Tool For Quantitative Measurement Research Articles

A novel tool for quantitative measurement of distortion in keratoconus.

BackgroundKeratoconus is associated with thinning and anterior protrusion of the cornea resulting in the symptoms of blurry and distorted vision. The commonly used clinical vision tests such as visual acuity and contrast sensitivity may not reflect the symptoms experienced in keratoconus and there are no quantitative tools to measure visual distortion. In this study, we used a quantitative test based on vernier alignment and field matching techniques to quantify visual distortion in keratoconus and assess its relation to corneal structural changes.MethodsA total of 50 participants (25 keratoconus and 25 visually normal) completed the experiment where they aligned supra-threshold white target circles in opposite field in reference to guidelines and circles to complete a square structure monocularly. The task was repeated five times and the global distortion index (GDI) and global uncertainty index (GUI) were calculated as the mean and standard deviation respectively of local perceived misalignment of target circles over five trials.ResultsBoth GDI and GUI were higher in participants with keratoconus compared to controls (p < 0.01). Both parameters correlated with the best corrected visual acuity, maximum corneal curvature (Kmax), topographical keratoconus classification (TKC) and central corneal thickness (CCT).ConclusionOur findings show that the quantitative measure of distortion could be a useful tool for behavioural assessment of progressive keratoconus.

Bacterial Cadmium-Immobilization Activity Measured by Isothermal Microcalorimetry in Cacao-Growing Soils From Colombia

In cacao farms, the presence of cadmium (Cd) is a major issue for commercialization, particularly for countries such as Colombia. Cadmium-tolerant bacteria (CdtB) are an important functional group of microorganisms with a potential for bioremediation strategies. Cd immobilization activity by CdtB can be accurately measured by isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC). In this study, the metabolic capacity of an entire CdtB community in cacao farm soils from three cacao-producing districts of Colombia, with and without the addition of Cd was measured using IMC. The differences between the observed peaks in metabolic activity related to Cd immobilization were analysed to determine whether activation of CdtB populations occurred when Cd content was increased. The thermograms from Santander soil samples have a major metabolic activity of the CdtB community compared to peaks of maximal heat-flow in the samples from Antioquia and Arauca. IMC showed differences in Cd immobilization ratios of the soil samples of 0.11–0.30 mg kg−1 h−1 at 25°C over 12 days of thermal monitoring. Furthermore, the amplicons of cadA and smt genes from the soil samples allow elucidation of possible metabolic mechanisms used by CdtB soil populations. The gene amplification confirmed the existence of CdtB populations related to both bioweathering and biochelating metabolic capacities. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images supported the existence of otavite biologically induced by CdtB naturally. A Pearson correlation analysis was made between kinetical growth parameters and thermodynamic data. Besides, a PCA was performed between CdtB cadA gene copies, soil pH and SOM indicating the effect of CdtB in Cd translocation. Thus, it is concluded that the combination of Cd immobilization ratios obtained using isothermal microcalorimetry, the molecular basis of metabolic immobilization, and SEM imagery could act as a useful toolkit to identify CdtB populations for bioremediation strategies in contaminated cacao farms. The research importance of this study is the use of combined tools for quantitative IMC measurements to identify and assess Cd metabolic capacities of CdtB populations in soil, in situ, as a new proxy for CdtB assessment in cacao-growing soils.

Defining the Relationship between Pocket and Breast Implant Surface Area as the Basis for a New Classification System for Capsular Contracture.

The precise cause of and treatment for capsular contracture remains uncertain, at least partially because there is no reliable quantitative measurement tool. To address this, it is postulated that the surface area of an implant as defined by the surrounding pocket may provide a quantifiable variable that can be measured to evaluate the degree of capsular contracture. A bench model for capsular contracture was developed. The surface area of a series of spherical test objects and noncontracted and contracted breast implants was measured using a wax-coating technique and three-dimensional reconstructions created from computed tomographic scan images. Comparison of the mathematically calculated surface areas to the wax and computed tomographic scan results for spheres of known dimension provided nearly identical values, documenting the accuracy of the two experimental methods. Comparison of the surface area measurements between the test groups showed that the average decrease in surface area for all implants was 20 percent, ranging from a high of 30.9 percent for a low-profile implant to a low of 14.1 percent for a high-profile implant. The anatomically shaped devices demonstrated nearly uniform degrees of surface area change over three different heights with volume and projection held relatively constant. The described bench model provides a useful tool for the study of capsular contracture. Surface area is a descriptive variable that can assess the degree of capsular contracture that is present. A classification system based on surface area is presented. Therapeutic, V.

