Spearman Rank Order Correlation Research Articles

Creating an Empirical Dermatology Dataset Through Crowdsourcing With Web Search Advertisements

Health datasets from clinical sources do not reflect the breadth and diversity of disease, impacting research, medical education, and artificial intelligence tool development. Assessments of novel crowdsourcing methods to create health datasets are needed. To evaluate if web search advertisements (ads) are effective at creating a diverse and representative dermatology image dataset. This prospective observational survey study, conducted from March to November 2023, used Google Search ads to invite internet users in the US to contribute images of dermatology conditions with demographic and symptom information to the Skin Condition Image Network (SCIN) open access dataset. Ads were displayed against dermatology-related search queries on mobile devices, inviting contributions from adults after a digital informed consent process. Contributions were filtered for image safety and measures were taken to protect privacy. Data analysis occurred January to February 2024. Dermatologist condition labels as well as estimated Fitzpatrick Skin Type (eFST) and estimated Monk Skin Tone (eMST) labels. The primary metrics of interest were the number, quality, demographic diversity, and distribution of clinical conditions in the crowdsourced contributions. Spearman rank order correlation was used for all correlation analyses, and the χ2 test was used to analyze differences between SCIN contributor demographics and the US census. In total, 5749 submissions were received, with a median of 22 (14-30) per day. Of these, 5631 (97.9%) were genuine images of dermatological conditions. Among contributors with self-reported demographic information, female contributors (1732 of 2596 contributors [66.7%]) and younger contributors (1329 of 2556 contributors [52.0%] aged <40 years) had a higher representation in the dataset compared with the US population. Of 2614 contributors who reported race and ethnicity, 852 (32.6%) reported a racial or ethnic identity other than White. Dermatologist confidence in assigning a differential diagnosis increased with the number of self-reported demographic and skin-condition-related variables (Spearman R = 0.1537; P < .001). Of 4019 contributions reporting duration since onset, 2170 (54.0%) reported onset within less than 7 days of submission. Of the 2835 contributions that could be assigned a dermatological differential diagnosis, 2523 (89.0%) were allergic, infectious, or inflammatory conditions. eFST and eMST distributions reflected the geographical origin of the dataset. The findings of this survey study suggest that search ads are effective at crowdsourcing dermatology images and could therefore be a useful method to create health datasets. The SCIN dataset bridges important gaps in the availability of images of common, short-duration skin conditions.

Perception towards personal enrichment competency modules and interprofessional collaboration readiness among students

To evaluate the correlation between perception towards Personal enrichment competency (PEC) modules effectiveness and interprofessional collaboration readiness among students. A cross-sectional study design was used. Two different variables were used to measure the perception towards PEC modules and the readiness for interprofessional collaboration; this was done using the readiness for interprofessional learning scale (RIPLS). A convenience sampling method was used. The respondent was drawn from current medical, health science and pharmacy undergraduate students from the first year to the fifth year in a private University in Malaysia. A Spearman's rank-order correlation test was run to determine the statistical relationship between both variables.The scores for the perception towards PEC modules (inclusive of overall scores, content structure, practicum and assessment) and readiness towards IP learning (comprised of teamwork and collaboration, negative professional identity, positive professional identity and roles and/or responsibilities) showed above average score (4.04 ± 0.92 and 3.77± 0.81 respectively) among students of various healthcare programs. There was a strong, positive correlation between PEC module effectiveness and IP collaboration readiness, which was statistically significant (r = 0.713, p &amp;#60; 0.001). There was an effective PEC delivery among undergraduates in medical school, pharmacy school and faculty of health sciences. Undergraduates in medical school, pharmacy school and faculty of health sciences were shown to be ready for interprofessional collaboration when entering professional careers. Interprofessional learning should be incorporated into the curriculum such as in the PEC modules for all medical, health science and pharmacy programs, which may nurture students to become more competent healthcare givers and appreciate each professional role.

Estimates and trends in the global burden of glaucoma influenced by metabolic risk factors from Global Burden of Disease Study between 1990 to 2019.

