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Preschoolers' language abilities are associated with their social interactions in early childhood classrooms. Few studies, however, have examined associations between social interactions and objective measures of children's real-time classroom language environments, information key to informing interventions to support preschool children at risk for language delays. In this pilot study, we examined associations between objective measures of real-time language environments (input and output) recorded via the Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) system and observations of children's positive and negative interactions with peers and teachers in an early intervention classroom for children with developmental delays (n = 9, seven girls). Mixed effects regression models revealed associations between children's language environments (input and output) and their social interactions with peers and teachers. More talkative children were more likely to have a high number of positive peer interactions. Children who received more language input from teachers were more likely to have a higher number of positive teacher–child interactions, an effect that was stronger for children with the lowest language output. The results of this pilot study build on prior research by using real-time objective measurement to examine how children's language input from peers and teachers and children's own language output supports positive interactions within early intervention classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young children's language and social development is influenced by the linguistic environment of their classrooms, including their interactions with teachers and peers. Measurement of the classroom linguistic environment typically relies on observational methods, often providing limited 'snapshots' of children's interactions, from which broad generalizations are made. Recent technological advances, including artificial intelligence, provide opportunities to capture children's interactions using continuous recordings representing much longer durations of time. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of the Interaction Detection in Early Childhood Settings (IDEAS) system on 13 automated indices of language output using recordings collected from 19 children and three teachers over two weeks in an urban preschool classroom. The accuracy of language outputs processed via IDEAS were compared to ground truth via linear correlations and median absolute relative error. Findings indicate high correlations between IDEAS and ground truth data on measures of teacher and child speech, and relatively low error rates on the majority of IDEAS language output measures. Study findings indicate that IDEAS may provide a useful measurement tool for advancing knowledge about children's classroom experiences and their role in shaping development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Measurement of auricle parameters for planning and post-operative evaluation presents substantial challenges due to the complex 3D structure of the human auricle. Traditional measurement methods rely on manual techniques, resulting in limited precision. This study introduces a novel automated surface-based three-dimensional measurement method for quantifying human auricle parameters. The method was applied to virtual auricles reconstructed from Computed Tomography (CT) scans of a cadaver head and subsequent measurement of important clinically relevant aesthetical auricular parameters (length, width, protrusion, position, auriculocephalic angle, and inclination angle). Reference measurements were done manually (using a caliper and using a 3D landmarking method) and measurement precision was compared to the automated method. The CT scans were performed using both a contemporary high-end and a low-end CT scanner. Scans were conducted at a standard scanning dose, and at half the dose. The automatic method demonstrated significantly higher precision in measuring auricle parameters compared to manual methods. Compared to traditional manual measurements, precision improved for auricle length (9×), width (5×), protrusion (5×), Auriculocephalic Angle (5–54×) and posteroanterior position (23×). Concerning parameters without comparison with a manual method, the precision level of supero-inferior position was 0.489 mm; and the precisions of the inclination angle measurements were 1.365 mm and 0.237 mm for the two automated methods investigated. Improved precision of measuring auricle parameters was associated with using the high-end scanner. A higher dose was only associated with a higher precision for the left auricle length. The findings of this study emphasize the advantage of automated surface-based auricle measurements, showcasing improved precision compared to traditional methods. This novel algorithm has the potential to enhance auricle reconstruction and other applications in plastic surgery, offering a promising avenue for future research and clinical application.

Best practice for the assessment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptom severity relies on clinician ratings of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition (ADOS-2), but the association of these ratings with objective measures of children's social gaze and smiling is unknown. Sixty-six preschool-age children (49 boys, M = 39.97 months, SD = 10.58) with suspected ASD (61 confirmed ASD) were administered the ADOS-2 and provided social affect calibrated severity scores (SA CSS). Children's social gaze and smiling during the ADOS-2, captured with a camera contained in eyeglasses worn by the examiner and parent, were obtained via a computer vision processing pipeline. Children who gazed more at their parents (p =.04) and whose gaze at their parents involved more smiling (p =.02) received lower social affect severity scores, indicating fewer social affect symptoms, adjusted R2 =.15, p =.003. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aging populations in developed countries necessitate effective strategies to promote the physical and mental health of older adults, a group at high risk of chronic diseases. Regular physical activity offers numerous physiological and psychological benefits to the elderly, including slowing brain function degeneration. Recent studies have explored the relationship between objectively measured vigorous physical activity (VPA) and health outcomes of middle-aged and older adults and introduced the concept of "Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA)." Methods: This study employed a narrative review approach to examine recent research related to VILPA and explored its potential as a future research topic in the fields of geriatric health and exercise science. Results: Two previous studies investigated the impact of VILPA on the health of middle-aged and older adults by using large samples and objective physical activity measurement tools (tri-axial accelerometers worn on the wrist). Through machine learning techniques, these studies differentiated participants engaged in VILPA and found that approximately 3-4 minutes of VILPA per day could reduce the risk of all-cause mortality, chronic disease mortality, and cancer incidence. However, current research on VILPA has limitations. Conclusion: Future research should focus on exploring the causal relationship between daily VPA or VILPA and the health of older adults. The findings of such studies could contribute to policies that promote physical activity of older people, help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and disability, and support the goal of healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile devices (e.g., tablets and smartphones) have been rapidly integrated into the lives of children and have impacted how children engage with digital media. The portability of these devices allows for sporadic, on-demand interaction, reducing the accuracy of self-report estimates of mobile device use. Passive sensing applications objectively monitor time spent on a given device but are unable to identify who is using the device, a significant limitation in child screen time research. Behavioral biometric authentication, using embedded mobile device sensors to continuously authenticate users, could be