Consistency Test Research Articles

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Mortar Generated by using Lunar Soil Simulant

This study investigates the mechanical properties of mortar produced using lunar soil simulant, with the aim of assessing its suitability for construction in extraterrestrial habitats. Various tests including fineness test, specific gravity, standard consistency and compressive test were conduct to evaluate the performance of the mortar. Factor such as particle size distribution, binder type, curing conditions and environmental influences were scrutinized to gain comprehensive insights into the material’s suitability for construction purposes. The findings provide insights into the feasibility of utilizing lunar soil simulant based mortar for future space missions and lunar colonization efforts

Testing independence for sparse longitudinal data

Abstract With the advance of science and technology, more and more data are collected in the form of functions. A fundamental question for a pair of random functions is to test whether they are independent. This problem becomes quite challenging when the random trajectories are sampled irregularly and sparsely for each subject. In other words, each random function is only sampled at a few time-points, and these time-points vary with subjects. Furthermore, the observed data may contain noise. To the best of our knowledge, there exists no consistent test in the literature to test the independence of sparsely observed functional data. We show in this work that testing pointwise independence simultaneously is feasible. The test statistics are constructed by integrating pointwise distance covariances (Székely et al., 2007) and are shown to converge, at a certain rate, to their corresponding population counterparts, which characterize the simultaneous pointwise independence of two random functions. The performance of the proposed methods is further verified by Monte Carlo simulations and analysis of real data.

Research on the Assessment Method of College Students' Financial Difficulty Index in the Context of Big Data Based on AHP Algorithm

The emergence of big data has allowed researchers to study people's financial struggles in greater detail. Among various kinds of difficulties, the financial barriers preventing low-income children from enrolling in higher education have received significant attention. Therefore, this paper uses the AHP algorithm and proposes a college student poverty index assessment method, aiming to provide a reference basis for the normal enrollment of children from low-income families by comprehensively analyzing various factors. This paper first constructs a hierarchical model to decompose the college student poverty problem into multiple influencing factors. Then, the AHP algorithm was utilized to calculate each factor's weights and consistency test, and each factor's relative importance was derived. As a result, each college student's poverty index was calculated using the comprehensive score method. The results show that the assessment method can reflect the degree of economic and social difficulties of college students from low-income families with better accuracy, providing a reliable reference value for promoting them in regular college enrollment. At the same time, the method can also be used in the government's formulation of poverty alleviation policies and the school's educational assistance work.

Tests for almost stochastic dominance

We introduce a 2-dimensional stochastic dominance (2DSD) index to characterize both strict and almost stochastic dominance. Based on this index, we derive an estimator for the minimum violation ratio (MVR), also known as the critical parameter, of the almost stochastic ordering condition between two variables. We determine the asymptotic properties of the empirical 2DSD index and MVR for the most frequently used stochastic orders. We also provide conditions under which the bootstrap estimators of these quantities are strongly consistent. As an application, we develop consistent bootstrap testing procedures for almost stochastic dominance. The performance of the tests is checked via simulations and the analysis of real data.

Menstrual Practice Needs Scale short form (MPNS-SF) and rapid (MPNS-R): development in Khulna, Bangladesh, and validation in cross-sectional surveys from Bangladesh and Uganda

ObjectivesDevelop and validate short and rapid forms of the 36-item Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS-36).DesignItem reduction prioritised content validity and was informed by cognitive interviews with schoolgirls in Bangladesh, performance...

Testing the consistency of performance scores reported for binary classification problems

Binary classification is a fundamental task in machine learning, with applications across various scientific domains. Whether conducting fundamental research or refining practical applications, scientists typically assess and rank classification techniques based on performance metrics such as accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. However, reported performance scores may not always provide a reliable basis for research ranking. The unreliability can be attributed to undisclosed or unconventional practices related to cross-validation, typographical errors, and other factors.In a given experimental setup with a specific number of positive and negative test items, performance scores can only assume specific, interrelated values. Based on this observation, in this paper, we introduce numerical techniques to assess the consistency of reported performance scores with the assumed experimental setup. Importantly, the proposed approaches do not rely on statistical inference. Instead, they use numerical methods (interval computing and integer linear programming) to identify inconsistencies with certainty.Through three applications in different fields of medicine, we demonstrate how the proposed tests can detect inconsistencies, thereby safeguarding the integrity of research fields. The power analyses of the tests in these applications show at least 71% of power when the performance scores are reported to four decimal places. In the investigated areas, the tests have so far identified inconsistencies in more than 100 scientific papers. To benefit the scientific community, we have made the consistency tests available in the open-source Python package mlscorecheck.

