Total Agreement Research Articles

A dynamical teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm for fuzzy energy-efficient parallel batch processing machines scheduling in fabric dyeing process

Fabric dyeing is the most time-consuming and energy-intensive process in textile production with some batch processing machines (BPMs) and uncertainty. In this study, a fuzzy energy-efficient parallel BPMs scheduling problem (FEPBSP) with machine eligibility and sequence-dependent setup time (SDST) in fabric dyeing process is investigated, and a dynamical teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm (DTLBO) is proposed to simultaneously optimize the total agreement index, fuzzy makespan, and total fuzzy energy consumption. In DTLBO, multiple classes are constructed by non-dominated sorting. Dynamical class evolution is designed, which incorporates diversified search among students and adaptive self-learning of teachers. The former is implemented using various combinations of the teacher phase and the learner phase, and the latter is achieved through teacher quality and an adaptive threshold. Additionally, a reinforcement local search based on neighborhood structure dynamic selection is also applied. Extensive experiments are conducted, and the computational results demonstrated that the new strategies of DTLBO are effective, and it is highly competitive in solving the considered problem.

Significance of three-dimensional turbo spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging with semiquantitative assessment of knee osteoarthritis: correlation to two-dimensional routine magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Background As one of the most prevalent chronic degenerative diseases, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is associated with the progressive degradation of articular cartilage, meniscus, synovium, ligaments, bone, muscles, and tendons. Knee osteoarthritis affects the quality of life and can cause chronic disability worldwide. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a crucial imaging modality for the morphological assessment of cartilage and all other joint tissues involved in osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the three-dimensional (3D) turbo spin-echo (TSE) MRI and to compare its relevance to two-dimensional (2D) routine MRI in adding additional information and in the early detection of KOA. Results Total agreement between the two techniques ranged between 82.7% (cartilage degeneration), 91.4% (osteophytes), 98.3% for bone marrow edema and periarticular cyst up to 100% of other several features regarding meniscal injury and ligamentous tear. Conclusions When compared to standard 2D TSE MRI, 3D TSE MRI demonstrates substantial to almost complete agreement and high accuracy for semiquantitative assessment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). 3D TSE MRI also takes less time, which is important for large OA studies and can be used for the detection of early knee joint changes.

A novel classification of dyslipidaemia through the analysis of five million lipid profiles: an unsupervised machine learning approach

Abstract Background Dyslipidemia encompasses a wide range of lipoprotein disorders categorised through two classifications (Fredrickson-Levy [FL] or Sniderman).(1,2) However, both classifications are criticised for relying on incomplete knowledge of lipoprotein metabolism, especially with the emergence of novel treatment options and variations in individual treatment responses.(3) Clustering, an unsupervised machine learning (ML) algorithm that can process a wide range of variables, has the potential to unmask patient groups with distinct molecular profiles and unique therapeutic targets that can inform more effective prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease (CVD).(4) Aim We aimed to use unsupervised ML algorithms to discover intrinsic dyslipidaemia categories from lipoprotein measurements, recognise the necessary components of lipid panels for classification, and analyse the similarities between the newly formed clusters, FL and Sniderman classifications. Methods Lipid profiles of 5,080,248 patients were obtained from the ‘Very Large Database of Lipids’ database. This yielded up to 78 blood components per patient, including at least 31 lipoprotein variables. The analysis involved unsupervised K-means clustering with optimised values for K and the subset of variables, determined in an unsupervised manner using a suitable measure of complexity. We then interpreted our clusters using probabilistic decision trees to provide compact and interpretable representations. Finally, we compared the clusters with Sniderman and FL categories. Results In a completely unsupervised fashion, we identified 14 clusters that could be matched to Sniderman categories. The confusion matrix showed total agreement of 76% (see Figure 1, left panel), relative Cohen’s kappa of 0.78 (the relative version captures accuracy on categories containing smaller numbers of patient profiles) and an accuracy of 96% on the small Type III class. Similar results were observed when matching to FL types. We accurately represented our clusters using probabilistic decision trees of small depth (see Figure 2). We discovered that the data had low intrinsic dimension and a manifold-like structure in which the different clusters could be illustrated (see Figure 1, right panel). Specifically, only 3 variables were needed to obtain our classification: apolipoprotein b, total cholesterol and triglycerides. Conclusion We showed that completely unsupervised ML techniques can uncover dyslipidaemia categories in lipoprotein profiles from a large patient population. The categories largely align with existing classifications based on prior knowledge of lipoprotein metabolism. Furthermore, few lipoprotein variables were required for categorisation (low-dimension data), which could aid in determining which lipoproteins should be measured in a clinical setting. Further analysis of the differences between ML clusters and traditional classifications is needed, which may enhance CVD risk management.

