Sample records for equivalent groups design

  1. A Performance Management Framework for Civil Engineering

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-09-01

    cultural change. A non - equivalent control group design was chosen to augment the case analysis. Figure 3.18 shows the form of the quasi-experiment. The...The non - equivalent control group design controls the following obstacles to internal validity: history, maturation, testing, and instrumentation. The...and Stanley, 1963:48,50) Table 7. Validity of Quasi-Experiment The non - equivalent control group experimental design controls the following obstacles to

  2. Equivalent-Groups versus Single-Group Equating Designs for the Accelerated CAT-ASVAB (Computerized Adaptive Test-Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) Project.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-01-01

    DESIGNS FOR THE ACCELERATED CAT -ASVAB * PROJECT Peter H. Stoloff DTIC’- , " SELECTE -NOV 2 3 987 A Division of Hudson Institute CENTER FOR NAVAL ANALYSES...65153M C0031 SI TITLE (Include Security Classification) Equivalent-Groups Versus Single-Group Equating Designs For The Accelerated CAT -ASVAB Project...GROUP ACAP (Accelerated CAT -ASVAB Program), Aptitude tests, ASVAB (Armed 05 10 Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), CAT (Computerized Adaptive Test

  3. Establishing equivalence: methodological progress in group-matching design and analysis.

    PubMed

    Kover, Sara T; Atwoo, Amy K

    2013-01-01

    This methodological review draws attention to the challenges faced by intellectual and developmental disabilities researchers in the appropriate design and analysis of group comparison studies. We provide a brief overview of matching methodologies in the field, emphasizing group-matching designs used in behavioral research on cognition and language in neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, and Williams syndrome. The limitations of relying on p values to establish group equivalence are discussed in the context of other existing methods: equivalence tests, propensity scores, and regression-based analyses. Our primary recommendation for advancing research on intellectual and developmental disabilities is the use of descriptive indices of adequate group matching: effect sizes (i.e., standardized mean differences) and variance ratios.

  4. Establishing Equivalence: Methodological Progress in Group-Matching Design and Analysis

    PubMed Central

    Kover, Sara T.; Atwood, Amy K.

    2017-01-01

    This methodological review draws attention to the challenges faced by intellectual and developmental disabilities researchers in the appropriate design and analysis of group comparison studies. We provide a brief overview of matching methodologies in the field, emphasizing group-matching designs utilized in behavioral research on cognition and language in neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, and Williams syndrome. The limitations of relying on p-values to establish group equivalence are discussed in the context of other existing methods: equivalence tests, propensity scores, and regression-based analyses. Our primary recommendation for advancing research on intellectual and developmental disabilities is the use of descriptive indices of adequate group matching: effect sizes (i.e., standardized mean differences) and variance ratios. PMID:23301899

  5. Section Preequating under the Equivalent Groups Design without IRT

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Guo, Hongwen; Puhan, Gautam

    2014-01-01

    In this article, we introduce a section preequating (SPE) method (linear and nonlinear) under the randomly equivalent groups design. In this equating design, sections of Test X (a future new form) and another existing Test Y (an old form already on scale) are administered. The sections of Test X are equated to Test Y, after adjusting for the…

  6. Kernel Equating Under the Non-Equivalent Groups With Covariates Design

    PubMed Central

    Bränberg, Kenny

    2015-01-01

    When equating two tests, the traditional approach is to use common test takers and/or common items. Here, the idea is to use variables correlated with the test scores (e.g., school grades and other test scores) as a substitute for common items in a non-equivalent groups with covariates (NEC) design. This is performed in the framework of kernel equating and with an extension of the method developed for post-stratification equating in the non-equivalent groups with anchor test design. Real data from a college admissions test were used to illustrate the use of the design. The equated scores from the NEC design were compared with equated scores from the equivalent group (EG) design, that is, equating with no covariates as well as with equated scores when a constructed anchor test was used. The results indicate that the NEC design can produce lower standard errors compared with an EG design. When covariates were used together with an anchor test, the smallest standard errors were obtained over a large range of test scores. The results obtained, that an EG design equating can be improved by adjusting for differences in test score distributions caused by differences in the distribution of covariates, are useful in practice because not all standardized tests have anchor tests. PMID:29881012

  7. Kernel Equating Under the Non-Equivalent Groups With Covariates Design.

    PubMed

    Wiberg, Marie; Bränberg, Kenny

    2015-07-01

    When equating two tests, the traditional approach is to use common test takers and/or common items. Here, the idea is to use variables correlated with the test scores (e.g., school grades and other test scores) as a substitute for common items in a non-equivalent groups with covariates (NEC) design. This is performed in the framework of kernel equating and with an extension of the method developed for post-stratification equating in the non-equivalent groups with anchor test design. Real data from a college admissions test were used to illustrate the use of the design. The equated scores from the NEC design were compared with equated scores from the equivalent group (EG) design, that is, equating with no covariates as well as with equated scores when a constructed anchor test was used. The results indicate that the NEC design can produce lower standard errors compared with an EG design. When covariates were used together with an anchor test, the smallest standard errors were obtained over a large range of test scores. The results obtained, that an EG design equating can be improved by adjusting for differences in test score distributions caused by differences in the distribution of covariates, are useful in practice because not all standardized tests have anchor tests.

  8. Impact of Sample Size and Variability on the Power and Type I Error Rates of Equivalence Tests: A Simulation Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rusticus, Shayna A.; Lovato, Chris Y.

    2014-01-01

    The question of equivalence between two or more groups is frequently of interest to many applied researchers. Equivalence testing is a statistical method designed to provide evidence that groups are comparable by demonstrating that the mean differences found between groups are small enough that they are considered practically unimportant. Few…

  9. Consequences of Violated Equating Assumptions under the Equivalent Groups Design

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lyren, Per-Erik; Hambleton, Ronald K.

    2011-01-01

    The equal ability distribution assumption associated with the equivalent groups equating design was investigated in the context of a selection test for admission to higher education. The purpose was to assess the consequences for the test-takers in terms of receiving improperly high or low scores compared to their peers, and to find strong…

  10. The Same or Not the Same: Equivalence as an Issue in Educational Research

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lewis, Scott E.; Lewis, Jennifer E.

    2005-09-01

    In educational research, particularly in the sciences, a common research design calls for the establishment of a control and experimental group to determine the effectiveness of an intervention. As part of this design, it is often desirable to illustrate that the two groups were equivalent at the start of the intervention, based on measures such as standardized cognitive tests or student grades in prior courses. In this article we use SAT and ACT scores to illustrate a more robust way of testing equivalence. The method incorporates two one-sided t tests evaluating two null hypotheses, providing a stronger claim for equivalence than the standard method, which often does not address the possible problem of low statistical power. The two null hypotheses are based on the construction of an equivalence interval particular to the data, so the article also provides a rationale for and illustration of a procedure for constructing equivalence intervals. Our consideration of equivalence using this method also underscores the need to include sample sizes, standard deviations, and group means in published quantitative studies.

  11. Comparison of a Stimulus Equivalence Protocol and Traditional Lecture for Teaching Single-Subject Designs

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lovett, Sadie; Rehfeldt, Ruth Anne; Garcia, Yors; Dunning, Johnna

    2011-01-01

    This study compared the effects of a computer-based stimulus equivalence protocol to a traditional lecture format in teaching single-subject experimental design concepts to undergraduate students. Participants were assigned to either an equivalence or a lecture group, and performance on a paper-and-pencil test that targeted relations among the…

  12. 76 FR 72997 - Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC); Working Group Activity Update

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-28

    ... equivalent in safety to equipment meeting the design standards in the Passenger Equipment Safety Standards..., locomotive alerters, and remote control locomotives. The group reached consensus regarding critical... employee and their railroad contractor and subcontractor equivalents, as required by RSIA. The group has...

  13. Pseudo-Equivalent Groups and Linking

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Haberman, Shelby J.

    2015-01-01

    Adjustment by minimum discriminant information provides an approach to linking test forms in the case of a nonequivalent groups design with no satisfactory common items. This approach employs background information on individual examinees in each administration so that weighted samples of examinees form pseudo-equivalent groups in the sense that…

  14. Improved Decision Making Through Group Composition

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-09-01

    design for this research was actually a quasiexperimental design , because equivalent experimental and control groups could not be guaranteed...The Nonequivalent Control Group Design (25:126) O1 X 02 03 04 control group after the simulation exercise. Final game scores were collected from 02... Control Group Design ...... 88 20. Data Analysis Techniques ............. 98 21. The Control and Treatment Team Members’

  15. 10 CFR 431.383 - Enforcement process for electric motors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... general purpose electric motor of equivalent electrical design and enclosure rather than replacing the... equivalent electrical design and enclosure rather than machining and attaching an endshield. ... sample of up to 20 units will then be randomly selected from one or more subdivided groups within the...

  16. BioProgrammable One, Two, and Three Dimensional Materials

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-01-18

    or three- dimensional architectures. The Mirkin group has used DNA-functionalized nanoparticles as “programmable atom equivalents (PAEs)” as material...with electron beam lithography to simultaneously control material structure at the nano- and macroscopic length scales. The Nguyen group has...synthesized and assembled small molecule-DNA hybrids (SMDHs) as part of programmable atom equivalents . The Rosi group identified design rules for using

  17. Establishing Equivalence: Methodological Progress in Group-Matching Design and Analysis

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kover, Sara T.; Atwood, Amy K.

    2013-01-01

    This methodological review draws attention to the challenges faced by intellectual and developmental disabilities researchers in the appropriate design and analysis of group comparison studies. We provide a brief overview of matching methodologies in the field, emphasizing group-matching designs used in behavioral research on cognition and…

  18. Phase II Clinical Trial of Intraoral Grafting of Human Tissue-Engineered Oral Mucosa

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-10-01

    Group 1), or standard of care, the palatal oral mucosa (POM) graft (Group 2). The study population will include non -smoking adults (ages 18 and older...high velocity battlefield injuries (BI). The development of an oral mucosa equivalent is necessary to fulfill this clinical need. The environment of...similarly designed skin equivalents . To be useful within the intricate confines of the oral cavity an oral mucosa equivalent must possess mechanical and

  19. Observed Score Linear Equating with Covariates

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Branberg, Kenny; Wiberg, Marie

    2011-01-01

    This paper examined observed score linear equating in two different data collection designs, the equivalent groups design and the nonequivalent groups design, when information from covariates (i.e., background variables correlated with the test scores) was included. The main purpose of the study was to examine the effect (i.e., bias, variance, and…

  20. How Can Comparison Groups Strengthen Regression Discontinuity Designs?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wing, Coady; Cook, Thomas D.

    2011-01-01

    In this paper, the authors examine some of the ways that different types of non-equivalent comparison groups can be used to strengthen causal inferences based on regression discontinuity design (RDD). First, they consider a design that incorporates pre-test data on assignment scores and outcomes that were collected either before the treatment…

  1. Perceptions vs Reality: A Longitudinal Experiment in Influenced Judgement Performance

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2003-03-25

    validity were manifested equally between treatment and control groups , thereby lending further validity to the experimental research design . External...Stanley (1975) identify this as a True Experimental Design : Pretest- Posttest Control Group Design . However, due to the longitudinal aspect required to...1975:43). Nonequivalence will be ruled out as pretest equivalence is shown between treatment and control groups (1975:47). For quasi

  2. 40 CFR 63.111 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... greater than 1.0. Group 1 storage vessel means a storage vessel that meets the criteria for design storage... purposes of emissions averaging, these four technologies are considered equivalent. Reference control... equivalents. Car-seal means a seal that is placed on a device that is used to change the position of a valve...

  3. 40 CFR 63.111 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... greater than 1.0. Group 1 storage vessel means a storage vessel that meets the criteria for design storage... purposes of emissions averaging, these four technologies are considered equivalent. Reference control... equivalents. Car-seal means a seal that is placed on a device that is used to change the position of a valve...

  4. 40 CFR 63.111 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... greater than 1.0. Group 1 storage vessel means a storage vessel that meets the criteria for design storage... purposes of emissions averaging, these four technologies are considered equivalent. Reference control... equivalents. Car-seal means a seal that is placed on a device that is used to change the position of a valve...

  5. 40 CFR 63.111 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... greater than 1.0. Group 1 storage vessel means a storage vessel that meets the criteria for design storage... purposes of emissions averaging, these four technologies are considered equivalent. Reference control... equivalents. Car-seal means a seal that is placed on a device that is used to change the position of a valve...

  6. 40 CFR 63.111 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... greater than 1.0. Group 1 storage vessel means a storage vessel that meets the criteria for design storage... purposes of emissions averaging, these four technologies are considered equivalent. Reference control... equivalents. Car-seal means a seal that is placed on a device that is used to change the position of a valve...

  7. A Comparative Study of Integrating Multimedia into the Third Grade Math Curriculum to Improve Math Learning

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Liu, Yuliang

    2013-01-01

    This quasi-experimental study was to design, develop, and implement one multimedia math lesson in third grade to improve students' math learning. The non-equivalent control group design was used. The experimental group had 11 third grade students and the control group had 15 third grade students in an African American predominated elementary…

  8. Effects of Reflective Inquiry Instructional Technique on Students' Academic Achievement and Ability Level in Electronic Work Trade in Technical Colleges

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ogbuanya, T. C.; Owodunni, A. S.

    2015-01-01

    This study was designed to determine the effect of reflective inquiry instructional technique on achievement of students in Technical Colleges. The study adopted a pre-test, post-test, non-equivalent control group, quasi-experimental research design which involved groups of students in their intact class assigned to experimental group and control…

  9. A Semantic Differential Evaluation of Attitudinal Outcomes of Introductory Physical Science.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hecht, Alfred Roland

    This study was designed to assess the attitudinal outcomes of Introductory Physical Science (IPS) curriculum materials used in schools. Random samples of 240 students receiving IPS instruction and 240 non-science students were assigned to separate Solomon four-group designs with non-equivalent control groups. Random samples of 60 traditional…

  10. A cladistic analysis of Aristotle's animal groups in the Historia animalium.

    PubMed

    von Lieven, Alexander Fürst; Humar, Marcel

    2008-01-01

    The Historia animalium (HA) of Aristotle contains an extraordinarily rich compilation of descriptions of animal anatomy, development, and behaviour. It is believed that Aristotle's aim in HA was to describe the correlations of characters rather than to classify or define animal groups. In order to assess if Aristotle, while organising his character correlations, referred to a pre-existing classification that underlies the descriptions in HA, we carried out a cladistic analysis according to the following procedure: by disentangeling 147 species and 40 higher taxa-designations from 157 predicates in the texts, we transcribed Aristotle's descriptions on anatomy and development of animals in books I-V of HA into a character matrix for a cladistic analysis. By analysing the distribution of characters as described in his books, we obtained a non-phylogenetic dendrogram displaying 58 monophyletic groups, 29 of which have equivalents among Aristotle's group designations. Eleven Aristotelian groupings turned out to be non-monophyletic, and six of them are inconsistent with the monophyletic groups. Twelve of 29 taxa without equivalents in Aristotle's works have equivalents in modern classifications. With this analysis we demonstate there exists a fairly consistent underlying classification in the zoological works of Aristotle. The peculiarities of Aristotle's character basis are discussed and the dendrogram is compared with a current phylogenetic tree.

  11. An Investigation of Experiment Designs for Applications in Biofeedback-Performance Research Methodologies.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-09-01

    used to accomplish the necessary research . One such experi- ment design and its relationship to validity will be explored next. Nonequivalent Control ...interpreting the results. The non- equivalent control group design is of the quasi-experimental variety and is widely used in educational research . As...biofeed- back research literature is the controlled group outcome study. This design has also been discussed in Chapter III in two forms as the

  12. Use of Continuous Exponential Families to Link Forms via Anchor Tests. Research Report. ETS RR-11-11

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Haberman, Shelby J.; Yan, Duanli

    2011-01-01

    Continuous exponential families are applied to linking test forms via an internal anchor. This application combines work on continuous exponential families for single-group designs and work on continuous exponential families for equivalent-group designs. Results are compared to those for kernel and equipercentile equating in the case of chained…

  13. Grades, Student Satisfaction and Retention in Online and Face-to-Face Introductory Psychology Units: A Test of Equivalency Theory.

    PubMed

    Garratt-Reed, David; Roberts, Lynne D; Heritage, Brody

    2016-01-01

    There has been a recent rapid growth in the number of psychology courses offered online through institutions of higher education. The American Psychological Association has highlighted the importance of ensuring the effectiveness of online psychology courses (Halonen et al., 2013). Despite this, there have been inconsistent findings regarding student grades, satisfaction, and retention in online psychology units. Equivalency Theory (Simonson, 1999; Simonson et al., 1999) posits that online and classroom-based learners will attain equivalent learning outcomes when equivalent learning experiences are provided. We present a study of an online introductory psychology unit designed to provide equivalent learning experiences to the pre-existing face-to-face version of the unit. Using quasi-experimental methods, academic performance, student feedback, and retention data from 866 Australian undergraduate psychology students were examined to assess whether the online unit developed to provide equivalent learning experiences produced comparable outcomes to the 'traditional' unit delivered face-to-face. Student grades did not significantly differ between modes of delivery, except for a group-work based assessment where online students performed more poorly. Student satisfaction was generally high in both modes of the unit, with group-work the key source of dissatisfaction in the online unit. The results provide partial support for Equivalency Theory. The group-work based assessment did not provide an equivalent learning experience for students in the online unit highlighting the need for further research to determine effective methods of engaging students in online group activities. Consistent with previous research, retention rates were significantly lower in the online unit, indicating the need to develop effective strategies to increase online retention rates. While this study demonstrates successes in presenting students with an equivalent learning experience, we recommend that future research investigate means of successfully facilitating collaborative group-work assessment, and to explore contributing factors to actual student retention in online units beyond that of non-equivalent learning experiences.

  14. Grades, Student Satisfaction and Retention in Online and Face-to-Face Introductory Psychology Units: A Test of Equivalency Theory

    PubMed Central

    Garratt-Reed, David; Roberts, Lynne D.; Heritage, Brody

    2016-01-01

    There has been a recent rapid growth in the number of psychology courses offered online through institutions of higher education. The American Psychological Association has highlighted the importance of ensuring the effectiveness of online psychology courses (Halonen et al., 2013). Despite this, there have been inconsistent findings regarding student grades, satisfaction, and retention in online psychology units. Equivalency Theory (Simonson, 1999; Simonson et al., 1999) posits that online and classroom-based learners will attain equivalent learning outcomes when equivalent learning experiences are provided. We present a study of an online introductory psychology unit designed to provide equivalent learning experiences to the pre-existing face-to-face version of the unit. Using quasi-experimental methods, academic performance, student feedback, and retention data from 866 Australian undergraduate psychology students were examined to assess whether the online unit developed to provide equivalent learning experiences produced comparable outcomes to the ‘traditional’ unit delivered face-to-face. Student grades did not significantly differ between modes of delivery, except for a group-work based assessment where online students performed more poorly. Student satisfaction was generally high in both modes of the unit, with group-work the key source of dissatisfaction in the online unit. The results provide partial support for Equivalency Theory. The group-work based assessment did not provide an equivalent learning experience for students in the online unit highlighting the need for further research to determine effective methods of engaging students in online group activities. Consistent with previous research, retention rates were significantly lower in the online unit, indicating the need to develop effective strategies to increase online retention rates. While this study demonstrates successes in presenting students with an equivalent learning experience, we recommend that future research investigate means of successfully facilitating collaborative group-work assessment, and to explore contributing factors to actual student retention in online units beyond that of non-equivalent learning experiences. PMID:27242587

  15. Digital Group Multiplexers (DGM). Volume 2. Section 3.0, 5.0, 7.0, 15.4

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-02-01

    y~ . 7 3.3.10 Reliability Design The LGM has a specified MTBF of 3000 hours. This is equivalent to 333 6 failures in 10 hours. The reliability...layouts of the RLGM mechanical assembly. 5-52 5.3. 11 Reliability Design The RLGM has a specified MTBF of 4000 hours. This is equivalent to 250 failures in...in the DGM Family interface Control Drawing to 100 ohms .:aximum 300 Hz to I KHz; 58 ohms 1 !50 1 K.1z to 3 Mtz. The current design do,.- not affect

  16. Alternative Fuels Data Center: Underwriters Laboratories Ethanol Dispenser

    Science.gov Websites

    alternate equivalent dispenser design to be submitted for approval. Each jurisdiction has its own process grant a waiver or variance on a case-by-case basis for alternative equivalent dispensers for mid- to procedures used to evaluate the product. The group of manufacturers and industry partners interested in

  17. Effects of a Supplemental Intervention Focused in Equivalency Concepts for Students with Varying Abilities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hunt, Jessica H.

    2014-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a Tier 2 supplemental intervention focused on rational number equivalency concepts and applications on the mathematics performance of third-grade students with and without mathematics difficulties. The researcher used a pretest-posttest control group design and random assignment of 19…

  18. The Missing Data Assumptions of the NEAT Design and Their Implications for Test Equating

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sinharay, Sandip; Holland, Paul W.

    2010-01-01

    The Non-Equivalent groups with Anchor Test (NEAT) design involves "missing data" that are "missing by design." Three nonlinear observed score equating methods used with a NEAT design are the "frequency estimation equipercentile equating" (FEEE), the "chain equipercentile equating" (CEE), and the "item-response-theory observed-score-equating" (IRT…

  19. Designs for the Evaluation of Teacher Training Materials. Report No. 2.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Okey, James R.; Ciesla, Jerome L.

    This paper describes methods to assess the impact on students of a teacher using skills learned in a training program. Three designs for assessing the effects of teacher training materials are presented: time series design, equivalent time-samples design, and posttest-only control group design. Data obtained by classroom teachers while using the…

  20. A d-statistic for single-case designs that is equivalent to the usual between-groups d-statistic.

    PubMed

    Shadish, William R; Hedges, Larry V; Pustejovsky, James E; Boyajian, Jonathan G; Sullivan, Kristynn J; Andrade, Alma; Barrientos, Jeannette L

    2014-01-01

    We describe a standardised mean difference statistic (d) for single-case designs that is equivalent to the usual d in between-groups experiments. We show how it can be used to summarise treatment effects over cases within a study, to do power analyses in planning new studies and grant proposals, and to meta-analyse effects across studies of the same question. We discuss limitations of this d-statistic, and possible remedies to them. Even so, this d-statistic is better founded statistically than other effect size measures for single-case design, and unlike many general linear model approaches such as multilevel modelling or generalised additive models, it produces a standardised effect size that can be integrated over studies with different outcome measures. SPSS macros for both effect size computation and power analysis are available.

  1. 75 FR 1302 - Hazardous Materials: Transportation of Lithium Batteries

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-01-11

    ... Names D. Watt Hours Versus Equivalent Lithium Content E. Design Type Testing F. Elimination of... in a passenger's checked baggage). 3. Non-compliance--includes faulty design of the battery (cells or... of Tests and Criteria. The group concluded that while the design type tests outlined in the UN Manual...

  2. 29 CFR 1910.66 - Powered platforms for building maintenance.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... roof socket or carriage attachment. Equivalent means alternative designs, materials or methods which... that the equipment is designed to support. Obstruction detector means a control that will stop the... scaffold is not designed for use on a specific structure or group of structures. Tail line means the...

  3. 29 CFR 1910.66 - Powered platforms for building maintenance.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... roof socket or carriage attachment. Equivalent means alternative designs, materials or methods which... that the equipment is designed to support. Obstruction detector means a control that will stop the... scaffold is not designed for use on a specific structure or group of structures. Tail line means the...

  4. Can Reflection Boost Competences Development in Organizations?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nansubuga, Florence; Munene, John C.; Ntayi, Joseph M.

    2015-01-01

    Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the gaps in some existing competence frameworks and investigate the power of reflection on one's behavior to improve the process of the competences development. Design/methodology/approach: The authors used a correlational design and a quasi-experimental non-equivalent group design involving a…

  5. A D-Estimator for Single-Case Designs

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Shadish, William; Hedges, Larry; Pustejovsky, James; Rindskopf, David

    2012-01-01

    Over the last 10 years, numerous authors have proposed effect size estimators for single-case designs. None, however, has been shown to be equivalent to the usual between-groups standardized mean difference statistic, sometimes called d. The present paper remedies that omission. Most effect size estimators for single-case designs use the…

  6. The Use of CD-ROM Based Books To Improve Reading Comprehension in Second Grade Students.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Standish, Dorothy G.

    This paper describes a practicum designed to use CD-ROM books as a supplement to the basal reading program to improve reading comprehension in second grade students from a predominantly rural area in Delaware. A non-equivalent control group design was used involving a 20-member treatment and a 16-member control group. Pre- and postreading…

  7. 24 CFR 945.203 - Allocation plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... services should be equivalent to those available in the designated project and requested by non-elderly...; (iii) Representative advocacy groups for each of these family types: disabled families, elderly families, and families with children, where such advocacy groups exist; (iv) Representatives of the...

  8. 24 CFR 945.203 - Allocation plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... services should be equivalent to those available in the designated project and requested by non-elderly...; (iii) Representative advocacy groups for each of these family types: disabled families, elderly families, and families with children, where such advocacy groups exist; (iv) Representatives of the...

  9. 24 CFR 945.203 - Allocation plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... services should be equivalent to those available in the designated project and requested by non-elderly...; (iii) Representative advocacy groups for each of these family types: disabled families, elderly families, and families with children, where such advocacy groups exist; (iv) Representatives of the...

  10. 24 CFR 945.203 - Allocation plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... services should be equivalent to those available in the designated project and requested by non-elderly...; (iii) Representative advocacy groups for each of these family types: disabled families, elderly families, and families with children, where such advocacy groups exist; (iv) Representatives of the...

  11. A Quasi-Experimental Study on Using Short Stories: Statistical and Inferential Analyses on the Non-English Major University Students' Speaking and Writing Achievements

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Iman, Jaya Nur

    2017-01-01

    This research was conducted to find out whether or not using short stories significantly improve the speaking and writing achievements. A quasi-experimental study of non-equivalent pretest-posttest control group design or comparison group design was used in this research. The population of this research was the all first semester undergraduate…

  12. A Comparison of Kernel Equating and Traditional Equipercentile Equating Methods and the Parametric Bootstrap Methods for Estimating Standard Errors in Equipercentile Equating

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Choi, Sae Il

    2009-01-01

    This study used simulation (a) to compare the kernel equating method to traditional equipercentile equating methods under the equivalent-groups (EG) design and the nonequivalent-groups with anchor test (NEAT) design and (b) to apply the parametric bootstrap method for estimating standard errors of equating. A two-parameter logistic item response…

  13. Final Report of an Expansion of a Model for Development of Proficiency/Equivalency Tests for Clinical Laboratory Personnel, July 1, 1980-June 30, 1981.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    New Jersey Coll. of Medicine and Dentistry, Newark. School of Allied Health Professions.

    A project was conducted to expand a previously developed model for developing proficiency/equivalency tests to evaluate previously acquired knowledge and skill competencies in the areas of clinical microbiology and clinical hematology. Designed for a target group consisting of on-the-job trainees, military personnel, and medical laboratory…

  14. Impact of Thematic Approach on Communication Skill in Preschool

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ashokan, Varun; Venugopal, Kalpana

    2016-01-01

    The study investigated the effects of thematic approach on communication skills for preschool children. The study was a quasi experimental non-equivalent pretest-post-test control group design whereby 5-6 year old preschool children (n = 49) were randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group. The experimental group students were exposed…

  15. 78 FR 1101 - Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-07

    ... packaging maintains an equivalent level of performance to the originally tested packaging design must be... material, packing group assignments, special provisions, packaging authorizations, packaging sections, air... responsibilities related to packaging design variation, manufacturer notification, and recordkeeping requirements...

  16. 49 CFR 214.7 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ...) Designed to be applied, secured, uniquely tagged and removed only by the class, craft or group of employees... to perform any of the duties defined in this part. Equivalent means alternative designs, materials... authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. Control operator means the railroad employee...

  17. 76 FR 36857 - Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: New Premium Rating Method for Most Community Rated Plans

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-23

    ..., beginning in calendar year 2011, meet an MLR of 85% for large groups, (i.e., non-claim costs may not exceed... groups subsidize the less healthy groups that use more health services. This subsidization is by design... shall be equivalent to the subscription rates given to the carrier's similarly sized subscriber groups...

  18. Multiple Questions Require Multiple Designs: An Evaluation of the 1981 Changes to the AFDC Program.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hedrick, Terry E.; Shipman, Stephanie L.

    1988-01-01

    Changes made in 1981 to the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act were evaluated. Multiple quasi-experimental designs (interrupted time series, non-equivalent comparison groups, and simple pre-post designs) used to address evaluation questions illustrate the issues faced by evaluators in…

  19. Does Oral Implant Design Affect Marginal Bone Loss? Results of a Parallel-Group Randomized Controlled Equivalence Trial

    PubMed Central

    Bateli, Maria; Ben Rahal, Ghada; Christmann, Marin; Vach, Kirstin; Kohal, Ralf-Joachim

    2018-01-01

    Objective To test whether or not the modified design of the test implant (intended to increase primary stability) has an equivalent effect on MBL compared to the control. Methods Forty patients were randomly assigned to receive test or control implants to be installed in identically dimensioned bony beds. Implants were radiographically monitored at installation, at prosthetic delivery, and after one year. Treatments were considered equivalent if the 90% confidence interval (CI) for the mean difference (MD) in MBL was in between −0.25 and 0.25 mm. Additionally, several soft tissue parameters and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were evaluated. Linear mixed models were fitted for each patient to assess time effects on response variables. Results Thirty-three patients (21 males, 12 females; 58.2 ± 15.2 years old) with 81 implants (47 test, 34 control) were available for analysis after a mean observation period of 13.9 ± 4.5 months (3 dropouts, 3 missed appointments, and 1 missing file). The adjusted MD in MBL after one year was −0.13 mm (90% CI: −0.46–0.19; test group: −0.49; control group: −0.36; p = 0.507). Conclusion Both implant systems can be considered successful after one year of observation. Concerning MBL in the presented setup, equivalence of the treatments cannot be concluded. Registration This trial is registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (ID: DRKS00007877). PMID:29610765

  20. Quality of Life in Group Homes and Older Persons' Homes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Higgins, Laura; Mansell, Jim

    2009-01-01

    Older people with intellectual disabilities sometimes live in older people's homes rather than homes for people with intellectual disabilities. Little is known about their quality of life in these homes. A non-equivalent comparison group design was used to compare the quality of life of 59 people in three groups; older people without an…

  1. Effect of Computer-Assisted Instruction on Secondary School Students' Achievement in Ecological Concepts

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nkemdilim, Egbunonu Roseline; Okeke, Sam O. C.

    2014-01-01

    This study investigated the effects of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) on students' achievement in ecological concepts. Quasi-experimental design, specifically the pre-test post test non-equivalent control group design was adopted. The sample consisted of sixty-six (66) senior secondary year two (SS II) biology students, drawn from two…

  2. The Effects of STI Education on Korean Adolescents Using Smartphone Applications

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jeong, Sookyung; Cha, Chiyoung; Lee, Jacob

    2017-01-01

    Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of adolescents' use of smartphone applications and educational booklets in an educational programme about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Design: Non-equivalent control-group time-series design. Setting: The study was conducted in two public high schools located in two urban areas of…

  3. State of the Art Methodology for the Design and Analysis of Future Large Scale Evaluations: A Selective Examination.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Burstein, Leigh

    Two specific methods of analysis in large-scale evaluations are considered: structural equation modeling and selection modeling/analysis of non-equivalent control group designs. Their utility in large-scale educational program evaluation is discussed. The examination of these methodological developments indicates how people (evaluators,…

  4. Group Additivity in Ligand Binding Affinity: An Alternative Approach to Ligand Efficiency.

    PubMed

    Reynolds, Charles H; Reynolds, Ryan C

    2017-12-26

    Group additivity is a concept that has been successfully applied to a variety of thermochemical and kinetic properties. This includes drug discovery, where functional group additivity is often assumed in ligand binding. Ligand efficiency can be recast as a special case of group additivity where ΔG/HA is the group equivalent (HA is the number of non-hydrogen atoms in a ligand). Analysis of a large data set of protein-ligand binding affinities (K i ) for diverse targets shows that in general ligand binding is distinctly nonlinear. It is possible to create a group equivalent scheme for ligand binding, but only in the context of closely related proteins, at least with regard to size. This finding has broad implications for drug design from both experimental and computational points of view. It also offers a path forward for a more general scheme to assess the efficiency of ligand binding.

  5. 78 FR 67360 - Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of Five New Equivalent Methods

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-12

    ... Methods: Designation of Five New Equivalent Methods AGENCY: Office of Research and Development; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of the designation of five new equivalent methods for...) has designated, in accordance with 40 CFR Part 53, five new equivalent methods, one for measuring...

  6. Effects of Cloze Instructional Approach on Senior Secondary School Students' Achievement in Igbo Language Reading Comprehension

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Eze, Nneka Justina

    2015-01-01

    This study assessed the effects of cloze instructional approach on senior secondary school students' achievement in Igbo language reading comprehension. The study utilized a quasi experimental research design of the pretest posttest non-equivalent control group design. The study was conducted in Abakaliki education zone of Ebonyi State of Nigeria.…

  7. Effects of Concept Mapping Instruction Approach on Students' Achievement in Basic Science

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ogonnaya, Ukpai Patricia; Okafor, Gabriel; Abonyi, Okechukwu S.; Ugama, J. O.

    2016-01-01

    The study investigated the effects of concept mapping on students' achievement in basic science. The study was carried out in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. The study employed a quasi-experimental design. Specifically the pretest posttest non-equivalent control group research design was used. The sample was 122 students selected from two secondary…

  8. Effect of Polya Problem-Solving Model on Senior Secondary School Students' Performance in Current Electricity

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Olaniyan, Ademola Olatide; Omosewo, Esther O.; Nwankwo, Levi I.

    2015-01-01

    This study was designed to investigate the Effect of Polya Problem-Solving Model on Senior School Students' Performance in Current Electricity. It was a quasi experimental study of non- randomized, non equivalent pre-test post-test control group design. Three research questions were answered and corresponding three research hypotheses were tested…

  9. Invariance levels across language versions of the PISA 2009 reading comprehension tests in Spain.

    PubMed

    Elosua Oliden, Paula; Mujika Lizaso, Josu

    2013-01-01

    The PISA project provides the basis for studying curriculum design and for comparing factors associated with school effectiveness. These studies are only valid if the different language versions are equivalent to each other. In Spain, the application of PISA in autonomous regions with their own languages means that equivalency must also be extended to the Spanish, Galician, Catalan and Basque versions of the test. The aim of this work was to analyse the equivalence among the four language versions of the Reading Comprehension Test (PISA 2009). After defining the testlet as the unit of analysis, equivalence among the language versions was analysed using two invariance testing procedures: multiple-group mean and covariance structure analyses for ordinal data and ordinal logistic regression. The procedures yielded concordant results supporting metric equivalence across all four language versions: Spanish, Basque, Galician and Catalan. The equivalence supports the estimated reading literacy score comparability among the language versions used in Spain.

  10. The Hard but Necessary Task of Gathering Order-One Effect Size Indices in Meta-Analysis

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ortego, Carmen; Botella, Juan

    2010-01-01

    Meta-analysis of studies with two groups and two measurement occasions must employ order-one effect size indices to represent study outcomes. Especially with non-random assignment, non-equivalent control group designs, a statistical analysis restricted to post-treatment scores can lead to severely biased conclusions. The 109 primary studies…

  11. The Effects of a Mobile Gamification App on Elementary Students' Spanish Achievement and Self-Efficacy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rachels, Jason R.; Rockinson-Szapkiw, Amanda J.

    2018-01-01

    A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest, non-equivalent control group design was used to examine the effect of a mobile gamification application on third and fourth grade students' Spanish language achievement and student academic self-efficacy. In this study, the treatment group's Spanish language instruction was through the use of…

  12. Role of the Direct Teaching Method in the Academic Achievement of Students in English at the Secondary Level

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hussain, Ishtiaq; Inamullah, Hafiz; Naseer-Ud-Din, Muhammad; Hafizatullah, Hafiz

    2009-01-01

    The major objective of this study was to determine the role of the direct teaching method in the academic achievement of students in English at the secondary level. To achieve the said objective, the "Solomon Four-Design pre-test/post-test equivalent group design" was considered to be the most useful design for this study. The pre-test…

  13. 77 FR 60985 - Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of Three New Equivalent Methods

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-05

    ... Methods: Designation of Three New Equivalent Methods AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of the designation of three new equivalent methods for monitoring ambient air quality. SUMMARY... equivalent methods, one for measuring concentrations of PM 2.5 , one for measuring concentrations of PM 10...

  14. [Effects of heat therapy using a far infrared rays heating element for dysmenorrhea in high school girls].

    PubMed

    Hong, Yeon Ran

    2011-02-01

    The purpose of this study was designed to identify the effects of heat therapy on dysmenorrhea, heat being provided using a far infrared rays heating element. The research design for the study was a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design. Participants were 22 students for the experimental group, and 26 students for the control group. Data were analyzed using SAS WIN 9.1 program. The experimental group had significantly lower mean scores for menstrual pain, dysmenorrhea, and blood pressure than those in the control group. However, no significant differences were found between two groups for pulse, respiration, and temperature. These findings show that thermotherapy was effective for reduction of menstrual pain, dysmenorrhea, and B/P. Therefore, this therapy could be used as a nursing intervention for students with dysmenorrhea.

  15. Adaptive Control Allocation in the Presence of Actuator Failures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Liu, Yu; Crespo, Luis G.

    2010-01-01

    In this paper, a novel adaptive control allocation framework is proposed. In the adaptive control allocation structure, cooperative actuators are grouped and treated as an equivalent control effector. A state feedback adaptive control signal is designed for the equivalent effector and allocated to the member actuators adaptively. Two adaptive control allocation algorithms are proposed, which guarantee closed-loop stability and asymptotic state tracking in the presence of uncertain loss of effectiveness and constant-magnitude actuator failures. The proposed algorithms can be shown to reduce the controller complexity with proper grouping of the actuators. The proposed adaptive control allocation schemes are applied to two linearized aircraft models, and the simulation results demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithms.

  16. 77 FR 55832 - Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of a New Equivalent Method

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-11

    ... Methods: Designation of a New Equivalent Method AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of the designation of a new equivalent method for monitoring ambient air quality. SUMMARY: Notice is... part 53, a new equivalent method for measuring concentrations of PM 2.5 in the ambient air. FOR FURTHER...

  17. 30 CFR 7.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... was issued. Equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards. A non-MSHA product safety standard, or group... this part. Applicant. An individual or organization that manufactures or controls the assembly of a... technical requirements and have been manufactured as approved. Technical requirements. The design and...

  18. 30 CFR 7.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... was issued. Equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards. A non-MSHA product safety standard, or group... this part. Applicant. An individual or organization that manufactures or controls the assembly of a... technical requirements and have been manufactured as approved. Technical requirements. The design and...

  19. 30 CFR 7.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... was issued. Equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards. A non-MSHA product safety standard, or group... this part. Applicant. An individual or organization that manufactures or controls the assembly of a... technical requirements and have been manufactured as approved. Technical requirements. The design and...

  20. 30 CFR 7.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... was issued. Equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards. A non-MSHA product safety standard, or group... this part. Applicant. An individual or organization that manufactures or controls the assembly of a... technical requirements and have been manufactured as approved. Technical requirements. The design and...

  1. 30 CFR 7.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... was issued. Equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards. A non-MSHA product safety standard, or group... this part. Applicant. An individual or organization that manufactures or controls the assembly of a... technical requirements and have been manufactured as approved. Technical requirements. The design and...

  2. The Constraining Effect of Pre-Training Leadership Self-Efficacy Beliefs on Change in Post-Training Leadership Self-Efficacy Beliefs

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    McCormick, Michael J.; Tanguma, Jesús

    2007-01-01

    In a non-equivalent control group design 280 student volunteers participated in an examination of the impact of a leadership training on the development of leadership self-efficacy perceptions among trainees. The training was designed to present multiple exposures to four kinds of efficacy information Bandura (1997) proposes influences the…

  3. Promoting an Inclusive Image of Scientists among Students: Towards Research Evidence-Based Practice

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cakmakci, Gultekin; Tosun, Ozge; Turgut, Sebnem; Orenler, Sefika; Sengul, Kubra; Top, Gokce

    2011-01-01

    This study aims at investigating the effects of a teaching intervention, the design of which is informed by evidence from educational theories and research data, on students' images of scientists. A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent pre-test-post-test control group (CG) was used to compare the outcomes of the intervention. The…

  4. Effects of Nursing Students' Practices Using Smartphone Videos on Fundamental Nursing Skills, Self-Efficacy, and Learning Satisfaction in South Korea

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jeong, HyeSun

    2017-01-01

    This is a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent group pre-test and post-test designed to investigate the effects of learning with smartphone video recordings in fundamental nursing practice. General "intramuscular injection" practice for sophomore nursing students was given to the experimental and control groups for two weeks.…

  5. Difference among Levels of Inquiry: Process Skills Improvement at Senior High School in Indonesia

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hardianti, Tuti; Kuswanto, Heru

    2017-01-01

    The objective of the research concerned here was to discover the difference in effectiveness among Levels 2, 3, and 4 of inquiry learning in improving students' process skills. The research was a quasi-experimental study using the pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group research design. Three sample groups were selected by means of cluster…

  6. 76 FR 75435 - Fatigue Tolerance Evaluation of Metallic Structures

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-02

    ..., Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, ASW-111, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham... designed and manufactured, performs properly, and meets the regulations and minimum standards prescribed... amended rule requires a specific result (that is, inspection, retirement times, or equivalent means to...

  7. The Effects of Selected Experiences on the Ability of Disadvantaged Kindergarten and First Grade Children to Use Properties of Equivalence and Order Relations.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Owens, Douglas T.

    A group of 47 kindergarten and first grade children from a school chiefly composed of Negro children from low-income families was involved in this study which followed a Solomon four group design. All children received a pretreatment of 17 lessons on matching relations and length relations. The pretest group was then given six tests on relations,…

  8. Cold-air investigation of a 4 1/2 stage turbine with stage-loading factor of 4.66 and high specific work output. 2: Stage group performance

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Whitney, W. J.; Behning, F. P.; Moffitt, T. P.; Hotz, G. M.

    1980-01-01

    The stage group performance of a 4 1/2 stage turbine with an average stage loading factor of 4.66 and high specific work output was determined in cold air at design equivalent speed. The four stage turbine configuration produced design equivalent work output with an efficiency of 0.856; a barely discernible difference from the 0.855 obtained for the complete 4 1/2 stage turbine in a previous investigation. The turbine was designed and the procedure embodied the following design features: (1) controlled vortex flow, (2) tailored radial work distribution, and (3) control of the location of the boundary-layer transition point on the airfoil suction surface. The efficiency forecast for the 4 1/2 stage turbine was 0.886, and the value predicted using a reference method was 0.862. The stage group performance results were used to determine the individual stage efficiencies for the condition at which design 4 1/2 stage work output was obtained. The efficiencies of stages one and four were about 0.020 lower than the predicted value, that of stage two was 0.014 lower, and that of stage three was about equal to the predicted value. Thus all the stages operated reasonably close to their expected performance levels, and the overall (4 1/2 stage) performance was not degraded by any particularly inefficient component.

  9. Effects of a back-pain-reducing program during pregnancy for Korean women: a non-equivalent control-group pretest-posttest study.

    PubMed

    Shim, Mi-Jung; Lee, Young-Sook; Oh, Hyun-Ei; Kim, Jin-Sun

    2007-01-01

    Although many pregnant women experience back pain, it has not considered an important health problem. No study has investigated the effects of a back-pain-reducing program (BPRP) during pregnancy for Korean women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a program designed to reduce back pain in pregnant women. A non-equivalent control-group pretest-posttest design was used. Pregnant women who attended an antenatal clinic and experienced back pain during their pregnancy were included in an intervention group (n=29), and their intensity of back pain, functional limitation and anxiety were compared with women in a control group from another antenatal clinic (n=27). The data were collected at three time points: prior to intervention, and 6 and 12 weeks after intervention. At 12 weeks after intervention, the intensity of back pain experienced by the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control group. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to functional limitations and anxiety. The findings show that the pain-reducing program developed for this study was effective in reducing the intensity of back pain experienced by pregnant women. Promoting good posture and regular exercise can be recommended as a method to relieve back pain in pregnancy women. Further studies are needed to confirm the effect of the BPRP during pregnancy.

  10. Designing Haptic Assistive Technology for Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.

    PubMed

    Pawluk, Dianne T V; Adams, Richard J; Kitada, Ryo

    2015-01-01

    This paper considers issues relevant for the design and use of haptic technology for assistive devices for individuals who are blind or visually impaired in some of the major areas of importance: Braille reading, tactile graphics, orientation and mobility. We show that there is a wealth of behavioral research that is highly applicable to assistive technology design. In a few cases, conclusions from behavioral experiments have been directly applied to design with positive results. Differences in brain organization and performance capabilities between individuals who are "early blind" and "late blind" from using the same tactile/haptic accommodations, such as the use of Braille, suggest the importance of training and assessing these groups individually. Practical restrictions on device design, such as performance limitations of the technology and cost, raise questions as to which aspects of these restrictions are truly important to overcome to achieve high performance. In general, this raises the question of what it means to provide functional equivalence as opposed to sensory equivalence.

  11. Effectiveness of E-Content Package on Teaching IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry at Undergraduate Level

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Devendiran, G.; Vakkil, M.

    2017-01-01

    This study attempts to discover the effectiveness of an e-content package when teaching IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry at the undergraduate level. The study consisted of a Pre-test-Post-test Non Equivalent Groups Design, and the sample of 71 (n = 71) students were drawn from two colleges. The overall study was divided into two groups, an…

  12. Effect of Direct Teaching Method on the Academic Achievement of High and Low Achievers in the Subject of English at the Secondary Level

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hussain, Ishtiaq; Hamdani, Syed Nisar Hussain; Quraishi, Uzma; Zeeshan, Muhammad

    2010-01-01

    The major objective of the study was to determine the role of the direct teaching method in the academic achievement of students in English at the secondary level. To achieve the said objective, the Solomon Four-Design pre-test/post-test equivalent group design was considered to be the most useful design for this study. The pre-test was used to…

  13. Comparative study of control selection in a national population-based case-control study: Estimating risk of smoking on cancer deaths in Chinese men.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Jingmei; Liu, Boqi; Nasca, Philip C; Han, Wei; Zou, Xiaonong; Zeng, Xianjia; Tian, Xiaobing; Wu, Yanping; Zhao, Ping; Li, Junyao

    2009-10-28

    To assess the validation of a novel control selection design by comparing the consistency between the new design and a routine design in a large case-control study that was incorporated into a nationwide mortality survey in China. A nationwide mortality study was conducted during 1989-1991. Surviving spouses or other relatives of all adults who died during 1986-1988 provided detailed information about their own as well as the deceased person's smoking history. In this study, 130,079 males who died of various smoking-related cancers at age 35 or over were taken as cases, while 103,248 male surviving spouses (same age range with cases) of women who died during the same period and 49,331 males who died from causes other than those related to smoking were used as control group 1 and control group 2, respectively. Consistency in the results when comparing cases with each of the control groups was assessed. Consistency in the results was observed in the analyses using different control groups although cancer deaths varied with region and age. Equivalence could be ascertained using a 15% criterion in most cancer deaths which had high death rates in urban areas, but they were uncertain for most cancers in rural areas irrespective of whether the hypothesis testing showed significant differences or not. Sex-matched living spouse control design as an alternative control selection for a case-control study is valid and feasible, and the basic principles of the equivalence study are also supported by epidemiological survey data.

  14. 75 FR 45627 - Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-03

    ... Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of One New Equivalent Method AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of the designation of one new equivalent method for monitoring ambient air... accordance with 40 CFR part 53, one new equivalent method for measuring concentrations of lead (Pb) in total...

  15. 76 FR 62402 - Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-07

    ... Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods; Designation of One New Equivalent Method AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of the designation of one new equivalent method for monitoring ambient air... accordance with 40 CFR Part 53, one new equivalent method for measuring concentrations of ozone (O 3 ) in the...

  16. 75 FR 51039 - Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-18

    ... Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of Two New Equivalent Methods AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of the designation of two new equivalent methods for monitoring ambient air... accordance with 40 CFR Part 53, two new equivalent methods for measuring concentrations of PM 10 and sulfur...

  17. 75 FR 22126 - Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-04-27

    ... Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of One New Equivalent Method AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of the designation of one new equivalent method for monitoring ambient air... accordance with 40 CFR Part 53, one new equivalent method for measuring concentrations of ozone (O 3 ) in the...

  18. 75 FR 30022 - Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-05-28

    ... Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of One New Equivalent Method AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of the designation of one new equivalent method for monitoring ambient air... accordance with 40 CFR Part 53, one new equivalent method for measuring concentrations of lead (Pb) in total...

  19. 75 FR 9894 - Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-04

    ... Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of One New Equivalent Method AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of the designation of one new equivalent method for monitoring ambient air... accordance with 40 CFR part 53, one new equivalent method for measuring concentrations of lead (Pb) in total...

  20. 29 CFR 1915.89 - Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tags-plus).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... employee: (A) Sign a group tag (or a group tag equivalent), attach a personal identification device to a... group tag (or the group tag equivalent), remove the personal identification device, or perform a... safe exposure status of each authorized employee, and (b) signs a group tag (or a group tag equivalent...

  1. 29 CFR 1915.89 - Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tags-plus).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... employee: (A) Sign a group tag (or a group tag equivalent), attach a personal identification device to a... group tag (or the group tag equivalent), remove the personal identification device, or perform a... safe exposure status of each authorized employee, and (b) signs a group tag (or a group tag equivalent...

  2. 29 CFR 1915.89 - Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tags-plus).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... employee: (A) Sign a group tag (or a group tag equivalent), attach a personal identification device to a... group tag (or the group tag equivalent), remove the personal identification device, or perform a... safe exposure status of each authorized employee, and (b) signs a group tag (or a group tag equivalent...

