Graphical Evaluation Research Articles

Investigation of the Rotational Motion of the Fidget Spinner by Means of Technical Informatics

The boundaries between science, engineering and computer sciences seem to have been blurred in the 21st century. Microcontroller programming plays a role in informatics education, while modern physics teaching integrates the potential of computer simulations and computer-controlled measurement experiments. In order to demonstrate the latter, we present an experiment to precisely identify the dynamic causes of a kinematic phenomenon solved by means of technical computer science. To investigate the role of air resistance, we developed a vacuum chamber in which the signals of sensors were detected by the NI myDAQ multifunctional device and the popular Arduino UNO. A wide range of ways are presented to control data acquisition and numerical analysis of a quadrangle signal produced by a photogate, as well as graphical representation and evaluation of derived time-dependent signals. Controlling the two devices due to their characteristics and hosting of measured data by a computer require different programming techniques from the user (LabVIEW, C/C++). The results and methods of the study can be applied in physics and computer science education at a secondary school level.  

Modeling of Molecular Mechanisms of Radiation Adaptive Response Formation

The phenomenon of adaptive response is expressed in the increase of resistance of a biological object to high doses of mutagens under the conditions of previous exposure to these (or other) mutagens in low doses. Low doses of mutagen activate a number of protective mechanisms in a living object, which are called hormetic. Thus, the adaptive response and hormesis are links in the same chain. Radiation hormesis refers to the generally positive effect of low doses of low LET radiation on biological objects. The phenomenology of radiation-induced adaptive response and radiation hormesis for biological objects of different levels of organization is considered; the review of existing theories describing the dose-effect relationship has been reviewed. The hypothesis proposing one of the mechanisms of formation of radiation adaptive response of cells taking into account the conformational structure of chromatin has been submitted. The analysis of modern concepts of the phenomenon of hormesis on the basis of modeling of molecular mechanisms of formation of hormetic reactions to low-dose low LET radiation has been carried out. The parameters that can be used for quantitative and graphical evaluation of the phenomenon of hormesis was considered, and a formula for calculating the coefficient of radiation-induced adaptive response has been proposed. A review of mathematical models describing the radiation relative risk of gene mutations and neoplastic transformations at low-dose irradiation of cohorts has been performed. The following conclusions have been made: radiation hormesis and adaptive response are generally recognized as real and reproducible biological phenomena, which should be considered as very important phenomena of evolutionarily formed biological protection of living organisms from ionizing radiation. The hormesis model of dose-response relationship makes much more accurate predictions of a living object's response to radiation (or other stressors) in the low-dose range than the linear threshold (LNT) model does. The LNT model can adequately describe reactions only in the region of high doses of radiation, and, therefore, extrapolation modeling of biological object’s reactions from the zone of high doses to low doses is not correct.

Intraoperative dextrose rate during exploratory laparotomies in neonates and the incidence of postoperative hyperglycemia: A retrospective observational study.

Compared with the older pediatric population, neonates have greater perioperative morbidity and mortality. Difficulty with glucose regulation may be a contributing modifiable risk factor during perioperative anesthetic management. To mitigate the risk of hyperglycemia in neonates, some providers empirically halve the preoperative rate of dextrose-containing infusions during surgery. To assess the association between halving the preoperative maintenance dextrose rate and postoperative euglycemia in neonatal intensive care unit patients undergoing exploratory laparotomies. Neonatal intensive care unit patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy under general anesthesia from 1/1/2014 to 11/21/2019 were included in this analysis. Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia were defined as >150mg/dL and <46mg/dL. A calculated dextrose ratio was utilized to categorize patients into full and half intraoperative dextrose rate cohorts. Univariate analyses were performed with Fisher's exact test, the Wilcoxon rank sum test, or Spearman's correlation. Multivariable analyses with regression models were conducted after graphical evaluation of a predetermined set of independent variables. 107 patients were included in the full dextrose rate cohort and 96 patients in the half dextrose rate cohort with postoperative hyperglycemia occurring in 47 and 28 patients, respectively. On univariate analysis, halving the preoperative dextrose rate was associated with decreased postoperative hyperglycemia (odds ratio: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.28-0.98, P= 0.041). This association continued in the regression model (adjusted odds ratio: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.25-0.80, P= 0.008) after controlling for preoperative dextrose rate, preoperative serum glucose, preoperative pH, surgical duration, postmenstrual age at surgery, and the presence of necrotizing enterocolitis. Only one patient was hypoglycemic postoperatively, and they were in the full dextrose cohort. Halving of preoperative dextrose rates intraoperatively during exploratory laparotomy in neonatal intensive care unit patients was associated with a decreased risk of postoperative hyperglycemia without substantially increasing the occurrence of postoperative hypoglycemia. The practice of halving preoperative dextrose rates may be an effective empirical approach for intraoperative glucose management in the high-risk neonatal population when blood glucose monitoring is challenging.

