Objective Assessment Methods Research Articles

Assessment of Interprofessional Education (IPE) in Community Settings: A Systematic Review

Background: An assessment of methods and tools in interprofessional education (IPE) needs to be conducted to guarantee that the set learning objectives (LOs) or competencies are achieved, especially in community settings. This assessment is essential since in community settings, facilitators and students are not in the same frame, while direct observation is preferable in IPE. The implementation of methods and tools for assessment varies. Mostly, the assessment does not cover all competencies of IPE. Further identification of the way the assessment is conducted as well as the IPE competencies assessed is pivotal.Purpose: This study aimed to review the implementation of IPE in community settings, especially the assessment conducted on the methods and tools used along with the assessors involved and the competencies achieved.Methods: A systematic review was employed as a method in this study. Relevant articles from Science Direct, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus were screened based on the inclusion criteria: publication between 2010–2020, research and review articles, full-text articles, conducted in community settings, and involved assessment in acquiring the competencies. This review included 12 out of 1,273 screened articles. The articles were analyzed qualitatively by identifying the keywords, categories, and themes.Results: The results showed the assessment conducted and the competencies achieved in IPE. The assessment included methods and tools as well as the assessors involved. Most existing studies used students’ perceptions or reflections as the methods and involved less assessors such as supervisors or family members. Meanwhile, the assessment tools focused on certain competencies, such as roles and responsibilities, ethics and values, teamwork, and communication. However, no study assessed all competencies.Conclusion: The analysis resulted in two large topics, i.e., the assessment, which includes the assessment methods and tools as well as assessors involved, and the competencies achieved. It is recommended to conduct further studies to develop objective assessment methods, comprehensive assessment tools, and generic competencies or learning outcomes.

Features of the Application of Instrumental Methods for Lumbosacral Muscle Groups Functional State Assessing

The use of instrumental diagnosis methods is a way to form an individual strategy of rehabilitation treatment and effectiveness monitoring. However, there is a lack of methods for objective assessment of the muscle groups’ functional state in both patients with dorsopathy and healthy individuals, as well as incorrect use of existing diagnostic tools due to the lack of the regulatory framework. The subjects had no complaints on low back pain, and there was no history of pain episodes associated with spinal pathology. All the volunteers were comparable in height and weight before being included in the study. The study was conducted in accordance with the terms of the Helsinki Declaration, all subjects signed an informed consent before the start of diagnostic activities. Aim. To determine the normative values of the strength of the flexor muscle group (FM) and extensor muscles (EM) of the lumbosacral spine and to establish the ratio of the obtained results to the automatic hardware norm. Material and methods. The present clinical study included 22 healthy volunteers aged 23 to 61 years (the average age was 38.4±12.8 years), including 14 women (63.6%) and 8 men (36.4%). Results and discussion. The results obtained demonstrate that the real normative indicators for MS and MR in healthy individuals can vary in the range from the hardware norm value calculated automatically by the device to a value of 20% lower. Exceeding this parameter is not a pathological deviation. When assessing the muscle strength, a decrease in this indicator is of physiological and clinical significance, since it reflects the dysfunction of this area and is a predictor of the pain syndrome chronicity. Conclusion. The standard values findings allow us to assess correctly the initial clinical condition and use this instrumental method with biofeedback for patients with degenerative spinal lesion and non-specific pain in the lumbosacral region and patients who have undergone spinal surgery to develop individual rehabilitation programs. As a further prospect for the use of diagnostic systems with biofeedback, it is suggested that the examination plan should include the determination of the ratio of the FM strength to the EM strength, as well as the strength of the muscles involved in the lateral slopes of the trunk.

The Levels of Circulating MicroRNAs at 6-Hour Cardiac Arrest Can Predict 6-Month Poor Neurological Outcome.

