Sample records for evaluated data

  1. Introducing Nuclear Data Evaluations of Prompt Fission Neutron Spectra

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

    Neudecker, Denise

    2015-06-17

    Nuclear data evaluations provide recommended data sets for nuclear data applications such as reactor physics, stockpile stewardship or nuclear medicine. The evaluated data are often based on information from multiple experimental data sets and nuclear theory using statistical methods. Therefore, they are collaborative efforts of evaluators, theoreticians, experimentalists, benchmark experts, statisticians and application area scientists. In this talk, an introductions is given to the field of nuclear data evaluation at the specific example of a recent evaluation of the outgoing neutron energy spectrum emitted promptly after fission from 239Pu and induced by neutrons from thermal to 30 MeV.

  2. Co-ordination of the International Network of Nuclear Structure and Decay Data Evaluators; Summary Report of an IAEA Technical Meeting

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

    Abriola, D.; Tuli, J.

    The IAEA Nuclear Data Section convened the 18th meeting of the International Network of Nuclear Structure and Decay Data Evaluators at the IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, 23 to 27 March 2009. This meeting was attended by 22 scientists from 14 Member States, plus IAEA staff, concerned with the compilation, evaluation and dissemination of nuclear structure and decay data. A summary of the meeting, recommendations/conclusions, data centre reports, and various proposals considered, modified and agreed by the participants are contained within this document. The International Network of Nuclear Structure and Decay Data (NSDD) Evaluators holds biennial meetings under the auspices of themore » IAEA, and consists of evaluation groups and data service centres in several countries. This network has the objective of providing up-to-date nuclear structure and decay data for all known nuclides by evaluating all existing experimental data. Data resulting from this international evaluation collaboration is included in the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) and published in the journals Nuclear Physics A and Nuclear Data Sheets (NDS).« less

  3. Evaluating energy saving system of data centers based on AHP and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Yingni

    2018-03-01

    Due to the high energy consumption of communication, energy saving of data centers must be enforced. But the lack of evaluation mechanisms has restrained the process on energy saving construction of data centers. In this paper, energy saving evaluation index system of data centers was constructed on the basis of clarifying the influence factors. Based on the evaluation index system, analytical hierarchy process was used to determine the weights of the evaluation indexes. Subsequently, a three-grade fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model was constructed to evaluate the energy saving system of data centers.

  4. 48 CFR 246.470-2 - Quality evaluation data.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 246.470-2 Quality evaluation data. The contract administration office shall establish a system for the collection, evaluation, and use of the types of quality evaluation data specified in PGI 246.470-2. [71 FR... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Quality evaluation data...

  5. 48 CFR 246.470-2 - Quality evaluation data.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 246.470-2 Quality evaluation data. The contract administration office shall establish a system for the collection, evaluation, and use of the types of quality evaluation data specified in PGI 246.470-2. [71 FR... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Quality evaluation data...

  6. 48 CFR 246.470-2 - Quality evaluation data.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 246.470-2 Quality evaluation data. The contract administration office shall establish a system for the collection, evaluation, and use of the types of quality evaluation data specified in PGI 246.470-2. [71 FR... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Quality evaluation data...

  7. 48 CFR 246.470-2 - Quality evaluation data.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 246.470-2 Quality evaluation data. The contract administration office shall establish a system for the collection, evaluation, and use of the types of quality evaluation data specified in PGI 246.470-2. [71 FR... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Quality evaluation data...

  8. 40 CFR 610.25 - Evaluation of test data.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... base; (d) Definition of claims which can be made based on the available data; and (e) Substantiation of... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Evaluation of test data. 610.25... Analysis § 610.25 Evaluation of test data. Valid manufacturer-furnished test data will be evaluated with...

  9. 40 CFR 610.25 - Evaluation of test data.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... base; (d) Definition of claims which can be made based on the available data; and (e) Substantiation of... 40 Protection of Environment 29 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Evaluation of test data. 610.25... Analysis § 610.25 Evaluation of test data. Valid manufacturer-furnished test data will be evaluated with...

  10. 40 CFR 610.25 - Evaluation of test data.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... base; (d) Definition of claims which can be made based on the available data; and (e) Substantiation of... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Evaluation of test data. 610.25... Analysis § 610.25 Evaluation of test data. Valid manufacturer-furnished test data will be evaluated with...

  11. 40 CFR 610.25 - Evaluation of test data.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... base; (d) Definition of claims which can be made based on the available data; and (e) Substantiation of... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Evaluation of test data. 610.25... Analysis § 610.25 Evaluation of test data. Valid manufacturer-furnished test data will be evaluated with...

  12. 40 CFR 610.25 - Evaluation of test data.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... base; (d) Definition of claims which can be made based on the available data; and (e) Substantiation of... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Evaluation of test data. 610.25... Analysis § 610.25 Evaluation of test data. Valid manufacturer-furnished test data will be evaluated with...

  13. Thermal-neutron capture for A=26-35

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

    Chunmei, Z.; Firestone, R.B.

    2001-06-01

    The prompt gamma-ray data of thermal- neutron captures fornuclear mass number A=26-35 had been evaluated and published in "ATOMICDATA AND NUCLEAR DATA TABLES, 26, 511 (1981)". Since that time themanyexperimental data of the thermal-neutron captures have been measuredand published. The update of the evaluated prompt gamma-ray data is verynecessary for use in PGAA of high-resolution analytical prompt gamma-rayspectroscopy. Besides, the evaluation is also very needed in theEvaluated Nuclear Structure Data File, ENSDF, because there are no promptgamma-ray data in ENSDF. The levels, prompt gamma-rays and decay schemesof thermal-neutron captures for nuclides (26Mg, 27Al, 28Si, 29Si, 30Si,31P, 32S, 33S, 34S, andmore » 35Cl) with nuclear mass number A=26-35 have beenevaluated on the basis of all experimental data. The normalizationfactors, from which absolute prompt gamma-ray intensity can be obtained,and necessary comments are given in the text. The ENSDF format has beenadopted in this evaluation. The physical check (intensity balance andenergy balance) of evaluated thermal-neutron capture data has been done.The evaluated data have been put into Evaluated Nuclear Structure DataFile, ENSDF. This evaluation may be considered as an update of the promptgamma-ray from thermal-neutron capture data tables as published in"ATOMIC DATA AND NUCLEAR DATA TABLES, 26, 511 (1981)".« less

  14. Thermal-neutron capture for A=36-44

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

    Chunmei, Z.; Firestone, R.B.

    2003-01-01

    The prompt gamma-ray data of thermal- neutron captures fornuclear mass number A=26-35 had been evaluated and published in "ATOMICDATA AND NUCLEAR DATA TABLES, 26, 511 (1981)". Since that time the manyexperimental data of the thermal-neutron captures have been measured andpublished. The update of the evaluated prompt gamma-ray data is verynecessary for use in PGAA of high-resolution analytical prompt gamma-rayspectroscopy. Besides, the evaluation is also very needed in theEvaluated Nuclear Structure Data File, ENSDF, because there are no promptgamma-ray data in ENSDF. The levels, prompt gamma-rays and decay schemesof thermal-neutron captures fornuclides (26Mg, 27Al, 28Si, 29Si, 30Si,31P, 32S, 33S, 34S, andmore » 35Cl) with nuclear mass number A=26-35 have beenevaluated on the basis of all experimental data. The normalizationfactors, from which absolute prompt gamma-ray intensity can be obtained,and necessary comments are given in the text. The ENSDF format has beenadopted in this evaluation. The physical check (intensity balance andenergy balance) of evaluated thermal-neutron capture data has been done.The evaluated data have been put into Evaluated Nuclear Structure DataFile, ENSDF. This evaluation may be considered as an update of the promptgamma-ray from thermal-neutron capture data tables as published in"ATOMIC DATA AND NUCLEAR DATA TABLES, 26, 511 (1981)".« less

  15. Accessibility and usability OCW data: The UTPL OCW.

    PubMed

    Rodríguez, Germania; Perez, Jennifer; Cueva, Samanta; Torres, Rommel

    2017-08-01

    This data article provides a data description on article entitled "A framework for improving web accessibility and usability of Open Course Ware sites" [3] This Data in Brief presents the data obtained from the accessibility and usability evaluation of the UTPL OCW. The data obtained from the framework evaluation consists of the manual evaluation of the standards criteria and the automatic evaluation of the tools Google PageSpeed and Google Analytics. In addition, this article presents the synthetized tables from standards that are used by the framework to evaluate the accessibility and usability of OCW, and the questionnaires required to extract the data. As a result, the article also provides the data required to reproduce the evaluation of other OCW.

  16. Biological Modeling As A Method for Data Evaluation and ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Biological Models, evaluating consistency of data and integrating diverse data, examples of pharmacokinetics and response and pharmacodynamics Biological Models, evaluating consistency of data and integrating diverse data, examples of pharmacokinetics and response and pharmacodynamics

  17. Nuclear Data Uncertainty Quantification: Past, Present and Future

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smith, D. L.

    2015-01-01

    An historical overview is provided of the mathematical foundations of uncertainty quantification and the roles played in the more recent past by nuclear data uncertainties in nuclear data evaluations and nuclear applications. Significant advances that have established the mathematical framework for contemporary nuclear data evaluation methods, as well as the use of uncertainty information in nuclear data evaluation and nuclear applications, are described. This is followed by a brief examination of the current status concerning nuclear data evaluation methodology, covariance data generation, and the application of evaluated nuclear data uncertainties in contemporary nuclear technology. A few possible areas for future investigation of this subject are also suggested.

  18. Nuclear Data Uncertainty Quantification: Past, Present and Future

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

    Smith, D. L.

    2015-01-01

    An historical overview is provided of the mathematical foundations of uncertainty quantification and the roles played in the more recent past by nuclear data uncertainties in nuclear data evaluations and nuclear applications. Significant advances that have established the mathematical framework for contemporary nuclear data evaluation methods, as well as the use of uncertainty information in nuclear data evaluation and nuclear applications, are described. This is followed by a brief examination of the current status concerning nuclear data evaluation methodology, covariance data generation, and the application of evaluated nuclear data uncertainties in contemporary nuclear technology. A few possible areas for futuremore » investigation of this subject are also suggested.« less

  19. Nuclear Data Uncertainty Quantification: Past, Present and Future

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

    Smith, D.L., E-mail: Donald.L.Smith@anl.gov

    2015-01-15

    An historical overview is provided of the mathematical foundations of uncertainty quantification and the roles played in the more recent past by nuclear data uncertainties in nuclear data evaluations and nuclear applications. Significant advances that have established the mathematical framework for contemporary nuclear data evaluation methods, as well as the use of uncertainty information in nuclear data evaluation and nuclear applications, are described. This is followed by a brief examination of the current status concerning nuclear data evaluation methodology, covariance data generation, and the application of evaluated nuclear data uncertainties in contemporary nuclear technology. A few possible areas for futuremore » investigation of this subject are also suggested.« less

  20. Using linked data to evaluate collisions with fixed objects in Pennsylvania : Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) linked data demonstration project

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1998-10-01

    This report uses police-reported motor vehicle crash data linked to Emergency Medical Services data and hospital discharge data to evaluate the relative risk of injury posed by specific roadside objects in Pennsylvania. The report focuses primarily o...

  1. Statistical modeling for visualization evaluation through data fusion.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xiaoyu; Jin, Ran

    2017-11-01

    There is a high demand of data visualization providing insights to users in various applications. However, a consistent, online visualization evaluation method to quantify mental workload or user preference is lacking, which leads to an inefficient visualization and user interface design process. Recently, the advancement of interactive and sensing technologies makes the electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, eye movements as well as visualization logs available in user-centered evaluation. This paper proposes a data fusion model and the application procedure for quantitative and online visualization evaluation. 15 participants joined the study based on three different visualization designs. The results provide a regularized regression model which can accurately predict the user's evaluation of task complexity, and indicate the significance of all three types of sensing data sets for visualization evaluation. This model can be widely applied to data visualization evaluation, and other user-centered designs evaluation and data analysis in human factors and ergonomics. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Developing a Survey Instrument for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Data Management Training Materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hou, C. Y.; Soyka, H.; Hutchison, V.; Budden, A. E.

    2016-12-01

    Education and training resources that focus on best practices and guidelines for working with data such as: data management, data sharing, quality metadata creation, and maintenance for reuse, have vital importance not only to the users of Data Observation Network for Earth (DataONE), but also to the broader scientific, research, and academic communities. However, creating and maintaining relevant training/educational materials that remain sensitive and responsive to community needs is dependent upon careful evaluations of the current landscape in order to promote and support thoughtful development of new resources. Using DataONE's existing training/educational resources as the basis for this project, the authors have worked to develop an evaluation instrument that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of data management training/education resources. The evaluation instrument is in the form of a digital questionnaire/survey. The evaluation instrument also includes the structure and content as recommended by the best practices/guidelines of questionnaire/survey design, based on a review of the literature. Additionally, the evaluation instrument can be customized to evaluate various training/education modalities and be implemented using a web-based questionnaire/survey platform. Finally, the evaluation instrument can be used for site-wide evaluation of DataONE teaching materials and resources, and once made publicly available and openly accessible, other organizations may also utilize the instrument. One key outcome of developing the evaluation instrument is to help in increasing the effectiveness of data management training/education resources across the Earth/Geoscience community. Through this presentation, the authors will provide the full background and motivations for creating an instrument for evaluating the effectiveness of data management training/education resources. The presentation will also discuss in detail the process and results of the current version of the evaluation instrument. Finally, the presentation will highlight the key features and the next steps to examine in order to improve the next revisions of the instrument.

  3. Nuclear data and related services

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tuli, J. K.

    1985-10-01

    National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) maintains a number of data bases containing bibliographic information and evaluated as well as experimental nuclear properties. An evaluated computer file maintained by the NNDC, called the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF), contains nuclear structure information for all known nuclides. The ENSDF is the source for the journal Nuclear Data Sheets which is produced and edited by NNDC. The Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF), on the other hand is designed for storage and retrieval of such evaluated nuclear data as are used in neutronic, photonic, and decay heat calculations in a large variety of applications. Some of the publications from these data bases are the Nuclear Wallet Cards, Radioactivity Handbook, and books on neutron cross sections and resonance parameters. In addition, the NNDC maintains three bibliographic files: NSR - for nuclear structure and decay data related references, CINDA - a bibliographic file for neutron induced reactions, and CPBIB for charged particle reactions. Selected retrievals from evaluated data and bibliographic files are possible on-line or on request from NNDC.

  4. VIIRS Product Evaluation at the Ocean PEATE

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Patt, Frederick S.; Feldman, Gene C.

    2010-01-01

    The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) mission will support the continuation of climate records generated from NASA missions. The NASA Science Data Segment (SDS) relies upon discipline-specific centers of expertise to evaluate the NPP data products for suitability as climate data records, The Ocean Product Evaluation and Analysis Tool Element (PEATE) will build upon Well established NASA capabilities within the Ocean Color program in order to evaluate the NPP Visible and Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Ocean Color and Chlorophyll data products. The specific evaluation methods will support not only the evaluation of product quality but also the sources of differences with existing data records.

  5. Evaluation Considerations for Secondary Uses of Clinical Data: Principles for an Evidence-based Approach to Policy and Implementation of Secondary Analysis.

    PubMed

    Scott, P J; Rigby, M; Ammenwerth, E; McNair, J Brender; Georgiou, A; Hyppönen, H; de Keizer, N; Magrabi, F; Nykänen, P; Gude, W T; Hackl, W

    2017-08-01

    Objectives: To set the scientific context and then suggest principles for an evidence-based approach to secondary uses of clinical data, covering both evaluation of the secondary uses of data and evaluation of health systems and services based upon secondary uses of data. Method: Working Group review of selected literature and policy approaches. Results: We present important considerations in the evaluation of secondary uses of clinical data from the angles of governance and trust, theory, semantics, and policy. We make the case for a multi-level and multi-factorial approach to the evaluation of secondary uses of clinical data and describe a methodological framework for best practice. We emphasise the importance of evaluating the governance of secondary uses of health data in maintaining trust, which is essential for such uses. We also offer examples of the re-use of routine health data to demonstrate how it can support evaluation of clinical performance and optimize health IT system design. Conclusions: Great expectations are resting upon "Big Data" and innovative analytics. However, to build and maintain public trust, improve data reliability, and assure the validity of analytic inferences, there must be independent and transparent evaluation. A mature and evidence-based approach needs not merely data science, but must be guided by the broader concerns of applied health informatics. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart.

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

    Riemer, R.L.

    The Panel on Basic Nuclear Data Compilations believes that it is important to provide the user with an evaluated nuclear database of the highest quality, dependability, and currency. It is also important that the evaluated nuclear data are easily accessible to the user. In the past the panel concentrated its concern on the cycle time for the publication of A-chain evaluations. However, the panel now recognizes that publication cycle time is no longer the appropriate goal. Sometime in the future, publication of the evaluated A-chains will evolve from the present hard-copy Nuclear Data Sheets on library shelves to purely electronicmore » publication, with the advent of universal access to terminals and the nuclear databases. Therefore, the literature cut-off date in the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) is rapidly becoming the only important measure of the currency of an evaluated A-chain. Also, it has become exceedingly important to ensure that access to the databases is as user-friendly as possible and to enable electronic publication of the evaluated data files. Considerable progress has been made in these areas: use of the on-line systems has almost doubled in the past year, and there has been initial development of tools for electronic evaluation, publication, and dissemination. Currently, the nuclear data effort is in transition between the traditional and future methods of dissemination of the evaluated data. Also, many of the factors that adversely affect the publication cycle time simultaneously affect the currency of the evaluated nuclear database. Therefore, the panel continues to examine factors that can influence cycle time: the number of evaluators, the frequency with which an evaluation can be updated, the review of the evaluation, and the production of the evaluation, which currently exists as a hard-copy issue of Nuclear Data Sheets.« less

  7. The Decay Data Evaluation Project (DDEP) and the JEFF-3.3 radioactive decay data library: Combining international collaborative efforts on evaluated decay data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kellett, Mark A.; Bersillon, Olivier

    2017-09-01

    The Decay Data Evaluation Project (DDEP), is an international collaboration of decay data evaluators formed with groups from France, Germany, USA, China, Romania, Russia, Spain and the UK, mainly from the metrology community. DDEP members have evaluated over 220 radionuclides, following an agreed upon methodology, including a peer review. Evaluations include all relevant parameters relating to the nuclear decay and the associated atomic processes. An important output of these evaluations are recommendations for new measurements, which can serve as a basis for future measurement programmes. Recently evaluated radionuclides include: 18F, 59Fe, 82Rb, 82Sr, 88Y, 90Y, 89Zr, 94mTc, 109Cd, 133Ba, 140Ba, 140La, 151Sm and 169Er. The DDEP recommended data have recently been incorporated into the JEFF-3.3 Radioactive Decay Data Library. Other sources of nuclear data include 900 or so radionuclides converted from the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF), 500 from two UK libraries (UKPADD6.12 and UKHEDD2.6), the IAEA Actinide Decay Data Library, with the remainder converted from the NUBASE evaluation of nuclear properties. Mean decay energies for a number of radionuclides determined from total absorption gamma-ray spectroscopy (TAGS) have also been included, as well as more recent European results from TAGS measurements performed at the University of Jyväskylä by groups from the University of Valencia, Spain and SUBATECH, the University of Nantes, France. The current status of the DDEP collaboration and the JEFF Radioactive Decay Data Library will be presented. Note to the reader: the pdf file has been changed on September 22, 2017.

  8. Using linked data to evaluate hospital charges for motor vehicle crash victims in Pennsylvania : Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) linked data demonstration project

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1998-10-01

    The report uses police-reported crash data that have been linked to hospital discharge data to evaluate charges for hospital care provided to motor vehicle crash victims in Pennsylvania. Approximately 17,000 crash victims were hospitalized in Pennsyl...

  9. Resonance Parameter Adjustment Based on Integral Experiments

    DOE PAGES

    Sobes, Vladimir; Leal, Luiz; Arbanas, Goran; ...

    2016-06-02

    Our project seeks to allow coupling of differential and integral data evaluation in a continuous-energy framework and to use the generalized linear least-squares (GLLS) methodology in the TSURFER module of the SCALE code package to update the parameters of a resolved resonance region evaluation. We recognize that the GLLS methodology in TSURFER is identical to the mathematical description of a Bayesian update in SAMMY, the SAMINT code was created to use the mathematical machinery of SAMMY to update resolved resonance parameters based on integral data. Traditionally, SAMMY used differential experimental data to adjust nuclear data parameters. Integral experimental data, suchmore » as in the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments Project, remain a tool for validation of completed nuclear data evaluations. SAMINT extracts information from integral benchmarks to aid the nuclear data evaluation process. Later, integral data can be used to resolve any remaining ambiguity between differential data sets, highlight troublesome energy regions, determine key nuclear data parameters for integral benchmark calculations, and improve the nuclear data covariance matrix evaluation. Moreover, SAMINT is not intended to bias nuclear data toward specific integral experiments but should be used to supplement the evaluation of differential experimental data. Using GLLS ensures proper weight is given to the differential data.« less

  10. THE AIMS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF NUCLEAR STRUCTURE AND DECAY DATA EVALUATORS.

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

    NICHOLS,A.L.; TULI, J.K.

    International Network of Nuclear Structure and Decay Data (NSDD) Evaluators consists of a number of evaluation groups and data service centers in several countries that appreciate the merits of working together to maintain and ensure the quality and comprehensive content of the ENSDF database (Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File). Biennial meetings of the network are held under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assign evaluation responsibilities, monitor progress, discuss improvements and emerging difficulties, and agree on actions to be undertaken by individual members. The evaluated data and bibliographic details are made available to users via variousmore » media, such as the journals ''Nuclear Physics A'' and ''Nuclear Data Sheets'', the World Wide Web, on CD-ROM, wall charts of the nuclides and ''Nuclear Wallet Cards''. While the ENSDF master database is maintained by the US National Nuclear Data Center at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, these data are also available from other nuclear data centers including the IAEA Nuclear Data Section. The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy, in cooperation with the IAEA, organizes workshops on NSDD at regular intervals. The primary aims of these particular workshops are to provide hands-on training in the data evaluation processes, and to encourage new evaluators to participate in NSDD activities. The technical contents of these NSDD workshops are described, along with the rationale for the inclusion of various topics.« less

  11. Measuring health system resource use for economic evaluation: a comparison of data sources.

    PubMed

    Pollicino, Christine; Viney, Rosalie; Haas, Marion

    2002-01-01

    A key challenge for evaluators and health system planners is the identification, measurement and valuation of resource use for economic evaluation. Accurately capturing all significant resource use is particularly difficult in the Australian context where there is no comprehensive database from which researchers can draw. Evaluators and health system planners need to consider different approaches to data collection for estimating resource use for economic evaluation, and the relative merits of the different data sources available. This paper illustrates the issues that arise in using different data sources using a sub-sample of the data being collected for an economic evaluation. Specifically, it compares the use of Australia's largest administrative database on resource use, the Health Insurance Commission database, with the use of patient-supplied data. The extent of agreement and discrepancies between the two data sources is investigated. Findings from this study and recommendations as to how to deal with different data sources are presented.

  12. First On-Site Data Analysis System for Subaru/Suprime-Cam

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Furusawa, Hisanori; Okura, Yuki; Mineo, Sogo; Takata, Tadafumi; Nakata, Fumiaki; Tanaka, Manobu; Katayama, Nobuhiko; Itoh, Ryosuke; Yasuda, Naoki; Miyazaki, Satoshi; Komiyama, Yutaka; Utsumi, Yousuke; Uchida, Tomohisa; Aihara, Hiroaki

    2011-03-01

    We developed an automated on-site quick analysis system for mosaic CCD data of Suprime-Cam, which is a wide-field camera mounted at the prime focus of the Subaru Telescope, Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The first version of the data-analysis system was constructed, and started to operate in general observations. This system is a new function of observing support at the Subaru Telescope to provide the Subaru user community with an automated on-site data evaluation, aiming at improvements of observers' productivity, especially in large imaging surveys. The new system assists the data evaluation tasks in observations by the continuous monitoring of the characteristics of every data frame during observations. The evaluation results and data frames processed by this system are also useful for reducing the data-processing time in a full analysis after an observation. The primary analysis functions implemented in the data-analysis system are composed of automated realtime analysis for data evaluation and on-demand analysis, which is executed upon request, including mosaicing analysis and flat making analysis. In data evaluation, which is controlled by the organizing software, the database keeps track of the analysis histories, as well as the evaluated values of data frames, including seeing and sky background levels; it also helps in the selection of frames for mosaicing and flat making analysis. We examined the system performance and confirmed an improvement in the data-processing time by a factor of 9 with the aid of distributed parallel data processing and on-memory data processing, which makes the automated data evaluation effective.

  13. Data Evaluation of Actinide Cross Sections: 238Pu, 237Pu, and 236Pu

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

    Guaglioni, S.; Jurgenson, E.; Descalle, M. A.

    This report documents the recent evaluation of the 236Pu, 237Pu, and 238Pu cross section sets. Nuclear data evaluation is the fundamental interface that takes measured nuclear cross section data and turns them into a continuous curve that 1) is consistent with other measurements and nuclear reaction theory/models, and 2) is required by down-stream users. All experiments that generate nuclear data need to include an evaluation step for their data to be broadly useful to the end users.

  14. Summary documentation of LASL nuclear data evaluations for ENDF/B-V

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

    Young, P.G.

    1979-01-01

    Summaries are presented of nuclear data evaluations performed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) that will comprise part of Version V of the Evaluated Nuclear Data File, ENDF/B. A total of 18 general purpose evaluations of neutron-induced data are summarized, together with 6 summaries directed specifically at covariance data evaluations. The general purpose evaluation summaries cover the following isotopes: /sup 1 -3/H, /sup 3/ /sup 4/He, /sup 6/ /sup 7/Li, /sup 10/B, /sup 14/ /sup 15/N, /sup 16/O, /sup 27/Al, /sup 182/ /sup 183/ /sup 184/ /sup 186/W, /sup 233/U, and /sup 242/Pu. The covariance data summaries are given formore » /sup 1/H, /sup 6/Li, /sup 10/B, /sup 14/N, /sup 16/O, and /sup 27/Al. 28 figures.« less

  15. EVALUATED NUCLEAR STRUCTURE DATA FILE AND RELATED PRODUCTS.

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

    TULI,J.K.

    The Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) is a leading resource for the experimental nuclear data. It is maintained and distributed by the National Nuclear Data Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory. The file is mainly contributed to by an international network of evaluators under the auspice of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The ENSDF is updated, generally by mass number, i.e., evaluating together all isobars for a given mass number. If, however, experimental activity in an isobaric chain is limited to a particular nuclide then only that nuclide is updated. The evaluations are published in the journal Nuclear Data Sheets, Academicmore » Press, a division of Elsevier.« less

  16. Evaluating the Healthy Start program. Design development to evaluative assessment.

    PubMed

    Raykovich, K S; McCormick, M C; Howell, E M; Devaney, B L

    1996-09-01

    The national evaluation of the federally funded Healthy Start program involved translating a design for a process and outcomes evaluation and standard maternal and infant data set, both developed prior to the national evaluation contract award, into an evaluation design and client data collection protocol that could be used to evaluate 15 diverse grantees. This article discusses the experience of creating a process and outcomes evaluation design that was both substantively and methodologically appropriate given such issues as the diversity of grantees and their community-based intervention strategies; the process of accessing secondary data sources, including vital records; the quality of client level data submissions; and the need to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative approaches into the evaluation design. The relevance of this experience for the conduct of other field studies of public health interventions is discussed.

  17. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 143

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Browne, E.; Tuli, J. K.

    2012-03-01

    The evaluators present in this publication spectroscopic data and level schemes from radioactive decay and nuclear reaction studies for all nuclei with mass number A = 143. The evaluation, which includes all data received by May 2011, supersedes the 2001 evaluation by J.K. Tuli, published in Nuclear Data Sheets94, 605 (2001).

  18. Nuclear Data Sheets for A=143

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

    Browne E.; Tuli J.; Browne,E.

    The evaluators present in this publication spectroscopic data and level schemes from radioactive decay and nuclear reaction studies for all nuclei with mass number A = 143. The evaluation, which includes all data received by May 2011, supersedes the 2001 evaluation by J.K. Tuli, published in Nuclear Data Sheets94, 605 (2001).

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

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Christie, Christina A.

    2007-01-01

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

  20. Process evaluation distributed system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Moffatt, Christopher L. (Inventor)

    2006-01-01

    The distributed system includes a database server, an administration module, a process evaluation module, and a data display module. The administration module is in communication with the database server for providing observation criteria information to the database server. The process evaluation module is in communication with the database server for obtaining the observation criteria information from the database server and collecting process data based on the observation criteria information. The process evaluation module utilizes a personal digital assistant (PDA). A data display module in communication with the database server, including a website for viewing collected process data in a desired metrics form, the data display module also for providing desired editing and modification of the collected process data. The connectivity established by the database server to the administration module, the process evaluation module, and the data display module, minimizes the requirement for manual input of the collected process data.

  1. Release of the ENDF/B-VII.1 Evaluated Nuclear Data File

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

    Brown, David

    2012-06-30

    The Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG) released the ENDF/B-VII.1 library on December 22, 2011. The ENDF/B-VII.1 library is CSEWG's latest recommended evaluated nuclear data file for use in nuclear science and technology applications, and incorporates advances made in the five years since the release of ENDF/B-VII.0, including: many new evaluation in the neutron sublibrary (423 in all and over 190 of these contain covariances), new fission product yields and a greatly improved decay data sublibrary. This summary barely touches on the five years worth of advances present in the ENDF/B-VII.1 library. We expect that these changes will lead tomore » improved integral performance in reactors and other applications. Furthermore, the expansion of covariance data in this release will allow for better uncertainty quantification, reducing design margins and costs. The ENDF library is an ongoing and evolving effort. Currently, the ENDF data community embarking on several parallel efforts to improve library management: (1) The adoption of a continuous integration system to provide evaluators 'instant' feedback on the quality of their evaluations and to provide data users with working 'beta' quality libraries in between major releases. (2) The transition to new hierarchical data format - the Generalized Nuclear Data (GND) format. We expect GND to enable new kinds of evaluated data which cannot be accommodated in the legacy ENDF format. (3) The development of data assimilation and uncertainty propagation techniques to enable the consistent use of integral experimental data in the evaluation process.« less

  2. Electronic immunization data collection systems: application of an evaluation framework.

    PubMed

    Heidebrecht, Christine L; Kwong, Jeffrey C; Finkelstein, Michael; Quan, Sherman D; Pereira, Jennifer A; Quach, Susan; Deeks, Shelley L

    2014-01-14

    Evaluating the features and performance of health information systems can serve to strengthen the systems themselves as well as to guide other organizations in the process of designing and implementing surveillance tools. We adapted an evaluation framework in order to assess electronic immunization data collection systems, and applied it in two Ontario public health units. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems are broad in nature and serve as an organizational tool to guide the development of comprehensive evaluation materials. Based on these Guidelines, and informed by other evaluation resources and input from stakeholders in the public health community, we applied an evaluation framework to two examples of immunization data collection and examined several system attributes: simplicity, flexibility, data quality, timeliness, and acceptability. Data collection approaches included key informant interviews, logic and completeness assessments, client surveys, and on-site observations. Both evaluated systems allow high-quality immunization data to be collected, analyzed, and applied in a rapid fashion. However, neither system is currently able to link to other providers' immunization data or provincial data sources, limiting the comprehensiveness of coverage assessments. We recommended that both organizations explore possibilities for external data linkage and collaborate with other jurisdictions to promote a provincial immunization repository or data sharing platform. Electronic systems such as the ones described in this paper allow immunization data to be collected, analyzed, and applied in a rapid fashion, and represent the infostructure required to establish a population-based immunization registry, critical for comprehensively assessing vaccine coverage.

  3. The Strengths and Limitations of Satellite Data for Evaluating Tropospheric Processes in Chemistry-Climate Models

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Duncan, Bryan

    2012-01-01

    There is now a wealth of satellite data products available with which to evaluate a model fs simulation of tropospheric composition and other model processes. All of these data products have their strengths and limitations that need to be considered for this purpose. For example, uncertainties are introduced into a data product when 1) converting a slant column to a vertical column and 2) estimating the amount of a total column of a trace gas (e.g., ozone, nitrogen dioxide) that resides in the troposphere. Oftentimes, these uncertainties are not well quantified and the satellite data products are not well evaluated against in situ observations. However, these limitations do not preclude us from using these data products to evaluate our model processes if we understand these strengths and limitations when developing diagnostics. I will show several examples of how satellite data products are being used to evaluate particular model processes with a focus on the strengths and limitations of these data products. In addition, I will introduce the goals of a newly formed team to address issues on the topic of "satellite data for improved model evaluation and process studies" that is established in support of the IGAC/SPARC Global Chemistry ]Climate Modeling and Evaluation Workshop.

  4. Practical strategies for nursing education program evaluation.

    PubMed

    Lewallen, Lynne Porter

    2015-01-01

    Self-evaluation is required for institutions of higher learning and the nursing programs within them. The literature provides information on evaluation models and instruments, and descriptions of how specific nursing education programs are evaluated. However, there are few discussions in the nursing education literature of the practical aspects of nursing education program evaluation: how to get started, how to keep track of data, who to involve in data collection, and how to manage challenging criteria. This article discusses the importance of program evaluation in the academic setting and provides information on practical ways to organize the evaluation process and aggregate data, and strategies for gathering data from students, graduates, alumni, and employers of graduates. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. New evaluated radioxenon decay data and its implications in nuclear explosion monitoring.

    PubMed

    Galan, Monica; Kalinowski, Martin; Gheddou, Abdelhakim; Yamba, Kassoum

    2018-03-07

    This work presents the last updated evaluations of the nuclear and decay data of the four radioxenon isotopes of interest for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT): Xe-131 m, Xe-133, Xe-133 m and Xe-135. This includes the most recent measured values on the half-lives, gamma emission probabilities (Pγ) and internal conversion coefficients (ICC). The evaluation procedure has been made within the Decay Data Evaluation Project (DDEP) framework and using the latest available versions of nuclear and atomic data evaluation software tools and compilations. The consistency of the evaluations was confirmed by the very close result between the total available energy calculated with the present evaluated data and the tabulated Q-value. The article also analyzes the implications on the variation of the activity ratio calculations from radioxenon monitoring facilities depending on the nuclear database of reference. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  6. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 152

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

    Martin, M.J.

    2013-11-15

    Detailed level schemes, decay schemes, and the experimental data on which they are based are presented for all nuclei with mass number A=152. The experimental data are evaluated; inconsistencies and discrepancies are noted; and adopted values for level and γ–ray energies, γ intensities, as well as for other nuclear properties are given. This evaluation replaces the A=152 evaluation published by Agda Artna–Cohen in Nuclear Data Sheets 79, 1 (1996) and the evaluation for 152Dy prepared by Balraj Singh and published in Nuclear Data Sheets 95, 995 (2002)

  7. Economic analysis of the health impacts of housing improvement studies: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    Fenwick, Elisabeth; Macdonald, Catriona; Thomson, Hilary

    2013-10-01

    Economic evaluation of public policies has been advocated but rarely performed. Studies from a systematic review of the health impacts of housing improvement included data on costs and some economic analysis. Examination of these data provides an opportunity to explore the difficulties and the potential for economic evaluation of housing. Data were extracted from all studies included in the systematic review of housing improvement which had reported costs and economic analysis (n=29/45). The reported data were assessed for their suitability to economic evaluation. Where an economic analysis was reported the analysis was described according to pre-set definitions of various types of economic analysis used in the field of health economics. 25 studies reported cost data on the intervention and/or benefits to the recipients. Of these, 11 studies reported data which was considered amenable to economic evaluation. A further four studies reported conducting an economic evaluation. Three of these studies presented a hybrid 'balance sheet' approach and indicated a net economic benefit associated with the intervention. One cost-effectiveness evaluation was identified but the data were unclearly reported; the cost-effectiveness plane suggested that the intervention was more costly and less effective than the status quo. Future studies planning an economic evaluation need to (i) make best use of available data and (ii) ensure that all relevant data are collected. To facilitate this, economic evaluations should be planned alongside the intervention with input from health economists from the outset of the study. When undertaken appropriately, economic evaluation provides the potential to make significant contributions to housing policy.

  8. Better Crunching: Recommendations for Multivariate Data Analysis Approaches for Program Impact Evaluations

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Braverman, Marc T.

    2016-01-01

    Extension program evaluations often present opportunities to analyze data in multiple ways. This article suggests that program evaluations can involve more sophisticated data analysis approaches than are often used. On the basis of a hypothetical program scenario and corresponding data set, two approaches to testing for evidence of program impact…

  9. Expediting the Analysis of Qualitative Data in Evaluation: A Procedure for the Rapid Identification of Themes from Audio Recordings (RITA)

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Neal, Jennifer Watling; Neal, Zachary P.; VanDyke, Erika; Kornbluh, Mariah

    2015-01-01

    Qualitative data offer advantages to evaluators, including rich information about stakeholders' perspectives and experiences. However, qualitative data analysis is labor-intensive and slow, conflicting with evaluators' needs to provide punctual feedback to their clients. In this method note, we contribute to the literature on rapid evaluation and…

  10. Online versus Paper Evaluations: Differences in Both Quantitative and Qualitative Data

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Burton, William B.; Civitano, Adele; Steiner-Grossman, Penny

    2012-01-01

    This study sought to determine if differences exist in the quantitative and qualitative data collected with paper and online versions of a medical school clerkship evaluation form. Data from six-and-a-half years of clerkship evaluations were used, some collected before and some after the conversion from a paper to an online evaluation system. The…

  11. DATA ATTRIBUTE RATING SYSTEM

    EPA Science Inventory

    The paper discusses a data attribute rating system (DARS), developed by EPA to assist in evaluating data associated with emission inventories. he paper presents DARS for evaluation by the potential user community. ARS was originally conceived as a method for evaluating country-sp...

  12. Evaluation of High Resolution Imagery and Elevation Data

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-06-01

    the value of cutting-edge geospatial tools while keeping the data constant, the present experiment evaluated the effect of higher resolution imagery...and elevation data while keeping the tools constant. The high resolution data under evaluation was generated from TEC’s Buckeye system, an...results. As researchers and developers provide increasingly advanced tools to process data more quickly and accurately, it is necessary to assess each

  13. Non-animal approaches for toxicokinetics in risk evaluations of food chemicals.

    PubMed

    Punt, Ans; Peijnenburg, Ad A C M; Hoogenboom, Ron L A P; Bouwmeester, Hans

    2017-01-01

    The objective of the present work was to review the availability and predictive value of non-animal toxicokinetic approaches and to evaluate their current use in European risk evaluations of food contaminants, additives and food contact materials, as well as pesticides and medicines. Results revealed little use of quantitative animal or human kinetic data in risk evaluations of food chemicals, compared with pesticides and medicines. Risk evaluations of medicines provided sufficient in vivo kinetic data from different species to evaluate the predictive value of animal kinetic data for humans. These data showed a relatively poor correlation between the in vivo bioavailability in rats and dogs versus that in humans. In contrast, in vitro (human) kinetic data have been demonstrated to provide adequate predictions of the fate of compounds in humans, using appropriate in vitro-in vivo scalers and by integration of in vitro kinetic data with in silico kinetic modelling. Even though in vitro kinetic data were found to be occasionally included within risk evaluations of food chemicals, particularly results from Caco-2 absorption experiments and in vitro data on gut-microbial conversions, only minor use of in vitro methods for metabolism and quantitative in vitro-in vivo extrapolation methods was identified. Yet, such quantitative predictions are essential in the development of alternatives to animal testing as well as to increase human relevance of toxicological risk evaluations. Future research should aim at further improving and validating quantitative alternative methods for kinetics, thereby increasing regulatory acceptance of non-animal kinetic data.

  14. Why Data Linkage? The Importance of CODES (Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System)

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1996-06-01

    This report briefly explains the computerized linked data system, Crash Outcome : Data Evaluation System (CODES) that provides greater depth accident data : analysis. The linking of data helps researchers to understand the nature of : traffic acciden...

  15. Nuclear structure and decay data evaluation in Europe

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Negret, Alexandru; Balabanski, Dimiter; Dimitriou, Paraskevi; Elekes, Zoltan; Mertzimekis, Theo J.; Pascu, Sorin; Timar, Janos

    2017-09-01

    Nuclear Structure and Decay Data (NSDD) activities in Europe include mass-chain and individual nuclei evaluations as well as horizontal evaluations and compilations, data dissemination and educational activities. As such they are essential for a large range of applications from energy, environmental, and medical to basic research in nuclear structure and reactions, all of which are intensively pursued in Europe. Although the NSDD evaluation groups in Europe form part of the international network of NSDD evaluators, which is coordinated by the International Atomic Energy Agency, they are faced with some very distinct challenges. We shortly present the NSDD Data Centre at IFIN-HH, Bucharest and discuss possible actions to improve the situation for the entire European NSDD evaluation effort.

  16. Operational evaluation of initial data link air traffic control services, Vol. 1

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1990-02-01

    This report details the results of an operational evaluation of Initial Data Link Air Traffic Control (ATC) Services. The Operational Evaluation was conducted at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center utilizing the Data Link test ...

  17. Operational evaluation of initial data link air traffic control services, Vol. 2 - Appendixes

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1990-02-01

    This report details the results of an operational evaluation of Initial Data : LInk Air Traffic Control (ATC) Services. The Operational Evaluation was : conducted at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Technical Center utilizing : the Data Link ...

  18. Experimental and evaluated photoneutron cross sections for 197Au

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Varlamov, V.; Ishkhanov, B.; Orlin, V.

    2017-10-01

    There is a serious well-known problem of noticeable disagreements between the partial photoneutron cross sections obtained in various experiments. Such data were mainly determined using quasimonoenergetic annihilation photon beams and the method of neutron multiplicity sorting at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (USA) and Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires of Saclay (France). The analysis of experimental cross sections employing new objective physical data reliability criteria has shown that many of those are not reliable. The IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on photonuclear data evaluation was approved. The experimental and previously evaluated cross sections of the partial photoneutron reactions (γ ,1 n ) and (γ ,2 n ) on 197Au were analyzed using the new data reliability criteria. The data evaluated using the new experimental-theoretical method noticeably differ from both experimental data and data previously evaluated using nuclear modeling codes gnash, gunf, alice-f, and others. These discrepancies needed to be resolved.

  19. Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC)

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

    Dupont, E., E-mail: wpec@oecd-nea.org; Chadwick, M.B.; Danon, Y.

    The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) organizes cooperation between the major nuclear data evaluation projects in the world. The NEA Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC) was established to promote the exchange of information on nuclear data evaluation, measurement, nuclear model calculation, validation, and related topics, and to provide a framework for cooperative activities between the participating projects. The working party assesses nuclear data improvement needs and addresses these needs by initiating joint activities in the framework of dedicated WPEC subgroups. Studies recently completed comprise a number of works related to nuclear data covariance and associated processingmore » issues, as well as more specific studies related to the resonance parameter representation in the unresolved resonance region, the gamma production from fission product capture reactions, the {sup 235}U capture cross section, the EXFOR database, and the improvement of nuclear data for advanced reactor systems. Ongoing activities focus on the evaluation of {sup 239}Pu in the resonance region, scattering angular distribution in the fast energy range, and reporting/usage of experimental data for evaluation in the resolved resonance region. New activities include two subgroups on improved fission product yield evaluation methodologies and on modern nuclear database structures. Future activities under discussion include a pilot project for a Collaborative International Evaluated Library Organization (CIELO) and methods to provide feedback from nuclear and covariance data adjustment for improvement of nuclear data. In addition to the above mentioned short-term task-oriented subgroups, WPEC also hosts a longer-term subgroup charged with reviewing and compiling the most important nuclear data requirements in a high priority request list (HPRL)« less

  20. Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC)

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

    Giuseppe Palmiotti

    The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is organizing the cooperation between the major nuclear data evaluation projects in the world. The NEA Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC) was established to promote the exchange of information on nuclear data evaluation, measurement, nuclear model calculation, validation, and related topics, and to provide a framework for cooperative activities between the participating projects. The working party assesses nuclear data improvement needs and addresses these needs by initiating joint activities in the framework of dedicated WPEC subgroups. Studies recently completed comprise a number of works related to nuclear data covariance andmore » associated processing issues, as well as more specific studies related to the resonance parameter representation in the unresolved resonance region, the gamma production from fission-product capture reactions, the U-235 capture cross-section, the EXFOR database, and the improvement of nuclear data for advanced reactor systems. Ongoing activities focus on the evaluation of Pu-239 in the resonance region, scattering angular distribution in the fast energy range, and reporting/usage of experimental data for evaluation in the resolved resonance region. New activities include two new subgroups on improved fission product yield evaluation methodologies and on modern nuclear database structures. Future activities under discussion include a pilot project of a Collaborative International Evaluated Library (CIELO) and methods to provide feedback from nuclear and covariance data adjustment for improvement of nuclear data. In addition to the above mentioned short-term, task-oriented subgroups, the WPEC also hosts a longer-term subgroup charged with reviewing and compiling the most important nuclear data requirements in a high priority request list (HPRL).« less

  1. Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC)

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

    Dupont, E.; Herman, M.; Dupont, E.

    The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) organizes cooperation between the major nuclear data evaluation projects in the world. Moreover, the NEA Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC) was established to promote the exchange of information on nuclear data evaluation, measurement, nuclear model calculation, validation, and related topics, and to provide a framework for cooperative activities between the participating projects. The working party assesses nuclear data improvement needs and addresses these needs by initiating joint activities in the framework of dedicated WPEC subgroups. Studies recently completed comprise a number of works related to nuclear data covariance and associatedmore » processing issues, as well as more specific studies related to the resonance parameter representation in the unresolved resonance region, the gamma production from fission product capture reactions, the 235U capture cross section, the EXFOR database, and the improvement of nuclear data for advanced reactor systems. Ongoing activities focus on the evaluation of 239Pu in the resonance region, scattering angular distribution in the fast energy range, and reporting/usage of experimental data for evaluation in the resolved resonance region. New activities include two subgroups on improved fission product yield evaluation methodologies and on modern nuclear database structures. Some future activities under discussion include a pilot project for a Collaborative International Evaluated Library Organization (CIELO) and methods to provide feedback from nuclear and covariance data adjustment for improvement of nuclear data. In addition to the above mentioned short-term task-oriented subgroups, WPEC also hosts a longer-term subgroup charged with reviewing and compiling the most important nuclear data requirements in a high priority request list (HPRL).« less

  2. Critical Issues in Evaluating National-Level Health Data Warehouses in LMICs: Kenya Case Study.

    PubMed

    Gesicho, Milka B; Babic, Ankica; Were, Martin C

    2017-01-01

    Low-Middle-Income-Countries (LMICs) are beginning to adopt national health data warehousing (NHDWs) for making strategic decisions and for improving health outcomes. Given the numerous challenges likely to be faced in establishment of NHDWs by LMICs, it is prudent that evaluations are done in relation to the data warehouses (DWs), in order to identify and mitigate critical issues that arise. When critic issues are not identified, DWs are prone to suboptimal implementation with compromised outcomes. Despite the fact that several publications exist on evaluating DWs, evaluations specific to health data warehouses are scanty, with almost none evaluating NHDWs more so in LMICs. This paper uses a systematic approach guided by an evaluation framework to identify critical issues to be considered in evaluating Kenya's NHDW.

  3. Analysis of historic agricultural irrigation data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service monitoring and evaluation for Grand Valley, Lower Gunnison Basin, and McElmo Creek Basin, western Colorado, 1985 to 2003

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Mayo, John W.

    2015-01-01

    In 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum, began a study to evaluate the Natural Resources Conservation Service evaluation data to (1) document the methods of the evaluation, and (2) analyze and summarize the data collected during the evaluation.

  4. A novel approach to evaluation of pest insect abundance in the presence of noise.

    PubMed

    Embleton, Nina; Petrovskaya, Natalia

    2014-03-01

    Evaluation of pest abundance is an important task of integrated pest management. It has recently been shown that evaluation of pest population size from discrete sampling data can be done by using the ideas of numerical integration. Numerical integration of the pest population density function is a computational technique that readily gives us an estimate of the pest population size, where the accuracy of the estimate depends on the number of traps installed in the agricultural field to collect the data. However, in a standard mathematical problem of numerical integration, it is assumed that the data are precise, so that the random error is zero when the data are collected. This assumption does not hold in ecological applications. An inherent random error is often present in field measurements, and therefore it may strongly affect the accuracy of evaluation. In our paper, we offer a novel approach to evaluate the pest insect population size under the assumption that the data about the pest population include a random error. The evaluation is not based on statistical methods but is done using a spatially discrete method of numerical integration where the data obtained by trapping as in pest insect monitoring are converted to values of the population density. It will be discussed in the paper how the accuracy of evaluation differs from the case where the same evaluation method is employed to handle precise data. We also consider how the accuracy of the pest insect abundance evaluation can be affected by noise when the data available from trapping are sparse. In particular, we show that, contrary to intuitive expectations, noise does not have any considerable impact on the accuracy of evaluation when the number of traps is small as is conventional in ecological applications.

  5. Economic analysis of the health impacts of housing improvement studies: a systematic review

    PubMed Central

    Fenwick, Elisabeth; Macdonald, Catriona; Thomson, Hilary

    2013-01-01

    Background Economic evaluation of public policies has been advocated but rarely performed. Studies from a systematic review of the health impacts of housing improvement included data on costs and some economic analysis. Examination of these data provides an opportunity to explore the difficulties and the potential for economic evaluation of housing. Methods Data were extracted from all studies included in the systematic review of housing improvement which had reported costs and economic analysis (n=29/45). The reported data were assessed for their suitability to economic evaluation. Where an economic analysis was reported the analysis was described according to pre-set definitions of various types of economic analysis used in the field of health economics. Results 25 studies reported cost data on the intervention and/or benefits to the recipients. Of these, 11 studies reported data which was considered amenable to economic evaluation. A further four studies reported conducting an economic evaluation. Three of these studies presented a hybrid ‘balance sheet’ approach and indicated a net economic benefit associated with the intervention. One cost-effectiveness evaluation was identified but the data were unclearly reported; the cost-effectiveness plane suggested that the intervention was more costly and less effective than the status quo. Conclusions Future studies planning an economic evaluation need to (i) make best use of available data and (ii) ensure that all relevant data are collected. To facilitate this, economic evaluations should be planned alongside the intervention with input from health economists from the outset of the study. When undertaken appropriately, economic evaluation provides the potential to make significant contributions to housing policy. PMID:23929616

  6. IAEA CIELO Evaluation of Neutron-induced Reactions on 235U and 238U Targets

    DOE PAGES

    Capote, R.; Trkov, A.; Sin, M.; ...

