Sep 2026· Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research· 0 citations
TL;DR
The AE non CB and AE-CB phenotypes were found to have the most significant impact on HR-QoL among COPD patients, suggesting that individuals with the AE-CB phenotype notably require a tailored treatment approach that specifically addresses both the frequent exacerbations and the chronic bronchitis component to improve their overall QoL.
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The chronic and progressive nature of the disease significantly affects patients’ Quality of Life (QoL). Tools like the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ-C) are widely used to assess HealthRelated Quality of Life (HR-QoL) in these patients.
Aim: To determine the impact of COPD phenotypes on diseasespecific HR-QoL using CAT and SGRQ-C score.
Materials and Methods: This hospital based observational study was conducted at RNT Medical College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, between the period of July 2024 to February 2025. All Diagnosed cases of COPD, as per GOLD guideline, with age above 40 years were included for the study. Patients with significant medical condition and pregnant or lactating women were excluded from the study. The total number of patients included were 160. The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Questionnaire was used to quantify the severity of breathlessness along with CAT score. The CAT and SGRQ-C, patient-administered questionnaire was used for HR-QoL assessment. Independent sample t-test and ANOVA test were used to compare the variables. Statistical analysis was done using MS excel and JAMOVI software version 6.2.
Results: A total of 40 patients in each phenotype were enrolled in the study. Majorities of patients were male (118, 73.75%) and mean age was 62.56±10.71 years. Highest CAT score for cough and phlegm were observed in AE-CB phenotype ((2.60±0.96 and 2.93±0.94, respectively). Highest CAT score for chest tightness and breathlessness were observed in AE Non CB phenotype (1.88±1.18 and 3.03±0.95, respectively). AE non CB phenotype shows higher physical activity limitation (2.55±0.98) and sleep disturbance (1.85±1.36) while AE-CB phenotype shows poor confidence in leaving home (1.98±1.45) and low energy (1.29±0.20) while performing the routine work. Highest SGRQ-C score were observed in AE-CB (44.53±13.94) and AE Non CB (46.77±9.45), respectively.
Conclusion: The AE non CB and AE-CB phenotypes were found to have the most significant impact on HR-QoL among COPD patients. This suggests that individuals with the AE-CB phenotype notably require a tailored treatment approach that specifically addresses both the frequent exacerbations and the chronic bronchitis component to improve their overall QoL.
Drug use is an ancient practice, but its associated disorders represent a contemporary public health challenge. This study investigates the impact of proximal processes in childhood/adolescence and adulthood on substance use, focusing on the role of Therapeutic Communities (TCs). Using a qualitative methodology, 19 residents of TCs in the state of Rio de Janeiro were interviewed. Instruments included a screening test (ASSIST), a sociodemographic inventory, and semi-structured interviews. Content analysis of the interviews was supported by the Requalify.ai software, which proved to be an efficient tool for categorizing and visualizing qualitative data. Results indicate that factors such as dysfunctional family environments, violence, and early onset of consumption, often mediated by peer influence, are determining risk factors. On the other hand, peer social support within TCs emerges as a crucial protective factor, associated with positive changes reported by participants. The sample revealed an overrepresentation of Black and Brown individuals, highlighting the racial dimension in the history of drug use in Brazil. The study concludes that proximal relationships are decisive in both the etiology and recovery of substance use disorders, and that TCs, although controversial, can offer a supportive environment that favors change, especially through peer support and cohabitation.
Marceli de Souza Rosa-Pereira, L. Pessoa· Lumen et Virtus· 0 citations
This work presents an end-to-end, deployment-aware testing pipeline for IoT-based automotive applications that combines requirement-driven test and code generation with large language model (LLM) and vision-language model (VLM) assistance, and human-in-the-loop curation to reduce manual effort and improve consistency.
Denesa Zyberaj, Roman Vintonyak, Pascal Hirmer et al.· 0 citations
A reverse engineering technique is presented for extracting a behavioural model of a deployed chatbot through the automated exploration of its functionality via Large Language Models through the automated exploration of its functionality via Large Language Models.
Iván Sotillo del Horno, Alejandro del Pozzo, Esther Guerra et al.· SN Computer Science· 0 citations
This prototype MRG image translocation software was helpful to 69% of patients with binocular diplopia, but limited by large angle strabismus because of the limited instrument field of view.