  3. Application of Adjoint Methodology to Supersonic Aircraft Design Using Reversed Equivalent Areas

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rallabhandi, Sriram K.

    2013-01-01

    This paper presents an approach to shape an aircraft to equivalent area based objectives using the discrete adjoint approach. Equivalent areas can be obtained either using reversed augmented Burgers equation or direct conversion of off-body pressures into equivalent area. Formal coupling with CFD allows computation of sensitivities of equivalent area objectives with respect to aircraft shape parameters. The exactness of the adjoint sensitivities is verified against derivatives obtained using the complex step approach. This methodology has the benefit of using designer-friendly equivalent areas in the shape design of low-boom aircraft. Shape optimization results with equivalent area cost functionals are discussed and further refined using ground loudness based objectives.

  4. Facilitating Spatial Thinking in World Geography Using Web-Based GIS

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jo, Injeong; Hong, Jung Eun; Verma, Kanika

    2016-01-01

    Advocates for geographic information system (GIS) education contend that learning about GIS promotes students' spatial thinking. Empirical studies are still needed to elucidate the potential of GIS as an instructional tool to support spatial thinking in other geography courses. Using a non-equivalent control group research design, this study…

  5. 26 CFR 1.401(a)(4)-8 - Cross-testing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... of rate groups; and (B) For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2002, the plan satisfies one... tests for nondiscrimination based on individual equivalent accrual or allocation rates determined under... satisfied on a design basis. (b) Nondiscrimination in amount of benefits provided under a defined...

  6. 26 CFR 1.401(a)(4)-8 - Cross-testing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... of rate groups; and (B) For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2002, the plan satisfies one... tests for nondiscrimination based on individual equivalent accrual or allocation rates determined under... satisfied on a design basis. (b) Nondiscrimination in amount of benefits provided under a defined...

  7. 26 CFR 1.401(a)(4)-8 - Cross-testing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... of rate groups; and (B) For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2002, the plan satisfies one... tests for nondiscrimination based on individual equivalent accrual or allocation rates determined under... satisfied on a design basis. (b) Nondiscrimination in amount of benefits provided under a defined...

  8. 26 CFR 1.401(a)(4)-8 - Cross-testing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... of rate groups; and (B) For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2002, the plan satisfies one... tests for nondiscrimination based on individual equivalent accrual or allocation rates determined under... satisfied on a design basis. (b) Nondiscrimination in amount of benefits provided under a defined...

  9. 40 CFR 260.10 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... the basis of one or more of the following factors: (i) The design and use of the device primarily to... onsite, or to a point of shipment for disposal off-site. Aquifer means a geologic formation, group of... equivalent responsibility. Battery means a device consisting of one or more electrically connected...

  10. 40 CFR 63.653 - Monitoring, recordkeeping, and implementation plan for emissions averaging.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... § 63.120 of subpart G; and (ii) For closed vent systems with control devices, conduct an initial design..., monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting equivalent to that required for Group 1 emission points complying... control device. (2) The source shall implement the following procedures for each miscellaneous process...

  11. Counselor Effectiveness Through Radio Communication.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tentoni, Stuart C.

    This study determined the effectiveness of the use of radio as a means of providing immediate feedback on student counselors in a practicum setting. Using a non-equivalent group experimental design, 10 experimental subjects were compared to 10 control subjects with respect to counselor effectiveness. The experimental subjects were given immediate…

  12. Measurement Equivalence of the K6 Scale: The Effects of Race/Ethnicity and Language

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Giyeon; DeCoster, Jamie; Bryant, Ami N.; Ford, Katy L.

    2017-01-01

    This study examined the measurement equivalence of the K6 across diverse racial/ethnic and linguistic groups in the U.S. differential item functioning analyses using item response theory were conducted among 44,846 U.S. adults drawn from the California Health Interview Survey. Results show that four items (“nervous,” “restless,” “depressed,” and “everything an effort”) varied significantly across races/ethnicities and four items (“nervous,” “hopeless,” “restless,” and “depressed”) varied significantly across languages. In additional effect size analyses designed to separate effects of race/ethnicity from language, the structure of the White English group was substantially different from both the Hispanic/Latino English group and Hispanic/Latino Spanish group, whereas the Hispanic/Latino Spanish group was not different from the Hispanic/Latino English group. The findings suggest that there was evident measurement nonequivalence in the K6 among racially/ethnically and linguistically diverse adults and that the observed nonequivalence in the K6 appears to be driven by language rather than race/ethnicity. PMID:26282779

  13. Development of a Low Strain-Rate Gun Propellant Bed Compression Test and its Use in Evaluating Mechanical Response

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-09-01

    heuristics, die and propellant geometries from similar facilities reported in the literature [2,3] and the DST Group design .  bed* (mm) φbed...compliance curves from the experimental data. In UNCLASSIFIED DST- Group -TR-3291 UNCLASSIFIED 18 Figure 13, the red axial compliance traces were...UNCLASSIFIED DST- Group -TR-3291 UNCLASSIFIED 46 At a test temperature of -60˚C, the equivalent strain rates are within the 10 to 500 s-1 given in

  14. Methodology Series Module 4: Clinical Trials.

    PubMed

    Setia, Maninder Singh

    2016-01-01

    In a clinical trial, study participants are (usually) divided into two groups. One group is then given the intervention and the other group is not given the intervention (or may be given some existing standard of care). We compare the outcomes in these groups and assess the role of intervention. Some of the trial designs are (1) parallel study design, (2) cross-over design, (3) factorial design, and (4) withdrawal group design. The trials can also be classified according to the stage of the trial (Phase I, II, III, and IV) or the nature of the trial (efficacy vs. effectiveness trials, superiority vs. equivalence trials). Randomization is one of the procedures by which we allocate different interventions to the groups. It ensures that all the included participants have a specified probability of being allocated to either of the groups in the intervention study. If participants and the investigator know about the allocation of the intervention, then it is called an "open trial." However, many of the trials are not open - they are blinded. Blinding is useful to minimize bias in clinical trials. The researcher should familiarize themselves with the CONSORT statement and the appropriate Clinical Trials Registry of India.

  15. Methodology Series Module 4: Clinical Trials

    PubMed Central

    Setia, Maninder Singh

    2016-01-01

    In a clinical trial, study participants are (usually) divided into two groups. One group is then given the intervention and the other group is not given the intervention (or may be given some existing standard of care). We compare the outcomes in these groups and assess the role of intervention. Some of the trial designs are (1) parallel study design, (2) cross-over design, (3) factorial design, and (4) withdrawal group design. The trials can also be classified according to the stage of the trial (Phase I, II, III, and IV) or the nature of the trial (efficacy vs. effectiveness trials, superiority vs. equivalence trials). Randomization is one of the procedures by which we allocate different interventions to the groups. It ensures that all the included participants have a specified probability of being allocated to either of the groups in the intervention study. If participants and the investigator know about the allocation of the intervention, then it is called an “open trial.” However, many of the trials are not open – they are blinded. Blinding is useful to minimize bias in clinical trials. The researcher should familiarize themselves with the CONSORT statement and the appropriate Clinical Trials Registry of India. PMID:27512184

  16. Estimating equivalence with quantile regression

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Cade, B.S.

    2011-01-01

    Equivalence testing and corresponding confidence interval estimates are used to provide more enlightened statistical statements about parameter estimates by relating them to intervals of effect sizes deemed to be of scientific or practical importance rather than just to an effect size of zero. Equivalence tests and confidence interval estimates are based on a null hypothesis that a parameter estimate is either outside (inequivalence hypothesis) or inside (equivalence hypothesis) an equivalence region, depending on the question of interest and assignment of risk. The former approach, often referred to as bioequivalence testing, is often used in regulatory settings because it reverses the burden of proof compared to a standard test of significance, following a precautionary principle for environmental protection. Unfortunately, many applications of equivalence testing focus on establishing average equivalence by estimating differences in means of distributions that do not have homogeneous variances. I discuss how to compare equivalence across quantiles of distributions using confidence intervals on quantile regression estimates that detect differences in heterogeneous distributions missed by focusing on means. I used one-tailed confidence intervals based on inequivalence hypotheses in a two-group treatment-control design for estimating bioequivalence of arsenic concentrations in soils at an old ammunition testing site and bioequivalence of vegetation biomass at a reclaimed mining site. Two-tailed confidence intervals based both on inequivalence and equivalence hypotheses were used to examine quantile equivalence for negligible trends over time for a continuous exponential model of amphibian abundance. ?? 2011 by the Ecological Society of America.

  17. An Empirical Comparison of Methods for Equating with Randomly Equivalent Groups of 50 to 400 Test Takers. Research Report. ETS RR-10-05

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Livingston, Samuel A.; Kim, Sooyeon

    2010-01-01

    A series of resampling studies investigated the accuracy of equating by four different methods in a random groups equating design with samples of 400, 200, 100, and 50 test takers taking each form. Six pairs of forms were constructed. Each pair was constructed by assigning items from an existing test taken by 9,000 or more test takers. The…

  18. Color associations among designers and non-designers for common warning and operation concepts.

    PubMed

    Ng, Annie W Y; Chan, Alan H S

    2018-07-01

    This study examined color-concept associations among designers and non-designers with commonly used warning and operation concepts. This study required 199 designers and 175 non-designers to indicate their choice among nine colors to associate with each of the 38 concepts in a color-concept table. The results showed that the designers and non-designers had the same color associations and similar strengths of stereotypes for 17 concepts. The strongest color-concept stereotypes for both groups were red-danger, red-fire, and red-hot. However, the designers and non-designers had different color associations for the concepts of escape (green, red), increase (green, red), potential hazard (red, orange), fatal (black, red), and normal (white, green), while the strengths of the 16 remaining associations for both groups were not at equivalent levels. These findings provide ergonomists and design practitioners with a better understanding of population stereotypes for color coding, and consequently to effectively use colors in their user-centered designs. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Measurement equivalence of patient safety climate in Chinese hospitals: can we compare across physicians and nurses?

    PubMed

    Zhu, Junya

    2018-06-11

    Self-report instruments have been widely used to better understand variations in patient safety climate between physicians and nurses. Research is needed to determine whether differences in patient safety climate reflect true differences in the underlying concepts. This is known as measurement equivalence, which is a prerequisite for meaningful group comparisons. This study aims to examine the degree of measurement equivalence of the responses to a patient safety climate survey of Chinese hospitals and to demonstrate how the measurement equivalence method can be applied to self-report climate surveys for patient safety research. Using data from the Chinese Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Climate from six Chinese hospitals in 2011, we constructed two groups: physicians and nurses (346 per group). We used multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses to examine progressively more stringent restrictions for measurement equivalence. We identified weak factorial equivalence across the two groups. Strong factorial equivalence was found for Organizational Learning, Unit Management Support for Safety, Adequacy of Safety Arrangements, Institutional Commitment to Safety, Error Reporting and Teamwork. Strong factorial equivalence, however, was not found for Safety System, Communication and Peer Support and Staffing. Nevertheless, further analyses suggested that nonequivalence did not meaningfully affect the conclusions regarding physician-nurse differences in patient safety climate. Our results provide evidence of at least partial equivalence of the survey responses between nurses and physicians, supporting mean comparisons of its constructs between the two groups. The measurement equivalence approach is essential to ensure that conclusions about group differences are valid.

  20. Effect of Integrated Feedback on Classroom Climate of Secondary School Teachers

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Patel, Nilesh Kumar

    2018-01-01

    This study aimed at finding out the effect of Integrated feedback on Classroom climate of secondary school teachers. This research is experimental in nature. Non-equivalent control group design suggested by Stanley and Campbell (1963) was used for the experiment. Integrated feedback was treatment and independent variable, Classroom climate was…

  1. 29 CFR 1910.147 - The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... pounds and having the general design and basic characteristics of being at least equivalent to a one... prohibitions of the outside employer's energy control program. (3) Group lockout or tagout. (i) When servicing... 29 Labor 5 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout). 1910.147...

  2. Magic Finger Teaching Method in Learning Multiplication Facts among Deaf Students

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Thai, Liong; Yasin, Mohd. Hanafi Mohd

    2016-01-01

    Deaf students face problems in mastering multiplication facts. This study aims to identify the effectiveness of Magic Finger Teaching Method (MFTM) and students' perception towards MFTM. The research employs a quasi experimental with non-equivalent pre-test and post-test control group design. Pre-test, post-test and questionnaires were used. As…

  3. Enhancing Self-Efficacy in Elementary Science Teaching with Professional Learning Communities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mintzes, Joel J.; Marcum, Bev; Messerschmidt-Yates, Christl; Mark, Andrew

    2013-01-01

    Emerging from Bandura's Social Learning Theory, this study of in-service elementary school teachers examined the effects of sustained Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) on self-efficacy in science teaching. Based on mixed research methods, and a non-equivalent control group experimental design, the investigation explored changes in…

  4. Expanding Training Opportunities for Parents of Children with Autism

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Suppo, Jennifer L.; Mayton, Michael R.

    2014-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that parents who have children diagnosed with autism can learn and accurately apply knowledge regarding a research-based practice for their children by utilizing a prescribed, self-directed, online program. Using a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group, pretest-posttest design, this study…

  5. 29 CFR 1910.147 - The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... pounds and having the general design and basic characteristics of being at least equivalent to a one... prohibitions of the outside employer's energy control program. (3) Group lockout or tagout. (i) When servicing... 29 Labor 5 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout). 1910.147...

  6. Creating Cooperative Classrooms: Effects of a Two-Year Staff Development Program

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Krol, Karen; Sleegers, Peter; Veenman, Simon; Voeten, Marinus

    2008-01-01

    In this study, the implementation effects of a staff development program on cooperative learning (CL) for Dutch elementary school teachers were studied. A pre-test-post-test non-equivalent control group design was used to investigate program effects on the instructional behaviours of teachers. Based on observations of teacher behaviour during…

  7. Instruction of Learning Strategies: Effects on Conceptual Learning, and Learning Satisfactions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Caliskan, Serap

    2011-01-01

    This study has investigated the effects of learning strategy instruction on conceptual learning, and student satisfactions in an introductory physics course at university level. In this study, pretest-posttest and quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group was used. A total of 36 sophomore students majoring in mathematics…

  8. Instructional Efficiency of the Integration of Graphing Calculators in Teaching and Learning Mathematics

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tajuddin, Nor'ain Mohd; Tarmizi, Rohani Ahmad; Konting, Mohd Majid; Ali, Wan Zah Wan

    2009-01-01

    This quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent control group post-test only design was conducted to investigate the effects of using graphing calculators in mathematics teaching and learning on Form Four Malaysian secondary school students' performance and their meta-cognitive awareness level. Graphing calculator strategy refers to the use of…

  9. Impact of Static Graphics, Animated Graphics and Mental Imagery on a Complex Learning Task

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lai, Feng-Qi; Newby, Timothy J.

    2012-01-01

    The present study compared the impact of different categories of graphics used within a complex learning task. One hundred eighty five native English speaking undergraduates participated in a task that required learning 18 Chinese radicals and their English equivalent translations. A post-test only control group design compared performance…

  10. Colour and Light Effects on Students' Achievement, Behavior and Physiology.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wohlfarth, H.

    A quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design was used to investigate the effects of full-spectrum light, prescribed color and light/color combinations, ultra-violet light, and electromagnetic radiation in an elementary school environment. Four schools in the Wetaskiwin School District, Alberta, were involved in the study; three served…

  11. A Comparison Study of Polyominoes Explorations in a Physical and Virtual Manipulative Environment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yuan, Y.; Lee, C. -Y.; Wang, C. -H.

    2010-01-01

    This study develops virtual manipulative, polyominoes kits for junior high school students to explore polyominoes. The current work conducts a non-equivalent group pretest-post-test quasi-experimental design to compare the performance difference between using physical manipulatives and virtual manipulatives in finding the number of polyominoes.…

  12. A Formative and Summative Evaluation of Computer Integrated Instruction.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Signer, Barbara

    The purpose of this study was to conduct formative and summative evaluation for Computer Integrated Instruction (CII), an alternative use of computer-assisted instruction (CAI). The non-equivalent control group, pretest-posttest design was implemented with the class as the unit of analysis. Several of the instruments were adopted from existing CAI…

  13. [Generalization of money-handling though training in equivalence relationships].

    PubMed

    Vives-Montero, Carmen; Valero-Aguayo, Luis; Ascanio, Lourdes

    2011-02-01

    This research used a matching-to-sample procedure and equivalence learning process with language and verbal tasks. In the study, an application of the equivalence relationship of money was used with several kinds of euro coins presented. The sample consisted of 16 children (8 in the experimental group and 8 in the control group) aged 5 years. The prerequisite behaviors, the identification of coins and the practical use of different euro coins, were assessed in the pre and post phases for both groups. The children in the experimental group performed an equivalence task using the matching-to-sample procedure. This consisted of a stimulus sample and four matching stimuli, using a series of euro coins with equivalent value in each set. The children in the control group did not undergo this training process. The results showed a large variability in the children's data of the equivalence tests. The experimental group showed the greatest pre and post changes in the statistically significant data. They also showed a greater generalization in the identification of money and in the use of euro coins than the control group. The implications for educational training and the characteristics of the procedure used here for coin equivalence are discussed.

  14. Unblocking brainstorms.

    PubMed

    Gallupe, R B; Bastianutti, L M; Cooper, W H

    1991-02-01

    Brainstorming groups have consistently produced fewer ideas than have the equivalent number of individuals working by themselves. These results have been attributed to social loafing, evaluation apprehension, and production blocking in groups. In this study, a new brainstorming technique--electronic brainstorming--that may reduce both production blocking and evaluation apprehension was assessed. Electronic and nonelectronic groups and nominal and interacting groups were compared in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Electronic groups were more productive than nonelectronic groups, but the productivity of nominal and interacting groups did not differ. In contrast, interacting groups felt better about the idea-generation process than did nominal groups. Ways in which electronic brainstorming can reopen a long dormant area of research and application are discussed.

  15. All About the Grains Group

    MedlinePlus

    ... years old 4-8 years old 3 ounce equivalents 5 ounce equivalents 1 ½ ounce equivalents 2 ½ ounce equivalents Girls 9-13 years old 14-18 years old 5 ounce equivalents 6 ounce equivalents 3 ounce equivalents 3 ounce ...

  16. Self-designed femoral neck guide pin locator for femoral neck fractures.

    PubMed

    Xia, Shengli; Wang, Ziping; Wang, Minghui; Wu, Zuming; Wang, Xiuhui

    2014-01-01

    Closed reduction and fixation with 3 cannulated screws is a widely accepted surgery for the treatment of femoral neck fractures. However, how to obtain optimal screw placement remains unclear. In the current study, the authors designed a guide pin positioning system for femoral neck fracture cannulated screw fixation and examined its application value by comparing it with freehand guide needle positioning and with general guide pin locator positioning provided by equipment manufacturers. The screw reset rate, screw parallelism, triangle area formed by the link line of the entry point of 3 guide pins, and maximum vertical load bearing of the femoral neck after internal fixation were recorded. As expected, the triangle area was largest in the self-designed positioning group, followed by the general positioning group and the freehand positioning group. The difference among the 3 groups was statistically significant (P<.05). Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs showed that the screws were more parallel in the self-designed positioning group and general positioning group compared with the freehand positioning group (P<.05). The screw reset rate in the self-designed positioning group was significantly lower than that in the general positioning group and the freehand positioning group (P<.05). Maximum bearing load among the 3 groups was equivalent, showing no statistically significant difference (P>.05). The authors’ self-designed guide pin positioning system has the potential to accurately insert cannulated screws in femoral neck fractures and may reduce bone loss and unnecessary radiation.

  17. Assessing the equivalence of Web-based and paper-and-pencil questionnaires using differential item and test functioning (DIF and DTF) analysis: a case of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ).

    PubMed

    Terluin, Berend; Brouwers, Evelien P M; Marchand, Miquelle A G; de Vet, Henrica C W

    2018-05-01

    Many paper-and-pencil (P&P) questionnaires have been migrated to electronic platforms. Differential item and test functioning (DIF and DTF) analysis constitutes a superior research design to assess measurement equivalence across modes of administration. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate an item response theory (IRT)-based DIF and DTF analysis to assess the measurement equivalence of a Web-based version and the original P&P format of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ), measuring distress, depression, anxiety, and somatization. The P&P group (n = 2031) and the Web group (n = 958) consisted of primary care psychology clients. Unidimensionality and local independence of the 4DSQ scales were examined using IRT and Yen's Q3. Bifactor modeling was used to assess the scales' essential unidimensionality. Measurement equivalence was assessed using IRT-based DIF analysis using a 3-stage approach: linking on the latent mean and variance, selection of anchor items, and DIF testing using the Wald test. DTF was evaluated by comparing expected scale scores as a function of the latent trait. The 4DSQ scales proved to be essentially unidimensional in both modalities. Five items, belonging to the distress and somatization scales, displayed small amounts of DIF. DTF analysis revealed that the impact of DIF on the scale level was negligible. IRT-based DIF and DTF analysis is demonstrated as a way to assess the equivalence of Web-based and P&P questionnaire modalities. Data obtained with the Web-based 4DSQ are equivalent to data obtained with the P&P version.

  18. Pain questionnaire development focusing on cross-cultural equivalence to the original questionnaire: the Japanese version of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire.

    PubMed

    Arimura, Tatsuyuki; Hosoi, Masako; Tsukiyama, Yoshihiro; Yoshida, Toshiyuki; Fujiwara, Daiki; Tanaka, Masanori; Tamura, Ryuichi; Nakashima, Yasunori; Sudo, Nobuyuki; Kubo, Chiharu

    2012-04-01

    The present study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ-J) that focuses on cross-culturally equivalence to the original English version and to test its reliability and validity. Cross-sectional design. In study 1, SF-MPQ was translated and adapted into Japanese. It included construction of response scales equivalent to the original using a variation of the Thurstone method of equal-appearing intervals. A total of 147 undergraduate students and 44 pain patients participated in the development of the Japanese response scales. To measure the equivalence of pain descriptors, 62 pain patients in four diagnostic groups were asked to choose pain descriptors that described their pain. In study 2, chronic pain patients (N=126) completed the SF-MPQ-J, the Long-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire Japanese version (LF-MPQ-J), and the 11-point numerical rating scale of pain intensity. Correlation analysis examined the construct validity of the SF-MPQ-J. The results from study 1 were used to develop SF-MPQ-J, which is linguistically equivalent to the original questionnaire. Response scales from SF-MPQ-J represented the original scale values. All pain descriptors, except one, were used by >33% in at least one of the four diagnostic groups. Study 2 exhibited adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability, with the construct validity of SF-MPQ-J comparable to the original. These findings suggested that SF-MPQ-J is reliable, valid, and cross-culturally equivalent to the original questionnaire. Researchers might consider using this scale in multicenter, multi-ethnical trials or cross-cultural studies that include Japanese-speaking patients. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  19. Using a Non-Equivalent Groups Quasi Experimental Design to Reduce Internal Validity Threats to Claims Made by Math and Science K-12 Teacher Recruitment Programs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moin, Laura

    2009-10-01

    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act national policy established in 2009 calls for ``meaningful data'' that demonstrate educational improvements, including the recruitment of high-quality teachers. The scant data available and the low credibility of many K-12 math/science teacher recruitment program evaluations remain the major barriers for the identification of effective recruitment strategies. Our study presents a methodology to better evaluate the impact of recruitment programs on increasing participants' interest in teaching careers. The research capitalizes on the use of several control groups and presents a non-equivalent groups quasi-experimental evaluation design that produces program effect claims with higher internal validity than claims generated by current program evaluations. With this method that compares responses to a teaching career interest question from undergraduates all along a continuum from just attending an information session to participating (or not) in the recruitment program, we were able to compare the effect of the program in increasing participants' interest in teaching careers versus the evolution of the same interest but in the absence of the program. We were also able to make suggestions for program improvement and further research. While our findings may not apply to other K-12 math/science teacher recruitment programs, we believe that our evaluation methodology does and will contribute to conduct stronger program evaluations. In so doing, our evaluation procedure may inform recruitment program designers and policy makers.

  20. Theoretical Analysis and Design of Ultrathin Broadband Optically Transparent Microwave Metamaterial Absorbers

    PubMed Central

    Deng, Ruixiang; Li, Meiling; Muneer, Badar; Zhu, Qi; Shi, Zaiying; Song, Lixin; Zhang, Tao

    2018-01-01

    Optically Transparent Microwave Metamaterial Absorber (OTMMA) is of significant use in both civil and military field. In this paper, equivalent circuit model is adopted as springboard to navigate the design of OTMMA. The physical model and absorption mechanisms of ideal lightweight ultrathin OTMMA are comprehensively researched. Both the theoretical value of equivalent resistance and the quantitative relation between the equivalent inductance and equivalent capacitance are derived for design. Frequency-dependent characteristics of theoretical equivalent resistance are also investigated. Based on these theoretical works, an effective and controllable design approach is proposed. To validate the approach, a wideband OTMMA is designed, fabricated, analyzed and tested. The results reveal that high absorption more than 90% can be achieved in the whole 6~18 GHz band. The fabricated OTMMA also has an optical transparency up to 78% at 600 nm and is much thinner and lighter than its counterparts. PMID:29324686

  1. Theoretical Analysis and Design of Ultrathin Broadband Optically Transparent Microwave Metamaterial Absorbers.

    PubMed

    Deng, Ruixiang; Li, Meiling; Muneer, Badar; Zhu, Qi; Shi, Zaiying; Song, Lixin; Zhang, Tao

    2018-01-11

    Optically Transparent Microwave Metamaterial Absorber (OTMMA) is of significant use in both civil and military field. In this paper, equivalent circuit model is adopted as springboard to navigate the design of OTMMA. The physical model and absorption mechanisms of ideal lightweight ultrathin OTMMA are comprehensively researched. Both the theoretical value of equivalent resistance and the quantitative relation between the equivalent inductance and equivalent capacitance are derived for design. Frequency-dependent characteristics of theoretical equivalent resistance are also investigated. Based on these theoretical works, an effective and controllable design approach is proposed. To validate the approach, a wideband OTMMA is designed, fabricated, analyzed and tested. The results reveal that high absorption more than 90% can be achieved in the whole 6~18 GHz band. The fabricated OTMMA also has an optical transparency up to 78% at 600 nm and is much thinner and lighter than its counterparts.

  2. An Evaluation of Statistical Strategies for Making Equating Function Selections. Research Report. ETS RR-08-60

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Moses, Tim

    2008-01-01

    Nine statistical strategies for selecting equating functions in an equivalent groups design were evaluated. The strategies of interest were likelihood ratio chi-square tests, regression tests, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, and significance tests for equated score differences. The most accurate strategies in the study were the likelihood ratio tests…

  3. Lecture and Workshop Modes Comparison on Rangeland Developments: The Case of Iran

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Shahvali, M.; Poursaeed, A.; Sharifzadeh, M.

    2009-01-01

    This study investigated the effects of workshop and lecture methods on pastoralists' learning in Ilam Province, west of Iran. A quasi-experimental research method and non-equivalent control group design was used. Sixty pastoralists participated in this study. An open-ended questionnaire was used as the instrument of the study and found to have…

  4. Promoting Social and Emotional Learning in Second Grade Students: A Study of the "Strong Start" Curriculum

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Caldarella, Paul; Christensen, Lynnette; Kramer, Thomas J.; Kronmiller, Kalli

    2009-01-01

    The promotion of social and emotional learning (SEL) in schools may help prevent emotional and behavioral problems of students. This study evaluated the effects of a SEL curriculum, "Strong Start," on the social-emotional competence of 26 second grade students, using a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group design. Results revealed…

  5. Investigations of Students' Motivation Towards Learning Secondary School Physics through Mastery Learning Approach

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Changeiywo, Johnson M.; Wambugu, P. W.; Wachanga, S. W.

    2011-01-01

    Teaching method is a major factor that affects students' motivation to learn physics. This study investigated the effects of using mastery learning approach (MLA) on secondary school students' motivation to learn physics. Solomon four non-equivalent control group design under the quasi-experimental research method was used in which a random sample…

  6. Effects of Ethnoscience Instruction, School Location, and Parental Educational Status on Learners' Attitude towards Science

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fasasi, Rasheed Adekunle

    2017-01-01

    This study investigated the effect of Ethnoscience instruction and moderating effects of school location and parental educational status on students' attitude to science. It employed pretest-posttest, non-equivalent control group quasiexperimental design. Participants were 352 Junior Secondary School 1 (aged 9-12 years) students from two schools,…

  7. Does a Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Program Work in a School Setting? Evaluating Training Outcome and Moderators of Effectiveness

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tompkins, Tanya L.; Witt, Jody; Abraibesh, Nadia

    2009-01-01

    The current study sought to evaluate the suicide prevention gatekeeper training program QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) among school personnel using a non-equivalent control group design. Substantial gains were demonstrated from pre- to post-test for attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs regarding suicide and suicide prevention. Exploratory…

  8. Debate Instruction in EFL Classroom: Impacts on the Critical Thinking and Speaking Skill

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Iman, Jaya Nur

    2017-01-01

    The research was aimed to find out whether or not using debate significantly improved the students' critical thinking and speaking skill achievements and how much debate contributed to each aspect of critical thinking and speaking skill. A quasi-experimental study of non-equivalent pretest- posttest control group design was used in this research.…

  9. Effects of Mastery Learning Approach on Secondary School Students' Physics Achievement

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wambugu, Patriciah W.; Changeiywo, Johnson M.

    2008-01-01

    This study aimed at finding out the effects of Mastery Learning Approach (MLA) on students' achievement in Physics. The study was Quasi-experimental and Solomon Four Non-equivalent Control Group Design was used. The target population comprised of secondary school students in Kieni East Division of Nyeri District. The accessible population was Form…

  10. The Effects of Microblogging on Middle School Students' Engagement and Critical Thinking

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Singleton, Sondra Shively

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of microblogging as an authentic real-world technology in a middle school classroom in response to the 2010 Department of Education's call to provide students with more relevant digital experiences. The non-equivalent control group, pretest-posttest design study was used to determine if…

  11. Applying Computer-Assisted Musical Instruction to Music Appreciation Course: An Example with Chinese Musical Instruments

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lou, Shi-Jer; Guo, Yuan-Chang; Zhu, Yi-Zhen; Shih, Ru-Chu; Dzan, Wei-Yuan

    2011-01-01

    This study aims to explore the effectiveness of computer-assisted musical instruction (CAMI) in the Learning Chinese Musical Instruments (LCMI) course. The CAMI software for Chinese musical instruments was developed and administered to 228 students in a vocational high school. A pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design with three…

  12. Effect of Problem-Based Learning on Senior Secondary School Students' Achievements in Further Mathematics

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fatade, Alfred Olufemi; Mogari, David; Arigbabu, Abayomi Adelaja

    2013-01-01

    The study investigated the effect of Problem-based learning (PBL) on senior secondary school students' achievements in Further Mathematics (FM) in Nigeria within the blueprint of pretest-post-test non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design. Intact classes were used and in all, 96 students participated in the study (42 in the…

  13. Promoting Social and Emotional Learning in Preschool Students: A Study of "Strong Start Pre-K"

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gunter, Leslie; Caldarella, Paul; Korth, Byran B.; Young, K. Richard

    2012-01-01

    The inclusion of social and emotional learning (SEL) curricula in preschools may help prevent emotional and behavioral problems. This study evaluated the effects of a SEL curriculum, "Strong Start Pre-K," on the social and emotional competence of 52 preschool students using a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group design. Teachers rated…

  14. Effects of Formative Assessment on Prospective Teachers' Achievement, Attitudes and Self-Regulation Skills

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kincal, Remzi Y.; Ozan, Ceyhun

    2018-01-01

    The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of formative assessment on prospective teachers' academic achievement, attitudes towards educational measurement and self-regulation skills. In the study, quasi-experimental design including non-equivalent pre-test and post-test control group. There are 40 prospective teachers in each one of the…

  15. Data Collection Design for Equivalent Groups Equating: Using a Matrix Stratification Framework for Mixed-Format Assessment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mbella, Kinge Keka

    2012-01-01

    Mixed-format assessments are increasingly being used in large scale standardized assessments to measure a continuum of skills ranging from basic recall to higher order thinking skills. These assessments are usually comprised of a combination of (a) multiple-choice items which can be efficiently scored, have stable psychometric properties, and…

  16. Effects of a Brief Interest Inventory Intervention on Career Decision Self-Efficacy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Isik, Erkan

    2014-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a brief interest inventory intervention on career decision self-efficacy in an undergraduate sample. A pretest-posttest equivalent group design compared students who completed an interest inventory and participated in two sessions of its interpretation, students who only completed an interest…

  17. Moving Teachers: Implementation of Transfer Incentives in Seven Districts. Executive Summary. NCEE 2012-4052

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Glazerman, Steven; Protik, Ali; Teh, Bing-ru; Bruch, Julie; Seftor, Neil

    2012-01-01

    This report describes the implementation and intermediate impacts of an intervention designed to provide incentives for a school district's highest-performing teachers to work in its lowest-achieving schools. The report is part of a larger study in which random assignment was used to form two equivalent groups of classrooms organized into teacher…

  18. Concurrent Correlates and Predictors of Reading and Spelling Achievement in Deaf and Hearing School Children

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kyle, Fiona E.; Harris, Margaret

    2006-01-01

    Seven-and eight-year-old deaf children and hearing children of equivalent reading age were presented with a number of tasks designed to assess reading, spelling, productive vocabulary, speechreading, phonological awareness, short-term memory, and nonverbal intelligence. The two groups were compared for similarities and differences in the levels of…

  19. The Effect of Explicit Embedded Reflective Instruction on Nature of Science Understandings in Advanced Science Students

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Koksal, Mustafa Serdar; Cakiroglu, Jale; Geban, Omer

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of explicit-embedded-reflective (EER) instruction in nature of science (NOS) understandings of ninth-grade advanced science students. This study was conducted with 71 students, who were divided into three groups, by using non-equivalent quasi-experimental design. In the treatment…

  20. New Results on the Linear Equating Methods for the Non-Equivalent-Groups Design

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    von Davier, Alina A.

    2008-01-01

    The two most common observed-score equating functions are the linear and equipercentile functions. These are often seen as different methods, but von Davier, Holland, and Thayer showed that any equipercentile equating function can be decomposed into linear and nonlinear parts. They emphasized the dominant role of the linear part of the nonlinear…

  1. Effect of Instructional Strategy on Critical Thinking and Content Knowledge: Using Problem-Based Learning in the Secondary Classroom

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Burris, Scott; Garton, Bryan L.

    2007-01-01

    The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of problem-based learning (PBL) on critical thinking ability and content knowledge among selected secondary agriculture students in Missouri. The study employed a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent comparison group design. The treatment consisted of two instructional strategies: problem-based…

  2. Unique Study Designs in Nephrology: N-of-1 Trials and Other Designs.

    PubMed

    Samuel, Joyce P; Bell, Cynthia S

    2016-11-01

    Alternatives to the traditional parallel-group trial design may be required to answer clinical questions in special populations, rare conditions, or with limited resources. N-of-1 trials are a unique trial design which can inform personalized evidence-based decisions for the patient when data from traditional clinical trials are lacking or not generalizable. A concise overview of factorial design, cluster randomization, adaptive designs, crossover studies, and n-of-1 trials will be provided along with pertinent examples in nephrology. The indication for analysis strategies such as equivalence and noninferiority trials will be discussed, as well as analytic pitfalls. Copyright © 2016 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. VatuximabTM: Optimizing Therapeutic Strategies for Prostate Cancer Based on Dynamic MR Tumor Oximetry

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-12-01

    Figure 19 Growth curves for H tumors with respect to bavituximab therapy. Growth curves for groups of control and bavituximab...a large tumor designated by green label received equivalent dose of control , antibody rituximab. 0.1 1 10 1 3 5 8 11 13 15 17 19 21 days...Figure 22 Growth curves for groups of treated AT1 tumors Purple * control untreated tumors; brown ● bavituximab at 2.5 mg/kg thrice weekly

  4. Depression in Aboriginal men in central Australia: adaptation of the Patient Health Questionnaire 9

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background While Indigenous Australians are believed to be at a high risk of psychological illness, few screening instruments have been designed to accurately measure this burden. Rather than simply transposing western labels of symptoms, this paper describes the process by which a screening tool for depression was specifically adapted for use across multiple Indigenous Australian communities. Method Potential depression screening instruments were identified and interrogated according to a set of pre-defined criteria. A structured process was then developed which relied on the expertise of five focus groups comprising of members from primary Indigenous language groups in central Australia. First, focus group participants were asked to review and select a screening measure for adaptation. Bi-lingual experts then translated and back translated the language within the selected measure. Focus group participants re-visited the difficult items, explored their meaning and identified potential ways to achieve equivalence of meaning. Results All five focus groups independently selected the Primary Health Questionnaire 9, several key conceptual differences were exposed, largely related to the construction of hopelessness. Together with translated versions of each instrument for each of the five languages, a single, simplified English version for use across heterogeneous settings was negotiated. Importantly, the ‘code’ and specific conceptually equivalent words that could be used for other Indigenous language groups were also developed. Conclusions The extensive process of adaptation used in this study has demonstrated that within the context of Indigenous Australian communities, across multiple language groups, where English is often a third or fourth language, conceptual and linguistic equivalence of psychological constructs can be negotiated. A validation study is now required to assess the adapted instrument’s potential for measuring the burden of disease across all Indigenous Australian populations. PMID:24139186

  5. Normative wideband reflectance, equivalent admittance at the tympanic membrane, and acoustic stapedius reflex threshold in adults

    PubMed Central

    Feeney, M. Patrick; Keefe, Douglas H.; Hunter, Lisa L.; Fitzpatrick, Denis F.; Garinis, Angela C.; Putterman, Daniel B.; McMillan, Garnett P.

    2016-01-01

    Objectives Wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) measures such as pressure reflectance, parameterized by absorbance and group delay, equivalent admittance at the tympanic membrane (TM), and acoustic stapedius reflex threshold (ASRT) describe middle-ear function across a wide frequency range, compared to traditional tests employing a single frequency. The objective of this study was to obtain normative data using these tests for a group of normal hearing adults and investigate test-retest reliability using a longitudinal design. Design A longitudinal prospective design was used to obtain normative test and retest data on clinical and WAI measures. Subjects were 13 males and 20 females (mean age = 25 y). Inclusion criteria included normal audiometry and clinical immittance. Subjects were tested on two separate visits approximately one month apart. Reflectance and equivalent admittance at the TM were measured from 0.25 to 8.0 kHz under three conditions: at ambient pressure in the ear canal and with pressure sweeps from positive to negative pressure (downswept) and negative to positive pressure (upswept). Equivalent admittance at the TM was calculated using admittance measurements at the probe tip which were adjusted using a model of sound transmission in the ear canal and acoustic estimates of ear-canal area and length. Wideband ASRTs were measured at tympanometric peak pressure (TPP) derived from the average TPP of downswept and upswept tympanograms. Descriptive statistics were obtained for all WAI responses, and wideband and clinical ASRTs were compared. Results Mean absorbance at ambient pressure and TPP demonstrated a broad band-pass pattern typical of previous studies. Test-retest differences were lower for absorbance at TPP for the downswept method compared to ambient pressure at frequencies between 1.0 and 1.26 kHz. Mean tympanometric peak-to-tail differences for absorbance were greatest around 1.0 to 2.0 kHz and similar for positive and negative tails. Mean group delay at ambient pressure and at TPP were greatest between 0.32 and 0.6 kHz at 200 to 300 μs, reduced at frequencies between 0.8 and 1.5 kHz, and increased above 1.5 kHz to around 150 μs. Mean equivalent admittance at the TM had a lower level for the ambient method than at TPP for both sweep directions below 1.2 kHz, but the difference between methods was only statistically significant for the comparison between the ambient method and TPP for the upswept tympanogram. Mean equivalent admittance phase was positive at all frequencies. Test-retest reliability of the equivalent admittance level ranged from 1 to 3 dB at frequencies below 1.0 kHz, but increased to 8 to 9 dB at higher frequencies. The mean wideband ASRT for an ipsilateral broadband noise activator was 12 dB lower than the clinical ASRT, but had poorer reliability. Conclusions Normative data for the WAI test battery revealed minor differences for results at ambient pressure compared to tympanometric methods at TPP for reflectance, group delay, and equivalent admittance level at the TM for subjects with middle-ear pressure within ±100 daPa. Test-retest reliability was better for absorbance at TPP for the downswept tympanogram compared to ambient pressure at frequencies around 1.0 kHz. Large peak-to-tail differences in absorbance combined with good reliability at frequencies between about 0.7 and 3.0 kHz suggest that this may be a sensitive frequency range for interpreting absorbance at TPP. The mean wideband ipsilateral ASRT was lower than the clinical ASRT, consistent with previous studies. Results are promising for the use of a wideband test battery to evaluate middle-ear function. PMID:28045835

  6. Antipsychotic dose equivalents and dose-years: a standardized method for comparing exposure to different drugs.

    PubMed

    Andreasen, Nancy C; Pressler, Marcus; Nopoulos, Peg; Miller, Del; Ho, Beng-Choon

    2010-02-01

    A standardized quantitative method for comparing dosages of different drugs is a useful tool for designing clinical trials and for examining the effects of long-term medication side effects such as tardive dyskinesia. Such a method requires establishing dose equivalents. An expert consensus group has published charts of equivalent doses for various antipsychotic medications for first- and second-generation medications. These charts were used in this study. Regression was used to compare each drug in the experts' charts to chlorpromazine and haloperidol and to create formulas for each relationship. The formulas were solved for chlorpromazine 100 mg and haloperidol 2 mg to derive new chlorpromazine and haloperidol equivalents. The formulas were incorporated into our definition of dose-years such that 100 mg/day of chlorpromazine equivalent or 2 mg/day of haloperidol equivalent taken for 1 year is equal to one dose-year. All comparisons to chlorpromazine and haloperidol were highly linear with R(2) values greater than .9. A power transformation further improved linearity. By deriving a unique formula that converts doses to chlorpromazine or haloperidol equivalents, we can compare otherwise dissimilar drugs. These equivalents can be multiplied by the time an individual has been on a given dose to derive a cumulative value measured in dose-years in the form of (chlorpromazine equivalent in mg) x (time on dose measured in years). After each dose has been converted to dose-years, the results can be summed to provide a cumulative quantitative measure of lifetime exposure. Copyright 2010 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. 40 CFR 53.11 - Cancellation of reference or equivalent method designation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 5 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Cancellation of reference or equivalent method designation. 53.11 Section 53.11 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) AMBIENT AIR MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS General...

  8. Quantum mechanics in noninertial reference frames: Violations of the nonrelativistic equivalence principle

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

    Klink, W.H.; Wickramasekara, S., E-mail: wickrama@grinnell.edu; Department of Physics, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA 50112

    2014-01-15

    In previous work we have developed a formulation of quantum mechanics in non-inertial reference frames. This formulation is grounded in a class of unitary cocycle representations of what we have called the Galilean line group, the generalization of the Galilei group that includes transformations amongst non-inertial reference frames. These representations show that in quantum mechanics, just as is the case in classical mechanics, the transformations to accelerating reference frames give rise to fictitious forces. A special feature of these previously constructed representations is that they all respect the non-relativistic equivalence principle, wherein the fictitious forces associated with linear acceleration canmore » equivalently be described by gravitational forces. In this paper we exhibit a large class of cocycle representations of the Galilean line group that violate the equivalence principle. Nevertheless the classical mechanics analogue of these cocycle representations all respect the equivalence principle. -- Highlights: •A formulation of Galilean quantum mechanics in non-inertial reference frames is given. •The key concept is the Galilean line group, an infinite dimensional group. •A large class of general cocycle representations of the Galilean line group is constructed. •These representations show violations of the equivalence principle at the quantum level. •At the classical limit, no violations of the equivalence principle are detected.« less

  9. Design and experimental verification of an equivalent forebody to produce disturbances equivalent to those of a forebody with flowing inlets

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Haynes, Davy A.; Miller, David S.; Klein, John R.; Louie, Check M.

    1988-01-01

    A method by which a simple equivalent faired body can be designed to replace a more complex body with flowing inlets has been demonstrated for supersonic flow. An analytically defined, geometrically simple faired inlet forebody has been designed using a linear potential code to generate flow perturbations equivalent to those produced by a much more complex forebody with inlets. An equivalent forebody wind-tunnel model was fabricated and a test was conducted in NASA Langley Research Center's Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. The test Mach number range was 1.60 to 2.16 for angles of attack of -4 to 16 deg. Test results indicate that, for the purposes considered here, the equivalent forebody simulates the original flowfield disturbances to an acceptable degree of accuracy.

  10. 40 CFR 53.8 - Designation of reference and equivalent methods.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 5 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Designation of reference and equivalent methods. 53.8 Section 53.8 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) AMBIENT AIR MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS General Provisions § 53.8...

  11. Effect of asthma management education program on stress and compliance of patients with allergic asthma to house dust mite.

    PubMed

    Yoo, Yang Sook; Cho, Ok Hee; Kim, Eun Sin; Jeong, Hye Sun

    2005-06-01

    This study was designed to examine the effect of asthma management education program applied to allergic asthma patients receiving immunotherapy due to house dust mite on their stress and compliance with health care regimens. A quasi experimental design with non-equivalent control group and non-synchronized design was used. The subjects of this study were 61 patients who were receiving immunotherapy at intervals of a week after their symptoms were diagnosed as house dust mite allergic asthma at the pulmonary department of a university hospital in Seoul. They were divided into an experimental group of 29 patients who received asthma management education and a control group of 32 patients. The asthma management education program was composed of group education (once) and reinforcement education (three times) with environmental therapy and immunotherapy to house dust mite. Stress significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to that in the control group. Compliance with health care regimens significantly increased in the experimental group compared to that in the control group. The results suggested that the asthma management education program is effective for the management of stress and the improvement of compliance in patients with allergic asthma to house dust mite.

  12. 7 CFR 1755.522 - RUS general specification for digital, stored program controlled central office equipment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ...) shall be detected and the equivalent of a carrier group alarm shall be executed in 2.5 ±0.5 seconds.../federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. (b) Reliability. (1) Quality control and... designed such that the expected individual line downtime does not exceed 30 minutes per year. This is the...

  13. The Effects of 5E Inquiry Learning Activities on Achievement and Attitude toward Chemistry

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sen, Senol; Oskay, Ozge Ozyalcin

    2017-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 5E inquiry learning activities on students' achievement, attitude toward chemistry. A non-equivalent control group design was used to the quasi-experimental research in this study. A total of 34 (8 males and 26 females) undergraduates in Turkey voluntarily participated in the study. The…

  14. Effects of Teaching Gardening on Science Students' Attitudes toward Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition in Jos South, Plateau State, Nigeria

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Charity, Dimlong; Ozoji, Bernadette Ebele; Osasebor, Florence Osaze; Ibn Umar, Suleiman

    2017-01-01

    This study investigated the effects of teaching gardening on science students' attitudes toward entrepreneurial skills acquisition in Jos South, Plateau State, Nigeria. The study employed the non-randomized pre-test post-test non-equivalent control group design. A sample of 75 senior secondary school students from two intact classes, randomly…

  15. The Use of Instructional Animations in a College Algebra Course: Can It Facilitate Learning of Concepts and Skill Development?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Serfaty de Markus, Alicia

    2018-01-01

    This quasi-treatment study, using a non-equivalent group design, explored how a set of animations related to various concepts in algebra impacted students' ability to learn as measured by changes in quiz and test scores. The concepts that were investigated were addition and subtraction of rational expressions, solving equations involving rational…

  16. The Effect of Cooperative Learning on Grade 12 Learners' Performance in Projectile Motions, South Africa

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kibirige, Israel; Lehong, Moyahabo Jeridah

    2016-01-01

    The study explored the effect of cooperative learning on Grade 12 learners' performance in projectile motions. A quasi-experimental research design with non-equivalent control group was used. Two schools were purposively selected from Maleboho Central circuit in South Africa based on their performance in Physical Sciences Grade 12 results of 2011.…

  17. Effects of Cooperative Concept Mapping Teaching Approach on Secondary School Students' Motivation in Biology in Gucha District, Kenya

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Keraro, Fred Nyabuti; Wachanga, Samuel W.; Orora, William

    2007-01-01

    This study investigated the effects of using the cooperative concept mapping (CCM) teaching approach on secondary school students' motivation in biology. A non equivalent control group design under the quasi-experimental research was used in which a random sample of four co-educational secondary schools was used. The four schools were randomly…

  18. Effects of Mathematical Vocabulary Instruction on Students' Achievement in Mathematics in Secondary Schools of Murang'a County, Kenya

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wanjiru, Benson; O-Connor, Miheso

    2015-01-01

    This article is based on a study whose main objective was to determine the effects of mathematical vocabulary instruction on students' achievement in Mathematics in Secondary schools in Murang'a County, Kenya. The study was a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design and was conducted in the two purposively selected…

  19. The Comparative Effects of Prediction/Discussion-Based Learning Cycle, Conceptual Change Text, and Traditional Instructions on Student Understanding of Genetics

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yilmaz, Diba; Tekkaya, Ceren; Sungur, Semra

    2011-01-01

    The present study examined the comparative effects of a prediction/discussion-based learning cycle, conceptual change text (CCT), and traditional instructions on students' understanding of genetics concepts. A quasi-experimental research design of the pre-test-post-test non-equivalent control group was adopted. The three intact classes, taught by…

  20. Effects of Prior Knowledge of Topics and the Instructional Objectives on Students' Achievement in Literature-in-English

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mbah, Blessing Akaraka

    2015-01-01

    This study investigated the effects of prior knowledge of topics with their instructional objectives on senior secondary school class two (SS II) students. The study was carried out in Abakaliki Education Zone of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The design of the study is quasi experimental of pretest-posttest of non-equivalent control group. Two research…

  1. Effects of a Target-Task Problem-Solving Model on Senior Secondary School Students' Performance in Physics

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Olaniyan, A. O.; Omosewo, E. O.

