Interference Measurements Research Articles

Comparable Minimally Important Differences and Responsiveness of Brief Pain Inventory and PEG Pain Scales across 6 Trials

The 3-item pain intensity (P), interference with the enjoyment of life (E), and interference with general activity (G), or PEG, has become one of the most widely used measures of pain severity and interference. The minimally important differences (MID) and responsiveness of the PEG are essential metrics for solidifying its role in research and clinical care. The current study aims to establish the MID and responsiveness of the PEG by synthesizing data from 1,710 participants across 6 controlled trials. MIDs were estimated using absolute score changes among individuals reporting their pain was “a little better” on a retrospective global change anchor as well as distribution-based estimates using standard deviation thresholds and 1 and 2 standard errors of measurement. Responsiveness was assessed using standardized response means, area under the curve, and treatment effect sizes. MID estimates for the PEG ranged from 0.60 to 1.1 when using 0.35 SD, and 0.78 to 1.22 using 1 standard error of measurement. MID estimates using the global anchor had somewhat more variability but most estimates ranged from 1.0 to 1.75. Responsiveness effect sizes were generally large (>.80) for standardized response means and moderate (>.50) for treatment effect. Similarly, the most area under the curve values demonstrated an acceptable level of scale responsiveness (≥.70). Importantly, MID estimates and responsiveness of the PEG and BPI scales were largely comparable when aggregating data across trials. Our synthesis indicates that 1 point is a reasonable MID estimate on these 0- to 10-point pain scales, with 2 points being an upper bound. PerspectiveThis article synthesizes data from 6 clinical trials to establish the minimally important difference (MID) and responsiveness of the 3-item PEG pain scale. The PEG demonstrated good responsiveness, and 1 to 2 points proved to be reasonable estimates for the lower and upper bounds of the MID.

Biopsychosocial Factors Associated With Pain and Pain-Related Outcomes in Adults and Children With Sickle Cell Disease: A Multivariable Analysis of the GRNDaD Multicenter Registry

Pain is the primary symptomatic manifestation of sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited hemoglobinopathy. The characteristics that influence pain experiences and outcomes in SCD are not fully understood. The primary objective of this study was to use multivariable modeling to examine associations of biopsychosocial variables with a disease-specific measure of pain interference known as pain impact. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Global Research Network for Data and Discovery national SCD registry. A total of 657 children and adults with SCD were included in the analysis. This sample was 60% female with a median age of 34 (interquartile range 26–42 years) and a chronic pain prevalence of 64%. The model accounted for 58% of the variance in pain impact. Low social (P < .001) and emotional (P < .001) functioning, increasing age (P = .004), low income (P < .001), and high acute painful episodes (P = .007) were most strongly associated with high pain impact in our multivariable model. Additionally, multivariable modeling of pain severity and physical function in 2 comparable samples of registry participants revealed that increasing age and low social functioning were also strongly associated with higher pain severity and low physical functioning. Overall, the results suggest that social and emotional functioning are more strongly associated with pain impact in individuals with SCD than previously studied biological modifiers such as SCD genotype, hemoglobin, and percentage fetal hemoglobin. Future research using longitudinally collected data is needed to confirm these findings. PerspectiveThis study reveals that psychosocial (ie, social and emotional functioning) and demographic (ie, age) variables may play an important role in predicting pain and pain-related outcomes in SCD. Our findings can inform future multicenter prospective longitudinal studies aimed at identifying modifiable psychosocial predictors of adverse pain outcomes in SCD.

EMRNet: Efficient Modulation Recognition Networks for Continuous-Wave Radar Signals

Automatic modulation recognition (AMR) of radar signals is a currently active area, especially in electronic reconnaissance, where systems need to quickly identify the intercepted signal and formulate corresponding interference measures on computationally limited platforms. However, previous methods generally have high computational complexity and considerable network parameters, making the system unable to detect the signal timely in resource-constrained environments. This letter firstly proposes an efficient modulation recognition network (EMRNet) with tiny and lowlatency models to match the requirements for mobile reconnaissance equipments. One-dimensional residual depthwise separable convolutions block (1D-RDSB) with an adaptive size of receptive fields is developed in EMRNet to replace the traditional convolution block. With 1D-RDSB, EMRNet achieves a high classification accuracy and dramatically reduces computation cost and network paraments. The experiment results show that EMRNet can achieve higher precision than existing 2D-CNN methods, while the computational cost and parament amount of EMRNet are reduced by about 13.93× and 80.88×, respectively.

