Category: Statistics

J Sci Food Agric. 2021 Aug 14. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.11478. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Microwave sensor technology is considered to be a non-destructive and hygienic means for food evaluation and analysis. The rapid progress in microwave sensor technologies motivate to present a novel monkey-wrench shaped Microstrip Patch Sensor (MPS) for evaluating food quality. The proposed antenna is considered as a liquid sensor to detect adulteration in liquids by examining the relationship between concentration, shift in resonant frequency and variation in reflection coefficient.

RESULTS: The sensor has a compact size of 17×14 mm² imprinted on FR4 substrate of thickness 1.57 mm. This microwave system is proposed for monitoring the overall milk quality using microstrip sensor and has considerably good numerical sensitivity and accuracy i.e. 13.11% and 88.5% respectively which makes the system attractive for detecting adulteration. Further, the Q-factor for proposed sensor is 209 and has a standard deviation less than the difference between non-adulterated and adulterated values, giving resolution high enough to distinguish adulteration with an acceptable statistical accuracy. In this study, different milk categories such as buffalo, goat and cow milk are considered as liquid samples to detect adulteration by demonstrating the variation in reflection coefficient due to change in dielectric properties for different cases viz.: (i) adulteration of milk with water, (ii) adulteration of milk with synthetic milk powder, (iii) adulteration of milk with caustic soda & (iv) adulteration of milk with vegetable oil. The referred variation in reflection coefficient and resonant frequency is due to change in the dielectric properties of a liquid when a varying concentration of an adulterant/solute is added to the liquid sample.

CONCLUSION: The simulated and measured results show good agreement that validates the proposed sensor for food adulteration detection with high sensitivity. In terms of performance, the proposed sensor shows accuracy with high spatial resolution and reduced penetration depth to detect the adulteration in various milk samples i.e. buffalo, goat and cow milk. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34390496 | DOI:10.1002/jsfa.11478

J Perinat Med. 2021 Aug 12. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0289. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Decreasing fertility implies considerable public health, societal, political, and international consequences. Induced abortion (IA) and the recent COVID-19 pandemic can be contributing factors to it but these have not been adequately studied so far. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relation of IA incidence and the COVID-19 pandemic to declining rates of delivery, as per our Sardinian experience.

METHODS: We analyzed the registered data from the official Italian statistics surveys of deliveries and IA in the last 10 years from 2011 to 2020 in Sardinia.

RESULTS: A total of 106,557 deliveries occurred and a progressive decrease in the birth rate has been observed. A total of 18,250 IA occurred and a progressive decline has been observed here as well. The ratio between IA and deliveries remained constant over the decade. Between 2011 and 2019 a variation of -4.32% was observed for IA while in the last year, during the COVID-19 pandemic the decrease of the procedures was equal to -12.30%. For the deliveries, a mean variation of the -4.8% was observed between the 2011 and the 2019 while in the last year, during the COVID-19 pandemic the decrease was about -9%. Considering the about 30% reduction of live births between 2011 and 2020, there is an almost proportional reduction in IA.

CONCLUSIONS: Public policy responses to decreasing fertility, especially pronatalist ones, would be provided with evidence base about trends in delivery and IA and women’s decision making.

PMID:34388327 | DOI:10.1515/jpm-2021-0289

Klin Lab Diagn. 2021 Aug 13;66(8):489-495. doi: 10.51620/0869-2084-2021-66-8-489-495.

