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Learning science in elementary schools encourages students to understand the natural environment more deeply, rationally, and scientifically. However, often the scientific concepts they believe about science topics are not in accordance with the scientific concepts they should be. This misconception is difficult for teachers to diagnose. Special instruments to identify and analyze students' misconceptions are needed. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the misconceptions of elementary school students on the topic of energy using a four-tier diagnostic instrument. The purposed-designed survey method was used in this study. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The participants in this study were 20 fourth grade students in an elementary school in Ciamis Regency. A total of 6 questions in the form of a four-tier diagnostic instrument were used to determine the level of students' conceptions. The results showed that the students have misconceptions about the concept of energy. This can be seen from the average percentage of students' misconceptions of 66.67%. This research is expected to contribute to alternative ways to identify and analyze students' misconceptions using the four-tier diagnostic instrument. In addition, it can be used as a reference for teachers and researchers related to the problem of misconceptions of science in elementary school students

Objectives This in vitro study analysed potential of early proximal caries detection using 3D range data of teeth consisting of near-infrared reflection images at 850 nm (NIRR). Materials and methods Two hundred fifty healthy and carious permanent human teeth were arranged pairwise, examined with bitewing radiography (BWR) and NIRR and validated with micro-computed tomography. NIRR findings were evaluated from buccal, lingual and occlusal (trilateral) views according to yes/no decisions about presence of caries. Reliability assessments included kappa statistics and revealed high agreement for both methods. Statistical analysis included cross tabulation and calculation of sensitivity, specificity and AUC. Results Underestimation of caries was 24.8% for NIRR and 26.4% for BWR. Overestimation was 10.4% for occlusal NIRR and 0% for BWR. Trilateral NIRR had overall accuracy of 64.8%, overestimation of 15.6% and underestimation of 19.6%. NIRR and BWR showed high specificity and low sensitivity for proximal caries detection. Conclusions NIRR achieved diagnostic results comparable to BWR. Trilateral NIRR assessments overestimated presence of proximal caries, revealing stronger sensitivity for initial caries detection than BWR. Clinical relevance NIRR provided valid complement to BWR as diagnostic instrument. Investigation from multiple angles did not substantially improve proximal caries detection with NIRR.

BackgroundStriae gravidarum is a common occurrence in pregnancy and many women expect to prevent its development. At present, laser treatment has been used to improve the appearance of striae gravidarum, but the choice of laser type, treatment time, and frequency depend on the therapeutic effect. How to obtain an effective evaluation of striae gravidarum during and after treatment is very important. However, there is no unified evaluation parameter about striae gravidarum. In this paper, we studied the methodology evaluation of striae gravidarum severity. First, the laser therapeutic apparatus was selected as the experimental equipment and different striae gravidarum photos during treatment were obtained. Second, the subject evaluation parameters were chosen based on the literature research and the dermatologists’ guidance. Then, the striae gravidarum photos were divided into different groups by dermatologists based on these parameters. Finally, the objective detection parameters were designed based on the photos feature and subject evaluation parameters. Then, the objective detection parameters were used as the input of the support vector machine and the evaluation results were compared.ResultsBased on the subject evaluation parameters, the experimental data could be divided into mild, moderate and severe groups. The experiment results showed that the striae gravidarum severity of two randomly patients were improved before and after treatment, which verified the validity of the parameters. In addition, the chosen objective detection parameters were different among different groups. With all the objective parameters as the support vector machine input, we could achieve the best recognition rate (82.71%) in the striae gravidarum severity classification. The four parameters (color difference, average density, average width, distribution area) calculated from the photos as the input could achieve acceptable accuracy (81.69%).ConclusionsThe subject evaluation parameters and objective detection parameters proposed in this paper can be used to evaluate the striae gravidarum severity, which is of great significance for the construction of auxiliary diagnostic instrument for striae gravidarum treatment.

