Characterizing the Progression of Pulmonary Edema Severity: Can Pairwise Comparisons in Radiology Reports Help?

Accurately assessing the severity of pulmonary edema is critical for making treatment decisions in congestive heart failure patients. However, the current scale for quantifying pulmonary edema based on chest radiographs does not have well-characterized severity levels, with substantial inter-radiologist disagreement. In this study, we investigate whether comparisons documented in radiology reports can provide accurate characterizations of pulmonary edema progression. We propose a rules-based natural language processing approach to assess the change in a patient's pulmonary edema status (e.g. better, worse, no change) by performing pairwise comparisons of consecutive radiology reports, using regular expressions and heuristics derived from clinical knowledge. Evaluated against ground-truth labels from expert radiologists, our labeler extracts comparisons describing the progression of pulmonary edema with 0.875 precision and 0.891 recall. We also demonstrate the potential utility of comparison labels in providing additional fine-grained information over noisier labels produced by models that directly estimate severity level.

Mechanical Properties of Bisacryl-, Composite-, and Ceramic-resin Restorative Materials

SUMMARY Objective: Resin-based materials used in restorative dentistry are introduced at a fast pace with limited knowledge about their properties. Comparing properties of these materials from different restorative categories is lacking but can help the clinician in material selection. This study aimed to compare mechanical properties and wear resistance of bis-acryl-, composite-, and ceramic-resin restorative materials. Methods and Materials: Bisacryl-resin (Bis-R, LuxaCrown, DMG), composite-resin (Com-R, Filtek Supreme Ultra, 3M Oral Care), and ceramic-resin (Cer-R, Enamic, VITA Zahnfabrik) specimens were prepared for mechanical tests: fracture toughness (FT) with and without initial thermomechanical loading using a mastication simulator, flexural strength (FS), and flexural modulus (FM), compressive strength (CS), and volumetric wear loss measurement. The datasets for FT and wear resistance were each analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by pairwise comparisons or Tukey testing as appropriate. The datasets for FS, FM, and CS were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey test. Results: Analysis of FS, FM, and CS showed significant differences between materials, with all pairwise comparisons between materials showing significance. Analysis of FT resulted in a significant interaction between the material and treatment, with analysis of wear loss showing a significant interaction between the material and the number of cycles. Conclusions: Cer-R demonstrated superior FT, CS, and wear resistance compared to Bis-R and Comp-R materials. Fracture toughness of Bis-R increased after thermomechanical loading.

New preference violation indices for the condition of order preservation

<p>Consistency of pairwise comparisons is one particular aspect that is studied thoroughly in the recent decades. However, since the introduction of the concept of the condition of the order preservation in 2008, there is no inconsistency measure based on the aforementioned condition. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to fill this gap and propose new preference violation indices for measuring violation of the condition of the order preservation. Further, an axiomatic system for the proposed measures is discussed, and it is shown that the proposed indices satisfy uniqueness, invariance under permutation, invariance under inversion of preferences and continuity axioms.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

A Bayesian Framework to Assess the Usability of Dry Powder Inhalers in a Cohort of Asthma Adolescents in Italy

The useability of DPIs (dry powder inhalers) depends on several factors that are influenced by the patients’ subjectivity and objectivity. The short-form global usability score (S-GUS), a specific tool for the quick ranking and comparison in real life of an inhaler’s usability, was used to investigate six of the most prescribed DPIs (Breezhaler, Diskus, Ellipta, Nexthaler, Spiromax, and Turbohaler) in consecutive asthma patients aged <18 years. A Bayesian indirect comparison (IC) was carried out to merge all pairwise comparisons between the six DPIs. Thirty-three subjects participated: eighteen tested Breezhaler, Spiromax, Nexthaler, and Ellipta simultaneously, while fifteen tested Breezhaler, Spiromax, Diskus, and Turbohaler. The estimates of the S-GUS, by the IC model, allowed us to rank the DPIs by their degree of usability: Ellipta, Diskus, and Spiromax were classified as “good to pretty good” (S-GUS > 15), while Spiromax, Turbohaler, and Breezhaler were classified as “insufficient” (S-GUS < 15). The multidomain assessment is recommended in asthma adolescents in order to approximate the effective usability of different DPIs as best as possible. The S-GUS proves particularly suitable in current clinical practice because of the short time required for its use in adolescents.

