Multi‐site MRI datasets are crucial for big data research. However, neuroimaging studies must face the batch effect. Here, we propose an approach that uses the predictive probabilities provided by ...Gaussian processes (GPs) to harmonize clinical‐based studies. A multi‐site dataset of 216 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and 87 healthy subjects (HS) was used. We performed a site GP classification using MRI data. The outcomes estimated from this classification, redefined like Weighted HARMonization PArameters (WHARMPA), were used as regressors in two different clinical studies: A PD versus HS machine learning classification using GP, and a VBM comparison (FWE‐p < .05, k = 100). Same studies were also conducted using conventional Boolean site covariates, and without information about site belonging. The results from site GP classification provided high scores, balanced accuracy (BAC) was 98.39% for grey matter images. PD versus HS classification performed better when the WHARMPA were used to harmonize (BAC = 78.60%; AUC = 0.90) than when using the Boolean site information (BAC = 56.31%; AUC = 0.71) and without it (BAC = 57.22%; AUC = 0.73). The VBM analysis harmonized using WHARMPA provided larger and more statistically robust clusters in regions previously reported in PD than when the Boolean site covariates or no corrections were added to the model. In conclusion, WHARMPA might encode global site‐effects quantitatively and allow the harmonization of data. This method is user‐friendly and provides a powerful solution, without complex implementations, to clean the analyses by removing variability associated with the differences between sites.
We propose a method to harmonize MRI multi‐center data using the predictive probabilities from Gaussian Process site classification. These parameters encode quantitatively site‐effect differences and can be used as Weighted Harmonization Parameters (WHARMPA). This method is user‐friendly and provides a powerful solution, without complex implementations, to clean the analyses by removing variability associated with the differences between sites.
Eleven million tonnes of waste are produced yearly by the European pulp and paper industry, of which 70% originates from the production of deinked recycled paper. Wastes are very diverse in ...composition and consist of rejects, different types of sludges and ashes in mills having on-site incineration treatment. The production of pulp and paper from virgin pulp generates less waste but the waste has similar properties to waste from the production of deinked pulp, although with less inorganics. Due to legislation and increased taxes, landfills are quickly being eliminated as a final destination for wastes in Europe, and incineration with energy recovery is becoming the main waste recovery method. Other options such as pyrolysis, gasification, land spreading, composting and reuse as building material are being applied, although research is still needed for optimization of the processes. Due to the large volumes of waste generated, the high moisture content of the waste and the changing waste composition as a result of process conditions, recovery methods are usually expensive and their environmental impact is still uncertain. For this reason, it is necessary to continue research on different applications of wastes, while taking into account the environmental and economic factors of these waste treatments.
Intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergo several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures every day. The prevalence, intensity, and risk factors of pain related to these procedures are not well known.
...To assess self-reported procedural pain intensity versus baseline pain, examine pain intensity differences across procedures, and identify risk factors for procedural pain intensity.
Prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter, multinational study of pain intensity associated with 12 procedures. Data were obtained from 3,851 patients who underwent 4,812 procedures in 192 ICUs in 28 countries.
Pain intensity on a 0-10 numeric rating scale increased significantly from baseline pain during all procedures (P < 0.001). Chest tube removal, wound drain removal, and arterial line insertion were the three most painful procedures, with median pain scores of 5 (3-7), 4.5 (2-7), and 4 (2-6), respectively. By multivariate analysis, risk factors independently associated with greater procedural pain intensity were the specific procedure; opioid administration specifically for the procedure; preprocedural pain intensity; preprocedural pain distress; intensity of the worst pain on the same day, before the procedure; and procedure not performed by a nurse. A significant ICU effect was observed, with no visible effect of country because of its absorption by the ICU effect. Some of the risk factors became nonsignificant when each procedure was examined separately.
Knowledge of risk factors for greater procedural pain intensity identified in this study may help clinicians select interventions that are needed to minimize procedural pain. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01070082).
