Measurable Parameters Research Articles

The correlation between Anogenital Distance (AGD) and Endometriosis

Link of Video Abstract: https://youtu.be/XmIf_eavZto Background: Endometriosis is a disease that causes recurrent chronic pain related to menstruation in around 10% of women of reproductive age. However, current non-invasive diagnostic tools are not sufficiently good at detecting endometriosis. Anogenital Distance (AGD) is a new measurement parameter that is non-invasive and proven to be used to help detect endometriosis. This study aims to assess the ability of AGD in detecting endometriosis. Methods: This study is a diagnostic test study involving 35 endometriosis patients and 35 controls by comparing the clinical characteristics of the patients and the length of AGD-AF and AGD-AC for both groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 for Windows. Results: The median AGD-AF length in endometriosis patients and controls were 22.65 + 6.54 and 29.53 + 3.52 (p<0.001) respectively, with AGD-AC lengths being 68.04 + 5.8 and 66.81 + 5.49 (p=0.369). In the multivariate logistic regression test, AGD-AF length was a single significant predictor (p <0.001). Based on the ROC curve, the length of AGD-AF with a cut-off of 23.35 mm has a sensitivity and specificity value of 97.1% and 65.7%. Conclusion: This study states that there is a correlation between AGD and endometriosis, especially AGD-AF, so it can be used as one of the predictors to help detect endometriosis.

VERTEBRAL HEART SCALE SYSTEM IN CLINICALLY HEALTHY SIBERIAN WEASEL (MUSTELA SIBIRICA).

In several species, the vertebral heart scale (VHS) measurement is frequently used to provide a more objective evaluation of cardiomegaly. However, normal-sized parameters for radiographic measures of the cardiac silhouette in Siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica) have not been determined. Right lateral (n = 24) and ventrodorsal (n = 20) thoracic radiographs from free-ranging Siberian weasels with clinically normal cardiac and pulmonary function were acquired and evaluated to determine the specific VHS for the Siberian weasel. The mean (SD) VHS of the right lateral (RL) and the ventrodorsal (VD) views were 6.70 (0.60) and 6.95 (0.69), respectively. VD view radiographs had a considerably higher VHS than RL view radiographs, and RL view measures were less variable than VD view values. The VHS of Siberian weasels was unaffected by age, body weight, or sex. The results determined in this study can be used in clinical diagnostic and radiographic evaluations of Siberian weasels.

Online die temperature measurement using S-parameters in GaN-based power converters

Die temperature (Tj) measurement of GaN HEMTs is of high interest to enable reducing design margin and the implementation of reliability driven control schemes and protections. On-state resistance (Rds,on) has been identified as a relevant thermo-electric sensitive parameter (TSEP) for Tj measurement requiring no extra temperature sensor. It is commonly measured in time-domain, based on the on-state voltage drop and the load current. In this work, the Tj of a GaN-on-Si power IC in a dc-dc converter is deduced from measurements conducted online, directly in the frequency domain using RF injection and S-parameter measurements. Thereby, the stimulus is injected on top of the processed power to probe either Rds,on, or the resistance of an on-chip Schottky diode used as thermal sensor. Temperature dependent experimental validation up to 150 °C is performed on a switching dc-dc power converter, validating the approach for online temperature measurement using RF injection.

Method of operative determination of the stability of circulating water with regard to the release of CaCO3

Sediments on the technological surfaces of the recirculating water supply system (RWSS) of enterprises are considered. The kinetic equation for the activity concentration of the main sediment component – Ca2+ ions in circulating water (CW) is discussed. Based on this equation, expressions were obtained for the rate of formation of CaCO3 from CW and the stability index of CW, which is expressed by the activity concentration of free Ca2+ ions not bound in CaCO3. These values are determined by measuring parameters of the quality of CW and the mode of operation of the recirculating system, which are provided for by the regulations for the operation of the RWSS Current information on the value of the stability index makes it possible to calculate the rate of CaCO3 precipitation and, if necessary, to develop quantitative parameters of operational measures to stabilize CW. The algorithm for calculating the stability index was applied to the RWSS of one of the HPPs, where softening of the feed water and bypass softening of CW are used. The calculated value of the index adequately reflects changes in the stability of the CW during variations in the operation mode of the RWSS. The stability index was used to calculate the parameters of CW acidification, which ensure the desired level of its stability.

