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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Pulsed Doppler accuracy assessment due to frequency-dependent attenuation and Rayleigh scattering error sources.

All engineering measurements are subject to inaccurate and imprecise estimates, including the estimate of blood flow velocity. An assessment of specific error sources can minimize such uncertainties. Frequency-dependent attenuation and Rayleigh scattering are significant error sources for pulsed Doppler ultrasound because the transmitted ultrasonic signal has a finite width spectrum. The former causes a frequency downshift and the latter a frequency upshift, both of which are independent of the actual Doppler frequency shift. This communication evaluates these error sources through computer stimulation and compares the computed error to experimental data.

Blood Flow Velocity

Polyadenylated RNAs as error sources in ribosomal RNA turnover analyses.

An approach to ribosomal RNA turnover studies in which cytoplasmic RNA was extracted and subsequently fractionated to isolate ribosomal RNA is reported. The presumption that the pool of 28S and 18S RNAs represented ribosomal RNA, exclusively, proved false and led to erroneous results of ribosomal RNA turnover. Polyadenylated RNAs exhibited a heterogeneous size distribution and, although constituting only 3% (w/w) of the cytoplasmic RNA extract, accounted for fully 10% of radioactivity of the presumptive ribosomal RNA pool. Profiles from the radioactivity data suggested that the discrepant results were due to these polyadenylated RNAs. An additional analytical procedure, an oligo (dT) cellulose column chromatography of the RNA extract prior to the sucrose density gradient fractionation step, performed as described in this paper, proved an effective remedy for this error.

Animals

Ultrastructure of skin biopsy specimens in lysosomal storage diseases: common sources of error in diagnosis.

Common sources of error in the diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases by ultrastructural examination of skin specimens have been identified in a series of biopsies from 72 patients. Four principal factors have emerged as leading pitfalls and sources of error in diagnosis. First, the skin biopsy technique itself may lead to alterations of normal skin ultrastructure. Second, artifacts may be produced during fixation and preparation of tissue for electron microscopy. Third, cellular organelles and structures normally present in human skin may be mistakenly interpreted as pathological. Fourth, the use of cultured skin fibroblasts for ultrastructural identification of storage material is often accompanied by artifacts induced in tissue culture and is not recommended. Recognition of these common problems may aid interpretation of the fine structure of skin abnormalities. Furthermore, when skin biopsy specimens are used as the primary source of diagnostic material, correlation of both skin ultrastructure and assay for specific lysosomal enzymes in cultured dermal fibroblasts will facilitate diagnostic accuracy.

Biopsy

Bone density measured by photon scattering. II. Inherent sources of error.

The origins of inherent sources of error in results of measurements of bone density by a photon scattering technique are described and their effects are predicted theoretically. The predictions are confirmed experimentally. The prime source of error is multiple scattering. A procedure has been developed to correct the observed densities for effects of multiple scattering.

Bone Diseases

Optimal interelectrode distance with the method of source density analysis.

Three error sources which contribute to the total error of the second space derivative (SSD) used with the method of current source density analysis (CSD) were examined. The approximate formula usually used with CSD was the first error source. Another error originated from the finite interelectrode distance. The measurement error of the device with which the potential was recorded was the third error source herein considered. A relative SSD error was determined to estimate the effect of the errors examined. The experimental data (a section from the three-dimensional potential profile in annuran cerebellum produced by parallel fiber activation) were fitted by polynomials, Fourier expansion and cubic splines. Then a preferable interelectrode distance was obtained corresponding to the minimal relative error.

Animals

The measurement of distortion: theoretical considerations.

When very find measurements are recorded for the purpose of establishing distortion values, from the standpoint of accuracy, specific procedures must be developed. In the procedural system defined here, a potential major source of error is indicated and the means of overcoming this error established. From the standpoint of modern electronic technology, the use of an analogue-to-digital interface with a digital computer is considered extremely advantageous and allows the utilization of technical help to carry out the preliminary measurements. Under these circumstances, major error sources, such as reader error and calculation error, are eliminated. Further, multiple readings on each point can be made without significant sacrifice of time. This latter statement can help define the reading accuracy on each point and allows an immediate further set of readings on any point that has a large variation in the initially established set of readings. The applicability of this approach to any system in which an accurate set of readings is required to define distortion or some other parameter is limited only by the imagination of the investigator. Measuring points can be established at any desired location, and the number required is a function of the mathematical analysis being attempted. The use of a digital computer to compute the final values allows an immediate remeasurement of the initial values if necessary, since the computer response time is of the order of seconds for the calculations carried out. This is very important if changes in the experimental setup are likely to occur with time. In general, a computerized scheme such as is proposed here allows the investigator to concentrate on the experiment rather than the calculation of results. Also, the use of technical help to carry out delicate measuring procedures can allow the investigator more time to analyze the final results.

