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We present an improved procedure of generating initial conditions (ICs) for climate model hindcast experiments with specified sea surface temperature and sea ice. The motivation is to minimize errors in the ICs and lead to a better evaluation of atmospheric parameterizations' performance in the hindcast mode. We apply state variables (horizontal velocities, temperature, and specific humidity) from the operational analysis/reanalysis for the atmospheric initial states. Without a data assimilation system, we apply a two-step process to obtain other necessary variables to initialize both the atmospheric (e.g., aerosols and clouds) and land models (e.g., soil moisture). First, we nudge only the model horizontal velocities toward operational analysis/reanalysis values, given a 6 h relaxation time scale, to obtain all necessary variables. Compared to the original strategy in which horizontal velocities, temperature, and specific humidity are nudged, the revised approach produces a better representation of initial aerosols and cloud fields which are more consistent and closer to observations and model's preferred climatology. Second, we obtain land ICs from an off-line land model simulation forced with observed precipitation, winds, and surface fluxes. This approach produces more realistic soil moisture in the land ICs. With this refined procedure, the simulated precipitation, clouds, radiation, and surface air temperature over land are improved in the Day 2 mean hindcasts. Following this procedure, we propose a 'Core' integration suite which provides an easily repeatable test allowing model developers to rapidly assess the impacts of various parameterization changes on the fidelity of modeled cloud-associated processes relative to observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the prevalence, patient-physician communication, treatment and health outcomes associated with urinary incontinence (UI) among the medically complex vulnerable elderly (MCVE) in the United States (US).Methods: Data from the 2006 to 2012 Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) were used. MCVE patients were aged 65+ years with a HOS VE score ≥ 3. UI was reported as a small, big or no problem. Descriptive statistics were used to assess patient-physician communication and treatment. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to assess the association of small or big UI problems with various outcomes.Results: The annual UI prevalence increased among MCVE [from 35.8% (2006) to 38.6% (2012)]. MCVE with big UI problems communicated with their physicians more often than those with small UI problems (77.9% and 49.6%, respectively); however, treatment of UI remained low (48.5% and 29.1%, respectively). Physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were lower among MCVE with small or big UI problems compared with those with no UI problems, respectively. The decrements in PCS and MCS scores associated with big UI problems were greater than the decrements associated with any of the other assessed conditions. MCVE with small or big UI problems, respectively, were more likely to report past falls, depression and activity daily living limitations vs. those without UI. The odds of having experienced these outcomes were greater for those with big UI vs. small UI problems.Conclusions: Urinary incontinence prevalence in the USA increased among MCVE from 2006 to 2012, although treatment of UI remained low. UI problems, particularly big UI problems, adversely impact health outcomes. Efforts to better identify and manage UI among the MCVE are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Product acceptance determination is the problem of determining whether the manufactured product should be accepted or rejected based on the inspected sample data, under the designated risks given by the producer and the customer. The problem has received substantial research attention; the most have focused on processes with one single manufacturing line for one or multiple characteristics. In this paper, we consider the product acceptance determination problem, particularly, for processes with multiple independent manufacturing lines. Based on the designated risk, we obtain the sample size required for inspection and critical acceptance value. The results are tabulated and analyzed which is practical and useful to the engineers for their in-plant applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The clinical features of pituitary adenomas were retrospectively analyzed, focusing on the factors that contribute to the development of pituitary hemorrhage. Although many causes of pituitary adenoma hemorrhage have been identified, it is difficult to distinguish which conditions are truly causative. We determined the independent variables that contribute to pituitary hemorrhage in pituitary adenoma. Methods: Two hundred and eighty-eight consecutive patients diagnosed as pituitary adenoma were enrolled. These patients underwent tumor removal through endoscopic transsphenoidal approach. The subjects were divided into hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic groups, based on magnetic resonance images and histological findings. The predisposing factors were reviewed in the medical records for all patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the relationships between variables of pituitary adenoma hemorrhage. Results: We investigated 81 patients in whom hemorrhage from pituitary adenoma occurred. The incidence of pituitary hemorrhage was 28.1% (81/288). The predisposing factors surveyed for pituitary hemorrhage were significantly associated with macroadenoma, non-functional adenomas, anticoagulation therapy, end-stage renal disease, dopamine agonist treatment, and underlying malignant disease (all P < 0.05). Sex, age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and previous radiation