SPATIAL WALKABILITY INDEX (SWI) OF PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO RAIL TRANSIT STATION IN KUALA LUMPUR CITY CENTER

Walkability is crucial for sustainable transportation in cities but measuring it may be difficult due to unclear criteria that could be used as well as the methods available. This study aims to measure the Spatial Walkability Index (SWI) of pedestrian access to rail transit stations in Kuala Lumpur City Center by using a comprehensive set of criteria including Connectivity, Land use mix, Comfort, Security, and Safety, which are all represented as ground measurable parameters in this study. SWI was derived using Analytical Network Process (ANP) and GIS analysis. ANP is a decision-making technique that uses pairwise comparison to derive the weightage of the ground measurable parameters which then were used to determine the SWI for pedestrians by using GIS proximity analysis. In this analysis, the weightage of parameters located on the road were used as basis in deriving the SWI. As a result, the SWI for pedestrian access to rail-transit stations in KL City Center was determined. The results revealed that the SWI for most of the area was in average level. Based on analysis conducted, the SWI was greatly influenced by its criteria, proving how ANP can aid in analyzing the SWI by incorporating the weightage of its criteria.

ANALISIS KADAR FERRITIN SERUM DENGAN NILAI LAJU ENDAP DARAH PADA IBU HAMIL TRIMESTER II

Ferritin examination is an important measurement parameter used to measure the presence of iron in the body. Iron deficiency in the body will result in anemia. Anemia that often occurs in pregnant is iron deficiency anemia because the need for iron in pregnant. An increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate occurs during pregnancy and can also be observed in pregnant. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between serum ferritin levels and the value of ESR in second trimester pregnant. This study was conducted at YPK Mandiri Hospital, samples were in the form of medical record data with 92 samples of second trimester pregnant who performed complete hematological examinations and ferritin levels. The results of this study indicate that second trimester pregnant who do complete blood checks and ferritin levels at YPK Mandiri Hospital with ferritin levels ranging from 2 - 219 ng/mL with an average level of 26.31 ng/mL and the value of the Blood Cessation Rate ranging from 5 - 105 mm / hour with an average of 35 mm / hour. This study uses the Spearman Rho test method, obtained a sig value of 0. 962 (>0.05) with a correlation coefficient of 0.005 which means there is no correlation between ferritin levels and the value of the rate of blood absorption in second trimester pregnant.

Cultural sustainability thresholds to measure the mauri of Indigenous Māori values impacted by geothermal engineering projects

Aotearoa New Zealand's current geothermal laws require that any engineering utilisation of geothermal resources includes an assessment of how Māori values are impacted, being the values held by the country's Indigenous Peoples. A series of wānanga (Māori-based workshops) were conducted with Māori participants to develop a list of Māori values pertinent to geothermal development, followed by a companion list of corresponding sustainability indicators that defined measurable parameters as quantitative representations of these Māori values. For each indicator, sustainability thresholds were developed, which described three possible impacted indicator states that constituted denigrated, neutral, and enhanced levels of mauri respectively, where mauri was a proposed measure of wellbeing. The information contained in the thresholds provided a means to numerically assess the extent to which an engineering project in Aotearoa would sustain the wellbeing of the listed indicators, and in turn the listed Māori values. The insights within the thresholds may be used by other researchers to develop thresholds specific to other indigenous cultures around the world and empower such cultures in their countries' own geothermal industries.

Design of A High-Precision Component-Type Vertical Pendulum Tiltmeter Based on FPGA.

