Standard Deviation Values Research Articles

RETRACTION: Comparison of the Postoperative Analgesic Effects of Paracetamol-Codeine Phosphate and Naproxen Sodium-Codeine Phosphate for Lumbar Disk Surgery.

Retraction: R. Polat , K. Peker , Ç. T. Gülöksüz , J. Ergil , T. Akkaya , "Comparison of the Postoperative Analgesic Effects of Paracetamol-Codeine Phosphate and Naproxen Sodium-Codeine Phosphate for Lumbar Disk Surgery," Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences 31, no. 9 (2015): 468-472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjms.2015.07.001. The above article, published online on 06 August 2015, in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), and has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Wan-Long Chuang; Kaohsiung Medical University; and John Wiley and Sons Australia, Ltd. In 2021, a third party raised concerns regarding evidence of unlikely similarity in the standard deviation values presented in Figures 1 and 2. The journal contacted the authors, who provided original data for evaluation by the journal. Following further correspondence, the journal and publisher concluded that the authors' response satisfied their concerns and that the investigation should be closed without further action. In 2024, the complainant appealed to the journal and publisher to re-open the investigation based on the substantial evidence of errors. The publisher accepted this appeal and re-opened the investigation. The editors have conducted a review of the evidence and the provided dataset and found that the data includes substantial numbers of duplicated values across pairs of patients. The editors have determined that the substantial quantity of duplicated values is incompatible with a genuine randomized controlled trial and that the evidence compromises the conclusions of the article. As such, the parties agree that a retraction is necessary. The authors disagree with the retraction.

Saturated hydraulic conductivity and steady-state infiltration rate database for Brazilian soils

ABSTRACT Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and steady-state infiltration rate (SSIR) are essential and necessary soil properties for different geoscience applications. Values of these hydraulic properties for the Brazilian territory are difficult to access and are dispersed in research efforts carried out around the country. This study developed an easy-to-manipulate, freely accessible database of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, comprising field and laboratory analyses, and steady-state infiltration rates for Brazilian soils. This database was named Ksat-SSIR-DB. One analysis of the Ksat-SSIR-DB aimed to evaluate its coverage in Brazilian territory and in different soil groups. Average values of these hydraulic properties were also presented for textural classes, with values compared to those reported in international literature, and for other groupings, such as soil class, land use class, and porosity class. The variability of Ksat data in these groupings and in their combinations were also analyzed. The Ksat-SSIR-DB showed broad national coverage, comprising a total of 2,579 records, corresponding to 409 sampling sites, with Ksat and/or SSIR data and other associated soil information. A significant difference was observed between Ksat values for the vast majority of Brazilian clayey and very clayey soils compared to soils from the same textural groups from temperate regions. The two groupings that presented the lowest variability in terms of Ksat standard deviation values were the combination of textural classes with soil classes at the second category level of SiBCS (Brazilian Soil Classification System), and porosity classes with soil classes at the second category level of SiBCS. The Ksat-SSIR-DB has enormous potential for developing and testing Ksat pedotransfer functions in Brazilian soils, serving as a reference source for different geoenvironmental applications and, in particular, for modeling land surface processes. It is open access and can be accessed at https://www.sgb.gov.br/ksat-ssir-dbbase-de-dados-de-condutividade-hidraulica-saturada-e-de-taxa-de-infiltracao-basica-emsolos-brasileiros , which also includes the python script for data analysis.

Wavelength-Resolved Magnetic Multiplex Biosensor for Simultaneous and Ultrasensitive Detection of Pneumonia Pathogens via Catalytic Hairpin Assembly Strategy with Luminescent Iridium Complexes.

Pneumonia is a prevalent acute respiratory infection and a major cause of mortality and hospitalization, and the urgent demand for a rapid, direct, and highly accurate diagnostic method capable of detecting both Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) arises from their prominent roles as the primary pathogens responsible for pneumonia. Herein, two luminescent iridium complexes with nonoverlapping photoluminescence spectra, iridium(III)-bis [4,6-(difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2'] picolinate (abbreviated as Ir-B) and bis (2-(3,5- dimethylphenyl) quinoline-C2,N') (acetylacetonato) iridium(III)) (abbreviated as Ir-R), were unprecedently proposed to construct a novel wavelength-resolved magnetic multiplex biosensor for simultaneous detection of S. pneumoniae and K. pneumoniae based on catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) signal amplification strategy combined with dye-doped silica nanoparticles. Notably, the proposed wavelength-resolved multiplex biosensor not only exhibits a broad linear range from 50 pM to 10 nM but also demonstrates excellent recovery rates for S. pneumoniae (96.1-99.3%) and K. pneumoniae (94.8-101.5%) in real clinical samples, with corresponding relative standard deviation (RSD) values ranging from 2.57 to 3.15% for S. pneumoniae and 1.45 to 3.17% for K. pneumoniae. These favorable experimental outcomes undoubtedly offer a promising approach for the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens in the future.

