scholarly journals Development of a Plantar Load Estimation Algorithm for Evaluation of Forefoot Load of Diabetic Patients during Daily Walks Using a Foot Motion Sensor

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayano Watanabe ◽  
Hiroshi Noguchi ◽  
Makoto Oe ◽  
Hiromi Sanada ◽  
Taketoshi Mori
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Callus Formation ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Estimation Algorithm ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Motion Sensor ◽  
Motion Sensors ◽  
Motion Data ◽  
Foot Motion

Forefoot load (FL) contributes to callus formation, which is one of the pathways to diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). In this study, we hypothesized that excessive FL, which cannot be detected by plantar load measurements within laboratory settings, occurs in daily walks. To demonstrate this, we created a FL estimation algorithm using foot motion data. Acceleration and angular velocity data were obtained from a motion sensor attached to each shoe of the subjects. The accuracy of the estimated FL was validated by correlation with the FL measured by force sensors on the metatarsal heads, which was assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The mean of correlation coefficients of all the subjects was 0.63 at a level corridor, while it showed an intersubject difference at a slope and stairs. We conducted daily walk measurements in two diabetic patients, and additionally, we verified the safety of daily walk measurement using a wearable motion sensor attached to each shoe. We found that excessive FL occurred during their daily walks for approximately three hours in total, when any adverse event was not observed. This study indicated that FL evaluation method using wearable motion sensors was one of the promising ways to prevent DFUs.

Evaluation of Beef Cattle Temperament Using Video Technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 1905-1911
Author(s):  
Xiaoming Chen ◽  
William Ogdahl ◽  
Md. Saidul Borhan ◽  
Xin Sun
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Video Processing ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Processing Technology ◽  
List Type ◽  
Video Technology ◽  
Movement Distance ◽  
Field Deployment

HighlightsVideo processing technology was used to evaluate beef cattle temperament objectively.Multiple beef cattle temperament methods were compared with video processing technology.Potential automatic temperament evaluation systems could be developed based on our video processing method.Abstract. Cattle temperament has potential impacts on growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Both objective and subjective methods have been used to assess temperament, such as temperament score (TS), docility score (DS), flight speed (FS), and exposed eye white percentage (EW). Subjective methods for evaluating cattle temperament are labor-intensive and potentially stressful for the animals. Video technology (VT) has advantages of being noninvasive, automated and remotely operable, and compatible with cloud-based complex algorithms, which facilitates immediate field deployment of results. Because VT has not been reported as a beef cattle temperament evaluation method, the objectives of this study were to (1) verify the feasibility of VT as an evaluation method for beef cattle temperament, and (2) assess the accuracy and reliability of the VT measurements in comparison with TS and DS. A total of 170 calves were video recorded while they were in a squeeze chute; simultaneously, DS and TS measurements of the same calves were conducted. Maximum movement distance (MMD), average movement distance (AMD), and moving frequency (MF) were calculated according to the distances measured from the videos using an algorithm developed in this research. Pearson correlation coefficients among MMD, AMD, MF, TS, and DS were calculated and were 0.264 (p < 0.001) for DS versus TS, 0.438 (p < 0.001) for MF versus TS, 0.017 (p = 0.838) for AMD versus DS, 0.107 (p = 0.192) for AMD versus TS, 0.058 (p = 0.481) for MMD versus DS, and 0.077 (p = 0.350) for MMD versus TS. This study showed that MF could be a good indicator for assessing cattle temperament coupled with VT as a quantitative tool, requiring minimal equipment and thus providing an objective method for selecting cattle with appropriate temperaments. Keywords: Beef cattle, Temperament, Video technology.

scholarly journals Beliefs about medicines and non-adherence in patients with stroke, diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study in China

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e017293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Wei ◽  
Sarah Champman ◽  
Xiaomei Li ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Sumei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Diabetes Mellitus Group ◽  
Beliefs About Medicines

