High-quality Instruments Research Articles

The Nebraska Mesonet: Technical Overview of an Automated State Weather Network

AbstractThe Nebraska Mesonet was established in 1981 as one of the nation’s first automated state weather networks. “Automated” is defined by the nature of the observations being made and recorded by machine, as opposed to observations made and recorded manually. At the time of inception, the five observing locations were geared toward servicing agricultural production applications. The Nebraska Mesonet has grown to 69 stations (as of 2018) and is now a multipurpose environmental observing network under the Nebraska State Climate Office (NSCO). The network is composed of environmental observation stations, sited using best practices for mesoscale and microscale environment situations. Precise observations are acquired using high-quality instrumentation, following manufacturer recommendations for calibrations and maintenance. Calibrations are performed in the NSCO calibration laboratory. Uses for the data include but are not limited to water management, drought monitoring, energy production, health, environmental research, animal management, and crop pest management. This paper provides a technical overview and history of the network, outlining current practices for station siting, maintenance, data quality assurance, and data utility.

Evidence-based practice educational intervention studies: a systematic review of what is taught and how it is measured

BackgroundDespite the established interest in evidence-based practice (EBP) as a core competence for clinicians, evidence for how best to teach and evaluate EBP remains weak. We sought to systematically assess coverage of the five EBP steps, review the outcome domains measured, and assess the properties of the instruments used in studies evaluating EBP educational interventions.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of controlled studies (i.e. studies with a separate control group) which had investigated the effect of EBP educational interventions. We used citation analysis technique and tracked the forward and backward citations of the index articles (i.e. the systematic reviews and primary studies included in an overview of the effect of EBP teaching) using Web of Science until May 2017. We extracted information on intervention content (grouped into the five EBP steps), and the outcome domains assessed. We also searched the literature for published reliability and validity data of the EBP instruments used.ResultsOf 1831 records identified, 302 full-text articles were screened, and 85 included. Of these, 46 (54%) studies were randomised trials, 51 (60%) included postgraduate level participants, and 63 (75%) taught medical professionals. EBP Step 3 (critical appraisal) was the most frequently taught step (63 studies; 74%). Only 10 (12%) of the studies taught content which addressed all five EBP steps. Of the 85 studies, 52 (61%) evaluated EBP skills, 39 (46%) knowledge, 35 (41%) attitudes, 19 (22%) behaviours, 15 (18%) self-efficacy, and 7 (8%) measured reactions to EBP teaching delivery. Of the 24 instruments used in the included studies, 6 were high-quality (achieved ≥3 types of established validity evidence) and these were used in 14 (29%) of the 52 studies that measured EBP skills; 14 (41%) of the 39 studies that measured EBP knowledge; and 8 (26%) of the 35 studies that measured EBP attitude.ConclusionsMost EBP educational interventions which have been evaluated in controlled studies focus on teaching only some of the EBP steps (predominantly critically appraisal of evidence) and did not use high-quality instruments to measure outcomes. Educational packages and instruments which address all EBP steps are needed to improve EBP teaching.

Patient empowerment in young persons with chronic conditions: Psychometric properties of the Gothenburg Young Persons Empowerment Scale (GYPES).

PurposeEmpowerment in patients can lead to a higher participation in care and self-management skills. However, there are a limited number of high-quality instruments to assess empowerment and its various dimensions in young persons. The aim was to develop and assess the psychometric properties of the Gothenburg Young Persons Empowerment Scale (GYPES).MethodsThe GYPES is a 15-item questionnaire designed to measure patient empowerment in young persons with chronic conditions. Three studies were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale. Studies I and II assessed face, content and factorial validity, as well as responsiveness and reliability in young persons with congenital heart disease and diabetes. After these studies problematic items were identified and reworded and the final version of the GYPES was tested in young persons with diabetes in study III.ResultsThe content and face validity of the scale was confirmed in study I. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in study II supported the five-factor structure of the GYPES. However, one item had a low factor loading. The scale was revised and evaluated in study III. CFA of this version supported adequate model fit with factor loadings ranging from 0.385–0.941. A second-order model had an adequate fit to the data. Cronbach’s alpha for the overall scale was 0.858 and for each subscale, alphas range from 0.609–0.858.ConclusionsGYPES was developed to measure patient empowerment in young persons with chronic conditions. Preliminary evidence supports that the GYPES may be a valid and reliable tool for assessing young persons’ empowerment.