    2015-01-01

    The study investigated the Effects of a Target-Task Problem-Solving Model on Senior Secondary School Students' Performance in Physics. The research design was a quasi-experimental, non-randomized, non-equivalent pretest, post-test using a control group. The study was conducted in two schools purposively selected and involved a total of 120 Senior…

  2. The Impact of Classroom Performance System-Based Instruction with Peer Instruction upon Student Achievement and Motivation in Eighth Grade Math Students

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Allison, Tracy Michelle Hunter

    2012-01-01

    The researcher employed two designs to address the research question for this particular study. This quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group study compared the math achievement of 92 eighth grade students who received Classroom Performance System (CPS)-based instruction using Peer Instruction (PI) to 76 eighth grade students who received…

  3. The Impact of Using Music on Teaching English Poetry in Jordanian Universities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hijazi, Dima; Al-natour, Amal

    2012-01-01

    The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of using music on teaching English Poetry in Jordanian universities on students' performance. The researchers followed the equivalent pre/post T test two group designs. To achieve the aim of the study, a pre/post-test was constructed to measure students' performance in English poetry. The…

  4. A Unified Approach to IRT Scale Linking and Scale Transformations. Research Report. RR-04-09

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    von Davier, Matthias; von Davier, Alina A.

    2004-01-01

    This paper examines item response theory (IRT) scale transformations and IRT scale linking methods used in the Non-Equivalent Groups with Anchor Test (NEAT) design to equate two tests, X and Y. It proposes a unifying approach to the commonly used IRT linking methods: mean-mean, mean-var linking, concurrent calibration, Stocking and Lord and…

  5. MEMS 3-DoF gyroscope design, modeling and simulation through equivalent circuit lumped parameter model

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

    Mian, Muhammad Umer, E-mail: umermian@gmail.com; Khir, M. H. Md.; Tang, T. B.

    Pre-fabrication, behavioural and performance analysis with computer aided design (CAD) tools is a common and fabrication cost effective practice. In light of this we present a simulation methodology for a dual-mass oscillator based 3 Degree of Freedom (3-DoF) MEMS gyroscope. 3-DoF Gyroscope is modeled through lumped parameter models using equivalent circuit elements. These equivalent circuits consist of elementary components which are counterpart of their respective mechanical components, used to design and fabricate 3-DoF MEMS gyroscope. Complete designing of equivalent circuit model, mathematical modeling and simulation are being presented in this paper. Behaviors of the equivalent lumped models derived for themore » proposed device design are simulated in MEMSPRO T-SPICE software. Simulations are carried out with the design specifications following design rules of the MetalMUMPS fabrication process. Drive mass resonant frequencies simulated by this technique are 1.59 kHz and 2.05 kHz respectively, which are close to the resonant frequencies found by the analytical formulation of the gyroscope. The lumped equivalent circuit modeling technique proved to be a time efficient modeling technique for the analysis of complex MEMS devices like 3-DoF gyroscopes. The technique proves to be an alternative approach to the complex and time consuming couple field analysis Finite Element Analysis (FEA) previously used.« less

  6. Farmworkers at the border: a bilingual initiative for occupational health and safety.

    PubMed

    Acosta, Martha Soledad Vela; Sechrest, Lee; Chen, Mei-Kuang

    2009-01-01

    Bilingual and bicultural occupational health and safety interventions for Hispanic farmworkers are extremely rare and, because of language barriers and cultural differences, issues important to their health and safety on the job remain unaddressed. We designed, conducted, and assessed the first bilingual occupational health and safety education program for farmworkers attending High School Equivalency Programs (HEPs). We took an interdisciplinary participatory approach by integrating educators and researchers with a community advisory board to guide development, evaluation, and implementation of Work Safely-Trabaje con Cuidado Curriculum (Curriculum), a bilingual occupational health and safety curriculum. We created a quasi-experimental design using mixed-method evaluation (quantitative and qualitative elements) via pre- and posttest comparisons, follow-up surveys, and focus groups assessing the Curriculum effect on knowledge, safety risk perception (SRP), and safety behavior. Focus groups and follow-up surveys reflected success and acceptance of the Curriculum among participating farmworkers under the study's logic model. Completion of the Curriculum resulted in statistically significant improvements in the combined score of knowledge and SRP at the posttest (p = 0.001) and follow-up survey (p = 0.02) in the intervention group. After completing this study, the Curriculum was permanently adopted by the two high school equivalency sites involved. The participatory approach resulted in integration of community and applied research partnership. The potential to expand use of this Curriculum by other HEP sites can further assess effectiveness and external validity among underserved minority groups.

  7. The presence of anti-thyroglobulin (TgAb) and/or anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAb) does not exclude the diagnosis of type 2 amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis.

    PubMed

    Tomisti, L; Urbani, C; Rossi, G; Latrofa, F; Sardella, C; Manetti, L; Lupi, I; Marcocci, C; Bartalena, L; Curzio, O; Martino, E; Bogazzi, F

    2016-05-01

    It is widely accepted that type 2 amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) generally occurs in patients with a normal thyroid gland without signs of thyroid autoimmunity. However, it is currently unknown if the presence of anti-thyroglobulin (TgAb) and/or anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAb) in AIT patients without other signs of an underlying thyroid disease may impair the response to glucocorticoid therapy. We performed a pilot retrospective cohort study with matched-subject design and an equivalence hypothesis, comparing the response to glucocorticoid therapy between 20 AIT patients with a normal thyroid gland, low radioiodine uptake, undetectable TSH receptor antibodies and positive TgAb and/or TPOAb (Ab+ group), and 40 patients with the same features and absent thyroid antibodies (Ab- group). The mean cure time was 54 ± 68 days in the Ab+ group and 55 ± 49 days in the Ab- group (p = 0.63). The equivalence test revealed an equivalent cure rate after 60, 90 and 180 days (p = 0.67, 0.88 and 0.278, respectively). The occurrence of permanent hypothyroidism was higher in the Ab+ group than in the Ab- group (26.3 vs 5.13 %, p = 0.032). The presence of TgAb and/or TPOAb does not affect the response to glucocorticoid therapy, suggesting that the patients with features of destructive form of AIT should be considered as having a type 2 AIT irrespective of the presence of TGAb or TPOAb. These patients have a higher risk of developing hypothyroidism after the resolution of thyrotoxicosis and should be monitored accordingly.

  8. Measurement equivalence: A non-technical primer on categorical multi-group confirmatory factor analysis in school psychology.

    PubMed

    Pendergast, Laura L; von der Embse, Nathaniel; Kilgus, Stephen P; Eklund, Katie R

    2017-02-01

    Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) have become a central component of school psychology research and practice, but EBIs are dependent upon the availability and use of evidence-based assessments (EBAs) with diverse student populations. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) is an analytical tool that can be used to examine the validity and measurement equivalence/invariance of scores across diverse groups. The objective of this article is to provide a conceptual and procedural overview of categorical MG-CFA, as well as an illustrated example based on data from the Social and Academic Behavior Risk Screener (SABRS) - a tool designed for use in school-based interventions. This article serves as a non-technical primer on the topic of MG-CFA with ordinal (rating scale) data and does so through the framework of examining equivalence of measures used for EBIs within multi-tiered models - an understudied topic. To go along with the illustrated example, we have provided supplementary files that include sample data, Mplus input code, and an annotated guide for understanding the input code (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2016.11.002). Data needed to reproduce analyses in this article are available as supplemental materials (online only) in the Appendix of this article. Copyright © 2016 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Baseline Equivalence. WWC Standards Brief

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    What Works Clearinghouse, 2017

    2017-01-01

    The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) uses the term "baseline equivalence" when determining if the intervention group (those that received the intervention of interest) and the comparison group (those that did not receive the intervention) had characteristics that were similar enough ("equivalent") at the start of the study (at…

  10. [Effectiveness of a self-management program using goal setting based on a G-AP for patients after a stroke].

    PubMed

    Park, Min Gyeong; Ha, Yeongmi

    2014-10-01

    This study was conducted to develop a self-management program using goal setting for patients after a stroke. The program was based on a theory-based Goal setting and Action Planning framework (G-AP), and the effectiveness of the program was examined. A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The experimental group (n=30) received the self-management program using goal setting based on the G-AP over 7 weeks. The education was delivered individually with a specifically designed stroke workbook. The control group (n=30) received only patient information leaflets about stroke. There were significant differences between the two groups. Stroke knowledge, self-efficacy, and health behavior compliance were significantly higher (all p<.001), and hospital anxiety (p<.001) and depression (p<.001) were significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group. This self-management program using goal setting based on a G-AP was found to be useful and beneficial for patients in stroke rehabilitation settings.

  11. The role of analogy-guided learning experiences in enhancing students' clinical decision-making skills.

    PubMed

    Edelen, Bonnie Gilbert; Bell, Alexandra Alice

    2011-08-01

    The purpose of this study was to address the need for effective educational interventions to promote students' clinical decision making (CDM) within clinical practice environments. Researchers used a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent groups, posttest-only design to assess differences in CDM ability between intervention group students who participated in analogy-guided learning activities and control group students who participated in traditional activities. For the intervention, analogy-guided learning activities were incorporated into weekly group discussions, reflective journal writing, and questioning with clinical faculty. The researcher-designed Assessment of Clinical Decision Making Rubric was used to assess indicators of CDM ability in all students' reflective journal entries. Results indicated that the intervention group demonstrated significantly higher levels of CDM ability in their journals compared with the control group (ES(sm) = 0.52). Recommendations provide nurse educators with strategies to maximize students' development of CDM ability, better preparing students for the demands they face when they enter the profession. Copyright 2011, SLACK Incorporated.

  12. 10 CFR 20.1003 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... assessment of dose equivalent by the use of devices designed to be worn by an individual; (2) The assessment... equipment) means devices designed to be worn by a single individual for the assessment of dose equivalent... radionuclide in a year by the reference man that would result in a committed effective dose equivalent of 5...

  13. 10 CFR 20.1003 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... assessment of dose equivalent by the use of devices designed to be worn by an individual; (2) The assessment... equipment) means devices designed to be worn by a single individual for the assessment of dose equivalent... radionuclide in a year by the reference man that would result in a committed effective dose equivalent of 5...

  14. 10 CFR 20.1003 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... assessment of dose equivalent by the use of devices designed to be worn by an individual; (2) The assessment... equipment) means devices designed to be worn by a single individual for the assessment of dose equivalent... radionuclide in a year by the reference man that would result in a committed effective dose equivalent of 5...

  15. 10 CFR 20.1003 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... assessment of dose equivalent by the use of devices designed to be worn by an individual; (2) The assessment... equipment) means devices designed to be worn by a single individual for the assessment of dose equivalent... radionuclide in a year by the reference man that would result in a committed effective dose equivalent of 5...

  16. 10 CFR 20.1003 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... assessment of dose equivalent by the use of devices designed to be worn by an individual; (2) The assessment... equipment) means devices designed to be worn by a single individual for the assessment of dose equivalent... radionuclide in a year by the reference man that would result in a committed effective dose equivalent of 5...

  17. The use of instructional design guidelines to increase effectiveness of postpartum hemorrhage simulation training.

    PubMed

    de Melo, Brena C P; Falbo, Ana R; Muijtjens, Arno M M; van der Vleuten, Cees P M; van Merriënboer, Jeroen J G

    2017-04-01

    To compare learning outcomes of postpartum hemorrhage simulation training based on either instructional design guidelines or best practice. A pretest-post-test non-equivalent groups study was conducted among obstetrics and gynecology residents in Recife, Brazil, from June 8 to August 30, 2013. The instructional design group included 13 teams, whereas the best practice group included seven teams. A standardized task checklist was used for scenario analysis and the proportion of correctly executed tasks compared (post-test minus pretest). The instructional design group scored higher than the best practice group for total number of tasks completed (median difference 0.46 vs 0.17; P<0.001; effect size [r]=0.72). Similar results were observed for communication (median difference 0.56 vs 0.22; P=0.004; r=0.58), laboratory evaluation (median difference 0.83 vs 0.00; P<0.001; r=0.76), and mechanical management (median difference 0.25 vs -0.15; P=0.048; r=0.39). Speed of learning was also increased. The median differences were 0.20 for the instructional design group compared with 0.05 for the best practice group at 60 seconds (P=0.015; r=0.49), and 0.49 versus 0.26 (P=0.001; r=0.65) at 360 seconds. The use of simulation training for postpartum hemorrhage that was based on instructional design guidelines yielded better learning outcomes than did training based on best practice. © 2016 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

  18. A three-day anatomy revision course taught by senior peers effectively prepares junior students for their national anatomy exam.

    PubMed

    Rengier, Fabian; Rauch, Philipp Julian; Partovi, Sasan; Kirsch, Joachim; Nawrotzki, Ralph

    2010-12-20

    this study examines whether peer-teaching, in the setting of a three-day revision course in anatomy, is effective in preparing medical students for their national anatomy exam. the anatomy course was designed for candidates taking the first part of the German national medical exam. Increase of knowledge during the course was assessed by tests before and after the course (group A). To test equivalence, two control groups participated in the pre-test (group B) or in the course and in the post-test (group C). Participants anonymously rated 14 feedback items on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (full agreement) to 5 (full disagreement). group A students' performance improved significantly during the course with a mean increase of 7.15 points (11.9% improvement; p<0.001). Equivalence testing showed that performance of group A students in the pre-/post-tests was equal to those of group B pre-tests and group C post-tests, respectively. Agreement on the 14 feedback items was highly significant (p<0.001 for all items), with a global median of 1. this study shows that a three-day anatomy revision course is effective and highly appreciated by medical students in their preparation for the national exam. Moreover, peer-teaching is reliable at this stage of the medical curriculum. 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  19. Neurological complications of lumbar artificial disc replacement and comparison of clinical results with those related to lumbar arthrodesis in the literature: results of a multicenter, prospective, randomized investigational device exemption study of Charité intervertebral disc. Invited submission from the Joint Section Meeting on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2004.

    PubMed

    Geisler, Fred H; Blumenthal, Scott L; Guyer, Richard D; McAfee, Paul C; Regan, John J; Johnson, J Patrick; Mullin, Bradford

    2004-09-01

    Arthrodesis is the gold standard for surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD). Solid fusion, however, can cause stress and increased motion in the segments adjacent to the fused level. This may initiate and/or accelerate the adjacent-segment disease process. Artificial discs are designed to restore and maintain normal motion of the lumbar intervertebral segment. Restoring and maintaining normal motion of the segment reduces stresses and loads on adjacent level segments. A US Food and Drug Administration Investigational Device Exemptions multicentered study of the Charité artificial disc was completed. The control group consisted of individuals who underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusion involving BAK cages and iliac crest bone graft. This is the first report of Class I data in which a lumbar artificial disc is compared with lumbar fusion. Of 304 individuals enrolled in the study, 205 were randomized to the Charité disc-treated group and 99 to the BAK fusion-treated (control) group. Neurological status was equivalent between the two groups at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. The number of patients with major, minor, or other neurological complications was equivalent. There was a greater incidence of both major and minor complications in the BAK fusion group at 0 to 42 days postoperatively. Compared with data reported in the lumbar fusion literature, the Charité disc-treated patients had equivalent or better mean changes in visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores. The Charité artificial disc is safe and effective for the treatment of single-level lumbar DDD, resulting in no higher incidence of neurological complications compared with BAK-assisted fusion and leading to equivalent or better outcomes compared with those obtained in the control group and those reported in the lumbar fusion literature.

  20. Transportability of Equivalence-Based Programmed Instruction: Efficacy and Efficiency in a College Classroom

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fienup, Daniel M.; Critchfield, Thomas S.

    2011-01-01

    College students in a psychology research-methods course learned concepts related to inferential statistics and hypothesis decision making. One group received equivalence-based instruction on conditional discriminations that were expected to promote the emergence of many untaught, academically useful abilities (i.e., stimulus equivalence group). A…

  1. The Effect of Problem-Based Learning on Undergraduate Students' Learning about Solutions and Their Physical Properties and Scientific Processing Skills

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tosun, Cemal; Taskesenligil, Yavuz

    2013-01-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) on undergraduate students' learning about solutions and their physical properties, and on their scientific processing skills. The quasi experimental study was carried out through non-equivalent control and comparison groups pre-post test design. The data were…

  2. Impact of Face-to-Face Interaction in Meeting Needs of Adult Students Enrolled in Web-Based Nursing Courses

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Murabito, Sandra Womeldorf

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of this dissertation is to study the impact of student to faculty face-to-face interaction in meeting the needs of adult students enrolled in web-based nursing courses. The study compared adult and traditional nursing students enrolled in online courses. A non-equivalent control group research design was utilized to compare students…

  3. Instructional Strategies and Students' Academic Performance in Electrical Installation in Technical Colleges in Akwa Ibom State: Instructional Skills for Structuring Appropriate Learning Experiences for Students

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Onweh, Vincent E.; Akpan, Udeme Timothy

    2014-01-01

    The study investigated the effects of instructional strategies on students' academic performance in Electrical Installation in Technical Colleges in Akwa Ibom State. Instructional skills are the most specific category of teaching behaviours. A non-equivalent control group quasi experimental design was adopted for the study. Four intact classes…

  4. Assessment of the Effects of Problem Solving Instructional Strategies on Students' Achievement and Retention in Chemistry with Respect to Location in Rivers State

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nbina, Jacobson Barineka; Obomanu, B. Joseph

    2011-01-01

    We report a study focused on how problem-solving instructional strategies would affect students' achievement and retention in Chemistry with particular reference to River State. A pre-test, post-test, non-equivalent control group design was adopted. Two research questions and two hypotheses were respectively answered and tested. Purposive and…

  5. Comparative Effects of Concept Mapping and Cooperative Learning Strategies on Senior Secondary School Students' Achievement in Mathematics-Trigonometry in Kano State, Nigeria

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bot, Thomas D.; Eze, John E.

    2016-01-01

    This article presents the findings from an experimental study on the effectiveness of concept mapping and cooperative learning strategies on SSII students' achievement in trigonometry in mathematics. The research design used in conducting the study was quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test non-equivalent control group. The sample consisted of…

  6. MENTAL NURSING. LESSON PLANS PREPARED BY PRACTICAL NURSING INSTRUCTORS FOLLOWING JOINT CONFERENCE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tennessee State Board for Vocational Education, Murfreesboro. Vocational Curriculum Lab.

    THE LESSON PLANS FOR A UNIT ON MENTAL NURSING IN THE PRACTICAL NURSE EDUCATION PROGRAM WERE DEVELOPED BY A GROUP OF REGISTERED NURSES HOLDING TENNESSEE TEACHING CERTIFICATES. STUDENTS SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES OR EQUIVALENT. THE LESSONS DESIGNED FOR USE BY A REGISTERED NURSE CERTIFIED FOR TEACHING GIVE OBJECTIVES,…

  7. Combinational Optimal Stopping Problems

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-04-01

    such as final, technical, interim, memorandum, master’s thesis, progress, quarterly, research , special, group study, etc. 3. DATES COVERED...Vinel, A. and P. Krokhmal (2015) Certainty equivalent measures of risk, Annals of Operations Research , DOI:10.1007/s10479-015-1801-0. [3] Chernikov...Operations Research , 50(3):415–423, 2002. [16] I. Ljubi, P. Mutzel, and B. Zey. Stochastic survivable network design problems. Electronic Notes in Discrete

  8. Evaluating Equating Results in the Non-Equivalent Groups with Anchor Test Design Using Equipercentile and Equity Criteria

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Duong, Minh Quang

    2011-01-01

    Testing programs often use multiple test forms of the same test to control item exposure and to ensure test security. Although test forms are constructed to be as similar as possible, they often differ. Test equating techniques are those statistical methods used to adjust scores obtained on different test forms of the same test so that they are…

  9. An Evaluation of the Kernel Equating Method: A Special Study with Pseudotests Constructed from Real Test Data. Research Report. ETS RR-06-02

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    von Davier, Alina A.; Holland, Paul W.; Livingston, Samuel A.; Casabianca, Jodi; Grant, Mary C.; Martin, Kathleen

    2006-01-01

    This study examines how closely the kernel equating (KE) method (von Davier, Holland, & Thayer, 2004a) approximates the results of other observed-score equating methods--equipercentile and linear equatings. The study used pseudotests constructed of item responses from a real test to simulate three equating designs: an equivalent groups (EG)…

  10. A randomized trial of teaching clinical skills using virtual and live standardized patients.

    PubMed

    Triola, M; Feldman, H; Kalet, A L; Zabar, S; Kachur, E K; Gillespie, C; Anderson, M; Griesser, C; Lipkin, M

    2006-05-01

    We developed computer-based virtual patient (VP) cases to complement an interactive continuing medical education (CME) course that emphasizes skills practice using standardized patients (SP). Virtual patient simulations have the significant advantages of requiring fewer personnel and resources, being accessible at any time, and being highly standardized. Little is known about the educational effectiveness of these new resources. We conducted a randomized trial to assess the educational effectiveness of VPs and SPs in teaching clinical skills. To determine the effectiveness of VP cases when compared with live SP cases in improving clinical skills and knowledge. Randomized trial. Fifty-five health care providers (registered nurses 45%, physicians 15%, other provider types 40%) who attended a CME program. Participants were randomized to receive either 4 live cases (n=32) or 2 live and 2 virtual cases (n=23). Other aspects of the course were identical for both groups. Participants in both groups were equivalent with respect to pre-post workshop improvement in comfort level (P=.66) and preparedness to respond (P=.61), to screen (P=.79), and to care (P=.055) for patients using the skills taught. There was no difference in subjective ratings of effectiveness of the VPs and SPs by participants who experienced both (P=.79). Improvement in diagnostic abilities were equivalent in groups who experienced cases either live or virtually. Improvements in performance and diagnostic ability were equivalent between the groups and participants rated VP and SP cases equally. Including well-designed VPs has a potentially powerful and efficient place in clinical skills training for practicing health care workers.

  11. 10 CFR Appendix B to Part 73 - General Criteria for Security Personnel

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... or pass an equivalent performance examination designed to measure basic job-related mathematical... equivalent performance examination designed to measure basic mathematical, language, and reasoning skills... administered by a licensed physician. The examination shall be designed to measure the individual's physical...

  12. 76 FR 69693 - Tolerance Crop Grouping Program III

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-09

    ... under the authority of Canada's Pest Control Products (PCP) Act (2002), establish equivalent crop groups... superseded by a Group 14-11 tolerance, since the representative commodities are equivalent. When all crop... revisions would expand existing crop groups for stone fruits and tree nuts by establishing new crop...

  13. Weight concerns scale applied to college students: comparison between pencil-and-paper and online formats.

    PubMed

    Dias, Juliana Chioda Ribeiro; Maroco, João; Campos, Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini

    2015-03-01

    Online data collection is becoming increasingly common and has some advantages compared to traditional paper-and-pencil formats, such as reducing loss of data, increasing participants' privacy, and decreasing the effect of social desirability. However, the validity and reliability of this administration format must be established before results can be considered acceptable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity, reliability, and equivalence of paper-and-pencil and online versions of the Weight Concerns Scale (WCS) when applied to Brazilian university students. A crossover design was used, and the Portuguese version of the WCS (in both paper-and-pencil and online formats) was completed by 100 college students. The results indicated adequate fit in both formats. The simultaneous fit of data for both groups was excellent, with strong invariance between models. Adequate convergent validity, internal consistency, and mean score equivalence of the WCS in both formats were observed. Thus, the WCS presented adequate reliability and validity in both administration formats, with equivalence/stability between answers.

  14. Representation of numerical magnitude in math-anxious individuals.

    PubMed

    Colomé, Àngels

    2018-01-01

    Larger distance effects in high math-anxious individuals (HMA) performing comparison tasks have previously been interpreted as indicating less precise magnitude representation in this population. A recent study by Dietrich, Huber, Moeller, and Klein limited the effects of math anxiety to symbolic comparison, in which they found larger distance effects for HMA, despite equivalent size effects. However, the question of whether distance effects in symbolic comparison reflect the properties of the magnitude representation or decisional processes is currently under debate. This study was designed to further explore the relation between math anxiety and magnitude representation through three different tasks. HMA and low math-anxious individuals (LMA) performed a non-symbolic comparison, in which no group differences were found. Furthermore, we did not replicate previous findings in an Arabic digit comparison, in which HMA individuals showed equivalent distance effects to their LMA peers. Lastly, there were no group differences in a counting Stroop task. Altogether, an explanation of math anxiety differences in terms of less precise magnitude representation is not supported.

  15. Whole body vibration training--improving balance control and muscle endurance.

    PubMed

    Ritzmann, Ramona; Kramer, Andreas; Bernhardt, Sascha; Gollhofer, Albert

    2014-01-01

    Exercise combined with whole body vibration (WBV) is becoming increasingly popular, although additional effects of WBV in comparison to conventional exercises are still discussed controversially in literature. Heterogeneous findings are attributed to large differences in the training designs between WBV and "control" groups in regard to training volume, load and type. In order to separate the additional effects of WBV from the overall adaptations due to the intervention, in this study, a four-week WBV training setup was compared to a matched intervention program with identical training parameters in both training settings except for the exposure to WBV. In a repeated-measures matched-subject design, 38 participants were assigned to either the WBV group (VIB) or the equivalent training group (CON). Training duration, number of sets, rest periods and task-specific instructions were matched between the groups. Balance, jump height and local static muscle endurance were assessed before and after the training period. The statistical analysis revealed significant interaction effects of group×time for balance and local static muscle endurance (p<0.05). Hence, WBV caused an additional effect on balance control (pre vs. post VIB +13%, p<0.05 and CON +6%, p = 0.33) and local static muscle endurance (pre vs. post VIB +36%, p<0.05 and CON +11%, p = 0.49). The effect on jump height remained insignificant (pre vs. post VIB +3%, p = 0.25 and CON ±0%, p = 0.82). This study provides evidence for the additional effects of WBV above conventional exercise alone. As far as balance and muscle endurance of the lower leg are concerned, a training program that includes WBV can provide supplementary benefits in young and well-trained adults compared to an equivalent program that does not include WBV.

  16. Whole Body Vibration Training - Improving Balance Control and Muscle Endurance

    PubMed Central

    Ritzmann, Ramona; Kramer, Andreas; Bernhardt, Sascha; Gollhofer, Albert

    2014-01-01

    Exercise combined with whole body vibration (WBV) is becoming increasingly popular, although additional effects of WBV in comparison to conventional exercises are still discussed controversially in literature. Heterogeneous findings are attributed to large differences in the training designs between WBV and “control” groups in regard to training volume, load and type. In order to separate the additional effects of WBV from the overall adaptations due to the intervention, in this study, a four-week WBV training setup was compared to a matched intervention program with identical training parameters in both training settings except for the exposure to WBV. In a repeated-measures matched-subject design, 38 participants were assigned to either the WBV group (VIB) or the equivalent training group (CON). Training duration, number of sets, rest periods and task-specific instructions were matched between the groups. Balance, jump height and local static muscle endurance were assessed before and after the training period. The statistical analysis revealed significant interaction effects of group×time for balance and local static muscle endurance (p<0.05). Hence, WBV caused an additional effect on balance control (pre vs. post VIB +13%, p<0.05 and CON +6%, p = 0.33) and local static muscle endurance (pre vs. post VIB +36%, p<0.05 and CON +11%, p = 0.49). The effect on jump height remained insignificant (pre vs. post VIB +3%, p = 0.25 and CON ±0%, p = 0.82). This study provides evidence for the additional effects of WBV above conventional exercise alone. As far as balance and muscle endurance of the lower leg are concerned, a training program that includes WBV can provide supplementary benefits in young and well-trained adults compared to an equivalent program that does not include WBV. PMID:24587114

  17. Effect of Instruction in Emotional Intelligence Skills on Locus of Control and Academic Self-Efficacy among Junior Secondary School Students in Niger State, Nigeria

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Umaru, Yunusa; Umma, Abdulwahid

    2015-01-01

    This study investigated the effect of instruction in emotional intelligence Skills on locus of control and academic self-efficacy among junior secondary school students in Niger state, Nigeria. This study employed a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group, pre-test - post-test design. The population of this study was 105,034 secondary…

  18. Using Empowering Processes to Create Empowered Outcomes through the Family Development Credential Program: An Empirical Study of Change in Human Service Workers

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hewitt, Nicole M.

    2010-01-01

    This study employed a quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design with pretest and posttest. Two waves of data were collected from a non-random sample of 180 human service professionals in Western and Central Pennsylvania using two research instruments: the Social Work Empowerment Scale and the Conditions of Work Effectiveness-II Scale.…

  19. Clinical Investigation Program, RCS MED-300 (RI).

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-10-01

    temperature/dry. Technical Approach: 1) Experimental desion: a post-test only, equivalent - group experimental design will be used in this study. Random...5650 * It. CONTROLLING OFFICE NAME AND ADDRESS 12. REPORT DATE Commander October 1984 Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center 1s. NUMBEROFPAGES...Fort Gordon, Georgia 30905-5650 210 14. MONITORING AGENCY NAME I ADORESS(11 different from Controlling Offce) IS. SECURITY CLASS. (of tAle MP*H

  20. Examining Equivalence of Concepts and Measures in Diverse Samples

    PubMed Central

    Choi, Yoonsun; Abbott, Robert D.; Catalano, Richard F.; Bliesner, Siri L.

    2012-01-01

    While there is growing awareness for the need to examine the etiology of problem behaviors across cultural, racial, socioeconomic, and gender groups, much research tends to assume that constructs are equivalent and that the measures developed within one group equally assess constructs across groups. The meaning of constructs, however, may differ across groups or, if similar in meaning, measures developed for a given construct in one particular group may not be assessing the same construct or may not be assessing the construct in the same manner in other groups. The aims of this paper were to demonstrate a process of testing several forms of equivalence including conceptual, functional, item, and scalar using different methods. Data were from the Cross-Cultural Families Project, a study examining factors that promote the healthy development and adjustment of children among immigrant Cambodian and Vietnamese families. The process described in this paper can be implemented in other prevention studies interested in diverse groups. Demonstrating equivalence of constructs and measures prior to group comparisons is necessary in order to lend support of our interpretation of issues such as ethnic group differences and similarities. PMID:16845592

  1. Oral and Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Are Equivalent at Reducing Blood Loss Following Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

    PubMed

    Kayupov, Erdan; Fillingham, Yale A; Okroj, Kamil; Plummer, Darren R; Moric, Mario; Gerlinger, Tad L; Della Valle, Craig J

    2017-03-01

    Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic that has been shown to reduce blood loss and the need for transfusions when administered intravenously in total hip arthroplasty. Oral formulations of the drug are available at a fraction of the cost of the intravenous preparation. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine if oral and intravenous formulations of tranexamic acid have equivalent blood-sparing properties. In this double-blinded trial, 89 patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty were randomized to receive 1.95 g of tranexamic acid orally 2 hours preoperatively or a 1-g tranexamic acid intravenous bolus in the operating room prior to incision; 6 patients were eventually excluded for protocol deviations, leaving 83 patients available for study. The primary outcome was the reduction of hemoglobin concentration. Power analysis determined that 28 patients were required in each group with a ±1.0 g/dL hemoglobin equivalence margin between groups with an alpha of 5% and a power of 80%. Equivalence analysis was performed with a two one-sided test (TOST) in which a p value of <0.05 indicated equivalence between treatments. Forty-three patients received intravenous tranexamic acid, and 40 patients received oral tranexamic acid. Patient demographic characteristics were similar between groups, suggesting successful randomization. The mean reduction of hemoglobin was similar between oral and intravenous groups (3.67 g/dL compared with 3.53 g/dL; p = 0.0008, equivalence). Similarly, the mean total blood loss was equivalent between oral and intravenous administration (1,339 mL compared with 1,301 mL; p = 0.034, equivalence). Three patients (7.5%) in the oral group and one patient (2.3%) in the intravenous group were transfused, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.35). None of the patients in either group experienced a thromboembolic event. Oral tranexamic acid provides equivalent reductions in blood loss in the setting of primary total hip arthroplasty, at a greatly reduced cost, compared with the intravenous formulation. Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

  2. Cross-Language Measurement Equivalence of Parenting Measures for use with Mexican American Populations

    PubMed Central

    Nair, Rajni L.; White, Rebecca M.B.; Knight, George P.; Roosa, Mark W.

    2009-01-01

    Increasing diversity among families in the United States often necessitates the translation of common measures into various languages. However, even when great care is taken during translations, empirical evaluations of measurement equivalence are necessary. The current study demonstrates the analytic techniques researchers should use to evaluate the measurement equivalence of translated measures. To this end we investigated the cross-language measurement equivalence of several common parenting measures in a sample of 749 Mexican American families. The item invariance results indicated similarity of factor structures across language groups for each of the parenting measures for both mothers and children. Construct validity tests indicated similar slope relations between each of the four parenting measures and the outcomes across the two language groups for both mothers and children. Equivalence in intercepts, however, was only achieved for some outcomes. These findings indicate that the use of these measures in both within group and between group analyses based on correlation/covariance structure is defensible, but researchers are cautioned against interpretations of mean level differences across these language groups. PMID:19803604

  3. Effects of a bereavement intervention program on depression and life satisfaction in middle aged widows in Korea.

    PubMed

    Yoo, Yang Sook; Kang, Hee Young

    2006-12-01

    This study was designed to examine the effects of a bereavement intervention program on levels of depression and life satisfaction in middle aged widows in Korea. A quasi-experimental design with non-equivalent control-group pretest-posttest was used. The subjects (control group, n = 10; intervention group, n = 17) were bereaved less than 6 months in G City and J Province, Korea. The bereavement intervention program consisted of Dan-jeon breathing, self-help group activities and a health examination. The experimental group attended 10 sessions of a bereavement intervention program. The control group had a health examination without the intervention program. For both groups, the level of depression and life satisfaction levels were measured before and after the experiment. The decrement of depression level in the experimental group was significantly greater than in the control group (p<.001). The increment in life satisfaction in the experimental group was significantly greater than in the control group (p<.001). The results suggested that the bereavement intervention program was effective in decreasing level of depression and in increasing the life satisfaction of widows. Accordingly, a bereavement intervention program can be applied as an intervention to help widows.

  4. 14 CFR 25.701 - Flap and slat interconnection.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... AIRCRAFT AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS: TRANSPORT CATEGORY AIRPLANES Design and Construction Control Systems § 25... equivalent means. (b) If a wing flap or slat interconnection or equivalent means is used, it must be designed... be designed for the loads imposed when the wing flaps or slats on one side are carrying the most...

  5. 14 CFR 25.701 - Flap and slat interconnection.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... AIRCRAFT AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS: TRANSPORT CATEGORY AIRPLANES Design and Construction Control Systems § 25... equivalent means. (b) If a wing flap or slat interconnection or equivalent means is used, it must be designed... be designed for the loads imposed when the wing flaps or slats on one side are carrying the most...

  6. 14 CFR 25.701 - Flap and slat interconnection.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... AIRCRAFT AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS: TRANSPORT CATEGORY AIRPLANES Design and Construction Control Systems § 25... equivalent means. (b) If a wing flap or slat interconnection or equivalent means is used, it must be designed... be designed for the loads imposed when the wing flaps or slats on one side are carrying the most...

  7. It Pays to Be Organized: Organizing Arithmetic Practice around Equivalent Values Facilitates Understanding of Math Equivalence

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    McNeil, Nicole M.; Chesney, Dana L.; Matthews, Percival G.; Fyfe, Emily R.; Petersen, Lori A.; Dunwiddie, April E.; Wheeler, Mary C.

    2012-01-01

    This experiment tested the hypothesis that organizing arithmetic fact practice by equivalent values facilitates children's understanding of math equivalence. Children (M age = 8 years 6 months, N = 104) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 practice conditions: (a) equivalent values, in which problems were grouped by equivalent sums (e.g., 3 + 4 = 7, 2…

  8. Measurement equivalence of the German Job Satisfaction Survey used in a multinational organization: implications of Schwartz's culture model.

    PubMed

    Liu, Cong; Borg, Ingwer; Spector, Paul E

    2004-12-01

    The authors tested measurement equivalence of the German Job Satisfaction Survey (GJSS) using structural equation modeling methodology. Employees from 18 countries and areas provided data on 5 job satisfaction facets. The effects of language and culture on measurement equivalence were examined. A cultural distance hypothesis, based on S. H. Schwartz's (1999) theory, was tested with 4 cultural groups: West Europe, English speaking, Latin America, and Far East. Findings indicated the robustness of the GJSS in terms of measurement equivalence across countries. The survey maintained high transportability across countries speaking the same language and countries sharing similar cultural backgrounds. Consistent with Schwartz's model, a cultural distance effect on scale transportability among scales used in maximally dissimilar cultures was detected. Scales used in the West Europe group showed greater equivalence to scales used in the English-speaking and Latin America groups than scales used in the Far East group. 2004 APA, all rights reserved

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

    Dong, Shang-Lung; Chu, Tieh-Chi; Lin, Yung-Chien

    Purpose: Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) slab is one of the mostly used phantoms for studying breast dosimetry in mammography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the equivalence between exposure factors acquired from PMMA slabs and patient cases of different age groups of Taiwanese women in mammography. Methods: This study included 3910 craniocaudal screen/film mammograms on Taiwanese women acquired on one mammographic unit. The tube loading, compressed breast thickness (CBT), compression force, tube voltage, and target/filter combination for each mammogram were collected for all patients. The glandularity and the equivalent thickness of PMMA were determined for each breast using the exposuremore » factors of the breast in combination with experimental measurements from breast-tissue-equivalent attenuation slabs. Equivalent thicknesses of PMMA to the breasts of Taiwanese women were then estimated. Results: The average {+-} standard deviation CBT and breast glandularity in this study were 4.2 {+-} 1.0 cm and 54% {+-} 23%, respectively. The average equivalent PMMA thickness was 4.0 {+-} 0.7 cm. PMMA slabs producing equivalent exposure factors as in the breasts of Taiwanese women were determined for the age groups 30-49 yr and 50-69 yr. For the 4-cm PMMA slab, the CBT and glandularity values of the equivalent breast were 4.1 cm and 65%, respectively, for the age group 30-49 yr and 4.4 cm and 44%, respectively, for the age group 50-69 yr. Conclusions: The average thickness of PMMA slabs producing the same exposure factors as observed in a large group of Taiwanese women is less than that reported for American women. The results from this study can provide useful information for determining a suitable thickness of PMMA for mammographic dose survey in Taiwan. The equivalence of PMMA slabs and the breasts of Taiwanese women is provided to allow average glandular dose assessment in clinical practice.« less

  10. Effect of Audiovisual Distraction on Distress and Oxygenation Status in Children Receiving Aerosol Therapy.

    PubMed

    Shinta Devi, Ni Luh Putu; Nurhaeni, Nani; Hayati, Happy

    Aerosol therapy, a treatment for children with disorders of the respiratory system, often causes distress, especially in young children. Distress during aerosol therapy can decrease the effectiveness of the treatment. This study aimed to determine the effect of audiovisual distraction on distress levels and oxygenation status (measured by oxygen saturation and respiratory frequency) in children who receive aerosol therapy for disorders of the respiratory system. A quasi-experimental design was employed, specifically a non-equivalent control group, pre-test-post-test design. The study sample consisted of 38 children who were divided into 2 groups (control and intervention), each group consisting of 19 children. The results of this study showed that there were significant differences in distress scores between the control group and the intervention group (p = .0001). There were also significant differences in the mean value changes in oxygenation status before and after intervention between the control and intervention groups. These findings could be used to prevent distress and increase oxygenation status in children who receive aerosol therapy.

  11. Mindfulness in the Maintenance of Cognitive Capacities in Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

    PubMed

    Quintana-Hernández, Domingo J; Miró-Barrachina, María T; Ibáñez-Fernández, Ignacio J; Pino, Angelo Santana-Del; Quintana-Montesdeoca, María P; Rodríguez-de Vera, Bienvenida; Morales-Casanova, David; Pérez-Vieitez, María Del Carmen; Rodríguez-García, Javier; Bravo-Caraduje, Noelia

    2016-01-01

    The Canary Islands longitudinal study on non-pharmacological treatments showed the overall effectiveness of mindfulness in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, no specific data on the maintenance of cognitive capacities were presented. To determine whether the practice of mindfulness modifies the course of cognitive impairment in AD. Longitudinal, non-inferiority and equivalence, randomized clinical trial, repeated-measures design, with three experimental groups and one control group. Patients with AD who voluntarily attended the Lidia García Foundation (n = 502). Only those who were treated with donepezil and MMSE ≥18 were included (n = 120). Over a two-year period, each group carried out three weekly sessions of stimulation based on mindfulness, cognitive stimulation therapy, and progressive muscle relaxation. Cognitive assessment CAMDEX-R (MMSE and CAMCOG). Repeated-measures ANOVA (p <  0.05) and the effect size Cohen's d were performed. The mindfulness group showed significant scores compared with the control and muscle relaxation groups (p <  0.05), while mindfulness and cognitive stimulation therapy were equivalent (p≥0.05). Group cognitive stimulation evolved better than the control (p <  0.05) group but not better than the muscle relaxation group (p≥0.05). The effect size compared over two years was large for the mindfulness group (p≥0.80), moderate for the relaxation group (p≥0.50), and low for the cognitive stimulation group (p≥0.20). The practice of mindfulness maintained cognitive function over a period of two years. This longitudinal study suggests that mindfulness can be used as a non-pharmacological treatment to slow cognitive impairment in AD.

  12. Press-fit versus threaded acetabular cups in total hip arthroplasty: Functional and radiological results after five years.

    PubMed

    Ellenrieder, Martin; Bader, Rainer; Bergschmidt, Philipp; Mittelmeier, Wolfram

    2016-03-01

    Prospectively the outcome after total hip replacement with a new threaded acetabular cup design was compared to an established press-fit cup. After 1, 2 and 5 years, the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index and Harris Hip Score revealed no significant differences between the two groups (each group: n=42 patients), except for a higher Harris Hip Score in the threaded cup group after five years (p=0.02). After five years, one threaded cup had a mild radiolucent line without further signs of loosening. All other cups of both groups (98.6%) showed a full osseous integration. The cup inclination angle ranged from 41-58° (threaded cups) to 39-77° (press-fit cups). The new threaded cup provides equivalent clinical outcomes and osseous integration but more precise implant positioning compared to the press-fit design. No complications typically ascribed to threaded cups (acetabular fractures, bone resorption, nerve impairment) occurred.

  13. The effectiveness of sexual offender treatment for juveniles as measured by recidivism: a meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Reitzel, Lorraine R; Carbonell, Joyce L

    2006-10-01

    Published and unpublished data from nine studies on juvenile sexual offender treatment effectiveness were summarized by meta-analysis (N=2986, 2604 known male). Recidivism rates for sexual, non-sexual violent, non-sexual non-violent crimes, and unspecified non-sexual were as follows: 12.53%, 24.73%, 28.51%, and 20.40%, respectively, based on an average 59-month follow-up period. Four included studies contained a control group (n=2288) and five studies included a comparison treatment group (n=698). An average weighted effect size of 0.43 (CI=0.33-0.55) was obtained, indicating a statistically significant effect of treatment on sexual recidivism. However, individual study characteristics (e.g., handling of dropouts and non-equivalent follow-up periods between treatment groups) suggest that results should be interpreted with caution. A comparison of odds ratios by quality of study design indicated that higher quality designs yielded better effect sizes, though the difference between groups was not significant.

  14. [Effects of an empowerment education program in the prevention of internet games addiction in middle school students].

    PubMed

    Joo, Aeran; Park, Inhyae

    2010-04-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine effects of an empowerment education program (EEP) on internet games addiction, empowerment, and stress in middle school students. The EEP used in this study was based on the Freire's Empowerment Education Model. The research design of this study was a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design for 48 middle school students, who were conveniently assigned to an experimental group or a control group. The data were collected from May 29 to June 19, 2005. Data were analyzed using SPSS/PC program with frequencies, X(2)-test, Fisher exact test, t-test, mean, standard deviation and ANCOVA. 1) The first hypothesis that, "the experimental group would have higher empowerment scores than the control group." was supported. 2) The second hypothesis that, "the experimental group would have lower internet games addiction scores than the control group." was supported. 3) The third hypothesis that, "the experimental group would have lower stress scores than the control group." was supported. We suggest, therefore, that the EEP should be used with adolescent to help them control their stress, internet games addiction and to increase their empowerment.

  15. Cold-air performance of a tip turbine designed to drive a lift fan

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Haas, J. E.; Kofskey, M. G.; Hotz, G. M.

    1978-01-01

    Performance was obtained over a range of speeds and pressure ratios for a 0.4 linear scale version of the LF460 lift fan turbine with the rotor radial tip clearance reduced to about 2.5 percent of the rotor blade height. These tests covered a range of speeds from 60 to 140 percent of design equivalent speed and a range of scroll inlet total to diffuser exit static pressure ratios from 2.6 to 4.2. Results are presented in terms of equivalent mass flow, equivalent torque, equivalent specific work, and efficiency.

  16. Non-radiation induced signals in TL dosimetry.

    PubMed

    German, U; Weinstein, M

    2002-01-01

    One source of background signals, which are non-radiation related, is the reader system and it includes dark current, external contaminants and electronic spikes. These factors can induce signals equivalent to several hundredths of mSv. Mostly, the effects are minimised by proper design of the TLD reader, but some effects are dependent on proper operation of the system. The other main group of background signals originates in the TL crystal and is due to tribothermoluminescence, dirt, chemical reactions and stimulation by visible or UV light. These factors can have a significant contribution, equivalent to over several mSv, depending on whether the crystal is bare or protected by PTFE. Working in clean environments, monitoring continuously the glow curves and performing glow curve deconvolution are suggested to minimise non-radiation induced spurious signals.

  17. A Tree Locality-Sensitive Hash for Secure Software Testing

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-09-14

    errors, or to look for vulnerabilities that could allow a nefarious actor to use our software against us. Ultimately, all testing is designed to find...and an equivalent number of feasible paths discovered by Klee. 1.5 Summary This document the Tree Locality-Sensitive Hash (TLSH), a locality-senstive...performing two groups of tests that verify the accuracy and usefulness of TLSH. Chapter 5 summarizes the contents of the dissertation and lists avenues

  18. Research Issues in Training Device Design: The Organization of a Data Base

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-09-01

    field. In many ways the automated system would enable the trainer to become more of a researcher , being in direct and immediate control of continuing...no control group is used and the assumption is that the final measure (on the new training device) is equivalent to the performance proficiency that...December 1978. 47 Evaluation of training: Subcommittee on Non -Atomic Military Research and Development. Technical Panel UTP-2 (Training Technology

  19. [Evaluation of Gastric Mucosal Injury Model Animals of Rebamipide Formulation--Study of Therapeutic Equivalence].

    PubMed

    Abe, Noriaki; Funato, Hiroki; Hirata, Ayumu; Nakai, Megumi; Iizuka, Michiro; Shiraishi, Hisashi; Jobu, Kohei; Yagi, Yusuke; Kadota, Aki; Ogi, Kyoko; Yokota, Junko; Miyamura, Mitsuhiko

    2016-01-01

    The introduction of generic drugs is promoted from the perspective of medical economics. In this context, we need to understand not only the bioequivalence of generic drugs specified in "the Guidelines for Bioequivalence Studies of Generic Products", but also formulation properties to consider their effect on pharmacological therapy. We evaluated the pharmaceutical characteristics of rebamipide formulations, a brand-name drug and two generic drugs, and their clinical functionality by using rat models of gastric mucosal injury induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Pharmaceutical evaluation showed significant differences in hardness. The inter-lot variation was small in all rebamipide formulations. In the clinical functionality study, biochemistry test values 7 d after the administration of rebamipide showed no differences among formulations. Higher levels of mucosal fluid secretion and antioxidative enzymes were observed in the groups administered rebamipide than in the control group. The levels of lipid peroxide were lower in the groups administered rebamipide than the control group. Multivariate analysis showed slight divergence between the brand-name and generic drugs. In future, it will be necessary to select generic drugs after careful consideration of bioequivalence, clinical functionality, and therapeutic equivalence by reviewing scientific evidence such as indication and formulation design, not to mention stable provision.

  20. How do the top 12 pharmaceutical companies operate safety pharmacology?

    PubMed

    Ewart, Lorna; Gallacher, David J; Gintant, Gary; Guillon, Jean-Michel; Leishman, Derek; Levesque, Paul; McMahon, Nick; Mylecraine, Lou; Sanders, Martin; Suter, Willi; Wallis, Rob; Valentin, Jean-Pierre

    2012-09-01

    How does safety pharmacology operate in large pharmaceutical companies today? By understanding our current position, can we prepare safety pharmacology to successfully navigate the complex process of drug discovery and development? A short anonymous survey was conducted, by invitation, to safety pharmacology representatives of the top 12 pharmaceutical companies, as defined by 2009 revenue figures. A series of multiple choice questions was designed to explore group size, accountabilities, roles and responsibilities of group members, outsourcing policy and publication record. A 92% response rate was obtained. Six out of 11 companies have 10 to 30 full time equivalents in safety pharmacology, who hold similar roles and responsibilities; although the majority of members are not qualified at PhD level or equivalent. Accountabilities were similar across companies and all groups have accountability for core battery in vivo studies and problem solving activities but differences do exist for example with in vitro safety screening and pharmacodynamic/pharmokinetic modeling (PK/PD). The majority of companies outsource less than 25% of studies, with in vitro profiling being the most commonly outsourced activity. Finally, safety pharmacology groups are publishing 1 to 4 articles each year. This short survey has highlighted areas of similarity and differences in the way large pharmaceutical companies operate safety pharmacology. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Power Supply Fault Tolerant Reliability Study

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-04-01

    easier to design than for equivalent bipolar transistors. MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS COMPANY 9. Base circuitry should be designed to drive...SWITCHING REGULATORS (Ref. 28), SWITCHING AND LINEAR POWER SUPPLY DESIGN (Ref. 25) 6. Sequence the turn-off/turn-on logic in an orderly and controllable ...for equivalent bipolar transistors. MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS COMPANY 8. Base circuitry should be designed to drive the transistor into

  2. Frequencies and Flutter Speed Estimation for Damaged Aircraft Wing Using Scaled Equivalent Plate Analysis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Krishnamurthy, Thiagarajan

    2010-01-01

    Equivalent plate analysis is often used to replace the computationally expensive finite element analysis in initial design stages or in conceptual design of aircraft wing structures. The equivalent plate model can also be used to design a wind tunnel model to match the stiffness characteristics of the wing box of a full-scale aircraft wing model while satisfying strength-based requirements An equivalent plate analysis technique is presented to predict the static and dynamic response of an aircraft wing with or without damage. First, a geometric scale factor and a dynamic pressure scale factor are defined to relate the stiffness, load and deformation of the equivalent plate to the aircraft wing. A procedure using an optimization technique is presented to create scaled equivalent plate models from the full scale aircraft wing using geometric and dynamic pressure scale factors. The scaled models are constructed by matching the stiffness of the scaled equivalent plate with the scaled aircraft wing stiffness. It is demonstrated that the scaled equivalent plate model can be used to predict the deformation of the aircraft wing accurately. Once the full equivalent plate geometry is obtained, any other scaled equivalent plate geometry can be obtained using the geometric scale factor. Next, an average frequency scale factor is defined as the average ratio of the frequencies of the aircraft wing to the frequencies of the full-scaled equivalent plate. The average frequency scale factor combined with the geometric scale factor is used to predict the frequency response of the aircraft wing from the scaled equivalent plate analysis. A procedure is outlined to estimate the frequency response and the flutter speed of an aircraft wing from the equivalent plate analysis using the frequency scale factor and geometric scale factor. The equivalent plate analysis is demonstrated using an aircraft wing without damage and another with damage. Both of the problems show that the scaled equivalent plate analysis can be successfully used to predict the frequencies and flutter speed of a typical aircraft wing.