Wireless light-emitting device for the determination of chirality in real samples

Bipolar electrochemistry can be employed in the context of chiral recognition in order to obtain useful analytical readouts of enantiomeric analytes. Herein, we employ this concept for the simultaneous determination of two enantiomers present in solution, and its possible use as transduction mechanism for complex real matrices analysis. This approach is based on the combination of the enantioselective electrooxidation of only one of the two antipodes of a chiral analyte with the emission of light from light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A double hybrid device was designed, using the enantiomers of an inherently chiral oligomer and a bare gold wire as the anode and cathode of a green and red LED. By applying an appropriate voltage, the wirelessly induced redox reactions trigger light emission only when the probe with the right configuration is present in solution. This device was used to simultaneously measure the ratio between L- and D-Tryptophan, both present in solution and to quantify L-ascorbic acid in a commercial juice sample. The measurement correlates with the value reported on the sample specifications. These results illustrate the possible use of such light-emitting bipolar devices as analytical tools for qualitative and quantitative measurements of enantiomeric excess, even in real samples.

Selfie Dental Plaque Index: A New Tool for Dental Plaque Assessment.

Plaque quantification indices are frequently used to evaluate personal oral hygiene. Education in self-care and self-diagnosis is effective in prevention and control of both dental and periodontal disease. Mobile technology has become a ubiquitous technology and can be particularly useful in the self-monitoring of health promotion. To evaluate the selfie dental plaque index compared with O´Leary index (DPI) and visible plaque index (VPI). The secondary outcome was to compare full-mouth and anterior teeth plaque index analysis. A sample of 47 adults were evaluated using a four-stage protocol. All teeth (except third molars) were analyzed for VPI and DPI. A selfie Digital Camera captured the image of the patient's smile (without and with disclosing solution), which was analyzed using Image J software (ImageJ 1.52a, National Institutes of Health). Adobe Photoshop software (Copyright © 2020 Adobe) was used for individual segmentation. The calculation of the selfie index of visible plaque (SVPI) and disclosed (SDPI) was done through the area with plaque of each image in relation to the total teeth area. Spearman's correlation test showed a moderate correlation between VPI and SVPI (rho = 0.6, p<0.001), whereas between DPI and SDPI the correlation was weak (rho = 0.2, p = 0.13). The correlation between the plaque index using all the teeth present, showed a strong correlation with the analysis only of the anterior teeth (rho = 0.8, p<0.001). Our results showed the potential of smiling images as a new tool for quantitative measurements and showed moderate correlation when compared with the visible plaque index. Anterior teeth provided reliable plaque indexes when compared with full mouth analysis. Key words:Dental Plaque Index, dental hygiene, mHealth, health Promotion, oral Health.

Quantitative measures used in empirical evaluations of mental health policy implementation: A systematic review.