Anthropometric Measurements of 2D Foot Impressions for Living Body Weight Determination among Tagalog Population in the Philippines

Person identification is the mainstay in any forensic investigation based on physical evidence found at crime scenes. Foot impressions/ footprints serve as vital evidence in crime scenes. Studies have indicated that foot impressions can be used to determine stature, gender and body weight and to narrow down the suspects and for identification. Anyhow it is important to consider ethnicity whenever dealing with the determination of stature and body weight, and if not, it may end with the wrong result. Hence the present research aimed to develop regression equations to determine living body weight from 2D foot impressions among the adult Tagalog population, an indigenous ethnic group in the Philippines. The study recruited 100 male and 100 female volunteers with ages ranging from 18 to 60 years, whose 2D foot impressions and body weight were collected. A total of 10 length measurements, five from the left and five from the right side of the participants were made and the length is the distance between the posterior end of the heel and the anterior end of all toes. The data were analysed statistically using SPSS software version 27 and developed linear regression equations separately for males and females. The result showed that a significant positive correlation exists between 2D footprint length and living body weight. The correlation coefficient (r) values are found to be higher in males (0.336-0.390) than in females (0.111-0.227) and the standard deviation values are also low. The developed regression equations can be well used in real crime scenes to determine body weight from 2D-foot impressions among Tagalog people in the Philippines.

Electrochemical Sensor Based on Co-MOF for the Detection of Dihydromyricetin in Ampelopsis grossedentata.

Dihydromyricetin (DMY), as the main active ingredient in Ampelopsis grossedentata, is a naturally occurring flavonoid that has attracted extensive attention for its multiple biological activities. For the quick and accurate measurement of DMY, a novel electrochemical sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a cobalt metal-organic framework (Co-MOF) was proposed in this work. The Co-MOF was synthesized via a single-step hydrothermal process using Co(NO3)2·6H2O. Fourier infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the morphology and structure of the synthesized Co-MOF. Utilizing differential pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry methods, the effectiveness of DMY electro-oxidation on the Co-MOF/GCE was examined. The results showed that, in comparison to the bare GCE, the electro-oxidation peak current of DMY was considerably increased by the Co-MOF/GCE. The detection limit was 0.07 μM, and the peak current demonstrated two linear relationships in the ranges of 0.2-20 μM and 20-100 μM, with the linear equations of Ip (μA) = 0.4729c (μM) + 1.0822 (R2 = 0.9913) and Ip (μA) = 0.0939c (μM) + 8.4178 (R2 = 0.9971), respectively. The average DMY content in Ampelopsis grossedentata samples was measured to be 3.275 μM, with a good recovery of 108.27% and a relative standard deviation value of 3.46%. The proposed method is simple, rapid and sensitive and can be used for the determination of DMY in Ampelopsis grossedentata.

Terrain Irregularity Sensing by Evaluating Feet Coordinate Standard Deviation

Locomotion over rough terrain is still a problem yet to be solved for legged robots. One of the problems arises from the inability to identify terrain roughness during locomotion, which could be crucial for decision-making and successful task completion. Our proposed terrain roughness method is inspired by the observation that humans can sense their limb position in space without looking at them, which allows us to estimate obstacle heights. This method is based on robot feet coordinate standard deviation (further referred to as SD) parameter evaluation. SD values could be categorized to represent different terrain roughness, and such categories could be useful for selecting different gaits for different terrains. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using already known feet coordinates to evaluate terrain roughness by calculating their standard deviation (SD). We present simulation results that show that the SD value only depends on terrain roughness and is not influenced by large terrain slopes. Experiments were conducted with real robots while walking over obstacles with different gaits to validate the method. This research mainly aims to test how robot gaits influence SD parameters for terrain roughness evaluation. The experimental results showed that the SD parameter calculated from the robot’s foot coordinates can be used to evaluate terrain roughness. The robot’s gaits have little to no influence on the SD parameter.