ObjectivesTo investigate beliefs about medicines and their association with medicine adherence in patients with chronic diseases in China.DesignA cross-sectional questionnaire-based studySettingTwo large urban hospitals in Hefei and Tianjin, ChinaParticipantsHospital inpatients (313 stroke patients) and outpatients (315 diabetic patients and 339 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients) were recruited between January 2014 and September 2014.Outcome measuresThe Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), assessing patients’ beliefs about the specific medicine (Specific-Necessity and Specific-Concerns) prescribed for their conditions (stroke/diabetes/RA) and more general background beliefs about pharmaceuticals as a class of treatment (BMQ-General Benefit, Harm and Overuse); the Perceived Sensitivity to Medicines scale (PSM) assessed patients’ beliefs about how sensitive they were to the effects of medicines and the Medication Adherence Report Scale. The association between non-adherence and beliefs about medicines was assessed using a logistic regression model.ResultsPatients with diabetes mellitus had a stronger perceived need for treatment (mean (SD) Specific-Necessity score, 3.75 (0.40)) than patients with stroke (3.69 (0.53)) and RA (3.66 (0.44)) (p=0.049). Moderate correlations were observed between Specific-Concerns and General-Overuse, General-Harm and PSM (Pearson correlation coefficients, 0.39, 0.49 and 0.49, respectively, p<0.01). Three hundred and eleven patients were non-adherent to their medicine (159 (51.0%) in the stroke group, 60 (26.7%) in the diabetes mellitus group and 62 (19.8%) in the RA group, p<0.01). Across the whole sample, after adjusting for demographic characteristics, non-adherence was associated with patients who had higher concerns about their medicines (OR, 1.35, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.71) and patients who believed that they were personally sensitive to the effects of medications (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.85).ConclusionThe BMQ is a useful tool to identify patients at risk of non-adherence. In the future, adherence intervention studies may use the BMQ to screen for patients who are at risk of non-adherence and to map interventional support.

Reliability of the Minimum Masking Level as Outcome Variable in Tinnitus Clinical Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-435
Author(s):  
Patricia C. Mancini ◽  
Richard S. Tyler ◽  
Hyung Jin Jun ◽  
Tang-Chuan Wang ◽  
Helena Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Reliable Estimate ◽  
Moderate Correlation ◽  
Trained Subjects ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Minimum Intensity

Purpose The minimum masking level (MML) is the minimum intensity of a stimulus required to just totally mask the tinnitus. Treatments aimed at reducing the tinnitus itself should attempt to measure the magnitude of the tinnitus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the MML. Method Sample consisted of 59 tinnitus patients who reported stable tinnitus. We obtained MML measures on two visits, separated by about 2–3 weeks. We used two noise types: speech-shaped noise and high-frequency emphasis noise. We also investigated the relationship between the MML and tinnitus loudness estimates and the Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ). Results There were differences across the different noise types. The within-session standard deviation averaged across subjects varied between 1.3 and 1.8 dB. Across the two sessions, the Pearson correlation coefficients, range was r = .84. There was a weak relationship between the dB SL MML and loudness, and between the MML and the THQ. A moderate correlation ( r = .44) was found between the THQ and loudness estimates. Conclusions We conclude that the dB SL MML can be a reliable estimate of tinnitus magnitude, with expected standard deviations in trained subjects of about 1.5 dB. It appears that the dB SL MML and loudness estimates are not closely related.

Comparative Responses to Squats Completed with Free Weights and an Exoskeleton

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-63
Author(s):  
Peter Neuhaus ◽  
Chris Jumonville ◽  
Rachel A. Perry ◽  
Roman Edwards ◽  
Jake L. Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Actual Data ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Comparative Similarity ◽  
Insufficient Amount ◽  
Force Data ◽  
Familiarization Session

