 (1.26, 1.75), and the combined effect value RR and 95% CI for women was 1.60 (1.35, 1.88), which was basically consistent. Type 2 diabetes can significantly increase the risk of renal cell carcinoma, and the former is a risk factor for the latter. It is suggested that multi-center studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted in the future, and adjustments should be made according to the type of diabetes, the source of the study population, the pathological type of renal cell carcinoma, the use of hypoglycemic drugs, and other factors, to provide a reliable basis for the study of the relationship between diabetes and renal cell carcinoma. At present, the specific mechanism of diabetes increasing the risk of renal cell carcinoma and whether diabetes increases mortality due to renal cell carcinoma is still unclear and needs further research.

Analysis of the evolution and influencing factors of ecological environment quality after the transformation of resource-exhausted cities based on GEE and RSEI: a case study of Xuzhou City, China

ABSTRACT This study used Google Earth Engine (GEE) to get and process Landsat images of Xuzhou from 2008 to 2020, and built remote sensing ecological indices (RSEI). This study analyzed the spatiotemporal features and drivers of ecological environment quality after Xuzhou’s transformation using landscape pattern index, spatial autocorrelation, and geographic detector methods. The results showed that: (1) The ecological environment quality of Xuzhou improved steadily but unevenly from 2008 to 2020; the west and central urban areas had poor but improving quality, while the east had the opposite trend; (2) The landscape pattern indices of ecological environment quality in different regions of Xuzhou did not change consistently from 2008 to 2020; (3) The spatial distribution of ecological environment quality had significant autocorrelation, with high-high clusters in the east and low-low clusters in the center and the urban areas of each district and county; (4) NDVI is the component index that has the greatest impact on the changes in the RSEI. Among the single factors, land use conditions have the strongest influence on ecological environmental quality. After the interaction of dual factors, the explanatory power is stronger than that of any single factor. The research results can support urban planning and design, ecological environment protection, etc. in Xuzhou, and offer insights for monitoring and evaluation of ecological environment quality after the transformation of resource-exhausted cities.

Groundwater suitability assessment for irrigation and drinking purposes by integrating spatial analysis, machine learning, water quality index, and health risk model.

An in-depth understanding of nitrate-contaminated surface water and groundwater quality and associated risks is important for groundwater management. Hydrochemical characteristics and driving forces of groundwater quality and non-carcinogenic risks of nitrate were revealed by the integrated approaches of self-organizing map analysis, spatial visualization by geography information system, entropy and irrigation water quality indices, and human health risk model. Groundwater samples were categorized into two clusters by SOM analysis. Cluster I including three samples were Ca-SO4 type and cluster II of remaining 136 samples were Ca-HCO3 type. Hydrochemical compositions of two cluster samples were dominated by water-rock interaction: (1) calcite and gypsum dissolution for cluster I samples and (2) calcite dissolution, silicate weathering, and positive cation exchange for cluster II samples. Nitrate contamination occurred in both cluster I and II samples, primarily induced by agricultural nitrogen fertilizer. The EWQI results showed that 90.97% in total groundwater samples were suitable for drinking purpose, while the IWQI results demonstrated that 65.03% in total groundwater samples were appropriate for irrigation purpose. The HHR model and Monte Carlo simulation indicated that the non-carcinogenic nitrated risk was highest in children. Exposure frequency was the most sensitive factor (86.33% in total) influencing the total non-carcinogenic risk, indicated by sensitivity analysis. Compared with the two clusters of groundwater, surface water has a shorter circulation cycle and lower ion concentrations resulting in better water quality. This study can provide scientific basis for groundwater quality evaluation in other parts of the world.

Comparative study of Scleromitrion diffusum and Oldenlandia corymbosa: Microscopy, TLC, HPLC, and antioxidant activity.