A Study of Heat Insulation Methods for Enhancing the Internal Temperature on Artificial Stingless Bee Hive

The stingless bees have gained a large popularity among the beekeepers, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions such as the Americas, Africa, and Southeast Asia. This is because the honey of stingless bees has a distinct flavour and is highly valued for its medicinal qualities. Traditionally, stingless bee colonies constructed from wood logs are fragile and vulnerable to outside attacks. These predator or parasite attacks can cause Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) if not eliminated. Thus, a PVC, 3D-printed PET-G, and acrylic artificial hive has been created to replace the old one. According to earlier research, stingless bees are especially susceptible to temperatures above 38°C. This paper's main goal is to discuss the results of studies on the best artificial hive insulation method. Over a month and a half, clay, wood powder, polystyrene, bubble aluminium foil, and a water- cooling system were tested as insulators. Results shows that artificial hives with bubble aluminium foil have the biggest average difference between internal and external temperatures (6.4°C) and are closest to traditional hives (8.6°C). The average temperature difference between the artificial hive's exterior and inside was 2.9°C without heat insulation. Clay-insulated artificial hives have the lowest standard deviation value for humidity at 0.46. Since temperature is vital to stingless bee survival, bubble aluminium foil container is the best insulation solution since it increases heat resistance more than other materials.

Simultaneous Detection of a wide range of synthetic and natural dyes in artworks using UHPLC-PDA-HRMS

This paper presents a validated method using ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection N coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-HRMS) for the simultaneous analysis of a wide range of natural and synthetic organic colourants, including neutral, acid and basic dyes. In total, 30 natural and 62 synthetic organic dye reference samples (which contain118 compounds because some of the dyes are composed of mixtures) were analysed. The method demonstrated good linearity for the 12 dyes selected for method validation achieving correlation coefficients (R2) exceeding 0.99 for both PDA and MS detectors. Detection limits (LOD) varied from 0.23 ppm (Crystal violet) to 4.12 ppm (Amido naphthol red G) based on the UHPLC-PDA signal, and from 0.024 ppm (Diamond green G) to 0.65 ppm (Cochineal red A) based on the UHPLC-MS signal. Precision, measured by intra-day relative standard deviation (RSD) values was consistently under 5% for UHPLC-PDA and under 9% for UHPLC-MS, while inter-day RSD values were below 13% for UHPLC-PDA and below 8% for UHPLC-MS. The method's applicability was further tested on two historical artworks: a tapestry by Lanckaert (1587-1589) from the collection of the Museum De Lakenhal, Leiden, The Netherlands, and a 19th-century hip cloth from Aceh, Indonesia. Results from the case studies underscore the method's effectiveness in identifying complex mixtures of both synthetic and natural organic colourants in a single run using minute sample sizes. Beyond offering critical insights into historical dyeing procedures that support conservation work, the method also enhances understanding of technological advancements in textile production.

Controlled Au-coated PDMS microwell array for surface-enhanced DNA biochips.

Microwell technology is crucial in biological applications due to its ability to handle small sample sizes and perform numerous assays efficiently. This study aimed to develop a novel technique for microwell fabrication using pressure-assisted steam technology, offering lower cost, simplicity, and high reproducibility. Mechanical properties of microwell surfaces were successfully controlled and characterized, making them suitable for DNA capture. The application of gold coating generated an electric field within designed microwells, facilitating stable DNA detection. These microwells exhibited effective DNA sensing capabilities, validated using fluorescently stained lambda DNA at various concentrations (86, 8.6, and 0.86 ng μL-1). In particular, the 2.8 mm microwell showed a greater change in fluorescence intensity depending on DNA concentration than other microwells. At a concentration of 0.86 ng μL-1, to assess producibility using relative standard deviation (RSD) values as a DNA sensor, they were measured as 5.29, 2.76, and 1.85% for 1, 1.7, and 2.8 mm microwells, respectively. These results indicated that our proposed microwell exhibited efficient performance and good reproducibility. We believe that the developed method could be potentially used for high-throughput analysis as a biosensor for DNA applications.