B-056 Clinical and Analytical Performance Evaluation of Two Immunoassays for the Detection of Mite Specific Serum IgE for Allergy Diagnosis

Abstract Background IgE-mediated allergic diseases can be considered a modern epidemic, with exponential growth mainly in industrialized countries. Diagnosis is usually based on detailed medical history, physical examination, skin or challenge test and the determination of allergen-specific serum IgE - a laboratory test that has become a high-value tool in the allergy patient's journey over the last three decades. As the identification of specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) for a given allergen is important to aid in the allergy diagnosis, several methods for detecting IgE in vitro are available worldwide and, in recent years, there have been several improvements in laboratory methodologies bringing greater advances in terms of clinical and analytical performance. The study aims to evaluate the clinical performance and correlation between two different sIgE assays (IMMULITE® 2000 3gAllergy™ and ImmunoCAP) and their concordance with Skin Prick Test (SPT) and clinical history. Methods This prospective study was conducted with approximately 130 consecutive patients who underwent evaluation of allergic diseases in different centers in Brazil. Clinical data, blood samples, and SPT results were collected. With the blood samples, the allergens D1, D2 and D201 were evaluated using both methods (IMMULITE® 2000 3gAllergy™ and ImmunoCAP) and the data were evaluated in a correlation study and clinical concordance analysis. Results Qualitatively evaluating the sIgE results between the two immunoassays, at the cutoff point considered clinically significant (≥ 0.35 KU/L), a total agreement of 95.2% (D1); 95.1% (D2), 91.7% (D201) and 96.8% (Derp2) was observed. Semi-quantitatively evaluating through reactive interpretation, an agreement of 89.5% (D1); 91.06% (D2); 87.60% (D201) and 93.33% (Derp2) was observed. Spearman's correlation between the analytical methods was 0.85 (D1), 0.93 (D2), 0.68 (D201) and 0.76 (Derp2). When compared with the SPT results, a total agreement of 78.7% and 80.1% was obtained for 3gAllergy and ImmunoCAP, respectively, with slightly higher positive agreement for both methods. Conclusions The two methods have good agreement with each other, with greater differences when evaluated quantitatively. However, when compared to clinical history and skin prick test results, both perform very similarly with a few differences that may be caused by the difference in the assay design.

Ultrasound assessment of Achilles enthesitis: a dedicated training program.

To describe an intensive and multimodal ultrasound (US) training program focused on Achilles enthesitis and to illustrate the learning curve of trainees without experience. Three medical students (trainees) and two rheumatologists experienced in musculoskeletal US (trainers) were involved in the training program, which encompassed one preliminary theoretical-practical meeting and five scanning sessions (two patients per session). The students and one expert performed the US examination of the Achilles enthesis bilaterally. The trainees acquired representative images and assessed the presence of Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) US abnormalities of enthesitis. The experts provided feedback addressing trainees' misinterpretations, and the quality of the acquired images was evaluated. A dedicated questionnaire was used to evaluate the students' confidence. After each session, five sets of static images (total=100 images of most commonly scanned entheses) were provided and scored by the students according to OMERACT US definitions. Total agreement and prevalence and bias adjusted kappa (PABAK) were used to evaluate the concordance between the trainees and the expert sonographer. The total agreement and PABAK significantly improved between the first and fifth scanning sessions (76.2% versus 92.9%, p<0.01, and 0.5 versus 0.79, p<0.01) and between the first and fifth static image sets (64.5% versus 81.9%, p<0.01, and 0.29 versus 0.74, p<0.01). Image quality did not significantly improve (p=0.34). A significant increase in trainees' confidence was registered (p<0.01). The described training program rapidly improved the students' performance in the US assessment of Achilles enthesitis, appearing to be an effective starting model for the future development of pathology-oriented teaching programs for the US in rheumatology.

