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Background and Aim: Timely diagnosis of dysphagia is important for people with an intellectual disability. Periodic screening of each individual by speech-language therapists is barely feasible with respect to limited resources. Therefore, preselection of individuals with an increased dysphagia risk through screening by caregivers is crucial. Objective: This study aimed to develop the novel Screening instrument for Dysphagia for people with an Intellectual Disability (SD-ID). Methods: The SD-ID was developed, validated and optimised in two rounds. Version 3, consisting of nine risk factors and 20 items concerning eating/drinking behaviour, was thoroughly studied for feasibility, concurrent validity and reliability, and then optimised. Outcomes and Results: The SD-ID (version 3) was filled out in an average of four minutes (feasibility). A strong positive association was found between scores on SD-ID and Dysphagia Disorder Survey (concurrent validity). Test-retest and interrater reliability were very good. Two additional risk factors were added and two items removed to yield the final version 4. The most optimal cut-off score appeared to be either 4 or 5. Conclusions and Implications: The SD-ID is a reliable instrument to screen for an increased risk of dysphagia in people with an intellectual disability. Ideally it is part of a cyclic work process: Screening with SD-ID (step 1), diagnostic work-up if necessary (step 2), recommendations (step 3), and evaluation (step 4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence of fascial involvement in musculoskeletal pathologies; thus, measuring the fascia's properties is clinically essential. 1) to evaluate intra- and inter-tester reliability of sonographic measurements of deep fascia thickness in healthy individuals; 2) to assess whether fascial thickness in areas of fascial movement restriction (fascial densification in Stecco's Fascial Manipulation method), differs from contralateral areas with normal fascia. Part 1 (reliability study): Fascial thickness was sonographically measured in 10 sites (5 on each side), twice by a single examiner to assess intra-rater reliability and once by a second examiner to evaluate inter-rater reliability. Part 2 (cross-sectional study): Unilateral fascial movement restrictions were detected in 5 bilateral sites by palpation. The fascial thickness on the ultrasound image was measured at the restriction site and its normal contralateral side by a blinded assessor. 21 healthy individuals were evaluated in part 1, 15 healthy individuals in part 2. Intra-tester reliability (Interclass correlation – ICC) values ranged from 0.677 to 0.975; inter-tester ICC values ranged from 0.473 to 0.966. No significant differences in fascia thickness between the right and left body sides were observed in most sites. Significant differences were found between the fascial thickness of the site of fascial movement restrictions vs. normal counterpart. Intra- and inter-rater reliability of sonographic measuring fascial thickness was high, and fascial thickness of the site of fascial movement restrictions was greater than in the normal counterpart. Ultrasonography may be used as a reliable method to evaluate fascial alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since standard distributions do not fundamentally have an acceptable fit to all types of data sets, it is necessary to construct extensions of standard distributions to increase their capability in data modeling. As a result of this shortage in old ones, we proposed a novel generator based on the trigonometric function (Arctan). We selected the Frechet distribution as the baseline for the generator’s applicability. This generator produces the “new Arctan Frechet distribution” (NATFD). The fundamental properties of the proposed distribution have been taken into consideration. Estimating the given distribution’s parameters is accomplished using the maximum-likelihood method. A simulation study is carried out to evaluate the superiority of the proposed distribution, and two actual data sets are used.

Since standard distributions do not fundamentally have an acceptable fit to all types of data sets, it is necessary to construct extensions of standard distributions to increase their capability in data modeling. As a result of this shortage in old ones, we proposed a novel generator based on the trigonometric function (Arctan). We selected the Frechet distribution as the baseline for the generator's applicability. This generator produces the "new Arctan Frechet distribution" (NATFD). The fundamental properties of the proposed distribution have been taken into consideration. Estimating the given distribution's parameters is accomplished using the maximum-likelihood method. A simulation study is carried out to evaluate the superiority of the proposed distribution, and two actual data sets are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current research work, the shear capacity of the cold-formed steel (CFS) three-bolted clip angle (CA) beam-to-column moment connection (3BM) is investigated with 45 laboratory test results. The 3BM connection comprises a three-bolted CA connector that connects the web portions and a bolted flange cleat (FC) that connects the flange portions of the beam and column; in comparison, the three-bolted shear connection (3BS) connects only the web portions of the beam and column. The presence of the FC improved the shear strength of the 3BM connection over the 3BS connection and it is quantified using a coefficient called the "rigidity factor (β)." A shift in the failure mode of CAs from shear local buckling in a 3BS connection to tearing failure in a 3BM connection was observed as the FC resists beam torsional deformation and delays the early local buckling of the CA. The existing design shear equation of the 3BS connection is improved by expressing it as a function of CA failure modes. Following the same trend, the existing design shear method for the CFS moment connection is improved by incorporating the failure modes of the CA boundary conditions along with the geometric and material properties of both the CA and FC for the present 3BM connection. In addition, an empirical shear design equation is suggested for the 3BM connection. The design factors of the proposed 3BM shear equations for load and resistance factor design, limit state design, and allowable strength design methods were evaluated from the reliability study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advancements in non-ionizing methods for quantifying spinal deformities are crucial for assessing and monitoring scoliosis. In this study, we analyzed the observer variability of a newly developed digital tool for quantifying body asymmetry from clinical photographs. Methods: Prospective observational multicenter study. Initially, a digital tool was developed using image analysis software, calculating quantitative measures of body asymmetry. This tool was integrated into an online platform that exports data to a database. The tool calculated 10 parameters, including angles (shoulder height, axilla height, waist height, right and left waistline angles, and their difference) and surfaces of the left and right hemitrunks (shoulders, waists, pelvises, and total). Subsequently, an online training course on the tool was conducted for twelve observers not involved in its development (six research coordinators and six spine surgeons). Finally, 15 standardized back photographs of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients were selected from a multicenter image bank, representing various clinical scenarios (different age, gender, curve type, BMI, and pre- and postoperative images). The 12 observers measured the photographs at two different times with a three-week interval. For the second round, the images were randomly mixed. Inter- and intra-observer variabilities of the measurements were analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and reliability was measured by the standard error of measurement (SEM). Group comparisons were made using Student's t-test. Results: The mean inter-observer ICC for the ten measurements was 0.981, the mean intra-observer ICC was 0.937, and SEM was 0.3–1.3°. The parameter with the strongest inter- and intra-observer validity was the difference in waistline angles 0.994 and 0.974, respectively, while the highest variability was found with the waist height angle 0.963 and 0.845, respectively. No test–retest differences (p > 0.05) were observed between researchers (0.948 ± 0.04) and surgeons (0.925 ± 0.05). Conclusion: We developed a new digital tool integrated into an online platform demonstrating excellent reliability and inter- and intra-observer variabilities for quantifying body asymmetry in scoliosis patients from a simple clinical photograph. The method could be used for assessing and monitoring scoliosis and body asymmetry without radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although considerable research has been devoted to improving safety in university laboratories, accidents, in that environment, have still occurred frequently at the cost of serious injury or even death of laboratory personnel. Currently, few Human Reliability Analyses (HRA) have been conducted with respect to a university laboratory. The aim of the research was to conduct a reliability study relating to human behaviour in a university laboratory to explore quantitatively the causes and influencing factors relating to the frequency of laboratory accidents. Improved Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method (CREAM) and improved Standardized Plant Analysis Risk HRA (SPAR-H) were employed to assess Human Error Probability (HEP) of 23 subjects. The HEP calculated through improved CREAM proved more accurate than results obtained through improved SPAR-H. Unexpectedly, the results demonstrated that under similar environmental conditions, the HEP of subjects did not decrease with an increase in educational background, including additional experimental time and experience. Moreover, environmental conditions exerted greater impact on personnel reliability than Human Inherent Factors (HIFs) in laboratories. It is anticipated that the study would provide valuable insights, in respect of research methods, and to serve as a practical basis for lowering the accident rate in university laboratories.