Identification of 3-methoxytyramine as a specific biomarker for beet-sugar-fed honey: A two year surveillance study in South Korea

Honey is highly vulnerable to food fraud, and there are growing concerns about product authenticity. The commonly used stable carbon isotope ratios in the Calvin (C3) and Hatch–Slack (C4) photosynthesis cycles in plant feed cannot distinguish between beet-sugar-fed honey and natural honey. However, 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) can be used as specific biomarker for identifying adulteration of beet-sugar-fed honey. In this study, we developed an isotope dilution-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method to quantify 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) in beet-sugar-fed honey. Solid phase extraction was used to quantify 3-MT and to reduce the matrix interference from honey samples. The limit of quantification was 1 μg/kg. The accuracy (recovery, %) and precision (relative standard deviation) values, determined in three laboratories, were 100–114 % and 1.25–9.07, respectively. Moreover, 3-MT was detected (1.07–10.7 μg/kg) in 144 out of 3,172 samples collected from different parts of Republic of Korea over 2021 and 2022. The mean 3-MT concentration of seven honey samples fed with 100 % beet sugar was 5.32 μg/kg. The results of our study validated the accuracy and sensitivity of the proposed analytical method was established for quantification of 3-MT in honey samples. Additionally, our study demonstrated that the 3-MT as a reliable biomarker for beet-sugar-fed honey adulteration. Thus, our study presents a novel mass spectrometric approach for authentic honey discrimination with potential application in honey authenticity testing.

Effect of Refractive Error Correction on Dry Eye Disease among Computer Operators of Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar

Purpose: To determine the frequency of dry eye disease and association of refractive error correction on dry eye disease among computer operators. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: Hayatabad Medical complex, Peshawar from June 2022 till December 2022. Methods: This study recruited 93 computer operators in Hayatabad Medical Complex. Data collection began after approval from hospital ethical and research committee. Symptoms of dry eye were recorded in a pre-designed proforma after obtaining written informed consent. The Schirmer test was used to measure tears volume.Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Quantitative variables were described as mean + standard deviation and categorical values in frequency and percentages. Post stratification chi square test was utilized. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant Results: The mean age of the subjects was 38.7 + 8.5 years. There were 75.3% males. The mean duration of the job was 8.1 + 3.5 years and mean daily computer use was 8 + 2.2 hours. Use of spectacles was reported by 30.1% participants and contact lenses by 17.2%. Dry eye disease (on Shirmer’s test) was recorded in 24.7%. Refractive errors correction had no statistically significant effecton dry eye disease (for glasses p=0.313 and contact lens p=0.193). Conclusion: Dry eye disease is significantly high in our population among avid screen users, but the refractive error correction has no effect on dry eye disease.

Combination of quadruple isotope dilution strategy and dispersive solid phase extraction method for accurate quantification of selected steroid hormones.

Steroid hormones are essential for the regulation of various vital body functions. Therefore, the determination of steroid hormones in biological fluids is a significant issue to find out the mechanism of steroid hormones related to disorders. In this study, Fe3O4/reduced graphene oxide (Fe3O4/rGO) nanocomposite based dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) was coupled with liquid chromatography - quadruple isotope dilution - triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ID4-MS/MS) for the accurate and precise determination of aldosterone, testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and estrone in serum samples. There is no study in literature about the combination of DSPE and LC-ID4-MS/MS methods for the extraction and determination of selected steroid hormones. Significant improvements in accuracy and precision for the proposed method was achieved by the combination of DSPE and LC-ID4-MS/MS. The percent recovery results were calculated between 100.0 and 103.4% with low percent relative standard deviation values (≤2.0%). The obtained recovery results proved the application of the developed method with high accuracy and precision for the determination of steroid hormones in serum samples. Hence, the developed method is superior to the current analytical methods for the determination of selected steroid hormones in terms of sensitivity, accuracy and precision.