Teacher Professional Development in Research Skill of Teacher in Non-Formal Education Center, Lampang, Thailand

The educational policy will be developing strong human competency in which teachers&rsquo; research skill was one of most competency standards. This study introduces teachers&rsquo; research skill development through the Wlodkowski&rsquo;s motivational approach and coaching and to study the teachers&rsquo; attitude toward action research. This study also examines the struggles and problem of doing action research. Participants included 12 teachers who are in the non-formal education center, Lampang, Thailand. The Wlodkowski&rsquo;s motivational approach and coaching were used to develop teachers&rsquo; research skill. Data was collected by using the research skill inventory (RSI) and the research attitude toward inventory (RATI) which struggle and problems of doing action research questions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze teachers&rsquo; research skill and teachers&rsquo; attitude toward. Friedman test and Wilcoxon test were conducted to evaluate median differences among the reseach skills and created pairwise comparisons. Content analysis was used to analyze the struggles and problem of doing action research. Results revealed that in-service teachers&rsquo; research skills increased in all domains. Teachers&rsquo; research skill scores after received treatment were significantly greater than the teachers&rsquo; research skill scores before received treatment, z = -3.07, p = .002. The posttest score of teachers&rsquo; attitudes toward was significantly greater than pretest score, z = -3.08, p = .001. Teachers struggled with how to conduct research and who could help them.

Chloroplast and Nuclear Genetic Diversity Explain the Limited Distribution of Endangered and Endemic Thuja sutchuenensis in China

Narrow-ranged species face challenges from natural disasters and human activities, and to address why species distributes only in a limited region is of great significance. Here we investigated the genetic diversity, gene flow, and genetic differentiation in six wild and three cultivated populations of Thuja sutchuenensis, a species that survive only in the Daba mountain chain, using chloroplast simple sequence repeats (cpSSR) and nuclear restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (nRAD-seq). Wild T. sutchuenensis populations were from a common ancestral population at 203 ka, indicating they reached the Daba mountain chain before the start of population contraction at the Last Interglacial (LIG, ∼120–140 ka). T. sutchuenensis populations showed relatively high chloroplast but low nuclear genetic diversity. The genetic differentiation of nRAD-seq in any pairwise comparisons were low, while the cpSSR genetic differentiation values varied with pairwise comparisons of populations. High gene flow and low genetic differentiation resulted in a weak isolation-by-distance effect. The genetic diversity and differentiation of T. sutchuenensis explained its survival in the Daba mountain chain, while its narrow ecological niche from the relatively isolated and unique environment in the “refugia” limited its distribution.

Reliability of resting metabolic rate between and within day measurements using the Vyntus CPX system and comparison against predictive formulas

Background: To detect longitudinal changes of resting metabolic rate (RMR) resulting from the effects of energetic stress, reliable RMR measurements are crucial. The Vyntus CPX is a new automated indirect calorimetry system for which RMR reliability has not been determined. Additionally, its agreement with common predictive RMR formulas is unknown. Aim: To determine the within and between-day reliability of RMR measurements using the Vyntus CPX system and its agreement with predictive RMR formulas. Methods: Young (31 ± 7 years) healthy participants (n = 26, 12 females, 14 males) completed three measurements of RMR, two consecutive measures on the same day, one the day before/after, all under standardised conditions. Reliability was assessed with pairwise comparisons of between-day at the same time (BDST), within day consecutive measurements (WDCM) and between-day different time (BDDT), for parameters of reliability (mean change (MC), intraclass correlation (ICC) and typical error of measurement (TEM)). Measured RMR values (kcal/day) were compared against predictive values of 4 common formulas. Results: Parameters of reliability (mean, (95% confidence interval)) were: -BDST: MC, 0.2(-2.3—2.7)% (p = 0.67); ICC, 0.92(0.84—0.97); TEM, 4.5(3.5—6.2)%. -WDCM: MC, −2.5(-6.2—1.3)% (p = 0.21); ICC, 0.88(0.74—0.88); TEM, 7.0(5.4—9.8)%. -BDDT: MC, −1.5(-4.8—1.9)% (p = 0.57); ICC, 0.90(0.76—0.95); TEM, 6.1(4.8—8.5)%. RMRratios (measured/predicted) were: 1.04 ± 0.14 (Nelson, p = 0.13), 1.03 ± 0.10 (Mifflin, p = 0.21), 0.98 ± 0.09 (Harris-benedict, p = 0.30), 0.95 ± 0.11 (Cunningham1980, p = 0.01), 1.00 ± 0.12 (Cunningham1991, p = 0.90) and 0.96 ± 0.13 (DXA, p = 0.03). Conclusions: The Vyntus CPX is reliable and measured RMR values agreed with four predictive formulas but are lower than Cunningham1980 and DXA RMR estimates for this population.

