Standard Verification Research Articles

The skill assessment of ENSO prediction issued by JMA ensemble prediction system and CFSv2

Indonesian climate is strongly affected by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as one of climate-driven factor. ENSO prediction during the upcoming months or year is crucial for the government in order to design the further strategic policy. Besides producing its own ENSO prediction, BMKG also regularly releases the status and ENSO prediction collected from other climate centers, such as Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). However, the skill of these products is not well known yet. The aim of this study is to conduct a simple assessment on the skill of JMA Ensemble Prediction System (EPS) and NOAA Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) ENSO prediction using World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Standard Verification System for Long Range Forecast (SVS-LRF) method. Both ENSO prediction results also compared each other using Student's t-test. The ENSO predictions data were obtained from the ENSO JMA and ENSO NCEP forecast archive files, while observed Nino 3.4 were calculated from Centennial in situ Observation-Based Estimates (COBE) Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly (SSTA). Both ENSO prediction issued by JMA and NCEP has a good skill on 1 to 3 months lead time, indicated by high correlation coefficient and positive value of Mean Square Skill Score (MSSS). However, the skill of both skills significantly reduced for May-August target month. Further careful interpretation is needed for ENSO prediction issued on this mentioned period.

Application of Consecutive Dry Days (CDD) Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) Prediction to Support Agricultural Sector in South Sulawesi Rice Production Centers

Sufficient water availability during the vegetative, reproductive, and early ripening phases of the rice plants is essential. Information on drought, such as Consecutive Dry Days (CDD) predictions in this period, became very crucial and had an important role in maintaining rice production stability. The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of CDD Multi-Model Ensemble prediction, which is applied to South Sulawesi rice production centers. CDD observation was calculated using high resolution gridded precipitation blending data, obtained from BMKG precipitation network stations and the daily-improved Climate Hazards group InfraRed Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) version 2.0. The North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) monthly precipitation hindcast data during 1982 – 2010 periods from each nine individual global climate models were used to develop seasonal CDD predictions. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Standard Verification for Long Range Forecast (SVS-LRF) method applied to describe this CDD prediction performance on four different seasons. Investigation of model performance during strong El Niño event in 1997 also conducted in order to get general skill overview regarding extreme climate event. Best performance of CDD prediction generally occurred during JJA and DJF period. MME CDD prediction shows better performance compared to individual model performance for almost all season. Spatial coherence between prediction and observation over rice production centers during 1997 El Niño confirms the skill of CDD predictions. The application of this prediction on agricultural sector will be very useful in order to support rice production sustainability and food security. Further analysis result can be found on full paper.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Acoustic Metrics for Understanding Baleen Whale Presence in the Western North Atlantic Ocean

Soundscape analyses provide an integrative approach to studying the presence and complexity of sounds within long-term acoustic data sets. Acoustic metrics (AMs) have been used extensively to describe terrestrial habitats but have had mixed success in the marine environment. Novel approaches are needed to be able to deal with the added noise and complexity of these underwater systems. Here we further develop a promising approach that applies AM with supervised machine learning to understanding the presence and species richness (SR) of baleen whales at two sites, on the shelf and the slope edge, in the western North Atlantic Ocean. SR at both sites was low with only rare instances of more than two species (out of six species acoustically detected at the shelf and five at the slope) vocally detected at any given time. Random forest classification models were trained on 1-min clips across both data sets. Model outputs had high accuracy (>0.85) for detecting all species’ absence in both sites and determining species presence for fin and humpback whales on the shelf site (>0.80) and fin and right whales on the slope site (>0.85). The metrics that contributed the most to species classification were those that summarized acoustic activity (intensity) and complexity in different frequency bands. Lastly, the trained model was run on a full 12 months of acoustic data from on the shelf site and compared with our standard acoustic detection software and manual verification outputs. Although the model performed poorly at the 1-min clip resolution for some species, it performed well compared to our standard detection software approaches when presence was evaluated at the daily level, suggesting that it does well at a coarser level (daily and monthly). The model provided a promising complement to current methodologies by demonstrating a good prediction of species absence in multiple habitats, species presence for certain species/habitat combinations, and provides higher resolution presence information for most species/habitat combinations compared to that of our standard detection software.