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) is a minimally invasive alternative for patients unwilling to undergo conventional colonoscopy, or for whom the latter exam is contraindicated. This is particularly important in the setting of colorectal cancer screening. Nevertheless, these exams produce large numbers of images, and reading them is a monotonous and time-consuming task, with the risk of overlooking important lesions. The development of automated tools based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology may improve some of the drawbacks of this diagnostic instrument. A database of CCE images was used for development of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model. This database included anonymized images of patients with protruding lesions in the colon or patients with normal colonic mucosa or with other pathologic findings. A total of 3,387,259 frames from 24 CCE exams were retrospectively reviewed. For CNN development, 3640 images (860 protruding lesions and 2780 with normal mucosa or other findings) were ultimately extracted. Training and validation datasets were constructed for the development and testing of the CNN. The CNN detected protruding lesions with a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 90.7, 92.6, 79.2 and 96.9%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for detection of protruding lesions was 0.97. The deep learning algorithm we developed is capable of accurately detecting protruding lesions. The application of AI technology to CCE may increase its diagnostic accuracy and acceptance for screening of colorectal neoplasia.

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of quantitative ultrasonic backscatter in evaluating human cortical and trabecular bone densities in vivo based on a head-down-tilt bed rest study, with 36 participants tested through 90 d of bed rest and 180 d of recovery. Backscatter measurements were performed using an ultrasonic backscatter bone diagnostic instrument. Backscatter parameters were calculated with a dynamic signal-of-interest method, which was proposed to ensure the same ultrasonic interrogated volume in cortical and trabecular bones. The backscatter parameters exhibited significant correlations with site-matched bone densities provided by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (0.33|R|0.72, p0.05). Some bone densities and backscatter parameters exhibited significant changes after the 90-d bed rest. The proposed method can be used to characterize bone densities, and the portable ultrasonic backscatter bone diagnostic device might be used to non-invasively reveal mean bone loss (across a group of people) after long-term bed rest and microgravity conditions of spaceflight missions.

espanolLa educacion tiene por tarea preparar individuos para retos, necesidades y oportunidades de un mundo globalizado; ahora con tecnologia permeando las actividades del ser humano, teorias de aprendizaje tradicionales sin reconocer elementos de la alfabetizacion digital (conductismo, cognitivismo y constructivismo). Demandan cambios de pensamiento y mas aun con la presencia del COVID-19, pandemia que impulso aislamientos fisicos sociales; aumentando la necesidad de dominar escenarios digitales. Lo anterior resalta al pensamiento computacional, como estrategia efectiva aplicada con el modelo presentado por el MIT-Harvard, con marco teorico definido y aplicado desde el ano 2012. El objetivo de la investigacion es diagnosticar el nivel de formacion de competencias del pensamiento computacional para resolver problemas; y establecer desde un estudio cuantitativo con diseno no experimental transeccional la correlacional entre: las dimensiones conceptual, practica y perspectiva computacional, con el desarrollo de competencias en pensamiento computacional para resolver problemas, implementado en un colegio publico de Colombia con 133 estudiantes de educacion media. El instrumento de diagnostico, validado y categorizado por 32 problemas, dimensiona las habilidades para generar competencias, con similitudes al sistema educativo colombiano que promueve los aprendizajes con: el saber, saber hacer y saber ser; lo anterior se consolida como insumos para la generacion de un ecosistema virtual de aprendizaje. EnglishEducation has the task of preparing individuals for challenges, needs and opportunities in a globalized world; now with technology permeating human activities, traditional learning theories without recognizing elements of digital literacy (be-haviorism, cognitivism and constructivism). Education requires changes of thought and even more so with the presence of COVID-19, a pandemic that prompted social physical isolation; increasing the need to master digital scenarios in edu-cational communities. The previous situation consolidates computational thinking (CT), as an effective strategy applied in the model presented by MIT-Harvard, with a defined theoretical framework and applied since 2012. The objective of the research is to diagnose the level of training of competencies of the computational thinking to solve problems; and establish from a quantitative study with a non-experimental transectional design the correlation between: the conceptual, practical and computational perspective dimensions, with the development of skills to solve problems, showed a positive correla-tion greater than 0.462 and significance of 0.000 between the theoretical foundation, the practice to consolidate learning and the development of capacities to make optimal decisions in the search for solutions; implemented in a public school in Colombia with 133 high school students, under training characterized by isolation and social distancing, from totally virtual settings. The diagnostic instrument, validated and categorized by 32 problems, measures the skills to generate competen-cies, with similarities to the Colombian educational system that promotes learning with: knowing, knowing how to do and knowing how to be; The above is consolidated as inputs for the generation of a virtual learning ecosystem.

