Reliable Measurement Research Articles

Alveolar Measurements in Dental Anthropology: An Alternative Metric Technique in Cases of Postmortem Missing Teeth

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the mesiodistal and buccolingual alveolar diameters and the usual crown and cervical diameters and to test the reliability of these alveolar measurements for their application in dental anthropology in cases of missing teeth. Methods: A total of 127 skeletal individuals from the identified osteological collection of Certosa Cemetery (Bologna, Italy) were used in this study. After the evaluation of limiting factors, only the central incisor to the second premolar was analysed due to a null or small sample size for the molars. The mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters were measured at the level of the crown, cervix and alveolus. The relationship between the mesiodistal and buccolingual crown or cervical diameters and the alveolar measurements was assessed. Results: The buccolingual alveolar diameters showed consistently significant relationships with their equivalent cervical and crown diameters, while the mesiodistal alveolar diameters did not show consistent relationships. Furthermore, the patterns of phenotypic variation were similar for the alveolar, cervical and crown areas. Thus, the alveolar areas appear to show similar levels of variability compared with the equivalent crown and cervical areas. Conclusions: Alveolar measurements may serve as suitable proxies in comparative phenotypic variation studies and can be considered a useful supplement to the standard odontometric data collection strategy. The measurements proposed in this study for the evaluation of the alveoli are a valid alternative in situations in which teeth are not available for measurement, such as in forensic and archaeological contexts.

Electrochemical Impedance based Characterization of Membrane Separators

Abstract Separators used in classical alkaline electrolyzers have to prevent gas crossover while keeping the potential drop due to the separator to a minimum. Impedance measurements are an important way of characterizing resistivity of membrane separators. A variety of hardware has been used in the literature for such characterization. The objective of this study is to compare the relative merits and demerits of different kinds of cell hardware for such measurements. We propose the use of coin cells in membrane characterization. Here, we have compared a conventional conductivity cell with a coin cell and a T-cell, by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies on commercial Zirfon® membranes in 0.1M NaOH electrolyte. In the latter two cases, several configurations of membrane-electrode assembly have been studied in order to establish the reproducibility and reliability of measurements. The coin cell and T–cell hardware are seen to improve the reproducibility and reliability significantly over the conductivity cell for electrochemical characterization of membranes. Pros and cons along with possible sources of error in measurement have been analyzed in each case. The impedance data for Zirfon® in both coin and T-cell setup was observed to be reproducible and internally consistent.

The Impact of Internet of Things (IoT) on Integrated Sustainability Accounting Monitoring and Reporting

This study aims to analyze the role of IoT in improving the accuracy and efficiency of monitoring, identifying the impact of IoT on transparency and accountability of sustainability reporting, exploring the potential of IoT in supporting real-time data-based decision-making, and evaluating the challenges and opportunities of implementing IoT in integrated sustainability accounting. This study adopts a quantitative approach with a survey method to analyze the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) on integrated sustainability accounting monitoring and reporting. The research uses multiple linear regression for data analysis to identify significant relationships between IoT and sustainability accounting practices. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of variable measurement, the validity and reliability of the measurement instrument were rigorously tested. The findings reveal that IoT significantly enhances accuracy, efficiency, transparency, and accountability in integrated sustainability accounting monitoring and reporting, as well as supports real-time, data-driven decision-making. All hypotheses (H1 to H6) were found to be significant, confirming the positive effects of IoT on various aspects of sustainability reporting and operational effectiveness. The study is limited to examining the application of IoT in integrated sustainability accounting monitoring and reporting, focusing on the role of sensor technology and connected devices. It excludes industrial-scale applications and broader aspects of IoT-ESG integration, constrained by the resources and time available for the research.

