Surface properties correlate to the digestibility of hydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic Poaceae biomass feedstocks

Additional file 1: Figures S1–S12. 13C-1H HSQC (heteronuclear single quantum coherence) spectra of untreated (raw) and hydrothermally pretreated (log R 0 = 3.65, 3.83 and 3.97) corn stover, Miscanthus × giganteus stalks and wheat straw. Figure S13. Phenylcoumaran structure. Figures S14–S16. Selected ATR-FTIR spectra each representing sample from untreated (raw) and hydrothermally pretreated (log R 0 = 3.65, 3.83 and 3.97) corn stover, Miscanthus × giganteus stalks and wheat straw. Figures S17–S30. Scatter plot of surface and bulk chemical composition with glucose release and wettability test of hydrothermally pretreated (log R 0 = 3.65, 3.83 and 3.97) corn stover, Miscanthus × giganteus stalks and wheat straw

Wireless tissue palpation: Head characterization to improve tumor detection in soft tissue

For surgeons performing open procedures, the sense of touch is a valuable tool to directly access buried structures and organs, to identify their margins, detect tumors, and prevent undesired cuts. Minimally invasive surgical procedures provide great benefits for patients; however, they hinder the surgeon's ability to directly manipulate the tissue. In our previous work, we developed a Wireless Palpation Probe (WPP) to restore tissue palpation in Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) by creating a real-time stiffness distribution map of the target tissue. The WPP takes advantage of a field-based magnetic localization algorithm to measure its position, orientation, and tissue indentation depth, in addition to a barometric sensor measuring indentation tissue pressure. However, deformations of both the tissue and the silicone material used to cover the pressure sensors introduce detrimental nonlinearities in sensor measurements. In this work, we calibrated and characterized different diameter WPP heads with a new design allowing exchangeability and disposability of the probe head. Benchtop trials showed that this method can effectively reduce error in sensor pressure measurements up to 5% with respect to the reference sensor. Furthermore, we studied the effect of the head diameter on the device's spatial resolution in detecting tumor simulators embedded into silicone phantoms. Overall, the results showed a tumor detection rate over 90%, independent of the head diameter, when an indentation depth of 5 mm is applied on the tissue simulator

Rapid tests and urine sampling techniques for the diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children under five years: a systematic review

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common sources of infection in children under five. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is important to reduce the risk of renal scarring. Rapid, cost-effective, methods of UTI diagnosis are required as an alternative to culture. Methods: We conducted a systematic review to determine the diagnostic accuracy of rapid tests for detecting UTI in children under five years of age. Results: The evidence supports the use of dipstick positive for both leukocyte esterase and nitrite (pooled LR+ = 28.2, 95% CI: 17.3, 46.0) or microscopy positive for both pyuria and bacteriuria (pooled LR+ = 37.0, 95% CI: 11.0, 125.9) to rule in UTI. Similarly dipstick negative for both LE and nitrite (Pooled LR- = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.26) or microscopy negative for both pyuria and bacteriuria (Pooled LR- = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.23) can be used to rule out UTI. A test for glucose showed promise in potty-trained children. However, all studies were over 30 years old. Further evaluation of this test may be useful. Conclusion: Dipstick negative for both LE and nitrite or microscopic analysis negative for both pyuria and bacteriuria of a clean voided urine, bag, or nappy/pad specimen may reasonably be used to rule out UTI. These patients can then reasonably be excluded from further investigation, without the need for confirmatory culture. Similarly, combinations of positive tests could be used to rule in UTI, and trigger further investigation

Inter- and intra-observer variability analysis of completely automated cIMT measurement software (AtheroEdge™) and its benchmarking against commercial ultrasound scanner and expert Readers

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the measurement error and inter- and intra-observer variability of completely off-line automated and semi-automated carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) measurement software (AtheroEdge™).Two hundred carotid ultrasound images from 50 asymptomatic women were analyzed. AtheroEdge™ was benchmarked against a commercial system (Syngo, Siemens) using automated and semi-automated modes. The measurement error and inter- and intra-observer variability of AtheroEdge™ were tested using three readings.The measurement error of AtheroEdge™ compared to the commercial software was 0.002±0.019. mm (r=0.99) in the automated mode and -0.001±0.004. mm in the semi-automated mode (r=0.99). The measurement error of AtheroEdge™ compared to the mean value of the three expert Readers (cIMT bias) for the automated and semi-automated methods was -0.0004±0.158. mm and -0.008±0.157. mm, respectively. The Figure-of-Merit was 99.8% and 99.9% when compared to the commercial ultrasound scanner (using the automated and semi-automated method, respectively) and was 99.9% and 98.9% when compared to the mean value of the three expert Readers. Regarding inter- and intra-observer variability, the intra-class correlation coefficient of the three independent users using the semi-automated AtheroEdge™ was 0.98.AtheroEdge™ showed a measurement performance comparable to the commercial ultrasound scanner software and the expert Readers' tracings. AtheroEdge™ belongs to a class of automated systems that could find application in processing large datasets for common carotid arteries, avoiding subjectivity in cIMT measurement

