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At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources

Fast on-line polarity correlation algorithms for muscle fibre conduction velocity measurement.

Polarity cross-correlation is a useful technique for the measurement of muscle fibre conduction velocity using surface electromyography. Owing to the nature and volume of computation involved in the correlation function, standard techniques for its estimation by a microprocessor are too slow for an on-line application. In this paper two algorithms suitable for on-line estimation of polarity function are presented. Some useful features of the correlation function, as well as careful programming and careful choice of instructions, made it possible to use a standard microprocessor to achieve higher sampling rates than those reported recently.

Action Potentials↗

Measurement of interleukin 8 in combination with C-reactive protein reduced unnecessary antibiotic therapy in newborn infants: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal bacterial infections carry a high mortality when diagnosed late. Early diagnosis is difficult because initial clinical signs are nonspecific. Consequently, physicians frequently prescribe antibiotic treatment to newborn infants for fear of missing a life-threatening infection. This study was designed to test the hypotheses that a diagnostic algorithm that includes measurements of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and C-reactive protein (CRP) 1) reduces antibiotic therapy and 2) does not result in more initially missed infections compared with standard management that does not include an IL-8 measurement. METHODS: Term and preterm infants who were <72 hours of age and had clinical signs or obstetric risk factors suggesting neonatal bacterial infection but stable enough to wait for results of diagnostic tests were enrolled into the study. A total of 1291 infants were randomly assigned to receive antibiotic therapy according to the guidelines of each center (standard group) or to receive antibiotic therapy when IL-8 was >70 pg/mL and/or CRP was >10 mg/L (IL-8 group). The primary outcome variables were 1) the number of infants treated with antibiotics and 2) the number of infants with infections missed at the initial evaluation. RESULTS: In the IL-8 group, fewer infants received antibiotic therapy than in the standard group (36.1% [237 of 656] vs 49.6% [315 of 635]). In the IL-8 group, 24 (14.5%) of 165 infants with infection were not detected at the initial evaluation, compared with 28 (17.3%) of 162 in the standard group. CONCLUSIONS: The number of newborn infants who received postnatal antibiotic therapy can be reduced with a diagnostic algorithm that includes measurements of IL-8 and CRP. This diagnostic strategy seemed to be safe.

Algorithms↗

Option-4 algorithm for third generation disc probe: agreement of selected site-specific relative attachment level measurements and detection of longitudinal site-specific attachment level change.

BACKGROUND: Longitudinal site-specific attachment level change (SSAC), identified from serial relative attachment level measurements (RAL), is the principal indicator of progression/regression of periodontal diseases. Many variables confound RAL reproducibility and affect measurement error. The Option-4 algorithm was designed to reduce measurement error and improve accuracy and sensitivity of SSAC detection. The study aimed to evaluate the performance of the Option-4 algorithm. METHODS: A precalibrated clinician recorded full mouth RAL with a third generation disc probe on 4 occasions over 6 months in 16 subjects (mean age 48.1 years) with moderately advanced chronic adult periodontitis (2,312 sites). Option-4 allowed up to 4 RAL recordings per site per visit until 2 values had differences < or =1.0 mm and their mean was < or =1.0 mm from the previous visit mean: the clinician made the selection if these criteria were unfulfilled. RESULTS: Within-visit agreement < or =1.0 mm was > or =99.6%: all within-visit correlation coefficients = 0.98 (P<0.001). At each visit, mean difference in Option-4 values was < 0.05 mm, mean absolute difference (ignoring direction) was < or =.34 mm. Mean site-specific variances ranged from 0.092 mm2 to 0.097 mm2 across all visits. Subject thresholds for site-specific attachment level change (from estimated 95% confidence limits of visit 1 data) ranged from 0.52 mm to 0.67 mm. Linear SSAC (by linear regression) and between-visit patterns of SSAC were investigated. SSAC was detected in 100% subjects and at 51.0% measured sites. Linear SSAC (R2 > or =0.90: P < or =0.05) occurred at 105 sites (4.5%): 32 sites (1.4%) deteriorated, 73 sites (3.1%) improved. Between-visit SSAC occurred at 1,074 sites (46.5%): 391 sites (16.9%) deteriorated, 295 sites (12.8%) improved, and 388 sites (16.8%) showed exacerbation/remission patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The Option-4 algorithm produced high RAL agreement. Site-specific attachment level change was detected in both directions in 100% subjects and at 51.0% measured sites.