Glaucoma is an irreversible eye disease that causes blindness, which not only causes visual impairment and economic burden to patients, but also increases the social burden. This study aimed to estimate the global burden of glaucoma due to metabolic risk over the past 30 years. The number and rate of deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and age-standardized rates (ASRs) for metabolic risk factors-induced glaucoma were extracted. The estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) for ASRs were calculated using a generalized linear model with a Gaussian distribution to quantify the temporal trends in the global burden of metabolic risk factor-attributed glaucoma. The strength and direction of the association between the sociodemographic index (SDI) and the DALY rate were measured using Spearman's rank-order correlation. Approximately 0.07% of the global DALYs of glaucoma in 1990 were associated with metabolic risk factors, which increased to 0.1% in 2019. From 1990 to 2019, the global DALY cases of glaucoma caused by metabolic risk factors and the global burden of DALYs increased, whereas the DALY rate decreased with a higher SDI regional grade. The ASR of glaucoma disability loss years with a metabolic high risk increased with age, reaching the highest in the >85-year-old age group. The burden of glaucoma caused by metabolic risk factors has increased over the past three decades, especially in regions with a low SDI and in old-age groups.

Social Demographic and Clinical Predictors of Time to Clinic Presentation After a Sport-Related Concussion.

To investigate the associations between clinical risk factors, social demographic and time to concussion clinic presentation after sports-related concussion in young athletes. Retrospective cohort study. Multidisciplinary regional concussion center. Athletes ages 12 to 18 years who sustained a SRC from November 2017 to April 2022. Independent variables included social demographic factors (ie, race, ethnicity, public vs private school, public vs private insurance), patient medical history, family medical history, acute concussion characteristics, and initial presentation elsewhere. Descriptive statistics were employed to assess for group differences. Mann-Whitney U tests, Spearman rank order correlations, and linear regressions were performed to explore associations between each independent variable and the main outcome, days to concussion clinic presentation. A total of 945 athletes we included (age 15.8 ± 1.61, 33.7% female). Hispanic/Latino background, (P = 0.009), public insurance status (U = 47 377.0, P = 0.002), amnesia (U = 57 738.0, P = 0.002) at time of injury, family psychiatric (U = 35 091.0, P < 0.001) or migraine (U = 59 594.5, P < 0.001) histories, and personal psychiatric (U = 30 798.0, P = 0.004) or migraine (U = 34 133.5, P = 0.011) histories were associated with longer time to concussion clinic presentation. A multivariable linear regression found that initial presentation elsewhere (β = 0.37, P < 0.001), family migraine history (β = 0.18, P < 0.001), public insurance status (β = 0.09, P = 0.024), and history of learning disability (β = 0.09, P = 0.032) were the only predictors of longer time to concussion clinic presentation. Variables that predicted longer time to concussion clinic presentation included initial presentation elsewhere, public insurance status, positive family migraine history, and history of learning disability. Further research is needed to elucidate these findings and determine how they impact concussion seeking behavior.

Effect of Cryotherapy and Occlusal Reduction on Postoperative Endodontic Pain in Mandibular First Molars with Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis: A Prospective, Parallel, Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to compare the intensity of postoperative pain following the final rinse using cold saline compared with room temperature saline and occlusal reduction. A prospective, parallel, double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted on 69 first mandibular molars diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and symptomatic apical periodontitis. Single-visit root canal treatment was performed; access cavity preparations and chemomechanical preparations were carried out using the ProTaper Gold rotary system under copious irrigation using 3% sodium hypochlorite and 17% EDTA. The patients were divided into three groups (n = 23): control group: room temperature saline (25°C) final rinse without occlusal reduction; cryotherapy group: cold saline (2.5-4°C) final rinse without occlusal reduction; and occlusal reduction group: room temperature saline with occlusal reduction. Pain scores were recorded using the visual analog scale preoperatively and postoperatively via telephone at 6, 24, 48, 72 hours, and 7 days intervals. Age data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post hoc test. Pain score data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis' test followed by Dunn's post hoc test for intergroup comparisons and Friedman's test followed by Nemenyi's post hoc test for intragroup comparisons. Correlations were analyzed using Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient. The significance level was set at p < 0.05 within all tests. Cryotherapy reduced postoperative pain compared with the control group with a statistically significant difference at 24 hours only (p = 0.016). At other intervals, no statistically significant difference in pain score was measured between all three groups (p > 0.05). After 7 days, all patients recorded a zero pain score. Cryotherapy was as effective as the occlusal reduction in reducing postoperative pain in cases of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis with symptomatic apical periodontitis, significantly more than the control group.