Accelerating Performance: Reliability of Phase-Specific Measurements in Elite Speed Skaters’ 100-Meter Starts

ABSTRACT This study examined within-session reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) in mean split time, velocity, and acceleration across 100-meter start phases (0–20, 20–50, 50–70, 70–100 m) in elite speed skaters. Nineteen skaters (10 females, 9 males) completed two trials on the same day on a 400-meter indoor ice track under standardized conditions, with split times recorded every 10-meters using an automated timing system. Results showed acceptable reliability for mean split time (ICC = 0.84, CV = 7.5%, MDC = 0.00–0.15 s) and velocity (ICC = 0.79, CV = 9.2%, MDC = 0.21–1.09 m·s− 1). Mean acceleration showed moderate reliability (ICC = 0.70, CV = 12.4%) and higher variability over greater distances (70–100 m). These findings support using the 100-meter acceleration profile to assess key performance elements (initial start and sustained acceleration), emphasizing the need to tailor training and assessments to specific race phases.

Mind the leaf anatomy while taking ground truth with portable chlorophyll meters

A wide range of portable chlorophyll meters are increasingly being used to measure leaf chlorophyll content as an indicator of plant performance, providing reference data for remote sensing studies. We tested the effect of leaf anatomy on the relationship between optical assessments of chlorophyll (Chl) against biochemically determined Chl content as a reference. Optical Chl assessments included measurements taken by four chlorophyll meters: three transmittance-based (SPAD-502, Dualex-4 Scientific, and MultispeQ 2.0), one fluorescence-based (CCM-300), and vegetation indices calculated from the 400–2500 nm leaf reflectance acquired using an ASD FieldSpec and a contact plant probe. Three leaf types with different anatomy were included: dorsiventral laminar leaves, grass leaves, and needles. On laminar leaves, all instruments performed well for chlorophyll content estimation (R2 > 0.80, nRMSE < 15%), regardless of the variation in their specific internal structure (mesomorphic, scleromorphic, or scleromorphic with hypodermis), similarly to the performance of four reflectance indices (R2 > 0.90, nRMSE < 16%). For grasses, the model to predict chlorophyll content across multiple species had low performance with CCM-300 (R2 = 0.45, nRMSE = 11%) and failed for SPAD. For Norway spruce needles, the relation of CCM-300 values to chlorophyll content was also weak (R2 = 0.45, nRMSE = 11%). To improve the accuracy of data used for remote sensing algorithm development, we recommend calibration of chlorophyll meter measurements with biochemical assessments, especially for species with anatomy other than laminar dicot leaves. The take-home message is that portable chlorophyll meters perform well for laminar leaves and grasses with wider leaves, however, their accuracy is limited for conifer needles and narrow grass leaves. Species-specific calibrations are necessary to account for anatomical variations, and adjustments in sampling protocols may be required to improve measurement reliability.

Reliability and Validity of Physical Activity Measures for Children and Adolescents: The NCCOR Measures Registry Review

ABSTRACT In 2011, the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research established a Measures Registry (updated in 2020) for four key variables associated with childhood obesity. We analyzed the individual physical activity behaviors portion of the Measures Registry to highlight strengths and gaps in the reliability and validity literature for children’s and adolescents’ physical activity measures. There were 455 Measurement Registry entries included in the present analysis. Overall, 212 entries assessed reliability, most commonly test–retest (70%) or internal consistency (18%), while 342 entries assessed validity, most commonly criterion validity (89%). The lack of reporting of socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and rurality, and lack of inclusion of these individuals in studies was concerning, as was poorer reliability and validity demonstrated when these individuals were included. Future validation work should address better inclusion of diverse populations. Other next steps include devising standardized measurement development procedures and assessment tools in addition to updating the registry.

Ilio-femoral impingement angle: a new radiographic measurement.

Hip dislocations after total hip arthroplasty (THA) are a debilitating complication, often occurring in deep flexion. Current 3D modelling allows for simulating the flexion angle at which bone-on-bone impingement occurs, but it is resource-intensive and not widely available for routine clinical use. Therefore, we propose the ilio-femoral impingement angle (IFIa) as a novel, simple radiographic measure to help identify patients at higher risk for dislocation using standard radiographs. A radiographic study was performed on 117 consecutive patients who underwent preoperative planning for THA with 3D remodelling from 2021 to 2022 at a single institution. The flexion angle was recorded at which the femur impingement on the pelvis was identified from the 3D model. This was compared to the angle subtended between a vertical line, the centre of the femoral head and a line rotated upwards to the first point of contact with the ipsilateral ilium. This angle was named the ilio-femoral impingement angle (IFIa). The mean IFIa was 142.29° ± 11.49°, and it demonstrated a strong correlation with the 3D impingement angle (r = 0.69, p < 0.05). The inter-rater reliability of the IFIa measurement was high, with an ICC of 0.87, confirming the consistency of this novel radiographic measure. This study demonstrates that the novel radiographic measurement of the IFIa represented the deep flexion impingement angle of the femur on the ilium. The IFIa may be used as simple and cost-effective alternative measurement to model impingement during flexion.