    2018-02-01

    Evaluations of nuclear reaction data for the major uranium isotopes 238U and 235U were performed within the scope of the CIELO Project on the initiative of the OECD/NEA Data Bank under Working Party on Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC) Subgroup 40 coordinated by the IAEA Nuclear Data Section. Both the mean values and covariances are evaluated from 10 -5 eV up to 30 MeV. The resonance parameters of 238U and 235U were re-evaluated with the addition of newly available data to the existing experimental database. The evaluations in the fast neutron range are based on nuclear model calculations with the code EMPIRE–3.2more » Malta above the resonance range up to 30 MeV. 235U(n,f), 238U(n,f), and 238U(n,γ) cross sections and 235U(n th,f) prompt fission neutron spectrum (PFNS) were evaluated within the Neutron Standards project and are representative of the experimental state-of-the-art measurements. The Standards cross sections were matched in model calculations as closely as possible to guarantee a good predictive power for cross sections of competing neutron scattering channels. 235U(n,γ) cross section includes fluctuations observed in recent experiments. 235U(n,f) PFNS for incident neutron energies from 500 keV to 20 MeV were measured at Los Alamos Chi-Nu facility and re-evaluated using all available experimental data. While respecting the measured differential data, several compensating errors in previous evaluations were identified and removed so that the performance in integral benchmarks was restored or improved. Covariance matrices for 235U and 238U cross sections, angular distributions, spectra and neutron multiplicities were evaluated using the GANDR system that combines experimental data with model uncertainties. Unrecognized systematic uncertainties were considered in the uncertainty quantification for fission and capture cross sections above the thermal range, and for neutron multiplicities. Evaluated files were extensively benchmarked to ensure good performance in reactor calculations and fusion-related systems. New comprehensive evaluations show excellent agreement with available differential data and integral performance better than current evaluated data libraries, and represent a step forward in a quest for better nuclear data for applications.« less

  7. IAEA CIELO Evaluation of Neutron-induced Reactions on 235U and 238U Targets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Capote, R.; Trkov, A.; Sin, M.; Pigni, M. T.; Pronyaev, V. G.; Balibrea, J.; Bernard, D.; Cano-Ott, D.; Danon, Y.; Daskalakis, A.; Goričanec, T.; Herman, M. W.; Kiedrowski, B.; Kopecky, S.; Mendoza, E.; Neudecker, D.; Leal, L.; Noguere, G.; Schillebeeckx, P.; Sirakov, I.; Soukhovitskii, E. S.; Stetcu, I.; Talou, P.

    2018-02-01

    Evaluations of nuclear reaction data for the major uranium isotopes 238U and 235U were performed within the scope of the CIELO Project on the initiative of the OECD/NEA Data Bank under Working Party on Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC) Subgroup 40 coordinated by the IAEA Nuclear Data Section. Both the mean values and covariances are evaluated from 10-5 eV up to 30 MeV. The resonance parameters of 238U and 235U were re-evaluated with the addition of newly available data to the existing experimental database. The evaluations in the fast neutron range are based on nuclear model calculations with the code EMPIRE-3.2 Malta above the resonance range up to 30 MeV. 235U(n,f), 238U(n,f), and 238U(n,γ) cross sections and 235U(nth,f) prompt fission neutron spectrum (PFNS) were evaluated within the Neutron Standards project and are representative of the experimental state-of-the-art measurements. The Standards cross sections were matched in model calculations as closely as possible to guarantee a good predictive power for cross sections of competing neutron scattering channels. 235U(n,γ) cross section includes fluctuations observed in recent experiments. 235U(n,f) PFNS for incident neutron energies from 500 keV to 20 MeV were measured at Los Alamos Chi-Nu facility and re-evaluated using all available experimental data. While respecting the measured differential data, several compensating errors in previous evaluations were identified and removed so that the performance in integral benchmarks was restored or improved. Covariance matrices for 235U and 238U cross sections, angular distributions, spectra and neutron multiplicities were evaluated using the GANDR system that combines experimental data with model uncertainties. Unrecognized systematic uncertainties were considered in the uncertainty quantification for fission and capture cross sections above the thermal range, and for neutron multiplicities. Evaluated files were extensively benchmarked to ensure good performance in reactor calculations and fusion-related systems. New comprehensive evaluations show excellent agreement with available differential data and integral performance better than current evaluated data libraries, and represent a step forward in a quest for better nuclear data for applications.

  8. IAEA CIELO Evaluation of Neutron-induced Reactions on 235U and 238U Targets

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

    Capote, R.; Trkov, A.; Sin, M.

    Evaluations of nuclear reaction data for the major uranium isotopes 238U and 235U were performed within the scope of the CIELO Project on the initiative of the OECD/NEA Data Bank under Working Party on Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC) Subgroup 40 coordinated by the IAEA Nuclear Data Section. Both the mean values and covariances are evaluated from 10 -5 eV up to 30 MeV. The resonance parameters of 238U and 235U were re-evaluated with the addition of newly available data to the existing experimental database. The evaluations in the fast neutron range are based on nuclear model calculations with the code EMPIRE–3.2more » Malta above the resonance range up to 30 MeV. 235U(n,f), 238U(n,f), and 238U(n,γ) cross sections and 235U(n th,f) prompt fission neutron spectrum (PFNS) were evaluated within the Neutron Standards project and are representative of the experimental state-of-the-art measurements. The Standards cross sections were matched in model calculations as closely as possible to guarantee a good predictive power for cross sections of competing neutron scattering channels. 235U(n,γ) cross section includes fluctuations observed in recent experiments. 235U(n,f) PFNS for incident neutron energies from 500 keV to 20 MeV were measured at Los Alamos Chi-Nu facility and re-evaluated using all available experimental data. While respecting the measured differential data, several compensating errors in previous evaluations were identified and removed so that the performance in integral benchmarks was restored or improved. Covariance matrices for 235U and 238U cross sections, angular distributions, spectra and neutron multiplicities were evaluated using the GANDR system that combines experimental data with model uncertainties. Unrecognized systematic uncertainties were considered in the uncertainty quantification for fission and capture cross sections above the thermal range, and for neutron multiplicities. Evaluated files were extensively benchmarked to ensure good performance in reactor calculations and fusion-related systems. New comprehensive evaluations show excellent agreement with available differential data and integral performance better than current evaluated data libraries, and represent a step forward in a quest for better nuclear data for applications.« less

  9. Benchmark data sets for structure-based computational target prediction.

    PubMed

    Schomburg, Karen T; Rarey, Matthias

    2014-08-25

    Structure-based computational target prediction methods identify potential targets for a bioactive compound. Methods based on protein-ligand docking so far face many challenges, where the greatest probably is the ranking of true targets in a large data set of protein structures. Currently, no standard data sets for evaluation exist, rendering comparison and demonstration of improvements of methods cumbersome. Therefore, we propose two data sets and evaluation strategies for a meaningful evaluation of new target prediction methods, i.e., a small data set consisting of three target classes for detailed proof-of-concept and selectivity studies and a large data set consisting of 7992 protein structures and 72 drug-like ligands allowing statistical evaluation with performance metrics on a drug-like chemical space. Both data sets are built from openly available resources, and any information needed to perform the described experiments is reported. We describe the composition of the data sets, the setup of screening experiments, and the evaluation strategy. Performance metrics capable to measure the early recognition of enrichments like AUC, BEDROC, and NSLR are proposed. We apply a sequence-based target prediction method to the large data set to analyze its content of nontrivial evaluation cases. The proposed data sets are used for method evaluation of our new inverse screening method iRAISE. The small data set reveals the method's capability and limitations to selectively distinguish between rather similar protein structures. The large data set simulates real target identification scenarios. iRAISE achieves in 55% excellent or good enrichment a median AUC of 0.67 and RMSDs below 2.0 Å for 74% and was able to predict the first true target in 59 out of 72 cases in the top 2% of the protein data set of about 8000 structures.

  10. Nuclear Data Networks

    Science.gov Websites

    calibrations. NSDD The international network of Nuclear Structure and Decay Data evaluators Group of and updating of nuclear structure data contained in Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF

  11. A pilot evaluation of text display formats for weather information in the cockpit

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1995-10-01

    This study focuses on the weather (WX) services portion of Data Link. A : two-phase evaluation was conducted with 16 air transport (ATP) and general : aviation (GA) pilots. The pilots evaluated four data formatting options and : four data entry metho...

  12. 48 CFR 246.470-2 - Quality evaluation data.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Quality evaluation data... SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE Government Contract Quality Assurance 246.470-2 Quality evaluation data. The contract administration office shall establish a system for the...

  13. 42 CFR 483.128 - PASARR evaluation criteria.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... PASARR program must use at least the evaluative criteria of § 483.130 (if one or both determinations can... of all data concerning the individual. (g) Preexisting data. Evaluators may use relevant evaluative... determinations, findings must be issued in the form of a written evaluative report which— (1) Identifies the name...

  14. 42 CFR 483.128 - PASARR evaluation criteria.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... PASARR program must use at least the evaluative criteria of § 483.130 (if one or both determinations can... of all data concerning the individual. (g) Preexisting data. Evaluators may use relevant evaluative... determinations, findings must be issued in the form of a written evaluative report which— (1) Identifies the name...

  15. 42 CFR 483.128 - PASARR evaluation criteria.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... PASARR program must use at least the evaluative criteria of § 483.130 (if one or both determinations can... of all data concerning the individual. (g) Preexisting data. Evaluators may use relevant evaluative... determinations, findings must be issued in the form of a written evaluative report which— (1) Identifies the name...

  16. 42 CFR 483.128 - PASARR evaluation criteria.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... PASARR program must use at least the evaluative criteria of § 483.130 (if one or both determinations can... of all data concerning the individual. (g) Preexisting data. Evaluators may use relevant evaluative... determinations, findings must be issued in the form of a written evaluative report which— (1) Identifies the name...

  17. 42 CFR 483.128 - PASARR evaluation criteria.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... PASARR program must use at least the evaluative criteria of § 483.130 (if one or both determinations can... of all data concerning the individual. (g) Preexisting data. Evaluators may use relevant evaluative... determinations, findings must be issued in the form of a written evaluative report which— (1) Identifies the name...

  18. Complexities in the Evaluation of Distance Education and Virtual Schooling.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Vrasidas, Charalambos; Zembylas, Michalinos; Chamberlain, Richard

    2003-01-01

    Discusses the issues related to evaluation of distance education and virtual schooling. The evaluation design of a virtual high school project is presented, and goals, stakeholder analysis, evaluator role, data collection, and data analysis are described. The need for evaluation of distance education and the ethical responsibility of the…

  19. Secondary Evaluations.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cook, Thomas D.

    Secondary evaluations, in which an investigator takes a body of evaluation data collected by a primary evaluation researcher and examines the data to see if the original conclusions about the program correspond with his own, are discussed. The different kinds of secondary evaluations and the advantages and disadvantages of each are pointed out,…

  20. On Lack of Robustness in Hydrological Model Development Due to Absence of Guidelines for Selecting Calibration and Evaluation Data: Demonstration for Data-Driven Models

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Feifei; Maier, Holger R.; Wu, Wenyan; Dandy, Graeme C.; Gupta, Hoshin V.; Zhang, Tuqiao

    2018-02-01

    Hydrological models are used for a wide variety of engineering purposes, including streamflow forecasting and flood-risk estimation. To develop such models, it is common to allocate the available data to calibration and evaluation data subsets. Surprisingly, the issue of how this allocation can affect model evaluation performance has been largely ignored in the research literature. This paper discusses the evaluation performance bias that can arise from how available data are allocated to calibration and evaluation subsets. As a first step to assessing this issue in a statistically rigorous fashion, we present a comprehensive investigation of the influence of data allocation on the development of data-driven artificial neural network (ANN) models of streamflow. Four well-known formal data splitting methods are applied to 754 catchments from Australia and the U.S. to develop 902,483 ANN models. Results clearly show that the choice of the method used for data allocation has a significant impact on model performance, particularly for runoff data that are more highly skewed, highlighting the importance of considering the impact of data splitting when developing hydrological models. The statistical behavior of the data splitting methods investigated is discussed and guidance is offered on the selection of the most appropriate data splitting methods to achieve representative evaluation performance for streamflow data with different statistical properties. Although our results are obtained for data-driven models, they highlight the fact that this issue is likely to have a significant impact on all types of hydrological models, especially conceptual rainfall-runoff models.

  1. Orbiter data reduction complex data processing requirements for the OFT mission evaluation team (level C)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1979-01-01

    This document addresses requirements for post-test data reduction in support of the Orbital Flight Tests (OFT) mission evaluation team, specifically those which are planned to be implemented in the ODRC (Orbiter Data Reduction Complex). Only those requirements which have been previously baselined by the Data Systems and Analysis Directorate configuration control board are included. This document serves as the control document between Institutional Data Systems Division and the Integration Division for OFT mission evaluation data processing requirements, and shall be the basis for detailed design of ODRC data processing systems.

  2. A Hybrid Evaluation System Framework (Shell & Web) with Standardized Access to Climate Model Data and Verification Tools for a Clear Climate Science Infrastructure on Big Data High Performance Computers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kadow, C.; Illing, S.; Kunst, O.; Cubasch, U.

    2014-12-01

    The project 'Integrated Data and Evaluation System for Decadal Scale Prediction' (INTEGRATION) as part of the German decadal prediction project MiKlip develops a central evaluation system. The fully operational hybrid features a HPC shell access and an user friendly web-interface. It employs one common system with a variety of verification tools and validation data from different projects in- and outside of MiKlip. The evaluation system is located at the German Climate Computing Centre (DKRZ) and has direct access to the bulk of its ESGF node including millions of climate model data sets, e.g. from CMIP5 and CORDEX. The database is organized by the international CMOR standard using the meta information of the self-describing model, reanalysis and observational data sets. Apache Solr is used for indexing the different data projects into one common search environment. This implemented meta data system with its advanced but easy to handle search tool supports users, developers and their tools to retrieve the required information. A generic application programming interface (API) allows scientific developers to connect their analysis tools with the evaluation system independently of the programming language used. Users of the evaluation techniques benefit from the common interface of the evaluation system without any need to understand the different scripting languages. Facilitating the provision and usage of tools and climate data increases automatically the number of scientists working with the data sets and identify discrepancies. Additionally, the history and configuration sub-system stores every analysis performed with the evaluation system in a MySQL database. Configurations and results of the tools can be shared among scientists via shell or web-system. Therefore, plugged-in tools gain automatically from transparency and reproducibility. Furthermore, when configurations match while starting a evaluation tool, the system suggests to use results already produced by other users-saving CPU time, I/O and disk space. This study presents the different techniques and advantages of such a hybrid evaluation system making use of a Big Data HPC in climate science. website: www-miklip.dkrz.de visitor-login: guest password: miklip

  3. A Hybrid Evaluation System Framework (Shell & Web) with Standardized Access to Climate Model Data and Verification Tools for a Clear Climate Science Infrastructure on Big Data High Performance Computers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kadow, Christopher; Illing, Sebastian; Kunst, Oliver; Ulbrich, Uwe; Cubasch, Ulrich

    2015-04-01

    The project 'Integrated Data and Evaluation System for Decadal Scale Prediction' (INTEGRATION) as part of the German decadal prediction project MiKlip develops a central evaluation system. The fully operational hybrid features a HPC shell access and an user friendly web-interface. It employs one common system with a variety of verification tools and validation data from different projects in- and outside of MiKlip. The evaluation system is located at the German Climate Computing Centre (DKRZ) and has direct access to the bulk of its ESGF node including millions of climate model data sets, e.g. from CMIP5 and CORDEX. The database is organized by the international CMOR standard using the meta information of the self-describing model, reanalysis and observational data sets. Apache Solr is used for indexing the different data projects into one common search environment. This implemented meta data system with its advanced but easy to handle search tool supports users, developers and their tools to retrieve the required information. A generic application programming interface (API) allows scientific developers to connect their analysis tools with the evaluation system independently of the programming language used. Users of the evaluation techniques benefit from the common interface of the evaluation system without any need to understand the different scripting languages. Facilitating the provision and usage of tools and climate data increases automatically the number of scientists working with the data sets and identify discrepancies. Additionally, the history and configuration sub-system stores every analysis performed with the evaluation system in a MySQL database. Configurations and results of the tools can be shared among scientists via shell or web-system. Therefore, plugged-in tools gain automatically from transparency and reproducibility. Furthermore, when configurations match while starting a evaluation tool, the system suggests to use results already produced by other users-saving CPU time, I/O and disk space. This study presents the different techniques and advantages of such a hybrid evaluation system making use of a Big Data HPC in climate science. website: www-miklip.dkrz.de visitor-login: click on "Guest"

  4. WINCADRE (COMPUTER-AIDED DATA REVIEW AND EVALUATION)

    EPA Science Inventory

    WinCADRE (Computer-Aided Data Review and Evaluation) is a Windows -based program designed for computer-assisted data validation. WinCADRE is a powerful tool which significantly decreases data validation turnaround time. The electronic-data-deliverable format has been designed ...

  5. [Construction and realization of real world integrated data warehouse from HIS on re-evaluation of post-maketing traditional Chinese medicine].

    PubMed

    Zhuang, Yan; Xie, Bangtie; Weng, Shengxin; Xie, Yanming

    2011-10-01

    To construct real world integrated data warehouse on re-evaluation of post-marketing traditional Chinese medicine for the research on key techniques of clinic re-evaluation which mainly includes indication of traditional Chinese medicine, dosage usage, course of treatment, unit medication, combined disease and adverse reaction, which provides data for reviewed research on its safety,availability and economy,and provides foundation for perspective research. The integrated data warehouse extracts and integrate data from HIS by information collection system and data warehouse technique and forms standard structure and data. The further research is on process based on the data. A data warehouse and several sub data warehouses were built, which focused on patients' main records, doctor orders, diseases diagnoses, laboratory results and economic indications in hospital. These data warehouses can provide research data for re-evaluation of post-marketing traditional Chinese medicine, and it has clinical value. Besides, it points out the direction for further research.

  6. The US Nuclear Data Network

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

    Not Available

    1993-10-19

    This report discusses the following topics: US Nuclear Data Network Meeting; TUNL A=3--20 Data Project Activity Report 1993; INEL Mass-chain Evaluation Project Activity Report for 1993; 1993 Isotopes; Nuclear Data Project Activity Report; The NNDC Activity Report Parts A and B; Minutes of the Formats and Procedures Subcommittee; Evaluation of High-spin Nuclear Data for ENSDF and Table of Superdeformed Nuclear Bands; Proposal for Support of a Experimental High-spin; Data File/Data-Network Coordinator; Radioactive Decay and Applications; A Plan for a Horizontal Evaluation of Decay Data; ENSDF On-line System; The MacNuclide Project Expanding the Scope of the Nuclear Structure Reference File; ENSDAT:more » Evaluated Nuclear Structure Drawings and Tables; Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG) and CSEWG Strategy Session; A Draft Proposal for a USNDN Program Advisory Council; Recommendations of Focus Group 1; Recommendations of Focus Group 2; Recommendations of Focus Group 3; Recommendations of Focus Group 4; The Table of Isotopes; The Isotopes CD-ROM; Electronic Table of Isotopes (ETOI); and Electronic Access to Nuclear Data.« less

  7. Air Traffic Control Experimentation and Evaluation with the NASA ATS-6 Satellite : Volume 4. Data Reduction and Analysis Software.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1976-09-01

    Software used for the reduction and analysis of the multipath prober, modem evaluation (voice, digital data, and ranging), and antenna evaluation data acquired during the ATS-6 field test program is described. Multipath algorithms include reformattin...

  8. 77 FR 61789 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Workforce...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-11

    ... Programs Gold Standard Evaluation Follow-Up Surveys, Veterans Study, and Cost Data,'' to the Office of... Standard Evaluation Follow-Up Surveys, Veterans Study, and Cost Data ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The... Worker Programs Gold Standard Evaluation Follow-Up Surveys, Veterans Study, and Cost Data. OMB ICR...

  9. 21 CFR 315.6 - Evaluation of safety.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... information, the following types of data: (i) Pharmacology data, (ii) Toxicology data, (iii) Clinical adverse... 21 Food and Drugs 5 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Evaluation of safety. 315.6 Section 315.6 Food and... USE DIAGNOSTIC RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS § 315.6 Evaluation of safety. (a) Factors considered in the safety...

  10. Evaluated nuclear structure data file

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tuli, J. K.

    1996-02-01

    The Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) contains the evaluated nuclear properties of all known nuclides, as derived both from nuclear reaction and radioactive decay measurements. All experimental data are evaluated to create the adopted properties for each nuclide. ENSDF, together with other numeric and bibliographic files, can be accessed on-line through the INTERNET or modem, and some of the databases are also available on the World Wide Web. The structure and the scope of ENSDF are presented along with the on-line access system of the National Nuclear Data Center at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

  11. Evaluated nuclear structure data file

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tuli, J. K.

    The Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) contains the evaluated nuclear properties of all known nuclides. These properties are derived both from nuclear reaction and radioactive decay measurements. All experimental data are evaluated to create the adopted properties for each nuclide. ENSDF, together with other numeric and biographic files, can be accessed on-line through the INTERNET or modem. Some of the databases are also available on the World Wide Web. The structure and the scope of ENSDF are presented along with the on-line access system of the National Nuclear Data Center at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

  12. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 91

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

    Baglin, Coral M.

    2013-10-15

    Experimental nuclear structure and decay data for all known A=91 nuclides (As, Se, Br, Kr, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd) have been evaluated. This evaluation, covering data received by 1 September 2013, supersedes the 1998 evaluation by C. M. Baglin published in Nuclear Data Sheets86, 1 (1999) (15 December 1998 literature cutoff), and subsequent evaluations by C. M. Baglin added to the ENSDF database for Kr, Sr and Zr (29 December 2000 literature cutoff) and by B. Singh for {sup 91}Tc (6 November 2000 literature cutoff)

  13. Internet-based peer support for Ménière's disease: a summary of web-based data collection, impact evaluation, and user evaluation.

    PubMed

    Pyykkő, Ilmari; Manchaiah, Vinaya; Levo, Hilla; Kentala, Erna; Juhola, Martti

    2017-07-01

    This paper presents a summary of web-based data collection, impact evaluation, and user evaluations of an Internet-based peer support program for Ménière's disease (MD). The program is written in html-form. The data are stored in a MySQL database and uses machine learning in the diagnosis of MD. The program works interactively with the user and assesses the participant's disorder profile in various dimensions (i.e., symptoms, impact, personal traits, and positive attitude). The inference engine uses a database to compare the impact with 50 referents, and provides regular feedback to the user. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The impact evaluation was based on 740 cases and the user evaluation on a sample of 75 cases of MD respectively. The web-based system was useful in data collection and impact evaluation of people with MD. Among those with a recent onset of MD, 78% rated the program as useful or very useful, whereas those with chronic MD rated the program 55%. We suggest that a web-based data collection and impact evaluation for peer support can be helpful while formulating the rehabilitation goals of building the self-confidence needed for coping and increasing social participation.

  14. HyQue: evaluating hypotheses using Semantic Web technologies.

    PubMed

    Callahan, Alison; Dumontier, Michel; Shah, Nigam H

    2011-05-17

    Key to the success of e-Science is the ability to computationally evaluate expert-composed hypotheses for validity against experimental data. Researchers face the challenge of collecting, evaluating and integrating large amounts of diverse information to compose and evaluate a hypothesis. Confronted with rapidly accumulating data, researchers currently do not have the software tools to undertake the required information integration tasks. We present HyQue, a Semantic Web tool for querying scientific knowledge bases with the purpose of evaluating user submitted hypotheses. HyQue features a knowledge model to accommodate diverse hypotheses structured as events and represented using Semantic Web languages (RDF/OWL). Hypothesis validity is evaluated against experimental and literature-sourced evidence through a combination of SPARQL queries and evaluation rules. Inference over OWL ontologies (for type specifications, subclass assertions and parthood relations) and retrieval of facts stored as Bio2RDF linked data provide support for a given hypothesis. We evaluate hypotheses of varying levels of detail about the genetic network controlling galactose metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to demonstrate the feasibility of deploying such semantic computing tools over a growing body of structured knowledge in Bio2RDF. HyQue is a query-based hypothesis evaluation system that can currently evaluate hypotheses about the galactose metabolism in S. cerevisiae. Hypotheses as well as the supporting or refuting data are represented in RDF and directly linked to one another allowing scientists to browse from data to hypothesis and vice versa. HyQue hypotheses and data are available at http://semanticscience.org/projects/hyque.

  15. Study protocol of a mixed-methods evaluation of a cluster randomized trial to improve the safety of NSAID and antiplatelet prescribing: data-driven quality improvement in primary care.

    PubMed

    Grant, Aileen; Dreischulte, Tobias; Treweek, Shaun; Guthrie, Bruce

    2012-08-28

    Trials of complex interventions are criticized for being 'black box', so the UK Medical Research Council recommends carrying out a process evaluation to explain the trial findings. We believe it is good practice to pre-specify and publish process evaluation protocols to set standards and minimize bias. Unlike protocols for trials, little guidance or standards exist for the reporting of process evaluations. This paper presents the mixed-method process evaluation protocol of a cluster randomized trial, drawing on a framework designed by the authors. This mixed-method evaluation is based on four research questions and maps data collection to a logic model of how the data-driven quality improvement in primary care (DQIP) intervention is expected to work. Data collection will be predominately by qualitative case studies in eight to ten of the trial practices, focus groups with patients affected by the intervention and quantitative analysis of routine practice data, trial outcome and questionnaire data and data from the DQIP intervention. We believe that pre-specifying the intentions of a process evaluation can help to minimize bias arising from potentially misleading post-hoc analysis. We recognize it is also important to retain flexibility to examine the unexpected and the unintended. From that perspective, a mixed-methods evaluation allows the combination of exploratory and flexible qualitative work, and more pre-specified quantitative analysis, with each method contributing to the design, implementation and interpretation of the other.As well as strengthening the study the authors hope to stimulate discussion among their academic colleagues about publishing protocols for evaluations of randomized trials of complex interventions. DATA-DRIVEN QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN PRIMARY CARE TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01425502.

  16. NASA Data Evaluation (2015): Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use in Atmospheric Studies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burkholder, J. B.; Sander, S. P.; Abbatt, J.; Barker, J. R.; Huie, R. E.; Kolb, C. E., Jr.; Kurylo, M. J., III; Orkin, V. L.; Wilmouth, D. M.; Wine, P. H.

    2015-12-01

    Atmospheric chemistry models must include a large number of processes to accurately describe the temporal and spatial behavior of atmospheric composition. They require a wide range of chemical and physical data (parameters) that describe elementary gas-phase and heterogeneous processes. The review and evaluation of chemical and physical data has, therefore, played an important role in the development of chemical models and in their use in environmental assessment activities. The NASA data panel evaluation has a broad atmospheric focus that includes Ox, O(1D), singlet O2, HOx, NOx, Organic, FOx, ClOx, BrOx, IOx, SOx, and Na reactions, three-body reactions, equilibrium constants, photochemistry, Henry's Law coefficients, aqueous chemistry, heterogeneous chemistry and processes, and thermodynamic parameters. The 2015 evaluation includes critical coverage of ~700 bimolecular reactions, 86 three-body reactions, 33 equilibrium constants, ~220 photochemical species, ~360 aqueous and heterogeneous processes, and thermodynamic parameters for ~800 species with over 5000 literature citations reviewed. Each evaluation includes (1) recommended values (e.g. rate coefficients, absorption cross sections, solubilities, and uptake coefficients) with estimated uncertainty factors and (2) a note describing the available experimental and theoretical data and an explanation for the recommendation. This presentation highlights some of the recent additions to the evaluation that include: (1) expansion of thermochemical parameters, including Hg species, (2) CH2OO (Criegee) chemistry, (3) Isoprene and its major degradation product chemistry, (4) halocarbon chemistry, (5) Henry's law solubility data, and (6) uptake coefficients. In addition, a listing of complete references with the evaluation notes has been implemented. Users of the data evaluation are encouraged to suggest potential improvements and ways that the evaluation can better serve the atmospheric chemistry community.

  17. Evaluation of the Neutron Data Standards

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

    Carlson, A. D.; Pronyaev, V. G.; Capote, R.

    With the need for improving existing nuclear data evaluations, (e.g., ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 releases) the first step was to evaluate the standards for use in such a library. This new standards evaluation made use of improved experimental data and some developments in the methodology of analysis and evaluation. In addition to the work on the traditional standards, this work produced the extension of some energy ranges and includes new reactions that are called reference cross sections. Since the effort extends beyond the traditional standards, it is called the neutron data standards evaluation. This international effort has produced new evaluations ofmore » the following cross section standards: the H(n,n), 6Li(n,t), 10B(n,α), 10B(n,α 1γ), natC(n,n), Au(n,γ), 235U(n,f) and 238U(n,f). Also in the evaluation process the 238U(n,γ) and 239Pu(n,f) cross sections that are not standards were evaluated. Evaluations were also obtained for data that are not traditional standards: the Maxwellian spectrum averaged cross section for the Au(n,γ) cross section at 30 keV; reference cross sections for prompt γ-ray production in fast neutron-induced reactions; reference cross sections for very high energy fission cross sections; the 252Cf spontaneous fission neutron spectrum and the 235U prompt fission neutron spectrum induced by thermal incident neutrons; and the thermal neutron constants. The data and covariance matrices of the uncertainties were obtained directly from the evaluation procedure.« less

  18. Evaluation of the Neutron Data Standards

    DOE PAGES

    Carlson, A. D.; Pronyaev, V. G.; Capote, R.; ...

    2018-02-01

    With the need for improving existing nuclear data evaluations, (e.g., ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 releases) the first step was to evaluate the standards for use in such a library. This new standards evaluation made use of improved experimental data and some developments in the methodology of analysis and evaluation. In addition to the work on the traditional standards, this work produced the extension of some energy ranges and includes new reactions that are called reference cross sections. Since the effort extends beyond the traditional standards, it is called the neutron data standards evaluation. This international effort has produced new evaluations ofmore » the following cross section standards: the H(n,n), 6Li(n,t), 10B(n,α), 10B(n,α 1γ), natC(n,n), Au(n,γ), 235U(n,f) and 238U(n,f). Also in the evaluation process the 238U(n,γ) and 239Pu(n,f) cross sections that are not standards were evaluated. Evaluations were also obtained for data that are not traditional standards: the Maxwellian spectrum averaged cross section for the Au(n,γ) cross section at 30 keV; reference cross sections for prompt γ-ray production in fast neutron-induced reactions; reference cross sections for very high energy fission cross sections; the 252Cf spontaneous fission neutron spectrum and the 235U prompt fission neutron spectrum induced by thermal incident neutrons; and the thermal neutron constants. The data and covariance matrices of the uncertainties were obtained directly from the evaluation procedure.« less

  19. Evaluation of the Neutron Data Standards

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carlson, A. D.; Pronyaev, V. G.; Capote, R.; Hale, G. M.; Chen, Z.-P.; Duran, I.; Hambsch, F.-J.; Kunieda, S.; Mannhart, W.; Marcinkevicius, B.; Nelson, R. O.; Neudecker, D.; Noguere, G.; Paris, M.; Simakov, S. P.; Schillebeeckx, P.; Smith, D. L.; Tao, X.; Trkov, A.; Wallner, A.; Wang, W.

    2018-02-01

    With the need for improving existing nuclear data evaluations, (e.g., ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 releases) the first step was to evaluate the standards for use in such a library. This new standards evaluation made use of improved experimental data and some developments in the methodology of analysis and evaluation. In addition to the work on the traditional standards, this work produced the extension of some energy ranges and includes new reactions that are called reference cross sections. Since the effort extends beyond the traditional standards, it is called the neutron data standards evaluation. This international effort has produced new evaluations of the following cross section standards: the H(n,n), 6Li(n,t), 10B(n,α), 10B(n,α1 γ), natC(n,n), Au(n,γ), 235U(n,f) and 238U(n,f). Also in the evaluation process the 238U(n,γ) and 239Pu(n,f) cross sections that are not standards were evaluated. Evaluations were also obtained for data that are not traditional standards: the Maxwellian spectrum averaged cross section for the Au(n,γ) cross section at 30 keV; reference cross sections for prompt γ-ray production in fast neutron-induced reactions; reference cross sections for very high energy fission cross sections; the 252Cf spontaneous fission neutron spectrum and the 235U prompt fission neutron spectrum induced by thermal incident neutrons; and the thermal neutron constants. The data and covariance matrices of the uncertainties were obtained directly from the evaluation procedure.

  20. Program Evaluation: A Review and Synthesis.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Webber, Charles F.

    This paper reviews models of program evaluation. Major topics and issues found in the evaluation literature include quantitative versus qualitative approaches, identification and involvement of stakeholders, formulation of research questions, collection of data, analysis and interpretation of data, reporting of results, evaluation utilization, and…

  1. Effect of cow reference group on validation reliability of genomic evaluation.

    PubMed

    Koivula, M; Strandén, I; Aamand, G P; Mäntysaari, E A

    2016-06-01

    We studied the effect of including genomic data for cows in the reference population of single-step evaluations. Deregressed individual cow genetic evaluations (DRP) from milk production evaluations of Nordic Red Dairy cattle were used to estimate the single-step breeding values. Validation reliability and bias of the evaluations were calculated with four data sets including different amount of DRP record information from genotyped cows in the reference population. The gain in reliability was from 2% to 4% units for the production traits, depending on the used DRP data and the amount of genomic data. Moreover, inclusion of genotyped bull dams and their genotyped daughters seemed to create some bias in the single-step evaluation. Still, genotyping cows and their inclusion in the reference population is advantageous and should be encouraged.

  2. WINCADRE INORGANIC (WINDOWS COMPUTER-AIDED DATA REVIEW AND EVALUATION)

    EPA Science Inventory

    WinCADRE (Computer-Aided Data Review and Evaluation) is a Windows -based program designed for computer-assisted data validation. WinCADRE is a powerful tool which significantly decreases data validation turnaround time. The electronic-data-deliverable format has been designed in...

  3. Census data quality--a user's view.

    PubMed

    Hawkes, W J

    1986-01-01

    "This paper presents the perspective of a major user of both decennial and economic [U.S.] census data. It illustrates how these data are used as a framework for commercial marketing research surveys that measure television audiences and sales of consumer goods through retail stores, drawing on Nielsen's own experience in data collection and evaluation. It reviews Nielsen's analyses of census data quality based, in part, on actual field evaluation of census results. Finally, it suggests ways that data quality might be evaluated and improved to enhance the usefulness of these census programs." excerpt

  4. Evaluation of available data sources to prioritize parishes for arsenic monitoring and outreach related to private well drinking water.

    PubMed

    Katner, Adrienne; Lackovic, Michelle; Streva, Kate; Paul, Vanessa; Trachtman, William Clay

    2015-01-01

    The objective of this assessment was to identify and evaluate data sets for use in the surveillance of arsenic hazards and private well drinking water use in Louisiana. Features, strengths, and limitations of the data sets are described, and prioritization criteria are applied to identify areas in need of further monitoring or outreach. Recent efforts have been made by the Environmental Public Health Tracking Network to evaluate the quality of private well water data for the purpose of supporting state and national surveillance activities. Like most states, Louisiana does not collect or mandate reporting of private well water quality data. Therefore, responding to public concerns about private well water quality requires an identification and evaluation of existing data. Data evaluated include measures of arsenic in groundwater and soil, private well water use, and biomonitoring results. The Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Information System and the US Geological Survey's Water Use data set were the most informative, nationally available data sets for conducting private well water arsenic surveillance. Three priority parishes were identified on the basis of a selection criteria, although all parishes require more private well sampling data. While the data reviewed enabled preliminary identification of parishes in need of monitoring and outreach, data limitations (particularly, a lack of statewide well water quality data) prevent a comprehensive evaluation of well water arsenic hazards and private well water use. A large number of unregistered wells further impede risk determination. Reliance on existing data sources is necessary, but development of metadata documentation is essential to prevent data misinterpretation. Increased outreach and policies to promote or mandate private well testing and reporting are needed to enable a comprehensive private well water tracking system.

  5. Development of a Nationally Coordinated Evaluation Plan for the Ghana National Strategy for Key Populations

    PubMed Central

    Reynolds, Heidi W; Atuahene, Kyeremeh; Sutherland, Elizabeth; Amenyah, Richard; Kwao, Isaiah Doe; Larbi, Emmanuel Tettey

    2015-01-01

    Objective Just as HIV prevention programs need to be tailored to the local epidemic, so should evaluations be country-owned and country-led to ensure use of those results in decision making and policy. The objective of this paper is to describe the process undertaken in Ghana to develop a national evaluation plan for the Ghana national strategy for key populations. Methods This was a participatory process that involved meetings between the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), other partners in Ghana working to prevent HIV among key populations, and MEASURE Evaluation. The process included three two-day, highly structured yet participatory meetings over the course of 12 months during which participants shared information about on-going and planned data and identified research questions and methods. Results An evaluation plan was prepared to inform stakeholders about which data collection activities need to be prioritized for funding, who would implement the study, the timing of data collection, the research question the data will help answer, and the analysis methods. The plan discusses various methods that can be used including the recommendation for the study design using multiple data sources. It has an evaluation conceptual model, proposed analyses, proposed definition of independent variables, estimated costs for filling data gaps, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders to carry out the plan, and considerations for ethics, data sharing and authorship. Conclusion The experience demonstrates that it is possible to design an evaluation responsive to national strategies and priorities with country leadership, regardless of stakeholders' experiences with evaluations. This process may be replicable elsewhere, where stakeholders want to plan and implement an evaluation of a large-scale program at the national or subnational level that is responsive to national priorities and part of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system. PMID:26120495

  6. Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use in Atmospheric Studies Evaluation Number 16. Supplement to Evaluation 15: Update of Key Reactions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sander, S. P.; Friedl, R. R.; Barker, J. R.; Golden, D. M.; Kurylo, M. J.; Wine, P. H.; Abbatt, J.; Burkholder, J. B.; Kolb, C. E.; Moortgat, G. K.; hide

    2009-01-01

    This is the supplement to the fifteenth in a series of evaluated sets of rate constants and photochemical cross sections compiled by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation. The data are used primarily to model stratospheric and upper tropospheric processes, with particular emphasis on the ozone layer and its possible perturbation by anthropogenic and natural phenomena. Copies of this evaluation are available in electronic form and may be printed from the following Internet URL: http://jpldataeval.jpl.nasa.gov/.

  7. Judgment under uncertainty; a probabilistic evaluation framework for decision-making about sanitation systems in low-income countries.

    PubMed

    Malekpour, Shirin; Langeveld, Jeroen; Letema, Sammy; Clemens, François; van Lier, Jules B

    2013-03-30

    This paper introduces the probabilistic evaluation framework, to enable transparent and objective decision-making in technology selection for sanitation solutions in low-income countries. The probabilistic framework recognizes the often poor quality of the available data for evaluations. Within this framework, the evaluations will be done based on the probabilities that the expected outcomes occur in practice, considering the uncertainties in evaluation parameters. Consequently, the outcome of evaluations will not be single point estimates; but there exists a range of possible outcomes. A first trial application of this framework for evaluation of sanitation options in the Nyalenda settlement in Kisumu, Kenya, showed how the range of values that an evaluation parameter may obtain in practice would influence the evaluation outcomes. In addition, as the probabilistic evaluation requires various site-specific data, sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the influence of each data set quality on the evaluation outcomes. Based on that, data collection activities could be (re)directed, in a trade-off between the required investments in those activities and the resolution of the decisions that are to be made. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Slippery road detection and evaluation.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2012-05-31

    The key project objectives were: 1) the demonstration and evaluation of a low cost data acquisition system that would provide a rich data set accumulated from multiple vehicles, and 2) establish how this data, coupled with situational data from other...

  9. Migrating data from TcSE to DOORS : an evaluation of the T-Plan Integrator software application.

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

    Post, Debra S.; Manzanares, David A.; Taylor, Jeffrey L.

    2011-02-01

    This report describes our evaluation of the T-Plan Integrator software application as it was used to transfer a real data set from the Teamcenter for Systems Engineering (TcSE) software application to the DOORS software application. The T-Plan Integrator was evaluated to determine if it would meet the needs of Sandia National Laboratories to migrate our existing data sets from TcSE to DOORS. This report presents the struggles of migrating data and focuses on how the Integrator can be used to map a data set and its data architecture from TcSE to DOORS. Finally, this report describes how the bulk ofmore » the migration can take place using the Integrator; however, about 20-30% of the data would need to be transferred from TcSE to DOORS manually. This report does not evaluate the transfer of data from DOORS to TcSE.« less

  10. The Inchworm and the Nightingale: On the (Mis)use of Data in Music Teacher Evaluation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Robinson, Mitchell

    2015-01-01

    The music education profession is faced with two serious problems regarding the (mis)use of data in music teacher evaluation. The first has to do with the quality and kinds of data that music teachers have been forced to use; the second is concerned with how these data are being used in the music teacher evaluation process. The evidence I will use…

  11. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 133

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

    Khazov, Yu.; Rodionov, A.; Kondev, F.G.

    2011-04-15

    Evaluated nuclear structure and decay data for all nuclei within the A=133 mass chain are presented. The experimental data are evaluated and best values for level and gamma-ray energies, quantum numbers, lifetimes, gamma-ray intensities, and other nuclear properties are recommended. Inconsistencies and discrepancies that exist in the literature are noted. This work supersedes the earlier evaluation by S. Raab (1995Ra12), published in Nuclear Data Sheets75, 491 (1995).

  12. Data Selection for Within-Class Covariance Estimation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-09-08

    recognition performance. While developers have typically exploited the vast archive of speaker labeled data available from earlier NIST evaluations...utterances from a large population of speakers. Fortunately, participants in NIST evaluations have access to a vast repository of legacy data from earlier...previous NIST evaluations. Training data for the UBM and T-matrix was obtained from the NIST Switchboard 2 phases 2-5 [12] and SRE04/05/06 utterances

  13. Chemical kinetic and photochemical data for use in stratospheric modeling evaluation number 4: NASA panel for data evaluation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1981-01-01

    Evaluated sets of rate constants and photochemical cross sections compiled by the Panel are presented. The primary application of the data is in the modelling of stratospheric processes, with particular emphasis on the ozone layer and its possible perturbation by anthropogenic and natural phenomena.

  14. A framework for evaluating forest landscape model predictions using empirical data and knowledge

    Treesearch

    Wen J. Wang; Hong S. He; Martin A. Spetich; Stephen R. Shifley; Frank R. Thompson; William D. Dijak; Qia Wang

    2014-01-01

    Evaluation of forest landscape model (FLM) predictions is indispensable to establish the credibility of predictions. We present a framework that evaluates short- and long-term FLM predictions at site and landscape scales. Site-scale evaluation is conducted through comparing raster cell-level predictions with inventory plot data whereas landscape-scale evaluation is...

  15. Multisource Principal Evaluation Data: Principals' Orientations and Reactions to Teacher Feedback Regarding Their Leadership Effectiveness

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Goldring, Ellen B.; Mavrogordato, Madeline; Haynes, Katherine Taylor

    2015-01-01

    Purpose: A relatively new approach to principal evaluation is the use of multisource feedback, which typically entails a leader's self-evaluation as well as parallel evaluations from subordinates, peers, and/or superiors. However, there is little research on how principals interact with evaluation data from multisource feedback systems. This…

  16. How To Design a Program Evaluation. Program Evaluation Kit, 3.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fitz-Gibbon, Carol Taylor; Morris, Lynn Lyons

    The evaluation design, which prescribes when and from whom to gather data, is described as significant because it can lend credibility to evaluation results. The objectives of this booklet are to aid the evaluator in: choosing a design; putting it into operation; and analyzing and reporting the data. Examples include both formative and summative…

  17. Data Collection Methods for Evaluating Museum Programs and Exhibitions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nelson, Amy Crack; Cohn, Sarah

    2015-01-01

    Museums often evaluate various aspects of their audiences' experiences, be it what they learn from a program or how they react to an exhibition. Each museum program or exhibition has its own set of goals, which can drive what an evaluator studies and how an evaluation evolves. When designing an evaluation, data collection methods are purposefully…

  18. ITRF2014 Evaluation with ILRS Data and Products

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pavlis, E. C.; Luceri, V.; Kuzmicz-Cieslak, M.; König, D.; Bianco, G.

    2015-12-01

    The development and release of the new realization of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame—ITRF2014 requires elaborate testing to ensure the quality of the final product. The evaluation effort ensures that the ITRF is of the indicated quality by its error estimates and the combination has not compromised the contributing techniques' input. The International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) contributes unique information that only Satellite Laser Ranging—SLR is sensitive to: the definition of the origin, and in equal parts with VLBI, the scale of the model. The ILRS analysts adopted a revision of the internal standards and procedures in developing our contribution to ITRF2014 from our eight Analysis Centers. Anticipating the release of ITRF2014 we worked on designing and executing tests using data and products unique to ILRS. In addition to the data contributed to ITRF2014, ILRS has several other targets, in lower and higher orbits, the SLR tracking data of which are used as independent data for the evaluation process. Since SLR data are primarily sensitive to the origin and scale definition of the TRF model, these model attributes are the best to be validated using SLR data. LAGEOS and ETALON data collected outside the span of data used in ITRF2014 can also evaluate the quality of the estimated velocity vectors. The use of independent SLR data evaluates the model throughout the period that such data are available. SLR data from low altitude missions can validate the performance of the model from the late '70s all the way to present (using e.g. STARLETTE and LARES data). This presentation will give an overview of the new model's evaluation using exclusively ILRS tracking data and other ILRS products.

  19. Supplementing Summative Findings with Formative Data.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Noggle, Nelson L.

    This paper attempts to provide evaluators, administrators, and policy makers with the advantages of and methodology of merging formative and summative data to enhance summative evaluations. It draws on RMC Research Corporation's 1980-81 California Statewide Evaluation of Migrant Education. The concern that evaluations typically fail to obtain the…

  20. School District Evaluation: Database Warehouse Support.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Adcock, Eugene P.; Haseltine, Reginald

    The Prince George's County (Maryland) school system has developed a database warehouse system as an evaluation data support tool for fulfilling the system's information demands. This paper described the Research and Evaluation Assimilation Database (READ) warehouse support system and considers the requirements for data used in evaluation and how…

  1. Summary Report of a Specialized Workshop on Nuclear Structure and Decay Data (NSDD) Evaluations

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

    Nichols, Alan L.; Dimitrious, P.; Kondev, F. G.

    2015-04-27

    A three-day specialised workshop on Nuclear Structure and Decay Data Evaluations was organised and held at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria, from 27 to 29 April 2015. This workshop covered a wide range of important topics and issues addressed when evaluating and maintaining the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF). The primary aim was to improve evaluators’ abilities to identify and understand the most appropriate evaluation processes to adopt in the formulation of individual ENSDF data sets. Participants assessed and reviewed existing policies, procedures and codes, and round-table discussions included the debate and resolutionmore » of specific difficulties experienced by ENSDF evaluators (i.e., all workshop participants). The contents of this report constitute a record of this workshop, based on the presentations and subsequent discussions.« less

  2. HyQue: evaluating hypotheses using Semantic Web technologies

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Key to the success of e-Science is the ability to computationally evaluate expert-composed hypotheses for validity against experimental data. Researchers face the challenge of collecting, evaluating and integrating large amounts of diverse information to compose and evaluate a hypothesis. Confronted with rapidly accumulating data, researchers currently do not have the software tools to undertake the required information integration tasks. Results We present HyQue, a Semantic Web tool for querying scientific knowledge bases with the purpose of evaluating user submitted hypotheses. HyQue features a knowledge model to accommodate diverse hypotheses structured as events and represented using Semantic Web languages (RDF/OWL). Hypothesis validity is evaluated against experimental and literature-sourced evidence through a combination of SPARQL queries and evaluation rules. Inference over OWL ontologies (for type specifications, subclass assertions and parthood relations) and retrieval of facts stored as Bio2RDF linked data provide support for a given hypothesis. We evaluate hypotheses of varying levels of detail about the genetic network controlling galactose metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to demonstrate the feasibility of deploying such semantic computing tools over a growing body of structured knowledge in Bio2RDF. Conclusions HyQue is a query-based hypothesis evaluation system that can currently evaluate hypotheses about the galactose metabolism in S. cerevisiae. Hypotheses as well as the supporting or refuting data are represented in RDF and directly linked to one another allowing scientists to browse from data to hypothesis and vice versa. HyQue hypotheses and data are available at http://semanticscience.org/projects/hyque. PMID:21624158

  3. Evaluation of the user experience of "astronaut training device": an immersive, vr-based, motion-training system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yue, Kang; Wang, Danli; Yang, Xinpan; Hu, Haichen; Liu, Yuqing; Zhu, Xiuqing

    2016-10-01

    To date, as the different application fields, most VR-based training systems have been different. Therefore, we should take the characteristics of application field into consideration and adopt different evaluation methods when evaluate the user experience of these training systems. In this paper, we propose a method to evaluate the user experience of virtual astronauts training system. Also, we design an experiment based on the proposed method. The proposed method takes learning performance as one of the evaluation dimensions, also combines with other evaluation dimensions such as: presence, immersion, pleasure, satisfaction and fatigue to evaluation user experience of the System. We collect subjective and objective data, the subjective data are mainly from questionnaire designed based on the evaluation dimensions and user interview conducted before and after the experiment. While the objective data are consisted of Electrocardiogram (ECG), reaction time, numbers of reaction error and the video data recorded during the experiment. For the analysis of data, we calculate the integrated score of each evaluation dimension by using factor analysis. In order to improve the credibility of the assessment, we use the ECG signal and reaction test data before and after experiment to validate the changes of fatigue during the experiment, and the typical behavioral features extracted from the experiment video to explain the result of subjective questionnaire. Experimental results show that the System has a better user experience and learning performance, but slight visual fatigue exists after experiment.

  4. Updated and revised neutron reaction data for 237Np

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Guochang; Wang, Jimin; Cao, Wentian; Tang, Guoyou; Yu, Baosheng

    2017-09-01

    Nuclear data with high accuracy for minor actinides play an important role in nuclear technology applications, including reactor design and operation, fuel cycle, estimation of the amount of minor actinides in high burn-up reactors and the minor actinides transmutation. Based on the evaluated experimental data, the updated and revised evaluation of a full set of n+237Np nuclear data from 10-5 eV ˜ 20 MeV are carried out and recommended. Mainly revised quantities are neutron multiplicities from fission reaction, inelastic, fission, (n, 2n) and (n, γ) reaction cross sections as well as angular distribution and so on. The promising results are obtained when the renewal evaluated data of 237Np will be used to instead of the evaluated data in CENDL-3.1 database.

  5. A Systematic Review of the Level of Evidence in Economic Evaluations of Medical Devices: The Example of Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty

    PubMed Central

    van den Brink, Hélène; Pineau, Judith; Prognon, Patrice; Borget, Isabelle

    2015-01-01

    Context Economic evaluations are far less frequently reported for medical devices than for drugs. In addition, little is known about the quality of existing economic evaluations, particularly for innovative devices, such as those used in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Objective To assess the level of evidence provided by the available economic evaluations for vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Data Sources A systematic review of articles in English or French listed in the MEDLINE, PASCAL, COCHRANE and National Health Service Economic Evaluation databases, with limits on publication date (up to the date of the review, March 2014). Study Selection We included only economic evaluations of vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. Editorial and methodological articles were excluded. Data Extraction Data were extracted from articles by two authors working independently and using two analysis grids to measure the quality of economic evaluations. Data Synthesis Twenty-one studies met our inclusion criteria. All were published between 2008 and 2014. Eighteen (86%) were full economic evaluations. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was the most frequent type of economic evaluation, and was present in 11 (52%) studies. Only three CEAs complied fully with the British Medical Journal checklist. The quality of the data sources used in the 21 studies was high, but the CEAs conforming to methodological guidelines did not use high-quality data sources for all components of the analysis. Conclusions This systematic review shows that the level of evidence in economic evaluations of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty is low, despite the recent publication of a large number of studies. This finding highlights the challenges to be faced to improve the quality of economic evaluations of medical devices. PMID:26661078

  6. Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use in Atmospheric Studies: Evaluation Number 18

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burkholder, J. B.; Sander, S. P.; Abbatt, J. P. D.; Barker, J. R.; Huie, R. E.; Kolb, C. E.; Kurylo, M. J.; Orkin, V. L.; Wilmouth, D. M.; Wine, P. H.

