Review of Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius fulvius) exposures managed by the Florida Poison Information Center Network: 1998-2010.

PubMed

Wood, A; Schauben, J; Thundiyil, J; Kunisaki, T; Sollee, D; Lewis-Younger, C; Bernstein, J; Weisman, R

2013-01-01

Envenomation by the Eastern coral snake is rare but may be associated with significant morbidity. While effective, acquisition of North American Coral Snake Antivenin (NACSAV) is difficult because production was discontinued for many years. The purpose of this study is to characterize coral snake exposures in Florida and determine the effects of varying treatment paradigms on patient outcomes. This study is an observational case series of cases received at Florida poison centers. Included cases were Eastern coral snake exposures occurring between January 1, 1998 and October 31, 2010. Excluded cases included those found to be unrelated or those not followed for at least 24 h post envenomation. Case comments were reviewed to obtain data. Comparisons were made between asymptomatic patients receiving empiric antivenom therapy (empiric group) and those asymptomatic patients who received antivenom upon developing signs of systemic envenomation (withhold group). Of the 553 cases identified, 387 were included in the final analysis. According to case comments, 56.3% of patients had no reported systemic symptoms. Most commonly, patients were reported to have pain (40.6%), paresthesias (28.4%), nausea (12.7%), and emesis (11.4%). NACSAV was administered to 252 patients (65%). Of those patients receiving NACSAV, 18.25% were reported to have had an adverse reaction. Patients in the withhold group (n = 106) had significantly fewer minor, moderate, and major outcomes than patients in the empiric group (n = 134, p < 0.01). While patients in the withhold group had favorable outcomes compared with those in the empiric group, this strategy cannot be applied to all patients presenting asymptomatic to healthcare facilities due to study limitations. Further studies are needed to determine what treatment strategy is most appropriate for asymptomatic patients presenting to healthcare facilities.

Interesting Practitioners in Training in Empirically Supported Treatments: Research Reviews versus Case Studies

PubMed Central

Stewart, Rebecca E.; Chambless, Dianne L.

2010-01-01

It has been repeatedly demonstrated that clinicians rely more on clinical judgment than on research findings. We hypothesized that psychologists in practice might be more open to adopting empirically supported treatments (ESTs) if outcome results were presented with a case study. Psychologists in private practice (N = 742) were randomly assigned to receive a research review of data from randomized controlled trials of cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) and medication for bulimia, a case study of CBT for a fictional patient with bulimia, or both. Results indicated that the inclusion of case examples renders ESTs more compelling and interests clinicians in gaining training. Despite these participants’ training in statistics, the inclusion of the statistical information had no influence on attitudes or training willingness beyond that of the anecdotal case information. PMID:19899142

Improving quality and diffusing best practices: the case of schizophrenia.

PubMed Central

Donohue, Julie M.; Domino, Marisa E.; Normand, Sharon-Lise T.

2009-01-01

The slow diffusion of empirically supported treatments and the rapid diffusion of treatments lacking empirical support play a significant role in the quality gap in the care of people with severe mental illnesses. Further, the rapid diffusion of treatments of low cost-effectiveness limits the system's ability to provide the full gamut of high-value treatments available to treat this vulnerable population. Using the case of schizophrenia as an illustrative case study, we review the context in which these paradoxical patterns of diffusion have occurred and propose policy solutions. PMID:19414878

Cases for the Net Generation: An Empirical Examination of Students' Attitude toward Multimedia Case Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sheppard, Michael; Vibert, Conor

2016-01-01

Case studies have been an important tool in business, legal, and medical education for generations of students. Traditional text-based cases tend to be self-contained and structured in such a way as to teach a particular concept. The multimedia cases introduced in this study feature unscripted web-hosted video interviews with business owners and…

Patterns Exploration on Patterns of Empirical Herbal Formula of Chinese Medicine by Association Rules

PubMed Central

Huang, Li; Yuan, Jiamin; Yang, Zhimin; Xu, Fuping; Huang, Chunhua

2015-01-01

Background. In this study, we use association rules to explore the latent rules and patterns of prescribing and adjusting the ingredients of herbal decoctions based on empirical herbal formula of Chinese Medicine (CM). Materials and Methods. The consideration and development of CM prescriptions based on the knowledge of CM doctors are analyzed. The study contained three stages. The first stage is to identify the chief symptoms to a specific empirical herbal formula, which can serve as the key indication for herb addition and cancellation. The second stage is to conduct a case study on the empirical CM herbal formula for insomnia. Doctors will add extra ingredients or cancel some of them by CM syndrome diagnosis. The last stage of the study is to divide the observed cases into the effective group and ineffective group based on the assessed clinical effect by doctors. The patterns during the diagnosis and treatment are selected by the applied algorithm and the relations between clinical symptoms or indications and herb choosing principles will be selected by the association rules algorithm. Results. Totally 40 patients were observed in this study: 28 patients were considered effective after treatment and the remaining 12 were ineffective. 206 patterns related to clinical indications of Chinese Medicine were checked and screened with each observed case. In the analysis of the effective group, we used the algorithm of association rules to select combinations between 28 herbal adjustment strategies of the empirical herbal formula and the 190 patterns of individual clinical manifestations. During this stage, 11 common patterns were eliminated and 5 major symptoms for insomnia remained. 12 association rules were identified which included 5 herbal adjustment strategies. Conclusion. The association rules method is an effective algorithm to explore the latent relations between clinical indications and herbal adjustment strategies for the study on empirical herbal formulas. PMID:26495415

Covert Conditioning: Case Studies in Self-Management.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yager, Geoffrey G.

The self-management of thoughts and mental images was used in a series of empirical case studies to influence behavior changes. The target behaviors in the cases reported were smoking, overeating, fingernail biting, thinking self-depreciative thoughts, and responding assertively. Self-monitoring, covert positive reinforcement, covert…

Word Saliency and Frequency of Academic Words in Textbooks: A Case Study in the "New Standard College English"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liqin, Yan; Xinlu, Gao

2014-01-01

Though textbooks are one of the main vocabulary input resources for domestic college students and core contents of learning and testing (Liu, 2013), few empirical studies are done to evaluate learning opportunities provided by textbooks. This empirical study is designed to analyze what learning opportunity is provided in a currently used series of…

Empirical Modeling Of Single-Event Upset

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zoutendyk, John A.; Smith, Lawrence S.; Soli, George A.; Thieberger, Peter; Smith, Stephen L.; Atwood, Gregory E.

1988-01-01

Experimental study presents examples of empirical modeling of single-event upset in negatively-doped-source/drain metal-oxide-semiconductor static random-access memory cells. Data supports adoption of simplified worst-case model in which cross sectionof SEU by ion above threshold energy equals area of memory cell.

Identifying Empirically Supported Treatments for Pica in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hagopian, Louis P.; Rooker, Griffin W.; Rolider, Natalie U.

2011-01-01

The purpose of the current study was to critically examine the existing literature on the treatment of pica displayed by individuals with intellectual disabilities. Criteria for empirically supported treatments as described by Divisions 12 and 16 of APA, and adapted for studies employing single-case designs were used to review this body of…

What ethics for case managers? Literature review and discussion.

PubMed

Corvol, Aline; Moutel, Grégoire; Somme, Dominique

2016-11-01

Little is known about case managers' ethical issues and professional values. This article presents an overview of ethical issues in case managers' current practice. Findings are examined in the light of nursing ethics, social work ethics and principle-based biomedical ethics. A systematic literature review was performed to identify and analyse empirical studies concerning ethical issues in case management programmes. It was completed by systematic content analysis of case managers' national codes of ethics. Only nine empirical studies were identified, eight of them from North America. The main dilemmas were how to balance system goals against the client's interest and client protection against autonomy. Professional codes of ethics shared important similarities, but offered different responses to these two dilemmas. We discuss the respective roles of professional and organizational ethics. Further lines of research are suggested. © The Author(s) 2015.

Back Eddies of Learning in the Recognition of Prior Learning: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peruniak, Geoff; Powell, Rick

2007-01-01

The limited research that exists in the area of prior learning assessment (PLA) has tended to be descriptive and conceptual in nature. Where empirical studies have been done, they have focussed mainly on PLA as a means of credentialing rather than as a learning experience. Furthermore, there has been very little empirical research into the…

Mentoring Nontraditional Undergraduate Students: A Case Study in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Langer, Arthur M.

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate an institution that has mandated mentoring as part of its mission and to examine students' perceptions of the mentoring received. The author selected Empire State College (ESC), a college that is part of the State of New York University system in the United States. Empire State is an institution with a…

Reframing Serial Murder Within Empirical Research.

PubMed

Gurian, Elizabeth A

2017-04-01

Empirical research on serial murder is limited due to the lack of consensus on a definition, the continued use of primarily descriptive statistics, and linkage to popular culture depictions. These limitations also inhibit our understanding of these offenders and affect credibility in the field of research. Therefore, this comprehensive overview of a sample of 508 cases (738 total offenders, including partnered groups of two or more offenders) provides analyses of solo male, solo female, and partnered serial killers to elucidate statistical differences and similarities in offending and adjudication patterns among the three groups. This analysis of serial homicide offenders not only supports previous research on offending patterns present in the serial homicide literature but also reveals that empirically based analyses can enhance our understanding beyond traditional case studies and descriptive statistics. Further research based on these empirical analyses can aid in the development of more accurate classifications and definitions of serial murderers.

Implementing Case Studies in a Plant Pathology Course: Impact on Student Learning and Engagement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yadav, Aman; Beckerman, Janna L.

2009-01-01

Case studies have been used in undergraduate science education as a way to develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. However, little empirical evidence exists on whether this teaching method is having the desired impact on students in plant pathology courses. This study evaluated the influence of the case teaching method on…

The effect of class imbalance on case selection for case-based classifiers: An empirical study in the context of medical decision support

PubMed Central

Malof, Jordan M.; Mazurowski, Maciej A.; Tourassi, Georgia D.

2013-01-01

Case selection is a useful approach for increasing the efficiency and performance of case-based classifiers. Multiple techniques have been designed to perform case selection. This paper empirically investigates how class imbalance in the available set of training cases can impact the performance of the resulting classifier as well as properties of the selected set. In this study, the experiments are performed using a dataset for the problem of detecting breast masses in screening mammograms. The classification problem was binary and we used a k-nearest neighbor classifier. The classifier’s performance was evaluated using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) measure. The experimental results indicate that although class imbalance reduces the performance of the derived classifier and the effectiveness of selection at improving overall classifier performance, case selection can still be beneficial, regardless of the level of class imbalance. PMID:21820273

[Mes differ by positioning: empirical testing of decentralized dynamics of the self].

PubMed

Mizokami, Shinichi

2013-10-01

The present study empirically tested the conceptualization of the decentralized dynamics of the self proposed by Hermans & Kempen (1993), which they developed theoretically and from clinical cases, not from large samples of empirical data. They posited that worldviews and images of the self could vary by positioning even in the same individual, and denied that the ego was an omniscient entity that knew and controlled all aspects of the self (centralized ego). Study 1 tested their conceptualization empirically with 47 university students in an experimental group and 17 as a control group. The results showed that the scores on the Rosenberg's self-esteem scale and images of the Mes in the experimental group significantly varied by positioning, but those in the control group did not. Similar results were found in Study 2 with a sample of 120 university students. These results empirically supported the conceptualization of the decentralized dynamics of the self.

Using ERP and WfM Systems for Implementing Business Processes: An Empirical Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aversano, Lerina; Tortorella, Maria

Software systems mainly considered from enterprises for dealing with a business process automation belong to the following two categories: Workflow Management Systems (WfMS) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. The wider diffusion of ERP systems tends to favourite this solution, but there are several limitations of most ERP systems for automating business processes. This paper reports an empirical study aiming at comparing the ability of implementing business processes of ERP systems and WfMSs. Two different case studies have been considered in the empirical study. It evaluates and analyses the correctness and completeness of the process models implemented by using ERP and WfM systems.

Empirical and targeted therapy of candidemia with fluconazole versus echinocandins: a propensity score-derived analysis of a population-based, multicentre prospective cohort.

PubMed

López-Cortés, L E; Almirante, B; Cuenca-Estrella, M; Garnacho-Montero, J; Padilla, B; Puig-Asensio, M; Ruiz-Camps, I; Rodríguez-Baño, J

2016-08-01

We compared the clinical efficacy of fluconazole and echinocandins in the treatment of candidemia in real practice. The CANDIPOP study is a prospective, population-based cohort study on candidemia carried out between May 2010 and April 2011 in 29 Spanish hospitals. Using strict inclusion criteria, we separately compared the impact of empirical and targeted therapy with fluconazole or echinocandins on 30-day mortality. Cox regression, including a propensity score (PS) for receiving echinocandins, stratified analysis on the PS quartiles and PS-based matched analyses, were performed. The empirical and targeted therapy cohorts comprised 316 and 421 cases, respectively; 30-day mortality was 18.7% with fluconazole and 33.9% with echinocandins (p 0.02) in the empirical therapy group and 19.8% with fluconazole and 27.7% with echinocandins (p 0.06) in the targeted therapy group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis including PS showed that empirical therapy with fluconazole was associated with better prognosis (adjusted hazard ratio 0.38; 95% confidence interval 0.17-0.81; p 0.01); no differences were found within each PS quartile or in cases matched according to PS. Targeted therapy with fluconazole did not show a significant association with mortality in the Cox regression analysis (adjusted hazard ratio 0.77; 95% confidence interval 0.41-1.46; p 0.63), in the PS quartiles or in PS-matched cases. The results were similar among patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Empirical or targeted treatment with fluconazole was not associated with increased 30-day mortality compared to echinocandins among adults with candidemia. Copyright © 2016 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Individual Differences in Written Corrective Feedback: A Multi-Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Su; Li, Pengjing

2012-01-01

Written corrective feedback (WCF) has been a long time practice in L2 writing instruction. However, in many cases, the effects are not satisfactory. There have been controversies about it both theoretically and empirically. This paper reports a multi-case study exploring individual differences that impact learners' responses to WCF. Four students'…

Context Matters: Increasing Understanding with Interactive Clicker Case Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lundeberg, Mary A.; Kang, Hosun; Wolter, Bjorn; delMas, Robert; Armstrong, Norris; Borsari, Bruno; Boury, Nancy; Brickman, Peggy; Hannam, Kristi; Heinz, Cheryl; Horvath, Thomas; Knabb, Maureen; Platt, Terry; Rice, Nancy; Rogers, Bill; Sharp, Joan; Ribbens, Eric; Maier, Kimberly S.; Deschryver, Mike; Hagley, Rodney; Goulet, Tamar; Herreid, Clyde F.

2011-01-01

Although interactive technology is presumed to increase student understanding in large classes, no previous research studies have empirically explored the effects of Clicker Cases on students' performance. A Clicker Case is a story (e.g., a problem someone is facing) that uses clickers (student response systems) to engage students in understanding…

How Physics Teachers Approach Innovation: An Empirical Study for Reconstructing the Appropriation Path in the Case of Special Relativity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Ambrosis, Anna; Levrini, Olivia

2010-01-01

This paper concerns an empirical study carried out with a group of high school physics teachers engaged in the Module on relativity of a Master course on the teaching of modern physics. The study is framed within the general research issue of how to promote innovation in school via teachers' education and how to foster fruitful interactions…

A Case Study of the Degree of Collaboration Between Various Levels in the Reparable Chain in the United States Air Force

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-03-01

qualitative research methods , a case study approach was selected to conduct this research . “A case study can be defined as an empirical study ... qualitative in nature, and also described the qualitative research method chosen as a case study . From 49 there, data collection was focused upon... qualitative nature of the research , a qualitative design was used to conduct the

Conjoint Analysis for Mobile Devices for Ubiquitous Learning in Higher Education: The Korean Case

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Hyeongjik

2013-01-01

Despite the increasing importance of mobile devices in education, the essential features of these devices for ubiquitous learning have not been empirically addressed. This study empirically investigated the necessary conditions for using mobile devices as an educational tool for ubiquitous learning in higher education by a conjoint method. The…

Exploring Young Children's Performance on and Acceptance of an Educational Scenario-Based Digital Game for Teaching Route-Planning Strategies: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Yi-Hui; Hou, Huei-Tse

2016-01-01

Researchers suggest that game-based learning (GBL) can be used to facilitate mathematics learning. However, empirical GBL research that targets young children is still limited. The purposes of the study is to develop a scenario-based digital game to promote children's route-planning ability, to empirically explore children's learning performance…

A study of a diffusive model of asset returns and an empirical analysis of financial markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alejandro Quinones, Angel Luis

A diffusive model for market dynamics is studied and the predictions of the model are compared to real financial markets. The model has a non-constant diffusion coefficient which depends both on the asset value and the time. A general solution for the distribution of returns is obtained and shown to match the results of computer simulations for two simple cases, piecewise linear and quadratic diffusion. The effects of discreteness in the market dynamics on the model are also studied. For the quadratic diffusion case, a type of phase transition leading to fat tails is observed as the discrete distribution approaches the continuum limit. It is also found that the model captures some of the empirical stylized facts observed in real markets, including fat-tails and scaling behavior in the distribution of returns. An analysis of empirical data for the EUR/USD currency exchange rate and the S&P 500 index is performed. Both markets show time scaling behavior consistent with a value of 1/2 for the Hurst exponent. Finally, the results show that the distribution of returns for the two markets is well fitted by the model, and the corresponding empirical diffusion coefficients are determined.

Treatment and outcomes of infections by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at an ambulatory clinic.

PubMed

Szumowski, John D; Cohen, Daniel E; Kanaya, Fumihide; Mayer, Kenneth H

2007-02-01

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) have become increasingly common. This study's objectives were to describe the clinical spectrum of MRSA in a community health center and to determine whether the use of specific antimicrobials correlated with increased probability of clinical resolution of SSTI. A retrospective chart review of 399 sequential cases of culture-confirmed S. aureus SSTI, including 227 cases of MRSA SSTI, among outpatients at Fenway Community Health (Boston, MA) from 1998 to 2005 was done. The proportion of S. aureus SSTI due to MRSA increased significantly from 1998 to 2005 (P<0.0001). Resistance to clindamycin was common (48.2% of isolates). At the beginning of the study period, most patients with MRSA SSTI empirically treated with antibiotics received a beta-lactam, whereas by 2005, 76% received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) (P<0.0001). Initially, few MRSA isolates were sensitive to the empirical antibiotic, but 77% were susceptible by 2005 (P<0.0001). A significantly higher percentage of patients with MRSA isolates had clinical resolution on the empirical antibiotic by 2005 (P=0.037). Use of an empirical antibiotic to which the clinical isolate was sensitive was associated with increased odds of clinical resolution on empirical therapy (odds ratio=5.91), controlling for incision and drainage and HIV status. MRSA now accounts for the majority of SSTI due to S. aureus at Fenway, and improved rates of clinical resolution on empirical antibiotic therapy have paralleled increasing use of empirical TMP-SMX for these infections. TMP-SMX appears to be an appropriate empirical antibiotic for suspected MRSA SSTI, especially where clindamycin resistance is common.

Unpacking the Revised Bloom's Taxonomy: Developing Case-Based Learning Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nkhoma, Mathews Zanda; Lam, Tri Khai; Sriratanaviriyakul, Narumon; Richardson, Joan; Kam, Booi; Lau, Kwok Hung

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose the use of case studies in teaching an undergraduate course of Internet for Business in class, based on the revised Bloom's taxonomy. The study provides the empirical evidence about the effect of case-based teaching method integrated the revised Bloom's taxonomy on students' incremental learning,…

Analytical Tools for the Application of Operational Culture: A Case Study in the Trans-Sahel

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-28

Study Team Working Paper 3: Research Methods Discussion for the Study Team Methods229 Generating Empirical Materials In grounded theory ... research I have conducted using these methods . UNCLASSIFIED Analytical Tools for the Application of Operational Culture: A Case Study in the...Survey and a Case Study ,‖ Kjeller, Norway: FFI Glaser, B. G. & Strauss, A. L. (1967). ―The discovery of grounded theory

An empirical inferential method of estimating nitrogen deposition to Mediterranean-type ecosystems: the San Bernardino Mountains case study

Treesearch

A. Bytnerowicz; R.F. Johnson; L. Zhang; G.D. Jenerette; M.E. Fenn; S.L. Schilling; I. Gonzalez-Fernandez

2015-01-01

The empirical inferential method (EIM) allows for spatially and temporally-dense estimates of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition to Mediterranean ecosystems. This method, set within a GIS platform, is based on ambient concentrations of NH3, NO, NO2 and HNO3; surface conductance of NH4...

Analyzing Mathematics Textbooks through a Constructive-Empirical Perspective on Abstraction: The Case of Pythagoras' Theorem

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yang, Kai-Lin

2016-01-01

This study aims at analyzing how Pythagoras' theorem is handled in three versions of Taiwanese textbooks using a conceptual framework of a constructive-empirical perspective on abstraction, which comprises three key attributes: the generality of the object, the connectivity of the subject and the functionality of diagrams as the focused semiotic…

Male Teachers in Early Childhood Education: Issues and Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sumsion, J.

2005-01-01

Much of the debate about the desirability or otherwise, of attempting to address the gender imbalance in the early childhood teaching profession has been limited by a reliance on rhetoric rather than empirical evidence. The purpose of this article is to assist in shifting this debate to a more empirical basis by reporting findings from an…

Comparing and Contrasting Consensus versus Empirical Domains

PubMed Central

Jason, Leonard A.; Kot, Bobby; Sunnquist, Madison; Brown, Abigail; Reed, Jordan; Furst, Jacob; Newton, Julia L.; Strand, Elin Bolle; Vernon, Suzanne D.

2015-01-01

Background Since the publication of the CFS case definition [1], there have been a number of other criteria proposed including the Canadian Consensus Criteria [2] and the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria. [3] Purpose The current study compared these domains that were developed through consensus methods to one obtained through more empirical approaches using factor analysis. Methods Using data mining, we compared and contrasted fundamental features of consensus-based criteria versus empirical latent factors. In general, these approaches found the domain of Fatigue/Post-exertional malaise as best differentiating patients from controls. Results Findings indicated that the Fukuda et al. criteria had the worst sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions These outcomes might help both theorists and researchers better determine which fundamental domains to be used for the case definition. PMID:26977374

Transition mixing study empirical model report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Srinivasan, R.; White, C.

1988-01-01

The empirical model developed in the NASA Dilution Jet Mixing Program has been extended to include the curvature effects of transition liners. This extension is based on the results of a 3-D numerical model generated under this contract. The empirical model results agree well with the numerical model results for all tests cases evaluated. The empirical model shows faster mixing rates compared to the numerical model. Both models show drift of jets toward the inner wall of a turning duct. The structure of the jets from the inner wall does not exhibit the familiar kidney-shaped structures observed for the outer wall jets or for jets injected in rectangular ducts.

Trend extraction using empirical mode decomposition and statistical empirical mode decomposition: Case study: Kuala Lumpur stock market

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaber, Abobaker M.

2014-12-01

Two nonparametric methods for prediction and modeling of financial time series signals are proposed. The proposed techniques are designed to handle non-stationary and non-linearity behave and to extract meaningful signals for reliable prediction. Due to Fourier Transform (FT), the methods select significant decomposed signals that will be employed for signal prediction. The proposed techniques developed by coupling Holt-winter method with Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and it is Extending the scope of empirical mode decomposition by smoothing (SEMD). To show performance of proposed techniques, we analyze daily closed price of Kuala Lumpur stock market index.

The Management of University-Industry Relations: Five Institutional Case Studies from Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific Region. Improving the Managerial Effectiveness of Higher Education Institutions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Michaela, Ed.

Five case studies were conducted to collect empirical evidence on innovative mechanisms through which universities worldwide manage their relations with industry. Cases were selected from institutions of higher education in Israel, Papua New Guinea, Turkey, Brazil, and Uganda. These studies were selected for their innovative approaches, but also…

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome versus Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease

PubMed Central

Jason, Leonard A.; Sunnquist, Madison; Brown, Abigail; Newton, Julia L.; Strand, Elin Bolle; Vernon, Suzanne D.

2015-01-01

Background The Institute of Medicine has recommended a change in the name and criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), renaming the illness Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID). The new SEID case definition requires substantial reductions or impairments in the ability to engage in pre-illness activities, unrefreshing sleep, post-exertional malaise, and either cognitive impairment or orthostatic intolerance. Purpose In the current study, samples were generated through several different methods and were used to compare this new case definition to previous case definitions for CFS, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME-ICC), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), as well as a case definition developed through empirical methods. Methods We used a cross-sectional design with samples from tertiary care settings, a biobank sample, and other forums. 796 patients from the US, Great Britain, and Norway completed the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire. Results Findings indicated that the SEID criteria identified 88% of participants in the samples analyzed, which is comparable to the 92% that met the Fukuda criteria. The SEID case definition was compared to a four item empiric criteria, and findings indicated that the four item empiric criteria identified a smaller, more functionally limited and symptomatic group of patients. Conclusion The recently developed SEID criteria appears to identify a group comparable in size to the Fukuda et al. criteria, but a larger group of patients than the Canadian ME/CFS and ME criteria, and selects more patients who have less impairment and fewer symptoms than a four item empiric criteria. PMID:26345409

Development of a detector model for generation of synthetic radiographs of cargo containers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Timothy A.; Bredt, Ofelia P.; Schweppe, John E.; Runkle, Robert C.

2008-05-01

Creation of synthetic cargo-container radiographs that possess attributes of their empirical counterparts requires accurate models of the imaging-system response. Synthetic radiographs serve as surrogate data in studies aimed at determining system effectiveness for detecting target objects when it is impractical to collect a large set of empirical radiographs. In the case where a detailed understanding of the detector system is available, an accurate detector model can be derived from first-principles. In the absence of this detail, it is necessary to derive empirical models of the imaging-system response from radiographs of well-characterized objects. Such a case is the topic of this work, where we demonstrate the development of an empirical model of a gamma-ray radiography system with the intent of creating a detector-response model that translates uncollided photon transport calculations into realistic synthetic radiographs. The detector-response model is calibrated to field measurements of well-characterized objects thus incorporating properties such as system sensitivity, spatial resolution, contrast and noise.

Enhancing Children's Outdoor Learning Experiences with a Mobile Application

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rikala, Jenni

2015-01-01

This paper examines how a mobile learning application can enhance children's outdoor learning experiences. The study draws upon empirical evidence gathered in one case study conducted in a Finnish primary school setting in the fall of 2012. The data were collected with student and teacher surveys. The case study indicated that the mobile…

Toward a Theoretical Framework for Membership: The Case of Undocumented Immigrants and Financial Aid for Postsecondary Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perry, Andre M.

2006-01-01

This case study/philosophical analysis responds to the primary research question: "Should undocumented immigrants receive financial aid by responding to the sub-question: What does it mean to be a member of society?" The case study organizes and collects empirical evidence from stakeholders involved in Texas House Bill 1403 (2001),…

The Recovery Care and Treatment Center: A Database Design and Development Case

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Ranida B.; Vaught, Kara L.

2008-01-01

The advantages of active learning methodologies have been suggested and empirically shown by a number of IS educators. Case studies are one such teaching technique that offers students the ability to think analytically, apply material learned, and solve a real-world problem. This paper presents a case study designed to be used in a database design…

It’s Personal: Biology Instructors Prioritize Personal Evidence over Empirical Evidence in Teaching Decisions

PubMed Central

Andrews, Tessa C.; Lemons, Paula P.

2015-01-01

Despite many calls for undergraduate biology instructors to incorporate active learning into lecture courses, few studies have focused on what it takes for instructors to make this change. We sought to investigate the process of adopting and sustaining active-learning instruction. As a framework for our research, we used the innovation-decision model, a generalized model of how individuals adopt innovations. We interviewed 17 biology instructors who were attempting to implement case study teaching and conducted qualitative text analysis on interview data. The overarching theme that emerged from our analysis was that instructors prioritized personal experience—rather than empirical evidence—in decisions regarding case study teaching. We identified personal experiences that promote case study teaching, such as anecdotal observations of student outcomes, and those that hinder case study teaching, such as insufficient teaching skills. By analyzing the differences between experienced and new case study instructors, we discovered that new case study instructors need support to deal with unsupportive colleagues and to develop the skill set needed for an active-learning classroom. We generated hypotheses that are grounded in our data about effectively supporting instructors in adopting and sustaining active-learning strategies. We also synthesized our findings with existing literature to tailor the innovation-decision model. PMID:25713092

Some Core Contested Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chomsky, Noam

2015-01-01

Core concepts of language are highly contested. In some cases this is legitimate: real empirical and conceptual issues arise. In other cases, it seems that controversies are based on misunderstanding. A number of crucial cases are reviewed, and an approach to language is outlined that appears to have strong conceptual and empirical motivation, and…

Latent and manifest empiricism in Q'eqchi' Maya healing: a case study of HIV/AIDS.

PubMed

Waldram, James B; Hatala, Andrew R

2015-02-01

This paper presents a case study of the traditional treatment of a Q'eqchi' Maya man in southern Belize in 2011 who is suffering from AIDS-related sickness. The purpose is to detail the empirical nature of Q'eqchi' Maya medicine, distinguishing between manifest and latent empiricism, as evidenced in the healers evolving attempts to treat the patient in the absence of knowledge of his biomedical diagnosis. The paper argues for a more complete understanding of the empirical nature of much Indigenous healing, which parallels aspects of scientific medicine, and for better collaboration among traditional healers and biomedical practitioners in strongly Indigenous areas. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Waterfall Model in Large-Scale Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petersen, Kai; Wohlin, Claes; Baca, Dejan

Waterfall development is still a widely used way of working in software development companies. Many problems have been reported related to the model. Commonly accepted problems are for example to cope with change and that defects all too often are detected too late in the software development process. However, many of the problems mentioned in literature are based on beliefs and experiences, and not on empirical evidence. To address this research gap, we compare the problems in literature with the results of a case study at Ericsson AB in Sweden, investigating issues in the waterfall model. The case study aims at validating or contradicting the beliefs of what the problems are in waterfall development through empirical research.

Empirically Assessing Participant Perceptions of the Research Experience in a Randomized Clinical Trial: The Women's Self-Defense Project as a Case Example.

PubMed

Weitlauf, Julie C; Ruzek, Josef I; Westrup, Darrah A; Lee, Tina; Keller, Jennifer

2007-06-01

A growing body of empirical literature has systematically documented the reactions to research participation among participants in traumafocused research. To date, the available data has generally presented an optimistic picture regarding participants' ability to tolerate and even find benefit from their participation. However, this literature has been largely limited to cross-sectional designs. No extant literature has yet examined the perceptions of participants with psychiatric illness who are participating in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) designed to evaluate the efficacy or effectiveness of novel trauma treatments. The authors posit that negative experiences of, or poor reactions to, the research experience in the context of a trauma-focused RCT may elevate the risk of participation. Indeed, negative reactions may threaten to undermine the potential therapeutic gains of participants and promoting early drop out from the trial. Empirically assessing reactions to research participation at the pilot-study phase of a clinical trial can both provide investigators and IRB members alike with empirical evidence of some likely risks of participation. In turn, this information can be used to help shape the design and recruitment methodology of the full-scale trial. Using data from the pilot study of the Women's Self-Defense Project as a case illustration, we provide readers with concrete suggestions for empirically assessing participants' perceptions of risk involved in their participation in behaviorally oriented clinical trials.

Adult bacterial meningitis: aetiology, penicillin susceptibility, risk factors, prognostic factors and guidelines for empirical antibiotic treatment.

PubMed

Meyer, C N; Samuelsson, I S; Galle, M; Bangsborg, J M

2004-08-01

Episodes of adult bacterial meningitis (ABM) at a Danish hospital in 1991-2000 were identified from the databases of the Department of Clinical Microbiology, and compared with data from the Danish National Patient Register and the Danish National Notification System. Reduced penicillin susceptibility occurred in 21 (23%) of 92 cases of known aetiology, compared to an estimated 6% in nationally notified cases (p < 0.001). Ceftriaxone plus penicillin as empirical treatment was appropriate in 97% of ABM cases in the study population, and in 99.6% of nationally notified cases. The notification rate was 75% for penicillin-susceptible episodes, and 24% for penicillin-non-susceptible episodes (p < 0.001). Cases involving staphylococci, Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacteriaceae were under-reported. Among 51 ABM cases with no identified risk factors, nine of 11 cases with penicillin-non-susceptible bacteria were community-acquired. Severe sequelae correlated independently with age, penicillin non-susceptibility, mechanical ventilation and non-transferral to a tertiary hospital (p < 0.05; logistic regression). Other factors that correlated with severe sequelae by univariate analysis only were inappropriate clinical handling, abnormal consciousness, convulsions and nosocomial infection. Overall, the data indicated that neither age alone, community-acquired infection nor absence of identified risk factors can predict susceptibility to penicillin accurately. Recommendations for empirical antibiotic treatment for ABM should not be based exclusively on clinical notification systems with possible unbalanced under-reporting.

Should policy-makers and managers trust PSI? An empirical validation study of five patient safety indicators in a national health service

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Patient Safety Indicators (PSI) are being modestly used in Spain, somewhat due to concerns on their empirical properties. This paper provides evidence by answering three questions: a) Are PSI differences across hospitals systematic -rather than random?; b) Do PSI measure differences among hospital-providers -as opposed to differences among patients?; and, c) Are measurements able to detect hospitals with a higher than "expected" number of cases? Methods An empirical validation study on administrative data was carried out. All 2005 and 2006 publicly-funded hospital discharges were used to retrieve eligible cases of five PSI: Death in low-mortality DRGs (MLM); decubitus ulcer (DU); postoperative pulmonary embolism or deep-vein thrombosis (PE-DVT); catheter-related infections (CRI), and postoperative sepsis (PS). Empirical Bayes statistic (EB) was used to estimate whether the variation was systematic; logistic-multilevel modelling determined what proportion of the variation was explained by the hospital; and, shrunken residuals, as provided by multilevel modelling, were plotted to flag hospitals performing worse than expected. Results Variation across hospitals was observed to be systematic in all indicators, with EB values ranging from 0.19 (CI95%:0.12 to 0.28) in PE-DVT to 0.34 (CI95%:0.25 to 0.45) in DU. A significant proportion of the variance was explained by the hospital, once patient case-mix was adjusted: from a 6% in MLM (CI95%:3% to 11%) to a 24% (CI95%:20% to 30%) in CRI. All PSI were able to flag hospitals with rates over the expected, although this capacity decreased when the largest hospitals were analysed. Conclusion Five PSI showed reasonable empirical properties to screen healthcare performance in Spanish hospitals, particularly in the largest ones. PMID:22369291

Empiric Antibiotic Use and Susceptibility in Infants With Bacterial Infections: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

PubMed

Feldman, Elana A; McCulloh, Russell J; Myers, Angela L; Aronson, Paul L; Neuman, Mark I; Bradford, Miranda C; Alpern, Elizabeth R; Balamuth, Frances; Blackstone, Mercedes M; Browning, Whitney L; Hayes, Katie; Korman, Rosalynne; Leazer, Rianna C; Nigrovic, Lise E; Marble, Richard; Roben, Emily; Williams, Derek J; Tieder, Joel S

2017-07-20

To assess hospital differences in empirical antibiotic use, bacterial epidemiology, and antimicrobial susceptibility for common antibiotic regimens among young infants with urinary tract infection (UTI), bacteremia, or bacterial meningitis. We reviewed medical records from infants <90 days old presenting to 8 US children's hospitals with UTI, bacteremia, or meningitis. We used the Pediatric Health Information System database to identify cases and empirical antibiotic use and medical record review to determine infection, pathogen, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. We compared hospital-level differences in antimicrobial use, pathogen, infection site, and antimicrobial susceptibility. We identified 470 infants with bacterial infections: 362 (77%) with UTI alone and 108 (23%) with meningitis or bacteremia. Infection type did not differ across hospitals ( P = .85). Empirical antibiotic use varied across hospitals ( P < .01), although antimicrobial susceptibility patterns for common empirical regimens were similar. A third-generation cephalosporin would have empirically treated 90% of all ages, 89% in 7- to 28-day-olds, and 91% in 29- to 89-day-olds. The addition of ampicillin would have improved coverage in only 4 cases of bacteremia and meningitis. Ampicillin plus gentamicin would have treated 95%, 89%, and 97% in these age groups, respectively. Empirical antibiotic use differed across regionally diverse US children's hospitals in infants <90 days old with UTI, bacteremia, or meningitis. Antimicrobial susceptibility to common antibiotic regimens was similar across hospitals, and adding ampicillin to a third-generation cephalosporin minimally improves coverage. Our findings support incorporating empirical antibiotic recommendations into national guidelines for infants with suspected bacterial infection. Copyright © 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Analysis of Servant-Leadership Characteristics: Case Study of a For-Profit Career School President

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hiatt, Elaine M.

2010-01-01

Servant leadership is a challenging leadership philosophy to study empirically. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to determine if an effective leader of a for-profit career school displays the 10 servant-leader characteristics, identified by Larry R. Spears (1995) in "Reflections on Leadership," according to respondents,…

Building Capacity, Fostering Institutionalization: A Study of Assessment at Independent Colleges in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chong, Jocelyn S.

2009-01-01

The literature on higher education assessment provides a historical context for this study and describes best practices and their challenges. While research studies have examined institutional efforts on a case-by-case basis, little quantitatively empirical research has been conducted concerning the extent to which institutions have built capacity…

Growth-corruption-health triaca and environmental degradation: empirical evidence from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

PubMed

Azam, Muhammad; Khan, Abdul Qayyum

2017-07-01

This study examines the impact of economic growth, corruption, health, and poverty on environmental degradation for three countries from ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand using annual data over the period of 1994-2014. The relationship between environmental degradation (pollution) by carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions and economic growth is examined along with some other variables, namely health expenditure, poverty, agriculture value added growth, industrial value added growth, and corruption. The ordinary least squares (OLS) method is applied as an analytical technique for parameter estimation. The empirical results reveal that almost all variables are statistically significant at the 5% level of significance, whereby test rejects the null hypotheses of non-cointegration, indicating that all variables play an important role in affecting the environment across countries. Empirical results also indicate that economic growth has significant positive impact, while health expenditures show significantly negative impact on the environment. Corruption has significant positive effect on environment in the case of Malaysia; while in the case of Indonesia and Thailand, it has insignificant results. However, for the individual analysis across countries, the regression estimate suggests that economic growth has a significant positive relationship with environment for Indonesia, while it is found insignificantly negative and positive in the case of Malaysia and Thailand, respectively, during the period under the study. Empirical findings of the study suggest that policy-makers require to make technological-friendly environment sequentially to surmount unregulated pollution, steady population transfers from rural areas to urban areas are also important, and poverty alleviation and better health provision can also help to improve the environment.

Evidence-Based Treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in a Preschool-Age Child: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Verduin, Timothy L.; Abikoff, Howard; Kurtz, Steven M. S.

2008-01-01

This case study illustrates a behavioral treatment of "Peter," a 4-year-old male with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder. Multiple evidence-based treatment procedures were implemented, affording the opportunity to explore issues common to the clinical application of empirically supported…

Slogging and Stumbling toward Social Justice in a Private Elementary School: The Complicated Case of St. Malachy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scanlan, Martin

2010-01-01

This case study examines St. Malachy, an urban Catholic elementary school primarily serving children traditionally marginalized by race, class, linguistic heritage, and disability. As a private school, St. Malachy serves the public good by recruiting and retaining such traditionally marginalized students. As empirical studies involving Catholic…

Improvisational Theatre as Public Pedagogy: A Case Study of "Aesthetic" Pedagogy in Leadership Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katz-Buonincontro, Jen

2011-01-01

How does improvisational theatre promote aesthetic learning in leaders, emphasizing emotion and somatic, or sensory, knowledge? While improvisational theatre has been used in organizational settings, there is little empirical research describing the aesthetic learning process geared towards preparing educational leaders. Based on a case study of…

Using ITS to Create an Insurance Industry Application: A Joint Case Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boies, Stephen J.; And Others

1993-01-01

Presents an empirical case study of the use of ITS, a software development environment designed by IBM, by Continental Insurance for underwriting applications. Use of a rule-based user interface style that made electronic forms look like standard insurance industry paper forms and worked according to Continental's guidelines is described.…

Professionalism: A Comparative Case Study of Teachers, Nurses, and Social Workers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bair, Mary Antony

2016-01-01

While there are numerous calls to enhance the professionalism of teachers, there is little empirical research in the United States that examines educators' understanding of the concept. This comparative case study compared the conceptualisation of professionalism by faculty and students in a college of education vis-à-vis the conceptualisation of…

Metaheuristic optimization approaches to predict shear-wave velocity from conventional well logs in sandstone and carbonate case studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emami Niri, Mohammad; Amiri Kolajoobi, Rasool; Khodaiy Arbat, Mohammad; Shahbazi Raz, Mahdi

2018-06-01

Seismic wave velocities, along with petrophysical data, provide valuable information during the exploration and development stages of oil and gas fields. The compressional-wave velocity (VP ) is acquired using conventional acoustic logging tools in many drilled wells. But the shear-wave velocity (VS ) is recorded using advanced logging tools only in a limited number of wells, mainly because of the high operational costs. In addition, laboratory measurements of seismic velocities on core samples are expensive and time consuming. So, alternative methods are often used to estimate VS . Heretofore, several empirical correlations that predict VS by using well logging measurements and petrophysical data such as VP , porosity and density are proposed. However, these empirical relations can only be used in limited cases. The use of intelligent systems and optimization algorithms are inexpensive, fast and efficient approaches for predicting VS. In this study, in addition to the widely used Greenberg–Castagna empirical method, we implement three relatively recently developed metaheuristic algorithms to construct linear and nonlinear models for predicting VS : teaching–learning based optimization, imperialist competitive and artificial bee colony algorithms. We demonstrate the applicability and performance of these algorithms to predict Vs using conventional well logs in two field data examples, a sandstone formation from an offshore oil field and a carbonate formation from an onshore oil field. We compared the estimated VS using each of the employed metaheuristic approaches with observed VS and also with those predicted by Greenberg–Castagna relations. The results indicate that, for both sandstone and carbonate case studies, all three implemented metaheuristic algorithms are more efficient and reliable than the empirical correlation to predict VS . The results also demonstrate that in both sandstone and carbonate case studies, the performance of an artificial bee colony algorithm in VS prediction is slightly higher than two other alternative employed approaches.