Do baseline patient reported outcome measures predict changes in self-reported function, following a chronic pain rehabilitation programme?

Background Interdisciplinary pain management programmes, based on cognitive-behavioural principles, aim to improve physical and psychological functioning and enhance self-management in people living with chronic pain. Currently there is insufficient evidence about whether psychological, biological or social factors are predictive of positive outcomes following pain rehabilitation. This study aims to evaluate predictors of change in Brief Pain Inventory – pain interference score (BPI) in a clinical data set to determine whether age, sex and baseline outcome measures are predictive of improvement in pain interference following pain rehabilitation. Methods A retrospective, pragmatic observational analysis of routinely collected clinical data in two pain rehabilitation programmes, Balanced Life Programme (BLP) and Get Back Active (GBA) was conducted. Standard regression and hierarchical regression analyses were used to identify predictors of change to assess temporal changes in BPI. Responder analysis was also conducted. Results Standard regression analyses of 208 (BLP) and 310 (GBA) patients showed that higher baseline BPI and better physical performance measures predicted better improvement in BPI across both programmes. Hierarchical regression showed that age and sex accounted for 2.7% (BLP) and 0.002% (GBA) of the variance in change in BPI. After controlling for age and sex, the other measures explained an additional 23% (BLP) and 19% (GBA) of the variance, p = &lt; .001 where BPI and physical performance measures were consistently statistically significant predictors, p &lt; .05. Responder analysis also showed that pain interference and physical performance were significantly associated with improvement ( p = &lt; .0005). Conclusions The combination of high self-reported pain interference and better physical performance measures may be a useful indicator of who would benefit from interdisciplinary rehabilitation. Further validation of the results is required.

A Review on the Characteristics of Line Impedance Stabilization Network

A Line Impedance Stabilization Network (LISN) is an essential component in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing and measurement. Its primary purpose is to provide a standardized interface between electronic devices, such as radios, computers, and other electrical equipment, and the power supply grid during conducted emissions testing. A LISN is designed to facilitate accurate and repeatable measurements of electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by electronic devices when they are connected to the power supply grid. It serves as an essential tool for assessing the compliance of electronic equipment with EMC standards and regulations. A low-pass filter within the LISN helps remove high-frequency noise and disturbances from the power supply, allowing only the emissions of interest to pass through for measurement. a Line Impedance Stabilization Network (LISN) is a critical tool for EMC testing and measurement, providing a standardized and controlled interface between electronic devices and the power supply grid. It enables the assessment of conducted emissions from electronic equipment, helping manufacturers ensure their products comply with EMC regulations and minimizing the risk of interference with other devices and systems.

Determination of Meteor Vector Velocity Using MU Interferometry Measurements of Head Echoes

A new method for measuring the vector velocity of meteoroids using meteor head echoes is proposed in this study. The lateral velocity is determined by utilizing the phase interference measurement between channels, while the radial velocity is obtained using a conventional Doppler frequency shift measurement. Compared to previous studies, this method does not require multi-site observations and can calculate the vector velocity of meteors in real-time. This paper provides the complete process for the inversion of the meteor vector velocity, detailing the analyzing process using MU radar head echo data. First, the MUSIC algorithm was used to estimate the DOA of the meteor target, which is a parameter required for lateral velocity measurement. Channel calibration is required before this estimation. Next, delay-Doppler matched filter processing was performed on each receiving channel’s data to determine the distance and radial velocity of the meteor target. Subsequently, the lateral velocity component was synthesized using the least squares method from the phase difference rate extracted from the matched filter output results of multiple channel pairs. Then, the vector velocity and trajectory of the meteor could be determined. The method was verified using MU radar head echo data. Different groups of channel pairs were selected for calculating the lateral velocity, and the results were found to be close, demonstrating the self-consistency of the method. Additionally, the calculated vector velocity is consistent with the direction and magnitude of the meteor’s motion trajectory, confirming the feasibility of the proposed approach. The method allows for the observation of more prominent characteristics of meteoroid motion, providing a more detailed observation capability of velocity variations in other directions than previous methods.