Corrosion inhibition study of the protective reliability of Moringa oleifera, Chrysophyllum caimito, and Camellia sinensis oil distillates on mild steel in dilute H2SO4 and HCl solutions

The protective reliability of Moringa oleifera (MO), Chrysophyllum caimito (CC), and Camellia sinensis (CS) oil distillates was examined in H2SO4 and HCl solutions. The data showed that MO and CC performed effectively in H2SO4 at 81.3% and 93% compared to CS at 76.5%. CC and CS performed more effectively in HCl at 92.7% and 93% compared to MO at 78.2%. The reliability output for CC in H2SO4, and CC and CS in HCl was generally constant. The lowest standard deviation values for H2SO4 were obtained for CC and CS, while the associated values for HCl were obtained for CS. At a accuracy range of +15, +9.1 and +20.2, the proportion of MO, CC and CS above 70% inhibition in H2SO4 is 71.4%, 95.2%, and 33.4% at accuracy range of +19.3, +0 and +0. The corresponding values from the HCl are 71.4%, 100% and 100% The results of the variance analysis show extract concentration and evaluation duration dominate the inhibition of MO and CS extracts in H2SO4, whereas in HCl they dominate the outputs for CC and CS. The inhibition of CC in H2SO4 are dominated by evaluation period, while the inhibition of MO in HCl is dominated by extract concentration.

Quantification of diclofenac in natural waters by the photo-induced fluorescence (PIF) method

A photo-induced fluorescence (PIF) method was developed for the quantification of diclofenac sodium, sodium 2-[2-(2,6-dichloroanilino)phenyl]acetate (NaDCF), in natural waters. Since diclofenac is not naturally fluorescent, its photoconversion under UV irradiation was carried out to produce highly fluorescent photoproduct(s) in various media (water, methanol, isopropanol, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and a water-isopropanol mixture). The photoproduct responsible for the intense fluorescence of NaDCF in aqueous media was identified as chloro-carbazole by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Several PIF parameters were optimized. Using the PIF method, a highly fluorescent diclofenac photoproduct was obtained at λex/λem = 235/360 nm, with optimum fluorescence achieved after 10 min irradiation in a water-isopropanol mixture (90:10 v/v). The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for diclofenac sodium in this medium were 0.11 ng ml–1 and 0.37 ng ml–1, respectively, with low relative standard deviation (RSD) values. The PIF calibration curves demonstrated good linearity, extending over one to three orders of magnitude, with correlation coefficients (R2) near unity, indicating good reproducibility. Analytical applications of this method to natural water samples yielded satisfactory results, with average recovery rates ranging from 84.77 to 101.72 %.

Investigating Thermal Stability in Hyderabad City, India

Abstract Thermal environment and land use status are the two controlling factors for determining the ecological health of any urban area. The study aims to investigates the stability of the relationship between land surface temperature with normalized difference built-up index in Hyderabad City, India using eight Landsat 8 data of the summer season in 2023. The study applies Pearson’s method for determining the correlation coefficient of this relationship. The results represent a consistent nature of land surface temperature and normalized difference built-up index values in this summer season as the range of the mean (0.08 for normalized difference built-up index and 6.78 oC for land surface temperature) and standard deviation (0.02 for normalized difference built-up index and 0.79 for land surface temperature) values of land surface temperature and normalized difference built-up index are significantly low. Land surface temperature and normalized difference built-up index values are very stable (correlation coefficient = > 0.63 for eight land surface temperature images and correlation coefficient = > 0.50 for eight normalized difference built-up index images). Moreover, normalized difference built-up index also built a stable strong positive relationship (average correlation coefficient =0.64) with land surface temperature. The summer season affects the vegetation life of the city and influences the relationship between land surface temperature and normalized difference built-up index. Built-up surface leads to an increase in the value of land surface temperature and also regulates the values of normalized difference built-up index. The study is useful for stable urban environmental planning.

A correlation study between blood glucose fluctuation and chronic pain in the older people with type 2 diabetes mellitus