ABSTRACT

The aim of the work was to identify the features of B-lymphocyte differentiation in women with hypertensive disorders of various origins, to establish their relationship with indicators of the elastic properties of the vascular wall, and to develop additional diagnostic criteria for the severity of preeclampsia. We examined 193 women at 24-40 weeks of gestation. Of these, 39 women with chronic arterial hypertension, 35 women with preeclampsia that developed against the background of chronic arterial hypertension, 55 with preeclampsia. The control group consisted of 64 women without hypertensive disorders. To assess the elastic properties of the vascular wall, a sphygmographic attachment of the “Poly-Spectrum-8” hardware-software complex (“Neurosoft” Ivanovo) was used. The relative content of B-lymphocytes (CD19 + and CD20 +), regulatory B-cells (CD20 + IL-10 +), switched (CD19 + CD27 + IgD-) and non-switched (CD19 + CD27 + IgD +) memory cells, plasma cells (CD19 + CD20-CD38 +) in the general population of B-lymphocytes was assessed by flow cytometry on a FACSCantoII flow cytometer using the FACS Diva program. Statistical analysis was carried out using the programs “Statistica for Windows 6.0”, “Microsoft Excel 2010” and “MedCals”. All subjects with hypertensive disorders showed an increase in the stiffness of the arteries of the muscular and elastic types, the most pronounced in the groups of patients with PE, the maximum in women with CAH and associated PE. An increased level of B1-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood is also noted in all hypertensive disorders. There were revealed positive correlations of high strength between: the level of CD20 + cells and the velocity of pulse wave propagation through the arteries of the muscular type (PWVm) in all groups with hypertensive disorders; the content of B1 cells and PWVM in moderate preeclampsia; level emory B-cells and PWV in elastic-type arteries in women with CAH and associated PE. The ROC analysis of the relative content of B1 cells in the general population of B lymphocytes and the content of IL-10-producing cells in the population of CD20 + lymphocytes (Breg) in women with moderate and severe PE revealed criteria for the differential diagnosis of preeclampsia of varying severity. The presence of hypertensive disorders of various origins is accompanied by a decrease in the elasticity of the arterial vascular wall, which is most pronounced in patients with CAH and associated PE. These changes are largely correlated with the level of B cells. As additional criteria for determining the severity of PE, the relative content of B1 cells and IL-10-producing cells in the population of Breg CD20 + lymphocytes can be used.

PMID:34388320 | DOI:10.51620/0869-2084-2021-66-8-489-495

Clin Chem Lab Med. 2021 Aug 12. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2021-0510. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of different biologic, histopathologic and lifestyle factors on serum levels of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) and Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) in the diagnostic work up of women with an ovarian cyst or pelvic tumor.

METHODS: The statistical evaluation was performed on a population of 445 women diagnosed with a benign ovarian disease, included in a large Swedish multicenter trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03193671). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to distinguish between the true negatives and false positives through adjusting for biologic, histopathologic and lifestyle factors on serum samples of CA125 and HE4 separately. The likelihood ratio test was used to determine statistical significance and Benjamini-Hochberg correction to adjust for multiple testing.

RESULTS: A total of 31% of the women had false positive CA125 but only 9% had false positive results of HE4. Smoking (OR 6.62 95% CI 2.93-15.12) and impaired renal function, measured by eGFR (OR 0.18 95% CI 0.08-0.39), were independently predictive of falsely elevated serum levels of HE4. Endometriosis was the only variable predictive of falsely elevated serum levels of CA125 (OR 7.96 95% CI 4.53-14.39). Age correlated with increased serum levels of HE4.

CONCLUSIONS: Smoking, renal failure, age and endometriosis are factors that independently should be considered when assessing serum levels of HE4 and CA125 in women with an ovarian cyst or pelvic mass to avoid false indications of malignant disease.

PMID:34388324 | DOI:10.1515/cclm-2021-0510

Klin Lab Diagn. 2021 Aug 13;66(8):465-471. doi: 10.51620/0869-2084-2021-66-8-465-471.

