Representation of investigation results of microplastics on sandy beaches-accumulation rate and abundance in the entire study site

Long-term microplastics (MPs) environmental pollution trends cannot be understood only by investigating their presence on beaches. Without estimating MPs for the entire beach, comparisons between multiple beaches cannot be made. In this study, Nagasaki Prefecture was selected as the study site, we measured MPs accumulation rate to express the MPs pollution trend and weighted the measurement results to enable comparison of MPs content among multiple sandy beaches. The MPs accumulation rate in the study site was measured by periodic investigation at fixed spots. The average in the supratidal zone was 1.5 ± 0.9 mg-MPs/(m2-sand⋅ d) (n = 15). The weighting of the MPs content in hot spots and non-hot spots by their respective areas enabled us to obtain the representative value and the dispersion of the MPs content in the entire study site. The MPs contents in the three beaches were 298 ± 144, 1,115 ± 518, and 4,084 ± 2,243 mg-MPs/(m2-sand), respectively. Using these values, it is possible to compare the MPs contents of multiple beaches.

Contribution of a common ability in average and variability judgments

People can make judgments about statistical properties of visual features within groups of objects, such as the average size, size variability, or numerosity of circles. Emerging from recent work is the view that these kinds of visual estimations, collectively dubbed ensemble perception, rely on independent abilities that are specific to the statistical property being estimated (mean, variance, range, numerosity). Here we revisit evidence for the claim that different statistical judgments (i.e., average and variability) for the same object feature are based on independent abilities. We tested a large sample of people, using a pre-registered open-ended sequential design to avoid ending up with weak evidence. We estimated the shared variance in ability across different ensemble judgments, with common constraints for the different tasks. We found that the abilities to judge the average size and the size variability for an array of circles are positively correlated, even after controlling for the ability to discriminate the size of single circles. Our results refute the idea that judgments of average and variability for the same object feature rely on completely independent abilities.

Comparison of multiple blood pressure frequency methods with optimum blood pressure measurement among Iranian individuals

Background:

Proper blood pressure (BP) measurement frequency method is less evaluated to optimize hypertension (HTN) status among different nations due to cultural patience variations. The aim of this study was to compare the first (BP₁), second (BP₂), and the mean of first and second (BP_1,2) and all the three (BP_1,2,3) with the second and third BP measurements in Iranian individuals.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was done on 2264 individuals aged 18 years or more living in Isfahan city, Iran. Their BPs were assessed from right arms by the standard tools and methods after 5 min of rest in a quiet room by a trained staff. The mean second and third readings were considered as reference, and the other aforementioned variables were compared with it.

Results:

The mean age of total population was 40.9 ± 16.1 years (males: 52%). Men had significant higher means of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) with any measurement frequency methods than women (P < 0.001 and P = 0.009). Considerable clinical significant (≥5 mmHg) ranges were mostly observed in BP₁ compared with BP_2,3. SBP₂ and DBP₂ indices showed insignificant differences compared with reference mean. Moreover, abnormal BP levels (≥140/90 mmHg) were mostly observed in terms of BP₁ measurement with no remarkable variability in BP₂ reading in comparison to the reference.

Conclusion:

Our considerable data suggested that BP₂ could appropriately categorize BP status similar to BP_2,3 and it may be rational for physicians considering this mean and excluding the first BP measurement as a sole criterion for HTN assessment in Iranian adults. Multiple researches are necessary quantifying appropriate frequencies of BP reading.

Comparison of Facial Proportions Between Beauty Pageant Contestants and Ordinary Young Women of Korean Ethnicity: A Three-Dimensional Photogrammetric Analysis

BACKGROUND

Although the harmony of facial proportions is traditionally perceived as an important element of facial attractiveness, there have been few objective studies that have investigated this esthetic balance using three-dimensional photogrammetric analysis.

OBJECTIVES

To better understand why some women appear more beautiful, we investigated differences in facial proportions between beauty pageant contestants and ordinary young women of Korean ethnicity using three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetric analyses.

METHODS

A total of 43 prize-winning beauty pageant contestants (group I) and 48 ordinary young women (group II) of Korean ethnicity were photographed using 3D photography. Numerous soft tissue landmarks were identified, and 3D photogrammetric analyses were performed to evaluate 13 absolute lengths, 5 angles, 3 volumetric proportions, and 12 length proportions between soft tissue landmarks.

RESULTS

Group I had a greater absolute length of the middle face, nose height, and eye height and width; a smaller absolute length of the lower face, intercanthal width, and nasal width; a larger nasolabial angle; a greater proportion of the upper and middle facial volume, nasal height, and eye height and width; and a lower proportion of the lower facial volume, lower face height, intercanthal width, nasal width, and mouth width. All these differences were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that there are significant differences between the faces of beauty pageant contestants and ordinary young women, and help elucidate which factors contribute to facial beauty. The group I mean values could be used as reference values for attractive facial profiles.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The generic modeling fallacy: Average biomechanical models often produce non-average results!

Computational biomechanics models constructed using nominal or average input parameters are often assumed to produce average results that are representative of a target population of interest. To investigate this assumption a stochastic Monte Carlo analysis of two common biomechanical models was conducted. Consistent discrepancies were found between the behavior of average models and the average behavior of the population from which the average models׳ input parameters were derived. More interestingly, broadly distributed sets of non-average input parameters were found to produce average or near average model behaviors. In other words, average models did not produce average results, and models that did produce average results possessed non-average input parameters. These findings have implications on the prevalent practice of employing average input parameters in computational models. To facilitate further discussion on the topic, the authors have termed this phenomenon the "Generic Modeling Fallacy". The mathematical explanation of the Generic Modeling Fallacy is presented and suggestions for avoiding it are provided. Analytical and empirical examples of the Generic Modeling Fallacy are also given.

Unrealistic statistics: how average constitutive coefficients can produce non-physical results

The coefficients of constitutive models are frequently averaged in order to concisely summarize the complex, nonlinear, material properties of biomedical materials. However, when dealing with nonlinear systems, average inputs (e.g. average constitutive coefficients) often fail to generate average behavior. This raises an important issue because average nonlinear constitutive coefficients of biomedical materials are commonly reported in the literature. This paper provides examples which demonstrate that average constitutive coefficients applied to nonlinear constitutive laws in the field of biomedical material characterization can fail to produce average stress-strain responses and in some cases produce non-physical responses. Results are presented from a literature survey which indicates that approximately 90% of tissue measurement studies that employ a nonlinear constitutive model report average nonlinear constitutive coefficients. We suggest that reviewers and editors of future measurement studies discourage the reporting of average nonlinear constitutive coefficients. Reporting of individual coefficient sets for each test sample should be considered and discussed as designation for a "best practice" in the field of biomedical material characterization.

Winningham and preusser's critical thinking cases in nursing Barbara A Preusser Winningham and preusser's critical thinking cases in nursing Fourth Elsevier 720pp £24.99 978 0 323 05359 4 0323053599 [Formula: see text]

At 720pages, this is a weighty book, offering 148 case studies in a range of clinical specialties. And at £24.99, it may appear excellent value for money, especially for impoverished students.