Sample records for information activities evaluation

  1. 77 FR 9952 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, Emergency...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-02-21

    ... Course Evaluation Form. Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved information...; OMB No. 1660-0034] Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, Emergency Management Institute Course Evaluation Form AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS...

  2. 75 FR 2556 - Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Transportation Security...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-01-15

    ... Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Transportation Security Officer (TSO) Medical Questionnaire... Evaluation, Cardiac Further Evaluation, Diabetes Further Evaluation, Drug or Alcohol Use Further Evaluation... evaluate a candidate's physical and medical qualifications to be a TSO, including visual and aural acuity...

  3. 76 FR 52672 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, Level 1...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-23

    ...-2011-0012] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, Level 1 Assessment and Level 3 Evaluations for the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) AGENCY: Federal... . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Collection of Information Title: Level 1 Assessment and Level 3 Evaluations for the...

  4. 76 FR 44086 - Agency Information Collection (Report of Medical Examination for Disability Evaluation) Activity...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-22

    ... DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS [OMB Control No. 2900-0052] Agency Information Collection (Report of Medical Examination for Disability Evaluation) Activity Under OMB Review AGENCY: Veterans Benefits... Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below...

  5. 78 FR 17188 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Evaluation of the GEAR UP College...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-20

    ... DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No. ED-2013-ICCD-0032] Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Evaluation of the GEAR UP College Savings Account Research Demonstration AGENCY... information collection DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 20, 2013...

  6. 75 FR 67983 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Announcement of Office of Management and Budget...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-04

    ...] Agency Information Collection Activities; Announcement of Office of Management and Budget Approval; Evaluation of Potential Data Sources for the Sentinel Initiative AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS... information entitled ``Evaluation of Potential Data Sources for the Sentinel Initiative'' has been approved by...

  7. 78 FR 48863 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Early Warning and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-12

    ... DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No.: ED-2013-ICCD-0106] Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Early Warning and Intervention Monitoring System AGENCY: Institute of... Intervention Monitoring System. OMB Control Number: 1850-NEW. Type of Review: A new information collection...

  8. Weekly active-learning activities in a drug information and literature evaluation course.

    PubMed

    Timpe, Erin M; Motl, Susannah E; Eichner, Samantha F

    2006-06-15

    To incorporate learning activities into the weekly 2-hour Drug Information and Literature Evaluation class sessions to improve student ability and confidence in performing course objectives, as well as to assess student perception of the value of these activities. In-class activities that emphasized content and skills taught within class periods were created and implemented. Three different surveys assessing student ability and confidence in completing drug information and literature retrieval and evaluation tasks were administered prior to and following the appropriate class sessions. At the completion of the course, an additional evaluation was administered to assess the students' impressions of the value of the learning activities. Students reported increased ability and confidence in all course objectives. The teaching activities were also stated to be useful in students' learning of the material. Incorporation of weekly learning activities resulted in an improvement in student ability and confidence to perform course objectives. Students considered these activities to be beneficial and to contribute to the completion of course objectives.

  9. 76 FR 16476 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-03-23

    ... public section of the written CRA performance evaluation. Type of Review: Regular review. Affected Public... purposes.\\2\\ \\1\\ 12 U.S.C. 2903. \\2\\ 12 U.S.C. 2905. Each Agency must provide written CRA evaluations of the institutions they supervise. The public portion of each written evaluation must present the Agency...

  10. 76 FR 35948 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-20

    ... public section of the written CRA performance evaluation. Type of Review: Regular review. Affected Public... purposes.\\2\\ \\1\\ 12 U.S.C. 2903. \\2\\ 12 U.S.C. 2905. Each Agency must prepare written CRA evaluations of the institutions they supervise. The public portion of each written evaluation must present the Agency...

  11. 75 FR 70931 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-19

    ... Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Title: Evaluation of Head Start Early Learning Mentor Coach... implementation evaluation of the Head Start Early Learning Mentor-Coach Initiative. The study will collect... awarded funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009--Early Learning Mentor Coach...

  12. 76 FR 72236 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-22

    ... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: ACSEP Evaluation... information collection. The information is collected from holders of FAA production approvals and selected...

  13. 75 FR 47824 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, OMB No...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-09

    ...; U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Academy Evaluation Collection AGENCY: Federal Emergency... Information Title: U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Academy Evaluation Collection. Type of Information...

  14. 75 FR 25319 - Agency Information Collection (Survey of Satisfaction With the Disability Evaluation System (DES...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-05-07

    ... DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS [OMB Control No. 2900--New (DES)] Agency Information Collection (Survey of Satisfaction With the Disability Evaluation System (DES)) Activities Under OMB Review AGENCY...).'' SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Survey of Satisfaction with the Disability Evaluation System (DES). OMB...

  15. Activity Recognition on Streaming Sensor Data.

    PubMed

    Krishnan, Narayanan C; Cook, Diane J

    2014-02-01

    Many real-world applications that focus on addressing needs of a human, require information about the activities being performed by the human in real-time. While advances in pervasive computing have lead to the development of wireless and non-intrusive sensors that can capture the necessary activity information, current activity recognition approaches have so far experimented on either a scripted or pre-segmented sequence of sensor events related to activities. In this paper we propose and evaluate a sliding window based approach to perform activity recognition in an on line or streaming fashion; recognizing activities as and when new sensor events are recorded. To account for the fact that different activities can be best characterized by different window lengths of sensor events, we incorporate the time decay and mutual information based weighting of sensor events within a window. Additional contextual information in the form of the previous activity and the activity of the previous window is also appended to the feature describing a sensor window. The experiments conducted to evaluate these techniques on real-world smart home datasets suggests that combining mutual information based weighting of sensor events and adding past contextual information into the feature leads to best performance for streaming activity recognition.

  16. 76 FR 67745 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-02

    ... Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Title: Descriptive Study of Tribal Temporary Assistance for... and Families (ACF) is proposing an information collection activity as part of the Descriptive Study of... Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington...

  17. 77 FR 65541 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-29

    ... DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No. ED-2012-ICCD-0045] Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Impact Evaluation of Teacher and Leader Evaluation Systems AGENCY: Department of Education (ED), Institute of Education...

  18. 77 FR 20637 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; OAA Title III-C...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-04-05

    ... Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; OAA Title III-C Evaluation AGENCY: Administration on Aging... on the information collection requirements relating to OAA Title III-C Evaluation DATES: Submit... caring for grandchildren, who are essential to making community living possible. The OAA Title III-C...

  19. Context-Aware Active Authentication using Touch Gestures, Typing Patterns and Body Movement

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-03-01

    Division Information Directorate This report is published in the interest of scientific and technical information exchange, and its publication does...CA policy clarification memorandum dated 16 Jan 09. 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14. ABSTRACT Design, develop and evaluate a desktop based active...of this project was to design, develop and evaluate a desktop active authentication system that uses the following keystroke timing based biometric

  20. 76 FR 6782 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Information...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-02-08

    ... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-SFUND-2011-0052; FRL-9263-6] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Information Collection Request for Superfund Site Evaluation and Hazard Ranking System AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY...

  1. 77 FR 37734 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-06-22

    ... information will be used by FHWA to evaluate, showcase and enhance the public's knowledge on incorporating..., Chief, Information Technology Division. [FR Doc. 2012-15357 Filed 6-21-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22... Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection AGENCY: Federal...

  2. 76 FR 44929 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-27

    ... proposed information collection project: ``Evaluation of ARRA Comparative Effectiveness Research... INFORMATION: Proposed Project Evaluation of ARRA Comparative Effectiveness Research Dissemination Contractor... for reviewing and disseminating Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) and findings to clinicians...

  3. Pattern Activity Clustering and Evaluation (PACE)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Blasch, Erik; Banas, Christopher; Paul, Michael; Bussjager, Becky; Seetharaman, Guna

    2012-06-01

    With the vast amount of network information available on activities of people (i.e. motions, transportation routes, and site visits) there is a need to explore the salient properties of data that detect and discriminate the behavior of individuals. Recent machine learning approaches include methods of data mining, statistical analysis, clustering, and estimation that support activity-based intelligence. We seek to explore contemporary methods in activity analysis using machine learning techniques that discover and characterize behaviors that enable grouping, anomaly detection, and adversarial intent prediction. To evaluate these methods, we describe the mathematics and potential information theory metrics to characterize behavior. A scenario is presented to demonstrate the concept and metrics that could be useful for layered sensing behavior pattern learning and analysis. We leverage work on group tracking, learning and clustering approaches; as well as utilize information theoretical metrics for classification, behavioral and event pattern recognition, and activity and entity analysis. The performance evaluation of activity analysis supports high-level information fusion of user alerts, data queries and sensor management for data extraction, relations discovery, and situation analysis of existing data.

  4. 78 FR 69683 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; OAA Title...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-20

    ... Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; OAA Title III-E Evaluation AGENCY... to Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-E Evaluation. DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on... information technology. The OAA Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), with statutory...

  5. 77 FR 4390 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-27

    ... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: ACSEP Evaluation... information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the...

  6. Management information systems: their role in the marketing activities of HMOs.

    PubMed

    Aronow, D B

    1988-01-01

    HMOs are particularly dependent on their information resources in providing cost-effective, high quality, accessible care. Understanding the role of MIS in HMO marketing activities may guide administrators in evaluating information systems applications within their organizations.

  7. 75 FR 15438 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-29

    ... outcomes achieved by the Strengthening Communities Fund in meeting its objective of improving the capacity... Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Proposed Projects Title: Strengthening Communities Fund... to obtain evaluation information from Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) grantees. Grantees include...

  8. 76 FR 78950 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-20

    ... for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Young Parents Demonstration Project ACTION: Notice...) sponsored information collection request (ICR) proposal titled, ``Evaluation of the Young Parents... evaluate the efficacy of the Young Parents Demonstration Project (YPDP), a grant program designed to...

  9. 75 FR 51094 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Form N-600; Extension of an Existing Information...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-18

    ...-0057] Agency Information Collection Activities: Form N-600; Extension of an Existing Information Collection; Comment Request ACTION: 60-Day Notice of Information Collection under Review; Form N- 600... be evaluating whether to revise the Form N-600. Should USCIS decide to revise Form N-600 we will...

  10. 75 FR 51095 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Form N-336; Extension of an Existing Information...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-18

    ...-0050] Agency Information Collection Activities: Form N-336; Extension of an Existing Information Collection; Comment Request ACTION: 60-Day Notice of Information Collection under Review; Form N- 336..., 2010. During this 60 day period, USCIS will be evaluating whether to revise the Form N-336. Should...

  11. An information system to improve financial management, resource allocation and activity planning: evaluation results.

    PubMed

    Ruland, C M; Ravn, I H

    2001-01-01

    An important strategy for improving resource management and cost containment in health care is to develop information systems that assist hospital managers in financial management, resource allocation, and activity planning. A crucial part of such development is a rigorous evaluation to assess whether the system accomplishes it's intended goals. To evaluate CLASSICA, a Decision Support System (DSS), that assists nurse managers in financial management, resource allocation, staffing, and activity planning. Using a pre-post test design with control units, CLASSICA was evaluated in four test units. Baseline data and simultaneous parallel measures were collected prior to system implementation at test sites and control units. Using expense reports, staffing and financial statistics, surveys, interviews with nurse managers, and logs as data sources, CLASSICA was evaluated on: cost reduction, quality of management information; usefulness as decision support for improved financial management and decision-making; user satisfaction; and ease of use. Evaluation results showed a 41% reduction in expenditures for overtime and extra hours as compared to a 1.8% reduction in control units during the same time period. Users reported a significant improvement in management information; nurse managers stated that they had gained control over costs. The system helped them analyze the relationships between patient activity staffing, and cost of care. Users reported high satisfaction with the system, the information and decision support it provided, and its ease of use. These results suggest that CLASSICA is a DSS that successfully assists nurse managers in cost effective management of their units.

  12. 45 CFR 1706.110 - Self-evaluation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... INFORMATION SCIENCE ENFORCEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAP IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE § 1706.110 Self-evaluation. (a) The...

  13. 45 CFR 1706.110 - Self-evaluation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... INFORMATION SCIENCE ENFORCEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAP IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE § 1706.110 Self-evaluation. (a) The...

  14. 45 CFR 1706.110 - Self-evaluation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... INFORMATION SCIENCE ENFORCEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAP IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE § 1706.110 Self-evaluation. (a) The...

  15. 45 CFR 1706.110 - Self-evaluation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... INFORMATION SCIENCE ENFORCEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAP IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE § 1706.110 Self-evaluation. (a) The...

  16. 45 CFR 1706.110 - Self-evaluation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... INFORMATION SCIENCE ENFORCEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAP IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE § 1706.110 Self-evaluation. (a) The...

  17. A framework for evaluating proposals for scientific activities in wilderness

    Treesearch

    Peter Landres

    2000-01-01

    This paper presents a structured framework for evaluating proposals for scientific activities in wilderness. Wilderness managers receive proposals for scientific activities ranging from unobtrusive inventorying of plants and animals to the use of chainsaws and helicopters for collecting information. Currently, there is no consistent process for evaluating proposals,...

  18. 76 FR 24038 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 1660-NEW; Level 1...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-04-29

    ...] Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 1660-NEW; Level 1 Assessment and Level III Evaluations for the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) AGENCY: Federal Emergency...; OMB No. 1660-NEW; FEMA Form 092-0-2, Level 1 Assessment Form; FEMA Form 092-0-2A, Level 3 Evaluation...

  19. [Activities using websites and social networks: tools and indicators for evaluation].

    PubMed

    López, María José; Continente, Xavier; Sánchez, Esther; Bartroli, Montse

    In the field of health, information and communication technology (ICT) can create a space that, regardless of place or time, enables information to be shared and disseminated quickly. In addition to the usual challenges of evaluating public health activities, other difficulties are present when evaluating activities using ICT, such as lack of previous standards, unknown individual exposure or lack of information on the characteristics of those exposed. The aim of this paper is to describe some tools and indicators that may help to assess the scope, use and parameters related to website positioning on search engines as well as the connected social networks. Copyright © 2017 SESPAS. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  20. 75 FR 23785 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Form G-639; Extension of an Existing Information...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-05-04

    ... Collection Activities: Form G-639; Extension of an Existing Information Collection; Comment Request ACTION: 60-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review; Form G- 639, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act... until July 6, 2010. During this 60 day period, USCIS will be evaluating whether to revise the Form G-639...

  1. 78 FR 66097 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of New Approval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-04

    ... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of New Approval of Information Collection: Safety Awareness, Feedback, and Evaluation (SAFE) Program AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice...

  2. Active-learning implementation in an advanced elective course on infectious diseases.

    PubMed

    Hidayat, Levita; Patel, Shreya; Veltri, Keith

    2012-06-18

    To describe the development, implementation, and assessment of an advanced elective course on infectious diseases using active-learning strategies. Pedagogy for active learning was incorporated by means of mini-lecture, journal club, and debate with follow-up discussion. Forty-eight students were enrolled in this 4-week elective course, in which 30% of course time was allocated for active-learning exercises. All activities were fundamentally designed as a stepwise approach in complementing each active-learning exercise. Achievement of the course learning objectives was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale survey instrument. Students' awareness of the significance of antimicrobial resistance was improved (p ≤ 0.05). Students' ability to critically evaluate the infectious-disease literature and its application in informed clinical judgments was also enhanced through these active-learning exercises (p ≤ 0.05). Students agreed that active learning should be part of the pharmacy curriculum and that active-learning exercises improved their critical-thinking, literature-evaluation, and self-learning skills. An elective course using active-learning strategies allowed students to combine information gained from the evaluation of infectious-disease literature, critical thinking, and informed clinical judgment. This blended approach ultimately resulted in an increased knowledge and awareness of infectious diseases.

  3. 76 FR 21913 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Form N-644; Extension of an Existing Information...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-04-19

    ... Collection Activities: Form N-644; Extension of an Existing Information Collection; Comment Request ACTION: 60-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Form N- 644, Application for Posthumous... 60 days until June 20, 2011 this 60-day period, USCIS will be evaluating whether to revise the Form N...

  4. 75 FR 21013 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Form N-644; Extension of an Existing Information...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-04-22

    ... Collection Activities: Form N-644; Extension of an Existing Information Collection; Comment Request ACTION: 60-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review; Form N- 644, Application for Posthumous... until June 21, 2010. During this 60 day period, USCIS will be evaluating whether to revise the Form N...

  5. Evaluation of internet websites marketing herbal weight-loss supplements to consumers.

    PubMed

    Jordan, Melanie A; Haywood, Tasha

    2007-11-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and quantity of drug information available to consumers on Internet websites marketing herbal weight-loss dietary supplements in the United States. We conducted an Internet search using the search engines Yahoo and Google and the keywords "herbal weight loss." Website content was evaluated for the presence of active/inactive ingredient names and strengths and other Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling requirements. Information related to drug safety for the most common herbal ingredients in the products evaluated was compared against standard herbal drug information references. Thirty-two (32) websites were evaluated for labeling requirements and safety information. All sites listed an FDA disclaimer statement and most sites (84.4%) listed active ingredients, although few listed strengths or inactive ingredients. Based on the drug information for the most common ingredients found in the weight-loss dietary supplements evaluated, potential contraindications for cardiovascular conditions, pregnancy/nursing, and high blood pressure were listed most frequently (73%, 65.5%, and 37%, respectively), whereas few websites listed potential drug interactions or adverse reactions. Potential hazards posed by dietary supplements may not be accurately, if at all, represented on Internet websites selling these products. Since consumers may not approach their physicians or pharmacists for information regarding use of dietary supplements in weight loss, it becomes necessary for health care providers to actively engage their patients in open discussion regarding the use, benefits, and hazards of dietary supplements.

  6. Beyond information access: Support for complex cognitive activities in public health informatics tools.

    PubMed

    Sedig, Kamran; Parsons, Paul; Dittmer, Mark; Ola, Oluwakemi

    2012-01-01

    Public health professionals work with a variety of information sources to carry out their everyday activities. In recent years, interactive computational tools have become deeply embedded in such activities. Unlike the early days of computational tool use, the potential of tools nowadays is not limited to simply providing access to information; rather, they can act as powerful mediators of human-information discourse, enabling rich interaction with public health information. If public health informatics tools are designed and used properly, they can facilitate, enhance, and support the performance of complex cognitive activities that are essential to public health informatics, such as problem solving, forecasting, sense-making, and planning. However, the effective design and evaluation of public health informatics tools requires an understanding of the cognitive and perceptual issues pertaining to how humans work and think with information to perform such activities. This paper draws on research that has examined some of the relevant issues, including interaction design, complex cognition, and visual representations, to offer some human-centered design and evaluation considerations for public health informatics tools.

  7. 78 FR 65302 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Evaluation of a District Wide...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-10-31

    ...; Comment Request; Evaluation of a District Wide Implementation of a Professional Learning Community... Professional Learning Community Initiative. OMB Control Number: 1850--NEW. Type of Review: A new information... need for systematic information about district-wide implementation of professional learning communities...

  8. 75 FR 9279 - Proposed Information Collection (Survey of Satisfaction With the Disability Evaluation System...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-01

    ... DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS [OMB Control No. 2900-New (DES)] Proposed Information Collection (Survey of Satisfaction With the Disability Evaluation System (DES)) Activity: Comment Request AGENCY... use of other forms of information technology. Title: Survey of Satisfaction with the Disability...

  9. An overview of the evaluation plan for PC/MISI: PC-based Multiple Information System Interface

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dominick, Wayne D. (Editor); Lim, Bee Lee; Hall, Philip P.

    1985-01-01

    An initial evaluation plan for the personal computer multiple information system interface (PC/MISI) project is discussed. The document is intend to be used as a blueprint for the evaluation of this system. Each objective of the design project is discussed along with the evaluation parameters and methodology to be used in the evaluation of the implementation's achievement of those objectives. The potential of the system for research activities related to more general aspects of information retrieval is also discussed.

  10. Information Science and Responsive Evaluation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stake, Robert E.

    2014-01-01

    Responsive evaluation builds upon the methods of informal evaluation in disciplined ways: getting personally acquainted with the evaluand, observation of activities, interviewing people who are in different ways familiar with the evaluand, searching documents that reveal what happened in the past or somewhere else. It calls for sustained effort to…

  11. 75 FR 8721 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-02-25

    ... on AETC training sessions, consultations, and technical assistance activities. Each regional center... information technology. Proposed Project: HRSA AIDS Education and Training Centers Evaluation Activities (OMB No. 0915-0281)--Revision The AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) Program, under the Title XXVI...

  12. 75 FR 4411 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Department of the Interior Regional Climate Science...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-01-27

    ... capacity, and those of other science partners. Information from this collection will be used to evaluate... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR United States Geological Survey Agency Information Collection Activities: Department of the Interior Regional Climate Science Centers AGENCY: United States Geological...

  13. Prefrontal Neural Activity When Feedback Is Not Relevant to Adjust Performance

    PubMed Central

    Özyurt, Jale; Rietze, Mareike; Thiel, Christiane M.

    2012-01-01

    It has been shown that the rostral cingulate zone (RCZ) in humans uses both positive and negative feedback to evaluate performance and to flexibly adjust behaviour. Less is known on how the feedback types are processed by the RCZ and other prefrontal brain areas, when feedback can only be used to evaluate performance, but cannot be used to adjust behaviour. The present fMRI study aimed at investigating feedback that can only be used to evaluate performance in a word-learning paradigm. One group of volunteers (N = 17) received informative, performance-dependent positive or negative feedback after each trial. Since new words had to be learnt in each trial, the feedback could not be used for task-specific adaptations. The other group (N = 17) always received non-informative feedback, providing neither information about performance nor about possible task-specific adaptations. Effects of the informational value of feedback were assessed between-subjects, comparing trials with positive and negative informative feedback to non-informative feedback. Effects of feedback valence were assessed by comparing neural activity to positive and negative feedback within the informative-feedback group. Our results show that several prefrontal regions, including the pre-SMA, the inferior frontal cortex and the insula were sensitive to both, the informational value and the valence aspect of the feedback with stronger activations to informative as compared to non-informative feedback and to informative negative compared to informative positive feedback. The only exception was RCZ which was sensitive to the informational value of the feedback, but not to feedback valence. The findings indicate that outcome information per se is sufficient to activate prefrontal brain regions, with the RCZ being the only prefrontal brain region which is equally sensitive to positive and negative feedback. PMID:22615774

  14. 75 FR 51096 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Form N-470; Extension of an Existing Information...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-18

    ... Collection Activities: Form N-470; Extension of an Existing Information Collection; Comment Request ACTION: 60-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review; Form N- 470, Application To Preserve Residence... evaluating whether to revise the Form N-470. Should USCIS decide to revise Form N-470 we will advise the...

  15. 75 FR 20977 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Evaluation of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-04-22

    ...: Proposed Collection; Comment Request--Evaluation of Reaching the Underserved Elderly and Working Poor in... Reaching the Underserved Elderly and Working Poor in SNAP. DATES: Written comments must be received on or.... SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Evaluation of Reaching the Underserved Elderly and Working Poor in SNAP: FY...

  16. 77 FR 56868 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; YouthBuild...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-14

    ... for OMB Review; Comment Request; YouthBuild Impact Evaluation, Youth Follow-Up Surveys ACTION: Notice...) sponsored information collection request (ICR) proposal titled, ``YouthBuild Impact Evaluation, Youth Follow... teaching them construction skills geared toward career placement. The YouthBuild Impact Evaluation will...

  17. 75 FR 18846 - Agency Recordkeeping/Reporting Requirements Under Emergency Review by the Office of Management...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-04-13

    ...: Strengthening Communities Fund Program Evaluation. OMB No.: New Collection. Description: This proposed information collection activity is to obtain evaluation information from Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF... authorized in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The SCF evaluation is an important...

  18. 75 FR 16138 - Agency Recordkeeping/Reporting Requirements Under Emergency Review by the Office of Management...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-31

    ...: Strengthening Communities Fund Program Evaluation. OMB No.: New collection. Description: This proposed information collection activity is to obtain evaluation information from Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF... authorized in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARPA). The SCF evaluation is an important...

  19. 75 FR 57029 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-17

    ... major initiative designed to: (1) Prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance abuse... IV evaluation have necessitated some streamlining of the original evaluation design. Since the... implementation and change in the NOMs. Information for both surveys will be gathered by the grantees' evaluators...

  20. 76 FR 33397 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: DS-4131 Advance Notification Form: Tourist and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-08

    ... Advance Notification Form: Tourist and Other Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area... of Information Collection: Advance Notification Form: Tourist and Other Non-Governmental Activities... proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of our functions. Evaluate the...

  1. 76 FR 64960 - Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Flight Crew Self-Defense...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-19

    ... Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Flight Crew Self-Defense Training--Registration and... self-defense training class provided by TSA, the collection process involves requesting, the name.... Information Collection Requirement Title: Flight Crew Self-Defense Training--Registration and Evaluation. Type...

  2. 75 FR 43535 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Form N-644, Revision of a Currently Approved...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-26

    ... Collection Activities: Form N-644, Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection; Comment Request ACTION: 30-Day notice of information collection under review: Form N- 644, Application for Posthumous...-day comment period USCIS would be evaluating whether to revise the Form [[Page 43536

  3. 78 FR 22020 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of New Approval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-12

    ... Control Number: 2120-XXXX. Title: Safety Awareness, Feedback, and Evaluation (SAFE) Program. Form Numbers: No FAA forms are associated with this collection. Type of Review: Clearance of a new information... Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of New Approval of Information Collection: Safety Awareness...

  4. 77 FR 57590 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comments Requested: ATF...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-18

    ... form is used to evaluate the ATF Distribution Center and the services it provides to the users of ATF...] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comments Requested: ATF Distribution Center Survey ACTION: 60-Day notice of information collection under review. The Department of Justice...

  5. Evaluation of Low-Tech Indoor Remediation Methods ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Report This study identified, collected, evaluated, and summarized available articles, reports, guidance documents, and other pertinent information related to common housekeeping activities within the United States. This resulted in a summary compendium including relevant information about multiple low-tech cleaning methods from the literature search results. Through discussion and prioritization, an EPA project team, made up of several EPA scientists and emergency responders, focused the information into a list of 14 housekeeping activities for decontamination evaluation testing. These types of activities are collectively referred to as “low-tech” remediation methods because of the comparative simple tools, equipment, and operations involved. Similarly, eight common household surfaces were chosen that were contaminated using three different contamination conditions. Thirty-three combinations of methods and surfaces were chosen for testing under the three contamination conditions for a total of 99 tests.

  6. Active-Learning Implementation in an Advanced Elective Course on Infectious Diseases

    PubMed Central

    Patel, Shreya; Veltri, Keith

    2012-01-01

    Objectives. To describe the development, implementation, and assessment of an advanced elective course on infectious diseases using active-learning strategies. Design. Pedagogy for active learning was incorporated by means of mini-lecture, journal club, and debate with follow-up discussion. Forty-eight students were enrolled in this 4-week elective course, in which 30% of course time was allocated for active-learning exercises. All activities were fundamentally designed as a stepwise approach in complementing each active-learning exercise. Assessment. Achievement of the course learning objectives was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale survey instrument. Students’ awareness of the significance of antimicrobial resistance was improved (p ≤ 0.05). Students’ ability to critically evaluate the infectious-disease literature and its application in informed clinical judgments was also enhanced through these active-learning exercises (p ≤ 0.05). Students agreed that active learning should be part of the pharmacy curriculum and that active-learning exercises improved their critical-thinking, literature-evaluation, and self-learning skills. Conclusion. An elective course using active-learning strategies allowed students to combine information gained from the evaluation of infectious-disease literature, critical thinking, and informed clinical judgment. This blended approach ultimately resulted in an increased knowledge and awareness of infectious diseases. PMID:22761528

  7. Climate Change: Good for Us?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Oblak, Jackie

    2000-01-01

    Presents an activity with the objective of encouraging students to think about the effects of climate change. Explains background information on dependence to climate and discuses whether climate change is important. Provides information for the activity, extensions, and evaluation. (YDS)

  8. Evaluating SPP/APR Improvement Activities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC), 2009

    2009-01-01

    This document is intended to assist State Education Agency (SEA) and Lead Agency (LA) staff and technical assistance providers in designing a meaningful evaluation for the State Performance Plan (SPP)/Annual Performance Report (APR) improvement activities. It provides: (1) information about the relevance of evaluation in the context of improvement…

  9. 78 FR 18253 - Request for Information on Evaluating New Products for the Battery Chargers and External Power...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-26

    ... Information on Evaluating New Products for the Battery Chargers and External Power Supply Rulemaking AGENCY... classes of battery chargers and external power supplies. Specifically, DOE seeks information on battery...) standards that became effective on February 1, 2013. DOE is actively reviewing battery chargers that have...

  10. 76 FR 81980 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Green Jobs...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-29

    ... for OMB Review; Comment Request; Green Jobs and Health Care Impact Evaluation of ARRA-Funded Grants... Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Green Jobs and Health Care Impact... . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ETA is undertaking the Green Jobs and Health Care Impact Evaluation of the Pathways...

  11. 76 FR 29272 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Emergency Review: Comment Request...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-20

    ... for OMB Emergency Review: Comment Request; Baseline Information for Green Jobs and Health Care Impact..., ``Baseline Information for Green Jobs and Health Care Impact Evaluation of ARRA-funded Grants,'' to the... is preparation for an evaluation of the Green Jobs and Health Care (GJHC) training grants. The ETA...

  12. 77 FR 37710 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-06-22

    ... to continue the collection of information for two technical training program course effectiveness... approval. This collection is for OSM's Technical Training Program Course Effectiveness Evaluations (1029... collection activity: Title: Technical Training Program Course Effectiveness Evaluation. OMB Control Number...

  13. 76 FR 68219 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Impact...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-03

    ... for OMB Review; Comment Request; Impact Evaluation of the YouthBuild Program ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY... proposal for a new information collection titled, ``Impact Evaluation of the YouthBuild Program,'' to the... support of an impact evaluation of the YouthBuild Program. Specifically, the DOL seeks to conduct a census...

  14. Economic evaluation of area-wide pest management program to control asian tiger mosquito in New Jersey

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Area-wide pest management (AWPM) is recommended to control urban mosquitoes, such as Aedes albopictus, which limit outdoor activities. While several evaluations of effectiveness exist, information on costs is lacking. Economic evaluation of such a program is important to help inform policy makers an...

  15. 77 FR 35682 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-06-14

    ... Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Aging and Disability.... The data collection associated with the Evaluation for the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC... consumers, who access ADRCs, as compared to consumers who access other systems, report that the experience...

  16. The Role of Exploratory Talk in Classroom Search Engine Tasks

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Knight, Simon; Mercer, Neil

    2015-01-01

    While search engines are commonly used by children to find information, and in classroom-based activities, children are not adept in their information seeking or evaluation of information sources. Prior work has explored such activities in isolated, individual contexts, failing to account for the collaborative, discourse-mediated nature of search…

  17. 77 FR 74491 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request Community Development Block Grant...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-14

    ... other available information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Johnson, Director, Entitlement... evaluation of the completion status of the project or activity; (D) an estimate of the number of jobs created and the number of jobs retained by the project or activity; and (E) for infrastructure investments...

  18. The Life Cycles of Stars: An Information and Activity Booklet, Grades 9-12, 1997-1998. Imagine the Universe! Probing the Structure & Evaluation of the Cosmos.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Whitlock, Laura A.; Granger, Kara C.

    This booklet contains information and activities on the life cycle of stars. Materials can be adapted for grade 9 through grade 12 classrooms. Background information about star birth and life, black dwarfs, supernovae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, and the electromagnetic spectrum is included. The seven activities focus on star mass,…

  19. A grid for a precise analysis of daily activities.

    PubMed

    Wojtasik, V; Olivier, C; Lekeu, F; Quittre, A; Adam, S; Salmon, E

    2010-01-01

    Assessment of daily living activities is essential in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Most current tools quantitatively assess overall ability but provide little qualitative information on individual difficulties. Only a few tools allow therapists to evaluate stereotyped activities and record different types of errors. We capitalised on the Kitchen Activity Assessment to design a widely applicable analysis grid that provides both qualitative and quantitative data on activity performance. A cooking activity was videotaped in 15 patients with dementia and assessed according to the different steps in the execution of the task. The evaluations obtained with our grid showed good correlations between raters, between versions of the grid and between sessions. Moreover, the degree of independence obtained with our analysis of the task correlated with the Kitchen Activity Assessment score and with a global score of cognitive functioning. We conclude that assessment of a daily living activity with this analysis grid is reproducible and relatively independent of the therapist, and thus provides quantitative and qualitative information useful for both evaluating and caring for demented patients.

  20. 78 FR 32666 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-31

    ... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Title: Job Search Assistance (JSA) Strategies Evaluation. OMB No.: New Collection. Description: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing an...

  1. 77 FR 67651 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-13

    ... Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Title: Permanency Innovations Initiative Evaluation: Phase 2... Permanency Innovations Initiative (PII). This 5-year initiative, funded by the Children's Bureau (CB) within...); California Department of Social Services' California Partnership for Permanency (CAPP); Illinois Department...

  2. 76 FR 7870 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Cybersecurity and Communications Technical Assistance...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-02-11

    ... DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY [Docket No. DHS-2010-0006] Agency Information Collection Activities: Cybersecurity and Communications Technical Assistance Request and Evaluation AGENCY: National... Programs Directorate (NPPD), Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C), Office of Emergency...

