PREMISE: Seed germination over time is characterized by a sigmoid curve, called a germination curve, in which the percentage (or absolute number) of seeds that have completed germination is plotted against time. A number of individual coefficients have been developed to characterize this germination curve. However, as germination is considered to be a qualitative developmental response of an individual seed that occurs at one time point, but individual seeds within a given treatment respond at different time points, it has proven difficult to develop a single index that satisfactorily incorporates both percentage and rate. The aim of this paper is to develop a new coefficient, the continuous germination index (CGI), which quantifies seed germination as a continuous process, and to compare the CGI with other commonly used indexes. METHODS: To create the new index, the germination curves were smoothed using nondecreasing splines and the CGI was derived as the area under the resulting spline. For the comparison of the CGI with other common indexes, a regression model with functional response was developed. RESULTS: Using both an experimentally obtained wild pea (Pisum sativum subsp. elatius) seed data set and a hypothetical data set, we showed that the CGI is able to characterize the germination process better than most other indices. The CGI captures the local behavior of the germination curves particularly well. DISCUSSION: The CGI can be used advantageously for the characterization of the germination process. Moreover, B-spline coefficients extracted by its construction can be employed for the further statistical processing of germination curves using functional data analysis methods.

• Klíčová slova
• continuous germination index, functional regression, germination curve, nondecreasing positive smoothing splines, seed germination,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The distribution of time that people spend in physical activity of various intensities has important health implications. Physical activity (commonly categorised by the intensity into light, moderate and vigorous physical activity), sedentary behaviour and sleep, should not be analysed separately, because they are parts of a time-use composition with a natural constraint of 24 h/day. To find out how are relative reallocations of time between physical activity of various intensities associated with health, herewith we describe compositional scalar-on-function regression and a newly developed compositional functional isotemporal substitution analysis. Physical activity intensity data can be considered as probability density functions, which better reflects the continuous character of their measurement using accelerometers. These probability density functions are characterised by specific properties, such as scale invariance and relative scale, and they are geometrically represented using Bayes spaces with the Hilbert space structure. This makes possible to process them using standard methods of functional data analysis in the L2 space, via centred logratio (clr) transformation. The scalar-on-function regression with clr transformation of the explanatory probability density functions and compositional functional isotemporal substitution analysis were applied to a dataset from a cross-sectional study on adiposity conducted among school-aged children in the Czech Republic. Theoretical reallocations of time to physical activity of higher intensities were found to be associated with larger and more progressive expected decreases in adiposity. We obtained a detailed insight into the dose-response relationship between physical activity intensity and adiposity, which was enabled by using the compositional functional approach.

• Klíčová slova
• Compositional scalar-on-function regression, isotemporal substitution, physical activity, probability density functions, sedentary behaviour, sleep,
• MeSH
• adipozita * MeSH
• Bayesova věta MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• cvičení * fyziologie   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• obezita * MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine left and right ventricular functional reserves and collagen concentration during the development of cardiac hypertrophy and after its regression. METHODS: Two experimental models of cardiac hypertrophy (chronic thyroxine or isoprenaline treatment of adult rats) were compared 24 h and five weeks after the agent was last given. Pressure changes in the left (right) ventricle before and after acute aortic (pulmonary artery) ligation were recorded in open chest anaesthetised animals. The difference in dP/dtmax after and before ligation was regarded as the functional reserve. The total collagen concentration was determined in both ventricles separately by means of hydroxyproline. RESULTS: Left and right ventricular weight increased by 20% and 30% respectively in the two models employed. In the thyroxine treated group, the functional reserve of the left ventricle rose very noticeably, whereas in the isoprenaline treated group it decreased. The right ventricular functional reserve did not differ from that in the controls in either of the two groups. The collagen concentration rose in the left ventricle in the isoprenaline group only. Five weeks after the last administration of the agent, cardiac mass and ventricular function did not differ from the control values in either of the models studied; the only exception was the incomplete regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and persistent structural and functional impairment of the left ventricle in the isoprenaline treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that hearts undergoing a comparable degree of experimental hypertrophy may have different functional and structural properties; significant differences were found between the right and left ventricular response. Regression of hypertrophy together with a reversal of ventricular function usually occurs unless the myocardium has received severe structural damage.