Early prognostication in cardiac arrest survivors is challenging for physicians. Unlike other prognostic modalities, biomarkers are easily accessible and provide an objective assessment method. We hypothesized that in cardiac arrest patients with targeted temperature management (TTM), early circulating microRNA (miRNA) levels are associated with the 6-month neurological outcome. In the discovery phase, we identified candidate miRNAs associated with cardiac arrest patients who underwent TTM by comparing circulating expression levels in patients and healthy controls. Next, using a larger cohort, we validated the prognostic values of the identified early miRNAs by measuring the serum levels of miRNAs, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) 6 h after cardiac arrest. The validation cohort consisted of 54 patients with TTM. The areas under the curve (AUCs) for poor outcome were 0.85 (95% CI (confidence interval), 0.72–0.93), 0.82 (95% CI, 0.70–0.91), 0.78 (95% CI, 0.64–0.88), and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.63–0.87) for miR-6511b-5p, -125b-1-3p, -122-5p, and -124-3p, respectively. When the cut-off was based on miRNA levels predicting poor outcome with 100% specificity, sensitivities were 67.7% (95% CI, 49.5–82.6), 50.0% (95% CI, 32.4–67.7), 35.3% (95% CI, 19.7–53.5), and 26.5% (95% CI, 12.9–44.4) for the above miRNAs, respectively. The models combining early miRNAs with protein biomarkers demonstrated superior prognostic performance to those of protein biomarkers.

The therapeutic role of lasers in primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis: a systematic review.

With the investigation of the efficacy of laser therapy in primary localized amyloidosis(PLCA) only recently starting to materialize, we aimed to review the currently available studies of laser therapy in the management of the disease. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and ProQuest online databases with a specified search strategy, assessed the quality of each study, and then extracted the eligible data. Five RCTs(randomized controlled trials), one non-randomized controlled trial, three case series, and nine case reports(18 in total) were included. Overall, carbon dioxide (CO2), neodymium-doped:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG), pulsed dye (PDL), Er (Erbium):YAG, and yttrium/erbium fiber were the studied lasers. One hundred fifty-five cases in total underwent laser therapy, with CO2 being the most frequent laser. Almost all studies demonstrated significantly desirable outcomes, while only mild and transient side effects were noted. Even though the studies' results were significant, we noticed that implementing a consistent methodology and a standardized objective assessment method was missing. Therefore, we recommend that future studies be conducted with less heterogeneous data for a more definite conclusion.

Subjective global nutritional assessment: applicability in children and adolescents with malignant tumors

Introduction: This study investigated the applicability of the Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) tool to evaluate the nutritional status of pediatric cancer patients. Methods: This was a multicenter, observational cohort study of infants, children, and adolescents diagnosed with malignant tumors. Participants were evaluated at the moment they were diagnosed with a malignant tumor (EV1) and at the third month of treatment (EV2). Objective data were collected and the SGNA questionnaire was applied. Correlation between the methods was performed using the Kendall test. Results: We evaluated 216 patients at EV1 and 172 patients at EV2. During EV1, 7% of patients presented with some degree of malnutrition, according to objective measures, and 35.7% according to the SGNA. During EV2, they presented 6.4% and 26.8%, respectively. The SGNA showed ability to diagnose more malnutrition than objective indicators and the agreement found between both methods was moderate and weak. We observed a significant correlation between the SGNA and the nutritional indicators (p = <0.002), thus proving its efficacy in assessing nutritional status. Conclusion: The SGNA was applicable for evaluating the nutritional status of children and adolescents diagnosed with malignant tumors, and effective in tracking malnutrition prevalence when compared to objective nutritional assessment methods.

Concentric Circle Technique for Assessment of Femoral Head Deficiency in Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head.

IntroductionThere is a lack of standardized objective tools to assess collapse for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) patients’ follow-up. We describe a quantitative technique of collapse assessment using a superimposed concentric circular ring matching the intact part of the femoral head in anteroposterior (AP) radiographs.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 30 normal femoral heads and 30 ONFH (15 pre-collapse,15 post-collapse) in anteroposterior hip radiographs. A best-fitting circle was superimposed on articular margins of the femoral head and the maximum width of the deficient zone of the femoral head (not matching the circle) was measured. The width (pW) was measured as percentage-width in proportion to the circle’s diameter. The findings were compared among normal and ONFH radiographs. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for intraobserver and interobserver reliability of the measurements.ResultsThe mean femoral head deficiencies predicted by pW were 0.2±0.5% for normal hip, 2.8±1.1% for pre-collapse, and 8.9±3.8% for post-collapse radiographs. We observed significant differences in the measurements of pW among the control group, pre-collapse and post-collapse groups. Interobserver and intraobserver reliabilities for the measurements were high.ConclusionThe described concentric circle technique is a simple and reliable method for objective assessment of subtle alterations in the sphericity of the femoral head and can be helpful for the radiographic follow-up of ONFH patients.