Assessing the Effect of Strategic Alliances on Organizational Performance of Commercial Banks in Nigeria

This study was carried out to examine the effect of Strategic Alliances on Organizational performance of commercial banks in Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design with primary data generated through self-administered questionnaire. The population for this study was five (5) commercial banks in South-South, Nigeria. The study however focused mainly on their regional offices located in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Six regional managers for each bank were used as the study respondents giving a total of 30 respondents. Census sampling was adopted since the study sample was small. The reliability of the instrument was achieved by the use of the Cronbach Alpha with all the items scoring alpha coefficient above 0.70. The hypotheses were tested using the spearman rankorder correlation co-efficient with the aid ofstatistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The tests were carried out at a 95% confidence interval and a 0.05 level of significance. The study findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between strategic alliances on revenue performance, cost efficiency performance and on the profitability of commercial banks in South-South, Nigeria. The study recommends that commercial banks should invest in modern technologies to effectively integrate all the banks functions and activities to minimize operational costs. The top management team should invest more on financial innovations so that customers will have a wide scope of banking products to choose from leading to customer satisfaction and improve value addition which in turn enhances financial performance.

UNDERSTANDING DAIRY SMALLHOLDERS’ INTENTION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Brucellosis (&lt;em&gt;Brucella abortus&lt;/em&gt;) is a disease that affects cattle and has a significant economic impact on the livelihood of farmers in developing countries. &lt;strong&gt;Objective:&lt;/strong&gt; The research aimed to understand the dairy smallholders’ intention to participate in the national campaign to control and eradicate bovine brucellosis in Aculco, State of Mexico. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology:&lt;/strong&gt; The study was conducted with 196 farmers who were already engaged in the campaign. The reasoned action approach (RAA) was used as a theoretical framework, and Spearman rank-order correlations were used to analyze the data. &lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; The results showed that farmers firmly intended to participate in the campaign in the next 12 months. The intention was associated with farmers’ years of experience as milk producers and perception of the importance and usefulness of the campaign in addition to farm characteristics. Farmers’ intention was also related to positive beliefs (drivers), such as participation in the campaign, preventing the disease in the herd, enabling access to government support and subsidies, and avoiding spreading the disease to people. Other social referents such as veterinarians, farmers, and farmers’ sons also played an important role in farmers’ intentions. A couple of significant constraints were identified: the lack of financial resources, communication between farmers and personnel in charge of the campaign. &lt;strong&gt;Implications: &lt;/strong&gt;The study provided insights to improve extension activities towards small-scale dairy farmers to participate in the national campaign of control and eradication of bovine brucellosis.&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/strong&gt; the three components of the RAA (attitude, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control) were strong predictors of farmers’ intention to participate in the brucellosis eradication campaign. They enabled the factors influencing farmers’ intentions to be explored more deeply.&lt;/p&gt;

Biweight midcorrelation-based CRITIC method: a case study for electrification of BIPV in Iran

Criteria weights are essential in various multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches. The amount of weight indicates the criterion's importance, and the performance of MCDM techniques depends on the correct estimation of criteria weights and criteria amount in the decision matrix. The distance correlation-based CRiteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation (CRITIC) technique is a modified version of the CRITIC method. Since Pearson's correlation is sensitive to noisy and outlier data, this paper proposes using the biweight midcorrelation as a robust alternative to Pearson's correlation. The weights obtained from the proposed biweight midcorrelation method make using the full range of MCDM techniques possible. This study examined the performance of the proposed method in comparison with eight criteria weighting techniques on the electric supply for a Building-Integrated PhotoVoltaic (BIPV) problem. Results from three different tests (i.e. distance correlation, Spearman rank-order correlation, and symmetric mean absolute percentage error (sMAPE)) indicated that the proposed method could produce more valid criteria weights and ranks than other methods. The value of the sMAPE criterion for the proposed method is 0.1096. Sensitivity analysis also revealed that the proposed method provides more robust criteria weights and ranks with a larger decision matrix.