• MeSH
• funkce levé komory srdeční fyziologie   MeSH
• funkce pravé komory srdeční fyziologie   MeSH
• isoprenalin MeSH
• kardiomegalie metabolismus   patofyziologie   MeSH
• kolagen analýza   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• srdce - funkce komor fyziologie   MeSH
• srdeční komory chemie   MeSH
• thyroxin MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• isoprenalin MeSH
• kolagen MeSH
• thyroxin MeSH

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential association of epilepsy and EEG abnormalities with autistic regression and mental retardation. We examined a group of 77 autistic children (61 boys, 16 girls) with an average age of 9.1 +/- 5.3 years. Clinical interview, neurological examination focused on the evaluation of epilepsy, IQ testing, and 21-channel EEG (including night sleep EEG recording) were performed. Normal EEGs were observed in 44.4% of the patients, non-epileptiform abnormal EEGs in 17.5%, and abnormal EEGs with epileptiform discharges in 38.1% of the patients. Epilepsy was found in 22.1% of the subjects. A history of regression was reported in 25.8% of the patients, 54.8% of the sample had abnormal development during the first year of life, and 79.7% of the patients were mentally retarded. Autistic regression was significantly more frequent in patients with epilepsy than in non-epileptic patients (p = 0.003). Abnormal development during the first year of life was significantly associated with epileptiform EEG abnormalities (p = 0.014). Epilepsy correlated significantly with mental retardation (p = 0.001). Although the biological basis and possible causal relationships of these associations remain to be explained, they may point to different subgroups of patients with autistic spectrum disorders.

• MeSH
• autistická porucha * diagnóza   epidemiologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• elektroencefalografie * MeSH
• epilepsie * diagnóza   epidemiologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• kognitivní poruchy diagnóza   epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mozek patofyziologie   MeSH
• neuropsychologické testy MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• regrese (psychologie) * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Three algorithms for assessment of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) have been evaluated: cross-correlation function, histogram analysis and regression plot. The algorithms were tested experimentally in a group of 11 subjects. A cross-correlation function with a high time resolution (1 ms) was used for investigation of the time lag between instantaneous heart rate and respiration (CTL). This time lag was not affected by the breathing rate in a range of 8 to 29 breaths per minute. A mathematical model of CTL compared with experimental results indicates that respiratory sinus arrhythmia is probably modulated directly by the respiratory network in the brainstem rather than by a baroreflex in the range of breathing rate investigated. Histogram analysis reflects the impact of inspiration and expiration on respiratory sinus arrhythmia. For this purpose heart rate changes were separated into two distributions (inspiration-expiration). The result value (U-VAL) of the Mann-Whitney U-test reflects the impact of respiration on heart rate variability. Regression analysis of heart rate versus respiration shows that the heart rate increase is more closely coupled to inspiration than the heart rate decrease to expiration. Both, CTL and U-VAL are thought to be useful parameters for clinical investigation of RSA.

• MeSH
• algoritmy * MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• dýchání fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozkový kmen fyziologie   MeSH
• nervová síť fyziologie   MeSH
• regresní analýza MeSH
• srdeční frekvence fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH

In the present paper the prediction method using the logistic regression is explained, and the range of problems for its use is deliminated. The example is presented of mentioned method's application on how to predict the dog survival in a radiolobiological experiment. The obtained results are compared with the prediction of outcome using the linear discriminant function. Both models are identic in a proportion of erroneously classified subjects. This method may be diagnostically supportive in ranging individuals to one of two groups delimitated previously.

• MeSH
• regresní analýza * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Vaccine efficacy (VE) assessed in a randomized controlled clinical trial can be affected by demographic, clinical, and other subject-specific characteristics evaluated as baseline covariates. Understanding the effect of covariates on efficacy is key to decisions by vaccine developers and public health authorities. METHODS: This work evaluates the impact of including correlate of protection (CoP) data in logistic regression on its performance in identifying statistically and clinically significant covariates in settings typical for a vaccine phase 3 trial. The proposed approach uses CoP data and covariate data as predictors of clinical outcome (diseased versus non-diseased) and is compared to logistic regression (without CoP data) to relate vaccination status and covariate data to clinical outcome. RESULTS: Clinical trial simulations, in which the true relationship between CoP data and clinical outcome probability is a sigmoid function, show that use of CoP data increases the positive predictive value for detection of a covariate effect. If the true relationship is characterized by a decreasing convex function, use of CoP data does not substantially change positive or negative predictive value. In either scenario, vaccine efficacy is estimated more precisely (i.e., confidence intervals are narrower) in covariate-defined subgroups if CoP data are used, implying that using CoP data increases the ability to determine clinical significance of baseline covariate effects on efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: This study proposes and evaluates a novel approach for assessing baseline demographic covariates potentially affecting VE. Results show that the proposed approach can sensitively and specifically identify potentially important covariates and provides a method for evaluating their likely clinical significance in terms of predicted impact on vaccine efficacy. It shows further that inclusion of CoP data can enable more precise VE estimation, thus enhancing study power and/or efficiency and providing even better information to support health policy and development decisions.

