Understanding facilitators and barriers to reengineering the clinical research enterprise in community-based practice settings.

PubMed

Kukafka, Rita; Allegrante, John P; Khan, Sharib; Bigger, J Thomas; Johnson, Stephen B

2013-09-01

Solutions are employed to support clinical research trial tasks in community-based practice settings. Using the IT Implementation Framework (ITIF), an integrative framework intended to guide the synthesis of theoretical perspectives for planning multi-level interventions to enhance IT use, we sought to understand the barriers and facilitators to clinical research in community-based practice settings preliminary to implementing new informatics solutions for improving clinical research infrastructure. The studies were conducted in practices within the Columbia University Clinical Trials Network. A mixed-method approach, including surveys, interviews, time-motion studies, and observations was used. The data collected, which incorporates predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors in IT use, were analyzed according to each phase of ITIF. Themes identified in the first phase of ITIF were 1) processes and tools to support clinical trial research and 2) clinical research peripheral to patient care processes. Not all of the problems under these themes were found to be amenable to IT solutions. Using the multi-level orientation of the ITIF, we set forth strategies beyond IT solutions that can have an impact on reengineering clinical research tasks in practice-based settings. Developing strategies to target enabling and reinforcing factors, which focus on organizational factors, and the motivation of the practice at large to use IT solutions to integrate clinical research tasks with patient care processes, is most challenging. The ITIF should be used to consider both IT and non-IT solutions concurrently for reengineering of clinical research in community-based practice settings. © 2013.

Probabilistic structural mechanics research for parallel processing computers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sues, Robert H.; Chen, Heh-Chyun; Twisdale, Lawrence A.; Martin, William R.

1991-01-01

Aerospace structures and spacecraft are a complex assemblage of structural components that are subjected to a variety of complex, cyclic, and transient loading conditions. Significant modeling uncertainties are present in these structures, in addition to the inherent randomness of material properties and loads. To properly account for these uncertainties in evaluating and assessing the reliability of these components and structures, probabilistic structural mechanics (PSM) procedures must be used. Much research has focused on basic theory development and the development of approximate analytic solution methods in random vibrations and structural reliability. Practical application of PSM methods was hampered by their computationally intense nature. Solution of PSM problems requires repeated analyses of structures that are often large, and exhibit nonlinear and/or dynamic response behavior. These methods are all inherently parallel and ideally suited to implementation on parallel processing computers. New hardware architectures and innovative control software and solution methodologies are needed to make solution of large scale PSM problems practical.

Reflective Practice in a Pluri-Disciplinary Innovative Design Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Choulier, Denis; Picard, Fabienne; Weite, Pierre-Alain

2007-01-01

Reflective practice is an important vehicle for the apprenticeship of tacit and procedure-oriented knowledge. This article explores the development of reflective practice in the teaching of an innovative design course. Starting from a characterization of the "materials of a design situation" (problem-solution duality, methods and tools,…

Conceptualising the Research-Practice-Professional Development Nexus: Mobilising Schools as "Research-Engaged" Professional Learning Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dimmock, Clive

2016-01-01

This paper argues the need for coherent, holistic frameworks offering insightful understandings as well as viable, connected and synergistic solutions to schools in addressing pressing problems arising from the acknowledged gaps between research, practice and professional development. There is a need to conceptualise a comprehensive conceptual…

Dermatology practice management assures practice development and efficiency.

PubMed

Wagener, D L

2000-09-01

This article provides an overview of the disciplines involved in managing a dermatology practice today. Several key management processes, including strategic planning, financial analysis, advertising and public relations, information systems management, and compliance program development and monitoring are addressed. This article explores several possible tactics that can be used to help guide your practice in the right direction without overtaxing your resources. Also offered are possible solutions for creating an organization that is poised for success, and a management team capable of steering the practice through the sea of change ahead.

Technology of Synergy Manifestation in the Research of Solution's Stability of Differential Equations System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dvoryatkina, Svetlana N.; Melnikov, Roman A. M.; Smirnov, Eugeny I.

2017-01-01

Effectiveness of mathematical education as non-linear, composite and open system, formation and development of cognitive abilities of the trainee are wholly defined in the solution of complex tasks by means of modern achievements in science to high school practice adaptation. The possibility of complex tasks solution arises at identification of…

How to Improve the Relationship between Theory and Practice in Teacher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rasmussen, Jens; Rash-Christensen, Andreas

2015-01-01

The Expert in Teaching study pays special attention to the objective of connecting coursework more directly to practice in pre-service teacher education. The study was focused on developing better solutions to the problematic, weak, or even sometimes totally missing, link between theory (teaching at college) and practice (teaching internship) in…

Best management practices for creating a community wildfire protection plan

Treesearch

Pamela J. Jakes; Christine Esposito; Sam Burns; Antony S. Cheng; Kristen C. Nelson; Victoria E. Sturtevant; Daniel R. Williams

2012-01-01

A community wildfire protection plan (CWPP) is a means of bringing local solutions to wildland fire management. In developing and implementing CWPPs, communities assume a leadership role in reducing wildfi re risk on federal and nonfederal land. In this publication, we identify best management practices for CWPP development and implementation based on the experiences...

Filtrates and Residues: Ice Cream: Delicious Chemistry.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martino, James

1983-01-01

An experiment involving preparation of ice cream is conducted after students complete units on solutions, atomic structure, molecular architecture, and bonding. The laboratory gives practical illustration of relation of physical properties to bond type and solution theory developed. Materials needed, procedures used, and questions asked are…

9-1529 : low-cost safety solutions, pavement preservation, and maintenance practices for rural highways.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-08-01

Task 1 : The objective of this project was to develop and : demonstrate innovative low-cost solutions to : improve safety at stop-controlled intersections. : Preliminary directives from the project panel : were to focus on treatments on the minor str...

Classroom Amplification Technology: Theory and Practice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crandell, Carl C.; Smaldino, Joseph J.

2000-01-01

This article reviews some relevant events in the development of acoustical standards for classrooms, describes classroom challenges to providing clear acoustical signals to children in classrooms, and outlines amplification solutions to some of those classroom challenges. Solutions include personal amplification devices and use of signal-to-noise…

Developing consensus-based policy solutions for medicines adherence for Europe: a delphi study

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Non-adherence to prescribed medication is a pervasive problem that can incur serious effects on patients’ health outcomes and well-being, and the availability of resources in healthcare systems. This study aimed to develop practical consensus-based policy solutions to address medicines non-adherence for Europe. Methods A four-round Delphi study was conducted. The Delphi Expert Panel comprised 50 participants from 14 countries and was representative of: patient/carers organisations; healthcare providers and professionals; commissioners and policy makers; academics; and industry representatives. Participants engaged in the study remotely, anonymously and electronically. Participants were invited to respond to open questions about the causes, consequences and solutions to medicines non-adherence. Subsequent rounds refined responses, and sought ratings of the relative importance, and operational and political feasibility of each potential solution to medicines non-adherence. Feedback of individual and group responses was provided to participants after each round. Members of the Delphi Expert Panel and members of the research group participated in a consensus meeting upon completion of the Delphi study to discuss and further refine the proposed policy solutions. Results 43 separate policy solutions to medication non-adherence were agreed by the Panel. 25 policy solutions were prioritised based on composite scores for importance, and operational and political feasibility. Prioritised policy solutions focused on interventions for patients, training for healthcare professionals, and actions to support partnership between patients and healthcare professionals. Few solutions concerned actions by governments, healthcare commissioners, or interventions at the system level. Conclusions Consensus about practical actions necessary to address non-adherence to medicines has been developed for Europe. These actions are also applicable to other regions. Prioritised policy solutions for medicines non-adherence offer a benefit to policymakers and healthcare providers seeking to address this multifaceted, complex problem. PMID:23176439

A Course on Surface Phenomena.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woods, Donald R.

1983-01-01

Describes a graduate or senior elective course combining fundamentals of surface phenomena with practical problem-solving structured around a series of case problems. Discusses topics covered and their development through acquiring new knowledge applied to the case problem, practical calculations of solutions, and applications to additional…

Indiana State University Professional Development School Partnership: Systemic, Symbiotic, and Solution-Oriented

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Libler, Rebecca

2010-01-01

The Indiana State University Professional Development Schools (ISU PDS) Partnership sprang from the convergence of two strong needs: (1) the need for real life practice in the way of extended clinical experiences for teacher education students in schools of practice; and (2) the need on the part of the schools in the community to have access to…

Task Management for Firefighters: A Practical Approach to Task Management.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Stephen S.

1979-01-01

A project management system for organizing requests from multiple departments and controlling the workload of the development/maintenance computer staff is described. Practical solutions to deciding project priorities, determining time estimates, creating positive peer pressure among programing staff, and formalizing information requests are…

Quality Assessment and Control of Finite Element Solutions.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

solutions. However, some special-purpose and pilot finite element systems have implemented adaptive algorithms 17 p." for practical performance studies ...simulator (SAFES code) developed at the University of Wyoming (Ref. 148); and the PROBE system developed by NOETIC Technologies Corporation in St. Louis (Ref...displacements. Recent studies have demonstrated that the accuracy and rate of convergence of stresses (and strains) r. depend on how (and where) they

Teachers' Use of Knowledge Sources in "Result Meetings": Thin Data and Thick Data Use

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mausethagen, Sølvi; Prøitz, Tine; Skedsmo, Guri

2018-01-01

In this article, we examine teachers' use of knowledge sources in meetings where they discuss and formulate initiatives and solutions to develop existing teaching practice based on national test results. While practices of data use have been extensively researched, less attention has been given to the content of data use practices. Analyses of…

Applications of FRP-OFBG sensors on bridge cables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Zhi; Zhang, Zhichun; Deng, Nianchun; Zhao, Xuefeng; Li, Dongsheng; Wang, Chuang; Ou, Jinping

2005-05-01

It is still a practical problem how to effectively install FBG sensors on bridge cabes. In this paper, a simple and effective solution is introduced to develop smart bridge cables using FRP-OFBG bars developed in HIT (Harbin Institute of Technology). Here, the FRP-OFBG bar acts as one component of the cable and shows force resistance and well-protected sensors in service. The installation techniques and the sensing properties of FBGs in three kinds of cables, FRP cables, common steel-wire cable and extruded-anchor cable, are introduced and tested under dead load. Moreover, the preliminary introduction of a practical field application based on this solution has been also given. The experimental results show that the deformability of FRP-OFBG bars in the smart cables can reach the terminal and show wonderful accuracy, which shows that such kind of smart cable is practical in field application.

Ergonomics support for local initiative in improving safety and health at work: International Labour Organization experiences in industrially developing countries.

PubMed

Kawakami, T; Kogi, K

2005-04-15

Ergonomics has played essential roles in the technical cooperation activities of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in occupational safety and health in industrially developing countries. Ergonomics support focusing on practical day-to-day needs at the grass-root workplace has strengthened the local initiative in improving safety and health. Practical action-tools such as ergonomics checklists, local good example photos and group discussions have assisted workers and employers in identifying feasible solutions using locally available resources. Direct participation of workers and employers has been promoted in ergonomics training aimed at immediate solutions. ILO Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems have played increasingly important roles in the systematic planning of local improvement actions. Policy-level programmes to develop network support mechanisms to the grass-root workplace were essential for following up and sustaining local achievements. Practical ergonomics support tools, such as action checklists and low-cost improvement guides, should be developed and widely applied so as to reach grass-root levels and help local people create safer and healthier workplaces.

Electromagnetic inverse scattering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bojarski, N. N.

1972-01-01

A three-dimensional electromagnetic inverse scattering identity, based on the physical optics approximation, is developed for the monostatic scattered far field cross section of perfect conductors. Uniqueness of this inverse identity is proven. This identity requires complete scattering information for all frequencies and aspect angles. A nonsingular integral equation is developed for the arbitrary case of incomplete frequence and/or aspect angle scattering information. A general closed-form solution to this integral equation is developed, which yields the shape of the scatterer from such incomplete information. A specific practical radar solution is presented. The resolution of this solution is developed, yielding short-pulse target resolution radar system parameter equations. The special cases of two- and one-dimensional inverse scattering and the special case of a priori knowledge of scatterer symmetry are treated in some detail. The merits of this solution over the conventional radar imaging technique are discussed.

[Residency in family medicine: problems and solutions].

PubMed

Boulé, Richard; Girard, Gilles

2003-04-01

To identify the problems encountered by residents during training and the solutions they proposed. Qualitative study. Family practice program at Sherbrooke University. Sixty-eight residents in the Family practice program between 1999 and 2000. We used the nominal group technique with four groups of participants. Then we held five 3-hour discussion groups to explore difficulties and solutions in depth. Finally, data were validated with a written questionnaire. At least 20% of respondents confirmed 65 difficulties and 61 solutions. Three major themes emerged: the many demands of the residence program, residents' personal experience of the program, and the lack of time for personal life. Publication of these results could help residents develop proactive adaptive strategies to deal with the stress of their training programs. Certain adjustments will be made by the program administration to make it easier for residents to manage their stress.

Fostering Solutions: Bringing Brief-Therapy Principles and Practices to the Child Welfare System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flemons, Douglas; Liscio, Michele; Gordon, Arlene Brett; Hibel, James; Gutierrez-Hersh, Annette; Rebholz, Cynthia L.

2010-01-01

This article describes a 15-month university-community collaboration that was designed to fast-track children out of foster care. The developers of the project initiated resource-oriented "systems facilitations," allowing wraparound professionals and families to come together in large meetings to solve problems and find solutions. Families also…

Accelerating the Integration of Distributed Water Solutions: A Conceptual Financing Model from the Electricity Sector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quesnel, Kimberly J.; Ajami, Newsha K.; Wyss, Noemi

2017-11-01

Modern challenges require new approaches to urban water management. One solution in the portfolio of potential strategies is the integration of distributed water infrastructure, practices, and technologies into existing systems. However, many practical barriers have prevented the widespread adoption of these systems in the US. The objective of this paper is to address these challenges by developing a conceptual model encompassing regulatory, financial, and governance components that can be used to incorporate new distributed water solutions into our current network. To construct the model, case studies of successfully implemented distributed electricity systems, specifically energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, were examined to determine how these solutions have become prominent in recent years and what lessons can be applied to the water sector in a similar pursuit. The proposed model includes four action-oriented elements: catalyzing change, establishing funding sources, using resource pathways, and creating innovative governance structures. As illustrated in the model, the water sector should use suite of coordinated policies to promote change, engage end users through fiscal incentives, and encourage research, development and dissemination of new technologies over time.

Accelerating the Integration of Distributed Water Solutions: A Conceptual Financing Model from the Electricity Sector.

PubMed

Quesnel, Kimberly J; Ajami, Newsha K; Wyss, Noemi

2017-11-01

Modern challenges require new approaches to urban water management. One solution in the portfolio of potential strategies is the integration of distributed water infrastructure, practices, and technologies into existing systems. However, many practical barriers have prevented the widespread adoption of these systems in the US. The objective of this paper is to address these challenges by developing a conceptual model encompassing regulatory, financial, and governance components that can be used to incorporate new distributed water solutions into our current network. To construct the model, case studies of successfully implemented distributed electricity systems, specifically energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, were examined to determine how these solutions have become prominent in recent years and what lessons can be applied to the water sector in a similar pursuit. The proposed model includes four action-oriented elements: catalyzing change, establishing funding sources, using resource pathways, and creating innovative governance structures. As illustrated in the model, the water sector should use suite of coordinated policies to promote change, engage end users through fiscal incentives, and encourage research, development and dissemination of new technologies over time.

Emerging Communities of Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McAlister, Martha

2016-01-01

Communities of practice are emerging as an innovative approach to faculty development. While collaborative learning is becoming popular in the classroom, autonomy and individualism continue to dominate the culture of higher education for faculty. However, as we begin to recognize that old solutions to new problems are no longer effective, there is…

Learning Styles in Engineering Education: The Quest to Improve Didactic Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holvikivi, Jaana

2007-01-01

This article discusses a dilemma that engineering educators encounter when attempting to develop pedagogical methods: that of finding efficient and scientifically valid didactic practices. The multitude of methods offered by educational consultants is perplexing. Moreover, the popularity of commercially offered solutions such as learning styles…

Custom software development for use in a clinical laboratory

PubMed Central

Sinard, John H.; Gershkovich, Peter

2012-01-01

In-house software development for use in a clinical laboratory is a controversial issue. Many of the objections raised are based on outdated software development practices, an exaggeration of the risks involved, and an underestimation of the benefits that can be realized. Buy versus build analyses typically do not consider total costs of ownership, and unfortunately decisions are often made by people who are not directly affected by the workflow obstacles or benefits that result from those decisions. We have been developing custom software for clinical use for over a decade, and this article presents our perspective on this practice. A complete analysis of the decision to develop or purchase must ultimately examine how the end result will mesh with the departmental workflow, and custom-developed solutions typically can have the greater positive impact on efficiency and productivity, substantially altering the decision balance sheet. Involving the end-users in preparation of the functional specifications is crucial to the success of the process. A large development team is not needed, and even a single programmer can develop significant solutions. Many of the risks associated with custom development can be mitigated by a well-structured development process, use of open-source tools, and embracing an agile development philosophy. In-house solutions have the significant advantage of being adaptable to changing departmental needs, contributing to efficient and higher quality patient care. PMID:23372985

Custom software development for use in a clinical laboratory.

PubMed

Sinard, John H; Gershkovich, Peter

2012-01-01

In-house software development for use in a clinical laboratory is a controversial issue. Many of the objections raised are based on outdated software development practices, an exaggeration of the risks involved, and an underestimation of the benefits that can be realized. Buy versus build analyses typically do not consider total costs of ownership, and unfortunately decisions are often made by people who are not directly affected by the workflow obstacles or benefits that result from those decisions. We have been developing custom software for clinical use for over a decade, and this article presents our perspective on this practice. A complete analysis of the decision to develop or purchase must ultimately examine how the end result will mesh with the departmental workflow, and custom-developed solutions typically can have the greater positive impact on efficiency and productivity, substantially altering the decision balance sheet. Involving the end-users in preparation of the functional specifications is crucial to the success of the process. A large development team is not needed, and even a single programmer can develop significant solutions. Many of the risks associated with custom development can be mitigated by a well-structured development process, use of open-source tools, and embracing an agile development philosophy. In-house solutions have the significant advantage of being adaptable to changing departmental needs, contributing to efficient and higher quality patient care.

Climate changes-What are the possible solutions?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Carlo, Caterina

2017-04-01

In this year, my school agreed to the Educational National Event "Week UNESCO DESS 2016-Education to the sustainable development". The proposal theme was "Climate changes-What can our cities do?" In November 2016 conferences, discussions, animations were organized in three second classrooms with 46 students of 16 age in total. During these activities, developed with the help of the curriculum teachers, the theme of the climate changes has been treated, in particular in the Mediterranean area with different evidences; one of them was the danger of the loss of the resources and biodiversity as concrete example. Then opinions, reflections were picked up on what solutions could be start up to limit the causes of the climate changes. All the work had the aim to sensitize the new generations to the problems and to stimulate a critical and responsible attitude in the sphere of the sustainable development. The opinions with the solutions were picked up and analysed. Results were the following: 15 students suggested as solution, to limit the use of the cars that consume hydrocarbons and to introduce electric cars in the big cities; to limit also the use of the electric energy in the houses and cities; 14 students thought it was important to project new technologies without hydrocarbons; 7 students suggested to develop more the renewable energies less polluting; 3 students thought it was important to manage better the waste with the recycle; 3 students suggested to increase the trees in the forest; 2 students thought it was important to form and to inform all the citizens of the Planet; 1 student suggested that world political leaders had to propose the solutions; 1 student thought it was important to use food produced locally. From that, is clear that the students are conscious of the solutions taken by the political leaders on the environment, but they also consider important the action of the single person that if observed by everyone can lead to a general improvement. Students solutions with higher range, as to limit the hydrocarbons cars and to project new technologies, probably have appeared because they live in an overcrowded city with intense road traffic. They perceive at the emotive level a trouble, a vexation in this situation. At this moment we think to realize a "brochure" with all the solutions as best practices more practicable by a single person, a sort of a "Vademecum"to be responsible citizens of the Planet in our time. In conclusion we believe this experience is also a didactic practice that permits to develop Science's curriculum giving back protagonists the students that can develop skills and competences for the solutions of the problems today and tomorrow.

Creating Communities of Practice to Improve the Educational and Mental Health Contexts of Bilingual/Bicultural Youth: A Case Study from Colorado

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Bryn

2014-01-01

Fiscal resources are becoming tighter, and school districts are asked to do more with less funding. This is occurring at the same time that school psychologists require increased professional development around effective practices and advocacy for bilingual students. Communities of practice (CoPs) are one potential solution as they aim to bring…

Consumer focus can spur group practice turnaround.

PubMed

Foreman, M S; Draper, A

2001-06-01

Many healthcare organizations have lost money on their employed group practices. The solution to this dilemma is not necessarily divestment of the group practices. Instead, some healthcare organizations should view their physicians as an asset. Healthcare organizations and physicians need to develop a new framework for their relationship to optimize their competitive advantage. Three guiding principles that will help accomplish this objective are to recast the healthcare organization-physician relationship to focus on the consumer, reconfigure the economic model to exceed consumer demands, and restructure the group practice to encourage fiscal and service excellence. In developing a new relationship framework, the stakeholders need to define the group practice's mission, strategic direction, composition, infrastructure, compensation model, and structure.

A Water and Energy Community of Practice (WECoP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Houser, P. R.

2008-12-01

Earth is a unique, living planet due to the abundance and vigorous cycling and replenishing of water throughout the global environment. The water cycle operates on a continuum of time and space scales and exchanges large amounts of energy as water undergoes phase changes and is moved from one part of the Earth system to another. Water is essential to life and is central to society's welfare, progress, and sustainable economic growth. However, global water cycle variability which regulates flood, drought, and disease hazards is being continuously transformed by climate change, erosion, pollution, salinization, and agriculture and civil engineering practices. The most visible manifestation that could be expected from climate warming would be changes in the distribution of precipitation and evaporation, and the exacerbation of extreme hydrologic events, floods and droughts. Technological advances, climate modeling and forecasting improvements and the emergence of earth system science will enable development of solutions for these daunting global water problems, and much of the needed scientific information is already available. A plethora of institutional, policy, management and communication problems have been neglected, which has resulted in significant underutilization of existing scientific information for solving contemporary and anticipated water issues. Effective communication and outreach is the critical task to enable existing science to be used to its full potential, to develop comprehensive solution strategies and to set future research priorities. The missing link is a water-focused Community of Practice (CoP) who has knowledge of both the decision support needs and the cutting-edge research results, and therefore can formulate a broad array of solutions to water problems today and into the future. The concept of a community of practice refers to the process of social learning that occurs when people who have a common interest in some subject or problem collaborate over an extended period to share ideas, find solutions, and build innovations. It refers as well to the stable group that is formed from such regular interactions. A CoP consists of three elements; developing these elements will cultivate the CoP: (1) A shared domain of interest - in this case water, (2) CoP members communicate, share information, engage in joint activities and learn from each other, and (3) Members of the CoP are engaged in a shared practice - developing a shared repertoire of resources, experiences, stories, case studies and tools. The NASA water-cycle solutions network project (WaterNet) mission is to improve our collective ability to routinely interact with and harness the results of scientific research so as to address water assessment, prediction and management challenges. This presentation will detail how WaterNet activities are helping to foster and enable a Water and Energy cycle CoP (WECoP), and how partnerships are cultivating an international Water Cycle Community of Practice, as follows: (1) Demonstration project and case studies. (2) Development of a web-based information portal, for sharing ideas and information. (3) Development of a knowledge base and water information search utility. (4) Fostering partnerships amon: CUAHSI, ESIP, NIDIS, GEOSS, GEWEX, NEWS, NCAR, etc. (5) Developing a newsletters and information guides. (6) Education and outreach activities. (7) Developing community-wide user needs, research capabilities and gap assessments. (8) Development of data integration capabilities. (9) Development of rapid-prototyping, test-bed and benchmarking capabilities. (10) Development and sharing of data, model and decision tool assets.

The theory-practice gap in nurse education: its causes and possible solutions. Findings from an action research study.

PubMed

McCaugherty, D

1991-09-01

Kurt Lewin, the originator of action research, proposed that it was valuable not only for innovating change, but also the process of change could lead to new insights into the nature of the problem that was being tackled. This action research project developed and evaluated a teaching model that aimed to help RGN (registered general nurse) students to bridge the theory-practice gap. During the course of this work, the possible reasons for a theory-practice gap started to become clear. This paper provides a discussion of these factors. The viewpoint for this discussion is that of the student nurse. The student is assumed to 'own' the problem and it is from her perspective that the theory-practice gap is analysed. The paper includes a critical examination of books, lectures, the school curriculum and ward nursing practice. Finally, possible solutions to the theory-practice problem are discussed and it is hoped that these will provide a rational basis for tackling the problem.

Problems of modern urban drainage in developing countries.

PubMed

Silveira, A L L

2002-01-01

Socio-economic factors in developing countries make it more difficult to solve problems of urban drainage than in countries that are more advanced. Factors inhibiting the adoption of modern solutions include: (1) in matters of urban drainage, 19th-century sanitary philosophy still dominates; (2) both legal and clandestine land settlement limits the space that modern solutions require; (3) contamination of storm runoff by foul sewage, sediment and garbage prevents adoption of developed-country practices; (4) climatic and socio-economic factors favour the growth of epidemics where runoff is retained for flood-avoidance and to increase infiltration; (5) lack of a technological basis for adequate drainage management and design; (6) lack of the interaction between community and city administration that is needed to obtain modern solutions to urban drainage problems. Awareness of these difficulties is fundamental to the search for modern and viable solutions appropriate for developing countries.

Parameterized Algorithmics for Finding Exact Solutions of NP-Hard Biological Problems.

PubMed

Hüffner, Falk; Komusiewicz, Christian; Niedermeier, Rolf; Wernicke, Sebastian

2017-01-01

Fixed-parameter algorithms are designed to efficiently find optimal solutions to some computationally hard (NP-hard) problems by identifying and exploiting "small" problem-specific parameters. We survey practical techniques to develop such algorithms. Each technique is introduced and supported by case studies of applications to biological problems, with additional pointers to experimental results.

Quality assessment and control of finite element solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noor, Ahmed K.; Babuska, Ivo

1987-01-01

Status and some recent developments in the techniques for assessing the reliability of finite element solutions are summarized. Discussion focuses on a number of aspects including: the major types of errors in the finite element solutions; techniques used for a posteriori error estimation and the reliability of these estimators; the feedback and adaptive strategies for improving the finite element solutions; and postprocessing approaches used for improving the accuracy of stresses and other important engineering data. Also, future directions for research needed to make error estimation and adaptive movement practical are identified.

Tire Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tanner, J. A. (Compiler)

1983-01-01

The workshop was organized into six sessions dealing with finite element developments, applications to tire dynamic problems, solution techniques for tire contact problems, experimental data, tire thermal studies, and current design practices.

Great Assistant Principals and the (Great) Principals Who Mentor Them: A Practical Guide

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goodman, Carole C.; Berry, Christopher S.

2011-01-01

Written for principals and assistant principals to read and reflect on together, this book describes the most common challenges facing today's assistant principals--and provides practical solutions. Authors Carole Goodman and Christopher Berry examine how principals and assistant principals can develop the kinds of relationships that serve to meet…

Can Restorative Practices in Schools Make a Difference?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCluskey, Gillean; Lloyd, Gwynedd; Kane, Jean; Riddell, Sheila; Stead, Joan; Weedon, Elisabet

2008-01-01

Schools in the UK looking for solutions to concerns about indiscipline have been enthused by the basic premise of restorative practice; the need to restore good relationships when there has been conflict or harm; and develop a school ethos, policies and procedures that reduce the possibilities of such conflict and harm arising. In 2004 the…

Hematopoietic growth factors in neonatal medicine: the use of enterally administered hematopoietic growth factors in the neonatal intensive care unit.

PubMed

Calhoun, Darlene A; Christensen, Robert D

2004-03-01

The practice of complete bowel rest in prematurely delivered neonates and those who have undergone surgery for congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is common in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). However, increased recognition of the critical role of growth factors in GI development suggests that this practice might be modified to include the administration of synthetic amniotic fluid-like solutions designed to bridge the neonate between their intra-uterine environment and that of the NICU. This article reviews advances in administering synthetic amniotic fluid-like solutions in the NICU.

Moneymed: a game to develop management skills in general practice

PubMed Central

Essex, B.; Jackson, R. N.

1981-01-01

A game has been developed to train people in the financial and administrative skills needed for effective general practice management. These skills cover a wide range of legal, economic, administrative and personnel problems encountered in general practice. Thirty-four trainees and six trainers showed a highly significant improvement in knowledge and problem-solving skills after playing the game. The format and design of the game allow the problem type, complexity and solution to vary and to be readily updated. So far, this seems to be one of the most effective instruments yet developed for learning these skills. Imagesp736-a PMID:7338867

Assessing the quality of radiographic processing in general dental practice.

PubMed

Thornley, P H; Stewardson, D A; Rout, P G J; Burke, F J T

2006-05-13

To determine if a commercial device (Vischeck) for monitoring film processing quality was a practical option in general dental practice, and to assess processing quality among a group of GDPs in the West Midlands with this device. Clinical evaluation. General dental practice, UK, 2004. Ten GDP volunteers from a practice based research group processed Vischeck strips (a) when chemicals were changed, (b) one week later, and (c) immediately before the next change of chemicals. These were compared with strips processed under ideal conditions. Additionally, a series of duplicate radiographs were produced and processed together with Vischeck strips in progressively more dilute developer solutions to compare the change in radiograph quality assessed clinically with that derived from the Vischeck. The Vischeck strips suggested that at the time chosen for change of processing chemicals, eight dentists had been processing films well beyond the point indicated for replacement. Solutions were changed after a wide range of time periods and number of films processed. The calibration of the Vischeck strip correlated closely to a clinical assessment of acceptable film quality. Vischeck strips are a useful aid to monitoring processing quality in automatic developers in general dental practice. Most of this group of GDPs were using chemicals beyond the point at which diagnostic yield would be affected.

A Systems Approach to Evaluating Ionizing Radiation: Six Focus Areas to Improve Quality, Efficiency, and Patient Safety

PubMed Central

Mower, Laura; Bushe, Chris

2015-01-01

Abstract: Ionizing radiation is an essential component of the care process. However, providers and patients may not be fully aware of the risks involved, the level of ionizing radiation delivered with various procedures, or the potential for harm through incidental overexposure or cumulative dose. Recent high-profile incidents demonstrating the devastating short-term consequences of radiation overexposure have drawn attention to these risks, but applicable solutions are lacking. Although various recommendations and guidelines have been proposed, organizational variability challenges providers to identify their own practical solutions. To identify potential failure modes and develop solutions to preserve patient safety within a large, national healthcare system, we assembled a multidisciplinary team to conduct a comprehensive analysis of practices surrounding the delivery of ionizing radiation. Workgroups were developed to analyze existing culture, processes, and technology to identify deficiencies and propose solutions. Six focus areas were identified: competency and certification; equipment; monitoring and auditing; education; clinical pathways; and communication and marketing. This manuscript summarizes this comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and systemic analysis of risk and provides examples to illustrate how these focus areas can be used to improve the use of ionizing radiation. The proposed solutions, once fully implemented, may advance patient safety and care. PMID:26042626

The Pursuit of K: Reflections on the Current State-of-the-Art in Stress Intensity Factor Solutions for Practical Aerospace Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

CraigMcClung, R.; Lee, Yi-Der; Cardinal, Joseph W.; Guo, Yajun

2012-01-01

The elastic stress intensity factor (SIF, commonly denoted as K) is the foundation of practical fracture mechanics (FM) analysis for aircraft structures. This single parameter describes the first-order effects of stress magnitude and distribution as well as the geometry of both structure/component and crack. Hence, the calculation of K is often the most significant step in fatigue analysis based on FM. This presentation will provide several reflections on the current state-of-the-art in SIF solution methods used for practical aerospace applications, including a brief historical perspective, descriptions of some recent and ongoing advances, and comments on some remaining challenges. Newman and Raju made significant early contributions to practical structural analysis by developing closed-form SIF equations for surface and corner cracks in simplified geometries, often based on empirical fits of finite element (FE) solutions. Those solutions (and others like them) were sometimes revised as new analyses were conducted or limitations discovered. The foundational solutions have exhibited striking longevity, despite the relatively "coarse" FE models employed many decades ago. However, in recent years, the accumulation of different generations of solutions for the same nominal geometry has led to some confusion (which solution is correct?), and steady increases in computational capabilities have facilitated the discovery of inaccuracies in some (not all!) of the legacy solutions. Some examples of problems and solutions are presented and discussed, including the challenge of maintaining consistency with legacy design applications. As computational power has increased, the prospect of calculating large numbers of SIF solutions for specific complex geometries with advanced numerical methods has grown more attractive. Fawaz and Andersson, for example, have been generating literally millions of new SIF solutions for different combinations of multiple cracks under simplified loading schemes using p-version FE methods. These data are invaluable, but questions remain about their practical use, because the tabular databases of key results needed to support practical life analysis can occupy gigabytes of storage for only a few classes of geometries. The prospect of using such advanced numerical methods to calculate in real time only those K solutions actually needed to support a specific crack growth analysis is also tempting, but the stark reality is that the computational cost is still so high that the approach is not practical except for specific, critical application problems. Some thoughts are offered about alternative paradigms. Compounding approaches are some of the earliest building blocks of SIF development for more complex geometries. These approaches are especially attractive because of their very low computational cost and their conceptual robustness; they are, in some ways, an intriguing contrast and complement to the brute-force numerical methods. In recent years, researchers at NRC-Canada have published remarkable results showing how compounding approaches can be used to generate accurate solutions for very difficult problems. Examples are provided of some successes--and some limitations--using this approach. These closed-form, tabulated numerical, and compounding approaches have typically been used for simple remote loading with simple load paths to the crack. However, many significant cracks occur in complex stress gradient fields. This is a job for weight function (WF) methods, where the arbitrary stress distribution on the crack plane in the corresponding uncracked body (typically determined using FE methods) is used to determine K. Several significant recent advances in WF methods and solutions are highlighted here. Fueled by advanced 3D numerical methods, many new solutions have been generated for classic geometries such as surface and corner cracks with wide ranges of geometrical validity. A new WF formulation has also be developed for part-through cracks considering the arbitrary stress gradients in all directions in the crack plane (so-called bivariant solutions). Basic WF methods have recently been combined with analytical expressions for crack plane stresses to develop a large family of accurate SIF solutions for corner, surface, and through cracks at internal or external notches with very wide ranges of shapes, sizes, acuities, and offsets. Finally, WF solutions are much faster than FE or boundary element solutions, but can still be much slower than simple closed-form solutions, especially for bivariant solutions that can require 2D numerical integration. Novel pre-integration and dynamic tabular methods have been developed that substantially increase the speed of these advanced WF solutions. The practical utility of advanced SIF methods, including both WF and direct numerical methods, is greatly enhanced if the FM life analysis can be directly and efficiently linked with digital models of the actual structure or component (e.g., FE models for stress analysis). Two recent advances of this type will be described. One approach directly interfaces the FM life analysis with the FE model of the uncracked component (including stress results). Through a powerful graphical user interface, simplified FM life models can be constructed (and visualized) directly on the component model, with the computer collecting the geometry and stress gradient information needed for the life calculation. An even more powerful paradigm uses expert logic to automatically build an optimum simple fracture model at any and every desired location in the component model, perform the life calculation, and even generate fatigue crack growth life contour maps, all with minimal user intervention. This paradigm has also been extended to the automatic calculation of fracture risk, considering uncertainty or variability in key input parameters such as initial crack size or location. Another new integrated approach links the engineering life analysis, the component model, and a 3D numerical fracture analysis built with the same component model to generate a table of SIF values at a specific location that can then be employed efficiently to perform the life calculation. Some attention must be given to verification and validation (V&V) issues and challenges: how good are these SIF solutions, how good is good enough, and does anyone believe the life answer? It is important to think critically about the different sources of error or uncertainty and to perform V&V in a hierarchal, building-block manner. Some accuracy issues for SIF solutions, for example, may actually involve independent material behavior issues, such as constraint loss effects for crack fronts near component surfaces, and can be a source of confusion. Recommendations are proposed for improved V&V approaches. This presentation will briefly but critically survey the range of issues and advances mentioned above, with a particular view towards assembling an integrated approach that combines different methods to create practical tools for real-world design and analysis problems. Examples will be selectively drawn from the recent literature, from recent enhancements in the NASGRO and DARWIN computer codes, and from previously unpublished research

Touchscreen questionnaire patient data collection in rheumatology practice: development of a highly successful system using process redesign.

PubMed

Newman, Eric D; Lerch, Virginia; Jones, J B; Stewart, Walter

2012-04-01

While questionnaires have been developed to capture patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in rheumatology practice, these instruments are not widely used. We developed a touchscreen interface designed to provide reliable and efficient data collection. Using the touchscreen to obtain PROs, we compared 2 different workflow models implemented separately in 2 rheumatology clinics. The Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology was used in 2 cycles of workflow redesign. Cycle 1 relied on off-the-shelf questionnaire builder software, and cycle 2 relied on a custom programmed software solution. During cycle 1, clinic 1 (private practice model, resource replete, simple flow) demonstrated a high completion rate at the start, averaging between 74% and 92% for the first 12 weeks. Clinic 2 (academic model, resource deficient, complex flow) did not achieve a consistent completion rate above 60%. The revised cycle 2 implementation protocol incorporated a 15-minute "nurse visit," an instant messaging system, and a streamlined authentication process, all of which contributed to substantial improvement in touchscreen questionnaire completion rates of ∼80% that were sustained without the need for any additional clinic staff support. Process redesign techniques and touchscreen technology were used to develop a highly successful, efficient, and effective process for the routine collection of PROs in a busy, complex, and resource-depleted academic practice and in typical private practice. The successful implementation required both a touchscreen questionnaire, human behavioral redesign, and other technical solutions. Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Rheumatology.

The power of partnership to shape the future of nursing: the evolution of the clinical nurse leader.

PubMed

Tornabeni, Jolene; Miller, Judith Fitzgerald

2008-07-01

This article describes the evolution of the clinical nurse leader role and demonstrates the vital nature of partnerships between academia and practice in the design and implementation of this new role. The health care system as it exists in the United States may put patients at risk in terms of safety and quality of care. Nursing leadership from across the US recognized a need for nursing practice and academia to work in partnership to develop workable and effective solutions. The vision was of a nurse generalist who would be prepared to address the complexities that make the current systems dysfunctional. Review, share experiences and discuss the benefits of engaging stakeholders with broad and diverse viewpoints. Engaging a group of stakeholders with diverse backgrounds, varied world views and experiences for the purpose of developing common mutually beneficial goals, creates synergy and greater commitment to the goals, which results in success. The power of partnership in the development and implementation of the CNL is evident. Old ways of trying to 'go it alone' are no longer viable in a complex health care environment. With continued collaboration, practice and academia can continue to confront challenges and develop effective solutions.

Dynamic Undergraduate Climate Change Affinity Program: University of Delaware Climate Program for Undergraduates (CPUG)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merrill, J.

2017-12-01

Multidisciplinary undergraduate climate change education is critical for students entering any sector of the workforce. The University of Delaware has developed a new interdisciplinary affinity program—UD Climate Program for Undergraduates (CPUG)—open to undergraduate students of all majors to provide a comprehensive educational experience designed to educate skilled climate change problem-solvers for a wide range of professional careers. The program is designed to fulfill all General Education requirements, and includes a residential community commitment and experiential learning in community outreach and problem solving. Seminars will introduce current popular press and research materials and provide practice in confirming source credibility, communications training, and psychological support, as well as team building. As undergraduates, members of the UD CPUG team will define, describe, and develop a solution or solutions for a pressing local climate challenge that has the potential for global impact. The choice of a challenge and approach to addressing it will be guided by the student's advisor. Students are expected to develop a practical, multidisciplinary solution to address the challenge as defined, using their educational and experiential training. Solutions will be presented to the UD community during the spring semester of their senior year, as a collaborative team solution, with enhancement through individual portfolios from each team member. The logic model, structure, curricular and co-curricular supports for the CPUG will be provided. Mechanisms of support available through University administration will also be discussed.

See More, Do More, Teach More: Surgical Resident Autonomy and the Transition to Independent Practice.

PubMed

Hashimoto, Daniel A; Bynum, William E; Lillemoe, Keith D; Sachdeva, Ajit K

2016-06-01

The graduate medical education system is tasked with training competent and autonomous health care providers while also improving patient safety, delivering more efficient care, and cutting costs. Concerns about resident autonomy and preparation for independent and safe practice appear to be growing, and the field of surgery faces unique challenges in preparing graduates for independent practice. Multiple factors are contributing to an erosion of resident autonomy and decreased operative experience, including differing views of autonomy, financial forces, duty hours regulations, and diverse community health care needs. Identifying these barriers and developing solutions to overcome them are vital first steps in reversing the trend of diminishing autonomy in surgical residency training. This Commentary highlights the problem of decreasing autonomy, outlines specific threats to resident autonomy, and discusses potential solutions to mitigate their impact on the successful transition to independent practice.

Effective Recruitment of Schools for Randomized Clinical Trials: Role of School Nurses.

PubMed

Petosa, R L; Smith, L

2017-01-01

In school settings, nurses lead efforts to improve the student health and well-being to support academic success. Nurses are guided by evidenced-based practice and data to inform care decisions. The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is considered the gold standard of scientific rigor for clinical trials. RCTs are critical to the development of evidence-based health promotion programs in schools. The purpose of this article is to present practical solutions to implementing principles of randomization to RCT trials conducted in school settings. Randomization is a powerful sampling method used to build internal and external validity. The school's daily organization and educational mission provide several barriers to randomization. Based on the authors' experience in conducting school-based RCTs, they offer a host of practical solutions to working with schools to successfully implement randomization procedures. Nurses play a critical role in implementing RCTs in schools to promote rigorous science in support of evidence-based practice.

Common Sense Guide to Mitigating Insider Threats, Fifth Edition

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

background investigation on its employees. 6.4 Quick Wins and High -Impact Solutions 6.4.1 All Organizations  Have all employees, contractors , and trusted...Studies 15 1.6 Quick Wins and High -Impact Solutions 16 1.6.1 All Organizations 16 1.7 Mapping to Standards 16 Practice 2: Develop a formalized insider...Threat Program 29 2.5 Case Studies 30 2.6 Quick Wins and High -Impact Solutions 31 2.6.1 All Organizations 31 2.6.2 Large Organizations 32 2.7

Simple Practice Doesn't Always Make Perfect: Evidence from the Worked Example Effect

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Booth, Julie L.; McGinn, Kelly M.; Young, Laura K.; Barbieri, Christina

2015-01-01

Findings from the fields of cognitive science and cognitive development propose a variety of evidence-based principles for improving learning. One such recommendation is that instead of having students practice solving long strings of problems on their own after a lesson, worked-out examples of problem solutions should be incorporated into…

Wilderness visitor management practices: a benchmark and an assessment of progress

Treesearch

Alan E. Watson

1989-01-01

In the short time that wilderness visitor management practices have been monitored, some obvious trends have developed. The managing agencies, however, have appeared to provide different solutions to similar problems. In the early years, these problems revolved around concern about overuse of the resource and crowded conditions. Some of those concerns exist today, but...

Investigating Pathways from the Earth Science Knowledge Base to Candidate Solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, D. J.; Johnson, E.; Mita, D.; Dabbiru, L.; Katragadda, S.; Lewis, D.; O'Hara, C.

2007-12-01

A principle objective of the NASA Applied Sciences Program is to support the transition of scientific research results into decisions which benefit society. One of the Solutions Network activities supporting this goal is the generation of Candidate Solutions derived from NASA Earth Science research results that have the potential to enhance future operational systems for societal benefit. In short, the program seeks to fill gaps between Earth Science results and operational needs. The Earth Science Knowledge Base (ESKB) is being developed to provide connectivity and deliver content for the research information needs of the NASA Applied Science Program and related scientific communities of practice. Data has been collected which will permit users to identify and analyze the current network of interactions between organizations within the community of practice, harvest research results fixed to those interactions, examine the individual components of that research, and assist in developing strategies for furthering research. The ESKB will include information about organizations that conduct NASA-funded Earth Science research, NASA research solicitations, principal investigators, research publications and other project reports, publication authors, inter-agency agreements like memoranda-of-understanding, and NASA assets, models, decision support tools, and data products employed in the course of or developed as a part of the research. The generation of candidate solutions is the first step in developing rigorously tested applications for operational use from the normal yet chaotic process of natural discovery. While the process of 'idea generation' cannot be mechanized, the ESKB serves to provide a resource for testing theories about advancing research streams into the operational realm. Formulation Reports are the documents which outline a Candidate Solution. The reports outline the essential elements, most of which are detailed in the ESKB, which must be analyzed when assessing the value of the solution. Through developmental testing of the ESKB, several pathways to Candidate Solutions have been discovered.

Administrative simplification, simplified for Hawai'i.

PubMed

Sakamoto, David

2012-04-01

The American health care system contains a layer of administrative controls that has become increasingly burdensome to medical practices in terms of uncompensated physician and staff time and practice costs. A primary care physician in solo practice spends between 4 and 10 hours a week directly interacting with health insurance companies and his or her staff will spend an additional 60 hours a week. This reduces patient-care availability, net practice income and physician job satisfaction. A literature review was conducted to determine possible solutions to administrative burdens physicians face in Hawai'i. A total of 51 articles were found matching search criteria with five being reports from major organizations. Twenty-seven articles were found that related to administrative simplification. The "administrative complexity" problem has been defined and its financial impact quantified. Promising solutions have been developed and proposed by private not-for-profit organizations and by the government, both state and federal. A successful administrative simplification plan would: (1) Provide rapid access to insurance information; (2) Allow medical practices to readily track specific claims; (3) Streamline the preauthorization process through the use of decision-support tools at the practice level and by directing interactions through real-time network connections between insurers and provider electronic health records, thus minimizing phone time; (4) Adopt the Universal Provider Datasource system for provider credentialing; and (5) Standardize (to the greatest degree possible) provider/insurer contracts. These solutions are outlined in detail.

iPad Infuse Creativity in Solid Geometry Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Nelson

2013-01-01

We unveiled our plans to revolutionize the students' spatial conception development through the challenge and support of a cooperative learning of practice, the development of the profession as a whole and through sharing innovation and expertise. This encompasses cognitive consultancy, curriculum integration, solutions architecture, management…

Numerical methods of solving a system of multi-dimensional nonlinear equations of the diffusion type

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Agapov, A. V.; Kolosov, B. I.

1979-01-01

The principles of conservation and stability of difference schemes achieved using the iteration control method were examined. For the schemes obtained of the predictor-corrector type, the conversion was proved for the control sequences of approximate solutions to the precise solutions in the Sobolev metrics. Algorithms were developed for reducing the differential problem to integral relationships, whose solution methods are known, were designed. The algorithms for the problem solution are classified depending on the non-linearity of the diffusion coefficients, and practical recommendations for their effective use are given.

Closing the research to practice gap in children's mental health: structures, solutions, and strategies.

PubMed

Jensen, Peter S; Foster, Michael

2010-03-01

Failure to apply research on effective interventions spans all areas of medicine, including children's mental health services. This article examines the policy, structural, and economic problems in which this gap originates. We identify four steps to close this gap. First, the field should develop scientific measures of the research-practice gap. Second, payors should link incentives to outcomes-based performance measures. Third, providers and others should develop improved understanding and application of effective dissemination and business models. Fourth, efforts to link EBP to clinical practice should span patient/consumers, providers, practices, plans, and purchasers. The paper discusses each of these in turn and relates them to fundamental problems of service delivery.

Professional Practice in Strategic Leadership and Societal Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gordon, Vincent Hoover Adams, Jr.

2016-01-01

A demonstration in the research focuses on the development of a syllabus for high school assemblies. The Peaceful Solution Character Education Incorporated (PSCEI) is a non-profit organization committed to "promoting character education as its main tool for positive character development with a variety of courses designed to reach all ages so…

Human Resource Development in the Irish Hotel Industry: The Case of the Small Firm.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nolan, Clara

2002-01-01

A profile of small businesses in the Irish hotel industry shows that all claim to believe in human resource development but few practice it. Small hotels favor informal, specific job training focused on solution of immediate problems rather than long-term development. (Contains 119 references.) (SK)

Structured light: theory and practice and practice and practice...

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keizer, Richard L.; Jun, Heesung; Dunn, Stanley M.

1991-04-01

We have developed a structured light system for noncontact 3-D measurement of human body surface areas and volumes. We illustrate the image processing steps and algorithms used to recover range data from a single camera image, reconstruct a complete surface from one or more sets of range data, and measure areas and volumes. The development of a working system required the solution to a number of practical problems in image processing and grid labeling (the stereo correspondence problem for structured light). In many instances we found that the standard cookbook techniques for image processing failed. This was due in part to the domain (human body), the restrictive assumptions of the models underlying the cookbook techniques, and the inability to consistently predict the outcome of the image processing operations. In this paper, we will discuss some of our successes and failures in two key steps in acquiring range data using structured light: First, the problem of detecting intersections in the structured light grid, and secondly, the problem of establishing correspondence between projected and detected intersections. We will outline the problems and solutions we have arrived at after several years of trial and error. We can now measure range data with an r.m.s. relative error of 0.3% and measure areas on the human body surface within 3% and volumes within 10%. We have found that the solution to building a working vision system requires the right combination of theory and experimental verification.

Values-based practice in mental health and psychiatry.

PubMed

Woodbridge-Dodd, Kim

2012-11-01

Values-based practice (VBP) challenges traditions of clinical practice and moral decision-making and the literature published over the last 18 months demonstrates a growing momentum for its use. The VBP model has become part of the narrative of health and social care practice. It features in a range of publications and has been subject to philosophical analysis in relation to its theoretical rigour, and applied to clinical practice through education and training, implementation in the field and policy development. From a philosophical perspective the model faces several challenges; from a practice perspective it is welcomed as a necessary partner to Evidence-Based Practice. Both perspectives suggest VBP requires significant adjustment to professional ideas of good practice, expectations of the clinician service user relationship and notions of what constitutes good care. VBP is both a solution and a problem for clinicians. Whether VBP is seen as providing a much needed clinical skill for working with the complexity of mental health and psychiatry which is steeped in values or a solution to a dominant sociopolitical neoliberal ideology demand for choice and personalization of care, VBP will require clinicians to make personal changes to their values base that reach to the depths of their professional identity.

An American and Dutch partnership for psychiatric mental health advance nursing practice: nurturing a relationship across the ocean.

PubMed

Maas, Lillian; Ezeobele, I Ezebuiro; Tetteroo, Marieke

2012-07-01

The purpose of this article is to discuss the challenges and rewards of developing and nurturing an international clinical psychiatric mental health advanced nursing practice exchange between the Netherlands and the United States. Since 1997, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands has been participating in international clinical experiences for their psychiatric mental health (PMH) advanced practice nursing students. The international experience is mandatory prior to graduation and is the first of its kind in Europe to mandate such a unique experience. This study sample included eight Dutch PMH advanced practice nursing students enrolled in a full-time master's in advanced nursing practice program. The descriptive study included reflective reports and one-on-one discussions over a 3-year period. With proper planning, an international nursing experience provides a unique opportunity for nurses to think beyond their own culture and healthcare system. Solving problems together through different perspectives creates opportunities for creative solutions. International partnerships within PMH advanced practice nursing promotes sharing of knowledge and solutions as patients and diseases have no border. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Using information technology for an improved pharmaceutical care delivery in developing countries. Study case: Benin.

PubMed

Edoh, Thierry Oscar; Teege, Gunnar

2011-10-01

One of the problems in health care in developing countries is the bad accessibility of medicine in pharmacies for patients. Since this is mainly due to a lack of organization and information, it should be possible to improve the situation by introducing information and communication technology. However, for several reasons, standard solutions are not applicable here. In this paper, we describe a case study in Benin, a West African developing country. We identify the problem and the existing obstacles for applying standard ECommerce solutions. We develop an adapted system approach and describe a practical test which has shown that the approach has the potential of actually improving the pharmaceutical care delivery. Finally, we consider the security aspects of the system and propose an organizational solution for some specific security problems.

An Innovative Solution to NASA's NEO Impact Threat Mitigation Grand Challenge and Flight Validation Mission Architecture Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wie, Bong; Barbee, Brent; Pitz, Alan; Kaplinger, Brian; Hawkins, Matt; Winkler, Tim; Premaratne, Pavithra; Vardaxis, George; Lyzhoft, Joshua; Zimmerman, Ben

2015-01-01

To develop an innovative yet practically implementable mitigation technique for the most probable impact threat of an asteroid or comet with short warning time(i.e., when we don't have sufficient warning times for a deflection mission)

Brown & Smith Communication Solutions: A Staffing System Simulation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Small, Erika E.; Doll, Jessica L.; Bergman, Shawn M.; Heggestad, Eric D.

2018-01-01

Developing students' practical skills in strategic staffing and selection within the classroom can be challenging. This article describes a staffing system simulation designed to engage students and develop applied skills in strategic recruiting, assessment, and evaluation of job applicants. Instructors looking for a multifaceted team project…

Application of temporal LNC logic in artificial intelligence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamek, Marek; Mulawka, Jan

2016-09-01

This paper presents the temporal logic inference engine developed in our university. It is an attempt to demonstrate implementation and practical application of temporal logic LNC developed in Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw.1 The paper describes the fundamentals of LNC logic, architecture and implementation of inference engine. The practical application is shown by providing the solution for popular in Artificial Intelligence problem of Missionaries and Cannibals in terms of LNC logic. Both problem formulation and inference engine are described in details.

Infotech. Cyber security. Health care learns to share scares and solutions.

PubMed

Colias, Mike

2004-05-01

Health care information technology leaders and others are coming together to share scary experiences and develop best practices to guard against crippling computer viruses, scheming hackers and other cyber threats.

