The use of patient data for calculation of the indirect normal range and for quality control is investigated. The report deals with an empirical study of the properties of various statistics of patient data, and with the selection of appropriate patient statistics for calculation of the indirect normal range and for quality control. In regard to the indirect normal range, it is shown that the m...

The degree of equivalence of national measurement standards is established by means of key comparisons. The analysis of data from a key comparison requires the determination of a reference value, which is then used to express the degree of equivalence of the national measurement standards. Several methods for determining a reference value are available and these methods can lead to different re...

A 45-year-old male paint technician was identified as having an elevated whole-blood cadmium of 5.9 microg/l (Occupational and Safety Health Administration reference range for workers: <or=5.0 microg/l) through a routine workplace biological monitoring programme. Other than smoking 1.5-2 packs of cigarettes daily for 23 years, no additional non-occupational exposures to cadmium were identified....

This paper highlights progress on an important public health issue which, despite significant progress, has now stalled and is in need of renewed investment. The objective is to describe the effectiveness of efforts to reduce childhood lead exposure in Broken Hill - a historic mining town in western NSW - and what is required to further reduce exposure. Lead has no known function in the human b...

The basis set convergence of explicitly correlated double-hybrid density functional theory (DFT) is investigated using the B2GP-PLYP functional. As reference values, we use basis set limit B2GP-PLYP-F12 reaction energies extrapolated from the aug(')-cc-pV(Q+d)Z and aug(')-cc-pV(5+d)Z basis sets. Explicitly correlated double-hybrid DFT calculations converge significantly faster to the basis set ...

QUESTION What are reference values for grip strength in children and adolescents based on a large and heterogeneous study population? What is the association of grip strength with age, gender, weight, and height in this population? DESIGN Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS Participants were recruited from schools in the northern provinces of the Netherlands. The study included healthy chil...

This article provides an overview of methods for reliability assessment of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models in the context of regulatory acceptance of human health and environmental QSARs. Useful diagnostic tools and data analytical approaches are highlighted and exemplified. Particular emphasis is given to the question of how to define the applicability borders of a Q...

At the present time, there is considerable diversity in the dietary reference values and recommendations used across Europe, both in terms of terminology and guideline values. Harmonization of dietary reference values would be beneficial in simplifying nutritional policy, trade, and public understanding of diet and health issues. However, this is not a simple task because of the differences in ...

AIMS To study the distribution of longitudinal systolic strain and strain rate (SR) as indicators of myocardial deformation according to age and sex in a healthy population. METHODS AND RESULTS Longitudinal strain and SR were determined in 1266 healthy individuals from three standard apical views, using a combination of speckle tracking (ST) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to track regions o...