Development of a Computerized Adaptive Testing for Internet Addiction

Internet addiction disorder has become one of the most popular forms of addiction in psychological and behavioral areas, and measuring it is growing increasingly important in practice. This study aimed to develop a computerized adaptive testing to measure and assess internet addiction (CAT-IA) efficiently. Four standardized scales were used to build the original item bank. A total of 59 polytomously scored items were finally chosen after excluding 42 items for failing the psychometric evaluation. For the final 59-item bank of CAT-IA, two simulation studies were conducted to investigate the psychometric properties, efficiency, reliability, concurrent validity, and predictive validity of CAT-IA under different stopping rules. The results showed that (1) the final 59 items met IRT assumptions, had high discrimination, showed good item-model fit, and were without DIF; and (2) the CAT-IA not only had high measurement accuracy in psychometric properties but also sufficient efficiency, reliability, concurrent validity, and predictive validity. The impact and limitations of CAT-IA were discussed, and several suggestions for future research were provided

A New Measurement of Internet Addiction Using Diagnostic Classification Models

To obtain accurate, valid, and rich information from the questionnaires for internet addiction, a diagnostic classification test for internet addiction (the DCT-IA) was developed using diagnostic classification models (DCMs), a cutting-edge psychometric theory, based on DSM-5. A calibration sample and a validation sample were recruited in this study to calibrate the item parameters of the DCT-IA and to examine the sensitivity and specificity. The DCT-IA had high reliability and validity based on both CTT and DCMs, and had a sensitivity of 0.935 and a specificity of 0.817 with AUC = 0.919. More important, different from traditional questionnaires, the DCT-IA can simultaneously provide general-level diagnostic information and the detailed symptom criteria-level information about the posterior probability of satisfying each symptom criterion in DMS-5 for each patient, which gives insight into tailoring individual-specific treatments for internet addiction

Phosphatidylserine exposing-platelets and microparticles promote procoagulant activity in colon cancer patients

Background: Colon cancer is invariably accompanied by altered coagulation activity; however, the precise role of phosphatidylserine (PS) in the hypercoagulable state of colon cancer patients remains unclear. We explored the exposure of PS on platelets and microparticles (MPs), and evaluate its role in procoagulant activity in colon cancer patients. Methods: PS-positive platelets and MPs, mainly from platelets and endothelial cells, were detected by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, and their procoagulant activity was assessed with purified coagulation complex assays, clotting time, and fibrin turbidity. Results: Plasma levels of PS-positive platelets increased gradually from stage I to IV and were higher in all stages of the patients than in the healthy control, while PS-positive platelet-derived MPs only increased significantly in stage III/IV patients. Meanwhile, PS-positive MPs and endothelial-derived MPs in stage II/III/IV patients were markedly higher than ones in controls but no difference with stage I. Tissue factor positive MPs were higher in all 4 stages of colon cancer patients than in the healthy control. Platelets and MPs from the patients demonstrated significantly enhanced intrinsic/extrinsic FXa and thrombin generation, greatly shortened coagulation time, and increased fibrin formation. Combined treatment with PS antagonist lactadherin, strongly prolonged the coagulation time and reduced fibrin formation by inhibiting factor tenase and prothrombinase complex activity. In contrast, pretreatment with anti tissue factor antibody played a lesser role in suppression of procoagulant activity. Conclusion: Our results suggest that PS-positive platelets and MPs contribute to hypercoagulability and represent a potential therapeutic target to prevent coagulation in patients with colon cancer

Optimization Method of Tool Parameters and Cutting Parameters Considering Dynamic Change of Performance Indicators

In the process of metal cutting, the cutting performance of cutting tools varies with different parameter combinations, so the results of the performance indicators studied are also different. So in order to achieve the best performance indicator it is necessary to get the best parameter matching combination. In addition, in the process of metal cutting, the value of the performance index is different at each stage of the processing process. In order to consider the cutting process more comprehensively, it is necessary to use a comprehensive evaluation method that can evaluate the dynamic process of performance indicators. This paper uses a dynamic evaluation method that considers the dynamic change of performance indicators in each stage of the cutting process to comprehensively evaluate the tool parameters and cutting parameters at each level. For the purpose of high processing efficiency and long tool life, tool wear rate and material removal rate are used as performance indicators. In the case of specified rake angle, cutting speed and cutting width, titanium alloy is studied by end milling cutter side milling. The tool parameters and cutting parameters in milling process are optimized by using a dynamic comprehensive evaluation method based on gain horizontal excitation. Finally, the parameter matching combination that can make the performance indicator reach the best is obtained. The results show that when the rake angle is 8°, the cutting speed is 37.68 m/min, and the cutting width is 0.2 mm, the tool wear rate and material removal rate are the best when the clearance angle is 9°, the helix angle is 30°, the feed per tooth is 0.15 mm/z, and the cutting depth is 2.5 mm

High-Order Boussinesq Equations for Water Wave Propagation in Porous Media

To accurately capture wave dynamics in porous media, the higher-order Boussinesq-type equations for wave propagation in deep water are derived in this paper. Starting with the Laplace equations combined with the linear and nonlinear resistance force of the dynamic conditions on the free surface, the governing equations were formulated using various independent velocity variables, such as the depth-averaged velocity and the velocity at the still water level and at an arbitrary vertical position in the water column. The derived equations were then improved, and theoretical analyses were carried out to investigate the linear performances with respect to phase celerity and damping rate. It is shown that Boussinesq-type models with Padé [4, 4] dispersion can be applied in deep water. A numerical implementation for one-dimensional equations expressed with free surface elevation and depth-averaged velocity is presented. Solitary wave propagation in porous media was simulated, and the computed results were found to be generally in good agreement with the measurements

The reproducibility of adenosine monophosphate bronchial challenges in mild, steroid-naive asthmatics

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECTRepeated adenosine monophosphate (AMP) challenges are used to assess drug effects in asthma clinical trials, but may be prone to tachyphylaxis when repeated at short intervals.Possible tachyphylaxis at 12- and 24-h intervals has not been studied.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDSClinically relevant tachyphylaxis after repeated AMP challenges does not occur when repeated at 12- and 24-h intervals.AMP challenges at these intervals can be used to assess drug effects in clinical trials