Nursing Portal; a Nursing Informatics Solution for Iran, Lessons Learned from a Comparative Study

PubMed Central

Safdari, Reza; Masoori, Niloufar; Torabi, Mashaallah; Cheraghi, Mohammad A.; farzananejad, Ahmadreza; Azadmanjir, Zahra

2012-01-01

The nursing portal is an informatics solution in which services and capabilities supports the nursing staff in their practices and professional development with respect to the existing challenges for use of Internet by nurses at work. It can be considered as a creditable gateway for quick access to research-based evidence provided by reliable resources. Also it provide interactive virtual environment for knowledge exchange with experts or colleagues in different geographical area. Through a comparative study on specialized nursing portals in Iran and other three countries, the aim of this paper is defining desired content and structural specifications of nursing portals which support the practice of nurses in the workplace. Based on results of the present study, a set of recommendations provide for development of a comprehensive nursing portal in Iran. PMID:24199117

Registered nurses' constructed meaning of concepts of solution and their use in clinical practice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilkes, Lesley M.; Batts, Judith E.

1991-12-01

Since the introduction of nursing into tertiary institutions in Australia in 1975, there has been increasing interest in the teaching of physical science to nurses. Various courses in physical science for nurse students have been developed. They vary in length and content but there is agreement that concepts taught should be closely related to nursing applications. The choice of relevant concepts tends to be made by individual curriculum developers. This paper reports an examination of the use of physical science concepts and their relevance from the perspective of registered nurses practising in general ward areas. Inherent in this study is the premise that for registered nurses to have ideas of the physical science underlying their practice they must have constructed meaning first for these concepts. Specific chemical concepts related to solutions are discussed in these terms.

Nursing portal; a nursing informatics solution for iran, lessons learned from a comparative study.

PubMed

Safdari, Reza; Masoori, Niloufar; Torabi, Mashaallah; Cheraghi, Mohammad A; Farzananejad, Ahmadreza; Azadmanjir, Zahra

2012-01-01

The nursing portal is an informatics solution in which services and capabilities supports the nursing staff in their practices and professional development with respect to the existing challenges for use of Internet by nurses at work. It can be considered as a creditable gateway for quick access to research-based evidence provided by reliable resources. Also it provide interactive virtual environment for knowledge exchange with experts or colleagues in different geographical area. Through a comparative study on specialized nursing portals in Iran and other three countries, the aim of this paper is defining desired content and structural specifications of nursing portals which support the practice of nurses in the workplace. Based on results of the present study, a set of recommendations provide for development of a comprehensive nursing portal in Iran.

Methodology in the Assessment of Construction and Development Investment Projects, Including the Graphic Multi-Criteria Analysis - a Systemic Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szafranko, Elżbieta

2017-10-01

Assessment of variant solutions developed for a building investment project needs to be made at the stage of planning. While considering alternative solutions, the investor defines various criteria, but a direct evaluation of the degree of their fulfilment by developed variant solutions can be very difficult. In practice, there are different methods which enable the user to include a large number of parameters into an analysis, but their implementation can be challenging. Some methods require advanced mathematical computations, preceded by complicating input data processing, and the generated results may not lend themselves easily to interpretation. Hence, during her research, the author has developed a systemic approach, which involves several methods and whose goal is to compare their outcome. The final stage of the proposed method consists of graphic interpretation of results. The method has been tested on a variety of building and development projects.

Increasing the Roles and Significance of Teachers in Policymaking for K-12 Engineering Education: Proceedings of a Convocation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olson, Steve

2017-01-01

Engineering is a small but growing part of K-12 education. Curricula that use the principles and practices of engineering are providing opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students to design solutions to problems of immediate practical and societal importance. Professional development programs are showing teachers how to use…

Supporting Reflective Practices in Social Change Processes with the Dynamic Learning Agenda: An Example of Learning about the Process towards Disability Inclusive Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Veen, Saskia C.; de Wildt-Liesveld, Renée; Bunders, Joske F. G.; Regeer, Barbara J.

2014-01-01

Change processes are increasingly seen as the solution to entrenched (social) problems. However, change is difficult to realise while dealing with multiple actors, values, and approaches. (Inter)organisational learning is seen as a way to facilitate reflective practices in social change that support emergent changes, vicarious learning, and…

One Health: From theory to practice

PubMed Central

Little, Adam

2012-01-01

One Health approaches to human and veterinary medicine are critical to professionals addressing global issues of food security and disease prevention. However, we have yet to develop a sufficient strategy to translate our theoretical understanding to practical application. This paper will explore the current shortcomings of One Health, within both the medical and veterinary communities, and highlight solutions to overcome these challenges. PMID:23024395

Practice guidelines need to address the 'how' and the 'what' of implementation.

PubMed

McKillop, Ann; Crisp, Jackie; Walsh, Kenneth

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to explore the realities of everyday nursing practice associated with the implementation of a guideline for the assessment and management of cardiovascular risk. The use of clinical practice guidelines is pivotal to improving health outcomes. However, the implementation of guidelines into practice is complex, unpredictable and, in spite of much investigation, remains resistant to explanation of what works and why. Exploration of the nature of guideline implementation has the potential to illuminate the complexities of guideline implementation by focussing on the nature of practice. Nurses are well placed at the front line of primary health care to contribute to an understanding of how guideline implementation plays out in their everyday practice. Qualitative description was used, involving focus groups and interviews with 32 participants (20 nurses, four doctors, five managers and three funder/planners), to explore the use of a guideline in everyday primary health-care practice. Thematic analysis of data was managed through an inductive process of familiarisation, coding, categorising and generation of themes. Four themes were generated from the data portraying the realities of guideline implementation for primary health-care nurses: self-managing patient, everyday nursing practice, developing new relationships in the health team and impact on health-care delivery. The findings reveal that, even with the best of intentions to implement the guideline, health professionals were frustrated and at a loss as to how to achieve that in practice. Consequently, cardiovascular risk assessment and management was uneven and fragmented. Primary health-care practice environments vary so much that solutions to the difficulties of implementing evidence into practice requires context-specific solution-finding through collaborative teamwork. Furthermore, the attention of guideline developers, health-care policymakers, funders and researchers requires direct focus on the 'how' and the 'what' of evidence implementation.

Analytic regularization of uniform cubic B-spline deformation fields.

PubMed

Shackleford, James A; Yang, Qi; Lourenço, Ana M; Shusharina, Nadya; Kandasamy, Nagarajan; Sharp, Gregory C

2012-01-01

Image registration is inherently ill-posed, and lacks a unique solution. In the context of medical applications, it is desirable to avoid solutions that describe physically unsound deformations within the patient anatomy. Among the accepted methods of regularizing non-rigid image registration to provide solutions applicable to medical practice is the penalty of thin-plate bending energy. In this paper, we develop an exact, analytic method for computing the bending energy of a three-dimensional B-spline deformation field as a quadratic matrix operation on the spline coefficient values. Results presented on ten thoracic case studies indicate the analytic solution is between 61-1371x faster than a numerical central differencing solution.

The science, policy and practice of nature-based solutions: An interdisciplinary perspective.

PubMed

Nesshöver, Carsten; Assmuth, Timo; Irvine, Katherine N; Rusch, Graciela M; Waylen, Kerry A; Delbaere, Ben; Haase, Dagmar; Jones-Walters, Lawrence; Keune, Hans; Kovacs, Eszter; Krauze, Kinga; Külvik, Mart; Rey, Freddy; van Dijk, Jiska; Vistad, Odd Inge; Wilkinson, Mark E; Wittmer, Heidi

2017-02-01

In this paper, we reflect on the implications for science, policy and practice of the recently introduced concept of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), with a focus on the European context. First, we analyse NBS in relation to similar concepts, and reflect on its relationship to sustainability as an overarching framework. From this, we derive a set of questions to be addressed and propose a general framework for how these might be addressed in NBS projects by funders, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners. We conclude that: To realise their full potential, NBS must be developed by including the experience of all relevant stakeholders such that 'solutions' contribute to achieving all dimensions of sustainability. As NBS are developed, we must also moderate the expectations placed on them since the precedent provided by other initiatives whose aim was to manage nature sustainably demonstrates that we should not expect NBS to be cheap and easy, at least not in the short-term. Copyright © 2016 British Geological Survey, NERC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Total centralisation and optimisation of an oncology management suite via Citrix®

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

James, C.; Frantzis, J.; Ripps, L.; Fenton, P.

2014-03-01

The management of patient information and treatment planning is traditionally an intra-departmental requirement of a radiation oncology service. Epworth Radiation Oncology systems must support the transient nature of Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs). This unique work practice created challenges when implementing the vision of a completely paperless solution that allows for a responsive and efficient service delivery. ARIA® and EclipseTM (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA, USA) have been deployed across four dedicated Citrix® (Citrix Systems, Santa Clara, CA, USA) servers allowing VMOs to access these applications remotely. A range of paperless solutions were developed within ARIA® to facilitate clinical and organisational management whilst optimising efficient work practices. The IT infrastructure and paperless workflow has enabled VMOs to securely access the VarianTM (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA, USA) oncology software and experience full functionality from any location on multiple devices. This has enhanced access to patient information and improved the responsiveness of the service. Epworth HealthCare has developed a unique solution to enable remote access to a centralised oncology management suite, while maintaining a secure and paperless working environment.

Modeling in architectural-planning solutions of agrarian technoparks as elements of the infrastructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdrassilova, Gulnara S.

2017-09-01

In the context of development of the agriculture as the driver of the economy of Kazakhstan it is imperative to study new types of agrarian constructions (agroparks, agrotourists complexes, "vertical" farms, conservatories, greenhouses) that can be combined into complexes - agrarian technoparks. Creation of agrarian technoparks as elements of the infrastructure of the agglomeration shall ensure the breakthrough in the field of agrarian goods production, storing and recycling. Modeling of architectural-planning solutions of agrarian technoparks supports development of the theory and practice of designing objects based on innovative approaches.

Development of Contemporary Problem-Based Learning Projects in Particle Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Andrew T.

2009-01-01

The University of Sydney has offered an undergraduate course in particle technology using a contemporary problem based learning (PBL) methodology since 2005. Student learning is developed through the solution of complex, open-ended problems drawn from modern chemical engineering practice. Two examples are presented; i) zero emission electricity…

School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action. Second Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Epstein, Joyce L.; Sanders, Mavis G.; Simon, Beth S.; Salinas, Karen Clark; Jansorn, Natalie Rodriguez; Van Voorhis, Frances L.

Despite strong agreement on the importance of parent involvement, most schools, districts, and states still need help in developing comprehensive programs of school, family, and community partnerships. This revised handbook translates lessons learned over 20 years of research and fieldwork into practical solutions for program development. The book…

A Visual Language for World Marketing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vanden Bergh, Bruce G.; Sentell, Gerald D.

A practical solution to many of the communication obstacles found in international markets can be found in the development and widespread adoption of a standardized system of international graphic symbols. Any plan to develop and implement a truly acceptable and universal system of graphic symbols will have to overcome many obstacles that past…

Being research-savvy in acute care settings.

PubMed

Bridges, Jackie

2017-04-28

We are good at reinventing the wheel in older people's nursing, where we often find ourselves struggling with the same practice issues regardless of care setting. Frequently, the starting point is to develop a local solution.

Managing Stormwater and Dust at Demolition Sites

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Learn how to manage stormwater and dust at demolition sites, including developing a stormwater solution prevention plan, best practices for erosion, runoff and sediment control to reduce environmental impacts and comply with environmental regulations.

Systems 2020: Strategic Initiative

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-29

research areas that enable agile, assured, efficient, and scalable systems engineering approaches to support the development of these systems. This...To increase development efficiency and ensure flexible solutions in the field, systems engineers need powerful, agile, interoperable, and scalable...design and development will be transformed as a result of Systems 2020, along with complementary enabling acquisition practice improvements initiated in

Practical optimal flight control system design for helicopter aircraft. Volume 2: Software user's guide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Riedel, S. A.

1979-01-01

A method by which modern and classical control theory techniques may be integrated in a synergistic fashion and used in the design of practical flight control systems is presented. A general procedure is developed, and several illustrative examples are included. Emphasis is placed not only on the synthesis of the design, but on the assessment of the results as well. The first step is to establish the differences, distinguishing characteristics and connections between the modern and classical control theory approaches. Ultimately, this uncovers a relationship between bandwidth goals familiar in classical control and cost function weights in the equivalent optimal system. In order to obtain a practical optimal solution, it is also necessary to formulate the problem very carefully, and each choice of state, measurement and output variable must be judiciously considered. Once design goals are established and problem formulation completed, the control system is synthesized in a straightforward manner. Three steps are involved: filter-observer solution, regulator solution, and the combination of those two into the controller. Assessment of the controller permits and examination and expansion of the synthesis results.

Permeation studies through porcine small intestine of furosemide solutions for personalised paediatric administration.

PubMed

Provenza, N; Calpena, A C; Mallandrich, M; Sánchez, A; Egea, M A; Clares, B

2014-11-20

Personalized medicine is a challenging research area in paediatric drug design since no suitable pharmaceutical forms are currently available. Furosemide is an anthranilic acid derivative used in paediatric practice to treat cardiac and pulmonary disorders in premature infants and neonates. However, it is not commercialized in suitable dosage forms for paediatrics. Elaborating new paediatric formulations when no commercial forms are available is a common practice in pharmacy laboratories; amongst these, oral liquid formulations are the most common. We developed two extemporaneous paediatric oral solutions of furosemide (pure powder). The characterization and stability study were also performed. Parameters such as organoleptic characteristics, rheology, pH, content of active substance, and microbial stability were evaluated at three temperatures for two months. Evaluation of all these parameters showed that both solutions were stable for 60 days at 4 and 25 °C. Moreover, ex vivo studies were performed to evaluate the permeation behaviour of developed solutions through porcine small intestine to evaluate the potential paediatric biological parameters influencing the bioavailability and efficacy. A validated spectrofluorometric method was also used for this purpose. Our results guarantee a correct dosification, administration and potential efficacy of furosemide when is formulated in liquid oral forms for the treatment of cardiac and pulmonary disorders in children. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Administrative Simplification, Simplified for Hawai‘i

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background The American health care system contains a layer of administrative controls that has become increasingly burdensome to medical practices in terms of uncompensated physician and staff time and practice costs. A primary care physician in solo practice spends between 4 and 10 hours a week directly interacting with health insurance companies and his or her staff will spend an additional 60 hours a week. This reduces patient-care availability, net practice income and physician job satisfaction. Methods A literature review was conducted to determine possible solutions to administrative burdens physicians face in Hawai‘i. A total of 51 articles were found matching search criteria with five being reports from major organizations. Results Twenty-seven articles were found that related to administrative simplification. The “administrative complexity” problem has been defined and its financial impact quantified. Promising solutions have been developed and proposed by private not-for-profit organizations and by the government, both state and federal. Discussion A successful administrative simplification plan would: (1) Provide rapid access to insurance information; (2) Allow medical practices to readily track specific claims; (3) Streamline the preauthorization process through the use of decision-support tools at the practice level and by directing interactions through real-time network connections between insurers and provider electronic health records, thus minimizing phone time; (4) Adopt the Universal Provider Datasource system for provider credentialing; and (5) Standardize (to the greatest degree possible) provider/insurer contracts. These solutions are outlined in detail. PMID:22737644

Developing Analytical Inspection Criteria for Health IT Personnel with Minimum Training in Cognitive Ergonomics: A Practical Solution to EHR Improving EHR Usability

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhen; Franklin, Amy; Walji, Muhammad; Zhang, Jiajie; Gong, Yang

2014-01-01

EHR usability has been identified as a major barrier to care quality optimization. One major challenge of improving EHR usability is the lack of systematic training in usability or cognitive ergonomics for EHR designers/developers in the vendor community and EHR analysts making significant configurations in healthcare organizations. A practical solution is to provide usability inspection tools that can be easily operationalized by EHR analysts. This project is aimed at developing a set of usability tools with demonstrated validity and reliability. We present a preliminary study of a metric for cognitive transparency and an exploratory experiment testing its validity in predicting the effectiveness of action-effect mapping. Despite the pilot nature of both, we found high sensitivity and specificity of the metric and higher response accuracy within a shorter time for users to determine action-effect mappings in transparent user interface controls. We plan to expand the sample size in our empirical study. PMID:25954439

Practice what you preach: developing person-centred culture in inpatient mental health settings through strengths-based, transformational leadership.

PubMed

Beckett, Paul; Field, John; Molloy, Luke; Yu, Nickolas; Holmes, Douglas; Pile, Emily

2013-08-01

The experience of nursing staff and consumers in inpatient mental health wards is often reported as being negative. Efforts to improve culture and practice have had limited success, with ineffective leadership, staff resistance, and unresponsive organisational culture identified as common barriers to change. Practice development has been promoted as an approach to developing person-centred culture that enables professional development through participation, learning and empowerment. For person-centred practice to flourish, organisational leadership at all levels must reflect the same principles. In preparation for the opening of a new integrated mental health service, an inpatient mental health team participated in a practice development project. An action research approach was used to facilitate a series of "away days," initially with the nursing team and then other members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Transformational leadership principles were adopted in the facilitation of team activities underpinned by strengths and solution-focused practices. Evaluation of the project by staff members was very positive and there was a high level of participation in practice development activities. The project resulted in the creation of a development plan for the ward, which prioritised five key themes: person-centred care, personal recovery, strengths-based principles, and evidence-based and values-based care. The project outcomes highlight the importance of leadership, which parallels the ideals promoted for clinical practice.

ICASE/LaRC Workshop on Adaptive Grid Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

South, Jerry C., Jr. (Editor); Thomas, James L. (Editor); Vanrosendale, John (Editor)

1995-01-01

Solution-adaptive grid techniques are essential to the attainment of practical, user friendly, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications. In this three-day workshop, experts gathered together to describe state-of-the-art methods in solution-adaptive grid refinement, analysis, and implementation; to assess the current practice; and to discuss future needs and directions for research. This was accomplished through a series of invited and contributed papers. The workshop focused on a set of two-dimensional test cases designed by the organizers to aid in assessing the current state of development of adaptive grid technology. In addition, a panel of experts from universities, industry, and government research laboratories discussed their views of needs and future directions in this field.

Implementation of a Multichannel Serial Data Streaming Algorithm using the Xilinx Serial RapidIO Solution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doxley, Charles A.

2016-01-01

In the current world of applications that use reconfigurable technology implemented on field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), there is a need for flexible architectures that can grow as the systems evolve. A project has limited resources and a fixed set of requirements that development efforts are tasked to meet. Designers must develop robust solutions that practically meet the current customer demands and also have the ability to grow for future performance. This paper describes the development of a high speed serial data streaming algorithm that allows for transmission of multiple data channels over a single serial link. The technique has the ability to change to meet new applications developed for future design considerations. This approach uses the Xilinx Serial RapidIO LOGICORE Solution to implement a flexible infrastructure to meet the current project requirements with the ability to adapt future system designs.

Cloud manufacturing: from concept to practice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Lei; Zhang, Lin; Tao, Fei; Zhao, Chun; Chai, Xudong; Zhao, Xinpei

2015-02-01

The concept of cloud manufacturing is emerging as a new promising manufacturing paradigm, as well as a business model, which is reshaping the service-oriented, highly collaborative, knowledge-intensive and eco-efficient manufacturing industry. However, the basic concepts about cloud manufacturing are still in discussion. Both academia and industry will need to have a commonly accepted definition of cloud manufacturing, as well as further guidance and recommendations on how to develop and implement cloud manufacturing. In this paper, we review some of the research work and clarify some fundamental terminologies in this field. Further, we developed a cloud manufacturing systems which may serve as an application example. From a systematic and practical perspective, the key requirements of cloud manufacturing platforms are investigated, and then we propose a cloud manufacturing platform prototype, MfgCloud. Finally, a public cloud manufacturing system for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) is presented. This paper presents a new perspective for cloud manufacturing, as well as a cloud-to-ground solution. The integrated solution proposed in this paper, including the terminology, MfgCloud, and applications, can push forward this new paradigm from concept to practice.

Faculty application of the American Psychological Association style.

PubMed

Morse, Gwen Goetz

2009-10-01

This article explores current faculty methods with the application and evaluation of the American Psychological Association (APA) style. Specific aims were to determine concerns related to APA style, review faculty grading practices, identify institutional resources, and report potential solutions for improving application of APA style. A survey with an exploratory descriptive research design was developed and distributed online to academic chairs and deans, requesting their support in distributing the survey to their faculty. Responses (N = 704) were grouped into five categories: departmental and personal concerns; faculty grading practices; institutional resources; format, writing style, and grammar; and suggestions and potential solutions. Sixty percent reported that application and evaluation of APA style is a concern in their department. Content analysis identified four categories as proposed solutions: consistency, education, resources, and dialogue. On the basis of the feedback of the participants, the CRED program is proposed for the issues that were identified. Copyright 2009, SLACK Incorporated.

PubMed Central

Boulé, Richard; Girard, Gilles

2003-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To identify the problems encountered by residents during training and the solutions they proposed. DESIGN: Qualitative study. SETTING: Family practice program at Sherbrooke University. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight residents in the Family practice program between 1999 and 2000. METHOD: We used the nominal group technique with four groups of participants. Then we held five 3-hour discussion groups to explore difficulties and solutions in depth. Finally, data were validated with a written questionnaire. MAIN FINDINGS: At least 20% of respondents confirmed 65 difficulties and 61 solutions. Three major themes emerged: the many demands of the residence program, residents' personal experience of the program, and the lack of time for personal life. CONCLUSION: Publication of these results could help residents develop proactive adaptive strategies to deal with the stress of their training programs. Certain adjustments will be made by the program administration to make it easier for residents to manage their stress. PMID:12729243

Introducing and evaluating a knowledge transfer approach to support problem solving in and around protected areas.

PubMed

Mattsson, Brady J; Fischborn, Marie; Brunson, Mark; Vacik, Harald

2018-03-30

Protected areas (PAs) can generate many benefits inside and outside their borders, and achieving objectives for diverse stakeholders raises many challenges. There are many examples of successful PA management around the globe, although a systematic and comprehensive approach to developing and sharing these solutions has been lacking. We present "solutioning" as a structured process of peer-learning, which can inform management strategies in and around protected areas. We explain how the PANORAMA-Solutions for a Healthy Planet initiative has put solutioning into practice through an interactive community and web portal to learn about protected area solutions around the globe. Unlike other web platforms and initiatives reviewed, PANORAMA facilitates adaptation of solution elements (i.e., building blocks) for novel implementation. Supported by theories of resilience and peer-learning, PANORAMA appears to have potential to promote efficiency and equitable benefits for PAs and associated stakeholders focused on nature conservation and sustainable development, although further research is needed to assess whether this learning leads to better solutions or more effective PA management.

Innovation by patients with rare diseases and chronic needs.

PubMed

Oliveira, Pedro; Zejnilovic, Leid; Canhão, Helena; von Hippel, Eric

2015-04-09

We provide the first empirical exploration of disease-related innovation by patients and their caregivers. Our aims were to explore to what degree do patients develop innovative solutions; how many of these are unique developments; and do these solutions have positive perceived impact on the patients' overall quality of life? In addition, we explored the factors associated with patient innovation development, and sharing of the solutions that the patients developed. We administered a questionnaire via telephone interviewing to a sample of 500 rare disease patients and caregivers. The solutions reported were pre-screened by the authors for their fit with the self-developed innovation aim of the study. All the reported solutions were then validated for their novelty by two medical professionals. Logistic regression models were used to test the relationships between our key variables, patient innovation and solution sharing. 263 (53%) of our survey respondents reported developing and using a solution to improve management of their diseases. An initial screening removed 81 (16%) solutions for being an obvious misfit to the self-developed innovation aim of the study. This lowered the sample of potentially innovative solutions to 182 (36%). Assessment of novelty and usefulness of the solutions, conducted by two medical evaluators, confirmed that 40 solutions (8%) were indeed novel, while the remaining 142 (28%) were already known to medicine. The likelihood of patient innovation increased as the education level increased (OR 2, p < 0.05), and as their perception of limitations imposed by their disease increased (OR 1.3, p < 0.05). 55 individuals diffused their solutions to some degree, with 50 of these sharing via direct diffusion to other patients. There is a positive relationship between the impact of a solution on the respondents' overall quality of life and likelihood of solution sharing. Given that hundreds of millions of people worldwide are afflicted by rare diseases, patient and their caregivers can be a tremendous source of innovation for many who are similarly afflicted. Our findings suggest that many patients could be greatly assisted by improved diffusion of known solutions and best practices to and among patients and their caregivers.

A tool to measure whether business management capacity in general practice impacts on the quality of chronic illness care.

PubMed

Holton, Christine H; Proudfoot, Judith G; Jayasinghe, Upali W; Grimm, Jane; Bubner, Tanya K; Winstanley, Julie; Harris, Mark F; Beilby, Justin J

2010-11-01

Our aim was to develop a tool to identify specific features of the business and financial management of practices that facilitate better quality care for chronic illness in primary care. Domains of management were identified, resulting in the development of a structured interview tool that was administered in 97 primary care practices in Australia. Interview items were screened and subjected to factor analysis, subscales identified and the overall model fit determined. The instrument's validity was assessed against another measure of quality of care. Analysis provided a four-factor solution containing 21 items, which explained 42.5% of the variance in the total scores. The factors related to administrative processes, human resources, marketing analysis and business development. All scores increased significantly with practice size. The business development subscale and total score were higher for rural practices. There was a significant correlation between the business development subscale and quality of care. The indicators of business and financial management in the final tool appear to be useful predictors of the quality of care. The instrument may help inform policy regarding the structure of general practice and implementation of a systems approach to chronic illness care. It can provide information to practices about areas for further development.

Integrated Concentration in Science (iCons): Undergraduate Education Through Interdisciplinary, Team-Based, Real-World Problem Solving

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuominen, Mark

2013-03-01

Attitude, Skills, Knowledge (ASK) - In this order, these are fundamental characteristics of scientific innovators. Through first-hand practice in using science to unpack and solve complex real-world problems, students can become self-motivated scientific leaders. This presentation describes the pedagogy of a recently developed interdisciplinary undergraduate science education program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst focused on addressing global challenges with scientific solutions. Integrated Concentration in Science (iCons) is an overarching concentration program that supplements the curricula provided within each student's chosen major. iCons is a platform for students to perform student-led research in interdisciplinary collaborative teams. With a schedule of one course per year over four years, the cohort of students move through case studies, analysis of real-world problems, development of potential solutions, integrative communication, laboratory practice, and capstone research projects. In this presentation, a track emphasizing renewable energy science is used to illustrate the iCons pedagogical methods. This includes discussion of a third-year laboratory course in renewable energy that is educationally scaffolded: beginning with a boot camp in laboratory techniques and culminating with student-designed research projects. Among other objectives, this course emphasizes the practice of using reflection and redesign, as a means of generating better solutions and embedding learning for the long term. This work is supported in part by NSF grant DUE-1140805.

Using Interdisciplinary Workgroups to Educate Surgery Residents in Systems-Based Practice.

PubMed

Gillen, Jacob R; Ramirez, Adriana G; Farineau, Diane W; Hoke, Tracey R; Schirmer, Bruce D; Williams, Michael D; Lau, Christine L

Meaningful education of residents in systems-based practice is notoriously challenging, despite its recognition as 1 of the 6 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies. To address this challenge, surgery residents and other members of the health care team were organized into interdisciplinary workgroups that were tasked with developing solutions to "systems issues" confronted on a daily basis. The project's goals included providing more meaningful, hands-on educational experience for residents in system-based practice, while also generating practical solutions to workflow issues through interprofessional collaboration. Project participants included all surgery residents at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, as well as surgical health care professionals across all disciplines. Participants were organized into workgroups. Over the course of 3 sessions, each of 1-hour, each workgroup identified commonly encountered systems issues, chose 1 issue to address, and determined an implementable solution for this issue. In total, 140 participants were divided among 13 workgroups. Workgroup topics ranged from improving paging etiquette to standardizing interdisciplinary communication. In total, 9 of the 13 proposals have been piloted or fully implemented as standard practice at our institution, either within a single unit or over the entire health system. This project demonstrates an innovative approach toward resident education in system-based practice, providing residents with a hands-on experience in problem solving from a systems perspective. These interdisciplinary workgroups generated effective solutions to issues that were meaningful to frontline health care providers. Interdisciplinary collaboration within the workgroups served as a valuable team-building exercise to improve relations between the disciplines. This project can serve as a model for other institutions desiring meaningful education in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competency of systems-based practice. Copyright © 2016 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analytical solutions for coagulation and condensation kinetics of composite particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piskunov, Vladimir N.

2013-04-01

The processes of composite particles formation consisting of a mixture of different materials are essential for many practical problems: for analysis of the consequences of accidental releases in atmosphere; for simulation of precipitation formation in clouds; for description of multi-phase processes in chemical reactors and industrial facilities. Computer codes developed for numerical simulation of these processes require optimization of computational methods and verification of numerical programs. Kinetic equations of composite particle formation are given in this work in a concise form (impurity integrated). Coagulation, condensation and external sources associated with nucleation are taken into account. Analytical solutions were obtained in a number of model cases. The general laws for fraction redistribution of impurities were defined. The results can be applied to develop numerical algorithms considerably reducing the simulation effort, as well as to verify the numerical programs for calculation of the formation kinetics of composite particles in the problems of practical importance.

Quality professional development for secondary science teachers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mchazlett, Dwight Henry, Jr.

This record of study (ROS) explores the perceptions of three high school biology teachers who implemented a form of the Japanese originated Lesson Study Professional Development (LS PD) model. Additionally, this ROS reports on the perceptions of the internal stakeholders with regard to the model's viability as a potential solution to a proposed problem of practice where there was a lack of quality professional development for secondary biology teachers. The audience of internal stakeholders includes district administrators, high school teachers, and science teachers from the elementary and middle school grade levels. Participants of this study collaboratively explored the problem of practice in the fall semester of 2015, then implemented the LS PD model in the spring semester. The participants completed three cycles of LS that focused on collaboratively designing research-based lessons, teaching the lessons with peer observations, revising and re-teaching the lessons with peer observations, and reflecting on the participants' growth experiences. Four research questions were addressed: (a) What are the perceptions of the participants in regard to their own professional growth as a result of participating in the LS initiative? (b) What improvements to the LS PD model might facilitate future implementation? and (c) What are the perceptions of the LS dissemination audience toward LS as a viable solution to a lack of quality PD for secondary biology teachers? Results of the study suggested that LS PD may be a viable solution to the proposed problem of practice where there is a lack of quality professional development for secondary biology teachers. Long-term implications posit that LS PD can be adapted and scaled up to benefit all content areas and grade levels.

Rotation relaxation splitting for optimizing parallel RF excitation pulses with T1 - and T2 -relaxations in MRI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majewski, Kurt

2018-03-01

Exact solutions of the Bloch equations with T1 - and T2 -relaxation terms for piecewise constant magnetic fields are numerically challenging. We therefore investigate an approximation for the achieved magnetization in which rotations and relaxations are split into separate operations. We develop an estimate for its accuracy and explicit first and second order derivatives with respect to the complex excitation radio frequency voltages. In practice, the deviation between an exact solution of the Bloch equations and this rotation relaxation splitting approximation seems negligible. Its computation times are similar to exact solutions without relaxation terms. We apply the developed theory to numerically optimize radio frequency excitation waveforms with T1 - and T2 -relaxations in several examples.

Innovation through Collaborative Course Development: Theory and Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aiken, K. Damon; Heinze, Timothy C.; Meuter, Matthew L.; Chapman, Kenneth J.

2016-01-01

A pressing issue for educators is the difficulty in fostering engagement and vesting students in courses. A new pedagogical model labeled Collaborative Course Development (CCD) has evolved as a viable solution. CCD not only allows students to be actively involved in initial course design but also empowers them to make decisions about class…

Factor Analysis of the Minnesota Infant Development Inventory Based on a Hispanic Migrant Population.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reilly, Amysue; Eaves, Ronald C.

2000-01-01

Completed the Minnesota Infant Development Inventory (MIDI), a parental report instrument, for 168 infants of Hispanic migrant workers and performed factor analysis of the MIDI scores. Results suggest that the one-factor solution is best for infants from Hispanic migrant families until future research supports other practices. (SLD)

Conceptions of and Early Childhood Educators' Experiences in Early Childhood Professional Development Programs: A Qualitative Metasynthesis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Christopher P.; Englehardt, Joanna

2016-01-01

Policy makers and early childhood stakeholders across the United States continue to seek policy solutions that improve early educators' instruction of young children. A primary vehicle for attaining this goal is professional development. This has led to an influx of empirical studies that seek to develop a set of best practices for professional…

A Clinician-Centered Evaluation of the Usability of AHLTA and Automated Clinical Practice Guidelines at TAMC

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-31

evidence based medicine into clinical practice. It will decrease costs and enable multiple stakeholders to work in an open content/source environment to exchange clinical content, develop and test technology and explore processes in applied CDS. Design: Comparative study between the KMR infrastructure and capabilities developed as an open source, vendor agnostic solution for aCPG execution within AHLTA and the current DoD/MHS standard evaluating: H1: An open source, open standard KMR and Clinical Decision Support Engine can enable organizations to share domain

Empowering clinical supervisors to flourish though critical companionship.

PubMed

Mackay, Maria; Stephens, Moira; Wragg, Siobhan; Ebejer, Saskia; Bourgeois, Sharon

2018-01-01

Education for professional nursing practice has undergone a significant shift over the last few decades impacting nursing practice and the relationship between nurses. Enhancing professional practice and acting as a conduit for empowering nurses to be active participants in their learning and development is Practice Development. This action research project with philosophical premises of critical companionship and human flourishing aimed to develop the knowledge and skills of registered nurses in their ability to provide clinical supervision of nursing students in practice. The overall project consisted of two action research cycles in two different health facilities. Participants in both projects identified similar issues and common learning needs including; how to better understand and develop skills in reflective practice; how to provide a positive learning and enabling environment; and how to provide effective solution focused feedback. Workshop facilitators witnessed the flourishing of participants as they were enabled to negotiate their learning requirements; grow and develop in their roles over the workshop series. Participants themselves identified personal growth in skills, knowledge and confidence in being a preceptor as a result of the workshops in the study. Overall, this study has resulted in the development and capacity building of the nursing workforce clinical placement capacity through the development of clinical supervisors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Protecting health.

PubMed

Armour, Margaret-Ann; Linetsky, Asya; Ashick, Donna

2008-10-01

Water-soluble heavy metal salts injure health when they leach into water supplies. It is important that students who may later be employed in industries generating aqueous solutions of such salts are aware of the methods that can be used to recover the metal salt or transform it to non-health threatening products. The research was in the management of small quantities of hazardous wastes, such as are generated in school, college, and university teaching laboratories; in research laboratories; in industrial quality control and testing laboratories; and in small industries. Methods for the recovery of silver, nickel, and cobalt salts from relatively small volumes of aqueous solutions of their soluble salts were developed and tested. Where it was not practical to recover the metal salt, the practice has been to convert it to a water-insoluble salt, often the sulfide. This requires the use of highly toxic reagents. It was found that a number of heavy metal salts can be precipitated as the silicates, returning them to the form in which they are found in the natural ore. These salts show similar solubility properties to the sulfides in neutral, acidic, and basic aqueous solutions. The work has determined the conditions, quantities, and solution acidity that result in the most effective precipitation of the heavy metal salt. The concentration of the metal ions remaining in solution was measured by AA and ICP spectrometry. Specific methods have been developed for the conversion of salts of mercury and chromium to nonsoluble products.

Diagnosing and dealing with multicollinearity.

PubMed

Schroeder, M A

1990-04-01

The purpose of this article was to increase nurse researchers' awareness of the effects of collinear data in developing theoretical models for nursing practice. Collinear data distort the true value of the estimates generated from ordinary least-squares analysis. Theoretical models developed to provide the underpinnings of nursing practice need not be abandoned, however, because they fail to produce consistent estimates over repeated applications. It is also important to realize that multicollinearity is a data problem, not a problem associated with misspecification of a theorectical model. An investigator must first be aware of the problem, and then it is possible to develop an educated solution based on the degree of multicollinearity, theoretical considerations, and sources of error associated with alternative, biased, least-square regression techniques. Decisions based on theoretical and statistical considerations will further the development of theory-based nursing practice.

Endodontic 'solutions' part 1: a literature review on the use of endodontic lubricants, irrigants and medicaments.

PubMed

Good, Melissa; El, Karim Ikhlas A; Hussey, David L

2012-05-01

Endodontic lubricants, irrigants and medicaments help prepare and disinfect root canal systems (RCS) but primary and secondary cases involve different microbes and therefore it is unlikely that one protocol will be effective for both case types. Each individual 'solution' or sequence of'solutions' could play a significant role in each case type, but there are no detailed published guidelines in existence. To help inform clinical practice it was decided to undertake a literature review followed by a UK and Republic of Ireland wide audit on current endodontic'solution' usage within dental schools. The literature review was undertaken under the following headings: pre-op oral rinse; file lubricants; root canal irrigants and intracanal medicaments and provides an evidence base for protocol development for both primary and retreatment cases.The audit project and the protocols developed from the findings of both the literature review and audit will be presented in Part 2.

The solar textile challenge: how it will not work and where it might.

PubMed

Krebs, Frederik C; Hösel, Markus

2015-03-01

Solar textiles are highlighted as a future technology with transformative power within the fields of both textiles and solar cells provided that developments are made in critical areas. Specifically, these are fundamental solutions to materials and material combinations with mechanical stability and flexibility imposed by textile architectures, scientific solutions to achieve high carrier transport efficiency and optical transmission in a textile topology, technical solutions to controlling the physical disposition of the anode and cathode along with their specific and error-free contacting and, finally, practical solutions to fast and efficient manufacture and integration. The areas of application and the penetration of solar textiles into our everyday life are expected to be explosive pending efficient developments within these four key areas. A shortcoming in one or more of these will, however, lead to the solar textiles being banned to academic existence. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Clinical data interoperability based on archetype transformation.

PubMed

Costa, Catalina Martínez; Menárguez-Tortosa, Marcos; Fernández-Breis, Jesualdo Tomás

2011-10-01

The semantic interoperability between health information systems is a major challenge to improve the quality of clinical practice and patient safety. In recent years many projects have faced this problem and provided solutions based on specific standards and technologies in order to satisfy the needs of a particular scenario. Most of such solutions cannot be easily adapted to new scenarios, thus more global solutions are needed. In this work, we have focused on the semantic interoperability of electronic healthcare records standards based on the dual model architecture and we have developed a solution that has been applied to ISO 13606 and openEHR. The technological infrastructure combines reference models, archetypes and ontologies, with the support of Model-driven Engineering techniques. For this purpose, the interoperability infrastructure developed in previous work by our group has been reused and extended to cover the requirements of data transformation. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Patterning technology for solution-processed organic crystal field-effect transistors

PubMed Central

Li, Yun; Sun, Huabin; Shi, Yi; Tsukagoshi, Kazuhito

2014-01-01

Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are fundamental building blocks for various state-of-the-art electronic devices. Solution-processed organic crystals are appreciable materials for these applications because they facilitate large-scale, low-cost fabrication of devices with high performance. Patterning organic crystal transistors into well-defined geometric features is necessary to develop these crystals into practical semiconductors. This review provides an update on recentdevelopment in patterning technology for solution-processed organic crystals and their applications in field-effect transistors. Typical demonstrations are discussed and examined. In particular, our latest research progress on the spin-coating technique from mixture solutions is presented as a promising method to efficiently produce large organic semiconducting crystals on various substrates for high-performance OFETs. This solution-based process also has other excellent advantages, such as phase separation for self-assembled interfaces via one-step spin-coating, self-flattening of rough interfaces, and in situ purification that eliminates the impurity influences. Furthermore, recommendations for future perspectives are presented, and key issues for further development are discussed. PMID:27877656

From Metacognition to Practice Cognition: The DNP e-Portfolio to Promote Integrated Learning.

PubMed

Anderson, Kelley M; DesLauriers, Patricia; Horvath, Catherine H; Slota, Margaret; Farley, Jean Nelson

2017-08-01

Educating Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students for an increasingly complex health care environment requires novel applications of learning concepts and technology. A deliberate and thoughtful process is required to integrate concepts of the DNP program into practice paradigm changes to subsequently improve students' abilities to innovate solutions to complex practice problems. The authors constructed or participated in electronic portfolio development inspired by theories of metacognition and integrated learning. The objective was to develop DNP student's reflection, integration of concepts, and technological capabilities to foster the deliberative competencies related to the DNP Essentials and the foundations of the DNP program. The pedagogical process demonstrates how e-portfolios adapted into the doctoral-level curriculum for DNP students can address the Essentials and foster the development of metacognitive capabilities, which translates into practice changes. The authors suggest that this pedagogical approach has the potential to optimize reflective and deliberative competencies among DNP students. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(8):497-500.]. Copyright 2017, SLACK Incorporated.

Clinical leadership development and education for nurses: prospects and opportunities

PubMed Central

Joseph, M Lindell; Huber, Diane L

2015-01-01

With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, elevated roles for nurses of care coordinator, clinical nurse leader, and advanced practice registered nurse have come to the forefront. Because change occurs so fast, matching development and education to job requirements is a challenging forecasting endeavor. The purpose of this article is to envision clinical leadership development and education opportunities for three emerging roles. The adoption of a common framework for intentional leadership development is proposed for clinical leadership development across the continuum of care. Solutions of innovation and interdependency are framed as core concepts that serve as an opportunity to better inform clinical leadership development and education. Additionally, strategies are proposed to advance knowledge, skills, and abilities for crucial implementation of improvements and new solutions at the point of care. PMID:29355179

Constraint-based integration of planning and scheduling for space-based observatory management

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Muscettola, Nicola; Smith, Steven F.

1994-01-01

Progress toward the development of effective, practical solutions to space-based observatory scheduling problems within the HSTS scheduling framework is reported. HSTS was developed and originally applied in the context of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) short-term observation scheduling problem. The work was motivated by the limitations of the current solution and, more generally, by the insufficiency of classical planning and scheduling approaches in this problem context. HSTS has subsequently been used to develop improved heuristic solution techniques in related scheduling domains and is currently being applied to develop a scheduling tool for the upcoming Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS) mission. The salient architectural characteristics of HSTS and their relationship to previous scheduling and AI planning research are summarized. Then, some key problem decomposition techniques underlying the integrated planning and scheduling approach to the HST problem are described; research results indicate that these techniques provide leverage in solving space-based observatory scheduling problems. Finally, more recently developed constraint-posting scheduling procedures and the current SWAS application focus are summarized.

TH-E-209-03: Development of An In-House CT Dose Monitoring and Management System Based On Open-Source Software Resources -- Pearls and Pitfalls

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, D.

Radiation dose monitoring solutions have opened up new opportunities for medical physicists to be more involved in modern clinical radiology practices. In particular, with the help of comprehensive radiation dose data, data-driven protocol management and informed case follow up are now feasible. Significant challenges remain however and the problems faced by medical physicists are highly heterogeneous. Imaging systems from multiple vendors and a wide range of vintages co-exist in the same department and employ data communication protocols that are not fully standardized or implemented making harmonization complex. Many different solutions for radiation dose monitoring have been implemented by imaging facilitiesmore » over the past few years. Such systems are based on commercial software, home-grown IT solutions, manual PACS data dumping, etc., and diverse pathways can be used to bring the data to impact clinical practice. The speakers will share their experiences with creating or tailoring radiation dose monitoring/management systems and procedures over the past few years, which vary significantly in design and scope. Topics to cover: (1) fluoroscopic dose monitoring and high radiation event handling from a large academic hospital; (2) dose monitoring and protocol optimization in pediatric radiology; and (3) development of a home-grown IT solution and dose data analysis framework. Learning Objectives: Describe the scope and range of radiation dose monitoring and protocol management in a modern radiology practice Review examples of data available from a variety of systems and how it managed and conveyed. Reflect on the role of the physicist in radiation dose awareness.« less

The exact solution of shear-lag problems in flat panels and box beams assumed rigid in the transverse direction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hildebrand, Francis B

1943-01-01

A mathematical procedure is herein developed for obtaining exact solutions of shear-lag problems in flat panels and box beams: the method is based on the assumption that the amount of stretching of the sheets in the direction perpendicular to the direction of essential normal stresses is negligible. Explicit solutions, including the treatment of cut-outs, are given for several cases and numerical results are presented in graphic and tabular form. The general theory is presented in a from which further solutions can be readily obtained. The extension of the theory to cover certain cases of non-uniform cross section is indicated. Although the solutions are obtained in terms of infinite series, the present developments differ from those previously given in that, in practical cases, the series usually converge so rapidly that sufficient accuracy is afforded by a small number of terms. Comparisons are made in several cases between the present results and the corresponding solutions obtained by approximate procedures devised by Reissner and by Kuhn and Chiarito.

Improvisation as an adaptive strategy for occupational therapy practice.

PubMed

Krusen, Nancy E

2012-01-01

ABSTRACT As health care environments become increasingly complex, practitioners must develop new adaptive skills to master practice. The idea of using theatrical improvisation (improv) in health care is relatively new. Occupational therapy students were taught a module of improvisational techniques as part of an academic seminar, learning improvisation rules, and enacting solutions to typical daily professional challenges. The purpose of this article is to recommend improvisational techniques as an adaptive skill to effectively blend art and science for occupational therapy practice in fast-paced and unpredictable health care environments.

Puzzling practice: a strategy for working with clinical practice issues.

PubMed

Walsh, Kenneth; Moss, Cheryle; Lawless, Jane; McKelvie, Rhonda; Duncan, Lindsay

2008-04-01

In this paper we aim to share the evolution of innovative ways to explore, 'unpack' and reframe clinical issues that exist in everyday practice. The elements of these processes, which we call 'puzzling practice', and the techniques associated with them, were delineated over a two year period by the four authors using action theory based processes. The authors have evolved several different frameworks for 'puzzling practice' which we draw on and use in our practice development work and in our research practice. This paper pays attention to a particular form of puzzling practice that we have found to be useful in assisting individual clinicians and teams to explore and find workable solutions to practice issues. The paper uses a semi-fictitious example of 'Puzzling Practice' gleaned from our experience as practice development facilitators. In this example 'puzzling practice' uses seven different elements; naming the issue; puzzling the issue; testing the puzzle exploring the heart of out practice; formulating the puzzle question; visualizing the future; and generating new strategies for action. Each of the elements is illustrated by the story and the key foundations and ideas behind each element is explored.

Collaborative Practitioner Inquiry: Providing Leadership and Action Research for Teacher Professional Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

von Gnechten, Mitchell P.

2011-01-01

Professional development is best when embedded in one's practice and linked directly to the classroom. Opportunities for teachers to identify specific areas of concern in their classroom and problem solve solutions via action research promotes a culture of inquiry. This culture of inquiry is enhanced when teams of teachers collaborate and share…

Beyond Technology...Learning with the Wired Curriculum. 1998 Yearbook of the Massachusetts Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zimmerman, Isa Kaftal, Ed.; Hayes, Mary Forte, Ed.

This yearbook for the Massachusetts Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (MASCD) provides educators with models of successful practices and raises questions and potential solutions to issues of accountability, policy, long-term planning, funding, and student motivation for learning. This 1998 yearbook assists educators at all…

Assessing Student Written Problem Solutions: A Problem-Solving Rubric with Application to Introductory Physics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Docktor, Jennifer L.; Dornfeld, Jay; Frodermann, Evan; Heller, Kenneth; Hsu, Leonardo; Jackson, Koblar Alan; Mason, Andrew; Ryan, Qing X.; Yang, Jie

2016-01-01

Problem solving is a complex process valuable in everyday life and crucial for learning in the STEM fields. To support the development of problem-solving skills it is important for researchers and curriculum developers to have practical tools that can measure the difference between novice and expert problem-solving performance in authentic…

Sexual Harassment Solutions at Work. Profiles of Successful Policy and Practice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phelan, Colleen

This publication profiles the successful efforts of eight organizations to develop programs and policies to prevent sexual harassment in their workplaces. The profiles highlight a facet of each organization's efforts. An introduction offers a blueprint for action. The first profile is a look at US West and the key elements for developing and…

HRD Trends Worldwide: Shared Solutions To Compete in a Global Economy. Improving Human Performance Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Jack J.

This book, which is intended for individuals involved in developing, delivering, and supporting human resource development (HRD) programs, discusses worldwide HRD trends that were identified in a study of the HRD practices in 35 countries. Chapter 1 discusses the importance of the HRD trends identified and explains how they were identified.…

Are You Ready to Assess Social and Emotional Development? SEL Solutions Decision Tree

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Institutes for Research, 2015

2015-01-01

Deciding whether and how to use assessments to evaluate students' social and emotional (SE) knowledge, attitudes, and skills requires the development and critical appraisal of an assessment plan. At the state, district, and school levels, education leaders and staff can benefit from reviewing best practices and using a structured format to arrive…

Small Farm Grain Storage. Appropriate Technologies for Development. Manual M-2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindblad, Carl; Druben, Laurel

Designed as a working and teaching tool for development workers in their field activities, this manual combines in one volume the basic principles of grain storage and the practical solutions currently being used and tested around the world to combat grain storage problems. Each of six sections begins with informative material on the topic to be…

Faculty Grading of Quantitative Problems: A Mismatch between Values and Practice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petcovic, Heather L.; Fynewever, Herb; Henderson, Charles; Mutambuki, Jacinta M.; Barney, Jeffrey A.

2013-04-01

Grading practices can send a powerful message to students about course expectations. A study by Henderson et al. (American Journal of Physics 72:164-169, 2004) in physics education has identified a misalignment between what college instructors say they value and their actual scoring of quantitative student solutions. This work identified three values that guide grading decisions: (1) a desire to see students' reasoning, (2) a readiness to deduct points from solutions with obvious errors and a reluctance to deduct points from solutions that might be correct, and (3) a tendency to assume correct reasoning when solutions are ambiguous. These authors propose that when values are in conflict, the conflict is resolved by placing the burden of proof on either the instructor or the student. Here, we extend the results of the physics study to earth science ( n = 7) and chemistry ( n = 10) instructors in a think-aloud interview study. Our results suggest that both the previously identified three values and the misalignment between values and grading practices exist among science faculty more generally. Furthermore, we identified a fourth value not previously recognized. Although all of the faculty across both studies stated that they valued seeing student reasoning, the combined effect suggests that only 49% of faculty across the three disciplines graded work in such a way that would actually encourage students to show their reasoning, and 34% of instructors could be viewed as penalizing students for showing their work. This research may contribute toward a better alignment between values and practice in faculty development.

Evidence-based dentistry: a clinician's perspective.

PubMed

Bauer, Janet; Spackman, Sue; Chiappelli, Francesco; Prolo, Paolo; Stevenson, Richard

2006-07-01

Evidence-based dentistry is a discipline that provides best, explicit-based evidence to dentists and their patients in shared decision-making. Currently, dentists are being trained and directed to adopt the role of translational researchers in developing evidence-based dental practices. Practically, evidence-based dentistry is not usable in its current mode for the provision of labor-intensive services that characterize current dental practice. The purpose of this article is to introduce a model of evidence-based dental practice. This model conceptualizes a team approach in explaining problems and solutions to change current dental practice. These changes constitute an evidence-based dental practice that involves the electronic chart, centralized database, knowledge management software, and personnel in optimizing effective oral health care to dental patients.

Fluorescence development of fingerprints by combining conjugated polymer nanoparticles with cyanoacrylate fuming.

PubMed

Chen, Hong; Ma, Rong-Liang; Fan, Zhinan; Chen, Yun; Wang, Zizheng; Fan, Li-Juan

2018-05-23

Selecting appropriate developing methods/reagents or their combination to enhance the effect for fingerprint development is of great significance for practical forensic investigation. Ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate ester (superglue) fuming is a popular method for "in-situ" developing fingerprints in forensic science, followed by fluorescence staining to enhance the contrast of the fingerprint image in some occasion. In this study, a series of fluorescent poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) nanoparticles (NPs) in colloidal solution were successfully prepared and the emission color was tuned via a simple way. The fuming process was carried out using a home-made device. The staining was accomplished by immersing a piece of absorbent cotton into the solution of NPs, and then gently applied on the fumed fingerprints for several times. The PPV NPs were found to have a better developing effect than Rhodamine 6G when excited by 365 nm UV lamp. Different emission colors of NPs are advantageous in developing fingerprints on various substrates. Mechanism study suggested that the NPs were embedded in the porous structure of the superglue resin. In all, the combination of fuming method with the staining by conjugated polymer NPs has been demonstrated to be successful for fluorescent fingerprint development and be promising for more practical forensic applications. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Who to Blame: Irrational Decision-Makers or Stupid Modelers? (Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Young Scientists Lecture)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madani, Kaveh

2016-04-01

Water management benefits from a suite of modelling tools and techniques that help simplifying and understanding the complexities involved in managing water resource systems. Early water management models were mainly concerned with optimizing a single objective, related to the design, operations or management of water resource systems (e.g. economic cost, hydroelectricity production, reliability of water deliveries). Significant improvements in methodologies, computational capacity, and data availability over the last decades have resulted in developing more complex water management models that can now incorporate multiple objectives, various uncertainties, and big data. These models provide an improved understanding of complex water resource systems and provide opportunities for making positive impacts. Nevertheless, there remains an alarming mismatch between the optimal solutions developed by these models and the decisions made by managers and stakeholders of water resource systems. Modelers continue to consider decision makers as irrational agents who fail to implement the optimal solutions developed by sophisticated and mathematically rigours water management models. On the other hand, decision makers and stakeholders accuse modelers of being idealist, lacking a perfect understanding of reality, and developing 'smart' solutions that are not practical (stable). In this talk I will have a closer look at the mismatch between the optimality and stability of solutions and argue that conventional water resources management models suffer inherently from a full-cooperation assumption. According to this assumption, water resources management decisions are based on group rationality where in practice decisions are often based on individual rationality, making the group's optimal solution unstable for individually rational decision makers. I discuss how game theory can be used as an appropriate framework for addressing the irrational "rationality assumption" of water resources management models and for better capturing the social aspects of decision making in water management systems with multiple stakeholders.

