Development and validation of a visual grading scale for assessing image quality of AP pelvis radiographic images

OBJECTIVE: Apply psychometric theory to develop and validate a visual grading scale for assessing visual perception of AP pelvis digital image quality. METHODS: Psychometric theory was used to guide scale development. Seven phantom and 7 cadaver images of visually and objectively predetermined quality were used to help assess scale reliability and validity. 151 volunteers scored phantom images; 184 volunteers scored cadaver images. Factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to assess scale validity and reliability. RESULTS: A 24 item scale was produced. Aggregated mean volunteer scores for each image correlated with the rank order of the visually and objectively predetermined image qualities. Scale items had good inter-item correlation (≥0.2) and high factor loadings (≥0.3). Cronbach's alpha (reliability) revealed that the scale has acceptable levels of internal reliability for both phantom and cadaver images (α= 0.8 and 0.9, respectively). Factor analysis suggested the scale is multidimensional (assessing multiple quality themes). CONCLUSION: This study represents the first full development and validation of a visual image quality scale using psychometric theory. It is likely that this scale will have clinical, training and research applications. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This article presents data to create and validate visual grading scales for radiographic examinations. The visual grading scale, for AP pelvis examinations, can act as a validated tool for future research, teaching and clinical evaluations of image quality

High-throughput sequencing of Astrammina rara: Sampling the giant genome of a giant foraminiferan protist

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Foraminiferan protists, which are significant players in most marine ecosystems, are also genetic innovators, harboring unique modifications to proteins that make up the basic eukaryotic cell machinery. Despite their ecological and evolutionary importance, foraminiferan genomes are poorly understood due to the extreme sequence divergence of many genes and the difficulty of obtaining pure samples: exogenous DNA from ingested food or ecto/endo symbionts often vastly exceed the amount of "native" DNA, and foraminiferans cannot be cultured axenically. Few foraminiferal genes have been sequenced from genomic material, although partial sequences of coding regions have been determined by EST studies and mass spectroscopy. The lack of genomic data has impeded evolutionary and cell-biology studies and has also hindered our ability to test ecological hypotheses using genetic tools.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>454 sequence analysis was performed on a library derived from whole genome amplification of microdissected nuclei of the Antarctic foraminiferan <it>Astrammina rara</it>. Xenogenomic sequence, which was shown not to be of eukaryotic origin, represented only 12% of the sample. The first foraminiferal examples of important classes of genes, such as tRNA genes, are reported, and we present evidence that sequences of mitochondrial origin have been translocated to the nucleus. The recovery of a 3' UTR and downstream sequence from an actin gene suggests that foraminiferal mRNA processing may have some unusual features. Finally, the presence of a co-purified bacterial genome in the library also permitted the first calculation of the size of a foraminiferal genome by molecular methods, and statistical analysis of sequence from different genomic sources indicates that low-complexity tracts of the genome may be endoreplicated in some stages of the foraminiferal life cycle.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data provide the first window into genomic organization and genetic control in these organisms, and also complement and expands upon information about foraminiferal genes based on EST projects. The genomic data obtained are informative for environmental and cell-biological studies, and will also be useful for efforts to understand relationships between foraminiferans and other protists.</p

Performance of the CMS Cathode Strip Chambers with Cosmic Rays

The Cathode Strip Chambers (CSCs) constitute the primary muon tracking device in the CMS endcaps. Their performance has been evaluated using data taken during a cosmic ray run in fall 2008. Measured noise levels are low, with the number of noisy channels well below 1%. Coordinate resolution was measured for all types of chambers, and fall in the range 47 microns to 243 microns. The efficiencies for local charged track triggers, for hit and for segments reconstruction were measured, and are above 99%. The timing resolution per layer is approximately 5 ns

Participative Leadership and Organizational Identification in SMEs in the MENA Region: Testing the Roles of CSR Perceptions and Pride in Membership