Edsel B Ing, Kevin Sha, Sarosh Dandoti et al.· Journal of neuro-ophthalmolo...· 0 citations
Работа посвящена контролю качества данных в многоканальной телеметрии робототехнического манипулятора. Цель исследования – разработать и экспериментально оценить метод, который выявляет и локализует искаженный канал без обучения нейронной сети и без физического стенда. Метод объединяет показатели полноты, временной корректности и стабильности каждого потока с кинематическими и динамическими невязками между энкодерами, токами приводов, инерциальным каналом и внешней оценкой положения рабочего органа. Пороговые значения вычисляются по чистому калибровочному интервалу с использованием медианы и медианного абсолютного отклонения; локализация выполняется по графу межканальных связей. Воспроизводимый программный эксперимент включает 864 сценария, шесть видов искажений, четыре канала, три уровня интенсивности и двенадцать повторов. Предлагаемый метод достиг среднего F1 0,862 при 95-процентном бутстреп-интервале [0,845; 0,879], тогда как фиксированные правила и адаптивный одноканальный контроль дали 0,622 и 0,791 соответственно. Средняя точность локализации составила 0,843, доля ложных срабатываний – 0,0059. Наибольший выигрыш получен для постоянных смещений; для выбросов и замирания одноканальные методы оказались конкурентоспособнее. Результат представляет собой интерпретируемый модуль контроля входной телеметрии, пригодный для встраивания перед хранением и аналитической обработкой данных.
The paper addresses data quality control in the multichannel telemetry of a robotic manipulator. The aim of the study is to develop and experimentally evaluate a method that detects and localises a corrupted channel without training a neural network and without a physical test bench. The method combines indicators of completeness, temporal correctness and stability of each stream with kinematic and dynamic residuals between the encoders, the drive currents, the inertial channel and the external estimate of the end-effector position. Threshold values are computed over a clean calibration interval using the median and the median absolute deviation; localisation is performed on a graph of inter-channel relations. The reproducible software experiment covers 864 scenarios, six types of distortion, four channels, three intensity levels and twelve repetitions. The proposed method reached a mean F1 of 0,862 with a 95% bootstrap interval [0,845; 0,879], whereas fixed rules and adaptive single-channel control yielded 0,622 and 0,791 respectively. The mean localisation accuracy was 0,843 and the false positive rate was 0,0059. The largest gain was obtained for constant offsets; for outliers and freezing, single-channel methods proved more competitive. The result is an interpretable module for input telemetry control suitable for embedding before data storage and analytical processing.
Александр Юрьевич Волков· Stroitelʹnye i dorožnye maši...· 0 citations
Telecommunications base-station towers support services that are indispensable to crisis communication, emergency response, public administration and economic continuity. Their dispersed location, height and lattice geometry make conventional close-access inspection hazardous, time-consuming and difficult to document consistently. This study evaluates the usefulness and limitations of uncrewed aircraft systems for inspecting steel lattice towers that form part of telecommunications critical infrastructure. A retrospective field study was conducted using records from inspections performed in 2022–2023 at 50 towers in three Polish provinces. More than 150 sorties were completed with a DJI Matrice 30T platform using optical zoom, thermal imaging, a laser rangefinder and georeferenced mission telemetry. Manual, column and spiral flight patterns were compared, while image sets were processed with photogrammetric software to support three-dimensional reconstruction and spatial localisation of defects. The observations show that uncrewed inspection is particularly effective for documenting coating damage, local corrosion, fastener deterioration, connection anomalies, snow or ice accretion and equipment requiring thermographic follow-up. Column flights generated the most detailed evidence but also the greatest processing burden; spiral flights were faster and better suited to screening and three-dimensional modelling. The study also identified important constraints: wind, battery endurance, vegetation, airspace restrictions, electromagnetic and navigation disturbances, and the need to protect sensitive infrastructure data. Uncrewed aircraft should therefore be treated as a risk-based screening and documentation tool integrated with engineering judgement and targeted close-contact or non-destructive testing, rather than as an unconditional replacement for statutory structural inspection.
Rafał Parczewski, Tomasz Balcerzak, S. Żurawski· Zeszyty Naukowe SGSP· 0 citations
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