Risky forward interest rates and swaptions: Quantum finance model and empirical results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baaquie, Belal Ehsan; Yu, Miao; Bhanap, Jitendra

2018-02-01

Risk free forward interest rates (Diebold and Li, 2006 [1]; Jamshidian, 1991 [2 ]) - and their realization by US Treasury bonds as the leading exemplar - have been studied extensively. In Baaquie (2010), models of risk free bonds and their forward interest rates based on the quantum field theoretic formulation of the risk free forward interest rates have been discussed, including the empirical evidence supporting these models. The quantum finance formulation of risk free forward interest rates is extended to the case of risky forward interest rates. The examples of the Singapore and Malaysian forward interest rates are used as specific cases. The main feature of the quantum finance model is that the risky forward interest rates are modeled both a) as a stand-alone case as well as b) being driven by the US forward interest rates plus a spread - having its own term structure -above the US forward interest rates. Both the US forward interest rates and the term structure for the spread are modeled by a two dimensional Euclidean quantum field. As a precursor to the evaluation of put option of the Singapore coupon bond, the quantum finance model for swaptions is tested using empirical study of swaptions for the US Dollar -showing that the model is quite accurate. A prediction for the market price of the put option for the Singapore coupon bonds is obtained. The quantum finance model is generalized to study the Malaysian case and the Malaysian forward interest rates are shown to have anomalies absent for the US and Singapore case. The model's prediction for a Malaysian interest rate swap is obtained.

Community-acquired enterococcal urinary tract infections in hospitalized children.

PubMed

Marcus, Nir; Ashkenazi, Shai; Samra, Zmira; Cohen, Avner; Livni, Gilat

2012-01-01

The objectives of this study were to characterize community-acquired (CA) enterococcal urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a tertiary pediatric center and to determine risk factors for their occurrence, their association with renal abnormalities, their antibiotic susceptibility profile, and the appropriateness of the empiric antibiotic treatment, in comparison to those of Gram-negative UTIs. In a 5-year prospective clinical and laboratory study, we found that enterococcal UTIs caused 6.2% (22/355) of culture-proven CA UTIs. Compared with Gram-negative UTI, enterococcal UTI was associated with male predominance, higher rates of underlying urinary abnormalities (70 vs. 43.7%; p = 0.03) and inappropriate empiric antibiotic therapy (22 vs. 5.6%; p = 0.02), and mainly vesicoureteral reflux (53% of cases). This study highlights the importance of early detection of CA enterococcal UTIs because of their association with underlying urinary abnormalities and a high rate of inappropriate empiric antibiotic therapy. Renal imaging is recommended for children with enterococcal UTIs; Gram stain is suggested in selected cases to detect Gram-positive cocci for early diagnosis of enterococcal UTIs and initiation of appropriate antibiotics.

Measuring stakeholder participation in evaluation: an empirical validation of the Participatory Evaluation Measurement Instrument (PEMI).

PubMed

Daigneault, Pierre-Marc; Jacob, Steve; Tremblay, Joël

2012-08-01

Stakeholder participation is an important trend in the field of program evaluation. Although a few measurement instruments have been proposed, they either have not been empirically validated or do not cover the full content of the concept. This study consists of a first empirical validation of a measurement instrument that fully covers the content of participation, namely the Participatory Evaluation Measurement Instrument (PEMI). It specifically examines (1) the intercoder reliability of scores derived by two research assistants on published evaluation cases; (2) the convergence between the scores of coders and those of key respondents (i.e., authors); and (3) the convergence between the authors' scores on the PEMI and the Evaluation Involvement Scale (EIS). A purposive sample of 40 cases drawn from the evaluation literature was used to assess reliability. One author per case in this sample was then invited to participate in a survey; 25 fully usable questionnaires were received. Stakeholder participation was measured on nominal and ordinal scales. Cohen's κ, the intraclass correlation coefficient, and Spearman's ρ were used to assess reliability and convergence. Reliability results ranged from fair to excellent. Convergence between coders' and authors' scores ranged from poor to good. Scores derived from the PEMI and the EIS were moderately associated. Evidence from this study is strong in the case of intercoder reliability and ranges from weak to strong in the case of convergent validation. Globally, this suggests that the PEMI can produce scores that are both reliable and valid.

Best Practice in Developing Critical Analyses: An Empirical Study of Self-Efficacy from an Interdisciplinary Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sams, Coleen; Sams, Doreen

2011-01-01

Despite substantial usage of case study analyses as learning tools in diverse fields of study, business graduate students often arrive with little to no prior knowledge in how to effectively use this tool. Using the Sams efficacy model (2009) strategic to business education this study identified a dearth in the usage of case study analyses in…

The influence of tie strength on evolutionary games on networks: An empirical investigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buesser, Pierre; Peña, Jorge; Pestelacci, Enea; Tomassini, Marco

2011-11-01

Extending previous work on unweighted networks, we present here a systematic numerical investigation of standard evolutionary games on weighted networks. In the absence of any reliable model for generating weighted social networks, we attribute weights to links in a few ways supported by empirical data ranging from totally uncorrelated to weighted bipartite networks. The results of the extensive simulation work on standard complex network models show that, except in a case that does not seem to be common in social networks, taking the tie strength into account does not change in a radical manner the long-run steady-state behavior of the studied games. Besides model networks, we also included a real-life case drawn from a coauthorship network. In this case also, taking the weights into account only changes the results slightly with respect to the raw unweighted graph, although to draw more reliable conclusions on real social networks many more cases should be studied as these weighted networks become available.

Data mining: comparing the empiric CFS to the Canadian ME/CFS case definition.

PubMed

Jason, Leonard A; Skendrovic, Beth; Furst, Jacob; Brown, Abigail; Weng, Angela; Bronikowski, Christine

2012-01-01

This article contrasts two case definitions for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We compared the empiric CFS case definition (Reeves et al., 2005) and the Canadian ME/CFS clinical case definition (Carruthers et al., 2003) with a sample of individuals with CFS versus those without. Data mining with decision trees was used to identify the best items to identify patients with CFS. Data mining is a statistical technique that was used to help determine which of the survey questions were most effective for accurately classifying cases. The empiric criteria identified about 79% of patients with CFS and the Canadian criteria identified 87% of patients. Items identified by the Canadian criteria had more construct validity. The implications of these findings are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Exploring the relationship between time management skills and the academic achievement of African engineering students - a case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swart, Arthur James; Lombard, Kobus; de Jager, Henk

2010-03-01

Poor academic success by African engineering students is currently experienced in many higher educational institutions, contributing to lower financial subsidies by local governments. One of the contributing factors to this low academic success may be the poor time management skills of these students. This article endeavours to explore this relationship by means of a theoretical literature review and an empirical study. Numerous studies have been conducted in this regard, but with mixed results. The case study of this article involves a design module termed Design Projects III, where the empirical study incorporated an ex post facto study involving a pre-experimental/exploratory design using descriptive statistics. The results of this study were applied to various tests, which indicated no statistically significant relationship between time management skills and the academic achievement of African engineering students.

Undocumented and Under Surveillance: A Case Study of an Undocumented Latina with a Disability in Juvenile Justice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Annamma, Subini

2013-01-01

Using data collected from a larger qualitative study that explored the educational trajectories of young women of color with disabilities through the School to Prison Pipeline, this empirical case study focuses on how one student's undocumented status impacted her education in juvenile justice. Research has begun to provide us with statistics…

Personal Development Planning in Initial Teacher Training: A Case Study from Post-Compulsory Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, Ron; Hallwood, Linda; Clements, Christine; Rivron, Helen

2009-01-01

This paper provides a case study of personal development planning (PDP) within an initial teacher training course for the post-compulsory sector, delivered through a large consortium in the north of England. The paper reviews conceptual and empirical studies of PDP in higher education and reports on the practice and perceptions of students and…

Performance Analysis of Science Education Undergraduates: A Case Study of Biology Education Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ochonogor, Chukunoye Enunuwe

2011-01-01

The problem of the study was to analyze the results of university biology education students as a case study against gender and performance and empirically determine the implications of the findings to countries, such as Nigeria, South Africa and the rest of the world. The study made use of all the 344 students in the levels from 100 to 400 of…

Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Treat Distressed Couples: A Case Study With Two Couples

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peterson, Brennan D.; Eifert, Georg H.; Feingold, Tal; Davidson, Sarah

2009-01-01

Although the field of couple therapy has made significant strides in recent years, there continues to be a need for theoretically sound and empirically supported treatments. The current case study examines whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an experiential acceptance-based behavior therapy, can be effective in treating distressed…

Behavioral Experiments in the Treatment of Paranoid Schizophrenia: A Single Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hagen, Roger; Nordahl, Hans M.

2008-01-01

Since the first description of cognitive therapy of paranoid delusions appeared in the literature, the empirical support for cognitive behavioral therapy in treating psychotic symptoms has been widely established. The aim of the present case study is to show how the behavioral experiment can be used as a powerful tool to change delusional thinking…

Prosecuting Child Sexual Abuse: The Importance of Evidence Type

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walsh, Wendy A.; Jones, Lisa M.; Cross, Theodore P.; Lippert, Tonya

2010-01-01

Corroborating evidence has been associated with a decrease in children's distress during the court process, yet few studies have empirically examined the impact of evidence type on prosecution rates. This study examined the types of evidence and whether charges were filed in a sample of child sexual abuse cases (n = 329). Cases with a child…

Sign-Supported Dutch in Children with Severe Speech and Language Impairments: A Multiple Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wijkamp, Inge; Gerritsen, Betsy; Bonder, Freke; Haisma, Hinke; van der Schans, Cees

2010-01-01

In the Netherlands, many educators and care providers working at special schools for children with severe speech and language impairments (SSLI) use sign-supported Dutch (SSD) to facilitate communication. Anecdotal experiences suggest positive results, but empirical evidence is lacking. In this multiple case study the changes that occur in the way…

Identity Dystopias, Empire Framing and Theoretical Hegemonies: Two Case Studies, India and Ireland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allender, Tim; O'Donoghue, Tom

2014-01-01

This article explores the connections between official contemporary identity formation and colonial pasts. Using the case studies of India and Ireland the article explores how different traditions of theorisation are powerful in these formations. India and Ireland were two colonial domains that had many linkages outside the ambit of the British.…

What Criteria Should Policymakers Use for Assisting Households with Educational Expenditure? The Case of Urban Bangladesh

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shafiq, M. Najeeb

2010-01-01

Low household expenditure on education compromises the learning and future labor market prospects of children. This study provides an empirical framework for determining the criteria that South Asian policymakers can use for assisting households with educational expenditure. A case study of urban Bangladesh using tobit and hurdle regression…

A Case Study of Israeli Higher-Education Institutes Sharing Scholarly Information with the Community via Social Networks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Forkosh-Baruch, Alona; Hershkovitz, Arnon

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine cases in which Social Networking Sites (SNS) are being utilized for scholarly purposes by higher-education institutes in Israel. The research addresses questions regarding content patterns, activity patterns, and interactivity within Facebook and Twitter accounts of these institutes. Research…

Students' Evaluations of Profit and Utility of Higher Education: A Comparative Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davidovitch, Nitza; Lobovam Elena; Pryamikova, Elena; Semenova, Tatiana; Pechenkina, Tatiana; Yachmeneva, Maria

2013-01-01

This paper reviews the recent turn toward a capitalist approach to higher education with specific reference to the social, demographic, and legislative changes, including growing academic capitalism, which led to a transformation in Israel's higher education system. In an empirical comparative case study of students from Israel and Russia, this…

Socioeconomic School Segregation in a Market-Oriented Educational System. The Case of Chile

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Valenzuela, Juan Pablo; Bellei, Cristian; de los Ríos, Danae

2014-01-01

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the socioeconomic status (SES) school segregation in Chile, whose educational system is regarded as an extreme case of a market-oriented education. The study estimated the magnitude and evolution of the SES segregation of schools at both national and local levels, and it studied the relationship between…

Promoting Democratic Citizenship through Non-Formal Adult Education: The Case of Denmark

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Milana, Marcella; Sorensen, Tore Bernt

2009-01-01

The article presents selected findings from in-depth case studies of two non-formal learning activities organized by the Danish Folk High Schools and Day High Schools, respectively. The purpose of the empirical study was to investigate how longstanding, non-formal, adult education institutions have worked to foster the acquisition of civic…

A Case Study of Tack Tiles[R] Literacy Instruction for a Student with Multiple Disabilities Including Congenital Blindness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klenk, Jessicia A.; Pufpaff, Lisa A.

2011-01-01

Research on literacy instruction for students with multiple disabilities is limited. Empirical research on braille instruction for students with multiple disabilities that include congenital blindness is virtually nonexistent. This case study offers initial insight into possible methods of early braille literacy instruction for a student with…

Is Change Required? An Economic Case Study of the Rise and Fall of Empires, and Why a National Strategic Narrative Could Change the Fate of the United States Empire

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

able to account for desertion of the Southern Maya Lowlands.”267 He points to the invasion in the Yucatan Peninsula to the north and says that “even...including differences in skeletal sizes, which denotes differing levels of nutrition , recruitment or capture of rival tribesman to maintain the economic

Trust of Population within Social Relations System of the Population: A Case Study of Nasleg Administration in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mikhaylova, Anna; Popova, Liudmila

2016-01-01

The research consists in studying the level of population's trust in nasleg administration (in the administrative-territorial unit) of MS "Khatyryksky nasleg" of Namsky ulus using the case study. The leading research methods for the problem are empirical methods that allow revealing the level of population's trust in administration. The…

Some core contested concepts.

PubMed

Chomsky, Noam

2015-02-01

Core concepts of language are highly contested. In some cases this is legitimate: real empirical and conceptual issues arise. In other cases, it seems that controversies are based on misunderstanding. A number of crucial cases are reviewed, and an approach to language is outlined that appears to have strong conceptual and empirical motivation, and to lead to conclusions about a number of significant issues that differ from some conventional beliefs.

A Case Study of the Progressive Impact of School-Wide Positive Behavior Support on Five Selected Student Performance Factors in a Missouri K-12 Alternative Public School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Becker, Colleen Gilday

2013-01-01

The purpose of this case study was to examine the School-Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) impact on five selected student performance factors. A literature review revealed there have been many SWPBS research studies regarding traditional public schools. However, there have not been any published empirical SWPBS studies involving K-12…

Ethnic-related stressors in the war zone: case studies of Asian American Vietnam veterans.

PubMed

Loo, Chalsa M; Lim, Brian R; Koff, Gabriel; Morton, Robert K; Kiang, Peter N C

2007-09-01

Empirical research has shown that exposure to race-related stressors in the military by Asian American Pacific Islander Vietnam veterans, now reliably measurable, contributes uniquely and significantly to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and generalized psychiatric distress; moreover, studies reveal that adverse race-related events can meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. Competence in treating PTSD or general psychiatric distress requires understanding the types of, and effects of, adverse race-related events experienced by ethnic minority veterans. Case studies highlight two types of race-related stressors-"bicultural identification and conflict" and "racial stigmatization"-which placed the veteran at greater risk of death and reduced cohesion with fellow service members. The studies demonstrate the presence of race-related stressors in one or more of the four major types of war zone stressors: traditional combat, atrocities-abusive violence, perceived threat, and malevolent environment. These case studies supplement the empirical findings on race-related stressors and PTSD, enlarging the clinician's understanding of this unique type of mental health risk factor.

Real Options in Defense R and D: A Decision Tree Analysis Approach for Options to Defer, Abandon, and Expand

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

chosen rather than complex ones , and responds to the criticism of the DTA approach. Chapter IV provides three separate case studies in defense R&D...defense R&D projects. To this end, the first section describes the case study method and the advantages of using simple models over more complex ones ...the analysis lacked empirical data and relied on subjective data, the analysis successfully combined the DTA approach with the case study method and

Should the patients colonized with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacilli (E-GNB) coming to hospital from the community with pneumonia get anti-E-GNB active empirical treatment?

PubMed

Peterlin, Lara; Žagar, Mateja; Lejko Zupanc, Tatjana; Paladin, Marija; Beović, Bojana

2017-10-01

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases are responsible for resistance of Gram-negative bacilli to several beta-lactam antibiotics, including those prescribed for treatment pneumonia. To evaluate the importance of colonization with E-GNB for the choice of empirical treatment we performed a retrospective case-control study including 156 patients, hospitalized for treatment of pneumonia from 2009 through 2013. Empirical treatment success and in-hospital survival were significantly lower in patients colonized with E-GNB compared to non-colonized (p = 0.002, p = 0.035). When comparing subgroups of colonized patients, treatment success was significantly lower in patients who were colonized with E-GNB resistant to empirical antibiotic (p = 0.010), but not in those colonized by E-GNB susceptible to empirically given antibiotic (p = 0.104). Difference in in-hospital mortality was insignificant in both subgroups (p = 0.056, p = 0.331). The results of study suggest that an anti-E-GNB active antibiotic should be used for empirical treatment of pneumonia in E-GNB colonized patients.

Pathways to Death Row for America's Disabled Youth: Three Case Studies Driving Reform

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schroeder, Julie; Guin, Cecile C.; Chaisson, Rebecca; Houchins, David

2004-01-01

This article uses the case study method to examine the lives of three youths with disabilities living in the southern part of the United States who have followed a pathway to death row. An empirically established developmental and theoretical framework is used to examine issues related to the influence of disabilities and race on children and…

Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Research in Organizations.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-07-01

Qualitative Researcher Qualitative research using the traditional case study was the most popular method during the early empirical investigations of...what is now known as qualitative methods (Van Maanen, 1979). Some researchers have recently argued that restricting case studies to exploratory work... phenomenological approaches at the subjective end of the continuum. A few researchers have suggested ways in which quantitative and

Empirical synchronized flow in oversaturated city traffic.

PubMed

Kerner, Boris S; Hemmerle, Peter; Koller, Micha; Hermanns, Gerhard; Klenov, Sergey L; Rehborn, Hubert; Schreckenberg, Michael

2014-09-01

Based on a study of anonymized GPS probe vehicle traces measured by personal navigation devices in vehicles randomly distributed in city traffic, empirical synchronized flow in oversaturated city traffic has been revealed. It turns out that real oversaturated city traffic resulting from speed breakdown in a city in most cases can be considered random spatiotemporal alternations between sequences of moving queues and synchronized flow patterns in which the moving queues do not occur.

Intelligence in Bali--A Case Study on Estimating Mean IQ for a Population Using Various Corrections Based on Theory and Empirical Findings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rindermann, Heiner; te Nijenhuis, Jan

2012-01-01

A high-quality estimate of the mean IQ of a country requires giving a well-validated test to a nationally representative sample, which usually is not feasible in developing countries. So, we used a convenience sample and four corrections based on theory and empirical findings to arrive at a good-quality estimate of the mean IQ in Bali. Our study…

Hypnosis and the treatment of posttraumatic conditions: an evidence-based approach.

PubMed

Lynn, Steven Jay; Cardeña, Etzel

2007-04-01

This article reviews the evidence for the use of hypnosis in the treatment of posttraumatic conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder. The review focuses on empirically supported principles and practices and suggests that hypnosis can be a useful adjunctive procedure in the treatment of posttraumatic conditions. Cognitive-behavioral and exposure-based interventions, which have the greatest empirical support, are highlighted, and an illustrative case study is presented.

Diversity in case management modalities: the Summit model.

PubMed

Peterson, G A; Drone, I D; Munetz, M R

1997-06-01

Though ubiquitous in community mental health agencies, case management suffers from a lack of consensus regarding its definition, essential components, and appropriate application. Meaningful comparisons of various case management models await such a consensus. Global assessments of case management must be replaced by empirical studies of specific interventions with respect to the needs of specific populations. The authors describe a highly differentiated and prescriptive system of case management involving the application of more than one model of service delivery. Such a diversified and targeted system offers an opportunity to study the technology of case management in a more meaningful manner.

A multicenter phase 2 study of empirical low-dose liposomal amphotericin B in patients with refractory febrile neutropenia.

PubMed

Miyao, Kotaro; Sawa, Masashi; Kurata, Mio; Suzuki, Ritsuro; Sakemura, Reona; Sakai, Toshiyasu; Kato, Tomonori; Sahashi, Satomi; Tsushita, Natsuko; Ozawa, Yukiyasu; Tsuzuki, Motohiro; Kohno, Akio; Adachi, Tatsuya; Watanabe, Keisuke; Ohbayashi, Kaneyuki; Inagaki, Yuichiro; Atsuta, Yoshiko; Emi, Nobuhiko

2017-01-01

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a major life-threatening problem encountered by patients with hematological malignancies receiving intensive chemotherapy. Empirical antifungal agents are therefore important. Despite the availability of antifungal agents for such situations, the optimal agents and administration methods remain unclear. We conducted a prospective phase 2 study of empirical 1 mg/kg/day liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) in 80 patients receiving intensive chemotherapy for hematological malignancies. All enrolled patients were high-risk and had recurrent prolonged febrile neutropenia despite having received broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy for at least 72 hours. Fifty-three patients (66.3 %) achieved the primary endpoint of successful treatment, thus exceeding the predefined threshold success rate. No patients developed IFI. The treatment completion rate was 73.8 %, and only two cases ceased treatment because of adverse events. The most frequent events were reversible electrolyte abnormalities. We consider low-dose L-AMB to provide comparable efficacy and improved safety and cost-effectiveness when compared with other empirical antifungal therapies. Additional large-scale randomized studies are needed to determine the clinical usefulness of L-AMB relative to other empirical antifungal therapies.

Identifying Human Trafficking Victims on a Psychiatry Inpatient Service: a Case Series.

PubMed

Nguyen, Phuong T; Lamkin, Joanna; Coverdale, John H; Scott, Samuel; Li, Karen; Gordon, Mollie R

2018-06-01

Human trafficking is a serious and prevalent human rights violation that closely intersects with mental health. Limited empirical attention has been paid to the presentations and identification of trafficking victims in psychiatric settings. The primary goal of this paper is to describe the varied presentations of trafficking victims on an urban inpatient psychiatric unit. A literature review was conducted to identify relevant empirical articles to inform our examination of cases. Adult inpatient cases meeting criteria for known or possible human trafficking were systematically identified and illustrative cases were described. Six cases were identified including one male and five females. Two had been labor trafficked and four were suspected or confirmed to have been sex trafficked. The cases demonstrated a tremendous diversity of demographic and psychiatric identifying factors. These cases indicate the importance of routinely screening for trafficking victims in inpatient psychiatry settings. Identification of cases is a requisite step in providing informed and evidence-based treatments and enabling the secondary prevention of re-exploitation. Additional research is warranted given the limited current empirical research on this topic area.

Polymorphism Thr160Thr in SRD5A1, involved in the progesterone metabolism, modifies postmenopausal breast cancer risk associated with menopausal hormone therapy.

PubMed

Hein, R; Abbas, S; Seibold, P; Salazar, R; Flesch-Janys, D; Chang-Claude, J

2012-01-01

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is associated with an increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, with combined estrogen-progestagen therapy posing a greater risk than estrogen monotherapy. However, few studies focused on potential effect modification of MHT-associated breast cancer risk by genetic polymorphisms in the progesterone metabolism. We assessed effect modification of MHT use by five coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the progesterone metabolizing enzymes AKR1C3 (rs7741), AKR1C4 (rs3829125, rs17134592), and SRD5A1 (rs248793, rs3736316) using a two-center population-based case-control study from Germany with 2,502 postmenopausal breast cancer patients and 4,833 matched controls. An empirical-Bayes procedure that tests for interaction using a weighted combination of the prospective and the retrospective case-control estimators as well as standard prospective logistic regression were applied to assess multiplicative statistical interaction between polymorphisms and duration of MHT use with regard to breast cancer risk assuming a log-additive mode of inheritance. No genetic marginal effects were observed. Breast cancer risk associated with duration of combined therapy was significantly modified by SRD5A1_rs3736316, showing a reduced risk elevation in carriers of the minor allele (p (interaction,empirical-Bayes) = 0.006 using the empirical-Bayes method, p (interaction,logistic regression) = 0.013 using logistic regression). The risk associated with duration of use of monotherapy was increased by AKR1C3_rs7741 in minor allele carriers (p (interaction,empirical-Bayes) = 0.083, p (interaction,logistic regression) = 0.029) and decreased in minor allele carriers of two SNPs in AKR1C4 (rs3829125: p (interaction,empirical-Bayes) = 0.07, p (interaction,logistic regression) = 0.021; rs17134592: p (interaction,empirical-Bayes) = 0.101, p (interaction,logistic regression) = 0.038). After Bonferroni correction for multiple testing only SRD5A1_rs3736316 assessed using the empirical-Bayes method remained significant. Postmenopausal breast cancer risk associated with combined therapy may be modified by genetic variation in SRD5A1. Further well-powered studies are, however, required to replicate our finding.

Hard Cases and Soft Concepts of Change and Leadership in Universities. ASHE 1987 Annual Meeting Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mock, Carol

Empirical hypotheses about organizational change are compared with actual case studies of change and leadership at the University of California (UC) system. The hypotheses are based on the sociological literature on complex organizations and are derived from three perspectives: (1) rational choice and analytic approaches, (2) cognitive…

[Configuring relationship--a condition for a functional institutional cooperation to assure assistance for children with mentally ill parents].

PubMed

Brockmann, Eva; Lenz, Albert

2010-01-01

A functional cooperation between support systems of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic facilities and of youth-welfare institutions is necessary to assure operant assistance for children of parents with psychiatric illness and their families. In many cases the cooperation efforts stay on structural layer without taking the configuration of the relationship between the agents into consideration. Despite high relevance for practical working there are only a few empirical studies, which are concerned with relationship configuration. In a quality investigation requirements of collaboration on inter-institutional and internal-institutional layer were explored as well as case-related and case-crossed cooperation. On the basis of empirical results concretical recommended proceedures were given for configure the relationship in coorporation at the interface of support systems and amplified of specifical requirements of psychiatric/psychotherapeutic and youth-welfare institutions.

The Typology and Function of Private Speech in a Young Man with Intellectual Disabilities: An Empirical Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lechler, Suzanne; Hare, Dougal Julian

2015-01-01

A naturalistic observational single case study was carried out to investigate the form and function of private speech (PS) in a young man with Dandy-Walker variant syndrome and trisomy 22. Video recordings were observed, transcribed and coded to identify all combinations of type and form of PS. Through comparison between theories of PS and the…

The Role of Intuition in the Process of Objectification of Mathematical Phenomena from a Husserlian Perspective: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zagorianakos, Andonis; Shvarts, Anna

2015-01-01

The research is a study of the Husserlian approach to intuition, informed by Merleau-Ponty's theory of perception, in the case of a prospective teacher of mathematics. It explores the two major stages-categories of intuition, the essential relations between them, and their vital role in the emergence of empirical and abstract mathematical…

An Exploratory Use of the Stakeholder Approach to Defining and Measuring Quality: The Case of a Cypriot Higher Education Institution

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iacovidou, Melpo; Gibbs, Paul; Zopiatis, Anastasios

2009-01-01

Cyprus has recently adopted laws to allow for the provision of private higher education. This case study concerns one such institution that is developing its understanding of quality through the eyes of two of its key stakeholders, staff and students. This empirical study is nested within the literature that advocates community-wide acceptance of…

Global Citizenship Education within a Context of Accountability and 21st Century Skills: The Case of Olympus High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DiCicco, Marzia Cozzolino

2016-01-01

This article addresses the present gap in empirical research on the possibilities and challenges of global citizenship education in U.S. public schools by presenting findings from a five-year, ethnographic case study. The setting for this study is Olympus High School, a small, suburban public high school in Pennsylvania. Beginning in the 2009-2010…

Characterisation of Best Practices in the Development of Cross-Curricular Competences in Vocational Education and Training: Case Study in the Basque Country

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eizagirre Sagardia, Ana; Imaz Bengoetxea, Jose Inazio; Rekalde Rodríguez, Itziar

2018-01-01

This paper presents the most important results of a research project aimed at gathering empirical evidence on current efforts to foster and develop cross-curricular competences (CCC) in Vocational Education and Training (VET) Centres located in the Basque Country (Spain). The case study research method was used, with data being gathered by means…

Kickoff to Conflict: A Sequence Analysis of Intra-State Conflict-Preceding Event Structures

PubMed Central

D'Orazio, Vito; Yonamine, James E.

2015-01-01

While many studies have suggested or assumed that the periods preceding the onset of intra-state conflict are similar across time and space, few have empirically tested this proposition. Using the Integrated Crisis Early Warning System's domestic event data in Asia from 1998–2010, we subject this proposition to empirical analysis. We code the similarity of government-rebel interactions in sequences preceding the onset of intra-state conflict to those preceding further periods of peace using three different metrics: Euclidean, Levenshtein, and mutual information. These scores are then used as predictors in a bivariate logistic regression to forecast whether we are likely to observe conflict in neither, one, or both of the states. We find that our model accurately classifies cases where both sequences precede peace, but struggles to distinguish between cases in which one sequence escalates to conflict and where both sequences escalate to conflict. These findings empirically suggest that generalizable patterns exist between event sequences that precede peace. PMID:25951105

Increased cefepime MIC for enterobacteriacae clinical isolates.

PubMed

Najafi, Narges; Alikhani, Ahmad; Babamahmoudi, Farhang; Davoudi, Alireza; Ghasemiyan, Roya; Aliyan, Shahriar; Shoujaiifar, Arman

2013-01-01

Background : Cefepime was used as empirical treatment in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) induced by gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of cefepime against microorganism causing VAP in Mazandaran, North of Iran. This study was performed on VAP patients diagnosed with clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) scores in ICU of two hospitals. For each patient suspected of having VAP, quantitative culture of endotracheal aspiration (QEA) was performed and MIC was determined by micro dilution test. Data were collected and analyzed. Thirty- five cases of enterobacteriaceae were isolated orderly including E coli 13, P. aeruginosa 11, Enterobacter 7 and K. pneumonia 4 cases. All the isolated E. coli, Enterobacter and Klebsiella, 54.5% of P. aeruginosa isolated were fully resistant to cefepime. The results of this study show that cefepime is not a reasonable choice for empirical treatment of nosocomial pneumonia and VAP.

Deciding for imperilled newborns: medical authority or parental autonomy?

PubMed Central

McHaffie, H.; Laing, I.; Parker, M.; McMillan, J.

2001-01-01

The ethical issues around decision making on behalf of infants have been illuminated by two empirical research studies carried out in Scotland. In-depth interviews with 176 medical and nursing staff and with 108 parents of babies for whom there was discussion of treatment withholding/withdrawal, generated a wealth of data on both the decision making process and the management of cases. Both staff and parents believe that parents should be involved in treatment limitation decisions on behalf of their babies. However, whilst many doctors and nurses consider the ultimate responsibility too great for families to carry, the majority of parents wish to be the final arbiters. We offer explanations for the differences in perception found in the two groups. The results of these empirical studies provide both aids to ethical reflection and guidance for clinicians dealing with these vulnerable families. They demonstrate the value of empirical data in the philosophical debate. Key Words: Empirical ethics • treatment limitation • parental autonomy • decision making PMID:11314152

Empirical validation of an agent-based model of wood markets in Switzerland

PubMed Central

Hilty, Lorenz M.; Lemm, Renato; Thees, Oliver

2018-01-01

We present an agent-based model of wood markets and show our efforts to validate this model using empirical data from different sources, including interviews, workshops, experiments, and official statistics. Own surveys closed gaps where data was not available. Our approach to model validation used a variety of techniques, including the replication of historical production amounts, prices, and survey results, as well as a historical case study of a large sawmill entering the market and becoming insolvent only a few years later. Validating the model using this case provided additional insights, showing how the model can be used to simulate scenarios of resource availability and resource allocation. We conclude that the outcome of the rigorous validation qualifies the model to simulate scenarios concerning resource availability and allocation in our study region. PMID:29351300

Reasoning with case histories of process knowledge for efficient process development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bharwani, Seraj S.; Walls, Joe T.; Jackson, Michael E.

1988-01-01

The significance of compiling case histories of empirical process knowledge and the role of such histories in improving the efficiency of manufacturing process development is discussed in this paper. Methods of representing important investigations as cases and using the information from such cases to eliminate redundancy of empirical investigations in analogous process development situations are also discussed. A system is proposed that uses such methods to capture the problem-solving framework of the application domain. A conceptual design of the system is presented and discussed.

Association of Long Runs of Homozygosity With Alzheimer Disease Among African American Individuals

PubMed Central

Ghani, Mahdi; Reitz, Christiane; Cheng, Rong; Vardarajan, Badri Narayan; Jun, Gyungah; Sato, Christine; Naj, Adam; Rajbhandary, Ruchita; Wang, Li-San; Valladares, Otto; Lin, Chiao-Feng; Larson, Eric B.; Graff-Radford, Neill R.; Evans, Denis; De Jager, Philip L.; Crane, Paul K.; Buxbaum, Joseph D.; Murrell, Jill R.; Raj, Towfique; Ertekin-Taner, Nilufer; Logue, Mark; Baldwin, Clinton T.; Green, Robert C.; Barnes, Lisa L.; Cantwell, Laura B.; Fallin, M. Daniele; Go, Rodney C. P.; Griffith, Patrick A.; Obisesan, Thomas O.; Manly, Jennifer J.; Lunetta, Kathryn L.; Kamboh, M. Ilyas; Lopez, Oscar L.; Bennett, David A.; Hendrie, Hugh; Hall, Kathleen S.; Goate, Alison M.; Byrd, Goldie S.; Kukull, Walter A.; Foroud, Tatiana M.; Haines, Jonathan L.; Farrer, Lindsay A.; Pericak-Vance, Margaret A.; Lee, Joseph H.; Schellenberg, Gerard D.; St. George-Hyslop, Peter; Mayeux, Richard; Rogaeva, Ekaterina

2015-01-01

IMPORTANCE Mutations in known causal Alzheimer disease (AD) genes account for only 1% to 3% of patients and almost all are dominantly inherited. Recessive inheritance of complex phenotypes can be linked to long (>1-megabase [Mb]) runs of homozygosity (ROHs) detectable by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between ROHs and AD in an African American population known to have a risk for AD up to 3 times higher than white individuals. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Case-control study of a large African American data set previously genotyped on different genome-wide SNP arrays conducted from December 2013 to January 2015. Global and locus-based ROH measurements were analyzed using raw or imputed genotype data. We studied the raw genotypes from 2 case-control subsets grouped based on SNP array: Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium data set (871 cases and 1620 control individuals) and Chicago Health and Aging Project–Indianapolis Ibadan Dementia Study data set (279 cases and 1367 control individuals). We then examined the entire data set using imputed genotypes from 1917 cases and 3858 control individuals. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The ROHs larger than 1 Mb, 2 Mb, or 3 Mb were investigated separately for global burden evaluation, consensus regions, and gene-based analyses. RESULTS The African American cohort had a low degree of inbreeding (F ~ 0.006). In the Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium data set, we detected a significantly higher proportion of cases with ROHs greater than 2 Mb (P = .004) or greater than 3 Mb (P = .02), as well as a significant 114-kilobase consensus region on chr4q31.3 (empirical P value 2 = .04; ROHs >2 Mb). In the Chicago Health and Aging Project–Indianapolis Ibadan Dementia Study data set, we identified a significant 202-kilobase consensus region on Chr15q24.1 (empirical P value 2 = .02; ROHs >1 Mb) and a cluster of 13 significant genes on Chr3p21.31 (empirical P value 2 = .03; ROHs >3 Mb). A total of 43 of 49 nominally significant genes common for both data sets also mapped to Chr3p21.31. Analyses of imputed SNP data from the entire data set confirmed the association of AD with global ROH measurements (12.38 ROHs >1 Mb in cases vs 12.11 in controls; 2.986 Mb average size of ROHs >2 Mb in cases vs 2.889 Mb in controls; and 22% of cases with ROHs >3 Mb vs 19% of controls) and a gene-cluster on Chr3p21.31 (empirical P value 2 = .006-.04; ROHs >3 Mb). Also, we detected a significant association between AD and CLDN17 (empirical P value 2 = .01; ROHs >1 Mb), encoding a protein from the Claudin family, members of which were previously suggested as AD biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE To our knowledge, we discovered the first evidence of increased burden of ROHs among patients with AD from an outbred African American population, which could reflect either the cumulative effect of multiple ROHs to AD or the contribution of specific loci harboring recessive mutations and risk haplotypes in a subset of patients. Sequencing is required to uncover AD variants in these individuals. PMID:26366463

Evaluation of empirical treatment for blood culture-negative endocarditis.

PubMed

Menu, Estelle; Gouriet, Frédérique; Casalta, Jean-Paul; Tissot-Dupont, Hervé; Vecten, Maude; Saby, Ludivine; Hubert, Sandrine; Salaun, Erwan; Theron, Alexis; Grisoli, Dominique; Lavoute, Cécile; Collart, Frédéric; Habib, Gilbert; Raoult, Didier

2017-01-01

Much progress has been made in understanding the main causes of blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE). Few studies concerning BCNE treatment (due to previous antibiotics used or fastidious pathogens) are available. We performed this study to evaluate the effectiveness of our therapeutic protocol in BCNE, based on compliance with the protocol, outcome and 1 year mortality. We collected prospectively and analysed retrospectively cases of BCNE between 2002 and 2014, using a simplified and standardized protocol developed by our multidisciplinary team. We apply two kinds of protocols to treat BCNE, which include only four intravenous antimicrobial agents: amoxicillin, vancomycin, gentamicin and amphotericin B. We had 177 patients with definite BCNE. There were 154 (87.0%) patients treated with both appropriate antimicrobial agents and appropriate duration of treatment. We analysed the causes of inappropriate treatment in 13 (7.3%) cases and inappropriate duration in 10 (5.6%) cases. The treatment changes were justified in all cases except one of discharge against medical advice. The fatality rate was 5.1% (nine cases) and all deaths occurred in the group of patients who were treated with appropriate treatment; however, four deaths were not attributable to empirical treatment failure. Concerning the other deaths, the lack of surgical management, in association with empirical treatment, could explain our protocol's failure, such as poorly tolerated surgery. Our protocol is efficient and our mortality rate was low, compared with the literature review. This may result from a strategy that uses a sampling procedure and a standardized protocol at the same time. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Charting Collective Knowledge: Supporting Self-Regulated Learning in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Littlejohn, Allison; Milligan, Colin; Margaryan, Anoush

2012-01-01

Purpose: This study aims to outline an approach to improving the effectiveness of work-based learning through knowledge creation and enhancing self-regulated learning. The paper presents a case example of a novel approach to learning through knowledge creation in the workplace. This case example is based on empirical data collected through a study…

What Would Humboldt Say: A Case of General Bildung in Vocational Education?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tyson, Ruhi

2016-01-01

A classic philosopher in the Bildung-tradition, Humboldt, argued that general Bildung was the opposite of specialist training (vocational education). This has been a matter of contention and the aim here is to revisit the issue through an empirical case study. In the vocational education biography of craft master Wolfgang B. he speaks about…

Three-Level Analysis of Single-Case Experimental Data: Empirical Validation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moeyaert, Mariola; Ugille, Maaike; Ferron, John M.; Beretvas, S. Natasha; Van den Noortgate, Wim

2014-01-01

One approach for combining single-case data involves use of multilevel modeling. In this article, the authors use a Monte Carlo simulation study to inform applied researchers under which realistic conditions the three-level model is appropriate. The authors vary the value of the immediate treatment effect and the treatment's effect on the time…

Policy impacts estimates are sensitive to data selection in empirical analysis: evidence from the United States – Canada softwood lumber trade dispute

Treesearch

Daowei Zhang; Rajan Parajuli

2016-01-01

In this paper, we use the U.S. softwood lumber import demand model as a case study to show that the effects of past trade policies are sensitive to the data sample used in empirical analyses.  We conclude that, to be consistent with the purpose of analysis of policy and to ensure all else being equal, policy impacts can only be judged by using data up to the time when...

Has the DOTS Strategy Improved Case Finding or Treatment Success? An Empirical Assessment

PubMed Central

Obermeyer, Ziad; Abbott-Klafter, Jesse; Murray, Christopher J. L.