PAS-7 is Superior to APAIS for Assessing Preoperative Anxiety in the Chinese Population

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyze the reliability and validity of the Perioperative Anxiety Scale-7 (PAS-7), which was created by Chinese medical professionals, by using State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI-S) as the standard for the diagnosis of preoperative anxiety. To compare whether there is a difference between the PAS-7 and the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) in the diagnosis of preoperative anxiety in the Chinese population. DesignThis study was an observational study. MethodsThe PAS-7, APAIS, and STAI-S were all completed the day before surgery. The internal consistency test was used to evaluate the scale's reliability, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess the scale's construct validity. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between PAS-7 and STAI-S, and APAIS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to compare the diagnostic value of PAS-7 and APAIS.Findings:The PAS-7 Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.804. The indicators of the overall fitting coefficient were within the acceptable range. PAS-7 scores correlated well with STAI-S and APAIS scores (p<0.01). The area under the ROC curve of PAS-7 was 0.808 (0.752-0.856), and the area under the ROC curve of APAIS was 0.674 (0.611-0.733). The difference between areas was 0.133 (0.0612-0.206), P<0.001, and the diagnostic value of PAS-7 was higher than that of APAIS.Conclusions:The PAS-7 scale has high reliability and validity and can assess preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing elective surgery. PAS-7 is superior to APAIS for assessing preoperative anxiety in the Chinese population.

Research on harmonious design of chairs based on the Kano model and analytic hierarchy process

To meet the functional and emotional needs of users for outdoor leisure chairs, the three-level theory of harmonious design was applied. A product design process was put together based on the Kano model and analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The Kano model obtained demand attributes and influence coefficients, while the AHP obtained total weights. The target products were designed and evaluated based on the three-level theory of harmonious design to improve the user experience and satisfaction of outdoor leisure chairs. The attribute categories of harmonious demand were obtained based on the Kano model, and the harmonious demands were ranked by importance. The design analysis and design practice were conducted with the goal of harmonious design. The AHP was used to analyze the comprehensive weights of the index factors, evaluate the user satisfaction of the three design schemes, and conduct consistency test and feasibility verification of the design schemes. The optimal design scheme was selected based on the total weight mean of three design schemes. The design and analysis method based on the Kano-AHP model can focus on user demand. It can objectively and efficiently analyze design pain spots, and effectively guide the harmonious design practice, which improves user satisfaction and market transformation efficiency of creative products.

Reconstructing the growth index γ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma $$\\end{document} with Gaussian processes

Alternative cosmological models have been proposed to alleviate the tensions reported in the concordance cosmological model, or to explain the current accelerated phase of the universe. One way to distinguish between General Relativity and modified gravity models is using current astronomical data to measure the growth index γ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma $$\\end{document}, a parameter related to the growth of matter perturbations, which behaves differently in different metric theories. We propose a model independent methodology for determining γ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma $$\\end{document}, where our analyses combine diverse cosmological data sets, namely {f(zi)}\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\{ f(z_i) \\}$$\\end{document}, {[fσ8](zi)}\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\{ [f\\sigma _8](z_i) \\}$$\\end{document}, and {H(zi)}\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\{ H(z_i) \\}$$\\end{document}, and use Gaussian Processes, a non-parametric approach suitable to reconstruct functions. This methodology is a new consistency test for γ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma $$\\end{document} constant. Our results show that, for the redshift interval 0<z<1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$0< z < 1$$\\end{document}, γ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma $$\\end{document} is consistent with the constant value γ=0.55\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma = 0.55$$\\end{document}, expected in General Relativity theory, within 2σ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$2 \\sigma $$\\end{document} confidence level (CL). Moreover, we find γ(z=0)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma (z=0)$$\\end{document} = 0.311 ±0.144\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\pm 0.144 $$\\end{document} and γ(z=0)=0.609±0.200\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma (z=0) = 0.609 \\pm 0.200$$\\end{document} for the reconstructions using the {f(zi)}\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\{ f(z_i) \\}$$\\end{document} and {[fσ8](zi)}\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\{ [f\\sigma _8](z_i) \\}$$\\end{document} data sets, respectively, values that also agree at a 2σ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sigma $$\\end{document} CL with γ=0.55\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma = 0.55$$\\end{document}. Our methodology and analyses can be considered as an alternative approach in light of the current discussion in the literature that suggests a possible evidence for the growth index evolution.

