| 1. |
- Jacome, Cristina, et al.
(författare)
-
Feasibility and Acceptability of an Asthma App to Monitor Medication Adherence : Mixed Methods Study
- 2021
-
Ingår i: JMIR mhealth and uhealth. - : JMIR Publications. - 2291-5222. ; 9:5
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Poor medication adherence is a major challenge in asthma, and objective assessment of inhaler adherence is needed. The InspirerMundi app aims to monitor adherence while providing a positive experience through gamification and social support. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the InspirerMundi app to monitor medication adherence in adolescents and adults with persistent asthma (treated with daily inhaled medication). Methods: A 1-month mixed method multicenter observational study was conducted in 26 secondary care centers from Portugal and Spain. During an initial face-to-face visit, physicians reported patients' asthma therapeutic plan in a structured questionnaire. During the visits, patients were invited to use the app daily to register their asthma medication intakes. A scheduled intake was considered taken when patients registered the intake (inhaler, blister, or other drug formulation) by using the image-based medication detection tool. At 1 month, patients were interviewed by phone, and app satisfaction was assessed on a 1 (low) to 5 (high) scale. Patients were also asked to point out the most and least preferred app features and make suggestions for future app improvements. Results: A total of 107 patients (median 27 [P25-P75 14-40] years) were invited, 92.5% (99/107) installed the app, and 73.8% (79/107) completed the 1-month interview. Patients interacted with the app a median of 9 (P25-P75 1-24) days. At least one medication was registered in the app by 78% (77/99) of patients. A total of 53% (52/99) of participants registered all prescribed inhalers, and 34% (34/99) registered the complete asthma therapeutic plan. Median medication adherence was 75% (P25-P75 25%-90%) for inhalers and 82% (P25-P75 50%-94%) for other drug formulations. Patients were globally satisfied with the app, with 75% (59/79) scoring >= 4,; adherence monitoring, symptom monitoring, and gamification features being the most highly scored components; and the medication detection tool among the lowest scored. A total of 53% (42/79) of the patients stated that the app had motivated them to improve adherence to inhaled medication and 77% (61/79) would recommend the app to other patients. Patient feedback was reflected in 4 major themes: medication-related features (67/79, 85%), gamification and social network (33/79, 42%), symptom monitoring and physician communication (21/79, 27%), and other aspects (16/79, 20%). Conclusions: The InspirerMundi app was feasible and acceptable to monitor medication adherence in patients with asthma. Based on patient feedback and to increase the registering of medications, the therapeutic plan registration and medication detection tool were redesigned. Our results highlight the importance of patient participation to produce a patient-centered and engaging mHealth asthma app.
|
|
| 2. |
- Jacome, Cristina, et al.
(författare)
-
Monitoring Adherence to Asthma Inhalers Using the InspirerMundi App : Analysis of Real-World, Medium-Term Feasibility Studies
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Medical Technology. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2673-3129. ; 3
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Poor medication adherence is a major challenge in asthma and objective assessment of inhaler adherence is needed. InspirerMundi app aims to monitor inhaler adherence while turning it into a positive experience through gamification and social support.Objective: We assessed the medium-term feasibility of the InspirerMundi app to monitor inhaler adherence in real-world patients with persistent asthma (treated with daily inhaled medication). In addition, we attempted to identify the characteristics of the patients related to higher app use.Methods: Two real-world multicenter observational studies, with one initial face-to-face visit and a 4-month telephone interview, were conducted in 29 secondary care centers from Portugal. During an initial face-to-face visit, patients were invited to use the app daily to register their asthma medication intakes. A scheduled intake was considered taken when patients took a photo of the medication (inhaler, blister, or others) using the image-based medication detection tool. Medication adherence was calculated as the number of doses taken as a percentage of the number scheduled. Interacting with the app =30 days was used as the cut-off for higher app use.Results: A total of 114 patients {median 20 [percentile 25 to percentile 75 (P25-P75) 16-36] years, 62% adults} were invited, 107 (94%) installed the app and 83 (73%) completed the 4-month interview. Patients interacted with the app for a median of 18 [3-45] days, translated on a median use rate of 15 [3-38]%. Median inhaler adherence assessed through the app was 34 [4-73]% when considering all scheduled inhalations for the study period. Inhaler adherence assessed was not significantly correlated with self-reported estimates. Median adherence for oral and other medication was 41 [6-83]% and 43 [3-73]%, respectively. Patients with higher app use were slightly older (p = 0.012), more frequently taking medication for other health conditions (p = 0.040), and more frequently prescribed long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA, p = 0.024). After 4 months, Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) scores improved (p < 0.001), but no differences between patients interacting with the app for 30 days or less were seen.Conclusions: The InspirerMundi app was feasible to monitor inhaler adherence in patients with persistent asthma. The persistent use of this mHealth technology varies widely. A better understanding of characteristics related to higher app use is still needed before effectiveness studies are undertaken.
|
|
| 3. |
- Neves, Ana Luisa, et al.