Infectious diseases remain a serious problem in Indonesia. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a substance released by neutrophils, which activates the synthesis of hypochlorous acid (HOCL) from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and chloride ion (Cl-). Hypochlorous acid plays a vital role in the body's defense against infection. Myeloperoxidase Index (MPXI) is a parameter in the hematology analyzer Advia 2120i based on the principle of flow cytometry. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of MPXI in patients with bacterial infections. The study was a cross-sectional observational analysis. The samples consisted of a group of patients with bacterial infection and a group of healthy subjects. The specimens used in this study were whole blood + anticoagulant (EDTA) in a purple tube with a volume of 3 mL to determine the MPXI value in both groups using ADVIA 2120i hematology analyzer. The study subjects consisted of a group of patients with bacterial infections (69 patients) and a group of healthy subjects (33 people). Analysis of the MPXI ROC curve with a cut-off ≥ -5.8 and < -5.8, showed AUC of 0.323 (CI=95%, p=0.004), sensitivity of 34.8%, specificity of 39.4%, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of 54.5%, and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 22.4%. Due to its low diagnostic value, the MPXI value was not recommended to be used as a diagnostic instrument for bacterial infections. Also, further research was highly needed.

This paper presents the results of a large-scale study to validate a questionnaire that measures pupils’ attitudes towards socioscientific issues (the PASSI questionnaire). We define socioscientific issues (SSI) as those topics that are about complex societal and technological developments that may induce ethical dilemmas. In this study, the term attitudes describes a combination of attitude components that relate to pupils’ engagement with SSI. Based on a literature review within social and educational psychology and sociology, on topics such as attitude development, scientific citizenship, social or civic engagement, and SSI teaching and learning, we developed a framework that describes several underlying components of pupils’ attitudes towards SSI. These components were translated into nine scales that comprise the PASSI. Results of a validation study among 1370 pupils (age 8–15), using exploratory factor analyses on subsample 1 and subsequently confirmatory factor analyses on subsample 2, indicated an eight-factor structure that showed good convergent and discriminant validity. Furthermore, the PASSI instrument showed adequate measurement invariance for boys and girls, pupils in primary and secondary education, and for pupils at different secondary educational tracks. The results are discussed in terms of directions for future research to further investigate the validity of the PASSI questionnaire. To conclude, the PASSI questionnaire validly measures eight attitudes towards SSI and could serve as a tool that raises awareness of pupils’ engagement with SSI. It can be used by researchers and teachers as a diagnostic instrument, to compare groups, and to study effects of SSI education.