Solution to the Problem of Calibration of Low-Cost Air Quality Measurement Sensors in Networks.

We provide a simple, remote, continuous calibration technique suitable for application in a hierarchical network featuring a few well-maintained, high-quality instruments ("proxies") and a larger number of low-cost devices. The ideas are grounded in a clear definition of the purpose of a low-cost network, defined here as providing reliable information on air quality at small spatiotemporal scales. The technique assumes linearity of the sensor signal. It derives running slope and offset estimates by matching mean and standard deviations of the sensor data to values derived from proxies over the same time. The idea is extremely simple: choose an appropriate proxy and an averaging-time that is sufficiently long to remove the influence of short-term fluctuations but sufficiently short that it preserves the regular diurnal variations. The use of running statistical measures rather than cross-correlation of sites means that the method is robust against periods of missing data. Ideas are first developed using simulated data and then demonstrated using field data, at hourly and 1 min time-scales, from a real network of low-cost semiconductor-based sensors. Despite the almost naïve simplicity of the method, it was robust for both drift detection and calibration correction applications. We discuss the use of generally available geographic and environmental data as well as microscale land-use regression as means to enhance the proxy estimates and to generalize the ideas to other pollutants with high spatial variability, such as nitrogen dioxide and particulates. These improvements can also be used to minimize the required number of proxy sites.

Glass and Alchemy in Early Modern Europe: An Analytical Study of Glassware from the Oberstockstall Laboratory in Austria.

Glass distillation equipment from an early modern alchemical laboratory was analyzed for its technology of manufacture and potential origin. Chemical data show that the assemblage can be divided into sodium-rich, colorless distillation vessels made with glass from Venice or its European imitation, and potassium-rich dark-brown non-specialized forms produced within the technological tradition of forest glass typical for central and north-western Europe. These results complete our understanding of the supply of technical apparatus at one of the best-preserved alchemical laboratories and highlight an early awareness of the need for high-quality instruments to guarantee the successful outcome of specialized chemical operations. This study demonstrates the potential of archaeological science to inform historical research around the practice of early chemistry and the development of modern science.

Participatory Sensing or Participatory Nonsense?

Citizen Science with mobile and wearable technology holds the possibility of unprecedented observation systems. Experts and policy makers are torn between enthusiasm and scepticism regarding the value of the resulting data, as their decision making traditionally relies on high-quality instrumentation and trained personnel measuring in a standardized way. In this paper, we (1) present an empirical behavior taxonomy of errors exhibited in non-expert smartphone-based sensing, based on four small exploratory studies, and discuss measures to mitigate their effects. We then present a large summative study (N=535) that compares instructions and technical measures to address these errors, both from the perspective of improvements to error frequency and perceived usability. Our results show that (2) technical measures without explanation notably reduce the perceived usability and (3) technical measures and instructions nicely complement each other: Their combination achieves a significant reduction in observed error rates while not affecting the user experience negatively.

Timik Malignite İzlenimi Veren Mediastinal Hamartom

Mediastinum is an extremely rare location for hamartoma and according to our knowledge a few case reported in the literature until now. When the imaging modalities demonstrate a mass located in the antero-superior mediastinum compatible with thymoma, the surgical resection remains the mainstay for the treatment. Although, many approaches exist for the resection of these tumors, robotic assisted thoracoscopic surgery is gaining popularity with different surgical components include right versus left side approach, number of incisions and extent of resection. Its technical superiority with excellent exposure and high quality instruments and minimally invasive manner make this approach first option. Herein, we presented a patient who underwent roboticassisted mediastinal mass resection. After resection, interestingly the final pathology was reported as chondroid hamartoma and it was infiltrated with prostatic carcinoma.