ObjectivesTo investigate the correlation between blood glucose fluctuation parameters and other clinical data with chronic pain in older patients ( ≧ 60 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as well as evaluating the predictive value of risk of these parameters for chronic pain.MethodsClinical data were collected from 60 older patients with T2DM undergoing chronic pain who were hospitalized in the Department of Geriatric Endocrinology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Pain scores using the numeric rating scale (NRS) were administered to all study participants by a dedicated person. Based on their pain scores, patients were categorized into two groups: mild pain group (NRS ≤ 5, n = 28) and severe pain group (NRS > 5, n = 32). Blood glucose levels were continuously monitored using the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS). Spearman correlation analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between pain scores and blood glucose fluctuation parameters, as well as other clinical data of concern. Comparing general clinical information and relevant data recorded by CGMS between the two groups. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors influencing the severity of chronic pain in old patients with T2DM combined with chronic pain. Additionally, the predictive value of Mean Amplitude of Glycemic Excursions (MAGE), Coefficient of Variation (CV), and Time in Range (TIR) for chronic pain severity was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.ResultsSpearman correlation analysis revealed positive correlations between pain scores and the following variables: gender, age, duration of diabetes, duration of pain, MAGE, CV, mean blood glucose (MBG), standard deviation (SD), Mean of Daily Differences (MODD), and the highest glucose level. Conversely, pain scores were negatively correlated with red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). There were statistically significant differences in gender, age, disease duration, pain duration, Hb, eGFR, MAGE, CV, TIR, MBG, SD, MODD, and highest blood glucose values between the two groups. The gender, age, duration of diabetes, duration of pain, Hb, eGFR, MAGE, TIR, CV, MBG, SD, and MODD were identified as the risk factors for the severity of chronic pain in older T2DM patients by using binary logistic regression analysis. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for MAGE was 0.741 (sensitivity: 53.1%, specificity: 89.3%), for CV it was 0.668 (sensitivity: 40.6%, specificity: 89.3%), and for TIR it was 0.763 (sensitivity: 67.9%, specificity: 84%).ConclusionThe chronic pain is strongly correlated with blood glucose fluctuation parameters in older patients with T2DM. This work shows that those indicators of blood glucose fluctuations can be used for predicting chronic pain level in older T2DM patients, providing a potential methodology for rapid evaluation of chronic pain.Clinical trial numberChiCTR1800019107.

Image quality assessment of artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction for low dose unenhanced abdomen: comparison with hybrid iterative reconstruction.

To assess the impact of artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction algorithms (AIIR) on image quality with phantom and clinical studies. The phantom images were reconstructed with the hybrid iterative algorithm (HIR: Karl 3D-3, 5, 7, 9) and AIIR (grades 1-5) algorithm. Noise power spectra (NPS), task transfer functions (TTF) were measured, and additionally sharpness was assessed using a "blur metric" procedure. Sixty-two consecutive patients underwent standard-dose and low-dose unenhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans, i.e., SDCT and LDCT groups, respectively. The SDCT images reconstructed using the Karl 3D-5, and the LDCT images reconstructed using the Karl 3D-5 and the AIIR-3 and 5, respectively. CT values, standard deviation (SD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were assessed for hepatic parenchyma and paravertebral muscles. Images were independently evaluated by two radiologists for image-quality, noise, sharpness, and lesion diagnostic confidence. In the phantom study, AIIR algorithm provided higher TTF50% and NPS average spatial frequency compared to HIR. In the clinical study, there was no statistically significant difference in CT values among the four reconstruction images (p > 0.05). The LDCT group AIIR-3 obtained the lowest SD values and the highest mean CNR and SNR values compared to the other three groups (p < 0.05). For qualitative assessment, the image subjective characteristic scores of AIIR-5 in the LDCT group, compared with the SDCT group, were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). AIIR reduces radiation dose levels by approximately 78% and still maintains the image quality of unenhanced abdominal CT compared to HIR with SDCT. NCT06142539.

Reduced-dose deep learning iterative reconstruction for abdominal computed tomography with low tube voltage and tube current

BackgroundThe low tube-voltage technique (e.g., 80 kV) can efficiently reduce the radiation dose and increase the contrast enhancement of vascular and parenchymal structures in abdominal CT. However, a high tube current is always required in this setting and limits the dose reduction potential. This study investigated the feasibility of a deep learning iterative reconstruction algorithm (Deep IR) in reducing the radiation dose while improving the image quality for abdominal computed tomography (CT) with low tube voltage and current.MethodsSixty patients (male/female, 36/24; Age, 57.72 ± 10.19 years) undergoing the abdominal portal venous phase CT were randomly divided into groups A (100 kV, automatic exposure control [AEC] with reference tube-current of 213 mAs) and B (80 kV, AEC with reference of 130 mAs). Images were reconstructed via hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) and Deep IR (levels 1–5). The mean CT and standard deviation (SD) values of four regions of interest (ROI), i.e. liver, spleen, main portal vein and erector spinae at the porta hepatis level in each image serial were measured, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. The image quality was subjectively scored by two radiologists using a 5-point criterion.ResultsA significant reduction in the radiation dose of 69.94% (5.09 ± 0.91 mSv vs. 1.53 ± 0.37 mSv) was detected in Group B compared with Group A. After application of the Deep IR, there was no significant change in the CT value, but the SD gradually increased. Group B had higher CT values than group A, and the portal vein CT values significantly differed between the groups (P < 0.003). The SNR and CNR in Group B with Deep IR at levels 1–5 were greater than those in Group A and significantly differed when HIR and Deep IR were applied at levels 1–3 of HIR and Deep IR (P < 0.003). The subjective scores (distortion, clarity of the portal vein, visibility of small structures and overall image quality) with Deep IR at levels 4–5 in Group B were significantly higher than those in group A with HIR (P < 0.003).ConclusionDeep IR algorithm can meet the clinical requirements and reduce the radiation dose by 69.94% in portal venous phase abdominal CT with a low tube voltage of 80 kV and a low tube current. Deep IR at levels 4–5 can significantly improve the image quality of the abdominal parenchymal organs and the clarity of the portal vein.

