Sex and ancestry assessment of Brazilian crania using semi-automatic mesh processing tools

The present paper aims to test performances of semi-automatic tools for mesh-to-mesh processing while assessing sex and ancestry in documented human crania. The studied sample of 80 human crania, which originated in two documented Brazilian collections (São Paulo, Brazil) was digitized using photogrammetry and laser scanning. 3D cranial morphology was quantified by computing inter-mesh dissimilarity measures using in-house freeware FIDENTIS Analyst (www.fidentis.com). Numerical outputs were further processed using Discriminant Function Analysis and Canonical Variant Analysis in order to classify models into sex and ancestry groups. In addition, cranial morphology was described by a set of 37 landmarks, processed by a Procrustes analysis and confronted with the inter-mesh comparison. Patterns of sexual dimorphism and ancestral group-specific variation were interpreted using average meshes and further emphasized by employing advanced visualization graphics. The mesh-to-mesh processing was capable to detect shape differences related to sex and ancestry. The highest accuracy levels for sex determination were obtained for meshes representing the facial skeleton and the supraorbital region. For both, analysis correctly assigned 82.5% of the crania. Ancestry-related differences were manifested primarily in the global cranial features (observed accuracy rates reaching 63%). The advanced visualization tools provided a highly informative insight into sexual dimorphism and ancestry-related variation. While in the current state the technique cannot be considered suitable for being implemented into the everyday forensic practice, the extent of automatization proved to be perspective, especially for assessing skeletal features that cannot be properly quantified using discrete variables.     

I Am Quite Mellow But I Wouldn't Say Everyone Else Is”: How UK Students Compare Their Drinking Behavior to Their Peers'

Background: Excessive drinking is commonplace at UK Universities. Individuals may misperceive how much they drink compared to others and are less likely to think that they will suffer adverse consequences. Young people often distance themselves and their friends from ‘problem drinkers’. Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore how student drinkers compared their own drinking behaviors to the drinking behaviors of others. Methods: An online survey was completed by 416 students aged 18–30 (68.5% female). They were asked ‘how do you think your drinking compares with other people like you?' and ‘how do you think your behavior when you drink compares with other people like you?’ Answers were subjected to thematic analysis. Results: The first main theme was about ‘identification as a ‘good’ drinker’. Participants suggested their own behavior when drinking was similar to their sober behavior. Further, they viewed themselves as more able to maintain a balance between staying in control and having fun while drinking. The second main theme was about ‘distancing from being a ‘bad’ drinker. Participants distanced themselves from negative prototypical drinkers, such compulsive or anti-social drinkers. They also attributed their own drinking behaviors to situational factors, but described other people as intentionally violent or aggressive. Conclusions/Importance: These findings may explain the failure of some health messages to change drinking behaviors. If drinkers perceive that their behavior when they drink is better than other people's then they may discount intervention messages. Targeting these biases could be incorporated into future interventions.     

Multisample adjusted U‐statistics that account for confounding covariates

Multisample U‐statistics encompass a wide class of test statistics that allow the comparison of 2 or more distributions. U‐statistics are especially powerful because they can be applied to both numeric and nonnumeric data, eg, ordinal and categorical data where a pairwise similarity or distance‐like measure between categories is available. However, when comparing the distribution of a variable across 2 or more groups, observed differences may be due to confounding covariates. For example, in a case‐control study, the distribution of exposure in cases may differ from that in controls entirely because of variables that are related to both exposure and case status and are distributed differently among case and control participants. We propose to use individually reweighted data (ie, using the stratification score for retrospective data or the propensity score for prospective data) to construct adjusted U‐statistics that can test the equality of distributions across 2 (or more) groups in the presence of confounding covariates. Asymptotic normality of our adjusted U‐statistics is established and a closed form expression of their asymptotic variance is presented. The utility of our approach is demonstrated through simulation studies, as well as in an analysis of data from a case‐control study conducted among African‐Americans, comparing whether the similarity in haplotypes (ie, sets of adjacent genetic loci inherited from the same parent) occurring in a case and a control participant differs from the similarity in haplotypes occurring in 2 control participants.     

Sequential parallel comparison design with binary and time‐to‐event outcomes

Sequential parallel comparison design (SPCD) has been proposed to increase the likelihood of success of clinical trials especially trials with possibly high placebo effect. Sequential parallel comparison design is conducted with 2 stages. Participants are randomized between active therapy and placebo in stage 1. Then, stage 1 placebo nonresponders are rerandomized between active therapy and placebo. Data from the 2 stages are pooled to yield a single P value. We consider SPCD with binary and with time‐to‐event outcomes. For time‐to‐event outcomes, response is defined as a favorable event prior to the end of follow‐up for a given stage of SPCD. We show that for these cases, the usual test statistics from stages 1 and 2 are asymptotically normal and uncorrelated under the null hypothesis, leading to a straightforward combined testing procedure. In addition, we show that the estimators of the treatment effects from the 2 stages are asymptotically normal and uncorrelated under the null and alternative hypothesis, yielding confidence interval procedures with correct coverage. Simulations and real data analysis demonstrate the utility of the binary and time‐to‐event SPCD.     