The present research endeavours to experimentally evaluate the service shear strength of the cold‐formed steel (CFS) welded clip‐angle connector in a CFS beam‐to‐column connection. A total of 30 laboratory tests were conducted on the 27 configurations of the clip‐angle by varying its thickness, width, and depth. The governing design failure modes observed in the welded clip‐angle are (i) Local buckling and (ii) Distortional buckling. The existing traditional elastic design approach for the service limit state design of CFS connector was found to be highly conservative for most of the welded clip‐angle specimens. Hence a new design approach is developed for the welded clip‐angle configuration and the corresponding design shear equation is suggested. A comparative study was conducted between the present welded clip‐angle configuration and existing screwed configuration. The design recommendations were suggested for the efficient design of the connection for the welded clip‐angle configuration. The relevant design factors for the suggested shear equations of welded clip‐angle were evaluated from the reliability analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eurocode 3 permits to utilize nonlinear finite element analysis (NFEA) in design process by carrying out Geometrically and Materially Nonlinear Analysis with Imperfections (GMNIA). Design by GMNIA can consider material plasticity and redistribution of forces in a system level such that it can result in an economical design regarding the material consumption. Unfortunately, GMNIA is scarcely adopted among structural engineers, most likely due to the complexity of the method. The determination of the safety factor for GMNIA requires numerical or experimental test results which may not be available for the designed structural system. Recently, a more holistic approach, Direct Design Method (DDM), has been introduced. In DDM, structural systems are prequalified by determining the system safety factor in advance based on system level reliability studies, thus simplifying the design process for a structural engineer. This study develops a Eurocode‐compliant DDM, i.e. practicable GMNIA, for Warren roof trusses. The paper presents the prequalification process based on three trusses made of cold‐formed hollow sections of the steel grade S700. Additionally, modelling techniques are presented for cold‐formed hollow sections such that an accurate nominal NFEA model is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of in-service pavements' performance is a complex system that encompasses a variety of uncertain factors. These uncertainties include random, fuzzy, gray, and unascertained information, and their interrelationships are intricate, making comprehensive quantification unachievable. Nonetheless, current highway management organizations rely on a comprehensive indicator, namely, the Pavement Quality Index (PQI), to assess the level of pavement performance. This paper introduces a novel approach that employs blind number theory to evaluate the reliability of pavement performance test data. The proposed method aims to enhance the representativeness of PQI and is demonstrated using detection data from highway asphalt pavements in Hunan Province. The method takes into account the probability distribution characteristics of evaluation metrics and incorporates the blind number representation format of PQI. A confidence model for pavement performance evaluation is established to assess the reliability of pavement detection results. The method also integrates expert empowerment and entropy weight to consider both the subjectivity of evaluation and the objectivity of measured data. The method presented in this study has demonstrated superior performance compared to traditional evaluation index systems. This is attributed to the effective utilization of blind information to accurately characterize the discreteness of pavement performance indexes. Consequently, pavement performance can be quantitatively graded based on anticipated issues and data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic forced to rethink teleneuropsychology, since neuropsychological assessments started to be performed by phone or videoconference, with personal devices and without direct assistance from the clinician, a practice called "Direct-To-Home NeuroPsychology" (DTH-NP). Aims: The present study, employing a counterbalanced cross-over design, was aimed at evaluating (1) the feasibility and (2) the acceptability of DTH-NP in Italian older adults without previously diagnosed neurocognitive disorder, (3) the comparability between remote and face-to-face administration of selected neuropsychological tests. Methods: Fifty-eight community-dwelling older adults (65–85 years) were randomly assigned to one of two groups performing a complete neuropsychological assessment remotely (via phone call and videoconference) and face-to-face, in a counterbalance order, 8 weeks apart. The study recruitment rate was calculated, and the number of uncompleted tests and acceptability questionnaire responses were compared between the two administration modalities. Comparability was defined as good reliability of DTH-NP (intraclass correlation coefficient) and agreement between remote and face-to-face scores (Bland–Altman plots). Results: Recruitment rate was 81%, with a preference for telephonic contact (79%). The acceptability analysis did not reveal any issues related to the DTH-NP assessment, even if most participants would rather repeat it face-to-face. Tests assessing short-term memory, language, and reasoning showed good comparability. Discussion and conclusion: Our results point out to a good recruitment rate in a DTH-NP study in an Italian population of older adults (mean age = 80), satisfying acceptability of DTH-NP and remote–face-to-face comparability of certain verbally mediated tests. Further studies including larger samples in videoconference modality, and outpatients, could better clarify its strengths and limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo propose and validate a new classification of surgical methods for patients with subaxial cervical hemivertebrae.MethodThis article reviewed cases diagnosed with subaxial cervical hemivertebrae in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2019. The results of preoperative (initial visit), postoperative and/or final follow-up were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI) score, spinal balance parameters, and Scoliosis Research Society-22 Questionnaire (SRS-22). We also performed a reliability study to assess this classification.ResultThe classification includes three types. Each type can be divided into two subtypes, and a preliminary algorithm is proposed. Type I: There is an obvious appearance deformity in the neck, there are hemivertebrae in the cervical spine, and only a single hemivertebra of the subaxial cervical hemivertebra needs to be resected. Type II: There is an obvious appearance deformity in the neck, there are hemivertebrae in the cervical spine, and multiple subaxial cervical hemivertebrae need to be removed. Type III: No apparent deformity in the neck, at least one subaxial cervical hemivertebra existed or Klipper-Feil syndrome. Each type is divided into two subtypes, A and B, according to whether the upper and lower adjacent vertebral bodies of the rescected hemivertebra(e) are fused. We propose corresponding treatment methods for different types. We included a total of 121 patients and reviewed the prognosis for each type of patient. All patients achieved satisfactory results. The reliability study showed that the mean interobserver agreement was 91.8% (89.3%–93.4%), and the κ value was 0.845 (0.800–0.875). The intraobserver agreement ranged from 93.4% to 97.5%, with a mean κ value of 0.929 (0.881 to 0.954).ConclusionIn our study, we proposed and validated a new classification of subaxial cervical hemivertebrae and proposed corresponding treatment plans for different classifications.

The evaluation of in-service pavements’ performance is a complex system that encompasses a variety of uncertain factors. These uncertainties include random, fuzzy, gray, and unascertained information, and their interrelationships are intricate, making comprehensive quantification unachievable. Nonetheless, current highway management organizations rely on a comprehensive indicator, namely, the Pavement Quality Index (PQI), to assess the level of pavement performance. This paper introduces a novel approach that employs blind number theory to evaluate the reliability of pavement performance test data. The proposed method aims to enhance the representativeness of PQI and is demonstrated using detection data from highway asphalt pavements in Hunan Province. The method takes into account the probability distribution characteristics of evaluation metrics and incorporates the blind number representation format of PQI. A confidence model for pavement performance evaluation is established to assess the reliability of pavement detection results. The method also integrates expert empowerment and entropy weight to consider both the subjectivity of evaluation and the objectivity of measured data. The method presented in this study has demonstrated superior performance compared to traditional evaluation index systems. This is attributed to the effective utilization of blind information to accurately characterize the discreteness of pavement performance indexes. Consequently, pavement performance can be quantitatively graded based on anticipated issues and data.