(författare)
-
Determinants of the Use of Health and Fitness Mobile Apps by Patients With Asthma : Secondary Analysis of Observational Studies
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of Medical Internet Research. - : JMIR Publications. - 1438-8871. ; 23:9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Health and fitness apps have potential benefits to improve self-management and disease control among patients with asthma. However, inconsistent use rates have been reported across studies, regions, and health systems. A better understanding of the characteristics of users and nonusers is critical to design solutions that are effectively integrated in patients' daily lives, and to ensure that these equitably reach out to different groups of patients, thus improving rather than entrenching health inequities. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the use of general health and fitness apps by patients with asthma and to identify determinants of usage. Methods: A secondary analysis of the INSPIRERS observational studies was conducted using data from face-to-face visits. Patients with a diagnosis of asthma were included between November 2017 and August 2020. Individual-level data were collected, including age, gender, marital status, educational level, health status, presence of anxiety and depression, postcode, socioeconomic level, digital literacy, use of health services, and use of health and fitness apps. Multivariate logistic regression was used to model the probability of being a health and fitness app user. Statistical analysis was performed in R. Results: A total of 526 patients attended a face-to-face visit in the 49 recruiting centers and 514 had complete data. Most participants were <= 40 years old (66.4%), had at least 10 years of education (57.4%), and were in the 3 higher quintiles of the socioeconomic deprivation index (70.1%). The majority reported an overall good health status (visual analogue scale [VAS] score>70 in 93.1%) and the prevalence of anxiety and depression was 34.3% and 11.9%, respectively. The proportion of participants who reported using health and fitness mobile apps was 41.1% (n=211). Multivariate models revealed that single individuals and those with more than 10 years of education are more likely to use health and fitness mobile apps (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.22, 95%CI 1.05-4.75 and aOR 1.95, 95%CI 1.12-3.45, respectively). Higher digital literacy scores were also associated with higher odds of being a user of health and fitness apps, with participants in the second, third, and fourth quartiles reporting aORs of 6.74 (95%CI 2.90-17.40), 10.30 (95%CI 4.28-27.56), and 11.52 (95%CI 4.78-30.87), respectively. Participants with depression symptoms had lower odds of using health and fitness apps (aOR 0.32, 95%CI 0.12-0.83). Conclusions: A better understanding of the barriers and enhancers of app use among patients with lower education, lower digital literacy, or depressive symptoms is key to design tailored interventions to ensure a sustained and equitable use of these technologies. Future studies should also assess users' general health-seeking behavior and their interest and concerns specifically about digital tools. These factors may impact both initial engagement and sustained use.
|
|
| 4. |
- Sator, Lea, et al.
(författare)
-
Overdiagnosis of COPD in Subjects With Unobstructed Spirometry A BOLD Analysis
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Chest. - : Elsevier BV. - 0012-3692 .- 1931-3543. ; 156:2, s. 277-288
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: There are several reports on underdiagnosis of COPD, while little is known about COPD overdiagnosis and overtreatment. We describe the overdiagnosis and the prevalence of spirometrically defined false positive COPD, as well as their relationship with overtreatment across 23 population samples in 20 countries participating in the BOLD Study between 2003 and 2012.METHODS: A false positive diagnosis of COPD was considered when participants reported a doctor's diagnosis of COPD, but postbronchodilator spirometry was unobstructed (FEV1/FVC > LLN). Additional analyses were performed using the fixed ratio criterion (FEV1/FVC < 0.7).RESULTS: Among 16,177 participants, 919 (5.7%) reported a previous medical diagnosis of COPD. Postbronchodilator spirometry was unobstructed in 569 subjects (61.9%): false positive COPD. A similar rate of overdiagnosis was seen when using the fixed ratio criterion (55.3%). In a subgroup analysis excluding participants who reported a diagnosis of "chronic bronchitis" or "emphysema" (n = 220), 37.7% had no airflow limitation. The site-specific prevalence of false positive COPD varied greatly, from 1.9% in low- to middle-income countries to 4.9% in high-income countries. In multivariate analysis, overdiagnosis was more common among women, and was associated with higher education; former and current smoking; the presence of wheeze, cough, and phlegm; and concomitant medical diagnosis of asthma or heart disease. Among the subjects with false positive COPD, 45.7% reported current use of respiratory medication. Excluding patients with reported asthma, 34.4% of those with normal spirometry still used a respiratory medication.CONCLUSIONS: False positive COPD is frequent. This might expose nonobstructed subjects to possible adverse effects of respiratory medication.
|
|
| 5. |
- Studnicka, Michael, et al.
(författare)
-
COPD : Should Diagnosis Match Physiology?
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Chest. - : Elsevier BV. - 0012-3692 .- 1931-3543. ; 157:2, s. 473-475
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
- Blaschikoff, Ludmilla, et al.
(författare)
-
A multidisciplinary study of Iberian Chalcolithic dogs
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 2352-409X .- 2352-4103. ; 42
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Domesticated dogs have been present in the Iberian Peninsula long before other domesticated species, back to the late Palaeolithic period. Their origin is still uncertain, but dogs were already well established during the Chalcolithic period (ca. 5000-4000 BP). This study employed a multidisciplinary approach comprising osteometric, radiographic and palaeogenomic analyses to characterize Chalcolithic Iberian Canis remains. Two Chalcolithic archaeological sites - Leceia, Oeiras, in Portugal, and El Caset ' on de la Era, Villalba de los Alcores, Valladolid, in Spain - were the main focus of this study. Osteometric and odontometric data from eleven other sites in Iberia were also included. Osteometric results show signs of phenotypic variability, likely the result of human-driven selective pressure. Dental radiographic and dental wear analyses allowed age at death estimation for four individuals (two juvenile and two adults). Three Chalcolithic Iberian dogs had their mitogenomes resequenced and the mitochondrial DNA analysis allowed to assign each individual to two of the major known haplogroups - A and C. Molecular sex infered by the chromosomeX/chromosome1 coverage ratio allowed to identify one female and two males. This study unveils some aspects of the Iberian Chalcolithic dogs: these dogs already exhibited various morphotypes whose profiles might be associated to the performance of certain tasks, as well as mitogenomes of two distinct lineages that help tracking the evolutionary paths of Iberian dogs.
|
|
| 8. |
- Campos, Joao, et al.
(författare)
-
POSEAMM : A Unified Framework for Solving Pose Problems using an Alternating Minimization Method
- 2019
-
Ingår i: 2019 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). - 9781538660263 ; , s. 3493-3499
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pose estimation is one of the most important problems in computer vision. It can be divided in two different categories - absolute and relative - and may involve two different types of camera models: central and non-central. State-of-the-art methods have been designed to solve separately these problems. This paper presents a unified framework that is able to solve any pose problem by alternating optimization techniques between two set of parameters, rotation and translation. In order to make this possible, it is necessary to define an objective function that captures the problem at hand. Since the objective function will depend on the rotation and translation it is not possible to solve it as a simple minimization problem. Hence the use of Alternating Minimization methods, in which the function will be alternatively minimized with respect to the rotation and the translation. We show how to use our framework in three distinct pose problems. Our methods are then benchmarked with both synthetic and real data, showing their better balance between computational time and accuracy.
|
|
| 9. |
- Rubio, Isabel T., et al.