  3. 42 CFR 417.104 - Payment for basic health services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... from each group is substantially equivalent to the revenue that would be derived if the schedule of... authorized in this paragraph, such rates must be equivalent for all individuals in the same group and for all... of potential subscribers: (A) Individual (non-group) subscribers (including their families). (B...

  4. 42 CFR 417.104 - Payment for basic health services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... from each group is substantially equivalent to the revenue that would be derived if the schedule of... authorized in this paragraph, such rates must be equivalent for all individuals in the same group and for all... of potential subscribers: (A) Individual (non-group) subscribers (including their families). (B...

  5. 42 CFR 417.104 - Payment for basic health services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... from each group is substantially equivalent to the revenue that would be derived if the schedule of... authorized in this paragraph, such rates must be equivalent for all individuals in the same group and for all... of potential subscribers: (A) Individual (non-group) subscribers (including their families). (B...

  6. Development of a conceptually equivalent Chinese-language translation of the US Household Food Security Survey Module for Chinese immigrants to the USA

    PubMed Central

    Kwan, Christine ML; Napoles, Anna M; Chou, Jeyling; Seligman, Hilary K

    2014-01-01

    Objective To develop a conceptually equivalent Chinese-language translation of the eighteen-item US Household Food Security Survey Module. Design In the current qualitative study, we (i) highlight methodological challenges which arise in developing survey instruments that will be used to make comparisons across language groups and (ii) describe the development of a Chinese-language translation of the US Household Food Security Survey Module, called the San Francisco Chinese Food Security Module. Setting Community sites in San Francisco, CA, USA. Subjects We conducted cognitive interviews with twenty-two community members recruited from community sites hosting food pantries and with five professionals recruited from clinical settings. Results Development of conceptually equivalent surveys can be difficult. We highlight challenges related to dialect, education, literacy (e.g. preferences for more or less formal phrasing), English words and phrases for which there is no Chinese language equivalent (e.g. ‘balanced meals’ and ‘eat less than you felt you should’) and response formats. We selected final translations to maximize: (i) consistency of the Chinese translation with the intent of the English version; (ii) clarity; and (iii) similarities in understanding across dialects and literacy levels. Conclusions Survey translation is essential for conducting research in many communities. The challenges encountered illustrate how literal translations can affect the conceptual equivalence of survey items across languages. Cognitive interview methods should be routinely used for survey translation when such non-equivalence is suspected, such as in surveys addressing highly culturally bound behaviours such as diet and eating behaviours. Literally translated surveys lacking conceptual equivalence may magnify or obscure important health inequalities. PMID:24642365

  7. Quasi experimental designs in pharmacist intervention research.

    PubMed

    Krass, Ines

    2016-06-01

    Background In the field of pharmacist intervention research it is often difficult to conform to the rigorous requirements of the "true experimental" models, especially the requirement of randomization. When randomization is not feasible, a practice based researcher can choose from a range of "quasi-experimental designs" i.e., non-randomised and at time non controlled. Objective The aim of this article was to provide an overview of quasi-experimental designs, discuss their strengths and weaknesses and to investigate their application in pharmacist intervention research over the previous decade. Results In the literature quasi experimental studies may be classified into five broad categories: quasi-experimental design without control groups; quasi-experimental design that use control groups with no pre-test; quasi-experimental design that use control groups and pre-tests; interrupted time series and stepped wedge designs. Quasi-experimental study design has consistently featured in the evolution of pharmacist intervention research. The most commonly applied of all quasi experimental designs in the practice based research literature are the one group pre-post-test design and the non-equivalent control group design i.e., (untreated control group with dependent pre-tests and post-tests) and have been used to test the impact of pharmacist interventions in general medications management as well as in specific disease states. Conclusion Quasi experimental studies have a role to play as proof of concept, in the pilot phases of interventions when testing different intervention components, especially in complex interventions. They serve to develop an understanding of possible intervention effects: while in isolation they yield weak evidence of clinical efficacy, taken collectively, they help build a body of evidence in support of the value of pharmacist interventions across different practice settings and countries. However, when a traditional RCT is not feasible for logistical and/or ethical reasons researchers should endeavour to use the more robust of the quasi experimental designs.

  8. [Effects of on education program for nurses on the use of restraints].

    PubMed

    Yeo, Jeong Min; Park, Myong Hwa

    2006-06-01

    This study was conducted to verify the effects of an education program of restraints use on nurses' knowledge, attitude and nursing performance related to restraints use. A quasi experimental study with a pre and post non-equivalent design was used. The subjects were nurses who met the selection criteria and worked in intensive care units of two university hospitals located at K-city, Gyeongbuk. Twenty nurses in A hospital were designated as the experimental group and 20 nurses in B hospital as the control group. The first hypothesis which assumed that the experimental group would have higher scores of knowledge than the control group was supported(F=62.66, p=0.000). The second hypothesis which assumed that the experimental group would have lower scores of attitude toward using restraints than the control group was supported(F=23.77, p=0.000). The third hypothesis which assumed that the experimental group would have higher scores of nursing performance than the control group was supported(F=3.28, p=0.032). An education program for nurses' on the use of restraints needs to be introduced to decrease inappropriate use of restraints.

  9. Automated design of genetic toggle switches with predetermined bistability.

    PubMed

    Chen, Shuobing; Zhang, Haoqian; Shi, Handuo; Ji, Weiyue; Feng, Jingchen; Gong, Yan; Yang, Zhenglin; Ouyang, Qi

    2012-07-20

    Synthetic biology aims to rationally construct biological devices with required functionalities. Methods that automate the design of genetic devices without post-hoc adjustment are therefore highly desired. Here we provide a method to predictably design genetic toggle switches with predetermined bistability. To accomplish this task, a biophysical model that links ribosome binding site (RBS) DNA sequence to toggle switch bistability was first developed by integrating a stochastic model with RBS design method. Then, to parametrize the model, a library of genetic toggle switch mutants was experimentally built, followed by establishing the equivalence between RBS DNA sequences and switch bistability. To test this equivalence, RBS nucleotide sequences for different specified bistabilities were in silico designed and experimentally verified. Results show that the deciphered equivalence is highly predictive for the toggle switch design with predetermined bistability. This method can be generalized to quantitative design of other probabilistic genetic devices in synthetic biology.

  10. Do coping styles differ across sociocultural groups? The role of measurement equivalence in making this judgment.

    PubMed

    Prelow, H M; Tein, J Y; Roosa, M W; Wood, J

    2000-04-01

    Cross-sociocultural group measurement equivalency is an important issue that generally has not been studied in the coping literature. Measurement equivalency of the COPE (Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989) was assessed across two sociocultural groups, a sample of 100 Anglo middle-class divorced mothers and a sample of 122 low-income Mexican American/Mexican immigrant mothers. A series of restrictive confirmatory factor analyses revealed that seven of the COPE's subscales may be measuring the same underlying construct across populations. However, scores derived from the subscales may not represent the same magnitude of the construct in these two groups. This study makes an important first step in furthering the understanding of coping strategies in low-income Mexican American/Mexican immigrant mothers. This study also illustrates the importance of testing for measurement equivalency before conducting comparative research in disparate populations.

  11. Paired split-plot designs of multireader multicase studies.

    PubMed

    Chen, Weijie; Gong, Qi; Gallas, Brandon D

    2018-07-01

    The widely used multireader multicase ROC study design for comparing imaging modalities is the fully crossed (FC) design: every reader reads every case of both modalities. We investigate paired split-plot (PSP) designs that may allow for reduced cost and increased flexibility compared with the FC design. In the PSP design, case images from two modalities are read by the same readers, thereby the readings are paired across modalities. However, within each modality, not every reader reads every case. Instead, both the readers and the cases are partitioned into a fixed number of groups and each group of readers reads its own group of cases-a split-plot design. Using a [Formula: see text]-statistic based variance analysis for AUC (i.e., area under the ROC curve), we show analytically that precision can be gained by the PSP design as compared with the FC design with the same number of readers and readings. Equivalently, we show that the PSP design can achieve the same statistical power as the FC design with a reduced number of readings. The trade-off for the increased precision in the PSP design is the cost of collecting a larger number of truth-verified patient cases than the FC design. This means that one can trade-off between different sources of cost and choose a least burdensome design. We provide a validation study to show the iMRMC software can be reliably used for analyzing data from both FC and PSP designs. Finally, we demonstrate the advantages of the PSP design with a reader study comparing full-field digital mammography with screen-film mammography.

  12. The equivalent magnetizing method applied to the design of gradient coils for MRI.

    PubMed

    Lopez, Hector Sanchez; Liu, Feng; Crozier, Stuart

    2008-01-01

    This paper presents a new method for the design of gradient coils for Magnetic Resonance Imaging systems. The method is based on the equivalence between a magnetized volume surrounded by a conducting surface and its equivalent representation in surface current/charge density. We demonstrate that the curl of the vertical magnetization induces a surface current density whose stream line defines the coil current pattern. This method can be applied for coils wounds on arbitrary surface shapes. A single layer unshielded transverse gradient coil is designed and compared, with the designs obtained using two conventional methods. Through the presented example we demonstrate that the generated unconventional current patterns obtained using the magnetizing current method produces a superior gradient coil performance than coils designed by applying conventional methods.

  13. Component Performance Investigation of J71 Type II Turbines: III - Overall Performance of J71 Type IIA Turbine

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Schum, Harold J.; Davison, Elmer H.; Petrash, Donald A.

    1955-01-01

    The over-all component performance characteristics of the J71 Type IIA three-stage turbine were experimentally determined over a range of speed and over-all turbine total-pressure ratio at inlet-air conditions af 35 inches of mercury absolute and 700 deg. R. The results are compared with those obtained for the J71 Type IIF turbine, which was previously investigated, the two turbines being designed for the same engine application. Geometrically the two turbines were much alike, having the same variation of annular flow area and the same number of blades for corresponding stator and rotor rows. However, the blade throat areas downstream of the first stator of the IIA turbine were smaller than those of the IIF; and the IIA blade profiles were curve-backed, whereas those of the IIF were straight-backed. The IIA turbine passed the equivalent design weight flow and had a brake internal efficiency of 0.880 at design equivalent speed and work output. A maximum efficiency of 0.896 occurred at 130 percent of design equivalent speed and a pressure ratio of 4.0. The turbine had a wide range of efficient operation. The IIA turbine had slightly higher efficiencies than the IIF turbine at comparable operating conditions. The fact that the IIA turbine obtained the design equivalent weight flow at the design equivalent operating point was probably a result of the decrease in the blading throat areas downstream of the first stator from those of the IIF turbine, which passed 105 percent of design weight flow at the corresponding operating point. The third stator row of blades of the IIA turbine choked at the design equivalent speed and at an over-all pressure ratio of 4.2; the third rotor choked at a pressure ratio of approximately 4.9

  14. [Effectiveness of the Military Mental Health Promotion Program].

    PubMed

    Woo, Chung Hee; Kim, Sun Ah

    2014-12-01

    This study was done to evaluate the Military Mental Health Promotion Program. The program was an email based cognitive behavioral intervention. The research design was a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 32 soldiers who agreed to participate in the program. Data were collected at three different times from January 2012 to March 2012; pre-test, post-test, and a one-month follow-up test. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 18.0. The effectiveness of the program was tested by repeated measures ANOVA. The first hypothesis that the level of depression in the experimental group who participated in the program would decrease compared to the control group was not supported in that the difference in group-time interaction was not statistically significant (F=2.19, p=.121). The second and third hypothesis related to anxiety and self-esteem were supported in group-time interaction, respectively (F=7.41, p=.001, F=11.67, p<.001). Results indicate that the program is effective in improving soldiers' mental health status in areas of anxiety and self-esteem.

  15. [Effects of an Individual Breast-feeding Promotion Program for Married Immigrant Women].

    PubMed

    Park, Mi Kyoung; Moon, So Hyun

    2016-02-01

    This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an individual breast-feeding promotion program to address breast-feeding knowledge, attitude, method and rate of practice for married immigrant women. A non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used (experimental group=16, control group=17). The intervention consisted of 3 phases: (1) Within 2 hours of delivery - individual breast-feeding training through video/verbal/practical training education and demonstration (2) After 1~2 days - group training using video, model doll, and breast models (3) After 7 days - family visit, counseling, retraining and reinforcement training. The data were analyzed using non-parametric tests with the SPSS program. Married immigrant women who participated in the individual breast-feeding program scored high in knowledge, attitude, method and rate of practice compared to the control group. The results indicate that the individual breast-feeding program is very effective in increasing breast-feeding knowledge, attitude, method and rate of practicing breast feeding for married immigrant women. So, nurses are encouraged to aggressively utilize individual breast-feeding programs to help married immigrant women, who are exposed to vulnerability due to various situations.

  16. Parallel But Not Equivalent: Challenges and Solutions for Repeated Assessment of Cognition over Time

    PubMed Central

    Gross, Alden L.; Inouye, Sharon K.; Rebok, George W.; Brandt, Jason; Crane, Paul K.; Parisi, Jeanine M.; Tommet, Doug; Bandeen-Roche, Karen; Carlson, Michelle C.; Jones, Richard N.

    2013-01-01

    Objective Analyses of individual differences in change may be unintentionally biased when versions of a neuropsychological test used at different follow-ups are not of equivalent difficulty. This study’s objective was to compare mean, linear, and equipercentile equating methods and demonstrate their utility in longitudinal research. Study Design and Setting The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE, N=1,401) study is a longitudinal randomized trial of cognitive training. The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI, n=819) is an observational cohort study. Nonequivalent alternate versions of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) were administered in both studies. Results Using visual displays, raw and mean-equated AVLT scores in both studies showed obvious nonlinear trajectories in reference groups that should show minimal change, poor equivalence over time (ps≤0.001), and raw scores demonstrated poor fits in models of within-person change (RMSEAs>0.12). Linear and equipercentile equating produced more similar means in reference groups (ps≥0.09) and performed better in growth models (RMSEAs<0.05). Conclusion Equipercentile equating is the preferred equating method because it accommodates tests more difficult than a reference test at different percentiles of performance and performs well in models of within-person trajectory. The method has broad applications in both clinical and research settings to enhance the ability to use nonequivalent test forms. PMID:22540849

  17. EFFECTS OF INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB AND BEVACIZUMAB ON THE RETINAL VESSEL SIZE IN DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA.

    PubMed

    Kurt, Muhammed Mustafa; Çekiç, Osman; Akpolat, Çetin; Elçioglu, Mustafa

    2018-06-01

    The goal of this study was to assess the effects of a single injection of intravitreal ranibizumab (RAN) or bevacizumab (BEV) on the retinal vessel size in eyes with diabetic macular edema. In total, 32 patients were enrolled in the RAN group, and 30 patients were included in BEV group. Each of these groups was also subdivided into two others groups: a study group and a control group. The study groups were composed of the injected eyes, whereas the noninjected fellow eyes served as the control groups. The patients underwent complete ophthalmic examinations, including optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein angiography, and the primary outcome measures included the central retinal artery equivalent, central retinal vein equivalent, and artery-to-vein ratio. In the RAN study group (n = 32), the preinjection mean central retinal artery equivalent (175.42 μm) decreased to 169.01 μm after 1 week, and to 167.47 μm after 1 month (P < 0.001), whereas the baseline central retinal vein equivalent (235.29 μm) decreased initially to 219.90 μm after 1 week, and to 218.36 μm after 1 month (P < 0.001). In the BEV study group (n = 30), the preinjection central retinal artery equivalent (150.21 μm) decreased to 146.25 μm after 1 week, and to 145.89 μm after 1 month (P < 0.001); whereas the baseline central retinal vein equivalent (211.87 μm) decreased initially to 204.59 μm after 1 week and was 205.24 μm after 1 month (P < 0.001). The preinjection artery-to-vein ratio values changed significantly (P = 0.001) after 1 week and after 1 month in the RAN group, but no significant alteration in the artery-to-vein ratio was observed in the BEV group (P = 0.433). In both the RAN (n = 32) and BEV (n = 30) control groups, none of the 3 parameters changed throughout the study period, when compared with the baseline. The results of this study showed that both RAN and BEV injections significantly constricted the retinal blood vessel diameters.

  18. 77 FR 70643 - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Standards Related to Essential Health Benefits...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-26

    ... coverage \\1\\ in the individual and small group markets, Medicaid benchmark and benchmark-equivalent plans...) Act extends the coverage of the EHB package to issuers of non-grandfathered individual and small group... small group markets, and not to Medicaid benchmark or benchmark-equivalent plans. EHB applicability to...

  19. A Biotic Game Design Project for Integrated Life Science and Engineering Education

    PubMed Central

    Denisin, Aleksandra K.; Rensi, Stefano; Sanchez, Gabriel N.; Quake, Stephen R.; Riedel-Kruse, Ingmar H.

    2015-01-01

    Engaging, hands-on design experiences are key for formal and informal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Robotic and video game design challenges have been particularly effective in stimulating student interest, but equivalent experiences for the life sciences are not as developed. Here we present the concept of a "biotic game design project" to motivate student learning at the interface of life sciences and device engineering (as part of a cornerstone bioengineering devices course). We provide all course material and also present efforts in adapting the project's complexity to serve other time frames, age groups, learning focuses, and budgets. Students self-reported that they found the biotic game project fun and motivating, resulting in increased effort. Hence this type of design project could generate excitement and educational impact similar to robotics and video games. PMID:25807212

  20. A biotic game design project for integrated life science and engineering education.

    PubMed

    Cira, Nate J; Chung, Alice M; Denisin, Aleksandra K; Rensi, Stefano; Sanchez, Gabriel N; Quake, Stephen R; Riedel-Kruse, Ingmar H

    2015-03-01

    Engaging, hands-on design experiences are key for formal and informal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Robotic and video game design challenges have been particularly effective in stimulating student interest, but equivalent experiences for the life sciences are not as developed. Here we present the concept of a "biotic game design project" to motivate student learning at the interface of life sciences and device engineering (as part of a cornerstone bioengineering devices course). We provide all course material and also present efforts in adapting the project's complexity to serve other time frames, age groups, learning focuses, and budgets. Students self-reported that they found the biotic game project fun and motivating, resulting in increased effort. Hence this type of design project could generate excitement and educational impact similar to robotics and video games.

  1. Unprecedented pathway of reducing equivalents in a diflavin-linked disulfide oxidoreductase.

    PubMed

    Buey, Rubén M; Arellano, Juan B; López-Maury, Luis; Galindo-Trigo, Sergio; Velázquez-Campoy, Adrián; Revuelta, José L; de Pereda, José M; Florencio, Francisco J; Schürmann, Peter; Buchanan, Bob B; Balsera, Monica

    2017-11-28

    Flavoproteins participate in a wide variety of physiologically relevant processes that typically involve redox reactions. Within this protein superfamily, there exists a group that is able to transfer reducing equivalents from FAD to a redox-active disulfide bridge, which further reduces disulfide bridges in target proteins to regulate their structure and function. We have identified a previously undescribed type of flavin enzyme that is exclusive to oxygenic photosynthetic prokaryotes and that is based on the primary sequence that had been assigned as an NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase (NTR). However, our experimental data show that the protein does not transfer reducing equivalents from flavins to disulfides as in NTRs but functions in the opposite direction. High-resolution structures of the protein from Gloeobacter violaceus and Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 obtained by X-ray crystallography showed two juxtaposed FAD molecules per monomer in redox communication with an active disulfide bridge in a variant of the fold adopted by NTRs. We have tentatively named the flavoprotein "DDOR" (diflavin-linked disulfide oxidoreductase) and propose that its activity is linked to a thiol-based transfer of reducing equivalents in bacterial membranes. These findings expand the structural and mechanistic repertoire of flavoenzymes with oxidoreductase activity and pave the way to explore new protein engineering approaches aimed at designing redox-active proteins for diverse biotechnological applications.

  2. Comparing Web, Group and Telehealth Formats of a Military Parenting Program

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-06-01

    directed approaches. Comparative effectiveness will be tested by specifying a non - equivalence hypothesis for group -based and web-facilitated relative...Comparative effectiveness will be tested by specifying a non - equivalence hypothesis fro group based and individualized facilitated relative to self-directed...documents for review and approval. 1a. Finalize human subjects protocol and consent documents for pilot group (N=5 families), and randomized controlled

  3. Optimizing MOS-gated thyristor using voltage-based equivalent circuit model for designing steep-subthreshold-slope PN-body-tied silicon-on-insulator FET

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ueda, Daiki; Takeuchi, Kiyoshi; Kobayashi, Masaharu; Hiramoto, Toshiro

    2018-04-01

    A new circuit model that provides a clear guide on designing a MOS-gated thyristor (MGT) is reported. MGT plays a significant role in achieving a steep subthreshold slope of a PN-body tied silicon-on-insulator (SOI) FET (PNBTFET), which is an SOI MOSFET merged with an MGT. The effects of design parameters on MGT and the proposed equivalent circuit model are examined to determine how to regulate the voltage response of MGT and how to suppress power dissipation. It is demonstrated that MGT with low threshold voltages, small hysteresis widths, and small power dissipation can be designed by tuning design parameters. The temperature dependence of MGT is also examined, and it is confirmed that hysteresis width decreases with the average threshold voltage kept nearly constant as temperature rises. The equivalent circuit model can be conveniently used to design low-power PNBTFET.

  4. Develop real-time dosimetry concepts and instrumentation for long term missions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Braby, L. A.

    1982-01-01

    The development of a rugged portable instrument to evaluate dose and dose equivalent is described. A tissue-equivalent proportional counter simulating a 2 micrometer spherical tissue volume was operated satisfactorily for over a year. The basic elements of the electronic system were designed and tested. And finally, the most suitable mathematical technique for evaluating dose equivalent with a portable instrument was selected. Design and fabrication of a portable prototype, based on the previously tested circuits, is underway.

  5. Comparison of myopia control between toric and spherical periphery design orthokeratology in myopic children with moderate-to-high corneal astigmatism.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yu; Chen, Yue-Guo

    2018-01-01

    To compare clinical results between toric and spherical periphery design orthokeratology (ortho-k) in myopic children with moderate-to-high corneal astigmatism. This retrospective study enrolled 62 eyes of 62 subjects using toric ortho-k lenses. These subjects were assigned to the toric group. Based on the one-to-one match principle (same age, proximate spherical equivalence and corneal astigmatism), 62 eyes of 62 subjects were enrolled and included in the spherical group. At one-year follow-up visit, visual acuity, corneal astigmatism, treatment zone decentration, axial elongation and adverse reaction were compared between these two groups. At the one-year visit, corneal astigmatism was significantly lower in the toric group (1.22±0.76 D) than in the spherical group (2.05±0.85 D) ( P =0.012). The mean magnitude of the treatment zone decentration was 0.62±0.42 mm in the toric group and 1.07±0.40 mm in the spherical group ( P =0.004). Axial elongation was significantly slower in the toric group (0.04±0.13 mm) than in the spherical group (0.09±0.13 mm) ( P =0.001). The one-year axial elongation was significantly correlated with initial age ( r =-0.487, P <0.001) and periphery design of ortho-k lens ( r =0.315, P <0.001). The incidence of corneal staining was lower in the toric group (8.1%) than in the spherical group (19.4%) ( P <0.001). Toric periphery design ortho-k lenses may provide lower corneal astigmatism, better centration, slower axial elongation and lower incidence of corneal staining in myopic children with moderate-to-high corneal astigmatism.

  6. Exploring the interaction of patient activation and message design variables: message frame and presentation mode influence on the walking behavior of patients with type 2 diabetes.

    PubMed

    Ledford, Christy J W

    2012-10-01

    Examining interpersonal (physician-patient) communication strategies for promoting walking exercise to patients with type 2 diabetes assigned to primary care clinics, the study evaluated two message design variables--frame and presentation mode--as influencers of communication and adoption success. The single-site, four-week, prospective intervention study followed a 2×3 factorial, non-equivalent comparison group quasi-experimental design. Results showed frame was significantly related to steps walked; however, when including patient activation as an interaction, frame was non-significant. The model including patient activation interactions, however, detected significant mode effects on behavior. Results provide evidence that statistics are most effectively used with activated patients.

  7. Japanese-English language equivalence of the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument among Japanese-Americans.

    PubMed

    Gibbons, Laura E; McCurry, Susan; Rhoads, Kristoffer; Masaki, Kamal; White, Lon; Borenstein, Amy R; Larson, Eric B; Crane, Paul K

    2009-02-01

    The Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) was designed for use in cross-cultural studies of Japanese and Japanese-American elderly in Japan and the U.S.A. The measurement equivalence in Japanese and English had not been confirmed in prior studies. We analyzed the 40 CASI items for differential item functioning (DIF) related to test language, as well as self-reported proficiency with written Japanese, age, and educational attainment in two large epidemiologic studies of Japanese-American elderly: the Kame Project (n=1708) and the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study (HAAS; n = 3148). DIF was present if the demographic groups differed in the probability of success on an item, after controlling for their underlying cognitive functioning ability. While seven CASI items had DIF related to language of testing in Kame (registration of one item; recall of one item; similes; judgment; repeating a phrase; reading and performing a command; and following a three-step instruction), the impact of DIF on participants' scores was minimal. Mean scores for Japanese and English speakers in Kame changed by <0.1 SD after accounting for DIF related to test language. In HAAS, insufficient numbers of participants were tested in Japanese to assess DIF related to test language. In both studies, DIF related to written Japanese proficiency, age, and educational attainment had minimal impact. To the extent that DIF could be assessed, the CASI appeared to meet the goal of measuring cognitive function equivalently in Japanese and English. Stratified data collection would be needed to confirm this conclusion. DIF assessment should be used in other studies with multiple language groups to confirm that measures function equivalently or, if not, form scores that account for DIF.

  8. Centralized PI control for high dimensional multivariable systems based on equivalent transfer function.

    PubMed

    Luan, Xiaoli; Chen, Qiang; Liu, Fei

    2014-09-01

    This article presents a new scheme to design full matrix controller for high dimensional multivariable processes based on equivalent transfer function (ETF). Differing from existing ETF method, the proposed ETF is derived directly by exploiting the relationship between the equivalent closed-loop transfer function and the inverse of open-loop transfer function. Based on the obtained ETF, the full matrix controller is designed utilizing the existing PI tuning rules. The new proposed ETF model can more accurately represent the original processes. Furthermore, the full matrix centralized controller design method proposed in this paper is applicable to high dimensional multivariable systems with satisfactory performance. Comparison with other multivariable controllers shows that the designed ETF based controller is superior with respect to design-complexity and obtained performance. Copyright © 2014 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Student tutors are able to teach basic sonographic anatomy effectively - a prospective randomized controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Celebi, N; Zwirner, K; Lischner, U; Bauder, M; Ditthard, K; Schürger, S; Riessen, R; Engel, C; Balletshofer, B; Weyrich, P

    2012-04-01

    Ultrasound is a widely used diagnostic tool. In medical education, it can be used to teach sonographic anatomy as well as the basics of ultrasound diagnostics. Some medical schools have begun implementing student tutor-led teaching sessions in sonographic abdominal anatomy in order to meet the growing demand in ultrasound teaching. However, while this teaching concept has proven to be feasible and well accepted, there is limited data regarding its effectiveness. We investigated whether student tutors teach sonographic anatomy as effectively as faculty staff sonographers. 50 medical students were randomly assigned to one of two groups. 46 of these could be included in the analysis. One group was taught by student tutors (ST) and the other by a faculty staff sonographer (FS). Using a pre/post-test design, students were required to locate and label 15 different abdominal structures. They printed out three pictures in three minutes and subsequently labeled the structures they were able to identify. The pictures were then rated by two blinded faculty staff sonographers. A mean difference of one point in the improvement of correctly identified abdominal structures between the pre-test and post-test among the two groups was regarded as equivalent. In the pre-test, the ST (FS) correctly identified 1.6 ± 1.0 (2.0 ± 1.1) structures. Both the ST and FS group showed improvement in the post-test, correctly identifying 7.8 ± 2.8 vs. 8.9 ± 2.9 structures, respectively (p < .0001 each). Comparing the improvement of the ST (6.2 ± 2.8 structures) versus the FS (6.9 ± 3.2) showed equivalent results between the two groups (p < .05 testing for equivalence). Basic abdominal sonographic anatomy can be taught effectively by student tutors. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  10. Method for detecting water equivalent of snow using secondary cosmic gamma radiation

    DOEpatents

    Condreva, K.J.

    1997-01-14

    Water equivalent of accumulated snow determination by measurement of secondary background cosmic radiation attenuation by the snowpack. By measuring the attenuation of 3-10 MeV secondary gamma radiation it is possible to determine the water equivalent of snowpack. The apparatus is designed to operate remotely to determine the water equivalent of snow in areas which are difficult or hazardous to access during winter, accumulate the data as a function of time and transmit, by means of an associated telemetry system, the accumulated data back to a central data collection point for analysis. The electronic circuitry is designed so that a battery pack can be used to supply power. 4 figs.

  11. Method for detecting water equivalent of snow using secondary cosmic gamma radiation

    DOEpatents

    Condreva, Kenneth J.

    1997-01-01

    Water equivalent of accumulated snow determination by measurement of secondary background cosmic radiation attenuation by the snowpack. By measuring the attentuation of 3-10 MeV secondary gamma radiation it is possible to determine the water equivalent of snowpack. The apparatus is designed to operate remotely to determine the water equivalent of snow in areas which are difficult or hazardous to access during winter, accumulate the data as a function of time and transmit, by means of an associated telemetry system, the accumulated data back to a central data collection point for analysis. The electronic circuitry is designed so that a battery pack can be used to supply power.

  12. Effects of yogic exercise on nonspecific neck pain in university students.

    PubMed

    Kim, Sang Dol

    2018-05-01

    To assess the effects of yogic exercise on nonspecific neck pain in university students. This study is a pretest-posttest design with a non-equivalent control group. Thirty-eight university students were selected by convenience sampling, with 18 assigned to an exercise group and 20 assigned to a control group. The yoga group participated in one-hour sessions of yogic exercise two days a week for eight weeks. The exercise comprised eight stages: relaxation, flexion of neck, extension of neck, right lateral flexion of neck, left lateral flexion of neck, right rotation of neck, left rotation of neck, and relaxation. Neck pain intensity was measured using a 100 mm visual analogue scale. The yoga group showed significantly decreased neck pain scores compared with those of the control group. These findings indicate that yogic exercises could reduce neck pain in university students. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. 30 CFR 6.20 - MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product... LABORATORIES AND NON-MSHA PRODUCT SAFETY STANDARDS § 6.20 MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards. (a) MSHA will accept non-MSHA product safety standards, or groups of standards, as equivalent...

  14. 30 CFR 6.20 - MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product... LABORATORIES AND NON-MSHA PRODUCT SAFETY STANDARDS § 6.20 MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards. (a) MSHA will accept non-MSHA product safety standards, or groups of standards, as equivalent...

  15. 30 CFR 6.20 - MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product... LABORATORIES AND NON-MSHA PRODUCT SAFETY STANDARDS § 6.20 MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards. (a) MSHA will accept non-MSHA product safety standards, or groups of standards, as equivalent...

  16. 30 CFR 6.20 - MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product... LABORATORIES AND NON-MSHA PRODUCT SAFETY STANDARDS § 6.20 MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards. (a) MSHA will accept non-MSHA product safety standards, or groups of standards, as equivalent...

  17. 30 CFR 6.20 - MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product... LABORATORIES AND NON-MSHA PRODUCT SAFETY STANDARDS § 6.20 MSHA acceptance of equivalent non-MSHA product safety standards. (a) MSHA will accept non-MSHA product safety standards, or groups of standards, as equivalent...

  18. [Effects of Electric Stimulation and Biofeedback for Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise in Women with Vaginal Rejuvenation Women].

    PubMed

    Lee, Jung Bok; Choi, So Young

    2015-10-01

    The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pelvic floor muscle exercise using electric stimulation and biofeedback on maximum pressure of vaginal contraction, vaginal contraction duration and sexual function in women who have had vaginal rejuvenation. The research design was a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design study. Participants in this study were women who had vaginal rejuvenation at C obstetrics and gynecology hospital. The 15 participants in the experimental group were given pelvic floor muscle exercise using electric stimulation and biofeedback and the 15 participants in the control group received self pelvic floor muscle exercise. For maximum pressure of vaginal contraction, the experimental group showed a statistically significant increase compared to than the control group (t=5.96, p<.001). For vaginal contraction duration, the experimental group also showed a statistically significant increase compared to the control group (t=3.23, p=.003). For women's sexual function, the experimental group showed a significant increase when compared to the control group in total sexual function scores (t=3.41, p=.002). The results indicate that pelvic floor muscle exercise with electric stimulation and biofeedback after vaginal rejuvenation is effective in strengthening vaginal contraction pressure, vaginal contraction and that it also positively functions to increase women's sexual function.

  19. [Evaluation of a medication self-management education program for elders with hypertension living in the community].

    PubMed

    Lee, Jong Kyung

    2013-04-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a medication self-management education program on medication awareness, communication with health care provider, medication misuse behavior, and blood pressure in elders with hypertension. The research design for this study was a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design. Participants were 23 elders for the control group, and 26 elders for the experimental group. The experimental group participated in the medication self-management education program which included the following, verbal education, 1:1 consultation, practice in medication self-management, and discussion over 5 sessions. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 program. There were statistically significant differences between the experimental and control group for medication awareness, medication misuse behavior, and communication with health care providers. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups for blood pressure. The results indicate that the education program is effective in improving medication awareness and communication with health care providers and in decreasing medication misuse behavior. Therefore, it is recommended that this education program be used as an effective intervention for improving medication self-management for elders with hypertension.

  20. Classes of Split-Plot Response Surface Designs for Equivalent Estimation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Parker, Peter A.; Kowalski, Scott M.; Vining, G. Geoffrey

    2006-01-01

    When planning an experimental investigation, we are frequently faced with factors that are difficult or time consuming to manipulate, thereby making complete randomization impractical. A split-plot structure differentiates between the experimental units associated with these hard-to-change factors and others that are relatively easy-to-change and provides an efficient strategy that integrates the restrictions imposed by the experimental apparatus. Several industrial and scientific examples are presented to illustrate design considerations encountered in the restricted randomization context. In this paper, we propose classes of split-plot response designs that provide an intuitive and natural extension from the completely randomized context. For these designs, the ordinary least squares estimates of the model are equivalent to the generalized least squares estimates. This property provides best linear unbiased estimators and simplifies model estimation. The design conditions that allow for equivalent estimation are presented enabling design construction strategies to transform completely randomized Box-Behnken, equiradial, and small composite designs into a split-plot structure.

  1. Using Rasch Analysis to Test the Cross-Cultural Item Equivalence of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist Across Vietnamese and Cambodian Immigrant Mothers

    PubMed Central

    Choi, Yoonsun; Mericle, Amy; Harachi, Tracy W.

    2012-01-01

    A major challenge in conducting assessments in ethnically and culturally diverse populations, especially using translated instruments, is the possibility that measures developed for a given construct in one particular group may not be assessing the same construct in other groups. Using a Rasch analysis, this study examined the item equivalence of two psychiatric measures, the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ), measuring traumatic experience, and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL), assessing depression symptoms across Vietnamese- and Cambodian American mothers, using data from the Cross-Cultural Families (CCF) Project. The majority of items were equivalent across the two groups, particularly on the HTQ. However, some items were endorsed differently by the two groups, and thus are not equivalent, suggesting Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants may manifest certain aspects of trauma and depression differently. Implications of these similarities and differences for practice and the use of IRT in this arena are discussed. PMID:16385149

  2. The influence of newborn early literacy intervention programs in three canadian provinces.

    PubMed

    Letourneau, Nicole; Whitty, Pam; Watson, Barry; Phillips, Jennifer; Joschko, Justin; Gillis, Doris

    2015-01-01

    Low levels of literacy in early childhood can have lasting effects on children's educational and intellectual development. Many countries have implemented newborn literacy programs designed to teach parents pre-literacy promoting activities to share with their children. We conducted 2 quasi-experimental studies using 1) a pre-test/post-test design and 2) a non-equivalent control group design to examine the effect of newborn literacy programs on parents' self-reported literacy intentions/behaviors, values toward literacy, and parent-child interactions. Parents were recruited from 3 provinces, 2 with newborn literacy programs (intervention) and 1 without (control). Parents in the intervention group completed prenatal and postnatal (after participation in program) questionnaires. Parents in the control group completed 1 questionnaire. Questionnaires were designed to capture parents' literacy intentions (prenatal), behaviors (postnatal), values, and parent-child interactions (postnatal). A total of 98 parents were included in study one and 174 were included in study two. Parents' self-reported prenatal intentions and values were higher than their postnatal behaviors and values. Parents in the intervention group exhibited higher literacy behaviors and values and greater enjoyment reading to their children than parents in the control group, though they also reported reading to their children less frequently. Parents in the intervention group had significantly higher Positive Interactive scores than controls. Overall, we found participation in newborn literacy programs positively impacted parenting behaviors and attitudes. Lower postnatal within-group scores (intentions and values versus behaviors and values) may have been the result of participants' high expectations. Given our findings, we recommend that these programs continue.

  3. In Vitro and In Vivo Measurement of Percutaneous Penetration of Low Molecular Weight Toxins of Military Interest

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-10-21

    findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. ___i 92...Continue on reverse if niecessary and identity by block number) FIELD GROUP 1SUB- GROUO ý%Skin absorption, human, guinea pig, buccal absorption, =I1...32 Figure 2. In vivo skin retention of PbTx-3 equivalents (percent of applied dose) following topical application to pigs. The bars

  4. 77 FR 31767 - Aggregation, Position Limits for Futures and Swaps

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-30

    ... physical commodity swaps that are economically equivalent to such contracts. In response to a petition for... on a designated contract market (``DCM''), as well as swaps that are economically equivalent to such... physical commodity swaps that are economically equivalent to such contracts (collectively with Core...

  5. Cold-air performance of free-power turbine designed for 112-kilowatt automotive gas-turbine engine. 1: Design Stator-vane-chord setting angle of 35 deg

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kofskey, M. G.; Nusbaum, W. J.

    1978-01-01

    A cold air experimental investigation of a free power turbine designed for a 112-kW automotive gas-turbine was made over a range of speeds from 0 to 130 percent of design equivalent speeds and over a range of pressure ratio from 1.11 to 2.45. Results are presented in terms of equivalent power, torque, mass flow, and efficiency for the design power point setting of the variable stator.

  6. The impact of nursing students on the health-related quality of life and perceived social support of a rural population in Ecuador: effects of a service-based learning course.

    PubMed

    Walcott, Rebecca L; Murcia, Angela M; Berry, Gloria M; Juna, Christian F; Roldós, María Isabel; Corso, Phaedra S

    2018-02-02

    Students seeking degrees in healthcare in Ecuador participate in community improvement projects and provide free health services under the supervision of faculty health professionals. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of a community-based intervention delivered by nursing students on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and perceived social support of a rural population in Ecuador. A quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design study was conducted in two rural communities in Tumbaco, Ecuador. Families from one rural community were invited to participate in the intervention, receiving 8 weekly home visits from nursing students. Families from a neighboring community were similarly recruited as wait-list controls. One member of each family was consented into the study; the final sample included 43 intervention participants and 55 control participants. HRQoL and perceived social support were assessed before and after the intervention in both groups. The SF-12 was used to measure HRQoL, including eight domain scores and two composite scores, and the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List was used as an indicator of perceived social support. Difference-in-differences (DD) analyses were conducted to mitigate the effects of any baseline differences in the non- equivalent control group design. When compared to the control group, the intervention group realized significant improvements in the physical component summary score of the SF-12 (4.20, p < 0.05) and the physical function domain of the SF-12 (4.92, p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences for any other components of the SF-12 or in the measure of perceived social support. Nursing students completing their rural service rotation have the potential to improve the health-related quality of life of rural residents in Ecuador. Future research should continue to examine the impact of service-based learning on recipient populations.

  7. Equivalent Mass versus Life Cycle Cost for Life Support Technology Selection

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jones, Harry

    2003-01-01

    The decision to develop a particular life support technology or to select it for flight usually depends on the cost to develop and fly it. Other criteria - performance, safety, reliability, crew time, and risk - are considered, but cost is always an important factor. Because launch cost accounts for most of the cost of planetary missions, and because launch cost is directly proportional to the mass launched, equivalent mass has been used instead of cost to select life support technology. The equivalent mass of a life support system includes the estimated masses of the hardware and of the pressurized volume, power supply, and cooling system that the hardware requires. The equivalent mass is defined as the total payload launch mass needed to provide and support the system. An extension of equivalent mass, Equivalent System Mass (ESM), has been established for use in Advanced Life Support. A crew time mass-equivalent and sometimes other non-mass factors are added to equivalent mass to create ESM. Equivalent mass is an estimate of the launch cost only. For earth orbit rather than planetary missions, the launch cost is usually exceeded by the cost of Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DDT&E). Equivalent mass is used only in life support analysis. Life Cycle Cost (LCC) is much more commonly used. LCC includes DDT&E, launch, and operations costs. Since LCC includes launch cost, it is always a more accurate cost estimator than equivalent mass. The relative costs of development, launch, and operations vary depending on the mission design, destination, and duration. Since DDT&E or operations may cost more than launch, LCC may give a more accurate cost ranking than equivalent mass. To be sure of identifying the lowest cost technology for a particular mission, we should use LCC rather than equivalent mass.

  8. 49 CFR 173.247 - Bulk packaging for certain elevated temperature materials.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... motor vehicles; and non-DOT specification cargo tank motor vehicles equivalent in structural design and...; metal IBCs and non-specification portable tanks equivalent in structural design and accident damage...; Class DOT 106, 110 multi-unit tank car tanks; AAR Class 203W, 206W, 211W tank car tanks; and non-DOT...

  9. 49 CFR 173.247 - Bulk packaging for certain elevated temperature materials.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... motor vehicles; and non-DOT specification cargo tank motor vehicles equivalent in structural design and...; metal IBCs and non-specification portable tanks equivalent in structural design and accident damage...; Class DOT 106, 110 multi-unit tank car tanks; AAR Class 203W, 206W, 211W tank car tanks; and non-DOT...

  10. 49 CFR 173.247 - Bulk packaging for certain elevated temperature materials.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... motor vehicles; and non-DOT specification cargo tank motor vehicles equivalent in structural design and...; metal IBCs and non-specification portable tanks equivalent in structural design and accident damage...; Class DOT 106, 110 multi-unit tank car tanks; AAR Class 203W, 206W, 211W tank car tanks; and non-DOT...

  11. 49 CFR 173.247 - Bulk packaging for certain elevated temperature materials.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... motor vehicles; and non-DOT specification cargo tank motor vehicles equivalent in structural design and...; metal IBCs and non-specification portable tanks equivalent in structural design and accident damage...; Class DOT 106, 110 multi-unit tank car tanks; AAR Class 203W, 206W, 211W tank car tanks; and non-DOT...

  12. Reduction of low back muscular discomfort through an applied ergonomics intervention program.

    PubMed

    Poosanthanasarn, Nitaya; Sriboorapa, Sooth; Fungladda, Wijitr; Lohachit, Chantima

    2005-01-01

    An applied ergonomics intervention program (AEIP) was conducted with male employees who work in the pressing and storage sections of a metal auto parts factory in eastern Thailand. The objective of this study was to reduce worker muscular discomfort at the low back. The study design was a participatory research approach, with quasi-experimental pretest-posttest, and with a non-equivalent control group. Thirty-five persons participated in the AEIP (AEIP group) and 17 persons did not (non-AEIP group). The AEIP was composed of three major categories: (1) top management support; (2) equipment designed for workstations and manual material handling; and (3) administrative intervention, training, and health education. Muscle activity was measured by surface electromyography of the left and right erector spinae, and multifidus muscles; and evaluated by multivariate test for dependent samples (paired observation) and for independent samples. After the AEIP, the low back muscular loads of the AEIP group was significantly reduced, while those of the non-AEIP group were not. Comparison of the means of percentage maximum voluntary contractions (% MVC) of low back muscular activity between the AEIP group and non-AEIP group indicated that the AEIP group had significantly reduced low back muscular load, with a 95% confidence level (p-value < 0.05).

  13. Pain and efficacy rating of a microprocessor-controlled metered injection system for local anaesthesia in minor hand surgery.

    PubMed

    Nimigan, André S; Gan, Bing Siang

    2011-01-01

    Purpose. Little attention has been given to syringe design and local anaesthetic administration methods. A microprocessor-controlled anaesthetic delivery device has become available that may minimize discomfort during injection. The purpose of this study was to document the pain experience associated with the use of this system and to compare it with use of a conventional syringe. Methods. A prospective, randomized clinical trial was designed. 40 patients undergoing carpal tunnel release were block randomized according to sex into a two groups: a traditional syringe group and a microprocessor-controlled device group. The primary outcome measure was surgical pain and local anaesthetic administration pain. Secondary outcomes included volume of anaesthetic used and injection time. Results. Analysis showed that equivalent anaesthesia was achieved in the microprocessor-controlled group despite using a significantly lower volume of local anaesthetic (P = .0002). This same group, however, has significantly longer injection times (P < .0001). Pain during the injection process or during surgery was not different between the two groups. Conclusions. This RCT comparing traditional and microprocessor controlled methods of administering local anaesthetic showed similar levels of discomfort in both groups. While the microprocessor-controlled group used less volume, the total time for the administration was significantly greater.

  14. Effect of dietary vitamin E and selenium on growth, survival and the prevalence of Renibacterium salmoninarum infection in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Thorarinsson, Ragnar; Landolt, Marsha L.; Elliott, Diane G.; Pascho, Ronald J.; Hardy, Ronald W.

    1994-01-01

    Groups of juvenile spring chinook salmon naturally infected with Renibacterium salmoninarum, the causative agent of bacterial kidney disease, were fed diets containing different levels of vitamin E and selenium for 214 days in fresh water and 110 days in seawater. The fish were fed vitamin E at concentrations of either 53±3 mg (designated e) or 299±9 mg (designated E) α-tocopheryl acetate equivalence/kg dry diet in combination with sodium selenite to give selenium concentrations of either 0.038±0.008 mg (designated s) or 2.49±0.15 mg (designated S)/kg dry diet. No mortality occurred in the group fed the SE diet, whereas mortality was 3% in the groups fed the sE and Se diets, and 31% in the group fed the se diet. At the end of the experiment, weight gain and hematocrit values were significantly greater in those fish fed the E diets compared with those fed the e diets, whereas the hepato-somatic index was significantly higher in fish fed the e diets. Glutathione peroxidase activity in blood plasma was significantly higher in fish fed the S diets compared with those fed the sdiets. No definite effect of dietary vitamin E and selenium on the prevalence and severity of natural R. salmoninarum infections was demonstrated.

  15. Effect of dietary vitamin E and selenium on growth, survival and the prevalence of Renibacterium salmoninarum infection in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Thorarinsson, Ragnar; Landolt, Marsha L.; Elliott, Diane G.; Pascho, Ronald J.; Hardy, Ronald W.

    1994-01-01

    Groups of juvenile spring chinook salmon naturally infected with Renibacterium salmoninarum, the causative agent of bacterial kidney disease, were fed diets containing different levels of vitamin E and selenium for 214 days in fresh water and 110 days in seawater. The fish were fed vitamin E at concentrations of either 53±3 mg (designated e) or 299±9 mg (designated E) α-tocopheryl acetate equivalence/kg dry diet in combination with sodium selenite to give selenium concentrations of either 0.038±0.008 mg (designated s) or 2.49±0.15 mg (designated S)/kg dry diet. No mortality occurred in the group fed the diet, whereas mortality was 3% in the groups fed the and diets, and 31% in the group fed the diet. At the end of the experiment, weight gain and hematocrit values were significantly greater in those fish fed the E diets compared with those fed the e diets, whereas the hepato-somatic index was significantly higher in fish fed the e diets. Glutathione peroxidase activity in blood plasma was significantly higher in fish fed the S diets compared with those fed the s diets. No definite effect of dietary vitamin E and selenium on the prevalence and severity of natural R. salmoninarum infections was demonstrated.