应用Delphi法和AHP法构建中小学校公共卫生应急能力评估指标体系研究

目的 构建中小学校公共卫生应急能力指标体系,为加强中小学公共卫生应急处置能力建设提供科学依据。方法 在专家咨询和文献回顾的基础上,选取疾控专家、学校领导和校医共40人为调查对象,使用德尔菲法(Delphi)初步确定各级指标,使用层次分析法(analytic hierarchy process,AHP)确定各级指标的权重,建立中小学公共卫生应急能力指标体系。结果 指标体系由4个一级指标、12个二级指标、51个三级指标组成。4个一级指标分别为基础保障能力、应急队伍建设、应急体系建设、事件应对能力,权重系数分别为0.496 8、0.286 0、0.119 0和0.098 3。模型具有较好的一致性,一级指标CR=0.095 8,各项二级指标CR值均小于0.1。结论 本研究通过定量方法建立的指标体系具有较高可信度和实用性,可为中小学公共卫生能力建设提供科学依据。     

In-vivo evaluation of convex array synthetic aperture imaging

This paper presents an in-vivo study of synthetic transmit aperture (STA) imaging in comparison with conventional imaging, evaluating whether STA imaging is feasible in-vivo and whether the image quality obtained is comparable with traditional scanned imaging in terms of penetration depth, spatial resolution, contrast resolution and artifacts. Acquisition was performed using our research scanner RASMUS and a 5.5 MHz convex array transducer. STA imaging was acquired using circular wave emulation by 33-element subapertures and a 20 micros linear FM signal as excitation pulse. For conventional imaging, a 64 element aperture was used in transmit and receive with a 1.5 cycle sinusoid excitation pulse. Conventional and STA images were acquired interleaved, ensuring that the exact same anatomical location was scanned. Image sequences were recorded in real time and processed off-line. Seven male volunteers were scanned abdominally and the resulting images were compared by three medical doctors using randomized blinded presentation. Penetration and image quality were scored and evaluated statistically. Results showed slightly but significantly (0.48 cm, p = 0.008) increased penetration using STA. Image quality was also highly significantly (p < 0.001) increased. Results show that in-vivo ultrasound imaging using STA is feasible for abdominal imaging without severe motion artifacts.     

Subjective intensity of pain during ultrasonic supragingival calculus removal

OBJECTIVE: To assess subjective intensities of pain during supragingival calculus removal employing ultrasonic scaler tips of two different shapes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients were treated using a piezoelectric ultrasonic device (Sirosonic L) and two different scaler tips representing a conventional (Instrument No. 3) and a slim-line style (Perio Pro Line Instrument SI-11) in a split-mouth design. Pain was recorded during calculus removal at intervals of 0.5 s employing an inter-modal intensity comparison. Additionally, a visual analogue scale was used for evaluation directly after the treatment procedure. Treatment time was recorded to assess the efficiency of calculus removal. RESULTS: Pain assessment during treatment showed that the slim-line scaler tip (median pain score: 1.4 [U], maximum: 3.5 [U], minimum: 0 [U]) caused less pain than the conventional device (median pain score: 7.8 [U], maximum: 14.7 [U], minimum: 0 [U]) (p<0.05). These results could be confirmed by the visual analogue scale. Treatment with the slim-line tip took significantly longer than treatment with the conventional tip (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Using slim-line-styled ultrasonic scaler tips for supragingival calculus removal, painful sensations can be reduced compared with conventional ultrasonic devices. Thus, it might be possible to increase the patient's compliance during dental treatment with oscillating instruments.     

Simultaneous detection and quantitation of organic impurities in methamphetamine by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry,a complementary technique for methamphetamine profiling

The analysis of organic impurities plays an important role in the impurity profiling of methamphetamine, which in turn provides valuable information about methamphetamine manufacturing, in particular its synthetic route, chemicals, and precursors used. Ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC – MS/MS) is ideally suited for this purpose due to its excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and wide linear range in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. In this study, a dilute‐and‐shoot UHPLC – MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous identification and quantitation of 23 organic manufacturing impurities in illicit methamphetamine. The developed method was validated in terms of stability, limit of detection (LOD), lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), accuracy, and precision. More than 100 illicitly prepared methamphetamine samples were analyzed. Due to its ability to detect ephedrine/pseudoephedrine and its high sensitivity for critical target markers (eg, chloro‐pseudoephedrine, N‐cyclohexylamphetamine, and compounds B and P), more impurities and precursor/pre‐precursors were identified and quantified versus the current procedure by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC – MS). Consequently, more samples could be classified by their synthetic routes. However, the UHPLC – MS/MS method has difficulty in detecting neutral and untargeted emerging manufacturing impurities and can therefore only serve as a complement to the current method. Despite this deficiency, the quantitative information acquired by the presented UHPLC – MS/MS methodology increased the sample discrimination power, thereby enhancing the capacity of methamphetamine profiling program (MPP) to conduct sample‐sample comparisons.