Quality control of herbal medicines is crucial, especially the role of herbal drug identification. This is essential for preventing the misuse of herbs, which can affect efficacy or cause toxicity. Scleromitrion diffusum is a common herb, yet it is often mistaken for Oldenlandia corymbosa. This study analyzed the morphology, microscopy, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) using two markers, asperuloside and scandoside methyl ester, to distinguish between S. diffusum and O. corymbosa with the analysis included 10 samples of S. diffusum and 10 samples of O. corymbosa collected from the Taiwan market. By quantifying the total polyphenols and flavonoids, we investigated the antioxidant activity, including the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging effect, 2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+) scavenging effect, and reducing power to further elucidate the biological effects of the two herbs. The results of this study revealed notable differences in microscopy and suggested a TLC method for distinguishing between the two herbs in the market. In HPLC, the ratios of asperuloside and scandoside methyl ester differed between the two herbs. S. diffusum contained a higher asperuloside content. In contrast, O. corymbosa contained higher concentrations of scandoside methyl esters. With more total polyphenols and flavonoids in S. diffusum than those in O. corymbosa, the antioxidant activity of S. diffusum was superior to that of O. corymbosa. This study provides a comprehensive understanding for the identification and quality evaluation of S. diffusum in the market. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The study consolidates and clarifies the morphological and microscopic differences between Scleromitrion diffusum and Oldenlandia corymbosa - a common adulterant species of S. diffusum on the Taiwan markets. Using Asperuloside and Scandoside methyl ester as two chemical markers, the study proposes a TLC method for rapidly testing S. diffusum and O. corymbosa on the market. Through HPLC analysis, our results showed that S. diffusum and O. corymbosa had a clear difference in the ratio of two markers, Asperuloside and Scandoside methyl ester: Asperuloside/Scandoside methyl ester in S. diffusum is higher than that in O. corymbosa. Through phytochemicals contents, including total phenols content, flavonoids content, and antioxidant activity, including DPPH, ABTS•+ scavenging activity, and reducing power, S. diffusum showed slightly higher levels of phenols and flavonoids as well as a better antioxidant activity than O. corymbosa.

Evaluation of Water and Sediment Quality in Lake Mogan, Türkiye

The wetlands, with their delicate ecosystems, play a crucial role in regulating water regimes and supporting diverse plant and animal communities, particularly those associated with water habitats. Mogan Lake, located within the Gölbaşı Special Environmental Protection Area, stands out as a unique habitat, hosting over 200 bird species. This study aimed to assess the current water quality of Mogan Lake by analysing various water quality variables. Three sampling sites, representing the northern, middle, and southern parts of the lake, were selected to examine both surface water and bottom sludge characteristics through the analysis of 29 pollutant variables. Water samples were collected from 30 cm beneath the water surface and 50 cm above the bottom of the lake. Sediment samples were collected from the sludge at the lake basin. Additionally, to understand their impact on the lake’s water quality, 26 pollutants were also measured in water samples taken from the five main streams that feed the lake. The results reveal a significant level of organic pollution in the lake, along with elevated nitrogen levels indicating hypertrophic conditions. Although organic pollutants were detected in the lake bottom sediment through analysis, they are considered non-hazardous in terms of heavy metals and other inorganic variables.

Development, validation and reliability testing of the hospice care environment scale

BackgroundWHO stated the environment is an important factor affecting the development of hospice care. The environment is the sum of factors affecting behavior besides the individual factors. Currently, a scale to comprehensively assess the hospice environment of nurse is still lacking. This study aimed to develop an instrument to investigate the environmental factors affecting hospice care of nurses.MethodsLiterature review and a semi-structured interview were conducted to form the items pool of the Hospice Care Environment Scale. Two rounds of Delphi expert consultation were conducted by 16 experts to revise the scale dimensions and entries to form the Hospice Care Environment Scale. A psychometric evaluation was then performed among 530 oncology nurses in a large tertiary oncology hospital in Hubei Province. The 500 valid questionnaires were randomly divided into two groups in a 1:1 ratio, sample 1 (n1 = 250) for item screening and sample 2 (n2 = 250) for quality evaluation of the resulting scale. Item analysis, reliability analysis, validity analysis and acceptability analysis were performed.ResultThe Hospice Care Environment Scale consists of two dimensions and 13 entries. The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the Hospice Care Environment Scale was 0.970, and the Cronbach’s α coefficient of the two dimensions were 0.952 and 0.969, respectively, with the Item-content validity index and average Scale- content validity index of the scale was both 1.000. The validation factor analysis showed the standardized path coefficients of each item were basically above 0.5, and the factor structure model was stable and suitable. The average completion time of the scale was about 3 min, which had good feasibility.ConclusionThe Hospice Care Environment Scale to assess the environment of hospice care services, has good content and construct validity and reliability. This scale can provide guidance to evaluate the hospice care environment.