Objectives This study aimed to develop a valid video-based diagnostic instrument that assesses decision-making with a sport-specific motor response. Methods A total of 86 German youth academy players (16.7 ± 0.9 years) viewed game situations projected on a large video screen and were required to make a decision by dribbling and passing to one of three targets (representing different decision options). The test included 48 clips separated into two categories: build-up (bu) and offensive decisions (off). Criterion-related validity was tested based on age (i.e., U16, U17, and U19), playing status (i.e., minutes played in official matches of the current season) and in a prospective approach relating to future youth national team status (i.e., selected or nonselected). Finally, it was investigated whether decision-making competence was influenced by playing position (i.e., defenders vs. midfielders vs. forwards). Results Instrumental reliability demonstrated satisfactory values for SCbu (r = 0.72), and lower for SCoff (r = 0.56). Results showed the diagnostic instrument is suitable for discriminating between playing status (SCbu: Φ = 0.22, p off: Φ = 0.14, p U16 in SCbu: Φ = 0.24 and SCoff: Φ = 0.39, p U16 in SCbu: Φ = 0.41 and SCoff: Φ = 0.46, p bu: Φ = 0.20; p Conclusion Results indicate the video-based decision-making diagnostic instrument can discriminate decision-making competence within a high-performance youth group. The outcomes associated with national youth team participation demonstrate the predictive value of the diagnostic instrument. This study provides initial evidence to suggest a new video-based diagnostic instrument with a soccer-specific motor response can be used within a talent identification process to assist with assessment of decision-making performance.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of diagnostic ultrasound on corneal apoptosis in rats.Methods: 24 male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, 10, 20 and 30 min group. The eyeballs of rats were irradiated continuously for different time lengths by Siemens ACUSON S2000 color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic instrument. 24 hours later, the animals were killed and the corneas were taken for Tunel apoptosis detection. The apoptosis rates of corneal epithelial cells, stromal cells and endothelial cells were calculated.Results: Apoptotic cells were detected in corneal epithelial cells, stromal cells and endothelial cells of normal rats. There was no significant difference between the 10 min group and the control group (P>0.05). The apoptosis rate of 20 min and 30 min groups was significantly higher than that of the control group. With the extension of irradiation time, the apoptosis rate of corneal epithelial cells, stromal cells and endothelial cells increased.Conclusion: 20 min of rat eyeball irradiated by diagnostic ultrasound can increase the apoptosis of corneal cells, and the apoptosis is aggravated with the prolongation of ultrasound irradiation time. Keywords: Cornea; Ultrasonography; Apoptosis; Epithelial cells

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A deep convolutional neural network (CNN) was used to achieve fast and accurate artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted diagnosis of early gastric cancer (GC) and other gastric lesions based on endoscopic images. METHODS: A CNN-based diagnostic system based on a ResNet34 residual network structure and a DeepLabv3 structure was constructed and trained using 21,217 gastroendoscopic images of five gastric conditions, peptic ulcer (PU), early gastric cancer (EGC) and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), advanced gastric cancer (AGC), gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs), and normal gastric mucosa without lesions. The trained CNN was evaluated using a test dataset of 1,091 images. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the CNN were calculated. The CNN diagnosis was compared with those of ten endoscopists with over eight years of experience in endoscopic diagnosis. RESULTS: The diagnostic specificity and PPV of the CNN were higher than that of the endoscopists for the EGC and HGIN images (specificity: 91.2% vs. 86.7%i¼Œby 4.5%, 95% CI 2.8-7.2%; PPV: 55.4% vs. 41.7%, by 13.7%, 95% CI 11.2-16.8%) and the diagnostic accuracy of the CNN was close to those of the endoscopists for the lesion-free, EGC and HGIN, PU, AGC, and SMTs images. The CNN had image recognition time of 42 seconds for all the test set images. CONCLUSION: The constructed CNN system could be used as a rapid auxiliary diagnostic instrument to detect EGC and HGIN, as well as other gastric lesions, to reduce the workload of endoscopists.

The endoscope was traditionally used as a diagnostic instrument. In past decades, it has increasingly been adapted for therapeutic intents. Subsequently, the master–slave robotic concept was introduced into the field of endoscopy to potentially reduce the difficulty and complication rates of endoscopic therapeutic procedures. As interest in robotic endoscopy intensified, progressively more robotic endoscopic platforms were developed, tested, and introduced. Nevertheless, the future of robotic endoscopy hinges on the ability to meet specific clinical needs of procedurists. Three aspects are vital in ensuring continued success and clinical adoption of the robotic endoscope—demonstration of clinical safety and cost‐efficacy of the device, widespread availability of directed training opportunities to enhance technical skills and clinical decision‐making capabilities of the procedurist, and continued identification of new clinical applications beyond the current uses of the device. This review provides a brief discussion of the historical development of robotic endoscopy, current robotic endoscopic platforms, use of robotic endoscopy in conventional therapeutic endoscopic procedures, and the future of robotic endoscopy., A successful robotic endoscope must provide beyond the basic requirement of a high functioning endoscopic resection tool. It must be demonstrated to be safe, and cost‐effective for its intended clinical application. Training can be best achieved through the synergy of artificial‐intelligence‐guided deep learning systems and virtual reality. Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) is an ideal choice for the application of the robotic endoscope as the triangulation afforded by the device effectively solves the challenges faced when performing NOTES using existing endoscopic equipment.