Beyond Increasing Sample Sizes: Optimizing Effect Sizes in Neuroimaging Research on Individual Differences.

Linking neurobiology to relatively stable individual differences in cognition, emotion, motivation, and behavior can require large sample sizes to yield replicable results. Given the nature of between-person research, sample sizes at least in the hundreds are likely to be necessary in most neuroimaging studies of individual differences, regardless of whether they are investigating the whole brain or more focal hypotheses. However, the appropriate sample size depends on the expected effect size. Therefore, we propose four strategies to increase effect sizes in neuroimaging research, which may help to enable the detection of replicable between-person effects in samples in the hundreds rather than the thousands: (1) theoretical matching between neuroimaging tasks and behavioral constructs of interest; (2) increasing the reliability of both neural and psychological measurement; (3) individualization of measures for each participant; and (4) using multivariate approaches with cross-validation instead of univariate approaches. We discuss challenges associated with these methods and highlight strategies for improvements that will help the field to move toward a more robust and accessible neuroscience of individual differences.

The Conscious Side of 'Subliminal' Linguistic Priming: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis and Reliability Analysis of Visibility Measures.

Research on unconscious processing has been a valuable source of evidence in psycholinguistics for shedding light on the cognitive architecture of language. The automaticity of syntactic processing, in particular, has long been debated. One strategy to establish this automaticity involves detecting significant syntactic priming effects in tasks that limit conscious awareness of the stimuli. Criteria for assessing unconscious priming include the visibility (d') of masked words not differing significantly from zero and no positive correlation between visibility and priming. However, such outcomes could also arise for strictly methodological reasons, such as low statistical power in visibility tests or low reliability of dependent measures. In this study, we aimed to address these potential limitations. Through meta-analysis and Bayesian re-analysis, we find evidence of low statistical power and of participants having above-chance awareness of 'subliminal' words. Moreover, we conducted reliability analyses on a dataset from Berkovitch and Dehaene (2019), finding that low reliability in both syntactic priming and visibility tasks may better explain the absence of a significant correlation. Overall, these findings cast doubt on the validity of previous conclusions regarding the automaticity of syntactic processing based on masked priming effects. The results underscore the importance of revisiting the methods employed when exploring unconscious processing in future psycholinguistic research.

Reliability and Validity of the Articulation Motion Assessment System Using a Rotary Encoder

This study aimed to validate the effectiveness of the Articulation Motion Assessment System (AMAS), a joint kinematic evaluation system, for clinical applications. AMAS enables synchronised measurement using neurophysiological indicators, overcoming laboratory setting limitations. We compared AMAS-based ankle joint kinematic evaluations, particularly the sagittal and frontal plane angles, with two-dimensional (2D) motion analysis to determine the validity and reliability of AMAS. Both AMAS and 2D motion analysis reliably detected significant differences in angles within the sagittal and frontal planes. Correlation analysis revealed a significant moderate-to-strong correlation between the AMAS and the conventional method of 2D motion analysis, proving the measurement validity of the AMAS (ρ = 0.53–0.77 for sagittal plane angles; ρ = 0.46–0.72 for frontal plane angles). The average root mean squared error (RMSE) was significantly lower in AMAS (10.90 ± 2.93° for sagittal plane angles; 13.44 ± 1.09° for frontal plane angles) than in the inertial sensor-based three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis. Reliability analysis revealed high reliability of measurements (intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ≥ 0.76). However, the Bland–Altman analysis identified a slightly lower fixed bias, which was observed as a characteristic of each measurement system. The AMAS accurately detects ankle joint angles without being constrained by measurement environment limitations. Synchronised measurements using neurophysiological indicators potentially contribute to understanding ankle joint control mechanisms and developing rehabilitation strategies.