applied to address this limitation. This study examined the preliminary accuracy of machine learning models trained on iPad sensor data to identify the unique user of the device in a sample of children ages 6 to 11. Data was collected opportunistically from nine participants (8.2 ± 1.75 years, 5 female) in the sedentary portion of two semistructured physical activity protocols. SensorLog was downloaded onto study iPads and collected data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer sensors while the participant interacted with the iPad. Five machine learning models, logistic regression (LR), support vector machine, neural net (NN), k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), and random forest (RF), were trained using 57 features generated from the sensor output to perform multiclass classification. A train-test split of 80%–20% was used for model fitting. Model performance was evaluated using F 1 score, accuracy, precision, and recall. Model performance was high, with F 1 scores ranging from 0.75 to 0.94. RF and k-NN had the highest performance across metrics, with F 1 scores of 0.94 for both models. This study highlights the potential of using existing mobile device sensors to continuously identify the user of a device in the context of screen time measurement. Future research should explore the performance of this technology in larger samples of children and in free-living environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement of auricle parameters for planning and post-operative evaluation presents substantial challenges due to the complex 3D structure of the human auricle. Traditional measurement methods rely on manual techniques, resulting in limited precision. This study introduces a novel automated surface-based three-dimensional measurement method for quantifying human auricle parameters. The method was applied to virtual auricles reconstructed from Computed Tomography (CT) scans of a cadaver head and subsequent measurement of important clinically relevant aesthetical auricular parameters (length, width, protrusion, position, auriculocephalic angle, and inclination angle). Reference measurements were done manually (using a caliper and using a 3D landmarking method) and measurement precision was compared to the automated method. The CT scans were performed using both a contemporary high-end and a low-end CT scanner. Scans were conducted at a standard scanning dose, and at half the dose. The automatic method demonstrated significantly higher precision in measuring auricle parameters compared to manual methods. Compared to traditional manual measurements, precision improved for auricle length (9×), width (5×), protrusion (5×), Auriculocephalic Angle (5–54×) and posteroanterior position (23×). Concerning parameters without comparison with a manual method, the precision level of supero-inferior position was 0.489 mm; and the precisions of the inclination angle measurements were 1.365 mm and 0.237 mm for the two automated methods investigated. Improved precision of measuring auricle parameters was associated with using the high-end scanner. A higher dose was only associated with a higher precision for the left auricle length. The findings of this study emphasize the advantage of automated surface-based auricle measurements, showcasing improved precision compared to traditional methods. This novel algorithm has the potential to enhance auricle reconstruction and other applications in plastic surgery, offering a promising avenue for future research and clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective-based methods for intraoperative monitoring have been suggested to assess the coupling and the outcomes of Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB). Although several techniques were proposed, they have not been widely adopted due to their complexity and invasiveness. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of a new coupling quality index using an intraoperative ABR threshold via AcoustiAP and its correlation with the perioperative measures. Methods: This is a prospective study conducted at a tertiary center. The medical records were retrieved for all patients who underwent VSB implantation and had an intraoperative objective assessment for the coupling efficiency. AcoustiAP was used to evaluate the intraoperative ABR thresholds, which were assessed directly after the floating mass transducer (FMT) placement using acoustic CE-Chirp signals. The Vibrogram was used for the postoperative audiological evaluation. A new coupling quality index was calculated based on the intraoperative ABR thresholds. Results: Ten patients were eligible for the present study. The ABR thresholds for good coupling ranged from 35 to 60 dBnHL. The loose coupling thresholds ranged considerably from 40 to 100 dBnHL. Overall, the median intraoperative ABR threshold at good coupling was 42.5 (40–60) dBnHL and 60 (40–100) dBnHL at loose coupling. The analysis showed that there was a significant change in the coupling quality index at the good and loose coupling points (24.3 ± 14 vs 38.8 ± 18.2, respectively, p < 0.001). At a cut-off value of 22.6 dB, the coupling quality index had a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 90% for discriminating good and loose coupling. Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the utility of intraoperative ABR measurements in predicting the coupling efficiency in patients with VSB. Our results showed that the coupling quality index had an acceptable accuracy in discriminating between good and poor coupling, which can help clinicians optimize the fitting process for individuals and may ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the use of objective measurement technologies in the Australian beef and sheepmeat industries. The Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading system has been implemented to ensure consumer-focused carcass grading, resulting in increased returns for beef producers. The article also discusses the development of an MSA sheepmeat program, which utilizes technologies like dual x-ray absorptiometry and 3D imaging to improve the accuracy and transparency of grading and pricing meat products. However, challenges remain in calibrating and validating these technologies against subjective traits. Overall, the article emphasizes the potential benefits and opportunities of objective measurement technologies in the Australian red meat industry. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Outcome measurement in lumbar surgery is traditionally performed using patient questionnaires that may be limited by subjectivity. Objective gait analysis may supplement patient assessment but must be clinically viable. We assessed gait metrics in lumbar spine patients pre- and postoperatively using a small and lightweight wearable sensor. Methods: This was a prospective observational study with intervention including 12 patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery and 24 healthy controls matched based on age and sex. All the subjects underwent gait analysis using the single-point wearable MetaMotionC sensor. The lumbar spine patients also completed traditional patient questionnaires including the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results: The ODI score significantly improved in the patients from the baseline to six weeks postoperatively (42.4 to 22.8; p = 0.01). Simultaneously, the patients demonstrated significant improvements in gait asymmetry (asymmetry in step length, swing time, single support time, and double support time, by 17.4–60.3%; p ≤ 0.039) and variability (variability in gait velocity, step time, step length, stance time, swing time, single support time, and double support time, by 21.0–65.8%; p ≤ 0.023). After surgery, changes in most spatiotemporal (gait velocity, step length, stance time, swing time, and single limb support time) and asymmetry (asymmetry in step time, stance time, swing time, and single limb support time) metrics correlated strongly (magnitude of r = 0.581–0.914) and significantly (p ≤ 0.037) with changes in the ODI. Conclusions: Gait analysis using a single-point wearable sensor can demonstrate objective evidence of recovery in lumbar spine patients after surgery. This may be used as a routine pre- and postoperative assessment during scheduled visits to the clinic.