    2015-01-01

    This is the eighteenth in a series of evaluated sets of rate constants, photochemical cross sections, heterogeneous parameters, and thermochemical parameters compiled by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation. The data are used primarily to model stratospheric and upper tropospheric processes, with particular emphasis on the ozone layer and its possible perturbation by anthropogenic and natural phenomena. The evaluation is available in electronic form from the following Internet URL: http://jpldataeval.jpl.nasa.gov/

  7. One algorithm to rule them all? An evaluation and discussion of ten eye movement event-detection algorithms.

    PubMed

    Andersson, Richard; Larsson, Linnea; Holmqvist, Kenneth; Stridh, Martin; Nyström, Marcus

    2017-04-01

    Almost all eye-movement researchers use algorithms to parse raw data and detect distinct types of eye movement events, such as fixations, saccades, and pursuit, and then base their results on these. Surprisingly, these algorithms are rarely evaluated. We evaluated the classifications of ten eye-movement event detection algorithms, on data from an SMI HiSpeed 1250 system, and compared them to manual ratings of two human experts. The evaluation focused on fixations, saccades, and post-saccadic oscillations. The evaluation used both event duration parameters, and sample-by-sample comparisons to rank the algorithms. The resulting event durations varied substantially as a function of what algorithm was used. This evaluation differed from previous evaluations by considering a relatively large set of algorithms, multiple events, and data from both static and dynamic stimuli. The main conclusion is that current detectors of only fixations and saccades work reasonably well for static stimuli, but barely better than chance for dynamic stimuli. Differing results across evaluation methods make it difficult to select one winner for fixation detection. For saccade detection, however, the algorithm by Larsson, Nyström and Stridh (IEEE Transaction on Biomedical Engineering, 60(9):2484-2493,2013) outperforms all algorithms in data from both static and dynamic stimuli. The data also show how improperly selected algorithms applied to dynamic data misestimate fixation and saccade properties.

  8. Eco-Environment Status Evaluation and Change Analysis of Qinghai Based on National Geographic Conditions Census Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, M.; Zhu, M.; Wang, Y.; Xu, C.; Yang, H.

    2018-04-01

    As the headstream of the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Lantsang River, located in the hinterland of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai province is hugely significant for ecosystem as well as for ecological security and sustainable development in China. With the accomplishment of the first national geographic condition census, the frequent monitoring has begun. The classification indicators of the census and monitoring data are highly correlated with Technical Criterion for Ecosystem Status Evaluation released by Ministry of Environmental Protection in 2015. Based on three years' geographic conditions data (2014-2016), Landsat-8 images and thematic data (water resource, pollution emissions, meteorological data, soil erosion, etc.), a multi-years and high-precision eco-environment status evaluation and spatiotemporal change analysis of Qinghai province has been researched on the basis of Technical Criterion for Ecosystem Status Evaluation in this paper. Unlike the evaluation implemented by environmental protection department, the evaluation unit in this paper is town rather than county. The evaluation result shows that the eco-environment status in Qinghai is generally in a fine condition, and has significant regional differences. The eco-environment status evaluation based on national geographic conditions census and monitoring data can improve both the time and space precision. The eco-environment status with high space precise and multi-indices is a key basis for environment protection decision-making.

  9. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 146

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

    Khazov, Yu.; Rodionov, A.; Shulyak, G.

    Evaluated nuclear structure and decay data for all nuclei within the A = 146 mass chain are presented. The experimental data are evaluated and best values for level and gamma-ray energies, quantum numbers, lifetimes, gamma-ray intensities, and other nuclear properties are recommended. Inconsistencies and discrepancies that exist in the literature are noted. This work supersedes the earlier evaluation by L.K. Peker, J.K. Tuli (1997Pe22), published in Nuclear Data Sheets82, 187 (1997).

  10. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 146

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khazov, Yu.; Rodionov, A.; Shulyak, G.

    2016-09-01

    Evaluated nuclear structure and decay data for all nuclei within the A = 146 mass chain are presented. The experimental data are evaluated and best values for level and gamma-ray energies, quantum numbers, lifetimes, gamma-ray intensities, and other nuclear properties are recommended. Inconsistencies and discrepancies that exist in the literature are noted. This work supersedes the earlier evaluation by L.K. Peker, J.K. Tuli (1997Pe22), published in Nuclear Data Sheets82, 187 (1997).

  11. Inside the Black Box--An Implementation Evaluation Case Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rector, Patricia; Bakacs, Michele; Rowe, Amy; Barbour, Bruce

    2016-01-01

    The case study presented in this article is an example of an implementation evaluation. The evaluation investigated significant components of the implementation of a long-term environmental educational program. Direct observation, evaluation-specific survey data, and historical data were used to determine program integrity as identified by…

  12. ENDF/B-VIII.0: The 8th Major Release of the Nuclear Reaction Data Library with CIELO-project Cross Sections, New Standards and Thermal Scattering Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brown, D. A.; Chadwick, M. B.; Capote, R.; Kahler, A. C.; Trkov, A.; Herman, M. W.; Sonzogni, A. A.; Danon, Y.; Carlson, A. D.; Dunn, M.; Smith, D. L.; Hale, G. M.; Arbanas, G.; Arcilla, R.; Bates, C. R.; Beck, B.; Becker, B.; Brown, F.; Casperson, R. J.; Conlin, J.; Cullen, D. E.; Descalle, M.-A.; Firestone, R.; Gaines, T.; Guber, K. H.; Hawari, A. I.; Holmes, J.; Johnson, T. D.; Kawano, T.; Kiedrowski, B. C.; Koning, A. J.; Kopecky, S.; Leal, L.; Lestone, J. P.; Lubitz, C.; Márquez Damián, J. I.; Mattoon, C. M.; McCutchan, E. A.; Mughabghab, S.; Navratil, P.; Neudecker, D.; Nobre, G. P. A.; Noguere, G.; Paris, M.; Pigni, M. T.; Plompen, A. J.; Pritychenko, B.; Pronyaev, V. G.; Roubtsov, D.; Rochman, D.; Romano, P.; Schillebeeckx, P.; Simakov, S.; Sin, M.; Sirakov, I.; Sleaford, B.; Sobes, V.; Soukhovitskii, E. S.; Stetcu, I.; Talou, P.; Thompson, I.; van der Marck, S.; Welser-Sherrill, L.; Wiarda, D.; White, M.; Wormald, J. L.; Wright, R. Q.; Zerkle, M.; Žerovnik, G.; Zhu, Y.

    2018-02-01

    We describe the new ENDF/B-VIII.0 evaluated nuclear reaction data library. ENDF/B-VIII.0 fully incorporates the new IAEA standards, includes improved thermal neutron scattering data and uses new evaluated data from the CIELO project for neutron reactions on 1H, 16O, 56Fe, 235U, 238U and 239Pu described in companion papers in the present issue of Nuclear Data Sheets. The evaluations benefit from recent experimental data obtained in the U.S. and Europe, and improvements in theory and simulation. Notable advances include updated evaluated data for light nuclei, structural materials, actinides, fission energy release, prompt fission neutron and γ-ray spectra, thermal neutron scattering data, and charged-particle reactions. Integral validation testing is shown for a wide range of criticality, reaction rate, and neutron transmission benchmarks. In general, integral validation performance of the library is improved relative to the previous ENDF/B-VII.1 library.

  13. The usefulness of GPS bicycle tracking data for evaluating the impact of infrastructure change on cycling behaviour.

    PubMed

    Heesch, Kristiann C; Langdon, Michael

    2016-02-01

    Issue addressed A key strategy to increase active travel is the construction of bicycle infrastructure. Tools to evaluate this strategy are limited. This study assessed the usefulness of a smartphone GPS tracking system for evaluating the impact of this strategy on cycling behaviour. Methods Cycling usage data were collected from Queenslanders who used a GPS tracking app on their smartphone from 2013-2014. 'Heat' and volume maps of the data were reviewed, and GPS bicycle counts were compared with surveillance data and bicycle counts from automatic traffic-monitoring devices. Results Heat maps broadly indicated that changes in cycling occurred near infrastructure improvements. Volume maps provided changes in counts of cyclists due to these improvements although errors were noted in geographic information system (GIS) geo-coding of some GPS data. Large variations were evident in the number of cyclists using the app in different locations. These variations limited the usefulness of GPS data for assessing differences in cycling across locations. Conclusion Smartphone GPS data are useful in evaluating the impact of improved bicycle infrastructure in one location. Using GPS data to evaluate differential changes in cycling across multiple locations is problematic when there is insufficient traffic-monitoring devices available to triangulate GPS data with bicycle traffic count data. So what? The use of smartphone GPS data with other data sources is recommended for assessing how infrastructure improvements influence cycling behaviour.

  14. Reference-free ground truth metric for metal artifact evaluation in CT images.

    PubMed

    Kratz, Bärbel; Ens, Svitlana; Müller, Jan; Buzug, Thorsten M

    2011-07-01

    In computed tomography (CT), metal objects in the region of interest introduce data inconsistencies during acquisition. Reconstructing these data results in an image with star shaped artifacts induced by the metal inconsistencies. To enhance image quality, the influence of the metal objects can be reduced by different metal artifact reduction (MAR) strategies. For an adequate evaluation of new MAR approaches a ground truth reference data set is needed. In technical evaluations, where phantoms can be measured with and without metal inserts, ground truth data can easily be obtained by a second reference data acquisition. Obviously, this is not possible for clinical data. Here, an alternative evaluation method is presented without the need of an additionally acquired reference data set. The proposed metric is based on an inherent ground truth for metal artifacts as well as MAR methods comparison, where no reference information in terms of a second acquisition is needed. The method is based on the forward projection of a reconstructed image, which is compared to the actually measured projection data. The new evaluation technique is performed on phantom and on clinical CT data with and without MAR. The metric results are then compared with methods using a reference data set as well as an expert-based classification. It is shown that the new approach is an adequate quantification technique for artifact strength in reconstructed metal or MAR CT images. The presented method works solely on the original projection data itself, which yields some advantages compared to distance measures in image domain using two data sets. Beside this, no parameters have to be manually chosen. The new metric is a useful evaluation alternative when no reference data are available.

  15. Data on the sensory evaluation of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) from different areas of Hokkaido, Japan, performed by untrained young adults.

    PubMed

    Sato, Hiroaki; Koizumi, Ryosuke; Nakazawa, Yozo; Yamazaki, Masao; Itoyama, Ryuichi; Ichisawa, Megumi; Negishi, Junko; Sakuma, Rui; Furusho, Tadasu; Sagane, Yoshimasa; Takano, Katsumi

    2017-12-01

    This data article describes a sensory evaluation of potatoes used in food processing from the Tokachi, Kamikawa, and Abashiri geographic areas of Hokkaido, Japan, performed by untrained young adults. We gathered sensory data on potatoes from the four cultivars 'Toyoshiro,' 'Kitahime,' 'Snowden,' and 'Poroshiri.' The sensory evaluation was performed on steamed potatoes from each cultivar; these potatoes were harvested from each of the three geographic areas. Table 1 provides the data from the evaluation of the five basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami), as well as the evaluation of the egumi taste, which is a Japanese term indicating a taste that is acrid, astringent, and slightly bitter.

  16. INTEGRATION OF SPATIAL DATA: EVALUATION OF METHODS BASED ON DATA ISSUES AND ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

    EPA Science Inventory

    EPA's Regional Vulnerability Assessment (ReVA) Program has focused initially on the synthesis of existing data. We have used the same set of spatial data and synthesized these data using a total of 11 existing and newly developed integration methods. These methods were evaluated ...

  17. Chemical kinetics and photochemical data for use in stratospheric modeling: Evaluation number 11

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Demore, W. B.; Sander, S. P.; Golden, D. M.; Hampson, R. F.; Kurylo, M. J.; Howard, C. J.; Ravishankara, A. R.; Kolb, C. E.; Molina, M. J.

    1994-01-01

    This is the eleventh in a series of evaluated sets of rate constants and photochemical cross sections compiled by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation. The primary application of the data is in the modeling of stratospheric processes, with special emphasis on the ozone layer and its possible perturbation by anthropogenic and natural phenomena.

  18. Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use in Stratospheric Modeling. Evaluation No. 12

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    DeMore, W. B.; Sander, S. P.; Golden, D. M.; Hampson, R. F.; Kurylo, M. J.; Howard, C. J.; Ravishankara, A. R.; Kolb, C. E.; Molina, M. J.

    1997-01-01

    This is the twelfth in a series of evaluated sets of rate constants and photochemical cross sections compiled by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation. The primary application of the data is in the modeling of stratospheric processes, with special emphasis on the ozone layer and its possible perturbation by anthropogenic and natural phenomena.

  19. LANDSAT-4 band 6 data evaluation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1983-01-01

    The radiometric integrity of the LANDSAT-D thematic mapper (TM) thermal infrared channel (band 6) data was evaluated to develop improved radiometric preprocessing calibration techniques for removal of atmospheric effects. Primary data analysis was spent in evaluating the line to line and detector to detector variation in the thermal infrared data. The data studied was in the core area of Lake Ontario where very stable temperatures were expected. The detectors and the scan direction were taken as separate parameters and an analysis of variance was conducted. The data indicate that significant variability exists both between detectors and between scan directions.

  20. Aluminum Data Measurements and Evaluation for Criticality Safety Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leal, L. C.; Guber, K. H.; Spencer, R. R.; Derrien, H.; Wright, R. Q.

    2002-12-01

    The Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board (DNFSB) Recommendation 93-2 motivated the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a comprehensive criticality safety program to maintain and to predict the criticality of systems throughout the DOE complex. To implement the response to the DNFSB Recommendation 93-2, a Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) was created including the following tasks: Critical Experiments, Criticality Benchmarks, Training, Analytical Methods, and Nuclear Data. The Nuclear Data portion of the NCSP consists of a variety of differential measurements performed at the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator (ORELA) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), data analysis and evaluation using the generalized least-squares fitting code SAMMY in the resolved, unresolved, and high energy ranges, and the development and benchmark testing of complete evaluations for a nuclide for inclusion into the Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF/B). This paper outlines the work performed at ORNL to measure, evaluate, and test the nuclear data for aluminum for applications in criticality safety problems.

  1. Automated data collection equipment for monitoring highway condition.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2005-06-01

    This study was conducted to evaluate automated vehicle mounted equipment to collect data on the needs of : Oregons highway inventory. Four vendors accepted invitations to evaluate their equipment. Although ODOT had : conducted a similar evaluation...

  2. Development of evaluation models of manpower needs for dismantling the dry conversion process-related equipment in uranium refining and conversion plant (URCP)

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

    Sari Izumo; Hideo Usui; Mitsuo Tachibana

    Evaluation models for determining the manpower needs for dismantling various types of equipment in uranium refining and conversion plant (URCP) have been developed. The models are widely applicable to other uranium handling facilities. Additionally, a simplified model was developed for easily and accurately calculating the manpower needs for dismantling dry conversion process-related equipment (DP equipment). It is important to evaluate beforehand project management data such as manpower needs to prepare an optimized decommissioning plan and implement effective dismantling activity. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has developed the project management data evaluation system for dismantling activities (PRODIA code), which canmore » generate project management data using evaluation models. For preparing an optimized decommissioning plan, these evaluation models should be established based on the type of nuclear facility and actual dismantling data. In URCP, the dry conversion process of reprocessed uranium and others was operated until 1999, and the equipment related to the main process was dismantled from 2008 to 2011. Actual data such as manpower for dismantling were collected during the dismantling activities, and evaluation models were developed using the collected actual data on the basis of equipment classification considering the characteristics of uranium handling facility. (authors)« less

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

    Brown, D. A.; Chadwick, M. B.; Capote, R.

    We describe the new ENDF/B-VIII.0 evaluated nuclear reaction data library. ENDF/B-VIII.0 fully incorporates the new IAEA standards, includes improved thermal neutron scattering data and uses new evaluated data from the CIELO project for neutron reactions on 1H, 16O, 56Fe, 235U, 238U and 239Pu described in companion papers in the present issue of Nuclear Data Sheets. The evaluations benefit from recent experimental data obtained in the U.S. and Europe, and improvements in theory and simulation. Notable advances include updated evaluated data for light nuclei, structural materials, actinides, fission energy release, prompt fission neutron and γ-ray spectra, thermal neutron scattering data, andmore » charged-particle reactions. Integral validation testing is shown for a wide range of criticality, reaction rate, and neutron transmission benchmarks. In general, integral validation performance of the library is improved relative to the previous ENDF/B-VII.1 library.« less

  4. Nuclear Decay Data Evaluations at IFIN-HH, Romania

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

    Luca, A., E-mail: aluca@nipne.ro

    2014-06-15

    An IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on Updated Decay Data Library for Actinides was implemented during the period 2005-2012. The author participated in the CRP, as a representative of the Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH), the Radionuclide Metrology Laboratory. Decay data for five actinide nuclides were evaluated by the author, according to the procedures and rules of the international cooperation Decay Data Evaluation Project (DDEP): {sup 236}U, {sup 234}Th, {sup 228}Ra, {sup 211}Bi and {sup 211}Po. The most important results, conclusions and some recommendations of the evaluator are presented. The IFIN-HH involvement in several newmore » international and national research projects in the field is briefly mentioned; new evaluations and experimental determination of some nuclear decay data (photon absolute emission probability, half-life) for nuclear medicine applications are foreseen.« less

  5. Stakeholder-focused evaluation of an online course for health care providers.

    PubMed

    Dunet, Diane O; Reyes, Michele

    2006-01-01

    Different people who have a stake or interest in a training course (stakeholders) may have markedly different definitions of what constitutes "training success" and how they will use evaluation results. Stakeholders at multiple levels within and outside of the organization guided the development of an evaluation plan for a Web-based training course on hemochromatosis. Stakeholder interests and values were reflected in the type, level, and rigor of evaluation methods selected. Our mixed-method evaluation design emphasized small sample sizes and repeated measures. Limited resources for evaluation were leveraged by focusing on the data needs of key stakeholders, understanding how they wanted to use evaluation results, and collecting data needed for stakeholder decision making. Regular feedback to key stakeholders provided opportunities for updating the course evaluation plan to meet emerging needs for new or different information. Early and repeated involvement of stakeholders in the evaluation process also helped build support for the final product. Involving patient advocacy groups, managers, and representative course participants improved the course and enhanced product dissemination. For training courses, evaluation planning is an opportunity to tailor methods and data collection to meet the information needs of particular stakeholders. Rigorous evaluation research of every training course may be infeasible or unwarranted; however, course evaluations can be improved by good planning. A stakeholder-focused approach can build a picture of the results and impact of training while fostering the practical use of evaluation data.

  6. Suomi NPP VIIRS Ocean Color Data Product Early Mission Assessment

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Turpie, Kevin R.; Robinson, Wayne D.; Franz, Bryan A.; Eplee, Robert E., Jr.; Meister, Gerhard; Fireman, Gwyn F.; Patt, Frederick S.; Barnes, Robert A.; McClain, Charles R.

    2013-01-01

    Following the launch of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the Suomi National Polarorbiting Partnership (NPP) spacecraft, the NASA NPP VIIRS Ocean Science Team (VOST) began an evaluation of ocean color data products to determine whether they could continue the existing NASA ocean color climate data record (CDR). The VOST developed an independent evaluation product based on NASA algorithms with a reprocessing capability. Here we present a preliminary assessment of both the operational ocean color data products and the NASA evaluation data products regarding their applicability to NASA science objectives.

  7. Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use in Atmospheric Studies Evaluation Number 15

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sander, S. P.; Friedl, R. R.; Golden, D. M.; Kurylo, M. J.; Moortgat, G. K.; Wine, P. H.; Ravishankara, A. R.; Kolb, C. E.; Molina, M. J.; Finlayson-Pitts, B. J.; hide

    2006-01-01

    This is the fifteenth in a series of evaluated sets of rate constants and photochemical cross sections compiled by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation. The data are used primarily to model stratospheric and upper tropospheric processes, with particular emphasis on the ozone layer and its possible perturbation by anthropogenic and natural phenomena. Copies of this evaluation are available in electronic form and may be printed from the following Internet URL: http://jpldataeval.jpl.nasa.gov/.

  8. Chemical kinetics and photochemical data for use in stratospheric modeling evaluation Number 8

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Demore, W. B.; Molina, M. J.; Sander, S. P.; Golden, D. M.; Hampson, R. F.; Kurylo, M. J.; Howard, C. J.; Ravishankara, A. R.

    1987-01-01

    This is the eighth in a series of evaluated sets of rate constants and photochemical cross sections compiled by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation. The primary application of the data is in the modeling of stratospheric processes, with particular emphasis on the ozone layer and its possible perturbation by anthropogenic and natural phenomena. Copies of this evaluation are available from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Documentation Section, 111-116B, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, 91109.

  9. Evaluation of three coding schemes designed for improved data communication

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Snelsire, R. W.

    1974-01-01

    Three coding schemes designed for improved data communication are evaluated. Four block codes are evaluated relative to a quality function, which is a function of both the amount of data rejected and the error rate. The Viterbi maximum likelihood decoding algorithm as a decoding procedure is reviewed. This evaluation is obtained by simulating the system on a digital computer. Short constraint length rate 1/2 quick-look codes are studied, and their performance is compared to general nonsystematic codes.

  10. Development and Evaluation of an iPad App for Measuring the Cost of a Nutritious Diet.

    PubMed

    Palermo, Claire; Perera-Schulz, Dharani; Kannan, Anitha; Truby, Helen; Shiell, Alan; Emilda, Sindhu; Quenette, Steve

    2014-12-04

    Monitoring food costs informs governments of the affordability of healthy diets. Many countries have adopted a standardized healthy food basket. The Victorian Healthy Food Basket contains 44 food items necessary to meet the nutritional requirements of four different Australian family types for a fortnight. The aim of this study was to describe the development of a new iPad app as core to the implementation of the Victorian Healthy Food Basket. The app significantly automates the data collection. We evaluate if the new technology enhanced the quality and efficacy of the research. Time taken for data collection and entry was recorded. Semi-structured evaluative interviews were conducted with five field workers during the pilot of the iPad app. Field workers were familiar with previous manual data collection methods. Qualitative process evaluation data was summarized against key evaluation questions. Field workers reported that using the iPad for data collection resulted in increased data accuracy, time savings, and efficient data management, and was preferred over manual collection. Portable digital devices may be considered to improve and extend data collection in the field of food cost monitoring.

  11. Evaluation of driver fatigue on two channels of EEG data.

    PubMed

    Li, Wei; He, Qi-chang; Fan, Xiu-min; Fei, Zhi-min

    2012-01-11

    Electroencephalogram (EEG) data is an effective indicator to evaluate driver fatigue. The 16 channels of EEG data are collected and transformed into three bands (θ, α, and β) in the current paper. First, 12 types of energy parameters are computed based on the EEG data. Then, Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) is introduced to identify the optimal indicator of driver fatigue, after which, the number of significant electrodes is reduced using Kernel Principle Component Analysis (KPCA). Finally, the evaluation model for driver fatigue is established with the regression equation based on the EEG data from two significant electrodes (Fp1 and O1). The experimental results verify that the model is effective in evaluating driver fatigue. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Landsat-4 MSS and Thematic Mapper data quality and information content analysis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Anuta, P. E.; Bartolucci, L. A.; Dean, M. E.; Lozano, D. F.; Malaret, E.; Mcgillem, C. D.; Valdes, J. A.; Valenzuela, C. R.

    1984-01-01

    Landsat-4 Thematic Mapper and Multispectral Scanner data were analyzed to obtain information on data quality and information content. Geometric evaluations were performed to test band-to-band registration accuracy. Thematic Mapper overall system resolution was evaluated using scene objects which demonstrated sharp high contrast edge responses. Radiometric evaluation included detector relative calibration, effects of resampling, and coherent noise effects. Information content evaluation was carried out using clustering, principal components, transformed divergence separability measure, and numerous supervised classifiers on data from Iowa and Illinois. A detailed spectral class analysis (multispectral classification) was carried out on data from the Des Moines, IA area to compare the information content of the MSS and TM for a large number of scene classes.

  13. Research on the use of data fusion technology to evaluate the state of electromechanical equipment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lin, Lin

    2018-04-01

    Aiming at the problems of different testing information modes and the coexistence of quantitative and qualitative information in the state evaluation of electromechanical equipment, the paper proposes the use of data fusion technology to evaluate the state of electromechanical equipment. This paper introduces the state evaluation process of mechanical and electrical equipment in detail, uses the D-S evidence theory to fuse the decision-making layers of mechanical and electrical equipment state evaluation and carries out simulation tests. The simulation results show that it is feasible and effective to apply the data fusion technology to the state evaluation of the mechatronic equipment. After the multiple decision-making information provided by different evaluation methods are fused repeatedly and the useful information is extracted repeatedly, the fuzziness of judgment can be reduced and the state evaluation Credibility.

  14. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 209

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

    Chen, J.; Kondev, F. G.

    2015-05-01

    The experimental data are evaluated for known nuclides of mass number A=209 (Au,Hg,TI,Pb,Bi,Po,At,Rn, Fr,Ra,Ac,Th). Detailed evaluated level properties and related nuclear structure information are presented, with the best values recommended for level energies, half lives, gamma-ray energies and intensities, decay data (energies, intensities and placement of radiations), and other spectroscopic data. This work supersedes the earlier full evaluation of A=209 by M.J. Martin (1991Ma16).

  15. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 209

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

    Chen, J.; Present address: National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824; Kondev, F.G.

    2015-05-15

    The experimental data are evaluated for known nuclides of mass number A = 209 (Au,Hg,Tl,Pb,Bi,Po,At,Rn, Fr,Ra,Ac,Th). Detailed evaluated level properties and related nuclear structure information are presented, with the best values recommended for level energies, half-lives, γ–ray energies and intensities, decay data (energies, intensities and placement of radiations), and other spectroscopic data. This work supersedes the earlier full evaluation of A = 209 by M.J. Martin (1991Ma16)

  16. Nuclear Data Activities in Support of the DOE Nuclear Criticality Safety Program

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Westfall, R. M.; McKnight, R. D.

    2005-05-01

    The DOE Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) provides the technical infrastructure maintenance for those technologies applied in the evaluation and performance of safe fissionable-material operations in the DOE complex. These technologies include an Analytical Methods element for neutron transport as well as the development of sensitivity/uncertainty methods, the performance of Critical Experiments, evaluation and qualification of experiments as Benchmarks, and a comprehensive Nuclear Data program coordinated by the NCSP Nuclear Data Advisory Group (NDAG). The NDAG gathers and evaluates differential and integral nuclear data, identifies deficiencies, and recommends priorities on meeting DOE criticality safety needs to the NCSP Criticality Safety Support Group (CSSG). Then the NDAG identifies the required resources and unique capabilities for meeting these needs, not only for performing measurements but also for data evaluation with nuclear model codes as well as for data processing for criticality safety applications. The NDAG coordinates effort with the leadership of the National Nuclear Data Center, the Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG), and the Working Party on International Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC) of the OECD/NEA Nuclear Science Committee. The overall objective is to expedite the issuance of new data and methods to the DOE criticality safety user. This paper describes these activities in detail, with examples based upon special studies being performed in support of criticality safety for a variety of DOE operations.

  17. Interviewer as instrument: accounting for human factors in evaluation research.

    PubMed

    Brown, Joel H

    2006-04-01

    This methodological study examines an original data collection model designed to incorporate human factors and enhance data richness in qualitative and evaluation research. Evidence supporting this model is drawn from in-depth youth and adult interviews in one of the largest policy/program evaluations undertaken in the United States, the Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Education evaluation (77 districts, 118 schools). When applying the explicit observation technique (EOT)--the strategic and nonjudgmental disclosure of nonverbal human factor cues by the interviewer to the respondent during interview--data revealed the observation disclosure pattern. Here, respondents linked perceptions with policy or program implementation or effectiveness evidence. Although more research is needed, it is concluded that the EOT yields richer data when compared with traditional semistructured interviews and, thus, holds promise to enhance qualitative and evaluation research methods. Validity and reliability as well as qualitative and evaluation research considerations are discussed.

  18. Evaluating the quality and use of economic data in decisions about essential medicines.

    PubMed

    Moucheraud, Corrina; Wirtz, Veronika J; Reich, Michael R

    2015-10-01

    To evaluate the quality of economic data provided in applications to the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines and to evaluate the role of these data in decision-making by the expert committee that considers the applications. We analysed applications submitted to the WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines between 2002 and 2013. The completeness of data on the price and cost-effectiveness of medicines was extracted from application documents and coded using a four-point scale. We recorded whether or not the expert committee discussed economic information and the outcomes of each application. Associations between the completeness of economic data and application outcomes were assessed using χ 2 tests. The expert committee received 134 applications. Only eight applications (6%) included complete price data and economic evaluation data. Many applicants omitted or misinterpreted the economic evaluation section of the application form. Despite the lack of economic data, all applications were reviewed by the committee. There was no significant association between the completeness of economic information and application outcomes. The expert committee tried to address information gaps in applications by further review and analysis of data related to the application. The World Health Organization should revise the instructions to applicants on economic data requirements; develop new mechanisms to assist applicants in completing the application process; and define methods for the use of economic data in decision-making.

  19. Evaluation of a data dictionary system. [information dissemination and computer systems programs

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Driggers, W. G.

    1975-01-01

    The usefulness was investigated of a data dictionary/directory system for achieving optimum benefits from existing and planned investments in computer data files in the Data Systems Development Branch and the Institutional Data Systems Division. Potential applications of the data catalogue system are discussed along with an evaluation of the system. Other topics discussed include data description, data structure, programming aids, programming languages, program networks, and test data.

  20. SMARTE'S SITE CHARACTERIZATION TOOL

    EPA Science Inventory

    Site Characterization involves collecting environmental data to evaluate the nature and extent of contamination. Environmental data could consist of chemical analyses of soil, sediment, water or air samples. Typically site characterization data are statistically evaluated for thr...

  1. Region 9 Superfund Data Evaluation/Validation Guide

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    This guidance document is designed by EPARegion 9 Quality Assurance Office to provide assistance to project officers, Superfund contractors, and Superfund grantees in performing timely data evaluation and/or validation of laboratory data.

  2. Data-Intensive Evaluation: The Concept, Methods, and Prospects of Higher Education Monitoring Evaluation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wang, Zhanjun; Qiao, Weifeng; Li, Jiangbo

    2016-01-01

    Higher education monitoring evaluation is a process that uses modern information technology to continually collect and deeply analyze relevant data, visually present the state of higher education, and provide an objective basis for value judgments and scientific decision making by diverse bodies Higher education monitoring evaluation is…

  3. In situ ozone data for evaluation of the laser absorption spectrometer ozone remote sensor: 1979 southeastern Virginia urban plume study summer field program

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gregory, G. L.; Mcdougal, D. S.; Mathis, J. J., Jr.

    1980-01-01

    Ozone data from the 1979 Southeastern Virginia Urban Study (SEV-UPS) field program are presented. The SEV-UPS was conducted for evaluation of an ozone remote sensor, the Laser Absorption Spectrometer. During the measurement program, remote-sensor evaluation was in two areas; (1) determination of the remote sensor's accuracy, repeatability, and operational characteristics, and (2) demonstration of the application of remotely sensed ozone data in air-quality studies. Data from six experiments designed to provide in situ ozone data for evaluation of the sensor in area 1, above, are presented. Experiments consisted of overflights of a test area with the remote sensor aircraft while in situ measurements with a second aircraft and selected surface stations provided correlative ozone data within the viewing area of the remote sensor.

  4. Coreference Resolution With Reconcile

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-07-01

    evaluation of coreference re- solvers across a variety of benchmark data sets and standard scoring metrics. We describe Reconcile and present experimental... scores vary wildly across data sets, evaluation metrics, and system configurations. We believe that one root cause of these dispar- ities is the high...resolution and empirical evaluation of coreference resolvers across a variety of benchmark data sets and standard scoring metrics. We describe Reconcile

  5. Studies and analyses of the Space Shuttle Main Engine: SSME failure data review, diagnostic survey and SSME diagnostic evaluation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Glover, R. C.; Kelley, B. A.; Tischer, A. E.

    1986-01-01

    The results of a review of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) failure data for the period 1980 through 1983 are presented. The data was collected, evaluated, and ranked according to procedures established during this study. A number of conclusions and recommendations are made based upon this failure data review. The results of a state-of-the-art diagnostic survey are also presented. This survey covered a broad range of diagnostic sensors and techniques and the findings were evaluated for application to the SSME. Finally, a discussion of the initial activities for the on-going SSME diagnostic evaluation is included.

  6. Evaluation of cross sections for neutron-induced reactions in sodium. [10/sup -5/ eV to 20 MeV

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

    Larson, D.C.

    1980-09-01

    An evaluation of the neutron-induced cross sections of /sup 23/Na has been done for the energy range from 10/sup -5/ eV to 20 MeV. All significant cross sections are given, including differential cross sections for production of gamma rays. The recommended values are based on experimental data where available, and use results of a consistent model code analysis of available data to predict cross sections where there are no experimental data. This report describes the evaluation that was submitted to the Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG) for consideration as a part of the Evaluated Nuclear Data File, Version V,more » and subsequently issued as MAT 1311. 126 references, 130 figures, 14 tables.« less

  7. A model of evaluation planning, implementation and management: Toward a ?culture of information? within organizations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhola, H. S.

    1992-03-01

    The argument underlying the ongoing "paradigm shift" from logical positivism to constructionism is briefly laid out. A model of evaluation planning, implementation and management (called the P-I-M Model, for short) is then presented that assumes a complementarity between the two paradigms. The model further implies that for effective decision-making within human organizations, both "evaluative data" and "descriptive data" are needed. "Evaluative data" generated by evaluation studies must, therefore, be undergirded by an appropriate management information system (MIS) that can generate "descriptive data", concurrently with the process of program implementation. The P-I-M Model, if fully actualized, will enable human organizations to become vibrant "cultures of information" where "informed" decision-making becomes a shared norm among all stakeholders.

  8. The upper bound of abutment scour defined by selected laboratory and field data

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Benedict, Stephen; Caldwell, Andral W.

    2015-01-01

    The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, conducted a field investigation of abutment scour in South Carolina and used that data to develop envelope curves defining the upper bound of abutment scour. To expand upon this previous work, an additional cooperative investigation was initiated to combine the South Carolina data with abutment-scour data from other sources and evaluate the upper bound of abutment scour with the larger data set. To facilitate this analysis, a literature review was made to identify potential sources of published abutment-scour data, and selected data, consisting of 446 laboratory and 331 field measurements, were compiled for the analysis. These data encompassed a wide range of laboratory and field conditions and represent field data from 6 states within the United States. The data set was used to evaluate the South Carolina abutment-scour envelope curves. Additionally, the data were used to evaluate a dimensionless abutment-scour envelope curve developed by Melville (1992), highlighting the distinct difference in the upper bound for laboratory and field data. The envelope curves evaluated in this investigation provide simple but useful tools for assessing the potential maximum abutment-scour depth in the field setting.

  9. Fuzzy logic based sensor performance evaluation of vehicle mounted metal detector systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abeynayake, Canicious; Tran, Minh D.

    2015-05-01

    Vehicle Mounted Metal Detector (VMMD) systems are widely used for detection of threat objects in humanitarian demining and military route clearance scenarios. Due to the diverse nature of such operational conditions, operational use of VMMD without a proper understanding of its capability boundaries may lead to heavy causalities. Multi-criteria fitness evaluations are crucial for determining capability boundaries of any sensor-based demining equipment. Evaluation of sensor based military equipment is a multi-disciplinary topic combining the efforts of researchers, operators, managers and commanders having different professional backgrounds and knowledge profiles. Information acquired through field tests usually involves uncertainty, vagueness and imprecision due to variations in test and evaluation conditions during a single test or series of tests. This report presents a fuzzy logic based methodology for experimental data analysis and performance evaluation of VMMD. This data evaluation methodology has been developed to evaluate sensor performance by consolidating expert knowledge with experimental data. A case study is presented by implementing the proposed data analysis framework in a VMMD evaluation scenario. The results of this analysis confirm accuracy, practicability and reliability of the fuzzy logic based sensor performance evaluation framework.

  10. Sports Injury Surveillance Systems: A Review of Methods and Data Quality.

    PubMed

    Ekegren, Christina L; Gabbe, Belinda J; Finch, Caroline F

    2016-01-01

    Data from sports injury surveillance systems are a prerequisite to the development and evaluation of injury prevention strategies. This review aimed to identify ongoing sports injury surveillance systems and determine whether there are gaps in our understanding of injuries in certain sport settings. A secondary aim was to determine which of the included surveillance systems have evaluated the quality of their data, a key factor in determining their usefulness. A systematic search was carried out to identify (1) publications presenting methodological details of sports injury surveillance systems within clubs and organisations; and (2) publications describing quality evaluations and the quality of data from these systems. Data extracted included methodological details of the surveillance systems, methods used to evaluate data quality, and results of these evaluations. Following literature search and review, a total of 15 sports injury surveillance systems were identified. Data relevant to each aim were summarised descriptively. Most systems were found to exist within professional and elite sports. Publications concerning data quality were identified for seven (47%) systems. Validation of system data through comparison with alternate sources has been undertaken for only four systems (27%). This review identified a shortage of ongoing injury surveillance data from amateur and community sport settings and limited information about the quality of data in professional and elite settings. More surveillance systems are needed across a range of sport settings, as are standards for data quality reporting. These efforts will enable better monitoring of sports injury trends and the development of sports safety strategies.

  11. 76 FR 12729 - Cambridge Environmental Inc; Transfer of Data

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-03-08

    ...) and/ or electronic form. Due dates for each data package and/or assessment and/or project shall be...; Transfer of Data AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice... evaluating assessments. This includes evaluating the applicability of the data and methods used in the...

  12. Stochastic performance modeling and evaluation of obstacle detectability with imaging range sensors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Matthies, Larry; Grandjean, Pierrick

    1993-01-01

    Statistical modeling and evaluation of the performance of obstacle detection systems for Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) is essential for the design, evaluation, and comparison of sensor systems. In this report, we address this issue for imaging range sensors by dividing the evaluation problem into two levels: quality of the range data itself and quality of the obstacle detection algorithms applied to the range data. We review existing models of the quality of range data from stereo vision and AM-CW LADAR, then use these to derive a new model for the quality of a simple obstacle detection algorithm. This model predicts the probability of detecting obstacles and the probability of false alarms, as a function of the size and distance of the obstacle, the resolution of the sensor, and the level of noise in the range data. We evaluate these models experimentally using range data from stereo image pairs of a gravel road with known obstacles at several distances. The results show that the approach is a promising tool for predicting and evaluating the performance of obstacle detection with imaging range sensors.

  13. Integrate Data into Scientific Workflows for Terrestrial Biosphere Model Evaluation through Brokers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Y.; Cook, R. B.; Du, F.; Dasgupta, A.; Poco, J.; Huntzinger, D. N.; Schwalm, C. R.; Boldrini, E.; Santoro, M.; Pearlman, J.; Pearlman, F.; Nativi, S.; Khalsa, S.

    2013-12-01

    Terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) have become integral tools for extrapolating local observations and process-level understanding of land-atmosphere carbon exchange to larger regions. Model-model and model-observation intercomparisons are critical to understand the uncertainties within model outputs, to improve model skill, and to improve our understanding of land-atmosphere carbon exchange. The DataONE Exploration, Visualization, and Analysis (EVA) working group is evaluating TBMs using scientific workflows in UV-CDAT/VisTrails. This workflow-based approach promotes collaboration and improved tracking of evaluation provenance. But challenges still remain. The multi-scale and multi-discipline nature of TBMs makes it necessary to include diverse and distributed data resources in model evaluation. These include, among others, remote sensing data from NASA, flux tower observations from various organizations including DOE, and inventory data from US Forest Service. A key challenge is to make heterogeneous data from different organizations and disciplines discoverable and readily integrated for use in scientific workflows. This presentation introduces the brokering approach taken by the DataONE EVA to fill the gap between TBMs' evaluation scientific workflows and cross-organization and cross-discipline data resources. The DataONE EVA started the development of an Integrated Model Intercomparison Framework (IMIF) that leverages standards-based discovery and access brokers to dynamically discover, access, and transform (e.g. subset and resampling) diverse data products from DataONE, Earth System Grid (ESG), and other data repositories into a format that can be readily used by scientific workflows in UV-CDAT/VisTrails. The discovery and access brokers serve as an independent middleware that bridge existing data repositories and TBMs evaluation scientific workflows but introduce little overhead to either component. In the initial work, an OpenSearch-based discovery broker is leveraged to provide a consistent mechanism for data discovery. Standards-based data services, including Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Coverage Service (WCS) and THREDDS are leveraged to provide on-demand data access and transformations through the data access broker. To ease the adoption of broker services, a package of broker client VisTrails modules have been developed to be easily plugged into scientific workflows. The initial IMIF has been successfully tested in selected model evaluation scenarios involved in the NASA-funded Multi-scale Synthesis and Terrestrial Model Intercomparison Project (MsTMIP).

  14. Automated screening of propulsion system test data by neural networks, phase 1

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hoyt, W. Andes; Whitehead, Bruce A.

    1992-01-01

    The evaluation of propulsion system test and flight performance data involves reviewing an extremely large volume of sensor data generated by each test. An automated system that screens large volumes of data and identifies propulsion system parameters which appear unusual or anomalous will increase the productivity of data analysis. Data analysts may then focus on a smaller subset of anomalous data for further evaluation of propulsion system tests. Such an automated data screening system would give NASA the benefit of a reduction in the manpower and time required to complete a propulsion system data evaluation. A phase 1 effort to develop a prototype data screening system is reported. Neural networks will detect anomalies based on nominal propulsion system data only. It appears that a reasonable goal for an operational system would be to screen out 95 pct. of the nominal data, leaving less than 5 pct. needing further analysis by human experts.

  15. A condition metric for Eucalyptus woodland derived from expert evaluations.

    PubMed

    Sinclair, Steve J; Bruce, Matthew J; Griffioen, Peter; Dodd, Amanda; White, Matthew D

    2018-02-01

    The evaluation of ecosystem quality is important for land-management and land-use planning. Evaluation is unavoidably subjective, and robust metrics must be based on consensus and the structured use of observations. We devised a transparent and repeatable process for building and testing ecosystem metrics based on expert data. We gathered quantitative evaluation data on the quality of hypothetical grassy woodland sites from experts. We used these data to train a model (an ensemble of 30 bagged regression trees) capable of predicting the perceived quality of similar hypothetical woodlands based on a set of 13 site variables as inputs (e.g., cover of shrubs, richness of native forbs). These variables can be measured at any site and the model implemented in a spreadsheet as a metric of woodland quality. We also investigated the number of experts required to produce an opinion data set sufficient for the construction of a metric. The model produced evaluations similar to those provided by experts, as shown by assessing the model's quality scores of expert-evaluated test sites not used to train the model. We applied the metric to 13 woodland conservation reserves and asked managers of these sites to independently evaluate their quality. To assess metric performance, we compared the model's evaluation of site quality with the managers' evaluations through multidimensional scaling. The metric performed relatively well, plotting close to the center of the space defined by the evaluators. Given the method provides data-driven consensus and repeatability, which no single human evaluator can provide, we suggest it is a valuable tool for evaluating ecosystem quality in real-world contexts. We believe our approach is applicable to any ecosystem. © 2017 State of Victoria.

  16. EVALUATION OF REGISTRATION, COMPRESSION AND CLASSIFICATION ALGORITHMS

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jayroe, R. R.

    1994-01-01

    Several types of algorithms are generally used to process digital imagery such as Landsat data. The most commonly used algorithms perform the task of registration, compression, and classification. Because there are different techniques available for performing registration, compression, and classification, imagery data users need a rationale for selecting a particular approach to meet their particular needs. This collection of registration, compression, and classification algorithms was developed so that different approaches could be evaluated and the best approach for a particular application determined. Routines are included for six registration algorithms, six compression algorithms, and two classification algorithms. The package also includes routines for evaluating the effects of processing on the image data. This collection of routines should be useful to anyone using or developing image processing software. Registration of image data involves the geometrical alteration of the imagery. Registration routines available in the evaluation package include image magnification, mapping functions, partitioning, map overlay, and data interpolation. The compression of image data involves reducing the volume of data needed for a given image. Compression routines available in the package include adaptive differential pulse code modulation, two-dimensional transforms, clustering, vector reduction, and picture segmentation. Classification of image data involves analyzing the uncompressed or compressed image data to produce inventories and maps of areas of similar spectral properties within a scene. The classification routines available include a sequential linear technique and a maximum likelihood technique. The choice of the appropriate evaluation criteria is quite important in evaluating the image processing functions. The user is therefore given a choice of evaluation criteria with which to investigate the available image processing functions. All of the available evaluation criteria basically compare the observed results with the expected results. For the image reconstruction processes of registration and compression, the expected results are usually the original data or some selected characteristics of the original data. For classification processes the expected result is the ground truth of the scene. Thus, the comparison process consists of determining what changes occur in processing, where the changes occur, how much change occurs, and the amplitude of the change. The package includes evaluation routines for performing such comparisons as average uncertainty, average information transfer, chi-square statistics, multidimensional histograms, and computation of contingency matrices. This collection of routines is written in FORTRAN IV for batch execution and has been implemented on an IBM 360 computer with a central memory requirement of approximately 662K of 8 bit bytes. This collection of image processing and evaluation routines was developed in 1979.

  17. Chemical kinetics and photochemical data for use in stratospheric modeling

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Demore, W. B.; Sander, S. P.; Golden, D. M.; Hampson, R. F.; Kurylo, M. J.; Howard, C. J.; Ravishankara, A. R.; Kolb, C. E.; Molina, M. J.

    1992-01-01

    As part of a series of evaluated sets, rate constants and photochemical cross sections compiled by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation are provided. The primary application of the data is in the modeling of stratospheric processes, with particular emphasis on the ozone layer and its possible perturbation by anthropogenic and natural phenomena. Copies of this evaluation are available from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

  18. Methodological Investigation of the Curriculum Evaluation Theses Completed between the Years 2006-2015 in Turkey

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Aslan, Mecit; Saglam, Mustafa

    2017-01-01

    The aim of this research is to examine postgraduate theses on curriculum evaluation completed between the years 2006-2015 in Turkey in terms of various aspects such as university, year, curriculum which is evaluated, curriculum evaluation model, research method, design, sample type, data collection methods, data analysis technique. In order to…

  19. Final Evaluation Report 1976-77. Systemwide Evaluation. Publication Number: 76.70.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Austin Independent School District, TX. Office of Research and Evaluation.

    A series of reports describes the activities of the Office of Research and Evaluation and compiles data descriptive of the Austin (Texas) Independent School District. This report describes the system-wide evaluation data for the school year 1976-77, which demonstrate improved performance in the basic skills areas of reading and mathematics,…

  20. Quarter System Evaluation. Final Evaluation Report 1975-1976.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Matuszek, Paula A.; And Others

    This evaluation of the quarter system in Austin, Texas, public schools was designed to assess the impact of changes of calendar, curriculum, and other aspects of high school education. The initial first-year evaluation was intended to gather data that could serve as a baseline for examining the long-term effects of these changes. Data were…

  1. Integrating Data Mining in Program Evaluation of K-12 Online Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hung, Jui-Long; Hsu, Yu-Chang; Rice, Kerry

    2012-01-01

    This study investigated an innovative approach of program evaluation through analyses of student learning logs, demographic data, and end-of-course evaluation surveys in an online K-12 supplemental program. The results support the development of a program evaluation model for decision making on teaching and learning at the K-12 level. A case study…

  2. Forging a Strategic and Comprehensive Approach to Evaluation within Public and Nonprofit Organizations: Integrating Measurement and Analytics within Evaluation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Newcomer, Kathryn; Brass, Clinton T.

    2016-01-01

    The "performance movement" has been a subject of enthusiasm and frustration for evaluators. Performance measurement, data analytics, and program evaluation have been treated as different tasks, and those addressing them speak their own languages in their own circles. We suggest that situating performance measurement and data analytics…

  3. EVALUATION OF THE REAL-TIME AIR-QUALITY MODEL USING THE RAPS (REGIONAL AIR POLLUTION STUDY) DATA BASE. VOLUME 4. EVALUATION GUIDE

    EPA Science Inventory

    The theory and programming of statistical tests for evaluating the Real-Time Air-Quality Model (RAM) using the Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS) data base are fully documented in four volumes. Moreover, the tests are generally applicable to other model evaluation problems. Volu...

  4. The Latent Curve ARMA (P, Q) Panel Model: Longitudinal Data Analysis in Educational Research and Evaluation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sivo, Stephen; Fan, Xitao

    2008-01-01

    Autocorrelated residuals in longitudinal data are widely reported as common to longitudinal data. Yet few, if any, researchers modeling growth processes evaluate a priori whether their data have this feature. Sivo, Fan, and Witta (2005) found that not modeling autocorrelated residuals present in longitudinal data severely biases latent curve…

  5. Web-Based Search and Plot System for Nuclear Reaction Data

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

    Otuka, N.; Nakagawa, T.; Fukahori, T.

    2005-05-24

    A web-based search and plot system for nuclear reaction data has been developed, covering experimental data in EXFOR format and evaluated data in ENDF format. The system is implemented for Linux OS, with Perl and MySQL used for CGI scripts and the database manager, respectively. Two prototypes for experimental and evaluated data are presented.

  6. Experimental study of digital image processing techniques for LANDSAT data

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rifman, S. S. (Principal Investigator); Allendoerfer, W. B.; Caron, R. H.; Pemberton, L. J.; Mckinnon, D. M.; Polanski, G.; Simon, K. W.

    1976-01-01

    The author has identified the following significant results. Results are reported for: (1) subscene registration, (2) full scene rectification and registration, (3) resampling techniques, (4) and ground control point (GCP) extraction. Subscenes (354 pixels x 234 lines) were registered to approximately 1/4 pixel accuracy and evaluated by change detection imagery for three cases: (1) bulk data registration, (2) precision correction of a reference subscene using GCP data, and (3) independently precision processed subscenes. Full scene rectification and registration results were evaluated by using a correlation technique to measure registration errors of 0.3 pixel rms thoughout the full scene. Resampling evaluations of nearest neighbor and TRW cubic convolution processed data included change detection imagery and feature classification. Resampled data were also evaluated for an MSS scene containing specular solar reflections.

  7. ENDF/B-VIII.0: The 8 th Major Release of the Nuclear Reaction Data Library with CIELO-project Cross Sections, New Standards and Thermal Scattering Data

    DOE PAGES

    Brown, D. A.; Chadwick, M. B.; Capote, R.; ...

    2018-02-01

    We describe the new ENDF/B-VIII.0 evaluated nuclear reaction data library. ENDF/B-VIII.0 fully incorporates the new IAEA standards, includes improved thermal neutron scattering data and uses new evaluated data from the CIELO project for neutron reactions on 1H, 16O, 56Fe, 235U, 238U and 239Pu described in companion papers in the present issue of Nuclear Data Sheets. The evaluations benefit from recent experimental data obtained in the U.S. and Europe, and improvements in theory and simulation. Notable advances include updated evaluated data for light nuclei, structural materials, actinides, fission energy release, prompt fission neutron and γ-ray spectra, thermal neutron scattering data, andmore » charged-particle reactions. Integral validation testing is shown for a wide range of criticality, reaction rate, and neutron transmission benchmarks. In general, integral validation performance of the library is improved relative to the previous ENDF/B-VII.1 library.« less

  8. Comprehensive analysis and evaluation of big data for main transformer equipment based on PCA and Apriority

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Lijuan; Yan, Haijun; Hao, Yongqi; Chen, Yun

    2018-01-01

    With the power supply level of urban power grid toward high reliability development, it is necessary to adopt appropriate methods for comprehensive evaluation of existing equipment. Considering the wide and multi-dimensional power system data, the method of large data mining is used to explore the potential law and value of power system equipment. Based on the monitoring data of main transformer and the records of defects and faults, this paper integrates the data of power grid equipment environment. Apriori is used as an association identification algorithm to extract the frequent correlation factors of the main transformer, and the potential dependence of the big data is analyzed by the support and confidence. Then, the integrated data is analyzed by PCA, and the integrated quantitative scoring model is constructed. It is proved to be effective by using the test set to validate the evaluation algorithm and scheme. This paper provides a new idea for data fusion of smart grid, and provides a reference for further evaluation of big data of power grid equipment.

  9. ENDF/B-VIII.0: The 8 th Major Release of the Nuclear Reaction Data Library with CIELO-project Cross Sections, New Standards and Thermal Scattering Data

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

    Brown, D. A.; Chadwick, M. B.; Capote, R.

