204,976 research outputs found
Repeatability of quantitative18F-FLT uptake measurements in solid tumors: an individual patient data multi-center meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) provides a non-invasive method to assess cellular proliferation and response to antitumor therapy. Quantitative18F-FLT uptake metrics are being used for evaluation of proliferative response in investigational setting, however multi-center repeatability needs to be established. The aim of this study was to determine the repeatability of18F-FLT tumor uptake metrics by re-analyzing individual patient data from previously published reports using the same tumor segmentation method and repeatability metrics across cohorts. METHODS: A systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE.com and the Cochrane Library from inception-October 2016 yielded five18F-FLT repeatability cohorts in solid tumors.18F-FLT avid lesions were delineated using a 50% isocontour adapted for local background on test and retest scans. SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak, proliferative volume and total lesion uptake (TLU) were calculated. Repeatability was assessed using the repeatability coefficient (RC = 1.96 × SD of test-retest differences), linear regression analysis, and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). The impact of different lesion selection criteria was also evaluated. RESULTS: Images from four cohorts containing 30 patients with 52 lesions were obtained and analyzed (ten in breast cancer, nine in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and 33 in non-small cell lung cancer patients). A good correlation was found between test-retest data for all18F-FLT uptake metrics (R2 ≥ 0.93; ICC ≥ 0.96). Best repeatability was found for SUVpeak(RC: 23.1%), without significant differences in RC between different SUV metrics. Repeatability of proliferative volume (RC: 36.0%) and TLU (RC: 36.4%) was worse than SUV. Lesion selection methods based on SUVmax ≥ 4.0 improved the repeatability of volumetric metrics (RC: 26-28%), but did not affect the repeatability of SUV metrics. CONCLUSIONS: In multi-center studies, differences ≥ 25% in18F-FLT SUV metrics likely represent a true change in tumor uptake. Larger differences are required for FLT metrics comprising volume estimates when no lesion selection criteria are applied
Repeatability of \u3cem\u3eIn Vivo\u3c/em\u3e Parafoveal Cone Density and Spacing Measurements
Purpose. To assess the repeatability and measurement error associated with cone density and nearest neighbor distance (NND) estimates in images of the parafoveal cone mosaic obtained with an adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO).Methods. Twenty-one participants with no known ocular pathology were recruited. Four retinal locations, approximately 0.65[degrees] eccentricity from the center of fixation, were imaged 10 times in randomized order with an AOSLO. Cone coordinates in each image were identified using an automated algorithm (with or without manual correction) from which cone density and NND were calculated. Owing to naturally occurring fixational instability, the 10 images recorded from a given location did not overlap entirely. We thus analyzed each image set both before and after alignment.Results. Automated estimates of cone density on the unaligned image sets showed a coefficient of repeatability of 11,769 cones/mm2 (17.1%). The primary reason for this variability appears to be fixational instability, as aligning the 10 images to include the exact same retinal area results in an improved repeatability of 4358 cones/mm2 (6.4%) using completely automated cone identification software. Repeatability improved further by manually identifying cones missed by the automated algorithm, with a coefficient of repeatability of 1967 cones/mm2 (2.7%). NND showed improved repeatability and was generally insensitive to the undersampling by the automated algorithm.Conclusions. As our data were collected in a young, healthy population, this likely represents a best-case estimate for corresponding measurements in patients with retinal disease. Similar studies need to be carried out on other imaging systems (including those using different imaging modalities, wavefront correction technology, and/or image analysis software), as repeatability would be expected to be highly sensitive to initial image quality and the performance of cone identification algorithms. Separate studies addressing intersession repeatability and interobserver reliability are also needed
Repeatability of the subjective refraction
Actualment, l’error refractiu Ă©s considerat un problema de salut a nivell mundial. Un examen refractiu precĂs Ă©s vital per obtenir la millor agudesa visual possible i portar a terme correctament altres exĂ mens visuals.
Principalment, hi han tres tipus de error refractiu; miopia, hipermetropia i astigmatisme. D’altra banda, trobem la presbĂcia la qual consisteix en una disminuciĂł fisiològica de la capacitat d’acomodaciĂł. La mostra d’aquest estudi consisteix en 10 pacients els quals es troben en un rang d’edat entre els 18 i els 30 anys. NomĂ©s pacients sense patologies oculars han sigut examinats a l’estudi. Altrament, l’examen refractiu consisteix en un examen subjectiu partint d’un autorefractĂłmetre binocular (WAM-5500). L’examen subjectiu s’inicia monocularment i desprĂ©s binocularment amb els equilibris biocular i binocular. En relaciĂł a l’anĂ lisi estadĂstic, abans d’utilitzar els test de SSPS statistics versiĂł 22.00, hem transformat el valor d’esfera i astigmatisme a l’espai ortonormal per comparar els resultats correctament. En tots els casos un p-valor de 0.05 ha sigut considerat estadĂsticament significant i, s’ha considerat un 95% d’interval de confiança.
L’anĂ lisi estadĂstic d’aquest estudi conclou, amb un p-valor>0.05 en el test de Wilcoxon Signed-rank, que hi ha concordança entre les dues mesures. En contraposiciĂł, les dades han resultat seguir una distribuciĂł no normal. L’objectiu i la importĂ ncia d’aquest estudi Ă©s conèixer la repetibilitat d’aquest mètode de mesura de la refracciĂł
Results of an Icing test on a NACA 0012 airfoil in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel
Tests were conducted in the Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) at the NASA Lewis Research Center to document the current capability of the IRT, focused mainly on the repeatability of the ice shape over a range of icing conditions. Measurements of drag increase due to the ice accretion were also made to document the repeatability of drag. Surface temperatures of the model were obtained to show the effects of latent-heat release by the freezing droplets and heat transfer through the ice layer. The repeatability of the ice shape was very good at low temperatures, but only fair at near freezing temperatures. In general, drag data shows good repeatability
Repeatability of evolution on epistatic landscapes
Evolution is a dynamic process. The two classical forces of evolution are
mutation and selection. Assuming small mutation rates, evolution can be
predicted based solely on the fitness differences between phenotypes.