2008-01-01

Background Nearly fifteen years after the start of WHO's DOTS strategy, tuberculosis remains a major global health problem. Given the lack of empirical evidence that DOTS reduces tuberculosis burden, considerable debate has arisen about its place in the future of global tuberculosis control efforts. An independent evaluation of DOTS, one of the most widely-implemented and longest-running interventions in global health, is a prerequisite for meaningful improvements to tuberculosis control efforts, including WHO's new Stop TB Strategy. We investigate the impact of the expansion of the DOTS strategy on tuberculosis case finding and treatment success, using only empirical data. Methods and Findings We study the effect of DOTS using time-series cross-sectional methods. We first estimate the impact of DOTS expansion on case detection, using reported case notification data and controlling for other determinants of change in notifications, including HIV prevalence, GDP, and country-specific effects. We then estimate the effect of DOTS expansion on treatment success. DOTS programme variables had no statistically significant impact on case detection in a wide range of models and specifications. DOTS population coverage had a significant effect on overall treatment success rates, such that countries with full DOTS coverage benefit from at least an 18% increase in treatment success (95% CI: 5–31%). Conclusions The DOTS technical package improved overall treatment success. By contrast, DOTS expansion had no effect on case detection. This finding is less optimistic than previous analyses. Better epidemiological and programme data would facilitate future monitoring and evaluation efforts. PMID:18320042

Do I Belong? Factors Contributing to the Development of Social Belonging of Children Who Are Homeless in Southeastern United States Shelters: A Multi-Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ott, Corilyn Mae

2012-01-01

This qualitative multiple case study explored the factors that contribute to the development of social belonging in the classroom for children who are homeless age's five to seven. Previous empirical research has shown the importance of children who are homeless developing belonging in the classroom and other research has shown the negative…

Satanism among Adolescents: Empirical and Clinical Considerations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steck, Gary M.; And Others

1992-01-01

Reviews literature on adolescent involvement in satanism. Presents results from a pilot study along with a case study to illustrate factors that may alert practitioners to adolescents who are susceptible to satanic influences. Discusses interventions for dealing with this adolescent subpopulation. (Author/NB)

Implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Construction: A Comparative Case Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rowlinson, Steve; Collins, Ronan; Tuuli, Martin M.; Jia, Yunyan

2010-05-01

Building Information Modeling (BIM) approach is increasingly adopted in coordination of construction projects, with a number of parties providing BIM services and software solutions. However, the empirical impact of BIM on construction industry has yet to be investigated. This paper explores the interaction between BIM and the construction industry during its implementation, with a specific focus on the empirical impacts of BIM on the design and construction processes and professional roles during the process. Two cases were selected from recent construction projects coordinated with BIM systems: the Venetian Casino project in Macau and the Cathy Pacific Cargo Terminal project in Hong Kong. The former case illustrates how the conflicts emerged during the design process and procurement were addressed by adopting a BIM approach. The latter demonstrates how the adoption of BIM altered the roles of architect, contractor, and sub-contractors involved in the project. The impacts of BIM were critically reviewed and discussed.

Resettling the Thoughts of Ernst Mach and the Vienna Circle in Europe: The Cases of Finland and Germany

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siemsen, Hayo; Siemsen, Karl Hayo

2009-04-01

Although it is generally assumed that the thoughts of Ernst Mach and the scientific fields he influenced (in this case psychophysics and Gestalt psychology) emigrated from Europe during Second World War they apparently survived in Finland, influencing the Finnish education system. The following article evaluates this relationship and its implications from a historical and an empirical perspective. In empirical studies comparing the education systems of different countries, such as PISA, the Finns are in general regarded as being very successful with their school system. Does this apparent success have anything to do with a Machian influence? Our current research has so far revealed that the Finns have gone through an independent cultural development in two specific aspects: in the idea of the development of the individual personality (Snellman) and in a specific phenomenalism (developed primarily by Eino Kaila, in which Kaila was heavily influenced in this by Ernst Mach). The result can be regarded as a nation-wide “Experiment”, the empirical evaluation of which can be found partly in the statistics of the PISA Studies, especially the evaluation of Finland in relation to other countries.

[Fumaria officinalis (fumitory)--clinical applications].

PubMed

Hentschel, C; Dressler, S; Hahn, E G

1995-07-10

Fumaria officinalis-fumitory or earth smoke-is a medicinal plant which has long had a role to play in empirical medicine in numerous countries. A review of the literature, however, reveals very few studies that support its use for dermatological indications (milk crust, eczema, scabies, etc.) or as a diuretic or laxative. This contrasts with its use to treat functional diseases of the biliary system. Although no placebo-controlled studies have been done, a number of empirical reports, clinical case reports and animal experimental studies have been published. Accordingly, in Germany, Fumaria officinalis is approved for the indication "colicky pain affecting the gallbladder and biliary system, together with the gastrointestinal tract".

Consumer trust in food safety--a multidisciplinary approach and empirical evidence from Taiwan.

PubMed

Chen, Mei-Fang

2008-12-01

Food scandals that happened in recent years have increased consumers' risk perceptions of foods and decreased their trust in food safety. A better understanding of the consumer trust in food safety can improve the effectiveness of public policy and allow the development of the best practice in risk communication. This study proposes a research framework from a psychometric approach to investigate the relationships between the consumer's trust in food safety and the antecedents of risk perceptions of foods based on a reflexive modernization perspective and a cultural theory perspective in the hope of benefiting the future empirical study. The empirical results from a structural equation modeling analysis of Taiwan as a case in point reveal that this research framework based on a multidisciplinary perspective can be a valuable tool for a growing understanding of consumer trust in food safety. The antecedents in the psychometric research framework comprised reflexive modernization factors and cultural theory factors have all been supported in this study except the consumer's perception of pessimism toward food. Moreover, the empirical results of repeated measures analysis of variance give more detailed information to grasp empirical implications and to provide some suggestions to the actors and institutions involved in the food supply chain in Taiwan.

Disease Risk Score (DRS) as a Confounder Summary Method: Systematic Review and Recommendations

PubMed Central

Tadrous, Mina; Gagne, Joshua J.; Stürmer, Til; Cadarette, Suzanne M.

2013-01-01

Purpose To systematically examine trends and applications of the disease risk score (DRS) as a confounder summary method. Methods We completed a systematic search of MEDLINE and Web of Science® to identify all English language articles that applied DRS methods. We tabulated the number of publications by year and type (empirical application, methodological contribution, or review paper) and summarized methods used in empirical applications overall and by publication year (<2000, ≥2000). Results Of 714 unique articles identified, 97 examined DRS methods and 86 were empirical applications. We observed a bimodal distribution in the number of publications over time, with a peak 1979-1980, and resurgence since 2000. The majority of applications with methodological detail derived DRS using logistic regression (47%), used DRS as a categorical variable in regression (93%), and applied DRS in a non-experimental cohort (47%) or case-control (42%) study. Few studies examined effect modification by outcome risk (23%). Conclusion Use of DRS methods has increased yet remains low. Comparative effectiveness research may benefit from more DRS applications, particularly to examine effect modification by outcome risk. Standardized terminology may facilitate identification, application, and comprehension of DRS methods. More research is needed to support the application of DRS methods, particularly in case-control studies. PMID:23172692

Disease risk score as a confounder summary method: systematic review and recommendations.

PubMed

Tadrous, Mina; Gagne, Joshua J; Stürmer, Til; Cadarette, Suzanne M

2013-02-01

To systematically examine trends and applications of the disease risk score (DRS) as a confounder summary method. We completed a systematic search of MEDLINE and Web of Science® to identify all English language articles that applied DRS methods. We tabulated the number of publications by year and type (empirical application, methodological contribution, or review paper) and summarized methods used in empirical applications overall and by publication year (<2000, ≥2000). Of 714 unique articles identified, 97 examined DRS methods and 86 were empirical applications. We observed a bimodal distribution in the number of publications over time, with a peak 1979-1980, and resurgence since 2000. The majority of applications with methodological detail derived DRS using logistic regression (47%), used DRS as a categorical variable in regression (93%), and applied DRS in a non-experimental cohort (47%) or case-control (42%) study. Few studies examined effect modification by outcome risk (23%). Use of DRS methods has increased yet remains low. Comparative effectiveness research may benefit from more DRS applications, particularly to examine effect modification by outcome risk. Standardized terminology may facilitate identification, application, and comprehension of DRS methods. More research is needed to support the application of DRS methods, particularly in case-control studies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Inter-provider comparison of patient-reported outcomes: developing an adjustment to account for differences in patient case mix.

PubMed

Nuttall, David; Parkin, David; Devlin, Nancy

2015-01-01

This paper describes the development of a methodology for the case-mix adjustment of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) data permitting the comparison of outcomes between providers on a like-for-like basis. Statistical models that take account of provider-specific effects form the basis of the proposed case-mix adjustment methodology. Indirect standardisation provides a transparent means of case mix adjusting the PROMs data, which are updated on a monthly basis. Recently published PROMs data for patients undergoing unilateral knee replacement are used to estimate empirical models and to demonstrate the application of the proposed case-mix adjustment methodology in practice. The results are illustrative and are used to highlight a number of theoretical and empirical issues that warrant further exploration. For example, because of differences between PROMs instruments, case-mix adjustment methodologies may require instrument-specific approaches. A number of key assumptions are made in estimating the empirical models, which could be open to challenge. The covariates of post-operative health status could be expanded, and alternative econometric methods could be employed. © 2013 Crown copyright.

Learning from MOOCs: A Qualitative Case Study from the Learners' Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Park, Yeonjeong; Jung, Insung; Reeves, Thomas C.

2015-01-01

This study describes the massive open online course (MOOC) experiences of three educational technology scholars assuming the roles of learners. Adapting Carroll's model of school learning as a theoretical framework, the study employed an autoethnography method to collect empirical data in three different MOOCs. Data analysis from regularly…

Students' Test Motivation in PISA: The Case of Norway

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hopfenbeck, Therese N.; Kjaernsli, Marit

2016-01-01

Do students make their best effort in large-scale assessment studies such as the "Programme for International Student Assessment" (PISA)? Despite six cycles of PISA surveys from 2000 to 2015, empirical studies regarding students' test motivation and experience of the tests are sparse. The present study examines students' test motivation…

Satanism among adolescents: empirical and clinical considerations.

PubMed

Steck, G M; Anderson, S A; Boylin, W M

1992-01-01

This paper reviews the literature on adolescent involvement in satanism. Results from a pilot study are presented along with a case study to illustrate factors that may alert practitioners to adolescents who are susceptible to satanic influences. Interventions for dealing with this adolescent subpopulation are discussed.

Group Sequential Testing of the Predictive Accuracy of a Continuous Biomarker with Unknown Prevalence

PubMed Central

Koopmeiners, Joseph S.; Feng, Ziding

2015-01-01

Group sequential testing procedures have been proposed as an approach to conserving resources in biomarker validation studies. Previously, Koopmeiners and Feng (2011) derived the asymptotic properties of the sequential empirical positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value curves, which summarize the predictive accuracy of a continuous marker, under case-control sampling. A limitation of their approach is that the prevalence can not be estimated from a case-control study and must be assumed known. In this manuscript, we consider group sequential testing of the predictive accuracy of a continuous biomarker with unknown prevalence. First, we develop asymptotic theory for the sequential empirical PPV and NPV curves when the prevalence must be estimated, rather than assumed known in a case-control study. We then discuss how our results can be combined with standard group sequential methods to develop group sequential testing procedures and bias-adjusted estimators for the PPV and NPV curve. The small sample properties of the proposed group sequential testing procedures and estimators are evaluated by simulation and we illustrate our approach in the context of a study to validate a novel biomarker for prostate cancer. PMID:26537180

Campylobacter bacteremia in London: A 44-year single-center study.

PubMed

O'Hara, Geraldine A; Fitchett, Joseph R A; Klein, John L

2017-09-01

Campylobacter species are a well-recognized but rare cause of bloodstream infection. Here we reviewed 41 cases of Campylobacter bloodstream infection occurring at a single center in London over 44years, comprising 0.2% of all recorded episodes during this time period. Patients had a mean age of 46years and, contrasting with previous reports, nearly 50% of our patients did not have significant comorbidities. Ciprofloxacin resistance increased over the study period with 35% of isolates overall being resistant compared with only 3% exhibiting macrolide resistance. Despite a minority of patients receiving appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy, overall mortality was only 7%. Campylobacter bacteremia remains a rare but significant cause of morbidity with a low associated mortality. Underlying immunosuppressive conditions are common but by no means universal. In our setting, macrolides would be favored as empirical agents to treat suspected Campylobacter enteritis, including cases with associated bacteremia. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New mechanisms of cluster diffusion on metal fcc(100) surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trushin, Oleg; Salo, Petri; Alatalo, Matti; Ala-Nissila, Tapio

2001-03-01

We have studied atomic mechanisms of the diffusion of small clusters on the fcc(100) metal surfaces using semi-empirical and ab-initio molecular static calculations. Primary goal of these studies was to investigate possible many-body mechanisms of cluster motion which can contribute to low temperature crystal growth. We used embedded atom and Glue potentials in semi-empirical simulations of Cu and Al. Combination of the Nudged Elastic Band and Eigenvector Following methods allowed us to find all the possible transition paths for cluster movements on flat terrace. In case of Cu(001) we have found several new mechanisms for diffusion of clusters, including mechanisms called row-shearing and dimer-rotating in which a whole row inside an island moves according to a concerted jump and a dimer rotates at the periphery of an island, respectively. In some cases these mechanisms yield a lower energy barrier than the standard mechanisms.

Causation in risk assessment and management: models, inference, biases, and a microbial risk-benefit case study.

PubMed

Cox, L A; Ricci, P F

2005-04-01

Causal inference of exposure-response relations from data is a challenging aspect of risk assessment with important implications for public and private risk management. Such inference, which is fundamentally empirical and based on exposure (or dose)-response models, seldom arises from a single set of data; rather, it requires integrating heterogeneous information from diverse sources and disciplines including epidemiology, toxicology, and cell and molecular biology. The causal aspects we discuss focus on these three aspects: drawing sound inferences about causal relations from one or more observational studies; addressing and resolving biases that can affect a single multivariate empirical exposure-response study; and applying the results from these considerations to the microbiological risk management of human health risks and benefits of a ban on antibiotic use in animals, in the context of banning enrofloxacin or macrolides, antibiotics used against bacterial illnesses in poultry, and the effects of such bans on changing the risk of human food-borne campylobacteriosis infections. The purposes of this paper are to describe novel causal methods for assessing empirical causation and inference; exemplify how to deal with biases that routinely arise in multivariate exposure- or dose-response modeling; and provide a simplified discussion of a case study of causal inference using microbial risk analysis as an example. The case study supports the conclusion that the human health benefits from a ban are unlikely to be greater than the excess human health risks that it could create, even when accounting for uncertainty. We conclude that quantitative causal analysis of risks is a preferable to qualitative assessments because it does not involve unjustified loss of information and is sound under the inferential use of risk results by management.

Comparison of Expert-Based and Empirical Evaluation Methodologies in the Case of a CBL Environment: The ''Orestis'' Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karoulis, Athanasis; Demetriadis, Stavros; Pombortsis, Andreas

2006-01-01

This paper compares several interface evaluation methods applied in the case of a computer based learning (CBL) environment, during a longitudinal study performed in three European countries, Greece, Germany, and Holland, and within the framework of an EC funded Leonardo da Vinci program. The paper firstly considers the particularities of the CBL…

Case Study in Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology: The Use of the Coping Power Program to Treat a 10-Year-Old Girl with Disruptive Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lochman, John E.; Boxmeyer, Caroline; Powell, Nicole; Wojnaroski, Mary; Yaros, Anna

2007-01-01

This article describes the successful application of the Coping Power program by school-based clinicians to address a 10-year-old girl's disruptive behavior symptoms. Coping Power is an empirically supported cognitive-behavioral program for children at risk for serious conduct problems and their parents. The following case study illustrates the…

"The BFG" and the Spaghetti Book Club: A Case Study of Children as Critics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoffman, A. Robin

2010-01-01

Situated at the intersections of ethnography, childhood studies, literary studies, and education research, this reception study seeks to access real children's responses to a particular text, and to offer empirical description of actual reading experiences. Survey data is generated by taking advantage of an online resource: an archive of…

Reported Influence of Evaluation Data on Decision Makers' Actions: An Empirical Examination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christie, Christina A.

2007-01-01

Using a set of scenarios derived from actual evaluation studies, this simulation study examines the reported influence of evaluation information on decision makers' potential actions. Each scenario described a context where one of three types of evaluation information (large-scale study data, case study data, or anecdotal accounts) is presented…

De-escalation as part of a global strategy of empiric antibiotherapy management. A retrospective study in a medico-surgical intensive care unit

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Introduction Most data on de-escalation of empirical antimicrobial therapy has focused on ventilator-associated pneumonia. In this retrospective monocentric study, we evaluated de-escalation as part of a global strategy of empiric antibiotherapy management irrespective of the location and the severity of the infection. The goal of this trial was to assess the application of a de-escalation strategy and the impact in terms of re-escalation, recurrent infection and to identify variables associated with de-escalation. Methods All consecutive patients treated with empiric antibiotic therapy and hospitalized in the intensive care unit for at least 72 hours within a period of 16 months were included. We compared the characteristics and outcome of patients who have experienced de-escalation therapy with those who have not. Results A total of 116 patients were studied corresponding to 133 infections. Antibiotic therapy was de-escalated in 60 cases (45%). De-escalation, primarily accomplished by a reduction in the number of antibiotics used, was observed in 52% of severe sepsis or septic shock patients. Adequate empiric antibiotic and use of aminoglycoside were independently linked with de-escalation. De-escalation therapy was associated with a significant reduction of recurrent infection (19% vs 5% P = 0.01). Mortality was not changed by de-escalation. Conclusions As part of a global management of empiric antibiotherapy in an intensive care unit, de-escalation might be safe and feasible in a large proportion of patients. PMID:21167047

De-escalation as part of a global strategy of empiric antibiotherapy management. A retrospective study in a medico-surgical intensive care unit.

PubMed

Morel, Jérôme; Casoetto, Julie; Jospé, Richard; Aubert, Gérald; Terrana, Raphael; Dumont, Alain; Molliex, Serge; Auboyer, Christian

2010-01-01

Most data on de-escalation of empirical antimicrobial therapy has focused on ventilator-associated pneumonia. In this retrospective monocentric study, we evaluated de-escalation as part of a global strategy of empiric antibiotherapy management irrespective of the location and the severity of the infection. The goal of this trial was to assess the application of a de-escalation strategy and the impact in terms of re-escalation, recurrent infection and to identify variables associated with de-escalation. All consecutive patients treated with empiric antibiotic therapy and hospitalized in the intensive care unit for at least 72 hours within a period of 16 months were included. We compared the characteristics and outcome of patients who have experienced de-escalation therapy with those who have not. A total of 116 patients were studied corresponding to 133 infections. Antibiotic therapy was de-escalated in 60 cases (45%). De-escalation, primarily accomplished by a reduction in the number of antibiotics used, was observed in 52% of severe sepsis or septic shock patients. Adequate empiric antibiotic and use of aminoglycoside were independently linked with de-escalation. De-escalation therapy was associated with a significant reduction of recurrent infection (19% vs 5% P = 0.01). Mortality was not changed by de-escalation. As part of a global management of empiric antibiotherapy in an intensive care unit, de-escalation might be safe and feasible in a large proportion of patients.

Treatment outcomes in patients with third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacter bacteremia.

PubMed

O'Neal, Catherine S; O'Neal, Hollis R; Daniels, Titus L; Talbot, Thomas R

2012-10-01

Infections with resistant Enterobacter spp. are increasingly described, yet data on outcomes associated with these infections are limited. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate outcomes of hospitalized patients with third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (CR) Enterobacter bacteremia. Cephalosporin resistance was detected using cefotaxime and cefpodoxime. Patients with Enterobacter spp. bacteremia from January 2006 through February 2008 defined the population. We defined cases as those with CR isolates; controls were patients with bacteremia due to non-CR isolates. Treatment failure was defined as persistence of the presenting signs of infection 72 h after initial culture collection. Of the 95 Enterobacter cases identified, 31 (33%) were CR. CR cases were significantly associated with treatment failure (odds ratio (OR) 2.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-6.94). This association was not seen after adjustment for age, simplified acute physiology score (SAPS II), and inappropriate empiric antibiotic therapy. Inappropriate empiric therapy (adjusted OR 3.86, 95% CI 1.32-11.31) and SAPS II score (adjusted OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.16) were significantly associated with treatment failure in the multivariate analysis. Third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacter bacteremia is associated with treatment failure due to receipt of inappropriate empiric antibiotic therapy and severity of illness.

Evaluating the effect of intraoperative peritoneal lavage on bacterial culture in dogs with suspected septic peritonitis.

PubMed

Swayne, Seanna L; Brisson, Brigitte; Weese, J Scott; Sears, William

2012-09-01

This pilot study describes the effect of intraoperative peritoneal lavage (IOPL) on bacterial counts and outcome in clinical cases of septic peritonitis. Intraoperative samples were cultured before and after IOPL. Thirty-three dogs with presumed septic peritonitis on the basis of cytology were managed surgically during the study period. Positive pre-lavage bacterial cultures were found in 14 cases, 13 of which were a result of intestinal leakage. The post-lavage cultures showed fewer isolates in 9 cases and in 1 case became negative. The number of dogs with a decrease in the concentration of bacteria cultured from pre-lavage to post-lavage samples was not statistically significant. There was no significant effect of the change in pre- to post-lavage culture, single versus multiple types of bacteria, selection of an appropriate empiric antimicrobial on survival or the need for subsequent surgery. This pilot study describes the effect of intraoperative peritoneal lavage (IOPL) on bacterial counts and outcome in clinical cases of septic peritonitis. Intraoperative samples were cultured before and after IOPL. Thirty-three dogs with presumed septic peritonitis on the basis of cytology were managed surgically during the study period. Positive pre-lavage bacterial cultures were found in 14 cases, 13 of which were a result of intestinal leakage. The post-lavage cultures showed fewer isolates in 9 cases and in 1 case became negative. The number of dogs with a decrease in the concentration of bacteria cultured from pre-lavage to post-lavage samples was not statistically significant. There was no significant effect of the change in pre- to post-lavage culture, single versus multiple types of bacteria, selection of an appropriate empiric antimicrobial on survival or the need for subsequent surgery.

Impact of round-the-clock CSF Gram stain on empirical therapy for suspected central nervous system infections.

PubMed

Tissot, F; Prod'hom, G; Manuel, O; Greub, G

2015-09-01

The impact of round-the-clock cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Gram stain on overnight empirical therapy for suspected central nervous system (CNS) infections was investigated. All consecutive overnight CSF Gram stains between 2006 and 2011 were included. The impact of a positive or a negative test on empirical therapy was evaluated and compared to other clinical and biological indications based on institutional guidelines. Bacterial CNS infection was documented in 51/241 suspected cases. Overnight CSF Gram stain was positive in 24/51. Upon validation, there were two false-positive and one false-negative results. The sensitivity and specificity were 41 and 99 %, respectively. All patients but one had other indications for empirical therapy than Gram stain alone. Upon obtaining the Gram result, empirical therapy was modified in 7/24, including the addition of an appropriate agent (1), addition of unnecessary agents (3) and simplification of unnecessary combination therapy (3/11). Among 74 cases with a negative CSF Gram stain and without formal indication for empirical therapy, antibiotics were withheld in only 29. Round-the-clock CSF Gram stain had a low impact on overnight empirical therapy for suspected CNS infections and was associated with several misinterpretation errors. Clinicians showed little confidence in CSF direct examination for simplifying or withholding therapy before definite microbiological results.

[Clinical usefulness of the combined empirical therapy with flomoxef and fosfomycin for intractable respiratory tract infections. With a background of increasing MRSA incidence].

PubMed

Shimada, K; Kudoh, S; Hayashi, I; Shishido, H; Fukuchi, Y; Suzuki, H; Oritsu, M; Nakada, K; Sano, Y; Goto, H

1994-10-01

We conducted a multicenter trial to determine the clinical usefulness of the combined therapy with flomoxef (FMOX) and fosfomycin (FOM) (FF therapy) as an empirical therapy in the treatment of intractable respiratory tract infections, because FF therapy has clinically been proved to be very useful for the treatment of severe infections including MRSA infections. The overall efficacy rate of FF therapy was 69.2%. The efficacy rate for "pneumonia/lung abscess," which occupy the largest portions of respiratory tract infections, was 70.0%, showing a statistically significant difference from the efficacy rate for FMOX alone (56.7%) found in a previous study (P = 0.09 by chi-squared test). Although MRSA was eradicated in only 3 cases (37.5%) including superinfection cases, of 8 patients, from whom MRSA had been isolated as causative organisms, none of our patients were superinfected with MRSA. Thus it has been concluded that FF therapy is clinically very useful when used as an empirical therapy in the treatment of respiratory tract infections.

Sulfonylurea treatment before genetic testing in neonatal diabetes: pros and cons.

PubMed

Carmody, David; Bell, Charles D; Hwang, Jessica L; Dickens, Jazzmyne T; Sima, Daniela I; Felipe, Dania L; Zimmer, Carrie A; Davis, Ajuah O; Kotlyarevska, Kateryna; Naylor, Rochelle N; Philipson, Louis H; Greeley, Siri Atma W

2014-12-01

Diabetes in neonates nearly always has a monogenic etiology. Earlier sulfonylurea therapy can improve glycemic control and potential neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with KCNJ11 or ABCC8 mutations, the most common gene causes. Assess the risks and benefits of initiating sulfonylurea therapy before genetic testing results become available. Observational retrospective study of subjects with neonatal diabetes within the University of Chicago Monogenic Diabetes Registry. Response to sulfonylurea (determined by whether insulin could be discontinued) and treatment side effects in those treated empirically. A total of 154 subjects were diagnosed with diabetes before 6 months of age. A genetic diagnosis had been determined in 118 (77%), with 73 (47%) having a mutation in KCNJ11 or ABCC8. The median time from clinical diagnosis to genetic diagnosis was 10.4 weeks (range, 1.6 to 58.2 wk). In nine probands, an empiric sulfonylurea trial was initiated within 28 days of diabetes diagnosis. A genetic cause was subsequently found in eight cases, and insulin was discontinued within 14 days of sulfonylurea initiation in all of these cases. Sulfonylurea therapy appears to be safe and often successful in neonatal diabetes patients before genetic testing results are available; however, larger numbers of cases must be studied. Given the potential beneficial effect on neurodevelopmental outcome, glycemic control, and the current barriers to expeditious acquisition of genetic testing, an empiric inpatient trial of sulfonylurea can be considered. However, obtaining a genetic diagnosis remains imperative to inform long-term management and prognosis.

A case of jaundice of obscure origin.

PubMed

Khan, Fahad M; Alcorn, Joseph; Hanson, Joshua

2014-05-01

Idiopathic painless jaundice with significant elevations in serum transaminases, occurring in a previously healthy patient, invokes a circumscribed set of possibilities including viral hepatitis, auto-immune hepatitis (AIH) and drug-induced liver injury (DILI). In this described case, common causes of cholestatic jaundice were considered including drug-induced liver injury, viral causes of hepatitis, and auto-immune antibodies. Biliary obstruction was excluded by appropriate imaging studies. Liver biopsy was obtained, though not definitive. After detailed investigation failed to reveal a cause of the jaundice, an empiric trial of steroids was initiated on the possibility that our patient had antibody-negative AIH and not DILI, with an associated grave prognosis. Empiric treatment with prednisone led to rapid resolution of jaundice and to the conclusion that the correct diagnosis was antibody-negative AIH.

Outbreak patterns of the novel avian influenza (H7N9)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Ya-Nan; Lou, Jing-Jing; Han, Xiao-Pu

2014-05-01

The attack of novel avian influenza (H7N9) in East China caused a serious health crisis and public panic. In this paper, we empirically analyze the onset patterns of human cases of the novel avian influenza and observe several spatial and temporal properties that are similar to other infectious diseases. More specifically, using the empirical analysis and modeling studies, we find that the spatio-temporal network that connects the cities with human cases along the order of outbreak timing emerges two-regime-power-law edge-length distribution, indicating the picture that several islands with higher and heterogeneous risk straggle in East China. The proposed method is applicable to the analysis of the spreading situation in the early stage of disease outbreak using quite limited dataset.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of "test" versus "treat" patients hospitalized with suspected influenza in Hong Kong.

PubMed

You, Joyce H S; Chan, Eva S K; Leung, Maggie Y K; Ip, Margaret; Lee, Nelson L S

2012-01-01

Seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza viruses may cause severe diseases and result in excess hospitalization and mortality in the older and younger adults, respectively. Early antiviral treatment may improve clinical outcomes. We examined potential outcomes and costs of test-guided versus empirical treatment in patients hospitalized for suspected influenza in Hong Kong. We designed a decision tree to simulate potential outcomes of four management strategies in adults hospitalized for severe respiratory infection suspected of influenza: "immunofluorescence-assay" (IFA) or "polymerase-chain-reaction" (PCR)-guided oseltamivir treatment, "empirical treatment plus PCR" and "empirical treatment alone". Model inputs were derived from literature. The average prevalence (11%) of influenza in 2010-2011 (58% being 2009 H1N1) among cases of respiratory infections was used in the base-case analysis. Primary outcome simulated was cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) expected (ICER) from the Hong Kong healthcare providers' perspective. In base-case analysis, "empirical treatment alone" was shown to be the most cost-effective strategy and dominated the other three options. Sensitivity analyses showed that "PCR-guided treatment" would dominate "empirical treatment alone" when the daily cost of oseltamivir exceeded USD18, or when influenza prevalence was <2.5% and the predominant circulating viruses were not 2009 H1N1. Using USD50,000 as the threshold of willingness-to-pay, "empirical treatment alone" and "PCR-guided treatment" were cost-effective 97% and 3% of time, respectively, in 10,000 Monte-Carlo simulations. During influenza epidemics, empirical antiviral treatment appears to be a cost-effective strategy in managing patients hospitalized with severe respiratory infection suspected of influenza, from the perspective of healthcare providers in Hong Kong.

Socioscientific Issues in Science Education: The Case of Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Topcu, Mustafa Sami; Mugaloglu, Ebru Zeynep; Guven, Devrim

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study is to identify the foci and results of studies on socioscientific issues (SSI) conducted in Turkey. Additionally, the study aimed to compare the results of this study with ones conducted internationally. For this aim, a literary review of empirical studies related to SSI conducted in Turkey was carried out. Four criteria…

Empirical modeling of dynamic behaviors of pneumatic artificial muscle actuators.

PubMed

Wickramatunge, Kanchana Crishan; Leephakpreeda, Thananchai

2013-11-01

Pneumatic Artificial Muscle (PAM) actuators yield muscle-like mechanical actuation with high force to weight ratio, soft and flexible structure, and adaptable compliance for rehabilitation and prosthetic appliances to the disabled as well as humanoid robots or machines. The present study is to develop empirical models of the PAM actuators, that is, a PAM coupled with pneumatic control valves, in order to describe their dynamic behaviors for practical control design and usage. Empirical modeling is an efficient approach to computer-based modeling with observations of real behaviors. Different characteristics of dynamic behaviors of each PAM actuator are due not only to the structures of the PAM actuators themselves, but also to the variations of their material properties in manufacturing processes. To overcome the difficulties, the proposed empirical models are experimentally derived from real physical behaviors of the PAM actuators, which are being implemented. In case studies, the simulated results with good agreement to experimental results, show that the proposed methodology can be applied to describe the dynamic behaviors of the real PAM actuators. Copyright © 2013 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Data analysis using a combination of independent component analysis and empirical mode decomposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Shih-Lin; Tung, Pi-Cheng; Huang, Norden E.

2009-06-01

A combination of independent component analysis and empirical mode decomposition (ICA-EMD) is proposed in this paper to analyze low signal-to-noise ratio data. The advantages of ICA-EMD combination are these: ICA needs few sensory clues to separate the original source from unwanted noise and EMD can effectively separate the data into its constituting parts. The case studies reported here involve original sources contaminated by white Gaussian noise. The simulation results show that the ICA-EMD combination is an effective data analysis tool.

An Analysis of Machine- and Human-Analytics in Classification.

PubMed

Tam, Gary K L; Kothari, Vivek; Chen, Min

2017-01-01

In this work, we present a study that traces the technical and cognitive processes in two visual analytics applications to a common theoretic model of soft knowledge that may be added into a visual analytics process for constructing a decision-tree model. Both case studies involved the development of classification models based on the "bag of features" approach. Both compared a visual analytics approach using parallel coordinates with a machine-learning approach using information theory. Both found that the visual analytics approach had some advantages over the machine learning approach, especially when sparse datasets were used as the ground truth. We examine various possible factors that may have contributed to such advantages, and collect empirical evidence for supporting the observation and reasoning of these factors. We propose an information-theoretic model as a common theoretic basis to explain the phenomena exhibited in these two case studies. Together we provide interconnected empirical and theoretical evidence to support the usefulness of visual analytics.

Team Learning: Collective Reflection Processes in Teacher Teams

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohlsson, Jon

2013-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to contribute to further studies of theoretical and conceptual understanding of teachers' team learning processes, with a main focus on team work, team atmosphere, and collective reflections. Design/methodology/approach: The empirical study was designed as a multi-case study in a research and development…

Social Interaction and the Formation of Entrepreneurial Characteristics: A Case Study in Authentic Enterprise Activity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yu, Christina W. M.; Man, Thomas W. Y.

2009-01-01

Purpose: This paper is an empirical study which aims to investigate the development of social interaction and their impacts on developing learners' entrepreneurial characteristics throughout their participation in an authentic enterprise activity. Design/methodology/approach: The sample of this study was drawn from the participants of an…

The Impact of School on EFL Learning Motivation: An Indonesian Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lamb, Martin

2007-01-01

There is much evidence that, in general, learners' motivation to study declines as they move through school and that the causes are both developmental and environmental. By contrast, the attitudinal basis of language learning motivation has been regarded as relatively stable, though recent empirical studies in various countries have also pointed…

Using Generic Inductive Approach in Qualitative Educational Research: A Case Study Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Lisha

2016-01-01

Qualitative research strategy has been widely adopted by educational researchers in order to improve the quality of their empirical studies. This paper aims to introduce a generic inductive approach, pragmatic and flexible in qualitative theoretical support, by describing its application in a study of non-English major undergraduates' English…

Small Claims Court.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKitric, Eloise; Davis, Janet

The study examined individuals and companies who used small claims courts and the results of decisions reached in small claims cases. A review of studies including an empirical study of two Ohio small claims courts monitored for 12 months made it clear that small claims courts need to be examined to determine if utilization and accessibility to…

Integration of Social Sciences in Terrorism Modelling: Issues, Problems and Recommendations

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-02-01

qualitative social research : empirical data, patterns, regularities and case studies Terrorism emergence: causes...quantitative and qualitative methods in studies of terrorism, mass violence and conflicts, suggested models of human behaviour response to the threat of...epistemology of social research , demographics, quantitative sociological research , qualitative social research , cultural studies , etc.) can contribute

Prefrontal cortex, dopamine, and jealousy endophenotype.

PubMed

Marazziti, Donatella; Poletti, Michele; Dell'Osso, Liliana; Baroni, Stefano; Bonuccelli, Ubaldo

2013-02-01

Jealousy is a complex emotion characterized by the perception of a threat of loss of something that the person values,particularly in reference to a relationship with a loved one, which includes affective, cognitive, and behavioral components. Neural systems and cognitive processes underlying jealousy are relatively unclear, and only a few neuroimaging studies have investigated them. The current article discusses recent empirical findings on delusional jealousy, which is the most severe form of this feeling, in neurodegenerative diseases. After reviewing empirical findings on neurological and psychiatric disorders with delusional jealousy, and after considering its high prevalence in patients with Parkinson's disease under dopamine agonist treatment, we propose a core neural network and core cognitive processes at the basis of (delusional) jealousy, characterizing this symptom as possible endophenotype. In any case,empirical investigation of the neural bases of jealousy is just beginning, and further studies are strongly needed to elucidate the biological roots of this complex emotion.

Beck, Asia and second modernity.

PubMed

Calhoun, Craig

2010-09-01

The work of Ulrich Beck has been important in bringing sociological attention to the ways issues of risk are embedded in contemporary globalization, in developing a theory of 'reflexive modernization', and in calling for social science to transcend 'methodological nationalism'. In recent studies, he and his colleagues help to correct for the Western bias of many accounts of cosmopolitanism and reflexive modernization, and seek to distinguish normative goals from empirical analysis. In this paper I argue that further clarification of this latter distinction is needed but hard to reach within a framework that still embeds the normative account in the idea that empirical change has a clear direction. Similar issues beset the presentation of diverse patterns in recent history as all variants of 'second modernity'. Lastly, I note that ironically, given the declared 'methodological cosmopolitanism' of the authors, the empirical studies here all focus on national cases. © London School of Economics and Political Science 2010.

Electricity and Empire in 1920s Palestine under British Rule.

PubMed

Shamir, Ronen

2016-12-01

This article examines some techno-political aspects of the early years of electrification in British-ruled 1920s Palestine. It emphasizes the importance of local technical, topographical and hydrological forms of knowledge for understanding the dynamics of electrification. Situating the analysis in a general colonial context of electrification, the study shows that British colonial rulers lagged behind both German firms and local entrepreneurs in understanding the specific conditions pertaining to electrification in Palestine. Subsequently, the study shows that the British had limited control of the actual electrification process and its declared/professed developmental purposes, thereby complicating assumptions about electrification as a tool of the Empire/tool of empire. Finding some similarities between the cases of electrifying Palestine and India, the article's findings may shed further light on the importance of micro-politics of knowledge for understanding the trajectory of electrification in the colonies.

Bringing Them in: The Experiences of Imported and Overseas-Qualified Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharplin, Elaine

2009-01-01

This qualitative multiple-site case study explores the experiences of imported and overseas-qualified teachers appointed to fill "difficult-to-staff" Western Australian rural schools. In a climate of global teacher shortages, investigation of the strategies adopted to solve this problem requires empirical examination. The study of six…

Economic Valuation of Air Force Environmental Resources: A Contingent Valuation Case Study.

DTIC Science & Technology

1996-12-01

Empirical Measures of Welfare Change: A Comparison of Non-market Techniques," Land Economics: 156-175 (Vol. 61, No. 2, 1985). Sen , Amartya K...shackles of the traditional [observed] approach" ( Sen , 1977). The flexibility of a properly designed contingent valuation study allows CVM to measure

Violence against Teachers: Case Studies from the APA Task Force

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reddy, Linda A.; Espelage, Dorothy; McMahon, Susan D.; Anderman, Eric M.; Lane, Kathleen Lynne; Brown, Veda Evanell; Reynolds, Cecil R.; Jones, Abraham; Kanrich, Jaclyn

2013-01-01

Violence directed toward teachers has been understudied despite significant media and empirical investigation on school violence, such as student-to-student victimization and bullying. To date, there are relatively few published studies scattered across many countries. To address this void, the American Psychological Association, in collaboration…

Learning through Music Festivals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karlsen, Sidsel

2009-01-01

This article explores one particular music festival, the Festspel i Pite Alvdal, as a source of musical learning. It is grounded in the empirical data of a case study that was gathered through observation, a survey, in-depth interviews, documentation and archival records. The theoretical framework was taken from modernity theory, and the study's…

Spanish Journalists' Perception about Their Professional Roles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berganza, Rosa; Lavín, Eva; Piñeiro-Naval, Valeriano

2017-01-01

International empirical research on the perception that journalists have of their professional roles and functions has increased considerably in recent years, although not in the case of Spain. The present research, included within the transnational comparative study "The Worlds of Journalism Study", analyses data from a survey conducted…

The Economics of ACE Delivery. A Research Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McIntyre, John; Brown, Tony; Ferrier, Fran

The financial operations of providers of adult and community education (ACE) in New South Wales, Australia, were examined in a conceptual and empirical study. Enrollment data were analyzed and case studies of three community colleges and two community adult education centers in metropolitan, coastal, and rural communities were conducted. Four…

When ICT Meets Schools: Differentiation, Complexity and Adaptability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tubin, Dorit

2007-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the interaction between information communication technology (ICT) and the school's organizational structure, and propose an analytical model based both on Luhmann's system theory and empirical findings. Design/methodology/approach: The approach of building a theory from a case study research along…

Organizational Commitment, Knowledge Management Interventions, and Learning Organization Capacity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Massingham, Peter; Diment, Kieren

2009-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between organizational commitment and knowledge management initiatives in developing learning organization capacity (LOC). Design/methodology/approach: This is an empirical study based on a single case study, using partial least squares (PLS) analysis. Findings: The strategic…

Ab initio and empirical energy landscapes of (MgF2)n clusters (n = 3, 4).

PubMed

Neelamraju, S; Schön, J C; Doll, K; Jansen, M

2012-01-21

We explore the energy landscape of (MgF(2))(3) on both the empirical and ab initio level using the threshold algorithm. In order to determine the energy landscape and the dynamics of the trimer we investigate not only the stable isomers but also the barriers separating these isomers. Furthermore, we study the probability flows in order to estimate the stability of all the isomers found. We find that there is reasonable qualitative agreement between the ab initio and empirical potential, and important features such as sub-basins and energetic barriers follow similar trends. However, we observe that the energies are systematically different for the less compact clusters, when comparing empirical and ab initio energies. Since the underlying motivation of this work is to identify the possible clusters present in the gas phase during a low-temperature atom beam deposition synthesis of MgF(2), we employ the same procedure to additionally investigate the energy landscape of the tetramer. For this case, however, we use only the empirical potential.

The logic of counterfactual analysis in case-study explanation.

PubMed

Mahoney, James; Barrenechea, Rodrigo

2017-12-19

In this paper, we develop a set-theoretic and possible worlds approach to counterfactual analysis in case-study explanation. Using this approach, we first consider four kinds of counterfactuals: necessary condition counterfactuals, SUIN condition counterfactuals, sufficient condition counterfactuals, and INUS condition counterfactuals. We explore the distinctive causal claims entailed in each, and conclude that necessary condition and SUIN condition counterfactuals are the most useful types for hypothesis assessment in case-study research. We then turn attention to the development of a rigorous understanding of the 'minimal-rewrite' rule, linking this rule to insights from set theory about the relative importance of necessary conditions. We show why, logically speaking, a comparative analysis of two necessary condition counterfactuals will tend to favour small events and contingent happenings. A third section then presents new tools for specifying the level of generality of the events in a counterfactual. We show why and how the goals of formulating empirically important versus empirically plausible counterfactuals stand in tension with one another. Finally, we use our framework to link counterfactual analysis to causal sequences, which in turn provides advantages for conducting counterfactual projections. © London School of Economics and Political Science 2017.