Analog-Digital Conversion

Sources of error in intraocular lens power calculation.

The hypothesis that the minimum error in predicted refraction after implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL) of calculated power is the sum of the random error in (1) the measurement of the axial length, (2) the measurement of the corneal power, and (3) the estimation of the pseudophakic anterior chamber depth (ACD) is proposed. Based on preoperative and postoperative biometry of 584 IOL implantations, 54% of the error was attributed to axial length errors, 8% to corneal power errors, and 38% to errors in the estimation of the postoperative ACD, when a fixed ACD was used in the IOL calculations. However, if the ACD was predicted according to a previously described regression method, the contribution of error from the ACD source was reduced to 22%, thereby reducing the total refractive prediction error from +/- 1.03 diopters (D) (+/- SD) to +/- 0.92 D (+/- SD). These predictions accord with clinical results.

Adult

Cell adherence as a serious source of error in the haemacytometer count of leucocytes in artificial suspensions.

This report demonstrates a previously disregarded source of error in the count of lymphocytes that have been fixed in Turk's dilution fluid (acetic acid and gentian violet). If the dilution fluid does not contain any serum protein or other proteins, a large proporation of the lymphocytes will stick to the walls of the mixing vessel. The use of plastic or siliconized vessels does not prevent this. The number of cells which in that way will be eliminated from the suspension is dependent on several variables, such as the type of mixing procedure and mixing vessel, the compensation of the dilution fluid and the cell density. As a consequence it is difficult to give any correction factor for such a count in a haemacytometer counting chamber. More than 30% of the cells may disappear under generally obtained conditions. This source of error is to some extent also involved in the white blood cell count, despite the presence of about 1% protein in the dilution fluid from the serum and lysed erythrocytes. To prevent this loss of cells either bone serum albumin, to a concentration of 5%, or the detergent Certrimide, to a concentration of 2-5 mM, may be added to the dilution fluid.

Animals

The effects of measurement errors in the plasma radioactivity curve on parameter estimation in positron emission tomography.

The effects of three error sources in plasma curve measurements on parameter estimation in kinetic analysis of positron emission tomography (PET) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) data are investigated by computer simulation. The three error sources are: (1) measurement noise in the radioactivity concentrations of plasma samples; (2) linear interpolation between adjacent plasma sampling points of the plasma time activity curve; and (3) incorrect weights used for the least-squares regression. All three error sources are found to increase the variability of the parameter estimates, with the first one a primary error source in normal PET FDG studies. The performance of five estimation methods which account for the error sources are evaluated. When the noise variances of the plasma and the tissue measurements are not known, an iterative weighting procedure is shown to give accurate and reliable estimates.

Computer Simulation

[Sources of error in sonographic diagnosis of the rotator cuff].

Sonography of the shoulder joint has developed into an established examination technique in the diagnosis of periarticular lesions of the shoulder. Sonographic diagnosis of the rotator cuff in particular contains a multitude of possible errors, which are gone into by this study by means of 149 clinically, radiologically and sonographically examined shoulder patients with an average age of 50.5 years. Besides errors made by wrong examination technique such of the transducer as incorrect adjustment of the equipment, insufficient contact of the transducer with the skin and unsuitable choice of the examination plane, there are sources of errors in the interpretation of the sonogram caused by lack of knowledge about physically caused artifacts and sonoanatomical qualities of the shoulder joint. Calcification inside the rotator cuff and the so-called "sonographic inhomogeneity of the rotator cuff" are numbered among the sources of error particular to the shoulder joint. Most errors in sonographic diagnosis of the rotator cuff can be avoided by careful examination of both shoulder joints with an exactly tuned ultrasound device, taking into account the sonoanatomical and ultrasonic qualities. Radiological examination of the affected shoulder joint cannot be replaced by ultrasound.

Diagnostic Errors

Potential source of error in official diazepam assays.

A possible source of interference by a benzophenone hydrolysis product with the USP XIX spectrophotometric determination of diazepam in dosages forms is reported. A minor adaptation of the official assay procedures is briefly proposed as one method to correct this error.

Diazepam

Petri dish concavity--a potential source of error in antibiotic assay and agar diffusion antibiotic susceptibility tests.

Concave deformaties of the bottom of Petri dishes are a potential source of error for disk agar diffusion antibiotic assay and susceptibility procedures. This is due to differences in agar depth between the central and peripheral areas of the Petri dishes. We have observed significant concave deformities in both empty and commercially filled 150-mm plastic Petri dishes. For this reason we recommend that inspections for Petri dish deformity be incorporated into microbiology laboratory quality control programs.

Anti-Bacterial Agents