Determining the most suitable empirical model for global solar radiation prediction in the lakes region

In this study, it was aimed to determine the most suitable model for predicting global solar radiation in the Lakes Region (Isparta, Burdur, Antalya). Through ATATEK-Solar software, a total of 15 models were tested, including 14 empirical models from the literature and a new artificial intelligence-supported model. Each model was analyzed with three different optimization algorithms (Nelder-Mead Simplex, Pattern Search, Simulated Annealing). In province-based evaluations, the Model 9 (RMSE: 0.1507, R²: 0.9990) for Isparta, and the Model 14 for Burdur and Antalya (RMSE: 0.1940, R²: 0.9992 and RMSE: 0.2218, R²: 0.9987, respectively) provided the most successful results. In regional analysis results, while the Model 5 (RMSE: 0.2626, R²: 0.9980) gave the lowest average error, the Model 13 (RMSE: 0.2649, R²: 0.9979, standard deviation: 0.0122) showed the highest consistency. These models were followed by the Model 6 (RMSE: 0.2646, R²: 0.9979, standard deviation: 0.0444). Although the Model 15 gave the best results in Burdur and Antalya, it had a high standard deviation value (0.2201) due to its low performance in Isparta. The characteristic features of the Lakes Region, including the presence of lake ecosystems, elevation differences, and the resulting microclimatic diversity, necessitate a regional approach in predicting global solar radiation. In this context, the Model 13 has been determined as the most suitable model that can be used throughout the region with its low error rate and high consistency. The obtained results can provide reliable predictions in evaluating the solar energy potential of the region and designing solar energy systems.

Evaluation of cone beam computed tomography videos on Youtube

Purpose: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is an imaging modality that plays an important role in dental practice. However, it is unclear whether videos with adequate and accurate information are available on a platform such as YouTube. The aim of this study was to determine whether CBCT videos posted on YouTube are indeed a valuable source of information. Methods: During the data collection process, we analyzed Google Trends searches using the keywords "cone beam computed tomography (in Turkish)", "dental tomography (in Turkish)", and "tooh tomography (in Turkish)" over the last 5 years. Then, 168 videos were analyzed as a result of searches on YouTube with these keywords. Among these videos, 48 were included in the study according to certain criteria. The number of view, viewing times, number of like, interaction index and viewing rate of the included videos were calculated. The upload source of the videos was categorized as clinic, dentist, educational channel, commercial, professional organization and TV channel. According to the upload source of the videos, the image quality, sound quality, narrator, purpose of the video, usefulness scoring and Global Quality Scale were evaluated. Results: The average number of views of the analyzed videos was determined as 1559.95, while the standard deviation value was determined as 2435.30. The average interaction index was 1.58, and the standard deviation value was 1.77. The average view rate was 377.55, and the standard deviation value was 956.88. Significant relationships were found between the upload source of the videos and the duration of the video, the number of subscribers of the channel that uploaded the video, and the number of likes (p=0.016, p=0.021, p=0.030, respectively). In addition, when the videos were evaluated in terms of their usability levels, significant relationships were found between the duration of the video, the number of likes, and the interaction index (p=0.001, p=0.009, p=0.015, respectively). Conclusion: This study reveals that CBCT videos posted on YouTube are generally of low quality and not informative. This highlights the need for reliable sources of information for dentists, patients, and future dentists.