Background: Outcome measurement in lumbar surgery is traditionally performed using patient questionnaires that may be limited by subjectivity. Objective gait analysis may supplement patient assessment but must be clinically viable. We assessed gait metrics in lumbar spine patients pre- and postoperatively using a small and lightweight wearable sensor. Methods: This was a prospective observational study with intervention including 12 patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery and 24 healthy controls matched based on age and sex. All the subjects underwent gait analysis using the single-point wearable MetaMotionC sensor. The lumbar spine patients also completed traditional patient questionnaires including the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results: The ODI score significantly improved in the patients from the baseline to six weeks postoperatively (42.4 to 22.8; p = 0.01). Simultaneously, the patients demonstrated significant improvements in gait asymmetry (asymmetry in step length, swing time, single support time, and double support time, by 17.4–60.3%; p ≤ 0.039) and variability (variability in gait velocity, step time, step length, stance time, swing time, single support time, and double support time, by 21.0–65.8%; p ≤ 0.023). After surgery, changes in most spatiotemporal (gait velocity, step length, stance time, swing time, and single limb support time) and asymmetry (asymmetry in step time, stance time, swing time, and single limb support time) metrics correlated strongly (magnitude of r = 0.581–0.914) and significantly (p ≤ 0.037) with changes in the ODI. Conclusions: Gait analysis using a single-point wearable sensor can demonstrate objective evidence of recovery in lumbar spine patients after surgery. This may be used as a routine pre- and postoperative assessment during scheduled visits to the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveDesignStudy SampleResultsConclusionsTo use a multimodal approach to classify individuals with tinnitus from controls, and individuals with mild versus severe tinnitus.We have previously shown feasibility of a non-invasive imaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to detect tinnitus-related changes in cortical activity and classify individuals with tinnitus from controls, as well as individuals with mild versus severe tinnitus. In this study we have used a multimodal approach by recording heart rate, heart rate variability and skin conductance, in addition to fNIRS signals, from individuals with tinnitus and controls.Twenty-seven participants with tinnitus and 21 controls were recruited.Our findings show, addition of heart rate measures can improve accuracy of classifying tinnitus severity, in particular loudness as rated subjectively. The f1-score, a measure of classification accuracy, increased from 0.73 to 0.86 when using a support vector machine classifier for differentiating low versus high tinnitus loudness.Subjective tinnitus is a condition that can only be described by the individual experiencing it, as there are currently no objective measures to determine tinnitus presence and severity, or assess the effectiveness of treatments. Objective measurement of tinnitus is a critical step in developing reliable treatments for this debilitating condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young children's language and social development is influenced by the linguistic environment of their classrooms, including their interactions with teachers and peers. Measurement of the classroom linguistic environment typically relies on observational methods, often providing limited 'snapshots' of children's interactions, from which broad generalizations are made. Recent technological advances, including artificial intelligence, provide opportunities to capture children's interactions using continuous recordings representing much longer durations of time. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of the Interaction Detection in Early Childhood Settings (IDEAS) system on 13 automated indices of language output using recordings collected from 19 children and three teachers over two weeks in an urban preschool classroom. The accuracy of language outputs processed via IDEAS were compared to ground truth via linear correlations and median absolute relative error. Findings indicate high correlations between IDEAS and ground truth data on measures of teacher and child speech, and relatively low error rates on the majority of IDEAS language output measures. Study findings indicate that IDEAS may provide a useful measurement tool for advancing knowledge about children's classroom experiences and their role in shaping development.

Unannounced phone-based pill counts (UPC) are an objective measure of medication adherence that may be used in resource limited settings. The current study reports the feasibility and validity of UPC for monitoring antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people living with HIV in South Africa. People living with HIV (N = 434) in an economically impoverished township and receiving ART for at least 3-months completed: two UPC in a one-month period; measures of clinic and medication experiences; and provided blood samples for HIV viral load and CD4 testing. Analyses compared two methods for managing values of over-dosing (> 100%), specifically censoring values to 100% (> 100% = 100%) vs. subtracting over-dosing from two months of perfect adherence (200% - > 100% value). Findings showed that two UPC calls were successfully completed with 91% of participants in a one-month period. The average number of call attempts needed to reach participants was 2.4. Results showed that lower UPC adherence was significantly associated with male gender, alcohol use, higher HIV viral loads, lower CD4 cell counts, running out of ART, and intentionally not taking ART. Comparisons of methods for adjusting over-dosing found subtraction yielding a better representation of the data than censoring. UPC were demonstrated feasible and valid with patients receiving ART in a resource limited setting and offers a viable method for objectively measuring ART adherence in these settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: By using outcome prediction scores, it is possible to distinguish between good and poor performers with cochlear implants (CI) after CI implantation. The reasons for poor performance, despite good basic conditions, can be manifold. On the one hand, the postoperative fitting may be inadequate; on the other, neurophysiological disease processes may impair speech understanding with a CI. These disease processes are not yet fully understood. In acoustics, it is known that the auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and their latencies and amplitudes allow differential diagnosis based on reference values for normal-hearing individuals. The aim of this study was to provide reference values for electrically evoked brainstem responses (EABRs) in terms of rate-dependent latencies and amplitudes. Methods: 20 ears of 18 experienced adult CI recipients with a predicted and measured good postoperative word recognition score were recruited from the clinic's patient pool. In the same stimulation mode and intensity we measured latencies and interpeak-latencies of EABRs and electrically evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs). With a defined supra-threshold stimulation intensity above the individual ECAP threshold, we applied stimulation at several rates between 11 and 91 stimuli per second. Results: We found rate dependences for EABR latency t3 and t5 in the order of 0.19 ms and 0.37 ms, respectively, while ECAP was not affected by rate. Correspondingly, the interpeak intervals' rate dependences for t 5 − t 1 , t 5 − t 3 and t 3 − t 1 were of the order of 0.37 ms, 0.18 ms and 0.19 ms. Comparing the EABR amplitudes between the stimulation rates 11/s and 81/s, we found that at 81/s the amplitudes were significantly reduced down: to 73% for A3 and 81% for A5. These rate dependences of latency and amplitude in EABR have characteristics comparable to those of acoustic ABR. Conclusions: These data may serve to provide reference values for EABR and ECAP latencies, interpeak intervals and amplitudes with respect to stimulation rate. Altered response patterns of ECAPs and EABRs to normalised stimulation modes could be used in the future to describe and classify neuropathological processes in a better-differentiated way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general objectives of spine surgery are to alleviate pain, restore neurologic function, and prevent or treat spinal deformities or instability. The accumulating expanse of outcome measures has allowed us to more objectively quantify these variables and, therefore, gauge the success of treatments, ultimately improving the quality of the delivered health care. It has become increasingly evident that spinal conditions and their accompanying interventions affect all aspects of a patient's life, including their physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. This underscores the challenge of creating clinically relevant and accurate outcome measures in spine care, and the reason why there is a growing recognition of the importance of subjective measures such as patient-reported outcome measures, that consider a patients' health-related quality of life. Subjective measures provide valuable insights into patient experiences and perceptions of treatment outcomes, whereas objective measures provide a reproducible glimpse into key radiographic and clinical parameters that are associated with a successful outcome. In this narrative review, we provide a detailed analysis of the most common subjective and objective outcome measures employed in spine surgery, with a special focus on their current role as well as the possible future of outcome reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Truck driving is a highly sedentary occupation that places workers at risk for chronic health conditions, such as obesity and high blood pressure. The primary purpose of this study was to objectively describe truck drivers' typical physical activity (PA) patterns. Methods: We used ∼7–10-day baseline PA actigraphy data samples from drivers in the Safety & Health Involvement For Truckers (SHIFT) study (n = 394). Driver PA patterns (e.g., average number of ≥10 minute Freedson bouts per week, time in bouts, and common days/times for PA) were summarized with descriptive analyses. We also compared objective accelerometer data to self-reports. Results: Drivers' weekly PA averaged 14.4 minutes (SD = 37.0), and most PA occurred between 5–6 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Drivers overestimated self-reported weekly exercise by over 60 min/week compared to accelerometer data. Conclusion: Our results suggest that objective PA assessment may be warranted over self-report when possible, and timing may be key in future PA intervention work with truck drivers.