This paper presents a high-precision component-type vertical pendulum tiltmeter based on an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that improves the utility and reliability of geophysical field tilt observation instruments. The system is designed for rapid deployment and offers flexible and efficient adaptability. It comprises a pendulum body, a triangular platform, a locking motor and sealing cover, a ratiometric measurement bridge, a high-speed ADC, and an FPGA embedded system. The pendulum body is a plumb-bob-type single-suspension wire vertical pendulum capable of measuring ground tilt in two orthogonal directions simultaneously. It is installed on a triangular platform, sealed as a whole, and equipped with a locking motor to withstand a free-fall impact of 2 m. The system utilizes a differential capacitance ratio bridge in the measurement circuit, replacing analog circuits with high-speed AD sampling and FPGA digital signal processing technology. This approach reduces hardware expenses and interferences from active devices. The system also features online compilation functionality for flexible measurement parameter settings, high reliability, ease of use, and rapid deployment without the need for professional technical personnel. The proposed tiltmeter holds significant importance for further research in geophysics.

Graph structure embedded with physical constraints-based information fusion network for interpretable fault diagnosis of aero-engine

Fault diagnosis is essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of aero-engines. Current performance-based fault diagnosis methods typically establish a mapping between measurable parameters and engine states, without taking into account the inherent physical constraints of multimodal information. In this study, a novel graph structure embedded with physical constraints is proposed to effectively fuse sensor information and physical-based model (PBM) simulation information. Since the fault information is primarily manifested in the sensor data rather than the PBM data, the probability distribution between these two types of data can serve as a constraint for constructing the edges in the graph, as it reflects the physical association among the sample points. Selected sensor parameters are used as node characteristics in the graph. A self-supervised representation learning training structure based on graph convolutional network and canonical correlation analysis can effectively utilize labeled and unlabeled data. Furthermore, a robust statistics method is embedded into the training architecture to interpret the behavior of the model by identifying the impact of data samples. The verification results indicate that the proposed model can effectively perform multimodal information fusion and achieve more efficient and high-accuracy component-level fault diagnosis.

The Effect of Halo-Pelvic Traction on Bone Mineral Density of Vertebrae and Corresponding Risk Factors.

Decreased bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with complications in implantation surgery for severe spinal deformity. In this quantitative study, we aimed to investigate the impact of halo-pelvic traction on vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) and identify the risk factors for a decrease in BMD. Patients who underwent halo-pelvic traction at our hospital between 2019 and 2022 were included in the study. Patients' data, including height, weight, and BMD pre- and post-traction, were collected and analyzed. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) was used to determine the BMD. The paired rank sum test was used to evaluate the changes in each measurement parameter. Linear regression was used to identify risk factors for a decrease in BMD. Fifteen patients were included in the study, nine women and six men, with an average age of 21.2 ± 7.3 years. Eleven patients had severe rigid scoliosis, while four had tuberculotic kyphosis. One expert measured the BMD values of 345 vertebrae using QCT. The average traction time was 143.3 ± 44.4 days. The average pre-traction BMD was 183.1 ± 73.8 mg/cm3 , and the average post-traction BMD was 140.5 ± 61.3 mg/cm3 (p < 0.01) Patients' height increased from an average of 151.3 ± 12.8 cm pre-traction to 165.5 ± 13.7 cm post-traction (p < 0.01), with traction length averaging 14.3 ± 6.2 cm (p < 0.01). The Cobb angle of the main curve declined from an average of 112.5° ± 24.4° pre-traction to 67.7° ± 19.8° post-traction (p < 0.01). Linear regression revealed a positive correlation between BMD loss and traction length and a negative correlation between BMD loss and correction rate. Halo-pelvic traction can lead to a decrease in the BMD of the spinal vertebrae, with traction length positively correlated with BMD loss and correction rate negatively correlated with BMD loss. To prevent osteoporosis, physicians should ensure a limited traction length while utilizing better management techniques.

