Malnutrition is described as a state of insufficient intake of energy,protein and other nutrients leading to changes in body composition(weight loss,reduced fat-free mass)as well as adverse functional and clinical out...Malnutrition is described as a state of insufficient intake of energy,protein and other nutrients leading to changes in body composition(weight loss,reduced fat-free mass)as well as adverse functional and clinical outcomes.[1]Depending on the assessments and definition used,the prevalence in older patients ranges between 12%in communitydwelling adults to 60%of patients in geriatric care facilities.[2–5]Older populations are at high risk of nutritional deficiencies because of risk factors such as multimorbidity,polypharmacy,cognitive and physical decline,poor appetite,depressive syndromes and socioeconomic changes.[4,6].展开更多
Functional hubs with disproportionately extensive connectivities play a crucial role in global information integration in human brain networks.However,most resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(R-fMRI)st...Functional hubs with disproportionately extensive connectivities play a crucial role in global information integration in human brain networks.However,most resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(R-fMRI)studies have identified functional hubs by examining spontaneous fluctuations of the blood oxygen level-dependent signal within a typical low-frequency band(e.g.,0.01–0.08 Hz or 0.01–0.1 Hz).Little is known about how the spatial distributions of functional hubs depend on frequency bands of interest.Here,we used repeatedly measured R-fMRI data from 53 healthy young adults and a degree centrality analysis to identify voxelwise frequency-resolved functional hubs and further examined their test-retest reliability across two sessions.We showed that a wide-range frequency band(0.01–0.24 Hz)accessible with a typical sampling rate(fsample=0.5 Hz)could be classified into three frequency bands with distinct patterns,namely,low-frequency(LF,0.01–0.06 Hz),middle-frequency(MF,0.06–0.16 Hz),and high-frequency(HF,0.16–0.24 Hz)bands.The functional hubs were mainly located in the medial and lateral frontal and parietal cortices in the LF band,and in the medial prefrontal cortex,superior temporal gyrus,parahippocampal gyrus,amygdala,and several cerebellar regions in the MF and HF bands.These hub regions exhibited fair to good test-retest reliability,regardless of the frequency band.The presence of the three frequency bands was well replicated using an independent R-fMRI dataset from 45 healthy young adults.Our findings demonstrate reliable frequency-resolved functional connectivity hubs in three categories,thus providing insights into the frequency-specific connectome organization in healthy and disordered brains.展开更多
Introduction:Rotatory chair testing has been used to evaluate horizontal canal function.Frequently used tests include sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test(SHAT)and velocity step test(VST).Objectives:Assessment of age...Introduction:Rotatory chair testing has been used to evaluate horizontal canal function.Frequently used tests include sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test(SHAT)and velocity step test(VST).Objectives:Assessment of age effect on the SHAT and VST and assessment of test-retest reliability of the parameters of those two tests.Methods:A prospective study was performed on 100 subjects with no ear or vestibular complaints and normal vestibular evaluation.They were divided into two groups;Group A:below 50 years of age and Group B:50 years of age or above.SHAT was presented at frequencies 0.02,0.04,0.08,0.16,0.32,0.64 Hz with a peak velocity of 60°/s.VST was performed using a maximum velocity of 100°/s with acceleration and deceleration of 200°/s2.Thirty subjects were tested twice to assess reliability.Results:Study participants ranged in age from 20 to 67 years.Regarding group A,the mean age was30.92±7.31 and 55.36±4.61 for group B.No significant differences were found in SHAT parameters between the two groups.As well,there was no significant difference in VST per-rotatory time constant,however,post-rotatory time constant was significantly longer for Group B(P value<0.05).Intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)values showed moderate to good reliability(ICC 0.5800.818)for SHAT parameters for the lower frequencies and indicated moderate reliability for VST time constant(ICC 0.5090.652).Conclusions:Age has no significant effect on the parameters of SHAT and VST.Test-retest reliability is generally good for both tests.展开更多
Vergence eye movements are the inward and outward rotation of the eyes responsible for binocular coordination.While studies have mapped and investigated the neural substrates of vergence,it is not well understood whet...Vergence eye movements are the inward and outward rotation of the eyes responsible for binocular coordination.While studies have mapped and investigated the neural substrates of vergence,it is not well understood whether vergence eye movements evoke the blood oxygen level-dependent signal reliably in separate experimental visits.The test-retest reliability of stimulus-induced vergence eye movement tasks during a functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)experiment is important for future randomized clinical trials(RCTs).In this study,we established region of interest(ROI)masks for the vergence neural circuit.Twenty-seven binocularly normal young adults participated in two functional imaging sessions measured on different days on the same 3 T Siemens scanner.The fMRI experiments used a block design of sustained visual fixation and rest blocks interleaved between task blocks that stimulated eight or four vergence eye movements.The test-retest reliability of task-activation was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC),and that of spatial extent was assessed using the Dice coefficient.Functional activation during the vergence eye movement task of eight movements compared to rest was repeatable within the primary visual cortex(ICC=0.8),parietal eye fields(ICC=0.6),supplementary eye field(ICC=0.5),frontal eye fields(ICC=0.5),and oculomotor vermis(ICC=0.6).The results demonstrate significant test-retest reliability in the ROIs of the vergence neural substrates for functional activation magnitude and spatial extent using the stimulus protocol of a task block stimulating eight vergence eye movements compared to sustained fixation.These ROIs can be used in future longitudinal RCTs to study patient populations with vergence dysfunctions.展开更多
This pilot study examined the psychometric properties and clinical utility of a brief neuropsychological instrument (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The test-retest reliabil...This pilot study examined the psychometric properties and clinical utility of a brief neuropsychological instrument (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The test-retest reliability, practice effects and convergent validity of RBANS were examined in participants without objective cognitive impairment. The tests were administered at two time points at approximately a two weeks’ interval, with 30 cognitively intact participants with a mean age of 63.3 ± 5.8 years. Adequate test-retest reliabilities were found for RBANS subtests, index and total scale scores with significant gain scores in immediate memory and visuospatial function. The RBANS showed good convergent validity and the RBANS supplemented with executive and language measures (Colour Trails Test and 30-item modified Boston Naming Test, respectively) demonstrated excellent convergent validity with a formal neuropsychological battery. This pilot study has provided the preliminary evidence of reliability and convergent validity of the RBANS. Additionally, it also provides insight on the practice effects so that clinicians may assess significant changes in RBANS subtests and domain indexes for clinical practice.展开更多
Sensory abnormalities are common in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but are often difficult to assess using standard behavioral methods. Evoked potentials provide objective, non-invasive electrophysio...Sensory abnormalities are common in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but are often difficult to assess using standard behavioral methods. Evoked potentials provide objective, non-invasive electrophysiological measures of neural sensory processing that could be useful for clinical and investigative studies of individuals with low-functioning autism who are unable to perform behavioral testing. Despite increased use, the reliability of sensory evoked potentials has not been established for individuals with low-functioning autism. Establishing reliability is important for validating the utility of sensory evoked potentials. In this study, we explored the feasibility of assessing the test-retest reliability of sensory evoked potentials using repeat recordings, acquired over 2.5- and 6-month intervals, from a minimally verbal adult with low-functioning autism. Repeat auditory and visual evoked potential recordings showed high test-retest reliability, with cross-correlation coefficients ≥ 0.80. This case demonstrates the feasibility of establishing test-retest reliability for individuals with low-functioning autism and supports the utility of sensory evoked potentials in clinical and investigative ASD studies.展开更多
Context： Balance is an important aspect of sports performance, which can be impaired following MHI （minor head injury） The BESS （balance error scoring system） is a tool commonly used for assessment of post-MHI re...Context： Balance is an important aspect of sports performance, which can be impaired following MHI （minor head injury） The BESS （balance error scoring system） is a tool commonly used for assessment of post-MHI recovery. Objective： This study aimed to ascertain test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change of the BESS in order to ensurem that it had appropriate clinical levels of reliability and sensitivity. Design： Test-retest reliability. Setting： University indoor sport facility. Participants： N = 36 sub-elite athletes. Interventions： The BESS was undertaken by the participants on two separate testing sessions, 1 week apart. Main Outcome Measures： Test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change. Results： Strong test-retest reliability of the total BESS score was identified （1CC （intraclass correlation coefficients） = 0.784） with a MDC （minimal detectable change） of 6-10 error points, dependent on confidence interval used. Conclusions： The strong reliability score and the relatively low MDC when using conservative measures would recommend the use of BESS in post-MHI assessment of young academy-level athletes. However, more research is required to further determine BESS MDC in both sub-elite and elite groups of athletic performers so as to provide clinicians with an accurate guideline regarding whether an athlete is presenting with post-MHI balance impairment.展开更多
While parametric Software Reliability Growth Models(SRGMs)serve as a cornerstone in software reliability assessment,their reliance on known fault-detection time distributions often presents a significant limitation in...While parametric Software Reliability Growth Models(SRGMs)serve as a cornerstone in software reliability assessment,their reliance on known fault-detection time distributions often presents a significant limitation in practical software testing.In this study,the authors develop a novel shaperestricted spline estimator for quantifying software reliability.Compared with parametric SRGMs,the proposed estimator not only shares a key characteristic with parametric SRGMs,but also obviates the need for specifying fault-detection time distributions.More importantly,it effectively utilizes the critical shape information of the mean value function(MVF)of fault-detection process,a detail seldom considered in prior work.Moreover,the authors investigate the predictive performance of the proposed methods by employing the so-called one-step look-ahead prediction method.Furthermore,the authors show that under certain conditions,the shape-restricted spline estimator will attain the point-wise convergence rate O_P(n~(-3/7)).In numerical experiment,the authors show that spline estimators under restriction demonstrate competitive performance compared to parametric and certain non-parametric models.展开更多
This study examines the reliability and validity of AI-generated scoring for continuation writing tasks.By comparing GPT-4 with eight experienced human raters across 21 student responses,it evaluates AI’s consistency...This study examines the reliability and validity of AI-generated scoring for continuation writing tasks.By comparing GPT-4 with eight experienced human raters across 21 student responses,it evaluates AI’s consistency,severity,and alignment with human scoring criteria.Results show that AI exhibits high self-consistency and adapts effectively to different scoring roles(e.g.,teacher vs.highstakes rater).However,AI scores were more lenient than human raters and demonstrated divergent evaluation focuses—prioritizing narrative coherence and emotional depth,while teachers emphasized linguistic accuracy and richness of detail.The findings suggest AI’s potential as a supplementary assessment tool,offering rapid,holistic feedback,but highlight the need for further calibration to align with educational standards.Implications include exploring hybrid evaluation models that leverage the strengths of both AI and human raters to achieve more equitable,efficient,and pedagogically meaningful writing assessments.展开更多
A stochastic predator-prey system with Markov switching is explored.We have developed a new chasing technique to efficiently solve the Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov and backward Kolmogorov equations.Dynamic balance and rel...A stochastic predator-prey system with Markov switching is explored.We have developed a new chasing technique to efficiently solve the Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov and backward Kolmogorov equations.Dynamic balance and reliability of the switching system are evaluated via stationary probability density function and first-passage failure theory,taking into account factors such as switching frequencies,noise intensities,and initial conditions.Results reveal that Markov switching leads to stochastic P-bifurcation,enhancing dynamic balance and reducing white-noise-induced oscillations.But frequent switching can heighten initial value dependence,harming reliability.Further,the influence of the subsystem on the switching system is not proportional to its action probabilities.Monte Carlo simulations validate the findings,offering an in-depth exploration of these dynamics.展开更多
In this work,we demonstrated the InSnO(ITO)TFTs passivated with SiO_(2)via the PECVD process compatible with large-area production for the first time.The passivated ITO TFTs with various channel thicknesses(t_(ch)=4,5...In this work,we demonstrated the InSnO(ITO)TFTs passivated with SiO_(2)via the PECVD process compatible with large-area production for the first time.The passivated ITO TFTs with various channel thicknesses(t_(ch)=4,5,6 nm)exhibit excellent electrical performance and superior uniformity.The reliability properties of ITO TFTs were evaluated in detail under positive bias stress(PBS)conditions before and after passivation.Compared to the devices without passivation,the passivated devices have only 50%threshold voltage degradation(ΔV_(th))and 50%newly generated traps due to excellent isolation of the ambient atmosphere.The negligible performance degradation of ITO TFTs with passivation during negative bias stress(NBS)and negative bias temperature stress(NBTS)verifies the outstanding immunity to the water vapor of the SiO_(2)passivation layer.Overall,the ITO TFT with the t_(ch)of 6 nm and with SiO_(2)passivation exhibits the best performance in terms of electrical properties,uniformity,and reliability,which is promising in large-area production.展开更多
This paper investigates the reliability of internal marine combustion engines using an integrated approach that combines Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)and Bayesian Networks(BN).FTA provides a structured,top-down method for ...This paper investigates the reliability of internal marine combustion engines using an integrated approach that combines Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)and Bayesian Networks(BN).FTA provides a structured,top-down method for identifying critical failure modes and their root causes,while BN introduces flexibility in probabilistic reasoning,enabling dynamic updates based on new evidence.This dual methodology overcomes the limitations of static FTA models,offering a comprehensive framework for system reliability analysis.Critical failures,including External Leakage(ELU),Failure to Start(FTS),and Overheating(OHE),were identified as key risks.By incorporating redundancy into high-risk components such as pumps and batteries,the likelihood of these failures was significantly reduced.For instance,redundant pumps reduced the probability of ELU by 31.88%,while additional batteries decreased the occurrence of FTS by 36.45%.The results underscore the practical benefits of combining FTA and BN for enhancing system reliability,particularly in maritime applications where operational safety and efficiency are critical.This research provides valuable insights for maintenance planning and highlights the importance of redundancy in critical systems,especially as the industry transitions toward more autonomous vessels.展开更多
To study the durability of concrete in harsh environments in Northwest China,concrete was prepared with various durability-improving materials such as concrete anti-erosion inhibitor(SBT-TIA),acrylate polymer(AP),supe...To study the durability of concrete in harsh environments in Northwest China,concrete was prepared with various durability-improving materials such as concrete anti-erosion inhibitor(SBT-TIA),acrylate polymer(AP),super absorbent resin(SAP).The erosion mode and internal deterioration mechanism under salt freeze-thaw cycle and dry-wet cycle were explored.The results show that the addition of enhancing materials can effectively improve the resistance of concrete to salt freezing and sulfate erosion:the relevant indexes of concrete added with X-AP and T-AP are improved after salt freeze-thaw cycles;concrete added with SBTTIA shows optimal sulfate corrosion resistance;and concrete added with AP displays the best resistance to salt freezing.Microanalysis shows that the increase in the number of cycles decreases the generation of internal hydration products and defects in concrete mixed with enhancing materials and improves the related indexes.Based on the Wiener model analysis,the reliability of concrete with different lithologies and enhancing materials is improved,which may provide a reference for the application of manufactured sand concrete and enhancing materials in Northwest China,especially for the study of the improvement effects and mechanism of enhancing materials on the performance of concrete.展开更多
Reservoir-induced landslides in China's Three Gorges Reservoir area are prone to tensile cracks due to the influenceof their own weight and fluctuationsin water levels.The presence of cracks indicates that the ten...Reservoir-induced landslides in China's Three Gorges Reservoir area are prone to tensile cracks due to the influenceof their own weight and fluctuationsin water levels.The presence of cracks indicates that the tensile stress in the area has exceeded the tensile strength of the soil,leading to local instability.To explore the impact of tensile failure behavior on the stability and failure modes of reservoir landslides,the Huangtupo Riverside Slump#1 is taken as a case study.By considering local tensile failure,potential tensile cracks are incorporated into the analysis via the limit equilibrium method and reliability theory.The reliability of landslides under different tensile failure scenarios is quantified.Strain-softening characteristics of the soil are combined to further analyze the failure transmission path of the landslide.Finally,these potential failure modes were validated through physical model tests.The results show that cracks developing at rear positions reduce the stability of the slope and increase the probability of instability.During the destruction process,retrogressive failures with multiple sliding surfaces are likely to occur.However,tensile failure at the forefront reduces the likelihood of an individual slide mass descending.Progressive failure results in both regular and skip transmission patterns.Additionally,cracks and water level changes can also lead to shifts in the positions of the most dangerous blocks.Therefore,in practical landslide analysis and prevention,it is necessary to consider local tensile damage and identify potential tensile crack locations in advance to optimize prevention measures and accurately evaluate landslide risk.展开更多
In reliability analyses,the absence of a priori information on the most probable point of failure(MPP)may result in overlooking critical points,thereby leading to biased assessment outcomes.Moreover,second-order relia...In reliability analyses,the absence of a priori information on the most probable point of failure(MPP)may result in overlooking critical points,thereby leading to biased assessment outcomes.Moreover,second-order reliability methods exhibit limited accuracy in highly nonlinear scenarios.To overcome these challenges,a novel reliability analysis strategy based on a multimodal differential evolution algorithm and a hypersphere integration method is proposed.Initially,the penalty function method is employed to reformulate the MPP search problem as a conditionally constrained optimization task.Subsequently,a differential evolution algorithm incorporating a population delineation strategy is utilized to identify all MPPs.Finally,a paraboloid equation is constructed based on the curvature of the limit-state function at the MPPs,and the failure probability of the structure is calculated by using the hypersphere integration method.The localization effectiveness of the MPPs is compared through multiple numerical cases and two engineering examples,with accuracy comparisons of failure probabilities against the first-order reliability method(FORM)and the secondorder reliability method(SORM).The results indicate that the method effectively identifies existing MPPs and achieves higher solution precision.展开更多
The rapid development of wind energy in the power sectors raises the question about the reliability of wind turbines for power system planning and operation.The electrical subsystem of wind turbines(ESWT),which is one...The rapid development of wind energy in the power sectors raises the question about the reliability of wind turbines for power system planning and operation.The electrical subsystem of wind turbines(ESWT),which is one of the most vulnerable parts of the wind turbine,is investigated in this paper.The hygrothermal aging of power electronic devices(PEDs)is modeled for the first time in the comprehensive reliability evaluation of ESWT,by using a novel stationary“circuit-like”approach.First,the failure mechanism of the hygrothermal aging,which includes the solder layer fatigue damage and packaging material performance degradation,is explained.Then,a moisture diffusion resistance concept and a hygrothermal equivalent circuit are proposed to quantitate the hygrothermal aging behavior.A conditional probability function is developed to calculate the time-varying failure rate of PEDs.At last,the stochastic renewal process is simulated to evaluate the reliability for ESWT through the sequential Monte Carlo simulation,in which failure,repair,and replacement states of devices are all included.The effectiveness of our proposed reliability evaluation method is verified on an ESWT in a 2 MW wind turbine use time series data collected from a wind farm in China.展开更多
The performance degradation of micro light-emitting diodes(micro-LEDs)is closely associated with the deterioration of sidewall passivation layers under prolonged electrical bias.We investigate reliability improvements...The performance degradation of micro light-emitting diodes(micro-LEDs)is closely associated with the deterioration of sidewall passivation layers under prolonged electrical bias.We investigate reliability improvements in 20μm×20μm InGaN/GaN blue micro-LEDs by suppressing the formation of an unstable interfacial layer during sidewall passivation.SiO_(2)is deposited on the etched mesa sidewalls using either Sputtering or plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition(PECVD).Comparative analysis reveals that PECVD-passivated devices experience more severe performance degradation,primarily due to the increased leakage current.After 100 h of accelerated aging,external quantum efficiency decreases by 44%in PECVD-passivated samples,whereas Sputter-passivated devices exhibit only an11%reduction.This discrepancy is attributed to the formation of a thicker and chemically unstable gallium oxynitride(Ga-O_(X)-N_(1-X))interfacial layer at the SiO_(2)∕GaN-based interface,which facilitates the generation of sidewall defects.Suppressing the formation of this interlayer enhances the crystallinity and structural stability of the passivation layer,thereby mitigating the activation of point defects.Notably,Sputter deposition is more effective in minimizing the formation of Ga-O-N interlayer.These findings emphasize the critical role of achieving low-defect-density sidewall passivation to improve the reliability of micro-LEDs for next-generation high-resolution display applications.展开更多
It is well recognized that Structural Health Monitoring(SHM)reliability evaluation is a key aspect that needs to be urgently addressed to promote the wide application of SHM methods.However,the existing studies typica...It is well recognized that Structural Health Monitoring(SHM)reliability evaluation is a key aspect that needs to be urgently addressed to promote the wide application of SHM methods.However,the existing studies typically transfer the Non-Destructive Testing/Evaluation(NDT/E)reliability metrics to SHM without a systematic analysis of where these metrics originated.Seldom attentions are paid to the evaluation conditions which are very important to apply these metrics.Aimed at this issue,a new condition control-based Dual-Reliability Evaluation(Dual-RE)method for SHM is proposed.This new method is proposed based on a systematic analysis of the whole framework of reliability evaluation from instrument to NDT,and emphasis is paid to the evaluation condition control.Based on these analyses,considering the special online application scenario of SHM,the proposed Dual-RE method contains two key components:Integrated Sensor-based SHM-RE(IS-SHM-RE)and Critical Service Condition-based SHM-RE(CSC-SHM-RE).ISSHM-RE evaluates the reliability of integrated SHM sensor and system themselves under approximate repeatability conditions,while CSC-SHM-RE assesses SHM reliability under the dominant uncertainties during service,namely intermediate conditions.To demonstrate the Dual-RE,crack monitoring by using the Guided Wave-based-SHM(GW-SHM)on aircraft lug structures is taken as a case study.Both the crack detection and sizing performance are evaluated from accuracy and uncertainty.展开更多
Dear Editor,This letter presents a new approach to developing interpretable and reliable soft sensors for Industry 5.0 applications.Although sophisticated machine learning methods have made remarkable strides in soft-...Dear Editor,This letter presents a new approach to developing interpretable and reliable soft sensors for Industry 5.0 applications.Although sophisticated machine learning methods have made remarkable strides in soft-sensor predictive accuracy,ensuring interpretability and reliable performance across varying industrial operating conditions remains a challenge[1]–[4].This is precisely what Industry 5.0,proposed by the European Commission in 2021,advocates[5],[6].It integrates various cutting-edge technologies,such as human-machine interaction,digital twins,cybersecurity and artificial intelligence,to facilitate the development of better soft sensors.展开更多
The reliability of information systems(IS)is a key factor in the sustainable operation of modern digital services.However,existing assessment methods remain fragmented and are often limited to individual indicators or...The reliability of information systems(IS)is a key factor in the sustainable operation of modern digital services.However,existing assessment methods remain fragmented and are often limited to individual indicators or expert judgments.This paper proposes a hybridmethodology for a comprehensive assessment of IS reliability based on the integration of the international standard ISO/IEC 25010:2023,multicriteria analysismethods(ARAS,CoCoSo,and TOPSIS),and theXGBoostmachine learning algorithmfor missing data imputation.Thestructure of the ISO/IEC 25010 standard is used to formalize reliability criteria and subcriteria,while theAHP method allows for the calculation of their weighting coefficients based on expert assessments.The XGBoost algorithm ensures the correct filling of gaps in the source data,increasing the completeness and reliability of the subsequent assessment.The resulting weighted indicators are aggregated using threeMCDMmethods,after which an integral reliability indicator is formed as a percentage.The methodology was tested on six real-world information systems with different architectures.The results demonstrated high consistency between the ARAS,CoCoSo,and TOPSISmethods,as well as the stability of the final rating when the criterion weights vary by±10%.The proposed approach provides a reproducible,transparent,and objective assessment of information system reliability and can be used to identify system bottlenecks,make modernization decisions,and manage the quality of digital infrastructure.展开更多
基金The study had been approved by the ethics committee of the University of Potsdam(No.39/2018).
文摘Malnutrition is described as a state of insufficient intake of energy,protein and other nutrients leading to changes in body composition(weight loss,reduced fat-free mass)as well as adverse functional and clinical outcomes.[1]Depending on the assessments and definition used,the prevalence in older patients ranges between 12%in communitydwelling adults to 60%of patients in geriatric care facilities.[2–5]Older populations are at high risk of nutritional deficiencies because of risk factors such as multimorbidity,polypharmacy,cognitive and physical decline,poor appetite,depressive syndromes and socioeconomic changes.[4,6].
基金The study was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFA0701402)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82021004,81971690,81620108016,and 11835003)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(2019NTST24).
文摘Functional hubs with disproportionately extensive connectivities play a crucial role in global information integration in human brain networks.However,most resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(R-fMRI)studies have identified functional hubs by examining spontaneous fluctuations of the blood oxygen level-dependent signal within a typical low-frequency band(e.g.,0.01–0.08 Hz or 0.01–0.1 Hz).Little is known about how the spatial distributions of functional hubs depend on frequency bands of interest.Here,we used repeatedly measured R-fMRI data from 53 healthy young adults and a degree centrality analysis to identify voxelwise frequency-resolved functional hubs and further examined their test-retest reliability across two sessions.We showed that a wide-range frequency band(0.01–0.24 Hz)accessible with a typical sampling rate(fsample=0.5 Hz)could be classified into three frequency bands with distinct patterns,namely,low-frequency(LF,0.01–0.06 Hz),middle-frequency(MF,0.06–0.16 Hz),and high-frequency(HF,0.16–0.24 Hz)bands.The functional hubs were mainly located in the medial and lateral frontal and parietal cortices in the LF band,and in the medial prefrontal cortex,superior temporal gyrus,parahippocampal gyrus,amygdala,and several cerebellar regions in the MF and HF bands.These hub regions exhibited fair to good test-retest reliability,regardless of the frequency band.The presence of the three frequency bands was well replicated using an independent R-fMRI dataset from 45 healthy young adults.Our findings demonstrate reliable frequency-resolved functional connectivity hubs in three categories,thus providing insights into the frequency-specific connectome organization in healthy and disordered brains.
文摘Introduction:Rotatory chair testing has been used to evaluate horizontal canal function.Frequently used tests include sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test(SHAT)and velocity step test(VST).Objectives:Assessment of age effect on the SHAT and VST and assessment of test-retest reliability of the parameters of those two tests.Methods:A prospective study was performed on 100 subjects with no ear or vestibular complaints and normal vestibular evaluation.They were divided into two groups;Group A:below 50 years of age and Group B:50 years of age or above.SHAT was presented at frequencies 0.02,0.04,0.08,0.16,0.32,0.64 Hz with a peak velocity of 60°/s.VST was performed using a maximum velocity of 100°/s with acceleration and deceleration of 200°/s2.Thirty subjects were tested twice to assess reliability.Results:Study participants ranged in age from 20 to 67 years.Regarding group A,the mean age was30.92±7.31 and 55.36±4.61 for group B.No significant differences were found in SHAT parameters between the two groups.As well,there was no significant difference in VST per-rotatory time constant,however,post-rotatory time constant was significantly longer for Group B(P value<0.05).Intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)values showed moderate to good reliability(ICC 0.5800.818)for SHAT parameters for the lower frequencies and indicated moderate reliability for VST time constant(ICC 0.5090.652).Conclusions:Age has no significant effect on the parameters of SHAT and VST.Test-retest reliability is generally good for both tests.
基金supported by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health,Department of Health and Human Services,Bethesda,MD,USA(NEI ROIEY023261 to TLA)。
文摘Vergence eye movements are the inward and outward rotation of the eyes responsible for binocular coordination.While studies have mapped and investigated the neural substrates of vergence,it is not well understood whether vergence eye movements evoke the blood oxygen level-dependent signal reliably in separate experimental visits.The test-retest reliability of stimulus-induced vergence eye movement tasks during a functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)experiment is important for future randomized clinical trials(RCTs).In this study,we established region of interest(ROI)masks for the vergence neural circuit.Twenty-seven binocularly normal young adults participated in two functional imaging sessions measured on different days on the same 3 T Siemens scanner.The fMRI experiments used a block design of sustained visual fixation and rest blocks interleaved between task blocks that stimulated eight or four vergence eye movements.The test-retest reliability of task-activation was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC),and that of spatial extent was assessed using the Dice coefficient.Functional activation during the vergence eye movement task of eight movements compared to rest was repeatable within the primary visual cortex(ICC=0.8),parietal eye fields(ICC=0.6),supplementary eye field(ICC=0.5),frontal eye fields(ICC=0.5),and oculomotor vermis(ICC=0.6).The results demonstrate significant test-retest reliability in the ROIs of the vergence neural substrates for functional activation magnitude and spatial extent using the stimulus protocol of a task block stimulating eight vergence eye movements compared to sustained fixation.These ROIs can be used in future longitudinal RCTs to study patient populations with vergence dysfunctions.
文摘This pilot study examined the psychometric properties and clinical utility of a brief neuropsychological instrument (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The test-retest reliability, practice effects and convergent validity of RBANS were examined in participants without objective cognitive impairment. The tests were administered at two time points at approximately a two weeks’ interval, with 30 cognitively intact participants with a mean age of 63.3 ± 5.8 years. Adequate test-retest reliabilities were found for RBANS subtests, index and total scale scores with significant gain scores in immediate memory and visuospatial function. The RBANS showed good convergent validity and the RBANS supplemented with executive and language measures (Colour Trails Test and 30-item modified Boston Naming Test, respectively) demonstrated excellent convergent validity with a formal neuropsychological battery. This pilot study has provided the preliminary evidence of reliability and convergent validity of the RBANS. Additionally, it also provides insight on the practice effects so that clinicians may assess significant changes in RBANS subtests and domain indexes for clinical practice.
文摘Sensory abnormalities are common in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but are often difficult to assess using standard behavioral methods. Evoked potentials provide objective, non-invasive electrophysiological measures of neural sensory processing that could be useful for clinical and investigative studies of individuals with low-functioning autism who are unable to perform behavioral testing. Despite increased use, the reliability of sensory evoked potentials has not been established for individuals with low-functioning autism. Establishing reliability is important for validating the utility of sensory evoked potentials. In this study, we explored the feasibility of assessing the test-retest reliability of sensory evoked potentials using repeat recordings, acquired over 2.5- and 6-month intervals, from a minimally verbal adult with low-functioning autism. Repeat auditory and visual evoked potential recordings showed high test-retest reliability, with cross-correlation coefficients ≥ 0.80. This case demonstrates the feasibility of establishing test-retest reliability for individuals with low-functioning autism and supports the utility of sensory evoked potentials in clinical and investigative ASD studies.
文摘Context： Balance is an important aspect of sports performance, which can be impaired following MHI （minor head injury） The BESS （balance error scoring system） is a tool commonly used for assessment of post-MHI recovery. Objective： This study aimed to ascertain test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change of the BESS in order to ensurem that it had appropriate clinical levels of reliability and sensitivity. Design： Test-retest reliability. Setting： University indoor sport facility. Participants： N = 36 sub-elite athletes. Interventions： The BESS was undertaken by the participants on two separate testing sessions, 1 week apart. Main Outcome Measures： Test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change. Results： Strong test-retest reliability of the total BESS score was identified （1CC （intraclass correlation coefficients） = 0.784） with a MDC （minimal detectable change） of 6-10 error points, dependent on confidence interval used. Conclusions： The strong reliability score and the relatively low MDC when using conservative measures would recommend the use of BESS in post-MHI assessment of young academy-level athletes. However, more research is required to further determine BESS MDC in both sub-elite and elite groups of athletic performers so as to provide clinicians with an accurate guideline regarding whether an athlete is presenting with post-MHI balance impairment.
文摘While parametric Software Reliability Growth Models(SRGMs)serve as a cornerstone in software reliability assessment,their reliance on known fault-detection time distributions often presents a significant limitation in practical software testing.In this study,the authors develop a novel shaperestricted spline estimator for quantifying software reliability.Compared with parametric SRGMs,the proposed estimator not only shares a key characteristic with parametric SRGMs,but also obviates the need for specifying fault-detection time distributions.More importantly,it effectively utilizes the critical shape information of the mean value function(MVF)of fault-detection process,a detail seldom considered in prior work.Moreover,the authors investigate the predictive performance of the proposed methods by employing the so-called one-step look-ahead prediction method.Furthermore,the authors show that under certain conditions,the shape-restricted spline estimator will attain the point-wise convergence rate O_P(n~(-3/7)).In numerical experiment,the authors show that spline estimators under restriction demonstrate competitive performance compared to parametric and certain non-parametric models.
文摘This study examines the reliability and validity of AI-generated scoring for continuation writing tasks.By comparing GPT-4 with eight experienced human raters across 21 student responses,it evaluates AI’s consistency,severity,and alignment with human scoring criteria.Results show that AI exhibits high self-consistency and adapts effectively to different scoring roles(e.g.,teacher vs.highstakes rater).However,AI scores were more lenient than human raters and demonstrated divergent evaluation focuses—prioritizing narrative coherence and emotional depth,while teachers emphasized linguistic accuracy and richness of detail.The findings suggest AI’s potential as a supplementary assessment tool,offering rapid,holistic feedback,but highlight the need for further calibration to align with educational standards.Implications include exploring hybrid evaluation models that leverage the strengths of both AI and human raters to achieve more equitable,efficient,and pedagogically meaningful writing assessments.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12472033)。
文摘A stochastic predator-prey system with Markov switching is explored.We have developed a new chasing technique to efficiently solve the Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov and backward Kolmogorov equations.Dynamic balance and reliability of the switching system are evaluated via stationary probability density function and first-passage failure theory,taking into account factors such as switching frequencies,noise intensities,and initial conditions.Results reveal that Markov switching leads to stochastic P-bifurcation,enhancing dynamic balance and reducing white-noise-induced oscillations.But frequent switching can heighten initial value dependence,harming reliability.Further,the influence of the subsystem on the switching system is not proportional to its action probabilities.Monte Carlo simulations validate the findings,offering an in-depth exploration of these dynamics.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62404110,62274033)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20221453)+1 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesNatural Science Research Start-up Foundation of Recruiting Talents of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications(NY223159)。
文摘In this work,we demonstrated the InSnO(ITO)TFTs passivated with SiO_(2)via the PECVD process compatible with large-area production for the first time.The passivated ITO TFTs with various channel thicknesses(t_(ch)=4,5,6 nm)exhibit excellent electrical performance and superior uniformity.The reliability properties of ITO TFTs were evaluated in detail under positive bias stress(PBS)conditions before and after passivation.Compared to the devices without passivation,the passivated devices have only 50%threshold voltage degradation(ΔV_(th))and 50%newly generated traps due to excellent isolation of the ambient atmosphere.The negligible performance degradation of ITO TFTs with passivation during negative bias stress(NBS)and negative bias temperature stress(NBTS)verifies the outstanding immunity to the water vapor of the SiO_(2)passivation layer.Overall,the ITO TFT with the t_(ch)of 6 nm and with SiO_(2)passivation exhibits the best performance in terms of electrical properties,uniformity,and reliability,which is promising in large-area production.
基金supported by Istanbul Technical University(Project No.45698)supported through the“Young Researchers’Career Development Project-training of doctoral students”of the Croatian Science Foundation.
文摘This paper investigates the reliability of internal marine combustion engines using an integrated approach that combines Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)and Bayesian Networks(BN).FTA provides a structured,top-down method for identifying critical failure modes and their root causes,while BN introduces flexibility in probabilistic reasoning,enabling dynamic updates based on new evidence.This dual methodology overcomes the limitations of static FTA models,offering a comprehensive framework for system reliability analysis.Critical failures,including External Leakage(ELU),Failure to Start(FTS),and Overheating(OHE),were identified as key risks.By incorporating redundancy into high-risk components such as pumps and batteries,the likelihood of these failures was significantly reduced.For instance,redundant pumps reduced the probability of ELU by 31.88%,while additional batteries decreased the occurrence of FTS by 36.45%.The results underscore the practical benefits of combining FTA and BN for enhancing system reliability,particularly in maritime applications where operational safety and efficiency are critical.This research provides valuable insights for maintenance planning and highlights the importance of redundancy in critical systems,especially as the industry transitions toward more autonomous vessels.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52178216)the Research on the Durability and Application of High-performance Concrete for Highway Engineering in the Cold and Arid Salt Areas of Northwest China(No.2022-24)the Construction Project of the Scientific Research Platform of Provincial Enterprises Supported by the Capital Operating Budget of Gansu Province(No.2023GZ018)。
文摘To study the durability of concrete in harsh environments in Northwest China,concrete was prepared with various durability-improving materials such as concrete anti-erosion inhibitor(SBT-TIA),acrylate polymer(AP),super absorbent resin(SAP).The erosion mode and internal deterioration mechanism under salt freeze-thaw cycle and dry-wet cycle were explored.The results show that the addition of enhancing materials can effectively improve the resistance of concrete to salt freezing and sulfate erosion:the relevant indexes of concrete added with X-AP and T-AP are improved after salt freeze-thaw cycles;concrete added with SBTTIA shows optimal sulfate corrosion resistance;and concrete added with AP displays the best resistance to salt freezing.Microanalysis shows that the increase in the number of cycles decreases the generation of internal hydration products and defects in concrete mixed with enhancing materials and improves the related indexes.Based on the Wiener model analysis,the reliability of concrete with different lithologies and enhancing materials is improved,which may provide a reference for the application of manufactured sand concrete and enhancing materials in Northwest China,especially for the study of the improvement effects and mechanism of enhancing materials on the performance of concrete.
基金supported by the Major Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42090055)the National Key ScientificInstruments and Equipment Development Projects of China(Grant No.41827808)the National Nature Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42207216).
文摘Reservoir-induced landslides in China's Three Gorges Reservoir area are prone to tensile cracks due to the influenceof their own weight and fluctuationsin water levels.The presence of cracks indicates that the tensile stress in the area has exceeded the tensile strength of the soil,leading to local instability.To explore the impact of tensile failure behavior on the stability and failure modes of reservoir landslides,the Huangtupo Riverside Slump#1 is taken as a case study.By considering local tensile failure,potential tensile cracks are incorporated into the analysis via the limit equilibrium method and reliability theory.The reliability of landslides under different tensile failure scenarios is quantified.Strain-softening characteristics of the soil are combined to further analyze the failure transmission path of the landslide.Finally,these potential failure modes were validated through physical model tests.The results show that cracks developing at rear positions reduce the stability of the slope and increase the probability of instability.During the destruction process,retrogressive failures with multiple sliding surfaces are likely to occur.However,tensile failure at the forefront reduces the likelihood of an individual slide mass descending.Progressive failure results in both regular and skip transmission patterns.Additionally,cracks and water level changes can also lead to shifts in the positions of the most dangerous blocks.Therefore,in practical landslide analysis and prevention,it is necessary to consider local tensile damage and identify potential tensile crack locations in advance to optimize prevention measures and accurately evaluate landslide risk.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52375236)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(No.23D110316)。
文摘In reliability analyses,the absence of a priori information on the most probable point of failure(MPP)may result in overlooking critical points,thereby leading to biased assessment outcomes.Moreover,second-order reliability methods exhibit limited accuracy in highly nonlinear scenarios.To overcome these challenges,a novel reliability analysis strategy based on a multimodal differential evolution algorithm and a hypersphere integration method is proposed.Initially,the penalty function method is employed to reformulate the MPP search problem as a conditionally constrained optimization task.Subsequently,a differential evolution algorithm incorporating a population delineation strategy is utilized to identify all MPPs.Finally,a paraboloid equation is constructed based on the curvature of the limit-state function at the MPPs,and the failure probability of the structure is calculated by using the hypersphere integration method.The localization effectiveness of the MPPs is compared through multiple numerical cases and two engineering examples,with accuracy comparisons of failure probabilities against the first-order reliability method(FORM)and the secondorder reliability method(SORM).The results indicate that the method effectively identifies existing MPPs and achieves higher solution precision.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 52022016China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under grant 2021M693711Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under grant 2021CDJQY-037.
文摘The rapid development of wind energy in the power sectors raises the question about the reliability of wind turbines for power system planning and operation.The electrical subsystem of wind turbines(ESWT),which is one of the most vulnerable parts of the wind turbine,is investigated in this paper.The hygrothermal aging of power electronic devices(PEDs)is modeled for the first time in the comprehensive reliability evaluation of ESWT,by using a novel stationary“circuit-like”approach.First,the failure mechanism of the hygrothermal aging,which includes the solder layer fatigue damage and packaging material performance degradation,is explained.Then,a moisture diffusion resistance concept and a hygrothermal equivalent circuit are proposed to quantitate the hygrothermal aging behavior.A conditional probability function is developed to calculate the time-varying failure rate of PEDs.At last,the stochastic renewal process is simulated to evaluate the reliability for ESWT through the sequential Monte Carlo simulation,in which failure,repair,and replacement states of devices are all included.The effectiveness of our proposed reliability evaluation method is verified on an ESWT in a 2 MW wind turbine use time series data collected from a wind farm in China.
基金supported by the Samsung Research Funding&Incubation Center of Samsung Electronics under Project No.SRFC-MA2402-05supported by the KENTECH Center for Shared Research Facilities。
文摘The performance degradation of micro light-emitting diodes(micro-LEDs)is closely associated with the deterioration of sidewall passivation layers under prolonged electrical bias.We investigate reliability improvements in 20μm×20μm InGaN/GaN blue micro-LEDs by suppressing the formation of an unstable interfacial layer during sidewall passivation.SiO_(2)is deposited on the etched mesa sidewalls using either Sputtering or plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition(PECVD).Comparative analysis reveals that PECVD-passivated devices experience more severe performance degradation,primarily due to the increased leakage current.After 100 h of accelerated aging,external quantum efficiency decreases by 44%in PECVD-passivated samples,whereas Sputter-passivated devices exhibit only an11%reduction.This discrepancy is attributed to the formation of a thicker and chemically unstable gallium oxynitride(Ga-O_(X)-N_(1-X))interfacial layer at the SiO_(2)∕GaN-based interface,which facilitates the generation of sidewall defects.Suppressing the formation of this interlayer enhances the crystallinity and structural stability of the passivation layer,thereby mitigating the activation of point defects.Notably,Sputter deposition is more effective in minimizing the formation of Ga-O-N interlayer.These findings emphasize the critical role of achieving low-defect-density sidewall passivation to improve the reliability of micro-LEDs for next-generation high-resolution display applications.
基金the support from National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52275153)the Frontier Technologies R&D Program of Jiangsu,China(No.BF2024068)+1 种基金The Fund of Prospective Layout of Scientific Research for Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics,ChinaResearch Fund of State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures(Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics),China(Nos.MCAS-I-0425K01,MCAS-I-0423G01)。
文摘It is well recognized that Structural Health Monitoring(SHM)reliability evaluation is a key aspect that needs to be urgently addressed to promote the wide application of SHM methods.However,the existing studies typically transfer the Non-Destructive Testing/Evaluation(NDT/E)reliability metrics to SHM without a systematic analysis of where these metrics originated.Seldom attentions are paid to the evaluation conditions which are very important to apply these metrics.Aimed at this issue,a new condition control-based Dual-Reliability Evaluation(Dual-RE)method for SHM is proposed.This new method is proposed based on a systematic analysis of the whole framework of reliability evaluation from instrument to NDT,and emphasis is paid to the evaluation condition control.Based on these analyses,considering the special online application scenario of SHM,the proposed Dual-RE method contains two key components:Integrated Sensor-based SHM-RE(IS-SHM-RE)and Critical Service Condition-based SHM-RE(CSC-SHM-RE).ISSHM-RE evaluates the reliability of integrated SHM sensor and system themselves under approximate repeatability conditions,while CSC-SHM-RE assesses SHM reliability under the dominant uncertainties during service,namely intermediate conditions.To demonstrate the Dual-RE,crack monitoring by using the Guided Wave-based-SHM(GW-SHM)on aircraft lug structures is taken as a case study.Both the crack detection and sizing performance are evaluated from accuracy and uncertainty.
文摘Dear Editor,This letter presents a new approach to developing interpretable and reliable soft sensors for Industry 5.0 applications.Although sophisticated machine learning methods have made remarkable strides in soft-sensor predictive accuracy,ensuring interpretability and reliable performance across varying industrial operating conditions remains a challenge[1]–[4].This is precisely what Industry 5.0,proposed by the European Commission in 2021,advocates[5],[6].It integrates various cutting-edge technologies,such as human-machine interaction,digital twins,cybersecurity and artificial intelligence,to facilitate the development of better soft sensors.
基金the financial support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan,grant No.AP25793823.
文摘The reliability of information systems(IS)is a key factor in the sustainable operation of modern digital services.However,existing assessment methods remain fragmented and are often limited to individual indicators or expert judgments.This paper proposes a hybridmethodology for a comprehensive assessment of IS reliability based on the integration of the international standard ISO/IEC 25010:2023,multicriteria analysismethods(ARAS,CoCoSo,and TOPSIS),and theXGBoostmachine learning algorithmfor missing data imputation.Thestructure of the ISO/IEC 25010 standard is used to formalize reliability criteria and subcriteria,while theAHP method allows for the calculation of their weighting coefficients based on expert assessments.The XGBoost algorithm ensures the correct filling of gaps in the source data,increasing the completeness and reliability of the subsequent assessment.The resulting weighted indicators are aggregated using threeMCDMmethods,after which an integral reliability indicator is formed as a percentage.The methodology was tested on six real-world information systems with different architectures.The results demonstrated high consistency between the ARAS,CoCoSo,and TOPSISmethods,as well as the stability of the final rating when the criterion weights vary by±10%.The proposed approach provides a reproducible,transparent,and objective assessment of information system reliability and can be used to identify system bottlenecks,make modernization decisions,and manage the quality of digital infrastructure.