Background Unannounced phone-based pill counts (UPC) are an objective measure of medication adherence that may be used in resource limited settings. The current study reports the feasibility and validity of UPC for monitoring antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people living with HIV in South Africa. People living with HIV (N = 434) in an economically impoverished township and receiving ART for at least 3-months completed: two UPC in a one-month period; measures of clinic and medication experiences; and provided blood samples for HIV viral load and CD4 testing. Analyses compared two methods for managing values of over-dosing (> 100%), specifically censoring values to 100% (> 100% = 100%) vs. subtracting over-dosing from two months of perfect adherence (200% - > 100% value). Results Findings showed that two UPC calls were successfully completed with 91% of participants in a one-month period. The average number of call attempts needed to reach participants was 2.4. Results showed that lower UPC adherence was significantly associated with male gender, alcohol use, higher HIV viral loads, lower CD4 cell counts, running out of ART, and intentionally not taking ART. Comparisons of methods for adjusting over-dosing found subtraction yielding a better representation of the data than censoring. Conclusions UPC were demonstrated feasible and valid with patients receiving ART in a resource limited setting and offers a viable method for objectively measuring ART adherence in these settings.

Objectives: The assessment of mindfulness has relied predominantly on self-report questionnaires, indicating a need for alternative methods based on objective data. The Breath-Counting Task (BCT) has been proposed as a viable candidate by several mindfulness researchers, but has been subject to relatively little scientific scrutiny. Method: We conducted a mega-analysis using combined data from five separate studies, using multiple linear regression models to examine the relationship between BCT performance and self-reported mindfulness after controlling for age and gender. We examined associations with trait mindfulness as indexed by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Results: Accuracy on the BCT correlated only with a combined dataset of z-scores derived from FFMQ-Acting with Awareness and MAAS. We also examined associations with two different types of task errors: miscounts (uncaught errors) and resets (self-caught errors). While reset rates correlated with FFMQ-Acting with Awareness, miscount rates did not correlate with any mindfulness measure. Conclusions: Our analyses provide confirmatory evidence that BCT performance is related to the attentional aspects of trait mindfulness and not its attitudinal aspects – however the relevant correlations are fairly small. In seeking an objective measure of mindful attention, the weak association observed with BCT resets and the lack thereof with BCT accuracy suggests more promise in paradigms based on self-monitoring lapses of attention, while sustained attention tasks such as the present BCT may be of limited application among individuals new to meditation due to their lack of prior practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classroom engagement plays a crucial role in preschoolers' development, yet the correlates of engagement, especially among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delays (DD), remains unknown. This study examines levels of engagement with classroom social partners and tasks among children in three groups ASD, DD, and typical development (TD). Here, we asked whether children's vocal interactions (vocalizations to and from peers and teachers) were associated with their classroom engagement with social partners (peers and teachers) and with tasks, and whether the association between classroom engagement and vocal interactions differed between children in the ASD group and their peers in the DD and TD groups. Automated measures of vocalizations and location quantified children's vocal interactions with peers and teachers over the course of the school year. Automated location and vocalization data were used to capture both (1) children's vocal output to specific peers and teachers, and (2) the vocal input they received from those peers and teachers. Participants were 72 3–5‐year‐olds (Mage = 48.6 months, SD = 7.0, 43% girls) and their teachers. Children in the ASD group displayed lower engagement with peers, teachers, and tasks than children in the TD group; they also showed lower engagement with peers than children in the DD group. Overall, children's own vocalizations were positively associated with engagement with social partners. Thus, although children in the ASD group tend to have lower engagement scores than children in the TD group, active participation in vocal interactions appears to support their classroom engagement with teachers and peers. Lay Summary: We examined associations between automated measures of preschoolers' vocal interactions and their classroom engagement with peers, teachers, and tasks in inclusive classrooms. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) showed lower engagement levels than children without ASD. Overall, however, children's own vocalizations were positively associated with engagement with peers and teachers, shedding new light on behaviors supporting engagement in children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the validity of the single question to determine sedentary behavior (SB) by using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) in older adults. Methods: The sample included 163 participants (96 women) aged 65–92 years. Self-reported SB was obtained from the GPAQ. Objectively measured SB was assessed using the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity. Participants wore the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity continuously during 2 consecutive days while following their daily routine. The relative validity was assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient (ρ), and the agreement was examined using mean bias and 95% limit of agreement with the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity as reference. Results: The results showed small correlations (ρ =.291, P <.001) between the SB from the GPAQ and the objective measures, and ranged from ρ =.217 to ρ =.491 depending on the potential moderator. Similarly, the GPAQ underestimates the SB for approximately 2 hours per day in older adults (limit of agreement = −7.3 to 3.4 h/d). Conclusion: The GPAQ may not be the most suitable questionnaire for measuring SB in this population and should be used with caution because those studies that use this questionnaire in older adults may have an inaccurate measurement of SB levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This systematic review assessed evidence on the accelerometer-measured sedentary and physical activity (PA) behavior of nonoffice workers in "blue-collar" industries. Methods: The databases CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus were searched up to April 6, 2018. Eligibility criteria were accelerometer-measured sedentary, sitting, and/or PA behaviors in "blue-collar" workers (≥10 participants; agricultural, construction, cleaning, manufacturing, mining, postal, or