  3. Evaluation of the British Columbia AIDS Information Line.

    PubMed

    Parsons, D C; Bell, M A; Gilchrist, L D

    1991-01-01

    We evaluated implementation of the British Columbia AIDS Information Line during its initial 15 weeks of operation. Data collected during daily operation of the line included call frequency, caller characteristics, response patterns, caller concerns and community referrals. Information on activities and resources required to implement the AIDS Line was also assembled. The study concluded that the advertising campaign sponsored by the provincial government and other AIDS-related media events had a strong impact on the frequency of calls made to the AIDS Line. However, the effect of both advertising and media events was of relatively short duration, suggesting that utilization of an AIDS information line is dependent on continuing promotional activities. The evaluation results demonstrate the importance of continuous collection of data online utilization, to track public awareness of and response to AIDS-related issues, and to facilitate planning of public education.

  4. 76 FR 50225 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-12

    ... of healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood grant programs. The evaluation study title is: Parents... of topics with key informants in grantee and partner organizations such as their organizational... evaluation. Respondents: Semi-structured discussions will be held with administrators and managers of healthy...

  5. Development of a reliable estimation procedure of radioactivity inventory in a BWR plant due to neutron irradiation for decommissioning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tanaka, Ken-ichi; Ueno, Jun

    2017-09-01

    Reliable information of radioactivity inventory resulted from the radiological characterization is important in order to plan decommissioning planning and is also crucial in order to promote decommissioning in effectiveness and in safe. The information is referred to by planning of decommissioning strategy and by an application to regulator. Reliable information of radioactivity inventory can be used to optimize the decommissioning processes. In order to perform the radiological characterization reliably, we improved a procedure of an evaluation of neutron-activated materials for a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR). Neutron-activated materials are calculated with calculation codes and their validity should be verified with measurements. The evaluation of neutron-activated materials can be divided into two processes. One is a distribution calculation of neutron-flux. Another is an activation calculation of materials. The distribution calculation of neutron-flux is performed with neutron transport calculation codes with appropriate cross section library to simulate neutron transport phenomena well. Using the distribution of neutron-flux, we perform distribution calculations of radioactivity concentration. We also estimate a time dependent distribution of radioactivity classification and a radioactive-waste classification. The information obtained from the evaluation is utilized by other tasks in the preparatory tasks to make the decommissioning plan and the activity safe and rational.

  6. Indicators for the Evaluation of Environmental Education, Interpretation and Information in Protected Areas

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sureda, Jaume; Oliver, Miquel F.; Castells, Margalida

    2004-01-01

    By petition of the regional government of the Balearic Islands (Spain), the authors of this article evaluated activities of environmental education, interpretation, and information carried out in the most important protected areas of these islands. The following is a presentation of the model of the evaluation that was developed. Based on the…

  7. 78 FR 36205 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-17

    ... identification, referral for services, and service follow-up of youth at risk. \\1\\ The evaluation as designed... activities of the grantees, the research questions outlined in the evaluation statement of work, and the state of the knowledge base in the field of suicide prevention. As such, while the evaluation design...

  8. Evaluating Programs for Strengthening Teaching and Leadership

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Teacher Incentive Fund, US Department of Education, 2016

    2016-01-01

    The U.S. Department of Education (ED) expects all Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grantees to conduct an evaluation of their programs. Experience with earlier rounds of TIF grants has shown that evaluations can provide valuable information for managing and improving TIF-supported activities, as well as evidence that these activities have had a…

  9. 76 FR 63924 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; the Evaluation of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-14

    ... comments on the collection of information to: Susan Jenkins at Susan.Jenkins@aoa.hhs.gov . Submit written... Jenkins. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Jenkins at 202.357.3591. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under...

  10. 76 FR 34077 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-10

    ... materials describing the project and specific survey pre-test. Respondents: The respondents will be... Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Title: Pre-testing of Evaluation Surveys. OMB No.: 0970-0355... field tests, respondent debriefing questionnaires, cognitive interviews and focus groups in order to...

  11. EVALUATION OF AIRBORNE ASBESTOS CONCENTRATIONS BEFORE AND DURING AND O&M ACTIVITY: A CASE STUDY

    EPA Science Inventory

    The current lack of information regarding the impact of O&M activities on the potential for asbestos exposure to building staff and occupants prompted this study. This report presents a statistical evaluation of airborne asbestos data collected before and during an O&M activity i...

  12. Integrated corridor management initiative : demonstration phase evaluation. Dallas institutional and organizational analysis test plan.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2000-10-01

    The Advanced Rural Traveler Information System (ARTIS) began development June 30, 1995. While a number of activities were underway to operationally test and evaluate metro or urban traveler information systems in the 75 target markets, ARTIS setout t...

  13. 78 FR 35053 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-11

    ... for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Army Unemployment Compensation for Ex... INFORMATION: I. Background: The Army Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Service Members (UCX) Claimants... create a strong collaborative partnership among the Unemployment Insurance (UI) system, the public...

  14. Passive sensor technology interface to assess elder activity in independent living.

    PubMed

    Alexander, Gregory L; Wakefield, Bonnie J; Rantz, Marilyn; Skubic, Marjorie; Aud, Myra A; Erdelez, Sanda; Ghenaimi, Said Al

    2011-01-01

    The effectiveness of clinical information systems to improve nursing and patient outcomes depends on human factors, including system usability, organizational workflow, and user satisfaction. The aim of this study was to examine to what extent residents, family members, and clinicians find a sensor data interface used to monitor elder activity levels usable and useful in an independent living setting. Three independent expert reviewers conducted an initial heuristic evaluation. Subsequently, 20 end users (5 residents, 5 family members, 5 registered nurses, and 5 physicians) participated in the evaluation. During the evaluation, each participant was asked to complete three scenarios taken from three residents. Morae recorder software was used to capture data during the user interactions. The heuristic evaluation resulted in 26 recommendations for interface improvement; these were classified under the headings content, aesthetic appeal, navigation, and architecture, which were derived from heuristic results. Total time for elderly residents to complete scenarios was much greater than for other users. Family members spent more time than clinicians but less time than residents did to complete scenarios. Elder residents and family members had difficulty interpreting clinical data and graphs, experienced information overload, and did not understand terminology. All users found the sensor data interface useful for identifying changing resident activities. Older adult users have special needs that should be addressed when designing clinical interfaces for them, especially information as important as health information. Evaluating human factors during user interactions with clinical information systems should be a requirement before implementation.

  15. Evaluation Influence: The Evaluation Event and Capital Flow in International Development.

    PubMed

    Bell, David A

    2017-12-01

    Assessing program effectiveness in human development is central to informing foreign aid policy-making and organizational learning. Foreign aid effectiveness discussions have increasingly given attention to the devaluing effects of aid flow volatility. This study reveals that the external evaluation event influences actor behavior, serving as a volatility-constraining tool. A case study of a multidonor aid development mechanism served examining the influence of an evaluation event when considering anticipatory effects. The qualitative component used text and focus group data combined with individual interview data (organizations n = 10, including 26 individuals). Quantitative data included financial information on all 75 capital investments. The integrated theory of influence and model of alternative mechanisms used these components to identify the linkage between the evaluation event and capital flow volatility. Aid approved in the year of the midterm evaluation was disbursed by the mechanism with low capital volatility. Anticipating the evaluation event influenced behavior resulting in an empirical record that program outcomes were enhanced and the mechanism was an improved organization. Formative evaluations in a development program can trigger activity as an interim process. That activity provides for a more robust assessment of ultimate consequence of interest. Anticipating an evaluation can stimulate donor reality testing. The findings inform and strengthen future research on the influence of anticipating an evaluation. Closely examining activities before, during, and shortly after the evaluation event can aid development of other systematic methods to improve understanding this phenomenon, as well as improve donor effectiveness strategies.

  16. Assessing managerial information needs: Modification and evaluation of the Hospital Shift Leaders' Information Needs Questionnaire.

    PubMed

    Peltonen, Laura-Maria; Lundgrén-Laine, Heljä; Siirala, Eriikka; Löyttyniemi, Eliisa; Aantaa, Riku; Salanterä, Sanna

    2018-03-01

    The aims were (1) to evaluate the modified version of the Intensive Care Unit Information Need Questionnaire for the broader hospital setting, and (2) to describe the differences in respondents' managerial activities and information needs according to the position held by the respondent and the type of hospital unit. Information systems do not support managerial decision-making sufficiently and information needed in the day-to-day operations management in hospital units is unknown. An existing questionnaire was modified and evaluated. Shift leaders, that is, the nurses and physicians responsible for the day-to-day operations management in hospital units were reached using purposive sampling (n = 258). The questionnaire ascertained the importance of information. Cronbach's α ranged from .85-.96 for the subscales. Item - total correlations showed good explanatory power. Managerial activities and information needs differed between respondents in different positions, although all shared about one-third of important information needs. The response rate was 26% (n = 67). The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were good. Attention should be paid to the positions of shift leaders when developing information systems. The questionnaire can be used to determine important information when developing information systems to support day-to-day operations management in hospitals. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  17. 75 FR 39952 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Testing...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-13

    ... audiences that FDA needs to design effective communication strategies, messages, and labels. These... group settings. Third, as evaluative research, it will allow FDA to ascertain the effectiveness of the... include contractor expenses for designing and conducting information collection activities, specifically...

  18. 77 FR 73994 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-12

    ... DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No. ED-2012-ICCD-0063] Agency Information Collection Activities... Collection of Elementary and Secondary Education Data for EDFacts AGENCY: Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, Department of Education (ED). [[Page 73995

  19. 75 FR 73101 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-29

    ... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Proposed... Pregnancy Prevention Evaluation. OMB No.: 0970-0360. Description: The Administration for Children and... proposing a data collection activity to be undettaken by two related studies--the Evaluation of Pregnancy...

  20. 78 FR 67150 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-08

    ... care while also increasing efficiency across the health care system. This would be achieved through...); Title of Information Collection: Evaluation of the Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration Evaluation: Focus Group and Interview Protocols; Use: The Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration...

  1. 76 FR 45235 - Notice of Submission for OMB Review

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-28

    ... interested in comments which: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for... practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed... detailed descriptive information of TA&D Program grantees' activities concerning the topic areas addressed...

  2. Modern & Classical Languages: K-12 Program EValuation 1988-89.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Martinez, Margaret Perea

    This evaluation of the modern and classical languages programs, K-12, in the Albuquerque (New Mexico) public school system provides general information on the program's history, philosophy, recognition, curriculum development, teachers, and activities. Specific information is offered on the different program components, namely, the elementary…

  3. 78 FR 70577 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection, Comments Requested, New Collection...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-26

    ... Program the ability to conduct pretests which evaluate the validity and reliability of information... the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used...

  4. Economics of Information in Education. ERIC Digest.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Farid, Mona

    This digest on the economics of information in education argues that the production, organization, analysis, evaluation, and dissemination of information in education constitute major economic activities, with associated costs and benefits. The document comprises sections on: the value of information; information as an "economic good";…

  5. SOAR 89: Space Station. Space suit test program

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kosmo, Joseph J.; West, Philip; Rouen, Michael

    1990-01-01

    The elements of the test program for the space suit to be used on Space Station Freedom are noted in viewgraph form. Information is given on evaluation objectives, zero gravity evaluation, mobility evaluation, extravehicular activity task evaluation, and shoulder joint evaluation.

  6. Contextual influences on implicit evaluation: a test of additive versus contrastive effects of evaluative context stimuli in affective priming.

    PubMed

    Gawronski, Bertram; Deutsch, Roland; Seidel, Oliver

    2005-09-01

    Drawing on two alternative accounts of the affective priming effect (spreading activation vs. response interference), the present research investigated the underlying processes of how evaluative context stimuli influence implicit evaluations in the affective priming task. Employing two sequentially presented prime stimuli (rather than a single prime), two experiments showed that affective priming effects elicited by a given prime stimulus were more pronounced when this stimulus was preceded by a context prime of the opposite valence than when it was preceded by a context prime of the same valence. This effect consistently emerged for pictures (Experiment 1) and words (Experiment 2) as prime stimuli. These results suggest that the impact of evaluative context stimuli on implicit evaluations is mediated by contrast effects in the attention to evaluative information rather than by additive effects in the activation of evaluative information in associative memory.

  7. 77 FR 284 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Final Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-04

    ... EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE U.S. [Public Notice 2011-076] Agency Information Collection Activities: Final Collection; Comment Request AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the U.S. ACTION: Submission for OMB... be considered in the overall evaluation of the transaction, including Export-Import Bank's...

  8. 75 FR 29777 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 1660-0032; U.S...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-05-27

    ...] Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 1660-0032; U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Academy Evaluation Collection AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS... with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Notice seeks comments concerning National Fire Academy...

  9. 78 FR 28223 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; OAA Title...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-14

    ... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Community Living Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; OAA Title III-C Evaluation AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living...

  10. 78 FR 2379 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Impact Evaluation of Math Professional...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-11

    ...; Comment Request; Impact Evaluation of Math Professional Development AGENCY: IES/NCES, Department of... of Math Professional Development. OMB Control Number: 1850-NEW. Type of Review: New information... requests clearance to recruit and collect data from districts, schools, and teachers for a study of math...

  11. 77 FR 5058 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Electrical...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-02-01

    ... with the manufacturer's name, trademark, or other descriptive markings that identify the producer of... Number 1218-0130. The OMB is particularly interested in comments that: Evaluate whether the proposed... whether the information will have practical utility; Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the...

  12. 78 FR 5793 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Evaluation of State Expanded Learning...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-28

    ...; Comment Request; Evaluation of State Expanded Learning Time AGENCY: Department of Education (ED), IES... State Expanded Learning Time. OMB Control Number: 1850-New. Type of Review: New information collection... conduct semi-structured interviews with 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) state...

  13. 76 FR 43695 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-21

    ... Project: Networking Suicide Prevention Hotlines--Evaluation of the Lifeline Policies for Helping Callers... approved data collection activities [Evaluation of Networking Suicide Prevention Hotlines Follow-Up Assessment (OMB No. 0930-0274) and Call Monitoring of National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Form (OMB No. 0930...

  14. Effects of Individual Health Topic Familiarity on Activity Patterns During Health Information Searches

    PubMed Central

    Moriyama, Koichi; Fukui, Ken–ichi; Numao, Masayuki

    2015-01-01

    Background Non-medical professionals (consumers) are increasingly using the Internet to support their health information needs. However, the cognitive effort required to perform health information searches is affected by the consumer’s familiarity with health topics. Consumers may have different levels of familiarity with individual health topics. This variation in familiarity may cause misunderstandings because the information presented by search engines may not be understood correctly by the consumers. Objective As a first step toward the improvement of the health information search process, we aimed to examine the effects of health topic familiarity on health information search behaviors by identifying the common search activity patterns exhibited by groups of consumers with different levels of familiarity. Methods Each participant completed a health terminology familiarity questionnaire and health information search tasks. The responses to the familiarity questionnaire were used to grade the familiarity of participants with predefined health topics. The search task data were transcribed into a sequence of search activities using a coding scheme. A computational model was constructed from the sequence data using a Markov chain model to identify the common search patterns in each familiarity group. Results Forty participants were classified into L1 (not familiar), L2 (somewhat familiar), and L3 (familiar) groups based on their questionnaire responses. They had different levels of familiarity with four health topics. The video data obtained from all of the participants were transcribed into 4595 search activities (mean 28.7, SD 23.27 per session). The most frequent search activities and transitions in all the familiarity groups were related to evaluations of the relevancy of selected web pages in the retrieval results. However, the next most frequent transitions differed in each group and a chi-squared test confirmed this finding (P<.001). Next, according to the results of a perplexity evaluation, the health information search patterns were best represented as a 5-gram sequence pattern. The most common patterns in group L1 were frequent query modifications, with relatively low search efficiency, and accessing and evaluating selected results from a health website. Group L2 performed frequent query modifications, but with better search efficiency, and accessed and evaluated selected results from a health website. Finally, the members of group L3 successfully discovered relevant results from the first query submission, performed verification by accessing several health websites after they discovered relevant results, and directly accessed consumer health information websites. Conclusions Familiarity with health topics affects health information search behaviors. Our analysis of state transitions in search activities detected unique behaviors and common search activity patterns in each familiarity group during health information searches. PMID:25783222

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

    Gastelum, Zoe N.; Harvey, Julia B.

    The International Atomic Energy Agency State Evaluation Process: The Role of Information Analysis in Reaching Safeguards Conclusions (Mathews et al. 2008), several examples of nonproliferation models using analytical software were developed that may assist the IAEA with collecting, visualizing, analyzing, and reporting information in support of the State Evaluation Process. This paper focuses on one of the examples a set of models developed in the Proactive Scenario Production, Evidence Collection, and Testing (ProSPECT) software that evaluates the status and nature of a state’s nuclear activities. The models use three distinct subject areas to perform this assessment: the presence of nuclearmore » activities, the consistency of those nuclear activities with national nuclear energy goals, and the geopolitical context in which those nuclear activities are taking place. As a proof-of-concept for the models, a crude case study was performed. The study, which attempted to evaluate the nuclear activities taking place in Syria prior to September 2007, yielded illustrative, yet inconclusive, results. Due to the inconclusive nature of the case study results, changes that may improve the model’s efficiency and accuracy are proposed.« less

  16. Can we undo our first impressions?: The role of reinterpretation in reversing implicit evaluations

    PubMed Central

    Mann, Thomas C.; Ferguson, Melissa J.

    2015-01-01

    Little work has examined whether implicit evaluations can be effectively “undone” after learning new revelations. Across 7 experiments, participants fully reversed their implicit evaluation of a novel target person after reinterpreting earlier information. Revision occurred across multiple implicit evaluation measures (Experiments 1a and 1b), and only when the new information prompted a reinterpretation of prior learning versus did not (Experiment 2). The updating required active consideration of the information, as it emerged only with at least moderate cognitive resources (Experiment 3). Self-reported reinterpretation predicted (Experiment 4) and mediated (Experiment 5) revised implicit evaluations beyond the separate influence of how thoughtfully participants considered the new information in general. Finally, the revised evaluations were durable three days later (Experiment 6). We discuss how these results inform existing theoretical models, and consider implications for future research. PMID:25798625

  17. Can we undo our first impressions? The role of reinterpretation in reversing implicit evaluations.

    PubMed

    Mann, Thomas C; Ferguson, Melissa J

    2015-06-01

    Little work has examined whether implicit evaluations can be effectively "undone" after learning new revelations. Across 7 experiments, participants fully reversed their implicit evaluation of a novel target person after reinterpreting earlier information. Revision occurred across multiple implicit evaluation measures (Experiments 1a and 1b), and only when the new information prompted a reinterpretation of prior learning versus did not (Experiment 2). The updating required active consideration of the information, as it emerged only with at least moderate cognitive resources (Experiment 3). Self-reported reinterpretation predicted (Experiment 4) and mediated (Experiment 5) revised implicit evaluations beyond the separate influence of how thoughtfully participants considered the new information in general. Finally, the revised evaluations were durable 3 days later (Experiment 6). We discuss how these results inform existing theoretical models, and consider implications for future research. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

  18. 75 FR 68829 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Generic Survey Clearance for the...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-09

    ... evaluation studies. In order to conduct program- or portfolio-level evaluations, however, both experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation research studies on STEM education interventions require researchers...

  19. 78 FR 55725 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-11

    ... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-2013-N-0717] Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Food and Drug Administration's General Market Youth Tobacco Prevention...

  20. 76 FR 18223 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-04-01

    ... Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Title: Descriptive Study of Early Head Start (Early Head... tracking for the peri-natal cohort of the Descriptive Study of Early Head Start (Early Head Start Family... Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447...

  1. 78 FR 52824 - Proposed Information Collection (Bowel and Bladder Care Billing Form) Activity: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-26

    ... and Bladder Care Billing Form) Activity: Comment Request AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration.... This notice solicits comments on the information needed to evaluate the Bowel and Bladder Care Billing... specifically to bowel and bladder care. DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection...

  2. 76 FR 36169 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-21

    ... content. DATES: Written comments should be submitted by August 22, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT... continuously validated through the collection and analysis of trainee performance. Data collection and analysis... and content of training and evaluation activities are satisfactorily accomplishing the overall...

  3. 76 FR 61107 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-03

    .... Project: Networking Suicide Prevention Hotlines--Evaluation of the Lifeline Policies for Helping Callers... approved data collection activities [Evaluation of Networking Suicide Prevention Hotlines Follow-Up Assessment (OMB No. 0930-0274) and Call Monitoring of National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Form (OMB No. 0930...

  4. Preview: Evaluation of the 1973-1974 Bilingual/Bicultural Project. Formative Evaluation Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ligon, Glynn; And Others

    The formative report provided the Austin Independent School District personnel with information useful for planning the remaining activities for the 1973-74 Bilingual/Bicultural Project and the activities for the 1974-75 Project. Emphasis was on what had been done to evaluate the 1973-74 Project, the data which was or would be available for the…

  5. 77 FR 64340 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Public...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-19

    .... Information Collection Request Title: National Survey on Health Information Exchange in Clinical Laboratories... National Survey on Health Information Exchange in Clinical Laboratories will assess and evaluate the electronic transfer of health information from clinical laboratories to ordering physicians. It will focus on...

  6. 48 CFR 2942.1503 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... at least annually for submission to the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), and... ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Contractor Performance Information 2942.1503 Procedures. (a) In accordance with... criteria within their contracting activities. (d) Release of contractor performance evaluation information...

  7. 48 CFR 2942.1503 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... at least annually for submission to the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), and... ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Contractor Performance Information 2942.1503 Procedures. (a) In accordance with... criteria within their contracting activities. (d) Release of contractor performance evaluation information...

  8. 48 CFR 2942.1503 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... at least annually for submission to the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), and... ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Contractor Performance Information 2942.1503 Procedures. (a) In accordance with... criteria within their contracting activities. (d) Release of contractor performance evaluation information...

  9. 48 CFR 2942.1503 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... at least annually for submission to the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), and... ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Contractor Performance Information 2942.1503 Procedures. (a) In accordance with... criteria within their contracting activities. (d) Release of contractor performance evaluation information...

  10. 48 CFR 2942.1503 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... at least annually for submission to the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), and... ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Contractor Performance Information 2942.1503 Procedures. (a) In accordance with... criteria within their contracting activities. (d) Release of contractor performance evaluation information...

  11. 20 CFR 637.230 - Use of incentive bonuses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... in paragraph (d) of this section, technical assistance, data and information collection and compilation, management information systems, post-program followup activities, and research and evaluation... information collection and compilation, recordkeeping, or the preparation of applications for incentive...

  12. 76 FR 36170 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-21

    ... intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The information collected allows the FAA to evaluate its certification standards, maintenance programs...

  13. 77 FR 60140 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection; Request for Comments

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-02

    ... renewed approval for the collection of information for two technical training program course effectiveness... of information contained in two technical training program course effectiveness evaluation forms. OSM... days in which to comment on the following information collection activities: Title: Technical Training...

  14. 78 FR 37546 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Evaluation of the...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-21

    ... collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the... multiple, discrete waves of media advertising planned for the campaigns. Outcome Evaluation Study The..., 8,281 completes at the second followup, and 6,625 completes at the third followup survey waves. The...

  15. New criteria for measuring range management activities.

    Treesearch

    T.M. Quigley; D.S. Dillard; J.B. [and others] Reese

    1989-01-01

    The USDA Forest Service national range program is currently evaluating its information needs at the national level A Range Measurement Task Group of Agency personnel was assembled in January 1988 to evaluate the information needs and recommend appropriate measures and reports. This document is the final recommendation of the task group. The recommendation includes...

  16. 76 FR 5598 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-02-01

    ... major initiative designed to: (1) Prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance abuse... evaluation design. Since the ultimate goal is to fund all eligible jurisdictions, there are no control groups... NOMs. Information for both surveys will be gathered by the grantees' evaluators twice over the life of...

  17. 76 FR 18567 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-04-04

    ... major initiative designed to: (1) Prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance abuse... original evaluation design. Since the ultimate goal is to fund all eligible jurisdictions, there are no... NOMs. Information for both surveys will be gathered by the grantees' evaluators twice over the life of...

  18. 78 FR 54679 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-05

    ... characteristics of AJCs (e.g., affiliate vs. comprehensive, or rural vs. urban) or the nature of AJC services... Request; Evaluation the Accessibility of American Job Centers for People With Disabilities AGENCY: Office... . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background: American Job Centers (AJCs), formerly called One- Stop Career Centers...

  19. Key informant interviews test plan : model deployment of a regional, multi-modal 511 traveler information system

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2004-01-28

    This document presents the detailed plan to conduct the Key Informants Interviews Test, one of several test activities to be conducted as part of the national evaluation of the regional, multi-modal 511 Traveler Information System Model Deployment. T...

  20. 77 FR 32118 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-31

    ... this evaluation, qualitative and quantitative data will be collected and analyzed to answer research... minimize the information collection burden. 1. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection.... For all other issues call 410-786- 1326.) 2. Type of Information Collection Request: New collection...

  1. 76 FR 27077 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Form AR-11 and Form AR-11SR, Extension of an Existing...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-10

    ... Collection Activities: Form AR-11 and Form AR- 11SR, Extension of an Existing Information Collection; Comment Request ACTION: 60-Day Notice of Information Collection under Review: Form AR- 11 and Form AR-11SR, Alien... evaluating whether to revise the Form AR-11 and Form AR-11SR (Forms AR-11). Should USCIS decide to revise...

  2. An Examination of the Addition of Video Informed Reflective Practice to the Active Support Toolkit

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Baker, Peter; Appleton, Philippa; Williams, Rosie

    2017-01-01

    Background: This study evaluated a package of Active Support (AS), which included standard training with additional video informed reflective practice. Materials & Methods: The training package was implemented as part of a service improvement initiative in four residential intellectual disability homes, using a concurrent multiple baseline…

  3. Quality Assurance in Teachers' Assessment.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gipps, Caroline V.

    The teacher assessment that is the subject of this paper is an essentially informal activity. The teacher assesses the student by posing questions, observing activities, and evaluating work in a planned or ad hoc way. The information obtained may be partial or fragmented, but repeating such assessments over time will allow the buildup of a solid…

  4. 75 FR 17151 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, OMB No...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-04-05

    .... 1660--NEW; FEMA Form 089-23, Buffer Zone Plan; FEMA Form 089-23A, Vulnerability Reduction Purchasing...-23A, Vulnerability Reduction Purchasing Plan. Abstract: The information collection activity is the... enables FEMA to evaluate applications and make award decisions, monitor ongoing performance and manage the...

  5. Evaluation of Brain Activity Related to Speech and Handwriting Using NIRS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Asano, Hirotoshi; Suzuki, Hiroaki; Ide, Hideto

    The difference by the brain activity when writing it down speech the use of the near-infrared spectroscopy is examined in the present study. It is thought that it becomes a help of the communications between the nurse and people requiring long-term care if the identification of the information transmission means can be evaluated and be detected from the brain activity. Because the possibility of the evaluation of result, “Speech”, and “Writing” was shown, it reports.

  6. The Active plus protocol: systematic development of two theory- and evidence-based tailored physical activity interventions for the over-fifties.

    PubMed

    van Stralen, Maartje M; Kok, Gerjo; de Vries, Hein; Mudde, Aart N; Bolman, Catherine; Lechner, Lilian

    2008-12-04

    Limited data are available on the development, implementation and evaluation processes of physical activity promotion programmes among older adults. More integrative insights into interventions describing the planned systematic development, implementation and evaluation are needed. The purpose of this study is to give an integrative insight into the development of the Active plus programme applying the six-step Intervention Mapping protocol. The Active plus programme consisted of two theory- and evidence-based tailored physical activity promotion interventions, both comprising three tailored letters delivered over four months and aimed at raising awareness of insufficient physical activity, and stimulating physical activity initiation and maintenance among the over-fifties. The first intervention, the basic tailored intervention, provided tailored letters that intervened on the psychosocial determinants of physical activity. The second intervention, the intervention plus, provided the same tailored information but additionally provided tailored information about physical activity opportunities in the specific environment in which the older adults lived. This environment-based component also provided access to a forum and e-buddy system on a website. A plan for implementation and evaluation is also described. The planned development of the Active plus programme resulted in two theory- and evidence-based tailored physical activity interventions targeted at the over-fifties. Dutch Trial Register NTR 920.

  7. Assessment of pilot workload with the introduction of an airborne threat-alert system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Battiste, Vernol; Bortolussi, Michael R.

    1989-01-01

    Simulated line operations were used to assess the value of the TCAS on the pilot's ability to avoid a collision and to determine the effects of various display configurations and information contents on the flight-crew performance and workload. The crew flew a Phase II Link/Boeing 727 simulator in a simulated ATC environment. Four levels of collision avoidance information were evaluated using the following TCAS display formats: no TCAS information, TCAS information with no traffic display information, TCAS information with threat-activated traffic display information, and TCAS information with a full-time traffic display of threat information. It was found that the use of a threat-activated TCAS display significantly reduced the first officers' workload was significantly reduced by the threat-activated TCAS display, as were the workloads of the captain and the second officer.

  8. 76 FR 76177 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-06

    ... required to collect, evaluate, publish and distribute publish information concerning earthquakes... an earthquake--on themselves, buildings, other man-made structures, and ground effects such as... respondents. [[Page 76178

  9. Development and evaluation of the DECIDE to move! Physical activity educational video.

    PubMed

    Majid, Haseeb M; Schumann, Kristina P; Doswell, Angela; Sutherland, June; Hill Golden, Sherita; Stewart, Kerry J; Hill-Briggs, Felicia

    2012-01-01

    To develop a video that provides accessible and usable information about the importance of physical activity to type 2 diabetes self-management and ways of incorporating physical activity into everyday life. A 15-minute physical activity educational video narrated by US Surgeon General Dr Regina Benjamin was developed and evaluated. The video addresses the following topics: the effects of exercise on diabetes, preparations for beginning physical activity, types of physical activity, safety considerations (eg, awareness of symptoms of hypoglycemia during activity), and goal setting. Two patient screening groups were held for evaluation and revision of the video. Patient satisfaction ratings ranged 4.6 to 4.9 out of a possible 5.0 on dimensions of overall satisfaction, how informative they found the video to be, how well the video held their interest and attention, how easy the video was to understand, and how easy the video was to see and hear. Patients reported the educational video effective in empowering them to take strides toward increasing and maintaining physical activity in their lives. The tool is currently used in a clinical research trial, Project DECIDE, as one component of a diabetes and cardiovascular disease self-management program.

  10. 77 FR 61776 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Housing Counseling Program

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-11

    ... to evaluate grantees' performance. This collection of information includes renewal of various HUD... activities, client financial leverage data, and agency profile information. DATES: Comments Due Date... of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including...

  11. 77 FR 57103 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Housing Counseling Program

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-17

    ... to evaluate grantees' performance. This collection of information includes renewal of various HUD... activities, client financial leverage data, and agency profile information. DATES: Comments Due Date: October... of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including...

  12. 77 FR 64343 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-19

    ... Information Collection Request: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Minimum Data Set for Medicaid... National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs. The proposed information collection, the MIPCD Minimum Data Set (MDS), is intended to collect data for program performance monitoring and evaluation. The MDS is a...

  13. Informing Evaluation Capacity Building through Profiling Organizational Capacity for Evaluation: An Empirical Examination of Four Canadian Federal Government Organizations

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bourgeois, Isabelle; Cousins, J. Bradley

    2008-01-01

    According to the literature published on the topic, the development of an organization's capacity to do and use evaluation typically follows four stages: "traditional evaluation," characterized by externally mandated evaluation activities; "awareness and experimentation," during which organizational members learn about evaluation and its benefits…

  14. 78 FR 51730 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-21

    ... Evaluation of the Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration Evaluation: Focus Group and Interview... Collection: Evaluation of the Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration Evaluation: Focus Group and Interview Protocols; Use: The Medicare Health Care Quality (MHCQ) Demonstration was developed to address...

  15. 77 FR 22001 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-04-12

    ... for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Unemployment Compensation Provisions of the... titled, ``Evaluation of the Unemployment Compensation Provisions of the American Recovery and... evaluation of the unemployment compensation (UC) provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act...

  16. Supplementing Art Curriculum. I, Glass. II. Local Evaluation Report, Fiscal Year 1973.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kohtz, Karen

    A local evaluation report and an information packet describing activities developed under this mini-grant deal with a supplemental art curriculum on glass work. Over a four month period, a glass workshop was planned to emphasize the creative possibilities of glass and information packets were developed to train teachers to conduct classroom art…

  17. EVALUATION OF E.S.E.A. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THE EDUCATIONALLY DISADVANTAGED, 1966-67.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sacramento City Unified School District, CA.

    Along with general information on the 1966-67 Title I compensatory education programs in the Sacramento City Unified School District and on the instruments used in evaluation the effectiveness of these programs, this report contains descriptions of individual activities: (1) language arts development and reading remediation (also information on…

  18. State Compensatory Education: 1979-80. Final Technical Report. Publication No. 79.18.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

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

    A major portion of Texas' State Compensatory Education (SCE) evaluation resources for 1979-80 was devoted to activities related to the statewide assessment of fifth and ninth graders' skills in reading, mathematics, and writing (the Texas Assessment of Basic Skills Project). For purposes of this report, evaluation activity and information is…

  19. New Opportunities and Directions in Home Visiting Research and Evaluation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Supplee, Lauren H.; Harwood, Robin L.; Margie, Nancy Geyelin; Meyer, Aleta L.