(författare)
-
EUSOMA quality indicators for non-metastatic breast cancer : An update
- 2024
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Cancer. - : Elsevier. - 0959-8049 .- 1879-0852. ; 198
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- IntroductionQuality care in breast cancer is higher if patients are treated in a Breast Center with a dedicated and specialized multidisciplinary team. Quality control is an essential activity to ensure quality care, which has to be based on the monitoring of specific quality indicators. Eusoma has proceeded with the up-dating of the 2017 Quality indicators for non-metastatic breast cancer based on the new diagnostic, locoregional and systemic treatment modalities.MethodsTo proceed with the updating, EUSOMA setup a multidisciplinary working group of BC experts and patients’ representatives. It is a comprehensive set of QIs for early breast cancer care, which are classified as mandatory, recommended, or observational. For the first time patient reported outcomes (PROMs) have been included. As used in the 2017 EUSOMA QIs, evidence levels were based on the short version of the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.ResultsThis is a set of quality indicators representative for the different steps of the patient pathway in non-metastatic setting, which allow Breast Centres to monitor their performance with referring standards, i.e minimum standard and target.ConclusionsMonitoring these Quality Indicators, within the Eusoma datacentre will allow to have a state of the art picture at European Breast Centres level and the development of challenging research projects.
|
|
| 10. |
- Abozid, Hazim, et al.
(författare)
-
Prevalence of chronic cough, its risk factors and population attributable risk in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study : a multinational cross-sectional study
- 2024
-
Ingår i: eClinicalMedicine. - : Elsevier. - 2589-5370. ; 68
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Chronic cough is a common respiratory symptom with an impact on daily activities and quality of life. Global prevalence data are scarce and derive mainly from European and Asian countries and studies with outcomes other than chronic cough. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic cough across a large number of study sites as well as to identify its main risk factors using a standardised protocol and definition. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from 33,983 adults (>= 40 years), recruited between Jan 2, 2003 and Dec 26, 2016, in 41 sites (34 countries) from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study. We estimated the prevalence of chronic cough for each site accounting for sampling design. To identify risk factors, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis within each site and then pooled estimates using random -effects metaanalysis. We also calculated the population attributable risk (PAR) associated with each of the identifed risk factors. Findings The prevalence of chronic cough varied from 3% in India (rural Pune) to 24% in the United States of America (Lexington,KY). Chronic cough was more common among females, both current and passive smokers, those working in a dusty job, those with a history of tuberculosis, those who were obese, those with a low level of education and those with hypertension or airflow limitation. The most influential risk factors were current smoking and working in a dusty job. Interpretation Our findings suggested that the prevalence of chronic cough varies widely across sites in different world regions. Cigarette smoking and exposure to dust in the workplace are its major risk factors.
|
|
| 11. |
- Bruneau, Anne, et al.
(författare)
-
Advances in Legume Systematics 14. Classification of Caesalpinioideae. Part 2: Higher-level classification
- 2024
-
Ingår i: PhytoKeys. - Sofia : Pensoft Publishers. - 1314-2011 .- 1314-2003. ; 240, s. 1-552
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Caesalpinioideae is the second largest subfamily of legumes (Leguminosae) with ca. 4680 species and 163 genera. It is an ecologically and economically important group formed of mostly woody perennials that range from large canopy emergent trees to functionally herbaceous geoxyles, lianas and shrubs, and which has a global distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. Following the recent re-circumscription of 15 Caesalpinioideae genera as presented in Advances in Legume Systematics 14, Part 1, and using as a basis a phylogenomic analysis of 997 nuclear gene sequences for 420 species and all but five of the genera currently recognised in the subfamily, we present a new higher-level classification for the subfamily. The new classification of Caesalpinioideae comprises eleven tribes, all of which are either new, reinstated or re-circumscribed at this rank: Caesalpinieae Rchb. (27 genera / ca. 223 species), Campsiandreae LPWG (2 / 5-22), Cassieae Bronn (7 / 695), Cera-tonieae Rchb. (4 / 6), Dimorphandreae Benth. (4 / 35), Erythrophleeae LPWG (2 /13), Gleditsieae Nakai (3 / 20), Mimoseae Bronn (100 / ca. 3510), Pterogyneae LPWG (1 / 1), Schizolobieae Nakai (8 / 42-43), Sclerolobieae Benth. & Hook. f. (5 / ca. 113). Although many of these lineages have been recognised and named in the past, either as tribes or informal generic groups, their circumscriptions have varied widely and changed over the past decades, such that all the tribes described here differ in generic membership from those previously recognised. Importantly, the approximately 3500 species and 100 genera of the former subfamily Mimosoideae are now placed in the reinstated, but newly circumscribed, tribe Mimoseae. Because of the large size and ecological importance of the tribe, we also provide a clade-based classification system for Mimoseae that includes 17 named lower-level clades. Fourteen of the 100 Mimoseae genera remain unplaced in these lower-level clades: eight are resolved in two grades and six are phylogenetically isolated monogeneric lineages. In addition to the new classification, we provide a key to genera, morphological descriptions and notes for all 163 genera, all tribes, and all named clades. The diversity of growth forms, foliage, flowers and fruits are illustrated for all genera, and for each genus we also provide a distribution map, based on quality-controlled herbarium specimen localities. A glossary for specialised terms used in legume morphology is provided. This new phylogenetically based classification of Caesalpinioideae provides a solid system for communication and a framework for downstream analyses of biogeography, trait evolution and diversification, as well as for taxonomic revision of still understudied genera.
|
|
| 12. |
- Cachim, Afonso, et al.