  16. Framework for assessing causality in disease management programs: principles.

    PubMed

    Wilson, Thomas; MacDowell, Martin

    2003-01-01

    To credibly state that a disease management (DM) program "caused" a specific outcome it is required that metrics observed in the DM population be compared with metrics that would have been expected in the absence of a DM intervention. That requirement can be very difficult to achieve, and epidemiologists and others have developed guiding principles of causality by which credible estimates of DM impact can be made. This paper introduces those key principles. First, DM program metrics must be compared with metrics from a "reference population." This population should be "equivalent" to the DM intervention population on all factors that could independently impact the outcome. In addition, the metrics used in both groups should use the same defining criteria (ie, they must be "comparable" to each other). The degree to which these populations fulfill the "equivalent" assumption and metrics fulfill the "comparability" assumption should be stated. Second, when "equivalence" or "comparability" is not achieved, the DM managers should acknowledge this fact and, where possible, "control" for those factors that may impact the outcome(s). Finally, it is highly unlikely that one study will provide definitive proof of any specific DM program value for all time; thus, we strongly recommend that studies be ongoing, at multiple points in time, and at multiple sites, and, when observational study designs are employed, that more than one type of study design be utilized. Methodologically sophisticated studies that follow these "principles of causality" will greatly enhance the reputation of the important and growing efforts in DM.

  17. Interactive Inverse Design Optimization of Fuselage Shape for Low-Boom Supersonic Concepts

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Li, Wu; Shields, Elwood; Le, Daniel

    2008-01-01

    This paper introduces a tool called BOSS (Boom Optimization using Smoothest Shape modifications). BOSS utilizes interactive inverse design optimization to develop a fuselage shape that yields a low-boom aircraft configuration. A fundamental reason for developing BOSS is the need to generate feasible low-boom conceptual designs that are appropriate for further refinement using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based preliminary design methods. BOSS was not developed to provide a numerical solution to the inverse design problem. Instead, BOSS was intended to help designers find the right configuration among an infinite number of possible configurations that are equally good using any numerical figure of merit. BOSS uses the smoothest shape modification strategy for modifying the fuselage radius distribution at 100 or more longitudinal locations to find a smooth fuselage shape that reduces the discrepancies between the design and target equivalent area distributions over any specified range of effective distance. For any given supersonic concept (with wing, fuselage, nacelles, tails, and/or canards), a designer can examine the differences between the design and target equivalent areas, decide which part of the design equivalent area curve needs to be modified, choose a desirable rate for the reduction of the discrepancies over the specified range, and select a parameter for smoothness control of the fuselage shape. BOSS will then generate a fuselage shape based on the designer's inputs in a matter of seconds. Using BOSS, within a few hours, a designer can either generate a realistic fuselage shape that yields a supersonic configuration with a low-boom ground signature or quickly eliminate any configuration that cannot achieve low-boom characteristics with fuselage shaping alone. A conceptual design case study is documented to demonstrate how BOSS can be used to develop a low-boom supersonic concept from a low-drag supersonic concept. The paper also contains a study on how perturbations in the equivalent area distribution affect the ground signature shape and how new target area distributions for low-boom signatures can be constructed using superposition of equivalent area distributions derived from the Seebass-George-Darden (SGD) theory.

  18. An equivalence study of interview platform: Does videoconference technology impact medical school acceptance rates of different groups?

    PubMed

    Ballejos, Marlene P; Oglesbee, Scott; Hettema, Jennifer; Sapien, Robert

    2018-02-14

    Web-based interviewing may be an effective element of a medical school's larger approach to promotion of holistic review, as recommended by the Association of American Medical Colleges, by facilitating the feasibility of including rural and community physicians in the interview process. Only 10% of medical schools offer videoconference interviews to applicants and little is known about the impact of this interview modality on the admissions process. This study investigated the impact of overall acceptance rates using videoconference interviews and face-to-face interviews in the medical school selection process using an equivalence trial design. The University of New Mexico School of Medicine integrated a videoconferencing interview option for community and rural physician interviewers in a pseudo-random fashion during the 2014-2016 admissions cycles. Logistic regression was conducted to examine whether videoconference interviews impacted acceptance rates or the characteristics of accepted students. Demographic, admissions and diversity factors were analyzed that included applicant age, MCAT score, cumulative GPA, gender, underrepresented in medicine, socioeconomic status and geographic residency. Data from 752 interviews were analyzed. Adjusted rates of acceptance for face-to-face (37.0%; 95% CI 28.2, 46.7%) and videoconference (36.1%; 95% CI 17.8, 59.5%) interviews were within an a priori ± 5% margin of equivalence. Both interview conditions yielded highly diverse groups of admitted students. Having a higher medical college admission test score, grade point average, and self-identifying as disadvantaged increased odds of admission in both interview modalities. Integration of the videoconference interview did not impact the overall acceptance of a highly diverse and qualified group of applicants, and allowed rural and community physicians to participate in the medical school interview process as well as allowed campus faculty and medical student committee members to interview remotely.

  19. Unitary cocycle representations of the Galilean line group: Quantum mechanical principle of equivalence

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

    MacGregor, B.R.; McCoy, A.E.; Wickramasekara, S., E-mail: wickrama@grinnell.edu

    2012-09-15

    We present a formalism of Galilean quantum mechanics in non-inertial reference frames and discuss its implications for the equivalence principle. This extension of quantum mechanics rests on the Galilean line group, the semidirect product of the real line and the group of analytic functions from the real line to the Euclidean group in three dimensions. This group provides transformations between all inertial and non-inertial reference frames and contains the Galilei group as a subgroup. We construct a certain class of unitary representations of the Galilean line group and show that these representations determine the structure of quantum mechanics in non-inertialmore » reference frames. Our representations of the Galilean line group contain the usual unitary projective representations of the Galilei group, but have a more intricate cocycle structure. The transformation formula for the Hamiltonian under the Galilean line group shows that in a non-inertial reference frame it acquires a fictitious potential energy term that is proportional to the inertial mass, suggesting the equivalence of inertial mass and gravitational mass in quantum mechanics. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A formulation of Galilean quantum mechanics in non-inertial reference frames is given. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The key concept is the Galilean line group, an infinite dimensional group. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Unitary, cocycle representations of the Galilean line group are constructed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A non-central extension of the group underlies these representations. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Quantum equivalence principle and gravity emerge from these representations.« less

  20. Equivalent weight loss for weight management programs delivered by phone and clinic

    PubMed Central

    Donnelly, Joseph E.; Goetz, Jeannine; Gibson, Cheryl; Sullivan, Debra K.; Lee, Robert; Smith, Bryan K.; Lambourne, Kate; Mayo, Matthew S.; Hunt, Suzanne; Lee, Jae Hoon; Honas, Jeffrey J.; Washburn, Richard A.

    2013-01-01

    Objective Face-to-face weight management is costly and presents barriers for individuals seeking treatment; thus, alternate delivery systems are needed. The objective of this study was to compare weight management delivered by face-to-face (FTF) clinic or group conference calls (phone). Design and Methods Randomized equivalency trial in 295 overweight/obese men/women (BMI = 35.1±4.9, Age = 43.8±10.2, Minority = 39.8%). Weight loss (0–6 months) was achieved by reducing energy intake between 1,200– 1,500 kcal/day and progressing physical activity to 300 minutes/week. Weight maintenance (7–18 months) provided adequate energy to maintain weight and continued 300 minutes/week of physical activity. Behavioral weight management strategies were delivered weekly for 6 months and gradually reduced during months 7–18. A cost analysis provided a comparison of expenses between groups. Results Weight change from baseline to 6 months was −13.4 ± 6.7% and −12.3 ± 7.0% for FTF clinic and phone, respectively. Weight change from 6 months to 18 months was 6.4 ± 7.0% and 6.4 ± 5.2%, for FTF clinic and phone, respectively. The cost to FTF participants was $789.58 more person. Conclusions Phone delivery provided equivalent weight loss and maintenance and reduced program cost. Ubiquitous access to phones provides a vast reach for this approach. PMID:23408579

  1. Expanding the Intertrial Interval During Extinction: Response Cessation and Recovery

    PubMed Central

    Orinstein, Alyssa J.; Urcelay, Gonzalo P.; Miller, Ralph R.

    2010-01-01

    We examined trial spacing during extinction following a human contingency learning task. Specifically, we assessed if an expanding retrieval practice schedule (Bjork & Bjork, 1992, 2006), in which the spacing between extinction trials was progressively increased, would result in faster immediate extinction and less recovery from extinction than uniformly spaced extinction trials. We used an ABB vs. ABA renewal design and observed that, whereas the expanding group extinguished faster during extinction treatment, the expanding and constant groups showed the same level of extinction with an immediate test in the extinction context (ABB) and the two groups showed equivalent ABA renewal at test in the training context. We conclude that the faster extinction observed in the expanding groups could be misleading in clinical treatment, if the therapist used the absence of fear during extinction as the basis for terminating treatment. PMID:20171324

  2. [Development and application of a multidimensional suicide prevention program for Korean elders by utilizing a community network].

    PubMed

    Jo, Kae Hwa; Kim, Yeong Kyeong

    2008-06-01

    The purpose of this study was to develop a multidimensional suicide prevention program for Korean elders by utilizing a community network and to evaluate its effect. A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The subjects were recruited from two different elderly institutions located in D city and K province, Korea. Nineteen subjects in the control group received no intervention and 20 subjects in the experimental group received a multidimensional suicide prevention program. There were more significant decreases in depression, suicide ideation, and increases in life satisfaction in the experimental group compared to the control group. According to the above results, the multidimensional suicide prevention program for Korean elders decreased stressful events like depression, and suicide ideation and increased life satisfaction through the community network. These findings suggest that this program can be used as an efficient intervention for elders in a critical situation.

  3. Effects of mothers involved in dental health program for their children.

    PubMed

    Choi, Hye Seon; Ahn, Hye Young

    2012-12-01

    The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of mothers' involvement in a dental health program for their elementary school children. This study was a non-equivalent control group pre-post test design in which knowledge and behaviors related to dental health, perceived benefits and barriers, self-efficacy and plaque control scores were compared between the experimental group (n=26) for whom the dental health program included the direct involvement of the mothers, and the control group (n=24) for whom knowledge related to dental health was provided through brochures. Scores for the experimental group in which the mothers were involved in the dental health program were significantly higher for knowledge, behaviors in dental health, self-efficacy and plaque control compared to the control group. Results of this study suggest that mothers involvement in the dental health program is effective in reinforcing dental health enhancing behavior in elementary school children.

  4. [Effects of Breastfeeding Empowerment Program on Breastfeeding Self-efficacy, Adaptation and Continuation in Primiparous Women].

    PubMed

    Song, Seon Mi; Park, Mi Kyung

    2016-06-01

    The purpose of this study was to develop a breastfeeding empowerment program and to investigate the effects of the breastfeeding empowerment program on self-efficacy, adaptation and continuation of breastfeeding for primiparous women. The 5 session breastfeeding empowerment program was developed and a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized quasi-experiment design was used. Fifty-five participants were assigned to either the experimental group (n=27) or the control group (n=28). Effects were tested using repeated measures ANOVA and χ²-test. Scores for self-efficacy, adaptation and continuation of breastfeeding of in the experimental group after program were significantly higher than 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks scores in control group. The effects of the breastfeeding empowerment program for elevating self-efficacy, adaptation and continuation of breastfeeding in primiparous women were validated. Therefore, this program can be recommended for vigorous use in clinical practice.

  5. Initial glenoid fixation using two different reverse shoulder designs with an equivalent center of rotation in a low-density and high-density bone substitute.

    PubMed

    Stroud, Nicholas J; DiPaola, Matthew J; Martin, Brian L; Steiler, Cindy A; Flurin, Pierre-Henri; Wright, Thomas W; Zuckerman, Joseph D; Roche, Christopher P

    2013-11-01

    Numerous glenoid implant designs have been introduced into the global marketplace in recent years; however, little comparative biomechanical data exist to substantiate one design consideration over another. This study dynamically evaluated reverse shoulder glenoid baseplate fixation and compared the initial fixation associated with 2 reverse shoulder designs having an equivalent center of rotation in low-density and high-density bone substitute substrates. Significant differences in fixation were observed between implant designs, where the circular-porous reverse shoulder was associated with approximately twice the micromotion per equivalent test than the oblong-grit-blasted design. Additionally, 6 of the 7 circular-porous reverse shoulders failed catastrophically in the low-density bone model at an average of 2603 ± 981 cycles. None of the oblong-grit-blasted designs failed in the low-or high-density bone models and none of the circular-porous designs failed in the high-density bone models after 10,000 cycles of loading. These results demonstrate that significant differences in initial fixation exist between reverse shoulder implants having an equivalent center of rotation and suggest that design parameters, other than the position of the center of rotation, significantly affect fixation in low-density and high-density polyurethane bone substitutes. Subtle changes in glenoid baseplate design can dramatically affect fixation, particularly in low-density bone substitutes that are intended to simulate the bone quality of the recipient population for reverse shoulders. Copyright © 2013 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Methodology for worker neutron exposure evaluation in the PDCF facility design.

    PubMed

    Scherpelz, R I; Traub, R J; Pryor, K H

    2004-01-01

    A project headed by Washington Group International is meant to design the Pit Disassembly and Conversion Facility (PDCF) to convert the plutonium pits from excessed nuclear weapons into plutonium oxide for ultimate disposition. Battelle staff are performing the shielding calculations that will determine appropriate shielding so that the facility workers will not exceed target exposure levels. The target exposure levels for workers in the facility are 5 mSv y(-1) for the whole body and 100 mSv y(-1) for the extremity, which presents a significant challenge to the designers of a facility that will process tons of radioactive material. The design effort depended on shielding calculations to determine appropriate thickness and composition for glove box walls, and concrete wall thicknesses for storage vaults. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) staff used ORIGEN-S and SOURCES to generate gamma and neutron source terms, and Monte Carlo (computer code for) neutron photon (transport) (MCNP-4C) to calculate the radiation transport in the facility. The shielding calculations were performed by a team of four scientists, so it was necessary to develop a consistent methodology. There was also a requirement for the study to be cost-effective, so efficient methods of evaluation were required. The calculations were subject to rigorous scrutiny by internal and external reviewers, so acceptability was a major feature of the methodology. Some of the issues addressed in the development of the methodology included selecting appropriate dose factors, developing a method for handling extremity doses, adopting an efficient method for evaluating effective dose equivalent in a non-uniform radiation field, modelling the reinforcing steel in concrete, and modularising the geometry descriptions for efficiency. The relative importance of the neutron dose equivalent compared with the gamma dose equivalent varied substantially depending on the specific shielding conditions and lessons were learned from this effect. This paper addresses these issues and the resulting methodology.

  7. [Development and Effects of Assertiveness Training applying Dongsasub Training for Nursing Students in Clinical Practice].

    PubMed

    Kim, Myoungsuk

    2016-08-01

    This study was conducted to develop assertiveness training applying Dongsasub training for junior nursing students, and to verify effectiveness of the training on assertiveness behavior, self-esteem, clinical practice stress, and clinical competence. The study design was a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. Participants were 63 nursing students in clinical training (31 students in the experimental group and 32 students in the control group). The assertiveness training applying Dongsasub training consisted of four sessions. Outcome variables included assertiveness behavior, self-esteem, clinical practice stress, and clinical competence. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact test and independent samples t-test with SPSS/WIN 21.0. Scores of assertiveness behavior (t=-2.49, p=.015), self-esteem (t=-4.80, p<.001) and clinical competence (t=-2.33, p=.023) were significantly higher and clinical practice stress (t=4.22, p<.001) was significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group. Results indicate that the assertiveness training applying Dongsasub training can be used as a nursing intervention to lower clinical practice stress and improve the clinical competence of nursing students.

  8. [Evaluation of an education program for patients with asthma who use inhalers].

    PubMed

    Lee, Jong Kyung; Yang, Young Hee

    2010-04-01

    This study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of an education program for patients with asthma who use inhalers. The research design for this study was a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental study. Participants in this study were 36 patients for the control group, and 43 patients for the experimental group. The experimental group participated in the education program. The control group received the usual care. Data were collected before and 1 month and 2 months after the program finished and were analyzed using the SPSS 12.0 program. The experimental group had significantly higher scores of knowledge of inhalers, and inhalation technique compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were found between two groups for PEFR, asthma instability, and satisfaction with inhalers. According to the results, the education program was effective in improving knowledge of inhalers, and inhalation technique. Therefore, it is recommended that this education program be used in clinical practice as an effective nursing intervention for patients with asthma on inhalers.

  9. Telehealth stroke education for rural elderly Virginians.

    PubMed

    Schweickert, Patricia A; Rutledge, Carolyn M; Cattell-Gordon, David C; Solenski, Nina J; Jensen, Mary E; Branson, Sheila; Gaughen, John R

    2011-12-01

    Stroke is a prevalent condition found in elderly, rural populations. However, stroke education, which can be effective in addressing the risks, is often difficult to provide in these remote regions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of delivering stroke education to elderly individuals through telehealth versus in-person stroke prevention education methods. A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design was used in this study. A convenience sample of 11 elderly adults (36% men, 64% women) with a mean age of 70 was selected from an Appalachian Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (day care) facility. Subjects completed preintervention surveys, received a 20-min group in-person or telehealth delivered education session, and then completed the postintervention surveys. Satisfaction with delivery method and post-education knowledge was equivalent between the two groups. Knowledge increased in both groups after the educational programs. Likelihood of reducing risk factors showed no differences pre-posttest. However, there were significant improvements in the pre-post likelihood scores of the telehealth group in contrast to the in-person group. This project provided a rural, high-risk population access to telehealth stroke education, thus enabling these individuals to receive education at a distance from experts in the field. The telehealth program was found to be equivalent to in-person stroke education in regards to satisfaction, knowledge, and likelihood of making changes to decrease vascular risk factors. The study demonstrated feasibility in providing effective stroke education through telehealth, thus suggesting an often overlooked route for providing patient education at a distance.

  10. An Assessment of the Effects of Hydrotherapy During the Active Phase of Labor on the Labor Process and Parenting Behavior.

    PubMed

    Tuncay, Semra; Kaplan, Sena; Moraloglu Tekin, Ozlem

    2017-12-01

    This study was conducted to assess the effect on labor process and parenting behavior of hydrotherapy applied during the active phase of labor. This quasi-experimental study was conducted by using an equivalent comparison group ( n = 40). The participants in the experimental group whose cervical dilation was 5 cm were taken to the hydrotherapy tub. This application continued until cervical dilation reached 10 cm. The Participants Questionnaire, The Birth Follow-up Questionnaire, The Postpartum ]collection tools. The duration of the active phase and second stage of labor was extremely short in the experimental group in comparison with the equivalent comparison group ( p = .001). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of the experimental group were lower than those of the equivalent comparison group when cervical dilation was 6 cm and 10 cm ( p = .001). The experimental group also displayed more positive parenting behavior and positive labor feeling ( p = .001).

  11. Does a gatekeeper suicide prevention program work in a school setting? Evaluating training outcome and moderators of effectiveness.

    PubMed

    Tompkins, Tanya L; Witt, Jody; Abraibesh, Nadia

    2009-12-01

    The current study sought to evaluate the suicide prevention gatekeeper training program QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) among school personnel using a non-equivalent control group design. Substantial gains were demonstrated from pre- to post-test for attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs regarding suicide and suicide prevention. Exploratory analyses revealed the possible moderating effects of age, professional role, prior training, and recent contact with suicidal youth on QPR participants' general knowledge, questioning, attitudes toward suicide and suicide prevention, QPR quiz scores, and self-efficacy. The need for replication using a more rigorous experimental design in the context of strong community collaboration is discussed.

  12. Applying the Interaction Equivalency Theorem to Online Courses in a Large Organization

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rodriguez, Brenda Cecilia Padilla; Armellini, Alejandro

    2014-01-01

    Finding effective ways of designing online courses is a priority for corporate organizations. The interaction equivalency theorem states that meaningful learning can be achieved as long as courses are designed with at least a high level of one of three types of interactions (learner-content, learner-teacher or learner-learner). This study aimed to…

  13. Effects of strength vs aerobic exercise on pain severity in adults with fibromyalgia: a randomized equivalence trial.

    PubMed

    Hooten, W Michael; Qu, Wenchun; Townsend, Cynthia O; Judd, Jeffrey W

    2012-04-01

    Strength training and aerobic exercise have beneficial effects on pain in adults with fibromyalgia. However, the equivalence of strengthening and aerobic exercise has not been reported. The primary aim of this randomized equivalence trial involving patients with fibromyalgia admitted to an interdisciplinary pain treatment program was to test the hypothesis that strengthening (n=36) and aerobic (n=36) exercise have equivalent effects (95% confidence interval within an equivalence margin ± 8) on pain, as measured by the pain severity subscale of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory. Secondary aims included determining the effects of strengthening and aerobic exercise on peak Vo(2) uptake, leg strength, and pressure pain thresholds. In an intent-to-treat analysis, the mean (± standard deviation) pain severity scores for the strength and aerobic groups at study completion were 34.4 ± 11.5 and 37.6 ± 11.9, respectively. The group difference was -3.2 (95% confidence interval, -8.7 to 2.3), which was within the equivalence margin of Δ8. Significant improvements in pain severity (P<.001), peak Vo(2) (P<.001), strength (P<.001), and pain thresholds (P<.001) were observed from baseline to week 3 in the intent-to-treat analysis; however, patients in the aerobic group (mean change 2.0 ± 2.6 mL/kg/min) experienced greater gains (P<.013) in peak Vo(2) compared to the strength group (mean change 0.4 ± 2.6 mL/kg/min). Knowledge of the equivalence and physiological effects of exercise have important clinical implications that could allow practitioners to target exercise recommendations on the basis of comorbid medical conditions or patient preference for a particular type of exercise. This study found that strength and aerobic exercise had equivalent effects on reducing pain severity among patients with fibromyalgia. Copyright © 2012 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Royal jelly modulates oxidative stress and tissue injury in gamma irradiated male Wister Albino rats.

    PubMed

    Azab, Khaled Shaaban; Bashandy, Mohamed; Salem, Mahmoud; Ahmed, Osama; Tawfik, Zaki; Helal, Hamed

    2011-06-01

    Royal jelly is a nutritive secretion produced by the worker bees, rich in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The present study was designed to determine the possible protective effects of royal jelly against radiation induced oxidative stress, hematological, biochemical and histological alterations in male Wister albino rats. Male Wister albino rats were exposed to a fractionated dose of gamma radiation (2 Gy every 3 days up to 8 Gy total doses). Royal jelly was administrated (g/Kg/day) by gavages 14 days before exposure to the 1(st) radiation fraction and the treatment was continued for 15 days after the 1(st) irradiation fraction till the end of the experiment. The rats were sacrificed 3(rd), equivalent to 3rd post 2nd irradiation fraction, and equivalent to 3rd day post last irradiation fraction. In the present study, gamma- irradiation induced hematological, biochemical and histological effects in male Wister albino rats. In royal jelly treated irradiated group, there was a noticeable decrease recorded in thiobarbituric reactive substances concentration when compared to γ-irradiated group. Also, the serum nitric oxide concentration was significantly improved. The administration of royal jelly to irradiated rats according to the current experimental design significantly ameliorates the changes induced in serum lipid profile. Moreover, in royal jelly treated irradiated group, there was a noticeable amelioration recorded in all hematological parameters along the three experimental intervals. The microscopic examination of cardiac muscle of royal jelly treated irradiated rats demonstrated structural amelioration, improved nuclei and normal features of capillaries and veins in endomysium when compared to gamma-irradiated rats. It was suggested that the biochemical, hematological and histological amelioration observed in royal jelly (g/Kg/day) treated irradiated rats might be due to the antioxidant capacity of royal jelly active constituents.

  15. Enhancing Self-Efficacy in Elementary Science Teaching With Professional Learning Communities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mintzes, Joel J.; Marcum, Bev; Messerschmidt-Yates, Christl; Mark, Andrew

    2013-11-01

    Emerging from Bandura's Social Learning Theory, this study of in-service elementary school teachers examined the effects of sustained Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) on self-efficacy in science teaching. Based on mixed research methods, and a non-equivalent control group experimental design, the investigation explored changes in personal self-efficacy and outcome expectancy among teachers engaged in PLCs that featured Demonstration Laboratories, Lesson Study, and annual Summer Institutes. Significant changes favoring the experimental group were found on all quantitative measures of self-efficacy. Structured clinical interviews revealed that observed changes were largely attributable to a wide range of direct (mastery) and vicarious experiences, as well as emotional reinforcement and social persuasion.

  16. Simple design of slanted grating with simplified modal method.

    PubMed

    Li, Shubin; Zhou, Changhe; Cao, Hongchao; Wu, Jun

    2014-02-15

    A simplified modal method (SMM) is presented that offers a clear physical image for subwavelength slanted grating. The diffraction characteristic of the slanted grating under Littrow configuration is revealed by the SMM as an equivalent rectangular grating, which is in good agreement with rigorous coupled-wave analysis. Based on the equivalence, we obtained an effective analytic solution for simplifying the design and optimization of a slanted grating. It offers a new approach for design of the slanted grating, e.g., a 1×2 beam splitter can be easily designed. This method should be helpful for designing various new slanted grating devices.

  17. Test of the Equivalence Principle in an Einstein Elevator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shapiro, Irwin I.; Glashow, S.; Lorenzini, E. C.; Cosmo, M. L.; Cheimets, P. N.; Finkelstein, N.; Schneps, M.

    2004-01-01

    The scientific goal of the experiment is to test the equality of gravitational and inertial mass (i.e., to test the Principle of Equivalence) by measuring the independence of the rate of fall of bodies from their compositions. The measurement is accomplished by measuring the relative displacement (or equivalently acceleration) of two falling bodies of different materials which are the proof masses of a differential accelerometer spinning about an horizontal axis to modulate a possible violation signal. A non-zero differential acceleration appearing at the signal frequency will indicate a violation of the Equivalence Principle. The goal of the experiment is to measure the Eotvos ratio og/g (differential acceleration/common acceleration) with a targeted accuracy that is about two orders of magnitude better than the state of the art (presently at several parts in 10(exp 13). The analyses carried out during this first grant year have focused on: (1) evaluation of possible shapes for the proof masses to meet the requirements on the higher-order mass moment disturbances generated by the falling capsule; (2) dynamics of the instrument package and differential acceleration measurement in the presence of errors and imperfections; (3) computation of the inertia characteristic of the instrument package that enable a separation of the signal from the dynamics-related noise; (4) a revised thermal analysis of the instrument package in light of the new conceptual design of the cryostat; (5) the development of a dynamic and control model of the capsule attached to the gondola and balloon to define the requirements for the leveling mechanism (6) a conceptual design of the leveling mechanism that keeps the capsule aligned before release from the balloon; and (7) a new conceptual design of the customized cryostat and a preliminary valuation of its cost. The project also involves an international cooperation with the Institute of Space Physics (IFSI) in Rome, Italy. The group at IFSI is in charge of prototyping the differential accelerometer and carrying out precursor laboratory measurements. During this grant year, our partners analyzed and then designed a new prototype of differential accelerometer that has several characteristics in common with the flight accelerometer at this point of the instrument development. The highlights of these activities are documented in a section of this report.

  18. Inverse Design of Low-Boom Supersonic Concepts Using Reversed Equivalent-Area Targets

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Li, Wu; Rallabhand, Sriam

    2011-01-01

    A promising path for developing a low-boom configuration is a multifidelity approach that (1) starts from a low-fidelity low-boom design, (2) refines the low-fidelity design with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) equivalent-area (Ae) analysis, and (3) improves the design with sonic-boom analysis by using CFD off-body pressure distributions. The focus of this paper is on the third step of this approach, in which the design is improved with sonic-boom analysis through the use of CFD calculations. A new inverse design process for off-body pressure tailoring is formulated and demonstrated with a low-boom supersonic configuration that was developed by using the mixed-fidelity design method with CFD Ae analysis. The new inverse design process uses the reverse propagation of the pressure distribution (dp/p) from a mid-field location to a near-field location, converts the near-field dp/p into an equivalent-area distribution, generates a low-boom target for the reversed equivalent area (Ae,r) of the configuration, and modifies the configuration to minimize the differences between the configuration s Ae,r and the low-boom target. The new inverse design process is used to modify a supersonic demonstrator concept for a cruise Mach number of 1.6 and a cruise weight of 30,000 lb. The modified configuration has a fully shaped ground signature that has a perceived loudness (PLdB) value of 78.5, while the original configuration has a partially shaped aft signature with a PLdB of 82.3.

  19. Learning and generalization from reward and punishment in opioid addiction.

    PubMed

    Myers, Catherine E; Rego, Janice; Haber, Paul; Morley, Kirsten; Beck, Kevin D; Hogarth, Lee; Moustafa, Ahmed A

    2017-01-15

    This study adapts a widely-used acquired equivalence paradigm to investigate how opioid-addicted individuals learn from positive and negative feedback, and how they generalize this learning. The opioid-addicted group consisted of 33 participants with a history of heroin dependency currently in a methadone maintenance program; the control group consisted of 32 healthy participants without a history of drug addiction. All participants performed a novel variant of the acquired equivalence task, where they learned to map some stimuli to correct outcomes in order to obtain reward, and to map other stimuli to correct outcomes in order to avoid punishment; some stimuli were implicitly "equivalent" in the sense of being paired with the same outcome. On the initial training phase, both groups performed similarly on learning to obtain reward, but as memory load grew, the control group outperformed the addicted group on learning to avoid punishment. On a subsequent testing phase, the addicted and control groups performed similarly on retention trials involving previously-trained stimulus-outcome pairs, as well as on generalization trials to assess acquired equivalence. Since prior work with acquired equivalence tasks has associated stimulus-outcome learning with the nigrostriatal dopamine system, and generalization with the hippocampal region, the current results are consistent with basal ganglia dysfunction in the opioid-addicted patients. Further, a selective deficit in learning from punishment could contribute to processes by which addicted individuals continue to pursue drug use even at the cost of negative consequences such as loss of income and the opportunity to engage in other life activities. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  20. Factorial Validity, Reliability, and Measurement Equivalence of the Noctcaelador Inventory across Three Ethnic Groups

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kelly, William E.

    2008-01-01

    This study examined the reliability, factorial validity, and measurement equivalence of the Noctcaelador Inventory (NI) among three ethnic groups of college students. Participants included 200 Whites, 200 African Americans, and 200 Latino/Hispanics. The results indicated that although the African American sample scored slightly lower than the…

  1. Effect Size Indices for Analyses of Measurement Equivalence: Understanding the Practical Importance of Differences between Groups

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nye, Christopher D.; Drasgow, Fritz

    2011-01-01

    Because of the practical, theoretical, and legal implications of differential item functioning (DIF) for organizational assessments, studies of measurement equivalence are a necessary first step before scores can be compared across individuals from different groups. However, commonly recommended criteria for evaluating results from these analyses…

  2. Performance of a 13-Stage Development Compressor for the J40-WE-24 Engine at Equivalent Speeds from 30 to 112 Percent of Design

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hatch, James E.; Lucas, James G.; Finger, Harold B.

    1953-01-01

    The performance of a 13-stage development comressor for the J40-WE-24 engine has been determined at equivalent speeds from 30 to 112 percent of design. The design total-pressure ratio of 6.0 and the design weight flow of 164 pounds per second were not attained, An analysis was conducted to determine the reasons for the poor performance at the design and over-design speed. The analysis indicated that most of the difficulty could be attributed to the fact that the first stage was overcompromised to favor part-speed performance,

  3. Operation CROSSROADS-1946

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-05-01

    design as the one that had been dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Each had a yield of 23 KT (the equivalent of 23,000 tons of TNT). This weapon type had been...tional control of the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT). On 3 June 1947, CNO sent a dispatch to CINIPACFLT designating three ships for...addition berths near Eneu Island designated by letters or their phonetic equivalent , e.g., Able for A, Jig for J. Oboe for 0, etc. Figure A.1 shows the

  4. Performance Prediction Relationships for AM2 Airfield Matting Developed from Full-Scale Accelerated Testing and Laboratory Experimentation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2018-01-01

    work, the prevailing methods used to predict the performance of AM2 were based on the CBR design procedure for flexible pavements using a small number...suitable for design and evaluation frameworks currently used for airfield pavements and matting systems. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this report...methods used to develop the equivalency curves equated the mat-surfaced area to an equivalent thickness of flexible pavement using the CBR design

  5. First echelon hospital care before trauma center transfer in a rural trauma system: does it affect outcome?

    PubMed

    Helling, Thomas S; Davit, Flavia; Edwards, Kim

    2010-12-01

    Rural trauma has been associated with higher mortality because of a number of geographic and demographic factors. Many victims, of necessity, are first cared for in nearby hospitals, many of which are not designated trauma centers (TCs), and then transferred to identified TCs. This first echelon care might adversely affect eventual outcome. We have sought to examine the fate of trauma patients transferred after first echelon hospital evaluation and treatment. All trauma patients transferred (referred group) to a Pennsylvania Level I TC located in a geographically isolated and rural setting during a 68-month period were retrospectively compared with patients transported directly to the TC (direct group). Outcome measures included mortality, complications, physiologic parameters on arrival at the TC, operations within 6 hours of arrival at the TC, discharge disposition from the TC, and functional outcome. Patients with an injury severity score <9 and those discharged from the TC within 24 hours were excluded. During the study period, 2,388 patients were transported directly and 529 were transferred. Mortality between groups was not different: 6% (referred) versus 9% (direct), p = 0.074. Occurrence of complications was not different between the two groups. Physiologic parameters (systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and Glasgow Coma Scale score) at admission to the Level I TC differed statistically between the two groups but seemed near equivalent clinically. Sixteen percent of patients required an operative procedure within 6 hours in the direct group compared with 10% in the referral group (p = 0.001). Hospital and intensive care unit length of stay were less in the referred group, although this was not statistically significant. Performance scores on discharge were equivalent in all categories except transfer ability. Time from injury to definitive care (TC) was 1.6 hours ± 3.0 hours in the direct group and 5.3 hours ± 3.8 hours in the referred group (p < 0.0001). The most common procedure performed at first echelon hospitals was airway control (55% of referred patients). In this rural setting, care at first echelon hospitals, most (95%) of which were not designated TCs, seemed to augment, rather than detract from, favorable outcomes realized after definitive care at the TC.

  6. Research of vibration control based on current mode piezoelectric shunt damping circuit

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Weiwei; Mao, Qibo

    2017-12-01

    The piezoelectric shunt damping circuit using current mode approach is imposed to control the vibration of a cantilever beam. Firstly, the simulated inductance with large values are designed for the corresponding RL series shunt circuits. Moreover, with an example of cantilever beam, the second natural frequency of the beam is targeted to control for experiment. By adjusting the values of the equivalent inductance and equivalent resistance of the shunt circuit, the optimal damping of the shunt circuit is obtained. Meanwhile, the designed piezoelectric shunt damping circuit stability is experimental verified. Experimental results show that the proposed piezoelectric shunt damping circuit based on current mode circuit has good vibration control performance. However, the control performance will be reduced if equivalent inductance and equivalent resistance values deviate from optimal values.

  7. Estimation of sample size and testing power (Part 3).

    PubMed

    Hu, Liang-ping; Bao, Xiao-lei; Guan, Xue; Zhou, Shi-guo

    2011-12-01

    This article introduces the definition and sample size estimation of three special tests (namely, non-inferiority test, equivalence test and superiority test) for qualitative data with the design of one factor with two levels having a binary response variable. Non-inferiority test refers to the research design of which the objective is to verify that the efficacy of the experimental drug is not clinically inferior to that of the positive control drug. Equivalence test refers to the research design of which the objective is to verify that the experimental drug and the control drug have clinically equivalent efficacy. Superiority test refers to the research design of which the objective is to verify that the efficacy of the experimental drug is clinically superior to that of the control drug. By specific examples, this article introduces formulas of sample size estimation for the three special tests, and their SAS realization in detail.

  8. A comparative appraisal of two equivalence tests for multiple standardized effects.

    PubMed

    Shieh, Gwowen

    2016-04-01

    Equivalence testing is recommended as a better alternative to the traditional difference-based methods for demonstrating the comparability of two or more treatment effects. Although equivalent tests of two groups are widely discussed, the natural extensions for assessing equivalence between several groups have not been well examined. This article provides a detailed and schematic comparison of the ANOVA F and the studentized range tests for evaluating the comparability of several standardized effects. Power and sample size appraisals of the two grossly distinct approaches are conducted in terms of a constraint on the range of the standardized means when the standard deviation of the standardized means is fixed. Although neither method is uniformly more powerful, the studentized range test has a clear advantage in sample size requirements necessary to achieve a given power when the underlying effect configurations are close to the priori minimum difference for determining equivalence. For actual application of equivalence tests and advance planning of equivalence studies, both SAS and R computer codes are available as supplementary files to implement the calculations of critical values, p-values, power levels, and sample sizes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Towards a more efficient diabetes control in primary care: six-monthly monitoring compared with three-monthly monitoring in type 2 diabetes - The EFFIMODI trial. Design of a randomised controlled patient-preference equivalence trial in primary care.

    PubMed

    Wermeling, Paulien R; van den Donk, Maureen; Gorter, Kees J; Ardine de Wit, G; van der Graaf, Yolanda; Rutten, Guy Ehm

    2010-05-11

    Scientific evidence for the frequency of monitoring of type 2 diabetes patients is lacking. If three-monthly control in general practice could be reduced to six-monthly control in some patients, this would on the one hand reduce the use of medical services including involvement of practice nurses, and thus reduce costs, and on the other hand alleviate the burden of people with type 2 diabetes. The goal of this study is to make primary diabetes care as efficient as possible for patients and health care providers. Therefore, we want to determine whether six-monthly monitoring of well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients in primary care leads to equivalent cardiometabolic control compared to the generally recommended three-monthly monitoring. The study is a randomised controlled patient-preference equivalence trial. Participants are asked if they prefer three-monthly (usual care) or six-monthly diabetes monitoring. If they do not have a preference, they are randomised to a three-monthly or six-monthly monitoring group. Patients are eligible for the study if they are between 40 and 80 years old, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes more than one year ago, treated by a general practitioner, not on insulin treatment, and with HbA1c < or = 7.5%, systolic blood pressure < or = 145 mmHg and total cholesterol < or = 5.2 mmol/l. The intervention group (six-monthly monitoring) will receive the same treatment with the same treatment targets as the control group (three-monthly monitoring). The intervention period will last one and a half year. After the intervention, the three-monthly and six-monthly monitoring groups are compared on equivalence of cardiometabolic control. Secondary outcome measures are HbA1c, blood pressure, cholesterol level, Body Mass Index, smoking behaviour, physical activity, loss of work due to illness, health status, diabetes-specific distress, satisfaction with treatment and adherence to medications. We will use intention-to-treat analysis with repeated measures. For outcomes that have only baseline and final measurements, we will use ANCOVA. Depending on the results, a cost-minimisation analysis or an incremental cost-effectiveness analysis will be done. This study will provide valuable information on the most efficient control frequency of well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients in primary care.

  10. A comparative study of the effects of intra and extra circumoral exercise for older people on oral health at nursing homes: a non-equivalent trial.

    PubMed

    Nam, Mijung; Uhm, Dongchoon

    2016-09-01

    To investigate the effects of using intra and extra circumoral exercise on subjective and objective parameters of pre- and postoral health of older people living in nursing homes. Oral health problems, such as dry mouth and halitosis, are very common complaints for older people and might be the cause of a physiological, psychological or social handicap. In an ageing society, a simple and convenient nursing intervention is needed to resolve these oral health problems without side effects. The present study adopted a pre- and posttest non-equivalent control group in a quasi-experimental design. A total of 41 older people (experimental group 21, control group 20) living in nursing homes participated in intra and extra circumoral exercise (25 min a day, six times per week for 4 weeks) to improve oral health in 2013. Chi-square test/Fisher's exact test, t-test/Mann-Whitney U-test and analysis of covariance were used for the data analysis. ancova was used to control the covariates (age and the basic values of dependent variables) to identify the effect of intra and extra circumoral exercise on the oral health between the two groups. Dry mouth symptoms decreased, oral motor function improved, salivary secretion and mouth opening size increased, salivary pH improved, halitosis decreased more in the experimental group than in the control group. However, the salivary IgA was not significantly different between the two groups. The intra and extra circumoral exercises as an independent nursing intervention can effectively promote oral health of older people. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  11. The Effect of Guided-Inquiry Instruction on 6th Grade Turkish Students' Achievement, Science Process Skills, and Attitudes Toward Science

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koksal, Ela Ayse; Berberoglu, Giray

    2014-01-01

    The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of guided-inquiry approach in science classes over existing science and technology curriculum in developing content-based science achievement, science process skills, and attitude toward science of grade level 6 students in Turkey. Non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used to investigate the treatment effect. There were 162 students in the experimental group and 142 students in the control group. Both the experimental and control group students took the Achievement Test in Reproduction, Development, and Growth in Living Things (RDGLT), Science Process Skills Test, and Attitudes Toward Science Questionnaire, as pre-test and post-test. Repeated analysis of variance design was used in analyzing the data. Both the experimental and control group students were taught in RDGLT units for 22 class hours. The results indicated the positive effect of guided-inquiry approach on the Turkish students' cognitive as well as affective characteristics. The guided inquiry enhanced the experimental group students' understandings of the science concepts as well as the inquiry skills more than the control group students. Similarly, the experimental group students improved their attitudes toward science more than the control group students as a result of treatment. The guided inquiry seems a transition between traditional teaching method and student-centred activities in the Turkish schools.

  12. Sci-Sat AM: Radiation Dosimetry and Practical Therapy Solutions - 01: Optimization of an organic field effect transistor for radiation dosimetry measurements

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

    Syme, Alasdair

    2016-08-15

    Purpose: To use Monte Carlo simulations to optimize the design of an organic field effect transistor (OFET) to maximize water-equivalence across the diagnostic and therapeutic photon energy ranges. Methods: DOSXYZnrc was used to simulate transport of mono-energetic photon beams through OFETs. Dose was scored in the dielectric region of devices and used for evaluating the response of the device relative to water. Two designs were considered: 1. a bottom-gate device on a substrate of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with an aluminum gate, a dielectric layer of either PMMA or CYTOP (a fluorocarbon) and an organic semiconductor (pentacene). 2. a symmetric bilayermore » design was employed in which two polymer layers (PET and CYTOP) were deposited both below the gate and above the semiconductor to improve water-equivalence and reduce directional dependence. The relative thickness of the layers was optimized to maximize water-equivalence. Results: Without the bilayer, water-equivalence was diminished relative to OFETs with the symmetric bilayer at low photon energies (below 80 keV). The bilayer’s composition was designed to have one layer with an effective atomic number larger than that of water and the other with an effective atomic number lower than that of water. For the particular materials used in this study, a PET layer 0.1mm thick coupled with a CYTOP layer of 900 nm provided a device with a water-equivalence within 3% between 20 keV and 5 MeV. Conclusions: organic electronic devices hold tremendous potential as water-equivalent dosimeters that could be used in a wide range of applications without recalibration.« less

  13. Optimal Sample Size Determinations for the Heteroscedastic Two One-Sided Tests of Mean Equivalence: Design Schemes and Software Implementations

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jan, Show-Li; Shieh, Gwowen

    2017-01-01

    Equivalence assessment is becoming an increasingly important topic in many application areas including behavioral and social sciences research. Although there exist more powerful tests, the two one-sided tests (TOST) procedure is a technically transparent and widely accepted method for establishing statistical equivalence. Alternatively, a direct…

  14. Equivalence in Symbolic and Nonsymbolic Contexts: Benefits of Solving Problems with Manipulatives

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sherman, Jody; Bisanz, Jeffrey

    2009-01-01

    Children's failure on equivalence problems (e.g., 5 + 4 = 7 + __) is believed to be the result of misunderstanding the equal sign and has been tested using symbolic problems (including "="). For Study 1 (N = 48), we designed a nonsymbolic method for presenting equivalence problems to determine whether Grade 2 children's difficulty is due…

  15. A quasi-experimental feasibility study to determine the effect of a systematic treatment programme on the scores of the Nottingham Adjustment Scale of individuals with visual field deficits following stroke.

    PubMed

    Taylor, Lisa; Poland, Fiona; Harrison, Peter; Stephenson, Richard

    2011-01-01

    To evaluate a systematic treatment programme developed by the researcher that targeted aspects of visual functioning affected by visual field deficits following stroke. The study design was a non-equivalent control (conventional) group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental feasibility design, using multisite data collection methods at specified stages. The study was undertaken within three acute hospital settings as outpatient follow-up sessions. Individuals who had visual field deficits three months post stroke were studied. A treatment group received routine occupational therapy and an experimental group received, in addition, a systematic treatment programme. The treatment phase of both groups lasted six weeks. The Nottingham Adjustment Scale, a measure developed specifically for visual impairment, was used as the primary outcome measure. The change in Nottingham Adjustment Scale score was compared between the experimental (n = 7) and conventional (n = 8) treatment groups using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. The result of Z = -2.028 (P = 0.043) showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the change in Nottingham Adjustment Scale score between both groups. The introduction of the systematic treatment programme resulted in a statistically significant change in the scores of the Nottingham Adjustment Scale.

  16. Conceptual Design Standards for eXternal Visibility System (XVS) Sensor and Display Resolution

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bailey, Randall E.; Wilz, Susan J.; Arthur, Jarvis J, III

    2012-01-01

    NASA is investigating eXternal Visibility Systems (XVS) concepts which are a combination of sensor and display technologies designed to achieve an equivalent level of safety and performance to that provided by forward-facing windows in today s subsonic aircraft. This report provides the background for conceptual XVS design standards for display and sensor resolution. XVS resolution requirements were derived from the basis of equivalent performance. Three measures were investigated: a) human vision performance; b) see-and-avoid performance and safety; and c) see-to-follow performance. From these three factors, a minimum but perhaps not sufficient resolution requirement of 60 pixels per degree was shown for human vision equivalence. However, see-and-avoid and see-to-follow performance requirements are nearly double. This report also reviewed historical XVS testing.

  17. Certainty Equivalence M-MRAC for Systems with Unmatched Uncertainties

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stepanyan, Vahram; Krishnakumar, Kalmanje

    2012-01-01

    The paper presents a certainty equivalence state feedback indirect adaptive control design method for the systems of any relative degree with unmatched uncertainties. The approach is based on the parameter identification (estimation) model, which is completely separated from the control design and is capable of producing parameter estimates as fast as the computing power allows without generating high frequency oscillations. It is shown that the system's input and output tracking errors can be systematically decreased by the proper choice of the design parameters.

  18. Estimation of thyroid equivalent doses during evacuation based on body surface contamination levels in the nuclear accident of FDNPS in 2011

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ohba, Takashi; Hasegawa, Arifumi; Kohayakawa, Yoshitaka; Kondo, Hisayoshi; Suzuki, Gen

    2017-09-01

    To reduce uncertainty in thyroid dose estimation, residents' radiation protection behavior should be reflected in the estimation. Screening data of body surface contamination provide information on exposure levels during evacuation. Our purpose is to estimate thyroid equivalent doses based on body surface contamination levels using a new methodology. We obtained a record of 7,539 residents/evacuees. Geiger-Mueller survey meter measurement value in cpm was translated into Bq/cm2 according to the nuclides densities obtained by measuring clothing from two persons by germanium γ-spectrometer. The measurement value of body surface contamination on head was adjusted by a natural removal rate of 15 hours and radionuclides' physical half-life. Thyroid equivalent dose of 1-year-old children by inhalation was estimated by two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation. The proportions of evacuees/residents with measurement value in cpm of Namie and Minamisoma groups were higher than those of other groups during both periods (p<0.01, Kruskal-Wallis). During 12-14 March period, 50 and 95 percentiles of thyroid equivalent doses by inhalation were estimated as 2.7 and 86.0 mSv, respectively, for Namie group, and 4.2 and 17.2 mSv, respectively, for Minamisoma group, 0.1 and 1.0 mSv, respectively, for Tomioka/Okuma/Futaba/Naraha group, and 0.2 and 2.1 mSv, respectively, for the other group. During 15- 17 March period, 50 and 95 percentiles of thyroid equivalent doses by inhalation were 0.8 and 15.7 mSv, respectively, for Namie group, and 1.6 and 8.4 mSv, respectively, for Minamisoma group, 0.2 and 13.2 mSv, respectively, for Tomioka/Okuma/Futaba/Naraha group, and 1.2 and 12.7 mSv, respectively, for the other group. It was indicated that inhalation dose was generally higher in Namie and Minamisoma groups during 12-14 March than those during 15-17 March might reflect different self-protective behavior to radioactive plumes from other groups.

  19. Measurement Equivalence across Racial/Ethnic Groups of the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire for Childhood Depression

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Banh, My K.; Crane, Paul K.; Rhew, Isaac; Gudmundsen, Gretchen; Stoep, Ann Vander; Lyon, Aaron; McCauley, Elizabeth

    2012-01-01

    As research continues to document differences in the prevalence of mental health problems such as depression across racial/ethnic groups, the issue of measurement equivalence becomes increasingly important to address. The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) is a widely used screening tool for child and adolescent depression. This study applied a…

  20. The Effects of Accelerated Math Utilization on Grade Equivalency Score at a Selected Elementary School

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kariuki, Patrick; Gentry, Christi

    2010-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Accelerated Math utilization on students' grade equivalency scores. Twelve students for both experimental and control groups were randomly selected from 37 students enrolled in math in grades four through six. The experimental group consisted of the students who actively participated in…

  1. The Postoperative Pain Assessment Skills pilot trial.

    PubMed

    McGillion, Michael; Dubrowski, Adam; Stremler, Robyn; Watt-Watson, Judy; Campbell, Fiona; McCartney, Colin; Victor, Charles; Wiseman, Jeffrey; Snell, Linda; Costello, Judy; Robb, Anja; Nelson, Sioban; Stinson, Jennifer; Hunter, Judith; Dao, Thuan; Promislow, Sara; McNaughton, Nancy; White, Scott; Shobbrook, Cindy; Jeffs, Lianne; Mauch, Kianda; Leegaard, Marit; Beattie, W Scott; Schreiber, Martin; Silver, Ivan

    2011-01-01

    BACKGROUND⁄ Pain-related misbeliefs among health care professionals (HCPs) are common and contribute to ineffective postoperative pain assessment. While standardized patients (SPs) have been effectively used to improve HCPs' assessment skills, not all centres have SP programs. The present equivalence randomized controlled pilot trial examined the efficacy of an alternative simulation method - deteriorating patient-based simulation (DPS) - versus SPs for improving HCPs' pain knowledge and assessment skills. Seventy-two HCPs were randomly assigned to a 3 h SP or DPS simulation intervention. Measures were recorded at baseline, immediate postintervention and two months postintervention. The primary outcome was HCPs' pain assessment performance as measured by the postoperative Pain Assessment Skills Tool (PAST). Secondary outcomes included HCPs knowledge of pain-related misbeliefs, and perceived satisfaction and quality of the simulation. These outcomes were measured by the Pain Beliefs Scale (PBS), the Satisfaction with Simulated Learning Scale (SSLS) and the Simulation Design Scale (SDS), respectively. Student's t tests were used to test for overall group differences in postintervention PAST, SSLS and SDS scores. One-way analysis of covariance tested for overall group differences in PBS scores. DPS and SP groups did not differ on post-test PAST, SSLS or SDS scores. Knowledge of pain-related misbeliefs was also similar between groups. These pilot data suggest that DPS is an effective simulation alternative for HCPs' education on postoperative pain assessment, with improvements in performance and knowledge comparable with SP-based simulation. An equivalence trial to examine the effectiveness of deteriorating patient-based simulation versus standardized patients is warranted.