Modelling the biphasic growth of non-starter lactic acid bacteria on starter-lysate as a substrate

Since cheese is poor in energy for bacterial growth, it is believed that non-starter lactic acid bacteria growth and flavour development are supported by the nutrients from lysis of the starter culture. This study was performed to investigate the dynamics of interaction between starter and non-starter strains from cheese. A starter culture lysate was prepared by enzymatic digestion and tested as a growth substrate for Lactobacillus sp. strains. The two starter culture strains of Lactococcus lactis were also tested on the starter-lysate. All seventeen strains were individually inoculated at the level of 5.0 log10 cfu mL−1 in M17 broth, with or without 10% starter-lysate, and incubated at 30 °C for 140 h. The optical density600 nm was modelled with the primary log-transformed Logistic model with delay and lag phase duration, maximum specific growth rate as well as maximum population density obtained. Biphasic growth was mainly observed when the strains were able to utilize the starter-lysate as an energy source. To deal with the lack-of-fit related to the biphasic growth, the observed data points of the curve were divided after graphic evaluation and according to deviation of the residuals from the range ±0.05. Modelling was then performed in two phases by applying the same primary Logistic model in each of the two parts of the growth curve. Values of root-mean-square error and graphic evaluation indicated the good fitting of the data with the suggested approach. The growth of the two Lactococcus lactis strains was not affected by the starter-lysate. However, thirteen of the non-starter strains had their growth rates increased. The increase was greatest for Lactobacillus rhamnosus KU-LbR1, which reached maximum optical densities of 0.23 and 0.58 in the absence and the presence of starter-lysate, respectively. No effect of the starter-lysate was shown for the growth of Lactobacillus curvatus strains. The extend of the growth of non-starter strains on the starter-lysate was shown to be species and strain dependent.

A Primer on Usability Assessment Approaches for Health-Related Applications of Virtual Reality.

Health-related virtual reality (VR) applications for patient treatment, rehabilitation, and medical professional training are on the rise. However, there is little guidance on how to select and perform usability evaluations for VR health interventions compared to the supports that exist for other digital health technologies. The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to present an introductory summary of various usability testing approaches or methods that can be used for VR applications. Along with an overview of each, a list of resources is provided for readers to obtain additionally relevant information. Six categories of VR usability evaluations are described using a previously developed classification taxonomy specific to VR environments: (1) cognitive or task walkthrough, (2) graphical evaluation, (3) post hoc questionnaires or interviews, (4) physical performance evaluation, (5) user interface evaluation, and (6) heuristic evaluation. Given the growth of VR in health care, rigorous evaluation and usability testing is crucial in the development and implementation of novel VR interventions. The approaches outlined in this paper provide a starting point for conducting usability assessments for health-related VR applications; however, there is a need to also move beyond these to adopt those from the gaming industry, where assessments for both usability and user experience are routinely conducted.