How does study quality affect the results of a diagnostic meta-analysis?

Background: The use of systematic literature review to inform evidence based practice in diagnostics is rapidly expanding. Although the primary diagnostic literature is extensive, studies are often of low methodological quality or poorly reported. There has been no rigorously evaluated, evidence based tool to assess the methodological quality of diagnostic studies. The primary objective of this study was to determine the extent to which variations in the quality of primary studies impact the results of a diagnostic meta-analysis and whether this differs with diagnostic test type. A secondary objective was to contribute to the evaluation of QUADAS, an evidence-based tool for the assessment of quality in diagnostic accuracy studies. Methods: This study was conducted as part of large systematic review of tests used in the diagnosis and further investigation of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children. All studies included in this review were assessed using QUADAS, an evidence-based tool for the assessment of quality in systematic reviews of diagnostic accuracy studies. The impact of individual components of QUADAS on a summary measure of diagnostic accuracy was investigated using regression analysis. The review divided the diagnosis and further investigation of UTI into the following three clinical stages: diagnosis of UTI, localisation of infection, and further investigation of the UTI. Each stage used different types of diagnostic test, which were considered to involve different quality concerns. Results: Many of the studies included in our review were poorly reported. The proportion of QUADAS items fulfilled was similar for studies in different sections of the review. However, as might be expected, the individual items fulfilled differed between the three clinical stages. Regression analysis found that different items showed a strong association with test performance for the different tests evaluated. These differences were observed both within and between the three clinical stages assessed by the review. The results of regression analyses were also affected by whether or not a weighting (by sample size) was applied. Our analysis was severely limited by the completeness of reporting and the differences between the index tests evaluated and the reference standards used to confirm diagnoses in the primary studies. Few tests were evaluated by sufficient studies to allow meaningful use of meta-analytic pooling and investigation of heterogeneity. This meant that further analysis to investigate heterogeneity could only be undertaken using a subset of studies, and that the findings are open to various interpretations. Conclusion: Further work is needed to investigate the influence of methodological quality on the results of diagnostic meta-analyses. Large data sets of well-reported primary studies are needed to address this question. Without significant improvements in the completeness of reporting of primary studies, progress in this area will be limited

The periodic table of data structures

http://sites.computer.org/debull/A18sept/p64.pdfPublished versio

Challenges in body composition assessment using air-displacement plethysmography by BOD POD in pediatric and young adult patients

Background &amp; aims: Air-Displacement-Plethysmography (ADP) by BOD POD is widely used for body fat assessment in children. Although validated in healthy subjects, studies about use in pediatric patients are lacking. We evaluated user experience and usability of ADP measurements with the BOD POD system in healthy children and pediatric and young adult patients. Methods: Using the experiences of seven cohort studies, which included healthy children and patients aged 2–22 years, we retrospectively evaluated the user experience with the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) (n = 13) and interviews (n = 7). Technical performance was studied using the quality control data collected by the ADP-system. Results: From 2016 to 2022, 1606 measurements were scheduled. BOD POD was mostly rated ‘user-friendly’, with a generally neutral evaluation on all scales of the UEQ. However, questionable reliability and validity of the results were frequently (86%) reported. We found a high technical failure-rate of the device, predominantly in stability (17%) and accuracy of the measurement (12%), especially in the ‘pediatric option’ for children aged &lt;6 years. Measurement failure-rate was 38%, mostly due to subject's fear or device failure, especially in young and lean children, and in children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Conclusion: We conclude that ADP by BOD POD in children and young adults is non-invasive and user-friendly. However, in specific pediatric populations, BOD POD has several limitations and high (technical) failure-rates, especially in young children with aberrant body composition. We recommend caution when interpreting body composition results of pediatric patients as assessed with BOD POD using the current default settings.</p