Adding New Components to a Composite Quality Metric

Objectives: This study illustrates how the statistical reliability of an individual measure relates to the overall reliability of a composite metric, as understanding this relationship provides additional information when evaluating measures for endorsement. Background: National quality measure endorsement processes typically evaluate individual metrics on criteria such as importance and scientific acceptability (eg, reliability). In practice, quality measures may be used in composite rating systems, which aid in the interpretation of overall quality differences. Methods: We define an individual measure’s reliability by its intraclass correlation and analytically establish the relationship between a composite’s reliability and the reliability of its components. We use real data to confirm this relationship under various scenarios. We are motivated by 8 quality measures, which comprise the Quality of Patient Care Star Ratings on Dialysis Facility Care Compare. These measure 4 primary outcomes (mortality, hospitalizations, readmissions, and blood transfusions), vascular access (2 measures), and facility processes (2 measures). Results: Depending on the reliability of the individual measures, their respective weights in the composite, and their pairwise correlations, there are circumstances when adding a new measure, even if it is less reliable, increases the composite’s reliability. For the dialysis facility Star Ratings, we find that the combined reliability of measures grouped within certain domains of care exceeded the reliability of the individual measures within those domains. Conclusions: New quality measures may add utility to a composite rating system under certain circumstances—a consideration that should, in part, factor into quality measure endorsement processes.

Improving the reliability and accuracy of population receptive field measures using a logarithmically warped stimulus

Improving the reliability and accuracy of population receptive field measures using a logarithmically warped stimulus

Reliability of running gait variability measures calculated from inertial measurement units.

Changes to the variability within biomechanical signals may reflect a change in the health of the human system. However, for running gait variability measures calculated from wearable device data, it is unknown whether a between-day difference reflects a shift in system dynamics reflective of a change in human health or is a result of poor between-day reliability of the measurement device or the biomechanical signal. This study investigated the reliability of stride time and sacral acceleration variability measures calculated from inertial measurement units (IMUs). Nineteen runners completed six treadmill running trials on two occasions seven days apart. Stride time and sacral acceleration signals were obtained using IMUs. Stride time variability and complexity were calculated using the coefficient of variation (CV) and detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), respectively. Sacral acceleration regularity was quantified using sample entropy with a range of input parameters m (vector length) and r (similarity threshold). Between-day reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimum detectable change. Stride time CV displayed moderate relative reliability (ICC = 0.672), but with a large absolute minimum detectable change=0.525%, whilst stride time DFA-α displayed poor relative reliability (ICC = 0.457) and yielded large minimum detectable changes (≥ 0.208). Sample entropy displayed good relative reliability in mediolateral and resultant sacral acceleration signals for certain combinations of the parameters m and r, although again with large minimum detectable changes. Researchers should be cognisant of these reliability metrics when interpreting changes in running gait variability measures in clinical contexts.

Frequency-domain thermoreflectance with beam offset without the spot distortion for accurate thermal conductivity measurement of anisotropic materials.

The measurement of thermal conductivities of anisotropic materials and atomically thin films is pivotal for the thermal design of next-generation electronic devices. Frequency-domain thermoreflectance (FDTR) is a pump-probe technique that is known for its accurate and straightforward approach to determining thermal conductivity and stands out as one of the most effective methodologies. Existing research has focused on advancing a measurement system that incorporates beam-offset FDTR. In this approach, the irradiation positions of the pump and probe lasers are spatially offset to enhance sensitivity to in-plane thermal conductivity. Previous implementations primarily adjusted the laser positions by modifying the mirror angle, which inadvertently distorted the laser spot. Such distortion significantly compromises measurement accuracy, which is especially critical in beam-offset FDTR, where the spot radius has a crucial impact on measured values. This study introduces an advanced FDTR measurement system that realizes probe laser offset without inducing spot distortion, utilizing a relay optical system. The system was applied to measure the thermal conductivities of both isotropic standard materials and anisotropic samples, including highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and graphene. The findings corroborate those of prior studies, validating the measurement's reliability in terms of sensitivity. This development of a beam-offset FDTR system without laser spot distortion establishes a robust basis for accurate thermal conductivity values of anisotropic materials via thermoreflectance methods.

