From random Brownian motion of particles to high automation laboratory: a brief history of correlation time (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Berruti ◽  
Enrico Di Stasio ◽  
Alessandro Arcovito ◽  
Federica Romitelli ◽  
Mirca Antenucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Function ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
System Capacity ◽  
Laboratory Automation ◽  
Key Indicator ◽  
A Value ◽  
History Of ◽  
Original Approach

BACKGROUND Laboratory automation is the actual frontier for the increase of productivity and reduction of samples turnaround time (TAT), in turn used as a key indicator of laboratory performance. However, due to the statistical distribution of TAT values, classical parameters (mean, standard deviation, percentiles) fail to describe each single sample processing “story”. OBJECTIVE The driving idea of the present work is to assimilate the samples flow in an automation laboratory to the movement of molecules in solution by means of Dynamic Light Scattering Correlation Function analysis expansion METHODS TAT values from 10000 samples were used to build a correlation function. Through a time course, each sample perfectly correlates with its initial status (no results available) until its specific TAT value is reached and assumes a value of 1; after the TAT is reached (produced results) it no more correlates and its status value becomes 0. The generated correlation function is simply the normalized progressive timing sum of all analyzed samples status conditions at each specific time. RESULTS By correlation function analysis, several parameters to describe the general performance of the system as well as each individual sample status are derived and applied to monitor the efficiency of the automation chain in real time mode CONCLUSIONS Our original approach to laboratory automation leads to the possibility of determining measurable criteria able to describe the entire system capacity to buffer and reduce problems both on the full performance or on spot samples, consequently developing a new tool to evaluate different or improved performing systems. CLINICALTRIAL none

From random Brownian motion of particles to high automation laboratory: a brief history of correlation time (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Di Stasio ◽  
Federico Berruti ◽  
Alessandro Arcovito ◽  
Federica Romitelli ◽  
Mirca Antenucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Function ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
System Capacity ◽  
Quality Level ◽  
Laboratory Automation ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Cycle Times ◽  
Software Algorithms

BACKGROUND Laboratory automation is the actual frontier for the increase of productivity and reduction of samples turnaround time (TAT), in turn used as a key indicator of laboratory performance. However, due to the statistical distribution of TAT values, classical parameters (mean, standard deviation, percentiles) fail to describe each single sample processing “story”. The driving idea of the present work is to assimilate the samples flow in an automation laboratory to the movement of molecules in solution by means of Dynamic Light Scattering Correlation Function analysis expansion. OBJECTIVE The aim of the approach is the increase of productivity and the reduction of laboratory process cycle times thus improving data quality level. The most widely known application of laboratory automation technology is robotics, based on many different automated laboratory instruments, devices (the most common being autosamplers), software algorithms and methodologies assembled together to form an unique production chain starting from the arrival of the biological sample in the lab to the output of clinical useful final results. METHODS TAT values from 10000 samples were used to build a correlation function. Through a time course, each sample perfectly correlates with its initial status (no results available) until its specific TAT value is reached and assumes a value of 1; after the TAT is reached (produced results) it no more correlates and its status value becomes 0. The generated correlation function is simply the normalized progressive timing sum of all analyzed samples status conditions at each specific time. RESULTS By correlation function analysis, several parameters to describe the general performance of the system as well as each individual sample status are derived and applied to monitor the efficiency of the automation chain in real time mode. CONCLUSIONS Our original approach to laboratory automation leads to the possibility of determining measurable criteria able to describe the entire system capacity to buffer and reduce problems both on the full performance or on spot samples, consequently developing a new tool to evaluate different or improved performing systems CLINICALTRIAL none

scholarly journals Acute Stroke Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Reduction in the Number of Admissions of Elderly Patients and Increase in Prehospital Delays

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Gabriel Velilla-Alonso ◽  
Andrés García-Pastor ◽  
Ángela Rodríguez-López ◽  
Ana Gómez-Roldós ◽  
Antonio Sánchez-Soblechero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Acute Stroke Care ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Radiological Data ◽  
History Of ◽  
Prehospital Delays