    2013-01-01

    The authors describe the research and evaluation activities connected to the new Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program. The goal of these activities is to provide information on federal, state, and local efforts to strengthen programs by providing much needed knowledge on the best ways to support the implementation of home…

  20. 42 CFR 84.303 - General testing conditions and requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES APPROVAL OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE DEVICES Closed... quantitative evaluations and human subjects on a treadmill to provide qualitative evaluations. Information on...

  1. 42 CFR 84.303 - General testing conditions and requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES APPROVAL OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE DEVICES Closed... quantitative evaluations and human subjects on a treadmill to provide qualitative evaluations. Information on...

  2. 42 CFR 84.303 - General testing conditions and requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES APPROVAL OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE DEVICES Closed... quantitative evaluations and human subjects on a treadmill to provide qualitative evaluations. Information on...

  3. Investigation of remote sensing techniques of measuring soil moisture

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Newton, R. W. (Principal Investigator); Blanchard, A. J.; Nieber, J. L.; Lascano, R.; Tsang, L.; Vanbavel, C. H. M.

    1981-01-01

    Major activities described include development and evaluation of theoretical models that describe both active and passive microwave sensing of soil moisture, the evaluation of these models for their applicability, the execution of a controlled field experiment during which passive microwave measurements were acquired to validate these models, and evaluation of previously acquired aircraft microwave measurements. The development of a root zone soil water and soil temperature profile model and the calibration and evaluation of gamma ray attenuation probes for measuring soil moisture profiles are considered. The analysis of spatial variability of soil information as related to remote sensing is discussed as well as the implementation of an instrumented field site for acquisition of soil moisture and meteorologic information for use in validating the soil water profile and soil temperature profile models.

  4. Antimicrobial Testing Methods & Procedures: MB-26-02

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Information about ATMP - SOP Neutralization of Microbicidal Activity using the OECD Quantitative Method for Evaluating Bactericidal Activity of Microbicides Used on Hard, Non-Porous Surfaces - MB-26-02

  5. Computational advances towards linking BOLD and behavior.

    PubMed

    Serences, John T; Saproo, Sameer

    2012-03-01

    Traditionally, fMRI studies have focused on analyzing the mean response amplitude within a cortical area. However, the mean response is blind to many important patterns of cortical modulation, which severely limits the formulation and evaluation of linking hypotheses between neural activity, BOLD responses, and behavior. More recently, multivariate pattern classification analysis (MVPA) has been applied to fMRI data to evaluate the information content of spatially distributed activation patterns. This approach has been remarkably successful at detecting the presence of specific information in targeted brain regions, and provides an extremely flexible means of extracting that information without a precise generative model for the underlying neural activity. However, this flexibility comes at a cost: since MVPA relies on pooling information across voxels that are selective for many different stimulus attributes, it is difficult to infer how specific sub-sets of tuned neurons are modulated by an experimental manipulation. In contrast, recently developed encoding models can produce more precise estimates of feature-selective tuning functions, and can support the creation of explicit linking hypotheses between neural activity and behavior. Although these encoding models depend on strong - and often untested - assumptions about the response properties of underlying neural generators, they also provide a unique opportunity to evaluate population-level computational theories of perception and cognition that have previously been difficult to assess using either single-unit recording or conventional neuroimaging techniques. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  6. The Effects of Gain- versus Loss-Framed Messages Following Health Risk Information on Physical Activity in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis.

    PubMed

    Lithopoulos, Alexander; Bassett-Gunter, Rebecca L; Martin Ginis, Kathleen A; Latimer-Cheung, Amy E

    2017-06-01

    Few people with multiple sclerosis engage in physical activity. Messaging interventions may motivate more physical activity among these individuals. The purpose of this online study was to evaluate an intervention presenting participants with multiple sclerosis (N = 237) with risk information (i.e., information demonstrating people with multiple sclerosis are more likely to experience certain health issues) or no risk information followed by gain- or loss-framed physical activity messages. Participants completed questionnaires on Days 1, 6, and 28 and received information material on Days 2-5. The dependent variables were as follows: physical activity intentions and behavior, response and task efficacy, perceived threat (i.e., perception of threat to health issues relevant to people with multiple sclerosis), and avoidance (i.e., avoiding thinking about/doing something about the health issues presented in the messages). Analyses indicated physical activity and response efficacy increased over time. Also, participants receiving risk information had higher levels of physical activity and perceived threat. However, manipulation checks showed no differences between participants regarding perceptions of risk information or gain/loss-framed messages. Despite the lack of impact of the framing intervention, this study suggests that a brief informational intervention can positively influence physical activity and certain correlates of physical activity among people with multiple sclerosis.

  7. Transparent Information Systems through Gateways, Front Ends, Intermediaries, and Interfaces.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Williams, Martha E.

    1986-01-01

    Provides overview of design requirements for transparent information retrieval (implies that user sees through complexity of retrieval activities sequence). Highlights include need for transparent systems; history of transparent retrieval research; information retrieval functions (automated converters, routers, selectors, evaluators/analyzers);…

  8. 28 CFR 22.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ..., evaluate, or otherwise advance the state of knowledge in a particular area. The term does not include “intelligence” or other information-gathering activities in which information pertaining to specific individuals... individual having possession, knowledge, or control thereof. (e) Information identifiable to a private person...

  9. 28 CFR 22.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ..., evaluate, or otherwise advance the state of knowledge in a particular area. The term does not include “intelligence” or other information-gathering activities in which information pertaining to specific individuals... individual having possession, knowledge, or control thereof. (e) Information identifiable to a private person...

  10. 28 CFR 22.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ..., evaluate, or otherwise advance the state of knowledge in a particular area. The term does not include “intelligence” or other information-gathering activities in which information pertaining to specific individuals... individual having possession, knowledge, or control thereof. (e) Information identifiable to a private person...

  11. GoActive: a protocol for the mixed methods process evaluation of a school-based physical activity promotion programme for 13-14year old adolescents.

    PubMed

    Jong, Stephanie T; Brown, Helen Elizabeth; Croxson, Caroline H D; Wilkinson, Paul; Corder, Kirsten L; van Sluijs, Esther M F

    2018-05-21

    Process evaluations are critical for interpreting and understanding outcome trial results. By understanding how interventions function across different settings, process evaluations have the capacity to inform future dissemination of interventions. The complexity of Get others Active (GoActive), a 12-week, school-based physical activity intervention implemented in eight schools, highlights the need to investigate how implementation is achieved across a variety of school settings. This paper describes the mixed methods GoActive process evaluation protocol that is embedded within the outcome evaluation. In this detailed process evaluation protocol, we describe the flexible and pragmatic methods that will be used for capturing the process evaluation data. A mixed methods design will be used for the process evaluation, including quantitative data collected in both the control and intervention arms of the GoActive trial, and qualitative data collected in the intervention arm. Data collection methods will include purposively sampled, semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews, direct observation, and participant questionnaires (completed by students, teachers, older adolescent mentors, and local authority-funded facilitators). Data will be analysed thematically within and across datasets. Overall synthesis of findings will address the process of GoActive implementation, and through which this process affects outcomes, with careful attention to the context of the school environment. This process evaluation will explore the experience of participating in GoActive from the perspectives of key groups, providing a greater understanding of the acceptability and process of implementation of the intervention across the eight intervention schools. This will allow for appraisal of the intervention's conceptual base, inform potential dissemination, and help optimise post-trial sustainability. The process evaluation will also assist in contextualising the trial effectiveness results with respect to how the intervention may or may not have worked and, if it was found to be effective, what might be required for it to be sustained in the 'real world'. Furthermore, it will offer suggestions for the development and implementation of future initiatives to promote physical activity within schools. ISRCTN, ISRCTN31583496 . Registered on 18 February 2014.

  12. 76 FR 44349 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Arrival and Departure Record (Forms I-94 and I-94W) and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-25

    ... Activities: Arrival and Departure Record (Forms I-94 and I-94W) and Electronic System for Travel... I-94W (Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure), and the Electronic System for Travel... points: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper...

  13. 77 FR 43345 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Sponsor's Notice of Change of Address, Form I-865...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-24

    ...-0076] Agency Information Collection Activities: Sponsor's Notice of Change of Address, Form I-865...: Sponsor's Notice of Change of Address. (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the.... During this 60-day period, USCIS will be evaluating whether to revise the Form I-865. Should USCIS decide...

  14. 75 FR 80832 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-12-23

    ... trainings; Evaluative materials completed by participants of in- person SOAR trainings, including pre/post training evaluation forms and a customer satisfaction survey; Evaluative materials completed by users of... from community-based agencies. Respondents to the in-person training evaluative materials include an...

  15. Using the EZ-Diffusion Model to Score a Single-Category Implicit Association Test of Physical Activity

    PubMed Central

    Rebar, Amanda L.; Ram, Nilam; Conroy, David E.

    2014-01-01

    Objective The Single-Category Implicit Association Test (SC-IAT) has been used as a method for assessing automatic evaluations of physical activity, but measurement artifact or consciously-held attitudes could be confounding the outcome scores of these measures. The objective of these two studies was to address these measurement concerns by testing the validity of a novel SC-IAT scoring technique. Design Study 1 was a cross-sectional study, and study 2 was a prospective study. Method In study 1, undergraduate students (N = 104) completed SC-IATs for physical activity, flowers, and sedentary behavior. In study 2, undergraduate students (N = 91) completed a SC-IAT for physical activity, self-reported affective and instrumental attitudes toward physical activity, physical activity intentions, and wore an accelerometer for two weeks. The EZ-diffusion model was used to decompose the SC-IAT into three process component scores including the information processing efficiency score. Results In study 1, a series of structural equation model comparisons revealed that the information processing score did not share variability across distinct SC-IATs, suggesting it does not represent systematic measurement artifact. In study 2, the information processing efficiency score was shown to be unrelated to self-reported affective and instrumental attitudes toward physical activity, and positively related to physical activity behavior, above and beyond the traditional D-score of the SC-IAT. Conclusions The information processing efficiency score is a valid measure of automatic evaluations of physical activity. PMID:25484621

  16. 78 FR 60299 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; FEMA...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-10-01

    ... information to evaluate applicants' familiarity with the national preparedness architecture and identify how elements of this architecture have been incorporated into regional/state/local planning, operations, and...

  17. 78 FR 50452 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-19

    .... These indicators are both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for example, the characteristics... information to continue funding of the Centers, and to evaluate the progress of the program. Estimate of...

  18. 75 FR 70926 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-19

    ...; Title of Information Collection: Medicare/Medicaid Psychiatric Hospital Survey Data; Use: The CMS-724... evaluation and in maintaining an accurate database on providers participating in the psychiatric hospital...

  19. 78 FR 13381 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comments Requested: Reinstatement...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-27

    ... of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; --Evaluate whether...- 52. In addition, 70 respondents of these respondents will be used for reliability testing averaging 1...

  20. 76 FR 55706 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comments Requested

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-09-08

    ... of information collection: Certification on Agency Letterhead Authorizing Purchase of Firearm for... following four points: --Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper... Letterhead Authorizing Purchase of Firearm for Official Duties of Law Enforcement Officer. (3) Agency form...

  1. Disease Monitoring and Health Campaign Evaluation Using Google Search Activities for HIV and AIDS, Stroke, Colorectal Cancer, and Marijuana Use in Canada: A Retrospective Observational Study.

    PubMed

    Ling, Rebecca; Lee, Joon

    2016-10-12

    Infodemiology can offer practical and feasible health research applications through the practice of studying information available on the Web. Google Trends provides publicly accessible information regarding search behaviors in a population, which may be studied and used for health campaign evaluation and disease monitoring. Additional studies examining the use and effectiveness of Google Trends for these purposes remain warranted. The objective of our study was to explore the use of infodemiology in the context of health campaign evaluation and chronic disease monitoring. It was hypothesized that following a launch of a campaign, there would be an increase in information seeking behavior on the Web. Second, increasing and decreasing disease patterns in a population would be associated with search activity patterns. This study examined 4 different diseases: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, stroke, colorectal cancer, and marijuana use. Using Google Trends, relative search volume data were collected throughout the period of February 2004 to January 2015. Campaign information and disease statistics were obtained from governmental publications. Search activity trends were graphed and assessed with disease trends and the campaign interval. Pearson product correlation statistics and joinpoint methodology analyses were used to determine significance. Disease patterns and online activity across all 4 diseases were significantly correlated: HIV infection (r=.36, P<.001), stroke (r=.40, P<.001), colorectal cancer (r= -.41, P<.001), and substance use (r=.64, P<.001). Visual inspection and the joinpoint analysis showed significant correlations for the campaigns on colorectal cancer and marijuana use in stimulating search activity. No significant correlations were observed for the campaigns on stroke and HIV regarding search activity. The use of infoveillance shows promise as an alternative and inexpensive solution to disease surveillance and health campaign evaluation. Further research is needed to understand Google Trends as a valid and reliable tool for health research.

  2. Disease Monitoring and Health Campaign Evaluation Using Google Search Activities for HIV and AIDS, Stroke, Colorectal Cancer, and Marijuana Use in Canada: A Retrospective Observational Study

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    Background Infodemiology can offer practical and feasible health research applications through the practice of studying information available on the Web. Google Trends provides publicly accessible information regarding search behaviors in a population, which may be studied and used for health campaign evaluation and disease monitoring. Additional studies examining the use and effectiveness of Google Trends for these purposes remain warranted. Objective The objective of our study was to explore the use of infodemiology in the context of health campaign evaluation and chronic disease monitoring. It was hypothesized that following a launch of a campaign, there would be an increase in information seeking behavior on the Web. Second, increasing and decreasing disease patterns in a population would be associated with search activity patterns. This study examined 4 different diseases: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, stroke, colorectal cancer, and marijuana use. Methods Using Google Trends, relative search volume data were collected throughout the period of February 2004 to January 2015. Campaign information and disease statistics were obtained from governmental publications. Search activity trends were graphed and assessed with disease trends and the campaign interval. Pearson product correlation statistics and joinpoint methodology analyses were used to determine significance. Results Disease patterns and online activity across all 4 diseases were significantly correlated: HIV infection (r=.36, P<.001), stroke (r=.40, P<.001), colorectal cancer (r= −.41, P<.001), and substance use (r=.64, P<.001). Visual inspection and the joinpoint analysis showed significant correlations for the campaigns on colorectal cancer and marijuana use in stimulating search activity. No significant correlations were observed for the campaigns on stroke and HIV regarding search activity. Conclusions The use of infoveillance shows promise as an alternative and inexpensive solution to disease surveillance and health campaign evaluation. Further research is needed to understand Google Trends as a valid and reliable tool for health research. PMID:27733330

  3. Collegial Activity Learning between Heterogeneous Sensors.

    PubMed

    Feuz, Kyle D; Cook, Diane J

    2017-11-01

    Activity recognition algorithms have matured and become more ubiquitous in recent years. However, these algorithms are typically customized for a particular sensor platform. In this paper we introduce PECO, a Personalized activity ECOsystem, that transfers learned activity information seamlessly between sensor platforms in real time so that any available sensor can continue to track activities without requiring its own extensive labeled training data. We introduce a multi-view transfer learning algorithm that facilitates this information handoff between sensor platforms and provide theoretical performance bounds for the algorithm. In addition, we empirically evaluate PECO using datasets that utilize heterogeneous sensor platforms to perform activity recognition. These results indicate that not only can activity recognition algorithms transfer important information to new sensor platforms, but any number of platforms can work together as colleagues to boost performance.

  4. Combating information overload: a six-month pilot evaluation of a knowledge management system in general practice.

    PubMed Central

    O'Brien, C; Cambouropoulos, P

    2000-01-01

    A six-month prospective study was conducted on the usefulness and usability of a representative electronic knowledge management tool, the WAX Active Library, for 19 general practitioners (GPs) evaluated using questionnaires and audit trail data. The number of pages accessed was highest in the final two months, when over half of the access trails were completed within 40 seconds. Most GPs rated the system as easy to learn, fast to use, and preferable to paper for providing information during consultations. Such tools could provide a medium for the activities of knowledge officers, help demand management, and promote sharing of information within primary care groups and across NHSnet or the Internet. PMID:10962792

  5. 77 FR 15139 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Generic Survey Clearance for the...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-03-14

    ... order to conduct program- or portfolio-level evaluations, however, both experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation research studies on STEM education interventions require researchers to identify...

  6. 75 FR 34110 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Performance...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-16

    ...; Performance Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories (Renewal) AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency... Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories (Renewal) ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0234.10, OMB Control No...

  7. 75 FR 64724 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-10-20

    ...; Comment Request; Performance Evaluation Studies on Wastewater Laboratories (Renewal) AGENCY: Environmental... docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov . Title: Performance Evaluation Studies on Wastewater...

  8. How To Select an Event Management System: A Guide to Selecting the Most Effective Resource Management System for College Union and Student Activities Professionals.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Anderson, Scott; Raasch, Kevin

    2002-01-01

    Provides an evaluation template for student activities professionals charged with evaluating competitive event scheduling software. Guides staff in making an informed decision on whether to retain event management technology provided through an existing vendor or choose "best-of-breed" scheduling software. (EV)

  9. 75 FR 53982 - Proposed Information Collection Request of the ETA 207, Nonmonetary Determination Activities...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-02

    ... of the ETA 207, Nonmonetary Determination Activities Report; Comment Request on Extension Without... ETA 207 Report, Nonmonetary Determination Activities, contains state data on the number and types of... ETA 207, Nonmonetary Determinations Activities Report. Comments are requested to: * Evaluate whether...

  10. The NASA Scientific and Technical Information Program: Exploring challenges, creating opportunities

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sepic, Ronald P.

    1993-01-01

    The NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI) Program offers researchers access to the world's largest collection of aerospace information. An overview of Program activities, products and services, and new directions is presented. The R&D information cycle is outlined and specific examples of the NASA STI Program in practice are given. Domestic and international operations and technology transfer activities are reviewed and an agenda for the STI Program NASA-wide is presented. Finally, the incorporation of Total Quality Management and evaluation metrics into the STI Program is discussed.

  11. 77 FR 506 - Agency Information Collection Request. 30-Day Public Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-05

    .... Proposed Project: Teen Pregnancy Prevention Replication Evaluation Study: Baseline Data Collection--OMB No... for Children and Families (ACF) on adolescent pregnancy prevention evaluation activities. OAH will jointly oversee with ASPE the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Replication Evaluation Study (TPP Replication...

  12. Chicago Online Users' Group (COLUG). Annual Report, 1979-1980.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gonzalez, Rebecca A.

    This annual report presents evaluative descriptions of meeting activities and recommendations to achieve goals of providing high quality services and activities to the membership. It also includes information on the membership, the budget, group publications, and other professional activities. (RAA)

  13. Tools of the trade: Improving nurses' ability to access and evaluate research.

    PubMed

    Sleutel, Martha R; Bullion, John W; Sullivan, Ronnie

    2018-03-01

    To evaluate the effect of a manager-required RN competency on staff nurses' perceived knowledge, ability and frequency of information-seeking activities. Basing clinical practice on research and standards of care is essential to delivering appropriate care with optimal outcomes. Nurses' information-seeking abilities are critical for acquiring evidence-based answers to aid clinical decision-making, yet nurses under-utilize library resources and report barriers. A unit manager sought to test the effect of an innovative competency for acquiring and appraising evidence for practice. This longitudinal descriptive study evaluated 28 nurses before and after a 1-hr class, as well as 5 months later. The class covered library information services and the basics of critiquing research articles. Nurses had statistically significant improvements in four of five items measuring knowledge/ability and four of five items measuring frequency of information-seeking activities. At 5 months, most knowledge/ability items increased. There was no effect of nurse characteristics on outcomes. A required competency improved nurses' knowledge, ability and frequency of acquiring and appraising evidence with a single 1-hr class and a hands-on practice activity. Unit managers can have great impact on nurses' use of evidence for practice. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  14. Development of a check sheet for collecting information necessary for occupational safety and health activities and building relevant systems in overseas business places.

    PubMed

    Kajiki, Shigeyuki; Kobayashi, Yuichi; Uehara, Masamichi; Nakanishi, Shigemoto; Mori, Koji

    2016-06-07

    This study aimed to develop an information gathering check sheet to efficiently collect information necessary for Japanese companies to build global occupational safety and health management systems in overseas business places. The study group consisted of 2 researchers with occupational physician careers in a foreign-affiliated company in Japan and 3 supervising occupational physicians who were engaged in occupational safety and health activities in overseas business places. After investigating information and sources of information necessary for implementing occupational safety and health activities and building relevant systems, we conducted information acquisition using an information gathering check sheet in the field, by visiting 10 regions in 5 countries (first phase). The accuracy of the information acquired and the appropriateness of the information sources were then verified in study group meetings to improve the information gathering check sheet. Next, the improved information gathering check sheet was used in another setting (3 regions in 1 country) to confirm its efficacy (second phase), and the information gathering check sheet was thereby completed. The information gathering check sheet was composed of 9 major items (basic information on the local business place, safety and health overview, safety and health systems, safety and health staff, planning/implementation/evaluation/improvement, safety and health activities, laws and administrative organs, local medical care systems and public health, and medical support for resident personnel) and 61 medium items. We relied on the following eight information sources: the internet, company (local business place and head office in Japan), embassy/consulate, ISO certification body, university or other educational institutions, and medical institutions (aimed at Japanese people or at local workers). Through multiple study group meetings and a two-phased field survey (13 regions in 6 countries), an information gathering check sheet was completed. We confirmed the possibility that this check sheet would enable the user to obtain necessary information when expanding safety and health activities in a country or region that is new to the user. It is necessary in the future to evaluate safety and health systems and activities using this information gathering check sheet in a local business place in any country in which a Japanese business will be established, and to verify the efficacy of the check sheet by conducting model programs to test specific approaches.

  15. 78 FR 37590 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-21

    ...: Program Evaluation of the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM... Mathematics (S-STEM) Program, which operates within NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education. The evaluation...

  16. 76 FR 2758 - Proposed Information Collection (VAAR Part 813) Activity: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-01-14

    ... solicits comments on the information needed to evaluate quotations received and to determine which quotation offers the best value in terms of price and other factors. DATES: Written comments and...

  17. 78 FR 59727 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-27

    ... descriptive and may include, for example, the characteristics of personnel and students; sources of financial...: NSF will use the information to continue funding of PREMs, and to evaluate the progress of the program...

  18. 78 FR 3008 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-15

    ... technology to minimize the information collection burden. Information Collection Request Title: Organ Donation/Transplant Life Stories (OMB No. 0915-xxxx)--[New] Abstract HRSA's Division of Transplantation (Do... visited pages on organdonor.gov are the donor and recipient life stories, which in a recent evaluation...

  19. Construction of a Learning Environment Supporting Learners' Reflection: A Case of Information Seeking on the Web

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Saito, Hitomi; Miwa, Kazuhisa

    2007-01-01

    In this study, we design a learning environment that supports reflective activities for information seeking on the Web and evaluate its educational effects. The features of this design are: (1) to visualize the learners' search processes as described, based on a cognitive schema, (2) to support two types of reflective activities, such as…

  20. Public library consumer health information pilot project: results of a National Library of Medicine evaluation

    PubMed Central

    Wood, Fred B.; Lyon, Becky; Schell, Mary Beth; Kitendaugh, Paula; Cid, Victor H.; Siegel, Elliot R.

    2000-01-01

    In October 1998, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) launched a pilot project to learn about the role of public libraries in providing health information to the public and to generate information that would assist NLM and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) in learning how best to work with public libraries in the future. Three regional medical libraries (RMLs), eight resource libraries, and forty-one public libraries or library systems from nine states and the District of Columbia were selected for participation. The pilot project included an evaluation component that was carried out in parallel with project implementation. The evaluation ran through September 1999. The results of the evaluation indicated that participating public librarians were enthusiastic about the training and information materials provided as part of the project and that many public libraries used the materials and conducted their own outreach to local communities and groups. Most libraries applied the modest funds to purchase additional Internet-accessible computers and/or upgrade their health-reference materials. However, few of the participating public libraries had health information centers (although health information was perceived as a top-ten or top-five topic of interest to patrons). Also, the project generated only minimal usage of NLM's consumer health database, known as MEDLINEplus, from the premises of the monitored libraries (patron usage from home or office locations was not tracked). The evaluation results suggested a balanced follow-up by NLM and the NN/LM, with a few carefully selected national activities, complemented by a package of targeted activities that, as of January 2000, are being planned, developed, or implemented. The results also highlighted the importance of building an evaluation component into projects like this one from the outset, to assure that objectives were met and that evaluative information was available on a timely basis, as was the case here. PMID:11055298

  1. Public library consumer health information pilot project: results of a National Library of Medicine evaluation.

    PubMed

    Wood, F B; Lyon, B; Schell, M B; Kitendaugh, P; Cid, V H; Siegel, E R

    2000-10-01

    In October 1998, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) launched a pilot project to learn about the role of public libraries in providing health information to the public and to generate information that would assist NLM and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) in learning how best to work with public libraries in the future. Three regional medical libraries (RMLs), eight resource libraries, and forty-one public libraries or library systems from nine states and the District of Columbia were selected for participation. The pilot project included an evaluation component that was carried out in parallel with project implementation. The evaluation ran through September 1999. The results of the evaluation indicated that participating public librarians were enthusiastic about the training and information materials provided as part of the project and that many public libraries used the materials and conducted their own outreach to local communities and groups. Most libraries applied the modest funds to purchase additional Internet-accessible computers and/or upgrade their health-reference materials. However, few of the participating public libraries had health information centers (although health information was perceived as a top-ten or top-five topic of interest to patrons). Also, the project generated only minimal usage of NLM's consumer health database, known as MEDLINEplus, from the premises of the monitored libraries (patron usage from home or office locations was not tracked). The evaluation results suggested a balanced follow-up by NLM and the NN/LM, with a few carefully selected national activities, complemented by a package of targeted activities that, as of January 2000, are being planned, developed, or implemented. The results also highlighted the importance of building an evaluation component into projects like this one from the outset, to assure that objectives were met and that evaluative information was available on a timely basis, as was the case here.

  2. Youth participatory research and evaluation to inform a Chagas disease prevention program in Ecuador.

    PubMed

    Marco-Crespo, Belén; Casapulla, Sharon; Nieto-Sanchez, Claudia; Urrego, J Guillermo Gómez; Grijalva, Mario J

    2018-04-30

    This qualitative study engaged a group of young people in participatory research and evaluation activities in order to study to what extent engaging youth in health interventions can inform research and evaluation processes. We applied a youth participatory research and evaluation approach (PRE) to inform research and evaluation on the impact of a Chagas disease control program in southern Ecuador. Our main interest was to examine the methodological contributions of PRE to knowledge sharing for health intervention planning in the context of global health and neglected tropical diseases. The results of this study suggest that by demystifying research and evaluation practices and rendering them accessible and relevant, marginalized youth can develop critical and reflexive thinking skills that could be useful for decision-making on health promotion. Our findings also reveal the potential of youth as active participants in project development in ways that enhance, validate, and improve health interventions. Young people are interested in learning about and sharing local knowledge that can benefit research and evaluation processes. Despite the numerous strengths demonstrated by PRE, the inherent complexities of international development, such as cultural differences, asymmetrical power relations, and the ongoing challenges of sustainability, remain. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Evaluation of the childhood obesity prevention program Kids--'Go for your life'.

    PubMed

    de Silva-Sanigorski, Andrea; Prosser, Lauren; Carpenter, Lauren; Honisett, Suzy; Gibbs, Lisa; Moodie, Marj; Sheppard, Lauren; Swinburn, Boyd; Waters, Elizabeth

    2010-05-28

    Kids--'Go for your life' (K-GFYL) is an award-based health promotion program being implemented across Victoria, Australia. The program aims to reduce the risk of childhood obesity by improving the socio-cultural, policy and physical environments in children's care and educational settings. Membership of the K-GFYL program is open to all primary and pre-schools and early childhood services across the State. Once in the program, member schools and services are centrally supported to undertake the health promotion (intervention) activities. Once the K-GFYL program 'criteria' are reached the school/service is assessed and 'awarded'. This paper describes the design of the evaluation of the statewide K-GFYL intervention program. The evaluation is mixed method and cross sectional and aims to: 1) Determine if K-GFYL award status is associated with more health promoting environments in schools/services compared to those who are members only; 2) Determine if children attending K-GFYL award schools/services have higher levels of healthy eating and physical activity-related behaviors compared to those who are members only; 3) Examine the barriers to implementing and achieving the K-GFYL award; and 4) Determine the economic cost of implementing K-GFYL in primary schools. Parent surveys will capture information about the home environment and child dietary and physical activity-related behaviors. Environmental questionnaires in early childhood settings and schools will capture information on the physical activity and nutrition environment and current health promotion activities. Lunchbox surveys and a set of open-ended questions for kindergarten parents will provide additional data. Resource use associated with the intervention activities will be collected from primary schools for cost analysis. The K-GFYL award program is a community-wide intervention that requires a comprehensive, multi-level evaluation. The evaluation design is constrained by the lack of a non-K-GFYL control group, short time frames and delayed funding of this large scale evaluation across all intervention settings. However, despite this, the evaluation will generate valuable evidence about the utility of a community-wide environmental approach to preventing childhood obesity which will inform future public health policies and health promotion programs internationally. ACTRN12609001075279.

  4. Operation of the Computer Software Management and Information Center (COSMIC)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1983-01-01

    The major operational areas of the COSMIC center are described. Quantitative data on the software submittals, program verification, and evaluation are presented. The dissemination activities are summarized. Customer services and marketing activities of the center for the calendar year are described. Those activities devoted to the maintenance and support of selected programs are described. A Customer Information system, the COSMIC Abstract Recording System Project, and the COSMIC Microfiche Project are summarized. Operational cost data are summarized.

  5. Forecasting the wellness of elderly through SNMS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Yuan; Li, Lingling; Ma, Chao; Li, Lian; Huang, Bingqing; Liu, Li

    2017-03-01

    Accurate and timely information collection is important for physicians to provide prompt and appropriate treatment for patients. In this paper, a smart nursing home monitoring system which can predict the health conditions of the elderly people who live in the nursing home is presented. A framework integrating temporal and spatial contextual information for evaluating the wellness of an elderly has been modeled. A novel activity detection process based on the location information collects by the RFID technology in performing essential daily activities has been designed and developed. A BP neural network is trained using the activity information of the elderly live in the nursing home, wellness models are tested and the results are encouraging.

  6. Pupil measures of alertness and mental load

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Backs, Richard W.; Walrath, Larry C.

    1988-01-01

    A study of eight adults given active and passive search tasks showed that evoked pupillary response was sensitive to information processing demands. In particular, large pupillary diameter was observed in the active search condition where subjects were actively processing information relevant to task performance, as opposed to the passive search (control) condition where subjects passively viewed the displays. However, subjects may have simply been more aroused in the active search task. Of greater importance was that larger pupillary diameter, corresponding to longer search time, was observed for noncoded than for color-coded displays in active search. In the control condition, pupil diameter was larger with the color displays. The data indicate potential usefulness of pupillary responses in evaluating the information processing requirements of visual displays.

  7. 76 FR 37824 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, OMB No...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-28

    ...; FEMA Form 078-0-2A, National Fire Academy (NFA) Long-Term Evaluation Student/Trainee; FEMA Form 078-0-2... Evaluation Student/Trainee; FEMA Form 078-0-2 (Presently FEMA Form 95-58), NFA Long-Term Evaluation...-term Evaluation Form for Supervisors and National Fire Academy Long-term Evaluation Form for Students...

  8. Child injury surveillance capabilities in NSW: informing policy and practice.

    PubMed

    Mitchell, Rebecca; Testa, Luke

    2017-10-11

    Injury is one of the most common reasons why a child is hospitalised. Information gained from injury surveillance activities provides an estimate of the injury burden, describes injury event circumstances, can be used to monitor injury trends over time, and is used to design and evaluate injury prevention activities. This perspective article provides an overview of child injury surveillance capabilities within New South Wales (NSW), Australia, following a stocktake of population-based injury-related data collections using the Evaluation Framework for Injury Surveillance Systems. Information about childhood injury in NSW is obtained from multiple administrative data collections that were not specifically designed to conduct injury surveillance. Obtaining good information for child injury surveillance in NSW will involve better coordination of information from agencies that record information about childhood injury. Regular reporting about childhood injury to provide a comprehensive profile of injuries of children and young people in the state should be considered, along with the provision and/or linkage of child injury information from multiple data collections. This could support the development of a suite of injury performance indicators to monitor childhood injury reduction strategies across NSW.

  9. Context-aware mobile health monitoring: evaluation of different pattern recognition methods for classification of physical activity.

    PubMed

    Jatobá, Luciana C; Grossmann, Ulrich; Kunze, Chistophe; Ottenbacher, Jörg; Stork, Wilhelm

    2008-01-01

    There are various applications of physical activity monitoring for medical purposes, such as therapeutic rehabilitation, fitness enhancement or the use of physical activity as context information for evaluation of other vital data. Physical activity can be estimated using acceleration sensor-systems fixed on a person's body. By means of pattern recognition methods, it is possible to identify with certain accuracy which movement is being performed. This work presents a comparison of different methods for recognition of daily-life activities, which will serve as basis for the development of an online activity monitoring system.