Articulating current service development practices: a qualitative analysis of eleven mental health projects

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background The utilisation of good design practices in the development of complex health services is essential to improving quality. Healthcare organisations, however, are often seriously out of step with modern design thinking and practice. As a starting point to encourage the uptake of good design practices, it is important to understand the context of their intended use. This study aims to do that by articulating current health service development practices. Methods Eleven service development projects carried out in a large mental health service were investigated through in-depth interviews with six operation managers. The critical decision method in conjunction with diagrammatic elicitation was used to capture descriptions of these projects. Stage-gate design models were then formed to visually articulate, classify and characterise different service development practices. Results Projects were grouped into three categories according to design process patterns: new service introduction and service integration; service improvement; service closure. Three common design stages: problem exploration, idea generation and solution evaluation - were then compared across the design process patterns. Consistent across projects were a top-down, policy-driven approach to exploration, underexploited idea generation and implementation-based evaluation. Conclusions This study provides insight into where and how good design practices can contribute to the improvement of current service development practices. Specifically, the following suggestions for future service development practices are made: genuine user needs analysis for exploration; divergent thinking and innovative culture for idea generation; and fail-safe evaluation prior to implementation. Better training for managers through partnership working with design experts and researchers could be beneficial. PMID:24438471

Articulating current service development practices: a qualitative analysis of eleven mental health projects.

PubMed

Jun, Gyuchan Thomas; Morrison, Cecily; Clarkson, P John

2014-01-17

The utilisation of good design practices in the development of complex health services is essential to improving quality. Healthcare organisations, however, are often seriously out of step with modern design thinking and practice. As a starting point to encourage the uptake of good design practices, it is important to understand the context of their intended use. This study aims to do that by articulating current health service development practices. Eleven service development projects carried out in a large mental health service were investigated through in-depth interviews with six operation managers. The critical decision method in conjunction with diagrammatic elicitation was used to capture descriptions of these projects. Stage-gate design models were then formed to visually articulate, classify and characterise different service development practices. Projects were grouped into three categories according to design process patterns: new service introduction and service integration; service improvement; service closure. Three common design stages: problem exploration, idea generation and solution evaluation - were then compared across the design process patterns. Consistent across projects were a top-down, policy-driven approach to exploration, underexploited idea generation and implementation-based evaluation. This study provides insight into where and how good design practices can contribute to the improvement of current service development practices. Specifically, the following suggestions for future service development practices are made: genuine user needs analysis for exploration; divergent thinking and innovative culture for idea generation; and fail-safe evaluation prior to implementation. Better training for managers through partnership working with design experts and researchers could be beneficial.

Electronic Health Record Challenges, Workarounds, and Solutions Observed in Practices Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care.

PubMed

Cifuentes, Maribel; Davis, Melinda; Fernald, Doug; Gunn, Rose; Dickinson, Perry; Cohen, Deborah J

2015-01-01

This article describes the electronic health record (EHR)-related experiences of practices striving to integrate behavioral health and primary care using tailored, evidenced-based strategies from 2012 to 2014; and the challenges, workarounds and initial health information technology (HIT) solutions that emerged during implementation. This was an observational, cross-case comparative study of 11 diverse practices, including 8 primary care clinics and 3 community mental health centers focused on the implementation of integrated care. Practice characteristics (eg, practice ownership, federal designation, geographic area, provider composition, EHR system, and patient panel characteristics) were collected using a practice information survey and analyzed to report descriptive information. A multidisciplinary team used a grounded theory approach to analyze program documents, field notes from practice observation visits, online diaries, and semistructured interviews. Eight primary care practices used a single EHR and 3 practices used 2 different EHRs, 1 to document behavioral health and 1 to document primary care information. Practices experienced common challenges with their EHRs' capabilities to 1) document and track relevant behavioral health and physical health information, 2) support communication and coordination of care among integrated teams, and 3) exchange information with tablet devices and other EHRs. Practices developed workarounds in response to these challenges: double documentation and duplicate data entry, scanning and transporting documents, reliance on patient or clinician recall for inaccessible EHR information, and use of freestanding tracking systems. As practices gained experience with integration, they began to move beyond workarounds to more permanent HIT solutions ranging in complexity from customized EHR templates, EHR upgrades, and unified EHRs. Integrating behavioral health and primary care further burdens EHRs. Vendors, in cooperation with clinicians, should intentionally design EHR products that support integrated care delivery functions, such as data documentation and reporting to support tracking patients with emotional and behavioral problems over time and settings, integrated teams working from shared care plans, template-driven documentation for common behavioral health conditions such as depression, and improved registry functionality and interoperability. This work will require financial support and cooperative efforts among clinicians, EHR vendors, practice assistance organizations, regulators, standards setters, and workforce educators. © Copyright 2015 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR RESTORING DEGRADED WATERSHEDS AND RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS: IMPLEMENTATION, EVALUATION, AND AMELIORATION

EPA Science Inventory

The objective of the Office of Research and Development (ORD) ecosystem restoration research strategy is to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration and management practices for achieving desired environmental conditions that protect and enhance ecosystem services for society. T...

Multilevel integrated flood management aproach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brilly, Mitja; Rusjan, Simon

2013-04-01

The optimal solution for complex flood management is integrated approach. Word »integration« used very often when we try to put something together, but should distinguish full multiple integrated approach of integration by parts when we put together and analyse only two variables. In doing so, we lost complexity of the phenomenon. Otherwise if we try to put together all variables we should take so much effort and time and we never finish the job properly. Solution is in multiple integration captures the essential factors, which are different on a case-by-case (Brilly, 2000). Physical planning is one of most important activity in which flood management should be integrated. The physical planning is crucial for vulnerability and its future development and on other hand our structural measures must be incorporate in space and will very often dominated in. The best solution is if space development derived on same time with development of structural measures. There are good examples with such approach (Vienna, Belgrade, Zagreb, and Ljubljana). Problems stared when we try incorporating flood management in already urbanised area or we would like to decrease risk to some lower level. Looking to practice we learn that middle Ages practices were much better than to day. There is also »disaster by design« when hazard increased as consequence of upstream development or in stream construction or remediation. In such situation we have risk on areas well protected in the past. Good preparation is essential for integration otherwise we just lost time what is essential for decision making and development. We should develop clear picture about physical characteristics of phenomena and possible solutions. We should develop not only the flood maps; we should know how fast phenomena could develop, in hour, day or more. Do we need to analyse ground water - surface water relations, we would like to protected area that was later flooded by ground water. Do we need to take care about sediment transport, phenomenon close related to floods - could the river bad bottom increase or decrease for some meters or river completely rearrange morphology - how then inundated area will look like. Hazard of floods should be presented properly, with maps, uncertainty and trends related to natural and anthropogenic impacts. We should look time back, how our river look in past centuries and what are water management plans for future. Which activities are on the river? There are good practice in flood protection, hydropower development and physical planning (Vienna, Sava River).

[Telecardiology: Tasks and duties of telemedicine].

PubMed

Borbás, János; Forczek, Erzsébet; Sepp, Róbert; Bari, Ferenc

2017-11-01

Telemedicine is a young science that integrates innovations of information-technology and telecommunications into medical science. A successful telemedicine procedure should guarantee reduced workload of the healthcare system with well secured and cost-effective processes. Our goal was to collect the development phases of telemedicine projects through existing telecardiology solutions. Subsequent to reviewing international publications we analyzed the past and present situation of blood pressure monitoring, remote diagnostics of electrocardiography, implantable cardioverter defibrillator monitoring and pocket ultrasound devices. In case of new solutions (a) several internationally accepted, confidently reproducible "good practices" are needed for creating (b) guidelines and recommendations of international medical associations. They have to ensure (c) cost-effective work, with well-designed sustainability and (d) patient confidentiality. Improving (e) education for professionals and patients is essential. We recommend to telemedicine developers to use our standards in order to introduce their products more effectively into clinical practice. It is encouraging that current possibilities of telecardiology partly or fully meet the aforementioned criteria. Further development of the topic can contribute to financial sustainability of our healthcare and might be able to resolve limitations of human resources. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(44): 1741-1746.

The International Development Research Centre: A Guide for the Canadian University Research Community = Le Centre de recherches pour le developpement international: guide a l'intention des scientifiques des universites Canadiennes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tillman, George; Wasilewski, Ania, Ed.

Written in both English and French this is a manual for the Canadian research community. It describes the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and its operations. The main objective of the IDRC is to assist scientists in developing countries to identify and conduct research into long term practical solutions to development problems.…

Design of Chemistry Teacher Education Course on Nature of Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vesterinen, Veli-Matti; Aksela, Maija

2013-09-01

To enhance students' understanding of nature of science (NOS), teachers need adequate pedagogical content knowledge related to NOS. The educational design research study presented here describes the design and development of a pre-service chemistry teacher education course on NOS instruction. The study documents two iterative cycles of problem analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation. The main aims of the study were (1) to create an in-depth and detailed description of the process used in the development of the course and the design solutions produced, and (2) to evaluate how the design solutions affected participants' commitment to teach NOS. Based on the problem analysis based on challenges recognized from the previous research, three design solutions were produced: (1) definition of central dimensions of domain-specific NOS for chemistry education, (2) teaching cycle for explicit and structured opportunities for reflection and discussion, and (3) design assignments to translate NOS understanding into classroom practice. The major data-sources used in the evaluation of the design solutions were the four in-depth interviews conducted after the course. Based on the evaluation, the design solutions supported internalizing understanding of NOS and transforming the understanding to instruction. Supporting the implementation of new innovative teaching practices such as NOS instruction in pre-service teacher education is a challenge. However, the success of the participants in implementing NOS instruction demonstrates, that a pre-service teacher education course can be successful in producing early adopters of NOS instruction and thus might be one of the first steps in injecting NOS instruction into the curriculum.

How Near is a Near-Optimal Solution: Confidence Limits for the Global Optimum.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-05-01

or near-optimal solutions are the only practical solutions available. This paper identifies and compares some procedures which use independent near...approximate or near-optimal solutions are the only practical solutions available. This paper identifies and compares some procedures which use inde- pendent...The objective of this paper is to indicate some relatively new statistical procedures for obtaining an upper confidence limit on G Each of these

Evaluating a digital ship design tool prototype: Designers' perceptions of novel ergonomics software.

PubMed

Mallam, Steven C; Lundh, Monica; MacKinnon, Scott N

2017-03-01

Computer-aided solutions are essential for naval architects to manage and optimize technical complexities when developing a ship's design. Although there are an array of software solutions aimed to optimize the human element in design, practical ergonomics methodologies and technological solutions have struggled to gain widespread application in ship design processes. This paper explores how a new ergonomics technology is perceived by naval architecture students using a mixed-methods framework. Thirteen Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Masters students participated in the study. Overall, results found participants perceived the software and its embedded ergonomics tools to benefit their design work, increasing their empathy and ability to understand the work environment and work demands end-users face. However, participant's questioned if ergonomics could be practically and efficiently implemented under real-world project constraints. This revealed underlying social biases and a fundamental lack of understanding in engineering postgraduate students regarding applied ergonomics in naval architecture. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interpolation problem for the solutions of linear elasticity equations based on monogenic functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grigor'ev, Yuri; Gürlebeck, Klaus; Legatiuk, Dmitrii

2017-11-01

Interpolation is an important tool for many practical applications, and very often it is beneficial to interpolate not only with a simple basis system, but rather with solutions of a certain differential equation, e.g. elasticity equation. A typical example for such type of interpolation are collocation methods widely used in practice. It is known, that interpolation theory is fully developed in the framework of the classical complex analysis. However, in quaternionic analysis, which shows a lot of analogies to complex analysis, the situation is more complicated due to the non-commutative multiplication. Thus, a fundamental theorem of algebra is not available, and standard tools from linear algebra cannot be applied in the usual way. To overcome these problems, a special system of monogenic polynomials the so-called Pseudo Complex Polynomials, sharing some properties of complex powers, is used. In this paper, we present an approach to deal with the interpolation problem, where solutions of elasticity equations in three dimensions are used as an interpolation basis.

A novel microfluidic mixer-based approach for determining inactivation kinetics of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in chlorine solutions.

PubMed

Zhang, Boce; Luo, Yaguang; Zhou, Bin; Wang, Qin; Millner, Patricia D

2015-08-01

Determination of the minimum free chlorine concentration needed to prevent pathogen survival/cross-contamination during produce washing is essential for the development of science-based food safety regulations and practices. Although the trend of chlorine concentration-contact time on pathogen inactivation is generally understood, specific information on chlorine and the kinetics of pathogen inactivation at less than 1.00 s is urgently needed by the produce processing industry. However, conventional approaches to obtain this critical data have been unable to adequately measure very rapid responses. This paper reports our development, fabrication, and test of a novel microfluidic device, and its application to obtain the necessary data on pathogen inactivation by free chlorine in produce wash solution in times as short as 0.10 s. A novel microfluidic mixer with the capability to accurately determine the reaction time and control the chlorine concentration was designed with three inlets for bacterial, chlorine and dechlorinating solutions, and one outlet for effluent collection. The master mold was fabricated on a silicon wafer with microchannels via photopolymerization. Polydimethylsiloxane replicas with patterned microchannels were prototyped via soft lithography. The replicas were further assembled into the micromixer on glass via O2 plasma treatment, and the inlets were connected to a syringe pump for solution delivery. To determine the kinetics of free chlorine on pathogen inactivation, chlorine solutions of varying concentrations were first pumped into the micromixer, together with the addition of bacterial suspension of Escherichia coli O157:H7 through a separate inlet. This was followed by injection of dechlorinating solution to stop the chlorine-pathogen reaction. The effluent was collected and the surviving bacteria cells were enumerated using a modified 'Most Probable Number' method. Free chlorine concentration was determined using a standard colorimetric method. The contact time was experimentally set by adjusting the solution flow rate, and was estimated by computational fluid dynamics modeling. Results showed that 1) pathogen inactivation was significantly affected by free chlorine concentration (P < 0.0001) and subsecond reaction time (P < 0.0001) and their interactions (P < 0.0001); and 2) the current industry practice of using 1.0 mg/L free chlorine will require more than 1.00 s total contact to achieve a 5-log10 reduction in an E. coli O157:H7 population, whereas a 10.0 mg/L free chlorine solution will achieve 5-log10 reduction in as little as 0.25 s. Information obtained from this study will provide critical insight on kinetics of bacterial inactivation for a broad range of sanitizers and produce wash operational conditions, thus facilitating the development and implementation of science-based food safety regulations and practices for improving food safety. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

System model the processing of heterogeneous sensory information in robotized complex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikolaev, V.; Titov, V.; Syryamkin, V.

2018-05-01

Analyzed the scope and the types of robotic systems consisting of subsystems of the form "a heterogeneous sensors data processing subsystem". On the basis of the Queuing theory model is developed taking into account the unevenness of the intensity of information flow from the sensors to the subsystem of information processing. Analytical solution to assess the relationship of subsystem performance and uneven flows. The research of the obtained solution in the range of parameter values of practical interest.

Towards efficient backward-in-time adjoint computations using data compression techniques

DOE PAGES

Cyr, E. C.; Shadid, J. N.; Wildey, T.

2014-12-16

In the context of a posteriori error estimation for nonlinear time-dependent partial differential equations, the state-of-the-practice is to use adjoint approaches which require the solution of a backward-in-time problem defined by a linearization of the forward problem. One of the major obstacles in the practical application of these approaches, we found, is the need to store, or recompute, the forward solution to define the adjoint problem and to evaluate the error representation. Our study considers the use of data compression techniques to approximate forward solutions employed in the backward-in-time integration. The development derives an error representation that accounts for themore » difference between the standard-approach and the compressed approximation of the forward solution. This representation is algorithmically similar to the standard representation and only requires the computation of the quantity of interest for the forward solution and the data-compressed reconstructed solution (i.e. scalar quantities that can be evaluated as the forward problem is integrated). This approach is then compared with existing techniques, such as checkpointing and time-averaged adjoints. Lastly, we provide numerical results indicating the potential efficiency of our approach on a transient diffusion–reaction equation and on the Navier–Stokes equations. These results demonstrate memory compression ratios up to 450×450× while maintaining reasonable accuracy in the error-estimates.« less

Assessment of current cybersecurity practices in the public domain : cyber indications and warnings domain.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hamlet, Jason R.; Keliiaa, Curtis M.

This report assesses current public domain cyber security practices with respect to cyber indications and warnings. It describes cybersecurity industry and government activities, including cybersecurity tools, methods, practices, and international and government-wide initiatives known to be impacting current practice. Of particular note are the U.S. Government's Trusted Internet Connection (TIC) and 'Einstein' programs, which are serving to consolidate the Government's internet access points and to provide some capability to monitor and mitigate cyber attacks. Next, this report catalogs activities undertaken by various industry and government entities. In addition, it assesses the benchmarks of HPC capability and other HPC attributes thatmore » may lend themselves to assist in the solution of this problem. This report draws few conclusions, as it is intended to assess current practice in preparation for future work, however, no explicit references to HPC usage for the purpose of analyzing cyber infrastructure in near-real-time were found in the current practice. This report and a related SAND2010-4766 National Cyber Defense High Performance Computing and Analysis: Concepts, Planning and Roadmap report are intended to provoke discussion throughout a broad audience about developing a cohesive HPC centric solution to wide-area cybersecurity problems.« less

Managing the primary care practice on the Web

PubMed Central

Van Grevenhof P; Rahman, AS; Cabanela, R; Naessens, J; Lassig, D

2000-01-01

Physicians and administrators have little hope of responding appropriately to the challenges of the health care market without data to support decision making. Desired Mayo Clinic s Primary Care Practice was to have the ability to access and integrate data from many platforms in many formats from the Enterprise and bring this information to the desktop in a robust interactive display. The solution was delivery of the data to the Web through an interface using Java with access to Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) tools for summarization, graphical display and reporting. Communicating major trends, assisting in planning and management, visually displaying alerts in summary data and individual patients that are all possible through an easy-to-use Web application. To really understand what the summarized data represents, the physicians must be able to drill down, download and explore their own detail data. A pilot project was developed to test the capabilities of the development environment, the acceptance Web tools, the ability to deliver timely information and the methodology of using a multi-dimensional database to define the data. The Family Medicine practice at four separate locations was chosen for the demonstration project. Two practices in Rochester, MN and practices in two smaller towns, totaling 50 physicians and administrative personnel, were the first clients using the system. A cross-functional team examined a variety of development issues such as data sources, data definitions, levels of security, data analysis types, and style of display. Demonstrations of the prototype met with an overwhelming positive response from administrators and department leaders. The Physician Patient Management solution collects, analyzes, and communicates the information needed to meet today s health care challenges. PMID:11080032

Why Development Projects Don't Work as Planned: Pitfalls and "Solutions." Special Studies Series on Global Development No. 5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lackey, Alvin S.

Although this paper identifies the various reasons for project failure, it also highlights the principles and practices related to project success. The paper attempts to strike a positive note concerning steps to take to increase the probability of successful project implementation and to suggest more realistic attitudes and expectations toward…

What Do Students Think about Group Work in Business Education? An Investigation into the Benefits, Challenges, and Student-Suggested Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Seung Hwan Mark; Smith, Donna; Sergueeva, Ksenia

2016-01-01

The authors sought to gain insight on how students view group learning and development as part of their business education experience. Specifically, the authors categorize benefits and challenges using S. A. Wheelan's (2005) integrated model of group development. Additionally, they investigate (from the students' perspective) best practices that…

Innovative MIOR Process Utilizing Indigenous Reservoir Constituents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hitzman, D.O.; Stepp, A.K.; Dennis, D.M.

This research program was directed at improving the knowledge of reservoir ecology and developing practical microbial solutions for improving oil production. The goal was to identify indigenous microbial populations which can produce beneficial metabolic products and develop a methodology to stimulate those select microbes with inorganic nutrient amendments to increase oil recovery. This microbial technology has the capability of producing multiple oil-releasing agents.

Innovative MIOR Process Utilizing Indigenous Reservoir Constituents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hitzman, D.O.; stepp, A.K.; Dennis, D.M.

This research program was directed at improving the knowledge of reservoir ecology and developing practical microbial solutions for improving oil production. The goal was to identify indigenous microbial populations which can produce beneficial metabolic products and develop a methodology to stimulate those select microbes with nutrient amendments to increase oil recovery. This microbial technology has the capability of producing multiple oil-releasing agents.

Multiobjective optimization of urban water resources: Moving toward more practical solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mortazavi, Mohammad; Kuczera, George; Cui, Lijie

2012-03-01

The issue of drought security is of paramount importance for cities located in regions subject to severe prolonged droughts. The prospect of "running out of water" for an extended period would threaten the very existence of the city. Managing drought security for an urban water supply is a complex task involving trade-offs between conflicting objectives. In this paper a multiobjective optimization approach for urban water resource planning and operation is developed to overcome practically significant shortcomings identified in previous work. A case study based on the headworks system for Sydney (Australia) demonstrates the approach and highlights the potentially serious shortcomings of Pareto optimal solutions conditioned on short climate records, incomplete decision spaces, and constraints to which system response is sensitive. Where high levels of drought security are required, optimal solutions conditioned on short climate records are flawed. Our approach addresses drought security explicitly by identifying approximate optimal solutions in which the system does not "run dry" in severe droughts with expected return periods up to a nominated (typically large) value. In addition, it is shown that failure to optimize the full mix of interacting operational and infrastructure decisions and to explore the trade-offs associated with sensitive constraints can lead to significantly more costly solutions.

Lost Soul or New Dawn? Lifelong Learning Lessons and Prospects from East Asia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duke, Chris

2015-01-01

Most learning takes place in communities, neighbourhoods and workplaces. Here practical solutions to big problems work or fall down. We may call this the iron law of social learning, recognised in "community development", "community capacity-building", "workplace", "work-based" and…

Application of Green Infrastructure for Combined Sewer Overflow Kansas City, MO

EPA Science Inventory

Advanced design concepts such as Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Solutions (or upland runoff control techniques) are currently being encouraged by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a management practice to contain and control stormwater at the lot ...

Trench Safety–Using a Qualitative Approach to Understand Barriers and Develop Strategies to Improve Trenching Practices

PubMed Central

FLYNN, MICHAEL A.; SAMPSON, JULIE M.

2015-01-01

Despite efforts to ensure workplace safety and health, injuries and fatalities related to trenching and excavation remain alarmingly high in the construction industry. Because properly installed trenching protective systems can potentially reduce the significant number of trenching fatalities, there is clearly a need to identify the barriers to the use of these systems and to develop strategies to ensure these systems are utilized consistently. The current study reports on the results of focus groups with construction workers and safety management personnel to better understand these barriers and to identify solutions. The results suggest several factors, from poor planning to pressures from experienced workers and supervisors, which present barriers to safe trenching practices. Based on the results, it is recommended that safety trainings incorporate unique messages for new workers, experienced workers and management in an effort to motivate each group to work safely as well as provide them with solutions to overcome the identified barriers. PMID:26550006

Chemical water shutoff profile research status and development trends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, L. T.

2017-08-01

Excess water production is now a common problem encountered in almost every water flooding mature oilfield. The exploitation of oil field is faced with great challenge because of the decrease of oil field production. For the development of high water cut rare the status quo chemical water shutoff profile control technology is an important solution to solve this problem. Oilfield chemical water shutoff has important application prospects. This paper analyzes the water shutoff profile control and water shutoff profile control agent currently oilfield applications, moreover the use and development of blocking agent profile technology is to improve reservoir recovery and propose solutions. With the constant increase in water cut, profile technology should be simple, efficient, practical and profile control agent of development should be economic, environmental, and long period

Detection of Hydrofluoric Acid by a SiO2 Sol-Gel Coating Fiber-Optic Probe Based on Reflection-Based Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance

PubMed Central

Chen, I-Cherng; Lin, Shiu-Shiung; Lin, Tsao-Jen; Du, Je-Kang

2011-01-01

A novel fiber-optic probe based on reflection-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) was developed to quantify the concentration of hydrofluoric acid (HF) in aqueous solutions. The LSPR sensor was constructed with a gold nanoparticle-modified PMMA fiber, integrated with a SiO2 sol-gel coating. This fiber-sensor was utilized to assess the relationship between HF concentration and SiO2 sol-gel layer etching reduction. The results demonstrated the LSPR sensor was capable of detecting HF-related erosion of hydrofluoric acid solutions of concentrations ranging from 1% to 5% using Relative RI Change Rates. The development of the LSPR sensor constitutes the basis of a detector with significant sensitivity for practical use in monitoring HF solution concentrations. PMID:22319388

Evaluation and its importance for nursing practice.

PubMed

Moule, Pam; Armoogum, Julie; Douglass, Emma; Taylor, Dr Julie

2017-04-26

Evaluation of service delivery is an important aspect of nursing practice. Service evaluation is being increasingly used and led by nurses, who are well placed to evaluate service and practice delivery. This article defines evaluation of services and wider care delivery and its relevance in NHS practice and policy. It aims to encourage nurses to think about how evaluation of services or practice differs from research and audit activity and to consider why and how they should use evaluation in their practice. A process for planning and conducting an evaluation and disseminating findings is presented. Evaluation in the healthcare context can be a complicated activity and some of the potential challenges of evaluation are described, alongside possible solutions. Further resources and guidance on evaluation activity to support nurses' ongoing development are identified.

Funding of pilot projects in Latin America: a tool for capacity building in occupational health research.

PubMed

Felknor, Sarah A; Delclos, George L; Gimeno, David; Wesseling, Ineke; Monge, Patricia; Chavez, Jorge; Quintana, Leonardo; Schulze, Lawrence J H

2006-01-01

There is a global need for trained researchers who can address the increasing burden of illness and injury and prepare future generations of researchers. Developing countries have a special need for practical, action-oriented interventions to address workplace problems, based on identification of needs and priorities, development of locally available solutions, and consideration of the sociopolitical context of work and how best to translate research findings into policies. Effective translation and application of research products from industrialized nations to developing countries is essential, but differences in the contexts and local realities of other nations limit extrapolating such research. Funding pilot research projects in developing countries is an effective, practical, and useful tool for training new investigators in research techniques and developing collaborative relationships among countries.

Searching for Ideal Contraceptives.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Djerassi, Carl

1985-01-01

Discusses the problem of adolescent pregnancy and focuses on improving contraception as a practical solution. Describes the advantages and disadvantages of existing methods (the condom, the pill, and the contraceptive sponge). Predicts that the development of a fundamentally new contraceptive, such as a monthly menses-inducer pill, will not occur…

Adaptation of Professional Skills in the Unit Operations Laboratory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rende, Deniz; Rende, Sevinc; Baysal, Nihat

2012-01-01

We introduce the design of three consecutive unit operations laboratory (UOL) courses that retain the academic rigor of the course while incorporating skills essential for professional careers, such as ability to propose ideas, develop practical solutions, participate in teamwork, meet deadlines, establish communication between technical support…

Design of Inhouse Automated Library Systems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cortez, Edwin M.

1984-01-01

Examines six steps inherent to development of in-house automated library system: (1) problem definition, (2) requirement specifications, (3) analysis of alternatives and solutions, (4, 5) design and implementation of hardware and software, and (6) evaluation. Practical method for comparing and weighting options is illustrated and explained. A…

A novel conductance glucose biosensor in ultra-low ionic strength solution triggered by the oxidation of Ag nanoparticles.

PubMed

Song, Yonghai; Chen, Jingyi; Liu, Hongyu; Li, Ping; Li, Hongbo; Wang, Li

2015-09-03

A simple, sensitive and effective method to detect glucose in ultra-low ionic strength solution containing citrate-capped silver nanoparticles (CCAgNPs) was developed by monitoring the change of solution conductance. Glucose was catalyzed into gluconic acid firstly by glucose oxidase in an O2-saturated solution accompanied by the reduction of O2 into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Then, CCAgNPs was oxidized by H2O2 into Ag(+) and the capping regent of citrate was released at the same time. All these resulted Ag(+), gluconic acid and the released citrate would contribute to the increase of solution ionic strength together, leading to a detectable increase of solution conductance. And a novel conductance glucose biosensor was developed with a routine linear range of 0.06-4.0 mM and a suitable detection limit of 18.0 μM. The novel glucose biosensor was further applied in energy drink sample and proven to be suitable for practical system with low ionic strength. The proposed conductance biosensor achieved a significant breakthrough of glucose detection in ultra-low ionic strength media. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a Compact and Efficient Ice Thermal Energy Storage Vessel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasaguchi, Kengo; Ishikawa, Masatoshi; Muta, Kenji; Yoshino, Kiyotaka; Hayashi, Hiroko; Baba, Yoshiyuki

In the present study, the authors propose the use of a low concentration aqueous solution as phase change material for static-type ice-storage-vessels, instead of pure water commonly used today. If an aqueous solution with low concentration is used, even when a large amount of solution (aqueous ethylene glycol in this study) is solidified and bridging of ice developed around cold tubes occurs, the pressure increase could be prevented by the existence of a continuous liquid phase in the solid-liquid two-phase layer (mushy layer) which opens to an air gap at the top of a vessel. Therefore, one can continue to solidify an aqueous solution after bridging, achieving a high ice packing factor (IPF). First, experiments using small-scale test cells have been conducted to confirm the present idea, and then we have performed experiments using a large vessel with an early practical size. It was seen that a large pressure increase is prevented for the initial concentration of the solution C0 of 1.0%, and IPF obtained using the solution is much greater than 0.65 using pure water for which the solidification must be stopped before the bridging.

The effect of explanations on mathematical reasoning tasks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norqvist, Mathias

2018-01-01

Studies in mathematics education often point to the necessity for students to engage in more cognitively demanding activities than just solving tasks by applying given solution methods. Previous studies have shown that students that engage in creative mathematically founded reasoning to construct a solution method, perform significantly better in follow up tests than students that are given a solution method and engage in algorithmic reasoning. However, teachers and textbooks, at least occasionally, provide explanations together with an algorithmic method, and this could possibly be more efficient than creative reasoning. In this study, three matched groups practiced with either creative, algorithmic, or explained algorithmic tasks. The main finding was that students that practiced with creative tasks did, outperform the students that practiced with explained algorithmic tasks in a post-test, despite a much lower practice score. The two groups that got a solution method presented, performed similarly in both practice and post-test, even though one group got an explanation to the given solution method. Additionally, there were some differences between the groups in which variables predicted the post-test score.

Development of Scientific Approach Based on Discovery Learning Module

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellizar, E.; Hardeli, H.; Beltris, S.; Suharni, R.

2018-04-01

Scientific Approach is a learning process, designed to make the students actively construct their own knowledge through stages of scientific method. The scientific approach in learning process can be done by using learning modules. One of the learning model is discovery based learning. Discovery learning is a learning model for the valuable things in learning through various activities, such as observation, experience, and reasoning. In fact, the students’ activity to construct their own knowledge were not optimal. It’s because the available learning modules were not in line with the scientific approach. The purpose of this study was to develop a scientific approach discovery based learning module on Acid Based, also on electrolyte and non-electrolyte solution. The developing process of this chemistry modules use the Plomp Model with three main stages. The stages are preliminary research, prototyping stage, and the assessment stage. The subject of this research was the 10th and 11th Grade of Senior High School students (SMAN 2 Padang). Validation were tested by the experts of Chemistry lecturers and teachers. Practicality of these modules had been tested through questionnaire. The effectiveness had been tested through experimental procedure by comparing student achievement between experiment and control groups. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the developed scientific approach discovery based learning module significantly improve the students’ learning in Acid-based and Electrolyte solution. The result of the data analysis indicated that the chemistry module was valid in content, construct, and presentation. Chemistry module also has a good practicality level and also accordance with the available time. This chemistry module was also effective, because it can help the students to understand the content of the learning material. That’s proved by the result of learning student. Based on the result can conclude that chemistry module based on discovery learning and scientific approach in electrolyte and non-electrolyte solution and Acid Based for the 10th and 11th grade of senior high school students were valid, practice, and effective.

Practical implementation of the concept of converted electric vehicle with advanced traction and dynamic performance and environmental safety indicators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sidorov, K. M.; Yutt, V. E.; Grishchenko, A. G.; Golubchik, T. V.

2018-02-01

The objective of the work presented in this paper is to describe the implementation of the technical solutions have been developed, with regard to structure, composition, and characteristics, for an experimental prototype of an electric vehicle which has been converted from a conventional vehicle. The methodology of the study results is based on the practical implementation of the developed concept of the conversion of conventional vehicles into electric vehicles. The main components of electric propulsion system of the experimental prototype of electric vehicle are developed and manufactured on the basis of computational researches, taking into account the criteria and principles of conversion within the framework of presented work. The article describes a schematic and a design of power conversion and commutation electrical equipment, traction battery, electromechanical transmission. These results can serve as guidance material in the design and implementation of electric propulsion system (EPS) components of electric vehicles, facilitate the development of optimal technical solutions in the development and manufacture of vehicles, including those aimed at autonomy of operation and the use of perspective driver assistance systems. As part of this work, was suggested a rational structure for an electric vehicle experimental prototype, including technical performance characteristics of the components of EPS.

Making Waves: Career Development and Public Policy. International Symposium 1999 Papers, Proceedings, and Strategies (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 2-4, 1999).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hiebert, Bryan, Ed.; Bezanson, Lynne, Ed.

People in many countries are experimenting with solutions to changes in the structure and delivery of career development services. As a result, there is vast opportunity to learn from, and be guided by, exemplary practices from other countries. The International Symposium is designed to provide such opportunities, and to give policymakers and…

The medicalization of addiction treatment professionals.

PubMed

Roy, A Kenison; Miller, Michael M

2012-01-01

In a previous article, the authors described the changes initiated by recent health care legislation, and how those changes might affect the practice of medicine and the delivery of addiction services. This article reviews the same changes with respect to how they have the potential to change the practice activities of addiction physicians, addiction therapists, addiction counselors and addiction nurses, as well as the activities of administrators and service delivery financial personnel. Developments in delivery systems and the impact of those developments on professionals who work in addiction treatment are considered; current problems, potential solutions, and opportunities for clinicians under health reform are addressed. The goals envisioned for health system reform and the potential for realization of those goals via changes in addiction service delivery design and clinical practice are discussed.

The use of hydro-dynamic models in the practice-oriented education of engineering students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sziebert, J.; Zellei, L.; Tamás, E. A.

2009-04-01

Management tasks related to open channel flows became rather comprehensive and multi-disciplinary, particularly with the predominancy of nature management aspects. The water regime of our rivers has proven to reach extremities more and more frequently in the past decades. In order to develop and analyse alternative solutions and to handle and resolve conflicts of interests, we apply 1D hydro-dynamic models in education for the explanation of processes and to improve practical skills of our students.

Constructing an Ethical Training for Advanced Nursing Practice: An Interactionist and Competency-Based Approach.

PubMed

Pariseau-Legault, Pierre; Lallier, Melisa

2016-07-01

Advanced practice nurses are working in a highly interdisciplinary and political context. Such situations can influence the deliberative and ethical decision-making processes in which they are also involved. This can subsequently compromise their abilities to protect their moral integrity, to find innovative and nondualistic solutions to complex ethical problems, and to collaborate with other health professionals. The authors constructed a training program inspired by discourse and narrative ethics. The objective pursued was to develop advanced practice nurses' moral integrity, highlight the ethical component of their clinical judgement, and foster the development of their deliberative competencies. The pedagogical process proposed exposes how an ethical curriculum adapted to the context in which advanced practice nurses evolve can address power relationships inherent in ethical decision making. The authors suggest that this pedagogical approach has the potential to optimize the consolidation of ethical, reflective, and deliberative competencies among advanced practice nurses. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(7):399-402.]. Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.

Prescribed fire: The fundamental solution

Treesearch

Jim Saveland

1998-01-01

The theory and practice that embodies "learning organizations" can be applied to developing and implementing effective natural resource policy and management. A learning organization is a group of people who are continually enhancing their capacity to create the results they want. At the heart of learning organizations is systems thinking. This paper applies...

Developing Instructional Technology Products Using Effective Project Management Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allen, Stephanie; Hardin, Paul C.

2008-01-01

Delivering a successful instructional technology (IT) product depends on more than just having an extremely creative instructional solution or following an instructional systems design (ISD) model. Proper planning, direction, and execution of the project are require, as well. We present a model of management that encompasses the ISD process. Five…

Helping Rural Educators Improve Instruction Through Mental Rehearsal.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bailey, Gerald D.; Hortin, John A.

A solution to staff development and instructional improvement for rural and small school teachers is through self-initiated and/or self-styled improvement programs using the mental rehearsal strategy. Mental rehearsal is the process of using imagery to practice teaching behavior before actually teaching. If rural educators can be trained to…

Surviving Troubled Times: Five Best Practices for Training Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Villachica, Steven W.; Stepich, Donald A.; Rist, Shannon

2011-01-01

The business of training and performance improvement has always been cyclical, with the fortunes of human resource development (HRD) and performance improvement professionals rising and falling with the economic fortunes of the workplace. The current economic downturn and nascent recovery represent an opportunity for HRD and performance…

Copyright in a Digital Age: Practical Guidance for Information Professionals in the Midst of Legal Uncertainty.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiner, Robert S.

1997-01-01

Discusses copyright issues pertaining to information use on the Internet. Topics include digital copyright interpretations; court rulings on copyright infringement; copyright advice from the Copyright Clearance Center; rights management models; technology as a solution; and developing corporate copyright policies. (LRW)

CD-ROM Based Multimedia Homework Solutions and Self Test Generator.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rhodes, Jeffrey M.; Bell, Christopher C.

1998-01-01

Discusses a prototype multimedia application that was designed to help college students solve problems and generate practice tests for an economics textbook. Highlights include step-by-step problem solving; a friendly interface; student tracking; inexpensive development costs; examples of screen displays; and generating random, scored tests on…

Leveraging Code Comments to Improve Software Reliability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tan, Lin

2009-01-01

Commenting source code has long been a common practice in software development. This thesis, consisting of three pieces of work, made novel use of the code comments written in natural language to improve software reliability. Our solution combines Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning, Statistics, and Program Analysis techniques to…

Reclaiming Instructional Supervision: Using Solution-Focused Strategies to Promote Teacher Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stark, Marcella D.; McGhee, Marla W.; Jimerson, Jo Beth

2017-01-01

To positively affect teacher quality, instructional leaders must engage teachers in ways that support improved practice and seek to empower teachers as creative and knowledgeable risk takers. A collaborative, strengths-based approach that promotes teacher growth, rather than one that conditions teachers to await administrator directive or…

Use of Green Infrastructure Integrated with Conventional Gray Infrastructure for Combined Sewer Overflow Control: Kansas City, MO

EPA Science Inventory

Advanced design concepts such as Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Solutions (or upland runoff control techniques) are currently being encouraged by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a management practice to contain and control stormwater at the lot ...

Leading through Collaboration: Guiding Groups to Productive Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glaser, John P.

2004-01-01

Any group has the potential for mistrust, suspicion, and rancor, and so effective leadership involves developing attitudes that guide groups to recognize and work through conflict in order to maximize the potential for collaboration. This book offers practical guidance to leaders encountering conflict in their organizations. Based on years of…

Effective Discipline in the Home and School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Painter, Genevieve; Corsini, Raymond J.

Based originally on the work of the Austrian psychiatrist, Alfred Adler, work which was further developed by Rudolph Dreikurs, this book Dreikurs, this book offers solutions to specific child discipline problems. Part I focuses on effective discipline in the home. These topics are covered: fundamentals of practical parenting; problems of routine…

Helping Anxious Students Move Forward

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Minahan, Jessica

2018-01-01

Students with anxiety are prone to giving up a difficult work assignment before they even start it. So how can teachers help these students develop skills to successfully start and finish assignments and succeed in school? Behavioral analyst Jessica Minahan offers some practical solutions that teachers can implement in the classroom to motivate…

UCLA Working Group on Public Catalogs. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aroeste, Jean; And Others

Though recent technological developments have promised solutions to the costly problems of expanding card catalogs and changing cataloging practices, at the University of California libraries the problems have been compounded by a desire to stay compatible with the changing conventions of the Library of Congress and by an increasingly stringent…

What can family medicine practices do to facilitate knowledge management?

PubMed

Orzano, A John; Ohman-Strickland, Pamela A; Patel, Meghal

2008-01-01

Family medicine practices face increasing demands to enhance efficiency and quality of care. Current solutions propose major practice redesign and investment in sophisticated technology. Knowledge management (KM) is a process that increases the capacity of a practice to deliver effective care by finding and sharing information and knowledge among practice members or by developing new knowledge for use by the practice. Our preliminary research in family medicine practices has suggested improved patient outcomes with greater and more effective KM. Research in other organizational settings has suggested that KM can be facilitated by certain organizational characteristics. To identify those organizational characteristics within a family medicine practice that management can effect to enhance KM. We performed a cross-sectional secondary analysis of second-year data from 13 community family medicine practices participating in a practice improvement project. Practice KM, leaderships' promotion of participatory decision making, existence of activities supportive of human resource processes, and effective communication were derived from clinician's, nurses', and staff's responses to a survey eliciting responses on practice organizational characteristics. Hierarchical linear modeling examined relationships between individual practice members' perception of KM and organizational characteristics of the practice, controlling for practice covariates (solo-group, electronic medical record use, and perception of a chaotic practice environment) and staff-level covariates (gender, age, and role). Practices with greater participatory decision making and human resources' processes and effective communication significantly (p < .019, p < .0001, and p < .004) increased odds of reporting satisfactory KM (odds ratio = 2.48, 95% confidence interval = 1.32-4.65; odds ratio = 10.84, 95% confidence interval = 4.04-29.12; and odds ratio = 4.95, 95% confidence interval = 2.02-12.16). The sizes of these effects were not substantially changed even when practice members perceived their practice environment as more chaotic. Steps to facilitate KM should be considered when evaluating more intensive and costly organizational solutions for enhancing family medicine practice performance.

Microelectrode generator-collector systems for electrolytic titration: theoretical and practical considerations.

PubMed

Bell, Christopher G; Seelanan, Parinya; O'Hare, Danny

2017-10-23

Electochemical generator-collector systems, where one electrode is used to generate a reagent, have a potentially large field of application in sensing and measurement. We present a new theoretical description for coplanar microelectrode disc-disc systems where the collector is passive (such as a potentiometric sensor) and the generator is operating at constant flux. This solution is then used to develop a leading order solution for such a system where the reagent reacts reversibly in solution, such as in acid-base titration, where a hydrogen ion flux is generated by electrolysis of water. The principal novel result of the theory is that such devices are constrained by a maximum reagent flux. The hydrogen ion concentration at the collector will only reflect the buffer capacity of the bulk solution if this constraint is met. Both mathematical solutions are evaluated with several microfabricated devices and reasonable agreement with theory is demonstrated.

Fashion design solutions for environmentally conscious consumers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagner, M.; Chen, Y.; Curteza, A.; Thomassey, S.; Perwuelz, A.; Zeng, X.

2017-10-01

This paper intends to give an overview of the design solutions in fashion for environmentally conscious consumers, presenting green and ethical practices in contemporary clothing design. The results introduce the concept of slow fashion and discuss available fashion design solutions, giving most prominent examples of sustainable products and brands, these contain one or more design features. By this, the discussion extracts the main contemporary ideas. The presented examples of current offers are all envisioning less impact on the environment and society. Sustainable design solutions use more environmentally friendly materials such as organic cotton, incorporate circular design or design for recycling, e.g., replacing button closures with alternative closing possibilities or leather labels with printed versions, or ensure long product life through durability, among other methods. There are differing designs due to creators’ individuality. This overview can be beneficial for the future development of new solutions for more environmentally friendly fashion.

What students learn when studying physics practice exam problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fakcharoenphol, Witat; Potter, Eric; Stelzer, Timothy

2011-06-01

We developed a web-based tool to provide students with access to old exam problems and solutions. By controlling the order in which students saw the problems, as well as their access to solutions, we obtained data about student learning by studying old exam problems. Our data suggest that in general students learn from doing old exam problems, and that having access to the problem solutions increases their learning. However, the data also suggest the depth of learning may be relatively shallow. In addition, the data show that doing old exam problems provides important formative assessment about the student’s overall preparedness for the exam and their particular areas of strength and weakness.

Use of Spray-Dried Dispersions in Early Pharmaceutical Development: Theoretical and Practical Challenges.

PubMed

Li, Jinjiang; Patel, Dhaval; Wang, George

2017-03-01

Spray-dried dispersions (SDDs) have become an important formulation technology for the pharmaceutical product development of poorly water-soluble (PWS) compounds. Although this technology is now widely used in the industry, especially in the early-phase development, the lack of mechanistic understanding still causes difficulty in selecting excipients and predicting stability of SDD-based drug products. In this review, the authors aim to discuss several principles of polymer science pertaining to the development of SDDs, in terms of selecting polymers and solvents, optimizing drug loading, as well as assessing physical stability on storage and supersaturation maintenance after dissolution, from both thermodynamic and kinetic considerations. In order to choose compatible solvents with both polymers and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), a symmetric Flory-Huggins interaction (Δχ ∼0) approach was introduced. Regarding spray drying of polymer-API solutions, low critical solution temperature (LCST) was discussed for setting the inlet temperature for drying. In addition, after being exposed to moisture, SDDs are practically converted to ternary systems with asymmetric Flory-Huggins interactions, which are thermodynamically not favored. In this case, the kinetics of phase separation plays a significant role during the storage and dissolution of SDD-based drug products. The impact of polymers on the supersaturation maintenance of APIs in dissolution media was also discussed. Moreover, the nature of SDDs, with reference to solid solution and the notion of solid solubility, was examined in the context of pharmaceutical application. Finally, the importance of robust analytical techniques to characterize the SDD-based drug products was emphasized, considering their complexity.

Framework for development of physician competencies in genomic medicine: report of the Competencies Working Group of the Inter-Society Coordinating Committee for Physician Education in Genomics.

PubMed

Korf, Bruce R; Berry, Anna B; Limson, Melvin; Marian, Ali J; Murray, Michael F; O'Rourke, P Pearl; Passamani, Eugene R; Relling, Mary V; Tooker, John; Tsongalis, Gregory J; Rodriguez, Laura L

2014-11-01

Completion of the Human Genome Project, in conjunction with dramatic reductions in the cost of DNA sequencing and advances in translational research, is gradually ushering genomic discoveries and technologies into the practice of medicine. The rapid pace of these advances is opening up a gap between the knowledge available about the clinical relevance of genomic information and the ability of clinicians to include such information in their medical practices. This educational gap threatens to be rate limiting to the clinical adoption of genomics in medicine. Solutions will require not only a better understanding of the clinical implications of genetic discoveries but also training in genomics at all levels of professional development, including for individuals in formal training and others who long ago completed such training. The National Human Genome Research Institute has convened the Inter-Society Coordinating Committee for Physician Education in Genomics (ISCC) to develop and share best practices in the use of genomics in medicine. The ISCC has developed a framework for development of genomics practice competencies that may serve as a starting point for formulation of competencies for physicians in various medical disciplines.

Project Management Software for Distributed Industrial Companies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobrojević, M.; Medjo, B.; Rakin, M.; Sedmak, A.

This paper gives an overview of the development of a new software solution for project management, intended mainly to use in industrial environment. The main concern of the proposed solution is application in everyday engineering practice in various, mainly distributed industrial companies. Having this in mind, special care has been devoted to development of appropriate tools for tracking, storing and analysis of the information about the project, and in-time delivering to the right team members or other responsible persons. The proposed solution is Internet-based and uses LAMP/WAMP (Linux or Windows - Apache - MySQL - PHP) platform, because of its stability, versatility, open source technology and simple maintenance. Modular structure of the software makes it easy for customization according to client specific needs, with a very short implementation period. Its main advantages are simple usage, quick implementation, easy system maintenance, short training and only basic computer skills needed for operators.

Legal Issues of Ambient Intelligence in the SERENITY Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krausová, Alžběta; Dumortier, Jos

The successful functionality of the solutions proposed by the SERENITY project will only be achieved when they fit into the existing legal framework. Therefore, when developing software and hardware solutions, developers must respect requirements set out by law. The aim of this chapter is to define legal challenges that arise with the advent of the Ambient Intelligence, and to explain how SERENITY deals with the challenge of legal compliance. To do this, we will first describe how the legal requirements are translated into a machinereadable form in the SERENITY project, and introduce the concept of so called legal patterns. The application of relevant legal principles on data protection will be illustrated using two particular scenarios. We will then focus on practical legal problems related to daily operations of SERENITY technical solutions. Finally, we conclude with an evaluation of the SERENITY approach and its outcomes

["Baltic Declaration"--telemedicine and mHealth as support for clinical processes in cardiology. The opinion of the Committee of Informatics and Telemedicine of the Polish Society of Cardiology and Telemedicine Clinical Sciences Committee of the PAS].

PubMed

Piotrowicz, Ryszard; Grabowski, Marcin; Balsam, Paweł; Kołtowski, Łukasz; Kozierkiewicz, Adam; Zajdel, Justyna; Piotrowicz, Ewa; Kowalski, Oskar; Mitkowski, Przemysław; Kaźmierczak, Jarosław; Kalarus, Zbigniew; Opolski, Grzegorz

2015-01-01

For several decades we have observed the development of data transmission technology on an unprecedented scale. With the development of such technology there has also appeared concepts on the use of these solutions in health care systems. Over the last decade telemedicine has been joined by the concept of mHealth, which is based on mobile devices mainly to monitor selected biomedical parameters. On 10 October 2014, during the conference Baltic Electrocardiology Autumn - Telemedicine and Arrhythmia (BEATA), a debate was held with the participation of physicians, politicians, businessmen, and representatives of the Government (Ministry of Health, National Health Fund, Social Insurance Institution) concerning the use of telecardiology services in daily practice. During the meeting issues were discussed such as: telemedicine solutions available throughout the world, analysis of their effectiveness based on clinical trials, funding opportunities, their legal status, and the development perspectives of telecardiology in Poland. The result of the meeting was a document called the "Baltic Declaration". The declaration is a call for proven and profitable technologies to be introduced into clinical practice. The declaration also indicates that the variety of available technological solutions are merely tools, and the utility of such tools stems not only from their modernity, but also primarily from matching their functionality to the features of the health interventions that are to be improved.

What Not To Do: Anti-patterns for Developing Scientific Workflow Software Components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Futrelle, J.; Maffei, A. R.; Sosik, H. M.; Gallager, S. M.; York, A.

2013-12-01

Scientific workflows promise to enable efficient scaling-up of researcher code to handle large datasets and workloads, as well as documentation of scientific processing via standardized provenance records, etc. Workflow systems and related frameworks for coordinating the execution of otherwise separate components are limited, however, in their ability to overcome software engineering design problems commonly encountered in pre-existing components, such as scripts developed externally by scientists in their laboratories. In practice, this often means that components must be rewritten or replaced in a time-consuming, expensive process. In the course of an extensive workflow development project involving large-scale oceanographic image processing, we have begun to identify and codify 'anti-patterns'--problematic design characteristics of software--that make components fit poorly into complex automated workflows. We have gone on to develop and document low-effort solutions and best practices that efficiently address the anti-patterns we have identified. The issues, solutions, and best practices can be used to evaluate and improve existing code, as well as guiding the development of new components. For example, we have identified a common anti-pattern we call 'batch-itis' in which a script fails and then cannot perform more work, even if that work is not precluded by the failure. The solution we have identified--removing unnecessary looping over independent units of work--is often easier to code than the anti-pattern, as it eliminates the need for complex control flow logic in the component. Other anti-patterns we have identified are similarly easy to identify and often easy to fix. We have drawn upon experience working with three science teams at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, each of which has designed novel imaging instruments and associated image analysis code. By developing use cases and prototypes within these teams, we have undertaken formal evaluations of software components developed by programmers with widely varying levels of expertise, and have been able to discover and characterize a number of anti-patterns. Our evaluation methodology and testbed have also enabled us to assess the efficacy of strategies to address these anti-patterns according to scientifically relevant metrics, such as ability of algorithms to perform faster than the rate of data acquisition and the accuracy of workflow component output relative to ground truth. The set of anti-patterns and solutions we have identified augments of the body of more well-known software engineering anti-patterns by addressing additional concerns that obtain when a software component has to function as part of a workflow assembled out of independently-developed codebases. Our experience shows that identifying and resolving these anti-patterns reduces development time and improves performance without reducing component reusability.

Proceedings of the Conference on Environmental Toxicology (11th), 18-20 November 1980, Dayton, OH

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-06-01

here to enrich your own understanding, to infuse new ideas and, I believe, ultimately to develop practical solutions to the problem of ensuring human...behavioral batteries evaluate the development of various reflexes and complex behaviors and usually include time of appearance of developmental landmarks...that there has been tremendous effort expended in the development of research methods for use with rats. I also see a number of problems and I’m

Phynx: an open source software solution supporting data management and web-based patient-level data review for drug safety studies in the general practice research database and other health care databases.

PubMed

Egbring, Marco; Kullak-Ublick, Gerd A; Russmann, Stefan

2010-01-01

To develop a software solution that supports management and clinical review of patient data from electronic medical records databases or claims databases for pharmacoepidemiological drug safety studies. We used open source software to build a data management system and an internet application with a Flex client on a Java application server with a MySQL database backend. The application is hosted on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud. This solution named Phynx supports data management, Web-based display of electronic patient information, and interactive review of patient-level information in the individual clinical context. This system was applied to a dataset from the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD). Our solution can be setup and customized with limited programming resources, and there is almost no extra cost for software. Access times are short, the displayed information is structured in chronological order and visually attractive, and selected information such as drug exposure can be blinded. External experts can review patient profiles and save evaluations and comments via a common Web browser. Phynx provides a flexible and economical solution for patient-level review of electronic medical information from databases considering the individual clinical context. It can therefore make an important contribution to an efficient validation of outcome assessment in drug safety database studies.

Peak-locking centroid bias in Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anugu, Narsireddy; Garcia, Paulo J. V.; Correia, Carlos M.

2018-05-01

Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing relies on accurate spot centre measurement. Several algorithms were developed with this aim, mostly focused on precision, i.e. minimizing random errors. In the solar and extended scene community, the importance of the accuracy (bias error due to peak-locking, quantization, or sampling) of the centroid determination was identified and solutions proposed. But these solutions only allow partial bias corrections. To date, no systematic study of the bias error was conducted. This article bridges the gap by quantifying the bias error for different correlation peak-finding algorithms and types of sub-aperture images and by proposing a practical solution to minimize its effects. Four classes of sub-aperture images (point source, elongated laser guide star, crowded field, and solar extended scene) together with five types of peak-finding algorithms (1D parabola, the centre of gravity, Gaussian, 2D quadratic polynomial, and pyramid) are considered, in a variety of signal-to-noise conditions. The best performing peak-finding algorithm depends on the sub-aperture image type, but none is satisfactory to both bias and random errors. A practical solution is proposed that relies on the antisymmetric response of the bias to the sub-pixel position of the true centre. The solution decreases the bias by a factor of ˜7 to values of ≲ 0.02 pix. The computational cost is typically twice of current cross-correlation algorithms.