Indian Standard Medium Beam (ISMB) sections are the only type of section that are normally produced in India. The present research is focused on the influence of ISMB sections in the beam column end plate connection. A mechanical model has been created for the beam column end plate connection by discretizing the connection into individual components. It is assumed that the beam and the column sides are separately possessing distinct components in tension as well as compression region of connection. The component approach is used to envisage the moment of resistance of connection as well as forces in the individual component using Eurocode 3 provisions. The execution of component method has been done by using MATLAB program. All the possible combinations of ISMB profiles are used as beam and column in this study. The force resistant of individual component is strongly influenced by the sectional properties of I section profile. The reliability study is also executed by analysing probability of failure of the individual component, which could be calculated using Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF). The probability of failure of connection is varied since it mainly depends on the sectional properties of the beam and column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Self‐Treatment of Wounds for Venous Leg Ulcers Checklist" (STOW‐V Checklist V1.0) is an evidence‐based, standardised tool designed to assist nurses to appraise the conduct of wound treatment when undertaken by patients who have venous leg ulcers. A prospective reliability study was conducted to determine the reliability of the STOW‐V Checklist V1.0. Video‐recordings of patients who self‐treated their leg ulcer were obtained (n = 5) and nurses (n = 15) viewed each video‐recording three times and concurrently completed the Checklist. Internal consistency, inter‐rater reliability and intra‐rater reliability were evaluated. Cronbach's alpha for items in the Checklist was 0.792, 0.791 and 0.783 for Occasions 1, 2 and 3, respectively, indicating good reliability. Inter‐rater reliability was 0.938, 0.958 and 0.927 for Occasions 1, 2 and 3, respectively; these results were statistically significant and indicative of excellent reliability. Intra‐rater reliability was 0.403 to 0.999; these results were statistically significant and meeting or exceed adequacy in the case of all except two raters. The study provides preliminary evidence that the Checklist is measuring the concepts that it intends to measure and that there is a high level of agreement among raters. It is recommended that the STOW‐V Checklist V1.0 is utilised with patients in a shared‐care model, with nurses and other healthcare professionals providing supervision and oversight of self‐treatment practices whenever this is feasible and acceptable to the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimized design of a freestanding hybrid microgrid for various distinct dispatch controls is assessed in this paper, which considers the optimal sizes of individual components, system response, and reliability analysis. The effective design and management of stand-alone islanded hybrid smartgrids are getting increasingly importance and influences as the prevalence of renewable energy in microgrids grows. Melville Island, off the coast of eastern Queensland, Australia, is taken as the test microgrid in this study. For the optimal sizing and techno-economic assessment of the intended hybrid microgrid system consist of of solar diesel generator, PV , battery storage, and wind turbine, four dispatch approaches have been unitized: load following, generator order, combined dispatch, and cycle charging strategy. The proposed off-grid microgrid's CO2 emissions, total net present cost (NPC), and the Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) have all been optimized. In HOMER software, all the possible dispatch algorithms were analyzed, and the power system responses and reliability study were carried out using DIgSILENT PowerFactory. The findings of the study are useful for determining the optimum hybrid combination and available resources for the best performance of an off-grid microgrid employing various dispatch mechanisms. Following the simulation data, load-following is the best dispatch mechanism for stand-alone microgrid architecture since it has the lowest LCOE and NPC.

Aims: This study explored the reliability, validity and perceived comfort of a novel thumb pressure measure and calculation of a toe-thumb index to identify their suitability as an adjunct or alternatives to ankle-brachial and toe-brachial indices., Methods and Results: Repeated manual thumb and toe systolic blood pressures were conducted using two raters, over two time points, on 34 healthy participants. Concurrent automated toe, thumb and brachial systolic blood pressures as well as comfort ratings for these measures (using a 10 mm visual analogue scale) were captured once by a research assistant. Automated thumb and brachial measures showed fair correlation (ρ = 0.36, p = 0.03) and a toe-thumb index and toe-brachial index good correlation (ρ = 0.62, p < 0.01). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) identified moderate intra-rater reliability for manual thumb pressures for Rater 1 and 2 (ICC 0.57, 95% CI [0.14, 0.79] and ICC 0.74, 95% CI [0.49, 0.87], respectively), while inter-rater reliability was poor (ICC = 0.16, 95% CI [-0.85, 0.47]). Concurrent validity comparing manual and automated measures for thumb pressure was also poor (ICC -0.05, 95% CI [-1.06, 0.72] and ICC 0.42, 95% CI [-0.16, 0.72] Rater 1 and 2 respectively). Thumb measures were significantly more comfortable than brachial measures (5 mm, p < 0.00)., Conclusion: Thumb systolic pressures are correlated with brachial systolic pressures, with reasonable intra-rater reliability, however, correlation is only fair and measurement error wider than clinically acceptable. Furthermore, manual measures are poorly correlated with automated units. Consequently, caution is required in applying these techniques. As thumb measures were perceived as significantly more comfortable than brachial measures and have an advantage where brachial pressures cannot, or should not, be obtained, further evaluation is warranted., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Foot and Ankle Research published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Podiatry Association and The Royal College of Podiatry.)