Introduction: We analyzed whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis affected acute stroke care in our center during the first 2 months of lockdown in Spain. Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective study. We collected demographic, clinical, and radiological data; time course; and treatment of patients meeting the stroke unit admission criteria from March 14 to May 14, 2020 (COVID-19 period group). Data were compared with the same period in 2019 (pre-COVID-19 period group). Results: 195 patients were analyzed; 83 in the COVID-19 period group, resulting in a 26% decline of acute strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) admitted to our center compared with the previous year (p = 0.038). Ten patients (12%) tested positive for PCR SARS-CoV-2. The proportion of patients aged 65 years and over was lower in the COVID-19 period group (53 vs. 68.8%, p = 0.025). During the pandemic period, analyzed patients were more frequently smokers (27.7 vs. 10.7%, p = 0.002) and had less frequently history of prior stroke (13.3 vs. 25%, p = 0.043) or atrial fibrillation (9.6 vs. 25%, p = 0.006). ASPECTS score was lower (9 [7–10] vs. 10 [8–10], p = 0.032), NIHSS score was slightly higher (5 [2–14] vs. 4 [2–8], p = 0.122), onset-to-door time was higher (304 [93–760] vs. 197 [91.25–645] min, p = 0.104), and a lower proportion arrived within 4.5 h from onset of symptoms (43.4 vs. 58%, p = 0.043) during the CO­VID-19 period. There were no differences between proportion of patients receiving recanalization treatment (intravenous thrombolysis and/or mechanical thrombectomy) and in-hospital delays. Conclusion: We observed a reduction in the number of acute strokes and TIAs admitted during the COVID-19 period. This drop affected especially elderly patients, and despite a delay in their arrival to the emergency department, the proportion of patients treated with recanalization therapies was preserved.

Analysis of count data in the setting of cervical cancer detection

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1196-1198
Author(s):  
Christina G Bracamontes ◽  
Thelma Carrillo ◽  
Jane Montealegre ◽  
Leonid Fradkin ◽  
Michele Follen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Count Data ◽  
Pap Smear ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
El Paso ◽  
Language Preference ◽  
A Value ◽  
History Of ◽  
Zip Model ◽  
Endocervical Canal

Women with an abnormal Pap smear are often referred to colposcopy, a procedure during which endocervical curettage (ECC) may be performed. ECC is a scraping of the endocervical canal lining. Our goal was to compare the performance of a naïve Poisson (NP) regression model with that of a zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) model when identifying predictors of the number of distress/pain vocalizations made by women undergoing ECC. Data on women seen in the colposcopy clinic at a medical school in El Paso, Texas, were analyzed. The outcome was the number of pain vocalizations made by the patient during ECC. Six dichotomous predictors were evaluated. Initially, NP regression was used to model the data. A high proportion of patients did not make any vocalizations, and hence a ZIP model was also fit and relative rates (RRs) and 95% CIs were calculated. AIC was used to identify the best model (NP or ZIP). Of the 210 women, 154 (73.3%) had a value of 0 for the number of ECC vocalizations. NP identified three statistically significant predictors (language preference of the subject, sexual abuse history and length of the colposcopy), while ZIP identified one: history of sexual abuse (yes vs no; adjusted RR=2.70, 95% CI 1.47 to 4.97). ZIP was preferred over NP. ZIP performed better than NP regression. Clinicians and epidemiologists should consider using the ZIP model (or the zero-inflated negative binomial model) for zero-inflated count data.

scholarly journals The influence of associative reward learning on motor inhibition

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janina Rebecca Marchner ◽  
Claudia Preuschhof
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Action Control ◽  
Reward Learning ◽  
Behavioural Activation ◽  
Motor Inhibition ◽  
A Value ◽  
Directed Action ◽  
History Of ◽  
Pavlovian Learning ◽  
Subsequent Task

AbstractStimuli that predict a rewarding outcome can cause difficulties to inhibit unfavourable behaviour. Research suggests that this is also the case for stimuli with a history of reward extending these effects on action control to situations, where reward is no longer accessible. We expand this line of research by investigating if previously reward-predictive stimuli promote behavioural activation and impair motor inhibition in a second unrelated task. In two experiments participants were trained to associate colours with a monetary reward or neutral feedback. Afterwards participants performed a cued go/no-go task, where cues appeared in the colours previously associated with feedback during training. In both experiments training resulted in faster responses in rewarded trials providing evidence of a value-driven response bias as long as reward was accessible. However, stimuli with a history of reward did not interfere with goal-directed action and inhibition in a subsequent task after removal of the reward incentives. While the first experiment was not conclusive regarding an impact of reward-associated cues on response inhibition, the second experiment, validated by Bayesian statistics, clearly questioned an effect of reward history on inhibitory control. This stands in contrast to earlier findings suggesting that the effect of reward history on subsequent action control is not as consistent as previously assumed. Our results show that participants are able to overcome influences from Pavlovian learning in a simple inhibition task. We discuss our findings with respect to features of the experimental design which may help or complicate overcoming behavioural biases induced by reward history.

