title: An automated microaneurysm detector as a tool for identification of diabetic retinopathy in rural optometric practice

authors: Jelinek, Herbert J.

subjects: automated detection

abstract: Background: With the increase in the prevalence of diabetes, rural optometric clinics stand to increase their patient load and assessment of diabetic eye disease. This study aimed to assess whether automated identification of diabetic retinopathy based on the presence of microaneurysms is an effective tool in clinical practice.
Methods: We analysed 758 fundal images of 385 patients with diabetes attending the clinic obtained using a Canon CR5 with an EOS10 digital camera through a dilated pupil. Five optometrists employed in the clinic assessed the diabetic retinopathy using binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of the automated system used to analyse the retinal fundal images was determined by comparison with optometric and ophthalmologic assessment.
Results: The optometrists achieved 97 per cent sensitivity at 88 per cent specificity with respect to the ophthalmic classification for detecting retinopathy. The automated retinopathy detector achieved 85 per cent sensitivity at 90 per cent specificity at detecting retinopathy.
Conclusion: The automated microaneurysm detector has a lower sensitivity compared to the optometrists but meets NHMRC guidelines. It may impact on the efficiency of rural optometric practices by early identification of diabetic retinopathy. Automated assessment can save time and be cost-effective, and provide a history of changes in the retinal fundus and the opportunity for instant patient education using the digital images.

text: An automated microaneurysm detector as a tool for identification of diabetic retinopathy in rural optometric practice Background: With the increase in the prevalence of diabetes, rural optometric clinics stand to increase their patient load and assessment of diabetic eye disease. This study aimed to assess whether automated identification of diabetic retinopathy based on the presence of microaneurysms is an effective tool in clinical practice.
Methods: We analysed 758 fundal images of 385 patients with diabetes attending the clinic obtained using a Canon CR5 with an EOS10 digital camera through a dilated pupil. Five optometrists employed in the clinic assessed the diabetic retinopathy using binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of the automated system used to analyse the retinal fundal images was determined by comparison with optometric and ophthalmologic assessment.
Results: The optometrists achieved 97 per cent sensitivity at 88 per cent specificity with respect to the ophthalmic classification for detecting retinopathy. The automated retinopathy detector achieved 85 per cent sensitivity at 90 per cent specificity at detecting retinopathy.
Conclusion: The automated microaneurysm detector has a lower sensitivity compared to the optometrists but meets NHMRC guidelines. It may impact on the efficiency of rural optometric practices by early identification of diabetic retinopathy. Automated assessment can save time and be cost-effective, and provide a history of changes in the retinal fundus and the opportunity for instant patient education using the digital images.

year: 2006

title: On square values of the product of the Euler totient and sum of divisors functions

authors: Broughan, Kevin A.

subjects: Euler function

abstract: If n is a positive integer such that ϕ(n)σ(n) = m² for some positive integer m, then m≤n. We put m = n - a and we study the positive integers a arising in this way.

text: On square values of the product of the Euler totient and sum of divisors functions If n is a positive integer such that ϕ(n)σ(n) = m² for some positive integer m, then m≤n. We put m = n - a and we study the positive integers a arising in this way.

year: 2012

title: How Well Does Psychological Research in Aotearoa New Zealand Reflect Diversity?

authors: Tan, Kyle K. H.

subjects: biculturalism

abstract: This paper presents our reflections as psychological researchers based on a content analysis of studies published in Journal of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists and New Zealand Journal of Psychology over the last decade. We found the frequency of articles that had considered biculturalism, multiculturalism and diversity was related to the scope of the journal and the release of special issues on specific themes (e.g. Indigenous psychologies in 2017). Five issues were identified around the inclusion of cultural diversity in psychological research: inadequate data collection, controlling for diversity, no contextualisation of diversity, pathologisation of diversity and passing responsibility to others. Each issue was succinctly discussed with examples provided. Through this paper, we hope to open up a conversation on how psychological researchers can meet their ethical responsibility to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

text: How Well Does Psychological Research in Aotearoa New Zealand Reflect Diversity? This paper presents our reflections as psychological researchers based on a content analysis of studies published in Journal of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists and New Zealand Journal of Psychology over the last decade. We found the frequency of articles that had considered biculturalism, multiculturalism and diversity was related to the scope of the journal and the release of special issues on specific themes (e.g. Indigenous psychologies in 2017). Five issues were identified around the inclusion of cultural diversity in psychological research: inadequate data collection, controlling for diversity, no contextualisation of diversity, pathologisation of diversity and passing responsibility to others. Each issue was succinctly discussed with examples provided. Through this paper, we hope to open up a conversation on how psychological researchers can meet their ethical responsibility to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

year: 2023-07-24