AbstractTo assess the comparative similarity of squat data collected as they wore a robotic exoskeleton, female athletes (n=14) did two exercise bouts spaced 14 days apart. Data from their exoskeleton workout was compared to a session they did with free weights. Each squat workout entailed a four-set, four-repetition paradigm with 60-second rest periods. Sets for each workout involved progressively heavier (22.5, 34, 45.5, 57 kg) loads. The same physiological, perceptual, and exercise performance dependent variables were measured and collected from both workouts. Per dependent variable, Pearson correlation coefficients, t-tests, and Cohen's d effect size compared the degree of similarity between values obtained from the exoskeleton and free weight workouts. Results show peak O2, heart rate, and peak force data produced the least variability. In contrast, far more inter-workout variability was noted for peak velocity, peak power, and electromyography (EMG) values. Overall, an insufficient amount of comparative similarity exists for data collected from both workouts. Due to the limited data similarity, the exoskeleton does not exhibit an acceptable degree of validity. Likely the cause for the limited similarity was due to the brief amount of familiarization subjects had to the exoskeleton prior to actual data collection. A familiarization session that accustomed subjects to squats done with the exoskeleton prior to actual data collection may have considerably improved the validity of data obtained from that device.

Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) Impact on Work-Home Interference in a South African Commuter Transport Engineering Company

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Christoff Visagie ◽  
Michael M. Jones ◽  
Herman L. Linde
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Leader Member Exchange ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Dyadic Relationship ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Engineering Company ◽  
Member Exchange

The South African workplace is confronted with many leadership challenges, specifically those relating to the employment relationship between subordinates and their supervisors. A high-quality relationship is essential, considering the work-family spillovers employees experience. Limited research has been conducted on the potential positive and negative consequences of the leader-member exchange (LMX) dyadic relationship. In this study, we used a cross-sectional research design, and drew an employee sample (N = 120) from a commuter transport engineering company. A five-point Likert scale was employed and statistical analyses were carried out using the SAS statistical program. We calculated Pearson correlation coefficients and used structural equation modelling to test the proposed conceptual model to indicate possible correlations between the different variables. The main finding of the study was that the nature of the LMX relationship quality in the relevant company appeared to be high and positively related to work-home enrichment but negatively related to work-home conflict and role overload. The article concludes by making a number of suggestions to respond to challenges.

Enhanced context-aware recommendation using topic modeling and particle swarm optimization

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Ibtissem Gasmi ◽  
Mohamed Walid Azizi ◽  
Hassina Seridi-Bouchelaghem ◽  
Nabiha Azizi ◽  
Samir Brahim Belhaouari
Keyword(s):  
Topic Modeling ◽  
Latent Dirichlet Allocation ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Weighting Function ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Pso Algorithm ◽  
Context Aware ◽  
Proposed Model

Context-Aware Recommender System (CARS) suggests more relevant services by adapting them to the user’s specific context situation. Nevertheless, the use of many contextual factors can increase data sparsity while few context parameters fail to introduce the contextual effects in recommendations. Moreover, several CARSs are based on similarity algorithms, such as cosine and Pearson correlation coefficients. These methods are not very effective in the sparse datasets. This paper presents a context-aware model to integrate contextual factors into prediction process when there are insufficient co-rated items. The proposed algorithm uses Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to learn the latent interests of users from the textual descriptions of items. Then, it integrates both the explicit contextual factors and their degree of importance in the prediction process by introducing a weighting function. Indeed, the PSO algorithm is employed to learn and optimize weights of these features. The results on the Movielens 1 M dataset show that the proposed model can achieve an F-measure of 45.51% with precision as 68.64%. Furthermore, the enhancement in MAE and RMSE can respectively reach 41.63% and 39.69% compared with the state-of-the-art techniques.

scholarly journals The patellofemoral morphology and the normal predicted value of tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove distance in the Chinese population

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Li ◽  
Guanzhi Liu ◽  
Run Tian ◽  
Ning Kong ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Chinese Population ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Tibial Tuberosity ◽  
Trochlear Groove ◽  
Lasso Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Anterior Posterior