  10. An evaluation of "informed consent" with volunteer prisoner subjects.

    PubMed

    Marini, J L; Sheard, M H; Bridges, C I

    1976-11-01

    "Informed consent" sets a goal for investigators experimenting with human subjects, but little is known about how to achieve or evaluate it in an experiment. In a 3-year, double-blind study with incarcerated men, we attempted to provide a "free and informed consent" and evaluated our efforts with an unannounced questionnaire administered to subjects after they completed the experiment. At that time, approximately two-thirds had sufficient information for an informed consent, but only one-third was well informed about all key aspects of the experiment and one-third was insufficiently informed to give an informed consent. We found that institution- or study-based coercion was minimal in our experiment. From our evaluation of the questionnaire and experience at the study institution, we conclude that an experiment with human subjects should be designed to include an ongoing evaluation of informed consent, and active attempts should be made to avoid or minimize coercive inducements. Experiments with significant risk, which require a long duration and/or large sample size relative to the institution's population, should probably not be performed on prisoner subjects. The experimenter should be independent of the penal institution's power structure. Presenting and explaining a consent form to volunteers on one occasion is probably an in adequate procedure for obtaining and maintaining an informed consent.

  11. 78 FR 69093 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Guidance for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-18

    ... request is entered into the appropriate tracking databases. Use of the information in the Agency's tracking databases enables the appropriate Agency official to monitor progress on the evaluation of the... collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when...

  12. 76 FR 6798 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Presubmission...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-02-08

    ... content of the memorandum of conference that will be prepared by FDA and gives the potential applicant an... manufacturing information, and where necessary, complete information on food safety (including microbial food... for evaluating the microbial food safety of antimicrobial new animal drugs. FDA requests that an...

  13. 76 FR 64356 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Generic Clearance...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-18

    ... Genevieve deAlmeida-Morris, Health Research Evaluator, Office of Science Policy and Communications, National... opinions, but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the... generic clearance for qualitative information will not be used for quantitative information collections...

  14. 78 FR 17646 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-22

    ... grantees must submit the report annually. The reports are used to evaluate grantees' performance for.... The Department also aggregates the data to provide descriptive information on the projects and to...

  15. 77 FR 68817 - 60-Day Notice of Intention To Request Clearance of Collection of Information; Opportunity for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-16

    ... collection activity. Respondents must verify associations and characteristics through descriptive texts that are the result of historical research. Evaluations are based on subjective analysis of the information...

  16. 75 FR 9432 - Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section; Agency Information Collection Activities Under...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-02

    ... Division, by calling (800) 514-0301 (Voice) or (800) 514- 0383 (TTY) (the Division's ADA Information Line... to evaluate their current services, policies, and practices for compliance with the ADA. Under...

  17. 76 FR 22156 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-04-20

    ... troubled or newly chartered credit unions to determine their fitness for the position. These forms standardize the information gathered to evaluate the individual's fitness for the position. The format is...

  18. 76 FR 9821 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-02-22

    ... troubled or newly chartered credit unions to determine their fitness for the position. These forms standardize the information gathered to evaluate the individual's fitness for the position. The format is...

  19. 76 FR 42139 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-18

    ... there variation by sex, age, race/ethnicity, unemployment insurance receipt, education level, previous... person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if...

  20. 76 FR 15281 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Evaluation of the...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-03-21

    ... periods. The questions posed in the study will help FNS better understand purchasing decisions and will... nutrition information needed for purchasing the widest variety of healthful foods, menu planning and...

  1. Performance Measurement for Substance Abuse Treatment Services. Integrated Evaluation Methods. Revised.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Harwood, Henrick; Bazron, Barbara; Fountain, Douglas

    This paper presents state-of-the-art models addressing issues related to coordination of treatment and evaluation activities, and integration of clinical, performance, and evaluation information. Specifically, this concept paper contains a discussion of the need for and types of cost analyses for CSAT treatment evaluation and knowledge-generating…

  2. Monitoring the Impact of Testing and Evaluation Innovations Project: State Activity and Interest Concerning Performance-Based Assessment.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing, Los Angeles, CA.

    Information was gathered about current state interest, activity, and concerns related to performance assessment for students. The Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing of the University of California (Los Angeles) conducted telephone interviews with directors of testing in each of the 50 states in the spring of 1990.…

  3. From Implementation to Outcomes to Impacts: Designing a Comprehensive Program Evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shebby, S.

    2015-12-01

    Funders are often interested in learning about the impact of program activities, yet before the impacts are determined, educational evaluations should first examine program implementation and outcomes. Implementation evaluation examines how and the extent to which program activities are delivered as intended, including the extent to which activities reached the targeted participants. Outcome evaluation is comprised of a systematic examination of the effects that a program has on program participants, such as changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviors. In this presentation, presenters will share insights on evaluating the implementation, outcomes, and impacts associated with an online science curriculum for K-2 students. The science curriculum was designed to provide students with access to science concepts and skills in an interactive and innovative environment, and teachers with embedded, aligned, and on-demand professional development. One of the most important—and challenging—steps in this evaluation was to select outcomes that were well-defined, measurable, and aligned to program activities, as well as relevant to program stakeholders. An additional challenge was to measure implementation given limited access to the classroom environment. This presentation will include a discussion of the process evaluators used to select appropriate implementation indicators and outcomes (teacher and student), design an evaluation approach, and craft data collection instruments. Although examples provided are specific to the K-2 science intervention, the best practices discussed are pertinent to all program and event evaluations. Impact evaluation goes beyond implementation and outcome evaluation to inform whether a program is working or not. It requires a comparison group to inform what outcomes would have been in the absence of the intervention. As such, this presentation will also include a discussion of impacts, including how impacts are defined and measured, and some common challenges in evaluating program impact.

  4. Nonverbal Communication across Eastern-Western Cultures: Facial Expressions during Interviews of Japanese Students

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Khoo, Keiko

    2007-01-01

    Background: Effective educational evaluations involve interviews, observations and nonverbal cue interpretations. Educators carry out these evaluative activities everyday as instructors, advisors or administrators, often relying on nothing but their intuition. These evaluations inform the future decisions. One must determine if students really…

  5. 78 FR 17217 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-20

    ... on AETC training sessions, consultations, and technical assistance activities. Each regional center... Request Title: HRSA AIDS Education and Training Centers Evaluation Activities: (OMB No. 0915-0281)--Revision Abstract: The AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) Program, under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS...

  6. Young Children Learn to Restructure Personal Ideas about Growth in Trees.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sunal, Dennis W.; Sunal, Cynthia S.

    1991-01-01

    Three activities in which students identify and demonstrate similarities and differences in plants and in plant growth are presented. The activities include background information, objectives for the tree ring activities, a list of needed materials, procedures, evaluation procedures, and a glossary. (KR)

  7. Location-Enhanced Activity Recognition in Indoor Environments Using Off the Shelf Smart Watch Technology and BLE Beacons.

    PubMed

    Filippoupolitis, Avgoustinos; Oliff, William; Takand, Babak; Loukas, George

    2017-05-27

    Activity recognition in indoor spaces benefits context awareness and improves the efficiency of applications related to personalised health monitoring, building energy management, security and safety. The majority of activity recognition frameworks, however, employ a network of specialised building sensors or a network of body-worn sensors. As this approach suffers with respect to practicality, we propose the use of commercial off-the-shelf devices. In this work, we design and evaluate an activity recognition system composed of a smart watch, which is enhanced with location information coming from Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons. We evaluate the performance of this approach for a variety of activities performed in an indoor laboratory environment, using four supervised machine learning algorithms. Our experimental results indicate that our location-enhanced activity recognition system is able to reach a classification accuracy ranging from 92% to 100%, while without location information classification accuracy it can drop to as low as 50% in some cases, depending on the window size chosen for data segmentation.

  8. 78 FR 42950 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Public...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-18

    ...: Women's Health and Mindfulness Program. Abstract: The Women's Health and Mindfulness (WHAM) program... mindfulness-based stress reduction, nutrition, and physical activity that will be evaluated for its...

  9. Physical activity and individuals with spinal cord injury: accuracy and quality of information on the Internet.

    PubMed

    Jetha, Arif; Faulkner, Guy; Gorczynski, Paul; Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Kelly; Martin Ginis, Kathleen A

    2011-04-01

    A number of websites on the Internet promote health-enhancing behaviors among people with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the information available is of unknown accuracy and quality. To examine the accuracy, quality, and targeting strategies used in online physical activity (PA) information aimed at people with SCI. A purposive sample of 30 frequently accessed websites for individuals with SCI that included PA information was examined. Websites were evaluated based on their descriptive characteristics, level of accuracy in relation to newly defined PA recommendations for people with SCI, technical and theoretical quality (i.e., use of behavioral theories) characteristics, and targeting strategies to promote PA among people with SCI. Descriptive statistics were utilized to illustrate the results of the evaluation. PA information was easily accessible, as rated by the number of clicks required to access information. Only 6 websites (20%) provided specific PA recommendations and these websites exhibited low accuracy. Technically, websites were of high quality with a mean score of 4.1 of a possible 6 points. In contrast, websites had a low level of theoretical quality, with 23 of the 30 websites (77%) scoring below 9 of a possible 14 points (i.e., 64% of a perfect score) for theoretical content. A majority of websites evaluated did not use cognitive (e.g., self-efficacy, self-talk, and perceived social norms) and behavioral (e.g., self-monitoring, motivational readiness, and realistic goal-setting) strategies in their messages. A majority (80%) of the evaluated websites customized information for persons with different injury levels and completeness. Less than half of the websites evaluated tailored PA information toward people at different stages of their injury rehabilitation (37%) or for their caregivers (30%). Accuracy and theoretical quality of PA information presented to people with SCI on the Internet may not be optimal. Websites should be improved to incorporate accepted PA recommendations and behavioral theory to better deliver health messages about PA. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Gender differences in justice evaluations: Evidence from fMRI.

    PubMed

    Dulebohn, James H; Davison, Robert B; Lee, Seungcheol Austin; Conlon, Donald E; McNamara, Gerry; Sarinopoulos, Issidoros C

    2016-02-01

    Justice research examining gender differences has yielded contrasting findings. This study enlists advanced techniques in cognitive neuroscience (fMRI) to examine gender differences in brain activation patterns in response to procedural and distributive justice manipulations. We integrate social role, information processing, justice, and neuroscience literature to posit and test for gender differences in 2 neural subsystems known to be involved in the appraisal of self-relevant events. Results indicate that the relationship between justice information processing and neural activity in areas representing these subsystems is significantly influenced by gender, with greater activation for females than males during consideration of both procedural and distributive justice information. In addition, we find evidence that gender and distributive injustice interact to influence bargaining behavior, with females rejecting ultimatum game offers more frequently than males. Results also demonstrate activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and ventral striatum brain regions during procedural justice evaluation is associated with offer rejection in females, but not in males. Managerial implications based on the study's support for gender differences in justice perceptions are discussed. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

  11. 78 FR 14517 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-06

    ... reporting of specific data elements by state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies to the Rehabilitation... of the Act requires the Commissioner to conduct evaluations of the VR program. The information from...

  12. 78 FR 66344 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-05

    ... respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received... classroom. The study will examine data from a teacher survey and data from evaluations of teacher...

  13. 78 FR 42821 - Agency Information Collection (Brand Name or Equal) Activities Under OMB Review

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-17

    ... the brand name item. This evidence may be in the form of descriptive literature or material, such as... use the information to evaluate whether or not the item offered meets the specification requirements...

  14. 78 FR 21711 - Proposed Information Collection (Brand Name or Equal) Activity: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-11

    ... in fact, equal to the brand name item. This evidence may be in the form of descriptive literature or... will use the information to evaluate whether or not the item offered meets the specification...

  15. 75 FR 9489 - Proposed Information Collection (Brand Name or Equal) Activity: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-02

    ... in fact, equal to the brand name item. This evidence may be in the form of descriptive literature or... will use the information to evaluate whether or not the item offered meets the specification...

  16. 78 FR 53431 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-29

    ... submit the report annually. The reports are used to evaluate grantees' performance for substantial... Department also aggregates the data to provide descriptive information on the projects and to analyze the...

  17. GENETIC ACTIVITY PROFILES AND HAZARD ASSESSMENT

    EPA Science Inventory

    A methodology has been developed to display and evaluate multiple test quantitative information on genetic toxicants for purposes of hazard/risk assessment. ose information is collected from the open literature: either the lowest effective dose (LED) or the highest ineffective do...

  18. 78 FR 52564 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Survey of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-23

    ... primary indicator of national progress in providing every working man and woman safe and healthful working...: Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the...

  19. Assessing Information Needs for a Personal Multiple Sclerosis Application.

    PubMed

    Tonheim, Aleksander Nygård; Babic, Ankica

    2018-01-01

    This paper presents a prototype of a mobile application for patient self-management within the field of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Five study subjects provided information needs by suggesting functionalities and evaluating three existing MS applications. Prominent functionalities were to collect data about symptoms, physical activities, mood and goals in a form of a mobile diary. Collected data would be visually presented in a graph to support self-management and motivation. A low-fidelity prototype relies in first hand on four selected modules, two Diary modules, one Visualisation module and a Physical activity module. A high-fidelity prototype is being implemented and will be further evaluated by the experts.

  20. Distinct frontal regions subserve evaluation of linguistic and emotional aspects of speech intonation.

    PubMed

    Wildgruber, D; Hertrich, I; Riecker, A; Erb, M; Anders, S; Grodd, W; Ackermann, H

    2004-12-01

    In addition to the propositional content of verbal utterances, significant linguistic and emotional information is conveyed by the tone of speech. To differentiate brain regions subserving processing of linguistic and affective aspects of intonation, discrimination of sentences differing in linguistic accentuation and emotional expressiveness was evaluated by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Both tasks yielded rightward lateralization of hemodynamic responses at the level of the dorsolateral frontal cortex as well as bilateral thalamic and temporal activation. Processing of linguistic and affective intonation, thus, seems to be supported by overlapping neural networks comprising partially right-sided brain regions. Comparison of hemodynamic activation during the two different tasks, however, revealed bilateral orbito-frontal responses restricted to the affective condition as opposed to activation of the left lateral inferior frontal gyrus confined to evaluation of linguistic intonation. These findings indicate that distinct frontal regions contribute to higher level processing of intonational information depending on its communicational function. In line with other components of language processing, discrimination of linguistic accentuation seems to be lateralized to the left inferior-lateral frontal region whereas bilateral orbito-frontal areas subserve evaluation of emotional expressiveness.

  1. 78 FR 66905 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Evaluating the Retired Mentors for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-07

    ...; Comment Request; Evaluating the Retired Mentors for Teachers Program AGENCY: Institute of Education... considered public records. Title of Collection: Evaluating the Retired Mentors for Teachers Program. OMB... study of the Retired Mentors for New Teachers program for probationary teachers developed by the Aurora...

  2. 75 FR 50764 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-17

    ... groups with participants of in-person SOAR trainings; Evaluative materials completed by participants of... survey; Evaluative materials completed by users of web-based SOAR trainings, including pre/post training... evaluative materials include an average of 15 individuals who participated in the first in-person training in...

  3. Activating a Teaching Philosophy in Social Work Education: Articulation, Implementation, and Evaluation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Owens, Larry W.; Miller, J. Jay; Grise-Owens, Erlene

    2014-01-01

    This article describes how to develop a comprehensive teaching philosophy from articulation through implementation to evaluation. Using literature and teaching-learning experiences, we discuss pragmatic steps for using a teaching philosophy to inform, engage, and evaluate teaching-learning. We promote an integrated teaching philosophy to ensure…

  4. Title V Delinquency Prevention Program. Community Self-Evaluation Workbook.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Caliber Associates, Fairfax, VA.

    This workbook is designed to help communities and program administrators assess the success of their Title V delinquency prevention programs, but it may serve as an evaluation tool for other prevention efforts as well. It provides information and resource aids on program planning, conducting evaluations, tracking programs, describing activities,…

  5. 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...

  6. 77 FR 42547 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-19

    ... and Fatigue Evaluation of Composite Rotorcraft Structures AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA... Tolerance and Fatigue Evaluation of Composite Rotorcraft Structures. Form Numbers: There are no FAA forms... ``Damage Tolerance and Fatigue Evaluation of Composite Rotorcraft Structures'' final rule (76 FR 74655...

  7. 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...

  8. A Model for Evaluating Development Programs. Miscellaneous Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Burton, John E., Jr.; Rogers, David L.

    Taking the position that the Classical Experimental Evaluation (CEE) Model does not do justice to the process of acquiring information necessary for decision making re planning, programming, implementing, and recycling program activities, this paper presents the Inductive, System-Process (ISP) evaluation model as an alternative to be used in…

  9. 78 FR 33892 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Examination...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-05

    ..., the OCC may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information... properly evaluate the content and conduct of OCC examinations. Completed Examination Surveys also help... communications. The OCC will use the information to identify problems or trends that may impair the effectiveness...

  10. 77 FR 59662 - Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review; Renewal of a Currently Approved...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-28

    ... Jackson at the above address, or at (303) 445-2712. You may also view the Information Collection Request...- 477). In addition, collected information will permit relevant program assessments of resources managed... enables Reclamation to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of program management based on existing recreation...

  11. 34 CFR 369.46 - What are the special requirements pertaining to the protection, use, and release of personal...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ..., DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICE PROJECTS What Conditions Must Be Met by a Grantee... connected with the project, including project evaluation activities. This information may not be disclosed... information? (a) All personal information about individuals served by any project under this part, including...

  12. Frontal activations associated with accessing and evaluating information in working memory: an fMRI study.

    PubMed

    Zhang, John X; Leung, Hoi-Chung; Johnson, Marcia K

    2003-11-01

    To investigate the involvement of frontal cortex in accessing and evaluating information in working memory, we used a variant of a Sternberg paradigm and compared brain activations between positive and negative responses (known to differentially tax access/evaluation processes). Participants remembered two trigrams in each trial and were then cued to discard one of them and maintain the other one as the target set. After a delay, a probe letter was presented and participants made decisions about whether or not it was in the target set. Several frontal areas--anterior cingulate (BA32), middle frontal gyrus (bilateral BA9, right BA10, and right BA46), and left inferior frontal gyrus (BA44/45)--showed increased activity when participants made correct negative responses relative to when they made correct positive responses. No areas activated significantly more for the positive responses than for the negative responses. It is suggested that the multiple frontal areas involved in the test phase of this task may reflect several component processes that underlie more general frontal functions.

  13. Evaluating the Economic Viability of Universities by Using Price-Level-Adjusted Financial Data. Faculty Working Papers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Chan, James L.; Snyder, Gerald E.

    Ways in which the external financial disclosures by universities may evaluate institutional economic viability are demonstrated. It is argued that the evaluation should take into account the effect of inflation and activity level. The evaluation model requires several years' information about revenues (general operating fund), the impact of…

  14. Consultative meeting considers past successes and future programmes for subregional network.

    PubMed

    1999-01-01

    This article presents the proceedings of the consultative meeting held in Beijing during October 18-19, 1999. Representatives from the population information (POPIN) centers in China, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam participated in the meeting. The major objectives were to exchange and share experiences among the network members and to draw up a cooperative work plan for carrying out information activities more effectively in the coming year and beyond. Highlights of the meeting include the presentation of the results of an Asia-Pacific POPIN survey, which evaluated information technology (IT) capabilities among members and evaluation of the 1999 IT-focused training workshop; a review of POPIN activities conducted by the subregional network's members in the past year; and a discussion of major topics for cooperative activities. Moreover, a work plan was formulated for the East and South-East Asia POPIN subregional network for October 1999-October 2000.

  15. Information Management Strategies for Program Tracking and Formative Evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Siegfried, D.; Detrick, L.; Valaitis, S.; Johnson, A.; Thomas, S. H.; Fauver, A.

    2013-05-01

    The Institute for Broadening Participation (IBP) has developed information management systems to facilitate programmatic formative evaluation, tracking and outreach activities. Nearly a decade of design solutions and technical implementations in support of IBP's professional development and mentoring programs for students (including the "Pathways to Ocean Science," "Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success" in Earth System Science, and "Pathways to Engineering") has provided IBP with a toolbox of proven strategies for addressing program engagement and participant tracking, outreach, and a variety of other information management needs. In this session, IBP will use case-specific examples to share general design strategies for program participant and activities data collection in REUs and other program types. The cases will illustrate an approach that begins with a review of program logic, objectives, expected outcomes, constraints and requirements, which then informs a comprehensive system design. When implemented, such information systems improve administrative efficiency through streamlined data collection processes and easy-to-use data capture forms, and a corresponding set of reporting tools provides access to data that is crucial for ongoing program improvement. IBP presents this information in response to collaborations with administrators of Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs as well as longer duration programs, who have expressed the need for more comprehensive and easy to use information systems. Recently IBP has also worked with the directors of NSF and NASA funded programs seeking assistance in addressing their formative evaluation needs including system design, information collection, and reporting efforts.

  16. Biennial Report of Progress under and Compliance with the Master Plan for Vocational Education and an Evaluation of Vocational Education Programs, as Reported by the State Board of Education. Submitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, Seventy-First Texas Legislature, and the Texas Council on Vocational Education, 1987-1988.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Texas Education Agency, Austin.

    This biennial report presents: (1) information regarding progress under and compliance with the master plan for vocational education in Texas during the school years 1986-87 and 1987-88 and information regarding activities conducted during the 1988-89 school year where appropriate; and (2) quantitative and qualitative evaluative information on…

  17. 75 FR 26345 - Agency Information Collection (Brand Name or Equal) Activities Under OMB Review

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-05-11

    ... in fact, equal to the brand name item. This evidence may be in the form of descriptive literature or... will use the information to evaluate whether or not the item offered meets the specification...

  18. 78 FR 42593 - Agency Information Collection (Brand Name or Equal) Activities Under OMB Review

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-16

    ... the brand name item. This evidence may be in the form of descriptive literature or material, such as... information to evaluate whether or not the item offered meets the specification requirements. An agency may...

  19. 77 FR 4328 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-27

    ... Human Services is proposing an information collection activity as part of an evaluation of healthy... informants in grantee and partner organizations such as their organizational structure, program services... discussions will be held with administrators and managers of healthy [[Page 4329

  20. 77 FR 69861 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-21

    ... Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage grant programs that were authorized under the 2010 Claims... employed separately with (1) Responsible Fatherhood and (2) Healthy Marriage grantees. Specifically, we... (2) Healthy Marriage grantee evaluation. (b) Implementation evaluation: (1) Responsible Fatherhood...

  1. 76 FR 66920 - Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-549); Comment Request; Submitted for OMB Review

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-28

    ... sharp increase in demand for natural gas outside of the traditional winter months. Withdrawals and... activities and unbundled sales activities of interstate natural gas pipelines and blanket marketing... and to monitor and evaluate transactions and operations of interstate pipelines and blanket marketing...

  2. 76 FR 46783 - Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-549); Comment Request; Extension

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-03

    ... 1992. There has been a sharp increase in demand for natural gas outside of the traditional winter... activities and unbundled sales activities of interstate natural gas pipelines and blanket marketing... and to monitor and evaluate transactions and operations of interstate pipelines and blanket marketing...

  3. Diagnostic value underlies asymmetric updating of impressions in the morality and ability domains.

    PubMed

    Mende-Siedlecki, Peter; Baron, Sean G; Todorov, Alexander

    2013-12-11

    While positive behavioral information is diagnostic when evaluating a person's abilities, negative information is diagnostic when evaluating morality. Although social psychology has considered these two domains as orthogonal and distinct from one another, we demonstrate that this asymmetry in diagnosticity can be explained by a single parsimonious principle--the perceived frequency of behaviors in these domains. Less frequent behaviors (e.g., high ability and low morality) are weighed more heavily in evaluations. We show that this statistical principle of frequency-derived diagnosticity is evident in human participants at both behavioral and neural levels of analysis. Specifically, activity in right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex increased preferentially when participants updated impressions based on diagnostic behaviors, and further, activity in this region covaried parametrically with the perceived frequency of behaviors. Activity in left ventrolateral PFC, left inferior frontal gyrus, and left superior temporal sulcus showed similar patterns of diagnosticity and sensitivity, though additional analyses confirmed that these regions responded primarily to updates based on immoral behaviors.

  4. Nonlinear pattern analysis of ventricular premature beats by mutual information

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Osaka, M.; Saitoh, H.; Yokoshima, T.; Kishida, H.; Hayakawa, H.; Cohen, R. J.

    1997-01-01

    The frequency of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) has been related to the risk of mortality. However, little is known about the temporal pattern of occurrence of VPBs and its relationship to autonomic activity. Hence, we applied a general correlation measure, mutual information, to quantify how VPBs are generated over time. We also used mutual information to determine the correlation between VPB production and heart rate in order to evaluate effects of autonomic activity on VPB production. We examined twenty subjects with more than 3000 VPBs/day and simulated random time series of VPB occurrence. We found that mutual information values could be used to characterize quantitatively the temporal patterns of VPB generation. Our data suggest that VPB production is not random and VPBs generated with a higher value of mutual information may be more greatly affected by autonomic activity.

  5. Participatory Design, User Involvement and Health IT Evaluation.

    PubMed

    Kushniruk, Andre; Nøhr, Christian

    2016-01-01

    End user involvement and input into the design and evaluation of information systems has been recognized as being a critical success factor in the adoption of information systems. Nowhere is this need more critical than in the design of health information systems. Consistent with evidence from the general software engineering literature, the degree of user input into design of complex systems has been identified as one of the most important factors in the success or failure of complex information systems. The participatory approach goes beyond user-centered design and co-operative design approaches to include end users as more active participants in design ideas and decision making. Proponents of participatory approaches argue for greater end user participation in both design and evaluative processes. Evidence regarding the effectiveness of increased user involvement in design is explored in this contribution in the context of health IT. The contribution will discuss several approaches to including users in design and evaluation. Challenges in IT evaluation during participatory design will be described and explored along with several case studies.

  6. On the comparability of knowledge transfer activities - a case study at the German Baltic Sea Coast focusing regional climate services

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meinke, Insa

    2017-06-01

    In this article the comparability of knowledge transfer activities is discussed by accounting for external impacts. It is shown that factors which are neither part of the knowledge transfer activity nor part of the participating institution may have significant impact on the potential usefulness of knowledge transfer activities. Differences in the potential usefulness are leading to different initial conditions of the knowledge transfer activities. This needs to be taken into account when comparing different knowledge transfer activities, e.g., in program evaluations. This study is focusing on regional climate services at the German Baltic Sea coast. It is based on two surveys and experiences with two identical web tools applied on two regions with different spatial coverage. The results show that comparability among science based knowledge transfer activities is strongly limited through several external impacts. The potential usefulness and thus the initial condition of a particular knowledge transfer activity strongly depends on (1) the perceived priority of the focused topic, (2) the used information channels, (3) the conformity between the research agenda of service providing institutions and information demands in the public, as well as (4) on the spatial coverage of a service. It is suggested to account for the described external impacts for evaluations of knowledge transfer activities. The results show that the comparability of knowledge transfer activities is limited and challenge the adequacy of quantitative measures in this context. Moreover, as shown in this case study, in particular regional climate services should be individually evaluated on a long term perspective, by potential user groups and/or by its real users. It is further suggested that evaluation criteria should be co-developed with these stakeholder groups.

  7. Analysis of respiratory and muscle activity by means of cross information function between ventilatory and myographic signals.

    PubMed

    Alonso, J F; Mañanas, M A; Hoyer, D; Topor, Z L; Bruce, E N

    2004-01-01

    Analysis of respiratory muscle activity is a promising technique for the study of pulmonary diseases such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Evaluation of interactions between muscles is very useful in order to determine the muscular pattern during an exercise. These interactions have already been assessed by means of different linear techniques like cross-spectrum, magnitude squared coherence or cross-correlation. The aim of this work is to evaluate interactions between respiratory and myographic signals through nonlinear analysis by means of cross mutual information function (CMIF), and finding out what information can be extracted from it. Some parameters are defined and calculated from CMIF between ventilatory and myographic signals of three respiratory muscles. Finally, differences in certain parameters were obtained between OSAS patients and healthy subjects indicating different respiratory muscle couplings.

  8. Evaluation of somatosensory cortical differences between flutter and vibration tactile stimuli.

    PubMed

    Han, Sang Woo; Chung, Yoon Gi; Kim, Hyung-Sik; Chung, Soon-Cheol; Park, Jang-Yeon; Kim, Sung-Phil

    2013-01-01

    In parallel with advances in haptic-based mobile computing systems, understanding of the neural processing of vibrotactile information becomes of great importance. In the human nervous system, two types of vibrotactile information, flutter and vibration, are delivered from mechanoreceptors to the somatosensory cortex through segregated neural afferents. To investigate how the somatosensory cortex differentiates flutter and vibration, we analyzed the cortical responses to vibrotactile stimuli with a wide range of frequencies. Specifically, we examined whether cortical activity changed most around 50 Hz, which is known as a boundary between flutter and vibration. We explored various measures to evaluate separability of cortical activity across frequency and found that the hypothesis margin method resulted in the greatest separability between flutter and vibration. This result suggests that flutter and vibration information may be processed by different neural processes in the somatosensory cortex.

  9. Evaluating IAIMS at Yale: information access.

    PubMed

    Grajek, S E; Calarco, P; Frawley, S J; McKay, J; Miller, P L; Paton, J A; Roderer, N K; Sullivan, J E

    1997-01-01

    To evaluate use of information resources during the first year of IAIMS implementation at the Yale-New Haven Medical Center. The evaluation asked: (1) Which information resources are being used? (2) Who uses information resources? (3) Where are information resources used? (4) Are multiple sources of information being integrated? Measures included monthly usage data for resources delivered network-wide, in the Medical Library, and in the Hospital; online surveys of library workstation users; an annual survey of a random, stratified sample of Medical Center faculty, postdoctoral trainees, students, nurses, residents, and managerial and professional staff; and user comments. Eighty-three percent of the Medical Center community use networked information resources, and use of resources is increasing. Both status (faculty, student, nurse, etc.) and mission (teaching, research, patient care) affect use of individual resources. Eighty-eight percent of people use computers in more than one location, and increases in usage of traditional library resources such as MEDLINE are due to increased access from outside the Library. Both survey and usage data suggest that people are using multiple resources during the same information seeking session. Almost all of the Medical Center community is using networked information resources in more settings. It is necessary to support increased demand for information access from remote locations and to specific populations, such as nurses. People are integrating information from multiple sources, but true integration within information systems is just beginning. Other institutions are advised to incorporate pragmatic evaluation into their IAIMS activities and to share evaluation results with decision-makers.

  10. 77 FR 21108 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Disability...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-04-09

    ... for OMB Review; Comment Request; Disability Employment Initiative Evaluation ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) proposal titled, ``Disability Employment Initiative...

  11. 76 FR 59399 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-09-26

    ... to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Proposed... Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is proposing an information collection...

  12. USE OF GENOTOXIC ACTIVITY PROFILES IN ASSESSMENT OF CARCINOGENESIS AND TRANSMISSIBLE GENETIC EFFECTS

    EPA Science Inventory

    A methodology has been developed to display and evaluate multiple test quantitative information on genetic toxicants for purposes of assessing carcinogenesis and transmissible genetic effects. ose Information is collected from the open literature: either the lowest effective dose...

  13. 76 FR 62410 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-07

    ... proposed information collection project: ``Evaluation of the Children's Health Insurance Program... Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) Quality Demonstration Grant... under subsection (d) of Sec. 401(a) of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of...

  14. 77 FR 60746 - Proposed Information Collection (VA/DOD Joint Disability Evaluation Board Claim) Activity...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-04

    ... War on Terror Heroes, VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) have agreed to develop a joint process in which Global War on Terror (GWOT) service members are evaluated to assign disability ratings, which will...

  15. 77 FR 74279 - Agency Information Collection (VA/DOD Joint Disability Evaluation Board Claim): Activity under...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-13

    ... Global War on Terror Heroes, VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) have agreed to develop a joint process in which Global War on Terror (GWOT) service member's are evaluated to assign disability ratings...

  16. Vehicle information exchange needs for mobility applications : version 3.0.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1996-06-01

    The Evaluatory Design Document provides a unifying set of assumptions for other evaluations to utilize. Many of the evaluation activities require the definition of an actual implementation in order to be performed. For example, to cost the elements o...

  17. 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...

  18. 77 FR 3008 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-20

    ... for OMB Review; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Reintegration of Ex- Offenders--Adult Program... Reintegration of Ex- Offenders--Adult Program,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and... participants and staff in the random assignment evaluation of the Reintegration of Ex-Offenders-Adult Program...

  19. Evaluation Design: 1981-82 State Compensatory Education. Publication No. 81.20.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mangino, Evangelina; And Others

    The evaluation of the 1981-82 State Compensatory Education (SCE) program, as implemented in the Austin Independent School District, will involve the following major activities: production of an Evaluation Design based on input received from key SCE personnel; production of a Final Report and a Technical Report which present information and…

  20. Evaluating Learning in the 21st Century: A Digital Age Learning Matrix

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Starkey, Louise

    2011-01-01

    If the purpose of secondary schooling is to educate the upcoming generation to become active participants in society, evaluation of teaching and learning in the information-rich digital age should be underpinned by relevant theories and models. This article describes an evaluation tool developed using emerging ideas about knowledge creation and…

  1. 78 FR 29338 - Applications for New Award; Technical Assistance To Improve State Data Capacity-National...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-20

    ... formative and summative evaluations of the project; Note: The following Web site provides more information... plan, linked to the project's logic model, for a formative evaluation of the project's activities. The plan must describe how the formative evaluation will use clear performance objectives to ensure...

  2. 45 CFR 2516.830 - What types of activities are required of Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of their subgrantees? 2516.830 Section 2516.830 Public... required of Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of their subgrantees? A Corporation grantee... reports. (c) Collect from programs and submit to the Corporation the descriptive information required in...

  3. 45 CFR 2516.830 - What types of activities are required of Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of their subgrantees? 2516.830 Section 2516.830 Public... required of Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of their subgrantees? A Corporation grantee... reports. (c) Collect from programs and submit to the Corporation the descriptive information required in...

