Practical Applications of Sequential Pattern Recognition Techniques

Experiments involving sequential recognition techniques and feature ordering schemes were performed on 23 feature samples of vowel spectra and 12 feature samples of remotely sensed agricultural crop data. Since each experiment dealt with two pattern classes, Wald\u27s sequential probability ratio test was used. The test was implemented with both fixed and time-varying stopping boundaries. Feature ordering was accomplished by both dispersion analysis and the divergence criterion

Practical Applications of Sequential Pattern Recognition Techniques

Experiments involving sequential recognition techniques and feature ordering schemes were performed on 23 feature samples of vowel spectra and 12 feature samples of remotely sensed agricultural crop data. Since each experiment dealt with two pattern classes, Wald\u27s sequential probability ratio test was used. The test was implemented with both fixed and time-varying stopping boundaries. Feature ordering was accomplished by both dispersion analysis and the divergence criterion

How Does the SF--‐36 Perform in Healthy Populations? A Structured Review of Longitudinal Studies

This study examined the stability of the Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form (SF-36) in healthy populations. The researchers conducted a structured review of longitudinal studies that reported the use of SF-36 among people in their active working years ages 18 to 65. The cumulative sample size across selected studies comprised 29,868 participants. SF-36 mean scores were similar to published U.S. aggregate norms. Gender-specific changes in SF-36 scores also followed a normative trend, with women having greater declines in scores (poorer health) than men. The SF-36 was stable among healthy populations; however, its use among healthy people requires caution, particularly when considering the longitudinal effects of age

Positron emission tomography measures of benzodiazepine receptors in Huntington's disease

We performed positron emission tomographic (PET) measurements of the regional distribution volume of benzodiazepine receptors and regional glucose metabolism in 6 drug-free patients with early Huntington's disease following injection of [ 11 C] flumazenil, a nonsubtype selective central benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, and 18 F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy- D -glucose, respectively. Flumazenil data were analyzed with a recently developed two-compartment, two-parameter tracer kinetic model. Benzodiazepine receptor density is related to distribution volume for flumazenil. In comparison with a group of healthy volunteers, benzodiazepine receptor density was significantly decreased in the caudate nucleus. Glucose metabolism was significantly reduced not only in the caudate nucleus but also in the putamen and thalamus. The changes in benzodiazepine receptor density observed in the caudate nucleus are commensurate with data obtained in postmortem autoradiographic studies of receptor density. Based on such postmortem studies we also anticipated changes in putamen and thalamic benzodiazepine receptor density. However, relatively little is known on receptor changes in early Huntington's disease, because the autoradiographic data available were obtained mostly in patients with advanced disease. The decreased glucose metabolism in the caudate and putamen agrees well with previously published results of PET studies, whereas metabolic impairment of the thalamus has not yet been described in Huntington's disease. The present study suggests that regional metabolism and Γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-benzodiazepine receptor changes in subcortical structures of patients with early Huntington's disease do not occur with the same time course: Caudate benzodiazepine receptor density is already severely impaired when other subcortical structures reveal only minor abnormalities. Impairment of neuronal metabolism seems to predate GABA/benzodiazepine receptor changes since the putamen and thalamus demonstrate metabolic impairment without detectable loss of benzodiazepine receptor density.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50353/1/410340114_ftp.pd

Factors associated with parents’ and adolescents’ perceptions of oral health and need for dental treatment

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72207/1/j.1600-0528.2006.00336.x.pd

Hmong Adults Self-Rated Oral Health: A Pilot Study

Since 1975, the Hmong refugee population in the U.S. has increased over 200%. However, little is known about their dental needs or self-rated oral health (SROH). The study aims were to: (1) describe the SROH, self-rated general health (SRGH), and use of dental/physician services; and (2) identify the factors associated with SROH among Hmong adults. A cross-sectional study design with locating sampling methodology was used. Oral health questionnaire was administered to assess SROH and SRGH, past dental and physician visits, and language preference. One hundred twenty adults aged 18–50+ were recruited and 118 had useable information. Of these, 49% rated their oral health as poor/fair and 30% rated their general health as poor/fair. Thirty-nine percent reported that they did not have a regular source of dental care, 46% rated their access to dental care as poor/fair, 43% visited a dentist and 66% visited a physician within the past 12 months. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that access to dental care, past dental visits, age and SRGH were significantly associated with SROH (P \u3c 0.05). Multivariate analyses demonstrated a strong association between access to dental care and good/excellent SROH. About half of Hmong adults rated their oral health and access to dental care as poor. Dental insurance, access to dental care, past preventive dental/physician visits and SRGH were associated with SROH

The Use of AlphaScreen Technology in HTS: Current Status

AlphaScreen (Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay Screen) is versatile assay technology developed to measuring analytes using a homogenous protocol. This technology is an example of a bead-based proximity assay and was developed from a diagnostic assay technology known as LOCI (Luminescent Oxygen Channeling Assay). Here, singlet oxygen molecules, generated by high energy irradiation of Donor beads, travel over a constrained distance (approx. 200 nm) to Acceptor beads. This results in excitation of a cascading series of chemical reactions, ultimately causing generation of a chemiluminescent signal

Trends in Self‐Reported Oral Health of US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999‐2014

Objective Single‐item self‐reported oral health (SROH) is a convenient and reliable measure for the assessment of population‐based oral health. However, little is known about trends and its associations among US adults. This study investigated trends in SROH (aged 20+ years) and the associated factors among adults living in the United States. Methods Self‐reported oral health data for 41 621 adults aged 20+ years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 to 2014 were analysed. Survey‐weighted descriptive statistics were computed to provide nationally representative estimates. Multivariable logistic regression was performed separately for each survey period with SROH as the primary outcome. Independent variables included were age, gender, race/ethnicity, education level and family poverty income ratio or PIR. Pooled survey‐weighted multivariable logistic regression was also performed to consider possible time‐changing effects. Results The survey‐weighted proportions of “excellent or very good” in SROH increased from 27% in 1999‐2000 (n = 4873) to 38% in 2013‐2014 (n = 5765). Separate multivariable logistic analyses for each survey period suggested that females, Whites (vs Mexican and Black Americans) as well as respondents from high family PIR had higher odds of reporting their oral health as “excellent or very good” (P \u3c .05). The pooled multivariable logistic model confirmed results in the separate logistic regression, and respondents in the more recent survey periods had higher probabilities of reporting “excellent or very good” oral health. Respondents aged 50‐59 years were found to have relatively lower probabilities of reporting “excellent or very good” oral health, while people aged 20‐29 years had higher probabilities than those aged 30‐39 years. Compared to respondents with lower education, those with higher education were more likely to report their oral health as excellent or very good. Conclusions Self‐reported oral health improved from 1999 to 2014. In general, respondents who were young, female, White, had higher education or higher income or were surveyed in more recent years reported excellent or very good oral health