New Rehabilitation Assessment Method of the End-Effector Finger Rehabilitation Robot Based on Multi-Sensor Source.

In the process of rehabilitation, the objectivity and the accuracy of rehabilitation assessment have an obvious impact on the follow-up training. To improve this problem, using a multi-sensor source, this paper attempts to establish a comprehensive assessment method of the finger rehabilitation effect, including three indicators of finger muscle strength, muscle fatigue degree, and range of motion. Firstly, on the basis of the fingertip pressure sensor of the End-Effector Finger Rehabilitation Robot, a mathematical model of finger muscle strength estimation was established, and the estimated muscle strength was scored using the entropy weight method. Secondly, using an sEMG signal sensor, a fatigue monitoring system was designed in the training process, and the fatigue degree was determined on the basis of the change trend of the eigenvalues of MAV and RMS. Lastly, a human–machine motion coupling model was established, and the joint range of motion acquisition and scoring model were obtained on the basis of the motor encoder. According to the above three indicators, using the AHP assessment method to establish a comprehensive rehabilitation assessment method, the effectiveness of the method was verified by experiments. This paper provides a potential new idea and method for objective, accurate, and convenient assessment of finger function rehabilitation, which is of positive significance for alleviating the burden on rehabilitation doctors and improving rehabilitation efficiency.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials testing for diagnosing Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is an emergency condition in otolaryngology. In most cases it manifests as a unilateral reduction in hearing. In addition to hearing loss in one ear, patients often have symptoms such as vertigo and/or tinnitus. The follow-up of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss should include not only testing of the hearing system but also diagnosis of the vestibular apparatus. VEMP is an objective method for assessment of the vestibular function through the reaction of the reflex muscle in response to high-intensity acoustic stimulation. Materials and methods: The subject of study are 12 patients with sudden hearing loss where 5 of the followed patients also complaining of vertigo and instability. After taking a history, the following are performed: examination of ENT organs, pure-tone audiometry, OAE, tympanometry with acoustic reflex, otoneurological examination, VEMP tests, CT (MRI). Results: Patients with severe sudden hearing loss have deviations in their VEMP tests. The hearing recovery percentage is lower with abnormal VEMP than in those with normal VEMP. Conclusion: Patients with deviations in VEMP tests can have vestibular disorders in addition to lesions in the organ of Corti, including stria vascularis and the tectorial membrane. There is an association between pathological VEMP and the level of hearing reduction. Abnormal VEMP can be used to predict subsequent incomplete hearing recovery.

Wave Peel Tracking: A New Approach for Assessing Surf Amenity and Analysis of Breaking Waves

The creation and protection of surfing breaks along populated coastlines have become a consideration for many councils and governments as surfing breaks are a major driver of tourism. To assess the surf amenity of surfing breaks, a quantitative and objective assessment method is required. A new wave peel tracking (WPT) method has been developed using a shore-based camera to assess surf amenity by measuring and quantifying potential surfing ride rate, length, duration, speed and direction on a wave-by-wave basis. The wave peel (or “curl” below the wave peak) is the optimal surfing region on a wave, and each wave peel track represents a surfable ride. Wave peel regions are identified, classified and tracked using traditional and machine learning-based computer vision techniques. The methodology is validated by comparing the rectified wave peel tracks with GPS-measured tracks from surfers in the wave peel regions. The WPT methodology is evaluated with data from a reef and adjacent natural beach at the Gold Coast, Australia. The reef produced longer ride lengths than the nearshore region and showed a consistent breaking location along the reef crest. Spatial maps of the wave peel tracks show the influence of tides on the wave breaking patterns and intensity. The WPT algorithm provides a robust, automated method for quantifying surf amenity to provide baseline data for surf break conservation. The methodology has potential uses to verify numerical modelling of surf breaks and to assess the impact of coastal development on surf breaks.