In this study, we present a new diagnostic test for dyslexia, called the Flamingo Test, inspired by the French Alouette Test. The purpose of the test is to measure students’ word decoding skills and reading fluency by means of a grammatically correct but meaningless text. Two experiments were run to test the predictive validity of the Flamingo Test. In the first experiment, we compared reading times, error rates and, sensitivity and specificity of the Flamingo Test for samples of students with and without dyslexia. In the second experiment, we compared performance on the Flamingo Test with reading performance on two Dutch standard word reading tests: the Leestest Een Minuut voor Studenten (LEMs; ‘one-minute word reading test for students’) and the Klepel, a one-minute pseudo-word reading test. Again, students with dyslexia and matched non-dyslexic students were included. Our results show that sensitivity and specificity, as well as the positive predictive value (PPV), of the Flamingo Test are high, with even slightly higher PPVs for the Flamingo Test than for LEMs and Klepel. Together with the fact that the test is short and easy to administer, we believe that the Flamingo Test is a valuable new diagnostic instrument to assess reading skills.

This study aimed to examine the understanding of secondary school students about green chemistry-related concepts, to include raw materials, solvent, and atom economy. Interviews were conducted with secondary school students from Grades 9 to 12 to acquire their descriptive understanding of the corresponding concepts. Based on the systematic analysis of the collected data, a semi-structured two-tier diagnostic instrument was proposed, which was then administered to secondary school students. Some options that were less often selected by respondents were eliminated. Using the revised instrument, a pilot survey was conducted among secondary school students, and the similar elimination procedure was followed. The final instrument was used to conduct a survey among secondary school students from Grades 9 to 12 for examining their understanding of various concepts related to green chemistry. The results showed that secondary school students’ understanding of green chemistry-related concepts and the term “green chemistry” was low. However, the older students’ understanding of the corresponding concepts was significantly superior to that of the younger students. No noticeable differences were found between male and female students. The findings of this study can help teachers to better examine the knowledge mastered by their students and evaluate progression in learning green chemistry.

Magdalena Sacha,1 Jerzy Sacha,2,3 Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis1 1Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland; 2Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Opole, Poland; 3Department of Cardiology, University Hospital in Opole, Opole, PolandCorrespondence: Jerzy Sacha Email sacha@op.plPurpose: Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that is usually considered as a set of physical deficits (unidimensional concept); however, it can also concern the psychological and social domains of human functioning (multidimensional concept). The FRAIL scale is a diagnostic tool which ascertains only physical frailty, whereas the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) is a diagnostic instrument for multidimensional frailty. The study investigates if non-robust physical status and multidimensional frailty affect the same individuals and whether simultaneous employment of the FRAIL scale and TFI identifies specific subgroups of elderly people which require different interventions.Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1024 community dwelling elderly individuals at the age of 65 years or older (mean age 72.6 ± 6.3 years; range 65– 93 years) were evaluated with the FRAIL scale and TFI.Results: According to the FRAIL scale, 52.9% of the subjects were physically non-robust, but according to TFI, 54.6% presented multidimensional frailty. These two diagnostic tools were concordant in their outcomes in 77.1% (ie, 42.3% of individuals were physically and multidimensionally frail but 34.8% were robust according to both two instruments); however, in 22.9% the outcomes were discordant. Consequently, by simultaneous employment of the FRAIL scale and TFI, four distinct functional categories have been distinguished: (i) non-robust physical status with multidimensional frailty, (ii) exclusive non-robust physical status, (iii) exclusive multidimensional frailty, and (iv) full robust status.Conclusion: By applying simple physical and multidimensional frailty diagnostic tools, subgroups of elderly people may be identified that require specific management strategies to improve their functional status.Keywords: physical frailty, multidimensional frailty, psychological frailty, social frailty, aging, functional status