transport industries). Data on participants' characteristics, study protocols, and measured behaviors during work and/or nonwork time were extracted. Methodologic quality was assessed using a 12-item checklist. Results: Twenty studies (representing 11 data sets), all from developed world economies, met inclusion criteria. The mean quality score for selected studies was 9.5 (SD 0.8) out of a maximum of 12. Data were analyzed using a range of analytical techniques (eg, accelerometer counts or pattern recognition algorithms). "Blue-collar" workers were more sedentary and less active during nonwork compared with work time (eg, sitting 5.7 vs 3.2 h/d; moderate to vigorous PA 0.5 vs 0.7 h/d). Drivers were the most sedentary (work time 5.1 h/d; nonwork time 8.2 h/d). Conclusions: High levels of sedentary time and insufficient PA to offset risk are health issues for "blue-collar" workers. To better inform interventions, research groups need to adopt common measurement and reporting methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The First-time Injurious Fall (FIF) screening tool was created to identify fall risk in community-living older men and women, who may be targets for primary preventive interventions. The FIF tool consists of 3 self-reported questions and 1 physical test (1-leg standing balance). The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive ability of the FIF tool and a modified FIF tool (in which 1-leg standing is replaced by self-reported balance) for first-time injurious falls. Methods: A cohort of 1194 community-living people 60 years and older from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), Sweden, was followed longitudinally for 5 years. Data on injurious falls were collected from registered data and were defined as receipt of care after a fall. The predictive ability of the FIF tool and the m-FIF tool was explored using Harrell's C statistic, stratified by sex. Results and Discussion: The injurious fall rate per 1000 person-years was 54.9 (95% CI: 47.22-63.78) for women and 36.3 (95% CI: 28.84-45.78) for men. The predictive ability for women and men according to Harrell's C statistic was 0.70 and 0.71 for the FIF tool and the m-FIF tool. The predictive ability was 0.70 and 0.69 for 1-leg standing, and 0.65 and 0.60 for self-reported balance problems. Conclusions: The m-FIF tool presented similar predictive ability as the FIF tool regarding first-time injurious falls. This finding could extend the usefulness of the tool to other settings, such as to electronic health (eHealth). A quickly and easily administered screening tool can help physical therapists to identify people with a high risk of falling who may need to undergo a more comprehensive fall risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the influence of stereoscopic depth on visual fatigue based on subjective and EEG measurement. 19 channels of EEG data of 17 subjects before and after watching 3D movie with different depth ranges were recorded, and the power of δ, θ, α, β, power spectral parameters (gravity frequency, power spectral entropy) were calculated and analyzed. The results showed that visual fatigue caused by 3D enhanced movies with larger negative disparity was more significantly severe than that of 3D normal movies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives The VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE is a widely used active middle ear implant to treat hearing loss. The floating mass transducer is surgically coupled to the ossicles, the round or oval window. A reliable method to monitor the coupling efficiency intraoperatively is highly desired. Research groups have developed several methods, but limitations remain. This study aims to evaluate the clinical feasibility of a new research setup for auditory brainstem response measurement to evaluate the coupling efficiency. Method In 14 subjects, the new tool was used to record VSB‐evoked ABR thresholds during surgery. The intra‐op ABR thresholds were compared to pre‐op bone conduction (BC) thresholds and post‐op vibrogram thresholds to evaluate the feasibility of the method as a tool to monitor coupling efficiency. Results The mean pre‐op BC threshold average at 1, 2, and 4 kHz (PTA3) was 47 dB HL, the mean intra‐op ABR threshold was 54 dB nHL, and the mean post‐op vibrogram PTA3 was 60 dB HLeq. ABR was measurable in all subjects using the new tool. Correlation between pre‐op BC thresholds and intra‐op ABR thresholds was statistically significant; however, one outlier was present. Conclusion Intra‐op hearing threshold detection through ABR and direct stimulation of the VSB implant was reliable using this new tool. Despite some individual variability, first results correlate well with pre‐op BC and post‐op vibrogram thresholds.

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Objective: Accurate wound assessment is crucial for determining the progression of healing and guides treatment strategies. Portable wound assessment devices can be useful in providing an accurate evaluation in the community where most cases are treated. The objective of this review was to compare the performance of various portable wound assessment techniques used for wound healing assessment described in the literature. Method: In April 2020, electronic databases were searched, using appropriate search terms, for all available publications on the use of portable wound assessment devices on human and artificial wounds. The primary outcome was the reliability and reproducibility of measurement while the secondary outcome was the feasibility of the instrument. All studies underwent quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS) to examine the quality of data. Results: A total of 129 articles were identified and 24 were included in the final review; 17 articles discussed two-dimensional (2D) devices; three articles discussed three-dimensional (3D) devices; and four articles discussed application-based devices. Most studies (n=8) reported on a 2D device that had an ICC of 0.92–0.99 for area measurement and a coefficient of variance of 3.1% with an error of 2.3% in human wounds and 1.55-3.7% in artificial wounds. The inter/intra observer reliability was 0.998 and 0.985, respectively with a scan time of two minutes per wound. The median QUADAS score was 12. Conclusion: Based on the presented evidence, 2D-based portable wound assessment devices were the most studied and demonstrated good performance. Further studies are required for 3D and application-based measurement instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The reported incidence of PPH varies globally, which is often due to the use of subjective visual estimation of blood loss. The aim of this study was to measure the rate of PPH and severe PPH at a UK hospital using objective measurement of blood loss. Methods: Blood loss after vaginal birth was objectively measured in 2009 women at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, UK using a blood collection drape. Results: The postpartum haemorrhage rate, defined as blood loss of 500 mL or more, was 22.2%. The severe PPH rate, defined as blood loss of 1000 mL or more, was 5.3%. Conclusions: The objective measurement of blood loss following vaginal birth is necessary for the accurate calculation of PPH rates.