Cephalometric predictors for optimal soft tissue profile outcome in adult Asian class I subjects treated via extraction and non-extraction. A retrospective study

The aim of this retrospective study was to identify cephalometric predictors associated with favourable soft tissue profile outcomes after premolars extraction and non-extraction in class I malocclusion subjects. A total of 80 subjects, treated with non-extraction and premolars extraction (40 subjects each), were equally divided into favourable (FG) and unfavourable (UFG) groups using subjective and objective soft tissue profile outcome assessment methods. An independent t-test was utilized for the comparison of cephalometric measurements between the non-extraction (NE) and premolars extraction (PME) treatment modalities. Cox proportional hazard algorithm regression analysis was performed to identify cephalometric factors associated with favourable soft tissue outcomes. The pre-treatment mean age of the NE group was 20.2±2.3 and PME group was 20.2±2.5 years. After dividing the sample of the NE and PME groups according to subjective and objective soft-tissue outcome assessment criteria, FG and UFG consisted of 20 subjects each. Cox proportional hazard algorithm regression analysis found upper incisor to NA angle (95% CI: 1.033, 1.196) to be associated with FG in NE and upper incisor to SN (95% CI: 1.018, 1.206) and ANB angle (95% CI:1.165, 3.608) in PME. There was a statistically significant strong correlation between subjective and objective evaluation methods (P≤0.001). Cephalometric analysis is a valuable tool to predict soft-tissue outcomes after NE and PME. Increased upper incisors inclinations at the start of NE treatment result in favourable soft tissue profile outcomes. Slightly convex profile and proclined maxillary incisors are the predictors of favourable soft tissue profile outcome after PME. There was a statistically significant association between subjective and objective evaluation criteria of soft tissue outcomes.

Evaluation of compensatory hyperhidrosis after sympathectomy: The use of an objective method

To investigate the prevalence of compensatory hyperhidrosis following videothoracic sympathectomy to treat palmoplantar hyperhidrosis and its effect on sweating in the chest, abdomen, back and thighs. Furthermore, to evaluate the concordance between a subjective and an objective method of assessment for compensatory hyperhidrosis. Forty patients with combined palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (15 women and 25 men, with a mean age of 25 years) were prospectively followed for 1 year. Subjective and objective parameters were evaluated, using respectively a questionnaire and a sudorometer (Vapometer). In the subjective analysis, in the first month, only 10% of patients did not have compensatory hyperhidrosis, and 70% continued to report it at 1 or more sites after 1 year. In the objective analysis, 35% of the patients did not present compensatory hyperhidrosis after 1 month, and this number persisted stable, with 30% of patients remaining free of compensatory hyperhidrosis after 1 year. The most frequent area affected by compensatory hyperhidrosis was the back in both assessments. There was no positive concordance between the results of the objective and subjective analysis at any time in any of the 4 regions studied. Compensatory hyperhidrosis is a very common postoperative side effect after videothoracic sympathectomy, occurring early after the procedure and persisting for prolonged periods of time. The most frequently affected body area is the back, and no concordance between objective and subjective assessments was observed.

Combining Virtual Reality and Organizational Neuroscience for Leadership Assessment

In this article, we introduce three-dimensional Serious Games (3DSGs) under an evidence-centered design (ECD) framework and use an organizational neuroscience-based eye-tracking measure to capture implicit behavioral signals associated with leadership skills. While ECD is a well-established framework used in the design and development of assessments, it has rarely been utilized in organizational research. The study proposes a novel 3DSG combined with organizational neuroscience methods as a promising tool to assess and recognize leadership-related behavioral patterns that manifest during complex and realistic social situations. We offer a research protocol for assessing task- and relationship-oriented leadership skills that uses ECD, eye-tracking measures, and machine learning. Seamlessly embedding biological measures into 3DSGs enables objective assessment methods that are based on machine learning techniques to achieve high ecological validity. We conclude by describing a future research agenda for the combined use of 3DSGs and organizational neuroscience methods for leadership and human resources.

Combined assessment of intestinal viability using laser doppler flowmetry and laser fluorescence spectroscopy

Introduction. The development of an objective non-invasive method for intraoperative assessment of intestinal viability remains urgent for modern surgery. In this context, the method of laser fluorescence spectroscopy (LFS) of coenzymes of oxidative metabolism, as well as a combination of this technique with the simultaneous use of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) seems promising. Materials and methods. The model of ischemia-reperfusion of the small intestine of 4 Californian Rabbits was used to study the relationship of the parameters of LFS and LDF with the histological picture. A model of intraoperative ischemia was used by temporarily clamping the trunk of the cranial mesenteric vascular bundle for 90 min, followed by intraoperative and postoperative reperfusion for 60 minutes and 24 hours, respectively. LDF and LFS data were recorded from intestine at the end of the intraoperative reperfusion period. 24 hours after the surgery, the animals were subjected to histologic evaluation of intestine ischemic changes, which were compared with the LDF and LFS data. Diagnostic value of LDF and LFS, and their combination for intraoperative assessment of intestinal viability were analyzed. Results. A significant correlation was found between the parameters of LDF, LFS and the degree of ischemic changes according to the histological data. The method of isolated assessment of the difference in the fluorescence of reduced nicotin adenine dinucleotide (NADH) before and after ischemia-reperfusion (77.3 %) has the greatest diagnostic value. The method has the highest sensitivity with a combination of differences in LDF and LFS values before and after ischemia-reperfusion (85.7 %) (P&lt;0.05). Conclusions. LFS, as well as its combination with LDF, is a useful method for objective assessment of intestinal viability, which requires further research and has potential for clinical use.