Optimality versus stability in water resource allocation.

PubMed

Read, Laura; Madani, Kaveh; Inanloo, Bahareh

2014-01-15

Water allocation is a growing concern in a developing world where limited resources like fresh water are in greater demand by more parties. Negotiations over allocations often involve multiple groups with disparate social, economic, and political status and needs, who are seeking a management solution for a wide range of demands. Optimization techniques for identifying the Pareto-optimal (social planner solution) to multi-criteria multi-participant problems are commonly implemented, although often reaching agreement for this solution is difficult. In negotiations with multiple-decision makers, parties who base decisions on individual rationality may find the social planner solution to be unfair, thus creating a need to evaluate the willingness to cooperate and practicality of a cooperative allocation solution, i.e., the solution's stability. This paper suggests seeking solutions for multi-participant resource allocation problems through an economics-based power index allocation method. This method can inform on allocation schemes that quantify a party's willingness to participate in a negotiation rather than opt for no agreement. Through comparison of the suggested method with a range of distance-based multi-criteria decision making rules, namely, least squares, MAXIMIN, MINIMAX, and compromise programming, this paper shows that optimality and stability can produce different allocation solutions. The mismatch between the socially-optimal alternative and the most stable alternative can potentially result in parties leaving the negotiation as they may be too dissatisfied with their resource share. This finding has important policy implications as it justifies why stakeholders may not accept the socially optimal solution in practice, and underlies the necessity of considering stability where it may be more appropriate to give up an unstable Pareto-optimal solution for an inferior stable one. Authors suggest assessing the stability of an allocation solution as an additional component to an analysis that seeks to distribute water in a negotiated process. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Telestroke network fundamentals.

PubMed

Meyer, Brett C; Demaerschalk, Bart M

2012-10-01

The objectives of this manuscript are to identify key components to maintaining the logistic and/or operational sustainability of a telestroke network, to identify best practices to be considered for assessment and management of acute stroke when planning for and developing a telestroke network, to show practical steps to enable progress toward implementing a telestroke solution for optimizing acute stroke care, to incorporate evidence-based practice guidelines and care pathways into a telestroke network, to emphasize technology variables and options, and to propose metrics to use when determining the performance, outcomes, and quality of a telestroke network. Copyright © 2012 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Use of non‐invasive ventilation in UK emergency departments

PubMed Central

Browning, J; Atwood, B; Gray, A

2006-01-01

Aim To describe the current use of non‐invasive ventilation in UK emergency departments. Methods A structured questionnaire was sent to all UK emergency departments assessing 25,000 new patients annually. Results 222 of 233 departments completed the questionnaire. 148 currently use non‐invasive ventilation (NIV). Most used NIV for either cardiogenic pulmonary oedema (n = 128) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 115). Only 49 departments have protocols for NIV use and 23 audited practice. Conclusion NIV is commonly used in UK emergency departments. Practices vary significantly. One solution would be the development of guidelines on when and how to use NIV in emergency medicine practice. PMID:17130599

The Genesis of Cyberscience and its Mathematical Models (CYBERSCIENCE)

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-02-01

Of course, the idea of maintaining a complete development record has other advantages , and has frequently been proposed in the past as a solution to...system development. There is no question that this offers certain advantages . For exam- ple, if systems that satisfy a standard frequently prove...some substantial practical advantages . First, providing wildly 2Unfortunately, this terminology has not been standardized. For example, in the Safety

Development of a Grazing Incidence X-Ray Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shipley, Ann; Cash, Webster; Osterman, Steve; Joy, Marshall; Carter, James

1999-01-01

A grazing incidence x-ray interferometer design capable of micro-arcsecond level resolution is discussed. This practical design employs a Michelson Stellar interferometer approach to create x-ray interference fringes without the use of Wolter style optics or diffraction crystals. Design solutions accommodating alignment, vibration, and thermal constraints are reviewed. We present the development and demonstration of a working experiment along with tolerance studies, data analysis, and results.

Tackling Complex Emergency Response Solutions Evaluation Problems in Sustainable Development by Fuzzy Group Decision Making Approaches with Considering Decision Hesitancy and Prioritization among Assessing Criteria.

PubMed

Qi, Xiao-Wen; Zhang, Jun-Ling; Zhao, Shu-Ping; Liang, Chang-Yong

2017-10-02

In order to be prepared against potential balance-breaking risks affecting economic development, more and more countries have recognized emergency response solutions evaluation (ERSE) as an indispensable activity in their governance of sustainable development. Traditional multiple criteria group decision making (MCGDM) approaches to ERSE have been facing simultaneous challenging characteristics of decision hesitancy and prioritization relations among assessing criteria, due to the complexity in practical ERSE problems. Therefore, aiming at the special type of ERSE problems that hold the two characteristics, we investigate effective MCGDM approaches by hiring interval-valued dual hesitant fuzzy set (IVDHFS) to comprehensively depict decision hesitancy. To exploit decision information embedded in prioritization relations among criteria, we firstly define an fuzzy entropy measure for IVDHFS so that its derivative decision models can avoid potential information distortion in models based on classic IVDHFS distance measures with subjective supplementing mechanism; further, based on defined entropy measure, we develop two fundamental prioritized operators for IVDHFS by extending Yager's prioritized operators. Furthermore, on the strength of above methods, we construct two hesitant fuzzy MCGDM approaches to tackle complex scenarios with or without known weights for decision makers, respectively. Finally, case studies have been conducted to show effectiveness and practicality of our proposed approaches.

Tackling Complex Emergency Response Solutions Evaluation Problems in Sustainable Development by Fuzzy Group Decision Making Approaches with Considering Decision Hesitancy and Prioritization among Assessing Criteria

PubMed Central

Qi, Xiao-Wen; Zhang, Jun-Ling; Zhao, Shu-Ping; Liang, Chang-Yong

2017-01-01

In order to be prepared against potential balance-breaking risks affecting economic development, more and more countries have recognized emergency response solutions evaluation (ERSE) as an indispensable activity in their governance of sustainable development. Traditional multiple criteria group decision making (MCGDM) approaches to ERSE have been facing simultaneous challenging characteristics of decision hesitancy and prioritization relations among assessing criteria, due to the complexity in practical ERSE problems. Therefore, aiming at the special type of ERSE problems that hold the two characteristics, we investigate effective MCGDM approaches by hiring interval-valued dual hesitant fuzzy set (IVDHFS) to comprehensively depict decision hesitancy. To exploit decision information embedded in prioritization relations among criteria, we firstly define an fuzzy entropy measure for IVDHFS so that its derivative decision models can avoid potential information distortion in models based on classic IVDHFS distance measures with subjective supplementing mechanism; further, based on defined entropy measure, we develop two fundamental prioritized operators for IVDHFS by extending Yager’s prioritized operators. Furthermore, on the strength of above methods, we construct two hesitant fuzzy MCGDM approaches to tackle complex scenarios with or without known weights for decision makers, respectively. Finally, case studies have been conducted to show effectiveness and practicality of our proposed approaches. PMID:28974045

Tools for evidence-based vascular nursing practice: Achieving information literacy for lifelong learning.

PubMed

Jameson, Jodi; Walsh, M Eileen

2017-12-01

Information literacy is essential in facilitating evidence-based practice (EBP) activities. In vascular nursing, the implementation of EBP is of utmost importance. Best practice grounded in research evidence can contribute to improved patient care outcomes for individuals with vascular disease. The following paper discusses information literacy competencies for nurses to develop in the context of EBP, with an emphasis on formulating a clinical question and searching for evidence. Relevant health science information resources are described, including their value and purpose in the 6S model of evidence. Also discussed are practical and supportive solutions with proven effectiveness in ensuring nurses' success with EBP. Copyright © 2017 Society for Vascular Nursing, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Framework to Implement IoT Network Performance Modelling Techniques for Network Solution Selection †

PubMed Central

Delaney, Declan T.; O’Hare, Gregory M. P.

2016-01-01

No single network solution for Internet of Things (IoT) networks can provide the required level of Quality of Service (QoS) for all applications in all environments. This leads to an increasing number of solutions created to fit particular scenarios. Given the increasing number and complexity of solutions available, it becomes difficult for an application developer to choose the solution which is best suited for an application. This article introduces a framework which autonomously chooses the best solution for the application given the current deployed environment. The framework utilises a performance model to predict the expected performance of a particular solution in a given environment. The framework can then choose an apt solution for the application from a set of available solutions. This article presents the framework with a set of models built using data collected from simulation. The modelling technique can determine with up to 85% accuracy the solution which performs the best for a particular performance metric given a set of solutions. The article highlights the fractured and disjointed practice currently in place for examining and comparing communication solutions and aims to open a discussion on harmonising testing procedures so that different solutions can be directly compared and offers a framework to achieve this within IoT networks. PMID:27916929

A Framework to Implement IoT Network Performance Modelling Techniques for Network Solution Selection.

PubMed

Delaney, Declan T; O'Hare, Gregory M P

2016-12-01

No single network solution for Internet of Things (IoT) networks can provide the required level of Quality of Service (QoS) for all applications in all environments. This leads to an increasing number of solutions created to fit particular scenarios. Given the increasing number and complexity of solutions available, it becomes difficult for an application developer to choose the solution which is best suited for an application. This article introduces a framework which autonomously chooses the best solution for the application given the current deployed environment. The framework utilises a performance model to predict the expected performance of a particular solution in a given environment. The framework can then choose an apt solution for the application from a set of available solutions. This article presents the framework with a set of models built using data collected from simulation. The modelling technique can determine with up to 85% accuracy the solution which performs the best for a particular performance metric given a set of solutions. The article highlights the fractured and disjointed practice currently in place for examining and comparing communication solutions and aims to open a discussion on harmonising testing procedures so that different solutions can be directly compared and offers a framework to achieve this within IoT networks.

Sun-Earth L1 Region Halo-To-Halo Orbit and Halo-To-LisaJous Orbit Transfers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, Craig E.; DeFazio, Robert

2004-01-01

Practical techniques for designing transfer trajectories between Libration Point Orbits (LPOs) are presented. Motivation for development of these techniques was provided by a hardware contingency experienced by the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) orbiting the L1 point of the Sun-Earth system. A potential solution to the problem involved a transfer from SOHO s periodic halo orbit to a new LPO of substantially different dimensions. Assuming the SOHO halo orbit as the departure orbit, several practical LPO transfer techniques were developed to obtain new Lissajous or periodic halo orbits that satisfy mission requirements and constraints. While not implemented for the SOHO mission, practical LPO transfer techniques were devised that are generally applicable to current and future LPO missions.

Burnout in the Helping Professions: Mutual Aid Groups as Self-Help.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spicuzza, Frank J.; De Voe, Marianne W.

1982-01-01

Offers some insight and understanding of the stress-producing components of counseling practice. Discusses some of the physical symptoms of burnout and examines why the syndrome is prevalent in the human services. Proposes the development of mutual aid groups as one solution to prevent or minimize burnout. (Author/RC)

State Practices in the Assessment of Outcomes for Students with Disabilities. Technical Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shriner, James G.; And Others

This technical report describes the methodology, results, and conclusions of a 1991 survey, which was conducted to determine state efforts to develop systems to assess educational outcomes, states' needs for solutions to technical/implementation problems, existing databases, and efforts of states to design a comprehensive system of indicators in…

Cybersecurity Education: Bridging the Gap between Hardware and Software Domains

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lukowiak, Marcin; Radziszowski, Stanislaw; Vallino, James; Wood, Christopher

2014-01-01

With the continuous growth of cyberinfrastructure throughout modern society, the need for secure computing and communication is more important than ever before. As a result, there is also an increasing need for entry-level developers who are capable of designing and building practical solutions for systems with stringent security requirements.…

Harnessing Value from Changing Workplace Demographics. Perspectives...Presenting Thought Leaders' Points of View

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dillon, Bobbie

2011-01-01

In February 2009, the National Association of College and University Business Officers, with generous support from Aetna, Inc., brought together business officers from a wide range of academic institutions to identify practical solutions to the challenges facing their campuses. The specific objective of the group: to develop an understanding of…

Applied Physics Lab Kennedy Space Center: Recent Contributions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Starr, Stan; Youngquist, Robert

2006-01-01

The mission of the Applied Physics Lab is: (1) Develop and deliver novel sensors and devices to support KSC mission operations. (2) Analyze operational issues and recommend or deliver practical solutions. (3) Apply physics to the resolution of long term space flight issues that affect space port operation on Earth or on other planets.

Mathematical Instructional Practices and Self-Efficacy of Kindergarten Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schillinger, Tammy

2016-01-01

A local urban school district recently reported that 86% of third graders did not demonstrate proficiency on the Math Standardized Test, which challenges students to solve problems and justify solutions. It is beneficial if these skills are developed prior to third grade. Students may be more academically successful if kindergarten teachers have…

Positive Experiences as Input for Reflection by Student Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Janssen, Fred; de Hullu, Els; Tigelaar, Dineke

2008-01-01

In many teacher training courses, reflection upon practice plays a very important role in learning to teach. A number of strategies have been developed to help student teachers learn to reflect. Current reflection strategies often focus on problematic instead of on positive experiences. Ideas from positive psychology and solution-based therapy…

Securing Location Services Infrastructures: Practical Criteria for Application Developers and Solutions Architects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karamanian, Andre

2013-01-01

This qualitative, exploratory, normative study examined the security and privacy of location based services in mobile applications. This study explored risk, and controls to implement privacy and security. This study was addressed using components of the FIPS Risk Management Framework. This study found that risk to location information was…

Experimental Investigation and Modeling of Scale Effects in Micro Jet Pumps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gardner, William Geoffrey

2011-12-01

Since the mid-1990s there has been an active effort to develop hydrocarbon-fueled power generation and propulsion systems on the scale of centimeters or smaller. This effort led to the creation and expansion of a field of research focused around the design and reduction to practice of Power MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) devices, beginning first with microscale jet engines and a generation later more broadly encompassing MEMS devices which generate power or pump heat. Due to small device scale and fabrication techniques, design constraints are highly coupled and conventional solutions for device requirements may not be practicable. This thesis describes the experimental investigation, modeling and potential applications for two classes of microscale jet pumps: jet ejectors and jet injectors. These components pump fluids with no moving parts and can be integrated into Power MEMS devices to satisfy pumping requirements by supplementing or replacing existing solutions. This thesis presents models developed from first principles which predict losses experienced at small length scales and agree well with experimental results. The models further predict maximum achievable power densities at the onset of detrimental viscous losses.

Information system evolution at the French National Network of Seismic Survey (BCSF-RENASS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engels, F.; Grunberg, M.

2013-12-01

The aging information system of the French National Network of Seismic Survey (BCSF-RENASS), located in Strasbourg (EOST), needed to be updated to satisfy new practices from Computer science world. The latter means to evolve our system at different levels : development method, datamining solutions, system administration. The new system had to provide more agility for incoming projects. The main difficulty was to maintain old system and the new one in parallel the time to validate new solutions with a restricted team. Solutions adopted here are coming from standards used by the seismological community and inspired by the state of the art of devops community. The new system is easier to maintain and take advantage of large community to find support. This poster introduces the new system and choosen solutions like Puppet, Fabric, MongoDB and FDSN Webservices.

Optimal design of a main driving mechanism for servo punch press based on performance atlases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Yanhua; Xie, Fugui; Liu, Xinjun

2013-09-01

The servomotor drive turret punch press is attracting more attentions and being developed more intensively due to the advantages of high speed, high accuracy, high flexibility, high productivity, low noise, cleaning and energy saving. To effectively improve the performance and lower the cost, it is necessary to develop new mechanisms and establish corresponding optimal design method with uniform performance indices. A new patented main driving mechanism and a new optimal design method are proposed. In the optimal design, the performance indices, i.e., the local motion/force transmission indices ITI, OTI, good transmission workspace good transmission workspace(GTW) and the global transmission indices GTIs are defined. The non-dimensional normalization method is used to get all feasible solutions in dimensional synthesis. Thereafter, the performance atlases, which can present all possible design solutions, are depicted. As a result, the feasible solution of the mechanism with good motion/force transmission performance is obtained. And the solution can be flexibly adjusted by designer according to the practical design requirements. The proposed mechanism is original, and the presented design method provides a feasible solution to the optimal design of the main driving mechanism for servo punch press.

The effect of solution nonideality on modeling transmembrane water transport and diffusion-limited intracellular ice formation during cryopreservation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Gang; Takamatsu, Hiroshi; He, Xiaoming

2014-04-01

A new model was developed to predict transmembrane water transport and diffusion-limited ice formation in cells during freezing without the ideal-solution assumption that has been used in previous models. The model was applied to predict cell dehydration and intracellular ice formation (IIF) during cryopreservation of mouse oocytes and bovine carotid artery endothelial cells in aqueous sodium chloride (NaCl) solution with glycerol as the cryoprotectant or cryoprotective agent. A comparison of the predictions between the present model and the previously reported models indicated that the ideal-solution assumption results in under-prediction of the amount of intracellular ice at slow cooling rates (<50 K/min). In addition, the lower critical cooling rates for IIF that is lethal to cells predicted by the present model were much lower than those estimated with the ideal-solution assumption. This study represents the first investigation on how accounting for solution nonideality in modeling water transport across the cell membrane could affect the prediction of diffusion-limited ice formation in biological cells during freezing. Future studies are warranted to look at other assumptions alongside nonideality to further develop the model as a useful tool for optimizing the protocol of cell cryopreservation for practical applications.

The effect of solution nonideality on modeling transmembrane water transport and diffusion-limited intracellular ice formation during cryopreservation.

PubMed

Zhao, Gang; Takamatsu, Hiroshi; He, Xiaoming

2014-04-14

A new model was developed to predict transmembrane water transport and diffusion-limited ice formation in cells during freezing without the ideal-solution assumption that has been used in previous models. The model was applied to predict cell dehydration and intracellular ice formation (IIF) during cryopreservation of mouse oocytes and bovine carotid artery endothelial cells in aqueous sodium chloride (NaCl) solution with glycerol as the cryoprotectant or cryoprotective agent. A comparison of the predictions between the present model and the previously reported models indicated that the ideal-solution assumption results in under-prediction of the amount of intracellular ice at slow cooling rates (<50 K/min). In addition, the lower critical cooling rates for IIF that is lethal to cells predicted by the present model were much lower than those estimated with the ideal-solution assumption. This study represents the first investigation on how accounting for solution nonideality in modeling water transport across the cell membrane could affect the prediction of diffusion-limited ice formation in biological cells during freezing. Future studies are warranted to look at other assumptions alongside nonideality to further develop the model as a useful tool for optimizing the protocol of cell cryopreservation for practical applications.

Exact solutions and conservation laws of the system of two-dimensional viscous Burgers equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdulwahhab, Muhammad Alim

2016-10-01

Fluid turbulence is one of the phenomena that has been studied extensively for many decades. Due to its huge practical importance in fluid dynamics, various models have been developed to capture both the indispensable physical quality and the mathematical structure of turbulent fluid flow. Among the prominent equations used for gaining in-depth insight of fluid turbulence is the two-dimensional Burgers equations. Its solutions have been studied by researchers through various methods, most of which are numerical. Being a simplified form of the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations and its wide range of applicability in various fields of science and engineering, development of computationally efficient methods for the solution of the two-dimensional Burgers equations is still an active field of research. In this study, Lie symmetry method is used to perform detailed analysis on the system of two-dimensional Burgers equations. Optimal system of one-dimensional subalgebras up to conjugacy is derived and used to obtain distinct exact solutions. These solutions not only help in understanding the physical effects of the model problem but also, can serve as benchmarks for constructing algorithms and validation of numerical solutions of the system of Burgers equations under consideration at finite Reynolds numbers. Independent and nontrivial conserved vectors are also constructed.

The effect of science demonstrations as a community service activity on pre-service science teachers' teaching practices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gurel, Derya Kaltakci

2016-03-01

In the scope of this study, pre-service science teachers (PSST) developed and carried out science demonstrations with everyday materials for elementary school students as a community service activity. 17 PSST enrolled in the community services practices course at Kocaeli University comprised the sample of the present study. Community service practices aim to develop consciousness of social responsibility and professional skills, as well as to gain awareness of social and community problems and find solutions for pre-service teachers. With this aim, each PSST developed five science demonstration activities and their brochures during a semester. At the end of the semester, a total of 85 demonstrations were carried out at public elementary schools, which are especially located in socioeconomically poor districts of Kocaeli, Turkey. In the present case study, the effect of developing and carrying out science demonstrations for elementary school students on six of the PSST' teaching practices on density and buoyancy concept was investigated. 30-minute interviews conducted with each PSST, videos recorded during their demonstration performances, brochures they prepared for their demonstration activities, and reflection papers were used as data collection tools of the study. The results showed that community service practices with science demonstrations had positive effects on PSST' science content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge.

TH-E-209-00: Radiation Dose Monitoring and Protocol Management

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

Radiation dose monitoring solutions have opened up new opportunities for medical physicists to be more involved in modern clinical radiology practices. In particular, with the help of comprehensive radiation dose data, data-driven protocol management and informed case follow up are now feasible. Significant challenges remain however and the problems faced by medical physicists are highly heterogeneous. Imaging systems from multiple vendors and a wide range of vintages co-exist in the same department and employ data communication protocols that are not fully standardized or implemented making harmonization complex. Many different solutions for radiation dose monitoring have been implemented by imaging facilitiesmore » over the past few years. Such systems are based on commercial software, home-grown IT solutions, manual PACS data dumping, etc., and diverse pathways can be used to bring the data to impact clinical practice. The speakers will share their experiences with creating or tailoring radiation dose monitoring/management systems and procedures over the past few years, which vary significantly in design and scope. Topics to cover: (1) fluoroscopic dose monitoring and high radiation event handling from a large academic hospital; (2) dose monitoring and protocol optimization in pediatric radiology; and (3) development of a home-grown IT solution and dose data analysis framework. Learning Objectives: Describe the scope and range of radiation dose monitoring and protocol management in a modern radiology practice Review examples of data available from a variety of systems and how it managed and conveyed. Reflect on the role of the physicist in radiation dose awareness.« less

TH-E-209-01: Fluoroscopic Dose Monitoring and Patient Follow-Up Program at Massachusetts General Hospital

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, B.

2016-06-15

Radiation dose monitoring solutions have opened up new opportunities for medical physicists to be more involved in modern clinical radiology practices. In particular, with the help of comprehensive radiation dose data, data-driven protocol management and informed case follow up are now feasible. Significant challenges remain however and the problems faced by medical physicists are highly heterogeneous. Imaging systems from multiple vendors and a wide range of vintages co-exist in the same department and employ data communication protocols that are not fully standardized or implemented making harmonization complex. Many different solutions for radiation dose monitoring have been implemented by imaging facilitiesmore » over the past few years. Such systems are based on commercial software, home-grown IT solutions, manual PACS data dumping, etc., and diverse pathways can be used to bring the data to impact clinical practice. The speakers will share their experiences with creating or tailoring radiation dose monitoring/management systems and procedures over the past few years, which vary significantly in design and scope. Topics to cover: (1) fluoroscopic dose monitoring and high radiation event handling from a large academic hospital; (2) dose monitoring and protocol optimization in pediatric radiology; and (3) development of a home-grown IT solution and dose data analysis framework. Learning Objectives: Describe the scope and range of radiation dose monitoring and protocol management in a modern radiology practice Review examples of data available from a variety of systems and how it managed and conveyed. Reflect on the role of the physicist in radiation dose awareness.« less

Studying physician-adolescent patient communication in community-based practices: recruitment challenges and solutions.

PubMed

Bodner, Michael E; Bilheimer, Alicia; Gao, Xiaomei; Lyna, Pauline; Alexander, Stewart C; Dolor, Rowena J; Østbye, Truls; Bravender, Terrill; Tulsky, James A; Graves, Sidney; Irons, Alexis; Pollak, Kathryn I

2015-11-13

Practice-based studies are needed to assess how physicians communicate health messages about weight to overweight/obese adolescent patients, but successful recruitment to such studies is challenging. This paper describes challenges, solutions, and lessons learned to recruit physicians and adolescents to the Teen Communicating Health Analyzing Talk (CHAT) study, a randomized controlled trial of a communication skills intervention for primary care physicians to enhance communication about weight with overweight/obese adolescents. A "peer-to-peer" approach was used to recruit physicians, including the use of "clinic champions" who liaised between study leaders and physicians. Consistent rapport and cooperative working relationships with physicians and clinic staff were developed and maintained. Adolescent clinic files were reviewed (HIPAA waiver) to assess eligibility. Parents could elect to opt-out for their children. To encourage enrollment, confidentiality of audio recordings was emphasized, and financial incentives were offered to all participants. We recruited 49 physicians and audio-recorded 391 of their overweight/obese adolescents' visits. Recruitment challenges included 1) physician reticence to participate; 2) variability in clinic operating procedures; 3) variability in adolescent accrual rates; 4) clinic open access scheduling; and 5) establishing communication with parents and adolescents. Key solutions included the use of a "clinic champion" to help recruit physicians, pro-active, consistent communication with clinic staff, and adapting calling times to reach parents and adolescents. Recruiting physicians and adolescents to audio-recorded, practice-based health communication studies can be successful. Anticipated challenges to recruiting can be met with advanced planning; however, optimal solutions to challenges evolve as recruitment progresses.

TH-E-209-02: Dose Monitoring and Protocol Optimization: The Pediatric Perspective

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

MacDougall, R.

Radiation dose monitoring solutions have opened up new opportunities for medical physicists to be more involved in modern clinical radiology practices. In particular, with the help of comprehensive radiation dose data, data-driven protocol management and informed case follow up are now feasible. Significant challenges remain however and the problems faced by medical physicists are highly heterogeneous. Imaging systems from multiple vendors and a wide range of vintages co-exist in the same department and employ data communication protocols that are not fully standardized or implemented making harmonization complex. Many different solutions for radiation dose monitoring have been implemented by imaging facilitiesmore » over the past few years. Such systems are based on commercial software, home-grown IT solutions, manual PACS data dumping, etc., and diverse pathways can be used to bring the data to impact clinical practice. The speakers will share their experiences with creating or tailoring radiation dose monitoring/management systems and procedures over the past few years, which vary significantly in design and scope. Topics to cover: (1) fluoroscopic dose monitoring and high radiation event handling from a large academic hospital; (2) dose monitoring and protocol optimization in pediatric radiology; and (3) development of a home-grown IT solution and dose data analysis framework. Learning Objectives: Describe the scope and range of radiation dose monitoring and protocol management in a modern radiology practice Review examples of data available from a variety of systems and how it managed and conveyed. Reflect on the role of the physicist in radiation dose awareness.« less

Guidance for Researchers Developing and Conducting Clinical Trials in Practice-based Research Networks (PBRNs)

PubMed Central

Dolor, Rowena J.; Schmit, Kristine M.; Graham, Deborah G.; Fox, Chester H.; Baldwin, Laura Mae

2015-01-01

Background There is increased interest nationally in multicenter clinical trials to answer questions about clinical effectiveness, comparative effectiveness, and safety in real-world community settings. Primary care practice-based research networks (PBRNs), comprising community- and/or academically affiliated practices committed to improving medical care for a range of health problems, offer ideal settings for these trials, especially pragmatic clinical trials. However, many researchers are not familiar with working with PBRNs. Methods Experts in practice-based research identified solutions to challenges that researchers and PBRN personnel experience when collaborating on clinical trials in PBRNs. These were organized as frequently asked questions in a draft document presented at a 2013 Agency for Health care Research and Quality PBRN conference workshop, revised based on participant feedback, then shared with additional experts from the DARTNet Institute, Clinical Translational Science Award PBRN, and North American Primary Care Research Group PBRN workgroups for further input and modification. Results The “Toolkit for Developing and Conducting Multi-site Clinical Trials in Practice-Based Research Networks” offers guidance in the areas of recruiting and engaging practices, budgeting, project management, and communication, as well as templates and examples of tools important in developing and conducting clinical trials. Conclusion Ensuring the successful development and conduct of clinical trials in PBRNs requires a highly collaborative approach between academic research and PBRN teams. PMID:25381071

Examining the design features of a communication-rich, problem-centred mathematics professional development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Araujo, Zandra; Orrill, Chandra Hawley; Jacobson, Erik

2018-04-01

While there is considerable scholarship describing principles for effective professional development, there have been few attempts to examine these principles in practice. In this paper, we identify and examine the particular design features of a mathematics professional development experience provided for middle grades teachers over 14 weeks. The professional development was grounded in a set of mathematical tasks that each had one right answer, but multiple solution paths. The facilitator engaged participants in problem solving and encouraged participants to work collaboratively to explore different solution paths. Through analysis of this collaborative learning environment, we identified five design features for supporting teacher learning of important mathematics and pedagogy in a problem-solving setting. We discuss these design features in depth and illustrate them by presenting an elaborated example from the professional development. This study extends the existing guidance for the design of professional development by examining and operationalizing the relationships among research-based features of effective professional development and the enacted features of a particular design.

Women in oncology: progress, challenges, and keys to success.

PubMed

Reeder-Hayes, Katherine; Felip, Enriqueta; Patt, Debra; Jaffee, Elizabeth

2013-01-01

Women have an increasingly significant presence in the oncology physician workforce but remain underrepresented in leadership positions and at the senior levels of academic medicine. Initiatives to close these gaps are underway both in the United States and Europe. However, many areas for improvement remain on an organizational level and in the trenches of career development and mentorship for individual female oncologists in both community and academic settings. Solutions to advance women in the oncology workforce will involve policy initiatives by professional and funding organizations, individual initiatives by universities and practices to recognize and develop female leaders, an increased focus on teamwork and novel practice arrangements, and high-quality mentorship of young women entering the oncology field.

Organ donation as transition work: Policy discourse and clinical practice in The Netherlands.

PubMed

Paul, Katharina T; Avezaat, Cees J J; Ijzermans, Jan N; Friele, Roland D; Bal, Roland A

2014-07-01

An increasing number of patients become eligible for organ transplants. In the Netherlands, at the level of policy discourse, growing waiting lists are often referred to as a persistent "shortage" of organs, producing a "public health crisis." In this way, organ donation is presented as an ethical, social, and medical necessity. Likewise, policy discourse offers a range of seemingly unambiguous solutions: improving logistical infrastructure at the level of hospitals, developing organizational and legal protocols, as well as public information campaigns. Instead of taking these problem and solution definitions as given, we critically examine the relationship between policy discourse and clinical practice. Based on a historical review, first, we trace the key moments of transformation where organ donation became naturalized in Dutch policy discourse, particularly in its altruistic connotation. Second, based on in-depth interviews with medical professionals, we show how those involved in organ donation continue to struggle with the controversial nature of their clinical practice. More specifically, we highlight their use of different forms of knowledge that underlie clinicians' "transition work": from losing a patient to "gaining" a donor. © The Author(s) 2013.

Estimating Aquifer Properties Using Sinusoidal Pumping Tests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rasmussen, T. C.; Haborak, K. G.; Young, M. H.

2001-12-01

We develop the theoretical and applied framework for using sinusoidal pumping tests to estimate aquifer properties for confined, leaky, and partially penetrating conditions. The framework 1) derives analytical solutions for three boundary conditions suitable for many practical applications, 2) validates the analytical solutions against a finite element model, 3) establishes a protocol for conducting sinusoidal pumping tests, and 4) estimates aquifer hydraulic parameters based on the analytical solutions. The analytical solutions to sinusoidal stimuli in radial coordinates are derived for boundary value problems that are analogous to the Theis (1935) confined aquifer solution, the Hantush and Jacob (1955) leaky aquifer solution, and the Hantush (1964) partially penetrated confined aquifer solution. The analytical solutions compare favorably to a finite-element solution of a simulated flow domain, except in the region immediately adjacent to the pumping well where the implicit assumption of zero borehole radius is violated. The procedure is demonstrated in one unconfined and two confined aquifer units near the General Separations Area at the Savannah River Site, a federal nuclear facility located in South Carolina. Aquifer hydraulic parameters estimated using this framework provide independent confirmation of parameters obtained from conventional aquifer tests. The sinusoidal approach also resulted in the elimination of investigation-derived wastes.

Effects of developer exhaustion on DFL Contrast FV-58 and Kodak Insight dental films.

PubMed

de Carvalho, Fabiano Pachêco; da Silveira, M M F; Frazão, M A G; de Santana, S T; dos Anjos Pontual, M L

2011-09-01

The aim of this study was to compare the properties of the DFL Contrast FV-58 F-speed film (DFL Co., Rio de Janerio, Brazil) with the Kodak Insight E/F speed film (Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY) in fresh and exhausted processing solutions. The parameters studied were the speed, average gradient and latitude. Five samples of each type of film were exposed under standardized conditions over 5 weeks. The films were developed in fresh and progressively exhausted processing solutions. Characteristic curves were constructed from values of optical density and radiation dose and were used to calculate the parameters. An analysis of variance was performed separately for film type and time. DFL Contrast FV-58 film has a speed and average gradient that is significantly higher than Insight film, whereas the values of latitude are lower. Exhausted processing solutions were not significant in the parameters studied. DFL Contrast FV-58 film has stable properties when exhausted manual processing solutions are used and can be recommended for use in dental practice, contributing to dose reduction.

Effects of developer exhaustion on DFL Contrast FV-58 and Kodak Insight dental films

PubMed Central

de Carvalho, FP; da Silveira, MMF; Frazão, MAG; de Santana, ST; dos Anjos Pontual, ML

2011-01-01

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the properties of the DFL Contrast FV-58 F-speed film (DFL Co., Rio de Janerio, Brazil) with the Kodak Insight E/F speed film (Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY) in fresh and exhausted processing solutions. The parameters studied were the speed, average gradient and latitude. Methods Five samples of each type of film were exposed under standardized conditions over 5 weeks. The films were developed in fresh and progressively exhausted processing solutions. Characteristic curves were constructed from values of optical density and radiation dose and were used to calculate the parameters. An analysis of variance was performed separately for film type and time. Results DFL Contrast FV-58 film has a speed and average gradient that is significantly higher than Insight film, whereas the values of latitude are lower. Exhausted processing solutions were not significant in the parameters studied. Conclusion DFL Contrast FV-58 film has stable properties when exhausted manual processing solutions are used and can be recommended for use in dental practice, contributing to dose reduction. PMID:21831975

Reuse of hydroponic waste solution.

PubMed

Kumar, Ramasamy Rajesh; Cho, Jae Young

2014-01-01

Attaining sustainable agriculture is a key goal in many parts of the world. The increased environmental awareness and the ongoing attempts to execute agricultural practices that are economically feasible and environmentally safe promote the use of hydroponic cultivation. Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants in nutrient solutions with or without the use of artificial medium to provide mechanical support. Major problems for hydroponic cultivation are higher operational cost and the causing of pollution due to discharge of waste nutrient solution. The nutrient effluent released into the environment can have negative impacts on the surrounding ecosystems as well as the potential to contaminate the groundwater utilized by humans for drinking purposes. The reuse of non-recycled, nutrient-rich hydroponic waste solution for growing plants in greenhouses is the possible way to control environmental pollution. Many researchers have successfully grown several plant species in hydroponic waste solution with high yield. Hence, this review addresses the problems associated with the release of hydroponic waste solution into the environment and possible reuse of hydroponic waste solution as an alternative resource for agriculture development and to control environmental pollution.

Utilization of municipal solid and liquid wastes for bioenergy and bioproducts production.

PubMed

Chen, Paul; Xie, Qinglong; Addy, Min; Zhou, Wenguang; Liu, Yuhuan; Wang, Yunpu; Cheng, Yanling; Li, Kun; Ruan, Roger

2016-09-01

Municipal wastes, be it solid or liquid, are rising due to the global population growth and rapid urbanization and industrialization. Conventional management practice involving recycling, combustion, and treatment/disposal is deemed unsustainable. Solutions must be sought to not only increase the capacity but also improve the sustainability of waste management. Research has demonstrated that the non-recyclable waste materials and bio-solids can be converted into useable heat, electricity, or fuel and chemical through a variety of processes, including gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas in addition to combustion, and wastewater streams have the potential to support algae growth and provide other energy recovery options. The present review is intended to assess and analyze the current state of knowledge in the municipal solid wastes and wastewater treatment and utilization technologies and recommend practical solution options and future research and development needs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A vacuum flash-assisted solution process for high-efficiency large-area perovskite solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiong; Bi, Dongqin; Yi, Chenyi; Décoppet, Jean-David; Luo, Jingshan; Zakeeruddin, Shaik Mohammed; Hagfeldt, Anders; Grätzel, Michael

2016-07-01

Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) currently attract enormous research interest because of their high solar-to-electric power conversion efficiency (PCE) and low fabrication costs, but their practical development is hampered by difficulties in achieving high performance with large-size devices. We devised a simple vacuum flash-assisted solution processing method to obtain shiny, smooth, crystalline perovskite films of high electronic quality over large areas. This enabled us to fabricate solar cells with an aperture area exceeding 1 square centimeter, a maximum efficiency of 20.5%, and a certified PCE of 19.6%. By contrast, the best certified PCE to date is 15.6% for PSCs of similar size. We demonstrate that the reproducibility of the method is excellent and that the cells show virtually no hysteresis. Our approach enables the realization of highly efficient large-area PSCs for practical deployment.

Practical Bayesian tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granade, Christopher; Combes, Joshua; Cory, D. G.

2016-03-01

In recent years, Bayesian methods have been proposed as a solution to a wide range of issues in quantum state and process tomography. State-of-the-art Bayesian tomography solutions suffer from three problems: numerical intractability, a lack of informative prior distributions, and an inability to track time-dependent processes. Here, we address all three problems. First, we use modern statistical methods, as pioneered by Huszár and Houlsby (2012 Phys. Rev. A 85 052120) and by Ferrie (2014 New J. Phys. 16 093035), to make Bayesian tomography numerically tractable. Our approach allows for practical computation of Bayesian point and region estimators for quantum states and channels. Second, we propose the first priors on quantum states and channels that allow for including useful experimental insight. Finally, we develop a method that allows tracking of time-dependent states and estimates the drift and diffusion processes affecting a state. We provide source code and animated visual examples for our methods.

Use of an Annular Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) Versus a Conventional SDD Makes Phase Mapping a Practical Solution for Rare Earth Mineral Characterization.

PubMed

Teng, Chaoyi; Demers, Hendrix; Brodusch, Nicolas; Waters, Kristian; Gauvin, Raynald

2018-06-04

A number of techniques for the characterization of rare earth minerals (REM) have been developed and are widely applied in the mining industry. However, most of them are limited to a global analysis due to their low spatial resolution. In this work, phase map analyses were performed on REM with an annular silicon drift detector (aSDD) attached to a field emission scanning electron microscope. The optimal conditions for the aSDD were explored, and the high-resolution phase maps generated at a low accelerating voltage identify phases at the micron scale. In comparisons between an annular and a conventional SDD, the aSDD performed at optimized conditions, making the phase map a practical solution for choosing an appropriate grinding size, judging the efficiency of different separation processes, and optimizing a REM beneficiation flowsheet.

Development of a Nonequilibrium Radiative Heating Prediction Method for Coupled Flowfield Solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartung, Lin C.

1991-01-01

A method for predicting radiative heating and coupling effects in nonequilibrium flow-fields has been developed. The method resolves atomic lines with a minimum number of spectral points, and treats molecular radiation using the smeared band approximation. To further minimize computational time, the calculation is performed on an optimized spectrum, which is computed for each flow condition to enhance spectral resolution. Additional time savings are obtained by performing the radiation calculation on a subgrid optimally selected for accuracy. Representative results from the new method are compared to previous work to demonstrate that the speedup does not cause a loss of accuracy and is sufficient to make coupled solutions practical. The method is found to be a useful tool for studies of nonequilibrium flows.

EPA's Safe and Sustainable Water Resources Research ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Increasing demands for sources of clean water—combined with changing land use practices, population growth, aging infrastructure, and climate change and variability—pose significant threats to our water resources. Failure to manage the Nation’s waters in an integrated, sustainable manner can jeopardize human and aquatic ecosystem health, which can impact our society and economy.Through innovative science and engineering, the SSWR Research Program is developing cost-effective, sustainable solutions to 21st century complex water issues and proactively developing solutions to emerging concerns. Our research is helping to ensure that clean, adequate, and equitable supplies of water are available to support human health and resilient aquatic ecosystems, now and into the future. To share information on EPA's water research program

On computing the geoelastic response to a disk load

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bevis, M.; Melini, D.; Spada, G.

2016-06-01

We review the theory of the Earth's elastic and gravitational response to a surface disk load. The solutions for displacement of the surface and the geoid are developed using expansions of Legendre polynomials, their derivatives and the load Love numbers. We provide a MATLAB function called diskload that computes the solutions for both uncompensated and compensated disk loads. In order to numerically implement the Legendre expansions, it is necessary to choose a harmonic degree, nmax, at which to truncate the series used to construct the solutions. We present a rule of thumb (ROT) for choosing an appropriate value of nmax, describe the consequences of truncating the expansions prematurely and provide a means to judiciously violate the ROT when that becomes a practical necessity.

Analytic theory of photoacoustic wave generation from a spheroidal droplet.

PubMed

Li, Yong; Fang, Hui; Min, Changjun; Yuan, Xiaocong

2014-08-25

In this paper, we develop an analytic theory for describing the photoacoustic wave generation from a spheroidal droplet and derive the first complete analytic solution. Our derivation is based on solving the photoacoustic Helmholtz equation in spheroidal coordinates with the separation-of-variables method. As the verification, besides carrying out the asymptotic analyses which recover the standard solutions for a sphere, an infinite cylinder and an infinite layer, we also confirm that the partial transmission and reflection model previously demonstrated for these three geometries still stands. We expect that this analytic solution will find broad practical uses in interpreting experiment results, considering that its building blocks, the spheroidal wave functions (SWFs), can be numerically calculated by the existing computer programs.

The role of information technology in the development of community pharmacy services: visions and strategic views of international experts.

PubMed

Westerling, Anna M; Haikala, Veikko; Airaksinen, Marja

2011-12-01

Community pharmacy's strategic vision has been to extend practice responsibilities beyond dispensing and provide patient care services. Few studies have evaluated the strategic and long-term development of information technology (IT) systems to support this vision. The objective of this study was to explore international experts' visions and strategic views on IT development needs in relation to service provision in community pharmacies. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 14 experts from 8 countries in 2007-2008. These experts had expertise in the development of community pharmacy services and IT. The interviews were content analyzed using a constant comparison approach and a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis was undertaken. Most of the experts shared the vision for community pharmacy adopting a patient care orientation; supported by IT-based documentation, new technological solutions, access to information, and shared patient data. Opportunities to achieve this vision included IT solutions, professional skills, and interprofessional collaboration. Threats included costs, pharmacists' attitude, and the absence of IT solutions. Those responsible for IT development in community pharmacy sector should create long-term IT development strategies that are in line with community pharmacy service development strategies. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Agile Data Curation Case Studies Leading to the Identification and Development of Data Curation Design Patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benedict, K. K.; Lenhardt, W. C.; Young, J. W.; Gordon, L. C.; Hughes, S.; Santhana Vannan, S. K.

2017-12-01

The planning for and development of efficient workflows for the creation, reuse, sharing, documentation, publication and preservation of research data is a general challenge that research teams of all sizes face. In response to: requirements from funding agencies for full-lifecycle data management plans that will result in well documented, preserved, and shared research data products increasing requirements from publishers for shared data in conjunction with submitted papers interdisciplinary research team's needs for efficient data sharing within projects, and increasing reuse of research data for replication and new, unanticipated research, policy development, and public use alternative strategies to traditional data life cycle approaches must be developed and shared that enable research teams to meet these requirements while meeting the core science objectives of their projects within the available resources. In support of achieving these goals, the concept of Agile Data Curation has been developed in which there have been parallel activities in support of 1) identifying a set of shared values and principles that underlie the objectives of agile data curation, 2) soliciting case studies from the Earth science and other research communities that illustrate aspects of what the contributors consider agile data curation methods and practices, and 3) identifying or developing design patterns that are high-level abstractions from successful data curation practice that are related to common data curation problems for which common solution strategies may be employed. This paper provides a collection of case studies that have been contributed by the Earth science community, and an initial analysis of those case studies to map them to emerging shared data curation problems and their potential solutions. Following the initial analysis of these problems and potential solutions, existing design patterns from software engineering and related disciplines are identified as a starting point for the development of a catalog of data curation design patterns that may be reused in the design and execution of new data curation processes.

Patient-Reported Outcome and Observer-Reported Outcome Assessment in Rare Disease Clinical Trials: An ISPOR COA Emerging Good Practices Task Force Report.

PubMed

Benjamin, Katy; Vernon, Margaret K; Patrick, Donald L; Perfetto, Eleanor; Nestler-Parr, Sandra; Burke, Laurie

Rare diseases (RDs) affect a small number of people within a population. About 5000 to 8000 distinct RDs have been identified, with an estimated 6% to 8% of people worldwide suffering from an RD. Approximately 75% of RDs affect children. Frequently, these conditions are heterogeneous; many are progressive. Regulatory incentives have increased orphan drug designations and approvals. To develop emerging good practices for RD outcomes research addressing the challenges inherent in identifying, selecting, developing, adapting, and implementing patient-reported outcome (PRO) and observer-reported outcome (ObsRO) assessments for use in RD clinical trials. This report outlines the challenges and potential solutions in determining clinical outcomes for RD trials. It follows the US Food and Drug Administration Roadmap to Patient-Focused Outcome Measurement in Clinical Trials. The Roadmap consists of three columns: 1) Understanding the Disease or Condition, 2) Conceptualizing Treatment Benefit, and 3) Selecting/Developing the Outcome Measure. Challenges in column 1 include factors such as incomplete natural history data and heterogeneity of disease presentation and patient experience. Solutions include using several information sources, for example, clinical experts and patient advocacy groups, to construct the condition's natural history and understand treatment patterns. Challenges in column 2 include understanding and measuring treatment benefit from the patient's perspective, especially given challenges in defining the context of use such as variations in age or disease severity/progression. Solutions include focusing on common symptoms across patient subgroups, identifying short-term outcomes, and using multiple types of COA instruments to measure the same constructs. Challenges in column 3 center around the small patient population and heterogeneity of the condition or study sample. Few disease-specific instruments for RDs exist. Strategies include adapting existing instruments developed for a similar condition or that contain symptoms of importance to the RD patient population, or using a generic instrument validated for the context of use. This report provides state-of-the-art solutions to patient-reported outcome (PRO) and observer-reported outcome (ObsRO) assessments challenges in clinical trials of patients with RDs. These recommended solutions are both pragmatic and creative and posed with clear recognition of the global regulatory context used in RD clinical development programs. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

A risk-management approach for effective integration of biomarkers in clinical trials: perspectives of an NCI, NCRI, and EORTC working group.

PubMed

Hall, Jacqueline Anne; Salgado, Roberto; Lively, Tracy; Sweep, Fred; Schuh, Anna

2014-04-01

Clinical cancer research today often includes testing the value of biomarkers to direct treatment and for drug development. However, the practical challenges of integration of molecular information into clinical trial protocols are increasingly appreciated. Inherent difficulties include evidence gaps in available biomarker data, a paucity of robust assay methods, and the design of appropriate studies within the constraints of feasible trial operations, and finite resources. Scalable and proportionate approaches are needed to systematically cope with these challenges. Therefore, we assembled international experts from three clinical trials organisations to identify the common challenges and common solutions. We present a practical risk-assessment framework allowing targeting of scarce resources to crucial issues coupled with a library of useful resources and a simple actionable checklist of recommendations. We hope that these practical methods will be useful for running biomarker-driven trials and ultimately help to develop biomarkers that are ready for integration in routine practice. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Space-planning and structural solutions of low-rise buildings: Optimal selection methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gusakova, Natalya; Minaev, Nikolay; Filushina, Kristina; Dobrynina, Olga; Gusakov, Alexander

2017-11-01

The present study is devoted to elaboration of methodology used to select appropriately the space-planning and structural solutions in low-rise buildings. Objective of the study is working out the system of criteria influencing the selection of space-planning and structural solutions which are most suitable for low-rise buildings and structures. Application of the defined criteria in practice aim to enhance the efficiency of capital investments, energy and resource saving, create comfortable conditions for the population considering climatic zoning of the construction site. Developments of the project can be applied while implementing investment-construction projects of low-rise housing at different kinds of territories based on the local building materials. The system of criteria influencing the optimal selection of space-planning and structural solutions of low-rise buildings has been developed. Methodological basis has been also elaborated to assess optimal selection of space-planning and structural solutions of low-rise buildings satisfying the requirements of energy-efficiency, comfort and safety, and economical efficiency. Elaborated methodology enables to intensify the processes of low-rise construction development for different types of territories taking into account climatic zoning of the construction site. Stimulation of low-rise construction processes should be based on the system of approaches which are scientifically justified; thus it allows enhancing energy efficiency, comfort, safety and economical effectiveness of low-rise buildings.

Cross-Disciplinary Consultancy to Bridge Public Health Technical Needs and Analytic Developers: Asyndromic Surveillance Use Case

PubMed Central

Faigen, Zachary; Deyneka, Lana; Ising, Amy; Neill, Daniel; Conway, Mike; Fairchild, Geoffrey; Gunn, Julia; Swenson, David; Painter, Ian; Johnson, Lauren; Kiley, Chris; Streichert, Laura

2015-01-01

Introduction: We document a funded effort to bridge the gap between constrained scientific challenges of public health surveillance and methodologies from academia and industry. Component tasks are the collection of epidemiologists’ use case problems, multidisciplinary consultancies to refine them, and dissemination of problem requirements and shareable datasets. We describe an initial use case and consultancy as a concrete example and challenge to developers. Materials and Methods: Supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency Biosurveillance Ecosystem project, the International Society for Disease Surveillance formed an advisory group to select tractable use case problems and convene inter-disciplinary consultancies to translate analytic needs into well-defined problems and to promote development of applicable solution methods. The initial consultancy’s focus was a problem originated by the North Carolina Department of Health and its NC DETECT surveillance system: Derive a method for detection of patient record clusters worthy of follow-up based on free-text chief complaints and without syndromic classification. Results: Direct communication between public health problem owners and analytic developers was informative to both groups and constructive for the solution development process. The consultancy achieved refinement of the asyndromic detection challenge and of solution requirements. Participants summarized and evaluated solution approaches and discussed dissemination and collaboration strategies. Practice Implications: A solution meeting the specification of the use case described above could improve human monitoring efficiency with expedited warning of events requiring follow-up, including otherwise overlooked events with no syndromic indicators. This approach can remove obstacles to collaboration with efficient, minimal data-sharing and without costly overhead. PMID:26834939

An efficient and accurate solution methodology for bilevel multi-objective programming problems using a hybrid evolutionary-local-search algorithm.

PubMed

Deb, Kalyanmoy; Sinha, Ankur

2010-01-01

Bilevel optimization problems involve two optimization tasks (upper and lower level), in which every feasible upper level solution must correspond to an optimal solution to a lower level optimization problem. These problems commonly appear in many practical problem solving tasks including optimal control, process optimization, game-playing strategy developments, transportation problems, and others. However, they are commonly converted into a single level optimization problem by using an approximate solution procedure to replace the lower level optimization task. Although there exist a number of theoretical, numerical, and evolutionary optimization studies involving single-objective bilevel programming problems, not many studies look at the context of multiple conflicting objectives in each level of a bilevel programming problem. In this paper, we address certain intricate issues related to solving multi-objective bilevel programming problems, present challenging test problems, and propose a viable and hybrid evolutionary-cum-local-search based algorithm as a solution methodology. The hybrid approach performs better than a number of existing methodologies and scales well up to 40-variable difficult test problems used in this study. The population sizing and termination criteria are made self-adaptive, so that no additional parameters need to be supplied by the user. The study indicates a clear niche of evolutionary algorithms in solving such difficult problems of practical importance compared to their usual solution by a computationally expensive nested procedure. The study opens up many issues related to multi-objective bilevel programming and hopefully this study will motivate EMO and other researchers to pay more attention to this important and difficult problem solving activity.

SPIRIT: Systematic Planning of Intelligent Reuse of Integrated Clinical Routine Data. A Conceptual Best-practice Framework and Procedure Model.

PubMed

Hackl, W O; Ammenwerth, E

2016-01-01

Secondary use of clinical routine data is receiving an increasing amount of attention in biomedicine and healthcare. However, building and analysing integrated clinical routine data repositories are nontrivial, challenging tasks. As in most evolving fields, recognized standards, well-proven methodological frameworks, or accurately described best-practice approaches for the systematic planning of solutions for secondary use of routine medical record data are missing. We propose a conceptual best-practice framework and procedure model for the systematic planning of intelligent reuse of integrated clinical routine data (SPIRIT). SPIRIT was developed based on a broad literature overview and further refined in two case studies with different kinds of clinical routine data, including process-oriented nursing data from a large hospital group and high-volume multimodal clinical data from a neurologic intensive care unit. SPIRIT aims at tailoring secondary use solutions to specific needs of single departments without losing sight of the institution as a whole. It provides a general conceptual best-practice framework consisting of three parts: First, a secondary use strategy for the whole organization is determined. Second, comprehensive analyses are conducted from two different viewpoints to define the requirements regarding a clinical routine data reuse solution at the system level from the data perspective (BOTTOM UP) and at the strategic level from the future users perspective (TOP DOWN). An obligatory clinical context analysis (IN BETWEEN) facilitates refinement, combination, and integration of the different requirements. The third part of SPIRIT is dedicated to implementation, which comprises design and realization of clinical data integration and management as well as data analysis solutions. The SPIRIT framework is intended to be used to systematically plan the intelligent reuse of clinical routine data for multiple purposes, which often was not intended when the primary clinical documentation systems were implemented. SPIRIT helps to overcome this gap. It can be applied in healthcare institutions of any size or specialization and allows a stepwise setup and evolution of holistic clinical routine data reuse solutions.

Optimal reblocking as a practical tool for neighborhood development

DOE PAGES

Brelsford, Christa; Martin, Taylor; Bettencourt, Luís M. A.