  4. 45 CFR 2516.830 - What types of activities are required of Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of their subgrantees? 2516.830 Section 2516.830 Public... required of Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of their subgrantees? A Corporation grantee... reports. (c) Collect from programs and submit to the Corporation the descriptive information required in...

  5. 45 CFR 2516.830 - What types of activities are required of Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of their subgrantees? 2516.830 Section 2516.830 Public... required of Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of their subgrantees? A Corporation grantee... reports. (c) Collect from programs and submit to the Corporation the descriptive information required in...

  6. 45 CFR 2516.830 - What types of activities are required of Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of their subgrantees? 2516.830 Section 2516.830 Public... required of Corporation grantees to evaluate the effectiveness of their subgrantees? A Corporation grantee... reports. (c) Collect from programs and submit to the Corporation the descriptive information required in...

  7. 77 FR 44675 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request: Site Visit...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-30

    ... Reinvestment Act Funded Grants; Job Training Evaluations ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL... Act funded Grants; Job Training Evaluations,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review... Green Jobs training programs. The overall aim of these evaluations is to determine the extent to which...

  8. Portuguese School Libraries Evaluation Model: An Analysis of Primary Schools' Results for the "Reading and Literacy" Domain

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Martins, Jorge Tiago; Martins, Rosa Maria

    2012-01-01

    This paper reports the implementation results of the Portuguese School Libraries Evaluation Model, more specifically the results of primary schools self-evaluation of their libraries' reading promotion and information literacy development activities. School libraries that rated their performance as either "Excellent" or "Poor"…

  9. Evaluation and Application of Satellite-Based Latent Heating Profile Estimation Methods

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Olson, William S.; Grecu, Mircea; Yang, Song; Tao, Wei-Kuo

    2004-01-01

    In recent years, methods for estimating atmospheric latent heating vertical structure from both passive and active microwave remote sensing have matured to the point where quantitative evaluation of these methods is the next logical step. Two approaches for heating algorithm evaluation are proposed: First, application of heating algorithms to synthetic data, based upon cloud-resolving model simulations, can be used to test the internal consistency of heating estimates in the absence of systematic errors in physical assumptions. Second, comparisons of satellite-retrieved vertical heating structures to independent ground-based estimates, such as rawinsonde-derived analyses of heating, provide an additional test. The two approaches are complementary, since systematic errors in heating indicated by the second approach may be confirmed by the first. A passive microwave and combined passive/active microwave heating retrieval algorithm are evaluated using the described approaches. In general, the passive microwave algorithm heating profile estimates are subject to biases due to the limited vertical heating structure information contained in the passive microwave observations. These biases may be partly overcome by including more environment-specific a priori information into the algorithm s database of candidate solution profiles. The combined passive/active microwave algorithm utilizes the much higher-resolution vertical structure information provided by spaceborne radar data to produce less biased estimates; however, the global spatio-temporal sampling by spaceborne radar is limited. In the present study, the passive/active microwave algorithm is used to construct a more physically-consistent and environment-specific set of candidate solution profiles for the passive microwave algorithm and to help evaluate errors in the passive algorithm s heating estimates. Although satellite estimates of latent heating are based upon instantaneous, footprint- scale data, suppression of random errors requires averaging to at least half-degree resolution. Analysis of mesoscale and larger space-time scale phenomena based upon passive and passive/active microwave heating estimates from TRMM, SSMI, and AMSR data will be presented at the conference.

  10. Review evaluation indicators of health information technology course of master's degree in medical sciences universities' based on CIPP Model.

    PubMed

    Yarmohammadian, Mohammad Hossein; Mohebbi, Nooshin

    2015-01-01

    Sensitivity of teaching and learning processes in universities emphasizes the necessity of assessment of the quality of education which improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the country. This study was conducted with an aim to review and develop the evaluation criteria of health information technology course at Master of Science level in Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Kashan medical universities in 2012 by using CIPP model. This was an applied and descriptive research with statistical population of faculty members (23), students (97), directorates (5), and library staff (5), with a total of 130 people, and sampling was done as a census. In order to collect data, four questionnaires were used based on Likert scale with scores ranging from 1 to 5. Questionnaires' validity was confirmed by consulting with health information technology and educational evaluation experts, and questionnaires' reliability of directorates, faculty, students, and library staff was tested using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient formula, which gave r = 0.74, r = 0.93, r = 0.98, and r = 0.80, respectively. SPSS software for data analysis and both descriptive and inferential statistics containing mean, frequency percentage, standard deviation, Pearson correlation, and Spearman correlation were used. With studies from various sources, commentary of experts, and based on the CIPP evaluation model, 139 indicators were determined and then evaluated, which were associated with this course based on the three factors of context, input, and process in the areas of human resources professional, academic services, students, directors, faculty, curriculum, budget, facilities, teaching-learning activities, and scientific research activities of students and faculty, and the activities of the library staff. This study showed that in total, the health information technology course at the Master of Science level is relatively good, but trying to improve and correct it in some areas and continuing the evaluation process seems necessary.

  11. Value of Information Analysis Applied to the Economic Evaluation of Interventions Aimed at Reducing Juvenile Delinquency: An Illustration.

    PubMed

    Eeren, Hester V; Schawo, Saskia J; Scholte, Ron H J; Busschbach, Jan J V; Hakkaart, Leona

    2015-01-01

    To investigate whether a value of information analysis, commonly applied in health care evaluations, is feasible and meaningful in the field of crime prevention. Interventions aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency are increasingly being evaluated according to their cost-effectiveness. Results of cost-effectiveness models are subject to uncertainty in their cost and effect estimates. Further research can reduce that parameter uncertainty. The value of such further research can be estimated using a value of information analysis, as illustrated in the current study. We built upon an earlier published cost-effectiveness model that demonstrated the comparison of two interventions aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency. Outcomes were presented as costs per criminal activity free year. At a societal willingness-to-pay of €71,700 per criminal activity free year, further research to eliminate parameter uncertainty was valued at €176 million. Therefore, in this illustrative analysis, the value of information analysis determined that society should be willing to spend a maximum of €176 million in reducing decision uncertainty in the cost-effectiveness of the two interventions. Moreover, the results suggest that reducing uncertainty in some specific model parameters might be more valuable than in others. Using a value of information framework to assess the value of conducting further research in the field of crime prevention proved to be feasible. The results were meaningful and can be interpreted according to health care evaluation studies. This analysis can be helpful in justifying additional research funds to further inform the reimbursement decision in regard to interventions for juvenile delinquents.

  12. Measuring Law Library Catalog Web Site Usability: A Web Analytic Approach

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fang, Wei; Crawford, Marjorie E.

    2008-01-01

    Although there is a proliferation of information available on the Web, and law professors, students, and other users have a variety of channels to locate information and complete their research activities, the law library catalog still remains an important source for offering users access to information that has been evaluated and cataloged by…

  13. 76 FR 50237 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Extension of a Currently Approved Information...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-12

    ...-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Form I- 817, Application for Family Unity Benefits... comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until October 11, 2011. During this 60 day period, USCIS will be evaluating whether to revise the Form I...

  14. 77 FR 69896 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Follow-Up...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-21

    ... for OMB Review; Comment Request; Follow-Up Survey Information for Green Jobs and Health Care Impact... request (ICR) proposal titled, ``Follow-Up Survey Information for Green Jobs and Health Care Impact... Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Green Jobs and Health Care Grants Impact Evaluation (OMB 1205-0486), and in March, 2012...

  15. Consumers' views of direct-to-consumer genetic information.

    PubMed

    McBride, Colleen M; Wade, Christopher H; Kaphingst, Kimberly A

    2010-01-01

    In this report, we describe the evolution and types of genetic information provided directly to consumers, discuss potential advantages and disadvantages of these products, and review research evaluating consumer responses to direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. The available evidence to date has focused on predictive tests and does not suggest that individuals, health care providers, or health care systems have been harmed by a DTC provision of genetic information. An understanding of consumer responses to susceptibility tests has lagged behind. The Multiplex Initiative is presented as a case study of research to understand consumers' responses to DTC susceptibility tests. Three priority areas are recommended for accelerated research activities to inform public policy regarding DTC genetic information: (a) exploring consumer's long-term responses to DTC genetic testing on a comprehensive set of outcomes, (b) evaluating optimal services to support decision making about genetic testing, and (c) evaluating best practices in promoting genetic competencies among health providers.

  16. Design of an activity landscape view taking compound-based feature probabilities into account.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Bijun; Vogt, Martin; Bajorath, Jürgen

    2014-09-01

    Activity landscapes (ALs) of compound data sets are rationalized as graphical representations that integrate similarity and potency relationships between active compounds. ALs enable the visualization of structure-activity relationship (SAR) information and are thus computational tools of interest for medicinal chemistry. For AL generation, similarity and potency relationships are typically evaluated in a pairwise manner and major AL features are assessed at the level of compound pairs. In this study, we add a conditional probability formalism to AL design that makes it possible to quantify the probability of individual compounds to contribute to characteristic AL features. Making this information graphically accessible in a molecular network-based AL representation is shown to further increase AL information content and helps to quickly focus on SAR-informative compound subsets. This feature probability-based AL variant extends the current spectrum of AL representations for medicinal chemistry applications.

  17. For the Classroom: "Plastic" Jellyfish.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Current: The Journal of Marine Education, 1989

    1989-01-01

    Describes an activity in which students monitor the plastic waste production in their households, research its effects on freshwater and marine life, and propose ways to lessen the problem. Provides objectives, background information, materials, procedures, extension activities, and an evaluation for students. (Author/RT)

  18. The DoD Enterprise Model. Volume 1. Strategic Activity and Data Models

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-01-01

    Provide Administrative Services: Inform & Advise provides explanations and expert opinions to people on such matters as health benefits , legal rights...level functional template for all DoD Corporate Information Management (CIM) initiatives. Major Defense activities have already benefitted from using...evaluating plan performance "• DvWm9 C"S" of Acto (e.g., occupational safety and health , "• De 10 Fl environmental protection, technology transfer

  19. 78 FR 20321 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-04

    ...; Title of Information Collection: Evaluation of the Graduate Nurse Education Demonstration Program; Use: The Graduate Nurse Education (GNE) Demonstration is mandated under Section 5509 of the Affordable Care... costs for the provision of qualified clinical training to advance practice registered nurses.'' Section...

  20. 76 FR 36135 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-21

    ... serves multiple practical purposes: (1) To collect and analyze descriptive, outcome, and service... on access to high-quality, trauma-informed care; (3) to evaluate NCTSN centers' training and... below. Descriptive and Clinical Outcomes In order to describe the children served, their trauma...

  1. 75 FR 45124 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-02

    ... to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on... clinicians and supervisors, implementation calls and monthly progress reports, and topical workgroups that... evaluate the implementation, expansion, and sustainability of adolescent substance use services developed...

  2. 78 FR 75573 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-12

    ..., facsimile number (202) 646-3347, or email address [email protected] (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) Improvement Plan (IP). Type of Information Collection: Revision of a... Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) Improvement Plan (IP). Abstract: The...

  3. 78 FR 38983 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-28

    ... specialties: clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, certified nurse anesthetist, certified nurse... a decision aid for dialysis facility selection; (2) aid facilities with their internal quality... a new OMB control number); Title of Information Collection: Evaluation of the Graduate Nurse...

  4. 78 FR 31942 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-28

    ... No.: 0970-0403. Description: The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), Administration... critical to informing decisions related to future investments in programming as well as the design and... program applicants)--APPROVED October 31, 2012. (3) Baseline Survey (for RF study participants)--APPROVED...

  5. 75 FR 42818 - Agency Information Collection; Activity Under OMB Review; Collection of Safety Culture Data for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-22

    ... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Research and Innovative Technology Administration Agency Information...: Research & Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), DOT... the evaluation of a demonstration/ research program on voluntary reporting of close calls and near...

  6. 77 FR 70825 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; DOL Generic...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-27

    ... for OMB Review; Comment Request; DOL Generic Solution for Customer Satisfaction Surveys and Conference... request (ICR) titled, ``DOL Generic Solution for Customer Satisfaction Surveys and Conference Evaluations...). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOL periodically conducts customer satisfaction surveys and conference...

  7. 78 FR 36204 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-17

    ... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration... proposed collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA... Project: Evaluation of Programs to Provide Services to Persons who are Homeless with Mental and/or...

  8. An Evaluation of Operation Moonvigil. Number 14.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Virgin, Albert E.

    An evaluation assessed the simulation game called "Operation Moonvigil". The program consisted of eight daily five minute telecasts followed by 30 minutes of classroom activities based on information communicated during the telecast. Teachers, pupils, and non-participant observers provided data through questionnaires, diaries, and…

  9. THE SUPERFUND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION PROGRAM; ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS, FY 1998

    EPA Science Inventory

    This document summarizes the accomplishments and activities of the Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program for 1998. General information on the SITE program is presented. In addition, cost savings effected by the SITE program were estimated and are presented. ...

  10. 76 FR 4912 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-01-27

    ... reliable evaluation design to produce accurate evidence of the effect of HPOG on individuals and health job training programs systems. The goals of the HPOG evaluation are to establish a performance management... grantee organizations (higher education Institutions, workforce investment boards, private training...

  11. Monitoring and Evaluating the Ebola Response Effort in Two Liberian Communities.

    PubMed

    Munodawafa, Davison; Moeti, Matshidiso Rebecca; Phori, Peter Malekele; Fawcett, Stephen B; Hassaballa, Ithar; Sepers, Charles; Reed, Florence DiGennaro; Schultz, Jerry A; Chiriseri, Ephraim Tafadzwa

    2018-04-01

    Although credited with ultimately reducing incidence of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa, little is known about the amount and kind of Ebola response activities associated with reducing the incidence of EVD. Our team monitored Ebola response activities and associated effects in two rural counties in Liberia highly affected by Ebola. We used a participatory monitoring and evaluation system, and drew upon key informant interviews and document review, to systematically capture, code, characterize, and communicate patterns in Ebola response activities. We reviewed situation reports to obtain data on incidence of EVD over time. Results showed enhanced implementation of Ebola response activities corresponded with decreased incidence of EVD. The pattern of staggered implementation of activities and associated effects-replicated in both counties-is suggestive of the role of Ebola response activities in reducing EVD. Systematic monitoring of response activities to control disease outbreaks holds lessons for implementing and evaluating multi-sector, comprehensive community health efforts.

  12. Evaluation of a national quality use of medicines service in Australia: an evolving model.

    PubMed

    Beilby, Justin; Wutzke, Sonia E; Bowman, Jenny; Mackson, Judith M; Weekes, Lynn M

    2006-04-01

    To describe the first phase of a global evaluation framework for the National Prescribing Service (NPS), with a focus on services for health professionals, and in particular highlight the lessons learnt from evaluation around the establishment and implementation of this national program. The agreed evaluation framework used mixed methods focused around a series of evaluation questions, aimed at measuring the overall effect of this new organization as well as the individual programs within it. The evaluation questions were determined a priori and were based on the objectives established by the organization in its first year of operation. A detailed analyses has been completed of: the process, scope and reach of program delivery using both quantitative and qualitative measures; changes in attitudes and knowledge measured through key informant interviews and surveys of professional groups and consumers; and changes in prescribing behaviour and savings to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) through analysis of prescription data. The evaluation period for this report was mid-1998 to mid-2004. The NPS has successfully implemented a complex, multi-faceted program across Australia. From 1998 to 2004, in addition to print material provided to all general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists, 90% of all GPs have been actively involved in one or more educational activity; 116 of 120 divisions of general practice have coordinated local NPS programs; and 9% of pharmacists have actively participated in at least one educational activity. Sixty per cent of GPs and pharmacists rated the printed educational materials as good or very good. In the last three years, the NPS activities have generated savings in the range of $121-163 million to the PBS, owing to changes in prescribing practices. The national evaluation framework has informed program delivery and ongoing design and development. Continued refinement of existing evaluation methods and further exploration of new techniques will remain a priority for the organization.

  13. A Working Model for the Development, Implementation and Evaluation of an Art Program on the College Level.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Demery, Marie; And Others

    Components of an art program that was developed with federal funding are outlined. The model contains information on the grant proposal, including the rationale for funding, implementation strategies, activity timetable, qualifications of key personnel, activity objectives and performance measures, intitutional goals, activity milestones, and…

  14. Classroom Environment and Student Outcomes Associated with Using Anthropometry Activities in High School Science.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lightburn, Millard E.; Fraser, Barry J.

    The study involved implementing and evaluating activities that actively engage students in the process of gathering, processing and analyzing data derived from human body measurements, with students using their prior knowledge acquired in science, mathematics, and computer classes to interpret this information. In the classroom activities…

  15. Location-Enhanced Activity Recognition in Indoor Environments Using Off the Shelf Smart Watch Technology and BLE Beacons

    PubMed Central

    Filippoupolitis, Avgoustinos; Oliff, William; Takand, Babak; Loukas, George

    2017-01-01

    Activity recognition in indoor spaces benefits context awareness and improves the efficiency of applications related to personalised health monitoring, building energy management, security and safety. The majority of activity recognition frameworks, however, employ a network of specialised building sensors or a network of body-worn sensors. As this approach suffers with respect to practicality, we propose the use of commercial off-the-shelf devices. In this work, we design and evaluate an activity recognition system composed of a smart watch, which is enhanced with location information coming from Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons. We evaluate the performance of this approach for a variety of activities performed in an indoor laboratory environment, using four supervised machine learning algorithms. Our experimental results indicate that our location-enhanced activity recognition system is able to reach a classification accuracy ranging from 92% to 100%, while without location information classification accuracy it can drop to as low as 50% in some cases, depending on the window size chosen for data segmentation. PMID:28555022

  16. Using marketing research methods to evaluate a stage-specific intervention.

    PubMed

    Poscente, Neila; Rothstein, Marsha; Irvine, M Jane

    2002-01-01

    To show how marketing methods can be used to distribute and evaluate a health promotion intervention. Mass media promotion was used to communicate a physical activity resource. Brief telephone interviews were used to screen callers and recruit participants into a controlled trial. Follow-up was conducted 3 months later. Information was gained about the attitudes and motivation of callers. The majority of participants (study and control) made significant changes in their activity levels. The study demonstrated that even when mass media channels are used, market segmentation can be achieved and program evaluation conducted.

  17. Supporting Reflective Activities in Information Seeking on the Web

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saito, Hitomi; Miwa, Kazuhisa

    Recently, many opportunities have emerged to use the Internet in daily life and classrooms. However, with the growth of the World Wide Web (Web), it is becoming increasingly difficult to find target information on the Internet. In this study, we explore a method for developing the ability of users in information seeking on the Web and construct a search process feedback system supporting reflective activities of information seeking on the Web. Reflection is defined as a cognitive activity for monitoring, evaluating, and modifying one's thinking and process. In the field of learning science, many researchers have investigated reflective activities that facilitate learners' problem solving and deep understanding. The characteristics of this system are: (1) to show learners' search processes on the Web as described, based on a cognitive schema, and (2) to prompt learners to reflect on their search processes. We expect that users of this system can reflect on their search processes by receiving information on their own search processes provided by the system, and that these types of reflective activity helps them to deepen their understanding of information seeking activities. We have conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of our system. The experimental results confirmed that (1) the system actually facilitated the learners' reflective activities by providing process visualization and prompts, and (2) the learners who reflected on their search processes more actively understood their own search processes more deeply.

  18. Texting to increase adolescent physical activity: Feasibility assessment

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Feasibility trials assess whether a behavior change program warrants a definite trial evaluation. This paper reports the feasibility of an intervention consisting of Self Determination Theory-informed text messages, pedometers, and goal prompts to increase adolescent physical activity. A 4-group ran...

  19. 75 FR 31432 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-03

    ... Chemistry Council [ACC]), the Specialty Organics Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), and the... studies for existing chemical substances under sections 4, 6, and 8, and requests voluntary submission of such information under the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP). EPA typically...

  20. 78 FR 39714 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-02

    ... titled, ``Program Evaluation of Financial Empowerment Training Programs.'' DATES: Written comments are... Financial Protection Bureau (Attention: PRA Office), 1700 G Street NW., Washington, DC 20552. Please note... information should be directed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, (Attention: PRA Office), 1700 G...

  1. 78 FR 54660 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-05

    ... reference. Information Collection Request Title: HRSA Telehealth Outcome Measures. OMB No.: 0915-0311...) created a set of performance measures that grantees can use to evaluate the effectiveness of their...), all federal agencies must develop strategic plans describing their overall goal and objectives. The...

  2. 77 FR 32144 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Generic Survey Clearance for the...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-31

    ... Survey Clearance for the Directorate of Education and Human Resources (EHR) AGENCY: National Science.... The scope of the EHR Generic Clearance primarily covers descriptive information gathered from... evaluations of individual programs. The collections generally include three categories of descriptive data: (1...

  3. 75 FR 52372 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-25

    ... information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Agency: Employment and Training Administration. Type of Review: New. Title of Collection: Evaluation of the Community-Based Job Training Grants... Department of Labor--Employment and Training Administration, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202...

  4. Localized analysis of paint-coat drying using dynamic speckle interferometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sierra-Sosa, Daniel; Tebaldi, Myrian; Grumel, Eduardo; Rabal, Hector; Elmaghraby, Adel

    2018-07-01

    The paint-coating is part of several industrial processes, including the automotive industry, architectural coatings, machinery and appliances. These paint-coatings must comply with high quality standards, for this reason evaluation techniques from paint-coatings are in constant development. One important factor from the paint-coating process is the drying, as it has influence on the quality of final results. In this work we present an assessment technique based on the optical dynamic speckle interferometry, this technique allows for the temporal activity evaluation of the paint-coating drying process, providing localized information from drying. This localized information is relevant in order to address the drying homogeneity, optimal drying, and quality control. The technique relies in the definition of a new temporal history of the speckle patterns to obtain the local activity; this information is then clustered to provide a convenient indicative of different drying process stages. The experimental results presented were validated using the gravimetric drying curves

  5. 78 FR 50070 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-16

    ..., referral for services, and service follow-up of youth at risk. \\1\\ The evaluation as designed includes four... grantees, the research questions outlined in the evaluation statement of work, and the state of the knowledge base in the field of suicide prevention. As such, while the evaluation design does not currently...

  6. Operational Area Environmental Evaluations

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

    Bailey-White, Brenda Eileen; Nagy, Michael David; Wagner, Katrina Marie

    The Operational Area Environmental Evaluation update provides a description of activities that have the potential to adversely affect natural and cultural resources, including soil, air, water, biological, ecological, and historical resources. The environmental sensitivity of an area is evaluated and summarized, which may facilitate informed management decisions as to where development may be prohibited, restricted, or subject to additional requirements.

  7. 75 FR 65527 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-10-25

    ... Education Program Evaluation. OMB Number: 3145-0211. Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2013. Title of collection: Revitalizing Computing Pathways (CPATH) in Undergraduate Education Program Evaluation. Type of... organizations) to formulate and implement plans to revitalize undergraduate computing education in the United...

  8. Overcoming Bias: Cognitive Control Reduces Susceptibility to Framing Effects in Evaluating Musical Performance.

    PubMed

    Aydogan, Gökhan; Flaig, Nicole; Ravi, Srekar N; Large, Edward W; McClure, Samuel M; Margulis, Elizabeth Hellmuth

    2018-04-18

    Prior expectations can bias evaluative judgments of sensory information. We show that information about a performer's status can bias the evaluation of musical stimuli, reflected by differential activity of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Moreover, we demonstrate that decreased susceptibility to this confirmation bias is (a) accompanied by the recruitment of and (b) correlated with the white-matter structure of the executive control network, particularly related to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). By using long-duration musical stimuli, we were able to track the initial biasing, subsequent perception, and ultimate evaluation of the stimuli, examining the full evolution of these biases over time. Our findings confirm the persistence of confirmation bias effects even when ample opportunity exists to gather information about true stimulus quality, and underline the importance of executive control in reducing bias.

  9. ADCS Prevention Instrument Project: assessment of instrumental activities of daily living for community-dwelling elderly individuals in dementia prevention clinical trials.

    PubMed

    Galasko, Douglas; Bennett, David A; Sano, Mary; Marson, Daniel; Kaye, Jeff; Edland, Steven D

    2006-01-01

    In primary prevention trials for Alzheimer disease, the inception cohort typically has normal or minimally impaired complex activities of daily living (ADL). ADL change during a trial could trigger detailed evaluation or serve as an outcome measure. A brief, easily administered, and reliable ADL rating scale would assist prevention studies. To develop an ADL scale for prevention trials that allows self-rating or completion by informants. The Activities of Daily Living-Prevention Instrument (ADL-PI) was developed, comprising 15 ADL and 5 physical function questions. Six hundred forty-four elderly subjects participating in the Prevention Instrument Project completed a self-rated version of the ADL-PI, and informants for 632 subjects completed an informant version. Informants also completed a Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) ADL questionnaire to allow comparisons. Subjects performed well on all ADL scales at baseline. Completion of the ADL-PI questionnaires at home or in-clinic yielded comparable information. Scores from baseline to 3 months had good reliability. The ADL-PI, obtained from either self-report or informants, discriminated between subjects rated as CDR 0 and CDR 0.5. Subjects with worse baseline cognitive performance also had slightly worse ADL-PI scores. Preliminary analysis indicates that subjects who triggered cognitive evaluations had slightly lower baseline ADL-PI scores by both self and informant reports. The ADL-PI can be completed at home or in clinic, and has adequate reliability. The utility of self-administered and informant versions and predictive value of reported deficits requires further follow-up.

  10. ESIP Information Quality Cluster (IQC)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ramapriyan, H. K.; Peng, Ge; Moroni, David F.

    2016-01-01

    The Information Quality Cluster (IQC) within the Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) was initially formed in 2011 and has evolved significantly over time. The current objectives of the IQC are to: 1. Actively evaluate community data quality best practices and standards; 2. Improve capture, description, discovery, and usability of information about data quality in Earth science data products; 3. Ensure producers of data products are aware of standards and best practices for conveying data quality, and data providers distributors intermediaries establish, improve and evolve mechanisms to assist users in discovering and understanding data quality information; and 4. Consistently provide guidance to data managers and stewards on how best to implement data quality standards and best practices to ensure and improve maturity of their data products. The activities of the IQC include: 1. Identification of additional needs for consistently capturing, describing, and conveying quality information through use case studies with broad and diverse applications; 2. Establishing and providing community-wide guidance on roles and responsibilities of key players and stakeholders including users and management; 3. Prototyping of conveying quality information to users in a more consistent, transparent, and digestible manner; 4. Establishing a baseline of standards and best practices for data quality; 5. Evaluating recommendations from NASA's DQWG in a broader context and proposing possible implementations; and 6. Engaging data providers, data managers, and data user communities as resources to improve our standards and best practices. Following the principles of openness of the ESIP Federation, IQC invites all individuals interested in improving capture, description, discovery, and usability of information about data quality in Earth science data products to participate in its activities.

  11. An overview and process evaluation of TeleWalk: a telephone-based counseling intervention to encourage walking in older adults.

    PubMed

    Kolt, Gregory S; Oliver, Melody; Schofield, Grant M; Kerse, Ngaire; Garrett, Nick; Latham, Nancy K

    2006-09-01

    Despite the benefits associated with a physically active lifestyle, many older adults are insufficiently active to achieve health gain, and also exhibit decreased activity levels with age. Insufficient physical activity in this population is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and demand on health care services and expenditure. There is a clear need for effective intervention to encourage physical activity in older adults. The aim of this paper is to describe the development and participant evaluation of a randomized controlled trial of TeleWalk, a telephone-based motivational counseling intervention to encourage physical activity in adults aged 65 years and older. Participants (N = 186, mean age 74 +/- 6 years) were recruited through their General Practitioner (primary care physician) and randomized to either receive eight telephone counseling sessions and related printed materials over 3 months (intervention group) or participate in outcome assessments only (control group). Intervention group participants were mailed an anonymous evaluation questionnaire on intervention completion. A high response rate was achieved (70%). All respondents (100%) agreed or strongly agreed that a good overall level of service and support was provided, and that the counselor was understanding and supportive. Nearly all respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the service was professional, the counselor advice was helpful and motivating and the information provided was relevant (97, 95 and 89%, respectively). Most (87%) agreed or strongly agreed that the telephone calls encouraged them to be physically active. Among the participants who received printed material, most agreed or strongly agreed that these encouraged them to become or remain active. Findings from this evaluation can be used to inform such interventions and ensure their relevance to community-dwelling older adults.

  12. Designing Courses that Encourage Post-College Scientific Literacy in General Education Students

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Horodyskyj, L.

    2010-12-01

    In a time when domestic and foreign policy is becoming increasingly dependent on a robust understanding of scientific concepts (especially in regards to climate science), it is of vital importance that non-specialist students taking geoscience courses gain an understanding not only of Earth system processes, but also of how to discern scientific information from "spin". An experimental introductory level environmental geology course was developed at the Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona, in the fall of 2010 that sought to integrate collaborative learning, online resources, and science in the media. The goal of this course was for students to end the semester with not just an understanding of basic Earth systems concepts, but also with a set of tools for evaluating information presented by the media. This was accomplished by integrating several online sites that interface scientific data with popular web tools (ie, Google Maps) and collaborative exercises that required students to generate ideas based on their observations followed by evaluation and refinement of these ideas through interactions with peers and the instructor. The capstone activity included a series of homework assignments that required students to make note of science-related news stories in the media early in the semester, and then gradually begin critically evaluating these news sources, which will become their primary source of post-college geoscience information. This combination of activities will benefit students long after the semester has ended by giving them access to primary sources of scientific information, encouraging them to discuss and evaluate their ideas with their peers, and, most importantly, to critically evaluate the information they receive from the media and their peers so that they can become more scientifically literate citizens.

  13. Strategies for selecting effective patient nutrition education materials.

    PubMed

    Clayton, Laura H

    2010-10-01

    Nutrition and diet therapy are at the center of health promotion activities and self-management of chronic diseases. To assist an individual in making informed decisions regarding his or her diet and increase adherence to dietary recommendations or treatments, healthcare professionals must select health information that is appropriate to the client's level of understanding. A systematic approach in the evaluation of patient education material, whether in print or on the World Wide Web, must focus on the information's content, literacy level, graphical displays, layout and typography, motivating principles, cultural relevance, and feasibility. Additional criteria should be evaluated when accessing Web sites and include source, site credibility, conflict of interest, disclaimer, disclosure, navigation, and interactivity information.

  14. Construction of In-house Databases in a Corporation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Senoo, Tetsuo

    As computer technology, communication technology and others have progressed, many corporations are likely to locate constructing and utilizing their own databases at the center of the information activities, and aim at developing their information activities newly. This paper considers how information management in a corporation is affected under changing management and technology environments, and clarifies and generalizes what in-house databases should be constructed and utilized from the viewpoints of requirements to be furnished, types and forms of information to be dealt, indexing, use type and frequency, evaluation method and so on. The author outlines an information system of Matsushita called MATIS (Matsushita Technical Information System) as an actual example, and describes the present status and some points to be reminded in constructing and utilizing databases of REP, BOOK and SYMP.

  15. Neural processing of gendered information is more robustly associated with mothers' gendered communication with children than mothers' implicit and explicit gender stereotypes.

    PubMed

    Endendijk, Joyce J; Spencer, Hannah; Bos, Peter A; Derks, Belle

    2018-04-26

    Processes like gender socialization (the ways in which parents convey information to their children about how girls and boys should behave) often happen unconsciously and might therefore be studied best with neuroscientific measures. We examined whether neural processing of gender-stereotype-congruent and incongruent information is more robustly related to mothers' gendered socialization of their child than mothers' implicit and explicit gender stereotypes. To this end, we examined event-related potentials (ERPs) of mothers (N = 35) completing an implicit gender-stereotype task and mothers' gender stereotypes in relation to observed gendered communication with their child (2-6 years old) in a naturalistic picture-book-reading setting. Increased N2 activity (previously related to attentional processes) to gender stimuli in the implicit gender-stereotype task was associated with mothers' positive evaluation of similar gendered behaviors and activities in the picture book they read with their child. Increased P300 activity (previously related to attention to unexpected events) to incongruent trials in the gender-stereotype task was associated with a more positive evaluation of congruent versus incongruent pictures. Compared to mothers' gender stereotypes, neural processing of gendered information was more robustly related to how mothers talk to their children about boys' and girls' stereotype-congruent and incongruent behavior, and masculine and feminine activities.

  16. Counter-terrorism threat prediction architecture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lehman, Lynn A.; Krause, Lee S.

    2004-09-01

    This paper will evaluate the feasibility of constructing a system to support intelligence analysts engaged in counter-terrorism. It will discuss the use of emerging techniques to evaluate a large-scale threat data repository (or Infosphere) and comparing analyst developed models to identify and discover potential threat-related activity with a uncertainty metric used to evaluate the threat. This system will also employ the use of psychological (or intent) modeling to incorporate combatant (i.e. terrorist) beliefs and intent. The paper will explore the feasibility of constructing a hetero-hierarchical (a hierarchy of more than one kind or type characterized by loose connection/feedback among elements of the hierarchy) agent based framework or "family of agents" to support "evidence retrieval" defined as combing, or searching the threat data repository and returning information with an uncertainty metric. The counter-terrorism threat prediction architecture will be guided by a series of models, constructed to represent threat operational objectives, potential targets, or terrorist objectives. The approach would compare model representations against information retrieved by the agent family to isolate or identify patterns that match within reasonable measures of proximity. The central areas of discussion will be the construction of an agent framework to search the available threat related information repository, evaluation of results against models that will represent the cultural foundations, mindset, sociology and emotional drive of typical threat combatants (i.e. the mind and objectives of a terrorist), and the development of evaluation techniques to compare result sets with the models representing threat behavior and threat targets. The applicability of concepts surrounding Modeling Field Theory (MFT) will be discussed as the basis of this research into development of proximity measures between the models and result sets and to provide feedback in support of model adaptation (learning). The increasingly complex demands facing analysts evaluating activity threatening to the security of the United States make the family of agent-based data collection (fusion) a promising area. This paper will discuss a system to support the collection and evaluation of potential threat activity as well as an approach fro presentation of the information.