Mental health is a critical component of wellness. Public policies present an opportunity for large-scale mental health impact, but policy implementation is complex and can vary significantly across contexts, making it crucial to evaluate implementation. The objective of this study was to (1) identify quantitative measurement tools used to evaluate the implementation of public mental health policies; (2) describe implementation determinants and outcomes assessed in the measures; and (3) assess the pragmatic and psychometric quality of identified measures. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, Policy Implementation Determinants Framework, and Implementation Outcomes Framework, we conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed journal articles published in 1995-2020. Data extracted included study characteristics, measure development and testing, implementation determinants and outcomes, and measure quality using the Psychometric and Pragmatic Evidence Rating Scale. We identified 34 tools from 25 articles, which were designed for mental health policies or used to evaluate constructs that impact implementation. Many measures lacked information regarding measurement development and testing. The most assessed implementation determinants were readiness for implementation, which encompassed training (n = 20, 57%) and other resources (n = 12, 34%), actor relationships/networks (n = 15, 43%), and organizational culture and climate (n = 11, 31%). Fidelity was the most prevalent implementation outcome (n = 9, 26%), followed by penetration (n = 8, 23%) and acceptability (n = 7, 20%). Apart from internal consistency and sample norms, psychometric properties were frequently unreported. Most measures were accessible and brief, though minimal information was provided regarding interpreting scores, handling missing data, or training needed to administer tools. This work contributes to the nascent field of policy-focused implementation science by providing an overview of existing measurement tools used to evaluate mental health policy implementation and recommendations for measure development and refinement. To advance this field, more valid, reliable, and pragmatic measures are needed to evaluate policy implementation and close the policy-to-practice gap. Mental health is a critical component of wellness, and public policies present an opportunity to improve mental health on a large scale. Policy implementation is complex because it involves action by multiple entities at several levels of society. Policy implementation is also challenging because it can be impacted by many factors, such as political will, stakeholder relationships, and resources available for implementation. Because of these factors, implementation can vary between locations, such as states or countries. It is crucial to evaluate policy implementation, thus we conducted a systematic review to identify and evaluate the quality of measurement tools used in mental health policy implementation studies. Our search and screening procedures resulted in 34 measurement tools. We rated their quality to determine if these tools were practical to use and would yield consistent (i.e., reliable) and accurate (i.e., valid) data. These tools most frequently assessed whether implementing organizations complied with policy mandates and whether organizations had the training and other resources required to implement a policy. Though many were relatively brief and available at little-to-no cost, these findings highlight that more reliable, valid, and practical measurement tools are needed to assess and inform mental health policy implementation. Findings from this review can guide future efforts to select or develop policy implementation measures.

INTERNAL AUDIT OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AS A TOOL TO MANAGE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION

The article is devoted to the topical issue of education management as an internal audit of the school and the technology of its implementation. Since the concept of "audit" appeared in the field of education in Ukraine recently, and tools to assess the educational activities of an educational institution is not enough, this issue requires careful study. The aim of the work is to theoretically justify the importance and organizational principles of internal audit as a tool for managing the quality of education, as well as to propose the use of factor-criteria model for such an assessment. In accordance with the goal, the following research methods were used: a) theoretical: analysis and systematization of philosophical, pedagogical, psychological and educational management literature to define organizational and pedagogical principles of quality of education and educational activities and conceptual and categorical apparatus of the study; modeling to develop a factor-criteria model as a technology for evaluating educational activities of general secondary education; content-analysis of legislative, regulatory and methodological documentation to clarify the parameters, factors, and criteria for evaluating educational activities; b) empirical: observations, questionnaires, interviews, the method of expert evaluations to assess the educational activities of institutions of general secondary education. The paper analyzes the scientific and pedagogical literature on the problem under study, which found that the problem of quality education for many centuries has been the subject of scientific discussions and searches of scientists: philosophers, economists, sociologists, educators. The study emphasizes that for a successful educational institution capable of providing a high level of quality education, it is essential to use tools and methods of quality assessment with clearly defined criteria, conducting an annual internal audit of its activities, which is seen as a process of data collection. Value/originality. The necessity and importance of internal audit of school activities were determined; internal audit tools using qualimetric approach to educational activities in institutions of general secondary education were developed; understanding of the main evaluation parameters (parameters of the educational environment, parameters of assessment of teaching activities, parameters of assessment of student activities, parameters of assessment of management processes) was enhanced. The technology of tools for quantitative measurement of the quality of education in institutions of general secondary education has been further developed. Practical implementation. Managers of institutions of general secondary education will be able to understand the importance and feasibility of internal assessment of the quality of education and use the factor-criteria model of the annual internal audit to ensure the continuous development of institutions of general secondary education and improve the level of educational services.

Application of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System for the assessment of postural control while standing in typical children and peers with neurodevelopmental disorders