2017-06-12

Fast urbanization is a common feature of many developing human societies. In many cases, past and present, explosive population growth in cities outstrips the rate of provision of housing and urban services and leads to the formation of informal settlements or slums. Slums are extremely varied in terms of their histories, infrastructure, and rates of change, but they share certain common features: informal land use, lack of physical accesses, and nonexistent or poor quality urban services. Currently, about 1 billion people worldwide live in slums, a number that could triple by 2050 if no practical solutions are enacted to reversemore » this trend. Underlying most problems of slums is the issue of lack of physical accesses to places of work and residence. This prevents residents and businesses from having an address, obtaining basic services such as water and sanitation, and being helped in times of emergency. In this paper, we show how the physical layout of any neighborhood can be classified quantitatively in terms of its access topology in a way that is independent of its geometry. Topological indices capturing levels of access to structures within a city block can then be used to define a constrained optimization problem, whose solution generates an access network that makes each structure in the settlement accessible to services with minimal disruption and cost. We discuss the general applicability of these techniques to several informal settlements in developing cities and demonstrate various technical aspects of our solutions. In conclusion, we discuss how these techniques could be used on a large scale to speed up human development processes in cities throughout the world while respecting their local identity and history.« less

Optimal reblocking as a practical tool for neighborhood development

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brelsford, Christa; Martin, Taylor; Bettencourt, Luís M. A.

Fast urbanization is a common feature of many developing human societies. In many cases, past and present, explosive population growth in cities outstrips the rate of provision of housing and urban services and leads to the formation of informal settlements or slums. Slums are extremely varied in terms of their histories, infrastructure, and rates of change, but they share certain common features: informal land use, lack of physical accesses, and nonexistent or poor quality urban services. Currently, about 1 billion people worldwide live in slums, a number that could triple by 2050 if no practical solutions are enacted to reversemore » this trend. Underlying most problems of slums is the issue of lack of physical accesses to places of work and residence. This prevents residents and businesses from having an address, obtaining basic services such as water and sanitation, and being helped in times of emergency. In this paper, we show how the physical layout of any neighborhood can be classified quantitatively in terms of its access topology in a way that is independent of its geometry. Topological indices capturing levels of access to structures within a city block can then be used to define a constrained optimization problem, whose solution generates an access network that makes each structure in the settlement accessible to services with minimal disruption and cost. We discuss the general applicability of these techniques to several informal settlements in developing cities and demonstrate various technical aspects of our solutions. In conclusion, we discuss how these techniques could be used on a large scale to speed up human development processes in cities throughout the world while respecting their local identity and history.« less

Implications of utility and deontology for the clinical nurse specialist.

PubMed

Ayres, L

1989-01-01

Faced with prospective payment plans and personnel shortages nurses in advanced clinical practice are under pressure to find practical solutions. These solutions may reflect the institutional philosophy of utility rather than the traditional nursing ethic of deontology, illustrating the need to examine the differences between utilitarian and deontological principles as they affect nursing practice. This paper discusses deontology and utility as they apply to nursing practice, considers how these different philosophical positions may affect advanced practitioners, and describes the current status of ethics in nursing.

Editorial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shuai

Fractal represents a special feature of nature and functional objects. However, fractal based computing can be applied to many research domains because of its fixed property resisted deformation, variable parameters and many unpredictable changes. Theoretical research and practical application of fractal based computing have been hotspots for 30 years and will be continued. There are many pending issues awaiting solutions in this domain, thus this thematic issue containing 14 papers publishes the state-of-the-art developments in theorem and application of fractal based computing, including mathematical analysis and novel engineering applications. The topics contain fractal and multifractal features in application and solution of nonlinear odes and equation.

Reviewing education challenges and solutions for health professionals in community care.

PubMed

Kirk, Mary

2015-10-01

The biggest asset of the NHS is its staff. Health professionals working in the community are faced with a number of challenges to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills in their clinical practice. NHS England's Five Year Forward View describes the need for change, identifying the necessity to reshape care delivery, harnessing technology, and driving down variations in quality and safety of care. This article explores some of the challenges faced by community health-care providers and reviews possible solutions to meet community health-care needs for now as well as the future.

Political Science: Building relationships and trust with lawmakers (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Unruh Cohen, A. L.

2013-12-01

Energy and climate policies are important drivers of domestic and international politics. They are also sources of controversy and polarization. Input from scientists is critical to identifying problems and their solutions for our domestic and international energy and climate challenges. I will discuss how issues come to the attention of lawmakers, how they determine the solutions they wish to pursue and how scientists can meaningfully engage in that process. Based on my experience working on energy and climate legislation in Congress for the last decade, I will provide practical advice on establishing trust and developing relationships with lawmakers.

Interlaminar stresses in composite laminates: A perturbation analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsu, P. W.; Herakovich, C. T.

1976-01-01

A general method of solution for an elastic balanced symmetric composite laminate subject to a uniaxial extension was developed based upon a perturbation analysis of a limiting free body containing an interfacial plane. The solution satisfies more physical requirements and boundary conditions than previous investigations, and predicts smooth continuous interlaminar stresses with no instabilities. It determines the finite maximum intensity for the interlaminar normal stress in all laminates, provides mathematical evidences for the singular stresses in angle-ply laminates, suggests the need for the experimental determination of an important problem parameter, and introduces a viable means for solving related problems of practical interest.

Changing essay writing in undergraduate nursing education through action research: a Swedish example.

PubMed

Friberg, Febe; Lyckhage, Elisabeth Dahlborg

2013-01-01

This article describes the development of literature-based models for bachelor degree essays in Swedish undergraduate nursing education. Students' experiences in a course with literature-based models for bachelor degree essays are discussed. The ever-growing body of nursing research and specialized and complex health care practices make great demands on nursing education in terms of preparing students to be both skilled practitioners and users of research. Teaching to help students understand evidence-based practice is a challenge for nursing education. Action research was used to generate knowledge of and practical solutions to problems in everyday locations. Six models were developed: concept analysis, contributing to evidence-based nursing by means of quantitative research, contributing to evidence-based nursing by means of qualitative research, discourse analysis, analysis of narratives, and literature review. Action research was found to be a relevant procedure for changing ways of working with literature-based, bachelor degree essays. The models that were developed increased students' confidence in writing essays and preparedness for the nursing role.

Scaffolding student learning in clinical practice.

PubMed

Spouse, J

1998-05-01

For many years the profession has acknowledged a schism between theories taught in the classroom and the practice of clinicians. This tends to arise from beliefs that knowledge which has been generalized (formalized) can be readily transferred to informal settings (practice). Whilst apprehension of formalized knowledge is crucial to professional development, a mediator is necessary to demonstrate its relevance to practice. A variety of solutions have been offered which all have value but without effective social support fail to resolve the problem. Findings from a longitudinal study investigating the professional development of pre-registration nursing students indicate the importance of sponsorship by a member of clinical staff and participation in legitimate peripheral activities. In the absence of effective sponsorship, students found it difficult to participate in clinical activities or to learn. As a result, their professional development during placements became stunted with subsequent implications for their professional future. Questions concerned with this phenomena were explored using documentary evidence supplied by research participants, observations of their practice and focused interviews throughout their programme. Sociocultural or activity theories of human learning offer some attractive explanations. One strategy is scaffolding which takes place within sponsored nursing activities and builds on the important concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), where speech becomes a tool to mediate learning and development. As a diagnostic tool, scaffolding enables both supervisor and learner to recognize knowledge-in-waiting and knowledge-in-use and hence learning need, thus stimulating opportunities for further learning and professional development beneficial to both learner and supervisor. It provides a means for theory and practice to become integrated.

Room-temperature solution-processed and metal oxide-free nano-composite for the flexible transparent bottom electrode of perovskite solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Haifei; Sun, Jingsong; Zhang, Hong; Lu, Shunmian; Choy, Wallace C. H.

2016-03-01

The exploration of low-temperature and solution-processed charge transporting and collecting layers can promote the development of low-cost and large-scale perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) through an all solution process. Here, we propose a room-temperature solution-processed and metal oxide-free nano-composite composed of a silver nano-network and graphene oxide (GO) flawless film for the transparent bottom electrode of a PVSC. Our experimental results show that the amount of GO flakes play a critical role in forming the flawless anti-corrosive barrier in the silver nano-network through a self-assembly approach under ambient atmosphere, which can effectively prevent the penetration of liquid or gaseous halides and their corrosion against the silver nano-network underneath. Importantly, we simultaneously achieve good work function alignment and surface wetting properties for a practical bottom electrode by controlling the degree of reduction of GO flakes. Finally, flexible PVSC adopting the room-temperature and solution-processed nano-composite as the flexible transparent bottom electrode has been demonstrated on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. As a consequence, the demonstration of our room-temperature solution-processed and metal oxide-free flexible transparent bottom electrode will contribute to the emerging large-area flexible PVSC technologies.The exploration of low-temperature and solution-processed charge transporting and collecting layers can promote the development of low-cost and large-scale perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) through an all solution process. Here, we propose a room-temperature solution-processed and metal oxide-free nano-composite composed of a silver nano-network and graphene oxide (GO) flawless film for the transparent bottom electrode of a PVSC. Our experimental results show that the amount of GO flakes play a critical role in forming the flawless anti-corrosive barrier in the silver nano-network through a self-assembly approach under ambient atmosphere, which can effectively prevent the penetration of liquid or gaseous halides and their corrosion against the silver nano-network underneath. Importantly, we simultaneously achieve good work function alignment and surface wetting properties for a practical bottom electrode by controlling the degree of reduction of GO flakes. Finally, flexible PVSC adopting the room-temperature and solution-processed nano-composite as the flexible transparent bottom electrode has been demonstrated on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. As a consequence, the demonstration of our room-temperature solution-processed and metal oxide-free flexible transparent bottom electrode will contribute to the emerging large-area flexible PVSC technologies. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00011h

Reclamation of landfills and dumps of municipal solid waste in a energy efficient waste management system: methodology and practice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orlova, Tatyana; Melnichuk, Aleksandr; Klimenko, Kseniya; Vitvitskaya, Valentina; Popovych, Valentina; Dunaieva, Ielizaveta; Terleev, Vitaly; Nikonorov, Aleksandr; Togo, Issa; Volkova, Yulia; Mirschel, Wilfried; Garmanov, Vitaly

2017-10-01

The article considers the methodological and practical aspects of reclamation of landfills and dumps of municipal solid waste in a waste management system. The general tendencies of system development in the context of elements of the international concept of waste hierarchy are analyzed. Statistics of the formation and burial of domestic waste indicate a strategic non-alternative to the rejection of landfill technologies in favor of environmentally, energy efficient and economically expedient ways of utilization of municipal waste as a world trend. Practical approaches to the study of territories on which there are dumps and landfills are considered to justify the design solutions for reclamation.

Formative assessment as a vehicle for changing classroom practice in a specific cultural context

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jingping

2015-09-01

In this commentary, I interpret Xinying Yin and Gayle Ann Buck's collaborative action research from a social-cultural perspective. Classroom implementation of formative assessment is viewed as interaction between this assessment method and the local learning culture. I first identify Yin and Buck's definition of the formative assessment, and then analyze the role of formative assessment in the change of local learning culture. Based on the practice of Yin and Buck I emphasize the significance of their "bottom up" strategy to the teachers' epistemological change. I believe that this strategy may provide practicable solutions to current Chinese educational problems as well as a means for science educators to shift toward systematic professional development.

Command and Control Concepts and Solutions for Major Events Safety and Security: Lessons Learned from the Canadian Experience with Vancouver 2010 and G8/G20 Events

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

discuss best practices and the prerogatives of major events C2 solutions. In section 6, we present the conclusion. 2 Complexity of the Command and Control...best practices for sharing information, standard operating procedure (SOPs) and response plans have been investigated through formal studies and an...and contributed to the deployment of an information sharing solution on Command Network. This solution was based on Microsoft SharePoint. The team

"Working towards being ready": A grounded theory study of how practising midwives maintain their ongoing competence to practise their profession.

PubMed

Calvert, Susan; Smythe, Elizabeth; McKenzie-Green, Barbara

2017-07-01

to present a grounded theory research study explaining how New Zealand midwives maintain their ongoing competence to practise their profession. grounded theory, an interpretive emergent research methodology was used to examine the process of maintaining competence in midwifery practice. New Zealand urban and rural practice settings. twenty-six midwives from across New Zealand were interviewed and asked about maintaining their competence to practise. Five midwives were interviewed twice, to explore the emerging findings and as one method of member checking. the grounded theory of 'working towards being ready' describes a continuous process in which midwives engage as they work to maintain practice competence. The component parts comprise professional positioning, identifying needs, strategizing solutions and reflecting on practice. The process is contextual, diverse and is influenced by the practice setting where the salient conditions of resourcing, availability and opportunity for engagement in activities are significant. across the midwifery profession, midwives in New Zealand are currently working under the generic umbrella of midwifery practice. Midwives work across a range of practice arenas in diverse ways focussed on providing safe care and require a range of professional development activities germane to their area of practice. When the midwife has access to professional development pertinent to their practice, women and the profession benefit. As there is diversity of practice, then mandated processes for ongoing competence need to have flexibility to reflect that diversity. midwives engage in development that allows them to remain current in practice and that enables them to provide appropriate care to women and their babies. As a consequence they can develop expertise in certain aspects of midwifery. Mandated processes that require engagement in activities aimed at demonstration of competence should be evaluated and tailored to ensure they meet the needs of the developing profession. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Total Quality Management (TQM): Group Dynamics Workshop

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-15

interactions with other OSD decision-making bodies. " Remove barriers /facilitate implementation. " Direct action on unresolved process problems referred...TQM leadership. - Total Quality Management FUNCTIONS: * Translate goals to tangible internal initiatives. " Remove barriers . " Establish and...Quality Management FUNCTIONS: • Identify and remove barriers . " Develop practical process improvements. " Install solutions and measurement systems for

The EChemPen: A Guiding Hand to Learn Electrochemical Surface Modifications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Valetaud, Mathieu; Loget, Gabriel; Roche, Je´rome; Hu¨sken, Nina; Fattah, Zahra; Badets, Vasilica; Fontaine, Olivier; Zigah, Dodzi

2015-01-01

The Electrochemical Pen (EChemPen) was developed as an attractive tool for learning electrochemistry. The fabrication, principle, and operation of the EChemPen are simple and can be easily performed by students in practical classes. It is based on a regular fountain pen principle, where the electrolytic solution is dispensed at a tip to locally…

E-Learning Practice-Oriented Training in Physics: The Competence Formation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kravets, Alla G.; Titova, Oxana V.; Shabalina, Olga A.

2013-01-01

The method of competences level automated management is developed for student's competences formation. An insufficient level of schools graduates in physics is identified as the modern problem of the education. Teacher does not specify which step in a solution a student can not cope with, and the student reiterates his mistake in other tasks…

Initiative Games in Physical Education: A Practical Approach for Teaching Critical Thinking Skills--Part 1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maina, Michael P.; Maina, Julie Schlegel; Hunt, Kevin

2016-01-01

As teachers prepare children for the future, the need for developing critical thinking skills in students becomes clearly evident. One way to promote this process is through initiative games. Initiative games are clearly defined problems that a group must find a solution to through cooperation, physical effort and cognitive functioning. The…

Creativity and Complex Thoughts of Gifted Students from Contributions of Edgar Morin and Rudolf Steiner

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Piske, Fernanda Hellen Ribeiro; Stoltz, Tania; Guérios, Ettiène; de Freitas, Samarah Perszel

2016-01-01

This study aims to highlight the importance of creativity in education of gifted children. Gifted students are generally individuals that talk with uncertainty because they are always looking for solutions and discoveries for their varied researches in their area of interest. These students need educational practices that develop creativity and…

Bionic Manufacturing: Towards Cyborg Cells and Sentient Microbots.

PubMed

Srivastava, Sarvesh Kumar; Yadav, Vikramaditya G

2018-05-01

Bio-inspired engineering applies biological design principles towards developing engineering solutions but is not practical as a manufacturing paradigm. We advocate 'bionic manufacturing', a synergistic fusion of biotic and abiotic components, to transition away from bio-inspiration toward bio-augmentation to address current limitations in bio-inspired manufacturing. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Are You Ready to Assess Social and Emotional Development? SEL Solutions Tools Index

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Institutes for Research, 2015

2015-01-01

Assessing individuals' social and emotional (SE) knowledge, attitudes, and skills is a complex task. It requires careful consideration of the assessment purpose, rigor, practicality, burden, and ethics. Once you have considered these factors and have determined that you are, in fact, "Ready to Assess," you are ready to act and choose an…

Promising Practices in Young Adult Employment: Lessons Learned from EMT Career Pathway Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leung, Loh-Sze

2015-01-01

The National Fund for Workforce Solution's Young Adult Initiatives aim to test and implement new strategies for targeting America's young adults and share this information so that employers and workforce development can join forces in investing in the millions of young adults across the nation. This case study will focus on challenges and…

Promising Practices in Young Adult Employment: Hands-On Multidisciplinary Career Exploration and Mentorships

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wagner, Stacey

2015-01-01

The National Fund for Workforce Solution's Young Adult Initiatives aim to test and implement new strategies for targeting America's young adults and share this information so that employers and workforce development can join forces in investing in the millions of young adults across the nation. This case study focuses on promising findings from…

Multi-Cultural Literacy in the Composition Classroom: Report on a Pilot Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoffman, Amy

At the root of the writing problems of most college students is a lack of critical thinking. Students find analyzing an article or essay, writing a review, or arguing persuasively difficult and unpleasant because they have little practice in identifying and evaluating assumptions and reasoning. One solution to this problem, developed by a college…

Investigation of optimal chemical composition of cast aluminum alloys for vibrational mechanical-chemical polishing and deposition of protective and decorative coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanov, V. V.; Popov, S. I.; Kirichek, A. V.

2018-03-01

The article suggests the technology of vibration finishing processing of aluminum alloys with simultaneous coating. On the basis of experimental studies, cast alloys, working media, operating modes of equipment, activating solutions were chosen. The practical application of the developed technology on real parts is shown.

The role and management implications of modeling owl populations and the habitats they occupy

Treesearch

Amy E. Kearns

1997-01-01

Modeling ecosystems is an evolving science that is both practical and theoretical. The integration of modeling, landscape ecology, management, and rapidly changing technology offers an array of possible solutions to modern environmental quandaries. In order to address these concerns, a workshop was developed to discuss the role and management implications of modeling...

The COPERNIC3 project: how AREVA is successfully developing an advanced global fuel rod performance code

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Garnier, Ch.; Mailhe, P.; Sontheimer, F.

2007-07-01

Fuel performance is a key factor for minimizing operating costs in nuclear plants. One of the important aspects of fuel performance is fuel rod design, based upon reliable tools able to verify the safety of current fuel solutions, prevent potential issues in new core managements and guide the invention of tomorrow's fuels. AREVA is developing its future global fuel rod code COPERNIC3, which is able to calculate the thermal-mechanical behavior of advanced fuel rods in nuclear plants. Some of the best practices to achieve this goal are described, by reviewing the three pillars of a fuel rod code: the database,more » the modelling and the computer and numerical aspects. At first, the COPERNIC3 database content is described, accompanied by the tools developed to effectively exploit the data. Then is given an overview of the main modelling aspects, by emphasizing the thermal, fission gas release and mechanical sub-models. In the last part, numerical solutions are detailed in order to increase the computational performance of the code, with a presentation of software configuration management solutions. (authors)« less

Conference to focus on solutions to the jobs crisis in STEM fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asher, Pranoti

2012-06-01

The inaugural “U.S. News STEM Solutions 2012: A Leadership Summit,” which will take place 27-29 June in Dallas, Tex., will bring together hundreds of leaders in business, education, and government to develop solutions to the jobs crisis in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. With unemployment rates high at the same time that many STEM jobs are going unfilled, the conference will focus on what is working now and what is needed to develop successful local, state, and national action plans to accelerate the development of the STEM workforce in the United States. A broad array of STEM workforce issues will be examined, including how to engage young students and how technology can better align educators with job creators and the skill sets that are required. Summit organizers hope that a key result of the conference will be a national consensus on best practices and the steps needed—in both the short and long term—to ensure a competitive workforce. Another summit objective is to find effective ways to increase public awareness of STEM and its connection to jobs.

Optimal placement of multiple types of communicating sensors with availability and coverage redundancy constraints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vecherin, Sergey N.; Wilson, D. Keith; Pettit, Chris L.

2010-04-01

Determination of an optimal configuration (numbers, types, and locations) of a sensor network is an important practical problem. In most applications, complex signal propagation effects and inhomogeneous coverage preferences lead to an optimal solution that is highly irregular and nonintuitive. The general optimization problem can be strictly formulated as a binary linear programming problem. Due to the combinatorial nature of this problem, however, its strict solution requires significant computational resources (NP-complete class of complexity) and is unobtainable for large spatial grids of candidate sensor locations. For this reason, a greedy algorithm for approximate solution was recently introduced [S. N. Vecherin, D. K. Wilson, and C. L. Pettit, "Optimal sensor placement with terrain-based constraints and signal propagation effects," Unattended Ground, Sea, and Air Sensor Technologies and Applications XI, SPIE Proc. Vol. 7333, paper 73330S (2009)]. Here further extensions to the developed algorithm are presented to include such practical needs and constraints as sensor availability, coverage by multiple sensors, and wireless communication of the sensor information. Both communication and detection are considered in a probabilistic framework. Communication signal and signature propagation effects are taken into account when calculating probabilities of communication and detection. Comparison of approximate and strict solutions on reduced-size problems suggests that the approximate algorithm yields quick and good solutions, which thus justifies using that algorithm for full-size problems. Examples of three-dimensional outdoor sensor placement are provided using a terrain-based software analysis tool.

Student-Driven Engagement: An Interdisciplinary-Team Research-Learning Renewable Energy Laboratory Experience for Undergraduates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuominen, Mark

How does engagement and deep learning happen? Every science department seeks to cultivate an excellent level of scientific skills and knowledge in its undergraduate students. Yet, this is not sufficient to thrive as a professional. Engaging directly in real-world challenges can foster a professional attitude: a high level of self-efficacy, a genuine sense of relevance, and proactivity. This talk will describe pedagogical developments of a junior-year renewable energy laboratory course at the University of Massachusetts Amherst that is part of a four-year Integrated Concentration in Science (iCons) program. Over the four years, the interdisciplinary iCons students-from 24 various majors-work through case studies, selection and analysis of real-world problems, inception and development of potential solutions, integrative communication, experimental practice, and capstone research. The team dynamic is a central aspect of the experience, yielding significant educational and developmental benefits. The third-year energy course uses adopts a culture of a small vibrant R and D company (I3E - ``Energy, Powered By Intelligence''), in which every person in the course has a vital responsibility and creative resourcefulness must be employed in the project work. The course emphasizes the practice of using reflection and redesign, as a means of generating better solutions and embedding the practice of learning in a real-world context. This work is supported in part by NSF Grant DUE-1140805.

Independent Community Pharmacists' Perspectives on Compounding in Contemporary Pharmacy Education

PubMed Central

McPherson, Timothy B.; Fontane, Patrick E.; Berry, Tricia; Chereson, Rasma; Bilger, Rhonda

2009-01-01

Objectives To identify compounding practices of independent community pharmacy practitioners in order to make recommendations for the development of curricular objectives for doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programs. Methods Independent community practitioners were asked about compounding regarding their motivations, common activities, educational exposures, and recommendations for PharmD education. Results Most respondents (69%) accepted compounding as a component of pharmaceutical care and compounded dermatological preparations for local effects, oral solutions, and suspensions at least once a week. Ninety-five percent were exposed to compounding in required pharmacy school courses and most (98%) who identified compounding as a professional service offered in their pharmacy sought additional postgraduate compounding education. Regardless of the extent of compounding emphasis in the practices surveyed, 84% stated that PharmD curricula should include compounding. Conclusions Pharmacy schools should define compounding curricular objectives and develop compounding abilities in a required laboratory course to prepare graduates for pharmaceutical care practice. PMID:19564997

Helping secondary school students develop a conceptual understanding of refraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashmann, Scott; Anderson, Charles W.; Boeckman, Heather

2016-07-01

Using real-world examples, ray diagrams, and a cognitive apprenticeship cycle, this paper focuses on developing students’ conceptual (not mathematical) understanding of refraction. Refraction can be a difficult concept for students to comprehend if they do not have well-designed opportunities to practice explaining situations where reflection and refraction occur. The use of ray diagrams can be useful in (a) the teacher modelling a correct explanation to a situation where refraction occurs and (b) for students to create as they practice other examples. This paper includes eight examples of increasing complexity that use a cognitive apprenticeship cycle approach to scaffold student learning. The first examples (rock fish, floating penny) are shown and a solution is modeled using a ray diagram. Three more examples (bent pencil, dropping an item in water, sunrise/sunset) are presented for students to practice, with each becoming more sophisticated. Three assessment exercises are then provided (two dots, three coins, broken tube).

Seeding the initial population with feasible solutions in metaheuristic optimization of steel trusses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kazemzadeh Azad, Saeid

2018-01-01

In spite of considerable research work on the development of efficient algorithms for discrete sizing optimization of steel truss structures, only a few studies have addressed non-algorithmic issues affecting the general performance of algorithms. For instance, an important question is whether starting the design optimization from a feasible solution is fruitful or not. This study is an attempt to investigate the effect of seeding the initial population with feasible solutions on the general performance of metaheuristic techniques. To this end, the sensitivity of recently proposed metaheuristic algorithms to the feasibility of initial candidate designs is evaluated through practical discrete sizing of real-size steel truss structures. The numerical experiments indicate that seeding the initial population with feasible solutions can improve the computational efficiency of metaheuristic structural optimization algorithms, especially in the early stages of the optimization. This paves the way for efficient metaheuristic optimization of large-scale structural systems.

Reference Solutions for Benchmark Turbulent Flows in Three Dimensions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Diskin, Boris; Thomas, James L.; Pandya, Mohagna J.; Rumsey, Christopher L.

2016-01-01

A grid convergence study is performed to establish benchmark solutions for turbulent flows in three dimensions (3D) in support of turbulence-model verification campaign at the Turbulence Modeling Resource (TMR) website. The three benchmark cases are subsonic flows around a 3D bump and a hemisphere-cylinder configuration and a supersonic internal flow through a square duct. Reference solutions are computed for Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations with the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model using a linear eddy-viscosity model for the external flows and a nonlinear eddy-viscosity model based on a quadratic constitutive relation for the internal flow. The study involves three widely-used practical computational fluid dynamics codes developed and supported at NASA Langley Research Center: FUN3D, USM3D, and CFL3D. Reference steady-state solutions computed with these three codes on families of consistently refined grids are presented. Grid-to-grid and code-to-code variations are described in detail.

Some aspects of strategies and solutions in accident prevention.

PubMed

Häkkinen, K

1983-04-01

Accident prevention measures are traditionally classified into technical, organizational and behavioral solutions. A review of some commonly used strategies for accident prevention illustrates some discrepancies between different approaches and the need to develop more comprehensive strategies. Several factors, including protective efficiency and disadvantages at work, must be taken into account when the solutions are evaluated. Some solutions to prevent load disengagement from cranes were evaluated. Measurements of the pressing force showed that the efficiency of the safety latch of a clamp for plate lifting is inadequate to provide protection under all exceptional lifting conditions and in all situations for which the safety latch is intended. The delay caused by the attachment of a lifting hook equipped with a safety latch was measured. The handling of some of the most reliable and technically safe latches requires additional operations and thereby limits their practical application.

Dynamic one-dimensional modeling of secondary settling tanks and system robustness evaluation.

PubMed

Li, Ben; Stenstrom, M K

2014-01-01

One-dimensional secondary settling tank models are widely used in current engineering practice for design and optimization, and usually can be expressed as a nonlinear hyperbolic or nonlinear strongly degenerate parabolic partial differential equation (PDE). Reliable numerical methods are needed to produce approximate solutions that converge to the exact analytical solutions. In this study, we introduced a reliable numerical technique, the Yee-Roe-Davis (YRD) method as the governing PDE solver, and compared its reliability with the prevalent Stenstrom-Vitasovic-Takács (SVT) method by assessing their simulation results at various operating conditions. The YRD method also produced a similar solution to the previously developed Method G and Enquist-Osher method. The YRD and SVT methods were also used for a time-to-failure evaluation, and the results show that the choice of numerical method can greatly impact the solution. Reliable numerical methods, such as the YRD method, are strongly recommended.

Adhesive-bonded scarf and stepped-lap joints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hart-Smith, L. J.

1973-01-01

Continuum mechanics solutions are derived for the static load-carrying capacity of scarf and stepped-lap adhesive-bonded joints. The analyses account for adhesive plasticity and adherend stiffness imbalance and thermal mismatch. The scarf joint solutions include a simple algebraic formula which serves as a close lower bound, within a small fraction of a per cent of the true answer for most practical geometries and materials. Digital computer programs were developed and, for the stepped-lap joints, the critical adherend and adhesive stresses are computed for each step. The scarf joint solutions exhibit grossly different behavior from that for double-lap joints for long overlaps inasmuch as that the potential bond shear strength continues to increase with indefinitely long overlaps on the scarf joints. The stepped-lap joint solutions exhibit some characteristics of both the scarf and double-lap joints. The stepped-lap computer program handles arbitrary (different) step lengths and thickness and the solutions obtained have clarified potentially weak design details and the remedies. The program has been used effectively to optimize the joint proportions.

Reliable and efficient solution of genome-scale models of Metabolism and macromolecular Expression

DOE PAGES

Ma, Ding; Yang, Laurence; Fleming, Ronan M. T.; ...

2017-01-18

Currently, Constraint-Based Reconstruction and Analysis (COBRA) is the only methodology that permits integrated modeling of Metabolism and macromolecular Expression (ME) at genome-scale. Linear optimization computes steady-state flux solutions to ME models, but flux values are spread over many orders of magnitude. Data values also have greatly varying magnitudes. Furthermore, standard double-precision solvers may return inaccurate solutions or report that no solution exists. Exact simplex solvers based on rational arithmetic require a near-optimal warm start to be practical on large problems (current ME models have 70,000 constraints and variables and will grow larger). We also developed a quadrupleprecision version of ourmore » linear and nonlinear optimizer MINOS, and a solution procedure (DQQ) involving Double and Quad MINOS that achieves reliability and efficiency for ME models and other challenging problems tested here. DQQ will enable extensive use of large linear and nonlinear models in systems biology and other applications involving multiscale data.« less

Reliable and efficient solution of genome-scale models of Metabolism and macromolecular Expression

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ma, Ding; Yang, Laurence; Fleming, Ronan M. T.

Currently, Constraint-Based Reconstruction and Analysis (COBRA) is the only methodology that permits integrated modeling of Metabolism and macromolecular Expression (ME) at genome-scale. Linear optimization computes steady-state flux solutions to ME models, but flux values are spread over many orders of magnitude. Data values also have greatly varying magnitudes. Furthermore, standard double-precision solvers may return inaccurate solutions or report that no solution exists. Exact simplex solvers based on rational arithmetic require a near-optimal warm start to be practical on large problems (current ME models have 70,000 constraints and variables and will grow larger). We also developed a quadrupleprecision version of ourmore » linear and nonlinear optimizer MINOS, and a solution procedure (DQQ) involving Double and Quad MINOS that achieves reliability and efficiency for ME models and other challenging problems tested here. DQQ will enable extensive use of large linear and nonlinear models in systems biology and other applications involving multiscale data.« less

Communication in production animal medicine: modelling a complex interaction with the example of dairy herd health medicine

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background The importance of communication skills in veterinary medicine is increasingly recognised. Appropriate communication skills towards the client are of utmost importance in both companion animal practice and production animal field and consultancy work. The need for building a relationship with the client, alongside developing a structure for the consultation is widely recognised and applies to both types of veterinary practice. Results Veterinary advisory practice in production animal medicine is, however, characterised by a more complex communication on different levels. While the person-orientated communication is a permanent process between veterinarian and client with a rather personal perspective and defines the roles of interaction, the problem-orientated communication deals with emerging difficulties; the objective is to solve an acute health problem. The solution - orientated communication is a form of communication in which both veterinarian and client address longstanding situations or problems with the objective to improve herd health and subsequently productivity performance. All three forms of communication overlap. Conclusions Based on this model, it appears useful for a veterinary practice to offer both a curative and an advisory service, but to keep these two separated when deemed appropriate. In veterinary education, the strategies and techniques necessary for solution orientated communication should be included in the teaching of communication skills. PMID:21777495

Communication in production animal medicine: modelling a complex interaction with the example of dairy herd health medicine.

PubMed

Kleen, Joachim L; Atkinson, Owen; Noordhuizen, Jos Ptm

2011-07-20

The importance of communication skills in veterinary medicine is increasingly recognised. Appropriate communication skills towards the client are of utmost importance in both companion animal practice and production animal field and consultancy work. The need for building a relationship with the client, alongside developing a structure for the consultation is widely recognised and applies to both types of veterinary practice. Veterinary advisory practice in production animal medicine is, however, characterised by a more complex communication on different levels. While the person-orientated communication is a permanent process between veterinarian and client with a rather personal perspective and defines the roles of interaction, the problem-orientated communication deals with emerging difficulties; the objective is to solve an acute health problem. The solution - orientated communication is a form of communication in which both veterinarian and client address longstanding situations or problems with the objective to improve herd health and subsequently productivity performance. All three forms of communication overlap. Based on this model, it appears useful for a veterinary practice to offer both a curative and an advisory service, but to keep these two separated when deemed appropriate. In veterinary education, the strategies and techniques necessary for solution orientated communication should be included in the teaching of communication skills.

Development and Psychometric Testing of the Iceland-Family Illness Beliefs Questionnaire.

PubMed

Gisladottir, Margret; Svavarsdottir, Erla Kolbrun

2016-08-01

Illness beliefs affect how individuals and families deal with illness. A valid and reliable instrument has not yet been developed to measure "illness beliefs" in family nursing research and clinical practice. This article describes the purpose, reliability, validity, and the potential clinical and research applications of a new instrument, the Iceland-Family Illness Beliefs Questionnaire (ICE-FIBQ). The ICE-FIBQ is a short, self-report measure of an individual's beliefs about illness. Drawing from an advanced nursing practice model called the Illness Beliefs Model, the instrument was developed to measure illness beliefs about (a) cause of illness, that is, etiology; (b) control of illness on family and control of family on illness; (c) effect of illness on the individual and family; (d) illness suffering; and (e) support received from health care professionals during illness. The instrument was tested on 139 family caregivers of adolescents/youth with an illness or a disorder. Exploratory factor analysis reduced the original questionnaire from eight to seven items with a one-factor solution (Cronbach's α = .780). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the one-factor solution (Cronbach's α = .789). Further research is needed to determine concurrent validity with other illness belief/illness perception scales and if the instrument is sensitive to capture change in illness beliefs following family nursing intervention. © The Author(s) 2016.

[A review of measures taken to improve organizational wellbeing in Italy].

PubMed

Bentivenga, Rosina; Deitinger, Patrizia; Ghelli, Monica

2014-01-01

The Italian Decree Law D. Lgs. no. 81 dated 9 April 2008, dealing with the implementation of Article 1 of Law No. 123 dated 3 August 2007, on the topic of health and safety in the workplace, indicated that work-related stress (art. 28, section 1) was to be assessed in accordance with the European Agreement of 8 October 2004. It recalled the employer's legal obligation to safeguard workers' health and safety, and included psychosocial risk, in order to improve their wellbeing at work. The Decree Law specified that when risks had been assessed the employer could take all necessary measures, with reference to the "good practice", defined in the Law as organizational or procedural solutions coherent with current regulations and good technical rules, adopted voluntarily with the aim of promoting safety and health in the workplace by reducing risk and improving working conditions [...]" (art. 2, section 1 v); the practical solutions identified were to aim at eliminating, or at least reducing, psychosocial risk in the enterprise. On the basis of the studies most widely accepted in Europe and the indications issued by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, we identified the good practice measures adopted by companies in Italy and other countries. The aim was to make known some of the practical solutions regarding psychosocial risk that companies can put in place with a view to improving their workers' health and wellbeing. We examined measures related to the content and context of work. Measures affecting the work content mainly involved the workplace itself and equipment, work planning and working hours. For the work context the measures centered mostly on organizational function and culture, career progress, and home/work interface. In accordance with good safety practice, the practical measures taken by the enterprises examined cantered on some potentially stressful features of work, indicating the growing attention being paid to workers' wellbeing. However, organizational wellbeing is a multifaceted concept and the European Agency points out that measures taken must cover all the aspects of the work that appear particularly critical in risk assessment; from the primary prevention viewpoint, this means all the organizational aspects that might affect a person's wellbeing. As we become increasingly aware of the problems, and of the measures that have proved successful, it is to be hoped that further solutions will be identified and developed in organizations.

Modules for Modeling Firing Range Best Management Practices within TREECS (trademark)

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-01

Development Center (ERDC) solves the nation’s toughest engineering and environmental challenges. ERDC develops innovative solutions in civil and...within the soil matrix on a total volume basis, g/m3 Dx dispersion coefficient in the reactor flow, m2/day E AOI soil erosion rate, m/day or m/yr Fc...for removing combustible MCs, such as HE and propellants. Although phytotransformation is technically a source treatment, it is included in the

The Research of China's Civil Aviation Passenger Multi-Channel Service Technology Platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhibing, Xue; Xinming, Wang

IATA is promoting Simplifying the Business. The traditional passenger services and business process, such as ticketing, airport counters, had a great influence. The airlines have the passenger service and convenience as the next product development requirements. With civil aviation industry and their company's products construction, the authors propose a solution of passenger multi-channel service product platform. The solution is to streamline the business as the breakthrough point, around the convenience of passengers travel services to travelers as the center, using the current mainstream and the latest IT technology to establish passenger service product platform. The solution will promote DCS e-ticketing business development and service channel diversity. In this paper, the research results have been applied in the product platform construction of the authors' company. The practice shows that through traditional business with the latest IT technologies, traditional passenger services into the emerging service model, passenger service product platform has strong advantages and characteristics. Based on the platform, various types of service products is growing rapidly.

Recent Developments and Challenges Implementing New and Improved Stress Intensity Factor (K) Solutions in NASGRO for Damage Tolerance Analyses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cardinal, Joseph W.; McClung, R. Craig; Lee, Yi-Der; Guo, Yajun; Beek, Joachim M.

2014-01-01

Fatigue crack growth analysis software has been available to damage tolerance analysts for many years in either commercial products or via proprietary in-house codes. The NASGRO software has been publicly available since the mid-80s (known as NASA/FLAGRO up to 1999) and since 2000 has been sustained and further developed by a collaborative effort between Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), and the members of the NASGRO Industrial Consortium. Since the stress intensity factor (K) is the foundation of fracture mechanics and damage tolerance analysis of aircraft structures, a significant focus of development efforts in the past fifteen years has been geared towards enhancing legacy K solutions and developing new and efficient numerical K solutions that can handle the complicated stress gradients computed by today’s analysts using detailed finite element models of fatigue critical locations. This paper provides an overview of K solutions that have been recently implemented or improved for the analysis of geometries such as two unequal through cracks at a hole and two unequal corner cracks at a hole, as well as state-of-the-art weight function models capable of computing K in the presence of univariant and/or bivariant stress gradients and complicated residual stress distributions. Some historical background is provided to review how common K solutions have evolved over the years, including selective examples from the literature and from new research. Challenges and progress in rectifying discrepancies between older legacy solutions and newer models are reviewed as well as approaches and challenges for verification and validation of K solutions. Finally, a summary of current challenges and future research and development needs is presented. A key theme throughout the presentation of this paper will be how members of the aerospace industry have collaborated with software developers to develop a practical analysis tool that is used world-wide to support new design as well as the ongoing sustainment and airworthiness of commercial and military aircraft.

Documenting Sociolinguistic Variation in Lesser-Studied Indigenous Communities: Challenges and Practical Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mansfield, John; Stanford, James

2017-01-01

Documenting sociolinguistic variation in lesser-studied languages presents methodological challenges, but also offers important research opportunities. In this paper we examine three key methodological challenges commonly faced by researchers who are outsiders to the community. We then present practical solutions for successful variationist…

Electronic health records and support for primary care teamwork.

PubMed

O'Malley, Ann S; Draper, Kevin; Gourevitch, Rebecca; Cross, Dori A; Scholle, Sarah Hudson

2015-03-01

Consensus that enhanced teamwork is necessary for efficient and effective primary care delivery is growing. We sought to identify how electronic health records (EHRs) facilitate and pose challenges to primary care teams as well as how practices are overcoming these challenges. Practices in this qualitative study were selected from those recognized as patient-centered medical homes via the National Committee for Quality Assurance 2011 tool, which included a section on practice teamwork. We interviewed 63 respondents, ranging from physicians to front-desk staff, from 27 primary care practices ranging in size, type, geography, and population size. EHRs were found to facilitate communication and task delegation in primary care teams through instant messaging, task management software, and the ability to create evidence-based templates for symptom-specific data collection from patients by medical assistants and nurses (which can offload work from physicians). Areas where respondents felt that electronic medical record EHR functionalities were weakest and posed challenges to teamwork included the lack of integrated care manager software and care plans in EHRs, poor practice registry functionality and interoperability, and inadequate ease of tracking patient data in the EHR over time. Practices developed solutions for some of the challenges they faced when attempting to use EHRs to support teamwork but wanted more permanent vendor and policy solutions for other challenges. EHR vendors in the United States need to work alongside practicing primary care teams to create more clinically useful EHRs that support dynamic care plans, integrated care management software, more functional and interoperable practice registries, and greater ease of data tracking over time. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Design-for-Six-Sigma To Develop a Bioprocess Knowledge Management Framework.

PubMed

Junker, Beth; Maheshwari, Gargi; Ranheim, Todd; Altaras, Nedim; Stankevicz, Michael; Harmon, Lori; Rios, Sandra; D'anjou, Marc

2011-01-01

Owing to the high costs associated with biopharmaceutical development, considerable pressure has developed for the biopharmaceutical industry to increase productivity by becoming more lean and flexible. The ability to reuse knowledge was identified as one key advantage to streamline productivity, efficiently use resources, and ultimately perform better than the competition. A knowledge management (KM) strategy was assembled for bioprocess-related information using the technique of Design-for-Six-Sigma (DFSS). This strategy supported quality-by-design and process validation efforts for pipeline as well as licensed products. The DFSS technique was selected because it was both streamlined and efficient. These characteristics permitted development of a KM strategy with minimized team leader and team member resources. DFSS also placed a high emphasis on the voice of the customer, information considered crucial to the selection of solutions most appropriate for the current knowledge-based challenges of the organization. The KM strategy developed was comprised of nine workstreams, constructed from related solution buckets which in turn were assembled from the individual solution tasks that were identified. Each workstream's detailed design was evaluated against published and established best practices, as well as the KM strategy project charter and design inputs. Gaps and risks were identified and mitigated as necessary to improve the robustness of the proposed strategy. Aggregated resources (specifically expense/capital funds and staff) and timing were estimated to obtain vital management sponsorship for implementation. Where possible, existing governance and divisional/corporate information technology efforts were leveraged to minimize the additional bioprocess resources required for implementation. Finally, leading and lagging indicator metrics were selected to track the success of pilots and eventual implementation. A knowledge management framework was assembled for bioprocess-related information using a streamlined and efficient technique that minimized team leader and member resources. The technique also highly emphasized input from the staff, who generated and used the knowledge, information considered crucial to selection of solutions most appropriate for the current knowledge-based challenges in the organization. The framework developed was comprised of nine workstreams, constructed from related solution buckets which were assembled from individual solution tasks that were identified. Each workstream's detailed design was evaluated against published and established best practices, as well as the project charter and design inputs. Gaps and risks were identified and mitigated to improve robustness of the proposed framework. Aggregated resources (specifically expense/capital funds and staff) and timing were estimated to obtain vital management sponsorship for implementation. Where possible, existing governance and information technology efforts were leveraged to minimize additional bioprocess resources required for implementation. Finally, metrics were selected to track the success of pilots and eventual implementation.

A solution of the monoenergetic neutral particle transport equation for adjacent half-spaces with anisotropic scattering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ganapol, B.D., E-mail: ganapol@cowboy.ame.arizona.edu; Mostacci, D.; Previti, A.

2016-07-01

We present highly accurate solutions to the neutral particle transport equation in a half-space. While our initial motivation was in response to a recently published solution based on Chandrasekhar's H-function, the presentation to follow has taken on a more comprehensive tone. The solution by H-functions certainly did achieved high accuracy but was limited to isotropic scattering and emission from spatially uniform and linear sources. Moreover, the overly complicated nature of the H-function approach strongly suggests that its extension to anisotropic scattering and general sources is not at all practical. For this reason, an all encompassing theory for the determination ofmore » highly precise benchmarks, including anisotropic scattering for a variety of spatial source distributions, is presented for particle transport in a half-space. We illustrate the approach via a collection of cases including tables of 7-place flux benchmarks to guide transport methods developers. The solution presented can be applied to a considerable number of one and two half-space transport problems with variable sources and represents a state-of-the-art benchmark solution.« less

Considerations on the Improved Integration of Medical Guidelines into Routine Clinical Practice – a Review and Concept Proposal

PubMed Central

Beckmann, M. W.; Schlieter, H.; Richter, P.; Wesselmann, S.

2016-01-01

Medical guidelines have become established as the standard for the comprehensive synopsis of all available information (scientific trials, expert opinion) on diagnosis and treatment recommendations. The transfer of guidelines to clinical practice and subsequent monitoring has however proven difficult. In particular the potential interaction between guideline developers and guideline users has not been fully utilised. This review article analyses the status quo and existing methodological and technical information solutions supporting the guideline life cycle. It is shown that there are numerous innovative developments that in isolation do not provide comprehensive support. The vision of the “Living Guidelines 2.0” is therefore presented. This outlines the merging of guideline development and implementation on the basis of clinical pathways and guideline-based quality control, and building on this, the generation of information for guideline development and research. PMID:27134291

The perceived impact of the group practice model on enhancing interpersonal skills of predoctoral dental students

PubMed Central

Errante, Margaret R; Gill, Gurjinder S; Rodriguez, Tobias E

2018-01-01

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess if a clinical group practice model has an impact on enhancing the interpersonal skills of predoctoral dental students, what factors may influence the development of these skills, and what, if any, are innovative and technological solutions that can potentially influence interpersonal skills in predoctoral dental students. Methods This study surveyed the faculty responsible for teaching the dental students in a recently developed group practice model. Out of 18 eligible group practice leaders at one US dental school, 17 respondents (94.4%) completed the survey. In addition, this study asked the faculty to provide qualitative response and recommendations to improve interpersonal skills. Based on the feedback, a focus group was conducted to explore opportunities to further enhance the skills. Results The results of the study suggest that the group practice model has a positive and distinct impact on the development of overall interpersonal skills for students. Further research suggests that the greatest impacted areas of personal development are critical thinking skills and teamwork. However, as a way to make the model more effectual, most faculty suggested the need for additional time, for both students and faculty. To some extent, using technology and innovative teaching pedagogies could potentially address the challenge of limited time. Conclusion Based on the results of the survey, one may conclude that with adequate design and conditions, the group practice model can have a positive effect on the interpersonal skills of its students. PMID:29720884

The perceived impact of the group practice model on enhancing interpersonal skills of predoctoral dental students.

PubMed

Errante, Margaret R; Gill, Gurjinder S; Rodriguez, Tobias E

2018-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess if a clinical group practice model has an impact on enhancing the interpersonal skills of predoctoral dental students, what factors may influence the development of these skills, and what, if any, are innovative and technological solutions that can potentially influence interpersonal skills in predoctoral dental students. This study surveyed the faculty responsible for teaching the dental students in a recently developed group practice model. Out of 18 eligible group practice leaders at one US dental school, 17 respondents (94.4%) completed the survey. In addition, this study asked the faculty to provide qualitative response and recommendations to improve interpersonal skills. Based on the feedback, a focus group was conducted to explore opportunities to further enhance the skills. The results of the study suggest that the group practice model has a positive and distinct impact on the development of overall interpersonal skills for students. Further research suggests that the greatest impacted areas of personal development are critical thinking skills and teamwork. However, as a way to make the model more effectual, most faculty suggested the need for additional time, for both students and faculty. To some extent, using technology and innovative teaching pedagogies could potentially address the challenge of limited time. Based on the results of the survey, one may conclude that with adequate design and conditions, the group practice model can have a positive effect on the interpersonal skills of its students.

Participatory action as a research method with public health nurses.

PubMed

Cusack, Cheryl; Cohen, Benita; Mignone, Javier; Chartier, Mariette J; Lutfiyya, Zana

2018-02-28

This article explores and describes participatory action research (PAR) as a preferred method in addressing nursing practice issues. This is the first study that used PAR with public health nurses (PHNs) in Canada to develop a professional practice model. Participatory action research is a sub-category of action research that incorporates feminist and critical theory with foundations in the field of social psychology. For nurses, critical analysis of long-established beliefs and practices through PAR contributes to emancipatory knowledge regarding the impact of traditional hierarchies on their practice. This study used participatory action, a non-traditional but systematic research method, which assisted participants to develop a solution to a long-standing organizational issue. The stages of generating concerns, participatory action, acting on concerns, reflection and evaluation were implemented from 2012 - 2013 in an urban Canadian city, to develop a professional practice model for PHNs. Four sub-themes specific to PAR are discussed. These are "participatory action research engaged PHNs in development of a professional practice model;" "the participatory action research cycles of "Look, Think, Act" expanded participants' views;" "participatory action research increased awareness of organizational barriers;" and "participatory action research promoted individual empowerment and system transformation." This study resulted in individual and system change that may not have been possible without the use of PAR. The focus was engagement of participants and recognition of their lived experience, which facilitated PHNs' empowerment, leadership and consciousness-raising. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Advanced Nursing Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Physician burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions.

PubMed

West, C P; Dyrbye, L N; Shanafelt, T D

2018-06-01

Physician burnout, a work-related syndrome involving emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a sense of reduced personal accomplishment, is prevalent internationally. Rates of burnout symptoms that have been associated with adverse effects on patients, the healthcare workforce, costs and physician health exceed 50% in studies of both physicians-in-training and practicing physicians. This problem represents a public health crisis with negative impacts on individual physicians, patients and healthcare organizations and systems. Drivers of this epidemic are largely rooted within healthcare organizations and systems and include excessive workloads, inefficient work processes, clerical burdens, work-home conflicts, lack of input or control for physicians with respect to issues affecting their work lives, organizational support structures and leadership culture. Individual physician-level factors also play a role, with higher rates of burnout commonly reported in female and younger physicians. Effective solutions align with these drivers. For example, organizational efforts such as locally developed practice modifications and increased support for clinical work have demonstrated benefits in reducing burnout. Individually focused solutions such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and small-group programmes to promote community, connectedness and meaning have also been shown to be effective. Regardless of the specific approach taken, the problem of physician burnout is best addressed when viewed as a shared responsibility of both healthcare systems and individual physicians. Although our understanding of physician burnout has advanced considerably in recent years, many gaps in our knowledge remain. Longitudinal studies of burnout's effects and the impact of interventions on both burnout and its effects are needed, as are studies of effective solutions implemented in combination. For medicine to fulfil its mission for patients and for public health, all stakeholders in healthcare delivery must work together to develop and implement effective remedies for physician burnout. © 2018 The Association for the Publication of the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Parallel-vector computation for structural analysis and nonlinear unconstrained optimization problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, Duc T.

1990-01-01

Practical engineering application can often be formulated in the form of a constrained optimization problem. There are several solution algorithms for solving a constrained optimization problem. One approach is to convert a constrained problem into a series of unconstrained problems. Furthermore, unconstrained solution algorithms can be used as part of the constrained solution algorithms. Structural optimization is an iterative process where one starts with an initial design, a finite element structure analysis is then performed to calculate the response of the system (such as displacements, stresses, eigenvalues, etc.). Based upon the sensitivity information on the objective and constraint functions, an optimizer such as ADS or IDESIGN, can be used to find the new, improved design. For the structural analysis phase, the equation solver for the system of simultaneous, linear equations plays a key role since it is needed for either static, or eigenvalue, or dynamic analysis. For practical, large-scale structural analysis-synthesis applications, computational time can be excessively large. Thus, it is necessary to have a new structural analysis-synthesis code which employs new solution algorithms to exploit both parallel and vector capabilities offered by modern, high performance computers such as the Convex, Cray-2 and Cray-YMP computers. The objective of this research project is, therefore, to incorporate the latest development in the parallel-vector equation solver, PVSOLVE into the widely popular finite-element production code, such as the SAP-4. Furthermore, several nonlinear unconstrained optimization subroutines have also been developed and tested under a parallel computer environment. The unconstrained optimization subroutines are not only useful in their own right, but they can also be incorporated into a more popular constrained optimization code, such as ADS.

Strategies for integrating personalized medicine into healthcare practice.

PubMed

Pritchard, Daryl E; Moeckel, Franziska; Villa, Mary Susan; Housman, Laura T; McCarty, Catherine A; McLeod, Howard L

2017-03-01

Research and innovation in personalized medicine are surging, however, its adoption into clinical practice is comparatively slow. We identify common challenges to the clinical adoption of personalized medicine and provide strategies for addressing these challenges. Our team developed a list of common challenges through a series of group discussions, surveys and interviews, and convened a national summit to discuss solutions for overcoming these challenges. We used a framework approach for thematic analysis. We categorized challenges into five areas of need: education and awareness; patient empowerment; value recognition; infrastructure and information management; and ensuring access to care. We then developed strategies to address these challenges. In order for healthcare to transition into personalized medicine, it is necessary for stakeholders to build momentum by implementing a progression of strategies.

A first-order k-space model for elastic wave propagation in heterogeneous media.

PubMed

Firouzi, K; Cox, B T; Treeby, B E; Saffari, N

2012-09-01

A pseudospectral model of linear elastic wave propagation is described based on the first order stress-velocity equations of elastodynamics. k-space adjustments to the spectral gradient calculations are derived from the dyadic Green's function solution to the second-order elastic wave equation and used to (a) ensure the solution is exact for homogeneous wave propagation for timesteps of arbitrarily large size, and (b) also allows larger time steps without loss of accuracy in heterogeneous media. The formulation in k-space allows the wavefield to be split easily into compressional and shear parts. A perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing boundary condition was developed to effectively impose a radiation condition on the wavefield. The staggered grid, which is essential for accurate simulations, is described, along with other practical details of the implementation. The model is verified through comparison with exact solutions for canonical examples and further examples are given to show the efficiency of the method for practical problems. The efficiency of the model is by virtue of the reduced point-per-wavelength requirement, the use of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) to calculate the gradients in k space, and larger time steps made possible by the k-space adjustments.