Detecting and characterizing creeping fat in Crohn’s disease: agreement between intestinal ultrasound and computed tomography enterography

ObjectivesCreeping fat (CF) is associated with stricture formation in Crohn’s disease (CD). This study evaluated the feasibility of intestinal ultrasound (IUS) for semiquantitative analysis of CF and compared the agreement between IUS and computed tomography enterography (CTE).MethodsIn this retrospective study, we recruited consecutive CD patients who underwent IUS and CTE. CF wrapping angle was analyzed on the most affected bowel segment and was independently evaluated by IUS and CTE. We evaluated the wrapping angle of CF in the cross- and vertical sections of the diseased bowel. CF wrapping angle was divided into < 180° and ≥ 180°. IUS performance was assessed using CTE as a reference standard, and IUS interobserver consistency was evaluated.ResultsWe enrolled 96 patients. CTE showed that CF wrapping angle was < 180° in 35 patients and ≥ 180° in 61 patients. We excluded three cases in which the observation positions were inconsistent between the IUS and CTE. Excellent agreement was shown between US and CTE (82/93, 88.2%). The eleven remaining cases showed inconsistencies mostly in the terminal ileum (n = 5) and small intestine (n = 4). Total agreement between IUS observers was 89.6% (86/96, κ = 0.839, p = 0.000), with perfect agreement for the ileocecal and colonic segments (35/37, 94.6% and 20/21, 95.2%, respectively) and moderate agreement for small intestinal segments (16/21, 76.2%).ConclusionsIUS could be of value and complementary to CTE for assessing CF, particularly in patients with affected terminal ileum and colon. IUS is a non-invasive technique for monitoring CD patients.Critical relevance statementIn our study, excellent agreement was shown between intestinal US observers as well as between US and CT enterography (CTE) for assessing creeping fat (CF), which showed that ultrasound could be of value and complementary to CTE.Key PointsCreeping fat (CF) is a potential therapeutic target in Crohn’s disease.Excellent agreement was shown between US and CT Enterography (CTE) for assessing CF.Ultrasound could be complementary to CTE for assessing CF.Graphical

Room Temperature Efficient Regeneration of Spent LiFePO4 by Direct Chemical Lithiation

The exponential production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and electronic applications leads to the creation of a huge stock of batteries at the end of life. Considering the current economic, geopolitical and environmental context, the recycling of these spent batteries is becoming an urgent need in order to mitigate environmental pollution and limit the waste of valuable and critical resources1.In this work, we report a rewarding direct recycling process of spent LiFePO4 cathode material by direct chemical lithiation in solution2. After safe opening of the spent commercial battery, a structural, morphological, spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of the spent LFP cathode was carried out to identify the reason(s) of battery failure. The results obtained by XRD (Fig 1a) and Mössbauer spectroscopy (Fig 1b) show that the loss of lithium in the cathode (up to 50%) consumed during formation and growth of the SEI during cycling, is the major reason of the end of life of these batteries, in total agreement with the literature3.To address the lithium shortage problem, a recycling process via direct chemical lithiation in organic solution at room temperature of the LFP cathode has been implemented. Lithium iodide (LiI) dissolved in several solvents such as acetonitrile, cyclohexane, ethanol, DMSO, methanol and propan-1,2-diol was used as both the reductant and the lithiation agent. The best results were obtained with the cathode regenerated in ethanol, which is also the most captivating and environmentally friendly solvent. The different characterizations of this regenerated cathode allow evaluating the efficiency of the regeneration process. Mössbauer spectroscopy (Fig. 2a) confirms the total reduction of FeIIIPO4 to LiFeIIPO4, while electrochemical characterization (Fig. 2b) shows encouraging properties with a reversible capacity of ~168 mAh/g for the regenerated LFP.

