The EPIC-Soft program (the software initially developed to conduct 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDRs) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study) was recommended as ...the best way to standardize 24-HDRs for future pan-European dietary monitoring. Within European Food Consumption Validation (EFCOVAL), EPIC-Soft was adapted and further developed on various aspects that were required to optimize its use. In this paper, we present the structure and main interview steps of the EPIC-Soft program, after implementation of a series of new specifications deemed to satisfy specific requirements of pan-European monitoring surveys and other international studies.
Updates to optimize the EPIC-Soft program were ascertained according to the following stepwise approach: (1) identification of requested specifications to be potentially implemented through an ad hoc 'EPIC-Soft specifications questionnaire' sent to past, current and possible future users of the software; (2) evaluation of the specifications in collaboration with two ad hoc task force groups and through a workshop; (3) development of a technical solution for each retained specification; (4) implementation of the specifications by software developers; (5) testing and amendment of bugs.
A number of new specifications and facilities were implemented to EPIC-Soft program. In addition, the software underwent a full reprogramming and migration to a modern Windows environment, including changes in its internal architecture and user interface. Although the overall concept and structure of the initial software were not changed substantially, these improvements ease the current and future use of EPIC-Soft and increase further its adaptation to other countries and study contexts.
EPIC-Soft is enriched with further functions and facilities expected to fulfil specific needs of pan-European dietary monitoring and risk assessment purposes. The validity, feasibility and relevance of this software for different national and international study designs, and the logistical aspects related to its implementation are reported elsewhere.
Oropharyngeal
(CT) infections and, especially,
(NG) infections are common, but few commercial nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) specify extragenital samples for intended use. The test ...characteristics of the cobas 4800 CT/NG assay were evaluated for oropharyngeal swabs. The technical validation included analysis of the specificity, sensitivity, dynamic range, linearity, efficiency, and precision. The probability of detection curve combined with historical data enabled the estimation of potentially missed diagnoses. A clinical evaluation was performed on a subset of 2,798 clinical samples available from routine diagnostics. Results of the cobas 4800 were compared with those from in-house
/
PCR assays. Discrepant samples were tested with resolver assays, and these results were considered decisive. No cross-reactivity was seen in the analytical specificity analysis. High linearity (
≥ 0.983), efficiency (89% to 99%), and precision (cycle threshold
value of 0.1 to 0.9) were seen for both
and
The limit of detection in oropharyngeal samples was 3.2 × 10
inclusion-forming units (IFU)/ml for
and 6.7 × 10
CFU/ml for
Estimates on potentially missed diagnoses were up to 7.2% for
and up to 24.7% for
Clinical sensitivity and specificity were evaluated with 25
-positive, 86
-positive, and 264 negative samples, resulting in 100% and 99.6% for
and 100% and 96.7% for
respectively. The findings in this study demonstrate the utility of the cobas 4800 CT/NG assay for oropharyngeal samples. Despite its being a highly accurate test, the range of reported
values, especially for
, suggests relatively low oropharyngeal loads. Hence, consistent detection over the full range of oropharyngeal loads could be impaired.
New radio (MeerKAT and Parkes) and X-ray (XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR) observations of PSR J1622-4950 indicate that the magnetar, in a quiescent state since at least early 2015, ...reactivated between 2017 March 19 and April 5. The radio flux density, while variable, is approximately 100× larger than during its dormant state. The X-ray flux one month after reactivation was at least 800× larger than during quiescence, and has been decaying exponentially on a 111 19 day timescale. This high-flux state, together with a radio-derived rotational ephemeris, enabled for the first time the detection of X-ray pulsations for this magnetar. At 5%, the 0.3-6 keV pulsed fraction is comparable to the smallest observed for magnetars. The overall pulsar geometry inferred from polarized radio emission appears to be broadly consistent with that determined 6-8 years earlier. However, rotating vector model fits suggest that we are now seeing radio emission from a different location in the magnetosphere than previously. This indicates a novel way in which radio emission from magnetars can differ from that of ordinary pulsars. The torque on the neutron star is varying rapidly and unsteadily, as is common for magnetars following outburst, having changed by a factor of 7 within six months of reactivation.