Graphic map load comparison of two Czech school atlases using edge detection

Abstract. Map complexity has been studied by cartographers for decades. Unfortunately, it is not being systematically measured as an essential map property and used to optimize cartographic products during the map-making process. Therefore, the appropriate load of map content in a map usually remains dependent only on the subjective assessment of the cartographer designing the map.The paper aims to describe and examine newly developed easy-to-use metric for graphic map load evaluation. A plugin for an open-source software Gimp was developed to provide an accessible tool to measure graphic map load of various geospatial visualizations in an image file format. This tool was then used to compare two Czech school atlases produced by Kartografie PRAHA, a.s. publisher in terms of their graphic map load. The examined atlases include: the latest World School Atlas (in Czech Školní atlas světa) and the new equivalent called Pupil’s Atlas (originally Školní atlas světa) intended to fit especially to younger pupils. Both the atlases are captured in Figure 1.The equivalent maps (the same or very similar map extents, scales, captured regions and map types) in both atlases were compared to investigate differences in graphic map load. For this, a developed metric implemented in the form of an extension to well-known image processing software Gimp was used. The extension advances an edge detection filter to identify both sharp and smooth edges in order to estimate the graphic map load of map samples. Also, a distribution of map load across the map layout is shown. Subsequently, measured values were compared and used to estimate the differences in the potential readability of those products.

Evaluating the Characteristics, Reporting and Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews of Acupuncture for Low Back Pain by Using the Veritas Plot.

ObjectiveTo evaluate systematic reviews (SRs) of acupuncture for low back pain (LBP) in terms of characteristics, reporting and methodological quality using a Veritas plot and to explore factors that may be associated with methodological quality and reporting quality.Study Design and SettingWe searched 8 electronic bibliographic databases to find all SRs, and we evaluated the SRs’ quality in 6 dimensions, including publication year, design type, homogeneity, risk of publication bias, methodological quality by Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 2 and reporting quality by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Excel 2010 and Adobe Illustrator CC were used to draw and optimize Veritas plots. Exploratory analysis was done using SPSS software version 23.0 to explore factors related to AMSTAR-2 and PRISMA scores. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence quality evaluation tool was used to grade all the outcome indicators in the included literature.ResultsWe included 19 SRs in the analysis. Literature quality rank scores ranged from 9.67 to 17.00, with an average score of 13.18 ± 2.35. The average score of AMSTAR-2 was 7.47, and the average score of PRISMA was 18.47. Overall, the main issues were research strategies, inclusion and exclusion criteria, publication bias, and registration in PROSPERO. The results of exploratory analysis showed that duplication of literature selected and appropriate tools to assess the risk of bias were related to the AMSTAR-2 score, and the summary of evidence was related to the PRISMA score. The GRADE quality evaluation results showed mainly low quality.ConclusionThe quality of SRs on acupuncture for low back pain should be improved, mainly by strengthening the methodological quality and reporting quality. The Veritas plot is an effective graphical evaluation method that is worth popularizing.

Bound-state solutions of the two-dimensional Dirac equation with Aharonov–Bohm-Coulomb interaction in the presence of extended uncertainty principle

The Dirac equation in the presence of Aharonov–Bohm-Coulomb interaction is studied in the framework of the extended uncertainty principle. The equation governing the dynamics of the system is reduced to a differential equation which is solved in terms of the hypergeometric functions as the wave functions of the system. Expressions for the bound-state energies are also obtained analytically. A brief graphical evaluation of our results is also presented.

Clinical Evaluation of Proline, Glutamic acid, and Leucine-Rich Protein 1 Expression in Astrocytomas and Correlations with the Proliferation Marker Ki-67

