In this paper, a study is presented in which statistical methodologies were applied to evaluate the measurement of step gauges on an X-ray computed tomography (CT) system. In particular, the effects ...of step gauge material density and orientation were investigated. The step gauges consist of uni- and bidirectional lengths. By confirming the repeatability of measurements made on the test system, the number of required scans in the design of experiment (DOE) was reduced. The statistical model was checked using model adequacy principles; model adequacy checking is an important step in validating the applicability of a model to fitting experimental results. If the residuals after fitting the model are normally distributed (normality test), then the residuals represent random errors in the data. If the normality test is not satisfied, the model is said to fit the data poorly. If the model fit to the data were correct, the residuals would approximate the random errors (also called normality). The most common significance level is α=0.05; for normality to be satisfied, the P value for the residuals must not be smaller than 0.05. The initial results show that the residuals failed the normality test due to a small P value (P<0.005). Some remedies in achieving a larger P value include (1) fitting a different model, (2) evaluating the data differently and (3) excluding outliers. The authors determined that there were too few data to delete outliers. Instead, discussions and conclusions were carried out based on main effect and interaction plots. It means that the conclusions were not based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The following conclusions can be drawn: X-ray scattering is more problematic for dense metal parts. Thus, the statement of “influence of orientation” should be constrained by the material type. But it is important to have in mention that probably the repeatability of the vertical case is much worse. This can be documented experimentally, by tracing back to the fitting quality of the planes. The fitting point deviation of these planes are typically larger when dense metal step gauges are scanned vertically; this can also be done with simulation, as it is “assumed” that the large errors related to “vertical direction” might be caused by X-ray scattering noise, this theory can be tested by simulating CT scans of metal and plastic step gauge without X-ray scattering and see whether “vertical direction” is still worse for aluminium step gauge.
Epididymal semen is being more often considered as a potential source of valuable genes for genome resource banks. To utilize this resource as efficiently as possible, storage and freezing fertility ...and preservation characteristics of epididymal semen have to be examined. Because semen quality should be assessed as objectively as possible, we introduced computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) of epididymal bull semen. The aims of this study were: to determine the quality of fresh cauda epididymal bull sperm, conventionally and by CASA (Hamilton–Thorne Ceros 12.1); to compare epididymal sperm movement with the motion characteristics of ejaculated semen; and to investigate whether equality of semen characteristics exists between both caudae epididymides of the same bull. In experiment 1, it is shown that epididymal sperm has a lower motility (total: 48.7% versus 79.9%,
p
<
0.0001 and progressive: 34.4% versus 58.4%,
p
<
0.0001) and moves less straight (80.5% versus 84.5%,
p
<
0.0009) with a higher amplitude (6.1
μm versus 5.0
μm,
p
<
0.0001) than ejaculated semen. The epididymal straight line velocity (85.2
μm/s versus 98.3
μm/s,
p
<
0.0001) is lower, but the curvilinear velocity (173.5
μm/s versus 156.4
μm/s,
p
<
0.0001) is higher than those of ejaculated semen. The data in experiment 2 are analysed to determine equality, rather than to find a difference. They illustrate that mean differences, for most semen parameters, between the semen from paired caudae epididymides, deviated more than 20% from the average values of these parameters from all bulls; the exceptions (those parameters within 20% of the average for all bulls) were the percentage of live spermatozoa, the linearity of sperm movement, the weights of testis and epididymis, the weights of the cauda epididymis alone, the volumes, and the amplitudes of movement of the semen (
p
<
0.05). The mean differences between the percentage of live spermatozoa and the amplitude of movement of the epididymal semen of both epididymides of one bull, were the only values smaller than 10% of the average value of this parameter (
p
<
0.05). This implies that sperm from one cauda epididymis should not be used as a control for the other because, for most of the semen parameters (concentration, morphology, motility, and beat cross frequency), equality between caudae epididymides of the same bull could not be established.