Decision-making technique with neutrosophic [formula omitted]-rough set approach for sustainable industry evaluation using sine trigonometric operators

To overcome the shortcomings of existing fuzzy decision-making models, the approximation of the neutrosophic Z-number becomes an invaluable tool in complicated circumstances including incomplete and contradictory data. To overcome the challenges of methods like multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), trapezoidal neutrosophic numbers (TrNNs), and neutrosophic Z-numbers (NZNs), this approach integrates rough set theory, neutrosophic set theory, and Z-numbers to introduce Neutrosophic Z-Rough data. Issues like measurement reliability in TrNNs and continuity difficulties in NZNs can be addressed with the use of sophisticated aggregation techniques and Neutrosophic Z-Rough numbers (NZRNs). Using the periodicity and symmetry of the sine-trigonometric function (STF), this work investigates sine-trigonometric approaches to Neutrosophic Z-Rough numbers. New Rough Neutrosophic Z-number sine-trigonometric aggregation operators are obtained by merging the special features of the STF with the NZRNs. The method’s practical applicability within the NZRN framework is demonstrated by applying these operational notions to the MCDM approach, which supports sustainable decision-making in commercial contexts. In addition to improving the NZRN domain’s decision-making efficiency and rationality, this study guarantees a consistent and trustworthy assessment method. New approaches based on NZRNs are necessary since conventional MCDM frameworks are unable to handle the uncertainties brought forth by Industry 4.0. Results from a battery of tests—including sensitivity analyses, reliability evaluations, and comparison studies show that the suggested method is fresh, trustworthy, and excellent for gauging corporate sustainability.

Comparative analysis of brain volumetric measurements between contrast-enhanced and non-contrast MRI images.

Clinical brain MRI scans, including contrast-enhanced (CE-MR) images, represent an underutilized resource for neuroscience research due to technical heterogeneity. To evaluate the reliability of morphometric measurements from CE-MR scans compared to non-contrast MR (NC-MR) scans in normal individuals. T1-weighted CE-MR and NC-MR scans from 59 normal participants (aged 21-73 years) were compared using CAT12 and SynthSeg + segmentation tools. Volumetric measurements and age prediction efficacy were analyzed. SynthSeg + demonstrated high reliability (ICCs > 0.90) for most brain structures between CE-MR and NC-MR scans, with discrepancies in CSF and ventricular volumes. CAT12 showed inconsistent performance. Age prediction models using SynthSeg + yielded comparable results for both scan types. Deep learning-based approaches like SynthSeg + can reliably process CE-MR scans for morphometric analysis, potentially broadening the application of clinically acquired CE-MR images in neuroimaging research.

Navigated instrumentation and ligament tensioning device enhances initial gap acquisition during total knee arthroplasty procedure: A cadaveric study.

Gap-balanced total knee arthroplasty (TKA) technique relies on initial ligament evaluation, particularly in patient-specific implantation using computer-assisted technologies. This cadaveric study aimed to compare the reproducibility and reliability of medial and lateral gap measurements between manual stress testing and dynamic ligament balancer. Initial gap acquisitions were assessed from eight cadaveric knees (four specimens) during the same navigated TKA procedure by five differently skilled surgeons (three seniors and two juniors). Medial and lateral gaps were sequentially acquired from extension to maximum knee flexion, applying manual stress prior to any bone cuts (conventional technique), and using intra-articular tensioning device placed between the tibial cut and the native femur (instrumented technique). Reproducibility was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), stratified by the measurement technique, the type of gaps and the operator experience. Differences in gaps (mm) between techniques were assessed using the Bland and Altmann method. The instrumented technique showed higher ICCs than the conventional technique for medial and lateral gaps (0.87 vs. 0.60, P = 0.002, and 0.92 vs. 0.25, p < 0.0001, respectively), and showed no difference in ICCs between medial and lateral gap acquisitions (0.87 vs. 0.92, p = 0.8). Senior surgeons achieved higher ICCs than juniors, while non-significant with both techniques. Differences in gaps between techniques increased with knee flexion angle (0.8, 2.8 and 3.5 mm at 10°, 45° and 90° of flexion angle, respectively) and decreased with the operator experience (p = 0.003). The instrumented balancing technique offered better reproducibility than using manual valgus and varus stress, when measuring medial and lateral gaps. Tensioning devices may play a significant role in enhancing initial gap acquisition, disregarding the flexion angle and the operator experience. Level IV (observational study involving cadaveric specimens).