Exploration on electrical resistance tomography in characterizing the slurry spatial distribution in cemented granular materials

AbstractThis study investigated the application of electrical resistance tomography (ERT) in characterizing the slurry spatial distribution in cemented granular materials (CGMs). For CGM formed by self-flow grouting, the voids in the accumulation are only partially filled and the bond strength is often limited, which results in difficulty in obtaining in situ samples for quality evaluation. Therefore, it is usually infeasible to evaluate the grouting effect or monitor the slurry spatial distribution by a mechanical method. In this research, the process of grouting cement paste into high alumina ceramic beads (HACB) accumulation is reliably monitored with ERT. It shows that ERT results can be used to calculate the cement paste volume in the HACB accumulation, based on calibrating the saturation exponent n in Archie’s law. The results support the feasibility of ERT as an imaging tool in CGM characterization and may provide guidance for engineering applications in the future.

The role of periodontitis in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in participants with the components of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is important in individuals with metabolic syndrome components (MetS), and periodontitis may play an important role in this process. This study aims to evaluate the association between periodontitis and ASCVD in participants with the components of MetS, including obesity, dysglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. This study conducted followed the MOOSE reporting guidelines and the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed and OpenGrey were searched for observational studies about the linkage of periodontitis to ASCVD in people with MetS components up to April 9, 2023. Cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies were included after study selection. Quality evaluation was carried out using the original and modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale as appropriate. Random-effects model was employed for meta-analysis. Nineteen studies were finally included in the quality analysis, and all of them were assessed as moderate to high quality. Meta-analyses among fifteen studies revealed that the participants with periodontitis were more likely to develop ASCVD in those who have dysglycemia (RR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.13-1.37; p < 0.05), obesity (RR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.02-1.24; p < 0.05), dyslipidemia (RR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.13-1.65; p < 0.05), or hypertension (1.20, 95% CI = 1.05-1.36; p < 0.05). Periodontitis promotes the development of ASCVD in participants with one MetS component (obesity, dysglycemia, hypertension or dyslipidemia). In people with MetS components, periodontitis may contribute to the ASCVD incidence.

Autologous bone harvested during implant bed preparation: A randomized clinical trial comparing high-speed drilling with irrigation versus low-speed drilling without irrigation.

To compare collected bone weight and the frequency of autologous bone harvesting from the flutes of surgical drills used for implant bed preparation using two different drilling techniques. A comparative evaluation of radiographic bone density and bone quality was also made. A randomized clinical trial was made of 66 dental implants in patients with a single posterior edentulous site. The compared drilling techniques were high-speed drilling with irrigation (control group) and low-speed drilling without irrigation (test group). The bone collected in both groups was dried and weighed with a precise electronic balance. The frequency of harvesting was calculated. The median radiographic bone density of each implant site was measured using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) pixel values. Patient sex, age, implant position and dimensions, as well as the last drill diameter were analyzed as independent variables. The level of significance was 5%. The harvesting of bone chips from drill flutes proved possible in 51.5% of the procedures in the control group and in 100% in the test group (p < 0.001). There were also statistically significant differences in bone weight between the control group (6.7 ± 10.6 mg) and the test group (41.9 ± 30.3 mg) (p < 0.001). The CBCT pixel values were directly correlated with the collected bone weight in both groups. The median radiographic bone density, arch and last drill diameter were significantly associated with harvesting bone frequency and collected bone weight (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the frequency and weight of autologous bone harvested from drills are greater with low-speed drilling without irrigation than with high-speed drilling with irrigation. Radiographic bone density, arch and last drill diameter also significantly influenced the harvesting outcomes.

A community evaluation of post-partum quality of life using a locally adapted mother-generated-index: the Delhi Delivery Care (DELCARE) Survey (2009-2011)

ABSTRACT Post-partum quality of life is an inadequately studied and poorly understood outcome of delivery care, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Hence, we evaluated the postpartum quality of life and its clinic-demographic context as part of a 3-stage cluster randomized community survey (DECLARE; covered quality of care as primary outcome) conducted in 2009–2011 in Delhi. In stage 1 of participant selection(sampling), 20 wards (of 150; geographically defined administrative units) were selected using a probability-proportionate-to-size systematic method. In stage 2, one from each income stratum (high, middle, and low; multiple colonies within each ward) was selected from each ward by simple random sampling (total 60 colonies of 2311). In stage 3, a house-to-house survey was conducted to recruit ~1800 recently delivered women for the multidimensional work, which included quality-of-care, cost-of-care, and PPQOL. Among the participants, those with high school or above education were invited to administer the Mother-Generated Index and calculate the primary and secondary index scores (PIS and SIS). A total of 794 (of 857 eligible; 118846 households) women were administered MGI. The mean PIS was 4.6[95 percent CI 4.4–4.7] while the average SIS was 4.0[95 percent CI 3.8–4.2]. The PIS was worse for primiparous vs. multiparous mothers. On multivariate analysis, poorer psychological state, obstetric complications, and premature delivery correlated with poorer QOL scores, while better gestational weight gain, higher age, and labor-pain relief correlated with better QOL scores. The study benchmarks the poor status of post-partum quality-of-life and documents the spectrum, severity, and complexity of its key social, psychological, physical, and demographic determinants.