Reproducibility of SIMPLE classification for diabetic retinopathy screening and its comparison to current Italian guidelines.

To evaluate the reproducibility of SIMPLE (Single field Image Multi Parameters defined Lesions Extent), a new Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) classification for screening of 45° single field fundus pictures of patients with diabetes (PwDM), assessing DR, Diabetic Maculopathy (DMac) and referral rate agreement and comparing it to current Italian Guidelines (IG). We conducted a retrospective, observational, multicentre study, collecting 1000 retinal 45° single field images of PwDM obtained during routine visits in two diabetes clinics. Three ophthalmologists evaluated each image, determining the presence and number of specific DR lesions and then assigning a stage according to the current IG for screening. SIMPLE staging was performed automatically via Excel software, based on the pre-specified DR characteristics observed by the graders. We analysed intra-centre, inter-centre and total inter-grader agreement for DR and DMac stage and referral rate of the two classifications. Agreement amongst the three graders was consistently higher when using SIMPLE classification than when using current IG classification. For DR, kappa (k) was 0.86 with IG and 0.95 with SIMPLE classification; for DMac, k-IG was 0.78, while k-SIMPLE was 0.96; concordance on the referral rate was 0.91 with IG and 0.99 with SIMPLE. Similar results were obtained in sub-analyses for the evaluation of intra-centre and inter-centre concordance. Our results suggest that the new SIMPLE classification has an excellent reproducibility amongst graders, comparable or superior to the current IG for DR screening proposed in 2015, improving the standardisation of the decision on referability.

Performance evaluation of microfluidic microplate-based fluorescent ELISA for qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2–specific IgG and IgM

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of newly developed microfluidic microplate-based fluorescent ELISA for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection: the Veri-Q opti COVID-19 IgG and IgM ELISAs (hereafter, “Opti IgG/M”; MiCo BioMed, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea), in comparison with conventional ELISAs. A total of 270 serum samples were analyzed, among which 90 samples were serially obtained from 25 COVID-19 patients. Another 180 samples were collected from 180 SARS-CoV-2–negative individuals. As comparative assays, we used SCoV-2 Detect IgG/M ELISA (hereafter, “InBios IgG/M”; InBios, Seattle, WA, USA) and Veri-Q COVID-19 IgG/IgM ELISA (hereafter, “Veri-Q IgG/M”; MiCo BioMed). Compared with conventional ELISAs, the Opti IgG yielded 97.1–100.0% positive percent agreement, 95.2–98.0% negative percent agreement, 96.3–97.8% total percent agreement, and kappa values of 0.90–0.94. Between the Opti IgM and the InBios IgM, the values were 93.7%, 96.6%, 95.9%, and 0.89, respectively. For the Opti IgG, sensitivities for the samples collected from 0–7, 8–14, 15–21, and ≥ 22 days after symptom onset were 40.0, 58.3, 94.1, and 100.0%, respectively. The values for the Opti IgM were 30.0, 54.2, 88.2, and 80%, respectively. The diagnostic specificities of the Opti IgG and IgM were 99.4 and 97.2%, respectively. The microfluidic microplate-based fluorescent ELISAs showed comparable diagnostic performance to conventional ELISAs for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. With the combination of high throughput, a simplified workflow, and the ability to analyze reduced volumes, this new technology has great potential for improving SARS-CoV-2 serologic testing.

Validity and Reliability of a Questionnaire Assessing Changes in Dietary Behaviors Among School Children Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordan.