Due to several excellent material properties, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites are expediently used in many applications, e.g., in the field of renewable energy and in oil, gas, and ...transportation applications. They show excellent mechanical stability, low weight and fatigue, and high corrosion resistance. However, their full potential for exploitation, as well as the lifetime of FRP-based structures, is limited due to certain defects and damage mechanisms. One of the most important methods used to ensure the quality of FRPs is non-destructive testing and active thermography. A prerequisite for quantitative active thermography is accurate knowledge of the optical properties of the investigated material (i.e., its spectral emissivity, reflectivity, and transmissivity). The objective of PTB as a partner organization within the European EMRP project titled “Validated Inspection Techniques for Composites in Energy Applications” was to improve the state of the art of this technique. One of the goals in doing so was to significantly reduce the uncertainty of emissivity measurements of FRP materials in the visible and infrared wavelength ranges. Achieving a target value of lower than 0.01 of the emissivity of partially transmitting materials is very challenging, especially at temperatures close to room temperature. Different experimental setups at PTB were employed for these measurements: one setup for spectral emissivity measurements in air and the other for diffuse reflectivity and transmissivity measurements. In this paper, we give a review of PTB measurements on emissivity, reflectivity and transmissivity of semitransparent FRP composites. Part of this work has already been published in Adibekyan et al. (emissivity, reflectivity and transmissivity of semitransparent fiber-reinforced plastic composites.
https://www.ndt.net/article/dgzfp-irt-2017/papers/17.pdf
,
2018
). Here, we present the complete set of data for seven technical relevant materials and compare the results. The directional spectral emissivity was determined at a nominal sample temperature of 40 °C, at angles of observation from 10° to 70° with respect to the surface normal and in a wavelength range from 5 µm to 25 µm. In addition, these spectrally and directionally resolved measurements allow to calculate the total directional emissivity and the hemispherical emissivity. For the determination of the directional–hemispherical spectral transmissivity and directional–hemispherical spectral reflectivity a gold-coated integrating sphere and a vacuum FTIR spectrometer were used. The directional–hemispherical spectral transmissivity was measured under an angle of incidence of 0°; the directional–hemispherical spectral reflectivity was measured under an angle of incidence of 10°. These investigations were performed in the spectral range from 1.0 µm to 16.7 µm and compared in the overlapping wavelength range; the emissivity measurements were performed using the setup for spectral emissivity.
The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt determined the directional spectral emissivities of several widely used black coatings: Nextel 811-21, Herberts 1534, Aeroglaze Z306 and Acktar Fractal ...Black. These are and were often applied in different industrial and scientific applications. The measurements are taken angularly resolved over a range from
10
∘
to
70
∘
. They cover the temperature range typical for the application of the respective coating and a wide wavelength range from
4
μ
m
to
100
μ
m
. The respective directional total emissivities and hemispherical total emissivities are given as well. The measurements were taken under vacuum at the reduced background calibration facility to achieve low uncertainties and avoid atmospheric interferences. Additionally, some measurements were taken with the emissivity measurement setup in air.
BACKGROUND: The rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis can cause eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. This nematode’s main definitive hosts are rodents and its intermediate hosts are snails. ...This parasite was first described in China and currently is dispersed across several Pacific islands, Asia, Australia, Africa, some Caribbean islands and most recently in the Americas. Here, we report the genetic variability among A. cantonensis isolates from different geographical locations in Brazil using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences. METHODS: The isolates of A. cantonensis were obtained from distinct geographical locations of Brazil. Genomic DNAs were extracted, amplified by polymerase reaction, purified and sequenced. A partial sequence of COI gene was determined to assess their phylogenetic relationship. RESULTS: The sequences of A. cantonensis were monophyletic. We identified a distinct clade that included all isolates of A. cantonensis from Brazil and Asia based on eight distinct haplotypes (ac1, ac2, ac3, ac4, ac5, ac6, ac7 and ac8) from a previous study. Interestingly, the Brazilian haplotype ac5 is clustered with isolates from Japan, and the Brazilian haplotype ac8 from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Pará and Pernambuco states formed a distinct clade. There is a divergent Brazilian haplotype, which we named ac9, closely related to Chinese haplotype ac6 and Japanese haplotype ac7. CONCLUSION: The genetic variation observed among Brazilian isolates supports the hypothesis that the appearance of A. cantonensis in Brazil is likely a result of multiple introductions of parasite-carrying rats, transported on ships due to active commerce with Africa and Asia during the European colonization period. The rapid spread of the intermediate host, Achatina fulica, also seems to have contributed to the dispersion of this parasite and the infection of the definitive host in different Brazilian regions.
