Persisting Chemosensory Impairments in 366 Healthcare Workers Following COVID-19: An 11-Month Follow-up.

Background and Objectives: Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions (OD, GD) are prevalent symptoms following COVID-19 and persist in 6%-44% of individuals in the first months after the infection. As only few reports have described their prognosis more than 6 months later, the main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of OD and GD 11 months after COVID-19. We also aimed to determine test-retest reliability of subjective chemosensory ratings for the follow-up of chemosensory sensitivity, as this measure is often used for remote follow-up. Methods: Inclusion criteria included a PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection; exclusion criteria were the presence of other respiratory infections and chronic sinusitis. To assess whether OD and GD had changed compared to pre-pandemic levels, we designed an observational study and distributed an online questionnaire assessing quantitative chemosensory function to healthcare workers 5 and 11 months after COVID-19. Specifically, we assessed olfaction, gustation, and trigeminal sensitivity (10-point visual analog scale) and function (4-point Likert scale) separately. We further assessed clinically relevant OD using the Chemosensory Perception Test, a psychophysical test designed to provide a reliable remote olfactory evaluation. Qualitative chemosensory dysfunction was also assessed. Results: We included a total of 366 participants (mean age of 44.8 years old (SD: 11.7)). They completed the last online questionnaire 10.6 months (SD: 0.7) after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Of all participants, 307 (83.9%) and 301 (82.2%) individuals retrospectively reported lower olfactory or gustatory sensitivity during the acute phase of COVID-19. Eleven months later, 184 (50.3%) and 163 (44.5%) indicated reduced chemosensory sensitivity, 32.2% reported impairment of olfactory function while 24.9% exhibited clinically relevant OD. Three variables predicted OD at follow-up, namely chest pain and GD during COVID-19 and presence of phantosmia at 5 months. Olfactory sensitivity ratings had a high test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.818 (95% CI: 0.760 - 0.860)) Discussion: This study suggests that chemosensory dysfunctions persist in a third of COVID-19 patients 11 months after COVID-19. Subjective measures have a high test-retest reliability and thus can be used to monitor post-COVID-19 OD. OD appears to be a common long-term symptom of COVID-19 important to consider when treating patients.

Influence of Response-Option Combinations when Measuring Sense of Efficacy for Teaching: Trivial, or Substantial and Substantive?

Certain combinations of number and labeling of response options on Likert scales might, because of their interaction, influence psychometric outcomes. In order to explore this possibility with an experimental design, two versions of a scale for assessing sense of efficacy for teaching (SET) were administered to preservice teachers. One version had seven response options with labels at odd-numbered points; the other had nine response options with labels only at the extremes. Before outliers in the data were adjusted, the first version produced a range of more desirable psychometric outcomes but poorer test–retest reliability. After outliers were addressed, the second version had more undesirable attributes than before, and its previously high test–retest reliability dropped to poor. These results are discussed in relation to the design of scales for assessing SET and other constructs as well as in relation to the need for researchers to examine their data carefully, consider the need to address outlying data, and conduct analyses appropriately and transparently.

Experimental modal analysis for the plate structures with roving inertial shaker method approach

In this article, a new roving inertial shaker method approach, using an inertial shaker, is presented to obtain a steel plate’s modal parameters with bolt connections on four sides. It aimed to emphasize the superiority of the proposed roving shaker approach over the classical, traditional hammer method on the plate-like structures. The frequency response functions (FRF), obtained from both methods, are investigated using the stabilization diagram, and the superiority of the roving shaker method is presented based on high stabilization and detecting more modes. The accelerometer’s position effect on experimental modal analysis (EMA) is investigated in the roving shaker method, which is performed using accelerometers in two different places, and obtained modal parameters are compared with experimental modal analysis validation methods. Accordingly, the results for the two separate locations are very close to each other. Finally, the experimental and numerical results are investigated according to the TEST/FEA correlation for the traditional roving hammer method and the roving shaker method. As a result, the roving shaker approach gives a better result according to the TEST/FEA correlation success than the roving hammer test. In conclusion, the high stabilization, high TEST/FEA correlation rate, and the number of modes show the roving shaker approach’s superiority.

The influence of the setup shape of a portable UWB system’s antennas in sport

Ultra-wide band (UWB) technology has become one of the most promising technologies of the future. It seems that the positioning of the antenna set influences the accuracy of the player’s performance. This study was aimed to assess the influence of two different antenna positioning system shapes: (i) octagonal installation and (ii) circular installation. A UWB technology was used to track a healthy and well-trained athlete’s (age: 38 years, mass: 76.34 kg, and height: 1.75 m) positioning. Overall, the data measured showed high accuracy in both shape setups in all trajectories assessed in static and dynamic conditions for all speed thresholds. However, the distance covered during jogging and sprinting showed poor accuracy for both shape setups. Moreover, the data measured showed high test-retest reliability and inter-device agreement in the static condition, regardless of the antenna setup shape. In conclusion, both the octagonal and circular antenna setup shape provided accurate data, but the measurement error associated within the setup shape seemed slightly different between the two systems.