Background: By using outcome prediction scores, it is possible to distinguish between good and poor performers with cochlear implants (CI) after CI implantation. The reasons for poor performance, despite good basic conditions, can be manifold. On the one hand, the postoperative fitting may be inadequate; on the other, neurophysiological disease processes may impair speech understanding with a CI. These disease processes are not yet fully understood. In acoustics, it is known that the auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and their latencies and amplitudes allow differential diagnosis based on reference values for normal-hearing individuals. The aim of this study was to provide reference values for electrically evoked brainstem responses (EABRs) in terms of rate-dependent latencies and amplitudes. Methods: 20 ears of 18 experienced adult CI recipients with a predicted and measured good postoperative word recognition score were recruited from the clinic’s patient pool. In the same stimulation mode and intensity we measured latencies and interpeak-latencies of EABRs and electrically evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs). With a defined supra-threshold stimulation intensity above the individual ECAP threshold, we applied stimulation at several rates between 11 and 91 stimuli per second. Results: We found rate dependences for EABR latency t3 and t5 in the order of 0.19 ms and 0.37 ms, respectively, while ECAP was not affected by rate. Correspondingly, the interpeak intervals’ rate dependences for t5−t1, t5−t3 and t3−t1 were of the order of 0.37 ms, 0.18 ms and 0.19 ms. Comparing the EABR amplitudes between the stimulation rates 11/s and 81/s, we found that at 81/s the amplitudes were significantly reduced down: to 73% for A3 and 81% for A5. These rate dependences of latency and amplitude in EABR have characteristics comparable to those of acoustic ABR. Conclusions: These data may serve to provide reference values for EABR and ECAP latencies, interpeak intervals and amplitudes with respect to stimulation rate. Altered response patterns of ECAPs and EABRs to normalised stimulation modes could be used in the future to describe and classify neuropathological processes in a better-differentiated way.

The interday reliability of the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity (IDEEA) has not been studied to date. The study purpose was to examine the interday variability and reliability on two consecutive days collected with the IDEEA, as well as to predict the number of days needed to provide a reliable estimate of several movement (walking and climbing stairs) and nonmovement (lying, reclining, and sitting) behaviors and standing in older adults. The sample included 126 older adults (74 women) who wore the IDEEA for 48 hr. Results showed low variability between the 2 days, and the reliability was from moderate (intraclass coefficient correlation =.34) to high (.80) in most of movement and nonmovement behaviors analyzed. The Bland–Altman plots showed high–moderate agreement between days, and the Spearman–Brown formula estimated that 1.2 and 9.1 days of monitoring with the IDEEA are needed to achieve intraclass coefficient correlations ≥.70 in older adults for sitting and climbing stairs, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To examine the level of physical activity and sedentary behavior (SB), measured with accelerometers, in older adults from a city in southern Brazil according to sociodemographic and health characteristics. Methods: The sample consisted of 425 older adults (≥63 y) from the EpiFloripa Aging Study. Light physical activity (LPA), moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and SB were measured with accelerometers over a period of 7 days. Results: The older adults spent two-thirds of the time of use in SB, one-third in LPA, and only 2.1% (95% confidence interval, 1.8–2.2) in MVPA. In the final adjusted model, lower levels of MVPA were observed for women, as well as higher SB and lower LPA and MVPA for those with higher age. There were also trends toward prolonged SB and lower LPA when participants had a higher educational level and toward lower MVPA with higher body mass index. Conclusions: Constant monitoring of physical activity levels and SB using objective measures is recommended and interventions should be directed at the groups most exposed to excessive SB and low levels of MVPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinsons disease (PD) is a debilitating, neurodegenerative disorder that affects nearly one million people. Its hallmark signs and symptoms include slow movements, rigidity, tremor, and unstable posture. Additionally, non-motor symptoms such as sleeplessness, depression, cognitive impairment, impulse control behaviors (ICB) have been reported. Today, treatment regimens to modify disease progression do not exist and as such, treatment is focused on symptom relief. Additionally, physicians are challenged to base their diagnoses and treatment plans on unreliable self-reported symptoms, even when used in conjunction to validated assessments such as the Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and clinical exams. Wearable technology may provide clinicians objective measures of motor problems to supplement current subjective methods. Global Kinetics Corporation (GKC) has developed a watch-device called the Personal KinetiGraph (PKG) that records movements and provides patients medication dosing reminders. A separate clinician-use report supplies longitudinal motor and event data. The PKG was FDA-cleared in September 2016. We studied 63 PD patients during 85 routine care visits in 2 US academic institutions, evaluating the clinical utility of the PKG. Patients wore a PKG for 6 continuous days before their visit. Next, PKG data was uploaded to produce a report. In clinic, physicians discussed PD symptoms with patients and conducted a motor examination prior to reviewing the PKG report and comparing it to their initial assessments. Lastly, patient, caregiver and physician satisfaction surveys were conducted by each user. Across all visits when patients did not report bradykinesia or dyskinesia, the PKG reported these symptoms (50 and 33% of the time, respectively). The PKG provided insights for treatment plans in 50 (79%) patients across 71 (84%) visits. Physicians found improved patient dialogue in 50 (59%) visits, improved ability to assess treatment impact in 32 (38%) visits, and improved motor assessment in 28 (33%) visits. Patients stated in 82% of responses that they agreed or strongly agreed in PKG training, usability, performance, and satisfaction. In 39% of responses, they also reported a very valuable impact on their care. PKG use in 63 PD patients within our clinical practice showed clinically relevant utility in many areas.