The Hannover classification of vestibular schwannomas is designed to stratify tumors based on extrameatal extension and compression of the brainstem. We have previously reported the reliability of the Koos system, but to date, no study has assessed the reliability of the similar Hannover classification. We present an assessment of the intrarater and interrater reliability of the Hannover classification system. After institutional review board approval was obtained, a cross-sectional group of the magnetic resonance imaging of 40 patients with vestibular schwannomas varying in size comprised the study sample. Four raters were selected to assign a Hannover grade to 50 total scans. Interrater and intrarater reliability was calculated and reported using Fleiss's kappa, Kendall's W, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Interrater observer reliability was found to be moderate when measured using Fleiss' kappa (0.49), extremely strong using Kendall's W (0.93), and excellent as calculated by ICC (0.88). The results were all statistically significant (P < 0.05). Intrarater reliability for Hannover grade ranged from 0.77 to 1.00 (substantial to perfect). By Kendall's W and ICC, all raters had near perfect or excellent agreement. The results were all statistically significant (P < 0.05). The Hannover classification is a reliable system for grading the size of vestibular schwannomas. This supports its continued use and previously published results of the literature in studies relying on this classification. Further studies are needed to evaluate its validity and determine its role in preoperative counseling and determining microsurgery and radiosurgery outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the prospect of strained Si/Sin1–xGex nano-scale p++-i-n++ photo-detector in the infrared (IR) wavelength region (1000 nm–2200 nm). The proposed device is capable of offering high photo-responsivity and quantum efficiency at 1600 nm wavelength in comparison to the unstrained conventional Si based pin photo-detector device. The authors have developed a Quantum Modified Drift Diffusion Model to analyze the nano-scale properties of strained Si photo-detector device. The analysis reveals that the strained Si based pin photo-detector offers high photo responsivity 0.67 A/W at 1600 nm wavelength and quantum efficiency 0.60 at the same wavelength compared to the conventional unstrained Si based photo-detector. The enhancements of the photo electric characteristics of the Si photo device are obtained by incorporating selective amount of Ge into the Si active region. The electrical properties in the strained Si semiconductor at room temperature (300 K), have made this material more attractive for being used as a photo-detector. Due to the incorporation of this Ge layer, in-plane bi-axial strain is produced in the active region. This phenomenon enhances the out-of-plane mobility of charge carriers. In this current research, in-plane strain is used to boost up the out-plane mobility depending on the geometrical structure of the active region. The validity of the proposed model is established by comparing the simulated data with the corresponding experimental results. The authors also report the reliability study of the proposed device in details. Further, the authors have developed a 4 $\times$ 4 array type photo-detector based on the strained Si structure and the results are compared with the corresponding single array type photo-detector. In case of the 4 $\times$ 4 array type photo detector, the photo electric characteristics, i.e., photo responsivity and quantum efficiency increase to 0.74 A/W and 0.69 respectively at 1600 nm wavelength. In IR wavelength region, the designed photo-sensor depicts a significant improvement of performance compared to the available photo-detector in published research work. The proposed photo-detector can play an important role in Bio-medical, Defence and Agro industries. According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report on strain engineered nano scale asymmetrical Si/Si1–xGex based photo-detector array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: An increased tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TTTG) distance is used for deciding a treatment plan in patello-femoral instability (PFI). The centre of the patellar tendon and the chondral trochlear groove can be directly visualised on MRI, and measured, giving the patellar tendontrochlear groove (PTTG) distance. A study was designed to compare the inter-rater and the test-retest reliabilities of PTTG and TTTG measurements in MRI of patients without PFI and in a group with PFI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional reliability study was done on archival MRI films of 50 patients without patellar instability and 20 patients with patellar instability. TTTG and PTTG distances were independently measured by two orthopaedic surgeons and two radiologists. A hybrid PTTG measurement with bony landmarks on the femoral side and the patellar tendon landmark on the tibial side, was used to estimate the influence of the differences in the femoral and tibial landmarks on the difference in reliabilities. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for all four raters, as well as separately for each rater. RESULTS: The PTTG distance had a higher inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.86, 95% CI=0.79-0.92) compared to the TTTG distance (ICC=0.70, 95% CI=0.59-0.80) in patients without PFI. Similar trends were seen in patients with PFI (0.83 vs 0.66). The inter-rater reliability for the hybrid PTTG distance was found to lie in between the TTTG and PTTG. CONCLUSION: The MRI-based PTTG distance had better inter-rater reliability compared with the MRI-based TTTG distance.

Freezing of gait is a disabling symptom with a complex episodic nature that is frequently experienced by people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Although China has the largest population with PD in the world, no Chinese version of the freezing of gait questionnaire (FOGQ), the instrument that has been most widely used to assess FOG, has yet been developed. This study aimed to translate and adapt the original version of FOGQ to create a Chinese version, the FOGQ-CH, then assess its reliability, calculate the Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) and investigate its validity. The forward-backwards translation model was adopted, and cultural adaptation included expert review and pretesting. For the reliability study, 31 Chinese native speaking patients with PD were assessed two times in a 7–10 days interval. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the FOGQ-CH were measured by Cronbach's alpha (Cα) and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). For the validity study, 34 native speakers of Chinese with PD were included. To explore the convergent validity, relationships between the FOGQ-CH and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part II (UPDRS II) and Part III (UPDRS III), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), Timed Up and Go Test in cognitive task (TUGT-Cog), walking speed (10 MWT speed), and step length (10 MWT step length) in a 10-m Walk Test were tested. To explore predictive validity, the number of falls followed up for 6 months were assessed. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was employed to test the capacity of FOGQ-CH to discriminate those with falls. From the reliability study, Cα = 0.823, ICC = 0.786. The MDC0.90 = 4.538. From the validity study, the FOGQ-CH showed moderate correlations with UPDRS II (rho = 0.560, p = 0.001), UPDRS III (rho = 0.451, p = 0.007), TUGT (rho = 0.556, p = 0.007), TUGT-Cog (rho = 0.557, p = 0.001), 10MWT-speed (rho = −0.478, p = 0.004), 10MWT-step length (rho = −0.419, p = 0.014), and the number of falls followed up for 6 months (rho = 0.356, p = 0.045). The AUC = 0.777 (p = 0.036) for predicting whether the participants will have multiple falls (two or more) in the following 6 months. The FOGQ-CH showed good reliability and validity for assessing Chinese native speaking patients with PD. In addition, the FOGQ-CH showed good efficacy for predicting multiple falls in the following 6 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freezing of gait is a disabling symptom with a complex episodic nature that is frequently experienced by people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Although China has the largest population with PD in the world, no Chinese version of the freezing of gait questionnaire (FOGQ), the instrument that has been most widely used to assess FOG, has yet been developed. This study aimed to translate and adapt the original version of FOGQ to create a Chinese version, the FOGQ-CH, then assess its reliability, calculate the Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) and investigate its validity. The forward-backwards translation model was adopted, and cultural adaptation included expert review and pretesting. For the reliability study, 31 Chinese native speaking patients with PD were assessed two times in a 7–10 days interval. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the FOGQ-CH were measured by Cronbach's alpha (Cα) and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). For the validity study, 34 native speakers of Chinese with PD were included. To explore the convergent validity, relationships between the FOGQ-CH and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part II (UPDRS II) and Part III (UPDRS III), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), Timed Up and Go Test in cognitive task (TUGT-Cog), walking speed (10 MWT speed), and step length (10 MWT step length) in a 10-m Walk Test were tested. To explore predictive validity, the number of falls followed up for 6 months were assessed. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was employed to test the capacity of FOGQ-CH to discriminate those with falls. From the reliability study, Cα = 0.823, ICC = 0.786. The MDC0.90 = 4.538. From the validity study, the FOGQ-CH showed moderate correlations with UPDRS II (rho = 0.560, p = 0.001), UPDRS III (rho = 0.451, p = 0.007), TUGT (rho = 0.556, p = 0.007), TUGT-Cog (rho = 0.557, p = 0.001), 10MWT-speed (rho = −0.478, p = 0.004), 10MWT-step length (rho = −0.419, p = 0.014), and the number of falls followed up for 6 months (rho = 0.356, p = 0.045). The AUC = 0.777 (p = 0.036) for predicting whether the participants will have multiple falls (two or more) in the following 6 months. The FOGQ-CH showed good reliability and validity for assessing Chinese native speaking patients with PD. In addition, the FOGQ-CH showed good efficacy for predicting multiple falls in the following 6 months.