(författare)
-
Measuring adherence to inhaled control medication in patients with asthma : Comparison among an asthma app, patient self-report and physician assessment
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Clinical and Translational Allergy. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2045-7022. ; 13:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using an asthma app to support medication management and adherence but failed to compare with other measures currently used in clinical practice. However, in a clinical setting, any additional adherence measurement must be evaluated in the context of both the patient and physician perspectives so that it can also help improve the process of shared decision making. Thus, we aimed to compare different measures of adherence to asthma control inhalers in clinical practice, namely through an app, patient self-report and physician assessment.MethodsThis study is a secondary analysis of three prospective multicentre observational studies with patients (≥13 years old) with persistent asthma recruited from 61 primary and secondary care centres in Portugal. Patients were invited to use the InspirerMundi app and register their inhaled medication. Adherence was measured by the app as the number of doses taken divided by the number of doses scheduled each day and two time points were considered for analysis: 1-week and 1-month. At baseline, patients and physicians independently assessed adherence to asthma control inhalers during the previous week using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS 0–100).ResultsA total of 193 patients (72% female; median [P25–P75] age 28 [19–41] years old) were included in the analysis. Adherence measured by the app was lower (1 week: 31 [0–71]%; 1 month: 18 [0–48]%) than patient self-report (80 [60–95]) and physician assessment (82 [51–94]) (p < 0.001). A negligible non-significant correlation was found between the app and subjective measurements (ρ 0.118–0.156, p > 0.05). There was a moderate correlation between patient self-report and physician assessment (ρ = 0.596, p < 0.001).ConclusionsAdherence measured by the app was lower than that reported by the patient or the physician. This was expected as objective measurements are commonly lower than subjective evaluations, which tend to overestimate adherence. Nevertheless, the low adherence measured by the app may also be influenced by the use of the app itself and this needs to be considered in future studies.
|
|
| 13. |
- Cardoso, Carlos, et al.
(författare)
-
eNeuron project - facilitating the energy transition in a military campus by optimizing a local energy community
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Proceedings 27th International Conference on Electricity Distribution (CIRED 2023). - : IET. - 9781839538551
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The eNeuron project is an ongoing Horizon 2020 EU-funded project with the main objective of setting out a practical framework for optimising the design and operation of local energy communities (LECs), acting as multi-carrier energy hubs (EH) and micro-energy hubs (mEH). LECs are key in the transition towards green, decarbonised power from local and renewable sources. The consortium is developing and applying pioneering software and hardware solutions, putting them to the test in real energy communities and introducing new governance models. There are four demonstration Pilots in the eNeuron Project: The Polish City of Bydgoszcz, the Skagerak Energilab in Norway, the Lisbon Naval Base (LNB) in Portugal, and the UNIVPM University Campus in Italy. This paper focuses on presenting the Portuguese demo pilot: the Lisbon Naval Base, namely the development of the demonstration activities so far, roughly half of the duration of the project, as well as a balance of all supporting activities, such as Use Case definition, technical activities (asset definition and installation) and social activities (stakeholder engagement). This paper presents a description and conclusion of these activities so far, at the time that the eNeuron preliminary toolbox concept is ready to be shared and implemented in the Pilots.
|
|
| 14. |
|
|
| 15. |
- Cardoso, Joao C. R., et al.
(författare)
-
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) Gene Family Duplications in Lampreys Correlate With Two Early Vertebrate Genome Doublings
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Neuroscience. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1662-4548 .- 1662-453X. ; 14
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ancestor of gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) is generally considered to have undergone two rounds of whole genome duplication (WGD). The timing of these WGD events relative to the divergence of the closest relatives of the gnathostomes, the cyclostomes, has remained contentious. Lampreys and hagfishes are extant cyclostomes whose gene families can shed light on the relationship between the WGDs and the cyclostome-gnathostome divergence. Previously, we have characterized in detail the evolution of the gnathostome corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family and found that its five members arose from two ancestral genes that existed before the WGDs. The two WGDs resulted, after secondary losses, in one triplet consisting of CRH1, CRH2, and UCN1, and one pair consisting of UCN2 and UCN3. All five genes exist in representatives for cartilaginous fishes, ray-finned fishes, and lobe-finned fishes. Differential losses have occurred in some lineages. We present here analyses of CRH-family members in lamprey and hagfish by comparing sequences and gene synteny with gnathostomes. We found five CRH-family genes in each of two lamprey species (Petromyzon marinusandLethenteron camtschaticum) and two genes in a hagfish (Eptatretus burgeri). Synteny analyses show that all five lamprey CRH-family genes have similar chromosomal neighbors as the gnathostome genes. The most parsimonious explanation is that the lamprey CRH-family genes are orthologs of the five gnathostome genes and thus arose in the same chromosome duplications. This suggests that lampreys and gnathostomes share the same two WGD events and that these took place before the lamprey-gnathostome divergence.
|
|
| 16. |
- Cardoso, Joao C. R., et al.
(författare)
-
Corticotropin-releasing hormone family evolution : five ancestral genes remain in some lineages
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Endocrinology. - 0952-5041 .- 1479-6813. ; 57:1, s. 73-86
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The evolution of the peptide family consisting of corticotropin-releasing hormone ( CRH) and the three urocortins ( UCN1-3) has been puzzling due to uneven evolutionary rates. Distinct gene duplication scenarios have been proposed in relation to the two basal rounds of vertebrate genome doubling ( 2R) and the teleost fish-specific genome doubling ( 3R). By analyses of sequences and chromosomal regions, including many neighboring gene families, we show here that the vertebrate progenitor had two peptide genes that served as the founders of separate subfamilies. Then, 2R resulted in a total of five members: one subfamily consists of CRH1, CRH2, and UCN1. The other subfamily contains UCN2 and UCN3. All five peptide genes are present in the slowly evolving genomes of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae ( a lobe-finned fish), the spotted gar Lepisosteus oculatus ( a basal ray-finned fish), and the elephant shark Callorhinchus milii ( a cartilaginous fish). The CRH2 gene has been lost independently in placental mammals and in teleost fish, but is present in birds ( except chicken), anole lizard, and the nonplacental mammals platypus and opossum. Teleost 3R resulted in an additional surviving duplicate only for crh1 in some teleosts including zebrafish ( crh1a and crh1b). We have previously reported that the two vertebrate CRH/UCN receptors arose in 2R and that CRHR1 was duplicated in 3R. Thus, we can now conclude that this peptide-receptor system was quite complex in the ancestor of the jawed vertebrates with five CRH/UCN peptides and two receptors, and that crh and crhr1 were duplicated in the teleost fish tetraploidization.
|
|
| 17. |
- Cardoso, João C R, et al.