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating, neurodegenerative disorder that affects nearly one million people. It's hallmark signs and symptoms include slow movements, rigidity, tremor, and unstable posture. Additionally, non-motor symptoms such as sleeplessness, depression, cognitive impairment, impulse control behaviors (ICB) have been reported. Today, treatment regimens to modify disease progression do not exist and as such, treatment is focused on symptom relief. Additionally, physicians are challenged to base their diagnoses and treatment plans on unreliable self-reported symptoms, even when used in conjunction to validated assessments such as the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and clinical exams. Wearable technology may provide clinicians objective measures of motor problems to supplement current subjective methods. Global Kinetics Corporation (GKC) has developed a watch-device called the Personal KinetiGraph (PKG) that records movements and provides patients medication dosing reminders. A separate clinician-use report supplies longitudinal motor and event data. The PKG was FDA-cleared in September 2016. We studied 63 PD patients during 85 routine care visits in 2 US academic institutions, evaluating the clinical utility of the PKG. Patients wore a PKG for 6 continuous days before their visit. Next, PKG data was uploaded to produce a report. In clinic, physicians discussed PD symptoms with patients and conducted a motor examination prior to reviewing the PKG report and comparing it to their initial assessments. Lastly, patient, caregiver and physician satisfaction surveys were conducted by each user. Across all visits when patients did not report bradykinesia or dyskinesia, the PKG reported these symptoms (50 and 33% of the time, respectively). The PKG provided insights for treatment plans in 50 (79%) patients across 71 (84%) visits. Physicians found improved patient dialogue in 50 (59%) visits, improved ability to assess treatment impact in 32 (38%) visits, and improved motor assessment in 28 (33%) visits. Patients stated in 82% of responses that they agreed or strongly agreed in PKG training, usability, performance, and satisfaction. In 39% of responses, they also reported a very valuable impact on their care. PKG use in 63 PD patients within our clinical practice showed clinically relevant utility in many areas.

Scale adaptation in different cultures is needed to ensure that the scale measures the intended target. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) has been adopted in several countries, but no Indonesian language adaptation has been made so far. This study aims to test the construct validity of the Indonesian MSPSS that measures one’s level of social support. Rasch analysis was used to examine the psychometric properties of the scale. The subject in this study was 495 Indonesian marine cadets with an average age of 19.32 (41% Engineering, 52.7% Nautical, and 5.5% Electro). In terms of gender, 94.3% were male and 5.7% female. Findings from the Rasch analysis support the one-dimensionality of the 12-items MSPSS in measuring marine cadets’ level of social support. This finding differs from similar MSPSS studies that show the scale’s structure to be multidimensional. The 12-items MSPSS showed excellent internal consistency (person-item interaction index = .85) and fulfilled all the Rasch model requirements. No item misfit was detected from the MNSQ score (.5 < MNSQ < 1.5). Also, there was no item bias based on gender was detected from the scale (.0949 - .9687) > .05. Future studies are advised to test the scale with different samples to further confirm this study’s findings.

Background: Cognitive fatigue is highly prevalent in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and significantly limits their quality of life. Fatigue can be subdivided into a subjective feeling of constant (trait) or current (state) exhaustion, as well as an objective performance decline, also known as fatigability. However, the current fatigue diagnosis in pwMS is purely subjective, leaving fatigability mostly unattended. Sensorimotor and sensory gating deficits have recently been described as possible objective markers for fatigability in healthy subjects. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the potential of prepulse inhibition (PPI) ratios and the P50 sensory gating suppression as surrogate markers for cognitive fatigue in pwMS. Methods: PPI and P50 sensory gating ratios were assessed before and after a 30-min fatigability-inducing AX- continuous performance task. Subjective trait fatigue was operationalized via self-report questionnaires, subjective state fatigue via visual analog scales (VAS), and fatigability via the change in both gating ratios. The data were analyzed using Linear Mixed Models and Pearson correlations. Results: We included 18 pwMS and 20 healthy controls (HC) in the final analyses. The task-induced fatigability was more pronounced in pwMS. While the initial PPI and P50 ratios were similar in both groups, P50 sensory gating was significantly disrupted after fatigability induction in pwMS. PPI, on the other hand, decreased in both groups. Moreover, initial P50 sensory gating ratios were negatively associated with subjective trait fatigue in pwMS, indicating that higher trait fatigue is associated with disrupted sensory gating. Finally, fatigability-related changes in P50 sensory gating were associated with the changes in VAS ratings, but only in HC. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that P50 sensory gating is a promising objective fatigue and fatigability parameter. Importantly, P50 sensory gating correlated with subjective trait and state fatigue ratings. Our results extend the subjective fatigue diagnosis and broaden the understanding of pathophysiological neuronal mechanisms in MS-related fatigue. This is the first study to present fatigue-related disruption of sensory gating in pwMS.