Adult↗

Material parameter estimation with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy.

Imaging systems based on terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy offer a range of unique modalities owing to the broad bandwidth, subpicosecond duration, and phase-sensitive detection of the THz pulses. Furthermore, the possibility exists for combining spectroscopic characterization or identification with imaging because the radiation is broadband in nature. To achieve this, we require novel methods for real-time analysis of THz waveforms. This paper describes a robust algorithm for extracting material parameters from measured THz waveforms. Our algorithm simultaneously obtains both the thickness and the complex refractive index of an unknown sample under certain conditions. In contrast, most spectroscopic transmission measurements require knowledge of the sample's thickness for an accurate determination of its optical parameters. Our approach relies on a model-based estimation, a gradient descent search, and the total variation measure. We explore the limits of this technique and compare the results with literature data for optical parameters of several different materials.

Algorithms↗

Determination of human skin optical properties from spectrophotometric measurements based on optimization by genetic algorithms.

We present an initial study on applying genetic algorithms (GA) to retrieve human skin optical properties using visual reflectance spectroscopy (VRS). A three-layered skin model consisting of 13 parameters is first used to simulate skin and, through an analytical model based on optical diffusion theory, we study their independent effects on the reflectance spectra. Based on a preliminary analysis, nine skin parameters are chosen to be fitted by GA. The fitting procedure is applied first on simulated reflectance spectra with added white noise, and then on measured spectra from normal and port wine stain (PWS) human skin. A normalized residue of less than 0.005 is achieved for simulated spectra. In the case of measured spectra from human skin, the normalized residue is less than 0.01. Comparisons between applying GA and manual iteration (MI) fitting show that GA performed much better than the MI fitting method and can easily distinguish melanin concentrations for different skin types. Furthermore, the GA approach can lead to a reasonable understanding of the blood volume fraction and other skin properties, provided that the applicability of the diffusion approximation is satisfied.

Algorithms↗

Estimation of the post mortem period by multiple-site temperature measurements and the use of a new algorithm.

The estimation of the post mortem period, in cases where death occurred under suspicious circumstances, is usually attempted using temperature measurements taken at a single body site. Early investigations of the validity of such an approach use the abdominal skin surface, the axilla and the rectum as measurement sites (B.H. Knight, Forensic Sci. Int., 36 (1987) 47-55). However, it has recently become more common to use the rectum alone, though the ear and the nasal passages have also been utilized. Whatever site is employed, the estimates are frequently found to be inaccurate. There are several fundamental reasons for these inaccuracies, the most prominent being the unknown variation in the ambient temperature between the time of death and the commencement of measurements, and the unknown body temperature at the time of death. This paper proposes a method of overcoming the above difficulties by taking a series of measurements concurrently at a number of body sites, a technique used by several previous workers (B.H. Knight, Forensic Sci. Int., 36 (1987) 47-55). Initial investigations have shown that an improved estimation of post mortem period is obtainable by the application of a suitable decision-making algorithm.

Algorithms↗

Noninvasive system identification for multichannel broadband active noise control

Many real-world applications of active noise control are characterized by transfer functions that vary significantly and unpredictably. The controller's transfer-function models must adapt to these variations. Presented here is a class of adaptive filters that accomplish quasiperiodic system identification updates for feedforward control by using blocks of input-output histories. The algorithms form a one-dimensional family linking normalized least-mean squares (LMS) adaptive filters and block recursive least-squares, termed "block projection" algorithms, and generalize the noninvasive system identification studied by Sommerfeldt and Tichy. The system identification proceeds noninvasively, producing nonparametric impulse responses. Simulations show that the algorithm's convergence is faster than that of normalized LMS, even after the additional overhead of computing the update is taken into account. Both the multichannel generalization and application of these algorithms to system identification are novel. Simulations of the algorithms' performance using measured data are presented here, while experimental results of an implemented algorithm are contained in the companion paper.