Healthy decisions in the cued-attribute food choice paradigm have high test-retest reliability

Food choice paradigms are commonly used to study decision mechanisms, individual differences, and intervention efficacy. Here, we measured behavior from twenty-three healthy young adults who completed five repetitions of a cued-attribute food choice paradigm over two weeks. This task includes cues prompting participants to explicitly consider the healthiness of the food items before making a selection, or to choose naturally based on whatever freely comes to mind. We found that the average patterns of food choices following both cue types and ratings about the palatability (i.e. taste) and healthiness of the food items were similar across all five repetitions. At the individual level, the test-retest reliability for choices in both conditions and healthiness ratings was excellent. However, test-retest reliability for taste ratings was only fair, suggesting that estimates about palatability may vary more from day to day for the same individual.

Improvement of Filter-Fabrics for Mining Industry

The publication represents a review of three major types of filter-fabrics which are actively applied by domestic industrial enterprises. It's specially noted that contemporary high-technological manufacturing is impossible without highquality materials. The domestic technologies on filter-fabric production deserve attention unconditionally. Nevertheless, together with modernization of domestic industrial production, the technologies on filter-fabric accumulation have to change also. Namely that's why the functioning of such enterprises, which lean on competitive ability principles, product quality and its high technology, is utterly important now. In this regard, it represents an interest the activity of research-production enterprise Filter-Fabrics (RPE Filter-Fabrics Ltd) where from 2013, there has been started the manufacturing of innovational products which basis on, polyamide mini-thread and filament (complex) thread from high-test polyamide with glass filler which is stable to abrasion and having lower shrinkage during exploitation in the liquid medium. Besides, RPE Filter-Fabrics Ltd has significantly expanded filter-fabric market by the way of correction of thread basis and weft that has allowed to introduce the production on many concentrating factories.

Analisis kualitas pembelajaran matematika pada penggunaan platform google classroom materi kombinatorika

Using the background of the problem is this research is the lack of knowledge of theachers and students about how use the application Google Classroom (GC) in learning activities, but there are still students do not have google account to log in the application GC. This research is a descriptive qualiative research. This study aims to determine how the quality of mathematics learning in the use of the application GC of combinatorics material for class XII IPA students of SMA Negeri 1 Pasir Penyu. The subjects of this study were selected based on the student’s daily test scores on combinatoric material using the application GC, where the subjects of this study included six students of class XII IPA 3 consisting of two students who had high test scores, two students who had mean test scores and two students who had low test scores. Data collection techniques are interview guidelines and questinnaire sheets. Furthermore, the data obtained will be analyzed based on indicators of the quality of mathematics learning. Data analyzed techniques in this study were data reduction, data presentation, and data verification. Based on the final results of the questionnaire sheets scores and the average posttest so that the average of both is 71,5 whit good categories, it can be concluded that the quality of mathematics learning in the use of the application GC of combinatorics material for class XII IPA 3 students of SMA Negeri 1 Pasir Penyu is good.

Test–retest reliability and criterion-related validity of Shih–Hsu test of attention between people with and without schizophrenia

Introduction The “Shih–Hsu Test of Attention” (SHTA) is an iPad-based attention assessment tool developed in recent years by occupational therapists and has acceptable criterion-related validity and high test–retest reliability in preliminary application. This research project explores the criterion-related validity and test–retest reliability of SHTA between people with and without schizophrenia. Method The participants were 76 adults with schizophrenia aged 20–64 years, and 66 adults without diagnosed mental illness aged 20–64 years were recruited in this study on a voluntary basis. Each participant was assessed twice. The participants completed both the SHTA and Chu’s Attention Test (CAT) in the first test and the SHTA after 3 weeks. Findings Analytical results indicate that the SHTA has satisfactory test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.67) and criterion-related validity (γ = 0.29, p < 0.05*) for adults with schizophrenia and has high test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.90) and criterion-related validity (γ = 0.25, p < 0.05*) for adults without diagnosed mental illness. The MDC% value for the subjects without diagnosed mental illness was 12.1%, indicating acceptable random measurement error. Conclusion Our preliminary findings show that the iPad-based attention assessment tool, SHTA, has satisfactory criterion-related validity and test–retest reliability, supporting the future application of SHTA as an attention assessment tool.

Study of the Hydrolytic Stability of Fine-Grained Ceramics Based on Y2.5Nd0.5Al5O12 Oxide with a Garnet Structure under Hydrothermal Conditions

The hydrolytic stability of ceramics based on Y2.5Nd0.5Al5O12 oxide with a garnet structure obtained by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method has been studied. The tests were carried out in distilled water under hydrothermal conditions in an autoclave and, for comparison, in a static mode at room temperature. The mechanism of leaching of Y and Nd from the ceramics was investigated. It has been shown that at “low” temperatures (25 and 100 °C), the destruction of pores occured, and the intensity of the leaching process was limited by the diffusion of ions from the inner part of the sample to the surface. At “high” test temperatures (200 and 300 °C), intense destruction of the ceramic grain boundaries was observed. It was assumed that the accelerated leaching of neodymium is due to the formation of grain-boundary segregations of Nd3+ in sintered ceramics.