Perceptual Quality of Light Field Images and Impact of Visualization Techniques

Light Field imaging provides a wide range of interactive features, such as view point changing and refocusing, and it has been developing as a solution for six degree of freedom applications. Many ongoing efforts, specifically related to pre/post processing, compression, and rendering, have been devoted to the development of this technology. To benchmark processing algorithms, the knowledge of degraded or improved quality level is important. However, the definition of validated subjective and objective quality assessment methods is still an open and challenging issue. In this scenario, this contribution deals with: the impact of visualization techniques on Light Filed image Quality of Experience, a visualization technique recommended for subjective quality assessment, perceptual visual impact of compression and noise artifacts, performance analysis of 2D image quality measures applied to Light Field images, and a Light Field image quality dataset.

Virtual reality and sustainable behavior in business

In this short communication we propose virtual reality (VR) as an experimental approach to study sustainable behavior in business, taking advantage of its characteristics that provide objective assessment methods with high validity. This approach exploits VR capabilities to generate immersive environments that recreate situations under which theorized relationships of sustainable behavior reveal themselves. We conjecture that high-immersive virtual environment (HIVE) research on corporate responsiveness to green demand will improve our understanding of the conditions and contexts under which a theory-driven approach to study this sustainable behavior applies.

MO662EFFECT OF ARTERIOVENOUS VASCULAR ACCESS ON BIOIMPEDANCE MEASUREMENTS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Abstract Background and Aims Fluid management remains a major problem in hemodialysis (HD) patients, partly because of the lack of objective assessment methods. Many methods have been proposed to estimate the fluid status in HD patients and bioimpedance has established as one of the most popular clinical tools. Resistance to alternate current was found to be lower in the arteriovenous (AV) access-bearing side compared with the non-access side in post-HD bioimpedance measurements. We hypothesized this difference between access and non-access sides can be seen in both pre- and post-HD measurements of arms and whole body. The aim of the study was to investigate whether this variation between access and non-access sides could affect single-side whole body measurements. Method Pre- and post-HD bioimpedance measurements with two 8-point devices (InBody 770 and Seca mBCA 514) were performed in 11 HD patients with functioning AV access in the arm (8 male, pre-HD 75.4 ± 13.6 kg, post-HD 72.8 ± 13.5 kg). Values of resistance at 5 kHz (R5) in the arm and whole body (R5 of arm + trunk + leg on the same side) were extracted. Whole-body extracellular water (ECW) was calculated using whole-body R5 by the Xitron equation* to evaluate how measuring only one side of the body can affect the fluid volume calculation. Results The R5 of the arm on the access side was lower compared with the non-access side both pre- and post-HD (P &amp;lt; 0.01), measured by InBody. The same was seen with the Seca but did not reach statistical significance (Table 1). The estimated whole-body ECW was higher on the access side for InBody (P &amp;lt; 0.01). With Seca, the same trend was seen but remained non-significant. While the difference in ECW between both arms reported by InBody was small, the impact on calculated whole-body ECW was much larger with a difference between sides of 0.50 ± 0.82 L pre HD and 0.55 ± 0.81 L post HD. Conclusion InBody appears to pick up the difference in fluid status between the access and non-access side with greater precision than Seca. The large contribution of the arm to whole-body resistance amplifies the impact of the presence of an AV access on whole-body ECW estimations based on single-side wrist-to-ankle bioimpedance measurements. Eight-point bioimpedance devices (like the tested InBody and Seca) measure both sides of the body, so, choice of measurement side does not enter the picture.

Retinal and cortical visual acuity in a common inbred albino mouse.