Malignant astrocytomas presenting in humans of any age group are a challenge to diagnose and treat. Hence, there is a quest for new markers to ascertain their grades and predict disease outcomes. Proline, glutamic acid, and leucine-rich protein 1 (PELP1), a nuclear receptor co-regulator, is an oncogene found in various cancers. We postulate that by screening for PELP1, its correlation with survival outcomes of patients across various grades can indicate a plausible novel diagnostic marker and a potential therapeutic target in gliomas. Immunostaining of 100 cases of astrocytomas for PELP1 was performed on paraffin-embedded sections. Results showed that PELP1 expression increases with higher grades; the mean H-score of PELP1 in grade-I astrocytomas was determined to be 112.3, whereas in grade-IV it was 235.1 (P value = 0.0001). Survival analysis of patients with H-score of 200-300 was only 8.8% and 68.8% in patients with scores of 0-100. PELP1 expression in high-grade astrocytomas is an important factor in determining the outcomes. Graphical abstract Evaluation of molecular expression of PELP1 along with Ki-67 LI signifies a linear increase in its expression pattern among different grades of astrocytomas from low- to high-grade tumors, which can serve as a potential prognostic molecular marker in differentiating various types of astrocytomas in humans.

Rate of penetration modeling using hybridization extreme learning machine and whale optimization algorithm

Modeling the rate of penetration (ROP) plays a fundamental role in drilling optimization since the achievement of an optimum ROP can drastically reduce the overall cost of drilling activities. Evolved Extreme learning machine (ELM) with the evolutionary algorithms and multi-layer perceptron with Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm (MLP-LMA) were proposed in this study to predict ROP. This paper focused mainly on two aspects. The first one was the investigation of the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) to optimize the weights and biases between input and hidden layers of ELM to enhance its prediction accuracy. The other was to adopt a prediction methodology that seeks to update the predictive model at each formation in order to reduce the dimension of input data and mitigate the effect of non real-time data such as the formation properties on the bit speed prediction. The prediction models were trained and tested using 3561 data points gathered from an Algerian field. The statistical and graphical evaluation criteria show that the ELM-WOA exhibited higher accuracy and generalization performance compared with the ELM-PSO and MLP-LMA. Furthermore, ELM-WOA was compared with two well-known ROP correlations in the literature, and the comparison results reveal that the proposed ELM-WOA model is superior to the pre-existing correlations. The findings of this study can help for the achievement of an optimum ROP and the reduction of the non-productive time. In addition, the outputs of this study can be used as an objective function during the real-time optimization of the drilling operation.

Clinical Outcomes and Stifle Osteoarthritis Assessment of Nine Cats Before and After Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radio graphical outcome of cats following TPLO surgery for cranial cruciate ligament deficiency. Each cat underwent orthopedic assessment, pre-operative radio graphical evaluation, surgical procedure, postoperative management and clinical re-examination 1, 2, and 12 months following surgery. Age, body weights, TPAs, meniscal tears, implants and osteoarthritis progression were recorded. Postoperative OA score was compared with that obtained 1 year after surgery using a paired t-test with commercially available software. Radio graphical evaluation performed 1 year after surgery showed no significant OA progression (P-value &gt; 0.1). Minor complications occurred in one case (#7) in which a mild to moderate seroma was observed ten days after surgery. No major complications were recorded. Although TPLO surgery in cats remains controversial, this study suggests that it was a suitable option for surgical treatment of feline cranial cruciate ligament rupture, but considering the ex vivo outcomes recently published, further in vivo evaluation is strongly recommended.

Radiative unsteady hydromagnetic 3D flow model for Jeffrey nanofluid configured by an accelerated surface with chemical reaction

AbstractThe current exploration reveals the unsteady three‐dimensional flow of Jeffrey nanofluid over a bidirectional oscillatory stretching surface. The Brownian motion and thermophoresis phenomenon has been scrutinized by utilizing Buongiorno's nanofluid model. The heat transfer analysis is carried out in the presence of thermal radiation and heat generation/absorption features. Furthermore, chemical reaction and magnetic effects are also deliberated. The flow has been generated by a bidirectional periodically accelerated heated surface. The formulated nonlinear problem is condensed into a dimensionless form via apposite transformations, and then analytic series solution is computed via homotopic technique. Comprehensive graphical evaluations for numerous prominent flow constants on associated profiles are performed. In addition, the tabulated numerical calculations for the local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are also presented. The current analysis reported that both components of velocities have an increasing tendency for higher Deborah number, whereas an adverse influence is observed for the ratio of relaxation and retardation times parameter. Moreover, the concentration profile diminishes for the increasing variation of the chemical reaction parameter.