Does body mass index influence improvement in patient reported outcomes following total knee arthroplasty? A retrospective analysis of 3918 cases

PurposeThe study aimed to determine whether body mass index (BMI) classification for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with differences in mean patient reported outcome measure (PROM) score improvements across multiple domains—including pain, functional status, mental health, and global physical health. We hypothesized that patients with larger BMIs would have worse preoperative and postoperative PROM scores, though improvements in scores would be comparable between groups.Materials and methodsPatients undergoing primary TKA from 2018 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed and stratified into four groups: Normal Weight; 18.5–25 kg/m2, Overweight; 25.01–30 kg/m2, Obese; 30.01–40 kg/m2, and Morbidly Obese > 40 kg/m2. Preoperative, postoperative, and pre/post-changes (Δ) in knee injury and osteoarthritis, joint replacement (KOOS, JR) and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures of pain intensity, pain interference, physical function, mobility, mental health, and physical health were compared. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess for confounding comorbid conditions.ResultsIn univariate analysis, patients with larger BMIs had worse scores for KOOS, JR and all PROMIS metrics preoperatively. Postoperatively, scores for KOOS, JR and PROMIS pain interference, mobility, and physical health were statistically worse in higher BMI groups, though differences were not clinically significant. Morbidly obese patients achieved greater pre/post-Δ improvements in KOOS, JR and global physical health scores. Multivariate regression analysis showed high BMI was independently associated with greater pre/post-Δ improvements in KOOS, JR and global health scores.ConclusionObese patients report worse preoperative scores for function and health, but greater pre/post-Δ improvements in KOOS, JR and physical health scores following TKA. Quality of life benefits of TKA in obese patients should be a factor when assessing surgical candidacy.

Development and evaluation of the Norwegian Fatigue Characteristics and Interference Measure (FCIM) for stroke survivors: cognitive interviews and Rasch analysis

PurposeThere is need for a comprehensive measure of post-stroke fatigue with sound measurement properties. This study aimed to develop the Norwegian Fatigue Characteristics and Interference Measure (FCIM) and assess its content validity, structural validity, and internal consistency.MethodThis study consisted of three steps: (1) an expert panel developed version 1.0 of the Norwegian FCIM, (2) its content validity was assessed in cognitive interviews with stroke patients (N = 15), (3) a convenience sample of stroke patients (N = 169) completed an online questionnaire with the FCIM, Fatigue Severity Scale, and sociodemographic information; validity and reliability were assessed using Rasch analysis.ResultsFCIM version 1.0 included a 10-item characteristics subscale, a 20-item interference subscale, and two pre-stroke fatigue items. The cognitive interviews revealed content validity issues, resulting in two interference items being removed and five items being flagged but retained for Rasch analysis (version 2.0). Rasch analysis led to removal of four items from the characteristics subscale and six more from the interference subscale. The final six-item characteristics subscale and 12-item interference subscale (version 3.0) both showed adequate fit to the Rasch model with indications of unidimensionality and local independence. The interference subscale had a high person separation index. No significant differential item function (DIF) was found in relation to gender, but one item demonstrated DIF in relation to age.ConclusionThe cognitive interviews and Rasch analysis demonstrated that the Norwegian version of the FCIM has high content validity, structural validity, and internal consistency. Future research should assess its construct validity, reliability, and responsiveness.

Single-Photon Synchronization with a Room-Temperature Atomic Quantum Memory.

Efficient synchronization of single photons that are compatible with narrow band atomic transitions is an outstanding challenge, which could prove essential for photonic quantum information processing. Here we report on the synchronization of independently generated single photons using a room-temperature atomic quantum memory. The photon source and the memory are interconnected by fibers and employ the same ladder-level atomic scheme. We store and retrieve the heralded single photons with end-to-end efficiency of η_{e2e}=25% and final antibunching of g_{h}^{(2)}=0.023. Our synchronization process results in an over tenfold increase in the photon-pair coincidence rate, reaching a rate of more than 1000 detected synchronized photon pairs per second. The indistinguishability of the synchronized photons is verified by a Hong-Ou-Mandel interference measurement.

Development of a model for determination of preloads on blade shrouds

The article presents a digital model for calculating the change in the angles of incidence of compressor rotor wheel blades that characterize tightness. The input parameters for the model are the geometric deviations of the disc slots and blades of the set. The calculation is based on the modeling of joints using the finite element method. To automate the modeling, a parametric design model of the blade created in the CAD module of the NX program is used; a calculation automation program created in the MATLAB environment and an algorithm for converting deformations at points obtained in finite element method into angles. The initial data and the resulting parameter values are stored in spreadsheets. Experimental studies have been carried out, including measurements of the disk and blades of the impeller, their assembly and measurement of interference. A Gaussian filter was applied to process the results of angle measurements. The tightness of the set under consideration was calculated using the developed model. The results showed that the limiting simulation error amounts to 16% of the value of experimental data; the index of correlation between the simulated and experimental data was 0.71.