People with dementia (PWD) may exhibit symptoms that negatively affect their relationships with their families or friends which could cause social strain. The Negative Relationship Quality (NRQ) questionnaire can be used to measure social strain in PWD. There has never been an Indonesian adaptation of the NRQ. This preliminary study aimed to measure the validity and reliability of the NRQ among PWD in Indonesia (NRQ-INA). This study used a cross-sectional design. Forward–backward translation methods were conducted first. Pearson’s correlation and factor analysis were employed for the validity test. Cronbach’s alpha and test–retest were used to determine reliability. The NRQ-INA has four parallel items related to social strain that are divided into three subscales and asked to spouse/partner, family members, and friends, leading to a total of 12 questions. The results of validity testing from 60 respondents showed that all items in the NRQ-INA were strongly valid with correlation coefficients (r) of >0.8 (p < 0.01). Factor analysis showed a convergence with the variance explained of more than 50% for all items in each subscale, which also indicated that NRQ-INA had acceptable construct validity to measure social strain. Cronbach’s alpha values (α) were 0.926, 0.942, and 0.938 for the subscales of spouse, friends, and family members, respectively. The correlations of test–retest reliability for all items were >0.7 (p < 0.01), demonstrating a reliable NRQ-INA measurement. In conclusion, NRQ-INA had a good validity and reliability to measure social strain in PWD. Further study of the concurrent validity among PWD is still needed.

The rapid growth of the advanced consumer 5G wireless mobile phones has propelled the demands of fabricating surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters with smaller size and high performance. Three-dimension wafer-level package (3-D WLP) for SAW filter is a promising solution to replace conventional surface mounted technology and chip-scale packaging. In this article, a new WLP for SAW filter with a size of 1.3 mm × 1.1 mm × 0.35 mm is developed using thin dry film capping. The new 3-D WLP significantly reduces the overall thickness which is particularly meaningful for low-profile smartphones and tablets. A number of key processes were developed. To improve the quality, finite element modeling (FEM) is used to simulate the mechanical stress to optimize cavity structure. Reliability tests were performed and the results indicated that there were no significant frequency response changes occurred and low insertion loss (IL) in pass band was less than 0.2 dB after pro-conditional level 3 test, unbiased highly accelerated stress (uHAST) test, and temperature cycling (TC) test on SAW filter packages. It can be concluded that 3-D WLP for SAW filter achieves miniaturization, good electrical performance, and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• System-level reliability studies are carried out for Warren truss portal frames. • Target systems are made of cold-formed high-strength steel hollow sections. • System safety factor is determined for Eurocode-compliant advanced GMNIA method. • Snow and wind loads are considered for the ultimate limit state design. • The factor of 1.15 is proposed based on the average target reliability index of 3.0. Eurocode 3 provides G eometrically and M aterially N onlinear A nalysis with I mperfections-method (GMNIA) in which the entire structure can be designed in system-level. In GMNIA, reliability of structural system is verified by using a system safety factor which is obtained in Eurocode 3 based on numerical or experimental capacity test results. Unfortunately, such test results are scarcely published in the literature thus complicating the determination of the factor for a design engineer. In the so-called Direct Design Method, however, system safety factors are provided in advance for the design engineer by system-level reliability studies. This study determines the Eurocode-compliant GMNIA system safety factor for Warren truss portal frames by using the approach of the Direct Design Method. Advanced numerical models are utilized to perform Monte Carlo-simulations for entire structural systems. These simulations provide statistical distributions of system resistances which are employed in the First-Order Reliability Method to derive the system safety factors. Studied structures are made of S700 cold-formed hollow sections. Various system geometries, system configurations and load combinations consisting of snow and wind loads are investigated and a suitable system safety factor is proposed for the ultimate limit state design of Warren truss portal frames. The proposed system safety factor is applied in a practical comparison in which Warren system is designed both by the conventional Eurocode 3 method and GMNIA. This comparison reveals that GMNIA has a remarkable potential to offer reduced material consumption in design compared to the conventional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to determine (1) the test–retest reliability of a newly developed portable fixed dynamometer (PFD) as compared to the hand-held dynamometer (HHD) in patients with motor neuron disease (MND) and (2) the PFD's ability to reduce possible examiner-induced ceiling effects. Methods: Test–retest reliability of isometric muscle strength of the quadriceps was measured in patients with MND and non-neurological controls using the HHD and PFD. Reliability was estimated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) using linear mixed effects models, and the Bland–Altman method of agreement. Results: In total, 45 patients with MND and 43 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The ICC of the PFD was excellent and similar in both patients and controls (ICC Patients 99.5% vs. ICC Controls 98.6%) with a SEM of 6.2%. A strong examiner-induced ceiling effect in HHD was found when the participant's strength exceeded that of examiner. Employing the PFD increased the range of muscle strength measurements across individuals nearly twofold from 414 to 783 N. Conclusions: Portable fixed dynamometry may significantly reduce examiner-induced ceiling effects, optimize the standardization of muscle strength testing, and maximize reliability. Ultimately, PFD may improve the delivery of care due to its potential for unsupervised, home-based assessments and reduce the burden to the patient of participating in clinical trials for MND or other neuromuscular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two schools of thought in statistical analysis, frequentist, and Bayesian. Though the two approaches produce similar estimations and predictions in large-sample studies, their interpretations are different. Bland Altman analysis is a statistical method that is widely used for comparing two methods of measurement. It was originally proposed under a frequentist framework, and it has not been used under a Bayesian framework despite the growing popularity of Bayesian analysis. It seems that the mathematical and computational complexity narrows access to Bayesian Bland Altman analysis. In this article, we provide a tutorial of Bayesian Bland Altman analysis. One approach we suggest is to address the objective of Bland Altman analysis via the posterior predictive distribution. We can estimate the probability of an acceptable degree of disagreement (fixed a priori) for the difference between two future measurements. To ease mathematical and computational complexity, an interface applet is provided with a guideline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of 2-Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography (2D-SWE) technology on modern medical ultrasound systems is becoming increasingly common. The technology is now being used to investigate a range of soft tissues and related pathological conditions. This work investigated the reliability of a single commercial 2D-SWE system using a tissue-mimicking elastography phantom to understand the major causes of intra-system variability. Sources of shear wave velocity (SWV) measurement variability relates to imaging depth, target stiffness, sampling technique and the operator. Higher SWV measurement variability was evident with increasing depth and stiffness of the phantom targets. The influence of the operator was minimal, and variations in sampling technique had little impact on the SWV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although considerable research has been devoted to improving safety in university laboratories, accidents, in that environment, have still occurred frequently at the cost of serious injury or even death of laboratory personnel. Currently, few Human Reliability Analyses (HRA) have been conducted with respect to a university laboratory. The aim of the research was to conduct a reliability study relating to human behaviour in a university laboratory to explore quantitatively the causes and influencing factors relating to the frequency of laboratory accidents. Improved Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method (CREAM) and improved Standardized Plant Analysis Risk HRA (SPAR-H) were employed to assess Human Error Probability (HEP) of 23 subjects. The HEP calculated through improved CREAM proved more accurate than results obtained through improved SPAR-H. Unexpectedly, the results demonstrated that under similar environmental conditions, the HEP of subjects did not decrease with an increase in educational background, including additional experimental time and experience. Moreover, environmental conditions exerted greater impact on personnel reliability than Human Inherent Factors (HIFs) in laboratories. It is anticipated that the study would provide valuable insights, in respect of research methods, and to serve as a practical basis for lowering the accident rate in university laboratories., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Despite the benefits of standardization, the customization of Software as a Service (SaaS) application is also essential because of the many unique requirements of customers. This study, therefore, focuses on the development of a valid and reliable software customization model for SaaS quality that consists of (1) generic software customization types and a list of common practices for each customization type in the SaaS multi-tenant context, and (2) key quality attributes of SaaS applications associated with customization. The study was divided into three phases: the conceptualization of the model, analysis of its validity using SaaS academic-derived expertise, and evaluation of its reliability by submitting it to an internal consistency reliability test conducted by software-engineer researchers. The model was initially devised based on six customization approaches, 46 customization practices, and 13 quality attributes in the SaaS multi-tenant context. Subsequently, its content was validated over two rounds of testing after which one approach and 14 practices were removed and 20 practices were reformulated. The internal consistency reliability study was thereafter conducted by 34 software engineer researchers. All constructs of the content-validated model were found to be reliable in this study. The final version of the model consists of 6 constructs and 44 items. These six constructs and their associated items are as follows: (1) Configuration (eight items), (2) Composition (four items), (3) Extension (six items), 4) Integration (eight items), (5) Modification (five items), and (6) SaaS quality (13 items). The results of the study may contribute to enhancing the capability of empirically analyzing the impact of software customization on SaaS quality by benefiting from all resultant constructs and items.