Predicting bursal-side supraspinatus tendon tears with the acromioclavicular angle

BackgroundBursal-side supraspinatus tendon tears are a common form of rotator cuff injury, often associated with acromial impingement and other extrinsic factors. Existing anatomical parameters, such as the lateral acromion angle, acromial index, and critical shoulder angle, have been studied in relation to rotator cuff tears; however, reliable indicators specific to the risk of bursal-side supraspinatus tears remain lacking. The acromioclavicular (AC) angle, which reflects the angular relationship between the acromion and clavicle, may offer a new predictive marker for this specific pathology. MethodsIn this retrospective case-control study, patients presenting with shoulder pain between January 2016 and February 2020 were reviewed. Group 1 included patients with isolated bursal-side supraspinatus tendon tears confirmed by arthroscopy, while Group 2 consisted of age- and gender-matched controls without rotator cuff pathology. The AC angle was measured using both X-ray and MRI. Diagnostic performance was assessed through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, identifying the optimal cut-point with Youden's index. Reliability was measured using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) for both intra- and inter-rater reliability. ResultsThe ROC analysis determined an optimal AC angle cut-point of ≤160°. X-ray measurements showed moderate diagnostic value (AUC 0.60, sensitivity 67.2 %, specificity 51.7 %), while MRI measurements demonstrated good diagnostic performance (AUC 0.79, sensitivity 84.5 %, specificity 70.7 %). X-ray yielded high sensitivity but low specificity, suggesting its utility as an initial screening tool, whereas MRI provided improved diagnostic accuracy. Reliability assessments indicated high intra- and inter-rater reliability for AC angle measurements across both imaging modalities (ICC >0.80). ConclusionThe AC angle, particularly when measured on MRI, may serve as a valuable diagnostic marker for identifying isolated bursal-side supraspinatus tendon tears. While X-ray can be utilized as an accessible screening tool, combining it with clinical assessments and MRI is recommended for greater diagnostic precision. Further multi-center, prospective studies are warranted to confirm the clinical utility of the AC angle in predicting rotator cuff pathology.

Geographic tongue, fissured tongue, and angular cheilitis associated with the diagnosis of psoriasis in adult patients: a cross-sectional study

Objective. This work aimed to determine the frequency of geographic tongue, fissured tongue, and angular cheilitis associated with the diagnosis of psoriasis in adult patients. Material and methods. This was a cross-sectional study and was conducted between February and April 2023, including a total of 120 adult patients (60 with psoriasis and 60 without psoriasis) from the Dermatology Service at “Victor Lazarte Echegaray” Hospital. To determine the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the oral clinical measurement, a pilot study was conducted with 22 participants, resulting in Kappa values above 0.91. On the other hand, the diagnosis of psoriasis was made by a dermatology specialist. The Chi-square test was used to analyze results, considering a significance level of 5%. Results. Frequency of fissured tongue was associated with the diagnosis of psoriasis (p=0.023); this association also was found in patients aged 35 to 64 years (p=0.020), nail psoriasis (p=0.037) and late-onset psoriasis (p=0.03). Conclusions. The fissured tongue is associated with diagnosing psoriasis, mainly in patients in the 35-64 age group and with nail psoriasis and late-onset psoriasis.

Cross-device and test–retest reliability of speech acoustic measurements derived from consumer-grade mobile recording devices

Cross-device and test–retest reliability of speech acoustic measurements derived from consumer-grade mobile recording devices