  2. Assessing Measurement Equivalence in Ordered-Categorical Data

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Elosua, Paula

    2011-01-01

    Assessing measurement equivalence in the framework of the common factor linear models (CFL) is known as factorial invariance. This methodology is used to evaluate the equivalence among the parameters of a measurement model among different groups. However, when dichotomous, Likert, or ordered responses are used, one of the assumptions of the CFL is…

  3. 40 CFR 1066.805 - Road-load power, test weight, and inertia weight class determination.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    .... (a) Simulate a vehicle's test weight on the dynamometer using the appropriate equivalent test weight shown in Table 1 of this section. Equivalent test weights are established according to each vehicle's... weight class corresponding to each equivalent test weight; the inertia weight class allows for grouping...

  4. Risk factor outcome comparison between exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation, traditional care, and an educational workshop.

    PubMed

    Adams, Jenny L; Nuss, Terri; Banks, Carolyn; Hartman, Julie; Segrest, Wendy; Spears, Joanne; Yount, Phyllis; Bryant, Lona

    2007-01-01

    This study examined risk factor outcomes among patients who attended cardiac rehabilitation sessions, those who received traditional care, and those who attended Leap for Life workshops. A non-equivalent, three-group design was used in this observational study. Baseline and 12-month measurements were collected for 217 participants. Analysis of covariance was performed to determine differences between groups on outcome variables. The only significant finding was in participants with an initial high-density lipoprotein value of less than 40. High-density lipoprotein levels increased more in the cardiac rehabilitation group than in the traditional care group (30.54 to 37.48 versus 30.17 to 33.67 [F= 4.577, p = .035]). Based on these findings, a strong case can be made for the transition to more individually intense and focused risk factor modification strategies for patients in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

  5. Fostering Pre-service Teachers' Self-Determined Environmental Motivation Through Green Chemistry Experiments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Karpudewan, Mageswary; Ismail, Zurida; Roth, Wolff-Michael

    2012-10-01

    The global environmental crisis intensifies particularly in developing nations. Environmental educators have begun to understand that changing the environmental impact requires not only changes in pro-environmental knowledge and attitudes but also in associated, self-determined motivation. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that a green chemistry curriculum changes Malaysian pre-service teachers' environmental motivation. Two comparable groups of pre-service teachers participated in this study. The students in the experimental group ( N = 140) did green chemistry experiments whereas the control group ( N = 123) did equivalent experiments in a traditional manner. Posttest results indicate that there is significant difference between both the groups for intrinsic motivation, integration, identification, and introjections scales and no differences for external regulation and amotivation scales. The qualitative analysis of interview data suggests that the changes are predominantly due to the personal satisfaction that participants derived from engaging in pro-environmental behavior.

  6. Effect of case-based learning on the development of graduate nurses' problem-solving ability.

    PubMed

    Yoo, Moon-Sook; Park, Jin-Hee

    2014-01-01

    Case-based learning (CBL) is a teaching strategy which promotes clinical problem-solving ability. This research was performed to investigate the effects of CBL on problem-solving ability of graduate nurses. This research was a quasi-experimental design using pre-test, intervention, and post-test with a non-synchronized, non-equivalent control group. The study population was composed of 190 new graduate nurses from university hospital A in Korea. Results of the research indicate that there was a statistically significant difference in objective problem-solving ability scores of CBL group demonstrating higher scores. Subjective problem-solving ability was also significantly higher in CBL group than in the lecture-based group. These results may suggest that CBL is a beneficial and effective instructional method of training graduate nurses to improve their clinical problem-solving ability. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Teacher ratings of ODD symptoms: measurement equivalence across Malaysian Malay, Chinese and Indian children.

    PubMed

    Gomez, Rapson

    2014-04-01

    The study examined the measurement equivalence for teacher ratings across Malaysian Malay, Chinese and Indian children. Malaysian teachers completed ratings of the ODD symptoms for 574 Malay, 247 Chinese and 98 Indian children. The results supported the equivalences for the configural, metric, and error variances models, and the equivalences for ODD latent variances and mean scores. Together, these findings suggest good support for measurement and structural equivalences of the ODD symptoms across these ethnic groups. The theoretical and clinical implications of the findings for cross-cultural equivalence of the ODD symptoms are discussed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Finite element analysis of a novel implant distribution to support maxillary overdentures.

    PubMed

    Osman, Reham B; Elkhadem, Amr H; Ma, Sunyoung; Swain, Michael V

    2013-01-01

    To evaluate the biomechanics of a novel implant placement distribution and compare it with that of conventional maxillary overdenture support using three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA). The application of zirconia implants in the context of this novel design was also evaluated. Detailed FEA models were created to analyze the loading responses of two different distributions of implants to support maxillary overdentures. The two implant distributions were as follows: the conventional design (D1) included four unsplinted implants in the premolar regions, whereas the novel design (D2) included one midpalatal implant, bilateral canine/premolar implants, and one anterior off-center crestal implant. Anatomical models were created with computed tomographic data and static loads were applied axially and obliquely. Von Mises stresses and equivalent strains generated in peri-implant bone and first principal stresses in the implants were calculated, including any denture displacement. Comparable stress and strain values were seen in the peri-implant bone for both designs. A significant decrease in the first principal stresses of D2 implants was observed with oblique loads. The maximum equivalent strain produced in the peri-implant region was mostly within the range for bone augmentation. D2 displayed lower maximum displacement values than D1. Maximum tensile stresses in the zirconia implants for either design were well below their fracture strength. A novel four-implant distribution involving midpalatal and crestal implants may be an alternative to the conventional design used for maxillary overdentures. This is particularly relevant when anatomical considerations prevent the placement of four anterior crestal implants. Zirconia implants may also be a valid option for a selected group of patients or for those requesting metal-free restorations. Prospective clinical studies are required to confirm these in vitro results.

  9. Teaching Cardiac Examination Skills

    PubMed Central

    Smith, Christopher A; Hart, Avery S; Sadowski, Laura S; Riddle, Janet; Evans, Arthur T; Clarke, Peter M; Ganschow, Pamela S; Mason, Ellen; Sequeira, Winston; Wang, Yue

    2006-01-01

    OBJECTIVE To determine if structured teaching of bedside cardiac examination skills improves medical residents' examination technique and their identification of key clinical findings. DESIGN Firm-based single-blinded controlled trial. SETTING Inpatient service at a university-affiliated public teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS Eighty Internal Medicine residents. METHODS The study assessed 2 intervention groups that received 3-hour bedside teaching sessions during their 4-week rotation using either: (1) a traditional teaching method, “demonstration and practice” (DP) (n=26) or (2) an innovative method, “collaborative discovery” (CD) (n=24). The control group received their usual ward teaching sessions (n=25). The main outcome measures were scores on examination technique and correct identification of key clinical findings on an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). RESULTS All 3 groups had similar scores for both their examination technique and identification of key findings in the preintervention OSCE. After teaching, both intervention groups significantly improved their technical examination skills compared with the control group. The increase was 10% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4% to 17%) for CD versus control and 12% (95% CI 6% to 19%) for DP versus control (both P<.005) equivalent to an additional 3 to 4 examination skills being correctly performed. Improvement in key findings was limited to a 5% (95% CI 2% to 9%) increase for the CD teaching method, CD versus control P=.046, equivalent to the identification of an additional 2 key clinical findings. CONCLUSIONS Both programs of bedside teaching increase the technical examination skills of residents but improvements in the identification of key clinical findings were modest and only demonstrated with a new method of teaching. PMID:16423116

  10. Applying machine learning to pattern analysis for automated in-design layout optimization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cain, Jason P.; Fakhry, Moutaz; Pathak, Piyush; Sweis, Jason; Gennari, Frank; Lai, Ya-Chieh

    2018-04-01

    Building on previous work for cataloging unique topological patterns in an integrated circuit physical design, a new process is defined in which a risk scoring methodology is used to rank patterns based on manufacturing risk. Patterns with high risk are then mapped to functionally equivalent patterns with lower risk. The higher risk patterns are then replaced in the design with their lower risk equivalents. The pattern selection and replacement is fully automated and suitable for use for full-chip designs. Results from 14nm product designs show that the approach can identify and replace risk patterns with quantifiable positive impact on the risk score distribution after replacement.

  11. Intrusive thoughts in obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorder patients: a differential analysis.

    PubMed

    García-Soriano, Gemma; Roncero, Maria; Perpiñá, Conxa; Belloch, Amparo

    2014-05-01

    The present study aims to compare the unwanted intrusions experienced by obsessive-compulsive (OCD) and eating disorder (ED) patients, their appraisals, and their control strategies and analyse which variables predict the intrusions' disruption and emotional disturbance in each group. Seventy-nine OCD and 177 ED patients completed two equivalent self-reports designed to assess OCD-related and ED-related intrusions, their dysfunctional appraisals, and associated control strategies. OCD and ED patients experienced intrusions with comparable frequency and emotional disturbance, but OCD patients experienced greater disruption. Differences appeared between groups on some appraisals and control strategies. Intolerance to uncertainty (OCD group) and thought importance (ED group) predicted their respective emotional disturbance and disruption. Additionally, control importance (OCD group) and thought-action fusion moral (OCD and ED groups) predicted their emotional disturbance. OCD and ED share the presence of intrusions; however, different variables explain why they are disruptive and emotionally disturbing. Cognitive intrusions require further investigation as a transdiagnostic variable. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

  12. The effects of reminiscence in promoting mental health of Taiwanese elderly.

    PubMed

    Wang, Jing-Jy; Hsu, Ya-Chuan; Cheng, Su-Fen

    2005-01-01

    This study examined the effects of reminiscence on four selected mental health indicators, including depressive symptoms, mood status, self-esteem, and self-health perception of elderly people residing in community care facilities and at home. A longitudinal quasi-experimental design was conducted, using two equivalent groups for pre-post test and purposive sampling with random assignment. Each subject was administered pre- and post- tests at a 4 month interval but subjects in the experimental group underwent weekly intervention. Ninety-four subjects completed the study, with 48 in the control group and 46 in the experimental group. In the experimental group, a statistically significant difference (p = 0.041) was found between the pre-post tests on the dependent variable, depressive symptoms. However, no statistical significance was found in subjects' level of mood status, self-esteem, and self-health perception after the intervention in the experimental group, but slightly improvement was found. Reminiscence not only supports depression of the elderly but also empower nurses to become proactive in their daily nursing care activities.

  13. Surface changes of enamel after brushing with charcoal toothpaste

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pertiwi, U. I.; Eriwati, Y. K.; Irawan, B.

    2017-08-01

    The aim of this study was to determine the surface roughness changes of tooth enamel after brushing with charcoal toothpaste. Thirty specimens were brushed using distilled water (the first group), Strong® Formula toothpaste (the second group), and Charcoal® Formula toothpaste for four minutes and 40 seconds (equivalent to one month) and for 14 minutes (equivalent to three months) using a soft fleece toothbrush with a mass of 150 gr. The roughness was measured using a surface roughness tester, and the results were tested with repeated ANOVA test and one-way ANOVA. The value of the surface roughness of tooth enamel was significantly different (p<0.05) after brushing for an equivalent of one month and an equivalent of three months. Using toothpaste containing charcoal can increase the surface roughness of tooth enamel.

  14. Testing for multigroup equivalence of a measuring instrument: a walk through the process.

    PubMed

    Byrne, Barbara M

    2008-11-01

    This article presents an overview and application of the steps taken in testing for the equivalence of a measuring instrument across one or more groups. Following a basic description of, and rationale underlying these steps, the process is illustrated with data comprising response scores to four nonacademic subscales (Physical SC [Ability], Physical SC [Appearance], Social SC [Peers], and Social SC [Parents]) of the Self Description Questionnaire-I for Australian (N = 497) and Nigerian (N = 439) adolescents. All tests for validity and equivalence are based on the analysis of covariance structures within the framework of CFA models using the EQS 6 program. Prospective impediments to equivalence are suggested and additional caveats proposed in the special case where the groups under study represent different cultures.

  15. The effect of Think Pair Share (TPS) using scientific approach on students’ self-confidence and mathematical problem-solving

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rifa’i, A.; Lestari, H. P.

    2018-03-01

    This study was designed to know the effects of Think Pair Share using Scientific Approach on students' self-confidence and mathematical problem-solving. Quasi-experimental with pre-test post-test non-equivalent group method was used as a basis for design this study. Self-confidence questionnaire and problem-solving test have been used for measurement of the two variables. Two classes of the first grade in religious senior high school (MAN) in Indonesia were randomly selected for this study. Teaching sequence and series from mathematics book at control group in the traditional way and at experiment group has been in TPS using scientific approach learning method. For data analysis regarding students’ problem-solving skill and self-confidence, One-Sample t-Test, Independent Sample t-Test, and Multivariate of Variance (MANOVA) were used. The results showed that (1) TPS using a scientific approach and traditional learning had positive effects (2) TPS using scientific approach learning in comparative with traditional learning had a more significant effect on students’ self-confidence and problem-solving skill.

  16. Product Quality Research Institute evaluation of cascade impactor profiles of pharmaceutical aerosols: part 2--evaluation of a method for determining equivalence.

    PubMed

    Christopher, David; Adams, Wallace P; Lee, Douglas S; Morgan, Beth; Pan, Ziqing; Singh, Gur Jai Pal; Tsong, Yi; Lyapustina, Svetlana

    2007-01-19

    The purpose of this article is to present the thought process, methods, and interim results of a PQRI Working Group, which was charged with evaluating the chi-square ratio test as a potential method for determining in vitro equivalence of aerodynamic particle size distribution (APSD) profiles obtained from cascade impactor measurements. Because this test was designed with the intention of being used as a tool in regulatory review of drug applications, the capability of the test to detect differences in APSD profiles correctly and consistently was evaluated in a systematic way across a designed space of possible profiles. To establish a "base line," properties of the test in the simplest case of pairs of identical profiles were studied. Next, the test's performance was studied with pairs of profiles, where some difference was simulated in a systematic way on a single deposition site using realistic product profiles. The results obtained in these studies, which are presented in detail here, suggest that the chi-square ratio test in itself is not sufficient to determine equivalence of particle size distributions. This article, therefore, introduces the proposal to combine the chi-square ratio test with a test for impactor-sized mass based on Population Bioequivalence and describes methods for evaluating discrimination capabilities of the combined test. The approaches and results described in this article elucidate some of the capabilities and limitations of the original chi-square ratio test and provide rationale for development of additional tests capable of comparing APSD profiles of pharmaceutical aerosols.

  17. 40 CFR Table E-1 to Subpart E of... - Summary of Test Requirements for Reference and Class I Equivalent Methods for PM2.5 and PM10-2.5

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... Reference and Class I Equivalent Methods for PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 E Table E-1 to Subpart E of Part 53... MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS Procedures for Testing Physical (Design) and Performance Characteristics of Reference Methods and Class I and Class II Equivalent Methods for PM2.5 or PM10â2.5 Pt. 53...

  18. An experimental demonstration of stem damage as a predictor of fire-caused mortality for ponderosa pine

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    van Mantgem, P.; Schwartz, M.

    2004-01-01

    We subjected 159 small ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. & C. Laws.) to treatments designed to test the relative importance of stem damage as a predictor of postfire mortality. The treatments consisted of a group with the basal bark artificially thinned, a second group with fuels removed from the base of the stem, and an untreated control. Following prescribed burning, crown scorch severity was equivalent among the groups. Postfire mortality was significantly less frequent in the fuels removal group than in the bark removal and control groups. No model of mortality for the fuels removal group was possible, because dead trees constituted <4% of subject trees. Mortality in the bark removal group was best predicted by crown scorch and stem scorch severity, whereas death in the control group was predicted by crown scorch severity and bark thickness. The relative lack of mortality in the fuels removal group and the increased sensitivity to stem damage in the bark removal group suggest that stem damage is a critical determinant of postfire mortality for small ponderosa pine.

  19. A study of microwave downcoverters operating in the K sub u band

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fellers, R. G.; Simpson, T. L.; Tseng, B.

    1982-01-01

    A computer program for parametric amplifier design is developed with special emphasis on practical design considerations for microwave integrated circuit degenerate amplifiers. Precision measurement techniques are developed to obtain a more realistic varactor equivalent circuit. The existing theory of a parametric amplifier is modified to include the equivalent circuit, and microwave properties, such as loss characteristics and circuit discontinuities are investigated.

  20. 28 CFR 0.137 - Designating officials to perform the functions and duties of certain offices in case of absence...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section, the ranking deputy (or an equivalent official) in such unit who is... directs otherwise. Except as otherwise provided by law, if there is no ranking deputy available, the... designate the ranking deputy (or an equivalent official) in the unit who is available to act as head. If...

  1. 49 CFR 229.207 - New locomotive crashworthiness design standards and changes to existing FRA-approved locomotive...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... requirements of § 229.205 for the type of locomotive design or provides at least an equivalent level of safety... least an equivalent level of safety. Types of data and analysis to be considered are described in § 229.211(c)(1). (d) Petitions for FRA approval of non-substantive changes to the existing FRA-approved...

  2. Design of bent waveguide semiconductor lasers using nonlinear equivalent chirp

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Lianyan; Shi, Yuechun; Zhang, Yunshan; Chen, Xiangfei

    2018-01-01

    Reconstruction equivalent chirp (REC) technique is widely used in the design and fabrication of semiconductor laser arrays and tunable lasers with low cost and high wavelength accuracy. Bent waveguide is a promising method to suppress the zeroth order resonance, which is an intrinsic problem in REC technique. However, it may introduce basic grating chirp and deteriorate the single longitudinal mode (SLM) property of the laser. A nonlinear equivalent chirp pattern is proposed in this paper to compensate the grating chirp and improve the SLM property. It will benefit the realization of low-cost Distributed feedback (DFB) semiconductor laser arrays with accurate lasing wavelength.

  3. 10 CFR 72.106 - Controlled area of an ISFSI or MRS.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... controlled area may not receive from any design basis accident the more limiting of a total effective dose equivalent of 0.05 Sv (5 rem), or the sum of the deep-dose equivalent and the committed dose equivalent to any individual organ or tissue (other than the lens of the eye) of 0.5 Sv (50 rem). The lens dose...

  4. 10 CFR 72.106 - Controlled area of an ISFSI or MRS.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... controlled area may not receive from any design basis accident the more limiting of a total effective dose equivalent of 0.05 Sv (5 rem), or the sum of the deep-dose equivalent and the committed dose equivalent to any individual organ or tissue (other than the lens of the eye) of 0.5 Sv (50 rem). The lens dose...

  5. 10 CFR 72.106 - Controlled area of an ISFSI or MRS.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... controlled area may not receive from any design basis accident the more limiting of a total effective dose equivalent of 0.05 Sv (5 rem), or the sum of the deep-dose equivalent and the committed dose equivalent to any individual organ or tissue (other than the lens of the eye) of 0.5 Sv (50 rem). The lens dose...

  6. 10 CFR 72.106 - Controlled area of an ISFSI or MRS.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... controlled area may not receive from any design basis accident the more limiting of a total effective dose equivalent of 0.05 Sv (5 rem), or the sum of the deep-dose equivalent and the committed dose equivalent to any individual organ or tissue (other than the lens of the eye) of 0.5 Sv (50 rem). The lens dose...

  7. 10 CFR 72.106 - Controlled area of an ISFSI or MRS.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... controlled area may not receive from any design basis accident the more limiting of a total effective dose equivalent of 0.05 Sv (5 rem), or the sum of the deep-dose equivalent and the committed dose equivalent to any individual organ or tissue (other than the lens of the eye) of 0.5 Sv (50 rem). The lens dose...

  8. Effect of Arctic Amplification on Design Snow Loads in Alaska

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-09-01

    snow water equivalent UFC Unified Facilities Criteria UTC Coordinated Universal Time Keywords: Alaska, Arctic amplification, climate change...extreme value analysis, snow loads, snow water equivalent , SWE Acknowledgements: This work was conducted with support from the Strategic... equivalent (SWE) of the snowpack. We acquired SWE data from a number of sources that provide automatic or manual observations, reanalysis data, or

  9. A Mixed-Fidelity Approach for Design of Low-Boom Supersonic Aircraft

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Li, Wu; Shields, Elwood; Geiselhart, Karl A.

    2010-01-01

    This paper documents a mixed-fidelity approach for the design of low-boom supersonic aircraft as a viable approach for designing a practical low-boom supersonic configuration. A low-boom configuration that is based on low-fidelity analysis is used as the baseline. Tail lift is included to help tailor the aft portion of the ground signature. A comparison of low- and high-fidelity analysis results demonstrates the necessity of using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis in a low-boom supersonic configuration design process. The fuselage shape is modified iteratively to obtain a configuration with a CFD equivalent-area distribution that matches a predetermined low-boom target distribution. The mixed-fidelity approach can easily refine the low-fidelity low-boom baseline into a low-boom configuration with the use of CFD equivalent-area analysis. The ground signature of the final configuration is calculated by using a state-of-the-art CFD-based boom analysis method that generates accurate midfield pressure distributions for propagation to the ground with ray tracing. The ground signature that is propagated from a midfield pressure distribution has a shaped ramp front, which is similar to the ground signature that is propagated from the CFD equivalent-area distribution. This result confirms the validity of the low-boom supersonic configuration design by matching a low-boom equivalent-area target, which is easier to accomplish than matching a low-boom midfield pressure target.

  10. Design and synthesis of novel δ opioid receptor agonists with an azatricyclodecane skeleton for improving blood-brain barrier penetration.

    PubMed

    Watanabe, Yoshikazu; Hayashida, Kohei; Saito, Daisuke; Takahashi, Toshihiro; Sakai, Junichi; Nakata, Eriko; Kanda, Takashi; Iwai, Takashi; Hirayama, Shigeto; Fujii, Hideaki; Yamakawa, Tomio; Nagase, Hiroshi

    2017-08-01

    We designed and synthesized novel δ opioid receptor (DOR) agonists 3a-i with an azatricyclodecane skeleton, which was a novel structural class of DOR agonists. Among them, 3b exhibited high values of binding affinity and potent agonistic activity for the DOR that were approximately equivalent to those of 2 which bore an oxazatricyclodecane skeleton. In vitro assays using the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability test kit supported the idea that 3b achieved an excellent BBB permeability by converting an oxygen atom of 2 to a carbon atom (methylene group) in the core skeleton. As a result, 3b showed potent antinociceptive effects. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Defining Equivalence in Medical Education Evaluation and Research: Does a Distribution-Based Approach Work?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rusticus, Shayna A.; Eva, Kevin W.

    2016-01-01

    Educators often seek to demonstrate the equivalence of groups, such as whether or not students achieve comparable success regardless of the site at which they trained. A methodological consideration that is often underappreciated is how to operationalize equivalence. This study examined whether a distribution-based approach, based on effect size,…

  12. Testing for Measurement and Structural Equivalence in Large-Scale Cross-Cultural Studies: Addressing the Issue of Nonequivalence

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Byrne, Barbara M.; van de Vijver, Fons J. R.

    2010-01-01

    A critical assumption in cross-cultural comparative research is that the instrument measures the same construct(s) in exactly the same way across all groups (i.e., the instrument is measurement and structurally equivalent). Structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures are commonly used in testing these assumptions of multigroup equivalence.…

  13. Isoflavonoid content of Hong Kong soy foods.

    PubMed

    Chan, Sieu G; Murphy, Patricia A; Ho, Suzanne C; Kreiger, Nancy; Darlington, Gerarda; So, Edwin K F; Chong, Portia Y Y

    2009-06-24

    Progress in understanding the effects of dietary soy isoflavones on chronic disease prevention in the Hong Kong Chinese population has been hampered by the lack of a comprehensive soy isoflavone database. In this study, we determined the concentrations and distribution of isoflavones in 47 foods included in a soy food frequency questionnaire by reverse-phase HPLC. Results indicated that most soy products contained isoflavones ranging from 1 mg of aglucon equivalents/100 g of wet weight (bean strip noodle and egg bean curd) to 80 mg of aglucon equivalents/100 g of wet weight (oyster sauce soybean and sweet bean curd sheet). Among our food groups, mean isoflavone concentrations were lowest in the soy milk group (9.99 mg of aglucon equivalents/100 g of wet weight) and highest in the bean curd skin group (40 mg of aglucon equivalents/100 g of wet weight). The conjugation patterns of isoflavones varied within and between food groups as influenced by the types of soybeans and the processing or cooking techniques used. The isoflavone concentrations reported herein will be useful for ascertaining the relationship between exposure to dietary soy isoflavones and health effects in the Chinese population.

  14. The Effectiveness of Using Interactive Multimedia in Improving the Concept of Fashion Design and Its Application in The Making of Digital Fashion Design

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wiana, W.

    2018-02-01

    This research is related to the effort to design a more representative learning system to improve the learning result of digital fashion design, through the development of interactive multimedia based on motion graphic. This research is aimed to know the effect of interactive multimedia application based on motion graphic to increase the mastery of the concept and skill of the students to making fashion designing in digital format. The research method used is quasi experiment with research design of Non-equivalent Control Group Design. The lectures are conducted in two different classes, namely class A as the Experimental Class and class B as the Control Class. From the calculation result after interpreted using Normalize Gain, there is an increase of higher learning result in student with interactive learning based on motion graphic, compared with student achievement on conventional learning. In this research, interactive multimedia learning based on motion graphic is effective toward the improvement of student learning in concept mastering indicator and on the aspect of making fashion design in digital format.

  15. Advancing Research on Racial–Ethnic Health Disparities: Improving Measurement Equivalence in Studies with Diverse Samples

    PubMed Central

    Landrine, Hope; Corral, Irma

    2014-01-01

    To conduct meaningful, epidemiologic research on racial–ethnic health disparities, racial–ethnic samples must be rendered equivalent on other social status and contextual variables via statistical controls of those extraneous factors. The racial–ethnic groups must also be equally familiar with and have similar responses to the methods and measures used to collect health data, must have equal opportunity to participate in the research, and must be equally representative of their respective populations. In the absence of such measurement equivalence, studies of racial–ethnic health disparities are confounded by a plethora of unmeasured, uncontrolled correlates of race–ethnicity. Those correlates render the samples, methods, and measures incomparable across racial–ethnic groups, and diminish the ability to attribute health differences discovered to race–ethnicity vs. to its correlates. This paper reviews the non-equivalent yet normative samples, methodologies and measures used in epidemiologic studies of racial–ethnic health disparities, and provides concrete suggestions for improving sample, method, and scalar measurement equivalence. PMID:25566524

  16. Assessing learning outcomes and cost effectiveness of an online sleep curriculum for medical students.

    PubMed

    Bandla, Hari; Franco, Rose A; Simpson, Deborah; Brennan, Kimberly; McKanry, Jennifer; Bragg, Dawn

    2012-08-15

    Sleep disorders are highly prevalent across all age groups but often remain undiagnosed and untreated, resulting in significant health consequences. To overcome an inadequacy of available curricula and learner and instructor time constraints, this study sought to determine if an online sleep medicine curriculum would achieve equivalent learner outcomes when compared with traditional, classroom-based, face-to-face instruction at equivalent costs. Medical students rotating on a required clinical clerkship received instruction in 4 core clinical sleep-medicine competency domains in 1 of 2 delivery formats: a single 2.5-hour face-to-face workshop or 4 asynchronous e-learning modules. Immediate learning outcomes were assessed in a subsequent clerkship using a multiple-choice examination and standardized patient station, with long-term outcomes assessed through analysis of students' patient write-ups for inclusion of sleep complaints and diagnoses before and after the intervention. Instructional costs by delivery format were tracked. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses compared learning outcomes and costs by instructional delivery method (face-to-face versus e-learning). Face-to-face learners, compared with online learners, were more satisfied with instruction. Learning outcomes (i.e., multiple-choice examination, standardized patient encounter, patient write-up), as measured by short-term and long-term assessments, were roughly equivalent. Design, delivery, and learner-assessment costs by format were equivalent at the end of 1 year, due to higher ongoing teaching costs associated with face-to-face learning offsetting online development and delivery costs. Because short-term and long-term learner performance outcomes were roughly equivalent, based on delivery method, the cost effectiveness of online learning is an economically and educationally viable instruction platform for clinical clerkships.

  17. Optimal study design with identical power: an application of power equivalence to latent growth curve models.

    PubMed

    von Oertzen, Timo; Brandmaier, Andreas M

    2013-06-01

    Structural equation models have become a broadly applied data-analytic framework. Among them, latent growth curve models have become a standard method in longitudinal research. However, researchers often rely solely on rules of thumb about statistical power in their study designs. The theory of power equivalence provides an analytical answer to the question of how design factors, for example, the number of observed indicators and the number of time points assessed in repeated measures, trade off against each other while holding the power for likelihood-ratio tests on the latent structure constant. In this article, we present applications of power-equivalent transformations on a model with data from a previously published study on cognitive aging, and highlight consequences of participant attrition on power. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved.

  18. Equivalent modeling of PMSG-based wind power plants considering LVRT capabilities: electromechanical transients in power systems.

    PubMed

    Ding, Ming; Zhu, Qianlong

    2016-01-01

    Hardware protection and control action are two kinds of low voltage ride-through technical proposals widely used in a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). This paper proposes an innovative clustering concept for the equivalent modeling of a PMSG-based wind power plant (WPP), in which the impacts of both the chopper protection and the coordinated control of active and reactive powers are taken into account. First, the post-fault DC link voltage is selected as a concentrated expression of unit parameters, incoming wind and electrical distance to a fault point to reflect the transient characteristics of PMSGs. Next, we provide an effective method for calculating the post-fault DC link voltage based on the pre-fault wind energy and the terminal voltage dip. Third, PMSGs are divided into groups by analyzing the calculated DC link voltages without any clustering algorithm. Finally, PMSGs of the same group are equivalent as one rescaled PMSG to realize the transient equivalent modeling of the PMSG-based WPP. Using the DIgSILENT PowerFactory simulation platform, the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed equivalent model are tested against the traditional equivalent WPP and the detailed WPP. The simulation results show the proposed equivalent model can be used to analyze the offline electromechanical transients in power systems.

  19. Effect of montelukast monotherapy on oxidative stress parameters and DNA damage in children with asthma.

    PubMed

    Dilek, Fatih; Ozkaya, Emin; Kocyigit, Abdurrahim; Yazici, Mebrure; Kesgin, Siddika; Gedik, Ahmet Hakan; Cakir, Erkan

    2015-01-01

    There is ample knowledge reported in the literature about the role of oxidative stress in asthma pathogenesis. It is also known that the interaction of reactive oxygen species with DNA may result in DNA strand breaks. The aim of this study was to investigate if montelukast monotherapy affects oxidative stress and DNA damage parameters in a population of pediatric asthma patients. Group I consisted of 31 newly diagnosed asthmatic patients not taking any medication, and group II consisted of 32 patients who had been treated with montelukast for at least 6 months. Forty healthy control subjects were also enrolled in the study. Plasma total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured to assess oxidative stress. DNA damage was assessed by means of alkaline comet assay. The patients in both group I and group II had statistically significant higher plasma TOS (13.1 ± 4 and 11.1 ± 4.1 μmol H2O2 equivalent/liter, respectively) and low TAS levels (1.4 ± 0.5 and 1.5 ± 0.5 mmol Trolox equivalent/liter, respectively) compared with the control group (TOS: 6.3 ± 3.5 μmol H2O2 equivalent/liter and TAS: 2.7 ± 0.6 mmol Trolox equivalent/liter; p < 0.05). DNA damage was 18.2 ± 1.0 arbitrary units (a.u.) in group I, 16.7 ± 8.2 a.u. in group II and 13.7 ± 3.4 a.u. in the control group. There were statistically significant differences only between group I and the control group (p < 0.05). According to the findings, montelukast therapy makes only minimal but not statistically significant improvement in all TOS, TAS and DNA damage parameters. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  20. Large Nc equivalence and baryons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Blake, Mike; Cherman, Aleksey

    2012-09-01

    In the large Nc limit, gauge theories with different gauge groups and matter content sometimes turn out to be “large Nc equivalent,” in the sense of having a set of coincident correlation functions. Large Nc equivalence has mainly been explored in the glueball and meson sectors. However, a recent proposal to dodge the fermion sign problem of QCD with a quark number chemical potential using large Nc equivalence motivates investigating the applicability of large Nc equivalence to correlation functions involving baryon operators. Here we present evidence that large Nc equivalence extends to the baryon sector, under the same type of symmetry realization assumptions as in the meson sector, by adapting the classic Witten analysis of large Nc baryons.

  1. Design on the wide band absorber with low density based on the particle distribution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Dianliang; Liu, Ting; Liu, Longbin; Xu, Yonggang

    2018-04-01

    In order to widen the absorbing band, an equivalent gradient structure absorber was designed based on the particle distribution. Firstly, the electromagnetic parameter of the absorbent with uniform dispersion was tested using the vector network analyzer in 8-18 GHz. Three different equivalent materials of the spherical, square and hexagon empty shape were designed. The scattering parameters and the monostatic reflection loss (RL) of the periodic structural materials were simulated in the commercial software. Then the effective permittivity and the permeability was derived by the Nicolson-Ross-Weir algorithm and fitted by Maxwell-Garnett mixing rule. The results showed that the simulated reflectance and transmission parameters of equivalent composites with the different shapes were very close. The derived effective permittivity and permeability of the composite with different absorbent content was also close, and the average deviation was about 0.52 + j0.15 and 0.15 + j0.01 respectively. Finally, the wide band absorbing material was designed using the genetic algorithm. The optimized RL result showed that the absorbing composites with thickness 3 mm had an excellent absorbing property (RL <-10 dB) in 8-18 GHz, the equivalent absorber density could be decreased 30.7% compared with the uniform structure.

  2. [Effects of a Mobile Web-based Pregnancy Health Care Educational Program for Mothers at an Advanced Maternal Age].

    PubMed

    Wang, Hee Jung; Kim, Il Ok

    2015-06-01

    This study was conducted to develop a mobile web-based pregnancy health care educational program for mothers who were at an advanced maternal age (AMA) and to verify the effects of the program on pregnancy health care. This program was developed using a web-based teaching-learning system design model and composed of 10 subject areas. This research was a quasi-experimental study using a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest time serial design and data were collected from April 2 to May 3, 2014. To verify the effects of the program, it was used for 2 weeks with 30 AMA mothers (experimental group). For the control group, a classroom education booklet for pregnant women used with 31 AMA mothers. The experimental group having participated in program had statistically significantly higher scores for knowledge (t=3.76, p<.001), self-efficacy (t=8.54, p<.001), and practice behavior (t=4.88, p<.001) of pregnancy health care, compared to the control group. The results of the program indicate that a Mobile web-based pregnancy health care educational program is effective in meeting the needs of AMA mothers and can be used as the prenatal educational program for AMA mothers and is appropriate as an educational media for theses mothers.

  3. 5 CFR 337.201 - Coverage and purpose.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... or nonpermanent position or group of positions in the competitive service at GS-15 (or equivalent... Officer (or equivalent) at the agency headquarters level. OPM will determine the length of the direct-hire...

  4. 5 CFR 337.201 - Coverage and purpose.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... or nonpermanent position or group of positions in the competitive service at GS-15 (or equivalent... Officer (or equivalent) at the agency headquarters level. OPM will determine the length of the direct-hire...

  5. Performance recovery of a class of uncertain non-affine systems with unmodelled dynamics: an indirect dynamic inversion method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yi, Bowen; Lin, Shuyi; Yang, Bo; Zhang, Weidong

    2018-02-01

    This paper presents an output feedback indirect dynamic inversion (IDI) approach for a class of uncertain nonaffine systems with input unmodelled dynamics. Compared with previous approaches to achieve performance recovery, the proposed method aims at dealing with a broader class of nonaffine-in-control systems with triangular structure. An IDI state feedback law is designed first, in which less knowledge of the model plant is needed compared to earlier approximate dynamic inversion methods, thus yielding more robust performance. After that, an extended high-gain observer is designed to accomplish the task with output feedback. Finally, we prove that the designed IDI controller is equivalent to an adaptive proportional-integral (PI) controller, with respect to both time response equivalence and robustness equivalence. The conclusion implies that for the studied strict-feedback non-affine systems with unmodelled dynamics, there always exits a PI controller to stabilise the systems. The effectiveness and benefits of the designed approach are verified by three examples.

  6. Oxygen saturation profile of term equivalent extreme preterm infants at discharge - comparison with healthy term counterparts.

    PubMed

    Rath, Chandra; Kluckow, Martin

    2016-03-01

    Compare the oxygen saturation profiles before discharge of neonates born extremely preterm (<28 weeks), now at term equivalent age, with healthy term neonates and assess the impact of feeding on this profile in each group. We prospectively evaluated and compared the oxygen saturation profile in 15 very low birthweight infants at term equivalent age, ready to be discharged home without any oxygen and 15 term newborns after 48 hours of life. We also evaluated and compared the saturations of these two groups during a one-hour period during and after feeding. Term equivalent preterm and term infants spent median 3% and 0%, respectively, of the time below 90% in a 12-hour saturation-recording period. Term infants spent a median 0.26% and 0.65% of the time in <90% saturation during feed time and no feed time, respectively. In contrast, preterm infants spent significantly more time <90% saturation (3.47% and 3.5% during feed time and no feed time, respectively). Term equivalent preterm infants spent significantly more time in a saturation range <90% compared to term infants. Feeding had little effect on saturation profile overall within each group. ©2015 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  7. Design and economics of a photovoltaic concentrator array for off-grid applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maish, A. B.; Rios, M., Jr.

    1982-09-01

    The array design and expected operation of a photovoltaic concentrator are discussed. A second generation stand alone 680 W/sub p/ photovoltaic (PV) concentrating array for low power, nongrid connected applications was designed. The array consists of six passive cooled point focus Fresnel lens concentrating modules on a two axis polar mount tracking structure. The new array design incorporates several major improvements to the first generation design. These include 50% more array area and a control system which allows unattended, fully automatic operation. The life cycle energy costs are calculated and compared to the equivalent energy costs of a 3 kW diesel electric generator set and an equivalent flat panel PV system.

  8. Comparison of instructor-led versus peer-led debriefing in nursing students.

    PubMed

    Roh, Young Sook; Kelly, Michelle; Ha, Eun Ho

    2016-06-01

    Despite its widespread support, the most effective simulation-based debriefing method has little evidence to support its efficacy. In this study, we compared the effect of peer-led and instructor-led debriefing among nursing students. The study was conducted with a non-equivalent control group using a pretest-post-test design. A convenience sample of third-year nursing students was used for the study, where 65 students enrolled in a 2-week clinical placement rotation were randomly assigned to the instructor-led group or peer-led group. The quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, satisfaction with simulation, and quality of debriefing in the peer-led group were compared to those in the instructor-led group. Group differences at each testing interval were analyzed using independent t-test. Nursing students in the instructor-led debriefing group showed better subsequent cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance, more satisfaction with simulation experience, and higher debriefing scores compared to the peer-led group. From our study, instructor-led debriefing is an effective method in improving skills performance, inducing favorable satisfaction, and providing better quality of debriefing among nursing students. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

  9. Utilization of variation theory in the classroom: Effect on students' algebraic achievement and motivation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jing, Ting Jing; Tarmizi, Rohani Ahmad; Bakar, Kamariah Abu; Aralas, Dalia

    2017-01-01

    This study investigates the effect of utilizing Variation Theory Based Strategy on students' algebraic achievement and motivation in learning algebra. The study used quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group research design and involved 56 Form Two (Secondary Two) students in two classes (28 in experimental group, 28 in control group) in Malaysia The first class of students went through algebra class taught with Variation Theory Based Strategy (VTBS) while the second class of students experienced conventional teaching strategy. The instruments used for the study were a 24-item Algebra Test and 36-item Instructional Materials Motivation Survey. Result from analysis of Covariance indicated that experimental group students achieved significantly better test scores than control group. Result of Multivariate Analysis of Variance also shows evidences of significant effect of VTBS on experimental students' overall motivation in all the five subscales; attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction. These results suggested the utilization of VTBS would improve students' learning in algebra.

  10. PubMed Central

    Bédard, S; Desrochers, A; Fecteau, G; Higgins, R

    2001-01-01

    This study was designed to evaluate 4 preoperative skin preparations, that is, more specifically, to compare the efficacy of chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) and povidone-iodine (PI), as well as 2 hair removal techniques (clipper alone or clipper followed by razor) for preoperative skin preparation in cattle. The 4 protocols resulted in a significant decrease in the number of bacterial colony-forming units (cfu). Group 4 (clipping + shaving + CG) had a significantly lower number of preoperative cfu per gel plate compared with groups 1 (clipping + PI) and 3 (clipping + shaving + PI). Skin reaction frequency was significantly higher in groups 3 and 4 (47.8% for both protocols) than in groups 1 and 2 (clipping + PI or CG) (8.7% for both). Wound infection frequency was 4.3% (4/92) and no significant difference was observed between the 4 treatment groups. The 4 protocols tested were equivalent as to efficacy and satisfactorily decreased skin microflora. Clipping alone was shown to be preferable to clipping plus shaving as a method of hair removal in cattle, with fewer skin reactions and no more wound infections. PMID:11265188

  11. Effects of peer review on communication skills and learning motivation among nursing students.

    PubMed

    Yoo, Moon Sook; Chae, Sun-Mi

    2011-04-01

    The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of video-based peer review on communication skills and learning motivation among nursing students. A non-equivalent control with pretest-posttest design was used. The participants were 47 sophomore nursing students taking a fundamentals of nursing course at a nursing college in Korea. Communication with a standardized patient was videotaped for evaluation. The intervention group used peer reviews to evaluate the videotaped performance; a small group of four students watched the videotape of each student and then provided feedback. The control group assessed themselves alone after watching their own videos. Communication skills and learning motivation were measured. The intervention group showed significantly higher communication skills and learning motivation after the intervention than did the control group. The findings suggest that peer review is an effective learning method for nursing students to improve their communication skills and increase their motivation to learn. Copyright 2011, SLACK Incorporated.

  12. Ring versus 'Mercedes-Benz' cartilage-perichondrium graft tympanoplasty in management of pars tensa cholesteatoma.

    PubMed

    Albirmawy, O A

    2011-12-01

    To compare anatomical and audiological outcomes of ring versus 'Mercedes-Benz' cartilage-perichondrium graft tympanoplasty in patients with pars tensa cholesteatoma. Prospective clinical study. Otolaryngology department, Tanta University Hospital, Egypt. Over three years, 60 ears in 60 patients underwent surgery for either sinus or tensa retraction cholesteatoma, reconstructed using either a ring-shaped (30 ears) or Mercedes-Benz symbol shaped (30 ears) cartilage-perichondrium graft, with at least two years' follow up. Post-operative drum perforation and retraction, cholesteatoma residue and recurrence, middle-ear effusion, and hearing acuity were monitored. Anatomical outcomes were equivalent in both groups, but slightly better in the Mercedes group. Hearing improved significantly in both groups (pre- vs post-operative results), but significantly more so in the ring group. Within-group hearing outcomes were unaffected by cholesteatoma type or tympanoplasty type. The Mercedes-Benz technique may be superior to the ring technique in preventing neodrum retraction. However, the ring graft technique had better hearing outcomes, perhaps due to its more physiological design.

  13. ANCOVA Versus CHANGE From Baseline in Nonrandomized Studies: The Difference.

    PubMed

    van Breukelen, Gerard J P

    2013-11-01

    The pretest-posttest control group design can be analyzed with the posttest as dependent variable and the pretest as covariate (ANCOVA) or with the difference between posttest and pretest as dependent variable (CHANGE). These 2 methods can give contradictory results if groups differ at pretest, a phenomenon that is known as Lord's paradox. Literature claims that ANCOVA is preferable if treatment assignment is based on randomization or on the pretest and questionable for preexisting groups. Some literature suggests that Lord's paradox has to do with measurement error in the pretest. This article shows two new things: First, the claims are confirmed by proving the mathematical equivalence of ANCOVA to a repeated measures model without group effect at pretest. Second, correction for measurement error in the pretest is shown to lead back to ANCOVA or to CHANGE, depending on the assumed absence or presence of a true group difference at pretest. These two new theoretical results are illustrated with multilevel (mixed) regression and structural equation modeling of data from two studies.

  14. The Equivalence Principle Experiment for Spin-Polarized Bodies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hsieh, Chang-Huain; Jen, Pin-Yun; Ko, Kai-Li; Li, Keh-Yann; Ni, Wei-Tou; Pan, Sheau-Shi; Shih, Yung-Hui; Tyan, Rong-Jung

    We perform an equivalence principle experiment for a magnetically shielded spin-polarized body of Dy6Fe23. We use a single-pan mass comparator to compare the spin-polarized body with an unpolarized group of masses. The equivalence of spin-up and spin-down positions is good to (1.1 ±7.8)×10-9 in earth gravitational field.

  15. Equivalent circuit for VO{sub 2} phase change material film in reconfigurable frequency selective surfaces

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

    Sanphuang, Varittha; Ghalichechian, Nima; Nahar, Niru K.

    We developed equivalent circuits of phase change materials based on vanadium dioxide (VO{sub 2}) thin films. These circuits are used to model VO{sub 2} thin films for reconfigurable frequency selective surfaces (FSSs). This is important as it provides a way for designing complex structures. A reconfigurable FSS filter using VO{sub 2} ON/OFF switches is designed demonstrating −60 dB isolation between the states. This filter is used to provide the transmission and reflection responses of the FSS in the frequency range of 0.1–0.6 THz. The comparison between equivalent circuit and full-wave simulation shows excellent agreement.

  16. Improving Primary Care Residents' Proficiency in the Diagnosis of Skin Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Gerbert, Barbara; Bronstone, Amy; Wolff, Mimi; Maurer, Toby; Berger, Timothy; Pantilat, Steven; McPhee, Stephen J

    1998-01-01

    OBJECTIVE To determine whether a brief, multicomponent intervention could improve the skin cancer diagnosis and evaluation planning performance of primary care residents to a level equivalent to that of dermatologists. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-two primary care residents (26 in the control group and 26 in the intervention group) and 13 dermatologists completed a pretest and posttest. DESIGN A randomized, controlled trial with pretest and posttest measurements of residents' ability to diagnose and make evaluation plans for lesions indicative of skin cancer. INTERVENTION The intervention included face-to-face feedback sessions focusing on residents' performance deficiencies; an interactive seminar including slide presentations, case examples, and live demonstrations; and the Melanoma Prevention Kit including a booklet, magnifying tool, measuring tool, and skin color guide. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We compared the abilities of a control and an intervention group of primary care residents, and a group of dermatologists to diagnose and make evaluation plans for six categories of skin lesions including three types of skin cancer—malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. At posttest, both the intervention and control group demonstrated improved performance, with the intervention group revealing significantly larger gains. The intervention group showed greater improvement than the control group across all six diagnostic categories (a gain of 13 percentage points vs 5, p < .05), and in evaluation planning for malignant melanoma (a gain of 46 percentage points vs 36, p < .05) and squamous cell carcinoma (a gain of 42 percentage points vs 21, p < .01). The intervention group performed as well as the dermatologists on five of the six skin cancer diagnosis and evaluation planning scores with the exception of the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS Primary care residents can diagnose and make evaluation plans for cancerous skin lesions, including malignant melanoma, at a level equivalent to that of dermatologists if they receive relevant, targeted education. PMID:9502368

  17. Research on the equivalent circuit model of a circular flexural-vibration-research on the equivalent circuit model of a circular flexural-vibration-mode piezoelectric transformer with moderate thickness.

    PubMed

    Huang, Yihua; Huang, Wenjin; Wang, Qinglei; Su, Xujian

    2013-07-01

    The equivalent circuit model of a piezoelectric transformer is useful in designing and optimizing the related driving circuits. Based on previous work, an equivalent circuit model for a circular flexural-vibration-mode piezoelectric transformer with moderate thickness is proposed and validated by finite element analysis. The input impedance, voltage gain, and efficiency of the transformer are determined through computation. The basic behaviors of the transformer are shown by numerical results.

  18. Reduced complexity structural modeling for automated airframe synthesis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hajela, Prabhat

    1987-01-01

    A procedure is developed for the optimum sizing of wing structures based on representing the built-up finite element assembly of the structure by equivalent beam models. The reduced-order beam models are computationally less demanding in an optimum design environment which dictates repetitive analysis of several trial designs. The design procedure is implemented in a computer program requiring geometry and loading information to create the wing finite element model and its equivalent beam model, and providing a rapid estimate of the optimum weight obtained from a fully stressed design approach applied to the beam. The synthesis procedure is demonstrated for representative conventional-cantilever and joined wing configurations.