Production cost models (PCMs) simulate dispatch of generators across a large power grid and are used widely by planners to study the reliability of electricity supply. As energy systems transition away from the thermoelectric technologies that have traditionally balanced electricity supply and demand, hydropower and its representation in PCMs is of increasing importance. A limitation of PCMs applied to continental power grids with diverse generation portfolios is that hydropower generation is simulated without full consideration of complex river dynamics, leading to possible misrepresentation of grid flexibility and performance. In addition, data used in PCMs may reflect outdated operating policies. In this paper we propose a hydropower generation feasibility test for PCMs. The approach uses a detailed hydropower model to determine whether the hourly hydropower schedule from a PCM with simplified monthly parameterization can be attained after accounting for realistic river dynamics and operating policies, such as spill requirements and general water movement and balance through a cascade reservoir system. We perform this hydropower generation test for the ‘Big 10’ hydropower system on the Columbia River (part of the Western Interconnect of the United States), revealing 9% overestimation of available hydropower generation in a PCM solution in an average hydrologic year. Our evaluation provides insight on the cost and opportunities for better representing hydropower in PCMs.

Abstract Background A progressive deformity associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) negatively affects a patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Although the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) is the standard measurement tool for assessing HRQOL in patients with AIS, it is partially suboptimal for evaluating HRQOL in Japanese patients with AIS because of cultural differences. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel patient-reported outcome measure for Japanese female patients with AIS and to evaluate the reliability and validity of this questionnaire in comparison with the SRS-22 tool. Methods We developed 27 questions based on the psychosocial problems in the daily life of young female patients with AIS in Japan, the Scoliosis Japanese Questionnaire-27 (SJ-27). To evaluate its reliability, the internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Concurrent validity was evaluated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient between the SJ-27 and the SRS-22. To investigate the construct validity of the SJ-27, the correlation between the SJ-27 questions was assessed using Akaike’s information criterion (AIC). Results We analyzed 384 female patients with AIS. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were 0.914 and 0.829 for the SJ-27 and the SRS-22, respectively. Spearman’s correlation coefficient between the SJ-27 and the SRS-22 was 0.692 (p

To propose and validate a novel and comprehensive classification of lumbosacral spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in the pediatric population according to surgical managements. Cases of pediatric lumbosacral (L5/S1 level) spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis were reviewed. Lumbar Japanese Orthopedics Association score, health-related quality of life, spondylolisthesis, lumbosacral disc degeneration, and dysplastic features were included for evaluation of outcomes after surgery. We also conducted a reliability study to assess the classification. A classification containing 4 types and a tentative treatment algorithm were proposed: type 1, direct pars repair without segmented fusion, for which the pedicle screw-U rod system is suitable; type 2, simple L5-S1 fusion; type 3, simple L4-S1 fusion; and type 4, simple L5-S2 fusion. All types of spondylolisthesis were suggested to achieve complete reduction and decompression. A total of 162 patients were included and we also reviewed the outcomes of patients in each type. All patients achieved satisfied outcomes. The reliability study showed that the average interobserver agreement was 89.5% (range, 85.2%–92.6%), with κ value of 0.862 (range, 0.802–0.901). Intraobserver agreement ranged from 88.9% to 92.6%, with an average κ value of 0.868 (range, 0.835–0.901). In our study, we proposed and validated a novel comprehensive classification of pediatric lumbosacral spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. The pedicle screw-U rod system provided more benefits in the treatment of simple lumbosacral spondylolysis, and fusion from L5 to S2 combined with S2 screw would also benefit patients with high-degree spondylolisthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shoulder abnormalities on imaging are increasingly common with advancing age. We tested the difference in the accuracy of diagnosing the injured shoulder between surgeons who reviewed MRI reports and who did and did not receive information about the patients. Thirty people aged 40 or older that experienced new shoulder symptoms after an event at work had MRI of both shoulders. Members of the Science of Variation Group (SOVG) were invited to review the radiologist's reports and diagnose the symptomatic side. Ninety-seven surgeons participated. Surgeon observers provided with patient information were not more accurate in diagnosing the symptomatic shoulder (Odds Ratio: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.75 to 1.1; P = 0.29). There was slight agreement between surgeons (kappa = 0.10). The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing the symptomatic side were 51% (CI: 48%–54%) and 67% (CI: 64%–70%) respectively. A binomial test showed that surgeons indicated the injured shoulder slightly more frequently than expected by random chance (59%; P < 0.001). Surgeons were only slightly better at indicating the symptomatic side than random chance. Shoulder pain in people aged 40 or older should probably be considered age-related unless there is good objective evidence of acute traumatic pathology. Level II, diagnostic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Ultrasound assessments of patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy include determining the degree of neovascularization using Doppler flow. A frequently used measure to quantify neovascularization is the modified Öhberg score. It is unknown whether the semiquantitative modified Öhberg score (0–4+) has higher reliability than a quantified measure of Doppler flow (0–100%). The purpose of this cross‐sectional study was to evaluate the interobserver reliability of the modified Öhberg score and a surface area quantification (SAQ) method for Doppler flow in patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Methods: Two observers examined the degree of Doppler flow independently using SAQ and the modified Öhberg score during a single consultation. The intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable difference were determined to evaluate the reliability and measurement properties of the SAQ method and the modified Öhberg score. Results: In total, 28 consecutive patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy participated. The intraclass correlation coefficient for interobserver reliability of the SAQ method was 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.91), compared to 0.64 (95% confidence interval, 0.45–0.81) for the modified Öhberg score. The standard error of measurement and minimal detectable difference values for the SAQ method were 2.9% and 8.0%, respectively, and for the modified Öhberg score, they were 0.55 and 1.53 points. Conclusions: The SAQ method shows good reliability to evaluate the degree of Doppler flow in patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy, and it overcomes the ceiling effect of the modified Öhberg score. Future research should focus on the relationship between the SAQ method and clinical outcomes and use this method to monitor treatment responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To analyze the reliability of"Practical Process Evaluation Scale"and further more to get the most relevant factors in class of traditional manipulation techniques.Methods:Students were assigned to different groups (three students in each group) in the class of traditional manipulation techniques about the"one-finger scrubbing". The operator scale, model scale and observer scale were designed respectively. In each section, three scales should be completed by three students in each group according to three different roles which was arranged before. This practice was continued for eight weeks, once a week.Results:The reliability analysis showed that the Cronbach's coefficient of operator scale was 0.891, the Cronbach's coefficient of model scale was 0.941, the Cronbach's coefficient of observer scale was 0.774, and the Cronbach's coefficient of total scale was 0.894. The data showed that these scales were high confidence, and have a high internal consistency. The scale factor analysis showed that the most relevant factors in class of traditional manipulation techniques were strength factor, mind factor and limbs factor.Conclusion:In the class of traditional manipulation techniques, "Practical Process Evaluation Scale"is a high-confidence scale, which could accord with the teaching rules of practical training and help to improve students'practical ability, and the most relevant factors should be paid attention to, so as to improve teaching quality effectively.