(författare)
-
New insights into the evolution of vertebrate CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone) and invertebrate DH44 (diuretic hormone 44) receptors in metazoans
- 2014
-
Ingår i: General and Comparative Endocrinology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0016-6480 .- 1095-6840. ; 209:SI, s. 162-170
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The corticotropin releasing hormone receptors (CRHR) and the arthropod diuretic hormone 44 receptors (DH44R) are structurally and functionally related members of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) of the secretin-like receptor superfamily. We show here that they derive from a bilaterian predecessor. In protostomes, the receptor became DH44R that has been identified and functionally characterised in several arthropods but the gene seems to be absent from nematode genomes. Duplicate DH44R genes (DH44 R1 and DH44R2) have been described in some arthropods resulting from lineage-specific duplications. Recently, CRHR-DH44R-like receptors have been identified in the genomes of some lophotrochozoans (molluscs, which have a lineage-specific gene duplication, and annelids) as well as representatives of early diverging deuterostomes. Vertebrates have previously been reported to have two CRHR receptors that were named CRHR1 and CRHR2. To resolve their origin we have analysed recently assembled genomes from representatives of early vertebrate divergencies including elephant shark, spotted gar and coelacanth. We show here by analysis of synteny conservation that the two CRHR genes arose from a common ancestral gene in the early vertebrate tetraploidizations (2R) approximately 500 million years ago. Subsequently, the teleost-specific tetraploidization (3R) resulted in a duplicate of CRHR1 that has been lost in some teleost lineages. These results help distinguish orthology and paralogy relationships and will allow studies of functional conservation and changes during evolution of the individual members of the receptor family and their multiple native peptide agonists.
|
|
| 18. |
|
|
| 19. |
- Cardoso, Joao Lourenco
(författare)
-
Detection and low-cost engineering improvement of inconsistent horizontal curves in rural roads
- 2001
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the conference Traffic Safety on Three Continents. - Linköping : Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut. ; , s. 639-651
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this paper a presentation is made of the method recently developed in Portugal for the detection of inconsistent horizontal curves in single carriageway rural roads of the Portuguese National Road Network, and the improvement of their safety records. The method involves the determination of the consistency class for each curve on a road, and the application of a systematic treatment - involving such low cost engineering measures as marking, signing and shoulder improvement - to the curves of each class. It is intended that this method will be applied progressively to over 8700 km of national roads.
|
|
| 20. |
|
|
| 21. |
- de Macedo, António Lemonde, et al.
(författare)
-
A Road Safety Approach for a New Revision of the Portuguese Design Guidelines
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference Road Safety on Four Continents. - Linköping : Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut.
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Portuguese road design guidelines have undergone periodical revisions, aiming at updating technical aspects of the geometric design of road elements and enlarging the field of their application to various types of roads and intersections. The National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC), through its Transportation Department, has provided scientific and technical support and advice to the road administrations along this process. At the present stage, a proposal made by LNEC points out to the need for a thorough reformulation of the whole set of documents which are currently being used in Portugal as road design guidelines, in order to introduce a greater integration among them, and new technical advances based on scientific ground. A strategy to carry out that reformulation is being followed, which involves the setting up of an encompassing framework centred in a so called “base document” which contains common concepts and technical indications to which all the guidelines for specific types of roads must comply with. In this paper a presentation is made on the main characteristics of the said “base document” prepared by LNEC, as well as the rationale underlying the introduction of a road safety approach into not only the conceptual frame but also the definition of road geometric design parameters and acceptable limit values, more closely related to the human component, which are derived, for example, from the assessment of driver’s behaviour characterization, using the results of a large number of measurements in Portuguese and other European road networks.
|
|
| 22. |
- Dos Santos Miraldo, Pedro, et al.
(författare)
-
On the Generalized Essential Matrix Correction : An Efficient Solution to the Problem and Its Applications
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of Mathematical Imaging and Vision. - : Springer. - 0924-9907 .- 1573-7683. ; 62:8, s. 1107-1120
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper addresses the problem of finding the closest generalized essential matrix from a given 6 × 6 matrix, with respect to the Frobenius norm. To the best of our knowledge, this nonlinear constrained optimization problem has not been addressed in the literature yet. Although it can be solved directly, it involves a large number of constraints, and any optimization method to solve it would require much computational effort. We start by deriving a couple of unconstrained formulations of the problem. After that, we convert the original problem into a new one, involving only orthogonal constraints, and propose an efficient algorithm of steepest descent type to find its solution. To test the algorithms, we evaluate the methods with synthetic data and conclude that the proposed steepest descent-type approach is much faster than the direct application of general optimization techniques to the original formulation with 33 constraints and to the unconstrained ones. To further motivate the relevance of our method, we apply it in two pose problems (relative and absolute) using synthetic and real data.
|
|
| 23. |
- Ferreira, Joao G., et al.