  17. Ensuring Patient Safety in Care Transitions: An Empirical Evaluation of a Handoff Intervention Tool

    PubMed Central

    Abraham, Joanna; Kannampallil, Thomas; Patel, Bela; Almoosa, Khalid; Patel, Vimla L.

    2012-01-01

    Successful handoffs ensure smooth, efficient and safe patient care transitions. Tools and systems designed for standardization of clinician handoffs often focuses on ensuring the communication activity during transitions, with limited support for preparatory activities such as information seeking and organization. We designed and evaluated a Handoff Intervention Tool (HAND-IT) based on a checklist-inspired, body system format allowing structured information organization, and a problem-case narrative format allowing temporal description of patient care events. Based on a pre-post prospective study using a multi-method analysis we evaluated the effectiveness of HAND-IT as a documentation tool. We found that the use of HAND-IT led to fewer transition breakdowns, greater tool resilience, and likely led to better learning outcomes for less-experienced clinicians when compared to the current tool. We discuss the implications of our results for improving patient safety with a continuity of care-based approach. PMID:23304268

  18. A treatment program for individuals with deficient evaluative processing and consequent impaired social and risk judgement.

    PubMed

    Park, Norman W; Conrod, Brian; Hussain, Zahra; Murphy, Kelly J; Rewilak, Dmytro; Black, Sandra E

    2003-01-01

    The current study evaluated the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program developed to assist individuals such as AM who have impaired social and risk judgement. AM's difficulties developed after a severe traumatic brain injury that resulted in bilateral frontal and temporal lobe damage including damage to the amygdala. Previous work (Park et al., 2001) established that AM had impaired automatic processing of negative, but not positive evaluative information, and relatively spared processing of both types of evaluative information when using controlled or strategic processing. In the Strategic Evaluation of Alternatives (SEA) treatment program, AM was trained to compensate for his impairments by explicitly retrieving positive and negative attributes associated with potential actions prior to performing them. The SEA treatment focused specifically on improving AM's ability to obtain financial compensation for his work-related activities. Results showed improved performance on work-related activities and evidence of generalization. Analyses suggested that the process underlying improved performance was compensatory rather than restorative in nature. We discuss the implications of these results for the development of rehabilitation treatment for patients with impaired social and risk judgement.

  19. 30 CFR 282.28 - Environmental protection measures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ...)(1) The lessee shall monitor activities in a manner that develops the data and information necessary... activities on the environment on and off the lease; develop and evaluate methods for mitigating adverse... with lease and other requirements for the protection of the environment. (2) Monitoring of...

  20. 30 CFR 282.28 - Environmental protection measures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...)(1) The lessee shall monitor activities in a manner that develops the data and information necessary... activities on the environment on and off the lease; develop and evaluate methods for mitigating adverse... with lease and other requirements for the protection of the environment. (2) Monitoring of...

  1. 30 CFR 282.28 - Environmental protection measures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...)(1) The lessee shall monitor activities in a manner that develops the data and information necessary... activities on the environment on and off the lease; develop and evaluate methods for mitigating adverse... with lease and other requirements for the protection of the environment. (2) Monitoring of...

  2. Systematic Refinement of a Health Information Technology Time and Motion Workflow Instrument for Inpatient Nursing Care using a Standardized Interface Terminology

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Yi; Monsen, Karen A; Adam, Terrence J; Pieczkiewicz, David S; Daman, Megan; Melton, Genevieve B

    2011-01-01

    Time and motion (T&M) studies provide an objective method to measure the expenditure of time by clinicians. While some instruments for T&M studies have been designed to evaluate health information technology (HIT), these instruments have not been designed for nursing workflow. We took an existing open source HIT T&M study application designed to evaluate physicians in the ambulatory setting and rationally adapted it through empiric observations to record nursing activities in the inpatient setting and linked this instrument to an existing interface terminology, the Omaha System. Nursing activities involved several dimensions and could include multiple activities occurring simultaneously, requiring significant instrument redesign. 94% of the activities from the study instrument mapped adequately to the Omaha System. T&M study instruments require customization in design optimize them for different environments, such as inpatient nursing, to enable optimal data collection. Interface terminologies show promise as a framework for recording and analyzing T&M study data. PMID:22195228

  3. Research Priorities for FCTC Articles 20, 21, and 22: Surveillance/Evaluation and Information Exchange

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Introduction: Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Articles 20, 21, and 22 call for strong monitoring and reporting of tobacco use and factors influencing use and disease (Articles 20 and 21) and for collaboration among the Parties and relevant organizations to share resources, knowledge, and expertise on all relevant tobacco control strategies (Article 22). Methods: This paper provides background information and discusses research strategies that would strengthen these efforts and better inform the Parties. By necessity, Articles 20 and 21 are discussed separately from Article 22, although 1 example that relates to both 20/21 and 22 is discussed at the end. Results: Twelve important research opportunities on surveillance and evaluation are recognized, along with 4 on collaboration. The authors believe that the 6 most important areas for research would study (a) possible underreporting of tobacco use among certain demographic groups in some countries, (b) measures of industry activities, (c) optimal sampling strategies, (d) sentinel surveillance, (e) networks of tobacco companies and their partners as they promote tobacco use and interfere with implementation of the FCTC, and (f) network/relationship factors that impact diffusion of knowledge and decision making on the implementation of the FCTC. In addition, we call for a review process of existing surveillance and evaluation strategies to coordinate activities to make optimal use of existing resources. This activity would involve networking as prescribed in Article 22. Conclusions: Studies and activities such as these would facilitate control of the tobacco epidemic. PMID:23335488

  4. Research priorities for FCTC Articles 20, 21, and 22: surveillance/evaluation and information exchange.

    PubMed

    Giovino, Gary A; Kulak, Jessica A; Kalsbeek, William D; Leischow, Scott J

    2013-04-01

    Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Articles 20, 21, and 22 call for strong monitoring and reporting of tobacco use and factors influencing use and disease (Articles 20 and 21) and for collaboration among the Parties and relevant organizations to share resources, knowledge, and expertise on all relevant tobacco control strategies (Article 22). This paper provides background information and discusses research strategies that would strengthen these efforts and better inform the parties. By necessity, Articles 20 and 21 are discussed separately from Article 22, although 1 example that relates to both 20/21 and 22 is discussed at the end. Twelve important research opportunities on surveillance and evaluation are recognized, along with 4 on collaboration. The authors believe that the 6 most important areas for research would study (a) possible underreporting of tobacco use among certain demographic groups in some countries, (b) measures of industry activities, (c) optimal sampling strategies, (d) sentinel surveillance, (e) networks of tobacco companies and their partners as they promote tobacco use and interfere with implementation of the FCTC, and (f) network/relationship factors that impact diffusion of knowledge and decision making on the implementation of the FCTC. In addition, we call for a review process of existing surveillance and evaluation strategies to coordinate activities to make optimal use of existing resources. This activity would involve networking as prescribed in Article 22. Studies and activities such as these would facilitate control of the tobacco epidemic.

  5. Evaluating patient and stakeholder engagement in research: moving from theory to practice.

    PubMed

    Esmail, Laura; Moore, Emily; Rein, Alison

    2015-03-01

    Despite the growing demand for research that engages stakeholders, there is limited evidence in the literature to demonstrate its value - or return on investment. This gap indicates a general lack of evaluation of engagement activities. To adequately inform engagement activities, we need to further investigate the dividends of engaged research, and how to evaluate these effects. This paper synthesizes the literature on hypothesized impacts of engagement, shares what has been evaluated and identifies steps needed to reduce the gap between engagement's promises and the underlying evidence supporting its practice. This assessment provides explicit guidance for better alignment of engagement's promised benefits with evaluation efforts and identifies specific areas for development of evaluative measures and better reporting processes.

  6. 77 FR 5615 - Information Collection Activity; Request for Comments

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-02-03

    ...) 366-1930. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: U.S. Department of Transportation Mentor- Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Pilot Program Evaluation Form; and U.S. Department of Transportation Mentor Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Pilot Program Annual Report. Abstract: DOT will use the data captured in the Mentor- Prot[eacute]g...

  7. 78 FR 22544 - Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection Renewal; Comment Request...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-16

    ... of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and...). The FDIC evaluates the information contained in the letter application in relation to statutory... financial history and condition of the bank; the adequacy of its capital structure; its future earnings...

  8. 78 FR 15739 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of Previously Approved Collection...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-12

    ... or more of the following four points: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is... respondents (candidates selected for interviews) who will complete a travel survey used to schedule interviews and prepare official Travel Authorizations prior to the interviewees' performing pre-employment...

  9. 78 FR 16842 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-19

    ... of Math Professional Development AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Department of... to this notice will be considered public records. Title of Collection: Impact Evaluation of Math... of math professional development (PD). The study will provide important information about the...

  10. 78 FR 52536 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-23

    .... Information Collection Request Title: Combating Autism Act Initiative Evaluation (OMB No. 0915-0335 [Revision] Abstract: In response to the growing need for research and resources devoted to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD), the U.S. Congress passed the Combating Autism Act (CAA...

  11. 78 FR 17747 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection.

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-22

    ... define the types of analyses to be used to evaluate benefits, cost-effectiveness and feasibility...: Feasibility of Element-Level Bridge Inspection for Non- National Highway System Bridges. Background: The... a requirement for a study on the benefits, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility of requiring element...

  12. 76 FR 2440 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-01-13

    ... training courses are submitted to FAA for evaluation. The information is reviewed to determine applicant... Than Pilots. Respondents: Approximately 1,036 flight engineers and flight navigators. Frequency... and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the attention of the Desk Officer, Department of...

  13. 76 FR 53529 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-26

    ... intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for to renew an information... collected allows the FAA to evaluate its certification standards, maintenance programs, and regulatory... of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the attention of the Desk Officer...

  14. 76 FR 53138 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-25

    ... serves multiple practical purposes: (1) To collect and analyze descriptive, outcome, and service... impact on access to high-quality, trauma-informed care; (3) to evaluate NCTSI centers' training and... below. Descriptive and Clinical Outcomes In order to describe the children served, their trauma...

  15. 78 FR 11266 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-15

    ... Inspection Protocol for Reinforced Concrete Highway Barriers and Bridge Railings. Background: Highway... separations. Most bridge railings are made of reinforced concrete. Despite the important role that they play... Federal Highway Administration concerning Non- Destructive Evaluation of concrete bridge railings. One of...

  16. 77 FR 47851 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-10

    ... Collection: Minimum Data Set for Medicaid Incentives for Prevention of Chronic Diseases Program Grantees; Use... collection, the MIPCD Minimum Data Set (MDS), is intended to collect data for program performance monitoring and evaluation. The MDS is a secondary data collection that assembles information already collected by...

  17. Savannah River Site Approved Site Treatment Plan, 2001 Annual Update (Volumes I and II)

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

    Lawrence, B.

    2001-04-30

    The Compliance Plan Volume (Volume I) identifies project activity scheduled milestones for achieving compliance with Land Disposal Restrictions. Information regarding the technical evaluation of treatment options for SRS mixed wastes is contained in the Background Volume (Volume II) and is provided for information.

  18. 77 FR 76488 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Public...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-28

    ... diversify workforce, promote cultural competency, affect social determinants, build leadership, and increase... data on social determinants of health and health outcomes using secondary sources. Need and Proposed... implementation. Information from the evaluation will also be shared with Congress through its inclusion in OMH's...

  19. 76 FR 32367 - Agency Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Integrated Public...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-06

    ...; Integrated Public Alert and Warning Systems (IPAWS) Inventory AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency... proposed revision of the information collection concerning public alert and warning systems at the Federal... evaluation and assessment of existing public alert and warning resources and their integration with the...

  20. 76 FR 621 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-01-05

    ... establish a process for stakeholder input and involvement in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Highways for LIFE Pilot Program. The process may include participation by representatives of... own that a particular innovation was important, yet never actually determined whether States would...

  1. 78 FR 59978 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-30

    ... developing a survey with content specifically designed to address the experiences unique to ERC personnel... inside these centers and how it impacts faculty, students and their success. This information will enable... environments for all. This diversity climate survey will enable us to evaluate how close we are to that goal...

  2. 77 FR 58871 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-24

    ... action to submit an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and... ensuring that their vendors meet applicable regulations and requirements, both technical and quality, in..., the NRC inspects vendors to evaluate their conformance with technical and quality requirements in part...

  3. 77 FR 65714 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested:

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-30

    ... Drug Samples Tested by Non-Federal (State and Local Government) Crime Laboratories ACTION: 60-Day... functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; --Evaluate the... Analysis Data on Drug Samples Tested by Non-Federal (State and Local Government) Crime Laboratories. (3...

  4. 75 FR 36067 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Chemical-Specific...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-24

    ... section 8(a) to evaluate the potential for adverse human health and environmental effects caused by the... Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200... technical information contact: Karen Chu, Chemical Control Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention...

  5. 78 FR 10619 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-14

    ... reference. Information Collection Request Title: Evaluation of Implementation of the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan. Abstract: In response to the viral hepatitis epidemic in the United States, the Department of... Hepatitis (Action Plan) in May 2011 to provide a comprehensive strategic plan to address viral hepatitis B...

  6. 78 FR 4146 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-18

    ... reference. Information Collection Request Title: Evaluation of Implementation of the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan. Abstract: In response to the viral hepatitis epidemic in the United States, the Department of... Hepatitis (Action Plan) in May 2011 to provide a comprehensive strategic plan to address viral hepatitis B...

  7. 78 FR 50429 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-19

    ... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration... Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will publish a summary of information.... Project: Evaluation of Programs To Provide Services to Persons Who Are Homeless With Mental and/or...

  8. 78 FR 22294 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comments Requested: USMS Medical...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-15

    ... Evaluation Report for USMS Operational Employees Pregnancy Only. --USM-600 Physical Requirements of USMS... report any illness/injury (other than pregnancy) that requires restriction from full performance of... Physician Evaluation Report for USMS Operational Employees (Pregnancy Only) [cir] Affected public: Private...

  9. 78 FR 49516 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-14

    ... experiment with and evaluate several promising ideas related to improving the quality of children's health... evaluate the impact of a model pediatric electronic health record. Category E grantees are testing other... descriptive and inferential techniques appropriate to answering questions about outcomes and impacts...

  10. 77 FR 60167 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-02

    ... and Fatigue Evaluation of Composite Rotorcraft Structures AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA... Control Number: 2120-0753. Title: Damage Tolerance and Fatigue Evaluation of Composite Rotorcraft... technology for composite rotorcraft structures. In order to show compliance and obtain type certification...

  11. AIS Data Base Generation.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-04-01

    intelligence and Reconnaissance Djvisi F~~THE COM&NADER: If your addres a"s cbagd (m If ymo wisn = be remwd f r t-e RAMC m Iins Liac, or if the adresme I...information content? 2. How reliable is the source? 3. How "credible" is the data? His evaluations of incoming information are based on his cognitive...therefC)re, dre 2-2 evaluated in the light of the needs and requirements of the particular intelligence activities they are to serve. The OSI approach

  12. [Multi-mathematical modelings for compatibility optimization of Jiangzhi granules].

    PubMed

    Yang, Ming; Zhang, Li; Ge, Yingli; Lu, Yanliu; Ji, Guang

    2011-12-01

    To investigate into the method of "multi activity index evaluation and combination optimized of mult-component" for Chinese herbal formulas. According to the scheme of uniform experimental design, efficacy experiment, multi index evaluation, least absolute shrinkage, selection operator (LASSO) modeling, evolutionary optimization algorithm, validation experiment, we optimized the combination of Jiangzhi granules based on the activity indexes of blood serum ALT, ALT, AST, TG, TC, HDL, LDL and TG level of liver tissues, ratio of liver tissue to body. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) combining with criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) for multi activity index evaluation was more reasonable and objective, it reflected the information of activity index's order and objective sample data. LASSO algorithm modeling could accurately reflect the relationship between different combination of Jiangzhi granule and the activity comprehensive indexes. The optimized combination of Jiangzhi granule showed better values of the activity comprehensive indexed than the original formula after the validation experiment. AHP combining with CRITIC can be used for multi activity index evaluation and LASSO algorithm, it is suitable for combination optimized of Chinese herbal formulas.

  13. 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

  14. 77 FR 33224 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-06-05

    ... provided by a contractor, or in-class evaluation forms completed by providers who receive training from..., in-class evaluation forms, mail surveys, and telephone surveys are expected to be the preferred data... response hours In-Class Evaluations 40,000 1 40,000 .05 2,000 Mail/Telephone Surveys 12,000 1 12,000 .25 3...

  15. 76 FR 13201 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 1660-0039; FEMA...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-03-10

    ...-0-2A, National Fire Academy (NFA) Long-Term Evaluation Student/Trainee; FEMA Form 078-0-2, NFA Long... collection; OMB No. 1660-0039; FEMA Form 078-0-2A (Presently FEMA Form 95-59), NFA Long- Term Evaluation Student/Trainee; FEMA Form 078-0-2 (Presently FEMA Form 95-58), NFA Long-Term Evaluation Supervisors...

  16. Enhancement of computer system for applications software branch

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bykat, Alex

    1987-01-01

    Presented is a compilation of the history of a two-month project concerned with a survey, evaluation, and specification of a new computer system for the Applications Software Branch of the Software and Data Management Division of Information and Electronic Systems Laboratory of Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA. Information gathering consisted of discussions and surveys of branch activities, evaluation of computer manufacturer literature, and presentations by vendors. Information gathering was followed by evaluation of their systems. The criteria of the latter were: the (tentative) architecture selected for the new system, type of network architecture supported, software tools, and to some extent the price. The information received from the vendors, as well as additional research, lead to detailed design of a suitable system. This design included considerations of hardware and software environments as well as personnel issues such as training. Design of the system culminated in a recommendation for a new computing system for the Branch.

  17. Is Informal Education the Answer to Increasing and Widening Participation in STEM Education?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Banerjee, Pallavi Amitava

    2017-01-01

    This paper summarises research findings from a longitudinal national evaluation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) "enrichment and enhancement activities". The activities included science practical lessons, supported by ambassador visits, trips to laboratories, STEM centres and higher education institutions. The…

  18. The National Informal STEM Education Network

    Science.gov Websites

    Evaluation and Research Kits Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit Building with Biology Kit Explore 2018 toolkits now available for download. Download the 2018 Digital Toolkit! Building with Biology ACTIVITY KIT Building with Biology Conversations and activities about synthetic biology; this emerging

  19. Evaluation of a Core Curriculum for Optometric Residents.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Heiberger, Michael H.; Suchoff, Irvin B.

    1989-01-01

    A survey of residents and residency supervisors at three Veterans' Administration hospitals affiliated with one school of optometry investigated attitudes toward core optometry curriculum activities. Activities were generally rated well for content and effectiveness of presentation, and the study also provided information for program improvement.…

  20. Northwest Regional Climate Assessment

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lipschultz, Fred

    2011-01-01

    Objectives are to establish a continuing, inclusive National process that: 1) synthesizes relevant science and information 2) increases understanding of what is known & not known 3) identifies information needs related to preparing for climate variability and change, and reducing climate impacts and vulnerability 4) evaluates progress of adaptation & mitigation activities 5) informs science priorities 6) builds assessment capacity in regions and sectors 7) builds understanding & skilled use of findings

  1. Social vs. Clinical Perspectives on the Use of Information: Implications for School-based Information Systems. Systemic Evaluation Project.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sirotnik, Kenneth A.; And Others

    This paper presents a study of the contrast of social and clinical perspectives on the selection and use of information by school staff, including: (1) an outline of the context and activities of the study; (2) a definition and discussion of the basic distinction between social and clinical perspectives; (3) an examination of case material…

  2. Combining users' activity survey and simulators to evaluate human activity recognition systems.

    PubMed

    Azkune, Gorka; Almeida, Aitor; López-de-Ipiña, Diego; Chen, Liming

    2015-04-08

    Evaluating human activity recognition systems usually implies following expensive and time-consuming methodologies, where experiments with humans are run with the consequent ethical and legal issues. We propose a novel evaluation methodology to overcome the enumerated problems, which is based on surveys for users and a synthetic dataset generator tool. Surveys allow capturing how different users perform activities of daily living, while the synthetic dataset generator is used to create properly labelled activity datasets modelled with the information extracted from surveys. Important aspects, such as sensor noise, varying time lapses and user erratic behaviour, can also be simulated using the tool. The proposed methodology is shown to have very important advantages that allow researchers to carry out their work more efficiently. To evaluate the approach, a synthetic dataset generated following the proposed methodology is compared to a real dataset computing the similarity between sensor occurrence frequencies. It is concluded that the similarity between both datasets is more than significant.

  3. 28 CFR 20.21 - Preparation and submission of a Criminal History Record Information Plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ..., evaluative, or statistical activities pursuant to an agreement with a criminal justice agency. The agreement shall specifically authorize access to data, limit the use of data to research, evaluative, or... technologically advanced software and hardware designs are instituted to prevent unauthorized access to such...

  4. 28 CFR 20.21 - Preparation and submission of a Criminal History Record Information Plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ..., evaluative, or statistical activities pursuant to an agreement with a criminal justice agency. The agreement shall specifically authorize access to data, limit the use of data to research, evaluative, or... technologically advanced software and hardware designs are instituted to prevent unauthorized access to such...

  5. 28 CFR 20.21 - Preparation and submission of a Criminal History Record Information Plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ..., evaluative, or statistical activities pursuant to an agreement with a criminal justice agency. The agreement shall specifically authorize access to data, limit the use of data to research, evaluative, or... technologically advanced software and hardware designs are instituted to prevent unauthorized access to such...

  6. 28 CFR 20.21 - Preparation and submission of a Criminal History Record Information Plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ..., evaluative, or statistical activities pursuant to an agreement with a criminal justice agency. The agreement shall specifically authorize access to data, limit the use of data to research, evaluative, or... technologically advanced software and hardware designs are instituted to prevent unauthorized access to such...

  7. 28 CFR 20.21 - Preparation and submission of a Criminal History Record Information Plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ..., evaluative, or statistical activities pursuant to an agreement with a criminal justice agency. The agreement shall specifically authorize access to data, limit the use of data to research, evaluative, or... technologically advanced software and hardware designs are instituted to prevent unauthorized access to such...

  8. 76 FR 77852 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-14

    ... $109,000; this cost includes: research staff involved in survey design, piloting, implementation... Evaluation.'' The proposed project includes a survey of teachers' use of the National Science, Technology..., services) for STEM education and research. The teacher survey is part of a Phase 3 evaluation that builds...

  9. 75 FR 69135 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-10

    ...: Title of Collection: Evaluation of the National Science Foundation's Math and Science Partnership (MSP...- year clearance for an evaluation of the Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program. The MSP program is..., especially disciplinary faculty in math, sciences, and engineering, with that of K-12 communities in order to...

  10. 75 FR 39695 - 60-Day Notice; Agency Information Collection Request; 60-Day Public Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-12

    .... Proposed Project: Evaluation of Pregnancy Prevention Approaches: First Follow-Up Data Collection--OMB No... overseeing and coordinating adolescent pregnancy prevention evaluation efforts as part of the Teen Pregnancy... for Children and Families (ACF) on adolescent pregnancy prevention activities. OAH has provided...

  11. Computer software management, evaluation, and dissemination

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1983-01-01

    The activities of the Computer Software Management and Information Center involving the collection, processing, and distribution of software developed under the auspices of NASA and certain other federal agencies are reported. Program checkout and evaluation, inventory control, customer services and marketing, dissemination, program maintenance, and special development tasks are discussed.

  12. 77 FR 64354 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Self...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-10-19

    ... development assistance, and other services (including seed capital microgrants) to help them become more... for OMB Review; Comment Request; Self-Employment Training Demonstration Evaluation ACTION: Notice... Evaluation,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with...

  13. Critical Evaluation of Animal Alternative Tests for the Identification of Endocrine Active Substances

    EPA Science Inventory

    A significant amount of research is currently targeted to evaluate alternative test methods that may reduce, refine, or replace the use of animals, while ensuring human and environmental health and safety. It is important that the information gained from the alternative tests pr...

  14. Teaching and Un-Teaching Source Evaluation: Questioning Authority in Information Literacy Instruction

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Angell, Katelyn; Tewell, Eamon

    2017-01-01

    This study details the design of library instruction sessions for undergraduate students that intended to encourage critical source evaluation and the questioning of established authorities, and appraises these instructional aims through a thematic analysis of 148 artifacts containing student responses to group and individual activities. The…

  15. Educational Needs of Finnish Polytechnic Librarians.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Viiri, Marjariitta

    The polytechnics are the newest part of the Finnish system of higher education. The whole polytechnic system is being developed on the basis of systematic monitoring and evaluation of its activities. Staff development and library and information services were both targets selected for evaluation in this study carried out to identify the…

  16. 76 FR 45589 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Evaluation of the Department of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-29

    ... contribute their technical expertise, organizational capacity, and resources to local community development... the partners and additional funding used to support OUP-funded activities. The telephone interviews..., organizational capacity, and resources to local community development efforts. There has been no prior evaluation...

  17. MR-Consistent Simultaneous Reconstruction of Attenuation and Activity for Non-TOF PET/MR

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Heußer, Thorsten; Rank, Christopher M.; Freitag, Martin T.; Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss, Antonia; Schlemmer, Heinz-Peter; Beyer, Thomas; Kachelrieß, Marc

    2016-10-01

    Attenuation correction (AC) is required for accurate quantification of the reconstructed activity distribution in positron emission tomography (PET). For simultaneous PET/magnetic resonance (MR), however, AC is challenging, since the MR images do not provide direct information on the attenuating properties of the underlying tissue. Standard MR-based AC does not account for the presence of bone and thus leads to an underestimation of the activity distribution. To improve quantification for non-time-of-flight PET/MR, we propose an algorithm which simultaneously reconstructs activity and attenuation distribution from the PET emission data using available MR images as anatomical prior information. The MR information is used to derive voxel-dependent expectations on the attenuation coefficients. The expectations are modeled using Gaussian-like probability functions. An iterative reconstruction scheme incorporating the prior information on the attenuation coefficients is used to update attenuation and activity distribution in an alternating manner. We tested and evaluated the proposed algorithm for simulated 3D PET data of the head and the pelvis region. Activity deviations were below 5% in soft tissue and lesions compared to the ground truth whereas standard MR-based AC resulted in activity underestimation values of up to 12%.

  18. Physical activity mass media campaigns and their evaluation: a systematic review of the literature 2003-2010.

    PubMed

    Leavy, Justine E; Bull, Fiona C; Rosenberg, Michael; Bauman, Adrian

    2011-12-01

    Internationally, mass media campaigns to promote regular moderate-intensity physical activity have increased recently. Evidence of mass media campaign effectiveness exists in other health areas, however the evidence for physical activity is limited. The purpose was to systematically review the literature on physical activity mass media campaigns, 2003-2010. A focus was on reviewing evaluation designs, theory used, formative evaluation, campaign effects and outcomes. Literature was searched resulting in 18 individual adult mass media campaigns, mostly in high-income regions and two in middle-income regions. Designs included: quasi experimental (n = 5); non experimental (n = 12); a mixed methods design (n = 1). One half used formative research. Awareness levels ranged from 17 to 95%. Seven campaigns reported significant increases in physical activity levels. The review found that beyond awareness raising, changes in other outcomes were measured, assessed but reported in varying ways. It highlighted improvements in evaluation, although limited evidence of campaign effects remain. It provides an update on the evaluation methodologies used in the adult literature. We recommend optimal evaluation design should include: (1) formative research to inform theories/frameworks, campaign content and evaluation design; (2) cohort study design with multiple data collection points; (3) sufficient duration; (4) use of validated measures; (5) sufficient evaluation resources.

  19. 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

  20. An organizing framework for informal caregiver interventions: detailing caregiving activities and caregiver and care recipient outcomes to optimize evaluation efforts

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Caregiver interventions may help improve the quality of informal care. Yet the lack of a systematic framework specifying the targets and outcomes of caregiver interventions hampers our ability to understand what has been studied, to evaluate existing programs, and to inform the design of future programs. Our goal was to develop an organizing framework detailing the components of the caregiving activities and the caregiver and care recipient outcomes that should be affected by an intervention. In so doing, we characterize what has been measured in the published literature to date and what should be measured in future studies to enable comparisons across interventions and across time. Methods Our data set comprises 121 reports of caregiver interventions conducted in the United States and published between 2000 and 2009. We extracted information on variables that have been examined as primary and secondary outcomes. These variables were grouped into categories, which then informed the organizing framework. We calculated the frequency with which the interventions examined each framework component to identify areas about which we have the most knowledge and under-studied areas that deserve attention in future research. Results The framework stipulates that caregiver interventions seek to change caregiving activities, which in turn affect caregiver and care recipient outcomes. The most frequently assessed variables have been caregiver psychological outcomes (especially depression and burden) and care recipient physical and health care use outcomes. Conclusions Based on the organizing framework, we make three key recommendations to guide interventions and inform research and policy. First, all intervention studies should assess quality and/or quantity of caregiving activities to help understand to what extent and how well the intervention worked. Second, intervention studies should assess a broad range of caregiver and care recipient outcomes, including considering whether expanding to economic status and health care use of the caregiver can be accommodated, to ease subsequent economic evaluations of caregiving. Third, intervention studies should measure a common set of outcomes to facilitate cross-time and cross-study comparisons of effectiveness. PMID:22107600

  1. Nutrition. Learning Activity Package.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lee, Carolyn

    This learning activity package on nutrition is one of a series of 12 titles developed for use in health occupations education programs. Materials in the package include objectives, a list of materials needed, a list of definitions, information sheets, reviews (self evaluations) of portions of the content, and answers to reviews. These topics are…

  2. Shock & Anaphylactic Shock. Learning Activity Package.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hime, Kirsten

    This learning activity package on shock and anaphylactic shock is one of a series of 12 titles developed for use in health occupations education programs. Materials in the package include objectives, a list of materials needed, information sheets, reviews (self evaluations) of portions of the content, and answers to reviews. These topics are…

  3. Review of the activities of COSMIC

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Carmon, J. L.

    1983-01-01

    The activities of the Computer Software Management and Information Center involving the collection, processing, and distribution of software developed under the auspices of NASA and certain other federal agencies are reported. Program checkout and evaluation, inventory control, customer services and marketing, dissemination, program maintenance, and special development tasks are discussed.

  4. 78 FR 24392 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Evaluation and Accountability Report...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-25

    ... effectiveness of Title II, Part D formula and competitive grant-funded projects, activities and strategies in... and strategies that effectively infuse technology with curriculum and instruction, show evidence of positive impacts for student learning, and can be widely replicated by other State educational agencies and...

  5. Current limitations and a path forward to improve testing for the environmental assessment of endocrine active substances-presentation

    EPA Science Inventory

    To assess the hazards and risks of possible endocrine active chemicals (EACs), there is a need for robust, validated test methods that detect perturbations of endocrine pathways and provide reliable information for evaluating potential adverse effects on apical endpoints. One iss...

  6. Promising Practices in Florida: Integrating Academic and Vocational Education.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jones, Betty, Comp.

    This document is a compilation of 90 successful interdisciplinary projects and activities and integrated academic and vocational curriculum ideas implemented in Florida during the past 3 years. The activities and projects have been submitted by teachers and have not been officially evaluated or reviewed. Each description provides this information:…

  7. Oral Hygiene. Learning Activity Package.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hime, Kirsten

    This learning activity package on oral hygiene is one of a series of 12 titles developed for use in health occupations education programs. Materials in the package include objectives, a list of materials needed, a list of definitions, information sheets, reviews (self evaluations) of portions of the content, and answers to reviews. These topics…

  8. Grooming. Learning Activity Package.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stark, Pamela

    This learning activity package on grooming for health workers is one of a series of 12 titles developed for use in health occupations education programs. Materials in the package include objectives, a list of materials needed, information sheets, reviews (self evaluations) of portions of the content, and answers to reviews. These topics are…

  9. Trends in internet search activity, media coverage, and patient-centered health information after the FDA safety communications on surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapse.

    PubMed

    Stone, Benjamin V; Forde, James C; Levit, Valerie B; Lee, Richard K; Te, Alexis E; Chughtai, Bilal

    2016-11-01

    In July 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication regarding serious complications associated with surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapse, prompting increased media and public attention. This study sought to analyze internet search activity and news article volume after this FDA warning and to evaluate the quality of websites providing patient-centered information. Google Trends™ was utilized to evaluate search engine trends for the term "pelvic organ prolapse" and associated terms between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2014. Google News™ was utilized to quantify the number of news articles annually under the term "pelvic organ prolapse." The search results for the term "pelvic organ prolapse" were assessed for quality using the Health On the Net Foundation (HON) certification. There was a significant increase in search activity from 37.42 in 2010 to 57.75 in 2011, at the time of the FDA communication (p = 0.021). No other annual interval had a statistically significant increase in search activity. The single highest monthly search activity, given the value of 100, was August 2011, immediately following the July 2011 notification, with the next highest value being 98 in July 2011. Linear regression analysis of news articles per year since the FDA communication revealed r 2  = 0.88, with a coefficient of 186. Quality assessment demonstrated that 42 % of websites were HON-certified, with .gov sites providing the highest quality information. Although the 2011 FDA safety communication on surgical mesh was associated with increased public and media attention, the quality of relevant health information on the internet remains of poor quality. Future quality assurance measures may be critical in enabling patients to play active roles in their own healthcare.