Does a Concise Patient-reported Outcome Measure Provide a Valid Measure of Physical Function for Cancer Patients After Lower Extremity Surgery?

Current functional assessment tools for orthopaedic oncology are long surveys that contribute to patients' survey fatigue and yet lack the ability to discern meaningful differences in a patient population that is often mobile but unable to perform strenuous activities. We sought to determine whether a shorter, novel tool based on existing, validated surveys could better capture differences in a sample of orthopaedic oncology patients. (1) Can a concise fixed-item functional tool derived from the 50 items in the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score for the lower extremity (TESS LE) and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) demonstrate similar responsiveness in terms of sensitivity and specificity? (2) What is the precision and accuracy of the concise tool compared with the TESS LE and LEFS? Functional outcome data were collected and maintained in a longitudinally maintained database at a single institution. Patients were included in the study if (1) they had undergone a tumor excision or a nononcologic orthopaedic procedure (for example, arthroplasty for osteoarthritis) for a bone or soft tissue tumor affecting lower extremity function, and (2) they had completed the LEFS, TESS LE, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) global health tool on at least two clinic visits. Between September 2014 and April 2022, we treated 14,234 patients for primary bone or soft tissue sarcoma, metastatic disease to bone, or orthopaedic sequelae of chronic cancer care. Approximately 6% (854 of 14,234) were excluded due to the need of a language translator. Approximately 2% (278 of 13,380) refused or were unable to participate. Seventy-two percent (9433 of 13,102) of the patients had an operation on a lower extremity. Of these, 4% (339 of 9433) of the patients completed the TESS LE, LEFS, and Item 3 of the PROMIS global health tool on ≥ 2 clinic visits. Of the patients in the current study, 49% (167 of 339) were women, and 27% (93 of 339) had metastatic carcinoma. Twelve percent (41 of 339) of the patients died before the end of the study period. Spearman rank-order correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and item response theory (IRT) modeling identified 14 highly discriminating items from the TESS LE and LEFS. Multiple linear stepwise regression (MLSR) was performed with the dependent variable being the summary score of the 14 items derived from the TESS LE and LEFS and standardized to a percentage of 100. The beta coefficient from the MLSR was used to derive a weight for each of the 14 items. Evaluation of the model with 10 to 17 variables was performed to ensure that the model with the 14 items met the most criteria for fit with the PCA, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the IRT modeling criteria. The responsiveness (sensitivity and specificity) of the change scores in the shortened 14-item survey, the 30-item TESS LE, and the 20-item LEFS as compared with the dichotomized changes in Item 3 of the PROMIS global health tool was evaluated using ROCs. The concordance (accuracy and precision) of the 14 items derived from the LEFS and TESS LE was evaluated. The responsiveness (sensitivity and specificity) of the shortened 14-item survey, the TESS LE, and the LEFS to the criterion target of the PROMIS global health tool (Item 3) was similar, with areas under the curve (AUCs) ranging from 0.62 to 0.65 for the ROC curves. The responsiveness of the 14-item survey to the TESS LE showed sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 90%, with an AUC of 0.98 (p < 0.001). The responsiveness of the 14 items to the LEFS showed sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 86%, with an AUC of 0.96. The validity of the 14 items to the TESS LE was measured by concordance, with a precision of 0.98 and an accuracy of 0.97. Concordance of the 14 items to the LEFS showed a precision of 0.98 and accuracy of 0.83. The concise 14 items derived from patient-reported responses in the TESS LE and LEFS outcome measures showed similar responsiveness (sensitivity and specificity) as the original TESS LE and LEFS for cancer patients after lower extremity orthopaedic surgery performed for oncologic and nononcologic indications. The concise 14 items have a similar ability to the TESS LE and LEFS to tell the clinician or patient how they are functioning compared with other patients. These 14 items are shorter than the combined 50 items of the TESS LE and LEFS while retaining the capacity to describe a broad range of lower extremity function for orthopaedic oncology patients. We have named the 14-item survey the Lower Extremity Oncology Functional Assessment Tool.Level of Evidence Level II, diagnostic study.

Arousal burden is highest in supine sleeping position and during light sleep.