The construction of the seven-dish Karoo Array Telescope (KAT-7) array in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape in South Africa was intended primarily as an engineering prototype for technologies and ...techniques applicable to the MeerKAT telescope. This paper looks at the main engineering and scientific highlights from this effort, and discusses their applicability to both MeerKAT and other next-generation radio telescopes. In particular, we found that the composite dish surface works well, but it becomes complicated to fabricate for a dish lacking circular symmetry; the Stirling cycle cryogenic system with ion pump to achieve vacuum works but demands much higher maintenance than an equivalent Gifford–McMahon cycle system; the ROACH (Reconfigurable Open Architecture Computing Hardware)-based correlator with SPEAD (Streaming Protocol for Exchanging Astronomical Data) protocol data transfer works very well and KATCP (Karoo Array Telescope Control Protocol) control protocol has proven very flexible and convenient. KAT-7 has also been used for scientific observations where it has a niche in mapping low surface-brightness continuum sources, some extended H i
haloes and OH masers in star-forming regions. It can also be used to monitor continuum source variability, observe pulsars, and make Very Long Baseline Interferometry observations.
Background
Time trend analysis of cutaneous melanoma (CM) mortality in fair skin populations shows both a gradual decrease and/or an increase. To explain these differences, we analyzed long‐term time ...trends in the incidence of the most common histological subtypes of CM: superficial spreading melanoma (SSM), lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM), and nodular melanoma (NM).
Methods
Using data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and Statistics Netherlands, the number and rates of cases diagnosed with SSM, LLM, and NM from 1989 to 2016 were analyzed by age, calendar period, and birth cohort of people born in successive periods from 1925 to 1973.
Results
Primary CM was diagnosed in 52,000 men and 66,588 women in the study period. The annual age‐standardized incidence rate increased three‐fold from 14 to 42 per 100,000 person‐years. The most common subtype was SSM (50%), followed by LMM (23%) and NM (14%). Age‐specific subtype rates showed an upward trend over time for both men and women. Younger birth cohorts had higher rates of SSM and LMM diagnosis than older birth cohorts. This birth cohort pattern was not observed for NM.
Conclusions
We observed a strong increase in the melanoma epidemic curves in the light‐skinned Dutch population over the last three decades. This increase is explained by younger generations having higher rates of SSM and LMM than older generations.
Treatment for TB is lengthy and toxic, and new regimens are needed.
Participants with pulmonary drug-susceptible TB (DS-TB) were randomised to receive: 200 mg pretomanid (Pa, PMD) daily, 400 mg ...moxifloxacin (M) and 1500 mg pyrazinamide (Z) for 6 months (6Pa
MZ) or 4 months (4Pa
MZ); 100 mg pretomanid daily for 4 months in the same combination (4Pa
MZ); or standard DS-TB treatment for 6 months. The primary outcome was treatment failure or relapse at 12 months post-randomisation. The non-inferiority margin for between-group differences was 12.0%. Recruitment was paused following three deaths and not resumed.
Respectively 4/47 (8.5%), 11/57 (19.3%), 14/52 (26.9%) and 1/53 (1.9%) DS-TB outcomes were unfavourable in patients on 6Pa
MZ, 4Pa
MZ, 4Pa
MZ and controls. There was a 6.6% (95% CI -2.2% to 15.4%) difference per protocol and 9.9% (95%CI -4.1% to 23.9%) modified intention-to-treat difference in unfavourable responses between the control and 6Pa
MZ arms. Grade 3+ adverse events affected 68/203 (33.5%) receiving experimental regimens, and 19/68 (27.9%) on control. Ten of 203 (4.9%) participants on experimental arms and 2/68 (2.9%) controls died.
PaMZ regimens did not achieve non-inferiority in this under-powered trial. An ongoing evaluation of PMD remains a priority.
To improve participation rate, accuracy and respondents' compliance, it is important to know the respondents' viewpoint.
To evaluate respondents' preferences and perception about the EPIC-Soft (the ...software developed to conduct 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDRs) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study) 24-HDR interviews and to compare these preferences and perception between population groups (for example, between genders).
Data were collected in Belgium, Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands and Norway in 2007. Two 24-HDRs (face-to-face and telephone administered) were conducted using EPIC-Soft. An evaluation questionnaire on different study aspects was completed by the respondents.
Data were collected in the European Food Consumption Validation Study.
A convenience sample of 600 apparently healthy men and women, 45-65 years old and including all educational levels, were recruited (120 subjects per country). Differences among population groups were compared by means of the χ (2)-test.
A total of 585 respondents completed the evaluation questionnaire. In all, 88% experienced problems only to a low degree when answering face-to-face and telephone-administered 24-HDR using EPIC-Soft. A total of 15% would have preferred help of another person during the face-to-face interview in the study center (mainly men: P < 0.001). Significantly, more subjects in the Netherlands and in Norway preferred two telephone (instead of face-to-face) interviews compared with the other countries (P<0.001).