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are weather-dependent. A solar eclipse causes significant changes in these parameters, thereby impacting PV generation profile, performance, and power quality of larger grid, where they connect to. This study presents a case study to evaluate the impacts of the solar eclipse of 21 August 2017, on two real-world grid-tied PV systems (1.4 MW and 355 kW) in Miami and Daytona, Florida, the feeders they are connected to, and the management areas they belong to. Four types of analyses are conducted to obtain a comprehensive picture of the impacts using 1 min PV generation data, hourly weather data, real feeder parameters, and daily reliability data. These analyses include: individual PV system performance measurement using power performance index; power quality analysis at the point of interconnection; a study on the operation of voltage regulating devices on the feeders during eclipse peak using an IEEE 8500 test case distribution feeder; and reliability study involving a multilayer perceptron framework for forecasting system reliability of the management areas. Results from this study provide a unique insight into how solar eclipses impact the behaviour of PV systems and the grid, which would be of concern to electric utilities in future high penetration scenarios.

DC-input side of the inverter to balance input and output power, eliminate voltage fluctuation, and reduce the voltage spike in the input side. The reliability study on DC-link capacitor under fault state is critical to the safe operation of the whole driving system. This study builds the equivalent circuit of voltage source inverter (VSI) with space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) strategy and analyses the current characteristic of DC-link capacitance in normal operation state. The current characteristics of DC-link capacitor under main Insulation Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) open-circuit fault states are analyzed and the characteristic differences from those in normal operation state are explored. Further, a fault identification method is developed. A simplified MATLAB model of EV driving system based on the VSI is established to simulate its time-domain characteristics and spectrum characteristics of DC-link capacitive current under normal operation and various fault conditions. The correctness of theoretical analysis and the effectiveness of fault identification is verified. The current spectrum characteristics of DC-link capacitance under normal operation condition are used to guide the optimal design of DC-link capacitor bank. Fault identification based on DC-link capacitor current characteristics is used to guide the fault-tolerant operation plan.

The availability of 2-Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography (2D-SWE) technology on modern medical ultrasound systems is becoming increasingly common. The technology is now being used to investigate a range of soft tissues and related pathological conditions. This work investigated the reliability of a single commercial 2D-SWE system using a tissue-mimicking elastography phantom to understand the major causes of intra-system variability. Sources of shear wave velocity (SWV) measurement variability relates to imaging depth, target stiffness, sampling technique and the operator. Higher SWV measurement variability was evident with increasing depth and stiffness of the phantom targets. The influence of the operator was minimal, and variations in sampling technique had little impact on the SWV.

DC-input side of the inverter to balance input and output power, eliminate voltage fluctuation, and reduce the voltage spike in the input side. The reliability study on DC-link capacitor under fault state is critical to the safe operation of the whole driving system. This study builds the equivalent circuit of voltage source inverter (VSI) with space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) strategy and analyses the current characteristic of DC-link capacitance in normal operation state. The current characteristics of DC-link capacitor under main Insulation Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) open-circuit fault states are analyzed and the characteristic differences from those in normal operation state are explored. Further, a fault identification method is developed. A simplified MATLAB model of EV driving system based on the VSI is established to simulate its time-domain characteristics and spectrum characteristics of DC-link capacitive current under normal operation and various fault conditions. The correctness of theoretical analysis and the effectiveness of fault identification is verified. The current spectrum characteristics of DC-link capacitance under normal operation condition are used to guide the optimal design of DC-link capacitor bank. Fault identification based on DC-link capacitor current characteristics is used to guide the fault-tolerant operation plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Advancements in energy Internet technology have brought about stricter requirements for reliable energy supply to multi-energy integrated coupling systems. Diversified energy storage systems facilitate reliable operation; different energy storage configuration schemes and operating strategies directly affect the reliability of the system's energy supply. This manuscript discussed several different operational strategies for energy storage devices in the multi-energy microgrid system. By combining the FMEA method and Monte Carlo simulations, a novel reliability evaluation method was proposed which incorporated multi-energy complementarity. The applicability of the proposed method was validated by a series of real-case calculations on a typical multi-energy microgrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• China's largest megawatt scale horizontal axis tidal current turbine unit. • Performance analysis from the model blade to prototype sea trial. • Checking method of strength and fatigue life of HATT parts. The tidal current turbine is an innovative and emerging technology of marine renewable energies because it provides a steady and predictable energy source that can be extracted and used for commercial power generation. In this paper, the largest megawatt-scale horizontal axis tidal turbine (HATT) unit in China was designed and manufactured by LHD. The performance of this HATT was studied in detail, including numerical simulation, experiment and sea trial research. The hub is then used as an example to show how to analyze the strength and fatigue life of HATT parts under various working situations. This article aims to outline the design and research process for a big MW-scale HATT as well as the reliability check procedure for a HATT's essential parts. Results show that a good agreement has been obtained between the CFD predictions and the experiment data, moreover, the HATT has a great power output performance. Through the analysis of the strength and fatigue life of the hub under different working conditions, the results show that the hub has good reliability and life, which can reach 20 years of working life. And the analysis method can be directly applied to the reliability check of other parts. Finally, the research of this paper is expected to provide a reference for large-scale commercial implementation of a HATT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the test–retest reliability of an integrated inertial sensor (IIS) for cervical range of motion assessment. An integrated inertial sensor was placed on the forehead center of thirty older adults (OA) and thirty younger adults (YA). Participants had to perform three continuous rotations, lateral bandings and flexion–extensions with their head. Test–retest reliability was assessed after 7 days. YA showed moderate to good agreement for rotation (0.54–0.82), lateral bending (0.74–0.8), and flexion–extension (0.74–0.81) movements and poor agreement for zero point (ZP). OA showed moderate to good agreement for rotation (0.65–0.86), good to excellent agreement in lateral bending (0.79–0.92), and poor to moderate agreement for flexion–extension (0.37–0.72). Zero point showed poor to moderate agreement. In conclusion, we can affirm that this IIS is a reliable device for cervical range of motion assessment in young and older adults; on the contrary, the ZP seems to be unreliable and the addition of an external reference point could help the subject to solve this shortcoming and reduce possible biases.

Maintaining a high overall network reliability remains one of the most critical requirements for advanced metering infrastructures (AMIs) in smart grid. Ensuring reliable networks not only determines the robust communications of an AMI, but also guarantees assured information delivery in the access network. To prevent any communication failures, incremental designs based on legacy networks should be carried out in advance to improve the overall redundancy. Current communication architecture of an AMI follows a traditional access network structure with a tree-based topology, which does not always satisfy high robustness and is prone to network failures. To address the challenge, this study conducts a reliability study of the access network in an AMI. Specifically, this study first examines the basic network topology adopted in an AMI access network and its underlying connectivity issues. Secondly, this study proposes two practical solutions as parts of incremental network design to improve the communication robustness of existing communication architectures. Thirdly, mathematical models are formulated to solve network connectivity problems, for maintaining a high overall network reliability, while minimising the communication deployment cost at the same time. Simulation results are provided from the aspects of minimal path sets and minimal cut sets to demonstrate the redundancy analysis.