Multi level optimization of burnable poison utilization for advanced PWR fuel management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yilmaz, Serkan

The objective of this study was to develop an unique methodology and a practical tool for designing burnable poison (BP) pattern for a given PWR core. Two techniques were studied in developing this tool. First, the deterministic technique called Modified Power Shape Forced Diffusion (MPSFD) method followed by a fine tuning algorithm, based on some heuristic rules, was developed to achieve this goal. Second, an efficient and a practical genetic algorithm (GA) tool was developed and applied successfully to Burnable Poisons (BPs) placement optimization problem for a reference Three Mile Island-1 (TMI-1) core. This thesis presents the step by step progress in developing such a tool. The developed deterministic method appeared to perform as expected. The GA technique produced excellent BP designs. It was discovered that the Beginning of Cycle (BOC) Kinf of a BP fuel assembly (FA) design is a good filter to eliminate invalid BP designs created during the optimization process. By eliminating all BP designs having BOC Kinf above a set limit, the computational time was greatly reduced since the evaluation process with reactor physics calculations for an invalid solution is canceled. Moreover, the GA was applied to develop the BP loading pattern to minimize the total Gadolinium (Gd) amount in the core together with the residual binding at End-of-Cycle (EOC) and to keep the maximum peak pin power during core depletion and Soluble boron concentration at BOC both less than their limit values. The number of UO2/Gd2O3 pins and Gd 2O3 concentrations for each fresh fuel location in the core are the decision variables and the total amount of the Gd in the core and maximum peak pin power during core depletion are in the fitness functions. The use of different fitness function definition and forcing the solution movement towards to desired region in the solution space accelerated the GA runs. Special emphasize is given to minimizing the residual binding to increase core lifetime as well as minimizing the total Gd amount in the core. The GA code developed many good solutions that satisfy all of the design constraints. For these solutions, the EOC soluble boron concentration changes from 68.9 to 97.2 ppm. It is important to note that the difference of 28.3 ppm between the best and the worst solution in the good solutions region represent the potential of 12.5 Effective-Full-Power-Day (EPFD) savings in cycle length. As a comparison, the best BP loading design has 97.2 ppm soluble boron concentration at EOC while the BP loading with available vendors' U/Gd FA designs has 94.4 ppm SOB at EOC. It was estimated that the difference of 2.8 ppm reflected the potential savings of 1.25 EFPD in cycle length. Moreover, the total Gd amount was reduced by 6.89% in mass that provided extra savings in fuel cost compared to the BP loading pattern with available vendor's U/Gd FA designs. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Compliance with AAPM Practice Guideline 1.a: CT Protocol Management and Review — from the perspective of a university hospital

PubMed Central

Bour, Robert K.; Pozniak, Myron; Ranallo, Frank N.

2015-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to describe our experience with the AAPM Medical Physics Practice Guideline 1.a: “CT Protocol Management and Review Practice Guideline”. Specifically, we will share how our institution's quality management system addresses the suggestions within the AAPM practice report. We feel this paper is needed as it was beyond the scope of the AAPM practice guideline to provide specific details on fulfilling individual guidelines. Our hope is that other institutions will be able to emulate some of our practices and that this article would encourage other types of centers (e.g., community hospitals) to share their methodology for approaching CT protocol optimization and quality control. Our institution had a functioning CT protocol optimization process, albeit informal, since we began using CT. Recently, we made our protocol development and validation process compliant with a number of the ISO 9001:2008 clauses and this required us to formalize the roles of the members of our CT protocol optimization team. We rely heavily on PACS‐based IT solutions for acquiring radiologist feedback on the performance of our CT protocols and the performance of our CT scanners in terms of dose (scanner output) and the function of the automatic tube current modulation. Specific details on our quality management system covering both quality control and ongoing optimization have been provided. The roles of each CT protocol team member have been defined, and the critical role that IT solutions provides for the management of files and the monitoring of CT protocols has been reviewed. In addition, the invaluable role management provides by being a champion for the project has been explained; lack of a project champion will mitigate the efforts of a CT protocol optimization team. Meeting the guidelines set forth in the AAPM practice guideline was not inherently difficult, but did, in our case, require the cooperation of radiologists, technologists, physicists, IT, administrative staff, and hospital management. Some of the IT solutions presented in this paper are novel and currently unique to our institution. PACS number: 87.57.Q PMID:26103176

Differential invariants in nonclassical models of hydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bublik, Vasily V.

2017-10-01

In this paper, differential invariants are used to construct solutions for equations of the dynamics of a viscous heat-conducting gas and the dynamics of a viscous incompressible fluid modified by nanopowder inoculators. To describe the dynamics of a viscous heat-conducting gas, we use the complete system of Navier—Stokes equations with allowance for heat fluxes. Mathematical description of the dynamics of liquid metals under high-energy external influences (laser radiation or plasma flow) includes, in addition to the Navier—Stokes system of an incompressible viscous fluid, also heat fluxes and processes of nonequilibrium crystallization of a deformable fluid. Differentially invariant solutions are a generalization of partially invariant solutions, and their active study for various models of continuous medium mechanics is just beginning. Differentially invariant solutions can also be considered as solutions with differential constraints; therefore, when developing them, the approaches and methods developed by the science schools of academicians N. N. Yanenko and A. F. Sidorov will be actively used. In the construction of partially invariant and differentially invariant solutions, there are overdetermined systems of differential equations that require a compatibility analysis. The algorithms for reducing such systems to involution in a finite number of steps are described by Cartan, Finikov, Kuranishi, and other authors. However, the difficultly foreseeable volume of intermediate calculations complicates their practical application. Therefore, the methods of computer algebra are actively used here, which largely helps in solving this difficult problem. It is proposed to use the constructed exact solutions as tests for formulas, algorithms and their software implementations when developing and creating numerical methods and computational program complexes. This combination of effective numerical methods, capable of solving a wide class of problems, with analytical methods makes it possible to make the results of mathematical modeling more accurate and reliable.

Mobile Health Applications to Promote Active and Healthy Ageing

PubMed Central

Helbostad, Jorunn L.; Vereijken, Beatrix; Becker, Clemens; Todd, Chris; Taraldsen, Kristin; Pijnappels, Mirjam; Aminian, Kamiar; Mellone, Sabato

2017-01-01

The European population is ageing, and there is a need for health solutions that keep older adults independent longer. With increasing access to mobile technology, such as smartphones and smartwatches, the development and use of mobile health applications is rapidly growing. To meet the societal challenge of changing demography, mobile health solutions are warranted that support older adults to stay healthy and active and that can prevent or delay functional decline. This paper reviews the literature on mobile technology, in particular wearable technology, such as smartphones, smartwatches, and wristbands, presenting new ideas on how this technology can be used to encourage an active lifestyle, and discusses the way forward in order further to advance development and practice in the field of mobile technology for active, healthy ageing. PMID:28335475

Mobile Health Applications to Promote Active and Healthy Ageing.

PubMed

Helbostad, Jorunn L; Vereijken, Beatrix; Becker, Clemens; Todd, Chris; Taraldsen, Kristin; Pijnappels, Mirjam; Aminian, Kamiar; Mellone, Sabato

2017-03-18

The European population is ageing, and there is a need for health solutions that keep older adults independent longer. With increasing access to mobile technology, such as smartphones and smartwatches, the development and use of mobile health applications is rapidly growing. To meet the societal challenge of changing demography, mobile health solutions are warranted that support older adults to stay healthy and active and that can prevent or delay functional decline. This paper reviews the literature on mobile technology, in particular wearable technology, such as smartphones, smartwatches, and wristbands, presenting new ideas on how this technology can be used to encourage an active lifestyle, and discusses the way forward in order further to advance development and practice in the field of mobile technology for active, healthy ageing.

Identifying opportunities to advance practice at a large academic medical center using the ASHP Ambulatory Care Self-Assessment Tool.

PubMed

Martirosov, Amber Lanae; Michael, Angela; McCarty, Melissa; Bacon, Opal; DiLodovico, John R; Jantz, Arin; Kostoff, Diana; MacDonald, Nancy C; Mikulandric, Nancy; Neme, Klodiana; Sulejmani, Nimisha; Summers, Bryant B

2018-05-29

The use of the ASHP Ambulatory Care Self-Assessment Tool to advance pharmacy practice at 8 ambulatory care clinics of a large academic medical center is described. The ASHP Ambulatory Care Self-Assessment Tool was developed to help ambulatory care pharmacists assess how their current practices align with the ASHP Practice Advancement Initiative. The Henry Ford Hospital Ambulatory Care Advisory Group (ACAG) opted to use the "Practitioner Track" sections of the tool to assess pharmacy practices within each of 8 ambulatory care clinics individually. The responses to self-assessment items were then compiled and discussed by ACAG members. The group identified best practices and ways to implement action items to advance ambulatory care practice throughout the institution. Three recommended action items were common to most clinics: (1) identify and evaluate solutions to deliver financially viable services, (2) develop technology to improve patient care, and (3) optimize the role of pharmacy technicians and support personnel. The ACAG leadership met with pharmacy administrators to discuss how action items that were both feasible and deemed likely to have a medium-to-high impact aligned with departmental goals and used this information to develop an ambulatory care strategic plan. This process informed and enabled initiatives to advance ambulatory care pharmacy practice within the system. The ASHP Ambulatory Care Self-Assessment Tool was useful in identifying opportunities for practice advancement in a large academic medical center. Copyright © 2018 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. All rights reserved.

Drug Solubility: Importance and Enhancement Techniques

PubMed Central

Savjani, Ketan T.; Gajjar, Anuradha K.; Savjani, Jignasa K.

2012-01-01

Solubility, the phenomenon of dissolution of solute in solvent to give a homogenous system, is one of the important parameters to achieve desired concentration of drug in systemic circulation for desired (anticipated) pharmacological response. Low aqueous solubility is the major problem encountered with formulation development of new chemical entities as well as for the generic development. More than 40% NCEs (new chemical entities) developed in pharmaceutical industry are practically insoluble in water. Solubility is a major challenge for formulation scientist. Any drug to be absorbed must be present in the form of solution at the site of absorption. Various techniques are used for the enhancement of the solubility of poorly soluble drugs which include physical and chemical modifications of drug and other methods like particle size reduction, crystal engineering, salt formation, solid dispersion, use of surfactant, complexation, and so forth. Selection of solubility improving method depends on drug property, site of absorption, and required dosage form characteristics. PMID:22830056

Translating Vision into Design: A Method for Conceptual Design Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carpenter, Joyce E.

2003-01-01

One of the most challenging tasks for engineers is the definition of design solutions that will satisfy high-level strategic visions and objectives. Even more challenging is the need to demonstrate how a particular design solution supports the high-level vision. This paper describes a process and set of system engineering tools that have been used at the Johnson Space Center to analyze and decompose high-level objectives for future human missions into design requirements that can be used to develop alternative concepts for vehicles, habitats, and other systems. Analysis and design studies of alternative concepts and approaches are used to develop recommendations for strategic investments in research and technology that support the NASA Integrated Space Plan. In addition to a description of system engineering tools, this paper includes a discussion of collaborative design practices for human exploration mission architecture studies used at the Johnson Space Center.

Common quandaries and their practical solutions in Bayesian network modeling

Treesearch

Bruce G. Marcot

2017-01-01

Use and popularity of Bayesian network (BN) modeling has greatly expanded in recent years, but many common problems remain. Here, I summarize key problems in BN model construction and interpretation,along with suggested practical solutions. Problems in BN model construction include parameterizing probability values, variable definition, complex network structures,...

Multiple Solutions Approach (MSA): Conceptions and Practices of Primary School Teachers in Ghana

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nabie, Michael Johnson; Raheem, Kolawole; Agbemaka, John Bijou; Sabtiwu, Rufai

2016-01-01

The study explored the curriculum guidelines and primary school teachers' conceptions and practices of the Multiple Solutions Approach (MSA) in teaching mathematics using basic qualitative research design. Informal conversation interviews (ICIs), observations, video and document analyses were used to collect data. Participants included a purposive…

Longitudinal Adult Practical Problem-Solving: 1983, 1993, 2003

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haught, Patricia A.; Walls, Richard T.

2007-01-01

A 20-year longitudinal study was conducted to examine adult performance on practical problems. Effects of independent variables of age, education, and administration time were assessed on solutions generated and quality points earned. Younger adults generated more solutions than other adults in 1983, 1993, and 2003. Both younger and middle adults…

Building a sustainable Academic Health Department: the South Carolina model.

PubMed

Smith, Lillian Upton; Waddell, Lisa; Kyle, Joseph; Hand, Gregory A

2014-01-01

Given the limited resources available to public health, it is critical that university programs complement the development needs of agencies. Unfortunately, academic and practice public health entities have long been challenged in building sustainable collaborations that support practice-based research, teaching, and service. The academic health department concept offers a promising solution. In South Carolina, the partners started their academic health department program with a small grant that expanded into a dynamic infrastructure that supports innovative professional exchange and development programs. This article provides a background and describes the key elements of the South Carolina model: joint leadership, a multicomponent memorandum of agreement, and a shared professional development mission. The combination of these elements allows the partners to leverage resources and deftly respond to challenges and opportunities, ultimately fostering the sustainability of the collaboration.

Using relationship marketing to develop and sustain nurse loyalty: a case of a rural health care institution.

PubMed

Peltier, J W; Boyt, T; Westfall, J

1999-01-01

The prosperity of a health care organization is contingent on its ability to compete for and retain a high quality staff of "loyal" nurses. Although the benefits of maintaining a loyal nursing staff are obvious, turnover in the health care industry is dangerously high. One solution for reducing turnover is to develop and sustain a loyal nursing staff. The purpose of this article is to apply customer-oriented marketing theories and practices to better understand how strong nurse-provider relationships can be developed and maintained over time. The authors first examine relationship marketing literature as it applies to nurse relationship and management issues. Second, a framework for conceptualizing internal marketing efforts devoted to enhancing nursing staff satisfaction and retention in tested. Finally, strategies for practicing relationship marketing will be provided.

Simple solution to the medical instrumentation software problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leif, Robert C.; Leif, Suzanne B.; Leif, Stephanie H.; Bingue, E.

1995-04-01

Medical devices now include a substantial software component, which is both difficult and expensive to produce and maintain. Medical software must be developed according to `Good Manufacturing Practices', GMP. Good Manufacturing Practices as specified by the FDA and ISO requires the definition and compliance to a software processes which ensures quality products by specifying a detailed method of software construction. The software process should be based on accepted standards. US Department of Defense software standards and technology can both facilitate the development and improve the quality of medical systems. We describe the advantages of employing Mil-Std-498, Software Development and Documentation, and the Ada programming language. Ada provides the very broad range of functionalities, from embedded real-time to management information systems required by many medical devices. It also includes advanced facilities for object oriented programming and software engineering.

Knowledge Management within the Medical University.

PubMed

Rauzina, Svetlana Ye; Tikhonova, Tatiana A; Karpenko, Dmitriy S; Bogopolskiy, Gennady A; Zarubina, Tatiana V

2015-01-01

The aim of the work is studying the possibilities of ontological engineering in managing of medical knowledge. And also practical implementation of knowledge management system (KMS) in medical university. The educational process model is established that allows analyzing learning results within time scale. Glossary sub-system has been developed; ontologies of educational disciplines are constructed; environment for setup and solution of situational cases is established; ontological approach to assess competencies is developed. The possibilities of the system for solving situation tasks have been described. The approach to the evaluation of competence has been developed.

Simple method to make a supersaturated oxygen fluid.

PubMed

Tange, Yoshihiro; Yoshitake, Shigenori; Takesawa, Shingo

2018-01-22

Intravenous oxygenation has demonstrated significant increase in partial pressure of oxygen (PO 2 ) in animal models. A highly dissolved oxygen solution might be able to provide a sufficient level of oxygen delivery to the tissues and organs in patients with hypoxia. However, conventional fluid oxygenation methods have required the use of original devices. If simpler oxygenation of a solution is possible, it will be a useful strategy for application in clinical practice. We simply developed its administration by injection of either air or oxygen gas into conventional saline. We determined the PO 2 values in the solutions in comparison with conventional saline in vitro. To examine the effects of the administration of the new solutions on the blood gas profile, we diluted bovine blood with either conventional or the new solutions and analyzed PO 2 , oxygen saturation (SO 2 ) and total oxygen content. PO 2 levels in the blood and new solution mixture significantly increased with each additional injected gas volume. Significant increases in the PO 2 and SO 2 of the bovine blood were found in those blood samples with the new solution, as compared with those with the control solution. These results suggest that this solution promotes oxygen delivery to the hypoxic tissue and recovery from hypoxia. This method is simpler and easier than previous methods.

Developing Ill-defined problem-solving for the context of “South Sumatera”

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arifin, S.; Zulkardi; Putri, R. I. I.; Hartono, Y.; Susanti, E.

2017-12-01

This study aims to produce a valid and practical ill-defined problem-solving for context South Sumatera. The subject of the research is three students of the first semester of undergraduate students in the mathematics department of Raden Fatah State Islamic University. This study use development studies that consist of preliminary and prototyping. In preliminary stage have been analysis content curricula, indicator, and strategies of problem-solving. Meanwhile, in prototyping stage only consist of self-evaluation, expert review, and one-to-one. The data were collected through a walkthrough, interview, and test. The data were validated using expert review, but in practice, the data were obtained from test and interview to subject of the research. This studies produced two valid and practical problem-solving. The first problem is about “Benteng Kuto Besak”, and the second problem is about “Monpera”. From the expert review, the conclusion can be drawn that two problems which are developing are ill-defined problem-solving, and valid from content, construct, and its language. Besides that, the problems are practical because all students know and understand what the problems goal, but not the solutions.

Core follow calculation with the nTRACER numerical reactor and verification using power reactor measurement data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jung, Y. S.; Joo, H. G.; Yoon, J. I.

The nTRACER direct whole core transport code employing the planar MOC solution based 3-D calculation method, the subgroup method for resonance treatment, the Krylov matrix exponential method for depletion, and a subchannel thermal/hydraulic calculation solver was developed for practical high-fidelity simulation of power reactors. Its accuracy and performance is verified by comparing with the measurement data obtained for three pressurized water reactor cores. It is demonstrated that accurate and detailed multi-physic simulation of power reactors is practically realizable without any prior calculations or adjustments. (authors)

Standardization--the iron cage of nurses' work?

PubMed

Meum, Torbjørg; Wangensteen, Gro; Igesund, Harald; Ellingsen, Gunnar; Monteiro, Eric

2010-01-01

This paper explores how nursing classification has been adopted and used in a local clinical practice. The study is inspired by the socio-technical approach to information system and illustrates some of the enabling and constraining properties of standardization. Findings from the study show how international standards have been embedded into local practice. At the same time, the use of locally developed standards has increased and many of these are similar to the international classification. This indicates that we need to move beyond the dichotomous perspective on nurses' use of classification and strive for more flexible solutions.

Research on the quarantine pathogen Phytophthora ramorum at the National Ornamentals Research Site at Dominican University of California

Treesearch

Wolfgang Schweigkofler; Kathleen Kosta; Tomas Pastalka; Vernon Huffman; Supriya Sharma; Karen Suslow

2017-01-01

The National Ornamentals Research Site at Dominican University of California (NORS-DUC) was founded in the year 2009 by a Farm Bill grant to study Phytophthora ramorum in a sophisticated research nursery that reflects an authentic commercial nursery setting (www.dominican.edu/norsduc). NORS-DUC goals are to develop practical solutions for...

Families and Futures. A Resource for Developing Home and Family Life Education Programs. Revised Working Materials.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Washington Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Olympia.

This curriculum guide was designed to help teachers in strengthening the ability of students from middle school through grade 12 to recognize complex problems, examine competing points of view, and engage in dialogue leading to practical solutions for issues that affect individuals and families and ultimately the world. The course integrates the…

Expanding Capacity and Promoting Inclusion in Introductory Computer Science: A Focus on Near-Peer Mentor Preparation and Code Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pon-Barry, Heather; Packard, Becky Wai-Ling; St. John, Audrey

2017-01-01

A dilemma within computer science departments is developing sustainable ways to expand capacity within introductory computer science courses while remaining committed to inclusive practices. Training near-peer mentors for peer code review is one solution. This paper describes the preparation of near-peer mentors for their role, with a focus on…

Some Practical Solutions to Standard-Setting Problems: The Georgia Teacher Certification Test Experience.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cramer, Stephen E.

A standard-setting procedure was developed for the Georgia Teacher Certification Testing Program as tests in 30 teaching fields were revised. A list of important characteristics of a standard-setting procedure was derived, drawing on the work of R. A. Berk (1986). The best method was found to be a highly formalized judgmental, empirical Angoff…

Challenges in Pre-Tertiary Education in South Africa: Is School Social Work Part of the Solution?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pretorius, Edmarié

2016-01-01

Schools are seen as primary contributors to the social development of learners. Apart from the questionable quality of education in South Africa, the developmental and social challenges faced by learners and educators within schools in South Africa are diverse. These challenges fall within the domain of social work practice. For more than a…

Education and Community: The Collaborative Solution. Proceedings of the International Conference Linking Research and Practice (Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 3-5, 1994).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lawton, Stephen B., Ed.; Tanenzapt, Elaine, Ed.; Townsend, Richard G., Ed.

These proceedings are divided into two sections that explore collaboration between schools and communities. In Part I, the first four papers, analytic frameworks are described that provide different perspectives on collaboration. In Part II, descriptions of concrete programs and advice for developing better school-community relations are offered.…

Low-cost point-focus solar concentrator, phase 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nelson, E. V.; Derbidge, T. C.; Erskine, D.; Maraschin, R. A.; Niemeyer, W. A.; Matsushita, M. J.; Overly, P. T.

1979-01-01

The results of the preliminary design study for the low cost point focus solar concentrator (LCPFSC) development program are presented. A summary description of the preliminary design is given. The design philosophy used to achieve a cost effective design for mass production is described. The concentrator meets all design requirements specified and is based on practical design solutions in every possible way.

The Effects of Computer-Aided Concept Cartoons and Outdoor Science Activities on Light Pollution

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aydin, Güliz

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study is to create an awareness of light pollution on seventh grade students via computer aided concept cartoon applications and outdoor science activities and to help them develop solutions; and to determine student opinions on the practices carried out. The study was carried out at a middle school in Mugla province of Aegean…

Research Strategy 2002-5. Influencing the Future: Informing Policy and Improving Practice through Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dewsbury, Angela, Ed.

England's Learning and Skills Research Centre (LSRC) is working to build a strong body of evidence from rigorous research that is focused on critical and innovative thinking and models and solutions for the long-term development of post-16 learning. In 2002-2005, the LSRC will focus on the following activities and goals: identify key priorities;…

Open innovation in health care: analysis of an open health platform.

PubMed

Bullinger, Angelika C; Rass, Matthias; Adamczyk, Sabrina; Moeslein, Kathrin M; Sohn, Stefan

2012-05-01

Today, integration of the public in research and development in health care is seen as essential for the advancement of innovation. This is a paradigmatic shift away from the traditional assumption that solely health care professionals are able to devise, develop, and disseminate novel concepts and solutions in health care. The present study builds on research in the field of open innovation to investigate the adoption of an open health platform by patients, care givers, physicians, family members, and the interested public. Results suggest that open innovation practices in health care lead to interesting innovation outcomes and are well accepted by participants. During the first three months, 803 participants of the open health platform submitted challenges and solutions and intensively communicated by exchanging 1454 personal messages and 366 comments. Analysis of communication content shows that empathic support and exchange of information are important elements of communication on the platform. The study presents first evidence for the suitability of open innovation practices to integrate the general public in health care research in order to foster both innovation outcomes and empathic support. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

[The Development of Social Innovations in Health Care and the Role of Science and Research].

PubMed

Richter, Stefanie

2017-12-01

In the course of demographic, epidemiological and social changes, various challenges arise concerning the organization of health care and health promotion for the population. Innovative approaches are needed to face these challenges. The focus in the theoretical work is on the analysis of the development of social innovations and on the role of science and research to solve social problems. First of all, the notion of innovation based on technologies will be expanded by social innovations. 2 approaches to promote social innovations are discussed: the systematic discovery and development of solutions in practice as well as the co-productive development in the terms of transdisciplinary research. It will be demonstrated that a cooperative and co-productive research and development process brings new requirements regarding scientific practice so that a discussion about the organisation and general conditions of transdisciplinary research and development in the health (service) research has to be strengthened. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Tolerability and cosmetic acceptability of liquor carbonis distillate (coal tar) solution 15% as topical therapy for plaque psoriasis.

PubMed

Brouda, Irina; Edison, Brenda; Van Cott, Alicia; Green, Barbara A

2010-04-01

Although generally recognized as an effective therapy for psoriasis, coal tar therapy lost appeal in modern clinical practice due to poor patient acceptability of its aesthetic properties. A new liquor carbonis distillate (LCD) solution 15% (equivalent to coal tar 2.3%) that uses an evaporative and transparent vehicle, fragrance, and a dab-on applicator was developed. Cosmetic acceptability of the LCD solution was compared to calcipotriene cream 0.005% during a randomized, active-controlled, investigator-blinded clinical trial. Participants with moderate plaque psoriasis applied LCD solution or calcipotriene cream twice daily to body lesions for 12 weeks and then were followed for 6 additional weeks without treatment. Participants completed a cosmetic acceptability survey about their medications after starting therapy. Mean ratings for aesthetic and product performance attributes were high in both groups; however, more participants treated with LCD solution versus calcipotriene cream rated their product as more convenient and beneficial compared to prior psoriasis therapies. Ratings of the scent, staining, drying time, and dab-on applicator for the LCD solution were favorable. Participant experience with LCD solution in this study suggests that it is a cosmetically acceptable psoriasis treatment that is comparable to calcipotriene cream.

Analytical Solution for Optimum Design of Furrow Irrigation Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiwan, M. E.

1996-05-01

An analytical solution for the optimum design of furrow irrigation systems is derived. The non-linear calculus optimization method is used to formulate a general form for designing the optimum system elements under circumstances of maximizing the water application efficiency of the system during irrigation. Different system bases and constraints are considered in the solution. A full irrigation water depth is considered to be achieved at the tail of the furrow line. The solution is based on neglecting the recession and depletion times after off-irrigation. This assumption is valid in the case of open-end (free gradient) furrow systems rather than closed-end (closed dike) systems. Illustrative examples for different systems are presented and the results are compared with the output obtained using an iterative numerical solution method. The final derived solution is expressed as a function of the furrow length ratio (the furrow length to the water travelling distance). The function of water travelling developed by Reddy et al. is considered for reaching the optimum solution. As practical results from the study, the optimum furrow elements for free gradient systems can be estimated to achieve the maximum application efficiency, i.e. furrow length, water inflow rate and cutoff irrigation time.

Towards an integrated flood management approach to address trade-offs between ecosystem services: Insights from the Dutch and German Rhine, Hungarian Tisza, and Chinese Yangtze basins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halbe, Johannes; Knüppe, Kathrin; Knieper, Christian; Pahl-Wostl, Claudia

2018-04-01

The utilization of ecosystem services in flood management is challenged by the complexity of human-nature interactions and practical implementation barriers towards more ecosystem-based solutions, such as riverine urban areas or technical infrastructure. This paper analyses how flood management has dealt with trade-offs between ecosystem services and practical constrains towards more ecosystem-based solutions. To this end, we study the evolution of flood management in four case studies in the Dutch and German Rhine, the Hungarian Tisza, and the Chinese Yangtze basins during the last decades, focusing on the development and implementation of institutions and their link to ecosystem services. The complexity of human-nature interactions is addressed by exploring the impacts on ecosystem services through the lens of three management paradigms: (1) the control paradigm, (2) the ecosystem-based paradigm, and (3) the stakeholder involvement paradigm. Case study data from expert interviews and a literature search were structured using a database approach prior to qualitative interpretation. Results show the growing importance of the ecosystem-based and stakeholder involvement paradigms which has led to the consideration of a range of regulating and cultural ecosystem services that had previously been neglected. We detected a trend in flood management practice towards the combination of the different paradigms under the umbrella of integrated flood management, which aims at finding the most suitable solution depending on the respective regional conditions.

Small-scale screening method for low-viscosity antibody solutions using small-angle X-ray scattering.

PubMed

Fukuda, Masakazu; Watanabe, Atsushi; Hayasaka, Akira; Muraoka, Masaru; Hori, Yuji; Yamazaki, Tadao; Imaeda, Yoshimi; Koga, Akiko

2017-03-01

In this study, we investigated the concentration range in which self-association starts to form in humanized IgG monoclonal antibody (mAb) solutions. Furthermore, on the basis of the results, we developed a practical method of screening for low-viscosity antibody solutions by using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements utilizing small quantities of samples. With lower-viscosity mAb3, self-association was not detected in the range of 1-80mg/mL. With higher-viscosity mAb1, on the other hand, self-association was detected in the range of 10-20mg/mL and was clearly enhanced by a decrease in temperature. The viscosities of mAb solutions at 160, 180, and 200mg/mL at 25°C quantitatively correlated very well with the particle size parameters obtained by SAXS measurements of mAb solutions at 15mg/mL at 5°C. The quantity of mAb sample required for the SAXS measurements was only 0.15mg, which is about one-hundredth of that required for actual viscosity measurements at a high concentration, and such quantities could be available even at an early stage of development. In conclusion, the SAXS analysis method proposed in this study is a valuable tool for the development of concentrated mAb therapeutics with high manufacturability and high usability for subcutaneous injection. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of silver nanoparticle-doped adsorbents for the separation and recovery of radioactive iodine from alkaline solutions.

PubMed

Kim, Taewoon; Lee, Seung-Kon; Lee, Suseung; Lee, Jun Sig; Kim, Sang Wook

2017-11-01

Removing radioactive iodine from solutions containing fission products is essential for nuclear facility decontamination, radioactive waste treatment, and medical isotope production. For example, the production of high-purity fission 99 Mo by irradiation of 235 U with neutrons involves the removal of iodine from an alkaline solution of the irradiated target (which contains numerous fission products and a large quantity of aluminate ions) using silver-based materials or anion-exchange resins. To be practically applicable, the utilized iodine adsorbent should exhibit a decontamination factor of at least 200. Herein, the separation of radioactive iodine from alkaline solutions was achieved using alumina doped with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). Ag NPs have a larger surface area than Ag powder/wires and can thus adsorb iodine more effectively and economically, whereas alumina is a suitable inert support that does not adsorb 99 Mo and is stable under basic conditions. The developed adsorbents with less impurities achieved iodine removal and recovery efficiencies of 99.7 and 62%, respectively, thus being useful for the production of 131 I, a useful medical isotope. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Should We Stop Developing Heuristics and Only Rely on Mixed Integer Programming Solvers in Automated Test Assembly? A Rejoinder to van der Linden and Li (2016).

PubMed

Chen, Pei-Hua

2017-05-01

This rejoinder responds to the commentary by van der Linden and Li entiled "Comment on Three-Element Item Selection Procedures for Multiple Forms Assembly: An Item Matching Approach" on the article "Three-Element Item Selection Procedures for Multiple Forms Assembly: An Item Matching Approach" by Chen. Van der Linden and Li made a strong statement calling for the cessation of test assembly heuristics development, and instead encouraged embracing mixed integer programming (MIP). This article points out the nondeterministic polynomial (NP)-hard nature of MIP problems and how solutions found using heuristics could be useful in an MIP context. Although van der Linden and Li provided several practical examples of test assembly supporting their view, the examples ignore the cases in which a slight change of constraints or item pool data might mean it would not be possible to obtain solutions as quickly as before. The article illustrates the use of heuristic solutions to improve both the performance of MIP solvers and the quality of solutions. Additional responses to the commentary by van der Linden and Li are included.

Lost in translation: reviewing the role of the discharge liaison nurse in Wales.

PubMed

Chandler, Lynda; Wyatt, Matt; Roberts, Iain

2010-02-01

In Wales, the National Leadership and Innovation Agency in Healthcare (NLIAH) Change Agent Team (CAT) has found that its service improvement methodology of Communities of Practice (CoP), where motivated frontline staff in health and social care come together to share issues and develop solutions to mutual problems, is a highly effective and informative tool. Health and social care organizations in Wales are in the process of working to develop processes and solutions to remedy the challenges they have over patients with long lengths of stay. This article shows how by speaking to the frontline staff, whose role it is to help people whose discharge is likely to be complex or problematic, they often have most insight into the solutions required to alleviate the situation. The learning in this article is that there is no one solution to improve the discharge process; however there are a number of small changes and improvements required, which if done consistently can have a significant impact. The findings here have been shared with Welsh government policy leads and health and social care executive teams to inform their planning and actions on how to resolve the challenge of reducing length of stay.

Review of Thawing Time Prediction Models Depending
on Process Conditions and Product Characteristics

PubMed Central

Kluza, Franciszek; Spiess, Walter E. L.; Kozłowicz, Katarzyna

2016-01-01

Summary Determining thawing times of frozen foods is a challenging problem as the thermophysical properties of the product change during thawing. A number of calculation models and solutions have been developed. The proposed solutions range from relatively simple analytical equations based on a number of assumptions to a group of empirical approaches that sometimes require complex calculations. In this paper analytical, empirical and graphical models are presented and critically reviewed. The conditions of solution, limitations and possible applications of the models are discussed. The graphical and semi--graphical models are derived from numerical methods. Using the numerical methods is not always possible as running calculations takes time, whereas the specialized software and equipment are not always cheap. For these reasons, the application of analytical-empirical models is more useful for engineering. It is demonstrated that there is no simple, accurate and feasible analytical method for thawing time prediction. Consequently, simplified methods are needed for thawing time estimation of agricultural and food products. The review reveals the need for further improvement of the existing solutions or development of new ones that will enable accurate determination of thawing time within a wide range of practical conditions of heat transfer during processing. PMID:27904387

Pesticides water decontamination in oxygen-limited conditions.

PubMed

Suciu, Nicoleta Alina; Ferrari, Federico; Vasileiadis, Sotirios; Merli, Annalisa; Capri, Ettore; Trevisan, Marco

2013-01-01

This study was undertaken to develop a laboratory bioreactor, with a functioning principle similar with that of biobed systems but working in oxygen-limited conditions, suitable for decontaminating wastewater mixtures with pesticides. The system is composed by two cylindrical plastic containers. The first one, where the pesticides solution is collected, is open, whereas the second one, where the biomass is disposed, is closed. The pesticides solution was pumped at the biomass surface and subsequently recollected and disposed in the first container. Four pesticides with different physical-chemical characteristics were tested. The results obtained showed a relatively good capacity of the developed prototype to decontaminate waste water containing the mixture of pesticides. The time of the experiment, the number of cycles that the solution made in the system and the environmental temperature have a significantly influence for the decontamination of acetochlor and chlorpyrifos whereas for the decontamination of terbuthylazine and metalaxyl no significant influence was observed. Even if the present prototype could represent a valid solution to manage the water pesticides residues in a farm and to increase the confidence of bystanders and residents, the practical difficulties when replacing the biomass could represent a limit of the system.

Novel pH-sensitive photopolymer hydrogel and its holographic sensing response for solution characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Hongpeng; Yu, Dan; Zhou, Ke; Wang, Shichan; Luo, Suhua; Li, Li; Wang, Weibo; Song, Qinggong

2018-05-01

Optical sensor based on pH-sensitive hydrogel has important practical applications in medical diagnosis and bio-sensor areas. This report details the experimental and theoretical results from a novel photosensitive polymer hydrogel holographic sensor, which formed by thermal polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, for the detection of pH in buffer. Volume grating recorded in the polymer hydrogel was employed in response to the performance of solution. Methacrylic acid with carboxyl groups was selected as the primary co-monomer to functionalize the matrix. Peak diffraction spectrum of holographic grating determined as a primary sensing parameter was characterized to reflect the change in pH. The extracted linear relation between peak wavelength and pH value provided a probability for the practical application of holographic sensor. To explore the sensing mechanism deeply, a theoretical model was used to describe the relevant holographic processes, including grating formation, dark diffusional enhancement, and final fringe swelling. Numerical result further showed all of the dynamic processes and internal sensing physical mechanism. These experimental and numerical results provided a significant foundation for the development of novel holographic sensor based on polymer hydrogel and improvement of its practical applicability.

MEASUREMENT ISSUES IN HOME-VISITING RESEARCH WITHIN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES.

PubMed

Whitesell, Nancy Rumbaugh; Bolan, Marc; Chomos, Julianna C; Heath, Debra; Miles, Jon; Salvador, Melina; Whitmore, Corrie; Barlow, Allison

2018-05-04

In this article, Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grantees share strategies they have developed and adopted to address the most common barriers to effective measurement (and thus to effective evaluation) encountered in the course of implementation and evaluation of their home-visiting programs. We identify key challenges in measuring outcomes in Tribal MIECHV Programs and provide practical examples of various strategies used to address these challenges within diverse American Indian and Alaska Native cultural and contextual settings. Notably, high-quality community engagement is a consistent thread throughout these strategies and fundamental to successful measurement in these communities. These strategies and practices reflect the experiences and innovative solutions of practitioners working on the ground to deliver and evaluate intervention programs to tribal communities. They may serve as models for getting high-quality data to inform intervention while working within the constraints and requirements of program funding. The utility of these practical solutions extends beyond the Tribal MIECHV grantees and offers the potential to inform a broad array of intervention evaluation efforts in tribal and other community contexts. © 2018 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.

The development of low temperature curing adhesives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, H. E.; Sutherland, J. D.; Hom, J. M.; Sheppard, C. H.

1975-01-01

An approach for the development of a practical low temperature (293 K-311 K/68 F-100 F) curing adhesive system based on a family of amide/ester resins was studied and demonstrated. The work was conducted on resin optimization and adhesive compounding studies. An improved preparative method was demonstrated which involved the reaction of an amine-alcohol precursor, in a DMF solution with acid chloride. Experimental studies indicated that an adhesive formulation containing aluminum powder provided the best performance when used in conjunction with a commercial primer.

Innovative MIOR Process Utilizing Indigenous Reservoir Constituents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hitzman, D.O.; Stepp, A.K.

This research program was directed at improving the knowledge of reservoir ecology and developing practical microbial solutions for improving oil production. The goal was to identify indigenous microbial populations which can produce beneficial metabolic products and develop a methodology to stimulate those select microbes with inorganic nutrient amendments to increase oil recovery. This microbial technology has the capability of producing multiple oil-releasing agents. The potential of the system will be illustrated and demonstrated by the example of biopolymer production on oil recovery.

Innovative MIOR Process Utilizing Indigenous Reservoir Constituents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hitzman, D.O.; Bailey, S.A.; Stepp, A.K.

This research program was directed at improving the knowledge of reservoir ecology and developing practical microbial solutions for improving oil production. The goal was to identify indigenous microbial populations which can produce beneficial metabolic products and develop a methodology to stimulate those select microbes with inorganic nutrient amendments to increase oil recovery. This microbial technology has the capability of producing multiple oil releasing agents. The potential of the system will be illustrated and demonstrated by the example of biopolymer production on oil recovery.

Regulation of health information processing in an outsourcing environment.

PubMed

2004-06-01

Policy makers must consider the work force, technology, cost, and legal implications of their legislative proposals. AHIMA, AAMT, CHIA, and MTIA urge lawmakers to craft regulatory solutions that enforce HIPAA and support advancements in modern health information processing practices that improve the quality and cost of healthcare. We also urge increased investment in health information work force development and implementation of new technologies to advance critical healthcare outcomes--timely, accurate, accessible, and secure information to support patient care. It is essential that state legislatures reinforce the importance of improving information processing solutions for healthcare and not take actions that will produce unintended and detrimental consequences.

A Solution Adaptive Technique Using Tetrahedral Unstructured Grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pirzadeh, Shahyar Z.

2000-01-01

An adaptive unstructured grid refinement technique has been developed and successfully applied to several three dimensional inviscid flow test cases. The method is based on a combination of surface mesh subdivision and local remeshing of the volume grid Simple functions of flow quantities are employed to detect dominant features of the flowfield The method is designed for modular coupling with various error/feature analyzers and flow solvers. Several steady-state, inviscid flow test cases are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the method for solving practical three-dimensional problems. In all cases, accurate solutions featuring complex, nonlinear flow phenomena such as shock waves and vortices have been generated automatically and efficiently.

A hybrid modeling system designed to support decision making in the optimization of extrusion of inhomogeneous materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kryuchkov, D. I.; Zalazinsky, A. G.

2017-12-01

Mathematical models and a hybrid modeling system are developed for the implementation of the experimental-calculation method for the engineering analysis and optimization of the plastic deformation of inhomogeneous materials with the purpose of improving metal-forming processes and machines. The created software solution integrates Abaqus/CAE, a subroutine for mathematical data processing, with the use of Python libraries and the knowledge base. Practical application of the software solution is exemplified by modeling the process of extrusion of a bimetallic billet. The results of the engineering analysis and optimization of the extrusion process are shown, the material damage being monitored.

Cattle and sheep develop preference for drinking water containing grape seed tannin.

PubMed

Kronberg, S L; Schauer, C S

2013-10-01

Ingestion of small amounts of some types of condensed tannins (CTs) by ruminant livestock can provide nutritional, environmental and economic benefits. However, practical methods are needed to make these tannins more available to ruminant livestock. Results from previous trials with crude quebracho and black wattle tannin indicated that cattle and/or sheep would not preferentially drink water containing these tannins. Therefore, we conducted preference trials to determine if cattle and sheep would learn to prefer water containing purified grape seed tannin (GST) that provided up to 2% of their daily dry matter (DM) intake. After gradual exposure to increasing amounts of this tannin in water during a pre-trial period, five adult ewes and five yearling heifers fed lucerne (Medicago sativa) pellets (19% CP) were offered water and several concentrations of GST solutions for either 15 (sheep trial) or 20 days (cattle trial). We measured intake of all liquids daily. Concentrations of blood urea were also measured for heifers when they drank only tannin solutions or water. Both sheep and cattle developed preferences for water with GST in it over water alone (P < 0.01) although this preference appeared earlier in the trial for sheep than for cattle. For the sheep, mean daily intake of water alone and all tannin solutions (in total) was 0.6 and 6.1 l, respectively. For the cattle, mean daily intake of water and all tannin solutions in total was 21.8 and 20.6 l, respectively, in the first half of the trial and 10.8 and 26.1 l, respectively, in the second half of the trial. Compared with the other tannin solutions, both sheep and cattle drank more of the solution with the highest tannin concentration (2% of daily DM intake as GST) than of water on more trial days (P < 0.05). Ingestion of water with the highest concentration of GST reduced blood plasma urea concentration in the cattle by 9% to 14% (P ≤ 0.10) compared with ingestion of water alone. Results from the trials suggest that providing grape seed and perhaps other CTs via drinking water may be a practical way to introduce CTs into sheep and cattle diets.

Family Practice: A Proposed Solution to the Problem of Meeting the Medical Needs of the Community

PubMed Central

McAuley, R. G.

1967-01-01

Difficulties in meeting today's community medical needs are outlined, followed by a proposed solution in which the first-contact physician is the trained family physician. The McMaster Family Practice Course is described. The potential research contribution of a Department of Family Medicine is stressed. PMID:6020551

Evaluating Remote Reference Service: A Practical Guide to Problems and Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pomerantz, Jeffrey; Mon, Lorri; McClure, Charles R.

2008-01-01

This paper identifies key methodological issues affecting quality of data in the evaluation of remote reference services. Despite a growing number of studies in this area, no comprehensive effort has been made to identify potential problems and suggest solutions. The strategies proposed in this paper offer practical ways in which libraries can…

The Buddhist Approach to Education: An Alternative Approach for Sustainable Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chansomsak, Sant; Vale, Brenda

2008-01-01

This article is based on research undertaken as part of a study of sustainable school design in Thailand. Since school design solutions are inevitably affected by educational theory and practice, in the search for appropriate building solutions, it has been necessary to review Thai educational theories and practices that relate to the…

Introducing the Postsecondary Instructional Practices Survey (PIPS): A Concise, Interdisciplinary, and Easy-to-Score Survey

PubMed Central

Walter, Emily M.; Henderson, Charles R.; Beach, Andrea L.; Williams, Cody T.

2016-01-01

Researchers, administrators, and policy makers need valid and reliable information about teaching practices. The Postsecondary Instructional Practices Survey (PIPS) is designed to measure the instructional practices of postsecondary instructors from any discipline. The PIPS has 24 instructional practice statements and nine demographic questions. Users calculate PIPS scores by an intuitive proportion-based scoring convention. Factor analyses from 72 departments at four institutions (N = 891) support a 2- or 5-factor solution for the PIPS; both models include all 24 instructional practice items and have good model fit statistics. Factors in the 2-factor model include (a) instructor-centered practices, nine items; and (b) student-centered practices, 13 items. Factors in the 5-factor model include (a) student–student interactions, six items; (b) content delivery, four items; (c) formative assessment, five items; (d) student-content engagement, five items; and (e) summative assessment, four items. In this article, we describe our development and validation processes, provide scoring conventions and outputs for results, and describe wider applications of the instrument. PMID:27810868

Development and Validation of a Hypersonic Vehicle Design Tool Based On Waverider Design Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dasque, Nastassja

Methodologies for a tool capable of assisting design initiatives for practical waverider based hypersonic vehicles were developed and validated. The design space for vehicle surfaces was formed using an algorithm that coupled directional derivatives with the conservation laws to determine a flow field defined by a set of post-shock streamlines. The design space is used to construct an ideal waverider with a sharp leading edge. A blunting method was developed to modify the ideal shapes to a more practical geometry for real-world application. Empirical and analytical relations were then systematically applied to the resulting geometries to determine local pressure, skin-friction and heat flux. For the ideal portion of the geometry, flat plate relations for compressible flow were applied. For the blunted portion of the geometry modified Newtonian theory, Fay-Riddell theory and Modified Reynolds analogy were applied. The design and analysis methods were validated using analytical solutions as well as empirical and numerical data. The streamline solution for the flow field generation technique was compared with a Taylor-Maccoll solution and showed very good agreement. The relationship between the local Stanton number and skin friction coefficient with local Reynolds number along the ideal portion of the body showed good agreement with experimental data. In addition, an automated grid generation routine was formulated to construct a structured mesh around resulting geometries in preparation for Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis. The overall analysis of the waverider body using the tool was then compared to CFD studies. The CFD flow field showed very good agreement with the design space. However, the distribution of the surface properties was near CFD results but did not have great agreement.

Development of forensic medicine in post reform Indonesia.

PubMed

Syukriani, Yoni Fuadah; Novita, Nita; Sunjaya, Deni K

2018-05-03

Forensic medicine practice in Indonesia was introduced through the Dutch colonial criminal justice system in the early twentieth century. After more than 70 years of national independence, the development of forensic medicine still faces fundamental challenges, including confusion in the distribution of responsibility with law enforcement agencies, difficulties in managing conflicts of interest, and impediments in scientific practice and professional development. Despite of the golden opportunity from the Indonesian Reform movement in the late 1990s, the impact on forensic medicine development has been less than expected. It is thus important to identify the scope of the problems plaguing the development of forensic medicine, as well as its causes. We conducted a qualitative study to explain the problems and propose solutions. The results show that the standards of practice have developed more slowly than those in many other branches of medicine, despite its increasing popularity from its role in counterterrorism and disaster victim identification. A strong thriving spirit exists in forensic science, although growth in forensic research activities should be facilitated more. The 2009 Health Law has included forensic medicine practice in the health system to cover the role of forensic medicine for health and medical education purposes. It also potentially provides a way to support the justice system without exposing forensic practitioners to possible conflicts of interest, for instance, by utilizing a tiered referral system. To this aim, an alternative is proposed: to place forensic medicine practice within the context of the health system. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.

Dynamical approach study of spurious steady-state numerical solutions of nonlinear differential equations. Part 1: The ODE connection and its implications for algorithm development in computational fluid dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yee, H. C.; Sweby, P. K.; Griffiths, D. F.

1990-01-01

Spurious stable as well as unstable steady state numerical solutions, spurious asymptotic numerical solutions of higher period, and even stable chaotic behavior can occur when finite difference methods are used to solve nonlinear differential equations (DE) numerically. The occurrence of spurious asymptotes is independent of whether the DE possesses a unique steady state or has additional periodic solutions and/or exhibits chaotic phenomena. The form of the nonlinear DEs and the type of numerical schemes are the determining factor. In addition, the occurrence of spurious steady states is not restricted to the time steps that are beyond the linearized stability limit of the scheme. In many instances, it can occur below the linearized stability limit. Therefore, it is essential for practitioners in computational sciences to be knowledgeable about the dynamical behavior of finite difference methods for nonlinear scalar DEs before the actual application of these methods to practical computations. It is also important to change the traditional way of thinking and practices when dealing with genuinely nonlinear problems. In the past, spurious asymptotes were observed in numerical computations but tended to be ignored because they all were assumed to lie beyond the linearized stability limits of the time step parameter delta t. As can be seen from the study, bifurcations to and from spurious asymptotic solutions and transitions to computational instability not only are highly scheme dependent and problem dependent, but also initial data and boundary condition dependent, and not limited to time steps that are beyond the linearized stability limit.

Evaluation of Bacterial Contamination of Clipper Blades in Small Animal Private Practice.

PubMed

Mount, Rebecca; Schick, Anthea E; Lewis, Thomas P; Newton, Heide M

2016-01-01

Nosocomial infections are a growing concern in veterinary hospitals, and identifying fomites is imperative to reducing the risk of pathogen transmission. In veterinary medicine, shaving of hair is necessary prior to many procedures. Contaminated clipper blades have been cited as potential fomites involved in the transmission of pathogens in veterinary and human medicine. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate bacterial contamination of clipper blades in veterinary practices. A secondary goal was to assess whether there was an association between bacterial contamination of clipper blades and clipper blade cleaning solutions, clipper blade cleaning protocols, clipper blade storage, and type of practice. Sixty clipper blades from 60 different practices were cultured. Information regarding blade cleaning solutions, protocols, and storage was collected from each practice. Fifty-one percent (31/60) of clipper blades sampled were contaminated with bacteria. Category of cleaning solutions had a significant association with bacterial contamination (P < 0.02). Cleaning frequency (P = 0.55), storage location (P = 0.26), and practice type (P = 0.06) had no significant association with bacterial contamination. This study documented bacterial contamination of clipper blades in veterinary practices, and clipper blades should be considered potential fomites.

Non-linear mixed effects modeling - from methodology and software development to driving implementation in drug development science.

PubMed

Pillai, Goonaseelan Colin; Mentré, France; Steimer, Jean-Louis

2005-04-01

Few scientific contributions have made significant impact unless there was a champion who had the vision to see the potential for its use in seemingly disparate areas-and who then drove active implementation. In this paper, we present a historical summary of the development of non-linear mixed effects (NLME) modeling up to the more recent extensions of this statistical methodology. The paper places strong emphasis on the pivotal role played by Lewis B. Sheiner (1940-2004), who used this statistical methodology to elucidate solutions to real problems identified in clinical practice and in medical research and on how he drove implementation of the proposed solutions. A succinct overview of the evolution of the NLME modeling methodology is presented as well as ideas on how its expansion helped to provide guidance for a more scientific view of (model-based) drug development that reduces empiricism in favor of critical quantitative thinking and decision making.

Resonant tunneling assisted propagation and amplification of plasmons in high electron mobility transistors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bhardwaj, Shubhendu; Sensale-Rodriguez, Berardi; Xing, Huili Grace

A rigorous theoretical and computational model is developed for the plasma-wave propagation in high electron mobility transistor structures with electron injection from a resonant tunneling diode at the gate. We discuss the conditions in which low-loss and sustainable plasmon modes can be supported in such structures. The developed analytical model is used to derive the dispersion relation for these plasmon-modes. A non-linear full-wave-hydrodynamic numerical solver is also developed using a finite difference time domain algorithm. The developed analytical solutions are validated via the numerical solution. We also verify previous observations that were based on a simplified transmission line model. Itmore » is shown that at high levels of negative differential conductance, plasmon amplification is indeed possible. The proposed rigorous models can enable accurate design and optimization of practical resonant tunnel diode-based plasma-wave devices for terahertz sources, mixers, and detectors, by allowing a precise representation of their coupling when integrated with other electromagnetic structures.« less

Graphic facilitation as a novel approach to practice development.

PubMed

Leonard, Angela; Bonaconsa, Candice; Ssenyonga, Lydia; Coetzee, Minette

2017-10-10

The active participation of staff from the outset of any health service or practice improvement process ensures they are more likely to become engaged in the implementation phases that follow initial service analyses. Graphic facilitation is a way of getting participants to develop an understanding of complex systems and articulate solutions from within them. This article describes how a graphic facilitation process enabled the members of a multidisciplinary team at a specialist paediatric neurosurgery hospital in Uganda to understand how their system worked. The large graphic representation the team created helped each team member to visualise their day-to-day practice, understand each person's contribution, celebrate their triumphs and highlight opportunities for service improvement. The process highlighted three features of their practice: an authentic interdisciplinary team approach to care, admission of the primary carer with the child, and previously unrecognised delays in patient flow through the outpatients department. The team's active participation and ownership of the process resulted in sustainable improvements to clinical practice. ©2012 RCN Publishing Company Ltd. All rights reserved. Not to be copied, transmitted or recorded in any way, in whole or part, without prior permission of the publishers.

Learning together for effective collaboration in school-based occupational therapy practice.

PubMed

Villeneuve, Michelle A; Shulha, Lyn M

2012-12-01

School-based occupational therapy (SBOT) practice takes place within a complex system that includes service recipients, service providers, and program decision makers across health and education sectors. Despite the promotion of collaborative consultation at a policy level, there is little practical guidance about how to coordinate multi-agency service and interprofessional collaboration among these stakeholders. This paper reports on a process used to engage program administrators in an examination of SBOT collaborative consultation practice in one region of Ontario to provide an evidence-informed foundation for decision making about implementation of these services. Within an appreciative inquiry framework (Cooperrider, Whitney, & Stavros, 2008), Developmental Work Research methods (Engeström, 2000) were used to facilitate shared learning for improved SBOT collaborative consultation. Program administrators participated alongside program providers and service recipients in a series of facilitated workshops to develop principles that will guide future planning and decision making about the delivery of SBOT services. Facilitated discussion among stakeholders led to the articulation of 12 principles for effective collaborative practice. Program administrators used their shared understanding to propose a new model for delivering SBOT services. Horizontal and vertical learning across agency and professional boundaries led to the development of powerful solutions for program improvement.