Arousal burden (AB) is defined as the cumulative duration of arousals during sleep divided by the total sleep time. However, in-depth analysis of AB related to sleep characteristics is lacking. Based on previous studies addressing the arousal index (ArI), we hypothesized that the AB would peak in the supine sleeping position and during non-rapid eye movement stage 1 (N1) and show high variability between scorers. Nine expert scorers analyzed polysomnography recordings of 50 participants, the majority with an increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea. AB was calculated in different sleeping positions and sleep stages. A generalized estimating equation was utilized to test the association between AB and sleeping positions, sleep stages, and scorers. The correlation between AB and ArI was tested with Spearman's rank-order correlation. AB significantly differed between sleeping positions (p<0.001). The median AB in the supine sleeping position was 47-62% higher than in the left and right position. The AB significantly differed between the sleep stages (p<0.001); the median AB was more than 200% higher during N1 than during other sleep stages. In addition, the AB differed significantly between scorers (p<0.001) and correlated strongly with ArI (r=0.935, p<0.001). AB depends on the sleeping position, sleep stage, and scorer as hypothesized. AB behaved similarly as the ArI, but the high variability in the ABs between scorers indicates a potential limitation caused by subjective manual scoring. Thus, the development of more accurate techniques for scoring arousals is required before AB can be reliably utilized.

Low-Dose Whole-Chest Dynamic CT for the Assessment of Large Airway Collapsibility in Patients with Suspected Tracheobronchial Instability.

Purpose To quantify tracheal collapsibility using low-dose four-dimensional (4D) CT and to compare visual and quantitative 4D CT-based assessments with assessments from paired inspiratory-expiratory CT, bronchoscopy, and spirometry. Materials and Methods The authors retrospectively analyzed 4D CT examinations (January 2016-December 2022) during shallow respiration in 52 patients (mean age, 66 years ± 12 [SD]; 27 female, 25 male), including 32 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second percentage predicted [FEV1%], 50% ± 27), with suspected tracheal collapse. Paired CT data were available for 27 patients and bronchoscopy data for 46 patients. Images were reviewed by two radiologists in consensus, classifying patients into three groups: 50% or greater tracheal collapsibility, less than 50% collapsibility, or fixed stenosis. Changes in minimal tracheal lumen area, tracheal volume, and lung volume from inspiration to expiration were quantified using YACTA software. Tracheal collapsibility between groups was compared employing one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). For related samples within one group, ANOVA with repeated measures was used. Spearman rank order correlation coefficient was calculated for collapsibility versus pulmonary function tests. Results At 4D CT, 25 of 52 (48%) patients had tracheal collapsibility of 50% or greater, 20 of 52 (38%) less than 50%, and seven of 52 (13%) had fixed stenosis. Visual assessment of 4D CT detected more patients with collapsibility of 50% or greater than paired CT, and concordance was 41% (P < .001). 4D CT helped identify more patients with tracheal collapsibility of 50% or greater than did bronchoscopy, and concordance was 74% (P = .39). Mean collapsibility of tracheal lumen area and volume at 4D CT were higher for 50% or greater visually assessed collapsibility (area: 53% ± 9 and lumen: 52% ± 10) compared with the less than 50% group (27% ± 9 and 26% ± 6, respectively) (P < .001), whereas both tracheal area and volume were stable for the fixed stenosis group (area: 16% ± 12 and lumen: 21% ± 11). Collapsibility of tracheal lumen area and volume did not correlate with FEV1% (rs = -0.002 to 0.01, P = .99-.96). Conclusion The study demonstrated that 4D CT is feasible and potentially more sensitive than paired CT for central airway collapse. Expectedly, FEV1% was not correlated with severity of tracheal collapsibility. Keywords: CT-Quantitative, Tracheobronchial Tree, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Imaging Postprocessing, Thorax Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2024.