Predicting an evolutionary process under varying mutation rates as well as
varying fitness is still an open question. Experimental procedures, however, do
include these complexities along with fluctuating population sizes and
stochastic events such as extinctions. We investigate the mutational path
probabilities of systems having epistatic effects on both fitness and mutation
rates using a theoretical and computational framework. In contrast to previous
models, we do not limit ourselves to the typical strong selection, weak
mutation (SSWM)-regime or to fixed population sizes. Rather we allow epistatic
interactions to also affect mutation rates. This can lead to qualitatively
non-trivial dynamics. Pathways, that are negligible in the SSWM-regime, can
overcome fitness valleys and become accessible. This finding has the potential
to extend the traditional predictions based on the SSWM foundation and bring us
closer to what is observed in experimental systems
Repeatability of facial soft tissue thickness measurements for forensic facial reconstruction using X-ray images
The repeatability of facial soft tissue thickness measurements at 10 standard
anatomical landmarks was evaluated using lateral X-ray images obtained from 50
adult subjects. The intra-and inter-observer error rates were calculated after four
practitioners took measurements using Denta Pacs 8.1 software. The results indicated
high inter- and intra-observer repeatability, suggesting X-ray images can be
used to measure facial soft tissue thicknesses for the purpose of craniofacial
reconstruction and superimposition
Development and initial validation of a sensory threshold examination protocol (STEP) for phenotyping canine pain syndromes
Objective
To study feasibility and test-retest repeatability of a sensory threshold examination protocol (STEP) and report quantitative sensory threshold distributions in healthy dogs.
Study design
Prospective, observational, cohort study.
Animals
Twenty-five healthy client-owned dogs.
Methods
Tactile sensitivity (TST) (von Frey filaments), mechanical thresholds (MT with 2, 4 and 8 mm probes), heat thresholds (HT) and responsiveness to cold stimulus (CT at 0 °C) were quantitatively assessed for five body areas (BA: tibias, humeri, neck, thoracolumbar region and abdomen) in a randomized order on three different occasions. Linear Mixed Model and Generalised Linear Mixed models were used to evaluate the effects of body weight category, age, sex, BA, occasion, feasibility score and investigator experience. Test-retest repeatability was evaluated with the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC).
Results
The STEP lasted 90 minutes without side effects. The BA affected most tests (p = 0.001). Higher thresholds and longer cold latencies were scored in the neck (p = 0.024) compared to other BAs. Weight category affected all thresholds (p = 0.037). Small dogs had lower MT (~1.4 N mean difference) and HT (1.1 0C mean difference) than other dogs (p = 0.029). Young dogs had higher HT than adults (2.2 0C mean difference) (p = 0.035). Gender also affected TST, MT and HT (p < 0.05) (females versus males: TST OR= 0.5, MT= 1.3 N mean difference, HT= 2.2 0C mean difference). Repeatability was substantial to moderate for all tests, but poor for TST. There was no difference in thresholds between occasions, except for CT. Test-retest repeatability was slightly better with the 2 mm MT probe compared to other diameters and improved with operator experience.
Conclusions
and clinical relevance The STEP was feasible, well tolerated and showed substantial test-retest repeatability in healthy dogs. Further validation is needed in dogs suffering pain
Radiated Immunity Testing of a Device with an External Wire: Repeatibility of Reverberation Chamber Results and Correlation with Anechoic Chamber Results
We present the experimental radiated immunity results of an electronic device with an external wire obtained in reverberation and anechoic chambers. Repeatability and reproducibility of reverberation chamber measurements are investigated by repeating the test in three reverberation chambers with different characteristics. We show how the current state of the art allows a statistical control of RC measurement repeatability within an industrial installation, and that a statistical correlation with AC results frequency by frequency is possible in particular cases relevant to automotive application
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Coloured overlays and precision-tinted lenses: poor repeatability in a sample of adults diagnosed with visual stress (vol 37, pg 542, 2017)
Purpose
Visual stress consists of perceived distortions or discomfort while reading. It is claimed that these symptoms are alleviated by viewing through coloured lenses or overlays, with a specific colour required for each individual. This has been explained on the basis of altered visual cortex excitation as affected by the spectral content of the viewing light. If symptoms are indeed alleviated by a particular colour that has an impact on the individual's visual system, we would expect that selection of the most beneficial colour would be repeatable. The aim of this study was to determine whether this is the case.
Methods
Twenty-one participants (mean age 26 years (range 8–55 years); 12 female, nine male) with visual stress and no other uncorrected ocular or visual anomaly were recruited. Each participant selected the colour most beneficial in alleviating their symptoms from a standard set of 10 coloured overlays, and underwent intuitive colorimetry in which the most beneficial of a wide range of chromatic illuminance settings was selected. Without prescribing an overlay at the first appointment, this process was repeated on a second occasion at a mean of 25 days later.
Results
About half of the participants (n = 10) chose the same (n = 7) or similar (with one common colour in both choices; n = 3) coloured overlay on the two occasions, while 11 participants chose a completely different overlay colour. Across all participants, the colorimetry setting shifted by, on average, 9.6 just noticeable differences, indicating that the colours were perceptually very different.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that people with visual stress are unlikely to find exactly the same colour to be optimal on different occasions, and raise questions about the need for precise colour specification in tinted lenses for visual stress
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