Journal Article↗

Foot volume estimates based on a geometric algorithm in comparison to water displacement.

Assessing lower extremity limb volume and its change during and after lymphedema therapy is important for determining treatment efficacy and documenting outcomes. Although leg volumes may be determined by tape measure and other methods, there is no metric method to routinely assess foot volumes. Exclusion of foot volumes can under- or overestimate therapeutic progress. Our aim was to develop and test a metric measurement procedure and algorithm for practicing therapists to use to estimate foot volumes. The method uses a caliper and ruler to measure foot dimensions at standardized locations and calculates foot volume (VM) by a mathematical algorithm. VM was compared to volumes measured by water displacement (Vw) in 30 subjects (60 feet) using regression analysis and limits of agreement (LOA). Vw and VM (mean +/- sd) were similar 857 +/- 150 ml vs. 859 +/- 154 ml, and were highly correlated VM = 1.00Vw + 1.67 ml, r = 0.965, p < 0.001. The LOA for absolute volume differences and percentages were respectively +/- 79.6 ml and +/- 9.28 %. These results indicate that this metric method can be a useful alternative to water displacement when foot volumes are needed, but the water displacement method is contraindicated, impractical to implement, too time consuming or is not available.

Adult↗

Coronary artery lumen volume measurement using three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound: validation of a new technique.

OBJECTIVE: To validate an automated algorithm for the measurement of lumen volumes of coronary arteries. BACKGROUND: Current intravascular ultrasound systems use absolute measurements of and changes in areas and diameters for the assessment of coronary artery disease. However, the coronary artery is a three-dimensional structure of complex geometry and volume. METHODS: We used a comprehensive imaging system designed to reconstruct planar intravascular ultrasound images in three dimensions. This system consisted of a 25 MHz transducer-tipped rigid probe (for in vitro studies) or a 25 MHz transducer-tipped catheter within a 3.9F monorail imaging sheath (for in vivo studies), a motorized catheter pullback device that withdrew the transducer at 0.5 mm/sec, and an image processing computer that stacked 15 image slices/mm of vessel axial length and then performed threshold-based three-dimensional image rendering and lumen volume measurement. We imaged 13 human coronary vessels (6 RCA, 6 LAD, 1 LCX) in vitro and 16 vessels (8 LAD, 6 RCA, 2 SVG) in vivo. RESULTS IN VITRO STUDIES: Lumen volumes derived by three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound were 171 +/- 121 mm3 and compared very well with those derived by histology (160 +/- 109 mm3, r = 0.97, SEE = 29 mm3, P < 0.001) and with those derived by manual planimetry of planar intravascular ultrasound images (150 +/- 106 mm3, r = 0.97, SEE = 30 mm3, P < 0.001). In vivo studies: Lumen volumes derived by three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound were 74 +/- 35 mm3 and compared well with those derived by quantitative angiography (52 +/- 20 mm3, r = 0.71, SEE = 25 mm3, P < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound is a new technique that can accurately measure coronary artery lumen volumes. Further technical improvements may help to establish this technique as the new standard for lumen volume measurement.

Adult↗

Equity considerations in utility-based measures of health outcomes in economic appraisals: an adjustment algorithm.

In this paper we consider whether methods currently used to measure utility of health outcomes are consistent with the equity criteria adopted by researchers. We show that unless the chosen equity criterion is incorporated in the design of the measurement instrument, the derived health state utilities are inconsistent with the equity criterion (except under special circumstances). Adjustment algorithms are derived, based on the axioms of von Neumann-Morgenstern utility theory, which take account of difference equity criteria currently adopted in the literature. The proposed approach is based on simple lottery questions of the type already used widely in empirical studies.