  19. Feasibility of 3D printed air slab diode caps for small field dosimetry.

    PubMed

    Perrett, Benjamin; Charles, Paul; Markwell, Tim; Kairn, Tanya; Crowe, Scott

    2017-09-01

    Commercial diode detectors used for small field dosimetry introduce a field-size-dependent over-response relative to an ideal, water-equivalent dosimeter due to high density components in the body of the detector. An air gap above the detector introduces a field-size-dependent under-response, and can be used to offset the field-size-dependent detector over-response. Other groups have reported experimental validation of caps containing air gaps for use with several types of diodes in small fields. This paper examines two designs for 3D printed diode air caps for the stereotactic field diode (SFD)-a cap containing a sealed air cavity, and a cap with an air cavity at the face of the SFD. Monte Carlo simulations of both designs were performed to determine dimensions for an air cavity to introduce the desired dosimetric correction. Various parameter changes were also simulated to estimate the dosimetric uncertainties introduced by 3D printing. Cap layer dimensions, cap density changes due to 3D printing, and unwanted air gaps were considered. For the sealed design the optimal air gap size for water-equivalent cap material was 0.6 mm, which increased to 1.0 mm when acrylonitrile butadiene styrene in the cap was simulated. The unsealed design had less variation, a 0.4 mm air gap is optimal in both situations. Unwanted air pockets in the bore of the cap and density changes introduced by the 3D printing process can potentially introduce significant dosimetric effects. These effects may be limited by using fine print resolutions and minimising the volume of cap material.

  20. Structural evaluation of asphalt pavements with full-depth reclaimed base.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2012-12-01

    Currently, MnDOT pavement design recommends granular equivalency, GE = 1.0 for non-stabilized full-depth : reclamation (FDR) material, which is equivalent to class 5 material. For stabilized full-depth reclamation (SFDR), : there was no guideline for...

  1. [A short form of the positions on nursing diagnosis scale: development and psychometric testing].

    PubMed

    Romero-Sánchez, José Manuel; Paloma-Castro, Olga; Paramio-Cuevas, Juan Carlos; Pastor-Montero, Sonia María; O'Ferrall-González, Cristina; Gabaldón-Bravo, Eva Maria; González-Domínguez, Maria Eugenia; Castro-Yuste, Cristina; Frandsen, Anna J; Martínez-Sabater, Antonio

    2013-06-01

    The Positions on Nursing Diagnosis (PND) is a scale that uses the semantic differential technique to measure nurses' attitudes towards the nursing diagnosis concept. The aim of this study was to develop a shortened form of the Spanish version of this scale and evaluate its psychometric properties and efficiency. A double theoretical-empirical approach was used to obtain a short form of the PND, the PND-7-SV, which would be equivalent to the original. Using a cross-sectional survey design, the reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability), construct (exploratory factor analysis, known-groups technique and discriminant validity) and criterion-related validity (concurrent validity), sensitivity to change and efficiency of the PND-7-SV were assessed in a sample of 476 Spanish nursing students. The results endorsed the utility of the PND-7-SV to measure attitudes toward nursing diagnosis in an equivalent manner to the complete form of the scale and in a shorter time.

  2. Comparison of response patterns in different survey designs: a longitudinal panel with mixed-mode and online-only design.

    PubMed

    Rübsamen, Nicole; Akmatov, Manas K; Castell, Stefanie; Karch, André; Mikolajczyk, Rafael T

    2017-01-01

    Increasing availability of the Internet allows using only online data collection for more epidemiological studies. We compare response patterns in a population-based health survey using two survey designs: mixed-mode (choice between paper-and-pencil and online questionnaires) and online-only design (without choice). We used data from a longitudinal panel, the Hygiene and Behaviour Infectious Diseases Study (HaBIDS), conducted in 2014/2015 in four regions in Lower Saxony, Germany. Individuals were recruited using address-based probability sampling. In two regions, individuals could choose between paper-and-pencil and online questionnaires. In the other two regions, individuals were offered online-only participation. We compared sociodemographic characteristics of respondents who filled in all panel questionnaires between the mixed-mode group (n = 1110) and the online-only group (n = 482). Using 134 items, we performed multinomial logistic regression to compare responses between survey designs in terms of type (missing, "do not know" or valid response) and ordinal regression to compare responses in terms of content. We applied the false discovery rates (FDR) to control for multiple testing and investigated effects of adjusting for sociodemographic characteristic. For validation of the differential response patterns between mixed-mode and online-only, we compared the response patterns between paper and online mode among the respondents in the mixed-mode group in one region (n = 786). Respondents in the online-only group were older than those in the mixed-mode group, but both groups did not differ regarding sex or education. Type of response did not differ between the online-only and the mixed-mode group. Survey design was associated with different content of response in 18 of the 134 investigated items; which decreased to 11 after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. In the validation within the mixed-mode, only two of those were among the 11 significantly different items. The probability of observing by chance the same two or more significant differences in this setting was 22%. We found similar response patterns in both survey designs with only few items being answered differently, likely attributable to chance. Our study supports the equivalence of the compared survey designs and suggests that, in the studied setting, using online-only design does not cause strong distortion of the results.

  3. Improving strength and postural control in young skiers: whole-body vibration versus equivalent resistance training.

    PubMed

    Mahieu, Nele N; Witvrouw, Erik; Van de Voorde, Danny; Michilsens, Diny; Arbyn, Valérie; Van den Broecke, Wouter

    2006-01-01

    Several groups have undertaken studies to evaluate the physiologic effects of whole-body vibration (WBV). However, the value of WBV in a training program remains unknown. To investigate whether a WBV program results in a better strength and postural control performance than an equivalent exercise program performed without vibration. Randomized, controlled trial. Laboratory. Thirty-three Belgian competitive skiers (ages = 9-15 years). Subjects were assigned to either the WBV group or the equivalent resistance (ER) group for 6 weeks of training at 3 times per week. Isokinetic plantar and dorsiflexion peak torque, isokinetic knee flexion and extension peak torque, explosive strength (high box test), and postural control were assessed before and after the training period. Both training programs significantly improved isokinetic ankle and knee muscle strength and explosive strength. Moreover, the increases in explosive strength and in plantar-flexor strength at low speed were significantly higher in the WBV group than in the ER group after 6 weeks. However, neither WBV training nor ER training seemed to have an effect on postural control. A strength training program that includes WBV appears to have additive effects in young skiers compared with an equivalent program that does not include WBV. Therefore, our findings support the hypothesis that WBV training may be a beneficial supplementary training technique in strength programs for young athletes.

  4. Optimum structural sizing of conventional cantilever and joined wing configurations using equivalent beam models

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hajela, P.; Chen, J. L.

    1986-01-01

    The present paper describes an approach for the optimum sizing of single and joined wing structures that is based on representing the built-up finite element model of the structure by an equivalent beam model. The low order beam model is computationally more efficient in an environment that requires repetitive analysis of several trial designs. The design procedure is implemented in a computer program that requires geometry and loading data typically available from an aerodynamic synthesis program, to create the finite element model of the lifting surface and an equivalent beam model. A fully stressed design procedure is used to obtain rapid estimates of the optimum structural weight for the beam model for a given geometry, and a qualitative description of the material distribution over the wing structure. The synthesis procedure is demonstrated for representative single wing and joined wing structures.

  5. Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Commercial Refrigeration Systems Using Life Cycle Climate Performance Analysis: From System Design to Refrigerant Options

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

    Fricke, Brian A; Abdelaziz, Omar; Vineyard, Edward Allan

    In this paper, Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP) analysis is used to estimate lifetime direct and indirect carbon dioxide equivalent gas emissions of various refrigerant options and commercial refrigeration system designs, including the multiplex DX system with various hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, the HFC/R744 cascade system incorporating a medium-temperature R744 secondary loop, and the transcritical R744 booster system. The results of the LCCP analysis are presented, including the direct and indirect carbon dioxide equivalent emissions for each refrigeration system and refrigerant option. Based on the results of the LCCP analysis, recommendations are given for the selection of low GWP replacement refrigerantsmore » for use in existing commercial refrigeration systems, as well as for the selection of commercial refrigeration system designs with low carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, suitable for new installations.« less

  6. Unbalanced and Minimal Point Equivalent Estimation Second-Order Split-Plot Designs

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Parker, Peter A.; Kowalski, Scott M.; Vining, G. Geoffrey

    2007-01-01

    Restricting the randomization of hard-to-change factors in industrial experiments is often performed by employing a split-plot design structure. From an economic perspective, these designs minimize the experimental cost by reducing the number of resets of the hard-to- change factors. In this paper, unbalanced designs are considered for cases where the subplots are relatively expensive and the experimental apparatus accommodates an unequal number of runs per whole-plot. We provide construction methods for unbalanced second-order split- plot designs that possess the equivalence estimation optimality property, providing best linear unbiased estimates of the parameters; independent of the variance components. Unbalanced versions of the central composite and Box-Behnken designs are developed. For cases where the subplot cost approaches the whole-plot cost, minimal point designs are proposed and illustrated with a split-plot Notz design.

  7. Polarization-dependent thin-film wire-grid reflectarray for terahertz waves

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

    Niu, Tiaoming; School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000; Upadhyay, Aditi

    2015-07-20

    A thin-film polarization-dependent reflectarray based on patterned metallic wire grids is realized at 1 THz. Unlike conventional reflectarrays with resonant elements and a solid metal ground, parallel narrow metal strips with uniform spacing are employed in this design to construct both the radiation elements and the ground plane. For each radiation element, a certain number of thin strips with an identical length are grouped to effectively form a patch resonator with equivalent performance. The ground plane is made of continuous metallic strips, similar to conventional wire-grid polarizers. The structure can deflect incident waves with the polarization parallel to the stripsmore » into a designed direction and transmit the orthogonal polarization component. Measured radiation patterns show reasonable deflection efficiency and high polarization discrimination. Utilizing this flexible device approach, similar reflectarray designs can be realized for conformal mounting onto surfaces of cylindrical or spherical devices for terahertz imaging and communications.« less

  8. Thermofluidic compression effects to achieve combustion in a low-compression scramjet engine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moura, A. F.; Wheatley, V.; Jahn, I.

    2018-07-01

    The compression provided by a scramjet inlet is an important parameter in its design. It must be low enough to limit thermal and structural loads and stagnation pressure losses, but high enough to provide the conditions favourable for combustion. Inlets are typically designed to achieve sufficient compression without accounting for the fluidic, and subsequently thermal, compression provided by the fuel injection, which can enable robust combustion in a low-compression engine. This is investigated using Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes numerical simulations of a simplified scramjet engine designed to have insufficient compression to auto-ignite fuel in the absence of thermofluidic compression. The engine was designed with a wide rectangular combustor and a single centrally located injector, in order to reduce three-dimensional effects of the walls on the fuel plume. By varying the injected mass flow rate of hydrogen fuel (equivalence ratios of 0.22, 0.17, and 0.13), it is demonstrated that higher equivalence ratios lead to earlier ignition and more rapid combustion, even though mean conditions in the combustor change by no more than 5% for pressure and 3% for temperature with higher equivalence ratio. By supplementing the lower equivalence ratio with helium to achieve a higher mass flow rate, it is confirmed that these benefits are primarily due to the local compression provided by the extra injected mass. Investigation of the conditions around the fuel plume indicated two connected mechanisms. The higher mass flow rate for higher equivalence ratios generated a stronger injector bow shock that compresses the free-stream gas, increasing OH radical production and promoting ignition. This was observed both in the higher equivalence ratio case and in the case with helium. This earlier ignition led to increased temperature and pressure downstream and, consequently, stronger combustion. The heat release from combustion provided thermal compression in the combustor, further increasing combustion efficiency.

  9. Thermofluidic compression effects to achieve combustion in a low-compression scramjet engine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moura, A. F.; Wheatley, V.; Jahn, I.

    2017-12-01

    The compression provided by a scramjet inlet is an important parameter in its design. It must be low enough to limit thermal and structural loads and stagnation pressure losses, but high enough to provide the conditions favourable for combustion. Inlets are typically designed to achieve sufficient compression without accounting for the fluidic, and subsequently thermal, compression provided by the fuel injection, which can enable robust combustion in a low-compression engine. This is investigated using Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes numerical simulations of a simplified scramjet engine designed to have insufficient compression to auto-ignite fuel in the absence of thermofluidic compression. The engine was designed with a wide rectangular combustor and a single centrally located injector, in order to reduce three-dimensional effects of the walls on the fuel plume. By varying the injected mass flow rate of hydrogen fuel (equivalence ratios of 0.22, 0.17, and 0.13), it is demonstrated that higher equivalence ratios lead to earlier ignition and more rapid combustion, even though mean conditions in the combustor change by no more than 5% for pressure and 3% for temperature with higher equivalence ratio. By supplementing the lower equivalence ratio with helium to achieve a higher mass flow rate, it is confirmed that these benefits are primarily due to the local compression provided by the extra injected mass. Investigation of the conditions around the fuel plume indicated two connected mechanisms. The higher mass flow rate for higher equivalence ratios generated a stronger injector bow shock that compresses the free-stream gas, increasing OH radical production and promoting ignition. This was observed both in the higher equivalence ratio case and in the case with helium. This earlier ignition led to increased temperature and pressure downstream and, consequently, stronger combustion. The heat release from combustion provided thermal compression in the combustor, further increasing combustion efficiency.

  10. Is decision making in hypoxia affected by pre-acclimatisation? A randomized controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Niedermeier, Martin; Weisleitner, Andreas; Lamm, Claus; Ledochowski, Larissa; Frühauf, Anika; Wille, Maria; Burtscher, Martin; Kopp, Martin

    2017-05-01

    Decision making is impaired in hypoxic environments, which may have serious or even lethal consequences for mountaineers. An acclimatisation period prior to high altitude exposures may help to overcome adverse effects of hypoxia. Thus, we investigated possible effects of short-term pre-acclimatisation on decision making in hypoxia. In a randomized controlled study design, 52 healthy participants were allocated to a hypoxia group (HG: short-term pre-acclimatisation by the use of intermittent hypoxia 7×1h at F i O 2 =12.6%, equivalent to 4500m) or a control group (CG: sham pre-acclimatisation 7×1h at F i O 2 =20.9%, equivalent to 600m). The number of risky decisions was assessed using the Game of Dice Task at four time points during a 12-hours stay in hypoxia (F i O 2 =12.6%). 42 (HG: 27, CG: 25) participants completed the study. The number of risky decisions was significantly (p=0.048 as determined by 4×2 ANCOVA) reduced in the hypoxia group compared to the control group, partial η 2 =0.11, when the age-effect on decision making was controlled. Self-reported positive affective valence prior to decision making was negatively related to the number of risky decisions, r<-0.38. Short-term pre-acclimatisation might influence decision making in hypoxia in a positive way and might be considered as a risk-reducing preparation method prior to exposures to hypoxic environments. Positive affective states seem to have a medium-sized protective effect against risky decision making. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Effect of virtual reality training on laparoscopic surgery: randomised controlled trial

    PubMed Central

    Soerensen, Jette L; Grantcharov, Teodor P; Dalsgaard, Torur; Schouenborg, Lars; Ottosen, Christian; Schroeder, Torben V; Ottesen, Bent S

    2009-01-01

    Objective To assess the effect of virtual reality training on an actual laparoscopic operation. Design Prospective randomised controlled and blinded trial. Setting Seven gynaecological departments in the Zeeland region of Denmark. Participants 24 first and second year registrars specialising in gynaecology and obstetrics. Interventions Proficiency based virtual reality simulator training in laparoscopic salpingectomy and standard clinical education (controls). Main outcome measure The main outcome measure was technical performance assessed by two independent observers blinded to trainee and training status using a previously validated general and task specific rating scale. The secondary outcome measure was operation time in minutes. Results The simulator trained group (n=11) reached a median total score of 33 points (interquartile range 32-36 points), equivalent to the experience gained after 20-50 laparoscopic procedures, whereas the control group (n=10) reached a median total score of 23 (22-27) points, equivalent to the experience gained from fewer than five procedures (P<0.001). The median total operation time in the simulator trained group was 12 minutes (interquartile range 10-14 minutes) and in the control group was 24 (20-29) minutes (P<0.001). The observers’ inter-rater agreement was 0.79. Conclusion Skills in laparoscopic surgery can be increased in a clinically relevant manner using proficiency based virtual reality simulator training. The performance level of novices was increased to that of intermediately experienced laparoscopists and operation time was halved. Simulator training should be considered before trainees carry out laparoscopic procedures. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00311792. PMID:19443914

  12. Who is more efficient: Teacher or pedagogical agents?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Tien Tien; Mustapha, Nur Hanani

    2017-05-01

    The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of pedagogical agent's and teacher's role on students' understanding and motivation in the learning of Electrochemistry. Interactive Multimedia Module with Pedagogical Agents, EC Lab (IMMPA EC Lab) was used in this study. IMMPA EC Lab consists of five subunits in Electrochemistry topic. The research was a non-equivalent control group quasi experimental design involving two treatment groups and one control group. The first treatment group studied Electrochemistry with expert agent (Professor T) while the second treatment group studied Electrochemistry with learning companion agent (Lisa). On the other hand, the control group learned Electrochemistry with their Chemistry teacher using the material in the IMMPA EC Lab. The study was conducted at a secondary science school in the Pasir Puteh district involving 74 form four students. The instruments used in this research were the Electrochemistry achievement tests in the form of pre-test and post-test, IMMPA EC Lab and motivation questionnaire. ANCOVA results found that there was no significant difference among the three groups in post-test. On the other hand, One-way ANOVA test proved that there were significant differences for the post-motivation scores between the control group and the treatment groups. Post motivation mean scores for expert agent treatment group and learning companion treatment group surpassed the control group. The study focus on the impact of pedagogical agents with different roles on students' learning and motivation should be promoted. Various versions of pedagogical agents that fulfil the good characteristics should be designed to enhance students' learning and motivation.

  13. Building Bridges to a Brighter Tomorrow: A Systematic Evidence Review of Interventions That Prepare Adolescents for Adulthood.

    PubMed

    Burrus, Barri B; Krieger, Kathleen; Rutledge, Regina; Rabre, Alexander; Axelson, Sarah; Miller, Audra; White, LeBretia; Jackson, Christine

    2018-02-01

    Data suggest that adverse social determinants during adolescence can set in motion a lifetime of poor social and health outcomes. Vulnerable youths are at particularly high risk in this regard. To identify and assess the current evidence base for adolescent-focused interventions designed to influence adulthood preparation that could affect longer-term social determinants. Using a systematic review methodology, we conducted an initial assessment of intervention evaluations targeting 6 adulthood preparation subject (APS) areas to assess the quality and character of the evidence base. The review is specific to evaluated interventions that address at least 1 of the 6 APS areas: healthy relationships, adolescent development, financial literacy, parent-child communication, educational and career success, and healthy life skills. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) published in English in an independent, peer-reviewed journal; (2) conducted in developed, English-speaking countries; (3) implemented an intervention that addressed at least 1 of the 6 APS areas, delivered in an in-person setting; (4) included youths at the 5th- through 12th-grade levels or aged 10 to 18 years at some point during intervention implementation; (5) included an evaluation component with a comparison group and baseline and follow-up measures; (6) included behavioral measures as outcomes; and (7) reported statistical significance levels for the behavioral outcome measures. We developed an abstraction form to capture details from each article, including key details of the intervention, such as services, implementer characteristics, and timing; adulthood preparation foci; evaluation design, methods, and key behavioral measures; and results, including key statistically significant results for behavior-based outcome measures. We assessed study quality by using several key factors, including randomization, baseline equivalence of treatment and control groups, attrition, and confounding factors. We characterized the quality of evidence as high, moderate, or low on the basis of the described design and execution of the research. Our assessment included only information stated explicitly in the manuscript. A total of 36 independent intervention evaluations met the criteria for inclusion. Of these, 27 (75%) included significant findings for behavioral outcomes related to adulthood preparation. Quality was mixed across studies. Of the 36 studies reviewed, 27 used a randomized controlled design (15 group randomization, 12 individual randomization), whereas the others used observational pre-post designs. Ten studies used mixed-methods approaches. Most (n = 32) studies used self-report questionnaires at baseline with a follow-up questionnaire, and 14 studies included multiple follow-up points. Of the studies reviewed, 7 studies received a high-quality rating, indicating no significant issues identified within our quality criteria. We rated 23 studies as moderate quality, indicating methodological challenges within 1 of the quality criteria categories. The most common reasons studies were down-rated were poor baseline equivalency across treatment groups (or no discussion of baseline equivalency) and high levels of attrition. Finally, 6 studies received a low-quality rating because of methodological challenges across multiple quality domains. The studies broadly represented the APS areas. We identified no systematic differences in study quality across the APS areas. Although some of the intervention results indicate behavioral changes that may be linked to adulthood preparation skills, many of the extant findings are derived from moderate- or poor-quality studies. Additional work is needed to build the evidence base by using methodologically rigorous implementation and evaluation designs and execution. Public Health Implications. Interventions designed to help adolescents better prepare for adulthood may have the potential to affect their longer-term social determinants of health and well-being. More theory-driven approaches and rigorously evaluated interventions could strengthen the evidence base and improve the effectiveness of these adulthood preparation interventions.

  14. Building Bridges to a Brighter Tomorrow: A Systematic Evidence Review of Interventions That Prepare Adolescents for Adulthood

    PubMed Central

    Krieger, Kathleen; Rutledge, Regina; Rabre, Alexander; Axelson, Sarah; Miller, Audra; White, LeBretia; Jackson, Christine

    2018-01-01

    Background. Data suggest that adverse social determinants during adolescence can set in motion a lifetime of poor social and health outcomes. Vulnerable youths are at particularly high risk in this regard. Objectives. To identify and assess the current evidence base for adolescent-focused interventions designed to influence adulthood preparation that could affect longer-term social determinants. Search Methods. Using a systematic review methodology, we conducted an initial assessment of intervention evaluations targeting 6 adulthood preparation subject (APS) areas to assess the quality and character of the evidence base. The review is specific to evaluated interventions that address at least 1 of the 6 APS areas: healthy relationships, adolescent development, financial literacy, parent–child communication, educational and career success, and healthy life skills. Selection Criteria. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) published in English in an independent, peer-reviewed journal; (2) conducted in developed, English-speaking countries; (3) implemented an intervention that addressed at least 1 of the 6 APS areas, delivered in an in-person setting; (4) included youths at the 5th- through 12th-grade levels or aged 10 to 18 years at some point during intervention implementation; (5) included an evaluation component with a comparison group and baseline and follow-up measures; (6) included behavioral measures as outcomes; and (7) reported statistical significance levels for the behavioral outcome measures. Data Collection and Analysis. We developed an abstraction form to capture details from each article, including key details of the intervention, such as services, implementer characteristics, and timing; adulthood preparation foci; evaluation design, methods, and key behavioral measures; and results, including key statistically significant results for behavior-based outcome measures. We assessed study quality by using several key factors, including randomization, baseline equivalence of treatment and control groups, attrition, and confounding factors. We characterized the quality of evidence as high, moderate, or low on the basis of the described design and execution of the research. Our assessment included only information stated explicitly in the manuscript. Main Results. A total of 36 independent intervention evaluations met the criteria for inclusion. Of these, 27 (75%) included significant findings for behavioral outcomes related to adulthood preparation. Quality was mixed across studies. Of the 36 studies reviewed, 27 used a randomized controlled design (15 group randomization, 12 individual randomization), whereas the others used observational pre–post designs. Ten studies used mixed-methods approaches. Most (n = 32) studies used self-report questionnaires at baseline with a follow-up questionnaire, and 14 studies included multiple follow-up points. Of the studies reviewed, 7 studies received a high-quality rating, indicating no significant issues identified within our quality criteria. We rated 23 studies as moderate quality, indicating methodological challenges within 1 of the quality criteria categories. The most common reasons studies were down-rated were poor baseline equivalency across treatment groups (or no discussion of baseline equivalency) and high levels of attrition. Finally, 6 studies received a low-quality rating because of methodological challenges across multiple quality domains. The studies broadly represented the APS areas. We identified no systematic differences in study quality across the APS areas. Author’s Conclusions. Although some of the intervention results indicate behavioral changes that may be linked to adulthood preparation skills, many of the extant findings are derived from moderate- or poor-quality studies. Additional work is needed to build the evidence base by using methodologically rigorous implementation and evaluation designs and execution. Public Health Implications. Interventions designed to help adolescents better prepare for adulthood may have the potential to affect their longer-term social determinants of health and well-being. More theory-driven approaches and rigorously evaluated interventions could strengthen the evidence base and improve the effectiveness of these adulthood preparation interventions. PMID:29443561

  15. Relationship between Culture and Youngsters' Formation of Equivalences in Urban and Rural Argentina and in New York City.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fischer, Sara I.

    This study analyzed the relationship between urban and rural cultures and subjects' selection of attributes and groupings in a task of equivalence formation. Participants were 236 subjects, ages 6, 12, and 17, from rural and urban Argentina and from New York City. Subjects were administered an Equivalence Task consisting of two arrays of stimuli.…

  16. Can We Rate Public Support for Democracy in a Comparable Way? Cross-National Equivalence of Democratic Attitudes in the World Value Survey

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ariely, Gal; Davidov, Eldad

    2011-01-01

    In this study we examine the cross-cultural equivalence of two scales that measure attitudes toward democracy across 36 countries in the World Value Survey (WVS) 2000. We examine the equivalence of these scales in order to explore if we can meaningfully compare democratic attitudes across countries. Multiple group confirmatory factor analyses…

  17. The Effects of Different Training Structures in the Establishment of Conditional Discriminations and Subsequent Performance on Tests for Stimulus Equivalence

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Arntzen, Erik; Grondahl, Terje; Eilifsen, Christoffer

    2010-01-01

    Previous studies comparing groups of subjects have indicated differential probabilities of stimulus equivalence outcome as a function of training structures. One-to-Many (OTM) and Many-to-One (MTO) training structures seem to produce positive outcomes on tests for stimulus equivalence more often than a Linear Series (LS) training structure does.…

  18. Effect of Switching from Sulphonylurea to Repaglinide Twice or Three Times Daily for 4 Months on Glycemic Control in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

    PubMed

    Kamiyama, Hiroshi; Aoki, Kazutaka; Nakajima, Shigeru; Shinoda, Kazuaki; Kamiko, Kazunari; Taguri, Masataka; Terauchi, Yasuo

    2016-01-01

    Objective Switching from sulfonylureas to repaglinide in patients with type 2 diabetes improves glycemic control; however, the optimal dosage has not been fully evaluated. We designed to show that repaglinide was equivalent to sulfonylurea in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. We herein evaluated whether we could switch from sulfonylureas to repaglinide twice or thrice daily in Japanese adult patients who had been treated with anti-diabetic drugs, including sulfonylureas, and whose conditions were moderately well-controlled. Methods A total of 78 patients taking less than half the Japanese maximum dose of sulfonylurea were randomized into three groups: 26 in group A (switching from sulfonylureas to taking 0.25 or 0.5 mg of repaglinide just before breakfast and dinner twice daily), 27 in group B (switching from sulfonylureas to taking 0.25 or 0.5 mg of repaglinide just before meals thrice daily), and 25 in group C (continuing to take sulfonylurea). Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 months following the initiation of the maintenance period. Results The HbA1c and glycoalbumin levels did not significantly differ among the three groups after 4 months of treatment. Conclusion With the assumption that 1 mg of glimepiride is equivalent to 1.25 mg of glibenclamide or 40 mg of gliclazide, the administration of repaglinide (0.44 mg/meal) twice and thrice daily is similar to the efficacy of sulfonylurea (glimepiride 1.63-1.98 mg/day) after four months of treatment in Japanese patients with moderately well-controlled type 2 diabetes (HbA1c, 7-7.5%).

  19. The effect of concept mapping on preservice elementary teachers' knowledge of science inquiry teaching

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jackson, Diann Carol

    This study examined the effect of concept mapping as a method of stimulating reflection on preservice elementary teachers' knowledge of science inquiry instruction methods. Three intact classes of science education preservice teachers participated in a non-randomized comparison group with a pretest and posttest design to measure the influence of mapping on participants' knowledge of inquiry science instruction. All groups followed the same course syllabus, in class activities, readings, assignments and assessment tasks. The manner in which they presented their ideas about inquiry science teaching varied. Groups constructed pre-lesson, post-lesson, and homework lists or maps across three inquiry based instruction modules (ecosystems, food chains, and electricity). Equivalent forms of the Teaching Science Inventory (TSI) were used to investigate changes in preservice teachers' propositional knowledge about how to teach using inquiry science instruction methods. Equivalent forms of the Science Lesson Planning (SLP) test were used to investigate changes in preservice teachers' application knowledge about how to teach using inquiry science instruction methods. Data analysis included intrarater reliability, ANOVAs, ANCOVAs, and correlations between lists and maps and examination responses. SLP and TSI scores improved from the pretest to the posttest in each of the three study groups. The results indicate that, in general, there were basically no relationships between the treatment and outcome measures. In addition, there were no significant differences between the three groups in their knowledge about how to teach science. Conclusions drawn from this study include, first, the learners did learn how to teach science using inquiry. Second, in this study there is little evidence to support that concept mapping was more successful than the listing strategy in improving preservice elementary teachers' knowledge of teaching science using inquiry science instruction methods.

  20. Integration of Video-Based Demonstrations to Prepare Students for the Organic Chemistry Laboratory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nadelson, Louis S.; Scaggs, Jonathan; Sheffield, Colin; McDougal, Owen M.

    2015-08-01

    Consistent, high-quality introductions to organic chemistry laboratory techniques effectively and efficiently support student learning in the organic chemistry laboratory. In this work, we developed and deployed a series of instructional videos to communicate core laboratory techniques and concepts. Using a quasi-experimental design, we tested the videos in five traditional laboratory experiments by integrating them with the standard pre-laboratory student preparation presentations and instructor demonstrations. We assessed the influence of the videos on student laboratory knowledge and performance, using sections of students who did not view the videos as the control. Our analysis of pre-quizzes revealed the control group had equivalent scores to the treatment group, while the post-quiz results show consistently greater learning gains for the treatment group. Additionally, the students who watched the videos as part of their pre-laboratory instruction completed their experiments in less time.

  1. Periodic equivalence ratio modulation method and apparatus for controlling combustion instability

    DOEpatents

    Richards, George A.; Janus, Michael C.; Griffith, Richard A.

    2000-01-01

    The periodic equivalence ratio modulation (PERM) method and apparatus significantly reduces and/or eliminates unstable conditions within a combustion chamber. The method involves modulating the equivalence ratio for the combustion device, such that the combustion device periodically operates outside of an identified unstable oscillation region. The equivalence ratio is modulated between preselected reference points, according to the shape of the oscillation region and operating parameters of the system. Preferably, the equivalence ratio is modulated from a first stable condition to a second stable condition, and, alternatively, the equivalence ratio is modulated from a stable condition to an unstable condition. The method is further applicable to multi-nozzle combustor designs, whereby individual nozzles are alternately modulated from stable to unstable conditions. Periodic equivalence ratio modulation (PERM) is accomplished by active control involving periodic, low frequency fuel modulation, whereby low frequency fuel pulses are injected into the main fuel delivery. Importantly, the fuel pulses are injected at a rate so as not to affect the desired time-average equivalence ratio for the combustion device.

  2. Short-duration exercise and confinement alters bone mineral content and shape in weanling horses.

    PubMed

    Hiney, K M; Nielsen, B D; Rosenstein, D

    2004-08-01

    The hypothesis that short-duration exercise may ameliorate the decrease in bone mass observed with confinement was investigated with 18 quarter horses (nine colts and nine fillies) weaned at 4 mo of age and placed into box stalls. After a 5-wk adjustment period, individuals were grouped by age and weight, and then divided randomly into three treatment groups: 1) group housed; 2) confined with no exercise; and 3) confined with exercise. The confined and exercised groups were housed in 3.7 m x 3.7 m box stalls for the 56-d duration of the trial. The exercised group was sprinted 82 m/d, 5 d/wk, in a fenced grass alleyway. The weanlings were led down an alleyway, turned loose in a small pen, and then released and allowed to run back down the alley. The group horses were housed together in a 992-m2 drylot with free access to exercise. On d 0, 28, and 56, dorsopalmar and lateromedial radiographs of the left third metacarpal bone were taken to estimate changes in bone mineral content and cortical widths. Mean values of medial, lateral, and total radiographic bone aluminum equivalence increased over time (P < 0.05), whereas dorsal and palmar radiographic bone aluminum equivalence did not change significantly. Dorsal, medial, and total radiographic bone aluminum equivalence tended (P = 0.09) to differ by a treatment x day interaction, with values increasing over time only in the exercised group. Normalized medial and total radiographic bone aluminum equivalence tended (P < 0.1) to differ (P < 0.01) with treatment, with exercised horses having greater bone aluminum equivalence than confined horses. Dorsopalmar cortical width in exercised horses was greater than on d 56 (treatment x day; P = 0.07). The dorsopalmar medullary cavity decreased in exercised vs. group-housed horses (P = 0.027), whereas dorsal and medial cortical width tended to increase only in the exercised horses (treatment x day; P < 0.01). This study indicated that a short-duration exercise protocol might be effective in improving bone mass and therefore skeletal strength in horses.

  3. Assessment of Computer Aids in Shipyards

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-04-01

    tank . The same need for an objective basis stands for construction processes. The computer provides an electronic medium which is equivalent to the water...in a towing tank . The virtual yard will serve a role for the industry equivalent to that of the USS Timmerman test bed for future destroyer 27 design...even beyond the contract design phase and spetications . We are taking a look at it as a cascade, which has appeared in a number of our presentations

  4. Choroidal Thinning Associated With Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy.

    PubMed

    Ahn, Seong Joon; Ryu, So Jung; Joung, Joo Young; Lee, Byung Ro

    2017-11-01

    To investigate choroidal thickness in patients using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and compare choroidal thickness between eyes with and without HCQ retinopathy. Retrospective case series. Setting: Institutional. We included 124 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis who were treated with HCQ. The patients were divided into an HCQ retinopathy group and a control group, according to the presence or absence of HCQ retinopathy. Total choroidal thickness and choriocapillaris-equivalent thickness were measured manually by 2 independent investigators using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT; DRI-OCT, Topcon Inc, Tokyo, Japan). These measurements were made at the fovea and at nasal and temporal locations 0.5, 1.5, and 3 mm from the fovea. Medium-to-large vessel layer thickness was calculated accordingly. The thicknesses were compared between the HCQ retinopathy and control groups. We performed correlation analyses between choroidal thicknesses and details regarding HCQ use. Total choroidal thickness and choriocapillaris-equivalent thickness. Choroidal thicknesses were significantly decreased (P < .05) in the HCQ retinopathy group compared to the control group, except at the temporal choroid 1.5 mm from the fovea. Choriocapillaris-equivalent thicknesses were significantly different in all choroidal locations between the groups. In contrast, the medium-to-large vessel layer thickness was only significantly different at a few locations. The cumulative dose/body weight was significantly correlated with subfoveal choroidal and choriocapillaris-equivalent thicknesses (both P = .001). The association between presence of HCQ retinopathy and choroidal thicknesses was also statistically significant after adjusting for age, diagnosis for HCQ use, refractive errors, and duration of HCQ use (P = .001 and P = .003 for subfoveal choroidal and choriocapillaris-equivalent thickness, respectively). These results all suggest that HCQ retinopathy is associated with choroidal thinning, especially in the choriocapillaris. Our results may suggest choroidal involvement of HCQ toxicity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. 42 CFR 440.335 - Benchmark-equivalent health benefits coverage.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ...) Aggregate actuarial value. Benchmark-equivalent coverage is health benefits coverage that has an aggregate... planning services and supplies and other appropriate preventive services, as designated by the Secretary... State for purposes of comparison in establishing the aggregate actuarial value of the benchmark...

  6. The comparative effect of individually-generated vs. collaboratively-generated computer-based concept mapping on science concept learning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kwon, So Young

    Using a quasi-experimental design, the researcher investigated the comparative effects of individually-generated and collaboratively-generated computer-based concept mapping on middle school science concept learning. Qualitative data were analyzed to explain quantitative findings. One hundred sixty-one students (74 boys and 87 girls) in eight, seventh grade science classes at a middle school in Southeast Texas completed the entire study. Using prior science performance scores to assure equivalence of student achievement across groups, the researcher assigned the teacher's classes to one of the three experimental groups. The independent variable, group, consisted of three levels: 40 students in a control group, 59 students trained to individually generate concept maps on computers, and 62 students trained to collaboratively generate concept maps on computers. The dependent variables were science concept learning as demonstrated by comprehension test scores, and quality of concept maps created by students in experimental groups as demonstrated by rubric scores. Students in the experimental groups received concept mapping training and used their newly acquired concept mapping skills to individually or collaboratively construct computer-based concept maps during study time. The control group, the individually-generated concept mapping group, and the collaboratively-generated concept mapping group had equivalent learning experiences for 50 minutes during five days, excepting that students in a control group worked independently without concept mapping activities, students in the individual group worked individually to construct concept maps, and students in the collaborative group worked collaboratively to construct concept maps during their study time. Both collaboratively and individually generated computer-based concept mapping had a positive effect on seventh grade middle school science concept learning but neither strategy was more effective than the other. However, the students who collaboratively generated concept maps created significantly higher quality concept maps than those who individually generated concept maps. The researcher concluded that the concept mapping software, Inspiration(TM), fostered construction of students' concept maps individually or collaboratively for science learning and helped students capture their evolving creative ideas and organize them for meaningful learning. Students in both the individual and the collaborative concept mapping groups had positive attitudes toward concept mapping using Inspiration(TM) software.

  7. Nondairy creamer, but not milk, delays the appearance of coffee phenolic acid equivalents in human plasma.

    PubMed

    Renouf, Mathieu; Marmet, Cynthia; Guy, Philippe; Fraering, Anne-Lise; Longet, Karin; Moulin, Julie; Enslen, Marc; Barron, Denis; Cavin, Christophe; Dionisi, Fabiola; Rezzi, Serge; Kochhar, Sunil; Steiling, Heike; Williamson, Gary

    2010-02-01

    Chlorogenic acids (CGA) are antioxidants found in coffee. They are becoming of interest for their health-promoting effects, but bioavailability in humans is not well understood. We hypothesized that adding whole milk or sugar and nondairy creamer to instant coffee might modulate the bioavailability of coffee phenolics. Nine healthy participants were asked to randomly drink, in a crossover design, instant coffee (Coffee); instant coffee and 10% whole milk (Milk); or instant coffee, sugar, and nondairy creamer already premixed (Sugar/NDC). All 3 treatments provided the same amount of total CGA (332 mg). Blood was collected for 12 h after ingestion and plasma samples treated using a liquid-liquid extraction method that included a full enzymatic cleavage to hydrolyze all CGA and conjugates into phenolic acid equivalents. Hence, we focused our liquid chromatography-Electrospray ionization-tandem MS detection and quantification on caffeic acid (CA), ferulic acid (FA), and isoferulic acid (iFA) equivalents. Compared with a regular black instant coffee, the addition of milk did not significantly alter the area under the curve (AUC), maximum plasma concentration (C(max)), or the time needed to reach C(max) (T(max)). The C(max) of CA and iFA were significantly lower and the T(max) of FA and iFA significantly longer for the Sugar/NDC group than for the Coffee group. However, the AUC did not significantly differ. As a conclusion, adding whole milk did not alter the overall bioavailability of coffee phenolic acids, whereas sugar and nondairy creamer affected the T(max) and C(max) but not the appearance of coffee phenolics in plasma.

  8. Morphogenesis and Cell Fate Determination within the Adaxial Cell Equivalence Group of the Zebrafish Myotome

    PubMed Central

    Nguyen-Chi, Mai E.; Bryson-Richardson, Robert; Sonntag, Carmen; Hall, Thomas E.; Gibson, Abigail; Sztal, Tamar; Chua, Wendy; Schilling, Thomas F.; Currie, Peter D.

    2012-01-01

    One of the central questions of developmental biology is how cells of equivalent potential—an equivalence group—come to adopt specific cellular fates. In this study we have used a combination of live imaging, single cell lineage analyses, and perturbation of specific signaling pathways to dissect the specification of the adaxial cells of the zebrafish embryo. We show that the adaxial cells are myogenic precursors that form a cell fate equivalence group of approximately 20 cells that consequently give rise to two distinct sub-types of muscle fibers: the superficial slow muscle fibers (SSFs) and muscle pioneer cells (MPs), distinguished by specific gene expression and cell behaviors. Using a combination of live imaging, retrospective and indicative fate mapping, and genetic studies, we show that MP and SSF precursors segregate at the beginning of segmentation and that they arise from distinct regions along the anterior-posterior (AP) and dorsal-ventral (DV) axes of the adaxial cell compartment. FGF signaling restricts MP cell fate in the anterior-most adaxial cells in each somite, while BMP signaling restricts this fate to the middle of the DV axis. Thus our results reveal that the synergistic actions of HH, FGF, and BMP signaling independently create a three-dimensional (3D) signaling milieu that coordinates cell fate within the adaxial cell equivalence group. PMID:23133395

  9. Evaluation of interventions to prevent injuries: an overview

    PubMed Central

    Dannenberg, A.; Fowler, C.

    1998-01-01

    Overview of issues involved in evaluating the effectiveness of injury interventions is presented. An intervention should be evaluated to show it prevents injuries in the target population, to identify unintended consequences, to correct problems that limit effectiveness, to justify current and future resources from funding agencies, and to guide its replication elsewhere. Problems in conducting evaluations include obtaining sufficient resources, coping with rare events, establishing reliability and validity of measurement instruments, separating effects of multiple simultaneous events, and adjusting for the time lag between an intervention and its effects. When feasible, changes in injury rates (documented by medical records) should be used. These are more convincing for demonstrating intervention effectiveness than changes in observed or reported behaviors or in knowledge and attitudes (documented by surveys). Quasiexperimental evaluation designs are often useful, such as measuring injury rates before and after an intervention in a time series design, or intervening in one of two comparable communities in a non-equivalent control group design. Evaluations using true experimental designs, in which individuals or groups are randomized to receive or not receive an intervention, are highly desirable but are often difficult due to logistical or ethical considerations. An evaluation component should be integral to the introduction of any new injury intervention. PMID:9666371

  10. Laser velocimetry measurements in a gas turbine research combustor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Driscoll, J. F.; Pelaccio, D. G.

    1979-01-01

    The effects of turbulence on the production of pollutant species in a gas-turbine research combustor are studied using laser diffraction velocimetry (LDV) techniques. Measurements that were made in the primary combustion zone include mean velocity, rms velocity fluctuations, velocity probability distributions, and autocorrelation functions. A unique combustor design provides relatively uniform flow conditions and independent control of drop size, equivalence ratio, inlet temperature, and combustor pressure. Parameters which characterize the nature of the spray combustion (i.e., whether single droplet or group combustion occurs), were determined from the LDV data. Turbulent diffusivity (eddy viscosity) reaches a value of 2930 sq cm/sec, corresponding to a convective integral length scale of 1.8 cm. The group combustion number, based on turbulent diffusivity, is measured to be 6.2

  11. [Effects of a Facial Muscle Exercise Program including Facial Massage for Patients with Facial Palsy].

    PubMed

    Choi, Hyoung Ju; Shin, Sung Hee

    2016-08-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a facial muscle exercise program including facial massage on the facial muscle function, subjective symptoms related to paralysis and depression in patients with facial palsy. This study was a quasi-experimental research with a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. Participants were 70 patients with facial palsy (experimental group 35, control group 35). For the experimental group, the facial muscular exercise program including facial massage was performed 20 minutes a day, 3 times a week for two weeks. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ²-test, Fisher's exact test and independent sample t-test with the SPSS 18.0 program. Facial muscular function of the experimental group improved significantly compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in symptoms related to paralysis between the experimental group and control group. The level of depression in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group. Results suggest that a facial muscle exercise program including facial massage is an effective nursing intervention to improve facial muscle function and decrease depression in patients with facial palsy.

  12. Study of the effects of informational and persuasive messages on the attitudes of high school students toward the use of nuclear energy for electrical production

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

    Showers, D.E.

    1986-01-01

    This investigation assessed the relationship between knowledge about and attitudes toward nuclear energy. The study's purpose was accomplished by attempting to manipulate knowledge about and attitude toward nuclear energy independently. Over two thousand high school students participated in the study. A Non-Equivalent Control Group quasi-experimental design was used involving random assignment by intact groups to treatments. A knowledge treatment was designed to increase student knowledge without affecting attitudes. An attitude treatment was designed to change attitudes without changing knowledge, and a control treatment was employed for comparison to the experimental treatments. Each treatment consisted of a videotape with a viewingmore » guide and a homework assignment. The Nuclear Energy Assessment Battery was used as a pretest, post-test, and retention test. Males scored significantly higher in knowledge and positive attitudes, but no interaction between gender and treatment was found. The study concluded that (1) there is a correlation between nuclear knowledge and attitudes, (2) knowledge about nuclear energy can be changed without affecting attitude and attitude can be changed without affecting knowledge, and (3) students show differences and attitude based on gender.« less

  13. Organochlorine contaminants in double-crested cormorants from Green Bay, Wisconsin: II. Effects of an extract derived from cormorant eggs on the chicken embryo

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Powell, D.C.; Aulerich, R.J.; Meadows, J.C.; Tillitt, D.E.; Stromborg, K.L.; Kubiak, T.J.; Giesy, J.P.; Bursian, S.J.

    1997-01-01

    White Leghorn chicken (Gallus domesticus) eggs were injected prior to incubation with one of four concentrations (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 egg-equivalent) of an extract derived from 1,000 double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) eggs collected at Spider Island adjacent to Green Bay in Lake Michigan. One egg-equivalent corresponded to the concentration of contaminants present in an average cormorant egg. This was approximately 322 pg toxic equivalents (TEQs)/g, ww egg with polychlorinatedbiphenyl congener 126 (3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl) accounting for over 70% of the TEQs. Injection of 1.0 egg-equivalent resulted in 77% mortality at hatch. The incidence of developmental abnormalities (structural defects or edema) was not affected by injection of the extract. Body weight gain of chicks was reduced in the 1.0 egg-equivalent dose group in the first, second, and third week's post-hatch. Relative brain weights were greater and relative bursa weights were less in the 1.0 egg-equivalent dose group than in the vehicle control at three weeks of age. There were no significant differences in the relative weights of the heart, liver, spleen, testes, or comb among treated and control birds.

  14. Pain Coping Skills Training for Patients with Elevated Pain Catastrophizing who are Scheduled for Knee Arthroplasty: A Quasi-Experimental Study

    PubMed Central

    Riddle, Daniel L.; Keefe, Francis J.; Nay, William T.; McKee, Daphne; Attarian, David E.; Jensen, Mark P.

    2011-01-01

    Objectives To (1) describe a behavioral intervention designed for patients with elevated pain catastrophizing who are scheduled for knee arthroplasty, and (2) use a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the potential efficacy of the intervention on pain severity, catastrophizing cognitions, and disability. Design Quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design with a 2 month follow-up. Setting Two university-based Orthopedic Surgery departments. Participants Adults scheduled for knee replacement surgery who reported elevated levels of pain catastrophizing. Patients were recruited from two clinics and were assessed prior to surgery and 2 months following surgery. Intervention A group of 18 patients received a psychologist directed pain coping skills training intervention comprising 8 sessions and the other group, a historical cohort of 45 patients, received usual care. Main Outcome Measures WOMAC Pain and Disability scores as well as scores on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Results Two months following surgery, the patients who received pain coping skills training reported significantly greater reductions in pain severity and catastrophizing, and greater improvements in function as compared to the usual care cohort. Conclusion Pain catastrophizing is known to increase risk of poor outcome following knee arthroplasty. The findings provide preliminary evidence that the treatment may be highly efficacious for reducing pain, catastrophizing, and disability, in patients reporting elevated catastrophizing prior to knee arthroplasty. A randomized clinical trial is warranted to confirm these effects. PMID:21530943

  15. [Development and Effects of a Drinking Prevention Program for Preschool Children].

    PubMed

    Kim, Younkyoung; Lee, Chong Mi; Park, Jong

    2016-04-01

    The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the program to promote drinking knowledge, attitudes, and coping behavior in preschool children. A quasi-experimental with non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was conducted. The participants were 123 five year old children from G city. They were assigned to the experimental group (n=77) or the control group (n=46). A pretest and posttest were conducted to measure main variables. For the experimental group, the drinking prevention program was given for 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using χ²-test, t-test, and ANCOVA. After the intervention, preschool children in the experimental group reported significant differences in drinking knowledge (F=9.25, p=.003), drinking attitudes (F=19.57, p<.001), and coping behavior (F=16.38, p<.001) compared to preschool children in the control group. The results of this study indicate that a drinking prevention program for preschool children is effective in increasing drinking knowledge, attitudes, and coping behavior. This drinking prevention program is recommended as an effective intervention for preschool age children to postpone an early introduction to drinking.

  16. Changes in knowledge, attitude and involvement of fathers in supporting exclusive breastfeeding: a community-based intervention study in a rural area of Vietnam.

    PubMed

    Bich, Tran Huu; Cuong, Nguyen Manh

    2017-02-01

    To test the hypotheses of positive changes of fathers' knowledge, attitude and involvement in supporting exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) after receiving breastfeeding education materials and counseling services. A quasi-experimental, pre-test-post-test, non-equivalent control group design was used. At baseline, 251 and 241 pregnant women and their husbands were enrolled into the intervention and control groups, respectively. The 1-year intervention targeting fathers included mass media, game show-style community events, group and individual counseling at health facilities and home visits. Compared to fathers in the control group, fathers in the intervention group had higher BF knowledge scores and higher attitude scores reflecting more positive attitudes toward early initiation of BF and 6 months EBF. Fathers in the intervention group were also more likely to report active involvement in supporting mothers to practice EBF during antenatal and postpartum periods. The community-based education model should be maintained and considered for conducting further test in wider application to mobilize fathers in supporting EBF.

  17. [Development and Effects of a Motivational Interviewing Self-management Program for Elderly Patients with Diabetes Mellitus].

    PubMed

    Kang, Hye Yeon; Gu, Mee Ock

    2015-08-01

    This study was conducted to develop and test the effects of a motivational interviewing self-management program for use with elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The participants were 42 elderly diabetic patients (experimental group: 21, control group: 21). The motivational interviewing self-management program for elders with diabetes mellitus developed in this study consisted of a 12-week program in total (8 weeks for group motivational interviewing and education and 4 weeks for individual motivational interviewing on the phone). Data were collected between February 13 and May 3, 2013 and were analyzed using t-test, paired t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA with SPSS/WIN 18.0. For the experimental group, significant improvement was found for self-efficacy, self-care behavior, glycemic control and quality of life (daily life satisfaction, influence of disease) as compared to the control group. The study findings indicate that the motivational interviewing self-management program is effective and can be recommended as a nursing intervention for elderly patients with diabetes mellitus.