    We describe the new ENDF/B-VIII.0 evaluated nuclear reaction data library. ENDF/B-VIII.0 fully incorporates the new IAEA standards, includes improved thermal neutron scattering data and uses new evaluated data from the CIELO project for neutron reactions on 1H, 16O, 56Fe, 235U, 238U and 239Pu described in companion papers in the present issue of Nuclear Data Sheets. The evaluations benefit from recent experimental data obtained in the U.S. and Europe, and improvements in theory and simulation. Notable advances include updated evaluated data for light nuclei, structural materials, actinides, fission energy release, prompt fission neutron and γ-ray spectra, thermal neutron scattering data, andmore » charged-particle reactions. Integral validation testing is shown for a wide range of criticality, reaction rate, and neutron transmission benchmarks. In general, integral validation performance of the library is improved relative to the previous ENDF/B-VII.1 library.« less

  10. Benchmarking Data Sets for the Evaluation of Virtual Ligand Screening Methods: Review and Perspectives.

    PubMed

    Lagarde, Nathalie; Zagury, Jean-François; Montes, Matthieu

    2015-07-27

    Virtual screening methods are commonly used nowadays in drug discovery processes. However, to ensure their reliability, they have to be carefully evaluated. The evaluation of these methods is often realized in a retrospective way, notably by studying the enrichment of benchmarking data sets. To this purpose, numerous benchmarking data sets were developed over the years, and the resulting improvements led to the availability of high quality benchmarking data sets. However, some points still have to be considered in the selection of the active compounds, decoys, and protein structures to obtain optimal benchmarking data sets.

  11. LANDSAT-4 MSS and Thematic Mapper data quality and information content analysis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Anuta, P.; Bartolucci, L.; Dean, E.; Lozano, F.; Malaret, E.; Mcgillem, C. D.; Valdes, J.; Valenzuela, C.

    1984-01-01

    LANDSAT-4 thematic mapper (TM) and multispectral scanner (MSS) data were analyzed to obtain information on data quality and information content. Geometric evaluations were performed to test band-to-band registration accuracy. Thematic mapper overall system resolution was evaluated using scene objects which demonstrated sharp high contrast edge responses. Radiometric evaluation included detector relative calibration, effects of resampling, and coherent noise effects. Information content evaluation was carried out using clustering, principal components, transformed divergence separability measure, and supervised classifiers on test data. A detailed spectral class analysis (multispectral classification) was carried out to compare the information content of the MSS and TM for a large number of scene classes. A temperature-mapping experiment was carried out for a cooling pond to test the quality of thermal-band calibration. Overall TM data quality is very good. The MSS data are noisier than previous LANDSAT results.

  12. Making Sense of Audit Trail Data

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kennedy, Gregor E.; Judd, Terry S.

    2004-01-01

    In this paper we argue that the use of audit trail data for research and evaluation purposes has attracted scepticism due to real and perceived difficulties associated with the data's interpretation. We suggest that educational technology researchers and evaluators need to better understand how audit trail data can be processed and analysed…

  13. Using linked data to evaluate motor vehicle crashes involving elderly drivers in Connecticut : Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) linked data demonstration project

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1999-09-01

    A deterministic algorithm was developed which allowed data from Department of Transportation motor vehicle crash records, state mortality registry records, and hospital admission and emergency department records to be linked for analysis of the impac...

  14. Watershed and Economic Data InterOperability (WEDO): Facilitating Discovery, Evaluation and Integration through the Sharing of Watershed Modeling Data

    EPA Science Inventory

    Watershed and Economic Data InterOperability (WEDO) is a system of information technologies designed to publish watershed modeling studies for reuse. WEDO facilitates three aspects of interoperability: discovery, evaluation and integration of data. This increased level of interop...

  15. Data Credibility: A Perspective from Systematic Reviews in Environmental Management

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Pullin, Andrew S.; Knight, Teri M.

    2009-01-01

    To use environmental program evaluation to increase effectiveness, predictive power, and resource allocation efficiency, evaluators need good data. Data require sufficient credibility in terms of fitness for purpose and quality to develop the necessary evidence base. The authors examine elements of data credibility using experience from critical…

  16. Developing Best Practices for Detecting Change at Marine Renewable Energy Sites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Linder, H. L.; Horne, J. K.

    2016-02-01

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an evaluation of environmental effects is mandatory for obtaining permits for any Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) project in the US. Evaluation includes an assessment of baseline conditions and on-going monitoring during operation to determine if biological conditions change relative to the baseline. Currently, there are no best practices for the analysis of MRE monitoring data. We have developed an approach to evaluate and recommend analytic models used to characterize and detect change in biological monitoring data. The approach includes six steps: review current MRE monitoring practices, identify candidate models to analyze data, fit models to a baseline dataset, develop simulated scenarios of change, evaluate model fit to simulated data, and produce recommendations on the choice of analytic model for monitoring data. An empirical data set from a proposed tidal turbine site at Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington was used to conduct the model evaluation. Candidate models that were evaluated included: linear regression, time series, and nonparametric models. Model fit diagnostics Root-Mean-Square-Error and Mean-Absolute-Scaled-Error were used to measure accuracy of predicted values from each model. A power analysis was used to evaluate the ability of each model to measure and detect change from baseline conditions. As many of these models have yet to be applied in MRE monitoring studies, results of this evaluation will generate comprehensive guidelines on choice of model to detect change in environmental monitoring data from MRE sites. The creation of standardized guidelines for model selection enables accurate comparison of change between life stages of a MRE project, within life stages to meet real time regulatory requirements, and comparison of environmental changes among MRE sites.

  17. Transient multivariable sensor evaluation

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

    Vilim, Richard B.; Heifetz, Alexander

    A method and system for performing transient multivariable sensor evaluation. The method and system includes a computer system for identifying a model form, providing training measurement data, generating a basis vector, monitoring system data from sensor, loading the system data in a non-transient memory, performing an estimation to provide desired data and comparing the system data to the desired data and outputting an alarm for a defective sensor.

  18. Lazy evaluation of FP programs: A data-flow approach

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

    Wei, Y.H.; Gaudiot, J.L.

    1988-12-31

    This paper presents a lazy evaluation system for the list-based functional language, Backus` FP in data-driven environment. A superset language of FP, called DFP (Demand-driven FP), is introduced. FP eager programs are transformed into DFP lazy programs which contain the notions of demands. The data-driven execution of DFP programs has the same effects of lazy evaluation. DFP lazy programs have the property of always evaluating a sufficient and necessary result. The infinite sequence generator is used to demonstrate the eager-lazy program transformation and the execution of the lazy programs.

  19. Evaluation of thyroid radioactivity measurement data from Hanford workers, 1944--1946

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

    Ikenberry, T.A.

    1991-05-01

    This report describes the preliminary results of an evaluation conducted in support of the Hanford Environmental Dose Reconstruction (HEDR) Project. The primary objective of the HEDR Project is to estimate the radiation doses that populations could have received from nuclear operations at the Hanford Site since 1944. A secondary objective is to make information that HEDR staff members used in estimate radiation doses available to the public. The objectives of this report to make available thyroid measurement data from Hanford workers for the year 1944 through 1946, and to investigate the suitability of those data for use in the HEDRmore » dose estimation process. An important part of this investigation was to provide a description of the uncertainty associated with the data. Lack of documentation on thyroid measurements from this period required that assumptions be made to perform data evaluations. These assumptions introduce uncertainty into the evaluations that could be significant. It is important to recognize the nature of these assumptions, the inherent uncertainty, and the propagation of this uncertainty, and the propagation of this uncertainty through data evaluations to any conclusions that can be made by using the data. 15 refs., 1 fig., 5 tabs.« less

  20. Evaluation of the 235U prompt fission neutron spectrum including a detailed analysis of experimental data and improved model information

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

    Neudecker, Denise; Talou, Patrick; Kahler, Albert Comstock III

    We present an evaluation of the 235U prompt fission neutron spectrum (PFNS) induced by thermal to 20-MeV neutrons. Experimental data and associated covariances were analyzed in detail. The incident energy dependence of the PFNS was modeled with an extended Los Alamos model combined with the Hauser-Feshbach and the exciton models. These models describe prompt fission, pre-fission compound nucleus and pre-equilibrium neutron emissions. The evaluated PFNS agree well with the experimental data included in this evaluation, preliminary data of the LANL and LLNL Chi-Nu measurement and recent evaluations by Capote et al. and Rising et al. However, they are softer thanmore » the ENDF/B-VII.1 (VII.1) and JENDL-4.0 PFNS for incident neutron energies up to 2 MeV. Simulated effective multiplication factors k eff of the Godiva and Flattop-25 critical assemblies are further from the measured k eff if the current data are used within VII.1 compared to using only VII.1 data. However, if this work is used with ENDF/B-VIII.0β2 data, simulated values of k eff agree well with the measured ones.« less

  1. Evaluation of the 235U prompt fission neutron spectrum including a detailed analysis of experimental data and improved model information

    DOE PAGES

    Neudecker, Denise; Talou, Patrick; Kahler, Albert Comstock III; ...

    2017-09-13

    We present an evaluation of the 235U prompt fission neutron spectrum (PFNS) induced by thermal to 20-MeV neutrons. Experimental data and associated covariances were analyzed in detail. The incident energy dependence of the PFNS was modeled with an extended Los Alamos model combined with the Hauser-Feshbach and the exciton models. These models describe prompt fission, pre-fission compound nucleus and pre-equilibrium neutron emissions. The evaluated PFNS agree well with the experimental data included in this evaluation, preliminary data of the LANL and LLNL Chi-Nu measurement and recent evaluations by Capote et al. and Rising et al. However, they are softer thanmore » the ENDF/B-VII.1 (VII.1) and JENDL-4.0 PFNS for incident neutron energies up to 2 MeV. Simulated effective multiplication factors k eff of the Godiva and Flattop-25 critical assemblies are further from the measured k eff if the current data are used within VII.1 compared to using only VII.1 data. However, if this work is used with ENDF/B-VIII.0β2 data, simulated values of k eff agree well with the measured ones.« less

  2. The Paucity Problem: Where Have All the Space Reactor Experiments Gone?

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

    Bess, John D.; Marshall, Margaret A.

    2016-10-01

    The Handbooks of the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) and the International Reactor Physics Experiment Evaluation Project (IRPhEP) together contain a plethora of documented and evaluated experiments essential in the validation of nuclear data, neutronics codes, and modeling of various nuclear systems. Unfortunately, only a minute selection of handbook data (twelve evaluations) are of actual experimental facilities and mockups designed specifically for space nuclear research. There is a paucity problem, such that the multitude of space nuclear experimental activities performed in the past several decades have yet to be recovered and made available in such detail that themore » international community could benefit from these valuable historical research efforts. Those experiments represent extensive investments in infrastructure, expertise, and cost, as well as constitute significantly valuable resources of data supporting past, present, and future research activities. The ICSBEP and IRPhEP were established to identify and verify comprehensive sets of benchmark data; evaluate the data, including quantification of biases and uncertainties; compile the data and calculations in a standardized format; and formally document the effort into a single source of verified benchmark data. See full abstract in attached document.« less

  3. CASMO5 JENDL-4.0 and ENDF/B-VII.1beta4 libraries

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

    Rhodes, J.; Gheorghiu, N.; Ferrer, R.

    2012-07-01

    This paper details the generation of neutron data libraries for the CASMO5 lattice physics code based on the recently released JENDL-4.0 and ENDF/B-VII.1beta4 nuclear data evaluations. This data represents state-of-the-art nuclear data for late-2011. The key features of the new evaluations are briefly described along with the procedure for processing of this data into CASMO5, 586-energy group neutron data libraries. Finally some CASMO5 results for standard UO{sub 2} and MOX critical experiments for the two new libraries and the current ENDF/B-VII.0 CASMO5 library are presented including the B and W 1810 series, DIMPLE S06A, S06B, TCA reflector criticals with ironmore » plates and the PNL-30-35 MOX criticals. The results show that CASMO5 with the new libraries is performing well for these criticals with a very slight edge in results to the JENDL-4.0 nuclear data evaluation over the ENDF/B-VII.1beta4 evaluation. Work is currently underway to generate a CASMO5 library based on the final ENDF/B-VII.R1 evaluation released Dec. 22, 2011. (authors)« less

  4. Evaluation of the 235U prompt fission neutron spectrum including a detailed analysis of experimental data and improved model information

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Neudecker, Denise; Talou, Patrick; Kahler, Albert C.; White, Morgan C.; Kawano, Toshihiko

    2017-09-01

    We present an evaluation of the 235U prompt fission neutron spectrum (PFNS) induced by thermal to 20-MeV neutrons. Experimental data and associated covariances were analyzed in detail. The incident energy dependence of the PFNS was modeled with an extended Los Alamos model combined with the Hauser-Feshbach and the exciton models. These models describe prompt fission, pre-fission compound nucleus and pre-equilibrium neutron emissions. The evaluated PFNS agree well with the experimental data included in this evaluation, preliminary data of the LANL and LLNL Chi-Nu measurement and recent evaluations by Capote et al. and Rising et al. However, they are softer than the ENDF/B-VII.1 (VII.1) and JENDL-4.0 PFNS for incident neutron energies up to 2 MeV. Simulated effective multiplication factors keff of the Godiva and Flattop-25 critical assemblies are further from the measured keff if the current data are used within VII.1 compared to using only VII.1 data. However, if this work is used with ENDF/B-VIII.0β2 data, simulated values of keff agree well with the measured ones.

  5. Use of genomic data in risk assessment case study: I. Evaluation of the dibutyl phthalate male reproductive development toxicity data set

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

    Makris, Susan L., E-mail: makris.susan@epa.gov; Euling, Susan Y.; Gray, L. Earl

    2013-09-15

    A case study was conducted, using dibutyl phthalate (DBP), to explore an approach to using toxicogenomic data in risk assessment. The toxicity and toxicogenomic data sets relative to DBP-related male reproductive developmental outcomes were considered conjointly to derive information about mode and mechanism of action. In this manuscript, we describe the case study evaluation of the toxicological database for DBP, focusing on identifying the full spectrum of male reproductive developmental effects. The data were assessed to 1) evaluate low dose and low incidence findings and 2) identify male reproductive toxicity endpoints without well-established modes of action (MOAs). These efforts ledmore » to the characterization of data gaps and research needs for the toxicity and toxicogenomic studies in a risk assessment context. Further, the identification of endpoints with unexplained MOAs in the toxicity data set was useful in the subsequent evaluation of the mechanistic information that the toxicogenomic data set evaluation could provide. The extensive analysis of the toxicology data set within the MOA context provided a resource of information for DBP in attempts to hypothesize MOAs (for endpoints without a well-established MOA) and to phenotypically anchor toxicogenomic and other mechanistic data both to toxicity endpoints and to available toxicogenomic data. This case study serves as an example of the steps that can be taken to develop a toxicological data source for a risk assessment, both in general and especially for risk assessments that include toxicogenomic data.« less

  6. Data Availability in Appliance Standards and Labeling Program Development and Evaluation

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

    Romankiewicz, John; Khanna, Nina; Vine, Edward

    2013-05-01

    In this report, we describe the necessary data inputs for both standards development and program evaluation and perform an initial assessment of the availability and uncertainty of those data inputs in China. For standards development, we find that China and its standards and labeling program administrators currently has access to the basic market and technical data needed for conducting market and technology assessment and technological and economic analyses. Some data, such as shipments data, is readily available from the China Energy Label product registration database while the availability of other data, including average unit energy consumption, prices and design options,more » needs improvement. Unlike some other countries such as the United States, most of the necessary data for conducting standards development analyses are not publicly available or compiled in a consolidated data source. In addition, improved data on design and efficiency options as well as cost data (e.g., manufacturing costs, mark-ups, production and product use-phase costs) – key inputs to several technoeconomic analyses – are particularly in need given China’s unconsolidated manufacturing industry. For program evaluation, we find that while China can conduct simple savings evaluations on its incentive programs with the data it currently has available from the Ministry of Finance – the program administrator, the savings estimates produced by such an evaluation will carry high uncertainty. As such, China could benefit from an increase in surveying and metering in the next one to three years to decrease the uncertainty surrounding key data points such as unit energy savings and free ridership.« less

  7. Concurrent Formative Evaluation: Guidelines and Implications for Multimedia Designers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Northrup, Pamela Taylor

    1995-01-01

    Discusses formative evaluation for multimedia instruction and presents guidelines for formatively evaluating multimedia instruction concurrent with analysis, design, and development. Data collection criteria that include group involvement, data collection strategies, and information to be gathered are presented, and rapid prototypes and…

  8. MoDOT pavement preservation research program volume IV, pavement evaluation tools-data collection methods.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2015-10-01

    The overarching goal of the MoDOT Pavement Preservation Research Program, Task 3: Pavement Evaluation Tools Data : Collection Methods was to identify and evaluate methods to rapidly obtain network-level and project-level information relevant to :...

  9. Performance evaluation method of electric energy data acquire system based on combination of subjective and objective weights

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gao, Chen; Ding, Zhongan; Deng, Bofa; Yan, Shengteng

    2017-10-01

    According to the characteristics of electric energy data acquire system (EEDAS), considering the availability of each index data and the connection between the index integrity, establishing the performance evaluation index system of electric energy data acquire system from three aspects as master station system, communication channel, terminal equipment. To determine the comprehensive weight of each index based on triangular fuzzy number analytic hierarchy process with entropy weight method, and both subjective preference and objective attribute are taken into consideration, thus realize the performance comprehensive evaluation more reasonable and reliable. Example analysis shows that, by combination with analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and triangle fuzzy numbers (TFN) to establish comprehensive index evaluation system based on entropy method, the evaluation results not only convenient and practical, but also more objective and accurate.

  10. NDEC: A NEA platform for nuclear data testing, verification and benchmarking

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Díez, C. J.; Michel-Sendis, F.; Cabellos, O.; Bossant, M.; Soppera, N.

    2017-09-01

    The selection, testing, verification and benchmarking of evaluated nuclear data consists, in practice, in putting an evaluated file through a number of checking steps where different computational codes verify that the file and the data it contains complies with different requirements. These requirements range from format compliance to good performance in application cases, while at the same time physical constraints and the agreement with experimental data are verified. At NEA, the NDEC (Nuclear Data Evaluation Cycle) platform aims at providing, in a user friendly interface, a thorough diagnose of the quality of a submitted evaluated nuclear data file. Such diagnose is based on the results of different computational codes and routines which carry out the mentioned verifications, tests and checks. NDEC also searches synergies with other existing NEA tools and databases, such as JANIS, DICE or NDaST, including them into its working scheme. Hence, this paper presents NDEC, its current development status and its usage in the JEFF nuclear data project.

  11. A systematic approach for evaluating and scoring human data.

    PubMed

    Money, Chris D; Tomenson, John A; Penman, Michael G; Boogaard, Peter J; Jeffrey Lewis, R

    2013-07-01

    An approach is described for how the quality of human data can be systematically assessed and categorised. The approach mirrors the animal data quality considerations set out by Klimisch et al., in order that human data quality can be addressed in a complementary manner and to help facilitate transparent (and repeatable) weight of evidence comparisons. Definitions are proposed for the quality and adequacy of data. Quality is differentiated into four categories. A description of how the scheme can be used for evaluating data reliability, especially for use when contributing entries to the IUCLID database, is shown. A discussion of how the criteria might also be used when determining overall data relevance is included. The approach is intended to help harmonise human data evaluation processes worldwide. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. A data fusion framework for meta-evaluation of intelligent transportation system effectiveness

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    This study presents a framework for the meta-evaluation of Intelligent Transportation System effectiveness. The framework is based on data fusion approaches that adjust for data biases and violations of other standard statistical assumptions. Operati...

  13. Automated Non-Destructive Testing Array Evaluation System

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

    Wei, T; Zavaljevski, N; Bakhtiari, S

    2004-12-24

    Automated Non-Destructive Testing Array Evaluation System (ANTARES) sofeware alogrithms were developed for use on X-probe(tm) data. Data used for algorithm development and preliminary perfomance determination was obtained for USNRC mock-up at Argone and data from EPRI.

  14. Use of genomic data in risk assessment case study: II. Evaluation of the dibutyl phthalate toxicogenomic data set

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

    Euling, Susan Y., E-mail: euling.susan@epa.gov; White, Lori D.; Kim, Andrea S.

    An evaluation of the toxicogenomic data set for dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and male reproductive developmental effects was performed as part of a larger case study to test an approach for incorporating genomic data in risk assessment. The DBP toxicogenomic data set is composed of nine in vivo studies from the published literature that exposed rats to DBP during gestation and evaluated gene expression changes in testes or Wolffian ducts of male fetuses. The exercise focused on qualitative evaluation, based on a lack of available dose–response data, of the DBP toxicogenomic data set to postulate modes and mechanisms of action formore » the male reproductive developmental outcomes, which occur in the lower dose range. A weight-of-evidence evaluation was performed on the eight DBP toxicogenomic studies of the rat testis at the gene and pathway levels. The results showed relatively strong evidence of DBP-induced downregulation of genes in the steroidogenesis pathway and lipid/sterol/cholesterol transport pathway as well as effects on immediate early gene/growth/differentiation, transcription, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling and apoptosis pathways in the testis. Since two established modes of action (MOAs), reduced fetal testicular testosterone production and Insl3 gene expression, explain some but not all of the testis effects observed in rats after in utero DBP exposure, other MOAs are likely to be operative. A reanalysis of one DBP microarray study identified additional pathways within cell signaling, metabolism, hormone, disease, and cell adhesion biological processes. These putative new pathways may be associated with DBP effects on the testes that are currently unexplained. This case study on DBP identified data gaps and research needs for the use of toxicogenomic data in risk assessment. Furthermore, this study demonstrated an approach for evaluating toxicogenomic data in human health risk assessment that could be applied to future chemicals. - Highlights: ► We evaluate the dibutyl phthalate toxicogenomic data for use in risk assessment. ► We focus on information about the mechanism of action for the developing testis. ► Multiple studies report effects on testosterone and insl3-related pathways. ► We identify additional affected pathways that may explain some testis effects. ► The case study is a template for evaluating toxicogenomic data in risk assessment.« less

  15. Qualification of Daiichi Units 1, 2, and 3 Data for Severe Accident Evaluations - Process and Illustrative Examples from Prior TMI-2 Evaluations

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

    Rempe, Joy Lynn; Knudson, Darrell Lee

    2014-09-01

    The accidents at the Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) and the Daiichi Units 1, 2, and 3 Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) provide unique opportunities to evaluate instrumentation exposed to severe accident conditions. Conditions associated with the release of coolant and the hydrogen burn that occurred during the TMI-2 accident exposed instrumentation to harsh conditions, including direct radiation, radioactive contamination, and high humidity with elevated temperatures and pressures. As part of a program initiated in 2012 by the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE), a review was completed to gain insights from prior TMI-2more » sensor survivability and data qualification efforts. This initial review focused on the set of sensors deemed most important by post-TMI-2 instrumentation evaluation programs. Instrumentation evaluation programs focused on data required by TMI-2 operators to assess the condition of the reactor and containment and the effect of mitigating actions taken by these operators. In addition, prior efforts focused on sensors providing data required for subsequent forensic evaluations and accident simulations. To encourage the potential for similar activities to be completed for qualifying data from Daiichi Units 1, 2, and 3, this report provides additional details related to the formal process used to develop a qualified TMI-2 data base and presents data qualification details for three parameters: primary system pressure; containment building temperature; and containment pressure. As described within this report, sensor evaluations and data qualification required implementation of various processes, including comparisons with data from other sensors, analytical calculations, laboratory testing, and comparisons with sensors subjected to similar conditions in large-scale integral tests and with sensors that were similar in design to instruments easily removed from the TMI-2 plant for evaluations. As documented in this report, results from qualifying data for these parameters led to key insights related to TMI-2 accident progression. Hence, these selected examples illustrate the types of activities completed in the TMI-2 data qualification process and the importance of such a qualification effort. These details are documented in this report to facilitate implementation of similar process using data and examinations at the Daiichi Units 1, 2, and 3 reactors so that BWR-specific benefits can be obtained.« less

  16. Estimating pregnancy-related mortality from census data: experience in Latin America

    PubMed Central

    Queiroz, Bernardo L; Wong, Laura; Plata, Jorge; Del Popolo, Fabiana; Rosales, Jimmy; Stanton, Cynthia

    2009-01-01

    Abstract Objective To assess the feasibility of measuring maternal mortality in countries lacking accurate birth and death registration through national population censuses by a detailed evaluation of such data for three Latin American countries. Methods We used established demographic techniques, including the general growth balance method, to evaluate the completeness and coverage of the household death data obtained through population censuses. We also compared parity to cumulative fertility data to evaluate the coverage of recent household births. After evaluating the data and adjusting it as necessary, we calculated pregnancy-related mortality ratios (PRMRs) per 100 000 live births and used them to estimate maternal mortality. Findings The PRMRs for Honduras (2001), Nicaragua (2005) and Paraguay (2002) were 168, 95 and 178 per 100 000 live births, respectively. Surprisingly, evaluation of the data for Nicaragua and Paraguay showed overreporting of adult deaths, so a downward adjustment of 20% to 30% was required. In Honduras, the number of adult female deaths required substantial upward adjustment. The number of live births needed minimal adjustment. The adjusted PRMR estimates are broadly consistent with existing estimates of maternal mortality from various data sources, though the comparison varies by source. Conclusion Census data can be used to measure pregnancy-related mortality as a proxy for maternal mortality in countries with poor death registration. However, because our data were obtained from countries with reasonably good statistical systems and literate populations, we cannot be certain the methods employed in the study will be equally useful in more challenging environments. Our data evaluation and adjustment methods worked, but with considerable uncertainty. Ways of quantifying this uncertainty are needed. PMID:19551237

  17. Evaluating data mining algorithms using molecular dynamics trajectories.

    PubMed

    Tatsis, Vasileios A; Tjortjis, Christos; Tzirakis, Panagiotis

    2013-01-01

    Molecular dynamics simulations provide a sample of a molecule's conformational space. Experiments on the mus time scale, resulting in large amounts of data, are nowadays routine. Data mining techniques such as classification provide a way to analyse such data. In this work, we evaluate and compare several classification algorithms using three data sets which resulted from computer simulations, of a potential enzyme mimetic biomolecule. We evaluated 65 classifiers available in the well-known data mining toolkit Weka, using 'classification' errors to assess algorithmic performance. Results suggest that: (i) 'meta' classifiers perform better than the other groups, when applied to molecular dynamics data sets; (ii) Random Forest and Rotation Forest are the best classifiers for all three data sets; and (iii) classification via clustering yields the highest classification error. Our findings are consistent with bibliographic evidence, suggesting a 'roadmap' for dealing with such data.

  18. Research on big data risk assessment of major transformer defects and faults fusing power grid, equipment and environment based on SVM

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Lijuan; Yan, Haijun; Gao, Wensheng; Chen, Yun; Hao, Yongqi

    2018-01-01

    With the development of power big data, considering the wider power system data, the appropriate large data analysis method can be used to mine the potential law and value of power big data. On the basis of considering all kinds of monitoring data and defects and fault records of main transformer, the paper integrates the power grid, equipment as well as environment data and uses SVM as the main algorithm to evaluate the risk of the main transformer. It gets and compares the evaluation results under different modes, and proves that the risk assessment algorithms and schemes have certain effectiveness. This paper provides a new idea for data fusion of smart grid, and provides a reference for further big data evaluation of power grid equipment.

  19. Data Selection for Within-Class Covariance Estimation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-09-08

    NIST evaluations to train the within- class and across-class covariance matrices required by these techniques, little attention has been paid to the...multiple utterances from a large population of speakers. Fortunately, participants in NIST evaluations have access to a repository of legacy data from...utterances chosen from previous NIST evaluations. Training data for the UBM and T-matrix was obtained from the NIST Switchboard 2 phases 2-5 and

  20. Research on simulated infrared image utility evaluation using deep representation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Ruiheng; Mu, Chengpo; Yang, Yu; Xu, Lixin

    2018-01-01

    Infrared (IR) image simulation is an important data source for various target recognition systems. However, whether simulated IR images could be used as training data for classifiers depends on the features of fidelity and authenticity of simulated IR images. For evaluation of IR image features, a deep-representation-based algorithm is proposed. Being different from conventional methods, which usually adopt a priori knowledge or manually designed feature, the proposed method can extract essential features and quantitatively evaluate the utility of simulated IR images. First, for data preparation, we employ our IR image simulation system to generate large amounts of IR images. Then, we present the evaluation model of simulated IR image, for which an end-to-end IR feature extraction and target detection model based on deep convolutional neural network is designed. At last, the experiments illustrate that our proposed method outperforms other verification algorithms in evaluating simulated IR images. Cross-validation, variable proportion mixed data validation, and simulation process contrast experiments are carried out to evaluate the utility and objectivity of the images generated by our simulation system. The optimum mixing ratio between simulated and real data is 0.2≤γ≤0.3, which is an effective data augmentation method for real IR images.

  1. A revision of the gamma-evaluation concept for the comparison of dose distributions.

    PubMed

    Bakai, Annemarie; Alber, Markus; Nüsslin, Fridtjof

    2003-11-07

    A method for the quantitative four-dimensional (4D) evaluation of discrete dose data based on gradient-dependent local acceptance thresholds is presented. The method takes into account the local dose gradients of a reference distribution for critical appraisal of misalignment and collimation errors. These contribute to the maximum tolerable dose error at each evaluation point to which the local dose differences between comparison and reference data are compared. As shown, the presented concept is analogous to the gamma-concept of Low et al (1998a Med. Phys. 25 656-61) if extended to (3+1) dimensions. The pointwise dose comparisons of the reformulated concept are easier to perform and speed up the evaluation process considerably, especially for fine-grid evaluations of 3D dose distributions. The occurrences of false negative indications due to the discrete nature of the data are reduced with the method. The presented method was applied to film-measured, clinical data and compared with gamma-evaluations. 4D and 3D evaluations were performed. Comparisons prove that 4D evaluations have to be given priority, especially if complex treatment situations are verified, e.g., non-coplanar beam configurations.

  2. Generalized Nuclear Data: A New Structure (with Supporting Infrastructure) for Handling Nuclear Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mattoon, C. M.; Beck, B. R.; Patel, N. R.; Summers, N. C.; Hedstrom, G. W.; Brown, D. A.

    2012-12-01

    The Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF) format was designed in the 1960s to accommodate neutron reaction data to support nuclear engineering applications in power, national security and criticality safety. Over the years, the scope of the format has been extended to handle many other kinds of data including charged particle, decay, atomic, photo-nuclear and thermal neutron scattering. Although ENDF has wide acceptance and support for many data types, its limited support for correlated particle emission, limited numeric precision, and general lack of extensibility mean that the nuclear data community cannot take advantage of many emerging opportunities. More generally, the ENDF format provides an unfriendly environment that makes it difficult for new data evaluators and users to create and access nuclear data. The Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG) has begun the design of a new Generalized Nuclear Data (or 'GND') structure, meant to replace older formats with a hierarchy that mirrors the underlying physics, and is aligned with modern coding and database practices. In support of this new structure, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has updated its nuclear data/reactions management package Fudge to handle GND structured nuclear data. Fudge provides tools for converting both the latest ENDF format (ENDF-6) and the LLNL Evaluated Nuclear Data Library (ENDL) format to and from GND, as well as for visualizing, modifying and processing (i.e., converting evaluated nuclear data into a form more suitable to transport codes) GND structured nuclear data. GND defines the structure needed for storing nuclear data evaluations and the type of data that needs to be stored. But unlike ENDF and ENDL, GND does not define how the data are to be stored in a file. Currently, Fudge writes the structured GND data to a file using the eXtensible Markup Language (XML), as it is ASCII based and can be viewed with any text editor. XML is a meta-language, meaning that it has a primitive set of definitions for representing hierarchical data/text in a file. Other meta-languages, like HDF5 which stores the data in binary form, can also be used to store GND in a file. In this paper, we will present an overview of the new GND data structures along with associated tools in Fudge.

  3. 38 CFR 1.15 - Standards for program evaluation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... the data. (f) Each program evaluation requires a systematic research design to collect the data necessary to measure the objectives. This research design should conform to the following: (1) Rationale. The research design for each evaluation should contain a specific rationale and should be structured...

  4. Laser/Optical Data Base Products: Evaluation and Selection.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nicholls, Paul Travis

    1988-01-01

    The practical advice for the evaluation of laser/optical data disk materials (e.g., CD-ROM) is based on a review of the relevant literature. An evaluation framework is outlined and collection development tools and sources of published reviews are identified. (34 references) (Author/CLB)

  5. EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE GAUSSIAN PLUME DISPERSION MODELING TECHNIQUES IN ESTIMATING SHORT-TERM SULFUR DIOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS

    EPA Science Inventory

    A routinely applied atmospheric dispersion model was modified to evaluate alternative modeling techniques which allowed for more detailed source data, onsite meteorological data, and several dispersion methodologies. These were evaluated with hourly SO2 concentrations measured at...

  6. Crescent Evaluation : appendix A : on-site analysis of HELP technologies and operations evaluation report

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1994-02-01

    This report describes the data collection procedures, the data analysis methods, and the results gained from the on-site evaluations. The content of the report is as follows: Chapter 2 - State Profiles. This chapter includes descriptions of the organ...

  7. New fit of thermal neutron constants (TNC) for 233,235U, 239,241Pu and 252Cf(sf): Microscopic vs. maxwellian data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pronyaev, Vladimir G.; Capote, Roberto; Trkov, Andrej; Noguere, Gilles; Wallner, Anton

    2017-09-01

    An IAEA project to update the Neutron Standards is near completion. Traditionally, the Thermal Neutron Constants (TNC) evaluated data by Axton for thermal-neutron scattering, capture and fission on four fissile nuclei and the total nu-bar of 252Cf(sf) are used as input in the combined least-square fit with neutron cross section standards. The evaluation by Axton (1986) was based on a least-square fit of both thermal-spectrum averaged cross sections (Maxwellian data) and microscopic cross sections at 2200 m/s. There is a second Axton evaluation based exclusively on measured microscopic cross sections at 2200 m/s (excluding Maxwellian data). Both evaluations disagree within quoted uncertainties for fission and capture cross sections and total multiplicities of uranium isotopes. There are two factors, which may lead to such difference: Westcott g-factors with estimated 0.2% uncertainties used in the Axton's fit, and deviation of the thermal spectra from Maxwellian shape. To exclude or mitigate the impact of these factors, a new combined GMA fit of standards was undertaken with Axton's TNC evaluation based on 2200 m/s data used as a prior. New microscopic data at the thermal point, available since 1986, were added to the combined fit. Additionally, an independent evaluation of TNC was undertaken using CONRAD code. Both GMA and CONRAD results are consistent within quoted uncertainties. New evaluation shows a small increase of fission and capture thermal cross sections, and a corresponding decrease in evaluated thermal nubar for uranium isotopes and 239Pu.

  8. Methodological Considerations for Use of Routine Health Information System Data to Evaluate Malaria Program Impact in an Era of Declining Malaria Transmission

    PubMed Central

    Ashton, Ruth A.; Bennett, Adam; Yukich, Joshua; Bhattarai, Achuyt; Keating, Joseph; Eisele, Thomas P.

    2017-01-01

    Abstract. Coverage of malaria control interventions is increasing dramatically across endemic countries. Evaluating the impact of malaria control programs and specific interventions on health indicators is essential to enable countries to select the most effective and appropriate combination of tools to accelerate progress or proceed toward malaria elimination. When key malaria interventions have been proven effective under controlled settings, further evaluations of the impact of the intervention using randomized approaches may not be appropriate or ethical. Alternatives to randomized controlled trials are therefore required for rigorous evaluation under conditions of routine program delivery. Routine health management information system (HMIS) data are a potentially rich source of data for impact evaluation, but have been underused in impact evaluation due to concerns over internal validity, completeness, and potential bias in estimates of program or intervention impact. A range of methodologies were identified that have been used for impact evaluations with malaria outcome indicators generated from HMIS data. Methods used to maximize internal validity of HMIS data are presented, together with recommendations on reducing bias in impact estimates. Interrupted time series and dose-response analyses are proposed as the strongest quasi-experimental impact evaluation designs for analysis of malaria outcome indicators from routine HMIS data. Interrupted time series analysis compares the outcome trend and level before and after the introduction of an intervention, set of interventions or program. The dose-response national platform approach explores associations between intervention coverage or program intensity and the outcome at a subnational (district or health facility catchment) level. PMID:28990915

  9. Method for automatically evaluating a transition from a batch manufacturing technique to a lean manufacturing technique

    DOEpatents

    Ivezic, Nenad; Potok, Thomas E.

    2003-09-30

    A method for automatically evaluating a manufacturing technique comprises the steps of: receiving from a user manufacturing process step parameters characterizing a manufacturing process; accepting from the user a selection for an analysis of a particular lean manufacturing technique; automatically compiling process step data for each process step in the manufacturing process; automatically calculating process metrics from a summation of the compiled process step data for each process step; and, presenting the automatically calculated process metrics to the user. A method for evaluating a transition from a batch manufacturing technique to a lean manufacturing technique can comprise the steps of: collecting manufacturing process step characterization parameters; selecting a lean manufacturing technique for analysis; communicating the selected lean manufacturing technique and the manufacturing process step characterization parameters to an automatic manufacturing technique evaluation engine having a mathematical model for generating manufacturing technique evaluation data; and, using the lean manufacturing technique evaluation data to determine whether to transition from an existing manufacturing technique to the selected lean manufacturing technique.

  10. Neon-20 depth-dose relations in water

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson, J. W.; Townsend, L. W.; Bidasaria, H. B.; Schimmerling, W.; Wong, M.; Howard, J.

    1984-01-01

    The dose from heavy ion beams has been calculated using a one-dimensional transport theory and evaluated for 670 MeV/amu 20 Ne beams in water. The result is presented so as to be applicable to arbitrary ions for which the necessary interaction data are known. The present evaluation is based on thar Silberg-Tsao fragmentation parameters augmented with light fragment production from intranuclear cascades, recently calculated nuclear absorption cross sections, and evaluated stopping power data. Comparison with recent experimental data obtained at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory reveals the need for more accurate fragmentation data.

  11. Neon-20 depth-dose relations in water

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wilson, J. W.; Townsend, L. W.; Bidasaria, H. B.; Schimmerling, W.; Wong, M.; Howard, J.

    1984-05-01

    The dose from heavy ion beams has been calculated using a one-dimensional transport theory and evaluated for 670 MeV/amu 20 Ne beams in water. The result is presented so as to be applicable to arbitrary ions for which the necessary interaction data are known. The present evaluation is based on thar Silberg-Tsao fragmentation parameters augmented with light fragment production from intranuclear cascades, recently calculated nuclear absorption cross sections, and evaluated stopping power data. Comparison with recent experimental data obtained at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory reveals the need for more accurate fragmentation data.

  12. Use of Genomic Data in Risk Assessment Caes Study: II. Evaluation of the Dibutyl Phthalate Toxicogenomic Dataset

    EPA Science Inventory

    An evaluation of the toxicogenomic data set for dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and male reproductive developmental effects was performed as part of a larger case study to test an approach for incorporating genomic data in risk assessment. The DBP toxicogenomic data set is composed of ni...

  13. Using linked data to evaluate medical and financial outcomes of motor vehicle crashes in Connecticut : Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) linked data demonstration project

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1999-09-01

    A deterministic algorithm was developed which allowed data from Department of Transportation motor vehicle crash records, state mortality registry records, and hospital admission and emergency department records to be linked for analysis of the finan...

  14. PROPOSED STANDARD TO GREATLY EXPAND PUBLIC ACCESS AND EXPLORATION OF TOXICITY DATA: EVALUATION OF STRUCTURE DATA FILE FORMAT

    EPA Science Inventory



    PROPOSED ST ANDARD TO GREA TL Y EXP AND PUBLIC ACCESS AND EXPLORATION OF TOXICITY DATA: EVALUATION OF STRUCTURE DATA FILE FORMAT

    The ability to assess the potential toxicity of environmental, pharmaceutical, or industrial chemicals based on chemical structure in...

  15. 10 CFR 1045.16 - Criteria for evaluation of restricted data and formerly restricted data information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 4 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Criteria for evaluation of restricted data and formerly restricted data information. 1045.16 Section 1045.16 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (GENERAL PROVISIONS) NUCLEAR..., produce nuclear weapons materials, or make other military use of nuclear energy; (4) Whether publication...

  16. 10 CFR 1045.16 - Criteria for evaluation of restricted data and formerly restricted data information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 4 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Criteria for evaluation of restricted data and formerly restricted data information. 1045.16 Section 1045.16 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (GENERAL PROVISIONS) NUCLEAR..., produce nuclear weapons materials, or make other military use of nuclear energy; (4) Whether publication...

  17. 10 CFR 1045.16 - Criteria for evaluation of restricted data and formerly restricted data information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 4 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Criteria for evaluation of restricted data and formerly restricted data information. 1045.16 Section 1045.16 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (GENERAL PROVISIONS) NUCLEAR..., produce nuclear weapons materials, or make other military use of nuclear energy; (4) Whether publication...

  18. 10 CFR 1045.16 - Criteria for evaluation of restricted data and formerly restricted data information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 4 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Criteria for evaluation of restricted data and formerly restricted data information. 1045.16 Section 1045.16 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (GENERAL PROVISIONS) NUCLEAR..., produce nuclear weapons materials, or make other military use of nuclear energy; (4) Whether publication...

  19. 10 CFR 1045.16 - Criteria for evaluation of restricted data and formerly restricted data information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 4 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Criteria for evaluation of restricted data and formerly restricted data information. 1045.16 Section 1045.16 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (GENERAL PROVISIONS) NUCLEAR..., produce nuclear weapons materials, or make other military use of nuclear energy; (4) Whether publication...

  20. Framework for Optimizing the Evaluation of Data From Contaminated Soil in Sweden

    EPA Science Inventory

    The Swedish guidelines for the evaluation of data for the purpose of a risk assessment at contaminated sites are of a qualitative character, as opposed to the USEPA’s Data Quality Objective Process. In Sweden, this can sometimes be a problem because the demands on data quality ar...

  1. Evaluation plan for state gas heating system retrofit pilot programs

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

    Berry, L.; Vineyard, T.

    This report presents a detailed plan for the evaluation of state gas heating system retrofit pilot programs. The major goals of the evaluation procedures are to document the fuel savings and cost effectiveness of (1) the programs implemented by the states and (2) the four retrofit types installed. The major tasks involved in the evaluation include identification of program-eligible households, screening for data quality, assignment of eligible households to treatment or control groups, assembling cost data, collecting pre- and postretrofit consumption data, obtainin pre- and postretrofit weather data, checking for data quality, and analyzing the data. Data analysis relies onmore » the calculation of weather-adjusted normalized annual consumption (NAC) figures for pre- and postretrofit years for treatment and control groups. The differences between the treatment and control groups' NACs for the pre- and postretrofit years are the measure of the program's impact. Cost effectiveness analysis will combine the NAC results with cost data and with a variety of assumptions concerning future fuel prices, retrofit lifetimes, and discount rates to produce benefit/cost indicators.« less

  2. Health data in Ontario: taking stock and moving ahead.

    PubMed

    Iron, Karey

    2006-01-01

    Ontario has been a leader in performance-reporting in clinical areas such as surgery, cardiac care and drug use in the elderly. Data used to report on these areas are readily available for performance evaluation and are of reasonable quality. But other key areas like managing chronic disease and preventive care cannot be fully evaluated because relevant data are either unavailable or of poor quality. A focus on timely access to good quality demographic and vital statistics data would enhance our ability to evaluate components of the Ontario health system. New comprehensive primary care, laboratory services and drug prescriptions data sources are also necessary for health-system evaluation and planning. In the short term, a dedicated, centralized agency with legislative authority is proposed to move Ontario's health information agenda forward in a holistic, strategic and timely manner.

  3. A high-performance spatial database based approach for pathology imaging algorithm evaluation

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Fusheng; Kong, Jun; Gao, Jingjing; Cooper, Lee A.D.; Kurc, Tahsin; Zhou, Zhengwen; Adler, David; Vergara-Niedermayr, Cristobal; Katigbak, Bryan; Brat, Daniel J.; Saltz, Joel H.

    2013-01-01

    Background: Algorithm evaluation provides a means to characterize variability across image analysis algorithms, validate algorithms by comparison with human annotations, combine results from multiple algorithms for performance improvement, and facilitate algorithm sensitivity studies. The sizes of images and image analysis results in pathology image analysis pose significant challenges in algorithm evaluation. We present an efficient parallel spatial database approach to model, normalize, manage, and query large volumes of analytical image result data. This provides an efficient platform for algorithm evaluation. Our experiments with a set of brain tumor images demonstrate the application, scalability, and effectiveness of the platform. Context: The paper describes an approach and platform for evaluation of pathology image analysis algorithms. The platform facilitates algorithm evaluation through a high-performance database built on the Pathology Analytic Imaging Standards (PAIS) data model. Aims: (1) Develop a framework to support algorithm evaluation by modeling and managing analytical results and human annotations from pathology images; (2) Create a robust data normalization tool for converting, validating, and fixing spatial data from algorithm or human annotations; (3) Develop a set of queries to support data sampling and result comparisons; (4) Achieve high performance computation capacity via a parallel data management infrastructure, parallel data loading and spatial indexing optimizations in this infrastructure. Materials and Methods: We have considered two scenarios for algorithm evaluation: (1) algorithm comparison where multiple result sets from different methods are compared and consolidated; and (2) algorithm validation where algorithm results are compared with human annotations. We have developed a spatial normalization toolkit to validate and normalize spatial boundaries produced by image analysis algorithms or human annotations. The validated data were formatted based on the PAIS data model and loaded into a spatial database. To support efficient data loading, we have implemented a parallel data loading tool that takes advantage of multi-core CPUs to accelerate data injection. The spatial database manages both geometric shapes and image features or classifications, and enables spatial sampling, result comparison, and result aggregation through expressive structured query language (SQL) queries with spatial extensions. To provide scalable and efficient query support, we have employed a shared nothing parallel database architecture, which distributes data homogenously across multiple database partitions to take advantage of parallel computation power and implements spatial indexing to achieve high I/O throughput. Results: Our work proposes a high performance, parallel spatial database platform for algorithm validation and comparison. This platform was evaluated by storing, managing, and comparing analysis results from a set of brain tumor whole slide images. The tools we develop are open source and available to download. Conclusions: Pathology image algorithm validation and comparison are essential to iterative algorithm development and refinement. One critical component is the support for queries involving spatial predicates and comparisons. In our work, we develop an efficient data model and parallel database approach to model, normalize, manage and query large volumes of analytical image result data. Our experiments demonstrate that the data partitioning strategy and the grid-based indexing result in good data distribution across database nodes and reduce I/O overhead in spatial join queries through parallel retrieval of relevant data and quick subsetting of datasets. The set of tools in the framework provide a full pipeline to normalize, load, manage and query analytical results for algorithm evaluation. PMID:23599905

  4. Mass Chain Evaluation for A=95

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

    Basu, S.K.; Sonzogni, A.; Basu, Swapan Kr.

    2011-08-01

    A full evaluation of the mass chain A = 95 has been done in the ENSDF format taking into account all the available data until June 2009. Excited states populated by in-beam nuclear reactions and by radioactive decay have been considered. The 'evp' editor, developed at the NNDC, has been used for the evaluation. This mass chain was last evaluated in 1993. Many new and improved data were reported since then. A total of 13 nuclei have been evaluated.

  5. Assessing modelled spatial distributions of ice water path using satellite data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eliasson, S.; Buehler, S. A.; Milz, M.; Eriksson, P.; John, V. O.

    2010-05-01

    The climate models used in the IPCC AR4 show large differences in monthly mean cloud ice. The most valuable source of information that can be used to potentially constrain the models is global satellite data. For this, the data sets must be long enough to capture the inter-annual variability of Ice Water Path (IWP). PATMOS-x was used together with ISCCP for the annual cycle evaluation in Fig. 7 while ECHAM-5 was used for the correlation with other models in Table 3. A clear distinction between ice categories in satellite retrievals, as desired from a model point of view, is currently impossible. However, long-term satellite data sets may still be used to indicate the climatology of IWP spatial distribution. We evaluated satellite data sets from CloudSat, PATMOS-x, ISCCP, MODIS and MSPPS in terms of monthly mean IWP, to determine which data sets can be used to evaluate the climate models. IWP data from CloudSat cloud profiling radar provides the most advanced data set on clouds. As CloudSat data are too short to evaluate the model data directly, it was mainly used here to evaluate IWP from the other satellite data sets. ISCCP and MSPPS were shown to have comparatively low IWP values. ISCCP shows particularly low values in the tropics, while MSPPS has particularly low values outside the tropics. MODIS and PATMOS-x were in closest agreement with CloudSat in terms of magnitude and spatial distribution, with MODIS being the best of the two. As PATMOS-x extends over more than 25 years and is in fairly close agreement with CloudSat, it was chosen as the reference data set for the model evaluation. In general there are large discrepancies between the individual climate models, and all of the models show problems in reproducing the observed spatial distribution of cloud-ice. Comparisons consistently showed that ECHAM-5 is the GCM from IPCC AR4 closest to satellite observations.

  6. Evaluation of Stratospheric Transport in New 3D Models Using the Global Modeling Initiative Grading Criteria

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Strahan, Susan E.; Douglass, Anne R.; Einaudi, Franco (Technical Monitor)

    2001-01-01

    The Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) Team developed objective criteria for model evaluation in order to identify the best representation of the stratosphere. This work created a method to quantitatively and objectively discriminate between different models. In the original GMI study, 3 different meteorological data sets were used to run an offline chemistry and transport model (CTM). Observationally-based grading criteria were derived and applied to these simulations and various aspects of stratospheric transport were evaluated; grades were assigned. Here we report on the application of the GMI evaluation criteria to CTM simulations integrated with a new assimilated wind data set and a new general circulation model (GCM) wind data set. The Finite Volume Community Climate Model (FV-CCM) is a new GCM developed at Goddard which uses the NCAR CCM physics and the Lin and Rood advection scheme. The FV-Data Assimilation System (FV-DAS) is a new data assimilation system which uses the FV-CCM as its core model. One year CTM simulations of 2.5 degrees longitude by 2 degrees latitude resolution were run for each wind data set. We present the evaluation of temperature and annual transport cycles in the lower and middle stratosphere in the two new CTM simulations. We include an evaluation of high latitude transport which was not part of the original GMI criteria. Grades for the new simulations will be compared with those assigned during the original GMT evaluations and areas of improvement will be identified.

  7. Evaluating concentration estimation errors in ELISA microarray experiments

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

    Daly, Don S.; White, Amanda M.; Varnum, Susan M.

    Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a standard immunoassay to predict a protein concentration in a sample. Deploying ELISA in a microarray format permits simultaneous prediction of the concentrations of numerous proteins in a small sample. These predictions, however, are uncertain due to processing error and biological variability. Evaluating prediction error is critical to interpreting biological significance and improving the ELISA microarray process. Evaluating prediction error must be automated to realize a reliable high-throughput ELISA microarray system. Methods: In this paper, we present a statistical method based on propagation of error to evaluate prediction errors in the ELISA microarray process. Althoughmore » propagation of error is central to this method, it is effective only when comparable data are available. Therefore, we briefly discuss the roles of experimental design, data screening, normalization and statistical diagnostics when evaluating ELISA microarray prediction errors. We use an ELISA microarray investigation of breast cancer biomarkers to illustrate the evaluation of prediction errors. The illustration begins with a description of the design and resulting data, followed by a brief discussion of data screening and normalization. In our illustration, we fit a standard curve to the screened and normalized data, review the modeling diagnostics, and apply propagation of error.« less

  8. Evaluating measurement uncertainty in fluid phase equilibrium calculations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    van der Veen, Adriaan M. H.