Intelligent windows using new thermotropic layers with long-term stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Haruo

1995-08-01

This paper concerns the autonomous responsive type light adjustment window (intelligent windows) among smart windows which adjust the light upon receiving environmental energy. More specifically, this is a thermotropic window panel that laminates and seals a new type of highly viscous polymer aqueous solution gel. A conventional thermotropic window panel has never been put to practical use since the reversible change between the colorless, transparent state (water-clear) and translucent scattered state (paper-white) with uniformity was not possible. The change involved phase separation and generated non-uniformity. The author, after fundamental studies of hydrophobic bonding, successfully solved the problem by developing a polymer aqueous solution gel with amphiphatic molecule as the third component in addition to water and water-soluble polymer with hydrophobic radical, based on the molecular spacer concept. In addition, the author established peripheral technologies and succeeded in experimentally fabricating a panel type 'Affinity's Intelligent Window (AIW)' that has attained the level of practical use.

Role of solute-transport models in the analysis of groundwater salinity problems in agricultural areas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Konikow, Leonard F.

1981-01-01

Undesirable salinity increases occur in both groundwater and surface water and are commonly related to agricultural practices. Groundwater recharge from precipitation or irrigation will transport and disperse residual salts concentrated by evapotranspiration, salts leached from soil and aquifer materials, as well as some dissolved fertilizers and pesticides. Where stream salinity is affected by agricultural practices, the increases in salt load usually are attributable mostly to a groundwater component of flow. Thus, efforts to predict, manage, or control stream salinity increases should consider the role of groundwater in salt transport. Two examples of groundwater salinity problems in Colorado, U.S.A., illustrate that a model which simulates accurately the transport and dispersion of solutes in flowing groundwater can be (1) a valuable investigative tool to help understand the processes and parameters controlling the movement and fate of the salt, and (2) a valuable management tool for predicting responses and optimizing the development and use of the total water resource. ?? 1981.

Instantiating informatics in nursing practice for integrated patient centred holistic models of care: a discussion paper.

PubMed

Hussey, Pamela A; Kennedy, Margaret Ann

2016-05-01

A discussion on how informatics knowledge and competencies can enable nursing to instantiate transition to integrated models of care. Costs of traditional models of care are no longer sustainable consequent to the spiralling incidence and costs of chronic illness. The international community looks towards technology-enabled solutions to support a shift towards integrated patient-centred models of care. Discussion paper. A search of the literature was performed dating from 2000-2015 and a purposeful data sample based on relevance to building the discussion was included. The holistic perspective of nursing knowledge can support and advance integrated healthcare models. Informatics skills are key for the profession to play a leadership role in design, implementation and operation of next generation health care. However, evidence suggests that nursing engagement with informatics strategic development for healthcare provision is currently variable. A statistically significant need exists to progress health care towards integrated models of care. Strategic and tactical plans that are robustly pragmatic with nursing insights and expertise are an essential component to achieve effective healthcare provision. To avoid exclusion in the discourse dominated by management and technology experts, nursing leaders must develop and actively promote the advancement of nursing informatics skills. For knowledge in nursing practice to flourish in contemporary health care, nurse leaders will need to incorporate informatics for optimal translation and interpretation. Defined nursing leadership roles informed by informatics are essential to generate concrete solutions sustaining nursing practice in integrated care models. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Current efforts in chiropractic quality assurance and standards of care †

PubMed Central

Hansen, Daniel T

1991-01-01

The chiropractic profession has recently begun to proactively address the problems identified by the health care industry. Prompted by rising health care costs, careful analysis revealed that the major culprit was the variance in the delivery of health care. Concerned with outside regulation, health professionals, both in the USA and Canada, are generating clinical guidelines that will serve as templates for the development of standards of care. More specifically, the chiropractic profession is identifying and establishing standards of practice. This in part is due to published data illustrating the variations in treatment frequencies between geographic locations. Acknowledging these variations will enable the identification of solutions. The solutions will be formulated from a growing knowledge base comprised of printed literature and the opinions of recognized experts through consensus panels. The result is the creation of practice standards and guidelines that will serve to answer concerns of accountability and ultimately to protect the public. The process from the creation to the implementation of the guidelines is necessarily detailed; but can be enhanced by the use of clinical algorithms. Clinical algorithms describe a step wise procedure to patient management that may impact upon patient care, health care costs and outcome measures. As chiropractic achieves greater visibility, it will be expected to perform at the same level of accountability as the other health provider groups. Each chiropractor should understand the process and its limitations, and be prepared to contribute in the development, distribution and implementation of reasonable practice guidelines.

Choosing a New Telephone System for Your Medical Practice.

PubMed

Metherell, Brian

2016-01-01

E-mail may rule the world in other types of businesses, but for medical practices, the telephone remains the primary mode of communication with patients, specialists, and pharmacies. From making appointments to calling in prescriptions, telephones are essential to patient care. With technology changing very quickly and new capabilities coming into the medical practice, such as telemedicine and Skype, you need to know your options when choosing a new telephone system. The possibilities include on-site, cloud, and hybrid networked solutions. A wide variety of features and capabilities are available, from dozens of vendors. Of course, no matter what telephone solution you choose, you must meet regulatory compliance, particularly HIPAA, and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard if you take credit cards. And it has to be affordable, reliable, and long lasting. This article explores what medical practices need to know when choosing a new business telephone system in order to find the right solutions for their businesses.

The Influence of Field Teaching Practice on Pre-service Teachers' Professional Identity: A Mixed Methods Study.

PubMed

Zhao, Hongyu; Zhang, Xiaohui

2017-01-01

The current study used mixed methods to research pre-service teachers' professional identity. Ninety-eight pre-service teachers were investigated and twelve teachers were interviewed in China. The results were as follows: (1) The results of quantitative data showed that compared with before the field teaching practice, pre-service teachers' professional identity increased after the field teaching practice-specifically, intrinsic value identity increased, and extrinsic value identity did not significantly change; (2) The results of qualitative data validated and elaborated the results of quantitative data in more detail with regard to changes in professional identity. Specifically, compared with before the field teaching practice, intrinsic value identity including work content, work pattern, etc., increased and extrinsic value identity including work environment, income, and social status, etc., did not significantly change after experiencing teaching practice; (3) The results of qualitative data also showed that mentor support at field school promoted the development of pre-service teachers' professional identity. Moreover, the development of pre-service teachers' professional identity during field teaching practice further promoted their professional commitment; that is, it promoted their emotional evaluation and belief in the teaching profession. The study discussed these results and proposed solutions and suggestions for future studies.

Cyclotron production of Ga-68 for human use from liquid targets: From theory to practice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alves, F.; Alves, V. H.; Neves, A. C. B.; do Carmo, S. J. C.; Nactergal, B.; Hellas, V.; Kral, E.; Gonçalves-Gameiro, C.; Abrunhosa, A. J.

2017-05-01

A fully automated system for the production of 68Ga based on commercially available cyclotron liquid target and synthesis modules is described. A solution containing enriched 68Zn dissolved in a nitric solution is irradiated in a Cyclone 18/9 IBA cyclotron leading to the production of up to about 25 GBq of 68Ga. The irradiated solution is transferred to a Synthera synthesis module in which 68Ga is separated and purified with a yield superior to 85 % and where further labelling is achieved with yields no inferior to 70 %. The developed and implemented method presents an improved approach for the production of 68Ga-radiopharmaceuticals suitable for human use, in a process that takes less than 2 hours. This technique represents an economically viable alternative to 68Ge/68Ga generators with improved characteristics.

Boosting standard order sets utilization through clinical decision support.

PubMed

Li, Haomin; Zhang, Yinsheng; Cheng, Haixia; Lu, Xudong; Duan, Huilong

2013-01-01

Well-designed standard order sets have the potential to integrate and coordinate care by communicating best practices through multiple disciplines, levels of care, and services. However, there are several challenges which certainly affected the benefits expected from standard order sets. To boost standard order sets utilization, a problem-oriented knowledge delivery solution was proposed in this study to facilitate access of standard order sets and evaluation of its treatment effect. In this solution, standard order sets were created along with diagnostic rule sets which can trigger a CDS-based reminder to help clinician quickly discovery hidden clinical problems and corresponding standard order sets during ordering. Those rule set also provide indicators for targeted evaluation of standard order sets during treatment. A prototype system was developed based on this solution and will be presented at Medinfo 2013.

A semiparametric Bayesian proportional hazards model for interval censored data with frailty effects.

PubMed

Henschel, Volkmar; Engel, Jutta; Hölzel, Dieter; Mansmann, Ulrich

2009-02-10

Multivariate analysis of interval censored event data based on classical likelihood methods is notoriously cumbersome. Likelihood inference for models which additionally include random effects are not available at all. Developed algorithms bear problems for practical users like: matrix inversion, slow convergence, no assessment of statistical uncertainty. MCMC procedures combined with imputation are used to implement hierarchical models for interval censored data within a Bayesian framework. Two examples from clinical practice demonstrate the handling of clustered interval censored event times as well as multilayer random effects for inter-institutional quality assessment. The software developed is called survBayes and is freely available at CRAN. The proposed software supports the solution of complex analyses in many fields of clinical epidemiology as well as health services research.

A new system for digital image acquisition, storage and presentation in an accident and emergency department

PubMed Central

Clegg, G; Roebuck, S; Steedman, D

2001-01-01

Objectives—To develop a computer based storage system for clinical images—radiographs, photographs, ECGs, text—for use in teaching, training, reference and research within an accident and emergency (A&E) department. Exploration of methods to access and utilise the data stored in the archive. Methods—Implementation of a digital image archive using flatbed scanner and digital camera as capture devices. A sophisticated coding system based on ICD 10. Storage via an "intelligent" custom interface. Results—A practical solution to the problems of clinical image storage for teaching purposes. Conclusions—We have successfully developed a digital image capture and storage system, which provides an excellent teaching facility for a busy A&E department. We have revolutionised the practice of the "hand-over meeting". PMID:11435357

Working appreciatively to improve services for children and families.

PubMed

Onyett, Steve

2009-10-01

Service improvement approaches are described that specifically focus on appreciating the positive that individuals bring to contexts related to children and family services. This includes application of Solution-Focused approaches, Appreciative Inquiry and other approaches that promote a positive emotional climate and focus on what works. Their conceptual foundations are explored and particularly their value in supporting working well with complex adaptive systems. Specific applications described include leadership and management practice, work in school settings, engaging clinicians in healthcare improvement, establishing clinical networks, work with homeless youth, child protection and approaches to drawing out best practice and community development. The theme that unites is a focus on developing effective relationships at all levels and a pragmatic focus on what works so that we can find opportunities to do more of it.

Supercritical fluid extraction. Principles and practice

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McHugh, M.A.; Krukonis, V.J.

This book is a presentation of the fundamentals and application of super-critical fluid solvents (SCF). The authors cover virtually every facet of SCF technology: the history of SCF extraction, its underlying thermodynamic principles, process principles, industrial applications, and analysis of SCF research and development efforts. The thermodynamic principles governing SCF extraction are covered in depth. The often complex three-dimensional pressure-temperature composition (PTx) phase diagrams for SCF-solute mixtures are constructed in a coherent step-by-step manner using the more familiar two-dimensional Px diagrams. The experimental techniques used to obtain high pressure phase behavior information are described in detail and the advantages andmore » disadvantages of each technique are explained. Finally, the equations used to model SCF-solute mixtures are developed, and modeling results are presented to highlight the correlational strengths of a cubic equation of state.« less

Managing Communication among Geographically Distributed Teams: A Brazilian Case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Almeida, Ana Carina M.; de Farias Junior, Ivaldir H.; de S. Carneiro, Pedro Jorge

The growing demand for qualified professionals is making software companies opt for distributed software development (DSD). At the project conception, communication and synchronization of information are critical factors for success. However problems such as time-zone difference between teams, culture, language and different development processes among sites could difficult the communication among teams. In this way, the main goal of this paper is to describe the solution adopted by a Brazilian team to improve communication in a multisite project environment. The purposed solution was based on the best practices described in the literature, and the communication plan was created based on the infrastructure needed by the project. The outcome of this work is to minimize the impact of communication issues in multisite projects, increasing productivity, good understanding and avoiding rework on code and document writing.

Blood substitutes.

PubMed Central

Kostrzewska, E.

1976-01-01

With the development of modern methods of surgery, anaesthesia, and pre- and postoperative care the requirement for blood substitutes is continuously increasing. We present a review of the different blood substitutes which are already in clinical use or in an advanced stage of experimental investigation for possible practical administration. Our own clinical experience with dextrans and experimental studies on stroma-free haemoglobin and hydroxyethyl starch solutions are described. PMID:57736

Maritime Cyber Security University Research

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-01

traffic so vital to the global economy . The vulnerabilities associated with reliance on digital systems in the maritime environment must be continuously...Abstract (MAXIMUM 200 WORDS) Modern maritime systems are highly complex digital systems to ensure the safety and efficient operation of the shipping...integrity of the entrances to our " digital ports" and work to develop practical cyber security solutions to protect the nation’s maritime

Maritime Cyber Security University Research: Phase 1

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-01

the global economy . The vulnerabilities associated with reliance on digital systems in the maritime environment must be continuously examined. System...Report: Modern maritime systems are highly complex digital systems to ensure the safety and efficient operation of the shipping traffic so vital to...entrances to our " digital ports" and work to develop practical cyber security solutions to protect the nation’s maritime infrastructure. 17. Key

Task report #2.2, developing very thin overlays with locally available aggregates for each district : TxDOT project 9-1529, low cost safety solutions, pavement preservation and maintenance practices for rural highways.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-04-01

The objective of this subtask was to generate crack resistant hot mix designs which could be placed very thin using locally available materials for each of the West Texas Districts wanting to participate in this study. Crack Attenuating Mixes (CAMs) ...

Parallel processing for nonlinear dynamics simulations of structures including rotating bladed-disk assemblies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsieh, Shang-Hsien

1993-01-01

The principal objective of this research is to develop, test, and implement coarse-grained, parallel-processing strategies for nonlinear dynamic simulations of practical structural problems. There are contributions to four main areas: finite element modeling and analysis of rotational dynamics, numerical algorithms for parallel nonlinear solutions, automatic partitioning techniques to effect load-balancing among processors, and an integrated parallel analysis system.

"Two Souls, Alas, Reside within My Breast": Reflections on German and American Music Education Regarding the Internationalization of Music Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kertz-Welzel, Alexandra

2013-01-01

In recent years, the internationalization of music education has become an important topic. Scholars of various research traditions try to find the best solutions for problems in music education theory and practice by taking a look at what other countries do. English as common language seems to facilitate this recent development. However, in spite…

Visions of Automation and Realities of Certification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hayhurst, Kelly J.; Holloway, Michael C.

2005-01-01

Quite a lot of people envision automation as the solution to many of the problems in aviation and air transportation today, across all sectors: commercial, private, and military. This paper explains why some recent experiences with complex, highly-integrated, automated systems suggest that this vision will not be realized unless significant progress is made over the current state-of-the-practice in software system development and certification.

Medical physics practice in the next decade

PubMed Central

Paliwal, Bhudatt

2006-01-01

Impressive advances in computers and materials science have fueled a broad-based confluence of basic science breakthroughs. These advances are making us reformulate our learning, teaching and credentialing methodologies and research and development frontiers. We are now in the age of molecular medicine. In the entire field of health care, a paradigm shift from population-based solutions to individual specific care is taking place. These trends are reshaping the practice of medical physics. In this short presentation, examples are given to illustrate developments in image-guided intensity-modulated and adaptive helical tomotherapy, enhanced application of intensity modulation radiotherapy (IMRT) using adaptive radiotherapy and conformal avoidance. These advances include improved normal tissue sparing and permit dose reconstruction and verification, thereby allowing significant biologically effective dose escalation and reduced radiation toxicity. The intrinsic capability of helical TomoTherapy for megavoltage CT imaging for IMRT image-guidance is also discussed. Finally developments in motion management are described. PMID:22275799

Making Patient Engagement a Reality.

PubMed

Pushparajah, Daphnee S

2018-02-01

Patients are increasingly recognised as the true customers of healthcare. By providing insights and perspectives, patients can help the wider healthcare community better understand their needs and ultimately enhance the value of healthcare solutions being developed. In the development of new medicines, for example, meaningful patient engagement can enable the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare providers and other stakeholders to achieve more meaningful health outcomes. While both the pharmaceutical industry and regulators have achieved some progress in incorporating patient perspectives into their activities, the lack of standardised best practices and metrics has made it challenging to achieve consistency and measure success in patient engagement. Practical guidance for patient engagement can facilitate better interactions between patients or patient groups and other collaborators, e.g. industry, regulators and other healthcare stakeholders. Accordingly, UCB has developed an internal model for Patient Group Engagement incorporating four key principles, based on shared ambition, transparency, accountability and respect, essential for effective collaborations.

Social participation: redesign of education, research, and practice in occupational therapy. Previously published in Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 2013; 20: 2-8.

PubMed

Piškur, Barbara

2014-01-01

There is growing attention to participation and social participation in literature and policy reports. Occupational therapists strongly believe that creating coherence between the person's occupations and environment will facilitate participation of each individual. Nowadays, societal developments such as "health literacy and self-management", "Web 2.0 social media", "empowering communities", and "Nothing About Us Without Us" increase opportunities for people to interact on different levels of social participation. Social participation can be used as an outcome, though it can also be seen as a means to change society and to develop solutions for barriers experienced by people with chronic diseases or disabilities. Societal developments will have an impact on social participation in terms of supporting each other and contributing to society. Additionally, these changes will have a major influence on the way we educate, conduct research, and deliver occupational therapy practice.

Social participation: redesign of education, research, and practice in occupational therapy*.

PubMed

Piškur, Barbara

2013-01-01

There is growing attention to participation and social participation in literature and policy reports. Occupational therapists strongly believe that creating coherence between the person's occupations and environment will facilitate participation of each individual. Nowadays, societal developments such as "health literacy and self-management", "Web 2.0 social media", "empowering communities", and "Nothing About Us Without Us" increase opportunities for people to interact on different levels of social participation. Social participation can be used as an outcome, though it can also be seen as a means to change society and to develop solutions for barriers experienced by people with chronic diseases or disabilities. Societal developments will have an impact on social participation in terms of supporting each other and contributing to society. Additionally, these changes will have a major influence on the way we educate, conduct research, and deliver occupational therapy practice.

Problem Definition and Solution Strategies in Dental Practice. Executive Summary, September 19, 1979-October 31, 1980.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dane, J. K.; And Others

An executive summary of a study designed to investigate the identification and solution of clinical and nonclinical problems in dental practice is presented. The study used a combination of structured group meetings of individuals involved in dentistry and related areas and written workbooks completed by participants. A steering committee advised…

International Graduate Students' Academic Writing Practices in Malaysia: Challenges and Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singh, Manjet Kaur Mehar

2015-01-01

This article focuses on the challenges faced by non-native English speaking international graduate students in their academic writing practices while they studied at a university in Malaysia as well as the solutions they employed when faced with the challenges. Academic Literacies Questionnaire was used to collect data. Based on 131 participants,…

Developing, delivering and evaluating primary mental health care: the co-production of a new complex intervention.

PubMed

Reeve, Joanne; Cooper, Lucy; Harrington, Sean; Rosbottom, Peter; Watkins, Jane

2016-09-06

Health services face the challenges created by complex problems, and so need complex intervention solutions. However they also experience ongoing difficulties in translating findings from research in this area in to quality improvement changes on the ground. BounceBack was a service development innovation project which sought to examine this issue through the implementation and evaluation in a primary care setting of a novel complex intervention. The project was a collaboration between a local mental health charity, an academic unit, and GP practices. The aim was to translate the charity's model of care into practice-based evidence describing delivery and impact. Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) was used to support the implementation of the new model of primary mental health care into six GP practices. An integrated process evaluation evaluated the process and impact of care. Implementation quickly stalled as we identified problems with the described model of care when applied in a changing and variable primary care context. The team therefore switched to using the NPT framework to support the systematic identification and modification of the components of the complex intervention: including the core components that made it distinct (the consultation approach) and the variable components (organisational issues) that made it work in practice. The extra work significantly reduced the time available for outcome evaluation. However findings demonstrated moderately successful implementation of the model and a suggestion of hypothesised changes in outcomes. The BounceBack project demonstrates the development of a complex intervention from practice. It highlights the use of Normalisation Process Theory to support development, and not just implementation, of a complex intervention; and describes the use of the research process in the generation of practice-based evidence. Implications for future translational complex intervention research supporting practice change through scholarship are discussed.

Analysis and stability study of retinoids in pharmaceuticals by LC with fluorescence detection.

PubMed

Gatti, R; Gioia, M G; Cavrini, V

2000-08-01

Liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods with fluorescence detection at different wavelengths were developed for measurements of retinoic acids (13-cis and all-trans) in pharmaceutical dosage forms and components of 'retinoid solution' (all-trans retinoic acid, vitamin A palmitate and beta-carotene), a galenical of 'Di Bella therapy', using reversed phase columns under isocratic conditions. The stability of all-trans retinoic acid in cream and all-trans retinoic acid and vitamin A palmitate in 'retinoid solution' was investigated. Solid-phase extraction (SPE), using C18 sorbent was applied to the analysis of retinoic acids (9-cis, 13-cis and all-trans) in the 'retinoid solution' to obtain a practical and reliable sample clean-up. The results showed that these preparations (cream and solution) can be conveniently stored in the dark (t.a. or 2-8 degrees C): under these conditions about 86-87% of the all-trans retinoic acid initial concentration in both formulations and about 73-78% of vitamin A palmitate in the 'retinoid solution' remained after 90 days, while under sunlight exposure rapid degradation of the drugs was observed.

Online Solution of Two-Player Zero-Sum Games for Continuous-Time Nonlinear Systems With Completely Unknown Dynamics.

PubMed

Fu, Yue; Chai, Tianyou

2016-12-01

Regarding two-player zero-sum games of continuous-time nonlinear systems with completely unknown dynamics, this paper presents an online adaptive algorithm for learning the Nash equilibrium solution, i.e., the optimal policy pair. First, for known systems, the simultaneous policy updating algorithm (SPUA) is reviewed. A new analytical method to prove the convergence is presented. Then, based on the SPUA, without using a priori knowledge of any system dynamics, an online algorithm is proposed to simultaneously learn in real time either the minimal nonnegative solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs (HJI) equation or the generalized algebraic Riccati equation for linear systems as a special case, along with the optimal policy pair. The approximate solution to the HJI equation and the admissible policy pair is reexpressed by the approximation theorem. The unknown constants or weights of each are identified simultaneously by resorting to the recursive least square method. The convergence of the online algorithm to the optimal solutions is provided. A practical online algorithm is also developed. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Benchmarking Gas Path Diagnostic Methods: A Public Approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simon, Donald L.; Bird, Jeff; Davison, Craig; Volponi, Al; Iverson, R. Eugene

2008-01-01

Recent technology reviews have identified the need for objective assessments of engine health management (EHM) technology. The need is two-fold: technology developers require relevant data and problems to design and validate new algorithms and techniques while engine system integrators and operators need practical tools to direct development and then evaluate the effectiveness of proposed solutions. This paper presents a publicly available gas path diagnostic benchmark problem that has been developed by the Propulsion and Power Systems Panel of The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP) to help address these needs. The problem is coded in MATLAB (The MathWorks, Inc.) and coupled with a non-linear turbofan engine simulation to produce "snap-shot" measurements, with relevant noise levels, as if collected from a fleet of engines over their lifetime of use. Each engine within the fleet will experience unique operating and deterioration profiles, and may encounter randomly occurring relevant gas path faults including sensor, actuator and component faults. The challenge to the EHM community is to develop gas path diagnostic algorithms to reliably perform fault detection and isolation. An example solution to the benchmark problem is provided along with associated evaluation metrics. A plan is presented to disseminate this benchmark problem to the engine health management technical community and invite technology solutions.

Generalist solutions to complex problems: generating practice-based evidence - the example of managing multi-morbidity

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background A growing proportion of people are living with long term conditions. The majority have more than one. Dealing with multi-morbidity is a complex problem for health systems: for those designing and implementing healthcare as well as for those providing the evidence informing practice. Yet the concept of multi-morbidity (the presence of >2 diseases) is a product of the design of health care systems which define health care need on the basis of disease status. So does the solution lie in an alternative model of healthcare? Discussion Strengthening generalist practice has been proposed as part of the solution to tackling multi-morbidity. Generalism is a professional philosophy of practice, deeply known to many practitioners, and described as expertise in whole person medicine. But generalism lacks the evidence base needed by policy makers and planners to support service redesign. The challenge is to fill this practice-research gap in order to critically explore if and when generalist care offers a robust alternative to management of this complex problem. We need practice-based evidence to fill this gap. By recognising generalist practice as a ‘complex intervention’ (intervening in a complex system), we outline an approach to evaluate impact using action-research principles. We highlight the implications for those who both commission and undertake research in order to tackle this problem. Summary Answers to the complex problem of multi-morbidity won’t come from doing more of the same. We need to change systems of care, and so the systems for generating evidence to support that care. This paper contributes to that work through outlining a process for generating practice-based evidence of generalist solutions to the complex problem of person-centred care for people with multi-morbidity. PMID:23919296

Generalist solutions to complex problems: generating practice-based evidence--the example of managing multi-morbidity.

PubMed

Reeve, Joanne; Blakeman, Tom; Freeman, George K; Green, Larry A; James, Paul A; Lucassen, Peter; Martin, Carmel M; Sturmberg, Joachim P; van Weel, Chris

2013-08-07

A growing proportion of people are living with long term conditions. The majority have more than one. Dealing with multi-morbidity is a complex problem for health systems: for those designing and implementing healthcare as well as for those providing the evidence informing practice. Yet the concept of multi-morbidity (the presence of >2 diseases) is a product of the design of health care systems which define health care need on the basis of disease status. So does the solution lie in an alternative model of healthcare? Strengthening generalist practice has been proposed as part of the solution to tackling multi-morbidity. Generalism is a professional philosophy of practice, deeply known to many practitioners, and described as expertise in whole person medicine. But generalism lacks the evidence base needed by policy makers and planners to support service redesign. The challenge is to fill this practice-research gap in order to critically explore if and when generalist care offers a robust alternative to management of this complex problem. We need practice-based evidence to fill this gap. By recognising generalist practice as a 'complex intervention' (intervening in a complex system), we outline an approach to evaluate impact using action-research principles. We highlight the implications for those who both commission and undertake research in order to tackle this problem. Answers to the complex problem of multi-morbidity won't come from doing more of the same. We need to change systems of care, and so the systems for generating evidence to support that care. This paper contributes to that work through outlining a process for generating practice-based evidence of generalist solutions to the complex problem of person-centred care for people with multi-morbidity.

Development of a multiobjective optimization tool for the selection and placement of best management practices for nonpoint source pollution control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maringanti, Chetan; Chaubey, Indrajeet; Popp, Jennie

2009-06-01

Best management practices (BMPs) are effective in reducing the transport of agricultural nonpoint source pollutants to receiving water bodies. However, selection of BMPs for placement in a watershed requires optimization of the available resources to obtain maximum possible pollution reduction. In this study, an optimization methodology is developed to select and place BMPs in a watershed to provide solutions that are both economically and ecologically effective. This novel approach develops and utilizes a BMP tool, a database that stores the pollution reduction and cost information of different BMPs under consideration. The BMP tool replaces the dynamic linkage of the distributed parameter watershed model during optimization and therefore reduces the computation time considerably. Total pollutant load from the watershed, and net cost increase from the baseline, were the two objective functions minimized during the optimization process. The optimization model, consisting of a multiobjective genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) in combination with a watershed simulation tool (Soil Water and Assessment Tool (SWAT)), was developed and tested for nonpoint source pollution control in the L'Anguille River watershed located in eastern Arkansas. The optimized solutions provided a trade-off between the two objective functions for sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen reduction. The results indicated that buffer strips were very effective in controlling the nonpoint source pollutants from leaving the croplands. The optimized BMP plans resulted in potential reductions of 33%, 32%, and 13% in sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen loads, respectively, from the watershed.

Prostate intensity-modulated radiotherapy planning in seven mouse clicks: Development of a class solution for cancer.

PubMed

Wood, Maree; Fonseca, Amara; Sampson, David; Kovendy, Andrew; Westhuyzen, Justin; Shakespeare, Thomas; Turnbull, Kirsty

2016-01-01

The aim of the retrospective study was to develop a planning class solution for prostate intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) that achieved target and organs-at-risk (OAR) doses within acceptable departmental protocol criteria using the Monaco treatment planning system (Elekta-CMS Software, MO, USA). Advances in radiation therapy technology have led to a re-evaluation of work practices. Class solutions have the potential to produce highly conformal plans in a time-efficient manner. Using data from intermediate and high risk prostate cancer patients, a stepwise quality improvement model was employed. Stage 1 involved the development of a broadly based treatment template developed across 10 patients. Stage 2 involved template refinement and clinical audit ( n  = 20); Stage 3, template review ( n  = 50) and Stage 4 an assessment of a revised template against the actual treatment plan involving 72 patients. The computer algorithm that comprised the Stage 4 template met clinical treatment criteria for 82% of patients. Minor template changes were required for a further 13% of patients. Major changes were required in 4%; one patient could not be assessed. The average calculation time was 13 min and involved seven mouse clicks by the planner. Thus, the new template met treatment criteria or required only minor changes in 95% of prostate patients; this is an encouraging result suggesting improvements in planning efficiency and consistency. It is feasible to develop a class solution for prostate IMRT using a stepwise quality improvement model which delivers clinically acceptable plans in the great majority of prostate cases.

Research-Practice Integration in Real Practice Settings: Issues and Suggestions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheung, Monit; Ma, Anny K.; Thyer, Bruce A.; Webb, Ann E.

2015-01-01

At the National Bridging the Research and Practice Gap Symposium to discuss evidence-based practice (EBP) in social work, 150 participants attended five breakout groups to address real practice setting applications. These participants from social work academia and practice communities addressed issues and looked for solutions to promote…

Thirty-Ninth Annual Report of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics: Administrative Report Including Technical Reports Nos. 1111 to 1157

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1955-01-01

This is the fiftieth year since Wilbur and Orville Wright at Kitty Hawk N. C., made their powered flight. That airplane was a fragile and unsteady machine of no immediate utility. It flew for only a minute but it disclosed the solution of the age-old problem of human flight. The Wrights were the first in the history of man to fly. There was no one to teach them. They had to discover principles and to learn the art by cautious and methodical experimenting. From their own research they obtained the practical information needed to design their successful flying machine. The Wrights received no effective aid from the theoretical studies of flight made by the mathematicians of the nineteenth century. The science of aerodynamics was developed in response to the practical demands of aeronautics in the years to follow. In 1908, the Wrights demonstrated at Fort Myer, Va., a vastly improved flyer, the first military airplane. It carried a passenger and flew for more than an hour. Following this public demonstration, the development of the airplane was taken up vigorously. At first France and Germany took the lead, then Great Britain, but the United States lagged behind in the furthering of this greatest American development of the century. With war clouds in view in 1915, the Congress established the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics to undertake the scientific study of the problems of fight with a view to their practical solution. President Wilson appointed the members of the first Committee, consisting of the heads of the military and civil agencies of the Government concerned with aeronautics and experts from private life.

A New Continuous-Time Equality-Constrained Optimization to Avoid Singularity.

PubMed

Quan, Quan; Cai, Kai-Yuan

2016-02-01

In equality-constrained optimization, a standard regularity assumption is often associated with feasible point methods, namely, that the gradients of constraints are linearly independent. In practice, the regularity assumption may be violated. In order to avoid such a singularity, a new projection matrix is proposed based on which a feasible point method to continuous-time, equality-constrained optimization is developed. First, the equality constraint is transformed into a continuous-time dynamical system with solutions that always satisfy the equality constraint. Second, a new projection matrix without singularity is proposed to realize the transformation. An update (or say a controller) is subsequently designed to decrease the objective function along the solutions of the transformed continuous-time dynamical system. The invariance principle is then applied to analyze the behavior of the solution. Furthermore, the proposed method is modified to address cases in which solutions do not satisfy the equality constraint. Finally, the proposed optimization approach is applied to three examples to demonstrate its effectiveness.

Education in care and technology, a facilitator of interdisciplinary research and development.

PubMed

Willems, Charles G; Sponselee, Anne-Mie; Verkerke, Margreet Michel; Sirkka, Andrew; Saarni, Lea; Castello Branco, Miguel; de Witte, Luc

2015-01-01

Application of technology in care is hindered by two factors; a critical attitude of care professionals towards the use of technology as part of care delivery and a lack of knowledge of care practice by technology developers. Technological developments may provide adequate solutions to support care provision. The principles of user centred design and development, traditionally used in the development of assistive technology, may provide powerful tools to support care provision. Interdisciplinary research will be needed to take full benefit. Educational programs to support this development are lacking. Main content of this paper: Six organisations of higher education have taken the initiative to organize a training program to support professionals active in the care or in the technology domain that enables them to become involved in interdisciplinary research and development. a European program to educate a professional master in Care and Technology has been developed and is described in this paper. Accreditation of the program is initiated. Alumni of such a program may form a European network of professionals that are active in developing new solutions to support people with special needs and contribute to the generation of new business.

Application of the enterprise management tools Lean Six Sigma and PMBOK in developing a program of research management.

PubMed

Hors, Cora; Goldberg, Anna Carla; Almeida, Ederson Haroldo Pereira de; Babio Júnior, Fernando Galan; Rizzo, Luiz Vicente

2012-01-01

Introduce a program for the management of scientific research in a General Hospital employing the business management tools Lean Six Sigma and PMBOK for project management in this area. The Lean Six Sigma methodology was used to improve the management of the institution's scientific research through a specific tool (DMAIC) for identification, implementation and posterior analysis based on PMBOK practices of the solutions found. We present our solutions for the management of institutional research projects at the Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein. The solutions were classified into four headings: people, processes, systems and organizational culture. A preliminary analysis of these solutions showed them to be completely or partially compliant to the processes described in the PMBOK Guide. In this post facto study, we verified that the solutions drawn from a project using Lean Six Sigma methodology and based on PMBOK enabled the improvement of our processes dealing with the management of scientific research carried out in the institution and constitutes a model to contribute to the search of innovative science management solutions by other institutions dealing with scientific research in Brazil.

Explainers' development of science-learner identities through participation in a community of practice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richardson, Anne E.

The urgent environmental issues of today require science-literate adults to engage in business and political decisions to create solutions. Despite the need, few adults have the knowledge and skills of science literacy. This doctoral dissertation is an analytical case study examining the science-learner identity development of Exploratorium Field Trip Explainers. Located in San Francisco, CA, the Exploratorium is a museum of science, art, and human perception dedicated to nurturing curiosity and exploration. Data collected included semi-structured interviews with sixteen former Field Trip Explainers, participant observation of the current Field Trip Explainer Program, and review of relevant documentation. Data analysis employed constant comparative analysis, guided by the communities of practice theoretical framework (Wenger, 1998) and the National Research Council's (2009) Six Strands of Science Learning. Findings of this research indicate that Exploratorium Field Trip Explainers participate in a community of practice made up of a diverse group of people that values curiosity and openness to multiple ways of learning. Many participants entered the Field Trip Explainer Program with an understanding of science learning as a rigid process reserved for a select group of people; through participation in the Field Trip Explainer community of practice, participants developed an understanding of science learning as accessible and a part of everyday life. The findings of this case study have implications for research, theory, and practice in informal adult science learning, access of non-dominant groups to science learning, and adult workplace learning in communities of practice.

Praxis-based research networks: An emerging paradigm for research that is rigorous, relevant, and inclusive.

PubMed

Werner, James J; Stange, Kurt C

2014-01-01

Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) have developed a grounded approach to conducting practice-relevant and translational research in community practice settings. Seismic shifts in the health care landscape are shaping PBRNs that work across organizational and institutional margins to address complex problems. Praxis-based research networks combine PBRN knowledge generation with multistakeholder learning, experimentation, and application of practical knowledge. The catalytic processes in praxis-based research networks are cycles of action and reflection based on experience, observation, conceptualization, and experimentation by network members and partners. To facilitate co-learning and solution-building, these networks have a flexible architecture that allows pragmatic inclusion of stakeholders based on the demands of the problem and the needs of the network. Praxis-based research networks represent an evolving trend that combines the core values of PBRNs with new opportunities for relevance, rigor, and broad participation. © Copyright 2014 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Conducting international nursing research: challenges and opportunities.

PubMed

Opollo, Jackline Gloria; Opollo, Diana Alaka; Gray, Jennifer; Spies, Lori

2014-11-01

To describe practical experiences before, during and after gaining entry into research fields in Kenya and Uganda. Planning, conducting and implementing international research can be an arduous task. Novice researchers need practical guides to accessing international fields and mitigating challenges met in the field. The researchers conducted three different studies in two developing nations. This paper reviews challenges encountered when conducting international research. Solutions used to overcome these challenges are discussed. Establishing and maintaining effective partnerships is critical to the success of international research efforts. Researchers must be tactful, flexible and creative when handling methodological, ethical and logistical challenges encountered in settings poor in resources. International research provides opportunities for increasing dedication, building cross-cultural competence and advancing health professional practice globally. This paper contributes to nursing scholarship by highlighting the practical challenges of conducting international research. Illustrations aimed at lending insight and encouraging others to expand their dedication to conducting international research are offered.

Improving the Effectiveness of Electronic Health Record-Based Referral Processes

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Electronic health records are increasingly being used to facilitate referral communication in the outpatient setting. However, despite support by technology, referral communication between primary care providers and specialists is often unsatisfactory and is unable to eliminate care delays. This may be in part due to lack of attention to how information and communication technology fits within the social environment of health care. Making electronic referral communication effective requires a multifaceted “socio-technical” approach. Using an 8-dimensional socio-technical model for health information technology as a framework, we describe ten recommendations that represent good clinical practices to design, develop, implement, improve, and monitor electronic referral communication in the outpatient setting. These recommendations were developed on the basis of our previous work, current literature, sound clinical practice, and a systems-based approach to understanding and implementing health information technology solutions. Recommendations are relevant to system designers, practicing clinicians, and other stakeholders considering use of electronic health records to support referral communication. PMID:22973874

Dynamic Flow Management Problems in Air Transportation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patterson, Sarah Stock

1997-01-01

In 1995, over six hundred thousand licensed pilots flew nearly thirty-five million flights into over eighteen thousand U.S. airports, logging more than 519 billion passenger miles. Since demand for air travel has increased by more than 50% in the last decade while capacity has stagnated, congestion is a problem of undeniable practical significance. In this thesis, we will develop optimization techniques that reduce the impact of congestion on the national airspace. We start by determining the optimal release times for flights into the airspace and the optimal speed adjustment while airborne taking into account the capacitated airspace. This is called the Air Traffic Flow Management Problem (TFMP). We address the complexity, showing that it is NP-hard. We build an integer programming formulation that is quite strong as some of the proposed inequalities are facet defining for the convex hull of solutions. For practical problems, the solutions of the LP relaxation of the TFMP are very often integral. In essence, we reduce the problem to efficiently solving large scale linear programming problems. Thus, the computation times are reasonably small for large scale, practical problems involving thousands of flights. Next, we address the problem of determining how to reroute aircraft in the airspace system when faced with dynamically changing weather conditions. This is called the Air Traffic Flow Management Rerouting Problem (TFMRP) We present an integrated mathematical programming approach for the TFMRP, which utilizes several methodologies, in order to minimize delay costs. In order to address the high dimensionality, we present an aggregate model, in which we formulate the TFMRP as a multicommodity, integer, dynamic network flow problem with certain side constraints. Using Lagrangian relaxation, we generate aggregate flows that are decomposed into a collection of flight paths using a randomized rounding heuristic. This collection of paths is used in a packing integer programming formulation, the solution of which generates feasible and near-optimal routes for individual flights. The algorithm, termed the Lagrangian Generation Algorithm, is used to solve practical problems in the southwestern portion of United States in which the solutions are within 1% of the corresponding lower bounds.

A web based Radiation Oncology Dose Manager with a rich User Interface developed using AJAX, ruby, dynamic XHTML and the new Yahoo/EXT User Interface Library.

PubMed

Vali, Faisal; Hong, Robert

2007-10-11

With the evolution of AJAX, ruby on rails, advanced dynamic XHTML technologies and the advent of powerful user interface libraries for javascript (EXT, Yahoo User Interface Library), developers now have the ability to provide truly rich interfaces within web browsers, with reasonable effort and without third-party plugins. We designed and developed an example of such a solution. The User Interface allows radiation oncology practices to intuitively manage different dose fractionation schemes by helping estimate total dose to irradiated organs.

Practical Approach for Hyperspectral Image Processing in Python

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Annala, L.; Eskelinen, M. A.; Hämäläinen, J.; Riihinen, A.; Pölönen, I.

2018-04-01

Python is a very popular programming language among data scientists around the world. Python can also be used in hyperspectral data analysis. There are some toolboxes designed for spectral imaging, such as Spectral Python and HyperSpy, but there is a need for analysis pipeline, which is easy to use and agile for different solutions. We propose a Python pipeline which is built on packages xarray, Holoviews and scikit-learn. We have developed some of own tools, MaskAccessor, VisualisorAccessor and a spectral index library. They also fulfill our goal of easy and agile data processing. In this paper we will present our processing pipeline and demonstrate it in practice.

The Sherlock Holmes method in clinical practice.

PubMed

Sopeña, B

2014-04-01

This article lists the integral elements of the Sherlock Holmes method, which is based on the intelligent collection of information through detailed observation, careful listening and thorough examination. The information thus obtained is analyzed to develop the main and alternative hypotheses, which are shaped during the deductive process until the key leading to the solution is revealed. The Holmes investigative method applied to clinical practice highlights the advisability of having physicians reason through and seek out the causes of the disease with the data obtained from acute observation, a detailed review of the medical history and careful physical examination. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Mobile emergency, an emergency support system for hospitals in mobile devices: pilot study.

PubMed

Bellini, Pierfrancesco; Boncinelli, Sergio; Grossi, Francesco; Mangini, Marco; Nesi, Paolo; Sequi, Leonardo

2013-05-23

Hospitals are vulnerable to natural disasters, man-made disasters, and mass causalities events. Within a short time, hospitals must provide care to large numbers of casualties in any damaged infrastructure, despite great personnel risk, inadequate communications, and limited resources. Communications are one of the most common challenges and drawbacks during in-hospital emergencies. Emergency difficulties in communicating with personnel and other agencies are mentioned in literature. At the moment of emergency inception and in the earliest emergency phases, the data regarding the true nature of the incidents are often inaccurate. The real needs and conditions are not yet clear, hospital personnel are neither efficiently coordinated nor informed on the real available resources. Information and communication technology solutions in health care turned out to have a great positive impact both on daily working practice and situations. The objective of this paper was to find a solution that addresses the aspects of communicating among medical personnel, formalizing the modalities and protocols and the information to guide the medical personnel during emergency conditions with a support of a Central Station (command center) to cope with emergency management and best practice network to produce and distribute intelligent content made available in the mobile devices of the medical personnel. The aim was to reduce the time needed to react and to cope with emergency organization, while facilitating communications. The solution has been realized by formalizing the scenarios, extracting, and identifying the requirements by using formal methods based on unified modeling language (UML). The system and was developed using mobile programming under iOS Apple and PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor My Structured Query Language (PHP MySQL). Formal questionnaires and time sheets were used for testing and validation, and a control group was used in order to estimate the reduction of time needed to cope with emergency cases. First, we have tested the usability and the functionalities of the solution proposed, then a real trial was performed to assess the reduction in communication time and the efficiency of the solution with respect to a case without Mobile Emergency tools. The solution was based on the development of a mobile emergency application and corresponding server device to cope with emergencies and facilitate all the related activities and communications, such as marking the position, contacting people, and recovering the exits information. The solution has been successfully tested within the Careggi Hospital, the largest medical infrastructure in Florence and Tuscany area in Italy, thus demonstrating the validity of the identified modalities, procedures, and the reduction in the time needed to cope with the emergency conditions. The trial was not registered as the test was conducted in realistic but simulated emergency conditions. By analyzing the requirements for developing a mobile app, and specifically the functionalities, codes, and design of the Mobile Emergency app, we have revealed the real advantages of using mobile emergency solutions compared to other more traditional solutions to effectively handle emergency situations in hospital settings.

Are medical educators following General Medical Council guidelines on obesity education: if not why not?

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Although the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) General Medical Council (GMC) recommends that graduating medical students are competent to discuss obesity and behaviour change with patients, it is difficult to integrate this education into existing curricula, and clinicians report being unprepared to support patients needing obesity management in practice. We therefore aimed to identify factors influencing the integration of obesity management education within medical schools. Methods Twenty-seven UK and Irish medical school educators participated in semi-structured interviews. Grounded theory principles informed data collection and analysis. Themes emerging directly from the dataset illustrated key challenges for educators and informed several suggested solutions. Results Factors influencing obesity management education included: 1) Diverse and opportunistic learning and teaching, 2) Variable support for including obesity education within undergraduate medical programmes, and 3) Student engagement in obesity management education. Findings suggest several practical solutions to identified challenges including clarifying recommended educational agendas; improving access to content-specific guidelines; and implementing student engagement strategies. Conclusions Students’ educational experiences differ due to diverse interpretations of GMC guidelines, educators’ perceptions of available support for, and student interest in obesity management education. Findings inform the development of potential solutions to these challenges which may be tested further empirically. PMID:23578257

Effect of Agricultural Practices on Hydrology and Water Chemistry in a Small Irrigated Catchment, Yakima River Basin, Washington

USGS Publications Warehouse

McCarthy, Kathleen A.; Johnson, Henry M.

2009-01-01

The role of irrigation and artificial drainage in the hydrologic cycle and the transport of solutes in a small agricultural catchment in central Washington's Yakima Valley were explored using hydrologic, chemical, isotopic, age-dating, and mineralogical data from several environmental compartments, including stream water, ground water, overland flow, and streambed pore water. A conceptual understanding of catchment hydrology and solute transport was developed and an inverse end-member mixing analysis was used to further explore the effects of agriculture in this small catchment. The median concentrations of major solutes and nitrates were similar for the single field site and for the catchment outflow site, indicating that the net effects of transport processes for these constituents were similar at both scales. However, concentrations of nutrients were different at the two sites, suggesting that field-scale variations in agricultural practices as well as nearstream and instream biochemical processes are important components of agricultural chemical transformation and transport in this catchment. This work indicates that irrigation coupled with artificial drainage networks may exacerbate the ecological effects of agricultural runoff by increasing direct connectivity between fields and streams and minimizing potentially mitigating effects (denitrification and dilution, for example) of longer subsurface pathways.

Congestion game scheduling for virtual drug screening optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikitina, Natalia; Ivashko, Evgeny; Tchernykh, Andrei

2018-02-01

In virtual drug screening, the chemical diversity of hits is an important factor, along with their predicted activity. Moreover, interim results are of interest for directing the further research, and their diversity is also desirable. In this paper, we consider a problem of obtaining a diverse set of virtual screening hits in a short time. To this end, we propose a mathematical model of task scheduling for virtual drug screening in high-performance computational systems as a congestion game between computational nodes to find the equilibrium solutions for best balancing the number of interim hits with their chemical diversity. The model considers the heterogeneous environment with workload uncertainty, processing time uncertainty, and limited knowledge about the input dataset structure. We perform computational experiments and evaluate the performance of the developed approach considering organic molecules database GDB-9. The used set of molecules is rich enough to demonstrate the feasibility and practicability of proposed solutions. We compare the algorithm with two known heuristics used in practice and observe that game-based scheduling outperforms them by the hit discovery rate and chemical diversity at earlier steps. Based on these results, we use a social utility metric for assessing the efficiency of our equilibrium solutions and show that they reach greatest values.

Digital devices: big challenge in color management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vauderwange, Oliver; Curticapean, Dan; Dreβler, Paul; Wozniak, Peter

2014-09-01

The paper will present how the students learn to find technical solutions in color management by using adequate digital devices and recognize the specific upcoming tasks in this area. Several issues, problems and their solutions will be discussed. The scientific background offer specific didactical solutions in this area of optics. Color management is the major item of this paper. Color management is a crucial responsibility for media engineers and designers. Print, screen and mobile applications must independently display the same colors. Predictability and consistency in the color representation are the aims of a color management system. This is only possible in a standardized and audited production workflow. Nowadays digital media have a fast-paced development process. An increasing number of different digital devices with different display sizes and display technologies are a great challenge for every color management system. The authors will present their experience in the field of color management. The design and development of a suitable learning environment with the required infrastructure is in the focus. The combination of theoretical and practical lectures creates a deeper understanding in the area of the digital color representation.

Reducing commercial fishing deck hazards with engineering solutions for winch design.

PubMed

Lincoln, Jennifer M; Lucas, Devin L; McKibbin, Robert W; Woodward, Chelsea C; Bevan, John E

2008-01-01

The majority (67%) of hospitalized injuries among Alaska commercial fishermen are associated with deck machinery. This paper describes the "Prevention Through Design" process to mitigate one serious machinery entanglement hazard posed by a capstan deck winch. After observing that the capstan winch provides no entanglement protection and the hydraulic controls are usually out of reach of the entangled person, NIOSH personnel met with fishermen and winch manufacturers to discuss various design solutions to mitigate these hazards. An emergency-stop ("e-stop") system was developed that incorporated a momentary contact button that when pushed, switches a safety-relay that de-energizes the solenoid of an electro-hydraulic valve stopping the rotating winch. The vessel owners that had the e-stop installed enthusiastically recommend it to other fishermen. NIOSH entered into a Proprietary Technology Licensing Agreement with a company to develop the system for commercial use. This is an example of a practical engineering control that effectively protects workers from a hazardous piece of equipment by preventing injuries due to entanglement. This solution could reduce these types of debilitating injuries and fatalities in this industry.

Ocean Data Interoperability Platform (ODIP): developing a common framework for global marine data management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glaves, H. M.

2015-12-01

In recent years marine research has become increasingly multidisciplinary in its approach with a corresponding rise in the demand for large quantities of high quality interoperable data as a result. This requirement for easily discoverable and readily available marine data is currently being addressed by a number of regional initiatives with projects such as SeaDataNet in Europe, Rolling Deck to Repository (R2R) in the USA and the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) in Australia, having implemented local infrastructures to facilitate the exchange of standardised marine datasets. However, each of these systems has been developed to address local requirements and created in isolation from those in other regions.Multidisciplinary marine research on a global scale necessitates a common framework for marine data management which is based on existing data systems. The Ocean Data Interoperability Platform project is seeking to address this requirement by bringing together selected regional marine e-infrastructures for the purposes of developing interoperability across them. By identifying the areas of commonality and incompatibility between these data infrastructures, and leveraging the development activities and expertise of these individual systems, three prototype interoperability solutions are being created which demonstrate the effective sharing of marine data and associated metadata across the participating regional data infrastructures as well as with other target international systems such as GEO, COPERNICUS etc.These interoperability solutions combined with agreed best practice and approved standards, form the basis of a common global approach to marine data management which can be adopted by the wider marine research community. To encourage implementation of these interoperability solutions by other regional marine data infrastructures an impact assessment is being conducted to determine both the technical and financial implications of deploying them alongside existing services. The associated best practice and common standards are also being disseminated to the user community through relevant accreditation processes and related initiatives such as the Research Data Alliance and the Belmont Forum.

Barriers and solutions to online learning in medical education - an integrative review.

PubMed

O'Doherty, Diane; Dromey, Marie; Lougheed, Justan; Hannigan, Ailish; Last, Jason; McGrath, Deirdre

2018-06-07

The aim of this study is to review the literature on known barriers and solutions that face educators when developing and implementing online learning programs for medical students and postgraduate trainees. An integrative review was conducted over a three-month period by an inter-institutional research team. The search included ScienceDirect, Scopus, BioMedical, PubMed, Medline (EBSCO & Ovid), ERIC, LISA, EBSCO, Google Scholar, ProQuest A&I, ProQuest UK & Ireland, UL Institutional Repository (IR), UCDIR and the All Aboard Report. Search terms included online learning, medical educators, development, barriers, solutions and digital literacy. The search was carried out by two reviewers. Titles and abstracts were screened independently and reviewed with inclusion/exclusion criteria. A consensus was drawn on which articles were included. Data appraisal was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Qualitative Research Checklist and NHMRC Appraisal Evidence Matrix. Data extraction was completed using the Cochrane Data Extraction Form and a modified extraction tool. Of the 3101 abstracts identified from the search, ten full-text papers met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction was completed on seven papers of high methodological quality and on three lower quality papers. Findings suggest that the key barriers which affect the development and implementation of online learning in medical education include time constraints, poor technical skills, inadequate infrastructure, absence of institutional strategies and support and negative attitudes of all involved. Solutions to these include improved educator skills, incentives and reward for the time involved with development and delivery of online content, improved institutional strategies and support and positive attitude amongst all those involved in the development and delivery of online content. This review has identified barriers and solutions amongst medical educators to the implementation of online learning in medical education. Results can be used to inform institutional and educator practice in the development of further online learning.

Collaborative action for person-centred coordinated care (P3C): an approach to support the development of a comprehensive system-wide solution to fragmented care.