Health-related quality of life profiles in adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions.

To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with chronic conditions. AYAs (N = 872) aged 14-20years completed NIH's Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS®) measures of physical function, pain interference, fatigue, social health, depression, anxiety, and anger. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to group AYAs into HRQOL profiles using PROMIS T-scores. The optimal number of profiles was determined by model fit statistics, likelihood ratio test, and entropy. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine how LPA's HRQOL profile membership was associated with patient demographic and chronic conditions. The model prediction accuracy on profile membership was evaluated using Huberty's I index with a threshold of 0.35 for good effect. A 4-profile LPA model was selected. A total of 161 (18.5%), 256 (29.4%), 364 (41.7%), and 91 (10.4%) AYAs were classified into Minimal, Mild, Moderate, and Severe HRQOL Impact profiles. AYAs in each profile had distinctive mean scores with over a half standard deviation (5-points in PROMIS T-scores) of difference between profiles across most HRQOL domains. AYAs who were female or had conditions such as mental health condition, hypertension, and self-reported chronic pain were more likely to be in the Severe HRQOL Impact profile. The Huberty's I index was 0.36. Approximately half of AYAs with a chronic condition experience moderate to severe HRQOL impact. The availability of risk prediction models for HRQOL impact will help to identify AYAs who are in greatest need of closer clinical care follow-up.

Design and Optimization of Discone Antenna for Medical Device Electromagnetic Interference Measurement

The wide spread of the Internet of Things creates the possibility of electromagnetic interference in medical devices. Therefore, it is necessary to perform risk mitigation by finding the value of electromagnetic interference through measurements using wideband and omnidirectional antennas, e.g., the discone antenna. In this research, the optimization of the S11 value of a designed discone antenna was obtained using simulation from the effect of dimensional variations in discone parameters like disc diameter, cone bottom diameter, gap, and cone height on S11 characteristics. The parameters were combined for optimization. The design was fabricated, and the S11, radiation pattern, gain value and antenna factor, and the ability to measure interference through modeling were measured. Gain value and antenna factor were obtained using the gain-comparison method, which compared the antenna of interest against another antenna with a standard gain. The optimization was successfully performed with a better S11 value. At 5.2 GHz, the value of S11 was below -10 dB. The realization of the design showed similar results to the simulation, and it was found to be able to operate in the medical device frequency range (wideband). The ability of the discone antenna improved in terms of S11 value, especially at 5.2 GHz, where the value was below -17.443 dB. The radiation pattern of the designed antenna is omnidirectional. Additionally, validation was carried out by providing gain value and antenna factor. It has been proved that the designed discone antenna could measure interference successfully by modeling interference sources as electric field sources from all directions.

Energy-Efficient Compressed Sensing in Cognitive Radio Network for Telemedicine Services

Wireless body area networks (WBAN) are becoming a promising solution for health care applications. WBAN allows monitoring of patients continuously in their own comfort zone. These devices use the industrial, scientific, and medical band (ISM) for communication. This band is overcrowded due to the increasing number of wireless medical devices and other wireless devices occupying this band. This causes interference, which can be damaging and could result in a change in received power. However, WBAN also needs minimum and reliable energy communication for a longer lifetime and improved quality of service. This work addresses both problems and proposes solutions for the same. A cognitive radio controller is employed as a centralized controller with dynamic spectrum allocation properties to mitigate the interference. The sensing of the spectrum is based on compressed sensing with a nonreconstruction model to save energy. To quantify interference measurement, the interference mitigation factor is introduced. Further, to increase energy efficiency, the K-means algorithm is used to cluster WBANs. However, critical emergency data and normal data are categorized as priority data and normal data, respectively, by the proposed priority scheduling algorithm. The performance of this cognitive radio-based system for telemedicine applications is analyzed through simulations. The simulations are performed using MATLAB 2019.

Percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation improves comorbidities in children with cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Children with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) frequently suffer from disabling abdominal pain and comorbidities that impair quality of life. A noninvasive, auricular percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation (PENFS) device is shown to be effective for abdominal pain in children with disorders of gut-brain interaction. We aimed to determine the effects of PENFS on pain, common comorbidities, and quality of life in pediatric CVS. Children aged 8-18 years with drug-refractory CVS were enrolled in a prospective, open-label study receiving 6 consecutive weeks of PENFS. Subjects completed the following surveys at baseline, during/after therapy (week 6), and at extended follow-up approximately 4-6 months later: Abdominal Pain Index (API), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-C), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Profile-37. Thirty subjects were included. Median (interquartile range, IQR) age was 10.5 (8.5-15.5) years; 60% were female. Median API scores decreased from baseline to week 6 (p = 0.003) and to extended follow-up (p < 0.0001). State anxiety scores decreased from baseline to week 6 (p < 0.0001) and to extended follow-up (p < 0.0001). There were short-term improvements in sleep at 6 weeks (p = 0.031) but not at extended follow-up (p = 0.22). Quality of life measures of physical function, anxiety, fatigue, and pain interference improved short-term, while there were long-term benefits for anxiety. No serious side effects were reported. This is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of auricular neurostimulation using PENFS for pain and several disabling comorbidities in pediatric CVS. PENFS improves anxiety, sleep, and several aspects of quality of life with long-term benefits for anxiety.Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03434652.

Algorithm for the Joint Flight of Two Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles Constituting a Bistatic Radar System for the Soil Remote Sensing

The study of soil agrophysical and agrochemical properties is based on ground-based point measurements and measurements conducted using radiometric remote sensing systems (satellite or airborne). A disadvantage of the existing remote sensing systems using normal surface irradiation is the insignificant depth of penetration of the probing radiation into the soil layer. It is proposed to use a radar system for remote sensing agricultural lands to eliminate this drawback. The system uses a method for assessing the soil’s physical and chemical properties based on the interference measurements of direct and reflected electromagnetic waves at incidence angles that provide a total refraction effect, i.e., close to Brewster’s angle. The possibility of using this method for remote assessment of soil’s physical and chemical properties, including the subsurface layer moisture, was established. A feature of the bistatic system is that it is necessary to coordinate the mutual arrangement of the transmitting and receiving positions, which imposes special requirements on the UAVs’ flight algorithm. The UAVs’ relative position makes it possible to form the conditions for the manifestation of the total refraction effect, to determine the current value of Brewster’s angle, and to fix these conditions for the subsequent flight, making it possible to measure the soil’s physical and chemical parameters. The research results can be used to implement precision farming technology in hard-to-reach places, large agricultural areas, and digital agriculture.

Validation of the PEG Scale in Spanish (PEG-S) Among Adults Receiving Care for Pain in US Primary Care

This study sought to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the PEG scale (PEG-S, whose items assess Pain intensity and pain interference with Enjoyment of life and General activity) in a sample of Spanish-speaking adults receiving care for pain at primary care clinics in the Northwestern United States. We evaluated the PEG-S’s 1) internal consistency, 2) convergent validity, and 3) discriminant validity. All participants (n = 200, mean age = 52 years [SD = 15], 76% women, mean PEG-S score = 5.7 [SD = 2.5]) identified as having Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and detailed ethnic origin was predominantly Mexican or Chicano (70%). The PEG-S’s internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha, .82) was good. Correlations between the PEG-S scale scores and established measures of pain intensity and interference ranged from .68 to .79, supporting the measure's convergent validity. The correlation between the PEG-S scale score and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (r = .53) was weaker than those between the PEG-S scale and measures of pain intensity and interference, supporting the measure's discriminant validity. The findings support reliability and validity of the PEG-S for assessing a composite score of pain intensity and interference among Spanish-speaking adults. PerspectiveWe present evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the PEG scale in Spanish (PEG-S) in a sample of adults receiving pain care at primary care clinics in the Northwestern United States. This 3-item composite measure of pain intensity and interference can help clinicians and researchers assess pain among Spanish-speaking adults.