BackgroundThe assessment of postural control in children is crucial, due to its central role in their overall development. However, a tool that objectively quantifies the difference in postural control between typical and atypical developing children is lacking. In this study, we introduce a new technology (Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System, VRRS) for assessing children’s postural control. Research questionIs this new assessment tool capable to highlight the differences between typical development (TD) and atypical development, (children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and Cerebral Palsy (CP))? Methods30 TD children, 20 children with DCD and 27 with CP (mean ages: 6.29 ± 2.74; 9.11 ± 2.65; 10.07 ± 3.89 years) were tested with the VRRS Tablet with stabilometric balance platform. Postural parameters, related to the movements of the Centre of Pressure (COP) were collected. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) followed by a post-hoc analysis has been carried out. Moreover, the influence of age, sex, clinical scores and sub-diagnoses on parameters of interest has been explored. ResultsCOP distance and sway area in the three groups (TD: 7.35 ± 2.32 mm, 101.70 ± 64.16 mm2/s; DCD: 12.05 ± 8.19 mm, 188.46 ± 231.23 mm2/s; CP: 13.25 ± 8.09 mm, 239.13 ± 313.83 mm2/s, respectively) and all other VRRS parameters were significantly different among the three groups (p-values between 0.028 and <0.001). The TD group showed significantly different values than CP (p from < 0.03 to < 0.001) but not than DCD (p = n.s.). Clinical scores showed to correlate with the COP distances and Root Mean Square distances in all subgroups (p < 0.05). For age, only an influence was found within the TD group (p < 0.01); sex did not show to affect the outcomes (p = n.s.). SignificanceAn objective tool for quantitative measurement of postural control in childhood is needed. Our proposed VRRS tool could support the traditional assessment tests, highlighting differences between typical and atypical development.

Quantification of phase-based magnified motion using image enhancement and optical flow techniques

Phase-based motion magnification (PMM) has been widely implemented in the field of vibration and structural health monitoring for its non-invasive nature to reveal hidden system dynamics. The approach has shown success in magnifying subtle structural oscillatory motions for system identification and observation of operating shapes. Although this method has been implemented and is becoming increasingly popular, the amount of physical motion associated with the degree of magnification has yet to be quantified. Within this work, a synthetic simulation containing an oscillating geometry is presented to quantify its magnified pixel displacement. Computer vision techniques including centroid detection and edge-feature tracking via optical flow are adopted to quantify the relation between amplification and true motion. The quantification techniques are also tested and verified on an experimental structure with the use of a high-speed optical sensing system. Motion artifacts distort the integrity of the magnified motion, which can pose problems for accurate quantification. Image enhancement techniques such as the two-dimensional Wiener filter and Total Variation Denoising (TVD) are used to smooth the high-frequency content that is observed following magnification. Associative error concerning a discrete shift of the Gabor wavelet is analytically derived to show the justification of spatial aliasing. An adjusted bound on magnification is presented to display the limitations of the technique, while providing insight into associated error. The results of this work will help to enhance PMM from a qualitative evaluation tool to a quantitative measurement tool of magnified displacements.

Myelin Quantification in White Matter Pathology of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Post-Mortem Brain Samples: A New Approach for Quantifying Remyelination.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Repair through remyelination can be extensive, but quantification of remyelination remains challenging. To date, no method for standardized digital quantification of remyelination of MS lesions exists. This methodological study aims to present and validate a novel standardized method for myelin quantification in progressive MS brains to study myelin content more precisely. Fifty-five MS lesions in 32 tissue blocks from 14 progressive MS cases and five tissue blocks from 5 non-neurological controls were sampled. MS lesions were selected by macroscopic investigation of WM by standard histopathological methods. Tissue sections were stained for myelin with luxol fast blue (LFB) and histological assessment of de- or remyelination was performed by light microscopy. The myelin quantity was estimated with a novel myelin quantification method (MQM) in ImageJ. Three independent raters applied the MQM and the inter-rater reliability was calculated. We extended the method to diffusely appearing white matter (DAWM) and encephalitis to test potential wider applicability of the method. Inter-rater agreement was excellent (ICC = 0.96) and there was a high reliability with a lower- and upper limit of agreement up to −5.93% to 18.43% variation in myelin quantity. This study builds on the established concepts of histopathological semi-quantitative assessment of myelin and adds a novel, reliable and accurate quantitative measurement tool for the assessment of myelination in human post-mortem samples.