  10. Brief Report: The Theory of Planned Behaviour Applied to Physical Activity in Young People Who Smoke

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Everson, Emma S.; Daley, Amanda J.; Ussher, Michael

    2007-01-01

    It has been hypothesised that physical activity may be useful as a smoking cessation intervention for young adults. In order to inform such interventions, this study evaluated the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) for understanding physical activity behaviour in young smokers. Regular smokers aged 16-19 years (N=124), self-reported physical…

  11. COSMIC monthly progress report

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1994-01-01

    Activities of the Computer Software Management and Information Center (COSMIC) are summarized for the month of January 1994. Tables showing the current inventory of programs available from COSMIC are presented and program processing and evaluation activities are discussed. Marketing and customer service activities in this period are presented as is the progress report of NASTRAN maintenance and support. Tables of disseminations and budget summary conclude the report.

  12. Physical activity guides for Canadians: messaging strategies, realistic expectations for change, and evaluation.

    PubMed

    Brawley, Lawrence R; Latimer, Amy E

    2007-01-01

    Physical activity guidelines offer evidence-based behavioural benchmarks that relate to reduced risk of morbidity and mortality if people adhere to them. Essentially, the guidelines tell people what to do, but not why and how they should do it. Thus, to motivate adherence, messages that translate guidelines should convey not only how much physical activity one should attempt and why it is recommended, but also how to achieve such a recommendation. Canada's physical activity guides exemplify how guidelines can be translated. This paper (i) provides a brief overview of the challenges encountered in creating the existing guides and (ii) highlights important practical issues and empirical evidence that should be considered in the future when translating guidelines into messages and disseminating these messages. We draw on the successes of past efforts to translate the goals of physical activity guidelines and on recent literature on messages and media campaigns to make recommendations. Information to motivate people to move toward the goals in physical activity guidelines should be translated into a set of messages that are informative, thought provoking, and persuasive. These messages should be disseminated to the public via a multi-phase social-marketing campaign that is carefully planned and thoroughly evaluated.

  13. Seniors' Postsecondary Plans and Scholarships School Year 2013-14. Research & Evaluation Report

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Griffin, Ashley

    2014-01-01

    The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) collects information on seniors' academic and career plans after graduation in the form of a postsecondary plan. The information collected consists of several categories, including attending a four-year college/university, attending a two-year/ community college, attending a vocational/technical…

  14. 78 FR 48679 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Public...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-09

    ... (GPRA) and HHS, to guide financial and program planning and evaluation, and to respond to inquiries... identifier HHS-OS-19606-30D for reference. Information Collection Request Title: Family Planning Annual...) administers and oversees the Title X Family Planning Program. The Family Planning Annual Report (FPAR) is an...

  15. 78 FR 29370 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-20

    ... HHS, to guide financial and program planning and evaluation, and to respond to inquiries about the... identifier HHS-OS-19606-60D for reference. Information Collection Request Title: Family Planning Annual...) administers and oversees the Title X Family Planning Program. The Family Planning Annual Report (FPAR) is an...

  16. Evaluating Text-Based Information on the World Wide Web

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wopereis, Iwan G. J. H.; van Merrienboer, Jeroen J. G.

    2011-01-01

    This special section contributes to an inclusive cognitive model of information problem solving (IPS) activity, touches briefly IPS learning, and brings to the notice methodological pitfalls related to uncovering IPS processes. Instead of focusing on the IPS process as a whole, the contributing articles turn their attention to what is regarded the…

  17. 78 FR 61364 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-10-03

    ... order to gather qualitative information for analysis, the evaluation team will use semi-structured... are developing a new suite of systems to support the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) program. Due to... personnel have access to data. Personnel are given access to the ESRD systems through the creation of user...

  18. 78 FR 46674 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-01

    ... Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey... education and research, and attract qualified students to the field of transportation. The Eisenhower... transportation education programs, also serving as a management tool to measure program performance and evaluate...

  19. 17 CFR 200.13b - Director of the Office of Public Affairs, Policy Evaluation, and Research.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... Exchanges SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ORGANIZATION; CONDUCT AND ETHICS; AND INFORMATION AND REQUESTS Organization and Program Management General Organization § 200.13b Director of the Office of Public Affairs... Research is the chief public information officer for the Commission, and oversees activities that...

  20. 75 FR 30898 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-02

    ... collection supports the U.S. DOT's Environmental Stewardship Strategic Goal. U.S. DOT will be better able to evaluate how SAFETEA-LU Section 6009 may improve environmental decision-making and expedite environmental... jurisdiction over park, recreation areas, or wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and citizen/advocacy groups will...

  1. An Auto-Scoring Mechanism for Evaluating Problem-Solving Ability in a Web-Based Learning Environment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Chiou, Chuang-Kai; Hwang, Gwo-Jen; Tseng, Judy C. R.

    2009-01-01

    The rapid development of computer and network technologies has attracted researchers to investigate strategies for and the effects of applying information technologies in learning activities; simultaneously, learning environments have been developed to record the learning portfolios of students seeking web information for problem-solving. Although…

  2. 77 FR 52758 - Agency Information Collection Activities under OMB Review; Renewal of a Currently Approved...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-30

    ... OMB Review; Renewal of a Currently Approved Collection; Reclamation Rural Water Supply Program AGENCY... and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Reclamation Rural Water Supply Program, OMB Control Number... Supply Program (Rural Water Program) to submit information to allow the Bureau of Reclamation to evaluate...

  3. Epistemic Metacognition in Context: Evaluating and Learning Online Information

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mason, Lucia; Boldrin, Angela; Ariasi, Nicola

    2010-01-01

    This study examined epistemic metacognition as a reflective activity about knowledge and knowing in the context of online information searching on the Web, and whether it was related to prior knowledge on the topic, study approach, and domain-specific beliefs about science. In addition, we investigated whether Internet-based learning was…

  4. 78 FR 42538 - Information Collection Activities: Sulphur Operations, Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-16

    ..., section 301(a) of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 1751(a), grants... requirements. The BSEE uses the information collected to ascertain the condition of drilling sites for the purpose of preventing hazards inherent in sulphur drilling and production operations and to evaluate the...

  5. 78 FR 37648 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-21

    ... Concrete Highway Barriers and Bridge Railings. Background: Highway barriers and bridge railings serve to... of reinforced concrete. Despite the important role that they play in maintaining safety and their... concerning Non- Destructive Evaluation of concrete bridge railings. One of these recommendations (H-10-18) is...

  6. 78 FR 37651 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-21

    ...- 493-3064, Nondestructive Evaluation Research Program, Federal Highway Administration, Department of... date of enactment of MAP-21. Additionally, MAP-21 included a requirement for a study on the benefits... NHS. The goal of this project shall be to complete a study of the benefits, cost- effectiveness, and...

  7. Evaluation of the IEP Costing Procedures: A Pilot Study by Six Major Research Universities.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Topping, Jim

    The Information Exchange Procedures (IEP) cost study project of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems is described and its applicability to six major research universities (MRU) is assessed in this pilot study. The IEP enables peer institutions to compare information about their resources, activities, and educational…

  8. 77 FR 67026 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested: Report of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-08

    ... Lost ATF Form 5400.30, Intrastate Purchase of Explosives Coupon ACTION: 60-day notice. The Department... the following four points: --Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for... or Lost ATF F 5400.30, Intrastate Purchase Explosives Coupon. (3) Agency form number, if any, and the...

  9. 77 FR 48167 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Information Collection; Evaluating the...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-13

    ... message delivery media to backcountry visitors. USGS social scientists and a NPS bear management biologist will use their combined expertise to conduct a social survey of backcountry visitors to YNP to help... 1995 (PRA), and as a part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we...

  10. 75 FR 14455 - Agency Information Collection Activities: E-Verify Data Collection Survey; New Information...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-25

    ... program as intended, and to evaluate positive and negative impacts of the program in a mandatory.... in the subject box. Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies should... Services. (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract...

  11. 76 FR 78740 - Agency Information Collection (Prevalence and Clinical Course of Depression Among Patients With...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-19

    ... (Prevalence and Clinical Course of Depression Among Patients With Heart Failure) Activity Under OMB Review... INFORMATION: Titles: Prevalence and Clinical Course of Depression Among Patients with Heart Failure, VA HSR&D... evaluate the prevalence of clinical depression and depressive symptoms among Veterans with heart failure...

  12. Evaluating Faculty Pedagogic Practices to Inform Strategic Academic Professional Development: A Case of Cases

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Drew, Steve; Klopper, Christopher

    2014-01-01

    An investigation was undertaken into how a process involving peer review and observation of teaching can be used to enhance academics' teaching practices and inform professional development activities at an organization level. We describe an innovative and highly structured approach to gathering evidence of pedagogic practice from academic…

  13. The tendency of unconscious thought toward global processing style.

    PubMed

    Li, Jiansheng; Wang, Fan; Shen, Mowei; Fan, Gang

    2017-08-01

    This study explored whether unconscious thought has a tendency to process information globally. In three experiments, a Navon task was used to activate global or local processing styles. Findings showed that in the unconscious-thought groups, those performing the local Navon task presented a poorer decision-making performance when compared to those performing the global Navon task (Experiment 1); participants reported that their judgments were made based on partial attributes (Experiment 2), and evaluated a target individual mainly based on information consistent with stereotypes (Experiment 3). These results showed that when presented with distracter tasks, conscious thought activates local processing, which impairs its ability to process information globally. However, this impairment would not happen if global processing were activated instead. This study provides support to the idea that unconscious thought has a tendency to process information globally. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Sharing for Health: A Study of Chinese Adolescents' Experiences and Perspectives on Using Social Network Sites to Share Health Information.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Ni; Teti, Michele; Stanfield, Kellie; Campo, Shelly

    2017-07-01

    This exploratory qualitative study examines Chinese adolescents' health information sharing habits on social network sites. Ten focus group meetings with 76 adolescents, ages 12 to 17 years, were conducted at community-based organizations in Chicago's Chinatown. The research team transcribed the recording and analyzed the transcripts using ATLAS.ti. Chinese adolescents are using different social network sites for various topics of health information including food, physical activity, and so on. Adolescents would share useful and/or interesting health information. Many adolescents raised credibility concerns regarding health information and suggested evaluating the information based on self-experience or intuition, word-of-mouth, or information online. The findings shed lights on future intervention using social network sites to promote health among Chinese adolescents in the United States. Future interventions should provide adolescents with interesting and culturally sensitive health information and educate them to critically evaluate health information on social network sites.

  15. Enhanced situational awareness in the maritime domain: an agent-based approach for situation management

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brax, Christoffer; Niklasson, Lars

    2009-05-01

    Maritime Domain Awareness is important for both civilian and military applications. An important part of MDA is detection of unusual vessel activities such as piracy, smuggling, poaching, collisions, etc. Today's interconnected sensorsystems provide us with huge amounts of information over large geographical areas which can make the operators reach their cognitive capacity and start to miss important events. We propose and agent-based situation management system that automatically analyse sensor information to detect unusual activity and anomalies. The system combines knowledge-based detection with data-driven anomaly detection. The system is evaluated using information from both radar and AIS sensors.

  16. Application of multispectral remote sensing techniques for dismissed mine sites monitoring and rehabilitation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bonifazi, Giuseppe; Serranti, Silvia

    2007-09-01

    Mining activities, expecially those operated in open air (open pit), present a deep impact on the sourrondings. Such an impact, and the related problems, are directly related to the correct operation of the activities, and usually strongly interact with the environment. Impact can be mainly related to the following issues: high volumes of handled material, ii) generation of dust, noise and vibrations, water pollution, visual impact and, finally, mining area recovery at the end of exploitation activities. All these aspects can be considered very important, and must be properly evaluated and monitored. Environmental impact control is usually carried out during and after the end of the mining activities, adopting methods related to the detection, collection, analysis of specific environmental indicators and with their further comparison with reference thresholding values stated by official regulations. Aim of the study was to investigate, and critically evaluate, the problems related to development of an integrated set of procedures based on the collection and the analysis of remote sensed data in order to evaluate the effect of rehabilitation of land contaminated by extractive industry activities. Starting from the results of these analyses, a monitoring and registration of the environmental impact of such operations was performed by the application and the integration of modern information technologies, as the previous mentioned Earth Observation (EO), with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The study was developed with reference to different dismissed mine sites in India, Thailand and China. The results of the study have been utilized as input for the construction of a knowledge based decision support system finalized to help in the identification of the appropriate rehabilitation technologies for all those dismissed area previously interested by extractive industry activities. The work was financially supported within the framework of the Project ASIA IT&C - CN/ASIA IT&C/006 (89870) Extract-It "Application of Information Technologies for the Sustainable Management of Extractive Industry Activities" of the European Union.

  17. Forest resource information system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mroczynski, R. P. (Principal Investigator)

    1978-01-01

    The author has identified the following significant results. A benchmark classification evaluation framework was implemented. The FRIS preprocessing activities were refined. Potential geo-based referencing systems were identified as components of FRIS.

  18. Active and Progressive Exoskeleton Rehabilitation Using Multisource Information Fusion From EMG and Force-Position EPP.

    PubMed

    Fan, Yuanjie; Yin, Yuehong

    2013-12-01

    Although exoskeletons have received enormous attention and have been widely used in gait training and walking assistance in recent years, few reports addressed their application during early poststroke rehabilitation. This paper presents a healthcare technology for active and progressive early rehabilitation using multisource information fusion from surface electromyography and force-position extended physiological proprioception. The active-compliance control based on interaction force between patient and exoskeleton is applied to accelerate the recovery of the neuromuscular function, whereby progressive treatment through timely evaluation contributes to an effective and appropriate physical rehabilitation. Moreover, a clinic-oriented rehabilitation system, wherein a lower extremity exoskeleton with active compliance is mounted on a standing bed, is designed to ensure comfortable and secure rehabilitation according to the structure and control requirements. Preliminary experiments and clinical trial demonstrate valuable information on the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of the progressive exoskeleton-assisted training.

  19. The role of the microbiology laboratory in guiding formulary decisions.

    PubMed

    Stratton, C W

    1988-08-01

    Typically, P & T Committee antibiotic selection criteria have included such factors as cost, pharmacokinetics, side effects profile, spectrum of activity, and relative activity against specific pathogens. The microbiology laboratory can provide the P & T Committee with other useful information to help guide them in making even more appropriate and cost-effective formulary decisions. This information includes specific susceptibility data (including prevalence of pathogens, source of infection [community or nosocomial], anatomical site of isolates, specific unit or service where isolated, type of culture specimen, total number of pathogens in the hospital), resistance trends data, an evaluation of microbiologic data presented in published studies, further data regarding an antimicrobial's spectrum of activity and activity against specific pathogens, and the relevance and limitations of in vitro data. With this information in hand, P & T Committee should be in a much better position to optimize formulary decision-making.

  20. Investigation of Alternative Tourism Types and Sights via Geographic Information Systems: the Exaple of Safranbolu

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aydın, F.; Çepni, O.; Turgut, T.

    2017-11-01

    In this study, alternative tourism types and sights belonging to Safranbolu were identified through Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. In this manner, most favorable tourism activities, which are specific to field, and evaluation factors of these activities were determined. "Suitability classification values" of these factors were charted by receiving opinions from experts. Natural and cultural properties of study area were determined in the light of evaluation factors and a database was set via GIS. This database was examined according to evaluation factors of the activities and the most suitable and conditional suitable areas were determined. In this study, it is aimed to carry out the suitable place analysis for alternative tourism types of Safranbolu, which is a tourism town, such as riding, mountain biking, camping, trekking. 486 km2 area for riding, 319 m2 for trekking, 209 km2 for mountain biking and 148 km2 for camping were figured out as suitable. These results reveal that tourism activities should be more professionally organized in order to apply alternative tourism types such as riding, mountain biking, camping, trekking. In addition, organizations such as festivals and fairs should be arranged in order to introduce products special to Safranbolu.

  1. A system for evaluating the use of media in CDC's National AIDS Information and Education Program.

    PubMed

    Salmon, C T; Jason, J

    1991-01-01

    The National AIDS Information and Education Program (NAIEP) commissioned the National Academy of Sciences to design a prototypical system of research for use in the evaluation of the agency's media campaign. It consists of four types of evaluation: formative, efficacy, process, and outcome. These types of evaluations are used to answer such questions as the following: What message strategies will work best? Can a campaign under optimal conditions be expected to make a difference? What interventions are actually delivered during the campaign? Has the campaign actually had an impact? How NAIEP has used the system and adapted it during 1 year of research activities is outlined, and examples from a variety of other social marketing programs are described.

  2. Human Subthalamic Nucleus in Movement Error Detection and Its Evaluation during Visuomotor Adaptation

    PubMed Central

    Zavala, Baltazar; Pogosyan, Alek; Ashkan, Keyoumars; Zrinzo, Ludvic; Foltynie, Thomas; Limousin, Patricia; Brown, Peter

    2014-01-01

    Monitoring and evaluating movement errors to guide subsequent movements is a critical feature of normal motor control. Previously, we showed that the postmovement increase in electroencephalographic (EEG) beta power over the sensorimotor cortex reflects neural processes that evaluate motor errors consistent with Bayesian inference (Tan et al., 2014). Whether such neural processes are limited to this cortical region or involve the basal ganglia is unclear. Here, we recorded EEG over the cortex and local field potential (LFP) activity in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) from electrodes implanted in patients with Parkinson's disease, while they moved a joystick-controlled cursor to visual targets displayed on a computer screen. After movement offsets, we found increased beta activity in both local STN LFP and sensorimotor cortical EEG and in the coupling between the two, which was affected by both error magnitude and its contextual saliency. The postmovement increase in the coupling between STN and cortex was dominated by information flow from sensorimotor cortex to STN. However, an information drive appeared from STN to sensorimotor cortex in the first phase of the adaptation, when a constant rotation was applied between joystick inputs and cursor outputs. The strength of the STN to cortex drive correlated with the degree of adaption achieved across subjects. These results suggest that oscillatory activity in the beta band may dynamically couple the sensorimotor cortex and basal ganglia after movements. In particular, beta activity driven from the STN to cortex indicates task-relevant movement errors, information that may be important in modifying subsequent motor responses. PMID:25505327

  3. Diverse expected gradient active learning for relative attributes.

    PubMed

    You, Xinge; Wang, Ruxin; Tao, Dacheng

    2014-07-01

    The use of relative attributes for semantic understanding of images and videos is a promising way to improve communication between humans and machines. However, it is extremely labor- and time-consuming to define multiple attributes for each instance in large amount of data. One option is to incorporate active learning, so that the informative samples can be actively discovered and then labeled. However, most existing active-learning methods select samples one at a time (serial mode), and may therefore lose efficiency when learning multiple attributes. In this paper, we propose a batch-mode active-learning method, called diverse expected gradient active learning. This method integrates an informativeness analysis and a diversity analysis to form a diverse batch of queries. Specifically, the informativeness analysis employs the expected pairwise gradient length as a measure of informativeness, while the diversity analysis forces a constraint on the proposed diverse gradient angle. Since simultaneous optimization of these two parts is intractable, we utilize a two-step procedure to obtain the diverse batch of queries. A heuristic method is also introduced to suppress imbalanced multiclass distributions. Empirical evaluations of three different databases demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach.

  4. Diverse Expected Gradient Active Learning for Relative Attributes.

    PubMed

    You, Xinge; Wang, Ruxin; Tao, Dacheng

    2014-06-02

    The use of relative attributes for semantic understanding of images and videos is a promising way to improve communication between humans and machines. However, it is extremely labor- and time-consuming to define multiple attributes for each instance in large amount of data. One option is to incorporate active learning, so that the informative samples can be actively discovered and then labeled. However, most existing active-learning methods select samples one at a time (serial mode), and may therefore lose efficiency when learning multiple attributes. In this paper, we propose a batch-mode active-learning method, called Diverse Expected Gradient Active Learning (DEGAL). This method integrates an informativeness analysis and a diversity analysis to form a diverse batch of queries. Specifically, the informativeness analysis employs the expected pairwise gradient length as a measure of informativeness, while the diversity analysis forces a constraint on the proposed diverse gradient angle. Since simultaneous optimization of these two parts is intractable, we utilize a two-step procedure to obtain the diverse batch of queries. A heuristic method is also introduced to suppress imbalanced multi-class distributions. Empirical evaluations of three different databases demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach.

  5. Effective Practices for Evaluating Education and Public Outreach Programs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wilkerson, S.

    2013-12-01

    Stephanie Baird Wilkerson, PhD Carol Haden EdD Magnolia Consulting,LLC Education and public outreach (EPO) program developers and providers seeking insights regarding effective practices for evaluating EPO activities programs benefit from understanding why evaluation is critical to the success of EPO activities and programs, what data collection methods are appropriate, and how to effectively communicate and report findings. Based on our extensive experience evaluating EPO programs, we will share lessons learned and examples of how these practices play out in actual evaluation studies. EPO program developers, providers, and evaluators must consider several factors that influence which evaluation designs and data collection methods will be most appropriate, given the nature of EPO programs. Effective evaluation practices of EPO programs take into account a program's phase of development, duration, and budget as well as a program's intended outcomes. EPO programs that are just beginning development will have different evaluation needs and priorities than will well-established programs. Effective evaluation practices consider the 'life' of a program with an evaluation design that supports a program's growth through various phases including development, revision and refinement, and completion. It would be premature and inappropriate to expect the attainment of longer-term outcomes of activities during program development phases or early stages of implementation. During program development, EPO providers should clearly define program outcomes that are feasible and appropriate given a program's scope and expected reach. In many respects, this directly relates to the amount of time, or duration, intended audiences participate in EPO programs. As program duration increases so does the likelihood that the program can achieve longer-term outcomes. When choosing which outcomes are reasonable to impact and measure, program duration should be considered. Effective evaluation practices include selecting appropriate data collection methods given a program's duration and corresponding intended outcomes. Data collection methods for programs of short duration might involve simple evaluation activities, whereas programs of longer duration might involve ongoing data collection measures including longitudinal student surveys, implementation logs, student journals, and student achievement measures. During our presentation, we will share examples from our own experience to illustrate how effective evaluation practices can be applied to various EPO programs based on program duration. Irrespective of duration, we find that EPO program developers and providers want both formative feedback to guide improvements and summative feedback on outcomes. More often than not, evaluation budgets for EPO programs are meager at best, yet come with the same information needs and priorities as programs with larger evaluation budgets. So how do program providers get the information they need given their limited funds for evaluation? We will offer several recommendations for helping EPO program providers work with evaluators to become better-informed consumers of evaluation by maximizing evaluation offerings and minimizing costs. During our presentation we also will share examples of communicating and reporting results for EPO program developers, EPO facilitators and practitioners, and funders.

  6. 76 FR 65515 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-21

    ... evaluation is determining participant quality of life and how the program affects quality of life. Medicaid... adequately meet their needs or does not provide them a suitable quality of life. State Operational Protocols... national evaluation contractor to assess program outcomes. The MFP Quality of Life data will be used by the...

  7. Sharing Books with Babies: Evaluation of an Early Literacy Intervention.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hardman, Margaret; Jones, Lynn

    1999-01-01

    Evaluation of an early literacy initiative in which free books and literacy information were given to 40 caregivers of infants. Compared book-related activity in the home before and 2 months after the program. Results showed significant increases in book ownership and frequency of mothers and babies looking at children's books together. (SK)

  8. Accreditation: 1982-83 Evaluation Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

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

    The Austin Independent School Districts (AISD) presents a summary of major findings related to accreditation, plus technical information on evaluation activities conducted during 1982-83. A time use study of social studies and science at the elementary level, conducted in response to a request made by the Texas Education Agency after the 1981-82…

  9. Evaluating Teaching Development Activities in Higher Education: A Toolkit

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kneale, Pauline; Winter, Jennie; Turner, Rebecca; Spowart, Lucy; Hughes, Jane; McKenna, Colleen; Muneer, Reema

    2016-01-01

    This toolkit is developed as a resource for providers of teaching-related continuing professional development (CPD) in higher education (HE). It focuses on capturing the longer-term value and impact of CPD for teachers and learners, and moving away from immediate satisfaction measures. It is informed by the literature on evaluating higher…

  10. 76 FR 75549 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-02

    ... at http://www.admongo.gov . The proposed evaluation will test a large group of students in these..., one hour of online game playing, one hour of homework assignments, and 20 minutes for the test). With... evaluation will involve a randomized controlled trial of the Admongo program in one or more school districts...

  11. Afghanistans Information and Communications Technology Sector: U.S. Agencies Obligated Over $2.6 Billion to the Sector, but the Full Scope of U.S. Efforts is Unknown

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-07-01

    Communications and Information Technology (MOCIT). Because the agencies were not required to report ICT-specific activities and did not use a common...inspections, and investigations on the use of taxpayer dollars and related funds. SIGAR works to provide accurate and balanced information , evaluations...Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction v SIGAR 16-46 Audit Report Afghanistan’s Information and Communications Technology

  12. 77 FR 2550 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-18

    ...-sufficiency. The projects will evaluate up to twelve subsidized and transitional employment programs... Number 0970-0384), a descriptive study of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-funded subsidized...

  13. Unmet Need: Improving mHealth Evaluation Rigor to Build the Evidence Base.

    PubMed

    Mookherji, Sangeeta; Mehl, Garrett; Kaonga, Nadi; Mechael, Patricia

    2015-01-01

    mHealth-the use of mobile technologies for health-is a growing element of health system activity globally, but evaluation of those activities remains quite scant, and remains an important knowledge gap for advancing mHealth activities. In 2010, the World Health Organization and Columbia University implemented a small-scale survey to generate preliminary data on evaluation activities used by mHealth initiatives. The authors describe self-reported data from 69 projects in 29 countries. The majority (74%) reported some sort of evaluation activity, primarily nonexperimental in design (62%). The authors developed a 6-point scale of evaluation rigor comprising information on use of comparison groups, sample size calculation, data collection timing, and randomization. The mean score was low (2.4); half (47%) were conducting evaluations with a minimum threshold (4+) of rigor, indicating use of a comparison group, while less than 20% had randomized the mHealth intervention. The authors were unable to assess whether the rigor score was appropriate for the type of mHealth activity being evaluated. What was clear was that although most data came from mHealth projects pilots aimed for scale-up, few had designed evaluations that would support crucial decisions on whether to scale up and how. Whether the mHealth activity is a strategy to improve health or a tool for achieving intermediate outcomes that should lead to better health, mHealth evaluations must be improved to generate robust evidence for cost-effectiveness assessment and to allow for accurate identification of the contribution of mHealth initiatives to health systems strengthening and the impact on actual health outcomes.

  14. Arts-Based Learning: A New Approach to Nursing Education Using Andragogy.

    PubMed

    Nguyen, Megan; Miranda, Joyal; Lapum, Jennifer; Donald, Faith

    2016-07-01

    Learner-oriented strategies focusing on learning processes are needed to prepare nursing students for complex practice situations. An arts-based learning approach uses art to nurture cognitive and emotional learning. Knowles' theory of andragogy aims to develop the skill of learning and can inform the process of implementing arts-based learning. This article explores the use and evaluation of andragogy-informed arts-based learning for teaching nursing theory at the undergraduate level. Arts-based learning activities were implemented and then evaluated by students and instructors using anonymous questionnaires. Most students reported that the activities promoted learning. All instructors indicated an interest in integrating arts-based learning into the curricula. Facilitators and barriers to mainstreaming arts-based learning were highlighted. Findings stimulate implications for prospective research and education. Findings suggest that arts-based learning approaches enhance learning by supporting deep inquiry and different learning styles. Further exploration of andragogy-informed arts-based learning in nursing and other disciplines is warranted. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(7):407-410.]. Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.

  15. Evaluation of the information content of long-term wastewater characteristics data in relation to activated sludge model parameters.

    PubMed

    Alikhani, Jamal; Takacs, Imre; Al-Omari, Ahmed; Murthy, Sudhir; Massoudieh, Arash

    2017-03-01

    A parameter estimation framework was used to evaluate the ability of observed data from a full-scale nitrification-denitrification bioreactor to reduce the uncertainty associated with the bio-kinetic and stoichiometric parameters of an activated sludge model (ASM). Samples collected over a period of 150 days from the effluent as well as from the reactor tanks were used. A hybrid genetic algorithm and Bayesian inference were used to perform deterministic and parameter estimations, respectively. The main goal was to assess the ability of the data to obtain reliable parameter estimates for a modified version of the ASM. The modified ASM model includes methylotrophic processes which play the main role in methanol-fed denitrification. Sensitivity analysis was also used to explain the ability of the data to provide information about each of the parameters. The results showed that the uncertainty in the estimates of the most sensitive parameters (including growth rate, decay rate, and yield coefficients) decreased with respect to the prior information.

  16. Developing a monitoring and evaluation framework to integrate and formalize the informal waste and recycling sector: the case of the Philippine National Framework Plan.

    PubMed

    Serrona, Kevin Roy B; Yu, Jeongsoo; Aguinaldo, Emelita; Florece, Leonardo M

    2014-09-01

    The Philippines has been making inroads in solid waste management with the enactment and implementation of the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000. Said legislation has had tremendous influence in terms of how the national and local government units confront the challenges of waste management in urban and rural areas using the reduce, reuse, recycle and recovery framework or 4Rs. One of the sectors needing assistance is the informal waste sector whose aspiration is legal recognition of their rank and integration of their waste recovery activities in mainstream waste management. To realize this, the Philippine National Solid Waste Management Commission initiated the formulation of the National Framework Plan for the Informal Waste Sector, which stipulates approaches, strategies and methodologies to concretely involve the said sector in different spheres of local waste management, such as collection, recycling and disposal. What needs to be fleshed out is the monitoring and evaluation component in order to gauge qualitative and quantitative achievements vis-a-vis the Framework Plan. In the process of providing an enabling environment for the informal waste sector, progress has to be monitored and verified qualitatively and quantitatively and measured against activities, outputs, objectives and goals. Using the Framework Plan as the reference, this article developed monitoring and evaluation indicators using the logical framework approach in project management. The primary objective is to institutionalize monitoring and evaluation, not just in informal waste sector plans, but in any waste management initiatives to ensure that envisaged goals are achieved. © The Author(s) 2014.

  17. Differential dorsal and ventral medial prefrontal representations of the implicit self modulated by individualism and collectivism: An fMRI study.

    PubMed

    Harada, Tokiko; Li, Zhang; Chiao, Joan Y

    2010-01-01

    Individualism and collectivism, or self-construal style, refer to cultural values that influence how people think about themselves and their relation to the social and physical environment. Recent neuroimaging evidence suggests that cultural values of individualism and collectivism dynamically modulate neural response within cortical midline structures, such as the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), during explicit self-evaluation. However, it remains unknown whether cultural priming modulates neural response during self-evaluation due to explicit task demands. Here we investigated how cultural priming of self-construal style affects neural activity within cortical midline structures during implicit self-evaluation in bicultural individuals. Results indicate that ventral MPFC showed relatively less deactivation during implicit evaluation of both self- and father-relevant information as compared to control condition (e.g., information of an unfamiliar person), irrespective of cultural priming. By contrast, dorsal MPFC showed relatively less deactivation during implicit evaluation of father-relevant information, but not self-relevant information, as compared to control condition, only when they were primed with individualism. Furthermore, dorsal MPFC showed relatively less deactivation during implicit evaluation of father-relevant information as compared to self-relevant condition only when they were primed with individualism. Hence, our results indicate that cultural priming modulates neural response within dorsal, but not ventral, portions of MPFC in a stimulus-driven rather than task-driven manner. More broadly, these findings suggest that cultural values dynamically shape neural representations during the evaluation, rather than the detection, of self-relevant information.

  18. Automatic evaluations and exercise setting preference in frequent exercisers.

    PubMed

    Antoniewicz, Franziska; Brand, Ralf

    2014-12-01

    The goals of this study were to test whether exercise-related stimuli can elicit automatic evaluative responses and whether automatic evaluations reflect exercise setting preference in highly active exercisers. An adapted version of the Affect Misattribution Procedure was employed. Seventy-two highly active exercisers (26 years ± 9.03; 43% female) were subliminally primed (7 ms) with pictures depicting typical fitness center scenarios or gray rectangles (control primes). After each prime, participants consciously evaluated the "pleasantness" of a Chinese symbol. Controlled evaluations were measured with a questionnaire and were more positive in participants who regularly visited fitness centers than in those who reported avoiding this exercise setting. Only center exercisers gave automatic positive evaluations of the fitness center setting (partial eta squared = .08). It is proposed that a subliminal Affect Misattribution Procedure paradigm can elicit automatic evaluations to exercising and that, in highly active exercisers, these evaluations play a role in decisions about the exercise setting rather than the amounts of physical exercise. Findings are interpreted in terms of a dual systems theory of social information processing and behavior.

  19. Spatial and Activities Models of Airport Based on GIS and Dynamic Model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Masri, R. M.; Purwaamijaya, I. M.