    2018-04-01

    The evaluation of measurement uncertainty in accordance with the ‘Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement’ (GUM) has not yet become widespread in physical chemistry. With only the law of the propagation of uncertainty from the GUM, many of these uncertainty evaluations would be cumbersome, as models are often non-linear and require iterative calculations. The methods from GUM supplements 1 and 2 enable the propagation of uncertainties under most circumstances. Experimental data in physical chemistry are used, for example, to derive reference property data and support trade—all applications where measurement uncertainty plays an important role. This paper aims to outline how the methods for evaluating and propagating uncertainty can be applied to some specific cases with a wide impact: deriving reference data from vapour pressure data, a flash calculation, and the use of an equation-of-state to predict the properties of both phases in a vapour-liquid equilibrium. The three uncertainty evaluations demonstrate that the methods of GUM and its supplements are a versatile toolbox that enable us to evaluate the measurement uncertainty of physical chemical measurements, including the derivation of reference data, such as the equilibrium thermodynamical properties of fluids.

  9. Ontology Based Quality Evaluation for Spatial Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yılmaz, C.; Cömert, Ç.

    2015-08-01

    Many institutions will be providing data to the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). Current technical background of the NSDI is based on syntactic web services. It is expected that this will be replaced by semantic web services. The quality of the data provided is important in terms of the decision-making process and the accuracy of transactions. Therefore, the data quality needs to be tested. This topic has been neglected in Turkey. Data quality control for NSDI may be done by private or public "data accreditation" institutions. A methodology is required for data quality evaluation. There are studies for data quality including ISO standards, academic studies and software to evaluate spatial data quality. ISO 19157 standard defines the data quality elements. Proprietary software such as, 1Spatial's 1Validate and ESRI's Data Reviewer offers quality evaluation based on their own classification of rules. Commonly, rule based approaches are used for geospatial data quality check. In this study, we look for the technical components to devise and implement a rule based approach with ontologies using free and open source software in semantic web context. Semantic web uses ontologies to deliver well-defined web resources and make them accessible to end-users and processes. We have created an ontology conforming to the geospatial data and defined some sample rules to show how to test data with respect to data quality elements including; attribute, topo-semantic and geometrical consistency using free and open source software. To test data against rules, sample GeoSPARQL queries are created, associated with specifications.

  10. Milestone-specific, Observed data points for evaluating levels of performance (MODEL) assessment strategy for anesthesiology residency programs.

    PubMed

    Nagy, Christopher J; Fitzgerald, Brian M; Kraus, Gregory P

    2014-01-01

    Anesthesiology residency programs will be expected to have Milestones-based evaluation systems in place by July 2014 as part of the Next Accreditation System. The San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC) anesthesiology residency program developed and implemented a Milestones-based feedback and evaluation system a year ahead of schedule. It has been named the Milestone-specific, Observed Data points for Evaluating Levels of performance (MODEL) assessment strategy. The "MODEL Menu" and the "MODEL Blueprint" are tools that other anesthesiology residency programs can use in developing their own Milestones-based feedback and evaluation systems prior to ACGME-required implementation. Data from our early experience with the streamlined MODEL blueprint assessment strategy showed substantially improved faculty compliance with reporting requirements. The MODEL assessment strategy provides programs with a workable assessment method for residents, and important Milestones data points to programs for ACGME reporting.

  11. Study on automatic ECT data evaluation by using neural network

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

    Komatsu, H.; Matsumoto, Y.; Badics, Z.

    1994-12-31

    At the in--service inspection of the steam generator (SG) tubings in Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) plant, eddy current testing (ECT) has been widely used at each outage. At present, ECT data evaluation is mainly performed by ECT data analyst, therefore it has the following problems. Only ECT signal configuration on the impedance trajectory is used in the evaluation. It is an enormous time consuming process. The evaluation result is influenced by the ability and experience of the analyst. Especially, it is difficult to identify the true defect signal hidden in background signals such as lift--off noise and deposit signals. Inmore » this work, the authors performed the study on the possibility of the application of neural network to ECT data evaluation. It was demonstrated that the neural network proved to be effective to identify the nature of defect, by selecting several optimum input parameters to categorize the raw ECT signals.« less

  12. Risk-Assessment for Equipment Operating on the Lunar Surface

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Richmond, R. C.; Kusiak, A.; Ramachandran, N.

    2008-01-01

    Particle-size distribution of lunar dust simulant is evaluated using scanning electron spectroscopy in order to consider approaches to evaluating risk to individual mechanical components operating on the lunar surface. Assessing component risk and risk-mitigation during actual operations will require noninvasive continuous data gathering on numerous parameters. Those data sets would best be evaluated using data-mining algorithms to assess risk, and recovery from risk, of individual mechanical components in real-time.

  13. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 21

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

    Firestone, R.B.

    2015-07-15

    This evaluation of A = 21 has been updated from previous evaluations published in 2004Fi10, 1998En04, 1990En08, and 1978En02. Coverage includes properties of adopted levels and γ-rays, decay-scheme data (energies, intensities and placement of radiations), and cross reference entries. The following tables continue the tradition of showing the systematic relationships between levels in A = 21. Much of the new data in this evaluations were taken directly from the xundl database, compiled under the direction of Balraj Singh, McMaster University. The evaluator is particularly appreciative of the efforts of the xundl compilers.

  14. Evaluation of a Cyber Security System for Hospital Network.

    PubMed

    Faysel, Mohammad A

    2015-01-01

    Most of the cyber security systems use simulated data in evaluating their detection capabilities. The proposed cyber security system utilizes real hospital network connections. It uses a probabilistic data mining algorithm to detect anomalous events and takes appropriate response in real-time. On an evaluation using real-world hospital network data consisting of incoming network connections collected for a 24-hour period, the proposed system detected 15 unusual connections which were undetected by a commercial intrusion prevention system for the same network connections. Evaluation of the proposed system shows a potential to secure protected patient health information on a hospital network.

  15. Teacher Leadership and Teacher Efficacy: A Correlational Study Comparing Teacher Perceptions of Leadership and Efficacy and Teacher Evaluation Scores from the North Carolina Educator Evaluation System

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Guenzler, April M.

    2016-01-01

    This study sought to identify correlations between constructs of teacher leadership, teacher efficacy, and teacher evaluation. Teacher perceptual data of support of teacher leadership, perceptual data on personal teacher efficacy, and teacher self-reported scores from the North Carolina Educator Evaluation System were gathered. The relationships…

  16. AN EVALUATION OF FIVE COMMERCIAL IMMUNOASSAY DATA ANALYSIS SOFTWARE SYSTEMS

    EPA Science Inventory

    An evaluation of five commercial software systems used for immunoassay data analysis revealed numerous deficiencies. Often, the utility of statistical output was compromised by poor documentation. Several data sets were run through each system using a four-parameter calibration f...

  17. High Throughput Exposure Estimation Using NHANES Data (SOT)

    EPA Science Inventory

    In the ExpoCast project, high throughput (HT) exposure models enable rapid screening of large numbers of chemicals for exposure potential. Evaluation of these models requires empirical exposure data and due to the paucity of human metabolism/exposure data such evaluations includ...

  18. Evaluation of Options for Interpreting Environmental ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Report Secondary data from the BioResponse Operational Testing and Evaluation project were used to study six options for interpreting culture-based/microbial count data sets that include left censored data, or measurements that are less than established quantification limits and/or detection limits.

  19. Evaluation of the locations of Kentucky's traffic crash data.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-11-01

    An evaluation of a random sample of crashes from 2009 was performed to assess the current accuracy of the crash data's location information.The location of the crash was compared to the presumed location using several report data elements such as nea...

  20. Space Physics Cosmic & Heliospheric Data Evaluation Panel Report

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    McGuiere, R. E.; Cooper, J.; Gazis, P.; Kurth, W.; Lazarus, A.; McDonald, F.; McNutt, R.; Pyle, R.; Tsurutani, B. T.

    1995-01-01

    This Cosmic and Heliospheric (C&H) Data Evaluation Panel was charged with the task of identifying and prioritizing important C&H data sets. It was requested to provide C&H community input to the Space Physics Division for a program of revitalizing data holdings. Details and recommendations are provided. Highest C&H priority is assigned to Voyager, Pioneer, Helios, IMP-8, and ISEE-3 data.

  1. Clinical study of the Erlanger silver catheter--data management and biometry.

    PubMed

    Martus, P; Geis, C; Lugauer, S; Böswald, M; Guggenbichler, J P

    1999-01-01

    The clinical evaluation of venous catheters for catheter-induced infections must conform to a strict biometric methodology. The statistical planning of the study (target population, design, degree of blinding), data management (database design, definition of variables, coding), quality assurance (data inspection at several levels) and the biometric evaluation of the Erlanger silver catheter project are described. The three-step data flow included: 1) primary data from the hospital, 2) relational database, 3) files accessible for statistical evaluation. Two different statistical models were compared: analyzing the first catheter only of a patient in the analysis (independent data) and analyzing several catheters from the same patient (dependent data) by means of the generalized estimating equations (GEE) method. The main result of the study was based on the comparison of both statistical models.

  2. Best Practices in the Evaluation of Large-scale STEM-focused Events: A Review of Recent Literature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shebby, S.; Cobb, W. H.; Buxner, S.; Shipp, S. S.

    2015-12-01

    Each year, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sponsors a variety of educational events to share information with educators, students, and the general public. Intended outcomes of these events include increased interest in and awareness of the mission and goals of NASA. Events range in size from relatively small family science nights at a local school to large-scale mission and celestial event celebrations involving thousands of members of the general public. To support community members in designing event evaluations, the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Planetary Science Forum sponsored the creation of a Best Practices Guide. The guide was generated by reviewing published large-scale event evaluation reports; however, the best practices described within are pertinent for all event organizers and evaluators regardless of event size. Each source included in the guide identified numerous challenges to conducting their event evaluation. These included difficulty in identifying extant instruments or items, collecting representative data, and disaggregating data to inform different evaluation questions. Overall, the guide demonstrates that evaluations of the large-scale events are generally done at a very basic level, with the types of data collected limited to observable demographic information and participant reactions collected via online survey. In addition to these findings, this presentation will describe evaluation best practices that will help practitioners move beyond these basic indicators and examine how to make the evaluation process an integral—and valuable—element of event planning, ultimately informing event outcomes and impacts. It will provide detailed information on five recommendations presented in the guide: 1) consider evaluation methodology, including data analysis, in advance; 2) design data collection instruments well in advance of the event; 3) collect data at different times and from multiple sources; 4) use technology to make the job easier; and 5) be aware of how challenging it is to measure impact.

  3. Evaluation of SLAR and thematic mapper MSS data for forest cover mapping using computer-aided analysis techniques

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hoffer, R. M. (Principal Investigator); Knowlton, D. J.; Dean, M. E.

    1981-01-01

    A set of training statistics for the 30 meter resolution simulated thematic mapper MSS data was generated based on land use/land cover classes. In addition to this supervised data set, a nonsupervised multicluster block of training statistics is being defined in order to compare the classification results and evaluate the effect of the different training selection methods on classification performance. Two test data sets, defined using a stratified sampling procedure incorporating a grid system with dimensions of 50 lines by 50 columns, and another set based on an analyst supervised set of test fields were used to evaluate the classifications of the TMS data. The supervised training data set generated training statistics, and a per point Gaussian maximum likelihood classification of the 1979 TMS data was obtained. The August 1980 MSS data was radiometrically adjusted. The SAR data was redigitized and the SAR imagery was qualitatively analyzed.

  4. Evaluating performance of risk identification methods through a large-scale simulation of observational data.

    PubMed

    Ryan, Patrick B; Schuemie, Martijn J

    2013-10-01

    There has been only limited evaluation of statistical methods for identifying safety risks of drug exposure in observational healthcare data. Simulations can support empirical evaluation, but have not been shown to adequately model the real-world phenomena that challenge observational analyses. To design and evaluate a probabilistic framework (OSIM2) for generating simulated observational healthcare data, and to use this data for evaluating the performance of methods in identifying associations between drug exposure and health outcomes of interest. Seven observational designs, including case-control, cohort, self-controlled case series, and self-controlled cohort design were applied to 399 drug-outcome scenarios in 6 simulated datasets with no effect and injected relative risks of 1.25, 1.5, 2, 4, and 10, respectively. Longitudinal data for 10 million simulated patients were generated using a model derived from an administrative claims database, with associated demographics, periods of drug exposure derived from pharmacy dispensings, and medical conditions derived from diagnoses on medical claims. Simulation validation was performed through descriptive comparison with real source data. Method performance was evaluated using Area Under ROC Curve (AUC), bias, and mean squared error. OSIM2 replicates prevalence and types of confounding observed in real claims data. When simulated data are injected with relative risks (RR) ≥ 2, all designs have good predictive accuracy (AUC > 0.90), but when RR < 2, no methods achieve 100 % predictions. Each method exhibits a different bias profile, which changes with the effect size. OSIM2 can support methodological research. Results from simulation suggest method operating characteristics are far from nominal properties.

  5. Comprehensive planning of data archive in Japanese planetary missions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yamamoto, Yukio; Shinohara, Iku; Hoshino, Hirokazu; Tateno, Naoki; Hareyama, Makoto; Okada, Naoki; Ebisawa, Ken

    Comprehensive planning of data archive in Japanese planetary missions Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) provides HAYABUSA and KAGUYA data as planetary data archives. These data archives, however, were prepared independently. Therefore the inconsistency of data format has occurred, and the knowledge of data archiving activity is not inherited. Recently, the discussion of comprehensive planning of data archive has started to prepare up-coming planetary missions, which indicates the comprehensive plan of data archive is required in several steps. The framework of the comprehensive plan is divided into four items: Preparation, Evaluation, Preservation, and Service. 1. PREPARATION FRAMEWORK Data is classified into several types: raw data, level-0, 1, 2 processing data, ancillary data, and etc. The task of mission data preparation is responsible for instrument teams, but preparations beside mission data and support of data management are essential to make unified conventions and formats over instruments in a mission, and over missions. 2. EVALUATION FRAMEWORK There are two meanings of evaluation: format and quality. The format evaluation is often discussed in the preparation framework. The data quality evaluation which is often called quality assurance (QA) or quality control (QC) must be performed by third party apart from preparation teams. An instrument team has the initiative for the preparation itself, and the third-party group is organized to evaluate the instrument team's activity. 3. PRESERVATION FRAMEWORK The main topic of this framework is document management, archiving structure, and simple access method. The mission produces many documents in the process of the development. Instrument de-velopment is no exception. During long-term development of a mission, many documents are obsoleted and updated repeatedly. A smart system will help instrument team to reduce some troubles of document management and archiving task. JAXA attempts to follow PDS manners to do this management since PDS has highly sophisticated archiving structure. In addition, the access method to archived data must be simple and standard well over a decade. 4. SERVICE FRAMEWORK The service framework including planetary data access protocol, PDAP, has been developed to share a stored data effectively. The sophisticated service framework will work not only for publication data, but also for low-level data. JAXA's data query services is under developed based on PDAP, which means that the low-level data can be published in the same manner as level 2 data. In this presentation, we report the detail structure of these four frameworks adopting upcoming Planet-C, Venus Climate Orbiter, mission.

  6. Vocational Guidance Institutes 1966. Evaluation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Plans for Progress, Washington, DC.

    Presented here is a detailed summation of the evaluation of 17 Vocational Guidance Institutes initiated, promoted, and supported by Plans for Progress. The data used for evaluation included an analysis of proposals and other pre-institute material, survey data from trainers and participants in the institute, and material resulting from on-site…

  7. Air Traffic Control Experimentation and Evaluation with the NASA ATS-6 Satellite : Volume 6. Modem Evaluation Test

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1976-09-01

    Results of performance evaluation of voice, digital data and ranging modems in the aeronautical satellite environment are given. Approximately 80 hours of modem performance data were acquired on board an FAA KC-135 jet aircraft operating over the Nor...

  8. 78 FR 62637 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-10-22

    ...- Component Evaluation--Data Collection Related to the Design and Implementation Study. OMB No.: 0970-0398. Description: The Office of Data Analysis, Research, and Evaluation (HHS/ACF/ACYF/ODARE) in the Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) and the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (HHS/ACF...

  9. Teacher Evaluation in Colorado: How Policy Frustrates Practice

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ramirez, Al; Clouse, Wendi; Davis, Kristyn White

    2014-01-01

    This article is a report of a study that used data from multiple sources to explore the hypothesis that systemic barriers inherent in Colorado's teacher evaluation policies often contribute to ineffective teacher evaluations across the state. Data were collected from extant studies, focus groups, and surveys of teachers, site administrators/head…

  10. The evaluator as technical assistant: A model for systemic reform support

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Century, Jeanne Rose

    This study explored evaluation of systemic reform. Specifically, it focused on the evaluation of a systemic effort to improve K-8 science, mathematics and technology education. The evaluation was of particular interest because it used both technical assistance and evaluation strategies. Through studying the combination of these roles, this investigation set out to increase understanding of potentially new evaluator roles, distinguish important characteristics of the evaluator/project participant relationship, and identify how these roles and characteristics contribute to effective evaluation of systemic science education reform. This qualitative study used interview, document analysis, and participant observation as methods of data collection. Interviews were conducted with project leaders, project participants, and evaluators and focused on the evaluation strategies and process, the use of the evaluation, and technical assistance. Documents analyzed included transcripts of evaluation team meetings and reports, memoranda and other print materials generated by the project leaders and the evaluators. Data analysis consisted of analytic and interpretive procedures consistent with the qualitative data collected and entailed a combined process of coding transcripts of interviews and meetings, field notes, and other documents; analyzing and organizing findings; writing of reflective and analytic memos; and designing and diagramming conceptual relationships. The data analysis resulted in the development of the Multi-Function Model for Systemic Reform Support. This model organizes systemic reform support into three functions: evaluation, technical assistance, and a third, named here as "systemic perspective." These functions work together to support the project's educational goals as well as a larger goal--building capacity in project participants. This model can now serve as an informed starting point or "blueprint" for strategically supporting systemic reform.

  11. Data-Based Personnel Decisions: Baker Middle's Intensive Support List

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hewitt, Kimberly Kappler; Chopin, Scarlet Lilian

    2015-01-01

    Focused on the use of teacher evaluation data, this case was designed for use in two principal licensure courses, one on data literacy and the other on supervision and personnel. The principal of Baker Middle School has been instructed by the superintendent to use data from the state's new teacher evaluation system to determine which teachers…

  12. Evaluation of ERTS-1 data for acquiring land use data of northern Megalopolis. [New England

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Simpson, R. B.; Lindgren, D. T.; Goldstein, W. D.

    1974-01-01

    State planners are increasingly becoming interested in ERTS as a possible method for acquiring land use data. An important consideration to them is whether ERTS can provide such data at a savings in both time and money over alternative systems. A preliminary evaluation of ERTS as a planning tool is given.

  13. Big Data Analytics Methodology in the Financial Industry

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lawler, James; Joseph, Anthony

    2017-01-01

    Firms in industry continue to be attracted by the benefits of Big Data Analytics. The benefits of Big Data Analytics projects may not be as evident as frequently indicated in the literature. The authors of the study evaluate factors in a customized methodology that may increase the benefits of Big Data Analytics projects. Evaluating firms in the…

  14. The OPERA trial: a protocol for the process evaluation of a randomised trial of an exercise intervention for older people in residential and nursing accommodation

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background The OPERA trial is large cluster randomised trial testing a physical activity intervention to address depression amongst people living in nursing and residential homes for older people. A process evaluation was commissioned alongside the trial and we report the protocol for this process evaluation. Challenges included the cognitive and physical ability of the participants, the need to respect the privacy of all home residents, including study non-participants, and the physical structure of the homes. Evaluation activity had to be organised around the structured timetable of homes, leaving limited opportunities for data collection. The aims of this process evaluation are to provide findings that will assist in the interpretation of the clinical trial results, and to inform potential implementation of the physical activity intervention on a wider scale. Methods/design Quantitative data on recruitment of homes and individuals is being collected. For homes in the intervention arm, data on dose and fidelity of the intervention delivered; including individual rates of participation in exercise classes are collected. In the control homes, uptake and delivery of depression awareness training is monitored. These data will be combined with qualitative data from an in-depth study of a purposive sample of eight homes (six intervention and two control). Discussion Although process evaluations are increasingly funded alongside trials, it is still rare to see the findings published, and even rarer to see the protocol for such an evaluation published. Process evaluations have the potential to assist in interpreting and understanding trial results as well as informing future roll-outs of interventions. If such evaluations are funded they should also be reported and reviewed in a similar way to the trial outcome evaluation. Trial Registration ISRCTN No: ISRCTN43769277 PMID:21288341

  15. The AME2016 atomic mass evaluation (I). Evaluation of input data; and adjustment procedures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, W. J.; Audi, G.; Wang, Meng; Kondev, F. G.; Naimi, S.; Xu, Xing

    2017-03-01

    This paper is the first of two articles (Part I and Part II) that presents the results of the new atomic mass evaluation, AME2016. It includes complete information on the experimental input data (also including unused and rejected ones), as well as details on the evaluation procedures used to derive the tables of recommended values given in the second part. This article describes the evaluation philosophy and procedures that were implemented in the selection of specific nuclear reaction, decay and mass-spectrometric results. These input values were entered in the least-squares adjustment for determining the best values for the atomic masses and their uncertainties. Details of the calculation and particularities of the AME are then described. All accepted and rejected data, including outweighted ones, are presented in a tabular format and compared with the adjusted values obtained using the least-squares fit analysis. Differences with the previous AME2012 evaluation are discussed and specific information is presented for several cases that may be of interest to AME users. The second AME2016 article gives a table with the recommended values of atomic masses, as well as tables and graphs of derived quantities, along with the list of references used in both the AME2016 and the NUBASE2016 evaluations (the first paper in this issue). AMDC: http://amdc.impcas.ac.cn/ Contents The AME2016 atomic mass evaluation (I). Evaluation of input data; and adjustment proceduresAcrobat PDF (1.2 MB) Table I. Input data compared with adjusted valuesAcrobat PDF (1.3 MB)

  16. Evaluating a Satellite-derived Time Series of Inundation Dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Matthews, E.; Papa, F.; Prigent, C.; McDonald, K.

    2006-12-01

    A new data set of inundation dynamics derived from a suite of satellites (Prigent et al.; Papa et al.) provides the first global, multi-year observations of monthly inundation extent. Initial global and regional evaluation of the data set using data on wetland/vegetation distributions from traditional and remote-sensing sources, GCPC rainfall, and altimeter-derived river heights indicates reasonable spatial distributions and seasonality. We extend the evaluation of this new data set - using independent multi-date, high-resolution satellite observations of inundated ecosystems and freeze-thaw dynamics, as well as climate data - focusing on a variety of boreal and tropical ecosystems representative of global wetlands. The goal is to investigate the strengths of the new data set, and develop strategies for improving weaknesses where identified.

  17. Evaluation readiness: improved evaluation planning using a data inventory framework.

    PubMed

    Cohen, A B; Hall, K C; Cohodes, D R

    1985-01-01

    Factors intrinsic to many programs, such as ambiguously stated objectives, inadequately defined performance measures, and incomplete or unreliable databases, often conspire to limit the evaluability of these programs. Current evaluation planning approaches are somewhat constrained in their ability to overcome these obstacles and to achieve full preparedness for evaluation. In this paper, the concept of evaluation readiness is introduced as a complement to other evaluation planning approaches, most notably that of evaluability assessment. The basic products of evaluation readiness--the formal program definition and the data inventory framework--are described, along with a guide for assuring more timely and appropriate evaluation response capability to support the decision making needs of program managers. The utility of evaluation readiness for program planning, as well as for effective management, is also discussed.

  18. The CCONE Code System and its Application to Nuclear Data Evaluation for Fission and Other Reactions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Iwamoto, O.; Iwamoto, N.; Kunieda, S.; Minato, F.; Shibata, K.

    2016-01-01

    A computer code system, CCONE, was developed for nuclear data evaluation within the JENDL project. The CCONE code system integrates various nuclear reaction models needed to describe nucleon, light charged nuclei up to alpha-particle and photon induced reactions. The code is written in the C++ programming language using an object-oriented technology. At first, it was applied to neutron-induced reaction data on actinides, which were compiled into JENDL Actinide File 2008 and JENDL-4.0. It has been extensively used in various nuclear data evaluations for both actinide and non-actinide nuclei. The CCONE code has been upgraded to nuclear data evaluation at higher incident energies for neutron-, proton-, and photon-induced reactions. It was also used for estimating β-delayed neutron emission. This paper describes the CCONE code system indicating the concept and design of coding and inputs. Details of the formulation for modelings of the direct, pre-equilibrium and compound reactions are presented. Applications to the nuclear data evaluations such as neutron-induced reactions on actinides and medium-heavy nuclei, high-energy nucleon-induced reactions, photonuclear reaction and β-delayed neutron emission are mentioned.

  19. Model Evaluation of Continuous Data Pharmacometric Models: Metrics and Graphics

    PubMed Central

    Nguyen, THT; Mouksassi, M‐S; Holford, N; Al‐Huniti, N; Freedman, I; Hooker, AC; John, J; Karlsson, MO; Mould, DR; Pérez Ruixo, JJ; Plan, EL; Savic, R; van Hasselt, JGC; Weber, B; Zhou, C; Comets, E

    2017-01-01

    This article represents the first in a series of tutorials on model evaluation in nonlinear mixed effect models (NLMEMs), from the International Society of Pharmacometrics (ISoP) Model Evaluation Group. Numerous tools are available for evaluation of NLMEM, with a particular emphasis on visual assessment. This first basic tutorial focuses on presenting graphical evaluation tools of NLMEM for continuous data. It illustrates graphs for correct or misspecified models, discusses their pros and cons, and recalls the definition of metrics used. PMID:27884052

  20. CSEWG

    Science.gov Websites

    Nuclear Data Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC) Nuclear Reaction Data Centers, NRDC (IAEA Vienna) EMPIRE , Nuclear Reaction Model Code Atlas of Neutron Resonances The Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG

  1. A field evaluation of data link flight information services for general aviation pilots

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1997-02-01

    This report documents a field study of Data Link Flight Information Services : (FIS) designed for use by general aviation (GA) pilots. The Data Link FIS : package that was evaluated in this study included the Traffic Information : Service (TIS), Text...

  2. Controller Evaluation of Initial Data Link Air Traffic Control Services, Mini Study 1, Volume 2

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1988-09-01

    This report details the results of Mini Study 1. This mini study was conducted : at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center utilizing the Data : Link testbed. Initial Data Link air traffic control services were evaluated : under pa...

  3. An approach for utilizing clinical statements in HL7 RIM to evaluate eligibility criteria.

    PubMed

    Bache, Richard; Daniel, Christel; James, Julie; Hussain, Sajjad; McGilchrist, Mark; Delaney, Brendan; Taweel, Adel

    2014-01-01

    The HL7 RIM (Reference Information Model) is a commonly used standard for the exchange of clinical data and can be employed for integrating the patient care and clinical research domains. Yet it is not sufficiently well specified to ensure a canonical representation of structured clinical data when used for the automated evaluation of eligibility criteria from a clinical trial protocol. We present an approach to further constrain the RIM to create a common information model to hold clinical data. In order to demonstrate our approach, we identified 132 distinct data elements from 10 rich clinical trails. We then defined a taxonomy to (i) identify the types of data elements that would need to be stored and (ii) define the types of predicate that would be used to evaluate them. This informed the definition of a pattern used to represent the data, which was shown to be sufficient for storing and evaluating the clinical statements required by the trials.

  4. [Similarity system theory to evaluate similarity of chromatographic fingerprints of traditional Chinese medicine].

    PubMed

    Liu, Yongsuo; Meng, Qinghua; Jiang, Shumin; Hu, Yuzhu

    2005-03-01

    The similarity evaluation of the fingerprints is one of the most important problems in the quality control of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Similarity measures used to evaluate the similarity of the common peaks in the chromatogram of TCM have been discussed. Comparative studies were carried out among correlation coefficient, cosine of the angle and an improved extent similarity method using simulated data and experimental data. Correlation coefficient and cosine of the angle are not sensitive to the differences of the data set. They are still not sensitive to the differences of the data even after normalization. According to the similarity system theory, an improved extent similarity method was proposed. The improved extent similarity is more sensitive to the differences of the data sets than correlation coefficient and cosine of the angle. And the character of the data sets needs not to be changed compared with log-transformation. The improved extent similarity can be used to evaluate the similarity of the chromatographic fingerprints of TCM.

  5. A Process and Outcomes Evaluation of the International AIDS Conference: Who Attends? Who Benefits Most?

    PubMed Central

    Lalonde, Bernadette; Wolvaardt, Jacqueline E.; Webb, Elize M; Tournas-Hardt, Amy

    2007-01-01

    The objective of the study was to conduct a process and outcomes evaluation of the International AIDS Conference (IAC). Reaction evaluation data are presented from a delegate survey distributed at the 2004 IAC held in Thailand. Input and output data from the Thailand IAC are compared to data from previous IACs to ascertain attendance and reaction trends, which delegates benefit most, and host country effects. Outcomes effectiveness data were collected via a survey and intercept interviews. Data suggest that the host country may significantly affect the number and quality of basic science IAC presentations, who attends, and who benefits most. Intended and executed HIV work-related behavior change was assessed under 9 classifications. Delegates who attended 1 previous IAC were more likely to report behavior changes than attendees who attended more than 1 previous IAC. The conference needs to be continually evaluated to elicit the required data to plan effective future IACs. PMID:17435615

  6. We're all in this together now: group performance feedback to increase classroom team data collection.

    PubMed

    Pellecchia, Melanie; Connell, James E; Eisenhart, Donald; Kane, Meghan; Schoener, Christine; Turkel, Kimberly; Riley, Megan; Mandell, David S

    2011-08-01

    This study's primary goal was to evaluate the use of performance feedback procedures delivered to a classroom team to increase daily data collection. Performance feedback (PFB) was delivered to four classroom teams responsible for the daily collection of data representing student performance during prescribed instructional activities. Using a multiple-baseline design, the effects of the team performance-feedback were evaluated for the target student, and for generalization to data collection for all classroom students. A secondary question evaluated if student on-task behavior correlated with increased data collection. Finally, social validity was investigated to evaluate team satisfaction with the PFB intervention. The results demonstrate improved data collection across all four classroom teams for the target student in each classroom and generalization within classrooms to all remaining students. Slight increases in student on-task behavior were observed in three of the four classrooms, and teacher satisfaction ratings were high. Copyright © 2011 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Measuring symptoms and functioning of youth with ADHD in middle schools.

    PubMed

    Evans, Steven W; Allen, Jessica; Moore, Sheryle; Strauss, Victoria

    2005-12-01

    The identification of reliable and valid means for evaluating the effectiveness of school-based treatments and completing diagnostic evaluations of middle school aged students are needed. The present study examined the inter-rater agreement of teacher ratings and the relationship between ratings and observational data in a middle school setting. The data are interpreted in the context of differences between a secondary and elementary school setting. Teacher ratings and observational data were collected regularly over the course of two academic years for middle school students diagnosed with ADHD. The results indicate low rates of inter-rater agreement as well as low rates of agreement between teachers and observational data, and between observational data collected in different classrooms. Inter-rater agreement was lowest in late fall and gradually increased over the second half of the year. Implications for conducting treatment outcome evaluations of school-based treatment programs and diagnostic evaluations are discussed.

  8. Advanced approach to the analysis of a series of in-situ nuclear forward scattering experiments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vrba, Vlastimil; Procházka, Vít; Smrčka, David; Miglierini, Marcel

    2017-03-01

    This study introduces a sequential fitting procedure as a specific approach to nuclear forward scattering (NFS) data evaluation. Principles and usage of this advanced evaluation method are described in details and its utilization is demonstrated on NFS in-situ investigations of fast processes. Such experiments frequently consist of hundreds of time spectra which need to be evaluated. The introduced procedure allows the analysis of these experiments and significantly decreases the time needed for the data evaluation. The key contributions of the study are the sequential use of the output fitting parameters of a previous data set as the input parameters for the next data set and the model suitability crosscheck option of applying the procedure in ascending and descending directions of the data sets. Described fitting methodology is beneficial for checking of model validity and reliability of obtained results.

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

    Vonach, H.; Tagesen, S.

    Starting with a discussion of the requirements and goals for high quality general-purpose evaluations the paper will describe the procedures chosen in our evaluation work for JEFF for producing new general evaluations with complete covariance information for all cross sections (file 3 data). Key problems essential for the goal of making the best possible use of the existing theoretical and experimental knowledge on neutron interactions with the respective nuclide will be addressed, especially the problem of assigning covariances to calculated cross sections, necessary checking procedures for all experimental data and various possibilities to amend the experimental database beyond the obviousmore » use of EXFOR data for the respective cross sections. In this respect both, the use of elemental cross sections in isotopic evaluations and the use of implicit cross-section data (that is data which can be converted into cross sections by simple methods) will be discussed in some detail.« less

  10. Fish Research Project Oregon; Umatilla Hatchery Monitoring and Evaluation, 1992 Annual Report.

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

    Keefe, MaryLouise; Carmichael, Richard W.; French, Rod A.

    1993-03-01

    This report covers the first year of comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of the Umatilla Hatchery. As both the hatchery and the evaluation study are in the early stages of implementation, much of the information contained in this report is preliminary. The most crucial data for evaluating the success of the hatchery program, the data on post-release performance and survival, is yet unavailable. In addition, several years of data are necessary to make conclusions about rearing performance at Umatilla Hatchery. The conclusions drawn in this report should be viewed as preliminary and should be used in conjunction with additional information asmore » it becomes available. A comprehensive fish health monitoring regimen was incorporated into the monitoring and evaluation study for Umatilla Hatchery. This is a unique feature of the Umatilla Hatchery evaluation project.« less

  11. Study on Evaluation of Project Management Data for Decommissioning of Uranium Refining and Conversion Plant - 12234

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

    Usui, Hideo; Izumo, Sari; Tachibana, Mitsuo

    Some of nuclear facilities that would no longer be required have been decommissioned in JAEA (Japan Atomic Energy Agency). A lot of nuclear facilities have to be decommissioned in JAEA in near future. To implement decommissioning of nuclear facilities, it was important to make a rational decommissioning plan. Therefore, project management data evaluation system for dismantling activities (PRODIA code) has been developed, and will be useful for making a detailed decommissioning plan for an object facility. Dismantling of dry conversion facility in the uranium refining and conversion plant (URCP) at Ningyo-toge began in 2008. During dismantling activities, project management datamore » such as manpower and amount of waste generation have been collected. Such collected project management data has been evaluated and used to establish a calculation formula to calculate manpower for dismantling equipment of chemical process and calculate manpower for using a green house (GH) which was a temporary structure for preventing the spread of contaminants during dismantling. In the calculation formula to calculate project management data related to dismantling of equipment, the relation of dismantling manpower to each piece of equipment was evaluated. Furthermore, the relation of dismantling manpower to each chemical process was evaluated. The results showed promise for evaluating dismantling manpower with respect to each chemical process. In the calculation formula to calculate project management data related to use of the GH, relations of GH installation manpower and removal manpower to GH footprint were evaluated. Furthermore, the calculation formula for secondary waste generation was established. In this study, project management data related to dismantling of equipment and use of the GH were evaluated and analyzed. The project management data, manpower for dismantling of equipment, manpower for installation and removal of GH, and secondary waste generation from GH were considered. Establishment of the calculation formula for dismantling of each kind of equipment makes it possible to evaluate manpower for dismantling the whole facility. However, it is not easy to prepare calculation formula for all kinds of equipment that exist in the facility. Therefore, a simpler evaluation method was considered to calculate manpower based on facility characteristics. The results showed promise for evaluating dismantling manpower with respect to each chemical process. For dismantling of contaminated equipment, a GH has been used for protection of the spread of contamination. The use of a GH increases manpower for installation and removal of GH etc. Moreover, structural materials of the GH such as plastic sheets, adhesive tape become a burnable secondary waste. To create an effective dismantling plan, it is necessary to carefully consider use of a GH preliminarily. Thus, an evaluation method of project management data such as manpower and secondary waste generation was considered. The results showed promise for evaluating project management data of GH by using established calculation formula. (authors)« less

  12. Recommendations for harmonization of data collection and analysis of developmental neurotoxicity endpoints in regulatory guideline studies: Proceedings of workshops presented at Society of Toxicology and joint Teratology Society and Neurobehavioral Teratology Society meetings.

    PubMed

    Li, Abby A; Sheets, Larry P; Raffaele, Kathleen; Moser, Virginia; Hofstra, Angela; Hoberman, Alan; Makris, Susan L; Garman, Robert; Bolon, Brad; Kaufmann, Wolfgang; Auer, Roland; Lau, Edmund; Vidmar, Thomas; Bowers, Wayne J

    2017-09-01

    The potential for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) of environmental chemicals may be evaluated using specific test guidelines from the US Environmental Protection Agency or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). These guidelines generate neurobehavioral, neuropathological, and morphometric data that are evaluated by regulatory agencies globally. Data from these DNT guideline studies, or the more recent OECD extended one-generation reproductive toxicity guideline, play a pivotal role in children's health risk assessment in different world areas. Data from the same study may be interpreted differently by regulatory authorities in different countries resulting in inconsistent evaluations that may lead to inconsistencies in risk assessment decisions internationally, resulting in regional differences in public health protection or in commercial trade barriers. These issues of data interpretation and reporting are also relevant to juvenile and pre-postnatal studies conducted more routinely for pharmaceuticals and veterinary medicines. There is a need for development of recommendations geared toward the operational needs of the regulatory scientific reviewers who apply these studies in risk assessments, as well as the scientists who generate DNT data sets. The workshops summarized here draw upon the experience of the authors representing government, industry, contract research organizations, and academia to discuss the scientific issues that have emerged from diverse regulatory evaluations. Although various regulatory bodies have different risk management decisions and labeling requirements that are difficult to harmonize, the workshops provided an opportunity to work toward more harmonized scientific approaches for evaluating DNT data within the context of different regulatory frameworks. Five speakers and their coauthors with neurotoxicology, neuropathology, and regulatory toxicology expertise discussed issues of variability, data reporting and analysis, and expectations in DNT data that are encountered by regulatory authorities. In addition, principles for harmonized evaluation of data were suggested using guideline DNT data as case studies. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  13. Evaluations of Energy Spectra of Neutrons Emitted Promptly in Neutron-induced Fission of 235 U and 239 Pu

    DOE PAGES

    Neudecker, Denise; Talou, Patrick; Kawano, Toshihiko; ...

    2018-02-01

    The energy spectra of neutrons emitted promptly in the neutron-induced fission reactions of 235U and 239Pu were re-evaluated for ENDF/B-VIII.0. The evaluations presented here are based on a careful modeling of all relevant physics processes, an extensive analysis of experimental data and a detailed quantification of pertinent uncertainties. Energy spectra of neutrons emitted in up to fourth chance fission are considered and both compound and pre-equilibrium processes are included. Also, important nuclear model parameters, such as the average total kinetic energy of the fission fragments and the multiple chance fission probabilities, and their uncertainties are estimated based on experimental knowledge,more » model information and evaluated data. In addition to experimental information already available for ENDF/B-VII.1, these new evaluations make use of recently published experimental data either of high precision or spanning a broad incident energy range, information on legacy measurements explaining discrepancies and recently measured data of the average total kinetic energy as a function of incident neutron energy. The resulting evaluated data and covariances agree well with the experimental database used for the evaluation. However, the evaluated spectra are softer than the 235U and 239Pu ENDF/B-VII.1, JENDL-4.0 and JEFF-3.2 evaluations for incident neutron energies E inc ≤ 1.5 MeV and E inc ≤ 5 MeV, respectively. For E inc > 5 MeV, the evaluated spectra show structures due to the improved modeling which are not present in ENDF/B-VII.1 and JEFF-3.2 but can be observed in JENDL-4.0 evaluations. Part of these new evaluations were adopted for ENDF/B-VIII.0, while the ENDF/B-VII.1 239Pu PFNS was retained for E inc ≤ 5 MeV awaiting more conclusive experimental evidence.« less

  14. Evaluations of Energy Spectra of Neutrons Emitted Promptly in Neutron-induced Fission of 235U and 239Pu

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Neudecker, D.; Talou, P.; Kawano, T.; Kahler, A. C.; White, M. C.; Taddeucci, T. N.; Haight, R. C.; Kiedrowski, B.; O'Donnell, J. M.; Gomez, J. A.; Kelly, K. J.; Devlin, M.; Rising, M. E.

    2018-02-01

    The energy spectra of neutrons emitted promptly in the neutron-induced fission reactions of 235U and 239Pu were re-evaluated for ENDF/B-VIII.0. These evaluations are based on a careful modeling of all relevant physics processes, an extensive analysis of experimental data and a detailed quantification of pertinent uncertainties. Energy spectra of neutrons emitted in up to fourth chance fission are considered and both compound and pre-equilibrium processes are included. Also, important nuclear model parameters, such as the average total kinetic energy of the fission fragments and the multiple chance fission probabilities, and their uncertainties are estimated based on experimental knowledge, model information and evaluated data. In addition to experimental information already available for ENDF/B-VII.1, these new evaluations make use of recently published experimental data either of high precision or spanning a broad incident energy range, information on legacy measurements explaining discrepancies and recently measured data of the average total kinetic energy as a function of incident neutron energy. The resulting evaluated data and covariances agree well with the experimental database used for the evaluation. However, the evaluated spectra are softer than the 235U and 239Pu ENDF/B-VII.1, JENDL-4.0 and JEFF-3.2 evaluations for incident neutron energies Einc ≤ 1.5 MeV and Einc ≤ 5 MeV, respectively. For Einc > 5 MeV, the evaluated spectra show structures due to the improved modeling which are not present in ENDF/B-VII.1 and JEFF-3.2 but can be observed in JENDL-4.0 evaluations. Part of these new evaluations were adopted for ENDF/B-VIII.0, while the ENDF/B-VII.1 239Pu PFNS was retained for Einc ≤ 5 MeV awaiting more conclusive experimental evidence.

  15. Evaluations of Energy Spectra of Neutrons Emitted Promptly in Neutron-induced Fission of 235 U and 239 Pu

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

    Neudecker, Denise; Talou, Patrick; Kawano, Toshihiko

    The energy spectra of neutrons emitted promptly in the neutron-induced fission reactions of 235U and 239Pu were re-evaluated for ENDF/B-VIII.0. The evaluations presented here are based on a careful modeling of all relevant physics processes, an extensive analysis of experimental data and a detailed quantification of pertinent uncertainties. Energy spectra of neutrons emitted in up to fourth chance fission are considered and both compound and pre-equilibrium processes are included. Also, important nuclear model parameters, such as the average total kinetic energy of the fission fragments and the multiple chance fission probabilities, and their uncertainties are estimated based on experimental knowledge,more » model information and evaluated data. In addition to experimental information already available for ENDF/B-VII.1, these new evaluations make use of recently published experimental data either of high precision or spanning a broad incident energy range, information on legacy measurements explaining discrepancies and recently measured data of the average total kinetic energy as a function of incident neutron energy. The resulting evaluated data and covariances agree well with the experimental database used for the evaluation. However, the evaluated spectra are softer than the 235U and 239Pu ENDF/B-VII.1, JENDL-4.0 and JEFF-3.2 evaluations for incident neutron energies E inc ≤ 1.5 MeV and E inc ≤ 5 MeV, respectively. For E inc > 5 MeV, the evaluated spectra show structures due to the improved modeling which are not present in ENDF/B-VII.1 and JEFF-3.2 but can be observed in JENDL-4.0 evaluations. Part of these new evaluations were adopted for ENDF/B-VIII.0, while the ENDF/B-VII.1 239Pu PFNS was retained for E inc ≤ 5 MeV awaiting more conclusive experimental evidence.« less

  16. Developing tools for the safety specification in risk management plans: lessons learned from a pilot project.

    PubMed

    Cooper, Andrew J P; Lettis, Sally; Chapman, Charlotte L; Evans, Stephen J W; Waller, Patrick C; Shakir, Saad; Payvandi, Nassrin; Murray, Alison B

    2008-05-01

    Following the adoption of the ICH E2E guideline, risk management plans (RMP) defining the cumulative safety experience and identifying limitations in safety information are now required for marketing authorisation applications (MAA). A collaborative research project was conducted to gain experience with tools for presenting and evaluating data in the safety specification. This paper presents those tools found to be useful and the lessons learned from their use. Archive data from a successful MAA were utilised. Methods were assessed for demonstrating the extent of clinical safety experience, evaluating the sensitivity of the clinical trial data to detect treatment differences and identifying safety signals from adverse event and laboratory data to define the extent of safety knowledge with the drug. The extent of clinical safety experience was demonstrated by plots of patient exposure over time. Adverse event data were presented using dot plots, which display the percentages of patients with the events of interest, the odds ratio, and 95% confidence interval. Power and confidence interval plots were utilised for evaluating the sensitivity of the clinical database to detect treatment differences. Box and whisker plots were used to display laboratory data. This project enabled us to identify new evidence-based methods for presenting and evaluating clinical safety data. These methods represent an advance in the way safety data from clinical trials can be analysed and presented. This project emphasises the importance of early and comprehensive planning of the safety package, including evaluation of the use of epidemiology data.

  17. A methodological framework for assessing agreement between cost-effectiveness outcomes estimated using alternative sources of data on treatment costs and effects for trial-based economic evaluations.

    PubMed

    Achana, Felix; Petrou, Stavros; Khan, Kamran; Gaye, Amadou; Modi, Neena

    2018-01-01

    A new methodological framework for assessing agreement between cost-effectiveness endpoints generated using alternative sources of data on treatment costs and effects for trial-based economic evaluations is proposed. The framework can be used to validate cost-effectiveness endpoints generated from routine data sources when comparable data is available directly from trial case report forms or from another source. We illustrate application of the framework using data from a recent trial-based economic evaluation of the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve strain BBG administered to babies less than 31 weeks of gestation. Cost-effectiveness endpoints are compared using two sources of information; trial case report forms and data extracted from the National Neonatal Research Database (NNRD), a clinical database created through collaborative efforts of UK neonatal services. Focusing on mean incremental net benefits at £30,000 per episode of sepsis averted, the study revealed no evidence of discrepancy between the data sources (two-sided p values >0.4), low probability estimates of miscoverage (ranging from 0.039 to 0.060) and concordance correlation coefficients greater than 0.86. We conclude that the NNRD could potentially serve as a reliable source of data for future trial-based economic evaluations of neonatal interventions. We also discuss the potential implications of increasing opportunity to utilize routinely available data for the conduct of trial-based economic evaluations.

  18. Temporal Cyber Attack Detection.

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

    Ingram, Joey Burton; Draelos, Timothy J.; Galiardi, Meghan

    Rigorous characterization of the performance and generalization ability of cyber defense systems is extremely difficult, making it hard to gauge uncertainty, and thus, confidence. This difficulty largely stems from a lack of labeled attack data that fully explores the potential adversarial space. Currently, performance of cyber defense systems is typically evaluated in a qualitative manner by manually inspecting the results of the system on live data and adjusting as needed. Additionally, machine learning has shown promise in deriving models that automatically learn indicators of compromise that are more robust than analyst-derived detectors. However, to generate these models, most algorithms requiremore » large amounts of labeled data (i.e., examples of attacks). Algorithms that do not require annotated data to derive models are similarly at a disadvantage, because labeled data is still necessary when evaluating performance. In this work, we explore the use of temporal generative models to learn cyber attack graph representations and automatically generate data for experimentation and evaluation. Training and evaluating cyber systems and machine learning models requires significant, annotated data, which is typically collected and labeled by hand for one-off experiments. Automatically generating such data helps derive/evaluate detection models and ensures reproducibility of results. Experimentally, we demonstrate the efficacy of generative sequence analysis techniques on learning the structure of attack graphs, based on a realistic example. These derived models can then be used to generate more data. Additionally, we provide a roadmap for future research efforts in this area.« less

  19. A Bayesian approach to multivariate measurement system assessment

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

    Hamada, Michael Scott

    This article considers system assessment for multivariate measurements and presents a Bayesian approach to analyzing gauge R&R study data. The evaluation of variances for univariate measurement becomes the evaluation of covariance matrices for multivariate measurements. The Bayesian approach ensures positive definite estimates of the covariance matrices and easily provides their uncertainty. Furthermore, various measurement system assessment criteria are easily evaluated. The approach is illustrated with data from a real gauge R&R study as well as simulated data.

  20. A Bayesian approach to multivariate measurement system assessment

    DOE PAGES

    Hamada, Michael Scott

    2016-07-01

    This article considers system assessment for multivariate measurements and presents a Bayesian approach to analyzing gauge R&R study data. The evaluation of variances for univariate measurement becomes the evaluation of covariance matrices for multivariate measurements. The Bayesian approach ensures positive definite estimates of the covariance matrices and easily provides their uncertainty. Furthermore, various measurement system assessment criteria are easily evaluated. The approach is illustrated with data from a real gauge R&R study as well as simulated data.

  1. Pre-fire and post-fire surface fuel and cover measurements collected in the southeastern United States for model evaluation and development - RxCADRE 2008, 2011 and 2012

    Treesearch

    Roger D. Ottmar; Andrew T. Hudak; Susan J. Prichard; Clinton S. Wright; Joseph C. Restaino; Maureen C. Kennedy; Robert E. Vihnanek

    2016-01-01

    A lack of independent, quality-assured data prevents scientists from effectively evaluating predictions and uncertainties in fire models used by land managers. This paper presents a summary of pre-fire and post-fire fuel, fuel moisture and surface cover fraction data that can be used for fire model evaluation and development. The data were collected in the...

  2. Development of a cost-effectiveness analysis of leafy green marketing agreement irrigation water provisions.

    PubMed

    Jensen, Helen H; Pouliot, Sébastien; Wang, Tong; Jay-Russell, Michele T

    2014-06-01

    An analysis of the effectiveness of meeting the irrigation water provisions of the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement (LGMA) relative to its costs provides an approach to evaluating the cost-effectiveness of good agricultural practices that uses available data. A case example for lettuce is used to evaluate data requirements and provide a methodological example to determine the cost-effectiveness of the LGMA water quality provision. Both cost and field data on pathogen or indicator bacterial levels are difficult and expensive to obtain prospectively. Therefore, methods to use existing field and experimental data are required. Based on data from current literature and experimental studies, we calculate a cost-efficiency ratio that expresses the reduction in E. coli concentration per dollar expenditure on testing of irrigation water. With appropriate data, the same type of analysis can be extended to soil amendments and other practices and to evaluation of public benefits of practices used in production. Careful use of existing and experimental data can lead to evaluation of an expanded set of practices.

  3. Evaluation of Neutron-induced Cross Sections and their Related Covariances with Physical Constraints

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    De Saint Jean, C.; Archier, P.; Privas, E.; Noguère, G.; Habert, B.; Tamagno, P.

    2018-02-01

    Nuclear data, along with numerical methods and the associated calculation schemes, continue to play a key role in reactor design, reactor core operating parameters calculations, fuel cycle management and criticality safety calculations. Due to the intensive use of Monte-Carlo calculations reducing numerical biases, the final accuracy of neutronic calculations increasingly depends on the quality of nuclear data used. This paper gives a broad picture of all ingredients treated by nuclear data evaluators during their analyses. After giving an introduction to nuclear data evaluation, we present implications of using the Bayesian inference to obtain evaluated cross sections and related uncertainties. In particular, a focus is made on systematic uncertainties appearing in the analysis of differential measurements as well as advantages and drawbacks one may encounter by analyzing integral experiments. The evaluation work is in general done independently in the resonance and in the continuum energy ranges giving rise to inconsistencies in evaluated files. For future evaluations on the whole energy range, we call attention to two innovative methods used to analyze several nuclear reaction models and impose constraints. Finally, we discuss suggestions for possible improvements in the evaluation process to master the quantification of uncertainties. These are associated with experiments (microscopic and integral), nuclear reaction theories and the Bayesian inference.

  4. Phoenix Rising: use of a participatory approach to evaluate a federally funded HIV, hepatitis and substance abuse prevention program.