Q-GERT survivability assessment of LEO satellite constellation

Due to the complexity of space environment and the difficulty of satellite maintenance in outer space, survivability has become one of the most important problems of LEO satellite constellation. Network survivability is the ability of a system to complete communication missions in case of encountering accidents, failures or attacks. A survivable LEO satellite constellation can guarantee a certain mission success rate when some satellites fail, but the completed performance depends on the architecture designed, resources owned and route adopted by the satellite constellation. The existing satellite network survivability evaluation methods can not accurately describe the impact of constellation design parameters, limited resources and access algorithm on survivability. To overcome the above shortcomings, this paper proposes a new survivability assessment model with resource constraints. We exploit the queue graphical evaluation and review technology random network with feedback to characterize resource limitations and describe the dynamic random mission transfer process of LEO satellite constellation. Based on the time, jitter and consumed resources produced by different link arc activities when completing missions, combined with queuing birth and death technology, we derive the mission cost and network utility function, aiming at reflecting the completion ability of LEO satellite constellation for communication mission after facing fault or strike. The results show that increasing the orbit height does not significantly improve the network survivability; rerouting load balancing access strategy can better share the mission of failed satellite; LEO satellite constellation has weak survivability towards GCF; user retry after mission failure will aggravate delay.

Frequency-reconfigurable SIW microstrip antenna

This paper presents the design of a frequency-reconfigurable SIW microstrip antenna based on the resonant cavity model. Aiming to create a guideline for the design of this class of radiator, a collection of rectangular and triangular cavities laterally bounded by perfect electric and magnetic walls, as well as their resonant frequencies and internal electric field distributions are described. In addition, a list of selected possibilities of such cavities combined with other geometries, enabling frequency reconfigurability is presented together with the graphical evaluation of operating frequency range. The theoretical analysis is confirmed by the design of an L1/E1-L5/E5a global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) antenna. Measurements in an anechoic chamber and tests with a software defined radio (SDR) GNSS receiver validate the manufactured prototype.

Evaluation of Different Approaches for Respiratory Quotient Calculation and Effects of Nitrogen Sources on Respiratory Quotient Values of Hydrocarbon Bioremediation

Respiratory quotient (RQ) is a parameter proposed as a tool for practical and online monitoring of petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation. Various environmental factors and remediation conditions affect RQ values. Occasionally, actual RQ values deviate from theoretical RQ values of petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation. In addition, different RQ calculation and interpretation approaches investigated in literature make it difficult to compare the results. In this study, different RQ calculation and interpretation methods given in the literature were compared and the effects of nitrogen biostimulation with ammonium and nitrate salts on RQ values of petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation were investigated. Respirometric reactors were used in bioremediation of diesel fuel–contaminated soils. Ammonium sulfate and potassium nitrate were amended to enhance hydrocarbon biodegradation. Total n-alkane levels in the soils were analyzed after the incubation period. RQ values were calculated based on continuous CO2 and O2 measurements. Biostimulation with ammonium and nitrate led to significant contaminant biodegradation. The nitrogen source type affected RQ values significantly. It was concluded that in evaluating hydrocarbon biodegradability properties and interpreting biostimulation properties, the use of graphical RQ evaluation methods that include plotted statistical approaches allows access to more useful information than using individual theoretical RQ values.

Determination of Optimum Sample Size for Lot Acceptance Attribute Sampling under Life Tests Based On Rayleigh Distribution Using Graphical Evaluation Review Technique (GERT)

This paper presents the graphical evaluation and review technique (GERT) exploration of performance measures for lot acceptance sampling procedures having attribute characteristics following life tests based on percentiles of Rayleigh Distribution and henceforth determining optimum sampling size. The advantageous implications of GERT analysis in this framework is primarily to visualize the dynamics of the sampling inspection system and secondly, critical analysis of sampling procedure characteristics. The formula of operating characteristics (OC) function and average sample number (ASN) function is derived and illustrated numerically. Lastly, tables have been provided to determine the optimum sample size assuring certain mean life or quality of the product.