Sensory Phenomenon Assessment Scale: a new tool for assessment of tic-associated sensations.

Sensory symptoms linked to tic disorder (TD) are challenging to quantify via self- or parent-reported measures. The current study aimed to develop a novel observer-rated semi-structured interview, namely, the Sensory Phenomenon Assessment Scale (SPAS), to aid clinical evaluation on symptoms of TD among children. To test its psychometric properties, tic, premonitory urge (PU), and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) were also assessed in 223 children via the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), the Premonitory Urge for Tic Scale (PUTS), and the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS). Factor analysis and internal consistency test were carried out using data from TD-diagnosed individuals. Good internal consistency and test-retest reliability were observed. Criterion validity was established by significant correlations between the PUTS, the YGTSS, the CY-BOCS, and scores of the SPAS. Factor analyses supported a single-factor model of the SPAS, in which the five items each showed a factor loading above 0.6. This study demonstrated that the SPAS is reliable and valid and, thus, can serve as a good and concise measure of clinical symptoms among children and adolescents with TD.

Renewable energy utilization and stability through dynamic grid connection strategy and AI-driven solution approach

The connection of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power into the power grid can significantly reduce both costs and pollution emissions. However, the variability, volatility, and anti-peak regulation characteristics of renewable energy pose significant challenges for power system dispatch. This paper proposes a hybrid economic emission dispatch model (HDEED) for wind–solar–thermal-storage systems, with operational cost and pollution emission as objective functions. The study aims to develop optimal grid-connection strategies for clean energy by utilizing the energy-shifting capability of energy storage systems. This includes strategies based on optimal load fluctuation and optimal operation income for new energy stations. A generalized load fluctuation coefficient is proposed to assess load fluctuations after wind and solar energy integration, comparing and analyzing the performance of energy storage power stations with varying capacities. In terms of algorithm development, the paper proposes the Pelican optimization algorithm with a clustering strategy (POA-CS), specifically tailored to address the complexities of economic emission scheduling. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy and algorithm is validated using an enhanced IEEE-39 bus test system. Results indicate that the generalized load fluctuation coefficient under the optimal grid-connected strategy based on load fluctuation is 21% lower than that of direct grid connection of wind power and photovoltaic, leading to a significant reduction in net load fluctuation. Furthermore, under the optimal grid-connected strategy based on the operation income of new energy stations, the revenue of these plants increased by 22.40% compared to direct grid connections of wind power and photovoltaic systems. The POA-CS algorithm demonstrates superior performance, continuity, and smoothness in obtaining the Pareto optimal boundary under consistent testing conditions.

Offshoring Location Decision in Fuzzy Environment

Offshoring location selection is a crucial decision for firms in terms of competitiveness, flexibility, productivity, and profitability. Determining an efficient and appropriate location for offshoring has been a substantial multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. Considering that the outcome of an MCDM method alone can be misleading, a novel hybrid approach is presented in this study. Thus, five MCDM methods are utilized to solve the problem, and the results of four MCDM methods are integrated to assure an optimal offshoring location. A Fuzzy-AHP (analytical hierarchy process) integrated with the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), additive ratio assessment (ARAS), elimination et choix traduisant la realité (ELECTRE), and weighted sum method (WSM) methodology is proposed for the appraisal and selection of the optimal offshoring location. In this context, fifteen alternative locations are determined based on the attractiveness of the locations in terms of offshoring. Fuzzy-AHP is implemented to analyze the problem's structure and find the weights of the quantitative and qualitative criteria. Consistency tests are implemented to assess the quality of inputs of an expert. Then, TOPSIS, WSM, ARAS, and ELECTRE are used to evaluate and rank the candidate locations and present a comparative analysis. By considering fifteen countries and using real data, offshoring location selection is conducted through the proposed methodology. Moreover, sensitivity analysis is made to diminish the subjectivity and assess the robustness of the techniques. The results demonstrated that giving more weights to the labor characteristics and proximity to market criteria might improve the quality of the best offshoring country index.