Planning a validation study of a questionnaire or measurement tool requires consideration for testing the validity and reliability aspects of the measurement tool. When it comes to the reliability aspect, a number of commonly used statistical coefficients such as Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation, kappa and Pearson's correlation coefficients would be considered to provide empirical evidence of the reliability of the tool during the validation process. To ensure that the reliability is accurately assessed, a researcher must consider the sample size requirement for the statistical analyses. In this article, I will introduce a newly developed web-based sample size calculator, which includes the ability to calculate the sample sizes of these four important coefficients. I will also show how to use the calculator for each of the coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• System level reliability studies are carried out for hollow section Warren trusses. • Eurocode compliant system safety factor is derived for the ultimate limit state. • Climatic loads may require uneconomical system safety factors. • Advanced design method can result in lighter top chords than conventional method. Eurocode allows for the design of structural systems by advanced analysis, i.e. by G eometrically and M aterially N onlinear I mperfection A nalysis (GMNIA). In GMNIA, the entire structural system is designed by carrying out a nonlinear finite element analysis and by comparing the load proportionality factor obtained from the analysis to the predetermined system safety factor. This study determines the required Eurocode-compliant GMNIA system safety factor for the ultimate limit state design of Warren-type roof trusses. The system safety factor is determined based on system-level reliability studies conducted for 15 trusses. The investigated trusses are made of cold-formed rectangular hollow sections having a nominal yield strength of 700 MPa. The determined system safety factor is then applied for comparison calculations, in which three trusses are designed both by GMNIA and the conventional EN 1993-1-1 method. This comparison reveals a need for an accurate modelling method of hollow section connections in GMNIA. Furthermore, the comparison shows that GMNIA can offer reduced material consumption compared to the conventional method even in roof trusses, in which load redistribution capabilities are very limited. This reduction is achieved due to capability of GMNIA to accurately capture the buckling capacities of continuous top chords, whereas the conventional method must rely on conservative approximations of buckling lengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Myofascial trigger points (MTrP's) are a primary source of pain in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Nevertheless, they are frequently underdiagnosed. Reliable MTrP palpation is the necessary for their diagnosis and treatment. The few studies that have looked for intra-tester reliability of MTrPs detection in upper body, provide preliminary evidence that MTrP palpation is reliable. Reliability tests for MTrP palpation on the lower limb have not yet been performed. Objective To evaluate inter- and intra-tester reliability of MTrP recognition in hip and thigh muscles. Design Reliability study. Subjects 21 patients (15 males and 6 females, mean age 21.1 years) referred to the physical therapy clinic, 10 with knee or hip pain and 11 with pain in an upper limb, low back, shin or ankle. Methods Two experienced physical therapists performed the examinations, blinded to the subjects' identity, medical condition and results of the previous MTrP evaluation. Each subject was evaluated four times, twice by each examiner in a random order. Dichotomous findings included a palpable taut band, tenderness, referred pain, and relevance of referred pain to patient's complaint. Based on these, diagnosis of latent MTrP's or active MTrP's was established. The evaluation was performed on both legs and included a total of 16 locations in the following muscles: rectus femoris (proximal), vastus medialis (middle and distal), vastus lateralis (middle and distal) and gluteus medius (anterior, posterior and distal). Results Inter- and intra-tester reliability (Cohen's kappa (κ)) values for single sites ranged from −0.25 to 0.77. Median intra-tester reliability was 0.45 and 0.46 for latent and active MTrP's, and median inter-tester reliability was 0.51 and 0.64 for latent and active MTrPs, respectively. The examination of the distal vastus medialis was most reliable for latent and active MTrP's (intra-tester k = 0.27–0.77, inter-tester k = 0.77 and intra-tester k = 0.53–0.72, inter-tester k = 0.72, correspondingly). Conclusions Inter- and intra-tester reliability of active and latent MTrP evaluation was moderate to substantial. Palpation evaluation can be used for clinical diagnosis of MTrP's in the hip and thigh muscles. Significance This study provides evidence that MTrP palpation is a moderately reliable diagnostic tool in the hip and thigh muscles and can be used in clinical practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine whether geriatric triage decisions made using a comprehensive geriatric assessment ( CGA) performed online are less reliable than face-to-face ( FTF) decisions. Design Multisite noninferiority prospective cohort study. Two specialist geriatricians assessed individuals sequentially referred for an acute care geriatric consultation. Participants were allocated to one FTF assessment and an additional assessment ( FTF or online ( OL)), creating two groups-two FTF ( FTF- FTF, n = 81) or online and FTF ( OL- FTF, n = 85). Setting Three acute care public hospitals in two Australian states. Participants Admitted individuals referred for CGA. Intervention Nurse-administered CGA, based on the inter RAI Acute Care assessment system accessed online and other online clinical data such as pathology results and imaging enabling geriatricians to review participants' information and provide input into their care from a distance. Measurements The primary decision subjected to this analysis was referral for permanent residential care. Geriatricians also recorded recommendations for referrals and variations for medication management and judgment regarding prognosis at discharge and after 3 months. Results Overall percentage agreement was 88% (n = 71) for the FTF- FTF group and 91% (n = 77) for the OL- FTF group. The difference in agreement between the FTF- FTF and OL- FTF groups was −3%, indicating that there was no difference between the methods of assessment. Judgements made regarding diagnoses of geriatric syndromes, medication management, and prognosis (with regard to hospital outcome and location at 3 months) were found to be equally reliable in each mode of consultation. Conclusion Geriatric assessment performed online using a nurse-administered structured CGA system was no less reliable than conventional assessment in making clinical triage decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Preoperative embolization is based on the preoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) tumor blush, and as such is considered the "gold standard" for determining tumor vascularity. However, to our knowledge reliability studies evaluating vascularity ratings of DSA tumor blush in spinal metastases have not been published previously. Purpose To evaluate inter- and intra-rater agreement in the assessment of the vascularity of spinal metastases using DSA tumor blush. Material and Methods This reliability study included 46 patients with symptomatic metastatic spinal cord compression requiring surgery. DSA data stored in the hospital picture archiving and communication system (PACS) from the participants of a randomized controlled trial were used. Inter- and intra-rater agreement on vascularity assessment using DSA tumor blush according to a three-step ordinal scale was evaluated: no hypervascularity; moderate hypervascularity; and pronounced hypervascularity. The statistical analysis was based on the linear weighted kappa's for multiple raters that extend Cohen's κ. Three raters and κ = 0.2 in the null hypothesis implied that the power of the study was 0.96. Results Inter- and intra-rater agreements were moderate in rating the vascularity of spinal metastases and the agreements were significantly higher than the κ = 0.20 in the null hypothesis ( P = 0.0002 and P = 0.0001). The κ value for inter-rater agreement was 0.57 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.72) and for intra-rater agreement 0.55 (95% CI, 0.38-0.71). Conclusion There is moderate inter-rater and intra-rater agreement in classifying the vascularity of spinal metastases on a three-step ordinal scale for DSA tumor blush. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]