    PubMed

    Dryden, Eileen; Hyde, Justeen; Livny, Ayala; Tula, Monique

    2010-11-01

    This paper highlights the value of utilizing a participatory evaluation approach when working with community agencies receiving federal funding for prevention and intervention services. Drawing from our experience as evaluators of a SAMHSA-funded substance abuse, HIV and Hepatitis prevention program targeting homeless young adults, we describe the importance of and strategies for creating a participatory evaluation partnership with program implementers. By participatory evaluation we mean the active involvement of program implementers in defining the evaluation, developing instruments, collecting data, discussing findings, and disseminating results. There are a number of challenges faced when using this approach with federally funded programs that require the use of standardized measurement tools and data collection procedures. Strategies we used to strike a balance between federal requirements and local needs are presented. By increasing the understanding of and participation in the evaluation process, program implementers have greater support for data collection requirements and are appreciably more interested in learning from the evaluation data. This approach has helped to build the capacity of a program and stimulated new possibilities for learning, growing, and ultimately improving the services offered to those the program strives to reach. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. CCRS proposal for evaluating LANDSAT-D MSS and TM data

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Strome, W. M.; Cihlar, J.; Goodenough, D. G.; Guertin, F. E. (Principal Investigator); Collins, A. B.

    1983-01-01

    Accomplishments in the evaluation of LANDSAT 4 data are reported. The objectives of the Canadian proposal are: (1) to quantify the LANDSAT-4 sensors and system performance for the purpose of updating the radiometric and geometric correction algorithms for MSS and for developing and evaluating new correction algorithms to be used for TM data processing; (2) to compare and access the degree to which LANDSAT-4 MSS data can be integrated with MSS imagery acquired from earlier LANDSAT missions; and (3) to apply image analysis and information extraction techniques for specific user applications such as forestry or agriculture.

  6. Bridging the qualitative-quantitative divide: Experiences from conducting a mixed methods evaluation in the RUCAS programme.

    PubMed

    Makrakis, Vassilios; Kostoulas-Makrakis, Nelly

    2016-02-01

    Quantitative and qualitative approaches to planning and evaluation in education for sustainable development have often been treated by practitioners from a single research paradigm. This paper discusses the utility of mixed method evaluation designs which integrate qualitative and quantitative data through a sequential transformative process. Sequential mixed method data collection strategies involve collecting data in an iterative process whereby data collected in one phase contribute to data collected in the next. This is done through examples from a programme addressing the 'Reorientation of University Curricula to Address Sustainability (RUCAS): A European Commission Tempus-funded Programme'. It is argued that the two approaches are complementary and that there are significant gains from combining both. Using methods from both research paradigms does not, however, mean that the inherent differences among epistemologies and methodologies should be neglected. Based on this experience, it is recommended that using a sequential transformative mixed method evaluation can produce more robust results than could be accomplished using a single approach in programme planning and evaluation focussed on education for sustainable development. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Evaluation of ridesharing programs in Michigan

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

    Kulp, G.; Tsao, H.J.; Webber, R.E.

    1982-10-01

    The design, implementation, and results of a carpool and vanpool evaluation are described. Objectives of the evaluation were: to develop credible estimates of the energy savings attributable to the ridesharing program, to provide information for improving the performance of the ridesharing program, and to add to a general understanding of the ridesharing process. Previous evaluation work is critiqued and the research methodology adopted for this study is discussed. The ridesharing program in Michigan is described and the basis for selecting Michigan as the evaluation site is discussed. The evaluation methodology is presented, including research design, sampling procedure, data collection, andmore » data validation. Evaluation results are analyzed. (LEW)« less

  8. The earth's surface studied from space; Proceedings of Workshop II of the COSPAR 25th Plenary Meeting, Graz, Austria, June 25-July 7, 1984

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ungar, S. G. (Editor)

    1985-01-01

    Consideration is given to: Landsat image data quality studies; a preliminary evaluation of Landsat-4 Thematic Mapper (TM) data for mineral exploration; and the early evaluation of TM data for mapping forest, agricultural and soil resources. Among other topics discussed are: shortwave infrared detection of vegetation; SPOT image quality and post-launch assessment; an evaluation of SPOT HRV simulation data for Corps of Engineers applications; and the application potential of SPOT imagery for topographic mapping. Consideration is also given to: verification studies of MOS-1 sensors; multiple sensor geocoded data; and the utility of proposed sensors for coastal engineering studies.

  9. Field Data Collection: an Essential Element in Remote Sensing Applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pettinger, L. R.

    1971-01-01

    Field data collected in support of remote sensing projects are generally used for the following purposes: (1) calibration of remote sensing systems, (2) evaluation of experimental applications of remote sensing imagery on small test sites, and (3) designing and evaluating operational regional resource studies and inventories which are conducted using the remote sensing imagery obtained. Field data may be used to help develop a technique for a particular application, or to aid in the application of that technique to a resource evaluation or inventory problem for a large area. Scientists at the Forestry Remote Sensing Laboratory have utilized field data for both purposes. How meaningful field data has been collected in each case is discussed.

  10. Controller Evaluation of Initial Data Link Air Traffic Control Services: Mini Study 2 Volume II

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1989-03-01

    This report details the results of Mini Study 2. This Mini Study was conducted at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center utilizing the Data Link test bed. Initial Data Link air traffic control services were evaluated under part ta...

  11. Learning Disability Identification Consistency: The Impact of Methodology and Student Evaluation Data

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Maki, Kathrin E.; Burns, Matthew K.; Sullivan, Amanda

    2017-01-01

    Learning disability (LD) identification has long been controversial and has undergone substantive reform. This study examined the consistency of school psychologists' LD identification decisions across three identification methods and across student evaluation data conclusiveness levels. Data were collected from 376 practicing school psychologists…

  12. Controller Evaluation of Initial Data Link Air Traffic Control Services: Mini Study 2 Volume I

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1989-03-01

    This report details the results of Mini Study 2. This Mini Study was conducted at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center utilizing the Data Link test bed. Initial Data Link air traffic control services were evaluated under part ta...

  13. A data set for evaluating the performance of multi-class multi-object video tracking

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chakraborty, Avishek; Stamatescu, Victor; Wong, Sebastien C.; Wigley, Grant; Kearney, David

    2017-05-01

    One of the challenges in evaluating multi-object video detection, tracking and classification systems is having publically available data sets with which to compare different systems. However, the measures of performance for tracking and classification are different. Data sets that are suitable for evaluating tracking systems may not be appropriate for classification. Tracking video data sets typically only have ground truth track IDs, while classification video data sets only have ground truth class-label IDs. The former identifies the same object over multiple frames, while the latter identifies the type of object in individual frames. This paper describes an advancement of the ground truth meta-data for the DARPA Neovision2 Tower data set to allow both the evaluation of tracking and classification. The ground truth data sets presented in this paper contain unique object IDs across 5 different classes of object (Car, Bus, Truck, Person, Cyclist) for 24 videos of 871 image frames each. In addition to the object IDs and class labels, the ground truth data also contains the original bounding box coordinates together with new bounding boxes in instances where un-annotated objects were present. The unique IDs are maintained during occlusions between multiple objects or when objects re-enter the field of view. This will provide: a solid foundation for evaluating the performance of multi-object tracking of different types of objects, a straightforward comparison of tracking system performance using the standard Multi Object Tracking (MOT) framework, and classification performance using the Neovision2 metrics. These data have been hosted publically.

  14. Accurate evaluation and analysis of functional genomics data and methods

    PubMed Central

    Greene, Casey S.; Troyanskaya, Olga G.

    2016-01-01

    The development of technology capable of inexpensively performing large-scale measurements of biological systems has generated a wealth of data. Integrative analysis of these data holds the promise of uncovering gene function, regulation, and, in the longer run, understanding complex disease. However, their analysis has proved very challenging, as it is difficult to quickly and effectively assess the relevance and accuracy of these data for individual biological questions. Here, we identify biases that present challenges for the assessment of functional genomics data and methods. We then discuss evaluation methods that, taken together, begin to address these issues. We also argue that the funding of systematic data-driven experiments and of high-quality curation efforts will further improve evaluation metrics so that they more-accurately assess functional genomics data and methods. Such metrics will allow researchers in the field of functional genomics to continue to answer important biological questions in a data-driven manner. PMID:22268703

  15. Learning Evaluation: blending quality improvement and implementation research methods to study healthcare innovations.

    PubMed

    Balasubramanian, Bijal A; Cohen, Deborah J; Davis, Melinda M; Gunn, Rose; Dickinson, L Miriam; Miller, William L; Crabtree, Benjamin F; Stange, Kurt C

    2015-03-10

    In healthcare change interventions, on-the-ground learning about the implementation process is often lost because of a primary focus on outcome improvements. This paper describes the Learning Evaluation, a methodological approach that blends quality improvement and implementation research methods to study healthcare innovations. Learning Evaluation is an approach to multi-organization assessment. Qualitative and quantitative data are collected to conduct real-time assessment of implementation processes while also assessing changes in context, facilitating quality improvement using run charts and audit and feedback, and generating transportable lessons. Five principles are the foundation of this approach: (1) gather data to describe changes made by healthcare organizations and how changes are implemented; (2) collect process and outcome data relevant to healthcare organizations and to the research team; (3) assess multi-level contextual factors that affect implementation, process, outcome, and transportability; (4) assist healthcare organizations in using data for continuous quality improvement; and (5) operationalize common measurement strategies to generate transportable results. Learning Evaluation principles are applied across organizations by the following: (1) establishing a detailed understanding of the baseline implementation plan; (2) identifying target populations and tracking relevant process measures; (3) collecting and analyzing real-time quantitative and qualitative data on important contextual factors; (4) synthesizing data and emerging findings and sharing with stakeholders on an ongoing basis; and (5) harmonizing and fostering learning from process and outcome data. Application to a multi-site program focused on primary care and behavioral health integration shows the feasibility and utility of Learning Evaluation for generating real-time insights into evolving implementation processes. Learning Evaluation generates systematic and rigorous cross-organizational findings about implementing healthcare innovations while also enhancing organizational capacity and accelerating translation of findings by facilitating continuous learning within individual sites. Researchers evaluating change initiatives and healthcare organizations implementing improvement initiatives may benefit from a Learning Evaluation approach.

  16. Research on Holographic Evaluation of Service Quality in Power Data Network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Chen; Jing, Tao; Ji, Yutong

    2018-01-01

    With the rapid development of power data network, the continuous development of the Power data application service system, more and more service systems are being put into operation. Following this, the higher requirements for network quality and service quality are raised, in the actual process for the network operation and maintenance. This paper describes the electricity network and data network services status. A holographic assessment model was presented to achieve a comprehensive intelligence assessment on the power data network and quality of service in the operation and maintenance on the power data network. This evaluation method avoids the problems caused by traditional means which performs a single assessment of network performance quality. This intelligent Evaluation method can improve the efficiency of network operation and maintenance guarantee the quality of real-time service in the power data network..

  17. Evaluation of Apache Hadoop for parallel data analysis with ROOT

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lehrack, S.; Duckeck, G.; Ebke, J.

    2014-06-01

    The Apache Hadoop software is a Java based framework for distributed processing of large data sets across clusters of computers, using the Hadoop file system (HDFS) for data storage and backup and MapReduce as a processing platform. Hadoop is primarily designed for processing large textual data sets which can be processed in arbitrary chunks, and must be adapted to the use case of processing binary data files which cannot be split automatically. However, Hadoop offers attractive features in terms of fault tolerance, task supervision and control, multi-user functionality and job management. For this reason, we evaluated Apache Hadoop as an alternative approach to PROOF for ROOT data analysis. Two alternatives in distributing analysis data were discussed: either the data was stored in HDFS and processed with MapReduce, or the data was accessed via a standard Grid storage system (dCache Tier-2) and MapReduce was used only as execution back-end. The focus in the measurements were on the one hand to safely store analysis data on HDFS with reasonable data rates and on the other hand to process data fast and reliably with MapReduce. In the evaluation of the HDFS, read/write data rates from local Hadoop cluster have been measured and compared to standard data rates from the local NFS installation. In the evaluation of MapReduce, realistic ROOT analyses have been used and event rates have been compared to PROOF.

  18. Using a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to determine product usability: A test case

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Ronggang; Chan, Alan H. S.

    2016-01-01

    BACKGROUND: In order to take into account the inherent uncertainties during product usability evaluation, Zhou and Chan [1] proposed a comprehensive method of usability evaluation for products by combining the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy evaluation methods for synthesizing performance data and subjective response data. This method was designed to provide an integrated framework combining the inevitable vague judgments from the multiple stages of the product evaluation process. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: In order to illustrate the effectiveness of the model, this study used a summative usability test case to assess the application and strength of the general fuzzy usability framework. To test the proposed fuzzy usability evaluation framework [1], a standard summative usability test was conducted to benchmark the overall usability of a specific network management software. Based on the test data, the fuzzy method was applied to incorporate both the usability scores and uncertainties involved in the multiple components of the evaluation. Then, with Monte Carlo simulation procedures, confidence intervals were used to compare the reliabilities among the fuzzy approach and two typical conventional methods combining metrics based on percentages. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: This case study showed that the fuzzy evaluation technique can be applied successfully for combining summative usability testing data to achieve an overall usability quality for the network software evaluated. Greater differences of confidence interval widths between the method of averaging equally percentage and weighted evaluation method, including the method of weighted percentage averages, verified the strength of the fuzzy method. PMID:28035942

  19. Using a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to determine product usability: A test case.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Ronggang; Chan, Alan H S

    2017-01-01

    In order to take into account the inherent uncertainties during product usability evaluation, Zhou and Chan [1] proposed a comprehensive method of usability evaluation for products by combining the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy evaluation methods for synthesizing performance data and subjective response data. This method was designed to provide an integrated framework combining the inevitable vague judgments from the multiple stages of the product evaluation process. In order to illustrate the effectiveness of the model, this study used a summative usability test case to assess the application and strength of the general fuzzy usability framework. To test the proposed fuzzy usability evaluation framework [1], a standard summative usability test was conducted to benchmark the overall usability of a specific network management software. Based on the test data, the fuzzy method was applied to incorporate both the usability scores and uncertainties involved in the multiple components of the evaluation. Then, with Monte Carlo simulation procedures, confidence intervals were used to compare the reliabilities among the fuzzy approach and two typical conventional methods combining metrics based on percentages. This case study showed that the fuzzy evaluation technique can be applied successfully for combining summative usability testing data to achieve an overall usability quality for the network software evaluated. Greater differences of confidence interval widths between the method of averaging equally percentage and weighted evaluation method, including the method of weighted percentage averages, verified the strength of the fuzzy method.

  20. Using Large-Scale Databases in Evaluation: Advances, Opportunities, and Challenges

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Penuel, William R.; Means, Barbara

    2011-01-01

    Major advances in the number, capabilities, and quality of state, national, and transnational databases have opened up new opportunities for evaluators. Both large-scale data sets collected for administrative purposes and those collected by other researchers can provide data for a variety of evaluation-related activities. These include (a)…

  1. 77 FR 40370 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-09

    ... enhanced and standard data collection and a longitudinal cohort design, and will include a comparative...-site evaluation design includes a process and an outcome evaluation and data will be collected over a 3-year period from 7 grantee sites. The cross-site evaluation is designed to address the following...

  2. Using Spreadsheets in the Management, Analysis, and Reporting of Evaluation Data.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Glowacki, Margaret L.; Rice, Richard L., Jr.

    Currently available spreadsheet programs for microcomputers provide many features that can be very useful for evaluators and researchers. Some of the basic concepts involved in spreadsheet use are introduced, and information is provided on the use of spreadsheets in maintaining and analyzing evaluation data. The spreadsheet used in the discussion…

  3. Technical Analysis of Teacher Responses to the Self-Evaluation Scale-Teacher (SES-T) Version

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Erford, Bradley T.; Lowe, Samantha; Chang, Catherine Y.

    2011-01-01

    The Self-Evaluation Scale--Teacher version, used to assess teacher perceived self-esteem of students, was analyzed. A unidimensional model emerged from exploratory factor analysis, with cautious acceptance of data fit. Reliability and external aspects of validity were supported by the Self-Evaluation Scale--Teacher data.

  4. Interviewer as Instrument: Accounting for Human Factors in Evaluation Research

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Brown, Joel H.

    2006-01-01

    This methodological study examines an original data collection model designed to incorporate human factors and enhance data richness in qualitative and evaluation research. Evidence supporting this model is drawn from in-depth youth and adult interviews in one of the largest policy/program evaluations undertaken in the United States, the Drug,…

  5. 76 FR 81505 - Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Statement of Organization, Functions, and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-28

    ... areas for research, demonstration, and evaluation activities. Based on the outcomes of these activities... and Technology Team and the Family and Youth Services Bureau Research, Data, and Evaluation Team to create the Office of Data Analysis, Research, and Evaluation. It also renames the Division of Research...

  6. Design and Implementation of Performance Metrics for Evaluation of Assessments Data

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ahmed, Irfan; Bhatti, Arif

    2016-01-01

    Evocative evaluation of assessment data is essential to quantify the achievements at course and program levels. The objective of this paper is to design performance metrics and respective formulas to quantitatively evaluate the achievement of set objectives and expected outcomes at the course levels for program accreditation. Even though…

  7. Use of Accountability Indicators to Evaluate Elementary School Principal Performance

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Byun-Kitayama, Chiae

    2012-01-01

    Recently, the federal government has pressured states to add student growth data as a part of the evaluation system. State legislatures in New York and Colorado have passed legislation to revamp teacher and principal evaluation to include student growth data. Numerous researchers acknowledged the critical impact of school principals on student…

  8. EVALUATION OF THE REAL-TIME AIR-QUALITY MODEL USING THE RAPS (REGIONAL AIR POLLUTION STUDY) DATA BASE. VOLUME 1. OVERVIEW

    EPA Science Inventory

    The theory and programming of statistical tests for evaluating the Real-Time Air-Quality Model (RAM) using the Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS) data base are fully documented in four report volumes. Moreover, the tests are generally applicable to other model evaluation problem...

  9. A Guide for Monitoring District Implementation of Educator Evaluation Systems. REL 2015-069

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cherasaro, Trudy; Yanoski, David; Swackhamer, Lyn

    2015-01-01

    This guide was developed to provide guidance to states or districts wishing to monitor implementation of educator evaluation systems. It describes a three-step process: develop state guidelines for educator evaluation systems; develop data collection methods; and determine adherence criteria and review data against criteria. The process was…

  10. Using linked data to evaluate severity and outcome of injury by type of object struck (first object struck only) for motor vehicle crashes in Connecticut : Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) linked data demonstration project

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1999-09-01

    A deterministic algorithm was developed which allowed data from Department of Transportation motor vehicle crash records, state mortality registry records, and hospital admission and emergency department records to be linked for analysis of the types...

  11. Atomic masses 1993. The 1993 atomic mass evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Audi, G.; Wapstra, A. H.

    1993-11-01

    The 1993 atomic mass evaluation by G. Audi and A.H. Wapstra is documented. The resulting data files containing recommended values of atomic masses, obtained by experiment of systematics, and related data such as reaction and separation energies are described. The data files can be obtained through online services from several nuclear data centers or on magnetic tape, free of charge.

  12. Managing data from remeasured plots: An evaluation of existing systems

    Treesearch

    John C. Byrne; Michael D. Sweet

    1992-01-01

    Proper management of the valuable data from remeasured (or permanent) forest growth plots with data base management systems (DBMS) can greatly add to their utility. Twelve desired features for such a system (activities that facilitate the storage, accuracy, and use of the data for analysis) are described and used to evaluate the 36 systems found by a survey conducted...

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

    Salama, A.; Mikhail, M.

    Comprehensive software packages have been developed at the Western Research Centre as tools to help coal preparation engineers analyze, evaluate, and control coal cleaning processes. The COal Preparation Software package (COPS) performs three functions: (1) data handling and manipulation, (2) data analysis, including the generation of washability data, performance evaluation and prediction, density and size modeling, evaluation of density and size partition characteristics and attrition curves, and (3) generation of graphics output. The Separation ChARacteristics Estimation software packages (SCARE) are developed to balance raw density or size separation data. The cases of density and size separation data are considered. Themore » generated balanced data can take the balanced or normalized forms. The scaled form is desirable for direct determination of the partition functions (curves). The raw and generated separation data are displayed in tabular and/or graphical forms. The computer softwares described in this paper are valuable tools for coal preparation plant engineers and operators for evaluating process performance, adjusting plant parameters, and balancing raw density or size separation data. These packages have been applied very successfully in many projects carried out by WRC for the Canadian coal preparation industry. The software packages are designed to run on a personal computer (PC).« less

  14. Challenges of teacher-based clinical evaluation from nursing students' point of view: Qualitative content analysis.

    PubMed

    Sadeghi, Tabandeh; Seyed Bagheri, Seyed Hamid

    2017-01-01

    Clinical evaluation is very important in the educational system of nursing. One of the most common methods of clinical evaluation is evaluation by the teacher, but the challenges that students would face in this evaluation method, have not been mentioned. Thus, this study aimed to explore the experiences and views of nursing students about the challenges of teacher-based clinical evaluation. This study was a descriptive qualitative study with a qualitative content analysis approach. Data were gathered through semi-structured focused group sessions with undergraduate nursing students who were passing their 8 th semester at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. Date were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman's proposed method. Data collection and analysis were concurrent. According to the findings, "factitious evaluation" was the main theme of study that consisted of three categories: "Personal preferences," "unfairness" and "shirking responsibility." These categories are explained using quotes derived from the data. According to the results of this study, teacher-based clinical evaluation would lead to factitious evaluation. Thus, changing this approach of evaluation toward modern methods of evaluation is suggested. The finding can help nursing instructors to get a better understanding of the nursing students' point of view toward this evaluation approach and as a result could be planning for changing of this approach.

  15. Using and Distributing Spaceflight Data: The Johnson Space Center Life Sciences Data Archive

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cardenas, J. A.; Buckey, J. C.; Turner, J. N.; White, T. S.; Havelka,J. A.

    1995-01-01

    Life sciences data collected before, during and after spaceflight are valuable and often irreplaceable. The Johnson Space Center Life is hard to find, and much of the data (e.g. Sciences Data Archive has been designed to provide researchers, engineers, managers and educators interactive access to information about and data from human spaceflight experiments. The archive system consists of a Data Acquisition System, Database Management System, CD-ROM Mastering System and Catalog Information System (CIS). The catalog information system is the heart of the archive. The CIS provides detailed experiment descriptions (both written and as QuickTime movies), hardware descriptions, hardware images, documents, and data. An initial evaluation of the archive at a scientific meeting showed that 88% of those who evaluated the catalog want to use the system when completed. The majority of the evaluators found the archive flexible, satisfying and easy to use. We conclude that the data archive effectively provides key life sciences data to interested users.

  16. Underground coal mine instrumentation and test

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burchill, R. F.; Waldron, W. D.

    1976-01-01

    The need to evaluate mechanical performance of mine tools and to obtain test performance data from candidate systems dictate that an engineering data recording system be built. Because of the wide range of test parameters which would be evaluated, a general purpose data gathering system was designed and assembled to permit maximum versatility. A primary objective of this program was to provide a specific operating evaluation of a longwall mining machine vibration response under normal operating conditions. A number of mines were visited and a candidate for test evaluation was selected, based upon management cooperation, machine suitability, and mine conditions. Actual mine testing took place in a West Virginia mine.

  17. Disability Evaluation in Japan

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    To examine the current state and social ramifications of disability evaluation in Japan, public data from Annual Reports on Health and Welfare 1998-1999 were investigated. All data were analyzed based on the classification of disabilities and the effects of age-appropriate welfare services, which have been developed through a half-century of legislative efforts to support disability evaluation. These data suggest that disability evaluation, while essentially affected by age and impairment factors at a minimum, was impacted more by the assistive environment for disabilities. The assistive environment was found to be closely linked with the welfare support system related to a global assessment in the field of community-based rehabilitation. PMID:19503677

  18. Benchmark Testing of a New 56Fe Evaluation for Criticality Safety Applications

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

    Leal, Luiz C; Ivanov, E.

    2015-01-01

    The SAMMY code was used to evaluate resonance parameters of the 56Fe cross section in the resolved resonance energy range of 0–2 MeV using transmission data, capture, elastic, inelastic, and double differential elastic cross sections. The resonance analysis was performed with the code SAMMY that fits R-matrix resonance parameters using the generalized least-squares technique (Bayes’ theory). The evaluation yielded a set of resonance parameters that reproduced the experimental data very well, along with a resonance parameter covariance matrix for data uncertainty calculations. Benchmark tests were conducted to assess the evaluation performance in benchmark calculations.

  19. 75 FR 78210 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-12-15

    ... infrastructure investment. Such data are critical for evaluating productivity growth, changes in industrial... industry analysts use these data to evaluate productivity and economic growth prospects. In addition, the...

  20. Benchmarking for the Effective Use of Student Evaluation Data

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Smithson, John; Birks, Melanie; Harrison, Glenn; Nair, Chenicheri Sid; Hitchins, Marnie

    2015-01-01

    Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine current approaches to interpretation of student evaluation data and present an innovative approach to developing benchmark targets for the effective and efficient use of these data. Design/Methodology/Approach: This article discusses traditional approaches to gathering and using student feedback…

  1. Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation Data (BASE)

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    The Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation (BASE) study was a five year study to characterize determinants of indoor air quality and occupant perceptions in representative public and commercial office buildings across the U.S. This data source is the raw data from this study about the indoor air quality.

  2. Consultation in Bullying Prevention: An Elementary School Case Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Morrow, Michael T.; Hooker, Steven D.; Cate, Rebecca Lynne

    2015-01-01

    This manuscript outlines a consultation with a public elementary school that was aimed at assessing and strengthening the school's antibullying programs. We gathered consultation data through interviews and observations and also reviewed existing program evaluation data. We evaluated these data in light of current research on bullying prevention…

  3. Invited review: Genetics and claw health: Opportunities to enhance claw health by genetic selection

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Routine recording of claw health status at claw trimming of dairy cattle have been established in several countries, providing valuable data for genetic evaluation. In this review, issues related to genetic evaluation of claw health are examined, data sources, trait definitions and data validation p...

  4. Evaluating Best Management Practices and Correlations Between Culture and Molecular Data at a Cattle Feeding Operation and Nearby Stream

    EPA Science Inventory

    Presentation will include: Evaluate the performance of an infiltration basin and constructed wetland in a cattle-feeding operation (culture data only); Examine the correlation between culture data and qPCR measurements at two different research sites; Describe the relationship b...

  5. Evaluation of production tests in oil wells stimulated by massive acid fracturing offshore Qatar

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

    McDonald, S.W.

    This paper presents the evaluation of pressure-buildup data from production tests in wells that have been stimulated by massive acid fracturing. Fracture type curves are used in combination with conventional semilog analysis techniques. Fracture characteristics are calculated from a match of the early-time pressure data with the type curves, and reservoir characteristics are calculated from a conventional semilog plot of late-time data. Unexpectedly high formation permeabilities are evaluated, and fracture half-lengths are much shorter than design values.

  6. Evaluating New York City's abortion reporting system: insights for public health data collection systems.

    PubMed

    Toprani, Amita; Madsen, Ann; Das, Tara; Gambatese, Melissa; Greene, Carolyn; Begier, Elizabeth

    2014-01-01

    New York City (NYC) mandates reporting of all abortion procedures. These reports enable tracking of abortion incidence and underpin programs, policy, and research. Since January 2011, the majority of abortion facilities must report electronically. We conducted an evaluation of NYC's abortion reporting system and its transition to electronic reporting. We summarize the evaluation methodology and results and draw lessons relevant to other vital statistics and public health reporting systems. The evaluation followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems. We interviewed key stakeholders and conducted a data provider survey. In addition, we compared the system's abortion counts with external estimates and calculated the proportion of missing and invalid values for each variable on the report form. Finally, we assessed the process for changing the report form and estimated system costs. NYC Health Department's Bureau of Vital Statistics. Usefulness, simplicity, flexibility, data quality, acceptability, sensitivity, timeliness, and stability of the abortion reporting system. Ninety-five percent of abortion data providers considered abortion reporting important; 52% requested training regarding the report form. Thirty percent reported problems with electronic biometric fingerprint certification, and 18% reported problems with the electronic system's stability. Estimated system sensitivity was 88%. Of 17 variables, education and ancestry had more than 5% missing values in 2010. Changing the electronic reporting module was costly and time-consuming. System operating costs were estimated at $80 136 to $89 057 annually. The NYC abortion reporting system is sensitive and provides high-quality data, but opportunities for improvement include facilitating biometric certification, increasing electronic platform stability, and conducting ongoing outreach and training for data providers. This evaluation will help data users determine the degree of confidence that should be placed on abortion data. In addition, the evaluation results are applicable to other vital statistics reporting and surveillance systems.

  7. Making quality improvement programs more effective.

    PubMed

    Shaw-Taylor, Yoku

    2014-01-01

    In the past 25 years, and as recent as 2011, all external evaluations of the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program have found its impact to be small or difficult to discern. The QIO program costs about $200 million on average to administer each year to improve quality of healthcare for people of 65 years or older. The program was created to address questionable quality of care. QIOs review how care is provided based on performance measures. The paper aims to discuss these issues. In 2012, the author supported the production of quarterly reports and reviewed internal monitoring and evaluation protocols of the program. The task also required reviewing all previous program evaluations. The task involved many conversations about the complexities of the program, why impact is difficult to discern and possible ways for eventual improvement. Process flow charts were created to simulate the data life cycle and discrete event models were created based on the sequence of data collection and reporting to identify gaps in data flow. The internal evaluation uncovered data gaps within the program. The need for a system of specification rules for data conceptualization, collection, distribution, discovery, analysis and repurposing is clear. There were data inconsistencies and difficulty of integrating data from one instance of measurement to the next. The lack of good and reliable data makes it difficult to discern true impact. The prescription is for a formal data policy or data governance structure to integrate and document all aspects of the data life cycle. The specification rules for governance are exemplified by the Data Documentation Initiative and the requirements published by the Data Governance Institute. The elements are all in place for a solid foundation of the data governance structure. These recommendations will increase the value of program data. The model specifies which agency units must be included in the governance authority and the data team. The model prescribes in detail a data governance model to address gaps in the life cycle. These prescriptive measures will allow the program to integrate all of its data. Without this formal data governance structure, the QIO program will be undetermined by the persistent lack of good data for monitoring and evaluation.

  8. A New Look to Nuclear Data

    DOE PAGES

    McCutchan, E. A.; Brown, D. A.; Sonzogni, A. A.

    2017-03-30

    Databases of evaluated nuclear data form a cornerstone on which we build academic nuclear structure physics, reaction physics, astrophysics, and many applied nuclear technologies. In basic research, nuclear data are essential for selecting, designing and conducting experiments, and for the development and testing of theoretical models to understand the fundamental properties of atomic nuclei. Likewise, the applied fields of nuclear power, homeland security, stockpile stewardship and nuclear medicine, all have deep roots requiring evaluated nuclear data. Each of these fields requires rapid and easy access to up-to-date, comprehensive and reliable databases. The DOE-funded US Nuclear Data Program is a specificmore » and coordinated effort tasked to compile, evaluate and disseminate nuclear structure and reaction data such that it can be used by the world-wide nuclear physics community.« less

  9. A New Look to Nuclear Data

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

    McCutchan, E. A.; Brown, D. A.; Sonzogni, A. A.

    Databases of evaluated nuclear data form a cornerstone on which we build academic nuclear structure physics, reaction physics, astrophysics, and many applied nuclear technologies. In basic research, nuclear data are essential for selecting, designing and conducting experiments, and for the development and testing of theoretical models to understand the fundamental properties of atomic nuclei. Likewise, the applied fields of nuclear power, homeland security, stockpile stewardship and nuclear medicine, all have deep roots requiring evaluated nuclear data. Each of these fields requires rapid and easy access to up-to-date, comprehensive and reliable databases. The DOE-funded US Nuclear Data Program is a specificmore » and coordinated effort tasked to compile, evaluate and disseminate nuclear structure and reaction data such that it can be used by the world-wide nuclear physics community.« less

  10. Creating ensembles of decision trees through sampling

    DOEpatents

    Kamath, Chandrika; Cantu-Paz, Erick

    2005-08-30

    A system for decision tree ensembles that includes a module to read the data, a module to sort the data, a module to evaluate a potential split of the data according to some criterion using a random sample of the data, a module to split the data, and a module to combine multiple decision trees in ensembles. The decision tree method is based on statistical sampling techniques and includes the steps of reading the data; sorting the data; evaluating a potential split according to some criterion using a random sample of the data, splitting the data, and combining multiple decision trees in ensembles.

  11. Methodology issues concerning the accuracy of kinematic data collection and analysis using the ariel performance analysis system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilmington, R. P.; Klute, Glenn K. (Editor); Carroll, Amy E. (Editor); Stuart, Mark A. (Editor); Poliner, Jeff (Editor); Rajulu, Sudhakar (Editor); Stanush, Julie (Editor)

    1992-01-01

    Kinematics, the study of motion exclusive of the influences of mass and force, is one of the primary methods used for the analysis of human biomechanical systems as well as other types of mechanical systems. The Anthropometry and Biomechanics Laboratory (ABL) in the Crew Interface Analysis section of the Man-Systems Division performs both human body kinematics as well as mechanical system kinematics using the Ariel Performance Analysis System (APAS). The APAS supports both analysis of analog signals (e.g. force plate data collection) as well as digitization and analysis of video data. The current evaluations address several methodology issues concerning the accuracy of the kinematic data collection and analysis used in the ABL. This document describes a series of evaluations performed to gain quantitative data pertaining to position and constant angular velocity movements under several operating conditions. Two-dimensional as well as three-dimensional data collection and analyses were completed in a controlled laboratory environment using typical hardware setups. In addition, an evaluation was performed to evaluate the accuracy impact due to a single axis camera offset. Segment length and positional data exhibited errors within 3 percent when using three-dimensional analysis and yielded errors within 8 percent through two-dimensional analysis (Direct Linear Software). Peak angular velocities displayed errors within 6 percent through three-dimensional analyses and exhibited errors of 12 percent when using two-dimensional analysis (Direct Linear Software). The specific results from this series of evaluations and their impacts on the methodology issues of kinematic data collection and analyses are presented in detail. The accuracy levels observed in these evaluations are also presented.

  12. The use of high-fidelity human patient simulation as an evaluative tool in the development of clinical research protocols and procedures.

    PubMed

    Wright, Melanie C; Taekman, Jeffrey M; Barber, Linda; Hobbs, Gene; Newman, Mark F; Stafford-Smith, Mark

    2005-12-01

    Errors in clinical research can be costly, in terms of patient safety, data integrity, and data collection. Data inaccuracy in early subjects of a clinical study may be associated with problems in the design of the protocol, procedures, and data collection tools. High-fidelity patient simulation centers provide an ideal environment to apply human-centered design to clinical trial development. A draft of a complex clinical protocol was designed, evaluated and modified using a high-fidelity human patient simulator in the Duke University Human Simulation and Patient Safety Center. The process included walk-throughs, detailed modifications of the protocol and development of procedural aids. Training of monitors and coordinators provided an opportunity for observation of performance that was used to identify further improvements to the protocol. Evaluative steps were used to design the research protocol and procedures. Iterative modifications were made to the protocol and data collection tools. The success in use of human simulation in the preparation of a complex clinical drug trial suggests the benefits of human patient simulation extend beyond training and medical equipment evaluation. Human patient simulation can provide a context for informal expert evaluation of clinical protocol design and for formal "rehearsal" to evaluate the efficacy of procedures and support tools.

  13. PREdator: a python based GUI for data analysis, evaluation and fitting

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    The analysis of a series of experimental data is an essential procedure in virtually every field of research. The information contained in the data is extracted by fitting the experimental data to a mathematical model. The type of the mathematical model (linear, exponential, logarithmic, etc.) reflects the physical laws that underlie the experimental data. Here, we aim to provide a readily accessible, user-friendly python script for data analysis, evaluation and fitting. PREdator is presented at the example of NMR paramagnetic relaxation enhancement analysis.

  14. Handbook of Methods for the Evaluation of Water Conservation for Municipal and Industrial Water Supply.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-10-01

    complex process of data collection, selection and application of analysis methodologies, identification and evaluation of technical, socio -econmic and...area and political subdivision data. Two solutions are available: (a) disaggregate demographic and socio -econanic data to the service area (this...century. with this as an example, and data limitations can extend from the limits of knowledge of climate to limits of data on socio -econamic

  15. Advanced Video Analysis Needs for Human Performance Evaluation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Campbell, Paul D.

    1994-01-01

    Evaluators of human task performance in space missions make use of video as a primary source of data. Extraction of relevant human performance information from video is often a labor-intensive process requiring a large amount of time on the part of the evaluator. Based on the experiences of several human performance evaluators, needs were defined for advanced tools which could aid in the analysis of video data from space missions. Such tools should increase the efficiency with which useful information is retrieved from large quantities of raw video. They should also provide the evaluator with new analytical functions which are not present in currently used methods. Video analysis tools based on the needs defined by this study would also have uses in U.S. industry and education. Evaluation of human performance from video data can be a valuable technique in many industrial and institutional settings where humans are involved in operational systems and processes.

  16. The Challenges of Field Testing the Traffic Management Advisor (TMA) in an Operational Air Traffic Control Facility

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hoang, Ty; Swenson, Harry N.

    1997-01-01

    The Traffic Management Advisor (TMA), the sequence and schedule tool of the Center/TRACON Automation System (CTAS), was evaluated at the Fort Worth Center (ZFW) in the summer of 1996. This paper describes the challenges encountered during the various phases of the TMA field evaluation, which included system (hardware and software) installation, personnel training, and data collection. Operational procedures were developed and applied to the evaluation process that would ensure air safety. The five weeks of field evaluation imposed minimal impact on the hosting facility and provided valuable engineering and human factors data. The collection of data was very much an opportunistic affair, due to dynamic traffic conditions. One measure of the success of the TMA evaluation is that, rather than remove TMA after the evaluation until it could be fully implemented, the prototype TMA is in continual use at ZFW as the fully operational version is readied for implementation.

  17. 7 CFR 1755.401 - Scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ..., a “measurement” shall be defined as an evaluation where quantitative data is obtained (e.g... evaluation where no quantitative data is obtained (e.g., a check mark indicating conformance is usually the...

  18. 7 CFR 1755.401 - Scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ..., a “measurement” shall be defined as an evaluation where quantitative data is obtained (e.g... evaluation where no quantitative data is obtained (e.g., a check mark indicating conformance is usually the...

  19. 7 CFR 1755.401 - Scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ..., a “measurement” shall be defined as an evaluation where quantitative data is obtained (e.g... evaluation where no quantitative data is obtained (e.g., a check mark indicating conformance is usually the...

  20. 7 CFR 1755.401 - Scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ..., a “measurement” shall be defined as an evaluation where quantitative data is obtained (e.g... evaluation where no quantitative data is obtained (e.g., a check mark indicating conformance is usually the...

  1. 7 CFR 1755.401 - Scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ..., a “measurement” shall be defined as an evaluation where quantitative data is obtained (e.g... evaluation where no quantitative data is obtained (e.g., a check mark indicating conformance is usually the...

  2. Apply for 2018 WasteWise Awards

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Partner and endorser awards are based on data reported in the SMM Data Management System and a narrative description of activities. Partners will be evaluated using a weighted average of evaluation criteria.

  3. Historical Data Analysis of Hospital Discharges Related to the Amerithrax Attack in Florida

    PubMed Central

    Burke, Lauralyn K.; Brown, C. Perry; Johnson, Tammie M.

    2016-01-01

    Interrupted time-series analysis (ITSA) can be used to identify, quantify, and evaluate the magnitude and direction of an event on the basis of time-series data. This study evaluates the impact of the bioterrorist anthrax attacks (“Amerithrax”) on hospital inpatient discharges in the metropolitan statistical area of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties in the fourth quarter of 2001. Three statistical methods—standardized incidence ratio (SIR), segmented regression, and an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA)—were used to determine whether Amerithrax influenced inpatient utilization. The SIR found a non–statistically significant 2 percent decrease in hospital discharges. Although the segmented regression test found a slight increase in the discharge rate during the fourth quarter, it was also not statistically significant; therefore, it could not be attributed to Amerithrax. Segmented regression diagnostics preparing for ARIMA indicated that the quarterly data time frame was not serially correlated and violated one of the assumptions for the use of the ARIMA method and therefore could not properly evaluate the impact on the time-series data. Lack of data granularity of the time frames hindered the successful evaluation of the impact by the three analytic methods. This study demonstrates that the granularity of the data points is as important as the number of data points in a time series. ITSA is important for the ability to evaluate the impact that any hazard may have on inpatient utilization. Knowledge of hospital utilization patterns during disasters offer healthcare and civic professionals valuable information to plan, respond, mitigate, and evaluate any outcomes stemming from biothreats. PMID:27843420

  4. Evaluating and Improving Metadata for Data Use and Understanding

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Habermann, T.

    2013-12-01

    The last several decades have seen an extraordinary increase in the number and breadth of environmental data available to the scientific community and the general public. These increases have focused the environmental data community on creating metadata for discovering data and on the creation and population of catalogs and portals for facilitating discovery. This focus is reflected in the fields required by commonly used metadata standards and has resulted in collections populated with metadata that meet, but don't go far beyond, minimal discovery requirements. Discovery is the first step towards addressing scientific questions using data. As more data are discovered and accessed, users need metadata that 1) automates use and integration of these data in tools and 2) facilitates understanding the data when it is compared to similar datasets or as internal variations are observed. When data discovery is the primary goal, it is important to create records for as many datasets as possible. The content of these records is controlled by minimum requirements, and evaluation is generally limited to testing for required fields and counting records. As the use and understanding needs become more important, more comprehensive evaluation tools are needed. An approach is described for evaluating existing metadata in the light of these new requirements and for improving the metadata to meet them.

  5. The Design, Development, and Evaluation of a Qualitative Data Collection Application for Pregnant Women.

    PubMed

    Keedle, Hazel; Schmied, Virginia; Burns, Elaine; Dahlen, Hannah

    2018-01-01

    This article explores the development and evaluation of a smartphone mobile software application (app) to collect qualitative data. The app was specifically designed to capture real-time qualitative data from women planning a vaginal birth after caesarean delivery. This article outlines the design and development of the app to include funding, ethics, and the recruitment of an app developer, as well as the evaluation of using the app by seven participants. Data collection methods used in qualitative research include interviews and focus groups (either online, face-to-face, or by phone), participant diaries, or observations of interactions. This article identifies an alternative data collection methodology using a smartphone app to collect real-time data. The app provides real-time data and instant access to data alongside the ability to access participants from a variety of locations. This allows the researcher to gain insight into the experiences of participants through audio or video recordings in longitudinal studies without the need for constant interactions or interviews with participants. Using smartphone applications can allow researchers to access participants who are traditionally hard to reach and access their data in real time. Evaluating these apps before use in research is invaluable. © 2017 Sigma Theta Tau International.

  6. Mixture risk assessment: a case study of Monsanto experiences.

    PubMed

    Nair, R S; Dudek, B R; Grothe, D R; Johannsen, F R; Lamb, I C; Martens, M A; Sherman, J H; Stevens, M W

    1996-01-01

    Monsanto employs several pragmatic approaches for evaluating the toxicity of mixtures. These approaches are similar to those recommended by many national and international agencies. When conducting hazard and risk assessments, priority is always given to using data collected directly on the mixture of concern. To provide an example of the first tier of evaluation, actual data on acute respiratory irritation studies on mixtures were evaluated to determine whether the principle of additivity was applicable to the mixture evaluated. If actual data on the mixture are unavailable, extrapolation across similar mixtures is considered. Because many formulations are quite similar in composition, the toxicity data from one mixture can be extended to a closely related mixture in a scientifically justifiable manner. An example of a family of products where such extrapolations have been made is presented to exemplify this second approach. Lastly, if data on similar mixtures are unavailable, data on component fractions are used to predict the toxicity of the mixture. In this third approach, process knowledge and scientific judgement are used to determine how the known toxicological properties of the individual fractions affect toxicity of the mixture. Three examples of plant effluents where toxicological data on fractions were used to predict the toxicity of the mixture are discussed. The results of the analysis are used to discuss the predictive value of each of the above mentioned toxicological approaches for evaluating chemical mixtures.

  7. TAMEE: data management and analysis for tissue microarrays.

    PubMed

    Thallinger, Gerhard G; Baumgartner, Kerstin; Pirklbauer, Martin; Uray, Martina; Pauritsch, Elke; Mehes, Gabor; Buck, Charles R; Zatloukal, Kurt; Trajanoski, Zlatko

    2007-03-07

    With the introduction of tissue microarrays (TMAs) researchers can investigate gene and protein expression in tissues on a high-throughput scale. TMAs generate a wealth of data calling for extended, high level data management. Enhanced data analysis and systematic data management are required for traceability and reproducibility of experiments and provision of results in a timely and reliable fashion. Robust and scalable applications have to be utilized, which allow secure data access, manipulation and evaluation for researchers from different laboratories. TAMEE (Tissue Array Management and Evaluation Environment) is a web-based database application for the management and analysis of data resulting from the production and application of TMAs. It facilitates storage of production and experimental parameters, of images generated throughout the TMA workflow, and of results from core evaluation. Database content consistency is achieved using structured classifications of parameters. This allows the extraction of high quality results for subsequent biologically-relevant data analyses. Tissue cores in the images of stained tissue sections are automatically located and extracted and can be evaluated using a set of predefined analysis algorithms. Additional evaluation algorithms can be easily integrated into the application via a plug-in interface. Downstream analysis of results is facilitated via a flexible query generator. We have developed an integrated system tailored to the specific needs of research projects using high density TMAs. It covers the complete workflow of TMA production, experimental use and subsequent analysis. The system is freely available for academic and non-profit institutions from http://genome.tugraz.at/Software/TAMEE.

  8. Process evaluation of a walking programme delivered through the workplace in the South Pacific island Vanuatu.

    PubMed

    Siefken, Katja; Schofield, Grant; Schulenkorf, Nico

    2015-06-01

    The South Pacific region is experiencing significant rates of chronic diseases. Well-evaluated health promotion programmes are needed as a central piece of a strategic solution. Just as important as the evaluation itself is how that evaluation outcome can be communicated for future programme use by local programme planners. The objective of this study is to evaluate a physical activity (PA) programme that was designed for Pacific women in urban Vanuatu, and subsequently to develop new techniques to display data that support the understanding and communication of programme success and challenges. Data collection methods included quantitative Likert scale questions and qualitative open-ended questions. A new analysis technique visualises open-ended process evaluation data. We present themes using word sizes proportional to the frequency of the themes identified through thematic analysis. The Likert scale technique revealed little meaningful information; almost all participants rated most elements of the programme highly. This may be related to Pacific people being frequently inclined to assent with external ideas. Open-ended questions provided more significant insights. For example, we found a stronger change in eating habits (68.9%) than in exercise behaviour (28.2%). We present an evaluation of the first pedometer-based PA intervention in the Pacific and respond to the paucity of process evaluations that have been carried out in the context of low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, the new thematic data visualisation (TDV) approach may aid in understanding complex and cluttered data in a constructive and coordinated way; we present a new approach in health promotion research. © The Author(s) 2014.

  9. Evaluation of the Sensor Data Record from the Nadir Instruments of the Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite (OMPS)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wu, Xiangqian; Liu, Quanhua; Zeng, Jian; Grotenhuis, Michael; Qian, Haifeng; Caponi, Maria; Flynn, Larry; Jaross, Glen; Sen, Bhaswar; Buss, Richard H., Jr.; hide

    2014-01-01

    This paper evaluates the first 15 months of the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) Sensor Data Record (SDR) acquired by the nadir sensors and processed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Interface Data Processing Segment. The evaluation consists of an inter-comparison with a similar satellite instrument, an analysis using a radiative transfer model, and an assessment of product stability. This is in addition to the evaluation of sensor calibration and the Environment Data Record product that are also reported in this Special Issue. All these are parts of synergetic effort to provide comprehensive assessment at every level of the products to ensure its quality. It is found that the OMPS nadir SDR quality is satisfactory for the current Provisional maturity. Methods used in the evaluation are being further refined, developed, and expanded, in collaboration with international community through the Global Space-based Inter-Calibration System, to support the upcoming long-term monitoring.

  10. The evaluation of experimental data in fast range for n + 56Fe(n,inl)

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

    Qian, Jing; Herman, M.; Ge, Zhigang

    Iron is one of the five materials selected for evaluation within the pilot international evaluation project CIELO. Analysis of experimental data for n+ 56Fe reaction is the basis for constraining theoretical calculations and eventual creation of the evaluated file. The detail analysis was performed for inelastic cross sections of neutron induced reactions with 56Fe in the fast range up to 20 MeV where there are significant differences among the main evaluated libraries, mainly caused by the different inelastic scattering cross section measurements. Gamma-ray production cross sections provide a way to gain experimental information about the inelastic cross section. Large discrepanciesmore » between experimental data for the 847-keV gamma ray produced in the 56Fe(n,n 1'γ) reaction were analyzed. In addition, experimental data for elastic scattering cross section between 9.41~11 MeV were used to deduce the inelastic cross section from the unitarity constrain.« less

  11. The evaluation of experimental data in fast range for n + 56Fe(n,inl)

    DOE PAGES

    Qian, Jing; Herman, M.; Ge, Zhigang; ...

    2017-09-13

    Iron is one of the five materials selected for evaluation within the pilot international evaluation project CIELO. Analysis of experimental data for n+ 56Fe reaction is the basis for constraining theoretical calculations and eventual creation of the evaluated file. The detail analysis was performed for inelastic cross sections of neutron induced reactions with 56Fe in the fast range up to 20 MeV where there are significant differences among the main evaluated libraries, mainly caused by the different inelastic scattering cross section measurements. Gamma-ray production cross sections provide a way to gain experimental information about the inelastic cross section. Large discrepanciesmore » between experimental data for the 847-keV gamma ray produced in the 56Fe(n,n 1'γ) reaction were analyzed. In addition, experimental data for elastic scattering cross section between 9.41~11 MeV were used to deduce the inelastic cross section from the unitarity constrain.« less

  12. An Evaluation Method for PV Systems by using Limited Data Item

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oozeki, Takashi; Izawa, Toshiyasu; Otani, Kenji; Tsuzuku, Ken; Koike, Hisafumi; Kurokawa, Kosuke

    Beside photovoltaic (PV) systems are recently expected to introduce around Japan, almost all of them have not been taken care after established since PV systems are called maintenance free. In fact, there are few troubles about PV operations behind owners of PV systems because characteristics of them cannot be identified completely such as the ideal output energy. Therefore, it is very important to evaluate the characteristics of them. For evaluating them, equipments of measuring are required, and they, especially Pyrheliometer, are expensive as much as owners of the PV system cannot equip usually. Consequently, An evaluation method which can reveal the performance of operation such as the performance ratio with a very few kinds of data is necessary. In this paper, proposed method can evaluate performance ratio, shading losses, inverter efficiency losses by using only system output data items. The adequacies of the method are indicated by comparing with actual data and field survey results. As a result, the method is intended to be checking tool of PV system performance.

  13. Credit Risk Evaluation of Power Market Players with Random Forest

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Umezawa, Yasushi; Mori, Hiroyuki

    A new method is proposed for credit risk evaluation in a power market. The credit risk evaluation is to measure the bankruptcy risk of the company. The power system liberalization results in new environment that puts emphasis on the profit maximization and the risk minimization. There is a high probability that the electricity transaction causes a risk between companies. So, power market players are concerned with the risk minimization. As a management strategy, a risk index is requested to evaluate the worth of the business partner. This paper proposes a new method for evaluating the credit risk with Random Forest (RF) that makes ensemble learning for the decision tree. RF is one of efficient data mining technique in clustering data and extracting relationship between input and output data. In addition, the method of generating pseudo-measurements is proposed to improve the performance of RF. The proposed method is successfully applied to real financial data of energy utilities in the power market. A comparison is made between the proposed and the conventional methods.