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF MULTIPLE-CHOICE BIOLOGY TEST: A RASCH ANALYSIS PERSPECTIVE

Concerns about the accuracy of multiple-choice tests for assessing biology knowledge have led to an increased emphasis on validating these tests using sophisticated analytical techniques like Rasch analysis. A 22-item multiple-choice cell division test was administered to 35 Form Four students in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and validated through Rasch analysis, with MNSQ item values falling within the acceptable range of 0.79 to 1.24 logit. Additionally, the ZSTD components of Infit and Outfit showed favourable logit values aligning positively with the intended measures. Overall, the results indicated that item fits were within an acceptable range and PTMEA-CORR values measured what was intended to assess. Meanwhile, the Cronbach’s alpha was a good value at 0.65, with person reliability of 0.72 and item reliability of 0.76. The person separation was observed at a value of 1.62 while the item separation considered acceptable at a value of 1.80; indicating good measurement capability which supports its use in evaluating students' comprehension of biological concepts. Applying the Rasch model demonstrated consistent and reliable test enabling assessment of students' achievement in biology; contributing towards continuous improvement in teaching and learning biology.

Development and validation of a drug clinical trial participation feelings questionnaire for cancer patients.

The study was designed to develop and validate a new drug clinical trial participation feelings questionnaire (DCTPFQ) for cancer patients. Data collection and analysis involved a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. There were two phases to this study. Phase Ⅰ involved developing a questionnaire to establish a list of items to be included in the pool: A theoretical framework was constructed based on the transitions theory and the Roper-Logan-Tierney theory. After incorporating a theoretical framework, interviewing participants, and reviewing the literature, 44 items were generated. After a Delphi consultation and a pilot test, 36 items proceeded to item analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and a four-factor structure with 21 items was formed. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), test-retest reliability, criteria-related validity, and internal consistency tests were conducted in phase II to examine the psychometric properties. There were 21 items on the DCTPFQ, ranging from 1 (fully disagree) through 5 (fully agree). As a result of EFA and CFA, the four factors of DCTPFQ could be verified, including cognitive engagement, subjective experience, medical resources, and relatives and friends' support. Test-retest reliability of the DCTPFQ was 0.840, and Cronbach's alpha was 0.934. DCTPFQ is significantly correlated with the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-short form (r = 0.731, p < 0.05) and the Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale (r = 0.714, p < 0.05). The DCTPFQ is a useful tool for measuring the drug clinical trial participation feelings among cancer patients.

A new activity coefficient model for describing adsorbed phase nonidealities

The following study introduces a new adsorbed phase activity coefficient model, the SPLINT model, for describing nonideal multicomponent systems. The derivation is presented and simplification to the thermodynamically robust ABC model in the low‑coverage limit is shown. Both the SPLINT and ABC models are fit to 25 binary systems. Thermodynamic consistency of the data is established through multiple consistency tests including the intersection rule, closed‑loop reduced spreading pressure integration, the Gibbs‑Duhem integral equality, and alignment of pure and binary data. Regressed parameters are used in Real Adsorbed Solution Theory to predict both binary and ternary adsorption. The ABC and SPLINT models accurately describe systems with considerable nonideality when the activity coefficients are symmetric; however, the SPLINT model is required for accurate description of systems with complex, asymmetric activity coefficient behavior. The new model includes one more fitting parameter than the ABC model for a single binary system, but less across multiple data sets and higher‑order systems due to the theoretical basis. The importance of capturing activity coefficient asymmetry is demonstrated with a highly nonideal system across various pressures and temperatures measured by the present authors using the Integral Mass Balance method with HFC‑125 (pentafluoroethane), HFC‑32 (difluoromethane), and zeolite H‑ZSM‑5. The theoretical basis of the SPLINT model is further enforced by presenting two methods for predicting activity coefficients with the SPLINT model: correlating the fitting parameters individually and simultaneously regressing pure isosteric heat data to extract SPLINT fitting parameters. The study concludes with a discussion of pure and binary HFC‑125/HFC‑32 data with zeolite H‑ZSM‑5. A possible binary adsorption mechanism is proposed based on isosteric heat and excess enthalpy predictions and observed system irreversibility.