The Biocheck.UGent scoring system has been developed to measure and quantify the level of biosecurity on broiler farms. This tool is composed of all relevant components of biosecurity on broiler ...farms and is subdivided into external (purchase of 1-d-old chicks, off-farm movements of live animals, feed and water supply, removal of manure and dead birds, entrance of visitors and personnel, supply of materials, infrastructure and biological vectors, location of the farm) and internal (disease management, cleaning and disinfection, materials, and measures between compartments) biosecurity. The unique feature of this scoring system is that it takes the relative importance of the different biosecurity aspects into account, resulting in a risk-based weighted score. The Biocheck.UGent scoring system and accompanying questionnaire can be filled in for free at www.Biocheck.UGent.be. The obtained biosecurity scores are provided immediately after completion of the questionnaire, and the scores for each subcategory can be compared with national averages to allow the farmer to benchmark the obtained results to his colleagues. Preliminary results (n = 15) show a huge range in the biosecurity level on broilers farms in Belgium, with internal biosecurity scores ranging from 54/100 to 87/100 and external biosecurity scores ranging from 55/100 to 72/100. These first results show that despite the well-known importance of biosecurity, there's a lack of implementation of many biosecurity measures and room for improvement.
Differentiation between adenomas and carcinomas of the ampulla of Vater is crucial for therapy and prognosis. This was a systematic review of the literature on the accuracy of diagnostic modalities ...used to differentiate between benign and malignant ampullary tumours.
A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. Studies were included if they reported diagnostic test accuracy information among benign and malignant ampullary tumours, and used pathological diagnosis as the reference standard. Risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment on Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) 2 and QUADAS-C.
Ten studies comprising 397 patients were included. Frequently studied modalities were (CT; 2 studies), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS; 3 studies), intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS; 2 studies), and endoscopic forceps biopsy (3 studies). For CT, the reported sensitivity for detecting ampullary carcinoma was 44 and 95%, and the specificity 58 and 60%. For EUS, the sensitivity ranged from 63 to 89% and the specificity between 50 and 100%. A sensitivity of 88 and 100% was reported for IDUS, with a specificity of 75 and 93%. For forceps biopsy, the sensitivity ranged from 20 to 91%, and the specificity from 75 to 86%. The overall risk of bias was scored as moderate to poor. Data were insufficient for meta-analysis.
To differentiate benign from malignant ampullary tumours, EUS and IDUS seem to be the best diagnostic modalities. Sufficient high-quality evidence, however, is lacking.
The purpose of this study was to compare 3-year overall survival after simultaneous portal (PVE) and hepatic vein (HVE) embolization versus PVE alone in patients undergoing liver resection for ...primary and secondary cancers of the liver.
In this multicentre retrospective study, all DRAGON 0 centres provided 3-year follow-up data for all patients who had PVE/HVE or PVE, and were included in DRAGON 0 between 2016 and 2019. Kaplan-Meier analysis was undertaken to assess 3-year overall and recurrence/progression-free survival. Factors affecting survival were evaluated using univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses.
In total, 199 patients were included from 7 centres, of whom 39 underwent PVE/HVE and 160 PVE alone. Groups differed in median age (P = 0.008). As reported previously, PVE/HVE resulted in a significantly higher resection rate than PVE alone (92 versus 68%; P = 0.007). Three-year overall survival was significantly higher in the PVE/HVE group (median survival not reached after 36 months versus 20 months after PVE; P = 0.004). Univariable and multivariable analyses identified PVE/HVE as an independent predictor of survival (univariable HR 0.46, 95% c.i. 0.27 to 0.76; P = 0.003).
Overall survival after PVE/HVE is substantially longer than that after PVE alone in patients with primary and secondary liver tumours.
Esta dissertação tem o propósito de definir o relatório medico de acordo com várias perspetivas e teorias quer provenientes do mundo da análise dos géneros textuais, quer do estudo da tradução ...médica. A estrutura deste trabalho divide-se em quatro capítulos. O primeiro foca-se no mundo da tradução médica, tendo em conta as suas caraterísticas e os seus agentes. O segundo capítulo define o género textual relatório médico de acordo com várias perspetivas e define a que se implementa neste trabalho. O terceiro capítulo aplica o que foi abordado nos dois capítulos anteriores, de modo a definir o relatório médico como um género textual. O quarto, e último capítulo, consiste na análise de quatro relatórios médicos, que foram traduzidos, também no âmbito deste trabalho, de modo a levantar problemas e dificuldades de tradução. Contudo, existe um enfoque superior na análise dos textos de partida para identificar várias características, tais como as semelhanças com a noção de escrita científica, as convenções implementadas e os movimentos retóricos aparentes
Objectives
To document and quantify drug use in white veal calves, an intensive livestock production system where multidrug resistance is abundantly present.