  18. The effects of reminiscence on depressive symptoms and mood status of older institutionalized adults in Taiwan.

    PubMed

    Wang, Jing-Jy

    2005-01-01

    This study examined the effects of reminiscence on depressive symptoms and mood status of elderly people residing in long-term care facilities. A longitudinal quasi-experimental design was conducted, using two equivalent groups for pre-post test and purposive sampling. Each subject was administered pre- and post- tests at a 4 month interval, but subjects in the experimental group underwent weekly individual reminiscence therapy. Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS-SF) and Apparent Emotion Rating Scale (AER) were used as study instruments. Forty-eight subjects completed the study, with 25 in the experimental group and 23 in the control group. The experimental findings indicated that the experimental group demonstrated fewer depressive symptoms (p < 0.05) and better mood status (p = 0.05) on the post-test comparing to the control group. These warranted that reminiscence therapy is a recommended therapy for older people who reside in care facilities. It can provide a basis for planning geriatric care in community to promote the well being and quality of life of older people.

  19. Test of the Equivalence Principle in an Einstein Elevator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shapiro, Irwin I.; Glashow, S.; Lorenzini, E. C.; Cosmo, M. L.; Cheimets, P. N.; Finkelstein, N.; Schneps, M.

    2005-01-01

    This Annual Report illustrates the work carried out during the last grant-year activity on the Test of the Equivalence Principle in an Einstein Elevator. The activity focused on the following main topics: (1) analysis and conceptual design of a detector configuration suitable for the flight tests; (2) development of techniques for extracting a small signal from data strings with colored and white noise; (3) design of the mechanism that spins and releases the instrument package inside the cryostat; and (4) experimental activity carried out by our non-US partners (a summary is shown in this report). The analysis and conceptual design of the flight-detector (point 1) was focused on studying the response of the differential accelerometer during free fall, in the presence of errors and precession dynamics, for various detector's configurations. The goal was to devise a detector configuration in which an Equivalence Principle violation (EPV) signal at the sensitivity threshold level can be successfully measured and resolved out of a much stronger dynamics-related noise and gravity gradient. A detailed analysis and comprehensive simulation effort led us to a detector's design that can accomplish that goal successfully.

  20. Counting the costs of accreditation in acute care: an activity-based costing approach.

    PubMed

    Mumford, Virginia; Greenfield, David; Hogden, Anne; Forde, Kevin; Westbrook, Johanna; Braithwaite, Jeffrey

    2015-09-08

    To assess the costs of hospital accreditation in Australia. Mixed methods design incorporating: stakeholder analysis; survey design and implementation; activity-based costs analysis; and expert panel review. Acute care hospitals accredited by the Australian Council for Health Care Standards. Six acute public hospitals across four States. Accreditation costs varied from 0.03% to 0.60% of total hospital operating costs per year, averaged across the 4-year accreditation cycle. Relatively higher costs were associated with the surveys years and with smaller facilities. At a national level these costs translate to $A36.83 million, equivalent to 0.1% of acute public hospital recurrent expenditure in the 2012 fiscal year. This is the first time accreditation costs have been independently evaluated across a wide range of hospitals and highlights the additional cost burden for smaller facilities. A better understanding of the costs allows policymakers to assess alternative accreditation and other quality improvement strategies, and understand their impact across a range of facilities. This methodology can be adapted to assess international accreditation programmes. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  1. 40 CFR 1065.1001 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... engine parameters. Emission-control system means any device, system, or element of design that controls.... Nonmethane hydrocarbon equivalent (NMHCE) means the sum of the carbon mass contributions of non-oxygenated... of 1.85:1. Total hydrocarbon equivalent (THCE) means the sum of the carbon mass contributions of non...

  2. 40 CFR 1065.1001 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... engine parameters. Emission-control system means any device, system, or element of design that controls.... Nonmethane hydrocarbon equivalent (NMHCE) means the sum of the carbon mass contributions of non-oxygenated... of 1.85:1. Total hydrocarbon equivalent (THCE) means the sum of the carbon mass contributions of non...

  3. Gravity and Antimatter.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Goldman, Terry; And Others

    1988-01-01

    Discusses the theory and history behind an experiment that will be performed to measure the gravitational forces that effect antimatter. Describes conditions under which the principle of equivalence would be violated or supported. Reviews historical tests of equivalence, current theory and experiments. Presents the design of the new experiment.…

  4. 76 FR 4751 - Position Limits for Derivatives

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-01-26

    ... designated contract markets (``DCM'') and physical commodity swaps that are economically equivalent to such... non-spot-month limits based on open interest levels as well as establishing Commission-determined spot...''), swaps that are economically equivalent to DCM futures and option contracts with position limits, and...

  5. 40 CFR 53.58 - Operational field precision and blank test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) AMBIENT AIR MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS Procedures for Testing Physical (Design) and Performance Characteristics of Reference Methods and Class I and Class II Equivalent... samplers are also subject to a test for possible deposition of particulate matter on inactive filters...

  6. 40 CFR 53.58 - Operational field precision and blank test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) AMBIENT AIR MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS Procedures for Testing Physical (Design) and Performance Characteristics of Reference Methods and Class I and Class II Equivalent... samplers are also subject to a test for possible deposition of particulate matter on inactive filters...

  7. 40 CFR 53.58 - Operational field precision and blank test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) AMBIENT AIR MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS Procedures for Testing Physical (Design) and Performance Characteristics of Reference Methods and Class I and Class II Equivalent... samplers are also subject to a test for possible deposition of particulate matter on inactive filters...

  8. 40 CFR 53.58 - Operational field precision and blank test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) AMBIENT AIR MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS Procedures for Testing Physical (Design) and Performance Characteristics of Reference Methods and Class I and Class II Equivalent... samplers are also subject to a test for possible deposition of particulate matter on inactive filters...

  9. 76 FR 23690 - Version One Regional Reliability Standards for Facilities Design, Connections, and Maintenance...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-04-28

    ... Maintenance; Protection and Control; and Voltage and Reactive AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission..., Connections, and Maintenance; Protection and Control; and Voltage and Reactive, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking... regional definitions for Functionally Equivalent Protection System, Functionally Equivalent Remedial Action...

  10. Learning and generalization from reward and punishment in opioid addiction

    PubMed Central

    Myers, Catherine E.; Rego, Janice; Haber, Paul; Morley, Kirsten; Beck, Kevin D.; Hogarth, Lee; Moustafa, Ahmed A.

    2016-01-01

    This study adapts a widely-used acquired equivalence paradigm to investigate how opioid-addicted individuals learn from positive and negative feedback, and how they generalize this learning. The opioid-addicted group consisted of 33 participants with a history of heroin dependency currently in a methadone maintenance program; the control group consisted of 32 healthy participants without a history of drug addiction. All participants performed a novel variant of the acquired equivalence task, where they learned to map some stimuli to correct outcomes in order to obtain reward, and to map other stimuli to correct outcomes in order to avoid punishment; some stimuli were implicitly “equivalent” in the sense of being paired with the same outcome. On the initial training phase, both groups performed similarly on learning to obtain reward, but as memory load grew, the control group outperformed the addicted group on learning to avoid punishment. On a subsequent testing phase, the addicted and control groups performed similarly on retention trials involving previously-trained stimulus-outcome pairs, as well as on generalization trials to assess acquired equivalence. Since prior work with acquired equivalence tasks has associated stimulus-outcome learning with the nigrostriatal dopamine system, and generalization with the hippocampal region, the current results are consistent with basal ganglia dysfunction in the opioid-addicted patients. Further, a selective deficit in learning from punishment could contribute to processes by which addicted individuals continue to pursue drug use even at the cost of negative consequences such as loss of income and the opportunity to engage in other life activities. PMID:27641323

  11. Design and simulation of optoelectronic complementary dual neural elements for realizing a family of normalized vector 'equivalence-nonequivalence' operations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krasilenko, Vladimir G.; Nikolsky, Aleksandr I.; Lazarev, Alexander A.; Magas, Taras E.

    2010-04-01

    Equivalence models (EM) advantages of neural networks (NN) are shown in paper. EMs are based on vectormatrix procedures with basic operations of continuous neurologic: normalized vector operations "equivalence", "nonequivalence", "autoequivalence", "autononequivalence". The capacity of NN on the basis of EM and of its modifications, including auto-and heteroassociative memories for 2D images, exceeds in several times quantity of neurons. Such neuroparadigms are very perspective for processing, recognition, storing large size and strongly correlated images. A family of "normalized equivalence-nonequivalence" neuro-fuzzy logic operations on the based of generalized operations fuzzy-negation, t-norm and s-norm is elaborated. A biologically motivated concept and time pulse encoding principles of continuous logic photocurrent reflexions and sample-storage devices with pulse-width photoconverters have allowed us to design generalized structures for realization of the family of normalized linear vector operations "equivalence"-"nonequivalence". Simulation results show, that processing time in such circuits does not exceed units of micro seconds. Circuits are simple, have low supply voltage (1-3 V), low power consumption (milliwatts), low levels of input signals (microwatts), integrated construction, satisfy the problem of interconnections and cascading.

  12. Optimization of decoupling performance of underwater acoustic coating with cavities via equivalent fluid model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Lingzhi; Xiao, Yong; Wen, Jihong; Zhang, Hao; Wen, Xisen

    2018-07-01

    Acoustic coatings with periodically arranged internal cavities have been successfully applied in submarines for the purpose of decoupling water from vibration of underwater structures, and thus reducing underwater sound radiation. Previous publications on decoupling acoustic coatings with cavities are mainly focused on the case of coatings with specific shaped cavities, including cylindrical and conical cavities. To explore better decoupling performance, an optimal design of acoustic coating with complex shaped cavities is attempted in this paper. An equivalent fluid model is proposed to characterize coatings with general axisymmetrical cavities. By employing the equivalent fluid model, an analytical vibroacoustic model is further developed for the prediction of sound radiation from an infinite plate covered with an equivalent fluid layer (as a replacement of original coating) and immersed in water. Numerical examples are provided to verify the equivalent fluid model. Based on a combining use of the analytical vibroacoustic model and a differential evolution algorithm, optimal designs for acoustic coatings with cavities are conducted. Numerical results demonstrate that the decoupling performance of acoustic coating can be significantly improved by employing special axisymmetrical cavities as compared to traditional cylindrical cavities.

  13. The effects of BleedArrest on hemorrhage control in a porcine model.

    PubMed

    Gegel, Brian; Burgert, James; Loughren, Michael; Johnson, Don

    2012-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the hemostatic agent BleedArrest compared to control. This was a prospective, experimental design employing an established porcine model of uncontrolled hemorrhage. The minimum number of animals (n=10 per group) was used to obtain a statistically valid result. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups (P>.05) indicating that the groups were equivalent on the following parameters: activating clotting time, the subject weights, core body temperatures, amount of one minute hemorrhage, arterial blood pressures, and the amount and percentage of total blood volume. There were significant differences in the amount of hemorrhage (P=.033) between the BleedArrest (mean=72, SD±72 mL) and control (mean=317.30, SD±112.02 mL). BleedArrest is statistically and clinically superior at controlling hemorrhage compared to the standard pressure dressing control group. In conclusion, BleedArrest is an effective hemostatic agent for use in civilian and military trauma management.

  14. Enhancement of equivalence class formation by pretraining discriminative functions.

    PubMed

    Nartey, Richard K; Arntzen, Erik; Fields, Lanny

    2015-03-01

    The present experiment showed that a simple discriminative function acquired by an abstract stimulus through simultaneous and/or successive discrimination training enhanced the formation of an equivalence class of which that stimulus was a member. College students attempted to form three equivalence classes composed of three nodes and five members (A→B→C→D→E), using the simultaneous protocol. In the PIC group, the C stimuli were pictures and the A, B, D, and E stimuli were abstract shapes. In the ABS group, all of the stimuli were abstract shapes. In the SIM + SUCC (simultaneous and successive) group, simple discriminations were formed with the C stimuli through both simultaneous and successive discrimination training before class formation. Finally, in the SIM-only and SUCC-only groups, prior to class formation, simple discriminations were established for the C stimuli with a simultaneous procedure and a successive procedure, respectively. Equivalence classes were formed by 80% and 70% of the participants in the PIC and SIM + SUCC groups respectively, by 30% in the SUCC-only group, and by 10% apiece in the ABS and SIM-only groups. Thus, pretraining of combined simultaneous and successive discriminations enhanced class formation, as did the inclusion of a meaningful stimulus in a class. The isolated effect of forming successive discriminations was more influential than that of forming simultaneous discriminations. The establishment of both discriminations together produced an enhancement greater than the sum of the two procedures alone. Finally, a sorting test documented the maintenance of the classes formed during the simultaneous protocol. These results also provide a stimulus control-function account of the class-enhancing effects of meaningful stimuli.

  15. Reduced cardiovascular fitness associated with exposure to clozapine in individuals with chronic schizophrenia.

    PubMed

    Kim, David D; Lang, Donna J; Procyshyn, Ric M; Woodward, Melissa L; Kaufman, Kai; White, Randall F; Honer, William G; Warburton, Darren E R

    2018-04-01

    Studies show that individuals with schizophrenia have impaired cardiovascular fitness (i.e., low peak aerobic power (VO 2 peak)). It is speculated that antipsychotics with adverse cardiovascular and metabolic profiles, in particular clozapine, have a significant impact on VO 2 peak. In this cross-sectional study, we examined whether exposure to clozapine was associated with further reduced VO 2 peak compared with non-clozapine antipsychotics. Thirty participants with chronic schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were divided into clozapine and non-clozapine groups. Mean daily doses of antipsychotics were standardized to chlorpromazine equivalents and haloperidol equivalents for antagonism of alpha 1 - and alpha 2 -adrenergic receptors. Participants completed an incremental-to-maximal symptom-limited exercise test on a cycle ergometer for the assessment of VO 2 peak. The clozapine group demonstrated significantly lower VO 2 peak than the non-clozapine group. Haloperidol equivalents for alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonism, but not chlorpromazine equivalents, demonstrated significant inverse associations with VO 2 peak. The clozapine group had a significantly higher amount of antagonistic activity at alpha-adrenergic receptors than the non-clozapine group. In conclusion, exposure to clozapine was associated with further reduced cardiovascular fitness, which may be explained by the drug's greater antagonistic activity at alpha-adrenergic receptors. Cardiovascular fitness needs to be promoted in individuals treated with antipsychotics, particularly clozapine, to prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Percuflex Helical Ureteral Stents Significantly Reduce Patient Analgesic Requirements Compared to Control Stents.

    PubMed

    Chew, Ben H; Rebullar, Karla A; Harriman, David; McDougall, Elspeth; Paterson, Ryan F; Lange, Dirk

    2017-12-01

    Ureteral stent symptoms are experienced by the majority of patients with ureteral stents. No one stent or technology has shown a clear advantage. The Helical™ stent, a spirally cut stent made of proprietary Percuflex™ material, was designed to conform to the shape of the ureter and better accommodate patient movement. We prospectively sought to compare unscheduled visits, analgesic use, and pain scores in patients who received a Percuflex Helical ureteral stent following ureteroscopy compared to a historical control group. Fifteen (n = 15) patients undergoing ureteroscopy for the treatment of kidney stones were consented for study. A Percuflex Helical ureteral stent was inserted after treating the urinary stone. The historical control group consisted of 30 patients, from a previous (ketorolac eluting) ureteral stent study utilizing the same protocol and clinical monitoring forms, who received a regular Percuflex ureteral stent. The control patients were matched by age and sex. The primary study outcome was to compare unscheduled visits. Secondary outcomes included comparison of Visual Pain Analog Scale (VPAS) scores and analgesic use between the two groups. There were no differences in the gender, age, BMI, or stone characteristics between groups. Both groups underwent retrograde ureteroscopy using holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy and stone fragmentation. There was a significant reduction in the amount of analgesics required in the Helical stent group (4.4 ± 7.99 mg morphine equivalents) compared to controls (16.75 ± 18.31 mg, p = 0.0035) to achieve similar VPAS scores. There was no difference in unscheduled visits (20%) or VPAS scores (13.84 ± 13.68 helical vs 14.29 ± 11.58 control, p = 0.7910) between groups. Patients who received a Percuflex Helical ureteral stent required significantly fewer analgesics than those who received a Percuflex stent and both had equivalent pain scores.

  17. Equivalent model construction for a non-linear dynamic system based on an element-wise stiffness evaluation procedure and reduced analysis of the equivalent system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Euiyoung; Cho, Maenghyo

    2017-11-01

    In most non-linear analyses, the construction of a system matrix uses a large amount of computation time, comparable to the computation time required by the solving process. If the process for computing non-linear internal force matrices is substituted with an effective equivalent model that enables the bypass of numerical integrations and assembly processes used in matrix construction, efficiency can be greatly enhanced. A stiffness evaluation procedure (STEP) establishes non-linear internal force models using polynomial formulations of displacements. To efficiently identify an equivalent model, the method has evolved such that it is based on a reduced-order system. The reduction process, however, makes the equivalent model difficult to parameterize, which significantly affects the efficiency of the optimization process. In this paper, therefore, a new STEP, E-STEP, is proposed. Based on the element-wise nature of the finite element model, the stiffness evaluation is carried out element-by-element in the full domain. Since the unit of computation for the stiffness evaluation is restricted by element size, and since the computation is independent, the equivalent model can be constructed efficiently in parallel, even in the full domain. Due to the element-wise nature of the construction procedure, the equivalent E-STEP model is easily characterized by design parameters. Various reduced-order modeling techniques can be applied to the equivalent system in a manner similar to how they are applied in the original system. The reduced-order model based on E-STEP is successfully demonstrated for the dynamic analyses of non-linear structural finite element systems under varying design parameters.

  18. Evaluation of moxifloxacin 0.5% in treatment of nonperforated bacterial corneal ulcers: a randomized controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Sharma, Namrata; Goel, Manik; Bansal, Shubha; Agarwal, Prakashchand; Titiyal, Jeewan S; Upadhyaya, Ashish D; Vajpayee, Rasik B

    2013-06-01

    To compare the equivalence of moxifloxacin 0.5% with a combination of fortified cefazolin sodium 5% and tobramycin sulfate 1.3% eye drops in the treatment of moderate bacterial corneal ulcers. Randomized, controlled, equivalence clinical trial. Microbiologically proven cases of bacterial corneal ulcers were enrolled in the study and were allocated randomly to 1 of the 2 treatment groups. Group A was given combination therapy (fortified cefazolin sodium 5% and tobramycin sulfate) and group B was given monotherapy (moxifloxacin 0.5%). The primary outcome variable for the study was percentage of the ulcers healed at 3 months. The secondary outcome variables were best-corrected visual acuity and resolution of infiltrates. Of a total of 224 patients with bacterial keratitis, 114 patients were randomized to group A, whereas 110 patients were randomized to group B. The mean ± standard deviation ulcer size in groups A and B were 4.2 ± 2 and 4.41 ± 1.5 mm, respectively. The prevalence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (40.9% in group A and 48.2% in group B) was similar in both the study groups. A complete resolution of keratitis and healing of ulcers occurred in 90 patients (81.8%) in group A and 88 patients (81.4%) in group B at 3 months. The observed percentage of healing at 3 months was less than the equivalence margin of 20%. Worsening of ulcer was seen in 18.2% cases in group A and in 18.5% cases in group B. Mean time to epithelialization was similar, and there was no significant difference in the 2 groups (P = 0.065). No serious events attributable to therapy were reported. Corneal healing using 0.5% moxifloxacin monotherapy is equivalent to that of combination therapy using fortified cefazolin and tobramycin in the treatment of moderate bacterial corneal ulcers. The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. A Multimedia Child Developmental Screening Checklist: Design and Validation

    PubMed Central

    Cheng, Hsin-Yi Kathy; Chen, Li-Ying; Cheng, Chih-Hsiu; Ju, Yan-Ying; Chen, Chia-Ling

    2016-01-01

    Background Identifying disability early in life confers long-term benefits for children. The Taipei City Child Development Screening tool, second version (Taipei II) provides checklists for 13 child age groups from 4 months to 6 years. However, the usability of a text-based screening tool largely depends on the literacy level and logical reasoning ability of the caregivers, as well as language barriers caused by increasing numbers of immigrants. Objective The objectives of this study were to (1) design and develop a Web-based multimedia version of the current Taipei II developmental screening tool, and (2) investigate the measurement equivalence of this multimedia version to the original paper-based version. Methods To develop the multimedia version of Taipei II, a team of experts created illustrations, translations, and dubbing of the original checklists. The developmental screening test was administered to a total of 390 primary caregivers of children aged between 4 months and 6 years. Results Psychometric testing revealed excellent agreement between the paper and multimedia versions of Taipei II. Good to excellent reliabilities were demonstrated for all age groups for both the cross-mode similarity (mode intraclass correlation range 0.85-0.96) and the test-retest reliability (r=.93). Regarding the usability, the mean score was 4.80 (SD 0.03), indicating that users were satisfied with their multimedia website experience. Conclusions The multimedia tool produced essentially equivalent results to the paper-based tool. In addition, it had numerous advantages, such as it can facilitate active participation and promote early screening of target populations. ClinicalTrial Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02359591; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02359591 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6l21mmdNn) PMID:27777218

  20. A Multimedia Child Developmental Screening Checklist: Design and Validation.

    PubMed

    Cheng, Hsin-Yi Kathy; Chen, Li-Ying; Cheng, Chih-Hsiu; Ju, Yan-Ying; Chen, Chia-Ling; Tseng, Kevin C

    2016-10-24

    Identifying disability early in life confers long-term benefits for children. The Taipei City Child Development Screening tool, second version (Taipei II) provides checklists for 13 child age groups from 4 months to 6 years. However, the usability of a text-based screening tool largely depends on the literacy level and logical reasoning ability of the caregivers, as well as language barriers caused by increasing numbers of immigrants. The objectives of this study were to (1) design and develop a Web-based multimedia version of the current Taipei II developmental screening tool, and (2) investigate the measurement equivalence of this multimedia version to the original paper-based version. To develop the multimedia version of Taipei II, a team of experts created illustrations, translations, and dubbing of the original checklists. The developmental screening test was administered to a total of 390 primary caregivers of children aged between 4 months and 6 years. Psychometric testing revealed excellent agreement between the paper and multimedia versions of Taipei II. Good to excellent reliabilities were demonstrated for all age groups for both the cross-mode similarity (mode intraclass correlation range 0.85-0.96) and the test-retest reliability (r=.93). Regarding the usability, the mean score was 4.80 (SD 0.03), indicating that users were satisfied with their multimedia website experience. The multimedia tool produced essentially equivalent results to the paper-based tool. In addition, it had numerous advantages, such as it can facilitate active participation and promote early screening of target populations. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02359591; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02359591 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6l21mmdNn).

  1. The Emotional Resources Group: Provisional outcome data for a pilot six-session emotion regulation programme for secondary care.

    PubMed

    Bacon, Thomas; Doughty, Caitriona; Summers, Andrew; Wiffen, Benjamin; Stanley, Zoe; McAlpine, Susan

    2018-06-01

    To examine the effectiveness of a new, six-session emotion regulation group intervention designed for the secondary care setting: The Emotional Resources Group (ERG). In this pilot study, participants were recruited by referral from secondary care mental health services. Forty-seven individuals participated in the study. Participants who attended the ERG were compared on measures of emotion regulation, well-being, and self-efficacy, pre- and post-intervention. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated highly statistically significant improvements in measures of emotion regulation, well-being, and self-efficacy, accompanied by large effect sizes. In addition, improvements in emotion regulation produced good rates of both reliable and clinically significant change. The ERG may be an effective, brief intervention to improve emotion regulation in the secondary care setting, worthy of further evaluation. Clinical implications Emotion regulation may be an appropriate treatment target to improve well-being and self-efficacy in a transdiagnostic population. The ERG may be effective as a brief emotion regulation intervention for secondary care mental health settings. Outcomes of the ERG appear to be equivalent to other more intensive group-based emotion regulation interventions. The ERG's tailored design may be responsible for positive outcomes. Limitations There was a small sample size. There was no control group. There was no follow-up data. © 2018 The British Psychological Society.

  2. 9 CFR 145.73 - Terminology and classification; flocks and products.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... “National Plan Hatcheries” or have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official... have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official supervision: Provided... following terms and the corresponding designs illustrated in § 145.10: (a) [Reserved] (b) U.S. Pullorum...

  3. 9 CFR 145.73 - Terminology and classification; flocks and products.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... “National Plan Hatcheries” or have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official... have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official supervision: Provided... following terms and the corresponding designs illustrated in § 145.10: (a) [Reserved] (b) U.S. Pullorum...

  4. 9 CFR 145.73 - Terminology and classification; flocks and products.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... “National Plan Hatcheries” or have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official... have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official supervision: Provided... following terms and the corresponding designs illustrated in § 145.10: (a) [Reserved] (b) U.S. Pullorum...

  5. 47 CFR 25.201 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... reflector. When non-reflector or non-circular aperture antennas are employed, an equivalent diameter can be.... Earth Station on Vessel (“ESV”). An ESV is an earth station onboard a craft designed for traveling on... Internet or World Wide Web on-line filing forms. Equivalent diameter. When circular aperture reflector...

  6. 40 CFR 1065.1001 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...-control system means any device, system, or element of design that controls or reduces the emissions of... equivalent (NMHCE) means the sum of the carbon mass contributions of non-oxygenated nonmethane hydrocarbons... of 1.85:1. Total hydrocarbon equivalent (THCE) means the sum of the carbon mass contributions of non...

  7. 9 CFR 145.73 - Terminology and classification; flocks and products.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... “National Plan Hatcheries” or have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official... have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official supervision: Provided... following terms and the corresponding designs illustrated in § 145.10: (a) [Reserved] (b) U.S. Pullorum...

  8. 9 CFR 145.73 - Terminology and classification; flocks and products.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... “National Plan Hatcheries” or have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official... have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official supervision: Provided... following terms and the corresponding designs illustrated in § 145.10: (a) [Reserved] (b) U.S. Pullorum...

  9. 9 CFR 145.23 - Terminology and classification; flocks and products.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ...” or have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official supervision; (ii) All... equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official supervision: Provided, That if other... the following terms and the corresponding designs illustrated in § 145.10: (a) [Reserved] (b) U.S...

  10. 9 CFR 145.23 - Terminology and classification; flocks and products.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ...” or have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official supervision; (ii) All... equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official supervision: Provided, That if other... the following terms and the corresponding designs illustrated in § 145.10: (a) [Reserved] (b) U.S...

  11. Evaluation of LA DOTD traffic load data for determination of traffic load equivalency factors

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2001-07-01

    This study updates Louisiana's Equivalency Factor (LEF) tables, which are used as an integral part of the State's highway design and rehabilitation effort. This study was required because the tables have not been updated in over 15 years and are, as ...

  12. 14 CFR 25.335 - Design airspeeds.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... cruise speed (knots equivalent airspeed); Uref=the reference gust velocity (feet per second equivalent... control of airspeed and for transition from one flap position to another. (2) If an automatic flap... speed recommended for the operation of the device to allow for probable variations in speed control. For...

  13. 14 CFR 25.335 - Design airspeeds.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... cruise speed (knots equivalent airspeed); Uref=the reference gust velocity (feet per second equivalent... control of airspeed and for transition from one flap position to another. (2) If an automatic flap... speed recommended for the operation of the device to allow for probable variations in speed control. For...

  14. 14 CFR 25.335 - Design airspeeds.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... cruise speed (knots equivalent airspeed); Uref=the reference gust velocity (feet per second equivalent... control of airspeed and for transition from one flap position to another. (2) If an automatic flap... speed recommended for the operation of the device to allow for probable variations in speed control. For...

  15. 14 CFR 25.335 - Design airspeeds.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... cruise speed (knots equivalent airspeed); Uref=the reference gust velocity (feet per second equivalent... control of airspeed and for transition from one flap position to another. (2) If an automatic flap... speed recommended for the operation of the device to allow for probable variations in speed control. For...

  16. 40 CFR 53.52 - Leak check test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS Procedures for Testing Physical (Design) and Performance Characteristics of Reference Methods and Class I and Class II Equivalent Methods for PM 2.5 or PM 10-2.5 § 53.52... to include the facility, including components, instruments, operator controls, a written procedure...

  17. Evaluation of LADOTD traffic load data for determination of traffic load equivalency factors.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2001-07-01

    This study updates Louisiana's Load Equivalency Factor (LEF) tables, which are used as an integral part of the State's highway design and rehabilitation effort. This study was required because the tables have not been updated in over 15 years and are...

  18. Rationale, design and baseline data of a mixed methods study examining the clinical impact of a brief transition programme for young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: the DON'T RETARD project.

    PubMed

    Hilderson, Deborah; Westhovens, Rene; Wouters, Carine; Van der Elst, Kristien; Goossens, Eva; Moons, Philip

    2013-12-02

    To describe (1) the content of a transition programme for young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) designed as a brief intervention, (2) the rationale and design of a mixed-methods study evaluating the clinical impact of this transition programme and (3) to provide baseline data of the intervention group. An 'embedded experimental' design is used for the evaluation of the transition programme. A 'one-group pretest-posttest, with a non-equivalent posttest-only comparison group design' is used to quantitatively evaluate the impact of the transition programme, applying both longitudinal and comparative analyses. Subsequently, experiences of adolescents and their parents who participated in the experimental group will be analysed qualitatively using content analysis. Participants in the intervention are recruited at a tertiary care centre in Belgium. The comparison group participants are recruited from one tertiary and three secondary care centres in Belgium. The intervention group consists of 33 young people (25 females; 8 males) with a median age of 16 years. Main diagnoses are persistent or extended oligoarticular JIA (33%), polyarticular JIA (30%), enthesitis-related JIA (21%) or systemic arthritis (15%). The transition programme comprises eight key components: (1) transition coordinator; (2) providing information and education; (3) availability by telephone; (4) information about and contact with an adult care programme; (5) guidance of parents; (6) meeting with peers; (7) transfer plan; and (8) actual transfer to adult care. The primary outcome is health status, as perceived by the adolescents. Secondary outcomes are health status, as perceived by the parents; medication adherence; illness-related knowledge; quality of life; fatigue; promotion of independence; support of autonomy; behavioural control and psychological control. At baseline, the median score was 69.2 (Q1=60.0;Q3=92.9) on psychosocial health and 68.8 (Q1=56.3; Q3=89.1) on physical health. Rheumatic-specific health scores ranged from 62.5 to 100. We present the rationale and design of a study intended to evaluate a transition programme for adolescents with JIA as a brief intervention.

  19. [Effectiveness of enneagram group counseling for self-identification and depression in nursing college students].

    PubMed

    Lee, Jeong Seop; Yoon, Jeong Ah; Do, Keong Jin

    2013-10-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine effects of enneagram group counseling program on self-identification and depression in nursing college students. Three groups, categorized by how the students solve their conflicts, were selected to identify changes from the program. A quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group and pre posttest design was used. Participants were assigned to the experimental group (n=30) or control group (n=33). The experimental group participated in enneagram group counseling program for 38 hours through eight sessions covering four different topics. Collected data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Total self-identity score for the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups for depression scores. The Assertive and Compliant groups demonstrated significant change in self-identification while the Withdrawn groups did not reveal any change. Results indicate that the enneagram group counseling program is very effective in establishing positive self-identification for nursing college students who face developmental crisis and stressful situations. It is also expected that this program would be useful to enhance the students' confidence through a deeper understanding and acceptance of themselves.

  20. Development, Reliability, and Equivalence of an Alternate Form for the CQ Duty Performance-Based Measure

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-10-01

    distinguishes between known- groups of healthy control soldiers and those with traumatic brain injury. As such, the CQDT shows promise in helping to inform...be reliably administered and distinguishes between known- groups of healthy control soldiers and those with traumatic brain injury. As such, the CQDT...healthy controls and SM with mild TBI. If we succeed in developing an equivalent alternate form, the CQD may be used to both identify executive

  1. The two-point correlation function for groups of galaxies in the Center for Astrophysics redshift survey

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ramella, Massimo; Geller, Margaret J.; Huchra, John P.

    1990-01-01

    The large-scale distribution of groups of galaxies selected from complete slices of the CfA redshift survey extension is examined. The survey is used to reexamine the contribution of group members to the galaxy correlation function. The relationship between the correlation function for groups and those calculated for rich clusters is discussed, and the results for groups are examined as an extension of the relation between correlation function amplitude and richness. The group correlation function indicates that groups and individual galaxies are equivalent tracers of the large-scale matter distribution. The distribution of group centers is equivalent to random sampling of the galaxy distribution. The amplitude of the correlation function for groups is consistent with an extrapolation of the amplitude-richness relation for clusters. The amplitude scaled by the mean intersystem separation is also consistent with results for richer clusters.

  2. Relative Yetter-Drinfeld modules and comodules over braided groups

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

    Zhu, Haixing, E-mail: zhuhaixing@163.com, E-mail: haxing.zhu@njfu.edu.cn

    Let H{sub 1} be a quantum group and f : H{sub 1}⟶H{sub 2} a Hopf algebra homomorphism. Assume that B is some braided group obtained by Majid’s transmutation process. We first show that there is a tensor equivalence between the category of comodules over the braided group B and that of relative Yetter-Drinfeld modules. Next, we prove that the Drinfeld centers of the two categories mentioned above are equivalent to the category of modules over some quantum double, namely, the category of ordinary Yetter-Drinfeld modules over some Radford’s biproduct Hopf algebra. Importantly, the above results not only hold for amore » finite dimensional quantum group but also for an infinite dimensional one.« less

  3. Biological equivalence between LDR and PDR in cervical cancer: multifactor analysis using the linear-quadratic model.

    PubMed

    Couto, José Guilherme; Bravo, Isabel; Pirraco, Rui

    2011-09-01

    The purpose of this work was the biological comparison between Low Dose Rate (LDR) and Pulsed Dose Rate (PDR) in cervical cancer regarding the discontinuation of the afterloading system used for the LDR treatments at our Institution since December 2009. In the first phase we studied the influence of the pulse dose and the pulse time in the biological equivalence between LDR and PDR treatments using the Linear Quadratic Model (LQM). In the second phase, the equivalent dose in 2 Gy/fraction (EQD(2)) for the tumor, rectum and bladder in treatments performed with both techniques was evaluated and statistically compared. All evaluated patients had stage IIB cervical cancer and were treated with External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) plus two Brachytherapy (BT) applications. Data were collected from 48 patients (26 patients treated with LDR and 22 patients with PDR). In the analyses of the influence of PDR parameters in the biological equivalence between LDR and PDR treatments (Phase 1), it was calculated that if the pulse dose in PDR was kept equal to the LDR dose rate, a small the-rapeutic loss was expected. If the pulse dose was decreased, the therapeutic window became larger, but a correction in the prescribed dose was necessary. In PDR schemes with 1 hour interval between pulses, the pulse time did not influence significantly the equivalent dose. In the comparison between the groups treated with LDR and PDR (Phase 2) we concluded that they were not equivalent, because in the PDR group the total EQD(2) for the tumor, rectum and bladder was smaller than in the LDR group; the LQM estimated that a correction in the prescribed dose of 6% to 10% was ne-cessary to avoid therapeutic loss. A correction in the prescribed dose was necessary; this correction should be achieved by calculating the PDR dose equivalent to the desired LDR total dose.

  4. Biological equivalence between LDR and PDR in cervical cancer: multifactor analysis using the linear-quadratic model

    PubMed Central

    Bravo, Isabel; Pirraco, Rui

    2011-01-01

    Purpose The purpose of this work was the biological comparison between Low Dose Rate (LDR) and Pulsed Dose Rate (PDR) in cervical cancer regarding the discontinuation of the afterloading system used for the LDR treatments at our Institution since December 2009. Material and methods In the first phase we studied the influence of the pulse dose and the pulse time in the biological equivalence between LDR and PDR treatments using the Linear Quadratic Model (LQM). In the second phase, the equivalent dose in 2 Gy/fraction (EQD2) for the tumor, rectum and bladder in treatments performed with both techniques was evaluated and statistically compared. All evaluated patients had stage IIB cervical cancer and were treated with External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) plus two Brachytherapy (BT) applications. Data were collected from 48 patients (26 patients treated with LDR and 22 patients with PDR). Results In the analyses of the influence of PDR parameters in the biological equivalence between LDR and PDR treatments (Phase 1), it was calculated that if the pulse dose in PDR was kept equal to the LDR dose rate, a small the-rapeutic loss was expected. If the pulse dose was decreased, the therapeutic window became larger, but a correction in the prescribed dose was necessary. In PDR schemes with 1 hour interval between pulses, the pulse time did not influence significantly the equivalent dose. In the comparison between the groups treated with LDR and PDR (Phase 2) we concluded that they were not equivalent, because in the PDR group the total EQD2 for the tumor, rectum and bladder was smaller than in the LDR group; the LQM estimated that a correction in the prescribed dose of 6% to 10% was ne-cessary to avoid therapeutic loss. Conclusions A correction in the prescribed dose was necessary; this correction should be achieved by calculating the PDR dose equivalent to the desired LDR total dose. PMID:23346123

  5. Increasing capacity to deliver diabetes self-management education: results of the DESMOND lay educator non-randomized controlled equivalence trial.

    PubMed

    Carey, M E; Mandalia, P K; Daly, H; Gray, L J; Hale, R; Martin Stacey, L; Taub, N; Skinner, T C; Stone, M; Heller, S; Khunti, K; Davies, M J

    2014-11-01

    To develop and test a format of delivery of diabetes self-management education by paired professional and lay educators. We conducted an equivalence trial with non-randomized participant allocation to a Diabetes Education and Self Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed Type 2 diabetes (DESMOND) course, delivered in the standard format by two trained healthcare professional educators (to the control group) or by one trained lay educator and one professional educator (to the intervention group). A total of 260 people with Type 2 diabetes diagnosed within the previous 12 months were referred for self-management education as part of routine care and attended either a control or intervention format DESMOND course. The primary outcome measure was change in illness coherence score (derived from the Diabetes Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised) between baseline and 4 months after attending education sessions. Secondary outcome measures included change in HbA1c level. The trial was conducted in four primary care organizations across England and Scotland. The 95% CI for the between-group difference in positive change in coherence scores was within the pre-set limits of equivalence (difference = 0.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.52). Equivalent changes related to secondary outcome measures were also observed, including equivalent reductions in HbA1c levels. Diabetes education delivered jointly by a trained lay person and a healthcare professional educator with the same educator role can provide equivalent patient benefits. This could provide a method that increases capacity, maintains quality and is cost-effective, while increasing access to self-management education. © 2014 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2014 Diabetes UK.

  6. Equivalent plate modeling for conceptual design of aircraft wing structures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Giles, Gary L.

    1995-01-01

    This paper describes an analysis method that generates conceptual-level design data for aircraft wing structures. A key requirement is that this data must be produced in a timely manner so that is can be used effectively by multidisciplinary synthesis codes for performing systems studies. Such a capability is being developed by enhancing an equivalent plate structural analysis computer code to provide a more comprehensive, robust and user-friendly analysis tool. The paper focuses on recent enhancements to the Equivalent Laminated Plate Solution (ELAPS) analysis code that significantly expands the modeling capability and improves the accuracy of results. Modeling additions include use of out-of-plane plate segments for representing winglets and advanced wing concepts such as C-wings along with a new capability for modeling the internal rib and spar structure. The accuracy of calculated results is improved by including transverse shear effects in the formulation and by using multiple sets of assumed displacement functions in the analysis. Typical results are presented to demonstrate these new features. Example configurations include a C-wing transport aircraft, a representative fighter wing and a blended-wing-body transport. These applications are intended to demonstrate and quantify the benefits of using equivalent plate modeling of wing structures during conceptual design.

  7. [Effects of gout web based self-management program on knowledge related to disease, medication adherence, and self-management].

    PubMed

    Oh, Hyun Soo; Park, Won; Kwon, Seong Ryul; Lim, Mie Jin; Suh, Yeon Ok; Seo, Wha Sook; Park, Jong Suk

    2013-08-01

    This study was conducted to examine the changing patterns of knowledge related to disease, medication adherence, and self-management and to determine if outcomes were more favorable in the experimental group than in the comparison group through 6 months after providing a web-based self-management intervention. A non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used and 65 patients with gout, 34 in experimental group and 31 in comparison group, were selected from the rheumatic clinics of two university hospitals. Data were collected four times, at baseline, at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the intervention. According to the study results, the changing patterns of knowledge and self-management were more positive in the experimental group than in the control group, whereas difference in the changing pattern of medication adherence between two groups was not significant. The results indicate that the web-based self-management program has significant effect on improving knowledge and self-management for middle aged male patients with gout. However, in order to enhance medication adherence, the web-based intervention might not be sufficient and other strategies need to be added.

  8. The effects of neurologic assessment E-learning in nurses.

    PubMed

    Shin, Ji Yeon; Issenberg, S Barry; Roh, Young Sook

    2017-10-01

    A firm understanding of the preliminary assessment of a patient with neurological disorders is needed for ensuring optimal patient outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of using e-learning on neurologic assessment knowledge, ability, and self-confidence among nurses. This study used a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Nurses working in the neurology and neurosurgery wards, Republic of Korea PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 50 nurses was assigned to either the experimental group (n=24) or the control group (n=26). The experimental group participated in the self-directed e-learning program related to neurologic assessment, and control group underwent self-directed learning with handout. Knowledge, ability, and self-confidence were measured at pretest and posttest. There were no significant differences in knowledge (U=270, p=0.399) and self-confidence (U=241.5, p=0.171) between the two groups. Nurses in the experimental group showed higher neurologic assessment ability compared with those in the control group (U=199, p=0.028). Self-directed neurologic assessment e-learning induced improvement in the neurologic assessment ability among nurses. Self-directed e-learning can be applied for improving competencies in neurologic assessment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. [Effect of aromatherapy massage on abdominal fat and body image in post-menopausal women].

    PubMed

    Kim, Hee Ja

    2007-06-01

    The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of aromatherapy massage on abdominal fat and body image in post-menopausal women. A Non-equivalent control group pre-post test Quasi-experimental design of random assignment was applied. All subjects received one hour of whole body massage as treatment by the same researcher every week for 6 weeks. Participants also massaged their own abdomen two times everyday for 5 days each week for 6 weeks. The two groups used different kinds of oil. The experimental group used 3% grapefruit oil, cypress and three other kinds of oil. The control group used grapeseed oil. Data was collected before and after the treatment using Siemens Somatom Sensation 4, a tape measure and MBSRQ. Data was analyzed by ANCOVA using the SPSS/PC+Win 12 Version. Abdominal subcutaneous fat and waist circumference in the experimental group significantly decreased after aromatherapy massage compared to the control group. Body image in the experimental group was significantly better after aromatherapy massage than in the control group. These results suggest that Aromatherapy massage could be utilized as an effective intervention to reduce abdominal subcutaneous fat, waist circumference, and to improve body image in post-menopausal women.

  10. [Development and evaluation of the Empowering A Self-Efficacy (EASE) program for children with epilepsy].

    PubMed

    Yoo, Hana; Kim, Hee-Soon

    2015-02-01

    The purpose of this study was to verify effects of the Empowering A Self-Efficacy (EASE) program on self-efficacy, self-management, and child attitude toward illness in children with epilepsy. This was a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pre-post test design. Participants were 10 to 15 year old children with epilepsy (11 in the experimental group and 10 in the control group) who were registered at one hospital in S city. The experimental group received the EASE program for 3 weeks. In the first week, a group meeting lasting 570 minutes was conducted on a single day. Over the next two weeks, telephone counselling was conducted twice a week. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. There was a significant difference of pre-post evaluation of the epilepsy self-management scores in the experimental group. However, differences between the experimental group and the control group for seizure self-efficacy and child attitude toward illness were not significant. This is the first study in Korea to develop and evaluate an intervention program for children with epilepsy. Further studies are needed to confirm the effects of the EASE program.

  11. Adaptation to nonlinear frequency compression in normal-hearing adults: a comparison of training approaches.

    PubMed

    Dickinson, Ann-Marie; Baker, Richard; Siciliano, Catherine; Munro, Kevin J

    2014-10-01

    To identify which training approach, if any, is most effective for improving perception of frequency-compressed speech. A between-subject design using repeated measures. Forty young adults with normal hearing were randomly allocated to one of four groups: a training group (sentence or consonant) or a control group (passive exposure or test-only). Test and training material differed in terms of material and speaker. On average, sentence training and passive exposure led to significantly improved sentence recognition (11.0% and 11.7%, respectively) compared with the consonant training group (2.5%) and test-only group (0.4%), whilst, consonant training led to significantly improved consonant recognition (8.8%) compared with the sentence training group (1.9%), passive exposure group (2.8%), and test-only group (0.8%). Sentence training led to improved sentence recognition, whilst consonant training led to improved consonant recognition. This suggests learning transferred between speakers and material but not stimuli. Passive exposure to sentence material led to an improvement in sentence recognition that was equivalent to gains from active training. This suggests that it may be possible to adapt passively to frequency-compressed speech.

  12. 9 CFR 145.23 - Terminology and classification; flocks and products.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... the following terms and the corresponding designs illustrated in § 145.10: (a) [Reserved] (b) U.S... from flocks that met equivalent requirements under official supervision; and (iii) The flock is located... from U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean breeding flocks or from flocks that met equivalent requirements under...

  13. 40 CFR 53.4 - Applications for reference or equivalent method determinations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... using information such as service reports and customer complaints to eliminate potential causes of... standards of good practice and by qualified personnel. Test anomalies or irregularities shall be documented... designated as a reference or equivalent method, to ensure that all analyzers or samplers offered for sale...

  14. Estimation of 18-kip equivalent on primary and interstate road systems in Virginia.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1972-01-01

    For pavement design purposes, the Virginia Department of Highways uses the AASHO method of determining the 18-kip equivalent single axle load (EWL-18). The evaluation of the EWL-18 is based on on-location truck axle weight studies that usually are ca...

  15. 40 CFR 53.52 - Leak check test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS Procedures for Testing Physical (Design) and Performance Characteristics of Reference Methods and Class I and Class II Equivalent Methods for PM2.5 or PM10â2.5 § 53.52... to include the facility, including components, instruments, operator controls, a written procedure...

  16. 40 CFR 53.52 - Leak check test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS Procedures for Testing Physical (Design) and Performance Characteristics of Reference Methods and Class I and Class II Equivalent Methods for PM2.5 or PM10â2.5 § 53.52... to include the facility, including components, instruments, operator controls, a written procedure...

  17. 40 CFR 53.52 - Leak check test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... MONITORING REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS Procedures for Testing Physical (Design) and Performance Characteristics of Reference Methods and Class I and Class II Equivalent Methods for PM2.5 or PM10â2.5 § 53.52... to include the facility, including components, instruments, operator controls, a written procedure...

  18. Turning a negative into a positive.

    PubMed

    Jupiter, Daniel C

    2013-01-01

    A lack of significant difference between populations is often misinterpreted as demonstrating equivalence between the populations. I discuss how this confusion comes about and hint at a future discussion of analyses designed to show equivalence. Copyright © 2013 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Head-to-head randomized trials are mostly industry sponsored and almost always favor the industry sponsor.

    PubMed

    Flacco, Maria Elena; Manzoli, Lamberto; Boccia, Stefania; Capasso, Lorenzo; Aleksovska, Katina; Rosso, Annalisa; Scaioli, Giacomo; De Vito, Corrado; Siliquini, Roberta; Villari, Paolo; Ioannidis, John P A

    2015-07-01

    To map the current status of head-to-head comparative randomized evidence and to assess whether funding may impact on trial design and results. From a 50% random sample of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in journals indexed in PubMed during 2011, we selected the trials with ≥ 100 participants, evaluating the efficacy and safety of drugs, biologics, and medical devices through a head-to-head comparison. We analyzed 319 trials. Overall, 238,386 of the 289,718 randomized subjects (82.3%) were included in the 182 trials funded by companies. Of the 182 industry-sponsored trials, only 23 had two industry sponsors and only three involved truly antagonistic comparisons. Industry-sponsored trials were larger, more commonly registered, used more frequently noninferiority/equivalence designs, had higher citation impact, and were more likely to have "favorable" results (superiority or noninferiority/equivalence for the experimental treatment) than nonindustry-sponsored trials. Industry funding [odds ratio (OR) 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6, 4.7] and noninferiority/equivalence designs (OR 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5, 6.6), but not sample size, were strongly associated with "favorable" findings. Fifty-five of the 57 (96.5%) industry-funded noninferiority/equivalence trials got desirable "favorable" results. The literature of head-to-head RCTs is dominated by the industry. Industry-sponsored comparative assessments systematically yield favorable results for the sponsors, even more so when noninferiority designs are involved. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Analysis and design of wedge projection display system based on ray retracing method.

    PubMed

    Lee, Chang-Kun; Lee, Taewon; Sung, Hyunsik; Min, Sung-Wook

    2013-06-10

    A design method for the wedge projection display system based on the ray retracing method is proposed. To analyze the principle of image formation on the inclined surface of the wedge-shaped waveguide, the bundle of rays is retraced from an imaging point on the inclined surface to the aperture of the waveguide. In consequence of ray retracing, we obtain the incident conditions of the ray, such as the position and the angle at the aperture, which provide clues for image formation. To illuminate the image formation, the concept of the equivalent imaging point is proposed, which is the intersection where the incident rays are extended over the space regardless of the refraction and reflection in the waveguide. Since the initial value of the rays arriving at the equivalent imaging point corresponds to that of the rays converging into the imaging point on the inclined surface, the image formation can be visualized by calculating the equivalent imaging point over the entire inclined surface. Then, we can find image characteristics, such as their size and position, and their degree of blur--by analyzing the distribution of the equivalent imaging point--and design the optimized wedge projection system by attaching the prism structure at the aperture. The simulation results show the feasibility of the ray retracing analysis and characterize the numerical relation between the waveguide parameters and the aperture structure for on-axis configuration. The experimental results verify the designed system based on the proposed method.

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