Reverse-Engineering the Covenant: Moses, Massachusetts Bay and the Construction of a City on a Hill

Abstract This article examines the famous “city on a hill” sermon delivered by John Winthrop at the start of colonial Massachusetts Bay. It focuses on belief-formation, looking at how Winthrop reverse-engineered the covenant in two senses. First, he found a blueprint for a godly society in the Pentateuch. Moreover, scholars have missed Winthrop’s reversal of the covenant-formation process. In the Pentateuch, God approached Israel with a covenant offer—setting the terms of the agreement and setting the supernatural verification that the covenant was ratified. However, when Massachusetts Bay entered the covenant, Winthrop reversed the order: he approached God, he set the terms of the covenant and the standard of verification that God ratified the covenant. America’s “founding covenant,” though taken by many as a parallel with biblical Israel, is actually its opposite. In reverse-engineering the covenant based on the Pentateuch, Winthrop also altered the role of God and his people. One of the benefits flowing from covenant obedience, Winthrop argued, would be victory in battle against Native Americans.

Rules of order: Evidence for a novel influence on ordinal processing of numbers.

Research on how people process numerical order carries implications for our theoretical understanding of what a number means and our practical understanding of the foundation upon which more sophisticated mathematics is built. Current thinking posits that ordinal processing of numbers is linked to repeated practice with the integer count list, but the mechanisms underlying this link remain unclear. For instance, in standard ordinal verification paradigms, participants more rapidly and accurately verify that count-list sequences (e.g., 3-4-5) are "in-order" than non-count-list sequences (e.g., 2-4-6), although it remains unclear whether this is due to strong count-list processing or poor non-count-list processing. If the count list primarily facilitates ordinal processing of count-list sequences, then forcing participants to classify sequences like 3-4-5 as "not-in-order" should adversely affect ordinal verification performance. We found that it does, but only moderately in single-digit sequences (d = -.26), and not at all in the case of double-digit sequences (d = -.02). Alternatively, the count list may influence ordinal processing in an exclusionary manner, creating a tendency to view anything that does not match the count-list as not-in-order. If so, then allowing participants to classify ordered (but non-count-list) sequences like 2-4-6 as not-in-order should improve ordinal verification performance. It did, with strong effects for both single-digit (d = .74) and double-digit sequences (d = 1.04). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the reverse distance effect found in standard ordinal verification paradigms is driven primarily by poor non-count-list processing. Taken together, our results advance our understanding of the mechanisms by which the count list shapes ordinal processing, even in highly numerate adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Mini Special Issue on Tsunami Numerical Modeling Benchmarks – Challenges of Tsunami Modeling Hackathon –

Numerical simulation and modeling became an essential technology in tsunami research and disaster management. Various numerical models were proposed and utilized for the development of tsunami risk assessment, inundation maps, and evacuation plans. The model verification and validation standards would be crucial to ensure sufficient reliability of tsunami risk assessment, inundation maps, as well as a consistency among various efforts. Common approach to ensure sufficient accuracy and reliability of numerical modeling is developing benchmark problems of hydraulic experiments and to use them for numerical model’s verification and validation. To satisfy this requirement, “Tsunami Modeling Hackathon” was held in September 2020 to organize new benchmark problems in numerical modeling of tsunamis and to improve their reliability and accuracy. Hackathon is an intensive-gathering event of computer programmers and others involved in software development to create outcomes by the end of the event. This event was organized by Prof. Tomoyuki Takahashi of Kansai University and his colleagues, who led the tsunami research subcommittee in Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE). Tsunami modeling hackathon, in which about 23 teams and 162 researchers joined, included experiment and modeling teams in seven benchmark problems: urban tsunami inundation, landslide tsunami, tsunami loading on seawalls and coastal structures, sediment transport, drift of floating objects. The modeling groups performed the blind tests to cross-validate and interpret the results of their simulations in seven benchmark problems given by the experiment groups and discussed the improvement. This special issue reports the outcomes of the tsunami modeling hackathon, and includes six papers (five in this issue, one in the regular issue). We hope this issue will provide useful insights for tsunami modelers and contribute to establishing a standardized way to ensure that various tsunami numerical models would be validated through the benchmark problems.