Most subjects only experienced problems to a low degree during the EPIC-Soft interviews. Differences in preferences and capabilities to answer the EPIC-Soft interviews were identified between population groups (for example, gender differences). Therefore, the methods and the design to be used in a survey should be adapted according to the study population, so as to optimize response rate and compliance.
Experimental measurements and DFT atomistic modelling were conducted to elucidate the mechanisms for gasification chemistry of char with CO2 gas. The molecular models used were based on experimental ...representations of coal chars derived from the vitrinite- and inertinite-rich South African coals at 1000°C. The HRTEM and XRD techniques were used to construct parallelogram-shaped PAH stacks of highest frequency in the vitrinite-rich (7×7) and intertinite-rich (11×11) char structures. Computations were executed to get the nucleophilic Fukui functions, at DFT–DNP level, to elucidate the nature and proportions of carbon active sites and quantify their reactivity. The DFT–DNP-computed reaction pathways and transition states, to obtain the energy of reaction and activation energies for the gasification reactions of CO2 with active carbon sites were examined. These results were compared with TGA experimental results at 900–980°C. The mean nucleophilic Fukui function of the H-terminated char models and active sites located at similar edge positions decreased with increasing size of char molecules and followed the sequence: zigzag>armchair>tip active sites. The mean DFT–DNP values for the activation energy of 233kJmol−1 at the reactive carbon edge was in agreement with the experimental 191±25kJmol−1 and 210±8kJmol−1 for the respective chars.
To study the effects of triamcinolone acetonide on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in adult patients with allergic rhinitis.
This study was conducted in South Africa as a placebo-controlled, ...multicenter, randomized, double-blind study. Following a 7-day baseline run-in, patients were treated for 28 days with either triamcinolone or placebo. Interviewer-assisted quality-of-life assessments were conducted using the Juniper Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). Total symptom scores, including nasal congestion, were measured using daily diary cards.
A total of 337 patients were recruited and 253 patients completed the study per protocol, of which 55 had seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and 198 had persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR). Improvements in the mean scores per area of the RQLQ were significantly better with triamcinolone compared with placebo for the entire study group for activities (P = .04 at visit 4) and sleep, nasal symptoms, emotional problems, and overall score (P = .002, P = .04, P = .03, and P = .04, respectively, at visit 3). When the patients with SAR were separated from the patients with PAR in the analysis, improvement with triamcinolone was better than placebo only in the PAR patients. The overall investigator and patient assessments of relief favored triamcinolone.
Triamcinolone given for 4 weeks improves symptom scores and HRQL in patients with allergic rhinitis. The ability of triamcinolone to relieve nasal congestion symptoms in PAR patients was correlated with improvements in HRQL.
External Hardware and Sensors, for Improved MRI Madore, Bruno; Hess, Aaron T.; Niekerk, Adam M. J. ...
Journal of magnetic resonance imaging,
March 2023, Letnik:
57, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Complex engineered systems are often equipped with suites of sensors and ancillary devices that monitor their performance and maintenance needs. MRI scanners are no different in this regard. Some of ...the ancillary devices available to support MRI equipment, the ones of particular interest here, have the distinction of actually participating in the image acquisition process itself. Most commonly, such devices are used to monitor physiological motion or variations in the scanner's imaging fields, allowing the imaging and/or reconstruction process to adapt as imaging conditions change. “Classic” examples include electrocardiography (ECG) leads and respiratory bellows to monitor cardiac and respiratory motion, which have been standard equipment in scan rooms since the early days of MRI. Since then, many additional sensors and devices have been proposed to support MRI acquisitions. The main physical properties that they measure may be primarily “mechanical” (eg acceleration, speed, and torque), “acoustic” (sound and ultrasound), “optical” (light and infrared), or “electromagnetic” in nature. A review of these ancillary devices, as currently available in clinical and research settings, is presented here. In our opinion, these devices are not in competition with each other: as long as they provide useful and unique information, do not interfere with each other and are not prohibitively cumbersome to use, they might find their proper place in future suites of sensors. In time, MRI acquisitions will likely include a plurality of complementary signals. A little like the microbiome that provides genetic diversity to organisms, these devices can provide signal diversity to MRI acquisitions and enrich measurements. Machine‐learning (ML) algorithms are well suited at combining diverse input signals toward coherent outputs, and they could make use of all such information toward improved MRI capabilities.
Evidence Level
2
Technical Efficacy
Stage 1
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