Computer Vision-Based Bridge Inspection and Monitoring: A Review.

Bridge inspection and monitoring are usually used to evaluate the status and integrity of bridge structures to ensure their safety and reliability. Computer vision (CV)-based methods have the advantages of being low cost, simple to operate, remote, and non-contact, and have been widely used in bridge inspection and monitoring in recent years. Therefore, this paper reviews three significant aspects of CV-based methods, including surface defect detection, vibration measurement, and vehicle parameter identification. Firstly, the general procedure for CV-based surface defect detection is introduced, and its application for the detection of cracks, concrete spalling, steel corrosion, and multi-defects is reviewed, followed by the robot platforms for surface defect detection. Secondly, the basic principle of CV-based vibration measurement is introduced, followed by the application of displacement measurement, modal identification, and damage identification. Finally, the CV-based vehicle parameter identification methods are introduced and their application for the identification of temporal and spatial parameters, weight parameters, and multi-parameters are summarized. This comprehensive literature review aims to provide guidance for selecting appropriate CV-based methods for bridge inspection and monitoring.

A novel method for measuring and analyzing the characteristics of coarse aggregates in concrete

The characteristic of coarse aggregate is an important factor affecting the building performance of concrete, so it is of great significance to measure and characterize it. In this paper, a method of measuring the characteristics of coarse aggregate in concrete buildings by using borehole camera technology is proposed. For the obtained borehole wall image, the corresponding image processing method is proposed, which can accurately recognize the coarse aggregate structure in the image. On this basis, the characteristics of coarse aggregate in the borehole wall image are calculated and analyzed. The calculation parameters include uniformity, gradation, aspect ratio, inclination angle, shape index, angularity and surface texture. The results show that the coarse aggregate in the borehole wall image used in this paper is not evenly distributed at different depths, the gradation continuity is good, and there are some coarse aggregates with large particle size. The aspect ratio of most coarse aggregates is less than 3 (AR1:97.71%; AR2:96.26%), and the content of needle flake coarse aggregate is less. The inclination angle is mostly distributed in the horizontal direction, accounting for more than 50%. The distribution of shape index and angularity has obvious correlation with the particle size range, and the shape index and angularity in the large particle size range are richer and more uniform. The distribution characteristics of surface texture of coarse aggregate in different particle size range are basically the same, and there is no obvious correlation with particle size. In this paper, a new in-situ measurement and multi characteristic parameter analysis of coarse aggregate in borehole is carried out, which provides a new idea for the evaluation of concrete building performance.

“The chameleon among diseases” - an explorative view of sarcoidosis and identification of the consequences for affected patients and relatives using qualitative interviews

IntroductionSarcoidosis is a multisystemic disease, with the lungs being the main site of manifestation. Although the exact etiology remains unclear, both genetic and environmental factors are being discussed. Diagnostic evaluation is challenging, and the management of chronic patients and assessment of their needs proves difficult, especially in the absence of targeted therapy. Studies on sarcoidosis patients have shown that quality of life is limited even after clinically measurable parameters have resolved. The question remains how patients and their relatives perceive medical care and the diagnostic process and how these affect their well-being.MethodsQualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients and their relatives between September 2019 and February 2020. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Deductive hypotheses were then formed based on categories according to personal aspects, symptoms, diagnostic, daily life activity, therapy, psychological aspects and wishes.ResultsFourteen patients and five relatives were included. Most patients reported subacute symptoms before the first organ-related episode. A high degree of personal initiative was required from the majority of respondents in both the diagnostic and subsequent therapeutic processes. In addition, respondents reported so-called “doctor-hopping”, a lack of specialists or contacts, and a lack of medical support. The Internet and self-help groups played a fundamental role for patients and relatives in exchanging information with other affected persons and to compensate for an existing information deficit.ConclusionThe results provide new insights into patients’ and relatives’ perceptions of the sarcoidosis diagnosis and treatment process. Identification of barriers such as a lack of physicians and an information deficit highlights potential targets for strategies to optimize sarcoidosis management.