Benefits of a daily physical activity program supervised by a physical and health education teacher: utility of a mixed methods study using an ecological approach

ABSTRACT Background The implementation of a quality daily physical activity program in school is influenced by a multitude of factors. Considering the characteristics and possible interactions of factors when choosing the study methods is likely to influence the interpretation of the results. Mixed methods approach, by collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, can lend a more comprehensive understanding of a physical activity intervention and its effects. Purpose This paper aims to assess the benefits of a daily physical activity program and underline the theoretical and methodological interrelationships of this project based on an ecological approach and using a mixed methods design. Method A semi-structured interview was used to collect the perceptions of a physical and health education teacher and self-administered questionnaires were used to survey classroom teachers and parents, while the quantification of the benefits of the program on students was based on an attention test, accelerometer measurements and a motor skills evaluation. Results This mixed methods study provided an opportunity to measure the benefits of a daily physical activity program at the intrapersonal level (students’ attention, PA intensity, and motor skills) and compare these results with findings at the interpersonal level (parents’ perceptions), and institutional level (PHE teacher and classroom teachers’ perceptions). Examining the benefits associated with the daily physical activity program using qualitative and quantitative measurement tools at different levels of the ecological approach enabled the convergence and corroboration of findings but also the elaboration, enhancement, and clarification of findings. Conclusion A mixed methods design has helped to make an optimal use of the ecological approach despite the presence of methodological limits but has also helped to increase the effectiveness of classroom teachers and physical and health education teacher delivering the daily physical activity program, and ultimately to reap greater benefits.

The Use of a Low-Cost Gaming Platform as a Substitute to Medical-Grade Force Plate in Objective Evaluation of Balance.

Posturography is a tool for quantitative measurement of balance in various static and dynamic test conditions. Current medical grade Posturography systems are very costly and rare outside research institutes. The Wii Balance Board is an inexpensive gaming device which works on similar principles and uses the center of pressure of an individual as an input for motion-controlled gaming. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of using a gaming platform (Wii Balance Board) as a substitute to medical grade Posturography machine. The objectives were to compare the measures of postural sway obtained from a gaming platform with those from a medical grade Posturography machine and to demonstrate a low-cost method of analysis of balance using the gaming platform. Descriptive Observational study. Individuals aged 18-65 years and having no apparent dysfunction of balance were assessed objectively using Wii Balance Board and Medical-grade Posturography machine. A program was developed in Scilab for computation of sway parameters. The results were compared in terms of correlation coefficient, Bland-Altmann plots, and ability to detect abnormal sway. A Pearson's correlation coefficient ranging from 0.53-0.91 was observed in various test conditions, with an overall value of 0.62 between the results of the two machines. The sensitivity was 69.39%, specificity was 73.16%, positive predictive value 24.29%, negative predictive value 95.07%, and accuracy 72.75%. Thus, we can conclude that the Wii Balance Board can be used as a low-cost substitute to medical grade Posturography machine for quantification of balance in situations where precise measurement of balance is not required.

Reduced Cerebral Blood Flow in Benign Oligemia Relates to Poor Clinical Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

The imaging of cerebral blow flow (CBF) has shown great promise in predicting the tissue outcome or functional outcome of acute ischemic stroke patients. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) provides a noninvasive tool for quantitative CBF measurement and does not require a contrast agent, which makes it an attractive technology for perfusion imaging in clinical settings. Previous studies have shown the feasibility of using ASL for acute stroke imaging and its potential in stroke outcome prediction. However, the relationship between the tissue-level CBF reduction in hypoperfused region and clinical outcome in acute stroke patients remains not well understood. In this study, we obtained the quantitative measurements of CBF in acute ischemic stroke patients (N = 18) using pseudocontinuous ASL (pCASL) perfusion imaging technology. The tissue-level CBF changes were evaluated and their correlations with patient clinical outcome were explored. Our results showed different CBF values between hypoperfused tissues recruited into infarction and those that survived. Moreover, a significant correlation was found specifically between the CBF reduction in benign oligemia area and patient neurological deficit severity. These findings showed the validity of pCASL perfusion imaging in the assessment of tissue-level CBF information in acute stroke. The association of CBF with patient clinical outcome might provide useful insights in early diagnosis of acute stroke patients.

Planning the resilient city: Investigations into using “causal loop diagram” in combination with “UNISDR scorecard” for making cities more resilient