Compressible EULAG Dynamical Core in COSMO: Convective-Scale Alpine Weather Forecasts

AbstractThis paper presents the semi-implicit compressible EULAG as a new dynamical core for convective-scale numerical weather prediction. The core is implemented within the infrastructure of the operational model of the Consortium for Small-Scale Modeling (COSMO), forming the NWP COSMO-EULAG model (CE). This regional high-resolution implementation of the dynamical core complements its global implementation in the Finite-Volume Module of ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System. The paper documents the first operational-like application of the dynamical core for realistic weather forecasts. After discussing the formulation of the core and its coupling with the host model, the paper considers several high-resolution prognostic experiments over complex Alpine orography. Standard verification experiments examine the sensitivity of the CE forecast to the choice of the advection routine and assess the forecast skills against those of the default COSMO Runge–Kutta dynamical core at 2.2-km grid size showing a general improvement. The skills are also compared using satellite observations for a weak-flow convective Alpine weather case study, showing favorable results. Additional validation of the new CE framework for partly convection-resolving forecasts using 1.1-, 0.55-, 0.22-, and 0.1-km grids, designed to challenge its numerics and test the dynamics–physics coupling, demonstrates its high robustness in simulating multiphase flows over complex mountain terrain, with slopes reaching 85°, and the flow’s realistic representation.

Streamlining the image-guided radiotherapy process for proton beam therapy.

This work evaluated the on-treatment imaging workflow in the UK's first proton beam therapy (PBT) centre, with a view to reducing times and unnecessary imaging doses to patients. Imaging dose and timing data from the first 20 patients (70% paediatrics, 30% TYA/adult) treated with PBT using the initial image-guided PBT (IGPBT) workflow of a 2-dimensional kilo-voltage (2DkV), followed by cone-beam computed-tomography (CBCT) and repeat 2DkV was included. Pearson correlations and Bland-Altman analysis were used to describe correlations between 2DkV and CBCT images to determine if any images were superfluous. 229 treatment sessions were evaluated. Patient repositioning following the initial 2DkV (i2DkV) was required on 19 (8.3%) fractions. This three-step process resulted in an additional mean imaging dose of 3.4 mGy per patient, and 5.1 minutes on the treatment bed for the patient, over a whole course of PBT, compared to a two-step workflow (removing the i2DkV image). Correspondence between the mean displacements from i2DkV and CBCT was high, with R = 0.94, 0.94 and 0.80 in the anteroposterior, superiorinferior and right-left directions, respectively. Bland-Altman analysis showed very little bias and narrow limits of agreement. Removing the i2DkV, streamlining to a two-step workflow, would reduce treatment times and imaging dose, and has been implemented as standard verification protocol. For challenging cases (e.g. paediatric patients under GA), further investigations are required before the three-step workflow can be modified. This is the first report assessing a preliminary imaging protocol in PBT in the UK and determining a way to reduce dose and time, which ultimately benefits the patient.

Systems Science and Methodology Analysis a Contemporary Model

Reviewing Peter Checkland’s philosophy of systems within Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, an excellent overview of critical thinking analysis that the scientific method participates in theory and practical explanations of what systems thinking is perceived subjectively. The system science know how was given taxonomic context for method analysis in consideration of content conditions having a paradigmatic glossary of jargon in its communication to any audience, that a conceptual model was defined and outlined. When the International Standards Organization offers standards validation in reports, it presents universal jargon useful for writing memorandums that standards verification, exemplified in Systems Science and Methods Analysis a Contemporary Model, for quality review within legal regulatory business intelligence approval, or acceptance designation, by the governmental authorized conformity assessment body as an effective methodology.

Manufacturing system under I4.0 workshop based on blockchain: Research on architecture, operation mechanism and key technologies

With the further intelligent upgrading of industry 4.0, the intelligent manufacturing ecosystem based on CPS is realized in the form of Intelligent unit, Intelligent system and System of system. Under the open workshop architecture, intelligent workshop, as an important part of intelligent system, has acute problems such as safe sharing of manufacturing data and opaque monitoring of manufacturing process. This paper proposes the architecture of I4.0 workshop reference manufacturing system based on blockchain. Combined with I4.0 component and blockchain technology, this paper focuses on the mechanism and key implementation technologies of workshop manufacturing chain from three aspects: standardized information modeling, distributed control and trusted autonomous execution. By studying the autonomous trusted trigger mechanism of smart contract and the distributed storage method of manufacturing data in workshop manufacturing system, integrating workshop service system, a system operation mechanism of manufacturing data security and manufacturing process trusted trigger is established. In addition, based on the standardized modeling method of I4.0 components, the Asset Administration Shell-Blockchain process data verification model is designed, and the standardized blockchain verification model is established from the equipment layer to support the system architecture. Finally, the implementation of the prototype verification system is analyzed by selecting representative verification sources.