Many-body quantum chaos in stroboscopically-driven cold atoms

In quantum chaotic systems, the spectral form factor (SFF), defined as the Fourier transform of two-level spectral correlation function, is known to follow random matrix theory (RMT), namely a ‘ramp’ followed by a ‘plateau’ in late times. Recently, a generic early-time deviation from RMT, so-called the ‘bump’, was shown to exist in random quantum circuits as toy models for many-body quantum systems. We demonstrate the existence of ‘bump-ramp-plateau’ behavior in the SFF for a number of paradigmatic and stroboscopically-driven 1D cold-atom models: spinless and spin-1/2 Bose-Hubbard models, and nonintegrable spin-1 condensate with contact or dipolar interactions. We find that the scaling of the many-body Thouless time tTh —the onset of RMT—, and the bump amplitude are more sensitive to variations in atom number than the lattice size regardless of the hyperfine structure, the symmetry classes, or the choice of driving protocol. Moreover, tTh scaling and the increase of the bump amplitude in atom number are significantly slower in spinor gases than interacting bosons in 1D optical lattices, demonstrating the role of locality. We obtain universal scaling functions of SFF which suggest power-law behavior for the bump regime in quantum chaotic cold-atom systems, and propose an interference measurement protocol.

Chronic stress in peer relationships moderates the association between pubertal development and neural response to emotional faces in adolescence

Adolescence is a period of heightened risk for multiple forms of psychopathology, partly due to greater exposure to interpersonal stress. One way that interpersonal stress may increase risk for psychopathology is by altering the normative development of neural systems that support socio-affective processing. The late positive potential (LPP) is an event-related potential component that reflects sustained attention to motivationally-salient information and is a promising marker of risk for stress-related psychopathology. However, it is not clear how the LPP to socio-affective information changes across adolescence, nor whether exposure to stress with peers interferes with normative developmental differences in the LPP to socio-affective content during this period. In 92 adolescent girls (10–19 years old), we assessed the LPP to task-irrelevant emotional and neutral faces, as well as behavioural measures of interference following the presentation of these faces. Adolescents at more advanced stages of puberty showed a smaller LPP to emotional faces, but adolescents exposed to greater peer stress exhibited a larger LPP to these stimuli. Additionally, for girls exposed to lower levels of peer stress, more advanced pubertal development was associated with a smaller LPP to emotional faces, whereas for girls exposed to higher levels of peer stress, the association between pubertal development and the LPP to emotional faces was not significant. Neither stress nor pubertal stage was significantly associated with behavioural measures. Combined, these data suggest that one pathway through which stress exposure increases risk for psychopathology during adolescence is by interfering with the normative development of socio-affective processing.

Factors associated with weight gain in pre- and post-menopausal women receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer

PurposeWeight gain after breast cancer poses health risks. We aimed to identify factors associated with weight gain during adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET).MethodsWomen initiating AET enrolled in a prospective cohort. Participants completed FACT-ES plus PROMIS pain interference, depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance and physical function measures at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months. Treatment-emergent symptoms were defined as changes in scores in the direction indicative of worsening symptoms that exceeded the minimal important difference at 3 and/or 6 months compared to baseline. We used logistic regression to evaluate associations of clinicodemographic features and treatment-emergent symptoms with clinically significant weight gain over 60 months (defined as ≥ 5% compared to baseline) in pre- and post-menopausal participants.ResultsOf 309 participants, 99 (32%) were pre-menopausal. The 60 months cumulative incidence of clinically significant weight gain was greater in pre- than post-menopausal participants (67% vs 43%, p < 0.001). Among pre-menopausal participants, treatment-emergent pain interference (OR 2.49), aromatase inhibitor receipt (OR 2.8), mastectomy, (OR 2.06) and White race (OR 7.13) were associated with weight gain. Among post-menopausal participants, treatment-emergent endocrine symptoms (OR 2.86), higher stage (OR 2.25) and White race (OR 2.29) were associated with weight gain while treatment-emergent physical function decline (OR 0.30) was associated with lower likelihood of weight gain.ConclusionsWeight gain during AET is common, especially for pre-menopausal women. Clinicodemographic features and early treatment-emergent symptoms may identify at risk individuals.Implications for cancer survivorsPatients at risk for weight gain can be identified early during AET.Clinical trials.gov identifierNCT01937052, registered September 3, 2013.

Research on Radar Jamming for Detection Performance

Radar jamming plays an important role in modern military affairs. The current radar jamming technology is mainly divided into two parts: suppressive jamming and deceptive jamming. This paper applies the jamming effect of multi-false target jamming in deceptive jamming and noise AM jamming, noise FM jamming, and noise PM jamming in suppressive jamming to the radar’s echo signal. Besides, this paper studies their influences from the aspect of target detection results through MTI and the influence of these jamming methods on the radar detection probability through CFAR. The experimental results can directly show the influence of interference measures on detection results and detection probability, and prove the effectiveness of these interference methods.