Introduction Proper diagnosis of COPD remains a challenge. Spirometry testing in primary care may help to reduce misdiagnosis, but its reliability as a diagnostic instrument needs to be assessed. Objectives To investigate (1) the validity of spirometry testing performed in primary care and (2) the accuracy of the diagnostic of airflow limitation obtained by these tests. Methods Subjects attending a COPD screening programme had screening spirometry performed either by general practitioners (GPs) or by trained nurses or technicians, who had all received two 3-hour training sessions. Subjects with airflow limitation and a subset of subjects with normal spirometry at screening were invited to undergo confirmatory spirometry performed by trained nurses in a pulmonary function laboratory. Results Of the 4610 subjects who attended the screening sessions, 96.5% had a valid screening spirometry test. A total of 392 subjects attended the confirmatory sessions. Values measured by screening spirometry were satisfactory compared with those of confirmatory spirometry (rc = 0.83). Taking confirmatory spirometry as reference, the positive predictive value of screening spirometry for the diagnosis of persistent airflow limitation was 93% with a specificity of 95%. Agreement for the diagnosis of persistent airflow limitation was substantial (k = 0.80). Conclusion Spirometry performed in primary care by trained personnel reliably identifies persistent airflow limitation. This may encourage pulmonologists to collaborate with primary care providers with the aim of improving appropriate diagnosis of COPD.

IDENTIFIKASI MISCONCEPTION MAHASISWA SEKOLAH TINGGI PADA TEMPERATUR DAN TOPIK KALOR MENGGUNAKAN INSTRUMEN DIAGNOSTIK EMPAT-TIER Abstrak Miskonsepsi merupakan suatu konsepsi seseorang yang tidak sesuai dengan konsepsi ilmiah yang dimiliki oleh para ahli. Miskonsepsi harus dihindari dan kalau sudah terjadi perlu diremediasi karena dapat menjadi faktor penghambat dalam proses belajar siswa. Namun, miskonsepsi tidak mudah diidentifikasi, diperlukan instrumen khusus dan langkah-langkah tertentu untuk mengungkapkannya. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menggali, mengungkap, serta mendeskripsikan miskonsepsi siswa pada materi suhu dan kalor. Responden penelitian berjumlah 127 orang yang merupakan siswa dari SMA favorit di Jambi. Instrumen yang digunakan untuk pengumpulan data adalah Four-Tier Diagnostic Instrument pada materi suhu dan kalor. Analisis data dilakukan dengan cara mencari persentase jawaban benar pada setiap tingkat (tier) untuk setiap item dan persentase jawaban miskonsepsi untuk setiap kategori. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa 10 jenis miskonsepsi pada materi suhu dan kalor pada siswa telah dapat diidentifikasi dengan menggunakan sembilan buah item instrumen. Rata-rata miskonsepsi adalah sebesar 24.25%, False Positif sebesar 9,01%, False Negatif sebesar 4,72%, dan Lack of Knowledge sebesar 10,32% pada materi suhu dan kalor. persentase miskonsepsi tertinggi terletak pada miskonsepsi keenam (M6) sebesar 58,27%, yaitu “Ketika berada pada ruang yang sama suhu besi lebih rendah daripada suhu benda di sekitarnya”. Abstract The misconception is a conception of someone who is not in accordance with the scientific conception possessed by experts. Misconceptions must be avoided, and if they occur, they need to be remediated because they can be a limiting factor in student learning. However, misconceptions are not easily identified; special instruments and specific steps are needed to express them. The purpose of this study is to explore, uncover, and describe students' misconceptions in temperature and heat material. The research respondents were 127 students from a favorite high school in Jambi. The instrument used for data collection was the Four-Tier Diagnostic Instrument on temperature and heat material. Data analysis was done by finding the percentage of correct answers at each level (tier) for each item and the percentage of answers to misconceptions for each category. The results showed that ten types of misconceptions in the temperature and heat material in students had been identified using nine instrument items. The average misconception is 24.25%, False Positive is 9.01%, False Negative is 4.72%, and Lack of Knowledge is 10.32% in temperature and heat material. The highest percentage of misconception lies in the sixth misconception (M6) of 58.27%, namely "When in the same room the temperature of the iron is lower than the temperature of the objects around it".