A New Music Instrument from Ancient Times: Modern Reconstruction of the Greek Lyre of Hermes using 3D Laser Scanning, Advanced Computer Aided Design and Audio Analysis

The current paper proposes a unique approach by examining the ancient Greek literature and antique black figure amphorae’s representations (also known as melanomorpha) for the reconstruction, after digital design processing, of a modern top-quality replica of an ancient tortoise lyre. Through the review of certain ancient Greek documents, the observation of the amphorae’s relevant representations, 3D scanning and reverse engineering as well as 3D design using advanced Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, this study illustrates the detailed drawings and the fabrication procedures followed for a modern version of the ancient musical instrument. By using only materials available in antiquity such as specific kinds of wood, tortoise carcasses and sheep strings, as well as modern carpentry technology, a high-quality musical instrument was produced suited for use by today’s professional musicians. Two variations were produced and tested utilizing the Phrygian and Lydian ancient Greek music scales in a specialized unechoic chamber, in order to define their sound properties. Typical statistics were computed in the frequency domain such as spectral centroid, spectral standard deviation, spectral skewness, spectral kurtosis along with spectral rolloff and spectral smoothness in order to justify the lyres’ quality as musical instruments. The result was a prototype music product using advanced 3D design procedures that can be produced in a rather repeatable manner.

Neutronics experiments, radiation detectors and nuclear techniques development in the EU in support of the TBM design for ITER

The development of high quality nuclear data, radiation detectors and instrumentation techniques for fusion technology applications in Europe is supported by Fusion for Energy (F4E) and conducted in a joint and collaborative effort by several European research associations (ENEA, KIT, JSI, NPI, AGH, and CCFE) joined to form the “Consortium on Nuclear Data Studies/Experiments in Support of TBM Activities”.This paper presents the neutronics activities carried out by the Consortium. A selection of available results are presented. Among then a benchmark experiment on a pure copper block to study the Cu cross sections at neutron energies relevant to fusion, the fabrication of prototype neutron detectors able to withstand harsh environment and temperature >200°C (artificial diamond and self-powered detectors) developed for operating in ITER-TBM as well as measurement of relevant activation and integral gas production cross-sections. The latter measured at neutron energies relevant to IFMIF (>14MeV) and the development of innovative experimental techniques for tritium measurement in TBM.

Validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the 'Fibromyalgia Participation Questionnaire' to the Spanish population: study protocol.

There are few high-quality instruments to evaluate the participation and social functioning of fibromyalgia patients. The Fibromyalgia Participation Questionnaire (FPQ) is a questionnaire that evaluates these aspects with high reliability and validity in its German original version. The aim of this work was to describe the translation and cross-cultural adaptation process of the FPQ into Spanish and its validation to ensure the equivalence against the original version. The questionnaire will be translated according to the FACIT methodology, and it will be tested in the Clinical Management Unit of North Almeria Health Area. This methodology includes several stages: double forward translation, reconciled version, back-translation, review of the previous versions and development of the prefinal version for the pretest. Once the pretest ends, the final version of the questionnaire will be developed, which will be subjected to a validation process to study its psychometric properties. Reliability will be studied by internal consistency and test-retest reliability through Cronbach's alpha and Pearson's correlation coefficient, respectively. External and construct validity will be analysed using correlation coefficients, content validity with an empirical analysis, and a differential item functioning analysis will be employed to measure discriminative validity. The presence of ceiling and floor effects will be calculated too. The validation of the FPQ into different languages will allow better evaluation and treatment based on the observed limitations fibromyalgia patients suffer from, as well as bringing the possibility to compare between other countries and generalize its use in the scientific community.