Basic coagulation parameters and platelet count among malaria patients attending at Addis Zemen Primary Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Malaria is an intravascular parasitic-related blood disease that causes bleeding, coagulopathy, and thrombocytopenia. However, limited data shows the effect of Plasmodium species infection on basic coagulation parameters and platelet count. Thus, this study aimed to assess basic coagulation parameters and platelet count among malaria patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 study participants (120 cases and 120 controls) from June 1, 2021, to February 30, 2022. A convenient sampling technique was employed to select study participants. The blood sample was collected by a trained laboratory technologist for platelet counts, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), international normalization ratio (INR), blood film, and serological testing. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS version 23. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis H, and Spearman's rank-order correlation tests. Descriptive findings were presented through median, tables, and chart. In all cases, a P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The percentage of mild, moderate, and high malaria parasitemia levels per microliter of blood was 21.7%, 20%, and 58.3%, respectively. The overall median malaria parasitemia was 10,304 per microliter of blood. Among malaria patients, 77.5%, 61.7%, and 51.7% had prolonged PT, INR, and APTT, respectively as compared to control. Moreover, 26.7% of Plasmodium-infected participants had mild thrombocytopenia as compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The value of PT, APTT, and INR were significantly elevated, whereas the level of platelet count was inversely reduced when the malaria parasitemia level increased as compared to controls (p < 0.001).

Image Quality Difference Perception Ability: A BIQA model effectiveness metric based on model falsification method

Blind Image Quality Assessment (BIQA) methods refer to algorithms that predict image quality scores without reference images. This challenging area is crucial for preprocessing and optimizing visual tasks. Since BIQA is a small-sample task, it has become a common practice to apply transfer learning by using models pre-trained on other visual tasks, such as semantic recognition, to BIQA. This paper is interested in whether a backbone that performs better in semantic recognition also improves predictive accuracy in BIQA tasks. Comparative experiments showed that different semantic backbones with varying precision exhibit minimal differences in PLCC (Pearson Linear Correlation Coefficient) and SRCC (Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient). However, further comparison shows that the semantic backbone does enhance the model’s IQA abilities, which traditional metrics fail to capture due to their oversight of quality differences between images. We term this ability as Image Quality Difference Perception Ability (IQDP Ability). Based on this, we propose an IQDP comparison method and a new metric, which can effectively compare and measure a model’s IQDP Ability, supplementing traditional metrics and providing an effective means of identifying superior models.

Self-Report of Changes in Cognitive-Communication Function and Social Engagement Among Adults With Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of cognitive-communication deficits in adult cancer survivors who reported experiencing cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). The study also aimed to determine how these problems impact their ability to engage socially and find satisfaction in their social roles. This study employed a cross-sectional survey to collect data from adult cancer survivors. The survey included questions on demographic characteristics, self-perceived cognitive-communication abilities, social engagement, and satisfaction with social participation. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman rank-order correlation, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. Of 172 participants, 78% completed the survey, with 109 self-reporting CRCI. The participants predominantly had breast cancer, and most were diagnosed with Stage II cancers. The results indicated self-perceived impairment in various cognitive-communication domains, with functional daily communication being the most affected. Participants reported more difficulty participating in social roles and activities than their overall satisfaction with social participation. This study explored the relationships between cognitive-communication scores and social engagement, considering variables such as education, cancer type, stage, age, and treatment. This study underscores the multidimensional nature of CRCI, emphasizing the importance of addressing both cognitive-communication and social aspects in interventions and support services. It highlights the clinical implications for speech-language pathology, suggesting a potential role in identifying and addressing cognitive-communication deficits. Future research needs are discussed.

Classifying frailty in the ventral hernia population.

Frailty is increasingly recognized as a preoperative predictor of adverse outcomes following various surgical procedures. Our study aims to compare validated frailty measures in the ventral hernia population, as this is a common elective procedure with a paucity of data regarding frailty prevalence. Patients aged 18years or older with planned ventral hernia repairs were prospectively enrolled in our single-institution study from January 2023 through June 2023. After obtaining informed consent, patients completed the Fried Frailty Index (FFI), the FRAIL Scale, and the Strength, Assistance walking, Rising from a chair, Climbing stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaires, as well as the standard completion of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures at their preoperative clinic appointment. Chart review was performed for baseline demographics and comorbidities. The Modified Frailty Index (mFI-11) and the Charleston Comorbidity Index (CCI) were calculated. A total of 63 patients were enrolled in our study. On average, the population was 60years old, with a BMI of 32.4kg/m2, a CCI of 3, and on 10.5 medications preoperatively. Overall, 12 patients (19%) screened positive for frailty by the mFI-11, 17 patients (27%) by the FFI, 15 patients (23.8%) by the FRAIL Scale, and 15 patients (23.8%) screened positive for sarcopenia by SARC-F. The FFI and the FRAIL Scale were strongly correlated with the other measures by Spearman's rank-order correlation (p < 0.05). On multivariate regression analysis, a longer Timed Up and Go test was associated with screening positive for frailty or sarcopenia (OR 1.896, p = 0.016). In this study, we find that frailty is more prevalent than previously reported in the literature by any measure used. Both the FRAIL Scale and FFI strongly correlate with the other tools investigated. Surgeons should consider using these assessments preoperatively to estimate frailty and guide operative planning as well as shared decision-making.