Using of Rectangular Stochastic Matrices for the Problem of Evaluating and Ranking Alternatives

The paper investigates the issue related to a possible generalization of the “state-probability of choice” model so that the generalized model could be applied to the problem of ranking alternatives, either individual or by a group of agents. It is shown that the results obtained before for the problem of multi-agent choice and decision making by majority of votes can be easily transferred to the problem of multi-agent alternatives ranking. On the basis of distributions of importance values for the problem of ranking alternatives, we can move on to similar models for the choice and voting with the help of well-known exponential normalization of rows.So we regard two types of matrices, both of which belonging to the sort of matrices named balanced rectangular stochastic matrices. For such matrices, sums of elements in each row equal 1, and all columns have equal sums of elements. Both types are involved in a two-level procedure regarded in this paper. Firstly a matrix representing all possible distributions of importance among alternatives should be formed, and secondly a “state-probability of choice” matrix should be obtained on its base. For forming a matrix of states, which belongs and the rows of which correspond to possible distributions of importance, applying pairwise comparisons and the Analytic Hierarchy Method is suggested. Parameterized transitive scales with the parameter affecting the spread of importance between the best and the worst alternatives are regarded. For further getting the matrices of choice probabilities, another parameter which reflects the degree of the agent’s decisiveness is also introduced. The role of both parameters is discussed and illustrated with examples in the paper.The results are reported regarding some numerical experiments which illustrate getting distributions of importance on the basis of the Analytic Hierarchy Process and which are connected to gaining the situation of dynamic equilibrium of alternatives, i.e. the situation when alternatives are considered as those of equal value.

Diversity Scaling Analysis of Chinese Gut Microbiomes Across Ethnicities and Lifestyles

Diversity scaling (changes) of human gut microbiome is important because it measures the inter-individual heterogeneity of diversity and other important parameters of population-level diversity. Understanding the heterogeneity of microbial diversity can be used as a reference for the personalized medicine of microbiome-associated diseases. Similar to diversity per se, diversity scaling may also be influenced by host factors, especially lifestyles and ethnicities. Nevertheless, this important topic regarding Chinese populations has not been addressed, to our best knowledge. Here, we fill the gap by applying a recent extension to the classic species–area relationship (SAR), i.e., diversity–area relationship (DAR), to reanalyze a large dataset of Chinese gut microbiomes covering the seven biggest Chinese ethnic groups (covering &gt; 95% Chinese) living rural and urban lifestyles. Four DAR profiles were constructed to investigate the diversity scaling, diversity overlap, potential maximal diversity, and the ratio of local to global diversity of Chinese gut microbiomes. We discovered the following: (i) The diversity scaling parameters (z) at various taxon levels are little affected by either ethnicity or lifestyles, as exhibited by less than 0.5% differences in pairwise comparisons. (ii) The maximal accrual diversity (potential diversity) exhibited difference in only about 5% of pairwise comparisons, and all of the differences occurred in ethnicity comparisons (i.e., lifestyles had no effects). (iii) Ethnicity seems to have stronger effects than lifestyles across all taxon levels, and this may reflect the reality that China has been experiencing rapid urbanization in the last few decades, while the ethnic-related genetic background may change relatively little during the same period.