Algorithms↗

A new algorithm for distorted fingerprints matching based on normalized fuzzy similarity measure.

Coping with nonlinear distortions in fingerprint matching is a challenging task. This paper proposes a novel algorithm, normalized fuzzy similarity measure (NFSM), to deal with the nonlinear distortions. The proposed algorithm has two main steps. First, the template and input fingerprints were aligned. In this process, the local topological structure matching was introduced to improve the robustness of global alignment. Second, the method NFSM was introduced to compute the similarity between the template and input fingerprints. The proposed algorithm was evaluated on fingerprints databases of FVC2004. Experimental results confirm that NFSM is a reliable and effective algorithm for fingerprint matching with nonliner distortions. The algorithm gives considerably higher matching scores compared to conventional matching algorithms for the deformed fingerprints.

Algorithms↗

Analysis on the feasibility of multi-source remote sensing observations for chl-a monitoring in Finnish lakes.

Chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration of lake water can be measured with airborne (or spaceborne) optical remote sensing instruments. The rmse obtained here with empirical algorithms and 122 measurement points was 8.9 microg/l (all points used for training and testing). Airborne Imaging Spectrometer for Applications (AISA) was used in four lake water quality measurement campaigns (8 measurement days) in southern Finland during 1996-1998 with other airborne instruments and extensive in situ data collection. As empirical algorithms are employed for chl-a retrieval from remote sensing data, temporally varying factors such as surface reflection and atmospheric effects degrade the estimation accuracy. This paper analyzes the quantitative accuracy of empirical chl-a retrieval algorithms available as methods to correct temporal disturbances are either included or excluded. The aim is to evaluate the usability of empirical chl-a retrieval algorithms in cases when no concurrent reference in situ data are available. Four methods to reduce the effects of temporal variations are investigated. The methods are: (1) atmospheric correction; (2) synchronous radiometer data; (3) wind speed data; and (4) bidirectional scattering model based on wind speed and sun angle data. The effects of different correction methods are analyzed by using single-date test data and multi-date training data sets. The results show that the use of a bidirectional scattering model and atmospheric correction reduces the bias component of the measurement error. Radiometer data also appear to improve the accuracy. However, if concurrent in situ reference data are not available, the retrieval algorithms and correction methods should be improved for reducing the bias error.

Air Movements↗

The convergence of object dependent resolution in maximum likelihood based tomographic image reconstruction.

Study of the maximum likelihood by EM algorithm (ML) with a reconstruction kernel equal to the intrinsic detector resolution and sieve regularization has demonstrated that any image improvements over filtered backprojection (FBP) are a function of image resolution. Comparing different reconstruction algorithms potentially requires measuring and matching the image resolution. Since there are no standard methods for describing the resolution of images from a nonlinear algorithm such as ML, we have defined measures of effective local Gaussian resolution (ELGR) and effective global Gaussian resolution (EGGR) and examined their behaviour in FBP images and in ML images using two different measurement techniques. For FBP these two resolution measures are equal and exhibit the standard convolution behaviour of linear systems. For ML, the FWHM of the ELGR monotonically increased with decreasing Gaussian object size due to slower convergence rates for smaller objects. For the simple simulated phantom used, this resolution dependence is independent of object position. With increasing object size, number of iterations and sieve size the object size dependence of the ELGR decreased. The FWHM of the EGGR converged after approximately 200 iterations, masking the fact that the ELGR for small objects was far from convergence. When FBP is compared to a nonlinear algorithm such as ML, it is recommended that at least the EGGR be matched; for ML this requires more than the number of iterations (e.g., < 100) that are typically run to minimize the mean square error or to satisfy a feasibility or similar stopping criterion. For many tasks, matching the EGGR of ML to FBP images may be insufficient and >> 200 iterations may be needed, particularly for small objects in the ML image because their ELGR has not yet converged.

Algorithms↗

An epileptic seizure prediction algorithm based on second-order complexity measure.

