Accommodating Stealth Assessment in Serious Games:Towards Developing A Generic Tool

Stealth assessment derives the progression of learning in an unobtrusive way from observed gameplay captured in log files. To this end, it uses machine learning technologies to provide probabilistic reasoning over established latent competency variable models. Now that video games are increasingly being used for training and learning purposes, stealth assessment could provide an excellent means of monitoring learning progress without the need for explicit testing. However, applying stealth assessment is a complex and laborious process. This paper analyses the limitations of stealth assessment and conceptualizes the requirements for developing a generic tool that could overcome its barriers and accommodate its practical application. Hence, a framework is presented describing its user and functional requirements. The proposed generic solution could open up the wider uptake of stealth assessment in serious games

Age-Related Health Hazards in Old Patients with First-Time Referral to a Rheumatologist: A Descriptive Study

Objective. To study the prevalence of generic age-related health hazards in elderly patient referred to a rheumatologist. Methods. Patients aged 75 or older referred to a specialized gerontorheumatological outpatient service over a period of 2 years were studied prospectively to determine the prevalence of comorbidities, a history of falls, inactivity, cognitive dysfunction, loneliness, and depression in this patient group. Results. A group of 154 patients were included in the study. Comorbidities were observed in 88% of the patients. At least one fall was reported in the last year by 44% of the patients; 44% of the patients reported low levels of health-enhancing physical activity. Depressed mood and loneliness were elevated in 30% and 31% of the patients, respectively. Mild or moderate cognitive impairment was observed in 13% of the patients. Conclusion. Patients in this study were characterized by poor physical ability, high levels of pain, and high prevalence of age-related health hazards

Blood clearance and tissue distribution of PEGylated and non-PEGylated gold nanorods after intravenous administration in rats\ud

Aims: To develop and determine the safety of gold nanorods, whose aspect ratios can be tuned to obtain plasmon peaks between 650 and 850 nm, as contrast enhancing agents for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Materials & methods: In this study we compared the blood clearance and tissue distribution of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-capped and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated gold nanorods after intravenous injection in the tail vein of rats. The gold content in blood and various organs was measured quantitatively with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results & discussion: The CTAB-capped gold nanorods were almost immediately (<15 min) cleared from the blood circulation whereas the PEGylation of gold nanorods resulted in a prolonged blood circulation with a half-life time of 19 h and more wide spread tissue distribution. While for the CTAB-capped gold nanorods the tissue distribution was limited to liver, spleen and lung, the PEGylated gold nanorods also distributed to kidney, heart, thymus, brain and testes. PEGylation of the gold nanorods resulted in the spleen being the organ with the highest exposure, whereas for the non-PEGylated CTAB-capped gold nanorods the liver was the organ with the highest exposure, per gram of organ. Conclusion: The PEGylation of gold nanorods resulted in a prolongation of the blood clearance and the highest organ exposure in the spleen. In view of the time frame (up to 48 h) of the observed presence in blood circulation, PEGylated gold nanorods can be considered to be promising candidates for therapeutic and diagnostic imaging purpose

Use and perceived added value of patient-reported measurement instruments by physiotherapists treating acute low back pain:a survey study among Dutch physiotherapists

Contains fulltext : 217665.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Salmonella in mengvoeders

In het kader van het veelomvattende salmonella-vraagstuk is het plan opgevat om alle mengvoeders te pelleteren. De monsters werden na pelleteren aangeboden en onderzocht op aanwezigheid van salmonella volgens de zogenaamde 'methode Cornelisse'. Doel hiervan is na te gaan of het pelleteerprocédé van mengvoeders voldoende effectief is om de aanwezigheid van salmonella in mengvoeders te reduceren

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of coping with rheumatic stressors instrument into Turkish language

Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

Development and internal validation of a machine learning prediction model for low back pain non-recovery in patients with an acute episode consulting a physiotherapist in primary care

BACKGROUND: While low back pain occurs in nearly everybody and is the leading cause of disability worldwide, we lack instruments to accurately predict persistence of acute low back pain. We aimed to develop and internally validate a machine learning model predicting non-recovery in acute low back pain and to compare this with current practice and 'traditional' prediction modeling. METHODS: Prognostic cohort-study in primary care physiotherapy. Patients (n = 247) with acute low back pain (≤ one month) consulting physiotherapists were included. Candidate predictors were assessed by questionnaire at baseline and (to capture early recovery) after one and two weeks. Primary outcome was non-recovery after three months, defined as at least mild pain (Numeric Rating Scale > 2/10). Machine learning models to predict non-recovery were developed and internally validated, and compared with two current practices in physiotherapy (STarT Back tool and physiotherapists' expectation) and 'traditional' logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Forty-seven percent of the participants did not recover at three months. The best performing machine learning model showed acceptable predictive performance (area under the curve: 0.66). Although this was no better than a'traditional' logistic regression model, it outperformed current practice. CONCLUSIONS: We developed two prognostic models containing partially different predictors, with acceptable performance for predicting (non-)recovery in patients with acute LBP, which was better than current practice. Our prognostic models have the potential of integration in a clinical decision support system to facilitate data-driven, personalized treatment of acute low back pain, but needs external validation first

Coping with rheumatic stressors (CORS) questionnaire: Spanish translation and cross-cultural adaptation

Background: Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) substantially impact the lives of patients, with complex associations between disease severity and self-perceived health status. In this regard, the Coping with Rheumatic Stressors (CORS) questionnaire was developed to measure how patients with RMDs cope with stressors such as pain, limitations or dependency. The CORS is not currently available in Spanish, and therefore the adaptation of this instrument is needed.Objective: First, to cross-culturally adapt the CORS into Spanish for Spain. Secondly, to test the conceptual equivalence of the translated version in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods: A translation of the CORS into Spanish was performed adhering to the forward-backward procedure described by Beaton. Two translators produced independent forward translations of the item content, response options, and instructions of the CORS into Spanish. Both versions were harmonized in a consensual version. Another translator back-translated the synthesized version into Dutch. A scientific committee including all the translators, one methodologist and a rheumatologist, held a meeting and reached consensus on discrepancies to develop a final draft version of the Spanish CORS. Then, a field test with cognitive debriefing was conducted, involving a sample of 10 patients with axSpA. Results: The translation process of the CORS was completed after the discussion of some discrepancies throughout the process. The first translation was done without major complications. Back-translation presented some discrepancies. These led to minor modifications in the wording in one response option and 15 questionnaire items. The scientific committee agreed upon a final version of the questionnaire. Cognitive debriefing, led to minor modifications; for example, three respondents indicated that one of the statements in the instructions was syntactically complex ("indique cuan a menudo usted ha llevado a cabo dicho comportamiento") which led to its adjustment. The process indicated that the final CORS Spanish questionnaire was clear and understandable to all patients.Conclusions: The Spanish version of the CORS showed good cross-cultural validity and good face validity according to the field test. Before the Spanish CORS is implemented, further validation is in progress to test the psychometric properties of the instrument in patients with axSpA.Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease