Comparison of the reliability of multifocal visual evoked cortical potentials generated by pattern reversal and pattern pulse stimulation

This study compared the effectiveness of the multifocal visual evoked cortical potentials (mfVEP) elicited by pattern pulse stimulation with that of pattern reversal in producing reliable responses (signal-to-noise ratio >1.359). Participants were 14 healthy subjects. Visual stimulation was obtained using a 60-sector dartboard display consisting of 6 concentric rings presented in either pulse or reversal mode. Each sector, consisting of 16 checks at 99% Michelson contrast and 80 cd/m2 mean luminance, was controlled by a binary m-sequence in the time domain. The signal-to-noise ratio was generally larger in the pattern reversal than in the pattern pulse mode. The number of reliable responses was similar in the central sectors for the two stimulation modes. At the periphery, pattern reversal showed a larger number of reliable responses. Pattern pulse stimuli performed similarly to pattern reversal stimuli to generate reliable waveforms in R1 and R2. The advantage of using both protocols to study mfVEP responses is their complementarity: in some patients, reliable waveforms in specific sectors may be obtained with only one of the two methods. The joint analysis of pattern reversal and pattern pulse stimuli increased the rate of reliability for central sectors by 7.14% in R1, 5.35% in R2, 4.76% in R3, 3.57% in R4, 2.97% in R5, and 1.78% in R6. From R1 to R4 the reliability to generate mfVEPs was above 70% when using both protocols. Thus, for a very high reliability and thorough examination of visual performance, it is recommended to use both stimulation protocols.

An alternative approach to deal with the absence of clinical trials: a proportional meta-analysis of case series studies

PURPOSE: Systematic reviews are criticized for frequently offering inconsistent evidences and absence of straightforward recommendations. Their value seems to be depreciated when the conclusions are uncertain. To describe an alternative approach of evaluating case series studies in health care when there is absence of clinical trials. METHODS: We provide illustrations from recent experiences. Proportional meta-analysis was performed on surgical outcomes: (a) case series studies, (b) use of cryoablation or radiofrequency ablation, and (c) patients with small renal cell carcinoma. The statistically significant difference between both interventions studied was defined if their combined 95% confidential interval (CI) did not overlap. RESULTS: As demonstrated by the example, this analysis is an alternative approach to provide some evidence of the intervention´s effects under evaluation and plotting all available case series in the absence of clinical trials for the health field. CONCLUSIONS: Although we are leading to a low level of evidence to determine efficacy, effectiveness and safety of interventions this alternative approach can help surgeons, physicians and health professionals for a provisionally decision in health care along with their clinical expertise and the patient´s wishes and circumstances in the absence of high-quality primary studies. It´s not a replacement for the gold standard randomized clinical trial, but an alternative analysis for clinical research.

Severity of temporomandibular disorders in women: validity and reliability of the Fonseca Anamnestic Index

The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (IAF), used to assess the severity of temporomandibular disorders, applied to Brazilian women. We used a probabilistic sampling design. The participants were 700 women over 18 years of age, living in the city of Araraquara (SP). The IAF questionnaire was applied by telephone interviews. We conducted Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using Chi-Square Over Degrees of Freedom (χ2/df), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) as goodness of fit indices. We calculated the convergent validity, the average variance extracted (AVE) and the composite reliability (CR). Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α).The factorial weights of questions 8 and 10 were below the adequate values. Thus, we refined the original model and these questions were excluded. The resulting factorial model showed appropriate goodness of fit to the sample (χ2/df = 3.319, CFI = 0.978, TLI = 0.967, RMSEA = 0.058). The convergent validity (AVE = 0.513, CR = 0.878) and internal consistency (α = 0.745) were adequate. The reduced IAF version showed adequate validity and reliability in a sample of Brazilian women.

Índices de confiabilidade devido a vegetação e planejamento de podas de árvores em redes de distribuição

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Reliability of peak running speeds obtained from different incremental treadmill protocols

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Forskolin effect on the cryosurvival of in vitro-produced bovine embryos in the presence or absence of fetal calf serum

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of abutment-to-fixture design on reliability and failure mode of all-ceramic crown systems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of Abutment Screw Surface Treatment on Reliability of Implant-Supported Crowns

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the reliability of implant-supported single crowns cemented onto abutments retained with coated (C) or noncoated (NC) screws and onto platform-switched abutments with coated screws. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four implants (DT Implant 4-mm Standard Platform, Intra-Lock International) were divided into three groups (n = 18 each) as follows: matching-platform abutments secured with noncoated abutment screws (MNC); matching-platform abutments tightened with coated abutment screws (MC); and switched-platform abutments secured with coated abutment screws (SC). Screws were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The specimens were subjected to step-stress accelerated life testing. Use-level probability Weibull curves and reliability for 100,000 cycles at 200 N and 300 N (90% two-sided confidence intervals) were calculated. Polarized light and scanning electron microscopes were used for fractographic analysis. Results: Scanning electron microscopy revealed differences in surface texture; noncoated screws presented the typical machining grooves texture, whereas coated screws presented a plastically deformed surface layer. XPS revealed the same base components for both screws, with the exception of higher degrees of silicon in the SiO2 form for the coated samples. For 100,000 cycles at 300 N, reliability values were 0.06 (0.01 to 0.16), 0.25 (0.09 to 0.45), and 0.25 (0.08 to 0.45), for MNC, MC, and SC, respectively. The most common failure mechanism for MNC was fracture of the abutment screw, followed by bending, or its fracture, along with fracture of the abutment or implant. Coated abutment screws most commonly fractured along with the abutment, irrespective of abutment type. Conclusion: Reliability was higher for both groups with the coated screw than with the uncoated screw. Failure modes differed between coated and uncoated groups.

Influence of cone-beam computed tomography image artifacts on the determination of dental arch measurements

Objective: To compare dental plaster model (DPM) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the measurement of the dental arches, and investigate whether CBCT image artifacts compromise the reliability of such measurements.Materials and Methods: Twenty patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of metallic restorations in the posterior teeth. Both dental arches of the patients were scanned with the CBCT unit i-CAT, and DPMs were obtained. Two examiners obtained eight arch measurements on the CBCT images and DPMs and repeated this procedure 15 days later. The arch measurements of each patient group were compared separately by the Wilcoxon rank sum (Mann-Whitney U) test, with a significance level of 5% (alpha = .05). Intraclass correlation measured the level of intraobserver agreement.Results: Patients with healthy teeth showed no significant difference between all DPM and CBCT arch measurements (P > .05). Patients with metallic restoration showed significant difference between DPM and CBCT for the majority of the arch measurements (P > .05). The two examiners showed excellent intraobserver agreement for both measuring methods with intraclass correlation coefficient higher than 0.95.Conclusion: CBCT provided the same accuracy as DPM in the measurement of the dental arches, and was negatively influenced by the presence of image artifacts.

Reliability of Cardiorespiratory Parameters During Cycling Exercise Performed at the Severe Domain in Active Individuals

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Absence of detection of xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum in cotton seeds used in the Northeast Region of Mato Grosso do Sul in a three-based crop season study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Reliability of Web-Based Information in Inquiry Projects

This case study aims at identifying how a community of secondary school students selects web-based information and factors associated with the reliability of online reference sources during their collaborative inquiry (co-inquiry) projects. This study, conducted in a public secondary school in Brazil, focused on information literacy skills for collaborative open learning (colearning). The research is based on qualitative content analysis implemented on the online platform weSPOT. Although students are mindful of the importance of comparing different sources of information they seem not to be aware of reliability in online environments. Teacher's guidance is essential to support co-learners in developing competences, particularly related to critical thinking.

Test-retest reliability of electromyographic variables of masseter and temporal muscles in patients with cerebral palsy

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Reliability of one-repetition maximum test in untrained young adult men and women

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)