Defining quality indicators for practices, instruments, and programs across the JJ-TRIALS behavioral health services cascade

In order to address JJ-TRIALS goals of: a) improving behavioral health services for youth with substance use problems; and b) advancing the investigation of implementation efforts in the field of behavioral health, the JJ-TRIALS Workgroup on Evidence-Based Practices (EPA) was first charged with defining quality indicators for practices and programs. We limited that effort to programs, practices, and instruments relevant to the steps in the Behavioral Services Cascade (Screening, Referral and Linkage, Assessment, Prevention and Psychosocial Treatment) for five identified clinical problem areas (Substance use, Mood disorder, ADHD, Trauma exposure, HIV risk). Problem areas were selected as those of moderate prevalence among adolescents in community justice systems with problem substance use. Quality indicators were consistent with the AACAP Practice Parameters Clinical Standard, as reflecting either “rigorous empirical evidence” or “overwhelming clinical consensus” (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2013). In a series of directed literature reviews, we catalogued evidence-based programs and instruments addressing these problem areas that had been identified as most strongly supported by existing systematic reviews (e.g., SAMHSA, 2011) and then categorized them into tiers, based on their applicability for JJ-TRIALS efforts (e.g., number of TRIALS problem areas addressed, administration format, delivery setting, inclusion of family collaterals). These reviews identified 18 psychometrically sound screening instruments (3 tiers), 16 sound assessment instruments (4 tiers), 43 EB prevention programs (3 tiers), and 39 EB treatment programs (3 tiers). While the evidence base regarding programs that focus on cross-system linkage (e.g., from screening in a probation setting, with a subsequent referral to a behavioral health provider) is less established, EPA was able to designate three tiers of such programs, defined both by their soundness and their applicability to juvenile justice community settings. As a second set of quality indicators, we considered core content components (that may cut across particular instruments or programs). For assessment, these included eight elements essential for clinical treatment planning for adolescents (e.g., family relationships, readiness for change: American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2013). For treatment programs, these included treatment modalities identified as effectively addressing one or another of the TRIALS problem areas (e.g., CBT; Chorpita, et al., 2011). A final quality indicator for assessment and treatment considered procedural elements (that relate to how an instrument or program is used by a service provider), such as manualization, staff training, and fidelity monitoring (e.g., Brannigan, 2004; Howell & Lipsey, 2012). EPA workgroup products will be incorporated into future JJ-TRIALS training efforts; they will be used to generate menus of high-quality instrument and program options to help juvenile justice partners and the behavioral health agencies with which they collaborate to set implementation goals for participation in JJ-TRIALS.

Integrating satellite observations and modern climate measurements with the recent sedimentary record: An example from Southeast Alaska

[1] Assessments of climate change over time scales that exceed the last 100 years require robust integration of high-quality instrument records with high-resolution paleoclimate proxy data. In this study, we show that the recent biogenic sediments accumulating in two temperate ice-free fjords in Southeast Alaska preserve evidence of North Pacific Ocean climate variability as recorded by both instrument networks and satellite observations. Multicore samples EW0408-32MC and EW0408-43MC were investigated with 137Cs and excess 210Pb geochronometry, three-dimensional computed tomography, high-resolution scanning XRF geochemistry, and organic stable isotope analyses. EW0408-32MC (57.162°N, 135.357°W, 146 m depth) is a moderately bioturbated continuous record that spans AD ∼1930–2004. EW0408-43MC (56.965°N, 135.268°W, 91 m depth) is composed of laminated diatom oozes, a turbidite, and a hypopycnal plume (river flood) deposit. A discontinuous event-based varve chronology indicates 43MC spans AD ∼1940–1981. Decadal-scale fluctuations in sedimentary Br/Cl ratios accurately reflect changes in marine organic matter accumulation that display the same temporal pattern as that of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. An estimated Sitka summer productivity parameter calibrated using SeaWiFS satellite observations support these relationships. The correlation of North Pacific climate regime states, primary productivity, and sediment geochemistry indicate the accumulation of biogenic sediment in Southeast Alaska temperate fjords can be used as a sensitive recorder of past productivity variability, and by inference, past climate conditions in the high-latitude Gulf of Alaska.