therapy were not related to pituitary hemorrhage. Conclusions: In this pooled cohort, the predisposing factors of pituitary adenoma characteristic for pituitary hemorrhage were macroadenoma and non-functional adenoma. Patients who received dopamine agonist and anticoagulation therapy are implicated as precipitating factors. Underlying end-stage renal disease and malignant disease are also factors that contribute to pituitary adenoma hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process yield has been the most basic and common criterion used in the manufacturing industry as a base for measuring process performance. Boyles considered a measurement formula called Spk, which establishes the relationship between the manufacturing specification and the actual process performance, providing an exact (rather than approximate) measure of process yield. Unfortunately, the sampling distribution and the associated statistical properties of Spk are analytically intractable. In this paper, we consider the natural estimator of the measure Spk. We investigate the accuracy of the natural estimator of Spk computationally, using a simulation technique to find the relative bias and the relative mean square error for some commonly used quality requirements. Extensive simulation results are provided and analyzed, which are useful to the engineers for factory applications in measuring process performance. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process yield has been the most basic and common criterion used in the manufacturing industry as a base for measuring process performance. Boyles considered a measurement formula called Spk, which establishes the relationship between the manufacturing specification and the actual process performance, providing an exact (rather than approximate) measure of process yield. Unfortunately, the sampling distribution and the associated statistical properties of Spk are analytically intractable. In this paper, we consider the natural estimator of the measure Spk. We investigate the accuracy of the natural estimator of Spk computationally, using a simulation technique to find the relative bias and the relative mean square error for some commonly used quality requirements. Extensive simulation results are provided and analyzed, which are useful to the engineers for factory applications in measuring process performance. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the development and validation of numeric rating scales for assessing skin pain and sleep quality in young children with atopic dermatitis (AD). These symptoms greatly impact the quality of life for patients, but there have been no validated scales for young children. The study developed caregiver-reported scales and found that they were clear and understandable. The scales showed correlations with other outcomes, suggesting their potential usefulness in assessing treatment effects. However, the study had limitations, such as only including English-speaking caregivers and using individual items for analysis. [Extracted from the article]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease, driven by type 2 inflammation. The condition manifests as moderate-to-severe disease in approximately 20% of adults with AD across Europe and is associated with a substantial burden on patients, society and healthcare systems. However, systematic assessments capturing the totality of disease burden associated with moderate-to-severe AD are limited; therefore, the overall impacts of the disease may be underestimated. A systematic literature review (SLR) was carried out to assess the overall costs of moderate-to-severe AD across Europe, including the financial, societal and humanistic impacts. PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched to identify relevant studies published between 1 January 2010 and 2 June 2020. Scientific conference proceedings, health technology assessment websites and patient association group websites were also searched for relevant information. Twenty-seven publications, corresponding to 22 unique studies, were included in the analysis. Total costs (direct and productivity losses) reached €20 695 per-person-per-year (PPPY) for adults with uncontrolled symptoms of moderate-to-severe AD. Direct medical costs ranged between €307 and €6993 PPPY; prescription medications and specialist dermatologist visits were the main contributors. Costs increased with disease severity or with uncontrolled disease. Patients with AD also incurred personal costs of €927 per year for healthcare items not reimbursed, which increased by 9% for those with moderate-to-severe forms. Annual work productivity losses comprised most of the total costs reported for adults with moderate-to-severe AD (up to 60.8% of the total burden) and were highest in those with uncontrolled disease (€13 702 PPPY). Patients with moderate-to-severe disease also experienced physical, emotional, and social impacts. The overall costs of moderate-to-severe AD greatly impact on healthcare systems, patients and society. Sustained control of moderate-to-severe AD, through effective treatment and care management, is essential to limit the burden caused by the disease., (© 2022 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Primary adrenal lymphoma (PAL) is extremely uncommon. We describe a case of clinically silent non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma of diffuse large cell type with exclusive left adrenal localization. The tumor was discovered by computed tomography (CT) as a 2.5-cm dense mass and diagnosed at autopsy. Literature concerning this unusual neoplasm is reviewed. During the early stage, particularly when the lesion is small, PAL is likely to be missed. This unusual entity should be included in the differential diagnosis of adrenal masses so that early diagnosis may be made and intervention might dramatically affect the clinical outcome.