    2017-02-01

    The purpose of research were (1) a conceptual, functional model designed and implementation for spatial airports, (2) a causal, flow diagrams and mathematical equations made for airport activity, (3) obtained information on the conditions of space and activities at airports assessment, (4) the space and activities evaluation at airports based on national and international airport services standards, (5) options provided to improve the spatial and airport activities performance become the international standards airport. Descriptive method is used for the research. Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia was study location. The research was conducted on September 2015 to April 2016. A spatial analysis is used to obtain runway, taxiway and building airport geometric information. A system analysis is used to obtain the relationship between components in airports, dynamic simulation activity at airports and information on the results tables and graphs of dynamic model. Airport national and international standard could not be fulfilled by spatial and activity existing condition of Husein Sastranegara. Idea of re-location program is proposed as problem solving for constructing new airport which could be serving international air transportation.

  20. Students' trust judgements in online health information seeking.

    PubMed

    Rowley, Jennifer; Johnson, Frances; Sbaffi, Laura

    2015-12-01

    As one of the most active groups of Internet users, students and other young people are active users of digital health information. Yet, research into young people's evaluation of health information is limited, and no previous studies have focused on trust formation. In addition, prior studies on adults' use of digital information do not reach a consensus regarding the key factors in trust formation. This study seeks to address this gap. A questionnaire-based survey was used to collect data from undergraduate students studying a variety of disciplines in one UK university. The Trust in Online Health Information Scale is proposed, and it includes the following dimensions: authority, style, content, usefulness, brand, ease of use, recommendation, credibility, and verification. In addition, inspection of responses to specific items/questions provides further insights into aspects of the information that were of specific importance in influencing trust judgements. © The Author(s) 2014.

  1. [Evaluating the activity of the Italian Mental Health Services inpatient and residential facilities: the PRISM (Process Indicator System for Mental health) indicators].

    PubMed

    Picardi, Angelo; Tarolla, Emanuele; de Girolamo, Giovanni; Gigantesco, Antonella; Neri, Giovanni; Rossi, Elisabetta; Biondi, Massimo

    2014-01-01

    This article describes the activities of a project aimed at developing a system of process and process/outcome indicators suitable to monitor over time the quality of psychiatric care of Italian inpatient and residential psychiatric facilities. This system, named PRISM (Process Indicator System for Mental health), was developed by means of a standardized evaluation made by a panel of experts and a consecutive pilot study in 17 inpatient and 13 residential psychiatric facilities. A total of 28 indicators were selected from a set of 251 candidate indicators developed by the most relevant and qualified Italian and international authorities. These indicators are derived by data from medical records and information about characteristics of facilities, and they cover processes of care, operational equipment of facilities, staff training and working, relationships with external agencies, and sentinel events. The procedure followed for the development of the indicator system was reliable and innovative. The data collected from the pilot study suggested a favourable benefit-cost ratio between the workload associated with regular use of the indicators into the context of daily clinical activities and the advantages related to the information gathered through regular use of the indicators. CONCLUSIONS.:The PRISM system provides additional information about the healthcare processes with respect to the information gathered via routine information systems, and it might prove useful for both continuous quality improvement programs and health services research.

  2. Neural mechanisms underlying the integration of situational information into attribution outcomes.

    PubMed

    Brosch, Tobias; Schiller, Daniela; Mojdehbakhsh, Rachel; Uleman, James S; Phelps, Elizabeth A

    2013-08-01

    When forming impressions and trying to figure out why other people behave the way they do, we should take into account not only dispositional factors (i.e., personality traits) but also situational constraints as potential causes for a behavior. However, in their attributions, people often ignore the importance of situational factors. To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the integration of situational information into attributions, we decomposed the attribution process by separately presenting information about behaviors and about the situational circumstances in which they occur. After reading the information, participants judged whether dispositional or situational causes explained the behavior (attribution), and how much they liked the person described in the scenario (affective evaluation). The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex showed increased blood oxygenation-level-dependent activation during the encoding of situational information when the resulting attribution was situational, relative to when the attribution was dispositional, potentially reflecting a controlled process that integrates situational information into attributions. Interestingly, attributions were strongly linked to subsequent affective evaluations, with the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex emerging as potential substrate of the integration of attributions and affective evaluations. Our findings demonstrate how top-down control processes regulate impression formation when situational information is taken into account to understand others.

  3. Neural mechanisms underlying the integration of situational information into attribution outcomes

    PubMed Central

    Brosch, Tobias; Schiller, Daniela; Mojdehbakhsh, Rachel; Uleman, James S.; Phelps, Elizabeth A.

    2013-01-01

    When forming impressions and trying to figure out why other people behave the way they do, we should take into account not only dispositional factors (i.e. personality traits) but also situational constraints as potential causes for a behavior. However, in their attributions, people often ignore the importance of situational factors. To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the integration of situational information into attributions, we decomposed the attribution process by separately presenting information about behaviors and about the situational circumstances in which they occur. After reading the information, participants judged whether dispositional or situational causes explained the behavior (attribution), and how much they liked the person described in the scenario (affective evaluation). The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex showed increased blood oxygenation-level-dependent activation during the encoding of situational information when the resulting attribution was situational, relative to when the attribution was dispositional, potentially reflecting a controlled process that integrates situational information into attributions. Interestingly, attributions were strongly linked to subsequent affective evaluations, with the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex emerging as potential substrate of the integration of attributions and affective evaluations. Our findings demonstrate how top-down control processes regulate impression formation when situational information is taken into account to understand others. PMID:23446840

  4. Technology assessment in medicine. The role of the American Medical Association.

    PubMed

    McGivney, W T; Hendee, W R

    1988-12-01

    Public policy decisions about health care and decisions about an individual patient's care are only as sound as the data and information on which they are founded. The formal systematic evaluation of the safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of a medical technology provides such information and is essential to the appropriate application of technology in patient care. The American Medical Association (AMA) historically has recognized the need for the practicing medical community to develop and communicate accurate and balanced evaluative information to physicians and other health care professionals. In recent years, the association has established formal programs to accomplish this objective. This article describes the AMA's three major assessment programs, the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology Assessment program, the Council on Scientific Affairs, and AMA Drug Evaluations. The implications of these activities for patient care and public policy are discussed.

  5. Volunteer Mentors as Informal Educators in a Youth Physical Activity Program

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sandford, Rachel A.; Armour, Kathleen M.; Stanton, Deborah J.

    2010-01-01

    This discussion reports data from a 4-year longitudinal evaluation of a project from the United Kingdom. The project focused on outdoor activities as a vehicle for enhancing the personal and social development of disaffected youth with the researchers specifically examining the role played by volunteer learning mentors. Following a summary of…

  6. Easy Green: A Handbook of Earth-Smart Activities and Operating Procedures for Youth Programs.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Westerman, Marty

    This book aims to help camp directors and programmers evaluate the environmental impact of camp practices, make informed environmental choices, and make environmental awareness a habit in all operations and activities. Section 1 discusses developing a personal environmental philosophy, and considering possibilities for camp environmental action in…

  7. Changes in Career Intent during Initial Tour of Active Duty.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Shenk, Faye

    The study was designed to determine the predictability of an Air Force officer's career decision and to evaluate relationships between career decision and various demographic, environmental, and attitudinal factors. Information on this group was compiled for the period before commissioning and through five years of active duty. The report presents…

  8. LOOP: Linking Outcomes to Organizational Planning, First Quarterly Report: 25 School Board Priorities.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ligon, Glynn; Wicker, Maria L. R.

    The Austin Independent School District Superintendent of Schools required a process for monitoring district activities. The Office of Research and Evaluation developed LOOP (Linking Outcomes to Organizational Planning). LOOP is a management information system through which progress in a number of activities within the school system may be…

  9. Final Report of Project CHOICE: A Center for Helping Organizations Improve Choice in Education.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Chapman, Davis W.; And Others

    The purpose of the Center for Helping Organizations Improve Choice in Education (CHOICE) project, the scope of its activities, and evaluations of the effectiveness of those activities are described. One major project goal was to encourage and facilitate institutional efforts to provide more complete and accurate information to prospective…

  10. An Active Learning Activity for an IT Ethics Course

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Woods, David M.; Howard, Elizabeth V.

    2014-01-01

    Courses in Information Technology Ethics are often designed as discussion-intensive courses where case studies are introduced and evaluated using ethical theories. Although many of the case studies directly apply to our students' online lives, the stories can sometimes seem too far removed from their own experiences. While we read the news…

  11. Standardized Tests and Other Criteria in Admissions Decisions: A Classroom Activity

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Pawlow, Laura A.

    2010-01-01

    This exercise aims to provide a hands-on, role-playing activity that requires students to evaluate the strengths and limitations of standardized tests in making admission decisions. Small groups pretend to be an admissions committee and review fictitious student applications containing both standardized test scores and other information admissions…

  12. The Surgical Scrub. Learning Activity Package.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Runge, Lillian

    This learning activity package on the surgical scrub is one of a series of 12 titles developed for use in health occupations education programs. Materials in the package include objectives, a list of materials needed, a list of definitions, information sheets, reviews (self evaluations) of portions of the content, and answers to reviews. These…

  13. Information Technology and Lifestyle: A Systematic Evaluation of Internet and Mobile Interventions for Improving Diet, Physical Activity, Obesity, Tobacco, and Alcohol Use.

    PubMed

    Afshin, Ashkan; Babalola, Damilola; Mclean, Mireille; Yu, Zhi; Ma, Wenjie; Chen, Cheng-Yu; Arabi, Mandana; Mozaffarian, Dariush

    2016-08-31

    Novel interventions are needed to improve lifestyle and prevent noncommunicable diseases, the leading cause of death and disability globally. This study aimed to systematically review, synthesize, and grade scientific evidence on effectiveness of novel information and communication technology to reduce noncommunicable disease risk. We systematically searched PubMed for studies evaluating the effect of Internet, mobile phone, personal sensors, or stand-alone computer software on diet, physical activity, adiposity, tobacco, or alcohol use. We included all interventional and prospective observational studies conducted among generally healthy adults published between January 1990 and November 2013. American Heart Association criteria were used to evaluate and grade the strength of evidence. From 8654 abstracts, 224 relevant reports were identified. Internet and mobile interventions were most common. Internet interventions improved diet (N=20 studies) (Class IIa A), physical activity (N=33), adiposity (N=35), tobacco (N=22), and excess alcohol (N=47) (Class I A each). Mobile interventions improved physical activity (N=6) and adiposity (N=3) (Class I A each). Evidence limitations included relatively brief durations (generally <6 months, nearly always <1 year), heterogeneity in intervention content and intensity, and limited representation from middle/low-income countries. Internet and mobile interventions improve important lifestyle behaviors up to 1 year. This systematic review supports the need for long-term interventions to evaluate sustainability. © 2016 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.

  14. 78 FR 37539 - Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Re...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-21

    ... public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of... the PRA. On April 16, 2012 (78 FR 22544), the FDIC solicited public comment for a 60-day period on...). The FDIC evaluates the information contained in the letter application in relation to statutory...

  15. Development and Evaluation of an Interactive Mobile Learning Environment with Shared Display Groupware

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yang, Jie Chi; Lin, Yi Lung

    2010-01-01

    When using mobile devices in support of learning activities, students gain mobility, but problems arise when group members share information. The small size of the mobile device screen becomes problematic when it is being used by two or more students to share and exchange information. This problem affects interactions among group members. To…

  16. Final Evaluation Report of the Sensory Adjustment for Effective Reading (SAFER) Project for the Encinitas Union School District.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    California State Dept. of Education, Sacramento. Office of Program Planning and Development.

    This final report on Sensory Adjustment for Effective Reading contains information related to the two major objectives of the reading program: to diagnose and treat sensorily deficient kindergarten and primary children, and to individualize the kindergarten and primary reading program utilizing sensory information. Activities conducted to achieve…

  17. 78 FR 11652 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Evaluation of the...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-19

    ... responses per Total annual Average burden Total hours respondents respondent responses per response Pretest... and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information. ERG will conduct a pretest of... complete the pretest, for a total of a maximum of 7.5 hours. We estimate that up to 135 [[Page 11654...

  18. A Pedagogy for Outreach Activities in ICT: Promoting Peer to Peer Learning, Creativity and Experimentation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lang, Catherine; Craig, Annemieke; Casey, Gail

    2017-01-01

    The importance of integrating technology into the classroom has become a priority at most levels of the curriculum in many countries around the world. This paper draws on the evaluation and research that informed four outreach programs. The authors acknowledge that teachers are generally time poor and often have limited information and…

  19. 76 FR 27350 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed collection comments requested Race and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-11

    ... Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: DOJ Desk Officer. The best way to ensure your comments are...: --Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the... and National Origin data on all employees and new hires to meet diversity/EEO goals and act as a...

  20. 34 CFR 379.43 - What are the special requirements pertaining to the protection, use, and release of personal...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ..., DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROJECTS WITH INDUSTRY What Conditions Must Be Met by a Grantee? § 379.43 What are... project, including project evaluation activities. (c) This information may not be disclosed, directly or...) All personal information about individuals served by any project under this part, including lists of...

  1. Pupil Researchers Generation X: Educating Pupils as Active Participants--An Investigation into Gathering Sensitive Information from Early Adolescents

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Symonds, Jenny E.

    2008-01-01

    Developmentally appropriate research techniques were uncovered by involving ten Year 7 pupils as researchers in a four-hour workshop that investigated the effectiveness of multiple methods in gathering sensitive information from early adolescents. The pupils learned about, tried and evaluated the methods of generating interview questions, peer and…

  2. 78 FR 27973 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Public...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-13

    ...-1984. Information Collection Request Title: Organ Donation/Transplant Life Stories (OMB No. 0915-xxxx... donor and recipient life stories which in a recent evaluation study were shown to raise interest on the... families the opportunity to voluntarily submit their stories to DoT via a standardized online form. The...

  3. Replica symmetric evaluation of the information transfer in a two-layer network in the presence of continuous and discrete stimuli.

    PubMed

    Del Prete, Valeria; Treves, Alessandro

    2002-04-01

    In a previous paper we have evaluated analytically the mutual information between the firing rates of N independent units and a set of multidimensional continuous and discrete stimuli, for a finite population size and in the limit of large noise. Here, we extend the analysis to the case of two interconnected populations, where input units activate output ones via Gaussian weights and a threshold linear transfer function. We evaluate the information carried by a population of M output units, again about continuous and discrete correlates. The mutual information is evaluated solving saddle-point equations under the assumption of replica symmetry, a method that, by taking into account only the term linear in N of the input information, is equivalent to assuming the noise to be large. Within this limitation, we analyze the dependence of the information on the ratio M/N, on the selectivity of the input units and on the level of the output noise. We show analytically, and confirm numerically, that in the limit of a linear transfer function and of a small ratio between output and input noise, the output information approaches asymptotically the information carried in input. Finally, we show that the information loss in output does not depend much on the structure of the stimulus, whether purely continuous, purely discrete or mixed, but only on the position of the threshold nonlinearity, and on the ratio between input and output noise.

  4. Wind River subbasin restoration: Annual report of U.S. Geological Survey activities January 2014 through December 2014

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Jezorek, Ian G.; Connolly, Patrick J.

    2015-01-01

    Evaluating restoration efforts is of interest to many managers and agencies so that funding and time are allocated for best results. The evaluation of various life-histories of Lower Columbia River steelhead within the Wind River subbasin provides information to better track populations, and more effectively direct habitat restoration and water allocation planning. Increasingly detailed Viable Salmonid Population information (Crawford and Rumsey 2009), such as that provided by PIT-tagging and instream PTISs networks like those we build and operate in the Wind River subbasin, provide data to better inform policy and management, as life-history strategies and production bottlenecks are identified and understood.

  5. FCS Technology Investigation Overview

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Budinger, James; Gilbert, Tricia

    2007-01-01

    This working paper provides an overview of the Future Communication Study (FCS) technology investigation progress. It includes a description of the methodology applied to technology evaluation; evaluation criteria; and technology screening (down select) results. A comparison of screening results with other similar technology screening activities is provided. Additional information included in this working paper is a description of in-depth studies (including characterization of the L-band aeronautical channel; L-band deployment cost assessment; and performance assessments of candidate technologies in the applicable aeronautical channel) that have been conducted to support technology evaluations. The paper concludes with a description on-going activities leading to conclusion of the technology investigation and the development of technology recommendations.

  6. An Evaluation Framework for Lossy Compression of Genome Sequencing Quality Values.

    PubMed

    Alberti, Claudio; Daniels, Noah; Hernaez, Mikel; Voges, Jan; Goldfeder, Rachel L; Hernandez-Lopez, Ana A; Mattavelli, Marco; Berger, Bonnie

    2016-01-01

    This paper provides the specification and an initial validation of an evaluation framework for the comparison of lossy compressors of genome sequencing quality values. The goal is to define reference data, test sets, tools and metrics that shall be used to evaluate the impact of lossy compression of quality values on human genome variant calling. The functionality of the framework is validated referring to two state-of-the-art genomic compressors. This work has been spurred by the current activity within the ISO/IEC SC29/WG11 technical committee (a.k.a. MPEG), which is investigating the possibility of starting a standardization activity for genomic information representation.

  7. Benchmarking and Its Relevance to the Library and Information Sector. Interim Findings of "Best Practice Benchmarking in the Library and Information Sector," a British Library Research and Development Department Project.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kinnell, Margaret; Garrod, Penny

    This British Library Research and Development Department study assesses current activities and attitudes toward quality management in library and information services (LIS) in the academic sector as well as the commercial/industrial sector. Definitions and types of benchmarking are described, and the relevance of benchmarking to LIS is evaluated.…

  8. Active Low Intrusion Hybrid Monitor for Wireless Sensor Networks

    PubMed Central

    Navia, Marlon; Campelo, Jose C.; Bonastre, Alberto; Ors, Rafael; Capella, Juan V.; Serrano, Juan J.

    2015-01-01

    Several systems have been proposed to monitor wireless sensor networks (WSN). These systems may be active (causing a high degree of intrusion) or passive (low observability inside the nodes). This paper presents the implementation of an active hybrid (hardware and software) monitor with low intrusion. It is based on the addition to the sensor node of a monitor node (hardware part) which, through a standard interface, is able to receive the monitoring information sent by a piece of software executed in the sensor node. The intrusion on time, code, and energy caused in the sensor nodes by the monitor is evaluated as a function of data size and the interface used. Then different interfaces, commonly available in sensor nodes, are evaluated: serial transmission (USART), serial peripheral interface (SPI), and parallel. The proposed hybrid monitor provides highly detailed information, barely disturbed by the measurement tool (interference), about the behavior of the WSN that may be used to evaluate many properties such as performance, dependability, security, etc. Monitor nodes are self-powered and may be removed after the monitoring campaign to be reused in other campaigns and/or WSNs. No other hardware-independent monitoring platforms with such low interference have been found in the literature. PMID:26393604

  9. How Therapists Use Visualizations of Upper Limb Movement Information From Stroke Patients: A Qualitative Study With Simulated Information

    PubMed Central

    Fong, Justin; Klaic, Marlena; Nair, Siddharth; Vetere, Frank; Cofré Lizama, L. Eduardo; Galea, Mary Pauline

    2016-01-01

    Background Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with upper limb deficits affecting an estimated 30% to 60% of survivors. The effectiveness of upper limb rehabilitation relies on numerous factors, particularly patient compliance to home programs and exercises set by therapists. However, therapists lack objective information about their patients’ adherence to rehabilitation exercises as well as other uses of the affected arm and hand in everyday life outside the clinic. We developed a system that consists of wearable sensor technology to monitor a patient’s arm movement and a Web-based dashboard to visualize this information for therapists. Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate how therapists use upper limb movement information visualized on a dashboard to support the rehabilitation process. Methods An interactive dashboard prototype with simulated movement information was created and evaluated through a user-centered design process with therapists (N=8) at a rehabilitation clinic. Data were collected through observations of therapists interacting with an interactive dashboard prototype, think-aloud data, and interviews. Data were analyzed qualitatively through thematic analysis. Results Therapists use visualizations of upper limb information in the following ways: (1) to obtain objective data of patients’ activity levels, exercise, and neglect outside the clinic, (2) to engage patients in the rehabilitation process through education, motivation, and discussion of experiences with activities of daily living, and (3) to engage with other clinicians and researchers based on objective data. A major limitation is the lack of contextual data, which is needed by therapists to discern how movement data visualized on the dashboard relate to activities of daily living. Conclusions Upper limb information captured through wearable devices provides novel insights for therapists and helps to engage patients and other clinicians in therapy. Consideration needs to be given to the collection and visualization of contextual information to provide meaningful insights into patient engagement in activities of daily living. These findings open the door for further work to develop a fully functioning system and to trial it with patients and clinicians during therapy. PMID:28582257

  10. U.S. Geological Survey Standard Reference Sample Project: Performance Evaluation of Analytical Laboratories

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Long, H. Keith; Daddow, Richard L.; Farrar, Jerry W.

    1998-01-01

    Since 1962, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has operated the Standard Reference Sample Project to evaluate the performance of USGS, cooperator, and contractor analytical laboratories that analyze chemical constituents of environmental samples. The laboratories are evaluated by using performance evaluation samples, called Standard Reference Samples (SRSs). SRSs are submitted to laboratories semi-annually for round-robin laboratory performance comparison purposes. Currently, approximately 100 laboratories are evaluated for their analytical performance on six SRSs for inorganic and nutrient constituents. As part of the SRS Project, a surplus of homogeneous, stable SRSs is maintained for purchase by USGS offices and participating laboratories for use in continuing quality-assurance and quality-control activities. Statistical evaluation of the laboratories results provides information to compare the analytical performance of the laboratories and to determine possible analytical deficiences and problems. SRS results also provide information on the bias and variability of different analytical methods used in the SRS analyses.

  11. Nutrition and physical activity during and after cancer treatment: an American Cancer Society guide for informed choices.

    PubMed

    Brown, Jean K; Byers, Tim; Doyle, Colleen; Coumeya, Kerry S; Demark-Wahnefried, Wendy; Kushi, Lawrence H; McTieman, Anne; Rock, Cheryl L; Aziz, Noreen; Bloch, Abby S; Eldridge, Barbara; Hamilton, Kathryn; Katzin, Carolyn; Koonce, Amy; Main, Julie; Mobley, Connie; Morra, Marion E; Pierce, Margaret S; Sawyer, Kimberly Andrews

    2003-01-01

    Cancer survivors are often highly motivated to seek information about food choices, physical activity, dietary supplement use, and complementary nutritional therapies to improve their treatment outcomes, quality of life, and survival. To address these concerns, the American Cancer Society (ACS) convened a group of experts in nutrition, physical activity, and cancer to evaluate the scientific evidence and best clinical practices related to optimal nutrition and physical activity after the diagnosis of cancer. This report summarizes their findings and is intended to present health care providers with the best possible information on which to help cancer survivors and their families make informed choices related to nutrition and physical activity. The report discusses nutrition and physical activity issues during the phases of cancer treatment and recovery, living after recovery from treatment, and living with advanced cancer; selected nutritional and physical activity issues such as body weight, food choices, and complementary and alternative nutritional options; and selected issues related to breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, head and neck, and upper gastrointestinal cancers. In addition, handouts containing commonly asked questions and answers and a resource list are provided for survivors and families. Tables that grade the scientific evidence for benefit versus harm related to nutrition and physical activity for breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers are also included for this growing body of knowledge to provide guidance for informed decision making and to identify areas for future research.

  12. National Chemistry Week 2000: JCE Resources in Food Chemistry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jacobsen, Erica K.

    2000-10-01

    November brings another National Chemistry Week, and this year's theme is food chemistry. I was asked to collect and evaluate JCE resources for use with this theme, a project that took me deep into past issues of JCE and yielded many treasures. Here we present the results of searches for food chemistry information and activities. While the selected articles are mainly at the high school and college levels, there are some excellent ones for the elementary school level and some that can be adapted for younger students. The focus of all articles is on the chemistry of food itself. Activities that only use food to demonstrate a principle other than food chemistry are not included. Articles that cover household products such as cleansers and pharmaceuticals are also not included. Each article has been characterized as a demonstration, experiment, calculation, activity, or informational item; several fit more than one classification. Also included are keywords and an evaluation as to which levels the article may serve.

  13. Neural differences in the processing of true and false sentences: insights into the nature of 'truth' in language comprehension.

    PubMed

    Marques, J Frederico; Canessa, Nicola; Cappa, Stefano

    2009-06-01

    The inquiry on the nature of truth in language comprehension has a long history of opposite perspectives. These perspectives either consider that there are qualitative differences in the processing of true and false statements, or that these processes are fundamentally the same and only differ in quantitative terms. The present study evaluated the processing nature of true and false statements in terms of patterns of brain activity using event-related functional-Magnetic-Resonance-Imaging (fMRI). We show that when true and false concept-feature statements are controlled for relation strength/ambiguity, their processing is associated to qualitatively different processes. Verifying true statements activates the left inferior parietal cortex and the caudate nucleus, a neural correlate compatible with an extended search and matching process for particular stored information. In contrast, verifying false statements activates the fronto-polar cortex and is compatible with a reasoning process of finding and evaluating a contradiction between the sentence information and stored knowledge.

  14. 78 FR 72119 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-02

    ... objective, independent, third party to evaluate that the questionnaire has a format and scope that minimizes... impact indicators. These indicators are both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for example...

  15. Recognition of Daily Activity in Living Space based on Indoor Ambient Atmosphere and Acquiring Localized Information for Improvement of Recognition Accuracy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hirasawa, Kazuki; Sawada, Shinya; Saitoh, Atsushi

    The system watching over elder's life is very important in a super-aged society Japan. In this paper, we describe a method to recognize resident's daily activities by means of using the information of indoor ambient atmosphere changes. The measuring targets of environmental changes are of gas and smell, temperature, humidity, and brightness. Those changes have much relation with resident's daily activities. The measurement system with 7 sensors (4 gas sensors, a thermistor, humidity sensor, and CdS light sensor) was developed for getting indoor ambient atmosphere changes. Some measurements were done in a one-room type residential space. 21 dimensional activity vectors were composed for each daily activity from acquired data. Those vectors were classified into 9 categories that were main activities by using Self-Organizing Map (SOM) method. From the result, it was found that the recognition of main daily activities based on information on indoor ambient atmosphere changes is possible. Moreover, we also describe the method for getting information of local gas and smell environmental changes. Gas and smell environmental changes are related with daily activities, especially very important action, eating and drinking. And, local information enables the relation of the place and the activity. For such a purpose, a gas sensing module with the operation function that synchronizes with human detection signal was developed and evaluated. From the result, the sensor module had the ability to acquire and to emphasize local gas environment changes caused by the person's activity.

  16. Is change in environmental supportiveness between primary and secondary school associated with a decline in children׳s physical activity levels?

    PubMed

    Coombes, Emma; Jones, Andy; Page, Angie; Cooper, Ashley R

    2014-09-01

    Using a sample of English schoolchildren, we evaluate whether a change in school local area environmental supportiveness between primary and secondary school is associated with changes in active travel behaviours and physical activity levels. Participant׳s activity levels and travel behaviours were recorded for a week during their primary school final year and secondary school first year. Environmental supportiveness was evaluated using a Geographical Information System. Children attending both a primary and secondary school with a more supportive local environment were more likely to maintain active travel behaviours than those with less supportive environments. However, no trends were apparent with change in school supportiveness and change in physical activity. Policies that focus on the maintenance and uptake of active travel behaviours may help maintain children׳s physical activity levels into adolescence. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  17. Evaluation of Active Mortality Surveillance System Data for Monitoring Hurricane-Related Deaths—Texas, 2008

    PubMed Central

    Choudhary, Ekta; Zane, David F.; Beasley, Crystal; Jones, Russell; Rey, Araceli; Noe, Rebecca S.; Martin, Colleen; Wolkin, Amy F.; Bayleyegn, Tesfaye M.

    2015-01-01

    Introduction The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) implemented an active mortality surveillance system to enumerate and characterize hurricane-related deaths during Hurricane Ike in 2008. This surveillance system used established guidelines and case definitions to categorize deaths as directly, indirectly, and possibly related to Hurricane Ike. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate Texas DSHS’ active mortality surveillance system using US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) surveillance system evaluation guidelines. Methods Using CDC’s Updated Guidelines for Surveillance System Evaluation, the active mortality surveillance system of the Texas DSHS was evaluated. Data from the active mortality surveillance system were compared with Texas vital statistics data for the same time period to estimate the completeness of reported disaster-related deaths. Results From September 8 through October 13, 2008, medical examiners (MEs) and Justices of the Peace (JPs) in 44 affected counties reported deaths daily by using a one-page, standardized mortality form. The active mortality surveillance system identified 74 hurricane-related deaths, whereas a review of vital statistics data revealed only four deaths that were hurricane-related. The average time of reporting a death by active mortality surveillance and vital statistics was 14 days and 16 days, respectively. Conclusions Texas’s active mortality surveillance system successfully identified hurricane-related deaths. Evaluation of the active mortality surveillance system suggested that it is necessary to collect detailed and representative mortality data during a hurricane because vital statistics do not capture sufficient information to identify whether deaths are hurricane-related. The results from this evaluation will help improve active mortality surveillance during hurricanes which, in turn, will enhance preparedness and response plans and identify public health interventions to reduce future hurricane-related mortality rates. PMID:22800916

  18. Evaluation of active mortality surveillance system data for monitoring hurricane-related deaths-Texas, 2008.

    PubMed

    Choudhary, Ekta; Zane, David F; Beasley, Crystal; Jones, Russell; Rey, Araceli; Noe, Rebecca S; Martin, Colleen; Wolkin, Amy F; Bayleyegn, Tesfaye M

    2012-08-01

    The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) implemented an active mortality surveillance system to enumerate and characterize hurricane-related deaths during Hurricane Ike in 2008. This surveillance system used established guidelines and case definitions to categorize deaths as directly, indirectly, and possibly related to Hurricane Ike. The objective of this study was to evaluate Texas DSHS' active mortality surveillance system using US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) surveillance system evaluation guidelines. Using CDC's Updated Guidelines for Surveillance System Evaluation, the active mortality surveillance system of the Texas DSHS was evaluated. Data from the active mortality surveillance system were compared with Texas vital statistics data for the same time period to estimate the completeness of reported disaster-related deaths. From September 8 through October 13, 2008, medical examiners (MEs) and Justices of the Peace (JPs) in 44 affected counties reported deaths daily by using a one-page, standardized mortality form. The active mortality surveillance system identified 74 hurricane-related deaths, whereas a review of vital statistics data revealed only four deaths that were hurricane-related. The average time of reporting a death by active mortality surveillance and vital statistics was 14 days and 16 days, respectively. Texas's active mortality surveillance system successfully identified hurricane-related deaths. Evaluation of the active mortality surveillance system suggested that it is necessary to collect detailed and representative mortality data during a hurricane because vital statistics do not capture sufficient information to identify whether deaths are hurricane-related. The results from this evaluation will help improve active mortality surveillance during hurricanes which, in turn, will enhance preparedness and response plans and identify public health interventions to reduce future hurricane-related mortality rates.

  19. How do nurses record pedagogical activities? Nurses' documentation in patient records in a cardiac rehabilitation unit for patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass surgery.

    PubMed

    Bergh, Anne-Louise; Bergh, Claes-Håkan; Friberg, Febe

    2007-10-01

    To describe the use of pedagogically related keywords and the content of notes connected to these keywords, as they appear in nursing records in a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery rehabilitation unit. Nursing documentation is an important component of clinical practice and is regulated by law in Sweden. Studies have been carried out in order to evaluate the educational and rehabilitative needs of patients following CABG surgery but, as yet, no study has contained an in-depth evaluation of how nurses document pedagogical activities in the records of these patients. The records of 265 patients admitted to a rehabilitation unit following CABG surgery were analysed. The records were structured in accordance with the VIPS model. Using this model, pedagogically related keywords: communication, cognition/development and information/education were selected. The analysis of the data consisted of three parts: the frequency with which pedagogically related keywords are used, the content and the structure of the notes. Apart from the term 'communication', pedagogically related keywords were seldom used. Communication appeared in all records describing limitations, although no explicit reference was made to pedagogical activities. The notes related to cognition/development were grouped into the following themes: nurses' actions, assessment of knowledge and provision of information, advice and instructions as well as patients' wishes and experiences. The themes related to information were the provision of information and advice in addition to relevant nursing actions. The structure of the documentation was simple. The documentation of pedagogical activities in nursing records was infrequent and inadequate. The patients' need for knowledge and the nurses' teaching must be documented in the patient records so as to clearly reflect the frequency and quality of pedagogical activities.

  20. Evaluation of the particle infiltration efficiency of three passive samplers and the PS-1 active air sampler

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Markovic, Milos Z.; Prokop, Sebastian; Staebler, Ralf M.; Liggio, John; Harner, Tom

    2015-07-01

    The particle infiltration efficiencies (PIE) of three passive and one active air samplers were evaluated under field conditions. A wide-range particle spectrometer operating in the 250-4140 nm range was used to acquire highly temporally resolved particle-number and size distributions for the different samplers compared to ambient air. Overall, three of the four evaluated samplers were able to acquire a representative sample of ambient particles with PIEs of 91.5 ± 13.7% for the GAPS Network sampler, 103 ± 15.5% for the Lancaster University sampler, and 89.6 ± 13.4% for a conventional PS-1 high-volume active air sampler (Hi-Vol). Significantly (p = 0.05) lower PIE of 54 ± 8.0% was acquired for the passive sampler used under the MONET program. These findings inform the comparability and use of passive and active samplers for measuring particle-associated priority chemicals in air.

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