(författare)
-
Overview of eutrophication indicators to assess environmental status within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0272-7714 .- 1096-0015. ; 93:2, s. 117-131
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2009, following approval of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC), the European Commission (EC) created task groups to develop guidance for eleven quality descriptors that form the basis for evaluating ecosystem function. The objective was to provide European countries with practical guidelines for implementing the MSFD, and to produce a Commission Decision that encapsulated key points of the work in a legal framework. This paper presents a review of work carried out by the eutrophication task group, and reports our main findings to the scientific community. On the basis of an operational, management-oriented definition, we discuss the main methodologies that could be used for coastal and marine eutrophication assessment. Emphasis is placed on integrated approaches that account for physico-chemical and biological components, and combine both pelagic and benthic symptoms of eutrophication, in keeping with the holistic nature of the MSFD. We highlight general features that any marine eutrophication model should possess, rather than making specific recommendations. European seas range from highly eutrophic systems such as the Baltic to nutrient-poor environments such as the Aegean Sea. From a physical perspective, marine waters range from high energy environments of the north east Atlantic to the permanent vertical stratification of the Black Sea. This review aimed to encapsulate that variability, recognizing that meaningful guidance should be flexible enough to accommodate the widely differing characteristics of European seas, and that this information is potentially relevant in marine ecosystems worldwide. Given the spatial extent of the MSFD, innovative approaches are required to allow meaningful monitoring and assessment. Consequently, substantial logistic and financial challenges will drive research in areas such as remote sensing of harmful algal blooms, in situ sensor development, and mathematical models. Our review takes into account related legislation, and in particular the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD - 2000/60/EC), which deals with river basins, including estuaries and a narrow coastal strip, in order to examine these issues within the framework of integrated coastal zone management.
|
|
| 24. |
- Holtkötter, Jannis, et al.
(författare)
-
Development and Validation of a Digital Image Processing-Based Pill Detection Tool for an Oral Medication Self-Monitoring System
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Sensors. - : MDPI AG. - 1424-8220. ; 22:8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Long-term adherence to medication is of critical importance for the successful management of chronic diseases. Objective tools to track oral medication adherence are either lacking, expensive, difficult to access, or require additional equipment. To improve medication adherence, cheap and easily accessible objective tools able to track compliance levels are necessary. A tool to monitor pill intake that can be implemented in mobile health solutions without the need for additional devices was developed. We propose a pill intake detection tool that uses digital image processing to analyze images of a blister to detect the presence of pills. The tool uses the Circular Hough Transform as a feature extraction technique and is therefore primarily useful for the detection of pills with a round shape. This pill detection tool is composed of two steps. First, the registration of a full blister and storing of reference values in a local database. Second, the detection and classification of taken and remaining pills in similar blisters, to determine the actual number of untaken pills. In the registration of round pills in full blisters, 100% of pills in gray blisters or blisters with a transparent cover were successfully detected. In the counting of untaken pills in partially opened blisters, 95.2% of remaining and 95.1% of taken pills were detected in gray blisters, while 88.2% of remaining and 80.8% of taken pills were detected in blisters with a transparent cover. The proposed tool provides promising results for the detection of round pills. However, the classification of taken and remaining pills needs to be further improved, in particular for the detection of pills with non-oval shapes.
|
|
| 25. |
- Hudson, Lawrence N, et al.
(författare)
-
The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Ecology and Evolution. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2045-7758. ; 7:1, s. 145-188
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)-has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.
|
|
| 26. |
- Kaidar-Person, Orit, et al.
(författare)
-
The Lucerne Toolbox 2 to optimise axillary management for early breast cancer : a multidisciplinary expert consensus
- 2023
-
Ingår i: EClinicalMedicine. - 2589-5370. ; 61
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Clinical axillary lymph node management in early breast cancer has evolved from being merely an aspect of surgical management and now includes the entire multidisciplinary team. The second edition of the “Lucerne Toolbox”, a multidisciplinary consortium of European cancer societies and patient representatives, addresses the challenges of clinical axillary lymph node management, from diagnosis to local therapy of the axilla. Five working packages were developed, following the patients’ journey and addressing specific clinical scenarios. Panellists voted on 72 statements, reaching consensus (agreement of 75% or more) in 52.8%, majority (51%–74% agreement) in 43.1%, and no decision in 4.2%. Based on the votes, targeted imaging and standardized pathology of lymph nodes should be a prerequisite to planning local and systemic therapy, axillary lymph node dissection can be replaced by sentinel lymph node biopsy ( ± targeted approaches) in a majority of scenarios; and positive patient outcomes should be driven by both low recurrence risks and low rates of lymphoedema.
|
|
| 27. |
- Karlsson, Johannes, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
-
Subtropical cloud regime transitions : boundary layerdepth and cloud-top height evolution
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. - 1558-8424 .- 1558-8432. ; 49:9, s. 1845-1858
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study, the mean and variability of boundary layer height (BLH) are analyzed along a transect in the eastern Pacific Ocean for the summer of 2003 using BLH estimates based on the height of the main relative humidity (RH) inversion and the height of low cloud tops (CTH). The observations and the regional and global model data have been prepared in the context of the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Cloud System Study (GCSS) Pacific Cross-Section Intercomparison (GPCI). The GPCI transect covers the transition from a stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layer (MBL) off the coast of California to a trade cumulus-topped, less-well-defined, MBL, and finally to the deep-convection regions in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and the Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) have been used to derive observational records of the two BLH estimates. Analyses from the ECMWF are also used in the study. Both BLH estimates in the models, the ECMWF analysis, and the observations agree on a southward vertical growth of the MBL along the GPCI transect in the stratocumulus region. Away from the region typically associated with extensive cloud cover, the two BLH estimates depict different evolutions of the MBL. In most models, the height of the main RH inversion decreases southward from; similar to 18 degrees N, reaching a minimum at the ITCZ, whereas the height of the RH inversion in the ECMWF analysis and a few of the models is fairly constant all the way to the ITCZ. As a result of insufficient vertical resolution of the gridded dataset, the AIRS data only manage to reproduce the initial growth of the BLH. The median-model CTH increases from the stratocumulus-topped MBL to the ITCZ. In contrast, the observed MISR CTHs decrease southward from 20 degrees N to the ITCZ, possibly indicative of the fact that in these regions MISR manages to capture a variety of cloud tops with a mean that is below the subsidence inversion while the models and the ECMWF analysis mainly simulate CTHs corresponding to the height of the subsidence inversion. In most models and in the ECMWF analysis, the height of the main RH inversion and the CTH tend to coincide in the northern part of the GPCI transect. In the regions associated with trade cumuli and deep convection there is a more ambiguous relation between the two BLH estimates. In this region, most of the models place the CTH above the main RH inversion. The ECMWF analysis shows a good agreement between the BLH estimates throughout the transect.
|
|
| 28. |
|
|
| 29. |
|
|
| 30. |
- Miravitlles, Marc, et al.