A System for Individualized Dosing of Intravenous Aminophylline Using a Programmable Calculator

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-67
Author(s):  
J. Chris Mitsuoka ◽  
Richard J. Fleck
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Serum Sample ◽  
Drug Exposure ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Dose Administration ◽  
Programmable Calculator ◽  
Concentration Determination ◽  
A Value ◽  
Individualized Dosing ◽  
History Of

A program that calculates a value of clearance for an individual patient prior to reaching steady state in the early stages of aminophylline therapy is presented. The program is written for the Texas Instruments TI-59 programmable calculator and may be used with or without the PC-100C printer. The program can provide clinically useful information concerning projected plasma concentrations prior to reaching steady state with an accurate history of the dose administration and serum concentration determination. If the patient has not received xanthene therapy prior to admission, only one serum sample is required. If there has been prior drug exposure, a second serum sample is required. An iterative technique, which would be impractical to use without calculator assistance, is employed to make these determinations.

Measuring the Performance of Maintenance Service Outsourcing

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 524-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Miguel Cruz ◽  
Adriana Maria Rios Rincon ◽  
Gregory L. Haugan
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Provider ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Cox Model ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Spare Parts ◽  
High Positive Correlation ◽  
User Training ◽  
A Value ◽  
Maintenance Service

The aims of this paper are (1) to identify the characteristics of maintenance service providers that directly impact maintenance service quality, using 18 independent covariables; (2) to quantify the change in risk these covariables present to service quality, measured in terms of equipment turnaround time (TAT). A survey was applied to every maintenance service provider (n = 19) for characterization purposes. The equipment inventory was characterized, and the TAT variable recorded and monitored for every work order of each service provider (N = 1,025). Finally, the research team conducted a statistical analysis to accomplish the research objectives. The results of this study offer strong empirical evidence that the most influential variables affecting the quality of maintenance service performance are the following: type of maintenance, availability of spare parts in the country, user training, technological complexity of the equipment, distance between the company and the hospital, and the number of maintenance visits performed by the company. The strength of the results obtained by the Cox model built are supported by the measure of the Rp,e2 = 0.57 with a value of Rp,e= 0.75. Thus, the model explained 57% of the variation in equipment TAT, with moderate high positive correlation between the dependent variable (TAT) and independent variables.

scholarly journals Modes of narrativity in the short history of Nikephoros of Constantinople

2015 ◽  
pp. 9-29
Author(s):  
Dragoljub Marjanovic
Keyword(s):  
Short History ◽  
Specific Manner ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mutual Relations ◽  
Key Accounts ◽  
Imperial Governance ◽  
The Church ◽  
Original Approach

Modes of narrativity applied in the Short history by Nikephoros of Constantinople are investigated on the basis of several key accounts which form a specific message of the author on the level of his entire work. This specific manner of literary presentation is particularly manifested in Nikephoros? original approach in portrayal of the Byzantine emperors and the patriarchs of Constantinople of the 7th and 8th centuries, thus embedding a specific idea of both imperial governance personalized in the reign of emperor Herakleios, and mutual relations between the Empire and the patriarchs of the Church of Constantinople, as presented in the accounts of patriarchs Sergios and Pyrrhos.

scholarly journals Kajian Toleransi Dalam Teks Cerita Rakyat Masyarakat Rote di Nusa Tenggara Timur

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-305
Author(s):  
Iswanto Iswanto ◽  
Marsi Bombongan Rantesalu
Keyword(s):  
Text Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
14Th Century ◽  
A Value ◽  
The People ◽  
History Of ◽  
Life Behavior ◽  
Descriptive Qualitative