Clinical validation of the nursing outcome "Swallowing status: pharyngeal phase" in patients with laryngeal cancer.

This study aimed to clinically validate the nursing outcome "Swallowing status: pharyngeal phase" (1013). A two-stage study was designed: (1) Chinese translation and cultural adaptation and (2) clinical validation. Internal consistency and interrater reliability tests were performed on 285 patients with laryngeal cancer, and an additional 130 patients were randomly selected from the 285 patients as an independent sample. Criterion-related validity tests were performed using the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA). Nursing outcome sensitivity was detected by scoring two time points. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.951 for the nursing outcome and 0.942-0.965 for each indicator. The interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values for each indicator ranged from 0.73 to 0.929. The scores of the nursing outcome were negatively correlated with the SSA scores (r = -0.555, p<0.01). With the exception of two indicators, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the total scores of the scale and its 11 indicator scores for the two time points. The results indicated that the nursing outcome "Swallowing status: pharyngeal phase" (1013) exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties and high sensitivity to change. The nursing outcome "Swallowing status: pharyngeal phase" (1013) demonstrated good reliability, validity, and sensitivity in patients with laryngeal cancer. The nursing outcome "Swallowing status: pharyngeal phase" (1013) can be used to assess swallowing function in patients with laryngeal cancer and provide guidance for the development of rehabilitation intervention plans and nursing care.

Psychometric assessment of the Chinese adaptation of the patient participation scale targeting inpatients: a validation research.

The objective of this research was to introduce, translate, and verify the Patient Participation Scale (PPS) within a Chinese context. We applied a combination of internal consistency testing, item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The research involved 453 individuals, comprising both outpatients and inpatients, across three Jinzhou Medical University-affiliated hospitals in China. Additionally, a subgroup of 50 patients underwent a retest after a 2-week interval to assess reliability. The adapted Chinese edition of the PPS included 21 items. Exploratory factor analysis identified four distinct factors, accounting for 66.199% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a suitable four-factor structure ( : 2.045, RMSEA: 0.048, GFI: 0.935, AGFI: 0.914, TLI: 0.958, CFI: 0.965, and PGFI: 0.712). The factor loadings corresponded to each item exceeded 0.6, the average variance extracted (AVE) exceeded 0.5, and the composite reliability (CR) exceeded 0.7. The correlation coefficients stayed below the square root of the AVE, demonstrated relatively favourable convergent and discriminant validity.The Chinese PPS edition demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.919), with dimensional Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.732 to 0.918. Split-half as well as retest reliabilities were recorded at 0.737 and 0.864, respectively. The content validity index for the Chinese PPS edition stood at 0.974. The Chinese edition of the PPS emerges as a valid and reliable tool for assessing patient engagement in their own treatment as well as care, applicable in both inpatient as well as outpatient settings.

Artificial intelligence-driven computer aided diagnosis system provides similar diagnosis value compared with doctors’ evaluation in lung cancer screening