The world is changing and facing new challenges such as the effects of climate change, natural disasters, population growth, and urban densification. The rampant development means that urban areas as the most populated area are vulnerable to many challenges and losses. One way to address this is to reduce the effects of disasters by enhancing the performance of cities, in other words increasing their “resiliency” to make them withstand the impact of unpredictable stresses and shocks. The purpose of this paper is to present an innovative method to identify effective policies and plans, as well as to test alternatives to improve city resiliency. Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) approach in combination with a quantitative resilience measurement tool, developed by theUnited Nations Office of Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR Scorecard) was used for planning and prioritisation of resilience works. The Auckland region in New Zealand was chosen to demonstrate how the concepts and tools found within the study can be applied within the urban context. This study used quantitative data from applying the Scorecard. Then, through data analysis, the usage of system dynamic, causal loop diagram approach, was investigated and recommendation were then provided. The projections provided evidence that CLD offers insight and creates shared understanding about resilience system and how it works. It is through rational debate that a deeper understanding is developed, and resilience system is improved. The diagram provides a visual map of connection among resilience indicators that offer a clear mental model of the resilience system. In enabling a visual output, 'what if' scenarios could be projected to visualize how certain changes made in one indicator (for example, by imposing a policy or plan) can make changes (positive and negative) in other parts. The CLD revealed that all resilience indicators within cities are highly interconnected and that building resilience takes multi-organisational efforts. Therefore, improving resilience in a specific weak area can be achieved with indirect actions by targeting the roots (cross-sectoral). Such intervention then optimises the benefits of the response and spread to a broader area within a cost-effective manner. Nevertheless, it is also important to note that our knowledge in all science is limited and any modelling based on this has flaws and limitations that will need further investigation.

Improving the affordability and accessibility of healthcare services: A model for the integration of homoeopathy into the public healthcare system in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

IntroductionThe public healthcare system in South Africa services the majority of its population, as many are unable to afford the services that exist in the private sector. The public sector has become overburdened with many issues. Some of the issues that plague this sector include a lack of resources, insufficiency of personnel and financial constraints due to over-usage. Based on this context, the introduction of complementary alternative medicine, such as homoeopathy, into the public healthcare system exists as one of the potential resolutions to this burdened healthcare sector. Therefore, the aim of the study was gather data, both descriptive and statistical, from healthcare professionals in order to develop a model for integrating homoeopathy into the public healthcare system.MethodsThe researcher conducted a mixed methods study using the explanatory sequential design. Thus, the study was conducted in two Phases. Phase 1 employed quantitative measurement tools, where data was collected from medical doctors, nurses and homoeopaths through paper-and-pen/ electronic surveys. Phase 2 incorporated qualitative measurement tools, where data was collected from Chief Operating Officers as well as nursing managers through semi-structured interviews. The data from both phases was then compared and contrasted to guide the development of a model for integration.DiscussionsBased on the current circumstances that exist in South Africa, it was established from the results of the study that the integration of homoeopathy into the public healthcare system would be complex in nature, due to the changes that would need to be made in both the public and private sector.ConclusionsThe findings of the study have revealed that integration is not an isolated event and if were to occur, would involve the participation of various stakeholders. Currently, homoeopathy only exists in the private sector, along with the other natural therapies as well as mainstream medicine. The public sector only offers mainstream medicine and this has been a reality since inception of this sector. Though there have been some talks of certain natural therapies, such as traditional medicine being integrated into the sector, no solid discussions have been concluded.Lessons learntThe public healthcare sector in South Africa is under increasing pressure. The users of this sector are not always guaranteed health benefits and are unfortunately not able to receive the same quality of care as those who can afford the services of the better resourced private healthcare sector. The integration of homoeopathy presents as a possible solution to some of the issues experienced. The government in South Africa has raised the possibilities of an integrated approach to healthcare to address these issues, albeit it has been unclear how such integration will take place.LimitationsPatients/public sector users being excluded from the study was seen as one of the biggest limitations. The researcher believed that patients’ perceptions are equally important as those of the practitioners.Suggestions for future researchThe model not being tested and implemented presented as a limitation of the study. This meant that further research ought to be considered regarding the phenomenon being investigated.

P–362 The effect of nolasiban on uterine contractility at the time of embryo transfer in in vitro fertilisation patients