PubMed

Lloyd, Helen M; Pearson, Mark; Sheaff, Rod; Asthana, Sheena; Wheat, Hannah; Sugavanam, Thava Priya; Britten, Nicky; Valderas, Jose; Bainbridge, Michael; Witts, Louise; Westlake, Debra; Horrell, Jane; Byng, Richard

2017-11-22

Fragmented care results in poor outcomes for individuals with complexity of need. Person-centred coordinated care (P3C) is perceived to be a potential solution, but an absence of accessible evidence and the lack of a scalable 'blue print' mean that services are 'experimenting' with new models of care with little guidance and support. This paper presents an approach to the implementation of P3C using collaborative action, providing examples of early developments across this programme of work, the core aim of which is to accelerate the spread and adoption of P3C in United Kingdom primary care settings. Two centrally funded United Kingdom organisations (South West Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care and South West Academic Health Science Network) are leading this initiative to narrow the gap between research and practice in this urgent area of improvement through a programme of service change, evaluation and research. Multi-stakeholder engagement and co-design are core to the approach. A whole system measurement framework combines outcomes of importance to patients, practitioners and health organisations. Iterative and multi-level feedback helps to shape service change while collecting practice-based data to generate implementation knowledge for the delivery of P3C. The role of the research team is proving vital to support informed change and challenge organisational practice. The bidirectional flow of knowledge and evidence relies on the transitional positioning of researchers and research organisations. Extensive engagement and embedded researchers have led to strong collaborations across the region. Practice is beginning to show signs of change and data flow and exchange is taking place. However, working in this way is not without its challenges; progress has been slow in the development of a linked data set to allow us to assess impact innovations from a cost perspective. Trust is vital, takes time to establish and is dependent on the exchange of services and interactions. If collaborative action can foster P3C it will require sustained commitment from both research and practice. This approach is a radical departure from how policy, research and practice traditionally work, but one that we argue is now necessary to deal with the most complex health and social problems.

Peer coaching: the next step in staff development.

PubMed

Waddell, Donna L; Dunn, Nancy

2005-01-01

A common problem in continuing nursing education and staff development is the transfer of learning to clinical practice. Peer coaching offers a solution to this problem. Initiated by educators, peer coaching has been researched in educational settings and found to be effective in facilitating the transfer of newly acquired knowledge and skill into classroom teaching strategies. This article describes the background, components, process, characteristics, and benefits of peer coaching. A specific example of using peer coaching to teach clinical breast examination skills is used to illustrate the application of peer coaching to the staff development of healthcare professionals. Peer coaching is the next step in nursing staff development.

Ability of Social Work Students to Determine the Appropriateness of Solutions to Problems Encountered in Social Work Practice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sturges, Jack; Yarbrough, Roy D.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was an association between the amount of formal social work education completed and ability of students to judge the degree of appropriateness of proposed solutions to problems frequently encountered in social work practice, and secondarily to determine whether students' judgments of problem…

Change in Educational Policy and Practice through Online Communities of Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gauthier, Karey Rose

2009-01-01

The internet continues to provide new and interesting solutions to age-old problems; this paper explores how education could benefit from online solutions. The history of public education in the U.S. is fractured at best, based on a system reliant on state and local control. As new legislation came into place to meet the needs of civil rights…

Comparison and alignment of an academic medical center's strategic goals with ASHP initiatives.

PubMed

Engels, Melanie J; Chaffee, Bruce W; Clark, John S

2015-12-01

An academic medical center's strategic goals were compared and aligned with the 2015 ASHP Health-System Pharmacy Initiative and the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI). The department's pharmacy practice model steering committee identified potential solutions to narrow prioritized gaps using a modified nominal group technique and a multivoting dot technique. Five priority solutions were identified and assigned to work groups to develop business plans, which included admission medication history and reconciliation for high-risk patients and those with complex medication regimens, pharmacist provision of discharge counseling to high-risk patients and those with complex medication regimens, improved measurement and reporting of the impact of PPMI programs on patient outcomes, implementation of a departmentwide formalized peer review and evaluation process, and the greeting of every patient at some time during his or her visit by a pharmacy team member. Stakeholders evaluated the business plans based on feasibility, financial return on investment, and anticipated safety enhancements. The solution that received the highest priority ranking and was subsequently implemented was "improved measurement and reporting of the impact of PPMI programs on patient outcomes." A defined process was followed for identifying gaps among current practices at an academic medical center and the 2015 ASHP Health-System Pharmacy Initiative and the PPMI. A key priority to better document the impact of pharmacists on patient care was identified for our department by using a nominal group technique brainstorming process and a multivoting dot technique and creating standardized business plans for five potential priority projects. Copyright © 2015 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. All rights reserved.

Knowledge of practice: A multi-sited event ethnography of border security fairs in Europe and North America.

PubMed

Baird, Theodore

2017-06-01

This article takes the reader inside four border security fairs in Europe and North America to examine the knowledge practices of border security professionals. Building on the border security as practice research agenda, the analysis focuses on the production, circulation, and consumption of scarce forms of knowledge. To explore situated knowledge of border security practices, I develop an approach to multi-sited event ethnography to observe and interpret knowledge that may be hard to access at the security fairs. The analysis focuses on mechanisms for disseminating and distributing scarce forms of knowledge, technological materializations of situated knowledge, expressions of transversal knowledge of security problems, how masculinities structure knowledge in gendered ways, and how unease is expressed through imagined futures in order to anticipate emergent solutions to proposed security problems. The article concludes by reflecting on the contradictions at play at fairs and how to address such contradictions through alternative knowledges and practices.

Knowledge of practice: A multi-sited event ethnography of border security fairs in Europe and North America

PubMed Central

Baird, Theodore

2017-01-01

This article takes the reader inside four border security fairs in Europe and North America to examine the knowledge practices of border security professionals. Building on the border security as practice research agenda, the analysis focuses on the production, circulation, and consumption of scarce forms of knowledge. To explore situated knowledge of border security practices, I develop an approach to multi-sited event ethnography to observe and interpret knowledge that may be hard to access at the security fairs. The analysis focuses on mechanisms for disseminating and distributing scarce forms of knowledge, technological materializations of situated knowledge, expressions of transversal knowledge of security problems, how masculinities structure knowledge in gendered ways, and how unease is expressed through imagined futures in order to anticipate emergent solutions to proposed security problems. The article concludes by reflecting on the contradictions at play at fairs and how to address such contradictions through alternative knowledges and practices. PMID:29046601

The Pitt Innovation Challenge (PInCh): Driving Innovation in Translational Research Through an Incentive-Based, Problem-Focused Competition.

PubMed

Fitzpatrick, Nicole Edgar; Maier, John; Yasko, Laurel; Mathias, David; Qua, Kacy; Wagner, Erika; Miller, Elizabeth; Reis, Steven E

2017-05-01

Translational research aims to move scientific discoveries across the biomedical spectrum from the laboratory to humans, and to ultimately transform clinical practice and public health policies. Despite efforts to accelerate translational research through national initiatives, several major hurdles remain. The authors created the Pitt Innovation Challenge (PInCh) as an incentive-based, problem-focused approach to solving identified clinical or public health problems at the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute in spring 2014. With input from a broad range of stakeholders, PInCh leadership arrived at the challenge question: How do we empower individuals to take control of their own health outcomes? The authors developed the PInCh's three-round proposal submission and review process as well as an online contest management tool to support the process. Ninety-two teams submitted video proposals in round one. Proposals included mobile applications (29; 32%), other information technology (19; 21%), and community program (22; 24%) solutions. Ten teams advanced to the final round, where three were awarded $100,000 to implement their solution over 12 months. In a 6-month follow-up survey, 6/11 (55%) team leaders stated the PInCh helped to facilitate connections outside their normal sphere of collaborators. Additional educational training sessions related to problem-focused research will be developed. The PInCh will be expanded to engage investment and industry communities to facilitate the translation of solutions to clinical practice via commercialization pathways. External organizations and other universities will be engaged to use the PInCh as a mechanism to fuel innovation in their spaces.

Developing Effective Collaboration Between Primary Care and Mental Health Providers

PubMed Central

Felker, Bradford L.; Chaney, Edmund; Rubenstein, Lisa V.; Bonner, Laura M.; Yano, Elizabeth M.; Parker, Louise E.; Worley, Linda L. M.; Sherman, Scott E.; Ober, Scott

2006-01-01

Objective: Improving care for depressed primary care (PC) patients requires system-level interventions based on chronic illness management with collaboration among primary care providers (PCPs) and mental health providers (MHPs). We describe the development of an effective collaboration system for an ongoing multisite Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) study evaluating a multifaceted program to improve management of major depression in PC practices. Method: Translating Initiatives for Depression into Effective Solutions (TIDES) is a research project that helps VA facilities adopt depression care improvements for PC patients with depression. A regional telephone-based depression care management program used Depression Case Managers (DCMs) supervised by MHPs to assist PCPs with patient management. The Collaborative Care Workgroup (CWG) was created to facilitate collaboration between PCPs, MHPs, and DCMs. The CWG used a 3-phase process: (1) identify barriers to better depression treatment, (2) identify target problems and solutions, and (3) institutionalize ongoing problem detection and solution through new policies and procedures. Results: The CWG overcame barriers that exist between PCPs and MHPs, leading to high rates of the following: patients with depression being followed by PCPs (82%), referred PC patients with depression keeping their appointments with MHPs (88%), and PC patients with depression receiving antidepressants (76%). The CWG helped sites implement site-specific protocols for addressing patients with suicidal ideation. Conclusion: By applying these steps in PC practices, collaboration between PCPs and MHPs has been improved and maintained. These steps offer a guide to improving collaborative care to manage depression or other chronic disorders within PC clinics. PMID:16862248

Economic Incentives for Cybersecurity: Using Economics to Design Technologies Ready for Deployment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vishik, Claire; Sheldon, Frederick T; Ott, David

Cybersecurity practice lags behind cyber technology achievements. Solutions designed to address many problems may and do exist but frequently cannot be broadly deployed due to economic constraints. Whereas security economics focuses on the cost/benefit analysis and supply/demand, we believe that more sophisticated theoretical approaches, such as economic modeling, rarely utilized, would derive greater societal benefits. Unfortunately, today technologists pursuing interesting and elegant solutions have little knowledge of the feasibility for broad deployment of their results and cannot anticipate the influences of other technologies, existing infrastructure, and technology evolution, nor bring the solutions lifecycle into the equation. Additionally, potentially viable solutionsmore » are not adopted because the risk perceptions by potential providers and users far outweighs the economic incentives to support introduction/adoption of new best practices and technologies that are not well enough defined. In some cases, there is no alignment with redominant and future business models as well as regulatory and policy requirements. This paper provides an overview of the economics of security, reviewing work that helped to define economic models for the Internet economy from the 1990s. We bring forward examples of potential use of theoretical economics in defining metrics for emerging technology areas, positioning infrastructure investment, and building real-time response capability as part of software development. These diverse examples help us understand the gaps in current research. Filling these gaps will be instrumental for defining viable economic incentives, economic policies, regulations as well as early-stage technology development approaches, that can speed up commercialization and deployment of new technologies in cybersecurity.« less

SEPARATION OF Cs$sup 137$ FROM HIGH-ACTIVITY RADIOACTIVE WASTE (in Dutch)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

1963-01-01

A process was developed on a laboratory scale to separate Cs/sup 137/ from waste fuels of atomic reactors. The recovery of this powerful and industrially important gamma emitter of 30 years half life is said to be so simple as to make it possible on an industrial scale. It is based on the preferential absorption of Cs by ammonium phosphor-molybdate from the nitric acid solution of the waste material and the subsequent extraction of Cs from its absorber. This method is more practical than other processes which are based upon precipitation and recrystallization of cesium salts. It was successfully testedmore » on waste solutions of very different compositions. (OID)« less

Cryogenically cooled low-noise amplifier for radio-astronomical observations and centimeter-wave deep-space communications systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vdovin, V. F.; Grachev, V. G.; Dryagin, S. Yu.; Eliseev, A. I.; Kamaletdinov, R. K.; Korotaev, D. V.; Lesnov, I. V.; Mansfeld, M. A.; Pevzner, E. L.; Perminov, V. G.; Pilipenko, A. M.; Sapozhnikov, B. D.; Saurin, V. P.

2016-01-01

We report a design solution for a highly reliable, low-noise and extremely efficient cryogenically cooled transmit/receive unit for a large antenna system meant for radio-astronomical observations and deep-space communications in the X band. We describe our design solution and the results of a series of laboratory and antenna tests carried out in order to investigate the properties of the cryogenically cooled low-noise amplifier developed. The transmit/receive unit designed for deep-space communications (Mars missions, radio observatories located at Lagrangian point L2, etc.) was used in practice for communication with live satellites including "Radioastron" observatory, which moves in a highly elliptical orbit.

[AC-STB: dedicated software for managed healthcare of chronic headache patients].

PubMed

Wallasch, T-M; Bek, J; Pabel, R; Modahl, M; Demir, M; Straube, A

2009-04-01

This paper examines a new approach to managed healthcare where a network of care providers exchanges patient information through the internet. Integrating networks of clinical specialists and general care providers promises to achieve qualitative and economic improvements in the German healthcare system. In practice, problems related to patient management and data exchange between the managing clinic and assorted caregivers arise. The implementation and use of a cross-spectrum computerized solution for the management of patients and their care is the key for a successful managed healthcare system. This paper documents the managed healthcare of chronic headache patients and the development of an IT-solution capable of providing distributed patient care and case management.

OntoMaton: a bioportal powered ontology widget for Google Spreadsheets.

PubMed

Maguire, Eamonn; González-Beltrán, Alejandra; Whetzel, Patricia L; Sansone, Susanna-Assunta; Rocca-Serra, Philippe

2013-02-15

Data collection in spreadsheets is ubiquitous, but current solutions lack support for collaborative semantic annotation that would promote shared and interdisciplinary annotation practices, supporting geographically distributed players. OntoMaton is an open source solution that brings ontology lookup and tagging capabilities into a cloud-based collaborative editing environment, harnessing Google Spreadsheets and the NCBO Web services. It is a general purpose, format-agnostic tool that may serve as a component of the ISA software suite. OntoMaton can also be used to assist the ontology development process. OntoMaton is freely available from Google widgets under the CPAL open source license; documentation and examples at: https://github.com/ISA-tools/OntoMaton.

Practical Use Of It In Traceability In Food Value Chains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratcliff, Jon; Boddington, Michael

Traceability is today considered an essential requirement for the food value chain due to the need to provide consumers with accurate information in the event of food safety recalls, to provide assurance with regard the source and production systems for food products and in certain countries to comply with government legislation. Within an individual business traceability can be quite simple to implement, however, in a global trading market, traceability of the entire supply chain, including logistics is extremely complex. For this reason IT solutions such as TraceTracker have been developed which not only provide electronic solutions for complete traceability but also allow products to be tracked at any point in the supply chain.

Ethical adoption: A new imperative in the development of technology for dementia.

PubMed

Robillard, Julie M; Cleland, Ian; Hoey, Jesse; Nugent, Chris

2018-06-19

Technology interventions are showing promise to assist persons with dementia and their carers. However, low adoption rates for these technologies and ethical considerations have impeded the realization of their full potential. Building on recent evidence and an iterative framework development process, we propose the concept of "ethical adoption": the deep integration of ethical principles into the design, development, deployment, and usage of technology. Ethical adoption is founded on five pillars, supported by empirical evidence: (1) inclusive participatory design; (2) emotional alignment; (3) adoption modelling; (4) ethical standards assessment; and (5) education and training. To close the gap between adoption research, ethics and practice, we propose a set of 18 practical recommendations based on these ethical adoption pillars. Through the implementation of these recommendations, researchers and technology developers alike will benefit from evidence-informed guidance to ensure their solution is adopted in a way that maximizes the benefits to people with dementia and their carers while minimizing possible harm. Copyright © 2018 the Alzheimer's Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preparing Nursing Students for Interprofessional Practice: The Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Oncology Palliative Care Education.

PubMed

Hermann, Carla P; Head, Barbara A; Black, Karen; Singleton, Karen

2016-01-01

Interprofessional educational experiences for baccalaureate nursing students are essential to prepare them for interprofessional communication, collaboration, and team work. Nurse educators are ideally positioned to develop and lead such initiatives. The purpose of this article is to describe the development and implementation of an interprofessional education (IPE) project involving students in nursing, medicine, social work, and chaplaincy. The Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Oncology Palliative Care Education project uses team-based palliative oncology education as the framework for teaching students interprofessional practice skills. The need for IPE is apparent, but there are very few comprehensive, successful projects for nurse educators to use as models. This article describes the development of the curriculum by the interprofessional faculty team. Issues encountered by nursing faculty members as they implemented the IPE experience are discussed. Solutions developed to address the issues and ongoing challenges are presented. This project can serve as a model of a successful IPE initiative involving nursing students. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Developing a questionnaire to identify perceived barriers for implementing the Dutch physical therapy COPD clinical practice guideline.

PubMed

van der Wees, Philip J; Zagers, Cor A M; de Die, Sara E; Hendriks, Erik J M; Nijhuis-van der Sanden, Maria W G; de Bie, Rob A

2013-05-01

Clinical practice guidelines have been developed to assist healthcare practitioners in clinical decision making. Publication of clinical practice guidelines does not automatically lead to their uptake and barrier identification has been recognized as an important step in implementation planning. This study aimed at developing a questionnaire to identify perceived barriers for implementing the Dutch COPD guideline for physical therapists and its recommended measurement instruments. An overall questionnaire, based on two existing questionnaires, was constructed to identify barriers and facilitators for implementing the COPD guideline. The construct of the questionnaire was assessed in a cross-sectional study among 246 chest physical therapists. Factor analysis was conducted to explore underlying dimensions. Psychometric properties were analyzed using Cronbach's alpha. Barriers and facilitators were assessed using descriptive statistics. Some 139 physical therapists (57%) responded. Factor analysis revealed 4-factor and 5-factor solutions with an explained variance of 36% and 39% respectively. Cronbach's alpha of the overall questionnaire was 0.90, and varied from 0.66 to 0.92 for the different factors. Underlying domains of the 5-factor solution were characterized as: attitude towards using measurement instruments, knowledge and skills of the physical therapist, applicability of the COPD guideline, required investment of time & money, and patient characteristics. Physical therapists showed a positive attitude toward using the COPD guideline. Main barriers for implementation were required time investment and financial constraints. The construct of the questionnaire revealed relevant underlying domains for the identification of barriers and facilitators for implementing the COPD guideline. The questionnaire allowed for tailoring to the target group and may be used across health care professionals as basis for in-depth analysis of barriers to specific recommendations in guidelines. The results of the questionnaire alone do not provide sufficient information to inform the development of an implementation strategy. The infrastructure for developing the guideline can be used for addressing key barriers by the guideline development group, using the questionnaire as well as in-depth analysis such as focus group interviews. Further development of methods for prospective identification of barriers and consequent tailoring of implementation interventions is required.

Developing a questionnaire to identify perceived barriers for implementing the Dutch physical therapy COPD clinical practice guideline

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Clinical practice guidelines have been developed to assist healthcare practitioners in clinical decision making. Publication of clinical practice guidelines does not automatically lead to their uptake and barrier identification has been recognized as an important step in implementation planning. This study aimed at developing a questionnaire to identify perceived barriers for implementing the Dutch COPD guideline for physical therapists and its recommended measurement instruments. Methods An overall questionnaire, based on two existing questionnaires, was constructed to identify barriers and facilitators for implementing the COPD guideline. The construct of the questionnaire was assessed in a cross-sectional study among 246 chest physical therapists. Factor analysis was conducted to explore underlying dimensions. Psychometric properties were analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha. Barriers and facilitators were assessed using descriptive statistics. Results Some 139 physical therapists (57%) responded. Factor analysis revealed 4-factor and 5-factor solutions with an explained variance of 36% and 39% respectively. Cronbach’s alpha of the overall questionnaire was 0.90, and varied from 0.66 to 0.92 for the different factors. Underlying domains of the 5-factor solution were characterized as: attitude towards using measurement instruments, knowledge and skills of the physical therapist, applicability of the COPD guideline, required investment of time & money, and patient characteristics. Physical therapists showed a positive attitude toward using the COPD guideline. Main barriers for implementation were required time investment and financial constraints. Conclusions The construct of the questionnaire revealed relevant underlying domains for the identification of barriers and facilitators for implementing the COPD guideline. The questionnaire allowed for tailoring to the target group and may be used across health care professionals as basis for in-depth analysis of barriers to specific recommendations in guidelines. The results of the questionnaire alone do not provide sufficient information to inform the development of an implementation strategy. The infrastructure for developing the guideline can be used for addressing key barriers by the guideline development group, using the questionnaire as well as in-depth analysis such as focus group interviews. Further development of methods for prospective identification of barriers and consequent tailoring of implementation interventions is required. PMID:23631555

Spatial multiobjective optimization of agricultural conservation practices using a SWAT model and an evolutionary algorithm.

PubMed

Rabotyagov, Sergey; Campbell, Todd; Valcu, Adriana; Gassman, Philip; Jha, Manoj; Schilling, Keith; Wolter, Calvin; Kling, Catherine

2012-12-09

Finding the cost-efficient (i.e., lowest-cost) ways of targeting conservation practice investments for the achievement of specific water quality goals across the landscape is of primary importance in watershed management. Traditional economics methods of finding the lowest-cost solution in the watershed context (e.g.,(5,12,20)) assume that off-site impacts can be accurately described as a proportion of on-site pollution generated. Such approaches are unlikely to be representative of the actual pollution process in a watershed, where the impacts of polluting sources are often determined by complex biophysical processes. The use of modern physically-based, spatially distributed hydrologic simulation models allows for a greater degree of realism in terms of process representation but requires a development of a simulation-optimization framework where the model becomes an integral part of optimization. Evolutionary algorithms appear to be a particularly useful optimization tool, able to deal with the combinatorial nature of a watershed simulation-optimization problem and allowing the use of the full water quality model. Evolutionary algorithms treat a particular spatial allocation of conservation practices in a watershed as a candidate solution and utilize sets (populations) of candidate solutions iteratively applying stochastic operators of selection, recombination, and mutation to find improvements with respect to the optimization objectives. The optimization objectives in this case are to minimize nonpoint-source pollution in the watershed, simultaneously minimizing the cost of conservation practices. A recent and expanding set of research is attempting to use similar methods and integrates water quality models with broadly defined evolutionary optimization methods(3,4,9,10,13-15,17-19,22,23,25). In this application, we demonstrate a program which follows Rabotyagov et al.'s approach and integrates a modern and commonly used SWAT water quality model(7) with a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm SPEA2(26), and user-specified set of conservation practices and their costs to search for the complete tradeoff frontiers between costs of conservation practices and user-specified water quality objectives. The frontiers quantify the tradeoffs faced by the watershed managers by presenting the full range of costs associated with various water quality improvement goals. The program allows for a selection of watershed configurations achieving specified water quality improvement goals and a production of maps of optimized placement of conservation practices.

Biological Small Angle Scattering: Techniques, Strategies and Tips

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chaudhuri, Barnali; Muñoz, Inés G.; Urban, Volker S.

This book provides a clear, comprehensible and up-to-date description of how Small Angle Scattering (SAS) can help structural biology researchers. SAS is an efficient technique that offers structural information on how biological macromolecules behave in solution. SAS provides distinct and complementary data for integrative structural biology approaches in combination with other widely used probes, such as X-ray crystallography, Nuclear magnetic resonance, Mass spectrometry and Cryo-electron Microscopy. The development of brilliant synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) beam lines has increased the number of researchers interested in solution scattering. SAS is especially useful for studying conformational changes in proteins, highly flexible proteins,more » and intrinsically disordered proteins. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) with neutron contrast variation is ideally suited for studying multi-component assemblies as well as membrane proteins that are stabilized in surfactant micelles or vesicles. SAS is also used for studying dynamic processes of protein fibrillation in amyloid diseases, and pharmaceutical drug delivery. The combination with size-exclusion chromatography further increases the range of SAS applications.The book is written by leading experts in solution SAS methodologies. The principles and theoretical background of various SAS techniques are included, along with practical aspects that range from sample preparation to data presentation for publication. Topics covered include techniques for improving data quality and analysis, as well as different scientific applications of SAS. With abundant illustrations and practical tips, we hope the clear explanations of the principles and the reviews on the latest progresses will serve as a guide through all aspects of biological solution SAS.The scope of this book is particularly relevant for structural biology researchers who are new to SAS. Advanced users of the technique will find it helpful for exploring the diversity of solution SAS methods and applications.« less

Dynamical approach study of spurious steady-state numerical solutions of nonlinear differential equations. I - The dynamics of time discretization and its implications for algorithm development in computational fluid dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yee, H. C.; Sweby, P. K.; Griffiths, D. F.

1991-01-01

Spurious stable as well as unstable steady state numerical solutions, spurious asymptotic numerical solutions of higher period, and even stable chaotic behavior can occur when finite difference methods are used to solve nonlinear differential equations (DE) numerically. The occurrence of spurious asymptotes is independent of whether the DE possesses a unique steady state or has additional periodic solutions and/or exhibits chaotic phenomena. The form of the nonlinear DEs and the type of numerical schemes are the determining factor. In addition, the occurrence of spurious steady states is not restricted to the time steps that are beyond the linearized stability limit of the scheme. In many instances, it can occur below the linearized stability limit. Therefore, it is essential for practitioners in computational sciences to be knowledgeable about the dynamical behavior of finite difference methods for nonlinear scalar DEs before the actual application of these methods to practical computations. It is also important to change the traditional way of thinking and practices when dealing with genuinely nonlinear problems. In the past, spurious asymptotes were observed in numerical computations but tended to be ignored because they all were assumed to lie beyond the linearized stability limits of the time step parameter delta t. As can be seen from the study, bifurcations to and from spurious asymptotic solutions and transitions to computational instability not only are highly scheme dependent and problem dependent, but also initial data and boundary condition dependent, and not limited to time steps that are beyond the linearized stability limit.

Utilization of Telehealth Technology to Develop and Implement a Comprehensive Management Initiative for Chronic Diseases

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-10-21

involving oral or injectable regimens for type 2 diabetes, alone or in various combinations . The program indicates which dose or doses of medications...educational access. Virtual diabetes education techniques that combine best educational practices with telehealth technology offer a promising solution to...patterns over time, so we combined these two groups to simplify interpretation of the results. The analyses tested for group differences in

Universal prescriptivism: traditional moral decision-making theory revisited.

PubMed

Crigger, N J

1994-09-01

Universal prescriptivism is a recently developed moral decision-making theory that combines utilitarian and Kantian theories with two levels of moral thinking. A combined approach offers a creative solution to the weaknesses inherent in traditional moral theories. The paper describes the theory and discusses important implications for nursing education, practical ethical decision-making, and research. The relationship of an ethical theory of caring to traditional moral theory is discussed.

An Automated Safe-to-Mate (ASTM) Tester

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, Phuc; Scott, Michelle; Leung, Alan; Lin, Michael; Johnson, Thomas

2013-01-01

Safe-to-mate testing is a common hardware safety practice where impedance measurements are made on unpowered hardware to verify isolation, continuity, or impedance between pins of an interface connector. A computer-based instrumentation solution has been developed to resolve issues. The ASTM is connected to the circuit under test, and can then quickly, safely, and reliably safe-to-mate the entire connector, or even multiple connectors, at the same time.

An Analysis of the Impact of the Public School District Food Service Director on the Development and Implementation of Food-Related Policies and Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mincher, Jeanine L.

2010-01-01

Since former Surgeon General David Satcher first identified childhood obesity as a threat to the nation's health in 2001, health professionals have investigated potential solutions. Venues in which to address this problem have also been explored. The school setting was identified by the Institute of Medicine as a viable location in which to…

USGS invasive species solutions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Simpson, Annie

2011-01-01

Land managers must meet the invasive species challenge every day, starting with identification of problem species, then the collection of best practices for their control, and finally the implementation of a plan to remove the problem. At each step of the process, the availability of reliable information is essential to success. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed a suite of resources for early detection and rapid response, along with data management and sharing.

Air Force Geophysics Laboratory Management Information System Study.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-11-01

management information system (MIS) at AFGL. The study summarizes current management and administrative practices at AFGL. Requirements have been identified for automating several currently manual functions to compile accurate and timely information to better manage and plan AFGL programs. This document describes the functions and relative priorities of five MIS subsystems and provides suggestions for implementation solutions. Creation of a detailed Development Plan is recommended as the follow-on task.

Methods and means of diagnostics of oncological diseases on the basis of pattern recognition: intelligent morphological systems - problems and solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikitaev, V. G.

2017-01-01

The development of methods of pattern recognition in modern intelligent systems of clinical cancer diagnosis are discussed. The histological (morphological) diagnosis - primary diagnosis for medical setting with cancer are investigated. There are proposed: interactive methods of recognition and structure of intellectual morphological complexes based on expert training-diagnostic and telemedicine systems. The proposed approach successfully implemented in clinical practice.

Adapting heart failure guidelines for nursing care in home health settings: challenges and solutions.

PubMed

Radhakrishnan, Kavita; Topaz, Maxim; Masterson Creber, Ruth

2014-07-01

Nurses provide most of home health services for patients with heart failure, and yet there are no evidence-based practice guidelines developed for home health nurses. The purpose of this article was to review the challenges and solutions for adapting generally available HF clinical practice guidelines to home health nursing. Appropriate HF guidelines were identified and home health nursing-relevant guidelines were extracted by the research team. In addition, a team of nursing academic and practice experts evaluated the extracted guidelines and reached consensus through Delphi rounds. We identified 172 recommendations relevant to home health nursing from the American Heart Association and Heart Failure Society of America guidelines. The recommendations were divided into 5 groups (generic, minority populations, normal ejection fraction, reduced ejection fraction, and comorbidities) and further subgroups. Experts agreed that 87% of the recommendations selected by the research team were relevant to home health nursing and rejected 6% of the selected recommendations. Experts' opinions were split on 7% of guideline recommendations. Experts mostly disagreed on recommendations related to HF medication and laboratory prescription as well as HF patient assessment. These disagreements were due to lack of patient information available to home health nurses as well as unclear understanding of scope of practice regulations for home health nursing. After 2 Delphi rounds over 8 months, we achieved 100% agreement on the recommendations. The finalized guideline included 153 recommendations. Guideline adaptation projects should include a broad scope of nursing practice recommendations from which home health agencies can customize relevant recommendations in accordance with available information and state and agency regulations.

xPIPE--Reception of DICOM Data from any Sender via the Internet.

PubMed

Czwoydzinski, J; Eßeling, R; Meier, N; Heindel, W; Lenzen, H

2015-05-01

Various technologies have been established for DICOM data exchange in radiology. In addition to the patient CD, online transfers via VPN (virtual private network) or DICOM email are common practice. However, dedicated network solutions are generally not appropriate for data exchange with occasional and spontaneous partners due to missing infrastructure at the partner institutions and/or complex setup procedures. The purpose was to develop a practical solution to complement the established technologies to allow users worldwide to transfer images without registration. The development of the xPIPE system is based on Java and various software libraries. A client hosted on a website enables sending DICOM data to a receiving system of the hospital. The new xPIPE system creates a gateway to a receiving hospital which is accessible from any point worldwide, giving other hospitals, clinics and patients a simple and secure method to transmit DICOM data without intermediate storage on external servers. The system was deployed at the University Hospital Münster and subsequently widely used even without information events and training. Data protection during transfer is ensured by the use of signatures and encryption. From the user's perspective the system has only minor technical requirements and can be used with minimal setup effort. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Smart Grid Development: Multinational Demo Project Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oleinikova, I.; Mutule, A.; Obushevs, A.; Antoskovs, N.

2016-12-01

This paper analyses demand side management (DSM) projects and stakeholders' experience with the aim to develop, promote and adapt smart grid tehnologies in Latvia. The research aims at identifying possible system service posibilites, including demand response (DR) and determining the appropriate market design for such type of services to be implemented at the Baltic power system level, with the cooperation of distribution system operator (DSO) and transmission system operator (TSO). This paper is prepared as an extract from the global smart grid best practices, smart solutions and business models.

The Role of Computers in Research and Development at Langley Research Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wieseman, Carol D. (Compiler)

1994-01-01

This document is a compilation of presentations given at a workshop on the role cf computers in research and development at the Langley Research Center. The objectives of the workshop were to inform the Langley Research Center community of the current software systems and software practices in use at Langley. The workshop was organized in 10 sessions: Software Engineering; Software Engineering Standards, methods, and CASE tools; Solutions of Equations; Automatic Differentiation; Mosaic and the World Wide Web; Graphics and Image Processing; System Design Integration; CAE Tools; Languages; and Advanced Topics.

Subharmonic Solutions of Order One-Third

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fay, Temple H.

2005-01-01

Finding a periodic solution to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation is in general a difficult task. Only in a very few cases can direct methods be applied to an equation to find initial values leading to a solution of the corresponding initial value problem that is periodic. Oscillatory periodic solutions have such practical importance that…

Assessing student written problem solutions: A problem-solving rubric with application to introductory physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Docktor, Jennifer L.; Dornfeld, Jay; Frodermann, Evan; Heller, Kenneth; Hsu, Leonardo; Jackson, Koblar Alan; Mason, Andrew; Ryan, Qing X.; Yang, Jie

2016-06-01

Problem solving is a complex process valuable in everyday life and crucial for learning in the STEM fields. To support the development of problem-solving skills it is important for researchers and curriculum developers to have practical tools that can measure the difference between novice and expert problem-solving performance in authentic classroom work. It is also useful if such tools can be employed by instructors to guide their pedagogy. We describe the design, development, and testing of a simple rubric to assess written solutions to problems given in undergraduate introductory physics courses. In particular, we present evidence for the validity, reliability, and utility of the instrument. The rubric identifies five general problem-solving processes and defines the criteria to attain a score in each: organizing problem information into a Useful Description, selecting appropriate principles (Physics Approach), applying those principles to the specific conditions in the problem (Specific Application of Physics), using Mathematical Procedures appropriately, and displaying evidence of an organized reasoning pattern (Logical Progression).

An Innovative Solution to NASA's NEO Impact Threat Mitigation Grand Challenge and Flight Validation Mission Architecture Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wie, Bong; Barbee, Brent W.

2015-01-01

This paper presents the results of a NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) Phase 2 study entitled "An Innovative Solution to NASA's Near-Earth Object (NEO) Impact Threat Mitigation Grand Challenge and Flight Validation Mission Architecture Development." This NIAC Phase 2 study was conducted at the Asteroid Deflection Research Center (ADRC) of Iowa State University in 2012-2014. The study objective was to develop an innovative yet practically implementable mitigation strategy for the most probable impact threat of an asteroid or comet with short warning time (< 5 years). The mitigation strategy described in this paper is intended to optimally reduce the severity and catastrophic damage of the NEO impact event, especially when we don't have sufficient warning times for non-disruptive deflection of a hazardous NEO. This paper provides an executive summary of the NIAC Phase 2 study results. Detailed technical descriptions of the study results are provided in a separate final technical report, which can be downloaded from the ADRC website (www.adrc.iastate.edu).

From Rosalind Franklin to Barack Obama: Data Sharing Challenges and Solutions in Genomics and Personalised Medicine

PubMed Central

Lawler, Mark; Maughan, Tim

2017-01-01

The collection, storage and use of genomic and clinical data from patients and healthy individuals is a key component of personalised medicine enterprises such as the Precision Medicine Initiative, the Cancer Moonshot and the 100,000 Genomes Project. In order to maximise the value of this data, it is important to embed a culture within the scientific, medical and patient communities that supports the appropriate sharing of genomic and clinical information. However, this aspiration raises a number of ethical, legal and regulatory challenges that need to be addressed. The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, a worldwide coalition of researchers, healthcare professionals, patients and industry partners, is developing innovative solutions to support the responsible and effective sharing of genomic and clinical data. This article identifies the challenges that a data sharing culture poses and highlights a series of practical solutions that will benefit patients, researchers and society. PMID:28517986

From Rosalind Franklin to Barack Obama: Data Sharing Challenges and Solutions in Genomics and Personalised Medicine.

PubMed

Lawler, Mark; Maughan, Tim

2017-04-01

The collection, storage and use of genomic and clinical data from patients and healthy individuals is a key component of personalised medicine enterprises such as the Precision Medicine Initiative, the Cancer Moonshot and the 100,000 Genomes Project. In order to maximise the value of this data, it is important to embed a culture within the scientific, medical and patient communities that supports the appropriate sharing of genomic and clinical information. However, this aspiration raises a number of ethical, legal and regulatory challenges that need to be addressed. The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, a worldwide coalition of researchers, healthcare professionals, patients and industry partners, is developing innovative solutions to support the responsible and effective sharing of genomic and clinical data. This article identifies the challenges that a data sharing culture poses and highlights a series of practical solutions that will benefit patients, researchers and society.

The Ordered Clustered Travelling Salesman Problem: A Hybrid Genetic Algorithm

PubMed Central

Ahmed, Zakir Hussain

2014-01-01

The ordered clustered travelling salesman problem is a variation of the usual travelling salesman problem in which a set of vertices (except the starting vertex) of the network is divided into some prespecified clusters. The objective is to find the least cost Hamiltonian tour in which vertices of any cluster are visited contiguously and the clusters are visited in the prespecified order. The problem is NP-hard, and it arises in practical transportation and sequencing problems. This paper develops a hybrid genetic algorithm using sequential constructive crossover, 2-opt search, and a local search for obtaining heuristic solution to the problem. The efficiency of the algorithm has been examined against two existing algorithms for some asymmetric and symmetric TSPLIB instances of various sizes. The computational results show that the proposed algorithm is very effective in terms of solution quality and computational time. Finally, we present solution to some more symmetric TSPLIB instances. PMID:24701148

Is universal health coverage the practical expression of the right to health care?

PubMed

Ooms, Gorik; Latif, Laila A; Waris, Attiya; Brolan, Claire E; Hammonds, Rachel; Friedman, Eric A; Mulumba, Moses; Forman, Lisa

2014-02-24

The present Millennium Development Goals are set to expire in 2015 and their next iteration is now being discussed within the international community. With regards to health, the World Health Organization proposes universal health coverage as a 'single overarching health goal' for the next iteration of the Millennium Development Goals.The present Millennium Development Goals have been criticised for being 'duplicative' or even 'competing alternatives' to international human rights law. The question then arises, if universal health coverage would indeed become the single overarching health goal, replacing the present health-related Millennium Development Goals, would that be more consistent with the right to health? The World Health Organization seems to have anticipated the question, as it labels universal health coverage as "by definition, a practical expression of the concern for health equity and the right to health".Rather than waiting for the negotiations to unfold, we thought it would be useful to verify this contention, using a comparative normative analysis. We found that--to be a practical expression of the right to health--at least one element is missing in present authoritative definitions of universal health coverage: a straightforward confirmation that international assistance is essential, not optional.But universal health coverage is a 'work in progress'. A recent proposal by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network proposed universal health coverage with a set of targets, including a target for international assistance, which would turn universal health coverage into a practical expression of the right to health care.

The Influence of a Wound Care Teleassistance Service on Nursing Practice: A Case Study in Quebec

PubMed Central

Breton, Erik; Courcy, François; Quirion, Sonia; Côté, José; Paré, Guy

2014-01-01

Abstract Background: Although telehealth is a promising solution for healthcare professionals who work in remote and rural regions, the influence of specific telehealth applications on the nursing workforce remains unknown. This case study aimed to explore the potential influence of a teleassistance service in wound care (the acronym in French is TASP) on nursing practices and on nurse retention in peripheral areas. Materials and Methods: We carried out an exploratory single case study based on 16 semistructured interviews with two promoters of TASP, five nursing managers, and nine nurses from three levels of expertise associated with this service. Results: According to participants, the main positive influences of TASP were observed in quality of care, professional autonomy, professional development, and decrease of professional isolation. Participants mentioned increased workload associated with global patient data collection at first consultation as a negative effect of TASP. Finally, three possible effects of TASP on nurse retention were identified: none or minimal, imprecise, or mostly positive. Conclusions: This case study highlights the positive influence of TASP on several dimensions of nursing practice, in addition to its essential role in improving the quality of care. However, it is important to consider that the service cannot be considered as a solution to or replacement for the shortage of nurses. PMID:24694008

Hot and cold water as a supercritical solvent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuentevilla, Daphne Anne

This dissertation addresses the anomalous properties of water at high temperatures near the vapor-liquid critical point and at low temperatures in the supercooled liquid region. The first part of the dissertation is concerned with the concentration dependence of the critical temperature, density, and pressure of an aqueous sodium chloride solution. Because of the practical importance of an accurate knowledge of critical parameters for industrial, geochemical, and biological applications, an empirical equation for the critical locus of aqueous sodium chloride solutions was adopted in 1999 by the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS) as a guideline. However, since this original Guideline on the Critical Locus of Aqueous Solutions of Sodium Chloride was developed, two new theoretical developments occurred, motivating the first part of this dissertation. Here, I present a theory-based formulation for the critical parameters of aqueous sodium chloride solutions as a proposed replacement for the empirical formulation currently in use. This formulation has been published in the International Journal of Thermophysics and recommended by the Executive Committee of IAPWS for adoption as a Revised Guideline on the Critical Locus of Aqueous Solutions of Sodium Chloride. The second part of the dissertation addresses a new concept, considering cold water as a supercritical solvent. Based on the idea of a second, liquid-liquid, critical point in supercooled water, we explore the possibility of supercooled water as a novel supercooled solvent through the thermodynamics of critical phenomena. In 2006, I published a Physical Review letter presenting a parametric scaled equation of state for supercooled-water. Further developments based on this work led to a phenomenological mean-field "two-state" model, clarifying the nature of the phase separation in a polyamorphic single-component liquid. In this dissertation, I modify this two-state model to incorporate solutes. Critical lines emanating from the pure-water critical point show how even small additions of solute may significantly affect the thermodynamic properties and phase behavior of supercooled aqueous solutions. Some solutes, such as glycerol, can prevent spontaneous crystallization, thus making liquid-liquid separation in supercooled water experimentally accessible. This work will help in resolving the question on liquid polyamorphism in supercooled water.

Sustainability. Systems integration for global sustainability.

PubMed

Liu, Jianguo; Mooney, Harold; Hull, Vanessa; Davis, Steven J; Gaskell, Joanne; Hertel, Thomas; Lubchenco, Jane; Seto, Karen C; Gleick, Peter; Kremen, Claire; Li, Shuxin

2015-02-27

Global sustainability challenges, from maintaining biodiversity to providing clean air and water, are closely interconnected yet often separately studied and managed. Systems integration—holistic approaches to integrating various components of coupled human and natural systems—is critical to understand socioeconomic and environmental interconnections and to create sustainability solutions. Recent advances include the development and quantification of integrated frameworks that incorporate ecosystem services, environmental footprints, planetary boundaries, human-nature nexuses, and telecoupling. Although systems integration has led to fundamental discoveries and practical applications, further efforts are needed to incorporate more human and natural components simultaneously, quantify spillover systems and feedbacks, integrate multiple spatial and temporal scales, develop new tools, and translate findings into policy and practice. Such efforts can help address important knowledge gaps, link seemingly unconnected challenges, and inform policy and management decisions. Copyright © 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Implications of the global financial crisis for the response to diseases of poverty within overall health sector development: the case of tuberculosis.

PubMed

Maher, Dermot

2010-01-01

The global financial crisis poses a threat to global health, and may exacerbate diseases of poverty, e.g. HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Exploring the implications of the global financial crisis for the health sector response to tuberculosis is useful to illustrate the practical problems and propose possible solutions. The response to tuberculosis is considered in the context of health sector development. Problems and solutions are considered in five key areas: financing, prioritization, government regulation, integration and decentralization. Securing health gains in global tuberculosis control depends on protecting expenditure by governments of countries badly affected by tuberculosis and by donors, taking measures to increase efficiencies, prioritizing health expenditures and strengthening government regulation. Lessons learned will be valuable for stakeholders involved in the health sector response to tuberculosis and other diseases of poverty.

Requirements Document for Development of a Livermore Tomography Tools Interface

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Seetho, I. M.

In this document, we outline an exercise performed at LLNL to evaluate the user interface deficits of a LLNL-developed CT reconstruction software package, Livermore Tomography Tools (LTT). We observe that a difficult-to-use command line interface and the lack of support functions compound to generate a bottleneck in the CT reconstruction process when input parameters to key functions are not well known. Through the exercise of systems engineering best practices, we generate key performance parameters for a LTT interface refresh, and specify a combination of back-end (“test-mode” functions) and front-end (graphical user interface visualization and command scripting tools) solutions to LTT’smore » poor user interface that aim to mitigate issues and lower costs associated with CT reconstruction using LTT. Key functional and non-functional requirements and risk mitigation strategies for the solution are outlined and discussed.« less

Applying Best Business Practices from Corporate Performance Management to DoD

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

leading or governing large, complex corporations and are experienced in creating reliable solutions to complex management issues guided by best business ...recommendations and effective solutions aimed at improving DoD. Defense Business Board Corporate Performance Management REPORT FY13-03 Task...Group 1 Applying Best Business Practices from Corporate Performance Management to DoD TASK The Deputy Secretary of Defense (DEPSECDEF

Sampling solution traces for the problem of sorting permutations by signed reversals

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Traditional algorithms to solve the problem of sorting by signed reversals output just one optimal solution while the space of all optimal solutions can be huge. A so-called trace represents a group of solutions which share the same set of reversals that must be applied to sort the original permutation following a partial ordering. By using traces, we therefore can represent the set of optimal solutions in a more compact way. Algorithms for enumerating the complete set of traces of solutions were developed. However, due to their exponential complexity, their practical use is limited to small permutations. A partial enumeration of traces is a sampling of the complete set of traces and can be an alternative for the study of distinct evolutionary scenarios of big permutations. Ideally, the sampling should be done uniformly from the space of all optimal solutions. This is however conjectured to be ♯P-complete. Results We propose and evaluate three algorithms for producing a sampling of the complete set of traces that instead can be shown in practice to preserve some of the characteristics of the space of all solutions. The first algorithm (RA) performs the construction of traces through a random selection of reversals on the list of optimal 1-sequences. The second algorithm (DFALT) consists in a slight modification of an algorithm that performs the complete enumeration of traces. Finally, the third algorithm (SWA) is based on a sliding window strategy to improve the enumeration of traces. All proposed algorithms were able to enumerate traces for permutations with up to 200 elements. Conclusions We analysed the distribution of the enumerated traces with respect to their height and average reversal length. Various works indicate that the reversal length can be an important aspect in genome rearrangements. The algorithms RA and SWA show a tendency to lose traces with high average reversal length. Such traces are however rare, and qualitatively our results show that, for testable-sized permutations, the algorithms DFALT and SWA produce distributions which approximate the reversal length distributions observed with a complete enumeration of the set of traces. PMID:22704580

Risk-Hedged Approach for Re-Routing Air Traffic Under Weather Uncertainty

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadovsky, Alexander V.; Bilimoria, Karl D.

2016-01-01

This presentation corresponds to: our paper explores a new risk-hedged approach for re-routing air traffic around forecast convective weather. In this work, flying through a more likely weather instantiation is considered to pose a higher level of risk. Current operational practice strategically plans re-routes to avoid only the most likely (highest risk) weather instantiation, and then tactically makes any necessary adjustments as the weather evolves. The risk-hedged approach strategically plans re-routes by minimizing the risk-adjusted path length, incorporating multiple possible weather instantiations with associated likelihoods (risks). The resulting model is transparent and is readily analyzed for realism and treated with well-understood shortest-path algorithms. Risk-hedged re-routes are computed for some example weather instantiations. The main result is that in some scenarios, relative to an operational-practice proxy solution, the risk-hedged solution provides the benefits of lower risk as well as shorter path length. In other scenarios, the benefits of the risk-hedged solution are ambiguous, because the solution is characterized by a tradeoff between risk and path length. The risk-hedged solution can be executed in those scenarios where it provides a clear benefit over current operational practice.

Game-Based Practice versus Traditional Practice in Computer-Based Writing Strategy Training: Effects on Motivation and Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Proske, Antje; Roscoe, Rod D.; McNamara, Danielle S.

2014-01-01

Achieving sustained student engagement with practice in computer-based writing strategy training can be a challenge. One potential solution is to foster engagement by embedding practice in educational games; yet there is currently little research comparing the effectiveness of game-based practice versus more traditional forms of practice. In this…

The Influence of Field Teaching Practice on Pre-service Teachers’ Professional Identity: A Mixed Methods Study

PubMed Central

Zhao, Hongyu; Zhang, Xiaohui

2017-01-01

The current study used mixed methods to research pre-service teachers’ professional identity. Ninety-eight pre-service teachers were investigated and twelve teachers were interviewed in China. The results were as follows: (1) The results of quantitative data showed that compared with before the field teaching practice, pre-service teachers’ professional identity increased after the field teaching practice—specifically, intrinsic value identity increased, and extrinsic value identity did not significantly change; (2) The results of qualitative data validated and elaborated the results of quantitative data in more detail with regard to changes in professional identity. Specifically, compared with before the field teaching practice, intrinsic value identity including work content, work pattern, etc., increased and extrinsic value identity including work environment, income, and social status, etc., did not significantly change after experiencing teaching practice; (3) The results of qualitative data also showed that mentor support at field school promoted the development of pre-service teachers’ professional identity. Moreover, the development of pre-service teachers’ professional identity during field teaching practice further promoted their professional commitment; that is, it promoted their emotional evaluation and belief in the teaching profession. The study discussed these results and proposed solutions and suggestions for future studies. PMID:28790956

A Pharmacy Blueprint for Electronic Medical Record Implementation Success

PubMed Central

Bach, David S.; Risko, Kenneth R.; Farber, Margo S.; Polk, Gregory J.

2015-01-01

Objective: Implementation of an integrated, electronic medical record (EMR) has been promoted as a means of improving patient safety and quality. While there are a few reports of such processes that incorporate computerized prescriber order entry, pharmacy verification, an electronic medication administration record (eMAR), point-of-care barcode scanning, and clinical decision support, there are no published reports on how a pharmacy department can best participate in implementing such a process across a multihospital health care system. Method: This article relates the experience of the design, build, deployment, and maintenance of an integrated EMR solution from the pharmacy perspective. It describes a 9-month planning and build phase and the subsequent rollout at 8 hospitals over the following 13 months. Results: Key components to success are identified, as well as a set of guiding principles that proved invaluable in decision making and dispute resolution. Labor/personnel requirements for the various stages of the process are discussed, as are issues involving medication workflow analysis, drug database considerations, the development of clinical order sets, and incorporation of bar-code scanning of medications. Recommended implementation and maintenance strategies are presented, and the impact of EMR implementation on the pharmacy practice model and revenue analysis are examined. Conclusion: Adherence to the principles and practices outlined in this article can assist pharmacy administrators and clinicians during all medication-related phases of the development, implementation, and maintenance of an EMR solution. Furthermore, review and incorporation of some or all of practices presented may help ease the process and ensure its success. PMID:26405340

21 CFR 58.83 - Reagents and solutions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GENERAL GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICE FOR NONCLINICAL LABORATORY STUDIES Testing Facilities Operation § 58.83 Reagents and solutions. All reagents and solutions in the laboratory areas shall be labeled to indicate identity, titer...

Modernizing Distribution System Restoration to Achieve Grid Resiliency Against Extreme Weather Events: An Integrated Solution

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Chen; Wang, Jianhui; Ton, Dan

Recent severe power outages caused by extreme weather hazards have highlighted the importance and urgency of improving the resilience of the electric power grid. As the distribution grids still remain vulnerable to natural disasters, the power industry has focused on methods of restoring distribution systems after disasters in an effective and quick manner. The current distribution system restoration practice for utilities is mainly based on predetermined priorities and tends to be inefficient and suboptimal, and the lack of situational awareness after the hazard significantly delays the restoration process. As a result, customers may experience an extended blackout, which causes largemore » economic loss. On the other hand, the emerging advanced devices and technologies enabled through grid modernization efforts have the potential to improve the distribution system restoration strategy. However, utilizing these resources to aid the utilities in better distribution system restoration decision-making in response to extreme weather events is a challenging task. Therefore, this paper proposes an integrated solution: a distribution system restoration decision support tool designed by leveraging resources developed for grid modernization. We first review the current distribution restoration practice and discuss why it is inadequate in response to extreme weather events. Then we describe how the grid modernization efforts could benefit distribution system restoration, and we propose an integrated solution in the form of a decision support tool to achieve the goal. The advantages of the solution include improving situational awareness of the system damage status and facilitating survivability for customers. The paper provides a comprehensive review of how the existing methodologies in the literature could be leveraged to achieve the key advantages. The benefits of the developed system restoration decision support tool include the optimal and efficient allocation of repair crews and resources, the expediting of the restoration process, and the reduction of outage durations for customers, in response to severe blackouts due to extreme weather hazards.« less

DOE Voluntary Partnership Program with Utilities and Local Governments Supports the Design of New Data Access Solutions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shah, Monisha; Burr, Andrew; Schulte, Andrew

2016-08-26

The Better Buildings Energy Data Accelerator (BBEDA) is a unique effort that has supported 22 pairs of local governments and their utility companies to help building owners gain access to their whole-building energy data. Municipal and Utility BBEDA Partners committed to develop streamlined and easy-to-use solutions to provide whole-building energy data, especially for multitenant commercial buildings, by the end of 2015. As a result, building owners would be able to make data-driven decisions about their buildings by utilizing readily available energy consumption data for entire buildings. Traditionally, data access was difficult to implement due to technical barriers and the lackmore » of clear value propositions for the utilities. During the past two years, BBEDA has taken a hands-on approach to overcome these barriers by offering a platform for the partners to discuss their challenges and solutions. Customized support was also provided to Partners building their local strategies. Based on the lessons learned from the partners, BBEDA developed a final toolkit with guiding documents that addressed key barriers and served as a resource for the other cities and utilities attempting to establish whole-building data access, including an exploration of opportunities to apply the whole-building data to various aspects of utility demand-side management (DSM) programs. BBEDA has been a catalyst for market transformation by addressing the upstream (to efficiency implementation) barrier of data access, demonstrated through the success of the BBEDA partners to address policy, engagement, and technical hurdles and arrive at replicable solutions to make data access a standard practice nationwide. As a result of best practices identified by the BBEDA, 18 utilities serving more than 2.6 million commercial customers nationwide will provide whole-building energy data access to building owners by 2017. This historic expansion of data accessibility will increase building energy benchmarking, the first step many building owners take to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings.« less

The New World of Interaction Recording for Medical Practices.

PubMed

Levy, Michael

2016-01-01

Today's medical practice staff communicates remotely with patients, pharmacies, and other medical providers in new ways that go far beyond telephone calls. Patient care and communication are now being provided via telecommunications technologies, including chat/IM, screen, Skype, and other video applications. This new paradigm in patient care, known as "telehealth" or "telemedicine," could put medical practices at risk for noncompliance with strict HIPAA and other regulations. Interaction recording encompasses these new means of communication and can help medical practice staff achieve compliance and reduce financial and liability risks while improving operations and patient care. This article explores what medical practices need to know about interaction recording, what to look for in an interaction recording solution, and how to best utilize that solution to meet compliance, manage liability, and improve patient care.