To evaluate lower lid position and tear meniscus in peripheral idiopathic facial nerve palsy (FNP). A prospective study enrolled patients with peripheral idiopathic FNP and epiphora. Data were collected on patient demographics, House-Brackmann (HB) scale, digital photographs of the face, and tear meniscus at the 1st, 30, and 90 day after onset of FNP. Marginal reflex distance to the upper (MRD1) and lower eyelid (MRD2) were evaluated using ImageJ software. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed to measure the tear menis- cus. P<.05 was considered statistically significant. Sixteen patients were evaluated. The HB scale at presentation was grade III in six patients (37.5%). At 90 day, nine patients (56.25%) were grade I-normal. Three (18.7%) had upper lid retraction, three (18.7%) upper eyelid asymmetry and 7 (43.75%), lower eyelid retraction. The difference between MRD2-FNP with MRD2-healthy side was 0.51 ± 1.9 mm at the 1st visit, decreasing to 0.09 ± 1.47 mm at 90 days (P=.877). Tear meniscus measurements were significantly higher in FNP at the 1st visit (P=.001). The decrease in MRD2 was statistically correlated with the reduction of the tear meniscus area (TMA) (r = 0.67; P=.007) at 90 days. No correlation was found between HB and TMA. There is a difference in TMA between age groups at the 1st day(p=.009). Eldest group had higher HB scales. Quantitative evaluation of eyelid position and tear meniscus are effective to document the evolution of FNP and can serve as a clue of orbicularis recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, mask-wearing in classrooms has become commonplace. However, there are little data on the effect of face-masks on children's language input and production in educational contexts, like preschool classrooms which over half of United States children attend. Leveraging repeated objective measurements, we longitudinally examined child and teacher speech-related vocalizations in two cohorts of 3.5-4.5-year-old children enrolled in the same oral language classroom that included children with and without hearing loss. Cohort 1 was observed before COVID-19 (no face-masks, N = 20) and Cohort 2 was observed during COVID-19 (with face-masks; N = 15). Vocalization data were collected using child-worn audio recorders over 12 observations spanning two successive school years, yielding 9.09 mean hours of audio recording per child. During COVID-19 teachers produced a higher number of words per minute than teachers observed prior to COVID-19. However, teacher vocalizations during COVID-19 contained fewer unique phonemes than teacher vocalizations prior to COVID-19. Children observed during COVID-19 did not exhibit deficits in the duration, rate, or phonemic diversity of their vocalizations compared to children observed prior to COVID-19. Children observed during COVID-19 produced vocalizations that were longer in duration than vocalizations of children observed prior to COVID-19. During COVID-19 (but not before), children who were exposed to a higher number of words per minute from teachers produced more speech-related vocalizations per minute themselves. Overall, children with hearing loss were exposed to teacher vocalizations that were longer in duration, more teacher words per minute, and more phonemically diverse teacher speech than children with typical hearing. In terms of production, children with hearing loss produced vocalizations that were longer in duration than the vocalizations of children with typical hearing. Among children observed during COVID-19, children with hearing loss exhibited a higher vocalization rate than children with typical hearing. These results suggest that children's language production is largely unaffected bymask use in the classroom and that children can benefit from the language they are exposed to despite teacher mask-wearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersion plays a crucial role in video watching, leading viewers to a positive experience, such as increased engagement and decreased fatigue. However, few studies measure immersion while watching videos, and questionnaires are typically used in the measurement of immersion for other applications. These methods may rely on the viewer's memory and cause biased results. Therefore, we propose an objective immersion detection model by leveraging people's gaze behavior while watching videos. In a lab study with 30 participants, an in-depth analysis is carried out on a number of gaze features and machine learning (ML) models to identify the immersion state. Several gaze features are highly indicative of immersion and ML models with these features are able to detect an immersion state of video watchers. Post-hoc interviews demonstrate that our approach is applicable to measure immersion in the middle of watching a video, where some practical issues are discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to independently validate a calibrated commercial handheld near infrared (NIR) spectroscopic device and test its repeatability over time using phenotypically diverse populations of Australian lamb. Validation testing in eight separate data sub-groups (n = 1591 carcasses overall) demonstrated that the NIR device had moderate precision (R2 = 0.4–0.64, RMSEP = 0.70–1.22%) but fluctuated in accuracy between experimental site demonstrated by variable slopes (0.50–0.94) and biases (−0.86–0.02). The repeatability experiment (n = 10 carcasses) showed that time to scan post quartering affected NIR measurement from 0 to 24 h (P < 0.001). On average, NIR IMF% was 0.97% lower (P < 0.001) at 24 h (4.01% ± 0.166), compared to 0 h. There was no difference (P > 0.05) between Time 0 and 1 h or Time 0 and 4 h or between replicate scans within each time point. This study demonstrated the SOMA NIR device could predict lamb chemical IMF% with moderate precision and accuracy, however additional work is required to understand how loin preparation, blooming and surface hydration affect NIR measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the ability of portable ultra-wide band microwave system (MiS) to predict lamb carcase computed tomography (CT) determined composition % of fat, lean muscle and bone. Lamb carcases (n = 343) from 6 slaughter groups were MiS scanned at the C-site (45 mm from spine midline at the 12th /13th rib) prior to CT scanning to determine the proportion of fat, muscle and bone. A machine learning ensemble stacking technique was used to construct the MiS prediction equations. Predictions were pooled and divided in 5 groups stratified for each CT composition trait (fat, lean or bone%) and a k-fold cross validation (k = 5) technique was used to test the predictions. MiS predicted CT fat% with an average RMSEP of 2.385, R2 0.78, bias 0.156 and slope 0.095. The prediction of CT lean% had an average RMSEP of 2.146, R2 0.64, bias 0.172 and slope 0.117. CT bone% prediction had an average RMSEP of 0.990, R2 0.75, bias 0.051 and slope 0.090. Predictions for CT bone% met AUS-MEAT device accreditation error tolerances on the whole range of the dataset. Predictions for CT lean% and fat% met AUS-MEAT error tolerances on a constrained dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop calibration models against rib eye traits and independently validate the precision, accuracy, and repeatability of the Frontmatec Q-FOM™ Beef grading camera in Australian carcasses. This study compiled 12 different research datasets acquired from commercial processing facilities and were comprised of a diverse range of carcass phenotypes, graded by industry identified expert Meat Standards Australia (MSA) graders and sampled for chemical intramuscular fat (IMF%). Calibration performance was maintained when the device was independently validated. For continuous traits, the Q-FOM™ demonstrated precise (root mean squared error of prediction, RMSEP) and accurate (coefficient of determination, R2) prediction of eye muscle area (EMA) (R2 = 0.89, RMSEP = 4.3 cm2, slope = 0.96, bias = 0.7), MSA marbling (R2 = 0.95, RMSEP = 47.2, slope = 0.98, bias = −12.8) and chemical IMF% (R2 = 0.94, RMSEP = 1.56%, slope = 0.96, bias = 0.64). For categorical traits, the Q-FOM™ predicted 61%, 64.3% and 60.8% of AUS-MEAT marbling, meat colour and fat colour scores equivalent, and 95% within ±1 classes of expert grader scores. The Q-FOM™ also demonstrated very high repeatability and reproducibility across all traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]