While albino mice are widely used in research which includes the use of visually guided behavioral tests, information on their visual capability is scarce. We compared the spatial resolution (acuity) of albino mice (BALB/c) with that of pigmented mice (C57BL/6J). We used a high-throughput pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) method for objective assessment of retinal and cortical acuity, as well as optomotor head-tracking response/ reflex (OMR). We found that PERG, PVEP, and OMR acuities of C57BL/6J mice were all in the range of 0.5–0.6 cycles/degree (cyc/deg). BALB/c mice had PERG and PVEP acuities in the range of 0.1–0.2 cyc/deg but were unresponsive to OMR stimulus. Results indicate that retinal and cortical acuity can be reliably determined with electrophysiological methods in BALB/c mice, although PERG/PVEP acuities are lower than those of C57BL/6J mice. The reduced acuity of BALB/c mice appears to be primarily determined at retinal level.

Identification and modelling of race driving styles

A good understanding and modelling of the human driver is essential for modern vehicle development, particularly in motorsports, where the race car should fit its driver perfectly. At the same time, an objective assessment and especially imitation of professional race drivers is difficult due to individual driving styles, complex and non-deterministic decision making processes, and small stability margins. In this paper, we present a holistic approach to identify and model individual race driving styles in a robust way. We develop the Driver Identification and Metric Ranking Algorithm (DIMRA) as a data-based method for an in-depth objective analysis and assessment of professional race drivers. Supported by this knowledge, we extend and adapt the imitation learning framework Probabilistic Modeling of Driver Behavior (ProMoD) in order to model race drivers in a complex simulation environment. An evaluation with data from professional race drivers shows the capability of DIMRA to derive metrics which describe human race driving styles, as well as ProMoD to robustly generate competitive laps with human-like controls in a professional motorsport driving simulator. The ability to identify and imitate individual driving styles does not only support the performance optimisation of race cars but could also aid the development of road cars and driver assistance systems in future work.

Methods for Pain Assessment in Calves and Their Use for the Evaluation of Pain during Different Procedures-A Review.

Simple SummaryPain recognition in calves is difficult. Pain is assessed either subjectively or objectively. Subjective pain assessment can be done using ethograms or pain scales, or by evaluation of changes of the facial expression due to pain. The problem with subjective pain assessment is that the evaluation of the amount of pain a calf is experiencing depends on the evaluation and the experience of the observer. Variables for the objective description of pain are assessment of biomarkers in the blood (e.g., cortisol or substance P), use of algometry to measure mechanical nociceptive thresholds, activity measurements by use of accelerometers and pedometers, use of infrared thermography, and the assessment of heart rate, heart rate variability, feed and water intake, or weight gain. Studies about pain recognition and pain management in calves mostly use more than one variable. Often a combination of subjective and objective measures is used to evaluate the level of pain calves are experiencing and to improve pain recognition.The evaluation and assessment of the level of pain calves are experiencing is important, as the experience of pain (e.g., due to routine husbandry procedures) severely affects the welfare of calves. Studies about the recognition of pain in calves, and especially pain management during and after common procedures, such as castration, dehorning, and disbudding, have been published. This narrative review discusses and summarizes the existing literature about methods for pain assessment in calves. First, it deals with the definition of pain and the challenges associated with the recognition of pain in calves. Then it proceeds to outline the different options and methods for subjective and objective pain assessment in calves, as described in the literature. Research data show that there are several tools suitable for the assessment of pain in calves, at least for research purposes. Finally, it concludes that for research purposes, various variables for the assessment of pain in calves are used in combination. However, there is no variable which can be used solely for the exclusive assessment of pain in calves. Also, further research is needed to describe biomarkers or variables which are easily accessible in the field practice.

A new perceptual evaluation method of video quality based on neural network

This paper proposes a novel method for video quality evaluation based on machine learning technique. The current research deals with the correct interpretation of objective video quality evaluation (Quality of Service – QoS) in relation to subjective end-user perception (Quality of Experience – QoE), typically expressed by mean opinion score (MOS). Our method allows us to interconnect results obtained from video objective and subjective assessment methods in the form of a neural network (computing model inspired by biological neural networks). So far, no unified interpretation scale has been standardized for both approaches, therefore it is difficult to determine the level of end-user satisfaction obtained from the objective assessment. Thus, contribution of the proposed method lies in description of the way to create a hybrid metric that delivers fast and reliable subjective score of perceived video quality for internet television (IPTV) broadcasting companies.