ObjectiveTo evaluate the consistency between doctors and artificial intelligence (AI) software in analysing and diagnosing pulmonary nodules, and assess whether the characteristics of pulmonary nodules derived from the two methods are consistent for the interpretation of carcinomatous nodules.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study analysed participants aged 40–74 in the local area from 2011 to 2013. Pulmonary nodules were examined radiologically using a low-dose chest CT scan, evaluated by an expert panel of doctors in radiology, oncology, and thoracic departments, as well as a computer-aided diagnostic(CAD) system based on the three-dimensional(3D) convolutional neural network (CNN) with DenseNet architecture(InferRead CT Lung, IRCL). Consistency tests were employed to assess the uniformity of the radiological characteristics of the pulmonary nodules. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy. Logistic regression analysis is utilized to determine whether the two methods yield the same predictive factors for cancerous nodules.ResultsA total of 570 subjects were included in this retrospective study. The AI software demonstrated high consistency with the panel's evaluation in determining the position and diameter of the pulmonary nodules (kappa = 0.883, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) = 0.809, p = 0.000). The comparison of the solid nodules' attenuation characteristics also showed acceptable consistency (kappa = 0.503). In patients diagnosed with lung cancer, the area under the curve (AUC) for the panel and AI were 0.873 (95%CI: 0.829–0.909) and 0.921 (95%CI: 0.884–0.949), respectively. However, there was no significant difference (p = 0.0950). The maximum diameter, solid nodules, subsolid nodules were the crucial factors for interpreting carcinomatous nodules in the analysis of expert panel and IRCL pulmonary nodule characteristics.ConclusionAI software can assist doctors in diagnosing nodules and is consistent with doctors' evaluations and diagnosis of pulmonary nodules.

Based on knowledge capital value for disease cost accounting of diagnosis related groups.

The National Health Commission and the other relevant departments in China have initiated testing of the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) system in 30 pilot locations since 2019. In the process of DRG payment reform, accounting for the costs of diseases has become a highly challenging issue. The traditional method of disease accounting method overlooks the compensation for the knowledge capital value of medical personnel. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the cost accounting scheme of China's Diagnosis Related Groups (C-DRG), focusing on the value of knowledge capital. The study initially proposes a measurement index system for the value of knowledge-based capital, including the difficulty of disease treatment, labor intensity of disease treatment, risk of disease treatment, and operation/treatment time for diseases. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is then utilized to weigh the features of medical workers' knowledge capital value. First, pairwise comparisons are conducted in this stage to develop a two-pair judgment matrix of the primary indicators. Second, the eigenvectors corresponding to the maximum eigenvalues of the matrix are calculated to generate the weight coefficient of each feature. The consistency test is carried out after this stage. An empirical analysis is conducted by collecting data, including the full costs of treating three types of diseases-hip replacement, acute simple appendicitis, and heart bypass surgery-from one public medical institution. The empirical analysis examines whether this DRG costing accounting can address the issue of neglecting the value of medical workers' knowledge capital. The methods reconfigure the positive incentive mechanism, stimulate the endogenous motivation of the medical service system, foster independent changes in medical behavior, and achieve the goals of reasonable cost control. In the cost accounting system of C-DRG, the value of medical workers' knowledge capital is acknowledged. This acknowledgment not only boosts the enthusiasm and creativity of medical workers in optimizing and standardizing the diagnosis and treatment process but also improves the transparency and authenticity of DRG pricing. This is particularly evident in the optimization and standardization of the diagnosis and treatment processes within medical institutions and in monitoring inadequate medical practices within these institutions.

Comparison of Autolumo A2000 Plus and Architect i2000 for detection of hepatitis B virus serological markers

Serological detection of hepatitis B virus markers plays a vital role in the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and therapeutic surveillance of hepatitis B. To compare the diagnostic performance of Autolumo A2000Plus and Abbott Architect i2000 systems in the detection of hepatitis B infection markers. A total of 6 HBV seroconversion panels and 743 participants were enrolled in this study, including 383 HBV-infected patients and 360 healthy adults. Clinical diagnostic information, laboratory results, and HBV genotyping were collected to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the A2000Plus and i2000 systems in detecting HBV infection markers. The results showed that the total percent agreement of HBV markers was all >90 % in both detection systems among the six seroconversion panels and 743 serum samples from the population. The χ2 values of the Chi-square test among hepatitis B virus serological markers in both analyzers were between 550.7 and 743.0, p < 0.0001. HBV marker consistency test results show perfect consistency between the two analyzers, with Kappa values ranging from 0.854 to 1.000. For specific samples, including Hepatitis B patients with Genotype C, chronic hepatitis B, hepatitis B-related cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, spearman correlation analysis showed HBsAg correlation coefficients ranging from 0.8532 to 0.9745, p < 0.001 in both analyzers. In conclusion, Autolumo A2000Plus diagnostic performance in consistency and correlation is comparable to Abbott Architect i2000 when detecting markers of hepatitis B infection. The Autolumo A2000Plus system can be used as a reliable instrument for HBV marker detection.