Were the Victorians cleverer than us? The decline in general intelligence estimated from a meta-analysis of the slowing of simple reaction time

The Victorian era was marked by an explosion of innovation and genius, per capita rates of which appear to have declined subsequently. The presence of dysgenic fertility for IQ amongst Western nations, starting in the 19th century, suggests that these trends might be related to declining IQ. This is because high-IQ people are more productive and more creative. We tested the hypothesis that the Victorians were cleverer than modern populations, using high-quality instruments, namely measures of simple visual reaction time in a meta-analytic study. Simple reaction time measures correlate substantially with measures of general intelligence (g) and are considered elementary measures of cognition. In this study we used the data on the secular slowing of simple reaction time described in a meta-analysis of 14 age-matched studies from Western countries conducted between 1889 and 2004 to estimate the decline in g that may have resulted from the presence of dysgenic fertility. Using psychometric meta-analysis we computed the true correlation between simple reaction time and g, yielding a decline of −1.16 IQ points per decade or −13.35 IQ points since Victorian times. These findings strongly indicate that with respect to g the Victorians were substantially cleverer than modern Western populations.

Multisource Feedback: Can It Meet Criteria for Good Assessment?

High-quality instruments are required to assess and provide feedback to practicing physicians. Multisource feedback (MSF) uses questionnaires from colleagues, coworkers, and patients to provide data. It enables feedback in areas of increasing interest to the medical profession: communication, collaboration, professionalism, and interpersonal skills. The purpose of the study was to apply the 7 assessment criteria as a framework to examine the quality of MSF instruments used to assess practicing physicians. The criteria for assessment (validity, reproducibility, equivalence, feasibility, educational effect, catalytic effect, and acceptability) were examined for 3 sets of instruments, drawing on published data. Three MSF instruments with a sufficient body of research for inclusion-the Canadian Physician Achievement Review instruments and the United Kingdom's GMC and CFEP360 instruments-were examined. There was evidence that MSF has been assessed against all criteria except educational effects, although variably for some of the instruments. The greatest emphasis was on validity, reproducibility, and feasibility for all of the instruments. Assessments of the catalytic effect were not available for 1 of the 2 UK instruments and minimally examined for the other. Data about acceptability are implicit in the UK instruments from their endorsement by the Royal College of General Practice and explicitly examined in the Canadian instruments. The 7 criteria provided a useful framework to assess the quality of MSF instruments and enable an approach to analyzing gaps in instrument assessment. These criteria are likely to be helpful in assessing other instruments used in medical education.

Single-Dish Radio Polarimetry in the F-GAMMA Program with the Effelsberg 100-m Radio Telescope

Studying the variability of polarized AGN jet emission in the radio band is crucial for understanding the dynamics of moving shocks as well as the structure of the underlying magnetic field. The 100-m Effelsberg Telescope is a high-quality instrument for studying the long-term variability of both total and polarized intensity as well as the electric-vector position angle. Since 2007, the F-GAMMA program has been monitoring the linear polarized emission of roughly 60 blazars at 11 frequencies between 2.7 and 43 GHz. Here, we describe the calibration of the polarimetric data at 5 and 10 GHz and the resulting F-GAMMA full-Stokes light curves for the exemplary case of the radio galaxy 3C 111.

High precision electrochemical micromachining based on confined etchant layer technique

High-quality products come from high-quality instrument. We present here an optimized instrument for electrochemical micromachining, in which a granite bridge base, a macro–micro dual driven positioning stage and a force-displacement sensing module are combined to promote dramatically the tool–workpiece alignment, in-situ monitoring and product quality. As a testing experiment, a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microlens array with a diameter of 110μm and a height of 3.5μm has been transferred successfully onto the surface of an n-GaAs wafer by the confined etchant layer technique (CELT). The machining tolerance is about 3.4nm and the surface roughness is lower than 8.0nm. Moreover, the presented techniques have significance in the precise electrochemical instruments for not only micromachining but also scanning electrochemical probe techniques.