The aim of this research is to explore the process linking participative leadership to organizational identification. The study examines the relationship between participative leadership and internal CSR perceptions of employees and also investigates the role that pride in membership plays in the affiliation of CSR perceptions with organizational identification. By studying these relationships, the paper aspires to contemplate new presumed mediators in the association of participative leadership with organizational identification as well as determine a possible novel antecedent of employee CSR perceptions. Empirical evidence is provided from data that was collected through a survey distributed to employees working for small- and medium-sized enterprises in three countries in the Middle East and North Africa regions, particularly the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and Tunisia. Findings show that participative leadership leads to positive internal CSR perceptions of employees and that these CSR perceptions lead to pride in membership which, in turn, results in organizational identification. Implications of these findings are also discussed

Significant others' perceptions of being taken seriously by the Swedish Ambulance Service when the patient is assessed as non-urgent

BackgroundAt least 50% of all ambulance assignments are deemed nonurgent, while 47–96% are initiated by someone other than the patient. Previous research has highlighted the importance of being taken seriously. However, additional knowledge of how significant others experience the situation when a patient is assessed as nonurgent is needed.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the person‐centred climate in the Ambulance Service from the perspective of significant others by means of the Person‐centred Climate Questionnaire – Family version (PCQ‐F), to psychometrically investigate the construct validity of additional items intended to measure perceptions of being taken seriously and to explore possible relationships between the person‐centred climate and these additional items.MethodsA retrospective, explorative, cross‐sectional survey design was employed. In total, 241 questionnaires were distributed. Descriptive and comparative statistics and a factor analysis of eight items possibly constructing person‐centredness are presented.ResultsThe 100 respondents experienced the climate as very person‐centred. Relationships were found between the items that might constitute person‐centredness and the PCQ‐F. The PCQ‐F can explain perceived person‐centredness through the additional items that may constitute person‐centredness in the Ambulance Service context.ConclusionSignificant others consider eight aspects of being taken seriously as the core of person‐centredness in nonurgent Ambulance Service assignments. There is a relationship between the psychosocial climate and the additional items that might constitute person‐centredness

Assessing food dietary intakes in Japanese-Brazilians using factor analysis Avaliação da ingestão de alimentos por nipo-brasileiros utilizando análise fatorial

We describe the use of factor analysis for assessing food habits in Japanese-Brazilians. Dietary data from 1,283 participants of a cross-sectional study were used. Besides statistical criteria, we also used the conceptual meaning of identified profiles to obtain scores for dietary patterns (Japanese or Western profile). Paired Student t test, linear regression and Poisson models were used to verify the existence of relationship between these scores and generation, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and presence of metabolic syndrome, respectively. First generation subjects had higher mean Japanese profile scores and lower Western profile scores than those of second generation. The Western dietary pattern was associated with BMI (p = 0.001), waist circumference (p = 0.023) and metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05). We concluded that these scores were able to discriminate subjects who maintained their traditional Japanese lifestyle or otherwise, and that the incorporation of a Western lifestyle is associated to high values of BMI, waist circumference and presence of metabolic syndrome.<br>Descreve-se o uso da análise fatorial na avaliação dos hábitos alimentares de nipo-brasileiros. Utilizaram-se dados dietéticos de 1.283 participantes de estudo transversal. A partir de critérios estatísticos e do significado conceitual dos padrões identificados, geraram-se escores que definiram os perfis dietéticos (japonês ou ocidental). Empregou-se o teste t de Student pareado, os modelos de regressão linear e de Poisson para examinar as relações desses escores com, respectivamente, a geração, índice de massa corporal (IMC), perímetro abdominal e a presença de síndrome metabólica. Aqueles de primeira geração, em relação aos de segunda, apresentaram escores maiores para o perfil japonês e menores para o ocidental. O perfil ocidental relacionou-se com o IMC (p = 0,001), perímetro abdominal (p = 0,023) e a síndrome metabólica (p < 0,05). Conclui-se que os escores discriminaram sujeitos que mantêm ou não estilo de vida tradicional japonês e que a incorporação de hábitos ocidentais associou-se a maiores valores de IMC, perímetro abdominal e a presença de síndrome metabólica