The General Method for the fire design of I-section web-tapered beams

The present investigation describes a numerical and parametric study on the validation of the General Method (GM) for the fire design of web-tapered steel beams using GMNIA.The GM covers the safety check of structural elements with complex support conditions and/or of non-prismatic members, as the non-uniform geometry prevents the use of the standard verification clauses. However, the fire part of the Eurocode 3 (EN 1993-1-2) provides no further indication regarding its applicability at elevated temperatures, apart from adapting the methodology to fire using the reduction factors for steel material properties, which is identified as a gap in the current version of the norm.However, previous investigation by the authors have shown overly conservative results for the adapted General Method and a calibration of the EN 1993-1-2 buckling curve has previously been proposed, although the parametric study was not representative enough for full validation.With that in mind, supported by an extensive numerical framework of over 25000 laterally restrained and unrestrained tapered beams at elevated temperatures, a precise and accurate calibration of the General Method is developed in the scope of this work.

Boothless Aided Audiometry: A Pilot Study

Background Although free-field aided audiometry is not the gold standard of hearing aid verification because of its many limitations, it is still circumstantially needed. The conventional method of sound-field aided audiometry requires a sound-proof booth. However, as clinicians face a high-volume of audiometric tests ordered daily at the otolaryngology clinic, a sound-proof booth may not be always available when needed. This study aims to explore if out-of-booth free-field aided audiometry can be just as reliable as the conventional method. Methods A pilot exploration of 10 patients (20 ears), with at least a moderate degree of bilateral symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss was conducted. Patients were recruited during their follow-up hearing aid appointments with their audiologist. All patients had been fitted with hearing aids for at least 6 months in duration, and their hearing aids were optimized. Results Out-of-booth aided audiometry for the main frequencies of interest was reliable with good correlation between the two methods at primary frequencies (500 Hz–4 KHz). However, results in the high frequencies were less reliable and needs to be interpreted cautiously. Conclusion Out-of-booth sound-field audiometry may be a quick and reliable method that can be used to fulfil its intended purpose with the added advantage of not needing an arguably expensive audiometric booth. However, not all frequencies of interest can be assessed with reliable measurements. Further larger studies are needed to validate the reliability of boothless sound-field audiometry to meet evolving healthcare needs.

Silicon Micromachined Waveguide Calibration Standards for Terahertz Metrology

This article presents precision silicon micromachined waveguide calibration standards for use with terahertz vector network analyzers. This enables the creation of precise, highly repeatable, and traceable terahertz waveguide standards, surpassing the limits of current metrology techniques. A single silicon-on-insulator wafer with the appropriate device and handle layer thicknesses is used to implement a wide range of calibration and verification standards. The design of the standards is discussed from mechanical, electrical, and end-user perspectives. Silicon is shown to be the most promising material for the realization of precision metrology standards. We outline the potential to scale the presented design to at least 2.6 THz. Eight types of WM-570 standard, totaling 15 prototypes, are fabricated and characterized between 325 and 500 GHz. Despite some fabrication anomalies, all devices offer excellent performance. The best micromachined standards offer a return loss in excess of 40 dB, an insertion loss of below 0.1 dB, and a phase error of less than 1°. The standards are utilized in both one- and two-port calibrations, including the multiline through-reflect-line algorithm. These are benchmarked against calibrations performed using conventional metallic standards, with a high degree of agreement observed between error-corrected measurements of a range of test devices.

Sources of evidence and openness in field-intensive research on violent conflict

ABSTRACT This article engages with Steven Lubet’s arguments in Interrogating Ethnography on reliability of evidence and replication of findings in ethnographic research. It draws on eight months of immersive fieldwork on Abkhaz mobilization in the Georgian-Abkhaz war of 1992–1993 to show that field-intensive researchers who work on sensitive political topics leverage multiple sources to develop their insights and engage in reflexivity while prioritizing the safety of their research participants. It is these practices that underlie the trustworthiness of research and form the basis for the evaluation of research results rather than verification standards proposed by Lubet that do not, and cannot, apply to this kind of research.