Abstract Background Our objective was to obtain normal patellofemoral measurements to analyse sex and individual differences. In addition, the absolute values and indices of tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distances are still controversial in clinical application. A better method to enable precise prediction is still needed. Methods Seventy-eight knees of 78 participants without knee pathologies were included in this cross-sectional study. A CT scan was conducted for all participants and three-dimensional knee models were constructed using Mimics and SolidWorks software. We measured and analysed 19 parameters including the TT-TG distance and dimensions and shapes of the patella, femur, tibia, and trochlea. LASSO regression was used to predict the normal TT-TG distances. Results The dimensional parameters, TT-TG distance, and femoral aspect ratio of the men were significantly larger than those of women (all p values < 0.05). However, after controlling for the bias from age, height, and weight, there were no significant differences in TT-TG distances and anterior-posterior dimensions between the sexes (all p values > 0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficients between the anterior femoral offset and other indexes were consistently below 0.3, indicating no relationship or a weak relationship. Similar results were observed for the sulcus angle and the Wiberg index. Using LASSO regression, we obtained four parameters to predict the TT-TG distance (R2 = 0.5612, p < 0.01) to achieve the optimal accuracy and convenience. Conclusions Normative data of patellofemoral morphology were provided for the Chinese population. The anterior-posterior dimensions of the women were thicker than those of men for the same medial-lateral dimensions. More attention should be paid to not only sex differences but also individual differences, especially the anterior condyle and trochlea. In addition, this study provided a new method to predict TT-TG distances accurately.

scholarly journals POS1418 REALIZING EARLY RECOGNITION OF ARTHRITIS IN TIMES OF INCREASED TELEMEDICINE: THE VALUE OF PATIENT-REPORTED SWOLLEN JOINTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 992.1-992
Author(s):  
C. Rogier ◽  
B. Van Dijk ◽  
E. Brouwer ◽  
P. De Jong ◽  
A. Van der Helm - van Mil
Keyword(s):  
Early Recognition ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Symptom Duration ◽  
Likelihood Ratios ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Patient Level ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Joint Examination

Background:Early diagnosis and management of patients with inflammatory arthritis(IA) are critical to improve long-term patient-outcomes. Assessment of joint swelling at joint examination is the reference of IA-identification; early access clinics are constructed to promote this early recognition of IA. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the face-to-face capacity of such services is severely reduced. The accuracy of patient-reported swelling in comparison to joint examination has been extensively evaluated in established RA (ρ 0.31-0.67), but not in patients suspected for IA.[1]Objectives:To promote evidence based care in the era of telemedicine, we determined the accuracy of patient-reported joint swelling for actual presence of IA in persons suspected of IA by general practitioners(GP).Methods:Data from two Dutch Early Arthritis Recognition Clinics were studied. These are screening clinics (1.5-lines-setting) where GPs send patients in case of doubt on IA. At this clinic patients were asked to mark the presence of swollen joints on a mannequin with 52 joints. For this study the DIP joints and the metatarsal joints were excluded and, therefore, a total of 42 joints were assessed for self-reported joint swelling. Clinically apparent IA of ≥1 joint determined by the physician was the reference to calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+,LR-), and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) on patient-level. Pearson correlation coefficients(ρ) were determined. Predictive values depend on the prevalence of a disease in a population. Because the prevalence of IA in a 1.5-lines-setting will differ from a primary care setting, post-test probabilities of IA were estimated for two lower prior-test probabilities as example, namely 20% (estimated probability in patients GPs belief IA is likely) and 2% (prior-test probability with less preselection by GPs), using likelihood ratios and nomograms.Results:A total of 1637 consecutive patients were studied. Median symptom duration was 13 weeks. 76% of patients marked ≥1swollen joint at the mannequin. 41% of patients had ≥1swollen joint at examination by rheumatologists. ρ was 0.20(patient-level)-0.26(joint-level).The sensitivity of patients-reported joint swelling was high, 87%, indicating that the majority of patients with IA had marked swelling on the mannequin. However the specificity was 31%, indicating that 69% of persons without IA had also done so. The LR+ was 1.25; the LR- 0.43. The PPV was 46%, the NPV 77%. Thus the PPV increased hardly (from 41% to 46%) and the NPV somewhat (from 59% to 77%). Also in settings with prior-test probabilities of 20% and 2%, estimated PPVs (from respectively 20% and 2% to 24% and 2%) and NPVs (from respectively 80% and 98% to 90% and 99%) hardly increased.Conclusion:Patient-reported joint swelling had little value in distinguishing patients with/without IA for different prior-test probabilities, and is less valuable in comparison to self-reported flare detection in established RA.References:[1]Barton JL, Criswell LA, Kaiser R, et al. Systematic review and metaanalysis of patient self-report versus trained assessor joint counts in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 2009;36:2635-2641.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Examination of the Transcriptional Response to LaMIR166a Overexpression in Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 576
Author(s):  
Yanru Fan ◽  
Wanfeng Li ◽  
Zhexin Li ◽  
Shaofei Dang ◽  
Suying Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Embryonic Cell ◽  
Larix Kaempferi ◽  
Transgenic Cell