Toward Creating Synergy Among Policy, Procedures, and Implementation of Evidence-Based Models in Child Welfare Systems: Two Case Examples.

PubMed

Chamberlain, Patricia

2017-03-01

Over the past four to five decades, multiple randomized controlled trials have verified that preventive interventions targeting key parenting skills can have far-reaching effects on improving a diverse array of child outcomes. Further, these studies have shown that parenting skills can be taught, and they are malleable. Given these advances, prevention scientists are in a position to make solid empirically based recommendations to public child service systems on using parent-mediated interventions to optimize positive outcomes for the children and families that they serve. Child welfare systems serve some of this country's most vulnerable children and families, yet they have been slow (compared to juvenile justice and mental health systems) to adopt empirically based interventions. This paper describes two child-welfare-initiated, policy-based case studies that have sought to scale-up research-based parenting skills into the routine services that caseworkers deliver to the families that they serve. In both case studies, the child welfare system leaders worked with evaluators and model developers to tailor policy, administrative, and fiscal system practices to institutionalize and sustain evidence-based practices into usual foster care services. Descriptions of the implementations, intervention models, and preliminary results are described.

An Empirical Analysis of a Dominant Firm’s Market Power in a Restructured Electricity Market, A Case Study of Colorado

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-05-05

legislation to implement electric restructuring might not necessarily guarantee the creation of competitive generation markets. During the...Pollitt 1997, 2). Legislators in states that are debating the implementation of electric restructuring therefore face common concerns related to market...and mitigating market power, using the state of Colorado as a case study. As in many other states, legislators in Colorado are grappling with the

Resources, Not Capital: A Case Study of the Gendered Distribution and Productivity of Social Network Ties in Rural Ethiopia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Torkelsson, Asa

2007-01-01

Poor people make use of a variety of contextually relevant resources to pursue their livelihood strategies, and there is wide empirical evidence that opportunities and constraints for accessing these may vary considerably for women and men, particularly in the rural areas of developing countries. In this article, micro-evidence from a case study…

Empirical studies of clinical supervision in psychiatric nursing: A systematic literature review and methodological critique.

PubMed

Buus, Niels; Gonge, Henrik

2009-08-01

The objective of this paper was to systematically review and critically evaluate all English language research papers reporting empirical studies of clinical supervision in psychiatric nursing. The first part of the search strategy was a combination of brief and building block strategies in the PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases. The second part was a citation pearl growing strategy with reviews of 179 reference lists. In total, the search strategy demonstrated a low level of precision and a high level of recall. Thirty four articles met the criteria of the review and were systematically evaluated using three checklists. The findings were summarized by using a new checklist with nine overall questions regarding the studies' design, methods, findings, and limitations. The studies were categorized as: (i) effect studies; (ii) survey studies; (iii) interview studies; and (iv) case studies. In general, the studies were relatively small scale; they used relatively new and basic methods for data collection and analysis, and rarely included sufficient strategies for identifying confounding factors or how the researchers' preconceptions influenced the analyses. Empirical research of clinical supervision in psychiatric nursing was characterized by a basic lack of agreement about which models and instruments to use. Challenges and recommendations for future research are discussed. Clinical supervision in psychiatric nursing was commonly perceived as a good thing, but there was limited empirical evidence supporting this claim.

HIT and brain reward function: A case of mistaken identity (theory).

PubMed

Wright, Cory; Colombo, Matteo; Beard, Alexander

2017-08-01

This paper employs a case study from the history of neuroscience-brain reward function-to scrutinize the inductive argument for the so-called 'Heuristic Identity Theory' (HIT). The case fails to support HIT, illustrating why other case studies previously thought to provide empirical support for HIT also fold under scrutiny. After distinguishing two different ways of understanding the types of identity claims presupposed by HIT and considering other conceptual problems, we conclude that HIT is not an alternative to the traditional identity theory so much as a relabeling of previously discussed strategies for mechanistic discovery. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The impact of real life treatment strategies for Candida peritonitis-A retrospective analysis.

PubMed

Dubler, S; Laun, M; Koch, C; Hecker, A; Weiterer, S; Siegler, B H; Röhrig, R; Weigand, M A; Lichtenstern, C

2017-07-01

Candida species are commonly detected isolates from abdominal foci. The question remains as to who would benefit from early empiric treatment in cases of Candida peritonitis. This study collected real-life data on critically ill patients with Candida peritonitis to estimate the relevance of the chosen treatment strategy on the outcome of these patients. One hundred and thirty-seven surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients with intra-abdominal invasive Candidiasis were included in the study. Fifty-six patients did not get any antifungal agent. Twenty-nine patients were empirically treated, and 52 patients were specifically treated. In the group without, with empiric and with specific antifungal treatment, the 30-day mortality rate was 33.9, 48.3 and 44.2 respectively. Candida albicans was the most frequently found species. Seven patients in the specific treatment group and one patient in the empiric treatment group emerged with candidaemia. Age, leucocyte count, APACHE II Score and acute liver failure were independent predictors of 30-day mortality in patients with Candida peritonitis. Not all patients with Candida peritonitis received antifungal treatment in real clinical practice. Patients with higher morbidity more often got antifungals. Early empirical therapy has not been associated with a better 30-day mortality. © 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Machine learning strategies for systems with invariance properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ling, Julia; Jones, Reese; Templeton, Jeremy

2016-08-01

In many scientific fields, empirical models are employed to facilitate computational simulations of engineering systems. For example, in fluid mechanics, empirical Reynolds stress closures enable computationally-efficient Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes simulations. Likewise, in solid mechanics, constitutive relations between the stress and strain in a material are required in deformation analysis. Traditional methods for developing and tuning empirical models usually combine physical intuition with simple regression techniques on limited data sets. The rise of high performance computing has led to a growing availability of high fidelity simulation data. These data open up the possibility of using machine learning algorithms, such as random forests or neural networks, to develop more accurate and general empirical models. A key question when using data-driven algorithms to develop these empirical models is how domain knowledge should be incorporated into the machine learning process. This paper will specifically address physical systems that possess symmetry or invariance properties. Two different methods for teaching a machine learning model an invariance property are compared. In the first method, a basis of invariant inputs is constructed, and the machine learning model is trained upon this basis, thereby embedding the invariance into the model. In the second method, the algorithm is trained on multiple transformations of the raw input data until the model learns invariance to that transformation. Results are discussed for two case studies: one in turbulence modeling and one in crystal elasticity. It is shown that in both cases embedding the invariance property into the input features yields higher performance at significantly reduced computational training costs.

Is There a Role for Empiric Gastroduodenal Artery Embolization in the Management of Patients with Active Upper GI Hemorrhage?

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

Dixon, Shaheen, E-mail: shaheen7noorani@gmail.com; Chan, Victoria, E-mail: dr.victoriac@gmail.com; Shrivastava, Vivek, E-mail: vivshriv@yahoo.com

2013-08-01

PurposeTo assess the relative efficacy of empiric gastroduodenal artery (GDA) embolization in reducing recurrent hemorrhage compared to image-guided targeted embolization.MethodsData were retrospectively collected for consecutive patients who had catheter angiography for major upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage from May 2008 to November 2010 (n = 40). The total number of cases were divided into two main groups according to angiographic findings: those that demonstrated a site of hemorrhage on catheter angiography (group 1, n = 13), and those where the site of hemorrhage was not identified on catheter angiography (group 2, n = 27). Group 2 was then further divided into patientsmore » who received empiric embolization (group 2a, n = 20) and those who had no embolization performed after angiography (group 2b, n = 7).ResultsThe technical and clinical success rates for embolization in groups 1 and 2a were, respectively, 100 vs. 95 %, and 85 vs. 80 %. There was no statistical significance in the recurrent hemorrhage rate, reintervention rate, or 30 day mortality between targeted and empiric embolization groups. There were no complications attributed to embolization within this study cohort.ConclusionCases of duodenal-related major upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage where no embolization is performed have poor outcome. Empiric embolization of the GDA in patients with major upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage refractory to endoscopic treatment appears to be a safe and effective treatment, with low reintervention rates and good clinical outcome comparable to patients where the site of hemorrhage is localized and embolized with computed tomographic angiography or catheter angiography and embolized.« less

Empirical validation of a real options theory based method for optimizing evacuation decisions within chemical plants.

PubMed

Reniers, G L L; Audenaert, A; Pauwels, N; Soudan, K

2011-02-15

This article empirically assesses and validates a methodology to make evacuation decisions in case of major fire accidents in chemical clusters. In this paper, a number of empirical results are presented, processed and discussed with respect to the implications and management of evacuation decisions in chemical companies. It has been shown in this article that in realistic industrial settings, suboptimal interventions may result in case the prospect to obtain additional information at later stages of the decision process is ignored. Empirical results also show that implications of interventions, as well as the required time and workforce to complete particular shutdown activities, may be very different from one company to another. Therefore, to be optimal from an economic viewpoint, it is essential that precautionary evacuation decisions are tailor-made per company. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Molecular basis of quantitative structure-properties relationships (QSPR): a quantum similarity approach.

PubMed

Ponec, R; Amat, L; Carbó-Dorca, R

1999-05-01

Since the dawn of quantitative structure-properties relationships (QSPR), empirical parameters related to structural, electronic and hydrophobic molecular properties have been used as molecular descriptors to determine such relationships. Among all these parameters, Hammett sigma constants and the logarithm of the octanol-water partition coefficient, log P, have been massively employed in QSPR studies. In the present paper, a new molecular descriptor, based on quantum similarity measures (QSM), is proposed as a general substitute of these empirical parameters. This work continues previous analyses related to the use of QSM to QSPR, introducing molecular quantum self-similarity measures (MQS-SM) as a single working parameter in some cases. The use of MQS-SM as a molecular descriptor is first confirmed from the correlation with the aforementioned empirical parameters. The Hammett equation has been examined using MQS-SM for a series of substituted carboxylic acids. Then, for a series of aliphatic alcohols and acetic acid esters, log P values have been correlated with the self-similarity measure between density functions in water and octanol of a given molecule. And finally, some examples and applications of MQS-SM to determine QSAR are presented. In all studied cases MQS-SM appeared to be excellent molecular descriptors usable in general QSPR applications of chemical interest.

Molecular basis of quantitative structure-properties relationships (QSPR): A quantum similarity approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ponec, Robert; Amat, Lluís; Carbó-dorca, Ramon

1999-05-01

Since the dawn of quantitative structure-properties relationships (QSPR), empirical parameters related to structural, electronic and hydrophobic molecular properties have been used as molecular descriptors to determine such relationships. Among all these parameters, Hammett σ constants and the logarithm of the octanol- water partition coefficient, log P, have been massively employed in QSPR studies. In the present paper, a new molecular descriptor, based on quantum similarity measures (QSM), is proposed as a general substitute of these empirical parameters. This work continues previous analyses related to the use of QSM to QSPR, introducing molecular quantum self-similarity measures (MQS-SM) as a single working parameter in some cases. The use of MQS-SM as a molecular descriptor is first confirmed from the correlation with the aforementioned empirical parameters. The Hammett equation has been examined using MQS-SM for a series of substituted carboxylic acids. Then, for a series of aliphatic alcohols and acetic acid esters, log P values have been correlated with the self-similarity measure between density functions in water and octanol of a given molecule. And finally, some examples and applications of MQS-SM to determine QSAR are presented. In all studied cases MQS-SM appeared to be excellent molecular descriptors usable in general QSPR applications of chemical interest.

Developing integrated clinical reasoning competencies in dental students using scaffolded case-based learning - empirical evidence.

PubMed

Postma, T C; White, J G

2016-08-01

This study provides empirical evidence of the development of integrated clinical reasoning in the discipline-based School of Dentistry, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Students were exposed to case-based learning in comprehensive patient care (CPC) in the preclinical year of study, scaffolded by means of the four-component instructional design model for complex learning. Progress test scores of third- to fifth-year dental students, who received case-based teaching and learning in the third year (2009-2011), were compared to the scores of preceding fourth- and fifth-year cohorts. These fourth- and fifth-year cohorts received content-based teaching concurrently with their clinical training in CPC. The progress test consisted of a complex case study and 32 MCQs on tracer conditions. Students had to gather the necessary information and had to make diagnostic and treatment-planning decisions. Preclinical students who participated in the case-based teaching and learning achieved similar scores compared to final-year students who received lecture-based teaching and learning. Final-year students who participated in the case-based learning made three more correct clinical decisions per student, compared to those who received content-based teaching. Students struggled more with treatment-planning than with diagnostic decisions. The scaffolded case-based learning appears to contribute to accurate clinical decisions when compared to lecture-based teaching. It is suggested that the development of integrated reasoning competencies starts as early as possible in a dental curriculum, perhaps even in the preclinical year of study. Treatment-planning should receive particular attention. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Representation and processing of mass and count nouns: a review

PubMed Central

Fieder, Nora; Nickels, Lyndsey; Biedermann, Britta

2014-01-01

Comprehension and/or production of noun phrases and sentences requires the selection of lexical-syntactic attributes of nouns. These lexical-syntactic attributes include grammatical gender (masculine/feminine/neuter), number (singular/plural) and countability (mass/count). While there has been considerable discussion regarding gender and number, relatively little attention has focused on countability. Therefore, this article reviews empirical evidence for lexical-syntactic specification of nouns for countability. This includes evidence from studies of language production and comprehension with normal speakers and case studies which assess impairments of mass/count nouns in people with acquired brain damage. Current theories of language processing are reviewed and found to be lacking specification regarding countability. Subsequently, the theoretical implications of the empirical studies are discussed in the context of frameworks derived from these accounts of language production (Levelt, 1989; Levelt et al., 1999) and comprehension (Taler and Jarema, 2006). The review concludes that there is empirical support for specification of nouns for countability at a lexical-syntactic level. PMID:24966849

Juvenile curfews: are they an effective and constitutional means of combating juvenile violence?

PubMed

Fried, C S

2001-01-01

Curfew ordinances have become a popular way to attempt to combat juvenile crime and victimization. Although the Supreme Court has yet to hear a curfew case, several constitutional challenges have been brought in lower federal courts. The cases are replete with psychological assumptions for which there is limited empirical evidence. In applying the "strict scrutiny" standard, several courts have also questioned whether juvenile curfews are narrowly tailored to further the State's interest in reducing juvenile crime and victimization. While public opinion and reports from several police jurisdictions support the utility of juvenile curfews, recent empirical studies indicate that curfews are not effective at reducing juvenile offending or victimization. This paper argues that the emerging evidence does not support the use of juvenile curfews and urges policy makers and the courts to examine the efficacy of curfew legislation. Directions for future research that could be helpful to the courts in applying the Bellotti factors to curfew cases are also suggested. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An empirical study using permutation-based resampling in meta-regression

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background In meta-regression, as the number of trials in the analyses decreases, the risk of false positives or false negatives increases. This is partly due to the assumption of normality that may not hold in small samples. Creation of a distribution from the observed trials using permutation methods to calculate P values may allow for less spurious findings. Permutation has not been empirically tested in meta-regression. The objective of this study was to perform an empirical investigation to explore the differences in results for meta-analyses on a small number of trials using standard large sample approaches verses permutation-based methods for meta-regression. Methods We isolated a sample of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) for interventions that have a small number of trials (herbal medicine trials). Trials were then grouped by herbal species and condition and assessed for methodological quality using the Jadad scale, and data were extracted for each outcome. Finally, we performed meta-analyses on the primary outcome of each group of trials and meta-regression for methodological quality subgroups within each meta-analysis. We used large sample methods and permutation methods in our meta-regression modeling. We then compared final models and final P values between methods. Results We collected 110 trials across 5 intervention/outcome pairings and 5 to 10 trials per covariate. When applying large sample methods and permutation-based methods in our backwards stepwise regression the covariates in the final models were identical in all cases. The P values for the covariates in the final model were larger in 78% (7/9) of the cases for permutation and identical for 22% (2/9) of the cases. Conclusions We present empirical evidence that permutation-based resampling may not change final models when using backwards stepwise regression, but may increase P values in meta-regression of multiple covariates for relatively small amount of trials. PMID:22587815

On the report of the first successful surgical treatment of brain abscess in the Ottoman Empire by Dr. Cemil Topuzlu in 1891.

PubMed

Mut, Melike; Dinç, Gülten; Naderi, Sait

2007-10-01

IN 1891, Dr. Cemil Topuzlu operated on a brain abscess that originated as a complication of a depression fracture of the cranial inner table. The patient presented with Jacksonian seizures on his left side after a sharp trauma resulting in a 15 cm-long scalp laceration and underlying linear cranial fracture in the right parietal bone. Dr. Topuzlu attributed Jacksonian epilepsy to the fracture irritating the motor area in the right hemisphere and attempted a craniotomy based on his measurements to localize the Rolandic fissure. The operation was complicated by a brain abscess, and Dr. Topuzlu reoperated to drain the abscess. He successfully treated the brain abscess and Jacksonian seizures and then presented this case in the Royal Society of Medicine of the Ottoman Empire and in the International Surgery Congress in Lyon in 1894. The case report was published in his surgery book in 1905. The case was not only the first case of brain abscess to be treated successfully with surgical intervention in the Ottoman Empire, it was also one of the first cases of neurological surgery performed using contemporary anesthesiological and surgical techniques, which reveals the importance of neurological examination and cerebral localization techniques in the era before x-rays. Dr. Topuzlu was the founder of modern surgery in the Ottoman Empire and deserves to be credited for his novel applications in the 19th century.

Individual Differences in a Spatial-Semantic Virtual Environment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Chaomei

2000-01-01

Presents two empirical case studies concerning the role of individual differences in searching through a spatial-semantic virtual environment. Discusses information visualization in information systems; cognitive factors, including associative memory, spatial ability, and visual memory; user satisfaction; and cognitive abilities and search…

A review of published research on adult dissociative identity disorder: 2000-2010.

PubMed

Boysen, Guy A; VanBergen, Alexandra

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the scientific and etiological status of dissociative identity disorder (DID) by examining cases published from 2000 to 2010. In terms of scientific status, DID is a small but ongoing field of study. The review yielded 21 case studies and 80 empirical studies, presenting data on 1171 new cases of DID. A mean of 9 articles, each containing a mean of 17 new cases of DID, emerged each year. In terms of etiological status, many of the central criticisms of the disorder's validity remain unaddressed. Most cases of DID emerged from a small number of countries and clinicians. In addition, documented cases occurring outside treatment were almost nonexistent. Finally, people simulating DID in the laboratory were mostly indistinguishable from individuals with DID. Overall, DID is still a topic of study, but the research lacks the productivity and focus needed to resolve ongoing controversies surrounding the disorder.

The Art of Living with NZT and ICT: Dialectics of an Artistic Case Study.

PubMed

Zwart, Hub

2017-01-01

I wholeheartedly sympathize conceptually with Coeckelbergh's paper. The dialectical relationship between vulnerability and technology constitutes the core of Hegel's Master and Slave (the primal scene of contemporary philosophy). Yet, the empirical dimension is underdeveloped and Coeckelbergh's ideas could profit from exposure to case studies. Building on a movie/novel ( Limitless ) devoted to vulnerability coping and living with ICT, I challenge the claim that modern heroism entails overcoming vulnerability with the help of enhancement and computers.

Expectations versus Reality: The Case of Liberal Studies in Hong Kong's New Senior Secondary Reforms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fung, Dennis

2016-01-01

This article reports the findings of a five-year longitudinal study investigating the introduction of Liberal Studies in the context of Hong Kong's new senior secondary educational reforms. The aim of this empirical research, which adopted diachronic analysis to allow comparisons over time, was to compare teachers' and students' perceptions of the…

Demystifying Virtual Communities of Practice: A Case Study of IBM

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kok, Ayse

2010-01-01

The purpose of this proposed research study is to empirically explore the nature of virtual communities of practice (CoP) in a global organisation within the context of its International Corporate Volunteer (ICV) Program. This study investigates whether and how the use of virtual CoP evolves and becomes embedded within this organization. Following…

A Case Study of an Ameliorable Career/Technical School: An Exploration of Principal/Teacher Relationships

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glover, Joan

2012-01-01

This participatory action research study explored principal/teacher relationships in an ameliorable career/technical school located in the mid-west United States. This study examined how teachers in this school perceive their relationship with the principal and how a principal perceives her relationship with the teachers. This empirical inquiry…

A Case Study on Learning Difficulties and Corresponding Supports for Learning in cMOOCs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Shuang; Tang, Qi; Zhang, Yanxia

2016-01-01

cMOOCs, which are based on connectivist learning theory, bring challenges for learners as well as opportunities for self-inquiry. Previous studies have shown that learners in cMOOCs may have difficulties learning, but these studies do not provide any in-depth, empirical explorations of student difficulties or support strategies. This paper…

Empirical science meets moral panic: an analysis of the politics of needle exchange.

PubMed

Buchanan, David; Shaw, Susan; Ford, Amy; Singer, Merrill

2003-01-01

The paper presents an analysis of the policy advocacy strategies used by both proponents and opponents of needle exchange programs in the US, drawing on the analytic framework developed by Stone. Based on a case study of the politics of needle exchange in Massachusetts, we argue that proponents of needle exchange have relied almost exclusively on empirical scientific arguments to build their case, while opponents have generally resorted to normative ethical arguments. Since the frames of argument are unrelated, the two sides talk past one another, bypassing progress towards resolution or consensus. By failing to address the ethical concerns raised by opponents, public health advocates of needle exchange are losing the larger public debate. The paper concludes with specific recommendations for how public health advocates should respond to the normative dimensions of this public policy issue.

Skin and soft-tissue infections: Factors associated with mortality and re-admissions.

PubMed

Macía-Rodríguez, Cristina; Alende-Castro, Vanesa; Vazquez-Ledo, Lourdes; Novo-Veleiro, Ignacio; González-Quintela, Arturo

2017-02-01

Skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) are common and are linked to a wide variety of clinical conditions. Few studies have analysed the factors associated with mortality and re-admissions in medical patients with SSTIs. Accordingly, this study sought to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with SSTIs, and identify mortality and re-admission related factors. A total of 308 patients were included in the study. Clinical, socio-demographic and microbiological characteristics were collected. Univariate and logistic regression multivariate analyses were performed in order to identify factors associated with mortality and re-admission. The bacteria responsible were identified in 95 (30.8%) patients, with gram-positive bacteria being isolated in 67.4% and gram-negative in 55.8% of cases. Multi-resistant bacteria were frequent (39%), and the initial empirical treatment proved inadequate in 25.3% of all cases. In-hospital mortality was 14.9%; the related variables were heart failure (OR=5.96; 95%CI: 1.93-18.47), chronic renal disease (OR=6.04; 95%CI: 1.80-20.22), necrotic infection (OR=4.33; 95%CI: 1.26-14.95), and inadequate empirical treatment (OR=44.74; 95%CI: 5.40-370.73). Six-month mortality was 8%, with the main related factors being chronic renal disease (OR: 3.03; 95%CI: 1.06-8.66), and a Barthel Index score of under 20 (OR: 3.62; 95%CI: 1.17-11.21). Re-admission was necessary in 26.3% of cases, with the readmission-related variables being male gender (OR: 2.12; 95%CI: 1.14-3.94), peripheral vascular disease (OR: 3.05; 95%CI: 1.25-7.41), and an age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index score of over 3 (OR: 3.27; 95%CI: 1.40-7.63). Clinical variables such as heart failure, chronic renal disease, peripheral vascular disease, and necrotic infection could help identify high-risk patients. The main factor associated with higher mortality was inadequate initial empirical treatment. Physicians should consider gram-negative, and even extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria when assigning initial empirical treatment for SSTIs, especially in healthcare-associated cases. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. All rights reserved.

[Pylephlebitis: a rare but possible complication of intra-abdominal infections].

PubMed

Pérez-Bru, Susana; Nofuentes-Riera, Carmen; García-Marín, Andrés; Luri-Prieto, Paloma; Morales-Calderón, Miguel; García-García, Salvador

2015-01-01

Pylephlebitis or septic thrombophlebitis of the portal venous system is a rare but serious complication of intra-abdominal infections which drain into the portal venous system. Its diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion and imaging tests, mainly a computed tomography scan, given the lack of specificity of the signs and symptoms. Spread of septic emboli is the major cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to analyse patients diagnosed in our hospital. Retrospective descriptive study of patients diagnosed with pylephlebitis in our hospital. Four patients were included, 3 men and one woman. In 3 cases it was acute cholecystitis that led to the diagnosis of pylephlebitis at the same time as the intra-abdominal infection. Emergency surgery was performed in one case, whilst the other 2 were treated conservatively. Blood cultures were performed in all cases, and empirical antibiotic treatment was used. In the only case of acute appendicitis, diagnosis of pylephlebitis was achieved during the study of postoperative fever, with empirical antibiotic treatment also being started. The haematologist was requested to start the required anticoagulation therapy in all cases. Pylephlebitis is a rare complication of intra-abdominal infections that may make lead to a worse outcome. A high level of suspicion is required as well as imaging tests to make an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Copyright © 2015 Academia Mexicana de Cirugía A.C. Published by Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

[Empirical studies on some drugs for patent lawsuits in the age of manufacturing patents].

PubMed

Yamakawa, Koji; Nishitani, Kiyoshi

2009-01-01

Empirical studies on patent lawsuits for some drugs by author (K.Y.) from 1953-1998, are described. Case 1: One of the authors (K.Y.) clarified that silylmethylation of a penicillin derivative gave either N, O-disilylmethylated product or O-monosilylmethylated product. However, only O-silylmethylated product was obtained after the usual work-up (Fig. 1). Case 2: A point under discussion of the trial is whether the reported manufacturing process of "metoclopramide" is possible or not. One of the authors (K. Y.) clarified the possibility by means of a careful synthetic experiment (Fig. 2). Case 3: The essential effective structure of herbicides, Roundup (Monsanto Co.) and Sulfosate (Stoph Co.), was the same in highly diluted solution (Fig. 3). Case 4: Cimetidine has been prepared by the Oxy procedure (SKB Co.), but another cimetidine (Fujimoto Co.) was prepared by the Lek procedure. Is it true? Experimental preparations of both cimetidines by the respective Oxy and Lek processes, were achieved by the authors. The cimetidine in the tablet named "Cylock" by Fujimoto Pharm. Co., Ltd. should be manufactured by the Oxy process on the basis of the by-products analysis (Fig. 4). Finally, a short history of patents in Japan from 1899-1975 is described.

Respite Care for Impaired Family Members: An Examination of Two Agencies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pietrukowicz, Mary; Johnson, Mitzi M. S.

Studies consistently have found that caregivers who use respite care are satisfied with and appreciate such care. However, preliminary evaluations of the effect of respite care on caregiver burden have had mixed, limited, and in some cases null empirical findings of program effectiveness. This study explored the relationship between caregiver…

Organizational Structure, Collegial Trust, and College Faculty Teaching Efficacy: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Okpogba, Desmond

2011-01-01

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to explore the relationship between faculty self-efficacy, organizational structure, and collegial trust. The concepts of teacher self-efficacy, organizational structure, and collegial trust were used to investigate any possible empirical relationships existing between these variables in a private,…

Managerial Competencies for Middle Managers: Some Empirical Findings from China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Qiao, June Xuejun; Wang, Wei

2009-01-01

Purpose: This study aims to identify managerial competencies required for successful middle managers in China. Design/methodology/approach: First a questionnaire survey was distributed among MBA and EMBA students at a major university in China, and then two case studies were conducted to collect more in-depth data. Findings: The findings of this…

Effects of Career-Related Continuous Learning: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rowold, Jens; Hochholdinger, Sabine; Schilling, Jan

2008-01-01

Purpose: Although proposed from theory, the assumption that career-related continuous learning (CRCL) has a positive impact on subsequent job performance has not been tested empirically. The present study aims to close this gap in the literature. A model is derived from theory that predicts a positive impact of CRCL, learning climate, and initial…

Well-Being, Leadership, and Positive Organizational Scholarship: A Case Study of Project-Based Learning in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lucas, Nance; Goodman, Fallon R.

2015-01-01

The emerging fields of positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship (POS) contribute new perspectives and approaches for leadership education and leadership development in higher education. While there are emerging empirical studies in these new fields, little connection has been made to the intellectual and practical applications…

Generic Behavioural Criteria of Managerial Effectiveness: An Empirical and Comparative Case Study of UK Local Government

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamlin, Robert G.; Serventi, Susan A.

2008-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a "partnership-research" study of effective and ineffective managerial behaviour within the "local government" setting of the Wolverhampton City Council Social Care Department, and to describe how the research supports and challenges the organisation's existing…

Strategies, Obstacles, and Attitudes: Student Collaboration in Information Seeking and Synthesis Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leeder, Chris; Shah, Chirag

2016-01-01

Introduction: While group work that takes place in education contexts has been studied by researchers, student collaborative research behaviour has received less attention. This empirical case study examined the strategies that students use and the obstacles they encounter while working in collaborative information seeking contexts on an in-class…

Improving Performance for Gifted Students in a Cluster Grouping Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brulles, Dina; Saunders, Rachel; Cohn, Sanford J.

2010-01-01

Although experts in gifted education widely promote cluster grouping gifted students, little empirical evidence is available to attest to its effectiveness. This study is an example of comparative action research in the form of a quantitative case study that focused on the mandated cluster grouping practices for gifted students in an urban…

The Consequences of Fading Instructional Guidance on Delayed Performance: The Case of Financial Services Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kissane, Mark; Kalyuga, Slava; Chandler, Paul; Sweller, John

2008-01-01

Empirical studies within a cognitive load framework have determined that for novice learners, worked examples provide appropriate levels of instructional guidance. As learners advance in specific subject domains, worked examples should be gradually replaced by practice problems with limited guidance. This study compared performance, both…

Personality Characteristics and Performance on Computer Assisted Instruction and Programmed Text.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blitz, Allan N.; Smith, Timothy

An empirical study investigated whether personality characteristics have a bearing on an individual's success with particular modes of instruction, in this case, computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and the programed text (PT). The study was developed in an attempt to establish useful criteria on which to base a rationale for choosing suitable…

Organisational Culture and Values and the Adaptation of Academic Units in Australian Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Zilwa, Deanna

2007-01-01

This study explores connections between the organisational culture and values of academic units in Australian universities and their efforts to adapt to external environmental pressures. It integrates empirical findings from case studies with theories of organisational culture and values and adaptation. It identifies seven dimensions of academic…

Globalisation and Chinese Knowledge Diaspora: An Australian Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yang, Rui; Qiu, Fang-fang

2010-01-01

In a context of intensified globalisation, knowledge diaspora as "trans-national human capital" have become increasingly valuable to society. With an awareness of a need for more empirical studies especially in Australia, this article concentrates on a group of academics who were working at a major university in Australia and came…

Changing Student Expectations and Graduate Employment: Case Studies from Xi'an, Shaanxi Province

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moorman, Adam B. R.

2011-01-01

This paper addresses the issue of students' employment expectations, considered a key factor in alleviating graduate unemployment in China. This empirical investigation surveyed students at two higher education institutions in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, to analyze how expectations were changing. The results contrasted with earlier studies that…

Human Capital Development in the International Organization: Rhetoric and Reality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kulvisaechana, Somboon

2006-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present empirical evidence of the nature of corporate rhetoric in developing human capital and how it becomes embedded within a large international organization operating in the Nordic region. The qualitative case study aims to examine the sensemaking of individual managers, and how human capital rhetoric…

First-Year Students' Expectations of Conduct and Consequence: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crance Gutmann, Gina-Lyn

2008-01-01

Research on first-year students' expectations about college has explored areas of academic and social expectations, but not first-year college students' expectations about judicial conduct and consequence. The purpose of this study was to empirically explore two questions: what are first year students' expectations about campus conduct and…

Organizational values in the provision of access to care for the uninsured

PubMed Central

Harrison, Krista Lyn; Taylor, Holly A.

2017-01-01

Background For the last 20 years, health provider organizations have made efforts to align mission, values, and everyday practices to ensure high-quality, high-value, and ethical care. However, little attention has been paid to the organizational values and practices of community-based programs that organize and facilitate access to care for uninsured populations. This study aimed to identify and describe organizational values relevant to resource allocation and policy decisions that affect the services offered to members, using the case of community access programs: county-based programs that provide access to care for the uninsured working poor. Methods Comparative and qualitative case study methodology was used, including document review, observations, and key informant interviews, at two geographically diverse programs. Results Nine values were identified as relevant to decision making: stewardship, quality care, access to care, service to others, community well-being, member independence, organizational excellence, decency, and fairness. The way these values were deployed in resource allocation decisions that affected services offered to the uninsured are illustrated in one example per site. Conclusions This study addresses the previous dearth in the literature regarding an empirical description of organizational values employed in decision making of community organizations. To assess the transferability of the values identified, we compared our empirical results to prior empirical and conceptual work in the United States and internationally and found substantial alignment. Future studies can examine whether the identified organizational values are reflective of those at other health care organizations. PMID:28781981

Hard-Rock Stability Analysis for Span Design in Entry-Type Excavations with Learning Classifiers

PubMed Central

García-Gonzalo, Esperanza; Fernández-Muñiz, Zulima; García Nieto, Paulino José; Bernardo Sánchez, Antonio; Menéndez Fernández, Marta

2016-01-01

The mining industry relies heavily on empirical analysis for design and prediction. An empirical design method, called the critical span graph, was developed specifically for rock stability analysis in entry-type excavations, based on an extensive case-history database of cut and fill mining in Canada. This empirical span design chart plots the critical span against rock mass rating for the observed case histories and has been accepted by many mining operations for the initial span design of cut and fill stopes. Different types of analysis have been used to classify the observed cases into stable, potentially unstable and unstable groups. The main purpose of this paper is to present a new method for defining rock stability areas of the critical span graph, which applies machine learning classifiers (support vector machine and extreme learning machine). The results show a reasonable correlation with previous guidelines. These machine learning methods are good tools for developing empirical methods, since they make no assumptions about the regression function. With this software, it is easy to add new field observations to a previous database, improving prediction output with the addition of data that consider the local conditions for each mine. PMID:28773653

Hard-Rock Stability Analysis for Span Design in Entry-Type Excavations with Learning Classifiers.

PubMed

García-Gonzalo, Esperanza; Fernández-Muñiz, Zulima; García Nieto, Paulino José; Bernardo Sánchez, Antonio; Menéndez Fernández, Marta

2016-06-29

The mining industry relies heavily on empirical analysis for design and prediction. An empirical design method, called the critical span graph, was developed specifically for rock stability analysis in entry-type excavations, based on an extensive case-history database of cut and fill mining in Canada. This empirical span design chart plots the critical span against rock mass rating for the observed case histories and has been accepted by many mining operations for the initial span design of cut and fill stopes. Different types of analysis have been used to classify the observed cases into stable, potentially unstable and unstable groups. The main purpose of this paper is to present a new method for defining rock stability areas of the critical span graph, which applies machine learning classifiers (support vector machine and extreme learning machine). The results show a reasonable correlation with previous guidelines. These machine learning methods are good tools for developing empirical methods, since they make no assumptions about the regression function. With this software, it is easy to add new field observations to a previous database, improving prediction output with the addition of data that consider the local conditions for each mine.

Rapid Molecular Diagnostics, Antibiotic Treatment Decisions, and Developing Approaches to Inform Empiric Therapy: PRIMERS I and II.

PubMed

Evans, Scott R; Hujer, Andrea M; Jiang, Hongyu; Hujer, Kristine M; Hall, Thomas; Marzan, Christine; Jacobs, Michael R; Sampath, Rangarajan; Ecker, David J; Manca, Claudia; Chavda, Kalyan; Zhang, Pan; Fernandez, Helen; Chen, Liang; Mediavilla, Jose R; Hill, Carol B; Perez, Federico; Caliendo, Angela M; Fowler, Vance G; Chambers, Henry F; Kreiswirth, Barry N; Bonomo, Robert A

2016-01-15

Rapid molecular diagnostic (RMD) platforms may lead to better antibiotic use. Our objective was to develop analytical strategies to enhance the interpretation of RMDs for clinicians. We compared the performance characteristics of 4 RMD platforms for detecting resistance against β-lactams in 72 highly resistant isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (PRIMERS I). Subsequently, 2 platforms were used in a blinded study in which a heterogeneous collection of 196 isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae (PRIMERS II) were examined. We evaluated the genotypic results as predictors of resistance or susceptibility against β-lactam antibiotics. We designed analytical strategies and graphical representations of platform performance, including discrimination summary plots and susceptibility and resistance predictive values, that are readily interpretable by practitioners to inform decision-making. In PRIMERS I, the 4 RMD platforms detected β-lactamase (bla) genes and identified susceptibility or resistance in >95% of cases. In PRIMERS II, the 2 platforms identified susceptibility against extended-spectrum cephalosporins and carbapenems in >90% of cases; however, against piperacillin/tazobactam, susceptibility was identified in <80% of cases. Applying the analytical strategies to a population with 15% prevalence of ceftazidime-resistance and 5% imipenem-resistance, RMD platforms predicted susceptibility in >95% of cases, while prediction of resistance was 69%-73% for ceftazidime and 41%-50% for imipenem. RMD platforms can help inform empiric β-lactam therapy in cases where bla genes are not detected and the prevalence of resistance is known. Our analysis is a first step in bridging the gap between RMDs and empiric treatment decisions. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail journals.permissions@oup.com.

How to be rational about empirical success in ongoing science: The case of the quantum nose and its critics.

PubMed

Barwich, Ann-Sophie

2018-06-01

Empirical success is a central criterion for scientific decision-making. Yet its understanding in philosophical studies of science deserves renewed attention: Should philosophers think differently about the advancement of science when they deal with the uncertainty of outcome in ongoing research in comparison with historical episodes? This paper argues that normative appeals to empirical success in the evaluation of competing scientific explanations can result in unreliable conclusions, especially when we are looking at the changeability of direction in unsettled investigations. The challenges we encounter arise from the inherent dynamics of disciplinary and experimental objectives in research practice. In this paper we discuss how these dynamics inform the evaluation of empirical success by analyzing three of its requirements: data accommodation, instrumental reliability, and predictive power. We conclude that the assessment of empirical success in developing inquiry is set against the background of a model's interactive success and prospective value in an experimental context. Our argument is exemplified by the analysis of an apparent controversy surrounding the model of a quantum nose in research on olfaction. Notably, the public narrative of this controversy rests on a distorted perspective on measures of empirical success. Copyright © 2018 The Author. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Effectiveness of brief VR treatment for PTSD in war-fighters: a case study.

PubMed

Miyahira, Sarah D; Folen, Raymond A; Hoffman, Hunter G; Garcia-Palacios, Azucena; Schaper, Kim M

2010-01-01

War-fighters exposed to combat are at high risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a complex and challenging condition to treat. Cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) have been empirically validated as effective treatments for PTSD resulting from sexual assault, vehicular accidents, and disasters. Exposure, imaginal or in vivo, to the traumatic event is a central component of successful CBT treatment. Early studies indicate that CBT with brief virtual reality exposure (VRE) is beneficial in treating PTSD. The case study examined the effectiveness of brief VRE in treating combat-related PTSD.

How to Study the Influence of Intensity of Treatment on Generalized Skill and Knowledge Acquisition in Students with Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yoder, Paul J.; Woynaroski, Tiffany

2015-01-01

Seven empirical studies from this special issue and an overview chapter are reviewed to illustrate several points about studying the possible effects of treatment intensity manipulations on generalized skill or knowledge acquisition in students with disabilities. First, we make a case in favor of studying intensity as separate from complexity and…

The Impact of Unstructured Case Studies on Surface Learners: A Study of Second-Year Accounting Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wynn-Williams, Kate; Beatson, Nicola; Anderson, Cameron

2016-01-01

The empirical study described here uses the R-SPQ-2F questionnaire [Biggs, J., Kember, D., & Leung, D. Y. (2001). The revised two-factor study process questionnaire: R-SPQ-2F. "British Journal of Educational Psychology," 71(1), 133-149] to test deep and surface approaches to learning in a university intermediate-level accounting…

Sulfonylurea Treatment Before Genetic Testing in Neonatal Diabetes: Pros and Cons

PubMed Central

Carmody, David; Bell, Charles D.; Hwang, Jessica L.; Dickens, Jazzmyne T.; Sima, Daniela I.; Felipe, Dania L.; Zimmer, Carrie A.; Davis, Ajuah O.; Kotlyarevska, Kateryna; Naylor, Rochelle N.; Philipson, Louis H.