Production of Forged Rolls High-Quality Instrument from Adamite Steel

The paper deals with manufacturing technology for the forged rolls and sleeves from adamite steel at Electrostal Plant of Heavy Machinery (JSC «EZTM»). The influence of different heat treatments on microstructure and mechanical properties of the level of adamite steel is presented.

Retention and growth of urinary stones: insights from imaging

Recent work in nephrolithiasis has benefited from 2 special kinds of imaging: endoscopic study of patient kidneys with high-quality instruments, and examination of stones with microscopic computed tomography (micro CT). The combination of these has provided new evidence that there is more than 1 mechanism by which stones are retained in the kidney until they achieve sizes to be clinically relevant. This review describes what is known about the formation of stones on Randall's plaque, the formation of stones on ductal plugs and the ways in which stones may grow in free solution within the calyceal or pelvic spaces. Studies of urolithiasis need to recognize that any group of "stone formers" likely includes patients who differ fundamentally regarding which mechanism of stone formation is the primary route for their stones. Separation of patients on the basis of which mechanism (or combination of mechanisms) underlies their disease will be important for advancing research in the area of urolithiasis.

A new sinusoidal model for synthesis of musical instruments

Many algorithms have been developed over the years to synthesize acoustic sounds and are now used commercially in acoustic synthesizers and digital keyboard products. The issue with these algorithms is the tradeoff among sound fidelity, algorithm complexity, and hardware/storage requirements-the last two of which are directly related to the cost of the system. In this reported work, we introduce a new sinusoidal model for digitally synthesizing musical instruments. The new algorithm has unusually high fidelity, minimal memory requirements, and high computational efficiency. The algorithm is based on the “analysis-by-synthesis overlap add” (ABS/OLA) sinusoidal model, which models musical sounds as a short-time weighted sum of constant frequencies, phases, and amplitudes. The new model we introduce incorporates a novel dynamic pitch and frequency control feature in synthesis that allows very high quality instrument sounds to be generated over a wide range of pitches from a very short sampled recording of the musical instrument. Sound modifications can be performed parametrically within the framework all using fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) for high efficiency. Examples of synthetically generated non-western musical instruments will be presented during the conference and contrasted with competing technologies to illustrate the advantages of the new method.

A Consensus Modeling Approach for the Determination of Stratum Corneum Thickness Using In-Vivo Confocal Raman Spectroscopy

The measurement of stratum corneum (SC) thickness from in-vivo Raman water concentration depth profiles is gaining in popularity and appeal due to the availability and ease of use of in-vivo confocal Raman measurement systems. The foundation of these measurements relies on high-quality confocal Raman spectroscopy of skin and the robust numerical analysis of water profiles, which allow for accurate determination of SC thickness. These measurements are useful for studying intrinsic skin hydration profiles at different body sites and for determining hydration properties of skin related to topically applied materials. While the use of high-quality in-vivo Raman instrumentation has become routine and its use for SC thickness measurement widely reported, there is lack of agreement as to the best method of computing SC thickness values from Raman water profiles. Several methods have been proposed and are currently in use for such computations, but none of these methods has been critically evaluated. The work reported in this paper describes a new method for the determination of stratum corneum thickness from in-vivo confocal Raman water profiles. The method represents a consensus approach to the problem, which was found necessary to apply in order to properly model and quantify the large diversity of water profile types encountered in typical in-vivo Raman water measurement. The methodology is evaluated for performance using three criteria: 1) frequency of minimum fitting error on modeling to a standard numerical function; 2) frequency of minimum model error for consensus vs. individual SC thickness values; and 3) correlation with reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) values for SC thickness. The correlation study shows this approach to be a reasonable replacement for the more tedious and time-consuming RCM method with R2 = 0.68 and RMS error = 3.7 microns over the three body sites tested (cheek, forearm and leg).