Background: The exact pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains incompletely understood and treatment of AF is associated with high recurrence rates. Persistence of AF is rooted in the presence of electropathology, defined as complex electrical conduction disorders caused by structural damage of atrial tissue. The atrial fibrillation fingerprinting (AFFIP) study aims to characterize electropathology, enabling development of a novel diagnostic instrument to predict AF onset and early progression. Hypotheses: History of AF, development of post-operative AF, age, gender, underlying heart disease, and other clinical characteristics impact the degree of electropathology. Methods: This study is a prospective observational study with a planned duration of 48 months. Three study groups are defined: (1) patients with (longstanding) persistent AF, (2) patients with paroxysmal AF, and (3) patients without a history of AF, all undergoing open-chest cardiac surgery. Intra-operative high-resolution epicardial mapping is performed to identify the patient-specific electrical profile, whereas the patient-specific biological profile is assessed by evaluating proteostasis markers in blood samples and atrial appendage tissue samples. Post-operative continuous rhythm monitoring is performed for detection of early post-operative AF. Late post-operative AF (during 5-year follow-up) is documented by either electrocardiogram or 24-hour Holter registration. Results: The required sample size for this study is estimated at 447 patients. Up till now, 105 patients were included, of whom 36 have a history of AF. Conclusion: The AFFIP study will elucidate whether electrophysiological and structural characteristics represent a novel diagnostic tool, the AF fingerprint, to predict onset and early progression of AF in cardiac surgery patients.

The study focused on the adaptation and development of the first diagnostic instrument to assess the visual communication and Flemish Sign Language skills of deaf signing children (age ≤ 24 months). An adaptation of the standardized Visual Communication and Sign Language Check-list for Signing Children (VCSL; Simms et al., 2013) was followed by a pilot study with ten 24-month-old deaf children of different backgrounds who were divided into three cohorts: deaf children of deaf parents, deaf children of hearing parents with a signed input, and deaf children of hearing parents without a signed input. A high degree of agreement was noted between the milestones mastered by the three deaf children of deaf parents and the American Sign Language VCSL item sequence. Differences found between the three cohorts demonstrate the applicability of the Flemish Sign Language adaptation of the VCSL checklist.

The Semi-Structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and Alcoholism (SSADDA) is a polydiagnostic instrument for substance use and psychiatric disorders. We translated the SSADDA English version into Chinese (SSADDA-Chinese) and report here our examination of the diagnostic reliability and validity of DSM-IV substance dependence (SD) diagnoses in a Mandarin-speaking sample in Taiwan. We recruited 125 subjects who underwent an assessment of lifetime SD diagnoses using both the SSADDA-Chinese and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Clinician Version (SCID-Chinese). Thirty-one subjects were retested with the SSADDA-Chinese. Cohen’s κ statistic, which measures chance-corrected agreement, was used to measure the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the individual SD diagnoses. There was a high degree of concordance between SD diagnoses made using the SSADDA-Chinese and the SCID-Chinese, including those for dependence on alcohol (κ = 0.83), ketamine (κ = 0.97), methamphetamine (κ = 0.93), and opioids (κ = 0.95). The test-retest reliability of dependence diagnoses for ketamine (κ = 0.95), methamphetamine (κ = 0.80), and opioids (κ = 1.00) obtained using the SSADDA-Chinese was excellent, while that for alcohol dependence (κ = 0.63) and nicotine dependence (κ = 0.65) was good. We conclude that the SSADDA-Chinese is a reliable and valid instrument for the diagnosis of major SD traits in Mandarin-speaking populations.