Development of wastewater quality index as an assessment tool of treated wastewater quality for sea discharge

AbstractThe evaluation of the effluent water quality from wastewater treatment plants is fundamental for human health and aquatic environment considerations. Therefore, this research presents a new and specific water quality index for evaluating the effluent water discharged into the sea by integrating the complex set of wastewater qualities into a single reliable value. Two approaches were utilized for this purpose: experts' opinions and statistical analysis using principal component analysis. In the first approach, the opinions of local experts shortlisted the parameters into six important parameters out of a list of 19 with assigned weights varied from 0.160 to 0.174. In the statistical approach, principal component analysis and correlation analysis reduced the parameters to seven accounting for 75% of the variation in the data. Their weights were calculated based on their eigenvalues and ranged from 0.063 to 0.435. The subindices rating curves were developed based on the Kingdom of Bahrain's legislated standards and the weighted arithmetic mean function was used for the aggregation stage. The established water quality indices were applied to effluents from a local wastewater treatment plant, and the obtained results revealed “Class 1: excellent category” discharge quality maintained throughout the year as per the categories proposed in this work. The developed indices proved their effectiveness and reliability in assessing the treated water. The study provides a comprehensive and reliable assessment of treated water quality, and its approach and outputs could have significant implications globally for ensuring the quality of treated water prior its discharge and promoting sustainable development.

Developing a novel phantom for image quality evaluation in digital radiography

Evaluation of image quality in digital radiography is important to ensure accurate diagnosis. However, to perform image quality tests accurately and effectively, complex techniques and numerous phantoms are required. The aim of the study was to develop a novel phantom to allow a comprehensive evaluation of image quality in digital radiography. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) was used as the main material for the phantom. Physical image quality parameters such as effective Modulation Transfer Function (eMTF), effective Normalized Noise Power Spectra (eNNPS), effective Detective Quantum Efficiency (eDQE), as well as contrast and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) evaluations can be conducted using the phantom. Preliminary preparation work was carried out through Monte Carlo simulations. The validation of the phantom was performed by comparing with standard phantom results. Physical image quality measurements were performed using an indirect digital radiography system. It was observed that there was a good agreement between the image quality measurement results performed with the standard phantom and the developed phantom. A strong correlation was determined between integrated effective DQE (IeDQE) results (R ≥ 0.97) obtained with HDPE and PMMA phantom. Simulation results regarding the transmission factor showed that HDPE could be an alternative to Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) as a phantom material.

Blockchain Based Deep Learning for Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chain Management

Food supply chain (FSC) is an important part of the food supply chain. It is essential to establish food supply chains that are open to the public, accountable for their actions, and available in real time. The development of blockchain technology has led to an increase in the amount of data that is passed between customers and businesses, as well as the data that are passed between them. Blockchain technology is a new type of information technology that has the ability to be decentralized, safe, and trusted, which makes it an excellent option for storing sensitive data. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how blockchain with deep learning is used to find the quality evaluation of food supply chain technology. The use of BC has improved the accuracy of food traceability, while the utilization of Deep Random Forest (DRF) has boosted the efficacy of computing and shortened the reaction time. The research compares the quality evaluation system that is based on BC-DRF with some of the most common existing methods in terms of accuracy, reaction time, and sensitivity, when applied to a variety of block sizes.

Uptake and Transport of Selenium in a Soil–Tea Plant–Tea Infusion System: A Study of Typical Tea Plantations in a Selenium-Rich Area of China

