Search results for "Testing"
showing 10 items of 1769 documents
Known knowns and known unknowns on behavior change interventions and mechanisms of action.
2020
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of research play an important role in summarizing current knowledge on the efficacy of the behavior change techniques and mechanisms of action that comprise behavioral interventions. The current reviews in the science of behavior change (SOBC) special issue represent a ‘step change’ in evaluating current evidence on behavior change interventions and mechanisms. This concluding article outlines the key findings and emerging issues identified in the reviews (‘known knowns’), and summarizes the evidence gaps highlighted by the reviews that need to be addressed in future research (‘known unknowns’). Specifically, findings of the reviews indicate that: tests …
AP5Z1/SPG4 8 frequency in autosomal recessive and sporadic spastic paraplegia
2014
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) constitute a rare and highly heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders, defined clinically by progressive lower limb spasticity and pyramidal weakness. Autosomal recessive HSP as well as sporadic cases present a significant diagnostic challenge. Mutations in AP5Z1, a gene playing a role in intracellular membrane trafficking, have been recently reported to be associated with spastic paraplegia type 48 (SPG48). Our objective was to determine the relative frequency and clinical relevance of AP5Z1 mutations in a large cohort of 127 HSP patients. We applied a targeted next-generation sequencing approach to analyze all coding exons of the AP5Z1 gene. …
Infrared based saliva screening test for COVID‐19
2021
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in an unprecedented need for diagnostic testing that is critical in controlling the spread of COVID-19. We propose a portable infrared spectrometer with purpose-built transflection accessory for rapid point-of-care detection of COVID-19 markers in saliva. Initially, purified virion particles were characterized with Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron infrared (IR) and AFM-IR. A data set comprising 171 transflection infrared spectra from 29 subjects testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR and 28 testing negative, was modeled using Monte Carlo Double Cross Validation with 50 randomized test and model sets. The testing se…
Potential Non-Invasive Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
2021
This study aimed to investigate the role of a panel of salivary cytokines as biomarkers for early detection oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), comparing their levels among healthy individuals, patients with oral leukoplakia (OL), and malignant lesions. Cytokine profiling analysis performed in a minimally invasive sample was correlated with clinicopathological variables in our patient cohorts. Unstimulated saliva was obtained from subjects with OSCC at early (n = 33) and advanced (n = 33) disease, OL with homogeneous (n = 33) and proliferative verrucous (n = 33) clinical presentations, and healthy controls (n = 25). Salivary IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, TNF-α, HCC-1, and PF-4 levels we…
The Influence of Friction on Design of the Type of Bracket and Its Relation to OHRQoL in Patients Who Use Multi-Bracket Appliances: A Randomized Clin…
2021
Background and objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of friction on design of the type of bracket, patients’ perception of pain and the impact on their oral health-related quality of life. Materials and Methods: A randomized clinical trial was carried out with 90 patients (62.2% women and 37.8% men) with three kinds of fixed multi-bracket appliances: Conventional (GC), fixed multi-bracket low friction (GS) and self-ligating (GA). The VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) was used to determine pain during the first seven days of treatment at different points in time. The patients were also given the OHIP-14 (Oral Health Impact Profile) questionnaire to analyse their oral heal…
Assisted Self-Adapted Testing: A Comparative Study
2004
Abstract: A new type of self-adapted test (S-AT), called Assisted Self-Adapted Test (AS-AT), is presented. It differs from an ordinary S-AT in that prior to selecting the difficulty category, the computer advises examinees on their best difficulty category choice, based on their previous performance. Three tests (computerized adaptive test, AS-AT, and S-AT) were compared regarding both their psychometric (precision and efficiency) and psychological (anxiety) characteristics. Tests were applied in an actual assessment situation, in which test scores determined 20% of term grades. A sample of 173 high school students participated. Neither differences in posttest anxiety nor ability were obta…
An interlaboratory study as useful tool for proficiency testing of chemical oxygen demand measurements using solid substrates and liquid samples with…
2009
In 2008, the first Proficiency Testing Scheme of Chemical Oxygen Demand (1stCOD-PTADG) was conducted to assess the results obtained for different research groups whose field work is mainly anaerobic digestion. This study was performed using four samples, two solid samples as raw materials and two solid samples to prepare high concentration suspended solid solutions. Invitations were sent to a large number of laboratories, mainly to anaerobic digestion research groups. Finally, thirty labs from sixteen countries agreed to participate, but for different reasons four participants could not send any data. In total, twenty-six results were reported to the COD-PT coordinator. This study showed th…
Biologic response of inguinal hernia prosthetics: a comparative study of conventional static meshes versus 3D dynamic implants.
2015
Despite improvements in prosthetics and surgical techniques, the rate of complications following inguinal hernia repair remains high. Among these, discomfort and chronic pain have become a source of increasing concern among surgeons. Poor quality of tissue ingrowth, such as thin scar plates or shrinking scars-typical results with conventional static implants and plugs-may contribute to these adverse events. Recently, a new type of 3D dynamically responsive implant was introduced to the market. This device, designed to be placed fixation-free, seems to induce ingrowth of viable and structured tissue instead of regressive fibrotic scarring. To elucidate the differences in biologic response be…
Ighv Mutational Status By Deep Next Generation Sequencing Refines Ighv Sanger Sequencing Classification in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia
2019
Introduction: Determination of the mutational status of rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain variable (IgHV) genes in patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL), is considered one of the most important prognostic factors: patients with unmutated IgHV (UM; ≥98% of identity to the germline) genes have a more aggressive disease course and develop more frequently unfavourable genetic deletions or mutations than patients with mutated IgHV (M; ≤98%). Mutational status, is currently determined by Sanger sequencing (Sseq) that allows the analysis of the major clone, however, international guidelines recommend caution in assigning mutational status in cases with "Borderline" IgHV identity (9…
Influence of Riboflavin Targeting on Tumor Accumulation and Internalization of Peptostar Based Drug Delivery Systems.
2020
Riboflavin carrier protein (RCP) and riboflavin transporters (RFVTs) have been reported to be highly overexpressed in various cancer cells. Hence, targeting RCP and RFVTs using riboflavin may enhance tumor accumulation and internalization of drug delivery systems. To test this hypothesis, butyl-based 3-arm peptostar polymers were synthesized consisting of a lysine core (10 units per arm) and a sarcosine shell (100 units per arm). The end groups of the arms and the core were successfully modified with riboflavin and the Cy-5.5 fluorescent dye, respectively. While in phosphate buffered saline the functionalized peptostars showed a bimodal behavior and formed supramolecular structures over tim…