(författare)
-
A review of national guidelines for management of COPD in Europe
- 2016
-
Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 47:2, s. 625-637
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The quality of care can be improved by the development and implementation of evidence-based treatment guidelines. Different national guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exist in Europe and relevant differences may exist among them. This was an evaluation of COPD treatment guidelines published in Europe and Russia in the past 7 years. Each guideline was reviewed in detail and information about the most important aspects of patient diagnosis, risk stratification and pharmacotherapy was extracted following a standardised process. Guidelines were available from the Czech Republic, England and Wales, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Sweden. The treatment goals, criteria for COPD diagnosis, consideration of comorbidities in treatment selection and support for use of long-acting bronchodilators, were similar across treatment guidelines. There were differences in measures used for stratification of disease severity, consideration of patient phenotypes, criteria for the use of inhaled corticosteroids and recommendations for other medications (e.g. theophylline and mucolytics) in addition to bronchodilators. There is generally good agreement on treatment goals, criteria for diagnosis of COPD and use of long-acting bronchodilators as the cornerstone of treatment among guidelines for COPD management in Europe and Russia. However, there are differences in the definitions of patient subgroups and other recommended treatments.
|
|
| 31. |
- Parola, Vitor, et al.
(författare)
-
Burnout in Palliative Care Settings Compared With Other Settings : A Systematic Review
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1522-2179 .- 1539-0705. ; 19:5, s. 442-451
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A systematic review, using the guideline of the Joanna Briggs Institute, was conducted to explore the effect of working in palliative care settings, compared with other settings, on burnout among health care professionals. Multiple databases were searched-CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and SciELOV-as well as gray literature for studies published since 1975 that compared health professionals caring for patients older than 18 years in specialized palliative care settings (palliative care units, home care, or hospices) with health professionals working in other settings. Of the 539 studies retrieved, 7 cross-sectional studies were included in this review. Of these, six were conducted with nurses, and six used the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Working in palliative care (palliative care unit or hospices) was associated with lower levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, as well as higher levels of personal accomplishment, compared with working in other settings. Evidence indicates that burnout levels seem to be lower among professionals working in palliative care compared with professionals working in other settings. Further research is needed to explore the strategies used by nurses working in palliative care that help them deal with burnout and to apply these same strategies to professionals working in other settings.
|
|
| 32. |
- Parola, Vitor, et al.
(författare)
-
Prevalence of burnout in health professionals working in palliative care : a systematic review
- 2017
-
Ingår i: The JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports. - : University of Adelaide. - 2202-4433. ; 15:7, s. 1905-1933
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: More than ever, the current increasing need for palliative care leads to health professionals providing this type of care which further leads to multiple challenges, and stressful and demanding situations. The multiple challenges of working in palliative care put health professionals working in this context at the risk of burnout.OBJECTIVES: To examine the evidence on the prevalence of burnout among health professionals working in palliative care.INCLUSION CRITERIA TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS: The current review included studies that encompass qualified health professionals working in palliative care, caring for patients 18 years of age or older.CONDITION: The current review considered studies reporting on the point prevalence of burnout, measured by a burnout scale, such as, but not limited to, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Burnout Measure and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory.CONTEXT: The current review considered studies conducted in the context of specialist palliative care, more specifically, palliative care units, specialized palliative home care or hospices.TYPES OF STUDIES: The current review considered observational study designs, including prospective and retrospective cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies.SEARCH STRATEGY: An initial search of MEDLINE (via PubMed) and CINAHL was undertaken, followed by a second search for published and unpublished studies since 1975 in major healthcare-related electronic databases. Studies written in English, Spanish and Portuguese were included.METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY: Two independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of studies using the standardized critical appraisal instrument from the Joanna Briggs Institute. No studies were excluded from the review based on the methodological appraisal.DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted using a data extraction table, taking into account the review questions.DATA SYNTHESIS: Significant differences were found between condition measures, thus we were unable to perform a meta-analysis.RESULTS: Eight cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 1406 health professionals. The sample was limited to nurses, physicians and social workers. None of the included articles presented data about other health professionals. Seven of the included studies assessed the prevalence of burnout using the same instrument - the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Data revealed a prevalence of burnout of 17.3% among health professionals. Personal Accomplishment was the sub-scale from the Maslach Burnout Inventory that had the highest prevalence (19.5%). Nurses had higher levels of Emotional Exhaustion (19.5%) and Depersonalization (8.2%), and physicians had lower levels of Personal Accomplishment (41.2%). The prevalence of burnout was, however, higher in social workers (27%). The palliative care context with the highest prevalence of burnout was home care (19.6%).CONCLUSION: The current systematic review contributes to a body of empirical knowledge that can facilitate the professional development of palliative care teams by highlighting the prevalence of burnout in health professionals, which staff category is the most affected (social workers), and which palliative care context has the highest prevalence (home care).
|
|
| 33. |
- Peyroteo Stjerna, Rita, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
-
Mummification in the Mesolithic : New Approaches to Old Photo Documentation Reveal Previously Unknown Mortuary Practices in the Sado Valley, Portugal
- 2022
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Archaeology. - : Cambridge University Press. - 1461-9571 .- 1741-2722. ; 25:3, s. 309-330
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recently rediscovered photographs of the remains of thirteen individuals buried in the Sado Valley Mesolithic shell middens of Poças de S. Bento and Arapouco, excavated in 1960 and 1962, show the potential of revisiting excavation archives with new methods. The analysis, which applies the principles of archaeothanatology and is enriched by experimental taphonomic research, confirmed details concerning the treatment of the dead body and provided new insights into the use of burial spaces. Some bodies may have been mummified prior to burial, a phenomenon possibly linked to their curation and transport, highlighting the significance of both the body and the burial place in Mesolithic south-western Portugal.
|
|
| 34. |
- Pires, Ana Elisabete, et al.