Abstract Study question What is the effect of nolasiban on the uterine contractility of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) patients prior to embryo transfer (ET) ? Summary answer A single oral dose of nolasiban 900 mg administered 4 h before ET significantly decreased contraction frequency and increased coordination compared to placebo. What is known already Nolasiban is an investigational oral oxytocin receptor antagonist (OTRa) being developed to improve the chance of pregnancy following ET. Increased uterine contraction frequency can influence embryo implantation, and the coordination of these uterine contractions is equally important. OTRa have been shown to decrease uterine contractions and increase endometrial perfusion. Recently, an automated and quantitative measurement tool using transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) to better characterise uterine contractility has been developed which can be used to quantify the effect of nolasiban on uterine contractility. Study design, size, duration This study is part of a completed multi-centre randomised placebo-controlled trial (IMPLANT 1 – NCT02310802) in IVF patients (n = 247) carried out in 2015. Our study retrospectively assessed a sub-set of patients with good quality TVUS recordings to evaluate their mechanical uterine motion that were randomised to receive either nolasiban 900mg (n = 39) or placebo (n = 42). Participants/materials, setting, methods Subjects were &amp;lt; 37 years, undergoing ET on Day 3 following IVF/ICSI and with evidence of uterine contractions 4 h before ET. Nolasiban was administered 4 h before ET. Patients underwent TVUS immediately before drug administration and again immediately before ET. Uterine contraction frequency, amplitude, power and coordination were measured by applying dedicated speckle tracking and strain analysis. The Shapiro–Wilk test, followed by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test were applied to compare features between treatment groups. Main results and the role of chance The mean (SD) frequency of uterine contractions was 1.54 (0.25) in the nolasiban group versus 1.57 (0.12) in the placebo group (p = 0.016). The mean (SD) coordination was 0.10 (0.17) in the nolasiban group versus 0.02 (0.16) in the placebo group (p = 0.034). The coordination feature was measured by assessing the presence of simultaneous movements of the anterior and posterior uterine walls, a higher value reflects increased coordination. There was no difference in contraction amplitude or power. Limitations, reasons for caution This was a retrospective analysis of TVUS videos. The small sample size limits the generalisability of the findings. Furthermore, our initial results do not show how the changes in uterine motion may affect pregnancy rate after ET, meaning that the clinical relevance of our results remains to be proven. Wider implications of the findings: Our results show that in patients taking one 900mg dose of nolasiban prior to ET, beneficial uterine contractions are seen, which could be promising for embryo implantation and pregnancy in IVF patients. Our quantitative TVUS measurement tool can be applied to different patient populations to accurately quantify uterine motion. Trial registration number NCT02310802

INTERNAL SPECKLE PATTERN QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND OPTIMAL SELECTION OF VOXEL POINTS FOR DIGITAL VOLUME CORRELATION

Digital volume correlation (DVC) is a powerful experimental tool for quantitative 3D internal deformation measurement throughout the interior of materials or biological tissues. By comparing the volumetric images acquired at the reference and deformed states by a volumetric imaging facility (e.g., X-ray CT), DVC provides full-field displacements with subvoxel accuracy and full-field strain maps. When using DVC method for internal deformation measurement, the quality of internal speckle pattern of a test sample has an important impact on the accuracy and precision of the measured displacements. In this work, theoretical analysis and numerical simulation experiments are firstly performed to assess the quality of internal speckle patterns. The results show that the displacement measurement error of DVC is negative correlation with the sum of square of subvolume intensity gradient (SSSIG) of a subvolume. Thus, the SSSIG value of a subvolume can be used as a simple and effective metric for quality assessment of its internal speckle pattern. In practical DVC analyses, increasing the SSSIG parameter of a subvolume helps to improve the measurement accuracy and precision of DVC. Despite the SSSIG in a subvolume can be increased by enlarging its subvolume size, this simple approach, however, would lead to increased calculation burden. With a purpose to increase SSSIG without significantly increase the amount of calculation, this paper further proposes a method for optimal selection of calculation voxel points in subvolumes. Specifically, the voxel points with small gray gradients in a subvolume are excluded from DVC calculation to decrease the amount of calculation when increasing the size of the subvolume. The efficacy of the presented voxel point optimal selection method is validated by analyzing computer simulated and experimentally obtained volume images. Experimental results reveal that the proposed voxel point selection method is capable of reducing the calculation burden when increasing the subvolume size to increase the SSSIG parameters.

Üstbiliş Destekli Tartışma Tabanlı Öğrenme Yaklaşımının Fizik Eğitiminde Kavramsal Değişim ve Üstbiliş Üzerine Etkisi

The process of conceptual change begins when a preconception of a student fails to solve a problem. It ends when the student abandons his preconception and accepts a scientific concept. Although the theory and variables of conceptual change have been defined, how the theory would be implemented in a class environment has not been defined. For this reason, a course incorporating an argumentation approach supported with metacognitive strategies in accordance with the theory of conceptual change was designed and implemented for the subject of special relativity theory. A qualitatively dominant status mixed-method approach was used as the research design. The participants of the study were 51, 10th-grade students studying at a secondary school. Data were collected with qualitative and quantitative measurement tools. It was concluded that the applied course contributed positively to the students' conceptual changes and regulation of cognition (planning, monitoring, evaluating).