• Klíčová slova
• Baseline covariates, Correlate of protection, Logistic regression, Relative risk, Vaccine efficacy,
• MeSH
• demografie statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• klinické zkoušky, fáze III jako téma statistika a číselné údaje   metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• logistické modely MeSH
• počítačová simulace MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie jako téma statistika a číselné údaje   metody   MeSH
• účinnost vakcíny * statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• vakcinace statistika a číselné údaje   metody   MeSH
• vakcíny terapeutické užití   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• vakcíny MeSH

Spontaneous regression of cysts of the cavum septi pellucidi (CSP) and cavum vergae (CV) is rare and little discussed. The authors present their case report of this phenomenon following a severe headache in a 23-year-old woman, in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) had previously confirmed significant thinning of the left lateral cyst wall. We consider this finding to be a possible predisposing factor to rupture and the spontaneous regression of such cysts. In addition to the mechanism of cyst regression, the interrelated causes of their expansion and formation will be discussed.

• MeSH
• cysty * diagnostické zobrazování   chirurgie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• septum pellucidum * diagnostické zobrazování   chirurgie   patologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH

Commercially, cellulose products are designated with viscosity grade measured at 2% w/v concentration in water at 20 degrees C using an Ubbelohde viscometer. To represent viscosity/concentration curves, linear function of the eighth root of dynamic viscosity and the concentration is generally used. In this work, the influence on viscosity of aqueous solutions of methylcellulose 400 and hypromellose 4000 by temperature and polymer concentration was modelled using an empirically proposed multiple linear regression in which the transformation of viscosity by logarithm, the reciprocal value of the absolute temperature, and the concentration by square root was recommended. Due to this, the viscosity of both cellulose derivatives investigated could be predicted simultaneously with the mean difference between the observed data and the ones estimated equal to 16.2%. Expanding the linear regression with the linear interaction between logarithm of the polymer viscosity grade and square root of the polymer concentration, the precision of the viscosity prediction increased to the acceptable level of 4.1%. Other interactions between the studied variables did not provide significantly better results. The optimized regression equation enabled the prediction of kinematic, dynamic, relative, and specific viscosity of the aqueous solutions of cellulose derivatives. The dimensionless relative viscosity could be recommended because it takes into account the water viscosity at the same experimental temperature. Selecting viscosity grade of the cellulose derivative and temperature of measurement, the partial regression equations were obtained from which the relative viscosity could be determined as the function of the polymer concentration with the precision in range of 1.3-4.7%.

• MeSH
• deriváty hypromelózy MeSH
• lékové roztoky chemie   MeSH
• lineární modely * MeSH
• methylcelulosa analogy a deriváty   chemie   MeSH
• pomocné látky chemie   MeSH
• předpověď metody   MeSH
• teplota MeSH
• viskozita MeSH
• voda chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• deriváty hypromelózy MeSH
• lékové roztoky MeSH
• methylcelulosa MeSH
• pomocné látky MeSH
• voda MeSH

In this study, affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) and quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) calculations were combined to investigate non-covalent binding interactions between the hexaarylbenzene-based receptor (R) and alkali metal ions, Rb(+) and Cs(+) , in methanol. The apparent binding (stability) constants (K(b) ) of the complexes of receptor R with alkali metal ions in the methanolic medium were determined by ACE from the dependence of effective electrophoretic mobility of the receptor R on the concentration of Rb(+) and Cs(+) ions in the BGE using a non-linear regression analysis. The receptor R formed relatively strong complexes both with rubidium (log K(b) =4.04±0.21) and cesium ions (log K(b) =3.72±0.22). The structural characteristics of the above alkali metal ion complexes with the receptor R were described by ab initio density functional theory calculations. These calculations have shown that the studied cations bind to the receptor R because they synergistically interact with the polar ethereal fence and with the central benzene ring via cation-π interaction.

• MeSH
• benzenové deriváty chemie   MeSH
• cesium chemie   MeSH
• elektroforéza kapilární metody   MeSH
• methanol chemie   MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• nelineární dynamika MeSH
• regresní analýza MeSH
• rubidium chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• benzenové deriváty MeSH
• cesium MeSH
• methanol MeSH
• rubidium MeSH