The quality of life of many epilepsy patients may be improved significantly if the occurrence of epileptic seizures can be successfully forecasted and clinical intervention, such as electrical stimulation or drug delivery, can then be used to suppress their emergence, or warn the patient of the forthcoming events. In this paper, a prediction algorithm based on the second-order complexity measure was proposed to predict the impending seizures. Through the analysis of long-term intracranial EEG recordings from two frontal lobe epilepsy patients, the results indicated that the sensitivity of prediction was 77.8% (14/18) and 66.7% (4/6) and the number of false warnings was 3 and 2 for the two patients, respectively. Because only the information of past seizures was utilized to predict the current seizure and the computation load was low, the prediction algorithm could possibly be applied to clinical practice.

Adolescent↗

Neural network based algorithm to quantify joint space width in joints of the hand for arthritis assessment.

Arthritis diseases are widespread with enormous societal costs. The two most common forms, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, affect joints of the hand and cause narrowing of the joint spaces as the disease destroys the articular cartilage. Radiographic assessment is one of the most promising tools to detect subtle changes in joint space width (JSW), and therefore disease progression. Currently radiographic assessment of arthritis in joints of the hand is accomplished though semiquantitative subjective scoring systems which do not provide a quantitative measurement of the JSW. We describe here an automated method which calculates the average JSW of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint spaces for fingers 2 to 5 (index, middle, ring, and little) on digitized hand radiographs. The method was tested with a set of 54 hand radiographs on joints with mild to moderate rheumatoid arthritis. Performance was evaluated by comparing algorithm measured JSW to a gold standard determined from expertly hand-drawn joint margins. The agreement was quantified by a measurement of root mean square deviation, 0.148 mm, 0.089 mm, and 0.114 mm for the MCP, PIP, and DIP joints, respectively. In addition, the algorithm measured JSW strongly correlated with the gold standard: R2=0.80 (MCP), R2= 0.82 (PIP), and R2= 0.84 (DIP). This is an accurate and robust algorithm and should provide a more quantitative measure of disease progression than current methods.

Algorithms↗

[The use of the impedance measurement technic for calculating body fat mass. A validity study].

The body composition of water and fat may be calculated on the basis of measurements of its impedance. Calculations are based on algorithms developed by all measurements of the body compositions of a reference material, by means of standard methods (eg hydrodensiometry, total body water by isotope dilutimetry). A commencial impedance analyser with built-in algorithm for calculation of total body water and body fat mass was evaluated and compared with measurements of the total body water in 42 young men and women. Very good agreement was found (mean values for total water were 34.2 and 33.5, respectively, for women and 46.8 and 47.0, respectively, for men). These calculations of total body water correlated better with the reference values than calculations from four other algorithms published in the literature. Simple anthropometric measurements (skin-fold thickness, BMI) resulted in significantly higher calculations of body fat mass than calculations based on impedance measurement. This study has shown that the technique of impedance measurement has good reliable validity for calculation of the body fat mass and that, on account of its simplicity, the method is suitable for field studies and also individual measurements.

Adipose Tissue↗

Regional scalp EEG slow-wave synchronization during sleep cyclic alternating pattern A1 subtypes.

The levels of EEG synchronization, in the 0.25-2.5 Hz band, during the A1 subtypes of the sleep "cyclic alternating pattern" (CAP) were measured in five healthy subjects by means of the synchronization likelihood (SL) algorithm. SL was measured for seven electrode pairs (F4-F3, C4-C3, P4-P3 for the analysis of interhemispheric SL and F4-C4, C4-P4, F3-C3, and C3-P3, for the analysis of intrahemispheric SL). During the A1 CAP subtypes, SL tended to be highest between pairs of electrodes situated over different hemispheres; in particular, SL obtained from F4-F3 was the highest, followed by that of P4-P3. These results indicate that the transient high level of synchronization in the slow-wave EEG range, during the sleep A1 CAP subtypes, is a phenomenon involving mostly the anterior parts of the brain and is probably based on interhemispheric interactions, possibly mediated by transcallosal connections.

Adult↗