This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess changes in dietary behaviors among school children in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study used a convenience sample of 253 school-aged children from public schools across Jordan. The dietary and lifestyle behavior inventory (DLBI) was developed, incorporating cultural and regional dietary preferences. The questionnaire's validity and reliability were assessed using the content validity index (CVI) and Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to evaluate the underlying factor structure. The DLBI demonstrated excellent content validity with a scale content validity index (S-CVI) of 0.997 and a high level of agreement among expert reviewers (total agreement = 116). Reliability analysis showed high internal consistency for dietary behavior scales, with Cronbach's alpha values exceeding 0.9 for fruit (0.869) and vegetable (0.916) consumption scales. Factor analysis revealed strong associations between dietary behavior variables, with factor loadings ranging from 0.688 to 0.889. The study identified significant reductions in physical activity levels among children, with an average Cronbach's alpha of 0.835 for physical activity-related items. The average time to complete the questionnaire was 15 minutes (SD = 5 minutes), with a completion rate of 45.6%. The validated DLBI is a robust tool for assessing changes in dietary behaviors among school-aged children in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings highlight significant dietary patterns and physical activity shifts, emphasizing the need for targeted nutritional interventions.

Development of 'OXIS Classification' calibration website for dental researchers.

The variations in interproximal contact areas have been categorised open (O), point (X), straight (I), and curved contact (S). This is based on their shapes and termed as OXIS classification. The interactive OXIS calibration website was developed to assist researchers seeking appropriate knowledge, minimise the overload of material, optimise efficiency in calibration and, to provide repositories for clinicians, healthcare workers, and policymakers. The website was developed in two phases. The first phase of development included expert group discussion, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), and the implementation of FGD recommendations. The second phase emphasised registration and development of the interactive web portal on OXIS classification. The developed website was subjected to user experience testing, functional testing, performance testing, security testing, device, platform testing, and then hosted. Calibrated students and faculties evaluated it with the help of Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) and System Usability Scale (SUS). Finally, after amendments, the website was evaluated by non-calibrated researchers and multidisciplinary experts. The total agreement was 74% for overall SAM category. Pooled mean total score of SUS was 52.7 (SD 7.17; range 45-67.5), indicating an average score. The content of the developed website has been evaluated as "satisfactory" and its technical quality as "of higher standards".

Free-breathing 3D phase-resolved functional lung MRI vsbreath-hold hyperpolarized 129Xe ventilation MRI in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseand healthy volunteers.

3D phase-resolved functional lung (PREFUL) MRI offers evaluation of pulmonary ventilation without inhalation of contrast agent. This study seeks to compare ventilation maps obtained from 3D PREFUL MRI with a direct ventilation measurement derived from 129Xe MRI in both patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy volunteers. Thirty-one patients with COPD and 12 healthy controls underwent free-breathing 3D PREFUL MRI and breath-hold 129Xe MRI at 1.5 T. For both MRI techniques, ventilation defect (VD) maps were determined and respective ventilation defect percentage (VDP) values were computed. All parameters of both techniques were compared by Spearman correlation coefficient (r) and the differences between VDP values were quantified by Bland-Altman analysis and tested for significance using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In a regional comparison of VD maps, spatial overlap and Sørensen-Dice coefficients of healthy and defect areas were computed. On a global level, all 3D PREFUL VDP values correlated significantly to VDP measure derived by 129Xe ventilation imaging (all r > 0.65; all p < 0.0001). 129Xe VDP was significantly greater than 3D PREFUL derived VDPRVent (mean bias = 10.5%, p < 0.001) and VDPFVL-CM (mean bias = 11.3%, p < 0.0001) but not for VDPCombined (mean bias = 1.7%, p = 0.70). The total regional agreement of 129Xe and 3D PREFUL VD maps ranged between 60% and 63%. Free-breathing3D PREFUL MRI showed a strong correlation with breath-hold hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI regarding the VDP values and modest differences in the detection of VDs on a regional level. 3D PREFUL MRI correlated with 129Xe MRI, unveiling regional differences in COPD defect identification. This proposes 3D PREFUL MRI as a ventilation mapping surrogate, eliminating the need for extra hardware or inhaled gases. Current non-invasive evaluation techniques for lung diseases have drawbacks; 129Xe MRI is limited by cost and availability. 3D PREFUL MRI correlated with 129Xe MRI, with regional differences in identifying COPD defects. 3DPREFUL MRI can provide ventilation mapping without the need for additional hardware or inhaled gases.