  14. CDRH RF phantom for hyperthermia systems evaluations.

    PubMed

    Allen, S; Kantor, G; Bassen, H; Ruggera, P

    1988-01-01

    The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored clinical evaluations of investigational 'regional' hyperthermia systems at four clinical institutions. To support this project, the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) developed a series of test instruments to evaluate the magnitude and repeatability of the induced heating by radiofrequency (RF) systems. Data from three institutions using the same model hyperthermia system have been analyzed. After heating, the average temperature from measurements taken at several points in the test phantom at each institution agree within +/- 0.002 degrees C. These differences are about equal to the measurement uncertainty. Thus, this technique can be used for preclinical evaluation and quality control of the total system operation. After one of the institutions relocated its hyperthermia system, a subsequent set of data showed inconsistencies compared to their earlier data. Investigation traced this to cable loss and power meter interference. From the analysis of the data from the three institutions, the utility of the CDRH RF phantom for hyperthermia systems evaluation is demonstrated.

  15. 10 CFR 1045.9 - RD classification performance evaluation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... Program Management of the Restricted Data and Formerly Restricted Data Classification System § 1045.9 RD classification performance evaluation. (a) Heads of agencies shall ensure that RD management officials and those...

  16. Current status of quality evaluation of nursing care through director review and reflection from the Nursing Quality Control Centers

    PubMed Central

    Duan, Xia; Shi, Yan

    2014-01-01

    Background: The quality evaluation of nursing care is a key link in medical quality management. It is important and worth studying for the nursing supervisors to know the disadvantages during the process of quality evaluation of nursing care and then to improve the whole nursing quality. This study was to provide director insight on the current status of quality evaluation of nursing care from Nursing Quality Control Centers (NQCCs). Material and Methods: This qualitative study used a sample of 12 directors from NQCCs who were recruited from 12 provinces in China to evaluate the current status of quality evaluation of nursing care. Data were collected by in-depth interviews. Content analysis method was used to analyze the data. Results: Four themes emerged from the data: 1) lag of evaluation index; 2) limitations of evaluation content; 3) simplicity of evaluation method; 4) excessive emphasis on terminal quality. Conclusion: It is of great realistic significance to ameliorate nursing quality evaluation criteria, modify the evaluation content based on patient needs-oriented idea, adopt scientific evaluation method to evaluate nursing quality, and scientifically and reasonably draw horizontal comparisons of nursing quality between hospitals, as well as longitudinal comparisons of a hospital’s nursing quality. These methods mentioned above can all enhance a hospital’s core competitiveness and benefit more patients. PMID:25419427

  17. Northwest Forest Plan—the first 15 years (1994–2008): watershed condition status and trend

    Treesearch

    Steven H. Lanigan; Sean N. Gordon; Peter Eldred; Mark Isley; Steve Wilcox; Chris Moyer; Heidi Andersen

    2012-01-01

    We used two data sets to evaluate stream and watershed condition for sixth-field watersheds in each aquatic province within the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) area: stream data and upslope data. The stream evaluation was based on inchannel data (e.g., substrate, pieces of large wood, water temperature, pool frequency, and macroinvertebrates) we sampled from 2002 to 2009...

  18. Utilizing Multifaceted Rasch Measurement through Facets to Evaluate Science Education Data Sets Composed of Judges, Respondents, and Rating Scale Items: An Exemplar Utilizing the Elementary Science Teaching Analysis Matrix Instrument

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Boone, William J.; Townsend, J. Scott; Staver, John R.

    2016-01-01

    When collecting data, science education researchers frequently have multiple respondents evaluate multiple artifacts using multiple criteria. Herein, the authors introduce Multifaceted Rasch Measurement (MFRM) analysis and explain why MFRM must be used when "judges'" data are collected. The authors use data from elementary science…

  19. LANDSAT 4 band 6 data evaluation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1984-01-01

    The objectives of this investigation are to evaluate and monitor the radiometric integrity of the LANDSAT-D Thematic Mapper (TM) thermal infrared channel (Band 6) data to develop improved radiometric preprocessing calibration techniques for removal of atmospheric effects. Efforts this period have concentrated on underflight data collection. Two successful flights were made on September 18 and October 6. The radiosonde data for these flights have been obtained.

  20. Increasing community capacity for participatory evaluation of healthy eating and active living strategies through direct observations and environmental audits.

    PubMed

    Kemner, Allison L; Stachecki, Jessica R; Bildner, Michele E; Brennan, Laura K

    2015-01-01

    Local partnerships from the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities initiative elected to participate in enhanced evaluation trainings to collect data through environmental audits and direct observations as well as to build their evaluation capacity. Environmental audit and direct observation tools and protocols were adapted for the relevant healthy eating and active living policy and environmental change approaches being conducted by the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities partnerships. Customized trainings were conducted by the evaluation team to increase capacity and understanding for evaluation activities. A total of 87 trainings were conducted by the evaluation team in 31 Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities community partnerships. Data were collected for a total of 41 environmental audits and 17 direct observations. Community case examples illustrate how these trainings developed evaluation capacity. For instance, youth from one community presented environmental audit findings to local elected officials. The 31 partnerships participating in the community-based evaluation efforts resulted in 164 individuals trained in collecting context-specific data to assess the impact of healthy eating and active living policy and environmental strategies designed to create community change.

  1. A Free and Open Source Web-based Data Catalog Evaluation Tool

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    O'Brien, K.; Schweitzer, R.; Burger, E. F.

    2015-12-01

    For many years, the Unified Access Framework (UAF) project has worked to provide improved access to scientific data by leveraging widely used data standards and conventions. These standards include the Climate and Forecast (CF) metadata conventions, the Data Access Protocol (DAP) and various Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards such as WMS and WCS. The UAF has also worked to create a unified access point for scientific data access through THREDDS and ERDDAP catalogs. A significant effort was made by the UAF project to build a catalog-crawling tool that was designed to crawl remote catalogs, analyze their content and then build a clean catalog that 1) represented only CF compliant data; 2) provided a uniform set of access services and 3) where possible, aggregated data in time. That catalog is available at http://ferret.pmel.noaa.gov/geoide/geoIDECleanCatalog.html.Although this tool has proved immensely valuable in allowing the UAF project to create a high quality data catalog, the need for a catalog evaluation service or tool to operate on a more local level also exists. Many programs that generate data of interest to the public are recognizing the utility and power of using the THREDDS data server (TDS) to serve that data. However, for some groups that lack the resources to maintain dedicated IT personnel, it can be difficult to set up a properly configured TDS. The TDS catalog evaluating service that is under development and will be discussed in this presentation is an effort, through the UAF project, to bridge that gap. Based upon the power of the original UAF catalog cleaner, the web evaluator will have the ability to scan and crawl a local TDS catalog, evaluate the contents for compliance with CF standards, analyze the services offered, and identify datasets where possible temporal aggregation would benefit data access. The results of the catalog evaluator will guide the configuration of the dataset in TDS to ensure that it meets the standards as promoted by the UAF framework.

  2. Influenza detection and prediction algorithms: comparative accuracy trial in Östergötland county, Sweden, 2008-2012.

    PubMed

    Spreco, A; Eriksson, O; Dahlström, Ö; Timpka, T

    2017-07-01

    Methods for the detection of influenza epidemics and prediction of their progress have seldom been comparatively evaluated using prospective designs. This study aimed to perform a prospective comparative trial of algorithms for the detection and prediction of increased local influenza activity. Data on clinical influenza diagnoses recorded by physicians and syndromic data from a telenursing service were used. Five detection and three prediction algorithms previously evaluated in public health settings were calibrated and then evaluated over 3 years. When applied on diagnostic data, only detection using the Serfling regression method and prediction using the non-adaptive log-linear regression method showed acceptable performances during winter influenza seasons. For the syndromic data, none of the detection algorithms displayed a satisfactory performance, while non-adaptive log-linear regression was the best performing prediction method. We conclude that evidence was found for that available algorithms for influenza detection and prediction display satisfactory performance when applied on local diagnostic data during winter influenza seasons. When applied on local syndromic data, the evaluated algorithms did not display consistent performance. Further evaluations and research on combination of methods of these types in public health information infrastructures for 'nowcasting' (integrated detection and prediction) of influenza activity are warranted.

  3. A guide to evaluating linkage quality for the analysis of linked data.

    PubMed

    Harron, Katie L; Doidge, James C; Knight, Hannah E; Gilbert, Ruth E; Goldstein, Harvey; Cromwell, David A; van der Meulen, Jan H

    2017-10-01

    Linked datasets are an important resource for epidemiological and clinical studies, but linkage error can lead to biased results. For data security reasons, linkage of personal identifiers is often performed by a third party, making it difficult for researchers to assess the quality of the linked dataset in the context of specific research questions. This is compounded by a lack of guidance on how to determine the potential impact of linkage error. We describe how linkage quality can be evaluated and provide widely applicable guidance for both data providers and researchers. Using an illustrative example of a linked dataset of maternal and baby hospital records, we demonstrate three approaches for evaluating linkage quality: applying the linkage algorithm to a subset of gold standard data to quantify linkage error; comparing characteristics of linked and unlinked data to identify potential sources of bias; and evaluating the sensitivity of results to changes in the linkage procedure. These approaches can inform our understanding of the potential impact of linkage error and provide an opportunity to select the most appropriate linkage procedure for a specific analysis. Evaluating linkage quality in this way will improve the quality and transparency of epidemiological and clinical research using linked data. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association.

  4. Evaluation of the Big Two-Factor Theory of Academic Motivation Orientations: An Evaluation of the Jingle-Jangle Fallacies.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Marsh, Herbert W.; Craven, Rhonda G.; Hinkley, John W.; Debus, Raymond L.

    2003-01-01

    Collected test-retest data from 606 students in grades 3 through 6 in Australia to evaluate a Big Two-Factor Theory of academic motivation orientation. Findings provide reasonable support for the Big Two-Factor theory but suggest it is still useful to collect data from different motivation scales. (SLD)

  5. Efficiency at Faculties of Economics in the Czech Public Higher Education Institutions: Two Different Approaches

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Flégl, Martin; Vltavská, Kristýna

    2013-01-01

    The paper evaluates research and teaching efficiency at faculties of economics in the public higher education institutions in the Czech Republic. Evaluation is provided in two periods between the years 2006-2010 and 2007-2011. For this evaluation the Data Envelopment Analysis and Index approach are used. Data Envelopment Analysis measures research…

  6. Research on software behavior trust based on hierarchy evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Long, Ke; Xu, Haishui

    2017-08-01

    In view of the correlation software behavior, we evaluate software behavior credibility from two levels of control flow and data flow. In control flow level, method of the software behavior of trace based on support vector machine (SVM) is proposed. In data flow level, behavioral evidence evaluation based on fuzzy decision analysis method is put forward.

  7. Teacher Perspectives of the Use of Student Performance Data in Teacher Evaluations

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hopkins, Paul Thomas

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine how K-12 public school teachers perceive the use of student performance data in teacher evaluations. The proprietary, utility, feasibility, and accuracy standards created by the Joint Committee on Standards for Education Evaluation (JCSEE) served as a framework for the study. An online survey was deployed…

  8. State of Wisconsin Evaluation Conference Summary: ESEA Title I Migrant Education Programs, Summer of 1979.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wisconsin State Dept. of Public Instruction, Madison. Div. for Management and Planning Services.

    The Elementary Secondary Education Act Title I Wisconsin Migrant Education Conference was held on August 6, 1979 to evaluate programs and to gather program planning data. Data for this evaluation were collected by means of both structured interaction of the 53 conference participants and questionnaires completed by participants. The teachers felt…

  9. Organizational Analysis of the United States Army Evaluation Center

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-12-01

    analysis of qualitative or quantitative data obtained from design reviews, hardware inspections, M&S, hardware and software testing , metrics review... Research Development Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation account. The Defense Acquisition Portal ACQuipedia website describes RDT&E as “ one of the... research , design , development, test and evaluation, production, installation, operation, and maintenance; data collection; processing and analysis

  10. 49 CFR Appendix C to Part 242 - Procedures for Obtaining and Evaluating Motor Vehicle Driving Record Data

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Procedures for Obtaining and Evaluating Motor Vehicle Driving Record Data C Appendix C to Part 242 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to... CERTIFICATION OF CONDUCTORS Pt. 242, App. C Appendix C to Part 242—Procedures for Obtaining and Evaluating Motor...

  11. 49 CFR Appendix C to Part 242 - Procedures for Obtaining and Evaluating Motor Vehicle Driving Record Data

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Procedures for Obtaining and Evaluating Motor Vehicle Driving Record Data C Appendix C to Part 242 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to... CERTIFICATION OF CONDUCTORS Pt. 242, App. C Appendix C to Part 242—Procedures for Obtaining and Evaluating Motor...

  12. Seeing the Forest Despite the Trees: The Benefit of Exploratory Data Analysis to Program Evaluation Research.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sinacore, James M.; And Others

    1992-01-01

    It is argued that there is a benefit to applying techniques of exploratory data analysis (EDA) to program evaluation. The evaluation of a rehabilitation program for people with rheumatoid arthritis (20 subjects and 21 comparisons) through EDA supports the argument, indicating outcomes more precisely than conventional analysis of variance. (SLD)

  13. EVALUATION OF THE REAL-TIME AIR-QUALITY MODEL USING THE RAPS (REGIONAL AIR POLLUTION STUDY) DATA BASE. VOLUME 3. PROGRAM USER'S GUIDE

    EPA Science Inventory

    The theory and programming of statistical tests for evaluating the Real-Time Air-Quality Model (RAM) using the Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS) data base are fully documented in four volumes. Moreover, the tests are generally applicable to other model evaluation problems. Volu...

  14. Experiential Instruction of Listening for College Students: Theoretical and Practical Approaches to Teaching Listening. Evaluating Listening Texts.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kaufmann, Paul

    Eight college listening texts were selected and evaluated by the following criteria: organization, supporting material, and readability. Text organization was assessed by preface material, table of contents, index, and references. Text supporting material was evaluated by the use of hard data, soft data, visual aids, and bibliographies. Text…

  15. Developing a Planetary Spatial Data Infrastructure for Evaluating Landing Sites and Performing Surface Operations for the Mars 2020 Lander

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fergason, R. L.; Laura, J.; Hare, T. M.; Otero, R.; Edgar, L. A.

    2017-12-01

    A Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) is a robust framework for data and data products, metadata, data access mechanisms, standards, policy, and a user community that helps to define and standardize the data necessary to meet some specified goal. The primary objective of an SDI is to improve communication, to enhance data access, and to aid in identifying gaps in knowledge. We are developing an SDI that describes the foundational data sets and accuracy requirements to evaluate landing site safety, facilitate the successful operation of Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN), and assist in the operation of the rover once it has successfully landed on Mars. Thru current development efforts, an implicit SDI exists for the Mars 2020 mission. An explicit SDI will allow us to identify any potential gaps in knowledge, facilitate communication between the different institutions involved in landing site evaluation and TRN development, and help ensure a smooth transition from landing to surface operations. This SDI is currently relevant to the Mars 2020 rover mission, but can also serve as a means to document current requirements for foundational data products and standards for future landed missions to Mars and other planetary bodies. To generate a Mars 2020-specific SDI, we must first document and rationalize data set and accuracy requirements for evaluating landing sites, performing surface operations, and inventorying Mars 2020 mission needs in terms of an SDI framework. This step will allow us to 1) evaluate and define what is needed for the acquisition of data and the generation and validation of data products, 2) articulate the accuracy and co-registration requirements, and 3) identify needs for data access (and eventual archiving). This SDI document will serve as a means to communicate the existing foundational products, standards that were followed in producing these products, and where and how these products can be accessed by the planetary community. This SDI will also facilitate discussions between the landing and surface operations groups to communicate the available data and identify unique needs to surface operations. Our goal is to continually review and update this SDI throughout the Mars 2020 landing site evaluation and operations, so that it remains relevant and effective as data availability and needs evolve.

  16. Position Measurement Standard Evaluation

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1975-02-01

    The objectives of the Position Measurement Standard Program were to collect navigation data from three DME receivers and a low-frequency GLOBAL Navigation system, and evaluate their relative performance against a reference radar. Flight test data dur...

  17. Publications - GMC 343 | Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical

    Science.gov Websites

    DGGS GMC 343 Publication Details Title: Geochemical data (HC-show evaluation) for the following samples Bibliographic Reference ConocoPhillips, 2007, Geochemical data (HC-show evaluation) for the following samples

  18. Evaluation of techniques for handling missing cost-to-charge ratios in the USA Nationwide Inpatient Sample: a simulation study.

    PubMed

    Yu, Tzy-Chyi; Zhou, Huanxue

    2015-09-01

    Evaluate performance of techniques used to handle missing cost-to-charge ratio (CCR) data in the USA Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Four techniques to replace missing CCR data were evaluated: deleting discharges with missing CCRs (complete case analysis), reweighting as recommended by Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, reweighting by adjustment cells and hot deck imputation by adjustment cells. Bias and root mean squared error of these techniques on hospital cost were evaluated in five disease cohorts. Similar mean cost estimates would be obtained with any of the four techniques when the percentage of missing data is low (<10%). When total cost is the outcome of interest, a reweighting technique to avoid underestimation from dropping observations with missing data should be adopted.

  19. An initial analysis of LANDSAT 4 Thematic Mapper data for the classification of agricultural, forested wetland, and urban land covers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Quattrochi, D. A.; Anderson, J. E.; Brannon, D. P.; Hill, C. L.

    1982-01-01

    An initial analysis of LANDSAT 4 thematic mapper (TM) data for the delineation and classification of agricultural, forested wetland, and urban land covers was conducted. A study area in Poinsett County, Arkansas was used to evaluate a classification of agricultural lands derived from multitemporal LANDSAT multispectral scanner (MSS) data in comparison with a classification of TM data for the same area. Data over Reelfoot Lake in northwestern Tennessee were utilized to evaluate the TM for delineating forested wetland species. A classification of the study area was assessed for accuracy in discriminating five forested wetland categories. Finally, the TM data were used to identify urban features within a small city. A computer generated classification of Union City, Tennessee was analyzed for accuracy in delineating urban land covers. An evaluation of digitally enhanced TM data using principal components analysis to facilitate photointerpretation of urban features was also performed.

  20. Summary report on the evaluation of a 1977--1985 edited sorption data base for isotherm modeling

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

    Polzer, W.L.; Beckman, R.J.; Fuentes, H.R.

    1993-09-01

    Sorption data bases collected by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) from 1977 to 1985 for the Yucca Mountain Project.(YMP) have been inventoried and fitted with isotherm expressions. Effects of variables (e.g., particle size) on the isotherm were also evaluated. The sorption data are from laboratory batch measurements which were not designed specifically for isotherm modeling. However a limited number of data sets permitted such modeling. The analysis of those isotherm data can aid in the design of future sorption experiments and can provide expressions to be used in radionuclide transport modeling. Over 1200 experimental observations were inventoried for their adequacymore » to be modeled b isotherms and to evaluate the effects of variables on isotherms. About 15% of the observations provided suitable data sets for modeling. The data sets were obtained under conditions that include ambient temperature and two atmospheres, air and CO{sub 2}.« less

  1. An evaluation-guided approach for effective data visualization on tablets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Games, Peter S.; Joshi, Alark

    2015-01-01

    There is a rising trend of data analysis and visualization tasks being performed on a tablet device. Apps with interactive data visualization capabilities are available for a wide variety of domains. We investigate whether users grasp how to effectively interpret and interact with visualizations. We conducted a detailed user evaluation to study the abilities of individuals with respect to analyzing data on a tablet through an interactive visualization app. Based upon the results of the user evaluation, we find that most subjects performed well at understanding and interacting with simple visualizations, specifically tables and line charts. A majority of the subjects struggled with identifying interactive widgets, recognizing interactive widgets with overloaded functionality, and understanding visualizations which do not display data for sorted attributes. Based on our study, we identify guidelines for designers and developers of mobile data visualization apps that include recommendations for effective data representation and interaction.

  2. Guideline for Performing Systematic Approach to Evaluate and Qualify Legacy Documents that Support Advanced Reactor Technology Activity

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

    Honma, George

    The establishment of a systematic process for the evaluation of historic technology information for use in advanced reactor licensing is described. Efforts are underway to recover and preserve Experimental Breeder Reactor II and Fast Flux Test Facility historical data. These efforts have generally emphasized preserving information from data-acquisition systems and hard-copy reports and entering it into modern electronic formats suitable for data retrieval and examination. The guidance contained in this document has been developed to facilitate consistent and systematic evaluation processes relating to quality attributes of historic technical information (with focus on sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) technology) that will bemore » used to eventually support licensing of advanced reactor designs. The historical information may include, but is not limited to, design documents for SFRs, research-and-development (R&D) data and associated documents, test plans and associated protocols, operations and test data, international research data, technical reports, and information associated with past U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reviews of SFR designs. The evaluation process is prescribed in terms of SFR technology, but the process can be used to evaluate historical information for any type of advanced reactor technology. An appendix provides a discussion of typical issues that should be considered when evaluating and qualifying historical information for advanced reactor technology fuel and source terms, based on current light water reactor (LWR) requirements and recent experience gained from Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP).« less

  3. The development of a streamlined, coordinated and sustainable evaluation methodology for a diverse chronic disease management program.

    PubMed

    Berlowitz, David J; Graco, Marnie

    2010-05-01

    The Northern Alliance Hospital Admission Risk Program-Chronic Disease Management comprises 13 services delivering care to those with chronic disease and older people with complex care needs, who are frequent hospital users. To develop and implement a system-wide approach to the evaluation of this existing program. The Northern Clinical Research Centre audited all existing, routinely collected administrative data within the program and then met with each service to develop service specific outcome measures. The evaluators then developed and implemented a system-wide evaluation approach to measure performance in terms of: client profile; access and entry; service efficiency; client outcomes; and hospital demand. Data are collected electronically and more than 80% are derived from existing, administrative datasets, minimising staff and client burden. Additional data include client outcomes and a health related quality of life measure. The preliminary twelve month data suggest that clients have the equivalent of 'fair' or 'poor' self-reported health status (n = 862) and the average health utility scores are significantly (P < 0.05) worse than population control data. These analyses reveal, for the first time, that the Northern Alliance Hospital Admission Risk Program-Chronic Disease Management program is targeting appropriate clients. This methodology will enable many prospective assessments to be performed including; client outcome evaluation, service model comparisons, and cost-utility analyses. This evaluation approach demonstrates the feasibility of a highly coordinated 'whole of system' evaluation. Such an approach may ultimately contribute to the development of evidence-based policy.

  4. The NUBASE2016 evaluation of nuclear properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Audi, G.; Kondev, F. G.; Wang, Meng; Huang, W. J.; Naimi, S.

    2017-03-01

    This paper presents the NUBASE2016 evaluation that contains the recommended values for nuclear and decay properties of 3437 nuclides in their ground and excited isomeric (T1/2 >= 100 ns) states. All nuclides for which any experimental information is known were considered. NUBASE2016 covers all data published by October 2016 in primary (journal articles) and secondary (mainly laboratory reports and conference proceedings) references, together with the corresponding bibliographical information. During the development of NUBASE2016, the data available in the 'Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File' (ENSDF) database were consulted and critically assessed for their validity and completeness. Furthermore, a large amount of new data and some older experimental results that were missing from ENSDF were compiled, evaluated and included in NUBASE2016. The atomic mass values were taken from the 'Atomic Mass Evaluation' (AME2016, second and third parts of the present issue). In cases where no experimental data were available for a particular nuclide, trends in the behavior of specific properties in neighboring nuclides (TNN) were examined. This approach allowed to estimate values for a range of properties that are labeled in NUBASE2016 as 'non-experimental' (flagged '#'). Evaluation procedures and policies used during the development of this database are presented, together with a detailed table of recommended values and their uncertainties. AMDC: http://amdc.impcas.ac.cn/ Contents The NUBASE2016 evaluation of nuclear propertiesAcrobat PDF (1.1 MB) Table I. The NUBASE2016 table of nuclear and decay propertiesAcrobat PDF (706 KB)

  5. Test and Evaluation of an Image-Matching Navigation System for a UAS Operating in a GPS-Denied Environment

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-09-01

    NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS TEST AND EVALUATION OF AN IMAGE-MATCHING NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A UAS OPERATING IN A GPS-DENIED...INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ii Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited. TEST AND EVALUATION OF AN IMAGE-MATCHING NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A UAS... Evaluation Setup and Procedures 39 4.1 Test Equipment and Data Collection Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 4.2 Actual Flight Data Collection

  6. Protocol for the process evaluation of a complex intervention designed to increase the use of research in health policy and program organisations (the SPIRIT study).

    PubMed

    Haynes, Abby; Brennan, Sue; Carter, Stacy; O'Connor, Denise; Schneider, Carmen Huckel; Turner, Tari; Gallego, Gisselle

    2014-09-27

    Process evaluation is vital for understanding how interventions function in different settings, including if and why they have different effects or do not work at all. This is particularly important in trials of complex interventions in 'real world' organisational settings where causality is difficult to determine. Complexity presents challenges for process evaluation, and process evaluations that tackle complexity are rarely reported. This paper presents the detailed protocol for a process evaluation embedded in a randomised trial of a complex intervention known as SPIRIT (Supporting Policy In health with Research: an Intervention Trial). SPIRIT aims to build capacity for using research in health policy and program agencies. We describe the flexible and pragmatic methods used for capturing, managing and analysing data across three domains: (a) the intervention as it was implemented; (b) how people participated in and responded to the intervention; and (c) the contextual characteristics that mediated this relationship and may influence outcomes. Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods include purposively sampled semi-structured interviews at two time points, direct observation and coding of intervention activities, and participant feedback forms. We provide examples of the data collection and data management tools developed. This protocol provides a worked example of how to embed process evaluation in the design and evaluation of a complex intervention trial. It tackles complexity in the intervention and its implementation settings. To our knowledge, it is the only detailed example of the methods for a process evaluation of an intervention conducted as part of a randomised trial in policy organisations. We identify strengths and weaknesses, and discuss how the methods are functioning during early implementation. Using 'insider' consultation to develop methods is enabling us to optimise data collection while minimising discomfort and burden for participants. Embedding the process evaluation within the trial design is facilitating access to data, but may impair participants' willingness to talk openly in interviews. While it is challenging to evaluate the process of conducting a randomised trial of a complex intervention, our experience so far suggests that it is feasible and can add considerably to the knowledge generated.

  7. Goodness of Model-Data Fit and Invariant Measurement

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Engelhard, George, Jr.; Perkins, Aminah

    2013-01-01

    In this commentary, Englehard and Perkins remark that Maydeu-Olivares has presented a framework for evaluating the goodness of model-data fit for item response theory (IRT) models and correctly points out that overall goodness-of-fit evaluations of IRT models and data are not generally explored within most applications in educational and…

  8. 42 CFR 82.15 - How will NIOSH evaluate the completeness and adequacy of individual monitoring data?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... adequacy of individual monitoring data? 82.15 Section 82.15 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES METHODS... adequacy of individual monitoring data? (a) NIOSH will evaluate the completeness and adequacy of an...

  9. 42 CFR 82.15 - How will NIOSH evaluate the completeness and adequacy of individual monitoring data?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... adequacy of individual monitoring data? 82.15 Section 82.15 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES METHODS... adequacy of individual monitoring data? (a) NIOSH will evaluate the completeness and adequacy of an...

  10. 42 CFR 82.15 - How will NIOSH evaluate the completeness and adequacy of individual monitoring data?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... adequacy of individual monitoring data? 82.15 Section 82.15 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES METHODS... adequacy of individual monitoring data? (a) NIOSH will evaluate the completeness and adequacy of an...

  11. 42 CFR 82.15 - How will NIOSH evaluate the completeness and adequacy of individual monitoring data?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... adequacy of individual monitoring data? 82.15 Section 82.15 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES METHODS... adequacy of individual monitoring data? (a) NIOSH will evaluate the completeness and adequacy of an...

  12. Targeted and Non-Targeted Analysis of Serum Pools to Provide Chemical Exposure Data for Exposure Modeling and Chemical Prioritization

    EPA Science Inventory

    Biomonitoring data can help inform the development and calibration of high-throughput exposure modeling for use in prioritization and risk evaluation. A pilot project was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using pooled banked blood samples to generate initial data on popul...

  13. NREL Evaluates Aquarius Liquid-Cooled High-Performance Computing Technology

    Science.gov Websites

    HPC and influence the modern data center designer towards adoption of liquid cooling. Our shared technology. Aquila and Sandia chose NREL's HPC Data Center for the initial installation and evaluation because the data center is configured for liquid cooling, along with the required instrumentation to

  14. Writing, Evaluating and Assessing Data Response Items in Economics.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Trotman-Dickenson, D. I.

    1989-01-01

    Describes some of the problems in writing data response items in economics for use by A Level and General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) students. Examines the experience of two series of workshops on writing items, evaluating them and assessing responses from schools. Offers suggestions for producing packages of data response items as…

  15. Using Rasch Analysis to Identify Uncharacteristic Responses to Undergraduate Assessments

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Edwards, Antony; Alcock, Lara

    2010-01-01

    Rasch Analysis is a statistical technique that is commonly used to analyse both test data and Likert survey data, to construct and evaluate question item banks, and to evaluate change in longitudinal studies. In this article, we introduce the dichotomous Rasch model, briefly discussing its assumptions. Then, using data collected in an…

  16. Making the most of limited data in the evaluation of advanced traveler information services (ATIS) through experimental resampling : Cincinnati case study

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2004-02-01

    Researchers and practitioners are commonly faced with the problem of limited data in the evaluation of ITS systems. Due to high data collection costs and limited resources, they are often forced to make decisions about the efficacy of a system or tec...

  17. Sharing Data between Mobile Devices, Connected Vehicles and Infrastructure Task 8 : D2X Hub Proof-of-Concept Test Evaluation Report.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2017-10-25

    The Task 8 D2X Hub Proof-of-Concept Test Evaluation Report provides results of the experimental data analysis performed in accordance with the experimental plan for the proof-of-concept version of the prototype system. The data set analyzed includes ...

  18. Flight test and evaluation of Omega navigation in a general aviation aircraft. Volume 2: Appendices

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Howell, J. D.; Hoffman, W. C.; Hwoschinsky, P. V.; Wischmeyer, C. E.

    1975-01-01

    Detailed documentation for each flight of the Omega Flight Evaluation study is presented, including flight test description sheets and actual flight data plots. Computer programs used for data processing and flight planning are explained and the data formats utilized by the Custom Interface Unit are summarized.

  19. A comprehensive model to evaluate implementation of the world health organization framework convention of tobacco control

    PubMed Central

    Sarrafzadegan, Nizal; Kelishad, Roya; Rabiei, Katayoun; Abedi, Heidarali; Mohaseli, Khadijeh Fereydoun; Masooleh, Hasan Azaripour; Alavi, Mousa; Heidari, Gholamreza; Ghaffari, Mostafa; O’Loughlin, Jennifer

    2012-01-01

    Background: Iran is one of the countries that has ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), and has implemented a series of tobacco control interventions including the Comprehensive Tobacco Control Law. Enforcement of this legislation and assessment of its outcome requires a dedicated evaluation system. This study aimed to develop a generic model to evaluate the implementation of the Comprehensive Tobacco Control Law in Iran that was provided based on WHO-FCTC articles. Materials and Methods: Using a grounded theory approach, qualitative data were collected from 265 subjects in individual interviews and focus group discussions with policymakers who designed the legislation, key stakeholders, and members of the target community. In addition, field observations data in supermarkets/shops, restaurants, teahouses and coffee shops were collected. Data were analyzed in two stages through conceptual theoretical coding. Findings: Overall, 617 open codes were extracted from the data into tables; 72 level-3 codes were retained from the level-2 code series. Using a Model Met paradigm, the relationships between the components of each paradigm were depicted graphically. The evaluation model entailed three levels, namely: short-term results, process evaluation and long-term results. Conclusions: Central concept of the process of evaluation is that enforcing the law influences a variety of internal and environmental factors including legislative changes. These factors will be examined during the process evaluation and context evaluation. The current model can be applicable for providing FCTC evaluation tools across other jurisdictions. PMID:23833621

  20. New decision-making processes for the pricing of health technologies in Japan: The FY 2016/2017 pilot phase for the introduction of economic evaluations.

    PubMed

    Shiroiwa, Takeru; Fukuda, Takashi; Ikeda, Shunya; Takura, Tomoyuki

    2017-08-01

    Economic evaluation is used for decision-making processes in healthcare technologies in many developed countries. In Japan, no health economic data have been requested for drugs, medical devices, and interventions till date. However, economic evaluation is gradually gaining importance, and a trial implementation of the cost-effectiveness evaluation of drugs and medical devices has begun. Discussions on economic evaluation began in May 2012 within a newly established sub-committee of the Chuikyo, referred to as the "Special Committee on Cost Effectiveness." After four years of discussions, this committee determined that during the trial implementation, the results of the cost-effectiveness evaluation would be used for the re-pricing of drugs and medical devices at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2017. Chuikyo selected 13 products (7 drugs and 6 medical devices) as targets for this evaluation. These products will be evaluated until the end of FY 2017 based on the following process: manufacturers will submit the data of economic evaluation; the National Institute of Public Health will coordinate the review process; academic groups will perform the actual review of the submitted data, and the expert committee will appraise these data. This represents the first step to introducing cost-effectiveness analysis in the Japanese healthcare system. We believe that these efforts will contribute to the efficiency and sustainability of the Japanese healthcare system. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Semi-automated landform classification for hazard mapping of soil liquefaction by earthquake

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nakano, Takayuki

    2018-05-01

    Soil liquefaction damages were caused by huge earthquake in Japan, and the similar damages are concerned in near future huge earthquake. On the other hand, a preparation of soil liquefaction risk map (soil liquefaction hazard map) is impeded by the difficulty of evaluation of soil liquefaction risk. Generally, relative soil liquefaction risk should be able to be evaluated from landform classification data by using experimental rule based on the relationship between extent of soil liquefaction damage and landform classification items associated with past earthquake. Therefore, I rearranged the relationship between landform classification items and soil liquefaction risk intelligibly in order to enable the evaluation of soil liquefaction risk based on landform classification data appropriately and efficiently. And I developed a new method of generating landform classification data of 50-m grid size from existing landform classification data of 250-m grid size by using digital elevation model (DEM) data and multi-band satellite image data in order to evaluate soil liquefaction risk in detail spatially. It is expected that the products of this study contribute to efficient producing of soil liquefaction hazard map by local government.

  2. PrismTech Data Distribution Service Java API Evaluation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Riggs, Cortney

    2008-01-01

    My internship duties with Launch Control Systems required me to start performance testing of an Object Management Group's (OMG) Data Distribution Service (DDS) specification implementation by PrismTech Limited through the Java programming language application programming interface (API). DDS is a networking middleware for Real-Time Data Distribution. The performance testing involves latency, redundant publishers, extended duration, redundant failover, and read performance. Time constraints allowed only for a data throughput test. I have designed the testing applications to perform all performance tests when time is allowed. Performance evaluation data such as megabits per second and central processing unit (CPU) time consumption were not easily attainable through the Java programming language; they required new methods and classes created in the test applications. Evaluation of this product showed the rate that data can be sent across the network. Performance rates are better on Linux platforms than AIX and Sun platforms. Compared to previous C++ programming language API, the performance evaluation also shows the language differences for the implementation. The Java API of the DDS has a lower throughput performance than the C++ API.

  3. Evaluation of SLAR and thematic mapper MSS data for forest cover mapping using computer-aided analysis techniques

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hoffer, R. M. (Principal Investigator)

    1981-01-01

    Training and test data sets for CAM1S from NS-001 MSS data for two dates (geometrically adjusted to 30 meter resolution) were used to evaluate wavelength band. Two sets of tapes containing digitized HH and HV polarization data were obtained. Because the SAR data on the 9 track tapes contained no meaningful data, the 7 track tapes were copied onto 9 track tapes at LARS. The LARSYS programs were modified and a program was written to reformat the digitized SAR data into a LARSYS format. The radar imagery is being qualitatively interpreted. Results are to be used to identify possible cover types, to produce a classification map to aid in the numerical evaluation classification of radar data, and to develop an interpretation key for radar imagery. The four spatial resolution data sets were analyzed. A program was developed to reduce the spatial distortions resulting from variable viewing distance, and geometrically adjusted data sets were generated. A flowchart of steps taken to geometrically adjust a data set from the NS-001 scanner is presented.

  4. Availability of Neutronics Benchmarks in the ICSBEP and IRPhEP Handbooks for Computational Tools Testing

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

    Bess, John D.; Briggs, J. Blair; Ivanova, Tatiana

    2017-02-01

    In the past several decades, numerous experiments have been performed worldwide to support reactor operations, measurements, design, and nuclear safety. Those experiments represent an extensive international investment in infrastructure, expertise, and cost, representing significantly valuable resources of data supporting past, current, and future research activities. Those valuable assets represent the basis for recording, development, and validation of our nuclear methods and integral nuclear data [1]. The loss of these experimental data, which has occurred all too much in the recent years, is tragic. The high cost to repeat many of these measurements can be prohibitive, if not impossible, to surmount.more » Two international projects were developed, and are under the direction of the Organisation for Co-operation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD NEA) to address the challenges of not just data preservation, but evaluation of the data to determine its merit for modern and future use. The International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) was established to identify and verify comprehensive critical benchmark data sets; evaluate the data, including quantification of biases and uncertainties; compile the data and calculations in a standardized format; and formally document the effort into a single source of verified benchmark data [2]. Similarly, the International Reactor Physics Experiment Evaluation Project (IRPhEP) was established to preserve integral reactor physics experimental data, including separate or special effects data for nuclear energy and technology applications [3]. Annually, contributors from around the world continue to collaborate in the evaluation and review of select benchmark experiments for preservation and dissemination. The extensively peer-reviewed integral benchmark data can then be utilized to support nuclear design and safety analysts to validate the analytical tools, methods, and data needed for next-generation reactor design, safety analysis requirements, and all other front- and back-end activities contributing to the overall nuclear fuel cycle where quality neutronics calculations are paramount.« less

  5. User needs analysis and usability assessment of DataMed - a biomedical data discovery index.

    PubMed

    Dixit, Ram; Rogith, Deevakar; Narayana, Vidya; Salimi, Mandana; Gururaj, Anupama; Ohno-Machado, Lucila; Xu, Hua; Johnson, Todd R

    2017-11-30

    To present user needs and usability evaluations of DataMed, a Data Discovery Index (DDI) that allows searching for biomedical data from multiple sources. We conducted 2 phases of user studies. Phase 1 was a user needs analysis conducted before the development of DataMed, consisting of interviews with researchers. Phase 2 involved iterative usability evaluations of DataMed prototypes. We analyzed data qualitatively to document researchers' information and user interface needs. Biomedical researchers' information needs in data discovery are complex, multidimensional, and shaped by their context, domain knowledge, and technical experience. User needs analyses validate the need for a DDI, while usability evaluations of DataMed show that even though aggregating metadata into a common search engine and applying traditional information retrieval tools are promising first steps, there remain challenges for DataMed due to incomplete metadata and the complexity of data discovery. Biomedical data poses distinct problems for search when compared to websites or publications. Making data available is not enough to facilitate biomedical data discovery: new retrieval techniques and user interfaces are necessary for dataset exploration. Consistent, complete, and high-quality metadata are vital to enable this process. While available data and researchers' information needs are complex and heterogeneous, a successful DDI must meet those needs and fit into the processes of biomedical researchers. Research directions include formalizing researchers' information needs, standardizing overviews of data to facilitate relevance judgments, implementing user interfaces for concept-based searching, and developing evaluation methods for open-ended discovery systems such as DDIs. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

  6. Use of High Throughput Screening Data in IARC Monograph ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Purpose: Evaluation of carcinogenic mechanisms serves a critical role in IARC monograph evaluations, and can lead to “upgrade” or “downgrade” of the carcinogenicity conclusions based on human and animal evidence alone. Three recent IARC monograph Working Groups (110, 112, and 113) pioneered analysis of high throughput in vitro screening data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ToxCast program in evaluations of carcinogenic mechanisms. Methods: For monograph 110, ToxCast assay data across multiple nuclear receptors were used to test the hypothesis that PFOA acts exclusively through the PPAR family of receptors, with activity profiles compared to several prototypical nuclear receptor-activating compounds. For monographs 112 and 113, ToxCast assays were systematically evaluated and used as an additional data stream in the overall evaluation of the mechanistic evidence. Specifically, ToxCast assays were mapped to 10 “key characteristics of carcinogens” recently identified by an IARC expert group, and chemicals’ bioactivity profiles were evaluated both in absolute terms (number of relevant assays positive for bioactivity) and relative terms (ranking with respect to other compounds evaluated by IARC, using the ToxPi methodology). Results: PFOA activates multiple nuclear receptors in addition to the PPAR family in the ToxCast assays. ToxCast assays offered substantial coverage for 5 of the 10 “key characteristics,” with the greates

  7. [Study on artificial neural network combined with multispectral remote sensing imagery for forest site evaluation].

    PubMed

    Gong, Yin-Xi; He, Cheng; Yan, Fei; Feng, Zhong-Ke; Cao, Meng-Lei; Gao, Yuan; Miao, Jie; Zhao, Jin-Long

    2013-10-01

    Multispectral remote sensing data containing rich site information are not fully used by the classic site quality evaluation system, as it merely adopts artificial ground survey data. In order to establish a more effective site quality evaluation system, a neural network model which combined remote sensing spectra factors with site factors and site index relations was established and used to study the sublot site quality evaluation in the Wangyedian Forest Farm in Inner Mongolia Province, Chifeng City. Based on the improved back propagation artificial neural network (BPANN), this model combined multispectral remote sensing data with sublot survey data, and took larch as example, Through training data set sensitivity analysis weak or irrelevant factor was excluded, the size of neural network was simplified, and the efficiency of network training was improved. This optimal site index prediction model had an accuracy up to 95.36%, which was 9.83% higher than that of the neural network model based on classic sublot survey data, and this shows that using multi-spectral remote sensing and small class survey data to determine the status of larch index prediction model has the highest predictive accuracy. The results fully indicate the effectiveness and superiority of this method.

  8. Evaluation in medical education: A topical review of target parameters, data collection tools and confounding factors.

    PubMed

    Schiekirka, Sarah; Feufel, Markus A; Herrmann-Lingen, Christoph; Raupach, Tobias

    2015-01-01

    Evaluation is an integral part of education in German medical schools. According to the quality standards set by the German Society for Evaluation, evaluation tools must provide an accurate and fair appraisal of teaching quality. Thus, data collection tools must be highly reliable and valid. This review summarises the current literature on evaluation of medical education with regard to the possible dimensions of teaching quality, the psychometric properties of survey instruments and potential confounding factors. We searched Pubmed, PsycINFO and PSYNDEX for literature on evaluation in medical education and included studies published up until June 30, 2011 as well as articles identified in the "grey literature". RESULTS are presented as a narrative review. We identified four dimensions of teaching quality: structure, process, teacher characteristics, and outcome. Student ratings are predominantly used to address the first three dimensions, and a number of reliable tools are available for this purpose. However, potential confounders of student ratings pose a threat to the validity of these instruments. Outcome is usually operationalised in terms of student performance on examinations, but methodological problems may limit the usability of these data for evaluation purposes. In addition, not all examinations at German medical schools meet current quality standards. The choice of tools for evaluating medical education should be guided by the dimension that is targeted by the evaluation. Likewise, evaluation results can only be interpreted within the context of the construct addressed by the data collection tool that was used as well as its specific confounding factors.

  9. The research on user behavior evaluation method for network state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Chengyuan; Xu, Haishui

    2017-08-01

    Based on the correlation between user behavior and network running state, this paper proposes a method of user behavior evaluation based on network state. Based on the analysis and evaluation methods in other fields of study, we introduce the theory and tools of data mining. Based on the network status information provided by the trusted network view, the user behavior data and the network state data are analysed. Finally, we construct the user behavior evaluation index and weight, and on this basis, we can accurately quantify the influence degree of the specific behavior of different users on the change of network running state, so as to provide the basis for user behavior control decision.

  10. 2011 Release of the Evaluated Nuclear Data Library (ENDL2011.0)

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

    Brown, D. A.; Beck, B.; Descalles, M. A.

    LLNL’s Computational Nuclear Physics Group and Nuclear Theory and Modeling Group have collaborated to produce the last of three major releases of LLNL’s evaluated nuclear database, ENDL2011. ENDL2011 is designed to support LLNL’s current and future nuclear data needs by providing the best nuclear data available to our programmatic customers. This library contains many new evaluations for radiochemical diagnostics, structural materials, and thermonuclear reactions. We have made an effort to eliminate all holes in reaction networks, allowing in-line isotopic creation and depletion calculations. We have striven to keep ENDL2011 at the leading edge of nuclear data library development by reviewingmore » and incorporating new evaluations as they are made available to the nuclear data community. Finally, this release is our most highly tested release as we have strengthened our already rigorous testing regime by adding tests against IPPE Activation Ratio Measurements, many more new critical assemblies and a more complete set of classified testing (to be detailed separately).« less

  11. Evaluation of Ocean Color Scanner (OCS) photographic and digital data: Santa Barbara Channel test site, 29 October 1975 overflight

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kraus, S. P.; Estes, J. E.; Kronenberg, M. R.; Hajic, E. J.

    1977-01-01

    A summary of Ocean Color Scanner data was examined to evaluate detection and discrimination capabilities of the system for marine resources, oil pollution and man-made sea surface targets of opportunity in the Santa Barbara Channel. Assessment of the utility of OCS for the determination of sediment transport patterns along the coastal zone was a secondary goal. Data products provided 1975 overflight were in digital and analog formats. In evaluating the OCS data, automated and manual procedures were employed. A total of four channels of data in digital format were analyzed, as well as three channels of color combined imagery, and four channels of black and white imagery. In addition, 1:120,000 scale color infrared imagery acquired simultaneously with the OCS data were provided for comparative analysis purposes.

  12. Invited review: Genetics and claw health: Opportunities to enhance claw health by genetic selection.

    PubMed

    Heringstad, B; Egger-Danner, C; Charfeddine, N; Pryce, J E; Stock, K F; Kofler, J; Sogstad, A M; Holzhauer, M; Fiedler, A; Müller, K; Nielsen, P; Thomas, G; Gengler, N; de Jong, G; Ødegård, C; Malchiodi, F; Miglior, F; Alsaaod, M; Cole, J B

    2018-06-01

    Routine recording of claw health status at claw trimming of dairy cattle has been established in several countries, providing valuable data for genetic evaluation. In this review, we examine issues related to genetic evaluation of claw health; discuss data sources, trait definitions, and data validation procedures; and present a review of genetic parameters, possible indicator traits, and status of genetic and genomic evaluations for claw disorders. Different sources of data and traits can be used to describe claw health. Severe cases of claw disorders can be identified by veterinary diagnoses. Data from lameness and locomotion scoring, activity information from sensors, and feet and leg conformation traits are used as auxiliary traits. The most reliable and comprehensive information is data from regular hoof trimming. In genetic evaluation, claw disorders are usually defined as binary traits, based on whether or not the claw disorder was present (recorded) at least once during a defined time period. The traits can be specific disorders, composite traits, or overall claw health. Data validation and editing criteria are needed to ensure reliable data at the trimmer, herd, animal, and record levels. Different strategies have been chosen, reflecting differences in herd sizes, data structures, management practices, and recording systems among countries. Heritabilities of the most commonly analyzed claw disorders based on data from routine claw trimming were generally low, with ranges of linear model estimates from 0.01 to 0.14, and threshold model estimates from 0.06 to 0.39. Estimated genetic correlations among claw disorders varied from -0.40 to 0.98. The strongest genetic correlations were found among sole hemorrhage (SH), sole ulcer (SU), and white line disease (WL), and between digital/interdigital dermatitis (DD/ID) and heel horn erosion (HHE). Genetic correlations between DD/ID and HHE on the one hand and SH, SU, or WL on the other hand were, in most cases, low. Although some of the studies were based on relatively few records and the estimated genetic parameters had large standard errors, there was, with some exceptions, consistency among studies. Various studies evaluate the potential of various data soureces for use in breeding. The use of hoof trimming data is recommended for maximization of genetic gain, although auxiliary traits, such as locomotion score and some conformation traits, may be valuable for increasing the reliability of genetic evaluations. Routine genetic evaluation of direct claw health has been implemented in the Netherlands (2010); Denmark, Finland, and Sweden (joint Nordic evaluation; 2011); and Norway (2014), and other countries plan to implement evaluations in the near future. The Authors. Published by FASS Inc. and Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).

  13. Systematic evaluation of non-animal test methods for skin sensitisation safety assessment.

    PubMed

    Reisinger, Kerstin; Hoffmann, Sebastian; Alépée, Nathalie; Ashikaga, Takao; Barroso, Joao; Elcombe, Cliff; Gellatly, Nicola; Galbiati, Valentina; Gibbs, Susan; Groux, Hervé; Hibatallah, Jalila; Keller, Donald; Kern, Petra; Klaric, Martina; Kolle, Susanne; Kuehnl, Jochen; Lambrechts, Nathalie; Lindstedt, Malin; Millet, Marion; Martinozzi-Teissier, Silvia; Natsch, Andreas; Petersohn, Dirk; Pike, Ian; Sakaguchi, Hitoshi; Schepky, Andreas; Tailhardat, Magalie; Templier, Marie; van Vliet, Erwin; Maxwell, Gavin

    2015-02-01

    The need for non-animal data to assess skin sensitisation properties of substances, especially cosmetics ingredients, has spawned the development of many in vitro methods. As it is widely believed that no single method can provide a solution, the Cosmetics Europe Skin Tolerance Task Force has defined a three-phase framework for the development of a non-animal testing strategy for skin sensitization potency prediction. The results of the first phase – systematic evaluation of 16 test methods – are presented here. This evaluation involved generation of data on a common set of ten substances in all methods and systematic collation of information including the level of standardisation, existing test data,potential for throughput, transferability and accessibility in cooperation with the test method developers.A workshop was held with the test method developers to review the outcome of this evaluation and to discuss the results. The evaluation informed the prioritisation of test methods for the next phase of the non-animal testing strategy development framework. Ultimately, the testing strategy – combined with bioavailability and skin metabolism data and exposure consideration – is envisaged to allow establishment of a data integration approach for skin sensitisation safety assessment of cosmetic ingredients.

  14. Evaluation of the Geotech SMART24BH 20Vpp/5Vpp data acquisition system with active fortezza crypto card data signing and authentication.

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

    Rembold, Randy Kai; Hart, Darren M.

    Sandia National Laboratories has tested and evaluated Geotech SMART24BH borehole data acquisition system with active Fortezza crypto card data signing and authentication. The test results included in this report were in response to static and tonal-dynamic input signals. Most test methodologies used were based on IEEE Standards 1057 for Digitizing Waveform Recorders and 1241 for Analog to Digital Converters; others were designed by Sandia specifically for infrasound application evaluation and for supplementary criteria not addressed in the IEEE standards. The objective of this work was to evaluate the overall technical performance of two Geotech SMART24BH digitizers with a Fortezza PCMCIAmore » crypto card actively implementing the signing of data packets. The results of this evaluation were compared to relevant specifications provided within manufacturer's documentation notes. The tests performed were chosen to demonstrate different performance aspects of the digitizer under test. The performance aspects tested include determining noise floor, least significant bit (LSB), dynamic range, cross-talk, relative channel-to-channel timing, time-tag accuracy/statistics/drift, analog bandwidth.« less

  15. Time-to-event methodology improved statistical evaluation in register-based health services research.

    PubMed

    Bluhmki, Tobias; Bramlage, Peter; Volk, Michael; Kaltheuner, Matthias; Danne, Thomas; Rathmann, Wolfgang; Beyersmann, Jan

    2017-02-01

    Complex longitudinal sampling and the observational structure of patient registers in health services research are associated with methodological challenges regarding data management and statistical evaluation. We exemplify common pitfalls and want to stimulate discussions on the design, development, and deployment of future longitudinal patient registers and register-based studies. For illustrative purposes, we use data from the prospective, observational, German DIabetes Versorgungs-Evaluation register. One aim was to explore predictors for the initiation of a basal insulin supported therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes initially prescribed to glucose-lowering drugs alone. Major challenges are missing mortality information, time-dependent outcomes, delayed study entries, different follow-up times, and competing events. We show that time-to-event methodology is a valuable tool for improved statistical evaluation of register data and should be preferred to simple case-control approaches. Patient registers provide rich data sources for health services research. Analyses are accompanied with the trade-off between data availability, clinical plausibility, and statistical feasibility. Cox' proportional hazards model allows for the evaluation of the outcome-specific hazards, but prediction of outcome probabilities is compromised by missing mortality information. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. The development and validity of the Salford Gait Tool: an observation-based clinical gait assessment tool.