2014-01-01

Context: Diabetes in neonates nearly always has a monogenic etiology. Earlier sulfonylurea therapy can improve glycemic control and potential neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with KCNJ11 or ABCC8 mutations, the most common gene causes. Objective: Assess the risks and benefits of initiating sulfonylurea therapy before genetic testing results become available. Design, Setting, and Patients: Observational retrospective study of subjects with neonatal diabetes within the University of Chicago Monogenic Diabetes Registry. Main Outcome Measures: Response to sulfonylurea (determined by whether insulin could be discontinued) and treatment side effects in those treated empirically. Results: A total of 154 subjects were diagnosed with diabetes before 6 months of age. A genetic diagnosis had been determined in 118 (77%), with 73 (47%) having a mutation in KCNJ11 or ABCC8. The median time from clinical diagnosis to genetic diagnosis was 10.4 weeks (range, 1.6 to 58.2 wk). In nine probands, an empiric sulfonylurea trial was initiated within 28 days of diabetes diagnosis. A genetic cause was subsequently found in eight cases, and insulin was discontinued within 14 days of sulfonylurea initiation in all of these cases. Conclusions: Sulfonylurea therapy appears to be safe and often successful in neonatal diabetes patients before genetic testing results are available; however, larger numbers of cases must be studied. Given the potential beneficial effect on neurodevelopmental outcome, glycemic control, and the current barriers to expeditious acquisition of genetic testing, an empiric inpatient trial of sulfonylurea can be considered. However, obtaining a genetic diagnosis remains imperative to inform long-term management and prognosis. PMID:25238204

Conceptualizing race in economic models of medical utilization: a case study of community-based elders and the emergency room.

PubMed Central

White-Means, S I

1995-01-01

There is no consensus on the appropriate conceptualization of race in economic models of health care. This is because race is rarely the primary focus for analysis of the market. This article presents an alternative framework for conceptualizing race in health economic models. A case study is analyzed to illustrate the value of the alternative conceptualization. The case study findings clearly document the importance of model stratification according to race. Moreover, the findings indicate that empirical results are improved when medical utilization models are refined in a way that reflects the unique experiences of the population that is studied. PMID:7721593

Equifinality in empirical studies of cultural transmission.

PubMed

Barrett, Brendan J

2018-01-31

Cultural systems exhibit equifinal behavior - a single final state may be arrived at via different mechanisms and/or from different initial states. Potential for equifinality exists in all empirical studies of cultural transmission including controlled experiments, observational field research, and computational simulations. Acknowledging and anticipating the existence of equifinality is important in empirical studies of social learning and cultural evolution; it helps us understand the limitations of analytical approaches and can improve our ability to predict the dynamics of cultural transmission. Here, I illustrate and discuss examples of equifinality in studies of social learning, and how certain experimental designs might be prone to it. I then review examples of equifinality discussed in the social learning literature, namely the use of s-shaped diffusion curves to discern individual from social learning and operational definitions and analytical approaches used in studies of conformist transmission. While equifinality exists to some extent in all studies of social learning, I make suggestions for how to address instances of it, with an emphasis on using data simulation and methodological verification alongside modern statistical approaches that emphasize prediction and model comparison. In cases where evaluated learning mechanisms are equifinal due to non-methodological factors, I suggest that this is not always a problem if it helps us predict cultural change. In some cases, equifinal learning mechanisms might offer insight into how both individual learning, social learning strategies and other endogenous social factors might by important in structuring cultural dynamics and within- and between-group heterogeneity. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An empirical comparison of a dynamic software testability metric to static cyclomatic complexity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Voas, Jeffrey M.; Miller, Keith W.; Payne, Jeffrey E.

1993-01-01

This paper compares the dynamic testability prediction technique termed 'sensitivity analysis' to the static testability technique termed cyclomatic complexity. The application that we chose in this empirical study is a CASE generated version of a B-737 autoland system. For the B-737 system we analyzed, we isolated those functions that we predict are more prone to hide errors during system/reliability testing. We also analyzed the code with several other well-known static metrics. This paper compares and contrasts the results of sensitivity analysis to the results of the static metrics.

Contingent Learning for Creative Music Technologists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

King, Andrew

2009-01-01

This article will review educational literature relevant to the design and implementation of a learning technology interface (LTI) into an undergraduate music technology curriculum. It also explores through empirical enquiry some of the advantages and disadvantages of using learning technology. This case study adopted a social-constructivist…

Aggregation, Validation, and Generalization of Qualitative Data - Methodological and Practical Research Strategies Illustrated by the Research Process of an empirically Based Typology.

PubMed

Weis, Daniel; Willems, Helmut

2017-06-01

The article deals with the question of how aggregated data which allow for generalizable insights can be generated from single-case based qualitative investigations. Thereby, two central challenges of qualitative social research are outlined: First, researchers must ensure that the single-case data can be aggregated and condensed so that new collective structures can be detected. Second, they must apply methods and practices to allow for the generalization of the results beyond the specific study. In the following, we demonstrate how and under what conditions these challenges can be addressed in research practice. To this end, the research process of the construction of an empirically based typology is described. A qualitative study, conducted within the framework of the Luxembourg Youth Report, is used to illustrate this process. Specifically, strategies are presented which increase the likelihood of generalizability or transferability of the results, while also highlighting their limitations.

Explicit and implicit assessment of gender roles.

PubMed

Fernández, Juan; Quiroga, M Ángeles; Escorial, Sergio; Privado, Jesús

2014-05-01

Gender roles have been assessed by explicit measures and, recently, by implicit measures. In the former case, the theoretical assumptions have been questioned by empirical results. To solve this contradiction, we carried out two concatenated studies based on a relatively well-founded theoretical and empirical approach. The first study was designed to obtain a sample of genderized activities of the domestic sphere by means of an explicit assessment. Forty-two raters (22 women and 20 men, balanced on age, sex, and level of education) took part as raters. In the second study, an implicit assessment of gender roles was carried out, focusing on the response time given to the sample activities obtained from the first study. A total of 164 adults (90 women and 74 men, mean age = 43), with experience in living with a partner and balanced on age, sex, and level of education, participated. Taken together, results show that explicit and implicit assessment converge. The current social reality shows that there is still no equity in some gender roles in the domestic sphere. These consistent results show considerable theoretical and empirical robustness, due to the double implicit and explicit assessment.

The optimal age of measles immunisation in low-income countries: a secondary analysis of the assumptions underlying the current policy

PubMed Central

Martins, Cesário L; Garly, May-Lill; Rodrigues, Amabelia; Benn, Christine S; Whittle, Hilton

2012-01-01

Objective The current policy of measles vaccination at 9 months of age was decided in the mid-1970s. The policy was not tested for impact on child survival but was based on studies of seroconversion after measles vaccination at different ages. The authors examined the empirical evidence for the six underlying assumptions. Design Secondary analysis. Data sources and methods These assumptions have not been research issues. Hence, the authors examined case reports to assess the empirical evidence for the original assumptions. The authors used existing reviews, and in December 2011, the authors made a PubMed search for relevant papers. The title and abstract of papers in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, German and Scandinavian languages were assessed to ascertain whether the paper was potentially relevant. Based on cumulative measles incidence figures, the authors calculated how many measles cases had been prevented assuming everybody was vaccinated at a specific age, how many ‘vaccine failures’ would occur after the age of vaccination and how many cases would occur before the specific age of vaccination. In the combined analyses of several studies, the authors used the Mantel–Haenszel weighted RR stratifying for study or age groups to estimate common trends. Setting and participants African community studies of measles infection. Primary and secondary outcomes Consistency between assumptions and empirical evidence and the predicted effect on mortality. Results In retrospect, the major assumptions were based on false premises. First, in the single study examining this point, seronegative vaccinated children had considerable protection against measles infection. Second, in 18 community studies, vaccinated measles cases (‘vaccine failures’) had threefold lower case death than unvaccinated cases. Third, in 24 community studies, infants had twofold higher case death than older measles cases. Fourth, the only study examining the assumption that ‘vaccine failures’ lead to lack of confidence found the opposite because vaccinated children had milder measles infection. Fifth, a one-dose policy was recommended. However, the two randomised trials of early two-dose measles vaccination compared with one-dose vaccination found significantly reduced mortality until 3 years of age. Thus, current evidence suggests that the optimal age for a single dose of measles vaccine should have been 6 or 7 months resulting in fewer severe unvaccinated cases among infants but more mild ‘vaccine failures’ among older children. Furthermore, the two-dose trials indicate that measles vaccine reduces mortality from other causes than measles infection. Conclusions Many lives may have been lost by not determining the optimal age of measles vaccination. Since seroconversion continues to be the basis for policy, the current recommendation is to increase the age of measles vaccination to 12 months in countries with limited measles transmission. This policy may lead to an increase in child mortality. PMID:22815465

Ethical Implications of Case-Based Payment in China: A Systematic Analysis.

PubMed

Jin, Pingyue; Biller-Andorno, Nikola; Wild, Verina

2015-12-01

How health care providers are paid affects how medicine is practiced. It is thus important to assess provider payment models not only from the economic perspective but also from the ethical perspective. China recently started to reform the provider payment model in the health care system from fee-for-service to case-based payment. This paper aims to examine this transition from an ethical perspective. We collected empirical studies on the impact of case-based payment in the Chinese health care system and applied a systematic ethical matrix that integrates clinical ethics and public health ethics to analyze the empirical findings. We identified eleven prominent ethical issues related to case-based payment. Some ethical problems of case-based payment in China are comparable to ethical problems of managed care and diagnosis related groups in high-income countries. However, in this paper we discuss in greater detail four specific ethical issues in the Chinese context: professionalism, the patient-physician relationship, access to care and patient autonomy. Based on the analysis, we cautiously infer that case-based payment is currently more ethically acceptable than fee-for-service in the context of China, mainly because it seems to lower financial barriers to access care. Nonetheless, it will be difficult to justify the implementation of case-based payment if no additional measures are taken to monitor and minimize its existing negative ethical implications. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Modeling the erythemal surface diffuse irradiance fraction for Badajoz, Spain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanchez, Guadalupe; Serrano, Antonio; Cancillo, María Luisa

2017-10-01

Despite its important role on the human health and numerous biological processes, the diffuse component of the erythemal ultraviolet irradiance (UVER) is scarcely measured at standard radiometric stations and therefore needs to be estimated. This study proposes and compares 10 empirical models to estimate the UVER diffuse fraction. These models are inspired from mathematical expressions originally used to estimate total diffuse fraction, but, in this study, they are applied to the UVER case and tested against experimental measurements. In addition to adapting to the UVER range the various independent variables involved in these models, the total ozone column has been added in order to account for its strong impact on the attenuation of ultraviolet radiation. The proposed models are fitted to experimental measurements and validated against an independent subset. The best-performing model (RAU3) is based on a model proposed by Ruiz-Arias et al. (2010) and shows values of r2 equal to 0.91 and relative root-mean-square error (rRMSE) equal to 6.1 %. The performance achieved by this entirely empirical model is better than those obtained by previous semi-empirical approaches and therefore needs no additional information from other physically based models. This study expands on previous research to the ultraviolet range and provides reliable empirical models to accurately estimate the UVER diffuse fraction.

"Pink Is a Girl's Color": A Case Study of Bilingual Kindergarteners' Discussions about Gender Roles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, So Jung

2016-01-01

This article discusses the results of an empirical study that examined young bilingual students' discussions of picture books dealing with gender themes in a Spanish/English bilingual classroom. The study focused on the reading of five picture books by sixteen 5-year-old Mexican-origin children at a small charter school. The data were collected by…

Get Your Degree from an Educational ATM: An Empirical Study in Online Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Y.; Nguyen, H.

2007-01-01

This article studies the modern trend of online education in the United States. Based on a wide range of statistics, the number of cyberspace courses offered by four-year institutions and universities nationwide has rapidly increased over the past one and a half decades. Under a case study, colleges of business from ranked universities and…

Influence of Family Communication Structure and Vanity Trait on Consumption Behavior: A Case Study of Adolescent Students in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chang, Wei-Lung; Liu, Hsiang-Te; Lin, Tai-An; Wen, Yung-Sung

2008-01-01

The purpose of this research was to study the relationship between family communication structure, vanity trait, and related consumption behavior. The study used an empirical method with adolescent students from the northern part of Taiwan as the subjects. Multiple statistical methods and the SEM model were used for testing the hypotheses. The…

Playing and Learning: An iPad Game Development & Implementation Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jenson, Jennifer; de Castell, Suzanne; Muehrer, Rachel; McLaughlin-Jenkins, Erin

2016-01-01

There is a great deal of enthusiasm for the use of games in formal educational contexts; however, there is a notable and problematic lack of studies that make use of replicable study designs to empirically link games to learning (Young, et al., 2012). This paper documents the iterative design and development of an educationally focused game,…

A Domain-Specific System for Representing Knowledge of Both Man-Made Objects and Human Actions. Evidence from a Case with an Association of Deficits

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vannuscorps, Gilles; Pillon, Agnesa

2011-01-01

We report the single-case study of a brain-damaged individual, JJG, presenting with a conceptual deficit and whose knowledge of living things, man-made objects, and actions was assessed. The aim was to seek for empirical evidence pertaining to the issue of how conceptual knowledge of objects, both living things and man-made objects, is related to…

Alien invasions in aquatic ecosystems: toward an understanding of brook trout invasions and potential impacts on inland cutthroat trout in western North America

Treesearch

Jason B. Dunham; Susan B. Adams; Robert E. Schroeter; Douglas C. Novinger

2002-01-01

Experience from case studies of biological invasions in aquatic ecosystems has motivated a set of proposed empirical “rules” for understanding patterns of invasion and impacts on native species. Further evidence is needed to better understand these patterns, and perhaps contribute to a useful predictive theory of invasions. We reviewed the case of brook trout (

Probabilistic analysis of tsunami hazards

USGS Publications Warehouse

Geist, E.L.; Parsons, T.

2006-01-01

Determining the likelihood of a disaster is a key component of any comprehensive hazard assessment. This is particularly true for tsunamis, even though most tsunami hazard assessments have in the past relied on scenario or deterministic type models. We discuss probabilistic tsunami hazard analysis (PTHA) from the standpoint of integrating computational methods with empirical analysis of past tsunami runup. PTHA is derived from probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA), with the main difference being that PTHA must account for far-field sources. The computational methods rely on numerical tsunami propagation models rather than empirical attenuation relationships as in PSHA in determining ground motions. Because a number of source parameters affect local tsunami runup height, PTHA can become complex and computationally intensive. Empirical analysis can function in one of two ways, depending on the length and completeness of the tsunami catalog. For site-specific studies where there is sufficient tsunami runup data available, hazard curves can primarily be derived from empirical analysis, with computational methods used to highlight deficiencies in the tsunami catalog. For region-wide analyses and sites where there are little to no tsunami data, a computationally based method such as Monte Carlo simulation is the primary method to establish tsunami hazards. Two case studies that describe how computational and empirical methods can be integrated are presented for Acapulco, Mexico (site-specific) and the U.S. Pacific Northwest coastline (region-wide analysis).

An empirical method that separates irreversible stem radial growth from bark water content changes in trees: theory and case studies

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

Mencuccini, Maurizio; Salmon, Yann; Mitchell, Patrick

Substantial uncertainty surrounds our knowledge of tree stem growth, with some of the most basic questions, such as when stem radial growth occurs through the daily cycle, still unanswered. Here, we employed high-resolution point dendrometers, sap flow sensors, and developed theory and statistical approaches, to devise a novel method separating irreversible radial growth from elastic tension-driven and elastic osmotically driven changes in bark water content. We tested this method using data from five case study species. Experimental manipulations, namely a field irrigation experiment on Scots pine and a stem girdling experiment on red forest gum trees, were used to validatemore » the theory. Time courses of stem radial growth following irrigation and stem girdling were consistent with a-priori predictions. Patterns of stem radial growth varied across case studies, with growth occurring during the day and/or night, consistent with the available literature. Importantly, our approach provides a valuable alternative to existing methods, as it can be approximated by a simple empirical interpolation routine that derives irreversible radial growth using standard regression techniques. In conclusion, our novel method provides an improved understanding of the relative source–sink carbon dynamics of tree stems at a sub-daily time scale.« less

Assessing the bioaccumulation potential of ionizable organic ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The objective of the present study is to review current knowledge regarding the bioaccumulation potential of IOCs, with a focus on the availability of empirical data for fish. Aspects of the bioaccumulation potential of IOCs in fish that can be characterized relatively well include the pH-dependence of gill uptake and elimination, uptake in the gut, and sorption to phospholipids (membrane-water partitioning). Key challenges include the lack of empirical data for biotransformation and binding in plasma. Fish possess a diverse array of proteins which may transport IOCs across cell membranes. Except in a few cases, however, the significance of this transport for uptake and accumulation of environmental contaminants is unknown. Two case studies are presented. The first describes modeled effects of pH and biotransformation on bioconcentration of organic acids and bases, while the second employs an updated model to investigate factors responsible for accumulation of perfluoroalkylated acids (PFAA). The PFAA case study is notable insofar as it illustrates the likely importance of membrane transporters in the kidney and highlights the potential value of read across approaches. Recognizing the current need to perform bioaccumulation hazard assessments and ecological and exposure risk assessment for IOCs, we provide a tiered strategy that progresses (as needed) from conservative assumptions (models and associated data) to more sophisticated models requiring chemical-speci

An empirical method that separates irreversible stem radial growth from bark water content changes in trees: theory and case studies.

PubMed

Mencuccini, Maurizio; Salmon, Yann; Mitchell, Patrick; Hölttä, Teemu; Choat, Brendan; Meir, Patrick; O'Grady, Anthony; Tissue, David; Zweifel, Roman; Sevanto, Sanna; Pfautsch, Sebastian

2017-02-01

Substantial uncertainty surrounds our knowledge of tree stem growth, with some of the most basic questions, such as when stem radial growth occurs through the daily cycle, still unanswered. We employed high-resolution point dendrometers, sap flow sensors, and developed theory and statistical approaches, to devise a novel method separating irreversible radial growth from elastic tension-driven and elastic osmotically driven changes in bark water content. We tested this method using data from five case study species. Experimental manipulations, namely a field irrigation experiment on Scots pine and a stem girdling experiment on red forest gum trees, were used to validate the theory. Time courses of stem radial growth following irrigation and stem girdling were consistent with a-priori predictions. Patterns of stem radial growth varied across case studies, with growth occurring during the day and/or night, consistent with the available literature. Importantly, our approach provides a valuable alternative to existing methods, as it can be approximated by a simple empirical interpolation routine that derives irreversible radial growth using standard regression techniques. Our novel method provides an improved understanding of the relative source-sink carbon dynamics of tree stems at a sub-daily time scale. © 2016 The Authors Plant, Cell & Environment Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

An empirical method that separates irreversible stem radial growth from bark water content changes in trees: theory and case studies

DOE PAGES

Mencuccini, Maurizio; Salmon, Yann; Mitchell, Patrick; ...

2017-11-12

Substantial uncertainty surrounds our knowledge of tree stem growth, with some of the most basic questions, such as when stem radial growth occurs through the daily cycle, still unanswered. Here, we employed high-resolution point dendrometers, sap flow sensors, and developed theory and statistical approaches, to devise a novel method separating irreversible radial growth from elastic tension-driven and elastic osmotically driven changes in bark water content. We tested this method using data from five case study species. Experimental manipulations, namely a field irrigation experiment on Scots pine and a stem girdling experiment on red forest gum trees, were used to validatemore » the theory. Time courses of stem radial growth following irrigation and stem girdling were consistent with a-priori predictions. Patterns of stem radial growth varied across case studies, with growth occurring during the day and/or night, consistent with the available literature. Importantly, our approach provides a valuable alternative to existing methods, as it can be approximated by a simple empirical interpolation routine that derives irreversible radial growth using standard regression techniques. In conclusion, our novel method provides an improved understanding of the relative source–sink carbon dynamics of tree stems at a sub-daily time scale.« less

Promoting Entrepreneurship among Informatics Engineering Students: Insights from a Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fernandes, João M.; Afonso, Paulo; Fonte, Victor; Alves, Victor; Ribeiro, António Nestor

2017-01-01

Universities seek to promote entrepreneurship through effective education approaches, which need to be in permanent evolution. Nevertheless, the literature in entrepreneurship education lacks empirical evidence. This article discusses relevant issues related to promoting entrepreneurship in the software field, based on the experience of a…

The Process of Mentoring Pregnant Adolescents: An Exploratory Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blinn-Pike, Lynn; Kuschel, Diane; McDaniel, Annette; Mingus, Suzanne; Mutti, Megan Poole

1998-01-01

The process that occurs in relationships between volunteer adult mentors and pregnant adolescent "mentees" is described empirically; testable hypotheses based on findings concerning the mentor role are proposed. Case records from 20 mentors are analyzed; findings regarding mentors' roles are discussed. Criteria for conceptualizing quasi-parenting…

Leading by Example: The Case of Leader OCB

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yaffe, Tal; Kark, Ronit

2011-01-01

The importance of leading by personal example or role modeling for effective leadership has been recognized in many leadership theories. However, leaders' ability to influence group behavior through exemplary behavior has received little attention in empirical work. This study explores leading by example through theoretical development and…

[Risk epidemiology and child protection statistics in early childhood – a pilot study in southern Germany].

PubMed

Thurn, Leonore; Besier, Tanja; Ziegenhain, Ute; Jud, Andreas; Kindler, Heinz; Fischer, Dieter; Fegert, Jörg M; Künster, Anne Katrin

2017-07-01

In contrast to many other countries in Europe, Germany lacks sufficient empirical data on the incidence/prevalence of child maltreatment and its risk factors. This pilot study generated systematic data on the prevalence of child abuse and neglect and its risk factors in Germany. Using a newly developed questionnaire (ESM1 and ESM2) on child abuse and neglect as well as indicators for risk factors, we conducted a survey on 35 child daycare centers in a county in southern Germany, the goal being to generate reliable data. The questionnaire and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was completed by daycare professionals for every child between 4 and under 7 years who was attending the participating daycare center (1,122 children). Child maltreatment was reported in 13.2 % of the cases, and risk factors for future child maltreatment were detected in 38.4 % cases. This study demonstrates that systematic data collection concerning child protection is feasible in child daycare centers. In the future, we recommend that local child protection networks be modified on the basis of reliable empirical data.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression in an Older Gay Man: A Clinical Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Satterfield, Jason M.; Crabb, Rebecca

2010-01-01

Although strong evidence supports cognitive-behavioral therapy for late-life depression and depression in racial and ethnic minorities, there are no empirical studies on the treatment of depression in older sexual minorities. Three distinct literatures were tapped to create a depression treatment protocol for an older gay male. Interventions were…

Young Students' Aesthetic Experiences and Meaning-Making Processes in an Outdoor Environmental School Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manni, Annika; Ottander, Christina; Sporre, Karin

2017-01-01

This study uses John Dewey's theoretical concept of "aesthetic experience" in empirically exploring expressions of cognition and emotion in students' meaning-making processes. A case study was conducted in one class of Grade 6 students during a single school semester. This article reports results from five outdoor days. The empirical…

Potential and pitfalls of researching ethnic communities in recreation: a Puerto Rican case study

Treesearch

Edwin G& #243; mez; Edwin mez

2003-01-01

Although the empirical literature on ethnic/racial groups and recreation has been growing, there have been request by researchers for approaches on procuring information from hard-to-reach populations. The purpose of this report is to provide prospective researchers with "lessons learned" in the field when researching ethnic group members. This study observes...

An Exploratory Study of Corporate Universities in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sham, Clare

2007-01-01

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to examine the empirical status of corporate universities (CUs) in China. An a priori CU framework was employed in an attempt to describe the key functions that an ideal type of CU in China should perform. Design/methodology/approach: Three case studies were conducted to test the relevance of this…

Equity Measurements in School Finance: Indiana, Iowa and Illinois.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hickrod, G. Alan; And Others

Empirical studies of the school finance reforms of the 1970s have not indicated that equity has been satisfactorily achieved in all cases. The methods of equity analysis used and the data bases analyzed in those studies have differed enough to prevent ready comparison or the formulation of overall assessments of the effects of school finance…

The Importance of Civic Responsibility in Higher Performing Middle Schools: An Empirical Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilcox, Kristen C.

2011-01-01

In this case study, a district-wide focus on the development of civic responsibility is seen as an important component in the success of higher performing middle schools. Salient features of best practice were gathered from teacher and administrator interviews and documentary evidence in 10 higher performing, yet "beating the odds" schools, and…

The Importance of Interaction in Web-Based Education: A Program-Level Case Study of Online MBA Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Su, Bude; Bonk, Curtis J.; Magjuka, Richard J.; Liu, Xiaojing; Lee, Seung-hee

2005-01-01

Though interaction is often billed as a significant component of successful online learning, empirical evidence of its importance as well as practical guidance or specific interaction techniques continue to be lacking. In response, this study utilizes both quantitative and qualitative data to investigate how instructors and students perceive the…

The use of marker-data transformations to account for linkage disequilibrium in genomic selection: a case study in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Genomic selection (GS) is an attractive technology to generate rapid genetic gains, particularly in perennial grass species like switchgrass, where phenotyping generally requires at least two years of field trial. In this study, we empirically assessed prediction procedures for GS in two different p...

The Promising but Challenging Case of Humility as a Positive Psychology Virtue

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Peter C.; Sandage, Steven J.

2016-01-01

In maintaining that virtue is a legitimate concept worthy of empirical study, a strong situationist approach to the study of behavior is countered. An earlier analysis is then drawn upon to maintain that virtue has the capability of integrating several themes in positive psychology: ethics and health, embodied character, strength and resilience,…

Exploring Equivalent Forms Reliability Using a Key Stage 2 Reading Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benton, Tom

2013-01-01

This article outlines an empirical investigation into equivalent forms reliability using a case study of a national curriculum reading test. Within the situation being studied, there has been a genuine attempt to create several equivalent forms and so it is of interest to compare the actual behaviour of the relationship between these forms to the…

Words that Hurt: A Qualitative Study of Parental Verbal Abuse in the Philippines

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Loh, Jennifer; Calleja, Flora; Restubog, Simon Lloyd D.

2011-01-01

This article investigated opinions on what constitute parental abuse with interviews of 30 high school students, 30 parents, and 28 counselors. Despite increased reported cases of emotional abuses and child maltreatments in the Philippines, few empirical studies have explored the exact nature of parental verbal abuses in this country. This study…

Annotated Bibliography of Research in the Teaching of English

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beach, Richard; Bigelow, Martha; Brendler, Beth; Coffino, Kara; Dillon, Deborah; Frederick, Amy; Gabrielli, Michelle; Helman, Lori; Ngo, Bic; O'Brien, David; Rambow, Adam; Scharber, Cassie; Sethi, Jenna; Braaksma, Martine; Janssen, Tanja; Thein, Amanda Haertling; Liang, Lauren; Stornaiuolo, Amy

2012-01-01

This November issue of "Research in the Teaching of English" ("RTE") once again contains the Annual Annotated Bibliography of "RTE." This bibliography includes abstracts of selected empirical research studies as well as titles of other related studies and books published between summer 2011 and summer 2012. As was the case with the 2010 and 2011…

Misconceptions on Classical Mechanics by Freshman University Students: A Case Study in a Physics Department in Greece

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stylos, George; Evangelakis, George A.; Kotsis, Konstantinos T.

2008-01-01

This paper presents results of an empirical research study on Newton's laws classical mechanics and its perceptions on freshman students at the Physics Department, University of Ioannina, Greece. Results and outcome measures reveal misconceptions on students' perceptions in consideration of the fundamental concepts in freshman Physics education.…

Exploring How Understandings from Abstract Algebra Can Influence the Teaching of Structure in Early Algebra

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wasserman, Nicholas H.

2017-01-01

Empirical work that connects content knowledge to teaching practice has become increasingly important in discussions around a professional knowledge base for teaching. This paper aims to continue that work, reporting a single exploratory case study of one elementary mathematics teacher. The purpose of the study was to investigate how introducing…

Emerging Musicality during the Pre-School Years: A Case Study of One Child

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Forrester, Michael A.

2010-01-01

Studies of communication in early infancy and childhood have highlighted the significance of rhythm, sound and music for emotional and social development. There is, however, little detailed empirical data on the emergence of naturalistic music-related behaviour by children in the early years. The aim of this work is to examine instances of…

Changing Bilingual Self-Perceptions from Early Adolescence to Early Adulthood: Empirical Evidence from a Mixed-Methods Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caldas, Stephen J.

2008-01-01

In the emerging tradition of language socialization research, this study examines the changing bilingual self-perceptions of three children, identical twin girls and their older brother, from early adolescence through early adulthood. The children were reared in a predominantly French-speaking home in south Louisiana by French/English bilingual…

A Categorization Model for Educational Values of the History of Mathematics: An Empirical Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Xiao-qin; Qi, Chun-yan; Wang, Ke

2017-01-01

There is not a clear consensus on the categorization framework of the educational values of the history of mathematics. By analyzing 20 Chinese teaching cases on integrating the history of mathematics into mathematics teaching based on the relevant literature, this study examined a new categorization framework of the educational values of the…

Formative Assessment for Middle School Mathematics Instruction: An Evidence-Based Approach to Evaluating Teacher Posing, Pausing, and Probing Moves

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holmberg, Carrie

2017-01-01

This study involved empirical investigation of a moves-based conceptualization of teacher practices of planning, enacting, and reflecting on formative assessment (FA) in mathematics classrooms in a high-needs school district in California. A qualitative case study of six middle school mathematics teachers' practices of "posing"…

Participation and Achievement in Enterprise MOOCs for Professional Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwerer, Florian; Egloffstein, Marc

2016-01-01

This paper presents initial results of an empirical study describing participation and achievement in Enterprise MOOCs for professional learning. In a case study, five courses from openSAP, the MOOC offering of SAP SE, with a total sample of n = 9994 have been surveyed. The results indicate a strong solution-market fit for Enterprise MOOCs in the…

Learning to Lead the Risk-Conscious Organization: An Empirical Study of Five English Primary School Leaders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pegg, Ann Elizabeth

2010-01-01

This article explores how organizational cultures shape workplace learning for those learning to be educational leaders. The discussion is illustrated with the data from an ethnographic case study which explored the workplace learning of five school leaders. The findings suggest that workplace boundaries were constructed in response to perceptions…

Negotiating Policy in an Age of Globalization: Exploring Educational "Policyscapes" in Denmark, Nepal, and China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carney, Stephen

2009-01-01

This article aims to explore processes of policy implementation with respect to an ongoing empirical study in three very different sites: (1) Denmark; (2) Nepal; and (3) China. Rather than treat these investigations in the traditional manner of separate and contained national case studies, the author attempts to create a "policyscape"…

The Impact of Misspelled Words on Automated Computer Scoring: A Case Study of Scientific Explanations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ha, Minsu; Nehm, Ross H.

2016-01-01

Automated computerized scoring systems (ACSSs) are being increasingly used to analyze text in many educational settings. Nevertheless, the impact of misspelled words (MSW) on scoring accuracy remains to be investigated in many domains, particularly jargon-rich disciplines such as the life sciences. Empirical studies confirm that MSW are a…

Improving Students' Conceptual Understanding of a Specific Content Learning: A Designed Teaching Sequence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahmad, N. J.; Lah, Y. Che

2012-01-01

The efficacy of a teaching sequence designed for a specific content of learning of electrochemistry is described in this paper. The design of the teaching draws upon theoretical insights into perspectives on learning and empirical studies to improve the teaching of this topic. A case study involving two classes, the experimental and baseline…

Stories of Self and Science: Preservice Elementary Teachers' Identity Work through Time and across Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Avraamidou, Lucy

2016-01-01

Grounded in theoretical and empirical underpinnings related to identity work and figured worlds, this case study explores the nature of two preservice elementary teachers' identities for science teaching and the experiences that impacted their development through time and across contexts. The participants in this study portray a range of…

Multiple Enactments of Method, Divergent Hinterlands and Production of Multiple Realities in Educational Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rimpiläinen, Sanna

2015-01-01

What do different research methods and approaches "do" in practice? The article seeks to discuss this point by drawing upon socio-material research approaches and empirical examples taken from the early stages of an extensive case study on an interdisciplinary project between two multidisciplinary fields of study, education and computer…

The Perioperative Experience of the Ambulatory Surgery Patient

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-10-01

researchers are phenomenology , grounded theory , ethnography , history, case studies , and analytical philosophy (Munhall, 1994). Phenomenology The aim of the...Burns & Grove, 1997). In this study , a phenomenological approach was used. Phenomenology is both a philosophy and a research method . The purpose of... Theories in qualitative research are often described as being grounded in the empirical data

Quantitative Research Methods, Study Quality, and Outcomes: The Case of Interaction Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Plonsky, Luke; Gass, Susan

2011-01-01

This article constitutes the first empirical assessment of methodological quality in second language acquisition (SLA). We surveyed a corpus of 174 studies (N = 7,951) within the tradition of research on second-language interaction, one of the longest and most influential traditions of inquiry in SLA. Each report was coded for methodological…

The Principal as Change Agent. The Best of ERIC on Educational Management, Number 55.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management, Eugene, OR.

Twelve essays and books reviewed in this annotated bibliography contribute information about how principals can identify the need for change and how they can implement successful change strategies. The literature contains several case studies as well as empirical research data. One study concludes that change is more likely to occur when…

Developing comparative criminology and the case of China: an introduction.

PubMed

Liu, Jianhong

2007-02-01

Although comparative criminology has made significant development during the past decade or so, systematic empirical research has only developed along a few topics. Comparative criminology has never occupied a central position in criminology. This article analyzes the major theoretical and methodological impediments in the development of comparative criminology. It stresses a need to shift methodology from a conventional primary approach that uses the nation as the unit of analysis to an in-depth case study method as a primary methodological approach. The article maintains that case study method can overcome the limitation of its descriptive tradition and become a promising methodological approach for comparative criminology.

Investigation of the Fe{sup 3+} centers in perovskite KMgF{sub 3} through a combination of ab initio (density functional theory) and semi-empirical (superposition model) calculations

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

Emül, Y.; Department of Software Engineering, Cumhuriyet University, 58140 Sivas; Erbahar, D.

2015-08-14

Analyses of the local crystal and electronic structure in the vicinity of Fe{sup 3+} centers in perovskite KMgF{sub 3} crystal have been carried out in a comprehensive manner. A combination of density functional theory (DFT) and a semi-empirical superposition model (SPM) is used for a complete analysis of all Fe{sup 3+} centers in this study for the first time. Some quantitative information has been derived from the DFT calculations on both the electronic structure and the local geometry around Fe{sup 3+} centers. All of the trigonal (K-vacancy case, K-Li substitution case, and normal trigonal Fe{sup 3+} center case), FeF{sub 5}Omore » cluster, and tetragonal (Mg-vacancy and Mg-Li substitution cases) centers have been taken into account based on the previously suggested experimental and theoretical inferences. The collaboration between the experimental data and the results of both DFT and SPM calculations provides us to understand most probable structural model for Fe{sup 3+} centers in KMgF{sub 3}.« less

Microbial keratitis following vegetative matter injury.

PubMed

Taneja, Mukesh; Ashar, Jatin N; Mathur, Anurag; Nalamada, Suma; Garg, Prashant

2013-04-01

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the microbiological profile of cases of keratitis following trauma with vegetative matter in a tertiary care center. A retrospective review of the medical records of 49 patients with keratitis following vegetative matter injury over a 3-month period was performed. All patients underwent corneal scraping for smears and inoculation onto various culture media. The microbiological profile was based on the smear and culture reports. For patients who were culture-negative, outcome after standard empirical antibacterial therapy as per hospital protocol was analyzed. Thirteen patients with corneal ulcers had fungal etiology, eight had bacterial etiology, and two had protozoal etiology, while 13 patients were polymicrobial and 13 were culture-negative. Polymicrobial infections were mainly bacterial (eight cases), and the remaining five cases had coexistent fungal and bacterial etiology. The treatment was directed to the specific organism and patients improved with medical or surgical therapy. Only a third of culture-negative cases showed fungal etiology on biopsy or histopathology after keratoplasty while a third showed improvement with therapy. Corneal infections following vegetative matter trauma show a varied etiological profile; however, bacterial and polymicrobial infections are more prevalent. Empirical anti-fungal therapy, as commonly practiced, must be avoided in cases with vegetative matter injury.

On the Natural History of Preaspirated Stops

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clayton, Ian D.

2010-01-01

This dissertation makes two contributions, one empirical, the other theoretical. Empirically, the dissertation deepens our understanding of the lifecycle and behavior of the preaspirated stop, an extremely rare phonological feature. I show that in most confirmed cases, preaspirated stops develop from earlier voiceless geminate stops, less commonly…

Bacteriological aspects implicated in abdominal surgical emergencies.

PubMed

Israil, A M; Delcaru, C; Palade, R S; Chifiriuc, C; Iordache, C; Vasile, D; Grigoriu, M; Voiculescu, D

2010-01-01

The purpose of the present study was to establish the microbial etiology of abdominal surgical emergencies as well as the relationship between the bacterial etiology and the virulence factors produced by the respective isolated strains. 110 bacterial strains were isolated from 100 randomized clinical cases, operated during 2009-2010 in the First Surgical Clinic of the University Hospital of Bucharest. The clinical cases (sex ratio 52 M/48F aged between 22-85 years old) were classified into three risk groups, as related to their severity. The isolated strains were characterized by cultural, microscopic and biochemical methods. After identification, the bacterial strains were investigated for their virulence potential (adherence to abiotic surface and production of soluble virulence factors). The specimens were collected from different clinical pathologies: diffuse acute peritonitis, biliary duct infections, severe acute pancreatitis followed by septic processes etc. The 110 bacterial (72 aerobic and 38 anaerobic) strains were isolated only in 70 out of 100 cases. Out of these 70 cases, in 45 already submitted to pre-operatory empiric broad spectrum antibiotic therapy, there were isolated 74 strains, whereas in 25 cases without any treatment, there were isolated 36 strains. The etiology was either mono-specific or multi-specific (aerobic-anaerobic associations, especially in old persons). Out of the 30 negative culture cases, 16 were already submitted to pre-operatory parenteral empiric antibiotic therapy at the moment of specimen collection. The aerobic etiology was dominated by Enterobacteriaceae. The most frequent anaerobic species belonged to Clostridium, Peptococcus and Bacteroides genera. It is to be mentioned that the isolation of Bifidobacterium and Veillonella spp. in 11 (10%) severe cases of the studied abdominal surgical emergencies is pleading for the fact that in certain conditions, bacteria belonging usually to commensal gut flora can turn to pathogenic becoming responsive for life-threatening cases. All aerobic and anaerobic strains exhibited some of the following virulence factors: mucinase, esculinase, pore-forming toxins (lecithinase), proteolytic enzymes, adherence ability (slime factor). The presence of these virulence factors (VF) could explain the severity of the clinical aspects. The bacterial etiology of the abdominal surgical emergencies exhibited a very large spectrum, the highest number of strains being of endogenous origin (Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobic strains). It was demonstrated that the isolated strains produced (cell associated and soluble) VF proving in this way their role as important virulence sources in the hospital environment and explaining the large diversity and severity of the clinical abdominal pathology. The results of the present study are also pleading for periodical readjustments of the pre-operatory empiric antibiotic therapy.

On Detecting Influential Data and Selecting Regression Variables

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-10-01

subset of the data. The empirical influence function for ,, IFA is defined to be IFA = AA -- A (2) For a given positive definite matrix M and a nonzero...interest. Cook and Weisberg (1980) tried to treat their measurement of the influence on the fitted values X. They used the empirical influence function for...Characterizations of an empirical influence function for detecting influential cases in regression. Technometrics 22, 495-508. [3] Gray, J. B. and Ling, R. F

Implementing and Evaluating a Writing Course for Psychology Majors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goddard, Perilou

2003-01-01

In this article, I describe Writing in Psychology, a semester-length 3-credit elective course designed to improve students' writing skills, familiarize them with psychology's writing conventions, and teach them American Psychological Association (APA) style. Students produced a case report, a report of an empirical study, a conference abstract,…

Using a Realist Research Methodology in Policy Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lourie, Megan; Rata, Elizabeth

2017-01-01

The article describes the usefulness of a realist methodology in linking sociological theory to empirically obtained data through the development of a methodological device. Three layers of analysis were integrated: 1. the findings from a case study about Maori language education in New Zealand; 2. the identification and analysis of contradictions…

Delaying the Academy: A Gap Year Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Shea, Joseph

2011-01-01

This investigation serves as one of the first empirical analyses to examine the international volunteering gap year from an educational perspective, concluding an in-depth case study of a prominent gap year organisation in the UK. Contrary to widespread industry promotion of international development, the findings suggest that the experience can…

Burning out during the Practicum: The Case of Teacher Trainees

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kokkinos, Constantinos M.; Stavropoulos, George

2016-01-01

The purpose of the present study was to empirically examine the link between practicum-related stressors, perceived general practicum stress, personal variables (i.e. general and teaching self-efficacy, epistemological beliefs, conceptions about teaching and learning, and trait anxiety) and burnout dimensions in a sample of 174 Greek student…

Content Analysis of Chemistry Curricula in Germany Case Study: Chemical Reactions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Timofte, Roxana S.

2015-01-01

Curriculum-assessment alignment is a well known foundation for good practice in educational assessment, for items' curricular validity purposes. Nowadays instruments are designed to measure pupils' competencies in one or more areas of competence. Sub-competence areas could be defined theoretically and statistical analysis of empirical data by…

Minority Engineering Programs at a Crossroads: An Empirical Multiple Case Study of Two Historically White Public Research Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newman, Christopher B.

2016-01-01

Purpose: Underrepresented groups have fought for equal access to higher education, which spurred the development of "minority" initiatives. However, the assault on affirmative action and race-based initiatives have led many universities to retreat toward more all-encompassing "diversity" initiatives.…

Education Research as Analytic Claims: The Case of Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hyslop-Margison, Emery; Rogers, Matthew; Oladi, Soudeh

2017-01-01

Despite widespread calls for evidence-based research in education, this strategy has heretofore generated a surprisingly small return on the related financial investment. Some scholars have suggested that the situation follows from a mismatch between education as an assumed field of study and applied empirical research methods. This article's…

Do We Need Incentives for PhD Supervisors?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sadowski, Dieter; Schneider, Peter; Thaller, Nicole

2008-01-01

This article presents empirical results of explorative case studies that examine whether the New Public Management mechanisms have improved the academic performance of PhD education in selected German and European economics departments. Our data rely on document analyses of organisational variables and in-depth semi-structured interviews with…

Information Sharing in the Field of Design Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pilerot, Ola

2015-01-01

Introduction: This paper reports on an extensive research project which aimed at exploring information sharing activities in a scholarly context. The paper presents and synthesises findings from a literature review and three qualitative case studies. The empirical setting is a geographically distributed Nordic network of design scholars. Method:…

Preliminary Development and Validation of the Mindful Student Questionnaire

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Renshaw, Tyler L.