A Test of Spectroscopic Age Estimates of White Dwarfs Using Wide WD+WD Binaries

White dwarf stars have been used for decades as precise and accurate age indicators. This work presents a test of the reliability of white dwarf total ages when spectroscopic observations are available. We conduct follow-up spectroscopy of 148 individual white dwarfs in widely separated double-white-dwarf (WD+WD) binaries. We supplement the sample with 264 previously published white dwarf spectra, as well as 1292 high-confidence white dwarf spectral types inferred from their Gaia XP spectra. We find that spectroscopic fits to optical spectra do not provide noticeable improvement to the age agreement among white dwarfs in wide WD+WD binaries. The median age agreement is ≈1.5σ for both photometrically and spectroscopically determined total ages, for pairs of white dwarfs with each having a total age uncertainty < 20%. For DA white dwarfs, we further find that photometrically determined atmospheric parameters from spectral energy distribution fitting give better total age agreement (1.0σ, 0.2 Gyr, or 14% of the binary’s average total age) compared to spectroscopically determined parameters from Balmer-line fits (agreement of 1.5σ, 0.3 Gyr, or 28% of binary’s average total age). We find further evidence of a significant merger fraction among wide WD+WD binaries: across multiple spectroscopically identified samples, roughly 20% are inconsistent with a monotonically increasing initial–final mass relation. We recommend the acquisition of an identification spectrum to ensure the correct atmospheric models are used in photometric fits in order to determine the most accurate total age of a white dwarf star.

Assessment of knowledge about the doping in the rehabilitation assistance of performance and recreational athletes

Background: During the activity of performance and recreational athletes can arise critical situations that imply medical rehabilitation treatments. In the process of functional recovery, the applied methods can be sometimes aggressive and intense. The lack of knowledge of forbidden substances may pose a threat for the athlete’s health and performance. It is of utmost importance that the medical personnel that care for athletes take into consideration the risks and effects of doping substances. Methods: A group of 53 physicians - specialists in the field of physical medicine and sports medicine participated in the written study. The investigation was carried out according to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of anti-doping knowledge. By means of 14 categories of simple introductory questions, the questionnaire allowed the collection of data on the doctor's seniority and job, age, gender and general knowledge about substances and methods of interest in sports. The data of the participants in the questionnaires were collected and entered into a Microsoft Excel database and were analyzed in the MEDCALC statistical software program version 12.7.0. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program, version 21. Descriptive analysis was performed using the means and standard deviations of PEAS Instrument variables and mean difference tests were performed on two-response variables along with analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The majority of doctors (40/75.48%) do not have information about test procedures for inert substances and almost half of them (25/47.17%) do not know the anti-doping rules and standards developed within World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Of the people surveyed all (53/100%) positively noted the effectiveness of anti-doping programs, but 18 (33.96%) of the respondents distinguished exaggerated actions in the mass media regarding the issue of doping and 35 (66.04%) of the respondents did not have accusations against mediating the issue of doping. Of all the people investigated, the majority (49/92.45%) are ready to report on cases of doping in the anti-doping organization or the sports federation. 24 (45.28%) marked agreement in these actions and total agreement - 25 (47.17%) physicians. Conclusion: In the evaluation of the knowledge of specialist doctors involved in the assistance of people who practice performance and recreational sports, a discrepancy in the knowledge about doping was determined. The development of strategies and policies by informing doctors from medical rehabilitation and sports medicine in the field of sports doping will offer athletes access to quality medical services and safe professional activity. Keywords: medical rehabilitation of athletes, doping substances, World Anti-Doping Code

A lesion‐aware automated processing framework for clinical stroke magnetic resonance imaging

AbstractMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI based computational modelling studies provide insights into severity and recovery of ischemic stroke patients. The presence of brain lesions, however, can heavily distort and impair state‐of‐the‐art processing frameworks due to abnormal intensity values and tissue distortions. In this study, we introduce and validate the novel “Lesion Aware automated Processing Pipeline (LeAPP).” LeAPP automatically processes clinical stroke MRI data while significantly reducing the impact of pathological artefacts on processing outputs such as structural and functional connectomes (SC, FC). This helps to advance the identification of biomarkers for recovery and mechanism‐based intervention planning using MRI as well as computational approaches. We extended existing frameworks, such as the Human Connectome Project (HCP) minimal processing pipeline, introducing correction steps, and implementing and modifying functional and diffusion processing to cope with MRI acquisition protocols more typical for the clinical context. A total of 51 participants (36 patients, 15 age‐matched controls) were processed across four time points for patients (3–5, 30–40, 85–95, 340–380 days after stroke onset) and one time point for controls. We validated performance using artificial lesioned brains (N = 81), derived from healthy brains and informed by real stroke lesions. The quality of reconstructing the ground truth was quantified on whole brain level and for lesion affected and unaffected regions‐of‐interest (ROIs) for brain parcellations and for SCs. Volume based agreement was evaluated using metrics such as dice coefficient, volume difference or ROI center‐of‐gravity distance while SC based agreement was defined as the difference in network metrics (e.g., node strength, clustering coefficient, or centrality). The observed deviations in reconstructed ground truth brain parcellations and structural connectomes from lesioned brains were significantly reduced for LeAPP, compared to the performance of existing pipelines such as HCP minimal processing pipeline. For instance, in the case of lesion affected ROIS we achieved a mean dice coefficient (where a value of one represents total agreement as defined by an exact overlap of both ROIs) of 0.81 with LeAPP, compared to 0.75 for HCP (p &lt; .0001*). Additionally, the average measured ROI distance (where a value of zero represents no difference) for lesion ROIs was 0.87 for LeAPP in contrast to 1.7 for HCP (p &lt; .0001*), indicating an overall superior performance of LeAPP. The pipeline generates standardized output files ready for brain network modelling for instance with The Virtual Brain software. This novel open‐source automated processing framework contributes to reproducible research and provides a robust framework for automated processing of clinical stroke MRI data, supporting the identification of brain network‐based biomarkers of stroke recovery.

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.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) for Chinese populations in Australia

SummaryThe increased prevalence of osteoporosis among Chinese-speaking communities in Australia deemed it necessary to have a culturally appropriate tool for assessing knowledge. This study describes the cultural adaption of the validated Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT). The adapted tool is readable and understandable for diverse Chinese-speaking communities.PurposeWith an expected increasing prevalence of osteoporosis among Chinese-speaking communities in Australia, a cross-culturally adapted questionnaire is necessary to assess knowledge levels among the group. We aimed to cross-culturally adapt the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) questionnaire for Chinese-speaking populations in Australia.MethodsCross-cultural adaptation guidelines were employed to culturally adapt the OKAT to simplified Chinese. This involved translation, revision, retroversion, and expert discussion before finalizing the Chinese version of OKAT. The participants were recruited through convenience sampling from a cohort of Chinese-speaking populations who attended a bone health promotion program. The adapted questionnaire was piloted with Chinese-speaking communities in the Greater Western Sydney area for face and content validity. The adapted questionnaire was compared with the original version for response agreement using Cohen’s kappa goodness of fit. The face validity of the adapted tool was analysed through a binary scale rating for readability and understandability.ResultsThe cross-culturally adapted version of OKAT has a 71.8% total response agreement with the original version of OKAT. The cross-culturally adapted OKAT yielded higher total scores than the translated version. The cross-culturally adapted tool had a good face and content validity.ConclusionThe cross-culturally adapted version of OKAT improves the overall readability and understandability of the questionnaire among Chinese-speaking populations in Australia.

Reproducibility between preschool and school-age Social Responsiveness Scale forms in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes program.