Methods
Drug consumption data were ...prospectively collected on 15 white veal production cohorts (n = 5853 calves) in Belgium (2007-09). Treatment incidences (TIs) based on animal defined daily dose (ADD), prescribed daily dose (PDD) and used daily dose (UDD) were calculated. Risk factors were identified by linear regression.
Results
The average TIADD of antimicrobial treatments was 416.8 ADD per 1000 animals at risk. Predominantly, oral group antimicrobial treatments were used (95.8%). Of the oral group antimicrobial treatments, 12% and 88% were used for prophylactic or metaphylactic indications, respectively. The main indication for group and individual drug use was respiratory disease. The most frequently used antimicrobials (group treatments) were oxytetracycline (23.7%), amoxicillin (18.5%), tylosin (17.2%) and colistin (15.2%). Deviations from the leaflet dosage recommendations were frequently encountered, with 43.7% of the group treatments underdosed (often oxytetracycline and tylosin to treat dysbacteriosis). In 33.3% of the oral antimicrobial group treatments a combination of two antimicrobial preparations was used. Smaller integrations used more antimicrobials in group treatments than larger ones (P < 0.05); an integration is defined as a company that combines all steps of the production chain by having its own feed plant and slaughterhouse and by placing its calves in veal herds owned by producers that fatten these calves for this integration on contract. Producers used higher dosages than prescribed by the veterinarian in cohorts with a single caretaker (P < 0.01).
Conclusions
The present study provided detailed information on the intensive antimicrobial use in the white veal industry. Reduction can only be achieved by reducing the number of oral group treatments.
A frequent criticism of knowledge-based planning tools is the apparent mismatch between information frameworks used in their spatial models and the information needs of planning actors. Increasingly, ...these actors are contributing their context-specific knowledge during the development of such tools. Transferring this knowledge from actors to the model remains a challenge. This study establishes a set of design requirements for knowledge elicitation in small group settings and introduces game co-design as a method allowing planning actors and planning support experts to meet halfway between the technology and user domains in the so-called third space. We present an initial case where in three nominal group sessions, actors encountered and critiqued parameterized assumptions of their planning issues in a tangible game environment. Findings indicate that the method can elicit different types of knowledge (divergence) about a spatial system in operationalized terms (formalization). We discuss the potential of tangible game co-design as a modeling as learning exercise and its complementarity to dedicated digital technologies for more holistic planning support.
Abstract
Good biosecurity procedures are crucial for healthy animal production. The aim of this study was to quantify the level of biosecurity on conventional broiler farms in Europe, following a ...standardized procedure, thereby trying to identify factors that are amenable to improvement. The current study used a risk-based weighted scoring system (biocheck.ugent ®) to assess the level of biosecurity on 399 conventional broiler farms in 5 EU member states. The scoring system consisted of 2 main categories, namely external and internal biosecurity, which had 8 and 3 subcategories, respectively. Biosecurity was quantified by converting the answers to 97 questions into a score from 0 to 100. The minimum score, "0," represents total absence of any biosecurity measure on the broiler farm, whereas the maximum score, "100," means full application of all investigated biosecurity measures. A possible correlation between biosecurity and farm characteristics was investigated by multivariate linear regression analysis. The participating broiler farms scored better for internal biosecurity (mean score of 76.6) than for external biosecurity (mean 68.4). There was variation between the mean biosecurity scores for the different member states, ranging from 59.8 to 78.0 for external biosecurity and from 63.0 to 85.6 for internal biosecurity. Within the category of external biosecurity, the subcategory related to "infrastructure and vectors" had the highest mean score (82.4), while the subcategory with the lowest score related to biosecurity procedures for "visitors and staff" (mean 51.5). Within the category of internal biosecurity, the subcategory "disease management" had the highest mean score (65.8). In the multivariate regression model a significant negative correlation was found between internal biosecurity and the number of employees and farm size. These findings indicate that there is a lot of variation for external and internal biosecurity on the participating broiler farms, suggesting that improvements are possible. Since the subcategory "visitors and staff" scored the lowest, better education of broiler farmers and their staff may help to improve overall biosecurity on broiler farms in Europe.
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