Development of unified mathematical model of programming modules obfuscation process based on graphic evaluation and review method

A set of algorithms of programming modules obfuscation is synthesized, which differs from the known ones by taking into account the variability of data types. This made it possible to describe these processes at the upper strategic level of formalization. The possibilities of using GERT models to apply various options of the distribution laws and their parameters in the transition from state to state are investigated. A unified GERT model of the programming modules obfuscation process is developed. This model differs from the known ones by the paradigm of using the mathematical apparatus of gamma distribution as the key one at all stages of modeling the obfuscation process. This made it possible to achieve model unification in the conditions of GERT network modification. The expectation and variance of the runtime of a random value of the obfuscation and deobfuscation time of programming modules are calculated. The results of the study showed that for the developed mathematical model, the addition of another obfuscation process leads to an increase in the runtime variance by 12 %, and when removed from the system, it decreases by 13 %. The runtime expectation changes exponentially. So, when removing the node, the expectation decreases by 9 %, and when increasing by 1 node, the expectation increases by 26 %. This shows the insignificance of changes in the studied characteristics under the conditions of model modification and confirms the hypothesis of model unification in conditions of using the mathematical apparatus of gamma distribution as the main one. These results allow the developer to predict the behavior of the programming modules protection system in terms of runtime. This allows reducing the time to decide on the feasibility of the obfuscation process

The Automated Bone Scan Index as a Predictor of Response to Prostate Radiotherapy in Men with Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Prostate Cancer: An Exploratory Analysis of STAMPEDE’s “M1|RT Comparison”

BackgroundProstate radiotherapy (RT) is a first-line option for newly diagnosed men with low-burden metastatic prostate cancer. The current criterion to define this clinical state is based on manual bone metastasis counts, but enumeration of bone metastases is limited by interobserver variations, and it does not account for metastasis volume or lesional coalescence. The automated bone scan index (aBSI) is a quantitative method of evaluating bone metastatic burden in a standardised and reproducible manner. ObjectiveTo evaluate whether aBSI has utility as a predictive imaging biomarker to define a newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer population that might benefit from the addition of prostate RT to standard of care (SOC) systemic therapy. Design, setting, and participantsThis is an exploratory analysis of men with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either SOC or SOC + prostate RT within the STAMPEDE “M1|RT comparison”. InterventionThe SOC was lifelong androgen deprivation therapy, with up-front docetaxel permitted from December 2015. Men allocated RT received either a daily or a weekly schedule that was nominated before randomisation. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisBaseline bone scans were evaluated retrospectively to calculate aBSI. We used overall (OS) and failure-free (FFS) survival as the end points. Treatment-aBSI interaction was evaluated using the multivariable fractional polynomial interaction (MFPI) and subpopulation treatment effect pattern plot. Further analysis was done in aBSI quartiles using Cox regression models adjusted for stratification factors. Results and limitations: Baseline bone scans for 660 (SOC: 323 and SOC + RT: 337) of 2061 men randomised within the “M1|RT comparison” met the software requirements for aBSI calculation. The median age was 68 yr, median PSA was 100 ng/mL, median aBSI was 0.9, and median follow-up was 39 mo. Baseline patient characteristics including aBSI were balanced between the treatment groups. Using the MFPI procedure, there was evidence of aBSI-treatment interaction for OS (p = 0.04, MFPI procedure) and FFS (p < 0.01, MFPI procedure). Graphical evaluation of estimated treatment effect plots showed that the OS and FFS benefit from prostate RT was greatest in patients with a low aBSI. Further analysis in quartiles based on aBSI supported this finding. ConclusionsA low automated bone scan index is predictive of survival benefit associated with prostate RT in men with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer. Patient summaryThe widely used bone scan can be evaluated using an automated technique to potentially select men with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer who might benefit from prostate radiotherapy.