2017-01-01

Research validating mindfulness-based interventions with youths and in schools is growing, yet research validating measures of youths' mindfulness in schools has received far less empirical attention. The present study makes the case for and reports on the preliminary development and validation of a new, 15-item, multidimensional, self-report…

Defense Expenditure and Economic Growth: Empirical Study on Case of Turkey

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-01

growth. Growth and change, 31(4), 516-546. RADIKAL (October 1, 2007). Savunma harcamaları tırmandı. Retrieved January 2, 2008 from http...Statistics. Ankara, Turkey. Terör Faturası: 100 milyar dolar (November 4, 2006). Radikal Gazetesi. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from http

Assistive Technology and Literacy Partnerships

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gillette, Yvonne

2006-01-01

Assistive technology (AT) has the potential to support the literacy skills of students with disabilities as they participate in the general education curriculum. Empirical evidence is presented to support the use of AT, at least for some students. A case study interwoven within the article illustrates team decision-making regarding software and…

Quantitative Relationships Involving Additive Differences: Numerical Resilience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramful, Ajay; Ho, Siew Yin

2014-01-01

This case study describes the ways in which problems involving additive differences with unknown starting quantities, constrain the problem solver in articulating the inherent quantitative relationship. It gives empirical evidence to show how numerical reasoning takes over as a Grade 6 student instantiates the quantitative relation by resorting to…

Locating Child Protection in Preservice Teacher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walsh, Kerryann; Laskey, Louise; McInnes, Elspeth; Farrell, Ann; Mathews, Ben; Briggs, Freda

2011-01-01

A recent report delivered by the Australian Centerer for Child Protection has highlighted the need for empirical evidence of effective pedagogies for supporting teaching and learning of child protection content in Australian teacher education programs (Arnold & Mai-Taddeo, 2007). This paper advances this call by presenting case study accounts…

Previous Mental Health Service Utilization and Change in Clients' Depressive Symptoms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boswell, James F.; McAleavey, Andrew A.; Castonguay, Louis G.; Hayes, Jeffrey A.; Locke, Benjamin D.

2012-01-01

Although a potentially important factor in case conceptualization and treatment planning, the impact of previous treatment on subsequent counseling response has received little empirical attention. Using archival data, this study aimed to (a) report the prevalence of previous treatment utilization in a counseling population, (b) examine potential…

Collaborative Relationships between Principals and School Counselors: Facilitating a Model for Developing a Working Alliance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Odegard-Koester, Melissa A.; Watkins, Paul

2016-01-01

The working relationship between principals and school counselors have received some attention in the literature, however, little empirical research exists that examines specifically the components that facilitate a collaborative working relationship between the principal and school counselor. This qualitative case study examined the unique…

Law Enforcement Use of Threat Assessments to Predict Violence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wood, Tracey Michelle

2016-01-01

The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive multiple case study was to explore what process, policies and procedures, or set of empirically supported norms governed law enforcement officers in a selected county in the southwest region of the United States when threat assessments were conducted on potentially violent subjects threatening mass…

Leadership in a Humane Organization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dimitrov, Danielle

2015-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the way leadership influences an organization to become humane through its features and behaviors; as well as the organizational circumstances in which humane leadership can be nurtured. The first empirical case study, in the fields of Human Resource Development (HRD) and hospitality management, to…

Emotional Intelligence Training: A Case of Caveat Emptor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clarke, Nicholas

2006-01-01

Training programs purporting to develop emotional intelligence (EI) are widely available, yet to date few empirical studies have appeared in the literature providing support that training results in demonstrable changes to EI, and more significantly whether these changes can then be traced to more positive individual or organizational outcomes.…

Dividing the Spoils: An Empirical Study of Two Industries

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

This dissertation examines the forces that influence the distribution of money in both the sports industry and the defense industry. The method to...addresses the impact of new professional sports venues on athletes’ salaries. In particular, the case of baseball is considered. To this point, the research

Damages Caps in Medical Malpractice Cases

PubMed Central

Nelson, Leonard J; Morrisey, Michael A; Kilgore, Meredith L

2007-01-01

This article reviews the empirical literature on the effects of damages caps and concludes that the better-designed studies show that damages caps reduce liability insurance premiums. The effects of damages caps on defensive medicine, physicians’ location decisions, and the cost of health care to consumers are less clear. The only study of whether consumers benefit from lower health insurance premiums as a result of damages caps found no impact. Some state courts have based decisions declaring damages caps legislation unconstitutional on the lack of evidence of their effectiveness, thereby ignoring the findings of conflicting research studies or discounting their relevance. Although courts should be cautious in rejecting empirical evidence that caps are effective, legislators should consider whether they benefit consumers enough to justify limiting tort recoveries for those most seriously injured by malpractice. PMID:17517115

Reciprocity in the electronic stopping of slow ions in matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sigmund, P.

2008-04-01

The principle of reciprocity, i.e., the invariance of the inelastic excitation in ion-atom collisions against interchange of projectile and target, has been applied to the electronic stopping cross section of low-velocity ions and tested empirically on ion-target combinations supported by a more or less adequate amount of experimental data. Reciprocity is well obeyed (within ~10%) for many systems studied, and deviations exceeding ~20% are exceptional. Systematic deviations such as gas-solid or metal-insulator differences have been looked for but not identified on the present basis. A direct consequence of reciprocity is the equivalence of Z1 with Z2 structure for random slowing down. This feature is reasonably well supported empirically for ion-target combinations involving carbon, nitrogen, aluminium and argon. Reciprocity may be utilized as a criterion to reject questionable experimental data. In cases where a certain stopping cross section has not been or cannot be measured, the stopping cross section for the inverted system may be available and serve as a first estimate. It is suggested to build in reciprocity as a fundamental requirement into empirical interpolation schemes directed at the stopping of low-velocity ions. Examination of the SRIM and MSTAR codes reveals cases where reciprocity is obeyed accurately, but deviations of up to a factor of two are common. In case of heavy ions such as gold, electronic stopping cross sections predicted by SRIM are asserted to be almost an order of magnitude too high.

Predicting language diversity with complex networks.

PubMed

Raducha, Tomasz; Gubiec, Tomasz

2018-01-01

We analyze the model of social interactions with coevolution of the topology and states of the nodes. This model can be interpreted as a model of language change. We propose different rewiring mechanisms and perform numerical simulations for each. Obtained results are compared with the empirical data gathered from two online databases and anthropological study of Solomon Islands. We study the behavior of the number of languages for different system sizes and we find that only local rewiring, i.e. triadic closure, is capable of reproducing results for the empirical data in a qualitative manner. Furthermore, we cancel the contradiction between previous models and the Solomon Islands case. Our results demonstrate the importance of the topology of the network, and the rewiring mechanism in the process of language change.

Balancing geo-privacy and spatial patterns in epidemiological studies.

PubMed

Chen, Chien-Chou; Chuang, Jen-Hsiang; Wang, Da-Wei; Wang, Chien-Min; Lin, Bo-Cheng; Chan, Ta-Chien

2017-11-08

To balance the protection of geo-privacy and the accuracy of spatial patterns, we developed a geo-spatial tool (GeoMasker) intended to mask the residential locations of patients or cases in a geographic information system (GIS). To elucidate the effects of geo-masking parameters, we applied 2010 dengue epidemic data from Taiwan testing the tool's performance in an empirical situation. The similarity of pre- and post-spatial patterns was measured by D statistics under a 95% confidence interval. In the empirical study, different magnitudes of anonymisation (estimated Kanonymity ≥10 and 100) were achieved and different degrees of agreement on the pre- and post-patterns were evaluated. The application is beneficial for public health workers and researchers when processing data with individuals' spatial information.

Examining Issues of E-Learning Practices in Chinese Higher Education: A Cross-Sectional Study of Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Szeto, Elson

2013-01-01

Empirical studies of e-learning practices in Chinese higher education are still controversial. Shared Chinese beliefs in education, moving towards mass higher education for global competitiveness and improving e-readiness levels press for ubiquitous use of e-learning in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. This is a small-scale case study using a…

The Mentoring Experience of Nontraditional Students: A Case Study in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Langer, Arthur

2008-01-01

The purpose of this study was to select an institution that has mandated mentoring as part of its mission and to examine students' perceptions of the mentoring they received. The study selected Empire State College (ESC), a college that is part of the State of New York University system in the USA. ESC is an institution with a 36-year history of…

Northward migration under a changing climate: a case study of blackgum (Nyssa Sylvatica)

Treesearch

Johanna Desprez; Basil V. Iannone III; Peilin Yang; Christopher M. Oswalt; Songlin Fei

2014-01-01

Species are predicted to shift their distribution ranges in response to climate change. Region-wide, empirically-based studies, however, are still limited to support these predictions. We used a model tree species, blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), to study climate-induced range shift. Data collected from two separate sampling periods (1980s and 2007) by the USDA’s Forestry...

Working smarter on cold cases: identifying factors associated with successful cold case investigations.

PubMed

Davis, Robert C; Jensen, Carl J; Burgette, Lane; Burnett, Kathryn

2014-03-01

Cold case squads have garnered much attention; however, they have yet to undergo significant empirical scrutiny. In the present study, the authors interviewed investigators and reviewed 189 solved and unsolved cold cases in Washington, D.C., to determine whether there are factors that can predict cold case solvability. In the interviews, new information from witnesses or information from new witnesses was cited as the most prevalent reason for case clearance. The case reviews determined that there were factors in each of the following domains that predicted whether cases would be solved during cold case investigations: Crime Context, Initial Investigation Results, Basis for Opening Cold Case, and Cold Case Investigator Actions. The results suggest that it is possible to prioritize cold case work based on the likelihood of investigations leading to clearances. © 2014 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

The legal appearances of dementia in court rulings: mapping the terrain.

PubMed

Doron, Israel Issi; Werner, Perla; Spanier, Benny; Lazar, Ori

2017-05-01

Individuals with dementia may appear before the court in different roles: as victims, as witnesses, and as those standing up for their rights. While there is growing interest in the rights of older persons with dementia, relatively little empirical data exists regarding their actual interactions in courts. Therefore, the goal of this study was to empirically map this legal terrain. This study used a descriptive quantitative method. A computerized search of a national legal database limited to the period 2004-2014 and a screening process for the results were used to establish a sample of 280 court rulings that directly addressed dementia. All cases were analyzed and categorized into the following four criteria groups: characteristics of the person with dementia; characteristics of the legal procedure; the legal substance of the case; and the legal outcome. The majority of cases involved a single, very-elderly (i.e. over 80 years) woman, living in the community, with unspecified dementia. The majority of cases were heard and decided in lower level courts, addressing a broad range of primarily non-criminal legal issues. Finally, in the majority of non-criminal cases, the person with dementia was found to be legally capable, whereas in the majority of criminal cases, the person with dementia was found incapable. The legal needs and rights of persons with dementia are much broader than issues of legal capacity or social protection. Deeper knowledge and more research is needed in order to fully understand the contexts in which dementia is constructed under the law.

News media reports of patient deaths following 'medical tourism' for cosmetic surgery and bariatric surgery.

PubMed

Turner, Leigh

2012-04-01

Contemporary scholarship examining clinical outcomes in medical travel for cosmetic surgery identifies cases in which patients traveled abroad for medical procedures and subsequently returned home with infections and other surgical complications. Though there are peer-reviewed articles identifying patient deaths in cases where patients traveled abroad for commercial kidney transplantation or stem cell injections, no scholarly publications document deaths of patients who traveled abroad for cosmetic surgery or bariatric surgery. Drawing upon news media reports extending from 1993 to 2011, this article identifies and describes twenty-six reported cases of deaths of individuals who traveled abroad for cosmetic surgery or bariatric surgery. Over half of the reported deaths occurred in two countries. Analysis of these news reports cannot be used to make causal claims about why the patients died. In addition, cases identified in news media accounts do not provide a basis for establishing the relative risk of traveling abroad for care instead of seeking elective cosmetic surgery at domestic health care facilities. Acknowledging these limitations, the case reports suggest the possibility that contemporary peer-reviewed scholarship is underreporting patient mortality in medical travel. The paper makes a strong case for promoting normative analyses and empirical studies of medical travel. In particular, the paper argues that empirically informed ethical analysis of 'medical tourism' will benefit from rigorous studies tracking global flows of medical travelers and the clinical outcomes they experience. The paper contains practical recommendations intended to promote debate concerning how to promote patient safety and quality of care in medical travel. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Development of diagnostic prediction tools for bacteraemia caused by third-generation cephalosporin-resistant enterobacteria in suspected bacterial infections: a nested case-control study.

PubMed

Rottier, W C; van Werkhoven, C H; Bamberg, Y R P; Dorigo-Zetsma, J W; van de Garde, E M; van Hees, B C; Kluytmans, J A J W; Kuck, E M; van der Linden, P D; Prins, J M; Thijsen, S F T; Verbon, A; Vlaminckx, B J M; Ammerlaan, H S M; Bonten, M J M

2018-03-23

Current guidelines for the empirical antibiotic treatment predict the presence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant enterobacterial bacteraemia (3GCR-E-Bac) in case of infection only poorly, thereby increasing unnecessary carbapenem use. We aimed to develop diagnostic scoring systems which can better predict the presence of 3GCR-E-Bac. A retrospective nested case-control study was performed that included patients ≥18 years of age from eight Dutch hospitals in whom blood cultures were obtained and intravenous antibiotics were initiated. Each patient with 3GCR-E-Bac was matched to four control infection episodes within the same hospital, based on blood-culture date and onset location (community or hospital). Starting from 32 commonly described clinical risk factors at infection onset, selection strategies were used to derive scoring systems for the probability of community- and hospital-onset 3GCR-E-Bac. 3GCR-E-Bac occurred in 90 of 22 506 (0.4%) community-onset infections and in 82 of 8110 (1.0%) hospital-onset infections, and these cases were matched to 360 community-onset and 328 hospital-onset control episodes. The derived community-onset and hospital-onset scoring systems consisted of six and nine predictors, respectively. With selected score cut-offs, the models identified 3GCR-E-Bac with sensitivity equal to existing guidelines (community-onset: 54.3%; hospital-onset: 81.5%). However, they reduced the proportion of patients classified as at risk for 3GCR-E-Bac (i.e. eligible for empirical carbapenem therapy) with 40% (95%CI 21-56%) and 49% (95%CI 39-58%) in, respectively, community-onset and hospital-onset infections. These prediction scores for 3GCR-E-Bac, specifically geared towards the initiation of empirical antibiotic treatment, may improve the balance between inappropriate antibiotics and carbapenem overuse. Copyright © 2018 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Asymmetrical Integration: Lessons from a Railway Empire.

PubMed

McDonald, Kate

2015-01-01

This article reexamines railway imperialism in Manchuria from the perspective of global network building. Through a case study of the Japanese-owned South Manchuria Railway Company (SMR), I trace how one railway empire used through traffic agreements to integrate Northeast Asian railways into a global network while at the same time installing itself as the necessary intermediary between European and Asian overland traffic. I argue that the SMR's pursuit of global reach and local dominance compels us to reconsider the traditional division of border-crossing railways into international and imperialist types, and instead to examine how border-crossing railways contributed to the uneven or "asymmetrical" integration of the global transportation infrastructure.

A study on some urban bus transport networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yong-Zhou; Li, Nan; He, Da-Ren

2007-03-01

In this paper, we present the empirical investigation results on the urban bus transport networks (BTNs) of four major cities in China. In BTN, nodes are bus stops. Two nodes are connected by an edge when the stops are serviced by a common bus route. The empirical results show that the degree distributions of BTNs take exponential function forms. Other two statistical properties of BTNs are also considered, and they are suggested as the distributions of so-called “the number of stops in a bus route” (represented by S) and “the number of bus routes a stop joins” (by R). The distributions of R also show exponential function forms, while the distributions of S follow asymmetric, unimodal functions. To explain these empirical results and attempt to simulate a possible evolution process of BTN, we introduce a model by which the analytic and numerical result obtained agrees well with the empirical facts. Finally, we also discuss some other possible evolution cases, where the degree distribution shows a power law or an interpolation between the power law and the exponential decay.

Technological advances in the treatment of trauma: a review of promising practices.

PubMed

Paul, Lisa A; Hassija, Christina M; Clapp, Joshua D

2012-11-01

Given the availability of empirically supported practices for addressing posttraumatic stress disorder and other forms of trauma-related distress, the development and implementation of new technology to deliver these treatments is exciting. Technological innovations in this literature aim to expand availability of empirically based intervention, increase treatment adherence and acceptability, and overcome barriers commonly encountered with conventional trauma-focused treatment. Much of the current research on these technological developments consists of brief reviews and case studies of the separate therapy modalities. Although this work serves to document the appeal and utility of these innovations, it does not provide comprehensive information about the host of options available. To that end, the three general categories of technological advances in trauma therapy (i.e., videoconferencing, e-Health, virtual reality) are reviewed here, including information regarding their empirical support and suggestions for future research and clinical practice.

Mindfulness Meditation Training for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adulthood: Current Empirical Support, Treatment Overview, and Future Directions

PubMed Central

Mitchell, John T.; Zylowska, Lidia; Kollins, Scott H.

2015-01-01

Research examining nonpharmacological interventions for adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has expanded in recent years and provides patients with more treatment options. Mindfulness-based training is an example of an intervention that is gaining promising preliminary empirical support and is increasingly administered in clinical settings. The aim of this review is to provide a rationale for the application of mindfulness to individuals diagnosed with ADHD, describe the current state of the empirical basis for mindfulness training in ADHD, and summarize a treatment approach specific to adults diagnosed with ADHD: the Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) for ADHD Program. Two case study examples are provided to demonstrate relevant clinical issues for practitioners interested in this approach. Directions for future research, including mindfulness meditation as a standalone treatment and as a complementary approach to cognitive-behavioral therapy, are provided. PMID:25908900

Are Science Comics a Good Medium for Science Communication? The Case for Public Learning of Nanotechnology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Shu-Fen; Lin, Huann-shyang; Lee, Ling; Yore, Larry D.

2015-01-01

Comic books possessing the features of humour, narrative, and visual representation are deemed as a potential medium for science communication; however, empirical studies exploring the effects of comics are scarce. The purposes of this study were to examine and compare the impacts of a comic book and a text booklet on conveying the concepts of…

What Are Extraordinary Gifted Children like (Equal to or above 189 IQ)? A Study of 10 Cases

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mate, Yolanda Benito

2009-01-01

After a short introduction about previous studies on extraordinarily gifted children with an IQ of over 170, this article refers to the descriptive characteristics of ten children with IQ of over 189. After this, the developmental and learning characteristics of these children are described and finally empirical research about aspects that…

A University's Strategic Adoption Process of an PBL-Aligned eLearning Environment: An Exploratory Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blackburn, Greg

2017-01-01

Much has been written about the promise and peril of technology in education. This paper presents an empirical study that explores how technology can play a pivotal role in student learning and how teaching staff can adopt innovative technology-based approaches in the creation of interactive online problem-based learning (PBL) resources, allowing…

Losing Our Way? The Downward Path for Outdoor Learning for Children Aged 2-11 Years

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waite, Sue

2010-01-01

This paper draws on three related empirical studies in the South West of England: a survey of outdoor experiential learning opportunities, examining attitudes, practice and aspirations of practitioners and children in educational and care settings for children between 2-11 years within a rural county; a follow-up series of five case studies; and…

Prevalence of Primary Methamphetamine-Related Cases and Treatment-Centre Preparedness among Youth Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Centres in British Columbia, Canada

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Callaghan, Russell C.; Rush, Brian; Tavares, Joey; Taylor, Lawren; Victor, J. Charles

2009-01-01

Adolescent methamphetamine use is a prominent concern for Canadian media and government. Few empirical studies, however, have established the scope of adolescent methamphetamine use or associated outpatient substance abuse treatment utilization. The current study aimed to answer the following questions: (1) What was the overall proportion of…

What Are We Developing? A Case Study of a College Mathematics Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Pete

2007-01-01

Over one-third of all college mathematics enrollments are in courses considered to be developmental. While such courses have been the subject of a large body of research, one question that seems not to have been studied empirically is the alignment of the content of developmental and college level mathematics courses. This paper gives the results…

Negative Experiences as Learning Trigger: A Play Experience Empirical Research on a Game for Social Change Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mariani, Ilaria; Gandolfi, Enrico

2016-01-01

This study shows the results gathered from 141 subjects playing the persuasive urban game "A Hostile World" via a post-game-experience quantitative questionnaire. The aim is to problematize and deepen the role of negative emotions (e.g., frustration, rage)--explicitly fostered by "A Hostile World" to increase empathy toward…

Student Perceptions in the Design of a Computer Card Game for Learning Computer Literacy Issues: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kordaki, Maria; Papastergiou, Marina; Psomos, Panagiotis

2016-01-01

The aim of this work was twofold. First, an empirical study was designed aimed at investigating the perceptions that entry-level non-computing majors--namely Physical Education and Sport Science (PESS) undergraduate students--hold about basic Computer Literacy (CL) issues. The participants were 90 first-year PESS students, and their perceptions…

Changes in Language Learning Beliefs during a Transition to Tertiary Study: The Mediation of Classroom Affordances

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peng, Jian-E.

2011-01-01

Drawing on an ecological perspective, this paper reports on an investigation into the changes in one first-year college student's beliefs about English teaching and learning since his enrollment. These changes in beliefs are part of the empirical findings of a multiple-case study conducted in the Chinese EFL context. Semi-structured interviews,…

Exploring Coaching Actions Based on Developed Values: A Case Study of a Female Hockey Coach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Callary, Bettina; Werthner, Penny; Trudel, Pierre

2013-01-01

There are few empirical studies that demonstrate how values are developed and how they are linked to coaching actions. There can be a discrepancy between the statement of coaches' values and their actual coaching actions. In order to examine how coaching actions are influenced by values that are developed over a lifetime, the purpose of this…

Growing Up: School, Family, and Area Influences on Adolescents' Later Life Chances. CASE Discussion Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burgess, Simon; Gardiner, Karen; Propper, Carol

This study explored the relationships between adult economic outcomes and three key factors during adolescence: schooling, family background, and county of residence. The empirical analysis was based on data covering the period from 1979-1996. Data came from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. The study examined a sample of people ages…

Student Levels of Engagement in Learning: A Case Study of Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ivala, Eunice; Kioko, Joseph

2013-01-01

South Africa is currently faced with the challenge of undesirably low through put rates in higher education. The need to keep students interested and motivated to succeed are key objectives of many lecturers and institutions. Empirical studies have shown that one of the factors influencing student success at university is student engagement. This…

Combining Event- and Variable-Centred Approaches to Institution-Facing Learning Analytics at the Unit of Study Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelly, Nick; Montenegro, Maximiliano; Gonzalez, Carlos; Clasing, Paula; Sandoval, Augusto; Jara, Magdalena; Saurina, Elvira; Alarcón, Rosa

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the utility of combining event-centred and variable-centred approaches when analysing big data for higher education institutions. It uses a large, university-wide data set to demonstrate the methodology for this analysis by using the case study method. It presents empirical findings about…

Being a Competent Athlete or a Competent Teacher? Aesthetic Experiences in Physical Education Teacher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maivorsdotter, Ninitha; Lundvall, Suzanne; Quennerstedt, Mikael

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to explore physical education teacher education students' meaning-making of participating in lessons--in this case gymnastics and basketball--based on their aesthetic judgements, expressed in written stories. A transactional approach, drawing on the work of John Dewey, was used in the study and the empirical data was…

[Everyday life and solidarity in north-east German rural communities - first qualitative results of the Rural Health Study].

PubMed

Nebelung, C; Forkel, J A; Elkeles, T

2010-03-01

There have been increasing discussions in the health sciences in recent years about socio-spatial influences on health activities. The starting point has been the growing territorial inequality in spatial development resources, which has an effect on the participatory chances of people in structurally weak regions. The concept of "peripherisation" is used to describe this change. Empirical investigations of socio-spatial resources at the local level are rare, because the theoretical preconditions have not been elaborated sufficiently for the theoretical modelling to be recognised for hypothesis-based empirical investigations. At the centre of this theorisation are analyses of the "social capital" of every-day actions. As part of the Rural Health Study 2008 at the University of Applied Science Neubrandenburg (involving a longitudinal analysis with quantitative surveys in 14 rural communities in north-eastern Germany 1973, 1994, 2008), a qualitative approach was also adopted with case and community studies. The first results are compared with the state of the literature. Case studies are presented showing strategies for adaptation and improvement of the individual's situation, and also the daily solidarity of people in villages. Development potentials are outlined. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart. New York.

Evaluation of Littoral Combat Ships for Open-Ocean Anti-Submarine Warfare

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-01

known. Source: R. R. Hill, R. G. Carl, and L. E. Champagne , “Using Agent-Based Simulation to Empirically Examine Search Theory Using a Historical Case...coverage over a small area. Source: R. R. Hill, R. G. Carl, and L. E. Champagne , “Using Agent-Based Simulation to Empirically Examine Search Theory...Defense Tech, May 30. Hill, R R, R G Carl, and L E Champagne . “Using agent-based simulation to empirically examine search theory using a

Developing Mentors: Adult participation, practices, and learning in an out-of-school time STEM program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scipio, Deana Aeolani

This dissertation examines learning within an out-of-school time (OST) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) broadening participation program. The dissertation includes an introduction, three empirical chapters (written as individual articles), and a conclusion. The dissertation context is a chemical oceanography OST program for middle school students called Project COOL---Chemical Oceanography Outside the Lab. The program was a collaboration between middle school OST programming, a learning sciences research laboratory, and a chemical oceanography laboratory. Both labs were located at a research-based university in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Participants include 34 youth, 12 undergraduates, and five professional scientists. The dissertation data corpus includes six years of ethnographic field notes across three field sites, 400 hours of video and audio recordings, 40 hours of semi-structured interviews, and more than 100 participant generated artifacts. Analysis methods include comparative case analysis, cognitive mapping, semiotic cluster analysis, video interaction analysis, and discourse analysis. The first empirical article focuses on synthesizing productive programmatic features from four years of design-based research.. The second article is a comparative case study of three STEM mentors from non-dominant communities in the 2011 COOL OST Program. The third article is a comparative case study of undergraduates learning to be mentors in the 2014 COOL OST Program. Findings introduce Deep Hanging as a theory of learning in practice. Deep Hanging entails authentic tasks in rich contexts, providing access, capitalizing on opportunity, and building interpersonal relationships. Taken together, these three chapters illuminate the process of designing a rich OST learning environment and the kinds of learning in practice that occurred for adult learners learning to be mentors through their participation in the COOL OST program. In the conclusion, I offer a set of design principles for mentor learning gleaned from empirical findings from the last two empirical chapters on how mentors can productively support the science learning of youth. The findings from this dissertation offer implications for designers of learning environments seeking to leverage experts for mentoring while engaging youth in contemporary science practices in order to broaden participation for youth and adult participants from non-dominant communities in STEM disciplines.

Is knowledge important? Empirical research on nuclear risk communication in two countries.

PubMed

Perko, Tanja; Zeleznik, Nadja; Turcanu, Catrinel; Thijssen, Peter

2012-06-01

Increasing audience knowledge is often set as a primary objective of risk communication efforts. But is it worthwhile focusing risk communication strategies solely on enhancing specific knowledge? The main research questions tackled in this paper were: (1) if prior audience knowledge related to specific radiation risks is influential for the perception of these risks and the acceptance of communicated messages and (2) if gender, attitudes, risk perception of other radiation risks, confidence in authorities, and living in the vicinity of nuclear/radiological installations may also play an important role in this matter. The goal of this study was to test empirically the mentioned predictors in two independent case studies in different countries. The first case study was an information campaign for iodine pre-distribution in Belgium (N = 1035). The second was the information campaign on long-term radioactive waste disposal in Slovenia (N = 1,200). In both cases, recurrent and intensive communication campaigns were carried out by the authorities aiming, among other things, at increasing specific audience knowledge. Results show that higher prior audience knowledge leads to more willingness to accept communicated messages, but it does not affect people’s perception of the specific risk communicated. In addition, the influence of prior audience knowledge on the acceptance of communicated messages is shown to be no stronger than that of general radiation risk perception. The results in both case studies suggest that effective risk communication has to focus not only on knowledge but also on other more heuristic predictors, such as risk perception or attitudes toward communicated risks.

Candidate genetic pathways for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show association to hyperactive/impulsive symptoms in children with ADHD.

PubMed

Bralten, Janita; Franke, Barbara; Waldman, Irwin; Rommelse, Nanda; Hartman, Catharina; Asherson, Philip; Banaschewski, Tobias; Ebstein, Richard P; Gill, Michael; Miranda, Ana; Oades, Robert D; Roeyers, Herbert; Rothenberger, Aribert; Sergeant, Joseph A; Oosterlaan, Jaap; Sonuga-Barke, Edmund; Steinhausen, Hans-Christoph; Faraone, Stephen V; Buitelaar, Jan K; Arias-Vásquez, Alejandro

2013-11-01

Because multiple genes with small effect sizes are assumed to play a role in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) etiology, considering multiple variants within the same analysis likely increases the total explained phenotypic variance, thereby boosting the power of genetic studies. This study investigated whether pathway-based analysis could bring scientists closer to unraveling the biology of ADHD. The pathway was described as a predefined gene selection based on a well-established database or literature data. Common genetic variants in pathways involved in dopamine/norepinephrine and serotonin neurotransmission and genes involved in neuritic outgrowth were investigated in cases from the International Multicentre ADHD Genetics (IMAGE) study. Multivariable analysis was performed to combine the effects of single genetic variants within the pathway genes. Phenotypes were DSM-IV symptom counts for inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity (n = 871) and symptom severity measured with the Conners Parent (n = 930) and Teacher (n = 916) Rating Scales. Summing genetic effects of common genetic variants within the pathways showed a significant association with hyperactive/impulsive symptoms ((p)empirical = .007) but not with inattentive symptoms ((p)empirical = .73). Analysis of parent-rated Conners hyperactive/impulsive symptom scores validated this result ((p)empirical = .0018). Teacher-rated Conners scores were not associated. Post hoc analyses showed a significant contribution of all pathways to the hyperactive/impulsive symptom domain (dopamine/norepinephrine, (p)empirical = .0004; serotonin, (p)empirical = .0149; neuritic outgrowth, (p)empirical = .0452). The present analysis shows an association between common variants in 3 genetic pathways and the hyperactive/impulsive component of ADHD. This study demonstrates that pathway-based association analyses, using quantitative measurements of ADHD symptom domains, can increase the power of genetic analyses to identify biological risk factors involved in this disorder. Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Eastern approaches for enhancing women's sexuality: mindfulness, acupuncture, and yoga (CME).

PubMed

Brotto, Lori A; Krychman, Michael; Jacobson, Pamela

2008-12-01

A significant proportion of women report unsatisfying sexual experiences despite no obvious difficulties in the traditional components of sexual response (desire, arousal, and orgasm). Some suggest that nongoal-oriented spiritual elements to sexuality might fill the gap that more contemporary forms of treatment are not addressing. Eastern techniques including mindfulness, acupuncture, and yoga, are Eastern techniques, which have been applied to women's sexuality. Here, we review the literature on their efficacy. Our search revealed two empirical studies of mindfulness, two of acupuncture, and one of yoga in the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Literature review of empirical sources. Mindfulness significantly improves several aspects of sexual response and reduces sexual distress in women with sexual desire and arousal disorders. In women with provoked vestibulodynia, acupuncture significantly reduces pain and improves quality of life. There is also a case series of acupuncture significantly improving desire among women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Although yoga has only been empirically examined and found to be effective for treating sexual dysfunction (premature ejaculation) in men, numerous historical books cite benefits of yoga for women's sexuality. The empirical literature supporting Eastern techniques, such as mindfulness, acupuncture, and yoga, for women's sexual complaints and loss of satisfaction is sparse but promising. Future research should aim to empirically support Eastern techniques in women's sexuality.

Prediction of shear wave velocity using empirical correlations and artificial intelligence methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maleki, Shahoo; Moradzadeh, Ali; Riabi, Reza Ghavami; Gholami, Raoof; Sadeghzadeh, Farhad

2014-06-01

Good understanding of mechanical properties of rock formations is essential during the development and production phases of a hydrocarbon reservoir. Conventionally, these properties are estimated from the petrophysical logs with compression and shear sonic data being the main input to the correlations. This is while in many cases the shear sonic data are not acquired during well logging, which may be for cost saving purposes. In this case, shear wave velocity is estimated using available empirical correlations or artificial intelligent methods proposed during the last few decades. In this paper, petrophysical logs corresponding to a well drilled in southern part of Iran were used to estimate the shear wave velocity using empirical correlations as well as two robust artificial intelligence methods knows as Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN). Although the results obtained by SVR seem to be reliable, the estimated values are not very precise and considering the importance of shear sonic data as the input into different models, this study suggests acquiring shear sonic data during well logging. It is important to note that the benefits of having reliable shear sonic data for estimation of rock formation mechanical properties will compensate the possible additional costs for acquiring a shear log.

Understanding general practice: a conceptual framework developed from case studies in the UK NHS.

PubMed

Checkland, Kath

2007-01-01

General practice in the UK is undergoing a period of rapid and profound change. Traditionally, research into the effects of change on general practice has tended to regard GPs as individuals or as members of a professional group. To understand the impact of change, general practices should also be considered as organisations. To use the organisational studies literature to build a conceptual framework of general practice organisations, and to test and develop this empirically using case studies of change in practice. This study used the implementation of National Service Frameworks (NSFs) and the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract as incidents of change. In-depth, qualitative case studies. The design was iterative: each case study was followed by a review of the theoretical ideas. The final conceptual framework was the result of the dynamic interplay between theory and empirical evidence. Five general practices in England, selected using purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews with all clinical and managerial personnel in each practice, participant and nonparticipant observation, and examination of documents. A conceptual framework was developed that can be used to understand how and why practices respond to change. This framework enabled understanding of observed reactions to the introduction of NSFs and the new GMS contract. Important factors for generating responses to change included the story that the practice members told about their practice, beliefs about what counted as legitimate work, the role played by the manager, and previous experiences of change. Viewing general practices as small organisations has generated insights into factors that influence responses to change. Change tends to occur from the bottom up and is determined by beliefs about organisational reality. The conceptual framework suggests some questions that can be asked of practices to explain this internal reality.

What is heartburn worth? A cost-utility analysis of management strategies.

PubMed

Heudebert, G R; Centor, R M; Klapow, J C; Marks, R; Johnson, L; Wilcox, C M

2000-03-01

To determine the best treatment strategy for the management of patients presenting with symptoms consistent with uncomplicated heartburn. We performed a cost-utility analysis of 4 alternatives: empirical proton pump inhibitor, empirical histamine2-receptor antagonist, and diagnostic strategies consisting of either esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or an upper gastrointestinal series before treatment. The time horizon of the model was 1 year. The base case analysis assumed a cohort of otherwise healthy 45-year-old individuals in a primary care practice. Empirical treatment with a proton pump inhibitor was projected to provide the greatest quality-adjusted survival for the cohort. Empirical treatment with a histamine2 receptor antagonist was projected to be the least costly of the alternatives. The marginal cost-effectiveness of using a proton pump inhibitor over a histamine2-receptor antagonist was approximately $10,400 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained in the base case analysis and was less than $50,000 per QALY as long as the utility for heartburn was less than 0.95. Both diagnostic strategies were dominated by proton pump inhibitor alternative. Empirical treatment seems to be the optimal initial management strategy for patients with heartburn, but the choice between a proton pump inhibitor or histamine2-receptor antagonist depends on the impact of heartburn on quality of life.

What Is Heartburn Worth?

PubMed Central

Heudebert, Gustavo R; Centor, Robert M; Klapow, Joshua C; Marks, Robert; Johnson, Lawrence; Wilcox, C Mel

2000-01-01

OBJECTIVE T o determine the best treatment strategy for the management of patients presenting with symptoms consistent with uncomplicated heartburn. METHODS We performed a cost-utility analysis of 4 alternatives: empirical proton pump inhibitor, empirical histamine2-receptor antagonist, and diagnostic strategies consisting of either esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or an upper gastrointestinal series before treatment. The time horizon of the model was 1 year. The base case analysis assumed a cohort of otherwise healthy 45-year-old individuals in a primary care practice. MAIN RESULTS Empirical treatment with a proton pump inhibitor was projected to provide the greatest quality-adjusted survival for the cohort. Empirical treatment with a histamine2receptor antagonist was projected to be the least costly of the alternatives. The marginal cost-effectiveness of using a proton pump inhibitor over a histamine2-receptor antagonist was approximately $10,400 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained in the base case analysis and was less than $50,000 per QALY as long as the utility for heartburn was less than 0.95. Both diagnostic strategies were dominated by proton pump inhibitor alternative. CONCLUSIONS Empirical treatment seems to be the optimal initial management strategy for patients with heartburn, but the choice between a proton pump inhibitor or histamine2-receptor antagonist depends on the impact of heartburn on quality of life. PMID:10718898

Spatial and Temporal Evaluation of Soil Erosion with RUSLE: A Case Study in an Olive Orchard Microcathment in Spain

EPA Science Inventory

Soil loss is commonly estimated using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Since RUSLE is an empirically based soil loss model derived from surveys on plots, the high spatial and temporal variability of erosion in Mediterranean environments and scale effects provoke...

Engineering Professional Development Design for Secondary School Teachers: A Multiple Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Daugherty, Jenny Lynn

2009-01-01

The complexity of engineering and its integration into K-12 education have resulted in a variety of issues requiring sustained empirical research (Johnson, Burghardt, & Daugherty, 2008). One particular area of need, given the emphasis on teacher effects on student learning, is to research engineering-oriented teacher professional development. A…

Transition Counselor Efficacy: Essential Knowledge Domains for Best Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kierpiec, Katherine

2012-01-01

Youth with disabilities receiving transition from services from State/Federal VR agencies accounted for more than one quarter of closed cases within in FY 2010 (RSA, 2010). This unique population of clients, however, has received little attention in empirical studies, scholarly journals, and as a focus within training programs. By investing in…

The River Street Autism Program: A Case Study of a Regional Service Center Behavioral Intervention Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dyer, Kathleen; Martino, Gayle M.; Parvenski, Tom

2006-01-01

An urgent demand from Connecticut parents for behavioral intervention resulted in the development of the River Street Autism Program (RSAP). This research-to-practice program implements intervention service based on empirical research findings conducted with children diagnosed with autism and pervasive developmental disorders. RSAP is provided…

Exploring a Framework for Consequential Validity for Performance-Based Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Su Jung

2017-01-01

This study explores a new comprehensive framework for understanding elements of validity, specifically for performance assessments that are administered within specific and dynamic contexts. The adoption of edTPA is a good empirical case for examining the concept of consequential validity because this assessment has been implemented at the state…

Co-Occurrence of ADHD and High IQ: A Case Series Empirical Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cordeiro, Mara L.; Farias, Antonio C.; Cunha, Alexandre; Benko, Cassia R.; Farias, Lucilene G.; Costa, Maria T.; Martins, Leandra F.; McCracken, James T.

2011-01-01

Objective: The validity of a diagnosis of ADHD in children with a high intelligence quotient (IQ) remains controversial. Using a multidisciplinary approach, rigorous diagnostic criteria, and worldwide-validated psychometric instruments, we identified a group of children attending public schools in southern Brazil for co-occurrence of high IQ and…

Teacher Learning during Transition from Pre-Service to Novice EFL Teacher: A Longitudinal Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bulut Albaba, Melike

2017-01-01

In language teacher education literature, attention is predominantly centered on the content of teacher learning and cognition. The process of teacher learning and cognitive change over time remains relatively underexplored. For instance, despite its importance in career trajectory, there is limited empirical evidence on the transition process…

Establishing Empirical Bases for Sustainability Objectives

Treesearch

Lawrence Martin

2006-01-01

The argument is made that sustainability should be construed as measurable environmental conditions, and that sustainable development strategies should be considered in terms of how well they contribute to the sustainable condition target. A case study of the Chesapeake Bay is presented to illustrate how use of Material Flow Analysis (MFA) as a basic component in the...

An Analysis of Gender Differences in Household Education Expenditure: The Case of Thailand

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wongmonta, Sasiwooth; Glewwe, Paul

2017-01-01

This study uses data on educational expenditure, including specific types of educational expenditure, from the 2009 Socioeconomic Survey of Thailand to investigate gender bias in the allocation of educational resources. Empirical Engel's curves are estimated to test for gender bias. The results show that girls receive more education expenditure…

Education for Freedom? "Living Room Learning" and the Liberal Arts of Government

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McLean, Scott

2012-01-01

This article provokes critical reflection about the role of adult educators in contemporary processes of social control. It does so through presenting an empirical case study of an important liberal adult education program (Living Room Learning) and through introducing the work of British sociologist, Nikolas Rose. Rose's provocative ideas about…

Contextualized Workforce Skills and ESL Learner Identity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vafai, Maliheh Mansuripur

2016-01-01

This article reports on an empirical case study centering on adult ESL learners' motivational patterns for learning English and its relevance to their career goals. It looks at past patterns of immigrant insertion within the socioeconomic context of the US and explores current trends in adult ESL curriculum development focused on the task of…

Mirroring, Gestaltswitching and Transformative Social Learning: Stepping Stones for Developing Sustainability Competence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wals, Arjen E. J.

2010-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify components and educational design principles for strengthening sustainability competence in and through higher education. Design/methodology/approach: This is a conceptual paper that uses an exemplary autobiographical empirical case study in order to illustrate and support a line of reasoning.…

Evaluating the Effect of Transformational Leadership on Knowledge Sharing Using Structural Equation Modelling: The Case of Iraqi Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-husseini, Sawasn; Elbeltagi, Ibrahim

2018-01-01

Leadership style has been suggested as an important factor affecting knowledge management in organizations. Transformational leadership has been acknowledged as having a positive general influence on knowledge management. However, there is a lack of empirical studies examining the relationship between transformational leadership and knowledge…

Social Capital Practices as Adaptive Drivers for Local Adjustment of New Public Management in Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olesen, Kristian Gylling; Hasle, Peter; Sørensen, Ole H.

2016-01-01

New public management (NPM) reforms have typically undermined teachers' autonomy, values, and status in society. This article questions whether such reforms automatically have these outcomes or whether and how possibilities for local adjustment of such reforms may prevent negative outcomes. Drawing on empirical case studies from two Danish…

Who Benefits from Learning with 3D Models?: The Case of Spatial Ability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huk, T.

2006-01-01

Empirical studies that focus on the impact of three-dimensional (3D) visualizations on learning are to date rare and inconsistent. According to the ability-as-enhancer hypothesis, high spatial ability learners should benefit particularly as they have enough cognitive capacity left for mental model construction. In contrast, the…

Neural Mechanisms of Improvements in Social Motivation after Pivotal Response Treatment: Two Case Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Voos, Avery C.; Pelphrey, Kevin A.; Tirrell, Jonathan; Bolling, Danielle Z.; Vander Wyk, Brent; Kaiser, Martha D.; McPartland, James C.; Volkmar, Fred R.; Ventola, Pamela

2013-01-01

Pivotal response treatment (PRT) is an empirically validated behavioral treatment that has widespread positive effects on communication, behavior, and social skills in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For the first time, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to identify the neural correlates of successful response to…

Adolescents' Homework Performance in Mathematics and Science: Personal Factors and Teaching Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fernández-Alonso, Rubén; Suárez-Álvarez, Javier; Muñiz, José

2015-01-01

Classical educational research provides empirical evidence of the positive effect of doing homework on academic results. Nonetheless, when this effect is analyzed in detail there are inconsistent, and in some cases, contradictory results. The central aim of this study was to systematically investigate the effect of homework on performance of…

Researching Language and Neoliberalism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shin, Hyunjung; Park, Joseph Sung-Yul

2016-01-01

This special issue aims to develop a research agenda that brings language to the centre of our inquiry and critique of neoliberalism. Based on empirical case studies from across diverse contexts in Europe, North America, and East Asia, contributors to this special issue address two issues: (1) What can be said about the nature of neoliberalism…

Doubleloop Learning: A Coaching Protocol for Enhancing Principal Instructional Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houchens, Gary W.; Hurt, Janet; Stobaugh, Rebecca; Keedy, John L.

2012-01-01

Executive coaching has become increasingly commonplace in both the corporate and non-profit sectors as a means of improving professional effectiveness but there is a dearth of empirically-based protocols geared specifically toward the growth needs of school principals. This qualitative case study explores the implementation of a principal coaching…

Meaning-Making as Dialogic Process: Official and Carnival Lives in the Language Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blackledge, Adrian; Creese, Angela

2009-01-01

This article adopts a Bakhtinian analysis to understand the complexities of discourse in language-learning classrooms. Drawing on empirical data from two of four linked case studies in a larger, ESRC-funded project, we argue that students learning in complementary (also known as community language, supplementary, or heritage language) schools…

Tales of Refusal, Adoption, and Maintenance: Evidence-Based Substance Abuse Prevention via School-Extension Collaborations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

St. Pierre, Tena L.; Kaltreider, D. Lynne

2004-01-01

Despite availability of empirically supported school-based substance abuse prevention programs, adoption and implementation fidelity of such programs appear to be low. A replicated case study was conducted to investigate school adoption and implementation processes of the EXSELS model (Project ALERT delivered by program leaders through Cooperative…

Why University Students Choose an International Education: A Case Study in Malaysia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pyvis, David; Chapman, Anne

2007-01-01

Why has Australian offshore higher education become the educational investment of choice for many students? What benefits do students anticipate from this education? What is the relationship between educational goals and educational experience? To address these questions, this paper draws on findings from empirical research conducted with students…

Forging Appealing Identities in Complex Environments: A Case Study of American Law Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pizarro Milian, Roger

2017-01-01

Competition has intensified substantially within the American law school sector in recent decades. Scholars note that this has augmented pressures to engage in institutional self-promotion, as law schools attempt to distinguish themselves within a severely over-crowded marketplace. To date, however, few have ventured to empirically examine the…

Self Modeling: Expanding the Theories of Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dowrick, Peter W.

2012-01-01

Self modeling (SM) offers a unique expansion of learning theory. For several decades, a steady trickle of empirical studies has reported consistent evidence for the efficacy of SM as a procedure for positive behavior change across physical, social, educational, and diagnostic variations. SM became accepted as an extreme case of model similarity;…

Identifying Threshold Concepts: Case Study of an Open Catchment Hydraulics Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knight, D. B.; Callaghan, D. P.; Baldock, T. E.; Meyer, J. H. F.

2014-01-01

The Threshold Concept Framework is used to initiate a dialogue on an empirically supported pedagogy that focuses on students' conceptual understanding required for solving application-based problems. The present paper uses a triangulation approach to identify the threshold concept in a third-year undergraduate civil engineering course on open…

After the Workshop: A Case Study of Post-Workshop Implementation of Active Learning in an Electrical Engineering Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shekhar, Prateek; Maura Borrego

2017-01-01

Engineering education research has empirically validated the effectiveness of active learning over traditional instructional methods. However, the dissemination of education research into instructional practice has been slow. Faculty workshops for current and future instructors offer a solution to promote the widespread adoption of active learning…

Effects of Leadership Style on Team Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bucic, Tania; Robinson, Linda; Ramburuth, Prem

2010-01-01

Purpose: This paper seeks to explore the effect of leadership style of a team leader on team-member learning in organizations, to conceptually extend an initial model of leadership and to empirically examine the new model of ambidextrous leadership in a team context. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative research utilizing the case study method…

Students' Experiences with Popular Music: The Case of Beijing, China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ho, Wai-Chung

2016-01-01

Since the 1980s, the establishment of a socialist market economy has quickened the pace of China's economic development; at the same time, increased modernization and globalization have influenced, to varying degrees, the development of music and music education. With reference to 12 secondary schools in Beijing, this empirical study examines…

Interaction between the Teacher and the Congenitally Deafblind Child

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vervloed, Mathijs P. J.; van Dijk, Rick J. M.; Knoors, Harry; van Dijk, Jan P. M.

2006-01-01

Empirical data on the development of interaction, communication, and language in deafblind children is very rare. To fill this gap, a case study was conducted in which the interaction between a teacher and a deafblind boy age 3 years 4 months was analyzed. Sequential analysis of their interaction confirmed some general clinical impressions about…

Integration of different data gap filling techniques to facilitate assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls: A proof of principle case study (ASCCT meeting)

EPA Science Inventory

Data gap filling techniques are commonly used to predict hazard in the absence of empirical data. The most established techniques are read-across, trend analysis and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs). Toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) are less frequently used d...

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Applied to Binge Eating: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baer, Ruth A.; Fischer, Sarah; Huss, Debra B.

2005-01-01

Binge eating is a common problem associated with distress and dysfunction. Mindfulness-based interventions are attracting increasing attention, and the recent empirical literature suggests that they may be effective for a variety of disorders. Current theories about the etiology and maintenance of binge eating suggest that mindfulness training may…

Understanding the Impact of Exposure Patterns on Risks from Combined Exposures to Multiple Chemicals

EPA Science Inventory

The talk was invited so there is no formal abstract. However, the focus of the talk is on the use of exposure information in the evaluation of risks from combined exposures to chemicals. The talk presents a bit of history and several case studies. All empirical data presented hav...

Evaluative Case Study on the Efficacy of the ELPS Program in Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perez, Malia Ann

2013-01-01

The English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) program was developed to address the need to effectively integrate second language acquisition with quality content area instruction. English language learners (ELLs) have struggled on standardized tests and there has been little empirical evidence regarding the impact of the ELPS program on…

What Does the Student Psychological Contract Mean? Evidence from a UK Business School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koskina, Aikaterini

2013-01-01

Much has been written about psychological contracts in organisational contexts but very little in educational settings, especially within higher education. Using an exploratory single case study this article provides qualitative empirical evidence about the ways in which the psychological contract is perceived by a group of postgraduate students…

Some Empirical Evidence for Latent Trait Model Selection.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hutten, Leah R.

The results of this study suggest that for purposes of estimating ability by latent trait methods, the Rasch model compares favorably with the three-parameter logistic model. Using estimated parameters to make predictions about 25 actual number-correct score distributions with samples of 1,000 cases each, those predicted by the Rasch model fit the…

Formalization and Analysis of Reasoning by Assumption

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bosse, Tibor; Jonker, Catholijn M.; Treur, Jan

2006-01-01

This article introduces a novel approach for the analysis of the dynamics of reasoning processes and explores its applicability for the reasoning pattern called reasoning by assumption. More specifically, for a case study in the domain of a Master Mind game, it is shown how empirical human reasoning traces can be formalized and automatically…

Spatial and Temporal Evaluation of Soil Erosion with RUSLE: A case Study in an Olive Orchard Microcathment in Spain

EPA Science Inventory

Soil loss is commonly estimated using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Since RUSLE is an empirically based soil loss model derived from surveys on plots, the high spatial and temporal variability of erosion in Mediterranean environments and scale effects provo...

Democratising Turkey through Student-Centred Pedagogy: Opportunities and Pitfalls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Altinyelken, Hülya Kosar

2015-01-01

Global reform talk on pedagogy has been converging around student-centred pedagogy (SCP) in recent decades. One of the significant appeals of this pedagogical model is its democratisation potentials. This article seeks to empirically study SCP's role in democratising learning and promoting social democratisation by taking the case of Turkey, a…

Developing a Quality Culture through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martensson, Katarina; Roxa, Torgny; Olsson, Thomas

2011-01-01

The critical features of a strategy to promote improved teaching and learning are explored in this article from a socio-cultural perspective in a research-intensive institution. The paper presents theoretical underpinnings and implications as well as an empirical case study of such a strategy and its seemingly successful results. The strategy…

Circuits of Education, Rural Gentrification, and Family Migration from the Global City

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Darren P.; Higley, Rebecca

2012-01-01

Although there is recurring empirical evidence of gentrifier families with young children, the importance of education-related factors in the migration and residential decision-making of rural gentrifiers have yet to be fully examined. Using the case study of Cranbrook, Kent, processes of education-led rural gentrification are revealed that are…

The Challenge of Understanding Process in Clinical Behavior Analysis: The Case of Functional Analytic Psychotherapy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Follette, William C.; Bonow, Jordan T.

2009-01-01

Whether explicitly acknowledged or not, behavior-analytic principles are at the heart of most, if not all, empirically supported therapies. However, the change process in psychotherapy is only now being rigorously studied. Functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP; Kohlenberg & Tsai, 1991; Tsai et al., 2009) explicitly identifies behavioral-change…

Blended Learning: Communication, Locations and Work-Life Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moe, Carl Erik; Rye, Stale Angen

2011-01-01

The article discusses blended learning and how various delivery formats affect the way learning is situated in work-life practices. The authors approached this issue through an empirical study of an in-service training programme for middle-level managers in a number of case organisations. The programme used a combination of e-learning, textbooks…

Collective Learning and Path Plasticity as Means to Regional Economic Resilience: The Case of Stuttgart

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wink, Rüdiger; Kirchner, Laura; Koch, Florian; Speda, Daniel

2015-01-01

This paper links two strands of literature (collective learning and resilience) by looking at experiences with collective learning as precondition of regional economic resilience. Based on a qualitative empirical study, the emergence of collective learning structures in the Stuttgart region after a macroeconomic and structural crisis at the…

Facilitating Conversational Learning in a Project Team Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sense, Andrew J.

2005-01-01

Purpose: This paper seeks to provide an empirical insight into the facilitation dilemmas for conversational learning in a project team environment. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is an outcome of a participative action research process into the dynamics of situated learning activity in a case study project team. As part of their…

Habitat diversity in uneven-aged northern hardwood stands: a case study

Treesearch

Laura S. Kenefic; Ralph D. Nyland

2000-01-01

Habitat characteristics were quantified in an empirically balanced uneven-aged northern hardwood stand in central New York. Canopy structure, wildlife trees, downed woody material, low cover, and richness and abundance of understory vegetation were assessed. High vertical structural diversity and low horizontal patchiness were associated with the single-tree selection...

Challenging Transitions: Trades and Trade-Offs for Racialised Youth in Canada's Mining Industry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hodgkins, Andrew

2016-01-01

This article examines the precarious learning-to-work transitions experienced by aboriginal youth in the Canadian oil sands mining industry. Drawing from an empirical case study of a mine-sponsored, pre-apprenticeship training programme, challenges experienced by programme participants, as well as their socialisation into the world of work are…

Does Bootstrap Procedure Provide Biased Estimates? An Empirical Examination for a Case of Multiple Regression.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fan, Xitao

This paper empirically and systematically assessed the performance of bootstrap resampling procedure as it was applied to a regression model. Parameter estimates from Monte Carlo experiments (repeated sampling from population) and bootstrap experiments (repeated resampling from one original bootstrap sample) were generated and compared. Sample…

The Role of Empirical Research in Informing Debates about the Constitutionality of School Choice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saiger, Aaron

2006-01-01

Federal constitutional law currently permits choice programs that include religious schools only if they provide parents with "genuine and independent choice"; as the leading federal case demonstrates, whether this test is satisfied is an interesting and difficult empirical question. State doctrine regarding establishment of religion can be…

Attachment Theory and Religiosity: A Summary of Empirical Research with Implications for Counseling Christian Clients

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reinert, Duane F.; Edwards, Carla E.; Hendrix, Rebecca R.

2009-01-01

The authors summarize the growing body of empirical research literature in the area of psychology of religion that has been guided by attachment theory and indicate implications for counseling, including practical suggestions for case conceptualization, possible spiritual interventions, and ethical guidelines for practice. Attachment theory…

Critical Access Hospitals and Retail Activity: An Empirical Analysis in Oklahoma

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brooks, Lara; Whitacre, Brian E.

2011-01-01

Purpose: This paper takes an empirical approach to determining the effect that a critical access hospital (CAH) has on local retail activity. Previous research on the relationship between hospitals and economic development has primarily focused on single-case, multiplier-oriented analysis. However, as the efficacy of federal and state-level rural…

Machine learning strategies for systems with invariance properties

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

Ling, Julia; Jones, Reese E.; Templeton, Jeremy Alan

Here, in many scientific fields, empirical models are employed to facilitate computational simulations of engineering systems. For example, in fluid mechanics, empirical Reynolds stress closures enable computationally-efficient Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations. Likewise, in solid mechanics, constitutive relations between the stress and strain in a material are required in deformation analysis. Traditional methods for developing and tuning empirical models usually combine physical intuition with simple regression techniques on limited data sets. The rise of high-performance computing has led to a growing availability of high-fidelity simulation data, which open up the possibility of using machine learning algorithms, such as random forests or neuralmore » networks, to develop more accurate and general empirical models. A key question when using data-driven algorithms to develop these models is how domain knowledge should be incorporated into the machine learning process. This paper will specifically address physical systems that possess symmetry or invariance properties. Two different methods for teaching a machine learning model an invariance property are compared. In the first , a basis of invariant inputs is constructed, and the machine learning model is trained upon this basis, thereby embedding the invariance into the model. In the second method, the algorithm is trained on multiple transformations of the raw input data until the model learns invariance to that transformation. Results are discussed for two case studies: one in turbulence modeling and one in crystal elasticity. It is shown that in both cases embedding the invariance property into the input features yields higher performance with significantly reduced computational training costs.« less

Machine learning strategies for systems with invariance properties

DOE PAGES

Ling, Julia; Jones, Reese E.; Templeton, Jeremy Alan

2016-05-06

Here, in many scientific fields, empirical models are employed to facilitate computational simulations of engineering systems. For example, in fluid mechanics, empirical Reynolds stress closures enable computationally-efficient Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations. Likewise, in solid mechanics, constitutive relations between the stress and strain in a material are required in deformation analysis. Traditional methods for developing and tuning empirical models usually combine physical intuition with simple regression techniques on limited data sets. The rise of high-performance computing has led to a growing availability of high-fidelity simulation data, which open up the possibility of using machine learning algorithms, such as random forests or neuralmore » networks, to develop more accurate and general empirical models. A key question when using data-driven algorithms to develop these models is how domain knowledge should be incorporated into the machine learning process. This paper will specifically address physical systems that possess symmetry or invariance properties. Two different methods for teaching a machine learning model an invariance property are compared. In the first , a basis of invariant inputs is constructed, and the machine learning model is trained upon this basis, thereby embedding the invariance into the model. In the second method, the algorithm is trained on multiple transformations of the raw input data until the model learns invariance to that transformation. Results are discussed for two case studies: one in turbulence modeling and one in crystal elasticity. It is shown that in both cases embedding the invariance property into the input features yields higher performance with significantly reduced computational training costs.« less

[Systematic review and evidence mapping of empirical studies on health status and medical care among refugees and asylum seekers in Germany (1990-2014)].

PubMed

Bozorgmehr, Kayvan; Mohsenpour, Amir; Saure, Daniel; Stock, Christian; Loerbroks, Adrian; Joos, Stefanie; Schneider, Christine

2016-05-01

Owing to a lack of routine statistics on the health status and medical care of asylum seekers, empirical studies play a major role in the mapping of these aspects. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the research landscape in this area, synthesizing knowledge from empirical studies and identifying evidence gaps. A three-tiered search strategy included searching for empirical studies in national/international databases and on the internet, screening reference lists, and contacting experts. Studies meeting predefined inclusion criteria were thematically organized and described in a narrative synthesis. The searches generated 1,190 hits; 52 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 41 were quantitative studies (78.9 %), 10 qualitative (19.2 %), and 1 was a review (1.9 %). A total of 30 primary articles (58.9 %) analyzed mental health aspects, followed by infectious diseases (n = 12, 23.5 %). Qualitative studies, mainly ethnographies and case studies, explored mental health and social determinants of health, providing evidence for the impact of living conditions on health and medical care. Few studies analyzed chronic diseases (n = 3) or childhood illnesses (n = 6). No studies analyzed the health needs or medical care of asylum-seeking women during pregnancy and child birth. In 62.7 % of the primary studies, a single sampling point was used to recruit asylum seekers. Nationwide external validity was given in two quantitative studies. The priority research areas identified are chronic diseases and childhood and maternal health. The divergency and heterogeneity of the studies hamper a comprehensive and comparable acquisition of knowledgeand emphasize the  need for collaborative research to close the existing evidence gaps.

Outcomes from patients with presumed drug resistant tuberculosis in five reference centers in Brazil.

PubMed

Ramalho, D M P; Miranda, P F C; Andrade, M K; Brígido, T; Dalcolmo, M P; Mesquita, E; Dias, C F; Gambirasio, A N; Ueleres Braga, J; Detjen, A; Phillips, P P J; Langley, I; Fujiwara, P I; Squire, S B; Oliveira, M M; Kritski, A L

2017-08-15

The implementation of rapid drug susceptibility testing (DST) is a current global priority for TB control. However, data are scarce on patient-relevant outcomes for presumptive diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis (pDR-TB) evaluated under field conditions in high burden countries. Observational study of pDR-TB patients referred by primary and secondary health units. TB reference centers addressing DR-TB in five cities in Brazil. Patients age 18 years and older were eligible if pDR-TB, culture positive results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and, if no prior DST results from another laboratory were used by a physician to start anti-TB treatment. The outcome measures were median time from triage to initiating appropriate anti-TB treatment, empirical treatment and, the treatment outcomes. Between February,16th, 2011 and February, 15th, 2012, among 175 pDR TB cases, 110 (63.0%) confirmed TB cases with DST results were enrolled. Among study participants, 72 (65.5%) were male and 62 (56.4%) aged 26 to 45 years. At triage, empirical treatment was given to 106 (96.0%) subjects. Among those, 85 were treated with first line drugs and 21 with second line. Median time for DST results was 69.5 [interquartile - IQR: 35.7-111.0] days and, for initiating appropriate anti-TB treatment, the median time was 1.0 (IQR: 0-41.2) days. Among 95 patients that were followed-up during the first 6 month period, 24 (25.3%; IC: 17.5%-34.9%) changed or initiated the treatment after DST results: 16/29 MDRTB, 5/21 DR-TB and 3/45 DS-TB cases. Comparing the treatment outcome to DS-TB cases, MDRTB had higher proportions changing or initiating treatment after DST results (p = 0.01) and favorable outcomes (p = 0.07). This study shows a high rate of empirical treatment and long delay for DST results. Strategies to speed up the detection and early treatment of drug resistant TB should be prioritized.

What Kind of Employee Wants to Use Corporate E-Learning: An Empirical Case Study in the Financial Industry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luor, Tainyi; Lu, Hsi-Peng; Lin, Judy Chuan-Chuan; Yu, Hueiju

2014-01-01

Despite the plethora of previous studies on the various uses of e-learning, there is a dearth of research on employees' action to use corporate e-learning (ACE). The present study attempts to address this lack in literature by investigating whether individual factors such as self-esteem and need for cognition, and job factors such as job hygiene…

Test Score Equating Using Discrete Anchor Items versus Passage-Based Anchor Items: A Case Study Using "SAT"® Data. Research Report. ETS RR-14-14

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Jinghua; Zu, Jiyun; Curley, Edward; Carey, Jill

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of discrete anchor items versus passage-based anchor items on observed score equating using empirical data.This study compares an "SAT"® critical reading anchor that contains more discrete items proportionally, compared to the total tests to be equated, to another anchor that…

Optimal design of studies of influenza transmission in households. II: comparison between cohort and case-ascertained studies.

PubMed

Klick, B; Nishiura, H; Leung, G M; Cowling, B J

2014-04-01

Both case-ascertained household studies, in which households are recruited after an 'index case' is identified, and household cohort studies, where a household is enrolled before the start of the epidemic, may be used to test and estimate the protective effect of interventions used to prevent influenza transmission. A simulation approach parameterized with empirical data from household studies was used to evaluate and compare the statistical power of four study designs: a cohort study with routine virological testing of household contacts of infected index case, a cohort study where only household contacts with acute respiratory illness (ARI) are sampled for virological testing, a case-ascertained study with routine virological testing of household contacts, and a case-ascertained study where only household contacts with ARI are sampled for virological testing. We found that a case-ascertained study with ARI-triggered testing would be the most powerful design while a cohort design only testing household contacts with ARI was the least powerful. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that these conclusions varied by model parameters including the serial interval and the risk of influenza virus infection from outside the household.

Ground Motion Simulation for a Large Active Fault System using Empirical Green's Function Method and the Strong Motion Prediction Recipe - a Case Study of the Noubi Fault Zone -

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuriyama, M.; Kumamoto, T.; Fujita, M.

2005-12-01

The 1995 Hyogo-ken Nambu Earthquake (1995) near Kobe, Japan, spurred research on strong motion prediction. To mitigate damage caused by large earthquakes, a highly precise method of predicting future strong motion waveforms is required. In this study, we applied empirical Green's function method to forward modeling in order to simulate strong ground motion in the Noubi Fault zone and examine issues related to strong motion prediction for large faults. Source models for the scenario earthquakes were constructed using the recipe of strong motion prediction (Irikura and Miyake, 2001; Irikura et al., 2003). To calculate the asperity area ratio of a large fault zone, the results of a scaling model, a scaling model with 22% asperity by area, and a cascade model were compared, and several rupture points and segmentation parameters were examined for certain cases. A small earthquake (Mw: 4.6) that occurred in northern Fukui Prefecture in 2004 were examined as empirical Green's function, and the source spectrum of this small event was found to agree with the omega-square scaling law. The Nukumi, Neodani, and Umehara segments of the 1891 Noubi Earthquake were targeted in the present study. The positions of the asperity area and rupture starting points were based on the horizontal displacement distributions reported by Matsuda (1974) and the fault branching pattern and rupture direction model proposed by Nakata and Goto (1998). Asymmetry in the damage maps for the Noubi Earthquake was then examined. We compared the maximum horizontal velocities for each case that had a different rupture starting point. In the case, rupture started at the center of the Nukumi Fault, while in another case, rupture started on the southeastern edge of the Umehara Fault; the scaling model showed an approximately 2.1-fold difference between these cases at observation point FKI005 of K-Net. This difference is considered to relate to the directivity effect associated with the direction of rupture propagation. Moreover, it was clarified that the horizontal velocities by assuming the cascade model was underestimated more than one standard deviation of empirical relation by Si and Midorikawa (1999). The scaling and cascade models showed an approximately 6.4-fold difference for the case, in which the rupture started along the southeastern edge of the Umehara Fault at observation point GIF020. This difference is significantly large in comparison with the effect of different rupture starting points, and shows that it is important to base scenario earthquake assumptions on active fault datasets before establishing the source characterization model. The distribution map of seismic intensity for the 1891 Noubi Earthquake also suggests that the synthetic waveforms in the southeastern Noubi Fault zone may be underestimated. Our results indicate that outer fault parameters (e.g., earthquake moment) related to the construction of scenario earthquakes influence strong motion prediction, rather than inner fault parameters such as the rupture starting point. Based on these methods, we will predict strong motion for approximately 140 to 150 km of the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line.

A semi-empirical model for the estimation of maximum horizontal displacement due to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading

USGS Publications Warehouse

Faris, Allison T.; Seed, Raymond B.; Kayen, Robert E.; Wu, Jiaer

2006-01-01

During the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, liquefaction-induced lateral spreading and resultant ground displacements damaged bridges, buried utilities, and lifelines, conventional structures, and other developed works. This paper presents an improved engineering tool for the prediction of maximum displacement due to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. A semi-empirical approach is employed, combining mechanistic understanding and data from laboratory testing with data and lessons from full-scale earthquake field case histories. The principle of strain potential index, based primary on correlation of cyclic simple shear laboratory testing results with in-situ Standard Penetration Test (SPT) results, is used as an index to characterized the deformation potential of soils after they liquefy. A Bayesian probabilistic approach is adopted for development of the final predictive model, in order to take fullest advantage of the data available and to deal with the inherent uncertainties intrinstiic to the back-analyses of field case histories. A case history from the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake is utilized to demonstrate the ability of the resultant semi-empirical model to estimate maximum horizontal displacement due to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading.

Sensitivity of landscape resistance estimates based on point selection functions to scale and behavioral state: Pumas as a case study

Treesearch

Katherine A. Zeller; Kevin McGarigal; Paul Beier; Samuel A. Cushman; T. Winston Vickers; Walter M. Boyce

2014-01-01

Estimating landscape resistance to animal movement is the foundation for connectivity modeling, and resource selection functions based on point data are commonly used to empirically estimate resistance. In this study, we used GPS data points acquired at 5-min intervals from radiocollared pumas in southern California to model context-dependent point selection...

Relations between Teachers' Classroom Goals and Values: A Case Study of High School Teachers in Far North Queensland, Australia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pudelko, Claudia E.; Boon, Helen J.

2014-01-01

To date, there is an empirical gap in the evidence of the relations between teachers' classroom goals and values, two key variables linked to students' achievement motivation. The purpose of this study was to investigate this relationship in an Australian teacher sample. We surveyed 102 high school teachers from seven schools in Cairns, Queensland…

An Empirical Study on the Curriculum Construction of Business English for International Trade Based on the Case of GDUFS

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wenzhong, Zhu; Cheng, Zhang

2013-01-01

Business English education concern is of great significance. Business English for International Trade in Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) is widely acclaimed, and it is also a popular major. GDUFS has adopted the slogan "Learn from East and West, moral integrity and direct behavior". It is a famous cradle of learning,…

Signs of Knowledge: The Appropriation of a Symbolic Skill in a Five-Year-Old

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Magnusson, Maria; Pramling, Niklas

2011-01-01

In this empirical study, the appropriation of a symbolic skill by a five-year old child is analysed. His evolving production and understanding are investigated through his sign-making and his explanations of these when speaking with a researcher. The child is studied in his home. A contrasting case of another child of the same age also making…

A Case Study of Swedish Scholars' Experiences with and Perceptions of the Use of English in Academic Publishing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olsson, Anna; Sheridan, Vera

2012-01-01

This empirical study surveyed academic staff at a Swedish university about their experiences and perceptions of the use of English in their academic fields. The objective was to examine how the influence of English in disciplinary domains might affect the viability of Swedish in the academic sphere and to investigate how it might disadvantage…

Exploring Processes and Outcomes of Wireless Internet in Higher Education: A Case Study of a University's Early Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Lisa

2007-01-01

Many universities in the UK have recently started offering their staff and students free wireless Internet access through Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologies, such as Wi-Fi. Based on a small empirical study of WLAN deployment in a university setting, the article explores adoption processes of the new technology by both the organisation…

Managing Discourse in Intercultural Business Email Interactions: A Case Study of a British and Italian Business Transaction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Incelli, Ersilia

2013-01-01

This paper investigates native speaker (NS) and non-native speaker (NNS) interaction in the workplace in computer-mediated communication (CMC). Based on empirical data from a 10-month email exchange between a medium-sized British company and a small-sized Italian company, the general aim of this study is to explore the nature of the intercultural…

Economic burden of multidrug-resistant bacteria in nursing homes in Germany: a cost analysis based on empirical data.

PubMed

Huebner, Claudia; Roggelin, Marcus; Flessa, Steffen

2016-02-23

Infections and colonisations with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) increasingly affect different types of healthcare facilities worldwide. So far, little is known about additional costs attributable to MDROs outside hospitals. The aim of this study was to analysis the economic burden of multidrug-resistant bacteria in nursing homes in Germany. The cost analysis is performed from a microeconomic perspective of the healthcare facilities. Study took place in six long-term care facilities in north-eastern Germany. Data of 71 residents with a positive MDRO status were included. The study analysed MDRO surveillance data from 2011 to 2013. It was supplemented by an empirical analysis to determine the burden on staff capacity and materials consumption. 11,793 days with a positive multidrug-resistant pathogen diagnosis could be included in the analysis. On average, 11.8 (SD ± 6.3) MDRO cases occurred per nursing home. Mean duration per case was 163.3 days (SD ± 97.1). The annual MDRO-related costs varied in nursing homes between €2449.72 and €153,263.74 on an average €12,682.23 per case. Main cost drivers were staff capacity (€43.95 per day and €7177.04 per case) and isolation materials (€24.70 per day and €4033.51 per case). The importance of MDROs in nursing homes could be confirmed. MDRO-related cost data in this specific healthcare sector were collected for the first time. Knowledge about the burden of MDROs will enable to assess the efficiency of hygiene intervention measures in nursing homes in the future. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Predicting language diversity with complex networks

PubMed Central

Gubiec, Tomasz

2018-01-01

We analyze the model of social interactions with coevolution of the topology and states of the nodes. This model can be interpreted as a model of language change. We propose different rewiring mechanisms and perform numerical simulations for each. Obtained results are compared with the empirical data gathered from two online databases and anthropological study of Solomon Islands. We study the behavior of the number of languages for different system sizes and we find that only local rewiring, i.e. triadic closure, is capable of reproducing results for the empirical data in a qualitative manner. Furthermore, we cancel the contradiction between previous models and the Solomon Islands case. Our results demonstrate the importance of the topology of the network, and the rewiring mechanism in the process of language change. PMID:29702699

Neonatal listeriosis in the UK 2004-2014.

PubMed

Sapuan, Shari; Kortsalioudaki, Christina; Anthony, Mark; Chang, John; Embleton, Nicholas D; Geethanath, Ruppa M; Gray, Jim; Greenough, Anne; Lal, Mithilesh K; Luck, Suzanne; Pattnayak, Santosh; Reynolds, Peter; Russell, Allison B; Scorrer, Timothy; Turner, Mark; Heath, Paul T; Vergnano, Stefania

2017-03-01

To define the clinical features and outcomes of neonatal listeriosis, and identify the maternal risk factors to seek scope for improvement. Neonatal listeriosis was identified prospectively from a United Kingdom neonatal infection surveillance network (neonIN) between 2004 and 2014. The participating neonatal units completed a study-specific proforma. The incidence of neonatal listeriosis was 3.4 per 100,000 live births. Of the 21 cases identified, 19 were confirmed with a median gestational age of 33 weeks and a median birth weight of 1960 g. The majority had clinical features (95%, 18/19), presented within the first 24 h (95%, 18/19), and received penicillin empirically (94%, 18/19). The neonatal case-fatality rate was 21% (24% if probable cases were included). A proportion of mothers were investigated (60%, 12/18) and diagnosed with listeriosis (58%, 7/12); 32% (6/19) were treated with antibiotics but only 33% (6/12) included penicillin. Despite its rarity and the prompt and appropriate use of antibiotics neonatal listeriosis has a high case-fatality rate. There is room for improvement in the adherence to the empiric antibiotic choice for puerperal sepsis, according to the national guidelines as this, would target listeriosis. Strategies should be in place to prevent pregnancy-associated listeriosis in higher risk population. Copyright © 2016 The British Infection Association. All rights reserved.

Cases, Simulacra, and Semantic Web Technologies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carmichael, P.; Tscholl, M.

2013-01-01

"Ensemble" is an interdisciplinary research and development project exploring the potential role of emerging Semantic Web technologies in case-based learning across learning environments in higher education. Empirical findings have challenged the claim that cases "bring reality into the classroom" and that this, in turn, might…

How the macroeconomic context impacts on attitudes to immigration: Evidence from within-country variation.

PubMed

Ruist, Joakim

2016-11-01

This study investigates the effects of the macroeconomic context on attitudes to immigration. Earlier studies do in some cases not provide significant empirical support for the existence of important such effects. In this article it is argued that this lack of consistent evidence is mainly due to the cross-national setup of these studies being vulnerable to estimation bias caused by country-specific factors. The present study instead analyzes attitude variation within countries over time. The results provide firm empirical support in favor of macroeconomic variation importantly affecting attitudes to immigration. As an illustration, the estimates indicate that the number of individuals in the average European country in 2012 who were against all immigration from poorer countries outside Europe was 40% higher than it would have been if macroeconomic conditions in that year had been as good as they were in 2006. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Case Management in Community Corrections: Current Status and Future Directions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Day, Andrew; Hardcastle, Lesley; Birgden, Astrid

2012-01-01

Case management is commonly regarded as the foundation of effective service provision across a wide range of human service settings. This article considers the case management that is offered to clients of community corrections, identifying the distinctive features of case management in this particular setting, and reviewing the empirical evidence…

Interdependence and dynamics of essential services in an extensive risk context: a case study in Montserrat, West Indies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sword-Daniels, V. L.; Rossetto, T.; Wilson, T. M.; Sargeant, S.

2015-05-01

The essential services that support urban living are complex and interdependent, and their disruption in disasters directly affects society. Yet there are few empirical studies to inform our understanding of the vulnerabilities and resilience of complex infrastructure systems in disasters. This research takes a systems thinking approach to explore the dynamic behaviour of a network of essential services, in the presence and absence of volcanic ashfall hazards in Montserrat, West Indies. Adopting a case study methodology and qualitative methods to gather empirical data, we centre the study on the healthcare system and its interconnected network of essential services. We identify different types of relationship between sectors and develop a new interdependence classification system for analysis. Relationships are further categorised by hazard conditions, for use in extensive risk contexts. During heightened volcanic activity, relationships between systems transform in both number and type: connections increase across the network by 41%, and adapt to increase cooperation and information sharing. Interconnections add capacities to the network, increasing the resilience of prioritised sectors. This in-depth and context-specific approach provides a new methodology for studying the dynamics of infrastructure interdependence in an extensive risk context, and can be adapted for use in other hazard contexts.

Interdependence and dynamics of essential services in an extensive risk context: a case study in Montserrat, West Indies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sword-Daniels, V. L.; Rossetto, T.; Wilson, T. M.; Sargeant, S.

2015-02-01

The essential services that support urban living are complex and interdependent, and their disruption in disasters directly affects society. Yet there are few empirical studies to inform our understanding of the vulnerabilities and resilience of complex infrastructure systems in disasters. This research takes a systems thinking approach to explore the dynamic behaviour of a network of essential services, in the presence and absence of volcanic ashfall hazards in Montserrat, West Indies. Adopting a case study methodology and qualitative methods to gather empirical data we centre the study on the healthcare system and its interconnected network of essential services. We identify different types of relationship between sectors and develop a new interdependence classification system for analysis. Relationships are further categorised by hazard condition, for use in extensive risk contexts. During heightened volcanic activity, relationships between systems transform in both number and type: connections increase across the network by 41%, and adapt to increase cooperation and information sharing. Interconnections add capacities to the network, increasing the resilience of prioritised sectors. This in-depth and context-specific approach provides a new methodology for studying the dynamics of infrastructure interdependence in an extensive risk context, and can be adapted for use in other hazard contexts.

X-Phi and Carnapian Explication.

PubMed

Shepherd, Joshua; Justus, James

2015-04-01

The rise of experimental philosophy (x-phi) has placed metaphilosophical questions, particularly those concerning concepts, at the center of philosophical attention. X-phi offers empirically rigorous methods for identifying conceptual content, but what exactly it contributes towards evaluating conceptual content remains unclear. We show how x-phi complements Rudolf Carnap's underappreciated methodology for concept determination, explication. This clarifies and extends x-phi's positive philosophical import, and also exhibits explication's broad appeal. But there is a potential problem: Carnap's account of explication was limited to empirical and logical concepts, but many concepts of interest to philosophers (experimental and otherwise) are essentially normative. With formal epistemology as a case study, we show how x-phi assisted explication can apply to normative domains.

Empirical performance of the multivariate normal universal portfolio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Choon Peng; Pang, Sook Theng

2013-09-01

Universal portfolios generated by the multivariate normal distribution are studied with emphasis on the case where variables are dependent, namely, the covariance matrix is not diagonal. The moving-order multivariate normal universal portfolio requires very long implementation time and large computer memory in its implementation. With the objective of reducing memory and implementation time, the finite-order universal portfolio is introduced. Some stock-price data sets are selected from the local stock exchange and the finite-order universal portfolio is run on the data sets, for small finite order. Empirically, it is shown that the portfolio can outperform the moving-order Dirichlet universal portfolio of Cover and Ordentlich[2] for certain parameters in the selected data sets.

The role of production and teamwork practices in construction safety: a cognitive model and an empirical case study.

PubMed

Mitropoulos, Panagiotis Takis; Cupido, Gerardo

2009-01-01

In construction, the challenge for researchers and practitioners is to develop work systems (production processes and teams) that can achieve high productivity and high safety at the same time. However, construction accident causation models ignore the role of work practices and teamwork. This study investigates the mechanisms by which production and teamwork practices affect the likelihood of accidents. The paper synthesizes a new model for construction safety based on the cognitive perspective (Fuller's Task-Demand-Capability Interface model, 2005) and then presents an exploratory case study. The case study investigates and compares the work practices of two residential framing crews: a 'High Reliability Crew' (HRC)--that is, a crew with exceptional productivity and safety over several years, and an average performing crew from the same company. The model explains how the production and teamwork practices generate the work situations that workers face (the task demands) and affect the workers ability to cope (capabilities). The case study indicates that the work practices of the HRC directly influence the task demands and match them with the applied capabilities. These practices were guided by the 'principle' of avoiding errors and rework and included work planning and preparation, work distribution, managing the production pressures, and quality and behavior monitoring. The Task Demand-Capability model links construction research to a cognitive model of accident causation and provides a new way to conceptualize safety as an emergent property of the production practices and teamwork processes. The empirical evidence indicates that the crews' work practices and team processes strongly affect the task demands, the applied capabilities, and the match between demands and capabilities. The proposed model and the exploratory case study will guide further discovery of work practices and teamwork processes that can increase both productivity and safety in construction operations. Such understanding will enable training of construction foremen and crews in these practices to systematically develop high reliability crews.

Empirically Understanding Can Make Problems Go Away: The Case of the Chinese Room

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Overskeid, Geir

2005-01-01

The many authors debating whether computers can understand often fail to clarify what understanding is, and no agreement exists on this important issue. In his Chinese room argument, Searle (1980) claims that computers running formal programs can never understand. I discuss Searle's claim based on a definition of understanding that is empirical,…

Multi-Product Total Cost Functions for Higher Education: The Case of Chinese Research Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Longlong, Hou; Fengliang, Li; Weifang, Min

2009-01-01

This paper empirically investigates the economies of scale and economies of scope for the Chinese research universities by employing the flexible fixed cost quadratic (FFCQ) function. The empirical results show that both economies of scale and economies of scope exist in the Chinese higher education system and support the common belief of…

The Role of Social Science in Action-Guiding Philosophy: The Case of Educational Equity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bischoff, Kendra; Shores, Kenneth

2014-01-01

Education policy decisions are both normatively and empirically challenging. These decisions require the consideration of both relevant values and empirical facts. Values tell us what we have reason to care about, and facts can be used to describe what is possible. Following Hamlin and Stemplowska, we distinguish between a theory of ideals and…

[Case finding in early prevention networks - a heuristic for ambulatory care settings].