Because many patients who have swallowed foreign bodies are asymptomatic, physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion. The majority of ingested foreign bodies pass spontaneously, but serious ...complications, such as bowel perforation and obstruction, can occur. Foreign bodies lodged in the esophagus should be removed endoscopically, but some small, blunt objects may be pulled out using a Foley catheter or pushed into the stomach using bougienage corrected Once they are past the esophagus, large or sharp foreign bodies should be removed if reachable by endoscope. Small, smooth objects and all objects that have passed the duodenal sweep should be managed conservatively by radiographic surveillance and inspection of stool. Endoscopic or surgical intervention is indicated if significant symptoms develop or if the object fails to progress through the gastrointestinal tract.
By definition, optical quantities transmittance and reflectance can basically be determined as the ratio of two flux measurements. One measurement is performed with, and the other without, the sample ...under test in the optical path. However, at longer wavelengths the temperature radiation of the sample itself as well as of the applied spectrometer and detector increasingly contribute to the detected radiation budget. This leads to growing systematic errors in the determination of the transmittance and reflectance of samples with Fourier transform infrared spectrometers at longer wavelengths. We present an effective method to overcome this problem by measuring a sequence of four measurements at two different flux levels. Results obtained with this method are compared to the basic ratio method over a spectral range from 200 cm
to 30 cm
(0.9 THz to 6 THz).
Abstract Background Bipolar depression has been found to be associated with changes in prefrontal cortex activity during performance of cognitive tasks. However, the role of task-related ...de-activations has been little investigated. Method Forty-one bipolar depressed patients and 41 matched normal controls underwent fMRI scanning while performing baseline, 1-back and 2-back versions of the n -back task. Linear models were used to obtain maps of within-group activations and areas of differential activation between the groups. Results The bipolar depressed patients showed reduced activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) bilaterally and several other regions. After controlling for differences in task performance only differences in the DLPFC and cerebellum remained. Left DLPFC activation was inversely correlated with Hamilton and MADRS scores. The patients showed failure to de-activate in the medial prefrontal cortex, an area corresponding to the anterior medial node of the default mode network. Limitations To confirm default mode network dysfunction demonstration of resting-state connectivity abnormalities would also be required. The study was carried out on treated patients, and did not assess for presence of depressive symptoms in the healthy controls. Conclusions Both prefrontal cortical and default mode network dysfunction appear to characterise bipolar depression. The former, but not the latter, is associated with symptom severity.
Brain atrophy and cognitive impairment in neurodegenerative diseases are influenced by sex. We aimed to investigate sex differences in brain atrophy and cognition in
Parkinson's disease (PD) ...patients.
Clinical, neuropsychological and T1-weighted MRI data from 205 PD patients (127 males: 78 females) and 69 healthy controls (40 males: 29 females) were obtained from the PPMI dataset.
PD males had a greater motor and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder symptomatology than PD females. They also showed cortical thinning in postcentral and precentral regions, greater global cortical and subcortical atrophy and smaller volumes in thalamus, caudate, putamen, pallidum, hippocampus, and brainstem, compared with PD females. Healthy controls only showed reduced hippocampal volume in males compared to females. PD males performed worse than PD females in global cognition, immediate verbal recall, and mental processing speed. In both groups males performed worse than females in semantic verbal fluency and delayed verbal recall; as well as females performed worse than males in visuospatial function.
Sex effect in brain and cognition is already evident in
PD not explained by age
, being a relevant factor to consider in clinical and translational research in PD.
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