ABSTRACT

A great deal of research was being done in studying of the age-related characteristics of carbohydrate metabolism and the provision of vitamins B1, B2 among the population of the Subarctic (SR) and Arctic (AR) regions, differing in the extreme natural and climatic-geographic living conditions. The surveyed population was divided into five age groups: 16-21, 22-35, 36-45, 46-60 and 61-74 years old. The parameters of carbohydrate metabolism (glucose, lactate, pyruvate) were determined in the blood serum, the content of thiamine (thiamin diphosphate effect) and riboflavin – in hemolysates, and the values of the lactate/pyruvate ratio (Lac/Pyr) were calculated. Statistical data processing was performed by nonparametric methods. An increase in glucose levels was found in persons of older age groups. Age-related fluctuations of metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism were manifested by a lower content of lactate and the value of the Lac/Pyr ratio in persons aged 16-21 years. Regardless of the age and region of the survey, there were revealed high lactate concentrations, Lac/Pyr values and reduced pyruvate levels, as well as low glucose levels in group aged 16-21 year in AR. For vitamins B1, B2, no pronounced age-related changes were observed, while the content of riboflavin was higher in persons of SR. Moderate hypovitaminosis of thiamin was detected in 13-20,1% and 6,1-22,7% of cases in SR and AR, pronounced – 8,3-11,6% and 4,6-23,5%, respectively, vitamin B2 deficiency was noted in 19,4-23,9% of persons in the AR and in 33,8-42,9% of persons in the AR. Vitamins in both regions at different age periods contributed to the formation of levels of indicators of carbohydrate metabolism: glucose and pyruvate in SR, lactate in AR.

PMID:34388316 | DOI:10.51620/0869-2084-2021-66-8-465-471

Klin Lab Diagn. 2021 Aug 13;66(8):459-464. doi: 10.51620/0869-2084-2021-66-8-459-464.

ABSTRACT

The analysis of long-term results of treatment of 88 primary patients with colon adenocarcinoma at various stages of tumor process is presented, taking into account the TNM system criteria, and serum IGF-1, IGF-2, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, VEGF, and MMP-7 levels. The overall survival rate assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and Cox multivariate regression model was used as the criterion of prognosis. It was established that IGF-1, IGFBP-2 and VEGF serum levels along with the stage of colorectal cancer might be considered as statistically significant independent predictors of overall survival in patients.

PMID:34388315 | DOI:10.51620/0869-2084-2021-66-8-459-464

J Vis. 2021 Aug 2;21(8):17. doi: 10.1167/jov.21.8.17.

ABSTRACT

New visualization approaches are being actively developed aiming to mitigate the effect of vergence-accommodation conflict in stereoscopic augmented reality; however, high interindividual variability in spatial performance makes it difficult to predict user gain. To address this issue, we investigated the effects of consistent and inconsistent binocular and focus cues on perceptual matching in the stereoscopic environment of augmented reality using a head-mounted display that was driven in multifocal and single focal plane modes. Participants matched the distance of a real object with images projected at three viewing distances, concordant with the display focal planes when driven in the multifocal mode. As a result, consistency of depth cues facilitated faster perceptual judgments on spatial relations. Moreover, the individuals with mild binocular and accommodative disorders benefited from the visualization of information on the focal planes corresponding to image planes more than individuals with normal vision, which was reflected in performance accuracy. Because symptoms and complaints may be absent when the functionality of the sensorimotor system is reduced, the results indicate the need for a detailed assessment of visual functions in research on spatial performance. This study highlights that the development of a visualization system that reduces visual stress and improves user performance should be a priority for the successful implementation of augmented reality displays.

PMID:34388233 | DOI:10.1167/jov.21.8.17

J Neuroimaging. 2021 Aug 13. doi: 10.1111/jon.12915. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dueto motion artifacts, optic nerve (ON) findings of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) can easily be overlooked on T2-weighted (T2w) turbo spin-echo sequence. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map derived from the interleaved multi-shot (IMS) echoplanar imaging (EPI) to the ON findings of IIH in children.

METHODS: MRIs of 42 pediatric patients aged 3-17 years diagnosed with definite IIH according to modified Dandy criteria were retrospectively re-evaluated, between April 2018 and January 2021. Forty-two age- and sex-matched subjects with no IIH symptoms and reported as normal were included as a control group.

RESULTS: ON sheath distance (ONSD) on the ADC map (p = .005) and vertical tortuosity (p = .030) were significant single MRI parameters for predicting IIH. Other single parameters were not statistically significant. Flattening of the posterior sclera (FPS) and ON protrusion (ONP) were observed on ADC maps more frequently than T2w (42.8% vs. 19% and 19% vs. 4.7%, respectively). From combined MRI parameters, the presence of at least one of ONP, FPS, or ONSD on ADC maps (p = .001) showed greater significance than the presence of T2w (p = .048). The predictive values of other MRI findings evaluated together were not statistically significant (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS: This study’s results show that due to the short readout time and less sensitivity to motion, the ADC map obtained from IMS-EPI can contribute to orbital findings of IIH, in addition to T2w.