Effect of Al5TiB Master Alloy with P on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AlSi7Mg Alloy

Aluminum-silicon alloys are popular casting alloys. In its raw state, the microstructure of the hypoeutectic silumin consists of a large eutectic β phase against the background of dendritic eutectic α. Due to its large microstructure components, mainly the eutectic β phase, this alloy has low mechanical properties. The unfavorable properties of hypoeutectic silumin can be improved by changing the size and shape of the alloy’s microstructure components. There are several possibilities for controlling the microstructure and the resulting mechanical properties of the alloy. One possibility is to modify the alloy with elements and chemical compounds. This paper presents the effect of phosphorus with Al-Ti-B on the microstructure and mechanical properties of hypoeutectic silumin AlSi7Mg. The proportions of Ti to B were selected on the basis of the results presented in the literature, recognizing the optimal ratio of 5:1. The modifier was introduced into the alloy in the form of an AlTiBP master alloy with a variable content of titanium, boron, and phosphorus. Phosphorus was added at the levels of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% of the weight of the modified casting. As a result of the tests carried out, the modifying effect of the introduced master alloy was confirmed. A different morphology of microstructures was obtained for the different chemical compositions of the modifier. The most favorable modification effect, whose measurable parameter is the highest (out of the obtained) mechanical properties, was found for the modifier containing 0.25% Ti + 0.03% B + 0.2% P. It was also found that phosphorus, in the presence of titanium and boron, affects the microstructure and mechanical properties of hypoeutectic silumin AlSi7Mg.

Management of comorbidities in difficult and severe asthma.

Difficult-to-treat and severe asthma are challenging clinical entities. In the face of suboptimal asthma control, the temptation for clinicians is to reflexively escalate asthma-directed therapy, including increasing exposure to corticosteroids and commencement of costly but potent biologic therapies. However, asthma control is objectively and subjectively assessed based on measurable parameters (such as exacerbations or variability in pulmonary physiology), symptoms and patient histories. Crucially, these features can be confounded by common untreated comorbidities, affecting clinicians' assessment of asthma treatment efficacy.

Pathology-based CT Imaging Performance Contrast Study of Osteosarcoma and Chondrosarcoma

This paper aims to compare the CT imaging features of osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma based on pathology evidence. 27 patients with osteosarcoma or chondrosarcoma confirmed by surgical pathology in our hospital from October 2018 to February 2023 were retrospectively selected. Among them, 15 cases of osteosarcoma and 12 cases of chondrosarcoma underwent conventional CT scanning. The CT findings and diagnostic efficacy of each measurement parameter of the two types of patients were compared. Compared with osteosarcoma, the incidence of chondrosarcoma was significantly increased (P&lt;0.05). Of the 15 cases of osteosarcoma, 9 cases (60.00%) developed in the long tubular bone. Of the 12 cases of chondrosarcoma, 7 cases (58.33%) occurred in axial bone, and the difference between them was significant (P&lt;0.05). The appearance of periosteal reactions, Codman's triangle, and radial bone needles indicates a higher incidence of osteosarcoma, while the appearance of type IV calcium density shadow indicates a higher incidence of chondrosarcoma.

Developing a new tool for scoliosis screening in a tertiary specialistic setting using artificial intelligence: a retrospective study on 10,813 patients: 2023 SOSORT award winner.

The study aims to assess if the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) in combination with other readily measurable clinical parameters allows for effective non-invasive scoliosis screening. We analysed 10,813 patients (4-18years old) who underwent clinical and radiological evaluation for scoliosis in a tertiary clinic specialised in spinal deformities. We considered as predictors ATR, Prominence (mm), visible asymmetry of the waist, scapulae and shoulders, familiarity, sex, BMI, age, menarche, and localisation of the curve. We implemented a Logistic Regression model to classify the Cobb angle of the major curve according to thresholds of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 degrees, by randomly splitting the dataset into 80-20% for training and testing, respectively. The model showed accuracies of 74, 81, 79, 79, and 84% for 15-, 20-, 25-, 30- and 40-degrees thresholds, respectively. For all the thresholds ATR, Prominence, and visible asymmetry of the waist were the top five most important variables for the prediction. Samples that were wrongly classified as negatives had always statistically significant (p ≪ 0.01) lower values of ATR and Prominence. This confirmed that these two parameters were very important for the correct classification of the Cobb angle. The model showed better performances than using the 5 and 7 degrees ATR thresholds to prescribe a radiological examination. Machine-learning-based classification models have the potential to effectively improve the non-invasive screening for AIS. The results of the study constitute the basis for the development of easy-to-use tools enabling physicians to decide whether to prescribe radiographic imaging.

Comparative evaluation of advanced adiabatic compressed gas energy storage systems

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a mature electrical energy storage option among different types of energy storage technologies. The positive environmental attributes of the advanced adiabatic compressed air energy storage (AA-CAES) arise from a lack of the need for a combustion chamber. Taking into account the thermodynamic properties and economic considerations, a new approach has been adopted to investigate the effect of various working fluid specifications on the overall performance of the AA-CAES system. This approach involves utilizing hydrogen and nitrogen as working fluid. The technical evaluation includes energy and exergy analysis supported by economic and parametric analysis for advanced adiabatic compressed hydrogen storage (AA-CHES) systems and in addition, an advanced adiabatic compressed nitrogen storage (AA-CNES) is also considered. The results of the thermodynamic analysis illustrate the performance measurements parameters for round-trip efficiency and exergy round-trip efficiency for AA-CHES, AA-CNES, and AA-CAES are equal to 55.05 % - 63.47 %, 54.74 % - 63.16 %, and 54.5 % - 62.91 %, respectively. It is clear that changing the working fluid improves the performance of the studied system. The payback period for AA-CNES, AA-CAES, and AA-CHES are 1.2, 1.3, and 5.4 years, respectively. Additionally, the parametric investigations reveal the influential behaviors of the design parameters on the main output of the system.

Machine learning approaches for predicting microplastic pollution in peatland areas

This study explored the potential for predicting the quantities of microplastics (MPs) from easily measurable parameters in peatland sediment samples. We first applied correlation and Bayesian network analysis to examine the associations between physicochemical variables and the number of MPs measured from three districts of the Long An province in Vietnam. Further, we trained and tested three machine learning models, namely Least-Square Support Vector Machines (LS-SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) to predict the composite quantities of MPs using physicochemical parameters and sediment characteristics as predictors. The results indicate that the quantity of MPs and characteristics such as color and shape in the samples were mostly influenced by pH, TOC, and salinity. All three predictive models demonstrated considerable accuracies when applied to the testing dataset. This study lays the groundwork for using basic physicochemical variables to predict MP pollution in peatland sediments and potentially locations and environments.

Enhanced cell viscosity: A new phenotype associated with lamin A/C alterations

Lamin A/C is a well-established key contributor to nuclear stiffness and its role in nucleus mechanical properties has been extensively studied. However, its impact on whole-cell mechanics has been poorly addressed, particularly concerning measurable physical parameters. In this study, we combined microfluidic experiments with theoretical analyses to quantitatively estimate the whole-cell mechanical properties. This allowed us to characterize the mechanical changes induced in cells by lamin A/C alterations and prelamin A accumulation resulting from atazanavir treatment or lipodystrophy-associated LMNA R482W pathogenic variant. Our results reveal a distinctive increase in long-time viscosity as a signature of cells affected by lamin A/C alterations. Furthermore, they show that the whole-cell response to mechanical stress is driven not only by the nucleus but also by the nucleo-cytoskeleton links and the microtubule network. The enhanced cell viscosity assessed with our microfluidic assay could serve as a valuable diagnosis marker for lamin-related diseases.