(författare)
-
The curious case of the Mesolithic Iberian dogs : An archaeogenetic study
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 105, s. 116-129
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigated the genetic composition of six Canis remains from western Iberia, directly radiocarbon dated to 7,903-7,570 years (cal BP). They were identified as dogs via their archaeological and depositional context, osteometry, and a high percentage of aquatic diet shared with humans. For comparison, genetic data were obtained from an additional 37 Iberian dog remains from the Neolithic to Late Antiquity, as well as two Palaeolithic and a Chalcolithic Canis identified as wolves. Previous data indicated that dog mtDNA haplogroup A (HgA) is prevalent in extant European dogs ( > 50%), in the Near East and Asia, but rare or absent ( < 10%) in European Canis older than 3,000 years (cal BP). We found a high frequency (83%) of dog HgA in Mesolithic Iberian dog remains. This is the first report of a high frequency of dog HgA in pre-Neolithic Europe. We show that, contrary to the current view, Canis with HgA did not necessarily arrive in Europe from East-Asia. This phylogeographical difference in HgA frequency demonstrates that genetic differentiation was high prior to, or as a consequence of, domestication which may be linked with pre-Neolithic local processes for Iberian wolf domestication. Our results emphasize that knowledge of both ancient wolves' and early dogs' genetic profiles from the European periphery should improve our understanding of the evolution of the European dog.
|
|
| 35. |
- Rodrigues, Luiz F, et al.
(författare)
-
Origin and alteration of organic matter in hydrate-bearing sediments of the Rio Grande Cone, Brazil : evidence from biological, physical, and chemical factors.
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Radiocarbon. - : Cambridge University Press. - 0033-8222 .- 1945-5755. ; 62:1, s. 197-206
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Rio Grande Cone is a major fanlike depositional feature in the continental slope of the Pelotas Basin, Southern Brazil. Two representative sediment cores collected in the Cone area were retrieved using a piston core device. In this work, the organic matter (OM) in the sediments was characterized for a continental vs. marine origin using chemical proxies to help constrain the origin of gas in hydrates. The main contribution of OM was from marine organic carbon based on the stable carbon isotope (δ13C-org) and total organic carbon/total nitrogen ratio (TOC:TN) analyses. In addition, the 14C data showed important information about the origin of the OM and we suggest some factors that could modify the original organic matter and therefore mask the “real” 14C ages: (1) biological activity that could modify the carbon isotopic composition of bulk terrestrial organic matter values, (2) the existence of younger sediments from mass wasting deposits unconformably overlying older sediments, and (3) the deep-sediment-sourced methane contribution due to the input of “old” (>50 ka) organic compounds from migrating fluids.
|
|
| 36. |
- Santos, Reginaldo, et al.
(författare)
-
Binder Identification Using Pattern Recognition on Phantom Measurements
- 2016
-
Ingår i: IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. - 0018-9456. ; 65:3, s. 522-534
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper proposes an automatic method for the identification of twisted pairs (TPs) sharing the same binder, based on the analysis of phantom circuit measurements. This type of circuit is often used for improving data transmission rates in communication systems, but in this paper, phantoming is used to reveal if a four-wire loop composed of two TPs is close enough and well balanced in order to be considered in the same binder. The method uses four features extracted from scattering parameter measures in phantom-mode between two TPs. These features are related to the presence of periodicities and impedance mismatch between the measurement device and the four-wire transmission line. The identification is done via application of two pattern recognition techniques, support vector machines and K-means, on scattering parameter obtained from the phantom-mode measurement of two TPs. This paper also describes a method to determine the length of the two TPs that share the same binder. Laboratory results confirm the accuracy of the proposed methods.
|
|
| 37. |
- Vieira, Rafael Jose, et al.
(författare)
-
Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test : A systematic review of measurement properties and COSMIN analysis
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Clinical and Translational Allergy. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 2045-7022. ; 12:9
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) is a patient-reported outcome measurement (PROM) assessing the control of asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) at a 4 week interval. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the measurement properties of CARAT. Following PRISMA and COSMIN guidelines, we searched five bibliographic databases and retrieved studies concerning the development, assessment of properties, validation, and/or cultural adaption of CARAT. The studies' methodological quality, the quality of measurement properties, and the overall quality of evidence were assessed. We performed meta-analysis of CARAT measurement properties. We included 16 studies. Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test displayed sufficient content validity and very good consistency (meta-analytical Cronbach alpha = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.80-0.86;I-2 = 62.6%). Control of allergic rhinitis and Asthma Test meta-analytical intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.91 (95% CI = 0.64-0.98;I-2 = 93.7%). It presented good construct validity, especially for correlations with Patient-reported outcome measures assessing asthma (absolute Spearman correlation coefficients range = 0.67-0.73; moderate quality of evidence), and good responsiveness. Its minimal important difference is 3.5. Overall, CARAT has good internal consistency, reliability, construct validity and responsiveness, despite the heterogeneous quality of evidence. Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test can be used to assess the control of asthma and AR. As first of its kind, this meta-analysis of CARAT measurement properties sets a stronger level of evidence for asthma and/or AR control questionnaires.
|
|
| 38. |
-
- 2019
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
|
|