SR4KVQA: Video quality assessment database and metric for 4K super-resolution

The quality assessment for 4K super-resolution (SR) videos can be conducive to the optimization of video SR algorithms. To improve the subjective and objective consistency of the SR quality assessment, a 4K video database and a blind metric are proposed in this paper. In the database SR4KVQA, there are 30 4K pristine videos, from which 600 SR 4K distorted videos with mean opinion score (MOS) labels are generated by three classic interpolation methods, six SR algorithms based on the deep neural network (DNN), and two SR algorithms based on the generative adversarial network (GAN). The benchmark experiment of the proposed database indicates that video quality assessment (VQA) of the 4K SR videos is challenging for the existing metrics. Among those metrics, the Video-Swin-Transformer backbone demonstrates tremendous potential in the VQA task. Accordingly, a blind VQA metric based on the Video-Swin-Transformer backbone is established, where the normalized loss function and optimized spatio-temporal sampling strategy are applied. The experiment result manifests that the Pearson linear correlation coefficient (PLCC) and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient (SROCC) of the proposed metric reach 0.8011 and 0.8275 respectively on the SR4KVQA database, which outperforms or competes with the state-of-the-art VQA metrics. The database and the code proposed in this paper are available in the GitHub repository, https://github.com/AlexReadyNico/SR4KVQA.

Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging of prostate cancer: correlation between Ktrans, Gleason score, and PI-RADS score

PurposeTo measure Ktrans and correlate it with Gleason score (GS) and PI-RADS score in patients with prostate cancer.MethodsThis retrospective study included patients with pathologically proven prostate cancer who had undergone clinically indicated 1.5 Tesla multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination between February and December 2020. T2-weighted (T2w) images, diffusion-weighted images (DWI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) sequences were obtained. PI-RADS score was calculated for all tumor lesions. From DCE-MRI dataset, Ktrans was computed and compared between patients with clinically insignificant (GS ≤ 6) and clinically significant (GS ≥ 7) prostate cancer. Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient (ρ) was used to assess the correlation strength between Ktrans and GS and between Ktrans and PI-RADS score.ResultsTwenty-one patients (age: 67 ± 12 years; BMI: 26.63 ± 4.04 kg/m2) with a PSA of 7.91 ± 3.01 were included in the study. Seven patients (33.3%) had clinically insignificant prostate cancer, while 14 patients (66.7%) were diagnosed with clinically significant prostate cancer. Mean Ktrans value was 0.42 ± 0.20 min−1 (range: 0.15–0.75). Ktrans was significantly higher (0.50 ± 0.17 min−1) in clinically significant prostate cancer compared to clinical insignificant prostate cancer (0.23 ± 0.15 min−1; P = 0.001). Ktrans showed moderate significant correlation with GS (ρ = 0.575, P = 0.006), but showed no significant correlation with PI-RADS (ρ = 0.386, P = 0.069).ConclusionKtrans may discriminate between clinically insignificant and significant prostate cancer and shows moderate correlation with GS. Thus, MP-MRI may serve as an imaging biomarker in prostate cancer.