The study of somatic embryogenesis can provide insight into early plant development. We previously obtained LaMIR166a-overexpressing embryonic cell lines of Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. To further elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with miR166 in this species, the transcriptional profiles of wild-type (WT) and three LaMIR166a-overexpressing transgenic cell lines were subjected to RNA sequencing using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 system. In total, 203,256 unigenes were generated using Trinity de novo assembly, and 2467 differentially expressed genes were obtained by comparing transgenic and WT lines. In addition, we analyzed the cleaved degree of LaMIR166a target genes LaHDZ31–34 in different transgenic cell lines by detecting the expression pattern of LaHdZ31–34, and their cleaved degree in transgenic cell lines was higher than that in WT. The downstream genes of LaHDZ31–34 were identified using Pearson correlation coefficients. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase report assays revealed that the transcription factors LaHDZ31–34 could bind to the promoters of LaPAP, LaPP1, LaZFP5, and LaPHO1. This is the first report of gene expression changes caused by LaMIR166a overexpression in Japanese larch. These findings lay a foundation for future studies on the regulatory mechanism of miR166.

scholarly journals Quantifying Habitual Physical Activity and Sedentariness in Older Adults—Different Outcomes of Two Simultaneously Body-Worn Motion Sensor Approaches and a Self-Estimation

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1877
Author(s):  
Rieke Trumpf ◽  
Wiebren Zijlstra ◽  
Peter Haussermann ◽  
Tim Fleiner
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Habitual Physical Activity ◽  
Motion Sensor ◽  
Motion Sensors ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Lower Back ◽  
Hybrid Motion ◽  
Accurate Quantification

Applicable and accurate assessment methods are required for a clinically relevant quantification of habitual physical activity (PA) levels and sedentariness in older adults. The aim of this study is to compare habitual PA and sedentariness, as assessed with (1) a wrist-worn actigraph, (2) a hybrid motion sensor attached to the lower back, and (3) a self-estimation based on a questionnaire. Over the course of one week, PA of 58 community-dwelling subjectively healthy older adults was recorded. The results indicate that actigraphy overestimates the PA levels in older adults, whereas sedentariness is underestimated when compared to the hybrid motion sensor approach. Significantly longer durations (hh:mm/day) for all PA intensities were assessed with the actigraph (light: 04:19; moderate to vigorous: 05:08) when compared to the durations (hh:mm/day) that were assessed with the hybrid motion sensor (light: 01:24; moderate to vigorous: 02:21) and the self-estimated durations (hh:mm/day) (light: 02:33; moderate to vigorous: 03:04). Actigraphy-assessed durations of sedentariness (14:32 hh:mm/day) were significantly shorter when compared to the durations assessed with the hybrid motion sensor (20:15 hh:mm/day). Self-estimated duration of light intensity was significantly shorter when compared to the results of the hybrid motion sensor. The results of the present study highlight the importance of an accurate quantification of habitual PA levels and sedentariness in older adults. The use of hybrid motion sensors can offer important insights into the PA levels and PA types (e.g., sitting, lying) and it can increase the knowledge about mobility-related PA and patterns of sedentariness, while actigraphy appears to be not recommendable for this purpose.

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