Diagnostic accuracy of upper limb neurodynamic tests in the diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy

BackgroundUpper limb neurodynamic tests (ULNT) are used to diagnose neuropathic conditions such as cervical radiculopathy (CR). Within the literature, a positive ULNT is defined in markedly variable ways, which is likely why the diagnostic accuracy of these tests lacks consistency across studies. ObjectivesTo determine the diagnostic accuracy of single and combined upper limb neurodynamic tests ((ULNT)1,2a, 2b and 3) for cervical radiculopathy using test findings that are similar to those used in practice. DesignDiagnostic accuracy study (prospective) design following the updated STARD 2015 reporting guideline. MethodFrom 109 consecutively enrolled individuals with suspected CR. Of the 85 participants included, 27 (31.7%) were diagnosed with CR (mean age, 43.9years; Neck Disability Index 38,16%). ULNTs test were performed by a blind examiner to a CR reference standard of clinical diagnosis and magnetic resonance imaging verification provided by a neurosurgeon. ResultsIn general, the single tests were better at ruling in CR versus ruling out. Of the single ULNT, the ULNT3 demonstrated the strongest post-test probability change with a positive finding (73.28%). Three of four test combinations demonstrated the highest clinical utility for changing the post-test probability with a positive finding at 83.29% and with LR+ = 12.89 (95%CI: 3.10–53.62). Having none of the test's positive was able to rule out CR with LR- = 0.08 (95%CI: 0.01–0.56). ConclusionULNTs fail to significantly alter post-test probability when used singularly for diagnosis of CR. However, combinations of ULNT (3 out of 4 positive) can rule in CR, and rule out CR when all ULNT are negative.

On the Sensitivity Analysis of Porous Finite Element Models for Cerebral Perfusion Estimation

Computational physiological models are promising tools to enhance the design of clinical trials and to assist in decision making. Organ-scale haemodynamic models are gaining popularity to evaluate perfusion in a virtual environment both in healthy and diseased patients. Recently, the principles of verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification of such physiological models have been laid down to ensure safe applications of engineering software in the medical device industry. The present study sets out to establish guidelines for the usage of a three-dimensional steady state porous cerebral perfusion model of the human brain following principles detailed in the verification and validation (V&V 40) standard of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The model relies on the finite element method and has been developed specifically to estimate how brain perfusion is altered in ischaemic stroke patients before, during, and after treatments. Simulations are compared with exact analytical solutions and a thorough sensitivity analysis is presented covering every numerical and physiological model parameter. The results suggest that such porous models can approximate blood pressure and perfusion distributions reliably even on a coarse grid with first order elements. On the other hand, higher order elements are essential to mitigate errors in volumetric blood flow rate estimation through cortical surface regions. Matching the volumetric flow rate corresponding to major cerebral arteries is identified as a validation milestone. It is found that inlet velocity boundary conditions are hard to obtain and that constant pressure inlet boundary conditions are feasible alternatives. A one-dimensional model is presented which can serve as a computationally inexpensive replacement of the three-dimensional brain model to ease parameter optimisation, sensitivity analyses and uncertainty quantification. The findings of the present study can be generalised to organ-scale porous perfusion models. The results increase the applicability of computational tools regarding treatment development for stroke and other cerebrovascular conditions.

Theory of Uncertainty Analysis With Application to Naval Hydrodynamics

Abstract The modern methodology for quantifying the quality of experimental data is uncertainty analysis. Current methods are reviewed with some examples primarily from naval hydrodynamics. The methods described apply to fluids engineering. The history of uncertainty analysis, U.S. and international standards on uncertainty analysis, verification and validation standards for computational fluid dynamics, and instrument calibration are discussed. One important result is that random loading in force calibration can produce a lower uncertainty estimate than sequential loading. Statistically, the calibration results for the slope and intercept are the same for the two methods in the example thrust calibration, but the uncertainty in random loading is a factor of three smaller than sequential loading.