A systematic review of school health policy measurement tools: implementation determinants and outcomes

BackgroundGovernments in some countries or states/provinces mandate school-based policies intended to improve the health and well-being of primary and secondary students and in some cases the health of school staff. Examples include mandating a minimum time spent per week in programmed physical activity, mandating provision of healthy foods and limiting fat content of school meals, and banning tobacco products or use on school campuses. Although school health researchers have studied whether schools, districts, or states/provinces are meeting requirements, it is unclear to what extent implementation processes and determinants are assessed. The purposes of the present systematic review of quantitative measures of school policy implementation were to (1) identify quantitative school health policy measurement tools developed to measure implementation at the school, district, or state/provincial levels; (2) describe the policy implementation outcomes and determinants assessed and identify the trends in measurement; and (3) assess pragmatic and psychometric properties of identified implementation measures to understand their quality and suitability for broader application.MethodsPeer-reviewed journal articles published 1995–2020 were included if they (1) had multiple-item quantitative measures of school policy implementation and (2) addressed overall wellness, tobacco, physical activity, nutrition, obesity prevention, or mental health/bullying/social-emotional learning. The final sample comprised 86 measurement tools from 67 peer-review articles. We extracted study characteristics, such as psychometric and pragmatic measure properties, from included articles based on three frameworks: (1) Implementation Outcomes Framework, (2) Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, and (3) Policy Implementation Determinants Framework.ResultsMost implementation tools were developed to measure overall wellness policies which combined multiple policy topics (n = 35, 40%) and were in survey form (n = 75, 87%). Fidelity was the most frequently prevalent implementation outcome (n = 70, 81%), followed by adoption (n = 32, 81%). The implementation determinants most assessed were readiness for implementation, including resources (n = 43, 50%), leadership (n = 42, 49%), and policy communication (n = 41, 48%). Overall, measures were low-cost and had easy readability. However, lengthy tools and lack of reported validity/reliability data indicate low transferability.ConclusionsImplementation science can contribute to more complete and rigorous assessment of school health policy implementation processes, which can improve implementation strategies and ultimately the intended health benefits. Several high-quality measures of implementation determinants and implementation outcomes can be applied to school health policy implementation assessment. Dissemination and implementation science researchers can also benefit from measurement experiences of school health researchers.

To post or not to post? Exploring the motivations behind brand-related engagement types on social networking sites

PurposeThis study aims to investigate consumer motivations behind brand-related engagement on social media by exploring three different engagement types: consuming, contributing (to) and creating. Previous research suggests that many brands seek to engage with consumers via communications on social networking sites; however, most focus on quantitative metrics and measurement tools to evaluate such behaviour and so offer limited understanding and guidance. To address this gap, the current study utilises a mixed-method approach to investigate the motivations behind each brand-related engagement type to provide deeper insight into what motivates consumers to engage with brand-related posts on social networking sites. This study also aims to investigate whether the motivations between different engagement types exist and whether these vary between brands and other people's brand-related posts.Design/methodology/approachA two-phase integrated qualitative–quantitative research design was utilised. Twelve semi-structured interviews explored the range of consumers' brand engagement motivations before an online survey (N = 225) identified and confirmed the motivational similarities and differences between the three brand-related engagement types.FindingsDifferent motives influence each brand-related engagement type, bar the “enjoyment” motive, which triggers all three engagement types. Of particular interest is the identification of a new motive for engagement-seeking compensation that influences negative brand-related engagement.Practical implicationsThrough understanding what motivates consumers to consume, contribute and create, brands can tailor their marketing messages to each different brand-related engagement type. This will increase their engagement with consumers on social networking sites, as specific segments can be created by the brand to enhance their targeting strategies based on consumers' differing motivations within social media channels.Originality/valueThis study contributes a much-needed framework of motivations for brand-related engagement on social media, recognising variations in motivations by type of engagement (consume, contribute (to), create).