MEASUREMENT OF THE ELECTRICAL POWER PRODUCED BY PIEZOELECTRIC FIBRES

ABSTRACT The piezoelectric effect is a widely studied phenomenon that consists in the production of electric charge in some materials when they are subjected to mechanical loading. Some polymers provide piezoelectric properties and under certain conditions piezoelectric textile fibres can be produced. The electrical properties of these fibres are investigated in the current paper. For the respective electrical measurements a special purpose testing set up has been developed. The signals obtained have been electronically conditioned and numerically processed in order to receive the respective information. It became possible to measure and evaluate the electric power generated by a single fibre

Psychometric Properties, Factor Structure, and Evidence for Measurement Invariance in the Greek Version of the Disgust Scale-Revised (DS-R)

The Disgust Scale has been designed to measure disgust propensity—the individual ease in experiencing disgust. The present study aimed to explore the validity, reliability, the factor structure, and the measurement invariance of the Greek version of the Disgust Scale-Revised (DS-R). A sample of 754 healthy participants completed the Greek version of the DS-R. A subset (n = 363) also completed the revised Symptom checked list and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, in order to examine the concurrent validity. Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analyses in different subsets were used to examine the factor structure. Multiple indicators–multiple causes model (MIMIC) models were used to assess the measurement invariance across gender and age. Demographic influences were assessed using t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlations. Exploratory factor analysis concluded to two and three factor models, with a factor structure similar to the ones proposed in the literature. Confirmatory factor analysis and bi-factor analysis provided evidence in favor of the three-factor solution. Measurement invariance test revealed differences in six items across gender, and three items across age. The psychometric properties of the factors were satisfactory. Demographic influences on the responses were present, especially with respect to gender. The Greek version of the DS-R demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, making it suitable for use for the Greek population

Bortezomib-based triplets are associated with a high probability of dialysis independence and rapid renal recovery in newly diagnosed myeloma patients with severe renal failure or those requiring dialysis

Renal failure (RF) is a common and severe complication of symptomatic myeloma, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Such patients are commonly excluded from clinical trials. Bortezomib/dexamethasone (VD)-based regimens are the backbone of the treatment of newly diagnosed MM patients who present with severe RF even those requiring dialysis. We analyzed the outcomes of 83 consecutive bortezomib-treated patients with severe RF (eGFR<30 ml/min/1.73 m2), of which 31 (37%) required dialysis. By IMWG renal response criteria, 54 (65%) patients achieved at least MRrenal, including CRrenal in 35% and PRrenal in 12%. Triplet combinations (i.e., VD plus a third agent) versus VD alone were associated with higher rates of renal responses (72 vs. 50%; P=0.06). Fifteen of the 31 (48%) patients became dialysis independent within a median of 217 days (range 11-724). Triplets were associated with a higher probability of dialysis discontinuation (57 vs. 35%). Serum free light chain (sFLC) level ≥11,550 mg/L was associated with lower rates of major renal response, longer time to major renal response, lower probability, and longer time to dialysis discontinuation. Rapid myeloma response (≥PR within the first month) was also associated with higher rates of renal response. Patients who became dialysis-independent had longer survival than those remaining on dialysis. In conclusion, VD-based triplets are associated with a significant probability of renal response and dialysis discontinuation, improving the survival of patients who became dialysis independent. Rapid disease response is important for renal recovery and sFLCs are predictive of the probability and of the time required for renal response. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Psychometric Properties, Factor Structure, and Evidence for Measurement Invariance in the Greek Version of the Disgust Scale-Revised (DS-R)

The Disgust Scale has been designed to measure disgust propensity-the individual ease in experiencing disgust. The present study aimed to explore the validity, reliability, the factor structure, and the measurement invariance of the Greek version of the Disgust Scale-Revised (DS-R). A sample of 754 healthy participants completed the Greek version of the DS-R. A subset (n = 363) also completed the revised Symptom checked list and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, in order to examine the concurrent validity. Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analyses in different subsets were used to examine the factor structure. Multiple indicators-multiple causes model (MIMIC) models were used to assess the measurement invariance across gender and age. Demographic influences were assessed using t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlations. Exploratory factor analysis concluded to two and three factor models, with a factor structure similar to the ones proposed in the literature. Confirmatory factor analysis and bi-factor analysis provided evidence in favor of the three-factor solution. Measurement invariance test revealed differences in six items across gender, and three items across age. The psychometric properties of the factors were satisfactory. Demographic influences on the responses were present, especially with respect to gender. The Greek version of the DS-R demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, making it suitable for use for the Greek population

Increased Serum Lactate Dehydrongenase Should Be Included Among the Variables That Define Very-High-Risk Multiple Myeloma

In 203 consecutive unselected patients with symptomatic MM who received upfront treatment with novel agents, high levels of serum LDH were independently associated with poor survival and could identify subgroups of patients within ISS-2 and ISS-3 with even worse outcome. Evaluating serum LDH levels is a simple, inexpensive, and readily available procedure that could be considered among the variables that define very-high-risk MM. Background: In patients who have symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM), a high serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level is associated with features of advanced disease, adds prognostic value to the international staging system (ISS) and predicts for inferior survival. However, it has not been clearly defined what the impact of this abnormality is for patients treated upfront with novel agent-based regimens. Patients and Methods: To address this issue we analyzed 203 consecutive unselected patients with symptomatic MM who received upfront treatment with novel agents in a single center. Results: The median overall survival for patients with normal LDH was 54 months but in patients with increased LDH levels it was 21 months (P = .003), whereas increased serum LDH was associated with a higher probability of early death. Multivariate analysis confirmed that an increased LDH level is independently associated with poor survival. Furthermore, increased LDH levels could identify subgroups of patients within ISS-2 and ISS-3 with even worse outcome. Conclusion: We conclude that serum LDH is a simple, inexpensive, and readily available blood test that may be included among the variables that define very-high-risk MM