    PubMed

    Toro, Brigitte; Nester, Christopher J; Farren, Pauline C

    2007-03-01

    To develop the construct, content, and criterion validity of the Salford Gait Tool (SF-GT) and to evaluate agreement between gait observations using the SF-GT and kinematic gait data. Tool development and comparative evaluation. University in the United Kingdom. For designing construct and content validity, convenience samples of 10 children with hemiplegic, diplegic, and quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP) and 152 physical therapy students and 4 physical therapists were recruited. For developing criterion validity, kinematic gait data of 13 gait clusters containing 56 children with hemiplegic, diplegic, and quadriplegic CP and 11 neurologically intact children was used. For clinical evaluation, a convenience sample of 23 pediatric physical therapists participated. We developed a sagittal plane observational gait assessment tool through a series of design, test, and redesign iterations. The tool's grading system was calibrated using kinematic gait data of 13 gait clusters and was evaluated by comparing the agreement of gait observations using the SF-GT with kinematic gait data. Criterion standard kinematic gait data. There was 58% mean agreement based on grading categories and 80% mean agreement based on degree estimations evaluated with the least significant difference method. The new SF-GT has good concurrent criterion validity.

  17. Do economic evaluation studies inform effective healthcare resource allocation in Iran? A critical review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Haghparast-Bidgoli, Hassan; Kiadaliri, Aliasghar Ahmad; Skordis-Worrall, Jolene

    2014-01-01

    To aid informed health sector decision-making, data from sufficient high quality economic evaluations must be available to policy makers. To date, no known study has analysed the quantity and quality of available Iranian economic evaluation studies. This study aimed to assess the quantity, quality and targeting of economic evaluation studies conducted in the Iranian context. The study systematically reviewed full economic evaluation studies (n = 30) published between 1999 and 2012 in international and local journals. The findings of the review indicate that although the literature on economic evaluation in Iran is growing, these evaluations were of poor quality and suffer from several major methodological flaws. Furthermore, the review reveals that economic evaluation studies have not addressed the major health problems in Iran. While the availability of evidence is no guarantee that it will be used to aid decision-making, the absence of evidence will certainly preclude its use. Considering the deficiencies in the data identified by this review, current economic evaluations cannot be a useful source of information for decision makers in Iran. To improve the quality and overall usefulness of economic evaluations we would recommend; 1) developing clear national guidelines for the conduct of economic evaluations, 2) highlighting priority areas where information from such studies would be most useful and 3) training researchers and policy makers in the calculation and use of economic evaluation data.

  18. Do economic evaluation studies inform effective healthcare resource allocation in Iran? A critical review of the literature

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    To aid informed health sector decision-making, data from sufficient high quality economic evaluations must be available to policy makers. To date, no known study has analysed the quantity and quality of available Iranian economic evaluation studies. This study aimed to assess the quantity, quality and targeting of economic evaluation studies conducted in the Iranian context. The study systematically reviewed full economic evaluation studies (n = 30) published between 1999 and 2012 in international and local journals. The findings of the review indicate that although the literature on economic evaluation in Iran is growing, these evaluations were of poor quality and suffer from several major methodological flaws. Furthermore, the review reveals that economic evaluation studies have not addressed the major health problems in Iran. While the availability of evidence is no guarantee that it will be used to aid decision-making, the absence of evidence will certainly preclude its use. Considering the deficiencies in the data identified by this review, current economic evaluations cannot be a useful source of information for decision makers in Iran. To improve the quality and overall usefulness of economic evaluations we would recommend; 1) developing clear national guidelines for the conduct of economic evaluations, 2) highlighting priority areas where information from such studies would be most useful and 3) training researchers and policy makers in the calculation and use of economic evaluation data. PMID:25050084

  19. Genetic algorithm for nuclear data evaluation

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

    Arthur, Jennifer Ann

    These are slides on genetic algorithm for nuclear data evaluation. The following is covered: initial population, fitness (outer loop), calculate fitness, selection (first part of inner loop), reproduction (second part of inner loop), solution, and examples.

  20. The Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES)

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1996-01-01

    The CODES Technical Report presents state-specific results from the Crash : Outcome Data Evaluation System project. These results confirm previous NHTSA : studies and show that safety belts and motorcycle helmets are effective in : reducing fatalitie...

  1. Conclusions: Future Directions.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jacobson, Harvey K.

    1978-01-01

    Various aspects of the institutional evaluation process are discussed including: pitfalls to avoid, choice of indicators, audience, accountability, futures research, technological change, program termination, data sources, longitudinal data, political aspects, advertising, marketing, and internal v external evaluators. (Author/SF)

  2. Collection, processing and dissemination of data for the national solar demonstration program

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Day, R. E.; Murphy, L. J.; Smok, J. T.

    1978-01-01

    A national solar data system developed for the DOE by IBM provides for automatic gathering, conversion, transfer, and analysis of demonstration site data. NASA requirements for this system include providing solar site hardware, engineering, data collection, and analysis. The specific tasks include: (1) solar energy system design/integration; (2) developing a site data acquisition subsystem; (3) developing a central data processing system; (4) operating the test facility at Marshall Space Flight Center; (5) collecting and analyzing data. The systematic analysis and evaluation of the data from the National Solar Data System is reflected in a monthly performance report and a solar energy system performance evaluation report.

  3. SEASAT synthetic-aperture radar data user's manual

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pravdo, S. H.; Huneycutt, B.; Holt, B. M.; Held, D. N.

    1983-01-01

    The SEASAT Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR) system, the data processors, the extent of the image data set, and the means by which a user obtains this data are described and the data quality is evaluated. The user is alerted to some potential problems with the existing volume of SEASAT SAR image data, and allows him to modify his use of that data accordingly. Secondly, the manual focuses on the ultimate focuses on the ultimate capabilities of the raw data set and evaluates the potential of this data for processing into accurately located, amplitude-calibrated imagery of high resolution. This allows the user to decide whether his needs require special-purpose data processing of the SAR raw data.

  4. Evaluation to Redesign a Prototype Officer Data Base for Interdisciplinary Research

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-01-01

    accommodate cohort longitudinal research and econometric model testing . Recommendations regarding the adoption of the LOADB were presented. Utilization...commission data sets (Younkman, 1987), and the AIMS data set ( Ramsey & Younkman, 1989). An analysis of selected standardized tests for ROTC screening was...ARI Research Note 92-16 Evaluation to Redesign a Prototype il Officer Data Base for Interdisciplinary Research Dianne D. Younkman and Lori G. Ramsey

  5. Progress on Component Evaluation for Nuclear Explosion Monitoring

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-09-01

    one data logger, Geotech Smart24. For the infrasound sensors tested, the test results allow us to conclude that both sensors had sufficiently quiet...a lower frequency than expected. Sandia was also asked to evaluate the Geotech Smart24 data logger for qualification as a replacement to the Geotech ...results of using 26-bit quantization. Characterization Geotech Smart24 Data-Logger with Active Fortezza Crypto Card Data Signing Over the spring

  6. Quality Attribute-Guided Evaluation of NoSQL Databases: An Experience Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-10-18

    detailed technical evaluations of NoSQL databases specifically, and big data systems in general, that have become apparent during our study... big data , software systems [Agarwal 2011]. Internet-born organizations such as Google and Amazon are at the cutting edge of this revolution...Chang 2008], along with those of numerous other big data innovators, have made a variety of open source and commercial data management technologies

  7. Understanding USGS user needs and Earth observing data use for decision making

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Z.

    2016-12-01

    US Geological Survey (USGS) initiated the Requirements, Capabilities and Analysis for Earth Observations (RCA-EO) project in the Land Remote Sensing (LRS) program, collaborating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to jointly develop the supporting information infrastructure - The Earth Observation Requirements Evaluation Systems (EORES). RCA-EO enables us to collect information on current data products and projects across the USGS and evaluate the impacts of Earth observation data from all sources, including spaceborne, airborne, and ground-based platforms. EORES allows users to query, filter, and analyze usage and impacts of Earth observation data at different organizational level within the bureau. We engaged over 500 subject matter experts and evaluated more than 1000 different Earth observing data sources and products. RCA-EO provides a comprehensive way to evaluate impacts of Earth observing data on USGS mission areas and programs through the survey of 345 key USGS products and services. We paid special attention to user feedback about Earth observing data to inform decision making on improving user satisfaction. We believe the approach and philosophy of RCA-EO can be applied in much broader scope to derive comprehensive knowledge of Earth observing systems impacts and usage and inform data products development and remote sensing technology innovation.

  8. Increasing the use of evaluation data collection in an EPO program

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Taber, J. J.; Bohon, W.; Bravo, T. K.; Dordevic, M.; Dorr, P. M.; Hubenthal, M.; Johnson, J. A.; Sumy, D.; Welti, R.; Davis, H. B.

    2017-12-01

    Over the past two years, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology Education and Public Outreach (EPO) program has sought to increase the evaluation rigor of its programs and products. Specifically we sought to make evaluation an integral part of our work; enabling staff to demonstrate why we do the activities we do, enhancing the impact or our products/programs, and empowering staff to make evidence-based claims. The Collaborative Impact Analysis Method (Davis and Scalice, 2015) was selected as it allowed us to combine staff's knowledge of programs, audiences and content with the expertise of an outside evaluation expert, through consultations and a qualitative rubric assessing the initial state of each product/program's evaluation. Staff then developed action plans to make improvements to the programs over time. A key part of the initial action plans has been the collection and analysis of new evaluation data. The most frequently used tools were surveys as they were relatively straightforward to implement and analyze, and could be adapted for different situations. Examples include: brand awareness, value of booth interactions, assessing community interest in a data app, and user surveys of social media and specific web pages. Other evaluation activities included beta testing of new software, and interviews with students and faculty involved in summer field experiences. The surveys have allowed us to document increased impact in some areas, to improve the usability of products and activities, and to provide baseline impact data. The direct involvement of staff in the process has helped staff appreciate the value of evaluation, but there are also challenges to this approach. Since many of the surveys are developed and conducted by EPO staff, rather than being primarily handled by the evaluator, the process takes considerably more staff time to implement. We are still determining how to best manage and present the data and analysis; our current approach is to post evaluation reports on our EPO website so that other groups may be able to benefit from our evaluation results. Davis, H. & Scalice, D. (2015). Evaluate the Impact of your Education and Outreach Program Using the Quantitative Collaborative Impact Analysis Method. Abstract ED53D-0871, 2015 Fall Meeting, AGU.

  9. Automated assessment of medical training evaluation text.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Rui; Pakhomov, Serguei; Gladding, Sophia; Aylward, Michael; Borman-Shoap, Emily; Melton, Genevieve B

    2012-01-01

    Medical post-graduate residency training and medical student training increasingly utilize electronic systems to evaluate trainee performance based on defined training competencies with quantitative and qualitative data, the later of which typically consists of text comments. Medical education is concomitantly becoming a growing area of clinical research. While electronic systems have proliferated in number, little work has been done to help manage and analyze qualitative data from these evaluations. We explored the use of text-mining techniques to assist medical education researchers in sentiment analysis and topic analysis of residency evaluations with a sample of 812 evaluation statements. While comments were predominantly positive, sentiment analysis improved the ability to discriminate statements with 93% accuracy. Similar to other domains, Latent Dirichlet Analysis and Information Gain revealed groups of core subjects and appear to be useful for identifying topics from this data.

  10. The critical evaluation of stellar data

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Underhill, A. B.; Mead, J. M.; Nagy, T. A.

    1977-01-01

    The paper discusses the importance of evaluating a catalog of stellar data, whether it is an old catalog being made available in machine-readable form, or a new catalog written expressly in machine-readable form, and discusses some principles to be followed in the evaluation of such data. A procedure to be followed when checking out an astronomical catalog on magnetic tape is described. A cross index system which relates the different identification numbers of a star or other astronomical object as they appear in different catalogs in machine-readable form is described.

  11. A Summary and Evaluation of Aquatic Environmental Data in Relation to Establishing Water Quality Criteria for Munitions-Unique Compounds. Part 2. Nitroglycerin.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1979-04-01

    AD-A082 437 WATER AND AIR RESEARCH INC GAINESVILLE FLA F/6 6/20 SUMMARY AND EVALUATION OF AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTAL DATA IN RELAT--ETC(U) APR 79 . H...ASummnary and Evaluation of Aquatic Environ- Final pt mental Data in Relation to Establishin Water 1 Ap 77 m.31 AugdW~I" j .H. Sullivan, Jr H. 0...effects of nitroglycerin (TNG) on the aquatic environment and to reconmmend water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic organisms. Chemical

  12. A Summary and Evaluation of Aquatic Environmental Data in Relation to Establishing Water Quality Criteria for Munitions-Unique Compounds. Part 4: RDX and HMX.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1979-03-01

    AD-AO87 683 WATER AND AIR RESEARCH INC GAINESVILLE FL F/6 13/2 SUMMARY AND EVALUATION OF AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTAL DATA IN RELAT-ETC(U) MAR 79 J H...F1 ’ " LII r , N \\I .<A -U AND EVALUATION OF AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTAL DATA IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR MUNITIONS-UNIQUE... aquatic environment and t water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic organisms1 Vt- ,., Chemical properties, analytical methods

  13. Guidelines for Conducting a Training Effectiveness Evaluation (TEE). Volume 2. Data Collector’s Manual

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-02-01

    D : ■>■■ ’•.’.’. Research Product 85-15 Guidelines for Conducting a Training Effectiveness Evaluation (TEE) Volume II: Data...CONDUCTING A TRAINING EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION (TEE) VOLUME II: DATA COLLECTOR’S MANUAL 1 t. TV*CO» READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE COMWLETWC FORM I...2Q263739A793 3227 52A M. COMTAOLUMQ O’ttCC RAMC AND ADO* CSS Co—and ant U.S. Army Air Defense School ATTN: ATSA-TDI, Ft. Bliss, TX II. RCRORf OATC

  14. Status report: Data management program algorithm evaluation activity at Marshall Space Flight Center

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jayroe, R. R., Jr.

    1977-01-01

    An algorithm evaluation activity was initiated to study the problems associated with image processing by assessing the independent and interdependent effects of registration, compression, and classification techniques on LANDSAT data for several discipline applications. The objective of the activity was to make recommendations on selected applicable image processing algorithms in terms of accuracy, cost, and timeliness or to propose alternative ways of processing the data. As a means of accomplishing this objective, an Image Coding Panel was established. The conduct of the algorithm evaluation is described.

  15. Reliable and valid tools for measuring surgeons' teaching performance: residents' vs. self evaluation.

    PubMed

    Boerebach, Benjamin C M; Arah, Onyebuchi A; Busch, Olivier R C; Lombarts, Kiki M J M H

    2012-01-01

    In surgical education, there is a need for educational performance evaluation tools that yield reliable and valid data. This paper describes the development and validation of robust evaluation tools that provide surgeons with insight into their clinical teaching performance. We investigated (1) the reliability and validity of 2 tools for evaluating the teaching performance of attending surgeons in residency training programs, and (2) whether surgeons' self evaluation correlated with the residents' evaluation of those surgeons. We surveyed 343 surgeons and 320 residents as part of a multicenter prospective cohort study of faculty teaching performance in residency training programs. The reliability and validity of the SETQ (System for Evaluation Teaching Qualities) tools were studied using standard psychometric techniques. We then estimated the correlations between residents' and surgeons' evaluations. The response rate was 87% among surgeons and 84% among residents, yielding 2625 residents' evaluations and 302 self evaluations. The SETQ tools yielded reliable and valid data on 5 domains of surgical teaching performance, namely, learning climate, professional attitude towards residents, communication of goals, evaluation of residents, and feedback. The correlations between surgeons' self and residents' evaluations were low, with coefficients ranging from 0.03 for evaluation of residents to 0.18 for communication of goals. The SETQ tools for the evaluation of surgeons' teaching performance appear to yield reliable and valid data. The lack of strong correlations between surgeons' self and residents' evaluations suggest the need for using external feedback sources in informed self evaluation of surgeons. Copyright © 2012 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Accounting for Every Child: The Evaluation of Reading Recovery[R

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gomez-Bellenge, Francisco X.

    2006-01-01

    This is a description of the evaluation of Reading Recovery (RR). RR is an early reading intervention serving about 125,000 children every year in about 8,000 U.S. schools. Its 15,000 teachers submit data on every child to the National Data Evaluation Center, which produces a report for each school, district and university involved with RR.…

  17. Evaluation of scanning earth sensor mechanism on engineering test satellite 4

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ikeuchi, M.; Wakabayashi, Y.; Ohkami, Y.; Kida, T.; Ishigaki, T.; Matsumoto, M.

    1983-01-01

    The results of the analysis and the evaluation of flight data obtained from the horizon sensor test project are described. The rotary mechanism of the scanning earth sensor composed of direct drive motor and bearings using solid lubricant is operated satisfactorily. The transmitted flight data from Engineering Test Satellite IV was evaluated in comparison with the design value.

  18. Progress Report on Reactivity Analyses (October-December Test Data). Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study. Technical Note Series. Technical Note III-5.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Filby, Nikola N.

    The development and refinement of the measures of student achievement in reading and mathematics for the Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study are described. The concept of reactivity to instruction is introduced: the tests used to evaluate instructional processes must be sensitive indicators of classroom learning overtime. Data collection activities…

  19. Using iPads as a Data Collection Tool in Extension Programming Evaluation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rowntree, J. E.; Witman, R. R.; Lindquist, G. L.; Raven, M. R.

    2013-01-01

    Program evaluation is an important part of Extension, especially with the increased emphasis on metrics and accountability. Agents are often the point persons for evaluation data collection, and Web-based surveys are a commonly used tool. The iPad tablet with Internet access has the potential to be an effective survey tool. iPads were field tested…

  20. Identifying Consistent Variables in a Heterogeneous Data Set: Evaluation of a Web-Based Pre-Course in Mathematics

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Derr, Katja

    2017-01-01

    E-learning has made course evaluation easier in many ways, as a multitude of learner data can be collected and related to student performance. At the same time, open learning environments can be a difficult field for evaluation, with a large variance in participants' knowledge level, learner behaviour, and commitment. In this study the…

  1. Conceptual design and evaluation of selected Space Station concepts, volume 1

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1983-01-01

    Space Station configuration concepts are defined to meet the NASA Headquarters Concept Development Group (CDG) requirements. Engineering and programmatic data are produced on these concepts suitable for NASA and industry dissemination. A data base is developed for input to the CDG's evaluation of generic Space Station configurations and for use in the critique of the CDG's generic configuration evaluation process.

  2. The Employment Impact of the Des Moines Occupational Upgrading Project and Model Cities High School Equivalency Project: Project Year One Evaluation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Palomba, Neil A.; And Others

    This study was conducted to: (1) evaluate the Occupational Upgrading Project (OUP) and the Model Neighborhood High School Equivalency (HSE) Project's first year of operation, and (2) create baseline data from which future and more conclusive evaluation can be undertaken. Data were gathered by conducting open-ended interviews with the…

  3. LANDSAT-4 TM image data quality analysis for energy-related applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wukelic, G. E.; Foote, H. P.

    1983-01-01

    LANDSAT-4 Thematic Mapper (TM) data performance and utility characteristics from an energy research and technology perspective is evaluated. The program focuses on evaluating applicational implications of using such data, in combination with other digital data, for current and future energy research and technology activities. Prime interest is in using TM data for siting, developing and operating federal energy facilities. Secondary interests involve the use of such data for resource exploration, environmental monitoring and basic scientific initiatives such as in support of the Continental Scientific Drilling Program.

  4. General Guidelines on Criteria for Adoption or Rejection of Evaluated Libraries and Data by the Nuclear Data Team

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

    Neudecker, Denise; Conlin, Jeremy Lloyd; Gray, Mark Girard

    This memo contains general guidelines on what documentation and tools need to be in place as well as format and data testing requirements such that evaluated nuclear data sets or entire libraries can be adopted by the nuclear data team. Additional requirements beyond this memo might apply for specific nuclear data observables. These guidelines were established based on discussions between J.L. Conlin, M.G. Gray, A.P. McCartney, D. Neudecker, D.K. Parsons and M.C. White.

  5. Quality Assurance Program Plan for SFR Metallic Fuel Data Qualification

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

    Benoit, Timothy; Hlotke, John Daniel; Yacout, Abdellatif

    2017-07-05

    This document contains an evaluation of the applicability of the current Quality Assurance Standards from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Standard NQA-1 (NQA-1) criteria and identifies and describes the quality assurance process(es) by which attributes of historical, analytical, and other data associated with sodium-cooled fast reactor [SFR] metallic fuel and/or related reactor fuel designs and constituency will be evaluated. This process is being instituted to facilitate validation of data to the extent that such data may be used to support future licensing efforts associated with advanced reactor designs. The initial data to be evaluated under this program were generatedmore » during the US Integral Fast Reactor program between 1984-1994, where the data includes, but is not limited to, research and development data and associated documents, test plans and associated protocols, operations and test data, technical reports, and information associated with past United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission reviews of SFR designs.« less

  6. Using a second‐order differential model to fit data without baselines in protein isothermal chemical denaturation

    PubMed Central

    Tang, Chuanning; Lew, Scott

    2016-01-01

    Abstract In vitro protein stability studies are commonly conducted via thermal or chemical denaturation/renaturation of protein. Conventional data analyses on the protein unfolding/(re)folding require well‐defined pre‐ and post‐transition baselines to evaluate Gibbs free‐energy change associated with the protein unfolding/(re)folding. This evaluation becomes problematic when there is insufficient data for determining the pre‐ or post‐transition baselines. In this study, fitting on such partial data obtained in protein chemical denaturation is established by introducing second‐order differential (SOD) analysis to overcome the limitations that the conventional fitting method has. By reducing numbers of the baseline‐related fitting parameters, the SOD analysis can successfully fit incomplete chemical denaturation data sets with high agreement to the conventional evaluation on the equivalent completed data, where the conventional fitting fails in analyzing them. This SOD fitting for the abbreviated isothermal chemical denaturation further fulfills data analysis methods on the insufficient data sets conducted in the two prevalent protein stability studies. PMID:26757366

  7. Detection and Evaluation of Spatio-Temporal Spike Patterns in Massively Parallel Spike Train Data with SPADE.

    PubMed

    Quaglio, Pietro; Yegenoglu, Alper; Torre, Emiliano; Endres, Dominik M; Grün, Sonja

    2017-01-01

    Repeated, precise sequences of spikes are largely considered a signature of activation of cell assemblies. These repeated sequences are commonly known under the name of spatio-temporal patterns (STPs). STPs are hypothesized to play a role in the communication of information in the computational process operated by the cerebral cortex. A variety of statistical methods for the detection of STPs have been developed and applied to electrophysiological recordings, but such methods scale poorly with the current size of available parallel spike train recordings (more than 100 neurons). In this work, we introduce a novel method capable of overcoming the computational and statistical limits of existing analysis techniques in detecting repeating STPs within massively parallel spike trains (MPST). We employ advanced data mining techniques to efficiently extract repeating sequences of spikes from the data. Then, we introduce and compare two alternative approaches to distinguish statistically significant patterns from chance sequences. The first approach uses a measure known as conceptual stability, of which we investigate a computationally cheap approximation for applications to such large data sets. The second approach is based on the evaluation of pattern statistical significance. In particular, we provide an extension to STPs of a method we recently introduced for the evaluation of statistical significance of synchronous spike patterns. The performance of the two approaches is evaluated in terms of computational load and statistical power on a variety of artificial data sets that replicate specific features of experimental data. Both methods provide an effective and robust procedure for detection of STPs in MPST data. The method based on significance evaluation shows the best overall performance, although at a higher computational cost. We name the novel procedure the spatio-temporal Spike PAttern Detection and Evaluation (SPADE) analysis.

  8. Reconstruction of early phase deformations by integrated magnetic and mesotectonic data evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sipos, András A.; Márton, Emő; Fodor, László

    2018-02-01

    Markers of brittle faulting are widely used for recovering past deformation phases. Rocks often have oriented magnetic fabrics, which can be interpreted as connected to ductile deformation before cementation of the sediment. This paper reports a novel statistical procedure for simultaneous evaluation of AMS (Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility) and fault-slip data. The new method analyzes the AMS data, without linearization techniques, so that weak AMS lineation and rotational AMS can be assessed that are beyond the scope of classical methods. This idea is extended to the evaluation of fault-slip data. While the traditional assumptions of stress inversion are not rejected, the method recovers the stress field via statistical hypothesis testing. In addition it provides statistical information needed for the combined evaluation of the AMS and the mesotectonic (0.1 to 10 m) data. In the combined evaluation a statistical test is carried out that helps to decide if the AMS lineation and the mesotectonic markers (in case of repeated deformation of the oldest set of markers) were formed in the same or different deformation phases. If this condition is met, the combined evaluation can improve the precision of the reconstruction. When the two data sets do not have a common solution for the direction of the extension, the deformational origin of the AMS is questionable. In this case the orientation of the stress field responsible for the AMS lineation might be different from that which caused the brittle deformation. Although most of the examples demonstrate the reconstruction of weak deformations in sediments, the new method is readily applicable to investigate the ductile-brittle transition of any rock formation as long as AMS and fault-slip data are available.

  9. Detection and Evaluation of Spatio-Temporal Spike Patterns in Massively Parallel Spike Train Data with SPADE

    PubMed Central

    Quaglio, Pietro; Yegenoglu, Alper; Torre, Emiliano; Endres, Dominik M.; Grün, Sonja

    2017-01-01

    Repeated, precise sequences of spikes are largely considered a signature of activation of cell assemblies. These repeated sequences are commonly known under the name of spatio-temporal patterns (STPs). STPs are hypothesized to play a role in the communication of information in the computational process operated by the cerebral cortex. A variety of statistical methods for the detection of STPs have been developed and applied to electrophysiological recordings, but such methods scale poorly with the current size of available parallel spike train recordings (more than 100 neurons). In this work, we introduce a novel method capable of overcoming the computational and statistical limits of existing analysis techniques in detecting repeating STPs within massively parallel spike trains (MPST). We employ advanced data mining techniques to efficiently extract repeating sequences of spikes from the data. Then, we introduce and compare two alternative approaches to distinguish statistically significant patterns from chance sequences. The first approach uses a measure known as conceptual stability, of which we investigate a computationally cheap approximation for applications to such large data sets. The second approach is based on the evaluation of pattern statistical significance. In particular, we provide an extension to STPs of a method we recently introduced for the evaluation of statistical significance of synchronous spike patterns. The performance of the two approaches is evaluated in terms of computational load and statistical power on a variety of artificial data sets that replicate specific features of experimental data. Both methods provide an effective and robust procedure for detection of STPs in MPST data. The method based on significance evaluation shows the best overall performance, although at a higher computational cost. We name the novel procedure the spatio-temporal Spike PAttern Detection and Evaluation (SPADE) analysis. PMID:28596729

  10. A program and data base for evaluating SMMR algorithms

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1979-01-01

    A program (PARAM) is described which enables a user to compare the values of meteorological parameters derived from data obtained by the scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) instrument on NIMBUS 7 with surface observations made over the ocean. The input to this program is a data base, also described, which contains the surface observations and coincident SMMR data. The evaluation of meteorological parameters using SMMR data is done by a user supplied subroutine. Instruments are given for executing the program and writing the subroutine.

  11. Evaluation of an ERTS-1 data collection platform installed in the Alpine Tundra, Colorado. [for meteorological measurements

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Barry, R. G.; Clark, J. M.

    1975-01-01

    The communication of data in real-time to users from ground stations in remote areas is a major objective of recent space technology. The data collection system considered uses small battery-operated ground-based transmitters called data collection platforms (DCP). The feasibility of collecting environmental data in extreme cold and windy environments using the ERTS DCP, has been investigated. A summary of the results of an evaluation of the system used is presented.

  12. Developing evaluation instrument based on CIPP models on the implementation of portfolio assessment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kurnia, Feni; Rosana, Dadan; Supahar

    2017-08-01

    This study aimed to develop an evaluation instrument constructed by CIPP model on the implementation of portfolio assessment in science learning. This study used research and development (R & D) method; adapting 4-D by the development of non-test instrument, and the evaluation instrument constructed by CIPP model. CIPP is the abbreviation of Context, Input, Process, and Product. The techniques of data collection were interviews, questionnaires, and observations. Data collection instruments were: 1) the interview guidelines for the analysis of the problems and the needs, 2) questionnaire to see level of accomplishment of portfolio assessment instrument, and 3) observation sheets for teacher and student to dig up responses to the portfolio assessment instrument. The data obtained was quantitative data obtained from several validators. The validators consist of two lecturers as the evaluation experts, two practitioners (science teachers), and three colleagues. This paper shows the results of content validity obtained from the validators and the analysis result of the data obtained by using Aikens' V formula. The results of this study shows that the evaluation instrument based on CIPP models is proper to evaluate the implementation of portfolio assessment instruments. Based on the experts' judgments, practitioners, and colleagues, the Aikens' V coefficient was between 0.86-1,00 which means that it is valid and can be used in the limited trial and operational field trial.

  13. CAIRSENSE Study: Real-world evaluation of low cost sensors ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Low-cost air pollution sensors are a rapidly developing field in air monitoring. In recent years, numerous sensors have been developed that can provide real-time concentration data for different air pollutants at costs accessible to individuals and non-regulatory groups. Additionally, these sensors have the potential to improve the spatial resolution of monitoring networks and provide a better understanding of neighborhood- and local-scale air quality and sources. However, many new sensors have not been evaluated to determine their long-term performance and capabilities. In this study, nine different low-cost sensor models, including O3, NO2 and particle sensors, were deployed in Denver, CO from September 2015 to February 2016. Three sensors of each type were deployed to evaluate instrument precision and consistency over the time period. Sensors were co-located with reference monitors at the Denver NCore site in order to evaluate sensor accuracy and precision. Denver was chosen as the location for this study to evaluate sensor performance in dry, high altitude, and low winter temperatures. Sensors were evaluated for data completeness, performance over time, and comparison with regulatory monitors. This presentation will also address challenges and approaches to data logging and processing. Preliminary analysis revealed that most sensors had high data completeness when data loggers were operational (e.g., the Aeroqual O3 sensor ranged from 94-100%), and exhibited

  14. [Designing dental manpower index to evaluate dental manpower resources].

    PubMed

    Li, Gang; Ni, Zong-zan

    2004-06-01

    The purpose of this investigation is to find out a method to evaluate dental manpower resources. We selected population, GDP, number of dentist and number of different oral health professionals from certain internet stations, published books and journals from 1996 to 2000 as our investigating data. Data was collected from 100 countries. Our investigation found that the design of dental manpower index to evaluate dental manpower resources was effective and convenient. Dental manpower index is a good method to evaluate dental manpower resources.

  15. Evaluation of Nonpoint-Source Contamination, Wisconsin: Selected Topics for Water Year 1995

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Owens, D.W.; Corsi, Steven R.; Rappold, K.F.

    1997-01-01

    The objective of the watershed-management evaluation monitoring program in Wisconsin is to evaluate the effectiveness of best-management practices (BMP's) for controlling nonpoint-source contamination in eight rural and four urban watersheds. This report, the fourth in an annual series of reports, presents a summary of the data collected for the program by the U.S. Geological Survey and the results of several detailed analyses of the data. To complement assessments of water quality, a land-use and BMP inventory is ongoing for 12 evaluation monitoring projects to track nonpoint sources of contamination in each watershed and to document implementation of BMP's that were designed to cause changes in the water quality of streams. Each year, updated information is gathered, mapped, and stored in a geographic-information-system data base. Summaries of land-use, BMP implementation, and water-quality data collected during water years 1989-95 are presented. Storm loads, snowmelt-period loads, and annual loads of suspended sediment and total phosphorus are summarized for eight rural sites. Storm-load data for suspended solids, total phosphorus, total recoverable lead, copper, zinc, and cadmium are summarized for four urban sites. Quality-assurance and quality-control (QA/QC) samples were collected at the eight rural sites to evaluate inorganic sample contamination and at one urban site to evaluate sample-collection and filtration techniques for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAR's). Some suspended solids and fecal coliform contamination was detected at the rural sites. Corrective actions will be taken to address this contamination. Evaluation of PAR sample-collection techniques did not uncover any deficiencies, but the small amount of data collected was not sufficient to draw any definite conclusions. Evaluation of PAR filtration techniques indicate that water-sample filtration with O.7-um glass-fiber filters in an aluminum filter unit does not result in significant loss of PAR.

  16. NEXT GENERATION ANALYSIS SOFTWARE FOR COMPONENT EVALUATION - Results of Rotational Seismometer Evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hart, D. M.; Merchant, B. J.; Abbott, R. E.

    2012-12-01

    The Component Evaluation project at Sandia National Laboratories supports the Ground-based Nuclear Explosion Monitoring program by performing testing and evaluation of the components that are used in seismic and infrasound monitoring systems. In order to perform this work, Component Evaluation maintains a testing facility called the FACT (Facility for Acceptance, Calibration, and Testing) site, a variety of test bed equipment, and a suite of software tools for analyzing test data. Recently, Component Evaluation has successfully integrated several improvements to its software analysis tools and test bed equipment that have substantially improved our ability to test and evaluate components. The software tool that is used to analyze test data is called TALENT: Test and AnaLysis EvaluatioN Tool. TALENT is designed to be a single, standard interface to all test configuration, metadata, parameters, waveforms, and results that are generated in the course of testing monitoring systems. It provides traceability by capturing everything about a test in a relational database that is required to reproduce the results of that test. TALENT provides a simple, yet powerful, user interface to quickly acquire, process, and analyze waveform test data. The software tool has also been expanded recently to handle sensors whose output is proportional to rotation angle, or rotation rate. As an example of this new processing capability, we show results from testing the new ATA ARS-16 rotational seismometer. The test data was collected at the USGS ASL. Four datasets were processed: 1) 1 Hz with increasing amplitude, 2) 4 Hz with increasing amplitude, 3) 16 Hz with increasing amplitude and 4) twenty-six discrete frequencies between 0.353 Hz to 64 Hz. The results are compared to manufacture-supplied data sheets.

  17. MEASUREMENT AND BASIC PHYSICS COMMITTEE OF THE U.S. CROSS-SECTION EVALUATION WORKING GROUP, ANNUAL REPORT 1997

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

    SMITH,D.L.; MCLANE,V.

    1998-10-20

    The Cross-Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG) is a long-standing committee charged with responsibility for organizing and overseeing the US cross-section evaluation effort. Its main product is the official US evaluated nuclear data file, ENDF. The current version of this file is Version VI. All evaluations included in ENDF, as well as periodic modifications and updates to the file, are reviewed and approved by CSEWG and issued by the US Nuclear Data Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory. CSEWG is comprised of volunteers from the US nuclear data community who possess expertise in evaluation methodologies and who collectively have been responsible for producingmore » most of the evaluations included in ENDF. In 1992 CSEWG added the Measurements Committee to its list of standing committees and subcommittees. This action was based on a recognition of the importance of experimental data in the evaluation process as well as the realization that measurement activities in the US were declining at an alarming rate and needed considerable encouragement to avoid the loss of this resource. The mission of the Committee is to maintain contact with experimentalists in the US and to encourage them to contribute to the national nuclear data effort. Improved communication and the facilitation of collaborative activities are among the tools employed in achieving this objective. In 1994 the Committee was given an additional mission, namely, to serve as an interface between the applied interests represented in CSEWG and the basic nuclear science community. Accordingly, its name was changed to the Measurement and Basic Physics Committee. The present annual report is the third such document issued by the Committee. It contains voluntary contributions from several laboratories in the US. Their contributions were submitted to the Chairman for compilation and editing.« less

  18. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 245

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

    Browne, E.; Tuli,J.K.

    The evaluators present in this publication spectroscopic data and level schemes from radioactive decay and nuclear reaction studies for all nuclei with mass number A = 245. This evaluation revises the earlier one by Y.A. Akovali (1992Ak05).

  19. Minnesota's Tech Prep Outcome Evaluation Model.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Brown, James M.; Pucel, David; Twohig, Cathy; Semler, Steve; Kuchinke, K. Peter

    1998-01-01

    Describes the Minnesota Tech Prep Consortia Evaluation System, which collects outcomes data on enrollment, retention, related job placement, higher education, dropouts, and diplomas/degrees awarded. Explains outcome measures, database development, data collection and analysis methods, and remaining challenges. (SK)

  20. Airframe noise prediction evaluation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Yamamoto, Kingo J.; Donelson, Michael J.; Huang, Shumei C.; Joshi, Mahendra C.

    1995-01-01

    The objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy and adequacy of current airframe noise prediction methods using available airframe noise measurements from tests of a narrow body transport (DC-9) and a wide body transport (DC-10) in addition to scale model test data. General features of the airframe noise from these aircraft and models are outlined. The results of the assessment of two airframe prediction methods, Fink's and Munson's methods, against flight test data of these aircraft and scale model wind tunnel test data are presented. These methods were extensively evaluated against measured data from several configurations including clean, slat deployed, landing gear-deployed, flap deployed, and landing configurations of both DC-9 and DC-10. They were also assessed against a limited number of configurations of scale models. The evaluation was conducted in terms of overall sound pressure level (OASPL), tone corrected perceived noise level (PNLT), and one-third-octave band sound pressure level (SPL).

  1. Evaluation of Fuzzy-Logic Framework for Spatial Statistics Preserving Methods for Estimation of Missing Precipitation Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    El Sharif, H.; Teegavarapu, R. S.

    2012-12-01

    Spatial interpolation methods used for estimation of missing precipitation data at a site seldom check for their ability to preserve site and regional statistics. Such statistics are primarily defined by spatial correlations and other site-to-site statistics in a region. Preservation of site and regional statistics represents a means of assessing the validity of missing precipitation estimates at a site. This study evaluates the efficacy of a fuzzy-logic methodology for infilling missing historical daily precipitation data in preserving site and regional statistics. Rain gauge sites in the state of Kentucky, USA, are used as a case study for evaluation of this newly proposed method in comparison to traditional data infilling techniques. Several error and performance measures will be used to evaluate the methods and trade-offs in accuracy of estimation and preservation of site and regional statistics.

  2. The vehicle design evaluation program - A computer-aided design procedure for transport aircraft

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Oman, B. H.; Kruse, G. S.; Schrader, O. E.

    1977-01-01

    The vehicle design evaluation program is described. This program is a computer-aided design procedure that provides a vehicle synthesis capability for vehicle sizing, external load analysis, structural analysis, and cost evaluation. The vehicle sizing subprogram provides geometry, weight, and balance data for aircraft using JP, hydrogen, or methane fuels. The structural synthesis subprogram uses a multistation analysis for aerodynamic surfaces and fuselages to develop theoretical weights and geometric dimensions. The parts definition subprogram uses the geometric data from the structural analysis and develops the predicted fabrication dimensions, parts material raw stock buy requirements, and predicted actual weights. The cost analysis subprogram uses detail part data in conjunction with standard hours, realization factors, labor rates, and material data to develop the manufacturing costs. The program is used to evaluate overall design effects on subsonic commercial type aircraft due to parameter variations.

  3. Teaching Assistant Professional Development in Biology: Designed for and Driven by Multidimensional Data

    PubMed Central

    Long, Tammy M.; Ebert-May, Diane

    2014-01-01

    Graduate teaching assistants (TAs) are increasingly responsible for instruction in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses. Various professional development (PD) programs have been developed and implemented to prepare TAs for this role, but data about effectiveness are lacking and are derived almost exclusively from self-reported surveys. In this study, we describe the design of a reformed PD (RPD) model and apply Kirkpatrick's Evaluation Framework to evaluate multiple outcomes of TA PD before, during, and after implementing RPD. This framework allows evaluation that includes both direct measures and self-reported data. In RPD, TAs created and aligned learning objectives and assessments and incorporated more learner-centered instructional practices in their teaching. However, these data are inconsistent with TAs’ self-reported perceptions about RPD and suggest that single measures are insufficient to evaluate TA PD programs. PMID:26086654

  4. Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 192

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

    Baglin, Coral M.

    2012-08-15

    Experimental structure and decay data for all nuclei with mass A=192 (Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Po, At) have been evaluated. This evaluation, covering data received by 15 June 2012, supersedes the 1998 evaluation by C. M. Baglin (Nuclear Data Sheets84, 717 (1998), literature cutoff August 1998) and the subsequent inclusion in the ENSDF database of the new nuclide {sup 192}At (C. M. Baglin, literature cutoff 16 May 2006). It also incorporates the current evaluation of superdeformed-band information by B. Singh. Since the last publication, {sup 192}Ta, {sup 192}W and {sup 192}At have beenmore » observed, and an isomeric state has been identified in {sup 192}Re. The {epsilon} decay of {sup 192}Au has been studied using a multidetector array resulting in an extensively revised level scheme for {sup 192}Pt.« less

  5. [Development and clinical evaluation of an anesthesia information management system].

    PubMed

    Feng, Jing-yi; Chen, Hua; Zhu, Sheng-mei

    2010-09-21

    To study the design, implementation and clinical evaluation of an anesthesia information management system. To record, process and store peri-operative patient data automatically, all kinds of bedside monitoring equipments are connected into the system based on information integrating technology; after a statistical analysis of those patient data by data mining technology, patient status can be evaluated automatically based on risk prediction standard and decision support system, and then anesthetist could perform reasonable and safe clinical processes; with clinical processes electronically recorded, standard record tables could be generated, and clinical workflow is optimized, as well. With the system, kinds of patient data could be collected, stored, analyzed and archived, kinds of anesthesia documents could be generated, and patient status could be evaluated to support clinic decision. The anesthesia information management system is useful for improving anesthesia quality, decreasing risk of patient and clinician, and aiding to provide clinical proof.

  6. Designing the National Assessment of Educational Progress to Serve a Wider Community of Users: A Position Paper.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bock, R. Darrell

    Efforts have been made to increase the dissemination and use of data generated by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Potential users include those concerned with curriculum and methods evaluation, public policymakers, and researchers. NAEP can provide data for curriculum evaluation, including item analysis data which assist in…

  7. An Overview of CAS Standards: The Role in Self-Assessment and Evaluation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hornak, Anne M.

    2014-01-01

    This chapter explores CAS as a tool for collecting assessment and evaluation data in community college student affairs offices. Details are provided about accessing the self-assessment modules, as well as the resources available to assist colleges with data collection. Finally, the chapter will explore how to use the data to advocate for…

  8. Evaluation of the utility of the new rainbow trout genome assembly for analyzing RNA-seq data from stress response experiments

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The newly released rainbow trout genome assembly in NCBI RefSeq has greatly expanded our abilities for analyzing rainbow trout sequencing data. In this poster, we evaluate the utility of this genome assembly for analyzing RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data of rainbow trout responses to various stressors,...

  9. 49 CFR Appendix C to Part 240 - Procedures for Obtaining and Evaluating Motor Vehicle Driving Record Data

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... Evaluating Motor Vehicle Driving Record Data The purpose of this appendix is to outline the procedures... Vehicle Driving Record Data C Appendix C to Part 240 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to... that railroads consider the motor vehicle driving record of each person prior to issuing him or her...

  10. Development of a model performance-based sign sheeting specification based on the evaluation of nighttime traffic signs using legibility and eye-tracker data : data and analyses.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-09-01

    This report presents data and technical analyses for Texas Department of Transportation Project 0-5235. This : project focused on the evaluation of traffic sign sheeting performance in terms of meeting the nighttime : driver needs. The goal was to de...

  11. Evaluation of the TBET model for potential improvement of southern P indices

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Due to a shortage of available phosphorus (P) loss data sets, simulated data from a quantitative P transport model could be used to evaluate a P-index. However, the model would need to accurately predict the P loss data sets that are available. The objective of this study was to compare predictions ...

  12. A data collection and processing procedure for evaluating a research program

    Treesearch

    Giuseppe Rensi; H. Dean Claxton

    1972-01-01

    A set of computer programs compiled for the information processing requirements of a model for evaluating research proposals are described. The programs serve to assemble and store information, periodically update it, and convert it to a form usable for decision-making. Guides for collecting and coding data are explained. The data-processing options available and...

  13. Evaluating satellite imagery-based land use data for describing forestland development in western Washington

    Treesearch

    Jeffrey D. Kline; Alissa Moses; David L. Azuma; Andrew Gray

    2009-01-01

    Forestry professionals are concerned about how forestlands are affected by residential and other development. To address those concerns, researchers must find appropriate data with which to describe and evaluate rates and patterns of forestland development and the impact of development on the management of remaining forestlands. We examine land use data gathered from...

  14. Using linked data to evaluate traumatic brain injuries in New Mexico : Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) linked data demonstration project

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1998-10-01

    The 1995 crude mortality rate of physician diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the New Mexico is estimated to be 21 deaths per 100,000 population and the crude incidence of both hospitalized and fatal TBI is 110 cases per 100,000 population (1,...

  15. The Influence of Evaluators' Principles on Evaluation Resource Decisions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Crohn, Kara Shea Davis

    2009-01-01

    This study examines ways in which evaluators' principles influence decisions about evaluation resources. Evaluators must seek-out and allocate (often scarce) resources (e.g., money, time, data, people, places) in a way that allows them to conduct the best possible evaluation given clients' and evaluation participants' constraints. Working within…

  16. Inter-rater reliability of measures to characterize the tobacco retail environment in Mexico.

    PubMed

    Hall, Marissa G; Kollath-Cattano, Christy; Reynales-Shigematsu, Luz Myriam; Thrasher, James F

    2015-01-01

    To evaluate the inter-rater reliability of a data collection instrument to assess the tobacco retail environment in Mexico, after major marketing regulations were implemented. In 2013, two data collectors independently evaluated 21 stores in two census tracts, through a data collection instrument that assessed the presence of price promotions, whether single cigarettes were sold, the number of visible advertisements, the presence of signage prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to minors, and characteristics of cigarette pack displays. We evaluated the inter-rater reliability of the collected data, through the calculation of metrics such as intraclass correlation coefficient, percent agreement, Cohen's kappa and Krippendorff's alpha. Most measures demonstrated substantial or perfect inter-rater reliability. Our results indicate the potential utility of the data collection instrument for future point-of-sale research.

  17. CCA Test Objectives

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2005-01-01

    Three sources have been considered to provide information allowing the evaluation of the Collision Conflict Avoidance (CCA) functional requirements: existing data, simulation, and flight test. The existing data sources that have been evaluated have been found to be lacking in two areas: The actual data that was recorded and missing elements to the system architecture. Many previous tests addressing collision avoidance were conducted without a remote operator. As such, they are missing critical elements that are required to assess the CCA functional requirements. Tests such as ERAST were conducted with all of the UAS elements. However, ERAST tests were conducted as a demonstration and the data recorded was of end-to-end performance. Many contributing elements of the system were not individually recorded or were recorded at a data rate insufficient for the purposes of evaluating the CCA functional requirements.

  18. Using the Cross-Correlation Function to Evaluate the Quality of Eddy-Covariance Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qi, Yongfeng; Shang, Xiaodong; Chen, Guiying; Gao, Zhiqiu; Bi, Xueyan

    2015-11-01

    A cross-correlation test is proposed for evaluating the quality of 30-min eddy-covariance data. Cross-correlation as a function of time lag is computed for vertical velocity paired with temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration. High quality data have a dominant peak at zero time lag and approach zero within a time lag of 20 s. Poor quality data have erratic cross-correlation functions, which indicates that the eddy flux may no longer represent the energy and mass exchange between the atmospheric surface layer and the canopy, and such data should be rejected in post-data analyses. Eddy-covariance data over grassland in July 2004 are used to evaluate the proposed test. The results show that 17, 29, and 36 % of the available data should be rejected because of poor quality measurements of sensible heat, latent heat, and CO2 fluxes, respectively. The rejected data mainly occurred on calm nights and day/night transitions when the atmospheric surface layer became stable or neutrally stratified. We found no friction velocity (u_*) threshold below which all data should be rejected, a test that many other studies have implemented for rejecting questionable data. We instead found that some data with low u_* were reliable, whereas other data with higher u_* were not. The poor quality measurements collected under less than ideal conditions were replaced by using the mean diurnal variation gap-filling method. The correction for poor quality data shifted the daily average CO2 flux by +0.34 g C m^{-2} day^{-1}. After applying the quality-control test, the eddy CO2 fluxes did not display a clear dependence on u_*. The results suggest that the cross-correlation test is a potentially valuable step in evaluating the quality of eddy-covariance data.

  19. Evaluation of Big Data Containers for Popular Storage, Retrieval, and Computation Primitives in Earth Science Analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Das, K.; Clune, T.; Kuo, K. S.; Mattmann, C. A.; Huang, T.; Duffy, D.; Yang, C. P.; Habermann, T.

    2015-12-01

    Data containers are infrastructures that facilitate storage, retrieval, and analysis of data sets. Big data applications in Earth Science require a mix of processing techniques, data sources and storage formats that are supported by different data containers. Some of the most popular data containers used in Earth Science studies are Hadoop, Spark, SciDB, AsterixDB, and RasDaMan. These containers optimize different aspects of the data processing pipeline and are, therefore, suitable for different types of applications. These containers are expected to undergo rapid evolution and the ability to re-test, as they evolve, is very important to ensure the containers are up to date and ready to be deployed to handle large volumes of observational data and model output. Our goal is to develop an evaluation plan for these containers to assess their suitability for Earth Science data processing needs. We have identified a selection of test cases that are relevant to most data processing exercises in Earth Science applications and we aim to evaluate these systems for optimal performance against each of these test cases. The use cases identified as part of this study are (i) data fetching, (ii) data preparation for multivariate analysis, (iii) data normalization, (iv) distance (kernel) computation, and (v) optimization. In this study we develop a set of metrics for performance evaluation, define the specifics of governance, and test the plan on current versions of the data containers. The test plan and the design mechanism are expandable to allow repeated testing with both new containers and upgraded versions of the ones mentioned above, so that we can gauge their utility as they evolve.

  20. Driving simulator validation of driver behavior with limited safe vantage points for data collection in work zones.

    PubMed

    Bham, Ghulam H; Leu, Ming C; Vallati, Manoj; Mathur, Durga R

    2014-06-01

    This study is aimed at validating a driving simulator (DS) for the study of driver behavior in work zones. A validation study requires field data collection. For studies conducted in highway work zones, the availability of safe vantage points for data collection at critical locations can be a significant challenge. A validation framework is therefore proposed in this paper, demonstrated using a fixed-based DS that addresses the issue by using a global positioning system (GPS). The validation of the DS was conducted using objective and subjective evaluations. The objective validation was divided into qualitative and quantitative evaluations. The DS was validated by comparing the results of simulation with the field data, which were collected using a GPS along the highway and video recordings at specific locations in a work zone. The constructed work zone scenario in the DS was subjectively evaluated with 46 participants. The objective evaluation established the absolute and relative validity of the DS. The mean speeds from the DS data showed excellent agreement with the field data. The subjective evaluation indicated realistic driving experience by the participants. The use of GPS showed that continuous data collected along the highway can overcome the challenges of unavailability of safe vantage points especially at critical locations. Further, a validated DS can be used for examining driver behavior in complex situations by replicating realistic scenarios. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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