Selenium is an important indicator for the evaluation of tea quality. However, the relationship between selenium uptake by tea plants (Camellia sinensis) and soil properties, as well as selenium transport and distribution in a tea plantation soil–tea plant–tea infusion production system, remain unclear. In this study, 12 tea plantations situated in a typical selenium-rich area of China were selected, and the characteristics and crucial factors influencing the uptake and transport of selenium were analyzed using a plantation soil–tea plant–tea infusion production system. The soil total selenium content ranged from 1.12 to 6.67 mg kg−1, with an average of 2.57 mg kg−1. The average available selenium content was 53.56 µg kg−1, and the activation rate of soil selenium was 2.27%. Soil-available selenium was significantly positively correlated with total selenium, available potassium, and soil organic matter contents, and was significantly negatively correlated with soil pH. The selenium content in old leaves ranged from 0.29 to 2.73 mg kg−1, which met the standard for selenium-rich tea, whereas only 33% of young leaves met this standard. The selenium enrichment factor was highest in the fibrous root and lowest in the young leaves. The average selenium transport factors from fibrous roots to main roots, from main roots to main stems, from main stems to lateral stems, from lateral stems to young leaves, and from lateral stems to old leaves were 0.53, 0.92, 0.67, 0.97, and 2.30, respectively. The selenium concentration of tea infusion ranged from 1.88 to 12.49 μg L−1, and the average selenium dissolution rate was 22.62% after one brewing. This study identified critical factors that influence soil-selenium availability. The selenium content in tea plant organs is indicated to be strongly associated with the selenium content in the main roots.

Automated quantification of photoreceptor outer segments in developing and degenerating retinas on microscopy images across scales

The functionality of photoreceptors, rods, and cones is highly dependent on their outer segments (POS), a cellular compartment containing highly organized membranous structures that generate biochemical signals from incident light. While POS formation and degeneration are qualitatively assessed on microscopy images, reliable methodology for quantitative analyses is still limited. Here, we developed methods to quantify POS (QuaPOS) maturation and quality on retinal sections using automated image analyses. POS formation was examined during the development and in adulthood of wild-type mice via light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To quantify the number, size, shape, and fluorescence intensity of POS, retinal cryosections were immunostained for the cone POS marker S-opsin. Fluorescence images were used to train the robust classifier QuaPOS-LM based on supervised machine learning for automated image segmentation. Characteristic features of segmentation results were extracted to quantify the maturation of cone POS. Subsequently, this quantification method was applied to characterize POS degeneration in “cone photoreceptor function loss 1” mice. TEM images were used to establish the ultrastructural quantification method QuaPOS-TEM for the alignment of POS membranes. Images were analyzed using a custom-written MATLAB code to extract the orientation of membranes from the image gradient and their alignment (coherency). This analysis was used to quantify the POS morphology of wild-type and two inherited retinal degeneration (“retinal degeneration 19” and “rhodopsin knock-out”) mouse lines. Both automated analysis technologies provided robust characterization and quantification of POS based on LM or TEM images. Automated image segmentation by the classifier QuaPOS-LM and analysis of the orientation of membrane stacks by QuaPOS-TEM using fluorescent or TEM images allowed quantitative evaluation of POS formation and quality. The assessments showed an increase in POS number, volume, and membrane coherency during wild-type postnatal development, while a decrease in all three observables was detected in different retinal degeneration mouse models. All the code used for the presented analysis is open source, including example datasets to reproduce the findings. Hence, the QuaPOS quantification methods are useful for in-depth characterization of POS on retinal sections in developmental studies, for disease modeling, or after therapeutic interventions affecting photoreceptors.

Comparative efficacy of psychological interventions on anxiety and depression in patients with cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that psychological interventions are effective in alleviating anxiety and depression in patients with cancer. However, the optimal psychological intervention to alleviate anxiety and depression in patients with cancer remains unknown. This study was carried out to compare and rank the comparative effectiveness of various psychological interventions on anxiety and depression in patients with cancer. Databases, namely PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CNKI, WanFang, VIP and CBM were systematically searched from their inception dates to December 2023 for randomized controlled trials of psychological interventions for anxiety and depression in patients with cancer. Utilizing the Cochrane Review Manager 5.4, we evaluated the risk of bias in the studies included in the current study based on the Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0 Methodological Quality Evaluation Criteria. The NMA was conducted using STATA 15.0. This study did not involve human participants and therefore did not require ethical approval. Thirty-one randomized controlled trials involving 3471 participants were included. MT [SMD = 1.35, 95% CI (0.76, 1.93)] and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) [SMD = 0.97, 95% CI (0.53, 1.42)] were superior to usual care in alleviating anxiety. Besides, interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) [SMD = 1.17, 95% CI (0.06, 2.28)], CBT [SMD = 0.97, 95 % CI (0.63, 1.30)], and MT [SMD = 0.93, 95% CI (0.35, 1.50)] were superior to usual care in alleviating depression. In addition, CBT was superior to family therapy in alleviating depression [SMD = 0.73, 95% CI (0.08, 1.38)]. The MT, CBT, and IPT ranked in the top three in alleviating anxiety, while IPT, CBT, and MT ranked in the top three in alleviating depression. MT and IPT would be a more appropriate option in alleviating anxiety and depression in patients with cancer, respectively. This study also suggested that CBT had a significant effect in alleviating negative emotions in patients with cancer. However, the results need to be validated by high-quality and large-sample studies.