Evidence suggests core autism trait consistency in older children, but development of these traits is variable in early childhood. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) measures autism-related traits and broader autism phenotype, with two age-dependent forms in childhood (preschool, 2.5-4.5 years; school age, 4-18 years). Score consistency has been observed within forms, though reliability across forms has not been evaluated. Using data from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program (n = 853), preschool, and school-age SRS scores were collected via maternal report when children were an average of 3.0 and 5.8 years, respectively. We compared reproducibility of SRS total scores (T-scores) and agreement above a clinically meaningful cutoff (T-scores ≥ 60) and examined predictors of discordance in cutoff scores across forms. Participant scores across forms were similar (mean difference: 3.3 points; standard deviation: 7), though preschool scores were on average lower than school-age scores. Most children (88%) were classified below the cutoff on both forms, and overall concordance was high (92%). However, discordance was higher in cohorts following younger siblings of autistic children (16%). Proportions of children with an autism diagnoses were also higher among those with discordant scores (27%) than among those with concordant scores (4%). Our findings indicate SRS scores are broadly reproducible across preschool and school-age forms, particularly for capturing broader, nonclinical traits, but also suggest that greater variability of autism-related traits in preschool-age children may reduce reliability with later school-age scores for those in the clinical range.

Synthesis of biofuel from Luffas cylindrical-Dennettia tripetala oil blend (BT40) using catalytic sweet corn stock acidified with iron (III) sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3)

In an attempt to model and optimize the biodiesel production from the binary oil blends, a BTO40 obtained from the mixture of Dennettia tripetala (DTO) and Luffas cylindrical (LCO) oilseeds was employed in a double-stage microwave-assisted batch process (DSMABP). The DTO40 was esterified with iron (III) sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3) and then transesterified with catalyst selectivity between calcined fermented sweet corn stock (CFCS) and calcined non-fermented sweet corn stock (CNFCS). Catalyst characterization was carried out using analyzers, while process modeling and optimization were carried out using statistical tools. The produced biodiesel qualities were evaluated, and the catalyst potential was tested by a catalyst reusability test. Results show that a BTO40 was suitable for maximum biodiesel yield of 98.92% (wt./wt.) with HHV of 43.84 MJ/kg, CN of 79.73, flash point of 120 °C, cloud point of -3 °C, pour point of -6 °C, cold filter plugging point of +2 °C, oxidative stability of 4.6 h, and carbon residue of 0.02% nm. The statistical modeling and optimization by RSMI-Optimal predicted a mean value of biodiesel to be 99.28% (wt./wt.), the ANNGA predicted a mean biodiesel yield of 99.78% (wt./wt.), and γGCFW predicted 99.82% (wt./wt.), respectively, at different variable conditions. These values were validated in triplicate, and the average means were obtained as 98.57% (wt./wt.), 99.69% (wt./wt.), and 99.71% (wt./wt.), respectively. Catalyst usability tests show DFSCS has high alkali potential as a base catalyst. The produced biodiesel properties are in total agreement with the recommended biodiesel standard. The study concluded that BTO40 treated with a 0.1 M Fe2(SO4)3 solution in a base-catalyzed calcined fermented sweet corn stock for biodiesel synthesis can be used as an alternative fuel.

Detecting clear‐sky periods from photovoltaic power measurements

AbstractA method for detecting clear‐sky periods from photovoltaic (PV) power measurements is presented and validated. It uses five tests dealing with parameters characterizing the connections between the measured PV power and the corresponding clear‐sky power. To estimate clear‐sky PV power, a PV model has been designed using as inputs downwelling shortwave irradiance and its direct and diffuse components received at ground level under clear‐sky conditions as well as reflectivity of the Earth's surface and extraterrestrial irradiance, altogether provided by the McClear service. In addition to McClear products, the PV model requires wind speed and temperature as inputs taken from ECMWF twentieth century reanalysis ERA5 products. The performance of the proposed method has been assessed and validated by visual inspection and compared to two well‐known algorithms identifying clear‐sky periods with broadband global and diffuse irradiance measurements on a horizontal surface. The assessment was carried out at two stations located in Finland offering collocated 1‐min PV power and broadband irradiance measurements. Overall, total agreement ranges between 84% and 97% (depending on the season) in discriminating clear‐sky and cloudy periods with respect to the two well‐known algorithms serving as reference. The disagreement fluctuating between 6% and 15%, depending on the season, primarily occurs while the PV module temperature is adequately high and/or when the sun is close to the horizon with many more interactions between the radiation, the atmosphere and the ground surface.