Global, regional and national trends in the burden of low bone mineral density from 1990 to 2030: A Bayesian age-period-cohort modeling study

Low bone mineral density (LBMD) remains a global public health concern. To provide deeper insights, we retrieved and calibrated LBMD death and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 (GBD 2021) database. We calculated the age-standardized rate (ASR) and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) to delineate LBMD trends across sexes, age groups, Sociodemographic Index (SDI) regions, and countries. Spearman rank order correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between SDI and ASR. Additionally, we constructed Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) models to predict future trends in LBMD up to 2030, with the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) used to evaluate prediction accuracy. Our analyses revealed that global deaths related to LBMD nearly doubled, from 250,930 in 1990 to 463,010 in 2021, and are projected to rise to 473,690 by 2030. However, the ASR exhibited an opposite trend, decreasing from 17.91 per 100,000 in 1990 to 15.77 per 100,000 in 2021, and is expected to further decline to 13.64 per 100,000 by 2030. The EAPC indicated descending trends in 1990–2021 and 2022–2030. Trends in LBMD varied across different subgroups by sex, age, and location. Males are projected to continue experiencing higher death numbers than females, though the gap is narrowing. The 90 to 94 age group consistently had the highest ASR from 1990 to 2030. Lower SDI remains a critical factor contributing to the higher burden of LBMD. Spearman rank order correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between SDI and ASR. We categorized 6 distinct trends in ASR across different countries, with most expected to experience a decline by 2030. The MAPE value (0.038 < 0.1) indicated that the BAPC model produced reliable predictions even under the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food safety profile of university food handlers in Bangladesh: A multicenter cross-sectional study

The current study aimed to explore the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices of university food handlers in Bangladesh. To achieve this goal, a cross-sectional study was formulated to be carried out among food handlers at different public universities. Data collection was conducted through face-to-face interviews utilizing a structured questionnaire. A total of 788 food handlers participated in the study and were considered for performing all the statistical analyses (descriptive statistics, MannWhitney U test, KruskalWallis H test, multiple logistic regression, and Spearman rankorder correlation). According to the study findings, almost 20.7 % of food handlers lacked formal education, and only 22.8 % had participated in food safety training. Approximately 31.5 % and 28.4 % of the food handlers had good knowledge and good practices, respectively. The majority of the food handlers had poor knowledge about foodborne diseases and foodborne pathogens. Most food handlers had poor hand hygiene practices. Almost all food handlers did not wear caps, gloves, aprons, or masks while handling food. However, despite of having poor knowledge and practices, food handlers (69.8 %) had comparatively good attitudes toward food safety practices, which indicates that adequate support and motivation from food safety authorities can significantly improve preventive practices among them. Therefore, it is recommended that food safety authorities accelerate their activities and arrange hand-based training and educational programs for food handlers to enhance food safety knowledge and practices.

Tongue strength and swallowing-related masseter activity and oropharyngeal timing across the lifespan

Purpose: This study examined lifespan changes in maximum tongue strength, swallowing time, and masseter activity during swallowing. It provides normative data with which to compare clinical assessments of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD) and oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD). Method: 409 healthy participants without identified OMD or OPD (ages 5 – 79 years) provided instrumental measures of tongue strength and electromyographic measurements for oropharyngeal transit time and masseter activity during swallows of four boluses. Participants were placed in three broad age groups (5 – 15, 16 – 59, 60 – 79) for crosssectional analysis. Results: Differences were found between age groups for tongue strength, such that the youngest group had significantly lower anterior tongue strength than the other groups, and lower posterior tongue strength than the 16 – 59 age group. Anterior tongue strength was significantly greater for males than females; posterior tongue strength did not differ significantly between the sexes. The youngest group had longer oropharyngeal transit times than either of the two older groups for most boluses. Swallowing transit time decreased in duration across the age groups, from youngest to oldest, for the 2.5 cc pudding bolus. Both right and left masseters differed in activation among tasks and age groups. The oldest age group had consistently greater levels of activation of the right masseter, and all groups had greater activation for the cracker bolus. Spearman rank-order correlations largely confirmed the inferential statistics and provided evidence of a relationship between tongue weakness and increased oropharyngeal transit time. Conclusion: Maximum tongue pressure generation and oropharyngeal timing measures support a developmental hypothesis, with lower tongue strength and longer swallowing transit times for children ages 5 through 15. The smaller pudding bolus provided the greatest differentiation among the age groups, which may prove to be a functional indicator for clinical evaluation. These results are largely consistent with existing data for tongue strength and oropharyngeal swallowing transit times.