Search results for "VARIATION"
showing 10 items of 2124 documents
On Ekeland's variational principle in partial metric spaces
2015
In this paper, lower semi-continuous functions are used to extend Ekeland's variational principle to the class of parti al metric spaces. As consequences of our results, we obtain some fixed p oint theorems of Caristi and Clarke types.
Impact of Aortic Diameter Measurements at Three Anatomical Landmarks on Left Ventricular Output Calculation in Neonates
2021
OBJECTIVES To assess reproducibility and accuracy of left ventricular output (LVO) quantifications in neonates, when left ventricular outflow tract diameter (LVOTD) was measured at the hinges of the aortic valve (AV), at the aortic sinus (AS), and at the sinotubular junction (STJ). METHODS This was an observational study. In the first cohort of very preterm neonates, we assessed intraobserver and interobserver repeatability of LVOTD measured at the AV, AS, and STJ and of the corresponding LVO. In the second cohort of older neonates, we compared paired LVO measurements by echo and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS In the first cohort of 48 neonates, mean (standard deviation) weight a…
Effects of Interrater Reliability of Psychopathologic Assessment on Power and Sample Size Calculations in Clinical Trials
2002
Although rater training is increasingly used to improve the quality of the investigated outcome parameters, the reliability of assessments is not perfect. Thus, empirical reliability estimates should be used instead of theoretically assumed perfect reliability. Implications of the reliability of psychiatric assessments for sample size and power calculations in clinical trials are presented. The theoretical basis of sample size and power calculations using empirical reliability scores is delineated. Examples from contemporary research on schizophrenia and depression are used to illustrate several implications for study design and interpretation of results. The tremendous impact of the lack o…
Validation of a computer-assisted system on classifying lower third molars
2010
Objectives: The present study evaluates the reliability of the Radio Memory® software (Radio Memory; Belo Horizonte, Brasil.) on classifying lower third molars, analyzing intra- and interexaminer agreement of the results. Study Design: An observational, descriptive study of 280 lower third molars was made. The corresponding orthopantomographs were analyzed by two examiners using the Radio Memory® software. The exam was repeated 30 days after the first observation by each examiner. Both intra- and interexaminer agreement were determined using the SPSS v 12.0 software package for Windows (SPSS; Chicago, USA). Results: Intra- and interexaminer agreement was shown for both the Pell and Gregory …
Landmark identification on direct digital versus film-based cephalometric radiographs: A human skull study
2002
The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in landmark identification on vertically scanned, direct digital and conventional (18 x 24 cm) cephalometric radiographs. Eight observers, all orthodontists or postgraduate orthodontic students, recorded 6 landmarks twice on 3 digital and 3 conventional cephalograms obtained from 3 human skulls in a standardized fashion. Digital images were displayed on a 15.1-in TFT monitor in 3:1 mode (20 x 26 cm). Recordings were transferred into standardized coordinate systems and evaluated separately for each coordinate. After correcting for magnification, precision was assessed with Maloney-Rastogi tests, and intraobserver and interobserver repr…
Impact of glucuronide interferences on therapeutic drug monitoring of posaconazole by tandem mass spectrometry.
2010
Abstract Background: Posaconazole is a novel antifungal drug for oral application intended especially for therapy of invasive mycoses. Due to variable gastrointestinal absorption, adverse side effects, and suspected drug-drug interactions, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of posaconazole is recommended. Method: A fast ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for quantification of posaconazole with a run-time <3 min was developed and compared to a LC-MS/MS method and HPLC method with fluorescence detection. Results: During evaluation of UPLC-MS/MS, two earlier eluting peaks were observed in the MRM trace of posaconazole. This was only seen in p…
Evaluation of a digital radiography to estimate working length
1997
The working lengths obtained with different methods in single-rooted teeth were compared. An endodontic rule in millimeters and calipers was used as a direct method of measurement (on endodontic files). As indirect methods, measurements were taken from conventional x-rays with calipers and with a digital radiological measurement system. No statistically significant differences were obtained between the direct and indirect methods. Three vertical angulations were taken for the indirect methods (0 degree, 15 degrees, and 30 degrees). No significant differences were found between results for the two indirect methods versus the standard method except for the 30 degrees angulation, which resulte…
Validation of short term recall of mobile phone use for the Interphone study
2006
Aim: To validate short term recall of mobile phone use within Interphone, an international collaborative case control study of tumours of the brain, acoustic nerve, and salivary glands related to mobile telephone use. Methods: Mobile phone use of 672 volunteers in 11 countries was recorded by operators or through the use of software modified phones, and compared to use recalled six months later using the Interphone study questionnaire. Agreement between recalled and actual phone use was analysed using both categorical and continuous measures of number and duration of phone calls. Results: Correlations between recalled and actual phone use were moderate to high (ranging from 0.5 to 0.8 acros…
Molecular characterization of the black Aspergillus isolates responsible for ochratoxin A contamination in grapes and wine in relation to taxonomy of…
2009
This work examines ochratoxigenic mycobiota in grapes by ap-PCR analysis sequence analysis of the ITS and IGS regions and ability to produce OTA. A comparison was also made with many reference strains of Aspergillus section Nigri. Based on ap-PCR profiles, derived from two microsatellite primers, three main groups were obtained by UPGMA cluster analysis corresponding to A. carbonarius, A. niger and A. tubingensis. The cophenetic correlation values corresponding to ap-PCR UPGMA analysis revealed a higher genetic variability in A. niger and A. tubingensis than in A. carbonarius. In addition, no genotypical differences could be established between OTA producers and nonproducers in all species …
Possible association between OPRM1 genetic variance at the 118 locus and alcohol dependence in a large treatment sample: relationship to alcohol depe…
2012
Background Several lines of evidence from previous research indicate that opioid receptors play an important role in ethanol reinforcement and alcohol dependence (AD) risk. Conflicting results were reported on the role of the mu-opioid receptor (OPRM1) polymorphism A118G (Asn40Asp, rs1799971) in the development of alcoholism. Methods We investigated a total number of 1,845 alcohol-dependent subjects recruited from inpatient facilities in Germany and 1,863 controls for the mu-opioid receptor (OPRM1) polymorphism using chi-square statistics. Results An association between the OPRM variant and AD was detected (p = 0.022), in recessive (AA vs. GA/GG) and co-dominant (AA vs. GA) models of inheri…