An IMERG-Based Optimal Extended Probabilistic Climatology (EPC) as a Benchmark Ensemble Forecast for Precipitation in the Tropics and Subtropics

AbstractCurrent numerical weather prediction models show limited skill in predicting low-latitude precipitation. To aid future improvements, be it with better dynamical or statistical models, we propose a well-defined benchmark forecast. We use the arguably best currently high-resolution, gauge-calibrated, gridded precipitation product, the Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals for GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) (IMERG) “final run” in a ± 15-day window around the date of interest to build an empirical climatological ensemble forecast. This window size is an optimal compromise between statistical robustness and flexibility to represent seasonal changes. We refer to this benchmark as Extended Probabilistic Climatology (EPC) and compute it on a 0.1°×0.1° grid for 40°S–40°N and the period 2001–2019. In order to reduce and standardize information, a mixed Bernoulli-Gamma distribution is fitted to the empirical EPC, which hardly affects predictive performance. The EPC is then compared to 1-day ensemble predictions from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) using standard verification scores. With respect to rainfall amount, ECMWF performs only slightly better than EPS over most of the low latitudes and worse over high-mountain and dry oceanic areas as well as over tropical Africa, where the lack of skill is also evident in independent station data. For rainfall occurrence, EPC is superior over most oceanic, coastal, and mountain regions, although the better potential predictive ability of ECMWF indicates that this is mostly due to calibration problems. To encourage the use of the new benchmark, we provide the data, scripts, and an interactive webtool to the scientific community.

Formy współdziałania Służby Bezpieczeństwa Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej i Komitetu Bezpieczeństwa Państwowego Związku Radzieckiego „na odcinku” ukraińskim w latach 1956–1989

Due to its international aspect, the Ukrainian issue became the subject of cooperation between the Security Service (SB) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MSW) of the Polish People’s Republic (PRL) and the State Security Committee (KGB) of the Soviet Union. Cooperation involved counterintelligence services, departments to destroy the political opposition and the so-called ideological and political subversion, and departments controlling religious life. In the first half of the 1970s, the Management of Special Departments of the KGB at the Northern Group of Soviet Forces (in Poland) also took part in special operations against Ukrainians. The design of joint operational activities as well as the exchange of views and information was facilitated by working meetings organized in capital cities and at border crossings. One of the first documented meetings on the Ukrainian question after the period of the political “thaw” was held in May 1958, and the last, most likely at the turn of 1988 and 1989, in Minsk, Belarus. The basic areas of cooperation include: surveillance and disintegration of Ukrainian emigration (mainly rival factions of the nationalist movement), prosecuting Ukrainian war criminals and collaborators who avoided responsibility, surveillance of Ukrainian citizens of the Polish People’s Republic suspected of carrying out “nationalist activities”, signaling threats to the security of the state generated by Ukrainian population as well as standard completion and verification of archival materials concerning the controlled persons. The operational activities of the secret services of Poland and the Soviet Union required the involvement of so-called personal information sources, i.e. secret collaborators. They were Polish and Soviet citizens of Ukrainian nationality, with numerous relatives and friends in Poland, the Soviet Union and Western countries. This allowed them to cross state borders, despite restrictive passport regulations. The Security Service recruited them to cooperate by threatening with imprisonment, embarrassment, and dismissal from work or studies. Support was also offered in finding a job or a flat, and it was also possible to renew contacts with relatives abroad. These were effective tools for manipulating agents.

A Novel and Accurate Palpation Method for Identification of the L4 Spinous Process: A Preliminary Study of Accuracy

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess a novel method of lumbar spinous process (SP) palpation by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) high-signal marker reference standards for verification. MethodsClinicians (doctors of chiropractic) in this study used either: (1) the standard/traditional method of identifying the L4 SP using the supracristal plane (n = 14) or (2) a novel method that manually induced sacral motion to identify the L5 and then the L4 SP (n = 54). The clinicians, blinded to the results of each other, used a grease pencil to mark the location identified as the L4 SP. An MRI high-signal marker then was taped across this location. The MRI scans were assessed by a radiologist, blinded to the palpation method, who extended a line posteriorly from the superior and inferior extent of the L4 SP and determined whether the high-signal marker was within the lines bordering the L4 SP (ie, “on-target”). ResultsPalpation using the traditional method showed a 35.7% accuracy, with 5 of 14 “on target” and all “off target” being too superior. Palpation using the novel method showed 77.8% accuracy, with 42 of 54 “on target” and 3 “off target” being too superior and 9 “off target” too inferior. ConclusionsThe novel method performed better than the traditional method. The novel method shows promise. Additional prospective research should be conducted to fully assess the accuracy of the novel method compared with traditional methods of palpation.