Development of a Method for Soil Tilth Quality Evaluation from Crumbling Roller Baskets Using Deep Machine Learning Models

A combination tillage with disks, rippers, and roller baskets allows the loosening of compacted soils and the crumbling of soil clods. Statistical methods for evaluating the soil tilth quality of combination tillage are limited. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data and machine learning models (Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Neural Network (NN)) are proposed to investigate roller basket pressure settings on soil tilth quality. Soil profiles were measured using LiDAR (stop and go and on-the-go) and RGB visual images from a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) tillage experiment on clay loam soil with treatments of roller basket down, roller basket up, and no-till in three replicates. Utilizing RF, SVM, and NN methods on the LiDAR data set identified median, mean, maximum, and standard deviation as the top features of importance variables that were statistically affected by the roller settings. Applying multivariate discriminatory analysis on the five statistical measures, three soil tilth classes were predicted with mean prediction rates of 77% (Roller-basket down), 64% (Roller-basket up), and 90% (No till). The LiDAR data analytics-inspired soil tilth classes correlated well with the RGB image discriminatory analysis. Soil tilth machine learning models were shown to be successful in classifying soil tilth with regard to onboard operator pressure control settings on the roller basket of the combination tillage implement.

#1280 Temporal trends in chronic kidney disease and mortality after acute kidney injury

Abstract Background and Aims In 2015, the International Society of Nephrology formulated the “0by25” initiative, which aims to eliminate all preventable deaths due to acute kidney injury (AKI) by 2025. Numerus publications have added focus to the importance of clinical awareness and improved treatment for AKI. Ideally, this should translate to lower rates of AKI-associated adverse outcomes such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) and death. To our knowledge, there are no studies describing temporal trends in the incidence of CKD following AKI. Moreover, only a few studies have examined the temporal trends in mortality following AKI and these studies included highly selected groups of patients not representative of general hospitalized patients and to an even lesser degree the general population. Hence, further examination of the prognosis after AKI is required to understand temporal trends in the quality of care for AKI and establish a foundation for both preventive and therapeutic measures. Therefore, we examined the temporal trends in CKD and mortality after AKI in Denmark. Method We identified adult individuals with AKI from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2018 using population-based plasma creatinine (pCr) data covering both the primary care and hospital settings. AKI was defined in accordance with the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) creatinine criteria. CKD after AKI was defined as ≥2 eGFR measurements from primary care or planned outpatient hospital visits &amp;lt;60 mL/min/1.73 m2 separated by a period of ≥90 days or by a hospital diagnoses code related to chronic dialysis or kidney transplantation. Information on all-cause death was obtained from the Danish Civil Registration System. Annual crude and sex-and-age-standardized 1-year incidence rates of CKD and mortality after AKI were estimated using direct standardization. Results During the 2007-2018 period, 406,207 AKIs were identified in 274,269 distinct Danish residents. The mean age at the time of first AKI was 72 years (IQR, 61; 81) and 137,185 (50%) of first-time AKIs occurred in males. Twenty-eight percent of individuals had a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score of 0, while 42% had a CCI score of 1-2, and 30% a CCI score ≥3. The mean age, sex, and CCI score distributions were stable across the study period. The age- and sex-standardized incidence rate of CKD after AKI ranged from 102 (95% CI, 99-106) per 1000 person-years in 2018 to 126 (95% CI, 119-133) per 1000 person-years in 2014. Besides a peak in 2014, the incidence of CKD after AKI showed little variation throughout the period. The age-and sex-standardized mortality rate after AKI ranged from 317 (95% CI, 311-323) per 1000 person-years in 2018 to 392 (95% CI, 379-406) per 1000 person-years in 2007. From 2007 to 2013 there was a stable decline in the mortality rate after AKI. From 2014 to 2018 the rate showed little variation. Conclusion The rate of CKD after AKI was stable throughout the period, while there was a decline in mortality after AKI, especially in the years from 2007 to 2013. The decline in mortality after AKI is encouraging; however, the stable rate of CKD after AKI, despite increasing knowledge on AKI treatment and CKD prevention, warrants an evaluation of the contemporary quality of care for AKI in Denmark.