PubMed

Barth, Michael; Belzer, Florian

2016-06-01

One goal of early prevention is the support of families with small children up to three years who are exposed to psychosocial risks. The identification of these cases is often complex and not well-directed, especially in the ambulatory care setting. Development of a model of a feasible and empirical based strategy for case finding in ambulatory care. Based on the risk factors of postpartal depression, lack of maternal responsiveness, parental stress with regulation disorders and poverty a lexicographic and non-compensatory heuristic model with simple decision rules, will be constructed and empirically tested. Therefore the original data set from an evaluation of the pediatric documentary form on psychosocial issues of families with small children in well-child visits will be used and reanalyzed. The first diagnostic step in the non-compensatory and hierarchical classification process is the assessment of postpartal depression followed by maternal responsiveness, parental stress and poverty. The classification model identifies 89.0 % cases from the original study. Compared to the original study the decision process becomes clearer and more concise. The evidence-based and data-driven model exemplifies a strategy for the assessment of psychosocial risk factors in ambulatory care settings. It is based on four evidence-based risk factors and offers a quick and reliable classification. A further advantage of this model is that after a risk factor is identified the diagnostic procedure will be stopped and the counselling process can commence. For further validation of the model studies, in well suited early prevention networks are needed.

A method and data for video monitor sizing. [human CRT viewing requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kirkpatrick, M., III; Shields, N. L., Jr.; Malone, T. B.; Guerin, E. G.

1976-01-01

The paper outlines an approach consisting of using analytical methods and empirical data to determine monitor size constraints based on the human operator's CRT viewing requirements in a context where panel space and volume considerations for the Space Shuttle aft cabin constrain the size of the monitor to be used. Two cases are examined: remote scene imaging and alphanumeric character display. The central parameter used to constrain monitor size is the ratio M/L where M is the monitor dimension and L the viewing distance. The study is restricted largely to 525 line video systems having an SNR of 32 db and bandwidth of 4.5 MHz. Degradation in these parameters would require changes in the empirically determined visual angle constants presented. The data and methods described are considered to apply to cases where operators are required to view via TV target objects which are well differentiated from the background and where the background is relatively sparse. It is also necessary to identify the critical target dimensions and cues.

An empirical analysis of mental state talk and affect regulation in two single-cases of psychodynamic child therapy.

PubMed

Halfon, Sibel; Bekar, Ozlem; Gürleyen, Büşra

2017-06-01

Literature has shown the importance of mentalizing techniques in symptom remission and emotional understanding; however, no study to date has looked at the dynamic relations between mental state talk and affect regulation in the psychotherapy process. From a psychodynamic perspective, the emergence of the child's capacity to regulate affect through the therapist's reflection on the child's mental states is a core aspect of treatment. In an empirical investigation of 2 single cases with separation anxiety disorder, who were treated in long-term psychodynamic play therapy informed with mentalization principles, the effect of therapists' and children's use of mental state talk on children's subsequent capacity to regulate affect in play was assessed. One case was a positive outcome case, whereas the other did not show symptomatic improvement at the end of treatment. Children's and therapists' utterances in the sessions were coded using the Coding System for Mental State Talk in Narratives, and children's play was coded by Children's Play Therapy Instrument, which generated an index of children's "affect regulation." Time-series Granger Causality tests showed that even though both therapists' use of mental state talk significantly predicted children's subsequent affect regulation, the association between child's mental state talk and affect regulation was only supported for the child who showed clinically significant symptom reduction. This study provided preliminary support that mental state talk in psychodynamic psychotherapy facilitates emotion regulation in play. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Excavatability and the effect of weathering degree on the excavatability of rock masses: An example from Eastern Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gurocak, Zulfu; Yalcin, Erkut

2016-06-01

In this study, the effect of the weathering degree on the excavatability of rock masses was investigated. The ophiolitic rock mass along the route of Komurhan Tunnel was chosen as the case study. Both laboratory and field studies were carried out for this purpose. In the first stage, the ophiolitic rock mass along the tunnel route was classified into three subzones according to the weathering degree and the ophiolitic rock masses of the each subzones were classified using the empirical excavatability classifications proposed by the different researchers. Furthermore, in-situ excavatability classes of rock masses in each zone were determined and the results were compared. The in-situ excavatability class of fresh (Zone-I) and slightly weathered (Zone-II) rock masses was determined as Blasting and that of moderately weathered (Zone-III) rock mass was determined as Very Hard/Very Difficult. As the obtained results were compared, it was found that the weathering degree has a significant effect on the excavatability and that it is more appropriate to prefer empirical classifications in the empirical determination of excavatability classes of rock masses having the same lithology by taking the weathering degree into account.

Empirical test of the performance of an acoustic-phonetic approach to forensic voice comparison under conditions similar to those of a real case.

PubMed

Enzinger, Ewald; Morrison, Geoffrey Stewart

2017-08-01

In a 2012 case in New South Wales, Australia, the identity of a speaker on several audio recordings was in question. Forensic voice comparison testimony was presented based on an auditory-acoustic-phonetic-spectrographic analysis. No empirical demonstration of the validity and reliability of the analytical methodology was presented. Unlike the admissibility standards in some other jurisdictions (e.g., US Federal Rule of Evidence 702 and the Daubert criteria, or England & Wales Criminal Practice Directions 19A), Australia's Unified Evidence Acts do not require demonstration of the validity and reliability of analytical methods and their implementation before testimony based upon them is presented in court. The present paper reports on empirical tests of the performance of an acoustic-phonetic-statistical forensic voice comparison system which exploited the same features as were the focus of the auditory-acoustic-phonetic-spectrographic analysis in the case, i.e., second-formant (F2) trajectories in /o/ tokens and mean fundamental frequency (f0). The tests were conducted under conditions similar to those in the case. The performance of the acoustic-phonetic-statistical system was very poor compared to that of an automatic system. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Verbal Artistry: A Case for Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henne, Richard B.

2009-01-01

This article expands our understanding of how language-minoritized children's communicative competence interrelates with schooling. It features a verbal performance by a young Native American girl. A case is made for greater empirical specification of the real extent of children's non-school-sanctioned communicative competence. The case disrupts…

Empirical Likelihood in Nonignorable Covariate-Missing Data Problems.

PubMed

Xie, Yanmei; Zhang, Biao

2017-04-20

Missing covariate data occurs often in regression analysis, which frequently arises in the health and social sciences as well as in survey sampling. We study methods for the analysis of a nonignorable covariate-missing data problem in an assumed conditional mean function when some covariates are completely observed but other covariates are missing for some subjects. We adopt the semiparametric perspective of Bartlett et al. (Improving upon the efficiency of complete case analysis when covariates are MNAR. Biostatistics 2014;15:719-30) on regression analyses with nonignorable missing covariates, in which they have introduced the use of two working models, the working probability model of missingness and the working conditional score model. In this paper, we study an empirical likelihood approach to nonignorable covariate-missing data problems with the objective of effectively utilizing the two working models in the analysis of covariate-missing data. We propose a unified approach to constructing a system of unbiased estimating equations, where there are more equations than unknown parameters of interest. One useful feature of these unbiased estimating equations is that they naturally incorporate the incomplete data into the data analysis, making it possible to seek efficient estimation of the parameter of interest even when the working regression function is not specified to be the optimal regression function. We apply the general methodology of empirical likelihood to optimally combine these unbiased estimating equations. We propose three maximum empirical likelihood estimators of the underlying regression parameters and compare their efficiencies with other existing competitors. We present a simulation study to compare the finite-sample performance of various methods with respect to bias, efficiency, and robustness to model misspecification. The proposed empirical likelihood method is also illustrated by an analysis of a data set from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

An empirically based model for knowledge management in health care organizations.

PubMed

Sibbald, Shannon L; Wathen, C Nadine; Kothari, Anita

2016-01-01

Knowledge management (KM) encompasses strategies, processes, and practices that allow an organization to capture, share, store, access, and use knowledge. Ideal KM combines different sources of knowledge to support innovation and improve performance. Despite the importance of KM in health care organizations (HCOs), there has been very little empirical research to describe KM in this context. This study explores KM in HCOs, focusing on the status of current intraorganizational KM. The intention is to provide insight for future studies and model development for effective KM implementation in HCOs. A qualitative methods approach was used to create an empirically based model of KM in HCOs. Methods included (a) qualitative interviews (n = 24) with senior leadership to identify types of knowledge important in these roles plus current information-seeking behaviors/needs and (b) in-depth case study with leaders in new executive positions (n = 2). The data were collected from 10 HCOs. Our empirically based model for KM was assessed for face and content validity. The findings highlight the paucity of formal KM in our sample HCOs. Organizational culture, leadership, and resources are instrumental in supporting KM processes. An executive's knowledge needs are extensive, but knowledge assets are often limited or difficult to acquire as much of the available information is not in a usable format. We propose an empirically based model for KM to highlight the importance of context (internal and external), and knowledge seeking, synthesis, sharing, and organization. Participants who reviewed the model supported its basic components and processes, and potential for incorporating KM into organizational processes. Our results articulate ways to improve KM, increase organizational learning, and support evidence-informed decision-making. This research has implications for how to better integrate evidence and knowledge into organizations while considering context and the role of organizational processes.

Semi-empirical and empirical L X-ray production cross sections for elements with 50 ⩽ Z ⩽ 92 for protons of 0.5 3.0 MeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nekab, M.; Kahoul, A.

2006-04-01

We present in this contribution, semi-empirical production cross sections of the main X-ray lines Lα, Lβ and Lγ for elements from Sn to U and for protons with energies varying from 0.5 to 3.0 MeV. The theoretical X-ray production cross sections are firstly calculated from the theoretical ionization cross sections of the L i ( i = 1, 2, 3) subshell within the ECPSSR theory. The semi-empirical Lα, Lβ and Lγ cross sections are then deduced by fitting the available experimental data normalized to their corresponding theoretical values and give the better representation of the experimental data in some cases. On the other hand, the experimental data are directly fitted to deduce the empirical L X-ray production cross sections. A comparison is made between the semi-empirical cross sections, the empirical cross sections reported in this work and the empirical ones reported by Reis and Jesus [M.A. Reis, A.P. Jesus, Atom. Data Nucl. Data Tables 63 (1996) 1] and those of Strivay and Weber [Strivay, G. Weber, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B 190 (2002) 112].

How a Learning Community Enhances Individual Learning in a Graduate Distance Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bloomberg, Linda Dale

2008-01-01

Little empirical research is currently available on Jewish distance learning, a nascent but growing field of practice. By way of qualitative case study methodology, this research explored the learning experience of a group of adult learners participating in a Jewish education Master's degree program that is offered by way of videoconferencing…

Moving from Student to Professional: Industry Mentors and Academic Internship Coordinators Supporting Intern Learning in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kramer-Simpson, Elisabeth

2018-01-01

This article offers empirical data to explore ways that both industry mentors and academic internship coordinators support student interns in ways that optimize the workplace experience. Rich description of qualitative data from case studies and interviews shows that to optimize the internship, both the industry mentor and the academic internship…

A Case Study of the Impact of Students from Mexico Upon a Typical Texas Border School District.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Texas Education Agency, Austin.

Empirical data and staff opinions were gathered to determine the enrollment of Mexican immigrant/alien students in the Rio Grande City Schools during the 1976-77 school year and their impact on space utilization, educational programming, staffing, and funding. Eleven staff members, representing administrators, principals, teachers, and counselors,…

Living Improvement 2: A Case Study of a Secondary School in England

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGinity, Ruth; Gunter, Helen M.

2012-01-01

Building on a decade of a school-university partnership we report on a current project that is examining the development of a learning policy within Kingswood High School. We focus specifically on the development of a learning culture, and we examine how parents and children are working productively within the official policy. Using empirical data…

Student-to-Student Interaction Revisited: A Case Study of Working Adult Business Students in Online Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kellogg, Deborah L.; Smith, Marlene A.

2009-01-01

Faculty teaching in online environments are universally encouraged to incorporate a variety of student-to-student learning activities into their courses. Although there is a body of both theoretical and empirical work supporting this, adult professional students participating in an online MBA program at an urban business school reported being at…

An Empirical Analysis of an Alternative Configuration of the Academic Motivation Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Kenneth J.; Davy, Jeanette A.; Rosenberg, Donald L.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine an alternative configuration of the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS), a psychometric instrument used as a measure of academic motivation in various academic environments. The analyses utilised data from a convenience sample of 2354 business students, broken into two random subsamples of 1177 cases.…

'Not Hard to Sway': A Case Study of Student Engagement in Two Large Engineering Classes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shekhar, Prateek; Borrego, Maura

2018-01-01

Although engineering education research has empirically validated the effectiveness of active learning in improving student learning over traditional lecture-based methods, the adoption of active learning in classrooms has been slow. One of the greatest reported barriers is student resistance towards engagement in active learning exercises. This…

"Practiced" Linguistic-Cultural Ideologies and Educational Policies: A Case Study of a "Bilingual Sweden Finnish School"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gynne, Annaliina; Bagga-Gupta, Sangeeta; Lainio, Jarmo

2016-01-01

This article explores linguistic-cultural ideologies and educational policies as they emerge and are negotiated in everyday life in a bilingual school setting located in the geopolitical spaces of Sweden. Taking sociocultural theory and discourse analysis as points of departure, we focus on empirical examples of classroom interaction and locally…

Collaborative Research Projects in the Technology-Enhanced Language Classroom: Preservice and In-Service Teachers Exchange Knowledge about Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmid, Euline Cutrim; Hegelheimer, Volker

2014-01-01

This paper presents research findings of a longitudinal empirical case study that investigated an innovative Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) professional development program for pre-service English as Foreign Language (EFL) teachers. The conceptualization of the program was based on the assumption that pre-service language teachers…

Alternative Organisational Learning Therapy: An Empirical Case Study Using Behaviour and U Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ho, Li-An; Kuo, Tsung-Hsien

2009-01-01

This paper draws on the concept and process of deeper learning, namely the U theory (Senge, Scharmer, Jaworski, & Flowers, 2004a). As a driver to get a deeper exploration of organisational change process, the theory of U goes beyond the interpersonal aspects of learning, instead focusing on a deeper personal generative learning that emphasizes…

Investing in Diversity in London Schools: Leadership Preparation for Black and Global Majority Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Lauri; Campbell-Stephens, Rosemary

2010-01-01

This article traces the historical roots, describes the philosophy and curriculum, and analyzes the approach to leadership in Investing in Diversity, a 1-year Black-led leadership development course in the London schools. An exploratory qualitative case study approach was used to collect historical and empirical data about the program over a…

The influence of multi-season imagery on models of canopy cover: A case study

Treesearch

John W. Coulston; Dennis M. Jacobs; Chris R. King; Ivey C. Elmore

2013-01-01

Quantifying tree canopy cover in a spatially explicit fashion is important for broad-scale monitoring of ecosystems and for management of natural resources. Researchers have developed empirical models of tree canopy cover to produce geospatial products. For subpixel models, percent tree canopy cover estimates (derived from fine-scale imagery) serve as the response...

Minorities with Different Values at School--The Case of Jehovah's Witnesses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liedgren, Pernilla

2018-01-01

Teachers in Swedish schools must balance the values imposed by law while simultaneously attempting to respect freedom of religion for their pupils. This study aimed to empirically investigate how teachers handle pupils who are Jehovah's Witnesses, a minority religion. Eleven, adult ex-members were asked to reflect on their experiences during…

Data-Driven Learning for Beginners: The Case of German Verb-Preposition Collocations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vyatkina, Nina

2016-01-01

Research on data-driven learning (DDL), or teaching and learning languages with the help of electronic corpora, has shown that it is both effective and efficient. Nevertheless, DDL is still far from common pedagogical practice, not least because the empirical research on it is still limited and narrowly focused. This study addresses some gaps in…

Teacher Training and the Education of Black Children: Bringing Color into Difference. Routledge Research in Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maylor, Uvanney

2014-01-01

This book is designed to challenge dominant educational discourses on the underachievement of Black children and to engender new understandings in initial teacher education (ITE) about Black children's education and achievement. Based in empirical case study work and theoretical insights drawn from Bourdieu, hooks, Freire, and Giroux, Maylor calls…

Institutions' Needs and Donors' Dreams: A Case Study of Successful Student Affairs Fundraising Collaboration at Three Private Research Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sonn, Andrew C.

2009-01-01

While facing difficult financial times, student affairs divisions and their leaders are increasingly considering collaborating with development officers and other institutional partners to raise funds for student services, activities, and facilities. Student affairs leaders, however, do not have proven strategies based on empirical data for making…

An Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based Approach to Social Phobia: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brady, Victoria Popick; Whitman, Sarah M.

2012-01-01

Over the past few years, there has been a proliferation of theoretical discussions and empirical research on the use of acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies to treat anxiety disorders. Because these treatment approaches are in their infancy, many clinicians may still be uncertain about how to apply such treatments in their work with clients.…

Use of dichotomous choice nonmarket methods to value the whooping crane resource

Treesearch

J. Michael Bowker; John R. Stoll

1985-01-01

A dichotomous choice form of contingent valuation is applied to quantify individuals' economic surplus associated with preservation of the whooping crane resource. Specific issues and limitations of the empirical approach are discussed. The results of this case study reveal that models with similar statistical fits can lead to very disparate measures of economic...

College Students' Conceptualizations of Deficits Involved in Mild Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Musso, Mandi W.; Barker, Alyse A.; Proto, Daniel A.; Gouvier, Wm. Drew

2012-01-01

Precedential rulings in recent capital murder trials may, in some cases, leave it up to a jury to determine whether or not an individual meets criteria for an intellectual disability (ID) and should be spared from the death penalty. Despite the potential for misconceptions about ID to bias decisions, few empirical studies have examined the…

The Empirical Spectator and Gallery Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fulkova, Marie; Straker, Alison; Jaros, Milan

2004-01-01

This paper examines the onto-epistemic status and understanding of contemporary material culture and of visual art, particularly in the context of gallery education. It does so through a case study of the response of 15 year-old school students in the Czech Republic and in England to a recent photographic exhibition, I.N.R.I., created by artists…

Methodological Aspects of Documenting Civics Lessons in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Aviv

2014-01-01

In this paper the author wishes to shed light on some methodological aspects of documenting civics classes as part of educational research. Rooted in the research traditions of grounded theory and the use of ideal types, this study concentrates on one case of a civics course taught in an Israel high school. Touching on the empirical and…

A Heuristic for Improving Legacy Software Quality during Maintenance: An Empirical Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sale, Michael John

2017-01-01

Many organizations depend on the functionality of mission-critical legacy software and the continued maintenance of this software is vital. Legacy software is defined here as software that contains no testing suite, is often foreign to the developer performing the maintenance, lacks meaningful documentation, and over time, has become difficult to…

The Theoretical Research Article as a Reflection of Disciplinary Practices: The Case of Pure Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuteeva, Maria; McGrath, Lisa

2015-01-01

Recent years have seen an interest in the generic structure of empirical research articles across a variety of disciplines. However, significantly less attention has been given to theoretical articles. This study aims to begin to address this imbalance by presenting the results of an investigation into the organizational and rhetorical structure…

Teachers' Attitudes and Levels of Technology Use in Classrooms: The Case of Jordan Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Zaidiyeen, Naser Jamil; Mei, Leong Lai; Fook, Fong Soon

2010-01-01

Throughout the world there is awareness of the fundamental role of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the field of education. Theoretical and empirical studies have considered the importance of ICTs in the process of teaching and learning. This current paper investigates the level of ICT use for educational purposes by…

The Dubious Benefits of Multi-Level Modeling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gorard, Stephen

2007-01-01

This paper presents an argument against the wider adoption of complex forms of data analysis, using multi-level modeling (MLM) as an extended case study. MLM was devised to overcome some deficiencies in existing datasets, such as the bias caused by clustering. The paper suggests that MLM has an unclear theoretical and empirical basis, has not led…

Asserting the Right to Belong: Feminist Co-Mentoring among Graduate Student Women

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Godbee, Beth; Novotny, Julia C.

2013-01-01

This empirical case study aims to identify how graduate student women mentor each other when tutoring writing and, through doing so, assert their right to belong in the academy. Much existing literature on feminist mentoring emphasizes the need for better mentoring for women, whether in work or school environments, in current or future faculty…

A Case Study of the Development in Pedagogic Thinking of a Pre-Service Teacher

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Borg, Michaela

2005-01-01

Within education there has been considerable research into the process of learning to teach. This has often taken the form of investigations of trainee-teachers' knowledge and beliefs. However, within ELT, empirical research into the development of trainees' thinking whilst taking a formal training programme is limited. This article reports on a…

Online Social Networks as Formal Learning Environments: Learner Experiences and Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Veletsianos, George; Navarrete, Cesar C.

2012-01-01

While the potential of social networking sites to contribute to educational endeavors is highlighted by researchers and practitioners alike, empirical evidence on the use of such sites for formal online learning is scant. To fill this gap in the literature, we present a case study of learners' perspectives and experiences in an online course…

Multi-Product Total Cost of Function for Higher Education: A Case of Bible Colleges.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koshal, Rajindar K.; Koshal, Manjulika; Gupta, Ashok

2001-01-01

This study empirically estimates a multiproduct total cost function and output relationship for comprehensive U.S. universities. Statistical results for 184 Bible colleges suggest that there are both economies of scale and of scope in higher education. Additionally, product-specific economies of scope exist for all output levels and activities.…

Industrial Invasion of Nonmetropolitan America. A Quarter Century of Experience.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Summers, Gene F.; And Others

Utilizing 178 case study documents on U.S. plant locations in the rural Midwest and South between 1945 and 1974, consideration was given to the impact of industrial development on population dynamics, private and public sectors, and the quality of well being in the host communities. Thirty-one empirical generalizations were derived from the…

Factors Affecting Students' Career Choice in Accounting: The Case of a Turkish University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Uyar, Ali; Güngörmüs, Ali Haydar; Kuzey, Cemil

2011-01-01

This study investigates the reasons that influence students' career choices in accounting. In order to determine these reasons, a questionnaire survey has been employed. The empirical findings can be divided into two categories. First, students who have a desire to work in accounting field assume that accounting field provides good job…

Displeasure at Plurality and Fear of Strangers? An Empirical Study among Youth in Germany and the Netherlands

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ziebertz, Hans-Georg; van der Tuin, Leo

2008-01-01

A comparison between the Netherlands and Germany concerning religious, cultural and ethnic plurality provides interesting insights. Germany has never defined itself as a multicultural society, as was historically the case in the Netherlands. The outcomes of the research are somewhat surprising. Dutch pupils--especially boys--are more negative…

School Choice with Education Vouchers: An Empirical Case Study from Hong Kong

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Amelia N. Y.; Bagley, Carl

2016-01-01

This paper seeks to question what impact education vouchers have on the process of school choice. The context examined in the paper is the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme ("Voucher Scheme") introduced in 2007 in Hong Kong. Using a Straussian grounded theory method, data collected from 40 parent interviews are coded, analysed and…

Career Management in Transition: HRD Themes from the Estonian Civil Service

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rees, Christopher J.; Jarvalt, Jane; Metcalfe, Beverley

2005-01-01

Purpose: To explore, through a case study, some of the key career-related HRD issues that senior managers are currently facing in the Estonian civil service. Design/methodology/approach: Presents primary empirical research into career management in the Estonian civil service since 1991, that is, in the post-Soviet era. The research involved…

Think Tanks as Research Mediators? Case Studies from Public Health

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Katherine E.; Kay, Louise; Torres, Jennifer

2013-01-01

The number of think tanks operating in the UK is increasing, providing an ever important source of ideas and research for policy audiences. They have been framed by some as useful intermediaries between research and policy, which academics aiming to influence policy might seek to emulate. Yet, there has been very little empirical work to explore…

Reshaping the Principalship: Insights from Transformational Reform Efforts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murphy, Joseph; Louis, Karen Seashore

This book focuses on the ways in which the work of principals is being shaped by transformational reform measures. Part 1 offers two chapters that analyze the challenges and possibilities for principals in restructuring schools and review the empirical evidence on the evolving role of the principal. Part 2 presents nine case studies, each of which…

Virtual Learning Environments for Students with Disabilities: A Review and Analysis of the Empirical Literature and Two Case Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vasquez, Eleazar, III; Nagendran, Arjun; Welch, Gregory F.; Marino, Matthew T.; Hughes, Darin E.; Koch, Aaron; Delisio, Lauren

2015-01-01

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show varying levels of impairment in social skills situations. Interventions have been developed utilizing virtual environments (VEs) to teach and improve social skills. This article presents a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed journal articles focusing on social interventions in VEs…

Evidence-Based Administration for Decision Making in the Framework of Knowledge Strategic Management

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Del Junco, Julio Garcia; Zaballa, Rafael De Reyna; de Perea, Juan Garcia Alvarez

2010-01-01

Purpose: This paper seeks to present a model based on evidence-based administration (EBA), which aims to facilitate the creation, transformation and diffusion of knowledge in learning organizations. Design/methodology/approach: A theoretical framework is proposed based on EBA and the case method. Accordingly, an empirical study was carried out in…

Creating customer-oriented employees: the case in home health care.

PubMed

Hoffman, K D; Ingram, T N

1991-06-01

Little empirical research has examined the organizational factors that influence the extent to which health care providers engage in customer-oriented behaviors. The authors examine the influence of role ambiguity, role conflict, and job satisfaction on the customer-oriented behaviors of home health care representatives. Managerial implications based on the study findings are discussed.

Estimating tuberculosis incidence from primary survey data: a mathematical modeling approach.

PubMed

Pandey, S; Chadha, V K; Laxminarayan, R; Arinaminpathy, N

2017-04-01

There is an urgent need for improved estimations of the burden of tuberculosis (TB). To develop a new quantitative method based on mathematical modelling, and to demonstrate its application to TB in India. We developed a simple model of TB transmission dynamics to estimate the annual incidence of TB disease from the annual risk of tuberculous infection and prevalence of smear-positive TB. We first compared model estimates for annual infections per smear-positive TB case using previous empirical estimates from China, Korea and the Philippines. We then applied the model to estimate TB incidence in India, stratified by urban and rural settings. Study model estimates show agreement with previous empirical estimates. Applied to India, the model suggests an annual incidence of smear-positive TB of 89.8 per 100 000 population (95%CI 56.8-156.3). Results show differences in urban and rural TB: while an urban TB case infects more individuals per year, a rural TB case remains infectious for appreciably longer, suggesting the need for interventions tailored to these different settings. Simple models of TB transmission, in conjunction with necessary data, can offer approaches to burden estimation that complement those currently being used.

On the Time Evolution of Gamma-Ray Burst Pulses: A Self-Consistent Description.

PubMed

Ryde; Svensson

2000-01-20

For the first time, the consequences of combining two well-established empirical relations that describe different aspects of the spectral evolution of observed gamma-ray burst (GRB) pulses are explored. These empirical relations are (1) the hardness-intensity correlation and (2) the hardness-photon fluence correlation. From these we find a self-consistent, quantitative, and compact description for the temporal evolution of pulse decay phases within a GRB light curve. In particular, we show that in the case in which the two empirical relations are both valid, the instantaneous photon flux (intensity) must behave as 1&solm0;&parl0;1+t&solm0;tau&parr0;, where tau is a time constant that can be expressed in terms of the parameters of the two empirical relations. The time evolution is fully defined by two initial constants and two parameters. We study a complete sample of 83 bright GRB pulses observed by the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory and identify a major subgroup of GRB pulses ( approximately 45%) which satisfy the spectral-temporal behavior described above. In particular, the decay phase follows a reciprocal law in time. It is unclear what physics causes such a decay phase.

A practical application of practice-based learning: development of an algorithm for empiric antibiotic coverage in ventilator-associated pneumonia.

PubMed

Miller, Preston R; Partrick, Matthew S; Hoth, J Jason; Meredith, J Wayne; Chang, Michael C

2006-04-01

Development of practice-based learning (PBL) is one of the core competencies required for resident education by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and specialty organizations including the American College of Surgeons have formed task forces to understand and disseminate information on this important concept. However, translating this concept into daily practice may be difficult. Our goal was to describe the successful application of PBL to patient care improvement with development of an algorithm for the empiric therapy of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The algorithm development occurred in two phases. In phase 1, the microbiology and timing of VAP as diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage was reviewed over a 2-year period to allow for recognition of patterns of infection. In phase 2, based on these data, an algorithm for empiric antibiotic coverage that would ensure that the large majority of patients with VAP received adequate initial empiric therapy was developed and put into practice. The period of algorithm use was then examined to determine rate of adequate coverage and outcome. : In Phase 1, from January 1, 2000 to December 31 2001, 110 patients were diagnosed with VAP. Analysis of microbiology revealed a sharp increase in the recovery of nosocomial pathogens on postinjury day 7 (19% < day 7 versus 47% > or = day 7, p = 0.003). Adequate initial antibiotic coverage was seen in 74%. In Phase 2, an algorithm employing ampicillin- sulbactam for coverage of community- acquired pathogens before day 7 and cefipime for nosocomial coverage > or =day 7 was then employed from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2003. Evaluation of 186 VAP cases during this interval revealed a similar distribution of nosocomial cases (13% < day 7 versus 64% > or = day 7, p < 0.0001). Empiric antibiotic therapy was adequate in 82% of cases or =day 7: overall accuracy improved to 83% (p = 0.05). Mortality from phase 1 to phase 2 trended toward a decrease (21% versus 13%, p = 0.1). Application of the concept of PBL allowed for identification of local patterns of infection and development of an institution specific treatment algorithm that resulted in >80% adequate initial empiric coverage for VAP with a trend toward decreased mortality. PBL allows for alteration in practice based on local patterns and outcomes and has the potential to improve patient care.

Quantitative reconstruction of cross-sectional dimensions and hydrological parameters of gravelly fluvial channels developed in a forearc basin setting under a temperate climatic condition, central Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shibata, Kenichiro; Adhiperdana, Billy G.; Ito, Makoto

2018-01-01

Reconstructions of the dimensions and hydrological features of ancient fluvial channels, such as bankfull depth, bankfull width, and water discharges, have used empirical equations developed from compiled data-sets, mainly from modern meandering rivers, in various tectonic and climatic settings. However, the application of the proposed empirical equations to an ancient fluvial succession should be carefully examined with respect to the tectonic and climatic settings of the objective deposits. In this study, we developed empirical relationships among the mean bankfull channel depth, bankfull channel depth, drainage area, bankfull channel width, mean discharge, and bankfull discharge using data from 24 observation sites of modern gravelly rivers in the Kanto region, central Japan. Some of the equations among these parameters are different from those proposed by previous studies. The discrepancies are considered to reflect tectonic and climatic settings of the present river systems, which are characterized by relatively steeper valley slope, active supply of volcaniclastic sediments, and seasonal precipitation in the Kanto region. The empirical relationships derived from the present study can be applied to modern and ancient gravelly fluvial channels with multiple and alternate bars, developed in convergent margin settings under a temperate climatic condition. The developed empirical equations were applied to a transgressive gravelly fluvial succession of the Paleogene Iwaki Formation, Northeast Japan as a case study. Stratigraphic thicknesses of bar deposits were used for estimation of the bankfull channel depth. In addition, some other geomorphological and hydrological parameters were calculated using the empirical equations developed by the present study. The results indicate that the Iwaki Formation fluvial deposits were formed by a fluvial system that was represented by the dimensions and discharges of channels similar to those of the middle to lower reaches of the modern Kuji River, northern Kanto region. In addition, no distinct temporal changes in paleochannel dimensions and discharges were observed in an overall transgressive Iwaki Formation fluvial system. This implies that a rise in relative sea level did not affect the paleochannel dimensions within a sequence stratigraphic framework.

Treatment of a Case Example with PTSD and Chronic Pain

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shipherd, Jillian C.

2006-01-01

This commentary reviews the case of GH, a survivor of a road traffic collision, who has chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The case formulation, assessment strategy, and treatment plan are informed by the relevant experimental literature and empirically supported treatments using a cognitive behavioral perspective. Given this…

The Economic Case for Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woessmann, Ludger

2016-01-01

The case for education can be made from many perspectives. This paper makes the case for education based on economic outcomes. Surveying the most recent empirical evidence, it shows the crucial role of education for individual and societal prosperity. Education is a leading determinant of economic growth, employment, and earnings in modern…

'Civil skepticism' and the social construction of knowledge: A case in dendroclimatology.

PubMed

Ramírez-I-Ollé, Meritxell

2018-03-01

Early Science and Technology Studies (STS) scholars recognized that the social construction of knowledge depends on skepticism's parasitic relationship to background expectations and trust. Subsequent generations have paid less empirical attention to skepticism in science and its relationship with trust. I seek to rehabilitate skepticism in STS - particularly, Merton's view of skepticism as a scientific norm sustained by trust among status peers - with a study of what I call 'civil skepticism'. The empirical grounding is a case in contemporary dendroclimatology and the development of a method ('Blue Intensity') for generating knowledge about climate change from trees. I present a sequence of four instances of civil skepticism involved in making Blue Intensity more resistant to critique, and hence credible (in laboratory experiments, workshops, conferences, and peer-review of articles). These skeptical interactions depended upon maintaining communal notions of civility among an increasingly extended network of mutually trusted peers through a variety of means: by making Blue Intensity complementary to existing methods used to study a diverse natural world (tree-ring patterns) and by contributing to a shared professional goal (the study of global climate change). I conclude with a sociological theory about the role of civil skepticism in constituting knowledge-claims of greater generality and relevance.

Minding the gap between positivism and hermeneutics in psychoanalytic research.

PubMed

Luyten, Patrick; Blatt, Sidney J; Corveleyn, Jozef

2006-01-01

Two quite different cultures are to be found within psychoanalysis, one more clinical in orientation, more focused on meaning and interpretation, and relying primarily on the traditional case study method, the other more research-oriented, focused on cause-and-effect relationships, and relying primarily on methods borrowed from the natural and social sciences. The history of this divide is reviewed and arguments, pro and con, about the potential contributions of specific types of empirical investigation are discussed. Increasingly, it seems, criticisms concerning the scientific status of psychoanalysis are being responded to by empirical research. This has contributed to a growing recognition within the scientific community of the credibility of aspects of psychoanalytic theories and of the effectiveness of psychodynamic treatment. However, some segments of the psychoanalytic community are concerned that this increase in the quantity and quality of empirical research on psychoanalytic concepts risks creating an empirical one-sidedness, while other segments are concerned that not engaging in systematic empirical research can lead to intellectual isolation, fragmentation, stagnation, and orthodoxy. To counter this polarizing tendency, a recommendation is made for methodological pluralism. Adopting this stance could contribute to an enriched understanding of the clinical process and to the development of new research methodologies to investigate complex psychodynamic hypotheses, thus bridging the gap between the two psychoanalytic cultures, as well as the gap between research and clinical practice.

SPECTRAL data-based estimation of soil heat flux

USGS Publications Warehouse

Singh, Ramesh K.; Irmak, A.; Walter-Shea, Elizabeth; Verma, S.B.; Suyker, A.E.

2011-01-01

Numerous existing spectral-based soil heat flux (G) models have shown wide variation in performance for maize and soybean cropping systems in Nebraska, indicating the need for localized calibration and model development. The objectives of this article are to develop a semi-empirical model to estimate G from a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and net radiation (Rn) for maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) fields in the Great Plains, and present the suitability of the developed model to estimate G under similar and different soil and management conditions. Soil heat fluxes measured in both irrigated and rainfed fields in eastern and south-central Nebraska were used for model development and validation. An exponential model that uses NDVI and Rn was found to be the best to estimate G based on r2 values. The effect of geographic location, crop, and water management practices were used to develop semi-empirical models under four case studies. Each case study has the same exponential model structure but a different set of coefficients and exponents to represent the crop, soil, and management practices. Results showed that the semi-empirical models can be used effectively for G estimation for nearby fields with similar soil properties for independent years, regardless of differences in crop type, crop rotation, and irrigation practices, provided that the crop residue from the previous year is more than 4000 kg ha-1. The coefficients calibrated from particular fields can be used at nearby fields in order to capture temporal variation in G. However, there is a need for further investigation of the models to account for the interaction effects of crop rotation and irrigation. Validation at an independent site having different soil and crop management practices showed the limitation of the semi-empirical model in estimating G under different soil and environment conditions.

The Elegance of Disordered Granular Packings: A Validation of Edwards' Hypothesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Metzger, Philip T.; Donahue, Carly M.

2004-01-01

We have found a way to analyze Edwards' density of states for static granular packings in the special case of round, rigid, frictionless grains assuming constant coordination number. It obtains the most entropic density of single grain states, which predicts several observables including the distribution of contact forces. We compare these results against empirical data obtained in dynamic simulations of granular packings. The agreement between theory and the empirics is quite good, helping validate the use of statistical mechanics methods in granular physics. The differences between theory and empirics are mainly due to the variable coordination number, and when the empirical data are sorted by that number we obtain several insights that suggest an underlying elegance in the density of states

The Contribution of Environmental Assessment to Sustainable Development: Toward a Richer Empirical Understanding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cashmore, Matthew; Bond, Alan; Cobb, Dick

2007-09-01

It has long been suggested that environmental assessment has the potential to contribute to sustainable development through mechanisms above and beyond informing design and consent decisions, and while theories have been proposed to explain how this might occur, few have been subjected to rigorous empirical validation. This research advances the theoretical debate by building a rich empirical understanding of environmental assessment’s practical outcomes, from which its potential to contribute to sustainable development can be gauged. Three case study environmental assessment processes in England were investigated using a combination of data generated from content analysis, in-depth interviews, and a questionnaire survey. Four categories of outcomes are delineated based on the research data: learning outcomes; governance outcomes; attitudinal and value changes; and developmental outcomes. The data provide a robust critique of mainstream theory, with its focus on design and consent decisions. The article concludes with an examination of the consequences of the context-specific nature of environmental assessment practices in terms of developing theory and focusing future research.

Zipf's law and city size distribution: A survey of the literature and future research agenda

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arshad, Sidra; Hu, Shougeng; Ashraf, Badar Nadeem

2018-02-01

This study provides a systematic review of the existing literature on Zipf's law for city size distribution. Existing empirical evidence suggests that Zipf's law is not always observable even for the upper-tail cities of a territory. However, the controversy with empirical findings arises due to sample selection biases, methodological weaknesses and data limitations. The hypothesis of Zipf's law is more likely to be rejected for the entire city size distribution and, in such case, alternative distributions have been suggested. On the contrary, the hypothesis is more likely to be accepted if better empirical methods are employed and cities are properly defined. The debate is still far from to be conclusive. In addition, we identify four emerging areas in Zipf's law and city size distribution research including the size distribution of lower-tail cities, the size distribution of cities in sub-national regions, the alternative forms of Zipf's law, and the relationship between Zipf's law and the coherence property of the urban system.

Treatment of specific phobias with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): protocol, empirical status, and conceptual issues.

PubMed

De Jongh, A; Ten Broeke, E; Renssen, M R

1999-01-01

This paper considers the current empirical status of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as a treatment method for specific phobias, along with some conceptual and practical issues in relation to its use. Both uncontrolled and controlled studies on the application of EMDR with specific phobias demonstrate that EMDR can produce significant improvements within a limited number of sessions. With regard to the treatment of childhood spider phobia, EMDR has been found to be more effective than a placebo control condition, but less effective than exposure in vivo. The empirical support for EMDR with specific phobias is still meagre, therefore, one should remain cautious. However, given that there is insufficient research to validate any method for complex or trauma related phobias, that EMDR is a time-limited procedure, and that it can be used in cases for which an exposure in vivo approach is difficult to administer, the application of EMDR with specific phobias merits further clinical and research attention.

The Interface between Research on Individual Difference Variables and Teaching Practice: The Case of Cognitive Factors and Personality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biedron, Adriana; Pawlak, Miroslaw

2016-01-01

While a substantial body of empirical evidence has been accrued about the role of individual differences in second language acquisition, relatively little is still known about how factors of this kind can mediate the effects of instructional practices as well as how empirically-derived insights can inform foreign language pedagogy, both with…

Empirical Psycho-Aesthetics and Her Sisters: Substantive and Methodological Issues--Part I

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Konecni, Vladimir J.

2012-01-01

Empirical psycho-aesthetics--an interdisciplinary field with a long tradition--is approached in this two-part article from two directions, in each case with several objectives. Part I, in this issue of "JAE", is devoted to the first direction, which is mainly definitional and organizational: the objectives are to present an outline of the field's…

An Empirical Evaluation of Sonar Courseware Developed with Intelligent Tutoring Software (InTrain[TM]) at Naval Submarine School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birchard, Marcy; Dye, Charles; Gordon, John

With limits on both personnel and time available to conduct effective instruction, the decision is being made increasingly to enhance instructor-led courses with Computer-Based Training (CBT). The effectiveness of this conversion is often unknown and in many cases empirical evaluations are never conducted. This paper describes and discusses the…

Empirical Evaluation of a Mathematical Model of Ethnolinguistic Vitality: The Case of Voro

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ehala, Martin; Niglas, Katrin

2007-01-01

The paper presents the results of an empirical evaluation of a mathematical model of ethnolinguistic vitality. The model adds several new factors to the set used in previous models of ethnolinguistic vitality and operationalises it in a manner that would make it easier to compare the vitality of different groups. According to the model, the…

Colonialism, Education and Social Change in the British Empire: The Cases of Australia, Papua New Guinea and Ireland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Donoghue, Tom

2009-01-01

This paper focuses on the history of relations between colonialism, schooling and social change in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Ireland, countries that were once part of the British Empire. It indicates that responses to schooling ranged from acceptance and tolerance, to modification and rejection, depending on the country, the issue, and the…