PMID:34388272 | DOI:10.1111/jon.12915

Clin Oral Implants Res. 2021 Aug 13. doi: 10.1111/clr.13828. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To evaluate the Implant Disease Risk Assessment (IDRA) tool for the prediction of peri-implantitis in treated periodontitis patients with implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) after at least 5 years of function.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: From the patient pool of implant patients enrolled in a regular supportive periodontal therapy program (SPT) for at least 5 years, 239 patients were screened. Eighty patients met the inclusion criteria and underwent evaluation through the criteria of the IDRA tool. Areas under the curve (AUCs) for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves including 95% confidence intervals were estimated.

RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients (43 males and 36 females, 8 smokers), aged on average 59.0 years (range: 40-79 years) at baseline (i.e. FDP delivery) were analyzed. The calculated IDRA-risk was in 34 patients (42.5%) a moderate risk, while 45 patients (56.3%) were considered at high IDRA-risk. One patient categorized at low IDRA-risk was excluded from the analysis. The AUC was 0.613 (95% CI: 0.464-0.762) if the IDRA-risk was associated with prevalence of peri-implantitis at the most recent follow-up. Peri-implantitis was diagnosed in 4 patients (12%) at moderate and in 12 patients (27%) at high IDRA-risk, respectively. The calculated odds ratio for developing peri-implantitis in patients with high IDRA-risk compared with patients with moderate IDRA-risk was 2.727 with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (95% CI: 0.793 – 9.376).

CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the present retrospective study, the IDRA algorithm might represent a promising tool to assess patients at moderate or high risk of developing peri-implantitis.

PMID:34388276 | DOI:10.1111/clr.13828

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 13;16(8):e0256154. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256154. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Non-invasive fetal electrocardiography appears to be one of the most promising fetal monitoring techniques during pregnancy and delivery nowadays. This method is based on recording electrical potentials produced by the fetal heart from the surface of the maternal abdomen. Unfortunately, in addition to the useful fetal electrocardiographic signal, there are other interference signals in the abdominal recording that need to be filtered. The biggest challenge in designing filtration methods is the suppression of the maternal electrocardiographic signal. This study focuses on the extraction of fetal electrocardiographic signal from abdominal recordings using a combination of independent component analysis, recursive least squares, and ensemble empirical mode decomposition. The method was tested on two databases, the Fetal Electrocardiograms, Direct and Abdominal with Reference Heartbeats Annotations and the PhysioNet Challenge 2013 database. The evaluation was performed by the assessment of the accuracy of fetal QRS complexes detection and the quality of fetal heart rate determination. The effectiveness of the method was measured by means of the statistical parameters as accuracy, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and F1-score. Using the proposed method, when testing on the Fetal Electrocardiograms, Direct and Abdominal with Reference Heartbeats Annotations database, accuracy higher than 80% was achieved for 11 out of 12 recordings with an average value of accuracy 92.75% [95% confidence interval: 91.19-93.88%], sensitivity 95.09% [95% confidence interval: 93.68-96.03%], positive predictive value 96.36% [95% confidence interval: 95.05-97.17%] and F1-score 95.69% [95% confidence interval: 94.83-96.35%]. When testing on the Physionet Challenge 2013 database, accuracy higher than 80% was achieved for 17 out of 25 recordings with an average value of accuracy 78.24% [95% confidence interval: 73.44-81.85%], sensitivity 81.79% [95% confidence interval: 76.59-85.43%], positive predictive value 87.16% [95% confidence interval: 81.95-90.35%] and F1-score 84.08% [95% confidence interval: 80.75-86.64%]. Moreover, the non-invasive ST segment analysis was carried out on the records from the Fetal Electrocardiograms, Direct and Abdominal with Reference Heartbeats Annotations database and achieved high accuracy in 7 from in total of 12 records (mean values μ < 0.1 and values of ±1.96σ < 0.1).

PMID:34388227 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256154