Abstract: Tolerance as a value is manifested in the life behavior of a group of people. The aim of this study is to analyze and describe tolerance studies based on the folklore of the people of Rote in East Nusa Tenggara. As research conducted by Rantesalu and Iswanto (2018), defines tolerance values based on the stories of the people of the Toraja community, namely the value of acceptability and understanding combined with togetherness and complementary. Another empirical paradigm was obtained from Hofner (2018) which explains the tolerance is influenced by social and political contexts. This research is focused on the specificity of the perception of tolerance that is formed from values based on folklore data. The method used is descriptive qualitative method and enriched with Ricour hermeneutic method in text analysis. The data obtained in the form of a folklore titled Landu, which tells the history of the formation of the Landu community on the island of Rote. The Landu Kingdom is one of the 19 kingdoms on Rote Island in the 14th century. Based on the data obtained the results of research on tolerance values contained in CRMR Landu are (1) This acceptability and understanding as a base the basis of tolerance is explained by the verb diadik loke // hule 'beri // kasih' and (2) the value of brotherhood based on the form of diadik dalek // teik 'rasa // inner', inak // touk 'father // mother '.Keywords: Tolerance, Text, Value Abstrak: Toleransi sebagai sebuah nilai diwujudkan dalam perilaku kehidupan suatu kelompok masyarakat. Tujuan penelitian ini ialah meganalisa dan mendeskripsikan kajian toleransi berdasarkan cerita rakyat masyarakat Rote di Nusa Tenggara Timur. Sebagaimana penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Rantesalu dan Iswanto (2018), mendefinisikan nilai toleransi berdasarkan ceritera rakyat masyarakat Toraja yang di dalamnya terdapat internalisasi nilai keberterimaan dan kesepahaman (acceptability and understanding). Selanjutnya, nilai-nilai tersebut disejajarkan dengan kebersamaan (togetherness) dan saling melengkapi (complementary). Paradigma empiris lainnya diperoleh dari Hofner (2018) yang menjelaskan toleransi yang ditimbulkan dari konteks politik di Indonesia. Penelitian ini lebih difukuskan pada kekhasan persepsi toleransi yang terbentuk dari nilai berdasarkan data cerita rakyat. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif yang diperkaya dengan metode hermeneutik Ricour dalam analisa teks. Data yang diperoleh berupa cerita rakyat berjudul Landu, yang menceritakan sejarah terbentuknya masyarakat Landu di pulau Rote. Kerajaan Landu adalah salah satu kerajaan dari 19 kerajaan di Pulau Rote pada abad ke-14. Berdasarkan data diperoleh hasil penelitian nilai toleransi yang terdapat dalam CRMR Landu adalah (1) Nilai keberterimaan dan kesepahaman (acceptability and understanding) ini sebagai alas dasar toleransi dijelaskan berdasarkan verba diadik loke//hule ‘beri//kasih’ dan (2) nilai persaudaraan (brotherhood) yang berdasarkan pada bentuk diadik dalek//teik ‘rasa//batin’, inak//touk ‘ayah//ibu’. Kata Kunci: Toleransi, Teks, Landu

scholarly journals Management of Phantom Limb Pain through Thalamotomy of the Centro-Median Nucleus

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-593
Author(s):  
Ramiro A. Pérez de la Torre ◽  
Job J. Rodríguez Hernández ◽  
Ali Al-Ramadan ◽  
Abeer Gharaibeh
Keyword(s):  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Burning Pain ◽  
A Value ◽  
Thoracic Limb ◽  
History Of ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Right

Background: Phantom limb syndrome is defined as the perception of intense pain or other sensations that are secondary to a neural lesion in a limb that does not exist. It can be treated using pharmacological and surgical interventions. Most medications are prescribed to improve patients’ lives; however, the response rate is low. In this case report, we present a case of phantom limb syndrome in a 42-year-old female with a history of transradial amputation of the left thoracic limb due to an accidental compression one year before. The patient underwent placement of a deep brain stimulator at the ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM) on the right side and removal secondary to loss of battery. The patient continued to have a burning pain throughout the limb with a sensation of still having the limb, which was subsequently diagnosed as phantom limb syndrome. After a thorough discussion with the patient, a right stereotactic centro-median thalamotomy was offered. An immediate response was reported with a reduction in pain severity on the visual analogue scale (VAS) from a value of 9–10 preoperative to a value of 2 postoperative, with no postoperative complications. Although phantom limb pain is one of the most difficult to treat conditions, centro-median thalamotomy may provide an effective stereotactic treatment procedure with adequate outcomes.

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