Evaluation of nitrogen loss reduction strategies using DRAINMOD-DSSAT in east-central Illinois

Agricultural system modeling has become an effective tool for analyzing and quantifying the effects of varying management practices and environmental conditions on crop production and nutrient export from croplands. The use of such modeling tools provides useful insights in identifying the most effective management practices for enhancing productivity, sustainability, and resiliency of agricultural systems. This study focuses on testing and application of an integrated field-scale process-based model, DRAINMOD-DSSAT, for simulating hydrology, nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) loss, and crop growth and yield responses in artificially drained croplands. The tested model was used to evaluate the effects of different N fertilizer application rates and timings in both conventional and controlled drainage conditions on crop yield and NO3-N losses in a poorly drained Drummer-Flanagan soil in east-central Illinois. The model was calibrated and validated for a corn [Zea Mays L.] – soybean [Glycine Max (L.)] rotation using 7 years (1992–1998) of field-measured tile drainage, crop yield, and NO3-N data. The graphical and statistical evaluations indicated very good model performance. Specifically, monthly tile drainage flow was predicted with modeling efficiency (NSE), index of agreement (d), and mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.85, 0.96, and 0.69 cm, respectively. Monthly NO3-N losses were predicted with NSE, d, and MAE of 0.82, 0.95, and 1.16 kg N ha−1, respectively. Corn and soybean yields were predicted with an absolute percent error (PE) of 1.84 and 12.07, respectively. The long-term model simulation results indicated that split N application of 50 % during spring-pre plant (S) and 50 % during side-dressing (SD) could increase crop yield and reduce N leaching losses compared to other tested N application methods: spring (S) only, fall-spring split (F-S), and fall-spring-side-dressing (F-S-SD). Further, applying 10 % and 20 % reduced N rates (194 kg N ha−1 and 174 kg N ha−1, respectively) in combination with S-SD split application in controlled drainage (CD) condition could reduce N leaching losses by 30 % and 33 %, respectively compared to the conventional application method. This study explored the effects of N fertilizer management on crop yield and nitrogen losses under two drainage conditions, and underscored the importance of N fertilizer application rates and timings for achieving yield goals while minimizing nitrogen export from drained agricultural fields. The results of the model simulations will be useful for stakeholders and policy makers while making decisions regarding promotion and adoption of best management practices for drained agricultural landscapes.

Prognostic utilization of models based on the APACHE II, APACHE IV, and SAPS II scores for predicting in-hospital mortality in emergency department

BackgroundThis study was designed to evaluate and compare the prognostic value of the APACHE II, APACHE IV, and SAPSII scores for predicting in-hospital mortality in the ED on a large sample of patients. Earlier studies in the ED setting have either used a small sample or focused on specific diagnoses. MethodsA prospective study was conducted to include patients with higher risk of mortality from March 2016 to March 2017 in the ED of Emam Reza Hospital, northeast of Iran. Logistic regression was used to develop three models. Evaluation was performed in terms of the overall performance (Brier Score, BS, and Brier Skill Score, BSS), discrimination (Area Under the Curve, AUC), and calibration (calibration graph). ResultsA total of 2205 patients met the study criteria (53% male and median age of 64, IQR: 50–77). In-hospital mortality amounted to 19%. For APACHE II, APACHE IV, and SAPS II the BS was 0.132, 0.125 and 0.133 and the BSS was 0.156, 0.2, and 0.144, respectively. The AUC was 0.755 (0.74 to 0.779) for APACHE II, 0.794 (0.775 to 0.818) for APACHE IV, and 0.751 (0.727 to 0.776) for SAPS II. The APACHE IV showed significantly greater AUC in comparison to the APACHE II and SAPS II. The graphical evaluation revealed good calibration of the APACHE IV model. ConclusionAPACHEIV outperformed APACHEII and SAPSII in terms of discrimination and calibration. More validation is needed for using these models for decision-making about individual patients, although they would perform best at a cohort level.